Everyone was chatting about the news that reported about the USJ Villain attack. Some happy about the publicity, others left with anxious thoughts.

Hailey groaned, she was exhausted mentally and wanted to be excused from school another week. She knew that productivity would make her feel better, but it was so much easier to just lay in bed all day.

She then thought about Mr Aizawa, still worried if he was okay. He had taken a beating from those villains, all to protect his students. Her mom said that although she knew he was against favouring students, he wouldn't object to a 'get well soon basket', to which she sent him a card signed by the class, some saltwater taffy, a small pillow and tacky cat pen. It would not be a Hailey present if there was no joke in there.

Hailey looked over at Mina and Tsuyu, who were discussing who would be running the class today, since Mr Aizawa was still in the hospital.

Except he wasn't, as he walked into the classroom completely covered in bandages.

The students were more than shocked to see him. Iida had announced that he was happy to see his teacher.

Aizawa then proceeded to lead the students to believe that they be fighting villains soon again, but turned out he was talking about the upcoming sports festival. He explained that pro hero agencies would be scouting them.

"Don't screw it up." Aizawa finished before dismissing the class.

Then the enthusiasm for the event was full throttle.

Hailey only felt a bit of paranoia, due to her previous experiences with sports festivals, there was always a team event and she was always last pick or had to sit out. But her favourite part was cheering on everyone, all her previous teachers praised her on raising morale for everyone involved.

She always watched the sports festival on television, while her mother went to scout for her agency. It was going to be strange to have the roles reversed this year.

As the beginning of lumchtime neared, Hailey couldn't hold back a laugh when Kirishima exclaimed how pumped he was.

"We're gonna kick some ass!"

She then saw Hagakure asking Ojiro on how she could stand out more, as well as Aoyama saying that even when standing still, he stands out. Hailey felt bad when Aoyama questioned if Koda agreed and put him on the spot.

'Oh the poor Disney prince'

Then hearing Midoriya tell Iida that he was nervous for the festival, Uraraka had a wicked fighting aura around her.

"Iida, Deku, lets do our best at the sports festival." She said lowly.

She pumped her fist up into the air, "EVERYONE, IM GOING TO DO MY BEST!" She proclaimed aggressively.

"Yeah!"

"How lively." Hailey said quietly to herself in adoration for her classmates' upbeat behaviour.

She then took notice of Todoroki taking his leave and decided that it was time to get to know him too.

Hailey left and followed the bicolored boy.

"Uhm hey Todoroki! Could you please wait for me?" Hailey called out to him, thankfully causing him to pause his step and turn towards his classmate.

"Hello, Roselle, did you need something?" He questioned monotoned.

As she approached him, she gave him a smile, "Actually, I was wondering if it was alright if I accompanied you during today's lunch break?" She requested, trying to be polite to the boy in front of her.

Todoroki looked away from her, "I don't see why you suddenly have an interest in being within my presence." He stated coldly.

Hailey shrugged her shoulders, "To be completely honest with you, I didn't really pay mind to you when we started school, but now seeing how you don't really pay any mind to our classmates, I want to be your friend." She explained.

Todoroki scoffed, "A 'friend'?" He repeated.

"Or acquaintance if you'd prefer that! I don't want to force you into a friendship if you aren't comfortable with it." Hailey said with genuine sincerity.

Todoroki thought for a moment, "Perhaps if it weren't ironically close to the sports festival and this would be your opportunity to find my weaknesses and exploit them if we were to battle. I'd say yes, but until then, no thank you." He then continued his way to the cafeteria.

Hailey then sighed in defeat, "Darn, maybe I'll try again after the sports festival." She said to herself, then went to find Kirishima, someone who she enjoyed having lunch with.

———

Later that day, Hailey waited again at the gates for her mother to text her what type of transportation she would be taking home.

She was visibly exhausted from her anxiety running high. It all focused on the sports festival, if she would be able to train more, if she needed teammates who would actually care to be on a team with her, if she was able to even make it past the first round and how far she'd make it.

She looked up at the sky in hopes that something nice would happen to her. Hailey then took a breath and reminded herself that she would just need to work hard and do her best.

She reached her hand out and clutched it in an attempt to feel a sort of empowerment.

"Plus Ultra, right?" She muttered to herself.

"H-Hailey, wait up!" Midoriya called to her, causing her to turn to him.

"Heya Midi."

"Are you taking the train home?" Midoriya questioned.

Hailey nodded her head, "Yep, looks like it. Mom hasn't answered my text for 15 minutes, that's my nudge to find my own way home."

"Oh, well I could walk with you." The freckled boy offered.

Hailey giggled, "Midi, your house isn't as far as mine. But you can accompany me to the train station if you want."

"That makes more sense." Midoriya deadpanned and the two began to walk.

"So," Midoriya began, "are you excited for the sports festival? I haven't really heard what your opinion about it is." He asked.

Hailey clicked her tongue in thought, "You know, I think I'm just really nervous that all this pressure is going to get to me and I'll disappoint everyone who's rooting for me."

"I actually feel the same way." Midoriya confessed.

Hailey has a side smile, "Well if it makes you feel better, I'll be cheering for ya, even if all you do is pick up some dirt and throw it. Good on ya for being resourceful." She laughed.

Midoriya chuckled at her comment, "Thanks, I'll cheer for you too."

"Nice, I'll grab some Pom poms or get Momo to make us some." Hailey continued to joke.

"We're that serious about it?"

"Going all out."

———

After the incident with all the students blocking the doorway and hearing Shinsou's declaration of a challenge, Hailey couldn't think anything else but, 'see ya Mineta ya nasty grape boy. This purple haired dude would be easily replace ya.' Then felt a bit mean even if she didn't say it out loud.

"Hey Purple Haired dude and all you others!" Hailey called out, "You can't clump us together and stereotype us just by one of our classmates. But we will show you during the sports festival that there's a reason we were put in this class and when we prove it to you, it's sting your ego real bad." Her confident statement being backed up by her superhero pose with hands on her hips.

"Big talk for a little girl, I bet I could replace you in a heartbeat." Shinsou challenged.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter who you all are, all that does matter is that I beat you." Bakugou stated, interrupting the light battle between the two and left into the herd of students.

"I hate to admit it, but that was a manly exit." Kirishima exclaimed, clutching his fist.

———
As the two week period before the festival started, Hailey trained in the little gym area of her house.

On one of the days, her mother returned home early to see her daughter on a gymnastics bar, leaning over it and spinning around on it before releasing her grip and flipping into a landing position.

She let out a huff of air and wiped the sweat from her forehead before acknowledging her mother.

"Look at you, haven't seen you spin like that in a long time." Melodie commented before throwing a water bottle at her daughter, who caught it with ease.

"Thanks." Hailey said as she began to gulp the refreshment.

"What else have you been working on?" Her mother questioned, taking notice of the music playing being upbeat and funky.

"I just need to work on my reflexes." Hailey breathed, "My dodging specifically."

"Why aren't you doing it at school?"

"Because, Todoroki said something that made me think, during my attempt to hang out with him. It was along the lines of trying to find the weaknesses and exploit them. To which I'd never do, but I'm not taking that chance with my classmates." Hailey explained.

"Keeping the mystery alive again?"

"Damn right."

Her mother shrugged her shoulders, "All right, I'm a bit rusty, but let's spar."

———

Finally it was the day of the Sports festival, Hailey finally allowed herself to be excited and not worrying about what she did a few weeks ago. But still she felt close to vomiting her breakfast.

Hailey aggressively shook her hands in order to get rid of some of the energy she had. Kirishima looked at her worriedly.

"Hey you gonna be alright Hails?" He questioned.

Hailey blew a raspberry with her lips before looking at her friend.

"Super pumped, the adrenaline is settling in. Once we get out there I'll be alright, don't worry." Hailey gave him a thumbs up in reassure.

Kirishima returned a thumbs up, "Damn right, we're gonna kick some ass!"

Hailey laughed, her mother sent her off and wished her good luck and to kick ass. It seemed to be everyone's way of encourage her today.

Then Iida entered the room dramatically.

"Alright everyone, get your game faces on! We'll be entering the area soon!" He announced.

Everyone took the opportunity to swallow whatever fears they had left, and gather themselves.

Just then Todoroki approached Midoriya.

"Midoriya."

"Oh hi Todoroki, what's up?" Midoriya responded nervously.

Everyone looked to witness the two's interaction.

"From an objective standpoint, I think it's clear that I'm stronger than you." Todoroki began.

'Dude what a killjoy and Bakugou thing to do. You aren't even Bakugou so what's your deal?' Hailey thought to herself at the boy's blunt statement.

Midoriya nodded, "Yeah."

'Oh my god Midoriya don't agree with him! Have more confidence in yourself dammit!' Hailey continued to comment in her head.

"However, you've got All Might in your corner helping you out. I'm not here to pry about what's going on between you two. But know that I will beat you." Todoroki finished his challenge and sternly looked at the nervous boy.

"Woah, look at all these declarations of war here." Kaminari commented.

"I feel like everything I'm trying to teach you guys just went down the drain today." Hailey grumbled.

Kirishima then approached Todoroki and put his hand on his shoulder, "Yeah what's the big deal with picking a fight all of a sudden?"

"We're not here to be each other's friends." Todoroki brushed the hand off him, "Don't forget this isn't a team effort." He said and with that, left the room.

Hailey let out a heavy sigh of breath, "Well at least that's over with."

"No he's right you guys." Midoriya spoke up.

"For fucks sakes." Hailey internally groaned and wanted to flip the table and call it quits.

"Everyone in the departments are coming for us, we're all going to have to fight to stand out. And I'll be aiming for the top too." Midoriya said, clearly motivated.

Everyone was silent for a moment, before Hailey clicked her tongue.

"You guys are all drama queens, but if this is another challenge, you all know that even if we are against each other, I'll root you all." (Except you Mineta)
Hailey winked before making her way to the door. "Now let's show that audience and everyone watching why we are in this class!"

Entering the area was just as big as one would imagine. As she walked out into the wide open space with her classmates, Hailey had that game face that Iida instructed them to have. It made her feel that she belonged with them, that she was walking with the future protectors of the title 'Hero'.

It added more empowerment when Present Mic introduced them as if they were celebrities, it made Hailey tremble with excitement that the crowd was cheering for them.

Once everyone had gathered for the introductory speech, Hailey immediately felt dread. Midnight out of all the heroes had to be in charge of this whole thing.

"Silence everyone!" Midnight announced, "Now for the hero pledge is Katsuki Bakugou."

"Oh this is not going to go well." Hailey muttered, already facepalming.

"You said it dude." Kirishima agreed.

Everyone waited in anticipation for Bakugou to begin the pledge.

"I just wanna say... that I'm gonna win."

Only to be throughly disappointed.

"Literally anyone else would have been better." Hailey grumbled.

/Is that a threat or a promise
A promise/

Then began the first game, which was revealed to be an obstacle course.

As long as everyone stayed in the course, all eleven classes could do whatever they wanted. Hailey had her doubts and decided to play safe, so she decided to follow the man who always had a plan.

Midoriya.