Shoto was still staring down Izuku and Danny. The ghost boy broke the silence, "Dude, if you want to say something, just say it. Your stare is kinda creepy."

"We should probably eat soon," Izuku added. "The cafeteria's gonna be busy. Don't you think?"

Shoto finally spoke, "I was overwhelmed. And it made me break my promise I made to myself a long time ago. No one felt it. I was the only one who could sense your true power. Although I have a feeling you can sense it as well, Fenton. It reminded me of something, experiencing All Might's Quirk. I'm saying that the power coming from you, Midoriya, felt the same as All Might's. Midoriya, tell me. Are you really All Might's secret love child or something?"

Izuku stood there in shock while Danny burst out laughing. Shoto looked at Danny, "Why do you find this funny?"

Danny took some deep breaths to calm himself, "Sorry, it's just that your suggestion sounds very ridiculous."

Izuku added, "Yeah, no way, it's not that at all. I promise, you've got the wrong idea. Why would you even think that about me?"

Shoto replied, "That is interesting wording. It suggests that there is something between you two that you're not supposed to talk about. And I think you, Fenton, are in on it."

Izuku's eyes went to the ground and Danny stared at Shoto.

Shoto continued, "My father is the hero Endeavour. You must've heard of him. Which means you're aware that he's the number two hero. So if you're connected to the number one hero, All Might, in some way, that would mean, Midoriya, that I have even more reason to beat you. And Fenton, you were able to stand alongside All Might and fight that monster at the USJ. That also means I have reason to beat you as well. Even though we were just teammates, now we are opponents."

Danny's eyes glowed green, "Bring it, then."

Back with All Might and Endeavour, All Might said, "I haven't talked to you since that press conference ten years ago. Been a while. I saw you and figured I'd say hi."

"Did you now?" Endeavour replied. "Well then, if that's all you wanted to do, we're done. Chatting like old friends. What a joke."

He tried to walk away, but All Might jumped over him and blocked him from walking any further, "Come on, why the cold shoulder? You should be thrilled. After all, your son's doing very well out there, just using half his power. You must be a great teacher."

"Are you implying something?" Endeavour asked.

All Might shook his head, "No. I want to know your secrets. How do we train the next generation of heroes?"

Endeavour scoffed, "Do you really think I'd tell you anything I've taught the boy? You're all flash and no brains as usual. Outta my way." He shoved past All Might, "Let me assure of one thing, All Might. Whatever it takes, that kid of mine will beat you someday. I'll make sure of it. That's why I made him."

All Might was shocked, "You did what?"

Endeavour continued, "He's in a rebellious phase right now. But he will take your place. I'll make sure of it." He then walked away, leaving All Might puzzled.

Shoto said, "My old man is ambitious. He aims for the top. He used his power to make a name for himself as a hero. But he was never able to best All Might, so the Symbol of Peace is the living proof of his failure. He's still at it, though, trying to take down All Might. One way or another."

Izuku responded, "I'm not really sure what you're getting at."

"I agree," Danny added. "What is it that you're trying to tell us?"

Shoto responded, "Have you ever heard of Quirk marriages? They became a problem in the first few generations after superpowers became widespread. There were those who sought out potential mates solely with the intention of creating powerful children. Many people were forced into relationships. They were simply viewed as old fashioned arranged marriages. But clearly, it was unethical. My father has not only a rich history of accomplishments, but plenty of money to throw at his problems. He bought my mother's relatives to get his hands on her Quirk. And now he's raising me up to usurp All Might. It's so annoying. I refuse to be a tool for that scumbag. In every memory of my mother, I only see her crying. I remember she called my left side unbearable, before she poured boiling water on my face. The reason I picked a fight with you, Midoriya and Fenton, was to show my old man what I was capable of doing. Without having to rely on his damned fire Quirk. You see, I'm going to show him that I reject his power, and I can take first place without using it."

What the trio didn't know was that Bakugo was listening in. He looked down, deep in thought.

