Stadium:Day…
The teams panned out as follows with them being named after the rider:
Team Kamakiri 70pts
Togaru Kamakiri 40
Pony Tsunotori 30
Team Rin 125pts
Hiryu Rin 55
Jurota Shishida 70
Team Kodai 160pts
Yui Kodai 60
Koji Bondo 85
Manga Fukidashi 15
Team Hagakure 170pts
Toru Hagakure 25
Reiko Yanagi 80
Setsuna Tokage 20
Kinoko Komori 45
Team Shinso 275pts
Hitoshi Shinso 75
Nirengeki Shoda 50
Yuga Aoyama 5
Mashirao Ojiro 145
Team Monama 285pts
Neito Monama 35
Kosei Tsuburaba 90
Sen Kaibara 95
Shihai Kuroiro 65
Team Hatsume 310pts
Mei Hatsume 10
Hanta Sero 170
Tsuyu Asui 130
Team Kendo 435pts
Itsuka Kendo 110
Kyoka Jiro 100
Rikido Sato 120
Koji Koda 105
Team Tetsutetsu 665pts
Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu 155
Juzo Honenuki 185
Yosetsu Awase 135
Ibara Shiozaki 190
Team Todoroki 665pts
Shoto Todoroki 195
Tenya Iida 180
Momo Yaoyorozu 150
Denki Kaminari 140
Team Bakugo 700pts
Katsuki Bakugo 200
Eijiro Kirishima 160
Mina Ashido 165
Fumikage Tokoyami 175
Team Uraraka 10,000,445pts
Ochaco Uraraka 115
Rex Salazar 10,000
Mezo Shoji 125
Izuku Midoriya 205
"After 15 minutes to pick teammates and talk strategy, 12 teams are prepared to go head-to-head." Mic declared as the audience went wild. "Come on, get your hands in the air. It's time for an arena bumping battle royal. Let me hear you scream!"
The plan for Team Uraraka was as follows. Mezo is the front horse due to his arms capability to enshrouded Ochaco. While Rex and Izuku would obviously be paying attention to the front, a great deal more would be paid to the back ensuring their safety.
Beyond protection, this team was built for mobility. As the rider, Ochaco would have easy access to any of the horses, making them lighter as needed. Between Rex and Izuku, they could effortlessly get into and maneuver around the air as needed.
"Begin!" Midnight declared.
Everyone immediately targeted their team.
"They're coming." Mezo declared.
"Time to run away!" Izuku yelled.
"Don't think so!" Tetsutetsu yelled.
Juzo nodded before pressing his foot along the ground sending out his Quirk and making the ground soft. This resulted in Team Uraraka sinking.
Rex was already behind them, so building his Boogie Pack was all they needed. "Maintain a firm hold on Shoji!"
Rex took off lifting their whole team into the air.
"They're flying!" Tetsutetsu growled. "Damn it, after them!"
Every other team was scrambling to follow.
"Jiro, do it now!" Kendo yelled.
"I know!" Kyoka responded, sending her earphone jacks after them.
Midoriya activated Full Cowling 8% and flicked which generated enough air pressure to keep them away. Granted, it likely wasn't needed given Shoji's arms were quite sturdy, but Izuku wouldn't take chances.
As they ran, Rikido noticed something. "Kendo, your head band is gone!"
"What!?" Itsuka felt around her forehead, and it was gone just as he said.
A little further away, Monoma grinned as he twirled their headband. "Well, that was easy."
"Oh wow, not even two minutes in, and it's devolved into a free for all!" Mic declared.
Suddenly, Ochaco heard a familiar laugh getting closer.
"This is what you get for turning down my babies, number 1 headband!" Mei declared. "Now, everyone will see my babies for how brilliant they are!"
"I think they're great!" Sero declared. "We're coming for you guys!"
"I'll admit, this is impressive." Tsu stated. "Get ready, we're about to open that shell."
Team Uraraka hadn't expected Team Mei to come after them like this, but here they were in the air. Asui was the front horse and outfitted with hover boots while Sero was in the back with a jet pack. Hatsume was currently holding a strange, white sphere.
"Just think, these are what you turned down by not teaming with me!" Mei shouted before hurling her sphere.
"I don't regret it!" Rex declared.
He hovered and had his turbines fire off their weighted cables with the right most one just skimming underneath the coming sphere. Said sphere hit the right turbine before exploding in a pink, sticky substance that gummed it up. At the same time, both cables hit true wrapping violently around the hover soles.
The weights smashed against them to the point the invention barely worked. Both teams were falling, but Team Hatsume fell faster giving Izuku the chance to flick with all his might. He nailed the back of the jet pack damaging it as well to the point they wouldn't be getting air borne again. While that was good, Team Uraraka were still falling to the ground.
"Everyone, Rex Ride Formation!" Rex shouted.
Rex had been the one to refine Izuku's plan this time. Ochaco used her Quirk on all of them before he disassembled the Boogie Pack. When the Rex Ride popped out, people positioned themselves better. Then, Ochaco ceased her Quirk as they fell the final feet to the ground.
Mezo ended up out front before going as low as possible to ensure Ochaco was secure, and Rex's sight wasn't impaired. Izuku landed behind and turned while taking a firm seat, ready to defend the back. Rex then sped off around the stadium.
"Don't think for a second you're safe!" Bakugo roared.
"Kacchan is incoming!" Izuku yelled.
The moment they landed, Bakugo used his explosion to leave his horse and blast right after Team Uraraka. Considering Rex just built the Rex Ride, he wasn't moving at the speeds he had in the obstacle course.
"Hold on!" Rex yelled.
"I've got you!" Bakugo roared.
He was aiming to land right on top of Mezo and blow his arms to the sides before snagging that headband. At the last second, Rex drifted slowing them down to the point Katsuki overshot them. He then sped back up in the new direction.
"Izuku, now!" Rex shouted.
Izuku punched out his fist sending a wave of air that knocked Katsuki away. He would have hit the ground had Fumikage not sent out Dark Shadow to retrieve him.
"What is this!" Mic yelled. "The horses of Team Uraraka are now solely riding atop one of Rex Salazar's builds while Bakugo separated from his! Is all this even allowed!?"
"Uraraka and Bakugo both never touched the ground." Midnight gave a thumbs up. "Technically, both cases are okay!"
"This is amazing, Rex!" Uraraka's muffled shout came across clearly.
"Yes, you builds are rather versatile." Mezo added.
"That's the idea." Rex gunned it picking up speed. "Now, let's show these other teams they'll have to try a lot harder if they want our headband!"
"We are officially at the seven-minute mark, so let's throw the rankings up on the screen to see just where our teams stand!" Mic announced.
1st Team Uraraka 10,000,445pts
2nd Team Monama 1420pts
3rd Team Tetsutetsu 1250pts
4th Team Todoroki 665pts
5th Team Hagakure 400pts
6th Team Rin 125pts
7th Team Kamakiri 0pts
7th Team Kodai 0pts
7th Team Shinso 0pts
7th Team Hatsume 0pts
7th Team Kendo 0pts
7thTeam Bakugo 0pts
"Hold on." Mic stated. "This is an unexpected turn. Other than Teams Uraraka and Todoroki, Class 1-A isn't doing well. Even Bakugo is losing."
Team Bakugo vs Team Monoma
Monoma had just snagged Katsuki's headband mere moments before the scores were shown. "Your class is small minded, think bigger."
"He got us!" Mina exclaimed stunned.
"What did you say!?" Katsuki yelled angrily. "Come back here!"
Monoma's three classmates stopped. "Midnight said the Obstacle Course was the first game, and we figured they wouldn't cut that many of us off the bat." He looked back. "Would they? We assumed they'd keep at minimum forty contestants.
So, all we needed was to stay within the pack. From our spots within the middle, we could fully observe the Quirks of our rivals and judge their capabilities. Only a fool obsesses over winning the preliminary round, wouldn't you agree?"
"You planned this as a class?" Katsuki questioned.
"It wasn't totally unanimous, but I'd say its panning out." Monoma commented as he tied the headband around his head. "I mean, it's better than chasing after some temporary front runner like a horse with a carrot in its face.
Oh, while I have your attention, you are kind of famous, right? You're the kid who was attacked by that sludge Villian." He was angering Katsuki which wasn't a smart idea. "You'll have to tell me about it sometime. Must be so strange to always be a victim, huh?"
"Kirishima…change in plans." Katsuki declared dangerously.
"There is darkness radiating from him." Tokoyami thought.
Stadium
Rex suddenly had to skid to a halt as Tenya blazed his whole team into their path. "You are fast Salazar, but I'm well versed in speed to the point that charting the course of interception is doable."
Rather than focus on that, Rex looked at Mezo. "Make sure your shell is as tightly held together as possible."
Mezo firmed up his arms around Ochaco, but this didn't seem to faze Shoto. "I'll be taking your headband now, Midoriya, Salazar."
"How did you lose our headband?" Tsu questioned confused.
"I don't know!" Mei yelled. "I had it while we descended, but it vanish not long after!"
"Well, that headband might be gone, but Shoto just stopped Team Uraraka." Sero pointed out.
"Number 1 is stopped?" Mei looked before laughing. "Alright, we have a shot to avenge the babies they destroyed." Sero and Tsu started running. "Full speed ahead!"
They were only one of the many groups encroaching on this standoff.
"You managed to intercept, but that doesn't help you at close range like this." Rex revved his build. "I'm fairly certain we can escape especially with a little gravitational help."
Uraraka heard him and used her Quick on the Rex Ride.
"Now Iida, forward." Shoto ordered.
"Right." Tenya declared before speeding forward.
Denki and Momo wore skates created by the latter meaning they easily moved with the guy rather than slow him down. On Rex's end, he began speeding away.
"Yaoyorozu, be ready to protect us." Shoto ordered.
"On it." Momo declared, taking the necessary steps.
"Kaminari." Todoroki called out.
"Oh, I know what I got to do." Denki declared.
At that proclamation, Rex knew what was coming. "Deku, we need some air!"
"Of course." Izuku stated ready to punch down with the full force of Full Cowling 8%. "Brace yourselves!"
"I hope you've made something strong, Yaoyorozu." Denki called out as she created a ground for herself and insulated fabric for Shoto and Tenya. "Indiscriminate Shock: 1.3 Million Volts!"
Izuku slammed his fist into the ground creating an air blast. Thanks to Ochaco making the Rex Ride lighter, while not using it on them so they'd act as weights, the build now jumped clear into the air where they just avoided the range of Kaminari's electricity.
The same could not be said of every other team who had closed in. They took the full brunt of the attack and were shocked. Shoto then grabbed Momo's ground, as the attack ended, and used his ice along it freezing all the other teams that tried to take either headband.
"Sorry, there's no other way." As they moved past Hagakure's team, Shoto managed to snag the headbands around her neck leaving her with only the one around her head. "I might as well take all these."
"TODOROKI!" Hagakure yelled.
His only answer was to freeze up a wall. By this point, Rex had already called for Ochaco to stop her Quirk, enabling them to fall faster, before attempting to speed off once more. Unfortunately, Shoto kept freezing until Team Uraraka couldn't easily escape like that.
"Mezo, we're counting on you." Izuku declared firmly as Rex turned his ride around to face Team Todoroki. "No matter what, you cannot open your arms."
"I give you my word that not a thing they do will budge me one inch." Mezo declared firmly.
Team Bakugo vs Team Monoma
"Monoma, don't provoke him." Sen warned. "That's the kind of thing he would do."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Monoma smirked and shrugged. "It's not very heroic of me. Besides, you know how these things work; Heroes are always being hounded by moronic Villains desperate for some kind of revenge."
"Calm down Bakugo." Kirishima tried as Katsuki only grew angrier. "You got to keep a level head; otherwise, we'll never get our points back."
Bakugo roared, enraged, before making an explosion in the palm of his hand. "Shut up! I've never been calmer." He had one of his signature grins on his face. "Now, after them Kirishima."
"Please, don't make us regret this." Kirishima stated before they ran.
"You think you're tough!" Bakugo yelled. "DIE!"
He thrust his hand forward, while utilizing an explosion, only for Monama to deflect him. When Katsuki turned around, he was met by his own explosion to the face.
"Whoa." Neito smiled. "I see why you like this, Quirk."
He then touched Eijiro's hair.
"Weird, that guy has your Quirk!" Kirishima exclaimed in shock.
"Damn it!" Bakugo yelled.
He slammed his palm into Monoma and nailed him with an explosion.
"You both have impressive powers." Neito had defended himself with Kirishima's Quirk. "Though, I think you'll agree mine is better."
"Your Quirk." Bakugo stated. "You can copy other's Quirks."
"Very good." Neito stated. "Seems even an idiot can understand."
That angered Katsuki again before Team Kodai interfered with their front horse spewing glue between the teams.
"Nice one." Monoma smiled. "Thanks for the backup, Bando."
"Monoma, if we keep those head bands, we're good." Sen reasoned. "Provided no one gets near us, we'll make our class proud."
"Stop them!" Bakugo yelled as the 1-B teams started to run.
"It's too sticky." One of Kirishima's legs had been entrapped. "I can't move!"
Ashido moved her leg near the glue and began using her acid to free him. "No problem, I'll melt through this gunk with my acid."
"We must hurry; otherwise, we will be without points." Fumikage stated.
He was thinking about whether to use his Quirk; however, he had reason to believe Katsuki could present a better opportunity. After all, he was part of a duo that had done the same to All Might thirteen days prior.
Stadium
"There's only one minute left!" Mic declared. "Team Todoroki has the ten million point head band cornered; however, Team Uraraka has been a defensive/evasive wall they just can't seem to crack."
"They're keeping distant and staying on my left side." Shoto thought. "That strategy…from this position, if I try to freeze them, I hit Iida. If they keep moving like this, I can't get a good shot in."
"I'm not…done yet." Kaminari managed as his brain was near fried.
After the prior 1.3 Million Volt, he doesn't have the electricity needed to achieve much more than mildly shocking the whole group. He knew his classmates were tougher than to let that fell them.
"I can't risk Recipro Burst." Tenya thought frustrated. "If I were alone, or with people who could react at that speed, I'd use it in a heartbeat to break Shoji's defense. As it stands, all I'd achieve is breaking the defense and then giving them the chance to escape."
Time was running out, yet Team Todoroki was starting to draw a blank on things they could do to get that head band.
Team Bakugo vs Team Monoma
"Despite Team Todoroki's best efforts, Team Uraraka has stone walled them at every turn." Mic declared. "Are the four teams, as they stand, the ones moving onto the next round?"
1st Team Uraraka 10,000,445pts
2nd Team Monama 1420pts
3rd Team Tetsutetsu 1250pts
4th Team Todoroki 895pts
5th Team Hagakure 170pts
6th Team Rin 125pts
7th Team Kamakiri 0pts
7th Team Kodai 0pts
7th Team Shinso 0pts
7th Team Hatsume 0pts
7th Team Kendo 0pts
7thTeam Bakugo 0pts
"Second place." Monoma remarked satisfied. "We've done well for ourselves. "Now, we can simply let the clock run out."
"Losers!" Katsuki yelled. "Get back here!"
"Doesn't he ever give up?" Monoma sighed. "Knowing you're beat is an important part to being a Hero."
Unfortunately for him, Mina freed Kirishima, and they had been running after them. Katsuki then blasted off his horses and was heading right for them.
"Tsuburaba, stop him!" Neito ordered.
Kosei blew out solidified air creating a barrier that Katsuki crashed into. The explosive student wouldn't let that stop him as he began punching at it.
"Heh, you look pretty stupid fighting with air." Kosei commented.
Katsuki wound up for one, final punch.
"Dark Shadow, now." Fumikage saw his chance.
As Bakugo shattered the barrier, Dark Shadow surged forward going for Monoma right there with the explosive student. To Neito's shock, both grabbed every headband around his neck and pulled them free. Dark Shadow let Katsuki have them before pulling him back to the horse.
1st Team Uraraka 10,000,445pts
2nd Team Bakugo 1420pts
3rd Team Tetsutetsu 1250pts
4th Team Todoroki 895pts
5th Team Hagakure 170pts
6th Team Rin 125pts
7th Team Kamakiri 0pts
7th Team Kodai 0pts
7th Team Shinso 0pts
7th Team Hatsume 0pts
7th Team Kendo 0pts
7th Team Monama 0pts
"Team Bakugo and Monoma have just traded places in one, fell swoop!" Mic declared.
