I saw the glitter of gold around the horn as it shot back to Tsunotori-san.
Eleven minutes, twenty-four seconds left on the clock.
My brain went into overdrive as I spun out options and probabilities.
Could we stop the horn before it got back to Tsunotori? Maybe. While Hikari's lasers were hyperbolically faster, I was reminded of a quote from the Flash's book. 'Don't dodge the bullet, dodge the gunman.' If Hikari's aim wasn't fast or precise enough, she couldn't hit the horn, no matter how much faster her attacks were. There was also the fact that I didn't know what part of the horn or how much of it was what Tsunotori controlled. And could Hikari hit it without also damaging the fluttering headband?
"Izu..."
Or we could just let them get it, and then take it back? Except we were not very close to them. Not to mention the other eyes already falling on them hungrily. Tsu's team and Tokage-san's team would get there first, at basically the same time. I could tell that Tsu was already considering both whether she could snag the horn with her tongue, or if they could Down Tsunotori. Ashido-chan's group was also getting close, and her forward Mount Sero-kun was aiming his elbow at the American girl's head. It might be better to let those four teams duke it out, and then take the headband from the tired victors. Of course, that assume no-one else got involved.
A hand seemed to touch my shoulder. I locked myself in place with my TK and counted on my teammates to take care of it.
I mentally reviewed my available Talents and Skills. I didn't want to open the Menu, since the others would see it. Plus it would get in my way for as long as it was up. I also didn't want to spend any points. I was hoping to get enough Skill levels in the various Telepathy and Clairsentience skills to buy the next Talent. Which would partially unlock the next Psy-biology Talent. Which in turn was the discipline I wanted to dump skill points into. But none of that really mattered at this point, I let myself get off track.
Maybe we should just wait? Let the other teams fight over it, while we observed them. Get to know their Quirks better. How everyone from 1-B had improved in the last few weeks. And what Kongou-san, Kuroiro-san, Hitoshi-san, and the others I wasn't familiar with could do. Mei, too even though she was my ally. It was always fun and useful to study new Quirks. Then, in the last three minutes or so, we could swoop in and take the Snitch headband back. That might be a bit dangerous, and it certainly wouldn't be showing off like we had agreed. But if we could make and new plan and get everyone else to underestimate us in the process. On the other hand, maybe it would be better...
'Midoriya Izuku.'
My back went ramrod straight as a voice in my head cut through my internal mumbling. It was a voice I wasn't terribly familiar with, but had been conditioned to avoid at all cost.
It was Mom's voice. It was her 'upset with you' voice.
'Izuku, stop overthinking it and just act,' Mom said sternly, 'You have nine and a half minutes left.'
I blinked. It was actually 9:42, but I had still wasted over a minute on contemplation. I realized that the hand still on my shoulder belonged to Hikari. I looked back. Hikari and Iida-kun both were looking at me in worry. Mei looked confused.
"I'm sorry," I told them, "I was overthinking."
"Overthinking is cool," Mei said, "Sensei tells me I should try it sometimes."
"Thanks, but I wasted our precious time," I countered.
"Do you have a new plan?" Iida-kun asked.
"Maybe," I said, "I think we should forget about the gold headband. It is always going to be the main target and the center of attention. And even more than that... I think if we can get five or more of the headbands, total, it will be more impressive, even if we only come in second or even third place. So I think we should get as many as we can before the three minute mark and then go after the two K headband. What do you think?"
"I think we should aim for all ten of the other headbands," Hikari grinned, "Plus Ultra, right?"
"Yes, let's do it," Iida-kun agreed.
"Switching to attack mode," Mei confirmed.
D-Cube swooped down, and Mei plucked the remaining headband from it. She tied it to herself, and then gestured. The drone darted away, a bit faster than before. And the pinkette scientist snapped her goggles open.
I started running, and thankfully Iida-kun wasn't surprised. He easily kept up, as we darted for our first target.
I took note that while I was out, Tsu's team had taken the Snitch from Tsunotori, but not their original headband. I guess Tsu probably grabbed it before the horn got back to Tsunotori-san. Also, Ami's team had taken the 2 K headband from Todoroki, but also not his original. Finally, the team of Honenuki-san, Kaibara-san, and Fukidashi-san, with Shoda-san as their rider had taken the headband from Ashido-chan, who was teamed up with Sero-kun, Aoyama-san, and Koda-san.
