Obstacle Course
"Oh, my sweet baby!" Tomoko threw her arms around Terra neck and squeezed.
"Mom," Terra wheezed out. "You really didn't have to come. I'm not going to win anything here."
"Don't talk like that." Tomoko held Terra at arms link and gave her a pointed look. "You could if you wanted to."
"Well, I don't want to. So I'm not going to. I've decided I'm only here to support Sho-chan." Terra looked at her uncle. "Uncle Toshi, can you get Mom to her seat? I need to get changed."
"Sure thing." Toshinori ruffled Terra's hair. "Do you best, okay? At least give it a decent try. For me?"
Terra sighed. "Fine. I'll do it for you. But don't expect me to win. I'm not going to."
"Okay, okay. That's good enough." Toshinori patted her head then walked down the hall with Tomoko.
"Be careful!" Tomoko waved before disappearing round the corner.
Terra released another sigh before heading into the changing room. The girls were already inside getting dressed for the event.
"Ribbit. Terra, you're here," Asui said. "I was starting to wonder if you would show up."
"Mom wouldn't let me go." Terra opened a locker and set her bag inside then started changing.
"This is so exciting!" Ashido gushed.
"I know!" Hagakure agreed.
"I'm so nervous." Uraraka pressed a hand to her chest. "I hope I don't throw up."
"There's no reason to be nervous," Yaoyorozu said. "Just think of this as another day in class."
"With a couple million more people watching us." Asui pressed her finger to her chin. "Ribbit."
"Why did you have to say that?" Yaoyorozu groaned.
Terra's stomach tightened at the fact that this event was being broadcast to the public. Not to mention all the people that would be in the stands watching them.
This was a bad idea. What was she thinking agreeing to do all of this? She could hurt so many people here. How many of those in the stands were heroes? How many were civilians? Would they be able to block her if she ended up attacking?
A cold panic rushed from the inside out as her past came rushing back to her. The walls started closing in on her, clamping down on her lungs making it hard to breath. This was a mistake. She had to leave. This whole thing was a mistake. She had to run. Her body turned towards the door. This would be her only chance to get away from this.
A hand landed on her shoulder. "You okay?"
Terra started. Warmth from the hand pushed the coldness away. She glanced around to find the walls were where they should be. Then her eyes landed on her Asui. "What?"
"You look a little pale," Asui said.
"You're not going to be sick, are you?" Uraraka asked.
"No, it's not…" Terra shook her head. Her heartbeat started to settle at the thought of her best friend and uncle. Todoroki and All Might were here. Nothing bad was going to happen. "It's nothing. I guess it completely hit me just now that this event is going to be broadcast for the whole public to see. I'm more nervous than I thought I would be."
"Try and relax." Yaoyorozu walked over. "Use your soothing music if you need it. There's no rules against listening to music during this event."
Terra glanced at Birdie, her mechanical companion that was always by her side. If only her best friend and All Might could be right now. They were what really kept her stable and grounded.
"It's time. We should go," Hagakure said.
"You ready?" Uraraka asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Terra closed her locker and followed the girls out. Her hands shook as she walked behind the girls. Pulling out an ear bud from Birdie she turned on her music to soothe herself. Her eyes darted all over the hallway. Other students from opposing schools were also making their way to the arena. She eyed as many as possible in an attempt to gather as much information on them as she could, but there were too many. They weaved in and out of each other. Their words mixed together into a jumbled mess. The coldness seeped back into her core. Again she thought about how this was a bad idea. Again she thought about running. And again a warm hand stopped her. This hand took hers and gave it a squeeze.
"You're going to be fine," Todoroki said. "All Might's here. As are several other heroes, including my old man. Nothing bad is going to happen. And don't forget that I'm here too. If anyone wants to hurt you then they'll have to get through me first."
"I know. I'm trying to relax. Thanks, Sho-chan."
"Stay close to me."
Terra nodded. She was going to do just that. Well, as long as the events permitted it. Since the individual events were different every year she had no idea how much time they would be spending together in close proximity.
Ojiro stepped up beside Terra. "You look nervous."
"Try terrified." Terra managed a weak smile for her friend as her heart did its best to beat out of her chest.
"Relax. You're going to be great." Ojiro squeezed her shoulder.
"I just hope to get through this in one piece," Terra said. "I'll probably be fine once this gets started. Uh, good luck."
"Luck to you too." Ojiro nodded.
"Yeow! Hello all you wonderful men and women! This year's high school rodeo of rising young heroes that you all love, the UA sports festival is about to begin! Everybody, areyou ready?!" Present Mic's voice boomed out over the stadium and into the entrance way where they all were waiting. Cheers of excitement followed his words. "It's time for the first years to make their entrance!"
Terra squinted into the light as they left the shadows of the hall. Cheers rose up from the crowds, almost drowning out her hammering heart. She glanced up at the stands, hoping to see All Might in the crowd, but there were so many people she had no idea where he would be sitting. She should have asked him when she had the chance. Surely the faculty of UA had predetermined seats.
