Summary:
Izuku is forced to face two of his friends in the third part of the Sports Festival. He also unknowing catch's the eye of one very important pro hero. His internship is lieky to be more work than he bargained for.
Beginning Notes:
The final Sports Festival chapter for a while... thank the limited addition All Might hoodie, this has taken way too long to write. I think it's probably upwards of 12k and that's just kinda crazy too me.
Anyway, I struggled figuring out how to write this chapter, mainly because there are so few students outside of the first years... LIKE THERE ARE 5 to go off of.
I hope you all enjoyed, I did my best to both be realistic and keep in mind the abilities of the pilots within Titanfall. Unfournetly the only ability we might see very little of is Stim just because a child does not need to be taking stim's.
Soon lunch was over, the four friends had all sat together, as they conversed about the upcoming battle. They hadn't discussed strategy or anything of that matter. Rather, smaller topics about what they were going to do over the coming weekend or who they'd intern for after the sports festival.
Izuku truthfully didn't expect to intern for anyone, having thought that he wouldn't have made it to the third round. But now, as he considered his options, if he was given the choice to choose his internship. It'd likely be with someone who fought mostly quirkless seeing as Izuku for the most part was quirkless. Sure, BT was incredibly strong and great in a pinch.
Yet, he couldn't be used in a lot of situations revolving around pretty theft or minor crime. BT was essentially an ace in the hole if things got hairy but any other time there wasn't really much use to call upon him. Far too cumbersome and woefully noisy to perform smaller situations.
So, it made the most sense to intern under someone who'd be similar to Izuku in that manner. Izuku had considered Sir Night Eye originally, noting that the man for the most part was quirkless, especially in larger situations.
However, Izuku knew that Mirio was Night Eyes intern and would likely not be putting out a request for another student this year. Hado had interned under Ryukyu and was planning to do the same.
Amajiki on the other hand… Had unfortunately been unable to re-secure another work study this go around. However, he was pessimistic about going with another agency seeing as the last one had been so abrasive. They hadn't been too kind to the poor boy due to his inability to form some sense of self confidence.
But none of that was neither here nor there. They'd all hopefully find heroes to intern under soon enough. Hado had also gone on... AND ON about questioning the poor greenette about what the weapons he'd used in the second match were.
Izuku had for the most part not given any info, stating that they'd likely find out more as time went on and that he'd tell her afterwards. Which garnered a small frown from the overly rambunctious puppy that was Nejire Hado.
Lunch soon came to an end, and the 16 students who'd made it through the second match were welcomed into the stadium. Cheers once again filled the stands as the announcer and students came to stand in the center.
"It is now time for the 3rd and final round, as per all U.A. Sports Festivals, a tournament is in order. The matchups will be decided by drawing lots. Once that's settled, we'll move on to the tournament itself." Voice the 18+ heroine voiced to the both the students and crowd.
"Alright, now if you will turn your head to the jumbotron." (Apparently that name was created by Sony and Mitsubishi Electric even though it sounds somewhat American?) The students did as they were told, along with the crowd. Some students struggling, others cheering.
Izuku Midoriya Vs. Mirio Toogata
Nejire Hado Vs. Junichiro Hirano
Hajime Ito Vs. Tamaki Amajiki
Mawata Fuwa Vs. Aiko Shoda
Bibimi Kenranzaki Vs. Yuudai Hajime
Eiko Seijun Vs. Hikaru Kaiya
Kotone Mai Vs. Kaori Sumi
Akako Botan Vs. Nobu Rai
(Why are there literally 5 students outside of first years? It makes this so difficult to form anything interesting.)
'Oh no, I have to go against Toogata!' Izuku's mind yelled as he looked towards the blonde. A large smile fell upon the boy's face as he turned towards Izuku. "This is gonna be fun, right Midoriya!?" The boy happily yelled.
"Ye-yea, fun." Izuku said, hand moving upwards to rub the back of his head. 'This is so, so bad.' Was all the boy could think.
"Best of luck to you Midoriya."
"You two, Mirio." Izuku said, a huff of air leaving his mouth as he regretted all his life decisions.
It wasn't the worst pull he could have gotten, but there were competitors that were far less experienced and prepared than Mirio. At least Izuku didn't have to fight Hado, or well not yet. If he'd of had to fight her first, he probably would have collapsed.
"Oh, lzuzu, you gotta face Mirio. That isn't fair, why do you have to go against one of our friends." The girl pouted, upset that they all couldn't fight and had progressed to at least the second round.
"It's alright Hado, I'm sure me and Midoriya will have a great match." The boy smiled from ear to ear as he looked at the two students before him. Amajik would soon come over and converse on his displeasure of having to be in front of such a large crowd. "Why did you have to go back for me. I just wanted to go home" He pouted, and Mirio could only smirk at his best friend.
"Alright, everyone, please head to the stands, the first match will begin in a few moments." Midnight announced with a crack of her whip… 'WHERE'D SHE GET THAT FROM!'
As the students cleared out, all heading to claim a seat in the stands amount the cheering crowd. Izuku and Mirio both head to the reserved rooms to catch a small breath and strategize. Izuku had ran into to sensei Power Loader on his way dressing room B.
"I've got your approved Item's Midoriya." Izuku nodded, accepting the case from his teacher and opening the door to the dressing room with a small wave goodbye to his sensei. The man nodded and gave a small "Good luck, make us proud kid."
Izuku let go a small huff as the door closed behind him, he laid the metal case on a table that sat in one of the chairs in the room, flicking open the cases locks he smiled. His suit had been for the most part perfected over the past 2 months. It's design full realized for the first iterations and all components were completed.
Izuku changed, sheading his U.A. uniform and dawning the helmet and suit, it's HUD coming to life. Heat rate, power level, and temperatures all came on screen as did his fuel level for the jump kit. Izuku let go one last long winded sigh as his hands tightened into fist, his grip tensing as he did so. 'I have to do this; I need to prove to the world that I am here… And to myself that I can be a hero.'
However, there was always that side of him, that small voice that told him he was nothing, he was useless, quirkless, a deku. And yet, he wanted to try, wanted to be the hero he always dreamt of being.
The spark within him may be nothing but embers now, but in time they would once again consume the forest, turning the world around him. The ones who told him he couldn't be a hero to ash.
"I can do this." He reassured himself, still worried that he wouldn't be enough, wouldn't leave an impression on anyone because he was quirkless status. Or at least, that's what everyone thought he was other than Hado, Amajik, and Mirio. He'd told them, Hado had known since the start, but he'd allowed the two boys too know soon after meeting them.
They deserved to know, he trusted them more than anyone else, he cared for his friends. For the people who cared for him like family. And so, they deserved to know he had a quirk that could help him be a hero.
"Times up, the 3rd event is starting Midoriya." Called one of the teachers, Izuku assumed that it had been Cementoss, since he was overseeing the match as a referee.
Once on the field, Izuku felt small, like he didn't belong being watched by thousands of people. And yet, here he was, standing before them with his head held high. He once again clenched his fist and strengthened his resolve.
"The first match, making a weird face despite his excellent performance, it's Izuku Midoriya from the Support Course! Versus, 2-A's golden boy, the boy who can't seem to keep his pants on despite his best efforts, Mirio Toogata! The rules are simple! Win by knocking your opponent out of the ring, immobilizing them or getting them to say, "I give up". Bring the pain, we've got our good old recovery girl on standby! And fight dirty if you must, "Ethics" have no meaning here!" Present Mic cackled from his seat in the booth, while Eraser just rolled his eyes at his husbands' antics.
How dare Mic challenge Izuku to bring on the pain, especially with Recovery Girl on standby.
"Well, of course, going for the kill is a No-No! You'll be disqualified. Because a true hero's fists fly only when in the pursuit of villains." Voiced the animated cement block of a teacher, man quirks are weird.
"Come on Midoriya, let's give it our all!" Yelled the blonde, Izuku nodded, the helmet showed no emotion, but if one could see hesitation, one would see it written in the boy's movements. Izuku's mind raced, trying to think of strategy. He'd have to fight Mirio dirty, the boy's quirk was too powerful to fight fair and square.
"Alright, let the match begin!" Yelled Cementoss as he finally sat in his chair. Mirio moved first, practiced strides as moved across the battlefield. Izuku quickly moved, matching his pace as he got closer to the boy.
He needed to get his bearings, to understand where exactly the playing field was, sure the white lines signify the edge, but one could easily forget where they were if they failed to pay attention.
Izuku couldn't loose on a technicality, he wanted to do his best and at the very least put on a good show.
Mirio's hand swung quickly, moving to connect with Izuku's right shoulder, and it did as intended. He landed the first hit, sending the boy back a step, Mirio followed with a left hook, aiming for Izuku's head. But was quickly dodged.
Izuku heaved a heavy breath as his head rose once more. Staring the blue-eyed boy down, Izuku swung his first punch, trying to hit Mirio in the chest. But, before it could connect, his hand flew through his chest.
"Hha." The boy laughed as Izuku shook his head, he should have known better than to think he could out speed Mirio's permeation.
Mirio smiled as he threw back another punch, this time aiming for Izuku's stomach, he'd been able to accomplish multiple take downs by aiming for the abdomen. Too bad Izuku would only be added to that-.
As the blonde threw his third punch, it-it didn't connect either. There was nothing there, the blonde looked in front of him, the crowd gasped as the boy in green vanished. Bluish white light surrounded him and then there was nothing.
"Izuku Midoriya has disappeared! Eraser, can you believe it!" Mic looked over to his less than happy friend who'd simply rolled his eyes.
The world had gone white for Izuku, a dual dark grey and only the outline of the colosseum could be seen. The dirt under his feet became much coarser and his senses seemed too jumped to a higher level. Toogata, along with the crowd, disappeared. They were gone, and Izuku smirked.
He didn't have much time, maybe 10 seconds at the most, he needed to make the most of it. He quickly moved, weaving around where Mirio had once stood and coming around to his back side.
Winding his fist back, the world once again saturated with color and people once again populated his eyes sight. They seemed shocked, surprised by the action just taken.
"AHH!" Izuku all but yelled as he swung his fist forward towards the blonde's head. The punch landed, sending the blonde forwards towards the edge of the arena. The crowd roared as the blonde landed on the dirt ground, tumbling into the dirt as his head shook with pain.
"Whoa, can you believe it folks. I don't even know what I just witnessed!" Yelled Present Mic as Eraser Head sat up further in his seat. Somewhat interested now, unsure of what he'd just witnessed.
Then as Izuku readied for another attack, the blonde's body began to phase, sinking into the floor Mirio smirked. Izuku may have gotten a lucky shot off, but he wouldn't do it again.
His body soon reappeared, a toned hand rising from the dirt below, trying to reach out for the greenette. And then it latched onto his right ankle, pulling him down onto the ground as Mirio rose from the dirt below.
"Ahh!" Izuku lightly yelled as he fell towards the ground.
"Come on Izuku, you've gotta be quicker than that!" Yelled the blonde, as he fully rose from the ground below. A smile widely placed on his face as Izuku slowly got up.
Mirio waited for the just the right moment, watching as the boy tried to rebalance himself once more before rushing in to land another blow.
"Pilot watch out." Came the voice of BT, giving Izuku just enough time to quickly dodged the incoming blonde by once again disappearing.
"Midoriya has once again disappeared folks!" Cheered Present Mic as he watched the fight continue to unfold. The crowd cheered even louder as Mirio tried to locate the boy. His head swiveling as quickly as possible to try and find him.
But he was gone…
The dull white light soon once again saturated for the greenette as he threw another punch towards the blonde. This time, he didn't dare make a sound as he landed the blow directly to the boy's back.
'I'm not gonna lose, I've come too far to not put up a fight!' Izuku's mind yelled as he lunged.
Mirio lurched backwards yelping in pain as Izuku rushed forward. Tackling the boy and pushing him further forward. "Ahh!" The boy still yelled as he pushed further backwards. Then as he tried to fight it, tried to stop Izuku from pushing him another inch…
The crowd cheered, yelling sounded throughout the stadium and Mic's voice yelled as loudly as possible. "Look at that! Eraser are you seeing this!" Said man in question rolled his eyes and let out a huff of air. "I still say he's wasting too much energy in only the first match of the bracket."
Mirio was out, he was out of bounds. His feet had just barely stepped across the white line, and he hadn't had time to react. How could that happen? He'd given his all to train for this but, maybe his friend had as well. And knowing that, knowing that Izuku had helped him and still trained gave Mirio the biggest smile he could muster.
"Mirio Toogata is out of bounds. The winner is Izuku Midoriya!" Came the voice of the 18+ hero, as her whip crack signaled the end of the match.
Izuku had done it, he'd beaten Mirio. He'd beaten one of 2-A's top students as a first year. But, as Izuku tried to process it all, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"That was amazing! Where did you learn to do that Midoriya! We can be permeation buddies!" The boy's wide smile eased Izuku's brain, and he smiled back at his friend. "You were amazing too, you punch like a truck. You know that right?" Toogata laughed at the greenette as the two were escorted off the field so that the next match may commence.
1 Hour, 15 Minutes Later - 2nd Round - First Match.
Izuku had watch the rest of the match's go on, Mirio sat by him once they had come up into the U.A. stands and helped to ease his mind. Hado had been the next contestant up, and though it was certainly tough for the air head. She'd managed to defeat Hirano.
Hirano, was a 2nd year class 2-B student with the ability to change and inflate his muscles to varying levels. Similarly, to the way All Might would inflate into his muscular form. However, with enough hits to his body, he could be deflated.
The twirling beams of light, that Hado produced, were well versed and capable to deflating the boy, and though she'd been roughed up quiet heavily. Hado had managed to get her foe to submit and tap out.
Surprisingly, she'd been the only one to get a student to tap out in the first round, and that seemed to worry Izuku even more. Hado was incredibly strong, even though she wasn't always the most intuitive person.
That wasn't to mention the Bluenette's heart of gold and eagerness to protects the ones she cared about. Hado was truly someone Izuku looked up to. Not only as a friend but as a mentor. Even if she seemed to rely on him as much as he did her.
Izuku had spent little time after finishing his match, dusting off his suit, and checking to make sure everything he had was approved. He'd managed to recharge the jump kit, and to think about strategies while watching Hado's fight.
Unfortunately, due to the bracket system, and Hado having been the 2nd fight of the Sports Festival. Izuku knew he'd have to face her next. Which seemed more like a curse than a blessing at the current time. He knew the girl was overtly strong, but he also didn't want to hurt her for other reasons. He respected her, and every bit of strength she had, and yet found it difficult to muster the courage to go all out.
But, at last Izuku steeled his resolve once more and understood that he owed her a good fight. A fair, and challenging match that both of them would be proud of. He just hoped that nothing bad happened, and that neither ended up really hurt from it.
As Izuku once again stood from his seat on a bench in the dressing room. He sighed, he needed to give it his all and hope, someone would pity the poor quirkless boy. He knew, hardly any agencies would be interested in him. As far as most knew, he had no power and that was an obvious problem for many would-be scouts.
As Izuku readied, his helmet once again slid over his head and with one last heavy sigh Izuku pushed open the door to his dressing room. The match would be starting soon, and he figured it would be best to head to the entranceway of the stadium.
"Oh, there you are, Izuku." Came the voice of one white furry rat, mouse, bear, stoat, looking man. His suit as presentable as it ever was, a small familiar smile grazed his face as he looked the greenette down.
"He-hey Dad." Izuku called, a little surprised to be seeing the man down here. Having likely sworn to treat his students all the same, and yet the mouse had made an attempt to see him before his second match.
