Bakugo's murderous intentions were successfully thwarted by the combined efforts of Class 1-A.
Eventually, everyone turned back to Midnight once he finished swearing vengeance.
'Hmm. So none of them made it?' Yuta glanced around, seeing none of his classmates.
'Hana didn't make it. Kimura didn't make it. Tanaka didn't make it…'
Not a single familiar face from 1-D in the top forty-two.
He wasn't surprised.
A little disappointed, maybe.
But not surprised.
The Hero Course alone filled forty slots. Only two openings. Statistically? Brutal was an understatement.
'I had expected them to talk to me though.'
His gaze went through the list.
'The only ones who made it from general studies are me ... And .. " his gaze fell to a number at 34th position. 'Shinso huh? ..'
For a moment, their eyes met across the field.
Shinso stood alone, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Yuta raised his hand slightly—a small acknowledgment.
Shinso's eyes narrowed. Then he turned away without a word.
'Right. Not exactly friends.'
Yuta exhaled and refocused on the board
Midnight was explaing the rules in detail. Two to four members, pick your teammates, total points of all members are calculated and written on a headband.
Each team had one headband, losing yours doesn't automatically disqualify you until the timer runs out. 'They're already forming alliances.' Midnight hadn't finished, but people were already shifting. Class 1-A was already clumping together.
He scratched his head. 'Come to think of it, I didn't really think this far ahead.'
The last few days were occupied with unsuccessful Jutsu attempts. Only now did he realize that he hadn't thought of a concrete plan for the sports Festival besides just ... Participating.
'I'm in second place with a strong performance, so I should have some appeal. However, who do I pick to form a team with?'
This ... Was harder than he thought.
Individual performance was important but a Calvary battle emphasized teamwork. The minimum requirement was two people.
Hence, unless there was no other choice or the appeal was far too great, people would associate with those they were familiar with. Oddly enough, he was most familiar with class 1-A even though they had barely met.
'I have a good understanding of their quirks. It's just ..'
Todoroki and Bakugo existed. While his performance was impressive, all he had shown was pure speed. Good, but the hero course had two classmates with even more appeal than him.
If it came to choice, they would no doubt choose their classmates.
Both of them would form good teams with the best of the class.
The rest were honestly less appealing to consider and would be more of a burden than an ally in his view.
'So I'm the one at a disadvantage huh?'
He had no classmates and no friends. It wasn't much of a stretch to say that being from general studies where only two people were good enough to get in was a debuff on its own.
'Yep. Definitely harder than I ..' Someone slapped the mic on the podium. Midnight's voice boomed:
"YOU HAVE FIFTEEN MINUTES TO PICK YOUR TEAMMATES! BEGIN!!"
Students erupted into chaos.
"Be on my team!"
"No, wait—your quirk is useless for carrying!"
"I can serve as the horse."
"Yuichi. Let's team up."
Meanwhile, at Class 1-A
"Team up with me."
"No. Team up with me."
"Come on Bakugo."
"Don't you want me on your team?" At the moment, Bakugo was surrounded by several of his teammates pleading to join him.
Mina, Sero, Shoji, Sato, ... And Aoyama. It seemed that having to defend Ten Million points wasn't much of a deterrent for partnering up.
Bakugo stood motionless in the middle with a stern face.
"Hold on. First .."
He paused. "... Tell me your names and quirks again."
"COME ON. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW OUR NAMES?"
"DO YOU SERIOUSLY NOT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOES ON AROUND YOU?"
"Hmph. Where's the guy with the red hair?"
"Red hair? You mean the one from general studies?"
A vein twitched on his forehead
"THE OTHER ONE YOU IDIOT!"
"Hey. I'm right here."
Kirishima walked over. "It's KIRISHIMA. At least try to remember my name."
"Whatever." Bakugo uttered nonchalantly. "I need a horse. You in?"
"You're gonna be the rider right? Hell yeah. You'll need someone strong enough to handle the recoil of your blasts."
"Hmm. That's about right. Not afraid?"
"Of what? Ten Million?" Kirishima grinned and hardened his hand. "Like hell I am. I'm excited. Nothing's more manly the fending off numerous opponents and standing strong. With my hardening, that can't get any easier."
Bakugo smirked in response.
"Alright then. You'll do."
__
Elsewhere,
Midoriya stood frozen, mind racing.
'Team… team… team… who do I pick? Someone mobile? Someone defensive? Someone with long reach? Maybe—'
"Midoriya!!"
"Wah—!" He flinched as Uraraka stepped in front of him.
"U .. Uraraka san ..."
"Uh huh." The girl nodded. "Do you wanna team up?"
"R-Really? I—yeah! Yes! Thank you!"
"Great! So what's the plan?"
"Well..." Midoriya scratched his head. "We need mobility. And someone who can handle stealing headbands while we move..."
His eyes scanned the crowd.
And landed on Iida.
"Iida!"
The tall boy turned, adjusting his glasses.
"Midoriya? What is it?"
"Would you join our team?"
Iida blinked.
"Your team?"
"Yeah!" Uraraka chimed in. "You, me, and Deku! We just need one more person."
Iida was quiet for a moment, expression thoughtful.
"...What role would I play?"
"Mobility," Midoriya said quickly. "You'd be our main propulsion. With your speed and Uraraka's Zero Gravity, we'd be one of the fastest teams on the field."
Iida's expression shifted.
Not competitive fire—not like what might've sparked if Midoriya had been first place—but thoughtful consideration.
"In truth, I was considering forming my own group, but… your analysis is solid. I believe our quirks could synchronize well."
"That's what we were thinking!" Midoriya said.
"Very well. I accept."
Uraraka cheered.
"Yes! Okay, so who's our fourth?"
"That leaves one role," Iida concluded. "We require someone capable of grabbing headbands."
Midoriya tapped his chin.
"I was thinking either Tokoyami or Asui. Both have versatile quirks that could help with stealing."
"Tsu's over there!" Uraraka pointed.
They hurried over.
"Asui!"
The frog girl turned, finger on her chin.
"Ribbit. Midoriya? What's up?"
"Would you join our team? We need someone with reach and grabbing ability—"
"Sorry," Asui interrupted gently. "I already have a team."
"Oh." Midoriya deflated slightly. "Who?"
"Me, Shoji, and Mineta."
"...Mineta?"
Right on cue, Mineta bounced in behind her, cackling.
"That's right! We're unstoppable! Shoji's mobility, Asui's tongue, and ME! AHAHAHAHAHAHA—"
"W-We should go," Midoriya whispered.
"Yes," Iida agreed instantly.
They backed away and regrouped.
"Looks like Tokoyami it is," Midoriya muttered before heading toward him.
"Let's find him."
They did—standing alone near the edge of the field, Dark Shadow hovering beside him.
"Tokoyami!"
The bird-headed boy turned.
"Midoriya."
"Want to team up? We've got speed, mobility, and Zero Gravity. We just need someone who can grab headbands while we move."
Tokoyami paused.
"What is your strategy?"
"Active point acquisition," Midoriya explained. "We can't just defend. We need to keep moving, keep stealing, and stay unpredictable."
"What about the Ten Million headband?"
Iida asked.
On this point, Midoriya hesitated.
"I don't think we should go for it?"
Iida blinked. "Why not?"
"It's way too dangerous," Midoriya replied. "Even if we steal it, we'll have to defend it the entire match. Unless we do it sometimes towards the end of the calvary battle, but we can't guarantee we'll be successful. Better to go after everyone else and accumulate mid-tier points."
"Hmm. Rational," Iida conceded. "Then let us proceed."
__
Todoroki gathered his team: Momo, Kaminari, and Sato.
