"WELCOME TO THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Present Mic's booming voice, charged with an infectious enthusiasm, reverberated through the colossal stadium, officially announcing the commencement of the most anticipated event of the year for both civilians and aspiring heroes alike. As the immense, gleaming doors of the gigantic stadium slid open with a dramatic flourish, a torrent of excited people quickly flooded in, filling every single seat in what seemed like the blink of an eye, their cheers a deafening roar.
The stadium, despite its truly colossal size, was thoughtfully divided into three distinct, large areas: one for the first-year students, another for the second-year students, and a final one for the third-year students. However, the vast majority of the eager spectators, the media, and the scouting Pro Heroes were unequivocally focused on the first-year section of U.A., where the newest generation of heroes would make their grand debut.
"Phew, at least we managed to secure a good spot with a clear view..." The tired voice of a tall man with meticulously combed light brown hair and a pair of sensible glasses murmured, a sigh of relief escaping him. This was none other than the world-renowned scientist, David Shield, a former classmate of All Might and the current Director of the artificial island, I-Island, a hub of groundbreaking technological advancements.
"If I hadn't gotten a seat with such a perfect vantage point, I doubt I could ever truly forgive myself, not after flying all this way," the person seated next to him commented, letting out a similar sigh of contentment. This was none other than Winston Oxton, also a famous scientist, who had supposedly retired from the demanding scientific community, or at least that was the widely accepted public perception.
"Um... I've never actually seen this 'Sports Festival' before in person. It could certainly prove to be quite interesting, and I must confess, I'm genuinely curious to see your daughter, Lena, in action," a tall woman with striking blonde hair, as bright and radiant as the midday sun, remarked. In her voice, there was a faint, yet noticeable, heavy German accent. This was Winston and David's new, brilliant partner, Dr. Angela Ziegler. "So, when exactly will the much-anticipated show commence?"
"Angela, my dear, this is hardly a theatrical performance, and according to the meticulously planned schedule, the Festival should begin in approximately twenty-four minutes," Winston replied with a slight, amused smile playing on his lips, enjoying her almost childlike excitement. "Fufufu, I simply must remember to take plenty of pictures for my personal album."
"Wah... what intense nerves..." Ochako Uraraka whispered, her voice barely audible, as she diligently practiced slow, rhythmic breathing exercises, attempting to calm her rapidly fluttering nerves. "We haven't even left this break room yet, and I already feel as if thousands of eyes are scrutinizing my every move, watching me intently..."
"Yeah, I feel like I'm going to literally explode from the sheer tension building up inside me," Tsuyu Asui commented, her voice a low croak, which, contrary to her statement, seemed to emanate from an extremely calm, almost detached, demeanor. Her composure was unnerving amidst the collective anxiety.
"Okay, everyone! Let's give it our absolute best, our every ounce of effort!" Mina Ashido shouted, her vibrant pink skin almost glowing with enthusiasm, her voice filled with infectious energy. Her rallying cry instantly raised the spirits of the entire class, effectively clearing away everyone's lingering nerves and apprehension.
Suddenly, Shoto Todoroki opened his eyes, their usually icy gaze now fixed in a certain direction, focused with an almost predatory intensity.
'Oxton...' he thought calmly, his mind already calculating. Lena would undoubtedly be a tough, formidable opponent to beat, especially with her terrifying super speed, an ability that seemed to defy conventional perception. Not only that, but she was also a person Todoroki simply couldn't fully read or predict, due to her various, unpredictable antics and playful provocations. 'I will undeniably prove to you, Lena, that I am, without question, the best among us.'
Looking away from Lena, Todoroki subtly rolled his eyes at the sight of Izuku Midoriya, who was earnestly talking to Ochako Uraraka and Tenya Iida, seemingly trying to calm their nerves. Midoriya might not be the strongest, most physically imposing individual in the class, but he undoubtedly possessed a sharp, strategic mind, as well as wielding a very destructive Quirk which, if one wasn't incredibly careful, could potentially defeat you in a single, devastating hit.
But the most problematic, most unpredictable thing about Midoriya, in Todoroki's analytical mind, was his stubborn, unyielding determination, his almost infuriating refusal to give up for anything in the world. That, more than any raw power, was his best, most formidable weapon, and Todoroki knew it. He had personally witnessed Midoriya fight to the point of literally destroying his own body during the team battle test at the USJ, a testament to his unbreakable will.
Then, Todoroki's gaze shifted to his last primary target, the "boy bomb"... Deidar— ahem Katsuki Bakugo. Although Bakugo possessed a notoriously bad temper and exhibited an extremely aggressive demeanor, no one, not even Todoroki, could possibly take away his undisputed merit of being a true combat genius, an innate prodigy in battle. The more time Bakugo spent fighting, the faster and more instinctively he adapted to your unique fighting style, eventually using your very own moves against you, turning your strengths into weaknesses... not to mention how absurdly strong and destructive his Explosion Quirk truly was, coupled with his boundless creativity in utilizing it in countless, unpredictable ways. Possibly his biggest, most exploitable weakness, in Todoroki's estimation, was his overwhelming pride and deeply ingrained self-confidence, traits that could potentially be used against him, but Todoroki couldn't be absolutely certain of this.
In Todoroki's meticulous analysis, these three, Lena Oxton, Izuku Midoriya, and Katsuki Bakugo, were undeniably the strongest individuals in Class 1-A, whether by virtue of their sheer wit, their unwavering determination, or their remarkable adaptability in the face of adversity.
Nodding subtly to himself, confirming his internal assessments, Todoroki rose from his seat and walked directly to where his companions were gathered, an action that immediately caught everyone's attention. For it was widely known that Todoroki was not one to intentionally draw attention to himself, preferring to operate with a quiet, almost aloof, efficiency.
Todoroki stopped directly in front of Midoriya, looking him straight in the eyes, his gaze cold and unwavering. Midoriya, notoriously nervous, was visibly trembling at the icy intensity of Todoroki's expression, but he still managed to blurt out a few words, his voice a shaky whisper.
"W-what's wrong, Todoroki?"
"I'm going to beat you, Midoriya..." Todoroki announced, his voice flat and resolute, an undeniable declaration that caused the entire class to collectively frown in surprise and unease. "I will beat all of you... every single one of you, without exception."
"Oi! Your opponent is me, you fucking half-half bastard!" Katsuki Bakugo growled furiously, immediately approaching Todoroki, his hands already sparking with nascent explosions. But Todoroki merely ignored him, his gaze fixed elsewhere, an intentional slight. "Oi! Are you deaf, you icy prick?!"
"Objectively speaking, I genuinely think I'm much stronger than you, Midoriya... but somehow, despite that, you managed to profoundly impress All Might, a feat I still find perplexing... I don't feel the need to meddle in that specific matter... but I will undeniably defeat you. And that goes for you too, Oxton," Todoroki said coldly, his gaze shifting sharply to Lena, who seemed to be strangely distracted, looking intently at her own hand, oblivious to the simmering tension around her.
Lena looked up, her gaze meeting Todoroki's. She clenched her fist tightly, a nascent power stirring within her, and looked at Todoroki with an amused, almost playful, smile.
"Then get ready, Todoroki, because I will sweep the floor with you again, just like at the USJ," Lena said, her confident smile never faltering as she continued to walk, keeping her gaze fixed on Todoroki's, a challenge in her eyes. "I certainly won't go easy on you this time, not for a second..."
And with that clear, undeniable declaration, the entire class suddenly realized one profound truth: everyone present here was now an enemy until the very end of the Sports Festival. The camaraderie of Class 1-A, for the moment, had been replaced by a fierce, individualistic competition.
"THE FIRST YEARS ARE NOW ENTERING THE ARENA!" Present Mic shouted, his voice reaching a fever pitch, announcing the grand arrival of the participants, which immediately caused the entire stadium to erupt into a wild, deafening roar of cheers and applause. "SAY HELLO TO THE UPCOMING PRO HERO STARS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE FUTURE OF HEROISM IS UPON US!"
"""WOAAAAAHHH!!!"""" The collective scream of the entire stadium, a thunderous wave of sound, resonated with Present Mic's electrifying announcement, amplifying the already palpable excitement.
After that grand introduction, all the rookies slowly, somewhat nervously, walked into the vast arena. Some were visibly trembling, overwhelmed by the sheer, intimidating amount of people watching their every step, their faces pale with apprehension. Some were absolutely brimming with excitement, eager to fully experience the unique, exhilarating U.A. experience, their eyes shining with anticipation. And some, like Katsuki Bakugo, were merely waiting impatiently for the precise moment to metaphorically stomp on each other, their competitive drive already at a fever pitch.
"Whistling There sure are a lot of people here, aren't there?" Kyoka said, a low, almost indifferent whistle escaping her lips as she looked around the overflowing stands, her face betraying zero excitement, a stark contrast to the roaring crowd. "I knew it was going to be big, but seeing it in person like this... it's something else entirely, truly on another level."
"That means we're famous now, right, Kyo?" Lena said, a playful nudge, giving Kyoka a gentle push with her elbow, her smile wide and bright.
"Y-Yes, I guess so," Kyoka replied half-heartedly, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of public attention, deliberately ignoring the fact that thousands of stares and cameras were fixed directly on her at that very moment. "I suppose we're the stars of the moment now... at least until the next big thing comes along."
"Alright, all you promising rookies! I'm Midnight, the incredibly sensual, +18 heroine, a pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Midnight exclaimed, her voice purring with seductive charm as she sensually posed in various, very suggestive positions that made all the young male students' blood rush instantly to their brains, their faces flushing crimson.
After Midnight's rather extensive fanservice display, she finally proceeded to explain the intricate rules of the Festival, her voice returning to a more formal, authoritative tone.
"Now, the first-year representative is going to give us a few words, a brief address to inspire us all... and it's none other than... KATSUKI BAKUGO!" Midnight announced with a dazzling smile, her voice booming with theatrical flair. "Come on up to the stage, young man!"
""WHAT?!"""" The entire class shouted in unison, a collective gasp of disbelief echoing through the break room. They immediately looked at Momo, seeking an explanation for this baffling choice, but she merely shook her head, just as shocked and perplexed as they were.
Undeterred by the furious screams and protests of his classmates, Bakugo, with an air of supreme arrogance, confidently stepped onto the stage. He looked briefly, almost dismissively, at all the assembled students, a sneer playing on his lips.
"I'm going to annihilate them all," Bakugo announced, his voice flat and devoid of any discernible emotion, as he casually rolled his eyes, as if addressing an inconsequential matter.
"""!!!""" Shouts of indignation, a cacophony of insults, and angry curses immediately fell upon Bakugo from every direction, a furious torrent of outrage. The latter, however, didn't even flinch, maintaining a perfectly stoic, indifferent face, completely unaffected by the widespread animosity.
'This was going to be an incredibly long day...' Kyoka thought, letting out a weary sigh as she covered her face with her palms, a gesture of profound exasperation. At least Lena, sensing her distress, gently comforted her with a soft, reassuring hug. 'Let's just get this over with, please...'