Chapter 9: Until Tomorrow
Ochako
"When did Sport Festivals become such a serious affair?" Gamps asks aloud as he watches her pack. On top of her extra snacks and water there are her training bands from Nishimura-sensei which he advised could help keep her nausea further at bay if for just a few minutes longer.
"Only since the best of the best top Pro-heroes became known for watching them to recruit graduates to their agencies is when! Geez, Gamps you know this already from when you had those field days that allowed you to show off your speed quirk when you were school!" Ochako huffs, looking up from her bag to give him a mock glare.
Mr. Kimura lightheartedly sticks his tongue out in return, chuckling. Ochako was such a bundle of nerves despite her outward excitement even though he and his wife knew she would do just fine in impressing all those who were coming to the event.
"We're going to do what we can selling a few assets hopefully to stave off declaring bankruptcy. If worse comes to worse, let us be the ones to give Ochako the news." Mr. Uraraka related.
Their phone conversation had barely been just a minute or two, threaded with a sadness and uncertainty of the future.
So for now he and Gamma would keep their promise to not tell Ochako how bad things were truly getting with the construction company. The last thing they wanted was their only daughter stressed and distracted by a matter she couldn't control.
But they can only delay the truth for so long...
"You and Gamma should come watch! I can get you guys some tickets since Mom and Dad won't be able to come in." Ochako suggests, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Sure! I know Gamma will enjoy getting out of the house!" He muses in return, beaming.
He'll do his best to keep that smile on her face even if it means keeping her in the dark.
The sun is getting close to setting now, sky lit in a mix of peach pink to sunflower gold that reminds him of the old farm back home.
"Let's git ya back to your apartment before nightfall hits, you'll need plenty of rest for these coming days ahead so no staying up late!" Mr. Kimura advises lightly as he gathers her bag to head back to the car.
This will probably be the last weekend for the awhile that Ochako spends over at their house.
"Alright, I'll call you or Gamma with the information for each event and time as soon as I find out!" Ochako relates as they pull up at her apartment's entrance, giving him one final hug and wave before getting out.
She feels his gaze on her until she is safely inside, pausing to check her phone while she waits for the elevator.
'Still no new texts or calls from Mom or Dad...' She wonders.
At least they had confirmed her latest photos had gone through, though it was a bit unnerving not to get a proper response yet on how they're doing besides vague answers. Perhaps business at the construction sites were starting to pick up again, Dad had mentioned briefly he was in talk with some popular firms around the area.
Hope bloomed in her chest then, maybe there would be some industries at the sports festival she could talk with as well. She'd long since memorized everything from Mom's sale pitches to all of Dad's quick bullet points describing the company to get someone interested.
Her bed is still scattered with flyers from U.A.'s past events held over the years immortalizing old student's confident grins down to focused stares about to take on their opponent. U.A.'s faculty as usual is keeping tight lipped on the main events for this year to avoid the media finding out early leaving even their current students in the dark if things are going to change or not.
'Last year they had the main tournament and relay, I wouldn't be surprised if they go for doing at least one of those again as they are the most popular ones that bring out the sponsors and Hero agencies.' Ochako considers.
Just as she is gathering up the pamphlets into a stack does her phone light up with a series of beeps.
Ah, Iida since starting this group chat for Class 1-A has been actively sending them reminders just as serious as if he were talking to them all directly.
"Everyone, get a good night's sleep for tomorrow!" She reads.
And before she can stop herself she scrolls through her phone to Deku's name, texting him a variation of the same that she is excited for tomorrow and everything this week into the next has in store for them.
This is just as much a chance for more people to see the good he can do, that his quirk is not what all the media and news articles have already declared.
He answers her straightaway, faster than she expected making her stomach flip and cheeks warm.
"Same! If there's any tag-team events we should connect! I've thought of some new techniques of how Zero Gravity can be used offensively and defensively if you ever want any further advice."
Heat prickles and slides down her neck reading his message twice over, heartbeat drumming into her ears filling the silence of her room.
No, she can't take his advice as good as it probably is...
