Here it is, the eighteenth full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released earlier than I expected as I have again underestimated my recent productivity and and gotten it done ahead of schedule and can thus surprise y'all with a second one in a day. This is a bit of a filler chapter but it covers what happened in the anime with the twist that Marinette and Adrien provide so it should be fun. The only other thing to say here is that while I have been productive for a while, once the Sports Festival is over, hopefully this weekend but there is one draft for one of my other active stories I have to write as well, I will regress to standard weekly uploads as I work on the draft more to get ahead should I ever encounter a period where I can't draft, that way I can still upload for y'all to enjoy. That is all the administrative stuff to address here though and as there are no questions to respond to here and no guest reviews to answer, though keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all, so I will leave this note here which means that it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 18th full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.
Chapter 18: Interlude
"And that is lunch." Present Mic said with the end of the second round. "Food Erasure?"
"I'm going to sleep." Aizawa said and promptly did so in his chair.
"Let's go get the others and get some food." Marinette said as Shinso walked off now that they'd helped him advance to the next round and Aoyama left to do his own thing. "I definitely need it after that and there's no point in wasting a cube now right when lunch is on us."
"Same." Adrien said and they headed to the student exit where most people were already heading. "Food is always good."
Some of the class were chatting about the battle; some were recovering, and Team Tetsutetsu was looking confused as to how they had lost so suddenly while Awase tried his best to explain it to them though he wasn't sure either. Marinette just shook her head slightly as they passed them, it was their fault for not fully preparing for the Sports Festival and challenging Class A like that. Hopefully they learned their lesson for next time.
As they were walking, Adrien noticed Todoroki approach Midoriya as they were heading to the exit and say something to him. A second later the pair went to another exit in silence. It looked like something was on Todoroki's mind after the battle and it was clear that it had something to do with Midoriya and his declared rivalry with the boy.
"We won't be seeing Midoriya for a bit." Adrien said quietly to Marinette in French while keeping an eye out for Yaoyorozu as well just in case she was in earshot and got curious. "Todoroki is making a move."
"Again?" Marinette asked looking around but not seeing them which confirmed what Adrien had said. "Something must have happened."
"They've been neck and neck since the start of the Sports Festival." Adrien said. "Midoriya won the obstacle race and Todoroki the cavalry battle after targeting him. However, there is more to it, I think this is to do with his father and Midoriya's connection to All Might. This is more than just All Might's interest in Midoriya."
"Has to be." Marinette said agreeing with her boyfriend. "You noticed he heard our chat with the others in the lunch room the other day and that was probably what keyed him into all this."
"Let's see how this plays out with the next round." Adrien said. "We don't know the full details with Endeavor and his son but if anyone knows daddy issues, it's me. I can meddle when the time is right if need be."
"It is a hero's job to meddle where he or she isn't needed." Marinette said as they left the stadium. "But not now. As you said, wait until the time is right."
"Oh Marinette, Adrien, well done." Tsu said as they left and ran into her and Mina chatting there and actually addressing both by their first names. "Congrats on advancing."
"Thanks, Tsu." Marinette said with a smile as Adrien continued on to find Ida and Uraraka chatting nearby and was going to tell them about Midoriya. "And you too Ashido."
"Bakugo only selected me because I could melt Todoroki's ice." Mina said with a sigh. "I didn't do much. Also, I guess you can call me Mina now and I'll call you Marinette. Tsu's been rubbing off on me a bit."
"We didn't see you lot, but I am sure you were great and thank you Mina." Marinette said with a smile. "Plus, he still chose you which means he at least agreed that you had a Quirk he could use so that's something. We saw how many went straight to him because they knew that he'd help them advance. You should at least be happy with that; he recognized your strength and ability in his own way even if he could do a better job being nicer."
"I guess, it's just hard with Bakugo." Mina said. "He doesn't learn names with the odd exception of Kirishima who he does call by his name now for some reason and isn't a big team player. He called me racoon eyes."
"But he still chose a well-balanced team." Tsu pointed out. "Kirishima was the shield, you the offense to deal with Todoroki and Sero the cleanup for when Bakugo went on his own or when you needed to stop someone. That shows an aptitude for this that I think we've all missed. Both him and Todoroki chose teams that were balanced. Midoriya seemed to stumble into that though as the only one he actually chose was Tokoyami."
"Having a mark of 10 million points on his head limited him." Marinette said. "But it was good to see he had a team that trusted him."
"What about you lot Marinette?" Mina asked. "We saw that the French had advanced right at the end with the second highest amount of points but didn't see you during it. Then again I just got dragged to wherever Bakugo was going and had to keep up with him, so I was a little limited there."
"Tactics." Marinette said with a grin. "We just bided our time and picked off the stragglers or those immobilized by the leaders. You don't need the big numbers to win when 16 advance to the next stage. Tsu, you had a strong team for that tactic as well."
