The second round of the festival was to begin shortly, those who made it remained in the arena. During this time Leo gathered everyone together.
"Alright,"he began strategizing. "the even it about to start, we weren't fully prepared for the last one. Kind of blew us up by surprise." Mikey snickered behind his hand, nudged you. You join him a bit, April shot you whipped glance, stopping you and Mikey. Leo continued. "Though we don't know the next one, all I know is that we've got to stay together." He was serious. Looking at everyone. "This element is new to us, all of us. It's best if we stay together, sorry we left you two."
He looked to you and April.
"It's fine." April told him casually. Pulled you in. "We got each other, so there's nothing to worry about."
That was good to hear. "I know," He kept going. "but, we work better as a team. We can't leave each other behind. If we want to make to the next event. Everyone's really pumped, they want to each being the top. Quite frankly-"
"Quite frankly," Raph butted in snarling. Surveying sharply the others who made it. Each of them mingling and congratulating the other on making it. Some with nervous looks on their faces. The weak ones, he figured. Easy to take out. "we shouldn't be here. None of this should matter. Being looked at.." he paused, huffed, crossed his arms. Opened his mouth, but no words formed.
You reached out to him. "Raphael?" you said softly.
He turned a shoulder to you and the others. Mumbled. "It's nothing. Let's just get this stuff...done and over with."
Everyone exchanged looks, clearing his throat Leo began again. "So, as I was saying. frankly we have a better chance staying together. We don't know much about everyone, but from what we've seen so far." His eyes bounce to a few others. "We've got quite a few strong opponents, who crossed before us. We might have made it, but that still doesn't mean we're solid. Not to mention we're still," he looked at his brothers. "trying to get an understanding with our own quirks. Which we still need work on, we've gotten better with them, if it wasn't for father. That's our little hiccup. Other than that we're pretty well oiled. As long as we stay together. Father did say the next event majority of the time involves a group. So, this is how it should be done. May," he looked to you first. "you provide the protection. Got it?"
You nodded. "Yes. I do."
He smirked, moved to Mikey. "Mikey, you've got to work in-sync, sort of. You've got to make sure our way is clear."
"Aye-eye!" Mikey saluted. Cheekily.
Donnie was next. "Donnie," Leo gave it a thought. Donnie's shoulder's and head dropped a bit. "you can," he gave it further thought.
The tall turtle postured stooped. Eyes caught it, a smile curled on their lips. Leo was still trying to figure out what use Donnie for. The longer he did, the more Donnie shoulder's dropped. April stepped in.
"Donnie can be our surprise." She suggested. Leo looked at her, then to his brother. Then back to her, gave it a thought. Nodded. April patted Donnie's shoulder. He gave her a weak, thankful smile. "Now," she took over looked to Raph. Who remained moody. "You're our best to deliver some attacks, we'll go together."
"Actually," Leo took over. "April, you can be our satellite."
"Excuse me?" Her eyes stared at him flatly with a brow arched and stern look in her eyes. "Come again?"
Feeling her flare, step between her and Leo. Who stepped back, quickly made his words understandable. "What I meant was, use your telepathy to read the minds of others. Anyone who gets close enough. That way we have sort of an advantage."
"Calm, calm." you whisper to April, patting her cheeks lightly. Smiling. Her eyes fall to you. You kept your smile up. "Better?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I suppose. Alright," she agreed with Leo. "Makes sense."
Mikey though gave it his own thought and interjected. "Wouldn't it better if, well, May was the heavier hitter than Raph? I mean," he looked to his brother then to you. "She does repel better. Raph will just burn everything."
Raph pounced. "Enough!" Leo stepped in stopping the action. Addressed Mikey's thought. "That is true, but, we need the protection so May is better doing that. Though May if you can, maybe switch it up?"
"Umm," you frown, looking down. Twiddling your fingers. "well..."
April stepped in. Pulling you behind her. Before you could finish. A fixed stare on Leo. Brows knotted. "Leo," she hissed softly. Between her teeth. "why would you ask that?"
He held up his hands. "It's a thought, she doesn't have to do it. And yeah I know. So calm down."
"I don't mind." you speak up.
"Yes you do!" April's spoke for you. "You can't do that, so it's out of the question," turned around to you. "okay?" You said nothing. Her voice rose. "Okay?"
Slowly you nodded. "Y-Yes...I do. S-Sorry."
April's eyes soften, rested a hand on your shoulder. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get like that. It's just..."
"It's okay," you clasp your hands together, smiled. "you are just worried. Which is correctly understandable. There is no need to worry, I shall not do such a thing."
Glad to hear, a slow smile stretched on April. "Good. So," she turned to Leo. "that's our plan?"
He nodded. "Yeah, it should work. Besid-" your hand shot up. "umm...yes?" He pointed at you.
"Can we include Izuku-chan?" you gushed, with wide-starry eyes. "Can we? Please? It would be very wonderful if we do include him. I know he will benefit from us and will truly be a wonderful addition. Plus I-"
Raph's head whipped around to you. Heated glare. "No!" He said flatly. Your joy blew away. "We're not including some outsider?"
"But..."your mumble. "It would be..."
"No!" He snapped. Took a breath. Calmed down, clearing his throat. "I mean, no. It just wouldn't be right." Folded his arms. "It's best if we just stick together. We've done back home, we keep it going now. Like Leo said, we follow his idea. His plan. Nothing else. We have a better chance on surviving all..."his waves a hand around. "this! "
He had a point...but...you still. "Raph," Donnie speaks up. "it's not like it was back home. You don't have to be so hostile about it. May just wanted to include someone. That's all. We'll eventually have to accept this. All of this. Right?" He looked to Leo.
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "but, Raph has a point too. If we want to make to the next event, we've got to stick together. Inviting someone else, well, sorry May."
Your shoulders slumped. Nod your head slowly. April and Mikey came and patted your back comforting. It did little, but, someone's voice taking the stage and crowd, brought you back.
"The first games for the first years is finally over!" Midnight took the stage and attention. All heads and eyes turn attention to her and on her. "And what a game it was!"
Your heart quicken at the sight of her. Lay a hand over your heart, and other on your heated cheeks that burned. Fix your attention on her, lips parted, and wide eyes. She was just...so...the way she stood so...strong and...the confidence that radiated off...it was just. Your heart pounded against your chest, that smile...it was..everything faded around you. Only Midnight stood before you, in a spotlight that your mind conjured up. She was even more, glorious.
Shivers ran down your body, you yelped silently. If you could just...just some how...
Remain aware, instead of distracted, you would have known and noticed a figure approach you. They raised a hand and shoved your shoulder. Barked. "Hey! You!" A deep, aggressive voice spoke. To the point it almost sounded like yelling. They shoved you again.
You stumbled a bit forward, luckily you caught yourself. Turn around, flinch a bit with a step back. Find furrowed red eyes glaring at you. From that loud and rather explosive blonde spikey-haired boy. The boy who snapped at you, back on the bus for the field trip. You weren't what his name was...Baku...Baka? Give it a thought.
"Hey!" His voice snapped you back. Jabbed a finger in your shoulder, your hand itched to reach, but you kept down. "Are you deaf or something? Didn't you hear me?" He stepped forward towering over you. You said nothing, but stared at him. Furthering his scowl deeper. "God, you American's are stupid." He growled.
What did he say? Your eyes narrow a bit. He ignored it. "Are maybe it's just you." He said. Pointed a finger in your face."Listen Face-Floor,"
That wasn't your name, and it was a weird name to say the least. He kept going. You raised a hand to opened your mouth, he smacked your hand back down. "I didn't like what you said, earlier." He stepped forward, leaning further over you. His shadow nearly covered you. "Whatever came out of your mouth, was stupid. You're gonna owe me for that comment."
Owe him? What in the world...
"You're gonna carry me for the Cavalry Battle. I don't know what the hell your quirk actually is, I don't really care. If it can serve me getting to the top, then it's mine. Understand?"
Honestly, you didn't. But, one thing was sure, the way he looked at you and the way he talked to you...was unsettling. Also, your eyes cross for a moment in thought. Look up to him. "Cavalry Battle? What is your mouth pouring out?"
We're you joking? He looked at you confused for a moment. You were serious about this. Growled. "Serious?"
"What is going on?" you look around noticing everyone pairing up with others. Also...you were by yourself. "Wait?!" You gasped, realizing, others pairing up...the next event of the festival was forming. The others...April...Leo and the guys weren't around...you did it again! Slapping yourself mentally. Scan for the others, run off. "Excuse myself," you call to the boy. "but I must find my friends! Good-bye, Baka."
Baka?! What did you just...Bakugo flared. "That's not my name! You damn idiot, Face-Floor! You're dead! You hear me!"
You didn't, your mind was on finding the others. How did you miss out the whole...speech and explanation of the second event of the festival. While you looked for the others, managed to get bits and pieces of this Cavalry Battle. Students must form teams of either two or five. There was one rider and the rest the horse. Everyone student was given a point value, on a white headband. You wondered what this was on your head. Your points: 210.
That seemed like a good number, anyway back to finding the others, with further information being said about the event. Apparently, this next part after forming teams, they would go after one others and steal their headbands to accumulate more points, in thirty minutes, one could not allow the other teams to fall on purpose. It seemed...understandable. Searching still for any sign of April or the others, the team had to be made...all of you or some of you had to stick together and...you stop. Find the guys, all four of them together. Donnie was on top as the rider, they had their teams...your stomach wrenched. Maybe...there was still April...
"Sure, I'll join."
You hear her, turn around find her walking off with Urakaka. Your heart dropped...what was going on? "Onee-chan!" Call after her.
She stopped and turned to you, "May? What is it?"
Your chin trembled. "I thought we were to remain together? Remember the plan?"
"Plan?" April repeated back. "What plan?"
"The one that all of us came up together, for the second event. We would stay together." You remind her, lean in. Holding your eyes to hers'. "That was the plan."
April tilted her head a bit, "Umm..."she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't remember." Your face fell. "Look, I'm going with Urakaka alright? For this round, but I promise you, next event we'll team up? Alright?"
A small gasped escaped from your lips. April wasn't sure what was with your look of shock, patted your shoulder, told you to hurry up and find someone others, walked off with Urakaka wishing you good luck. She left you...there by yourself. Your mind called out to her in hopes she'd hear...but she didn't. She didn't turn back...not even once.
"...Onee-chan..."you mumble softly. Reach out. "Sister..."
Not too far, a pair of black eyes notice the lonely pink haired girl, behind their messy gray hair. Their heart leaped, rushed color to their cheeks. Something their teammates noticed. Looked up at them, then to what held their fixed attention.
"You want to add her?"
"She's from 1-A class, that American student. We should leave her alone."
"No!" They shouted. "We're adding her to our team." They jumped off without a second thought, hurried over to you. Stopped dead in their tracks, when her eyes briefly looked in their direction. Whipped around and hurried back to their teammates. Who shook their heads.
Everyone was being taken...who could you join with? April was with someone...the guys with each other...and you all alone. You had to find someone...but..who? Everyone you knew...they were...holding a hand to your chest. Someone noticed you out the corner of their eyes. It surprised them, seeing you alone...they expected you with the others. The other Americans. Not by yourself. If you were by yourself then...they give a moment remembering your quirk. It was pretty good. It could work well with them. Provide protection like it did back at the USJ. Musing it over, a figure approached you.
Reached a hand out. "Excuse me?" A familiar mellow voice.
That turned your head, find steely, heavy-lidded silver eyes, and a shaky hand out. Of a boy. Either your age or a year younger, with short wavy glossy, dark silver hair."...Yes?" You asked, taking a step back.
"Oh," he chuckled nervously. Scratching his cheek, with a small grin. "Sorry, didn't mean to do that." He slouched, with a shrug, your eyed this boy...this rather laxed boy. "I saw you by yourself, well, actually I saw you during the race. I helped you up. After you got shot down."
It took you a moment, but...it was him...that voice. He helped you up, presented a hand to you. "Oh! Yes! Hello." You smile.
Their lips push a smile. "Yeah, hey. I was afraid you'd forgotten me. It's cool seeing you alright. Kind of had me worried, you'd be too injured, you wouldn't make it to the next event. That thought bummed me out."
"Oh, well I assure you, that I am well and fine. Thank you for your concern."
Their smile spread further on their light-brown face. Leaned in a bit. "Yeah." Chuckled. "That's good, I wanted to make sure you got here. I can finally get my chance."
"Chance?" you repeat.
He nodded. "Yeah, that maybe we could team up. Seems like you and I are the only ones who haven't found anyone."
That was true. "Yes," your shoulders fall a bit. "so it..it seems. A team with us, seems well."
"Really?! Sweet, yeah, alright." He held a hand out. "Cool, names Jun. By the way. "