The next match was definitely...entertaining to say the least.
Tenya Iida vs Mei Hatsume
The arena gates slid open with a metallic groan.
Tenya Iida marched out first, posture rigid, back straight, glasses glinting under the stadium lights. His arms swung in precise, disciplined motion as he stopped at his mark and planted his feet firmly into the ground. The roar of the crowd washed over him, but he didn't acknowledge it.
This is a tournament, he reminded himself. I must represent Class 1-A with dignity and efficiency.
Across the field, the opposite gate burst open far less gracefully.
Mei Hatsume shot out like a cannonball.
"WOOOO! SPORTS FESTIVAAAAL!" she yelled, arms thrown into the air, goggles flashing as she waved wildly to the stands. She nearly tripped over her own boots, caught herself at the last second, and laughed it off.
Several support items were strapped all over her body—hovering lenses, cables, bulky gauntlets, blinking devices that looked one malfunction away from exploding.
Iida stiffened.
"…This is a combat match," he said sharply. "Please conduct yourself appropriately."
Mei turned, blinked, then grinned ear to ear.
"Oh! Are you my opponent? PERFECT!"
Midnight cracked her whip."Begin!"
Iida moved instantly.
His engines roared to life, exhaust blasting from his calves as he launched forward in a blur of speed. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he closed the distance in a heartbeat.
Mei squealed in delight.
"So FAST—!"
She slammed her palm against a wrist-mounted button.
A wall of steel plates burst upward from the ground between them with a deafening clang.
Iida skidded to a halt inches from the barrier, boots carving deep grooves into the dirt.
"What—?!"
The wall split open.
A mechanical arm shot out, firing a net of cables straight at him. Iida leapt back, narrowly avoiding being tangled, his eyes widening behind his glasses.
"Support equipment?! You're not even attacking properly!"
Mei tilted her head, already tapping commands into another device.
"Huh? I am attacking. Just not you."
She pressed a button.
A pair of hovering drones zipped into the air, lenses whirring as they locked onto Iida from multiple angles. The big screens around the stadium flickered—now displaying live close-ups of Iida's legs, his engines, his movement patterns.
The crowd murmured.
Iida froze.
"…Why are there cameras on me?"
Mei clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling.
"Because you're AMAZING! Those engines—custom mutation, right? Heat exhaust, torque balance—oh my babies could learn so much from you!"
She sprinted sideways, narrowly dodging as Iida charged again, her movements clumsy but unpredictable. Every time he closed in, another gadget activated—smoke bursts, flash emitters, spring-loaded shields.
None of it hurt him.
But all of it slowed him down.
"Stop running!" Iida shouted. "This is not how a hero behaves!"
Mei slid to a stop and spun around, pointing dramatically at the stands.
"Oh, I don't care about winning! I care about exposure!"
She slammed both hands onto a bulky device strapped to her chest.
"BABY NUMBER THIRTY-NINE—FULL DEMO MODE!"
A massive shockwave blasted outward—not explosive, but forceful enough to shove Iida backward several meters. His heels dug into the ground as he stabilized, engines flaring.
The screens zoomed in even closer.
Mei's voice echoed across the stadium.
"LOOK AT THAT STABILITY! THAT RESPONSE TIME! CAN YOU SEE THIS, COMPANIES?!"
Iida's face turned red.
"Y-you are turning this into a commercial?!"
She beamed.
"Yup!"
Iida clenched his fists.
Enough.
His engines roared louder than before.
"Recipro Burst!"
In an instant, he vanished.
Mei barely had time to gasp before Iida appeared beside her, hand chopping cleanly toward her shoulder. The impact sent her flying across the arena, skidding and tumbling until she slammed hard against the boundary wall.
Silence fell.
Mei didn't move.
Iida stood frozen, chest heaving, eyes wide.
"Midnight! I believe I may have—"
Midnight raised her whip.
"…Winner—TENYA IIDA!"
The crowd erupted.
Medics rushed forward—but before they could reach her, Mei stirred.
She sat up slowly, goggles cracked, hair wild, and then—
She raised a fist.
"DID YOU SEE THAT SPEED?!"
The stadium burst into laughter.
Mei grinned lazily as she was helped to her feet, already talking excitedly to nearby pro heroes and support engineers, rattling off specs and ideas like the match never mattered.
Iida watched her go, stunned.
"…She never intended to win," he muttered.
From the stands, Class 1-A stared.
"She played the entire festival," Mina said in awe.
And somewhere behind the scenes, several support companies quietly wrote down Mei Hatsume's name.
Momo Yaoyorozu vs Fumikage Tokoyami
The stadium fell silent as the gates opened once more.
On one side, Fumikage Tokoyami emerged, shadow stretching unnaturally long behind him. Dark Shadow slithered around his feet like a living predator, eyes glowing faintly. His expression was calm, yet something in his aura made even the seasoned pro heroes lean in—this was no ordinary 1-A student.
On the other side, Momo Yaoyorozu stepped forward, elegant and composed, her long black hair swaying like ink in water. She bowed slightly, her fingers brushing her gloves. She had studied Tokoyami's quirk meticulously; she knew this would be a fight of strategy over raw power.
Midnight's whip cracked."Begin!"
Tokoyami lunged immediately, Dark Shadow erupting into the air like a black storm. Its claws scraped the arena floor, sending a shiver through the crowd.
Momo's mind raced. 'If I can't stop him head-on, I'll have to outthink him.'
She extended her hand. "Create, wire mesh!"
A lattice of fine metal wires sprouted from the ground, forming a flexible cage between her and Dark Shadow. The massive quirk slammed into the barrier, claws clanging, sparks flying. The shadow hissed, trying to wrap itself around her—but Momo anticipated it. She produced metal pillars and braces, reinforcing the mesh instantly.
Dark Shadow roared, furious, but Momo stayed calm. Her eyes flicked to the sky—sunlight glinting off her creations—and she snapped her fingers.
"Reflector shields!"
Small metal plates rose from the ground, positioned perfectly to redirect Dark Shadow's next strike. When it lunged again, the claws struck the shields, bouncing off harmlessly.
Tokoyami's brows furrowed. She's prepared for everything.
Momo noticed the shadow hesitating, sensing the faint shiver of fear within Dark Shadow. Perfect.
"Now, statues!"
A dozen exact copies of herself formed instantly, scattered across the arena. The clones were sturdy enough to withstand basic attacks, but delicate enough to vanish under extreme force. Tokoyami tried to strike, slashing blindly at multiple Momo images, but each attack hit empty air or metal decoys.
Her strategy clicked. I can lead him into a trap.
She created a long, reinforced corridor of pillars, narrow enough that Dark Shadow's movements would be restricted. Using another set of wires, she formed a loop trap. The moment Dark Shadow followed her decoys into the corridor, Momo yanked the wires taut.
Dark Shadow collided with the trap and was ensnared instantly. Its furious thrashing was impressive—but the metal restraints, combined with Momo's calculated placement, held strong.
Tokoyami's eyes widened. "Dark Shadow… restrain…!"
But Momo anticipated the surge of power. She produced a final, large steel net and vaulted into position, locking Dark Shadow completely in place. Tokoyami struggled, sweat dripping, but his quirk had been tamed by sheer planning and foresight.
Momo stood in the center, breathing steadily. "You fought well, Tokoyami… but strategy wins where raw power cannot."
The crowd erupted as Midnight raised her whip."Winner—MOMO Yaoyorozu!"
Tokoyami collapsed to his knees, panting, dark aura receding. He looked at Momo with respect, a faint smile breaking through.
"…I underestimated you," he muttered.
Momo nodded politely, producing a small first-aid kit to tend to him. Even in victory, she never let pride cloud her actions.
Mashirao Ojiro vs Hanta Sero
The stadium roared as the two fighters appeared on opposite sides of the arena.
Mashirao Ojiro stepped forward first, tail swaying behind him like a living counterweight. His posture was disciplined, his eyes focused, every muscle tensed for the upcoming clash. His movements carried the calm confidence of someone who trained meticulously.
Opposite him, Hanta Sero bounced lightly on his feet, his tape shooters at the ready, a grin plastered across his face. He twirled his wrists experimentally, testing his range. "Let's make this fun, huh?" he called out, waving to the crowd.
Midnight's whip cracked."Begin!"
Immediately, Ojiro dashed forward. His tail lashed out like a whip, aiming for Sero's midsection with precision. The crowd gasped as the tail sliced through the air, a blur of power and speed.
Sero reacted instantly, swinging his tape shooters forward. Thick bands of tape shot out like grappling lines, catching Ojiro's tail mid-strike and yanking him slightly off balance. The audience cheered at the first real contact.
Ojiro gritted his teeth, spinning his body and using the tail's momentum to propel himself into a rolling kick. The move was fast and precise, forcing Sero to scramble backward, shooting tape to catch himself against the arena walls.
"Not bad," Sero muttered, impressed, before firing a rapid volley of tape strips. They zipped toward Ojiro from all angles, each one meant to entangle or slow him down.
Ojiro dodged with fluid agility, tail lashing, and boots kicking, keeping the pressure constant. 'He can't keep this up forever,' Ojiro thought. 'I have to finish this before his ranged advantage overwhelms me.'
The two clashed repeatedly—Ojiro's tail and kicks against Sero's tape, creating sparks where metal and reinforced tape collided. Sero's grin never faltered, but a hint of sweat ran down his brow as he realized Ojiro wasn't just fast—he was calculating.
Finally, Ojiro feinted a tail strike to the left, luring Sero's tape into catching nothing but air. In the same instant, he spun, tail arcing with devastating force, striking Sero's torso squarely. The tape snapped under the impact, and Sero went tumbling backward, sliding across the dirt.
Ojiro didn't pause. He closed in, precise and relentless, and delivered a final sweeping kick that sent Sero sprawling, unable to get up in time.
Midnight cracked her whip."Winner—MASHIRAO OJIRO!"
Ojiro stood, chest heaving, tail swaying gently as he nodded respectfully toward Sero, who was getting back on his feet with a sheepish grin.
