•Manipulation• [BNHA × Male!OC]

Chapter 114: Kiss the Cook

"Everyone who participated in the Kamino incident seems to have leapt forward in rankings..." I mumble, mainly to myself.

It seems like despite everyone being interested in the billboard rankings, only a few of us were really sat around the common room TV to watch it. The rest were busy with who knows what, leaving the TV as audio in the background.

When third place was announced, Katsuki scoffed from beside me.

"Bastard still keeping his spot while on hiatus huh?" it was a mix of his usual condescending tone underlined with a recognizable respect for the man he had trained under.

Unable to attend, pictures of Best Jeanist were projected onto the stage.

"Isn't that good?" I smiled, keeping my eyes on the TV, "Means you had your internship at a good hero's agency."

"Yeah well, right back at you..." he muttered a reply as a familiar feathered hero made his appearance at number 2.

'Second huh? Makes sense, he was third before All Might retired.'

"And I bet I can guess who first is," I snicker, bumping my shoulder against Shoto by my other side.

He sighed, crossing his arms and looked away just as Endeavor stepped onto the stage in all his flaming asshole glory.

I leave him be, turning my eyes back onto the screen.

'Number 1, 2 and 3, guess we trained under some bigshots huh...?'

As the announcer spoke, heroes lined up in the background, I couldn't help but let my mind wander.

"Maybe that'll be us one day," I mumble to myself once more, except this time the boys alongside me seem to catch on.

Shoto gave me a small smile while Blasty sneered.

"But I'll be the top spot," he grinned and I rolled my eyes.

"Nah, we'll follow our teachers," I gestured at the screen before pulling Icyhot in by the shoulders.

"Which means Peppermint here will be number one," I point at the boy in my arms who looks to have a dizzying expression of embarrassment yet pride on his face.

"HAH, FAT CHANCE!" Katsuki yelled before getting shushed by the rest of the group who were watching the TV.

By the time our attention goes back to the TV, the heroes were having their speeches.

It seemed like it was Hawk's turn but...

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'What did that birdbrain say already to make everyone look so done with him...?'

The disdain on the other heroes' faces were plain as day.

"Let me see..." he continued before expanding his large red wings.

"Looking at just our general popularity, Mr Best Jeanist is at number one, number two is me, three is Mr Edgeshot," he rattled off while slowly flapping his wings to hover in the air.

'Hah, ever the center of attention...'

I guess when he acted like this it was easier to tell he was only 22 years old.

"Honestly, I think popularity is the most important benchmark right now," now he was literally talking down to the audience, red feathers showering down upon them as he spoke.

"Is this the time to struggle with the past? Is it okay if we don't change up our style? The symbol is long gone. At this turning point, all of you who accomplished less than me, why are you playing it safe?"