(A/N: While editing this chapter I noticed in my notes that there are actually 12 teams, not 11. So I fixed that in the previous chapter. Sorry about that! ^_^; Doesn't change really anything except for that one word in Present Mic's announcement.
Formatting reminder: "Dialogue heard through a sound system." ... "PRESENT MIC'S DIALOGUE HEARD THROUGH A SOUND SYSTEM." )
...
The cavalry battle went on and Team Midoriya fell into somewhat of a routine. As they stole headbands left and right, Izuku made sure to flip all of them so their values didn't show as they hung around his neck. He also made sure to change out the one on his head to which ever headband had the lowest point value. From time to time, another team would steal that one hoping for higher points only to be disappointed as Izuku's team ran away. After which, he would put the next lowest headband on his head once more.
As time passed and his team's points came and went, Izuku also kept an eye on how Todoroki was fairing. Constantly different teams made their own attempts at the ten million. Mineta had somehow convinced Shouji to team up with him, making a team initially worth 160. Reluctantly, Izuku had to admit that the strategy of the taller boy shielding the shorter one with his dupliarms was a good one.
Predictably, Team Bakugou also persistently pursued the team in first place with Katsuki's usual raging enthusiasm. He was so loud, Izuku could hear his ravings from across the field.
"Get back here, you Half-and-Half bastard!" the blonde yelled as he blasted his way into the air in an attempt to grab Todoroki's headband. Only to get blocked by a well-timed pole to the gut by Yaoyorozu and some quick maneuvering away by Iida.
"WHOA! LOOKS LIKE BAKUGOU BLASTED AWAY FROM HIS UNIT! IS THAT EVEN ALLOWED?!"
As the blonde fell, Sero shot out some tape and reeled Katsuki back in. He was caught by his teammates and righted back to his position as rider.
"Technically, yes! His feet never touched the ground so it's okay!" Midnight declared.
"AS EXPECTED, THE MAJORITY OF THE TEAMS ARE GUNNING FOR THE FIRST PLACE TEAM! THE CONSTANT GRABS FOR THE TEN MILLION GIVING THEM NO TIME TO CATCH THEIR BREATH!"
The crowd cheered as Team Todoroki made one successful escape after another.
"SO FAR SEVEN MINUTES HAVE PASSED! LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE RANKINGS ARE DOING!"
A rundown of each team's points appeared on the screens. With Class 1-A's previously impressive displays of their power and skill, everyone expected those teams to be claiming the top spots. However…
"WHAT'S THIS?! BESIDES TEAM TODOROKI, CLASS 1-A ISN'T DOING TOO HOT!"
TEAM RANKING:
1st: Team Todoroki – 10,000,425 points
2nd: Team Tetsutetsu – 1,325 points
3rd: Team Midoriya – 960 points
4th: Team Monoma – 935 points
5th: Team Kendo – 485 points
6th: Team Rin – 180 points
7th: Team Bakugou – 0 points
8th: Team Kodai – 0 points
9th: Team Tsunotori – 0 points
10th: Team Mineta – 0 points
11th: Team Asui – 0 points
12th: Team Hagakure – 0 points
"WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIRST PLACE, THE TOP SPOTS HAVE MOSTLY BEEN CLAIMED BY TEAMS FROM 1-B! AND ANOTHER UNEXPECTED TURN IS THE RISE OF TEAM MIDORIYA TO THIRD PLACE! THEIR MIXTURE OF HERO AND SUPPORT COURSE SEEMS TO BE QUITE THE POWERHOUSE!"
The crowd was shocked to see that indeed Class 1-A wasn't doing so well. With only six students in the top three, four on Team Todoroki and two on Team Midoriya, the rest of the teams with any points were from 1-B. Plus Hitoshi on Team Tetsutetsu of course.
"EVEN BAKUGOU, OUR SELF-PROCLAIMED FUTURE WINNER, IS LOSING!"
...
One moment the 685-point headband was tied around Katsuki's head and the next it was gone.
What the fuck?
"Class 1-A really is too small minded," a smug-looking blonde extra drawled as his team passed Katsuki's, twirling the headband around his finger. "You need to think bigger."
"He got us!" Raccoon Eyes exclaimed.
"What the hell did you say?!" Katsuki yelled, filled with so much rage and his pupils so small his eyes appeared white. "Get back here. I'll fucking kill you!"
"Aw man, that means we're sitting at zero points now!" Soy Sauce Face carped.
"When Midnight announced the first event, she also mentioned it was a qualifying round," the extra explained, cockily not even bothering to face him. "It didn't take a genius to figure out they wouldn't thin out too much of our numbers right off the bat."
Who is this arrogant extra? Does he think he's better than me?
"After realizing that, it wasn't much of a stretch to imagine they'd allow a fair number to move on from there," the extra continued, finally glancing over his shoulder to look at Katsuki. "We guessed about forty or so would be a reasonable amount. So, we purposefully stayed back from the top and kept in the middle ranks. It gave us a chance to observe our soon-to-be rivals' Quirks and tendencies. Only a fool would waste so much effort on a preliminary round."
So, this extra and the others are willing to settle for less than the best? Well, fuck that. Not me. I'm aiming for the top!
"Your whole class planned this?" Katsuki asked, glaring at the 1-B extra.
"Well, not the entire class," he replied with a shrug. "But I'd say it's been working out so far."
"Hey, they're coming," the black-haired extra said, looking at something behind Team Bakugo.
But Katsuki had angry eyes only for the other blonde's team. The fucking extra still had his points after all.
"It's better than chasing after some fleeting first place title," the extra chided with a smirk. "Acting like a horse going after a carrot waving in his face."
Katsuki scowled at the other, eyebrow twitching in agitation.
"While I have your attention, I'd like to say something," the extra added. "You 1-A riffraff think you're all that after one Villain attack. Especially you. Acting all high and mighty. But from what I've seen you're all talk. What was it you said in your pledge earlier?"
'I just wanna say…at the end of this, I'm gonna be the one in first place.'
"It must be so embarrassing for you now," the annoying extra sneered as he added the headband to the others around his neck. "But don't be mad. You were the one that provoked us after all. You brought this on yourself. Now be a good boy and accept that you've been bested."
"Monoma, don't provoke him," the black-haired extra scolded. "That's the kind of thing he would do."
"Yeah, you're right," the blonde idiot extra replied with a sigh. "It's not very heroic of me. Besides, you know how these things work. Heroes being hounded for some kind of payback…"
Taunting pale blue extra eyes met rage filled red ones.
"…by moronic Villains desperate for revenge."
Ok, that's it. No one calls me a Villain. It. Is. ON.
"Kirishima…," Katsuki seethed from his position as rider. His teammates looked up at him with terror as they felt the rage radiating from their leader. "…we have a change of plans."
"Calm down, Bakugo," Kirishima warned, turning back to the other team and watching them warily. "You gotta keep your cool or we'll never get our points back!"
"Shut it! I've never been calmer!" Katsuki barked, looking anything but calm. "Before we take down IcyHot, we're gonna murder every last one of these B-list idiots. I'm not just going to make it to first place …"
The self-proclaimed future first-place-winner scowled at the soon-to-be dead extra's team that was already running off to gather more headbands.
"…I'll be taking the first of all firsts and be the undeniable champion!"
...
From across the field, Izuku could see an enraged Katsuki confronting Team Monoma who had just stolen their headband. Whatever the sandy blonde said to the spiky blonde set the explosive teen off. The fury emanating from Katsuki was so intense that he appeared to glow in a halo of red.
Oof…I feel bad for his teammates right now, Izuku thought as he watched the scene unfold. Good luck, Monoma-kun. Whatever you said awakened the beast.
With one blonde-led team targeting another, the Cavalry Battle continued on. From the start, Izuku planned to get his team in third place and, if he can, remain there. In past Sports Festivals, at least the top three teams in the second event moved on to the third round. Sometimes there were more but there was no telling if that would be the case this year.
Still continuing their earlier strategy, Izuku and his teammates kept an eye on the rankings and would steal headbands when opportunity struck while protecting their own as best they could. As the minutes passed during the second half of the battle, those teams without points were getting more desperate. Many of which targeted the ten million more earnestly than before.
Team Midoriya watched as numerous teams converged on Team Todoroki at once, surrounding the first-place team. With so many charging towards the holders of the ten million, one would think that the ice user's team was doom. But Izuku noticed something else 'charging.'
"Guys, we need to take to the sky!" Izuku proclaimed suddenly, eyeing the electricity starting to spark on Kaminari's skin. "I think Kaminari is preparing for a wide spread electrical attack!"
"What makes you say that?" Uraraka asked, glancing up at him.
"He's sparking," Izuku answered, not taking his eyes off the electric teen. "Mei-chan, can you see if Yaoyorozu-san is making anything?"
"Let's see…" Mei said, using her Quirk to zoom in on the creation girl. "Yep, looks like she's making some kind of cloth from her stomach and a sort of stick from her arm."
"That cloth might be like the one she made during USJ," Izuku commented, hand on his chin as he muttered. He didn't see Tokoyami's slightly shocked expression at the sudden realization that the boy had been there as well. "If I'm right, she's making an insulation sheet and a grounding stick. We need to get airborne. Fast."
"Right," his teammates said together.
Once again, Izuku activated the jet pack and they shot up into the air. Just in time to avoid the conductive wave of electricity that spread out from the epicenter that was Team Todoroki. The surrounding attacking teams found themselves stunned, yelling and jittering in place unable to move.
While they were still immobilized, Todoroki threw the sheet away as Kaminari ended his attack. The bi-color teen reached down to the grounding stick and used it to channel his ice to the arena floor. It spread across the ground and froze the other teams where they stood, incapacitating them further.
"WHAT'S THIS?! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT! TODOROKI TOOK OUT ALL THOSE TEAMS IN ONE SHOCKING ATTACK!"
"Only after they were immobilized by Kaminari's own attack. Todoroki most likely recalled how many competitors were able to dodge his ice at the start of the Obstacle Course. To account for that he's adapting his strategy."
"NICE COMMENTARY THERE, ERASER!"
I can just see Yamada-sensei giving a thumbs up, Izuku thought to himself with a small chuckle.
"BUT IT LOOKS LIKE TEAM TODOROKI WASN'T ABLE TO STOP EVERYONE! TEAM MIDORIYA IS STILL IN PLAY AS THEY TOOK TO THE SKY MERE SECONDS BEFORE THE INCAPACITATING ASSUALT!"
"If you hadn't noticed before now, Midoriya has clearly had a plan in mind since the beginning of the Sports Festival. Although we don't know what that is exactly, he has shown his observation skills by being able to quickly assess a situation and decide on the best course of action. Whether that was helping others during the Obstacle Course or now when he saw the signs of the upcoming attack and acted accordingly."
Taking advantage of the aftermath of Team Todoroki's attack, Izuku instructed his team to land amongst the partially frozen students. Once they did, they maneuvered around and took a headband here and there, enough to secure them more into third place.
The plan was working as the minutes passed during the second half of the game. The time dwindled down and Izuku's team was still in third place as the timer reached the one-minute mark. The greenette was starting to think they would be just fine as the seconds counted down to their victory. Or so he thought.
"WITH TIME ALMOST UP AND ONE MINUTE LEFT, TEAM TODOROKI REMAINS IN FIRST, FOLLOWED BY TEAM TETSUTETSU IN SECOND AND TEAM MIDORIYA IN THIRD! COULD THESE BE OUR TOP THREE TEAMS? BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A FIERCE BATTLE STILL IN PLAY FOR FOURTH BETWEEN TEAM MONOMA AND TEAM BAKUGOU!"
Green eyes searched the field and found the two blonde-lead teams were still at it. Katsuki had blasted away from his team only to be blocked by Tsubaraba's Solid Air Quirk. But this was Katsuki here. Someone who never let anything stand in his way. Izuku would know since he had been considered one of those 'things standing in his way' growing up. For some unknown reason he wasn't aware of.
"Class 1-B had a reasonable strategy. However, they didn't take one thing into account…"
Being his usual Katsuki self, the explosive teen hammered the solid air with his fist so hard that it broke. Taking the opportunity, he reached forward and managed to snag a couple of the headbands away before blasting off back to his team. Once again, Sero reeled him in and caught their leader to resume their formation.
"…Bakugou's overwhelming tenacity."
"WELL ISN'T THIS A TURN IN THE LAST MINUTE! TEAM BAKUGOU HAS JUST STOLEN TWO HEADBANDS FROM TEAM MONOMA, MOVING THEM TO FOURTH PLACE!"
But it didn't seem like Katsuki was done with the other blonde's team. Izuku watched as his childhood friend raged from his position as rider, pounding his fist on the top of Kirishima's head. Whatever he said, probably about how it wasn't over and he would kill the other team, it seemed to inspire them as they rushed to confront Monoma's team again.
Katsuki must have realized he actually needed to work with his teammates after only halfway succeeding alone. He always has been one to go at it alone first, seeing working with others as a weakness. But it seems he might just actually be learning that teamwork can actually help.
With their skills and Quirks combined, Katsuki led his team to attack the other aiming to steal all their points. Sero shot his tape forward, seemingly missing but Izuku theorized it was intentional. Turned out he was right as Ashido shot her acid forward and with Katsuki rocketing them forward with controlled blasts from his hands combined with Sero reeling his tape in, they shot forward. Tsubaraba tried to protect his team with another air shield but Katsuki blasted it away with practiced ease, snatching the last of Monoma's headbands in the process.
"BAKUGOU IS ABSOLUTELY MERCILESS! DESPITE HAVING ALREADY STOLEN HALF OF TEAM MONOMA'S HEADBANDS, TEAM BAKUGOU CONTINUED TO FIGHT UNTIL THEY HAD ALL THEIR POINTS! PLACING TEAM BAKUGOU IN FOURTH PLACE! AND LOOK, HE'S EVEN GOING AFTER TEAM TODOROKI WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT! WHAT A POINT HOG!"
Obviously finished 'killing' Team Monoma, Katsuki's team turned tail and beelined it for the ten million. Izuku observed as the explosive blonde's team maneuver through the teams still frozen in place, stealing a headband here and there that the greenette's team hadn't managed to get to yet. Green eyes peeked up at the score board to see Team Bakugou's points increased and was bumped up a place with only seconds left.
Crap! If Katsuki's team is in third, that means we're in fourth! Which means we might not be a high enough rank to move on to the final round! Double crap!
"Guys, we need to get more points and back in third!" Izuku called out as he frantically scanned for headbands to steal until he found one. "Over there! Go!"
Following their leader's instructions, Team Midoriya ran towards the closest team that still had points. Izuku had his hands outstretched to reach for their headbands while they defended when Present Mic made his announcement.
"TIMES UP!"
Instantly everyone and everything stopped. Todoroki's defensive stance fell as he lowered his impromptu ice spear. At the same time Katsuki faceplanted into the dirt and began to pound the ground with his fist, raging like a petulant child. Izuku lowered his hand as the team he confronted did the same.
"HOLD THOSE HORSES BECAUSE THAT IS THE END OF THE CAVALRY BATTLE!"
"You're insufferable."
"WITH THE END OF THE SECOND ROUND, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHICH TEAMS WILL BE MOVING ON! IN FIRST PLACE IS TEAM TODOROKI!"
The audience applauded the first-place team that managed to keep their original points throughout the entire battle.
"COMING IN SECOND IS TEAM TETSUTETSU! FOLLOWED BY TEAM BAKUGOU IN THIRD!"
As Present Mic had listed the top teams, the crowd cheer for each one announced. But ever since time had run out, Izuku hadn't been paying attention to that. His eyes were glued to the score board.
4th: Team Midoriya
Fourth. His team came in fourth. Not third, as planned, but fourth. Sure, in the past they would sometimes have the top four teams move on, but that was no guarantee this year. Which was why he strategized to get them in third and stay there. But with last minute point stealing, they ended up in fourth. Did his plan end here? Were they not moving on? Was he not moving on?
"Izuku," Mei said, carefully draping a comforting arm around his shoulders. He had been so distracted that he didn't even notice that his teammates had lowered him down and broken formation. "It's going to be okay."
"B-but what if it's n-not?" Izuku asked, the inevitable Midoriya tears starting to build and were revealed when he lifted his goggles above his eyes. "What i-if fourth isn't enough?!"
"Midoriya," Tokoyami interjected, taking Izuku's attention. "It is indeed alright. Observe."
"Wha?" Izuku said as the dark teen gestured to the screens. The images were split between Present Mic and the qualifying teams that would be continuing to the next round. The top four teams.
"AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY ABSOLUTELY MOST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, OUR FOURTH PLACE QUALIFIER! TEAM MIDORIYA!"
"Eh?!"
"We did it!" Uraraka cheered as she jumped up and down while latched to his arm.
"W-we did it…" Izuku uttered in somewhat disbelief, tears of relief freely flowing from his eyes.
"Indeed, we did," Tokoyami smirked, his arms crossed while Dark Shadow excitedly hugged Izuku around his middle. The greenette absentmindedly pet the spirit, still stunned they would be proceeding to the next round. "Your leadership has led us to victory. I give you my thanks, Midoriya."
"Yeah, thanks, Sun Boy!" Dark Shadow chimed in as it released Izuku but still allowed the boy to pet the entity.
"Of course, we did!" Mei proclaimed, giving Izuku's shoulders a reassuring squeeze with one arm while gesturing wildly with the other. "Hero-kun is a genius when it comes to strategy. His analysis skills combined with our collection of babies and your Quirks on top, there's no way we wouldn't!"
That wasn't exactly true. They could have lost like anyone else. But her level of confidence was hard to argue with. Besides, what did it matter now? They were moving on to the third round. The one-on-ones. The final stage. Where Izuku, along with Hitoshi, was going to prove to everyone that anyone can be a Hero.
Izuku looked at his team as they reveled in their advancement. Soon they would be rivals once more, duking it out against each other to reach the top. But that was something to worry about later. For now, he joined his teammates and celebrated their combined win. Their excitement was hard to ignore and he couldn't help but smile and wipe away the last of his tears.
However, as he looked across the field, his smile dimmed when he spotted Todoroki's team. The ice user's teammates looked pleased with their win…well, most of them. Iida and Yaoyorozu were talking jovially while Kaminari was wandering around, obviously having short-circuited himself with his electric attack earlier. He was still smiling, although dumbly.
But Todoroki himself didn't look very happy. Not that he looked anything but neutral most of the time anyway. Now though, he was glaring at someone in the crowd. Following his challenging gaze, Izuku found he was looking at the Number Two Hero, Endeavor. Todoroki Enji, his father.
Ok, there is definitely something up with that. What happened with Todoroki and his father that would cause this level of hostility? It's on par with Katsuki's anger. Which can't be good.
Izuku had been wondering why Todoroki refused to use his fire since they first met. But with his friend glaring daggers at his own father paired with his past anger when asked about the man, the greenette was officially one hundred percent resolved to find out. And hopefully, possibly find a way to help his friend overcome it. His thoughts were broken slightly as Present Mic spoke up over the speakers.
"WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND ROUND, LET'S TAKE A ONE-HOUR LUNCH BREAK BEFORE THE AFTERNOON PORTION OF THE SPORTS FESTIVAL! HEY, ERASER, WANNA GRAB SOME GRUB?"
"I'm taking a nap."
"WHA?!"
That's so Aizawa-sensei, Izuku thought with a chuckle as he listened to the announcement. Though he was sure Yamada would get him something to eat regardless. It was something he had done regularly while Hitoshi and Izuku had been training with Yamada and Aizawa before the Sports Festival. Bringing snacks and bentos, whether from the combini or homemade, to their training sessions. Anything to keep the tired man from living off of energy juice pouches alone. Which was still creepy to watch him do when he was wrapped up in his yellow sleeping bag by the way.
I still have my suspicions that they may be more than friends.
With that, students and crowd alike broke for lunch. Some went for the food stalls out front while others stuck to the cafeteria to get food from Lunch Rush. Izuku, on the other hand, excused himself from his team after trading back borrowed Support Items with Mei and headed over to Todoroki. His friend hadn't moved from his spot, still glaring at where his father had stood in the stands even though the man had already left.
"H-hey, um, Todoroki-kun?" Izuku stammered nervously, getting the taller boy's attention. Todoroki was still glaring when he turned but his expression softened instantly seeing who had spoken to him.
"Midoriya," Todoroki said, walking closer to his friend and taking his hand in his own in search of comfort. Specifically reaching for the shorter boy's hand with his right hand. "What is it?"
The typically private contact caused the greenette to blush but he didn't pull away and only smiled at the touch, giving an assuring squeeze to the cool hand.
"C-could we talk?" Izuku asked nervously. "P-privately?"
"Sure," Todoroki answered with a small nod.
Izuku gave his own small nod and led the bi-color teen off the field, still hand in hand.
...
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Notes extension: post/635060926092050432/chapter-39-sports-festival-reining-it-in