A/N: If you haven't noticed by now that i'm paraphrasing what the people are saying in the Sports Festival because i don't care enough to go back and write it down word for word, so youre gonna have to live with it lol.

Also I'm changing some things too, idk if they're super significant or not but that's okay.

Just roll with it, pretty much is what i'm trying to say lol

.o0o.

Todoroki ran into the arena behind Midoriya.

Second. Second place. I can't even believe that-

"Nazumi Hanae is in Fifth Place! Fifth Place! Never have I ever seen a run like that!"

He swiveled around, his eyes met yours.

Then they rolled back in your head as you collapsed on the ground.

"Oh-Oh!" Present Mic seemed very shocked with the predicament, "She's collapsed! That must have taken too much out of her-she might not be able to continue!"

It seemed to him like he got hit in his gut. The amount of time it took him to get to your collapsed body on the ground was a blink. He distantly heard the echo of his voice.

"Nazumi!"

You held your hand up weakly.

"No," you panted. "My...my quirk…"

Your quirk, Your quirk! What was your quirk!?

Heat. You were overheating. You told him-he didn't remember when, but you did, or someone did. It didn't matter.

He coated you in his ice.

"Woah, what the heck?! What is he doing?!"

The amount of time it took for the ice to melt was beyond phenomenal.

"She-She's melting the ice! What is with her?!"

He covered you with his ice again. You melted it again. But your face wasn't glowing anymore.

He iced you again. And this time, it melted slower. Your breathing became steadier.

But he kept icing you. He kept watching the water melt, your hair and skin dry almost immediately after.

When the ice began slowing how fast it melted, he knelt down, and offered his hand to you.

"Are you okay?" he asked as you took his hand and sat up.

"I hope so," you said. You looked at him. "Thank-Thank you."

He nodded. "Let's get you checked on."

You nodded.

He stood and pulled you up, and even though you were fairly steady on your feet, he didn't miss the wobble in your knees.

"Come," he said gently as he caught sight of some paramedics, gesturing for them to follow. He kept one hand on your back to keep you steady, his other hand ready to catch you or balance you if you ever needed it.

The crowd erupted in applause, and he heard you huff, and looked at you.

Your smile was bright as you heard the applause, and heard the chants of the people. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was in unison. He realized that these people knew who you were.

"What are they saying?" He asked.

You looked at him. "Hanazmae," you said simply.

The sounds became more unified, and more legible. He could hear it now.

"Hanazmae! Hanazmae! Hanazmae!"

She smiled again, and he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes as she threw her right hand up before walking into the cave, the crowd erupting in screaming, shouting and more applause.

The paramedics found a place for her to sit, and they ran some basic tests, handed her a water bottle, asked some basic questions about her quirk. Pro Hero Midnight walked down from the stand and walked in.

"What was that, girl?" she asked happily. "That was quite a show you gave everyone!"

You smiled and raised your eyebrows, only nodding. "Yeah…"

Midnight turned to the paramedics. "How is she?"

"Blood pressure is high, and her temperature is over 41º Celsius (106º Fahrenheit)," they said, "but she's responsive and her mind seems intact."

"It's my quirk," you said, sipping from a water bottle they provided. "It's heat absorption and emanation. I can withstand high temperatures and absorb that heat, then redirect it. My skin can become over 130º Celsius before my body begins to overheat."

Todoroki was shocked.

"The only problem is that the more I use my quirk, the more my body heats. I can't regulate my temperature, not without outside help. If I exercise too much, the same thing happens."

"So, are you okay?"

You paused for a moment. "Yeah, I think I will be."

"What's your plan right now?" Midnight asked.

You paused. "I'll continue with the competition."

Todoroki was, once again, shocked. He didn't expect that from you.

"Okay. well get back out there, I gotta get up and tell you chitlins how this show is gonna go. I'll see you out there, okay?"

You nodded, and so did Todoroki. "Yes, Ma'am."

She nodded and winked, walking back out.

You finished your water bottle and the paramedic took it from you, and you thanked them kindly. They handed you a new gym shirt.

You looked at Todoroki, and he nodded, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry," you told him.

"Hm?"

"For-For not telling you...about this."

"About you wanting to win the Sports Festival?"

"Not winning it, but...getting as close as I could without collapsing," you said, almost bashfully.

