Class 1-B gathered near their section of the arena, the energy between them crackling like a live wire.
"Monoma, your throat okay?" Kendo asked, looking at the blond who was rubbing his neck.
"I'll live." He cackled despite the discomfort. "A small price to pay for making Class 1-A look like COMPLETE losers on national television."
Kendo chopped him on the back of the head. "Don't start."
"I'm just saying, not starting anything."
"How does the copied version treat you?" Manga asked, handing him his water bottle.
"Worse than it treats you. Every word burned more than the last. I have no idea how you do this all day."
"Built different." Manga answered. A flexing emoji popped up.
"Shiozaki, YOU stole that rude kid's headband!" Tetsutetsu turned to her, eyes wide with admiration. "That was insane! He didn't even see it coming!"
Shiozaki folded her hands. "I must confess, I feel conflicted about the manner in which I obtained it. Stealing, even in competition, doesn't sit well with my conscience."
"It's literally the point of the game, girl." Kamakiri said.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways," she replied, closing her eyes. "Perhaps this was His will."
"You're telling me God wanted you to steal that guy’s headband?" Tsuburaba raised an eyebrow.
"Who are we to question His plan?"
"I'm not questioning God, I'm questioning YOU."
Awase leaned against Honenuki's shoulder. "Dude, your ground softening was clutch. That pink chick sank like a rock."
"That was the idea," Honenuki said. Then he paused. "I do feel a little bad. She screamed pretty loud."
"She was fine," Awase waved it off. "Tetsutetsu, though. Slamming into that hard kid from 1-A like that? I felt the ground shake from across the field."
"HE FELT IT TOO!" Tetsutetsu was still running on pure adrenaline. "That dude's quirk is no joke! It was like hitting a wall! A wall that hits back!"
"You enjoyed it way too much." Rin chuckled.
"I enjoyed it the EXACT right amount!"
"Kuroiro," Kaibara called over. "How many headbands did your team grab?"
Kuroiro held up three headbands draped over his arm like scarves. "The shadows provided."
"He literally appeared behind the earphones girl and she screamed," Tsuburaba said, grinning. "I thought she was going to earphone-jack him into orbit."
"She tried," Bondo added quietly. "I had to glue the ground behind us so she couldn't chase."
"Good thinking, Bondo!" Pony patted his massive arm. "You were amazing!"
Bondo's face-holes flushed slightly. "Th-thank you."
"Tokage-san," Shishida adjusted his glasses. "Your scouting during the battle was excellent. You had eyes on every team simultaneously, if I'm not mistaken."
"Hmph, it was nothing." Tokage said, inspecting her fingernails with a sharp grin. "Eyes in the sky. Nobody could sneak up on our team the entire match."
"That's so awesome." Tsuburaba said.
"Thank you. Thank you."
"Team Pony did their share too!" Pony bounced on her hooves. "Shishida was throwing people around! And Rin's scales were flying everywhere! And Kamakiri was cutting through everything!"
"You literally carried me over a frozen section of the field on your horns," Kamakiri said. "While I was cutting headbands off people we flew past. That was the coolest thing I've ever done."
"Right?!" Pony beamed.
"I said it was cool, don't make it weird."
"TOO LATE! We're horn-and-blade besties now!"
Kamakiri looked away. He didn't deny it.
Shoda walked over from the other side of the arena, where Shinso's team had been standing. His expression was complicated.
"Shoda, how'd your team do?" Kendo asked gently.
"We... accumulated some headbands." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But I honestly can't remember how. I think Shinso's quirk might have been involved? Everything gets fuzzy after he asked me a question at the start."
"He used his quirk on you?" Tetsutetsu wondered.
"I think so? I'm not sure. Is that bad?"
"Wait, he used his quirk and made you be his teammate?"
“I don’t know. I think so…”
“That’s messed up dude. Want me to go give him a piece our mind?” Tetsutetsu smashed his fist into his hand.