It's best to use her own strategies she's come up with to counter each of her classmate's quirks should she have to face them one on one.
She's even thought up techniques should she have to face him.
But she thanks him all the same, noting that she already has a few methods in mind bouncing a few ideas off of each other.
It won't be just Gamps, Gamma, or even Nishimura-sensei she wants to see her in action, a new thought suddenly trickling in making her nervous and elated all at once.
Deku will be watching her too.
-X-
Izuku
'How long was I talking to Uraraka for?!'
The red glow of his alarm clock in the darkness confirms at least over an hour.
When did it become this easy for him to talk to a girl? And for so long!
But then again Uraraka doesn't make him so nervous anymore even when he's tumbling over his words or going into a long tangent over the various quirks of their classmates without pause.
Ah, but he shouldn't be thinking about this, not when the sports festival truly kicks off in just a few hours from now. All Might will be looking forward to seeing him truly in action and more so there will be plenty of potential recruiters he can intern with in attendance.
'So them what you're made of Young Midoriya!' All Might's voice echoes to the forefront of his mind.
Hopefully someone will be interested in him.
His gaze moved to old scratches and scars lining his hands going up his arms from the results of training with All Might to Aizawa-sensei's vigorous exercise drills. Infliction and One for All were strong yes, but without proper control nobody is going to take him seriously in wanting to accept him at any Hero agency.
Or worse, they'll be too afraid...
He swallows back a rising apprehension swirling at his gut before that thought can sink in, breathing slowly in and out until his thoughts calm.
It's not the best sleep, but he doesn't feel the lingering dullness of any headache when his alarm blares him awake. A noticeable haze blankets the streets as he pulls his curtains open, the familiar bluish-orange light of the sky just after 5:00 am, of most of the city still asleep this early in the day. Even on the weekends or days off, his body is too used to being up at this time of day now to sleep in.
'Mom must still be sleeping.' Izuku determines, tiptoeing through the darkness towards the kitchen at seeing her closed door.
"I want to go sweetie, I'll take care of all the household chores early and then head over! I definitely want to be cheering you on no matter what!" Inko related excitedly.
Infliction hadn't just drastically changed his life, for better or worse his Mom was affected by his actions as well and briefly he wonders if she is receiving any troubling looks or scornful remarks behind her back regarding him whenever she goes out and about that she refuses to mention or concern him with.
'Don't think about that right now.'
He pulls out his phone to scroll through Musutafu's latest morning updates as a distraction, willing away images of scowling faces and narrowed eyes. That's behind him now, he just needs to keep moving forward.
"You're here early!" Uraraka chirps out with a wave midway up to U.A., Iida waving with increased vigor beside her. A few more of their classmates from 1-A nod or wave in their direction too, even Shinso catching his eye with a nod in his direction before heading in the opposite direction.
Kacchan is nowhere in sight until they reach the classroom, avoiding his stare outright now.
"I hope you guys are excited for U.A.'s Sport Festival this year, I know I am." Aizawa drawls as he walks in with coffee in hand, tone utterly lacking the true enthusiasm to match his statement.
He waits for the actual whooping and cheering to die down, nodding towards the projector.
"As I'm sure some of you have already heard, we the faculty here at U.A. have decided for this year to change up the usual activities done in order for more students from all the classes to have a better opportunity to show off the versatility of their quirk not just to us, but to any potential recruiters in the stands. Make sure to not hold back, no matter what task is at hand." He explains.
He taps a finger towards Day 1 written already on the board: Today.
"The Scavenger Hunt Begins Now, you all have exactly 2 hours left from this point forward. Good Luck."
And as soon as the words leave his lips are they shrouded in an eruption of smog.
-X-
Katsuki
'Of course we're not giving much info on how this is going to even fucking work.' He clenches his teeth.
Why a scavenger hunt of all things anyways? There must be more to it than that if they're being timed on this...
There is an immediate stampede of noise surrounding him as the haze begins to clear, in bold red letters across the board now is there apparent first clue.