"We did, that is true." Tsu said. "Our idea was clever and would have worked had we thought about it more, but we got distracted by the 10 million points and focused on that."
"I think that was the goal of the event and why the Obstacle Course winner had that many points." Marinette said. "There is some bigger lesson in this I am sure of it, but I can't see it right now."
"Well, it is a learning experience." Tsu said. "One I intend to learn from as we made a few mistakes that got us eliminated but for now let's get some food. I'm hungry and I know your Quirk needs food Marinette."
"It really does, I am still recharging after using it at the end of the last event." Marinette said as she saw Ida, Uraraka and Adrien head off. "Let's catch up with the others and enjoy some food as a group."
Mina and Tsu nodded as they headed to the cafeteria. It had been an interesting morning for them, and they all needed a good recharge before watching the top 16 compete in the final event for the glory of winning the U.A. Sports Festival.
As Marinette was talking to Mina and Tsu, Adrien had reached Ida and Uraraka while the latter had been complimenting him on his speed and caught the tail end of the talk. It helped explain a few things he'd noticed in the Cavalry Battle, mainly why Ida wasn't on Midoriya's team.
"I am sorry for deceiving you, but I was just trying to catch up to Midoriya, that's all." Ida said waving his arms around as usual causing Adrien to sidestep to avoid them. "Nothing nefarious I assure you."
"Our class rep being nefarious, now that is something I want to see, you're too by the book Ida." Adrien said with a grin as he reached them. "So, what is Ida here defending himself against?"
"Oh, hey Agreste, Ida here pulled a fast one on us in the Cavalry Battle and that after he refused to join me and Deku." Uraraka said noticing the French exchange student as she reached them. "Literally, he showed off a speed boost against us to get the 10 million headband with barely any time left."
"It's just something I've been working on as my brother can do it." Ida said. "I can over torque my engines and gain 10 seconds of acceleration which I call Recipro Burst. It makes me faster than anyone else and with Yaoyorozu putting some wheels on herself and Kaminari they were able to keep up with my speed. Of course, the ice boxed us in and my engines stall when I run out of time and can't move for a bit. That allowed Midoriya one final counter, and he and Tokoyami got enough points to advance as well which was good, I don't want to see him out just yet."
"Still a good tactic to employ and that was a well-balanced team between the 3 of you and Todoroki." Adrien said. "And I saw that you guys had grabbed some Class B's headbands as well to add insurance."
"Todoroki's plan there." Ida said. "He decided to go after the small ones to get a bit of a boost at the start and to allow for a sleight of hand if what happened at the end did. He was able to mix the headbands up so that Midoriya grabbed the wrong one when he tried to reclaim his, but he distracted Todoroki with his attack and that left him open for Tokoyami's Dark Shadow to take our team's original headband from Todoroki's head hence Uraraka's team advancing."
"Clever to have Tokoyami then." Adrien said. "I am surprised, your team was a little odd Uraraka."
"Well, we kinda had to deal with Deku's 10 million points." Uraraka said. "But I didn't care, I wanted to be on his team because we're good friends and that is how you make a good team by pairing up with those you like. Ida turned us down though. We would have come to you and Dupain-Cheng but Hatsume decided to use Deku to show off her gear so we couldn't."
"It wasn't because I don't like you or anything like that." Ida said apologetically. "I just realized that Midoriya is a major rival and that I had to advance on my own. He's a big inspiration to me with his drive and dedication, I must surpass him because of that."
"He is good at that, Deku is always inspiring me." Uraraka said with a smile and Adrien may be dense with these things but even he could see what was behind Uraraka's smile seeing as it was similar to the smile Marinette gave him. "And even without Ida we had a chance because Hatsume was a really good addition. She only chose us because Deku was in the lead so all eyes would be on us, but her gadgets worked really well with my Quirk. After that all Deku had to do was think on who was the best for the team and selected Tokoyami because of Dark Shadow and he agreed. It was balanced and in the end we advanced which is great, now I can show off in the final event."
"What about you Agreste?" Ida asked. "We saw that you had advanced, but I don't recall seeing you on the battlefield and yet you lot came second with over 2,000 points. Very impressive but I've learned that you and Dupain-Cheng are that and more."
"That's because we didn't see a point in going for the 10-million-point headband." Adrien said simply. "Everyone else was going to go for it from the start but with our starting points we were in 5th, so we just needed a few others to get into the top 4. All we had to do was wait, bide our time, and then strike when we had the opening. Todoroki's ice froze two teams from Class B, so we took their headbands to ensure a top 4 finish and then went after Tetsutetsu at the end to remind him which class is best and inadvertently ensured that Team Midoriya advanced."
"I see, that was really clever." Ida said rubbing his chin. "It seems you and Todoroki understood this on a different level to the rest of us. He got some small points as well but his rivalry with Midoriya was too important to ignore once we had the points."
"Speaking of Deku, where is he?" Uraraka asked looking around and noticing that he wasn't there and feeling a bit unhappy he wasn't around her. "He was with me just before we left the stadium."
"Busy." Adrien said covering for Midoriya as he was sure the other boy wouldn't want people to know what was going on. "I saw him head off after the battle to sort something out. He'll likely meet us at lunch, but I am hungry so let's get some food."
"A wise strategy, I need some orange juice myself, and I am sure that whatever Midoriya has going on he'll get it sorted soon." Ida said. "We should trust our friend to know what he's doing."
"Right, Deku wouldn't do anything stupid." Uraraka said. "Let's get some food then and wait for him there."
With a nod, Ida and Adrien left heading to the cafeteria. Adrien knew that his lady would follow him as she was busy talking with Ashido and Asui. She would come in time and right now he could use a high protein meal. He may not have used his Quirk in the last event, but a full stomach always helped him. That and he wanted to protect his protein cubes that he had in his pockets as they would be needed in the next stage to recharge should he use his Quirk during it.
It didn't take them long to get to the cafeteria and after a bit of a wait they got their food, Adrien going with a western style steak meal, Ida getting beef stew with orange soda, and Uraraka going with something very Japanese. They found a table and were shortly joined by Marinette, Asui and Ashido with their own meals. After that it was just a normal lunch as they chatted about the day so far, ate, and thought about what was to come in the final round of the Sports Festival.
The only odd thing was that Midoriya didn't rejoin them right away. Likely his chat with Todoroki was going on longer than usual and something came up that had the boy thinking alone before getting food. He would join but not before the girls left. That was something else though that confused Adrien when it happened right at the end of the meal.
"Tsu, Mina, Uraraka, Dupain-Cheng, can you come with us?" Yaoyorozu asked as she and Jiro approached the table just as they finished their food. "Apparently there are orders from Mr. Aizawa for us girls to do something and we need to change for it."
"Are you sure?" Uraraka asked confused.
"It comes directly from Mr. Aizawa apparently." Yaoyorozu said, her upbringing making her not question that it had been Mineta who had relayed that information to her. "And I don't want to go against our teacher's request."
"If that is the case then sure." Mina said with a smile. "Plus, some girl time which is great."
"I am not sure about this, ribbit." Tsu said. "But you are the deputy rep so sure."
"Why only the girls?" Marinette asked curiously, she was skeptical about this. "Why not the guys?"
"Something that is gender specific so the guys can't partake in it." Jiro said. "At least it seems like that, and Class B is apparently doing it as well."
"This won't end well but sure." Marinette said getting up and picking up her tray but kissing Adrien on the cheek before she left. "Guess I am going to be busy, see you in the stadium kitty."
"Of course, m'lady." Adrien said with a grin as the girls left and Mina was gushing over the cuteness Marinette had just displayed to them.
"I take it that you are going well." Ida said after the girls had left.
"Better than ever." Adrien said with a grin.
"What's better than ever." Midoriya asked as he finally joined them with his tray of food. "Sorry, was held up by something."
"Just mine and Marinette's relationship." Adrien said. "But the girls are off doing something so pull up a chair and tell me how your Cavalry Battle went, I heard it was epic, but I only saw how the start went, not the end."
"It was nerve racking until the end, but we managed to advance thanks to Tokoyami and Dark Shadow." Midoriya said. "But what about yours? You guys did really well, and I don't know how."
"Well, this was our plan." Adrien began as he began to tell Midoriya of his role in the Cavalry Battle while hoping that the girls were ok with whatever they were doing.
"Yao-Momo, who told you that we are supposed to do this?" Mina asked as the girls of class 1-A gathered in the women's changing room as Momo stripped down to her underwear and began making a UA cheerleader outfit. "Those are the cheerleader outfits for the hired cheerleaders from America."
"Well, it was Mineta and Kaminari who told us, but they said it came from Mr. Aizawa and that we'd be in a competition during the break with the girls of Class B." Momo said as tried on her own outfit to make sure it looked good before she asked the others their sizes. "And they are our classmates and future heroes so why would they lie?"
"Because it's Mineta." Marinette said with a sigh. "And girls in cheerleader outfits is a stereotypical fetish that most shows pay service to, shown Mineta no doubt enjoys."
"He is a little gremlin, ribbit." Tsu said. "But even for him it would be a bit much to lie about this."
"It's for a competition with the girls of Class B during the break." Jiro said as Momo passed her a small outfit having already told her friend her size. "And we can't lose to them. We have to show that we are better than them at everything."
"I guess." Uraraka said finally giving in and begging to strip. "Ok let's do this and show them what we can do."
"Yeah we are totally cuter." Mina said already in her underwear. "Yao-Momo, do you need our sizes?"
"That would help." Momo said. "I know my size and Jiro told me on the way but that's it. Hagakure, I can't even figure yours out."
