Chapter XVII
It was the big day. The Sports Festival would begin in less than three hours. Three hours... three hours until one of the most important events of UA... Needless to say, it had been one restless night for one Izuku Midoriya. Sleep had eluded him, no matter what he had tried. He had turned over and over on his bed, read some of his notebooks on other students, burned some energy as the two tails, even tried to fall asleep in his one-tailed form… nothing had worked. Inevitably, at some point, he lost himself in erratic thoughts until he had finally fallen into a deep slumber, only to be abruptly startled awake by his alarm clock.
Had he managed to sleep at all? Or had it been less than a few minutes of rest? Izuku couldn't tell. What he did know was that the Sports Festival was upon him. He got off his bed and, groggily, dressed up. Even when he knew he had a bad night, tiredness eluded him. Instead of exhaustion, the anxiety that had built up in his gut worked as shot of adrenaline, and he was fully awake by the time he made it to the bathroom. There, he spared a minute to study himself.
Izuku found himself staring at a grimacing reflection. His fox ears and tails needed some grooming, having been heavily ruffled with so much movement the night before. Additionally, Izuku did not like those dark bags under his eyes. It was stupid, but Izuku worried he might fall asleep during the Sports Festival and he sure didn't look at his best. Other than that, however, Izuku looked closer to someone who was pissed off rather than tired, although that might have been mostly his current form. Hopefully Rabbit Girl wouldn't tease him too much about it.
To think one month ago I would have stuck to my Zero-Tail form, Izuku thought, both baffled and incredulous.
So much had changed in one month and yet it felt like yesterday when he had first laid eyes on Rumi. Who would have thought he would befriend classmates? Had he ever envisioned a friend like Rabbit Girl? Better yet, Izuku had survived an entire month in U.A. under Aizawa's scrutinizing watch, an astounding miracle. Maybe his class stood a chance after all.
Izuku made his way to the living room, dispelling his nostalgic thoughts. His nostrils flared with the smell of food and his mouth started to water. His tails swayed from side to side. When he made it to the living room, Izuku was greeted by the delicious fragrance of breakfast and the oblivious humming of his mother.
"Morning" Izuku yawned.
"Good day, Izuku!" A cheerful Inko exclaimed.
She beamed at him, all while carrying more plates with food to the table. Met with such cheerfulness and liveliness, Izuku couldn't help but smile. His concerns washed away and, for a blissful moment, he forgot all about the upcoming events. That and the sweet smell of beacon made him drool and his stomach grumbled impatiently. He sat down, nine tails eagerly wagging. If the pile of meat and scrambled eggs wasn't enough, Inko had added pancakes to the mix.
"Maybe this is a bit much" Izuku said, even though he greedily eyed his food.
"Nonsense! You are going to need all the energy you can!" Inko huffed, sitting opposite her son. "How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?" She suddenly looked terribly concerned, not that Izuku was surprised. He sure looked awful. "You didn't sleep well, did you? Oh dear…"
"That obvious?" Izuku dryly chuckled.
"A bit. Maybe you could shower before you go. You look a bit… untidy. You do need to look your best" Inko admitted. She offered a timid smile. "Other than that, how do you feel?"
"Oh, a bit nervous… I guess" Izuku shared. "But I think I'll manage. I mean, if I don't I'll have Rabbit Girl all over my tails".
The two shared a chuckle at that.
"She sure has been great for you" Inko said. Izuku did not like that mischievous glint on her eyes. "You have done so much progress with your Mental Repression, Izuku. It's incredible what one person can achieve."
"Well, she is a great friend" Izuku said with a grin. Thinking about Rumi always made him grin like a moron… not that he minded.
"Ah-ha, friend" Inko hummed with amusement. Again, her eyes held that knowing twinkle that grated on Izuku's nerves.
"Yes, she is a friend" Izuku insisted. "I mean… yeah we are kind of close and- and all of that but – we both want to dedicate ourselves to winning the Sports Festival and we don't want any distractions…"
Not that they had ever discussed it, he realized. Izuku had never bother ask Rabbit Girl and he got the distinct impression she too wanted to avoid the subject. Sadly, Izuku couldn't help but feel awkward when thinking about a relationship with Rumi. In any case, the two had been dancing around the issue without exchanging one word about it... whatever that was supposed to mean.
"Oh, and after tomorrow?" Inko innocently wondered with what Izuku could describe a foxy smile.
"We'll see…" Izuku, blushing, mumbled.
"I for one wanted to say: I approve of her" Inko hummed, taking a bite of her toast. "I mean, she truly did wonders. You are so much happier and comfortable with your quirk now... and you both share so much in common. I mean, some who shares you obse- your interest in heroes! Besides, you both have very compatible quirks. I can already imagine your grandchildren".
Inko lost herself in her own imagination, squealing at thoughts Izuku rather not be privy to.
Not this again, Izuku mentally muttered. This might have been her first time openly approving of Rumi, but this was definitely not the first time he had heard her hint at grandchildren.
"I encourage you to take the initiative, Izuku" Inko nagged. "A girl like her come one in a lifetime and they expect determination".
"We want to be Pro-Heroes, mom. We can't just – ehm – be normal teenagers" Izuku groaned. "We have to keep our priorities straight".
Although Izuku truly wanted to date Rumi, he was not about to say it. Inko Midoriya would no doubt embarrass Izuku to no end! She could even try to arrange a marriage or something! Well, maybe that was pure speculation and exaggerated fears, but Izuku wasn't about to test his mother on that. Better safe than sorry.
"Nonsense" Inko harrumphed. "You deserve to be happy, Izuku. Even if it is U.A., it still is a High School, and there is nothing wrong in enjoying your childhood. You also need to think about your future. You want to have a family, don't you?"
"Mom, it is U.A. I can't j-just – you know – ruin this opportunity. I need to focus on my career" Izuku spluttered. "It's too early to talk about- about family and stuff! Besides, w-we are friends! It isn't like we will marry or something."
"I sure hope so" Inko grumbled under her breath, not that it could escape Izuku's keen ears.
There was a prolonged moment of silence in which both Midoriyas peacefully went on with their breakfast. While Izuku viciously attacked the beacon, the pancakes and sausages, as well as scrambled eggs, Inko hummed as she absentmindedly finished her toast.
"Izuku…" she abruptly said, breaking the silence.
Izuku, half-way a piece of beacon, paused to look at her. For a moment he worried he might have been a bit too ferocious on the breakfast. However, that sad face on her made him gulp and a knot formed in his gut. This wasn't good, was it?
"I… I wanted to tell you that… ehm… I-I believe in you" Inko said.
Izuku blinked at her. That was sudden and random.
"I-I believe you'll make a great hero" Inko said.
Izuku's eyes widened. Did she really mean it? She had been supportive thus far, helping him in what she needed, but she had never actually said that.
"You always could" Inko added after some hesitation. "You always had a good heart in you, Izuku – a hero's heart… even when you were powerless, you kept that golden spirit of yours. I-I am just glad you now have the power to make it to the top". She offered a shy and teary smile.
Izuku stared at his mother, dumbfounded. What had brought this on?
"S-so…" Inko took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say "G-Go and- and kick their butts, alright?" Inko, looking ashamed, stated.
Izuku blinked at her, floored. His heart, though, drummed with joy. How long had he wanted to hear his mother tell him that?
"You are p-pretty cool and awesome, Izuku" Inko said with growing confidence. "Show the world that. Show the world who Izuku Midoriya is, alright?"
"Don't worry, mom. I'll make you proud" Izuku promised.
"No, Izuku, all I ask is that you make yourself proud. I'm already proud of you" Inko chuckled, blushing. "Now you should hurry!"
"Right!" Izuku hastily nodded and hurried to finish his breakfast. As he munched down on the last remnants of his ferocious appetite, he couldn't help but smile with a reinvigorated energy.
The farewells were a bit weepy, with Inko crying and constricting the life out of Izuku before he left, but he didn't mind. In fact, as he trotted towards the station, he was truly elated. His tails shamelessly wagged behind him and he grinned, baring his sharp teeth for the world to see. He was going to win the Sports Festival. He had everything he needed to do so, after all.
