The class chattered away excitedly about the news stories from the day prior. Class 1-A had been all over the news. Ayumu hadn't see the segment they were discussing, but due to her injuries she doubted she would have made an appearance anyways.

"Hey, Tsu, so who do you think is going to teach class today?"

Ayumu turned her attention to the two girls nearest her. It hadn't crossed her mind that Mr. Aizawa had been injured at the USJ.

"No idea. Mr. Aizawa's still in the hospital recovering from his injuries."

As if summoned by her words, the door to class A flew open to reveal a bandaged Mr. Aizawa. The class broke out into shocked cries and praise for his ability to show up, even as hurt as he had been.

"Mr. Aizawa, I'm glad you're okay!" Iida shouted out.

"My well-being is irrelevant. What's more important is that your fight isn't over yet."

His words hit the class like a load of bricks. There was a panic that sent shivers down Ayumu's spine. She had survived those villains on pure luck. If there was more to come….

"The UA sports festival is about to start."

Ayumu felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The sports festival. That was it. She had been expecting this to come. She had talked about it extensively with Shinso. It was the event of the year, the time for them to show off what they could do. She felt the excitement replace her nerves, only to have it crushed by Jiro's words.

"Is it really such a good idea to hold the sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?"

"They could attack once we're all in the same place."

Mr. Aizawa didn't hesitate with his answer, "Apparently, the administration thinks it's a good way to show the threat has been handled and our school is safer than ever. Besides, they're beefing up security compared to past years. This event is a huge opportunity for all students at UA. It's not something we can cancel because of a few villains."

"Uh, I'm sorry, but why not?" Mineta questioned, "it's just a sports festival."

Ayumu shot him a look, "You're joking, right?"

Midorya turned in his seat, "Mineta, don't you know how important this competition is?"

"Of course I do, I just don't want to get murdered."

Mr. Aizawa went into his speech about how important the sports festival is for the students. How important it was to do well in order to become a pro. As he spoke, Ayumu's brain was spinning.

As soon as the bell rang, Ayumu rushed out the door to lunch. She practically ran down the hall toward the lunch room. Shinso was just sitting down at the bench they usually ate lunch at when she came running up.

"So I'm guessing you're running over here to tell me about the sports festival?" Shinso drawled as Ayumu tries to catch her breath.

She straightened up and looked down at him, "you already know?"

Shinso watched her as she dropped into her place next to him.

"Yeah, it happens at the same time every year." Shinso took a bite of his sandwich before continuing, "plus my teacher mentioned it this morning."

Ayumu turned to face Shinso, "Maybe we should train together after school? To make sure we're both ready? We haven't been training for a while."

Shinso nodded, but didn't look at her. "I think, maybe, I should train by myself."

Ayumu watched Shinso carefully. He wouldn't look at her. His jaw was clenched, the stress was clear across his face. This was his one chance to prove that the entrance exams were wrong and he deserved a spot in the hero course. He needed to do anything and everything to make sure he got in, which included being willing to fight her if it came down to it.

Ayumu nodded, "Okay."

They sat and ate in silence for a while. The bell finally rang and Ayumu got up.

"I'll see you after school."

Shinso pulled his backpack over his shoulder, "Yeah okay."

"Hitoshi?"

"Hm?" Shinso looked up at Ayumu, fidgeting with the helm of her blazer.

For the first time since they sat down together, Shinso finally met her eye. Under her gaze, he felt the anxiety that he felt about the sports festival slip away. She grabbed his hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

"You're going to do great."

As the final bell rang, the class started to gather their things to leave. Ayumu's brain was flooded with thoughts about the sports festival. The idea of it being so soon was nerve racking enough, but after the experience at the USJ, she was so unsure of herself. Knowing Shinso would be close by during the festival gave her a sense of security though. If anything went wrong, she would just go find him. If they were together, nothing bad could happen.

"Ummmm- Why the heck are you all here?" Uraraka's voice broke through her thoughts.

