When Aizawa marched into class on Monday, sleeping bag no where to be found, eye circles gone, and announced that the entirety of their third-year class was taking a nice weekend getaway of relaxation to the beach, Katsuki just about had a heart attack.
Correction. Squares just about had a heart-attack then fainted on the spot right on top of Round Face's desk. The girl in question was praying for a quick and painless death while Grape boy screeched in agony, sprawling to the floor to beg for forgiveness for sneaking raunchy comics into his desk. To prevent any more casualties, Tentacles immediately reenacted some shitty spy movie by stretching his quirk out in every-which direction in search of a listening device. It didn't take long for Earphone to join the search for a commendable and efficient team-up. From behind him, Katsuki could hear the mutterings of Deku writing notes at a speed of which was comparable to light if light was a Harry Potter fanatic who ventured out of their room just to get their lunch money stolen.
By the way, if you're going to harp on Katsuki for not using names, then fuck off.
The point was that everyone was freaking out. They freaked out all the way until the end of the day long after Aizawa had retreated back into his sleeping corner. They freaked out the following week, Deku and The Smart One conspiring fantastical theories during lunch about what will happen on Friday just to come up short of any ideas outside of the beach turning into the backdrop of the next hunger games. At least, in Katsuki's damn good opinion. For the record, if it did, Navel Laser would be the first to die.
"What do you think, Kacchan?" Deku had asked at one point. The two of them were crouched on the table in the common room in the early morning before anyone else was up. Regardless of the impending doom, Deku still wanted to study together like the nerd he was. Katsuki in particular was focused in on an intense physics problem involving the relative trajectory of a fidget spinner to the ground being thrown in an elevator against a fan inside of an airplane flying in the middle of a tornado. Because the teachers hated them.
"I think Aizawa is having the time of his life."
"No… well yes." It didn't surprise Deku anymore how quickly Katsuki could roundhouse kick those rose-tinted glasses off his freckly face. "I mean, Kacchan, what do you think will happen this weekend?"
"A few limbs fly off. A casualty in the basement. Six charges of first degree murder."
The other boy squeaked, his pen flying out of his hand. It would've brought anyone to tears, how it flew in a perfect arc to land straight into the discarded cup next to them, sending drops of milk over both of their homework.
"Deku, what the FUCK?!" He didn't care who he woke up with his screeching. His meticulous diagrams of looped equations were one thing, but the fucking amazing comic he drew in the margin ranting about fidget spinners being the death of humankind was ruined.
"I'm sorry!" Deku rushed to collect tissues by the sink. They were snatched out of his arms with a red-hot scowl, sheets of equations padded out before being laid over the vent to dry. Out of all things, Katsuki did not count on a clutz being the cause of his morning of getting ahead of the class to turn shitty. They were forced to take a break on the couch. A few sounds from the floor above indicated that some of the early-risers were beginning to mill about. Yet still, Deku remained pressing nervous fingers against his palm.
For fuck's sake.
"Who cares what's thrown at us? I'd still come out on top either way."
And, that small pang in his chest, at seeing Deku once again so easily perk up and discard all his doubts away each and every time like Katsuki was his hero, made him want to punch a hole through his own face.
Just as well, an entire week's accumulation of sweat, tears, and blood (no he isn't being dramatic shut up pink girl) wasn't worth the anticlimactic conclusion when the class stepped off of the bus after an hour drive with full hero gear on just to come face to face with a regular beach. Japanese and foreign kids alike skipped through the water. Couples milled on blankets. Legit, Katsuki saw at least five of those prissy fruity drinks with umbrellas coming out of them and he fucking hated those things.
Pikachu was the first to cross the threshold, eyeing the scene warily. "Dude, what-" just to screech horribly when a hoard of crab started chasing him into the sea. Kirishima being the sap that he was, rushed to try to help his friend only to get caught in the fray of shellfish. As everyone else gathered on top of the sand, Sparkly King Arthur picked up a starfish by his feet like he just found his life partner. The weirdo.