Dressed in his green gym clothes, he carried his U.A. gym uniform in a separate bag. Other than that, Izuku wished he could compete with his costume, even though he understood that would leave the other classes at a disadvantage. Still, it would be rather awkward when he changed into his newer forms… not that he wanted to think whether his gym clothes would fit his Four-Tailed form.
All around the station, the excitement for the U.A. Sports Festival was showing. Students from all ages chatted and murmured with glee, and journalists had already started spouting nonsense across various screens of the station. Some people Izuku crossed were annoyed they would miss it and be forced to watch the replays, while a handful seemed uninterested, at least by the Freshmen games. Izuku had no doubt everyone was far more excited by the games on Wednesday, when the Seniors would show off.
At the train platform, Izuku was surprised to find Rabbit Girl already waiting there. More surprising, however, was her current company. After all, it was not every day Izuku got to see more than one rabbit person – and if the close resemblance was anything to go by, these were not just any rabbit people. He tentatively approached Rabbit Girl, staring at her present company.
"Ah, Fox Boy!" Rumi called, waving at him with a grin. Clad with a black hoodie and jeans, she looked different than usual. To Izuku, though, she looked as good as always.
"Hey Rabbit Girl" Izuku replied, eyes wandering to the two children next to her.
One was a twelve year old brown haired Rabbit Boy. Like the blond ten year old girl next to him, he was rather short and had rabbit ears the same colour as his hair. Their faces and overall looks were near identical to Rumi. They even shared the same energetic mischievous glint as Rumi. That wasn't a good sign, was it?
"Huh, so this is your boyfriend?" The boy hummed with a nod of approval.
"Scruffy, but not bad" the girl added.
Rumi chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"Fox Boy, let me introduce these two" Rumi said, puffing her chest up. "They are-"
"I am Haku!" The boy proclaimed raising his right fist.
"I am Hana!" The girl added raising her left fist.
"And together we are-" SMACK "Ouch!"
The two children grumbled and glared at their sister, as an annoyed Rumi kept her hands ready to smack the back of their heads again.
"Annoying, that's what you are" Rumi scoffed. "Remember what mom said: behave or you won't watch tomorrow's games".
She sighed, shaking her head, already looking exhausted by her siblings' antics. Izuku found himself chuckling. The children pulled their tongues at her but, other than that, remained subdued. That and they seemed to focus entirely on him with those mischievous faces of theirs. Should Izuku be worried? Yeah, maybe he should be.
"How did you get seats?" Izuku wondered.
"Perks of being on the top three last year: I got three tickets for the Freshman Sports Festival. I bet they expected it to be my parents and me".
"Oh, you do care about me, don't you?" Izuku teased.
"You have no idea, Fox Boy" Haku exclaimed.
"Rumi really wanted to see you today" Hana stated.
Rumi smacked the two children before addressing Izuku.
"Ha, don't flatter yourself Fox Boy. My parents would rather watch me with the rest of my siblings, so they'll stick to the TV and sofa back home, and since I've got the tickets, why not use them?"
"Well… I bet you could have made quite a lot had you sold them" Izuku, looking away with an amused smirked as he mockingly looked thoughtful. "I think I saw someone re-selling tickets at two thousand…"
"Wait? REALLY?!" Rumi gasped, disbelieving.
"But now it is too late" He turned towards the two staring children. "No offense but how did you get chosen?"
"It was a fight to the death" Hana innocently retold.
"Gruesome… but effective" Haku remarked with a dismissive shrug.
"Ha, I wish. They are allegedly the best behaved of the lot so my parents wanted to reward them" Rumi harrumphed, glaring at the smirking children. "Key word: allegedly".
"You offend us, Sis" Haku smugly said.
"Yes, Sis, we are well-behaved" Hana added with an equally smug face.
Why did Izuku feel the Usagiyama's household was a deep burrow of chaos and mayhem? Well, Rumi was part of said family so there was that. It truly made Izuku wonder, and imagine, the madness of such a home.
"How are you feeling, Fox Boy?" Rumi wondered, looking serious.
"I am fine…" Izuku said with a smile, only to grimace. "Well not really. I am dying of nerves but other than that…" he flashed a confident grin and a shrug "…I think I can win this".