"You did quite well out there, while your first engagement wasn't the greatest. You managed to take out young Toogata as a 1st year. I'm quite proud of you. Now, please go do your best. I know a few pros who are watching you closely." Izuku nodded, understanding that the man had the tendency to be curt with people.
"Ahh, th-thank you. I'll do my best." Izuku's right hand tensed, clenching as he tried to manage his resolve. Nedzu had put in the effort to console him in a time of worry and maybe the man did understand human emotion?
Of course, the man did, Izuku knew this but at times it just felt like he wasn't there. Or at the very least didn't understand what he needed to do to help a child that was directly under his care. Nedzu had been a teacher before becoming principle. But he had never raised a child, never had to be there for a kid 100% percent. 'Maybe he does care.'
With the small confrontation with his adoptive father out the way, Izuku made his way to the entrance onto the field. Midnight once again stood on the pad's edge, whip in hand and a devilish smirk ever present on her face.
"Both of these competitors have performed at their absolute best in the festival so far! However, there's only room for one of these greats in the ring. It's Hado Versus Midoriya!" Present Mic's oh so loud voice boomed over the stadium as the crowd cheered the two highest scoring students on. A match that many would have probably wanted to the finale.
And yet, here they were, in only the second round.
"Start!" Yelled the 18+ heroine as the two students starred one another down.
"Izuzu, are you going to do that thing you did with Toogata?" Asked the bubbly blue haired girl as the two readied into a fighting stance.
"You'll just have to wait and see." He quipped back, a small smile falling upon his face as he shook internally. 'Think-think, what can I do!' His mind yelled, trying to find ways to combat Hado.
"Aw come on Midori, I want to have some fun." The girl whined as her quirk activate and slowly she began to rise into the air. Yellow beams of light slowly twirling downward as she lifted off the ground.
Still though, she hadn't mastered the art of flying quiet yet, and couldn't stay overly stable for long amounts of time. She'd only been able to do so during the obstacle course because she was moving straight ahead with enough force to keep her in the air.
Staying stable was a much more difficult task.
Hado moved her right arm, aiming it towards Izuku, yellow light began to ooze from her hand as she bit her lip. Trying to look as fierce as possible for her competitor. "Full charge, output level 25!" She yelled, and the beam of twirling light sped from her our reached hand.
Izuku's eyes widened as he tried to react but, somehow, it seemed too fast. "Pilot you need to faze, now!" Yelled the A.I. trying to warn Izuku and Bt managed to warn him just in time. The world turned grey, and the figures disappeared. No pain graced him as the world did so, and as he fazed Izuku moved forward, rushing to a better point.
He needed to remember he couldn't move far, couldn't go outside of the ring. And so, he did his best to move closer in.
"He's done it again folks! Izuku Midoriya has once again disappeared!" Yelled Present Mic from the commentator's booth. Eraser Head simply rolled his eyes at Mic's commentation and sat up only a slight bit more.
The world once again turned to color and Izuku smirked below the mask. Pressing down the trigger that lay within his hand, the jets of his jump kit ignited sending him upwards. Barreling forwards towards the bluenette; Hado yelped as Izuku sped closer.
"Come on Hado, did you think that would work!" Izuku yelled as he wound back a punch, aiming to hit her with whatever might he could muster. 'Please-please forgive me!' He yelled as he tried to land a hit.
"Full charge, output level 30!" She yelled last second as Izuku got unnervingly close to hitting her. The boy couldn't react in time, and the bright yellow light hit him square in the face. It didn't burn but it felt like hitting a brick wall.
"OW!" Izuku yelled as he reeled backwards, dangerously close to coming out of bounds. "Izuuz!" Hado yelped, now worried for her friend more so than about the fight the two were currently having.
Izuku's blinked away the blurriness that had formed, trying to find his opponent once more. Hado still floated above the ground. The beams of yellow seeming to have faded slightly after the last attack.
With a rough grunt from the boy, he deactivated the thruster from the jump kit and landed on the ground, feet planting themselves once more. 'What can I do!' He once again yelled to himself, trying to figure out the best course of action.
