Ace navigated the crowded stadium, trying to get a better view of the competitors as the first event drew to a close. Okay, the Obstacle Race is done, he thought. Time to see what happens next.
Present Mic's voice boomed, announcing that the next event would begin in an hour: the Cavalry Battle. Students would form teams of four, with each team member taking on a specific role: rider, horse, and so on. The goal was to steal headbands from other teams while protecting their own. The point values of the headbands would determine the rankings, and the top four teams would advance to the final round. As Present Mic said, attacks intended to make teams fall were prohibited.
Ace settled back in his seat next to Ami, watching as the students began to strategize and form their teams. "So, what do you think, Ace?" Ami asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Who do you think will win?"
"I don't know," Ace replied, his gaze fixed on the competitors. "There are a lot of strong contenders. Todoroki, Bakugo… Midoriya, of course."
And Mineta, he added silently. The anomaly he'd observed earlier was now his primary focus. He had to figure out what was going on with that kid.
Present Mic's voice rang out again, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, listeners! Let's get down to business and announce the point distribution for the Cavalry Battle!"
A hush fell over the stadium as the screen displayed the point values. The crowd gasped, and Ace felt a smirk tug at the corner of his lips. The point distribution mirrored exactly what he remembered from the anime. The team in first place—Izuku Midoriya—was worth a staggering 10,000,000 points. The team in second place? A measly 205 points.
Yep, just like I remember, Ace thought. He wasn't surprised. Even in this altered version of the My Hero Academia world, some things remained the same. The sheer absurdity of the point distribution was one of those things.
Still, even with the familiar setup, Mineta's performance continued to nag at him. His enhanced abilities, his unexpected success in the Obstacle Race… it all pointed to something being amiss. He just couldn't shake the feeling that an Imagin was involved.
As the teams began to form, Ace watched Mineta with renewed interest. The perverted student teamed up with two unlikely allies: Tsuyu Asui, the frog-like girl with a calm demeanor and long green hair, and Mezo Shoji, a tall, muscular student with multiple arms and a quiet personality. Together, they formed a formidable team.
Interesting combination, Ace thought. Tsuyu's agility and Shoji's sensory abilities could compensate for Mineta's lack of physical strength. But still, something didn't feel right. Mineta was at the center of it.
"What do you think of that team, Ace?" Ami asked, pointing to Mineta, Asui and Shoji. "They seem like an odd bunch, but they could be a dark horse in this competition!"
Ace shrugged, trying to mask his unease. "We'll see. It's all about teamwork and strategy, right?"
Present Mic's voice exploded over the speakers, signaling the start of the Cavalry Battle. "Alright, listeners! Let the games begin!"
The stadium erupted in a cacophony of shouts, cheers, and the thunderous pounding of hooves. Teams charged at each other, vying for position and targeting the headbands of their rivals. Chaos reigned supreme.
As expected, most teams zeroed in on Izuku Midoriya and his 10,000,000 points. Ace, however, remained fixated on Mineta. He watched as Mineta and his team maneuvered through the fray, dodging attacks and using their Quirks with surprising coordination.
Asui used her tongue to grab headbands from unsuspecting opponents, while Shoji used his multiple arms to defend against incoming attacks. But it was Mineta who caught Ace's attention. The student now used his vine-like abilities to snatch headbands from other teams with incredible speed and precision, swinging around in ways that defied his short stature. And his grape-like spheres now had the added ability to detonate on impact, spreading sticky substances that immobilized opponents.
What?, Ace thought, his eyes narrowing. Those abilities weren't there before. The exploding grapes, the vines… it's all new. It has to be due to an Imagin.
His suspicions deepened with each passing moment. Mineta's team was not only performing well, they were dominating. They were sweeping up points left and right, and the student now commanded everyone's attention.
Izuku's team struggled to evade the relentless onslaught of attackers, Todoroki's team pursued the 10,000,000 points with unwavering determination, Bakugo's team fought aggressively to maintain their position, and Mineta's team swept points, even overtaking Bakugo's team.
Ace watched closely, a storm brewing inside his mind. Was Mineta's enhanced performance solely due to the influence of an Imagin? Or was there something else at play? Was this simply an alternate version of the My Hero Academia world, where Mineta possessed different abilities and a different destiny?
The battle raged on, the tension palpable in the air. Ace was torn between the possibility that this was an Imagin's influence or that this was simply an alternate version of the My Hero Academia world.
Present Mic's voice cut through the chaos, announcing that the Cavalry Battle was coming to an end. "Alright, listeners! Time's almost up! Give it your all!"
The final moments were a blur of frantic action. Teams launched desperate attacks, Quirks collided, and the stadium erupted in a deafening roar.
Then, silence.
Present Mic's voice boomed again, signaling the end of the event. "And that's it, folks! The Cavalry Battle is over!"
The screen displayed the final rankings. The crowd gasped in shock. The top four teams advancing to the next round were: Team Todoroki, Team Mineta, Team Shinso, and Team Midoriya.
Ace stared at the screen, his mind reeling. What the hell just happened?
In the original anime, Bakugo's team was supposed to be in the top four. Instead, Mineta's team had taken their place. This was a major deviation from the events he remembered. This wasn't a small change, a minor alteration. This was a full-blown paradox.
Bakugo's face contorted with rage. He screamed and cursed, venting his frustration. The audience was left in shocked silence.
Ami turned to Ace, her expression a mixture of surprise and excitement. "Wow, Ace! Can you believe it? Mineta's team made it to the top four! I didn't see that coming!"
Ace forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil churning within him. "Yeah, it was… unexpected," he said, his voice strained.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The unexpected outcome of the Cavalry Battle, the erasure of Bakugo's team from the top four… it was all too much to ignore. It was undeniable proof that something had fundamentally altered the course of events in this world.
Ace glanced at Mineta, who was celebrating with his teammates, his face beaming with pride. A shiver ran down Ace's spine. He couldn't shake the feeling that the boy was at the center of this distortion.
"Hey, Ace," Ami said, nudging him gently. "Are you okay? You seem a little… tense."
"I'm fine," Ace replied, his voice clipped. "Just… a lot to take in, that's all."
The crowd began to disperse, heading for the food stalls and merchandise booths. Ace knew he couldn't stay here any longer. He needed to investigate, to uncover the truth behind the discrepancies he was witnessing.
"Ami," Ace said, standing up. "I'm going to… take a walk, clear my head. I'll be back later."
Ami looked at him with concern, but nodded. "Alright, Ace. Take care of yourself."
Ace nodded and made his way through the crowd, heading for the exit. He needed to get away from the stadium, away from the noise and the chaos. He needed to think, to strategize, to figure out what to do next.
He had to find a way to get close to Mineta. If he could somehow get close enough, he could potentially let Momotaros or Ryutaros take a quick peek. Those two had the best noses for Imagin activity. That was the only way he could verify whether or not the kid had made a contract with one of those time-bending monsters.
The problem? He couldn't just stroll into the student area. It was strictly off-limits for regular guests like him and Ami. The security was probably tighter than Fort Knox. It was a no-go.
Just as his frustration reached its peak, his phone buzzed. A message from Yu. [Mt. Lady]: Hey, Ace! On break. Wanna hang? 😉
A slow grin spread across Ace's face. He looked around the stadium. The restricted student area and the message suddenly linked. A golden opportunity presented itself.
Well, well, Ace mused. Looks like I just found my ticket inside.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz