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15 minutes before.
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Mei Hatsume, although happy for having made it at least to the second round, couldn't help feeling frustrated. Her babies hadn't captured the public's or cameras' attention as she expected. She was about to come in last place or not even qualify... if it weren't because a blonde from class A, who thought highly of himself, gave her a stomachache at the last moment.
—(Tsk, my cute babies deserved more!)—she thought angrily, puffing her cheeks and clenching her fists—. (They sparkled! They had spark! They had character!)
This test was her only real opportunity. If she wanted companies to start seeing her seriously, if she wanted sponsors, contracts or even a minimum mention in U.A.'s technical reports, she had to stand out.
And to achieve it, she had to ally with the only one who was monopolizing all attention whether negative or positive: Izuku Himura.
She didn't know much about him. Mei wasn't one to listen to rumors or follow school trends; she preferred to lock herself away working with her precious babies. But that name repeated too much. Even for someone like her, it was impossible not to hear what they said about that boy.
First in the overall ranking. Absolute record in both the theoretical and practical exam. 300 points, 150 from villains and 150 from rescue. An absurd, unreachable figure... even ridiculous. And then there was the villain attack, where it was said he was key in the victory. And even more recent, the incident at his classroom entrance where he showed part of his power and left everyone paralyzed.
He wasn't just strong. He was shocking. Someone who stood out a lot even if he didn't want to. She needed him at all costs.
—This is perfect! —she exclaimed, completely ignoring students who moved away scared—. An exposure machine! A power plant of attention! This boy is pure gold! I NEED HIM!
She closed her notebook with a snap, putting it in her backpack among tools, prototypes and nameless pieces, and started running without stopping. Her reinforced boots hit the ground with each stride, leaving a trail of heavy steps as she headed straight to the stadium's edge. She remembered seeing him around there. If she hurried, she could talk to him before some other opportunist caught him.
When she finally found him, she recognized him immediately. He was alone, or at least appeared to be. He rested against a distant wall, near the entrance where there were no spectators above him, as if purposely set apart from the world. It was evident the rumors about his reserved character were true. Mei slowed down as she approached, mentally preparing to approach him with her usual energy, until she noticed he wasn't alone.
Midnight's presence beside him made her frown with confusion. It wasn't common to see a teacher sharing time in such a personal way with a student. As she approached, what she saw stopped her completely. Midnight had made him lie down on her lap and was gently stroking his head, as if consoling him. There was no gesture of authority or formality, only warm and calm treatment. It was a scene too intimate not to pay attention to. Mei partially hid behind some students discussing their strategy to not be seen.
Generally, she didn't care about interrupting others' conversations if something was important to her. She was frontal, fast, and without filters. But something in that scene forced her to stop. It wasn't out of respect for the teacher or fear of bothering them. It was rather an uncomfortable feeling she couldn't explain. There was something in the way he kept his eyes closed, in the strange calm with which he let himself be caressed, that didn't seem right to interrupt.
If she was going to work with him, she needed to understand how he worked, and that scene opened new questions. Who the hell was Izuku Himura really?
She observed in silence, without moving. She let questions accumulate. Then, she lowered her gaze to her notebook and began to scribble, but her eyes kept returning to them.
Several minutes passed where the conversation between the Professor and Izuku remained silent, only interrupted by faint smiles, slight head movements and words that couldn't be heard.
And suddenly, without warning, the calm broke.
Izuku sat up abruptly. It wasn't just that he stood up, it was as if his entire body reacted at the same time with a brutal discharge. The sound of his feet stepping resonated dry, like a whiplash on the ground. He advanced a step with wild energy, turned on himself and, without saying a single word, stamped his palm against the wall behind the teacher.
—BOOOM!
Silence fell over the stadium.
The impact was devastating. The air trembled. Students' clothes shook; some were pushed backward by the force of the wind that followed the blow. The concrete broke with a guttural, rough sound, as if something alive were being destroyed. Cracks opened like roots born from the impact's center, spreading violently.
Students looked at him, frozen, as if a beast had awakened in the middle of the stadium. But what was most unsettling was that Professor Midnight didn't move. She was still there, centimeters from the impact, covered by a rain of dust, without a single gesture of fear. She only looked at him seriously... and with pity. As if she understood exactly what was going through inside him.
Mei, hidden in her position, felt her heart violently pounding in her chest. What emanated from Izuku wasn't simple energy... it was a suffocating, dense and overwhelming pressure, as if the air itself became heavier around him.
She had the feeling of witnessing something that shouldn't be seen so closely, something that completely escaped the human.
But she couldn't look away. She couldn't move.
Izuku breathed forcefully. Then, he calmed down abruptly. He straightened up completely, evaluated his surroundings with a cold look, and then, sighed. He closed his eyes, lowered his arm, and the environment's trembling stopped. He took out his notebook calmly, wrote something quickly, tore the page firmly and handed it to Midnight. Then he turned around and stopped for a few seconds to say something that couldn't be heard.
He hadn't taken more than ten steps when someone interrupted the silence with authority:
—Himura!
Izuku didn't stop. It was a boy with glasses, wide build but firm attitude, who planted himself in front of Izuku with a furrowed brow.
—That was unnecessary and dangerous! This is a serious institution! Don't you see how you worried others? You're our representative, set the best example! If I had been the representative, I would have...!
But as quickly as he appeared he also quickly withdrew. Izuku didn't even look at him. With a single movement, he lifted him off the ground with one hand. The boy kicked in the air for an instant... and then flew. The student shot through the air in a perfect arc, screaming in surprise, until he fell forcefully to the ground, rolling several times before ending up face-up, stunned but unharmed.
Mei could barely process it. Her hands were trembling. She saw the student with glasses on the ground. She was truly upset.
And then, without warning, Izuku was already in front of her.
—Were you looking for me?
His voice was direct, dry. Not aggressive, but authoritative. He was less than a meter away. She didn't understand how he had moved so fast. His gaze was so intense it made her shudder. Everything about him seemed to warn her: "Don't do something stupid to anger him."
Mei froze.
—Y-yes, I'm Mei Hatsume... It's a pleasure to meet you, sir... BOSS! Sir... —she stammered, bowing clumsily, not daring to raise her gaze.
She felt the pressure of his aura, as if her body couldn't move completely. Was she in danger? Would she die right there?
But then, something changed.
—Don't worry, you don't have to worry —he said with a softer voice. A serene smile appeared on his face—. I'm sorry if I scared you, hehe.
That smile... was the most shocking thing of all. After everything he had just done, his crushing anger had vanished out of nowhere, only simple tranquility remained. As if nothing had happened.
Mei was still completely bewildered. Her body still didn't react well to the sudden change.
—I'm Izuku Himura. It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope we work well together —he said, with a short but respectful bow. Upon standing up, his eyes immediately fixed on the equipment Mei was carrying—. Support class, right? Interesting... Can I see your inventions?
She quickly came out of her confusion and trying to return to her cheerful state, handed him her backpack with a smile.
—Yes, of course. H-here you go... boss... —she said, extending her backpack with a nervous smile—. I hope you like them! I have many babies to choose from! They're all unique and fantastic and I'm sure you'll find one that... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!!
Mei shouted, suddenly, upon seeing how Izuku had already opened the backpack and was disassembling and placing different pieces on her babies without asking more permission.
—NO-NO-NO!! LEAVE MY BABY ALONE, I JUST FINISHED IT!! IT HAS FEELINGS...!!
—Your systems are modular... well thought out. But the connector assembly is delaying voltage transmission. This wiring doesn't have heat-insulating coating, that's a problem if you use it under prolonged tension —he commented without even raising his gaze, while examining one of Mei's portable thrusters and had already dismantled half the chassis—. I also notice you're using lightweight alloy based on titanium and medium-grade polymers. It works... but I can give you a formula, as a seller, that gives you materials that reduce weight and increase thermal tolerance.
Mei looked at him open-mouthed. Her face oscillated between trauma and fascination.
—How do you know all that!? You didn't even open the core! —she blurted out, grabbing her head while seeing how Izuku adjusted pieces with surgical precision.
—Mechanics like robotics is like breathing. If I can imagine how it's made, I can understand how to correct it. What you do isn't bad, Hatsume... you just need to polish details and stop using alloys with garbage thermal conductivity. You're a great inventor, Hatsume, you just need resources and I'll give them to you —Izuku added while making adjustments to one of her stored exoskeletons, redesigning the distribution of joint support without even consulting.
Suddenly, he stopped, as if looking for a missing piece in all those scattered babies.
—We need the horse's head.
—Horse's head... what? What do you need...?
—Don't worry. I'll handle it.
Izuku stood up and snapped his fingers forcefully. The sound, dry and firm, echoed like a shot through the stadium arena. Mei, still trying to understand what was happening, saw how a black silhouette began to move among the students, moving at an unsettling speed. It seemed like a living shadow, and dragged with it a student with a crow head covered in dirt, as if he had been dragged by a whirlwind.
The shadow stopped in front of them and made an impeccable bow, but with much trembling.
—I have arrived, my lord. Have you called me?
—Izuku... how... did you... call... Black Shadow? —the bird boy stammered, still on the ground, trying not to vomit while spitting out some grass.
—Tokoyami and Black Shadow. I appreciate your punctuality. Prepare yourselves. We're going to execute a great catastrophe.
—Catastrophe...? What are you thinking, boss? —Mei asked, who already had a tic in her left eye and her heart in emergency mode.
Izuku didn't respond immediately. His gaze shifted toward the sky, as if calculating the trajectory of something invisible. Then he lowered his gaze and smiled, but it wasn't a warm smile. It was something more... unnatural. Empty.
—Ma... muuu... —He remained silent for a moment—. Miss Midnight told me that to calm down, "I should expose my feelings to the world." —Izuku responded with a serene tone, but with an aura that completely changed his previous cheerful atmosphere. That terror returned again—. And although I seem calm now... I'm not. I'm holding back. A lot. So... I'll do something so exaggerated, so visual, so mechanically impossible that I'll release everything I carry inside. And you three will help me with that. Whether you like it... or not.
The silence was absolute. Until Mei swallowed forcefully.
—Yes... understood, boss. Totally clear. Catastrophically clear... —she said, while squeezing her exoskeleton against her chest as if it were an anti-stress stuffed animal.
Tokoyami said nothing, still shocked by what he heard. Black Shadow, almost trembling, bowed in an uneasy reverence.
—Y-yes, my lord... I'm at your orders...
Izuku smiled again, with an unsettling look.
—Perfect. Let's begin... with the weather.
Then Izuku took a small metal cylinder from the backpack, opened it, made some modifications and threw it to the sky with surgical precision. The device opened in the air, releasing a tiny drone that ascended rapidly until lost among the clouds.
Only a few seconds passed before the sky began to transform. The clouds grouped together, first gray, then denser and darker, until the firmament seemed to announce an imminent storm.
Mei was paralyzed, her eyes shone with disbelief and emotion.
—One of my babies... works! —she exclaimed, with her voice broken with joy.
So many days and nights adjusting the generators, using whatever she had at hand, with the crazy idea of modifying the weather to help heroes whose quirks depend on lightning or rain... At times she thought she would never achieve it. But now, there it was, before her eyes: living proof that her effort was worthwhile.
Upon turning her gaze back to Izuku, he was already looking at her. His warm, serene and proud smile melted her heart. But what he said next was what made her vibrate with emotion:
—A great show needs the best atmosphere. And don't worry, Hatsume... in this competition, we'll use all your inventions. It's time for the show.
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No one moved. No one spoke. No one could comprehend what had just occurred. Just minutes ago, Izuku Himura was everyone's target, leading a small group that seemed stranger than strong. Now, that same student advanced alone... like a rider of death. Calm. Imposing. With a white band between his fingers that he slowly tied around his neck, signal of his 10 million points.
Each step of his horse resonated like a war drum. There were no screams or threats. Only a presence that crushed.
How could a quirk achieve such a monstrous transformation?
—I can't believe it!! —Present Mic shouted, on the verge of hysterical screaming—. Student Izuku Himura with 10 million points just became an extremely terrifying enemy!! Is this even legal!?!?
—According to the rules, what he's doing isn't considered illegal —Aizawa intervened calmly, reviewing the documents he had beside him—. Quirks can be used freely as one wishes, even transformation ones are valid with some limitations. He's using a completely valid strategy. Being the most valuable prey, with enemies in various parts, intimidating the adversary provides a great advantage.
—I see your point, Aizawa. Though I have no idea how he convinced Midnight to help him with that entrance, but... it's working. We have to admit his presence intimidates, yes... but, will he really be strong? Some are already approaching after the initial shock. He's facing a good number of students... do you think he can hold out?
—If you observe well, only groups formed by students from other classes are approaching. Class A isn't attacking him. They've already seen what Izuku is capable of doing. When the first team attacks the dark rider they'll understand the difference in experience "class A" has with the others. And especially with this student.
Suddenly, several teams began running toward the dark rider. Despite how intimidating he looked, many thought it was just a psychological tactic. At the end of the day, it was one against many. They had the advantage. They would overcome him by numbers. Too easy.
—This is a war for 10 million points!! —Tetsutetsu from class B shouted, with his face burning with anger—. And this is my revenge for the wall incident!!
—He can't handle our quirks!! —another student vociferated, rider of a team of only four members.
—At him without mercy!! —another rider shouted—. Don't be afraid of him, he's just a...!!
He couldn't finish the sentence.
In the blink of an eye, the black horse rose on its two front legs. With a brutal stomp, it fractured the ground and released a shockwave so powerful it shook the entire field. Participants lost their balance, while blocks of earth rose like projectiles, interrupting any line of advance toward Izuku.
Without giving time to react, he disappeared from sight, as if he had vanished. Several turned their heads looking for his trail... too late. In a blink, he appeared behind a team, drove a metal bar into the ground next to them with a dry boom, and vanished again.
A second later, another team was marked the same way, unable to move or react.
In less than a minute, each group had a metal post planted beside them. And just when the last one was placed, the horse reappeared in the center of the arena, firm, dominant, as if it had never moved.
—Impressive! —Present Mic shouted excitedly, creating more noise from the spectators—. The rider of death moved too fast for sight! How the hell did he do that!? Is it perhaps a power from beyond!?
—There's nothing mystical about that —Aizawa corrected with a tense voice—. None of the team has a speed quirk. Observe carefully.
The black horse stopped violently in the center of the arena, digging its six legs into the destroyed earth while exhaling steam through the openings in its body. Without warning, it began to shake forcefully, with clumsy but powerful movements, as if enduring an internal overload. A metallic, screeching and dangerous sound accompanied each shake until, suddenly, a hidden compartment in its abdomen opened abruptly. From its interior began to fall charred pieces: melted backpacks, broken propulsion boots, pressurized tubes about to explode, deformed plates and cables still sparking. Everything was carbonized, deformed... as if each artifact had been taken beyond its physical limit.
And then, in the middle of the chaos, a desperate scream was heard from inside the mechanical creature.
—OWWW! MY BABIES!! MY CUTE AND POOR BABIES!!
The public fell silent for an instant, confused by the origin of the sound. Aizawa, unfazed, spoke with a firm tone while observing the remains.
—As you can notice, the team used inventions created by student Mei Hatsume. All forced to maximum performance... and evidently overloaded. It was a dangerous bet, but effective.
—Incredible! But Aizawa... why the hell plant metal bars in each group? Was he trying to attack directly? Or was it a signal for...?
He couldn't finish.
Suddenly, from each tube driven into the ground began to sprout a thick green cloud, covering everything in its path. The mist spread rapidly throughout the battlefield, blocking participants' vision in a matter of seconds. Inside the arena, no one could see anything. They didn't even know if the enemy was still there.
But the public and heroes still had a privileged view, thanks to the height of the stands. From aerial cameras everything could be followed... and what they saw was chilling.
Through the fog, the rider's figure emerged on the horse's back. In complete silence, he stood up. And then he launched into the air, propelled by black whips that tensed and dragged him like intelligent cables. His body moved like a controlled projectile, bouncing between the field's points where metal bars had been planted, striking and stripping each group without them being able to react.
Only seconds passed.
Suddenly, a single dry clap broke the atmosphere. Breaking from the center all the green cloud that dissipated instantly. And in the middle of the field, the image was clear and brutal:
The rider was standing. Motionless.
All participants' bands hung from his neck, aligned, clean, like hunting trophies. His hands held them tightly, with a posture showing not a hint of fatigue.
No one had been saved. No one had seen him move.
The stadium fell completely silent. The public held its breath. Aizawa and Present Mic couldn't come out of astonishment.
—It can't be!! Not even half the confrontation time has passed and Himura, the dark rider, already got all the bands! —Present Mic shouted, with disbelief—. What the hell is he thinking!?
—He wants to modify the game to his liking, that's what he's thinking —Aizawa said seriously, his tone showing exhilaration—. This isn't just a competition... it's a real lesson. Everyone out there dreamed of being heroes. But a true hero doesn't choose their battles or wait for fair conditions. There are villains who don't stop, who completely break the balance. Sometimes, a single enemy forces an entire squad to mobilize. And that's what that boy is representing now. A single objective, so dominant, that it forces all the others to unite to stop him. That's how the world is out there. And if you're not prepared for that reality... you won't last.
—Impressive... this truly is a real challenge! How exciting!
—I agree, student Himura is someone very particular —the hero concluded with a low but firm voice—. A true hero must know when a villain can't be faced alone. This isn't a simple confrontation. It's the type of situation in which many learn if they're ready or if they were just playing at being heroes.
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The entire arena roared. The public's screams were deafening, a mix of pure emotion, adrenaline and astonishment. It was as if no one could believe what they had just witnessed, but even so, they couldn't look away from the dark rider who now dominated the center of the field. But for Izuku, the public was the least important thing. What really interested him were the new enemies he had gained. This was no longer a simple competition. All teams had set their eyes on him. And that... made it even more fun.
—Alright, Himura. We've made everyone our enemies. And they're coming for your head... What do we do? —Tokoyami asked from inside the horse, observing the approaching chaos.
—Relax. I'm already on it. Just prepare yourselves for what's coming —Izuku responded calmly, without stopping looking forward.
Without adding more words, he removed the mask made of black whips covering his face, and, with precise movements, replaced it with all the bands he had collected, weaving them over his face like a new white mask. The symbol of his total dominance. Just in time: all teams were already launching in his direction.
—You're a good opponent, Izuku. I respect you, but your end is near. I have to be the best —Shoto Todoroki declared with his icy gaze, accumulating an immense amount of frost on his right side.
—Change of plans! We go directly against number one, now! EVERYONE AT HIM! —a blonde named Monoma from class B shouted desperately. Apparently, the plans he had were shattered and he didn't like that turn at all.
—DEKUUUU...!!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, BASTARD!!! —Bakugo bellowed from above, descending at full speed like a furious projectile.
Izuku didn't flinch. He just observed them, imperturbable, with an expression so serene it seemed to completely ignore the chaos. He sat back down on the horse's back and leaned slightly forward. He was ready.
Todoroki was the first to move. An immense ice wall rose behind the rider, completely blocking any possible escape route. He had trapped him. Or at least, that's what he thought.
—Let the real game begin.
Without warning, a tube shot out from the horse's side and pushed him precisely toward the ice wall. Izuku, without needing to charge force or perform a great technique, simply extended his fist and hit the ice with such precision it broke as if it were paper. A rain of fragments exploded throughout the field.
Students were stunned, with expressions of disbelief. Which made Izuku curious.
—What...? Do you really not remember what I did with a giant robot? Wow... you really are so distra...
—CRASH!
He couldn't finish the sentence. At that moment, several of the students who had launched into the attack couldn't brake in time and stepped on the scattered ice remains. In a matter of seconds, riders and their companions began to slip one after another, falling backwards, sideways or in confused heaps. The chaos was total. Some fell on top of others, others were dragged by their companions, and one even ended up spinning on the ground unable to stop. Only five teams managed to stay standing in front of Izuku... and one of them achieved it by pure miracle.
The entire stadium fell into total silence. An uncomfortable silence that couldn't understand such great humiliation. The only one who showed another reaction was Momo remembering a very humiliating "Vietnam trauma."
—This feels like the time at the training field... no... not again...
...
...
Izuku sighed deeply... slowly lowering his head while scratching his neck under the mask. Seriously, he had no words for this.
—I... I... well, I certainly didn't expect this. I thought they were going to stop and start the fight. Seriously. I didn't expect this, although it feels like a déjà vu... poor Momo... hehe. Well... This counts as an accident, right? Miss Midnight?! Does this count as an accident?!
—Huh? —she said, coming back from surprise—. It counts! And the game still continues!
—Perfect, thank goodness. It's good to know, seriously... So... where was I after this?
—DEKUUUU!! —Bakugo shouted from above, maddened with rage, launching himself at him again.
—Ah, of course... —out of nowhere he pulled out a giant spear from the horse's back to grab it like... A baseball bat?—. There's still a show to perform.
When Bakugo fell, Izuku blocked the attack cleanly, used Bakugo's own momentum and with a precise spin, returned him to the air as if sending him back to home plate. Sero's tapes caught him just in time to avoid his elimination.
Izuku could only smile.
—Good... Who's next?
Izuku barely turned his neck. An ice wall emerged brutally in front of him, seeking to trap him between the horse and the barrier. But mid-movement, a black whip shot from his wrist, tracing a perfect arc that destroyed the formation before closing. Just at that instant, a flame grazed his cheek. The heat alerted him. His sister was entering the game.
There was no time to think. An electric discharge buzzed in the air, launched by Denki, serpentining with irregular trajectory. Izuku raised his spear, and channeled the impulse in a dry spin, deflecting the electricity with the metal end. As soon as the lightning touched ground, sacred vines, work of class B student Ibara Shiozaki, tried to surround one of the horse's legs to stop it, but the steed partially dissolved and reconstructed itself in another point, preventing capture.
Izuku looked up for an instant to see where that attack came from. A slight smile appeared on his face. Shiozaki... was she with Izumi? His little sister had chosen good allies. Although, looking carefully, the girl's expression showed something more... fear? and a blank stare? Yes, Izumi continued being just as intimidating as always. What would he do with that girl and her so frightening attitude? Izuku would have to think about it later.
But his gaze didn't linger much on her, as he immediately recognized someone else. There was Hitoshi Shinso from general studies, being Izumi's support on the right with that cold look that characterized him. Seeing him there with his little sister brought out another smile.
Without warning, a side tube of the horse deployed and violently propelled the mount to the left, dodging by centimeters a hand that launched directly at his shoulder—it was Monoma. His face no longer showed arrogance, but a furious madness that made him look even more dangerous. Maybe a plan he had was ruined because of Izuku, he'd apologize to him later.
But the assault didn't cease. From the right flank appeared Shoto's team. Iida advanced like a missile, his engines roaring with overflowing power. Denki fired lightning like shrapnel, and Momo deployed a series of improvised traps that filled the ground with stakes, nets and spikes. Izuku couldn't help but feel pride for his companion. From the other end, Bakugo burst in with a controlled explosion, flanked by Mina, who spread acid across the terrain as if wanting to melt the steed's path. Eijiro, hardened to the teeth, charged like an unstoppable train, while Sero threw tapes in a fan to block all escape routes.
Mineta's team also appeared. The small hero was mounted on Shoji's shoulders, using his height to have better vision of the field. Beside him, Asui moved with agility, using her tongue like a fast whip to try to catch Izuku, while Mineta threw his sticky spheres ceaselessly, trying to restrict the horse's movement. The coordination was impeccable; they were more cunning than they seemed. A well-thought-out ambush... if it weren't for the ice trap Shoto set to stop the other teams.
He knew he had to escape. He activated another device. An extendable bar violently drove into the ground, and with the force of a compressed spring, the entire horse made a huge jump, dodging all attacks in its path... only to land with a powerful blow.
When the dust dispersed, he saw he wasn't alone, in front of him was his little sister waiting for him, standing, defiant, with a determined smile on her lips. With a firm gesture, she unleashed a wall of fire that rose around them, isolating them from the rest of the combat. The heat distorted the air, creating a visual and physical barrier that prevented others from approaching.
Now only the two of them remained.
—Wow, little sister. You really don't want distractions, huh?
—Only going for the one million points matters, Oni-chan. You taught me to always seek to be the best. And that's what I'm demonstrating now, and more with my new alliance —Izumi responded with a smile full of determination.
—I like your ability, Himura —Hitoshi intervened, with a slight smile—. I like your inventions. I'm sure a very prestigious company gave them to you.
—Excuse me?! —Mei jumped, emerging from a hidden compartment on the horse's back, waving her arms—. Those inventions are mine!! MINE!! Understand it, you...!
But before she could finish, her body tensed abruptly. Her eyes went empty, her expression neutral. Izuku recognized the trick instantly. A mental game from his sister... cunning as always. However, the momentary calm broke in seconds: an ice wave impacted from afar, launched by Shoto, extinguishing the fire wall in a smoking crackle. All remaining teams resumed the attack with renewed fury. Only five minutes remained, it was all or nothing.
Izuku straightened on the mount, spinning precisely among a rain of violent attacks: fire, ice, hands extending to touch him, vines sprouting from the ground, tongues trying to hold him. He even floated for a moment, caught by Uraraka's Quirk, trying to destabilize him. Luckily, Black Shadow, which was the horse's serpentine head, constantly stretched, blocking frontal attacks and opening way among teams launching without restraint.
Bakugo charged again with a direct explosion, and Izuku repelled him once more with a dry movement. This entire attack was truly becoming difficult.
—We're surrounded. We can't continue like this, Izuku —Tokoyami warned inside the mount—. Black Shadow won't be able to withstand this chaos much longer. Especially when there's so much light.
—I know. Without Mei, there's no full mobility... —he responded, just as Black Shadow intercepted another projectile—. Hold firm... it's almost time.
But the pressure increased. Despite the protection, the team began to falter. Izuku noticed how Tokoyami and Shadow's fatigue accumulated. That's when he heard it: the hum of turbines. And a second later, he felt how one of his bands was ripped from his neck. Then, a brutal pull shook him from the left. Izumi, using her fire as propulsion, lunged at him. At the same time, Bakugo descended on his position from above, stealing another band and handing it to Sero, who moved them away immediately with a rope. He could only stop Monoma and Asui's tongue, by interposing his spear and blocking their grip with force.
When everything calmed down, teams had already retreated, checking what they had obtained. But on their faces there was no celebration... only confusion and frustration.
—Shoto, do you have it?!! —Iida shouted, his engines releasing steam from overexertion.
—Damn! He tricked us! This is the 70 one.
—Oni-chan... I saw you put it on your neck. You couldn't have moved it without us noticing... How did you do it? —Izumi said, holding the 125 band with frustration.
—DEKUUUU, DAMN BASTARD!!
Izuku, with his face partially uncovered, smiled with satisfaction. Then he lowered his head, and with a slight inclination, showed he was holding something between his teeth. There it was: the real band. He slowly placed it back on his forehead.
Everyone was astonished, desperate.
—I learned this trick from a villain in Brazil who hid his merchandise during raids and attacks while I was a tourist. Advice for all of you: don't just watch the hands... the face can also deceive. And for your bad luck... I wasn't showing it.
—30 seconds remaining! —Midnight shouted forcefully.
That was the signal he needed. Izuku, without wasting time, gave a light tap on Mei's head, waking her from the mental trance.
—What...? What happened? Where am I...? —she said, blinking confused.
—Mei... activate them, take us upward.
Still dizzy, Mei reacted with precise reflexes. Immediately, two thrusters deployed with a metallic roar from the horse's flanks. The energy blast launched them like a comet toward the sky, leaving a burning trail behind. Everyone present raised their gaze, stunned, seeing how they ascended to an impossible height, almost outside the arena's limit.
But the show was just beginning.
Without warning, the black whip horse brutally dissolved in mid-air, revealing a mechanical core: a support exoskeleton holding Mei and Tokoyami, both now suspended. Izuku didn't move. He floated for an instant, in the middle of the height's silence, observing the distant arena as if reading the battlefield with his gaze.
Then, the black whips began to return to him at full speed. In their trajectory, they surrounded Mei and Tokoyami, wrapping them with surgical precision. A new order was enough for the auxiliary rockets to detach to reduce weight.
—Prepare for impact!! —Izuku shouted, with his eyes fixed on his objective.
Suddenly, the air exploded.
A sonic wave released from his legs, propelling him like a projectile directly toward the ground. Holding the spear forward like an unstoppable arrow, he descended at full speed, breaking the sound barrier. The moment he touched ground, the impact was devastating.
The arena's center trembled.
An explosion of wind and dust expanded like a storm. The shockwave swept the terrain, forcing everyone present to cover their eyes. The roar was such it seemed to vibrate even the stadium's foundations or even cause an earthquake. The smoke covered everything for long seconds... and then, slowly, cleared.
Silence took over the stands.
And then they saw it.
Izuku was standing, firm, atop his spear embedded in the ground. His silhouette outlined by light, his posture unbreakable, and on his forehead... shone, intact, the ten million point band. Then the game completion beep was heard throughout its glory, symbolizing his unmatched victory.
With a smooth movement, he descended from the spear, while the black whips slowly lowered Mei and Tokoyami, depositing them safe and sound beside him.
A hysterical scream broke the silence.
—I can't believe it!! With an unprecedented ending, student Izuku Himura not only kept the one million point band until the last second, but humiliated and exposed the power he had been containing all this time!! This truly was a memorable show!!
The public's roar was deafening.
Applause exploded like an avalanche. The entire stadium vibrated. The other teams, still on the ground or on their knees, looked with disbelief. Some still trembled from the impact's force. No one could deny what they had just witnessed.
Izuku, exhausted but satisfied, let his legs give way.
He fell backwards to the ground with a dry thud, looking at the sky tinted by the last traces of smoke. A warm smile curved his lips, serene and sincere.
Yes... Midnight was right. A good show in the end... really calms you down.
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After the cavalry confrontation, the four teams that would accompany Izuku's in the final were chosen. Shoto's, Bakugo's and Izumi's teams managed to withstand the final explosion, securing their place. Since only fifteen students qualified, it was necessary to choose an additional participant. The decision fell on Monoma, who had fought until the last second and also gave Izuku a quite intense fight.
Monoma accepted with exaggerated enthusiasm, proclaiming tirelessly that he was the best. His voice resonated throughout the place until one of his classmates lost patience and hit him on the head, knocking him out to calm him down. He definitely had a quite serious protagonist complex.
During the beginning of the break, Izuku was shown leaving the bathroom, slightly adjusting his uniform after refreshing himself. Walking down the hallway, he found to his surprise Professor Midnight, who observed him from a distance... it was noticeable she was waiting for him.
Upon crossing in the hallway, she gave him a soft smile, almost shy.
—I'm... I'm glad to see you, my boy. How are you? —she asked with an embarrassed tone, slightly lowering her gaze—. What a show you performed, right? I hope my previous speech pleased you.
—It helped me too much. Thank you, Professor Midnight —Izuku responded seriously, without averting his gaze.
The silence that followed was thick, uncomfortable. The teacher was noticeably uneasy, as if her words were stuck in her throat. A subtle tension settled between them. Her posture, the way she played with her fingers and avoided looking at him directly, made it clear there was something else she wanted to say.
—My boy... I... I wanted to apologize for what...
Izuku raised a hand firmly, interrupting her without brusqueness, but with determination. He still remembered very well what had happened... but he also knew it hadn't been her fault. That conversation, however difficult it had been, wasn't something she should carry alone.
—It's not your fault, Miss Midnight, it's just that I have... serious mental problems.
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In the 15-minute waiting time.
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—Are you okay, my boy...?
Izuku blinked, abruptly coming out of his thoughts, and upon raising his gaze he found Professor Midnight, who observed him with a disconcerting mix of tenderness and mischief. Despite her striking outfit, what stood out most in that instant was the warmth in her smile and the affectionate shine in her eyes. The combination of sweetness and flirtation in her expression caused a slight blush on Izuku's face, a detail she noticed immediately, responding with an even more charming smile, as if enjoying the effect she caused.
—What's wrong, my boy? Does something hurt? —she asked while kneeling in front of him, caring for each movement with an elegance that contrasted with the informality of her outfit—. Why aren't you looking for a team? Was it because of the incident with your little sister? I'm so sorry, dear, really. It wasn't my intention to cause problems between you —she added, and with maternal softness stroked his hair, her fingers sliding with unexpected sweetness.
Those words and that gesture took Izuku completely off guard. Despite Midnight's always provocative attitude, in that instant what he felt most from her was genuine care and a maternal warmth he hadn't experienced in a long time. It felt... good.
Did finding out about Izuku's past really affect her? How much was in that report Nezu created?
—No, Miss Midnight, I'm fine —he responded with a slight smile—. I'm just here resting for a moment, nothing more. Later I'll look for companions. In fact, I think there's already someone who wants to work with me, after what I showed in the competition. And about my sister... don't worry, she loves me too much to be angry with me. I just asked her to make her own team, it's part of her training. I want to see her advance on her own, I know she'll achieve it without my help.
Midnight listened attentively, but the seriousness in her eyes showed she wasn't completely convinced. She leaned slightly toward him, with a soft but determined air, and murmured with a warm voice:
—So... are you worried about something else? Why don't you tell me? You can trust me, dear.
Izuku tensed slightly. Although her tone was the same as before, there was an honesty in her concern that made him feel vulnerable. Worried? He didn't feel that way, he had told her the whole truth about why he was there. Why would he be worried?
—Worried? No... really, Miss Midnight, I'm fine, you don't have to worry about a student like me. It's better if I leave, there are about 13 minutes left to make a group. I don't want to take your tim...
He didn't finish the sentence. In a movement as natural as unexpected, Midnight attracted him easily and, without him noticing in time, his head ended up resting on her lap. She began to stroke his hair tenderly, with a hand that wasn't that of a playful woman, but of someone who wanted to transmit peace.
—Huh?....HUH?!...—Izuku stammered, totally confused.
Everything happened so fast that Izuku could barely react. He didn't stop her, didn't dodge the contact, didn't even put up resistance. His body, for some reason, didn't feel the slightest danger.
Confused, he tried to stand up, but a firm and warm hand kept him in place. That sensation deeply disconcerted him. Midnight hadn't held him forcefully, and yet he couldn't—or didn't want to—move. It was as if his body understood it wasn't in danger, that what he was receiving at that moment wasn't a threat, but a show of affection. And that... scared him.
—M-Miss Midnight... What are you doing? People could misinterpret it. Please, let me get up...
—You're not getting up until you tell me what's wrong, my boy —she whispered affectionately, without getting flustered. With a maternal gesture, she repositioned him on her lap, stroking his hair with even more care.
—But... I'm not...
—Don't lie to me, dear —she whispered sweetly, carefully combing his disheveled locks—. It's obvious you don't like being here. That standing out too much only gives you unease. Are you doing this because you want to or because someone else asked you to? Tell me, my boy... Why are you really doing this?
Izuku swallowed. That voice... that tenderness... reminded him of...
He quickly looked away, containing an emotion he couldn't identify. He breathed deeply, struggling to maintain composure.
—Thank you for your concern and... —he sighed with resignation—. Actually... I don't like being here. There, now I'm leav...
—Paf!
Once again he was laid down with a soft but firm gesture. This time, his field of vision was covered by the volume of Midnight's chest, leaving him completely petrified. His body stayed still, more from surprise than embarrassment, as if knowing he shouldn't resist.
She didn't look away. Her face, though soft, was marked by a different seriousness. There was no anger, only a maternal, protective determination.
—Young man, I'm your teacher and I have the duty to check my students' condition. That's why I'll take my time with you and listen well to your problem because... you're very interesting, my boy, and I want to help you be well.
—"You're very interesting, my boy, and I want to help you be well"—that light illuminating her, that strangely warm smile. Those words...those tender words... were... from...
His mind went blank instantly.
—What happens when you take away everything someone happy had out of nowhere? What happens when you know the truth that you were invincible in the beginning, when you were already used to being trash?
Professor Midnight went still from the impression, stopped stroking Izuku's head, something he noticed but only continued with a serious and monotonous expression. As if in a trance.
—It's a truly confusing feeling and more when you discover you had loved ones who loved you, and they separated you from them for absurd circumstances. That they did it because they had contempt for you. So that later everything burns before your eyes. You burn it or don't know if you did. And there's nothing left that matters more in this world. That is a more confusing feeling.
At that moment, Izuku took Midnight's hand delicately and placed it on his head. She understood the gesture immediately... and began to stroke him softly. That warmth, that contact... he needed it more than he wanted to admit.
—You ask me why I don't want to be here? Very simple... I hate all this —he murmured, with a low voice but loaded with weight—. For my part, I would have come in last. I would have stayed in the benches, without doing anything more. This isn't part of what I want... I don't even enjoy it. But someone very important to me, and also other valuable people, asked me to do it. To show all those, as she says, "brainless beings," that I'm "the best of all." And although it annoys me to prove it... I did it gladly. Because I adore her proud smile, that loving look she only gives me. It's the only thing that motivates me to keep going here. For her... I'll do everything.
Upon finishing, Izuku felt how Midnight's movements became more intense. Her caresses went down his head with firmer sweetness, while she looked at him with a wide, sincere smile... and for the first time, vulnerable.
—You truly are someone special, my boy. I'm glad, truly, to have noticed you —she said with a smile that now bordered on mischievous, though brimming with emotion—. And you know something? It's good you're participating in this test. Advice from mommy... when I need to be calm, a good show helps me get out all the frustration I have.
—Thank you for that advice... mom...
And it was there where everything changed. Izuku responded automatically, carried by the emotion of the moment, the warmth, the trust. He said a word. A single one. Loaded with unresolved meanings and emotions. A word that, barely pronounced, made his entire world distort. "Mom."
The next instant was a whirlwind. Reality shattered like glass. His mind clouded, the air became heavy, and his body moved by pure reflex, as if something inside him had activated without control. When he returned to consciousness, the crunch was the first thing he heard. His left hand was resting against the wall, but it was no longer a normal wall. An enormous fissure, like an open wound, extended from his palm upward, cracking the concrete violently. Fragments still vibrated. Dust fell slowly. And everyone's silence... was absolute.
On the other side, Midnight looked at him. Her expression had completely changed. It was no longer warm or playful. Her eyes reflected something much more complex: regret, yes... but also fear. A soft, contained fear, trying to hide. An emotion difficult to decipher, but which he perceived with painful clarity.
Izuku could only think one thing in that tense moment.
He had ruined everything.
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—Don't worry, my boy... you've had certain family problems, I know —Midnight murmured, taking a step closer as her voice became soft, almost maternal—. That's why that incredible pressure you carry. That compressed stress, that pain you haven't been able to release. But you don't have to carry it alone... with my help, I could...
—I don't need it —Izuku interrupted with a seriousness that felt as firm as a wall. There was no trace of a smile on his face—. I'm sorry, Miss Midnight, but you can't help me with this. Because... it's not what you think. And if you try, you could misinterpret everything. What I have inside... isn't something that's fixed with tenderness or understanding. I already tried...
Midnight opened her lips, not knowing whether to respond, but he got ahead of her.
—But I...
—Don't worry... everything's fine —he finally said, and this time, a warm smile appeared on his face. He passed by her without stopping, leaving behind the emotional weight with each step—. I'll take care of my problem. It's not necessary for you to intervene. Even so, I reiterate my gratitude. Your advice... I value it with all my heart. Thank you, Miss Midnight. We'll see each other later, when there's more tranquility. Hehe.
She didn't respond. She just stayed there, motionless, watching him walk away with an expression that oscillated between guilt and helplessness. Perhaps she had wanted to say something more, maybe something different, something deeper... but Izuku had already left, silently turning down another hallway toward the cafeteria. Now with more tranquility he had to think about how to lose cleanly in the next test to get out of there and then be able to eat Rei's delicious food...
Then he felt it.
A dark sensation enveloped him without warning. It wasn't violent, but dense, like a shadow that slides inside the bones. He didn't react externally, didn't tense, didn't change his pace. But that presence was unmistakable. That energy wasn't part of the festival... it was something more. Were the damned finally also considering intervening in this event?
He couldn't allow it. He couldn't risk someone getting hurt. He needed to leave immediately, get in contact with Black, trace surveillance from the outside. Maybe if he acted quickly...
He didn't see it coming.
Not because he was slow or distracted, but simply because he didn't expect it. There was no danger, no notable hostility symbolizing danger, not even a signal. It just happened. Suddenly, an enormous hand, with fingers firm as steel and knuckles thick as rocks, suddenly grabbed him by the head and slammed him against the wall violently. The impact resonated forcefully in the empty hallway. Izuku didn't scream. He didn't resist and by no means did it hurt him, not even tickles. He didn't need to see to know who it was, he knew that hand perfectly. It was the same one that years ago had held him to hit him mercilessly.
It was Mr. Haruto's brother, a mixed-race man named Li.
And if he was here... then she must also be... her.
—Hello, piece of shit son... Long time no see? —spat a harsh, resentful voice, that carried engraved in its tone the past's resentment.
Izuku, still with his face against the wall, smiled.
There was no danger. Only misdirected rage, pathetic. Only senseless and nothing frightening violence. Something he already knew how to feel its presence for many years.
—Hello, Mrs. Midoriya —he responded calmly, letting his voice drag a cold irony—. It certainly has been quite a while.
End Chapter 13