"HEY HEY HEY! IS EVERYBODY ON FIIIIIIRE?"

"YES!"

"GOOOOOOD! Today is the first day of the… SPORT FESTIVAL! As usual, we will see young heroes compete against each other, hoping to become heroes when they finish their course at U.A.!"

"Either that, or business executives, politicians, support heroes… Don't forget about them, Mic."

"AND OF COURSE WITH ME, I HAVE MY DEAR FRIEND ERASERHEAD!"

"You roped me into this. Literally. I am restrained against my will here."

"Hahaha! Eraser, such a joker. Anyway, We will begin the first day of the festival with the first-year's tournament!"

The mood was good, despite the USJ's attack. No one signaled the League of Villain or the nefarious Boss, but the security was high and no one here would miss the Handy-man that attacked their students.

However, it didn't reassure Nedzu, as an invisible hand was more dangerous than the visible dagger.

What sort of dangerous plot could he be plotting?

—————

"I swear, Kurogiri, it isn't a date! It is…"

"Just you and a girl, going to a festival and spending more or less three days together, alone and without your parents."

"EXACTLY, thank you Loony!"

"My pleasure."

As Tomura disappeared into the portal, Kurogiri, and Loony smiled at each other.

"They grow up so fast. Do you have a picture book?"

"Only after I picked him up when he was 9. Before that, he had another caretaker. However, he messed up and…"

"Yeah, I heard Boss' boss isn't the man who tolerates failures."

"Actually, he is, as long as you provide the truth and it doesn't make you incompetent."

"Oh. So, anyway… I have a training session with Stain. He wants to know how I killed Thunderbolt."

"Be careful, both. While I have some medical knowledge, I can't bring back the dead!"

"Pfff… Yes dad!"

————

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"

Izuku was currently evacuating stress before the tournament, yelling as hard as he could.

Shouto, who discovered he loved to yell when he could, joined him in this endeavor. He wasn't anxious about the tournament, as Nedzu and Hound-Dog's session allowed him to not care about being the #1 if he didn't want to be it. His mindset was to enjoy the competition and have fun.

Kirishima and Denki joined the scream, as it was manly, and fired up their spirit.

Bakugou joined because he was Bakugou.

It wasn't worrying for most people. As for Inko, she couldn't do well then there were too much people, so she and Atsuhiro stayed at home. It wasn't a ploy from his stepfather to have cuddle time.

However, if the situation stressed Izuku, it wasn't only because of the competition:

As one of the two valedictorians of the practical exam, they expected a speech from Bakugou and him!

Of course, they already knew what Bakugou was going to say: "I am the next #1, good luck beating me, it won't be enough."

Izuku, however, had pretty much no idea. What was he going to say? What was he supposed to say? Plus Ultra? Talk about original.

"Toru to Izuku. Toru to Izuku. Do you copy?"

Suddenly, Izuku snapped, as Toru sighed. Yep, Izuku was once again locked in one of his mental loops on what he was supposed to do.

He needed someone to snap him out of it. Often Katsuki, sometimes here and one time, Hitoshi, who used his quirk, so the green-haired boy took a second to refresh himself in the bathroom.

"… Sorry, just a bit stressed."

"Izuku, if we put a dynamo under your leg, we could power the entire city. You are that jumpy."

"You are right. It's just I don't know what to say, to be inspiring enough and be good en…"

Toru bonked him.

"Izuku. We are teenagers. The world is going to be a mess if they already expected us to be the one saving it! Just be yourself and tell everyone why you want to be a hero."

Izuku felt the familiar pressure of Toru's invisible hug.

"I know that when you explained to me, it made me happy and warm. You are good enough, as you are Izu-kun."

People found their couple strange sometimes, as she was the typical over energetic girl and he was the very definition of the dork.

However, both completed each other very well, Izuku helping Toru to focus all her buzzing energy towards her goal and her letting him relax as he should when otherwise he would be almost breaking himself.

At this precise moment? It worked wonderfully.

————

"Hoooyyyyy! Teeeeenko!"

Sweet. Tomura, who wanted to avoid grabbing the attention, was suddenly thrown into the spotlight: Nejire just called him by his real name in public. Nejire was many things, but discreet was not one of them, especially if she decided that levitating was the best option to spot 'Tenko'.

The young man was in an unconscious sweat, the hood almost on his head, until he remembered he needed the blue-haired girl to help him go through the front door.

If you weren't a 1 from someone already in U.A. (as a student or a staff) or if you didn't go through a lot of background-checks, you wouldn't be able to enter the school.

Well, at least that's what he was going to say if anyone asked him, and certainly not because he appreciated the moment as she landed near him and grabbed his hand so they could shortcut the line by flying a bit.

Being dangling in the air was also not in Tomura's plan, but damn, the view was nice, as Nejire wore one of her long floaty robes, and her smile was something to behold.

"You know that asking is nice, too?"

"Yep! But this is faster that way and you don't like the crowd, anyway!"

Two meetings only, but she already noticed that about him? Talk about being perceptive. Seriously, Tomura was now thinking she might have crafted her whole bubbly persona to make people lower their guard before she hugged them.

"So… What is the first event today?"

"Oh, it is the first year's day! From what I have heard, initially, it was just supposed to be a race, but the principal found an old issue after spending some time with his grandchild."

Tomura, suddenly, felt a pleasing feeling in his spine. He didn't know how or why, but he was almost certain that damn Joker, the exploding dumbass, and the gargoyle would not have a good time.

"That seems nice!"

"Also, for the first time apparently, we have two valedictorians who have to make an entrance speech!"

Tomura nodded, while still in the air, before they finally arrived at their destination. A high class lounge where two people were already waiting. One of them looked like… Flipping Tintin, but on steroids apparently and as for the other, Tomura and as for the other… Tamaki and Tomura looked at each other and instantly, they knew.

"You too you got kidnapped by an over social person and they somehow constantly keep you by their side?"

The nod provided all the answers both needed and they accepted each other as mood kindred.

"… Nice to see you both are friendly with each other! Tenko, these are my two best friends in the world! Mirio and Tamaki!"

"I was going to call them Tintin and Tamaki."

"You can call me Tintin only if I can call you Crusty."

This bite made Tomura smile, as it showed the hero wasn't a pushover.

"Nice to meet you all. I am Tenko and I am not a hero. Let's just say I am among the quirks that have to keep them constantly sealed."

Tomura pointed at the All-Might gloves. He was too used to them by now and it wasn't as if he had many other options. Also, they would be perfect as a camo in U.A. He just looked like an Izuku.

"Ouch. Hard."

They kindly decided to not pursue the issue, to his great pleasure, as he sat beside Nejire. They could perfectly see the stadium in front of them and now, they were just waiting for the principal attraction. Oh, it was going to be so fun!

Wait, who was that green-haired boy on the podium?

"IZUKU?!"

"… You know him?"

"We play cards together!"

"Oh right, the little cousin you spoke about once or twice!"

"He isn't my cousin, he is just a good friend!"

Nejire wondered why then she had the same pulsion to just fluff both their hair to check who had the fluffiest one.

————

"I am going to be the next #1. So good luck, and give it your all: I don't want to be the best because you suck. I want to be the best because I am better than all of you."

Surprisingly, Bakugou's speech was not as spiteful as he could have been. In fact, it was even a bit encouraging, in a very Katsuki way.

However, now, it was time for a dorky boy to speak in public. Izuku took as much air as he could, before remembering all the stage lessons Atsuhiro gave him. Now, he just has to pull his mask on his face… And this time, his mask was his smile.

"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! So, after Katsuki, it's hard to do something even more competitive, right? So, I won't. I just hope everyone has a fun day! Also, sorry Katsuki, but I think the audience would like it if I win, right? But anyway, TODAY LET'S BE HEROES! FOR EVERYONE'S SMILE!"

If Katsuki got the boos, Izuku got the applause as he bowed toward the audience.

It was not the time to explain, yet he would avoid using his quirk for the first round. The answer was simple: the final round always had a fight in them… Though he had obviously another motive to do so.

————

"He has some spirits, this one. I like him. What did you say his name was?"

"Izuku Midoriya. I knew he was a hero fan, but I didn't know he wanted to go to U.A.!"

Tomura was pale. The way of speaking, half jokingly, the fact he was in the 1A and, of course, the NDA about the incident. Oh god, did that day he almost dusted Izuku?! He needed to breathe…

Or at least that was his thought before Nejire patted his head, kindly and like a big sister… Which was ironic since Tomura was older. A part of him, that he promptly punched, regretted it was not a hug like the first time.

Anyway, it helped him focus on something else. Like… Nejire and her merry friends.

"So… Sorry. I lost people in a villain incident and knowing… that Izuku was involved in an incident with a villain…"

"Oh. Well, I admit it is unfortunate they had to face their first villain that early." Mirio seemed to understand Tomura's worries, and explained a few things. "I mean, usually, you don't face them until the first week of an internship after the tournament."

