This is it, this is the day.
U.A. campus had been transformed with dozens of food, merchandise, and game stalls set up inside, leading to the main buildings and around U.A.'s purpose-built stadium, a structure so massive that for many first years, they wondered how they had never even seen it on campus as the signs outside said that the building could house eighty thousand people. Of course, just entering campus was a hassle as while students were required to arrive bright and early at 7 am, a massive line of vendors was already waiting to be cleared.
The joy and excitement emanating from the dispersed crowd, the bustle and hubbub of the people's fanfare, the distant explosion of scattered fireworks.
The U.A.'s sports festival is a highly anticipated event that is looked forward by the masses. This is the event where the common civilian can have a look at the people's next protector. An event unlike canon.
In this present when the USJ attack never transpired, the school didn't receive the media criticism that forced them to increase security. Hence why the sport's festival isn't as well guarded as in canon.
That isn't to say the the event doesn't have security to begin with. As was stated before, the festival is seen with high regard, even having the events aired live on national television. Even with no one dimwitted enough to attack during a prominent activity between hero-hopefuls, the security here is definitely not lax. In fact, with something of this scale, even the 'modest' security by U.A. standards can easily eclipse that of any other Hero school in the nation.
Key aspects of the standard security protocols include: An extensive perimeter control around the stadium, advanced screening technologies courtesy of the school's connections and a collaboration and coordination of nearby police precinct along with robots as field personnel to respond to incidents effectively.
Once one got through the U.A. standard security, they entered a festive atmosphere as those stalls were in full swing in the middle of the morning, with hundreds going about and having the time of their lives with friends and family, grabbing a quick bite to eat, buying merchandise or playing a couple of games before the real event kicks off. All of which were run by the lucky vendors who managed to secure the rights and permit was just one of the many ways that the school monetised this event.
Even then, most of the attention would be centered around the third years, the class whom this would be their final performance before being brought out into the real world. Students who had two years to refine themselves to a much greater point than they have ever been.
Although, that doesn't make the first years any less competitive.
"This is it. This is the chance to prove ourselves to be the superior class." Monoma noted with a rather devilish smirk.
"Cool your jets. We only know of one asshole in class A. It would be rude to judge the rest by just Bakugo's behavior." Kendo reminded him, as they hadn't had time to speak with all of them, especially during their training where they focused more on working hard, they had had the chance to talk with Tsu, Uraraka, and Iida when they swung by their class the other day. Or at least, that's what I gathered from eavesdropping that time.
Although, I did find it odd that Bakugou attended the program halfway through.
"I know." Monoma dropped the smirk. "But you can't deny that most people are going to look out for our sister class first and foremost. Even social media plays us second fiddle compared to them, making us look like an accessory to their fame.."
"Then all we have to do is prove them wrong." Tokage playfully punched Monoma on the shoulder. "Like you said, today's the day we show them our stuff."
I walked next to him and pat his other shoulder. "Just try to tone down verbal abuse, yeah?"
"I make no promises..." The blonde put both his hands up before smiling widely. "Particularly to those that deserve it."
While I couldn't exactly say that me and Monoma are good friends, I can at least guarantee that we have an amicable relationship.
"Yo Red."
"Hm?"
"You trying a new look?" She gestured to my hair. Unlike my usual style, I had my hair up in a ponytail today.
"Ah, well, this is the first time I'm participating in a sports festival and I figured that my hair shouldn't get in way."
"Wait, what do you mean first time? Didn't your middle school have any?" Kendo exclaimed in shock. The others in our waiting room were surprised, even Manga has was reacting for some reason.
"They do, they do. I was just too busy to attend is all." I waved away their concern. After all, I couldn't just tell that the only reason I'm here right now is because attendance is Mandatory due to how big of a deal this event is.
"Speaking of being too busy to attend, anyone else who's folks couldn't make it?" Sen fidgeted from his seat. "Other than Pony and Rin, for obvious reasons."
"¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Don't really have any folks, but I'm sure my friends are gonna be watching it live." Manga shrugged.
"The old man is probably getting himself drunk by now..." I overheard Kamakiri mumble. And it seemed that I wasn't the only one.
"I get you, shroom." Surprisingly, it was Kinoko who replied. "Knowing my dad, him and his friends probably bought out the local bar by now..."
However, before anyone else got another word in, we were all called out into the field soon.
When we arrived at the tunnels we waited for Present Mic's signal. "IT'S THE FRESHMAN STAGE! AND THE STUDENTS ARE MAKING THEIR ENTRY NOW, PRESENTING CLASS 1A!!!" The cheers that erupted rumbled the air, I frowned in discomfort at the noise. "AND FOLLOWING THEM ARE THEIR SISTER CLASS, 1B!!"
"SEE? SECOND FIDDLE!" Monoma half yelled to us amidst the cheers of the crowd as we exited the tunnel.
I couldn't help but marvel at the amount of people here. It was one thing to see the statistics and numbers but it was an experience to witness the roaring crowd.
"AND FOLLOWING 1B ARE CLASSES C, D, AND E FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION!... AND NOW HERE COMES CLASSES F, G, AND H OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPPORT! AS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT, YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THEM RUNNING AROUND THEIR BUSINESSES!"
"I kinda feel bad for them." Said Tetsutetsu. "Yeah sure, people might look out for 1A more but at least we didn't get glossed over like the other classes."
I feel a bit jealous of the management course, they have the choice not to attend in favour of starting their economic careers this early. I'm sure there are plenty of other students who feel the same way I do, as I can feel their apprehension from here. And if most of them just so happened to be from the general course, then that's just a coincidence.
I ignored the impromptu discussion in favour of looking for certain people. I managed to catch Kuroko's eye and gave her wave before turning my gaze over to the support course to not see Saten, but see the visage of a familiar design of full-body armour that gave me a wave. I waved back.
Then I noticed a lot of people's attention shifted when a certain pro Hero strutted up the stage in the middle of the field. And if the temperature somehow grew by at least half a degree celcius because a lot of hormonal teenagers got hot under their collar? Also a coincidence, I'm sure.
"AND LET US GIVE A U.A. WELCOME TO OUR UMPIRE FOR THIS YEAR'S SPORTS FESTIVAL, OUR VERY OWN EMPRESS OF SEDUCTION WHO ISN'T AFRAID OF CENSORSHIP LAWSUITS, THE R-RATED HERO, MIDNIGHT!" The umpire struck a pose as the thousands of camera shutters and flashes erupted from the stands.
"Do these people have no shame?" Ibara was visibly disgusted at how many people were able to acts as such in public. Her voice managed to snap some of our classmates near her.
But in comparison- "It could be worse." I faux whispered to the girl. "At least it wasn't a stalker or something."
"Thank you for that introduction, Mic." I can see the tick mark from here. "Now, to start using all off, we have the athlete pledge from the freshman representative, the one who scored the highest at the entrance exams with a record sum of one hundred and twenty four points, please give a round of applause for Shirai Kuroko!"
~~~~~
In a darkened room, a live feed of the U.A. sport's festival was shown on the television. The glow from the screen casted a glow that dominated what it can, bringing to light the slew of garbage and piles of unknown containers.
A young man was sitting in front of the screen, eyes fixated on the broadcast. Around him are the visible signs of an unhealthy and ill lifestyle: food boxes, cans of drinks, bottles of medication, IV drip stand, humming machines of unknown design, and dust.
Plenty of dust.
"Look at them." A burdened airy voice called out. "Those noobs are just skittering together. I would have got so much exp if I could just dust them..." A rough-looking hand reached up to the neck and started scratching erratically. "If only Sensei was here... He would've... Would've..." The young man's eyes glossed over as his scratching turned frantic. "AAAARARGGHHHH!!!"
A hand envoleped in wispy shadows expertly added a liquid substance in the IV's injector as if it was done hundreds of times beforehand. "I urge you to stay calm, young master. Your current heart rate is not good for your health."
The man's eyes regained a hint of clarity, his breath haggard."I... I..."
"I understand your grief, but the old master would not want you to detoriate any further." A man of dark purple mist in a crisp bartender's uniform tended to the abrasions on the other man's neck, replacing the ruined bandages for new ones.
Just then, the student on stage finished her athlete's pledge and returned to crowd.
"And now, let's get started and see what's chosen for the first event!" Midnight began as she hyped up the crowd. "The first event will be the qualifier, where only the cream of the crop will come out on top! And this year's first event will be-"
"-The irresistible spear and immovable shield." A different, childish voice called out.
The young man was stunned at the unexpected development, but deep down, he was happy about it too.
Everyone, from the students on screen to the people watching elsewhere, all were confused by the sudden intrusion. Confusion turned to abject horror as realisation dawned on them.
People all over the country bore witness as the cameras from the inside captured the scene U.A. stadium was covered in a dome as dark as night. From the outside world, it was as if the whole infrastructure simply disappeared without a trace.
And in a sense, it did.
Security rush through the crowds with an intention to break through the invisible barrier, only to be met with empty air, not knowing that the stadium simply wasn't there.
That was when disbelief came, and with it, panic.
The teachers and heroes on duty, the crowd of civilians and heroes in the stands, and the students participating in the event, all of them are gone.
Thousands were kidnapped in less than a single moment.
"Let's start the game, ok?"
And none came save them, but themselves.