"Good for you, Fox Boy" Rumi chuckled, nudging him. "You would be an idiot if you weren't nervous. Even I was jittery last year. Just… don't freeze – or do anything stupid" With a smirk, she added "Remember: you'll be on international TV".
"That's so reassuring" Izuku sarcastically grunted. "I feel much calmer now" he added with a smirk.
"Oh come on, Fox Boy, you'll do fine" Rumi chuckled, nudging him again. She gave a confident grin, standing awfully close under his gaze. "As long as you don't overthink things, you'll go Plus Ultra".
The two remained staring at each other, eyes locked onto the other.
"By the way, Fox Boy, you are bit..." Rumi trailed off, humming thoughtfully. "Untidy" she decided with a grin.
"Huh?" Was all he could respond.
"Here, let me" Rumi mischievously chuckled. Before Izuku could react, he had a hand brushing his ruffled fox ears. "There, better!"
"Just kiss him already!" Haku cheered behind him.
"Go for it, Fox Boy!" Hana chuckled.
Rumi snapped her head, glaring at his little siblings. The pair averted their gazes with wide innocent eyes, fighting off amused grins.
"Don't worry, Rabbit Girl… I'll manage" Izuku said "at least, I hope so".
"You better" Rumi huffed.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Hana and Haku chanted.
Rumi murderously glared at her two siblings, all while Izuku chuckled. Rumi's siblings sure were something.
"To think those two are the most subdued" Rumi muttered.
The two looked innocently at Izuku, smiling like they were hiding some dastardly plan.
"We know you love us, Sis" Hana teased with a smirk.
"Very, very, very, very, very deep in your heart" Haku added.
"You wouldn't mind eating these two, would you?" Rumi asked. "They won't be missed. I have seven other siblings at home".
Izuku frowned, and started counting in his head. Didn't Rumi have…?
"Mom's pregnant… again" Rumi muttered, guessing his thoughts.
"Oh" was all Izuku could say. "Congrats?"
Rumi was going to have nine siblings? Geez, talk about a big family. She didn't seem fazed. Then again, after so many siblings, another one probably wasn't that much of a difference.
The train finally rolled in and the crowd calmly made its way inside – or rather Rumi and Izuku were forced to run after a pair of overly excited rabbit rascals. The fact they could hop away quickly thanks to their quirk, make it harder for Izuku to catch up. Rumi, on the other hand… not so much. So, within seconds, Rumi was standing in front of two seated and reprimanded children, exchanging glares with them. Izuku awkwardly stood by a side, grabbing onto the hangers.
"Hey, Fox Boy, is it true you can change into different people?" Haku asked as the train lurched forward.
"Uh, uh, uh!" Hana excitedly waved a hand, as if she was asking a question at school. "Can you change into a girl? Can we see please?"
"Oy, both of you" Rumi interceded "you'll get the chance to see in a couple of hours".
"Oh" two disappointed children whined.
"Seriously" Rumi grunted. She turned towards Izuku. "Don't ever let them coax you into anything. If you give in an inch, they'll take a mile".
Izuku sweatdropped at that.
"Say, Fox Boy, is it true that explosive bastard is in your class?" Hana asked. Her smile, while still on place, had lost its previous liveliness. Instead, she looked rather angry.
"You mean… Bakugo?" Izuku wondered, baffled. That was a sudden shift in the mood.
"Blond, red-eyed, nasty piece of shi-" Haku was muttering, only to receive a smack on the back of his head. "Ouch!"
"No cussing, same goes to you" Rumi grunted, pointing a warning finger at Hana. "And yeah, that would be the Bakugo kid".
"Oh, him…" Izuku grimaced, remembering who one of his biggest challengers would be.
And just like that, he felt the crushing pressure of the Sports Festival on his shoulders. Memories of Bakugo's explosions and fighting flashed across his mind, leaving him disheartened. How could he defeat such a guy?
"Well, when you fight him in the third event: beat him, please" Hana pleaded with a scowl.
"Yeah, rip him a new one" Haku added.
Izuku had forgotten Bakugo had encountered the Usagiyama siblings before. He looked at Rumi, who had a dark look on her face.
"Don't listen to them" Rumi huffed. "Just win, alright?"
"Oy, that bastard needs to be taught a lesson!" Haku exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Hana exclaimed, waving a righteous fist.
