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I dragged my feet on the way to class, my green hoodie tightly wrapped around my body. It wasn't cold that day but there were so many people asking for an interview I almost froze the whole world with how stressed I was. I took the limo and even when I got out of it I got bombarded with questions, flashing lights and multiple bodies. I hurried up the steps and rushed in through the doors. Aizawa was already standing at the front desk. I slammed open the front door and huffed out of breath.

"Y/N you're late."

"Wait but--"

"I know, I know. They were holding you up. Just take a seat in the back." As i walked down to my seat he continued to speak. "Like I was saying, the UA Sports Festival is about to start."

Momo raised her hand and asked, "Wait a second. Is it really such a good idea to hold the sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside? They could attack once we're all in the same place."

"Apparently, the administration thinks this is a good way to show that the threat has been handled and our school is safer than ever." He answered the girl, he looked at my green hoodie warning me silently. "Plus they're beefing up security compared to past years. This event is a huge opportunity for all students at UA. It's not something we can cancel because of a few villains."

Kamanari immediately jumped in, Mineta right on his trail. "Uh, I'm sorry, but why not?"

"It's just a sports festival!"

"Huh? Mineta, don't you know how important this competition is?" Tsu hummed.

"Of course I do! I just don't wanna get murdered."

"Our sports festival is one of the most watched events in the entire world. In the past, everyone obsessed over the Olympic games. But then Quirks started appearing. Now, the Olympics have been drastically reduced in terms of scale and viewership. For anyone who cares about competition, there's only one tournament that matters."

"The UA Sports Festival." Aizawa hummed, "And top heroes everywhere I will be watching. This is where you get scouted. Sure, unless you're dead. She's right. After graduating, a lot of people join pro agencies as a sidekick.

"Yeah, but that's as far as some people go. They miss their chance to go indie and stay eternal sidekicks. Actually, that's probably where you're headed. You're kinda dumb" Bakugou snickers at his little joke insulting Kamanari.

"It's true that joining a famous hero agency can garner you greater experience and popularity. That's why the festival matters. If you wanna go pro one day, then this event could open the path for you. One chance a year. Three chances in a lifetime. No aspiring hero can afford to miss this festival. That means you better not slack off on your training."

"Yes, sir!"

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The festival came faster than what was expected. I made sure to train my best, plus, I knew the entire course beforehand. If that doesn't help me at least make it to the second game all this hard work would be for nothing.

Beforehand I asked if I could use my clock to help with my quirk. Usually class 1A would have nothing to help them in the event—however since they think I still have my head injury, I'm allowed to not only bring one but TWO pocket watches.

"The UA Sports Festival is about to start." Aizawa lined us all up in our UA training outfits. "It's true that joining a famous hero agency can garner you greater experience and popularity. One chance a year, three chances in a lifetime. No aspiring hero can afford to miss this festival. That means you better not slack off on your training."

"Yessir!" We collectively shouted.

As soon as he broke away mina whined and clung onto my back, she cried in my ear "Aw, man. I was totally hoping I could wear my costume."

"At least everyone will be in uniform? That'll keep things fair, right?" I gave the girl a pat on her hands before she slightly tugged at my jacket.

"Everyone would be in uniform, huh? What's this you're wearing?"

"...fashion."

"If Mr. Aizawa catches you with it—"

"—Which he won't—"

"—which I will; hand it over." I jumped as his voice entered our conversation. He tugged at the hoodie.

"Nooo, wait wait wait! Hear me out!" I tugged back at the jacket, he sighed and gave me a look, holding up five fingers. "It looks cool doesn't it? Really warm and I know you're a man of warm—"

"Three..."

"Okay okay they're to hold my extra watch. They don't fit right on the uniform and they've yet been tailored. I don't want them to fall out and this jacket provides a really good pocket!"

"Were you given permission?"

"Do I count?"

"....Y/N one day I'm going to seriously lose it with you. I'll let you keep it this one time. The two watches can stay only because you need the help. When this is over I'm going to train you much harder so you can catch up."

"Thank you, sir!" I ran away to the rest of the group, crashing into Uraraka- we almost crashed onto the ground. She giggled and placed a hand on her chin, "I wonder what they have in store for us in the first round."

"No matter what they've prepared, we must persevere." Momo clapped her hands. She gave all of us a shoulder rub before shouting, "Everyone, get your game faces on! We're entering the arena soon!"

"Swallow your fear, swallow your fear, swallow your fear!" Mineta slapped his face with his tiny hands. I gripped my hands and shook them loose as the crowd grew restless. I knew that Nejire and Ryukyu and possibly even 'dad' were out there watching me. I had to be good, to show I deserved to stay in class 1A.

"Welcome back to the UA Sports Festival! Where up‐and‐coming heroes leave everything on the field as they fight for the chance to achieve worldwide fame and celebrity!" Present Mic started up his monologue as we all walked out, class by class, 1A was first. "This first group are no strangers to the spotlight! You know them for withstanding a villain attack‐‐the dazzling students lighting up your TVs with solid‐gold skills. The hero course students of Class 1‐A!"

"Uh... I didn't know there'd be so many people. I hope we're still able to give our best performances," Uraraka jumbled her hands together, collecting sweat.

"Even though all these eyes are watching us. I suppose it's just another aspect of being a hero..." Jirou explained, "We all have to learn to get used to it."

