Cafeteria, quiet after the intense match.
Hae-Sil sat at a corner table, her tray holding a rice ball and an orange juice. She wasn't interested in talking to anyone—unless it was her team or she was forced to. She just wanted food.
She picked up the rice ball, about to take her first bite—
A loud voice shattered the calm.
Bakugo (yelling): "HEY YOU! WIND POWER GIRL!"
She froze, hand halfway to her mouth, then lowered the rice ball slowly. Her eyes narrowed.
Hae-Sil (muttering): "...huh..what now...?"
She looked up, and there he was—Bakugo, standing over her, just slightly taller, glaring down with that fire-in-his-eyes anger.
Bakugo (furious): "How DARE you stop my moves?!"
Her mind flashed.
—The obstacle race. The memory of pushing him and Todoroki away when they closed in on her and Deku at the finish.
—The cavalry battle. Stopping him mid-air when Deku faced Todoroki.
Hae-Sil, calm but blunt: "...Ooh. Well, you're not wrong about that."
But Bakugo didn't stop. His voice grew sharper, more venomous:
Bakugo: "That crap you pulled was just luck. Luck runs out, dumbass, you didn't stop me because you're strong, you just got in the way like a damn extra! You're weak. Too weak to even stand on the same field as me. You'll never be on my level. Don't even try to compare. People like you don't make heroes. They get crushed by real ones. The only reason you're still standing is because Deku covered your ass. You're a wannabe. A background character. And I'll prove it in the next round when I destroy you. If you think you can beat me, you're even dumber than you look. "
Every word hit her like a blade—but then, his voice twisted in her head.
It wasn't Bakugo anymore. It was Gabriela. Her childhood bully.
Gabriela's voice in her memory, cruel and mocking: If you think you can beat me, you're even dumber than you look.. Stop pretending you're strong.
Something inside her snapped.
Hae-Sil (yelling suddenly, fists clenched): "Shut up... JUST SHUT UP!!"
Bakugo froze. For a second, he actually looked... uneasy.
Her eyes burned, her voice rising, spilling words that didn't sound like they belonged to a fifteen-year-old girl at all:
Hae-Sil: "I don't care what you say! I know myself better than anyone! You think you can underestimate me, but you haven't seen anything yet! Next round.... you'll see the real me. Watch. People are gonna be saying my name like it's second nature! I will win—and you'll have no choice but to see it!"
Her voice echoed, sharp and raw with conviction. She slammed her tray aside, leaving the untouched rice ball and the unopened juice behind.
Bakugo stood silent. Not what he expected. He thought she'd cry. Back away. Break like others did. But no—she was different. Too different. His jaw clenched.
Bakugo (muttering angrily under his breath): "...Tch. Damn it."
She stormed out of the cafeteria, tears brimming in her eyes but refusing to fall. Her chest ached with those familiar words, words she'd been told her whole life—weak, can't be a hero, not enough. And every time she denied them. Every time she tried to prove them wrong.
But still... deep down... sometimes, she wondered if they were true.
She didn't stop walking. Past the students, past the noise. Unconsciously, her steps carried her into the hallway of the Sports Festival building.
----------------------------------------------------
The hallway of the faculty and student entrance leading out to the garden. The air feels heavy.
Deku: sweating, shifting awkwardly but trying to keep his posture S-so.. what did you wanna talk about?
Silence. Shoto just stares, sharp glare, not even blinking. The silence stretches. Deku swallows nervously.
Deku: I-if we don't hurry, the cafeteria will probably be really crowded..
Still silence. Shoto's eyes never leave him. Deku's face starts to twitch, trying not to panic.
Deku: U-um... gulps audibly, his throat dry
Shoto:...I was overpowered... pulls his left hand from his pocket, staring at it intently So much so... that I broke my pledge. his tone is flat but there's a flicker of frustration in his voice
He clenches his left fist slowly, his gaze still locked on it.
Shoto: Iida... Momo... Uraraka... Kaminari... Tokoyami... he lists them quietly, brows furrowing None of them felt it.
Deku's breathing becomes shallow as he listens.
Shoto: But at the last instant... I was the only one who was overpowered. The only one who experienced All Might's full power... up close.
Deku: eyes widen, his voice stuttering Wh-what... does... that mean...?
Shoto's eyes narrow, his hand still trembling slightly as he looks at his palm.
Shoto: It means... I felt something similar coming from you.
Deku gasps, his throat tight. His eyes dart quickly before locking back onto Shoto's cold stare.
