" Grandma! What's with all this!" Sora gasped as she stared at the table laded with food.
" You need energy for today's festival right."
" That's too much energy!"
" That's nothing." Yui's smile softened as she ran her eyes over the girl, Sora flinching slightly when she realized her grandmother was staring too much. " Before I knew, you've grown up and now reached this far. There wasn't much I could do for you, so at least, let me help with this."
" Grandma..." Her eyes glazed over. "... Thank you."
Yui's face brightened.
" But still, I wouldn't be able to finish all this."
" Hm, then what about packing some for lunch? I'll prepare you a lunchbox, Yuu-kun as well."
" Thanks!" Sora said flinging her arms around her grandmother's waist, squeezing her in a tight hug.
" This kind of reminds me of when you were in elementary."
" Grandma!"
________________
Yuu checked twice he had everything he needed before sliding his bag on his shoulder and heading downstairs. As he made it to the door, there was no greeting from his parents whatsoever. He put on his shoes and clicked the door open before his father's voice came out. " You really going?"
Yuu hesitated for a moment before looking back inside. " It's a chance I shouldn't miss on. Also, participation in the festival is compulsory."
" They should just make an exception for you. You will probably just get scared away by a ghost or something in the end. Not that your Quirk can rival the others." His mother's voice sounded from the kitchen.
Yuu pursed his lips. He knew he was still ways behind the rest. He knew that well. But hearing his parents blurting it out nonchalantly.
" Either way, do what you want. We would be out for work so we won't be watching it."
Yuu sighed deeply before stepping out of the house. He already figured that much.
________________
A few hours after they came, the school ground was crawling with people, either spectators or reporters. The students were told to come a few hours earlier so they could prepare, also not to get caught in the crowd.
Sora shut the door of her locker after she had changed into her gym clothes, securing all of her things. Currently, they were in the waiting room, waiting for their cue to proceed to the stage. Calm down Sora, you can do it. You've been practicing hard.
She looked over at her friend, only to see him huddled on his chair, his feet held tightly to his chest. " Eh...? It's been a while since I saw you in that pose." She walked to him, a smile plastered on her face. " Let's do our best."
" A... Ah... I'll... Work hard..." He was rocking back and forth as three flames sparked around him.
Whisper looked at Sora and shook his head. " You know, stage freight."
" He isn't used to being the center of interest after all." She smiled awkwardly. " I'll leave him in your hands whisper."
" Don't you worry about him. He has me. Also, you should focus more on yourself in the sports festival, no helping him. Understood!"
Sora scratched the back of her head at that, but Whisper was right. She shouldn't be helping him. Not because she wants to win. Nope, not that. It's because Yuu's future employer would be mostly watching the festival. She didn't want to ruin his chances by helping him and making scouters think he couldn't do anything on his own.
Their attention was caught when Iida swung their door open. " Everyone, are you ready? We will be entering soon!"
Sora took a deep breath, trying to keep her nerves calm. Yuu hastened his rocking back and forth before Whisper squeezed his face to subdue him to stop.
" Todoroki-kun? What's the matter?"
Everyone turned to Midoriya and Todoroki in the center, facing each other.
" Looking at things objectively, I think I'm stronger than you." Todoroki stated, his face as stoic as ever.
" Huh... Y-Yeah..."
" But... All Might has his eye on you, doesn't he?"
Here it's again. Sora thought as the freckled boy blenched slightly.
" I'm not trying to pry about that. But I'm going to beat you."
Midoriya's eyes went wide at the war declaration while Todoroki remained cool. Kirishima tried to pacify them sensing the tense atmosphere within the waiting room.
" We're not here to play at being friends." Todoroki irked the red head's hand away." So what does it matter?" He strolled away from them.
" Man, what's wrong with him?" Sora questioned his attitude.
" Maybe he is feeling obliged to do so to uphold his father's name..."
" His father?" Her eyes drifted to her friend curiously.
" You didn't know? Todoroki-san is the N.2's son, Endeavor's son."
" Eh!" Sora's eyes bulged out at the revelation. " Eeeeh! He is that..."
" I see. That's why he got through recommendation, right." Whisper pointed out.
They looked back at the center as Midoriya retorted.
" Todoroki, I dont know what you're thinking when you say you'll beat me, but of course you're better than me. I think you're more capable than most people... Looking at it objectively..."