The girls began to tell Yaoyorozu their sizes so that she could make the tops right while the skirts and socks would be fine though some of the girls did give waist sizes as well. Marinette joined in of course but she was wary about this. It seemed a bit much but all the girls were doing it so she was going to help her friends out and if they were tricked, well they could torture Mineta later. Besides, the outfit was sure to appeal to Adrien so there was at least one plus to it.
It was as Marinette took her P.E. top off to reveal that she was only wearing her special ladybug bra under it, one that only went around her chest with no shoulder straps but didn't show anything off thanks to her size, that the others noticed it. She was so used to it by this point that she'd forgotten that it was different today other than her noting of it at the start of the Sports Festival.
"Marinette, that's not the same one as before, is it?" Tsu asked her as Marinette put her top away in a locker and began to pull her pants down. "Ribbit."
"Huh?" Marinette said as she stood up and took her pants off leaving her in just her matching ladybug print shorts. "What are you talking about Tsu?"
"Oh yeah, Tsu is right." Mina said leaning down and getting a little too close for Marinette's comfort before she reached out to Marinette's abdomen. "What happened to your last one? Also have you gotten more toned since the start of the year? No fair, your figure is amazing Marinette."
"What?" Marinette asked as she took a step back and looked down to where Mina was reaching and saw what her friends were looking at. "Oh that, I can't wear my normal one, so I have this one in instead."
"Why not?" Hagakure asked as she pulled on her skirt. "It's really cute and suits you really well."
"Because it has my costume in it." Marinette said as she began to get dressed but with the shirt length it was going to be showing, well it looked like the guys would learn of it as well now which was going to be interesting with some of them. "I was ordered to take it out for the Sports Festival, same with Adrien and his ring, so if I wanted one in it had to be a normal one."
"But isn't that the special underwear you wear when you also wear your costume." Momo pointed out as Marinette pulled the top on and was surprised how well it fit.
"Force of habit." Marinette said with a shrug before pulling up the skirt as well. "I usually have my normal piercing in so it's easier to just stick with the special underwear just in case I need to change into my costume. Plus, I like them."
"It looks a bit constricting." Uraraka pointed out.
"I'm not the most well-endowed girl here." Marinette said waving her arm over her chest, she was the second smallest in the class in that department in fact. "So, it's not bad at all for me."
"That I get but why do you have a new one it?" Mina asked. "I understand why you have it for your costume, but you did say that you weren't the girl who'd get one otherwise so why did you get one? Is it because Agreste really likes it? That would be so adorable and a little kinky."
"Oh, well, I, um, am kinda used to wearing it." Marinette said with a blush and ignoring the rest of what Mina was saying as she was not going to open up that door with the pink skinned girl. "When I got it done just before coming to Japan I had to leave it in for 6 months for my body to adjust to it and in that time it kinda became part of me. When I took it out for the Sports Festival, the first time I'd taken it out since getting it done, I kinda felt off without it so I bought a simple one like this for when I can't have my usual on in."
"Why not go for something cuter?" Hagakure asked looking at the simple silver navel piercing Marinette now had in at the moment. "That one is a little dull."
"I don't like the fancy ones and besides, this one is special so I can use it in a combat situation." Marinette said. "It's made of tungsten so has a really high melting point. I figured that there may be combat in the Sports Festival and with Todoroki and Bakugo's Quirks I needed something that can resist it should I end up in a fight with either of them."
"That is clever." Momo said as she finished getting dressed and began making the pom poms they'd need. "Now let's go ladies and show them what Class 1-A can do."
Mina and Hagakure cheered while the others were a little more hesitant, but they left the changing room and headed to the stadium regardless. Marinette had to admit though, the orange outfit with white and green accents and U A on the chest was cute on her and she knew Adrien would definitely like it. She'd ask Momo if she could keep it after they were done, she figured that she and Adrien would get some private use out of it. Of course, that was for later, now was whatever Mr. Aizawa had said they needed to wear these for.
"Lunch is over, but we still have some fun before the final round begins in about an hour's time." Present Mic said to the crowd as the students of the Hero Course, plus Shinso and Hatsume came out for the afternoon session. "And we even have cheerleaders from America to pump you up. Hold on…"
"What are they doing?" Aizawa said his eyes wide behind his bandages. "I'm going to have to scold them for this later."
"Looks like the girls of Class 1-A are going full fan service folks." Present Mic said ignoring his friend. "I wonder why they've done that."
Down on the field the 7 girls had come out and seen some of the girls of Class B dressed normally. As soon as Present Mic spoke they realized that they'd been tricked and went pale as they stood in a line in their cheerleader outfits.
Meanwhile, Kaminari and Mineta were grinning as they looked at the girls in their outfits taking it all in while the others looked confused at the sight. Though Marinette at least noted that Adrien gave her a wink, so she knew he liked it which was a small silver lining to all this.
"Why do I keep falling for his tricks." Momo said falling to her knees. "I even used my Quirk to make these outfits."
"It's ok." Uraraka said putting a hand on Momo's shoulder. "We all fell for it."
"You're an honorable and respectful person, Momo." Marinette said crouching down as well before she glared out at the pair who were shameless enjoying the view of their classmates in cheerleader outfits. "As we all should be. Give it time, you will wise up to his tricks and those two will be punished for what they did."
"Plus, we look super cute so let's roll with this." Hagakure said as she began to shake her pom poms enthusiastically. "No point in mopping now that we're already exposed in these things."
"Some moves you've got there Toru, ribbit." Tsu said.
"Kaminari." Mineta said his eyes wide and stary as he took in the girls and saw the item that he'd heard whispers about and had presumed when he'd learned how the French exchange student's costumes worked but didn't really think it was true until he saw it with his own eyes. "The rumors are true; she really has one and it looks even better than I could have ever imagined."
"I know." Kaminari said with a grin. "I didn't expect Dupain-Cheng to have one, she seems too much of a good girl to have one but there it is clear as day and it looks great on her."
"Alright folks, it's time for the final round." Present Mic said getting everyone's attention and causing them to look up to the screen to see a bracket appear with 16 slots at the end and stars instead of names at the base of it. "And this will be a one-on-one battle tournament so get ready for it."
"So, it's a tournament style." Mina said looking up at it as all the Hero Course students plus the two others who were still in it. "That's what the final event will be. Makes sense when you think about it."
"Yup, the rules change every year, but the final round is always a one-on-one tournament." Sero said with a grin. "Last year it was a foam sword fight but this year it is a classic one. I can't believe that I'm actually going to be in it this year."
"Um question." Ojiro said as he voiced the question that all the guys who didn't know were wondering. "Why are all the girls dressed as cheerleaders?"
"Mineta." All 7 said in unison as they sighed behind him.
"Alright listen up." Midnight said with a flick of her flail to get their attention as they turned to see her on her stage while Cementoss came out and began making the battlefield in the center with his Quirk and a cement machine that would provide what he needed. "The rule for the final round is simple. You will battle your opponent in the ring, and you win if you knock your opponent out of the area, render them unconscious, immobilize them in such a way that they can't escape before capture, or force them to surrender. Am I clear?"
The gathered students nodded, well the ones still in, the others were a little confused as to why they were required to be out this but went with it. Midnight just grinned and licked her lips seductively as she looked at the students.
"Good and now onto the random draw." Midnight said with another flick of her flail. "Here are the first round of battles."
Suddenly the 16 names of the students who'd advanced appeared written in both Japanese and English though the latter was still written vertically. Instantly the 16 students still in the Sports Festival were all looking up at it to see who they were battling and when, or to see what the matchups were and how the bracket was going to play out.
"Alright I'm up against Agreste in the 7th match." Kirishima said finding his name first before turning and looking at Agreste with a grin. "A real manly opponent for sure. Better bring it all Agreste because my Quirk is natural, yours won't work on me."
"But it will on your clothes." Adrien said with a grin back as Mineta suddenly got an idea but was slapped extra hard by Tsu's tongue before he could voice it. "Don't worry though, I am glad to face you Kirishima, it will be a real test of my strength and durability to go against your Quirk so don't hold back because I won't."
"I don't intend to." Kirishima said cracking his knuckles. "I've been watching this for years and now I am in it, it's a dream come true."
"Tokoyami." Momo said finding her name in the bracket. "That's who I'm facing and we're up 5th."
"Yaoyorozu, I will not hold back." Tokoyami said confirming that she was his opponent and meeting her gaze.
"Neither." Yaoyorozu said with a nod.
"Mademoiselle, it is the end of the road for you." Aoyama said with a flourish to Mina who was his opponent in the 6th match.
"In your dreams, I'm going to melt you Aoyama." Mina said with a grin pointing right back at him.
"Kaminari." Marinette said sweetly and turning to the electric Quirk user who'd been one of the two to trick the girls and smiling at him having found her own name in the bracket. "Was this little trick of yours worth it?"
"Um." Kaminari said with a gulp as he glanced up at the bracket again to confirm that his name was next to Dupain-Cheng's in the third match. "You do look good in that outfit, really, Agreste must love it, I mean it and that piercing pf yours really adds to it, yup."
"Keep digging." Marinette said still smiling but putting her hands on her hips, her pom poms still in them in a bit of a pose to add to everything. "And enjoy this for now, I'll have the last word in the match."
"You should see your face." Jiro said trying to stifle a laugh at the look Kaminari had on his face as the full weight of his and Mineta's scheme came crashing down on him. "You against Dupain-Cheng in a battle, you know that she's the strongest girl in our class, right? She destroyed me in seconds in the battle trial, against you she'll be just as fast. I can't wait for you to get what you deserve. Humiliate him girl."