"Yes, but the Festival isn't the place" Rumi rebutted.
"Come on, Sis, you remember what he did to Sakura" Hana angrily added. "What better place than live TV?"
"That's the point! Tons of people will be watching, especially Pro-Heroes and Hero Agencies. Fox Boy needs to do his best out there and that means winning, even if it means sparing that bastard" Rumi told Izuku. "You are going to need to be at your best if you want to get an internship anywhere good".
Said Fox Boy was a bit taken aback. Since when Rumi advocated for anything other than a good beat down? However, by that worried face of hers, Izuku wondered how much was due to concern. Bakugo was not a merciful opponent, and going up against him would be hard. Rumi couldn't be that concerned about him, right? Still, that grim face of hers was unlike the Rabbit Girl Izuku knew.
"Nonsense" huffed Haku, while Hana nodded with equal indignation.
Rumi sighed, shaking his head. She turned towards Izuku.
"Don't do anything stupid" Rumi insisted, only to add while averting her gaze "but if you do get the chance to fight him…" she smirked at him "show no mercy, am I clear? Don't use the claws, though. Aizawa will not appreciate ruining the bastard's ugly face."
While the idea of defeating Bakugo in combat sounded appealing, Izuku wasn't sure it would be that feasible. Still, who knew?
The group remained quiet for a moment. Izuku uneasily shuffled, remembering the upcoming event. This would be one of his biggest challenge to date, comparable only to the Entrance Exam. The difference, of course, was that the Entrance Exam didn't have competitors gunning for him.
"Mind in the game, Fox Boy" Rumi asked. "Or I'll smack you to shape".
Strangely enough, even if he did feel rather nervous about the upcoming event, Izuku felt good. Better yet, he felt rather playful that morning.
"Don't worry your little cotton-tail, I'll do fine" Izuku teased.
"You better, Fox Boy" Rumi harrumphed. "It wouldn't do to my reputation if you don't make a good impression".
"Find a room you two!" Haku shouted.
Rumi and Izuku ignored the child.
"Oh, so it is your reputation, huh?" Izuku said with an amused grin.
"Yes, of course. What? You thought I was worried about your reputation?" Rumi huffed, although she did smile playfully.
"Just kiss already!" Hana cried out behind the teenagers.
"Your siblings sure want you to kiss me" Izuku commented, only to wiggle his eyebrows. "What's the problem? You don't like foxy ole me?"
Rumi remained unfazed by the teasing. Instead, a pang of concern struck his gut when he saw a mischievous smirk stretch on her face. She leaned forward, their faces not far from each other.
"What's that, Fox Boy? Finally going to help me with that little urge of mine?"
It was Izuku who ended up spluttering incoherently, red-faced, as the train raced forward. Rumi, like her siblings, burst out laughing at the expense of the poor Fox Boy.
"Never change" Rumi chuckled, only to shrug, a dangerous grin forming. "But if you insist…"
Before Izuku could understand what was going on, she leaned forward again, give a small jump and kissed his cheek. He blinked at her, dumbstruck. What had just happened? Rumi's siblings, though, started cooing and making teasing sounds at Rumi, who remained smug.
"For luck" Rumi said with a smirk. "So you better make it count, am I clear? Next one will be a kiss between my fist and your face."
Izuku, though, was on cloud nine.
"Sis, I think you broke him" Hana innocently commented.
"See? That's why you don't kiss Fox Boy" Rumi laughed, nudging the goofy Fox Boy.
"Your boyfriend is weird, Sis" Haku remarked.
"Just wait for him to show off at the games" Rumi confident said with a smirk. She turned towards Izuku. "He's a winner. Of that, I am sure".
U.A. was one of the most prestigious Hero Schools of the world. Between the teachers and facilities, it was incredible the amount of funds the school had available. And yet, it still baffled Izuku where they still got the money to have their own massive Colosseum, or the grand Stadium where the Sports Festival took place.
Izuku didn't know how he felt when he walked across the corridors of the large Sports Festival Stadium. Finding class 1-A changing rooms had been easy enough, but the tension across the darkened hallways was daunting. The mounting tension was at its peak. Instead of lashing out, the students Izuku crossed were greatly subdued. No one spoke above a murmur and everyone seemed trapped in themselves. All in all, it was the peace before the storm.
