The students of Class 1-A spent the next two weeks honing their physical abilities and Quirks, the teachers allowing them use of the simulation domes for this purpose.
With how much training they did, the Sports Festival arrived in no time, and already various booths were out with all kinds of foods and merch. Mount Lady tried to use her sexiness to get free takoyaki, only to get walloped in the back of the head by Metal Bat.
"Dumbass! What kind of self-respecting Pro Hero uses exploration on a regular vendor?!" The delinquent-esque hero barked. "You're setting a bad example for my little sister and all others like her!"
I'm just trying to get a leg up on Midnight! I need the practice!" She complained.
"Just pay attention to the actual competition," Death Arms said. "All eyes are gonna be on Class 1-A after the attack on the USJ. This is their chance to prove their success wasn't just a fluke."
Kamui Woods nodded in agreement. "We should keep an eye out for potential heroes to let intern with us so they can learn to become real heroes."
"Honestly, I'm kinda nervous..." Izuku said worriedly.
To keep things as fair as possible, all participants had to wear their gym uniforms, and every student was allowed whatever Support Items they needed to make full use of their Quirk.
"Ah, chin up, Izu~!" Hilda giggled, snacking on some potato chips. "We'll do great! Especially with our kickass powers!"
"I'm sure we'll all stand out no matter who wins," Ben noted. "I have a feeling this'll be fun."
"Indeed! I'm so excited!" Penny beamed.
Izuku couldn't help but admire the optimism of his friends before suddenly feeling an insanely powerful aura with his Haki. He had just enough time to cross his arms and block a sudden powerful force of energy that sent him skidding back slightly.
"IZUKU/MIDORIYA!" The rest of his class cried in alarm but relaxed slightly when they saw he was unharmed.
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I CAN SEE SPENDING ALL THIS TIME PLAYING HERO HASN'T SOFTENED YOU UP, MY BOY!"
As the dust settled, they saw a tall man with black hair and a beard with greying sideburns clad in a black double-breasted suit with a white shirt and a red tie. He was also wearing a regal white coat like a cape.
"HOLY CRAP, IT'S GARP THE FIST!" Eijirou exclaimed with starstruck awe. "SO MANLY!"
"One of the certified strongest men around and one of the few people who can match All-Might's strength!" Momo added, absolutely flabbergasted. "He was also the former #3 Pro Hero many years ago before going into semi-retirement!"
"Hi, Grandpa!" Izuku smiled as he lowered his arms.
"HE'S YOUR GRANDPA?!" Minoru, Sero, and Denki all cried in shock.
"Yeah, on my mother's side," Izuku explained. "What brings you here, Grandpa?"
"What? Can't a grandfather wish his grandson good luck in what is essentially the Olympics for Superheroes?" Garp laughed. "Your whole family is watching, you know! Be sure to make us all proud!"
"Sure thing, Grandpa!" Izuku beamed proudly. "Tell Mom and Uncle Shanks I love 'em!"
"BAHAHAHAHA! Sure thing, ya cheeky brat!"
With that, Garp took his leave as everyone was still shocked that Izuku was related to such a legend.
"Dude, why didn't you ever tell us your grandpa was GARP THE FIST?!" Sero demanded.
"You never asked."
The Sports Festival was just about to begin and Izuku was leading his class to the stadium. However, before they could make their big entrance, he was stopped by Shoto.
"Need something, Todoroki?"
"Midoriya," Shoto said, causing quite a few of the students to look at him and Izuku. "I think it's safe to say, looking at this objectively, that you're the strongest one in this whole class. Still, All-Might has his eyes on both you and Yasakani. And the fact that you're related to Garp the Fist and Red-Haired Shanks only exemplifies your importance. Despite this, I fully intend to beat you."
Izuku suddenly did something that surprised quite a few of his classmates; he smiled. A smile that dared the entire world to come at him with everything it had.
"I'd like to see you try. But don't forget about everybody else. We're all here to prove ourselves to the world. Every student, from our class to all the other classes like the General Ed Course students, is aiming for the top with all their might. If you're not careful, you could trip." The verdant-haired lad said. "Plus, objectively speaking, we're not the only strong ones here. Everybody else has the same chance."
"Heck yeah, tell 'em, Izu!" Hilda cheered from the side.
"He's got a point, we're all planning on giving it our all." Ben pointed out. "And you, Todoroki, better come at us with everything you have...otherwise you won't make it past the first event."
"That's right. If you don't give it everything you have..." Izuku's eyes then narrowed dangerously. "Then you might as well have never come to UA."
The words seemed to hit Shoto hard as he looked at his left hand before clenching it tightly into a fist, grimacing angrily.
"No... I don't need it... I don't need to use HIS Quirk to win..."
"Thanks for getting us these seats," Inko said as she sat down along with Mitsuki, her husband Masaru, and Shanks. Also with them were Tatsumaki and her sister Fubuki AKA Hell Blizzard, who were actually Inko's nieces and Izuku's cousins due to being the daughters of Inko's older brother, Dragon.
"No problem, Auntie Inko," Tatsumaki said. "Besides, I needed to break away from the rest of my team for a while."
"And how's my little angel doing?" Garp asked as he came over and sat down nearby.
"Papa!" Inko smiled seeing her father. "It's doing alright! I'm just a little nervous about Izuku, is all."
"What mother isn't." Shanks chuckled. "But I have a feeling he'll more than chew this tournament up and spit it out."
"Hey, don't write off the rest of his class." Fubuki pointed out. "They're prepared to show what they can do regardless of how powerful their Quirks are."
"Damn right!" Mitsuki said. "I just hope my own brat doesn't make an ass of himself on live tv!"
"Well, Katsuki has been getting better..." Masaru pointed out.
"Hey!" Present Mic announced from the commentator's booth, causing the crowds the cheer loudly. "Pay attention, audience! Swarm, mass media! This year's high school rodeo of adolescence that you all love, the UA Sports Festival, is about to begin! Everyone, are you ready!?"
"Why did I agree to do this?" Aizawa grumbled, sitting right next to Present Mic.
"Our students are coming out to the big stage, so everybody be sure to show them your support!" Present Mic continued as Aizawa just groaned.
Class 1-A were the first ones out of the gate, led by Izuku.
"And here they are! And of course, you miscreants all came to see them specifically, didn't you? The miraculous new stars who overcame a mass villain attack with hearts and wills of steel! Hero Course; Class 1-A!"
"Man, there's a lot of people..." Kirby noted, looking at the gathered crowds.
"It does feel a bit daunting..." Tenya admitted. "Hopefully we can still give it our all before this large crowd."
"Next up, they may not have gotten a chance to fight villains yet, but these kids are nothing to scoff at! Some might even be just as powerful as some of Class 1-A's all-stars! Maybe even more so! Give it up for Hero Course Class 1-B!"
Class 1-B stepped in next, led by Itsuka. Izuku and Hilda smiled, waving over to Mipha, Nia, and Rebecca, who waved back once they noticed them.
"Next, we have the General Ed Courses of Class 1-C, 1-D, and 1-E! They may not be in the Hero Course but there just might be a dark horse among the ranks!"
Hitoshi was with Class 1-C and had a look of steely determination on his face.
"After that are the Support Courses of Class 1-F, Class 1-G, and Class 1-H! They're the tech wizards who have big ambitions to make the next great inventions! Let's see what crazy toys they have in store!"
In Class 1-H were two girls. One had pink dreadlocks and amber eyes with crosshairs in them while another was a girl about as fat as Hilda with reddish-brown hair in a ponytail and wearing glasses.
"And finally, the Business Courses of Class 1-I, Class 1-J, and Class 1-K! They have the savvy skills to make sure the greaseworks of Hero Society run smoothly! Give them a big hand!"
With all the courses introduced, Midnight sauntered up onto the podium as the umpire.
"And now it's time for the player's pledge!" The 18+ Heroine announced, raising her whip up.
"Someone should say something about what Midnight-Sensei is wearing." Eijirou pointed out.
Denki nodded. "That outfit should definitely come with a warning."
"You got that right!" Minoru said, giving a thumbs-up. "Not that I'm complaining, obviously."
"Of course you wouldn't." Kyouka scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Dammit, Mom..." Ben sighed as Penny patted him on the back comfortingly.
"SHE'S YOUR MOM?!" Tooru whisper-yelled in surprise.
"That does explain why she dotes on Torekuroshi especially frequently during Modern Arts Class..." Rikidou noted.
"Silence, everyone!" Midnight called out. "And for the student pledge, we have... Izuku Midoriya!"
"I guess it makes sense. He did place first in the Entrance Exam." Sero noted.
Izuku looked a little nervous but took a deep breath before walking up to the podium and picking up the mic.
"I just have one thing I'd like to say to every student here." The verdant-haired lad said humbly. "Being a Hero is no easy task. It's about more than just flashy Quirks, cool costumes, strong personalities, or big names. It's about being there for the people, inspiring them, and giving them courage. Some of you are here hoping to move up to the Hero Course, and that's fine... So long as you understand what being a Hero truly means! We all came here to impress the Pro Heroes, and to do that, we need to push ourselves and strive for the very top!"
Garp grinned proudly as Shanks just gave a smirk and shook his head. Inko teared up slightly in pride while Tatsumaki and Fubuki both nodded their heads.
"To everyone participating in this Sports Festival, you are all my rivals, ready to give everything you have to win and that is more than enough to earn my respect and the worth of being called rivals! I want everyone to remember what these words stand for; GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!"
Izuku's speech was met with pure silence even as he handed the microphone back to Midnight. However, the second he reached the steps, the whole crowd of students was cheering in excitement, the rest of the stadium erupting in similar cheers not too long after.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU TELL 'EM, MY BOY!" Garp laughed heartily. "ANYONE CAN BE WORTHY OF BEING A TOP HERO AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE WILL TO REACH IT!"
"That kid...you'd be proud of him, Hisashi." Shanks chuckled softly to himself, a fond nostalgic smile on his face.
"My baby boy..." Inko said, doing her hardest not to cry as Mitsuki and Tatsumaki comforted her.
Tenya and Eijirou were moved to tears by Izuku's speech. Ben smiled proudly and clapped his hands in approval, Penny joining in.
"Heh, you always have such a way with words, Izu..." Hilda smiled.
"Damn shitty nerd..." Katsuki scoffed. "Don't go counting me out. You want a rival, I'm gonna give you one."
"Don't cut me out, honeycakes!" Kirby giggled.
Hitoshi also smiled. "I was expecting some sort of condescending remark. But this guy's got me thinking... About why I really want to be a Hero..."
"A wonderful speech indeed!" Midnight said, nodding in approval. "Now, let's get on to the main event!"
A projection appeared behind her with a slot spinning randomly. Soon, the slot slowed down and finally halted for all to see what it landed on.
"OBSTACLE COURSE RACE!" Midnight announced, cracking her whip. "This is a full-participation race! The course is treacherous and stretches four kilometers around the outside of the stadium. The only rule in this race is that you are forbidden from leaving the race track. Beyond that, do whatever you feel you have to to reach the end!"
"I'd like to add that you have to go around the 4 km course," Aizawa piped in. "That means no going out and then back into the finish, even if they are at the same location You must run the full course in order to win."
"Ah, good catch, Sho!" Present Mic nodded.
"Now then, everyone, take your place!" Midnight smirked, pointing to the red tunnel exit.
The red starting gate had lights turned on, and the students all standing at the ready. In the stands, Toshinori, Tsunade, and many of the S-Rankers were in the VIP Hero Seats, their attention focused on the young Hero Course students.
"Young Midoriya, Young Yasakani...this is your moment, kids! Tell the world that you are both here!"
The lights counted down until they all went out.
"Begin!"
In a small private room, Tomura was on his computer, watching the Sports Festival, the Dark Knights and Kurogiri were standing by.
"Pay close attention, boy." Merciless said firmly. "If you wish to counteract the enemy, you must learn their strengths."
"Yeah, yeah..." Tomura muttered, his Sensei had taken away [Decay] since it was still technically in his body and given him a new Quirk known as [Blade & Gun], which was a Transformation/Mutant-type that gave him metal hands that could regenerate and turn into liquid metal as their purpose was to shapeshift into any blade or gun, the blades being exclusive to the left silver hand and the guns being exclusive to the right black hand.
"I'm gonna need some popcorn for this one!" Batman Who Laughs cackled with excitement at how the Sports Festival would play out.
Tomura just kept his focus on the screen. "Izuku Midoriya...if we're gonna be arch-enemies, I have to know just what makes you tic..."
And I've decided to end things here for right now. I want to whet your appetites before we get into the big stuff!
We'll get to see my additions to Class 1-B in action throughout the race! Also, this arc will give Ben some focus, especially regarding his Quirk and how he's connected to UA and its staff.