Bakugo quickly tied every one of those headbands around his neck before turning to the ice. "Now, we're going after Todoroki, Deku, and tin can."
He immediately blasted away before Monoma could mount any sort of offensive to reclaim the headbands.
Stadium
"There are only thirty seconds left!" Mic announced.
"Alright, we've done what we set out to do." Rex was perfectly angled for the ice as he revved the engine and black metal slid over the front of the Rex Ride. "Time to blow this popsicle stand!"
"We can't let them go like this!" Shoto shouted.
"They won't!" Tenya declared.
Rex gunned it for the ice with Tenya mere steps behind the build, but they couldn't stop the Rex Ride from smashing through.
"Keep after them!" Shoto yelled.
They were running right out the hole just as Bakugo blasted in above the ice dome and saw them run out.
"Ten seconds left!" Mic declared.
"Deku and tin can must have run through the ice!" Katsuki blasted himself higher before spotting The Rex Ride now just ahead of Team Todoroki as they broke free of the ice. "Deku! Tin can!"
He blasted after them at max force aiming to usurp Shoto and get at that head band no matter the odds. Rex couldn't accelerate near fast enough to cover distance in such a short burst, so all three parties were near the point of converging in one, final clash.
"TIMES UP!" Mic declared, bringing both running teams to a stop while stunning Katsuki to the point where he fell to the ground in disbelief. "With that, the second round is officially over!"
The crowd cheered exuberantly.
"Bakugo!" Katsuki's team ran over to him with Kirishima the most concerned. "Hey, are you okay?"
Bakugo punched the ground repeatedly frustrated he didn't come in first again.
"Now, let's take a look at our top 4 teams." Mic declared. "In first place, Team Uraraka."
Mezo let Ochaco out before they clambered off the build with Izuku, and Rex disassembled it.
"That was close." Ochaco breathed a sigh of relief before smiling at Mezo. "You did great Shoji."
"With how hard you'd all been fighting up to that point, I could give no less than that." Mezo replied.
"Can't believe we managed it." Izuku voiced.
"It was rough at points, but…" Rex smiled at the three of them. "I ended up with a great team."
"In second place, Team Bakugo!" Mic declared.
"Ah, we were so close to first." Mina lamented.
"It is a shame we could not obtain it." Fumikage agreed.
"I'm certain our leader agrees." Kirishima sweat dropped. "In fact, I think he's taking it the hardest."
Bakugo yelled loudly.
"In third place, it's Team Tetsute…" Mic paused in shock. "Wait, it's Team Shinso!" Shinso's teammates were all confused. "When did they come back from zero points?"
Hitoshi smiled at his 'team' before walking away. "Thanks for all the help."
"In fourth place, it's Team Todoroki." Mic stated.
"Dang, only just made the cut in the end." Denki commented.
"It is rather hard to believe this is where we place." Momo voiced.
"I can't believe it." Tenya added.
Shoto merely glared at Izuku and Rex.
"These four valiant teams shall advance to the final round." Mic declared. "Now, let's take an hour lunch before we start the next half of the festivities."
Pretty much every 1-B team we got in canon would end up the same with the only exception being the substitution of Kendo for Hagakure given those two switched classes from the second day onward. Likewise, nothing here changes the team Shinso ends up selecting. The real changes start with Rex not wanting Mei leading to her grabbing Tsu and Sero. This lands Fumikage on Bakugo's team since Izuku settled on Mezo before Tokoyami as a key component to their victory.
Ochaco was selected due to Rex, Mezo, and Izuku, as he has more control over his Quirk here, serving better as horses while her Quirk could reach maximum efficiency by being the rider. Given their more defensive orientation, as you can see, I decided they simply wouldn't lose the headband at any point. Even if Tenya used recipro burst, the time it'd take to crack open Mezo's defense would leave the other three no time in that brief exchange to grab a headband.
Maximum Rhapsody: As the prior chapter illustrates, Van Kleiss' goal in all of this is to stop the stagnation. He sees Tomura as a viable path towards that leasing to his role as a secondary mentor. As things stand at present, he's taking a more wait and see what comes approach. Weather that be Tomura maturing into his role, new members, or more Nomu. As for Rex and Katsuki, wait and see.