Chapter 40: The Calm Before the Final Storm
The one-hour break was a strange pocket of time, an eye in the hurricane of the Sports Festival. For the forty-two students who had qualified, it was a precious, fleeting opportunity to rest, strategize, and process the chaotic battle they had just endured. The roar of the stadium had been replaced by the noisy, excited chatter of the corridors and cafeterias, where the air was thick with the smell of festival food and the buzz of a thousand different conversations.
Itsuka Kendo and Ibara Shiozaki navigated the crowded hallways, their expressions a mixture of relief and pride. They had done it. Their reckless, impossible gamble had paid off, securing them a place in the final tournament.
"I still can't believe we pulled that off," Kendo said, shaking her head with a laugh. "My heart was about to pound out of my chest in that last minute."
"The path we chose was fraught with adversity," Ibara replied, her voice a calm, serene melody amidst the surrounding noise. "But the roots of our teamwork held fast against the storm. It was a righteous victory." Her eyes scanned the passing faces. "We should find Lee-kun and Kaminari-san. It is only proper that we thank them for their part."
As they turned a corner, however, they were forced to a sudden halt. A figure stood before them that seemed to suck all the warmth and noise from the hallway, a walking inferno of muscle and scowling intensity. His hero costume was wreathed in literal flames, and his presence was so overwhelming that the students around them instinctively gave him a wide berth. It was the Number Two Hero, Endeavor.
His piercing turquoise eyes, burning with a cold fire, swept over them with dismissive impatience. "You two," he grunted, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "Have you seen Shoto?"
Kendo and Ibara exchanged a quick, nervous glance. "Todoroki-kun?" Kendo replied, her usual confidence wavering slightly under his crushing presence. "Uh, no, sir. We are not in the same class."
Endeavor let out a disgusted "Tch," as if their very existence was an inconvenience. He turned and stomped away without another word, his fiery aura leaving a trail of oppressive heat in his wake. The two girls let out a collective breath they didn't realize they had been holding.
"Goodness," Ibara whispered. "His spirit is… a raging conflagration."
"No wonder Todoroki-kun is so intense," Kendo muttered, her expression a mix of sympathy and understanding. "Come on, let's find the others."
They didn't have to look for long. Further down the corridor, they heard a familiar, cheerful voice.
"—are you really sure about this, man? It seems kinda… extra."
"Yes," another voice replied, calm and resolute. "I will feel braver this way."
Kendo and Ibara rounded another corner and saw them. Denki Kaminari was walking beside Rock Lee, who was carrying his folded, green U.A. gym uniform in his hands with the care one might afford a sacred relic.
"Lee-kun! Kaminari-san!" Kendo called out, a relieved smile on her face.
The two boys stopped. "Hey, guys! We were just looking for you!" Kaminari said with a wide grin.
Kendo's eyes fell to the uniform in Lee's hands. "What are you doing with that, Lee-kun? Aren't you going to wear your hero costume for the tournament?"
Lee held up the simple, green jumpsuit. "This is my hero costume," he stated with a quiet, unshakeable pride. "I wish to participate in the final round while wearing it."
Ibara tilted her head, her expression gentle but confused. "But the regulations for the final event require us to wear our official, registered costumes. It is to help the Pro Heroes watching identify us and assess the utility of our designs."
"That is true," Lee acknowledged. "Which is why I have received special permission. Kaminari-kun was kind enough to help me find the officials' room." He explained, "I have already spoken with Midnight-sensei. I am on my way to have her inspect it now to ensure it complies with the rules."
Kaminari threw an arm around Lee's shoulder. "I figured since it's technically also athletic wear, there was a good chance they'd approve it! It's a pretty cool statement, right? Winning in your gym clothes!" He then looked at the two girls. "So, what were you guys up to, anyway?"
Kendo's expression softened, and she gave Lee a deep, respectful look. "We were looking for you," she said, her voice sincere. "We wanted to thank you. We are only in this final round because of you, Lee-kun. We owe you our gratitude."
"Indeed," Ibara added with a graceful bow of her head. "Your strength and spirit were a beacon that guided us through the chaos."
A faint, pleased blush touched Lee's cheeks. He shook his head, his smile humble and genuine. "You are mistaken," he said. "We are here because of our teamwork. I was merely the rider. You were the unshakeable horse that carried us all to victory."
Lee found the judges' room, a stark, quiet, and bureaucratic space that felt a world away from the roaring festival outside. A few U.A. officials were busy at a large table, finalizing the tournament bracket. As he entered, one of them looked up.
"Can I help you, contestant?"
"Yes, sir. I am here to see Midnight-sensei, regarding my attire for the tournament."
