As the students mingled around the festivities, Hiroto and his friends were excitedly talking about what they had just been through. ". . . and then, just when Chargebolt had us in his sights, Terra came out of nowhere and took his attack head-on!" Kage recounted to the girls. "It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen!"
"Daw, it was nothing," Terra replied modestly.
"No, you're the only reason we stayed in the race at that point," Hiroto said. "And then you went to go help the girls. You were really showing off that heroic spirit today." Everyone nodded in agreement, even Shion.
"Oh d-don't mention it!" Terra's face flushed a bit. "There w-was now way I could leave my friends hanging like that." Hiroto grinned at her, causing the blush to intensify. "Come on, keep it together, Terra! Why does that smile get me so flustered? Ever since the USJ, it's like I can't even hold a normal conversation with him!"
"There they are!" a voice called out from behind the group. They turned to see Deku and Uravity waving and approaching them. "You did great! All of you!" Deku said with a smile.
"And you won, Hiroto!" Uravity said as she excitedly hugged him. "What does that feel like?"
"Well . . . I wouldn't have been able to do it without my friends' help." Hiroto gestured to Kage, Yu, and Terra. Deku nodded.
"It was certainly a spectacle. Most people view the Sports Festival as just another competition, but it's a lot more than that." The green-haired hero grinned. "The way you framed the competition in your speech, and then putting your words into action, well-"
"It was an honourable way of approaching the event." Everyone turned to see Tsukuyomi and the other pros arriving. "You should be proud of yourselves."
"Thank you, Mr. Tokoyami," Hiroto said. Dark Shadow shot out from under the hero's cloak, writhing happily around Hiroto, who began gently scratching the beast on the back of his head. "Hey, Dark Shadow. It's been a while, huh?" Hiroto glanced around and noticed Froppy was there as well. "Oh! I'm sorry about the shock back there, Aunt Tsu. I didn't mean to-"
Froppy held up her hand. "You got me fair and square, ribbit. Good job!" She smiled widely.
"Well enough chit-chat!" Chargebolt said. "I promised you guys ice cream, and I'm a man of my word. So let's hurry up before Dynamight gets back and blows up on ya!"
"Heh heh, yeeeeaaah," Hiroto said sheepishly. "He's probably not going to be to happy to see me after what I did."
"Oh, but what an incredible move!" Deku said excitedly. "The way you used both aspects of your Quirk? And using the smoke from his explosions as cover to catch him off guard?"
"Yeah! I was really fortunate that he had created so much of a distraction for me!"
"And that one-liner? So cool!" Deku and Hiroto continued excitedly comparing notes, going off into their own little world as everyone else just watched. Uravity could only smile as she leaned over to Terra.
"They certainly make quite the pair, don't they?" she asked quietly.
Terra nodded slightly and smiled. "Yup. It's kinda cute."
Uravity took note of the slightly distant tone in the girl's voice and the content grin on her face. "Hmm, I think I know that look . . ."
"Well let's get going, darling!" Shion said, latching onto Hiroto's arm and breaking up the nerd-fest.
"Must you, really?" Sachi groaned. "But she is right, the longer we wait, the less time our stomachs will have to settle before the next event."
"Y-yes, we sh-should all be c-careful about th-that," Osen agreed.
YOU ARE READING
Hiro Rising
Fanfiction"A young boy sets out to prove that he has what it takes to be a hero on his own, but even in an era of peace, he's about to learn that, sometimes, having people by your side is the only way to succeed."
