"The Sports Festival is coming up." Vlad King stated, as Tetsutetsu erupted from his seat.
"Let's go kick some ass!"
"Hold on a moment." Shishida raised his hand, "Is this the proper action to take? Villains attacked the USJ just 3 days prior."
"That's a good point, but the board wanted us to push through with the Sports Festival as planned. Their reasons being is to show the world that the threat has been dealt with and we're as strong and secure as ever. Not to mention we shall be beefing up security as opposed to years prior." Vlad King stated.
"I see, I understand."
"However, if you want motivation... then whomever gets first gets 1,000,000 points."
...
...
"I'm sorry, what?" Midoriya, now enthralled by this conversation, asked, as Vlad King nodded.
"You heard me right. If one of you wins the entire Sports Festival, you earn 1,000,000 points for your class. Same goes for 1-A. Meaning, if you want that summer prize... and the big prize at the end of the year, you best give it your all and then some."
"But what about the other events? Or second and third?" Midoriya asked, which got a look from Vlad King, "Look I'm just Min Maxing here. Economics and all that."
"... Well, second place gets 500,000. Third place gets 300,000. Of course whomever wins the preliminary events gets 100,000 points for their class, and just advancing earns you 100 points."
"So realistically. One class could get, roughly... 1,800,000+ points for their class."
"Correct. And one more thing..." Vlad King said, before looking at Midoriya again.
"... I don't like that look."
"And you won't like what I'm about to say even more. See, we know about your plan for the 'Perfect Clause'."
...
...
"Alright, who sold me out to the police?! Yanagi?"
"I kept your secret, though it's not a secret anymore." Yanagi replied.
"Wait wait wait, I'm confused, what's the 'Perfect Clause'?" Tokage asked.
"The Perfect Clause it's a rule specifically for the Sports Festival. It states that should someone sweep the Sports Festival, I.E get first in every single event including the final battle tournament, they are granted any three items they want. It's never happened before so no one really knows about it unless you skim the rule book... which I did." Midoriya explained, "But that doesn't explain who told you about my plan to use that rule for my own personal benefit?"
"That would be me." A light and happy voice spoke out, earning the ire from the green haired boy, "I listened in on your conversation with Ms. Yanagi back at the beginning of the year! And might I say it was very interesting."
"Nezu you sold me out!"
"That I did, we can't have you just coast your way to free stuff. If we did then I'd be out of business!" He exclaimed with a quote unquote happy smile, "So I'm issuing a challenge. Anyone... ANYONE, who stops Midoriya from getting the Perfect Clause... gets an additional 1,000,000 points to their total."
...
...
"Nezu I thought we had something."
"All alliances are temporary in the end."
"So, hold on this is new information." Kendou said, "So with the 1,800,000 points Midoriya calculated. Plus the 1,000,000 points... then any one class can earn 2,800,000 points!"
"Yes? Is there a problem?"
"A massive problem!" Tsunotori yelled, "We only got... like 25,000 points total for the Battle Training. That's... 11.2 times the amount we earned!"
"... Drop the decimal, it's 112 times the amount. But the point still stands." Tokage calculated, "This is a huuuge amount of points."
"Believe me Ms. Tokage. As we continue down the months, these points will look like one of those miniature water bottles they sell for cheaper but isn't as effective as normal water bottles."
"... Wait what?"
"Those points were just warm up points, a demo if you will, and it appeared your competitive spirits were sparked from the ideas of a collective prize. Said spark was of course fanned into a roaring flame after Midoriya's battle against Bakugou. So I hope your competitive spirits will stay as fiery hot as they always were." Principal Nezu stated.
"Not to mention, this Sports Festival isn't all about points and the U.A Cup, it's about being scouted. Pros everywhere tune into our Sports Festival year after year to gauge talent and sign new recruits. Starting this year internship offers will be extending to your first years, meaning this Sports Festival matters. And acknowledge this." Vlad King said, extending his hand towards his class, "You have 3 chances during your entire school year to make an impression on the pro you would like to intern with the most. Meaning... you better not slack off! Do I make myself clear!"
