In the staff booth overlooking the stadium
"This is too much," All Might said gravely. "He could have taken the headband without disqualifying an entire team."
Nezu, seated comfortably, gave a small nod. "Yes. It appears their intention was to make an example of someone. Team Todoroki simply happened to be the victim." His sharp eyes remained fixed upon the field. "At least they are showing restraint. If they had chosen to systematically disqualify teams… I fear none of the remaining groups would be able to stop them."
He tilted his head slightly, studying Team Mineta.
"I have little doubt they are using Mineta's Quirk to maintain stability with that awkward formation," Nezu continued thoughtfully. "His adhesive spheres likely ensure they do not fall apart. They rely on Ao's speed to dodge and attack, and Shinso's brainwashing to incapacitate the target before disqualification. It is, objectively speaking, a very effective combination."
All Might exhaled heavily. "Still… the members of Team Todoroki were among the strongest in Class 1-A. To see them all eliminated in the second challenge like this, it is unexpected. And unfair."
Nezu's expression softened. "A minor setback. I am certain they will return stronger from it. Especially Todoroki. He is Endeavor's son. If he possesses even one-tenth of his father's perseverance, this loss will push him forward rather than pulling him down."
Below, the cavalry battle continued.
Yet no team approached Team Mineta. They stood unchallenged.
When the fifteen minutes concluded, Midnight announced the final standings. The qualified students for the next round were:
Minoru Mineta, Hitoshi Shinso, Mori Junsei.
Bakugo Katsuki, Kirishima Eijiro, Ashido Mina, Hanta Sero.
Midoriya Izuku, Uraraka Ochako, Tokoyami Fumikage, Ojiro Mashirao.
Shoji Mezo, Asui Tsuyu, Aoyama Yuga.
And from the fifth-ranked team, two additional students advanced: Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu and Ibara Shiozaki.
——————
Before proceeding to the combat event, the students were granted time to rest and recover. Spectators flooded the grounds, enjoying food stalls, games, and celebrating the occasion.
After the second round concluded, Shinso and Junsei encountered Momo.
"Congratulations," she said sincerely. "You both made it to the final event."
Junsei gave a small nod. Shinso thanked her.
Later, in the cafeteria, Midoriya and Uraraka joined them at a table and around them several first-year students from various classes.
Shortly after, Iida approached them.
"Midoriya, Uraraka, congratulations on advancing to the next round."
"Th-thank you," Midoriya replied.
Uraraka smiled sheepishly. "Sorry you got eliminated so early."
Iida shook his head. "We were lacking, both as a team and individually. That is all."
Midoriya's gaze shifted to Junsei. "I heard from Momo that you weren't planning to participate. That you were going to quit. What changed?"
Junsei paused mid-bite.
"Momo will feed me a truck full of sweets if I win," he said simply.
He resumed eating.
Silence settled over the table.
Slowly, every face turned toward Momo.
She cleared her throat and, under collective scrutiny, explained the true reason Junsei had joined the basketball match at the end of the previous year and why he is aiming to win now.
As the explanation unfolded, the expressions around the table grew increasingly strained.
As aspiring heroes and students striving for recognition, they couldn't easily accept the reasoning of the boy before them. Even Shinso frowned faintly. For him, this festival was an opportunity to prove that he deserved a chance to be a hero. And for many, it was the first step toward becoming heroes in the public eye.
Junsei, meanwhile, continued eating.
An angry voice cut through the air.
"You damn weirdo! you're here just to eat?!"
Bakugo sat at a nearby table, having overheard everything. He rose abruptly and strode toward them, fury radiating from him.
"Do you think this is a joke?" he demanded.
"Kaa-chan…" Midoriya began.
"Shut up, Deku!"
Bakugo's glare locked onto Junsei. "If you're going to compete, then aim for number one, not for some stupid reason!"
"Enough, Bakugo," Momo said firmly.
"Stay out of it, ponytail." His eyes returned to Junsei. "Listen, you white weirdo. When I face you, I'll kill you."
Junsei looked up.
"You want to kill me?" he asked evenly.
"He doesn't mean it like that…" Midoriya interjected quickly.
"Shut it, Deku!" Bakugo snapped. He pointed directly at Junsei. "I'll kill you. I'll beat you. I'll defeat you. Choose whatever word you like. I'll be number one."