'Go back to where it all started, in between the letters.' He reads before scowling.
Started? It must be referring to the entrance of U.A.
From the corner of his eye he sees Deku read the sentence twice over before moving into action out the door with the rest of their peers.
He can't let him get ahead of him again, he'll fight through any pain he or anybody tries to throw at him as he rockets himself over the already packed hallways to get ahead.
'Villain.'
That word never stung before until he heard it directly from All Might, All Might who reminded how he teeters too closely to being seen that way by both his classmates to strangers.
Well fuck what they think, ignoring icy and sharp glares on his back. If he scored well enough in all of this he could easily find a Hero who could give him more insight to what else All Might had kept from that day, the reason behind his coughing that was enough to draw blood...
He knows he's not a villain even if some people think of him that way, he doesn't need to change anyone's minds unlike Deku.
A crowd has already gathered under the gleaming letters of U.A.'s main entryway, students from every freshman class milling about. Parts of the normal training areas have been changed to match this and the next challenges ahead he notes, grass and dirt covering where there was once pavement.
And sitting right between the letters atop the building is a mass of villain robots, lasers all pointed in their direction. Present Mic slides into view from behind them, beaming.
"If any of you want to get this next clue you'll need to get through this horde and be warned, I only have a limited number to give out in order for you to continue!" He chirps out holding up a series of envelopes before unleashing the machines.
'Easy shit they're starting us off with.' Katsuki scoffs.
One use of his Explosion firing off and the machines beginning to crowd him melt, but it is in that very moment watching as each robot gives out a series of final beeps do they let loose a spray dark as ink coating his knees down to his legs.
The substance reeks of oil and waste, sticking quickly before calcifying.
"What is this? I can't move!" A guy beside him immediately panics watching as the murky material clings and crawls up his legs. The bursts of wind he creates does nothing to crack it, only inching further and further until it is at the tips of his knees.
He doesn't have the luxury of a quirk that can break this gluey component these robots give off when destroyed or can't properly think of a way to wiggle his body out of it as fear sets in.
At least he won't be alone though (there are dozens of others trapped who have it on both their arms and legs). The stickiness to his own legs gives way to the heat of his blast and once more he peers through the crowd for Deku.
His trademark green hair sticks out, white envelope in hand already leaving the scene.
'Damn it, he's getting ahead.'
Not for long though he quickly reminds himself as he launches himself forward past anymore robots until he is face to face with Present Mic, retrieving one of his final envelopes in hand that will allow him to continue.
It's only a minor setback for now.
Because this gap in speed and power between him and Deku will be broken before this tournament is over.
-X-
Ochako
'Near the groves where the countdowns start; the landscape where all the elements cross.' Ochako repeats over in her head. The first part of this clue is throwing her a bit off, forests surround U.A.'s campus from pretty much every side unless it is possibly referring to training facilities which are a network of steel buildings and lines.
Elements. That could be referring to a region of the campus in which dirt, grass, and water overlap.
There are much fewer students about now, a good chunk left in whatever that viscous material was used for the villain robots.
"I think I have an idea of where it is." A voice whispers next to her making her jolt.
Deku.
Alarm crosses her face making her stomach coil, looking around hastily. "Really?! Wait, I don't think we're supposed to be helping each other."
Izuku only blinks in return, peering around as well. It seemed like all who are left have broken off into mini alliances of 2 to 3 people in trying to hurriedly understand the meaning behind this clue before they risk getting left behind.
"Aizawa-sensei never mentioned anything about not using teamwork. The point is to finish this and not fall into a trap before time is up and that can be done by working together! Um, I mean if you want to that is; I don't want to force you to team up if you would rather work solo..." He emphasizes quickly trailing off, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
Part of her fleetingly wonders if Deku experiences this too around her seeing his flushed cheeks, of this annoying sensation of a twisting in her chest that warms and frightens her all at once that she keeps losing control of...
But it doesn't matter.
'Silly feelings won't make you into a proper Hero or are you already forgetting about the Mom and Dad's construction companies? The money they keep burning through pretending everything is fine?' A colder thought snaps at her.
