Sports Festival!

I'll explain my dislike of Deku in this chapter. Btw, Class 1-A's strongest(Deku, Bakugo,uro, Shoto, and Kirishima), are far too strong for the rest of the competition, so sorry when I skip past the sad slow victories.

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In the dimly lit bar, the air was thick with the scent of old leather and smoke. Shigaraki Tomura sat slouched in a worn-out chair, his fingers twitching nervously, the usual itch to decay something just barely suppressed.

His face, pale and gaunt, was framed by messy, unkempt hair that hung over his eyes. Kurogiri stood behind the bar, his misty form a constant presence, silently watching his master.

"Turn it to the Sports Festival," Shigaraki muttered, scratching the side of his neck. His voice was low and raspy, as though the words themselves were too much effort.

Kurogiri complied without a word, changing the channel on the dusty TV in the corner. The screen flickered, and soon, the lively commentary of the Sports Festival echoed through the dingy bar. Cheers and roars of excitement filled the room, a stark contrast to the eerie silence inside the bar.

As the images of UA students filled the screen, Kurogiri asked, "Are you sure you're okay watching this, Tomura Shigaraki? You've just recovered. I wouldn't want you—"

"I'm not planning on doing anything stupid," Shigaraki cut him off, his tone laced with irritation. His eyes were glued to the screen as they showed the vibrant stadium and the excited crowds. "I just want to see how those kids fare."

His mind flickered back to that chaotic battle at the USJ. The two who had caused him the most frustration were Bakugo Katsuki and Kurokami Tenshin. Those names had been gnawing at him ever since.

Kurogiri, ever the calm presence, asked, "You're interested in Class 1-A?"

Shigaraki shook his head, his fingers tracing the edge of the table. "Not all of them. Just those two... Bakugo and Kurokami."

A dark grin tugged at the corner of Shigaraki's lips as the memory of his defeat bubbled up. "I could've seen how Nomu fared against All Might... if it wasn't for those two brats."

Kurogiri observed his master, noticing the shift in his posture, and the bitterness in his voice. "They disrupted our plans, but you shouldn't let that cloud your judgment. There's more to the fight ahead."

Shigaraki's grin widened, though there was no joy in it—just malice. "Bakugo's got that explosive rage. He's a miniature Endeavor, filled with power and anger... And Kurokami," he spat the name, his hands clenching as if he could crush it, "he's like All Might. So bright and annoying... They make me sick."

Kurogiri remained silent for a moment before asking, "So, what do you plan to do? Watch and wait?"

Shigaraki leaned back, his gaze never leaving the screen as the opening ceremony of the Sports Festival unfolded. "I'll just have to become a miniature master myself, won't I?" He let out a dry laugh that sent chills through the air. "I'll show them. If they think they're the next Endeavor and All Might... then I'll be a miniature master."

Kurogiri understood what his master meant by "master." All For One. The name that still held power in the underworld. The name that shaped Shigaraki's twisted worldview and goals.

"As you wish, Tomura," Kurogiri responded, bowing slightly. "We will wait and see."

...

As the stadium buzzed with excitement, the tension built as Midnight, the R-rated hero, took the microphone. Her commanding presence immediately captivated the crowd, her sultry voice hyping up the Sports Festival's opening. She waved her arms, gesturing to the thousands of spectators. "Welcome, everyone! It's time for the event of the year—the U.A. Sports Festival!"

The audience erupted into cheers, the energy palpable as she continued, "But first, allow me to introduce our esteemed judges and commentators for today! We have none other than Eraserhead—our resident underground hero!" She pointed towards Aizawa, who sat lazily in his chair, wrapped in his sleeping bag.

Aizawa grunted, barely raising his hand in acknowledgment as Present Mic jumped up and shouted into the mic, "YEAHHH! LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!!!"

The stadium roared even louder as Midnight chuckled, clearly enjoying the hype Present Mic was generating. "And of course, our enthusiastic commentator, Present Mic!"

