Chapter 19
"No matter how many people doubt you, keep true to yourself and fight on."
– Chris Du Pont
For several moments after Todoroki had left Midoriya stood stationary in the stadium tunnel with a contemplative expression. He could sympathize with Todoroki's plight and could understand why he felt like he needed to go down the path he was walking; nonetheless, it was misguided. The scarred teenage man was on a road to self-destruction that would inevitably kill him and potentially many others if nothing was done soon.
Todoroki Shoto needed to be saved from himself…and he didn't even know it.
Realizing he had been standing still for a while, Midoriya started walking down the hallway. 'How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved? Or rather someone who doesn't think they need to be saved…' He mulled over that conundrum before it occurred to him. 'You make them see their need to be saved.' From there, the super-soldier began thinking up a plan of how to handle his classmate with deep-seated issues.
However, he was snapped out of his musings when he intersected with someone at a crossway.
"Kayama-sensei?"
"Oh, Midoriya-san?" The ravenette beauty perked up. "Fancy running into you here." She smiled brightly, giving him a thumbs-up. "Congratulations on your superb performance so far! You're certainly living up to your opening speech."
He chuckled sheepishly. "Thanks, Sensei."
"Please. Call me Kayama when it's just us." She winked teasingly.
"Uh…sure." Midoriya, to his credit, remained outwardly nonchalant.
"Why are you still here? I figured you'd be heading toward the cafeteria already."
"I was distracted by another matter." Midoriya vaguely replied.
"Did it involve Todoroki-san perhaps?"
Midoriya was mildly surprised. Was she eavesdropping on them? Did she hear Todoroki's backstory? Maybe that was a good thing, he thought. Perhaps the Heroic Course staff would be better equipped to handle the situation.
Midnight continued. "I spotted him walking in the halls earlier. He was gone before I had a chance to stop him. Did you two exchange words?"
Ah, so she was oblivious to the topic of their discussion then.
Midoriya nodded in confirmation. "I can't get into it. It's a private matter." He gave his word to Todoroki, and he intended to keep it.
"That's fine, I don't need the details." Midnight said. "But I can assume that he threw down the gauntlet so to speak?"
"Something like that." He wasn't lying, per say. Todoroki did challenge him.
The vixen hummed. "I see. At UA, rivalries amongst the Hero Course students are seen as part of our culture. They can encourage and push each party to new heights. However, there is a point where it can go too far." She paused, crossing her arms over her impressive bust. "Like with Bakugo-san, for example."
"Bakugo-san?" He cocked a brow.
She nodded. "During the last event, Cementoss and I were standing by to break up any altercations that could go too far. During your tussle with Bakugo-san, we noticed a…how do I put it…a shift in your demeanor."
He knew what moment she was referring to, but decided he'd used this opportunity to make a point. "Could you elaborate?"
"Midoriya," her tone was serious, "I'll be frank, you looked ready to kill him."
"I wouldn't have." Midoriya replied coolly. "I was only reacting to the explosion about to be set off in my face."
"Maybe. But I'm–we're just concerned if Bakugo's attack could've triggered any post-traumatic stress."
Midoriya was stone-faced and remained momentarily silent. "I understand your concerns, Kayama-san. But I can assure you, I have things under control."
"Midoriya–"
The verdette cut in. "With all due respect, Kayama-san, I'm a soldier. A highly trained one at that. I know when I have to hold back, and I know when to go all-out. I'm not going to forget all of my training just because a couple classmates have it out for me. I'm here to become the best Hero I can be, not get into schoolyard brawls."
The Pro Heroine stared at Midoriya for a short while, studying his expression. She relented and nodded in acceptance. "I'll take your word for it. Just know I will stop any match if it gets too violent."
"That is your job." Midoriya stated.
"I'll let you get going then, Midoriya-san." Midnight said. "Enjoy your lunch. And good luck to you in the tournament."
"Thank you." With that, the pair departed going down separate corridors.
Midnight glanced over her shoulder at the tall verdette in concern. 'I can only speculate what he saw during his military service. I hope he's right and nothing escalates…'
Recovery Girl's lips puckered up and comically stretched out to kiss Bakugo's face.
The ash-blonde grimaced from the contact of the wet lips as the effects of Recovery Girl's Quirk were immediate as his bruises and scrapes healed up. He painfully winced as his shoulders popped back into joint.
"MMMWHAH!" Recovery Girl pulled her lips away. "There! That should handle the more major injuries."
Bakugo clicked his tongue as he whipped the spit off his face. 'Such a weird a** Quirk…' Still, he couldn't argue with the results as the pain faded away. He then felt his eyelids get a little heavier soon after.
"Here!" Noticing the young man's grogginess, she pulled out a Pez-like dispenser from her white labcoat and dispensed a couple candies into Bakugo's open palm. "These will help restore your stamina. Of course, eating a good lunch will do a much better job."
Bakugo popped the candies into his mouth and swallowed them. 'Meh. Had better.'
"Thanks." He gruffly said. "Am I free to go then?"
"Not yet." A tired voice interjected.
Bakugo and Recovery Girl turned to see Aizawa leaning against the door frame, his body still wrapped in bandages. "Doctor Chiyo, mind giving me and Bakugo a moment?"
The elderly lady nodded and headed for the doorway. Mummy Aizawa stepped out of her way and closed the door behind her, leaving him and Bakugo alone in the stadium's medical ward.
"Take a seat." Aizawa gestured toward a chair by one of the beds.
Bakugo compiled and sat down while Aizawa moved a chair with his foot and sat across from him, a few meters separating them. A moment of silence filled the room with only the faint echoes of music and the crowd coming in from above.
The disheveled Underground Hero stared at the Hero fledgling with a tired expression.
The spiky haired teen growled, growing tired of the silence. "Sir, was there something you wanted to–"
"I'm not impressed, Bakugo." Aizawa suddenly declared.
"Huh?" Bakugo was confused. What did Droopy Eyes mean by that?
"With your performance." Aizawa clarified. "Seventh place in the race; not to mention your lackluster showing in Risk Trifecta. You spent more than half of the game under Shinso's control."
