In the last few minutes, Izuku and his team managed to grab three more headbands to add to their points. They ran around the stadium, dodging attack after attack and pursuer after pursuer. His choices in teammates were paying off as they hadn't even been touched yet.

"Deku!"

He just had so say it, didn't he?

Izuku turned his head swiftly and watched as Kacchan was flying toward them, a long strip of tape wrapped around one of his ankles. With frantic eyes, he looked over at Shinsou who nodded in response. The insomniac nodded at Shiozaki as she nodded back as well, her tangle of vine-like hairs shooting over to block Kacchan from getting any closer. Izuku watched as he was pulled back down to his team, an angry expression on his face.

Suddenly, Kacchan's headband was swiped off his forehead and the thief ran off with it, Kacchan shouting curses as he followed hot in pursuit. Izuku let out a soundless sigh of relief as he turned away from the ash blonde.

"At least that's over with," He thought.

When he looked up, Izuku met a pair of mismatched eyes.

"We're coming for you, Midoriya," Todoroki said.

Izuku gulped.

———

Hitoshi watched as the guy with engines in his legs suddenly boosted the speed of their team and were by their side in less than a second. The half-haired guy snatched the headband from Midoriya faster than Hitoshi could comprehend and left as quick as they came. Hitoshi gaped as the rest of his teammates' eyes widened.

"Midoriya-" Tokoyami said, his voice urgent.

The muted boy reached up at his forehead and grinned down at them as he tugged at the white fabric wrapped snuggly around his head.

'Got the wrong one,' He signed smugly, Hitoshi translating with a relieved sigh that was reciprocated by the others.

"Thank the Lord..." Shiozaki muttered gratefully.

———

Shouto started down at his palm and grit his teeth at the low number.

"Wrong one," He said tensely. "Midoriya dodged at the last moment and I grabbed one of the headbands he had around his neck."

"Those are some reflexes, considering how fast we were," Yaoyorozu said, brows furrowed.

"Iida, can you do that again?" Shouto asks.

Iida shakes his head. "There's a stall in my engines after Recipro Burst! It'll be awhile before I can do it again!"

"There's just left than a minute left! We're nearing the end!" Midnight's voice blared throughout the stadium tauntingly.

Shouto clenched his fist. "We're just going to have to charge back in and try again! Let's go!"

They ran straight for Team Midoriya who seemed to have the same idea. They met in the middle and Shouto reached out toward those ten million points. He was close, just a finger tip away, when something appeared in Midoriya's eyes and panic flared through Shouto momentarily, fueling his left side. Flames appeared and he snuffed them out quickly, distracted , giving Midoriya enough time to snag one of his headbands.

"What was I thinking?!"

'Ten!' Midnight started counting down from ten as the clock ran out.

'Nine!' Shouto and his team raced after Midoriya's.

'Eight!' Midoriya's team stepped back as Shouto's gained on them.

'Seven!' And explosion was heard from the other side of the ice barrier Shouto had made earlier.

'Six!' Their heads whipped as the ice cracked and shattered.

'Five!' Team Bakugou broke through and their eyes landed on them.

'Four!' Bakugou shot up and propelled himself toward them with his explosions.

'Three!' Both teams closed in on Midoriya's both aiming for the ten million points.

'Two!' Shouto surged forward and reached.

'One! Times up!'

Bakugou fell to the floor unceremoniously, cursing as he went.

"Goddammit!" Shouto grunted in frustration.

———

"Managing to keep their ten million points, we have Team Midoriya!"

Tears of joy leaked from Izuku's eyes and he hastily wiped them away. Shiozaki smiled, Tokoyami gave a thumbs up, and Shinsou smirked. Izuku hastily thanked them all with bows, feeling overwhelming grateful for their help.

———

"In second place, Team Todoroki!"

"Great job, everyone," Yaoyorozu smiled.

"Yeey.." Kaminari said, dazed, as he stuck a thumbs up.

"I'm sorry my Recipro Burst wasn't as helpful as I'd hoped it'd be," Iida said, bowing at a ninety degree angle.

"It's fine, Iida," Shouto said. "Don't worry about it."

"Yes, we still managed to get a headband because of you!" Yaoyorozu added positivity.

"Thank you," Iida said, sincere, as he picked himself up with a small smile.

———

"In third, Team Bakugou!"

"FUCKING HELL!" Katsuki yelled as he punched the ground.

"Hey man, it's fine! At least we made it to the final round!" Tape said cheerfully.

"Yeah! That was so awesome!" Raccoon eyes grinned, pumping her fist.

Katsuki said nothing, fuming silently.

"Ahah.. I guess even second wouldn't be enough for this guy, huh?" Shitty hair said.

"SHUT UP!"

———

"And in fourth, Team Tetsutetsu!"

"Alright!" Tetsutetsu grinned, pumping a fist.

"We did it!" Ochaco shouted, high-fiving Tetsutetsu.

"Thanks for the help, you guys," Kendou smiled as she shook Tsu's hand.

"It was fun, kerro," Tsu said, smiling.

———

Izuku was confused. He was walking back inside one moment, Uraraka and Iida flanking his sides as they spoke animatedly about the next event, before suddenly getting pulled over by Todoroki. It happened so fast and suddenly that Izuku's brain was still catching up.

They stood in silence, their backs leaning against the opposite walls. Todoroki was just staring at Izuku. He did nothing but stare. Izuku felt like he was trying to look into his soul.

Nervously, Izuku moved to take the notepad out of his pocket. When Todoroki saw what it was, he spoke.

"Stop. You don't need it. All you're going to do is listen."

Izuku flinched at the harshness in his tone before slowly slipping the notepad back.

"During that moment in the Calvary Battle, you overwhelmed me. To the point that I even broke my pledge," Todoroki lifted his left hand and stared at it, almost glaring at his palm.

Closing his hand into a fist, Todoroki looked up and met Izuku's eyes. "I was there at USJ, too. All Might's power was just as overwhelming as yours. They both gave off the same pressure. So," his gaze hardened.

Izuku gulped, stepping back slightly.

"Are you All Might's illegitimate child or something?"

Izuku froze. "I-Is that what he thinks?!"

If he had enough nerve, he would've laughed.

As usual, it's not edited :P