The classroom was bustling with noise the next day. Much of the classroom was still wondering if Mr. Aizawa was going to be teaching today due to his injuries. Izuku was more focused on how to improve since the USJ incident. Suddenly the door to the classroom burst open and a mummy entered.
"That's so manly! Coming into class even though you're that injured." Kirishima beamed. Izuku was wondering if something else had happened because at the police station and even yesterday in his meeting with the principal his teacher hadn't been wrapped up that bad. As if reading his mind, Mr. Aizawa answered.
"My injuries are nowhere near bad enough to keep me away from class, the bandages are just Mic overreacting." With that Mr. Aizawa took his place at the front of the classroom. "And your fight isn't over yet." The class tensed not knowing what to expect. Mineta, voicing the majority of the classes worries, was muttering about another villain attack. "Nothing like that." Mr. Aizawa explained. "The annual UA sports festival will be coming up soon." That comment drew a split reaction from the class. Some of the class, like Kirishima, was excited for the sports festival while the rest of the class had their doubts.
"Should we really hold a sports festival so soon after getting attacked by villains?"
"Is a sports festival even that important?"
But Mr. Aizawa had an explanation. "The administration has told me that we're moving forward with the sports festival to show that UA is undaunted by villains. And this is an unmissable opportunity for you all to show your skills to pros. One chance a year, three chances in a lifetime, so you can't afford to fail or not give it your best. With that said, classes will still be held, but the training facilities will be open to use when necessary."
Finished with announcements, Mr. Aizawa waddled out of the room and down the hallways. The class was once again left to their own devices. And so, the school day went on until lunch. As the class was packing up, Izuku took notice of Uramaki who seemed to be completely pumped up. The entire class began to notice her energy and it served to further pump them up as the class began excitedly talking about the upcoming sports festival. As they started getting closer to the lunchroom, Izuku noticed All Might and another blonde student making their way off with their lunches, but he paid it no mind. For now, he had to focus on the sports festival.
The energy and excitement seemed to be filling much of the class and the rest of the day flew by in an instant. Though the class wanted to quickly exit and start getting ready for the sports festival, they found their way blocked by a huge group of students. Most of the class was confused and Mineta was the first one to voice his confusion. "What do you think they're here for?"
"Remember what Mr. Aizawa said this morning about the upcoming sports festival? They're all here to see the competition for themselves since we're the ones who survived a villain attack," Bakugo began. "You've seen us. Now move it, extras." Some of the students started backing up, but it seemed one head started moving through the crowd towards them.
"It seems I was right about the hero course being filled with a bunch of egotistical brats. You're right we're here to scout out the competition, but none of you look like much. You all probably didn't even get attacked, you just sat back while the teachers handl-"The student in question had made it to the front of the crowd at some point during his speech and Izuku had enough. The temperature in the classroom and hallway rose as purple orbs met glowing emerald.
"Listen, if all you wanted was to see us, you've had your look. If you want a demonstration though," Izuku and the student were face to face at this point. "I'll fucking flatten you." The student tensed but took a step back and smiled.
"Being as you guys are in the hero course I don't know if they've told you, but some of us in general studies also applied for the hero course but were rejected. The sports festival is our time to get noticed and make our way into the hero course if we choose to step up and perform. Those of you who don't risk being dropped down to general studies." He looked over all of 1-A before he made his announcement. "I'm Shinso Hitoshi and this isn't a challenge, it's a declaration of war." With that, Shinso wandered off into the class and disappeared. Eventually, the halls and class returned to a normal temperature as well. Izuku sighed before gathering the books he had left on his desk and made his way out followed by Iida and Uraraka.
"That was very unbecoming of a class-rep Midoriya, in the future you shouldn't let other students in UA provoke you like that." Iida said. Izuku heard Uraraka mutter something about a fated battle, but all Izuku could imagine was that Shinso guy.
"That guy insulted our class, as class-rep I felt it was my job to stand up to him. That was it really." Iida seemed to accept that answer, but Izuku hoped he'd get the chance to fight that guy one on one. "Ah, I almost forgot I have some business with the support department, so I won't be walking back to the dorms with you guys." With that Izuku gave a wave and parted from his small group. He headed towards the support labs to get top work on the gaps he found in his hero costume and support items. As he approached the door it suddenly exploded and the only thing Izuku could use to catch it was the flaming arms from his quirk. Throwing the door to the side, Izuku ran in and heard the voice of Powerloader yelling.
"Dammit, Hatsume, I thought I told you to dial back on the fuel for that thing." A maniacal laughter was the only response before dirty pink dreadlocks sprang from the smoke.
"My baby was almost a complete success! Did you see that!?"
Izuku was taken aback by the dynamic between the two before Powerloader came up to him directly. "Sorry, you're Midoriya from the hero course, right? You wanted to talk about some costume upgrades, right?" Izuku shook his head to refocus before he nodded and got his costume from his case and spread it out on one of the available tables.