"Wow," Danny replied. "And I thought my backstory was messed up."

Shoto looked at Danny, "And what's that supposed to mean? You think you had it worse than me?"

Danny glared at Shoto, "At least you still have your parents."

Shoto didn't reply to Danny, he turned and walked away, "Midoriya, you're obviously connected to All Might. Even if you or Fenton won't tell me about it. But no matter how fiercely you come at me in the future, I will defeat you using only my right side. I can assure you of that. Same goes for you, Fenton."

He walked away, but Izuku stopped him, "Hey, wait! I'm only here because others have supported me. I've been really lucky. In fact, I've had even more help since I've come to UA. All Might is constantly saving people with a fearless smile. He's the greatest hero. And I wanna be just like him. In order to do that, I have to be strong enough to be number one. I know my motivation might seem stupid compared to yours. But still, I can't lose this, either. I owe it to everyone who's supported me to try my best. You declared war on me earlier. Well, right back at you. I am going to beat you."

Danny added, "Hey, Todoroki. You declared war on me, too. It's true that now we're opponents. And yeah, your backstory sucks. But like I said, you're not the only one who's trying to move on from their past or sticking it to the man. So if we see each other on the battlefield, I declare a bet. If you win, then you will be superior to me and your backstory is worse than mine. If I win, then….you know."

Shoto didn't say anything, he just turned and walked away.

Bakugo was still nearby and he walked away as well.

Lunch break ended and everyone made their way back to the arena. Present Mic announced, "Get those foam fingers in the air! It's almost time for the last round! But before that: good news for everyone who didn't make the finals. Since this is a sports festival, we've prepared some super fun side games everyone can participate in. We even brought in cheerleaders from America to get your blood pumping! Have fun competing in these little side games, everyone. After they're over, the 16 students from the top four teams will be duking it out one-on-one in a tournament style fighting competition. I promise you're not gonna wanna miss these epic match ups!"

Down on the field, Kirishima said, "Oh, yeah! Finally getting a chance to show what we're made of. I watch these finals every year, and now I'm actually in them!"

Mina asked, "So, wait, is it always a tournament?"

Sero answered, "The final's always a one-on-one competition, but they switch it up every time. Last year it was a foam sword fighting match. Man, I wish I was competing in it this year."

Midnight announced while holding up a box, "Come closer and draw lots to see who you're up against. Then enjoy the pleasure of the recreational games before we start. The 16 finalists have the option of participating in those activities or sitting out to prepare for battle. I'm sure you all want to conserve your stamina."

"Or just take a break from being in the spotlight," Danny muttered.

Midnight continued, "I'll start with the first place team."

Oijiro raised his hand, "Um, excuse me. Sorry. But I'm withdrawing."

Everyone gasped. Izuku said, "Oijiro. No way!"

Tenya added, "But this is a rare chance for you to get scouted."

Oijiro replied. "It just wouldn't be right. I barely remember anything from the cavalry battle until the very end of it. I think it was that guy's Quirk." He pointed at Shinso. "I know this is a great opportunity. I wish I could take advantage of it, but my conscience won't let me. Everyone gave their all in round two, but I was just someone's puppet. No way. I don't wanna advance if I don't even know how I got here. It wouldn't be fair.'

Toru argued, "You're making way too much of this! Just kill it in the finals and prove you should be here."

"Yeah, what she said," Mina added. "I didn't do much in the battle, either."

"That's not it," Oijiro argued. "I'm talking about my pride here. I refuse to give that up."

Danny put his arm around Oijiro, "Hey, it's OK. You are being really mature in this decision. I respect that."

Shoda stepped forward, "Nirengeki Shoda from Class 1-B. I think I should withdraw for the exact same reason. Regardless of how strong I am, this isn't how I wanted to get here. It would go against the values of the festival to advance without earning my spot."

Kirishima started to tear up, "Listen to these guys! They're so manly!"

"Well, now," Present Mic narrated. "Here's another turn of events."

