For almost everyone in Class 1B, the following three weeks passed far too quickly. Their constant training had been packed with everything from training their quirks to durability. And yet, for the students, three weeks was nowhere near enough to how much training they thought they'd need to prepare.
Still they made the most of the little time they had.
On the morning of the Sports Festival, Umiko found herself trying to quench any nerves that she had. She couldn't let herself look weak in front of the crowd, not when so many professional heroes would be watching them. It was her turn ton prove herself in front of everyone. She wasn't just a weak student who broke down whenever she got scared anymore.
As she was about to leave her home, she heard her mother calling her so she let her hand rest on the door handle, but didn't turn around to face her.
"We're going to be cheering you on at the Sports Festival, Umi. We'll be proud of you no matter what, just try your hardest and you'll have a chance of winning. Even though we won't be at the stadium, we'll be watching from the TV so just remember that we're there if you're nervous."
She let out a simple,"Thanks."
Turning the door handle, she swung it open and began to walk out. Just as she was about to close the door, she heard a barely audible sigh escaping from her mother. Umiko locked the door and just walked to school, pushing thoughts about her parents to the back of her thoughts. She couldn't let them distract her, not on today of all days.
When she arrived at the school, she couldn't help but notice the buzz of excitement wafting around the front gates. She supposed everyone was excited for the big event. Pushing through the large crowds, she finally made her way to her class where most of her classmates were already impatiently waiting for their teacher to arrive.
"Hey, Umiko, over here!"
She turned her head around and noticed the smiling ginger, grinning at her as he usually did. It had almost become routine, and sh head stopped trying to ignore him. Besides, without all his unchangeable positivity, she found that he was actually really powerful when he got down to hero business, which she respected.
Walking over to his desk, she sat down.
"What is it this time, Tsukamoto."
"How many times do I have to tell you to just call me Kayo!" he whined.
"I don't know you well enough to go by first name," she repeated for the millionth time.
"But you let me call you Umiko! Besides, friends are supposed to call eachother by their first name. In fact it hurts my feelings that you don't call me by my actual name," he dramatically swayed his head, pretending to be offended.
She shrugged.
"Anyway, are you excited for the festival?" he asked.
"I suppose, though I haven't given it much thought."
"Well, I'm aiming for the top. You might be my friend but I'm going to win no matter what."
Although it sounded like he was just making a joke about it to everyone else, Umiko could tell he was being sincere. He could almost be as serious as he could be excited, and that was saying something.
"Good luck then, but I'll be aiming for the top too."
"Let's just hope we don't get paired up against each other in the tournament, it would be no fun to fight a friend."
"Sure."
A short silence followed as he thought to himself for a bit.
"Anyway, Umiko, I wanted to ask you-"
He was cut off by Nightmare, who had just entered the room. Tsukamoto sighed in disappointment, making Umiko wonder if he had had something important to ask.
"Alright 1B, let's get going, we're making our way to the stadium got the festival to begin. Take anything that you need with you. Well done for remembering to come in your sports kit."
She gestured for them to follow her, and so the class did. They made their way outside of the school and towards the gigantic stadium. It looked as though it could seat a million people, although that was obviously unlikely.
"You kids stay here, I'll come get you when it's your turn to come up to the field.
After being left in their waiting room, nervous chatter ensued.
"So does anyone have any idea about what we'll have to do," someone asked.
"Aside from the one on one tournament at the end, I don't think anyone does since they're decided on the spot," said Miyagi.
"That's it, I'm going to fail, this is a nightmare," Nakazawa groaned, face-planting into the table she was sat at.
"Of course you're complaining, Haruka. That's all you know how to do. That and have a crisis over boys every two seconds," smirked a boy with red hair on the other side of the room.
"Shut up Tajima, I'm not in ye mood for you," she retorted.
"Calm down you two, we're supposed to be calming our nerves before the festival, not biting at each other's necks," Miyagi smiled, trying to reduce the tension.
"Tell that to his stupid face for starting it," her voice was muffled as she kept her head lying on the table.
"Nakazawa, you're going to be fine, it really won't be that hard. Just try your best!" Koizumi called out from the other side of the room.
"Fine," she grumbled.
"1B, you're up, walk through that door," Nightmare returned, smiling at them warmly.
"Ah, I'm so nervous!"
"You'll be fine. The sports festival is meant to test your abilities but not be impossible. Just do your best," their teacher said.
Slowly, they filed out onto the field in the stadium, watching as thousands of eyes stared right at them.
"And up next is Class 1B!" a loud voice boomed through a megaphone, introducing the class to everyone watching. Looking around, Umiko noticed the cameras dotted around the stadium, all facing at them as they reached where 1A was standing.
One by one, each class was introduced over the noisy megaphone and soon there was a large crowd of other first years surrounding them.
"Welcome first years to your first ever sports festival! As you already know, you'll be participating in multiple challenges that will narrow down the amount to contestants so that they can then compete in a one on one tournament," said a teacher she had never seen before, who was standing at a podium in front of them.
"Before we move onto revealing what the events will be, as per usual we will have a representative give a short speech to boost your morale. This student received the highest marks in the overall entrance exam, so was automatically chosen to represent you first years in your sports festival. Drum roll please!" they enthusiastically shouted into the microphone.
A silence followed.
"Alright, no drumroll. Would Kayo Tsukamoto please come up here then!"
Everyone's eyes in her class darted to where Tsukamoto was standing, and she couldn't help but watch him intently too. He looked nervous as be walked towards the podium. Umiko wasn't surprised that he had received the most marks in the entrance exam, what with the useful quirk of his. The other classes on the other hand, were looking at him suspiciously, sizing him up to see if he would be a threat in the events to come.
As he stood in front of the microphone, he tried to think of what to say.
"Um, well, I'd just like to wish everyone good luck, you can all have a chance of doing well if you try your hardest," he said, though he sounded unsure of his own words.
Then, his eyes locked with hers and he stopped looking nervous. A serious expression crossed his face.
"Oh, and, you better not give up easily, otherwise that won't get you anywhere."
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Character Spotlight
Name: Kayo Tsukamoto
Quirk: Wind Manipulation
Favourite Thing: Making People Smile
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