Start of the festival

Walking out onto the field, the students of class 1-A were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people cheering in the stadium. And with Present Mic introducing them to the audience, they felt many eyes fall onto their bodies.

"S-SO MANY P-PEOPLE!" Deku trembled at the sight.

Looking around, Iida couldn't help but comment. "Testing to see if we're able to draw out our best with so many gazes on us from all directions... UA truly is applying the pressure." He sounded like he was praising the school.

"What do you think Aiden?" Mina asked.

"Makes no difference." He shrugged.

"Wow! They're really praising us aren't they. Even I'm starting to feel nervous with all this attention." Kirishima said after hearing the applause for their class. "What about you Bakugo?"

"Heh, I'm just getting into it." He said cockily.

After introducing the other classes, the hero Midnight took center stage and drew the eyes of many males from both the audience and the competing students.

"Dude check it out! The R-Rated hero Midnight is the chief referee for the freshmen stage this year!"

"W-What is Ms Midnight wearing!" Kirishima stuttered.

"That's an R-Rated hero for ya." Denki praised.

R-Rated? Is it okay that she's in a high school with so many hormonal teenagers around?" Tokoyami asked with concern.

"SILENCE!" Midnight's voice rang out among the students.

"My tenure here is completely acceptable! Now, representing the students is Aiden Cross from class 1-A!"

"Eh?" Aiden said in surprise.

'Why am I representing them? Fuck, I'm not even Japanese!'

Walking up the stage, he was able to hear tidbits of information from his classmates.

"Aiden-san's the representative!?"

"That guy did finish first in the entrance exam remember."

"Oh! That's why Kacchan's so hostile towards him!" Deku nodded as if he just understood something.

While this was going on, some students from the other departments were badmouthing Aiden behind his back.

"The hero course students really aren't that popular with the other departments are they." Sero muttered.

Standing on the stage, Aiden didn't really know what to do or say. Now he was really starting to regret not watching the previous year's sports festival instead of going in with a fresh mind.

"Um, I'm Aiden Cross, student of class 1-A and um... I think I'll win if this competition involves any form of combat. Thank you for listening I hope you have fun watching." He bowed and went back to join his class.

"...."

"...."

"...."

It took all of three seconds until the other classes went into an uproar.

"What the heck was that!"

"Take this seriously you bastard!"

"Don't be so full of yourself class 1-A!"

"I'll Fucking Kill You!!"

'Did I say something wrong?'

"Aiden-san, you're something else." Kirishima patted him on the shoulder.

"Huh?"

"Damn, now every department is gonna target us." Sero said absentmindedly.

"Tch, they're nothing but pebbles paving my way to success." Bakugo grumbled.

From the distance, TetsuTetsu from class 1-B was staring at Aiden and Bakugo with flames in his eyes.

"I'll crush you!"

"Um Kendo-san, was that the guy you were talking about?" A blond haired girl with horns asked.

"Yep, interesting isn't he." She smiled while looking at the distant Aiden.

---

"Now, lets get started right away!" Midnight's voice cut through the commotion. Behind her was a large board that was displaying what the first round of the festival would be. "The first game is what you'd call a qualifier! Every year many are forced to drink their tears at this stage! Now here is the fateful first game!"

The board behind her span a lot of games until it settle on a obstacle course.

"An obstacle course!"

"Humph! Lets show those class 1-A jerks what us general department students can do!"

"Lets crush em!"

---

After going over the rules of the game, all 11 classes were brought to a narrow tunnel and were told to prepare to start.

The whole of class 1-A had focused expressions on their faces as they knew that getting through this round was essential to showing their worth to the pros.

"You ready for this?" Kendo asked after making her way over to him.

"Is it okay for two competing classes to talk at a time like this?" He looked over and asked.

"Its fine." She smiled. "We're friends before rivals."

"If you say so." He shrugged.

"Nice speech by the way. Really got the other classes fired up!" She praised.

"Would you believe me if I told you that it wasn't my intention." He showed a small smile.

"Nope, you're to smart to do something so dumb."

He shook his head when he heard this. "You're overestimating me."

"I don't think so." She rejected. "If half the stuff Mina says you do is true, then I think I've got an accurate read on your abilities."

"Mina exaggerates."

"Maybe, but I feel like she's speaking the truth."

"Think what you like, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"Noted." She smiled and looked ahead.

The students waited in anticipation as the countdown started. It was only as the final few seconds came down that Aiden also focused on the task at hand.

"START!"