"The lodge we're staying at is further down the coast over there. The bus driver will deliver all your belongings. Go have fun." Aizawa said with all the boredom in the world before the vehicle sped off down the road.
An eerie silence overtook the kids, still expecting for the bus to reverse right into them any second with their teacher riding on top and a maniacal grin on his face. But alas, an entire five minutes passed and nothing happened. Between glaring at the water and dealing with a mess of green in his peripheral, Katsuki whirled around when an obnoxious slurp sounded behind the two.
"To-Todoroki-kun?!" Deku spluttered out.
Indeed, it was Todoroki. Somehow already changed into casual beach clothes, the hero was enjoying a two-layer smoothie that was half white and half red.
Katsuki eyed the drink in disgust. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Having fun," Todoroki slurped loudly. "…Am I not supposed to?"
That seemed to be what snapped the rest out of the class out of it. Pinky was the first to react. She squealed in delight, throwing her mask off to swing above her head in a circle like she was trying to prove that the earth was round or some shit. Blush face was quick to join, prattling about forgetting her swimsuit as a large portion of the class opted to head to the clothes store in the town nearby to buy some. Birb sauntered away to find a cave and mull over his Birb thoughts. This was around the same time when the ketchup and mustard duo returned with crabs hanging off of their hair but excitement bouncing off them.
"Deku-kun," Bambi chirped from the back of the group. "Would you like to join us?"
"Ah, that's okay, Uraraka-san." Deku raised his hands spastically. "I was thinking of heading to the lodge first to grab some stuff. I'll join you two later?"
The response was met with stiff arm gestures. "Remember not to work too hard, Midoriya! Yuuei had went through the trouble of arranging such an opportunity to relieve stress and build up our youthfffiii-" Sonic the Hedgehog choked when he was pushed ahead by his companion who waved goodbye along with everyone else. What a loser.
And that was how Katsuki Bakugou found himself alone on a mound of sand, sparks igniting his hands, in his hero costume and next to the greenest person in the world with his stupid hypnotic green eyes. Deku himself didn't seem to mind, humming a bit as he turned to him expectantly. "Kacchan?"
Oh perfect. What did he want?
"What." He'd be fine as long as he didn't look him in the eye.
"Walk on the beach with me?" Damn it.
"Fine."
To avoid getting sand in their shoes, they opted to travel along the paved path towards the lodge where a majority of the stalls were set up. And no. Contrary to what your bigoted minds were probably thinking, it wasn't uncomfortable. Katsuki let the nerd fall in step beside him without second thought.
It was a long grueling journey from where they were at the beginning of first year, but the results showed. He didn't know when what was once stolen glances to express discomfort and anger began evolving into gazes that exuded fondness and anger instead- what, Katsuki was an angry guy. Though if he was more often pissed at Deku for poking him with his pencil all the damn time than he was pissed at Deku for simply existing, that's a win in his book. Some annoyances in their class may even say that they were close frien- the fucking f word. Katsuki ain't spelling it out for you fuckers.
Stopped by a sharp tug on his gauntlet, Katsuki turned with a scowl. "What is it now?"
Behind a hideous Hawaii T-shirt stand, Pikachu would've loved that shit, was a giant ass sign painted in pink sparkles and glowing English letters spelling out 'how well do you know your childhood sweetheart?'
The fuck was a sweetheart? Some kind of western millennial phrase?
"Kacchan."
"No."
Deku gave him a look. "But I didn't say anything yet."
"You were thinking it. That's enough incentive."
"Kacchan." The greenery tugged again, this time shooting a smile his way. "Doesn't it sound fun? We could challenge ourselves a little! Or at least check it out."
"And have a bunch of snobs prying into our lives under the guise of getting free coconut-scented shampoo samples? No thanks." Though he had to admit, the idea of being challenged did sound appealing.