Shoto: ...Midoriya. his tone sharp, dead serious Are you... All Might's secret love child or something?
Deku freezes like a deer in headlights. His eyes widen more than ever. He doesn't blink. His mind is screaming.
Deku's thoughts: Am I a... WHAT?! ...
Shoto's eyebrow twitches slightly at Deku's silence. He tilts his head, still glaring but now with confusion creeping in.
Shoto: ...Well? Are you?
Deku snaps out of his frozen daze, stammering wildly, sweat practically dripping down his face.
Deku: Th-th-that's not it! I mean—even if I was, I'd say I wasn't! So I don't think you'd believe me anyway! B-but anyways—! That's... that's not how it is..!
He stops his flustered ramble abruptly, taking a breath, forcing himself to calm down. His voice steadies, no longer frantic, but not entirely serious either.
Deku: In the first place... let me ask you something. Why do you think that about me...?
Shoto narrows his eyes, not breaking his glare, cutting him off without hesitation.
Shoto: Since you said "that's not how it is"... that means there is a connection between you two. One you don't want to talk about. Right?
Deku's face stiffens, sweat dripping down. He clenches his fists by his side, unable to deny outright, his lips trembling in silence.
Shoto finally lowers his gaze, his voice quiet but sharp as glass.
Shoto: Endeavor's my old man. I'm sure you know that he's been stuck as the Number Two Hero... for forever.
His eyes lift back up, piercing through Deku with that same cold glare.
Shoto: If you have something from the Number One Hero... then I have even more reason to beat you.
Deku swallows hard, his lips parting, but no words come out yet.
Shoto exhales, but his eyes never soften.
Shoto: My old man has a strong desire to rise in the world. As a hero, he carved out a name for himself with crushing force. But because of that... the living legend, All Might... has always been a great eyesore to him.
Deku's mouth hangs slightly open, a faint crease forming between his brows. He forces a worried, small smile, trying to understand.
Deku: T-Todoroki... what are you talking about? ...What are you trying to tell me?
Shoto turns his head aside briefly, as though steadying himself, then locks his mismatched eyes back on Deku.
Shoto: You've heard about quirk marriages, right?
Deku blinks rapidly, his heart sinking.
Shoto: That thing that became a problem for the second and third generations after superpowers appeared... choosing a spouse only to strengthen your own quirk and pass it onto your children. Forcing people into marriage.
His voice grows colder, heavier, every word weighed down with disgust.
Shoto: That old-fashioned way of thinking... brought about by a lack of ethics. My father is a man with both accomplishments and money. He won over my mother's relatives... and got a hold of her quirk.
Deku clenches his fists slightly, staring, eyes wide with sadness.
Shoto: He's trying to fulfill his own desire... by raising me to be a hero who surpasses All Might.
Deku's lips tremble, his breath unsteady. He gasps quietly, horrified and sad all at once.
Shoto: It's so annoying.
His head dips, shadows covering his eyes. His fists clench. His voice hardens, hatred leaking through.
Shoto: I won't become the tool of scum like that.
The silence thickens. Deku doesn't breathe. Then—
Shoto: In my memories... my mother's always crying.
Slowly, Shoto raises his left palm and places it against his scar. His voice lowers, almost breaking.
Shoto: "Your left side is unsightly." That's what she said... as she poured boiling water on me.
Deku gasps, louder this time. His whole body jolts in horror, his eyes glassy with shock.
Shoto drops his hand, his mismatched eyes glaring harder than before.
Shoto: Basically... I picked a fight with you to show him what I can do... without using my damn old man's quirk.
His left palm leaves his scar, his voice sharper, louder, final.
Shoto: No. I'll reject him completely. By winning first place... without using it.
Unbeknownst to them, further down the corridor—behind the wall—Hae-Sil stands frozen, sweat clinging to her skin, eyes wide. She'd been walking past, but now she's pressed against the wall, focused on Shoto's every word, her chest tight at the weight of his confession.
On the opposite side, Bakugo leans casually against the other wall, but his crimson eyes are narrowed, burning. His scowl is deeper than ever, arms crossed, listening in silence.
Back in the hall, Shoto stares at Deku one last time, his glare unyielding. Then he turns on his heel, walking toward the exit, his words cold and deliberate as he passes the doorway.
Shoto: I don't care if you can't tell me how you're connected to All Might. No matter what you are to him... I will rise above you with just my right side.
His steps echo against the floor. He stops briefly, glances back with half a glare, and mutters:
Shoto: Sorry for wasting your time.
