I am back, kind of. I'm still working on the other chapters and will post the rest when their done. But, I figured since a lot of people are stuck inside due to the corona virus, might was well post a new chapter for people to read. A few quick things to note, I work at a meat processing plant so I still have to go to work meaning chapters will still take awhile to get done. Another thing I want to bring up is a good friend of mine who goes by BlueEmber_ online has a twitch stream where he plays various different games which I pop into whenever I can. I'm not on there super often since I work second shift, so around the time he's normally streaming, but I pop in when I can. If you get the chance feel free to check him out, if I'm on it'll likely be on Fridays and I'll usually be referred to by my name Matt or my screen name zmanxv(zman for short) depending on who else he's with. With that out of the way let's reply to some reviews.
GrimmjowTaichou: Cool idea for a fight, sad to say it won't happen with the way I have this story set up, but if it did happen, Izuku, with Eri on his back allowing him to use One for All at 100%, would destroy Cinder even at full awakened Fall Maiden powers. There's no indication that Maiden powers improve the strength of one's aura and we've never seen anyone, even empowered by Jaune, tank anything close to the level of a full powered smash. Izuku would only need one hit while Cinder would have trouble hitting Izuku with how fast he'd be zipping around. The grimm dragon would also probably get one shot. Also, yes it would be cool if Horikoshi should more heroes from around the world. Also Blake and Sun are in Italy.
Warthogs309: Yes, yes it is.
Meepmorp: Glad you like the story so far.
With that out of the way let's get on with the chapter.
Sports Festival Arc
Chapter 31: Off to the Races
After two weeks, the day of the sports festival arrived. Tens of Thousands flocked to UA from across the country to witness the first, second, and third year students of UA High compete against one another. Many pro heroes were also there to act as extra security. Making their way through the concession stands towards the first year stadium was Inko and Eri, the latter of whom was tightly clutching the former's hand nervously.
"T-t-there's so many people." Eri noted nervously.
"Well the UA Sports Festival is one of, if not the biggest events in the country. It always attracts a lot of people." Inko explained. "Though normally more people are gathered around the third years since the competition is more fierce and the stakes are higher for the students. Though I'm guessing with what's happened recently, all eyes are on the first years for this year."
"I hope Izu and Big Sis do well." Eri expressed.
"I'm sure they'll do great." Inko assured her. "But are you sure you're okay with being in such a big crowd? I know All Might got us those tickets, but we still could have watched from home."
"But I wanted to see them in person. It wouldn't be the same if we saw it on TV." Eri expressed.
Inko smiled.
"No I guess it wouldn't. Besides, it'd be a waste not to use these free tickets." Inko noted.
As they continued along their way, out of the corner of her eye, Eri spotted a stand selling candied apples. Already being a fan of apples, she knew when Izuku had mentioned them having candied apples and them being even sweeter than normal apples that she'd have to have one. Unfortunately this lapse in focus caused her to trip and begin to fall, only for a mysterious force to suddenly catch her. Before she could realize what had happened, she was back on her feet. Inko, who had turned around to see what had happened, was also confused since she felt Eri's grip on her hand loosen.
"That was close one." A woman spoke in broken Japanese.
Inko and Eri looked to see the source of the voice. It was a beautiful young woman in her early twenties with pale skin. She had white hair done up into a large braided pony that was slightly to the right and went down to her waist. Her eyes were a piercing pale blue with a scare running vertically down her left eye. She wore a pale blue and white v-neck top, above which was a vivid blue shrug with a raised collar, puffy sleeves and a snowflake like emblem on the left sleeve. On her arms were a pair of long dark blue gloves. She also wore a long white tulle skirt that splits in the front. Over her skirt was a light blue, high-waisted article that matches the skirt's cut. Around her waist were three white belts with a medium-sized pouch attached to the lowest belt. She wore long, pale blue wedge-heel boots with white frills coming out from the top at the front. She also wore a pair of ruby earrings and an icicle tiara with a diamond ruby in it. She had a rapier at her side.
"He hair full… where clep you… … be careful… where you step. Sorry my Japanese isn't very good." The woman stated.
"That's quite alright thank you for helping my daughter." Inko expressed with a bow.
Eri didn't say anything, staring at the young woman.
"Come on Eri say thank you." Inko told her.
"Oh… thank you pretty lady." Eri expressed with a bow.
"Your welcome." The young woman replied before turning her attention to the candied apple stand. "You two want?"
She pointed to the stand.
"Oh… you want to buy us candied apples?" Inko questioned.
Eri's eyes sparkled at the prospect. The young woman nodded.
"Oh not I wouldn't want to impose on you. I'll pay for mine and my daughter's." Inko replied.
The young woman shook her head no.
"I insist… Let me treat you, please." She stated.
