The UA School of Sporting Excellence

Part 12~Capture the Flag

Midnight explained the rules. People will gather in teams of 2-4 and receive a flag. Each team flag will be worth a certain number of points, with each person in the team contributing based on where they finished in the previous round.

You can take other people's flags but they only count if they are on the flag pole in your own section, same with your own flag. Teams can divide themselves as they wish, but injuring opponents on purpose is strictly against the rules.

Each team can tag people out by successfully landing a 'hit' on them with ink they can find in the arena.

She let the students choose their teams.

Izuku scanned the field before he started walking, much to Katsuki's surprise. "Hey, Yaoyorozu, want to team up?"

Yaoyorozu spun around in surprise. Since the event was announced, everyone had avoided Yaoyorozu. It was hard to put her on your team when she was the top target. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. You're amazing." Izuku chuckled before he hummed. "We should probably keep Kacchan. He may look hopeless, but he's going to be useful. We can add another if you want."

Yaoyorozu thought for a moment before she nodded. "There's one person I want to add. If she'll agree."

~~~

The teams were ready, and the flags were stuck into the ground in a circle. In the centre of the arena was a stack of different equipment, bikes, skateboards, throwing equipment, weights, and even a golf club.

"How is that meant to help us?" Katsuki gave the pile an odd look as Izuku and Yaoyorozu both nodded, their plans coming to fruition.

"You don't have to do this," Yaoyorozu said softly as Jiro took a deep breath.

"I got this. What's the worst that could happen?"

"You could break a leg," Izuku announced as Katsuki elbowed his side. "What? I'm not wrong."

Midnight walked out, holding up a flag. "Everyone, get ready." Everyone stood on the cement block surrounding the flag as Midnight grinned. "Ready?" The ground rumbled as machinery started spinning, creating a grating sound as the ground surrounding the flags began to spin. "Set?" Around each flag was a different environment, some concrete, some thick grass, and some ice. "Go."

Jiro dashed forward, jumping into the water that now surrounded them, being pumped in by some series of pipes. Jiro stayed focused, refusing to let the water slow her down as she reached the centre.

Most people ignored the centre and instead focused on the flag she had abandoned. Katsuki and Yaoyorozu shared a look before they gave Izuku a boost, letting him grab the flag before jumping down.

Instantly, everyone's eyes were on him as he took off, escaping through a gap and jumping over a few groups.

The teams instantly ran after him as Jiro finished packing her bag. As she stood up, she found herself staring at Todoroki, who quickly picked up one of the javelins and swung it at her in an attempt to tag her with the ink-covered tip. Jiro kicked up her skateboard, blocking the attack before running away.

"Are you sure about this?" She pulled herself to the flag as she passed Katsuki the gun she found and essentially paintballs that went with it.

"I am certain."

Katsuki nodded before he loaded the gun. "Let's do this."

As a team, they snuck to the nearest flag; the two people left defending it were two 1B students, distracted by the commotion that followed Izuku. They didn't see Katsuki until he had already tagged them. The sound of gunfire caught most people's attention as Jiro stole the flag.

The rest of the team instantly turned around to stop them, but Katsuki shot them down, too.

The arena went still, people unsure what to do. Izuku easily slid past the crowd, rejoining the group as Katsuki shot down any of the people who tried to get close. Izuku gave Jiro a quick hug before he faced the crowd.

They stood by the pole, kind of watching the rest of the event. Most people had worked out Katsuki had no intention of firing on anyone who would leave them alone and choose self-preservation over 1st place.

The rest of the match went quickly until Todoroki's crew stood before them. Todoroki's lot consisted of three members, himself, Kaminari, and Iida, while the last member of the party, Kirishima, stood guard at their pole, which was full of other teams' flags.

"We'll be taking that flag now," Todoroki announced as Kaminari chuckled.

"Should have taken it back to your flag, Mido-bro. You made it easier for us to get it."

Izuku chuckled. "Maybe, but I got a Katsuki."

Katsuki immediately took fire, instantly landing a shot to Kaminari's chest while Todoroki and Iida dodged.

Iida rushed forward, pushing the gun out of Katsuki's hand before putting him in an arm lock, probably learnt from Kirishima.

Todoroki went for Izuku as Jiro got in the way. Todoroki still had the javelin from their last encounter, and this time, he was more cautious with her, especially on smooth concrete where Jiro's skateboard had the advantage.

Todoroki made a jab at Jiro as she dodged to the side. He changed direction, trying to hit her, but she brought up her skateboarding, blocking it but falling into the grass on their own section.

That left Yaoyorozu and Izuku. Yaoyorozu took a defensive stance. "Run, Izuku."

Izuku didn't hesitate, dashing off. Todoroki went to follow him, but Yaoyorozu got in the way. "He won't make it to your flagpole in time."

"Want to bet?"

A lot of the other teams had either been taken out or were desperate, more than excited to see the kid with the flag run by and soon Izuku was being chased by most of the surviving teams. He turned before finding himself surrounded.

Only ten seconds remained as Izuku held up his hands. "Well, this is a predicament. Really wish I had a good distraction set up."

5 seconds.

"Give us the flag," one of the crowd shouted as Izuku shrugged.

"Sure." He dropped the flag as the crowd rushed in. Izuku pushed his way out just in time to see Jiro, behind Todoroki's back, hanging the real 10m flag on their pole.

The event was over, and Izuku cheered.

Jiro was not impressed, coming off the flagpole as she shook her head. "That felt unnecessarily complicated."

"But it worked," Izuku joked as he wandered over. They had claimed 1st place. "Yaoyorozu's plan was awesome!"

Yaoyorozu blushed lightly as she walked over. "It was your idea to swap the flags."

Izuku made a dismissive sound. "Don't shy away. You rock. Right, Jiro?"

Jiro nodded. "It was a really good plan."

Yaoyorozu blinked, blushing more. "You think... you think..." She fell backwards, barely being caught by Katsuki as Jiro stared in shock.

"Huh, guess she really can't take a compliment, especially from you," Izuku joked as Jiro blushed.

Midnight called them over, announcing that there would be a break, and when the people returned, they would be in 1v1 showcases meant to compete their individual abilities against each other.

Izuku looked at the lineup as he frowned. "Who the fuck is Shinso?"