His right-hand slide down to his waist belt. Pulling a disc from his side, 'Alright, here hoping this thing works!' His mind yelled as it threw the disk out. Hado instantly readying to fire off another blast. "Output level 50!" She yelled bracing herself for what the disc could possibly be. Explosives weren't allowed right?
The metal disc landed, projecting an orange shield in front of Izuku, Hado's yellow light reflecting off, splitting both sides of the protective barrier.
"No fair!" The bluenette yelled as her beams careened off the shield hitting the stadium walls.
Izuku needed something long ranged, it was far too difficult to hit her up close and he had nothing that wasn't deadly that could hit her from this distance. Izuku sighed, activating the cloaking device built into his suit. The armor he wore began to blend into the background, his body disappearing from behind the transparent orange shield.
"He's done it once again, Izuku Midoriya has disappeared!" Yelled Present Mic as the crowd cheered louder than ever.
"It's different though? It's not the bluish white light from before. The suit became progressively transparent. Like it's cloaking rather than whatever he'd done with Togtata." Mic looked over and nodded. "My co-host is right; this might be something different from what we've seen before!"
Izuku slide out from behind the shield and ran across the field, trying to get closer to the girl who flew above. But as he did so, dust flew from the ground. "You can't hide like that Izuku!" She happily proclaimed as she readied another attack.
But as she yelled, blue light flew from his figure, propelling him upwards. "I'm not trying to hide!"
The cloaking fell and revealed Izuku, with his fist pulled back, hoping to land a hit on the bluenette. "No!" She yelled as twirling light once again flew from her hands and landed square in the boy's chest.
Izuku flew backwards, his vision blurred more than the last time. And he could only register the thought of falling. The wind and air as it rushed past him.
Then with a thud his body hit the dirt floor of the arena. The crowd cheered as he flew through the air, Hado's world shrunk as she watched her friend fall, her own eyes darkening. The world became very still, and motionless.
"Ah!" Izuku yelled as he made contact. It hurt, hurt so, so bad to have landed on his back but he watched, watched as his friend's body fell from the sky. He watched as she careened towards the dirt the same as he did.
Izuku's mind stopped, worry set in as his friend fell. His body moving on its own, jet igniting as all he could register was the fall he was watching take place. His limp body, headfirst falling towards the stadium floor.
"Hado!" He yelled as he flew closer, arm out reached as he felt the weight and pressure hit him. Catching her within his arms, she was safe. She hadn't landed wrong, or hard, or accidentally broken anything.
When he'd seen her fall like that, motionless, worry raced through him.
"Izuzu?" She asked, eyes slowly widening.
"Yea, I've got you." he replied, still worried that his friend had pushed herself far too hard.
"That's-that's good. You're kinda comfy." She murmured, as Izuku's face lit with red, and the implications that he was currently holding Neijire.
"Izuku Midoriya is out of bounds! Nejire Hado is the winner!" Called Cementoss as he stood from his cement chair. Izuku had lost, but at least Hado was okay. He hadn't hurt her, hadn't caused his friend unnecessary pain.
He was thankful for the fact that he'd made it through the Sports Festival. Shown promises to the world, claiming that he was here.
And one-person in particular took notice, their posture far straighter than it had been moments prior. Maybe there was some promise in the first years after all.
Ending Notes:
We got to see several different ability's in this chapter, along with Hado being a literal puppy and Toogata being a big brother.
And I know I've been teasing BT for a long ass time, and I will continue to tease him for a likely longer amount of time. When he is needed he will come. But for now, Izuku needs to learn how to do things on his own. BT is not to be used for anything that is none life threating. Trying to win a Sports Festival? Probably not, maybe if he really want to show off and that dick from class 1-B shows up then maybe but otherwise BT is not to be used for menial task.
Tryndamer95 - If you mean Izuku's height, then he's taller than most character's within the show for their age. For instance I think Iida's like 6.2 compared to Izuku being around 6.4/6.5 ish. He still has time to grow and will likely be roughly 6.7 by the end.