"This Sports Festival. It's something that the pros—no, the entire country will be watching very closely. Think of the Sports Festival as your debut. You both are the fledgling Symbol of Peace, the next All Might! Izuku Midoriya and Luna Yagi." All Might said intensely. He then clenched his fist. "You two must introduce yourself to the world, and proudly say 'I am here!'"

"But, All Might, that's your catchphrase." Izuku gasped. He exchanged his concern look with Luna. "Besides, what can we do?"

"You know how the Sports Festival system is set up, right?" All Might asked, walking back to the sofa seat.

"Oh yeah. Of course!" Izuku said.

"Students are separated by class year, and then the support, business, general studies, and hero courses all fight against each other in a bunch of preliminary trials. Whoever makes it through the initial games face off in the finals. It's basically a big round-robin tournament." All Might explained. He pointed his index fingers at Izuku and Luna. "Right! Meaning, you and Luna will have plenty of opportunities sell yourself."

"I guess." Izuku said simply.

All Might groaned as he comically fell along with sofa to the ground. Luna covered her mouth, trying not to laugh at her father.

"I'm sorry! I mean, what you're saying is absolutely correct, All Might!" Izuku said frantically. He started muttering. "But honestly, it's kind of hard to get excited about this after everything that just happened at the USJ. Plus, I've already got the world's greatest hero is already teaching me, so the festival probably isn't my only hope of getting scouted by an agency. And besides, I don't know that I can stand right now considering I did so horribly in the fitness tests and can't control One for All very well."

"Man, nobody is better at spouting word vomit than you, kid." All Might remarked, sprouting blood from his mouth.

"Ain't that the truth." Luna muttered in agreement.

"Oh, hey, are you okay?" Izuku asked worriedly.

"Some heroes always aim for the top, while others happily settle." All Might said as he lifted his head from the floor. "That difference between those two mindsets has a big impact how far you go in the real world."

Izuku looked down with a worry expression. Luna placed a comforting hand on Izuku's shoulder.

"I understand how you feel. And I may be even be projecting a bit of myself onto you. However, I hope you haven't forgotten the emotions you felt back at the beach during our training." All Might continued.

Once the school day ended, all Class 1-A students noticed that a huge crowd of students from different classes are blocking their exit out of the classroom.

"U-Um, why the heck are you all here?" Uraraka gasped in surprise.

"Do you students have some sort of business with our class?" Iida asked.

"Why are you blocking our doorway?" Mineta wondered. "I won't let you hold us hostage!"

"They're scouting out the competition, idiots." Katsuki said with a strangely calm look on his face as he began walking towards the crowd. "We're the class that survived a real villain attack."

"Heh, someone's heading to their neutral mode." Diana said with a smirk.

"At least now you know what a future pro looks like." Katsuki said threateningly as he stopped right in front of the crowd. "Now, move it, extras."

"You can't walk around calling people 'extras' just because you don't know who they are!" Iida scolded as he was waving his right arm up and down.

"So, this is Class 1-A." A voice from the crowd spoke up as he began walking past the crowd. He has messy, indigo hair that flares out in large tufts around his head and dark purple half-closed eyes with white pupils and very dark eye bags underneath them. "I heard you guys were impressive, but you just sound like an ass. Is everyone in the hero course delusional, or just you?"

Iida, Mineta, Uraraka, and Izuku frantically shook their heads as Katsuki released an angry growl at Shinso's question.

"How sad to come here and find a bunch of ego maniacs." Shinso explained as he finally stood right in front of Katsuki. "I wanted to be in the hero course, but like many others here, I was forced to choose a different track. Such is life. I didn't cut it the first time around, but I have another chance. If any of us do well in the Sports Festival, the teachers can decide to transfer us to the hero course. And they'll have to transfer people out to make room."

Luna, Selene, Diana, Izuku, Tenya, and Ochaco gasped at Shinso's declaration.

"Scouting the competition?" Shinso continued as he moved his eyes to the other Class 1-A students. "Maybe some of my peers are, but I'm here to let you know that, if you don't bring your very best, I'll steal your spot right from under you. Consider this a declaration of war."

This guy is coming in way too bold. Luna, Diana, and Selene thought.

"Hey, you!" Tetsutetsu yelled abruptly. "I'm from Class 1-B next door to you! We heard you fought some villains, and I came to see if that was true! But you're just a bunch of brats who think you're better than us!"

Man, Class 1-B really hate our class that much. Luna, Selene, and Diana thought.

"Talk all ya want! It'll just be more embarrassing when you're KO'd." Tetsutetsu snapped.

