Ayumu stared up at Endeavor in shock. Running into the number 2 hero when she felt a mess was not part of the plan today. He towered over her, looking down his nose at her.
"Be careful." He brushed past her, snapping her out of her daze.
Ayumu turned and jogged after him, "Sir, wait a second!"
"I'm not here for autographs."
"No it's not that! I want to thank you!"
Endeavor paused momentarily while Ayumu caught up. As he turned and looked at her again, she felt nervousness envelop her and she shifted nervously under his gaze.
"You probably don't remember. It was about 5 years ago, but… My parents had been fighting a villian. My dad didn't make it, but you stepped in and saved my mom so I wanted to say thank you. Without you I would've lost both my parents that day."
Endeavor looked a little more closely at the girl in front of him. "You're Sureshot's daughter."
He said it more as a statement than a question, but Ayumu nodded anyway, too stunned that he remembered her father to reply.
"He was a good hero. It's a shame your mother quit hero work after the incident." Endeavor turned slightly, "I'm sure he'd be proud you made it into UA." Without another word he walked off toward the stands leaving Ayumu to sit with his last words.
"Hey." Ayumu turned to the noise to see Bakugo standing walking in her direction. "We're all going up to watch the first match between Deku and that loser friend of yours."
"Hitoshi made it to the final round?" Ayumu rushed to catch up to Bakugo who led her towards the stands. Her heart was pounding again. She was still so mad at him, but pride at what he had accomplished was starting to take over. Could he really come out on top?
Bakugo finally got a good look at her face as she fell into step with him. "What's wrong with your face? Were you really out here crying because you didn't make it into the Cavalry battle?"
"No." Ayumu felt herself shrink a little bit at his words. "I'm fine."
"Tch." Bakugo walked down the steps ahead of her toward the spot where the rest of their class had sat to watch the match. "Whatever. I'm gonna win anyway so it's not like you stood a chance."
Ayumu fell into a seat beside him. "You really know how to cheer someone up. If the hero thing doesn't work out, you could be a motivational speaker."
"What!"
"Shhh!"
"Don't Shush me!"
Ayumu ignored Bakugo's outburst as Midoriya and Shinso were announced to come into the ring. The field had been filled with concrete surrounded by a white line. Ayumu was at the edge of her seat. For a moment it seemed like nothing was happening, then suddenly Midoriya charged at Shinso. Ayumu held her breath before Midoriya came to a complete halt.
Orjiro flew out of his seat behind them, "I warned him not to say anything!"
"Midoriya didn't really have a chance." Ayumu grumbled. The fight was over.
Midoriya turned and started toward the boundary. Ayumu felt pride swell up in her. She leaned forward before standing up.
"Where the hell are you going?" Bakugo snapped as she started up the stairs.
"This fights over. I'm going to go congratulate him." Ayumu turned quickly and started up the stairs when Present Mic's voice stopped her.
"What's this? Midoriya stopped just in time!"
"That's impossible." Ayumu stopped on the stairs and took a step down toward the railing.
There was a pause as Midoriya turned around toward Shinso. He was holding his wrist, obviously having hurt himself yet again. Ayumu watched as Midoriya shoved Shinso toward the edge of the ring. Shinso tried to fight back, but it wasn't enough. Midoriya grabbed onto his arm and flipped him, slamming him on his back into the concrete ground.
"Hitoshi!"
"Shinso is out of bounds! Midoriya advances to the next match!" Midnight announced.
Ayumu turned from the ring and took the steps two at a time. She rushed down toward the field level. She got there as Shinso was coming out of the tunnel and into the hallway. He didn't even see her before she had her arms thrown around his neck in a tight hug.
"I am so proud of you! I'm still pissed you used your quirk on me and I'll beat you up for that later, but oh my gosh I am so proud of you!" She gushed as she pulled away from him.
Shinso didn't look at her, "You can't be that proud. I lost."
"So? You did amazing! You really got to show off what you can do!"
Shinso rubbed the back of his neck and looked back toward the tunnel he'd just come through, "Some of my classmates mentioned they heard some pros talking about me. So I guess I didn't do too bad. I've got a lot of work to do though."
Ayumu took his hand in hers, "And I'll be there with you every step of the way."
She then pulled her arm back and punched him as hard as she could in the shoulder, "But if you ever use your power on me again, I'll end you."
Shinso's grabbed his shoulder, "I said I was sorry. It was the best way to get us both ahead."
Ayumu took a step back and looked him over, "You actually didn't apologize yet. And get us both ahead? Hitoshi, I couldn't make it through the minefield fast enough because you made me use the rest of my support items. I don't remember half of the race and who knows how long I was standing at the pitfall before I came to, how can you think you did it for me too?"
Shinso shrugged, "I did what I thought was best."
Ayumu crossed her arms, "Do you know how much paperwork I had to do to just bring those stupid marbles? It took me hours, Hitoshi! Just admit you were wrong."
"I didn't know you needed them. Everyone else just walked through the minefield. I didn't even know it was an obstacle, anyways stop taking it so personal."
Ayumu took a deep breath and turned away from him, "I have to get back to my class now. Congrats again."
"Ayumu-"
Shinso called after her, but it was too late.
