Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 11: The Sports Festival Begins

Two weeks have passed since the declaration of war in the hallway, and the tension in U.A. has only been building. Every day, the whispers grew louder, the stares more intense, as if everyone had something to prove at the upcoming Sports Festival. Even Class 1-A, known for surviving the USJ villain attack, wasn’t immune to the pressure.

And now, the day had arrived.

Security around the U.A. Sports Festival was unlike anything I had ever seen. Guards were stationed at every entrance, their eyes scanning the crowds, their stances alert. Helicopters buzzed above, capturing every angle of the festival for the live broadcast that had the entire country watching. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, tension, and nerves, and the weight of all those eyes pressed down on me like a heavy blanket.

We were in the Class 1-A waiting room, the air thick with anticipation. My heart pounded as I adjusted my uniform, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. This was it—the event that would decide so much. I glanced around at my classmates, all of them preparing in their own ways. Bakugou was scowling, cracking his knuckles; Midoriya was nervously muttering to himself while scribbling in his notebook; Momo, ever composed, was quietly stretching in the corner.

And me? I was trying not to think about how badly I wanted to prove myself—not just to the world, but to Aizawa-Sensei. The thought of his bandaged face and the way he’d been guiding me through my training flashed in my mind, and my stomach did a flip. Focus, Mailin. I had to push those feelings down for now.

Suddenly, the room seemed to shift as someone approached Midoriya. It was Todoroki—his icy gaze as piercing as ever. His expression was calm, but there was something in his eyes that made the entire room feel colder.

“Izuku Midoriya,” Todoroki’s voice cut through the silence like a knife, and everyone glanced up. “I’m stronger than you.”

Midoriya blinked, startled by the direct challenge, but Todoroki wasn’t finished.

“I don’t know what your connection is with All Might,” Todoroki continued, his gaze unwavering, “but I can tell there’s something there. Whatever it is, I’m determined to beat you. I’ll show everyone just how strong I am.”

The room tensed. A declaration of war—right here, right now, just before the festival began. My heart pounded faster, and I could feel the intensity radiating off both of them. Todoroki was someone you didn’t want to underestimate. We all knew that.

Midoriya swallowed, clearly feeling the weight of Todoroki’s words. But then, something changed in his expression—a flicker of determination. His shoulders squared, and for the first time, I saw something in Midoriya that I hadn’t seen before. A spark of defiance.

“Todoroki,” Midoriya said, his voice steady but filled with resolve. “I know you’re stronger than me. I don’t deny that. But it’s not just about you and me. Everyone here, all the students in the other departments, they’re giving it their all too. We’re all aiming for the top. And I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. You won’t be the only one.”

For a moment, Todoroki’s expression softened, like Midoriya’s words had intrigued him. But it was fleeting. He gave a curt nod and turned away, walking towards the door, the challenge hanging heavy in the air.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The tension between the two of them was palpable, and it set the tone for what was about to come. Everyone in this room was fighting for something, whether it was for themselves, for their families, or for the people who believed in them. And for me… for me, it was proving that I could be a hero.

A voice crackled over the speakers, calling Class 1-A to the Freshman Stage. It was time.

As we walked out onto the grand stage, the roar of the crowd hit me like a wave. Thousands of eyes watched us, waiting, judging, anticipating what we would do next. I forced myself to keep walking, my legs feeling heavy but steady as I followed my classmates. The bright lights, the sea of people… it was overwhelming, but I couldn’t let it shake me. Not now.

We stood in a line, our class lined up on the Freshmen Stage, and I scanned the crowd. I couldn’t help but wonder if Aizawa-Sensei was watching from somewhere, even in his bandaged state. Would he be proud of me? Would he—

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Focus, Mailin.

The other freshmen classes filed in, their eyes sharp and focused. Every student here was a competitor, ready to prove themselves. They looked at us with determination, and I could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on me. Anxiety gnawed at my insides, but I forced myself to stand tall. We weren’t the only ones aiming for the top, but we had something to prove. We had survived the USJ.

Midnight, the pro hero and our announcer for the event, stepped forward with a whip crack that echoed across the stadium. She commanded attention effortlessly, her voice booming as she addressed the crowd.

“Now, let’s hear from your player representative—Katsuki Bakugo!” she announced, her gaze flicking toward Bakugo.

I stiffened as Bakugo strode confidently toward the stage. His expression was fierce, his eyes locked on the crowd as if daring anyone to challenge him. I could feel the intensity rolling off him in waves, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of nervousness. What was he going to say?

Bakugo grabbed the microphone without hesitation and glared out at the sea of students. “I’ll place first,” he declared, his voice loud and certain, as if there were no other possible outcome.

The reaction was immediate. The other classes erupted in murmurs, anger, and disbelief. Voices from Class 1-B and the General Department shouted back, rebuking his arrogance. I could feel the tension rise like a tidal wave, crashing over all of us.

“He’s serious,” Midoriya muttered beside me, his eyes wide with a mixture of admiration and worry. “But… he’s also making us targets for everyone else.”

He was right. Bakugo’s bold declaration had just painted a massive target on our backs. Class 1-A wasn’t just another competitor anymore—we were the team to beat. My stomach churned as I realized the pressure we were about to face. The other classes wouldn’t hold back, not after a declaration like that.

I glanced at Momo, at Midoriya, at my other classmates. Despite the tension, I could see the same determination in their eyes that I felt inside. We’d been through worse. We’d faced down real villains. And no matter how many eyes were on us, no matter how much pressure we were under, we weren’t going to back down.

The Sports Festival had officially begun.