A Tarnished Hero

Chapter 29: Blink, and You'll Miss It

The day was here, the path leading to the giant stadium packed with tourists and media alike. Heroes patrolled the area while coordinating with local police force, ensuring that no dastardly villain would dare ruin the momentous occasion.

Not that they would, Izuku chuckled. Who in their right mind would try and ruin an event guarded by even the topmost hero of the country? That's not even to say the amount of ire they would get from the public population for destroying what was considered a national holiday — yes, they considered the U.A Sports Festival a national holiday. The same couldn't be said for other school's sports festival.

Plus, from a tactical perspective, it was just plain idiotic. Why stop when an enemy of yours is making a mistake? Showcasing their abilities for the whole world to see? Now that was an act that just screamed "This is my weakness!"

Sighing as he walked through the dense crowds of onlookers, some stalls set up to provide the guests souvenirs or food, Izuku found himself nearly bored to death. After having helped Nezu and his other colleagues help with the events for the Sports Festival, Izuku was shunted off to the wayside to entertain wayward guests. Patches, the scheming little rat that he was, opened a stall selling some... goods he managed to bring along with him stuffed inside his own bottomless box.

And wasn't that a shocker. Damned sleazeball was holding out on him. He'd have to give him a shakedown once they were away from prying eyes just so he could see what he had in stock.

Blaidd, meanwhile, was content roaming around the place, not being given a second glance other than kids marveling at his looks and height. At that thought, Izuku had to pinch the bridge of his nose. Of course, the adults would have to behave themselves. It was no secret that there were times normal people hated on those with... different forms just because. But if they didn't want to get their sorry asses tossed out of the school grounds, they'd have to show they were all diamonds and pearls.

Already, he could see some people eyeing Blaidd from afar, their mouths formed in a slight frown as the half-wolf was tugged here and there by the rowdy children. Seeing a hardened warrior being subjected to the whims of children somehow warmed his heart, as it did Melina's as she watched on in her spectral form with a slight smile.

Leaving the two to their own devices was in and of itself, a gamble. Have them frolic about for a bit before their inevitable return to the Lands Between, where death resides on every corner if you weren't careful enough.

"I've seen videos of gatherings such as these, and it's quite different from what I had imagined." Melina murmured, her voice being nearly drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the crowd around them. "Quite different from our festivals, although at least one of them is quite common amongst men."

She looked at the stadium and Izuku followed her gaze. With a hum and a thought, he agreed. There would always be one constant when it came to a festival of such proportions, and that was competition. It didn't matter what kind of competition, whether it be a blood sport, a tournament fight, or just plain festivities, people would be people and would be clamoring for the next set of entertainment.

Hmm... Wait a second... Wasn't there something about a festival too in the Lands Between? Izuku tried to think but couldn't for the life of him remember where he heard about it. Was it from the nomadic merchants he had come across? Or the mutterings of the insane men and women that littered the continent like pests.

"I can see trouble brewing in your mind, Izuku. You need not be shy. I can answer your question, if I have the knowledge." Melina walked closer, both of them nearly touching shoulders.

"I'm just a bit forgetful." Izuku scratched the back of his head. "Wasn't there supposed to be a festival back in the Lands Between? I think it was somewhere in Caelid."