(A/N: Hey Guys, First off I want to apologize. Because, I realized that, in the previous chapter I nerfed the protagonist to make the event more longer. So, from the next time, I will try my best not to nerf the MC. Now Enjoy the chapter.)
(P.S: Sorry For the Delay)
After the USJ attack, the school was on a two-day holiday. I was back at home, mulling over the events of that day. Reflecting on the attack, I realized, "Damn it. There were so many ways I could have ended that fight more easily. Why am I so narrow-minded? I have such an overpowered ability, yet I didn't even think of using it effectively. Maybe I should start using the overcloaked mode more often, even during fights. Maybe then I won't forget how powerful I am. This will be the last time I play that idiotically. Somehow, no one else was hurt. Otherwise, I would regret it for life."(My Personal Thought)
After this, I started training more, trying to master all the abilities I have so that I would never forget them. Time flew by, and the two-day holiday was over. On the third day, I was back on track, heading back to school. As usual, I met Ashido and Toru at the stop. I greeted them and asked, "How are you guys coping?"
Ashido replied, "Umm, quite well. Although it was a scary experience, I am over it now." Toru nodded in agreement. Then I asked Toru, "Say, Toru-chan, where were you sent off to? I couldn't ask you last time."
Toru said, "I was at the landslide zone. Man, Todoroki was an overkill. He froze everyone in an instant."
"Good thing you weren't frozen," I joked with Toru, lightening the mood. We started sharing our perspectives on the USJ Raid, each recounting our experiences. The bus soon arrived, and I boarded with Toru and Ashido. Our conversation continued, and soon Kirishima and Kaminari joined us at their stop, making the discussion even more lively. We talked about our concerns, how many villains we faced, and the strategies we used.
As the bus filled up, someone finally recognized us. "Hey, are you kids from U.A.?" asked Passerby A.
"Yep, that's us!" Kirishima replied with a grin.
This caught the attention of other passengers. Passerby B leaned in excitedly, "No way! Tell us about the USJ Raid. Was it as intense as they say?"
Passerby C added, "Were any of the heroes or students hurt? How many villains were there?"
The questions kept coming, and Kirishima looked at me for help. I could see the curiosity and concern in their eyes. Smiling, I decided to take the lead.
"Alright, everyone, one at a time!" I said with a chuckle. "Yes, we're from U.A., and the raid was intense. But thanks to teamwork, we managed to hold our own."
People were leaning in, eager to hear more. "Were you scared?" someone asked.
"Honestly, yeah," I admitted, "but we knew we had to stay strong and protect each other. We faced a lot of villains, but we had great support from our teachers and each other."
"How many villains did you deal with?" another person asked.
"A lot," Kirishima chimed in, laughing. "It felt like an endless wave, but we didn't back down."
"And no serious injuries?" Passerby C asked, sounding relieved.
"Thankfully, no," I said. "We had some close calls, but everyone made it out okay."
The atmosphere was a mix of curiosity, relief, and admiration. I could tell our stories were putting their minds at ease.
"It must have been tough," an older passenger said, shaking his head. "You kids are really brave, facing the dangers of the hero society this early and surviving it."
Another passenger nodded in agreement. "Yes, I can say that you kids will be the best batch of heroes ever trained."
Their words filled us with pride and a renewed sense of purpose. We exchanged determined looks, knowing that we had earned their respect and support through our actions.
"Yeah, and we're ready for whatever comes next," Ashido added confidently.
As we answered their questions, I felt a sense of pride and camaraderie with my classmates. Despite the danger, we had each other's backs, and that made all the difference. The bus ride turned into a lively, reassuring chat, and by the time we reached our stop, the passengers were smiling and waving us off.
"Take care, future heroes!" someone called out as we got off the bus.
"Thanks! We will!" we all replied, feeling more united and ready for the challenges ahead.
Then we continued our chat and walked towards our class. On the way, Kirishima said, "Man, the way you deal with media and civilians is so cool. I swear I can never manage it so easily."
