Hello everyone,
We're now starting the Sports Festival Arc! I think this person says it best…
watch?v=qck7Jh-CDhw
That's right ladies and gentlemen, we have entered one of the best arcs in My Hero Academia! Where the action never ends and characters get pushed to the limit! Where some rise above it all and others fall to the pits of loserdom, character arcs are starting to develop and introductions to all new characters in the story!
Oh my god, I've been super excited about writing this arc since I started writing this story. The fight scene will be amazing to write! You can just tell that I'm just oozing excitement from writing this note for you all.
Prepare for balls to the wall action and fights that cause ships and best boys/girls to sail into the great beyond! I'm sure that everyone remembers those moments when you were watching and you were fully behind a character and their goals. How invested you were when you saw a character you related with step up to the plate! GOD I LOVE TOURNAMENT ARCS!
Fights will have music that I listened to on repeat while writing those scenes. If you are curious about what the music was when I cranking those scenes out, they will be listed on the bottom of each chapter.
Moon.
Chapter 10
It was the end of the school day and the students of Class 1-A were gathering their belongings before heading for home, but upon opening the door to leave they all saw something they didn't expect. A horde of other students gathered around the exit of the room and were just peering into the classroom, looking at the class inside. Some even pulled out phones to grab some video and pictures of the people inside.
"W-What's going on?" Uraraka's warm brown eyes widen at the sight in front of her, she was surprised to see so many people just standing around looking at them.
With a sense of seriousness, Iida addressed the horde of students blocking their classroom door. "What business do you have with Class A?"
"We can't get out! What did you come here for anyway?" Mineta voicing concern before shaking his fist in the air at them.
His bag tossed over his shoulder and hands shoved in his pockets, Bakugo walked past the rest of the class who were standing around in confusion. His expression was mixed with annoyance and calm at all the commotion of what was going on.
"Scouting out the enemy, small fry. We're the ones who made it out of the villains' attack." while he was speaking, Mineta was trembling in shocked outrage at what Bakugo called him. Midoriya was trying to calm the purple headed boy and silently apologizing for his words.
Coming to a stop in front of the crowd, the ashen blonde whose face was in a permanent scowl - glared at them causing a few students in the front to take a step back away from the hostile boy.
"There's no point in doing stuff like that, out of my way extras!"
Popping up from behind him Iida, Uraraka, and Izuku just stared at him in horror before Iida started to wave his arm in a chopping motion.
"Stop calling people 'extras' just because you don't know them!"
Izumi just stood there with her navy blue eyes sliding closed after hearing Bakugo insult the other students. She wasn't really surprised at his reaction and what he was doing at all - it would be strange if he didn't. But she knew that what the boy was saying would cause the other students outside of Class 1-A to hate them all, assuming that everyone in the class was like him. She just shook her head before walking up next to the annoyed spiky headed boy and kicked his foot lightly.
"Hey, don't be an asshole to the other students, idiot. Stop causing problems for others, at least try to be decent." her voice coming out as a sigh knowing that this would just end up giving her grieve.
"HUH?! Don't fucking kick me, you Shadow Witch! You think you can tell me what to do?!"
Her eyes rolling to the head of her head as Bakugo continued to yell in her face, a voice spoke up from the mass of students.
"I came to see what the famous Class A was like, but you seem pretty arrogant." a head of feathery indigo hair made their way closer to the door before stepping out of the crowd.
"Are all students in the herp course like this?" droopy eyes staring at the group of Class A students that were at the door.
Mineta, Iida, Midoriya, and Uraraka were all shaking their head violently denying that they were anything like Bakugo. Izumi, who was standing next to the 'example' of Class 1-A looked at the teen who spoke up and smiles tiredly at him.
"No, none of the class is like this prick over here. Don't mind him, he's just someone who as a chip on his shoulder." she snapped her head over to Bakugo - setting him with a dead-eye glare.
He was having none of that, his face scrunched up as he continued to listen to what was being said in front of his face.
"You know, seeing something like this makes me disillusioned. There are quite a few people who enrolled in general studies or other courses because they didn't make it into the hero course. Did you know that?"
Everyone remained silent, that didn't know about that piece of information at all.
"The school has left those of us a chance, depending on the results of the sports festival they'll consider our transfer into the hero course. And it seems they may also transfer people out. Scouting out the enemy? I, at least, came to say that even if you are in the hero course if you get too carried away - I'll sweep your feet out from under you. I came with a declaration of war."
All that were able to hear were completely quiet, not a sound was made while the strange boy told his speech. The tension was thick in the air, both Bakugo and the indigo haired boy continued to stare at each other until the shout of another student broke the tension.
"Hey, hey! I'm from Class B next door, I heard you fought against villains so I came to hear about it! Don't get so full of yourselves!" spit flew from his mouth as he went on and on.
Seeing that this gathering has turned into a circus Izumi decided it was time to leave, she looked to Bakugo and walked past him.
"Congratulations, you just caused problems for the rest of us. Nice job. Anyway, I'll see you guys tomorrow Iida, Midoriya and Uraraka." waving goodbye to her friends as she made her way through the students that clustered around their classroom.
Kirishima running up to the front of the door where Bakugo was still standing.
"Wait a minute Bakugo! What are you gonna do about all this?! It's your fault everyone is hating on us!"
He turned to answer with a look of confidence and calm. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter as long as you rise to the top." and with that said he followed Izumi's path that she made through the crowd.
Two weeks. Two weeks was all everyone had before the sports festival would start, the entire class was focused on training to improve themselves. They all knew that those who did better would have better chances at getting offers from internships, the students were putting their all into training. Izumi was no different - though she preferred to do hers in private away from the eyes of other, she liked it that way. The element of surprise was always something she liked when battling against opponents, no matter who they were. While her quirks were adaptable to all kinds of situations, her close combat was something she needed to work on.
She wanted all her bases covered so she wouldn't be on the losing end of any fight that would cross her way. For the entire two weeks, she mainly focused on kickboxing and dodging out of the way of punches, kicks, and objects being thrown at her. Luckily, her gymnastics coach was able to refer her to a friend of his who was skilled in the art of hand to hand combat.
Every day after school she would go over and strengthen her close fighting skills, even integrating her quirk with some of the moves she was learning in the meantime. She was even able to use a staff that her tutor had given her with the hopes that a little weapon training could be useful as well. It was taxing on her body, waking up in the morning with sore muscles and feeling fatigued to the point where she would pass out earlier than her normal time for bed. But it would be all worth it in the end, Izumi would be the one standing at the top of the podium. She needed to shine in order to prove that she was capable of getting the pro heroes attention.
The final three days before the festival was about to start, her hand to hand tutor told her that she should take the remaining few days to rest up so she could be in peak condition. No point in pushing her body only to have it give out on her on the day that she truly needed it - Izumi agreed and was handed a sheet with warm-up exercises that would keep her skills sharp.
And with the final three days over and done with, it was finally the day of the sports festival. Her mother was standing behind her watching her put on her shoes and getting ready to be out the door, but her hand could reach the handle her mom stopped her.
"I'd rather you didn't do this Izumi. I keep telling you over and over that this is just a phase, something you saw on TV and thought was a good idea. You should be going to a normal school and learning to do something with your life, what's going to happen when you get older?"
Not wanting to hear the same speech again, she quickly placed her backpack on her shoulders and looked behind her.
"I'm doing this because it's something I want to do with my life, it's not a passing fad." and with that, she opened the door and slammed it behind her.
'I'm going to prove to you that I will become a pro-hero. No matter what you say, nothing is going to stop me from doing this. Nothing.'
The front gate was once again flooded with reporters as they waiting to get their belongings checked. The main path to the building was paved with stalls selling their wares and food with signs showing which stadiums the different years will be participating in.
Everyone from Class 1-A was in the waiting room that was assigned to them, dressed in their P.E uniforms talking about what the first event would be. Izumi, on the other hand, was listening to her favorite songs in order to psych herself up for the upcoming battle ahead. Headphones canceling out most of the sound that was being made by the others.
'I need to focus and make sure nothing distracts me from winning, I have something to prove. Losing is failure...I can't be a failure.'
Feeling someone tap her on the shoulder, peeking over her shoulder she saw Uraraka was beside her. Taking off her headphones Izumi smiled at her friend in thanks as she moved to put away the rest of her things, but she stopped when she noticed Todoroki talking to Midoriya.
"Looking at things objectively, I think I'm stronger than you."
"Huh? Y-Yeah." the green haired boy was surprised that Todoroki was saying something to him, let alone those words.
"But...All Might has his eye on you, doesn't he? I'm not trying to pry about that, but I'm going to beat you." the look on the dual-haired boy's face was stoic.
"Oh? Is the best in the class making a declaration of war?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you suddenly picking a fight all of a sudden?" Kirishima who had gotten out of his seat with a look of concern etched on his face. He placed his hand on Todoroki's shoulder hoping to calm the situation from getting worse. But the quiet teen was having none of it.
"We're not here to make friends, so what does it matter?" he walked away with his piece being said.
"Todoroki-kun, I don't know what you're thinking when you say you'll beat me - but of course you're better than me. I think you're the more capable than most people...Looking at it objectively…" All eyes were on Izuku as he spoke.
Kirishima wanting to turn down the somber and tense mood in the room smiled weakly as he waved his hand around. "Midoriya, you probably shouldn't talk so negatively…"
"But, everyone -" his words stopping Kirishima from continuing.
"The students from the other courses are aiming for the top with everything they've got! I can't afford to fall behind. I'll be going for it with everything I have too."
Seeing the conviction in Izuku's eyes was enough for everyone in the room to know that he wasn't going to just roll over and give his spot to anyone.
"Yeah."
The roar of the crowd inside the stadium was thunderous, Izumi could literally feel her bones vibrate from the noise. Present Mic was working everyone into a frenzy of excitement and anticipation, all eyes would be on them now - and knowing this she was more than ready to strut her stuff.
Taking her first steps pass the entrance into the light, her face was the picture of stoic and seriousness. Her back and shoulders pushed back with confidence, making sure she was radiating the maximum amount of poise and grace that she possessed.
Fireworks launching up into the sky and exploding in an array of colors as the crowd cried out with excitement as they saw Class 1-A walking out of the gate. Izumi's mind ignored the crowd, she was dead set on her goal - she was very aware of the many pro heroes that were present at the stadium, let alone watching the broadcast on TV. She was going to perform for them and only them, everyone else was unimportant.
With all the first years finally together in the center, on a small wooden stage stood someone nobody expects to be there with the first years.
"Time for the player pledge!"
Fogler in hand there stood the R-rated hero Midnight. She quickly silenced the murmuring from the group of students in front of her with an authoritative shout.
"Representing the students is Katsuki Bakugo from Class 1-A!"
Looks of surprise came on the faces of the class as the stared at Bakugo.
'I suppose that's reasonable, he was the first place student in the entrance exam. Though I have a feeling he's going to just cause more trouble for us...Goddamnit.'
Students from the other courses made snappy comments about how the hero course students got all the attention while the rest of them were left to the sidelines. Rolling her dark blue eyes Izumi ignored them - but she was still irritated about all the hostility against their class. While it was true that many of the population was looking towards them, it wasn't like they wanted to be attacked by villains. It was just other people's jealousy that she was annoyed with.
Her eyes wandered back to Bakugo as now climbing up the steps towards the microphone. His hands in his pockets and his P.E pants shoved into his hero costume boots, she had to admit - he looked good, she would keep that comment to herself. Everyone waited with baited breath as they kept their eyes on the dusty blonde who was representing them all, his face was dispassionate and crimson eyes looking bored.
"I pledge - That I'll be number one."
The entirety of Class 1-A shouted in despair as they heard those words leave his mouth, Bakugo had just sealed their fate.
"Jesus Christ Bakugo! What the hell!?" Izumi cried out before resounding shouts of protests from of the other students.
"Why are you doing something so disgraceful?!" Iida was just as furious as everyone else.
Turning his body to face his fellow first years, his voice continued to sound just as bored and blase as when he made his mini-speech. "At least become a nice bouncy step for me to jump off of." his thumb pointing downward to everyone behind him.
'That damn bastard! I'm going to kick his ass if I get the chance! How can he look so good saying that!? Damn asshole!' her right eye twitched as her lips were set in a hard frown.
He walked down the step, passed Iida who was flailing his arms up and down like a robot - strode pass Midoriya. On his way back to his previous spot next to Kirishima he spotted Izumi, who was glaring at him as if she wanted to punch him in the face hard. Their eyes made contact for a moment, looking at each other - they both know that neither one of them were going to back down.
"Now, let's get started right away. The first game is what you would call a qualifier, every year many drink their tears here! Now here is the first fateful game!" a huge digital screen came up from behind Midnight, the wheel spinning until it stopped on the event.
Obstacle race.
"All eleven classes will participate in this race, the course will be the outer area of the stadium which is about four kilometers! Our school's selling point is freedom - as long as you stay on the course, it doesn't matter what you do! Now take your places, everyone!"
