The dragon glows, its scales grazing against my skin and helping my flesh knit together once again. I am too appalled, too astonished to say a word, to feel that trepidation anymore.
"Kirigaya!" The barbaric king exclaims, sliding down the beast's back. "What in the name of Ryujin do you think you are doing?!"
He grabs Kirigaya by its snout, his crimson flames for eyes challenging the dragon with fervor. And what happens next makes me question the existence of this world and all of its habitants.
My wound is closed when the dragon glows brighter, the light a blinding gold that battles the sun and flashes for a moment. When the light recedes, the faint glow reveals a man with red hair on his head and scales up his arms. His eyes, crimson like the dragon's, are kind, soft, and placating as he meets the king's glare.
"I apologize, my liege. If I didn't heal her, she would have bled to-"
"Then you let her bleed." The king snaps, ire brimmed in his agitated, vibrating shoulders. "We can't risk sojourning a night in these woods. You know this."
"I do." Kirigaya looks down, his eyes brimming with tears and his frame shrinking from the king.
The king sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, "What is done, is done. We must find shelter before the sun sets." He turns to face me, his expression hardening when he sees me cradle my arm with the other. "And you peasant." He snarls, stepping forward, "I told you we shall hunt together. Why did you deviate from our party?"
He may be a king, however, his tone is one I can never accept. "I wished to hunt." "Well your wish made you become the hunted."
"I can discern as much." I bite, relishing in the thinning of his eyes at my anger. "Not that you care for my welfare seeing as you'd rather have me bleed."
If he glares any harder, I may combust from the anger he exudes. "You are not to veer from Kirigaya or I. Am I understood?"
I match his glare, not saying a word to answer.
He steps forward again, his breath surprisingly sweet as he hisses against my lips. "I said, am I understood?"
"Understood." I whisper, not leaving his vermillion eyes.
He nods, roughly grabbing my arm. I wince, grumbling obscenities under my breath. If he heard me, he says nothing of it and grabs a vial from his pack. It is filled with a green ointment which sparkles in the sun's light. He bites off the cork, spitting it out on the floor.
However, I pull back before he can tip the vial to pour it on my skin. I have never seen an ointment to glow and sparkle as the one he has; of course I'd be cautious.
Our eyes meet again, and this time the wrinkle between his brows softens.
"Kirigaya has only closed the skin. Your injury is still healing within. This will ail all that is remaining." "I do not wish to use it."
"Well, peasant, your wish is none of my concern."
I pull my arm away again. "You will not use it on me."
His eye twitches as he pulls my arm closer to him. "You dare order me?"
"It is my arm." I seethe. "I may decide what happens to it."
He tightens his grip, his fingers digging into what was injured. I refuse to bow down to this tyrant. Never shall I do such a thing.
"Good dame," Kirigaya speaks, his voice gentle and genial. I find it hard to accept he is the crimson dragon feared by many. "The ailment will help with the pain during our journey which has already been lengthened. It would be tragic if you were to go ill without healing it well."
I understand his reason. I do. The king's temperament compels me to not see it, though.
"May I call you Kirigaya?" The man nods with jubilance I find endearing. "Kirigaya, I am grateful for your aid. I truly am. It is only that I find it difficult to trust the man who is feared in all the lands as a barbaric tyrant."
The king sputters out a laugh, his voice booming and his eyes tearing up from humor. "If I am so barbaric, peasant, why is it that you are still breathing?"
My eyes widen and my voice is caught in my throat. His premise is fitting, yet it isn't as easy to gain trust from someone with such a devious reputation.
However, my choices are slim. And if I seek protection in his kingdom, I should learn the ways of his kingdom. Even if they are questionable.
I release a shaky breath, granting my arm to go limp in his hand. He meets my gaze one last time in question, and when I nod, hesitantly so, he pours the ailment on my skin. It heats my skin and I feel a soothing tingle go through my arm. When there is none left in the glass, he tucks it away in his sack.
I sigh in relief, the tingle now receding into a lulling warmth that blankets up to my shoulder. Kirigaya has already left to retrieve the weapons I dropped in the chase, and the king glares at the trail of blood as if it has personally offended his existence.
"Thank you." I say despite the unease in my chest from the intensity of his presence.
The king says nothing, doesn't acknowledge my gratitude in the slightest. He turns away, heading through the thicket to the camp we had made hours ahead.
And his hand stays protectively on my arm as he pulls me along. ***
She bites the dust again.
It's pitiful really.
Katsuki
I don't know why Sensei has matched me with Tangerine for this exercise. She's strong when her quirk is in the fold, but when it's just her and her fists against someone like me, (someone who's trained for years in hand and hand combat) she doesn't stand a chance.
(I know he matched me with her to help her learn, but I don't have that type of time, nor the patience for it.)
She stands up again, her breaths heaving and she pats the dust off her arms and thighs once again. Her face contorts into a snarl that reminds me of the stupid peasant from my dreams. At least she knew how to fight.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to not set off my quirk with the excess sweat leaving my palms from the shitty sun beating down on us.
"I already told you, Carrot-head. You're too obvious with your attacks."