Present Mic gave a thumbs-up, the crowd responding with another wave of applause. Aizawa, looking thoroughly unamused, mumbled, "This is going to be such a long day..."

Midnight smiled and raised a hand for silence. "Before we get started with the festivities, we'll hear from the representative of Class 1-A!"

Back in the holding area, tension was brewing. Iida stood firmly in front of Bakugo, blocking his path. "You will not ruin this event with any reckless comments!" he declared, his arms robotically chopping through the air.

Bakugo's smirk widened. "Relax, Four-Eyes. I don't need to say anything."

Feeling the sudden fear in his heart, Iida turned to Yaoyorozu. "Who did you send to inform Kuro about the speech?"

Yaoyorozu, maintaining her composure but already sensing impending doom, replied, "I asked Ochaco to let him know."

Ochaco raised her hand sheepishly, "Oh, I asked Kyoka Jirou to pass it on."

Jirou, casually adjusting her earphone jacks, chimed in, "Yeah, I told Denki to do it."

Denki grinned awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I asked Kirishima! He's always reliable!"

Kirishima, standing proudly, puffed out his chest, "Yeah! And I told Bakugo to let him know."1

A dead silence fell over Class 1-A.

The realization hit like a tidal wave. Everyone stared at Kirishima in shock, eyes wide with horror.

"Kirishima," Yaoyorozu said slowly, "you asked Bakugo?"

Kirishima's confident grin faded slightly as he sensed the change in the air. "Yeah, why? What's wrong with that?"

Bakugo gave Kirishima a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry. You did great."

Meanwhile, out on the field, Kuro walked up to Midnight and accepted the microphone. Unbeknownst to him, the terrible words he was about to speak had come directly from Bakugo.

He stepped up to the stage, his calm demeanor completely contrasting the storm that was about to unfold. The crowd leaned forward, eager to hear the representative's words of motivation and unity.

Kuro, completely unaware of the chaos brewing backstage, spoke confidently into the microphone. "From the beginning... to the end... you were all extras meant to show the gap between the best and the fodder."2

The stadium went dead silent.

The words hung in the air like a punch to the gut. Midnight blinked, visibly shocked, and even Present Mic had to adjust his headphones to make sure he'd heard that right.

In the commentator's booth, Aizawa let out the heaviest of sighs, palming his face. "That's Bakugo. Of course, that's Bakugo."

The students from other classes stood frozen, some seething, others dumbfounded. Murmurs of outrage spread through the crowd as the bombastic statement began to sink in.

Kuro, oblivious to the effect of his words, calmly handed the microphone back to Midnight and walked off the stage with his usual innocent expression.

Midnight, struggling to regain her composure, forced a smile and quickly brought the attention back to the event. "Well! It looks like Class 1-A's representative is... confident! Let's see if he can back it up in the competition! Now, let's get this festival started!"

The crowd, still buzzing with confusion and disbelief, slowly picked up the energy again, albeit with a noticeable shift in mood.

As Kuro returned to his class, completely unaware of the chaos he had just caused, Bakugo flashed him a grin. "Good job, Kuro."

Iida, rubbing his temples in exasperation, muttered, "This... is going to be a disaster."

Thus, the U.A. Sports Festival began, with the entire crowd now keeping a keen eye on Class 1-A—especially on the students who had just declared the rest of them to be fodder.

...

As Midnight spun the large, colorful wheel, the entire stadium held its breath in anticipation. The wheel clicked and whirred as it spun, finally slowing down before it clicked to a halt, landing on the section marked "Bomb Threat!". The crowd erupted into excited murmurs.

Midnight flashed her usual sultry smile, lifting the microphone to explain the rules. "Ladies and gentlemen! Our first event is Bomb Threat! This is a team-based battle where our heroes will need to break in, bypass the villains, and diffuse the bomb! Meanwhile, our villains have to defend the bomb or neutralize the heroes before time runs out. The heroes win if they manage to defuse the bomb by typing in the code: A B C D. Villains win if they protect the bomb for the full 10 minutes or eliminate all heroes."

