Chapter 14. The Sports Festival: Part Four.
The echoing cheers of the stadium crowd were muffled below the earth's surface. Four students stood quietly, shifting from foot to foot before the raised placement platforms hidden under the stadium grounds. Ectoplasm and a Sports Festival coordinator stood beside them, reviewing the final details for the awards ceremony. The students were still catching their breath, their bodies stiff from the exertion of the day.
Kaye stood beside Bakugo, her orange wings folded tightly against her back, while Todoroki and Midoriya stood just a few feet away. The air was thick with anticipation, each of them silently processing the outcome of the festival. Kaye's heart was racing, but not from exhaustion—it was the thrill of the moment, of being one of the top students recognized in U.A.'s prestigious sports festival.
The Sports Festival coordinator stepped forward, clearing his throat to get their attention. "Alright, everyone, please take your positions on the platforms. Todoroki, you're in first place. Bakugo, second. And Midoriya and Ruse, you'll both be standing together on third."
The students nodded and adjusted themselves on the platforms, their movements careful and tense as the podiums shifted beneath them. Kaye found herself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Midoriya, her wings fluttering slightly at the proximity. Bakugo, meanwhile, scowled as he took his place, glaring daggers at the first-place platform where Todoroki stood, calm and composed.
It wasn't just the placements that had Bakugo agitated—he kept glancing at Ectoplasm suspiciously. The hero stood to the side, holding what looked like a heavy-duty muzzle and thick chains. The sight made Kaye tilt her head in curiosity.
"What's that for?" she whispered under her breath, shifting her gaze to Ectoplasm. The teacher's stern eyes met hers, and he hesitated before turning to Bakugo, his expression wary.
Bakugo's hands immediately curled into fists, his palms facing outwards as if preparing to blast Ectoplasm where he stood. "I don't fuckin' need that shit," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.
For a moment, no one moved. The stadium ground beneath them was trembling slightly, vibrating with the roar of the crowd above. Then Ectoplasm sighed, lowering the restraints. "Alright," he murmured, nodding in acceptance. He turned to the coordinator, who gave him a curt nod in response.
The tension defused, and Bakugo let his hands drop, his gaze shifting back to the ground with a frustrated huff.
"Everyone, please stay still. We'll be rising into the arena shortly," the coordinator announced, turning back to the control panel.
Kaye stood straighter, nerves bubbling up again. This was it. She took a deep breath and tried to steady her racing heart, her gaze flickering to Midoriya beside her. He offered her a small, reassuring smile, and she nodded back. Then, with a low rumble, the ground above them began to split open.
The platforms rose slowly, carrying them up into the blinding light of the stadium. The sound hit them like a wave—thunderous cheers and applause, the roar of thousands of voices mingling into a deafening symphony of praise and excitement. Kaye squinted, the lights and noise overwhelming for a split second. Then, as her eyes adjusted, the view came into focus.
The stadium was packed, the audience on their feet, cheering and clapping for the top four of the Second Years. Colorful banners and flags waved in the air, and camera drones hovered close, capturing every angle of the moment. Kaye's heart swelled, and a smile spread across her face as she lifted her hand to wave.
This is it, she thought, a rush of pride and excitement flooding her chest. I did it!
Do you see me, Mom?
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Flamebound: Embrace the Heat ||BNHA||
Fanfiction|| "I understand what it means to be a hero. I know what my drive should be. I've tried and tried to rewire myself. I just can't feel it. I am a selfish hero." || Kaye Ruse is a top-hero student at Florida Rise High School, who is known for her fier...