“I’ll help out.” Kamakiri appeared by his side.
“No. No. It’s okay guys. Just try to avoid him if you can.” Shoda calmed them down. Like if maybe the guy just asked him normally, he may have said yes. But whatever his quirk did that made him listen to him… He wasn’t a fan of it.
"So, ten million. Not a scratch." Tokage turned to Manga, arms crossed, green eyes narrowed.
"That was the plan."
"You barely did anything."
"That was also the plan." A smiley face appeared in his bubble.
"Must be nice, sitting on top while everyone else fights your battles."
"My team fought my battles. I just sat there looking pretty."
"You can't even see your own face."
"I can feel how pretty I am."
She punched his arm. Not gently. "Don't think this changes our bet. You placed higher in the cavalry, sure. But this isn't the end yet."
"Looking forward to it."
"You should be scared."
"I'm terrified." Manga lied with a funny emoji.
Their eyes held for a second longer than the conversation required. Tokage broke it first, turning back to Kendo with a toss of her green hair.
"Alright, everyone!" Kendo clapped her enlarged hands together, the sound cracking across the group. "Three of the four advancing teams are ours! Eight Class 1-B students in the tournament bracket! This is the best showing our class has EVER had!"
"PLUS ULTRA!" Tetsutetsu roared.
"PLUS ULTRA!" The class echoed.
From across the field, Bakugo Katsuki watched twenty students from Class 1-B celebrate together.
His teeth ground.
His fists clenched.
He was going to destroy every single one of those bastards.
Lunch was a mess and it felt like a reward.
Class 1-B filled their usual long table and the conversation ran in ten directions at once. Post-battle breakdowns mixed with food reviews mixed with tournament speculation. Tetsutetsu was eating enough rice for three people. Kamakiri was stealing Awase's side dishes. Monoma ate with one hand and nursed his throat with the other, his voice slightly hoarse.
Manga sat in the middle of it all, talking loudly and energetically, his bubble cycling through emojis.
Around him, the class was already picking apart the bracket possibilities.
"Eight of us in the finals," Honenuki said, counting on his fingers. "Assuming the format is one-on-one, that's almost guaranteed that at least one 1-B student reaches the semi-finals. Maybe two."
"I'm reaching the finals," Tetsutetsu declared through a mouthful of rice. "I don't care who I have to fight."
"What if you fight Manga?" Kaibara asked.
Tetsutetsu paused mid-chew. Swallowed. "Then I fight Manga."
"You'll lose."
"THEN I'LL LOSE LIKE A MAN!"
"That's the spirit." Kendo laughed.
"I’m ready to kick some ass!" Awase said.
The hour passed too fast. They cleaned their trays, stretched their legs, and headed back to the arena.
Fireworks cracked overhead. Cheerleaders in red, white, and blue were doing routines on the field, their pom-poms catching the afternoon light.
"Before we get to the final event, I've got good news for all those out of the running! This is a sports festival, so we've prepared recreational activities for all participants! We even shipped in cheerleaders from America to get you pumped up!" Present Mic announced. "Hmm? What's this?"
"What are they doing?" Aizawa narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"Class 1-A is dressed as cheerleaders as well for some reason! Well anyway, hope everyone enjoys this little recreational competition! Once that's over, we're on to the final event! Between the sixteen members of the four winning teams, we'll have a formal tournament! A series of one-on-one battles!" Present Mic told everyone.
"A tournament, huh? So we'll be up in that ring I see on TV every year!"
"Was it a tournament last year too?"
"The format's always different, but most years involve some kind of head-to-head competition."
"The matchups will be decided by drawing lots. Once that's settled, we'll move on to the festivities and then the tournament itself!" Midnight shook a box labeled 'Lots'. "It's up to each of you sixteen finalists whether or not you participate in the fun. I expect some of you would rather take a breather and save your strength. Now let's start with the first-place team..."
"Um, excuse me. I'd like to drop out."
Komori raised her hand. The arena went quiet around her. She stood there in her PE uniform, her eyes hidden beneath her bangs, her voice small but certain.
Yanagi and Kodai raised their hands beside her.
"What, why?!" Rin asked with concern.
"At the final march?! Come on, girls!" Pony questioned.
"My quirk isn't really suited for the final event." Komori scratched her cheek with a blush. "And I'm pretty sure Yanagi-chan and Kodai-chan feel similar."
“I do not prefer the spotlight. It is too scary.” Yanagi explained.
“Mm.” Kodai was fine making it this far.
"We have a strange turn of events! What will the coordinator, Midnight, decide?" Present Mic wanted to know.
Midnight studied the three girls. Komori met her gaze despite the blush. Yanagi's hands dangled at her sides. Kodai stood perfectly still.
"How logical and reasonable..." Midnight suddenly cracked the air with her flogger. "I LIKE IT!! Yanagi, Kodai, and Komori have officially withdrawn! Replacing those three will be members of Team Todoroki, which took fifth!"
A ripple of conversation ran through the 1-A section. Heads turned. Discussions happened in hushed voices.
"So be it! Ida, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu bring us back up to sixteen competitors!"
Kendo looked at the three girls who'd stepped down. Komori was already retreating toward the stands with a wave. Yanagi drifted after her. Kodai walked with her hands at her sides, expression unchanged.
"As long as you do what you feel is right." Kendo said quietly.
Komori heard her. She turned and smiled and then disappeared into the crowd.
"Here are the matchups!" Midnight pointed to the screen as it lit up.
The bracket filled in.
Manga vs Tokage
Todoroki vs Sero
Monoma vs Shiozaki
Ida vs Mei Hatsume
Honenuki vs Ashido
Kendo vs Yaoyorozu
Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu
Bakugo vs Awase
The arena buzzed. Sixteen names. Eight fights. The afternoon was going to be long.
"Looks like the conclusion to our bet will come sooner than we thought." Tokage was already at Manga's side, her grin showing every sharp tooth she had.
"Are you ready to lose?" Manga asked.
"In your dreams, buddy." She poked his chest. "I might not have expected such an early fight, but I didn't train my butt off for nothing. I'll be number one of this Sports Festival!"
"I won't underestimate you."
"Good. If you did, I'd kill you." She turned and walked off toward the waiting rooms, not wasting time with the recreational events.
Manga watched her go with a fired up emoji in his bubble.
Monoma strolled over to Shiozaki, hands in his pockets. "Looks like we're going at it, Shiozaki-san."
"Don't expect me to be merciful, Monoma-kun." she told him without turning.
"Not even a little bit? Please?" He clasped his hands together in mock prayer.
"I'll pray for you."
"How about you let me copy your quirk and then we fight? See who can use it better!"
Shiozaki did not look back or respond. Her vines swayed gently as she walked away. Monoma sighed and dropped his hands. "Worth a shot."
Tetsutetsu was staring at the bracket with his mouth open. "KIRISHIMA! That red-haired dude! The one with a similar quirk!"
“A manly fight, huh? Sounds awesome.” Kamakiri felt he would enjoy that fight.
"Fun?! This is DESTINY! This fight was always going to happen!"
"You're way too excited about punching someone who's basically you."
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M EXCITED!"
Awase had a grin on his face. He was staring at the bottom of the bracket where his name sat next to Bakugo's.
"Awase, you good?" Kaibara asked.
"Hell yeah, I’m good." Awase's voice was flat. "I got the baddest dude in 1-A all for myself."
"You’re excited to fight that maniac?" Kaibara questioned.
"What better way to prove the results of my training?!" Awase intentionally hyped himself up.
"I’m rooting for ya buddy." Kaibara sighed with a pat on Awase’s back.
"I got this in the bag!"
"I wish I had that confidence." Honenuki offered.