Junsei held Bakugo's gaze as memories of countless deaths inflicted by human hands stirred in his mind. Bakugo's words reminded him of what humanity had to offer.
"You say 'kill' so lightly," Junsei said quietly. "Have you ever thought about how it feels to be killed?"
Bakugo faltered.
There was something in Junsei's stare, something that forced him to take an involuntary step backward.
"When you are dying," Junsei continued calmly, "it feels like a thousand swords striking your body."
Bakugo frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You are what I despise about humans," Junsei said as his eyes began to glow.
In Bakugo's eyes, the words were as emotionless as everything else about Junsei, but he still could sense there was hostility now.
Bakugo replied. "If you don't like me, then give it your all when you face me."
He turned and walked away.
Momo looked at Junsei carefully. "Are you alright?"
Before he could respond, a commotion erupted in the cafeteria.
Some students began running out, shouting in alarm, others began shaking in place as if they went crazy.
Shinso stood abruptly. "What's going on?"
A familiar voice cried out, panicked.
"Tsuyu! Calm down!"
Everyone turned.
Tsuyu stood a short distance away, trembling violently. Her hands clutched her head as though trying to block something out. Tears streamed down her face.
"No… no… no… please stay away," she whispered desperately.
Ojiro's came next. "Koji, what's wrong?"
Heads turned.
Under one of the cafeteria tables, Koji Koda had curled into himself, large frame trembling as he hid with his hands clamped over his ears.
At the same moment, Dark Shadow burst violently outward from Tokoyami's body.
"Stay back!" Tokoyami cried, his usual composure shattered as he scanned the room in visible fear.
Shinso looked from one student to another. "What the hell is going on?"
Momo's eyes shifted immediately to Junsei.
His eyes were glowing.
She remembered Mirko's reaction to him and this was the same.
"Junsei. Please stop your quirk. You're scaring everyone."
For a brief second, the glow lingered.
Then it faded.
Junsei's eyes returned to their usual stillness.
And as though a curtain had been lifted, the chaos ebbed.
Dark Shadow shrank back into Tokoyami's body. Koji slowly peeked out from beneath the table. Tsuyu's trembling lessened.
The students who had reacted moments earlier looked around with pale, disoriented expressions.
Those who had heard Momo's words now stared warily at Junsei.
Mina said "Tsuyu, are you okay? What happened?"
Tsuyu wiped her tears with shaking fingers.
"Everything went dark," she whispered. "And there was… a giant monstrous snake."
Tokoyami inhaled sharply, steadying himself. "I saw a tiger," he said quietly. "Enormous. Its eyes were fixed on me."
Midoriya turned slowly toward Junsei. "What was that? What did you do?"
Junsei did not answer.
He continued eating.
Mina's gaze hardened.
"You can make people see things, can't you?" she demanded. "Why would you do this?"
No response.
Momo stepped in quickly. "Mina, he didn't mean to."
"Don't defend him, and even if that's true. He can apologize!" Mina shot back. "Look at him sitting as if he had not done anything!"
Junsei looked up.
He said nothing.
He merely stared at Mina.
Mina's anger faltered mid-breath. A flicker of unease crossed her face, as though she had suddenly become aware of standing too close to a dangerous monster. She looked away and stopped speaking.
Junsei returned to his food.
When he finished, he rose without a word and walked out.
The students who understood what had happened watched him leave in silence.
Momo exhaled quietly. "Bakugo made him angry."
Mina frowned. "What he did is unacceptable. What could Bakugo possibly have said to make him react like that?"
Midoriya hesitated. "The word 'kill.' That's what triggered him."
He looked at Momo, searching for confirmation. Others did the same.
Shinso crossed his arms. "His reaction and the way he described being killed, it's strange and scary."
Jiro approached, arms folded. "Everything about him is strange. During the USJ attack, he said protecting Momo was his job."
The weight of their attention shifted fully onto Momo.
Accusation. Worry. Curiosity.
She held their gazes for a moment longer than was comfortable.
Then she sighed.
"Junsei is an orphan," she began quietly. "And his Quirk… it affects him more than you all think."
The students remained silent. They simply listened to Momo sharing some of Junsei's life for the first time. It didn't take long for their expressions to shift from suspicion to shock.
Momo did not speak of every detail, she just summarized some of Junsei's life. But she spoke enough for them to understand the reason for his reaction.
By the time she finished, no one spoke.
The meaning behind Junsei's words and his reaction was completely different.