Hundreds of thousands gathered -- be it the quirkless, pro heroes, or agency employees -- all in anticipation of seeing what UA had to offer this year. The guys and I were a bit bummed that we couldn't wear our costumes during the festival, but I guess it made things fair. Regardless, it's not like my costume gave me any sort of advantage in a fight, outside of the lenses helping me maintain focus while I move at high speeds. Really, I just wanted to show off how cool I looked with it on.
Right off the jump, Todoroki made a scene by proclaiming to Midoriya that he was stronger than him, yet he was looking forward to beating him in the competition. I think that was the first time I ever heard the guy say a full sentence. Before he left, he mumbled something about the festival not being a "team effort", setting the tone for the rest of us.
Midoriya started going on about how we all needed to fight to stand out, which he was right about. When he proclaimed to Todoroki that he planned on beating him as well, I hate to admit it, but it lit a fire within me. All of these guys wanted to win just as badly as I did -- not just the guys, but the girls too. It hit me then that for the first time, my classmates were no longer my friends, but my adversaries.
Triumphantly, class 1-A stepped out of the tunnel into the stadium. Immediately, we were bombarded by the audience's screams. I'd never seen such a crowd in my life, and I'd been to a few sporting events. Everyone but Midoriya seemed to be keeping their cool, so I did the same.
The other classes step out as well, eyeing us as if we were the main villains. It made sense; they didn't get into 1-A and wanted our spots. I'd be damned before I let them have mine.
What was shocking was how Bakugo was chosen as the class representative. With his hands in his pockets, he stomped onto center stage and said something unbelievable.
"All I know is... I'm going to win."
I buried my face in my hands as the other classes looked at the rest of us as if we were as cocky as him. Sure, I wanted to win and I was confident, but I wasn't going to tell the whole world that!
Regardless, Bakugo's cockiness only added more fuel to my fire. I couldn't wait to knock that cocky smirk off his face -- at least, I would have if he had one. Midoriya noticed it too, but Bakugo didn't have that typical arrogant grin of his. No, he was dead serious this time, and I could feel electricity dancing around my body and emanating from the others.
Midnight, wearing her very distracting, skin-tight costume, explained the rules of the first event while swooning all the men in the audience. Oh, and Mineta. The first challenge was to run a lap around the arena, which sounded easy, but I figured there was a catch, and I was correct.
The race began, and we all dashed toward the cramped doorway of the stadium's exit. Bodies were pushing against each other like sardines in a can, and those with movement-based Quirks were able to fly above the sea of racers. Luckily for me, I was able to swing over the crowd without any issue, giving me a hefty lead right off the bat. Beneath me, I saw Todoroki skating on his ice, freezing everyone on the ground where they stood. He and I made eye contact briefly, and I'm certain I saw him scoff as his icy glare met mine.
Bakugo blasted through the pack using his explosions to propel himself forward, and before I knew it, I saw Momo shooting herself forward using a pole she'd generated using her Quirk. She glanced at me, her face stoic until her eyes met mine. She grinned at me as she propelled herself forward, almost as if to say, "I'm not losing to you!".
Before I knew it, every single member of 1-A was ahead of the pack, save for one. I looked back to see Midoriya struggling with the other students. If I were an idiot, I would've been worried about him. The thing about Midoriya is that you can't count him out unless he is dead; even then, I wouldn't dare to.
As I looked back at Midoriya, I could feel that ringing sensation inside my skull.
"My Spider-Sense!" I whispered as my body maneuvered itself to the side, dodging what would've been a very hard-hitting attack from one of those kaiju robots from the entrance exams.
The crowd behind me stopped in their tracks; however, I could see Todoroki skating straight toward the robots as if they were nothing but traffic cones. Without even thinking, I started swinging side to side, avoiding the sweeping robot arms while occasionally using my webs to redirect them.
I thought I was pulling ahead of everyone else, and I would've been if Todoroki didn't exist. The silent, icy assassin had frozen the robots and snuck past them, but I was still on his ass regardless, and he noticed, picking up his pace once we locked eyes.
Again, I looked back. Despite all that talk about wanting to beat everyone, I still wanted them to make it far into the competition. I couldn't help but smile upon seeing everyone in class 1-A ahead of the pack, alongside some others like this kid from 1-B who shot tape from his arms in the same way I shot webs from my wrists. I even saw Midoriya running around the robots and using a broken panel as a shield like that one American hero.
