The Arena - Before the Start
Tsubaki stood as the rider of his team, positioned atop Tokoyami's shoulders. Mei and Yaoyorozu flanked them on either side, but they weren't touching the ground. Hovering boots, courtesy of Mei's support equipment, kept them airborne, giving the entire team unprecedented mobility.
On Tsubaki's back, a sleek jetpack hummed with barely contained energy—another of Mei's "babies."
'The jetpack gives us vertical mobility,'
Tsubaki thought, his blue eyes scanning the arena full of predatory teams. 'Mei and Yaoyorozu's hovering boots mean we can move in the air instead of being locked to the ground like traditional cavalry formations. Dark Shadow provides our primary defense and offense. His range keeps teams from getting close. If anyone breaks through, Yaoyorozu can create whatever defensive or offensive tools we need on the spot.'
His hands clenched slightly around the ten million point headband now secured around his forehead.
'Everyone out there wants this. Every single team will come for us first. But we're not just going to survive—we're going to dominate.'
"Todoroki-san," Yaoyorozu said quietly, hovering to his right. "Ready?"
"We all are," Tsubaki replied.
"My babies are PRIMED!" Mei announced excitedly from his left, her goggles gleaming. "This is gonna be the best field test ever!"
Across the arena, other teams assembled. Bakugo stood as rider on Kirishima's shoulders, with Mina and Sero completing the formation. His grin was feral, his eyes locked on Tsubaki.
Shoto's team had formed with him as rider, Iida at the front, Kaminari and Shinso completing the formation. His heterochromatic eyes were fixed on his brother with cold determination.
Midoriya's unlikely alliance stood ready—him as rider, with Tetsutetsu's metallic form at the front, Uraraka and Shiozaki on the sides.
And dozens of other teams, all poised to strike.
Midnight raised her whip high.
"ARE YOU READY?!" she shouted.
The crowd roared in response.
"THEN LET THE CAVALRY BATTLE... BEGIN!" The whip cracked like a gunshot.
The Battle Begins
"EVERYONE'S GOING AFTER TODOROKI TSUBAKI!" Present Mic's voice boomed as nearly every team immediately turned toward the ten million point target. "IT'S A FEEDING FRENZY!"
Teams surged forward from all directions—a wave of students all converging on one point.
"Now!" Tsubaki commanded.
Ice erupted beneath their formation—a small, angled ramp. The jetpack roared to life, and combined with the ramp's launch angle, Tsubaki's entire team shot into the air.
They soared upward, Mei and Yaoyorozu's hovering boots keeping them stable despite the sudden vertical movement. Tokoyami's footing on the ice ramp was perfect, his balance unwavering.
"WHAT?!" Present Mic screamed. "THEY'RE FLYING! TODOROKI'S TEAM JUST LAUNCHED INTO THE AIR!"
The crowd erupted in shock and excitement.
"That's not a traditional cavalry formation at all," Aizawa's voice cut in from the commentary booth. "They're using support equipment and quirk synergy to achieve mobility in the air. Smart."
Teams below scrambled, reaching upward uselessly as Tsubaki's team hovered well above their range.
"GET BACK HERE!" Bakugo roared, explosions propelling him and his team forward. He blasted upward, reaching for Tsubaki's headband.
Dark Shadow erupted.
"BACK OFF!" the sentient quirk roared, its shadowy form expanding massively. A powerful swipe sent Bakugo's reaching hand away from the headband.
"Damn it!" Bakugo snarled.
"Bakugo, the floor!" Sero shouted, his tape shooting out to wrap around Bakugo. He yanked hard, pulling him back down before Bakugo could touch the ground and disqualify them. He landed roughly but safely.
"Tch!" Bakugo's hands sparked with fury. "That damn shadow thing has too much range!"
"We need a different approach," Kirishima said, his hardened form steady despite Bakugo's weight. "We can't just charge in blind!"
"I don't do approaches! I do winning!" Bakugo shot back, but his eyes were already tracking Tsubaki's movements, analyzing.
In the Teachers' Box
"Excellent defensive use of Tokoyami's quirk," Cementoss observed. "And the vertical mobility makes them nearly untouchable."
"For now," Vlad King added. "But they can't stay in the air forever. That jetpack will run out of fuel, and maintaining that formation while mobile takes constant energy."
All Might's skeletal form leaned forward. 'Young Todoroki's strategy is sound, but he's made himself the center of attention. One mistake and dozens of teams will capitalize on it.'
While most teams remained fixated on Tsubaki's airborne formation, Monoma's sharp eyes were tracking different prey.
"Kendo," he said quietly, his voice taking on a strategic tone completely different from his usual mockery. "Look at Bakugo's team."
Kendo followed his gaze. "What about them?"
"They're completely focused on Todoroki. Tunnel vision. Classic aggressive fighter mistake."
A slow grin spread across Monoma's face.
"Everyone's so distracted by the ten million that they're forgetting about the other headbands. And Bakugo came in third—that's 200 points just sitting there."
"Monoma..." Kendo's voice carried a warning.
"What? It's strategic thinking! Class 1-A isn't the only class that can make tactical plays!" He gestured to their teammates. "Get us close to Bakugo's team. We're going shopping."
Their team maneuvered through the chaos, weaving between other groups all charging toward or away from Tsubaki. They approached Bakugo's formation from the side, staying just out of his peripheral vision.
Bakugo was entirely focused upward, tracking Tsubaki's movements. "When that bastard comes down, I'm taking that headband! Kirishima, be ready to charge!"
"Got it!" Kirishima responded.
Monoma's hand shot out, his fingers brushing Bakugo's shoulder for just a moment.
His quirk activated—Copy. Bakugo's explosion quirk was now his for the next five minutes.
"What the—" Bakugo started to turn, but Monoma's team was already pivoting.
In that same smooth motion, Monoma's hand flashed to Bakugo's forehead and snatched the 200-point headband.
"Thanks for the donation!" Monoma called out cheerfully, his team already moving away.
"WHAT?!" Bakugo's head snapped around, his red eyes finding Monoma's retreating form. "WHO THE HELL—"
His eyes locked on the blonde holding his headband, and recognition flared.
"YOU!"
"Remember me now?" Monoma waved the headband mockingly. "Class 1-B! You know, the class that supposedly lives in your shadow? Doesn't feel like a shadow from where I'm standing!"
"YOU'RE DEAD!" Bakugo roared, explosions erupting around his palms. "KIRISHIMA! AFTER THEM!"
"On it!" Kirishima started to charge, but Mina grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait! We'll lose sight of the ten million!"
"I DON'T CARE!" Bakugo snarled. "THAT BASTARD STOLE FROM ME!"
"Bakugo, think strategically!" Sero tried to reason. "We can get more points from other teams—"
"I AM thinking strategically! Strategically about how I'm gonna BLAST THAT SMUG LOOK OFF HIS FACE!"
Monoma's laughter echoed across the battlefield. "Oh, what's wrong? Did the great Bakugo from Class 1-A get outplayed by a 'background character'? How embarrassing!"
He held up his hand, and small explosions crackled around his palm—a perfect mimicry of Bakugo's quirk.
"And look! I even borrowed your quirk! Though I have to say, I'm using it with much more CLASS than you do!"
Bakugo's expression went absolutely feral. "KIRISHIMA! FULL SPEED! NOW!"
"Uh, Bakugo—" Kirishima started.
"NOW!"
"Okay, okay!" Kirishima hardened completely and charged forward, his rocky form barreling toward Monoma's team with Bakugo, Mina, and Sero riding along.
"MONOMA FROM CLASS 1-B STEALS FROM BAKUGO!" Present Mic announced. "AND NOW BAKUGO'S GIVING CHASE! THIS IS GETTING SPICY!"
"He's letting his emotions control him," Aizawa noted. "That's a weakness opponents will exploit."
Monoma's team ran, but not at full speed—just fast enough to stay ahead, keeping Bakugo focused on them.
"Monoma, what are you doing?" Kendo asked. "We're just making him angrier!"
"Exactly!" Monoma grinned. "Angry fighters make mistakes! Plus, everyone else is still chasing Todoroki. While they're distracted, we can pick up more points from teams that aren't paying attention!"
His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Class 1-B is going to show everyone we're not just extras in their story!"
Bakugo's explosions grew larger, more frequent. "STOP RUNNING, YOU COWARD!"
"I'm not running, I'm STRATEGIZING!" Monoma called back. "Something you might try sometime!"
"When I catch you—"
"IF you catch me! Big difference!"
The chase continued, drawing both teams away from the main cluster fighting over the ten million points.
In the Crowd
"Class 1-B is really going for it!" someone shouted excitedly.
"That blonde kid is insane! He stole from Bakugo!"
"Bakugo looks like he's gonna explode literally!"
"This is way more exciting than I expected!"
Midoriya's Strategy
While the chaos continued, Midoriya's team moved carefully through the battlefield, avoiding direct confrontation with the strongest teams.
"Tetsutetsu, left!" Midoriya called out.
The metallic boy shifted, his hardened body blocking an attempted grab from another team.
"Nice block!"
"That's what I'm here for!" Tetsutetsu grinned. "What's next?"
"Shiozaki, can you reach that team?" Midoriya pointed to a group distracted by watching Bakugo chase Monoma.
"Yes." Ibara's vines shot out, entangling the team's legs and slowing them down.
Uraraka used her quirk to make Midoriya lighter. "Go, Tetsutetsu!"
With the reduced weight, Tetsutetsu charged forward faster than before. Midoriya's hand flashed out, snatching a 75-point headband from the distracted team.
"Got it!" he shouted.
"That makes three headbands now!" Uraraka pumped her fist. "We're building up points!"
"We need to keep moving," Midoriya said, his analytical mind working. "Todoroki-kun's team is still the main target, but once teams realize they can't reach him easily, they'll turn to other targets. We need to accumulate as many points as possible before that happens."
"Your brain is scary sometimes, Midoriya," Tetsutetsu said, but he was grinning. "But I like it! Let's keep hunting!"
Bakugo's team finally closed the distance, Kirishima's charge bringing them within range.
"Got you now!" Bakugo reached for Monoma's headband.
Monoma's hand came up, and he released an explosion directly in Bakugo's face.
The blast wasn't as powerful as Bakugo's own explosions—Monoma was still learning the copied quirk's limits—but it was enough to force Bakugo back.
"Surprise!" Monoma grinned. "Forgot I had this, didn't you?"
"You can't use it as well as me!" Bakugo snarled, shaking off the blast.
"Don't need to use it as well! Just need to use it smart!"
Kendo sighed. "Monoma, you're really pushing it."
"I'm WINNING it!" Monoma corrected. "Now, team, let's—"
Mina's acid shot forward, melting through the ground in front of Monoma's team, forcing them to stop suddenly.
"Nice one, Mina!" Kirishima called out.
"Thanks! Now let's get that headband back!"
Bakugo leaned forward, his grin sharp and dangerous. "You had your fun, Class 1-B extra. Now give me back what's MINE!"
Monoma's expression shifted slightly—still confident, but more focused. "Come and take it, Class 1-A."
The two teams clashed, hands reaching, quirks activating, both fighting for those 200 points.
Sero's tape wrapped around Monoma's arm, trying to pin it.
Kendo enlarged her hands, blocking Bakugo's reaching grab. Explosions and copied explosions filled the air around them.
"This is actually really intense!" one of Monoma's teammates shouted.
"Just hold formation!" Kendo commanded. "Don't let them break our defense!"
Bakugo's eyes narrowed. Then he smirked. "Sero, Mina—combo attack!"
"On it!" Sero's tape shot out in multiple directions, creating a web around Monoma's team.
Mina's acid dissolved specific strands of the tape at precise moments, causing the web to contract and tighten, limiting Monoma's team's movement.
"What—" Monoma started.
Bakugo launched himself forward with a perfectly timed explosion, his hand shooting through the opening their combo had created.
His fingers closed around the 200-point headband.
And yanked.
"NO!" Monoma reached for it, but Bakugo was already pulling back, the headband secured in his grip.
"MINE!" Bakugo's grin was triumphant and absolutely feral. "Thanks for keeping it warm for me, EXTRA!"
He secured the headband back around his forehead.
Monoma's expression twisted with frustration. "That's you can't..."
"I just did!" Bakugo laughed. "What's wrong? Thought you were being strategic? Looks like my strategy beats Class 1-B's any day!"
"MONOMA AND BAKUGO TRADE HEADBANDS!" Present Mic announced. "BUT BAKUGO RECLAIMS HIS POINTS! WHAT A BACK AND FORTH!"
Kendo placed a restraining hand on Monoma's shoulder as he looked ready to charge after Bakugo again. "Let it go. We still have time to get other points."
"But"
"We made our statement," Kendo said firmly. "We showed we can compete with Class 1-A. Now let's prove it by advancing to the final round."
Monoma took a breath, his expression still frustrated but calming. "...Fine. But I'm not done with them yet."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Kendo said with a slight smile.
Five Minutes Remaining
The battlefield had evolved. Teams had spread out, some still chasing Tsubaki's airborne formation, others engaging in smaller skirmishes for various point values.
Bakugo's team, having reclaimed their points, turned their attention back to the primary target.
"Alright," Bakugo said, his eyes locked on Tsubaki above. "That was a warm-up. Now we go for the real prize. That ten million is MINE!"
"How are we getting past Dark Shadow?"
Mina asked. "It knocked you back before."
"We're not going through it," Bakugo said, his grin sharp. "We're going around it."
As the timer ticked down, Shoto's team had been moving strategically, avoiding the main chaos while accumulating points from distracted teams. They'd gathered several headbands worth a combined 600 points.
But Shoto's heterochromatic eyes had never stopped tracking his brother's position.
"Iida," Shoto said quietly. "Full speed. Toward Tsubaki."
"Understood!" Iida's engines roared to life, propelling their team forward with incredible velocity.
They cut through the battlefield, ice spreading from Shoto's right side to clear their path and force other teams aside.
"TODOROKI SHOTO'S TEAM MAKES THEIR MOVE!" Present Mic shouted. "THEY'RE GOING FOR THE TEN MILLION!"
Tsubaki saw them coming, his blue eyes narrowing. 'Finally. I was wondering when you'd make your play, Shoto.'
"Tokoyami, bring us down. Mei, Yaoyorozu, defensive formation."
The jetpack's thrust decreased, bringing them lower. Dark Shadow spread wide, creating a barrier of shadow between them and Shoto's approaching team.
The brothers' eyes met across the battlefield.
"I'm taking that headband," Shoto said.
"Try it," Tsubaki replied.
Iida's speed carried them in a circle around Tsubaki's team. Shoto reached out, his left side completely dormant, relying only on his ice.
Dark Shadow swiped at him, but Shoto's ice blocked the attack, creating a frozen barrier.
Tsubaki's team shifted, and he deliberately positioned himself on Shoto's left side—the side where his flames would be, if he'd use them.
"Still refusing Father's power?" Tsubaki asked. "Even when it costs you victory?"
Shoto's jaw clenched. "I don't need it to beat you."
"Really?" Tsubaki launched an ice attack from his position, forcing Shoto to defend with his right side. "Then why haven't you taken these points yet? Why are you still circling instead of striking?"
His words were sharp, designed to provoke.
"Your stubbornness isn't strength—it's a handicap you chose," Tsubaki continued. "You'd rather prove a point to Father than actually win. That's pathetic."
"Shut up," Shoto growled, ice spreading more aggressively.
But his attention was divided—on defense, on offense, on his brother's taunts.
And he didn't notice Shinso moving into position.
"Hey, Todoroki Tsubaki," Shinso called out.
"You really think taunting your brother makes you strong?"
Tsubaki's mouth opened to respond
"Wh..."
And froze.
His blue eyes went blank, unfocused. His body went rigid.
"What—" Yaoyorozu started, then her eyes widened. "Todoroki-san?!"
"Throw me your headband," Shinso commanded.
Tsubaki's hand moved mechanically, reaching up to his forehead. His fingers grasped the ten million point headband.
"NO!" Tokoyami shouted.
The crowd gasped, the stadium erupting in shocked noise.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" Present Mic screamed. "TODOROKI TSUBAKI IS TAKING OFF HIS OWN HEADBAND!"
"It's Shinso's quirk," Aizawa explained. "Brainwashing. Tsubaki responded to him verbally—now Shinso controls him."
Tsubaki's arm moved in a perfect arc, throwing the ten million point headband directly to Shoto's waiting hand.
Shoto caught it, his eyes wide with shock at how easily it had worked.
"Go!" Shinso shouted. "Get us away from here!"
Iida's engines roared, carrying Shoto's team away from the cluster of teams that immediately converged on their position.
"TODOROKI-SAN!" Yaoyorozu shouted, shaking Tsubaki's shoulder desperately. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"
The physical contact broke Shinso's hold.
Tsubaki's eyes cleared, awareness flooding back. His head snapped around, seeing Shoto's team retreating with the ten million points, seeing other teams charging toward them from all directions.
'I... I gave it away.'
"We still have other headbands!" Mei tried to help. "The ones we grabbed earlier!"
But those were only worth 400 points combined. Not enough.
Two minutes remained.
Tsubaki's blue eyes locked onto Shoto's retreating form, seeing the ten million points secured around his brother's forehead.
'No.'
His mind cleared, crystallizing into absolute focus.
"After him," Tsubaki commanded. "NOW."
The jetpack roared to life, propelling them forward. Ice formed beneath them, creating platforms for additional speed.
"TODOROKI TSUBAKI'S TEAM IS CHARGING!" Present Mic shouted. "THEY'RE GOING AFTER THEIR OWN HEADBAND!"
Other teams saw the ten million points moving and immediately gave chase.
Bakugo's team, having reclaimed their points from Monoma, charged forward. "That ten million is MINE!" Bakugo roared.
Midoriya's team, having accumulated 600 points from various smaller headbands, saw their chance. "This is it!" Midoriya shouted. "Full speed!"
The battlefield became chaos—multiple teams all converging on one target.
Shoto's ice erupted, creating a massive wall between his team and the pursuers. "Iida, maximum speed!"
But Bakugo blasted through the ice wall with explosive force, his team charging through the opening.
Midoriya's team came from another angle, Shiozaki's vines reaching forward.
And Tsubaki's team came from above, the jetpack carrying them over the obstacles.
Ninety seconds.
"Yaoyorozu!" Tsubaki shouted.
"Already on it!" She created a flashbang grenade, activating it immediately.
FLASH!
Brilliant light exploded across the battlefield, blinding everyone in the immediate area.
Shoto's vision whited out. He couldn't see. Couldn't track where the attacks were coming from.
Sixty seconds.
Tsubaki charged through the flash, his eyes squinted against the brightness but his trajectory true. His hand reached out, fingers extended toward the ten million point headband.
Shoto felt the movement more than saw it—a presence closing in, danger approaching from his left side.
The side where his flames were.
On pure instinct, survival reflex overriding conscious thought, heat erupted.
Flames.
His father's flames.
The left side of Shoto's body ignited, fire spreading outward as a defensive response to the perceived threat.
"NO!" Shoto's own voice was filled with shock and horror at what he'd done.
But Tsubaki was already there.
His arm was already moving.
Ice coated his reaching hand, protecting it from the flames. The cold met the heat in a violent hiss of steam and evaporation.
His fingers closed around the ten million point headband.
And pulled.
Thirty seconds.
"GOT IT!" Tsubaki shouted, the headband secured in his grip.
But Bakugo was right there, his explosion-propelled leap carrying him over the ice wall Shoto had created. "GIVE ME THAT!"
His hand reached for the headband in Tsubaki's grip.
Shoto, shocked by his own use of flames, momentarily forgot his horror and lunged forward on pure competitive instinct. "It's mine!"
Ten seconds.
Three teams converged on one point in space—Tsubaki holding the ten million, Bakugo reaching for it, Shoto trying to reclaim it.
The crowd was on their feet, screaming.
Five seconds.
Hands grasped.
Quirks activated.
Teams collided.
Three.
Two.
One.
BZZZZZZZT!
The buzzer sounded, loud and final.
"TIME'S UP!" Midnight's voice cut through the chaos. " THE CAVALRY BATTLE IS OVER!"
Teams froze in place, hands still extended, headbands clutched tight.
The massive screens began calculating, tallying points, determining final placements.
Present Mic's voice was breathless. "WHAT A FINISH! LET'S SEE THE FINAL RESULTS!"
The screens displayed the calculations:
4TH PLACE: TEAM MIDORIYA - 615 POINTS
Midoriya's team erupted in celebration. "We made it!" Uraraka shouted. "We're advancing!"
"Hell yeah!" Tetsutetsu grinned widely. "Class 1-B represent!"
Shiozaki smiled softly. "We succeeded together."
3RD PLACE: TEAM TODOROKI SHOTO - 705 POINTS
Shoto stared at his left hand, at the fading flames, his expression conflicted and distant. They'd placed third. They were advancing. But he'd used his father's power.
"Todoroki-kun, we made it to the next round," Iida said, trying to sound encouraging.
Shoto didn't respond, still processing what he'd done.
Kaminari looked between them awkwardly. "Uh... we should be happy, right?"
Shinso studied Shoto with quiet understanding. He'd seen that look before the weight of using a power you hated.
2ND PLACE: TEAM BAKUGO - 815 POINTS
"SECOND?!" Bakugo exploded, literal explosions crackling around his palms. "THAT'S BULLSHIT! I WAS RIGHT THERE!"
"But we're advancing, Bakugo!" Kirishima said. "That's still awesome!"
"I DON'T WANT SECOND! I WANT FIRST!"
"Dude, calm down!" Sero tried.
"I AM CALM!" Bakugo shouted, very much not calm.
Mina giggled despite herself. "You're impossible, you know that?"
And finally, the first place team appeared:
1ST PLACE: TEAM TODOROKI TSUBAKI - 10,000,405 POINTS
The crowd exploded into cheers.
"TODOROKI TSUBAKI'S TEAM TAKES FIRST!" Present Mic screamed. "DESPITE LOSING THE TEN MILLION POINTS TEMPORARILY, THEY RECLAIMED IT IN THE FINAL SECONDS!"
Tsubaki stood atop Tokoyami's shoulders, the ten million point headband secured around his forehead once more. His chest heaved with exertion, his face flushed from the intensity of the final moments.
But his eyes—his eyes burned with satisfaction.
'I got it back. I made a mistake. Fell for Shinso's quirk. But I adapted. Recovered. Won anyway.'
"WE DID IT!" Mei shouted. "MY BABIES PERFORMED PERFECTLY! Did you see that jetpack maneuverability?! And the hovering boots?! FLAWLESS!"
"Excellent work, everyone," Yaoyorozu said, relief clear in her voice.
"Our performance was excellent," Tokoyami intoned, though he sounded pleased.
In the Stands
"DID YOU SEE THAT?!" the crowd was going wild.
"He lost the ten million and still got it back!"
"That white-haired Todoroki is incredible!"
"But the other one used fire! Did you see that?!"
"And that Bakugo kid is crazy!"
"Class 1-A is dominating!"
"But Class 1-B put up a good fight too!"
The pro heroes were equally impressed.
"Multiple students showed excellent tactical thinking," Best Jeanist observed.
Endeavor sat silently, his flames crackling. Both his sons had advanced. Shoto had finally used his flames, even if only for a moment. And Tsubaki had taken first place.
His expression was unreadable, but his flames burned brighter.
Midnight walked to the center of the arena as teams dissolved, students catching their breath.
"Congratulations to our advancing teams!" she announced. "TEAM TODOROKI TSUBAKI, TEAM BAKUGO, TEAM TODOROKI SHOTO, and TEAM MIDORIYA! You've earned your spots in the final event!"
The stadium erupted in applause.
Tsubaki's eyes found Shoto across the arena. His brother was staring at his left hand, flames completely extinguished now, his expression troubled.
'You used his power. Even though you swore you wouldn't. I pushed you to it.' He didn't know how to feel about that.
Then his eyes shifted to Shinso, who stood with Shoto's team looking frustrated despite their advancement.
'That quirk is dangerous. I underestimated it. Won't make that mistake again.'
"We have our finalists!" Present Mic announced. "After a short break, we'll begin the final event! Don't go anywhere, folks!"
The crowd's cheers continued as students began filing off the arena floor.
Tsubaki remained standing a moment longer, the ten million point headband still secured around his forehead, proof of his victory.
He'd stumbled. Had nearly lost.
But he'd recovered.
And he was still standing at the top.
'One more round. One more event to win.'
'And I won't stumble again.'
To Be Continued...
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Author's note
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.