"Shut up, Bakago." She snaps. That only pisses me off more. "I know that. I'll get it this time." "You said that already."
"And I'm telling you, I'll get it this time."
She better fix that tone or I'll really explode her to kingdom come.
I put my fists up, covering my face and signaling her to do the same. She huffs, as if she's annoyed
by me. The absolute preposterousness of her. I'm the one wasting my energy on her; she can learn to be a little grateful.
The heated wind blows, fluttering her stupid orange hair from her face and brightening the stupid freckles on her face like the stupid constellations they are.
She steps forward, not immediately getting in for an attack as she did the previous four other times during this drill. Good. She at least learned the word caution.
I take a step forward, and she backs away minutely, as though testing the waters, just feeling the air.
"Scared?" I taunt.
"Never." She seethes. "You?"
"That really a question?" I scoff, my eyes more focused on how she's keeping her center of gravity closer to the ground than before. Freaking finally she figured that out too.
She steps forward, her body betraying how she's swaying to the right, her dominant side. I duck, letting her royally miss the right hook she so sloppily planned. With my left foot, I kick her in the stomach.
And hell, I didn't expect the midget to have rock hard abs that made my ankle feel the impact even after the hit.
I must've hit hard enough to stun her, because she wretches (disgusting) and then stumbles on her feet. The perfect opening is made, and I sweep her feet so she lands on her back.
She coughs when her back hits the floor, and the wind blows her hair out of her face again. The wince her stupid face is contorted in only makes me flashback to the dream I had last night. With the lions hunting the peasant, her getting injured, and the shitty haired dragon shifter healing her at his expense.
I shook my head angrily. The visions were getting really old really fast. If only I could explode that stupid king for being so stupidly mushy when it came to his shitty thoughts.
Before Tangerine (Yumi) gets up again, I lunge over her, holding her wrists down while putting a knee between her legs.
She flushes red. (Typical) And her eyes go comically wide as she stares at me as though I'm the crazy one. Imagine that.
"Bakugo." (She finally got my name right.) Her voice is barely a half whisper, soft and slightly unsure. "What're you doing?"
I clench my jaw, biting my tongue before I say something the shitty king would've said.
"I'm makin' sure you don't get back up." Her cheeks redden more as if that's even possible and I can't stop the click of my tongue. "Stupid Tangerine. You thinkin' way off in there." I poke her head and she starts to finally glare at me. I don't think I could've handles any more of her stupidly soft eyes. (Soft like cotton candy and I don't know why my brain made that comparison.)
"You're very crude." She whispers the sentence like it's a secret. And thanks to our crazily coincidental dreams, it is our little secret.
"And you're a stupid Tangerine." I hiss. "You better start improving, or I'll stop helping you. I don't want a half assed win against your shitty ass cause you didn't learn the basics of hand to hand." And against my better judgment I add, "Am I understood?"
She smiles (a shitty smile that makes my heart skip a beat) sheepishly and that makes me roll my eyes even more dramatically. Of course she finds this shit funny.
"Am I understood?" I repeat.
I feel warmth bloom on my sternum. When I glance down I realize it's not my shitty senses messing with me, but Yumi's palm resting against me. Gently, she pushes me up while getting up, and her breath ghosts against my lips. (Stupid Yumi, the hell was she thinking!)
"Understood." She whispers, smiling broader and showing her teeth.
I grumble while standing up, giving her a hand to help her up. (Shut up, I help others too!)
She takes it and her hand is warm and small against mine. (Shitty brain, shitty king, shitty hand and shitty world!)
Then Sensei's voice breaks my traitorous thoughts, telling us that it's time to wrap up and head home. Yumi's hand is still in mine.
She squeezes it once and I turn towards her despite my brain screaming at me to let go already. "Thank you," she says while letting me go and going after Round face.
And I stare at my hand like an idiot.
Shitty hand, all right.
Rain Ayane
I inhale the air of winter's gelidity, precluding the burn down my throat and in my chest. I'm starting to dread this season.
The other two traveling companions of mine, both saviors of my being at a time, are enjoying it little too much. They are sparring with backs bare and unveiling the scars that litter the expanse of their skin.
The king's skin is paler, less marked, but still tells a story of all his conquests and battles. A particular scar that snakes around his torso, the lines jagged and black as they spread like lightning on his back, that captivates me. I wonder what tale is behind that mark of his.
The dragon shifter, as they collectively explained his abilities to me when healing my arm two mornings prior, has more markings from his unique composition than mementos from his journeys. Red scales that rest on his shoulders and travel down his spine sparkle in the sun, glinting gold whenever he activates his magical shield. And horns, sharp and a dark tawny hue spike upwards from his red spiky hair with a single curve towards the center.
It baffles me that the dragon known to instill great fear in the lands is one of the kindest souls I have ever had the honor of meeting. Kirigaya as the king calls him. When I called him the same, the king snapped, demanding me to call his commander by his title. His highness did not take my rejection to his command well.
It is when Kirigaya nearly punches the king in the face during their friendly bout that I smell the charged clouds far from my eyes' view. My hair on nape stands as I feel the winds change course, feel them drift differently than moments ago.