Katsuki walked away without anything else to say.

"Don't you ignore me!" Tetsutetsu shouted in annoyance.

"Dude, where are you going? You gotta say something." Kirishima said as he stood in front of Tenya, Izuku, and Uraraka.

"Yeah, let's not forget. It's your fault they're hating on us, Bakugo." Diana added.

"These people don't matter." Katsuki said simply as he turned his head to Kirishima and Diana.

"Huh?" Kirishima said in confusion.

"The only thing that's important is that I beat them." Katsuki said as he glared back at the crowd with a serious look on his face.

Luna gasped at Katsuki's ambition just as Katsuki walked casually through the crowd.

"Hey! I'm coming for you!" Tetsutetsu yelled to Katsuki.

"I hate that, that was such a manly exit." Kirishima growled as he clenched his fist with a tiny tear.

"It pains me to admit it, but Bakugo does have a point. Despite he just made more pointless enemies for us to deal with." Diana admitted as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Bakugo... Luna thought.

During those two weeks, Class 1-A train individually to prepare themselves for the upcoming Sports Festival.

In Tarot Chariot's card dimension, Tarot Chariot summoned her energy card between her index and middle fingers and unleashed a machine-gun barrage of energy cards at her daughter. Luna sprinted through the energy cards with remarkable speed and incredible reflexes.

In her home's training room, Zodiac Moon began shooting golden arrows that sprout homing blue stars at Selene while circling around her daughter in her Sagittarius form. Selene effortlessly dodged with high-leveled ninjutsu moves. She then surrounded her hands in a light glow of stellar energy and moved through the air to fire stellar energy beams at the homing blue stars with incredible speed.

Outside, Diana's holograms fired green energy blasts at Diana one by one. But Diana sped around the barnyard with natural agility to avoid getting shot by her holograms. Diana then countered with red energy blasts from her hands at themwhile running in different directions.

In the living room, Aisha was meditating above the surface of the floor with a composed face. Amora was sitting on Aisha's crossing legs as they were surrounded by lighting candles levitating in midair. Both of their eyes were glowing in deep green light.

Two weeks later, the day of the U.A. Sports Festival had finally arrived. The school had increased security and the festival was being broadcast live just when Mount Lady, Kamui Woods, and Death Arms are employed as security.

In the Class 1-A waiting room, the students had changed into their P.E. uniforms for the festival.

"Aw, man." Mina whined. "I was totally hoping I could wear my costume."

"At least everyone'll be in uniforms." Ojiro said. "That'll keep things fair, right?"

"I wonder what they have in store for us in the first round." Sato wondered to Shoji and Tokoyami.

"No wonder what they've prepared, we must persevere." Tokoyami said.

"Right." Shoji said with a nod.

Suddenly, Iida opened the door and entered inside the waiting room.

"Everyone, get your game faces on!" Iida shouted. "We're entering the arena soon!"

Selene, Aisha, Luna, and Diana were trying deep, relaxing breaths as they have been prepared for the festival since their training two weeks ago.

"Midoriya. Luna."

Izuku and Luna noticed Shoto approaching in front of them.

"Hey, Todoroki." Izuku greeted.

"What's up?" Luna greeted with a smile.

Everyone turned their attention to Shoto's conservation with Izuku and Luna, especially Katsuki and Aisha.

"From an objective standpoint, I think it's fairly clear that I'm stronger than both of you." Shoto said.

"Uh—Um, yeah." Izuku muttered simply.

"Yeah, what he said?" Luna agreed in confusion.

"However, you two got All Might in your corner, helping you out." Shoto pointed out.

Izuku and Luna gasped in surprise.

"I'm not here to pry about what's going on between you three." Shoto continued. "But know that I will beat both of you."

Izuku and Luna then gasped in disbelief.

"What's with all these declarations of war lately?" Kaminari teased.

Kirishima instantly got up from his seat and approached Shoto, Luna, and Izuku with a worried look on his face.

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Kirishima said. He then placed her hand on Shoto's shoulder. "Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden? And right before we get started…"

"We're not here to be each other's friends." Shoto said as he moved Kirishima's hand away from his shoulder and then turned his attention to Aisha with narrow eyes. "Don't forget. This isn't a team effort."

With that, Shoto turned around to leave the room.

Everyone kept looking at Shoto questioningly as they're clearly not understanding his declaration towards Izuku and Luna.

