"WELCOME TO THE UA SPORTS FESTIVAL!"
The stand brimming with spectators roared in excitement, each eager to watch the students of UA display their skills.
Up in the announcer's booth, Present Mic flashed a wide grin to his self-proclaimed best friend before pointing toward a specific student.
Following the blonde's arm, Shota's coal eyes locked on a specific, verdant-haired student causing the man to sigh.
Returning his eyes to the announcer beside him, Shota was met with Hizashi's pompous grin, a sight that never failed to infuriate him.
"The Freshman Representative this year is in your class, right Shota?"
The scraggly man offered a sharp nod before returning his eyes to the incoming freshman, his eyes focusing on the student mentioned prior.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS YEARS FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE, IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
Upon Midnight's introduction, the spectators erupted in a bout of applause, eagerly awaiting the teen to give the traditional address made by those in his position.
Izuku, however, was far from excited.
The teen took shaky steps, trembling as he walked up to the podium, his viridescent eyes tracking the ground below him.
After what seemed like ages, the teen reached the mic, the soft, forest-green, rabbit ears atop his head twitching as he took the device into his hands and raised it to his mouth.
"H-Hi! I-I'm Izuk-ku Midoriya!"
After forcing the name past his lips, the greenette dropped his head, his face flushed as he desperately avoided locking eyes with anyone present.
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands sat an irritated Pro, her ruby-red eyes brimming with frustration.
"How the hell is he this year's representative?"
The Rabbit Hero brought her hand to her face as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
Confusion alongside irritation stained her face as her mind recalled the qualifications one needed to be the Freshman Representative.
The highest score on the entrance exams.
Steeling her ruby reds on the stammering boy before her, one thought crossed Rumi's mind as she gazed upon the boy.
"How the hell did someone like him get the highest score?"
"I guess that answers my question."
The Rabbit Hero watched as the greenette exploded from the starting gate, his powerful legs shattering the ice that attempted to bind him.
In only a few long strides Izuku had managed to close the gap, inches away from taking first from his fellow classmate.
"MIDORIYA AND TODOROKI ARE NECK AND NECK, FIGHTING FOR FIRST! HOWEVER, HOW WILL OUR FIRST OBSTACLE, A SWARM OF ROBOTS, IMPACT THE STANDING?!"
The crowd responded to the announcement with vigor as their eyes locked onto the two students desperately fighting for first.
Upon seeing the incoming robots, Shoto waved his right arm, sending a stream of ice right into the robots, freezing them and allowing him to continue.
"QUITE THE INGENIOUS STRATEGY FROM TODOROKI! ALTHOUGH, FREEZING THEM ALLOWS THE REST OF OUR CONTESTANTS PASSAGE!"
As though responding to the announcer's observation, the once immobile robots began to sway before quickly losing balance.
The hulking machines fell, barreling toward the ground and threatening to crash into the aforementioned contestants.
From his place in second, Izuku's ears twitched, causing the boy to turn his head so as to catch sight of the origin of the creaking noise that caught his ears.
What he saw instilled a sense of panic into the contestant.
Behind him, the robots Shoto had frozen were threatening to crush the contestants who had yet to pass the first obstacle.
Spinning on his heel, the verdant head ran in the opposite direction of Shoto, losing second place as he pushed himself to make it in time.
"WHAT'S THIS?! IZUKU MIDORIYA OF 1-A IS RUNNING THE WRONG WAY! WHAT COULD HE BE UP TO?!"
Hizashi's question was answered when the greenette pushed off into the air.
Leaning forward, Izuku's body fell forward, bringing his right leg up above the skull of a robot threatening to squash at least five competitors.
He then whipped the appendage down, slamming his heel into the robot and shattering it as though it was made of glass, allowing the pieces of the machine to fall harmlessly.
Falling to the ground, the greenette immediately switched stances before chambering his right leg and lashing out with a kick seemingly aimed at the air.
However, that brief spell of confusion the kick inspired due to the lack of a target was quickly quelled as a gust of strong wind followed the kick.
The gust ripped through the air as though it was an invisible bullet before reaching the second falling robot and boring a hole into its chest…
And the one behind it…
And the one behind that.
Turning on his heel, the greenette resumed his race for first as though the destruction of the robots was little more than a chore he needed to finish as fast as possible.
The crowd fell silent as they watched the bunny-eared student destroy 4 robots with half as many strikes, shocked at the display of raw strength.
"WHAT A DISPLAY OF POWER FROM IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
Hizashi's words broke the crowd from their spell as the spectators roared to life, cheers flooding the venue as previously uninterested eyes saw themselves lingering on the greenette for longer than usual.
The contestant in question ran full sprint, catching up to those who'd passed him and taking third place up until they reached the second obstacle.
"OUR CONTESTANTS HAVE REACHED THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR OBSTACLE COURSE, THE FALL! HOW WILL THEY MANAGE TO CROSS THIS MASSIVE PIT?!"
Now normally, contestants would cross the pit carefully via the wires, making sure not to fall into the seemingly bottomless pit below them.
Those blessed with quirks that helped with mobility would use them to slide across the wires or even fly across the gaps and make it to the other side.
But Izuku Midoriya, in his infinite wisdom, decided to take the third route.
Walking to the edge of the pit, the greenette crouched low, his hands resting on the ground as he assumed a stance not dissimilar to a jumping rabbit.
Tensing his muscles, the greenette loaded his legs, resting his weight on them as though he was pressing down a spring while several contestants began to overtake him.
"WHATS THIS?! OUR FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE SEEMS TO BE TAKING A STRETCH BREAK MID-COURSE!"
"He plans on jumping the cavern."
Turning toward his close friend turned homeroom teacher, Hizashi raised an eyebrow, his expression painted with a mix of inquiry and disbelief.
"I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT! NOW, BACK TO THE RACE!"
At the massive crossing, Izuku still remained crouched, the muscles in his thighs in calves tensing in anticipation, each silently screaming to be released.
And, luckily for them, the teen was eager to grant it.
With a near-deafening push-off, the teen was in the air, soaring over his fellow contestants with such grace, you'd be forgiven for mistaking his quirk for flight.
As quickly as the jump had begun, it was ended as the teen rocketed down to the ground, into first and into a literal minefield.
"HOLY SHIT! HE ACTUALLY JUMPED IT! IZUKU MIDORIYA HAS JUMPED THE ENTIRE CANYON AND LANDED IN FIRST PLACE!"
Each word of the announcement only served to amplify the crowd, bringing them to a thunderous roar.
The loudest of all the crowd was none other than Miruko herself.
"No fucking way! If I'd known someone like him was at UA I would've bought a better seat!"
Tightening her grip on the bell pepper nestled in her palm, Miruko raised the snack to her lips, taking a chunk out of the red pepper while similarly colored eyes scanned the venue for her target.
"Where are you, Izuku Midoriya?"
Squinting slightly, the Rabbit Hero was able to pick out a set of verdant ears, the same style as her own, resting atop a mane similar in color.
"Gotcha!"
With a few strong steps, the woman was a few inches behind the teen, his first-place headband resting atop his head, something he'd managed to protect for the duration of the cavalry battle.
Quiet as a snow rabbit, the brown-skinned woman raised a hand, ready to tap the teen on his shoulder and grab his attention.
What she hadnt been ready for, however, was for the 16-year-old to turn on a dime, intercepting her right hand with his left and cocking a fist back, ready to shatter her jaw.
Upon realizing his actions, alongside noticing who exactly he was threatening, the teen dropped his arms, bringing them to his sides as he dropped in a deep apologetic bow.
"I-I am s-so sorry! I'm still a l-little antsy after the cavalry battle!"
Remaining silent, Miruko ran her eyes over the boy standing just barely taller than herself, ruby red plagued with intrigue and excitement.
Normally, anyone who'd attempt to raise a hand against her was reminded of why exactly she was considered one of the physically stronger pros around.
But with him, she felt none of that, only a sense of excitement and eagerness at witnessing his freakishly fast reaction time.
She just couldn't wait to test him out.
"You, Midoriya."
"Y-Yes?"
"Fight me."