"I intend to Jiro." Marinette said before turning away to let Kaminari stew in the bed he'd made. "Let's enjoy, I don't need to prepare for him."
"Woah I know she's taken but damn she can be so sexy when she's pissed." Mineta said from next to Kaminari. "And that piercing only makes her naughtier."
"Shut it." Kaminari growled to his friend. "I'm paying for this you know."
"Yeah true." Mineta said doing the hand sign for a prayer to the dead. "So long my friend, it was nice knowing you."
"You have no faith in me." Kaminari said.
"Against Dupain-Cheng, none." Mineta said shaking his head. "You have no hope."
"Thanks." Kaminari growled. "I need to prepare; I will not lose this."
Kaminari turned and left, passing Bakugo who was looking up at the bracket to see where his name was. He was in the last match and with Deku in the first and Todoroki in the second he would face one of them in the final. Good. That was the best place to win this against whichever of the pair faced him in the final and show the world he was best. He just had to deal with the extras first.
"Who the hell is Uraraka?" Bakugo asked as the girl in question blanched behind him. "Doesn't matter."
With that Bakugo left but not before glaring at Todoroki who was currently ignoring him and looking intently at the bracket. Bakugo would show that icy hot bastard at the end, he just had to get through the bracket, and he knew who he was likely to face based on the bracket and his observations of his classmates. They would be good challenges after the first round and help continue to show off how good he was against various Quirks. He was the best here and soon the world would know it.
"Midoriya, you had better win." Todoroki muttered as he looked at the bracket, he could handle Sero fine, but he needed Midoriya to win so that he could face him in the quarters. "I need to beat you with one hand in front of everyone, especially my dear old dad."
Midoriya didn't hear any of this. He was busy looking at the bracket and analyzing it the way only he could. Todoroki would advance, he didn't doubt that, but first he had to get through the first round against this Shinso person, whoever he was.
"It is you, isn't it." A voice said behind him and Izuku turned to see the purple haired guy from General Studies who had challenged his class until Dupain-Cheng had corrected him. "You are Izuku Midoriya right?"
Izuku opened his mouth to respond but before he did a hand covered it from the side. He was startled and turned to see Agreste next to him giving Shinso a cool look on his face as he kept Izuku from speaking.
"Don't speak Midoriya." Adrien said calmly looking at Shinso. "He's not worth it."
"Whatever, I'll see you in the first match." Shinso said with a smirk before he left to prepare for the battle at hand where he would show that he belonged in the Hero Course.
"What was that for?" Izuku asked Adrien when the French boy put his hand down once Shinso was away.
"Come with me." Adrien said in response. "You need to be prepared for him. I don't fully understand his Quirk, Marinette is the one who does but she's busy, so I'll tell you what I know, but it's a hero quality one for sure."
"It is?" Midoriya asked as he noticed Hatsume approaching Ida as they were the 4th matchup.
"The entry exam you lot take is flawed." Adrien said as he led Midoriya to the locker room. "Some Quirks are great for hero work but U.A. doesn't properly test for them as they aren't suited for robots. They have the transfer option to correct for it and that's what Shinso is doing."
Midoriya just nodded as Present Mic announced that there would be games before the battles started so that the loser could have fun. The 16 who'd advanced though, they would be preparing for the upcoming battles and doing what they could to focus or get in the zone for their matches. Some would chill or rest, some play, and others strategize. One though was approached by a Class B student.
"Dupain-Cheng." A voice called out as Marinette was making her way to the exit to find a quiet place to get ready for the next round and how she would embarrass Kaminari for what he'd been a part of. "One sec, I have some questions for you."
Marinette turned to see an attractive girl with shoulder length green hair and sharp teeth approaching her. She had to admit, Setsuna Tokage coming up to her was a bit of a surprise, but Marinette would talk to her regardless. Though she was a little off put when the other girl gave her a smirk as she very pointedly checked her out. Then Tokage really surprised Marinette by closing the distance between them and pulling her into a hug and kissing her on each cheek the way Marinette would do back home, and she instinctively returning the familiar French greeting.
"Damn girl, that outfit really suits you." Tokage said with appreciation in her voice as she backed up and didn't both addressing what she'd just done but still giving her a wink as she met Marinette's eyes. "And I wasn't expecting that piercing on you, you've got a naughty side I see. I like it."
"You're rather blunt and provocative aren't you." Marinette said taken aback by Tokage's apparent non-combat personality. "And I have a boyfriend."
"The other French guy, Agreste, right?" Tokage said and Marinette nodded. "Mhm good taste there, he's a hunk and not overly muscled as well with a great personality from what I've seen. You know, if you ever wanted, what is it you French call it, a menage a trois, then hit me up. I'd definitely do both of you and don't act all prudish with me Dupain-Cheng, there is no way you're still a virgin."
