Shoto vs Manga
"Let's get things started with the second round; now entering the arena, coming in off a dominant first-round victory, the master of chill, the Eskimo king Shoto TODOROKI!" Mic called out; he was getting more hype; he had to show that pretender that she was all flash and no substance, that you didn't need entrance music, and all the other jazz to get the crowd rocking.
"And his opponent brought the flash and the boom in his first-round match. Give it up for Manga Fukidashi," Mic sat back, feeling confident, and grabbed his phone.
A single-line man Present Mic is done!
Bruh, what happened to Present Mic? Did that girl break his confidence?
I wish that girl were doing the introductions. This is whack.
There is no way the fight could not be better than those intros—lame Sauce.
"Mei, what are you doing with those phones?" Izuku asked.
"Nothing, just checking the threads, seeing how we are trending," Mei set the phones down. "What can you tell me about our next opponent?"
"What you saw is what you get; she has vines; they are fast, and we need a way to cut them down," Izuku responded.
"Oh, I got something, but you will only have about 5 minutes max, maybe less," Mei said with a devil grin as he opened a box stamped top secret. "I call them the Hatsume knife through butter, where everything these babies encounter is the butter, so you better not cut that girl, or it will be fucking bad."
"I can do that," Izuku said. "Wait, are those…"
Shoto and Manga listened to the introductions and the brief review of the rules from Midnight. Shoto shook off the handshake but bowed to Manga before stepping back.
"Begin!"
Again, a tomb of ice exploded out; Shoto turned and was about to walk off the stage when he heard an excited murmur run through the crowd; he turned and looked at the glacier, and a massive 15ft tall, 5ft wide speech bubble was there, and it read KA-THOOM! It popped, and the glacier shattered all around Manga. The blowback sent everyone's hair flying and particles of ice blocked by an emergency barrier from Cementos, "I am not done with you yet!" Manga called out as the crowd went wild.
Shoto tried to send another wave of ice, but "Blocked" appeared in front of it, stopping it dead in its tracks. The "Booms" appeared around Shoto, who quickly created a dome of ice and dropped it to the ground, and the ice shattered. It was deafening around Shoto. He was suddenly lifted off the ground by another that formed under him. "Woosh!" he was launched straight up; he saw another bubble that reads "BAM!" above him. He threw out his hand and launched a wave of fire, popping it before he impacted; he was airborne; as gravity reasserted itself, he saw another bubble appear. He poured all he could into his fire and shot it straight down like a massive flame jet; it exploded the bubble and sent Manga scrambling as the flames hit the stage and raced outwards. Shoto cut his flame as it had pushed him upright; an ice slide raced under his feet and brought him down to the stage; he directed it towards Manga, who was batting at some flames on his uniform.
Manga looked up as Shoto just speared him in the chest, sending them crashing to the ground. They tumbled, and Shoto came out on top. He tagged Manga's arms, and ice came up, encasing them. Shoto didn't know what would happen, but he fired off a stiff right connected with the speech bubble that was Manga's head, snapping it sideways. Shoto just sat on Manga's chest, raining down viciously left and right; when he felt Manga's body go limb, he froze in mid-punch. He held his hand over the boy's face, ready to encase it in ice if he twitched.
Then he saw the speech bubble read "ZZZZZZZ" and fell off his opponent.
"WINNER SHOTO TODOROKI!" Midnight, he was announced. Shoto melted the ice around Manga's arms as the medical bots came to the stage; he got to his feet and bowed to his opponent before he walked off.
Reiko Vs. Itsuka
Mic bounced in the booth, moving his neck from side to side.
"Now coming to the stage, 1-B's Mistress of the Night, the Queen of Poltergeist, the incomparable, the untouched, the one and the only Reiko Yanagi!" he announced. Reiko stepped out and waved at the crowd.
"Her opponent not only defeated the six-armed man of 1-A in a thrilling display of hand-to-hand combat, but she also demonstrated poise, grace, style, and power. Does she have something in mind when she battles her sister from 1-B? Put your hands together for ITSUKA KENDO!" Mic belted out her name as the crowd cheered.
Better, but isn't Hatsume up next?
He is trying.
That was much better, but I can't wait for the next match.
Oh snap, did Mic finally come to play?
The two girls shook hands to the crowd's joy; Itsuka's hands immediately enlarged as Reiko surrounded her with her quirk. Itsuka did not fly up; she yanked an arm free and punched the ground at her feet. Reiko recaptured the arm; Itsuka cried out of defiance, pulled the other arm, grabbed a chunk of the stage, and sent it flying at Reiko.
Reiko's eyes widened as she released the hold on Itsuka, caught the projectile, and launched it right back; Itsuka slid past under it and was right before Reiko. Itsuka got her feet under her and fired off a missile of a leaping punch at Reiko. The aura of Reiko's quirk had ignited, but she couldn't shift it fast enough to stop the punch. It landed, hitting Reiko in the chest and head, sending her sprawling. Itsuka didn't waste any movement; she landed, grabbed Reiko's leg with one of her massive hands, and yanked them together. Reiko got her guard up to block the follow-up punch; she managed to push it aside; she gritted her teeth as her quirk flared around Itsuka's hand, and Reiko fired a picture-perfect elbow that caught Itsuka by surprise and followed it up with an uppercut that snapped her head back.
The glow was around Itsuka's hand, Reiko yelled, pouring all she could into her quirk. She tore open Itsuka's hand, breaking her grip and a few fingers. It was Itsuka's turn to scream in defiance as she stepped in with a heinous uppercut that, when it landed, her fist seemed to pause as the air left Reiko's body before lifting her off the ground. Itsuka spun to the side using the hand with the broken fingers, grabbed the back of Reiko's head, and drove her face-first to the stage; a crack was heard as her head bounced off the concrete. Itsuka raised Reiko by her head. A large gash was open on her head, and blood poured from her. Itsuka's hand glowed, and Itsuka screamed as her hand started popping and blood flew from her hand; she brought her other fist up and under, punching her hand with Reiko's head in the middle.
The glow disappeared, and Itsuka dropped Reiko to the stage. She was holding her hand as it was spurting blood; muscles in her fingers had been torn. She looked at Midnight. "Winner Itsuka Kendo!" Kendo wobbled and managed a smile as she fell over, passing out onstage.
Izuku Vs. Ibarra
"Now coming to the stage, a woman of faith, who showed her integrity in her first round win, she walks boldly forward with her faith shining before her, the Lady of Thorns, the master of Vines, the one and only Ibarra SHIOZAKI!" He called as the crowd cheered,
"And her…" his mic was cut off again. "REALLY!" he shouted, using his quirk to be heard.
"Really," Mei's voice called back over the speakers. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Mei Hatsume," she said deliberately as she stepped out of the tunnel so the crowd could see her. She smiled at the mixed reaction. "And I am the advocate, the lead council, and the chief designer for your next SYMBOL OF HOPE," the crowd again was booing, but more cheers were heard. "THE MAN THAT WALKS THROUGH YOUR VALLEY OF HATE, THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DARKNESS AND DEMANDS TO BE SEEN. DEMANDS TO BE HEARD, AND BY GOODNESS, AS LONG AS BREATH DRAWS IN THESE LUNGS, I WILL SURE THAT HAPPENS. I GIVE YOU THE MAN WITHOUT A QUIRK, THE MAN WITH WHAT PEOPLE CALL AN UNOBTAINABLE DREAM, THE MAN WHO WILL CARRY HOPE TO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST IT! IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
The guitar rift blared out again as Izuku walked out past Mei, who bowed deeply to him before she stepped back into the tunnel; everyone noticed the pack on his back, the hose that ran to two cylinders at his hips. He stood just past the entrance looking at the crowd; he threw his arms out as he walked towards the stage; boos rained down, but there were cheers; he stepped onto the stage and came to stand across from Ibarra.
