Kirishima exchanged a brief greeting with the old swordsman; though he longed to continue the conversation, he had to keep the kids in mind.
Since Johannes mentioned that he was short on time, they agreed to meet again later.
Kirishima handed him his contact information and set off toward where the others had already gone.
As he watched the broad, receding back disappear into the distance, Johannes lowered his gaze to the sword in his hand.
"It’s nice to see a young man who dares defy the tide of the times, but I doubt I’ll see him again..."
Though his voice was so low that no one else could catch a word, Johannes heard every syllable clearly.
With a troubled expression, he stared at the sword clutched in a hand marked by old scars.
When he first picked up a sword, he had snapped it without a second thought.
His Quirk sent his physical abilities into overdrive the instant he grasped a sword, and he had long since lost count of every blade he had broken before managing to control it.
Not having awakened his Quirk early like others, mastering that control had proven even more difficult.
Since his ability only activated when he held something he genuinely recognized as a sword, he had believed himself Quirkless until he turned eighteen.
If he hadn’t joined that medieval swordsmanship club by chance in college, he might have lived his entire life unaware of his true power.
After all, most modern people rarely have the opportunity to hold a sword even once in their lives.
"Should I be grateful for being such a nerd?"
By some twist of fate, he had picked up a sword—and in doing so, discovered his Quirk.
The ability he dubbed [Sword’s Companion] was simple, yet overwhelmingly potent.
So powerful was it that, in its early days, both he and his sword suffered countless injuries; but as he devoted himself more earnestly to its use, he eventually stopped getting hurt.
The very sword he now held had been his steadfast partner for over thirty years—its blade scarred and worn, but never once broken.
An old friend of such long standing should have soothed his complicated emotions, yet, cruelly, it remained silent.
"Who is that young man?"
Wading through the crowd, a massive man—bearing an imposing air not unlike Kirishima’s own—approached Johannes and inquired.
Though his manners appeared polite at first glance, his eyes betrayed unmistakable contempt.
Johannes replied casually, "Didn’t you hear what I said? He’s just a student I met today."
"I hope that’s true. I won’t tolerate any foolish tricks," the man retorted.
"You’d better not be planning any mischief. Even if I’ve grown old and weak, I can still take your head off," Johannes warned.
The man’s frown deepened at those sharp words, yet he said nothing more and turned away.
Instead, he muttered just loud enough for Johannes to hear, "In the end, it’s just an old man peddling his sword for his own gain—still clinging to his pride..."
Johannes offered no reply, only fixing the man's retreating back with a steely, unyielding glare.
The sword in Johannes’s grasp trembled almost as if it were eager to leap into action.
Meanwhile, Kirishima had arrived at the area where the kids had gone ahead.
On the artificially constructed mountain terrain—clad in his costume, likely changed on the fly—Bakugo was already waiting.
Approaching the group with a measured step, Kirishima remarked, "So that’s what Bakugo was talking about? Doesn’t look too challenging."
Before anyone could reply, Ashido piped up, "Huh? Eijiro, you’re here. That’s only because you’re comparing it to yourself—in my case, running every inch of that course is a full-time job."
In response, Kirishima ruffled Ashido’s hair affectionately. Her pouting expression soon melted into a broad smile.
Tsuyu, placing a finger to her cheek, asked, "Kirishima, how long do you think it’ll take you to clear that? Ribbit."
"Hmm? I’d have to see how many robots are on the course first," he replied thoughtfully.
At that very moment, the host announced the start—and Bakugo sprang into action.
With explosive propulsion, he launched himself skyward, smashing a robot before leaping into the air again and again.
In no time, every robot up on the peak had been destroyed, prompting the host to exclaim, "Amazing! Clear time: 15 seconds! That puts him in first place!"
Calmly assessing his own full strength, Kirishima mused, "If I activated [Demon Form], I could probably take them all down from a distance in a second—but that’s too extreme. Without [Demon Form], I’d say it’d take three to five seconds. It’s not the robots that’re the problem; it’s moving between them."
As he spoke, the image of the old swordsman he’d just parted from swept back into his mind. He wondered how that man—whose hair had turned stark white with age yet whose sword strikes remained terrifyingly fast and precise—would handle such a challenge. Based on their brief exchange of blows, it might take him no more than a second at all.
Then, from behind him, a familiar voice called out, "Kacchan? And Kirishima too?"
All except for Kirishima, who had already sensed Midoriya’s approaching presence, turned around with surprised expressions. There, alongside Midoriya, stood Uraraka, Jiro, Yaoyorozu, and Iida. A blonde girl, whom Kirishima hadn’t seen before, asked Midoriya in astonishment, "Deku-kun, is this person a friend too?"