I stand up, hissing when my arm screams for me to be more gentle. The sound is enough for both Kirigaya and the king to halt in their motion and turn to me.
"What is it?" The king asks, his expression indecipherable. The impassivity he exudes only forges anger in my chest.
"A storm is coming," I say, stepping forward and pointing to the peak only a mere stroll from here. "We can take shelter in a cave up that cliff, I'd seen it during my hunt two mornings ago. The journey will take us four bamboo clicks."
The king, the walking vulgarity of a man, cackles, slapping Kirigaya on the shoulder. "You hear the peasant, Kirigaya?!"
"I heard her, my liege."
"She wants shelter."
Kirigaya smiles apologetically and the fire burns to my tongue.
They continue their spar without another thought, throwing limbs and heaving breaths as the winds pick up harsher, the trees dangerously sway and the sky grows darker.
With every punch and every kick the fire freezes into something more angering I've experienced.
I've held my tongue long enough, my fear for either man has diminished as well. They really are just boys daring the world with only their pride on the line.
In anger, I stomp my way between them, kicking Kirigaya in his chest and grabbing an arm before he can stumble. Then with the momentum in my navel, I flip him over my head, my healing arm tingling from the strain.
Kirigaya coughs, gawking up at me with wide eyes. The king glares daggers, his shoulders tense, his mouth agape in shock, and the mirthful glint in his eyes is replaced by something more cynical
"You are welcome to be soaked to the bone and go ill." I seethe. "I for one, am heading to the cave just north of peak there. If you wish to join, you are welcome to." I turn around before either can respond only to halt two steps forward, turning my head so my eyes can meet the king's crimson flamed ones.
"Do know, if you are struck by lightning, I won't blink an eye."
I turned back around, treading through the thicket of bushes, not caring for ireful call of "peasant," behind me.
***
Kousuke
The stubborn girl left. She left.
Just like that, she stomped away in anger that rivals my own and to top it off, she did it after disgracing
my best commander's skill right before me.
If only she wasn't so disagreeable, I would've had her in my ranks the moment we reach our lands.
I'm pacing in the clearing we laid our camp, and Kirigaya's gaze on me is no help as he leans against the large boulder we were sparring next to.
"The audacity of that wretched, little-"
"My liege, please. I implore you to not heed her words so-"
"No, Kirigaya. You misunderstand me. I care not for her words. I care that she just left without even hearing us."
"We did sneer at her, my liege."
I snap my head to his direction and the soft empathetic expression he wears makes the dread spread to my fingertips.
"Oh gods, she takes offense at such little-" I click my tongue, glaring at the poppies by my foot. They are the color of her hair, the color of the freckles dancing on her skin.
The winds pick up and the electric charge spikes. I glance to Kirigaya's frame, watching how his scales glow brighter as the storm nears.
"Did she not hear us two suns prior, Kirigaya? Did we not explain your powers grow with fire? And what is a denser and purer fire than lightning?"
Kirigaya smiles sheepishly, his head tilting like a child's. He wishes to speak but also wishes to not overstep.
"Say what's on your mind." I say.
"She is from the Haniyasu Kingdom, my liege. They don't teach the strength of fire and lightning, they only fear it."
Of course, how could I have forgotten such a crucial detail. I snarl, my fists clenched on my sides as the clouds start to shadow the forest.
"How many gems is four bamboo clicks?"
"Two, my liege."
"Two, indeed. How many gems do you presume the storm will reach us?"
He sniffs the air, his eyes glowing brighter carmine as he looks south. "A single, my liege."
"It'll take a single gem to wrap up camp and two gems to reach the cave she mentioned." I glance at my satchel by his side and my cape draped on the boulder behind him. "You stay here and pack it all. I'll go after the stubborn girl. How many of the witch's potions are left?"
As I walk my way to him, he rummages through the sack, pulling out a pair of glass vials. "Two, my liege. One transformer and one tracker."
I take the tracker vial from his hand, biting the cork and spitting it out only to guzzle it in a breath. "You keep my satchel with you, it will only slow me down." I say, taking my cape and clasping it around my neck. "When you're done with wrapping up camp, transform and stay in the clearing. I will come to you."
Before I head out, Kirigaya calls to me, "But, my liege. What if you have to carry her? How will you return?"
I blink twice before I point to my sack. "Hand me my horn."
He smiles, tossing it to me. As soon as the ivory meets my skin, I feel the potion take effect. My limbs feel lighter, my sense of smell is stronger and my vision is clearer. Kirigaya was right about the storm being only one gem away, it is dangerously close.
And with a single nod I run through the thicket of bushes the stubborn girl had torn through. I see every dent she's left behind from the footsteps dug in the dirt and the broken twigs on every few trees. I even noticed two missing sunflowers from a pocket of sunflowers at the edge of another small clearing. The speed I travel at makes it as if I am flying to reach her. When I reach the foot of the peak she'd pointed at, the skies start to cry and thunder rumbles in the distance.
In these dire circumstances I would command Kirigaya to fly up the range, the search only diminishing within moments as opposed to the climbing I have commenced in. The rocks are slippery and the jagged tooths of the mountain cut my palms. I'll thank the round-faced witch for brewing a healing potion within the tracker one; my hands would've been carved by rock and soaked in blood.
By the time I reach the top, the rain pours heavier, the mere creek now a raging river tearing through the valley. I turn around, the graphite clouds shadowing the skies and the lightning flashing in the clearing Kirigaya is in. I hear his roar in the distance, see the tips of his wings peek from the tops of trees.
I despise the rain, as it weakens my power. However, his excitement whenever his scales soak up the lightning's power is contagious, always compels me to cheer in childish joy, maybe even jump in the rain a few rare times. I do prefer to be shielded from the rain beneath his underbelly.
But this stubborn, ferocious, and beautiful girl that stumbled in my journey has eradicated that tradition for today. Her kaleidoscope eyes are mirages of their own when she fights, when she wields weapons, when she defies my commands with no fear.
I grumbled under my breath as I slid down the slope to a muddied path leading back down. The cave shouldn't be too far from the old oak with an owl's nest. I passed that oak and the cave when I ran to her scream two suns ago.
There is something about her. Something I find intriguing yet deceptively captivating. A single truth I know is that my trust in her will take time to grow.
My limbs cease when I find the oak tree, the owl and its chicks huddled beneath their wings within the nest in the heart of the trunk, and a vined curtain draped around the trees. Behind the curtain is the gaping hole in the cliff, the cave the stubborn girl mentioned.
I go forward, the water reaching my ankles when I mistakenly step in a pool of water. With a curse on my tongue, I shake the rain water off my foot, and at last drink in the cave's appearance.
The walls are coated with moss and mildew, and water trickles through the crevices at the mouth. It isn't too deep, and despite the white fog obscuring the rocks and the green foliage, it takes me only a moment to find the girl.
She's huddled against the wall, her frame curled in a ball as she trembles like a leaf in the wind. Her skin is dangerously pale and her lips and fingertips are starting to color blue, her flecks on her cheeks losing the bright auburn hues. The ill-judgmental girl is soaked to the bone and will go ill if not treated soon. And she taunted us for the same to happen.
Beside her is a pile of wet twigs, damp moss, a flat stone and a sparking flint. She must've tried to make a fire to keep warm.
I sigh, taking off my cape and draping it over her shoulders. The hum of approval she gives in her slumber is enough for me.
Kirigaya must have enough power to keep us warm in this cave, I presume. So I stand right beside the oak tree outside, soaking myself once again while untucking the horn on my belt and blowing as loud as I can.
The sound echoes in the trees and the owls hoot in distress.
Kirigaya's roar echoes back and soon I hear the familiar flaps of wings getting louder. Thunder has stopped and lightning has receded. When I see Kirigaya hovering over the treetops, I realize it is due to him absorbing all what the skies could give him. His horns are golden from his powers finally replenished with fire.
He descends, crushing two trees and the little foliage beside them to make his place. He then bumps his snout to my chest, pushing me within the cave and blocking the entrance with his head.
"Big brute," I grumble with a smile as the gold aura leaks all around his frame.
He nudges against my chest again and I rub the scales between his eyes, giving him a silent nod before I return to the stubborn girl freezing once again.
Without another thought, I carry her to Kirigaya, laying her beside him so she can heat up from his scales emitting the heat of the sun. And as I rested my back on him too, I felt my eyes go heavy with sleep.
The lulling warmth is enough to soothe me from the rain's misery. ~~~
Katsuki
I wake up feeling the chill from the shitty dream. I hate rain. So that amazing hike with the rain was a terrible nightmare I don't want to ever see again.
I don't care, that shitty peasant deserved what came to her.
I stare at my ceiling, the white so different from the grays and greens meshed in the cave, so different from that distant memory of cream scales of shitty dragon hair's underbelly.
My alarm blares and I explode it without a second thought.
The old hag screams at me to get up and I scream back I already did.
I see an orange shirt peeking from my laundry hamper and I'm reminded of the Tangerine. Her shitty smile and her shitty laugh and how my butterflies grew when the Tangerine in my head showed crazy strength against a dragon shifter. I groan into my pillow before getting up again.
It's gonna be a long week until the sport's festival.
Chapter Notes
The Race
Sorry for the delay y'all. So much has happened the past 6 weeks. Uni kicked my butt, my laptop broke down, I got caught up with some family drama back in the homeland, and my motivation for this fic came at a very down low. All is well now, and hopefully I'll be back on schedule in the upcoming weeks. Until then, here's a small chapter I managed to put together in a day for you guys.
It's not my best work, but hope y'all like it <3
Ayumi
I never felt the tension go so thick as it is right now.
Todoroki-kun's declaration of victory against Izuku isn't what I was expecting when coming in today. If anything I was expecting Bakago to go challenge Todoroki, with explosions blasting and all. When the declaration, hostile as ever, was made, I was sure Bakago would do something too.
Instead he just sits in his seat, jaw sharp from clenching it and hands balled into fists while staring daggers at the two.