The audience buzzed with excitement as Midnight continued, "It's going to be a test of strategy, quirk mastery, and teamwork! The match will be 4 versus 4, and let's not forget—the total time for this event is 10 minutes!"

In the commentator booth, Aizawa yawned before giving his dry commentary. "This will show how well the students can work under pressure. Each team will have to coordinate their quirks and strategies to either infiltrate or defend the bomb."

Present Mic, ever the hype-man, took over with his booming voice. "YEAH! HEROES, VILLAINS, BOMBS, AND TICKING CLOCKS! GET READY FOR AN EXPLOSIVE EVENT! The first match starts in 10 minutes, folks, so buckle up and get PUMPED!"

Back in the waiting room of Class 1-A, the mood was a little tense. Iida stood at the front, giving his usual motivational speech. "Class 1-A, this is a time to show the world why we are the top class at U.A.! Remember to maintain fairness, follow the rules, and demonstrate good sportsmanship in all your actions!"

Meanwhile, in the corner, Kuro sat sulking in what could only be described as a makeshift 'time-out' area. After his earlier speech where he unknowingly insulted every other contestant, it was decided that he'd sit there and think about his actions—though, he didn't quite understand why everyone was upset.3

Momo stood next to Iida, offering support as she added, "Yes, let's also focus on teamwork and doing our best. We want to show not only our strength but our unity as a class!"

But Bakugo was having none of it. Jumping to his feet, he slammed his fist into his palm and yelled, "BORING! Enough of this 'rules' and 'fairness' crap! We're Class 1-A because we're the best! And the best don't hold back! We go out there and destroy the other team! Make them regret even standing against us!"

Iida immediately interrupted, wagging his finger in disapproval. "Bakugo! While I agree that we must act like the best, I must strongly protest against this mentality of 'killing' our opponents!"

Momo nodded in agreement, trying to defuse the rising tension. "Please, everyone, just focus on giving your best effort. That's what matters."

Izuku, sitting next to Ochaco, sighed, knowing full well that Bakugo's words would only rile up the others. Kirishima, ever the supportive friend, clapped Bakugo on the back and shouted, "YEAH! Let's crush 'em with our manly spirit!"

Ochaco leaned over to Izuku, whispering, "Bakugo's just amping himself up, right?"

Izuku nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure either. "Yeah... probably. He's just really competitive."

In the corner, Kuro—still sitting in 'time-out'—peered up at the group. "So... should I be amping up too?" he asked innocently.

Iida, hearing Kuro speak, turned to him, clearly exasperated. "No, Kurokami! Just—just stay calm and focus on teamwork! That's all I ask!"

Bakugo snickered from across the room. "Don't listen to Iida, Kuro. You did great with that speech earlier. Now let's show them why we're the best!"

As the clock ticked down, the students began stretching and mentally preparing themselves for the upcoming event.

As Midnight's voice echoed through the arena, announcing the first match between Team 1—Bakugo Katsuki, Eijiro Kirishima, Denki Kaminari, and Fumikage Tokoyami—against a team of general course students, Class 1-A gathered to watch the display. The atmosphere was electric, but Kuro, ever disinterested in what he saw as an uneven fight, couldn't help but drift away. His classmates were too focused on the match to notice him slowly floating through the halls, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

Kuro's casual flight soon led him to a familiar face: Power Loader, the Support Course teacher. Landing softly in front of the pro hero, Kuro greeted him with his usual enthusiasm, "Hey, Power Loader-sensei! What's up?"

Power Loader let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his head. Kurokami Tenshin—one of his most talented but also one of his most persistent students—had a knack for showing up at unexpected times. "Kuro," Power Loader began, "I need a favor."

Kuro, always ready to lend a hand, agreed without hesitation. "Sure! What do you need?"

Wordlessly, Power Loader led him down a series of halls until they arrived at a small, cluttered room in the support building. Kuro raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask what the favor was, Power Loader shut the door behind him and disappeared down the hall. Kuro floated deeper into the room, his nose catching a familiar scent—chocolate.

In the far corner, buried under a pile of blueprints, wires, and unfinished gadgets, was Mei Hatsume, tirelessly working on her latest invention. She was clearly in the zone, sweat dripping from her forehead, her hair a messy tangle of pink strands. Surrounding her were pieces of various 'babies,' each in different states of completion.

Kuro, hovering just above the ground, floated closer and handed her a wrench without a word, seamlessly integrating himself into her process. Mei didn't even glance up, as though she'd subconsciously expected him to appear. She mumbled a quick "Thanks," before tightening a bolt on her latest project.

"What's Power Loader so worried about?" Kuro asked, watching her work with mild curiosity.

Mei paused for a moment, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, and then shrugged. "He says I'm getting too obsessed with my 'babies' again. Can you believe that?" she replied with a small huff.

Kuro chuckled, shaking his head. "He's probably just exaggerating."

"That's what I said!" Mei agreed, her usual bubbly energy undeterred by her lack of sleep. "I mean, it's not like I've been holed up here for... well, how long has it been again?" She glanced at a clock that had stopped working ages ago.

Kuro floated a little closer, peering over her shoulder at her current invention. "What are you working on this time?"

"Oh, this?!" Mei's eyes lit up with excitement. She finally turned to face Kuro, holding up a sleek, metallic contraption. "This is my newest baby! It's for the Sports Festival, of course! It's designed to give a massive speed boost while also providing enhanced sensory feedback for quick reaction time. Perfect for heroes-in-training!"

Kuro admired the gadget, but his eyes wandered over the rest of the room, cluttered with half-finished projects and tools. "Looks like you've been busy... when was the last time you slept?"

Mei waved him off with a laugh. "Who needs sleep when you're making the future?! Besides, this 'baby' needs my full attention."

Kuro floated around the room, picking up a few stray tools and handing them to her as she continued to tinker. "I guess Power Loader thinks you've been too focused on this stuff, huh?"

Mei tightened another bolt, her eyes glued to her work. "Well, it's not my fault these babies need me. Who else is going to give them the love and attention they deserve?"

Kuro floated back down to the floor, sitting cross-legged in the air, watching her with amusement. "Yeah, but maybe he just doesn't want you burning out."

Mei gave him a sideways glance, her usual grin in place. "Burnout is for people who don't love what they do! I love this!"

Kuro admired Mei's passion. She was relentless, never giving up on her inventions, much like how he never gave up on training. In that sense, they were alike. "So, any chance I could try one of your babies? Maybe for the next match or some sparring?"

Mei's eyes sparkled at the idea. "Of course! I've been meaning to show you my latest designs for your suit upgrades! Wait right here!" She dashed off to a corner of the room, rummaging through piles of schematics and prototype pieces.

As she worked, Kuro relaxed, enjoying the calm before the storm that was sure to come when he returned to the Sports Festival. It felt nice to have a moment of peace before everything got chaotic again.

Mei stood back, observing Kuro as he moved around in the clunky white suit she'd just finished putting together. Kuro took a tentative step, then another, before jumping lightly in place. He frowned and stopped, his movements sluggish, the suit clearly hindering his agility.

"It's not bad," Kuro said thoughtfully, "but it's not going to work for combat. It's too heavy. I can't move freely."

Mei furrowed her brow, jotting down notes in a notepad she pulled from her overalls. "Hmmm... interesting. Okay, so agility is the problem. I thought the extra joint support would offset the weight, but it looks like I'll need to rework the balance between power and movement." She paused, looking up at Kuro with a glint in her eye. "Still! Just because it doesn't work the way we expected, doesn't mean the effort was wasted!"

Kuro raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her unwavering enthusiasm. "That's from Thomas Edison, right?"

Mei beamed, nodding rapidly. "Exactly! He failed a thousand times, but each time he learned something new. Besides," she added with a playful smirk, "there's no point in using this suit for heavy lifting if you're here to do it instead!"