They came to a stop at a platform.
"Welcome, one and all, to the UA sports festival! The huge battle where fledgling heroes sharpen their swords once a year!" Present Mic shouted. "And these youngsters before you are those rising heroes! The miraculous new stars that have overcome enemy attacks with their hearts of steel! Hero course, Class 1-A!"
The crowd roared again.
"Wow! There are so many people watching us! I feel nervous having so many eyes on me!" Hagakure's hips swung back and forth.
"Man, Present Mic sure is going overboard with that introduction. He's practically putting an even bigger target on our backs. I'm starting to get a little nervous too," Kirishima said. "What about you, Bakugo?"
"Naw. I'm just getting more into it!" Bakugo grinned.
Terra pushed up on her toes to see the two boys at the front of their class. Both, despite Kirishima's words, were relaxed. She wondered if Bakugo got nervous at all. With how assertive he is she figured not.
They waited for the other classes to get introduced and to enter. As Present Mic called their class they came in. Class 1-B was next. They were followed by the general studies classes, support course classes, and the business course classes. They stood with Class 1-A and waited for it all to start.
Terra turned her attention to the stage when a woman wearing a body tight suit and angled red glasses and long dark hair appeared there. She lifted her arm and flicked a flogger-styled whip into the air.
"Now is the time for the player pledge!" the woman announced.
"Wh-what?! That's the R-Rated Hero: Midnight! What is she doing here? Is she a teacher too?" Midoriya gasped.
Terra tilted her head as she swept over her fellow first years and found that the majority of the males were blushing with Mineta being the only one staring boldly at the woman with gritted teeth with a thumb up from both hands.
"Presenting the students is Katsuki Bakugo from Class 1-A!" Midnight held out her hand.
Bakugo stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled up to the stage with his always-present scowl. He got to the microphone and paused for a second. He then opened his mouth and said, "I just wanted to say that I'm going to with this event."
The other classes booed and glared at his bold announcement.
"Well, at least he knows what he wants." Terra noted the hostile looks from other classes as they glared at the blonde boy. She leaned into Todoroki. "Though I think he's made a lot of enemies just now."
Todoroki grunted, disinterested.
"Why are you doing something so disgraceful?!" Tenya said with his hand furiously chopping the air.
Bakugo left the platform and joined his class.
"Now then, let's get started right away!" Midnight said as she lifted the microphone from its stand. "The first game is what you'd call a qualifier round. Every year, many drink their tears of failure here! Now, here is the fateful first game." A screen lit up behind her. Little card like sections were on the screen before they started spinning like a slot machine. "This year qualifying round is…" The slots stopped moving. "An obstacle course race!" The screen shifted to show the stadium. A line appeared where the students were standing and traced the outline of the course as Midnight explained. "The course will be the outer circumference of this stadium, which is about four kilometers!" Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses and she licked her lips. "Our school's main selling point is freedom. So as long as you stay on the course, it doesn't matter what you do! Yes, that means you can use your quirks or gadgets to help you win this round. Now, take your places everyone and stand by in front of the red gate! That is the starting line!"
The students turned to a red gate with three lights on top.
"An obstacle course should be easy enough." Terra glanced at the other students. "Well, if we knew what the other students quirks were."
"Stay close to me," Todoroki said. "I can help you if you need it."
"I will." Terra turned her attention back to the gate. One of the lights had lit up. She rolled her shoulders then stood ready to race. The second light turned green. Terra flexed her hands. The third light lit up.
A blaring horn followed Midnight's voice. "Go!"
Thundering feet filled the air as the students bolted in a mass group. The problem was obvious, Terra noted, her eyes locked on the passage in front of them. There were more people than space in this tunnel. If they weren't careful they would get jammed in with everyone. Her eyes drifted to the ceiling near the exit. She snapped out a vine from her hand, embedding it in the stone. With her other hand she offered a vine to Todoroki. When his hand closed around her vine she pulled them up and swung them to the front of the herd.
"Hey!" someone cried out. "That's not fair!"
"That has to be against the rules!" another said.
"Midnight already told us the rules." Ojiro's voice floated above the thundering feet. "She said nothing about not helping each other. It's fair."
Terra wondered if she should have helped Ojiro too. But the thought vanished when she saw him leap above the rest. He smirked at her. He must have used his tail to get ahead of everyone else. Smart move. A wave of cold made her shiver. Ice shimmered in her peripheral vision before it spread out behind them. They landed in front of the ice path Todoroki had made. "Not bad."
"And we're off to a great start despite the pile up inside of the tunnel!" Present Mic's voice boomed from somewhere above them. "With Todoroki and Tanaka taking an early lead with the help of Tanaka's plant quirk! But the rest of Class 1-A hot on their heels despite Todoroki's icy attack! How cool!"
"Like I'd let you two get away that easily!" Bakugo shouted.
