"All right, everyone! Let's have fun competing in the recreational games! When that's over, the sixteen from the four teams that made it into the final round will duke it out tournament style, one-on-one!" The command echoed through the bustling arena as Midnight, a striking figure atop the stage, addressed the sea of eager students. [Name] couldn't help but conceal a smirk, excitement bubbling within them at the prospect of engaging in combat.
Leaning casually on Tokoyami, [Name] declared, "I cannot wait to fight." Tokoyami, understanding their nature, remained silent, a stoic presence beside them.
Kirishima, a beacon of enthusiasm, exclaimed from the front, "I'm going to stand on the stage I watch every year on TV!" [Name] grinned, sharing in his zeal for the upcoming battles.
"Are you ready for it, Toko-kun?" [Name] inquired, addressing the teen.
"Yes, I am sure Dark Shadow and I will do our best," Tokoyami responded with a small nod.
Curiosity echoed in Ashido's voice as she queried from beside Kirishima and Sero, "Was it a tournament last year?"
"It's different every year, but there's always a one-on-one competition," Sero explained. "Last year, it was a sports Chanbara match."
With Midnight gesturing to start, attention shifted. "Now, let's draw lots to determine the bracket," she announced, presenting a box labeled 'lots.' "Once the bracket is determined, we'll have the recreational games and then start! The sixteen finalists can choose whether or not they want to participate in the recreation. I'm sure some of you want to rest or save your strength."
A surprising twist unfolded as Ojiro raised his hand and declared, "Um...! Excuse me. I'm withdrawing." Gasps rippled through the crowd, prompting [Name] to walk up to Ojiro, linking their arm with his.
"Are you sure, Ojiro-kun? This is an important opportunity!" [Name] questioned, puzzled by the decision to forfeit.
"I barely remember anything from the Cavalry battle until towards the end. I know that this is a great chance and that it's foolish to waste it..." Ojiro explained to [Name] as he patted their head. Their face warmed up at the action, another weakness of theirs, and it seemed like he noticed along with the others and he chuckled at their expression. Leading them to hide their face with their hands as the others giggle at the sight and keep that in mind.
As Ojiro detailed his reasons, [Name] whispered to themselves into their hands, trying to decipher his motives. Was it a brainwashing quirk or something more complex?
"I can't be up there with everyone without knowing what really happened," Ojiro admitted, prompting [Name] to acknowledge his choice.
"If that is what you want, then I won't stop you," [Name] affirmed.
Nirengeki followed suit, expressing a similar sentiment. "I'm Shoda Nirengeki from Class B. I also want to withdraw for the same reason. Regardless of ability, don't you think it goes against the goal of the sports festival for those who didn't do anything to move onto the final round?" [Name] looked puzzled but also understood because it was in his nature to be like that after talking to him and Kendo during the meeting between the two class Presidents and Vice Presidents of Class 1-A and 1-B.
"What's up with these guys?!" Kirishima cried, tears threatening to spill. "They're so manly!"
Midnight accepted their withdrawals with a crack of her whip.
"If that's what's going to happen," a girl spoke, if [Name] remembers correctly she is from class 1-B, "then rather than us who barely did anything in the Cavalry battle, then it should be them. The ones who fought to the end and stayed at the top, Team Tetsutetsu, right?"
"And so, Tetsutetsu and Shiozaki have moved up to make sixteen!" Midnight announced. "This is the bracket based on the results of the drawing!"
The empty slots filled with names and the crowd went wild.
'Tetsutetsu vs Kirishima,' the announcement echoed.
"Again? This is too redundant!" Both boys exclaimed. [Name] giggles at the fact they both said it at the same time too. Both boys act so similar.
'Ashido vs Hatsume,' 'Tokoyami vs Yaoyorozu,' the matchups unfolded, each promising an intense clash of abilities.... well the second match.
"I'll give it my all," Tokoyami said.
"Th-that's what I want!" Momo stutters as she looks nervous about the fight.
'Shinso vs Midoriya'
"...Who is Shinso??" Midoriya didn't know anyone with that name. It is possible they are from the support, management, or general course.
'Todoroki vs Sero'
'Bakugou vs Uraraka'
Bakugo cannot seem to remember who Uraraka is. The said girl looked offended when he asked out loud who she was.
'Kaminari vs Shiozaki'
'lida vs [Last Name]'
The anticipation peaked as [Name] recognized their own impending battle against Iida. "I hope you give me a good fight, Iida-san," They grinned, receiving a nod and a pushed-up pair of glasses in response saying, "same to you, [Last Name]-san."
