It had been two weeks since the "Mummy-man" teacher gave us the news.
I had spent that time preparing as best I could, and finally, my big moment had arrived. This was the start of the Holy War—the battle to reclaim my summer vacation.
What? You think my energy is different from yesterday?
Well, duh! It's because I actually slept! Ten whole hours! I was shocked when I woke up!
Unlike me, the Class 1-A waiting room was a chaotic mess of nerves and raw ambition. Everyone had these complicated looks on their faces. Since I was feeling great and had plenty of energy to spare, I was casually snacking on some takoyaki I'd bought from a stall, washing it down with a sports drink Kacchan had treated me to. It was delicious.
"Everyone! Are you ready?! We're about to make our entrance—Midoriya!! You are about to compete in a televised event! Stop eating and drinking immediately!"
"It's okay, I already finished," I said.
"If you've already finished, then it's too late!" Iida barked.
Look, I can't eat cold takoyaki. So I didn't see the problem. You eat when you're hungry, and you sleep when you're tired. That's just being a living creature! Besides, I made sure they didn't put any seaweed flakes on them. I couldn't risk having green stuff stuck in my teeth on national television.
I stuffed a hard candy into the shouting Class Rep's mouth to shut him up, then walked over to Kacchan, who was clearly tense. I gave his shoulder a supportive pat. When he turned around, I immediately poked him right in the cheek.
"...I'll kill you."
Ah, there it is. The quiet, menacing "I'll kill you." He was definitely nervous.
Hey everyone! Look! Usually-explosive-and-angry Kacchan is actually having a bout of stage fright! Come on, tease him! He's waiting for it! Everyone, get over here and help him get even more worked up!
"Ow! Owowow! Hey, not the ponytail! Ponytails are off-limits! Don't pull—!! Stop it, you jerk!"
While Ochaco and I were busy fixing my hair after the resulting scuffle, the "Red-and-White Peppermint" himself—Todoroki—approached me. He had a dead-serious look on his face. Probably needed the bathroom.
"Exit the door and take a left," I told him.
"...What? No. I don't need the bathroom."
"Oh. You didn't?"
Ochaco looked just as surprised as I was. We really were on the same wavelength. Best friends for sure.
"To be honest," Todoroki said, "I think you're the most ridiculous person I've ever met."
I unzipped my track jacket slightly and rolled up my sleeves, getting into a fighting stance. "You want to go, Peppermint? I'll take you on."
"Nico, calm down! Let him finish!" Ochaco pleaded, holding me back.
Since Ochaco was scolding me, I couldn't exactly throw a punch. I gestured for Todoroki to continue.
"In terms of pure strength, I believe I'm above you," he said.
Well, he wasn't wrong. He beat me in the Quirk Apprehension Test and had been pulling top marks in Hero Basic Training. I wasn't sure why he was bringing it up now, though. I tilted my head, and he looked me straight in the eye.
"But... if you asked me if I'm certain I can beat you, I wouldn't be able to give a clear answer."
His gaze felt heavy.
"You were unconscious, so you probably don't know, but I fought that black mist villain afterward. All Might showed up almost immediately, so it wasn't much of a fight, but even then, I realized something. I wouldn't have been able to hold him off as long as you did."
He didn't say it outright, but he looked cornered. Like he was under some kind of pressure that left him no room to breathe.
"I will beat you," he declared, and then he simply walked away.
I played his words back in my head and let out a sigh. "Man... the Shonen Manga tropes are really heating up."
"Nico, you probably shouldn't say that in front of Todoroki," Ochaco whispered.
I know, I know. I'll keep it to myself. If I said that out loud, it would ruin the dramatic tension he worked so hard to build.
"Still... maybe I should have told him one thing."
"Hm?"
"That I'm the one who's going to win."
I don't care what kind of baggage he's carrying; I can't afford to lose either. My summer vacation is on the line! If I place near the top, I can probably negotiate with the Mummy-man. If I win the whole thing, he'll definitely have to waive my remedial lessons.
Yes! Come back to me, my precious summer break!
"Listen up, everyone!" I shouted to the class. "I'm making a declaration! I'm going to win, and win, and keep winning until I get my summer vacation back! And when I do, we are all going to hang out until we drop!"