Ashido echoed, "Yes, it would be a surprise if I don't freeze or fluster in front of the crowd." The others nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, I said, "Oh, come on. It's not that hard. Just take a deep breath and answer their questions normally. Don't think about how they would react."
Kaminari complained, "Easier said than done."
We soon reached the class, which was quite noisy with everyone talking and chattering. As I walked in, everyone looked at me. Seeing this, I joked, "What? I know that I am handsome. You don't need to stare at me like that. I'm getting embarrassed."
Hearing this, everyone shouted, "Quit it, you narcissistic bastard!"
The class erupted in laughter, and the atmosphere became more lively. We all felt a sense of camaraderie and relief, knowing we had faced something significant together and come out stronger on the other side.
Soon, time passed, and it was nearing the start of the first period. Seeing that everyone showed no sign of quieting down, I stood at the front and said, "Okay, everyone, the first period is about to begin. Now, please return to your seats and quiet down, would ya?"
With my announcement, everyone quieted down and went back to their seats. I also walked back to my seat. Soon, Aizawa walked in. Looking at the quiet class, he nodded at me and then said, "Morning, everyone. Looking at you, I can see all of you are doing well. But it's not yet time to rest."
Everyone was surprised. Then he continued, "The U.A. Sports Festival is fast approaching."
Kirishima exclaimed, "Wow, that is so ordinary."
Shoji asked, "Are you sure about this, Sensei? I mean, we just went through a villain attack."
Aizawa explained, "It's necessary to show that the U.A. crisis management system and protocols are sound. That's the thinking, apparently. But compared to past years, there will be five times the police presence. Anyhow, our sports festival is the greatest opportunity you will get. It's not an event that can be canceled over a few villains."
Hearing this, everyone started whispering about their own opinions. Aizawa continued, "As you may know, the U.A. Sports Festival is the biggest event in all of Japan. Previously, it was the Olympics, but that tradition has shrunk a lot since the birth of quirks. Now, it's only a shell of its former self. As far as Japan is concerned, what's replaced the Olympics is the U.A. Sports Festival."
Yaoyorozu said, "So, all the top heroes in our nation will be watching. And they are scouts as well."
Kaminari added, "And they'll be looking to hire us as sidekicks after graduation."
Aizawa continued, "Naturally, you will gain valuable experience and popularity if you are seen by a big-name hero. But your time is limited. Show the pros what you are made of here, and you will make a future for yourself. This usually happens once a year, so you have three chances until your graduation. If you want to be a hero, you can't miss this. That's all for announcements. Now, you can do whatever you want."
Then he took his sleeping bag out of his pocket, got in, and lay on the ground. Looking at this, I muttered, "I really want to know where he keeps that huge sleeping bag."
Following that, time went by, and the bell rang, signifying the end of the fourth period. Since it was lunchtime, all of us walked towards the cafeteria. As I expected, everyone was talking about the sports festival.
Kirishima exclaimed, "Man, I am so pumped."
Sero echoed with the same enthusiasm, "Yeah, and if we show our stuff here, that's one big step towards being pros."
Ida said, "This is our best chance to add our names to the rank of heroes."
Then a scary and determined-looking Uraraka appeared and said, "Hey guys. In this sports festival, let's do our best. I am going to crush this."
Seeing this, I couldn't help but say, "Talk about inconsistent characterization."
After this, I walked ahead with Midoriya while the others were talking in class. Soon, I was accompanied by the girls too. As we were walking towards the cafeteria, I asked, "Say Uraraka, why do you want to be a hero?"
Hearing this, she looked at me, "Huh?" then thought about it. Seeing this, I said, "You can ignore it if you don't want to answer."
Hearing this, Uraraka said, "It's nothing like that. I want to be a hero because of money."
Hearing this, I asked, "Money?"
Uraraka said, "Yeah. You know my parents run a construction company. But the business is bad, and we are poorer than poor. Don't say it to anyone else, okay, you guys."
Ashido said, "You can trust us on that. We will keep our mouths shut," and made a zipping gesture.
Yaoyorozu said, "If it's a construction company, can't you use your quirk to help with the work?"
Hearing this, Uraraka said, "I know, right? I said this to my dad way back. But he asked me to follow my own dreams. Sorry, I know it seems base, and everyone else has noble motives and all."
Hearing this, I said, "Not really. It's quite noble in itself. After all, I am sure you want to make money to give your parents a happy life. Isn't that noble in itself? So don't belittle yourself like that."
The others supported me in my opinion. Hearing everyone's support, Uraraka was surprised, and with small tears, she said, "Thank you for that, Leo."
As all of us continued walking, we were interrupted by All Might. "Ohh, Midoriya, Leo. Finally found you both. Wanna eat lunch with me?"
Hearing this, the girls laughed. "Pfft, like a school girl."
I smiled and said, "You really need to work on your teacher-student communication, All Might. Let's go, Midoriya." We walked with All Might.
Midoriya said, "I wonder what this is about."
I responded, "Probably to talk about the sports festival."
As we walked with All Might, the girls whispered among themselves. "I wonder why All Might called both of them?" asked Uraraka.
Yaoyorozu analyzed, "Maybe he took a liking to them considering both of them have a quirk similar to All Might. Or maybe he just wants to thank them; after all, they rushed to help him deal with the villain."
Hearing this, the other girls nodded in agreement.
In the teacher's lounge, All Might turned to me with a look of gratitude. "Thank you, Leo. Because of your help, my transformation time has increased a lot—from just three hours to eighteen hours. I can finally be active for most of the day."
I couldn't help but complain, "Only eighteen hours?"
All Might nodded. "Yes, after all that injury took a lot from me. And since I gave One For All to Midoriya, I only have the remaining embers of it. But I'm quite happy with what I have now. However, as time goes by, this period will keep decreasing. The future is up to you young heroes. I can hold the sky until you are able to fly."
I laughed, "Pfft, seriously All Might, where did you get these lines? This is so not like you."
Midoriya nudged me, but All Might couldn't help but smile a little. "But seriously, I called you both here to talk about the sports festival. How much progress have you made on regulating One For All?"
Midoriya responded, "Well, I can use up to 8% of it now. If I push myself, I can temporarily raise it to 15%, but it doesn't last long."
All Might nodded approvingly. "Good. It seems you're making progress. But remember, Midoriya, you can't slack off. Villains are starting to realize that my time is running out. Although, thanks to Leo, it has increased significantly, I granted you my power so you can succeed me. The sports festival is a crucial opportunity. The whole country will be watching. As the next All Might, the fledgling symbol, I need you to declare to the world, 'I AM HERE!'"
After this, All Might shared some unreliable tips on using One For All with Midoriya, while I sat back, offering my occasional ideas and tips. As the lunch break ended, Midoriya and I made our way back to class. The rest of the day flew by, and soon it was time to head home.
Uraraka was the first to leave the class, and as she opened the door, she shouted, "Uhmm, what's going on?" Everyone turned to look out the door and saw the corridor was completely crowded. Kaminari questioned, "What's going on here?"
Bakugo, walking towards the door, responded, "Scoping out the competition, Sparky. 'Cause we're the kids who survived the villain attack." I added, "For once, I feel like Bakugo is making sense." Midoriya commented, "And that's him on a good day."
Bakugo, hearing what I said, roared, "What did you say, you bastard?" I completely ignored his outburst. Feeling frustrated, Bakugo muttered, "Tsk!" then pushed his way through the crowd, saying, "Whatever, move aside, cannon fodder."
Lida, with his usual decorum, said, "Can we please not call them cannon fodder? We don't even know them." I teased, "So, Lida, can we call them cannon fodder after we get to know them?" Lida, stunned, stammered, "That's not what I meant, Leo."
The crowd became restless, and someone from the back called out, "We did come to take a look at you, but you all are surely modest. Are all the kids in the hero course like these three? Gotta say I'm disillusioned if this is what you're offering."
