The first I'd heard of her was in the spring of my second year at U.A. Throughout the day I caught Mr. Aizawa looking at me strangely. Multiple times. I could tell he wanted to ask me something. But for some reason, he wasn't spitting it out. He was really starting to piss me off.

Screw it. I'll ask him myself. "Deku."

He snapped his head up as he packed books into his schoolbag. "Yeah?"

"I'll meet you back at the dorms," I told him while looking at Mr. Aizawa.

I could tell by his tone the nerd was disappointed. "Oh. Okay."

He thinks I don't want to walk with him. After months of dating, he's still so damn insecure. Crap. I leaned down and nuzzled into the side of his neck. "Cut that out. It's not you."

Deku blushed as he let out a small sigh. "Then what is it?"

I pulled away so our faces were a few inches apart. I quickly darted my gaze off to the side, then back at Deku. "I wanna know why he's been staring at me all day."

Deku raised an eyebrow. "You noticed that too. What do you think it's about?"

"Dunno. But I'm gonna find out."

Deku smiled and pressed his forehead against mine. "Okay, Kaachan. See you later."

He walked out the door with a skip in his step and waved as he disappeared down the hall.

I shuffled over with my hands in my pants pockets to the spot Mr. Aizawa was lying on the floor. "If you've got something to say then say it," I snapped.

Aizawa stepped out of his sleeping bag. "I'm glad you stayed behind," he admitted. "I have a question for you."

I scoffed. Yeah, I know. "Whadda you want?"

He leaned against his desk and crossed his arms. "You're participating in this year's festival."

It wasn't a question. Regardless, I answered. "Yeah. What about it?"

"I'm assuming you'll give it your all."

I didn't hesitate. "Obviously."

"No matter your opponent."

"Duh."

"Am I correct in assuming age doesn't make a difference to you either? Or their level of experience?"

"Yeah," I replied with a grin. If they're weak then they never should've tried to fight me in the first place.

Mr. Aizawa paused for a long time. Then muttered, "What about a first-year student?"

My smile disappeared. "We don't fight underclassmen."

"If you did, would you show restraint?"

What was the point of asking me this? The Sports Festival separated competitors by grade, anyway. "No."

Aizawa frowned, looking away. "I figured. Just wanted to confirm it."

I scowled. "You gonna tell me what this is all about?"

Mr. Aizawa turned his attention to me. "A student approached me with a proposal. Before I brought it to Principal Nezu, I wanted to know your stance on the matter."

I crossed my arms. If that was the case, then why didn't he just ask us as a class? "What does another student's request have to do with me?"

Aizawa glanced off to the side. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

I thought for a minute, then glared. "I didn't see you pull aside anyone else about this, so you're not asking us individually. And you didn't discuss this with us as a class. Is it because you think I'm the only person who's not gonna hold back?"

"No," he answered. He made direct eye contact with me. He's not lying. "For some reason, this student seems to have it in for you. I tried to find out why, but I couldn't get a straight answer. Maybe things will come to light during the festival."

I knew I had a tendency to rub people the wrong way. Most people just didn't get me. But I couldn't think of anyone I'd recently ticked off. At least not on purpose. "If they've got a problem with me then tell them to pick a time. I'll take 'em on whenever they want."

Aizawa sighed, sounding exhausted. "Save it for the Festival. Another altercation like the Ground Beta incident wouldn't look good on your record. Don't do anything that could jeopardize your ability to participate."

"Well yeah, I'm not stupid," I snapped. "But I wanna know what this is all about."

Aizawa walked past me and slid open the classroom door to leave. "I'm sure you will soon."

~.~

Todoroki invited Deku and me to his room for dinner. We all sat around his coffee table on pillows.

"It's her way of wishing me luck in the Festival tomorrow," Todoroki explained as he slurped his soba noodles.

"Thank you for sharing it with us," Deku beamed, eating his shrimp tempura excitedly. "Your sister's an amazing cook."

"She always brings over too much. I wouldn't've been able to finish this all by myself anyway." Ordinarily, Icy-Hot wore a neutral expression that was hard to read. But his eyes were animated, like he meant what he was saying. He always seemed more energized around Deku.

Jealousy burned in my stomach until I turned and looked at him. Even while he talked to Icy-Hot, his knee touched mine. His elbow brushed against my arm every so often whenever he reached with his chopsticks for more food. He'd glance at me and blush when he realized I was looking at him too. Anyone with a working pair of eyes and a gram of common sense could tell Deku only had eyes for me. It was obvious. I need to relax. I have nothing to be jealous of.

