Chapter 15 - Viva La Sports Festival!
Classes at U.A. were canceled for the rest of the week, after which, most of those who were injured at USJ recovered, but, the shock which some of the students suffered on the other hand, was not recovered from so easily.
Even so, things resumed to normal once the break ended.
"Everyone!" Ida shouted, "Morning homeroom is about to start, please return to your seats!"
"We're all sitting but you, dude…" Kirishima muttered, as from the door came none other than Shota Aizawa, wearing bandages on every part of his body.
"Morning." Aizawa stated casually, as though nothing was wrong, as he returned to his seat.
"Glad to see you're doing alright, sensei!" Kaminari shouted.
"Can you really call that doing 'alright'?" Jiro questioned.
"My welfare isn't important… because your fight is far from over!" Aizawa stated, as the students of Class 1-A's faces noticeably tensed up, "The U.A. Sports Festival is fast approaching!"
All tension was immediately alleviated, as Ida quickly asked,
"Mr. Aizawa, is it really okay to hold the Sports Festival right after the USJ villain attack?!"
"It's not our decision." Aizawa stated, "It was practically forced upon us due to the World Government, after all, they're looking for every excuse to shut us down."
"Huh?!" the shocked Sero questioned, "Why do they wanna shut down U.A?"
"Officially at least, because of our lax teaching styles not falling in line with official protocol." Aizawa noted, obviously hiding something about the whole debacle, "Compared to the past, we'll have five times the police presence… so don't worry about security. Anyhow, this is the greatest chance you'll get to show yourself to the world. Not an event which can be canceled due to a few villains."
"The hell's the big deal about some school's Sports Festival?" Ryuko inquired, having never had time to watch big events like the Sports Festival in her childhood.
"Ryuko… are you telling me you've never seen the U.A. Sports Festival?!" Momo asked, absolutely shocked.
"Our Sports Festival is one of the largest events in all of Japan!" Aizawa shouted, clearly having taken note of Ryuko's inquiry, "Beyond that, it reaches millions on a global scale every year… it's a showcase of just what the greatest hero nation's future heroes will look like!"
"All of the nation's top heroes will be watching!" Izuku explained to Chopper, who had asked a similar question to Ryuko earlier, "They'll be there as scouts for potential sidekicks after graduation!"
"Why would you wanna be a sidekick?" Chopper questioned.
"Well, it's sort of like a pirate crew in a way," Izuku explained to Chopper, "And even if you don't want to remain a sidekick, it's a good way to gain popularity and experience."
"A pirate crew… what an odd metaphor." Aizawa thought, suspicious of just why Izuku knew about pirate crews, and not forgetting about his usage of Shave, "Your time is limited, however. Show the pros what you're made of, and you'll make a future for yourself."
All the students of Class 1-A were excited, as the Sports Festival marked their first chance to be seen as true heroes.
"This happens once a year, so you'll have three chances during your time at U.A." Aizawa stated, "If you're hoping to become a hero, this is an event you can't miss!"
"Only an hour?!" Izuku loudly stated, shocked.
"Yes… My time limit's getting shorter and shorter by the day," All Might, in his true form, stated calmly, "I can barely maintain my muscle form for over an hour."
Izuku and All Might were sitting in a well kept room together, which acted as the teacher's lounge for U.A. High. Very few staff used it, however, so All Might and Izuku were guaranteed peace and quiet during their conversations. All Might sat on a couch, while meanwhile, Izuku sat on a stool directly on the opposite side from All Might.
"Then it's that bad…" Izuku muttered, realizing that him being transferred All Might's quirk months prior likely had something to do with this, "Sorr-"
"Don't apologize!" All Might interjected, "We're so alike, you and I!"
All Might then refocused his attention, "What I really want to talk to you about, on the other hand, is the Sports Festival."
"The Sports Festival…" Izuku questioned, thinking hard on what to say next, "What about it?"
"My time as the Symbol of Peace is running out… and among those with villainous intent, some have started to realize that." All Might explained, "I granted you my power to succeed me! And since the entire country, no, the entire world is watching this event… it's the perfect opportunity for you to tell the world… 'I AM HERE!'"
Izuku paused briefly, a pause which All Might questioned the intent of.
"All Might…" Izuku began, "I'm not saying I won't… but, I was thinking… will my future even be in Japan?"
All Might looked at Izuku, having his own brief pause, before stating, "You're thinking about what we saw on Sabaody, yes?"
"Yeah…" Izuku stated, "Quite honestly… I still think about that day regularly. Slavery, murder, and other crimes which we deem completely immoral in our modern society... they were being accepted there without question. The people living in the Grand Line, I think they need a hero... a symbol, like you."
All Might's face remained neutral upon listening to his successor. On one hand, the fact that he was worrying about this was proof that he was worthy to become the successor of One for All. On the other hand, it was also too deep a burden for the fifteen year old Izuku to handle.
"You know… I've returned to Sabaody many times since we first went there." All Might revealed, shocking Izuku.
"B-but All Might! Isn't that…"
"Having similar thoughts to you, I felt it was my duty, illegal as it may be." All Might proclaimed, as Izuku sat back once more, listening to All Might's continuation, "And the people on the Grand Line may not be as in need of saving as we both believe… for as I've heard from Shakky, there are entire armies dedicated to overthrowing the World Government's rule of tyranny, with members in such armies being far stronger than even us."
Izuku's eyes grew wider, and a drop of sweat could be seen forming on his face, as he still wasn't used to there being people who could match All Might's strength. All Might then breathed in, preparing the next part of his speech.
"Don't underestimate the strength of the Seven Continents either, Young Midoriya." All Might stated, "I'm sure there will come a day when we'll have to reveal what lies below us, but before that day comes, you must first become as strong as possible… and the Sports Festival is a stepping stone in that journey… Do you understand?"
Izuku nodded his head, enthusiastically saying, "Yes sir!"
"So then… be ready to show the world that you'll lead a new wave of heroes!"
Back in Class 1-A, at the very end of the day…
"What's going on?" Uraraka shouted, as she was attempting to leave school for the day, only to see a horde of students crowded outside of Class 1-A.
"Seems they're here to scout out the class that fought against real villains, I guess." Ida stated, mildly bitter due to his lack of contribution during the USJ incident.
"Makes sense they'd want to look before the Sports Festival. Can't say I see the point though." Bakugo stated nonchalantly, "Now move aside! This place ain't a zoo attraction!"
"Wow… so you're the type of person they let into the Hero Course?" an unknown person said, making their way through the crowd.
"Oh?" Bakugo curiously and furiously stated, his eyes welling up with rage at the audacity of whoever just spoke.
"Gotta say, I expected better." the boy stated, revealing himself to have wild, purple hair, tired eyes which had bags under them, and an overall basic stature, "Did you know… that those of us who didn't make it into the Hero Course are stuck in general studies and other paths?"
"And we care because?" Ryuko said, who had also gotten up, prepared to leave.
"Depending on the results of the Sports Festival, they might consider transferring some of us to the hero course." the purple haired boy stated, smirking as he said his next statement, "If you didn't know, the reverse is also possible for you."
Bakugo scoffed.
"For a general studies kid like me…" the boy with dark eye bags began, "This'll be the perfect chance to knock you off your pedestals. Consider this a declaration of war."
"Wow… how hero-like of you." Ryuko said, a smile on her face as she did.
"Consider it what you will, it's simply what I think."
The purple haired boy, finishing his speech, then returned to the crowd… but as he did, another figure appeared. He had silver, seemingly gray hair, and around his eyes were scraps of a beige material, which came together to look like a mask of sorts. He wore a furious, yet manly look on his face, and carried his own declaration of war.
"Hey, I'm from Class 1-B, next door!" he shouted with intensity, "Heard you guys fought some villains and I wanted to find out some more, but all I'm seeing is this arrogant bastard!"
On top of the boy's head was another student, who was incredibly short. His quirk made his hair look like average-sized, purple balls, and he wore an average, yet lustful expression on his face.
"Yeah! Move over, you scruffy bastard, we wanna see the chick!" he shouted, but before he could say any more, he was hit in the face with a can of beans, and fell off Tetsutetsu.
"You best not make fools of the hero course at this thing!" Tetsutetsu ironically stated to Bakugo, considering what had just transpired on top of his head.
Everyone in Class 1-A stared at Bakugo, as it was odd how he remained so quiet, even after so many threats. Continuing to not saying a word, Bakugo simply shoved his way straight through everyone who was at the door, shouting,
"I don't give a crap what you extras think!" Bakugo shouted, "I'm heading for the top… so I don't have time to waste with losers who spend their time gawking at me!"
"So straight-forwards and manly…" Kirishima expressed, tears seemingly welling up in his eyes.
"Hmph. He's not wrong." Tokoyami uttered.
Izuku watched Bakugo, admiring his courage and resolve... if there was anyone who had the right to say the things he was saying, it was undoubtedly him.
Two weeks flew by in the blink of an eye, as the day of the Sports Festival arrived. Pro heroes, spectators, even news and film crews all arrived outside of U.A. Academy, simply to watch the event which was about to unfold.
Given that they're the most experienced group, the third year event within U.A. High usually ends up the most popular group within the Sports Festival. However, due to the villain attack on their class, all eyes were on the first years this time, or more specifically, Class 1-A.
"Is everyone ready?! The event is soon to begin!" Ida shouted at his classmates, who were in the preparation room, waiting for the Sports Festival to begin.
"Jeez…" Izuku muttered, "It's a shame we can't wear our costumes in this event, seeing as mine was just fixed…"
"I know, right?" Ryuko added, "I wanna wear my badass new costume, yet here I am stuck with the same old uniform as anyone else."
"Midoriya." Todoroki interjected, interrupting Izuku and Ryuko's conversation, and alerting everyone in the class.
"What is it, Todoroki?" Izuku questioned.
"All Might… he's got his eye on you, doesn't he?" Todoroki questioned, as Izuku gulped in response, not liking where this line of questioning was going, "Now I'm not about to pry into why that is, but… I will beat you."
"Wow… a declaration of war between two of the strongest in the class…" the stunned Kaminari muttered.
"Now, now! Now's not the time for picking fights-" Ida attempted to preach, but he was stopped by Izuku putting an arm in front of Ida, as Izuku was ready to respond.
"So… this is all because of my connection with All Might, then?" Izuku surmised, as Todoroki simply nodded in response, also stating,
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I didn't pry into your connections, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't pry into mine."
This statement raised an eyebrow of Izuku metaphorically, and Ryuko literally, as both saw that Todoroki was hiding something. Izuku awkwardly smirked.
"I'm afraid I can't return your declaration, Todoroki." Izuku began, as Todoroki maintained a deadpan expression, "But I will tell you this: if you only see me as a stand-in for All Might, then, you'll lose when we fight."
Todoroki remained silent momentarily, "We'll see about that."
"WELCOME ALL TO THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL!" Present Mic announced through a loudspeaker, "AN EVENT WHERE YOU GET TO SEE JAPAN'S FUTURE BEST OF THE BEST COMPETE IN A BATTLE ROYALE, ALL TO SHOW OFF THE TALENT OF THESE FINE UPSTARTS!"
Present Mic then turned his attention to the students, "FIRST UP, GET READY FOR THE CLASS THAT BRUSHED OFF A VILLAIN ATTACK WITH THEIR STRENGTH AND WILLPOWER ALONE! YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT… IT'S CLASS 1-A!"
As Present Mic said this, the students of Class 1-A walked out into the stadium. Each walked with purpose and vigor, confident and ready to face the battle that laid before them.
"Tell the world… 'I AM HERE!'" Izuku recalled All Might saying to him once he walked out on the pitch. Upon hearing the cheers of so many in the crowd, Izuku couldn't help but muster an awkward smile, thinking, "I will, All Might!"
"I can't believe just how many people are here…" the awestruck Chopper proclaimed, his mouth open in shock.
"Yeah…" the additionally awestruck Mina, who was behind Chopper, chimed in, before changing her tone to one of excitement, "But if we're gonna be heroes… I suppose we're gonna have to get used to this!"
"Yeah!" Chopper replied, matching Mina's enthusiasm.
"They're giving us too much credit…" Kirishima nervously communicated to Bakugo, who he was right behind, "But we won't let it shake us… right Bakugo?"
"Nope. Just gets me pumped up." Bakugo, smiling maniacally, stated.
"FOLLOWING, YOU CAN SEE THE HEROES OF CLASS B, THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT WITH CLASSES C, D, AND E, THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPPORT WITH CLASSES F, G, AND H, AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THERE'S THE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WITH CLASSES I, J, AND K!" Present Mic enthusiastically stated, though the classes introduced were upset with their lackluster introduction compared to Class 1-A; the class was already a target.
"Now for the athlete's oath!" the R-Rated Hero, Midnight, yelled out, "Now calling your student representative to the stand, Bakugo, from Class 1-A!"
"Is that the best idea?" Tsuyu questioned.
"Let's just hope he'll behave himself." Uraraka stated, eyes shut and preparing for the worst already.
"The athlete's oath…" Bakugo stated, as he got up on stage, preparing himself to make a speech. Bakugo took a deep breath in, and began.
"First things first, if any of you extras think that you can sit at the top… then let me tell you now, you aren't gonna be able to." Bakugo stated, enraging the other classes in an instant, "It takes power and will to get far in anything, this event included."
Bakugo then continued.
"So if you don't take this event seriously, and aren't aiming to get first place right from the get go… you won't." Bakugo stated, then smirking, "Make no mistake about it though… none of you are going to be the ones who snag that first place spot."
Bakugo then walked down off the stage, as the school erupted into fury at Bakugo's speech.
"Kacchan… he's changed a lot." Izuku noted, as Bakugo bumped shoulders with him, "He still radiated his usual confidence… but that speech… it was also meant to reassure all of us who trained... wasn't it?"
"Now, without any delay…" Midnight shouted, "Let's get the first event started!"
"Jeez, everything's just so fast around here!" Ojiro muttered, but the person to his side, Todoroki, didn't seem much interested in conversation.
"These are the qualifiers! It's in this stage that so many are sent home crying every year!" Midnight shouted, as the students watched on in anticipation, "And the first event this year seems to be… this!"
And on the screen appeared a bit of text, which said, 'Free For All: Dodgebands'.
"Dodge… bands?" Izuku questioned.
"It's a Free-For-All battle against every member of all eleven classes!" Midnight explained, "Every student will be given three headbands! The Top 40 who have the most headbands will win the event!"
"Only… forty?" Uraraka questioned nervously.
"There will be a minimum headband requirement of six in order to qualify!" Midnight explained, "And of course, our school preaches freedom in all things… so as long as you don't cause severe damage to competitors, then anything is fair game!"
The members of U.A. Academy's first year roster stood together in an open field, as each of them was prepared to take on the Sports Festival.
"Crap…" Ryuko thought, "I didn't think about it until now, but everyone's probably got super-awesome quirks that they can flex on this thing… but I don't even have my Scissor Blade! I gotta think of something…"
"STUDENTS! TO YOUR POSITIONS!" Present Mic shouted, as Ryuko was shocked by just how fast the event started, as Present Mic's next words rang in her ears, "THREE… TWO… ONE… GO!"
Suddenly, in an instant, everyone blitzed their way into action.
"Deku! I'm so gonna kick your ass in this thing, alright?!" Bakugo yelled over at the boy, smiling as he did so.
"Is that a challenge?!" Izuku shouted back, returning his own smile to Bakugo.
The pair was quickly attacked by both vines and a pair of horns belonging to Ibara Shiozaki and Pony Tsunotori respectively. Izuku and Bakugo both smirked at this opportunity.
"Then, whoever gets more points wins?" Izuku questioned, back to back with Bakugo and face to face with Ibara Shiozaki.
"Bring it on, damned nerd." Bakugo replied back, face to face with Pony Tsunotori.
The pair then both rocketed off to face their respective former assailants.
Meanwhile, Ryuko faced her own struggle, currently face to face with none other than Tony Tony Chopper.
"Hey, bastard! The hell do you think you're doing?!" Ryuko said, having just dodged a blow from Chopper, who was in his surprisingly strong Brain Point form, and fighting against Ryuko.
"No point in talking to him." the same purple haired boy who came to declare war on Class 1-A earlier stated, having already amassed several headbands, "He's been brainwashed by me. Really makes your blood boil, doesn't it?"
Ryuko remained silent, dodging a blow from Chopper in the meantime, who just launched a flying kick at her.
"Oh, you're one of those cautious types, eh?"
