NOVEL WEB Chapter 41: Chapter 041
Cementoss had created a platform/ring of sorts in the center of the arena. Midnight announced the rules of the matches.
"The rules are simple! Your opponent goes out of bounds, you win! If you immobilise your opponent, you win! If your opponent gives up…" she licked her lips. "You win. Forget your morals and hangups for a moment; use your Quirk to its fullest. With Recovery Girl on standby, we can handle any injury! With that being said, anything life-threatening is obviously off the table."
Cementoss created a cement throne for himself, on the opposite side of the ring from Midnight. "We will monitor to make sure things don't get out of hand. If they do… we will interfere."
"Ooookaaay!" Present Mic shouted. "That's the rules!"
Len sat down in the second row of Class A's box. Mina sat next to him. Sero and Shoji sat on his other side. Tsuyu and Hagakure sat behind. "Man, Len," Mina commented, grinning and grabbing his arm. "If only you were brave enough to use your powers on other people. You could end every match in an instant."
"If they let me get in close, sure. And that COULD fall under life-threatening injuries, like Midnight just said. If I became the guy that murdered another student at his first Sports Festival, I'd never become a hero."
Sero chuckled. "Bakugo could use that advice for his matches."
"Fuck did you say, Flat Face?"
"My name's Sero."
Uraraka and Iida were in the first row, right in front of him. Len leaned forward. "Midoriya's up first, right?"
Uraraka glanced at him nervously as if she was afraid to speak to him, but Iida turned, all friendly. "Yes, Kagamine. It's a shame we don't know the details of his opponent's Quirk."
Len slumped. "Him and me both. I'm up against some broad from Class B."
Jiro's eye twitched. "Did you seriously just say broad ?"
"You should ask her out if you win," Kaminari suggested. "She'll be so taken by your strength." A slap from the earplugs. "Ow!"
Ojiro came into the box last, meaning all nineteen of them were now here. Midoriya was obviously about to go on.
The tail user sat down next to Hagakure. "Ojiro-kun…" the invisible girl breathed. "Your display to Midnight was very noble!"
"Heh… thanks, Hagakure."
"Hey, I forfeited too! Give me attention!" Kaminari leaned forward.
"Shut up," Jiro said. "Is that the only reason you went along with Ojiro? So girls would think you're noble? You sicken me." Another plug-slap. "OWWW!"
"Where were you?" Len asked.
"Huh?" Ojiro raised his eyebrows, as if surprised that Len was addressing him. "Oh, I was just warning Midoriya about Shinso's Quirk."
"Hmm?" Uraraka turned, interested. "What is it?"
"I'm not too keen on the details, but I think if you answer his questions or respond to him, he can put you in a trance. But blunt force can knock you out of it. That's all I know."
"Huh. I guess that's how he did so well in the cavalry battle. He probably just asked some teams to hand their points over."
"In any case…" Ojiro clenched his fists. "I hope Midoriya doesn't fall for it. Since I withdrew… I'm counting on him, and the rest of you guys, to do your best in my place."
"Of course!" Mina declared.
"Got it," said Len, smiling at him.
"HERE IT IS! THE FIRST OF EIGHT QUALIFYING MATCHES! On one side… the boy who made a splash in the obstacle race, from the hero course, it's Midoriya Izuku! Wait, why's he making that face?"
All eyes in 1A fell to the green-haired boy walking out of the opening, and up onto the platform.
Len leaned forward. That Shinso guy acted all high and mighty. He's another person who doesn't care about others in pursuit of his goal. He hasn't reconciled both dreams and friendships… much like Todoroki.
Midoriya… show him what you're made of.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
Izuku tried to smile as he made his way out, thinking of All Might's words.
"I want you to tell the world… I am here!"
The responsibility of One For All was on his shoulders. And now Ojiro and Kaminari's honor, as well. They were counting on him. Plus… if I win this…
I face Todoroki.
"And on this side… he's done nothing to stand out so far! From general studies, it's Shinso Hitoshi!"
The other boy's eyes were tired, but he was grinning. The two of them stopped in the middle of the ring, facing each other.
Midnight looked between the two of them. "Ready?"
"Ready," Shinso said.
Izuku thought back to Ojiro's warning. Don't talk to him, right? But…
He thought back to Kagamine, stopping him from jumping in to save All Might, when all it would have done was break his legs. And how Kagamine had gone largely unnoticed for most of the festival, but still making it through. That's right. Kagamine knows when to hold back… to observe, and focus! To be careful!
"Ready," said Izuku.
"First match!" Present Mic shouted. "STAAAAAART!"
Izuku began walking forward to Shinso, slowly and deliberately. The other boy had his hands in his pockets. "You hero students… you confuse me." He scratched an ear, as Izuku came on forward. "I thought you all wanted to show off a bit. Isn't that the point of this festival? But that monkey… he decided to waste his chance, don't you think?"
Izuku stopped short. MONKEY? Did he just call Ojiro a… he began to run, his emotions getting the better of him. He almost shouted "how DARE you!"… and stopped himself.
"Huh?" Shinso's eyes widened. "You… of course he warned you!"
Izuku kept running, not saying a word. I'll push him out. I will.
The crowd was cheering, although many of them were confused. "Midoriya gets in close! What's Shinso's plan?" Present Mic asked.
"The entrance exam wasn't rational," Aizawa sighed, shuffling papers. "Shinso's Quirk is no good against robots, so of course he didn't make it into the hero course."
Izuku reached Shinso and grabbed him, shoving him back. Just…
"You're lucky, aren't you Midoriya?"
Don't…
"Born with a power like that."
Talk…
Frantically, Shinso punched Midoriya across the face, but Midoriya drove an elbow into his chest, driving him further to the boundary line. "Why isn't this working?!"
Shinso… I understand… because I WASN'T born with this power. I understand your frustration. But you're right. I HAVE been blessed!
Shinso tried to grab his arm and spin them around, but Izuku used the momentum… and performed the same grab-flip he'd done on Kacchan in the battle trial. Shinso's body slammed into the ground, half out-of-bounds.
The crowd went nuts. "Shinso is out of bounds!" Midnight announced. "Midoriya advances to the quarterfinals!"
Izuku stood up tall, his breathing coming a little faster. I did it. I held back, I was careful…
Sorry All Might. I had to save the glory for next round. That's where my power will really be needed.
When Shinso stood, he looked sad, defeated. His mouth quivered, his teeth grinding in frustration.