I wish I had the courage to go say I'm competition too, that Todoroki should watch out for my skills as well. But that sounds just as conceited and self absorbent as the walking candy cane. Rather than that, I take the golden hued disk from my boots, crinkle the metal silently to emboss a number one medal.
Todoroki-kun best believe he's not the only one aiming for the top.
Aizawa Sensei comes after Izuku declares his own claim for victory, and we're all sent to the main grounds for the official start of the Sport's Festival.
The crowd is insanely large, but I don't feel as overwhelmed as I usually do when in malls or in dense groups on the busy streets of Tokyo. I think the distance the colosseum-like stage gives is the reason for my relieved nerves.
When the students are corralled to the center, Midnight Sensei (who thought it was a good idea to have the R-rated hero as the main host?) calls Bakago on stage. He'd won first in the exams after all.
Everyone goes silent when he stands behind the mic all nonchalant as ever and bends down minutely to say one statement that brims me with anger beyond comparison.
"I'll win number one."
The students boo and our class cringes while he puts his thumb down to provoke the rest even more. If I could I'd probably smack him on the back of his head, like Ayane did to the others last night.
She had such grace when fighting against King Kousuke's soldiers and her competitive nature is one I can relate with. With the swords she'd borrowed from the king's weaponry she'd disarmed Sero's and Denki's look-alikes all while giving the Mineta duplicate a good beating he'd deserved.
It was truly exhilarating. Sword fighting and dodging magic spells. It's almost similar to how my quirk is against the others.
Maybe I can do something similar during the festival.
Midnight speaks of more formalities and soon the first competition, the elimination round, is declared to be a race.
All the students participating flood the entrance, all trampling each other once the bell is sounded and I freeze between them. It's Bakago's hand on my shoulder that helps ground me before the starting bell rings.
"The walls have metal beams for support." He says under his breath.
My eyes widen as he pushes forward with his bare hands, screaming insults left and right in the chaos. Why does he have to be so damn perceptive?
The race starts with the loud blare from the auditorium, and the students trample as fast as they can.
I use the metal in my boots to create a small base, hovering over the crowd and heading for the walls. And thank All Might I do it so soon. Todoroki freezes the floor within a moment and the majority of the students are anchored at the entrance. Most of Class 1-A has already found ways against the ice and are chasing close to Todoroki-kun's tail, all declaring their own desire to be number one.
I, on the other hand, keep a hand on the wall, feeling for metals webbing and supporting the arena's floors. I find a few useless beams, softening them to seep through the concrete pores and soon the metal I have in my arsenal is triple the amount I had originally.
With a smirk playing on my lips, I fashion armor and weapons to help me, and I keep it hovering beside me as I start to run.
I'll save my surfboard for later. Gotta keep some stuff a surprise for my competitors.
Instead I fashion ice skates on my boots, gliding across the ice sheet in ease. The wind rushes in my ears and I hear distinct hollers around me but I can't tell what they're saying. The adrenaline rush is too much. When I find robots and ice erected in my path, I see Kirishima-kun pop out of a fallen one, another man made of metal popping near him too.
It's metal everywhere. But I can only control two of the larger robots at a time.
And idea sparks and I rush my way between the legs of a robot, heading to the largest one fallen to the floor.
But I have to hurry, most of class 1-A is tearing through the robots one by one.
When I reach the head of the fallen robot, I break its limbs and untangle the wires from within.
"What're you doing?!" I hear Kaminari-kun scream in confusion while electrocuting a robot.
I smirk. "Making it a little harder for you all!" I holler back, raising my hand to smoothen the metal planks.
Then I push the metal into the ground, my hand descending within a second. Wires tangle within the metal walls I've made and with the robots. The perfect maze for narrowing my opponents' options. I find some spare metal and add it to the hovering mass I have beside me.
"Oh come on!" I hear one of them complain before I zoom once again down the pathway.
Todoroki is way ahead, and I see Bakago's explosions in the close distance. I can probably catch up in time.
Second part of the race is the chasm and I'm very tempted to bring out the board. I don't.
Instead I mold the metal to make a bridge over the depths. When I'm halfway through the course I hear the others clamoring behind but I stay focused. I need to be in the top five at least.
Soon I reach the other side, and only a handful of people are ahead of me. I create roller skates and zoom as fast as I can to the final obstacle we'd face.
When I reach the minefields, I'm tempted to tear apart a path just for me to dart across. But that would give the upper hand to those behind me.
Instead I activate my quirk to sense where the minefields are, minutely shifting them underneath the soil to make a winding path for me that would be virtually impossible to find unless someone has a x-ray vision quirk.
With the path I am delicately constructing and following with a speed that helps me pass the few classmates who had surpassed me earlier. Experimentally, I pull the wires of one apart far ahead, right near Bakago's foot.
Maybe it'll explode, maybe it won't.
It exploded. Pink powder and a loud boom made him falter his step, made him get one step behind Todoroki-kun.
I laugh out loud and I feel his piercing glare towards me. "Was that you, Shitty Tangerine!?" He exclaims.
Usually I'd grumble and pout at the nickname. But I was having too much fun seeing him so surprised from my sneak attack.
"The bombs are made of metal!" I shout back, running faster, passing more students and reaching the large clearing between the two leads and the rest of the class. "I gotta use everything to my advantage!"
He aims a palm to Todoroki-kun while catching speed, ignoring my jibe back at him. He must really think he's all that.
Then a large explosion booms and shakes the ground. I turn around, frozen in the spot as I see a pink cloud cover the sky.
And at the center of the cloud, I see green heading straight for us.
It takes me a few more seconds to realize the green is actually Midoriya-kun holding onto a metal platform like a sled.
I can't help but cackle when he zooms overhead. I came to the realization he might need help in the landing, and I was planning on holding the metal plate with my quirk. But it turns out he planned that too.
Because he kicks Bakago and Todoroki-kun while slamming the plate against the floor, triggering another explosion and darting for the lead.
Bakago screeches, ignoring Todoroki-kun now that Midoriya-kun has taken the lead. And Todoroki-kun is now creating an ice path straight to the other side.
Boys really take the hits to their ego a little too much, don't they.
I smirk, quickly shifting the mines underneath to clear a path to Todoroki-kun's ice one and create ice skates to glide across.
For the final stretch, I mold the ice skates into rollerblades, and rush as fast as I can.
The tunnel comes into view and the three of them enter in the shadows.
I know I'll be the fourth place winner. But my main concern is which of them is going to win. I guess I'll find out once I reach the other side.
Chapter Notes
Supporting My Rival
So I know I said that I'd try to get back on a weekly schedule for this fic. And it Doesn't seem likely until January. Honestly, the sports festival is extremely boring to write for me and I dragged myself through this chapter for the past two months until I got something I genuinely liked. Instead of spreading the Cavalry Battle in two chapters as originally planned, I kinda shortened it into one chapter to only showcase Ayumi's POV instead of both hers and Katsuki's.
I hope y'all enjoy this altered and hopefully entertaining sequence with a flashback tangled in between.
Katsuki
Tangerine (Yumi) got third place.
I don't know how the hell she did it, but one second she was at least twenty meters away from me. And the next she was right behind me encasing my hands in metal so I couldn't continue exploding my way through.
It was a dirty trick.
But hell it was smart. Not that I'll ever admit it.
I've already screamed at the grass for the circumstances and now I glare at her back as she congratulates the shitty Nerd, standing close to him as the pervy Sensei starts describing the details of the next round.
It's a cavalry battle, and the goal is simple: the person with the most points wins. And Deku got the most of 'em, I just need to take his band.
Now, I'm not the first one to get excited for group contests, but if I had to be in one to win, so be it. I just need to make sure whoever is gonna to be on my team are extras who are the best and most balanced.
My first choice would've been Tangerine. But after seeing her follow behind Deku and Round face, I know she's already joined their team.
It doesn't take long for a crowd to surround me though. I enjoy the attention, of course they all know and understand I'm the best.
But hell I don't remember any of their names, forget their quirks.
Shitty hair is soon clasping a hand on my shoulder, his grip similar to Kirigaya's in my dreams.
"I'll be your stead," He says, confidently pointing at himself with his thumb. "Unwavering like a wall, reliable to carry the team forward."
I smirk wide and intrigued. He's the perfect one for the front of the cavalry.
He then recommends Pinky. After she explains her acid quirk, I give her the right flank position. When I see Tape arms approaching nearer, I point at him, telling him he'll be in charge of the left flank.
Soon the teams are all made, and everyone takes their positions, waiting for the match to begin, waiting to conquer Deku and his million points.
And as I glare at his team in the far corner, seeing Tangerine (Yumi) cover their right flank, I can't help but recall last night's dream.
~~~
Kousuke
We are greeted by my first counsel, the first friend I'd made outside of royalty, Zuko Midori.
He's the kindest man I've known, the kindest man who I still question why he is by my right hand when I was such a cruel and cynical man to him. All because he was magicless. Until he reached fourteen summers that is.
That was the summer he saved me from a monster in the woods–a feral, furred and fanged beast with talons for claws, eyes dripped in blood, and a cry that stuttered my breath; the first hunt I had gone to without company and the very hunt he advised against despite my mocking him.
I was on the floor, my spear embedded in the beast's flesh yet still growling in rage, in revenge, while crimson stained the grass and dirt beneath the two of us. The beast had lunged, talons out and stretched out to rip my being into shreds like it already had with my cowl. I shielded myself with my arms, the only weapon left since my legs laid broken and shattered, preventing any hope of escape.
Then I saw a glint of metal, heard a battle cry, and then a sword slashed through the beast's neck. Its head slid off its body and rolled on the floor, blood red eyes glassed over to obsidian. When I looked up to find my savior, the magicless boy I bullied since we were tots, I knew I must alter my opinion on him.
It takes me much time–two more summers–to realize how much of a dear friend he is to me with our frequent duels and intensely heated yet entertaining quarrels on the kingdom's affairs. But by then I already made him my right hand; my trusted advisor.
There is one thing I could never smite despite our closer relations. I still notably envy him.
I am aware it shouldn't be so. But I can't help the sickness of jealousy spreading within. Not with Zuko. Because that man is so kind, so selfless, so brave, I find myself questioning my position as king many times over. He'd make a finer king than I could ever hope to be.
A finer king that would unite all the lands under one flag, and not with tales of violence and savagery. He would be heard across the land as a legend, one who believes in peace, one who nurtures it like water does with life.
However, the world is cruel just as I was as a child. No one would acknowledge him as a leader without the blood of a royal in his veins.
And his lack of magical talent lessens his chances for an uprising too.
Today, however, when we land on the dragon porch of my castle, when the world is painted golden from the sun dipping just behind the mountains in the distance, I get jealous of something else entirely.
His curls tangle with the wind and his freckles are stark against his flushed face as he greets the peasant with welcome arms. Her smile, that tints pink with his kindness and the fluster in her words when he touches her healing hand has discomfort crawling in my skin.
When I clench my hand and feel my heart sink and darken, I realize my jealousy stems from her matching his kindness with one of her own.
To think he can best me even in this endeavor which I didn't even know was a part of me now. Not consciously, anyhow.
"Zuko," I snap, ignoring her flinch from the sound of my voice. "I expect you've kept the court in hand while I was hunting."
"Yes, my liege."
"Have you written all the meetings?" I ask well knowing he hasn't. I've never asked him to before.
He smiles, knowingly and pliant. "You'll have them tomorrow, when the sun is at its highest."
"I want it done four gems past dawn."
He bows his head, a mellow and soft "Yes, my liege," leaving his throat before scurrying away.
When he's out of view and Kirigaya flies off the porch to reunite with his lover, I'm left alone with the peasant's glare on my frame.
"Must you be so harsh?" She asks bitterly, like she can't help herself despite not wishing to converse with me.
"It is none of your concern." I grit.
And before I can see the hatred and disappointment on her face, I turn my back on her, leaving her in the dusk's lonely embrace.
***
Ayumi
I know Bakago doesn't want to team up with me. After impulsively passing him at the last second by using my surfboard in the tunnel without anyone seeing, I knew there'd be a risk for his anger to be pointed at just me.
Knowing him, he's probably thinking I look down on him, that I was just laying with him.
I didn't do it intentionally. It was just the adrenaline coursing through my veins that convinced me to go forward. To be at least in the top three.
And here I was, in the top three, and when Midoriya-kun asked to join his team, I said yes quicker than I'd care to admit. I just didn't want to be surrounded by a crowd asking for them to join my team; much like they are around Bakago right now.
I follow Ochako-chan and Midoriya-kun as we try to find our fourth person. After Iida-kun denied our invitation to join Todoroki-kun's team, I thought finding the last addition of the team won't be the easiest.
Turns out Midoriya-kun is very similar to his past life Zuko-san. He found an equally strong candidate, Tokoyami-kun, just minutes later and we had a whole team ready.
Tokoyami-kun in the front, Ochako-chan on the left flank, I'm on the right flank, and Midoriya-kun is on top of our shoulders.
The moment the bell rings, marking the beginning of the cavalry battle, we're the first ones everyone goes after.
Our plan is simple yet effective.
Ochako-chan uses her quirk to make us all weightless, I create a platform to carry us above the arena, Tokoyami-kun defends and attacks us from the front, and Midoriya-kun directs as a single unit.
It's a perfect balance.
We evade many of the groups expertly.
That is until Bakago decides to abandon his unit to attack us with his aerial movement using his explosions.
"You coward!" He sneers to Midoriya-kun but it feels as though it's directed to me. "Flyin' away instead of fightin' head on!"
Yep. He's definitely pissed at me.
I use some of the metal mass hovering on our right side and morph it into a thin shield from Bakago's explosions.
"You wouldn't want me to bring out swords instead of shields," I shout back, pushing him using the metal.
Sero-kun catches him in time, bringing him back to their cavalry unit and far away from our aerial location.
"That was close," Midoriya-kun shakes, his smile wobbly as he glances nervously at Bakago's stead.
"Guys," Ochako-chan says cautiously, pointing to our left where multiple teams are charging towards us. "We still got company!"
I use my free hand to shift the shield and cover our left, the onslaught of attacks getting caught in the metal.
"Tokoyami-kun!" I exclaim when an idea conjures in my mind. "When I remove the shield I need you to cover for me! I got an idea!"
The single nod in the chaos is enough for me.
I remove the plate and morph them to make a pair of wings and create a makeshift harness using chains around Midoriya-kun and send him to the skies.
Did I get inspiration from Bakago's solo attack? Yes. Yes, I did.
Midoriya-kun screams and flails as I direct the wings to the other side of the ring. It is quite comedic seeing him dart his head back and forth as he feels his altitude rise and lower depending on the attacks coming.
While I distract the masses with him, I gently glide ourselves closer to him and to a space that is exceptionally spaced out with an advantageous distance from the two main groups we were most concerned for: Todoroki-kun's and Bakago's.
But then an announcement declares that class 1-B has succeeded the two teams.
That is certainly a surprise but it plays to our advantage so I don't care for it much. As long as we go through the final rounds, we are absolutely chilling.
Using the shock and disarray as an advantage, I bring Midoriya-kun back to us, both Ochako-chan and I stabilize his landing as best as we can.
He jeers like a child, his smile wobbly yet wide as he puffs for air. "That scared me, Yamamoto-san, but it was so much fun!" He giggles, his cheeks pink and a hand on his heart. "Thank you for that delight!"
I can't help but laugh with him, "Glad you enjoyed it, Midoriya-kun!" I exclaim. "Guys!" Ochako-chan says in worry, "We need cover!"
My senses sizzle suddenly, electricity zapping through in sparks. I follow Ochako-chan's finger to Todoroki-kun's team, specifically to Kaminari-kun and the yellow sparks flowing around his form. With a smirk he flashes his quirk and I reflexively drop us on the ground and tear away the metal from us as far as possible.
Metal is a conductor of electricity. I couldn't risk us getting fried at a larger voltage than the rest of the teams.
While I keep the sphere of my metals far from our team and closer to the teams near Todoroki-kun's unit, grounding a spike into the dirt to channel the current away from the metals, Tokoyami-kun's dark shadow shields us from the attack.
It lasts for a few seconds and then a sheet of ice covers the floor, much like in the race, and traps many of the teams. Electricity follows, yellow zapping through the arena and all the teams scream in unison.
The metal conducts the electricity away from us and amplifies the electricity on the others. However, since any metal I control becomes an extension of my nervous system, I feel the electricity course through my nerves and spazz my brain momentarily.
I hear my name distantly, and when I let the metal untether from the ground and come near me again, I realize it was Midoriya-kun calling for all of us to keep our guards up.
I shake my head twice, narrowing my eyes at the team cornering us. Ice walls are erected on either side of us, Todoroki-kun's team prowling on the other side.
I would've taken us to the skies but Kaminari-kun's electricity holds me back. It'llroast us all alive if he aims at us later.
Midoriya-kun seems to realize this too, because he mumbles a storm of how to proceed next.
"Tokoyami-kun!" He exclaims, "Keep defense position for as long as you can. Uraraka-san you can give us our weight back," He looks down at me as I glance at him, "Yamamoto-san, ready a weapon that helps us cut through ice. Some skates will help as well."
"You got it," I say, readily morphing the metal into skates for Ochako-chan, Tokoyami-kun, and I. "You two don't need to worry about your skating skills. I'll control our mobility as ong as you don't resist."
Both Tokoyami-kun and Ochako-chan nod in agreement. "We trust you," She says with a smirk, releasing us from her quirk.
As Todoroki-kun's team rushes forward, Dark shadow attacks with a battle cry. But Yao-Momo deflects with a metal shield of her own.
Choosing metal was her flaw.
I morph her own contraption into a thin metal rope, tying her with Kaminari-kun as he tries to shock Tokoyami-kun into submission.
Now with their tether, Kaminari-kun can't attack and he frowns disheartened at the turn of events. "That is not cool, Ayumi-chan!" He exclaims, trying and failing to wriggle out of the metal trap.
"All is fair in love and war, Kaminari-kun!" I laugh out loud and tighten my grasp as they both wince and scowl at my way, "And this is war!"
Midoriya dodges a shot of ice coming our way, and uses the spiked metal bat I gave him to smash the ice spikes coming out our left flank.
"Now will be a good time to leave!" He says to me, swinging it back and forth as more ice shoots our way, the air getting frigid with every passing second.
"Everybody, hold on tight!" I scream, activating my quirk to its maximum output to better control all the ice skates on the curved walls of ice.
"To what?!" Ochako-chan hollers in worry.
"Each other?!" Midoriya-kun supplies.
Dark shadow wraps around the three of us, holding us closer together, "I got it!"
I smirk, and take off to the right while Todoroki-kun's team rushes from the left.
However, Iida-kun's speed is something none of us accounted for.
Within a blink, the entire team is right in front of us. The cool wind battles the heat from Iida-kun's mufflers, letting wind flurry around us, disorienting my concentration of controlling the skates.
The chaos is immense, and we lose all our points within two seconds.
We still have thirty more seconds in the game though. We still have a chance to flip the tables once again.
Again Midoriya-kun shouts instructions. This time for me to use the metal rope I used to immobilize Yao-Momo and Kaminari-kun around me and Ochako-chan, and I change our ice skates to roller blades. Ochako-chan to use her quirk on all of us again, and for Tokoyami-kun the offensive post.
With a few seconds on the clock, we launch ourselves forward.
I hear explosions in the distance and battle cries deafen my ears as ice and fire and shadows and light take over the battle.
We slip away right when the bell commencing the battle is over. And in Midoriya's hand is a headband with only twenty points.
Thankfully, I slipped a hook around one of Todoroki-kun's bands on his neck and took one worth five hundred points and Tokoyami-kun stole one worth seven hundred and fifty points.
I laugh out loud in joy, watching Midoriya-kun cry a waterfall in relief and Ochako-chan trying to calm him.
But what made me laugh the most was Bakago's rage at the floor beneath him.
He better get used to being second-rate. He doesn't have a clue what's coming next if- when I beat him.