She walked up to the stand and talked to the man running it. Inko and Eri watched as she pointed to the candied apples and held up three fingers. The man got them readied and she handed him the money for it before walking back to them, three candied apples in hand. She handed one to Eri. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of it.
"It took like you fronted one… … It looked like you wanted one… before I saw… you fall." She stated as Eri took hold of it.
She bit into it.
"MMMMMmmmmm! So sweet." She squealed as a heavenly flavor greeted her taste buds.
"What do we say Eri?" Inko scolded lightly.
"Thank you thankyouthankyouthankyou thank you sooo much!" Eri exclaimed.
Both Inko and the young woman smiled at the girl's reaction. The young woman then handed Inko the other one.
"Thank you." Inko expressed. "Are you sure you don't want me to pay you back?"
The young woman shook her head.
"No need." She replied.
"Well thank you Miss uh… sorry I never got your name. I'm Inko by the way and this is my daughter Eri." Inko stated.
"Weiss Schnee," The now named Weiss returned.
"Wait… Weiss Schnee… tell me, you wouldn't happen to know a Ruby Rose would you?" Inko inquired.
Weiss' eyes widened in surprise.
"You know Ruby!?" She exclaimed in English.
Inko nodded, picking up on what she was saying despite not knowing English. Eri just tilted her head in confusion having heard something, something, Ruby.
"She's been staying with me since she arrived about a year ago." Inko explained.
"Das ist gut." Weiss expressed. "When I heard about the attack… I was worried but… happy… to finally find some of my friends."
"I take it that's why you're here now?" Inko asked.
Weiss nodded.
"Then why don't you sit with us. Things are gonna start soon so you won't be able to meet Ruby, Jaune, and the others yet anyways. You're alright with that right Eri?" Inko expressed.
"Mhmm…" Eri expressed with a vigorous nodded.
"Very well… I'd like to hit to cole the… I'd like to get to know the person who's been looking out for Ruby. Thank you for that… by the way." Weiss expressed.
"Think nothing of it. Just doing the right thing." Inko replied. "Anyways let's get going we don't want to miss the opening ceremony."
With a nod, Weiss followed Inko and Eri towards the stadium.
Meanwhile in the Class 1-A prep room…
"Maaaaaan… I wish I could wear my costume." Mina noted.
"It wouldn't exactly be fair if we did." Mashirao pointed out as he did some basic stretches.
"Not like it's gonna change anything. We'll crush the competition costumes or not." Nora declared.
"It's best not to be overconfident Nora, we still don't know what the first round will be." Ren pointed out.
"For all we know it could be something that puts us at a huge disadvantage." Jaune noted somewhat nervously.
"Whatever it may be, we shall have to deal with it." Fumikage replied.
"Right," Mezo added.
Suddenly the door opened and in stepped Ruby.
"Best be ready everyone, we're moving out soon!" She announced.
Izuku took a deep breath to calm his nerves from the announcement.
"Midoriya." He heard a familiar voice call his name.
He turned to see Shoto walking up to him.
"Todoroki… what is it?" He questioned.
Everyone in the room turned to the two of them.
"Objectively speaking I'm stronger than." Shoto stated.
"I-I guess…" Izuku replied in confusion.
"Yet All Might has his eyes on you, doesn't he?" Shoto knowingly asked.
Izuku gasped lightly while Itsuka and Ruby's eyes narrowed in on Shoto.
"I'm not going to pry about that. But know this, I will beat you." He declared.
Izuku was shocked by Shoto's sudden declaration. Said boy stared him down with cold eyes. Eijiro got up from his seat as did Itsuka.
"Hey man, why you picking a fight all of a sudden now?" Eijiro question, placing a hand on Shoto's shoulder.
"Kirishima's right, we're about to start soon. Now isn't the time for this." Itsuka added.
"What does it matter, we're not here to play at being friends." Shoto expressed coldly as he knocked Eijiro's hand away.
Itsuka was shocked by his cold declaration. A slightly pained expression found its way onto her face. She could only watch as he turned around and walked towards the exit.
"Todoroki…" Izuku began.
Shoto turned to look at the green haired boy.
"I can't say I know what you're thinking when you said you'll beat me. Your right when you say you're better than me. I believe you're more capable than most people. That's the truth of the matter." Izuku continued.
"Hey Midoriya maybe… don't talk yourself down so much 'kay." Eijiro expressed.
"However, everyone one is also aiming for the top. Not just those in our class but in 1-B, and the other courses as well. I won't fall behind. I'll give it my all too." Izuku declared.
Shoto stared at Izuku.
"I see." He replied.
Katsuki glared with annoyance at both of them.
A little later, in the stadium…
A scream lit up with Present Mic appearing on it from.
"HEEEEEY EVERYBODY IN THE STANDS!" He shouted.