His friend frowned, a mock look of offense that was much too out of proportion to the situation marred his features. Maybe if Katsuki went and burned his entire All Might warehouse down instead, it'd be warranted. "I like coconut."
"Fucking-" Katsuki sighed. "Fine. Let's go whore ourselves out for some coconut."
Now that the state of satiating Katsuki's burning desire to blow up shit was officially put on hold, he had nothing better to do with his Friday anyway. The beach was too close to civilians to train. He'd already gone on his morning jog. And although he massively doubted this thing would do them any good, testing out his compatibility with Deku as a hero partner wouldn't be a complete waste of time. And before you come at him with pitchforks like Neanderthals, that was utterly and completely the fault of Deku over here. The guy had been showing interest in compatibility horoscopes ever since he agreed to become a hero team with him. When asked, the boy just said that he liked them. Katsuki convinced himself like a fool that it was a phase.
Alas, a year later and he had to begrudgingly accept them lest live a life of misery. Deku didn't come with a warning label for this kind of stupid.
But this was anything but some cheap horoscope. He was expecting the world's biggest nosed lady hunched over a crystal ball screaming foul play and selling them a piece of plastic or voodoo doll for a hundred thousand yen. Hundred yen added for each additional strand of hair, Katsuki would throw in a mint if she could make the doll look like Hands-Fetish. It wouldn't be a total lost either if Katsuki could get her autograph for looking so much like she was kicked out of a Disney movie.
As they approached, the bodies of the tented stalls between gave way to reveal glass cases surrounded by television crew. Locked up was an assortment of jewelry ranging from necklaces to sculptures being presented as prizes. This wasn't some project set up by college students looking to pay off some debts. This was the real deal.
Katsuki stared in bafflement. Deku seemed to be in a similar state of mind until his eyes caught something reflecting off of a silk pillow and he rushed forward to examine it. The blond followed, skeptical but finding shelter in the tent alongside the green stain.
Whatever Deku was staring at didn't seem so special. It was a ring, silver in colour and designed like interwoven tree branches that ended in a flamboyant bunch of red flowers carved from gems. Upon further inspection, the plaque underneath the display labelled it as Almandine Garnet or some flowery garbage like that.
"If you say that you want to wear this because it brings out your eyes then ask me if it makes your finger look fat, I'm going to perform the Nicolas Cage version of divorcing your ass."
"Charmed, Kacchan." Deku huffed. A red hue grew on freckled cheeks, probably from the heat coming from these extra ass spotlights meant to show off the gems. "And it's not that. It's just… this model is the same as my mom's wedding ring. She lost it a long time ago."
"Did she not buy a new one?"
"This model is rare!" Deku rounded on him in excitement. Oh fuck no. Katsuki knew better than anyone what that dumb spark in his eye meant. "Like, really rare. The welding is top-notch! The level of craftsmen ship needed is unimaginable! We couldn't find another store that carried these before the ring was discontinued for being too time-consuming and expensive to make. She was…" He deflated a bit; Katsuki swore even those dumb bunny ears at the back of his hood drooped down as well. "She was really sad after that."
Katsuki could see where this was going fast. Just as well, he was stupid for thinking that Deku would be any less of a fanboy for a shitty gem glued to another shitty gem than he was for a giant plastic figure in the shape of All Might.
Okay. So Katsuki himself liked a good All Might figure once in a while. Incidentally and totally by not-coincidence, he also owned a sealed copy of one of the thirty issues of volume seven dash six existing in the world after camping out the store at 3am. And maybe, almost, just a little, tied with Deku for naming off all the villains that All Might has ever defeated in chronological order for the past fifteen years.
Oh, who was he shitting.
Somewhat understanding the severity of the situation, he directed a glare at one of the workers while aiming a pointer finger at the ring. "How much is this thing?"
