After a very successful performance, the students of class 1-A were strolling the grounds of U.A. to enjoy the other attractions the school's festival had to offer.
"What's that over there?"
Ochaco pointed towards a large crowd gathered around one particular stand. They came closer to see just what was captivating such attention, and found rows of seats arranged in front of a stage, which was decorated with an elaborate set. Two podiums on opposite sides, and in the middle hung a sign with a striking and colourful lettering. It appeared someone had crossed out an amended part of the text with a marker.
Class 1-B Neito Monoma's Miraculously Majestic Mayhem
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? If it isn't class 1-Awful." Monoma said from the stage. He was wearing his hero outfit. "Did you come to see how a real Hero class does the culture festival? Your little concert was cute, but it's nothing compared to what we're doing."
"About that, what exactly is it that you're doing?"
"It's the Monoma's Miraculously Majestic Mayhem. The ultimate game of games. Come forth if you dare. Are you ready to challenge us and settle who is the best hero class once and for all?"
"Sounds lame, pass." Bakugo said as he began to walk away. "Let's go check out the food stands. I'm starving."
"Yes, walk away, you trash. You're probably too scared of showing everyone your class is not up to snuff."
Bakugo stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. "The hell did you just say?"
"I mean, you must be aware there's no way you could beat us. It's better to spare yourselves the embarrassment."
"We could totally kick your pompous ass."
"Is that so? Well, if you're so confident, then how about we make things more interesting…?" Monoma said. "The losing class will clean the winning class' dorm for a month."
"What?!"
Izuku put a hand on his shoulder. "Kacchan, I don't think this is a—"
"You're on, Penguin." He said. "I hope you like animals, cause I'll leave Rock Face's room especially for you to clean."
Roped into the challenge thanks to Bakugo's ego, the students of 1-A took their seats in the front row and waited for the game to start.
Monoma pulled out a microphone from his coat pocket. Apparently he was acting as the host for this game show. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to this edition of Monoma's Miraculously Majestic Mayhem. For the first round, representing class B is Ibara Shiozaki. Class A, send in your contender. Who will be brave enough to face this cunning beauty?"
Izuku signalled his classmates to huddle up to think of a game plan. "Okay, we don't know yet exactly what this game entails, so we have to think strategically. I suggest we—"
"I volunteer as tribute!" Without waiting for a plan, Denki Kaminari walked up to the podium.
"Fancy seeing you here. We gotta stop meeting like this, am I right?" He winked at his opponent.
Ibara looked confused. "Do I know you?"
"Keep it in your pants, sparky. We've got a game to win." Bakugo yelled from his seat.
"I'm displeased to admit I share the sentiment of this brute, let's get this game started." Monoma said. "The first question goes to team A. For 10 points, who discovered electricity?"
The hamster inside Kaminari's head started running on its wheel.
"You only have 30 seconds." Monoma said.
"Er, Pikachu?" Kaminari blurted out in panic.
The sound of all of 1-A's students facepalming in unison echoed through the room, followed by a loud horn.
"Nice try, but I'm afraid the fictional character Pikachu did not, in fact, discover electricity. Let's see if team B can do better than team A's brightest."
"William Gilbert." Ibara answered.
"Correct! Team B picks up the lead."
Kaminari did the walk of shame back to his seat.
"Seriously?! How can you not know who discovered electricity?!" Jiro said
"Hey! Just because I have an electric quirk doesn't mean I know who discovered it. Do you think Sero has any idea who invented scotch tape?"
"It was Richard Drew in 1930." Sero said.
"Pff, show-off."
"It's fine. That was only the first round, we can recover." Izuku said. "And now we have a better understanding of the game. It appears to be a typical trivia quiz, so we need someone with well-rounded knowledge in multiple subjects."
Everyone turned their eyes to Yaoyorozu.
"You're up, Ponytail. Don't suck." Bakugo said.
"I'll do my best." She said before taking the stage.
Monoma continued the game. "It appears team A is sending in their class vice-representative. In that case team B send their own vice-representative: The one and only Nirengeki Shoda! For this next round, my lovely assistant will deliver a very special item to the stage."
Pony from class B came in clad in a sparkling dress and pushed onto the stage a serving cart with a silver tray on top. Monoma took off the lid to reveal a plate of onigiri.
"Ah, onigiri. A modest but nutritious meal, a precious part of all our childhoods. This question goes once again to team A. For 20 points, what is the retail value of this item?"
Yaoyorozu smiled, sure of herself. "Oh, that's easy. It's—"
She suddenly froze. It was an easy question, wasn't it? Then how come the answer eluded her? Come to think of it, when was the last time she had bought onigiri herself? Normally, whenever she fancied a snack, all she had to do was let one of the servants know, and the pantry would be magically restocked the next day.
Come on, Momo. Your friends are counting on you! I mean, It's one onigiri. What could it cost?
"Um… a thousand yen?" She finally answered.
The horrible horn blared again, signifying another incorrect answer.
