The grand U.A. Stadium throbbed like a colossal heart. The stands were already packed, voices echoing in excited waves, cameras pointed in every direction. Renowned heroes had come to watch the new generation — all of them curious, eager… and deep down, cautious after the USJ attack.
One floor above the noise, the VIP room stood isolated, its panoramic windows offering a breathtaking view of the round stage at the center of the stadium. The atmosphere was quiet, comfortable, almost intimate.
Sitting on a reinforced armchair, All Might watched the sea of people below. His eyes traced the crowd, attentive to their enthusiasm, but his expression remained distant. His right hand squeezed what was left of his amputated left arm — an involuntary habit he tried to hide.
"The view is truly impressive, don't you agree, All Might?" Nezu commented, settled into the armchair beside him. The small principal kicked his legs lightly while keeping his gaze focused downward. "There are more people than last year. I'd say twice as many — maybe even three times."
All Might tilted his head slightly.
"It really is a lot of people."
"It's only natural." Nezu rested his little paws on the armrests. "After the USJ incident, interest in the Festival skyrocketed. Everyone wants to see this so-called 'new generation of heroes' who survived a villain attack. The public's curiosity is… how should I put it… uncontrollable."
All Might swallowed hard.
His gaze hardened as flashes of the attack invaded his mind: the Nomu, the Omnidroid, the Sentinel…
He drew a deep breath.
"Nezu… how much longer can we hide this from the media?" His voice came out low. "I can't stop thinking about it…"
Nezu raised a brow, turning to him.
"Not long. The prosthetic is almost ready, so soon we'll have something to disguise your condition temporarily."
"…"
"The media won't tolerate being kept in the dark for very long. They chew through doors, walls, and sometimes even people to get answers." He tapped his snout thoughtfully. "It would be disastrous if they discovered that the Symbol of Peace lost an arm. The public would panic. And worse… villains would crawl out of their holes with even more confidence."
Despite the calm tone, the words hit All Might like a punch.
Nezu continued, his voice soft but firm:
"You are the pillar of hope for many people, All Might. That's a blessing… but also a curse. People lean on you too much… and forget you're human."
All Might kept his head lowered for a few seconds.
The memories burned: the horror on teachers' and students' faces, the fear in young eyes upon seeing the unshakeable Symbol of Peace in such a pitiful state.
He gripped the amputated arm more tightly.
"Will I… be able to keep this up much longer?"
Nezu turned his head slowly, watching All Might drown in his thoughts.
"My dear, don't overthink it now." He offered a controlled, reassuring smile. "Focus on the Festival. That's why we're here. Now…" He clasped his hands, suddenly cheerful. "Tell me: who do you think is going to win?"
All Might blinked, caught completely off guard.
"Ah! I… well… I'm not sure, but—"
"Have you at least encouraged your successor?" Nezu asked. "Told him to give it his all? Or to show the world the strength of the new generation?"
All Might froze. The color drained from his face.
He hadn't said anything.
Nothing at all.
Nezu observed his expression and sighed theatrically.
"I figured as much." He let out a small laugh. "You truly have no talent for mentoring."
All Might bowed in an immediate apology.
"S-sorry! I should have—"
"Oh, no need to apologize." Nezu placed a comforting paw on his arm. "If you had, you would've made the boy even more nervous. And besides… he won't be the only one representing the new generation."
All Might blinked.
Nezu smiled again, turning to the panoramic window where the sun illuminated the massive stadium.
"The new generation… won't be defined by a single boy." His gaze drifted to the large platform where students were beginning to gather.
The image of a certain quiet boy passed behind his black eyes.
"There are many others besides him who can show the world the strength of the new generation of heroes."
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The Class 1-A prep room was filled with murmurs, anxious energy, and the muffled hum of the distant crowd. Folding tables and metal chairs were scattered throughout the wide space, giving the students a moment to rest before the event began. Some chatted, others reviewed strategies, or simply tried not to overthink what was coming next.
Ryo sat at one of the tables, flanked by Kirishima and Dash.
The redhead kept his elbows on the surface, his leg bouncing nonstop.
"Man… now that they said the stands are packed… I'm starting to feel the weight of this," Kirishima confessed, trying to laugh, though his voice came out more tense than excited.
Dash, on the other hand, was practically vibrating.
"This is perfect! More people watching, more hype, more competition!" He gave Ryo a light pat on the shoulder. "This Sports Festival thing is gonna be insane! Anyone who's not excited is crazy."
His enthusiasm contrasted with Ryo's silence. The boy stared at his hand on the table, his mind far away. He couldn't stop thinking about the night before — the intense training, the crushing exhaustion that hit him out of nowhere… and the fact that he hadn't gone to visit his mom. The guilt gnawed slowly.
"Sorry, Mom… I promise I'll see you later today…"
That was when a shadow approached the table.
"Takeda."
The cold voice cut through his thoughts mid-flow. Ryo lifted his eyes and found Todoroki standing before him, expression indifferent and posture as firm as ever.
"What do you want?" Ryo asked, straightening in his seat.
Todoroki didn't hesitate.
"Objectively, you're stronger than I am. But I'm more versatile and more capable. In practice, that makes me superior."
Kirishima blinked, surprised, and several students around them paused their conversations. Dash tilted his head slowly, trying to follow.
"What's he saying?" he muttered, nudging Ryo's arm.
The tension rose as Todoroki continued:
"I know the principal has been paying attention to you. I don't know why… and I don't want to know." His two-toned eyes narrowed. "But I'm going to beat you."
The atmosphere in the room stiffened instantly; some conversations stopped, others weakened. The declaration echoed like an open challenge.
"Huh… what's going on? Did Two-Tone say something bad?" Dash whispered, still genuinely lost.
Kirishima stood up, worried.
"Hey, Todoroki, what gives? Why're you picking a fight now?"
He tried to place a hand on the half-and-half's shoulder, but Todoroki brushed it off harshly.
"I'm not here to be anyone's friend."
His gaze returned to Ryo — cold, impassive.
Ryo met the stare with one just as steady. The two remained like that for a few seconds, like opposing poles on the verge of collision.
Until Ryo sighed, tired, almost frustrated.
"Seriously… I don't know what's gotten into you out of nowhere, or what you're trying to prove."
He lifted his eyes again — his scleras turning black, the irises glowing a sharp green as he stared back at Todoroki.
"But if you really think that… then come at me with everything."
The response fell like a spark into a room full of gunpowder.
The class reacted, some thrilled by the comeback, others simply shocked.
Kirishima broke into a huge grin.
"Now that's what I'm talking about, man!"
Dash just blinked, still confused about what the Japanese conversation was even about.
"Can someone explain what's going on…?"
Across the room, Bakugo clicked his tongue, annoyed, though his eyes followed the exchange with interest.
Midoriya, sitting at a table with Iida and Tokoyami, lowered his gaze to his hand, clenching it tightly as he murmured:
"I'm gonna… give it my all, too…"
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The arena was packed with people, the media, and even heroes. Broadcast cameras captured every detail of the event as Present Mic began speaking through the sound system, his amplified voice reverberating throughout the stadium.
"Welcome, civilians, media, and heroes in attendance! Today is the big day—the moment to witness the rise of new talent in the world of heroes!" His excitement was palpable. "They say heroes are forged in adversity, and what is a sports festival if not the arena where future Pro-Heroes show what they're made of? Now tell me… did you come to see the incredible, the new stars who faced villains en masse with iron will?!"
The crowd erupted in applause. The energy was electrifying, the roar of the audience echoing through the stadium.
"Hero Department, first year, Class 1-A!" announced Present Mic, full of enthusiasm.
The students began entering the arena. The glare of the spotlights, the sea of spectators, and the weight of everyone's attention made many nervous. Even the most confident felt a shiver down their spine.
Dash leaned forward, his eyes sparkling as if he were at an amusement park.
"Wow! Look at all these people, Takeda!"
Kirishima laughed nervously, giving Ryo a pat on the shoulder.
"Man, the crowd is really hyped for us. This is giving me butterflies. You feel that too?"
Ryo glanced around.
"No. But all this noise… makes me want to bury my head in a hole."
Present Mic continued the introductions, calling Class 1-B with the same energy. The students entered the stadium trying to exude confidence. However, when it was time for the other courses—General Studies, Support, and Business—the energy of Present Mic slightly waned, becoming more restrained. Still, he finished with full force:
"And with that, we present the amazing students who make up the entire first year of U.A.!"
The audience applauded, but there was a clear preference for the hero course students.
Then Midnight stepped onto the stage. The impact was immediate—her presence drew attention, especially from the male audience. Some students couldn't help but notice as well.
Ryo swallowed hard at the sight of the teacher's daring outfit.
"Is this… allowed?" he thought, blushing slightly.
Kaminari leaned toward Tokoyami and whispered:
"Man, does she really have to wear that now?"
Tokoyami crossed his arms, expression impassive.
"The real question is: is this appropriate for a school for minors?"
Midnight smiled and raised her hand.
"Silence!"
Her firm voice made even the most distracted pay attention.
"My performance at this school is perfectly appropriate, thank you for your concern. But moving on…" She looked directly at the students. "I will now call the class representative! Rito Takeda, come to the stage for the oath speech!"
Ojiro's eyes widened.
"Wait, Takeda is the representative?!"
Shouji, unsurprised, replied:
"He ranked first in the exam. It was expected."
Ryo walked to the stage with calm, measured steps, each one echoing clearly through the sound system. He seemed indifferent to the size of the crowd—his face maintained the same serenity as always, as if he were going to present a classroom project.
He stopped in front of the microphone, stared at the audience for a few seconds… and remembered what Kirishima and Dash had advised him earlier.
"Say something masculine and badass!"
"Show how cool you are!"
He let out a long, almost resigned sigh, adjusted his posture, and leaned toward the microphone.
The stadium went completely silent.
Then Ryo raised his right fist, firm and determined, and declared:
"I will win."
The silence lasted less than a second before exploding into a wave of indignant voices.
"Hey, don't get too cocky!"
"Oh yeah?! Then let's see!"
"This guy's way too full of himself!"
But Ryo continued, cutting through the chatter like a blade.
"Not for me…"
He took a deep breath, his voice lower—but far more intense.
"But for my mother."
It was like pulling the brakes on a train.
The indignant voices vanished instantly, as if ripped from everyone's throats at once. The crowd fell silent—not out of respect, but because they were completely caught off guard. Aggression turned to confusion. Then curiosity. And finally, resentment.
Kirishima smiled proudly.
"He must really love his mother to promise to win for her."
Bakugo, next to him, remained silent. Not out of irritation, but because the training combat scenes haunted his mind. He clenched his teeth and looked away.
Todoroki watched everything in silence, his cold eyes fixed on Ryo. There was no anger in them, only genuine interest sparked by the last sentence.
In the audience, some heroes were impressed.
"This boy is quite bold…" one of them commented.
"He has a point. I'd do anything for my mother too," said another, crossing his arms.
Present Mic didn't miss the chance to praise the boy as well.
"WHAT A SPEECH! Started with a challenge, ended with heart! A powerful combo, ladies and gentlemen! Takeda has already struck the audience's hearts!"
And so, even before the first test began, Ryo Takeda had already left his mark—not only in the arena, but in the eyes of everyone watching him.
Unknowingly, he had just caught the attention of heroes, villains… and rivals who would never take him off their radar after that.
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(A/N: I think the upcoming chapters will take a while to be released, since my home internet subscription ends today—and I'm kinda broke...)