The sports festival for year 2 takes place, a new symbol starts rising.

It had been a month since the incident with Toga, since she escaped into the night. More security measures were put into place, more security measures taught to the students. A simple accident had caused so much harm and had traumatized one student, and put an entire class at risk. They had been so engrossed in schoolwork and new security measures that they hadn't realized the sports festival was already upon them.

Izuku ran Mirio's words through his mind once again. Become the leader. He sat with the rest of his class as they all cheered on the first years. He knew the would have to show everyone he could do it.

"You're muttering again," a cool voice said from his left, he looked over and saw Todoroki watching him.

"Sorry." He took a sip of his drink, not surprised that Todoroki had been keeping it cool for him. He picked up his notebook to take more notes, and was so lost in them he almost didn't hear Todoroki words.

"You'll be a good leader if you just step up and do it. Most of our class listens to you, you just have to believe in yourself and you can get the other classes to as well."

"And now to hear words from the representative for Class 2, Izuku Midoriya!" Midnight's voice called out, and instead of noises of disagreement like last year there were a few cheers of approval.

"What? Me?" Izuku was pushed towards the stage, his class laughing as they all pushed.

"You were the most popular vote, from some of the other classes even." Midnight said with a wink, pushing him the last few steps towards the microphone. For once Izuku was at a loss for words as he looked out at the stadium. He looked back at his classmates, the other classes as well, out of their entire class they chose him.

What would All Might say. No, he shook his head and turned back to the crowd. They don't want to hear from All Might, they want to hear from Izuku Midoriya, from Deku.

"I am here," the stadium started to hush at his opening words. "For my class, and for most of you watching today, those words meant hope, they meant everything was going to be okay. But after the events of last year those words have lost their hope, they lost their hope when we lost the Symbol of Peace, All Might."

The stadium went quiet as they watched him, and then he felt One for All race across his skin, illuminating him in emerald lightning as his voice got louder, more confident. "We are here, and we won't let you down, All Might. You passed the torch down, and even though it is just a spark of what it used to be, it will soon become brighter than before. You were the world's Symbol of Peace, and we can't replace that. So we will become the world's Symbol of Hope, just watch."

He turned so he could address his class and Mirio's words rang true. Become their leader. "As long as I am here," his classmates eyes were on him, and he stood straighter, his head held high. "I will not fail you. I will lead us into a brighter future, together we will all change how the world looks at heroes. As long as we are here, together, we can change everything." The stadium was quiet at his words, unsure of what this sixteen-year-old was trying to say. Then he heard it, Uraraka cheering him, joined in by Iida, then slowly the rest of his classmates, then the other classes. Soon the whole stadium was cheering for him.

As Midnight guided him down the steps towards his class she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Nice going kid. We all believe in you kids, all of us pros. We want you to be better, better than any of us ever were at your ages. Now go, make them watch. As long as you lead them you kids can do anything."

Izuku sat with the rest of his classmates that had passed the first two rounds, the rest of his class was on the field taking part in the extra activities. Then he heard it, a voice from the other side of the wall, where class 2 B was sitting. Monoma, spewing his normal hate towards class A. He saw Uraraka flinch as she was mentioned, how she was the reason there was more security. How class A ruins everything. Izuku took out his phone and messaged the group chat for their class, somehow Monoma had made it to the next round, but if he is going up against anyone from class A he won't make it past them.

Whatarebones: For every tooth Monoma loses I'll buy you your favorite snack.

Sharkboi: Wait, Midoriya WANTS violence?

GottaGoFaster: While you and Bakugo went for snacks Monoma had a few choice words to say, which we heard over the wall.

KingExplosionMurder: About?

Kirby: Me….

KingExplosionMurder: What about you….

Kirby: I'd rather not repeat it.

KingExplosionMurder: Fucking extra!

GottaGoFaster: Language!

KingExplosionMurder: I'll match shitty Deku's promise.

IcyhotPainRelief: Same

Icanhearyou: Same, no one talks shit about my girlfriend.

GottaGoFaster: Same

Sharkboi: Same here. Oh Uraraka I got you some mochi.

Kirby: :)

Dadzawia: Did all of you forget I'm in this chat….

Whatarebones: Sensei, we can explain.

Dadzawia: Save it, problem child. Yaoyorozu already messaged me and explained what was said.

MyHairHasMoreClassThanYou: I just didn't want anyone to get in trouble.

Dadzawia: None of you are in trouble, yet. It IS a sports festival, injury is to be expected. But if whoever fights him goes too far, on purpose, you will get detention. Am I clear? Now pay attention they are announcing the upcoming fights.

Sure enough Izuku looked up and saw the matches for the next round.