"Hey!" The explosive teen barked. "That last one wasn't my fault! How was I supposed to–"
"It was your fault." Aizawa cut in. "You and Todoroki both fell right into Midoriya's trap by going off as loners. Both of you did what anyone who's been around you for ten seconds predicted you would do. Had you worked together with your squads however, we may have had a different winner today." He then shrugged. "But I won't waste time with pointless what-ifs."
The disheveled man then leaned forward in his seat. "What I will tell you is that if it weren't for the Castle Node's special rule, you would not have advanced to the final event."
The ash-blonde had no response to that. Because, as much as he hated to admit it, he knew his instructor was right. Of course he understood that. His performance was awful! He had spent most of the game as the Blue Team's puppet or chasing after Midoriya like a mad dog.
He had been played like a damn pawn…and he had no one to blame but himself for that.
Aizawa continued. "The teachers in your old schools may have coddled you and propped you up, but I will not. Neither will anyone else here at UA." The instructor stated. "You're a very talented individual, Bakugo. No question there. But talent alone will only get you so far."
Bakugo lowered his head and replied with a subdued tone, "I know that sir."
"Then stop acting like a child and grow up. You're eighteen. Act like it." With that, Aizawa stood up and headed for the door. Before turning the handle, he stopped. "Also, Bakugo… Be mindful of your explosions going into the tournament. Remember what Thirteen said at the USJ."
'Seriously? Does he think I can't control myself or something!?' Bakugo inwardly fumed.
Despite his desire to verbally retort, the ash-blonde exercised that self-control. "Yes sir."
Aizawa nodded, satisfied. "Good."
With that, he pulled the door open and exited the room.
A moment of silence passed in the medical ward. A shadow was cast over Bakugo's eyes as he sat on the chair, trembling with anger. 'Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!' He gnashed his teeth and clenched the edge of his seat, his knuckles turning white.
No more! He was done being played with. If he wasn't serious before, he was dead serious now!
He may have fallen short in the first two events, but for the rest of the tournament, he would show everyone what he was capable of. He would be the undisputed victor! He would prove to everyone that he was the future Number One!
"Icy-Hot…Midoriya…" His palms crackled and heated up. "...I'll crush you both…and anyone else in my way. You're all just steppingstones, and I will beat you."
Midoriya walked through the campus cafeteria's double doors to see it was busier than usual. Lunch Rush and his staff were working hard to serve all of the students.
The super-soldier was about to get in the long line until a familiar voice called out to him. "Izuku-kun, there you are!" He turned to see Uraraka waving him over. "Come on over!"
She, Yaoyorozu, and his other friends were sitting at a couple tables they had pushed together.
Midoriya smiled a little and walked over and took an open seat that was between Yaoyorozu and Uraraka. Funny how there always seemed to be one seat between the two girls seemingly reserved for him.
Yaoyorozu slid over a large plate of food to him. "I asked Lunch Rush-san to double the portions for your meal as well." She said sweetly. "I hope it'll be enough."
"It should be. Thanks, Yaomomo." Midoriya nodded.
His friends frowned at the subdued tone in his voice. He then started eating, albeit reluctantly, like it was the last thing on his mind.
"You're pretty down for someone who crushed the first two events." Tokage pointed out.
"Did…something happen between you and Todoroki-san?" Uraraka inquired.
"Nothing physical or anything." Midoriya replied. "He just wanted to talk. But it was personal for him, and he asked me to keep it to myself."
'There was also the run in with Midnight too, but I'd rather not discuss that with them.'
His friends all nodded in understanding, but none of them liked it.
Tokage then felt a vibration in her pants pocket. She pulled out her phone and saw there was a message.
Yuto: How're you feeling so far?
A small smile crept on Tokage's face as she typed back.
Setsuna: Heh, I thought I was hot stuff the first event. But I burned out bad the second. Heh…
Yuto: You did awesome. I don't think a lot of people can do what you can. Besides, that event was a tough one to manage.
Setsuna: Heh…guess you're right.
Yuto: The third round's gonna be the tournament, right? Remember what we talked about.
Setsuna: I hear ya. Thanks for the hookup.
Yuto: I'm gonna keep watching for ya. I still got your corner! Make sure you kick a** and take names…wait, I think that would be identity fraud. Just kick ass then!
Setsuna: LOL Thanks Yuto. Glad I have my first fan already!
A small hum escaped Tokage as she replied back to her kouhai. Unbeknownst to her, a certain pink-haired girl's love alarms were going off.
"Who're you texting, Setsuna-chan?" Ashido leaned closer to her mossy-haired friend.
"Oh, j-just a friend." Tokage quickly turned the screen off.
"A friend, eh?" Ashido smiled slyly. There was clearly more to the story.
"E-easy there, girl." Tokage smiled awkwardly. "It's nothing like that."
'As far as she knows…' She thought.
Before Ashido could grill her friend further, Uraraka unknowingly interrupted them. "Those first two events were crazy, right?" She chuckled. "Not sure how far I could've gotten without all our training together."
'Bad timing!' Ashido puffed her cheeks, mildly irked.
'Thank you, Ochako.' Tokage, however, inwardly sighed.
"Indeed!" Iida wholeheartedly agreed. "Our collective and individual efforts the last few weeks have paid dividends."
Kirishima grinned sharply. "Heck yeah! Even though I'm bummed I didn't advance, I can definitely tell my Quirk got stronger after punching Midori-bro's shield!"
Sero nodded, taking a swig of water. "I noticed I can make more tape than I could at the beginning of the year. Shame I won't get to show off some more in the Finals."
"Kero. It is disappointing, but we made it to the second event though." Asui mentioned, trying to maintain positivity.
"We'll just have to try harder for next year!" Ashido chirped, pumping her fist in the air. "But hey, at least there's the Minigames we can all look forward to!"
"Any clue what that will entail?" Midoriya asked.
Yaoyorozu answered. "It's usually a series of different games, though they vary each year."
"I remember them having a giant Tic-Tac-Toe game in last year's games." Uraraka chimed. "It looked like so much fun!"
"Kero." Asui nodded. "The giant football game looked pretty fun too."
"Hopefully whatever they got planned this year will be just as fun." Sero said.
Jiro twirled her left earlobe, looking at the seven members of the table who were in the tournament. "So, how do you guys feel about the tournament? Some of you are bound to face off against each other, most likely in the First-Round."
"It is inevitable." Yaoyorozu took a quick bite of fried rice from the large plate of food in front of her. "But we all promised to do our best, even if that means we have to fight each other."