When I looked forward again, there was a massive canyon approaching in the distance. How did UA install a miniature Grand Canyon behind our school? I have no idea. Regardless, my Quirk once again would help me blaze past this obstacle. Using my agility, I jumped from rock to rock, leaping over the seemingly endless pits alongside Todoroki. I laughed to myself as I prepared myself to overtake him, until a loud, obnoxious voice steadily approached from behind me.
"Outta my way, losers! You both suck!" yelled Bakugo as he blasted past the two of us, being the first to land on the other side of the canyon. Todoroki and I picked up our pace, catching up with the loudmouth until we reached a three-way tie. Since there weren't any buildings or trees to swing off of, I had to run on foot.
I could sense Bakugo's frustration as we reached the final obstacle, a mine field. As Todoroki and I hesitated for a millisecond, Bakugo attacked the two of us simultaneously. I dodged while Todoroki blocked. As we stepped on the mine field, the three of us threw attacks at one another, but none of us could land one. It was hard enough trying to engage in a three-way fight, but doing it atop a minefield made things a million times more difficult. Behind us, we could hear mines exploding, releasing a harmless pink cloud of dust on whoever was unlucky enough to step on them.
We ignored the commotion behind us; all that mattered to the three of us was being the one on top. At least, we tried to ignore it all. Out of nowhere, an explosion so powerful caused the Earth to tremble; at first, I thought it was an earthquake. But no, the three of us turned around to see Midoriya flying through the air atop a sheet of metal. I couldn't help but laugh at his ingenuity.
"Is that FUCKING Deku!?" Bakugo screamed.
"Yeah, that's him. See ya, fellas!" I fired a web at Midoriya's board, using him to propel myself forward.
You'd think this would've given Midoriya and me the lead, but I could hear Bakugo's yells closing in on us from behind. If Bakugo was catching up, it's safe to say Todoroki was right there with him.
Once we neared the edge of the minefield, the four of us were neck and neck. Todoroki skated with haste atop a trail of ice while Bakugo propelled his body forward like a rocket. Midoriya was atop his board, muttering about how he was going to make his landing. And me? Well, I was doing the same thing. Midoriya and I were headed straight back down, and we were going to crash into more mines if we didn't act fast.
"I'll just have to take them all out of the running!" Midoriya proclaimed, swinging the board forward while I was still on it. If it weren't for my Spider-Sense, he would've slammed me down with it; however, I was able to leap off of it just before the explosion hit.
The blast propelled Midoriya forward while stunning the other two. As for me, I found myself flailing aimlessly in the air.
I watched as Midoriya's board slammed into the dirt, throwing him to the ground before he came to a rolling stop. Without even thinking, he got up and started running for the finish line.
Damn it, Midoriya. You always have a surprise up your sleeve.
I caught a glimpse of Bakugo and Todoroki; both of them were closing in on Midoriya as he neared the finish line.
But I won't lose to you. I won't let myself lose to either of you!
My body shifted, and I found myself able to control myself once more. I fired two webs forward, both attaching to the ground around Midoriya. He looked back, his eyes wide as I slung myself forward, flying over his head and landing into an immediate sprint.
You can have All Might's Quirk. I didn't need it! If anyone's Quirk is the strongest, it's mine!
I glanced backward, seeing Midoriya and the others in hot pursuit. In front of me, the finish line inched closer. All I needed to do was run ten more meters, and first place would be mine.
However, once again, Midoriya had another trick up his sleeve. There was a flash, and then he zipped past me, taking first place before I could even react. He passed the finish line, and I crossed it a second after he did. Bakugo and Todoroki finished a few seconds after I did.
Midoriya knelt on one knee, and I could see tears running down his face.
He broke his leg just so he could get first place, I thought.
I was wrong. Whenever Midoriya used one hundred percent of his Quirk, his sleeves or pant legs would rip. His were completely intact. He stood up triumphantly, wiping tears from beneath his eyes. I realized then why I lost.
Midoriya wanted it more than I.
He wasn't crying because of the pain; he was crying because all of his work -- all of his training-- had led to this very moment. Had I won, there wouldn't have been a single tear in my eyes. This race meant more to him than the world.
Instead, I smiled and placed a hand on Midoriya's shoulder. "Great work, man. I didn't expect you to launch yourself forward like that. So you finally learned how to control your power?"
Midoriya shook his head. "Far from it. In fact, I planned on breaking my leg if it meant passing you. Somehow, I managed to use my Quirk without that happening. I'm just as surprised as you are."
"Wait... So you WERE going to break your legs just to get first place in the race!? Are you an idiot?"
Midoriya started apologizing profusely like I was his doctor or something. But that only cemented what I had thought earlier.
Midoriya simply wanted it more than I did. And that needed to change.