"Present Mic sure did talk us up a lot." Shoji hummed.

"Kinda makes me nervous. How you feelin', man?" Kamanari asked his red haired companion.

"Huh? Oh, I'm not worried." He rounded his shoulders, "Makes me wanna win
this thing even more."

     "If Denki isn't worried I think we'll do alright."

     He grinned at me before dropping his smile. "Yeah—wait what's that supposed to mean?!"

     "It means they're calling you dumb—"

     "Jiro, I didn't mean that—well now thinking about it.."

     "Thanks guys..."

     He slumped his shoulder and I lifted them back up. "I'm just messing with you, I believe in your judgement. If you think it's easy then that relives me."

     "You saved yourself this time..." he gave me a glare before flicking my forehead.

Present Mic continued his monologue behind our voices, and more classes walked out. "They haven't been getting nearly as much screen time, but this next group is still chock full of talent! Welcome hero course Class 1‐B! Next up, general studies classes C, D, and E! Support classes F, G, and H! And finally, business classes I, J, and K! Give it up for all of UA's first‐year contestants!"

"I get the feeling we're just here to make the hero students look better." One of the class D kids complained.

"I can't wait for this to be over with."

After Katsuki made his speech and got the entire rest of the grade furious, we walked up to the main gate, everyone was pushing towards the forwards of the starting line waiting impatiently for the bell to ring, however i had a better idea. Since I knew Todoroki was going to freeze the ground as soon as it started I immediately fell back within the crowd and started to swing my pocket watch.

"Hey! Are you allowed to have a jacket on?!" One of the other kids asked me with rage.

"Mind your business!"

"That's so not fair"

"We can't keep anything cool like that, why do you get to?!"

"Keep complaining and I'm knocking out all the teeth in your mouth with this watch."

The three glared at me before turning around. "Class 1A is filled with jackasses and only jackasses."

I pulled out my other pocketwatch and started to swing that too, i contained the momentum of my swinging as Midnight spoke. "So it's gonna be an obstacle course. All 11 classes will participate in this treacherous contest. The track is four kilometers around the outside of the stadium. I don't wanna restrain anyone, at least in this game. As long as you don't leave the course, you're free to do whatever your heart desires. Now then, take your places, contestants." She slowly counted down and immediately everyone went into a heat of panic. I quickly threw my lasso at the three kids who cursed me out and winded it back. They fell onto the floor confused.

"Hey, hey!"

"You're trampling me!"

"This is too narrow!"

"Apologies." Todoroki mumbled, the floor below turned icey and that caused more commotion.

"Ow! No fair!"

"So cold!"

I threw my pocket watch up and it clipped onto the pipes on the ceiling. It connected the water from the building to the stands. I made sure it hooked on correctly before getting a running jump, it pulled me upwards and above the rest of my classmates. They were all confused and shouting how it was 'unfair'.

Sprinting after Todoroki he smirked at me, "I didn't expect so many people to dodge that. Especially those from other classes."

"I had a feeling you were going to do something."

"That's why you weren't one of the firsts at the gate." He narrowed his eyes before asking, "What if your plan backfired and I really didn't freeze the floor?"

"If you can't go forwards, you can always go up." He took my answer as that and we ran in peace.... As peaceful as you can get with three hundred kids chasing after you. It felt like a huge game of tag.

"Targets acquired." The robot locked eyes with all of us, I ducked in between its legs and continued to run. They weren't important, I didn't need to take any of them down. All I need to do is swerve in between their legs. "Terminate them."

Present mic finally spoke up again as the robots stood tall. How many of these did they create?! "Ooh! Enemies have shown up out of nowhere! I bet we're in for a treat here! A test of strength and cunning! It's a Robo Inferno! Are those the zero‐point villains from the practical test?"

"Seriously?" Someone groaned.

"This is what they meant by 'obstacles'?"

"So this is what the other students faced in their entrance exams."

"Where's the school even get the funding for these things?"

"I'm hungry..."

"They obviously went through a lot of trouble, but I wish they'd prepared something a little more difficult. Especially since my dear‐old dad is watching." Todoroki huffed out a smoke of air before freezing all the robots who dared look at him.

"Was it really smart of you to freeze it for us to get through?"

"Careful, now. I froze them while they were off their balance---on purpose." He pulled ahead of me and I started to get worn out with all of the running. I wasn't even that fast to begin with but keeping up with Todoroki was using up all of my stamina...

"That's Todoroki from Class 1‐A pulling ahead to an early lead with a devastating display!" Present Mic roared over the intercom, "Looks like Y/N isn't that far behind but they look a little tired! Go take a break, a nap even! We believe in you to keep running!" I swear, I can't tell if he's on my side or trying to make me look bad in front of everyone. "Amazing! These two are the ones we should really watch, It almost seems unfair! Thoughts?"

Mummyzawa next to him voiced after a while thinking, "His attack was both offensive and defensive. Y/N choose to wait back and use a strategy. They're playing very defensively,"

"No wonder Todoroki was let in on recommendations! He'd never even fought
those Robo Infernos before, but they didn't stand a chance against his chart‐topping moves!"

We ran past all the robots and my legs felt like they were going to give out and they almost did as we exited the green area and onto the dry sand. The cliffs looked so deep I was sure if you fell you would either lose your life or come very close to seeing the death of the kid.... I collapsed on the ground.

"Fuck..."

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