There are so many smells wafting through the air. Concession stands selling hotdogs and other meats alongside vendors that mix caramel or churn cotton candy. It's enough to make any person salivate. Through all those different promising tastes however, the scent that the ghoul amongst the crowd finds most alluring, is that of a mouse scurrying about. The rodent feasts on all the unfinished snacks people leave behind, nibbling on the litter. The ghoul runs his tongue along his lips, adopting that idea.
Where nobody will bother looking, Akatani takes a detour into an alley. The overstuffed trash cans and overloaded dumpster had drawn the mouse away from the crowded festival. Out of sight and in the dark during the day. Akatani stops for a quick bite. Literally. He sinks his teeth into the mouse, fangs digging into flesh so easily. The blood doesn't just seep from the screeching rat; it gushes out in a rush like a bursted balloon. As though it too couldn't wait to get in the ghoul's mouth.
The taste is bitter. Not sweet like a human. Akatani almost spits it out. Yet, it's better than nothing. He doesn't know if he could withstand the festival if he doesn't take this precaution. When a little girl had fallen and scraped her knee, he could barely hold himself back. A small snack to hold him over to his next meal suddenly seemed like a good idea to him. If a mouse is the best he could find on such short notice, then it'll have to do.
Once he's finished, he wipes the blood smeared across his mouth with his sleeve. It'd be easier to explain a red stain there instead of on his face if anybody asks. Though he doubts anybody will if even Himiko doesn't once he meets up with her. The blonde latches onto that same arm, wrapping both of her own around it and squeezing.
The seats Todoroki had gotten them are pretty good. They're just shy of the front row, but that's good considering the placement of the bleachers and not having to worry about heads getting in the way. Himiko snuggles against Akatani's side, pushing his arm up and over her shoulders to wrap around. When the boy looks down at her with surprise, she feigns innocence with a smile that doesn't flash her fangs.
Akatani blushes and looks away, but doesn't retract his arm. He's aware of how much they must look like a couple being so close together. Part of him wonders if they actually are. Having no experience with girls, he's not sure what their relationship status currently is. It's not like he can muster up the courage to ask her either. The two of them share moments where he thinks that she likes him just as much as he likes her, but he's too afraid to ruin their friendship. And considering Himiko's personality, he figures that's just the way she acts around everybody.
He's grateful that the Sports Festival is beginning its first event, since that ought to take his mind off it. Classes are being called out onto the massive field where a wheel will decide how they'll compete. Akatani searches the crowd of hero hopefuls and other U.A students, looking for Todoroki or Shinso. Instead, he spots someone from his childhood.
Absentmindedly, Akatani pulls Himiko a little closer to him, his hand gripping her shoulder a bit harder than it should. The small smile on his face is partially forced, but he can't help but admit to admiring his old friend. Of course Kacchan would get into U.A. The boy had been gifted with a quirk suited for heroics and his tenacity makes him as equally perfect of a hero candidate. As a matter of fact, when the boy is called to the podium for having the highest score in U.A's practical exam, he declares that he's going to win the festival with sincere determination.
Himiko notices Akatani's internal crisis from beside him. She takes his free hand in hers, hoping to pull him back to reality. Feeling her soft touch, he does get drawn to the girl. His eyes gaze into hers, green staring into yellow. The compromised emotional state each of them share are locked away and hidden behind those lens. For a moment, they allow one another to catch a glimpse of that vehemence.
Akatani swallows, his mouth dry. Himiko's eyes are so similar to a feline's that they can sometimes seem predatory. They remind him of his own from time to time. He forces himself to look away, returning his attention to the Sports Festival. He's content enough with her soft hand in his rough one. So long as she holds him in place here, he doesn't have to feel like being out in public is a risk. Or so he hopes.
When he hears Aizawa's voice through the stadium speakers, that helps to sober him up as well. He wasn't expecting Eraserhead to be apart of this year's commentary with Present Mic. He partially wonders if Eri is in the booth with them overlooking the show as well. He hopes so. He hopes she gets to enjoy the games and the performances from such a good view. Thinking of her and the underground hero makes him squeeze Himiko's hand. He has to stay grounded for all of their sakes. Losing control and letting himself loose here of all places wouldn't do any good.
He sighs, slouching in his seat. Knowing how long the Sports Festival can be, he may as well get comfortable. Though the first tournament does go by rather quickly. That could have to do with the fact that it was a foot race through an obstacle course. The participants navigated through a terrain of massive robots and over a canyon before coming to a minefield. That's where Todoroki had a faceoff with Kacchan, each of them using their quirks to cross the grounds faster than the rest of the racers. It was quite the spectacle. The crowd cheered and awed over the close finish.
Todoroki had taken first place and Kacchan second, wowing even Akatani. He hadn't expected his childhood friend to be beaten. Kacchan never lost as far as Akatani was concerned. He could hardly believe his eyes that he had to rub them and blink back a few tears. Maybe times had changed. Maybe Kacchan isn't the same kid that he remembers. Afterall, even he had changed over the years they split apart. When an explosion goes off down in the arena below, Akatani takes it back. Kacchan still has a short fuse to go along with his dynamite detonating quirk.