"We'll go on the offensive," Todoroki stated. "I'll handle the freezing. Yaoyorozu, create insulation and gear. Kaminari, provide wide-range shocks if we're surrounded. Sato, strength role."
Kaminari scratched his neck. "Uh, are we going after the Ten Million?"
"That's our only goal."
Todoroki answered immediately.
Upon deciding their roles and battle strategies, his gaze drifted—far across the field.
To Yuta.
Surrounded by students from Class 1-B.
__
Two half-teams stood around him—one trio missing a rider, one duo missing a back support.
Neither looked promising.
Both groups spoke over each other:
"Join us! We need a rear support—your speed would let us—"
"No! No! We need a back carrier—your quick acceleration would help us pivot—"
Yuta rubbed his temple.
'Right. This is... awkward.'
He didn't recognize any of them.
Not their faces. Not their names. Probably Class 1-B.
Their quirks seemed functional enough—nothing terrible, nothing amazing.
But here was the problem:
One wanted him as the horse
The other wanted him as the rear support.
'I don't know their names. Their quirks aren't bad… but not exactly helping me. And they want me to be anything but the head rider? Do they not understand how top-three placement works?'
There was teenage pride in it, sure, but also logic .. well, maybe not really much logic. After all, his shown abilities were all based on speed. Wouldn't it be a waste to keep the fastest person on the team on top with restricted movements?
Perhaps if they were people he was familiar with, he would have agreed, but none of these guys even remotely rang a bell.
The desire to form teams with them wasn't even there to begin with.
'I need someone who—'
Before he could decline, a faint hum cut through the noise.
He looked up.
A girl hovered toward him—
Literally.
Boots glowing faintly, lifting her a few centimeters off the ground.
Pink hair. Goggles on her head. Wild grin.
She stopped.
Right in his face.
"YOU!"
The two teams stepped back instinctively.
"Uh..." Yuta blinked. "Can I help you?"
"Mei Hatsume! Support Course!" She thrust out her hand. "And you're gonna be my partner!"
"...Partner?"
"For the cavalry battle, duh!" She leaned closer—way too close. "I need someone with your speed and performance to showcase my babies!"
"Your... babies?"
"MY INVENTIONS!" She pulled back and gestured grandly at the gear strapped across her body. "Hover soles! Grappling hooks! Capture nets! Wire launchers! And more!"
'Hatsume.'
Yuta though with a slight ponder.
"Right. I've heard of you."
"Great. My reputation precedes me."
She grinned. "So! Team up with me!"
"… Me? Why me? Why not Bakugo? He's first."
"Because Dynamite Temper already filled his team, and he looks like the type who would blow up my Babies instead of showcasing them." She crossed her arms. "You're fast. Smart. And intentionally threw first place. That means you're strategic. Or weird. I can work with either."
Yuta's eye twitched.
"...Next best thing, huh?"
"Exactly! So what do you say?"
Behind them, the two 1-B teams quietly retreated.
Neither Yuta or Hatsume cared as the girl started pulling out devices—one after another—explaining rapid-fire.
"This one's a grappling anchor! This one's a shock absorber! This one—"
'Two-person team...'
'Minimum requirement. Maximum mobility.'
'Her gear could compensate for missing members.'
'And if we're not carrying extra weight...'
Ideas started forming.
He was naturally reluctant to partner with others. However Hatsume could solve most, if not all of his current problems.
"So, what do you play."
"As long as my babies get screen time, I don't care what role I play!"
Yuta exhaled.
'Well, better than the available options.'
His available options really weren't great.
People from class 1b, Aoyama, Ojiro, Koda .. yeah no.
'But...'
He looked at the field. At the teams forming. At the ten million point target painted on Bakugo's back.
'If I play this right...'
"Alright," he said. "Let's do it."
Hatsume's grin threatened to split her face.
"YES! Okay, first—put these on!"
She shoved a pair of goggles into his hands.
__
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