"Yes sir!"
"Homeroom is dismissed. Midnight will arrive shortly to start Modern Art History."
...
"... I see you're upset." Yanagi said, as Midoriya ate a piece of Katsudon with a pout.
"I'm verhy upshet." Midoriya replied with his mouth full of fried pork.
"Don't talk with your mouth full."
...
...
He swallowed, "Okay mom. Anyway it ultimately doesn't matter, because I have a plan B."
"Which is?"
"To beat everyone!"
"... I have a feeling you have more to this plan than you let on."
"O-Of course-"
"DEKU!"
"We'll discuss the plan I obviously have after these messages." Midoriya said before turning towards Bakugou... and some of Class 1-A behind him. "I see you brought the cavalry."
"Shut up, you think you're slick? Going for this... Perfect Clause bullshit?"
"That was and is the plan yes."
"Do you really think you can win all 3 events?" Ashido asked.
"Yup." Midoriya replied with a cheeky smile, "I mean... whose my competition really? Bakugou, whose explosions don't affect me? Yaoyorozu whose items I can destroy? Todoroki, whose ice I can melt and or smash? Iida... who is the biggest threat amongst you lot not going to lie."
"Thank you Midoriya!" Iida called out halfway across the cafeteria.
"Not to mention all of your Quirks... while strong, aren't all that threatening."
"My acid-"
"Can be avoided easily, trust me I watched the vods."
"What about my electricity! 1.3 million volts isn't something to sneeze at."
...
...
"Are you stupid?" Midoriya asked.
"Wha-"
"Yes, yes he is." Jirou commented, earning a glare from the boy.
"I'll admit, 1.3 million volts... I'll say that's a lot because I'm too lazy to go into the science behind electricity, voltage, amps, all that mumbo jumbo. But your fighting strategy is 'Go all out first, ask questions later'. You know what happens when you go all out right? You fry your brain, making you easy prey to be eliminated in the Sports Festival... and on the field? Killed." Midoriya said, which caused Kaminari to pale, "But why do I bother, it's like talking to a brick wall... speaking of." He turned towards Kirishima, "You have a great Quirk. Hardening your skin for protection is excellent for combat as well as defense, I wouldn't know, but getting whacked in the back of the head with something as hard as cement would probably hurt a lot."
"... Oh, t-thanks-"
"But it's obvious it won't be enough."
"... Huh?"
"Don't get me wrong, your Quirk will be enough against most people... but, say you and I get into the ring. Unstoppable Force meets Immovable Object Paradox style. You harden and I power up, which would last longer?"
"Obviously Kirishima-"
"How so?"
"Because he can harden? Boom, mystery solved." Ashido said with a smile.
"... Please tell me not all of you are complete morons."
"H-Hey!"
"There are at least 3 more idiots besides them." Jirou replied.
"... *Sigh* Fine, I'll start slow. Quirks. Are. Physical. Abilities." Midoriya said, "He can't be hard forever, in fact if he stays hard for 4 hours he should go to the hospital. But that would be decreased with every hit. And say if there's a massive barrage of hits...?"
"Then he would not last long against you. Is that what you're getting at?"
"Ding ding ding, get Yanagi a prize."
"But those are all just hypotheticals!"
"Ooh 'hypotheticals', such a big word." Midoriya taunted, "Then let me ask you all a question. Underhanded tactics. You know, throwing dirt into people's eyes, kicking them in the crotch, moves of that nature. Good or bad?"
"Bad! It's unmanly to use such cowardly tactics!"
"Ghh it's worse than I thought!" Midoriya groaned, "Dude, in a life or death situation, who the heck is going to care if you use 'cowardly tactics'. That's not being manly, that's being stupid! If someone's Quirk revolves around their eyes, I'll obviously throw dirt into them. Quirk that involves one voice? Punch in the throat! Don't care about the fairness of a fight-"
"That's enough Midoriya you made your points." A tired yet gruff voice that belonged to 1-A's homeroom teacher spoke out, "And all of you. If you want to beat him I suggest you start training, because as it stands there is no way you all would beat him."