This earned several nods from around the table, but the seven members who were moving didn't feel too enthusiastic over the idea of having to beat their friends to advance.
"On that note, if you got any secret super-moves this tournament will be the time to break 'em out." Tokage slyly commented.
"I'm still kinda mad that Iida-kun was hiding that super move from all of us!" Uraraka poorly mimicked the young man's running stance from her seat, earning chuckles from the others (Midoriya included).
"It was not my intent to mislead you." Iida earnestly replied, chopping his hands. "It was all for the sake of strategy, and ensuring I had an Ace in The Hole should I ever need it."
"Well, you are supposed to keep that kind of stuff a secret. Right?" Sero questioned, earning nods from several others.
"Speaking of new moves, can I ask what that whole Kaminari and Pony attack was?" Ashido looked at the pair excitedly. "Seriously, I mean…you two just came out of nowhere and killed it!"
"That, my dear Ashido, was called a Blitzkrieg. It's German for 'lightning war'. It's supposed to be a fast and powerful ambush attack that totally decimates an enemy force." Kaminari answered, rubbing his fingers against his chest. "I figured it'd be fitting to attack you guys with it while you were distracted fighting each other."
"It was Midoriya-kun's idea, wasn't it?" Jiro deadpanned.
Kaminari's expression fell. "...Yeah." This earned a few chuckles at the electric blonde's expense.
"It was an ingenious move." Yaoyorozu admitted. "You and Pony-chan paired up quite well, actually."
Jiro bristled at that comment.
Kirishima added. "I noticed Pony-chan showed off a new attack too; what with her raining down horns from the sky."
Tsunotori beamed. "Horn Banzai! Since I can't fly and shoot a bunch of horns at the same time yet, I figured I'd get around that by getting up and doing it as I fall. Then I'd catch myself before hitting the ground."
"You'll have to be careful doing that in the future." Midoriya warned. "If you mistime it, you could seriously hurt yourself…or worse."
"Yeah…" Tsunotori deflated slightly. "I should probably visit the Support Department next week and tell them about it."
"I'm sure Hatsume-san could come up with something for you." Midoriya said nonchalantly. "Maybe she could repurpose her Hover Soles or something of the sort." He leaned his head back with a thoughtful mien.
"Speaking of Hatsume…" Yaoyorozu bit her lip in anxiety. "Izuku-kun, what exactly is your history with that girl anyway?"
"My history?" He repeated. "I don't have a history with Hatsume."
'Well, at least not with Mei specifically.' He mentally added.
A cheeky grin crossed Kaminari's face. "That's mean to say Midori-bro; especially after she offered to make babies for you and Iida after the end of the All-Star Games."
Several people across the table did a spit-take while both Midoriya and Iida's face turned red from sheer embarrassment.
Sero, Jiro, and Kirishima stared at Midoriya and Iida in shock. Though Asui didn't convey much emotion, it was clear she was surprised by what she just heard. Ashido gasped loudly, covering her mouth with both hands while Tokage showed off her sharp teeth in a Cheshire grin.
Uraraka, despite understanding the context, visibly bristled at the mere suggestion of Midoriya procreating with Hatsume. Why did that irk her so much?
Yaoyorozu meanwhile had the worst reaction of the group. She could've sworn she felt her heart stop as her blood ran cold. Did Todoroki freeze her when she wasn't looking? The poor heiress became deathly pale as the world seemingly shattered around her.
"Really Denki." Tsunotori glared half-heartedly. "Why'd you have to stir the pot like that?"
Kaminari failed to stifle his chuckles. "Heh-heh! Sorry, couldn't help it!"
"W-w-wait! W-w-what do you mean!?" Yaoyorozu uncharacteristically spluttered, frantically looking between Midoriya and Iida. "I require context!"
"Please, calm down!" Iida held out a hand placatingly. "I assure you that there is absolutely nothing scandalous in nature happening between me, Midoriya-kun, and Hatsume-san!"
"Right! It's just a misunderstanding." Midoriya hastily added.
"So… You're saying there's not a secret love triangle going on between you three?" Tokage grinned teasingly. "Not that I'm judging you if there were or anything."
"Of course not!" Midoriya and Iida vehemently shouted, feeling flustered.
"Then why don't you start explaining then." Yaoyorozu kept her tone even, narrowing her gaze on Midoriya. "What did Kaminari-kun mean that Hatsume-san would make you and Iida babies? Furthermore, why was she getting so close to you when you were talking to her before Risk Trifecta?"
"I'm especially curious about that last question." Uraraka joined in, eying him hard.
Midoriya subtly flinched from Yaoyorozu's and Uraraka's stern expressions and tones. "When she says babies, she's talking about her inventions. She's…very passionate about them. Occhan, Pony, and Kaminari can verify that. Also…" He scratched his cheek a little, "she doesn't understand the concept of personal space…and she's very blunt. But she's a good person though."
"Albeit really weird." Uraraka murmured. "Still, she could learn to mind her distance with people." She pouted, which only made her cuter in Midoriya's opinion.
"I see." Yaoyorozu mused, holding a hand to her chin. "Well, she clearly must be a good inventor to make it this far within the Games. I saw firsthand what her inventions can do with the gadgets she used to subdue me, Jiro-chan, and Shiozaki-san. Still, I do find it odd how she calls her gadgets 'babies'..."
"Even so, the All-Star Games aren't just a way for those to sell themselves to Pro Heroes for internships." Midoriya pointed out. "For those in the Support Course, they can gain the attention of Support Companies out there."
Uraraka added. "She did say as much during the race. Going on about how those companies should be paying attention to her."
Midoriya nodded. "Yeah, she did tell me that was her goal when we talked before Risk Trifecta."
"You mean when you sought her out, huh?" Ashido shot him a saucy grin.
Midoriya maintained a neutral expression. "Don't misinterpret things, Ashido-chan. It wasn't like that."
"If you say so, Midori." Ashido looked away, still grinning.
"Everyone's got to be recognized in their own way." Kirishima let out a sigh. "Man, sure would've been great to advance to the tournament. Hopefully there's still some firms out there for me."
"Yeah, same here." Jiro lowered her head, frowning.
"I wouldn't worry about it, guys. I'm sure you'll get offers." Midoriya placated, pausing to take several bites of food.
"Says Mr. First Place." Sero teased, grinning cheekily. "Pretty sure you're gonna have a tough time managing your inbox when internships come around."
Midoriya didn't immediately comment. 'It doesn't really matter how many offers I get. There's only one that I'll be taking anyways.'
Midoriya chuckled a bit. "Maybe. We'll see how it plays out."
After finishing their lunch, Midoriya and his friends proceeded down a marked pathway back to the stadium. The atmosphere around campus was festive and decorated as students gathered outside stadium grounds where rows of vendors selling food and merchandise were set up. Holographic screens were on every corner displaying the highlights from the first two events–most of them featuring Midoriya.
Upon arriving at the stadium, the group had to split up. The sixteen finalists were required to wait in a special locker room until the seeding ceremony started. Meanwhile, the runners-up from the Obstacle Race and Risk Trifecta were required to make their way back to the arena for the Minigames.
Some of the finalists were now watching the Minigames play out from a TV setup in the room's corner.
To many of those watching, the stadium field was more or less organized chaos. According to the Present Mic, the main broadcaster, the university was doing an assortment of games that utilized their intelligence and Quirks. Sero was acing a giant Checkers tournament overseen by Thirteen. Kirishima was in an arm-wrestling competition against Tetsutetsu, with others watching on. Asui, Ashido, and Jiro and many other students were finding and collecting various items across the stadium in a scavenger hunt.
Midoriya and his friends watched and rooted for their friends and classmates as if they were spectators in the stands. Kendo, Honenuki, and Kaibara also rooted for their Class 101-B counterparts while Monoma sat on a bench nearby with a smug smirk.
Others in the room were less interested in the broadcast.
Hatsume was in the corner gleefully tinkering with her gadgets while her armored chest-plate leaned against her locker. The Arc Reactor still gave off a blue-white glow and hummed quietly, reproducing the energy that had been expended over the last two events.
Bakugo performed a series of muscle stretches by his locker; a hyper-focused expression etched onto his visage. Todoroki sat at his locker silently meditating, the temperature around him several degrees cooler than normal. Shiozaki was also sitting in her locker, but had her hands clasped together and eyes closed as she silently prayed to herself. Shinso kept to himself as he leaned back into his locker, fingers clasped on the back of his head as he took a light nap.
The Minigames eventually ended, and the broadcast switched over to a commercial break as students started clearing the field.
Midoriya glanced up at the clock, nine minutes their break was over, and they'd be called out to the arena. There, they'd know the seedings going into the tournament round and who'd they have to face.
The tournament was the most viewed event of the All-Star Games. Millions of people from all across Japan, and even places from abroad, would be tuning in on television or online to watch the country's potential future Pro Heroes.
He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned over, his gaze dropping to the floor. Recalling the techniques that he had learned to calm himself, Midoriya inhaled deeply through his nose, held it momentarily, and exhaled through his mouth. 'Doing those shows is one thing, but this feels different somehow. Wonder if this is how Zak felt before playing in those World Series games…' The verdette mused offhandedly.
"Are you nervous, Izuku-kun?" Yaoyorozu asked. She sat on a bench directly across from him with her hands in her lap.
Midoriya nodded. "Just a little, yeah."
Uraraka, who was sitting on the same bench as him to his left, looked at him in mild surprise. "You're actually nervous?"
"Are you surprised by that, Occhan?"
"Well, yeah… I didn't think you could get nervous." The brunette confessed.
Midoriya playfully rolled his eyes, smiling. "Of course I do. I'm still human. I just… know how to manage it. That's all."
Kaminari stepped in. "I'll say. You're like a machine out there, dude!"
Midoriya elected not to comment, internally conceding that the intense special forces training and experience he had gained could make him machine-like in the heat of battle.
Kaminari continued. "Even social media agrees. Here, look at this!" He showed him his phone, which displayed the comments currently rolling in on UA's social media page.
Yooo! GI dude is jacked! ? #UASoldierBoy – Grand_Shindo
UA TRULY IS THE BEST HERO ACADEMY! WE MUST WORK HARDER TO SURPASS THEM! DO YOUR BEST, FELLOW HEROES! – Yorashi_Inasa
#UASoldierBoy got my eye! Does anyone know if that hunk is on the market? — KittyTsuchikawa
#UASoldierBoy is killing it! Is he a pro in disguise? – RandomUser99
RandomUser99 No #UASoldierBoy just a lame harem protagonist in a subpar fanfiction crossover. – TheRealDeadpool
TheRealDeadpool Whatever story this is, it's got my attention! – InsaneDominator
TheRealDeadpool Are you high on something? – Cattlega
Cattlega Yes, on many things actually, but that's besides the point – TheRealDeadpool
TheRealDeadpool has been blocked by an administrator.
Midoriya cocked a brow, unsure of what to make of that last comment thread. "Apparently they do." He muttered. 'I see social media really hasn't changed in 150 years… Don't know if that's good or not.'
Kaminari pulled his phone away. "People think you're awesome! Some are even comparing your performance to All Might's, dude!"
Bakugo and Todoroki both bristled at that exclamation, the former snarling to himself while the latter's disposition somehow became colder.
Todoroki stood up and made his way to the door and promptly left the room, much to the others confusion.
Kaminari went on. "And you're getting attention from the ladies too!"
Yaoyorozu and Uraraka felt irked by that.
"Ugh, I'm jealous." Kaminari slumped his shoulders. "You gotta tell me your secrets, man."
Midoriya rubbed his shoulder awkwardly "No secrets to tell, Kaminari-kun. It's not like I'm trying to gain attention. I'm here to do my best and have fun."
"Aw c'mon…" The electric-blonde bemoaned.
"Ah, cheer up Denki." Tsunotori said while levitating two horns around herself as a Quirk exercise from her seat. "You won't care for fangirls if you get a girlfriend."
"Yeah…?" Kaminari blinked twice. "You think I'll get one?"
"~Mmmmmaybe~" Tsunotori teasingly winked at him, making Kaminari feel flustered.
Midoriya glanced between Kaminari and Tsunotori with a small smirk. 'I'm no expert, but I think she's giving you the green light, Denki.'
"Hey, Greenie." Tokage called out. "I'm curious… You say you're nervous, but how were yah feeling when you had to give your speech earlier? Less or more nervous than now?"