"Regardless of this, you know where I stand," Ibarra said. "You will not walk alone through valleys or stand alone against slings or arrows. I am with you, Izuku Midoriya!"
"Thank you, Ibarra," he shook her hand and bowed to her as they stepped back.
Mic did not even look at his phone.
"ARE YOU TWO READY?" Midnight raised her hand in the air. Izuku had one leg forward, ready to rush Ibarra; his hands were by the cylinders at his side. Ibarra had her hands clasped before her, her eyes locked on his. "BEGIN!"
Ibarra's quirk activated, lifting her into the air as a half dozen vines tore across the stage towards Izuku. The crowd went silent as soon as Ibarra lifted into the air. Izuku drew the cylinders, and they ignited brilliant white plasma swords. He didn't hesitate as the vines came racing at him. They slashed through the first, spun past, and slashed the second. Jumped twisted over the third and fourth, slicing them as he spun past landed and placed the blade in front of him, splitting the fifth as he did not even turn from his target as the second one spun behind him and cut the sixth.
Izuku raced forward as Ibarra gritted her teeth and launched more vines toward her opponent, like something out of the distant galaxy. The crowd was silent as he spun, cutting through the vines with such speed and ferocity that when one grabbed his leg, it threw him off balance, but he cut it away, rolled under the next two, and took them out before moving again. He got to her base and easily cut through her supports; one of the blades sparked and failed. Ibarra began to fall. She tried to maintain her platform with more vines, but the other blade stopped her. He grabbed her with his free hand and yanked her down. He let the ignited blade fall and go out as he brought her down to his fist that crashed into her ribs. Her quirk flared again, and blood flew from her head; she grabbed his legs, he fired off a punch to her throat, and grabbed the vines around her head. The plasma blade ignited, and he ran the blade behind her, cutting the vies just below her shoulders and sending her into his arms. The blade sparked and broke. He slipped one arm around under her armpit and the other around her neck and squeezed with everything he had as he locked in the standing arm triangle. Ibarra struggled but fell limp as he would not let go; the second she fell limp, he released and gently lowered her to the ground.
"WINNER IZUKU MIDORIYA!" The crowd was silent before some cheers broke out, boos, and what seemed like confused clapping. Izuku waited until the medical bots arrived, and she woke up when she was placed on the skiff. She smiled at him.
"I was not expecting to get a haircut today," she said as they walked off.
"I am sorry, Ibara; if there is anything I can do to help you regrow your vines, I will be at your disposal," Izuku said.
"I will hold you to that, Izuku," Ibarra said with a smile as they entered the tunnel.
Momo vs. Neito
"Now it is time for the final match of the second round, and this one should be interesting. Now, entering the arena, the wild card of 1-B is the heroic, the resilient, and the unpredictable NEITO MONOMA!" Mic said, shaking his head from the last battle.
"His opponent is the Mistress of Creation, with a fierce streak that she showed in her first match, the warrior princess of 1-A, the possible answer to a wild card, the beautiful, the bold, the strong MOMO YAOYOROZU!"
Momo and Neito took the stage to cheer. They shook hands and bowed as they took their starting positions. Momo's heart was pounding; she had no idea what Naito would throw at her, what quirks he had copied, how many, nothing. She knew this was worse than going into battle against an unknown; it was going into battle with multiple unknowns; she shook it away and prepared to do all she could.
The fight began, and Neito and Momo both rushed towards each other. A nightstick flashed to Momo's hand as they came together, and suddenly, Neito dropped into his shadow. Momo hit nothing but air. She felt her ponytail get grabbed, and she yanked violently backward and to the ground. She crashed to the ground and then felt it liquify as she sank. Flashbangs exploded from her, and the sound left her ears ringing. She couldn't see a thing, so she tried to pull herself up and out, only to get pulled back down. Suddenly, everything around her hardened; her arms, stomach, legs, and nearly every part of her exposed skin were trapped in the arena. She looked up and saw Neito standing over, glistening like metal; he raised his fist to come crashing down. Momo created a helmet, but it raddled her head regardless. He raised and looked at Midnight.
