Chapter 36: Sports Festival Arc (1)
~Ren Y. POV~
[Days Later, Class 1-A Prep Room, Japan]
Days later, the Sports Festival is already here. Man, time sure does fly by assisting girls in need preparing for today. Even if I told Mei in advance to make some Support Items for them during the Horse Calvary Royale in advance for the future event.
Gazing at my classmates, I see that everyone is anxious and nervous about today's events. I wouldn't blame them, considering we will be shown to the whole world.
Everyone's prepared their training to the best they can. Although I could hear Kinoko mumble in an annoyed tone, "Wish I coulda worn my costume."
This was followed by Itsuka responding in a defeated tone, laying her hands on the table, "They're not allowed, in the interest of fairness."
Fairness is an understatement. But I won't argue with them on that.
Although I can't exactly, I'm excited about this. In every Shonen anime, the tournament arcs are always the best when done correctly.
*Swp*
That was when I heard Shoto's voice calling to me from behind, "Yuki."
Turning around with my hands in my pockets, I asked curiously enough, "Todoroki. What's up?"
This was when he began to make his arrogant declaration, I listened to him stoically as he said, "Objectively speaking, I'm stronger than you. More capable. All Might's got his eye on you, doesn't he? Now I'm not about to pry into why that is, but… I will beat you."
Everyone was now looking at us with his declaration. Denki commented looking at his declaration, "Ooh!! A declaration of war from the strongest in the class!"
Kirishima came around as he spoke trying to break what seemed to be a fight occurring in front of him, "Hey, man, why pick a fight now?! We're about to go on…"
The tsundere Todoroki merely moved his arm away from Kirishima's grasp as he coldly responded, "I really don't care. I'm not pretending to be anyone's friend here."
That was when I opened my mouth and answered Shoto's question in a neutral tone, shocking everyone with my words, "Agreed. I can't be the only one who feels this way, considering the other courses will come for us with everything they have. Although coming from you only handicapping yourself with your ice… Your words seem hollow and naïve Prince Zuko."
Shoto clicked his teeth, turning his back to me in annoyance and confusion at my nickname for him, fully aware that I noticed his self-imposed handicap. I soon turned towards the entrance, giving everyone a final piece of advice with a reassuring grin, "With that said, I'm hoping everyone is gonna give their all. Anything less would be disappointing, so then? Plus Ultra!"
"Plus Ultra!"
Giving them a boost of motivation, we all proceeded to enter through the gates of the stadium for the UA Sports Festival….
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[UA High School, Stadium, Japan]
When we entered through the gates, we could hear the crowd of people yelling at us in anticipation.
"The first-year stage!"
"The students are coming out!"
Having the attention drawn to us, Present Mic began to speak out loud in an excited tone, hyping my class up, "It's UA's Sports Festival!! The one time each year… when our fledgling heroes compete in a ruthless grand battle!! First up you know who I'm talkin' about!! The miraculous rising stars who brushed off a villain attack with their steely willpower!! The first years of the Hero Course!! It's class 1-A!!!"
*Badum*
*Badum*
I can feel my heartbeat rapidly, having all eyes drawn towards me as I was engrossed with literal rows of people staring in a stunned tone, "I know the Sports Festival is grand and all, but this… is certainly surprising to be in the limelight."
That was when Ida followed up on my words, keeping a cool-headed expression as he stoically answered my response, "And we're expected to put on the best performance we can in front of so many spectators. I suppose this is merely one more necessary skill if we hope to become heroes."
Curtly nodding my head, agreeing, I soon see Kirishima muttering to Bakugo, feeling the pressure, "They're really giving us too much credit… but we won't let it shake us, right, Bakugo…?"
Contrary to feeling nervous, Bakugo grinned in anticipation, saying in a confident tone, eyeing me, "Nope. Just gets me pumped up."
Then Present Mic soon began to address the other course students in his usual upbeat tone, "Following Class B, it's Classes C, D, and E of general studies…!! And here come the support course classes, F, G, and H! And the business course…"
Ignoring some, I see Izuku and Mei with them as I shoot a wave, seeing some familiar friends from Naruhata grinning widely from the stands. Even Toga waved as they saw our gestures returning the favor.
*WHKRAK*
But our attention soon drifts towards a crackle of a whip drawing our eyes to Midnight announcing out loud, "Now for the athlete's oath!!"
That was when there was chatter from the people and from the students questioning whether Midnight should be the one to sponsor the first year's Sports Festival. Granted, fair enough, but I think Nemuri has it handled just my biased opinion.
"Ohh! The first year's ref this time is the R-Rated Hero: Midnight!"
"What about the principal?"
"He's always assigned to the third-year stage."
"R-Rated? Should she really be in a high school?"
*KRAK*
Having enough from the peanut gallery, Midnight whipped her whip, demanding silence as she called me out to do the pledge, "Shut it! Pipe down!! Your student representative is… from Class 1-A, Ren Yuki!"
Figured as much. I did pass in first place during the entrance exam. Fortunately, I have a pledge in mind for just the occasion.
I climbed up the stairs and reached Midnight, nodding to her and receiving a wink back from her. Picking up the microphone, I began to announce my pledge, "Hello, UA, Pro Heroes, and citizens of the world!! How are y'all doing today!? Before we get started, I have two requests to make. One is for my fellow UA First Years, and the second request is for all of you in the audience!"
