The roar of the crowd hadn't died down from the Obstacle Race when Midnight's voice rang out again.
Midnight: "Alright, competitors! Event two — the Cavalry Battle!"
The scoreboard displayed the points system, Midoriya's name flashing at the top with a massive 10 million points for winning first in the Obstacle Race… except this time, the name was Kael.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the arena. Gasps. Whispers. Shouts. Every eye turned to him.
Present Mic: "You heard that right, folks! Kael is the target to beat — take his headband, and your team jumps to the lead!"
The Reactions
Bakugo's grin was feral.Bakugo: "Finally, a real target."
Todoroki's gaze narrowed.Todoroki: "This will be interesting."
Midoriya, meanwhile, looked both relieved and unnerved. Relieved he didn't have the 10 million himself, unnerved because… Kael.
Kael, for his part, barely reacted. He studied the scoreboard like it was a mildly amusing riddle he'd already solved.
Choosing Teams
Students scrambled to form groups of four. Strategies, quirks, speed — it all mattered.
Kael, however, didn't move.
Mina: "Hey, you better get a team before you get stuck with the leftovers!"
Kael: "I already have a team."
Mina: "...Where?"
Right on cue, Momo, Tokoyami, and Jirou walked over without a word, as if they'd been drawn by some invisible command.
Kael: "We're done."
Momo:raising an eyebrow "You knew we'd agree?"
Kael: "No. I knew you wouldn't say no."
The Start
The horn blared, and chaos erupted instantly.
Teams surged toward Kael, eyes locked on that glowing 10 million headband. Explosions, ice, speed boosts — everything came at once.
Kael's team didn't run.
Instead, an invisible shimmer pulsed out from Kael, just enough to nudge probability. Every attack missed by inches. Every dash tripped over a sudden loss of footing. Ice cracked, explosions misfired, quirks tangled with each other.
It was as if the battlefield itself conspired to protect him.
The Boredom Sets In
Kael: "Too easy."
Momo: "Too easy? They're literally all after us—"
Kael: "Yes. And none will succeed."
He moved lazily, his gaze scanning the crowd, his mind running through all the outcomes. In every variation, he kept the headband easily… unless…
The Twist
Kael smiled faintly.Kael: "Let's make this more entertaining."
He subtly loosened his control over probability. Just enough.
Bakugo's team, charging hard, almost reached him. Their hands brushed the headband — and in that split-second, Kael let it happen. Bakugo snatched it away, his face lighting up with victory.
The crowd erupted. Present Mic's voice cracked with excitement.
But Kael was smiling.
Momo: "Why did you—?!"
Kael: "Watch."
Bakugo's team barely had time to celebrate before Todoroki's team slammed into them from the side, ice locking Bakugo's legs, Midoriya vaulting in and ripping the headband free in one clean motion.
Chaos exploded across the field. Alliances broke, teams clashed, quirks flared — all because Kael had let one thread unravel.
The Final Seconds
As the timer ticked down, Kael moved at last. One step forward — then he was everywhere at once, weaving through the chaos like it was choreographed for him.
In the last three seconds, he plucked the 10 million headband back from Midoriya's grasp without resistance. Midoriya blinked — it was as if Kael had already been holding it.
Present Mic: "AND KAEL TAKES IT BACK AT THE LAST SECOND! WHAT WAS THAT?!"
The buzzer blared. Round over.
Aftermath
In the waiting area, the other competitors glared, muttered, or just avoided him entirely.
Bakugo: "You… you let me take it, didn't you?"
Kael smirked.Kael: "Of course. You needed the hope before I took it away. Makes the game worth playing."
Bakugo's teeth ground audibly.
Todoroki: "You're… dangerous."
Kael tilted his head.Kael: "Only if you matter to the outcome."