" Midoriya, you probably shouldn't talk so negatively..."
" But everyone-" He didn't seem to hear. " The students from the other courses are aiming for the top with everything they've got!"
His clenched fists dropped to his sides. " I can't afford to fall behind." Todoroki turned to face a determined Midoriya. " I'll be going for it with everything I have too."
"... Yeah." It somehow seemed to satisfy Todoroki.
A heavy silence lingered over the room before they were called out. They formed two lines and proceeded to where they would be waiting before marching into the stage. They could hear the spectators' cheering and Present Mic's commenting.
" You know, Todoroki-kun was kind of a jerk earlier." Sora thought back to how he jerked Kirishima's hand away and his rude words. " And just when I thought our class was quite good... Save Bakugo-kun maybe... In certain cases..."
Yuu recalled what the red and white head told him after their battle training was over. " I... Don't think he is bad..."
" Huh?"
" He... Kind of was concerned about me after he froze me during our battle training..." He fiddled with his fingers. " Maybe... Something came up that made him act that way..."
Sora tipped her head as though mulling over it. " Regardless, it wasn't nice at all, what he had done to Kirishima-kun."
" It's time for the students to enter the first-year stage!" Present Mic bellowed. That was their cue as they proceeded through the small half-lit tunnel. Class 1A finally stepped into the light, Midoriya leading them. They each picked their own pace as they walked to the central podium.
" It's so crowded!" Sora marveled at the many people who came to watch them.
" Too much... If you ask me..." If it wasn't for Whisper who kept prodding him forward, Yuu would have dug a hole and hid in there for the rest of his life.
Students from other classes filed into the stage from the other doors. Sora blinked when she glimpsed a certain orange head not too far from her. " Huh... Kendo-san?"
Whisper whirled Yuu's face towards class B. " Oi Yuu, that boy..." He was a short tubby boy with silver-grey hair reaching to his shoulders, his bang slightly hiding his eyes.
" The one from the entrance exam... So he got in..."
" You know." Jiiro stated from beside him as she looked back at the other class. " We're supposed to be the only two classes of first years in the hero course, but we barely interacted with them at all."
" We were too focused on our courses we didn't have the chance to." Yaoyorozu pointed. " Also, I've heard classes' members usually make each other acquaintance during the sports festival."
The sound of a whip flailing through the air caught their attention and everyone focused on the woman standing on the podium. " Time for the player pledge!"
" She is.... Who?" Sora tilted her head at Yuu with an awkward smile while he sweat dropped.
" Midnight, The R-Rated Hero..."
" What's Midnight-sensei wearing?" Kirishima tried not to stare but failed at a certain point.
" Her hero costume." Yuu stated.
" that's an R-Rated Hero for you." Said Kaminari.
" Is it okay for her to be at a high school even though she's R-Rated?" Asked Tokoyami.
" Yes!" Mineta was the most hyped they had ever seen him.
Sora looked around her, most boys bore visible tints of pink on their faces and were staring at the woman. " That's... Kind of worrying..."
" Quiet everyone!" She flailed her flogger whip once more to silence them utterly. " Representing the students is Bakugo Katsuki from class 1-A!"
Class A turned to him quite shocked as he made for the podium.
" What?It's Kacchan?"
" That guy did finish first in the entrance exam."
" In the hero course." A girl from general studies sighed.
" R-Right..." Midoriya stuttered.
" It's obvious she hates us."
" And it's all Bakugo's fault."
" Is it okay thought..." Sora turned to Asui by her side. " For Bakugo-kun to do the player pledge?"
She made a ribbit sound as she held a finger to her jawbone. " If he stays calm, maybe."
Everyone watched in expectancy as they awaited Bakugo's words. He stood there, glaring down at the spectators with a poker face. Yuu for once was glad he was facing the blond's back.
" I pledge-" He began. " That I'll be number one."
I knew he'd do that. His whole class was thunderstruck.
Sora scratched her cheek with an awkward cackle as the other classes booed at him. As I thought it was a bad idea leaving it to him.
" Why are you doing something so disgraceful?!" Iida rebuked.
" At least become a nice bouncy step for me to jump off of." He told him. Ignoring his rebuking, Bakugo returned among them.
The high screen showed ' First Game'. " Now, let's get started right away!" Midnight cried. " The first game is what you'd call a qualifier! Every year, many drink their tears here!"
" Hopefully not me..." Yuu begged.
" Now, here is the fateful first game!" With another flap of her flogger, a hologram screen popped behind her, mimicking a slot machine. " This year is..." It stopped on ' Obstacle Race '. " This."
" An obstacle race." Sora smiled.
" Tsk, lucky you. With your wings, you won't have much trouble." Whisper grunted before looking at the shaking boy. Yuu never did well with races, obstacles or not.
Midnight explained more about their first game before threshing her whip up, licking her upper lip lustily. " Our school's selling point is freedom! As long as you stay on course, it doesn't matter what you do!"
The loud hollers filled the stadium. " Now, take your places everyone!"
They gather in front of a red gate that would mark their starting point. It had green lumps on the top shining brightly.
" Here we're, it has started..." Through beads of sweat sliding down her face, Sora couldn't contain her excitement.
" Show me what you're made off, soldier!" Whisper flung his fists at Yuu. " You're gonna ace this!"
" I... Will try."
Everyone was concentrating hard on the lights, waiting for their cue to rush.
One light went off.
" Yuu, I forgot to tell you."
" Huh?"
The second one went off.
She smiled at him while holding her thumb.
" Good luck!"
The third and last bulb went off.
" Start!"
They sprang with everything they got towards the exit. Present Mic and apparently Aizawa were commenting together on the race.
" Let's get started right away, Mummy Man. What should we pay attention to in the early stages?" That was Mic.
" This part right now."
Hearing that, Whisper tightened his grasp on Yuu's neck, forcing him to halt.
" You strangled me!"
" Look!"
His eyes were fixed on the narrow path. The many people filing in made it crammed and almost impossible to pass. Those who already rushed were elbowing and shouldering other students to press forward.
" That was close." Sora heaved a sigh, just like Yuu she had stopped before she could get trapped in the huddle of people. " If Aizawa-sensei didn't mention it..."
" That's a qualifier round for you..."
" The first sifting." A voice called from behind them before its owner sprang forward. Glimpsing a blur of white and red, they figured it must have been Todoroki.
They were proven right when the exit tunnel was frozen down, binding a whole lot of the students to their spots while the male managed to swiftly get past them.
" He rooted them on the ground to open a way?!" Whisper exclaimed.
" He's really strong." Sora was at a loss of words at his strength and skills.
However, class A were able to tackle his move.
" I should go as well!" Large snowy white wings sprouted out of her back as she flew through the tunnel, catching up with Bakugo and the rest.
" Eeeeh! What are we waiting for?! Let's get going as well!" Whisper pointed ahead.
" But the ice-"
" Shut up and open your mouth!"
He slipped through the purple's head's mouth and the boy's eyes glimmered.
Yuu rushed forward, using those stuck in the ice as step stones as he bounced from one's shoulder to another's head before finally crossing the tunnel. He looked back with a smirk at the people complaining. " Don't feel sorry about your loss, at least you gave me a path forward!"
He skidded on the slippery ice, overtaking a few of his classmates.
" Seijin-kun is already ahead!" Midoriya watched the back of the boy running ahead of them.
" Must be Whisper's help..." Urarka was hardly keeping herself balanced.
" I said Whisper used to be athletic!" Said Yuu, still proceeding with ease on the icy ground. " Ice skating is a piece of cake for him!"
" Like hell I'm falling behind!" Mineta plucked his hair balls, throwing them ahead and making a path for himself. Yuu had to dodge them promptly so not to get stuck as the shorter boy passed him, jumping from one ball to another and catching up with Todoroki. He was about to perform some kind of special move before he was knocked away and send trundling on the ground by a robot.
Yuu halted as soon as he was out of the iced ground, finding his path blocked by the faux villains from the entrance exam.
Sora glanced downward but had to quickly look up ahead of her when she glimpsed something gigantic towering over her. " You're kidding..."
"Obstacles have shown up suddenly!" Commented Mic. " Starting with the first barrier! Robo Inferno!"
Behind the front rows of small robots, stood the ginormous forms of the zero point, a bunch of them.
" Seriously!" Yuu took a step back so the enormous robots could fully be seen.
" So this is what they used in the general entrance exam?" The white and red head in front of him mattered to himself. " If they went through all this trouble, I wish they would've prepared something better."
