Sorry this chapter is hella short compared to others. It's like,,, this awkward inbetween period where I'm trying to jam people's thoughts on the situation in but also do shit and just yeah I don't actually know what I'm doing-

Also my dumbass brain took forever to work out who needed to go against who and in what order in order for the outcome I wanted so uh fuck that

Third person pov

Bakugo trailed after Lillian and her two good friends with slightly wide eyes and a vaguely pale face, staring at her back as she bounced along anxiously. As though she hadn't just thought up a plan detailing how they would kill Endeavor, and even worse, how they would cover it up. She hadn't been shy about pulling out a notebook and drawing pie charts to help show the variables. Yeah, she was able to pull entire fucking pie charts out her ass and slap them down. 

He thought the scariest part was her smile. She was smiling the entire time, looking vaguely like Mr. Aizawa as she did so. Turnip and Pretty Boy Fuck weren't at all fazed. They acted like they were at some sort of damn board meeting, nodding along and taking notes. Where had they even got pens and notepads? He knew for a fact that they hadn't had them beforehand. He'd spent almost all the time he should have spent eating trying to deduce where they'd gotten them.

Lillian carefully explained that killing Endeavor was a last resort. They weren't going to do so if they didn't need to. Bakugo was sort of glad, because he may have actually gone along with the murder plan. Not only was it oddly sound for someone who'd barely had but an hour to think about it, but Lillian was just scary enough that he may be inclined to say yes while hiding his trembling hands in his pockets. He suddenly understood why the hell Discount Pikachu seemed to avoid her. It was always the quiet ones. She didn't stutter even once while relaying her assassination idea.

Instead of killing him, they were going to knock him off his pedestal. That was better than any of the torturous hell Lillian seemed to have planned in Bakugo's opinion. Kicking him off his high horse and grinding him into the ground while simultaneously exposing him would be the most satisfying to take part in and watch, though it was definitely the harder option. He somehow didn't doubt Lillian and her creepy blonde friend could figure something out. They were masterminds, and that was terrifying to him, though he wouldn't dare to admit it. He was pretty sure she could smell weakness.

There was an intimidating vibe about her he couldn't place. Something about the way she'd smile and tilt her head while asking Bakugo how he felt about giving someone an explosive kidney punch made him want to cackle and quiver at the same time. To further things, that damn Deku hadn't been fazed. It was the quietest, most timid girl in class, and he just nodded along like he'd been thinking the same damn thing! 

He prepared himself for the possibility of second or third place. Maybe fourth or fifth, even. Lillian could freeze shit, and he still wasn't quite sure how that Purple fuck's quirk worked. The blonde bastard could steal shit so who knows just what he'd nab on his way into the ring. He could take Lillian's quirk and just freeze him, so it was a lose-lose situation. And Ice fucker could apparently torch him if he decided he really wanted to, so that was bullshit. He somehow wasn't mad.

He felt... calmer than before. The whole Endeavor shit-show had definitely put him on edge. He was wary. How many heroes were corrupted like that? How many at the top? He knew All Might was fine. He'd met the guy, and he didn't particularly seem like a dickhole. The UA staff had been carefully selected, and nobody but All Might was really a chart topper. Less corruption that way. It did make him a bit paranoid about the internships. He wasn't an idiot; he knew he had a powerful quirk, and people wanted that shit. How many of them could he trust?

Lillian felt a lot better after talking about Todoroki's whole situation. Izuku wasn't sure about breaking the law and was above doing most of the shady things they'd talked about, so they'd appointed him as support. Aka, he was going to become Todoroki's new therapist who wasn't actually a therapist. The freckled boy had gotten excitedly passionate about the idea of helping him out, beginning to mutter. Neito and Hitoshi immediately got off track and started making ship names for the short boy and the half-and-half one. Lillian hoped Midoriya wouldn't overdo it and push himself.

Personally, Lillian was really nervous for the finals. Neito and Hitoshi had given each other some sort of bro talk she couldn't relate to because of her vagina. It was pretty intense from what she could tell. A lot of clapping each other on the shoulder and nodding grimly like soldiers on the front lines. Even Bakugo and Midoriya seemed to have understood it, which led to Lillian exchanging hand signals with Ochako from across the cafeteria. The signals didn't mean anything, but somehow Lillian was reassured anyway.

"Get those foam fingers in the air! It's almost time for the last round!" Mic cheered. He was excited to see how Lillian would do, and how she'd place. He was confident she and her three friends could make it into the top places just as they had the last two times around. That being said, Todoroki and Bakugo were certainly nothing to scoff at, nor were the other hero course competitors who'd fought and made it through. 

Aizawa shuffled back to the booth with a yawn and a fresh jelly packet sitting on top of his arm, in his sling. There was something soothing about the cold feeling. He hoped he could get these bandages off soon, nonetheless. His arms still felt a little achy, but he could certainly move them better before and with minimal pain. Only one or two more healing sessions with Recovery Girl, and then he could up Lillian, Shinso, and Monoma's training. Well... if they still wanted to meet with him, that is...

"Oi, Eraserhead." A voice called gruffly. Aizawa looked up to see none other than Endeavor walking towards him. The dark-haired pro tensed as the flaming one got closer, looking pissed for some reason or another. He glared back, squaring his shoulders. What did the Flame Hero want with him? "Keep your daughter in check."

That's all he said before brushing past Aizawa, who turned around with a slightly dumbfounded look on his face. His what now?

"But before that: Good news for everyone who didn't make the finals! Since this is a sports festival, we've prepared some super-fun side games everyone can participate in! We even brought in cheer leaders from America to get your blood pumping!" Mic crowed, grinning widely. "Have fun competing in the little side games, everyone!" Mic coughed suddenly. "And Lillian. What was that? Anyway, after they're over, the sixteen students from the top four teams will be duking it out one-on-one in a tournament-style fighting competition!" 

Lillian rolled her shoulders. The finals were always a one-on-one competition of some sort, so she'd had some time to mentally prepare for this. Mr. Aizawa had also warned them that they may be pitted against each other. That wasn't something she particularly wanted to happen, but her and her friends hand developed the rock-paper-scissors strategy to eliminate using their quirks to their advantage. Since they already knew one another's, it would give them a great advantage over Hitoshi.

She shook out her hands. It was okay! She knew the whole world was going to be looking at... at her, and at whoever she was against. There was nobody to hide behind anymore. But she had people cheering her on! Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Mic would be there the whole time, too, overseeing. She knew it would all work out.

"I promise you're not gonna wanna miss these epic match ups!" Mic swore. Lillian shifted uncomfortably, swallowing her nerves the best she could. It would all be over. Quick and easy! She'd freeze whoever it was, so long as it wasn't one of her two madlad memers, and then scoot them out of the designated fighting area. She'd presented her quirk enough that she didn't need to give all that huge of a presentation. Just... as long as she got through this, she'd be okay.

"Look at the brackets to see who you're up against." Midnight smiled. Lillian took a few deep breaths and shook out her hands. "Then enjoy the pleasure of the recreational games before we start. The sixteen finalists have the option in participating in those activities or sitting out to prepare for battle. I'm sure you all want to conserve your stamina."

Lillian's eyes went to the board, and she held her breath as pairing after pairing began to pop up. "These are your opponents!" Midnight cheered, a grin stretching across her face. The pairings were read as Hitoshi versus Sero, Hatsume versus Iida, Midoriya versus Todoroki, Bakugo versus Uraraka, Monoma versus Kirishima, Ashido versus Aoyama, Tokoyami versus Yaoyorozu, and Lillian versus...

A grin split across her face, her eyes alight with excitement.

Kaminari.