The first years quickly made their way to the gate that led out to the obstacle race, Izumi made sure she moved quickly to the front. Luckily, she was thin enough to easily pass through people's shoulders - she wanted every advantage she could get in this race. Friends be damned, in her mind right now friends were just people that needed to be beaten in order to reach her goal. The first green light had fade signaling the race was about to start, everyone was getting into position ready to burst out that door.
The second light went dark, the shadows that were in the narrow hallway started to dance around before gathering at her feet - though nobody really noticed. Her anticipation was causing this to happen, she didn't really have much control over it since it was all subconscious. Taking a deep breath before letting out a long exhale, she calmed her heartbeat as her gaze never left the door in front of her. The final light was off and Midnight shouted the start and Izumi was off sprinting ahead of some of the students surrounding her. She still somewhat caught in the squirming bodies of others as they tried to push their way out.
"God, this is why I hate crowds so much." people were stepping on her feet and elbows being shoved into her sides.
Suddenly she smelt something that wasn't normal, cold air. Thinking fast she shifted into her shadows and climbed up the wall on the side before the ground she was standing on was covered in ice. The ice continued to move up the walls and she needed to move fast before she was trapped behind the ice, the shadow user flew across the side of the wall - ice quick on her tail. Just as she was about to pass the door she could the ice nipping her from behind - her shadow form jumping out into the daylight just as ice started to cover the outer wall of the exit. Plopping onto the ground she continued to charge forward as she began to shift out of her shadow, but the ground in front of her was turning into ice as well.
"Todoroki. Smart move, but I'm no pushover." she noticed that the wall the surrounded the main path were icing over, so she moved there and came out fully before landing on the icy path. She skated down the way keeping her eyes forward, making sure not to look back - this was a competition if she saw her friends struggling she felt the pull to help them.
She heard the sounds of explosions and shouts of some very familiar voices coming up close behind her. She smirked at their tenacity and determination.
"Naive Todoroki!"
"I won't let you get away so easily! Shadow Witch! Half and Half Bastard!"
'Seems like they're not going down without a fight. I like that, it would be no fun if I didn't get some strong opponents.'
Purple balls landed right in front of her and she moved out of the way, not wanting to be anywhere near something in her path. Looking overhead she saw Mineta throwing his balls and bouncing to each of them, he was quickly catching up to Todoroki.
"I've outwitted you Todoroki, how pathetic! Take this! My special attack! Gra-" he was interrupted by a metal object smacking him out of the sky and he cartwheeled off the path.
Skidding to a complete stop Izumi looked up only to see towering over her were the machines from the entrance exam. Not just any machines, the zero point villains - they moved to attack Todoroki, who was ahead of her. The boy took no time in acting, he crouched down, left hand touching the ground underneath him. Ice surrounds under his feet and whipped around him forming ice spikes. His left arm swung in a large arc, sending a huge blast of ice towards the attacking zero pointer - freezing it in place.
'Holy shit! That's crazy, I gotta make sure not to fall behind.'
Todoroki, with his work done, he ran forwards underneath the robot's legs. The other students making their way towards it hoping they were also able to pass through. Metal groaning could be heard as ice started to fall of the huge metal monstrosity before it came crashing down. A giant cloud of dust and ice covered the area as it hit the ground, causing everyone not being able to see.
Izumi was waving away the dust from her face as she heard metal shrieking behind and jumped out the way.
"Seems like I have one of my own to handle before I can do anything else. It's time to play with this thing."
As the cloud finally started to dissipate she got a clearer view of her opponent, she knew if she could take one of these down her skill would definitely get noticed. Dodging out of the way from some laser fire she gathers the shadows around her, they swirled around her feet before she lifted her hand and the shadow followed her hand's movements. They formed four large balls the floated in the air before lengthening into thick giant needles, with a smile she launch her arm out in a sweeping motion and the huge shadow needles pierced one of the zero pointer's joints. The others quickly doing the same - keeping the robot from moving, let alone attacking her.
Leaping upon her needles she made her way to its' head, reaching her destination she looked out at the view in front of her.
"This is amazing, you can almost see the whole course from up here. I'm glad they brought these things out, I can have some fun and play a bit with them."
Spotting what the next obstacle would be, she jumped down from the robot's head and landed safely to the ground thanks to more of her shadows cushioning her landing. Turning her back she lifted her hand causing the needles to come out of the joints, without that nothing was holding the huge thing up and it started to tip over and land with a crush. Calling back the shadows to her feet she ran forward - moving onto the next part of the course, she was just getting started.
