The lunch break wasn't long, just about an hour, enough time for everyone to grab a bite and chat a bit. During this time, Kaminari took the opportunity to slip away to the bathroom and call his parents outside the venue.
His parents sounded overjoyed on the phone, clearly ecstatic about his performance that morning. Kaminari couldn't blame them; today had been a big win. He could already imagine how lively his fan page on MTV Japan must be, with his follower count probably shooting up.
Meanwhile, Minoru Mineta had earned a new nickname among the class: "The Incarnation of Lust." He'd just told Momo and the other girls, with an absurdly serious expression, that there was a "message from a substitute teacher" instructing them to dress like cheerleaders and compete in a cheerleading event.
Of course, Kaminari immediately knew it was nonsense. With Aizawa-sensei's personality, if there had really been an official notice from the school, he would've mentioned it directly or even come in person. He'd never rely on a student to pass on such a message.
But… Kaminari chose not to expose Mineta's lie. It was rare to see the girls all dressed up in cheerleading uniforms, after all. So why not enjoy the sight?
Before long, all the contestants gathered back in the stadium, and the audience filled up the stands once more.
"Alright! Lunch break is over, and it's time to announce the final event!" Present Mic, the commentator, sounded even more enthusiastic than in the morning, probably because he'd had a good meal and some rest.
"But before that, I have good news for everyone who didn't make it to the finals!" he continued with a big grin. "Since this is a sports festival, the school has prepared some fun activities that everyone can join! And we've even invited a professional cheerleading team from the United States to get everyone hyped! Isn't that exciting?"
However, as soon as he said this, both Mic and Aizawa-sensei noticed something odd about Class A's girls.
"Huh? What's going on with Class A? Is this some kind of… fan service?" Mic's words echoed across the stadium as the camera zoomed in on Momo, Kyoka, and the other girls from Class A, who were now wearing cute, youthful cheerleading outfits but looked less than thrilled.
Well… needless to say, they managed to attract more attention than the professional cheerleaders.
"Not bad at all. Looks good," Kaminari said with a grin, openly admiring the girls' outfits. Meanwhile, most of the other boys in Class A looked away awkwardly, too embarrassed to stare.
"Yes!!" Mineta, the "mastermind" behind the scene, looked completely smug. "Ahh, I am a genius!!"
"Mineta-kun! You totally lied to us, didn't you?!" Momo glared at him, her face flushed with embarrassment. Kyoka, equally red-faced, threw down her pom-poms in frustration. Little did she know that her outfit had already captured the attention of some far-off fans who were planning to record it for their own memories.
"I've got to get the video footage of this later and make it my desktop background!" a fan muttered from the audience.
At this point, Mic decided it was time to move on. Due to the limited time, he quickly resumed his role as emcee, and the four giant screens switched to display a pyramid-shaped tournament bracket.
"After the entertainment events, we'll start the one-on-one elimination round, with the twenty students who advanced in the previous events!"
Mic continued, "Since we have an odd number of competitors, two people will have to compete in an extra round to keep the brackets even. They'll have an extra match before moving to the next round."
"Isn't that unfair to those two?" Uraraka asked with a frown.
Midnight-sensei, who was overseeing the event, addressed the question through her mic. "It may seem unfair, yes, but as aspiring heroes, we want to teach you all an important lesson. In life, unexpected challenges and unfair situations are bound to happen. Facing these calmly is an essential quality for any pro hero."
In other words, there wasn't really a fairer way to handle it, so they had to deal with it as best they could. U.A. rules.
"Alright, let's start with the Kaminari group, who placed first, to draw lots and decide the match-ups," Midnight announced, smiling warmly at the students. But just as the first group prepared to draw, Ojiro and Koda from Class A both raised their hands.
"Sorry to interrupt!" they said in unison, glancing at each other with surprise.
"I want to withdraw," Ojiro said firmly.
There was a collective gasp from the students. Midnight herself looked stunned, clearly not expecting this.
"Why, Ojiro?" Midoriya called out in disbelief. "You worked so hard to make it this far!"
"Yeah, you know how rare this opportunity is, don't you?" Toru Hagakure added, her invisible hands waving in distress.
Ojiro clenched his fists. "It's because I don't remember anything from the Cavalry Battle. I think that guy's Quirk must have affected me somehow."
He glanced briefly at Hitoshi Shinso, who looked straight ahead, unfazed. "I know how valuable this opportunity is, and I know it might seem foolish to give it up… but I can't, in good conscience, take a spot in the finals when I didn't earn it through my own efforts."
Hearing this, Kaminari felt a newfound respect for Ojiro.
While the girls around tried to comfort Ojiro, he covered his face, his voice trembling with emotion. "No… this is about my pride. I just… can't accept it."
Koda stepped forward, scratching his head in embarrassment. "As for me… I don't think I'm suited for one-on-one battles in this kind of setting. My Quirk… it's called 'Anivoice.' I can control animals, but…"
He glanced around the noisy stadium. "There are no animals here. Even pigeons and birds stay away from such a loud environment."
Midnight gave him a sympathetic smile. "Alright, Koda, I understand."
Then, one of the Class B students, Shoda, also stepped forward. "I'd like to withdraw as well. My reasons are the same as Ojiro's from Class A. Letting someone who hasn't done anything meaningful advance… just doesn't sit right with me."
The crowd grew quiet, watching the three of them. Their decision might've seemed unusual, but in a way, it showcased a heroic spirit that was admirable. Professional heroes who valued integrity and character would surely take notice of their actions.
Kaminari, observing from his spot, thought to himself, "These guys… they've definitely got the right kind of resolve."
Midnight glanced at them with a look of approval. "Alright! I respect your decisions." With a flick of her whip, she granted their requests to withdraw, then added with a hint of mischief, "This means we have three open spots. So we'll take the next three students with the highest total scores from the first two events to fill them."
As she spoke, the names appeared on the screen: Bone Crusher, Shiozaki, and Tsuburaba from Class B.
With the roster set, Midnight continued, "And now, let's reveal the match-ups for the first round!"
The large screen displayed the pairings, and the first match-up was set.
"First match: Ochaco Uraraka vs. Hitoshi Shinso!"
Midnight's announcement marked the start of the entertainment events. While those who didn't advance eagerly joined in, the finalists had the option to rest, strategize, or simply prepare for their matches.
Everyone had their own thoughts and goals, and before they knew it, it was time for the final round to begin.
"The rules are simple," Mic explained, his voice carrying across the stadium. "If you knock your opponent out of bounds, render them unable to fight, or make them give up, you win!"
"Don't worry about injuries; Recovery Girl is standing by as always. However," he added with a note of caution, "if your moves are deemed excessively dangerous, you'll be disqualified on the spot."
Kaminari raised an eyebrow at this. "Hmm… that means I'll have to think twice about using that move. It might be too risky for a school event."
As he mulled over his options, Uraraka stepped onto the concrete arena, her face showing traces of nervousness. Across from her, Shinso stood with his usual, calm expression.
With her father's encouragement fresh in her mind, Uraraka's determination hardened. "Dad, I'll show you… I'm going to become a pro hero and help you make a better life."
Her fear faded as her goal came into focus. Facing Shinso, her gaze turned resolute.
"Begin!"
***
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