With Midnight calling for a momentary interlude, [Name] groaned as they waited with classmates, their eagerness to face Iida evident. Cementoss worked diligently on the stage, prompting [Name] to whine while clinging to Jirou.
"You are the only one who wants to fight [Last Name]," Shoji remarked.
"No way!" [Name] retorted, turning to Bakugo for support.
Bakugo, with a smirk, declared, "I can't wait to destroy you, extras," leaving [Name] to showcase a 'told-you-so' expression to Shoji.
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"Get those foam fingers in the air, everybody! It is almost time for the last round! But before that: We have some good news for everybody who didn't make the finals. Since this is a sports festival, we've prepared some super-fun side games that everyone can participate in! We even brought in cheerleaders from America to get your blood pumping!" Present Mic's energetic voice echoed through the stadium, the camera panning to showcase the imported cheerleaders. However, the cameraman, in a moment of shock, ended up pointing at the Class 1-A females who were wearing cheerleader uniforms.
Surrounded by waving pom-poms, [Name] found themselves in a surprising situation. They were wearing a cheerleader outfit personally designed by Yaoyorozu, tweaked to match their own style. [Name] couldn't believe they had agreed to this, but their classmates' persistent requests had swayed them.
"Hold up," Present Mic exclaimed, taking in the unexpected scene.
Aizawa-sensei, standing with his usual air of disinterest, let out a long-suffering sigh. "What are those kids doing?"
[Name] awkwardly chuckled as they observed their classmates, who wore somber expressions while dressed in cheerleader uniforms (although [Name]'s had been altered to their preferences). They half-heartedly waved their pom-poms, drawing cheers from the crowd. Apparently, [Name] is becoming the crowd's fan favorite.
Mineta and Denki, sporting mischievous grins, celebrated their triumphant scheme. They had persuaded the girls, [Name] included (with Kaminari convincing Mineta to go along with it), to wear the uniforms by falsely claiming Aizawa-sensei's request.
Yaoyorozu dramatically collapsed to the ground in defeat, throwing her pom-poms aside. "I can't believe you tricked us! You're gonna regret this?!" She shook her fist at the two boys, frustration evident. "Why is it that I always end up falling for that little pervert's stupid schemes? I even used my quirk to make these outfits."
"Argh!" Jirou vented her frustration by tossing her pom-poms to the floor. "I hate them! I hate them!"
"I don't know about you guys," [Name] spoke up, catching everyone's attention. They flashed a mischievous grin. "Sure, there's embarrassment, but I'm going to own it. At the end of the day, I'm wearing this outfit, and I'm going to rock it. Let's have some self-confidence, guys!"
"[Last Name] is right!" Uraraka shouted, throwing an arm in the air. "Let's show those dumb boys they didn't get to us."
Yaoyorzu, wiping away a tear, sniffled but regained her composure. She grabbed her pom-poms with determination and stood up. "You're right! I'm not letting them win! Let's do this, girls, and [Last Name]!"
Jirou sighed but smiled, retrieving her pom-poms from the floor.
"Yeah! Get into the spirit!" Hagakure cheered, waving her pom-pom in the air.
"Look at the Class 1-A spirit, everyone!" Present Mic exclaimed as the girls, along with [Name], ended up embracing the moment, cheering their voices out and turning the unexpected ordeal into an unexpected bout of fun. "Love it guys!"
After changing out of their uniform, [Name] found themselves gathered together with the others in front of Midnight for the final round.
As Midnight cracked her whip, signaling the impending battles, the crowd roared with anticipation, setting the stage for a thrilling and action-packed spectacle.
The arena crackled with tension as Midnight's announcement reverberated, setting the stage for a serious battle. "A lot happened, but it's now come to this! A serious battle! You can only depend on yourself! Even if you're not a hero, you'll face lots of situations like that! You get it, right? Heart, skill, body, wisdom, and knowledge! Use all of that to rush up!" Her words hung in the air, charged with the weight of the impending clash.
[Name], unable to contain their excitement, released a cheer. "Finally!"
Jirou, beside them, rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile at their infectious enthusiasm.
The anticipation soared as Midnight took charge, introducing the first match of the finals. "Audience! The finals you've all been waiting for are finally starting! Match number one - Even though he's done well, what's with that face? From the hero course, it's Midoriya Izuku!"
"Versus - Sorry, he hasn't done anything to stand out yet! From General Studies, Shinso Hitoshi!" Present Mic said after Midnight with perfect timing.
[Name] couldn't help but roll their eyes; Shinso had indeed stood out, earning a spot in the final tournament from the general studies, a notable achievement in itself.
"The rules are simple. Force your opponent out of bounds, or immobilize them! You can also win by making your opponent say, 'I give up!' Bring on the injuries! Because we've got our very own Recovery Girl waiting on standby! Put your morals and ethics aside for a moment! Of course, anything life-threatening is crap! It's not allowed! Heroes should only use their fists to catch villains!"
"Aren't we having a tournament?" [Name] muttered rhetorically, earning a giggle from Jirou.
Watching the lead-up to the match, [Name] spotted Shinso talking to Midoriya, who seemed really upset. This caught [Name]'s attention, curious about what Shinso was saying to get such a reaction from Midoriya. Seeing Midoriya, who's usually pretty chill, so riled up made them wonder how serious Shinso's words were.
"Ready? Start!" Midnight called out.
Midoriya rushed towards Shinso but stopped suddenly. Ojiro, clearly annoyed, stood up and said, "I even tried to warn him!"
[Name] raised an eyebrow, sensing that Shinso might have been cheated in some way, though there wasn't a rule against disclosing someone's quirk. The unfolding drama on the stage promised a match fueled by both physical and emotional intensity.
"Hey, hey, what's the matter? It's the important first match! Liven things up! Midoriya! The match just started! And he's completely frozen?! He's got a blank look on his face and isn't moving a muscle! Is this Shinso's quirk? He didn't stand out at all, but could he actually be someone amazing?!"
[Name] observed with an amused expression as Midoriya fell under Shinso's mysterious quirk. "He must have an impressive quirk."
"What do you think it is?" Tokoyami asked, seeking [Name]'s insight.
"It might be a brainwashing quirk," [Name] suggested.
"His quirk is really impressive," Tokoyami said, thinking Shinso could be a great hero. But [Name] felt differently. They saw Shinso more as an underground hero, like Aizawa-sensei.
"Shinso Hitoshi from general studies has gotten the better of Midoriya Izuku from the hero course! Who could've imagined this?! Will the bottom really overthrow the top?"
"That's why I said the entrance exam wasn't rational."
Midoriya turned around, moving robotically toward the boundary. [Name] almost felt sorry for the green-haired boy, but in the realm of this fight, anything was fair game.
"Huh?! Midoriya's being so obedient!"
'Sounds kinky. Midoriya is a bottom, not clickbait,' [Name] thought, a playful glint in their eyes.
"Deku, why?" Uraraka cried out from behind [Name].
'If you go out of bounds, then you lose the match!" Iida yelled, making frantic gestures.
"Shinso Hitoshi. Quirk: brainwashing! Answering his question turns on a brainwashing switch in his opponent's brain, forcing them to do what he says. If he doesn't want the brainwashing switch to turn on, it won't!" Present Mic explained.
[Name] almost burst out laughing at Present Mic's flamboyant delivery, only to notice Midoriya's two fingers glowing.
"Woah! He is trying to use his quirk!" [Name] exclaimed in surprise. They couldn't believe Midoriya could use his quirk in a trance state. The others, catching on, looked equally dumbfounded.
A gust of wind kicked up, centering around Midoriya. When the dust settled, they saw that Midoriya was hunched over, taking in deep breaths but hadn't crossed the line. He is still in this! How cool! [Name] marveled, curious about Midoriya's method to snap out of Shinsou's quirk.
"Huh?! Midoriya has stopped!"
The audience erupted in cheers and applause at this unexpected turn of events.
"Midoriya!" Iida exclaimed, witnessing Midoriya turning the tide.
"I'm... I'm so glad!" Uraraka cheered.
Ojiro, previously tense, sat back down, a hand over his chest in relief. "That's crazy..." he said, smiling. Ojiro had genuinely believed Midoriya was on the verge of defeat. [Name] noticed a flicker of fear in Shinso's eyes as he desperately tried to get him talking again, but the green-haired boy resisted, clamping a hand over his mouth.
Midoriya charged at Shinso, who, in a moment of desperation, threw a right hook at Midoriya's cheek. Blood dripped from Midoriya's nose, yet he pressed on, determined to shove Shinso out of bounds.
Shinso, proving resilient, aimed a hit at Midoriya's broken fingers, earning a giggle from [Name]. However, Midoriya, unfazed, retaliated, grabbing Shinso's arm and shirt. In a surprising move, Midoriya flipped Shinso over his head, his lower body crossing the white line. [Name] quietly stood up from their seat, paying no heed to the curious looks directed their way.
"Shinso is out of bounds!" Midnight announced. "Midoriya advances to round two!" The crowd erupted in cheers for the freckled boy's unexpected triumph.
"In the finals, the first person to advance to the second round is Midoriya Izuku from Class A!"
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Leaning casually against the hallway wall, [Name] hummed a light tune, anticipating Shinso's arrival. The rhythmic click of footsteps echoed down the corridor, and they looked up, spotting the disheartened boy making his way toward them.
"Oi," [Name] called out, catching Shinso off guard. His purple eyes narrowed, wary of a potential confrontation. [Name] pushed off the wall, strolling toward him with an easy confidence. They couldn't help but notice how Shinso's guard went up a notch. Perhaps, they mused, this kid wasn't entirely unteachable.
"Here," [Name] said, producing a note from their pocket and handing it to Shinso. Cautiously, Shinso opened it, revealing a phone number scrawled across the paper.
"What is this?" Shinso asked, his confusion evident.
"Call this number anytime. It'll be your ticket to a shot at Class 1-A. I won a bet, and I'm pretty sure he'll appreciate what you bring," [Name] explained, twirling around nonchalantly. "Don't disappoint me. It wouldn't reflect well on my reputation." With a dismissive wave, they walked back to their seat.
"Wait. How do I know if this is true?" Shinso, still skeptical, couldn't fathom why [Name] would extend such an offer. Must be a prank, he thought. Trusting them wasn't something he was ready to do without a shred of evidence.
[Name] paused, looking contemplatively at the ceiling. "If you don't call, it doesn't affect me. If you do, well, you'll find out. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith." Without further explanation, they continued their walk, leaving Shinso lost in his thoughts, holding a note that held the potential to alter his destiny.
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"Midoriya!" [Name] beamed upon spotting him. Their hand clasped onto his shoulder, grinning. "You were totally amazing! Great job! I almost thought you were going to lose!"
"It felt like I was about to. I am just happy I was able to snap out of it," Midoriya confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. [Name] decided to sit between Kirishima and Bakugo this time.
"Thanks for waiting! Next up is... these guys!"
[Name] smirked, recalling it was Todoroki vs Sero. "This shouldn't take too long." They crossed one leg over the other and placed their elbow on their thigh with their chin on their palm, leaning forward in interest on what Todoroki planned to do.
"Awe, have some faith in Sero-kun!" Kirishima pouted at [Name]. Their face warmed at Kirishima's adorable expression.
"Hell no. Icyhot is stronger than Soy sauce," Bakugo growled, laying his hand on the armrest. [Name] nodded in agreement.
"He's good! He's good! But what's with that plainness he just can't get rid of? From the hero course! It's Sero Hanta!"
"That's a lot of bias in that sentence," [Name] remarked, glancing down at the two boys entering the field. Kirishima nodded in agreement, while Bakugo grunted, hopefully in concurrence.
"Taking second, then first in the prelims! You're way too strong, kid! Also from the hero course, Todoroki Shoto! And now for the second match of the finals- Ready.... start!"
Sero immediately shot tape at Todoroki, attempting to swing him closer to the boundary. [Name] sensed something amiss with Todoroki; he wouldn't allow himself to be captured so easily.
"A surprise attack aimed to push his opponent out of bounds! Don't you think this was the best choice for this situation?! Seriously, get him, Sero!"
Todoroki unleashed a massive wave of ice, freezing not only Sero but almost half of the audience and student observers nearby. Midnight inquired if Sero could move, and the answer was an obvious 'no.'
"Something is up with Todoroki," [Name] observed, their eyes narrowing. Kirishima nodded as he began to notice too. Bakugo remained silent, lost in his thoughts. They had a hunch that Bakugo might know something about Todoroki, but they didn't think that the silent boy would tell Bakugo about his past.
The audience started chanting "Don't worry about it" as Todoroki began to unfreeze Sero from the block of ice. [Name] observed Todoroki's form, sensing that something seemed to be deeply unsettling him.
They didn't think he was mad when he pulled them aside for the conservation between the two. They assumed it had something to do after they talked to him. Perhaps something set him off, might be due to his father. It would make sense they thought with a frown.
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Thank you, guys, so much for the 397 reads and 28 votes! Until next time <3333! Almost there ahhhhhh
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Edit: 01.15.24
Note: I add more details to flesh out the chapter. Add the scene of the cheerleaders. I cannot believe I did not write that at first. Imagine your outfit with a skirt, pants, shorts, idc. I tend to be ambiguous with the outfits so you guys could imagine it. I should have next chapter edited soon. Thank you for making it this far. Note that the other chapters for the Sports Festival is wacky in the sense it won't make sense with the newer edited chapters. Sorry about that <3.