Terra glanced back over her should to find the explosion boy sailing at them with rapid blasts from his hands. Behind him several of their classmates were easily maneuvering through the ice trap with their quirks. A few others from the other courses were also making their way across the ice easier than she had expected. "Seems like more were prepared for that."
"I expected our classmates, but not the others," Todoroki said. "This might be harder than expected."
Terra nodded.
Suddenly giant green robots appeared in front of them, casting dark shadows over those in front of the race.
Terra's body moved to skid to a stop.
"Keep running!" Todoroki said as if he sensed her intention.
"Right!" Terra held up her hand and curled her fingers towards her palm. Vines sprouted out from the ground. They shot up and wrapped around the robots' arms, holding them in place.
Ice crackled and spread up the robots' legs. "Careful now. I froze those things off balance on purpose."
The ice snapped. Metal groaned as the robots fell to the ground.
Terra and Todoroki continued to run then came to an abrupt stop at the face of a canyon. Terra peered over the edge. "How in the world did they do this so quickly?"
"Doesn't matter." Todoroki shot out an ice bridge for them despite ropes leading from one rock mass to the next. "Let's go."
Terra followed him across the ice bridge, keeping her fingers as vines in case they were needed. When they got a fourth of the way across Todoroki collapsed the part of the bridge they had already passed so no one else could use it.
Reaching the other side they jumped to the ground and ran.
Terra pulled a water bottle from her belt and took a gulp before holding it out for Todoroki. When he shook his head she placed the bottle back in its holder.
"Hold it!" Todoroki's arm shot out in front of Terra, stopping her short.
"What?" Terra looked ahead to a dirt path. In several places it was obvious the dirt had been disturbed. That's when she noticed the sign to her right. They had reached a minefield.
"Yes, people. You are not seeing things. Those are mines planted in the ground," Present Mic said. "Todoroki and Tanaka, who have been in the lead, have reached the final barrier of the obstacle course! It's set up so that you can tell where the mines are if you look carefully! So you have to look carefully if you don't want to go boom! But don't worry. Those things won't actually kill you. They were designed only to slow people down!"
"Geez. Kill or not this seems a bit too far." Terra blinked. "All well. Allow me to get us through this one." With a wave of her hand several thick vines rose up from between the mines. The vines curled into footpaths for them to use.
"Good job." Todoroki smiled.
"What's that for?" Terra asked.
"Nothing. Let's go." Todoroki jumped out onto the first vine.
Terra huffed. It wasn't normal for Todoroki to smile. Still she had no idea why he would smile at this point in time. She didn't do anything funny.
"Hurry up. They're closing in," Todoroki called. "And don't forget to put the vines back underground. You're not allowed to help anyone else during this event."
"Fine." Terra followed with ease and returned the vines back to the ground as he had suggested.
"Amazing!" Present Mic said. "Without trouble Tanaka is easily helping herself and Todoroki across the minefield with creative use of her vines!"
Terra groaned and almost slapped herself. "So that's it. You're smiling because I'm using my quirk more than I wanted."
Todoroki's grin reappeared.
Terra growled. Despite her desire to not get noticed during this event it was happening anyway.
"Now Iida has arrived at the minefield as well." A pause. "And what's this? Bakugo has arrived and those four are neck in neck, fighting for the top! Rejoice, mass media! This is the heated competition you've all been waiting for!"
"Out of my way, Icy Hot!" Bakugo growled and began exchange attacks with Todoroki.
Terra held her back from attacking. It was painfully obvious that she had nothing to counter Bakugo's blasts.
A boom came from behind them. Terra, Todoroki, and Bakugo looked back to see what was happening. In the bight light was a dark spot that grew larger and larger. Then Terra noticed it was Midoriya. The green haired boy was soaring through the air clutching a piece of armored plating of one of the robots. Was he the cause of that blast? What was he thinking?! Sure Present Mic said those mines weren't harmful… but surely they would be if you piled a lot together.
"Class 1-A's Midoriya is in hot pursuit with that blast!" Present Mic shouted. "Actually, he's taken the lead! What an unexpected development this is! The three formerly at the lead who had been fighting each other are now chasing Midoriya! Now that they've had a common enemy, their fight is over! Midoriya swiftly blocks those behind him! Would you believe it? He cleared the minefield in an instant! Eraser Head, your class is amazing! What are you teaching them?!"
"I didn't do anything," came the calm voice of their homeroom teacher. "They're fired up on their own."
"There's the end!" Terra said when she spotted the path that led them back into the arena.
Midoriya managed to hold onto first place as they crossed back into the arena.
Terra came in fourth behind Bakugo and Todoroki. She came to a stop and placed her hands on her knees, gasping for air.
"They're finishing one after another!" Present Mic shouted. "We'll make a list of the results later, but for now, good work!"
Terra reclaimed her water bottle. The water chilled her throat as it slid down. "At least that parts over with." She wiped sweat from her forehead and passed Todoroki her water bottle. "I wonder what else they have in store for us."