"Oh," the girl reluctantly approached the two students in spandex and masks who- Katsuki has to be fucking fair here- easily could've been mistaken for robbers. "This ring is one of the prizes for first place in the Childhood Sweethearts television series. Along with the ring, the two winners will receive tickets to a resort and one million yen."
"Hold up," Katsuki narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "Television, huh?"
"Y-Yes. Would you two like to enter? All the contestants will be in pairs and participate in activities proving their bond as childhood friends. Registration ends in five minutes and the first day of competition starts this afternoon."
"Kacchan," Deku took his eyes off the glass to beam at him like an eighteen-year-old man child. "Can we? I need this ring."
"Well I need this publicity. Think about how many agencies would hire us if they saw our teamwork on the big screen."
"Um," the employee blinked with wide eyes. "Our mission statement defines the purpose of this organization is to promote the everlasting and complicated relationship formed by childhood lov-"
"Screw that, lady. Where's the fucking registration?" Katsuki landed a fist into his other palm, a light firework igniting from the impact. He was officially pumped to beat the asses of everyone there. She could do little else than point to the batch of papers being watched by a bored official.
"Oh my god, Kacchan." Deku sprung up from his spot in horror like he just saw Fast and Blue multiply before his very eyes. "We only have a hundred and ninety seconds left!"
"STOP SCREECHING AND GET A MOVE ON THEN!"
"You're the one screeching!" The green hero screeched.
And Katsuki had a well-timed rebuttal to completely destroy Deku from the very spot he stood on but damn, there were more important things to worry about. The two were quick to hop their way to the table, one a bundle of nerves and the other pissed at how many papers there were. They had to split the work between the two of them just to get it done, with Katsuki being stuck skimming the rules while Deku filled in the information forms at lightning speed. If ever his obsessive note-taking came in handy, it was now.
Essentially, it was a three-day long competition. Half the contestants would be eliminated the first day, then however many more contestants needed to dwindle down the finalists to five or ten pairs would be eliminated the second day. There was some legal drawl about the footage being subject to handed over to authorities as evidence for crime that Katsuki didn't give two flying fucks about as long as he wasn't the one kicking the criminal in the face. Then there was a note about injury and suing that he quickly went over before signing the bottom.
Meanwhile, Deku was close to finishing his bundle of paperwork as well, ignorant to the look of horror crossing the security guard's face at their speed. They were fucking awesome, in short. They even finished the entire monstrosity with a few seconds to spare. Katsuki knew he chose the right partner and they were going to blow the competition away.
As soon as they were given a place and time to meet for the event, the two of them rushed back to the lodge to unpack and change into casual clothes. Aizawa didn't bat an eye, curled up by the window sill next to the luggage.
Deku emerged from his room hours later, hair slicked back and in a bowtie.
"You're a fucking embarrassment." Katsuki ruffled the green curls, ruining the effect immediately. "What's the point of looking like you're getting ready to file taxes if we're going to be heroes?"
The boy flushed. Whacking the blond's hand away from him, he found solace in returning to his room before coming back out in some freaking human clothes that he could actually breathe in. They made their way down the stairs and out the door, Deku in his trademark red shoes and Katsuki in his own hero boots. None of the fuckers from the rest of their class had returned yet, probably out trying kabobs or buying souvenirs for quick two-minute amusement like the consumers they were.
"Are you really that excited for a dumb ring?" Katsuki rose a brow. Deku had been in an increasingly good mood, a floatiness to his steps that would've had him interrogating Chubby Cheeks in any other situation.
Deku blinked at him, confused himself. "I guess I am?"
But Katsuki knew damn better. Call him a softie but he could tell, from the twitch in his shoulders to the nervous energy, that the ring probably had just as much sentimental value to Deku as it did for his mom. And fuck off if you think Katsuki was doing this to see that twitch grow into a smile or for that energy to bounce off more radiantly. He wasn't into that cheesy crap. (But seeing it happen to Deku wouldn't bother him either)
The meeting spot was a parking lot behind a grand store. Five mini-buses lined the curb as a crowd of rambunctious pairs mingled on the pavement. And if Katsuki thought his classmates were weird, then these people reached the metaphorical basketball net and slammed it in.
