The Finish Line
The figure burst from the tunnel into the brilliant sunlight, ice still crystallizing beneath his feet as momentum carried him across the finish line.White hair. Blue eyes blazing with determination.
For a single heartbeat, the stadium was silent as if the world itself needed to process what had just happened.
Then the screens lit up, displaying the result in massive letters:
1ST PLACE: TODOROKI TSUBAKI
The crowd EXPLODED.
The roar was deafening, a wall of sound that seemed to shake the very foundation of the stadium. Thousands of voices unified in shock, excitement, and awe. Cameras flashed like lightning, capturing the moment the white-haired first-year crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else.
"TODOROKI TSUBAKI TAKES FIRST PLACE!" Present Mic's voice cracked with pure excitement, barely audible over the crowd. "HE SAID HE'D WIN AND HE BACKED IT UP! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE!"
The replay appeared on the screens all four students hitting the tunnel entrance nearly simultaneously, but Tsubaki's ice carrying him through with just enough speed to emerge first.
Seconds later, a second figure burst from the tunnel.
Midoriya Izuku, his face flushed with exertion, his legs pumping with the last of his strength.
2ND PLACE: MIDORIYA IZUKU
"MIDORIYA IZUKU IN SECOND!" Present Mic shouted. "THAT INCREDIBLE MINE STRATEGY NEARLY WON HIM THE RACE!"
Another explosion announced the third-place finisher.
Bakugo Katsuki, his face twisted with fury, smoke rising from his palms.
3RD PLACE: BAKUGO KATSUKI
"BAKUGO KATSUKI TAKES THIRD!"
And finally, ice crystals glittering in the sun, Shoto Todoroki emerged.
4TH PLACE: TODOROKI SHOTO
"AND TODOROKI SHOTO IN FOURTH! THE TOP FOUR ALL FROM CLASS 1-A!"
The crowd's cheering intensified. The top four spots, all claimed by the same class the class that had survived villain attacks, that had proven themselves already.
Midoriya bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. His legs trembled from the exertion, his uniform dirty and torn from the race.
'I lost,' the thought hit him like a physical blow. 'My plan worked I caught up to them but I still lost.'
He looked up at the massive screen showing Tsubaki's name in first place, then at the white-haired student who stood calmly a few meters away.
'I was so close. If I'd been just a little faster, if I'd calculated the trajectory better...'
But then he shook his head, his hands clenching into fists despite their trembling.
'No. I can't think like that. I came in second. Second out of hundreds of students. I showed everyone showed All Might that I can compete. That I belong here.'
His eyes hardened with determination.
'This isn't over. The race was just the first event. I can still prove myself. I can still win.'
He straightened up, ignoring the burning in his muscles.
'I won't give up now.'
Bakugo's hands sparked with explosions, small detonations crackling around his clenched fists. His red eyes were fixed on the screen, on that damned name in first place.
'Third,' he thought, the word like poison in his mind. 'I came in THIRD.' His jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
'Lost to Ice Prince again. That bastard keeps getting ahead of me. Keeps acting like he's already won everything.'
But what made it worse what made his blood absolutely boil was the name in second place.
'And DEKU. Fucking DEKU came in second. That quirkless loser who could barely throw a punch in middle school is suddenly beating me?!'
Smoke rose from his palms as his quirk activated unconsciously, his fury barely contained.
'No. NO. This isn't how it's supposed to go. I'm supposed to be first. I'm supposed to be the best. Not third. Not behind Deku. Not behind anyone.'
His eyes locked onto Tsubaki's back, then shifted to Midoriya who was still catching his breath.
'The next round. I'll crush both of them in the next round. I'll show everyone who's really the strongest.'
But beneath the fury, beneath the explosive anger, was something else. Something Bakugo would never admit, even to himself.
Doubt.
Shoto stood at the tunnel exit, his right side still frosted over, his breathing controlled despite the exertion. His heterochromatic eyes were fixed on the screen, on the results displayed for all to see.
Fourth place.
He'd declared he would beat Midoriya. Beat Bakugo. Beat his brother.
And he'd lost to all three of them.
'Was Tsubaki right?' the thought was bitter, unwelcome. 'When he said I was deluding myself. If I'd used my left side...'
He shook his head, his jaw tight.
'No. I didn't win but... I proved I could compete using only Mother's power. Fourth place isn't a failure it's proof that half my strength is enough to stand among the strongest.'
But even as he thought it, his fist remained clenched, and his eyes stayed fixed on his brother's name in first place.
'Next time, Tsubaki. Next time I'll beat you without using his flames. I'll prove you wrong.'
Tsubaki stood before the massive screen, his blue eyes reflecting the displayed results. A small smirk played at the corner of his mouth not arrogant, but satisfied. Vindicated.