He jarred me from my thoughts. "So how'd it go with Mr. Aizawa?"

Todoroki peered at me curiously. "Everything alright?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. He just asked me some weird questions."

"Like what?" Deku asked as he chewed.

"Like am I gonna go all out for the Festival. Even if I'm fighting someone younger than me."

"We don't verse the first years," Todoroki pointed out.

I growled. "You think I don't know that?"

Deku swallowed his food before speaking. "Why would he ask you and not anyone else?"

I scratched the back of my head, mulling over the conversation. "It sounds like some first-year extra wants to fight me."

Deku's eyes widened. "That is strange. We don't really hang out with underclassmen. Only recently have we even started doing joint practices with 2-B. I wonder why they'd be targeting you specifically."

"Tch. Hell if I know. But whoever it is, I'll destroy them."

Todoroki narrowed his brows pensively. "I don't get it. What does fighting a first-year have to do with the Festival?"

Crap. That was actually a good question. That reminds me… "He said a student came to him with some kind of request."

Deku placed his thumb on his bottom lip, deep in thought. "This might sound crazy but...I think it's possible they asked for permission to compete with us instead of the other first-years."

"Is that even allowed?" Todoroki asked.

"Not usually, but...maybe if they had a good reason…" Deku trailed off.

"I don't get why they'd want to fight us instead of their own classmates," Todoroki said. "They'd be at a major disadvantage. We've had a year to hone our skills. The first-years have only been training for a few weeks. They haven't even done internships or work studies yet."

"That part is obvious," I declared with a smirk. "If they only compete with the people in their grade...they won't have the chance to fight me."

"But to go this far…" Deku mumbled. "If all they wanted was a fight, they could challenge you at any time."

Deku had a point. But if they fought me tomorrow, when the whole world had their eyes on the Festival... "They wanna put on a show."

"That would make sense," Todoroki chimed in. "The festival is broadcasted worldwide. Everyone tunes in to see it on tv. I think they want to make an example of you in front of an audience."

I laughed out loud. "Then they're a complete moron."

"I don't think that's all it is," Deku insisted, staring intently at me. "There's something about the festival that makes it different from any other competition at U.A. Your performance during the events affects your standing in school. For example, since Shinso advanced to the third stage last year, he qualified for a potential transfer into the hero course from general studies."

"If a student were trying to get into the hero course then they'd have a better chance going up against students on their level," Todoroki appointed out. "It must be someone who's already on the hero track."

Deku paled. "Then...the only thing they'd stand to gain is a place in our class or class 2-B. And if they're targeting you - "

" - They're gunning for my spot." I couldn't help a wide grin from spreading on my face. How stupid can they be? "If they actually believe they have a shot at winning against me -"

" - You'd use your full strength against a kid?" Todoroki asked with disdain.

I scoffed. "Why should that make any difference? Besides, they're only a year behind," I brushed off dismissively.

"A year makes a huge difference," Todorki insisted. "Think about how we've improved since we started. We have ultimate moves. Support items. A better handle on our abilities - "

" - They're trying to knock me out of the hero course," I snapped. "I'm not giving anything less than my best."

Deku sighed. "You're right, Kacchan," he muttered, but he didn't sound happy about it. "Still...I wish they'd try talking this out instead of fighting."

Todoroki started to clear the table. "We don't even know any first-years. I wonder who it could be."

We glanced to the left when we heard knocks at the door.

Deku jumped up to answer it. "Oh. Hey, Kaminari!"

"Aaaaaye Midoriya," he greeted with two thumbs up. "A new dance club opened up downtown. We're gonna let off some steam before the Festival tomorrow. You in?"

I grimaced. I'd been ready for a hot shower and a good night's rest. But by the literal sparkles that appeared in the nerd's eyes, I realized that wasn't gonna happen.

"It would probably be better to save our energy for tomorrow," Todoroki pointed out, letting out a yawn.

I scowled. "For once, I agree with Icy-Hot."

"Aaaaw come on, Kacchan of the Bakugos," Kaminari whined. "Only for like an hour. Pleaaaase?"

"I'll go!" Deku exclaimed excitedly.

Todoroki quickly switched gears. "I'll go if you're going, Midoriya."

Ugh. Of course.

"Kiri's goiiiing," Kaminari sing-songed at me.

Dammit. "Any longer than an hour and I'll kill you."