"MATCH MOMO YAOYORZU CANNOT DEFEND HERSELF," Midnight announced. Juzo came from the stands and got Momo free; she looked at Neito and shook her head.
"You are such a wild card," Momo said, holding her ringing head.
"I knew I couldn't give you a chance; I had to end it quickly," he said. "I didn't want to think what you would have brought out had I given you the time."
"Thank you, Neito," Momo said as they left the arena. "Good luck in the tournament."
Momo went to the locker room and sat there. She let the sting of defeat wash her, and when her phone rang, she took a deep breath as if it were her father.
"Don't say a word, darling," he said. "We are here and were watching. We are proud of you. When you are up to it, we want to see you, and after the tournament, we want to take you to dinner. Pumpkin, you were fierce out there; we love you so much."
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered back. "I love you."
Shoto vs. Itsuka
Itsuka walked out to the stage, her hand still bandaged, her arm bandaged; she was arguing and begging them to let her fight. She risked further damage if she fought with her hand in that condition.
"No, let me go out there. Don't make me be removed from the fight in the back where no one sees," Itsuka was begging them. "Let me go out on my feet!"
"Itsuka, your hand is useless. You throw a single punch with it, and you will break it again," Ectoplasm said.
"I won't use it," she said quickly, "I won't throw a single punch, bind it to my side, but don't make me give up; I need to finish this; I have to show them that I am stronger. That next time they come for us, I will be there by my class's side."
"Come here," Recovery Girl said. "You move that arm at all, and Midnight will call the match; you understand me!"
Itsuka was in tears, "thank you, oh god, thank you."
Once Itsuka was away, Ectoplasm looked at Recovery Girl, "Why are you allowing this?"
"That girl we found huddled over another student in the USJ. She didn't reach the door; she wasn't there when all her classmates fought for their lives. She wants them to see her fighting till the end," Recovery Girl said.
"None of her class holds anything against her or thinks anything less of her," Ectoplasm responded.
"But she does," Recovery Girl said. "This is how she climbs out of the darkness; if we stop her, I don't know if she ever will. Now tell Midnight if that arm twitches or clenches anything; the match is over."
"The winner of this match will find themselves in the finals of the First Year Sports Festival; these four contestants are on the cusp of fulfilling a childhood dream; don't hold back on them now, folks. Coming to the stage, we have the odds on favorite, the man who showed us that he is not only defined by Ice but knows how to bring the heat, the seemingly unstoppable SHOTO TODOROKI!" Mic made the announcement and shook his head as he read the report on his opponent.
"It is not often that I am lost for words, but his opponent entering the arena against the advice of the professionals, coming in with a significant handicap. It means so much to this young lady that she will not stay in the back; she will put everything she has for you all again. Remember this moment, remember this drive and character of this young lady, make some damn noise for Itsuka Kendo," Mic said, his voice rife with passion.
Itsuka walked out, and the crowd started to cheer, only to gasp as how her arm was bandaged; she stopped and looked around the arena.
"GET OUT THERE AND KICK HIS ASS ITSUKA!" She turned and saw Setsuna standing on the railing.
"YOU CAN DO THIS!" OJIRO SHOUTED.
"COME ON KENDO, SHOW HIM WHAT 1-b IS MADE OF!" Niren shouted.
Then, the entire student section shouted encouragement, followed by the stadium. She felt her heart swell as she walked toward the stage.
"You know the rules, Kendo. I am aware of the restriction. I am watching you," Midnight said.
"Why?" Shoto said, staring at her.
"I have to show them that I am stronger than I was then, that I will be there by their sides the next time," Itsuka said. "Don't take it easy on me; show me the proper respect. That is all I ask."
"A member of your class has shown me how wrong I was to ignore part of myself, and another is showing everyone what it is to fight for something more," Shoto responded. "I respect you Itsuka Kendo."
"Thank you, Shoto," Itsuka said as they stepped back.
At the command to begin, Shoto sent a wave of ice. Itsuka braced the best he could; it was just as big as the one he had started the festival with. Itsuka closed her eyes, twisted her hips, and fired a straight right-hand punch that enlarged as it came forward. "HERO SHIT!" she bellowed. The crowd held its breath, and the entirety of 1-A held its breath. As the punch connected, she saw it send a wave diverting all around her. It was in slow motion as her hand and arm broke, swelling and turning purple as she fell to her knees; the camera zoomed in and saw tears running down Itsuka's face and enormous smile. "Hero Shit," she whispered as her head fell forward she was unconscious.
"Winner, Shoto Todoroki," Midnight said quietly.
Shoto immediately created flames to create an opening. He stood on the stage till she was collected, and then he walked to the edge and paused, seemingly thinking before he stepped off the stage and back to the tunnel. Setsuna and Ojiro were out of the student section and racing to the medical wing.
Neito vs. Izuku
"This is the final match of the semi-finals, and the winner gets to face Shoto Todoroki for the gold medal; coming to the stage, ladies and gentlemen, is a young man who has shown his ingenuity and poise, his compassion, and his strength, let's give it up for Neito Monoma!" Mic called out. He just sat down.
Mei stepped out of the tunnel, "Ladies and Gentleman, standing before us today is the enviable task of combatting a friend, a classmate, and quite frankly, someone we hoped we wouldn't meet. But like Itsuka Kendo, we will not sit back in the tunnel and throw in the towel." Mei was looking at the crowd. "You booed him when he stood before all of you and told you the truth. When he stood there, he told you about a dream that none of you believed in, a dream that members of this institution thought was crazy. You know who didn't? His classmates and his peers. I questioned him, but I saw what they all had seen: Hope. If a quirkless boy who dedicated his life to one goal, with the help of one girl who dedicated her life to one goal, could come to U.A. Sports Festival and earn a damn podium spot, what would have happened if he had a quirk. No one can tell you anyone now or say that you can't do it. One more time, and for real, show him the respect he has earned today; I give you, Izuku Midoriya!" Mei stepped back as the guitar rip played, and the Izuku walked out.
The crowd was torn, but then the cheers started, and the clapping was more than before but not unanimous.
"HAS HE NOT EARNED MORE RESPECT THAN THAT!" Mic called out. "HE HAD MADE IT THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE U.A SPORTS FESTIVAL! IS THAT ALL YOU PEOPLE GOT? HAS YOUR ANGER BLINDED YOU!" More people started to cheer. "THAT IS RIGHT, HISTORY IS HAPPENING BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES, THE ANSWER TO A TRIVIA QUESTION, A FIRST, A DAMN HISTORIC FIRST. WHEN HISTORY LOOKS BACK, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SEE? GIVE IT UP FOR THE QUIRKLESS WONDER OF 1-B IZUKU MIDORIYA!" Mic fell back in his chair as the crowd finally let go and cheered.
When he stepped onto the stage, Izuku bowed and pointed to Present Mic, then bowed to the crowd. He and Neito came together on the stage and embraced. Izuku held his fist out, "Hero Shit."
Neito touched his fist to his, "Fucking Hero Shit," he said back with a smile.
They stepped back, and at the call to begin, Izuku ran and leaped at Neito, who rolled backward and slammed his hand on the ground. The stage started to soften; Izuku pushed out and dove wildly, hoping to grab Neito, only for him to sink into the wet stage and Izuku to fall and start to sink. Neito came popping out as the ground hardened, and Izuku was trapped.
"Izuku," Midnight said.
"I yield," he smirked.
"Winner, Neito Monoma," Midnight called out, and the crowd cheered. Neito released Izuku and helped him up.
"I am glad that you came in that door of 1-B," Neito said, hugging Izuku.
"A copycat and a quirkless kid in the semi-finals," Izuku said. "Bring this thing home, Neito."
"I will," Neito said as Izuku walked off the stage and to the tunnel. When he got there, Mei was waiting.
"Next Year, partner," Mei said. "I will have something for his ass next year."
"I look forward to it," Izuku said. Mei walked away as Izuku walked down the hall toward the medical wing.
"Where you are going, stud," Kyoka said, leaning against the wall.
"He better be going to check on Reiko and see if he can wake her with a kiss," Pony said from across Kyoka.
"But what about our kisses?" Kyoka said with a pout.
"Good point," Pony said, raising an eyebrow at Izuku. "Where are our kisses?"
Izuku blushed and smiled, "I don't know what I did to deserve any of this, but I am so thankful I am here at this moment," he walked over and kissed Kyoka deeply before he kissed Pony. Pony licked her lips.
"Oh, I like that," Pony said as they walked towards the medical wing, "is that cherry?"
"Wild Cherry," Kyoka said back, smiling, holding onto Izuku's arm.
They were passing a hallway when they heard something slam into a wall. They looked at Set playing with her hair wide-eyed, and Mei looked like she had just done a wall slam.
"So if you don't want to go have sex," Mei said, leaning in close. "How about I take you to dinner, and if that goes well, I kiss you, and we see if your socks aren't the only things I can blow off?"
Setsuna giggled, "Okay," she whispered.
Shoto Todoroki vs. Neito Monoma
"This is it, people. It has been an incredible, unprecedented, historic day, and it all comes down to this. Shoto Todoroki of class 1-A vs. Neito Monoma of class 1-B, don't hold back, let them hear you!" Mic announced as both of them stepped out of their tunnels to thunderous applause as they made their way to the ring.
"Gentleman," Midnight said. "You both know the rules." Midnight stepped back.
Shoto reached out his hand, and Neito was shocked. "I never thank you properly for the USJ," Shoto said. "Thank you for opening my eyes and showing me what putting it all on the line means."
"Thank you for that, Shoto," Neito responded, shaking Shoto's hand.
"Begin,"
Shoto looked about to stomp his foot, but instead, his arm shot forward, and a pillar of flame was unleashed; Neito slid to the side as a wave of Ice erupted from him, racing towards Shoto. Shoto intercepted the wave with one of his own; a fireball came flying at him from Neito. He spun, putting the ice wall between them.
Suddenly, Shoto came leaping over the wall towards Neito. Neito's arm exploded in flames as he brought it forth, and a considerable torrent flew towards Shoto. Shoto smiled and fired a flame jet down, pushing him up and over Neito's attack. White flame flames ignited from one side of shoto, and the other saw white frost begin forming; Spears of Ice formed on that side and came flying out. Neito rolled to the side as he dodged a few, and an Ice wall came up; one managed to break his wall and cut his shoulder.
Shoto landed, and Neito sent the most enormous wave of ice he could muster, only for it to be intercepted by white-hot flame. Cementos eyes went wide as the two collided, and the explosion that tore through the stadium of super hot air colliding with super cold air had everyone screaming out. When the smoke cleared, Shoto was still in the arena. Thanks to an ice wall crumbling behind him, Neito was nowhere to be found. Shoto stumbled, and suddenly, two hands came out of the shadows and yanked him down like a horror movie.
The crowd screamed, and just as suddenly, Shoto came flying out of the side of the arena walls cast in the shade by the sun's movement. As he landed, Neito came tumbling out after him.
"Shoto Todoroki is out of bounds," Midnight called. "WINNER NEITO MONOMA!"
Shoto looked beside him at Neito, who looked exhausted on the grass. "Good match," Shoto said, getting to his feet; he extended his hand and helped Neito to stand. "I look forward to our rematch," Shoto couldn't help but smile as he walked away, leaving the crowd to cheer. Neito stood in shock as he looked around the stadium and saw his face with the word Winner everywhere. He barely noticed Toru as she came barreling into his arms.
"Fucking Hero Shit!" she yelled as she hugged him.
"Fucking hero shit," he whispered as one hand found the back of her head; her arms went around her neck, and they kissed. The crowd that was going nuts before realized what was happening and lost it even more. "Go out with me?" he managed when they broke apart.
"Of course," she said, pulling him back into a deeper kiss; when they broke apart, it suddenly dawned on them where they were and what they were doing. Toru was thankful that she couldn't be seen blushing. Neito, on the other hand, was not so lucky.
All-Might
He just fell back in his chair; in his hand were two files, Itsuka Kendo and Neito Monoma. He looked back and forth between both files as if he could only split them. He had to talk to them one-on-one; he needed to know more than he had witnessed and what was in the file. Though one phrase was ringing in his mind, "Hero Shit."
Medals
Reiko woke up like a princess after receiving a kiss; she was still exhausted and beaten up, "I am proud of you, my noble warrior." She managed to say.
"Rest," Izuku whispered, "I will return after the medal ceremony and sit with you until you wake up.
"I would like that," Reiko managed before falling back asleep.
He left the medical wing, escorting Itsuka, who was nearly out on her feet, but she was not about to miss the ceremony. She smiled gratefully at Izuku as they joined Neito and Shoto at the underground platform.
"Shouldn't you be asleep healing," Neito said, shocked when she walked in with Izuku.
"Hell no, I want my medal," Itsuka smirked. "I can sleep after."
When the platform rose, the crowd cheered, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the medalist of this year's sports festival!" Midnight called out the crowd, "Now to present…"
"I AM HERE!" All-Might came landing on the stage.
Midnight sighed, "we have a special guest," her voice trailed off.
"Did I mess up my cue?" All-Might said sheepishly as the crowd laughed.
"No, whatever you mean." Midnight said, her voice sickly sweet.
"Oh good then," All-Might replied, turning the students. The crowd laughed even more as Midnight threw up her arms and walked away.
All-Might placed a bronze medal around Itsuka's neck, "Congratulations, Young Kendo, the grit and determination to embody the meaning of Plus Ultra will not be forgotten easily. I hope that after this day, your doubts will blow away with a breeze."
"Thank you, All-Might," Kendo said, smiling and doing her best not to cry as it would be impossible to wipe away any tears.
"Young Midoriya," All-Might said as he placed the medal around his neck. "I want you to know that your spirit and your dream have been recognized by me and those out in the world. Bringing change is difficult, changing how people think about things even more so, but today was the first step to becoming a Symbol I would be proud to have by my side."
"Thank you so much All-Might," Izuku said, bowing.
"Young Todoroki, your growth and change have been delightful, but you never stop growing. Never stop learning; you are destined to be a great hero. But the type of hero you become can not be dictated by anyone but yourself," All-Might placed the silver medal around his neck.
"Thank you, All-Might," Shoto replied. "I will become the hero I choose!" All-Might placed his hand on his shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze.
"Now, Young Monoma," All-Might paused, looking at the gold medal. "Though it was many years ago, I remember the day I was presented with this medal. But this day, you not only carried yourself to victory, but you carried all your classmates whose power you used. You elevated them as well, and you inspired your class and others. You should be more proud of that than anything."
"I wouldn't be here without them," Neito said, bowing his head as the medal was placed around his neck.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, YOUR MEDALISTS FOR THE FIRST YEAR U.A SPORTS FESTIVAL!" Midnight called out as the crowd cheered for them. Izuku made sure that Itsuka made it to the tunnel before they placed her in a wheelchair, and she fell asleep immediately.
Izuku returned to the medical wing; Kyoka was waiting for him outside. "I am very proud of you, Izuku," she whispered, kissing him. "I am going to have dinner with my parents; I care to come over tomorrow. I owe you a music lesson."
"I love you too," he whispered, his eyes still closed from the kiss. Kyoka smiled and left. He turned, Pony grabbed him and kissed him silly.
"I will see you in your room later so we can celebrate," she whispered in his ear as she sauntered off. Izuku was in a daze as he walked into the medical wing; he sat next to Reiko's bed and let loose a sigh. So many first steps and so many more to go, he thought. He smiled, looking at Reiko, but at least he knew he would not be alone.