𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗 ᝰ bnha

23 | side quest gone wrong

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SIDE QUEST GONE WRONG

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

"You're giving us too much credit, [L/N]-chan!" Uraraka said with a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "After all, it was your team that placed first!"

"Still," you replied. "I'm glad we're all moving onto the next round."

Tokoyami nodded sagely, arms folded. "Indeed. There is no denying it—your synergy and prowess as a unit were nothing short of exceptional. The battlefield favored your harmony."

You blinked, a bit caught off guard by his poetic phrasing, but smiled anyway. "Uh, thanks, Tokoyami. Appreciate it."

You know what no one tells you about being in first place?

That right after pulling off a win with top-tier strategy, surviving the mess on literal horseback, and congratulating your green-haired friend who's crying like he's been awarded with the title of Number One Hero—you'll get hit with an overwhelming, soul-ratting urge to pee.

Like, out of nowhere.

You're not even sure what triggered it. Maybe the adrenaline finally crashing. The Sports Festival's been actually fun so far for you after all. It's just as fun staying up to play video games. Ah, back in your prime. Or hell, maybe Izuku's tears made your bladder sympathetic.

Also—is it just you, or is Shoto sneaking glances at you every five seconds? Not that you're counting. Even so. He has that subtle stare thing going on, the kind where it's hard to tell if he's deep in thought or just spacing out.

Either way, you need to go.

So without another word, you blurt out a rushed, "Be right back!" and speed-walk away.

Luckily, the lunch break had just started, and the crowd was beginning to disperse, everyone too tired or too hungry to question your brisk getaway. Because if there's one thing you don't want as your legacy at U.A., it's being the kid who peed themselves after winning the Cavalry Battle.

You round the hallway corner, internally cursing how far the restrooms are. Every step feels like a gamble, but finally—you make it. You barely manage to slam the stall door shut before sweet, glorious relief takes over.

The sound of the toilet flushing echoes behind you as you pull your pants back up and exhale. But what soon follows is the sound of your stomach growling. Loudly.

You roll your eyes at your reflection in the mirror. "This body's so needy," you mutter, shaking your head as you dry your hands.

With 'Problem #1' out of the way, you step back into the corridor, thoughts already shifting to food. Now what could be good to eat? Your feet are already steering you towards the cafeteria when something catches your eye.

A vending machine.

There it is. Sitting pretty behind the glass. A strawberry-flavoured drink—your holy grail, your most favourite, the most delicious one of all. It's not just any drink, a branded Binggrae milk drink at that. Flavoured juice or soda could never even compare, not close.

You know full well you just barely made it to the bathroom earlier. And yeah, maybe dairy isn't the smartest move right now. It might be a little diuretic.

But do you care? Absolutely not.

Eyes lighting up, you swiftly dig through your pockets, fish out a couple of coins, and slam them into the machine with zero hesitation.