Ace tensed, his relaxed demeanor vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "Momotaros, you're sure about that?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, careful not to draw attention.
Positive! Momotaros retorted, his tone taking on a serious edge. I can smell that stink anywhere! It's faint, but definitely here, somewhere in this damn school.
A wave of dread washed over Ace. An Imagin at the U.A. Sports Festival? That was a recipe for disaster. The potential for chaos, for the timeline to be irrevocably altered, skyrocketed with every cheer from the crowd. He glanced around, taking in the thousands of faces, each one a potential target, a potential host.
Where is it? Ace asked, his mind racing. Can you pinpoint its location?
Momotaros grunted, a sound of frustration. Nah, not yet. Too many damn people. The scent is all over the place, mixed with sweat, food, and whatever the hell those Quirks are.
Ace cursed silently. With so many people packed into the stadium, identifying the host or understanding the Imagin's motives would be next to impossible. He had to remain vigilant, ready to act at a moment's notice, but without any concrete information, he felt like he was stumbling in the dark.
Keep searching, Ace instructed, his voice firm despite the unease churning in his gut. I need to know where it is, what it's planning.
Got it, kid, Momotaros replied, his tone grim. But don't expect miracles. This place is a damn maze.
Ace leaned back in his seat, trying to appear casual, but his senses were on high alert. He had no choice but to stay and watch the festival unfold, to play the part of an ordinary spectator while the threat of the Imagin loomed overhead.
The stadium lights dimmed, and the crowd roared in anticipation. Present Mic's voice boomed once more, cutting through the noise like a sonic blade.
"Alright, listeners, it's time to introduce the stars of the show! The future heroes who will one day protect this world! Give it up for the first-year students from each and every course: Hero, General, Support, and Business!"
The crowd erupted again, but Present Mic's voice quickly overpowered them. "But of course, we all know what you're really here to see! So let's hear it for the cream of the crop, the ones who aced the entrance exams and landed themselves in the Hero Course! Specifically... CLASS 1-A!"
A spotlight illuminated a group of students standing on a raised platform near the center of the stadium. They were young, eager, and visibly nervous, but their eyes shone with determination. Ace recognized many of them from the anime, their faces familiar even in this real-life setting.
Those are the guys, huh? Momotaros commented, his voice laced with a hint of excitement. Not bad. I bet some of them are pretty strong.
"And now," Present Mic continued, his voice dripping with drama, "it's time for our chief umpire for the first-year events to grace us with her presence! Put your hands together for the R-Rated Hero... MIDNIGHT!"
A collective gasp swept through the stadium as Midnight emerged from the shadows, her figure silhouetted against the bright lights. Her costume was as provocative as Ace remembered, a skin-tight bodysuit that left little to the imagination. The crowd went wild, a mix of cheers and appreciative whistles filling the air.
Damn, Urataros purred, his voice dripping with admiration. She's even more stunning in person. I wouldn't mind getting reeled in by her.
Ace ignored Urataros's lecherous thoughts, focusing on Midnight as she strode confidently to the center of the stage. Her presence commanded attention, her every move calculated to captivate the audience.
With a flick of her whip, she silenced the crowd, her voice smooth and commanding. "Alright, little heroes," she said, a playful smirk on her face. "Let's get this show on the road. But first," her gaze swept over the students, "we need a representative from Class 1-A to kick things off."
Midnight paused, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Based on his top performance in the entrance exams, I'd like to call onto the stage... Katsuki Bakugo!"
A collective groan rippled through the crowd as Bakugo swaggered forward, his expression a mix of arrogance and disdain. Ace braced himself, knowing what was coming.
Bakugo approached the microphone, his crimson eyes scanning the crowd with a contemptuous glare. He paused for a moment, savoring the attention, before unleashing his trademark arrogance.
"I just wanna say," he began, his voice dripping with condescension, "I'm gonna be number one. That's it."
A stunned silence hung in the air, followed by an eruption of boos and jeers. The other first-year students glared at Bakugo, their faces contorted with anger and resentment. His words had been a slap in the face, an insult to their hard work and dedication.
What a jerk, Ryutaros piped up, his voice filled with childish indignation. I don't like that guy!
He's got guts, I'll give him that, Momotaros chuckled, his tone laced with amusement. But he's definitely made himself a target.
Ace watched the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and concern. He remembered this moment from the anime, Bakugo's infamous speech that had set the tone for the entire Sports Festival. But now, in this real-life setting, the implications felt different, more weighty.
How would Bakugo's attitude impact the competition? Would it fuel the other students' determination, pushing them to greater heights? Or would it create unnecessary conflict, distracting them from the true purpose of the festival?
And more importantly, could Bakugo's arrogance exacerbate the Imagin situation? Could his negative emotions attract the creature, turning him into a target, or worse, a host?
As Midnight attempted to restore order, the stadium lights dimmed once more, signaling the start of the first event. A large screen flickered to life, displaying a map of the course, a complex maze of obstacles that would test the students' Quirks, their agility, and their strategic thinking.
"Alright, future heroes!" Present Mic announced, his voice booming with excitement. "The first event is the Obstacle Race! A grueling four-kilometer course that will push you to your limits! The top students will advance to the next round, so give it your all!"
The crowd erupted once more, their cheers fueling the students' adrenaline. Ace watched as they took their positions at the starting line, their faces a mixture of determination and apprehension.
Anything yet? Ace asked Momotaros, his voice tight with anxiety. Have you located the Imagin?
Negative, Momotaros replied, his tone grim. Still nothing. But I'm still looking, alright? Just try to relax. What could go wrong?
Ace wanted to believe him, but a knot of unease tightened in his stomach. The race was about to begin, and the Imagin was still out there, lurking in the shadows. He could only hope that whatever it was planning, it wouldn't be catastrophic.
With a deafening blast of the starting gun, the Obstacle Race began. The students surged forward, their Quirks activating in a dazzling display of power. Ace remained on edge, his attention divided between the race and the potential threat that loomed over them all.
The Obstacle Race was a spectacle, a live-action anime episode unfolding before Ace's eyes. Todoroki, true to form, unleashed his ice Quirk from the get-go, freezing the entrance solid. A wall of frost erupted, creating an immediate bottleneck and sending most of the competitors scrambling for a way through.
Show off, Momotaros grumbled, but Ace couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer power on display.
Those who managed to break through the ice were, as expected, mostly Class 1-A students. Ace spotted familiar faces: Izuku, his green hair flying as he carefully navigated the icy terrain; Bakugo, blasting his way through with explosions, a scowl etched on his face; Iida, his engines roaring as he sped ahead, leaving a trail of dust in his wake; and Ochaco, gracefully floating over the obstacles, a determined look in her eyes.
Ami was practically vibrating with excitement, cheering for the students with unbridled enthusiasm. "Go, go, heroes-in-training!" she yelled, waving her arms like a conductor leading an orchestra. "Show them what you're made of!"
The race unfolded, each obstacle testing the students in different ways. First came the Zero Point Robots, massive green behemoths that Ace remembered from the entrance exams. The students had to navigate around them, defeat them, or find a way to climb over them. Some used brute force, others used strategy, and a few simply ran away, hoping to find a less challenging path.
Then came the chasm with the steel wires. A treacherous gap stretched before them, with only a series of thin, unstable platforms connected by steel wires offering a way across. The risk of falling was high, but the students had to take the leap if they wanted to stay in the race.
Finally, there was the minefield, a vast expanse of terrain dotted with non-lethal mines. Careful movement and precise Quirk control were essential to avoid triggering the explosives and being blasted out of the competition.
Ace watched Izuku, carefully observing his movements. He could see that Izuku was holding back, afraid of injuring himself if he used One For All at full power. The green-haired hero-in-training was relying on his wits and agility to overcome the challenges, but Ace knew that he was capable of so much more.
He's gotta learn to control that Quirk, Ace thought, or he's never gonna reach his full potential.
The other students were putting on a creative display of power, using their Quirks in unexpected ways to overcome the obstacles. Some created shields, some propelled themselves through the air, and others simply bulldozed their way through, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
As the race progressed, Ace overheard a snippet of conversation from the crowd behind him. A man was commenting on a small student with purple, ball-shaped hair. "Hey, check out that kid! He's actually doing pretty well!"
Ace's ears perked up. The man was referring to Mineta, the perverted and often ridiculed student from Class 1-A. Ace remembered Mineta from the anime. His Quirk was Pop Off, which allowed him to detach and throw the grape-like spheres on his head. Not exactly the most impressive ability.
But something was different. Ace watched as Mineta navigated the chasm with the steel wires, using long, flexible vines that sprouted from his hair to swing across the gap. The vines had a strong adhesive property, sticking to the platforms and allowing Mineta to move with surprising agility.
What the hell? Ace thought, his brow furrowing in confusion. Since when could Mineta do that?
He didn't remember Mineta being capable of producing vines. His original Quirk only allowed him to detach and throw the grape-like spheres. This was something new, something unexpected.
The crowd was impressed, cheering Mineta on as he swung across the chasm with ease. "Wow, his Quirk is actually really useful!" someone exclaimed. "I never would have guessed!"
Ace became cautious. Was this just a hidden aspect of Mineta's Quirk that he had somehow overlooked? Or was something more sinister at play? Could this be connected to the Imagin that Momotaros had detected earlier?
Momotaros, Ace said, his voice barely audible, check out that kid with the purple hair. Mineta. Does he smell like an Imagin?
Momotaros grunted in response. I'm on it, kid. Lemme get a whiff.
A few moments passed in silence, Ace's anxiety growing with each tick of the clock. Finally, Momotaros spoke, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Hmm, something's definitely different about him, Momotaros said, but I can't say for sure if it's the Imagin's stink. There's a weird vibe around him, but it's faint, almost like it's masked by something else.
Ace's heart sank. That wasn't exactly a confirmation, but it was enough to raise his suspicions. If Mineta was indeed connected to the Imagin, it could explain his sudden improvement and the unexpected manifestation of vine-like abilities.
Mineta finished the Obstacle Race in the top ten, a significant improvement from his usual performance. The crowd roared as he crossed the finish line, his face flushed with pride and exhaustion. Ace watched him, his mind racing. This contradicted what he knew.
Was this due to hard work and training? A hidden aspect of his Quirk that he was only now discovering? Or was it something far more sinister?
Ace debated his next move. He could approach Mineta directly, try to question him, but that could alert the Imagin, potentially causing it to lash out. He could also contact Yu, inform her of his suspicions, but without any concrete proof, she might dismiss his concerns as paranoia.
What do you think? Ace asked the Taros, seeking their counsel. Is this kid connected to the Imagin, or am I just overreacting?
Something's definitely fishy, Urataros said, his voice thoughtful. I say we keep an eye on him, see what he does next. If he starts acting all weird, then we know something's up.
I agree, Kintaros added, his tone serious. We must proceed with caution. Acting rashly could have unforeseen consequences.
Ryutaros, as usual, had a different perspective. Maybe he's just trying to impress someone! You know, like a girl or something!
Ace sighed. Leave it to Ryutaros to focus on the most superficial explanation.
"Alright," Ace said, his voice firm. "We'll keep a closer eye on Mineta. But we need to be careful. If he's connected to the Imagin, we can't afford to make any mistakes."
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz