Hikari's arms trembled slightly as she struggled into her school uniform jacket, her forearms swathed in bandages. She hoped no one would notice her injuries—chances were, they wouldn't. Still reeling from the phone call with her father the previous night, she just wanted to get to school and immerse herself in the normalcy of her friends and routines.
In class, discussions buzzed about the recent news coverage of the USJ break-in. Most students were excited about the attention their class was getting, particularly the coverage of All Might's battle with the mutant-like villain. Midoriya glanced at Hikari, expecting her to react, but her thoughts were elsewhere, preoccupied with issues beyond Midoriya's and All Might's secrets. She had almost forgotten about the odd version of All Might she had encountered. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Aizawa entered to begin the lesson, despite his lingering injuries.
"The sports festival will proceed as scheduled," he announced promptly.
"HELL YES!" Kirishima exclaimed enthusiastically.
Many students had feared the festival might be postponed due to the USJ incident, but the school aimed to demonstrate that the threat had been managed. They also planned enhanced security measures compared to previous years, reassuring everyone about their safety. Moreover, the sports festival was an unparalleled opportunity for students to catch the eye of pro heroes and potential sponsors—it was the most-watched event globally, offering endless career possibilities.
That villain's stuff sucked. But Damn I'm pumped for these games!" Kirishima cheered.
"I'm starting to get nervous about the festival! Maybe I'll come up with a cheer or something!" Hagakure fretted nervously.
"Perhaps we could design a sparkling outfit for you to stand out!" Yaoyorozu suggested.
"I'm sure if you perform well, that will be enough," Hikari encouraged Hagakure. Recently, she and Yaoyorozu had been chatting more with Ari. They had texted her on her day off to hang out, but she had been knocked out from Recovery Girl's treatment. Promising to join them and the other girls in Class 1-A another time, the trio now headed toward lunch.
"Hey, wait up!" Kirishima called out, with Bakugo right beside him. Their teamwork during the USJ attack had brought them closer.
"This guy was gonna skip lunch, can you believe it?" Kirishima pointed teasingly at Bakugo.
"I told you I wasn't hungry you spikey-headed loser!" Bakugo retorted.
"You guys have gotten close huh," Hagakure observed.
"Yea totally we're friends!" Kirishima affirmed.
"We're not friends. I'm barely friends with Moriuchi. You're just an extra" Bakugo clarified bluntly.
"Wow, he knows someone's name?" Yaoyorozu teased Bakugo lightly as they reached the lunch area and continued discussing the upcoming sports festival.
After school, everyone dispersed to prepare for the festival the next day. Outside the classroom, students from other classes gathered, watching Class 1-A closely. Bakugo explained how they were there to scout the competition with their own eyes.
"At least now you know what a future pro looks like. Now move it extras" Bakugo announced defiantly.
From the crowd emerged a blue-haired student, openly challenging Bakugo's bravado, proclaiming his intent to win the sports festival and secure a spot in Class 1-A. Other students chimed in, belittling Class 1-A and vowing to defeat every one of them. Bakugo ignored their decrees and walked away. Kirishima tried to explain how he should talk to them since he was just making them hate 1-a more but Bakugo disagreed. He thought the only thing that mattered was that he was going to beat everyone.
"I hate that that was such a manly exit" Kirishima whispered to himself.
In the days leading up to the festival, students engaged in additional training sessions. Hikari dedicated herself to improving her stamina—it was crucial since the festival would be an all-day affair, demanding repeated use of her Quirk without succumbing to exhaustion. It wasn't going to be easy, especially with her father's frequent calls.
"You okay, Ari?" Kirishima asked, checking on her during their training drills.
"Yeah, just a bit worried about the sports festival. I haven't been able to improve my stamina," she explained.
"Your stamina? Oh, right, because your Quirk drains it. I almost forgot," Kirishima said, trying to grasp the situation.
"Yeah," Ari agreed. After demonstrating her Quirk to Kirishima, she explained more about its mechanics to him and Bakugo, with Kirishima asking most of the questions. In turn, she had learned more about Kirishima's Quirk. He harbored insecurities about his Quirk's apparent limitation to hardening, but Ari tried to encourage him to explore creative applications.
"If you think about it, my Quirk isn't very versatile in its current form. That's why I've trained in hand-to-hand combat—to compensate for its drawbacks. We just need to find something similar for you, Kirishima," Ari encouraged him.
The two continued their workout regimen for a while longer before heading home to rest up for the school's sports festival. The next day, the school buzzed with excitement as dozens of people, including pro heroes standing guard, gathered for the event. Inside, the students changed into their training uniforms.
"You're wearing long sleeves in this heat?" Jirou asked Ari, noting her attire.
"Yeah, I just feel more comfortable this way," Ari replied.
Once everyone was ready, the students were instructed to wait in designated waiting rooms. Inside Class 1-A's waiting room, nerves ran high as they anticipated the start of the festival. Todoroki confidently declared to Midoriya that he would prevail, despite Midoriya's backing from All Might. Kirishima tried to ease the tension, but Todoroki remained resolute. Midoriya, although not the strongest, resolved to do his best amidst the competitive atmosphere. All these declarations of determination got Ari pondering whether winning was her goal. She wasn't particularly fixated on victory; rather, she aimed to prove her growth since arriving at U.A.
"Let me hear ya' scream as our students make their way to the main stage!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, marking the official start of the sports festival. As Class 1-A marched towards the main stage, the roar of the crowd swelled. Upon reaching the stage, they were greeted by thousands of spectators—virtually the entire city seemed to have gathered to witness U.A.'s showcase.
"Present Mic sure talked us up. Kinda makes me nervous. How are you guys feeling?" Kirishima asked Ari and Bakugo.
"I'm not worried. It just fuels my desire to win even more," Bakugo replied, his excitement palpable with every step.
"I can't wait to hear Bakugo's big speech," Ari added.
Students from other departments—General Studies, Support, and Business—also converged on the main stage. Midnight was revealed as this year's chief umpire for the first-year events, and she called upon Bakugo to deliver the student pledge.
"Bakugo's the first year's class rep?" Midoriya asked Ari.
"Yea, he came in first place during the entrance exams so Mr. Aizawa informed him that he was going to make the opening pledge. He wasn't too happy though so this might not turn out too well" Ari informed him.
"He only aced the Hero Exam," a girl from another class interjected. It was evident that Class 1-A wasn't well-liked, and Bakugo's speech was bound to exacerbate that sentiment.
"I just wanna say... I'm gonna win," Bakugo announced to the entire stadium, his tone nonchalant. Instantly, boos erupted from the crowd. Animosity surged, and Class 1-A found themselves squarely in everyone's crosshairs.
"I thought you were going to help him come up with a speech, Ari?" Kirishima complained.
"Mmm... but I thought it would be more fun to see what he would come up with on his own," Ari grinned. She always found Bakugo's confidence entertaining and admired it; she hoped one day to be half as self-assured. Bakugo strode offstage with determination, returning to stand beside Ari. She turned to smile at him.
"Fantastic Speech" Ari Laughed. "So this is how you look when you push yourself. I can't wait to see you how you look when you win" Ari remarked to Bakugo.
"You better give it your all, Moriuchi. I won't be holding back," Bakugo replied, his way of encouraging her to excel in the sports festival. Ari was determined to give her all while she could. She knew her stamina would eventually limit her, especially in one-on-one matches against powerhouses like Bakugo and Todoroki. Nevertheless, for now, she was committed to giving her absolute best.
"The first fateful game of the festival! What could it be?" Midnight wondered.
The first event was an obstacle course. Midnight explained the rules and directed the students to gather at the main gate. Beyond it loomed a long tunnel, obscuring the upcoming obstacles and preventing any advance preparation. Ari would have to be prepared to use her quirk and transmute anything regardless of the size. Her plan for the sports festival was to transmute only small objects to help her get by and only transmute larger objects in emergencies.
Above the gate, lights began to extinguish one by one. The last one signaled the race's start, and with that, the students surged forward. As Ari sprinted, she sensed a cold breeze behind her and turned to see Todoroki freezing the ground, trapping everyone's feet in ice. Having witnessed his abilities firsthand, she quickly transmuted the ice into sand and back again, clearing a path to chase after him. Other Class 1-A students followed closely behind.
Meanwhile, Mineta attempted to deploy his quirk against Todoroki from the sky, only to be knocked aside by a zero-point robot from the entrance exam. Undeterred, Todoroki used his quirk to effortlessly clear his path. "I don't need to take them down like in the entrance exam; I just need to get ahead," Ari thought, mimicking one of Todoroki's moves to create a ice ramp, then transforming it into confetti so others couldn't use it. Todoroki noticed her gaining ground and accelerated, with Bakugo hot on their heels, equally determined not to lose.
In the next obstacle course, there were wires connecting large pieces of land together. Ari grabbed a small rock and transmuted it to a string that helped her slide down the wires. Although Ari was quick Bakugo quirk let him complete the obstacle faster and he blasted his way toward Todoroki.
It took longer than anticipated, but Ari finally reached the final challenge: a landmine field that posed a disadvantage for the frontrunners. Ari felt relieved, knowing Todoroki would lead the way, sparing her quirk's use. Her plan was simple—stay close behind and vie with Todoroki for first place. Suddenly, Bakugo exploded next to Todoroki, engaging him in a fierce battle for the lead. This diversion worked in Ari's favor; as they clashed, she seized the opportunity to slip past them both and surge ahead, determined to maintain her position. Everything seemed to be going according to plan until Midoriya soared above them, using the landmines as launching pads to propel himself into the lead.
Bakugo was visibly displeased as he halted his confrontation with Todoroki and surged forward, propelling himself to the front of the pack. Todoroki, in turn, began freezing the ground to catch up, inadvertently creating a path that Ari could also utilize to maintain her pace. With Bakugo and Todoroki closing in on Midoriya, and Ari not far behind, the race for first place intensified. However, Midoriya triggered a landmine, knocking back Bakugo and Todoroki. Ari, slightly behind, swiftly transmuted a dirt wall to shield herself from the blast, converting it into harmless bubbles as she continued her pursuit of Midoriya.
"Moriuchi!" Bakugo's roar echoed through the tunnel when he noticed Ari advancing ahead. Midoriya, aware of Ari's capabilities, accelerated down the final stretch, knowing that if Ari unleashed her quirk to transmute the ground like she did with Shoji, she could overtake him. Determined, Midoriya poured all his remaining strength into his sprint, crossing the finish line just moments ahead of his competitors, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Watching Midoriya's emotional reaction, Ari couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for him, recognizing his unwavering determination. Close behind, Todoroki and Bakugo followed suit, crossing the finish line in third and fourth places, respectively. Soon, the rest of the students began to trickle in, each celebrating their personal victories.
"Ari, why didn't you use your quirk? You could've won," Midoriya questioned.
"I thought I could beat you without it at the end there, but I was wrong. You sped up so much that I couldn't keep up," Ari admitted honestly. She truly believed she could achieve victory without relying on her quirk, driven by her desire to win on her own terms, but Midoriya's determination matched her own.
"I'll catch up with you later, Midoriya," Ari continued, making her way over to Kirishima, who had just crossed the finish line. She hurried to congratulate him despite his visible exhaustion and disappointment with his placement.
The current standings were Midoriya in first place, Ari in second, Todoroki in third, and Bakugo in fourth. Kirishima had secured a place in the top ten, finishing ninth. With only the top 42 advancing to the next round, it was a reassuring moment for Class 1-A, as most of their members had qualified. Midnight wasted no time and promptly announced the next event: a Cavalry Battle. Once again, she detailed the rules, including the intriguing point system where each participant's value was based on their obstacle course performance. Midoriya's automatic 10 million points for first place immediately made him the primary target.
"I guess it's a good thing I didn't win," Ari thought to herself. "Okay, I should gather my team," she said aloud.
"Moriuchi, would you like to team up with me?" Todoroki asked, breaking her train of thought.
Todoroki awaited Hikari's response, and she was surprised that he had asked her in the first place. It seemed like a sensible idea—his 200 points combined with her 205 would secure them second place regardless of obtaining Midoriya's headband—but there was still a concern.
"Were you planning on teaming up with Bakugo and Kirishima?" Todoroki inquired.
"No, that's not it... I'm just a little surprised, that's all," Ari replied, puzzled by Todoroki's question.
"Why? You're skilled with your quirk, and you make it difficult for people to grab onto you or those around you. That's exactly what I need," Todoroki reasoned.
"If you really want me on your team, then I don't mind joining, but you should know there are limits to my quirk," Ari paused briefly. "I can't use it consecutively like you can. At most, I can activate my quirk maybe four or five times. Plus, unlike you, my range is limited to about three meters." She wasn't entirely truthful; Ari knew she could push herself to transmute larger objects and extend her range significantly, but conserving her stamina for the entire event was crucial.
"I see, sounds good... We still need two other teammates then," Todoroki agreed, showing his acceptance of her quirks despite their limitations.
"I have a suggestion for who we could add to our team if you're open to ideas," Ari suggested.
After briefly discussing potential teammates, Todoroki went off to gather the others. They decided on Yaoyorozu for her focus on insulation and defense. Ari had initially worried that Todoroki might reject the idea due to their similar quirks, but he agreed immediately. Yaoyorozu's exceptional intelligence also made her a valuable asset for any last-minute strategic adjustments. There was one more person Ari had in mind, and Todoroki approved of her choice.
"Hey Ari, you're with Todoroki, right? Can you put in a good word for me and let me join your team?" Kirishima asked as soon as he found Ari.
"Actually, I think you should team up with Bakugo," Ari suggested.
"What?! Why?!" Kirishima protested.
"I truly meant what I said before. I think your quirks complement each other well. Knowing Bakugo, he's going to want to lead the charge and blast his way to victory. He'll need a partner who can handle that, and you're the perfect fit," Ari encouraged Kirishima with a reassuring smile.
"That makes sense, but are you sure you should be giving me advice like this? If I team up with Bakugo and let him go all out, we might be a tough team to beat," Kirishima replied, sounding unsure.
"Of course. If I win, I want it to be a challenge. Besides, Kirishima, you're my friend and I want to see you in the next stage," Ari replied warmly.
"Alright, I guess I'll head to Bakugo now. He's going to need some convincing," Kirishima said as he hurried over to join the group huddled around Bakugo. After Kirishima left, Ari turned her attention to their team's next recruit, Iida. She asked if he wanted to join her and Todoroki's team. It didn't take much convincing; however, he wanted to inform Midoriya before officially joining. With that, their team was formed.
Ari would be the left wing of the group, focusing on keeping opponents away from Todoroki. Yaoyorozu would handle the right wing, focusing on defense. Iida would take the front, emphasizing mobility and physical defense. Finally, Todoroki would lead as the rider. Initially, the group suggested he use both ice and fire, but he declined, opting to use only his right side. The team trusted his decision; Todoroki had already proven his skills.
"Look forward to working with you, Todoroki," Ari teased playfully.
"Here, Ari, these will help us move around faster," Yaoyorozu said, handing Ari a pair of skates.
"I've never skated before, though," Ari admitted nervously.
"It's okay; you'll hold on to me, and I'll pull you along. These are just to make it easier," Iida explained. It was a clever idea, though Ari still felt a bit uneasy. She pushed the worry aside; there wasn't much time left.
All the teams formed, and the game officially began. Immediately, teams surged towards Midoriya and the 10 million-point headband. Todoroki instructed the team to wait for the dust to settle before making their move. They agreed, and Iida began scouting for an opportunity to grab Midoriya's headband. However, Team Todoroki faced difficulty as Midoriya's team kept evading with a jetpack, making it challenging to approach.
While Team Todoroki strategized, Ari noticed Monoma from Class 1-B attempting to steal Todoroki's quirk. Todoroki caught on, but before he could react, Ari activated her quirk. She created mud around Monoma's team's feet, knocking them off balance and sending their horse, Tsuburaba, stumbling. Despite nearly losing their footing, Monoma's team managed to recover.
"Good job, Ari. Stay alert, everyone; not everyone is after Midoriya's headband," Todoroki informed the rest of the team. Iida located Midoriya's team and charged toward them. Midoriya and his team remained on high alert, prompting Team Todoroki to carefully strategize their attack while also keeping an eye out for other teams vying for Midoriya's coveted headband.
"Go, Iida, forward!" Todoroki commanded.
"Got it!" Iida responded.
"Yaoyorozu, be ready to protect us. Ari, are you ready?!" Todoroki instructed, prompting Yaoyorozu to conjure weapons prepared earlier as per Todoroki's instructions.
"Alright, here I go!" Kaminari leapt from Shoji's back, intending to activate his quirk.
"Wait, you idiot!" Jiro yelled, trying to stop him.
"Now, Yaoyorozu!" Ari screamed, using her quirk to transmute the ground beneath them into water. Yaoyorozu swiftly covered the team with a protective blanket, shielding them from the attack. Behind Team Todoroki, students yelped in pain from the sudden shock of electricity. Todoroki then froze not only the water but also the area beyond, effectively trapping the pursuing teams. Iida swiftly maneuvered through the frozen opponents, creating openings for Todoroki to snatch their headbands. Moving towards Midoriya, Iida encountered resistance from Midoriya's team. When they couldn't evade, Tokoyami attacked, but Yaoyorozu intervened and blocked his assault. Todoroki seized the opportunity and enclosed Midoriya's team in a solid ice wall, limiting their movement and preventing other teams from attacking.
"What's our next move, Todoroki?" Yaoyorozu asked.
Todoroki paused, considering their options. Midoriya remained close to Todoroki's left side, making it challenging for him to utilize his right-side ice quirk without risking Iida.
"We have less than 60 seconds. I'm going to do something that'll make me useless to you, but it'll be worth it," Iida declared.
"What are you planning, Iida?" Todoroki asked.
"Brace yourselves. Hold on tight," Iida said, preparing his engines for maximum speed.
"Reciproburst!" Iida yelled, propelling himself past Midoriya at lightning speed while Todoroki snatched the headband. Team Todoroki was awed by Iida's unexpected burst of speed, a move he had never displayed before. Iida explained that he pushed his engines into overdrive, achieving explosive power at the cost of stalling them momentarily. With Todoroki's team now in possession of the 10 million points, Midoriya's team had no choice but to counterattack. Despite Todoroki defending with his left-side ice, Midoriya managed to slice through the air and deactivate Todoroki's quirk, swiftly snatching a headband from Todoroki. Fortunately, they realized it wasn't the 10 million-pointer.
"We mixed up the headbands! The 10 million-pointer isn't at the top," Yaoyorozu informed the team. Midoriya's team launched another attack, sending Tokoyami's shadow towards them. Ari responded by transmuting a dirt wall to block the attack. Meanwhile, Bakugo charged into the fray from the opposite side. As Midoriya's team closed in on Todoroki's team, Iida attempted to move, but his engines were still recovering from the earlier burst. Bakugo noticed Todoroki's team with the 10 million points and redirected his attack towards them. Todoroki prepared to counterattack, while Ari focused on transmuting Todoroki's headbands into his uniform to prevent them from being taken. The battlefield buzzed with activity as everyone attacked and defended, until Present Mic announced the end of the Cavalry Battle, declaring Team Todoroki as the winners.
Ari helped Todoroki remove the headbands but noticed the one on his forehead was missing.
"Damn it," Todoroki muttered softly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think about the one on your forehead," Ari apologized.
"No, it's not your fault," Todoroki reassured her.
Present Mic announced Todoroki's team as the winners.
"We came in first place, but that was too close for comfort," Yaoyorozu commented.
"I'm sorry. I feel like I let everyone down," Iida said, disappointed in himself.
"That's not true, Iida. Your incredible move is what secured our victory. Everyone here did their best, and that's why we won," Ari cheered, trying to uplift the group's spirits.
"Yes, Ari's right. Thank goodness for your special move, Iida, and thank you, Ari, for your defense at the end. Each of us contributed just enough," Yaoyorozu agreed.
Bakugo's team took second place, Team Shinsou third, and Team Midoriya fourth. After Present Mic announced a quick lunch break, everyone began filing out of the stadium.
"Bakugo! Kirishima! Great job, you guys!" Ari cheered.
"Thanks, but I don't think Bakugo is too happy with his placement," Kirishima observed Bakugo on the ground, visibly triggered by not coming in first place again.
"Yeah, we came in first, but Todoroki doesn't seem too thrilled either," Ari informed Kirishima. She walked over to Bakugo and helped him up. "Come on, Bakugo, let's go grab lunch. Don't forget, you can still win it all," Ari attempted to calm Bakugo down.
"Leave me alone," he said tersely and walked off.
"Kirishima, go ahead and get some lunch. I'll try to calm Bakugo down and catch up," Ari instructed. Following Bakugo into one of the stadium hallways, Ari was about to question him when Bakugo abruptly stopped and pulled her into hiding. Peeking around the corner, Ari saw Todoroki and Midoriya engaged in a conversation that Bakugo seemed intent on overhearing. Todoroki questioned Midoriya about his connection to All Might, revealing his reasons for refusing to use his left side and recounting his difficult childhood. Despite this, Todoroki asserted that he didn't need his full quirk to win, regardless of Midoriya's ties to All Might. In response, Midoriya expressed gratitude for the support he received and vowed to do his best despite his weaknesses. After hearing enough, Bakugo released Ari and headed towards lunch.
"Todoroki had a tough childhood; I can understand why he's reluctant to use his full power," Ari sympathized.
"He's an idiot. Those who let their past dictate their lives are pathetic losers who don't deserve to be heroes. If you're going to half-ass life because of your parents, that makes you weak. If you can't handle—" Bakugo started to say, but Ari interrupted.
"You're lucky you don't know how much a parent and your quirk can break you," Ari said, her eyes welling with tears before walking away.
Bakugo didn't know why, but he didn't like seeing Ari upset.