As final preparations to the field were drawing to a close, the atmosphere in the participants box was getting tenser and tenser. The boys were all on edge, clearly having a preference for who would win, but it was the girls who seemed to be most worried. Yaoyorozu couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth along the aisle in obvious agitation. Jirou was sitting with arms and legs crossed, but practically vibrating with suppressed energy. Ashido and Hagakure were clinging to each other, hands intertwined as they watched the field, occasionally making little noises of distress. Uraraka just stared out onto the pitch with a distant look in her eye.

Even the support course girl, who had seemed all enthusiasm and excitement before, was subdued.

The only person who didn't seem at all worried was Midoriya. Shouto wondered about that as he watched the other boy play on his phone, leaning back in his seat as he waited for the fight to start. If he was pretending he was doing a very good job of it, but Shouto didn't think he was that good at hiding his emotions. When he was acting he was more theatrical with it, like Yamada-sensei with his flamboyant persona. He was the expressive type, even if he was putting up a front, and if he was this relaxed it was definitely a reflection of his internal state.

Finally Jirou stood up and marched swiftly over to the edge of the box. She stood, feet apart, hands clutching the railing, looking down on the field below as though willing it to produce the outcome she craved.

"You OK?" Yaoyorozu asked, coming to stand beside her at the railing.

"This has to work!" Jirou shouted, determination in every line of her body. "Shinsou has to win, he can't lose this fight!"

"Don't worry Jirou," Midoriya said soothingly, also standing to take up position on Jirou's other side. "Things will all work out. Shinchan has every ability to win this."

"Does he?" Jirou rounded on Midoriya. "This is Bakugou we're talking about! I know you beat him Midoriya but you're one of the strongest fighters in class, and you have a lot of experience with his fighting style! He wiped the floor with the rest of us, except maybe Todoroki! Can Shinsou really win against him?"

Midoriya looked taken aback, as though surprised by something Jirou had said. Shouto didn't think she'd said anything too outlandish. He was also worried about Shinsou's ability to beat someone as strong as Bakugou.

"It's Midoriya's plan Jirou," Yaoyorozu said, putting a comforting hand on Jirou's arm. "We have to trust that it'll work. He hasn't let us down yet."

"I know!" Jirou shot back, jerking her arm out of Yaoyorozu's grip. She stood rigid for a moment,

then suddenly deflated. "It's just, we have so much riding on this. I don't want it to go wrong."

"Don't worry," Midoriya repeated, drawing Jirou's attention onto him. "You won't be disappointed."

Jirou hesitated a moment, looking unsure, then nodded and turned back to the field. After a moment's hesitation, Shouto got up and went to go stand beside Midoriya, opposite Jirou. He received a grateful smile from Midoriya in return, and after a few seconds found the support course girl on his other side. The five of them stood, looking down on the pitch.

Preparations were complete. It was time to begin. *

Hitoshi was nervous about this fight.

Midoriya had seemed confident when they'd parted ways in the hall, but he had a lot of faith in Hitoshi. Faith that was perhaps misplaced. He had also beaten Bakugou himself, without a quirk, and likely had a slightly inflated idea of how easy it was. Hitoshi, however, hadn't spent a lifetime learning all Bakugou's moves, and without a physical quirk or nearly as much combat training, he was going in as the underdog.

His one advantage was the fact that Bakugou was loud by nature, and had never in Hitoshi's experience missed a chance to yell at someone. He knew about Hitoshi's quirk however, had been under its influence, and he would almost certainly be on his guard. Hitoshi would have to provoke him, quickly and brutally. Unlike with his previous matches, he would have to cast out his mind with every taunt, try to use his quirk over and over. It would be hard, but he couldn't afford to miss any response from Bakugou. He had to win this.

"It's time for the final round of the sports festival!" Mic crowed as Hitoshi stood under the archway leading out onto the field. "Who could have predicted it would be two General Education students, with every single member of the hero course knocked in earlier rounds!"

Hitoshi was close enough to the outside that he could hear a few murmurs to that effect from directly above, various heroes expressing surprise that the final should be between two students not from the hero course. There was some scattered criticism of UA for not acknowledging their talent, but everyone seemed content to see what would happen next.

