『Hakari Kotaro』
"UA... really doesn't do any half measures, does it?"
I couldn't help but gape at the spectacle. Calling this a school festival felt like an insult, the summer festival sometimes had less people. But this place...
There were dozens and dozens of stalls. Crowds so dense they might turn into a gestalt entity. Not to mention the size of the stadium that was larger than any I had ever seen, large enough to drop the superbowl arena inside and have room left over.
The UA Sports Festival was not just a school event, it was a national event, I've been seeing ads for the damn thing for the past week. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this something analogous to the Superbowl for Japan, there were even foreigners who bought tickets to attend this even specifically.
Why? Because UA was the home of the greatest heroes, whoever graduates here will almost certainly be a famous hero. The sports festival is essentially a chance to see the future heroes that would define the years to come and watch people with cool quirks throw it down in a controlled environment with your own eyes.
No one can resist the allure of high schoolers beating the brakes off of each other.
It was hard to admit, but I felt a bit apprehensive. There were so many people.
Now, I was not a nervous wreck or anythin', but I was, how do you say it...
I was not used to crowds. When you work as a criminal for so long, a lot of people looking at you feels wrong. And not only that, but people would be looking at me as a future hero, one of the biggest future heroes at that.
The festival itself was split into three portions, the first years the first day, second years the second day and the third years the third day. The Sport Festival events like a goddamn marathon in structure, and from what I remembered, it was going to be Obstacle Course, Cavalry, and Tournament.
At least, if it didn't change that is.
"Sigh... so stressful."
I rubbed my hair and took a good look at myself. The U.A Gym Uniform on my body drew the attention of the bystanders who whispered amongst themselves about me, speculations admiration and the such. It was uncomfortable. Especially with my forearms exposed, showing off the scars.
Apparently, uncommon ability is not enough to get rid of scar tissue.
"Yo, Lion-kun!"
Slap!
I flinched viscerally as someone slapped my back as I was contemplating. And I knew that nickname very well. I spun on my heel to come face to face with Nejire, flanked by Mirio who was looking at me with lively eyes and an older boy with black hair that looked even more miserable than me with his hands in his pockets and his head down.
"Nejire-senpai? What are the chances?"
Considering I was in a random corner of the venue shopping for things to stuff into my bag, I definitely did not expect to see anyone considering I had slinked away from the group of my class to take a breather and calm myself down.
"None! I actually asked around for anyone that looked like a lion passing by!"
The sulky black haired boy groaned and buried his head.
"Uhh... I never want to do that again. It was humiliating."
Mirio laughed with his hands on his hips.
"Hahaha! Nejire really wanted to show you off, she even bought tickets for us to watch the first years events close. And I must, when out of that nurse outfit and without looking sleep-deprived, you look like a real hero Hakari-kun!"
I pointed a finger at myself and tilted my head.
"Really?"
I didn't think I looked much different, all the difference was that I was wearing the Gym uniform and was wearing my hair up in order to not get in the way using one of Toga's hairties. Nejire slapped a hand on my shoulder and gave me a thumbs up.
"Yup, you totally do! Now, where did that confidence go hmm? You were all gung-ho yesterday, saying how you were going to win and all, and now you look like Tamaki-kun. Square up those shoulders and hold up that chin!"
"Hey I take offense to that..." The one who I assumed was Tamaki groaned inffectually.
Well, you can say that kind of stuff easily when you weren't going to be going in a stadium in front of thousands and thousands of people, with it being televised to almost certainly many more. While I was still confident in my chances, I felt the nerves from so many people watching me.
No.
No, I was here to win! Who gives a damn about them? They are background, they are noise, that is all. I was here to win first place and earn my tickets and date with Nejire-senpai! No matter who watches!
I turned on Seek Guidance and looked at the ground.
'Victory Ahead!'
'Time for crab!'
'Glory and fortune.'
'Time for crab!'
'Time for crab!'
'Praise the Chest!'
'Praise the Crab!'
Yeah, it was time for crab!
"Right, I let the nerves get to me, just a bit. I'm good now, thanks, Nejire-senpai. I'll make sure to win first place and put on a good show."
She gave me a thumbs up with a bright smile while Mirio laughed with his arms crossed.
"That's the spirit Hakari-kun, I can see why Nejire-chan wanted to come along so bad. Good luck out there, and don't mind the crowd too much, you really tune them out when the adrenaline gets pumping for real!"
I nodded my head and turned around before heading to the stadium while my hype and crab meter were already running high.
I was going to win this festival.
⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀
『Hakari Kotaro』
I entered the waiting room in a bit of a fugue, just sitting down in the rather drab gray room with everyone else with my legs thrown on top of the table and pulling out a variety of light snacks from my bag to hand out to my classmates, much to their appreciation. Everyone's nerves were running high.
"And I made sooo many new techniques, Momo-chan helped a lot too. Right, Momo-chan? We are gonna win soo hard!"
Momo, who was sitting across from me nodded confidently.
"Indeed, I think we made a lot of progress together Ashido-san."
"That's great you two, seems like I'll have tough competition in front of me."
Toga snickered from the side while Ochako stood silent with fire in her eyes. There were still a few minutes before we'd get out of here. But as I rifled through my bag for more snacks, a shadow fell over me.
"Hakari."
"Sup?"
It was Fire and Ice himself, looking at me with an intense yet impassive gaze at the same time.
"From what I have seen from you so far, I would say I am way stronger than you in all aspects. Yet, despite that you still managed to rank first in the class." He spoke it with a detached tone as if he was merely speaking facts. "But today, I'm going to fix that and beat you. I'll be the one to win this Festival."
A cold silence fell over the waiting room at the sheer challenge and fight in Todoroki's words, but I simply lifted an eyebrow. I could see how he would come to that conclusion, in terms of Raw Power, nothing I had came even remotely close to that of what Todoroki could pull. Honestly speaking, he would probably one shot me with a sky piercing ice wall, but...
That's how losers think.
"You can keep dreaming about it."
His eyebrow twitched for a split second before he turned around and walked away.
"I did not come here to argue. I simply wanted to inform you of the fact."
Slam!
He slammed the door shut behind him and the entire class was in a state of stunned silence, even Bakugou looked contemplative and not shouting because Todoroki dared imply he would beat him.
"...Geez, what stick went up his ass." "Probably an icicle." Toga responded without even batting an eye.
I leaned my head back and let out a sigh.
This tournament was going to be tough. There was Bakugou and Fireice man to worry about. Unlike the test, I couldn't abuse corridors and Door Crossing here. Not to mention Bakugou no doubt trained himself to a monstrous degree. And then there was Icefire, I was not deku who could break apart the Ice with flicks of my finger, he outgunned me to a monstrous degree. But...
I'll win.
⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀
『Hakari Kotaro - Stadium』
CHEEEERRRR!
I couldn't help but wince at the drowning cheers that sounded as Class 1-A entered the Stadium. There were a lot of people here, and I could not stress the A LOT part of that statement, tens of thousands of people. No wonder UA was rich enough to build whatever it wanted, imagine the amount of money people pay to put ads here.
""HEY! Pay attenion everyone! The audience! The media! Today is this years High School rodeo of teen spirit that you all love and look forward to, the U.A Sports Festival is about to begin. Are you ready!?!??""
The crowed erupted in cheers so powerful it nearly shook the stadium and I couldn't help but flinch slightly. This was a bit overwhelming, but I steeled myself by imagining the sight of Nejire sitting on my face.
Alright, that's better.
""Then welcome the first year A class! The miraculous new stars who overcame adversity!""
I stood with my back ramrod straight, projecting an aura of confidence. My classmates instinctively looked towards me, but I did not spare a glance. I was completely, and utterly locked in.
Present Mic proceeded to announce the arrival of the other classes onto the stadium, going from order of B to even the general course classes that were going to participate in the festival. Though all of them gave us some nasty glares for no reason, whispering amongst themselves with clear ill will.
My eyes drifted towards Bakugou who looked completely unphased, I knew his ass was responsible for this somehow. Probably provoked everyone.
""And this years Umpire, the R-Rated Heroine, Midnight!""
Everyone cheered as Midnight stepped onto a raised platform looking every bit as seductive as ever with a leather flog in her hand that she whipped with an exaggerated motion.
"Quiet! Everyone! Now, the UA First Years Sports festival... starts! Without further ado..."
She gestured toward a massive screen that was hung up with a loud voice, the screen immediately changed to show the text 'First Game'.
"The first game is a sort of qualifier! Many who participate will taste their own salty tears here, and it will sort out those who cannot make the cut! And this year it is...!"
The screen before her acted like a lottery machine, activating my neurons as it cycled through dozens and dozens of names like 'Great Swim' 'Mountain Climb' 'Protect the Flag' 'Tag' until it landed on...
"Obstacle Course! All 11 Classes will be racing around the track around this stadium for a full lap, but of course, this is not a simple race, there will be plenty of obstacles scattered around the tracks for the students to have to struggle through!"
She then licked her lips with an expression with an expression that sent shivers down everyone's spines. But I couldn't help but sigh in relief, this was unchanged. Which meant I was now at a massive advantage.
"Of course, as UA values freedom and creativity above all, as long as you stay on course, anything goes. Now, everyone, to your positions!"
She whipped her leather pompon towards the massive entrance that led to the outside and I took a deep breath. Everyone marched over to the gate and waited impatiently for the countdown. It was narrow, cramped, and probably deliberately so to force people to find ways to force themselves through the crowd. But instead of trying to get as far in as possible I instead walked to far back end of the crowd. Ending up a solid 5 meters behind everyone.
The green lights started counting down and then Midnight cracked her whip the moment the last one flickered out.
"Start!"
Immediately, everyone started rushing, shouldering each other and cramming through the gates, like a flood trying to move through a little nozzle.
""And it has started! What should we look our for, Eraser-head sensei!?!?"" ""You should look out for right now.""
I started stretching my muscles before a gust of freezing wind erupted from the, freezing a lot of people to the floor. Todoroki was one ruthless bastard, that was for sure. That was a massive dick move, but avoiding that wasn't the reason I had hung back.
""What a chilling start! But what is Hakari-kun doing back there!? The race already started man!""
Ignoring him, I crouched down and opened my eyes with an intense focus. I was not going to hold back.
My shoulder blades itched and pained before...
"Hemokinesis..."
Spurrrt!
A torrent of blood ripped through my shoulder blades, spurting into the sky before forming into two large crimson wings.
"...Wing King!"
Wooosh!
""WHAT!?!?!?""
With wings of blood, I took flight.
A/N: The Sports Festival starts without stalling too much! And Hakari is... not having a good time. He is definitely not comfortable with the whole media and attention part of this whole business. But he is slowly coming into terms with it. Imagining Nejire's ass definitely helps. Also, decided to put an updated photo of Hakari in there. I'd personally say [Pretty Up] did good work for my boy.
Yeah, Hakari may have technique down, but his raw power is actually rather lacking compared to Bakugou and Shoto, so the sports festival won't exactly be easy. This will be exciting. And Hakari will pull no punches, he is not here to show sportsmanship, he is here to plan his feet, grit his teeth and eat Nejire's ass! What did you guys think about the start of the sports festival? I'd love to know.
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