The day had finally arrived—the UA Sports Festival. The air buzzed with excitement as thousands of fans packed the stadium, their cheers echoing like thunder. From Class 1A's waiting room, the students could hear the roar of the crowd, a mix of anticipation and energy that made it impossible to sit still.
Kyoka leaned against the wall, tapping her foot nervously as her eyes wandered over to Izuku. She noticed something unusual: he was wearing thick black bands around his arms and legs. Her curiosity got the better of her.
Kyoka, {raising an eyebrow}: "What's with the extra gear, hero boy? Training weights?"
Izuku let out a small, exasperated sigh, adjusting one of the bands on his wrist.
Izuku, {explaining}: "Principal Nezu's orders. These are high-density weights—ultra-compacted. Each one adds about half of my body weight. He said it's to make things 'fair' since I... stand out a little too much."
He glanced at the weights with a wry smile before shaking his head.
Izuku, {muttering to himself}: "I knew I jinxed it..."
Kyoka smirked, though she couldn't hide her concern.
Kyoka, {teasing}: "Fair? Sounds like Nezu just wants to see how far he can push you."
Before Izuku could reply, Todoroki stepped forward. His calm demeanor and piercing gaze cut through the room's chatter. He stopped a few feet away from Izuku, his arms crossed.
Todoroki, {bluntly}: "Midoriya. You're strong. Stronger than most of us here. But I'll defeat you. And I'll do it using only my ice side."
The room fell silent. The other students exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from surprised to amused. Even Bakugo, who had been sitting in the corner with his arms crossed, suddenly perked up with his face twisting into a scowl.
Bakugo, {yelling}: "Oi! You're challenging the wrong person, Icy-Hot! If anyone's taking down that nerd, it's me!"
But it was Izuku's reaction that drew everyone's attention. He blinked at Todoroki's declaration, and then, much to everyone's shock, he started laughing—a bold, confident laugh that none of them had heard from him before. When he finally stopped, he looked at Todoroki with an unsettling smirk.
Izuku, {calmly but firmly}: "Challenge accepted. But don't blame me if you regret holding back."
Kyoka groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Kyoka, {muttering}: "Great. They've awakened the beast. This is gonna get ugly."
Her cheeks turned red faintly as she recalled how competitive Izuku could be—something she had learned the hard way during one of their more personal "competitions." She was still recovering from that experience.
Before anyone could say more, the intercom crackled to life, and Present Mic's voice boomed through the room.
Present Mic, {excitedly}: "CLASS 1A, GET READY! IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU'VE GOT! COME ON OUT!"
The students exchanged determined glances, the tension in the room building to a palpable level. As they filed out of the waiting room and into the tunnel leading to the arena, Izuku adjusted the weights on his wrists one last time, his smirk still in place.
The sunlight blinded them briefly as they stepped into the stadium, the deafening cheers of the crowd hitting them like a wave. The stage was set, and Class 1A was ready to prove themselves. Izuku glanced at Todoroki out of the corner of his eye, the challenge still fresh in his mind.
Izuku, {thinking to himself}: "You want to face me with just your ice? Fine. Let's see how far you can go."
[Transition]
The stadium roared with excitement as Present Mic hyped up the audience, his voice booming through the speakers. He introduced Class 1A, their names ringing out one by one, though with slightly less energy compared to the initial entrance. The students took their positions in the center of the stadium, their nerves beginning to show as they felt the pressure of thousands of eyes on them.
Midnight, the Pro Hero known for her bold and theatrical style, stepped forward with a confident smile. Her voice carried over the noise of the crowd as she announced her first official role in the festival.
Midnight, {smiling}: "Alright, competitors! To start things off, we'll have a representative from Class 1A give the pledge! Izuku Midoriya, come forward!"
The class collectively turned to look at Izuku. Normally, this would be the moment where he'd break into nervous stammers or awkward gestures. But instead, Izuku stood tall and calm. His emerald eyes were sharp, his demeanor focused. Without a word, he stepped forward, his weighted bands subtly clinking with each movement.
Mina, {whispering}: "Uh... is it just me, or does he seem... not nervous?"
Kyoka, {deadpan}: "He's in 'competitive mode.' Trust me, you don't want to underestimate him like this. Even with those weights, he's not holding back."
The rest of the class exchanged nervous glances. They had all seen Izuku train, but this version of him—calm, confident, and composed—was something new. Even Bakugo, though scowling, kept his usual outburst to himself.
Izuku reached the podium where Midnight stood and took the microphone. His pledge was short and to the point.
Izuku, {confidently}: "I pledge to give my all and prove that Class 1A deserves to stand at the top. Let's give it everything we've got."
The crowd erupted in cheers as Izuku stepped back, handing the microphone to Midnight. She smiled approvingly, clearly impressed by his demeanor.
Midnight, {cheerfully}: "Well said, Midoriya! Now, let's move on to the preliminaries of the Sports Festival—the First Event!"