Midoriya momentarily pondered that question. "Honestly, more surprised than anything; especially since I wasn't given a heads up about it."
Many people in the locker room perked up, including Shinso from his locker.
"Hold up!" Kendo cut in. "No one told you about the pledge? Are you saying you said everything you did off the top of your head?"
"Yeah. I just spoke from my heart." He said sincerely.
This earned the super-soldier several surprised and impressed looks from people around the room.
"That's…that's incredible." Iida gapped. "To give such a coherent, inspiring speech with no preparation to a national audience? I knew we made the right decision electing you as our class president!" He dramatically exclaimed, clapping his hands.
"Thanks, but let's tone it down a bit, Iida-kun." Midoriya sweat-dropped.
"So giving an impromptu speech on TV is no big deal, but us beating the crap out of each other gets you nervous, Greenie?" Tokage smirked coyly.
"Heh…" Midoriya smiled sheepishly. "When you put it that way, it does sound ridiculous, huh? Guess it's just the pre-game jitters then."
"Pft!" Bakugo snarled, rolling his eyes. "Please… If you can't handle a little spotlight, then this ain't the business for you." He stood up from his stretching stance and marched to the door until he stopped and turned. His lips twitched in annoyance as his gaze went to Midoriya before he closed the door and left.
"He sure has a charming personality." Kendo remarked sardonically.
Midoriya interjected. "To be fair, he's not exactly wrong. Pro Heroes are public servants who will be featured in the news quite a bit. Can't afford to have stage fright."
"Aren't public servants supposed to be just police officers, firefighters, and government workers though?" Kaibara asked confusedly.
"Pro Heroes are government workers, Kaibara-san." Monoma explained. "Still, even though Pros are technically classified as public servants, they're clearly in a different category than those other occupations."
Midoriya side-eyed the blonde man, frowning. The war veteran did not appreciate the tone or the wording behind that statement.
Before he could retort though, a robotic voice came over the intercom. "All finalists please report to the tunnel for the seeding."
Midoriya nodded, adopting a straight face. "Alright everyone," he stood up, "please follow me, Yaoyorozu, Kendo-san, and Shiozaki-san to the field."
"Here they are, folks! Your Sweet Sixteen!" Present Mic exclaimed, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
Aizawa grimaced from his friend's volume. He was happy the students were receiving positive attention, but he could do without damaged eardrums. He was already having to visit Recovery Girl regularly, and he didn't feel like adding hearing loss to his injury list.
The moment the sixteen finalists started walking out of the tunnel, it was like flipping a switch. Most of them sold the image of confidence rather well. Bakugo took point in the group and kept his eyes focused squarely on the center stage. Todoroki followed closely behind with a stiff, upright posture, putting on the image of silent strength along with Bakugo. Neither were smiling or waving, just two scowls etched onto their faces that could rival Endeavor's.
Kendo took her time waving at the crowd and smiling calmly while Shiozaki kept her expression neutral, focused on the stage ahead. Monoma maintained his pompous expression while waving lightly at the crowd, basking in the attention.
The crowd then went into a crescendo as members of Risk Trifecta's Blue Team came out, cheering for Midoriya, Uraraka, Tsunotori, Kaminari, Hatsume, and Shinso as if they were conquering kings and queens.
Midoriya was outwardly unaffected by the attention as he focused on the stage ahead. Uraraka and Tsunotori were tentative, with the former barely managing to wave at the roaring crowd while the latter over exaggerated her waving. Hatsume, with all of her support gear strapped back on, walked out with a confident grin. Shinso was nonchalant as he walked with his hands in his pockets, keeping his attention on the stage.
'Wow… I'm actually in the All-Star Games tournament.' Uraraka mused in astonishment. 'This is so intense.'
'I'm here. To make it this far in the games… I have to prove I have what it takes to be a Pro Hero.' Yaoyorozu's expression hardened in determination.
One by one, the sixteen students lined in front of a square concrete platform with flaming torches lit on each corner. On either side of the ring, outside a square dirt boundary, were two concrete high-rises for the referees to observe the matches.
Midnight stood on the edge of the ring in front of the finalists.
"Congratulations on making it to the tournament! I hope all of you got enough to eat because you're going to need the extra boost. To decide the seeding, the computer will randomly assign numbers to each student." Midnight announced via her microphone. "To those unfamiliar with how seeding works, it'll go 1 versus 16, 2 versus 15, and so on! Now then, kindly direct your attention to the screen!" She pointed to the jumbotron with her flogger-whip.
Via animated graphics, the large screen (and others across the stadium) displayed the order of the fights with names and several brackets appearing, four in each column.
(1) Tsunotori Pony vs (16) Kaminari Denki
(8) Shiozaki Ibara vs (9) Midoriya Izuku
(4) Bakugo Katsuki vs (13) Tokage Setsuna
(5) Iida Tenya vs (12) Kendo Itsuka
(2)Todoroki Shoto vs (15) Honenuki Juzo
(7) Hatsume Mei vs (10) Kaibara Sen
(3) Shinso Hitoshi vs (14) Monoma Neito
(6) Yaoyorozu Momo vs (11) Uraraka Ochako
Midoriya's mouth went into a straight line. 'Shiozaki, huh? That'll be a very tricky matchup, especially in an open ring. One wrong move and I'll be thrown out.'
'So…Ochako is my first opponent.' Yaoyorozu glanced over to her brunette friend, who was also looking at her.
'Of all the people to fight first… Well, best friends or not, I have to give it my all.' Uraraka internally declared.
The two girls momentarily shared a look before adopting resolute expressions, nodding silently at each other. Neither were thrilled about having to fight each other, but both of them had goals they were striving for. And they were determined to reach them, even if it meant defeating their friends.
"Aw man…" Kaminari said morosely. "Well that kinda sucks. You won't hate me if I win, right, Pony-chan?"
"Hmm?" Tsunotori tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Well, I guess just this once."
"Sh*t…" Tokage cursed to herself. "I'm against Bakugo-san. Terrific."
"Huh…?" Bakugo blinked, staring up at the screen in confusion. "Tokage Setsuna? Who the hell is that?"
Tokage overheard the ash-blonde and glanced at him in mild disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"
"Bakugo! How rude! You should take the time to learn the name of your classmates!" Iida chastised.
