41. Half broke horses

"Good job making it through the qualifier. The top 42 of this race will be the ones who make it to the next round. For those who didn't make it, we have prepared other chances for you too shine. The press will be all over it. And moving right on to the next round. The real competition begins now, so give it your all!" Midnight said, as the slot hologram appeared again.

"The next round will be.... a cavalry battle!"

"A cavalry battle? I'm bad at those." Kaminari said.

"Since it is a cavalry battle, it's not an individual event. I wonder how it'll work?" Tsuyu asked.

"Let me explain." Midnight said, "The participants can form teams of two to four people as they wish. It's basically the same as a regular cavalry battle, but the one thing that is different is, based on the results of the last game, each person will be assigned a point value."

"So like the points based system of the entrance exam huh? That's easy to understand." Sato said.

"In other words, each team is worth a different amount of points based on who is in it?" Uraraka reasoned.

"I see!" Mina said.

"You guys don't hold back even though I'm talking, huh?" Midnight cried.

"Yes, that's right! And the points assigned go up by five starting from the bottom. That is until the first rank. The first ranked person is worth is ten million points!" Midnight said.

"Ten million points?!" Everyone muttered, as they turned to me with predatory eyes.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"In other words, if you take down the first place's team, you basically win!

That's right! It's survival of the fittest from here on out!"

"You have 15 minutes to decide on a team. Then you'll have another 15 minutes to battle. Go!"

Everyone immediately got to negotiating and recruiting.

So did I. And I had an idea of who I wanted to recruit.

I looked at Deku. And he looked back at me.

"Deku, will you join.."

"No." He interjected.

I was shook.

What? Is Deku actually refusing me?

"Why?" I asked, amused.

"Remember the first day, in the quirk assessment test, what Aizawa sensei taunted me with? He said that I had clung onto you and leeched my way into this school. And you know what?

He's right. I wouldn't have made it without you." He cried, shaking.

"See, then you should just join my gr-"

"That's all the more reason not to Matsun! Don't you understand? I want to prove, to myself that I can do it.

That I'm worthy!"

Slap!

I hit him across the face, waking him from his self loathing.

"You passed the exam, by whatever means, with whom-so-ever's help or not. You passed the same exam as the rest of them. You have jack to prove to shit!" I told him, "Tell me Deku, what do you call the guy who graduates from medical college as the last fucking rank?"

"Matsun...I...that...I don't know, what?" He asked confused.

"You call him a doctor, you absolute fucking walnut! You call even the worst, sleaziest, pretentious ass halfwit who passes the bar a doctor." I smacked him on the head, continuing, "And he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. Neither do you!"

I turned around and walked away, as the people around me looked at us oddly.

"You do you, Deku. But remember, do it cuz you want to. And for no other reason!"

Moving away, I began scouting for the next member and I found him in a certain birdheaded emo brat.

"Tokoyami!" I called out to the boy lurking at the edge of the crowd.

"Join my squad!" I proposed, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him along.

"Wha- wait.....ouch.....let me jus-" he stumbled, running behind me to keeping himself in balance.

"What? You have a team?" I asked.

".....no." he answered, looking away.

"Then come along. Clock's ticking!" I said, making my way to Aoyama.

"A-o-Ya-Ma- kun!" I said, slamming a hand on his shoulder, "Join my team!"

"If you request so desperately~" he twirled, "I'll oblige you!" He posed.

"Yeah yeah. Lets go!" I said, grabbing him by the collar, lifting him like a cat, and rushing to pick the last member, just as Iida did the same.

"Oh no you don't!" I sneered put loud, picking up the pace, sliding across the field between the guys legs.

"Kirishima!" I said, smiling.

"Yuji! What are you doing between my legs?"

"J-"

"Join my team, Kirishima-san!" Iida exclaimed, interrupting me.

"Hey! Pal! I was here first. Join my team Kirishima!" I butted in, giving Iida the stink eye.

"Yuji-san." Iida noted, "You have the 10 million point headband. Everyone will be gunning for you. Clearly, for Kirishima-san, I'm the better choice!" He explained, swinging his hands in the air.

"Yes. Logically, you are indeed the best option. But consider this!" I said, standing up, coming face to face with the two of them.

"Kirishima isn't going to run away with his tail between his legs just because it's a little bit of a challenge. That would be very unmanly, wouldn't it Kirishima?" I smiled slyly.

Gotcha!

Kirishima was in a dilemma going through all five stages of grief as his desire for victory conflicted inside him with his ideological leaning towards manliness.

It was comical to watch, to say the least!

Ultimately, though, his ideology won, and he rejected Iida's invitation.

"No. He's right. A real man doesn't run away from a challenge. A real man faces it up front, with honor!" He replied.

"Attaboy!" I praised, slinging my hand around his shoulder.

"Iida. Time's running out. And so are potential teammates. Chop chop bud!" I teased, as Iida sent me a glare, running off to find someone else.

Once he was out of earshot, I began to inform the crew about my plan.

"That is very risky." Tokoyami suggested.

"Don't you think we should be less....greedy?"

"No. This is great. Just great. We're going to lose! There's no way..." Aoyama grieved, when I covered his mouth.

"Shut it will you. If you do your part, and keep people away from your side, it'll be fine." I chastised.

"What about you? Will you be fine? You have the hardest job here!" Kirishima asked.

"Don't worry about it. Nothing I can't handle. Besides, I have a trump card up my sleeve!" I reassured, just as the speakers rang with alarm, informing us of the end of the recruiting period.

Next, I walked up to Midnight and asked about the boundaries of movement.

"So long as you don't leave the stadium." Came the answer.

Good. Very good.

I turned back to the others and smiled ear to ear.

"Guys, let's win this shindig!" I cheered, as they matched me and we strode into battlefield!