The guys from 1-B were who I was aiming for, since they had two headbands. Also Kaibara and Shoda didn't have particularly good Quirks for this event. Duplicating attacks only stronger and drill limbs would only go so far. Honenuki-san might be able to slow us down by softening the sand, but between our speed, Mei's boots Iida was wearing, and my TK, I wasn't too worried. Fukidashi's unique power was potentially the biggest threat.
"Should I?" Hikari asked.
"No," I answered, "Mei, can D-Cube?"
"I just put her on auto but sure."
The drone looped back around. All three turrets locked on our target. And a barrage of pellets filled the air around them with black and green smoke. And I suddenly wondered if I needed to worry.
"Mei, what is that knockout gas?" I prompted. Iida-kun's grip on my arms tightened.
"It's my custom blend. It should take out Endeavour or even All Might for a half hour or so."
I cringed, but didn't stop.
"Unfortunately Sensei was worried that might be too much for first years especially in the business and general courses. So he made me dilute it to one sixth the normal potency."
I exhaled in relief.
"Fwoosh!" Fukidashi-san proclaimed loudly. A stiff breeze started to clear the air around them. Except he wasn't fast enough. The word 'Yawn' appeared on his speech bubble. Honenuki-san's knees buckled. Shoda-san's eyes were already closed and he was slipping. Kaibara-san swung on arm at us, but it was slow, poorly aimed, and not even spinning. As they fell, Hikari reached out and pulled off the two headbands.
"Team 4 is Down, I guess," Midnight said out of obligation. Because they didn't have any headbands and they weren't moving. Hikari placed the two strips of cloth across her brow. We started to look for our next target, but another team went after us first.
Waving her fan, Kongou-san generated another breeze, while gathering up the one Fukidashi had created. She spun in around us, trapping us in the remains of the knockout gas.
"Oh should have thought of this sooner," Mei said. She tapped her backpack, then slapped a medicinal patch on to each of our left shoulders.
"Antidote," she explained.
Kongou was riding the shoulders of Tetsutetsu-san, in full metal form. Hitoshi-san was in front of him, one of Tetsutetsu's arms on his shoulder. And Kendo-san was in front of him, one of his hands on her shoulder, leaving her hands entirely free. They were trotting slowly towards us, still expecting the gas would take us down.
"And Team 3's Tokoyami takes both of Team 5's headbands," Present Mic announced, "But 5 isn't taking that lying down. Jirou blasts him with a sonic boom that even I'm impressed by. His grip is... Asui recovers Team 5's appropriately 555 pt. headband, but Shoji takes the golden one from his Dark Shadow and passes it to Rider Todoroki."
"The purple haired guy has a mind affecting power, so try not to listen to him, answer him, or meet his eyes," I said it to remind Hikari and Iida-kun, and to inform Mei, since I wasn't sure if she had been told. Then I added sharply, "Duck!"
Seeing that we were not passing out from the gas, Kongou-san frowned. She waved her fan again, generating a powerful straight line wind. Moderately powerful, anyway.
I leaned forward. Focused my Energy into TK Armor. And built a wedge shaped TK Rampart directly in front of myself, hopefully close enough that no-one would see the wind divert early. Finally I tightened my Tactile TK grip on the ladies, and spread it to Iida-kun.
The gust hit us, and scattered the sand behind us. We were pushed back almost half a meter. But we stayed standing. And the impact had slowed the air, so I relaxed my hold on my teammates. And took off running again. Only I turned us away from them. I was able to get Ashido-chan's team between us and Kongou-san, even as the acid user's group was going after Tsunotori's team for their original headband. And in turn Tsunotori and company were trying to get the golden headband from Todoroki-san's team.
"Izuku, should I?" Hikari asked again. I wanted to ask if she was certain. But I decided to show confidence instead.
"Do it," I nodded. And withdrew my hold on her legs.
The air around us heated up. And then in a near blinding flash, Hikari was gone. The photokinetic blazed through the air, dangerously close to Ashido's head. Then she seemed to materialize, crouched on Kendo-san's shoulder. Technically she hadn't teleported or become intangible, but materialize still described it best.
Three members of Team 11 blinked in surprise. Only Kendo didn't. She immediately reached up for Hikari, her hand enlarging to catch our teammate or at least block her escape. The move wasn't quick enough. Hikari snared their headband, and the flashed back to us. She was panting softly as I caught hold of her. Hikari put our fourth prize around Mei's head, so that each of our Riders had two.
