Where's the infirmary?
How long will it take to get there?
Actually, where is the nearest bed?
Is the bed plush?
The bed must be plush.
With fluffy comforters, feather pillows, and fresh-scented bedsheets.
The best that money can buy.
Nice and warm and no alarm clocks around.
I made it through the obstacle course, but unfortunately, I had to use my quirk numerous times. On top of that, I absorbed a preposterous number of quirks. This was not part of my plan. But at the very least, I hope Shigaraki was watching the events unfold from his computer screen.
I'm enduring the consequences now. And I'm coping well. In fact, I'm coping so well, that the grassy area of the stadium looks like a luxurious bed. I have to pinch myself to focus. Really, Selene? You've lost it to the point where the prickly grass appears as a soft bed? Just go get yourself some medical treatment before you make a fool out of yourself.
I proceed to exit the stadium, but Midnight-sensei's announcement of the next event forces me to delay. It's a cavalry battle, and I don't like the sound of it. And as Sensei explains how the teams will be formed, my mood sours further. Three people pretend to be a horse and one sits upon the shoulders of all three? And there's no exception for disabled people like me? Especially those that walk with a cane! Things certainly won't be fair if the disabled have to perform such functions! U.A.'s school system definitely requires some work.
The world requires some work.
My poor joints!
As if my joints are in agreement, I sit down on said prickly grass and subtly massage my knees. The aches flare like fire, and the lacerations sting like needles. I would not be surprised if the blood had seeped through the bandages and stained my uniform by now. Thankfully, it did not. Had I been in more private quarters, I would have already disinfected the wounds and activated my healing quirk; then the only thing I would have to bear were the arthritic flares. Regardless, it takes everything in me to not collapse. Sensei continues by detailing how there's a point system involved. I pay half attention until the word "ten million points" captures all my attention.
"Our first place participant is worth ten million points!" she declares. Everyone looks at Midoriya-san like he's the trophy. He certainly is. I can only imagine his expression: eyes bulging from his sockets and all color leeched from his face as though he saw a ghost. "The higher-ranked students are the ones to aim for! This survival game is a chance for a comeback. It's ANYONE'S game!"
The atmosphere changes, and it's so intense, I could cut it with a knife. It's only when Sensei provides more detail of the cavalry battle do the students look away from him. The battle will last for 15 minutes and each team member will wear a Velcro headband above the neck which has the point value written on it. To win, those headbands must be snatched from the opposing teams. The more headbands, the more points earned. But that's easier said than done when having more headbands makes one an even greater target.
"All right! You now have 15 minutes until then. Start negotiating your team-ups!"
Bloody saints of hell! No break whatsoever? At least give us - me - some time to recover!
But I cannot appear weak in front of thousands of strangers and TV. Since the class entered the stadium, I heard whispers about a girl with a cane. They ranged from disgust and suspicion to awe and intrigue. Even now, I hear the whispers. This time, however, there are more whispers of pleasant surprise. And I intend to keep it that way.
Biting back the pain, I stand up and stroll to the stadium wall. With my back against the wall, feet forward and crossed at the ankles, one gloved hand resting on the head of my cane and the other twiddling with my choker, and head cocked to the side, I display a facade of leisure and boredom. What no one can understand is that from this angle, I have a very good vantage of the scene before me.
The qualifiers move left and right, forming groups, breaking groups, though I doubt all of this is for the purpose of making temporary alliances. They're anxious. Nervous. And it is natural for humans to congregate in groups when they are anxious. There is the occasional straggler. Midoriya-san seems to have the most difficulty finding a team who will take him in, and understandably so. But I'm not going to approach him. If he wants me to join, he will have to come to me first.
Bakugou-san is being swarmed by many, asking to team up with him. But he's careful with his selections. He's chosen Ashido-san, Kirishima-san, and Sero-san. I can imagine what this set-up will look like: Bakugou-san will be the rider and the other three will constitute the horse. Though all four of their quirks have offensive and defensive properties, Bakugou-san will behave as the primary attacker, Kirishima-san as the shield, and Ashido-san and Sero-san as armor.
Midoriya-san's luck finally seems to have shined, as Uraraka-san and an eccentric but clever pink-haired girl team up with him. Ah! That's the girl who came prepared with a variety of inventions. Her stunts were impressive. From the way their heads look all around, I assume they are looking for a fourth member. It does not take them long. Iida-san rejects their offer, so they invite Tokoyami-san. It is evident how their cavalry structure will look like: Midoriya-san will obviously be the rider, and the other three will serve as defense. Only defense. After all, he and his teammates are guaranteed to pass for the next event if they can keep hold of the ten million point headband for the duration of the battle.
Todoroki-kun is efficient, however. His teammates consist of Iida-san, Kaminari-san, and Yaoyorozou-san. I expected no less. And given how they stare at Midoriya-san, it is obvious what their strategy will be: offense with secondary defense. They only have one goal in sight: the ten million points.
They're not the only ones. Bakugou-san's group is also looking at Midoriya-san and so are the other formed teams.
As though a hungry pack of wolves found a stray lamb lost in the forest. They are ferocious. Ravenous. And they will not stop at anything to feast.
I glance at the enormous timer at the podium where Midnight-sensei was standing. Five minutes left ...
Pity. I'll have to stop being a cat now and approach someone myself.
But I don't have to. Because a familiar sleep-deprived indigo-haired boy approaches me instead. "Join my team," he offers.
"Why?" I raise an eyebrow.
"For starters, we're running out of time, and you need to find a group quickly or else you'll be disqualified. Second, you seem useful. I watched you during the obstacle course. With your cane, you're the type everyone underestimates but shouldn't. I want to take advantage of that," he explains coolly.
"Don't think that I'm going to put my cane aside. I cannot walk without it," I caution.
"That's exactly what I want from you. As I said, the cane makes others think you're weak. And we're going to manipulate them with that false notion."
I smirk. "You're a blunt but sly one. It's good to know what your intentions are, however. You don't care much for niceties, and neither do I. Alright, I accept. Lead the way."
He turns, and I follow him to where the rest of his team is.
He's the first person at this school to not have pitied me at first glance.
Perhaps that's why I accepted without asking him more questions.
Unfortunately, to my expectations and chagrin, I am to create part of the horse. I had especially substituted my glasses with contacts for this day, and I hated the feeling that came with wearing and removing the contacts. Tolerating the irritation, I remove my contacts to clean any debris before putting them back on. With a few adjustments here and there, the four of us find a stable position. There is still a minute to go until the battle starts.
"Ready, guys?" the boy asks.
The other two students making up the horse shout in excitement, and I hum my approval.
But all of a sudden everything turns hazy.
My vision appears dull and spotted with black dots.
I can't talk.
I can't move.
I'm frozen.
All I can do is think.
What is happening to me?
Note: I have copied some dialogue from two of the English-translated versions of the manga. The links to the chapters are here: .online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-26/
.online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-27/
And:
manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-26/
manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-27/