Before the official could reply, Lee's eyes were drawn to the large magnetic board they were working on. He saw the names, the faces, the carefully arranged lines that would dictate the course of the afternoon. And he saw his own.
His breath caught in his throat. There, in the upper bracket, was his first match. Match 2: Rock Lee vs. Shoto Todoroki.
The world seemed to fall away. Todoroki. The boy of overwhelming, innate talent. The prodigy of ice and, as he had revealed, fire. It was the ultimate test. A fated clash between two opposing ideals: the pinnacle of genetic blessing versus the absolute summit of hard work. A quiet, fierce joy, purer than any he had ever felt, ignited in his heart.
"—Lee-kun? Are you with us?"
He blinked, snapping out of his daze. Midnight was standing before him, a playful smirk on her face. An official had already taken the completed bracket and was heading out the door to deliver it to the production team.
"So, this is the famous uniform," she said, her eyes glancing at the green jumpsuit in his hands. He had been so lost in thought about his fated opponent that he hadn't even heard her approach.
"Ah, yes, Sensei!" he said, quickly regaining his composure and holding it out for her.
She took it, her examination professional and swift. She felt the material, checked the seams. "It's a standard-issue physical education uniform. Durable, breathable material. No hidden support items, no unauthorized technology…" She looked up at him, her expression one of genuine curiosity. "It offers no protection whatsoever. You understand that, correct? Your opponents will not be holding back."
"Yes, Sensei. I understand completely."
She handed it back to him with a shrug and a smile. "Very well. Your request is approved. It is an unusual choice, but there's nothing in the rules against wanting to feel brave. Good luck, Rock Lee. I have a feeling your match is going to be an interesting one."
As Lee left the room, his mind still buzzing, the voice of Present Mic, amplified and god-like, suddenly boomed through the corridors.
"ALRIGHT, LISTENERS! THE LUNCH BREAK IS OFFICIALLY OVER! ARE YOU READY FOR THE FINAL EVENT?! A NO-HOLDS-BARRED, ONE-ON-ONE TOURNAMENT BRACKET OF PURE HEROIC COMBAT!"
Lee made his way to the designated waiting rooms for the first set of competitors. His match was second, so he needed to be ready. He pushed open the door to Waiting Room 2 and found he was not alone.
Izuku Midoriya sat on a bench, his head in his hands, muttering to himself in a low, frantic litany of strategies and counter-strategies. He looked up, startled, as Lee entered.
"Ah, Lee-kun! Congratulations again on first place!" he said, his voice flustered.
"And to you as well for qualifying, Midoriya-kun," Lee replied with a warm smile. He began to change out of his gym uniform and into the identical, but fresh and clean, green jumpsuit he had just had approved. "Your first match is against Shinso-kun from the General Department, is it not?"
Midoriya nodded, a worried look on his face. "Yes. His Quirk is unknown. All I know is that he made it to the finals without standing out at all… that's the most terrifying kind of opponent." He looked at Lee, who was now dressed in his simple green attire, looking completely calm. "Aren't you… nervous, Lee-kun? Your opponent is Todoroki-kun."
Lee finished tying his belt, his movements sure and steady. He looked at Midoriya, his dark eyes shining with an honest, powerful light. The thought of facing Todoroki didn't bring him fear. It brought him joy.
"I am not nervous," he said simply. "I am grateful. To be able to test the full extent of my hard work against a genius of his caliber on a stage like this… it is the greatest honor I could have asked for." He turned to Midoriya, his smile bright and encouraging. "Do not worry about your opponent's power. Worry only about giving your own absolute best." He pumped a fist. "Let us meet in the next round, Midoriya-kun!"
Midoriya stared, speechless. The sheer, unshakeable confidence radiating from Lee, even in the face of an opponent like Todoroki, was infectious. It was a confidence born not of arrogance, but of a complete and total belief in his own path. A slow, determined smile spread across Midoriya's own face, his earlier anxieties washed away by a new wave of motivation.
"Right!"
High up in the stadium stands, amidst the roaring, anonymous crowd, Sora Aokawa and Mr. Tanaka found their seats. They were excellent seats, near the front, with a perfect, unobstructed view of the arena floor. Sora's gaze was like a hawk's, scanning the field, the giant screens, the entrances to the waiting room tunnels. The noisy, festive atmosphere was a world away from the quiet solitude of her dojo.
"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?" Mr. Tanaka commented, a satisfied look on his face as he took in the scene.
Sora didn't answer. Her eyes were locked on the giant screen as Present Mic's voice boomed, announcing the first match of the final tournament. Her expression was a mask of intense, unreadable focus. Her student, her impossible project, her pride, was about to step onto the world stage once more. And this time, she was here to watch it with her own eyes.