Ryuko continued to remain silent, as she thought,
"Shit! How the hell's Chopper this strong even without any of his damn transformations?!" Ryuko thought, as she was hit solidly by an open palm (hoove?) strike from Chopper unexpectedly, being launched back a solid amount, but this wouldn't stop her, as she continued to think, "Either way… fighting against this guy here and now ain't gonna get me any points! It's probably best I scram!"
Ryuko then rushed away, as Chopper was to go after her, but the purple haired boy stopped him.
"No need to chase after her. We've got more promising targets in our sights."
Throughout the event, hundreds of battles were taking place just like the one between Ryuko and Chopper, as the over two hundred first years of U.A. High battled it out with all of their might!
"You know," Kaminari began, with his fellow classmates, Mina Ashido and Rikido Sato beside him, "If we're backed up in a corner like this… you guys down to team up?"
"You're asking that now?!" Mina joked with a smile.
"Of course we're a team!" Sato smiled.
Suddenly, a group of approximately 15 students from outside the hero course, who had previously surrounded the trio, began their assault on them.
Mina was the first to jump into action, as she skated forwards and splashed acid on the legs of the approaching mob, temporarily staggered the seven or so at the front. Kaminari then followed up by running through the stunned crowd, shocking them with electricity, and knocking them out.
One of the remaining seven tried to get the jump on Kaminari, but Sato was able to get them away with a strong shoulder bash.
"Six more!" Sato shouted, looking behind himself after his shoulder bash at the six remaining, who seemed terrified at the mere thought of fighting the trio. They tried to run away, but suddenly, an array of purple, sticky balls flew out of nowhere, trapping the six students in place, with their headbands free for the taking.
"Hey." a voice began, drawing the attention of the aforementioned trio, "You all seem pretty strong… and I'm feeling merciful today. What do you say we team up?"
"Woah… those were your moves, pervert dude?" Mina asked, referring to his antics two weeks ago.
"WHA-"
"Not bad at all!" Sato added, "Back about two weeks ago, I was questioning how you even got into the hero course… but now, I see."
"YOU KNOW I CAN HEAR YOU, RIGHT?!"
"Don't worry pal!" Kaminari said, looking at Mineta, "Your perverted antics are fine here with me!"
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER!"
"HOHOHOHOHOHO!" a menacing pink haired girl wearing goggles maniacally shouted, as one of her inventions shot cables out of it, "This here baby of mine automatically detects the fabric which are in the headbands we need to get, and automatically grabs them. It's an invention which could completely revolutionize hero rescue operations!"
The girl had been boasting like such during the entire event, as her focus in it wasn't primarily getting just getting a high placement in the event, but it was to showcase her 'babies', or inventions.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ryuko continuously dodged and weaved from the claws at the end of a collection of cables which flew out to try and attack her.
"These inventions are a pain in my ass!" Ryuko angrily stated, quickly backflipping in order to avoid a claw, then being forced to dodge another shortly after landing, "They aren't even targeting any headbands… just the clothes on the competitors!"
Sure enough, the invention Ryuko was referring to was in fact doing just that. Since the headbands the competitors were wearing were made out of the same material that the U.A. uniforms were made out of, they were being grabbed by the machine instead of the headbands!
"Crap… and it seems like people are taking advantage of this situation!" Ryuko thought.
Notably, Ibara Shiozaki, who was noticeably missing her own headbands, as well as Hanta Sero were both taking advantage of the chaos and their own mobility to steal some of the headbands that the mad inventor wasn't taking from captured students, netting them far more than enough points to qualify.
"I've only got my three headbands here… I need three more to reach the next round!" Ryuko thought, as she was forced to dodge yet another one of the claws from the inventor's machine, "But first… I might wanna get outta here!"
"Who to go to next…" the purple haired boy questioned, thinking aloud with an army of about fifteen students at his disposal, before an explosion caught an eye in the corner of his vision, and he smirked, "Ah… that kid from before."
The boy then slowly walked towards the carnage as Bakugo, in a mad scramble to get as many points as possible, was currently facing off against the four man team of Minoru Mineta, Denki Kaminari, Mina Ashido, and Rikido Sato. Currently, he had stolen five of their headbands, but he was thirsty for the rest of them.
"Hey…" the purple haired boy began, before being interrupted,
"SHUT UP, EXTRA!" Bakugo shouted, as he aimed an explosion at the boy. He simply snapped his fingers, as Chopper got in front of him, blocking the explosion.
