SWEET AS SUGAR / mha various

10 ✿ SUNSHINE VS. SHORTCAKE

"We brought in cheerleaders from America to keep your blood pumping!" Present Mic said. As he said this, the girls from Class 1-A, myself included, walked out onto the field in the same cheer uniform as the American cheerleaders. I looked around confused as my classmates stared ahead with blank faces and hands tightly holding onto their pom-poms.

The top was short and tight, barely covering my ribcage. The skirt was tiny, it only reached my midthigh. The uniform was mostly orange with dark teal and yellow accents. Kaminari and Mineta gave each other a thumbs up in pride as they looked at us. "WHAT! YOU TRICKED US?!" Momo shouted at the two. "You're gonna regret this!" Momo fell to her knees in despair. "Why do I always end up falling for that little pervert's stupid schemes?"

Jiro threw her pom-poms onto the floor and Toru started to enjoy her uniform. I snuck away and walked over to Kaminari, dragging him by his ear after I threw my pom-poms down. "Owowowowow," Kaminari complained as I dragged him to a hallway. 

"Kami, I don't really get why everyone's worked up about this, but I know it made Yaomomo upset. You seriously have to stop, you're making Yaoyorozu and the others uncomfortable," I explained. "I want you and Mineta to apologize." I crossed my arms and looked at him sternly. 

He looked sad and sighed, "You're right. I'm sorry, Mitsu." I shook my head.

"Don't apologize to me, I don't mind the cheer uniform. Now, go to Yaomomo and the others and apologize. And you better mean it too!" I said.

"R-right," Kaminari said. He scurried off to where the girls were. I watched from the corridor. Mineta had refused to apologize, leaving Kaminari on his own. I couldn't hear him but I saw him bow at a 90-degree angle. When he got back up, Jiro slapped him. He winced and rubbed his cheek but didn't complain. He bowed again and walked away. I smiled softly. 

"What are you wearing?" Someone asked from behind me. I turned around and saw Mai with a bright red face, flushing furiously as she looked at me. 

"Oh. Hi, Mai!" I greeted. "Two boys in my class tricked the girls into wearing these. I don't get why though... Why didn't they just ask us? They're only cheer uniforms..."

Mai scoffed, "As dense as ever..." She cleared her throat, looking at me viciously. "I hope we cross paths in the final game. I look forward to beating you." Her lips curved into a smirk. I only nodded.

"I can't wait to fight you! I wonder how much you've changed... It's been years since we last sparred," I chirped. Mai rolled her eyes and walked away with a wave, returning to her class. I did the same and walked to where the rest of Class A was gathered to look at the tournament board. It was a bracket with twenty people, meaning there would be five rounds. In the first round, four pairs fought and the winner moved on to the next round, where eight pairs fought—then four pairs, then two, and then the finale. None of the names of the players were on the board yet.

"So wait. Is it always a tournament?" Mina asked, snapping my attention back to my group. I stood with Sero, Kirishima, and Mina with Ochaco, Momo, and Tsu behind us. 

"The final's always a one-on-one competition, but they switch it up every time," Sero explained. 

I bounced excitedly and tapped his shoulder, "Last year it was a foam sword-fighting match! It was so cool to watch! It gave me the inspiration for my sword!"

"You got inspiration from watching foam swords..?" Kirishima asked.

"You can find inspiration in anything, there's always something to look up to," I smiled widely and Kirishima nodded. 

"The winners will come closer and draw lots to find out who they're up against! I'll start with the first-place team," Midnight explained. Before she could walk over to Todoroki, Ojiro raised his hand. I tilted my head once he began to speak.