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"The first game of the first-year stage is finally over!" announced Midnight. "Now, let's take a look at the results!"

First place: Class A: Izuku Midoriya
Second place: Class A: Akiharu
Third place: Class A: Shoto Todoroki
Fourth place: Class A: Katsuki Bakugo
Fifth place: Class B: Ibara Shoizaki

A total of 42 students passed through the prelims. I frowned as I looked over the results. There were 21 Class A students and 19 Class B students — An almost even split, but only four Class B students were in the top twenty. Two of the Class B students in the bottom rung were students I recognized from recommendations– something wasn't adding up.

I shook the concern away. Whatever it was they had planned, my class could handle it. That wasn't just bias—I'd had long enough to measure up my friends' strength myself.

"It's unfortunate, but don't worry even if you didn't make it!" Midnight said. "We've prepared other chances for you to shine." She ran her tongue over her lips, a sly grin spreading over her face. "The real competition begins next! The press cavalry'll be all over it, so give it your all!

"Now then, here's the second game... I already know what it is, but what could it be? What could it be~? I just said it, and now here it is... This!"

A calvary battle. The gist of it was this: The participants were to form teams of two to four people. The match was basically the same as a regular calvary battle, but each person had a point total assigned to them based on the results of the Obstacle race. The points assigned went up by five starting from the bottom, with Ten Million points assigned to first place.

The blood drained from Midoriya's face at that. "T-Ten million?"

I looked to the side. Thanks for your sacrifice.

The time limit of the match was fifteen minutes. Each team was worth the total of their member's points. The team leader had to wear this number on a headband on their forehead. Teams would try to grab each-other's headbands until time ran out, trying to earn as many points as possible. Headbands had to be worn from the shoulders-up, so the more you stole, the harder they were to manage. In addition, if a headband was stolen or a team fell, they weren't out. For the entire game, there would be around ten or twelve teams in the field.

There was one rule: Red cards would be assigned to attacks that were used trying to make people fall on purpose, which would have the team kicked from the match.

"Now, you have 15 minutes to build your teams. Start!"

I'd assumed students would try to partner up with their classmates and friends, but I was immediately swarmed by seventeen different brands of fangirl.

"Akiharu, please team up with us!"

"Please let me on your team!"

I looked across the sea of faces, starting to panic. "Er–"

"Akiharu!" Kirishima called, waving my way. "Team up with me!"

I breathed in relief. I swore I'd do something nice for him later.

I turned to the girls with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, everyone. But I don't know your Quirks, and I don't want to let my friends down."

I slipped away before anyone could protest, leaning on Kirishima's shoulder. "You're a fucking godsend, dude."

"Aw, thanks!"

"So, who do you want on the team? With you and me, we've got..."

"Oh, I was thinking Bakugo!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. "You know what? I'll take my chances with the girls..."

He grabbed the collar of my uniform shirt with a bright, shining grin. "C'mon, man, don't be like that! We'll be fine!"

I begrudgingly let him drag me to where Bakugo stood surrounded by our class. "You know he'll never agree to come on our team, right? You alone, maybe, but me?"

"Aw, don't say that! You'll figure something out."

Bakugo swatted away the students swarming him. He yelled, "I don't know what Quirk's you have!"

A fit of laughter bubbled in my chest. "I get not knowing the other classes, but our own?"

"Shut the fuck up, Shitty Tie! You don't even know their names!"

"I do now!" I countered. "In fact, I bet you have no idea!"

"Heya Bakugo," Kirishima interjected, "Todoroki chose his team already! But Akiharu hasn't! So team up with us!"

"Shitty hair..." Bakugo said, squinting. "And the Shitstain."

"It's Kirishima and Akiharu!" Kirishima said, bracing his hands on my shoulders to keep me from wholloping Bakugo upside the head. "At least try to remember! And my hair's not that different than yours!"

Bakugo jut his lower chin out, taking offence. Ignoring his glare, Kirishima smiled brightly at him, raising a fist. "You're gonna be the rider, right? Then who'll be a front horse who can take your blasts?"

"Someone with guts," Bakugo said.

I snorted. This fucking dumbass...

"Not really, but yeah!" Kirishima said, brightly. "Me with my hardening! I'll be a horse that'll never waver!"

He seemed to be communicating with Bakugo on some... manly level I could never hope to approach. "You're gonna get it, right? The ten-million?"

At those words, a devilish grin spread over Bakugo's face.

"Then, me too!" Sero chimed in, shooting out a line of tape. "I'm good for mobility! I'll support from the back!"

"And..." Kirishima grabbed my shoulders and pushed me Bakugo's way, like a mother trying to get a kid to introduce themselves to their kindergarten class. "Akiharu's great for defence and long-distance! We've got a full team!"

Bakugo's nose wrinkled. "No fucking way."

I shrugged, looking to Kirishima like, What can you do? "I'll go find Mina, then."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Kirishima grabbed my arm, pouting at me. "You didn't even try, man."

"Bakugo and I?" I hissed. "Oil and water. This is a terrible idea."

"Come on," he sighed. "I know you don't care so much about winning, but at least you can use him to stand out."

My brow knitted together. "I care about winning."

Kirishima glanced to the side. "Then you should be trying harder. Like it or not, you and Bakugo make a great team." He looked back to me with those big, pleading puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"

I snatched my arm away, feeling my resolve falter. "Puppy-dog eyes are off limits."

"But they always work!"

"Exactly." I dragged my hands down my face, groaning. "Fuck my lack of principles." Cracking my neck to either side, I stepped back toward Bakugo.

"How about this, Blondie," I said. "I'm your best chance at moving into the next round from the top. There's always some kind of 1v1 in the U.A. sports festival. We'll be sure to have a chance to go head-to-head, later. So..."

I cringed at the words that were about to come out of my mouth. "Let me on your team..." I trailed off, speaking the last part in barely a mumble, "Please."

Bakugo's eyes flashed with cruel glee. "What was that? Speak up!"

I sneered. "I said, let me on your team... please."

"One more time."

"Fuck off and die."

"Team's full, Shitty Tie," Bakugo jeered. "Go look somewhere else!"

"Akiharu..." Kirishima pleaded.

I took a moment to collect myself, channeling the power of my ancestors (whoever they were) to keep calm.

"Let me on your team please," I said, "Bakugo."

"Just Bakugo, huh?"

"If you're telling me to call you -san, I'd rather choke on my tongue and die."

Bakugo stepped up to me with a malicious grin. "I couldn't care less whether or not you're on my team, extra. Don't hold me back."

With that, he stalked away to go grab his headband.

"Kirishima, please activate your Quirk."

"What?"

My fist rammed into his hardened stomach with a sharp, cracking sound. "Fuck," I seethed, shaking out my hand. "I think I broke a knuckle."

"What the heck, Akiharu!"

I slung my arm around his shoulder. "You're a good punching-bag, Kirishima. I should keep you around more often."

"There's a whole person attached to this Quirk, you know..."

"Sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing..."

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