It was a second. Just as a zero point took a swing at Todoroki, he froze it momentarily, leaving the others with stunned faces at his power. He sprang forward, past the frozen bot.
Many others tried to follow after but Yuu didn't, realizing the unit was frozen at an unbalanced stance. It took a moment before it came crumbling down, burying two students beneath it.
" Todoroki from class 1A. He attacked and defended in one hit! How elegant!" Mic continued on complimenting the boy some more while Sora stared after his back.
" He may act rude but his strength is the real thing." She said as Kirishima and the boy named Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu from class B rose from underneath the rubble of the zero point, Kirishima crying about how their Quirks were similar.
Sora breathed out seeing both of them fine. " Still, if it was anyone else they could have died." She glared back at the boy taking first place.
A huge metallic hand came flailing at her abruptly and Sora promptly dodged out of the way. " That was a close call!"
Suddenly something snapped in the back of her mind and she wanted to slap herself so badly. " Why are you slacking around Sora..."
She rose high in attitude. High. Higher. Higher. Until no more zero point could reach her. " What was I waiting for, wasting my precious time."
" Shirogane soars over the Robo Inferno obstacle quite easily! She has her wings to thank!"
" That's unfair! Because of her character design, she is getting ahead easily! Isn't this kind of overpowered!" Mineta protested.
" Don't think it's easy." Aizawa's words resounded through the stadium. " It's not simple to fly that high. Her wings are muscles as well. Not to mention it gets harder to breathe the higher you rise. For her to be able to withstand that arduous stress on her body, it serves to show you how hard she worked so she could bear it."
" Sora is getting ahead." Yuu squinted his eyes at the pair of white wings getting smaller in the sky. " I need to catch up."
An explosion sounded from behind him as Bakugo darted forward, climbing his way up the large villain, followed by more of their classmates.
" Are you going to stand and watch?" In a flash of blue fire, he was mounted on Kyubi's back. " If you keep marveling over them you'll be left behind."
" Here it comes! Seijin's Yokai, Kyubi, enters the pitch! However Mummy Man, isn't it against the rules?"
" Not at all, Kyubi is there because Seijin materialized her through his life energy. Her existence doesn't go against the rules."
She sprinted past the smaller bot, towards one of the zero point. It lowered its giant hand as though trying to floor her, yet she was faster to dodge the attack and gallop up the long of its arm. " It's huge but also slow. That much I figured in the entrance exam."
She hopped from its upper arm as it tried to smash her with its other hand and landed on top of its head. " While we can avoid it like the rest let's do so." And she darted on its back to get to the ground before catching up with Bakugo and the others.
" Hey, hey! The first barrier's a piece of cake? Then what about the second?" Mic's voice chimed through the area as they came across the second obstacle.
Their expressions were unreadable upon setting eye on it. It was a great cliff with scattered rock platforms with different widths. All of them were linked via metallic wires.
" If you fall, you're out! If you don't wanna fall, then crawl! It's 'The Fall'!"
" Tsk! Is UA trying to kill us!" Yuu grunted.
Asui was the first to jump on the rope with a 'ribbit' sound. She deftly advanced with so much ease.
Then it was the turn of a support course student with pink hair and giant goggles to show off, presenting her original items with a dramatic flourish.
" Support course? They were allowed to bring originally made gadgets with them I recall." Yuu murmured.
The pinkette shot a grappling hook at one of the platforms, dashing forward with her hovering souls. She pulled herself using the wire from the hook and climbered up the rock pillar, crossing half the distance in no time.
" Amazing. That much can be done with support items."
" Yuu, focus!"
Yuu blinked before squinting his eyes at the field. " What do you think, Kyubi?"
" Some platforms are close to each other. If we find the best route I can jump from one to another."
Yuu ran his eyes thoroughly over the field before nodding to himself. " Alright. Follow my direction. First one ahead and then to the right."
The nine-tailed fox jumped from one chunk of rocks to another, making a zigzagged line to the end.
" And now, the leader of the pack is easily getting through first! Following after him from above is Shirogane! And-eh!"
" Out of my way feather head! Damn it!" Sora twirled in time as an angry Bakugo shot past her, his explosions propelling him forward.
" Bakugo is taking second place from Shirogane!"
