Third P.O.V

[Previously]

Bakugo set off one last explosion. Todoroki, another sleet of ice. Midoriya, pushing his legs to run as fast as possible.

"And in first place of our first event is-"

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"Now to introduce our second event...Paintball Battle. There will be teams each containing 2-4 people each. Who you want to team with is up to you," Midnight speaks. "Now for this event, there will be a point system. Sadly only the first 42 competitors will make it in this round. Each team, depending on what place you got in the first event, will have a starting point. The team with the lowest placings will start with 110 points. After that the points will increase by 10. That is except for the winner of the obstacle course. They will instead get 10 million points!"

Everyone turns to look at the first place winner of the obstacle course. Their bright pink hair bouncing up and down, as they seem to not pay attention to Midnight or the eyes watching them. Realizing this, Midnight takes a second to continue before speaking once more.

"...Now that thats explained, each of you will be given 10 minutes to find a team. Remember there can be no less than 2 people per team and no more than 4. Your ten minutes start now!" Stepping down from the platform, Midnight starts a conversation with Cementoss, keeping an eye on the students from the corner of her eye.

The moment given the clear to create teams, the first place winner immediately walks over to Midoriya. Shinsou gets confused, and watches from a distance. Looking at the conversation, he notices a sense of familiarity between the two. They both look comfortable talking to each other, even though he knows neither have met before. Making a final decision, they decide to make their way over, wanting to know what's up. Finally reaching the two of them, Shinsou speaks up.

"Mind having a third party?"

Gold and green eyes turn to look at him, then each other. Seeming to have a silent conversation, 'how in the world can they do that all ready', both of them smile at him. Nodding his head, they stare at Izuku, hoping hed get the hint. Luckily, he does.

"Ah, Hitoshi, this is Hatsume Mei from the Support Course. Mei this is-"

"Shinsou Hitoshi from the Hero Course, I know! Oh I have so many new babies for you!" Hatsume finishes Midoriyas sentence. Hitoshi takes a second to process what was just spoken.

"I-Im sorry, babies?" He chokes out. Izuku, seeing the confusion, obviously displayed on his face, and quickly explained.

You see it calls her inventions babies. I myself never really understood so, yeah. Nodding his head in hesitancy. Shinsou looks over to the winner of the first event. Said winner looked to be tinkering with its new "baby".

"So whats the plan?"

"...Hmm? Oh just stick together, dont get shot. Yknow the basics of paintball. Oh! Also try to get into the next round."

"Cool...cool," Shinsou responds, looking over to Izuku for a better plan. Seeing his request, Izuku signals him to wait. Accepting the gesture, they look around looking for Himiko. Spotting her two blond buns, she notices she made a team with Tokoyami and Uraraka. Pleased with his discovery, they look over at Izuku. Watching his friend mutter to himself has always been an interest to Hitoshi.

'How do you think so fast? How do you analyze everything so easily?'

Pulling himself out of their thoughts, Shinsou listened as Izuku explained a more in depth plan to him. Nodding his head at certain parts, he starts to smile.

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"Now that everyone has their teams, I want to remind everyone, the only way you can lose points is if you get shot, or if someone somehow has managed to steal your bandanas. Remember your bandanas must be on a visible part of your body! Enough of that...the event will begin in 321...GO!" Present Mic yelled from the booth, immediately after he started narrating the events.

The entire arena looked like a destroyed maze. Some walls were tall while others were short. Some had random openings and others were on the floor.

The sun was high above the arena, and Shinsou could feel sweat drip down his neck. In their hands he had "paint bombs", not fully trusting himself with the paintball gun. Shots of yells were heard through the wall. They looked over to his left to see Hatsume place down one of her inventions/babies. She placed one of their paintball bombs and used a device to control it. Watching the machinery go off on its own, he heard Izuku warn them people were coming. Crouching down, Izuku and Hitoshi placed themselves in front of Hatsume, blocking its openings.

Glancing back to check on the taller girl, it was looking up at the sky with a baby (invention) in one hand and the paintball gun in the other. Turning back around, waiting for people to meet them. The thundering if their footsteps are getting closer and closer. He sees from the corner of their eye that Izuku is also waiting. The paintball gun in Izukus hand was steady, Hitoshi could barely see through the vest, his chest rose and fell steadily too.

With the footsteps getting louder, Hitoshi gently grabbed two of the paint bombs and started to aim towards the direction he heard. Behind him, they knew Hatsume was going to be fine. Taking a deep breath, he waits as the sound of people gets closer.

'3'

Hitoshi hears them turn a corner. The footsteps now right in front of them.

'2'

They lock eyes with one of the opponents. Hitoshi internally smiles, watching as Hatsumes machinery slowly lower down behind the other team.

'1'

Both sides of the team start shooting and throwing as much paint as possible. Everything became either yellow or grey.

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"Did we get it?" Hitoshi asked, wanting to see if their plan actually worked. Yellow paint was splattered all over his front. The opposing team seemed to have run away, they as well were covered in paint.

Hatsume responded by holding up a bandanna. The numbers 130 written in bold stared at them. A smile stretched on their face, as Hitoshi turned to look at Izuku. The other boy was smiling right back.

"I think we got this in the bag," Izuku spoke. Their little victory was cut short when the sound of explosions was heard nearby. Hitoshi grimaced, "How far away do you think they are?"

"Not far!" Hatsume answered with a wild grin completely taking over her face. It was already starting to prepare for another attack by modifying some of her babies.

"...What are the chances that they leave us alone?"

"Not a lot, though that might change once they realized we dont have the 10 million points," Izuku responded, wiping paint off his face. Confused and alarmed, Hitoshi turned to Hatsume, to see her wrap the 130 point around its neck. Seeing their face, Hatsume pointed to her ankle.

Looking down, Hitoshi sees the 10 million bandanna tied around said ankle. Izuku explained, once see the confusion on Hitoshis face, double.

"Rules were it had to be on a visible part of the body, Her ankles would be between us so, technically, if anyone were to look down theyll see the bandanna. Though everyone would be focusing on the arms and necks, all upper body."

The explosions seemed to sound again, but much closer this time.

Huh, alright lets do this. Both Hitoshi and Izuku faced the front, while Hatsume resumed her previous position, after sending its machinery out again like before. Just like with the previous team, Hitoshi watched as Bakugo and his team, consisting of Mina, Kirishima and Sero, faced them. Bakugous grin got only wider once seeing them splattered with paint. His team behind him raised their paint guns, ready to fire once given the command.

If you were to ask Hitoshi later, who fired the first shot, he wouldnt be able to tell you. All they would be able to say is that everything happened too quickly.