The large screens around the stadium lit up, showing the words Obstacle Race in bold letters. The crowd gasped with excitement as Midnight began to explain.
Midnight, {dramatically}: "The first event is a nearly 4-kilometer race around the stadium! This isn't just any race—it's filled with obstacles designed to test your skills, Quirks, and creativity. There are no rules except one: no attacking your fellow students with the intent to injure. Everything else is fair game! So, strategize and use your abilities wisely!"
Midnight, {commanding}: "Alright, competitors! Line up at the starting line!"
As the students began moving toward the line, Kyoka grabbed Izuku's arm and grinned mischievously.
Kyoka, {teasingly}: "Hey, hero boy, how about giving me a lift? Piggyback sounds good, right?"
Izuku blinked at her request, then smiled without hesitation.
Izuku, {playfully}: "Sure. Hop on."
Kyoka climbed onto his back with ease, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she adjusted her position. Some of their classmates stared in surprise, others in amusement.
Mina, {laughing}: "Wow, Jiro, that's actually genius! Why didn't I think of that?"
Denki, {pouting}: "Lucky... I want a piggyback ride too."
Kyoka smirked, resting her chin on Izuku's shoulder as they approached the line.
Kyoka, {softly}: "Don't let me down, hero boy."
Izuku, {determinedly}: "I won't."
As the students lined up at the starting line, the massive stadium doors ahead of them began to slide open, revealing the first stretch of the course—a rocky terrain littered with debris and uneven footing. Midnight raised her hand, signaling the start of the event.
Midnight, {shouting}: "Ready... set... GO!"
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The moment Midnight's hand came down and she shouted, "GO!", Izuku exploded off the starting line like a rocket, a deafening "BOOM!" echoing through the stadium. A massive shockwave followed in his wake, kicking up dirt and debris as the ground trembled beneath him.
Todoroki, {startled}: "What the—?!"
Todoroki, who had been preparing to freeze the starting line to trap his classmates in place, stumbled backward as the sheer force of the shockwave and accompanying tailwind nearly sent him flying. He managed to brace himself just in time, his ice wall shattering into harmless shards.
The other students shielded their faces, their hair whipping wildly from the gust. Those with weaker footing fell flat, their strategies disrupted before they even started.
[Transition]
Meanwhile, in the announcer's booth, Present Mic jumped to his feet, his voice booming into the microphone with pure excitement.
Present Mic, {shouting}: "WHOA! DID YOU SEE THAT?! MIDORIYA JUST TOOK OFF LIKE A HUMAN MISSILE! THIS KID IS UNREAL!"
Aizawa, seated beside him, blinked, momentarily at a loss for words—a rarity for the stoic teacher. He watched the replay on the monitors with narrowed eyes.
Aizawa, {muttering}: "Even with those weights... He's moving that fast?"
For a moment, even Aizawa couldn't suppress the hint of pride that flickered across his face.
[Transition]
Back on the course, Izuku was a blur of green and white, his weighted bands clinking faintly as he soared past every obstacle in his path. Despite the extra weight and carrying Kyoka on his back, he was soaring near mach speeds. His feet barely seemed to touch the ground as he leapt over fallen debris, sharp inclines, and scattered rubble.
Kyoka, hanging onto his shoulders, was wide-eyed but grinning ear to ear.
Kyoka, {laughing}: "Whooo hoooo!!"
Ahead, towering walls meant to block the racers loomed in the distance, but Izuku didn't even pause. His legs coiled, and with one powerful leap, he cleared the obstacle entirely, landing on the other side without missing a beat.
[Transition]
The stadium crowd erupted into cheers and gasps as Izuku closed the gap to the finish line in seconds. The remaining competitors were still struggling to navigate the first obstacles, many still recovering from Todoroki's ice and Izuku's initial shockwave.
[Transition]
Present Mic, {shouting}: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! MIDORIYA IS ALREADY AT THE FINISH LINE! THIS HAS TO BE A NEW RECORD!"
Aizawa, {flatly but impressed}: "And the rest of the class hasn't even cleared the first leg."
[Transition]
With a final burst of speed, Izuku crossed the finish line, his weighted feet skidding slightly as he came to a halt. The loud boom of his landing echoed through the stadium, marking the end of his incredible sprint.
Present Mic, {Shouting}: "AND IZUKU MIDORIYA COMES IN FIRST WITH KYOKA JIRO IN SECOND!!!"
Izuku gently set Kyoka down, her grin matching his as she steadied herself.
Kyoka, {teasing}: "Well, that was easy. You could've at least let them have a chance."
Izuku, {chuckling}: "Aizawa said give it our all, remember?"
[Transition]
As the dust settled, the crowd was on its feet, roaring with applause. The display of speed and power had left everyone in awe, and Izuku's performance cemented his reputation as a rising star and powerhouse.
Meanwhile, back at the starting line, Todoroki stared at the path ahead, still frozen in shock.
Todoroki, {muttering to himself}: "That... That wasn't normal."