And then he leaves, the heavy sound of the door shutting behind him. Deku stays rooted to the spot, trembling, heart pounding in his ears.
Deku, frozen in place, finally takes a sharp breath, his voice breaking the silence.
Deku: I...!
Shoto halts mid-step, his back still to him. The sound of Deku's voice makes him pause, but he doesn't turn around.
Deku: I've always been supported by others... that was the case earlier too.
Shoto remains still. Deku's eyes shift downward, landing on his own open palm. His voice steadies with determination.
Deku: I'm here because of the people who have supported me.
His fingers curl slowly, his hand tightening into a fist.
Deku (after silence): Saving people with a fearless smile—the greatest hero, All Might... I want to be like him.
Shoto's gaze flickers slightly, a faint side-eye glance over his shoulder. His profile catches the light—cold, sharp, unyielding.
Deku: In order to do that... I have to be strong enough to become Number One.
The air shifts gently around them, a faint stirring, as if even the wind recognized the weight of their words. Deku's eyes burn with resolve.
Deku: My motivation might seem trivial compared to yours... but I can't lose either. I have to live up to the hopes of those who supported me.
Shoto's side-eye glare sharpens, his expression serious, lips pressed thin. He doesn't answer, but his silence is heavy with acknowledgment.
Deku lifts his chin, his voice stronger now, echoing in the corridor.
Deku: That declaration of war you gave earlier—
he clenches his fist tighter, eyes blazing
—I'll return that.
He steps forward slightly, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
Deku: I will beat you too!
Shoto's glare hardens in response, his mismatched eyes sharp like blades. For a moment, the two stare at each other—unspoken fire sparking in the air between them. Then, finally, Shoto gives him one last piercing glance before turning away, continuing his path down the hall. His steps are steady, his back as rigid as stone.
Deku's fist trembles in front of him before he lowers it slowly. His chest heaves, but his eyes remain focused, even as he stands rooted in place, unmoving.
Unseen to them, Hae-Sil and Bakugo press against opposite walls in the building, both having caught every word. Their eyes are hardened—narrowed, conflicted, heavy with thoughts they don't voice.
Hae-Sil's hands tighten at her sides, sweat dampening her temples, her breath shallow. She turns away silently, leaving down the right corridor.
On the other side, Bakugo clicks his tongue, scowling deeply, his crimson eyes burning as he pushes himself off the wall. He stalks off down the left way, his footsteps harsh against the floor.
Two different paths. Two different storms. Both leaving behind only silence in the hall.
----------------------------------
The stadium roars with noise, the audience buzzing in their seats as the jumbo screen flickers on.
Present Mic (his voice blasting through the speakers):
"YOOOOOO LISTEN UPPP EVERYONE!! NOW THAT LUNCH IS FINALLY OVER—IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE LAST GAAAAAAME!!"
The crowd cheers wildly. Students look up, alert and excited.
Present Mic:
"BUT BEFORE THAT... WE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ALL YOU YOUNG BLOODS WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINALS!! DON'T START CRYIN' YET! HAHA! SOME RECREATIONAL GAMES HAVE BEEN PREPARED JUST FOR YOU!!"
The students who lost earlier light up, murmuring in surprise, some excited, others nervous. Laughter, chatter, and cheers spread around the field.
Present Mic (throwing both arms up with his signature grin):
"ALL RIGHT EVERYONE—LET'S HAVE SOME FUUUUN COMPETING IN THE RECREATIONAL GAMES!!"
Suddenly, the jumbo screen glitches to a new display. A giant tournament bracket flashes across it—rows and boxes leading down into a single winner's spot. The students gasp. No names yet—just empty slots waiting to be filled.
Present Mic:
"OOOOHHHHH! WHAT'S THIS, WHAT'S THIS?! A TOURNAMENT, BABY!!"
The crowd explodes in cheers again, stomping and clapping as the tension rises.
Present Mic:
"THAT'S RIGHT—A STRAIGHT-UP 1v1 BATTLE ROYALE UNTIL ONLY ONE REMAINS STANDINGGG!!"
The students glance at each other nervously, some smirking, some gulping. Excitement ripples through the air like electricity.
Present Mic (voice lowering for effect, then booming again):
"WHEN THAT'S OVER—THE MAIN EVENT WILL BEGIN! THE SIXTEEN WARRIORS WHO MADE IT FROM THE FOUR TEAMS INTO THE FINAL ROUND... WILL DUKE IT OUT TOURNAMENT STYLE—ONE... BY... ONE!!"
The screen glows brighter, the crowd deafening. Heroes and students lean forward with anticipation.
Cut to Hae-Sil, watching the screen quietly, her lips pressed together, her hands clenched tight in her lap. Her eyes gleam with determination. On the other side, Bakugo's smirk is already curling as he stares at the empty bracket, like he's carving his name into the final spot with just his glare. Deku, sweating but focused, takes a steadying breath. Shoto only narrows his eyes, unreadable, as the crowd chants louder and louder.
-------------
Students gathered, tension rising as Midnight prepares to announce the brackets.
Kirishima (grinning with sparkling eyes, standing a few feet away from Hae-Sil):
"The last game is a tournament where we fight one-on-one, huh? ...Heh, I'm gonna stand on the stage I've watched every year on TV!"
Mina (tilting her head):
"Wait—was it a tournament last year?"
Sero:
"Nah, it's different every year, but there's always some kinda one-on-one thing. Last year it was a sports chanbara match!"
Midnight (cracking her whip dramatically, voice echoing):
"Now then! Let's draw lots to determine the bracket! Once it's set, we'll have the recreational games—and then we start the finals! The sixteen finalists can choose whether or not to participate in the recreation. I'm sure some of you want to rest... or save your strength."
She smirks, her eyes scanning the students.
Midnight:
"Now! From the first-place team—"
Ojiro (suddenly stepping forward, voice firm but quiet):
"...Um! Excuse me. I'm withdrawing.."
The crowd murmurs. Hae-Sil turns her head sharply, eyes widening. Deku and others also stare at him.
Deku:
"Ojiro... why?"
Iida (adjusting his glasses, stiff posture):
"There is a rare chance for pros to see you here—"
Ojiro (cutting in, voice heavy):
"I barely remember anything from the cavalry battle... until almost the end."
Deku gasps, Uraraka bites her lip. The students listen in silence.
Ojiro:
"I know this is a great chance... and that it's foolish to waste it. Everyone here competed by giving their all. I... I can't be up there with everyone else without knowing what really happened!"
Toru (waving her invisible hands around):
"You're worrying too much about it! Just make sure you produce results in the finals!"
Mina (raising a hand, pouting):
"Yeah! If you're gonna say that, then I didn't do anything either!"
Ojiro (pressing a palm to his forehead, struggling with his words):
"That's not it... I'm talking about my pride here... I can't..."
The silence deepens, heavy in the air.
Another voice rises:
"...I'm Nirengeki Shoda, from Class B. I also want to withdraw... for the same reason."
Students murmur in shock again.
Shoda:
"Regardless of ability... don't you think it goes against the goal of this sports festival for those who didn't do anything to move into the final round?"
Kirishima, already tearing up, clenches his fists with fire in his eyes.
Kirishima:
"What's with these guys?! They're so MANLY!!"
Present Mic (lowering his tone for once):
"This is... an unusual turn of events, folks!"
Aizawa (eyes narrowing, scarf swaying):
"We'll have to see what Midnight has to say about this."
The silence stretches. Midnight pauses, her finger tapping her chin, before grinning slyly.
Midnight:
"...Youthful talk like that is something..."
She swings her whip down dramatically with a snap.
Midnight (excited, playful tone):
"I LIKE IT! Shoda, Ojiro—I ACCEPT YOUR WITHDRAWAL!"
Students (sweatdropping, whispering):
"She decided based on her tastes...?!"
Midnight:
"In that case, we'll move up two people from the fifth-place cavalry battle team!"
Immediately, Kendo steps forward, her expression sharp but kind.
Kendo:
"If that's what's gonna happen, then rather than us, who barely did anything during the cavalry battle... it should be them, right?"
She turns toward Team Tetsutetsu. The sturdy boy hardens instantly, his eyes widening.
Tetsutetsu (gasping, fists shaking):
"Kendo...!"
Kendo smiles warmly at him, strong but gentle.
Kendo:
"This isn't collusion or anything. It just makes sense."
Tetsutetsu's emotional expression turns almost identical to Kirishima's, his jaw trembling as he points at her.
Tetsutetsu:
"Y-you guys...!!"
The stadium buzzes with emotion, the crowd cheering at the display of integrity. Hae-Sil, standing quietly in the back, clenches her fists, her eyes narrowing—not at them, but at the sheer weight of how serious this all is. She feels the tension rising, knowing the bracket reveal is going to change everything.
