Rise up

~14~

"You now have 15 minutes to form your teams of two to four and strategize for the Cavalry Battle!" As soon as Midnight finishes her explanation, all eyes are on Midoriya, worth ten million points. Everyone looks like a pack of wolves who have been starved and finally spotted some prey.

I glance around the group of students to see what teams seem to be forming. I note that Bakugo and Todoroki seem to have a few people begging to be on a team with them. 'Not like I was the person in second or anything.'  The two may have quirks that overall are stronger and flashier than mine, but they shouldn't count me out yet.

I'm in my head debating if I should team up with one of the stronger boys and miss the feeble tap on my shoulder. Then the person behind me clears their throat to gain my attention. I turn, and my eyes meet with those of a jumpy green-haired boy.

"Umm, would you like to be on my team Takami?" Midoriya speaks in such a quiet tone that I wouldn't have thought he said anything if I didn't see his mouth moving. He moves his gave and bright red face to the ground when I don't immediately respond.

I stare at the boy processing the possible outcomes of teaming up with the most wanted player in our next game. If I were to team up with Midoriya, then that would mean everyone would have my team and me on the top of their hit list. Everyone would want to bring down the boss and prove to those watching they are the best.

I chuckle before responding, which causes the nervous boy to look up at me in fear of rejection, "Everybody is gonna go after us relentlessly and bring their all, you know?" I scan the different teams of various people seeing Todoroki looking in my direction. Out of the corner of my eye, Midoriya turns to ask others to join his team while muttering out an apology. I latch onto his arm and smirk at the dual-haired boy across the field. "We'll need Ochaco. Go get her."

Midoriya jumps in surprise at my acceptance of his offer and hurries off to add Ochaco to our team. I think to myself, considering who in our class would be a solid addition to our team. I'm sure that someone in another course could help our group but not knowing anyone else's quirk except my classmates would require a more extended search.

I know exactly who I want on our team, and I see them standing off alone, seeming not to be a part of a group yet. I begin walking my way over to them when I'm abruptly stopped by a hand wrapped around my bicep. I look at the person who has a hold on me and laugh lightly, "This whole latching onto my arm seems to happen with you a lot, doesn't it."

"I believe it is foolish of you to team up with Midoriya. Everyone will be after you, including my team." Todoroki gives me a bored expression while ridiculing my decisions. "We would have made a stronger team, and you know it."

"Which is it, Todoroki? I'm not on your level, or I would make a strong teammate?" I smirk at the dual-haired boy, "My team seems like it will be having more fun waving the ten million in your face this event." Before I can get too far away from Todoroki, I can hear the screaming of a specific angry person approaching me.

"Where have you been, Birdgirl?" The explosive boy himself yells into my ear as he arrives next to me. "I need your help with picking our other two teammates, and I don't know any of these extra's quirks." Bakugo grabs my hand and starts to pull me towards the people who want a spot on his team.

I smile at the back of the blonde's head, happy to know he already had a spot saved for me on his team. "I already have a team, though. I didn't think you would have room for me based on the crowd surrounding you."

Bakugo halts his actions and turns quickly to face me. "Why the fuck wouldn't you be on my team, Birdgirl? We trained together, and you aren't as weak as most of these extras." He raises his voice, annoyed that I didn't already know we were on a team together.