Though coming in first place, in the end, worked against Todoroki. For the second challenge, remaining players were given headbands with points based on their race placements. The less time it took to cross the finish line, the higher the number. When it's announced that to win the second round, participants must capture other people's headbands to earn the most points, Todoroki practically has a target over his head. Akatani winces, sympathizing with his friend. He doesn't envy being in that predicament, but does partially wish he could help somehow.
The second round is a cavalry battle where players must partner with eachother to make groups of four. So at least Todoroki isn't alone. Akatani is relieved to see Shinso joining the team at the very least. Some pink haired girl with a bunch of gadgets also willingly comes over to offer her services. Akatani had been worried that Todoroki would have trouble convincing people to work with him, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The game ought to go on to be an interesting one.
All the teams rush Todoroki at once. Todoroki throws up an ice wall to shield he and his team long enough to fly away with a jetpack, shocking the audience. What doesn't surprise Akatani, however, is Kacchan finding a way to pursue the dual quirked boy even when airborne. Kacchan uses his explosions to fly after Todoroki, creating an aerial battle. Akatani leans forward, engrossed by the competition he's witnessing.
Shinso says something that gets Kacchan to respond. Then, the insomniac's quirk takes effect. Kacchan freezes up and falls out of the sky like a plane that's run out of fuel. Akatani momentarily worries that his childhood friend is going to lose, or get hurt, but relaxes when the blonde's team catches him. It was a close call. Close enough that Kacchan doesn't try it again.
Unfortunately for Todoroki, his jetpack actually does run out of fuel. He and his team are forced to land. As soon as he does, all teams converge on him all over again. He tries freezing them all in place, but that only delays them briefly. He's forced to rely on the teammate he had join him at the last minute. The tall blue haired boy with glasses who has engines in his calves reveals a trump card; those leg thrusters rev to their maximum potential before launching the team like a rocket. They cross the field to the opposite side in a matter of seconds, buying them some more time.
It seems Todoroki's strategy is stalling for as long as he can. Though Akatani isn't sure for how much longer his friend will be able to keep that up. There are just too many opponents surrounding him with too long of a countdown to the end. Especially since Kacchan is one of those competitors, blasting towards him at max speed. The blonde reaches for the headband, about to snatch it away. And then, Todoroki's left side ignites with flames.
Kacchan instinctively retracts his hand, avoiding the fire. And then redirects himself with his explosions to prevent crashing into the ground. Todoroki's flames recede just as quickly as they had appeared. The brief exchange has both of them shaken and Akatani even more invested in their match. He's not sure who to root for or what to expect from either of them anymore.
Just at the height of the competition, the timer hits zero and the buzzer sounds, indicating that the round is over. Akatani lets out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. A much needed intermission begins, allowing Akatani to excuse himself.
He goes to the bathroom to splash some water on his face, to regain control of his senses, to do something to keep himself under control. It's becoming increasingly difficult to regulate his instincts. So when he catches a whiff of blood, he nearly loses himself. His nostrils flare and he staggers back from the rush of adrenaline that hits him like a wave. Akatani's hand catches the doorframe, crushing the cement as he squeezes it like a stress ball.
Akatani's vision blurs despite the enhancement that his Kakugan grants him. He covers his exposed eye with the hand that had been clutching the doorway. When he lifts his head, he sees the source of blood exposure. A familiar skeletally skinny blonde coughs into a napkin. It takes a moment for Akatani to remember. The man was a customer at Anteiku. He must be sick. The boy swallows the saliva that's been accumulating in his mouth.
The unhealthy blonde drops his napkin into the trash disposal before walking towards the exit. Akatani nearly trips over himself as he tries to get out of the way. The man is polite as he passes by, "Excuse me, young man.", unaware of the ghoul's desire to feed. Akatani wants to respond, to warn the man, but he's too afraid of what'll happen if he opens his mouth. He doubts such a sick person would be able to defend themself if he loses control.
"All–", a much younger blonde suddenly comes along to tend to the ill elder. The healthier human pauses when he spots Akatani, voice catching in his throat. "Are you alright?", he pays the boy no mind and returns his attention to the man who had been coughing up blood. Akatani internally wonders if they're related. Perhaps the older blonde is the younger one's father or grandfather, he figures.
The fraile father figure places a comforting hand on the fellow blonde's much sturdier shoulder, "I'm fine, Young Togata."
But Togata doesn't seem all that convinced. He reluctantly turns around to head back up to the bleachers, "If you say so.."
Akatani backs into the bathroom, watching them leave. He's extremely aware of his heartbeat, and all the blood pumping through his veins to make it pound so hard. That was too close of a call. More than he knows. He nearly vomits from the amount of anxiety, but only coughs up some spittle. He's disgusted with himself. Disgusted that he nearly devoured such a defenseless man. Disgusted that he dug into the trash disposal to recover the blood stained napkin.