"You… were amazing," Sero admitted, wiping dirt from his uniform. "Next time, I'll win for sure."
The crowd erupted, applauding both fighters. Ojiro had proven the value of disciplined technique over flashy gimmicks, while Sero had shown the ingenuity and adaptability that made him a crowd favorite.
Yuga Aoyama vs Toru Hagakure
The stadium hummed with energy as the gates slid open.
Yuga Aoyama strutted onto the arena floor, his sequined uniform sparkling under the sunlight. He spun once for dramatic flair, grinning confidently at the audience. "Behold! The dazzling power of the ultimate hero!" he announced, pointing a finger skyward. His laser quirk glimmered faintly from his navel.
On the opposite side, Toru Hagakure floated into view—or rather, didn't, because she was completely invisible. Only the faint outline of her uniform and the occasional shimmer of light on her skin gave her away. The crowd murmured in confusion, scanning for any sign of movement.
Midnight's whip cracked."Begin!"
Aoyama's eyes sparkled as he immediately pointed toward the air. "Navel Laser!"
A brilliant beam of light shot toward the arena, slicing through the air with a crackling hum. The spectators squinted as the beam illuminated the space, but Toru was nowhere to be seen.
"…I'll have to do this the hard way," Aoyama muttered, frowning. He adjusted his stance, laser ready, scanning the area for any shimmer or disturbance.
Toru giggled invisibly. She darted forward, using her intangibility to glide across the ground, attempting to circle Aoyama and land a tag.
"Hey! Where are you?!" Aoyama exclaimed, firing another laser. Sparks erupted where it struck the arena floor—so close, yet missing her completely.
Toru zipped past his side, brushing his shoulder lightly. Aoyama yelped, spinning around, beam slicing through empty air again. His frustration grew.
'This invisible girl is fast… too fast…' he thought, sweat forming on his brow.
Determined, Aoyama adjusted his quirk output, charging a wide-spread navel laser, turning himself into a radiant star in the center of the arena. He spun slowly, carefully scanning the area in bursts of light.
Toru froze mid-dash. Time it right…
At the perfect moment, she surged forward, slapping a hand on his back. The crowd gasped audibly. "Tag!" she shouted—though barely anyone saw her coming.
Aoyama flinched, stumbling forward, his laser flickering as he tried to regain control. "Wh-what?! Impossible!" he shouted.
Before he could react, Toru flicked her invisible hand at him again, lightly tapping his arm to finalize the tag. Midnight cracked her whip.
"Winner—TORU HAGAKURE!"
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers. Aoyama spun dramatically, trying to maintain composure despite being taken down by someone he couldn't see. "No! This is preposterous! Invisible girls should not be allowed in combat!" he cried, pointing to her with his laser hand.
Toru bowed politely, still invisible to the majority of the crowd, and waved a tiny hand. "Good match!" she said cheerfully.
Aoyama flopped dramatically to the ground, exhausted and sparkly, but still trying to salvage his dignity. Meanwhile, Class 1-A exchanged amused looks, fully entertained by the absurdity of the match.
"And with that, folks, the first round of the UA sports festival comes to an end," Present Mike announced. "All those who won their fights have advanced to the next round." He then switched his tone to a challenging one. "I know what most of you are thinking: what about the two who knocked each other out? Well, here is how we are going to solve it."
On the stage, Midnight was standing over Kirishima and Tetsutetsu, who were sitting at a table between them. "We will solve this with a very manly arm wrestle~."
Kirishima looked hyped at the idea. "I would expect nothing less manly from UA." He held out his arm.
Tetsutetsu smirked back. "Likewise." He grabbed Kirishima's hand.
"Ready
Set
Go."
As soon as Midnight let go of both boys, the wooden table creaked under the pressure of both boys. The strain on their faces was visible as they struggled to move one another.
After a short moment of struggle, Kirishima started to gain the advantage over his metallic rival. With a final grunt, Tetsutetsu's arm made contact with the table.
"Winner—Eijiro Kirishima!"
An earthquake of a cheer tore through the stadium as both idiots fist bumped on their way out. I had to flatten my ears on my head in an attempt to reduce the sound assault.
"WHAT A MANLY DUEL!" Present Mike shouted. "BEST WAY TO GO INTO A SHORT BREAK."
In the resting room of class 1-A, the atmosphere was lively.
"That was incredible, you were like whoosh and wham." Mina jumped to the shimmering outline of Toru.
"Why do I feel like you are the happiest out of all of us, even though you didn't fight?" Kaminari asked.
"Because I didn't get my brain fried," She shot back before turning to Ida with a smirk. "Or had my fight turned into a commercial gig." Ida flinched at the provocation, but remained silent.
"But still, this is so unfair," Kirishima complained, turning to me. "You two have so many powers, it will be impossible to catch up."
I smirked at his blunt praise, five tails fanning out behind me in excitement. "Yes, mortal, keep the praise coming." A sharp pain hit me in the back of the head.
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Sorry for ending it abruptly. I am in a hurry.
Leave a review to help me write my book better, and don't forget to drop the power stones.
Peace out.