There were foreigners of all shapes and sizes performing stretches against the brick wall. One man, twice their size and laughing boisterously, was the first to notice them and wave with way too much peppiness than Katsuki could handle in his tea for a year. Half the guys there were in muscles shirts and beach shorts, the girls accompanying them decked out in bikinis only hidden by an oversized hoodie. And, to top it all off, one of them had a pet chicken.
"Dudes, welcome! That hair…?" Gigantor motioned to Deku. "Rad."
What kind of fresh hell was this?
If they start serving cocktails with sexually inappropriate names, Katsuki's going to flip a bitch.
Deku, ever resistant to bullshit, smiled anyway. "H-Hello! It's nice to meet you."
The personification of Godzilla, if possible, grinned wider and snatched Deku's palm in one of those bro handshakes that Katsuki saw on the internet one time when Kirishima bragged about this 'awesome video he had to see.' Would've knocked the nerd off his feet with the combined force of the world's dynamite in a single grip if this was the same Deku from middle school. But alas, he managed to stay on the ground much to Katsuki's innate human need to laugh at people.
"Likewise!" He boomed. "The name's Thad."
"You mean Chad?" Katsuki's eye twitched.
"Nah man. I ain't about that life. It's Thad. Oh!" Here, he gestured to two other teens gathered around a surf board. One of them was bench pressing a scantily clad blonde as a crowd cheered them on while throwing water cups at them. "Those two are my friends. The epic one is Chang; he's a Chinese weight lifter."
"The Chinese are awesome." Katsuki nearly jumped out of his skin when the second teen was suddenly three feet away and high-fiving the tower next to them enthusiastically.
"I know, right!" Loud and Obnoxious jeered excitedly.
"Kacchan," Deku gripped the sleeve of his windbreaker. "I'm scared."
"Do it for the ring."
As it turns out, the one who just joined them was a much smaller Indian man by the name of Yousef. Not that Katsuki would remember anyway. He was quiet, at least compared to Thaddeus the untamed God of College Parties. It was right around the point when a brunette in attire that Katsuki wouldn't waste two seconds trying to figure out the name of jumped Chad to give him a giant smooch that Katsuki did what most sane and perfectly respectful people would've done in his situation.
"Where's the fucking bathroom." And ditched them.
Deku would've followed too, if his affinity towards making friends wherever he went didn't get in the way. Two steps from the glorious escape Katsuki so graciously offered were wasted when he decided last second that, no, I'm going to be that goody-two-shoes Deku and get to know these fuckers. Just as well, what happened next was totally his own fault.
"So…" Thad lowered his voice into a horrible imitation of a whisper while gesturing to the spot Katsuki was just in. "How about you? What's your sweetheart like?"
Sweetheart. Izuku could've sworn he saw that word somewhere and after careful consideration through his memory of past events, could recall pink sparkles and a glowing billboard. It was used after the word 'childhood' like it was a noun that could be described by it. So obviously, they were talking about something that was from childhood and given the context of the competition, they had to be asking about Kacchan.
Izuku straightened, feeling proud of his deduction. "…Loud!"
Ch-Thad catcalled into the sky while Chang 'ooh'ed in a way that echoed through the entire parking lot like an elephant horn. Yousef rose a brow suggestively. And Izuku was officially lost.
Meanwhile, Katsuki himself wasn't doing any better- thanks for asking. Contrary to popular belief that he was headed to the bathroom, he made a nice ninety-degree turn towards the snacks laid out for the guests while they waited for the announcement. There wasn't anything left other than a few sad crepes lining the tablecloth, so he snatched one just to not waste the trip then promptly turned to the condiments counter to douse it in hot sauce.