Bakugo shrugged uncaringly. "Doesn't matter. You're all just extras either way."
Tokage glared daggers at the explosive blonde. However, though Bakugo's arrogant boasting and rotten attitude irked her to no end, she acknowledged that he would be a very tough opponent to beat. Her chances weren't looking good. 'Seriously, of all the people to face in the First-Round…'
The greenette then turned to Midoriya with a sheepish smile. "Hey…uh, got any tips, Greenie?" She whispered to him.
The super-soldier nodded. "A few. Split yourself up and inflict quick and decisive blows and keep his hands from pointing directly at you. Also, I've noticed he tends to lead with his right."
Well, it was something. She would work with that and go from there. "Good to know." She gave him a thumbs-up, winking. "Thanks."
"And there you have it, folks! We have our First-Round matches! In just a few short minutes, our sixteen All-Stars will show us their stuff with no punches pulled!"
"The first match will start in five minutes. Kaminari Denki and Tsunotori Pony remain on the field. Everyone else who isn't about to start a match, head to your assigned sections with your classes." Aizawa instructed.
"Moving on, let's explain the rules!" Mic picked back up. "The fight ends when one competitor is unable to continue, surrenders, or is forced out of bounds. Also, the lovely Midnight and our good friend Cementoss will be acting as referee in case things get out of hand. Just don't do toomuch damage to each other, or Recovery Girl will let you have it!
"These fights are gonna be big, loud, and PLUS ULTRA! So, don't you dare change that channel, dear listeners and viewers! We've got the next generation of Heroes coming right up!" From there, Mic transitioned to thanking the dozens of sponsors that gave money to host the broadcast.
Tsunotori took a deep breath and smiled at her friends. "Guess this is it. See you guys later."
"Do your best, Pony!" Tokage gave her a thumbs-up. "You too, Sparky!"
"Yeah, you got this, Pony!" Uraraka encouraged cheerfully. "Oh… Do your best too, Kaminari!"
"Hey, Pony! Don't you dare hold back because of you-know-what." Ashido winked teasingly.
Tsunotori giggled sheepishly. "I won't."
Kaminari cocked a brow, confused. 'What are they talking about?'
In a room designated for the security team, the Pro Heroes on break watched the broadcast display the seeded sixteen-slot bracket with an advertisement popup in the corner.
"So, who are you guys picking to win?" Death Arms asked, taking a drink from a water bottle.
"Definitely Endeavor's kid," one Hero replied. "I mean, it's the most obvious choice."
"Is it? He wasn't all that great in the second event, and he didn't even place in the top 5 in the race." Another pointed out.
"What about that first-place student? Midoriya?" A third piped in. "He's excelled in both events."
"He's a former soldier too," another added, "so he likely has more experience in combat than the other students do."
"Eh." The first one wasn't convinced. "I'll give the guy credit for doing well so far, but this type of setting favors the real powerhouses. The other two events just didn't really showcase Todoroki's abilities. Winning the whole thing should be a breeze for him."
"If it's powerhouses we're talking about, I'm betting on that explosive kid." Commented another hero, who was munching on some chips. "That Quirk is versatile as Hell, and he looks like he knows how to use it too."
"I can agree with that, though he seems to have some anger issues." Death Arms remarked.
A female Hero glanced over to Kamui Woods. "What about you, Kamui? Who do you think will win?"
"Hmm…" Kamui rubbed the underside of his chin thoughtfully. "If I had to pick…I'd say Midoriya."
Several Heroes turned to look at the arbored Hero, looking surprised.
"Really? I get that he's done well and he's trending online and all, but the girl with vines is his first opponent. Yah sure he can get past her?" one Hero asked, sounding dubious.
"I won't say it'll be easy for him…but Midoriya-san has been surprising all of us so far." Kamui reasoned. "Perhaps he has more surprises in store."
"I'm not convinced." Another female Hero walked into the lunch area.
She was a curvaceous woman with golden eyes and vertically slit pupils, and long blonde hair styled in curly locks in the back with three snakes (a rattlesnake, a yellow King cobra snake, and a Japanese rat snake) protruding from the top. Her Costume consisted of a maroon dress with scale-like details, matching high heels, and golden snake-like bracelets on her wrists and ankles.
Uwabami, the Snake Hero, looked up at the TV which was currently showing pictures of all sixteen finalists with their names and seed numbers on brackets with four on each side. She focused on Midoriya's slot with a scrutinizing gaze.
"He just seems, what's the word…plain." She sighed. "He doesn't look as delectable as some of those other prospects. Are you sure you didn't just pick him because his green hair pairs well with your brown color scheme, Kamui?"
Kamui huffed and rolled his eyes. "Of course not. I'm not superficial like that."
"She does have a point though. He is kinda plain looking," another Hero commented. "I mean, sure he's strong and clearly skilled, but you gotta admit in our business appearances are a factor in whether you become popular or not. Compared to some of those other students…well, yeah."
"What are you talking about?" Mt. Lady jumped in, sounding annoyed. "Those freckles are cute paired with that masculine face. Add that to his dreamy body, and he'll definitely get attention from folks; especially the ladies."
"Hmm…I didn't think you'd be attracted to that type." Uwabami hummed. "My point stands though. In terms of his Quirk and appearance, Midoriya is not as eye-catching as some of the other competitors."
Mt. Lady huffed and looked away. 'Seriously, that b*tch has no taste.'
"Getting back on topic," said Death Arms, "if we're picking winners, I'm betting on Todoroki. He's way too strong and got too much training not to win."
"Same! 1000 yen on Todoroki Shoto!"
"1500 yen on the explosive kid, Bakugo!"
"Heh. I'll get in on this too. Put me in for 2000 yen on Todoroki!"
Soon, the bets were going off in all directions amongst the Pro Heroes. And, despite Todoroki and Bakugo's placements in prior two events, both young men were the two favorites to win it all with Todoroki gaining an edge in votes.
"It's time, dear listeners! I hope you got something to eat and went to the bathroom–with all the excitement to come, you may not be able to hold it in!"
"Gross." Aizawa muttered.
"It's time for the final event! A one-on-one where you can only depend on yourself! The crème de la crème will duke it out for the top using heart, skill, body, and knowledge! But enough pontificating, let's get the tournament round started!" Present Mic sent the crowd into a frenzy. "We're kicking things off with two students from the Hero Course's Class 101-A AND members of Risk Trifecta's conquering Blue Team!"
