Chapter 47: The Price of Pride and the Final 16
The intense roaring of the stadium began to quiet down as the cavalry battle concluded. Students scattered, most of them heading straight toward the cafeteria to eat and rest up for the final events.
In one of the quiet corridors leading away from the arena, Team Roronoa walked together, still buzzing from the adrenaline of the match.
"Zoro-kun, that was amazing," Midoriya said, walking alongside the swordsman, his eyes still wide with awe. "Even though Todoroki-kun took the headband with the ten million points, your reflex to steal his original 615 points in that exact same millisecond saved us! I couldn't even see your hand move!"
Tokoyami nodded in agreement, walking with his arms crossed. "Indeed. By leaving the ten million on your forehead, you made it his absolute focus. You used his own tunnel vision against him to create a perfect opening. Dark Shadow was able to snatch the rest of his headbands because his guard was completely dropped."
"Yeah, yeah. We made it, that's what matters," Zoro said, stretching his arms behind his head. "When someone is that obsessed with a single target, they leave their neck wide open. I just took what he left unguarded."
He glanced over at Mei Hatsume, who was already scribbling new blueprints on a piece of scrap paper. "Hey, pinky. Your junk—uh, your 'babies' actually helped out a bit back there. I'm sure those support companies will be interested in them."
Hatsume's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Right?! My babies are flawless! I need to go make some adjustments for the next round!" She sprinted off down the hallway.
"I'm starving. I'm going to get some food," Zoro announced, turning down a different hallway.
"Wait, Zoro-kun, the cafeteria is the other—" Midoriya started, but Zoro had already turned the corner and disappeared.
Ten minutes later, Zoro was completely lost.
He had walked up three flights of stairs, down a dark corridor, and ended up in a section of the stadium that looked entirely abandoned.
"This school makes no sense. Who puts dead ends everywhere?" Zoro grumbled, scratching his green hair.
As he turned around to retrace his steps, a heavy, suffocating wave of heat washed over the hallway. The shadows on the walls danced violently as a massive, towering figure stepped out from the intersecting corridor. It was the Flame Hero, Endeavor, his fiery beard blazing.
Endeavor stopped, glaring down at the green-haired student with pure hostility.
"So, you're the one," Endeavor's deep voice echoed menacingly. "You're the one who granted my masterpiece a charity win. Who do you think you are?"
Zoro stared back, his expression completely blank. He didn't flinch at the heat or the Number Two Hero's overwhelming presence.
"Don't get arrogant, boy," Endeavor continued, taking a step forward. "My masterpiece is the one who will become the Number One Hero. He will crush All Might and anyone else who stands in his path."
Zoro looked at him with genuine confusion. Masterpiece? Is this guy talking about his kid like he's a tool?
A low chuckle escaped Zoro's lips. "Masterpiece? Heh. You're an idiot, I guess."
Endeavor's flames flared wildly, his eyes widening at the sheer disrespect. "What did you say?!"
"I said what I said," Zoro replied lazily, completely ignoring the hero's rising anger. "It doesn't matter anyway. We'll find out what happens in the future."
Without another word, Zoro walked right past the towering hero, completely ignoring his existence. As he rounded the corner, Zoro's face lit up.
"Oh, finally. An exit," Zoro muttered, leaving the Number Two Pro Hero fuming in absolute silence in the hallway.
An hour passed quickly. The lunch break ended, and the students gathered once again on the grassy field in the center of the stadium. The atmosphere was thick with tension and excitement. The final battles were about to begin.
Up on the commentator's desk, Present Mic leaned into his microphone. "LISTEN UP, EVERYBODY! It's time for the final event! A 1-on-1 tournament featuring the sixteen students from the top four teams of the Cavalry Battle!"
"A one-on-one tournament..." Kirishima grinned, clashing his hardened fists together. "I'm finally going to stand on the stage I've watched on TV every year!"