The rest of 1-A were already changed or in the process of changing. Before he knew it, Izuku was dressed in his U.A. sports uniform and joining his classmates. One month as classmates… boy it sure had been quite the experience. Fun, determined and overall friendly, Izuku had loved his time in the hero course thus far (except for Bakugo but that had always been a constant in his life). With any luck, they would all have more months ahead of them.
Outside the changing room, within the dark corridors of the stadium, the mood was morose. The air was ridden with the anxiety of the would-be participants of the Sports Festival. For all they knew, this could be their last time as part of the famous Hero course of U.A. That and they were about to appear on live TV. After that day, they would be recognized on the streets, either to be praised or mocked.
Of course, only two people seemed immune to the upcoming events. Shoto Todoroki was his usual cold and aloof self. However, he kept a distinct eye on Bakugo, squinting at the explosive teen when he thought no one was looking. Bakugo, in turn, seemed extremely confident. Worse yet, he carried himself with an air of smugness that wasn't just irritating, it was infuriating.
"Boy, I could barely sleep" Kaminari grumbled.
"I couldn't sleep at all" Mineta whined.
"I can't wait to get this over with" grumbled an annoyed Jiro.
Bakugo, thankfully, kept quiet. He did look like he wanted to interject with his thoughts, but clearly not even with his aura of superiority and new found ego (it was amazing that that was even possible) was he willing to antagonize his would-be competitors.
Izuku checked on his friends. Ochaco was trying to take deep soothing breaths while Iida stared at a wall, frowning, as if focused on some important thought or another.
"You alright, guys?" Midoriya asked the two.
"Oh, yes" Ochaco nodded with a timid smile. "I just hope I don't mess up".
"Indeed, I hope to live up to the Iida Family today" Iida hummed. He sounded disgruntled. "A pity my brother will not be able to witness it…" he added under his breath.
"Well, I suppose Pro-Heroes will have to be especially active today, with many villains seeing their opportunity. Everyone will be paying attention to the Sports Festival and all" Izuku guessed.
"There's… more to it" Iida sighed, saddened. "It seemed the rumors about Stain were more accurate than first thought. Any day now, he will strike and-"
"Hey, Tenya" Izuku interrupted him, reassuringly patting his shoulder. "Don't think about it. Focus on today". He offered a playful smile "you wouldn't want to be too distracted out there, right?"
"Yeah!" Ochaco chimed in with a grin. "We've trained for this moment, after all".
"Yes, you are correct" Iida nodded with a smile. He raised a determined fist. "Today, we should solely concentrate on our dream".
"To be super-duper Pros" Ochaco said with a fist of her own. "Let us do our best guys!"
The three exchanged confident smiles. Perhaps they wouldn't get the golden medal, but they sure were going to give their best. Today they would show the world the heroes in training they were.
"Alright, everyone" a familiar grumpy voice interrupted.
Everyone immediately quieted down and straightened up. From the shadows came the familiar form of their homeroom teacher. However, he looked different. For starters, he appeared to be wearing padded armour. In fact, he looked more akin to riot police than his usual self. With a breather mask hanging next to his capture weapon, he looked rather intimidating. What was that about?
"Line up" Aizawa commanded.
The students didn't need to be told twice. They arranged in two quickly lines, side by side, facing their teacher.
"In a few minutes you'll walk out into the stadium. I do not need to tell you this but I'll do so to drive the point across: you aren't merely representing yourselves. Out there, you are students of U.A. and thus I expect your best behavior. While you will be allowed to use your quirks on fellow students, I expect you to act as heroes" Aizawa told them, pacing before his students.
His eyes focused on Bakugo, who scowled.
"Another thing… be careful what you reveal" Aizawa added. Everyone stared at him, confused. Even Bakugo seemed perplexed. "While you probably want to show off, let me remind you: millions will be watching. Other Hero Schools out there will pay careful attention. Remember, to them, you are the snot-nosed elite competition, the so-called privileged that allegedly got everything handed to you. Villains will also be watching. Even if it will be years before you become Pros, footage of today will remain for posterity. Thus, don't be hasty in using any special moves and, most importantly, DO NOT MONOLOGUE about your quirk. Do NOT explain or show your weaknesses. Lie about your quirk if you can. A hero understands the advantage of discretion and you'll thank me if you manage to make it to the Provisional Hero License Exam".