Her cruel reminder, the new apathetic voice of her inner thoughts which as of late lulls her into nightmares of the business indeed failing causing her to wake at odd hours too sweaty, anxious...
And feeling overwhelmingly alone.
"My guess is it's the P.E. grounds or the old training grounds on the east side. They both have areas that contain grass, sand pits, and water if you count the fountains." Ochako murmurs back, gathering her thoughts.
Deku nods at her suggestions and these bitter, vile thoughts fall away again for now.
"Hmm, well we only visited those old grounds when they first gave us a tour of the campus, it wasn't the best maintained area considering the overgrowth of grass and vines along the rusted sides of the metal fences. I think we'll have better luck with the P.E. grounds." Izuku decides.
Ochako nods her agreement as they move to pick up the pace, but not without feeling the prickling sensation they are being watched.
She discreetly looks over her shoulder then; she's right.
Shoto Todoroki.
'Endeavor's son.' She recalls from the gossip of a pair of second years in the hallway when he had walked by.
He sticks out despite being a first year with his striking red and white hair, the son of the number 2 hero with a dual quirk of ice and fire...
Though she's never witnessed him use said fire, at least not during any of the drills Aizawa-sensei has put them through.
He reminds her of Katsuki in a way seeing his dark expression except where Katsuki is loud and abrasive he is quiet and aloof, watching everyone around him without interacting or putting in much of a say to the conversations at hand.
The sharpness of his gray and turqouise eyes are not for her however, observing as they practically burn holes into Deku's back.
-X-
Izuku
'He keeps watching me.'
The first time he thought Shoto was merely analyzing the competition of who would be his most difficult opponents to face off against in counteracting his quirk, however that isn't the case.
He is specifically targeting him out of the crowds and he isn't sure what to do about it yet.
"Ah, Thirteen is here!" Uraraka breathes out by his side, auburn eyes widening at mini vortexes of air she's creating keeping all students at bay.
The 3rd and final clue resides behind her tied to the largest oak wood tree over the fence. Either some have been blown away by the power of her quirk or there really is what looks to be just a dozen or so left not yet claimed.
'We have only about a little less than an hour left. Black hole can suck anything into it, but Thirteen would cut it off before truly endangering us. I could use Infliction to twist her arm in the opposite direction perhaps out of the way of us, but that would leave too large of an opening for other people to pass and get to the envelopes before us. It has to be some type of distraction that wouldn't risk hurting any of the other students too much, but still give us an advantage.' He determines.
"Move out of my way unless you want to get burned by my Explosion!" He hears Kacchan's voice from behind him, indeed shooting out a flurry of blasts barreling straight ahead right past them before launching himself up over Thirteen's cyclone before he can be in it's path.
His eyes meet his briefly just as he hurdles himself up over the fence, crimson orbs taunting him.
"We can use my Zero Gravity to get us over while you use Infliction to distract Thirteen." Uraraka suggests just as Thirteen turns her black hole in their direction. She steadies herself with his arm before she can topple to the ground like so many others around them, activating her quirk lifting them up.
"I won't let you two get over that easily!" She calls out them about to try and send them flying off and Izuku takes a deep breathe, concentrating.
'Turn Around.'
He's never witnessed someone actively try to fight Infliction's power, Thirteen pausing for the briefest of seconds as her body shifts no longer doing as she wants.
A pang of a headache coming slices through, but still he needs to create another command.
'Start walking back.'
"Good, let's go!" Uraraka declares as soon as Thirteen's back is turned away slowly stepping forward, guiding them over the fence before Infliction can deactivate. They rush and nearly tear up the two envelopes they snag, eyes skimming quickly over their final objective.
'Make a left from here until you reach the bend, take the path up to where metal can be used for old and new. They read together.
'The developmental studio!' Izuku concludes, Uraraka thinking the same when he looks her way.
"Jerk! You had her attack launch on us!" A boy snaps out, the rest of his words swallowed away by Black Hole as he attempts to roll out of the onslaught of it's force. He doesn't dare look back to see his or anyone else's furious looks.