"Yes, we were attacked at the USJ, and there were some issues that I noticed with my costume as well as some things that I would like to add." Powerloader nodded and signaled For Izuku to continue. "The first issue is the amount of exposed skin at my feet. Is there a way to cover my feet and still allow my flames to flow? I also wanted to add some weapons into the fire coat. Considering it already has metal, some small weapons shouldn't add too much more weight."
Powerloader sat for a second pondering the request before the pink gremlin reappeared with a needle in hand. "For the first request, we could always take a sample of his blood and make the material with that." Izuku was about to retreat before Powerloader caught the girl and pondered on the idea.
"It's true for several students we use that sort of idea to allow them to use their quirks at their full potential while also having a costume that does not hinder them. What about the weapons? What were you thinking?" Izuku pondered for a minute and his mind's eye was consumed by the creature that he fought.
"I need something like a collapsible Matoi. I also need something that can compress my flames and make them more volatile both up close and at a range." The girl slipped from Powerloader's grasp and was suddenly in front of Izuku again.
"I like what you're thinking. Let me be your official tech support and I promise you'll only get the best from me, green. I'm Mei Hatsume, genius inventor. With my babies, you'll be the best equipped hero out there." The girl said with an almost feral grin and her arm extended. Izuku grabbed the extended arm with an equally feral grin.
"Got it, Hatsume, I'm Midoriya Izuku, looking forward to working with you!" Powerloader could only stare in horror as the two got to work on the other side of the room. Izuku began to explain his quirk and how it worked to Hatsume while she listened aptly and started putting in some of her own ideas. The scariest part about it was that even at the speed they were talking neither seemed lost in the conversation. Sighing, Powerloader decided to just let them work.
"It'll take at least a week for me to file the proper paperwork to get your costume request sent in and three days for me to get the stuff from Recovery Girl to get a sample of your blood. Is that all right?" Izuku nodded and Powerloader got to work getting some of the paperwork ready and sent to the appropriate locations before Hatsume pulled out another one of her babies. It was one that had already failed earlier this week and Powerloader paled as the upgraded model started making the same whirring sounds as the last. It started to glow, but before it could burst into flames and explode, it stopped.
Powerloader looked to the extended hand and saw glowing green eyes focused on the machine. "Sorry, it was about to explode so I put it out before it could. Both Powerloader and Hatsume were impressed by the speed and precision of his control, but for someone working with Hatsume this was a blessing he couldn't have imagined. He'd have to thank Eraser for sending this kid his way. And see if he couldn't push some of this paperwork through faster for his help.
Meanwhile the rest of the class was beginning to experiment in their own ways and plan out training. They began creating schedules for the next couple of weeks including figuring and reserving times for the use of certain training grounds on campus. The entire class knew that they had to perform at the sports festival and get noticed by as many pros as possible. For some that meant putting in more work that others, but ultimately two weeks would be no time at all to waste.
This train of thought was how Izuku found himself walking into the dorms with Uraraka, Iida, and Yaoyorozu waiting for him in the common rooms. Iida spoke up first, "We were all hoping to train with you Midoriya." Izuku thought about it for a moment. Training with them would probably be helpful, but there would also be limits to what they could all do together overall. He decided that it would be the most beneficial if they all trained together. That night, they worked out the details for the training. Specifically, the available training areas. Ultimately, they decided to use Gym Gamma for the majority of their training and Izuku emailed Mr. Aizawa to see if he could supervise their training. Finally finishing and saying goodnight to the others, Izuku headed to bed, ready for a new day.
The next day Izuku awoke to a response from his teacher. Mr. Aizawa replied that he would be ok to supervise their training at the times that they mentioned up until the sports festival unless he was needed on assignment. With that in tow, Izuku got ready and rushed downstairs to meet his classmates. They were already in the commons room and though they looked tired from the early rise, the fire in their eyes let Izuku know they were ready to work. Their training was roughly divided into three main portions. Morning physical training, after class sparring, and individual quirk work.
The group increased their training load each day slightly in order to improve as fast as possible and be prepared for the upcoming sports festival, and in Izuku's opinion it seemed to be going well. He could see solid improvements each day. And over the two-week period those improvements would definitely help in the sports festival.
There was one concerning thing, however, Izuku could tell that Yaoyorozu was still doubting herself in combat. Her need to react to foes rather than being proactive in battle and deciding the terms would ultimately hurt her. However, pointing out one of her flaws right now might hurt her more than help and make her regress even more. For now, at least Izuku would hope that he was wrong.
In the last few days before the sports festival. Mr. Aizawa informed Izuku that he had to have a speech prepared for the sports festival. And so, with that added responsibility, Izuku saw the remaining days before the sports festival disappear in an instant. And suddenly the day was upon them.