"PLUS FUCKING ULTRA!!!"
Kendo looked at her matchup. Yaoyorozu. The 1-A girl who could create anything from her body.
Honenuki saw Ashido's name next to his. He nodded to himself. He already had three plans in the making.
Most of the finalists disappeared into the waiting rooms to prepare. Tokage. Kendo. Monoma. Honenuki. They all vanished into the tunnels beneath the stadium, minds already on their first fights.
Manga went the other direction.
"You're not going to prepare?" Shoda asked, watching him walk toward the field where the recreational events were being set up.
"I think I’ll be fine. Another hour isn't going to change anything." A party hat emoji appeared in his bubble. "Besides, when's the next time I get to play games on national television?"
"He's got a point." Kamakiri said, already following.
The recreational games were gloriously stupid.
The first event was a giant ball race. Massive inflatable spheres, each one taller than Bondo, were rolled onto the field. Students had to push them from one end of the arena to the other while other students tried to knock them off course. No quirks allowed.
Manga was behind one of the balls, feet digging into the dirt, his short self shoving with everything his legs could give. Pony was beside him, hooves scraping for traction, laughing so hard she kept losing her grip.
"IT'S GAINING ON US!" Tsuburaba shouted from behind them. A second ball, pushed by a group of general studies students, was rolling toward them at an angle.
"RUN!" Pony screamed.
They didn't run fast enough. The second ball clipped theirs and sent it spinning sideways. Manga went with it, rolling across the dirt, speech bubble displaying a spiral of stars. Komori, who'd been pushing from the other side, disappeared entirely under the ball for three seconds before popping out with mushrooms in her hair and a dazed smile.
"Are you okay?!" Shoda rushed over.
"That was fun!" Komori said, still on the ground. "Let's do it again!"
The scavenger hunt was next. Students were given cards with items to find in the stadium and had to race to collect them. Manga's card read "something a hero would carry."
He looked at it for two seconds, then walked up to Rin and took a scale off his arm.
"Hey!"
"A hero would carry this. You're going to be a hero. It counts."
"That's cheating!"
"It's creative interpretation!" Manga held it up for the judges. They accepted it. Rin stood there with one scale missing and an annoyed expression.
Kamakiri's card said "something round." He looked at Manga's speech bubble. Then at Manga. Then back at the bubble.
"Don't even think about it," Manga said.
"It's round."
"It's my HEAD."
"It's round and it's right there."
Bondo gently placed an adhesive sphere on Kamakiri's card before the situation could escalate. Kamakiri stared at it. "...that works. I always knew you were a cool dude, Bondo."
“...It’s all good.”
Tsuburaba's card said "something invisible." He blew a small air wall, set it on the card, and walked to the judges with what appeared to be an empty card. They stared at it. He knocked on the air wall. They heard the sound and accepted it with confused expressions.
"That's such a cheat." Kamakiri told him.
"You wanted to cut off Manga’s head." Tsuburaba narrowed his eyes at him.
“I wasn’t gonna cut it off!” Kamakiri said. “It doesn’t come off, right?”
“My head does not come off. There are organs in this thing, you know?” Manga groped his head.
“WHAT?!” They both screamed.
“So like if someone hit you in the head really hard, would your brain feel it? Do you even have a skull?” Tsuburaba wondered.
“There’s no way. His head is so squishy and soft. Softer than a baby’s head. There’s now way he has a skull in there.” Kamakiri believed.
“Oi! You punks are talking pretty reckless to the man who will surpass God, you know?” Manga cracked his knuckles.
“You think you can take on the two of us without your quirk?!” Kamakiri welcomed the challenge.
“You wanna find out!?” Manga didn’t back down either.
The three rumbled in a ball of tumbling before it was broken up by other members of Class B.
Present Mic's voice echoed from the speakers, narrating the chaos with the same energy he'd given the obstacle race and the cavalry battle, because apparently recreational events deserved hype commentary too.