-------------------
Present Mic (swinging his arms with hype):
"And so! Tetsutetsu and Shiozaki move up to make sixteen! Now then...!"
Midnight cracks her whip against the ground with a sharp smack!.
Midnight:
"This is the bracket—based on the results of the drawing!"
The massive screen lights up, names filling in one by one. The crowd roars as the matchups appear.
Screen Shows:
1st Match: Shinso vs Midoriya
2nd Match: Sero vs Todoroki
3rd Match: Ibara vs Denki
4th Match: Iida vs Hae-Sil
5th Match: Mina vs Aoyama
6th Match: Momo vs Tokoyami
7th Match: Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu
8th Match: Bakugo vs Uraraka
Hae-Sil's eyes land on her matchup. She narrows them, immediately turning toward Iida, who is standing upright, arms crossed in his usual rigid posture.
Hae-Sil (walking up, sharp glare):
"So... you're Iida, huh?"
Iida (straightening, nodding firmly):
"Hm? Indeed I am, Tenya Iida."
Hae-Sil (leaning just slightly, voice low but firm):
"...Prepare yourself. I won't go easy on you."
She gives him one last cutting look before walking away, her presence almost heavy in the air.
Iida (blinking at first, then adjusting his glasses, smiling slightly):
"Such spirit! I accept your challenge wholeheartedly!"
Next Matchups Reactions
Aoyama (sparkling, striking a pose with a wink):
"Merci! Too bad you got me as your opponent, mademoiselle!"
Mina (hands on hips, smirking):
"You mean too lucky, right?!"
Tokoyami (bowing his head slightly to Momo):
"... I'll give it my all."
Momo (turning red, stuttering while twiddling her fingers):
"Th-th-that's what I w-wanted to say!"
Kirishima & Tetsutetsu (reading their names together, gasping at the exact same time):
"AGAIN?! THAT'S TOO REDUNDANT!"
Bakugo (squinting at the board, muttering under his breath):
"Uraraka? ...Who the hell is that?"
Uraraka (sweating bullets, flapping her hands in panic):
"Yeee!!"
Present Mic (raising his mic, voice booming):
"All right! Let's leave the tournament aside for a momentary interlude! Time for the RECREATIONAL GAMES! Everyone, let's have fun while we wait!"
The crowd cheers loudly as students begin shifting around for the lighter activities.
Meanwhile...
Hae-Sil silently leaves the field, her footsteps slow but steady. She makes her way to the quiet garden, away from the noise of the stadium. The fresh breeze hits her face as she stretches her arms, loosening her body for the match to come. But her stomach rumbles loudly—reminding her she hadn't eaten her earlier lunch.
She stops for a moment, remembering the cafeteria incident. Bakugo's harsh words echo in her mind: "That crap you pulled was just luck. Luck runs out, dumbass".
"Too weak to even stand on the same field as me. You'll never be on my level. Don't even try to compare".
"If you think you can beat me, you're even dumber than you look." Her jaw tightens, but instead of sinking, her eyes harden, determination sparking inside.
Hae-Sil (thinking, clenching her fists):
"I'll prove him wrong... I'll prove them all wrong."
She sits down on a bench in the garden, ordering the same simple meal she abandoned earlier: a rice ball and an orange juice. This time, she finally eats, each bite steady, purposeful. For the first time since the morning, she has peace—and her resolve burns quietly beneath it.
--------------
Cementoss raises both arms, his quirk activating. Massive concrete blocks rise, shaping themselves into a rectangular arena. Dust scatters in the air before settling as the stage locks into place.
Cementoss (dusting his hands, satisfied):
"Okay. It's pretty much done."
Present Mic (booming into the mic, his voice vibrating through the stadium):
"THANK YOU, CEMENTOSS! HEY, GUYS, ARE YOU READY?!"
The crowd roars, cheers shaking the arena. Flags wave, fans scream the names of their favorite students.
Present Mic:
"A LOT'S HAPPENED, BUT IT'S ALL COME TO THIS! A SERIOUS BATTLE—WHERE YOU CAN ONLY DEPEND ON YOURSELF!"
The camera pans over the crowd, students, and heroes in the stands, everyone leaning forward in anticipation.
Present Mic (pumping his fist):
"EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A HERO, YOU'LL FACE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN LIFE! YOU GET IT, RIGHT?! HEART! SKILL! BODY! WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE! USE ALL OF THAT TO RUSH UP!"
Audience Section – Class 1-A
Hae-Sil sits apart from the group at first, up with the rest of the watchers. Her posture is tense, arms crossed slightly, as if keeping a barrier between herself and the world. She scans the crowd, trying to stay small, unnoticed.
From below, Uraraka waves brightly at her.
Uraraka (smiling, calling out over the noise):
"Hae-Sil! Over here—come sit with us!"
Hae-Sil freezes, her heart thudding. She looks at Uraraka's hand waving, that soft smile on her face. For a second, it looks genuine. But her mind floods with whispers—her own doubts, the same voice that's followed her since childhood.
Hae-Sil's Thoughts:
What if she's just acting sweet to gain my trust? ...What if she wants to learn how I train... and take it for herself? Or maybe... maybe she really is just being kind?
Her throat tightens. Nobody's ever been good to her unless they wanted something. Trust was always a sharp-edged word.
Hae-Sil (thinking, eyes flickering to the arena):
...Sitting beside her won't change anything.
After a long pause, she slowly gets up, glancing left, right, like she's making sure no one's watching too closely. Finally, she nods once at Uraraka and walks down, slipping into the seat beside her.
Uraraka beams, her smile wide and warm, like sunlight. Hae-Sil sits stiffly, still tense, but a small weight lifts from her chest.
Moments later, Iida approaches, sliding into the seat on Uraraka's other side. He adjusts his glasses, launching into an enthusiastic comment about the matches.
Iida (chopping his hand with his usual exaggerated motion):
"With this tournament format, everything will come down to individual strength and tactics! It's a true test of one's hero potential!"
Uraraka laughs, leaning toward him as they chat. Hae-Sil doesn't laugh. She doesn't even look at him—pretending she didn't notice his arrival at all. Her eyes stay glued to the arena, face unreadable, arms folded tight across her chest.
But inside, her heartbeat races. She's focused. Waiting. Watching as Midoriya steps forward for the first match against Shinso.
----------------------------------
Present Mic (shouting at the top of his lungs, voice echoing across the stadium):
"AUDIENCE!! THE FINALS YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR ARE FINALLY STARTING!! MATCH NUMBER ONE—!"
The giant screen above the arena flashes to life, showing two portraits side by side.
Izuku Midoriya, his nervous but determined face staring forward, name glowing below him.
Hitoshi Shinso, calm, almost lazy-eyed, his name sharp beneath him.
Present Mic:
"FROM THE HERO COURSE—IT'S IZUKU MIDORIYA!! VERSUS—FROM GENERAL STUDIES—IT'S HITOSHI SHINSO!!"
The crowd erupts into cheers and whistles.
Present Mic (swinging his arms wildly):
"THE RULES ARE EASY! FORCE YOUR OPPONENT OUT OF BOUNDS, OR IMMOBILIZE THEM! YOU CAN ALSO WIN IF YOUR OPPONENT SAYS 'I GIVE UP!'"
Present Mic:
"BRING ON THE INJURIES! 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT OUR VERY OWN RECOVERY GIRL WAITING ON STANDBY! PUT YOUR MORALS AND ETHICS ASIDE FOR A MOMENT—BUT OF COURSE, ANYTHING LIFE-THREATENING IS CRAP! NOT ALLOWED! HEROES SHOULD ONLY USE THEIR FISTS TO CATCH VILLAINS!"
Cementoss leans back in a solid block chair he made with his quirk, arms crossed.
Cementoss:
"I'll stop things if they go too far."
Present Mic (pumping the mic in the air):
"READY?! ...START!!!"
Midoriya takes off in a determined stride, his fists clenched, charging toward Shinso. But then—
—suddenly, he freezes mid-step. His whole body locks up. His foot hovers above the ground, unable to move forward.
Hae-Sil's eyes widen, her gut twisting.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
What—? Why did he stop like that?
She leans forward in her seat, fingers gripping her knees. Around her, murmurs ripple through the audience, the same uneasy confusion sparking in everyone's chest.
Ojiro (standing up suddenly behind her, fists balled tight, shouting out in frustration):
"AAH! I WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF WARNING HIM, TOO!!"
Hae-Sil's head snaps back slightly—warning him? Warning Deku? Her mind races, piecing fragments together.
Present Mic (throwing his hands up in wild confusion):
"HEY, HEY—WHAT'S THE MATTER?! THIS IS THE IMPORTANT FIRST MATCH! C'MON, LIVEN THINGS UP!!"
Hae-Sil feels her chest tighten, nails digging into her palms.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
This isn't normal... he's trapped... but how?
________________________________________________________________________________
TO BE CONTINUED!