Kuro chuckled lightly. "True, but this could still be useful for construction companies if you tweak it a bit. Heavy lifting without the need for super strength."

Mei considered it for a moment, tapping her chin. "Not a bad idea... okay, I'll keep that in mind." She jotted down a few more notes, her eyes already moving on to the next idea.

As Kuro sat on standby, assisting Mei with her tools and materials, a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Mei... why'd you join UA's Support Course? I mean, you could've gone to any tech school or engineering program. Why UA?"

Mei stopped mid-scribble, raising an eyebrow at the question. "Wow, that's pretty out of character for you, Kuro. You never really care about people's backstories."

Kuro shrugged, leaning back against the workbench. "I was asked the same question about becoming a hero, so... just curious."

Mei placed her notepad down and stretched her arms, contemplating for a moment. "I guess... I wanted to be a great inventor because that's what everyone around me wanted too. My family was always supportive of my dream, so I figured... I'd join the best school for hero tech and prove their support wasn't wasted."

Kuro's gaze remained on her, his expression calm but attentive. "Does that make you happy?"

Mei paused at the question, her smile faltering slightly as she thought about it. "Yeah, I guess it does... but I'm still not satisfied. There's always more to do, you know? More 'babies' to build, more to accomplish."

Kuro nodded slowly, understanding. Satisfaction wasn't something easily found, especially for people like them who always pushed themselves for more. "In that case, use me whenever you need to test something. I'll help you with whatever you need."

Mei's grin returned, brighter than before. "Deal! I've got a thousand more ideas, and with you as my test subject, I'll perfect every single one of them!"

Kuro smirked, floating off the ground slightly to shake off the stiffness from the clunky suit. "Just as long as they don't all involve me getting blown up."

Mei laughed, patting the clunky suit's shoulder. "No promises, but I'll try!"

...

As Kuro walked back to the arena for the Sports Festival, Power Loader gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up, grateful that Kuro had managed to pull Mei out of her obsessive tinkering for a while. Kuro, a little confused, returned the gesture, though he wasn't entirely sure why.

When Kuro arrived back at Class 1-A's section, Iida, who had been on the lookout for him, rushed over. "Kuro! You finally returned!" Iida exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and frustration. "You've been saved for the last match, but you almost missed it!"

Kuro, still lost in his thoughts about the tinkering session with Mei, absentmindedly asked, "Did everyone else pass?"

Iida sighed, knowing full well that Kuro wasn't exactly following the plan. "Just about everyone besides you. We've already formed our teams. You're the last one without a team." He gave Kuro a pointed look, but it was clear that Kuro was as laid-back as ever.

Kuro blinked and then realized, "Oh, right. There are 21 of us. I guess someone had to be the outlier." He stretched a bit, then smiled at Iida. "It's fine. I'll figure it out."

Before Iida could respond with a logical suggestion about teamwork and strategy, Kuro ran off, leaving Iida shaking his head in exasperation. "Why do I even try...?" Iida muttered to himself, knowing that Kuro was always one to follow his own path, logic be damned.

As Kuro searched for potential teammates, a familiar voice interrupted him. "So, the so-called star of Class 1-A can't even find a team? How pathetic!" It was Neito Monoma, the notorious student from Class 1-B who seemed to thrive on antagonizing Class 1-A.

Kuro turned and looked at Monoma with a blank expression. "Who are you?"

Monoma's face fell in disbelief, clearly offended. "Wha—how can you not know?! I am Neito Monoma, your greatest enemy! The thorn in Class 1-A's side!"

Kuro cocked his head to the side. "Are you a villain?"

Monoma was about to deliver a scathing retort, but before he could respond, Itsuka Kendo appeared, swiftly grabbing Monoma by the collar. "Sorry about him. He's... well, you know how he is," she said, pulling him away before he could get into more trouble. "We'll be your opponents in the match, but don't expect us to go easy on you."