No one answered. Do these people not like having fun?
"Kaminari!"
"Whoa! What?!"
"Don't you want to hang out?! The beach! The mountains! The pool! Summer festivals!!"
"The beach! The pool! Summer festivals!!" He bit the bait immediately.
I could see exactly what he was thinking, so I leaned into it.
"When I win this thing, I declare that all of Class 1-A is going to the beach! Don't you want to see us in our swimsuits?!"
"Wait, Midoriya, you...!"
"I WANT TO SEE THAT!!" Mineta screamed, joining in.
I decided right then and there to leave the pervy brat off the group chat. He wasn't invited.
"We'll go to the summer festivals, too! Don't you want to see us in our yukatas?!"
"YEAHHHH!!" the boys roared in unison.
They really are simple-minded. But sorry, Mineta, you're still not coming. That's a final decision.
"Alright! Let's hear it again! We're going to party all summer long!"
"PARTY ALL SUMMER LONG!!"
"We're going to the beach!"
"THE BEACH!!"
"We're going to the festivals!"
"THE FESTIVALS!!"
"Good! Now follow me! I'll show you the dawn of a new era!"
"WE'LL FOLLOW YOU FOREVER, MIDORIYA!!"
The championship was basically mine already.
"Wait, the beach?! Swimsuits?!" Ochaco squeaked, blushing.
"I don't mind," Tsuyu said. "But I only have the school-issued swimsuit."
"I'll pass," Jiro sighed. "Especially if those two are going."
"True. It's a bit much," Hagakure agreed.
"Aw, come on! It'll be fun! Everyone at the beach!" Ashido cheered.
"In that case," Yaoyorozu chimed in, "would you all like to gather at my family's private beach? Just the girls? I can speak with my father about it..."
"PRIVATE BEACH?!" the girls screamed.
"Oh... yes? Is something wrong?"
***
"They were all stiff with nerves a minute ago, and now they've completely slacked off. I get not wanting to be too tense, but this is ridiculous. Also... when did the girls get so close? Is it because of that girls' night they had? Ours was a disaster..."
"Shut up, Shitty-Hair. I'll kill you!"
"Man, you're even crankier than usual today."
I overheard Kirishima and Bakugo talking, so I stepped away from the girls and headed toward them. There was something that had been bothering me since this morning, and I figured Bakugo might know something about it.
"Um, can I have a second? Bakugo, Kirishima?"
"Oh, Uraraka! That's rare. What's up?" Kirishima asked.
"Well, I wanted to ask Bakugo something..."
The moment I said his name, he gave me a look that could peel paint. Jeez, his face is as scary as ever. I know he's close with Nico, so he's probably fine, but I don't think I could ever talk to him under normal circumstances.
"What is it, Round-Face?"
Okay. I'm definitely telling Nico to scold him for that later.
"It's about Nico..."
"HUH?!"
"Eek!!" I jumped. He looked absolutely livid.
Something definitely happened. They both left early yesterday, and Nico has been acting weird since this morning.
"Look... if you don't want to say anything, you don't have to. Nico won't tell me either. But if there's anything I can do to help, I want to know. Nico probably won't say a word, but you'd know if something's wrong, right?"
"..."
"To be honest, I don't really have the energy to worry about other people today. I have my own dreams, and this is my chance to be a hero. I know what Aizawa-sensei said about not being here to play friends. But... I can't just flip a switch like that. She might be my rival today, but she's still my friend. So... ugh, I don't know how to put it into words."
I was starting to feel embarrassed. What was I even saying?
"Anyway, that's all. I'll see you—"
"Round-Face."
"Eep! Yes?!"
I turned back to see him looking incredibly irritated, yet he looked like he was struggling to say something. I waited a beat, half-expecting him to snap at me again, but he kept his head turned away as he finally spoke.
"...If anything happens, I'll tell you."
"Oh. Okay. Thanks."
Seriously, Bakugo really is weak when it comes to Nico. For a split second, he actually seemed almost... cute? Is that what she likes about him? I know it's not the time for this, but I kind of hoped I'd find someone like that one day. I'm almost a little jealous of her.
Actually, scratch that. I definitely don't want someone as scary as Bakugo.
***
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