"Wha-"
"So stop whining and actually take this seriously. Unless you want Midoriya to have those 3 things with little to no effort." Aizawa said before walking away.
"There goooes my hero!"
"... *Sigh* Why do I even bother." Aizawa muttered, "Oh, and one more thing. Principal Nezu wanted me to inform you all that Midterms are next week. Good luck."
...
...
"WHAT?!"
"Well that's gotta suck for you. Yanagi, let's bail before they ask more questions!" He yelled grabbing her wrist and started to drag her away.
"H-Hold on! I have yet to finish my lunch!"
...
"This is your hourly reminder that you need to reimburse my lunch tomorrow."
"Got it."
It was after school and the pair were having a small meeting at Fat Gum's agency. They were having a meeting about the Sports Festival, and Midoriya said they were safe from... and I quote, 'From the Man' in Fat Gum's agency.
"So what did you wish to discuss?"
"Okay, first off, you need help studying for Midterms? It won't be fun at the top without someone beside me."
...
...
"W-Wait, that wasn't-"
"You two are disgusting."
"Quiet Aiba! I fixed the plumbing last Saturday and this is how you repay me?!"
"Preeeeeetty much." Aiba commented, before walking out of the meeting room she housed before they invaded.
"Khhm." Yanagi coughed, the faint blush fading away, "I would like some help studying just in case."
"Right, gotcha."
Awkward... silence...
"S-So the Sports Festival."
"Right, so what's your 'Obvious Plan' for the Perfect Clause?"
...
...
"Yeah about that..."
...
"So you ta-"
*SLAM*
"Tutor, me, help." Tsunotori muttered, out of breath, her hair frazzled and sweat dripping from her chin.
"... Um, are you that nervous?"
"Huh? Oh, I went running so I can beat you."
"There's a branch in your hair."
She felt around her hair and pulled the branch out. "Any more?"
"... No honey." Midoriya sighed, "Anyway come in my child, we shall make sure you're 3rd place-"
"4th place!" Tokage yelled forcing herself into the group, "Because 1st place is me."
"No, 3rd or 4th. I'm 1st. Yanagi is 2nd."
"What about me?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"I'm not a miracle worker, 10th at best."
"Oi!"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Hey, if you're going to start a study group, come down and help the others." Kendou said before walking back down stairs.
"You know I had a whole plan and strategy laid out, and you all just ruined it."
"Oh... did I ruin it?" Tsunotori asked.
"Pony of course not."
"Did I ruin it?" Tokage asked.
"Yes, yes you have."
"Oi! How come Pony gets immunity from it?" She asked playfully offended at the declaration.
"Because no one can physically be mad at Pony. Just like how no one can physically be mad at Shiozaki."
...
...
"You know what? Fair enough."
"Huh?" Tsunotori asked, confused by their conversation, all the while Midoriya stood up and stretched.
"Anyway we should head on dow-"
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
"Umm... Yanagi? Someone's knocking on your balcony, I... I wasn't expecting someone knocking on your balcony, why is someone knocking on your balcony?"
"I... cannot answer that question at the moment." Yanagi replied as she slowly opened the blinds to her balcony... revealing a puffy faced and moderately green Uraraka. Yanagi opened the door and guided her over her bed.
"R-Release."
*Fwomp* *Fwomp* *Fwompwomp*
"Haah... that... was close." She muttered, rubbing the Quirk-induced stomach ache out of her system.
"Uraraka? What are you doing here?" Yanagi asked.
"Oh yeah, see we were having a class study session and everyone was loud and moderately annoying. So Tsu and I wanted to come here and mooch off of your mid."
"... Tsu?" Now it was Midoriya's turn to ask a question.
"Oh she's outside on the wall."
*Fwipwipwipwipwip*
"Hello, ribbit." Hanging her tongue on the fence she was attached to the wall 3 stories from the ground, "Can I come in?"
"... Alright, come on in."
...
"So... why did you use your Quirk to get up here?" Yanagi asked.
"Training for the Sports Festival. And let me tell you Midoriya, everyone wants to beat you."
"Trust me, I know." Midoriya replied, "But I'll be fine, it's not like your class is threatening."
"Ahem." Asui coughed.
"Oh sorry, Iida is a pretty big threat." Midoriya joked, earning a smack by a pillow, "But seriously, I'll be fine. I'll sweep and get the things I've always wanted."
"Like what?"
"A fancy moped."
...
...
"Are you serious?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"Of course not. Okay I'm serious on the grounds that I want a motorcycle, but not a moped... as awesome as that sounds."
"But that's a huge waste!" Uraraka yelled, "You can get food for a whole year!"
"Honey, we live in the dorms. We have food for a whole year... we have food for THREE years."
"Okay, but still!"
"And that's my plan for THIS Sports Festival. Next year I'm going to sweep again, then the year after that."
"Hah! In your dreams, we'll beat you so bad you won't even compete in the Sports Festival next year." Tokage boasted.
"But this year?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"Oh this year we're screwed." Tokage muttered in defeat.
"Alright..." Midoriya said, standing up, "As much as I love to talk about my inevitable victory. We have to go down stairs or else Kendou will have an aneurysm."
"Can we come?" Uraraka asked.
"We're not jerks, sure you can."
...
The week of studying, studying, training, and more studying slowly came and went. And now, the Midterms are upon U.A High. Perilous questions of astronomical difficulty greeted the students, as expected from Principal Nezu, one of the most intelligent minds on the planet.
As the difficulty rose, morale plummeted. The seesaw effect of standardized testing. However, all of 1-B rose to the occasion laughing in the face of despair, for their own personal reasons.
Izuku Midoriya: For pride... and to avoid an earful from his mother.
Reiko Yanagi: To make sure she doesn't fall behind anyone, especially Midoriya.
Setsuna Tokage: The competitive drive to be number 1 in the class.
Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu: To not let Tokage, his best friend, down for helping him study well into the night. As well as his desire to become the best he can possibly be.
Yosetsu Awase: Doesn't want to get whacked by Shiozaki for failing.
Ibara Shiozaki: Wants to do well for herself... and to not appear to be a massive hypocrite to Awase.
Togaru Kamakiri: Just wants to kick mathematical ass and take historical names.
Sen Kaibara: Doesn't want to be the weak link of his class.
Yui Kodai: Has yet to repay Midoriya for helping her cousin get into U.A. She wishes to change that.
Kinoko Komori: The best idols aren't stupid. So she won't be.
Jurota Shishida: He wishes to be like his Grandfather. Acing this test will be a good first step.
Pony Tsunotori: Midoriya, Yanagi, and Tokage helped her study... no matter what time it was. She won't fail no matter what.
Nirengenki Shoda: Being intelligent is all he has at the moment. He wishes to change that with a Sports Festival Finals appearance.
Itsuka Kendo: She's the class rep, their emotional and physical leader, if she falls behind then so will they. So she refuses to fall behind.
Shihai Kurorio: In order to properly become a vessel of darkness, one must have the mental fortitude to withstand it.
Kosei Tsuburaba: Ladies like a smart man, that's the last piece of advice his mother gave him before she passed. He's going to honor it to the last mark.
Hiryu Rin: His parents sacrificed so much. Taking him out of the rice fields to send him to Japan with his uncle so he can fulfill his dream to become a hero. He owes... everything to them, and he won't let a single stupid test stop his goals.
Manga Fukidashi: He would never tell any of his classmates... but he's crushing on a senior support course student. Bibimi Kenranzaki, praised for her beauty on par with her high intellect. He wants to make an impression on her, and acing this test is the first step.
Kojiro Bondo: Mocked for his appearance from Elementary through all of Junior High, he kept himself morally stable with plastic models and Gang Orca as his inspiration. But he's here now, in the national school with a .2% acceptance rate. If he had a spiteful bone in his body he would have bragged about it, but he didn't. He stayed humble, and desires to excel with the sole goal to become a hero that helps people... so they won't be afraid of his appearance.
And lastly, Juzo Honenuki: The final student to be let into Class 1-B on recommendations, he feels as if he barely earned his spot. He despises losing, ranked number 6 on his top 10 most hated things list. So he wishes to let the world... and most importantly himself know that he deserves to be here, and once he crushes his exam, the Sports Festival will be next.
All 20 of 1-B's students, ignited with the will to pass, pushed through till the bitter end. And with the last question filled in, the final day of Midterms was finished, and a collective sigh of relief was sounded off in the class. Leaving a very proud Vlad King in the room.
"Pass or fail, this test was also a test of your mental fortitude. Lord knows Principal Nezu is notorious for needlessly difficult tests, to that, I offer my congratulations, class." Vlad King explained with a smile, "You have 3 more days until the Sports Festival. I should be done grading these tests by tomorrow. Take this time to hone any last minute technique and get some RnR, you've earned it."
The class rushed out of the classroom, some to get started on training... while the rest wanted to take a 30 hour nap. With a chuckle Vlad King sat down on his desk.
"Let's get started Vlad."
...
"Haaah it's over! VICTORYYyyyy..."
*Fwomp*
With a loud declaration of victory, Midoriya threw himself onto Yanagi's bed. She rolled her eyes and laid beside him. "It is indeed over."
"Alright!" Midoriya exclaimed, springing from the bed, "Time to train."
...
...
"You rested for 5 whole seconds."
"Yup, that's enough... time for me... to..."
*Thud* *Snore*
"You have to be..." With an annoyed sigh, Yanagi lifted him off of the ground and hoisted him on her shoulders... only to realize that his dorm was not only on the opposite side of the building, but was on the 2nd floor. She's on the 4th.
Her options were to take the elevator... and risk embarrassment and teasing from Tokage. Or take the stairs and risk physical injury. So, she chose option 3.
*Fwomp*
Throw him onto her bed and sleep in his room for the night.
...
...
"Hold on a moment, what?" Her thought process finally catching up to her, she processed what she was about to do. Let her crush, a fact she's accepted since the rooftop incident, sleep in her room while she slept in his. Just the thought of it caused her to freeze up in shyness. "Get a hold of yourself Reiko. You're sleeping in Midoriya's room. It's nothing, if anything you're doing him a favor. Yes, he should be thanking you. So just get his card key, a fresh set of clothes, and your bathing supplies for the morning." Slapping the embarrassment out of her cheeks, she turned him over onto his back and checked his front pockets for the card key. Only to find nothing in either.
...
...
"Wait..." Realization hit her like a speeding train. "He... keeps his card key, in his back pocket." Her blush returned in full force. "S-So, in order to get into his room... I-I need to."
*SMACK*
"C-Calm yourself Reiko, you're not like that short purple haired kid, have that standards!" She yelled to herself... as Midoriya snored away unaware of what's happening in his surroundings. "Deep breaths. Aaaah... hoooo. Okay, this isn't a problem. Just do it swiftly, nothing to be embarrassed about." She flipped him back onto his stomach.
"Mmph." Only for him to reach to her pillow and hug it tightly.
"Y-You're making this more difficult!" Filing the fact that he's a cuddler in her memory banks she reached towards the right back pocket... and inserted her hand. "G-Got it." With the luck of a Fortune 500 owner, she guessed the right pocket, erasing any and all nervousness she felt. She then grabbed her stuff and headed towards the door. Only to stop and look at Midoriya's sleeping form one last time.
'... I cannot be mad at him.' She thought before leaving, but one thing is for certain.
The two of them were going to have a long talk tomorrow morning.
*End of Chapter*