Around the newly finished fighting arena, large pillars of fire shot up into the air. The pyrotechnics further fueled the excitement in the stadium.
"She's the cute equestrian all the way from the U-S-of-A! Don't mess with her or you'll get the horns–which can fly?! Tsunotori Pony! Versus! He's the living electric generator of Class A! Let's just hope he doesn't short out on us–Kaminari Denki!"
Both Kaminari and Tsunotori took their positions in the ring, eying each other in anticipation for the start of the match.
'No more beating around the bush.' Kaminari internally resolved.
"Hey, Pony!" He called out. "Even though we're friends and we were teammates earlier, I'm not taking it easy on yah. But I have a proposition for you."
"Oh?" She tilted her head to the side, somehow making her look cuter. "Like what?"
"Loser has to do whatever the winner tells them!" Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, "Well…as long as it's not illegal or anything."
Tsunotori blinked twice in surprise before a small grin crossed her face. "Alright, I can agree to that."
"Heh." Kaminari smirked confidently. 'After I win, I'm definitely taking you out on a proper date.'
"Just be ready to do what I say when I win." He confidently declared.
"That's if you can hit me. If not, you're nothing but sparks and hot air." She retorted, sporting a roguish grin.
'Yeesh! That was kind of harsh… Still, she has a point. I can't fool around with her for long, especially since she can fly.' Kaminari deduced. 'I should try and end this fight as quickly as possible.'
From her place on a concrete high-rise, Midnight quickly reiterated the rules and looked between both blondes. "If both fighters are ready," she held up her flogger-whip, "then let the first match…BEGIN!" She brought down the whip.
"No sense in playing around!" Kaminari immediately started powering up, lightning arced all around his body. "Indiscriminate Shock 100,000 Volts!"
Over the past two weeks, Kaminari learned that he didn't need to always resort to his maximum output, with or without his support gear. Controlling how much electricity he released would prevent him from frying his brain while also training himself to handle more power.
As lightning began pouring out over the ring, Tsunotori had already detached two horns and jumped on them to take off–narrowly avoiding a few stray bolts. She had already anticipated Kaminari's first move and had prepared herself to get airborne as soon as the match started. This would keep her safe from her opponent's electricity while simultaneously rendering his attacks useless.
'This is game.' Another pair of horns popped off Tsunotori's head as she guided them toward her opponent. The curved horns hooked underneath Kaminari's armpits and swiftly yanked him off his feet.
Before Kaminari could even retaliate, he had already been pulled off the arena. Tsunotori released her telekinetic control of the horns, sending him tumbling backwards in a heap.
Midnight raised her whip. "Kaminari is out of bounds! Tsunotori advances to the next round!"
"WOW! And just like that it's over already?! If you blinked, I'm sorry folks, then you just missed what happened!" Mic announced. "Let's give it up for Tsunotori Pony, the first student to advance to the Quarterfinals!"
"Ugh…" Kaminari sat up from the grass, wincing from the rough landing and headache he now had. "Well… That was lame." He sighed in disappointment.
Tsunotori flew in front of him and jumped off her horns, extending her hand out to him. "You won't hate me cause I won, right?" She threw his words from earlier back at him.
Kaminari grinned a little. Yeah, he probably deserved that. He took the hand as she pulled him back to her feet. Wow, he forgot how much strength she had in those deceptively cute arms.
'Working on a ranch has its perks, I guess.' He mused.
"So…" She grinned smugly. "About that bet. Got any plans this Saturday?"
"Uh, no. Not really."
"Good! My birthday is actually this Sunday." Tsunotori chirped. "And you're gonna take me out on a shopping spree the day before. So… Hope you have some money saved up." She winked at him.
Kaminari blinked twice, and then suddenly felt his excitement build. 'Hold on! Is she asking me out on a date? Freaking score!' He then paused when he remembered her mentioning 'shopping spree'. 'Oh… My poor allowance.'
Looks like he'll need to break the piggy bank. He wasn't too happy about that. Once glance at Tsunotori's cute happy expression however drove that negative thought away.
'Eh… Worth it!' A goofy grin crossed then his face.
From Class 101-A's private suite box, the students watched the match through the large window that provided an excellent view of the arena. The room itself was luxurious with air conditioning, refreshments in the back, and enough comfortable seating for everyone.
"Welp, that was fast." Tokage uttered before smiling widely. "That was kick ass, Pony-chan!" She waved.
"Pony-chan certainly didn't waste any time. Kero." Asui noted.
"Those who strike first are often victorious." Tokoyami muttered; arms crossed as his head hung low. He sported a few bandages from his injuries in Risk Trifecta but appeared mostly fine otherwise.
Ashido felt her love radar going off again as she eyed both Kaminari and Tsunotori laughing and smiling…and standing much closer than usual.
A Cheshire grin crossed her pink face. 'Thatta girl!'
Kirishima glanced at his girlfriend and sweat-dropped. 'I know that look. She just can't help herself, huh?'
Jiro, meanwhile, clenched her left fist and grimaced. 'Damn… I really am getting left behind.' At that moment, the rocker girl was considering asking for advice on how to handle her complicated situation. 'Seriously, out of all guys, why him?'
"I'm happy Pony-chan won and all… but I'm kind of disappointed the match didn't last very long." Uraraka commented. 'Izuku has no time to prepare for the Class B girl.'
Bakugo rested his chin on his palm, looking bored. "Of course this lame fight was going to end quickly. Why else do you think they slated it first?"
"Huh? What do you mean, Bakugo?" Kirishima asked curiously.
"Tch!" The ash-blonde clicked his tongue. "Horns can fly, Sh*tty Hair. The moment she got in the air, it was already over for Lightning Dolt."
"Though I disagree with his crude nicknames, Bakugo-san has a point." Yaoyorozu advocated. "Without any way to channel his electricity, Kaminari-kun had no way of overcoming Pony-chan's aerial superiority. This outcome was to be expected."
"Shiozaki Ibara, Midoriya Izuku, please make your way to the field." A robotic voice said over the intercom. "Bakugo Katsuki, Tokage Setsuna, please report to your waiting rooms."
With an apathetic grunt, Bakugo stood up and began walking down the stair aisle to the exit.