"Can you do that again?" Iida-kun prompted sotto voce, worried by her exhaustion.
"Probably not," she admitted, "I've never been able to do two back to back like that before. Maybe one more, nearer to the end."
"Don't let them know that," I suggested just as quietly, "You're our big stick at this point."
With just under six minutes left, the five teams that had lost their headbands were getting desperate. The pressure Ashido's team put on Tsunotori's team allowed Kirishima (the final member of Todoroki's Team 3) to trip them up. Rin-san hit Kirishima's legs, underestimating the weight and toughness. Instead of taking Team 3 down, Team 8 staggered. This opened it up for Todoroki to freeze Bondo's glue. And then Shoji's left middle arm grew three extra joints. He deftly slid the headband off Tsunotori-san head and around her horn. Then Dark Shadow surged out, letting them gain some distance.
We, on the other hand, found ourselves facing Ami, Mikoto, Cassandra, and Mo-chan. Not necessarily intentionally. Instead we had been pushed together by four of the other teams. They seemed to think if we clashed, it would make an opening for them to get one or more of the six headbands our two teams had between us. Tsu's team was just staying out of the way for the moment, not wanting to put their original 555 points at risk. Especially since, for the moment, that put them in fourth. The remaining three teams were still after the gold. But with Ami distracted by us, Todoroki was relying on the water again.
He wasn't the only one. Ami had pulled enough water out of the mock ocean to visibly lower its level. She was holding it in a unsteady, wobbling mass above her. Mikoto had a disc ready in each hand, although I also noticed she only had one more left on the bandoleer on her bicep. Were the other nine really lost? Or did she know where they were and was ready to spring them as a trap? Cassandra was facing away from us, but I could tell she was glaring at the surrounding teams, as if daring them to try something. And Clarent and her two unnamed swords were floating in front of Mo-chan, pointed at us. Well, at me specifically. Their blades were wrapped in some sort of foam. Which might help.
In our early games of Lions and Gazelles, Mikoto and I had both tested Mo-chan's original assertion that TK and magnetic powers would work on her swords. We both ended up verifying that she was right. If I tried to hold them with my Tactile TK, they slipped away like they were greased hydrogen. But that was only the swords. This protective cushions shouldn't share that property. And in theory, if I could remove it, she would be forced to stop using the bare, sharpened blades. If it came down to that; it was another trick I wasn't keen on playing.
"Hikari," I asked, "Do you have enough photons left to boil some water? The hotter it is, the less she can control."
"I can manage," she said, "concentrating light and even lasers are a lot easier than Jumps."
She pointed her hand at the unstable oblong over their heads. A beam of intense radiance emerged, bright enough to blind you if you looked at it. There was a loud pop as a section of water vaporized instantly. The rest began to bubble more slowly. some of it began to drizzle as Ami lost control of it. She had to move the bubble off to the side, so that the near boiling rain didn't burn them. The secondary advantage was she would have to be more careful using the heated water, since it might injure us.
Mikoto pointed her thumb at Hikari, trying to stop her. Probably hoping to Down her, too. D-Cube swooped in. Took the subsonic railgun for us. The metal disc cracked her shell and sent her tumbling through the air. But the drone's AI recovered. She pointed her guns at Mikoto. Only one pellet emerged, and then all three turrets puffed air harmlessly. The pellet hit Mikoto in the upper arm and exploded into a sticky, brown mess.
"Oh it looks like I got one of the glue pellets mixed in," Mei said in such honest amazement that I really believed it was a mistake. Then she added, "I guess I need to work on her command structure so she doesn't keep firing when she is out of ammo."
She typed on the air for a second, and D-Cube stopped firing. Instead she just hovered aggressively around Team 9, occasionally dive bombing dangerously close to their faces. Mo-chan directed her kukri to attack the drone. Which helped us, because the blonde swordswoman had trouble focusing on more than one foe. Especially when they weren't both in her front hexrant.
Mikoto was trying to get the adhesive off and it was proving... troublesome. Whatever Mei's mixture was, it was sticking to her swimsuit and her palms, but not as much to the rest of her skin or hair. It also meant the disc in her hand was trapped. Some of it also splashed over her shoulder onto Ami. And as Mikoto tried to move and remove it, the two of them came very close to a wardrobe malfunctions. More than once. Ami pulled some of the cooler yet still very hot water down. She tried to dilute the glue, and melt it, to little success. I almost wanted to leave them alone, to preserve their modesty. But I was outvoted.
"Izuku," Iida-kun said, "When I say, jump between thirty and forty centimeters up, and hold yourself aloft for as long as you can."
I nodded. He crouched slightly. The girls both tightened their legs around my arms, but also held their hands out.
"Now," he said. I hopped. And he declared, "Recipro Burst!"
We shot forward, at least twice as fast as we had been running before. I knew he was held back by me, but this was unexpected. Team 9 reacted, but poorly. Mo-chan tried to send her swords out, but D-Cube bumped them and then slammed into her side. Mikoto and Ami struggled to put up a defense, but their respective movements... There wasn't anything adult rated as a result, but it was very near thing and required Ami covering her left breast with one hand. As we drew close, Hikari's palm lit up, flash blinding them. As we raced past, Hikari and Mei were each able to grab one of the two headbands Team 9 was holding. Though Mei was a bit clumsy about it and smacked Mikoto's head in the process.
We zipped away, past the teams that were trying to fence us in. I touched the ground for a moment, but timed it right to jump again without slowing Iida-kun down. Finally we came to a stop next to the outer wall.
"Woo," Iida-kun exhaled, "I managed to stop before totally blowing out my engines. But they are still overheated, so I will be somewhat slower until they cool down and I can relax."
"Hmm. Interesting," Mei tried to twist around to get a better look at his legs.
In the chaos, Team 8 tried to get Team 2's headband. Unfortunately, they failed and were Downed in the process. That seemed to annoy Tokage-san, who took out her anger by directing her Mounts to charge us.
But they also looked a bit tired. As I suppose we were. I had just over ten percent of my Energy left and was already planning on buying more potions; if nothing went horribly wrong in the next fifty seconds that is. Shiozaki-san sent out vines, but they were fewer and felt limp when I easily kicked them away. Komori-san grew mushrooms to block us, but they were smaller. And that was before Hikari focused light on them like a hot lamp. It felt like Yanagi-san plucked at the headbands we had. Only her Poltergeist couldn't track against our running speed, slowed as it was.
I'm still not sure if they were really that exhausted, or if it was part of the ploy. Their real attack was three of Tokage-san's detached fingers, stealthily moving through the plants and shrooms. Getting into position to shoot up and entangling the headbands Mei was wearing.
I caught them. Like I had told Iida-kun about using his arms, I could do the same thing. I hadn't mentioned it in case someone was eavesdropping. But I was able to briefly focus the Tactile TK holding the ladies aloft into just my left arm. And that left my right free to snap out and grab Tokage's digits.
[Nice grab; -2 Energy
Dodge Skill active mode 'Catch' unlocked.
Instead of simply avoiding projectiles, you can grab and hold them. If they are solid. Don't try catching bullets in your teeth until your Dodge and Physical Resistance skills are much higher. Probably your Q, A, and E Attributes, too.]
Ignoring that, my arm returned to its original spot. And I continued to hold Tokage's fingers tightly. Not just with muscle, but with Tactile TK so she couldn't wiggle them free or split them further. I looked her in the eye. She scowled back. Until she noticed the movement of my mouth.
"Five... Six... Seven..."
She panicked. Not a full, loss of control, mindless tirade. She just remembered the rules, and recognized that she couldn't get her fingers away from me. She said something to her team, and Shiozaki sent more vines at me specifically, trying a bit harder.
"Oh," Mei exclaimed. Then she twisted slightly and put her leg over my shoulder. Pointed her boot at the incoming tendrils. A powerful but focused blast of fire hit them, withering them. It also push Mei back into Hikari, and would have sent her tumbling if not for my TK and the other girl wrapping her arms around the inventor.
"Sixteen... Seventeen..."
"That's a Down for Team 2," Advisory reported to Midnight. From one of the boxes, she and Nezu observed the cavalry battle. And she had greatly reduced the filters on her visor, to make sure she was getting everything. Even if she knew she would need a painkiller shortly. Also...
"Just why are we wearing swimsuits?" the blonde heroine asked her boss.
"Midnight requested it," the dog-mouse said, looking oddly cute in his trunks, "Since she had to wear one in front of the audience, she thought it was only fair. For solidarity."
"One," Advisory counted, "No-one can see us. Two, when has she ever cared about people staring at her. No, when has she not wanted people to stare at her. And three, she chose to wear that."
Nezu didn't argue with her frustration, but couldn't suppress a chuckle.
"Alright Team 2, you are Down for having the Rider split off for more than 20 seconds," Midnight-sensei informed us. I guess it took Tokage longer than I thought to send her fingers over. Or I had counted too slow.
Whatever the case, Tokage sighed. I released her fingers and she dropped their headband. As they ran over the the start box, I touched the cloth with my foot. Dragged it up my body with Tactile TK until it was in range of Mei's hands.
"Twelve..." some members of the crowd started to chant.
"Eleven..." more picked it up.
"Ten..." Hikari joined in.
"Nine..."
The sand around Team 3 exploded. Nine spinning steel coins churned their way out of the ground, rocketing back to Mikoto. The act threw sand into the boys' eyes and made the ground unstable as sand settled back into place. Dark Shadow grabbed the four of them. Shoji's lower four arms morphed into legs and feet for a broader base and extra grip. And Kirishima armored up, expecting an attack.
Which was all the saved him when Clarent slammed into his chest. If he hadn't Hardened, he probably would have been knocked clear of his team. Even reinforced, the blow drove the air from his lungs and he struggled to stay up. Behind the broadsword, Mo-chan's katana and kukri slashed at Todoroki's chest. He swept his right hand towards them, and the two blades were wrapped in large blocks ice. They dropped, Mo-chan not able to carry the extra weight. Ami pointed, and the ice shattered. Not just shattered, the larger chunks fell deliberately at Tokoyami and Shoji, forcing them to defend. And the swords whirled at Todoroki again.
All of it was a distraction. A glob of water, about the size of my fist, flew out of the ocean. It was littered with shards of ice from when Todoroki had first created the frozen island. That kept it the perfect temperature to maximize Ami's control of it. And also gave it extra purchase. It gently hit the back of Todoroki's head and surrounded the knot on one headband. He squatted at it like it was a fly. Until it flew up, pulling the headband off. Seeing the flash of gold and the ball of water, he looked dismayed. I knew his ice wouldn't help him here, Ami would just control it. His left arm lashed up, flames flickering around it. Then he realized what he was doing, and the source and depth of the dismay changed. His hand dropped.
Mikoto grabbed the golden headband and slipped it over Ami's head. They were still stuck together, but had managed to coordinate their movements to avoid any further embarrassment in this last charge. Mikoto couldn't even tighten the knot, so the band slipped down to the bluette's nose.
"Five... Four..." the crowd was all chanting at this point.
"Excuse me, Asui-san?" an unfamiliar voice called out to her.
"Yes, what..." she turned to look. She froze up at who and what she saw. But it was already too late. She finished asked, "... is it?"
Itsuka's enlarged hands were closing around Momo, Ochako, and Kyouka, preventing them from interfering. The orangette looked regretful, but that didn't stop her.
"Please give my team's rider your headband," Hitoshi Shinso ordered politely, "And then jump down to the ground."
Kendo's hands began to shake from sonic pressure. Momo and Ochako released Tsu's legs and pushed her up, hoping to put the currently weightless girl out of their enemy's reach.
But it was not enough.
"Two... One..."
"And that is time!" Kayama-sensei shouted, waving her whip like a checkered flag. She glanced around. But I didn't. I was glaring at the triumphant Team 11 and the dismayed Team 5.
"In first place, with 11360 points, we have Team 9; Mizuno Ami, Misaka Mikoto, Cain Cassandra, and Penryu Modura."
"In second place, with a total of 5100 points, we have Team 1; Midoriya Izuku, Iida Tenya, Shimooka Hikari, and Hatsume Mei."
"In third place, with a total of 1135 points, we have Team 3; Todoroki Shouto, Shoji Mezo, Kirishima Eijirou, and Tokoyami Fumikage."
"And finally, squeaking into fourth place at almost literally the last second, with 555 pts, we have Team 11; Hitoshi Shinso, Kongou Mitsuko, Kendo Itsuka, and Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu."
"Let's hear it for our sixteen advancing finishers!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
"Okay," Midnight continued, "We will be taking an hour break, to get the floor down here ready for the third round, and to give our winners a chance to catch their breath. So top sixteen, change back into your gym uniforms and be ready to come back out here when we call you. Our other participants can put on your uniforms and head into the stands. And for you our audience, you can hit the bathroom, grab some refreshments, or ask one of our student barkers for more information about the finalists."
Mei walked over to Mikoto and Ami, who had managed to dismount with only a little trouble. She took a canister out of her backpack and sprayed them down. The brown goo vanished when the green foam touched it. Mei bowed to them. Ami bowed back. Mikoto just nodded, still looking annoyed.
As we all headed back to change again, I caught a glimpse of Tsu's face as she walked ahead of me. Her head down slightly, her expression was decidedly depressed. I stepped forward. I grabbed her hand. I give it a light tug. Her lips twitched up as we sped up. I led her past the locker rooms. And back out of the arena. I didn't draw her deep into the trees, just around the corner and out of immediate view.
I shifted from grabbing her hand, to holding it. And then I looked her up and down.
"Izuku?" I noticed she had a modest tint of red to her cheeks.
"First," I said earnestly, "I had to tell that you look really good in that swimsuit."
Her soft smile turned into a grin. And the dusting of color became a full blush.
"Just me?" she prompted with a hint of playfulness.
"No," I agreed, "But you are the one I wanted to tell the most."
"Oh? Who else?" she pressed, sultrily. And not just verbally. She leaned in until I could feel lycra again my uncovered chest.
"That'sss not r-really important," I stuttered from her tone and contact, "Because you are the only one I am going to tell."
"Are you sure?" she relented slightly, "You know I wouldn't..."
"Tsu," I cut her off, and began to run my thumb gently across the back of the hand I was holding, "That's not the main reason I brought you out here."
She tilted her head in interest.
"So, you know that tomorrow we are going to be watching the second years compete, instead of normal classes."
"Why is that, Aizawa-sensei?" Iida-san's hand shot up as he asked the question.
"Mostly because the majority of the teachers are helping run the sports festival," our homeroom teacher explained, "There won't be enough of us to hold regular classes. Also, the first year support and business course students who opt not to compete will be working all three days. And you all are supposed to learn by example from watching your seniors."
Then he grumbled quietly, "Though for the second years, that probably the other around with respect to this bunch."
"So yes, no classes for you Thursday or Friday, but you will be expected to be here, in uniform, in the stands, observing. Still, you can expect to probably leave for the day early, unless the final event runs long."
Tsu nodded.
"So I was thinking we could bring street clothes to change into. Go see any early matinee after the festival ends for the day. Then have dinner. Maybe hang out a bit more after that?"
"Like a date?" she prompted carefully.
"No, not like a date," I shook my head, "A date. No 'like' about it."
Tsu closed any remaining distance between us. I could feel not just the fabric of her suit, but also the softness and heat underneath. She tilted her head, and kissed me.
I struggled not to wrap my arms around her and kiss her more deeply. It wasn't the time or place. I responded, but as little as I could. Just enough to let her know the kiss was desired and pleasurable. Though I wasn't sure either of us was very good at it, I liked it. After a few seconds, she drew back. Smiling heavily.
"Is that a yes?" I asked, a hint of nerves and distraction cutting through Gamer's Mind.
"I'll tell you what, kero," Tsu said, in a saucy voice I hadn't heard from her before, "If you win the next round, it's a yes."
She stepped away, saying in her normal voice, "I'm going to change now. Even if you have an hour to rest, you probably should too."
I watched her go for a second. I might have strived to be a gentleman and a good man. But I was still a teenage boy and far from perfect. And it was quite a view.
Before I could move, I was interrupted.
[Quest Revision
The Best Around
Nothing's going to ever keep you down. Finish first in the UA Sports Festival (Freshman Division).
Rewards:
50 pts of Plus Ultra mitigation
Gamer Gift Card (20,000,000¥)
Guild Hall Perk: ?
A date with Tsuyu Asui
Bonus Objectives:
First place in round 1: Bonus Talent ?
First place in round 2: 100,000 XP (party split) - BONUS FAILED
Failure Penalties:
She won't be inspired/encouraged/emboldened.
Fewer offers.
Ambiguous hanging out with Tsuyu Asui, if that]
"Thanks," I groaned. Then I dismissed the window and jogged inside.
Status Changes for Midoriya Izuku:
Max Health: 737 → 739 (Plus Ultra penalty -90)
Attributes:
(E)ndurance: 57 → 58
(Q)uickness: 59 → 60
(W)it: 56 → 57
(L)uck: 30 → 31
Skills:
Dodge (A/Q) – Catch: 40 → 41
Strength Training (S): 20 → 21
Running (Q/E) – Jet Set Run: 35 → 36
Ki Reinforcement (D): 43 → 44
Tactile TK (I/D): 27 → 32
Telekinetic Armor (I/E): 33 → 34
Telekinetic Aura (I) LB: 39 → 40
Kung Fu Fundamentals (Q/E): 23 → 24
Telekinetic Rampart (I/E): 18 → 19
Sense Hostility (I/C) - Hostile Aura: 33 → 34
High Speed Vision (W/Q) 12 → 14
Public Speaking (C/D): 1 → 2
Omake: The Touch
"Hikari, your Quirk controls light," I said after I finished apologizing, "But when you were telling Mikoto about it, you didn't say anything about holograms. Can you create controlled, optical illusions?"
"I can," she admitted, "But it tires me out. And it can't be too complex."
"Okay, so here's my new idea..."
Mei detached two elements from her backpack, as well as Sun Spot Disc from Hikari's back. D-Cube swooped down. Mei threw the trio of components at the drone, and they attached themselves in very specific locations. An instant later, a loud electronic clunking emerged from the drone. Its shape changed, as did its colors. It expanded greatly. In a word, it Transformed.
In the middle of the arena, there now stood a fourteen meter tall robot. Its legs and head were blue and silver. Its chest was red and silver. Still popular after a couple of centuries, I suspect at least half of the other participants recognized him. The audience, too.
The bot raised it heavy black gun. It pulled the trigger. A laser blazed forth, barely missing Todoroki-san's head. He flinched from the heat. And the beam burned a hole a third of the way through the meter thick cement of the outer will.
"What was that, Mei?" Iida-kun shouted in dismay.
"Oh crap," the pinkette answered stiffly, "The BBR protocol was activated by accident. This could be unfortunate."
"Annihilation is the right of all sentient beings!" the robot roared in a familiar voice. It stepped forward and the arena shook. Then it pointed at Tsu's team, and fired again. They dove out of the way. But in the process, Tsu hit the sand.
"Down!" Midnight shouted, pointing her whip handle at them.
"Aren't you going to put a stop to this?" Shoda-san yelled at her.
"Why?" she shrugged.
"I shall stand," the mecha proclaimed, "You shall fall!"
Then he crouched down in front of Kendo-san's team, face to giant face with their rider, Kongou-san.
"Hey sexy mama, wanna kill all Humans?" he asked her.
"What are you making me make him say?" I hissed at Hikari. Who was sweating lightly, even as she fired another laser that reflected off Sun Spot Disc on the bottom of D-Cube, and appeared to have originated from the giant gun. I couldn't blame her growing exhaustion. I was also draining my Energy quickly from providing the robot's voice and sound effects with my new purchased TK Speaker Skill, as well as crushing the sand and shaking the area around it with my TK when he walked.
"It fits with the BBR protocol," she said, though I didn't know what that meant, "And besides, I want to see how she reacts."
Iida-kun just shook his head as he scooped up another headband from a team that was Downed dodging our 'rampaging' robot.
"Okay," Kayama-sensei seemed a bit overwhelmed by the carnage around the arena. Bloodless carnage, no-one was even hurt. But they were exhausted from running and fear. The water level was lower, steamed off by the lasers. There was also broad swathes of glassed sand and a few dozen divots in the outer wall. Everyone had looked shocked when the robot vanished.
"I guess Team 1 wins with all the points," Midnight announced "Give me a few minutes, so we can figure out who gets second through fourth."
More than a few eyes turned to glare at us.
Author's Note: No, they couldn't have done it for real. Hikari isn't strong enough to produce realistic holograms at that size, yet. Izuku doesn't have the TK oomph to reliably produce the impact of Optimus's steps, yet. He also doesn't have the Talent that grants TK Speaker as a Skill (and already said he is trying to save his Talent and Skill points for All Might's operation). Finally, both of them would not have been able to keep it up for nine or so minutes, even if they could make it work. Maybe if they team up again in second year...
