Soon after the winners were announced, the medal ceremony followed.
One by one, the finalists were called forward, applause rolling through the stadium as shining medals were draped over their shoulders.
When the gold medal settled against Izuku's chest, it caught the stadium lights and reflected them back in sharp flashes, bright enough to draw every camera in the building toward him.
The weight of it wasn't heavy—but the meaning was.
Cheers swelled again, chants of his name echoing until they blurred together into a single, thunderous sound.
Izuku blinked once, then let out a quiet huff of amusement.
'This… this really reminds me of that "Hey U.A." meme back on TikTok,' he thought with a small smirk. 'Man, MHA fans really ran this goated series straight into the ground with their nonsense.'
The thought made him chuckle under his breath. The contrast between the overwhelming spectacle around him and the ridiculousness of internet culture wasn't lost on him at all.
Around him, the other students were still buzzing—some riding the high of victory, others replaying their losses aloud, voices overlapping in excited chatter as they were ushered back toward the classrooms.
Despite everything—the roar of the crowd, the cameras, the medal gleaming against his chest—Izuku felt… calm.
Just satisfied.
Like he'd done what needed to be done—and that was that.
Later, back in the classroom, the energy slowly settled. Bags were slung over shoulders, conversations dulled into tired murmurs, and more than a few students slumped into their seats, exhaustion finally catching up to them.
Right on cue, the door slid open.
Aizawa stepped inside, still wrapped in bandages, eyes half-lidded as always. He scanned the room once, taking in the medals, the tired faces, the lingering tension that hadn't quite faded yet.
"Alright," he said flatly, flipping through his notes. "You'll be given two days off to decide which agency you'll be joining for internships."
A few students perked up immediately.
"So… see you all later."
And just like that, he turned and left, the door sliding shut with a soft click.
The room erupted again—this time with speculation.
"Two days? That's not enough time!"
"Which heroes are you picking?"
"Do you think Endeavor noticed me—?"
Ochaco leaned forward in her seat, resting her chin in her hands, eyes sparkling as she looked at Izuku.
"Wow, Izuku," she said, clearly impressed. "You were number one in every single event. How does it feel?"
Izuku leaned back in his chair, medal clinking softly as it shifted. He shrugged, expression easy.
"Honestly? It's cool," he admitted. "But I kinda hate the attention. Wish this was a private event."
Ochaco laughed, covering her mouth. "You really hate attention that much?"
He turned his head slightly toward her, a smirk forming almost effortlessly.
"I only like it if it comes from a cute girl like you."
Her face instantly went red.
"O-Oh my—!" She hid her face behind her hands, shoulders trembling as she tried not to squeak.
Izuku laughed softly, genuinely amused.
She peeked out at him, pouted, then lightly smacked his hand. "Don't tease me like that!"
"I wasn't trying to tease you," he replied honestly, still smiling.
That only made her laugh too, the tension melting away as easily as it had formed. She finally turned back toward the front just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
'Guess this chapter's done,' he thought calmly. 'Time to see what comes next.'
The next thing passed around the classroom was a stack of envelopes.
Hero agency letters.
Each one was crisp and official, thick paper stamped with colorful seals, embossed logos, and carefully written names.
The moment they were placed on the desks, the atmosphere shifted—excitement spiked, nervous laughter broke out, and hands hovered hesitantly before reaching forward.
When Izuku received his stack, a few heads turned immediately.
Then more. And more. He had far more than anyone else.
The envelopes were stacked neatly in his hands, agencies ranging from well-known pro heroes to up-and-coming names eager to associate themselves with the boy who had dominated the Sports Festival.
Some bore bold, confident lettering. Others were restrained and professional. A few were flashy, almost desperate.
Izuku didn't react outwardly.
He simply flipped through them once, quietly acknowledging each seal, before placing them carefully into his bag.
He made sure none were bent or creased, treating each letter with the same measured respect—whether he planned to accept them or not.
Around him, classmates buzzed.
"Whoa… that many?"
"Dude, he's drowning in offers."
"I only got three…"
Izuku slung his bag over his shoulder and headed out.
The moment he stepped beyond U.A.'s gates, he was hit with noise.
A crowd had formed—students from other departments, civilians, reporters, and fans who had been waiting since the festival ended. Phones shot up instantly, flashes going off, excited voices overlapping.
"Midoriya!"
"Can we get a selfie?"
"You were insane out there!"
"Congratulations!"
He paused, then smiled.
"Sure," he said easily.
He took pictures, signed autographs, and exchanged a few polite words here and there.
Despite the chaos, he moved with surprising composure, never rushed, never irritated.
A wave here. A nod there. A quick "thank you" to someone trembling with excitement.
It was overwhelming—but he handled it like someone who had already accepted that this was part of the path he'd chosen.
By the time he finally made it home, the sky had begun to darken.
The door barely had time to open before Inko rushed out, eyes shining. She wrapped him in a tight hug, arms trembling slightly as emotion caught up to her.
"I'm so proud of you, my son," she whispered, voice thick with tears.
Izuku hugged her back, resting his chin lightly on her head. He held the moment just a second longer than usual, letting the warmth settle.
When they pulled apart, he reached into the bag at his side and pulled out a bouquet of flowers he'd picked up on the way home.
"For you," he said with a grin.
Inko gasped softly, taking them with careful hands.
"Oh, Izuku… they're beautiful!" Her smile filled the room, bright and genuine.
The house felt warm that evening.
Later, Izuku retreated to his room, closing the door behind him. He dropped his bag beside the desk and sat down in front of his computer.
The soft hum of the machine filled the silence as the screen flickered to life, bathing the room in pale light.
He leaned back slightly, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
'What to do now?' he wondered.
The Sports Festival was over. The cheers had faded. But this was only the beginning. Izuku smiled faintly. His real journey was just getting started.
TO BE CONTINUED