Withholding my breath, I gained everyone's attention as I spoke out loud, looking down at my class, stating a fact, "My fellow UA First Years, my request to you all is to do whatever you can to win, no matter who you face, or what obstacles you come across. Keep this thought in your mind: "I always aim for the top. If someone knocks me down, I will get right back up again! I will not stop until I've reached my goal! And when I've reached my goal, I will aim for a newer, harder goal! I will go beyond, PLUS ULTRA!"
The first years were stunned by my words as my attention shifted to the crowd, expressing a wide grin in a determined tone pointing a finger at them in the end, "With that being said, my second request goes out to the audience here in person and those at home who unfortunately couldn't make it here today! My request to you all is this: Don't blink once during this, or you might miss a truly incredible and inspiring show of both raw power and talent that could change so much of what you know about so many fun things. Now that I've said everything I wanted to say, good luck and a good day! LET THE FIRST DAY OF THE UA SPORTS FESTIVAL... BEGIN!!!! YOU BETTER GET YOUR GAME ON!!!"
"YEAH!!!!"
"TO GO BEYOND!!! PLUS ULTRA!!!"
"REN YUKI!! REN YUKI!!! REN YUKI!!!!"
Hyping the crowd, letting go of the microphone, Midnight smirked as she licked her lips at my challenging words in an excited tone, "Nice work, kid, so youthful~ You sure came a long way when you first began."
I nodded as I thanked her with a shy grin on my face in a sheepish tone, "Yeah… I better get going. See yah Nemuri-san."
She only shook her head as everyone from the first-year class clapped with Ida saying in an excited tone, "That's just like Ren-san! I expected nothing less from him!"
Toga even chimed in an excited tone, getting near me, "That's just like Ren-kun would do!"
Momo even chimed in, congratulating me as she said in a determined tone, feeling motivated by my words, "That was an incredible speech, Yuki-san. You definitely deserve to be our Class representative."
My classmates were supportive of me and determined to win when I gave my speech. But for some, not so much as they voiced their challenges at me as I stride with confidence.
"Don't get cocky, class A!"
"We won't let you show us up!"
"Overconfident jerk!"
"I'll be the one to crush him!!"
*HUMM*
Not wasting any more time, Midnight showed a hologram screen as she began to go ahead with the Sports Festival, "Now without any delay, let's get the first event started."
*BUZZZ*
I could hear Ocacho muttering how everything at UA was always without delay. And I must agree as Midnight showed the first series of the games in an excited tone, "These are the qualifiers! It's at this stage that so many are sent home crying every year!! And the fateful first event this year is… this!!"
On the hologram screen, I muttered out loud the words in a whisper to myself, "An Obstacle Course…"
*Clank*
*Clank*
*Clank*
The gates soon began to change, opening up as Midnight began to explain the rules in an upbeat tone, "It's a race between every member of all 11 classes! The course is a 4-kilometer lap around the stadium itself! Our school preaches freedom in all things! Heh heh heh… so long as you don't go off the course, anything is fair game!"
Oh? That changes a few things, then.
Seeing that I need to showcase my stuff portal to the end wouldn't look good for me in the long run, so long as I get first place. That and I need to conserve my PP Bar as much as possible in an event like this.
With her words, the 11 first-year classes raced to be the first at the starting point. But those who were smart enough to realize that going first isn't the wisest choice for some, especially with Shoto going up front.
If that's the case… looking around I tried to see if I could find her in the crowd – there!
Making my way towards her, I soon asked my classmate a hand in a confident tone, "Hey, Ocacho, can I speak with you for a second?"
Getting her attention she looked at me confused but always ready to lend a helping hand and asked in a confused tone, "Huh? What's up, Ren-san? Don't you want to get a good position to the portal to the end?"
She tilted her head as I explained in a sheepish tone my plan in mind, seeming to gain her attention, "I would, but I do need to show my stuff. Besides that, I need to conserve stamina for moving around. Besides that, I was wondering if we should team up for this event."
That gained her attention. Ocacho asked me in a confused tone tilting her head, "Is that even allowed? I know Midnight-Sensei said we could do whatever we wanted, but this is still a competition?"
I smirked, pointing and jabbing my thumb to my chest in a confident tone, shrugging my shoulders, "It is. But pros also look for potential sidekicks searching for students that best suit their field and teamwork. And what better way to showcase ourselves is to cooperate to show your potential with your Quirk [Zero Gravity]."
She looked a bit embarrassed as I explained I could carry her to victory. While embarrassed with [Attract and Repel] combined with her [Zero Gravity], making me weightless, propelling into the air, bypassing everyone by a large margin since not everyone can fly.
Judging by her expression and my words, challenging everyone to win for the top by any means seemed to convince her in a determined tone, "Ahh…. Fine. I won't stop till I reach my goal, and if using your means, I can guarantee a spot, then deal. What's the plan around this?"
Oh… I like this Ochaco willing to do anything to win. My kind of gal.
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A/N: Hey guys, the author here to say welcome to the Sports Festival Arc! All I gotta say is I hope you guys like this Arc but on a side note I wanted to ask a question since I'm writing the Two Heroes Arc.
I want to know if All Might mentioning Ren's [Gamer's Path] to her in advance would be wise or not. I wanted to ask since I already have in mind for All Might to have Ren have a future sidekick in mind that's trustworthy and be able to assist him in his Support Items, like how All Might told Nighteye his secret having someone to be by his side.
That and get closer to Melissa if I went with that route with the girl tempted by gaining a pseudo-Quirk-like ability for herself getting attached to the MC through increasing her stats. I just want to hear your guy's thoughts if yes or no on whether the idea would be good or not.