Only the top 42 students got to move on. The rest went to participate in something else. But I didn't hear what. I wasn't listening…
Because I was starting to really feel how nervous I was…!

'The plant's wearing off.'

Midnight was announcing the second event before most of the students even managed to catch their breath.
'Now's NOT the time to lose focus…!' I chastised myself.
Looking up at the screen, I read what my next hurdle was: a cavalry battle. Midnight explained that each team was to have between 2 and 4 members. The objectives were normal: Just snag your opponents' headbands while guarding your own.

"And your individual point values start at five, at the bottom! So the student who took 42nd place is worth five points, 41st is worth ten.. Get it? But… Our first place participant is worth… TEN MILLION POINTS!"
If I was nervous before, it was nothing compared that moment.

I felt my blood run cold.

"The higher-ranked students are the ones to aim for… This survival game is a chance for a comeback. It's anyone's game!"

I wasn't sure I wanted to, but I looked around myself anyway. And, like I feared, the other students were staring at me.
'The eyes on me are just like back in middle school… Except now, they're… hungry… even more hostile.'
I tried to ignore the stares, focusing on Midnight's explanation instead.

"The match will last 15 minutes. Each team's points are determined by its members. The rider will wear a headband displaying the total number of points!"
A goofy example appeared on the screen - of All Might being held aloft by some of the other teachers. Arrows displayed their individual points, and All Might wore a headband with the total.
"Until the match ends, you'll all compete to grab each other's points and maintain the ones you have."
Another image told us the headbands were only fastened with velcro.
"Any headbands you grab must be worn around the neck or higher. But the more headbands you've got, the harder they'll be to manage!

"Most importantly, even if your headband is taken… and even if your horse formation is broken… It's not over 'til it's over!"
I heard the others discussing what would be easy or difficult about this event. I chanced a glance - and let out a relieved breath. They'd stopped staring!
"Quirks are allowed, so it'll be a brutal battle! However… It's still a cavalry battle! Maliciously attacking another team with the intent of making them fall will get you a red card! And that means you're out of the game!"

"You've got 15 minutes! Time to form your teams!"

All For One watched as Izuku panicked. But, slowly, just as All For One expected… the shock wore off.

Izuku took a few deep breaths.
'Alright! … Alright. I don't need to worry about getting enough points, only keeping the ones I have. That means I can focus on defense, so… Yeah, him… and her…'
With a plan now in mind, Izuku looked around to find his preferred teammates.

All For One smirked. From the way Izuku was moving with purpose, it seemed his pupil had already formed a plan.

Izuku, while looking around, spotted Bakugo, who was surrounded by people from all classes, and all vying to be on his team.
But aside from that…
'Right. Everyone's sticking to their own class. Mostly because we don't know about the other class's quirks… But everyone knows I don't have one, and with my point value…
'They're avoiding me like the plague!

Izuku tried approaching one of his classmates, but he didn't even get a word out before they slinked away with a "Sorry…"
'Great… They must figure that the best strategy isn't to hold on to my points the whole time… but to instead try stealing them at the very end! And since I don't have a quirk, they don't trust me to be able to keep it…'

Then, from behind him, the voice of an angel, "Deku! Team up with m-Whoa."
"Uraraka!" Izuku spun and leapt toward her in excitement.

All For One's smile grew larger. The Plant's effects had definitely worn off, and he was eager to see how Izuku performed under such pressure without its effects, after all his training.

"Y-you mean it?!" Izuku asked her, disbelieving. "Everyone's probably gonna come after me for my ten million-"
"Yeah, but you'll win if you can just run away," Uraraka shined a smile at him, "and teaming up with a friend… just seems right!"

"What's wrong?! You got all ugly!"
"You're just so uraraka I can't bear to look at you, Uraraka…"

Snapping back into serious-mode, Izuku said, "I actually wanted to team up with you too, so thanks! Partnering with someone you get along with is definitely the best option!" His panic, finally, was going away. "Now that we've got your quirk, Uraraka, we just need them…"

With only a few minutes on the clock, the two rushed to gather the other ideal members of their team. All For One listened eagerly to Izuku explain his plan; his pupil was performing better than he'd hoped.
But would this be enough…?

.~*~.

Tokoyami agreed to join Izuku's team easily.

Iida, though…
"... Yes, what Tokoyami said. Despite your weaker nature, you've proven your skills in strategy. I'd expect no less, Midoriya. With our quirks behind you… Yes. I accept as well."

.~*~.

Izuku, Uraraka, Iida, and Tokoyami used the last few minutes to go over their battle strategy a bit more, and before they knew it-
"-Your 15 minutes are up. Time to get started," Midnight announced.

They formed their horse. At first, Izuku's plan was to have Tokoyami as the rider, since he was the strongest. But then Uraraka told him about not being able to make herself weightless without becoming nauseous. So, to keep their formation balanced, she was the rider instead and, for prime maneuverability, Iida was in front.

"LET'S GET A BATTLE CRY! HERE COMES THE STARTING SIGNAL! BLOOD BEGETS BLOOD IN THE U.A. GRAND MATCH!" They heard Present Mic over the speakers, "FORMED YOUR TEAMS? MADE YOUR PLANS? TOO BAD IF YOU HAVEN'T! HERE WE GO! THE COUNTDOWN TO THIS BRUTAL BATTLE ROYALE!"

All the teams took up spots along the outside of the arena.
"THREE!
"TWO!
"ONE!"

"START!"

The teams nearest Team Uraraka immediately rushed them, and someone's quirk caused the ground beneath them to turn into sand.
They were sinking!
"Attacked right off the bat by two teams… Tokoyami, give us some air!" Izuku said.
Tokoyami, using Dark Shadow, lifted them out of the sand - they could jump long and high with Uraraka's Zero Gravity this way.

Jiro used her quirk to grab at their headband as her team passed them, but Izuku parried her, using his extendable bo-staff for the first time during the Festival.

All For One was pleased he'd managed this long without it.

Tokoyami then ordered Dark Shadow to cover their blind spots.

.~*~.

"WELL, BARELY TWO MINUTES HAVE PASSED, BUT THE BATTLEFIELD'S ALREADY CHAOTIC! WITH EVERYONE SCRAMBLING FOR HEADBANDS, IT'S NOT JUST THE TEN MILLION OUT THERE! THOSE OTHER HIGH RANKERS ARE WORTH A SHOT AS WELL!"

When Team Uraraka landed, they were immediately charged again. This time by-
"Huh?! Shoji's alone?! But this is a cavalry battle!" said Izuku.
"We must keep our distance!" Tokyami advised, "Fighting is best avoided!"
Right as he said that, a familiar-looking tongue rushed out of the canopy of Shoji's arms. Dark Shadow blocked it before it could get near Uraraka.
"Good job blocking, Tokoyami…!"

Tsuyu could just be made out in the shadow on Shoji's back.
"Whoa! Is that legal?!" Izuku exclaimed.
"Sure is!" called Midnight.
"TEAM ASUI USES HER SMALLER SIZE TO FORM LESS OF A HORSE AND MORE OF A TANK!"

Iida sped them away and out-of-range of Tsuyu's tongue, but they still weren't allowed a breather. Because, out of nowhere…
"Getting pretty full of yourself, huh, you bastard!"

… Bakugo came charging at them through the air!

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