AWARD

The U.A. auditorium had been overtaken by a giant award podium. Izuku stood at first place, which had been hastily patched up with steel plate after Izuku had fallen through the wooden platform. Todoroki stood on second, coolly ignoring the elevated position next to him, while the third place podium took up the entire rest of the area, on which stood every student that had competed in the race.

"Now that there's no longer any riots on campus," Nezu said, "We can finally hold the award ceremony!"

"Wait," Kaminari asked, "Doesn't this usually go on television?"

Jiro cuffed him on the shoulder. "Do you really want a reminder that we all didn't even make it past the starting line televised?"

Nezu chuckled and said, "I'd rather not draw the rioters back. Last I checked, they were rioting outside a KFC. In any case, let's begin with the third-place awards, which go to, well, everybody except Izuku and Todoroki."

All Might hefted boxes of medals over either shoulder and handed them out with his teeth. The gathered students took them with mixed looks of amusement and disappointment.

"And in second place, we have Todoroki."

This time, Aizawa handed out the medal. He looked almost proud as he wrapped the medal around his neck and said, "You had the most logical response to the Sports Festival I had ever seen. Good work."

Unsure of how to respond, Todoroki nodded and accepted the medal.

"And in first place, we have Izuku Midoriya, who quite literally crushed the remaining competition."

All Might beamed as he handed Izuku his medal. "I know you didn't get much of a chance to show the world that you're here, but you still made a good showing of it, and I'm proud to hand you this medal. Keep working hard, give it your all, and you'll make it far as a hero."

"Thank you very much for the medal." To All Might's horror, Izuku took a huge bite out of the metal disc. "The gold will make an excellent conductor for my circuits. It is always hard to get some in my diet, given how the local jewelers will not sell me any more for some reason."

"And finally," Nezu continued, "We have one more medal to hand out, to acknowledge the efforts of our faculty."

Aizawa muttered under his breath, and Vlad King audibly ground his teeth.

"To Aizawa, for yet again raising the first year's winner of the U.A. sports festival, I award you this trophy."

A solid gold trophy, six feet tall and heavier than all the medals combined, rolled into the room. Aizawa hefted it and said, "Thanks. I'll put it with the others."

With a backwards toss, the trophy went into a pile with a dozen others, burying a trash can.

Izuku eyed the pile of trophies and asked, "Do you mind if I eat those?"

Aizawa grinned. "It would be illogical to let all that gold go to waste."

496

Jokes that didn't make the final cut: "Look Vlad King, I got an award!"