Kuro smiled, his eyes lighting up. "Looking forward to it!"

As Kendo dragged the still-mumbling Monoma away, Kuro began thinking about his strategy for the upcoming match. "Hmm...nah, let's save that for the next ones..."

...

As the arena buzzed with anticipation, Midnight stretched out, visibly bored. It had been an obvious trend—whenever Class 1-A took the field, it was pretty clear who would win. She couldn't help but wonder how Aizawa had managed to train his students so well.

Meanwhile, Aizawa sat back, sipping coffee with a rare, content smile on his face. "And now for the final match of the first round," he announced over the speakers, voice steady but laced with satisfaction. "Class 1-B's President, Itsuka Kendo, alongside Neito Monoma, Ibara Shiozaki, and Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu versus Class 1-A's President, Kurokami Tenshin, and... General Course student, Mei Hatsume."

The crowd murmured. Present Mic, ever the hype man, followed up. "That's right, folks! It's a 2v4 matchup! Can Class 1-A's President back up his wild claims with only one teammate by his side? And how will a General Course student fare in this bout?"

Kuro and Mei stood at the edge of the arena, waiting for the match to begin. Mei was fiddling with some new gadget, giggling to herself as she worked, clearly in her element.

Class 1-A, however, wasn't as carefree. A group of students rushed down to give their President some last-minute support. Iida, as always, was the first to voice his concerns. "Kuro, do you realize what you're doing? You're going up against a full team with only two people!"

Kuro shrugged, completely unbothered by the situation. "Why does everyone care so much?"

Iida, now visibly distressed, responded with exasperation. "Because, Kuro! It's a TWO-MAN TEAM. The odds are significantly against you!"

Momo Yaoyorozu chimed in, her tone more reasonable but still concerned. "Kuro, perhaps it would be better if you took someone from our class. We can even the playing field."

Kuro waved off the suggestion, smiling confidently. "Nah, we'll be fine."

Iida looked like he was about to explode from frustration, but Izuku Midoriya tried a different approach. "Do you have a plan, Kuro?"

Kuro flashed him a bright smile. "Absolutely not!"

Bakugo, who had been watching the whole exchange with folded arms, turned to Shoto Todoroki, who was standing quietly nearby. "Hey, Icyhot, you think the idiot can win?"

Todoroki frowned, glancing at Bakugo. "My name isn't 'Icyhot,' and you still didn't beat me in Smash Bros, so you really shouldn't talk."

Bakugo waved him off, unfazed by the comeback. "Whatever. Just answer the question."

Todoroki, turning his gaze toward the arena where Kuro and Mei stood, replied in his usual stoic tone. "Kurokami's unpredictable. His partner, Hatsume, looks... eccentric. But honestly, both of them are a little too unconventional to underestimate. They'll be fine."

Bakugo, satisfied with the response, smirked. "Good. Just don't start thinking we're friends or anything."

Todoroki blinked, clearly confused. "Aren't we friends? We've been training together for over a month now."

Eijiro Kirishima, who had been listening from nearby, patted Todoroki on the back. "That's just how Bakugo works, man."

As the countdown began and the match drew near, Kuro hovered above the ground, practicing his new "flight" technique while Mei continued tinkering with her gadgets.

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[Auther: Yo. Explaining time aka yap.

1. Imagine you wanna be a hero, but don't train, study, or do anything that would actually make you a hero, are you actually trying to be one or not? That's Izuku Midoriya. He's a frail kid, who isn't a genius "Batman" though he could try, nor is he a martial artist...he's just a regular hero fanboy. Oh, and he's missing his pain receptors, is that it?

You see why I don't like him? Yusuke before being a spirit detective could fight, Naruto at age 13/14 tried his hardest to become a ninja. Goku trains every day. Ichigo could fight even before hollows were a thing. Asta is a great example of a true underdog, Tanjiro...more like a plot but still. All these guys and Izuku are supposed to be compared? Nope. I'll still enjoy the other parts of him though.]