He nodded. "There's no need to apologize."

Your head swiveled.

"I think it's very noble, and unique for you, to do this. I have no problem with it."

You looked back down as you walked outside with him.

"In fact," he said as the crowd roared again, "I think it's very admirable of you."

You smiled again, and waved up at the cameras.

"And I think that they admire you, as well."

You looked at him, eyes bright as you smiled.

He loved seeing you like this. Genuine, without a mask, or a tyrannical Father around, to push away who you really were.

"Who is Hanazmae?" he asked as you walked back.

She laughed. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

She shook her head. "It's me."

He looked at her like she went cross eyed.

"What?"

"It's my-Never mind. I'll explain it later," she waved it off as the crowd began screaming again when Midnight walked onstage.

"Alright! The first forty-two people who have made it past the obstacle course race move onto the next round! Look up ahead to find out who you are!"

He was in second place, you were in fifth.

It was a rush of talent that got you there, he truly respected that.

"The ones who didn't make it, head out the exit into the audience! The teachers will escort you there. Now, for those of you who did, you will be participating in a Cavalry Battle!"

.o0o.

You tried to ignore Todoroki next to you as you listened to your teacher, gathering the rules.

Find a group of four or five...configure accordingly. Okay, okay...each person gets points-wait, how many points do I have?!

You were in fifth place, so you had a decent amount of points. No matter who you were added up with, you would be one of the first ones up there-other than the first placer, who had over 10,000,000 points. These points would be put on as headbands, and that's how you were able to tell who had how many points.

The point of the exercise was to get as many headbands, and as many points as possible, and/or get the 10,000,000 point headband.

And you all had fifteen minutes to get into a team.

And once again, Todoroki did what you thought he would.

"Nazumi," he said, and you looked at him. "Come on. Let's find other team members."

And to your surprise, you didn't follow him when he started walking away.

He turned back to you and you still stood there, unable to say anything.

"Hanae?" he said. "Come on."

"Todoroki," you said, "I...I greatly appreciate everything you've done for me and my family, truly," you implored, "But I want to say one day that I made it on my decisions, on my power."

Todoroki's expression lightened a bit.

"We are friends," you said, "and someday...we will be partners. But right now, I see us as competitors."

He straightened, and nodded.

You bowed to him. "I will see you on the other side, hopefully?"

He bowed in return. "Of course."

And with that he walked away. You went and got your assigned headband, and you turned to find a team willing to take you.

After all, who would want or need a girl from the business course?

"Hey."

You turned. It was the same purple-haired boy from earlier. The one that saved you.

You faced him, but didn't say anything.

He moved his head from one side to the other. "Do you have a team?"

You shook your head. "No, not yet."

This is where he would ask you, you were sure-

"Wanna join mine?"

"Yes, I wi-"

.o0o.

He wandered around the stadium, looking for the girl that he saved from falling into the abyss. She was stupid, and reckless, and he didn't know what she expected from doing what she did, but she better have been damn grateful to him for saving her ass.

Because he did.

And it was because she was a great candidate for whatever future event may or may not have been happening. If it were team related, which was likely, he would have a shot at getting her on his side. And that would be important because she was fast, resourceful, smart, and determined.

And ever since hearing the next round for the Sports Festival, he was glad he saved her. Because he didn't even necessarily need her smarts, her determination, her resourcefulness.

All he needed were those legs to run.

And there she was, standing alone.

He was surprised, to say the least, that she hadn't gone with the other guy that helped her out. Coating her in ice and taking her to the paramedics waiting. When he saw him help her, he felt discouraged, because there was no way she wouldn't team up with him.

But it looked like today was his lucky day, because you looked alone and without a teammate. Not even the red-and-white haired kid.

"Hey."

You turned around. He expected you to say something, but you didn't.

He tilted his head to the other side. He wouldn't control you, not yet.

"Do you have a team?"

She shook her head. "No, not yet."

Bingo.

He smiled faintly and wanly. "Wanna join mine?"

When she responds I'll use my quirk.

"Yes, I wi-"

And she was his.

He walked up to her. Looking at her vacant eyes. "Sorry Sugar," he said. "But all I'll need from you right now is your speed. Let's get everyone else. Follow me."

And she followed his command as if he were the King of the Cavalry.

.o0o.