I quickly stepped in, "Hey, don't sweat it. We're just joking. Right, Bakugo?" I gave him a sharp look. Bakugo just muttered, "Tch!" and didn't argue further.
The boy continued, "Those of us who didn't make the hero course are stuck in general studies and other tracks. And there are quite a few of us, you know that. Depending on the results of this sports festival, they might consider transferring us to the hero course."
Midoriya chimed in, "If it's like he said, then the reverse is also possible." The realization made everyone in Class 1-A gasp.
The boy pressed on, "And for a general studies kid like me, this will be the perfect chance to knock you off your pedestals. Consider this a declaration of war."
Hearing his bold proclamation, everyone had a single thought: "This guy is so daring." I stepped forward, retorting, "And as the Class Rep of 1-A, I accept your declaration of war. Just a small piece of advice: that pedestal might be too high for you, and you could end up knocking yourself down before you even get close."
Hearing this, everyone in Class 1-A was stunned, except for Bakugo, who looked at me and nodded in approval. Kirishima said, "Calm down, you two. Now we have a whole mob of haters against us." Another person pushed through the crowd, yelling, "Hey, I'm from Class 1-B next door. I heard you fought some villains and wanted to know more. But all I see are these two arrogant bastards. You better not make fools of yourselves at the festival." Everyone, except for me and Bakugo, who stared in silence, was stunned, thinking, "Here's another daredevil."
Bakugo continued forward, shoving everyone out of his way, declaring, "I don't give a crap. I'm heading for the top." I waved my hand, creating an energy barrier that pushed everyone back, making a path through the crowd. Bakugo glanced at me, then confidently walked down the path. I followed, adding, "He's right. We're all aiming for the top, so why should we care?" Kirishima shrugged his shoulders and followed suit, walking through the path amidst the glares of the other students. One by one, the rest of our class walked through as well. After everyone had passed, the barrier disappeared, leaving behind a crowd of angry students.
Following that day, for the next fortnight, each of us prepared in our own ways, driven by our personal goals and determination to excel in the festival. The day of the U.A. Sports Festival finally arrived. Students were asked to arrive early, so Ms. Hagakure kindly gave me, Mina, Toru, Kirishima, and Kaminari a ride to school.
As we arrived at the school gate, Ms. Hagakure wished us all the best for the festival. After thanking her for both the ride and her well wishes, we headed towards our class, excitement buzzing in the air.
Slowly, the gates became crowded with media, while heroes and police ran security due to the previous attack, making the atmosphere even more tense. The air was filled with excitement as civilians began discussing the various classes. As the event time neared, we headed to our preparation room after putting on our gym clothes. Inside, everyone was chatting excitedly.
"Man, I wish I could wear my costume," Shoji complained.
"They're not allowed in the interest of fairness," Ojiro responded.
I was talking with Midoriya when Todoroki came up behind us and said, "Midoriya, Leo. I don't know why All Might has his eye on both of you, but I will definitely beat you both."
"Okay. Good luck with that," I replied. "But I doubt you can beat me or Midoriya by just using half of your power. Maybe if you use both sides, you might have a chance."
Seeing this, Kirishima exclaimed, "Ooh, a declaration of war between the strongest in class! But seriously, Todoroki, chill out. We're about to go on stage."
Todoroki responded coolly, "I don't care. I'm not pretending to be anyone's friend here. And for your information, I am chill."
Hearing this, I looked at Todoroki and said, "A little too chill, maybe you should up the heat a bit unless you want to end up frozen." Todoroki paused for a moment, visibly stunned, then gritted his teeth and walked away.
As the festival approached, I stood up and took a deep breath. "Alright, everyone, this is our moment. We've all worked hard for this day, and now it's time to prove why we're Class 1-A of the hero course. Let's give it everything we've got! Now, say it with me: 'PLUS ULTRA!'"
The room erupted as the entire class shouted together, their voices filled with determination and excitement, "PLUS ULTRA!"
With our spirits high and the adrenaline pumping, we all made our way to the first-year arena, ready to face whatever challenges the festival had in store for us.