"Um no I am good; I don't swing that way and the only person I'll ever be with is Adrien." Marinette said getting rather uncomfortable from the blunt, provocative girl but blushing at her words all but confirming that she and Adrien had in deed done it. "Adrien is the only person for me and that is final."
"Keep it in mind, this is the time for experimentation and while I don't know if I go both ways or only one, I'd be more than willing to see if I do with you." Tokage said with another wink. "But enough foreplay, I didn't just come to flirt with you, I did have a serious question that I wanted to ask."
"Good because I was about to leave." Marinette said glad the small talk was over. "What was it?"
"When you came and took Kendo's headband, you were prepared for my team from the start." Tokage said her demeanor becoming serious. "You countered my team perfectly while we were stuck without hesitation and even gave advice before getting me at the end with whatever that General Studies kid's Quirk was. I still think we had the best formation but how did you know to go after us in that order?"
"The class registers." Marinette said with a shrug. "When U.A. accepted Adrien and me we got a list of all the Hero Course students, whether they got in on recommendations or through the entrance exam, and Quirks. We studied them before coming to know a bit about our classmates but with the Sports Festival and Tetsutetsu's challenge I took the time to really prepare by studying your entire class. Adrien was training as his Quirk has more room to grow compared to mine, but information is as important, if not more so, than strength so I was the intel part of our team."
"That's really clever." Tokage said her eyes wide at that. "I should have thought of that. We all have the class registry after all. Not even Monoma thought about that."
"Few do and I think our teachers will mention it to us in the aftermath of the Sports Festival, there is more to this than fun and games I am realizing." Marinette said. "Being prepared is part of being a hero so learning what you may face is key. You won't always have that information but there are times when you will due to criminal records and the Quirk Registry so when that happens you should make sure you know it."
"I never thought of that." Tokage said impressed by the French girl's thinking. "How'd you know?"
"In France we start high school at 13 not 15 and they covered this last year." Marinette lied but it was basically true as she and Adrien had done during their time in Japan before starting U.A. "So, with the Sports Festival I just prepared by studying your Quirks as well. I also looked for who Shinso was after his challenge to my class hence why I knew what he could do and chose him for my team. I knew he was our best bet to get enough points to advance and that we could work together well once he realized that I was going to help him show off."
"That makes sense." Tokage said understanding how Dupain-Cheng knew what she did during the Cavalry Battle. "And when you came for our team you hit us hard by taking out our ranged defense in Komori. You knew of her Mushroom Quirk before she could use it."
"I don't know her variety of mushrooms, but I considered her the biggest threat on approach, especially with you as a flanker and not the rider." Marinette said. "You would have been better as a rider though I admit I didn't know that your pieces die after a while."
"I can regenerate the missing pieces, so it's often overlooked." Tokage said with a shrug. "And we didn't put me on the top because of that, we weren't sure what would happen if my hand died before it could return with a headband, so it was better to be safe. That was why it made more sense with Kendo on the top as her Quirk can be used offensively and defensively depending on how large she makes her hands."
"It was a good idea, but Dupain-Cheng is right, you would have been better Tokage given who else you had on your team." A new voice said, and the girls turned to see the skull-like face of Juzo Honenuki as he approached them. "You weren't flexible enough in your plan and didn't think how to adapt it beyond the first idea. You had Yanagi on your team, if you had been on top she could have used her Quirk to bring your hand back to avoid it hitting the ground as she doesn't need to make hand movements to use her Quirk. Add in that Kendo's Big Fist could accidentally knock a rider off and lead to disqualification and it wasn't the best formation that you could have used."
"You are always more flexible Honenuki." Tokage said to her classmate as he reached them. "We thought we had it, but that ice threw us, and we never adjusted to it as we didn't have anything that could break it. Next thing I know two of my team are comatose and we've lost our headband because Kendo has just handed it over. Then Dupain-Cheng gives me some advice and then their rider speaks to me and suddenly my mind is blank. Next thing I know we've lost but are still in the ice."
"Yeah I am hazy on that part as well as something similar happened to most of my team, including myself." Honenuki said turning to Marinette. "What happened at the end? You had a good plan, and you came for us right when we were least expecting it."
"Blame Tetsutetsu for his challenge, we won't take that lying down so we had to end Class B's attempt to upstage us." Marinette said with a shrug. "That's why we got rid of your team at the end even though we already had enough to advance. Shinso used his Quirk to take you lot out, well other than Awase as he wasn't a threat, and get your points. It really worked out in the end because it actually ensure that Team Midoriya came 4th and advanced as well."
"You looked up our Quirks beforehand to know who to target and when." Honenuki said with a nod. "As it should be, that's why you went for me first as I was the ground defense. I was ready for you lot and was going to sink you enough to stop you before solidifying the ground in such a way that Agreste couldn't free you with his Quirk, but I overlooked that Class C kid."