Monoma shook his head. "My my, miss Yaoyorozu. You've never actually set foot in a convenience store, have you? How snobbish."
He grabbed the onigiri and took a bite as he strutted to the other side of the stage.
"Not like the humble heroes of class B. Tell me, my dear Shoda. Do you know what the price of this scrumptious onigiri is?"
"Of course I know, you sent me to buy them for the game this morning." He said.
"Ha-ha, you silly goose. The answer must be a number only."
Shoda let out a defeated sigh. "125 yen."
"Absolutely correct! There you have it folks. Is there any other proof needed that class 1-B are more connected to the working public than the snooty elite of 1-A? In the humble opinion of yours truly, definitely not."
Momo returned to her seat. "I'm so sorry, I've let you all down."
"Don't worry, Yaomomo. It's not your fault… But maybe it wouldn't hurt to buy your own groceries every now and then." Ochaco said, a slight annoyance apparent in her voice.
"Next up, on class B's corner it's Itsuka Kendo! What do you say we keep the streak going with a duel of class representatives?"
Ida stood up. "Fear not, my fellow students. I will turn this around for our class!"
"Listen carefully, contestants. For this round speed is paramount. The question goes to whoever presses the buzzer first. We've surveyed U.A. students from all years with a simple question; you now have to tell me what the most popular answer was." Monoma said. "And the question is: 'What is the first thing you do when you get home from school?'"
Ida promptly pressed the buzzer and smugly adjusted his glasses. This round was going to be a piece of cake.
"Why, do my homework, of course." He said. But his answer was met yet again by a horn.
"I'm sorry. 'do homework' is not on the board. It's now Kendo's chance to steal the question."
"Watch TV." She said.
"That's by far the most popular answer, well done. 30 points for team B!"
"I don't get it. This must be some kind of mistake! After all, you all do your homework just after getting home, right?" Ida turned to his classmates. "Right…?"
They all shamefully diverted their gazes.
"This is bullshit. You extras are all useless. Guess what my mother always said was right. If you want something done well, you have to do it yourself." Bakugo jumped prepared to take the stage, but Todoroki, who had been silent throughout the game so far, stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Stay out of my business, icy-hot."
"You made it my business when you pulled us into this stupid bet. It's because of short-tempered and reckless decisions like those that you're going to cost us the game. Midoriya has been approaching each round analytically and cool-headed; he should be the one to participate."
"Thanks, Todoroki! It means a lot that you put your trust in me." Izuku said.
"Don't fail, Midoriya. I really do not want to clean 1-B's dorm."
Izuku approached the podium. It seemed his opponent for the final round was Yui Kodai, and somehow, the game organisers manifested a wheel of fortune replica onto the stage.
"This is it, the grand finale! The contestants will take turns spinning the wheel to accumulate points and guessing letters from the secret phrase on the board. Whoever correctly guesses the phrase first will earn their team as many points as they've managed to collect, so this is anyone's game. Get ready!"
The game progressed steadily, both sides earning points and unveiling letters. Izuku had a particularly lucky spin and got enough points to win the game, provided he could solve the secret phrase. He had a good idea what the answer could be, but he debated whether he should wait to be more certain and risk letting the other side solve first, but could she actually solve it faster? Sweat dripped down his brow. His opponent's demeanour was completely unreadable, and there were only a handful of letters left.
_ W A N _ _ O _ O_ _ _ _ D _ _ _
SOMETHING TO SAY TO THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE
"Just solve it already, you freaking nerd!" Bakugo yelled from the side-lines "It's obviously: 'I want to make you eat dirt"!.
"That's definitely not the answer, Bakugo. Look at the hint."
"I'm ready to solve." Izuku said. "The answer is: 'I want to take you out, dear.'"
Bakugo exploded. "Nooooooo!"
Just as the word left his lips, Izuku realised his mistake—the missing vowels.
"Incorrect! A for effort, but you got a little ahead of yourself there, kid." Monoma said. "Are you ready to solve, Yui?"
"The answer is: 'I want to make you eat dirt'"
"That's correct! And with this, class B completely smashes class A undefeated!"
Izuku scratched the back of his head. "I took a calculated risk, but man, am I bad at maths."
"I suppose I owe you an apology, Bakugo" Todoroki said.
"I will kill you both!"
"I feel bad for them." Kendo said.
"Don't. They got themselves into this situation. They're suffering the consequences of their own hubris." Monoma said.
They were currently sitting in the common area at their dorm. Around them, the students 1-A cleaned the entire area to fastidious perfection.
"Yes, but do they have to be wearing maid and butler uniforms for it?"
"No, that part is just for fun." He shrugged. "Hey, you! you missed a spot over there. I want that floor extra shiny!"
"I'll give you a shiner in that smug face of yours." Bakugo muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Monoma flipped the page of his magazine and took a sip of his juice box. It was a good day.
"Say what you will. The guy may be a complete psychopath, but he sure can clean."
