Chapter 25:

(Okay, so Sports Festival time! This should be an adventure, I guess. This is where I wanted to write a few changes, they'll show. Quick reminder that THIS is where we'll check on Claus and his part in the story. So, enjoy!)

This was it. The Sports Festival was here! It was packed with so many stands for accessories, food items. Tons of folks were excited.

Some wanted to see the 3rd year students go all out since it was their last chance to do so, while most were hoping to see how strong Class 1-A. Security was super tight, since the USJ attack. Pros were even called, not just for scouting, but guarding.

The class was waiting in their waiting room. "I was totally hoping I could wear my costume." Mina said, slightly disappointed. "Aw, man. At least everyone'll be in uniforms." Mashirao said, realizing that it's still fair.

"I wonder what they have in store for us in the first match." Rikido said, "No matter what they've prepared, we must persevere." Tokoyami said, strong in resolve, Mezo nodding.

Lucas had a hoodie added to his gym clothes, alongside some sunglasses. "Lu? Why are you wearing those for?" Ochaco asked, she suspected he was just shy. "In case the villains are watching somehow." Lucas explained, "I won't be using my powers as much, either." Ochaco looked at him, thinking he was worrying a little too much. Shoto looked surprised at that, considering he was going to ask Lucas something.

"Everyone! Get your game faces on!" Tenya came through the door, and told them they'd be entering the aren soon. Everyone took a few seconds to calm themselves.

Izuku took a deep breath, Lucas smiled. "Time to see if our training pays off, you know?" Lucas said, Izuku smiled. "Yeah, absolutely!" Shoto walked up to the two. "Hey, Midoriya, Sakai." The boys looked at him.

"From an objective standpoint, I think it's fairly clear that I'm stronger than you." Izuku just stuttered, agreeing with him. Lucas nodded, "However, Midoriya. You've got All Might in your corner, helping you out." Shoto said, remembering what Iida and Ochaco said about him. He turned his attention to Sakai.

"And you. You've got fighting prowess, not to mention an incredible "Quirk."" Lucas looked at him, having figured out what he's about to say.

"But know that I will beat you both." Izuku looked shocked, Lucas didn't like the tension in the air.

"Whoa, what's with all these declarations of war, all of a sudden?" Denki said, Eijirou walked up to him, and tried to ask. Shoto shoved his hand away as he got close. "We're not here to be each other's friends. Don't forget this isn't a team effort." Lucas looked at him, sadly. Izuku looked down, before speaking up.

"Wait a sec, Todoroki. I don't know what's going through your head or why you think you'd need to tell me that you'll beat me." Izuku even admitted that Shoto was better than him, and would have way more potential than anyone in the Hero Course. "That's why you got in so easily." He concluded, Lucas turned to his friend in shock. "I-Izuku! Don't be so hard on yourself!" Lucas shouted at his friend.

"Lucas, he's right. All the other course are gonna be coming at us with everything they've got. We're all gonna have to fight to stand out." Izuku told his friend. Before staring back at determination. "I'll be aiming for the top, too." Lucas looked at him, nodding in understanding.

He figured he couldn't stop this, because they want to take this seriously. "Fine." Was all Shoto said, Katsuki just looked angry. "Sakai. You need to take this seriously. If you're gonna fight to keep your spot. You've gotta go all out, too." Shoto said. Lucas looked down, taking a deep breath.

"Fine. For my friend's sake, I'll go all out. For my dad's sake, too." Lucas said. He realized he'd be letting others down if he didn't give it his all. Still, he was hesitant to go up against his friends. "

(Later)

Aizawa sat next to Hizashi, who was urging the audience to make some noise, the media to prepare their cameras. "This year we're bringing you some of the hottest performances in sports festival history. I've only got one question before we start the show:." Hizashi had said, "Are ya ready? Let me hear ya scream as our students make their way to the main stage!"

Tons of people were watching, the teachers, the audience, Izuku's mother. Toshinori remembered the advice that he gave Midoriya, to let the world know he was here.

"All Might. I won't let you down." Izuku said, confident.

Class 1-A walked out confidently and as strong as they were. Present Mic was talking about them and how they survived and beat a bunch of villains. Lucas and Izuku were scared by how many people showed up. "I-I-Izuku, I-I don't know i-i-if-if I can handle this." Lucas said, glad he was hiding himself, but terrified of how many people were watching.

"L-Lucas, just try to breathe, o-okay?" Izuku said, trying to calm himself down.

"Midoriya's right, Sakai. I hope we'll still be able to give our best performances out there." Tenya said, remembering that publicity was another aspect of being a pro hero.

"Present Mic sure did talk us up a lot. Kinda makes me nervous. How you feelin', man?" Kirishima asked Bakugo, who ended up wearing an uncomfortable smirk. "I'm not worried. Makes me wanna win this thing even more." Katsuki answered. Hizashi continued to introduce Class 1-B, General Studies Classes C, D, E, Support Classes F, G, H. Finally, Business Classes I, J, and K!

"Give it up for all of UA's first-year contestants!" Hizashi said, as the crowd went wild.

Lucas noticed Hitoshi-san as General Studies walking up and going.

Then, the R Rated Hero Midnight shouted for the introductory speech.

Men in the audience were being a bit perverted, with a few students questioning the attire.

Lucas was told whenever he heard Kayama-san's voice, he should cover his eyes and immediately he did.

He heard the other boy's mutterings and questions about her being inappropriate for a high-school game.

"Silence everyone! And now for the student pledge, we have Katsuki Bakugo!" She said, as Katsuki walked up front.

"He's the class rep?" Midoriya asked, "I guess that hot-head did finish first in the entrance tests." Sero said.

One student voiced her annoyance, "Only for the hero course exams." She said, "Oh, right." Izuku said, nervously. "That girl obviously hates us." Sero said.

Denki looked irritated, "Yeah, and we've got Bakugo to thank for them not liking our class."

Everyone waited fearfully as to what he was going to say, Izuku gulped. "I just wanna say…I'm gonna win." Katsuki said on the microphone.

The class shot up, "I knew he'd say something like that!" They said. Every other student booed and voiced their disapproval.

Some even blamed the rest of 1-A.

"Why would you be so disrespectful?" Tenya asked, flailing his arms robotically. "You're representing us all!" Katsuki turned around and gave a thumbs down. "Not my fault the rest of you are just stepping stones to my victory." Everyone else continued to boo, and Tetsutetsu called him an overconfident jerk.

Izuku noted it wasn't overconfidence. "The old Kacchan would have laughed while saying that, making it a joke." Katsuki walked right passed Izuku, shoving him a little.

"This is him pushing himself." He looked at him, "And turning all the rest of us into targets at the same time." Izuku said, slightly annoyed that now the other classes will be going for them even further.

The monitor went up and then Midnight told them it was time to begin.

"UA really doesn't believe in letting us catch our breath, huh?" Ochaco asked.

Midnight introduced the first game of the festival!

A screen displayed a slot-like picture, spinning, currently undetermined until it landed on Obstacle Race.

"All 11 classes will participate in this treacherous contest. The track is 4 kilometers around the outside of the stadium." Midnight explained, "I don't wanna restrain anyone, at least in this game. As long you don't leave the track, you're free to do whatever your heart desires."

She then told all the contestants to take their place.

(Cut to the next scene)

"I have to be smart about this. I'm still not able to control One For All, yet, so I have to be careful with the others." Izuku thought to himself. The lights to the race started going off.

"That means…I have to go beyond." Izuku built up his confidence. The second light went off, "I hope you're watching, All Might." He finished the last thought. The last light went off, Midnight then shouted: "Begin!" The door opened and everyone started running, getting crowded.

Lucas felt anxiety crumbling on him, but he kept going.

"I can't move with all this!" Lucas thought to himself, wondering what he could do, but then look at Shoto.

Lucas had an idea as to what he would do, and immediately jumped for higher ground. If you could call a student, "higher ground", that is.

"Apologies." Shoto said, running ahead, now the person in the lead. Lucas realized he wasn't the only person who took to the air for an advantage.

Katsuki, Eijirou, Momo and Yuga all managed to avoid being frozen in place.

"Nice trick, Todoroki!" Momo said, Shoto looked back and saw who was behind him.

"I won't let you get away so easily! You icy-hot son of a—!"

Lucas quickly noticed, as he landed back on stable ground: Mina, Mashirao & Fumikage catch up to them as well, although Mina was falling behind, due to almost slipping on the ice.

Izuku was having a hard time keeping up, trying to maintain ground while running on ice.

Ochaco was waiting for the right time to use her Quirk.

Hitoshi had people carry him while analyzing the other students. "So, they are good at using their powers, huh?" He said, but then noticed. "That one in the hood…" he recognized him from before. The strangest one out of 1-A. "He didn't his Quirk? What's his deal?" He asked himself.

Shoto looked back, "I didn't think so many people to dodge that. Especially those from other classes."

Lucas tried to catch up, "Finally taking this seriously?" Shoto asked.

"Watch yourself, Shoto!" Lucas warned, on alert.

Izuku saw a huge robot show itself. "It's those robots from the entrance exam!" Izuku realized.

Lucas and Shoto froze, unsure of what to do.

Hizashi shouted to the audience. "I bet we're in for a treat here. A rest of strength and cunning. It's a Robo Inferno!"

More robots followed suit, students asked if this is what they meant by obstacles.

"So, this is what the other students faced in their entrance exams." Shoto said, Lucas overheard Momo ask: "Where's the school get the funding for these things?"

Lucas was slightly glad he wasn't the only one asking that question.

"Shoto, I have an idea!" Lucas said, icy mist coming off of him. Shoto looked confused, slightly. A robot was coming for them.

"What? Why—No, I don't care right now. They obviously went through a lot of trouble, but I wish they prepared something a little more difficult." Shoto said, they placed their hands on the ground and pushed the ice beneath them.

"Especially since my dear-old dad is watching." He said, he and Lucas sent ice toward the robot, freezing it in place.

"Your little truce with me is off, Sakai." Shoto said, running ahead. "What's his deal? Doesn't he want to win? Why'd he help me?" He asked himself as he ran.

Lucas looked saddened, he knows what he heard from Shoto. "Okay, keep it going!" Lucas ran ahead, feeling his hood brush off a little in the wind, he struggled to keep it on.

He then saw that the robots were off balance. "Oh no!" Lucas looked back, he tried to push the robots forward, since no one ran through yet.

"That's Todoroki from Class 1-A pulling ahead to an early lead with a devastating display!" Hizashi shouted! "Amazing! He's the one we should watch, it almost seems unfair! Thoughts?" He asked his co-host. "His attack was both offensive and defensive." Aizawa said, "No wonder he was let in on recommendations! And what about the other student? What's his deal?" Hizashi said, knowing one student was hiding his identity.

"That's simply Raito. You don't need to know much more than that." Aizawa said. "Gotcha! So, Mr. Raito's a mystery contender! That should be a fun surprise!"

(With Izuku)

Izuku realized that there were still a few robots around. "Gotta hurry!" He thought to himself. "I have to get past these robots, while looking out for other obstacles." He remember how he was scared during the entrance exam to fight these things.

But this time, Izuku stood ready. "Come on! Think! What do I do?" He asked himself, trying to find his next move.

(Okay, so I managed to get through the chapter. Okay, I know Lucas is basically choosing both to keep his spot and help others out, so I hope you guys didn't find that a little annoying. Okay, so I may as well come out and say it, I'm not changing a thing about the Obstacle Race, save for just adding Lucas' moments in this. So, remember to stay strong and awesome! And God loves you very much!)