Aizawa added, "We'll have to see what Midnight has to say about all this. She's the one in charge."

Midnight announced, "This sort of talk is incredibly naive, my boys. That turns me on! Shoda! Oijiro! You're withdrawn!"

Danny facepalmed at Midnight's statement of being turned on. The rest of the students were disturbed as well.

Aoyama put his hand on Oijiro's shoulder, "Don't worry. I'll win it for you."

Midnight annouced, "Now, let's see. We'll have to move up two students from the fifth place cavalry team so we have enough contestants."

That being Kendo's team. But Kendo raised her hand, "We were frozen most of the time. Honestly, we barely did anything in the cavalry battle. Isn't that right, girls?" Her teammates agreed.

Although Reiko muttered, "I do wish to compete with that ghostly class rep from 1-A. But I concede."

Kendo continued, "You should choose from the group that kept fighting the whole time. Team Tetsutetsu. I'm not doing this as a favor. It's just fair."

Tetsutetsu replied, "Seriously, you guys! Thank you!" His team discussed it amongst themselves and Tetsutetsu and Ibara were going to be the two to compete for their team.

Midnight announced, "And so, Tetsutetsu and Shiozaki have advanced to the final! Take a look at the bracket, my dears! These are your opponents!"

Tetsutetsu vs. Kirishima, with both saying, "Seriously? How does this keep happening?!"

Tokoyami, "I'll give it my all." Vs. Momo, "Good. That's all I ask of you."

Aoyama, "Ma cherie. I'm afraid it's the end of the road for you." Vs. Mina, "I can't wait to melt your butt!"

Izuku saw that he was in the first match of the tournament, and he saw that Shoto was the match after him, meaning he may have to fight him. He saw that his first fight was against Shinso, who walked over to Izuku, "That is you, right? Izuku Midoriya? A pleasure. Are you excited?"

Izuku was about to reply, but Oijiro covered Izuku's mouth with his tail, "Not so fast."

Shinso smirked and walked away. Izuku turned to Oijiro, "What's the deal?"

"You can't say a word to him," Oijiro revealed.

Danny saw this exchange and looked over at Shinso walking away. He definitely got some creepy vibes from that guy. And for some reason, Freakshow came to his head. "Why do I have a bad feeling that his Quirk has something to do with brainwashing?"

Shoto was looking at the bracket, "Midoriya could be my second match, after I beat Kaminari, of course. You must advance, Midoriya. So I can beat you with one hand."

Bakugo was also looking at the bracket, "Uraraka? Who the hell's that?" Ochaco gasped behind him.

Hatsume walked up to Tenya, "Hey, legs. You're Iida, right?"

Tenya turned to her, "Correct. I'm Tenya Iida."

Hatsume smiled, "Oh. That's perfect. I have something nice for you."

Danny saw that he was up against Ibara from Class 1-B. He looked over and saw her and her vine hair. "So basically I'm fighting Undergrowth," Danny muttered. "Looks like I could use my ice for this fight."

Reiko was standing next to Ibara and was staring at Danny, a blush forming on her cheeks. She then saw Momo walking over to Danny, and jealousy hit her.

Momo said to Danny, "Shame we aren't fighting each other right away. I did want to show off what I can do against you."

Danny smiled, "Maybe we'll battle each other later. Good luck against your fight with Tokoyami."

Momo blushed as she smiled, "Thanks." That made Reiko even more jealous.

Danny said, "I'm gonna sit out of the side games. What are you gonna do?"

"I'll sit out with you," Momo said and they both walked out of the arena.

Present Mic announced, "OK. Let's press pause for a momentary interlude! Before the battles begin, it's time for some pulse pounding side games! First, how about a scavenger hunt?"

Everyone had to pick cards that had something on it that they had to find, examples being cat, bag, textbook, etc. Monoma was sitting on the side, "What a joke. They're actually taking these dumb side games seriously? As usual, these Class 1-A idiots really need to get their priorities in check."