"These two powerhouses have dominated the tournament round!" Mic went on. "But which of them will emerge the ultimate champion!"

Hitoshi stepped forward, out of the shadows and into the light for the last time today. It had seemed symbolic the first time. Now it was even more so.

"It's Shinsou!" Mic shouted, prompting a deafening cheer from the crowd, "versus Bakugou!"

As Hitoshi walked up the stairs and into the ring, he tore his attention away from the spectators to focus on his opponent. Bakugou didn't just look determined as he met Hitoshi's eye across the pitch; he looked absolutely furious, teeth bared in a rictus that didn't even seem to convey pleasure at the prospect of victory. He had come here not even to win, but to beat his challengers into the dust. Hitoshi was just a bug before his rage, an insignificant creature meant to be squished and left broken and bleeding in a cloud of dust in Bakugou's wake.

It was hard not to feel like that was exactly what was about to happen.

There were only moments before the match began, and Hitoshi did his best to project an aura of nonchalance. He stood with his weight on one hip, hands in his pockets, staring at Bakugou with his best disaffected expression. This seemed to enrage Bakugou even more, and he held out both hands, small explosions popping like sparklers from his palms.

"Ready?" Mic demanded, then without even a reasonable approximation of waiting for an answer, "Begin!"

"Ready to lose Kacchan?" Hitoshi asked, in a bored sort of way, casting out his mind more to test how it would feel in his overexerted state than anything else.

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH YOU PATHETIC-" *

As Bakugou went quiet, eyes blank white and not moving an inch, Momo's mouth fell open. The rampant cheering of the crowd died away, to be replaced with quiet muttering. Down on the field Shinsou was staring at his opponent with wide eyes, as though he were just as shocked as everyone else. It couldn't possibly be over. Bakugou knew about his quirk, he couldn't be so careless as to fall prey to it less than five seconds into the fight. It couldn't be that easy.

Could it?

"What's this?!" Yamada-sensei shouted, sounding genuinely disbelieving for the first time in the festival. "Bakugou gives into his frustration and falls under Shinsou's control in the very first instant?!"

"W-walk out of the ring!" Shinsou stuttered, as though reminded of what he was supposed to be doing by the narration.

"No way," Jirou breathed as Bakugou turned and began walking sluggishly back toward the edge.

Suddenly a thought struck Momo, and she whirled around to look at Midoriya. "Did you get Bakugou in on this?!" she demanded. "How?!"

"No," Midoriya sighed, looking out onto the field in transparent boredom. "Kacchan's just much too hotheaded to avoid losing his temper, even in a situation like this."

"So he can't keep his cool even long enough to get off a single blast?" Sero realized incredulously.

"I can't believe we partnered with him for the cavalry battle," Ashido complained. "What a loser."

"That's so incredibly unmanly," Kirishima whined.

"Quiet!" Jirou snapped, and Momo turned back to her to see her watching the field intently. "It's not over until Bakugou steps out of the ring!"

Hitoshi kept an iron grip on Bakugou as he walked slowly toward the boundary line. He wanted to order him to go faster, but he didn't dare do anything he hadn't tried before, anything that might result in the hold breaking. Bakugou was fighting, and stronger than he had in the classroom, but he still wasn't close to breaking free. Still, Hitoshi braced himself for some last, desperate attempt at resistance.

Even as he focused, voices from the stands still reached his ears.

"Is the kid really that volatile?" asked one hero in obvious disgust.

"I mean, he was pretty violent with his other opponents," another one pointed out.

"He was brutal," a third chimed in. "No control over his baser instincts. It's shameful."

"It's probably for the best he's not a hero student," said yet another. "If he became a hero he'd just make trouble."

Bakugou was nearly at the boundary line, and Hitoshi held tighter than ever. He was mentally writhing in Hitoshi's hold, by no means insensate to his situation, but his anger was no match for Hitoshi's determination. He was just a few steps away from the edge of the ring.

Three steps.

Two steps.

One step.

Bakugou stepped out of bounds.