If Katsuki were to be artistic, he'd say the resulting dish was a perfect representation of his soul.
Turning away from his work to head back, he was met with, not for a lack of a better word like a nice person would say but very perfectly chosen, a group of Barbies. Tanned faces, sunglasses, and everything minus that obnoxious song about Ken.
One of them, he recognized as that brunette- make up face- hanging off of Thad'eth the second. They all stared at him, or specifically his crepe, in distaste. Katsuki smirked, cutting off a piece of the god damn amazing creation, then stuffed it in his mouth. "Something wrong?"
"Geez, what a waste of his looks. Who would want to date him?" Nose job sticks her nose out just to prove the origin of her namesake.
"Shh, he can hear you!" Make-up face sweats, being the only one to see him earlier.
But Damsel in Dreadlocks doesn't listen. "That attitude, though. Whoever his partner is must be desperate."
And all right. Katsuki is stopping the biggest display of people shitting in public that he's ever seen. He sneers, stabbing his crepe. "He is a desperate little fuck, making me deal with plastic extras like you when we have better things to do."
In the face of their offended looks, he left to return to a hopefully alone Deku.
As soon as he spots the green-head amidst the crowd and makes his way over, a man with sunglasses hanging off the front of his shirt ushers everyone to quiet down. From that point forward, the pairs are grouped into the buses which seated around thirty according to the order that they registered then taken to separate locations. The first elimination challenge would see them competing against those sharing the vehicle only. Sounded simple enough.
Until Katsuki realized that some great force up there must have really hated them.
"DUDES, NO WAY…!" Theleonius screams in excitement upon being sent to the same car as the two heroes. Some time since Katsuki last saw him, All Might save them, the guy had unbuttoned his shirt to show a greased chest like he just blue skidoo'ed off an episode of the Babe Watch. "I'm so stoked to show you my shreds."
"Y-Yeah…!" Deku leaned forward to meet the other's high-five with his own. The little shit looked terrified out of his mind. Let it be known that the person Katsuki's been with since he was a toddler could stare giant beasts in the eye but fell flat on his face in the presence of the word gnarly embodied as one person.
The drive itself wasn't bad, a mere fourteen minutes stuck with a bunch of asshats was negated by the television crew that crowded the front seats. Despite the hell that was the contestants, the staff were the real deal.
Katsuki tightened his fist, feeling a grin coming on. He couldn't wait to get a leg up on all the other graduates with this exposure. They travelled down the tarmac back towards the beach but further west along the coast.
Sectioned off from everything else was a wooden platform on the sand which resembled a stage. What was the most noticeable was a podium standing in the center with ten chairs lined up to its right and ten chairs to its left. Next would be the rows of plastic stools lined up off stage and on the sand for the gathering audience. In contrast to the cheap pop-up feel, expensive lighting equipment littered the premises.
"HEEEY!"
Great.
Present Mic, the host for the day, greeted while jamming out as always. He jumped off the stage in a fantastic display of pop. The grin warped into something much more befuddled when he spotted the familiar duo hop out of the van.
"Why are you here? You know what this is for, right?" Thankfully uttered in a whisper.
"What are you talking about? You taking away our rights to be here?" Katsuki snaps at the same time Izuku chirps up with "It's for childhood friends!"
Present Mic sighs.
"All right, all right. We'll start filming in a few minutes! I want one person from each pair to sit on the left side and the other person to sit on the right. Make sure that you're in the exact opposite seat as your partner! On the table in front of you, there's a whiteboard with a marker plus a spare in case yours runs out."
Not wasting a moment, Katsuki plopped down on the first seat he could reach on the left. As instructed, Deku sat on the right side completely symmetrical to him. The other nine pairs scrambled to follow suit.
"Farewell, Mon Sweet Cherrie." Chat-man bawled. The sun hit his face just right to reflect off of twinkling tears, his arms entangled in his love in a sorrowful embrace. "We must totally part ways for now."
Katsuki internally screeched.
Cherry sundae lifted a delicate hand to cup the man's face. Her smile was small but tortured. "Never fear, honeybun. We'll see each other soon."
After the heartfelt (dumb as balls) separation that Katsuki had to waste thirty seconds of his life to witness, Chad and Cherry pop joined the rest of the group with broken expressions and way too much agony to have come from sitting eleven feet away from each other. He couldn't imagine the fucking heads he'd have to blow off if this contest involved musical chairs in any way.
"Wait." That voice. That familiar grape-veiled voice echoed from across the beach to utterly shatter all of Katsuki's patience in the blink of an eye. The perpetrator pointed a tiny finger at the stage and its setup in disdain. Oh great, out of all people- "Why is he on the girl side?!"
From his spot on the left surrounded by ladies, the blond's expression soured. "Because I graduated top of my class in Navy Seals and been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda with over 300 confirmed kills- because fuck you."
"No, fuck you! This isn't fair!" The fruit bowl wailed.
"Hi, Kaminari-kun, Mineta-kun." Deku waved, brushing off the stare-down between grapes and Pomeranian.
Said Pikachu returned the greeting. But one look at the sign on the stage was all it took for him to tilt an exasperated brow at the two of them- probably just salty that he'd have to watch Katsuki blow the competition away again. Ha! What a sore loser.
Thankfully, the countdown indicating the start of filming was not long after. Finally. Some real fucking food. Present Mic did some outlandish introduction where he jumped through a Styrofoam cutout of childhood friends before explaining the rules to the quickly-gathering audience on the beachside. Grape Juice along with Zatch Bell's cousin fumbled to join and grab a seat before they ran out.
"Welcome to the heart-stopping challenge between childhood friends! Testing out their love through time, we question these lovely couples on how strong their bond truly is!" Present Mic posed backwards, pointing to the audience with enthusiasm. The crowd ooh'ed in interest. "Five out of these ten lovely pairs will be eliminated today. Who will it be?!"
"Boo…!" Purple Balls strained over the cheers. "Boo-OOooo! ah"
Pikachu promptly turned the other's seat around.
"The rules are simple!" Radio with a face morphed his speech into English on the last word. "It's a classic game among newly-weds but also a hit with friends everywhere. I'll start on this side over here." He bellowed out to Deku's half of the stage. "Asking a question, the person on the right will have to guess what their partner would say as an answer. Meanwhile, those on my left will write down their actual answer. If they match up, that pair gets five points! Isn't that super fun, listeners?"
One minute for each question, no communication allowed between partners, and to keep the responses family-friendly. That was the gist of what was written on the contract and what Katsuki passed onto Deku on the walk back to the lodge. Any violation of the rules would result in point deduction at the end. Hence, any contestants who lazed out of reading it were doomed. Right in the alley of Katsuki's kind of match.
"Before we get begin, let's have each couple introduce themselves. Let's start on the outside and work our way in! Uh, yes, you with no shirt!"
Giganterous shot out of his seat with a grin. "Thad Leanne, man! I'm here to show my girl just how far we can ride the waves in the sickest jam as long as we're hooked!" Whatever the fuck anything in that sentence just meant.
"Oh, Thad!" Cherry shot cried out, touched.
When it was Deku's turn, the nerd gifted the audience with a shaky smile. "U-uh, I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm here for the ring!"
Present Mic hummed. "That doesn't sound very noble. What about the partner? What are you here for?"
This was it. Katsuki's big moment. "To advertise."
"Advertise…?"
Taking the time to separate his windbreaker to reveal the fucking best shirt Katsuki had been working on with the old hag, the orange and black letters spelling out 'Kacchan' made its debut on television. It was a cutesy hero name and he was damn proud of it. To bring the point home, Katsuki kicked up his hero boots. "Yup, and win."
Kaminari facepalmed.