The loud roars from the crowds shook the stadium as my class and I walked out. Himiko smiled and waved at the camera and crowds while I trailed behind her.
"You do know all these people are here for the Hero Courses." I heard Hikari say to Himiko. The blonde turned to her and shrugged.
"I know. But I don't really care." Himiko smiled and continued to wave. Her eyes were unfocused but somehow sharp. "I'm waving for a different reason."
Ah. This is for her family. A big ol' fuck you.
Despite the confusion her statement caused, Himiko's determination was palpable. Before anyone could question her, we were all instructed to form up.
As the Umpire's voice faded into the background, I found myself lost in my own thoughts.
The Sports Festival, to me, was a colossal waste of time. Lasting as long as a regular school day, I couldn't help but question its purpose.
Sure, I tuned in to watch every other year, but those times were out of curiosity to see just how this school would pit a bunch of kids to fight one another for the country's entertainment. Other than that, I saw this event as a large advertisement to show off this country's future heroes, Quirks, to the criminal world.
Not only was UA giving the future villains and criminals a quick preview of what they could face one day, but they were also showing off all of the students' Quirks to All For One to steal one day.
However, due to the events of earlier today, I did have one use for the Sports Festival today. Hopefully, UA had set up some tough, challenging events for me to test out my newly won reward.
Speaking of All For One… he hasn't made another move in months after the whole Nomu fight.
The only possible reason he'd send that thing to try and kill me would be to see how I'd match up to it. Considering how it looks like to him and everyone else, I may have a Quirk similar to him.
My existence posed a substantial threat to him.
The way I saw it, there were two options All For One could take.
Option one: kill me. Option two: Find a way to recruit me into his forces.
That begs the question, why hasn't the man made another move?
What exactly is that potato head plotting?
"…now then, it's time we begin this year's round of games!" Thirteen announced loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts.
Did I miss the opening announcement and pledge? Bah, who cares?
"The opening game for this year's festival will be a relay race!" Thirteen motioned to the humongous screens at the top of the stadium.
The screens displayed a lengthy and challenging course outside the stadium. This path stretched for an extensive 15 kilometers, leading to the finish line. It began on the outskirts of Musutafu and concluded back at the Sports Festival stadium. Along the route, various obstacles and challenges lined the path that would require careful consideration and the appropriate use of their Quirks.
"This event will be a team-based competition involving all courses. Each team must consist of at least three to six members. Once your teams are formed, each member will be positioned at various points along the race path. Like a traditional relay race, one member of your team will carry a baton and hand it over to the next member during each leg of the race," The space-themed announcer explained, as a charming video illustrated the event rules.
"Keep in mind that the size of your team will affect the distance each member needs to run. As long as you maintain possession of the baton and stay within the designated race course, you are free to do whatever it takes to achieve victory. However, if you drop the baton or if it is destroyed during the race, your entire team will be disqualified. Once your teams are formed, please proceed to the shuttle buses in the parking lot, which will take you to the starting line of the race."
"A team-based event," I muttered as everyone around me scrambled to form their teams. "The quality of one's Quirk will determine the outcome of this race, considering the many challenges along the path. Those with speed-based abilities will be highly sought after."
"Yeah, that means that getting someone with a Quirk like that is the main goal." Himiko nodded as the two of us watched several teams begin to form. Off where the hero course students stood, several arguments were being waged on who would be with who.
Shrugging, Himiko jumped next to me and hugged my arm. "Ah, well. All I need is you on my team, and we'll be golden."
Smiling, I looked around at the severe lack of people around us. "While I don't mind that, we need one more person to join our team. Thems the rules."
[+10 SP]
"Bleh." Himiko pouted as we began to look around for our third teammate. Even our so-called friends had scattered in hopes of joining a strong-looking team. Which I couldn't blame them for. They were all eager to prove themselves and get the chance to transfer into the hero course. "So many Gen Ed students are trying their best." She said as we watched several of our classmates joining strong teams.
The most impressive group from our class was the one with Yuu taking the lead. Feeling my stare, he turned to me and grinned.
"I'll be waiting for you at the finish line," his grin seemed to say to me.
Still, no one is going to want to join a team with the only Quirkless guy in the school.
Due to being the only Quirkless student in the school, my reputation was already well-known throughout all of the first-year courses. Add on my known relationships with the future Big Three and my high combat abilities; there wasn't anyone who didn't know me. And, by extension, my Quirkless nature.
"Um… would it be possible if someone like me could join you two?"
Himiko and I blinked in surprise as we turned to a girl with extremely long dark blue hair. She had low, thick bangs that obscured her eyes, and a shy frown was hidden behind her high collar. Unlike everyone else, who wore short-sleeved gym uniforms, she was dressed in the school's winter gym uniform.
Despite her shy demeanor, Himiko smiled and quickly nodded. "Of course! Welcome to the team! I'm Toga Himiko and this is Shimizu Souta. We're part of class 1-D of the General Education course."
The long-haired girl looked momentarily surprised, but she quickly composed herself. "Ah, right. The social convention of introduction… my name is Chino Shizuko, I am a student of the Business course. Class 1-J."
The Business course? That's odd. Those guys tend to choose to hang back and not try at these events.
"Well then, Chino," I said casually and walked up to the shy girl, causing her to squeak. "No honorifics?!" Shizuko whispered as I inspected her.
[+7 SP]
"What can you do?"
x x x
[General POV]
Shuji Saito's Quirk is called Overcome.
Overcome allows Saito to slowly evolve his body to overcome any physical damage done to his body. However, the process is painfully slow. When he was a child, Saito had broken his arm while playing at the park. Thanks to his Quirk, his body had evolved to withstand any more fractures or pressure that would result in a broken bone.
Essentially, his skeleton is unbreakable due to conventional injuries.
But this evolution took over eight years to take place.
Making what would normally be an incredibly powerful Quirk impractical for hero work. After all, for Saito's body to evolve, he would have to wait for his body to slowly evolve from any injury or ailment done to him.
One could have concluded that thanks to his Quirk, Saito's skin would have been tough enough not to be pierced through the box cutter knife Toga Himiko used on him the day she drank his blood. After all, at a young age, children were prone to injury or cuts. This remained true for Saito as well. Unfortunately, his body was still in the process of evolving and was still five years away from having his skin become impenetrable to cuts or slices. Resulting in him being sent to the hospital after being attacked on that fateful day.
"This Quirk may be impractical to most, but to me. It's the height of potential." All for One smiled in glee as he stood next to a short bald man who wore round goggles over his eyes while a bushy brown mustache sat over his upper lip. This man was All For One's faithful servant, Doctor Garaki Kyūdai. The two stood deep within the underground laboratory underneath the Jaku Hospital.
Nodding, Dr. Kyūdai watched in fascination as he and his Master watched from the safety of the very thick glass wall as Saito screamed bloody murder. His body was lined with several pipes while he was continuously being pumped with electricity, fire, ice, and several more elements.
"Young Saito's body has acclimated to the Quirk you gifted him, Fast Forward, rather well." Dr. Kyūdai said as he watched Saito throw up a glob of blood. "Thanks to it, his body is now pushed to evolve four times as fast. He is indeed a subject brimming with potential. If only my subordinate at the D'Qar University Hosptial handed me Young Saito's file much earlier, you would have had the perfect weapon long ago, Master."
Chuckling, All For One continued to watch as Saito's body continued to be punished, attacked, and torn. Pushing his body to evolve quickly. "It matters not. What matters is that we now have the perfect weapon to use against All Might and even Sukuna should he foolishly turn my offer down."
"He would be a fool not to accept, Master."
"We shall see." All For One watched as Saito's pained expression slowly shifted into an unbridled rage as the young man watched the wall of televisions replay the fight between Sukuna and several of Japan's heroes over and over again. Fueling him with the will to push through the mind-breaking levels of pain. "My forces are currently searching for the elusive Sukuna... Once he's found, I'll offer him a hand in friendship."
"And should Sukuna refuse?"
Dr. Kyūdai looked away from Saito and watched as a small grin grew on All For One's scarred face as he watched Saito continuously be tortured and attacked.
Within the isolated room, small, sharp bones began to grow out of Saito's skin. His once pitch-black hair now sported several patches of bright white hair as his black eyes took on a low golden hue. Saito's mouth was frothing with spit and blood as his teeth dug into his gums from how tightly they were clenched. Despite all the pain he was currently undergoing, his vision remained razor-focused on the replaying video before him.
Most specifically, his focus was zeroed in on the mask-wearing King of Curses himself.
"...Sukuna." Saito growled. "Kill... I'll kill you!"
Deep within his pain-stricken, broken mind, an image of a blonde girl with yellow cat-like eyes flashed before his eyes. Remembering the cause of all his misfortune, Saito smiled wickedly.
For some odd reason, Sukuna had destroyed his life for Toga Himiko.
Could this mean that the infamous King of Curses and the psychotic, bloodthirsty girl were connected in some way? Was she important to him?
Were they friends? Family? Lovers?
Whatever the case, Saito knew that Sukuna cared about Himiko.
"But first... I'll take away everything you ever cared about just like you did to me."