"That's not very nice." the boy said, smiling, "Why don't we introduce ourselves? My name's Hitoshi Shinso, and yours?"
"Let's run!" Mina shouted, as Bakugo furiously looked over at Shinso, not interested in his questioning, but being distracted by it nonetheless.
"Yeah! That guy's too scary!" Mineta cried, as the group ran off.
"Hey, get back here!" Bakugo shouted back over, but he was forced to dodge a blow from Chopper, "Damned reindeer!"
"Oh? It seems they escaped!" Shinso noted.
"DAMN RIGHT THEY DID!" Bakugo shouted… and afterwards… nothing happened?!
"The hell? He should have been brainwashed by now… maybe I have to ask a more specific question?" Shinso thought, as he then tried to say, "So-"
"Say… you seem to have a lot of headbands then, eh?" Bakugo stated, looking over to Shinso sadistically.
"Of course… you want to take them from me?" Shinso asked, "That should work…"
Without warning, Bakugo used two explosions to rocket himself, as he flashed a grin on his face.
"Take your mind control…" Bakugo began, as he shot an explosion from under himself, getting behind Shinso, who was only prepared to protect his headbands from the front, "AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!"
Bakugo then quickly stole a horde of headbands from Shinso, shocking the boy.
"You… knew?!" Shinso questioned, shocked. Bakugo quickly smirked in response, and then flipped Shinso off. The purple-haired boy was angered, "CHOP-"
Before Shinso could even deliver an order, Bakugo was right in front of him.
"T-too fast!"
"You mess with the bull…" Bakugo stated, as he quickly shot his palms forwards towards the purple-haired boy, "YOU GET THE HORNS!"
Bakugo then shot a massive explosion at Shinso, shooting him backwards.
"H-how?!" Shinso questioned, as he was knocked out from the blow… but not a moment too late. The battle was over… but let's step back.
"There's nobody here… or here either!" Ryuko repeated to herself, until suddenly, she quickly dodged a massive bit of ice that appeared on the floor below her, as she was face to face with none other than Shoto Todoroki, indiscriminately attacking anyone, regardless of their personal relations to him… and now, he had set his eyes on Ryuko.
"Crap!" Ryuko shouted, as Todoroki shot a wall of ice in her direction, which she only narrowly dodged, "Gotta ru-"
Before she finished, Ryuko stopped, standing her ground against Todoroki.
"What's the matter?" Todoroki stated, staring at Ryuko, "Aren't you gonna run? I'm stronger than you."
"He's not wrong…" Ryuko thought, clenching her fist, "I don't even have my Scissor Blade but… but!"
Ryuko then launched towards Todoroki, which didn't even seem to phase the boy. He then launched a quick, thin wall of ice towards Ryuko, which she sidestepped, predicting the endeavor.
"But…!"
Todoroki then tried to use another short ice wall, but unfortunately, Ryuko was too close now. She jumped upwards up onto the wall, disallowing Todoroki's method of attack. She was right in Todoroki's face, and there was a certain fire in her eyes… a fire which Todoroki instinctively reacted to, blocking her approach with a pillar of ice quickly, which shot Ryuko up into the air alongside it.
"But…!"
Ryuko was now in the sky, but even so, she didn't give up, quickly jumping off the ice wall. In order to stall her momentum, she jammed her fingers inside of the ice wall she was falling on. Todoroki, seeing Ryuko's progress, simply boxed himself into a barrier of ice to stop her approach… the first round was going to end soon anyways, and he had plenty of headbands.
"But even if this is stupid… I've run away enough!"
Ryuko then took her fingers out of the ice, despite still being at a decent height. Pushing her fist back, she screamed, and once she reached Todoroki's ice box, she lunged her fist forwards, using the momentum from the fall to generate a powerful punch which caused Todoroki's ice box to completely shatter, her fist to bleed, and for shock to enter into Todoroki's face.
"If I don't do this now…" Ryuko thought, as she lunged her other hand forwards to grab Todoroki's headbands, "THEN WHEN WILL I?!"
A brief fire appeared in Todoroki's own eyes… the compulsion to use the left side of his quirk to stop Ryuko from approaching him now sparking stronger than ever before… not only to stop her, but to see just how far she'd go in order to win this battle… but…
"No." Todoroki thought, "I can't."
Todoroki then quickly used another ice wall right below Ryuko, sending the girl skyrocketing up yet again before her assault could continue.
"AND THE FIRST ROUND HAS BEEN COMPLETED!" Present Mic shouted, as Ryuko breathed heavily from up at the top of Todoroki's ice wall, having only a bleeding fist to show for it.
"Well…" Ryuko stated, as she looked at her unbruised hand which contained four additional headbands besides the ones she was wearing, "I could've probably gone about that a better way… but… whatever…"
FINAL RANKING:
1. Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo (2-way tie)
3. Hitoshi Shinso
4. Shoto Todoroki
5. Juzo Honenuki
6. Ibara Shiozaki
7. Fumikage Tokoyami and Itsuka Kendo (2-way tie)
9. Hanta Sero
10. Tsuyu Asui
11. Mezo Shoji, Tenya Ida and Momo Yaoyorozu (3-way tie)
14. Koji Koda
15. Shihai Kuroiro
16. Ejiro Kirishima and Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu (2-way tie)
18. Ochaco Uraraka
19. Kyoka Jiro
20. Toru Hagakure
21. Reiko Yanagi
22. Mei Hatsume and Mashirao Ojiro (2-way tie)
24. Nirengeki Shoda
25. Minoru Mineta, Denki Kaminari, Mina Ashido, and Rikido Sato (4-way tie)
29. Kosei Tsuburaba, Yosetsu Awase, Yui Kodai, Hiryu Rin, Ryuko Matoi (5-way tie)
34. Setsuna Tokage, Togaru Kamakiri, Kojiro Bondo, Neito Monoma, Kinoko Komori, Jurota Shishida (6-way tie)
AUTHORS NOTE:
Wow, that chapter went by fast... and, yeah! The first round of the Sports Festival is already done, and also isn't the same race from the canon storyline! I figured it'd be slightly more interesting to put my own original spin on the preliminary rounds of the Sports Festival than to retread old ground, plus, I don't think the Obstacle Course or Cavalry Battle will be quite as fun in this story without Midoriya at the helm of them, seeing as Midoriya is about as strong as he was in the Shie Hassaikai Arc currently.
This chapter marks the first occasion that Ryuko takes on the main character role in the story, as Chapter 15 and 16 (before the 1 on 1 battles) will primarily focus on her exploits within the first and second round of the Sports Festival.
Kill La Kill will begin to have more influence over the plotline of the main story, though, it still won't outshine My Hero Academia nor One Piece's role until about two sagas from now (not arcs), where my version of Kill La Kill's main storyline will kick off.
I hope you all stick with the story until that point!
Here's some trivia about the placements of some of the characters:
- Hagakure was on track to be in the Top 10, but she tried and failed to steal a group of headbands from Itsuka Kendo, causing her to have her headbands stolen and be forced to work her way up from zero.
On the other hand, Itsuka Kendo actually also got half of her points from Hagakure, allowing her to score eighth place.
- Koda actually did surprisingly well in this event due to using animals to steal from other competitors without them even knowing.
- This also isn't trivia but I found it funny and put Ryuko below, 'Hiryu Rin' (pronounce it here-you-ree-n)
- As mentioned, there are over 200 competitors in the first round of the Sports Festival. Here's how the scoring worked for who were the 40 chosen competitors:
- First off, points scored was the first and most basic metric taken into account. If you had below a score of 6, you'd be ineligible to be considered.
Izuku and Bakugo got a little less than 40 points each
Shinso got about 28 points. He would've still had less than Bakugo if he didn't have his stolen by him; he'd have about 35, and Bakugo would've finished off Kaminari's four man squad, still rendering him tied with Deku in the end.
Todoroki got about 26 points, but had 31 before four were stolen by Ryuko
This didn't happen, but if it was needed, then the total headbands gained (including those that were lost) would be taken into account to tie-break.
Further tie-breaks would be settled with a simple arm wrestling match, 50m race, or a math question, which would be randomly decided.
You're lucky I didn't make Todoroki say, "What's the matter? Got cold feet?" to Ryuko… oml that pun game would have been immaculate (there are so many good puns with him…). I even thought of doing it again while editing this chapter!.. Not for the final edit though, only for the first edit.