" Tsk! Don't just think I'm letting you ahead!" She flapped her wings trying to catch up with him.
" Shirogane is chasing after them! I expected her to catch up with them soon though with her speed!"
" I told you, didn't I? Her wings are also muscles. It's the same as running. If you go all out from the start, you will get tired quickly later."
" Oh! So she is saving her energy!"
Sora squinted. Not like that... If I go at full speed, I'll be reaching my limit faster and then...
Flashes of the USJ incident were revived in her memory. It can't happen... Not here... Not in front of all of Japan...
She struggled to keep up with Bakugo and Todoroki. If I moderate it... I will be able to fly till the end of the course... but... She was already feeling scratchy around her arms, a sign that her grey feathers were about to poke out from under her skin, making her nervous. Did I miscalculate the distance?
Yuu managed to get through as well and Kyubi hastened her pace to catch up with the rest. " You alright? You don't feel tired or anything?"
Yuu smirked. " Not as of now! Whisper's hellish training boosted my stamina! So it will be long before I collapse!"
" And now, we've quickly arrived at the final barrier!"
Todoroki had stopped by a sign reading ' Danger Mines!!' with a skull on top.
" The reality here is..." Mic trailed for a dramatic effect. " ... That it's a minefield! It's set up so that you can tell where the mines are if you look carefully! So you have to exploit your eyes and legs! By the way, these landmines are for games so they're not that powerful, but they're loud and flashy enough to make you wet your pants!"
Sora inhaled as she heard that. I thought UA was trying to kill us for real. She examined the distance she had yet to fly. It's still quite far.
Her hand was scrubbing at her forearm, feeling the tips of feathers pushing through her skin. " The course turned out to be longer than I expected."
She glanced back at the stadium. Should I take a bet and continue flying there? But if it turns out to be a longer distance... I don't want it to end like in USJ...
" Huh! Something's off!"
Sora slowly dropped herself down, her feet touching the ground and her wings squeezing back under her skin before she crossed the minefield on foot.
" What's wrong! Shirogane is proceeding on foot rather than flying! Is she tired?"
I can't allow it to happen... Unless it's extremely needed... All I need is to restore my energy a bit and then I can continue the race. I will make up for the lost time once I'm out of the minefield.
Far ahead, Bakugo was fighting with Todoroki over the first place. How they could fight and avoid mines at the same time was beyond her. The rest of the students slowly caught up to them.
It's okay... If I just could keep the distance between us...
Yuu finally reached there just in time to witness Iida being caught in multiple explosions.
" What to do now? I can avoid them like the rest but it will take a while to get through."
Yuu clenched his fists, Bakugo's words resounding in his ears. " We need to get to the top!"
His eyes glowed in purple, offering more of his energy to his Yokai. " Kyubi... You know what to do."
" We need to surpass Iida's speed to make it. Can you handle that much?"
" It's fine!" His lips pulled into a large grin. " On you go soldier!"
Kyubi sprang forward at an incredible speed, explosions bellowing after her as she shot through the air and closed on to the ones at the front.
Suddenly, a loud rumble sounded from behind them, sending a strong gust of wind and shaking the ground.
Rearing their heads, they could see a large cloud of pink smoke rising up. A certain green head emerged from fume, soaring overhead at a neck-breaking speed abroad a chunk of a bot's armor.
" Class A's Midoriya is in hot pursuit with that blast!"
He took the lead, prompting both Bakugo and Todoroki to abandon their bicker and chase after him.
" Actually, he's taken the lead!"
As Todoroki made a path of ice, people with rather speedy Quirks zoomed past Sora, using it to finish off the obstacle. Her eyes widened as she realized she couldn't catch up with them, not on foot, not on that field.
" Get a move on!"
Her head snapped to the side as Kyubi passed her. " What are you waiting for! Didn't you say you want first place too? Move soldier!"
Sora blinked after her friend's back as he rushed forward. It may have been Whisper's personality. It may have been Whisper's way of speaking. It may have been Whisper's spur that made him say it out loud.
But those feelings were Yuu's. And she was answering to them. Once again, her wings sprang out.
Stupid! What was I thinking? Trying to win this without breaking the limit!
She soared above the rest of the students, sending a rush of gale as she darted like an arrow through her opponents.
I was so afraid after USJ I didn't want to overdo it again! Stupid! How could I forget?