1ST PLACE: TODOROKI TSUBAKI
'I won.'
The words resonated through his entire being. After everything the training, the preparation, the declaration in front of the world he'd backed it up. He'd proven he could do exactly what he'd said he would do.
Midoriya had surprised him with that mine strategy. The green-haired boy had genuine tactical thinking and creativity. Bakugo and Shoto had both been on him the entire race.
But it hadn't been enough.
He'd still won.
'This feeling,' Tsubaki thought, his smirk widening slightly. 'This is what being at the top feels like.'
It was intoxicating. The crowd's roar, the cameras focused on him, his name displayed above everyone else's. Every eye in the stadium on him seeing him, acknowledging him, unable to ignore his existence.
'This is what I needed. What I've always needed.'
His eyes shifted to the pro hero section, searching for and finding Endeavor. Even from this distance, he could see his father's flames, could feel the weight of that gaze.
The smirk became something colder, more determined.
'I'll remember this feeling. This moment. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep it. To stay at the top where you can't ignore me anymore.'
Teachers' Box
"Impressive performance from all four," Nezu said, his dark eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Though I must say, young Todoroki's victory was decisive. He maintained his lead through strategy, quirk control, and tactical thinking."
"The Midoriya boy's mine strategy was brilliant," Cementoss added. "Unconventional thinking like that is exactly what we want to see in heroes."
"It nearly won him the race," Vlad King agreed. "If the tunnel had been just a bit shorter..."
All Might's skeletal form trembled slightly, but when he spoke, his voice carried pride. "Young Midoriya did wonderfully. Second place out of hundreds and he showed the world his heart, his determination, his heroic spirit."
His sunken eyes fixed on the screen showing Midoriya's exhausted but determined face.
'He didn't win, but he made an impact. The pros watching saw his strategic mind, his courage, his refusal to give up. That's what matters. That's what will make him a great hero.'
"What an INCREDIBLE first event!" Present Mic shouted, his enthusiasm undiminished despite having been screaming for the entire race. "CLASS 1-A DOMINATING THE TOP FOUR SPOTS!"
"They had experience working under pressure from the USJ incident," Aizawa noted, his bandaged face somehow conveying approval. "It showed."
"And now let's see who else makes it through!" Present Mic continued.
The Remaining Finishers
Over the next several minutes, more students crossed the finish line. Some running on exhausted legs, others using their quirks creatively to maintain speed, all of them pushing themselves to secure a spot in the top forty-two.
5th Place: Iida Tenya - His engines roaring as he burst from the tunnel, his speed undeniable.
6th Place: Tokoyami Fumikage - Dark Shadow having carried him through the final stretch with raw power.
7th Place: Hatsume Mei - The support course student grinning wildly despite her exhaustion, her support items having given her the edge she needed.
8th Place: Yaoyorozu Momo - Composed despite her fatigue, having used her Creation quirk strategically throughout the race.
The students continued to arrive, each one celebrated by the crowd, each one displayed on the massive screens:
9th: Kirishima Eijiro
10th: Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu (from Class 1-B)
11th: Shiozaki Ibara (from Class 1-B)
12th: Kendo Itsuka (from Class 1-B)
13th: Honenuki Juzo (from Class 1-B)
14th: Ashido Mina
15th: Sero Hanta
16th: Uraraka Ochaco
17th: Satou Rikidou
18th: Ojiro Mashirao
19th: Kaminari Denki
20th: Asui Tsuyu
21st: Shoji Mezo
22nd: Jiro Kyoka
23rd: Kuroiro Shihai (from Class 1-B)
24th: Kaibara Sen (from Class 1-B)
25th: Komori Kinoko (from Class 1-B)
26th: Tsunotori Pony (from Class 1-B)
27th: Rin Hiryu (from Class 1-B)
28th: Monoma Neito (from Class 1-B)
29th: Fukidashi Manga (from Class 1-B)
30th: Shoda Nirengeki (from Class 1-B)
31st: Bondo Kojiro (from Class 1-B)
32nd: Tsuburaba Kosei (from Class 1-B)
33rd: Kodai Yui (from Class 1-B)
34th: Awase Yosetsu (from Class 1-B)
35th: Tokage Setsuna (from Class 1-B)
36th: Kamakiri Togaru (from Class 1-B)
37th: Mineta Minoru (from General Studies)
38th: Shinsou Hitoshi (from General Studies)
39th: Yanagi Reiko (from Class 1-B)
40th: Hagakure Toru
41st: Kouda Kouji
42nd: Aoyama Yuga
"AND THAT'S IT!" Present Mic announced as the final student crossed the finish line. "FORTY-TWO STUDENTS ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND!"
Class 1-B had made a strong showing, proving they weren't just living in Class 1-A's shadow. General Studies had representatives too including Shinso, whose determination had carried him through despite his quirk's mobility limitations.
But the majority were from Class 1-A, the class that had faced real danger and emerged stronger for it.
Midnight strode onto the raised platform, her whip cracking for attention. The qualified students gathered below, exhausted but ready for whatever came next.
"Congratulations to all forty-two students who advanced!" Midnight's voice carried across the stadium. "You've all proven yourselves capable! But the Sports Festival is far from over!"
Behind her, the massive screen lit up, numbers and event names beginning to scroll rapidly.
The students watched with bated breath as possibilities flashed by combat tournaments, team battles, rescue scenarios, capture-the-flag variations.
The scrolling slowed.
Then stopped.
CAVALRY BATTLE
"The second event is a CAVALRY BATTLE!" Midnight announced, her smile dangerous and excited.
The screen shifted, displaying an illustration of students in team formations three or four people working together, one riding on the others' shoulders.
"Here's how it works!" Midnight continued, her whip emphasizing each point. "You'll form teams of two to four people! One person will be the rider, positioned on top, while the others act as the horse! The rider will wear a headband with their team's point value!"
The students leaned forward, listening intently despite their exhaustion.
"Your goal is simple: steal other teams' headbands while protecting your own! You'll have fifteen minutes to accumulate as many points as possible! The top four teams at the end will advance to the final round!"
Murmurs rippled through the student body. Team strategy, quirk synergy, defensive and offensive tactics all would matter.
"Now, about those points..." Midnight's smile widened, becoming almost predatory.
The screen shifted again, displaying the names and placement of all forty-two students.
42nd Place: 5 Points
41st Place: 10 Points
40th Place: 15 Points
The numbers climbed as the rankings increased, each placement worth more than the last.
10th Place: 165 Points
5th Place: 190 Points
4th Place: 195 Points
3rd Place: 200 Points
2nd Place: 205 Points
And then, at the very top, the first-place value appeared.
Midnight's eyes locked directly on Tsubaki, her grin sharp and knowing.
"And first place the student who won the obstacle race and declared he would win the entire festival..."
The number displayed on the screen.
1st Place: 10,000,000 Points
The stadium went silent.
Then exploded into shocked noise.
"TEN MILLION POINTS?!" Present Mic's voice cracked. "THAT'S—
THAT'S AN AUTOMATIC WIN IF YOU KEEP IT! WHOEVER HAS THAT HEADBAND BASICALLY WINS THE CAVALRY BATTLE!"
"That's the point," Aizawa's dry voice cut in. "It puts maximum pressure on the first-place student. Makes them the target of everyone else."
The students stared at Tsubaki with expressions ranging from shock to excitement to predatory hunger. Every single person in the arena knew what that meant.
Ten million points. Enough to win regardless of any other headband collected.
All they had to do was take it from him.
"Holy shit," Kaminari breathed. "Everyone's going to go after Todoroki-san."
"That's brutal," Kirishima added, though he was grinning. "But it makes sense! The guy in first place should face the biggest challenge!"
Monoma's laugh was sharp and delighted. "Oh, this is PERFECT! Let's see how confident Class 1-A's president is now that he's got the biggest target in the arena painted on his back!"
Shinso's tired eyes were fixed on Tsubaki, his expression unreadable. 'Everyone will want that headband. Including me.'
Bakugo's grin was feral, explosions crackling around his palms. "Ten million points? I'm taking that headband, Ice Prince. Count on it."
Shoto's eyes were locked on his brother, his expression cold and determined. 'This is my chance. I'll take that headband and prove I'm stronger.'
Midoriya felt his competitive spirit flare despite his exhaustion. 'Todoroki-kun will be everyone's target. But that headband... if I could get it...'
Tsubaki stared up at the screen, at the number displayed beside his name.
Ten million points.
He felt every eye in the stadium turn toward him. Felt the weight of their attention, their hunger, their determination to tear him down from the top spot he'd just claimed.
'They want me to feel the pressure,' he realized, his expression remaining calm despite the situation. 'Want the person at the top to understand the weight of that position. To feel the burden of being the best.'
Midnight's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Being at the top comes with a price, Todoroki," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Everyone here will be gunning for you. Can you handle that pressure? Can you maintain your victory when the entire arena wants to tear you down?"
For a moment, silence held.
Then Tsubaki's blue eyes met Midnight's, his expression cold and absolutely certain.
"Yes."
One word. But it carried such conviction that several students actually stepped back.
His gaze swept across the other forty-one students, meeting challenges, seeing hunger, acknowledging the threat they represented.
'They want the person at the top to feel overwhelmed. To crack under pressure.'
His hands clenched slightly at his sides, his posture straightening.
'But I have no intention of backing down. Not now. Not ever.'
If anything, the challenge ignited something in his chest not fear, but determination. Excitement.
'Let them come. Let them all try. I'll show them what it means to stand at the top. What it takes to stay there.'
"You'll have fifteen minutes to form your teams!" Midnight announced, her whip cracking. "Choose wisely! Strategy, quirk compatibility, trust all will matter! The better your team, the better your chances!"
She raised her hand, and a timer appeared on the screen.
"Your fifteen minutes start... NOW!"
The Crowd's Reaction
The stadium erupted into discussion, the audience buzzing with excitement about the second event.
"Ten million points! That's insane!"
"Everyone's going to go after that white-haired kid!"
"Do you think he can hold onto it?"
"With that many people targeting him? No way!"
"But he won the race when everyone said it was impossible. Maybe he can pull it off!"
"This is going to be incredible to watch!"
The pro heroes in their section leaned forward with renewed interest.
"Smart move by UA," one hero commented. "Forces the strongest student to prove they can handle being the primary target."
"It's brutal but effective," another agreed.
"Real hero work often means being outnumbered, being the focus of enemy attention. This tests that skill."
Best Jeanist's covered face turned toward Endeavor, who sat silent, his flames crackling with intensity.
"Your son is in an interesting position," Best Jeanist observed neutrally.
Endeavor didn't respond, his eyes locked on the arena where students were beginning to cluster, forming teams, strategizing.
'Tsubaki has painted a target on himself,' Endeavor thought. 'Let's see if his arrogance was justified or if he'll be torn down by the pressure.'
Himura Residence
Yukihiro sat in his living room, the television displaying the Sports Festival in crystal clarity. His weathered hands were folded in his lap, his expression thoughtful as he watched his grandson's name at the top of the rankings.
Ten million points.
Every other student looking at Tsubaki like predators sizing up prey.
'You wanted to stand at the top,' Yukihiro thought, his eyes never leaving the screen. 'Now you're learning what that truly means. It's not just about being the strongest it's about being the target. The one everyone wants to defeat.'
He watched as students began moving, forming groups, strategizing.'Can you handle it, Tsubaki? Can you carry that weight? The burden of being number one?'
A small smile crossed his weathered face.
'I trained you as well as I could in the time we had. Your ice control is exceptional. Your tactical mind is sharp. But this... this will test something deeper.'He leaned forward slightly.
'Show me, grandson. Show me you can stand at the top even when the entire world is trying to pull you down.'
The moment Midnight started the timer, the arena floor erupted into chaos. Students rushed toward each other, calling out names, forming clusters, desperately trying to create the strongest possible teams before time ran out.
"Kirishima! Team up with me!" Kaminari called out.
"Ashido! Let's work together!" Sero shouted.
"We should form a Class 1-B team!"
Monoma announced loudly. "Show Class 1-A they're not the only strong students here!"
Tsubaki stood in the center of the chaos, students flowing around him like water around a stone. Some glanced his way, clearly wanting to approach but intimidated by the target on his back. Others deliberately avoided him, not wanting to be associated with someone every team would focus on.
'Who should I team up with?' Tsubaki thought, his mind already analyzing options. 'I need people with strong defensive capabilities. People who can protect the headband while I...'
His train of thought was interrupted by a voice loud, energetic, entirely too close.
"HEY! YOU'RE TODOROKI TSUBAKI, RIGHT?!"
Tsubaki turned, finding himself face-to-face with a girl who had somehow gotten within inches of him without him noticing. She wore goggles pushed up on her forehead, her pink dreadlocks wild and excited. Her eyes were bright, almost manic with enthusiasm.
"I'm Hatsume Mei from the support course!" she announced, her grin wide and slightly unsettling. "And I want to be on your team!"
Tsubaki blinked, genuinely surprised both by her sudden appearance and her complete lack of hesitation about joining the most targeted team in the arena.
"You..." he started, "...want to team up with me? With the ten million point target?"
"Of COURSE!" Mei's enthusiasm somehow increased. "Everyone's going to be watching you! Which means everyone's going to be watching your team! Which means everyone's going to see my BABIES in action!"
She gestured excitedly to the support items attached to her costume.
"It's the PERFECT opportunity to show the world what my inventions can do! Plus, you seem strong, so we probably won't get eliminated immediately!" Her logic was simultaneously sound and completely insane. "So what do you say? Let me join your team!"
Tsubaki stared at her, his mind processing this unexpected development.
The energetic support course student grinned back, completely unafraid of the target on his back, seemingly thrilled by the challenge ahead.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, Tsubaki thought: 'This is going to be interesting.'
To Be Continued...
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Author's note
Hope you enjoyed the chapter if you did leave some power stones
The CAVALRY BATTLE will begin next chapter so guess who you think the team will be as I already have a team in mind.