Izuku Midoriya vs Neito Monoma

Mashirao Ojiro vs Tenya Iida

Ochaco Uraraka vs Itsuka Kendo

Ibara Shiozaki vs Fumikage Tokoyami

Katsuki Bakugo vs Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu

Pony Tsunotori vs Momo Yaoyorozu

Eijiro Kirishima vs Mina Ashido

Setsuna Tokage vs Shoto Todoroki

Izuku picked his phone up as he heard the laughter of his classmates around him.

Whatarebones: Sensei?

Dadzawia: Problem child?

Whatarebones: How many hits do I get?

Dadzawia: One.

Izuku grinned as he put his phone away, and as he was leaving Bakugo and Kirishima were walking back into their area with snacks and drinks. "Hey Midoriya, what's your favorite snack?" Kirishima yelled out as he passed.

"I'll tell you when I get back."

Izuku cat back in his seat with a sigh as the next match started. "How many snacks do we owe you Midoriya?" Todoroki asked from beside him.

"I don't know, Recovery Girl said it wouldn't be a good idea for me to check on him." He answered with a shrug as he inspected his left hand. It was a little bruised from where it connected with Monoma's jaw. They turned their attention to the match in front of them. Izuku was so engrossed in the fight that he didn't notice Todoroki's right hand covering his bruised hand. Not until he heard a squeal from Uraraka in front of him, then a moment later there was a click of a camera.

Then his phone went off, it was a picture from Uraraka, a picture of them holding hands. He let out a choked sound and dropped his phone, and letting go of Todoroki's hand he scrambled to pick it up.

Midoriya: Uraraka WHYYY?

Uraraka: Cause you guys are so cute together!

Uraraka: Ask him out already!

Midoriya: You know I can't. I don't want to mess things up. Please delete it!

Uraraka: Not until you say SOMETHING to him. My match is next. WE WILL TALK LATER.

Uraraka's match didn't go so well. The first few minutes were good, she was keeping Kendo on her toes. Then Kendo surprised them all, she enlarged her hands larger than Izuku had ever seen them, and enclosed Uraraka in them. They never wanted to hear Uraraka scream like that again. At her scream Kendo quickly released her, but when she dropped to the ground she just sat there, her eyes glazed over.

"Shit!" Izuku heard Jiro's curse followed by a flurry of movement as she dialed a number on her phone. "Aizawa! Uraraka's been suffering from Claustrophobia this past month!" He didn't hear the rest of the conversation as Jiro rushed out of their section.

Kendo won the match, and they all watched as Aizawa carried a limp Uraraka away.

They all waited for word from Uraraka as the next few matches continued. Tokoyami won his, along with Bakugo and Pony winning their own matches. During the fight between Kirishima and Ashido they all finally got news.

Icanhearyou: Uraraka is fine, she had a panic attack. Oh, four teeth and a broken jaw.

Chargeboi: Broken jaw should count as two snacks.

KingExplosionMurder: I could have knocked out more.

Icanhearyou: Best part is that they don't want to over work Recovery Girl, so it can't be healed until after the festival is over.

There was laughter from his classmates at this news then cheers as Kirishima won his match. As Todoroki's match started with Tokage, Kendo surprised Izuku by sitting down next to him. "Is Uraraka okay?"

"Yes," he answered as he looked around at his classmates, none of them had spotted her yet. "After the incident last month she developed Claustrophobia, which she kept hidden from everyone but Jiro."

"I'm sorry, if I had kno-" he cut her off.

"Its not your fault. No one knew." He offered her a small smile, which she returned. They watched the match in quiet, or at least he did, he caught her watching his class.

"Your class is amazing."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, most people would be scared if villains came after them, but every time the villains target you guys you just get stronger. All in our class except for Monoma voted for you to represent us. We knew if anyone had the potential to be great, it's you Midoriya." There was a cheer and Todoroki was announced the winner. "Go, prove that we are following the right person."

Izuku's next match was quick. Iida was faster than before, but Izuku was faster. He made it into the finals as he beat Tokoyami, who had won against Kendo. Bakugo had destroyed Pony, and managed to beat Todoroki by surprise, earning his place in the finals.

As Izuku and Bakugo walked into the ring to the roar of the stadium Izuku knew this match was the deciding factor. This would change how Bakugo viewed him, if he was viewed as underneath him, or as an equal. This was a match he couldn't lose.

The next couple of days saw dozens of pictures from the sports festival were added to the wall, but several stood out over the others. There was Midoriya sitting on the floor of the common space, a mound of candy surrounding him. Next to that was the results of the sports festival. Sharing the third place podium were Todoroki and Tokoyami. On the second place podium was Bakugo, he had accepted second place but it didn't mean he liked it. He was glaring at Midoriya, who was on the first place podium, his triumphant smile was blinding. It had been a close match but in the end Midoriya had won. Under that photo was a news article covering the festival, and Midoriya's speech had made the front page. For weeks all everyone could talk about was Izuku Midoriya; Symbol of Hope.