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The crowd roared with amazement. People jumped out of their seats like they were allergic to them and bullied the air with their fists. Izuku heard people shouting his name before being joined by Kaachan and Todoroki. The announcers announced their names but he couldn't hear it over the deafening roar that played tennis within his own ears.

He seemed to glow a bit before all his brothers spilled out of him with their smiles wide.

"Where did you learn how to do any of that?" Pride yelled as he dug his knuckles lightly into Zero's head. All of his brothers surrounded him with endless chatter and he made eye contact with Gluttony. Envy and Wrath stood side by side but gave him two thumbs up and Zero's heart swelled.

"You were great!" Gluttony yelled with Sloth's arm draped over his shoulders. Chip residue flung into the air from Gluttony's hands and Zero giggled as some landed in his hair.

Lust brushed it off and took a selfie with Zero. "I'm gonna remember this moment!" He gave Zero a big hug and snuggled into his neck. "We were all watching with anticipation- you handled everything so well."

"You did us all proud, Zero" Greed said as he added onto the hug. Zero accepted it and all of his brother came around and hugged each other.

It was peaceful and Zero felt his beating heart slowdown from the excitement.

"I'm sorry (not sorry) to break up this touching moment, but we need to get back over to start the grounds for the next round" Kaachan shouted from behind them.

Zero looked and saw a handful of students heading back up to the bleachers and another group standing in front of Pro-hero Midnight- who stood on a stage. She waved them over and they all began to run to her.

Once they got within earshot, she began to speak. "Congratulations to the people who made it to the next qualifier. The next round of U.A. Sports Festival First-Year stage is..." a machine that was spinning behind her stopped and she smiled with her whip in her hand.

"A cavalry battle with the Top 42 from the qualifier!" Noises of an array of emotions surfaced from the crowd. "Those at the top will suffer more. You'll hear this many times as you attend UA. This is what 'Plus Ultra' means!" Midnight looked around the crowd and spotted Izuku. She thrusted her whip at him and Lust shivered with delight.

"Midoriya Izuku, who placed first in the qualifier, is worth ten million points!" Zero's eyes went wide and his brothers stood tall and went on guard. Zero tried to keep a poker face but the eyes staring at him were looking at him like he was the prey.

Zero didn't like the sight not one bit.

Greed grabbed his hand and shook him out of his trance. Zero looked at him but Greed stayed facing forward.

Midnight continued. "Now then, I will explain the rules of the cavalry battle. The time limit is fifteen minutes. Each team is worth the total of its members' points, and the riders will wear a headband with that number on their foreheads. Teams will try to grab each other's headbands until time runs out, and try to keep as many points as they can" Midnight demonstrated with a headband she was given by a helper and showed everyone that they were Velcro and could be easily snatched.

"Stolen headbands must be worn from the neck up. So, the more you steal, the harder it'll be to manage them! And the most important thing is that even if your headband gets stolen, or if your team falls, you're not out!"

"Which means," Yaoyorozu started.

"Since there are 42 people, there will be ten or twelve teams on the field the whole time?" Sato finished for her.

"That's tough" Aoyama whimpered.

"One strategy could be to let someone take your points first so you'll be more free" Ashido thought out loud.

"It's hard to say without seeing how all the points end up getting split up, Mina" Tsuyu replied.

"During the game, it'll be a cruel fight where you can use your Quirks. But it is still a cavalry battle. You'll get a red card for attacks that are trying to make people fall on purpose! You'll be removed immediately!"

Izuku could've sworn that he heard Kaachan curse.

A timer on the projection flashed with 15 minutes.

"Now, you have fifteen minutes to build your teams. Start!" Midnight yelled.

Zero turned to Todoroki and Kaachan to invite them to be on his team but Greed had other plans.

"Katsuki. Todoroki." He looked at them with stern eyes. "I want to see if you have a chance against beating us. I want you both to make teams and succeed in claiming second or third place. After doing so, come to us- you'll spot us easily"

Kaachan scoffed. "You think we can't dethrone you, Greed? I'm sure I'll come in first"

"That's where you're wrong, Kaachan" Pride smirked. "I believe the score was: Pride- 69 and Katsuki- 0. What makes you think you can beat me this time?"

Kaachan growled. "I'll wipe that smirk off your ass" and with that, Kaachan stomped off to Kirishima.

Todoroki stood stoically and looked at Zero. "I will not go easy on you just because we are friends"

"I-I wouldn't want you to" Zero replied hesitantly. Todoroki nodded and then walked off to form a group with Iida.

Lust deeply growled. "I could watch his apple bottom any day of the week!" He bit his lip and Pride punched his shoulder. Wrath somewhat smiled at the playful air and Envy wrapped an arm around his shoulder comfortably.

"Yo" Gluttony started between bites potato chips he randomly had. Sloth had his arms wrapped around his shoulders and seemed to be asleep despite the loud atmosphere.

"Why isn't anyone approaching us to be in their group?"

Zero looked around and saw that everyone was already in some kind of group and talking strategy. "Oh jeez! I knew this would happen! We are the prey!"

Greed laughed. "Me? Us? Prey? What a funny joke, Zero!" He laughed at Zero's pale expression and caused some groups to look at him before turning away.

Pride put a hand on Zero's shoulder. "It's going to be fine; we can beat anyone here in our sleep- and that includes you" He booped Zero's nose.

"How are we going to do that? We don't even have a team!" Zero began to pace but Sloth got up from Gluttony and stopped him before he could do anymore.

"For someone so smart, you are so dense sometimes" He knocked on Zero's noggin- which caused Zero to shake his emerald curls in their own rhythm. He yawned and shook some sleep out of his eyes. Zero tilted his head in confusion but Sloth patted his back and yawned again.

"We are going to be your group!" Lust did jazz hands after saying it and to their surprise, Zero's confused face turned to a smile which turned into a laugh. The sound made each of them smile and feel like their energy had been replenished by a thousand percent. They couldn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue and felt like they could take on the world.

If Zero wanted them to, of course.

Greed stepped forward and beckoned everyone to huddle closer. With a glance at the timer it showed him that he had three minutes.

It was plenty of time.

"Now, let's get down to business"