Wait. WHAT. WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?

"Also, this time, the villains didn't seem that bad. Even if that Boss had a motive quite like the Hero Killer, at the very least he was coherent about it and didn't kill anyone."

Oh. Oh right, he had used that persona to seduce more people and reduce the attention on him. Oh god, that was a close one. Note to self: Adopt constantly the "Don't kill child" persona.

Nejire nodded vigorously her head, while puffing her cheeks.

"I won't forgive anyone who hurt my kouhai, though!"

Tomura couldn't stop himself and pushed one of her cheeks, while Mirio did the same on the opposite side. Tamaki, him, tried to do his best Aizawa impression.

————

"So, my dear Eraserhead, what do you think of the first trial?"

"Nedzu is most likely insane, but if any students survive that, they deserve to be here."

In front of them was a fully revamped race track, one that seemed to come from an old show. It had mud, ropes, various traps you would expect to find in a dungeon…

"EVERYONE, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU THE FIRST TRIAL! THE STUDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH…

THE NEDZU'S CASTLE RACE!"

"Yes, he totally changed the name, even though it is in the public domain now, but it is exactly what you think it is."

Meanwhile, Cementoss, who had to build the whole thing with Power Loader, was sipping his tea.

—————

Endeavor, in his office, chuckled as he watched the TV. He was working alone today, but he knew his presence wasn't needed, wanted, nor he deserved to go there. Instead, he was working on a side investigation and… And…

Suddenly, as much as he would have wanted to see Shouto run against his friends, Endeavor had a gut feeling.

It was a case closed years ago, and he opened it up only because of a little thing Nedzu told him.

After the Ashen King went into Japan, a lot of fire users died, as he liked to eat them. Their number wasn't that high and many chose to live in another country because of the stigma Endeavor had to fight against.

The death of Hisashi Midoriya was a special interest for him.

————

"ATCHIE."

"A cold, Recovery Girl?" Cementoss was sitting in the teacher's booth, with Midnight and various other members of the staff.

"More like worry, as I will have extra work today. Do I have all their quirks listed?"

"Yes, yes, there. Still thinking about that incident?"

"Urrrrgh. THEY FUCKING SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT DUMBASS HAD A FIRE QUIRK, BEFORE I PUT HIM UNDER OXYGEN!"

Midnight coughed a bit. She remembered the incident as that man, soon after waking up, had tried to flirt with her heavily despite being clearly married, as the ring he wore attested.

Midnight knew who she was and what image she gave, but she was not a home wrecker and she made him breathe a bit of her gas.

Gas who was, unknown to many people, highly inflammatory if the person had to breathe pure oxygen afterward.

————

Izuku thanked Atsuhiro for all his training. After all this time being chased by a crazy man and having to dodge attacks upon attack while a trap activated to stop him, Izuku was in a familiar environment.

With his speed and agility, Izuku seemed to dance across the various contraptions Nedzu made for them. Most students, of course, used their quirks. The leads were currently Shouto, who iced the trap just enough to pass through, Katsuki, who was blasting what needed to be blasted out of his path, Mei, his friend from the support group (most likely because she helped for the traps and knew them better than anyone else) and him.

He lost Toru in the frantic beginning, but he had faith in her gymnastic abilities, only second to Mina and his in the class.

Meanwhile, Toru was indeed doing well: Sure, people tried to push her around, but she had the common sense to be near Kirishima and Sato. For obvious reasons, people avoided bumping into them. Their trio was working well, between their strengths and her mind, analyzing the various traps.

She had been vital for the trio, when they had to jump from rock to rock in an instant-death trial. More than a few people fell into the mud that way though, such as several Gen-Course. Their deaths were useful though, as it allowed her to notice the trick sign on the booby-trapped stones.

Still, she liked this race, as the faster ones were not the most effective. You need brain, skill and power.

--

"What do you think of our students that team-up in such an event, my dear friend!"

"First off, I reconsider our friendship on the basis you took my fruit pouches. Second, they are simply doing the logical thing: Alone, they would lose but together they stand a chance. For the Hero Course, it allows them to show to the pros they can cooperate well on the fly and for the Gen-Ed that they are extremely motivated about it. Finally, they can make sure of who they bring in at a later stage, if they are really vicious about it."

"Oh? Some memories to share?" After all, Hizashi was interested by the story.

"Well, back in my second year, I managed to bring with me a loud guy. Best meat shield I ever had." Aizawa had the biggest grin possible saying that, while realization dawned on his friend's face.

"... Wait a minute. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T DO THAT ON PURPOSE WHEN YOU USED ME TO BLOCK THE ARROWS!"

"IT WAS A LOGICAL RUSE!"

Even though both of them knew they were friends. Hell, Aizawa even helped Hizashi for a possible alibi during that time when one of his sonic booms missed a villain and hit an ambulance, years ago.

—————

"Your teachers are insane, you know that ?"

"They are good at what they do though."

Mirio sighed, as he thought back on how hard Aizawa had been on him earlier. The number of evening courses he had to take to train his quirk properly.

In the same breath, Tamaki was thinking about how Hizashi kept making him talk during his English class despite hating being in the spotlight.

Nejire sighed as she didn't have ice cream, as the vendor passed by them... And before Tomura bought her a medium-sized one, and one for the other boys. It was the good way to not raise suspicion, right?

It was totally not because he wanted to make Nejire smile.

——————

The last part of the race, after the trapped ropes you had to guess correctly to not fall, was an apparently empty field. It was suspicious enough to make Mei and Shouto stop a second, who wondered what was the trap.

Then, Katsuki tried to rush ahead with his explosion yelling "CIAO, EXTRAS!" and getting zapped by various lasers. Uh, it was an unexpected one. Did Nedzu have problems with using explosives this year? Instead, he used a laser that sent electrical discharge.

However, Katsuki allowed for the dust to rise and the lasers were kind of visible. Izuku cracked his neck and showed off his gymnastic skills as he progressed forward. Once or twice, he even showed how flexible he was, his legs bending behind his ears.

Then, he heard Katsuki, who shot a blast against the ground to create small walls to protect himself. Shouto, him, tried to use his ice, but the laser kept melting it, forcing him to use his quirk a lot. As for Hanta, Izuku saw what he tried to do and admired his mental fortitude. If he was right, they were going to see a human slingshot soon, even though he would likely get burned a lot.

Izuku had a thought, as he theorized a bit about the lasers.

What would happen to Toru and her bending light body?

—————

"UNLIMITED POWEEEER" Toru was having the time of her life, as she redirected the laser against the others contestants, letting it through her.

Of course, she also protected like a powerful turret Kirishima and Sato but she was the queen of the race! Now, she kept redirecting the tasing laser toward her enemy, while laughing like an invisible demon queen.

Oh? Was it Bakugou who was trying to catch up with Izuku?

It would be a shame if someone protected their boyfriend by shooting Katsuki in the back...

Then Toru thought again.

What would happen once Katsuki discovered she was the one who shot him in a race against his rival in the back?

As she preferred to let that question unanswered, she shot at a grape-haired kid who was trying to ride on Momo's back. Girls powa!

———-

Katsuki, Izuku and Shouto were running at the top of their lungs toward the finishing race. The cameras, all on them, showed the same thing: the biggest grin on their face. Shouto, someone who had fun, legitimately. Katsuki? Joy, as he had proud rivals to fight against, and Izuku... Izuku had a determined grin.

Strangely, all three of them decided silently to not use their quirk, and instead relied on their body. All three of them were toes to toes with their abilities... Until they heard a mad laugh behind them, bordering on the crazy scientist cackling.

It was Mei, with some spider legs, that was catching up on them.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

They somehow sped up even more at that sight.

————

To everyone's surprise, the winner was Hatsume Mei, who took the top spot from the golden trio of the class A. Everyone was stomped, as she did her show, to sell her inventions and gadgets.

Izuku smiled as he saw her do that. Unlike most people, he went to Mei willingly early in the year: He had some ideas of gears he wanted, and also knew it was far above what he could do.

Some people had a mind for investigation, some for tactics and others, like Mei, for crazy inventions. She didn't give you what you asked, but she always gave you what you needed.

Soon after them came Sato and Kirishima, each supporting a Toru laughing on their shoulder. Soon came others like Mina, most of the 1B and of the class 1A, with some lucky gen-ed and the grape boy Toru shot before.

However, for now, it was time for them to have a slight break.

————

Going to the restroom to get some drinks, Nedzu met the golden trio. The Principal congratulated everyone, and showed three journalists that could ask questions to the students if they were calm enough.

"So, first question, why did you not use your quirk in the last segment of the race? Or at all for you, young Midoriya?"

"We all wanted to keep our strengths for the rest of the day." Izuku explained to the journalist.

