I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.


"Let's get back on schedule… After the recreational activities, we'll be moving on to our final event! Between the 16 members of the Cavalry Battle's winning teams, they'll be going at it in a one-on-one, formal tournament!" Present Mic announced. The crowd, once more, was riled up as Mineta stared longingly at the tourney brackets that appeared on the main monitor.

If only his plan hadn't worked so well it caused everyone to avoid his team… Then he, Tsuyu, and Shouji would be up there. That they would have the chance to fight it out on the biggest stage Japan has to offer. But alas, none of that is happening. He would be nothing more than an observer.

"At least I get to see how Midoriya'll hold up. That Full Cowl of his needs more field testing before it becomes truly reliable." Mineta thought as he watched Midnight quickly shake a box around.

"The matches will be decided by lots. Once the festivities are over, we'll head straight to the tournament. It's up to the 16 finalists to decide whether to join in on the fun or save your strength for the finale. Now, can the first place team step forward?" Midnight explained. Before anyone could move, Ojiro raised his hand as a frustrated yet resolved voice cut through the air.

"Excuse me… But I'd like to drop out as a finalist…"

Mineta's brows evacuated from his forehead as he turned to his tailed classmate. And as one would expect, so did the rest of 1A. Even Bakugou and Todoroki, as isolated as they maybe, were listening in to this sudden development. Mineta began to rack his brain for a reason to this turn of events, with Midoriya asking the man himself for answers. And upon lowering his arm, seeing that he has everyone's attention, began to answer that curiosity.

"This is an event where we all show our strength and potential to everyone. But here I am, running the last leg, without any memory of how or why I got here. I haven't earned my place in this tournament, not like my fellow participants who gave it their all. I know it's stupid of me to throw away this opportunity… But I refuse to advance knowing I didn't get here with my own two feet."

"Remember? Wasn't he teamed up with that Shinso guy? Could memory loss be an effect of long term exposure to the hypnosis?" Mineta thought, carefully glancing over to the 1C student in question. Still, this whole thing caused the shorter boy to feel two different emotions. The first being sympathy, he understood where Ojiro's feeling of inadequacy comes from. The second was less selfless, as he was excited that a spot has now opened up.

And someone from the fifth placed Team Tsuyu can move forward.

"Though given how I owe Tsuyu for several things, maybe it's best to let her move on…" Mineta thought as he watched Ojiro saying how it's his pride that's preventing him from taking this chance. That was when someone from 1B raised his hand, a slightly round fellow with silver hair.

"I wish to withdraw as well for the same reasons. This Festival is supposed to show our very best, right? Then how can I fight knowing I got in because of someone else's strength? That my path was already made for me?" He said, voice just as frustrated as Ojiro's. What?

"Nirengeki! You can't be serious! If you pull out now, there'll be no representative for 1B!" Another member of 1B, Monoma, shouted.

"But what good is a representative who couldn't even represent himself? Monoma, I understand you want to show up 1A… But there will be other opportunities in the future."

Before Monoma could make another comment, Kendo whacked the obnoxious blonde in the back of the neck. The guy then passed out as she proceeded to hoist him over her shoulders. Talked about pecked, it seems that girl is the 'older sister' of 1B. And judging from the strength of her normal hands, Mineta was glad he didn't get swatted by Kendo's giant ones.

"What a strange turn of events… What will you do Midnight? You're the coordinator." Aizawa asked as the audience waited with unrest.

"So naïve and green… I like it! I accept your withdrawal! Ojiro and Shoda are out!" Midnight shouted with a cheer, cracking her whip in the process. She didn't have to make a show out of it… But with that, there were now two open spots. Three guesses as to who it will go to.

"Replacing them will be Team Tsuyu who took fifth. Now decide which two of your three members will participate in the tournament." Midnight said, looking to Tsuyu, Mineta, and Shouji. Deciding which members was a cinch if one went by the shorter boy's logic. So, with chest held out high, he stepped forward with all the gusto in the world.

"That's easy! It should be Tsuyu and Sho–" Mineta began.

"Tsuyu and Mineta, without a doubt." Shouji interrupted; his voice just loud enough to overpower any other.

"I have no objections to that." Tsuyu replied, nodding her head in agreement.

"Hold up! Hold up! Team meeting! Team meeting!" Mineta shouted, pulling his giant and amphibious classmate into a huddle. He ignored the confused murmurs that went on around him as he tried to figure out why these two would choose him. But looking at them, the shorter boy could see that his teammates were quite set in their decisions.

"Is there a problem, Mineta-chan?" Tsuyu asked. The shorter boy proceeded to wordlessly gesture towards Shouji. And as the two stared more at him, Mineta dropped the silence and went straight for the question.

"Why me? I didn't anything worthwhile this whole Festival. I relied on Bakugou then Midoriya for the Obstacle Race. And you two did most of the work for the Cavalry Battle as I got mauled by several girls. So why should I go on ahead over you?" Mineta asked, pointing to his giant classmate.

To the shorter boy's surprise, Shouji didn't wait to formulate his answer. It was as though he had something prepared for this specific conversation.

"Yes, but it was your own personal ability that allowed you to survive. Against Bakugou and Team Kendo? That was your victory alone. Not only that, it was your strategy that allowed us to make it here in the first place. As for me, I was just the chariot for the more important commander and flag bearer."

"But…"

"Mineta-chan, remember when I told you that there was value in you being here? This is one of those moments where I can say that you have earned it. And I agree with Shouji-chan's statement about your contributions. Without your plan, we wouldn't even be having this discussion." Tsuyu interjected.

Once more did Mineta look into his teammates' eyes and saw the pride they held towards him. It was quite an unusual feeling for the boy, since it was usually only Midoriya who had that look. But as he thought about it, he remembered words he stored away since the UA Entrance Exam. There was no need to be afraid anymore, they were completely different now. He and Midoriya.

So if this was the moment where it all came together, then Mineta could proudly put one foot forward upon the stage. For both himself and the people that helped him get here.

"I'll do it if you're sure you don't want to go." Mineta said, eyes leveling itself with Shouji's.

"I'm sure. Having you two represent the team is more than enough for me." He answered with a firm nod. Alright… With that, the team broke up their huddle and looked to Midnight, who was eagerly awaiting an answer. And with a deep breath, Mineta boldly made their intentions known.

"Mineta Minoru and Asui Tsuyu will be participating in the tournament!"

"Excellent! Now, let's begin deciding the battle order! First place team, come up and draw your lots." Midnight said, eagerly holding out the box towards the student body.

The whole ordeal wasn't that chaotic, since the R18 Heroine would call the teams up by their place. Team Todoroki's names were scattered upon the brackets as they drew their numbers. Team Bakugou, Shinso, and Midoriya were the same, populating the board with their members' names. Only when Mineta and Tsuyu drew the last two numbers was the full pictures realized.

Midoriya Izuku Vs. Kirishima Eijiro

Mineta Minoru Vs. Shinso Hitoshi

Todoroki Shouto Vs. Sero Hanta

Iida Tenya Vs. Hatsumei Mei

Tsuyu Asui Vs. Kaminari Denki

Ashido Mina Vs. Aoyama Yuga

Yaoyorozu Momo Vs. Tokoyami Fumikage

Bakugou Katsuki Vs. Uraraka Ochako

Mineta stared at the name of the person he'll soon clash with. Shinso Hitoshi, the General Studies student who openly declared war on 1A. And thinking about it again, what could his motives be for being so antagonistic towards them? Whatever it was, Mineta doesn't think it was the difference in prestige between departments. That would be too simple.

"What a strange fate we share… Don't you agree, Mineta Minoru?"

Mineta turned around and saw the purple haired hypnotist standing tall over him. His shadow was casted over Mineta, but it didn't stop the shorter boy from noticing Shinso's eyes. And the disdain and contempt that stirred within. But he couldn't back down to this, not after what this guy did to Tsuyu and Shouji.

So with that said… Mineta began opening his mouth to give Shinso what for. Or he would have, if Ojiro's tail didn't gag him first.

"Mineta! Don't answer him…" Ojiro said, his voice full of caution. Shinso sighed, quickly leaving them as he quickly disappeared amidst all the other students. And as the first years began clearing the field, Ojiro removed his tail from Mineta's face.

"What was that about? I had some choice words for him." Mineta said, turning to his tailed classmate.

"Then you're going to lose your fight against him."

"Pardon?" Mineta asked, his entire body suddenly feeling heavy. Ojiro then gestured to follow him as UA staff began getting ready for the recreational events. The shorter boy hastily tailed, no pun intended, his classmate as Ojiro made his way back to the 1A waiting room. Mineta, upon entering with Ojiro, closed the door behind him and the two sat down at the closest table.

If there was a time for question, now would be it.

"Okay, so what's with that Shinso guy?" Mineta asked, breaking the tension that had been mounting.

"It's his Quirk… He can brainwash anyone into doing what he says. And all he needs to do is get you to respond to him." Ojiro said, sweat rolling down the side of his face.

"That's how the hypnosis works? Me, Tsuyu, and Shouji got hit by it, but I could never figure how to trigger it." Mineta asked, folding his arms as he began thinking back. Now that his classmate mentioned it, Mineta and Tsuyu were affected the moment they began talking to him. And given how easily the shorter boy gave in to Shinso's taunts, Mineta's battle against him is going to more difficult than expected.

"So you're familiar with the other parts of his Quirk? What he could make you do and how to get out of it?" Ojiro asked.

"Simple commands and to get out, a real slap to the face would be enough. Not that I can break out on my own once I get caught though…" Mineta answered. This really was shaping up to be a battle of wills. If Mineta cannot control himself, it would be an instant loss. It was funny though. When it comes to All Might and Midoriya's secret, he was lips were tighter than a rusted nut. His perversion? Only some of it managed to slip through. But when it came to anything else, especially insults to any of his friends, Mineta couldn't shut up.

"Yeah… It really comes down to how well you can tune him out. So what are you going to do?" Ojiro asked.

"I… Have no clue. So until my fight with him, I'll mull over it."

"That's a good place to start. And even though it's going to be hard, I know you can pull through. You're a Hero-in-Training like the rest of us." Ojiro said, placing a hand on Mineta's shoulder. Mineta gave a small smile as he gave his tailed classmate a thumb's up.

"I won't let you down."


And that has been chapter 25.

Recently, I had a realization. Though I had fun writing these past three chapters, they really slowed down the pacing. Not only that, I was also unclear with what I intend with Mineta past the Calvary Battle. And finally, the way I have Tsuyu and Mineta advance was quite contrived. Though Ojiro and 1B's Nirengeki Shoda dropping out was also sudden in canon, that didn't feel weird. Midoriya's progression never hinged on it, preventing a kind of Deus ex Machina from occurring.

Something I couldn't avoid doing because I took the scene at face value. And due to my publishing philosophy, I can't rewrite this chapter now as it is the date of the deadline. And I mostly refuse to rewrite a better version to remind myself of the mistakes I've made in my writing career.

So it is my regret that I must present this mess to you so close to Christmas. Please accept my deepest apologies and I hope you can find some enjoyment from this.

"Now you know why Horikoshi-sensei only shows the interesting bits. The chaff in-between would be too boring."

Yes, it's meant to keep the flow of the story going. I won't say I'll avoid them from here on out, since I might have to pass through a mundane chapter or two again in the future. But the least I can do is make it as interesting as possible to read. I owe that much to you, my dear readers. So, whenever I reach a low point again, please be patient with me as I fight my out of it.

"I mean, isn't any sort of work with scheduled updates full of ups and downs in quality? I mean, look at Homestuck, it's a clusterfuck."

Let's not speak of that name. But it is a fair point, the road to a story's conclusion is a rough one. However, it's still the author's job to make that journey worthwhile.

"Then let's ask the audience, is this journey worthwhile so far?"

Whatever your answers are, it won't stop me from writing this story. I still have a grape boy to wash. So do leave a comment with your honest thoughts and I will do my best to respond to it next update.

"Speaking of which... Next time, you'll all bear witness to unstoppable force meets unmovable object! Or is it stoppable force and movable object? You'll find out soon enough!"

So with all that said...

Until Next Time. T1.