"Wait a sec, Todoroki." Izuku spoke. He watched Shoto stop walking towards the exit to look back at him. "I don't know what's going through your head or why you think you'd need to tell me and Luna that you'll beat us. I don't know about Luna, but yeah, of course you're better than me. In fact, you probably have way more potential than anyone in the hero course. That's why you got in so easily."

"Midoriya, maybe you're being a little hard on yourself and us." Kirishima spoke.

"No, he's right, you guys. All the other courses. They're coming for us with everything they've got." Izuku declared. "We're all gonna have to fight to stand out. And I'll be aiming for the top, too."

Luna's eyes widened for Izuku's declaration and put on a small smile on her face.

"That goes for me too." Luna said with a determined look on her face.

"Fine." Shoto said.

Katsuki looked at Izuku with a dissatisfying look on his face and then looked at Luna with soft, narrow eyes.

Then, the U.A. Sports Festival had officially began just as Present Mic appeared on the jumbo screen to signal the festival's opening ceremony. The entire stadium was crowded with people from all over the country that were instantly erupted into loud, proud cheers while all the cameramen prepared their cameras for the ceremony. All the hero staffs are seated in a private balcony of the stadium to witness the festival.

"Hey! Make some noise, all you rabid sports fans!" Present Mic announced. "Get those cameras prepped, media hordes! This year we're bringing you some of the hottest performances in sports festival history, guaranteed! I've only got one question before we start this show. Are you ready? Let me hear ya scream as our students make their way to the main stage! This first group are no strangers to the spotlight! You know them for withstanding a villain attack—the dazzling students lighting up your TVs with solid-gold skills! The hero course students of Class 1-A!"

Just then, all Class 1-A students walked out to the stadium, causing the entire audience to cheer for their arrival.

"Woah, so many people." Luna said with a smile as she looked around the stadium.

"Well, of course." Selene said. "It's another aspect of being a hero."

"Once you're a famous pro, you'll get used to the crowding fans." Aisha added. She looked at Diana. "What about you, Diana?"

"I'm so ready to get this festival started." Diana replied with a fiery look on her face.

"They haven't been getting nearly as much screen time, but this next group is still chock full of talent!" Present Mic proclaimed. "Welcome hero course Class 1-B!"

Finally, the rest of the students from other different classes walked out to the stadium, causing the entire audience to cheer for their arrival.

"Next up, general studies classes C, D, and E! Support classes, F, G, and H! And finally, business I, J, and K!" Present Mic continued. "Give it up for all of UA's first-year contestants!"

At the center of the platform stage was the Rated-R Hero Midnight, who was the chief referee for the festival.

"Now, the introductory speech!" Midnight spoke. "And for the student pledge, we have Katsuki Bakugo and Luna Yagi!"

All Class 1-A students astoundingly turned their head to the calm-looking Katsuki and the smiling Luna, who started walking together to the platform stage.

"What the hell?!" Diana exclaimed. "Am I supposed to believe that Bakugo's the first-year rep?"

"Well, just like Luna, he did finish first in the entrance exam." Selene pointed out.

Katsuki and Luna finally stood towards the microphone while everyone from the different classes were waiting for Katsuki and Luna to lead the pledge.

"Hey, Bakugo, how about you go first?" Luna said with a smile.

"Sure." Katsuki said with a shrug. He looked at the crowd of adoring fans and pro heroes. "I just wanna say...I'm gonna win."

"I KNEW HE'D SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!" All Class 1-A students hollered in a mix of shock and annoyance.

Katsuki's speech began garnering an uproar of insults and complains from the crowd of students.

"Why would you be do disrespectful? You're representing us all!" Iida scolded.

"Not my fault the rest of you are just stepping stones to my victory." Katsuki replied with a serious expression as he held out a thumb-down.

"Typical." Diana said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Once a jerk, always a jerk."

Then, Luna rolled her eyes with an annoy look on her face and stepped forward in front of the microphone.

"Hello, everyone. Sorry about Bakugo, but I would like to welcome all participants and of course our beloved teachers to this year's Sports Festival." Luna spoke confidently. "This year will allow us students to develop our athletic performances and fair spirit of sportsmanship to impress the world of sports and heroics alike. So, let's all do our very best and surpass our limits all way to 100%! PLUS ULTRA!"

An uproar of outstanding applause coming from the crowd and students echoed through the stadium as Luna was walking back to her friends.

"Nice speech, Luna." Izuku said with a smile.

"Your speech is obviously way better than Bakugo's." Diana grinned.

"Oh, it was nothing." Luna smiled back. "I just have to give the crowd and our opponents some burst of energy to please them."