It had been fun, as the journalists asked them various things, like, where they came from, how was it to have All-Might as a teacher, how did they feel to have lost to Mei…

"That girl is crazy and awesome. IT ALSO MEANS I HAVE TO DESTROY HER NEXT ROUND!" Katsuki was in a mood that seemed to mix happiness to find another rival to surpass and destroy, and anger to lose to someone else.

"Mei is a good friend and honestly, I am happy they gave her an opportunity to shine." The cameraman wondered if they should switch the lens as Izuku's smile was that bright.

"I now have arachnophobia." Shouto stated that, refused to elaborate, and left the room.

Kaminari couldn't stop himself from commenting "Sigma Shouto" when he did that. Jirou sighed, though she then wondered why she heard a scream from Shouto from the door as he went by.

More importantly, the interview continued and the reasons Izuku and Bakugou wanted to be heroes.

"BECAUSE I AM STRONG! POWERFUL! And it is my duty to break those that break the law! No one will commit crimes in my presence, AS I AM THE BEST!"

Most people had to admit Katsuki had a lot of ambition, and probably anger to deal with. However, this small interview didn't go into the wrong ears and someone grinned as they thought they found the perfect intern for their style… If he had the strength to back it up, of course.

And, as for Izuku…

"Actually, mine is longer. It isn't really a secret, but I am what they call a late-bloomer. I don't speak about "I got my quirk at 8" bloomer. I got it last year. Until then, they deemed me quirkless… And I know firsthand how it hurts. How we are forgotten."

"We? You still consider yourself as a Quirkless?"

"I have been effectively one for the most of my life. I know that while the discriminations aren't high enough for us to have some kind of Quirkless Liberation Front or something, I wouldn't be surprised if it is the case."

————

Somewhere else, a blue man sneezed.

————

"And it isn't simply quirkless. Villainous quirk, mutants…"

Hitoshi, Tsuyu, and Mina nodded in the back, approving Izuku's speech.

"I don't want to be the next #1. I want to be the hero that can bring them a smile on their face too. That when I am here, they will be okay, as someone is there for them."

————

Tomura looked at his friend's face, as he wondered if he knew it was live or not. Probably not, as otherwise he would die of embarrassment.

"OH MY GOD HE IS ADORABLE!"

"Eh, it seems like he is an All Might fan too."

"Too… Bright…"

"Yes, Izuku is always like that…"

'It will be harder to recruit him than expected… But if one of the most promising heroes joins me, I will be unstoppable!'

Tomura seemed to forget something: When you stare at the abyss, the abyss stares back. When he tried to corrupt Izuku… Maybe he was actually purified?

————

At the Midoriya's (soon Sako's) house, Atsuhiro had to open the door once again. The lady below used the contraption device the building made to use Inko's tears to water the plants in the building.

This year too, the building would win the prize of the greenest of the town!

"I am so prouuuuuuuuuud! Mom would have been so happy!"

Atsuhiro nodded, as he knew how much she had counted for Inko. He even had expected Inko to be a vigilante or a rescue hero in the same way Recovery Girl is as an homage to her mom.

"I guess heroism is in the blood, right?"

"Yes… Totally."

"You are something to let him pursue that career after all."

"Atsuhiro, let's be honest. If I hadn't, he would have become a Vigilante. Imagine if he had joined Compress and the others?"

For a moment, Atsuhiro considered the idea. It might have been fun… But having an angry Inko after them wasn't a risk he was willing to take, especially as they were cuddling.

————

In the teacher's booth, hidden from the press and the public thanks to the height and a special window, Yagi nodded to Izuku's speech.

Had One For All not been dangerous to transfer to someone with a quirk, Izuku would have made an heir as fine as Mirio. It also reminded him he had to contact Gran Torino soon, if he didn't want to be high-kicked in the face.

————

Meanwhile, for Shouto, in his personal restroom.

Being the principal's grandson was useful for a few perks, after all. However, Shouto was now in a big turmoil, as in front of him stood in front of him the second least expected person, aside from Touya (since he was dead) and his father.

After all, despite the reassurance from Nedzu and everyone else that he wouldn't have to see his father if he didn't want to, he knew it wasn't impossible.

However, he was ready to give him a chance for the internship: his dad, for all his fault, was incredibly competent. He could learn a lot from how he worked and if Nedzu and the rest were right, he followed a therapy and all the rest, well… It might be worth it.

Especially now that he knew All Might would german-suplex Endeavor if needed.

No, in front of Shouto was a lady with white hair, a kind smile and who played with an ice flower.

"… It has been a long time, Shouto."

"Mom…"