A/N: This one's a bit short, but I'll be trying to update more frequently than once a week- So enjoy! :) Recap is also being posted at the same time for anyone that may need it.

Chapter Nineteen: Resounding Sports Festival!

It was a sunny day with a slight breeze when the Sports Festival had finally arrived.

"Good luck, Izuku!"

After saying goodbye to his mother, Izuku took off from his home. It wasn't long before he saw the group that was waiting for him.

"S-Sorry, I got caught up in double-checking everything," Izuku apologized.

Mei, Yuki, Shiro, and Ken were there. The four who had stuck with him the most and helped him out. Izuku felt like he hadn't done much in return to any of them, especially Mei, but he knew that succeeding in the festival was going to be a start.

"I even got ready on time for once," Ken said with a yawn.

"I have to agree, it's impressive to be later than Ken," Yuki commented.

"I-I said sorry!" Izuku got flustered.

Together, they headed to school. Once they were close to the building, they could see the increase in foot traffic as people were starting to head towards the stadium already.

At the main entrance to the U.A school grounds, a few teachers were waiting, obviously posted for security reasons. One of them was Aizawa who, as per usual, looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there.

"Ah, Mr. Aizawa!" Izuku gave a small wave to the man as they approached.

Aizawa glanced over at Izuku for a moment, before looking away again. Izuku stopped his wave, feeling a bit put off, but he was then surprised when the teacher gave him a thumbs up while looking away.

What's that supposed to mean… Wait, does that mean—

Izuku smiled and exclaimed, "Thank you!"

"What was that all about? You're already getting close to the Hero teachers huh," Shiro questioned sourly as they entered the building.

"I just needed approval for a device from him," Izuku explained.

"Ehh? Did you make something super dangerous?"

Izuku chuckled nervously. "Not exactly…"

The students of 1-H were to meet with Power Loader first before heading out to the stadium, so they could all go together with the other Support classes.

"This wasn't my idea, but I guess they felt that were safer all together," Power Loader explained, scratching his chin. "Even though we really normally compete with each other...But it does give me an opportunity to speak to you though, because once there, I'll be with the other faculty."

Their teacher cleared his throat, seeming a bit awkward as he continued. "Just uh… Do your best, I guess. You all know what you have to do to succeed. Don't let anything get to ya'."

Power Loader, turned away, leaving them a bit confused by such simple words. However, they all knew that the words had a lot of meaning hidden behind them— So the fact that a Pro Hero had told them anything was inspirational to them either way.

While Izuku went over the upcoming events in his head, they joined the other two support classes, 1-F and 1-G, both of which seemed to have a very conflicted air about them. They began to board two busses prepared for them, which were necessary due to U.A's school grounds being as big as a city in its own rights, making it a little ways to the U.A Sports Stadium,

"This is obviously just extra security for us specifically," Shiro had muttered to Izuku as they boarded. "Probably because you cause so much trouble."

"Me?" Izuku looked over towards Mei who was behind them. "If you say so…"

Izuku boarded the bus first, but froze as he saw many eyes on him from other unfamiliar students. One of them approached him and set a hand hard on his shoulder.

"Ah, Midoriya right? We've been wanting to chat with ya!"

"E-Ehh…?"

Izuku looked up at the large guy, and before he knew it, several others suddenly began to drag him towards the back of the bus. As Shiro, Mei, Yuki, and Ken boarded, they saw Izuku sitting at the back with a bunch of others, and didn't question it much as they sat.

"U-Umm, how do you… know about me…" Izuku glanced around nervously at the several students looking at him with malicious intent.

One student, who was tall with neat blonde hair pulled back into a bun, was the only one who didn't look as menacing. He gave Izuku a smile and extended a hand to him.

"We're from Class 1-F. I'm the Class Rep, Saikami," the boy told him.

Izuku hesitantly took his hand and shook it—. "1-F huh… What have you guys been— Ahh!"

Izuku gasped as he felt Saikami's grip suddenly tighten, feeling like his hand was being crushed. However, looking at their handshake, the blonde boy wasn't squeezing his hand or using any effort.

"My Quirk allows me to enhance gravity of a person I touch, cool huh?" Saikami's smile twisted a bit at the ends as it became very sinister. "We've heard rumors you're aiming to become a Hero. What makes you think you can accomplish that, hm?"

Izuku gasped as he felt his entire body start to sink into the seat more, feeling like he had suddenly put on two hundred extra pounds, unable to pull his hand away. After a moment, Saikami let up a bit, making Izuku breathe a sigh of relief.

"Well? You got something special about you? Or do you think someone without a Quirk can actually become a Hero?"

Izuku gritted his teeth, looking at Saikami and the other 1-F students around him. He wanted to try and contact his friends somehow, but he also knew that this was something he should handle himself.

This is just like back then—

He remembered being bullied by Bakugo and others during his Middle School years, being mocked and told that he couldn't do anything without a Quirk.

Yet here I am, and most of them didn't make it into U.A, Izuku thought. I bet most didn't even try because Kacchan told them not to!

Izuku closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, when he reopened his eyes, he used his great grip strength from a year of training himself to grasp Saikami's hand hard, making him let out a yelp.

"What makes me special is that I'm not going to give up, just because someone tells me to," Izuku finally replied.

Saikami was gasping and trying to pull his hand free. He wasn't very strong, often using his Quirk to give others a disadvantage against him. However, if he wasn't able to focus on it during a stressful situation, he couldn't enact his Quirk on someone— And this was the reason he failed the Hero Exam.

The rest of the students had tensed up at the change in Izuku's demeanor as he continued, "If you all want to prove me wrong, then we're heading to the place to do it."

Nobody said anything in response, to Izuku's surprise. He let go of Saikami's hand, the boy holding onto it and groaning, turning away so as to not show weakness in front of everyone else. The rest of the 1-F students around Izuku suddenly looked a lot less intimidating to him, and more like just normal students like himself.

It's all how you see your surroundings, Izuku realized. Back then as well, if I had made the best of it, maybe things would've been different… No, I'm only this confident because of them!

Izuku glanced across the bus to where his friends were sitting, and he smiled a bit.

Unbeknownst to class 1-H, the other two support classes were worked to the bone to make sure they were better than Power Loader's class. This was due to them often losing to his classes in competitions, even when Power Loader's class was full of slackers one year.

Though 1-H had only internally competed thus far, there were events to come where all three Support Classes were set to go against each other, and some events that went against other schools.

The most prominent first competition was a challenge between U.A and a few other schools set in the Hosu area, which was set to go down only a couple of weeks after the Sports Festival. It was close enough to ride the wave of hype from the festival, while not being completely overshadowed by it.

Everyone's supporting me and counting on me to join the Hero class— Would I even be able to stay with them if I can't achieve that? I won't betray their trust ever!

While Izuku contemplated things, the 1-F students around him stayed quiet, and the rest of the bus ride went smoothly after that.

After arriving to the Sports Stadium, the different classes were given their own preparation rooms and changing rooms, having to wear their UA track uniforms to keep the playing field fair for everyone.

It was nearing time for everyone to go out, and most of the students of 1-H seemed heavily nervous.

"Man, what if I trip or something… That'd be so uncool on live TV," Shuzo commented out loud, furiously rubbing his stubble on his chin.

"Just don't look stupid and do what you have to," Ken replied lazily.

"Easy for you to say! I bet you'll put in zero effort!"

"Exactly." Ken shrugged. "My Quirk and I aren't really made for this, so I don't want to try and be something I'm not."

"Precisely," came Taka from nearby who was typing into a laptop intensely, "This isn't really for people like us who don't care for physical stuff."

"Don't loop me in with you, four eyes," Ken muttered to himself.

Izuku was sitting at a table, his hands up near his mouth, as he fought off the nerves that were starting to build up. He thought about how his mother and All Might and every Hero and civilian alike out there would be watching from the stadium or at home. It was one thing to imagine or watch on TV, but to actually be there was a whole different story.

A hand on his shoulder broke his concentration, and he looked back to see Mei standing there. She gave him one of her trademark wide smiles.

"Are you good to go, Izuku?"

"Y-Yeah," he said, giving a reassuring smile. "Just a bit nervous I guess."

"You shouldn't be! This is the moment we've been dreaming of! There's so many people watching who are bound to see the greatness of our inventions," Mei exclaimed happily.

"The amount of people is kind of the problem…"

Mei laughed and stood back, striking a sort of pose. Izuku looked at her, noticing that she was all geared up, with devices that Izuku could only guess at since she didn't want to tell him.

"But the more people that know your name and your goal, the more that'll support you in the future," Mei said, adding, "With lots and lots of money!"

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle, feeling his nerves easing up a bit. It was difficult to remain gloomy or stressed around Mei, which seemed to contrast how hectic she tended to make situations with her loudness and crazy inventions. Izuku chalked it up to their closeness and left it without any deeper thought.

"It's time," Yuki said from the doorway that led to the tunnel they would enter from. "Everyone get ready."

There was no more time to fret or be nervous, it was now time to show what they'd got. After Izuku suited up, the students of 1-H lined up like they had decided, and finally headed out.

Everyone watched from the stands with excitement, as the hero Present Mic began the one thing he was (usually) good at— Hyping people up.

"Pay attention, audience— Swarm, mass media!"

His words echoed through the stadium and into the tunnels where the students were approaching. The sounds of the crowd became more and more intense as they grew closer to the exit.

"This year's high school rodeo of adolescence that you all love, the U.A Sports Festival, is about to begin! Are you ready?!"

Izuku could feel his confidence wavering as the crowd grew more and more pumped from Present Mic's words. Everything was starting to come together— More than ever, it was time for him to step up and prove he deserves to be there.

I won't let you down, Mom… Mei… Paper Mache…

The thought of his biggest supporters clashes with the images of those who were opposing him.

Izuku thought about the other Supports classes, the boy named Shinso from the General Studies course, and of course his childhood friend Bakugo. They were all possibly targeting him, and while he may be able face them head to head, he was worried about being attacked by multiple sides.

This is when I have to rely on my friends. I believe in them!

"It's time for the students to enter the first-year stage!"

Fanfare music began to play, as they had finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel. After adjusting to the brightness, Izuku looked all around at the screaming crowd, his fists tightening to contain himself. He thought about All Might being out there somewhere, watching the hopefuls of the next generation.

Watch me, All Might— I'll become a Hero just like I said I would!

In the darkness of a mysterious location, a flickering TV screen showed the footage from the U.A Sports Festival.

The man with light blue hair sat hunched over, watching the screen closely as he chewed on his finger, watching in anger at the students walking out onto the field.

"Heroes…" He grumbled to himself as he watched.

Behind the man, the Villain known as Kurogiri looked over towards the scene. On Tv, he could see a familiar person walking out into the stadium.

That boy…

On screen was a boy with green hair, looking nervously around at the stands. On his back was a canvas backpack of sorts. His waist held a sort of metal device that jutted back a bit in two prongs, and atop his head were a set of interesting looking goggles.

Support hm? Interesting.

Unbeknownst to Izuku Midoriya, the gears of fate had just begun to start slowly turning….

—

To Be Continued

Next Chapter: The Rush for First!