"Good luck, you two!" Kirishima called out.
"I don't need your damn luck." Bakugo remarked.
Jiro rolled her eyes. "Seriously, dude. Can't you turn off the douche for five minutes?"
"F**k you, Ears." Bakugo spat.
"Bakugo, language!" Iida scolded, which fell on deaf ears as Bakugo promptly left the room.
Tokage then stood up from her own seat, sighing heavily. "Guess I should start heading down now."
"Kick some butt, Setsuna-chan!" Uraraka cheered, pumping a fist.
"You got this, girlfriend!" Ashido beamed brightly.
Yaoyorozu's expression softened as she smiled. "Do your best, Setsuna."
"Good luck down there." Jiro added while leaning back in her seat.
Being told good luck from several more friends and classmates, Tokage gave a thumbs-up and walked out of the suite.
The class turned their attention to the large jumbotron that highlighted the upcoming match on the brackets.
Shiozaki Ibara vs Midoriya Izuku
Yaoyorozu frowned lightly, which didn't go unnoticed by Uraraka.
"Something wrong, Yaomomo?" She inquired.
The ravenette focused on her with her slate-grey eyes. "Shiozaki was a huge asset for our team in Risk Trifecta. Even though she didn't necessarily fight with her Quirk, she's still…" She bit her lip in concern, eyes looking down.
Uraraka tilted her head in confusion. "She's still what?"
"Midoriya will lose this match." Todoroki cut in, and everyone's eyes were on him. He sat in the front row by himself, his attention focused on the arena.
Yaoyorozu nodded, her face expressing resignation. "Yes…"
"C'mon!" Uraraka's tone became sterner. "We don't know that for certain."
"As much as I want to support our Class President and friend," Iida adjusted his glasses, "I have to be realistic. Given the setting of this match, the chances of him winning are slim at best, I'm afraid."
"Shiozaki's Quirk is ridiculously OP. Saw that up close and personal." Jiro added. "All she has to do is wrap Midoriya up and throw him out of the ring."
"And Midoriya is lacking his shield as well." Tokoyami added, eyes closed as he continued to relax.
"Kero. Chances aren't looking good for him." Asui stated.
Uraraka looked around at her classmates, noting how by their expression they were seemingly convinced Midoriya would lose. She could understand where they were coming from, but still… She looked down at the arena to see Midoriya and Shiozaki stepping out of their respective tunnels.
The brunette clenched her blue pants, beginning to feel uneasy about the upcoming match. For Midoriya to win the first two events so convincingly up to this point and be eliminated in the First-Round…it sucked!
The door to the suite suddenly opened and everyone turned to see Tsunotori and Kaminari standing at the doorway.
"Izuku's match hasn't started yet, right?" Tsunotori asked.
"Negative!" Iida responded. "Midoriya-kun and Shiozaki-san are just making their way to the field."
Both blondes sighed in relief as they fully entered the room, Kaminari closing the door behind him.
"Congrats on the V, Pony!" Ashido congratulated her. "You sure took care of business down there."
"Thanks!" Tsunotori smiled as she walked down the aisle stairway, finding a place to sit near her friends. "I knew I couldn't mess around with Denki's electricity and all, so I had to fly him out ASAP."
Iida nodded in agreement. "A sound move on your part."
"You alright with the loss though, Kaminari?" Sero asked.
"Yeah," Kirishima added, "you didn't even get a hit in."
"Eh." Kaminari shrugged, heading to the refreshment stand to grab a couple of water bottles. "It sucks, sure. But I made it to the top sixteen in my first All-Star Games. That's something to be proud of, right?"
"Indeed!" Iida waved his hand wildly, and Uraraka had to lean out of the way to avoid getting chopped on the head. "You have much to be proud of. And, like the rest of us, you still have plenty of room to grow for next year's Games."
"I hope everyone's back in their seats because we're about to kick off the next match!" Present Mic brought them back to the present.
Kaminari took a seat next to Tsunotori, handing her a water bottle. "Sweet! Can't wait to see how Midori-bro's match goes." He said excitedly.
"I wouldn't get too excited, man." Mineta remarked, reclining in his seat with a bored look. "He's gotta fight the hot vine girl from Class B." He then murmured to himself how he wished he could be wrapped up in her vines, earning a slap from Asui's tongue.
"Oh yeah." Tsunotori became nervous. "Shiozaki-san is pretty strong. She's a Recommendation Student too from what I've heard."
"Not surprised." Jiro said. "Honestly, I'm not sure how Midoriya can win this, even if he had his shield."
"Oui. C'est malheureux." Aoyama shook his head. "What is a knight without his sword and shield?"
Kaminari blinked, glancing at the French-Japanese man with partial confusion. "Uh, wouldn't he still be a knight?"
"Doofus." Jiro rolled her eyes. "How's a knight supposed to protect anyone without weapons?"
"Actually," Tsunotori chimed in, "Denki has a point. A knight's more than just his weapons, right?"
Several people paused as that statement sunk in for them; it was simple yet an impactful point of reason.
Yaoyorozu lowered her head and tapped her chin in a thoughtful manner. 'That is true. Ever since the start of the games, Izuku hasn't shown any distress over not having his shield. Still, could he find a way to win against Shiozaki without it?' She speculated over several possibilities on how Midoriya could pull off a startling upset.
Uraraka suddenly recalled the times when Midoriya defeated Bakugo in the Battle Trials, his vitality during the USJ incident, and most recently his domination of the prior two events today.
In each of those scenarios, the odds were stacked against him…and yet he had still found a way to achieve victory.
Uraraka then adopted a determined expression. Kaminari was right! Midoriya was more than a shield, and the brunette felt silly for questioning her soldier friend. 'I don't know how, but I know if anyone can find a way to win this match, it's you, Izuku!'
Todoroki, meanwhile, remained silent as he eyed Midoriya stepping onto the arena.
"I welcome the challenge, Todoroki-san. But I'm not your only competition here. Everyone else in this room is aiming to win too. I wouldn't overlook them if I were you. Also…shield or no shield, I'm going to give these games everything I have. I won't hold back…Can you say the same?"
Those words played through his mind.
The Half Cold-Half Hot user narrowed his dual-colored gaze and blocked out everything else, giving his undivided attention to the upcoming match.