The audience in the stand began to cheer in a great uproar.
"HEY MEDIA!" He shouted.
The audience continued to cheer.
"AND HEY TO EVERYONE AT HOME! ARE YOU READY!" He shouted.
The roar of the crowd grew louder. In their sets Eri covered her ears and leaned into Inko for security from it all.
"Cause it's time for the Annual U.-A. S-P-O-R-T-S F-E-S-T-I-V-A-L!" He shouted. "I am your always great host Present Mic and joining me in the booth are Class 1-A's Homeroom Teacher Eraserhead. The Hero Transfer Course Teacher Black Crow, and Splinter, you wouldn't know him for anything."
"How did you get me to do this?" The still bandaged Shota questioned.
"How did he get ME to do this, again?" Qrow questioned.
"Da real question is, hows he gets me to do dis?" Splinter questioned.
"Your my friend, you were requested by the fans, and your comic relief." Mic explained, pointing to each of them.
"What fans?!" Qrow questioned.
"I doughts der was onlys one review askin' for him." Splinter noted.
"Seriously what are you two even talking about?!" Qrow exclaimed.
"Moving on! We got a grand bout to get to where fledgling heroes duke it out once a year!" Mic continued. "First to enter, the class that toughed out a villain attack through sheer force of will. The first years of the hero course, CLASS A!"
As he shouted this Class 1-A entered the field to a roaring crowd.
"G-g-g-g-geez… kind of nerve racking." Izuku expressed.
"So glad I got over my fear of crowds." Ruby muttered.
"Up next the equally talented but less known, hero course, CLASS B!" Mic shouted.
Class 1-B with Mei and Flash taking the lead.
"Up next, general studies, classes C, D, and E! Support course, classes F, G, and H, are following them up! And last but certainly not least, business course, classes I, J, and K!" Mic shouted. "Ladies and Gentlemen, all of UA's first years are here!"
The crowd's roar grew in intensity as all the students made their way to the center of the arena. On a raised platform, Midnight stood before them. She was the chief umpire for the first years' sports festival, much to the delight of many of the men in the audience and the annoyance of Inko.
"It's time for the player pledge!" She announced. "Representing the students is Mei Amai from Class B!"
"Wait her?" Izuku questioned.
"That's right 1-A. Our Amai…" The boy with blond hair began only for Mei to knock him out as she walked up front.
"She did finish first in the entrance exam." Sero pointed out.
"The hero course entrance exam you mean." A girl from the general studies course noted with annoyance.
"Geez… someone sounds upset." Ruby noted.
"Well they are basically here to make us look good. I'd be annoyed because of that too." Jaune pointed out.
"But they can't forget this is a good chance for them to move up into the hero course if they want to." Nora added.
"I know right." Ruby replied before turning to the general studies classes. "Good luck out there General Ed guys I hope you've been practicing hard if you want to get into the hero course cause we're gonna give it our all!"
The girl who had spoken up along with many of the other general ed students were too shocked to even speak from what Ruby had said. However a short girl with short black hair, four eyes, six arms and pale purple skin smiled at Ruby declaration while an average height girl with reddish-orange hair tied in a ponytail gave her a thumbs up and a bright smile.
"You bet we will 1-A girl!" She replied.
During this, Mei had made her way up onto the platform and stood in front of the microphone.
"While I initially had a terse speech prepared for this, upon hearing the little exchange between some of my fellow classmates, I felt sharing a little something about myself would be more appropriate." She expressed. "I may be the strongest as far as scoring in the heroic course entrance exam is concerned, I did not start out that way. While I will not have my future adversaries be privy to the nature of my quirk. Know that it was once very weak. I spent a great deal of time training it up to the point it is today. Yes, I had help along the way from many people. Yet it was my drive to push my quirk to new heights that granted me the honor of standing here today. I believe anyone can win today. So in the spirit of that, let us all endeavour to do our very best and may the best student win."
There was a long moment of silence before the entire arena erupted into a roar of cheers and claps. Satisfied with what she had said, she stepped down from the podium and walked back to where her class was. As she did her eyes met the girl with purple skin from the general studies course who flashed her a challenging grin.
"Truly an awe inspiring speech. Now, let us get on with the first game." Midnight stated.
A fancy looking screen popped up behind Midnight which showed a shifting unreadable title card.
"This is what you'd call a qualifier where most of the competitors go home crying. And this year's is…" Midnight began.
The title card shifted into place revealing the word 'Obstacle Race'.
"This." Midnight finished.
"An Obstacle course race." Izuku muttered.
"I wonder what they're gonna throw at us?" Ruby pondered.
"A four kilometer race around the stadium between every member of all 11 classes!" Midnight declared.
A sinister sadistic grin spread across her face.
"Our school preaches freedom in all things. Anything goes as long as you stay on the course." She expressed. "Now take your place everyone!"
She gestured to an opening gate which lead to a narrow passage. Tension began to build as everyone took their position. Many students vied for a position just a bit closer to the entrance without crossing the startline. The lights blinked out signalling the count down to the start. Then the last one blinked out.
"START!" Midnight shouted.
Immediately everyone rushed forward. As he neared the entrance of the passageway, Izuku charged up [One for All] in his legs up to his new safe limit of 5%. He leapt over the crowd and hopped from wall to wall across the passage way over everyone else.
"Woah looks like Midoriya's not letting the first filter slow him down at all in fact he's taking the lead." Mic noted.
"It's not just him, looks like a lot of other students saw through this as well and not just from the hero course." Qrow added.
"Hey I thought you didn't want to be here?" Mic questioned.
"I didn't. But since I'm here, might as well help with the commentary." Qrow replied.
"Heys nows, looks like dings about to gets frosty down dere." Splinter brought up.
True to his word, a great deal of ice raced throughout the passageway and even outside of it freezing many in place. Running out of the pack was Shoto who continued to freeze the ground behind him as he ran forward.
"Sorry but I plan on taking first." He declared.
Suddenly a burst of rose petals rushed past him. Materizing in front of him was Ruby who continued to race on ahead of him.
"I won't be so confident Shoto, you forget speed is my game." Ruby declared.
Shoto's eyes narrowed in on her.
Izuku had landed not far behind Shoto and was using his momentum to slide along the ice.
"Can't let this slow me down." he muttered to himself.
"Don't forget about me you bastards!" Katsuki shouted as he used explosions to propel himself forward.
"You're naive to think that such a thing could stop us Todoroki!" Momo declared as she created an extra long pole to fly forward.
Itsuka came skating along the ice at an impressive speed despite only having normal shoes on, though it wasn't too fast.
"You seem to forget who you're dealing with!" She shouted.
In order to increase her speed, she enlarged her hands and dragged them back like she was swimming to generate a large gust of wind to push her forward. She then shrunk them to prevent any drag when she brought them forward. She repeated this pattern to continue to fly ahead of the crowd. Izuku's right, this really does work well on slick surfaces. Too bad he can't be as creative when it comes to the use of his own quirk. Might need to work on that after the sports festival. Many more students had also avoided Shoto's Ice blast and were advancing forward at a fairly slow pace. One to quickly break free of the pack was Minoru. He threw his balls ahead of him and bounced on them to propel himself forward. He leapt past Momo, Itsuka, Katsuki and Izuku in quick succession.
"Looks like your little stunt failed to work on me Todoroki!" He shouted as he flew past him.
Shoto clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Here I come Ruby. I'll be taking the lead now!" Minoru shouted as he flew towards the girl.
Ruby paid him no mind.
"This is revenge for leaving me out to dry with that Flash guy. Take this, my special attack, GRA…" He began.
Suddenly Ruby burst forward and split apart into three different clusters of rose petals. As a result a robot that had been charging at Ruby, rammed right into Minoru. The graped head boy was sent flying back. Everyone came to a stop as an army of robots stood before them.
"It's the faux villains from the third test of the Entrance Exam?" Izuku exclaimed.
Every robot from little one pointers to the colossal zero pointers stood before them.
"The students are onto the first obstacle, ROBO INFERNO!" Mic shouted.
"Though it looks like it didn't slow one student down." Aizawa pointed out.
"Right you are!" Mic replied.
Already ahead of all the robots was Ruby, having burst past all the robots, running on ahead of everyone.
"A smart move, no point in wasting time on dealing with an army you don't have to fight." Qrow stated.
Ruby smiled at the praise from her uncle. That should buy me a good amount of time. I don't want to use my quirk too much without knowing what'll come next, so best take it easy and use this time to conserve my stamina. Suddenly she heard a loud crash. She looked behind her to see Shoto hot on her heels and a wave of dust and ice flying up behind him.
"So much for taking it easy." She muttered before picking up her pace.
I have to win, or make a big enough splash to stand out. Jaune, Ren, Nora, and I need to be a beacon. So our friends from Remnant can know that we are here. With this in mind she continued on forward.
Ruby: Yay Weiss is here! I can't wait to meet her in the story proper!
Izuku: Well your have to till at least the cavalry battle is over.
Ruby: *Sighs* Yeah I know.
Izuku: Don't worry it, hopefully, should be in the coming chapters, whenever they get done.
Ruby: True, true, anyways we need to get on with preview.
Izuku: Next time we run through the whole first event for the sports festival.
Ruby: Get ready for some new twists and new takes on the obstacle course.
Izuku: Next time Chapter 32: A Race Well Run. See you then.
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