For a few terrifying heartbeats, there was dead silence in the stadium. Hitoshi hardly dared to breathe. He didn't let go of Bakugou just yet, disbelief making him cautious. Did he really just win this?

Then Midnight threw out her arm toward the pitch.

"Bakugou is out of bounds!" she announced confidently. "Shinsou wins!"

For another moment the silence continued, like Hitoshi was in some strange bubble that separated him -- and his victory -- from the real world. Then suddenly a single cheer came up, solitary but ringing through the arena, and Hitoshi looked over to see Midoriya at the railing of the participants box, leaning over the field and screaming his joy to the sky. Beside him were Hatsume and Todoroki, and some of the girls from class 1A, who only seconds later took up the cry and began to cheer Hitoshi as well.

Then little by little, as though from one person at a time, more cheers began to rise up. The noise grew and grew, filling Hitoshi's ears with the sound of their excitement, until the crowd was cheering thunderously for him. All for him.

He'd done it. He'd won.

Hitoshi raised his fist to the sky as the crowd continued to clap and cheer wildly. He wasn't All Might, he'd never be All Might, but right now, for this one second, he could be something like. He was the champion, the Number One. He was the hero.

"In an amazing turn of events, Hitoshi Shinsou has won the sports festival and become our champion!" Mic narrated feverishly from the box.

"He's an excellent combatant," Eraserhead chimed in, for the first time in a while, and Hitoshi's heart leaped to hear his voice. "I'm sure this victory will open many doors for him."

"I'm sure losing the fight to his own temper hasn't done Bakugou any favors though," Mic said, in a surprisingly mean spirit, but Hitoshi didn't think anyone noticed, or cared.

Reminded of Bakugou, Hitoshi finally released his hold. Even when he'd lost focus Bakugou hadn't broken free, and Hitoshi had to wonder why he'd ever been worried. Bakugou gasped as though emerging from underwater, then rounded on Hitoshi, eyes blazing.

"YOU GOD DAMN EXTRA!" Bakugou screamed, running full tilt across the pitch at Hitoshi. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

A cement wall went up between Bakugou and Hitoshi, but with a roar of rage Bakugou blasted his way through and kept going. Hitoshi stepped back, fear rising in him once again, bracing himself for the attack. As soon as he was close enough Bakugou thrust out a hand and fired a blast, but Hitoshi dove forward beneath it and flattened himself to the ground. The explosion went off harmlessly over his head, but he was now on the ground at Bakugou's feet.

"YOU'RE GONNA WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN-" Bakugou began, raising his boot to stomp on Hitoshi's face, but before he could finish a cloud of purple smoke enveloped his head. He fell backwards, dead asleep, and Hitoshi looked over to find Midnight standing beside him, wearing a slightly ripped costume and a glower.

"Bakugou is disqualified for repeatedly attacking other students outside an official match!" Midnight shouted. "Shinsou is still the first place winner, but one of the third place winners will be promoted to second place!"

Hitoshi rolled onto his back, beaming up at the sky. It looked like Bakugou didn't have any chance of getting back into the hero course after all.

Todoroki was the one who was given second place, in the end. He requested it be Ojiro, but since he had lost to the winner of the final match and Orjiro had lost to the loser, the staff thought it was more fitting that Todoroki be the one promoted. He looked like he would have protested again, but Ojiro insisted it was only fair that Todoroki have second place, and he wouldn't take precedence over someone who had earned it. For him, it was a matter of pride.

Momo wasn't sure she agreed with that, but he didn't know that Todoroki had thrown his fight, so he had every reason to think Todoroki had simply worked harder than him. It was a bit sad, but still, third place was nothing to sneeze at.

The award ceremony was uneventful. Ojiro was solemn and serious as he accepted his third place medal. Todoroki was stoic and silence as he accepted second place. Shinsou looked a bit like a deer in the headlights when All Might turned to him with the first place medal, as though he was expecting it to be snatched away at the last moment, but All Might said something to him that made him smile and graciously accept the award.

The crowd cheered. The cameras flashed. Shinsou's face was up on the big screen, being broadcast all over Japan to everyone watching. UA would look pretty foolish if they didn't offer him a place in the hero course now.

