Cherry Bomb

No Exceptions

There was a short break while the teachers readied the field for the next round. Since I was the only first-year competing, I chilled out in a waiting room alone and ate sushi while I took a headcount.

Every single student in class 2-A made it through the maze, which didn't surprise me. Ten people from 2-B as well, including Kendo, Reiko, Tetsutetsu, Kodai, Pony, and a few others I didn't recognize. I kicked myself for not spending more time studying the 2-B students. I hadn't memorized all their quirks, since I'd been so focused on getting down Bakugo's combat tactics. I needed to pay closer attention to them in this round, so I'd be better prepared for the duels. I doubted I'd be lucky enough to fight Bakugo right away. I knew the teachers, and I remembered their faces. They didn't actually expect me to win the festival, let alone make it this far in the first place. They'd probably pit me against lower-level second years, with the mentality that I'd be destroyed otherwise.

The last two people who'd made it were Shinsou from general studies, and me. Other than Bakugo, he was the one I was the most afraid of. I got the chills just from looking at him.

"Hey."

I jumped as a shiver ran down my spine. Speak of the devil.

"Asuga. Right?" Shinsou asked. "Hitoshi Shinsou. I don't think we were properly introduced."

I didn't answer.

He laughed. "Relax. I don't need to use my quirk on you. I'm sure someone else will pick you off for me in the second round."

I shot him a scowl, keeping my mouth shut.

He smirked with half-lidded eyes. "Sorry for being a jerk. I was just trying to motivate you."

I opened my mouth to ask but then closed it again, my body going rigid.

"You wanna know why I care," he said for me. "I heard how you passed the entrance exam. Stealing other people's attacks to take down the robots for you. Very clever. I wish I'd thought of something like that. Maybe if I did, I wouldn't have ended up in General Studies."

He broke his gaze away from me and looked out to the field, where the teachers were setting up. "We've both been held back from our dreams because of a codependent quirk, so some part of me wants to see you do well." He turned back to me. "But the problem is we both want the same thing, and we can't both have it. So I'll be doing everything I can to knock you out of the running. But it's not personal. In fact...I feel kinda bad."

His words sounded genuine, but I still didn't answer. I swallowed nervously, pushing my hair out of my face.

"You still don't trust me," he remarked, nodding. "Good." That was all he said before closing the door behind him.

~.~

All Might, Deku, and I sat in one of the arena's waiting rooms while having lunch. Onigiri and Bentos.

"You two are doing great," All Might told us with a smile.

I snarled at him. "I don't need your praise, old man."

Deku, on the other hand, blossomed under it like a damn flower. Freakin' fanboy. "Thanks. I'm actually having a lot of fun," he replied cheerfully.

I couldn't help but snicker. Obviously. Last year he couldn't dish out one attack without breaking a finger, and now he was able to use fifteen percent of one for all. But he agreed not to use his other quirks during the festival. It'd be too dangerous, especially if the league was watching. Deku was a big enough target without everyone knowing about his extra abilities. And showing them off on live television would be like ringing the dinner bell.