The stadium was loud with cheers for the student who beat everyone else. The victor of eleven classes. Shino felt really good. Despite the loud cheers sh e could hear the department of management going over a way to sell her assets. Talk about business savvy.
Shino was basking in her victory while keeping a careful check on those following after her. Sora came in second followed by Shoto, Katsuki and Izuku. Those four were pretty close and there was no telling who would get which place.
Sora was all smiles as he walked up to the victorious Shino.
"Way to go Shino" he offered a high five and Shino did not leave him hanging.
"You do realize that this is a competition, right? "
"So? You're my friend and I'm happy you won. Besides I can always beat you in the next round"
"I wouldn't count on it"
"Shino! " Katsuki's face was a sight to behold. It made Shino snicker despite the immediate danger she appeared to be in.
"Hey Katsuki. Beter work next time" She tapped his shoulder and the explosions ceased. He grumbled angry with a glare until the explosions returned. Shino smiled innocently all the while.
"Using the mines as a launcher was a good idea. It was enough of a boost to send you past the four of us and gave you enough speed to aid in your way of maneuvering. Genius" Izuku was mumbling to himself and would probably be taking notes if he had his notebook on him.
Shino shot Shoto a glance. The boy was standing on his own looking totally beaten. Not only had he lost to Shino but to Sora as well. He came in third place which is totally unacceptable.
"Yo, Kiddo" Daichi appeared at her side out of thin air. Probably teleported. He had a smile on his face as he patted Shino on the back in congratulations. "Nice going back there. It really sucks that I came in so low, but I can still be happy for my friend"
"Thanks Tagawa"
"I'm exhausted " Momo sighed as she walked up to Shino. She managed a smile and congratulated her friend before leaning against her for support. "What a struggle. We train to be protecters of the innocent and yet we are pushed into a everyman for themselves competition "
An amused chuckle left Shino's throat at the statement.
"That's life" she joked.
"Are you always amused? "
"Yes. It distracts me" Shino admitted honestly. This got Momo's attention as she raised a curious brow.
"It distracts you? From what? "
"Everything? The tiredness I feel from the lack of energy I have on the daily. The unending amount of thoughts running through head. My awareness of every single thing around me. It distracts me from all of that because focusing on such things is very frustrating. So I find amusement in any situation "
The sound of midnights voice pulled the two away from their conversation.
"And so the race has come to an end. Everyone take a look at the results"
The massive board proudly displayed the results of the race. Shino was proud with the results. The top five were her, Sora, Shoto, Katsuki and Izuku. Number six was someone from class B while number seven was the one and only Akio. Number eight Momo. A huge step up from the original. All the time spent with Shino really improved her skills. Plus there wasn't a small perverted boy clinging to her back. Number nine another class B student as well as number ten.
Shino was actually proud with the results. All her classmates made it through and would continue to the next round.
"The top 42 have the right to advance to the second stage. For those of you who failed I gotta say I'm sorry but take heart! The festivals showstopper is still being prepared"
It's that time. Shino smiled in anticipation as she sucked on a sweet.
"And for the second stage, the final selection. From here on out even the press corpse will be joining in on the white hot excitement. So you better go all out! " Midnight was one hell of a ref/host. She was overly dramatic which successfully kept all eyes on her. "What could the second round be? I already know but the suspense is killing me. I introduce to you stage two! "
On the screen were the words Shino was looking forward to.
"Human calvary battle"
The rules were soon explained. The students will be allowed to form groups of two to four in a horse back configuration. As any ordinary calvary battle the participants have to swipe headbands off of their opponents. The headbands will contain points each student is given based on their ranking. It was pretty simple and easy to understand.
"The number of points you're worth will be five points if your placed 42nd. Ten if you're 41st and so on with the exception of first place"
And here it comes. The words that might murder Shino's chance of finding a proper team. It excited her to no end.
"The lucky person to come first place is worth a grand total of ten million points" Midnight said. "If I were you I'd aim for the gal that placed first. This is the chance for the low scorers to move up in ranks"
All eyes were suddenly on Shino and she adorned a brilliant smile. She seemed completely happy with the situation which confused everyone.
"It seems I've become the main attention " she was very calm. "I challenge anyone to dare approach me for my worth" the bare intimidation that radiated off her was enough to make everyone in her area to take a step back.
And so the battle begins. Fifteen minutes was the limit. Everyone set out to find a team, most people purposely avoided Shino.
Shino didn't seem to care at all and just placed herself on the sand, arms and legs folded while she continued to fill up on her sweet. She wasn't going to look for anyone. She would welcome anyone brave enough to join her. It would be more of a challenge that way because she would have to come up with a strategy that will incorporate everyone's skills.
"Have any chocolate bars for me? "
Momo sat down next to Shino. Shino only smiled and handed her her last remaining chocolate bar.
"So, you're with me on this huh? "
"Of course" Momo said like it was the dumbest question on the planet. "I'm always with you"
"I've noticed" Shino nodded and looked on at the forming teams. "Thanks. It seems everyone has become the enemy now. Although I understand very clearly why that is it's comforting having a friend remain a friend "
"You can always count on me" Momo smiled and bumped Shino's shoulder playfully. "Isn't that what you always say to me? "
"It is isn't it? It seems the roles have been reversed"
"Hey you two"
Shino looked up to meet the every cheerful Daichi and calm Akio.
"You mind having us on your team? "Daichi asked.
"Nope, not at all. You are welcome to join my friend" Shino stood and helped Momo up. "Why do you want to join me anyway? "
"Because you have ten million on your head" Akio said blankly before allowing himself a smile. "And I actually see you as a very good friend"
"Thanks man. Wasn't expecting that from you"
"Me too. You're my friend and a pretty awesome one so I will carry you to victory! "
"I appreciate the sentiment and the enthusiasm "
"We need a plan of action Shino, i'm assuming you have on as you always do" Momo said.
"It depends. Daichi what is it you want to tell me? Because you are just beaming "
Daichi looked way to excited so Shino knew there was something he had to disclose.
"My keychains. I managed to sneak them onto Todoroki, Yagi and Bakugo" Daichi was obviously proud of himself and honestly so was Shino.
"How did you even manage that? " Shino couldn't bring herself to actually picture Daichi successfully accomplishing such a feat. Especially with Shoto.
"I was very sneaky, deadly like a ninja"
"I helped him" Akio revealed.
"That makes a lot more sense"
"Still it is hard to imagine you sneaking a keychain onto Todoroki" Momo said in thought.
"I'm a genius" Daichi grinned and walked up to Shino. "I was all like hey Todoroki! "He patted you hard on the back and slung an arm over your shoulder. "Nice going out there. Third place, not bad. I gotta ask how do you feel having lost to both Kiddo and Yagi? "
Shino was actually impressed with Daichi's vocabulary and his way of distracting Shoto. He knew exactly what those words would do to the boy and the fact that he said it so casually must have pissed Shoto off even more. With him distracted it wasn't hard for Daichi to accomplish his mission
"Why those three though? "
"Well I was planning on sneaking one onto Midoriya, but I didn't even have to get super close to him for him to detect me. So I opted with Bakugo"
"Alright. What you did is super useful. I'll just make a plan around it" Shino said, her brain already rapidly forming a somewhat coherent plan.
"Momo I'm gonna need you to make me some boots"