Everyone paid careful attention at their intimidating teacher.
"Most people might think quirks make the hero. They are wrong: it is how you use them and the dedication and drive behind its use that separates heroes from the rest. Out there" Aizawa pointed at the exit "you will demonstrate you are more than just your quirk: you have worked to get to this point, you have trained body and mind… today, it shall ALL be tested".
There was a long pause as the words sunk in.
"Above all" Aizawa took a deep breath "go beyond…" he glared at them "go Plus Ultra".
He checked his phone, nodding at it with approval.
"If you wish to use the bathroom, now would be the time" Aizawa concluded, back to his disgruntled bored tone.
A few classmates rushed to the nearest bathroom. They knew they were would be no break until after the First Event, and that event sure would be a long one. Before long, Class 1-A was fully assembled and ready. After Aizawa gave his final say, he guided them towards a corridor. He stood there, far from the exit.
"It's your time to shine" Aizawa told them as he folded his arms.
"And now, let me introduce our participants!" Present Mic's voice echoed across the corridor.
"Go" Aizawa commanded, a smile threatening to stretch on his face. "Give them hell" he added.
Hesitant, and frightened, class 1-A marched forward. Up ahead they could only make out the light just at the end of the corridor. They made it across… and they were inundated by the brightness of the sun.
"From the Hero Department, Class 1-A!" Present Mic exclaimed.
Said class soon found itself deafened by the cheering of the crowd. As they got sense of their bearings, they saw a vast expanse of dirt and grass, surrounded by raised stands forming a massive coliseum.
"Holy crap, the place is huge!" Mina muttered, wide-eyed.
"It's bigger from this point of view" Sato gasped.
"Sacre Dieu, c'est énorme!" Aoyoma exclaimed with a pompous huff.
Class 1-A kept walking, marching straight towards the cement platform at the very center of the arena. Right there, smiling at them, was Midnight. Like Aizawa, her uniform had a lot more padding and she was carrying goggles, although she still looked way too suggestively dressed for a school teacher. Class 1-A took their place on the furthest place to the left. Behind them, the next class made its entrance, introduced by Present Mic's voice.
One by one, class after class, the arena filled with the competitors. Being part of the first class at the field, Izuku got the opportunity to see what they were up against as they filed in. Class 1-B, the other class from the Hero Department looked… a lot like Class 1-A. There were a few people that looked like they didn't belong, but as Izuku knew all too well appearances could be deceiving.
The General Studies Department was an intimidating bunch. Made of three entire classes, they sure were a diverse group of individuals, ranging from tall muscular boys to petite girls. It might have been his imagination but Izuku thought he spotted a pair of familiar faces that he had seen at the Entrance Exam. Most looked like they were better suited for the Hero Department, and probably had been close to attaining the position were it not for a lack of rescue points or merely by being outshined during the Exam. They had hardened faces, and Izuku did not miss the way the General Studies students greedily eyed the Hero Course.
The Support Department… now there was an odd group. The one thing Izuku did not miss was the gear they were carrying across its three classes. Be it simple exoskeletons, weapons, backpacks or anything of the kind, all other departments would have a disadvantage against these engineers and designers. Then again, most of their gear paled to what Izuku recalled from the Sports Festivals of senior years. Although most seemed more attentive towards their equipment, some of the Support Students shared the General Studies glances towards the Hero Course. It seemed that not only the General Studies kid were aiming for a seat at the Hero Department.
Finally, the Department of Management. Izuku thought that from the whole bunch, these were bound to be the less threatening to the Hero students. They were, after all, on a career of their own, already dedicated to Hero Work. And yet, half of them (at least) clearly shared the General Studies ambitions and they sure looked ready to compete against the rest. There were those, however, that seemed bored or just couldn't wait to step aside.
It came as a sudden realization to Izuku that odds were that most if not the close entirety of the other departments had aimed towards the Hero Course and had only ended up in their respective departments mostly as a backup plan. Most must have been delighted when they learned they could try again to achieve their dreams – if they hadn't known beforehand. Thankfully, some students seemed to have chosen their non-Hero career path from the start… like a strangely maniacal Pink-haired girl that carried an entire chest of equipment. Why was she drooling like that?
"It feels like the Entrance Exam all over, doesn't it?" Ochaco, grimacing, commented.
"Unfortunately, I am afraid to say that it will probably be harder than the Exam" Iida responded.
As the last students filed in, the crowd quieted down. Midnight looked around and, turning towards the stands, started talking.
"Good morning everyone!" She exclaimed, her voice resounding around the stadium. "Who is ready for some action?" The stadium shook with the ensuing cheer. "My, my, what an excited crowd…" Midnight purred. "Then let us not waste any time! Everyone, stand for the National Anthem!"
The music started playing, and everyone stood up straighter. Before they started to sing, Izuku was reminded of all the school events back at Middle School when he had sung the anthem. It was hard to forget the explanation towards the odd tradition.
According to his former history teacher, singing the Anthem, titled the Rising Sun of the New Age, was a tradition picked up during the Dark Age of Heroes. Society was changing, and the government sought to find unifying imagery and songs to keep the stability of the Nation. It was mostly a failure, with few things surviving into the Age of Heroes, the anthem barely making it. In fact, the majority of the lyrics of the Anthem were barely a decade old having suffered various modifications with each government.
The anthem itself wasn't long and, sincerely, Izuku didn't mind. However, he could see how antiquated and outdated the Anthem already was. Hero names had been included, such as All Might, but there were also those that had already died or retired. If anything, the mention of heroes reflected a core issue of their society: the obsession with heroes. It was strangely fitting that a Hero School such as U.A. would proudly sing the anthem, though.
Once the anthem singing was over, Midnight addressed the crowd once again.
"Alright, everybody, it is time for the fun to start!" The crowd went nuts with excitement. The teacher took a moment until everyone calmed down before she turned towards the students. "As you all know, the First Event is an Obstacle Course around the stadium, each obstacle testing your physical prowess.
"The rules are simple: stick within the delimitating path, you can use your quirks, even on fellow competitors as long as you do not harm the other participants, and try to finish the race. I want to see good sportsmanship, am I clear?" She raised a warning eyebrow at the students. However, Izuku got the impression there would be less than ideal sportsmanship.
"You will see different signs warning you about the next obstacle area. Keep an eye on them. You might find them enlightening about each obstacle. The goal? Make it around the track and back to the Stadium. If you want to quit, step outside the delimiting of the tracks".
Izuku knew that they had to explain it every year just to make sure every student knew what was what. However, he greatly doubted anyone was truly ignorant to the nature of each event. While the events did offer some variety each year, the Sports Festival always played the same. The First Event was always an obstacle race. Admittedly, U.A. never lacked the resources to surprise the audience (and the competitors) every single time. They sure could be terrifyingly creative.
"So… are you ready?" Midnight called.
The students didn't answer. They all frowned with determination.
"Everyone – to your positions!" Midnight, with a delighted grin, shouted.
The mass of students all turned around and walked over towards a long white line. No one dared step past the starting line. Instead, they all looked straight ahead. The objective taunted them at the distance: a massive steel gate. It hissed and gradually roared open. The students traded glares, nudged at each other and even exchanged insult. The Sports Festival was about to start.
"Ready…"
Everyone leaned forward, ready to sprint towards the open gate once the signal was given. Izuku heard Iida's engine revving up. Bakugo chuckled at a side and more than one student gulped. All around, the students prepared their gear or quirks. The steel gates were half-way open.
"Set…"
The crowd waited with bated breaths, leaning on the edge of their seats. Giant screens showed dozens of different points of view, showing the eager students ready to run forward. The silence was deafening. The steel gate was almost entirely open…
"Go!" Midnight cried out, her whip slashing the ground.
As one, the students charged forward. The Freshmen Sports Festival had officially began!
Author Notes: and there we have it, another chapter. Updates will take longer from here on out.
Thanks for reading and reviewing! I hope you enjoyed the story and I expect your reviews!
Cheers,
The Emerald Commander