Mina Ashido tilted her head. "Was it a one-on-one tournament last year too?"
"Yeah," Kaminari replied, stretching his arms. "The 1-on-1 competition is a staple every year. It's only the first and second events that change."
Down on the main stage, the R-Rated Hero, Midnight, cracked her whip, drawing everyone's attention. She held up a small yellow box. "Now, let's draw lots to determine the matchups! First up, from the first-place team..."
"Um... excuse me!"
A voice suddenly rang out across the quiet field. Mashirao Ojiro from Class 1-A raised his hand high, his expression heavy with frustration and resolve. "I'm withdrawing."
A collective gasp echoed through the students.
"Ojiro, why?!" Midoriya asked, shocked.
Iida stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "Ojiro-kun, this is a rare opportunity for the Pro Heroes to see you in action! Why would you throw it away?"
Ojiro looked down at his hands, his tail drooping slightly. "I barely remember anything from the cavalry battle until right near the end. I think it was that guy's Quirk."
Midoriya's eyes widened. He immediately looked across the field toward Hitoshi Shinso from General Studies. If I'm right, Ojiro was on Shinso's team... Shinso noticed Midoriya staring and quietly turned his face away.
"I know this is a great opportunity," Ojiro continued, his voice trembling slightly. "And I know it's foolish to throw it away. But everyone else fought their hardest to earn their spot here! I can't just stand up there when I don't even know how I advanced. It's a matter of my own pride."
The students around him tried to change his mind, telling him to just take the chance, but Ojiro stood firm.
Zoro, standing a few feet away, crossed his arms and closed his eye. "Leave him alone," Zoro said, his deep voice cutting through the chatter.
The students turned to look at the swordsman.
"A victory you can't remember isn't a victory at all," Zoro stated calmly, understanding Ojiro's feelings perfectly. "A fight without conviction is meaningless. If he steps onto that stage with doubt in his mind, he's already lost. Let him step down. A man has the right to defend his own pride."
Ojiro looked at Zoro, a small, grateful smile appearing on his face.
Before anyone could say anything else, a stout boy from Class 1-B, Nirengeki Shoda, stepped forward as well. "I am Nirengeki from Class 1-B! I want to withdraw for the exact same reason! Don't you think it goes against the purpose of the Sports Festival for those who did nothing to advance to the final round?"
Kirishima wiped a dramatic tear from his eye, deeply moved. "What's with these two?! They're so manly!"
Up in the booth, Present Mic rubbed his chin. "Well, this is an unusual turn of events... What do we do here, Eraserhead?"
"We'll have to see what the chief umpire, Midnight, has to say about this," Aizawa replied tiredly.
On the stage, Midnight brought her whip up to her face, a massive blush spreading across her cheeks. "Such youth! Such manly pride! I LIKE IT!" she practically squealed, slamming her whip down. "I accept your withdrawals!"
Sweatdrops formed on the back of almost every student's head. She decided based entirely on her own tastes...
Suddenly, Yuga Aoyama strutted over to Ojiro, placing a sparkling hand on his shoulder. "Do not worry. I will do it for you," Aoyama said, striking a pose. He clearly had no intention of withdrawing like the other two.
"Since two spots have opened up," Midnight announced, recovering her composure. "We will offer them to the fifth-place team, Team Kendo!"
Itsuka Kendo smiled, but she shook her head. "We didn't really do much either. Team Tetsutetsu fought hard the whole time. They should take the spots."
Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu's eyes welled up with thick, manly tears at his classmate's sacrifice. "Oh, you guys...!" he yelled, throwing his arms up and letting out a powerful, roaring shout of pure fighting spirit. "I WON'T LET YOU DOWN!"
With that, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu and Ibara Shiozaki from Class 1-B officially entered the top sixteen as substitutes.
"Alright! The sixteen competitors are locked in!" Midnight yelled, spinning the lottery box. "Let's draw the lots and see the first-round matchups!"
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