"Monoma!" Kendo ran over to him. "If you're not playing, then come with me." She showed that her card said "Perverse person" and she used her Quirk, Big Fist, to grab Monoma.

"I think you have the wrong impression of me, Kendo," Monoma said as Kendo carried him away.

Kendo replied, "Trust me. This fits."

As the rest of the side games continued, the participants in the tournament were trying to get ready for their matches.

Finally, it was time for the matches to begin. Present Mic announced, "Hey, sports fans. Are ya ready?" The crowd cheered. "After all the action you've already witnessed, it's time for the real battles to begin. Can ya feel the excitement? Our competitors are on their own now! Sometimes, heroes have themselves to rely on. Heart. Skill. Strength. Wisdom. Courage. They'll have to use all these things to rise to the top!"

Izuku was in one of the tunnels trying to mentally prepare. Danny was standing beside him, "Just relax. You got this."

All Might walked up behind them, "Sorry I haven't said hi. You two have been great. Young Midoriya, you harnessed One For All!"

Izuku shook his head, "No, not really. I'm still worried about using it. I imagined the egg in the microwave or how it felt to hit that villain. But I'm still not in control. It feels so unpredictable, like I might be ripped apart if I'm not completely focused. Besides, I'm not fully ready to wield it, I can tell. Even after so much training, my body is weak. It just can't handle your power at 100%."

All Might nodded, "Yeah. If we're talking about how much of One For All you'd be able to use at this point, I'd say my closest guess would be around 5 percent."

Izuku was shocked, "What, only 5 percent? Wow, OK. I guess I really have only been getting by because of luck and my friends helping me out."

Danny retorted, "That's not true. Heck, it took me a while to fully control my powers. And at the beginning, I wasn't as strong as I am now. Baby steps, remember?"

All Might whacked Izuku on the head, "All I wanna hear you say is that you'll do your best, damn it! There's no such thing as luck. You're never gonna become the hero you want if you believe in something like that. Listen, whenever you're scared or nervous about a fight, just try to deal with it by smiling. You made it this far, kid. Even if you're worried, you must stand tall! Don't forget that I'm counting on you, like Young Fenton here. And we're both cheering you on!"

"What he said," Danny agreed.

Izuku nodded and turned toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

Present Mic announced, "All right, audience! Let's cut to the good stuff and not delay these finals any longer. Welcome our first fighters! Whoa, he looks kinda scary in his picture, doesn't he? It's Izuku Midoriya from the hero course versus Hitoshi Shinso from general studies, who really hasn't done anything to stand out yet. The rules are simple. Immobilize your opponent or force them out of the ring. Or you can win by getting the other person to cry uncle! Bring on the injuries, 'cause we've got our very own Recovery Girl on standby! So put your morals aside and don't be afraid to play dirty! But of course, no life-threatening crap, folks. It's not allowed. Real heroes use their power to throw villains into jail, not kill them."

Cementross was sitting at the sidelines, "I'll stop anyone who tries to be too rough."

Danny made his way into the stands where the rest of Class 1-A was sitting. He sat next to Momo and waited in anticipation.

Izuku and Shinso had made their way to the fighting arena. Izuku took some deep breaths and Shinso said, "So you can just give up, huh? In a way, this is a test of how strong your spirit is. If you know what you want your future to hold for you, you can't worry about what other people think. That monkey was going on about his pride earlier. But I just think he's an idiot for throwing away a chance like that."

"Begin!" Present Mic shouted.

Izuku growled at Shinso's words, "Don't you talk about him that way!"

He charged at Shinso, then suddenly stopped. Shinso grinned, "That's it. I win."

In the stands, Oijiro shouted, "I warned him not to say anything!"

Present Mic narrated, "What's this? This is the first match! It should start out with a bang! The fight has just begun and Izuku Midoriya is completely frozen?"

Danny growled as his eyes glowed green, "I knew it. His Quirk is Brainwash, just like that Freakshow."