'I'm in a no-win situation.' He wants to retort, because either he can stand by helplessly and be seen as weak or he can use Infliction and be seen as cruel.
"You should always be aware of your surroundings, didn't All Might teach you that?" Another person questions from in front of them, Shoto observing him from a wave of ice he has created along the ground.
His tone is sharp, laced with the knowing already of his connection to All Might but not yet of the secret he has promised to keep buried...
-X-
All Might
'Young Midoriya did well for himself. He didn't finish in first, but he wasn't trapped and ultimately disqualified from participating in the next events.' Toshinori muses, studying the cameras as he reaches Ectoplasm at the goal.
"I didn't realize your successor's primary quirk could do such things." Thirteen voices behind him.
Yes, some of the faculty never witnessed Young Midoriya during the entrance exams against the villain robots. Now seeing firsthand just how much Infliction can turn the tables on them is both amusing and worrying. He knows just about the same amount of information as the rest of them do, minus revealing that his emotional state can make him cause potential unnecessary harm to his opponent.
"His point wasn't to harm you though, just to get you away from the scene and focusing on him. He's still learning to control it." He explains.
He feels like he always has to explain Young Midoriya won't use Infliction negatively if he can help it, won't be the monster they first thought of him as...
It's late afternoon now, Chiyo recovering any injured students while Aizawa has left to discuss the details of tomorrow's event with the remaining students. Tomorrow will be when they can truly show off their quirk's power and all they learned so far to family, friends, recruiters, and anyone else they invited to see them in action.
"I'm concerned he doesn't realize just how much that quirk of his can do, he never actually willed me to shut off my quirk temporarily when I turned around. I can see why a few students in the other classes are still concerned or have their reservations about being near him for too long despite 1-A having warmed up to him." She emphasizes as she takes a seat beside him.
'Midnight noticed it too.' Toshinori sighs.
But, Young Midoriya has proven not to be a danger to himself or others and it is this that he knows rings true to his fellow co-workers.
"He'll be keeping everyone on their toes for the capture the flag event." Thirteen relates.
Toshinori only nods, taking in his glowing smile as he and Uraraka congratulate themselves with Iida soon joining in as well.
There's a possibility this could be his only opportunity to witness him truly in action for the rest of the Sports Festival.
Because there's been too many reports of counterfeit tickets or disguises being used in an attempt to get into the stadium, worse so are the whispers that have come his way it is those with ties to the League of Villains scoping out the newest batch of freshmen...
-X-
U.A. Sports Stadium
'What am I supposed to be looking for?'
It's hard enough to pretend he is normal sitting here, not when he has the urge to unleash his toxin on this whole arena, especially onto that damn snacks vendor who questioned the authenticity of his money.
These smiling faces and eager cheers are just too unnerving mixed in with the sunlight beating down on him when he's so used to the comfort night and darkness brings, stomach churning wondering if he truly is sticking out too much in his long sleeves and mask wedged deeply in his jacket pocket.
His hands feel sweaty, curling and uncurling them to hopefully shake away his nerves.
'Just do as the boss asked, that's how you'll prove yourself.' He reminds himself. He won't get a chance like this again, the rewards outweigh the risks as long as he can complete this properly without getting caught.
But it's all easier said than done.
He swallows at how dry his mouth feels, glancing down into the stadium to see if anybody sticks out as groups of students begin to pour out onto the field.
Anybody that can be manipulated.
Rumors have circulated there are freshman students here with unique quirks, strong and dangerous in the right circumstances...
"I'll be the judge of that." Mustard whispers under his breathe as the opening ceremony commences.
-x-
Coming up with scavenger hunt clues wasn't the easiest thing, I'm not even sure if they were that good. However, I'm looking forward to next sections even if fight scenes aren't my forte I'll be changing who faces who. A mix of sweet and sad moments coming for both Izuku and Ochako (insulin and tissues may be needed)! I appreciate any and all thoughts if you want to throw your two cents in.
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!