After Katsuki descended the stairs of the platform stage while Iida kept scolding him, Midnight went back to catch the students' attention just as the monitor popped up the phrase "The First Game" on the screen.

"Without further ado, it's time for us to get started! This is where you begin feeling the pain! The first fateful game of the festival!" Midnight announced.

Midnight waved her whip in the air that popped up a digitalized monitor screen behind her. The screen started spinning random choices that will make the students participate until it landed on the choice that read "Obstacle Race."

"Ta-da!" Midnight announced.

An obstacle course? Luna, Selene, Diana, and Aisha thought.

"All 11 classes will participate in this treacherous contest." Midnight explained. She looked back at the screen that revealed an image of the track around outside the stadium. "The track is four kilometers around the outside of the stadium. I don't wanna restrain anyone, at least in this game. As long as you don't leave the course, you're free to do whatever your heart desires. Not then, take your place, contestants."

All students from Class 1-A through Class 1-K gathered together in front of the opening entrance. Luna looked at her classmates and her friends that were putting on their game faces.

I have to rely on my brain and my abilities for this course. Luna thought determinedly. I hope you're watching me, mom and dad!

"Start!" Midnight yelled.

All the students immediately began running through the stadium door without wasting any of their time.

"And we're off to a racing start!" Present Mic voiced.

But unfortunately, all the students got packed into a mob by the narrow corridor as their first obstacle as they struggled to exit through the stadium door. Luna, Selene, and Diana were having a hard time getting pass through the crowd.

However, Aisha remained calm until she noticed Shoto was making his move with his right hand.

Just as Shoto began unleashing a powerful blast of icy wind, Aisha turned her entire body intangible and phased through the crowding students to avoid the freezing ice that had spread through the pathway. She instantly sprinted right out of the pathway just after the powerful ice finished freezing the crowded students.

Aisha reappeared tangibly and started running at full speed until she turned over her shoulder to see Shoto already racing his way out of the stadium.

It's been ten years and he still thinks I'm not one step ahead of him. Aisha thought. I would've used my psychokinesis to fly all the way to the finish line, but doing things the easy way isn't really my thing.

Aisha then noticed Katsuki, Diana, Momo, Selene, Yuga, Kirishima, and Luna evading the ice while staying on Shoto's back while neither of them are even aware of Aisha at all.

"Nice trick, Todoroki!" Yaoyorozu said as she balanced herself on an iron pole.

"I won't let you get away so easily, you icy-hot bastard!" Katsuki yelled as he bursted himself dangerously forward with his explosions.

Many other students remained close behind them, leaving Shoto surprise to see that so many of them were able to avoid his attack. Diana was flying through the air with orange aura while Selene enveloped herself in stellar energy glow and Luna sprinted herself at their heightened speeds past several balancing students.

Shoto then looked up to see Aisha right in front of him. He's not sure how Aisha was able to get past his icy attack, but he will keep going to surpass her and win the obstacle race in first place.

Minoru managed to produce his sticky spheres from his head and glued them on the ice as he bounced them one by one in order to reach Shoto, but he was instantly knocked away by the villain bot.

Many villain bots suddenly revealed themselves as the second obstacle, blocking the path of the participants. All the remaining students stared at the machines in horror.

"Targets acquired." One of the one-point villain bots spoke. "Terminate them."

"It's those robots from the entrance exam!" Luna exclaimed.

"Ooh! Enemies have shown up out of nowhere!" Present Mic announced. "I bet we're in for a treat here! A test of strength and cunning! It's a Robo Inferno!"

Shoto gasped slightly in surprise and glanced at Aisha, who was staring at the villain bots with a slight surprise look on her face.

"So, this is what the other students faced in their entrance exams." Shoto said.

"Pretty much, but I wish they'd prepared something a little more difficult." Aisha said.

Shoto swiped his right hand to freeze an entire villain bot with one swift move. Aisha sprang forward towards the robot at remarkable speed and formed a concentration of psychokinesis that took the shape of a large crescent-like blade as she released it to destroy its face with one powerful swing. She then charged forward in the air with her psychokinesis just as Shoto ran forward underneath the robot to catch up to her.

Many students saw this as a chance to pass through easily, but the giant immobilizing robot started crashing down on the crowd and blocking their path.

"That's Rozu and Todoroki from Class 1-A pulling ahead to an early lead with a devastating display!" Present Mic announced. "Amazing!"

Other villain bots confronted the rest of the remaining students, who are all quaking in fear.

I have to get past these robots while looking out for other obstacles. Luna thought.