Stuck Between Realities-Remastered

Part 18~Making Teams

"There's more suffering ahead for those at the top," Midnight announced as she finished explaining the rules. "As you must have heard countless times since enrolling at UA. This is Plus Ultra! After taking first place in the qualifiers, Izuku Midoriya has got ten million points."

Izuku considered what to do before he bowed with a proud beam and did one of the fancy English waves.

"Hell yeah, that's my brother," Emiko screamed as her friends tried to calm her down.

Midnight continued regardless. "The match will last 15 minutes. Each team's points are determined by its members. The rider will wear a headband displaying the total number of points. Until the match ends, you'll all compete to grab each other's points and maintain the ones you have.

Any headband you grab must be worn around the neck or higher. But the more headbands you've got, the harder they'll be to manage. Most importantly, even if your headband is taken and even if your horse formation is broken, it's not over 'til it's over.

Quirks are allowed, so it'll be a brutal battle. However, it's still a cavalry battle. Maliciously attacking another team with the intent of making them fall will get you a red card. And that means you're out of the game. You've got 15 minutes. Time to form your teams."

Instantly, the students split up, trying to make a strong team. Katsuki was surrounded, screaming and pushing people away.

"That Todoroki is already wrangling up a team for himself so team up with me, Bakugo," Kirishima shouted out, pushing through the crowd.

"Why do you keep following me?" Katsuki glared at Kirishima, who beamed proudly.

"The name's Kirishima! Remember it. I know you wanna be a rider, right? So your front horse had better be someone who can take all those explosions, yeah?

"Someone suicidal?"

There was an awkward beat after Katsuki's statement before Kirishima laughed nervously. "Nope! It's me! With my 'hardening', this horse won't break."

Izuku snorted and watched the conversation. "Don't do it. We'll never see you again. You'll be cripsyshima!" Kirishima ignored him as Izuku walked off, finding the first person he wanted to talk to. "Uraraka! Want to be on my team? With your Levitation and my wings, we'll fly over this crowd."

Uraraka grinned, bouncing up. "Team Sky, go!" I grabbed her, walking towards Iida and Hitoshi.

"Hello, boys! If the four of us team up, we can stay in the sky using Iida's legs to move around, and if someone gets too close, Hitoshi can control them."

Iida looked at Izuku, and a sad look was in his eyes. "I'd expect no less, Midoriya, but I'm sorry, I refuse."

Izuku tilted his head. "Okay. You going solo to Toshi?"

"You don't care," Iida asked in shock.

"Why would I? Everyone wants to prove themselves and find their own way to victory. If I couldn't adapt my plan based on new allies and new information, I wouldn't have become much of a hero. I'll see you in the finals. Now, Toshi?"

Hitoshi smiled. "I'm gonna find my own path."

"Good luck. I won't go easy on you."

"You better not. You've broken my nose enough times in practice for me to know the difference." Hitoshi walked off as Izuku dragged Uraraka to the side, leaving Iida behind in his shock.

"Team up with me, Mr First Place!" A girl with bright pink hair appeared before Izuku, who blinked.

"Hell, yes."

"Oh, that was easy. I'm Mei-"

"Hatsume, from the support course. I know who you are. You're the one who keeps making Power Loader cry. You blew up my magnet experiment."

"Oh, that was you."

"Yep."

"I thought you were in the support course."

"Nope. I just like blowing things up." Izuku grinned. That day, a great alliance was formed, and Power Loader felt a shiver crawl up his spine. "This is Uraraka. We're team Sky," Izuku explained, telling Hatsume his plan.

The three talked about the best tech, their Quirks and all their plans. Izuku stood up, stretching his arms. "Okay, time to get our last member," Izuku smirked to himself as he walked off.

Uraraka glanced at Hatsume. "I have no idea what just happened."

"Your 15 minutes are up. Time to get started," Midnight announced as the students got ready.

"Everyone here's so focused on Class A. Why? And it's like Tetsutetus said- those class A kids are so damn cocky and fake it's weird. What makes them so different? That whole villain attack? Class A thinks it's so great. Well, let's show 'em why we in class B hung back and placed low in the preliminaries," the voice grumbled to itself as Izuku looked around. He was getting one of his bad feelings.

"Hey, wake up, Eraser! They've had their time to form teams and strategise. And now all 12 teams are lined up and ready to move," Present Mic shouted, waking Aizawa up as he sighed.

"Interesting. The teams they've come up with."

"Let's get a battle cry. Blood begets blood in the UA grand match."

Izuku sat atop Uraraka, Hatsume and Tokoyami, where different support items were scattered across their bodies. "Uraraka, Hatsame, Tokoyami, let's do this."

~~~

"The reason I've chosen you all is because our formation will be by far the most stable," Todoroki announced, standing before his classmates. "Kaminair, you guessed the left and keep enemies away with electricity. Yaoyorozu, you take the right. Provide an insulator, shield us and supplement our movement. Iida, you take the lead. We'll make use of your mobility and physicality for defence."

"And you'll hold them off with your ice and fire, Todoroki," Kaminair suggested as Todoroki looked at his hand.

"No, in battle, I refuse to use my left side." He turned, glaring at the crowd and finding his father.

~~~

"Listen, Izu will likely be the main target. That means the rest will be vulnerable." Hitoshi glanced around at the people he had pulled aside. "Shiozaki, if you'll allow it, I want you to use your vines to take the bands of our opponents. Tetsutetsu, your strength will help us keep strong. Then, Aoyama, you'll be at the front; if anyone comes towards us, you blast them away."

"Excuse me, but may I inquire what you will be doing while we are protecting you?" Tetsutetsu stared Hitoshi down as he took a deep breath.

"If I get the chance," he paused, giving up on his hopes to use this team, "I'll brainwash the opponents into giving us their headbands." He shuffled awkwardly when Tetsutetsu laughed.

"Alright! Now I know we can win this!" He grinned brightly as the others nodded.

Hitoshi let out a sigh of relief, standing taller before he bowed. "Thank you!"

The others laughed, pulling him up and getting ready when Midnight announced the 15 minutes were up.

Bakugo had his team, consisting of himself, Kirishima, Mina and Sero, with a headband total of 665.

Todoroki's team of himself, Iida, Yaoyorzu and Kaminari got a headband of 615 while Hitoshi managed to pull together 470, but Izuku's team was far in the lead with a total of 10,000,325.