Hot-Headed (Now also a podfic on spotify!)

Chapter 7

The third-year stage had come. 

Ochako got up early to stretch with Mina and found most of the other girls had risen to do the same, the tension thick in the air as they limbered their limbs to prepare them for the long day ahead.

Another massive breakfast was set out like on the first day of school but not as many classmates partook in it. It seemed like no matter how many times they went in front of a crowd, many of them would always be nervous about it.

Ochako forced herself to wolf down a few pieces of sausage and rice, knowing she would need the energy later and not be feeling the nerves in her stomach quite as badly as she was now.

The second-year stage had gone much like the first, minus her having to sit next to Bakugo as he seemed to have chosen to skip watching the festivities that day. He had probably been out training all day to prepare. Not that it mattered to her what he did or didn't choose to do with his day...

After breakfast, Ochako traveled down to the stadium which was already filling up with fans. Many of them, she noted, were children dressing as their favorite heroes. Her heart warmed seeing them running around in their little All-Might and Mt. Lady costumes.

She went into the locker rooms and changed into her gym clothes, waiting with everyone else for the signal that they could enter the arena.

When the time came, she met up with her classmates. As usual, they would be the first to walk out, followed by 3-B. 

The whole stadium erupted in a cacophony of cheers when they began to emerge and, somehow, managed to get even louder as Deku and Bakugo stepped out, only one of them waving. Ochako was close behind with Mina and Tsuyu on her flank.

All of the classes grouped up near the stage and Deku was brought forward to address the crowd as last year's winner.

"Thank you all for coming out today," he said sincerely, "This is our last year to show you what we can do. We've all worked hard and I know you're excited to get the events started. But first-"

He turned to his fellow classmates then. "I want to thank all of my classmates for making these past three years some of the best of my entire life," then his eyes met Ochako's, "and for the effort they've put into everything they've done. It's thanks to you we've all come so far."

Ochako felt her face go warm, knowing a lot of her peers were probably looking at her questioningly as he turned back to the crowd.

"Let's get the games started and have some fun! Plus Ultra!"

"PLUS ULTRA!" the crowd chanted back as he stepped off the stage.

"I gotta say, Midoriya-kun," Todoroki commented, "That speech was a lot better than the last couple years'."

Every eye turned to Bakugo then, whose brows knitted together in anger.

"What the fuck do you know, you half-n-half bastard?! You're probably just mad you never got the chance to be up there!"

Todoroki's only response was a shrug.

The students moved back to the entrance hall as a humongous hedge maze was erected, spreading the entirety of the field and taller than 10 feet. They must've employed Kamui Woods and at least 10 other pro heroes with some kind of wood ability to construct this maze.

Instructions were given over the loud speaker. Within this maze were small statues of pro heroes, 40 in all. The competitors were to go into the maze, find a statue, and get out. You were only allowed to have one but if you didn't have one, you could use whatever means necessary to take one from another competitor.