Momo went with the other girls, Midoriya and Todoroki to meet Shinsou as he walked off the pitch. Midoriya immediately threw his arms around Shinsou, and Shinsou actually lifted Midoriya off his feet and spun him around. Hatsume also had to give Shinsou a hug, but this time she picked him up, leaning back to hold him off the ground. All three of them were laughing, and Todoroki

was smiling, which was a thing Momo didn't think she'd seen before. Todoroki didn't smile very often.

"Congratulations Shinsou," Momo said, once he was done being hugged by all his friends. "You fought extremely well. That medal is well deserved."

"Couldn't have done it without you," Shinsou countered, looking between her and Ashido. "Hey, you kicked Bakugou's butt!" Ashido protested. "Not just anyone can do that!" "Indeed," said a voice from somewhere behind them.

Shinsou and Midoriya straightened abruptly, and Momo turned to see Aizawa-sensei walking toward them. Where he had come from without them seeing him was a mystery, but she supposed he was a pro hero well versed in stealth. He stepped out of the shadows with eyes fixed on Shinsou, and Momo heard an audible gulp from Shinsou's general direction.

"Hitoshi Shinsou," Aizawa began formally, "you're wanted in the principal's office for a special meeting. Come with me."

Momo looked at Shinsou, to see him looking wide-eyed and fearful. Aizawa turned to go, but instead of following him Shinsou spoke hurriedly.

"If this is about what I think it is, I think the Class President should be there too!" Shinsou said in a rush.

Aizawa paused and turned back, looking at Shinsou contemplatively. "Why is that?" he asked, sounding bored.

Shinsou shrank away like a cat from a rainstorm. Momo, thinking quickly, stepped protectively in front of him.

"I think its a good idea sir," she said, with equal formality. "If we're going to discuss the potential consequences of the sports festival, and how it effects all students going forward, I think someone should be there to represent the class's interests."

Aizawa looked at her for a few moment. Momo stood tall, weathering his scrutiny with all the grace of her upbringing. Then he sighed.

"Fine," he said, "let's go find Kendou then."

"We'll wait for you in front of the school," Jirou assured her, and when Momo glanced in her direction, she gave a serious nod.

It took them fifteen agonizing minutes to find Kendou, celebrating -- or in some cases, commiserating -- with the rest of her class. She didn't seem at all surprised to be called for the meeting, possibly owing to the fact that Momo herself would also be there. For this Momo was grateful. She only hoped Kendou wouldn't put up anyone in her own class for transfer.

Aizawa led them to Principal Nezu's office, and before she knew it Momo was standing off to one side with Kendou. Aizawa and Vlad King stood behind Nezu's desk, flanking the principal, and Shinsou stood straight backed and serious before it.

"Well now," said Nezu pleasantly, "first off I think congratulations are in order. You did very well today Shinsou, taking first place in the UA sports festival is quite an accomplishment."

"Thank you sir." Shinsou dipped his head respectfully.

"In fact," Nezu went on, "we've only ever had one student from General Education ever place so high. You may be familiar with the story of how Aizawa came to join the hero course."

"It oughtn't have been necessary," Aizawa grumbled.

"Be that as it may," Nezu didn't take his eyes off Shinsou to address Aizawa, "you've certainly proved your mettle, Hitoshi Shinsou."

"You're too kind," Shinsou said, and Momo could tell he was buzzing with anticipation. She wondered if Nezu was drawing it out on purpose.

"In fact we of the faculty were so impressed," Nezu paused, then threw out his paws as though to illustrate the enormity of his declaration, "we would like to offer you enrollment in the hero course!"

Shinsou choked, and when Momo looked at him she could see that he was fighting tears. He drew a few deep breaths, sniffled, and cleared his throat.

"Thank you sir," he said, voice trembling with emotion but tears not yet spilled. "I would like to humbly accept the transfer."

"Excellent!" Nezu beamed. "I will handle everything, there's no need for you to worry about the details. The only question that really remains, is where to put you."

"Both classes are full up," Aizawa said flatly. "We haven't had any dropouts or expulsions, at least not that haven't been immediately replaced."

"That means we'll have to bump another student out," Nezu said, adopting a contemplative pose and stroking his chin with one hand.

Momo straightened, and beside her she heard Kendou shift. This was why they were here. Why Momo had agreed to Midoriya's plan. Why she and Ashido had thrown their matches against Shinsou, to ensure he would have this transfer.

"I don't have any students that are without potential," Aizawa declared. "All my students are talented individuals," Vlad King agreed.

"Well then, that puts us in a bind," Nezu said, with somewhat overexaggerated seriousness, and Momo began to wonder if this whole meeting might not be a bit of a show.

Nezu turned to Momo and Kendou. "Perhaps the Class Presidents could offer some suggestions."

"I wouldn't recommend anyone from Class B," Kendou piped up. "Not that there aren't people I don't like, but overall we work well as a class and there's no one there that doesn't deserve to be."

This is it, Momo thought, and stepped forward.

"Sirs," she began, keeping her voice deliberately calm, "there is one student in Class A that has had several complaints filed against him. All the girls in class have had some kind of issue with him, and he's been reprimanded multiple times for unheroic conduct."

"Oh yeah," Aizawa said, as though only just now remembering what Momo was talking about. "Minouru Mineta does have a history of . . . disruptive behavior. I've been meaning to suggest we

take a firmer hand with him for some time."

"Perfect!" Nezu said brightly. "Mineta will be transferred to Class 1C, pending further disciplinary action if his behavior doesn't improve, and Shinsou will take his spot in Class 1A. Meeting adjourned!"

Success!

Momo walked primly out of the principal's office, careful not to let her excitement show. Shinsou walked beside her as they made their way down the hall, Aizawa and Vlad King staying in the office and Kendou leaving in the opposite direction. Momo waited until they were around a corner, well out of earshot of the office, before she stopped.

"Yes!" she cried, pumping a fist into the air.

"Congratulations," Shinsou laughed, looking as giddy as Momo felt. "I . . . I can't believe that really happened."

"Welcome to Class 1A!" Momo said, then because she was feeling lighter than air, took Shinsou's head in her hands and kissed his forehead.

Shinsou looked deeply shocked when she pulled back, and suddenly Momo's stomach dropped as she considered how such an action might look to him.

"Don't read into that," she said hurriedly.

"Thank you I'm very gay," Shinsou informed her blithely.

The feeling of dread in her heart lifting, Momo gave him a beatific smile. "Cool," she replied, "me too."

Shinsou's face broke out in an equally pleased smile, and they began walking again toward the main entrance.

"So you and Jirou huh?" Shinsou asked when they were nearly at the door. Momo felt herself blushing. "Maybe," she said quietly. "I hope so." Shinsou nodded gravely.

"So you and Midoriya?" Momo guessed in return.

This time Shinsou's cheeks went slightly pink. "Maybe," he echoed her. "I hope so. There, uh, might be someone else too though."

"All three of you then?" Momo speculated.

Shinsou's blush deepened. "I don't know about that," he said carefully. "Right now its just a crush."

They reached the front door, and Momo paused before pushing it open. "Just so you know," she said, turning to Shinsou with a knowing smile, "Midoriya likes you. A lot."

Shinsou grinned. "Yeah," he said happily. "I know." *

As Hitoshi and Yaoyorozu stepped out of the school and onto the front steps, everyone who had gathered there immediately stood up and faced them anxiously. Midoriya and Hatsume were there, along with most of the girls from Class 1A. Uraraka was missing, strangely, but Todoroki was also present. They all looked at the two newcomers, some clutching each other in anticipation, all waiting for the final verdict.

Yaoyorozu cleared her throat. "I present to you Hitoshi Shinsou of Class 1A-" Midoriya and Hatsume cheered, and the rest of the girls all looked impossibly hopeful.

"-who will be replacing Minouru Mineta!" Yaoyorozu finished, her tone suddenly feral with excitement.

"Yes!" screamed Hagakure, her floating gym uniform rising a few inches as she gave a little hop. "Thank goodness!" Ashido sighed, sagging as though unburdened of a great weight.

"Hell yeah!" Jirou shouted, pumping a fist into the air in triumph.

"That's a relief, ribbit," Asui concluded.

"Shinchan, you did it!" Midoriya said excitedly as Hitoshi came down the stairs to where he was standing, Yaoyorozu rushing down into the gaggle of girls to celebrate.

"I think you did it, really," Hitoshi chuckled.

"Don't be modest!" Hatsume slapped him on the shoulder with surprising force. It actually hurt.

"Congratulations," Todoroki said, dipping his head. "Welcome to Class 1A."

"I'll do my best to keep up," Hitoshi promised.

"You're gonna do great!" Hatsume assured him confidently. "You've worked hard for this and you're going to be a great hero! And you'll be wearing a few of my babies just like Midoriya!"

"She has plans," Midoriya said nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Then he gave Hitoshi a brilliant smile. "I'm really happy for your Shinchan."

"I owe you a lot though," Hitoshi said quietly. It still didn't feel real yet, and he didn't want one of the teachers to pop out of nowhere and rip it all a way based on an overheard conversation.

Midoriya, however, was shaking his head. "You passed that last test by yourself," he said seriously. "You beat Kaccha- . . . I mean, Bakugou without any help from me."

Hitoshi stared, almost sure he had misheard. "For real?" he asked. "You're revoking his nickname?"

"Well," Midoriya looked down, "it's just . . . I've been thinking. Before, when I first gave him that nickname, it was because I thought he was my friend. Then, when I didn't develop a quirk, and he got . . . mean, I kept calling him that to remind him that we were friends. It was like I thought that if I kept that friendship alive, then I could convince myself that he wouldn't really hurt me. 'Kacchan' became like a shield . . . but it didn't protect me. It never protected me."

"Are you saying you think I'm going to protect you now?" Hitoshi said, raising an eyebrow even as his heart did flips.

"No," Midoriya shook his head, "its more like . . . I don't need protection anymore. I'm not afraid of him. And . . . you did that."

Hitoshi swallowed. His mouth was suddenly very dry. "You know," he said, "this kinda means you can't hide behind being an affectionate person anymore. You're going to have to admit that you call me Shinchan because you like me."

Midoriya giggled. "Of course I like you Shinchan," he replied. "In fact . . . I thought maybe . . . since I'm changing what I call people . . ."

"Are you . . ." Hitoshi felt himself blushing, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. "Are you saying . . ."

"If you want to call me Izuku," Midoriya fidgeted, "I'd like to be able to call you Hitoshi. If that's OK with you."

"Sure," Hitoshi said immediately, but his voice went strangely high when he said it, so he cleared his throat pointedly. "I mean, it's fine. Izuku."

"Thanks, Hitoshi," Midoriya -- Izuku -- said.

"You two are so cute!" Hatsume cooed, abruptly reminding Hitoshi that she was there.

He looked over to where she and Todoroki had been standing, but he found that she was suddenly standing there alone. Todoroki was several feet back, walking away towards the gate. Hitoshi considered calling out to him, but even as he reached out toward Todoroki's retreating back, a shout from one of the girls drew his attention.

"Uraraka!" called Ashido, waving at the front entrance where Uraraka was coming down the stairs. "Great news! Mineta's getting transferred to Class 1C!"

"Pending expulsion," Yaoyorozu added.

Uraraka, however, only smiled weakly. "That's great," she said, then went back to looking at the ground.

"What's wrong Ochako?" Asui said, tilting her head to one side. "You don't seem too happy."

"It's nothing," Uraraka shook her head. "Just . . . Iida had to leave early. There might be something wrong with his brother, he didn't know yet. I'm just worried about it, that's all."

The atmosphere was somewhat more subdued as they made their way back to the main gate, but nothing could dampen the spirits of young girls finally free of a pervert, so by the time they were nearing the edge of campus the dark cloud over their group had dispelled somewhat. The sun was just beginning to sink low in the sky, casting golden light over the school and the students. Hitoshi thought gratefully of the two days of rest that lay ahead of him, and considered asking Izuku if he wanted to do something with one of those days before discarding the idea.

He had won the sports festival. He was in the hero course.

He was Hitoshi to Izuku.

That was enough.