She had been the first one to the door and upon opening it had revealed a horde of students standing around. Each one trying to get a glimpse of class 1-A.

"Do you students have business with our class?" Iida asked.

"Yeah, why are you blocking our door? I won't let you hold us hostage!" Mineta shouted toward the crowd.

Ayumu rolled her eyes, "Tough words from someone who breaks out in shivers when they hear the word 'villains'."

"They're scouting out the competition, idiots." Bakugo walked toward the door as of the crowd wasn't blocking the exit. "We're the class that survived a real villain attack. They want to see us with their own eyes."

Bakugo stared down the one in the middle of the doorway, "Well at least now you know what a future pro looks like. Now move it, extras."

Ayumu wiped her face with her hand. He was going to get them all in trouble with that attitude.

"So this is class 1-A? I heard you guys were impressive." Shinso's voice broke out over the crowd, "but you just sound like an ass. Is everyone in the hero course delusional or is it just you?"

"Hitoshi?" Ayumu watched him push his way through the crowd.

"How sad to come here and find a bunch of ego maniacs."

"Isn't that your boyfriend?" Mina whispered and Ayumu elbowed her in the ribs to quiet her.

This was a side of Shinso that she never got to see. She wanted to watch how it played out.

"I wanted to be in the hero course, but like many others here I was forced to choose a different track. Such is life. I didn't cut it the first time around, but I have another chance. If any of us do well in the sports festival, the teachers can decide to transfer us to the hero course. And they'll have to transfer people out to make room. Scouting the competition? Maybe some of my peers are, but I'm here to let you know if you don't bring your very best, I'll steal your spot right from under you. Consider this a declaration of war."

Shinso and Bakugo stared one another down and Ayumu took a few steps forward, but stopped when she got a warning glance from Shinso. He was serious and confident and she wasn't to step in his way.

Once some class 1-B kid caused a commotion, Bakugo started to walk away. Shinso's eyes tracked him as he moved.

"Dude, where are you going? You gotta say something. It's your fault they're all hating on us, Bakugo." Kirishima shouted.

"These people don't matter." Bakugo brought his gaze back to Shinso, "The only thing that's important is that I beat them." Then he shoved past the crowd and disappeared.

Ayumu felt her feet begin to move before she had really thought about it. She grabbed onto Shinso's arm and pulled him through the crowd and down the hall. Once they were out of earshot and eyeshot of everyone she pulled him to a halt.

"Okay who are you and what have you done with Hitoshi?"

Shinso smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck, "I got a little carried away."

"You put a target on your back! What were you thinking? Do you know who that was?" Ayumu scolded quietly.

Shinso shrugged, "That guy from Recovery Girl's office. The one who saved you."

"Bakugo." She stated plainly, "And now you've made yourself a target for him."

"Do you think he's better than me?" Shinso accused.

Ayumu took a deep breath, "I think he has more training than you."

"I've been training, I'll be fine. Anyways you should be focusing on your training. You haven't used Illusion in a while."

Ayumu grazed her fingers across the back of Shinso's hand and flicked her wrist up and suddenly they were no longer standing in the hallway. Instead they were in a forest.

The trees stood tall all around them blocking out most of the sun but a few streaks of light broke through giving the woods a mystical feeling. The birds around them chirped cheerfully. Shinso could feel the cool breeze tickle his face. He looked around in awe. The forest had a faint shimmer, but to the unfamiliar eye it could have been morning dew making the forest sparkle like that. Ayumu held her hands out in front of her gently, her eyes cast down at the space between her palms.

Her eyes darted up to Shinso, "You're not the only one who's been practicing."

"I'm impressed. I could barely tell it wasn't real."

She closed her hands and the forest vanished all at once. Ayumu closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again.

"I really hope that little speech you gave back there is true and you're bringing your all because I wasn't joking when I said you made yourself a target."

"Hey, Smurf!"

Shinso and Ayumu turned to see Bakugo standing at the end of the hallway. He was watching her carefully.

"Come train with me today."