One day, it's my dream to own merch of Gemstones Ben and Carry On Ochako's starting playlists. eBay has been kind to me- I got a pretty cheap Echo Echo plushie yesterday, for like 26$.
…from a quick eBay thumb through, it would cost 378.33$ for all the aliens I'd want.
Oh well :/
Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
Shiketsu High put a heavy emphasis on student independence, as established before. So, the work of the student council was varied and plentiful.
What am I getting at?
Zenkichi and Medaka were DEAD tired.
Well, Zenkichi was. Medaka was working up a storm. Papers were flying as she worked, while Zenkichi's papers remained still.
"Hey, Medaka...you know how you asked Kumagawa to join..." Zenkichi mumbled from his face down position at his paper filled desk.
"Yes, why?"
"...can he join now?"
"I can see your point," Medaka said, skillfully writing with four pens on multiple sheets of paper. "I'm feeling fatigued."
"You don't look like it." Zenkichi frowned.
"The change over from scouting entries to full club activities was big. Too many requests for club funds." Medaka frowned.
"Yeah. Not having a treasurer is hurting us." Zenkichi said. "Too many clubs, too. Darts, bowling, bobsled, faux UN- how on earth did the board approve of all these?"
"Whatever the case, there's a limit to what we CAN increase. If we split it evenly, there's no way any of the clubs could buy a pencil." Medaka said. "I could use my private funds..."
"Do. Not." Zenkichi frowned, trying to think about a solution.
See, Medaka's parents were incredibly rich but also incredibly embarrassing. If she called on them, not only would they agree to loan her some money, which to them would be considered petty change, they'd give more than enough. That and they would also try, and probably succeed, in erecting a statue for Medaka at the school. So in order to avoid all of that, Zenkichi was wracking his brain trying to figure out a proper solution. He snapped his fingers when the answer came to him. It may not be a perfect solution, but it was serviceable if you asked him.
"Then let's remove the problem. Instead of trying to split the funds, why not just give it all to one club?" Zenkichi suggested.
"Go on," Medaka said.
"Well, heard that someone managed to organize a relay race for all the clubs to take part in. Usually just a friendly get together...but what if we make a competition and the club funding is the prize?"
"Hmmm, not a bad idea honestly. But we couldn't do a race, it'd be unfair. The track club would clearly win something like that. So what to do instead..."
"Well...given some of the requests as of late..." Zenkichi said, starting to move some papers around. "Ah, here we are. Read this."
Medaka took the note, and hummed.
Dear madame president,
The new 50M pool isn't being used a whole lot, and that's a shame. Can you think of something to make use of it?
Medaka's lips pursed a smile. "Hmmmmmmmm."
"Had a feeling you'd get inspiration from it," Zenkichi smiled.
"Indeed I do! A plan's already formed!"
"A...club battle swim meet?" a rather short girl asked Zenkichi as she had finished hearing about the plan. Aside from the usual Shiketsu uniform and cap, she sported shining blue eyes and long purple hair that almost leaned towards being gray. Her hair almost reached her back but she kept it in two long braids that she then curled up and were pinned to the rest of her hair, making two large rings.
"Yup. We got that giant pool that got finished recently, right? What better way to use it?" Zenkichi smirked.
"Ok, but you never said when it was," Haruka Semeru, the short girl mentioned earlier, pointed out.
"Next Sunday."
"And...correct me if I'm wrong here...but didn't you just swap one favorite for another?"
"Huh?"
"Track team lost their advantage...but you just gave all the water-based clubs one," Haruka explained.
"Oh, Medaka accounted for that. Not really gonna be a swim race, but more like a group topple sort of thing. That way, no one team has an advantage," Zenkichi corrected.
「hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm」 Like a ghost, Kumagawa suddenly appeared behind the two of them. Haruka blinked.
"Uh...I just remembered I have to BE somewhere." Haruka was immediately getting a weirdo vibe from Kumagawa. "Uh. See ya."
Zenkichi watched Haruka take a few steps backwards, before daring off. He spun around to face Kumagawa.
「mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm」
"...something you'd like to add?" Zenkichi finally asked.
「you're not being fair, you know」Kumagawa said. 「swimming club people are very pushy with money」
"...what do you mean?" Zenkichi asked.
「magic word?」
Zenkichi rolled his eyes. "PLEASE, what do you mean?"
「you know mogana from our class, don't you」
"Yeah?" Zenkichi asked, but then he realized what exactly Kumagawa was getting at. The screw-user just smirked a little since he saw the realization creep into his classmate's mind.
"Ohhhh crap," Zenkichi muttered.
「there's a reason this chapter is called 'money talks'」Kumagawa grinned.
"What?" Zenkichi asked.
「never mind. Anyways,」Kumagawa cleared his throat. 「the triad of swim team members are scholarship students who are at the top of their games with their quirks. and they're all gold diggers. they don't enter anything unless there's money involved. they're desperate bastards. susceptible to underhanded bribes」
Zenkichi furrowed his brow. "Is Mogana your next target or something? No way you'd know all this from word of mouth."
「independent research」Kumagawa smiled.
"And by independent, you mean you had Saki snoop around, didn't you?"
「zenkichi! you insult me! i would never have saki do such an underhanded-」Kumagawa began, before the idol-themed hero-to-be walked over, her gaze focused on counting the money in her hands, not noticing Zenkichi.
"How much did you say we're using for-?" Saki asked, before Kumagawa jabbed her in the arm with his elbow, "Ow, what the hell? I'm counting up money for your b-"
"For his...?" Zenkichi asked.
"Uhhhh...n-nothing! Just um...uh..." Saki leaned over to her partner and whispered, "Help me out here, Screw."
「screw? what am i allowed to just call you 'card' from now on?」Kumagawa snarked.
"Ok, look, I couldn't think of a good nickname, shut up and help."
Zenkichi raised an eyebrow. "Whatcha doing with that money?"
"...taking it to my bank account." Saki said.
「she's actually opening a high yield savings account that earns extra interest! she's so smart with her money, always looking for ways to make it grow」
Saki stared.
「my father works at a bank」
"...what he said then," Saki lied.
Zenkichi rolled his eyes. "Terrible lies. You forget- my quirk kinda reads minds."
Saki gasped. "I thought you never used it out of courtesy!"
"Courtesy's out the window with Kumagawa. Why'd you pay off someone named Kuudou Hinokage?" Zenkichi asked.
"Simple, actually." A voice said, coming out of nowhere. Zenkichi looked confused, but suddenly someone appeared from behind Kumagawa and Saki.
Kumagawa looked behind him. 「hinokage! i didn't realize you were there」
The kid's most notable characteristic was his great height; he had light orange, spiky hair that reached his shoulders. He was mighty intimidating- no way Zenkichi forgot a face like that.
No, wait- I've seen this guy in the hall. Zenkichi suddenly recalled...and the memories flooded back. Kuudou Hinokage, of Class 14- and his quirk was VERY unique.
Kuudou Hinokage! Quirk: Unknown. Hinokage's quirk allows him to 'vanish' from people's memories and eyesight, for a few seconds. His limit is 30 seconds.
"Kumagawa wants a little...insider knowledge and I'm happy to give it to him," Kuudou explained, withholding as much of the truth as he could. See, the best part about making people forget you is that they forget if you know about their Quirk and its limits. All Kuudou had to do was not think about all the details, easier said than done granted, but he could do it.
"That's it? So you bribed him for an advantage on the others," Zenkichi asked.
「...yes. all of them」Kumagawa falsely admitted. He just wanted info on one team.
Zenkichi raised an eyebrow.
「ok」Kumagawa said. 「a few dozen people」
"Dude..." Zenkichi rubbed his head in annoyance. He turned to the larger student. "I hope you don't feel too...taken advantage of."
"A little bit, but...it is nice to be noticed." Kuudou admitted.
"See. No...real harm done. Even has a positive side to it," Saki smirked, trying to spin the whole thing in a positive light.
"...you're still invading people's privacy." Zenkichi said pointedly.
「for BOTH our benefits」Kumagawa said. 「lots of problem children here」
Zenkichi rolled his eyes. "I know Mogana is a little bit money hungry, but there's no reason to really spy on h-"
"You're gossiping about me." A voice said, repeatedly poking Zenkichi in the back. "5 yen."
"Ok, where did you come from? You don't have the power to just vanish," Zenkichi pointed out.
"Not important right now. 5 yen for that gossip," Mogana said, continuing to poke her classmate.
Mogana was very, very insistent on getting paid for anything- it wasn't always at the forefront of her personality. Most of the time she was a pretty aloof and distant person, driven by her own motivations. However, if someone nudged her in the hallways and messed up her uniform, it'd be a 1 yen charge. If they ran into her, 10 yen. And God forbid anyone who somehow incurred her 1000 yen- one kid did. And no one heard from him again.
Zenkichi got annoyed with prodding and quickly gave her 5 yen. "There."
"Thank you," Mogana said, pocketing the money.
「wasn't really gossiping either, it was ju-」Kumagawa started.
"You too."
"Huh?" Saki asked.
"You two both owe me 5 yen as well," Mogana said.
"...really?"
"Yes, really."
Kuudou raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"Do I owe you money?"
"Probably."
「you are...very money-minded. more than i thought, actually」Kumagawa said, handing over ten yen since he figured that would count as some gossip.
"Just to be on the safe side," Kuudou handed over five yen, anyway.
"That should cover it," Mogana nodded.
"Yeah, yeah." Zenkichi rolled his eyes. Mogana then walked off, leaving Zenkichi to wonder why money was at the forefront of her career.
...and he could feel Kumagawa's eyes on the back of his head.
"Stop spying on people." Zenkichi huffed. "Or I'll tell Medaka."
「oooh i'm terrified」Kumagawa chuckled a bit, 「alright, alright, we'll stop.」
"I...don't believe you."
「you shouldn't」
"Yeah. Shame on me if I did." Zenkichi said, walking off.
Kumagawa watched him walk away, and hummed. 「so, what's the dirt today」
"Well, you wanted dirt on track, swimming and bowling right?" Kuudou asked.
「yep. you got something for me?」
"Of course. You get what you pay for, after all."
「goooooooooooooooooooooood」Kumagawa grinned.
"What IS it with you and extending your pronunciations of words today?" Saki frowned.
「iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis it bugging you?」
"Kinda? Just gets grating when you do it back to back," Saki explained.
「ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooookay!」
"I will stab you."
「hehehe, ok ok」Kumagawa chuckled, 「so easy to mess with you when i want to.」
Kuudou blinked. "...you two are VERY good friends."
"If you want to call it that, sure." Saki said.
「the best of friends!」Kumagawa grinned, trying to pull Saki in close for a show of camaraderie.
"Dooooo not."
「alright alright」
"Now...here's what I know-"
「shit here comes a transition-」
"What?"
Sunday quickly arrived and several students had walked in, either to compete directly or just to cheer their teams on. Kumagawa was on the sidelines along with Saki, more than content to just watch the festivities unfold. Kuudou, though, was more than happy to compete for them. Judo, Kendo, Art, Music, Track, and of course Swimming, all had their teams ready for today's event, along with plenty others, all to claim that coveted funding.
And then there was the Student Council team who was just competing for fun.
Fifteen clubs vying for the funds had come. Since it was admittedly a last minute arrangement, Zenkichi didn't think many would come.
"I guess each club has something to worry about." He mumbled, looking around. "Where's Medaka...?"
"Right here!" Medaka announced from behind Zenkichi, holding a microphone in her hand.
"Are...you doubling-?"
"As the announcer yes!" the student council president nodded, turning on the mic and spoke into it, grabbing everyone's attention and, of course, throwing in a good speech in there while she was at it, "Alright everyone, time to start the competition! Now, it's said that those who don't work don't eat. Well, today we're going against that little expression. Those who work? Go ahead and eat! If you want those funds, then go ahead and win them!"
"...maybe not her best speech but," Zenkichi shrugged.
"Allow me to explain the rules for this little event, then. There will be four events in total today and whichever team has the most points by the end of all four will be declared the winner!"
"May I?" Zenkichi asked.
"Of course," Medaka nodded and handed off the mic to him.
"Before we actually explain what the events are, there are just three general rules for this whole event. First, each team is only allowed three members. No more, no less."
"We'd like to see the teamwork you've all built up!" Medaka interjected.
"Second. Some boys will be handicapped. All events are meant to be unisex, so to make things even, boys are gonna be given some floaties." Zenkichi said, as Medaka equipped him with said floaties. "Like so."
"They look LAME!" Someone from the crowd yelled.
"Yeah!? WELL, SHUT UP!" Zenkichi yelled back.
"If there are no more objections...there is still a third rule. May I?" Medaka asked.
"Sure," Zenkichi shrugged, handing the mic back to her.
Medaka cleared her throat. "My earlier words of encouragement might have been a little rough. But I'm sure there are some who will be upset that only the winner will get the club funds. I want you ALL to feel glad you participated. And that's why I have a last minute addition."
Zenkichi raised an eyebrow.
"The student council will be participating. Winner will get funding DIRECTLY from me should you score higher than us in ANY way. Three times the normal amount." Medaka smiled. "No questions asked."
Zenkichi's eyes widened. "...WHY?"
"Why not? Higher stakes make the event more interesting don't they?"
"Wha-I mean you're not wrong but..." Zenkichi sputtered a bit, Medaka taking that as a sign to continue on.
"And now, let the first Inter-Club Swim Meet...begin! First event is water basketball!"
"That wasn't your ticket to- ugh, nevermind. Already started now...aaaaand she's painted a target on our backs for Mogana, no doubt..."
Kumagawa hummed, as he rubbed his chin.
"...you aren't." Saki frowned.
「i need money for things」
"Are you even part of a club?!"
「are WE part of a club, you mean」Kumagawa smiled.
"No."
「well, wrong」Kumagawa said. 「i enrolled us both in...the model UN. they have so many members that they NEVER notice new members」
"I am going to drown you."
「you may try! we'll see how well it goes for you!」
"Well, we don't have three members. So, sorry." Saki smirked.
「does it hurt to be so wrong today saki」
Saki's eyes widened. "...Don't fucking tell me."
「i paid him extra just in the eventuality of such an event. i also paid off the model un head to ensure that its us three out there」
"Is that why you needed more money?!"
「you only just figured that out?」
"I. Hate. You."
Kumagawa smiled.「thanks bestie」He said, pulling out his phone to dial the number. Seconds after he made the call, Inasa suddenly came crashing through a window.
"SORRY I'M LATE!"
"Wait what?! You got INASA?!" Saki yelled.
「oh, did you think i meant kuudou?」Kumagawa asked.
"Yes!"
「well, he was an option...but then i thought, 'hey wait, why not get the second most powerful person here?'」
Saki frowned. "I was starting to like that guy."
「please. you forget him every time he uses his quirk」Kumagawa said. Inasa walked over, somehow already changed into his swimwear.
"I'm so PUMPED for this!" Inasa yelled. "You have no idea."
「no, we could guess.」
"Yeah, no, it's very obvious," Saki said.
"Either way! This is gonna be AWESOME!" Inasa cheered.
「see? he's ride or die. be like inasa and put on a swimsuit」Kumagawa said.
Saki rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. Whatever. I'll go."
「thanks, saki!」
"You owe me for this one! And I will hold that over you as long as I live."
「yeah, kuudou was right. we're best friends.」
"She's got a unique way of showing it," Inasa pointed out.
Saki growled as she walked back to the locker room, brushing past Medaka and Zenkichi. The two were having similar problems with their team.
"I really wish you told me earlier about this." Zenkichi sighed. "I know it's good fun, but still!"
"Well, that is why it was last minute. I...thought it up today before everyone showed up," Medaka admitted.
"...really? And I suppose you also thought up an answer to the obvious issue too?"
"What are you-...oh. Weeeee only have two people."
"Yeah."
"What are we gonna do about that..." Medaka hummed, her little ahoge wagging around like a dog's tail.
"Most of the people who could be our third are in other clubs, as far as I know," Zenkichi said, trying to think of someone as well.
Medaka closed her eyes. "...Zenkichi. I want you to bear with me on this suggestion."
"Okay, here we go. Communication." Zenkichi said, rubbing his hands together.
"...we should ask Star and Stripe to join. For some more incentive to beat us."
Zenkichi stared at her.
"You want…a teacher…to be our third? That just seems like cheating, honestly."
"No one said we have to be fair." Medaka shrugged.
Zenkichi paused. "...true."
"So, all I need to do is just call her up and we can say that whoever beats us can also boast of beating Star and Stripe herself," Medaka said, rather proud of the idea and the incentive it should provide.
"If she's even free today," Zenkichi added.
"She should be." Medaka said, pulling out her phone.
"You have her number?" Zenkichi asked.
"Of course! As President, I have contact with some staff." Medaka explained.
"That...actually makes some sense," Zenkichi said.
"And of course, we'll have to heavily handicap Star." Medaka said, dialing up her number.
"Obviously. Gonna need more than just a pair of floaties there..." Zenkichi said.
In a matter of minutes, Star and Stripe was joining the two, already wearing a swimsuit. Lots of heads turned when she entered the gym. Her swimsuit was a design of one of All Might's old costumes- from his bronze age. It was very...form fitting. Everyone could see Star's abs.
Good lord. Zenkichi thought.
"Looks like she's free after all," Medaka said, putting aside her phone for the moment.
Kumagawa's eyes went wide when he saw Star enter the gym, right as Saki was coming back with her own swimsuit on.
"Ok, here. I'm in a damn swimsuit, happy?" Saki asked.
「so uh...medaka just made things more interesting」Kumagawa pointed out.
"Interesting ho-" Saki began, before she turned, following Kumagawa's gaze and just freezing. "Why is Star here?!"
「if i had to guess? medaka's third.」
"She can DO THAT?!"
「nothing said the student council had to be fair.」
Star saluted Medaka. "Honestly, today was gonna be the day I finally took a break- kinda boring." Star admitted. "Thanks for this."
"Not a problem. Just assist us...and try to go easy on the kids."
"No Quirk for one, then," Star decided, "Aside from that, I'll do what I can to hold back."
"And..." Zenkichi handed her a few floaties. "Put these on."
Star blinked once or twice. "...oh, now you're making this fun."
"Glad you think so!" Medaka nodded, "Oh and just in case I forgot to mention it, if anyone beats us they get triple the money they would if they won normally."
"You...have that kind of money?" Star asked.
"Her parents are rich. So long as we don't have them visit, we'll be fine," Zenkichi answered.
This was supposed to be peaceful too... Zenkichi frowned. I have a bad feeling now.
Across the pool, Mogana stared at her opponent and 'victim' of the day- Medaka Kurokami. Mogana hummed. "So. She's joining in on the fun."
"Appears so." One of her teammates, a bronzed boy with blonde hair, smirked.
"Whatever the case, anything other than first place is out of the question." Her other teammate, a boy with blue hair and a small patch of facial hair grinned.
"Water basketball she said," Mogana pondered, "We have a plan for that?"
"You need to ask? Lets not forget, no matter how good in water she might be, we're better," her blonde teammate answered confidently.
"Especially with our powers." Mogana smirked. "We'll be taking her money from her like bandits!"
"Alright everyone!" Medaka said, having gotten the mic back on, "We'll be starting soon! Now, I don't think I need to explain the rules for this, but just to be on the safe side, I will anyway! At the bottom of the pool are twenty balls for both teams. The goal for each team is to put as many in the basket as they can before the timer hits zero. All the balls that stay in the basket at the end of the round will count as your team's points!"
「sounds simple enough」Kumagawa said, 「buuuuut we're not going first.」
"Just wanna see more info on the other teams, huh?" Saki guessed.
「as much as i can get, yes」
"Scoping out our competition! I like it!" Inasa said, putting on his floaties. He then began to put Kumagawa's on for him.
「...d-don't do that」
"What, does that BOTHER you?" Saki smirked.
「oh don't throw it back at me! only i get to do that...」
"Not anymore."
「aw come onnnnnn」Kumagawa whined. 「don't make me lose so early」
"Nope. Too bad." Saki smirked.
「that's not-! 」
"Nothing said I have to be fair."
「i...you...ughhhhh, you're right and i hate that」
"Good."
Zenkichi hopped into the pool with Star. "So, you ever do anything like this when you were younger?"
"Not really. Rogers Academy, and most American schools, don't have all these neat events. All focused on the serious side of heroics- kinda suffocating." Star explained. "At most, we had like...a small fair. Not as big as UA's, but still plenty of things of note."
"Neat." Zenkichi said, as he began to eye the balls scattered across the pool's floor. Zenkichi looked down at his water wings.
Looks like I'm kind of useless with these floaties. I dunno how this is really 'unisex', but...whatever. Zenkichi thought. He looked around- a lot of girls in the pool.
Medaka hopped in after getting herself ready for the first round. Some might think it a bit unfair that the first round had the student council as the opponent, but honestly, it just gave everyone else an advantage. It let everyone else start coming up with a plan against them. Their opponents in the first round were the Music Club.
"No offense, Zenkichi," Hana smirked, as she and her team wadded on over to him and Star. "But you're kinda gonna get creamed here."
"Is that so?" Zenkichi said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. You gotta sink, dummy." Hana teased.
"You're oddly competitive." Zenkichi said. "You want that money badly, don't you?"
"We need it for our show." One of Hana's teammates, Tamiko, a boy with spiky brown hair, admitted.
"Smoke and lights are WAY more expensive than one would think." Her other teammate, Uchi, a girl with brown hair and a blonde tuft, added.
"All that money for one show?" Zenkichi asked.
"I mean, gonna reuse the smoke machines when we can," Hana shrugged, "Gotta be efficient with some of the props, right?"
"And there's also the artists we're gonna have to pay for cover songs." Tamiko added.
"Ah, yeah. Copyright's VERY strict nowadays..." Star said, shaking her head.
"We're gonna win at ANY cost!" Hana declared. "Even if we have to play dirty."
Zenkichi and Star shared a look. "...good idea telling that to us." Zenkichi said, nodding his head.
"Hana," Uchi deadpanned.
"Oh...uh, whoops?" Hana shrugged sheepishly, "Forgot I wasn't supposed to say that..."
Star looked away. "We'll pretend we didn't hear that."
"You better not cheat." Zenkichi warned.
"We won't! Promise!" Hana beamed.
"Toooootally won't," Uchi smirked.
"Yeah, yeah..." Zenkichi made a mental note to keep his eyes on them.
The funny thing was that Hana, for the most part, actually was gonna play fair unless things got desperate. A little light reflected in the water to distract her opponents, something small like that. But Uchi and Tamiko? They were going to be playing dirty from the outset.
While Medaka was in the pool, announcing duties actually fell to Haruka. The lavender-haired girl grabbed the mic and nodded.
"Alright! Five minutes on the clock for the match!" Haruka announced as a digital clock was set for the time limit, "The first match of the Music Club vs the Student Council staaaaaarts...NOW!"
Medaka immediately began diving, scooping up the balls, and then passing them to Star. And Zenkichi made an incredible tactical decision!
Getting out of the pool.
"Wait what?" Hana asked after picking up a trio of balls herself.
"Don't question it!" Uchi snapped, turning her teammate's focus back to the game.
I know I'm kinda useless with these things on. Zenkichi reflected. The purpose of this is supposed to be diving to the bottom. I can't get my head underwater- and Medaka's really taking control of the battlefield here.
Haruka simply watched them without noticing that two other students set up beside her, with their own mics. Medaka hadn't really planned for announcers, but these two decided that commentators were needed.
Hana popped out of the water and grunted. The balls are soaked in water! I can't really lift them or throw them well. Not to mention, no goggles- and the chlorine is STINGING my eyes.
Hana frowned. I may need to cheat.
Uchi looked up at the basket and smirked.
"Here, lemme deal with throwing the balls," the blonde girl smirked and took one of the heavier balls, tossing them in her hand. She smirked and pulled out a water pistol, spinning it in her free hand like a gunslinger.
"Huh?"
"What? You thought I'd only use real guns to use my Quirk?" Uchi smirked, tossing two of the balls in the air and taking aim with the pistol. She fired off two shots of water at the balls, before her eyes began to glow and those spouts of water raced out like real bullets, colliding with the balls and exploding with powerful blasts of air that knocked the two balls up into the basket. She smirked as she blew "smoke" away from the barrel of her gun.
Uchi Teppou! Third Year at Shiketsu! Quirk: Bullet Bender! The basics of her Quirk allow her to alter the trajectory of any bullet she's fired from a gun. But, with her practice, she's found that she can alter speed, size, shape, and even the material of the bullet as well! What she just did was boost the water "bullets" she fired with enough power to carry the balls higher, then at the right moment, she turned the water into air that added a little extra kick to score! This is the kind of Quirk refinement Shiketsu honors as one of its advantages over U.A!
"Beat that, President." Uchi smirked...and Medaka sure as hell would. Medaka was swimming at the bottom of the pool, grabbing as many balls as she could. If her team really was going to cheat, then her intention was all pomp and circumstance.
Medaka surfaced, and quickly mushed the balls together. Star can't use HER quirk...but I can use it.
NEW ORDER: THESE BALLS WILL STICK TOGETHER.
Medaka watched the balls 'congeal' together to form a larger, basketball sized orb- and tossed it at the net.
In an instant, Medaka had gotten 20 points. Hana's jaw dropped.
"M-my...my big music plans..."
"Oh...hell that's a problem," the third member of the Music Team, Tamiko, muttered.
"Yeah, but not one we can't plan around. Your shockwaves can make the balls bounce out of the water, right?" Uchi asked.
"I mean I could but I'll need to come up every so often. Chlorine stings."
"Ok, we'll have you and Hana swap, go!"
"Wait but I can't-ugh, nevermind!" Tamiko rolled his eyes and dove down into the water, on more of a time limit than normal. He swam down to the bottom of the pool as quickly as he could and began drumming his hands against the tiles at the bottom. With each tap a shockwave emanated out, making the balls at the bottom jump up higher and higher. On the last drum before he couldn't take the chlorine anymore and he needed to breathe, the balls launched up and out of the water, just as Uchi planned.
Tamiko Taiko! Quirk: Drumbeat! He can create shockwaves on any surface he drums his hands against! The vibrations can vary depending on how hard and how quickly he drums!
When the balls flew out of the water, Uchi wasted no time and fired off rounds to boost the balls into the net. Some of the balls, sadly, bounced off the rim and fell back into the pool water, much to the Music Club senior member's annoyance.
"Hana, get the ones that fall, quick!" Uchi ordered.
"On it!" Hana said before diving down and getting as many of the balls as she could.
Hana grumbled. These things are so small! How the hell does anyone get these things in the basket?
It's easier to aim for the basket with a bigger ball. If you throw the balls up like that, they'll split apart. So, by making the balls all stick together with New Order, they'd be less likely to split apart. Medaka's strategy was insane.
And now everyone is gonna try and copy it.
「hmmm...i'd say write that down but i think we can do better」Kumagawa noted, 「your winds could carry them easily, right?」
"Of course!" Inasa nodded proudly.
「perfect」
Haruka, meanwhile, jumped when one of the other mics set up beside her rang from feedback, though its wielder quickly fixed the issue.
"Sorry about that!" Yoshida apologized.
"Yoshida? What are you-?" Haruka started.
"Every sporting event needs color commentary!" a small, purple haired and glasses-wearing girl announced matter-of-factly, "And we're going to be providing!"
"And...you are...?"
"Tanzaku Aso at your service! Usually do the announcements some days. Finally get to do something a bit more exciting!"
"Uh...huh." Haruka said, taking a step back.
Zenkichi looked up at the board- all the other teams were coming along nicely. While they weren't as innovative as Medaka's 'mega ball', they were managing well. A lot in the upper 10s, some in the lower areas. The Student Council, of course, had 20.
...but they weren't in the first place.
Despite everyone's best efforts, the Swim Team was dominating when it came to that. Long before the Student Council had reached twenty, Mogana and her two teammates had quickly but secretly reached the limit. With everyone else's focus lost in the chaos, Umumichi, the kid with blue hair and some stubble, drew portions of water up from the depths, balls collected inside them. With them gathered, he threw the sphere up into the net perfectly.
Umumichi Yakushima! Third Year at Shiketsu! Quirk: Aquatic Attraction! He's able to draw small amounts of water to his palm and condense it into a sphere! From there, he can use it in a multitude of attacks!
Mogana dove down underwater and began picking up a handful of balls herself and, when she surfaced, she let out short but powerful screams that launched the balls oh so accurately into the nets.
Finally, there was her bronze-skinned friend, Sotsu. With some slight motions from his hands, several balls simply just moved closer to him, pushed by small waves. The balls then rose up in small geysers of water, letting him quickly collect them, handing them over to either Mogana or Umumichi.
Sotsu Tanegashima! Second Year at Shiketsu! Quirk: Water Control! While here he's simply using the smaller applications of it, like creating small waves or reversing the flow of rivers, at its full potential, Sotsu can turn his entire body into water!
These three guys managed to destroy Medaka. She usually crushes it at these things. Zenkichi thought. Crazy...
Kumagawa hummed. 「this is a shocker...」
"Huh? Actually, ask ya in a minute! Brace yourself!" Inasa warned, his winds swirling around his arms. Kumagawa nodded and made sure to give the galeforce hero some room as the winds surged with more intensity.
The balls in some kids hands began to get sucked up, much to Kumagawa's shock. 「wooooah」He said, watching them get sucked into a vortex.
"What?! You didn't know?"
「i didn't realize how precise you were with them」
"Haha! Yeah."
"YEAH!?" Saki gasped. "Dude, you could be a top tier hero. How are you doing this?!"
"Individual airstreams!" Inasa said, and elaborated no more. "I LOVE HOW PASSIONATE EVERYONE'S GETTING TODAY!"
"What...an...upset by Inasa!" Yoshida called out over the mic, his words almost drowned out by the wind, "With an expert use of his Quirk, Inasa's practically stealing all the points for his team!"
"You are...really into this, huh?" Haruka asked.
"Very much so!"
As Mogana's group got out of the pool to dry themselves off, so did Medaka. Medaka walked over to them, making them snicker a bit.
"Hey there, pres." Sotsu smirked.
"Gonna enjoy using your money for some REALLY fun stuff." Umumichi added.
"...I noticed something interesting with all of your diving techniques." Medaka said.
"And what would that be?" Mogana asked, more curious about where this was going.
"People are heavier than water. However, they still float in water, because there's air in their lungs." Medaka explained.
"Jeez. Thanks for the explanation, Araki." Sotsu smirked.
"Before the boys got in the water, you two filled your air with lungs, then breathed it all out- thus making your air bladder empty." Medaka said. "Am I correct?"
"Hammer gets the nail."
"...compulsed expiry diving." Medaka frowned. "A single mistake could have killed you. Do you not value your life?"
"A single mistake for the inexperienced maybe," Sotsu corrected, "Not us. Besides, right now, there's something we're actually putting above our lives right now."
"...what?"
"In the grand scheme of it, our lives are kinda worthless here. And only something of real worth can be put above it."
"Money, Pres. It's all about the money," Umumichi clarified in a rather condescending manner.
"We'll laugh for a dollar and we'll gladly die for one, too," Sotsu smirked.
"The almighty dollar is worth more than your life?" Medaka asked, actually appalled to hear that.
"Yeah." Mogana said. "I'd die for money. It's the only thing that matters in the world."
"The only thing that...that's not at all-" Medaka began before the buzzer suddenly sounded.
"Aaaaand time!" Haruka called, "Stop tossing them in!"
Mogana finished drying herself off. "You don't become a pro based on heroics alone. You need to have proper funding. The money to replace, wash and fix a costume. Nourishment isn't free either. Heck, I have to pay to see..." She motioned to her glasses. "Money is more important than life itself."
"You can't see life like tha-" Medaka began before being cut off again.
"Alright! 15 minutes before our next event, the Three Legged Race!" Haruka announced. Her timing could use some work right now.
Mogana huffed. "Believe me. If you lived like me, you'd be desperate to." She walked off with her teammates just as Zenkichi and Star joined her.
"I've never seen her so intense before." Star frowned.
"Probably because of the prize up for grabs here," Zenkichi pointed out, "Think it was a bad idea to not tell me about the whole 'triple bonus' thing now?"
"Nope." Medaka smiled. "Shows me who I have to 'reform'."
"Even in the midst of a competition, you're still trying to reach out to help..." Star bemused. "You're something else."
"Of course. Though, may I admit something?"
"Uh...sure?" Zenkichi said, more of a question really.
"I think I know who sent that request now. This isn't just about the money," Medaka said.
Zenkichi's eyes narrowed. "This was a huge set up...wasn't it?"
Medaka frowned. "Afraid so."
"For what? Just so Mogana could get some money? This whole thing just to-?" Star asked.
"Looks that way, yes."
"There are easier ways to get money than something this elaborate."
"Not the type of money she wants, I bet," Zenkichi added.
"We'll just have to keep our efforts up." Medaka said. "Full throttle the rest of the way."