She overtook Yuu, setting her aim on taking down Midoriya as well.
There is no way I wouldn't overdo it! This is UA!
Feathers grew out of her forearms as wind brushed against her face, not slowing her the least bit upon approaching the stadium.
Go beyond...
" Shirogane is back on the track with a strong comeback! Eraser head, your class is amazing! What're you teaching them."
She heard Mic's words as she reached the current 4th place.
" Plus Ultra!"
She passed them with ease.
" I didn't do anything."
" We're catching up, Kyubi!"
By then the white fox wasn't but a white blur due to its speed.
" Let's show them our Plus Ultra too!"
" They got each other fired up on their own."
After they re-entered the tunnel, everything seemed to move in low motion for her. Sora felt the chill from Todoroki's Quirk. Heard the loud explosions from Bakugo's, and Midoriya's footsteps at the very front.
It was a few moments of struggle before they finally protruded under the sunlight. She couldn't beat them. Midoriya came first.
Midoriya, Bakugo and Todoroki were trying to catch their breaths. Sora hunched over. Partly because she was tired, and partly so she could hide the very few feathers that started growing out of her jaw and neck.
Taking deep breaths, she could feel them pulling back and dissipating into her body again.
More of them caught up. And before she knew it, Yuu was standing by her side. " I can't believe I lost to you again. Though I overtook you back then."
Sora smiled as she pulled herself up. " I owe you, for snapping at me back then."
He folded his arms. " I just didn't like your expression back then. "
" Huh?"
He averted his eyes. " That look when you almost gave up... I didn't like it... Sora, you're an angel. You've been always shining bright. To see you wavering like that. I didn't like it."
Sora's face softened at him. " Well, guess I've ended up being helped by you."
" You should be thankful!"
She sweat dropped at that. " For how long do you plan on staying there... Whisper...?"
" The first game of the first-year stage is finally over." Midnight stated over the roars of cheers. " Now, take a look at the results!"
The results were broadcasted on the screen. Midoriya came first, followed by Todoroki then Bakugo.
Sora laughed awkwardly 'cause the Bakugo in the picture wasn't any happier than the real one standing next to her. She scored fourth place, followed by two class B students and a frustrated Iida.
" Huh? Iida-kun? 7 th? With his Quirk?" Sora tilted her head, confused.
" Seems he was held back in the minefield." Yuu answered. He was 8th after Iida.
The list continued on, featuring 44 students who managed to get past the obstacle course.
" The top 44 made it through to the next round." Midnight elaborated. "It's unfortunate, but don't worry even if you didn't make it! We've prepared other chances for you to shine."
The way she licked her upper lip made Sora recoil, dreading what could be coming next.
" The real competition begins next! The press cavalry'll be all over it! Give it your all!"
" Just get over with the nerve-racking introduction!" Yuu groaned.
" Whisper's influence is too much!" Exclaimed Sora
Midnight flailed her whip, the slot game screen kicked to life and started spinning. " Now then, here is the second game. I already know what it's, but what could it be? What could it be?"
" Enough stalling!" Yuu's patience was running thin.
" I just said it, and now here it is..." The screen stopped on 'Cavalry Battle'.
" Ha! What the heck!?" Cried Yuu.
" So rather than individual, we'll be working in a team." Sora mattered as the screen showed a picture of All Might being held by Thirteen, Snipe and Present Mic while Midnight explained.
They were allowed to form teams from two to four people. Each one of them was allotted a point value which will decide their teams' value. They would be trying to steal the bands with those points from other teams.
" Yes, that's right!" Midnight continued. " And the points assigned go by five starting from the bottom."
" That makes me worth 205 point." Sora pointed.
" While I'm worth 185." Yuu muttered under his breath.
" And the point value assigned to the first place is..." She made a dramatic pause. " ... Ten million!"
" T-Ten million?!" Cried Midoriya in a hoarse voice, his face covered in sweat.
" Ten Million! Then if we take Midoriya-san down! We can rise to the top!" Yuu was flared up as much as everyone else as they looked back at Midoriya as though a prey for them.
" I feel sorry for Midoriya-kun..." Sora sweated as she felt their auras enlarging and surrounding the poor boy like some cage.
" That's right. It's survival of the fittest, with a chance for those at the bottom to overthrow the top!''...