"I did, Adrien was training but he trusted me, and I trusted him, so we did what we were best at to get ready." Marinette said. "I know you're the other recommended student and that your Quirk can soften whatever you touch but I didn't realize that your feet could do it as well until the start of the battle, but I adjusted for it after you used it on Midoriya at the start. You being the pole of your formation meant that you were the big defense as you could put your team on a moat that would be unreachable for most."
"Astute, that is exactly why I took my position and kept an eye out for attackers." Honenuki said with a nod of respect. "So, tell me, what about the rest of my team? Was it balanced?"
"I'd say it was." Marinette said. "Shiozaki's Quirk doesn't require her hands, so she was in the perfect spot for defense and to sneakily steal things as she did with Mineta's headband while also giving you an airborne defense to your land one. Tetsutetsu meanwhile is strong, and his Quirk can withstand Bakugo's so he's a good rider for you lot while Awase can use his Quirk to ensure the stability of your whole formation with his Quirk. It was well thought out. I take it you had a plan for us as we approached."
"I had to quickly think on it, but I was planning for us to be attacked at the end, so I was ready to adapt to whoever came." Honenuki said. "Shiozaki was on defense behind and the sides while I looked out front and we had the out of bounds area behind us. When I saw your team I know that I had to sink you to your knees and then harden it. That way neither Agreste nor Aoyama couldn't use their destructive Quirks to break free, at least without breaking the formation, and your Quirk was already in effect even if I don't understand how it works. It would have worked but for the General Studies student. A failure I won't make again."
"That was part of why we had Shinso, I knew he could come in handy and surprise you lot." Marinette said as she noticed the time. "But I should get going so that I can change and mentally prepare. I can handle Kaminari but it's after that so thanks for this chat, we should have more inter class fun."
"Oh, I could have fun with you and your man." Tokage said with a wink as she again closed the distance between them to give Marinette a traditional French goodbye with a kiss on each cheek that Marinette returned and a whisper in her ear. "My Quirk can be rather good with that."
"Pass, again." Marinette said as she backed up from Tokage. "Nice to meet you guys."
"And you, good luck." Honenuki said with a slight bow of his head ignoring Tokage's behavior. "Come on Tokage, let's go hang with our class, we need to be united after this failure."
"Agreed, Monoma will be annoying now, and we need to make sure that kendo keeps an eye on him throughout the rest of the Festival." Tokage said as they left.
Marinette just headed to the changing room to get ready for her first battle of the final round. She hoped that the others were doing the same as soon the battles would be upon them as the Sports Festival entered its final phase to determine a winner.
"Whatever you do, don't talk to him." Adrien said as he finished explaining what he understood of Shinso's Quirk to Midoriya in Class A's waiting room where they'd been since he stopped his friend from speaking to the General Studies student. "It has something to do with his voice and yours to trigger it but that's all I've managed to figure out."
"Thanks." Izuku said as he began to think on what he had to do. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Good and good luck." Adrien said as he rose and extended his fist to Midoriya. "This is Class A's time to shine so do your best Midoriya. Get past the first round because both of us will have tough second matchups if things go as they look on paper though like you I want Uraraka to win that match."
"Thanks, and you too Agreste." Izuku said as he rose, and fist bumped Adrien. "I am going to stay as I'm first up, but I'll see you afterwards."
Adrien just nodded as he turned and left the room to go to the seats and prepare. Izuku just sat back down and kept thinking on what Agreste had said to him as he prepared for his coming battle with Shinso. He still couldn't use One for All, not yet at least but if Shinso had a Quirk that wasn't combat orientated then he wouldn't need it and just heed Agreste's advice. He would win and then it was onto Todoroki, that would be the big test for him.
Before Izuku could think more there was a buzzer and he heard Present Mic's voice through the system. It looked like it was time. Rising, Izuku got up and walked to the entrance he was to use.
"Alright folks, here it is, the start of the final round." Present Mic said as the crowd cheered and Izuku walked out his side seeing Shinso walking out of his side as they made their way to the raised concrete battlefield. "Are you ready?"
Ah I can't resist a good little cliffhanger but y'all won't be waiting long for it to be revealed as soon the final stage of the Sports Festival will commence, this was just a nice break and filler to bridge the gap just as the anime did, with a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure. For those wondering, Tokage's personality is described as chatty, confident, talkative, and extremely provocative though as we haven't seen much of her outside the battle where she underestimate Bakugo in season 5 I had to improvise a bit with her, but I think it worked well and I had fun doing so, she'll be back at some point for more fun. I am also pretty sure I've mixed up the order with the 5th and 6th matches but as that doesn't affect the bracket, so I am going to leave it as such, sorry if there is any confusion there. Lastly, who here doesn't want to see Marinette in a U.A. cheerleader outfit, I am sure Adrien loved it. Anyway, that is it for this chapter so I will leave it here. If you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog
