Every year, U.A. High School's Sports Festival lit up the national stage.
It wasn't just another school competition, it was the competition. A full-scale, televised spectacle watched by millions across Japan. Families gathered around screens. Pro hero agencies prepared notepads. Scouts sharpened their eyes.
For students, it wasn't just a test of strength, it was also an opportunity. A chance to show the world what they were made of, to stand out and leave a mark.
And this year, it was the current Class 1A's turn to step into the spotlight.
The air buzzed with excitement. Colorful banners waved, food stalls lined the outskirts, and stadium seats were packed with spectators. The energy was so infectious, even students who usually kept to themselves couldn't help but get caught up in it.
Azaria stood quietly with his classmates in the underground tunnel just beneath the main arena. He adjusted his collar and rolled his shoulders, keeping his eyes forward. Even though he didn't want to put enough significance into the event, he couldn't deny the fact that his heart was beating.
Was it excitement? Was it nervousness? He couldn't really tell, even though he knew the idea of people watching him on TV, of heroes judging his every move was insane. Everyone was watching his every move, everyone... including AFO.
His eyes slightly darkened as he remembered the towering villain. He was going to be watching the event—watching his mole, seeing whether he has improved or not.
'I know that he would be watching but would he also be interested in me?' He wondered as he rested his back against the wall 'He would want to see how his mole has developed so far. So should I pretend or actually show him my current abilities?'
His gaze landed briefly on Aoyama, who was trying his hardest to hide his nervousness 'If I show him my current abilities, would he be suspicious and be cautious of me?' He exhaled through his nose. 'Fuck, can't even joy a fucking event.'
Compared to Azaria, the rest of Class 1A was buzzing with energy.
Kirishima was hyped up, bouncing on his heels like he was about to fight a villain. Midoriya was muttering to himself while Iida was waving his hands around, telling him not to be nervous. Mineta was already trash-talking 1B boys. Even Todoroki, calm and composed, had that glint in his eye that showed he was taking this seriously. Bakugo? Already radiating enough intensity to scare off a bear.
"Man, I feel like I'm gonna puke," Kaminari muttered as he walked close to Azaria. Azaria landed a soft punch on Denki's shoulder as he stood straight, saying nothing to him.
Then, like thunder cracking from the heavens, Present Mic's voice roared across the stadium.
"IT'S U.A.'S SPORTS FESTIVAL!!"
The walls shook.
"THE ONE TIME EACH YEAR WHEN OUR FLEDGLING HEROES COMPETE IN A RUTHLESS GRAND BATTLE!!"
The audience roared back in response. Their cheers were deafening. The kind of noise that made it feel like the world had shrunk down to one place—this stadium.
"THIS YEAR'S STARS ARE NO ORDINARY STUDENTS! THESE MIRACULOUS RISING STARS BRUSHED OFF A VILLAIN ATTACK WITH STEELY WILLPOWER!!"
"AND FIRST UP… YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!"
Azaria inhaled once, eyes narrowing as the lights from above spilled into the tunnel. The metal doors began to slide open with a slow mechanical groan. The sound of the crowd poured in like a flood.
"THE FIRST YEARS…"
"…OF THE HERO COURSE!!"
One by one, Class 1-A stepped forward into the light.
The noise hit them like a wave. It wasn't just cheering, it was chaos. A stadium packed to the brim, every seat filled with faces screaming, laughing, shouting. Phones out, cameras flashing, banners flying like flags in a warzone. It was as if the entire country had shown up to see what they were made of.
Azaria stepped forward with them, the heels of his boots tapping softly against the concrete, hands in his pockets. 'They don't really it call it Japan's olympics for no reason' He thought as he soaked it all in.
Kirishima threw both hands up like a champ already entering the ring, his grin wide enough to stretch across the field. Kaminari, still nervous, threw up peace signs to the crowd anyway, feeding off the energy. Iida did a stiff wave, sticking to his polished manners, while Mineta pointed out a few girls in the stands with hearts practically popping out of his eyes.
As Class 1-A filed in and took their places on the field, other classes began to emerge one after the other—Class B, the Support Course, the Business Course, and General Studies. They all marched into the arena in ordered lines, some casual, others serious, each group receiving their own share of applause but none as loud as 1-A's.
Two students from General Studies stood near the tunnel entrance, observing the crowd and the showmanship on display.
"So this is what the Hero Course is like?" one of them muttered, hands in his pockets, voice flat. "Hard to get motivated. We're just here to make them look good."
"Yeah," the girl next to him replied with a bored expression. "Pretty much."
'Well, the story is My Hero Academia' Azaria spoke inwardly. 'You'd have to blame the Author for that one'. He glanced at Bakugo, who didn't bother to look at them. His eyes were locked ahead, shoulders squared, with the usual scowl glued to his face.
Just as the crowd began to settle, a sudden crack of a whip tore through the air like a lightning strike.
WHRAK!
Like the others, Azaria's eyes snapped toward the stage. All eyes snapped toward the stage.
A tall, confident figure strolled forward, hips swaying with every step, cracking a riding crop behind her. The leather of her tight black outfit gleamed under the stadium lights, her long dark hair flowing like a cape behind her. A seductive smirk curled on her lips as she struck a dramatic pose at the center of the field.
'Midnight.' Azaria's eyes followed the outline of her body, just like almost every male around him. 'Really pleasing to my eyes but weird this is her hero costume.'
"Now for the athlete's oath!!" she announced, voice smooth and commanding, laced with flirtatious energy.
Gasps and murmurs surged through the audience like a rising tide as they all gazed at her. Midnight's smile didn't waver. If anything, she seemed to enjoy the attention. Her eyes gleamed behind her glasses as she raised her whip again this.
KRAK!
"Pipe down!" she barked. "Your student representative is about to speak."
A hush fell over the field instantly.
"The student representative for this year is..'
Midnight's gaze swept across the students, landing on a spiky hair "....Class 1A, Katsuki Bakugo."
Bakugo stepped up to the podium, admist the murmurs. He was oddly calm, hands in his pockets. He took a breath, then leaned slightly into the mic.
"The athlete's oath...Make no mistake about it. I'm going to take first place."
His voice exploded through the speakers like a bomb. Gasps rippled across the stadium. Some students tensed. Others stared in disbelief.
Azaria chuckled lightly, it was quite funny seeing that moment in person. His eyes followed Bakugo who walked back to the crowd, he definitely knew that Bakugo wasn't being cocky like what the rest of the crowd thought.
There was no pretense. Just a raw, honest claim from him.
'Well, he did back his words up and win the tournament at the end of the day.' He glanced back at Midnight as a hologram had appeared.
"And now, let's get this party STARTED!" She said.
Students tensed. The first event was always a surprise.
"The first event is… an OBSTACLE COURSE RACE!" she announced with a grin. "It is a race between every member of the classes. It is a four kilometre lap around the stadium." Midnight pointed to the massive gates that began to open ahead of them. "The school believes in freedom.....so along as you don't go off course, all is fair."
The countdown began. The crowd's energy surged, building like a wave. Azaria exhaled as he cracked his knuckles.
3...
2..
1.
The sound of the countdown was swallowed by the roar of the crowd, the starting bell ringing out with deafening force.
The race had begun.
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A/N: I'm back and healthy now(・∀・)Let's kick off volume 2 in style!!!
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• kindly push the story forward with your power stones.