Multicolored firecrackers filled the sky over the UA High School today.
Outside, hundreds of media personnel surrounded the entrance, reporting across the country live.
UA Sports Festival was nothing short of the old Olympics; perhaps, a touch more important.
Stalls of food and accessories claimed the lanes leading to the school's main building, people storming in thousands.
But this was only brushing the surface.
Hundreds of thousands of people would be attending today's events, given that each year of UA would have its own stage.
Heroes Agencies from all over Japan would be scouting students for Internships or Hero Work Studies, which were more formal, serious, and riskier than the Internships.
Generally, Agencies only scouted the students of 2nd and 3rd-Years, but they were known to scout exceptional 1st-years as well, especially from the Hero Course.
Among the crowd, in his PE uniform, Luke walked with Nyx on his shoulder.
This was an absolute nightmare for him. So many people… looking at him. Even if he had begun working on his trauma with Miss Justice's many counseling sessions, this was just too much — too soon for him.
All this because of the person walking by his side — Snapshot Hero — Snappy!
Aina Saionji was in her Hero Costume — a bold crimson dress, tailored close to the body with a high neckline.
A teardrop-shaped cutout just beneath her throat gave a daring peek at her cleavage, without being too revealing.
The dress was sleeveless, but long gloves in crimson ran from her hands up to her elbows, blending seamlessly into the look.
Below it, she was wearing a similar-colored miniskirt.
Her boots, reaching just below the knees, carried a stocking underneath, hiding her exposed skin under the miniskirt.
And, to assist her with snapshots, she donned dark, pink-tinted sunglasses.
Matched with the cold expression on her face, and the way she carried herself, it didn't surprise Luke that he found men, and women, goggling at them, pointing at Aina.
But, more than that, Luke sensed the hate directed at him as well; enough to trigger his Danger Intuition.
Nyx, of course, didn't like that.
"We had a deal!" she cawed, perched on Aina's shoulder, making sure Luke didn't hear her. "You will stay away from him and I supply you with… photos — in return for… books."
"Shut up!" Aina hissed, maintaining the persona. "All deals are off for today…"
"You!"
Behind them, in his PE uniform, Rikuya walked, narrowing his eyes at Luke.
Unlike his sister, who was Pro Hero: Sir Nighteye's Sidekick, and would be scouting her classmates and other students for the Hero Agency, Rikuya would still be participating in the Sports Festival as a 2nd-Year Management Course student.
Last year, Rikuya had failed to secure any internship as well.
This was the weakness of his Quirk — it wasn't as useful in confrontation.
However, because of his status as a Saionji, and him being a Management Course student, it didn't affect him much.
Contrarily, Rikuya preferred it — staying low.
Up until last year, everything had been going fine.
But then someone barged into his perfect life, ruining it.
Unknown to Luke, most of the hate directed at him was coming from none other than Rikuya.
Using his Quirk of Dream Walk, that Thing had made Rikuya go to a girl's dream, manipulating her to not talk about seeing Luke in the white coat in the Landslide Zone.
What was this Thing? Who was it?
Rikuya knew nothing — other than it let him play the part of Hero in dreams.
Without that Thing's directions, Rikuya had never managed to explore the dreams, limiting himself to immediate surroundings in fear of getting lost.
With that Thing, Rikuya could truly become the Dream Walker as he imagined himself to be.
But what came out of it?
Yesterday, Rikuya again went to Toru's dream, and, to his shock, he found that she still remembered almost everything.
Bastard even took her to his bedroom, Rikuya cursed. And still couldn't erase her memory?!
He didn't know what was this Dr. Blessed business and why his worm-for-brains brother was acting a Vigilante, doing more harm than good.
That Thing had told him that even she didn't understand much, but they must help him… because none else would.
How I am supposed to help him if he…
Rikuya's eyes suddenly landed on Mount Lady buying snacks from a stall. Involuntarily, his steps shifted and took him to her, all matters regarding Luke vanishing from his mind.
On the other side, Luke said goodbye to Aina. "I need to go," he said, Nyx hopping to his shoulder. "They must be calling us anytime."
Aina pouted. "I will convince Sir Nighteye to give you a place…"
Luke did not doubt Aina's convincing skills anymore.
If she could convince her father, then she could convince just about anyone — perhaps, even All For One.
"Hahaha!" Luke suddenly laughed, making everyone jump.
Aina frowned. What's gotten inside him? He is…
"Sorry," Luke apologized. "I thought of something funny. Anyway, bye."
"Good luck," Aina said, waving at him. What's going on?!
…
The crowd roared.
The cameras' shutters snapped.
Voice Hero: Present Mic, one of UA's teachers, did the commentary, welcoming the 1st Years.
One by one, students from each Course and Class began coming out, some feeling the weight of so many eyes and cheers on them.
Nyx dug her claws inside Luke's shoulder, knowing the bright smile on his face was nothing but a facade.
Soon, the crowd of students gathered in front of the podium, where the R-Rated Hero: Midnight, was standing, holding a whip.
She was the referee of the 1st-Years events during the Sports Festival.
The students, who were seeing for the first time from so close, blushed instantly.
Crack!
Midnight cracked the whip, the mic near her blasting the sound all over the stadium.
"Now —" Midnight said, looking down at the students, "— Representing the 1st Year students, from Class 1-A, is — Renji Saionji!"
Almost all 1-A students' looked at Luke with wide eyes.
None knew something like this would happen during the Introduction Ceremony.
From the side, other students also gawked at Luke with strange expressions, especially Hitoshi Shinso. The talk of Luke mocking Hitoshi, and laughing like a maniac, had already spread wide.
Who knew he would be representing them today?!
"It makes sense…" Toru said, raising her voice as students began looking around to see who was speaking. "He secured the most points in the Entrance Exam."
Meanwhile, taking a deep breath, and letting it out, Luke walked up the platform.
His head was already numb, his heart beating loudly in his chest. If it wasn't for Nyx's claws keeping him awake, he would have already passed out.
His eyes shifted, people… more than what he thought existed in this world… looking at him.
There were many — watching him online — beyond the TV screens — Heroes, Villains, Civilians, and many more.
Seeing him standing there for a while, without saying anything, the crowd went silent after a few seconds.
Luke brought up a silly smile on his face.
"To the Villain who got away at USJ," The Clown said, his voice booming in the stadium. "— Shigaraki… I have something to say…"
Luke reached into his pocket, pulled out a small tube of cream, and lifted it like it was the Holy Grail.
All the cameras instantly zoomed in, displaying the product across every mega-screen in the arena.
"The UltraGuard Max Itch Eraser — now available in cherry, mint, and villain-defeating flavors."
Luke looked straight into the nearest camera. "Next time you feel itchy — just use this. It's cheaper than therapy… and doesn't involve murdering people."
Luke winked with mockery. "And, if symptoms persist, please consult a dermatologist…
"Here, in UA, he goes by the name — All Might."
Midnight gaped at Luke.
From the glass room afar, All Might's jaw dropped.
For a moment, there was a pin-drop silence in the stadium.
It didn't matter who chuckled first. But, when it began, the entire world seemed to laugh…
… less because of the mocking words, and more because of Luke's sheer guts.
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AN: Character Image of Snapshot Hero: Snappy is available
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