[U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL DAY – BOYS' LOCKER ROOM – MORNING]
The zipper of my jacket went up with a soft click.
The U.A. sports uniform was comfortable and aerodynamic. Dark blue, with white and red details on the chest forming the school's classic "U" and "A." I looked at myself in the mirror for a moment, adjusting the collar.
I took a deep breath.
'Okay. Breathe, Ben. It's just a national event broadcast worldwide. No pressure.'
"Dude, you're glowing," commented Kaminari next to me, frowning. "Like… literally. Your eyes just flashed green."
"It's the excitement," I replied with a smile. "Or maybe just radioactive nerves."
Kirishima showed up behind me with a clenched fist.
"Ready to crush it, werewolf ? Today we show that Class 1-A isn't here to play around !"
"I'll try not to bring down the stadium with a howl. No promises though," I said with a wink.
Midoriya looked nervous. Bakugou was grumbling. Todoroki stood in total silence, like a living ice statue.
But me… I was right there among them.
[STADIUM ENTRANCE – GATES OPEN]
The daylight exploded in my eyes as the gates opened.
The roar of the crowd hit me like a wall of sound. Thousands of people, stands packed, banners waving with student and agency names. Cameras hovered like drones from all angles.
"BEN TENNYSON – 1ST PLACE IN THE PRACTICAL EXAM," read one of the holographic signs above the field.
'This is real…' I thought, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach.
"Let's go, 1-A !" shouted Uraraka, jumping excitedly. "It's our turn !"
We moved forward together, in formation. Steady steps. Clean uniforms.
Racing hearts.
The announcers spoke with enthusiasm.
"And here they are, ladies and gentlemen! The famous CLASS 1-A, leading the Festival with the prodigy of the moment: Ben Tennyson, the boy of many transformations !"
The stands erupted in applause.
"You hear that ?" Kaminari whispered. "They're cheering because of you !"
"I swear I didn't pay anyone. Yet," I joked, trying to ignore the cameras locked on me.
[MAIN FIELD – OPENING PRESENTATION]
In the center of the stadium, the ever-extravagant heroine Midnight made a dramatic entrance.
"WEEEEEELCOME TO THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL !"
The crowd screamed. Colorful fireworks exploded around us.
"This year's candidates are promising! We have students with amazing powers, mysterious abilities, and…" she pointed directly at me, "even unexpected transformations !"
The crowd screamed even louder.
I gave a small wave. Kirishima patted my shoulder.
"Bet half of those cameras are just waiting to see you turn into the fire guy again."
"Then maybe I should go Grey Matter just to mess with everyone," I replied.
"Imagine the announcer trying to keep up: 'And now… a three-foot frog with a plan ?!'"
Midnight continued:
"THE FIRST EVENT will be… THE OBSTACLE RACE! A 4-kilometer course around the stadium, filled with traps, challenges, and robots. Only the first 42 to cross the finish line move on to the next round !"
A screen showed the map: simulated lava pits, wind trails, moving steel walls, giant robots.
"This is going to be insane…" Todoroki murmured.
"Insane's putting it lightly," said Bakugou, grinning wickedly.
Midnight raised a gleaming whip into the air.
"GET READY, STUDENTS ! POSITIONS !"
We lined up. Hearts pounding. The sound of the crowd faded. Everything narrowed down to one single point:
The signal.
"BEEEEEEEEP!"
And everything exploded into motion.
Students launched forward like human missiles — some running, others flying, teleporting, sliding, jumping. Bakugou took off in a blast. Iida turned into a blue blur. Todoroki froze the ground behind him, making a deadly ice track.
But me…
"Its hero time."
Transformation activated: XLR8.
The acceleration hit like a punch to the nerves. In less than half a second, I was zipping past Uraraka, Aoyama, and Shoji like a blue lightning bolt. The wind slapped my face. The arena became a blur.
"Excuse me, second-rate speedsters ! The real flash has arrived !" I shouted as I passed Iida.
"T-Tennyson ?!" he blinked, trying to keep up. "That's not just speed… that's ridiculous !"
I laughed inside. But up ahead… the first obstacle: a moving wall with giant robot arms swinging hard to knock people down.
Some students stopped. Others tried climbing cautiously.
I slowed down just enough to analyze. The machines moved in a rhythmic pattern.
"Grey Matter, now would be a great time to lend me the brain," I murmured, calculating the movements.
I waited. One second. Two.
Boom. I dashed forward.
I moved between the arms like living electricity. One robot tried to hit me — I turned sideways. Another arm dropped — I ducked just in time. A student screamed when she saw me basically "dance" through the strikes.
"Someone tell these tin cans they need better rhythm !" I shouted, leaping over the last obstacle.
Behind me, robots were getting frozen by Todoroki. Others exploded thanks to Bakugou. But I… was already far ahead.
[SECOND OBSTACLE – FAKE LAVA PIT]
The heat rose, even if simulated. A huge gap in the ground separated the next part of the track. Some students had already been eliminated there, slipping or falling.
"Alright. Heatblast, you're up."
Transformation activated: Heatblast.
Flames erupted across my body. My feet ignited, leaving a trail of embers as I ran along the edge of the pit. I felt the heat currents pushing me forward.
"Heh… fake lava ? I appreciate the courtesy !" I shouted, leaping and gliding with jets of fire.
I landed on the other side with burning hands and a heroic pose.
"Next."
[THIRD OBSTACLE – GIANT ROBOTS]
Ah, the classic: three combat robots, like the ones from the entrance exam, positioned at the end of the track. Each almost twenty meters tall, glowing red eyes, target sensors.
They were in full attack mode.
I saw Midoriya hesitate. Some students tried dodging. Others attacked and got thrown.
"Okay, this is a job for muscle."
Transformation activated: Four Arms.
Strength surged through my limbs. All four arms grabbed boulders from the ground before the first robot even noticed me.
"Hey, tin can !" I shouted. "Let's dance !"
The robot lunged with a punch. I rolled underneath and jumped.
BOOM!
The first hit dented its leg.
It staggered. The second robot tried to grab me — I used the first one's shoulder as a boost, spun in the air, and landed a double cross punch on both.
Parts flew. Ground cracked. Dust rose.
"First knockdown ! Who wants the 'Most Breakable Robot' trophy ?"
"This is… insane…" murmured Shoji, watching in shock.
Uraraka floated by.
"Tennyson, do you have like an form for every situation ?!"
"It's not cheating if it's me, right ?" I replied, winking with one of my four eyes.
[FINAL STRETCH – PRESSURE TUNNEL]
The final stretch was a narrow path between two walls, with high-pressure air jets blasting from all sides — strong enough to throw anyone off if they lost balance.
"Hmm… light, resilient… Go with Diamond ? Nah… better something instinctive."
Transformation activated: Wildmutt.
The transformation slammed everything into the ground. Claws dug into concrete. Animal strength, senses amplified.
With Wildmutt's quadruped body, I ran close to the ground, each step gripping tight. The air jets came from everywhere, but I was too low to be lifted. My claws anchored deep into the ground.
I passed Bakugou, who was flying unsteadily.
I growled-laughed, dashing under him.
"GO TO HELL, YOU FREAKIN' DOG-B*TCH !" he yelled, furious.
And then I saw the finish line.
I leaped in a final burst, crossing like an orange missile.
BEEP!
The siren sounded.
On the screen:
1ST PLACE – BENJAMIN TENNYSON – Class 1-A
The crowd exploded.
I returned to human form, fell to my knees with a tired but satisfied smile.
Midnight announced:
"And the first to cross the finish line is Class 1-A's multi-transformer: Ben Tennyson, with creativity, strength, speed… and apparently, comedy included in the package !"
Cameras focused on me.
I looked at one of them, smiled, and said:
"Sorry for the show… I've got ten ways to shine."
[TENNYSON FAMILY HOUSE – JAPAN – LIVING ROOM]
The room was in complete silence — except for the television broadcasting the U.A. Sports Festival live.
The image of Ben — transformed into Heatblast, then Four Arms — dominated the screen. The translated Japanese commentator said:
"This boy from 1-A is redefining the concept of versatility. Strength, speed, elemental powers… all in a single Quirk ?!"
Ben's father held the remote like it might explode at any second.
"This is… unbelievable," he murmured. "He said he was training, but this ? It's incredible !"
"Complete transformations. None like the other," his mother added, speechless. "He said he'd been training hard… but this feels like something else."
Gwen couldn't take her eyes off the screen. (She had come with Grandpa Max to cheer for Ben.)
"He… looks comfortable in those forms. Like he's known each one for years."
Grandpa Max, sitting farther back with arms crossed, said nothing. But his eyes were locked on every movement Ben made. Every detail. Every leap.
Every hit. Every alien.
He knew them.
Forms he hadn't seen in a long time.
'That's no ordinary Quirk… That's alien. Again.'
Max kept a neutral face. He couldn't say anything yet. Not without proof. And he couldn't involve his family. Not now.
But deep in his chest… an old instinct awakened.
He needed to talk to Ben. As soon as possible.
[HERO AGENCY HEADQUARTERS – VARIOUS LOCATIONS – JAPAN]
Across agencies throughout the archipelago, screens broadcasted the race with exclusive focus on Ben.
Analyses of his transformations were happening in real-time. Strength patterns, speed, resistance, even sound frequencies were being recorded.
"He's a prodigy," said a heroine in golden armor. "The kind of talent that defines generations."
"Did you notice the transformations are biologically distinct ? Not even multiple genetic mutations could do this."
"The school needs to keep that boy under maximum protection. Hero or not, he's a walking weapon."
A screen froze on Heatblast's flames.
"I've never seen fire powers cause that kind of physical impact without support gear."
"Or a kid look that comfortable in monstrous forms."
Ben's name began appearing on priority scouting lists. Pro heroes wanted to observe him closely.
Some to train him.
Others… to understand him.