"Yes, they’re my friends," Midoriya replied.
Shaking off thoughts of Johannes, Kirishima stepped forward to greet Midoriya. "If you’re going to introduce us, do it properly. Nice to meet you—I’m Kirishima Eijiro, from Midoriya’s class."
"Nice to meet you. I’m Melissa Shield, and I’m showing Midoriya around today," Midoriya responded.
Once the introductions from Kirishima’s side had concluded, Bakugo—who had been watching with a triumphant glint in his eye—spotted Midoriya.
He dashed over in a flash, clinging to the railing as he shouted, "Why are you here?!"
"So what if there are? No, more importantly—hey, tall guy! You saw that, right? You’re next!"
"What are you talking about, you lunatic? I didn’t even bring my costume," Midoriya protested.
"Why’s that kid getting angry?" someone asked.
At Melissa’s inquiry, Jiro and Uraraka answered in unison, "It happens all the time." Then one added, "It’s just how they are," while another queried, "Were you all invited to the expo too?"
Sho, who had been lingering at the back, replied, "I was invited. Strictly speaking, my family is a hero family—it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but we’re fairly prominent."
"Ah, I see," came the quiet acknowledgment, followed by, "Hmm, are you all here for the challenge?"
Still clinging to the railing, Bakugo growled, "As if I’d ever lose! I’m going to be number one!"
"Yes, yes—Kacchan will be number one," someone agreed.
"What the hell did you say, you bastard?" Bakugo snapped.
Midoriya’s attempt at a nonchalant agreement was cut short by Uraraka’s earnest interjection, "But if you don’t try, you’ll never know, will you?"
"Yeah, yeah—maybe you’re right. Huh?" Midoriya muttered.
The moment he realized his mistake, Bakugo—finally having clambered over the railing—said in a tone as predatory as a baring beast, "Then get out there and come back with a miserable result! You damn nerd!"
"Geh. Fine," Midoriya conceded.
In the end, Midoriya leapt from the stands straight into the arena.
Unfazed by such a dramatic entrance, the host continued the commentary, "Here we have a challenger who jumped right in. Let’s see what kind of record he sets."
As she spoke, Midoriya activated [Full Cowl], and surging power coursed through his entire body.
"Villain Attack Ready! Go!"
No sooner had the signal been given than Midoriya charged forward without hesitation.
He swiftly obliterated every robot before returning to the starting point.
Watching him, Melissa couldn’t help but gasp, "Amazing! 16 seconds—second place!"
Both Uraraka and Iida showered Midoriya with praise as he rounded off his match in a flash.
Midoriya scratched the back of his head, offering an awkward smile—and just as Bakugo was about to erupt in anger, the host’s shrill cry redirected everyone’s attention back to the arena.
"Eek! Amazing! Amazing! 14 seconds! He’s now at the top!"
Where all eyes were fixed, Todoroki stood with one hand planted on the ground—the very small mound where the robots had been completely frozen over.
"Hah..."
"Todoroki-kun?!"
"He’s in your class too?"
At Yaoyorozu’s exclamation, Melissa inquired further, receiving only a curt, "Yes!" in reply.
"That’s incredible! You’re all amazing," she cheered.
Meanwhile, Bakugo had lunged at Todoroki, bellowing, "You half-and-half bastard! You show up out of nowhere just to flaunt how amazing you are!"
"Did Midoriya come too?" someone called out.
"Don’t ignore me!" came the retort.
Todoroki, who had never given Bakugo much thought—and now even less—simply regarded the stands with an impassive expression, murmuring, "..."
Bakugo’s eyes narrowed even further as he shouted, "Why the hell are you even here?!"
"I’m here in place of my father, who was invited," Todoroki replied coolly.
"The next participant is waiting," Bakugo declared.
"Shut up! I’m next!"
"The loudmouth is you, you barbarian," someone jeered.
As Bakugo’s ferocious shouts made the host flinch, Kirishima had come down and seized Bakugo by the head.
"What’s the big deal? How fast you dispatched those robots has nothing to do with real combat," Kirishima chided.
"Tall guy? It really has nothing to do with real combat! ...Well, I suppose you’re right," Bakugo admitted after a brief pause, slapping Kirishima’s hand away. "Which means you’re next."
"When we get back to school, I’ll beat you up as much as you want—so just keep quiet for now. You’re embarrassing me too..."
At that moment, Iida burst onto the scene like a whirlwind, shouting, "Everyone, stop him! U.A.’s shame will be laid bare!"
Kirishima sighed, holding Bakugo firmly as he handed him over to Iida.
Even as Bakugo continued to make a scene, Melissa covered her mouth and chuckled, while the embarrassed girls lowered their heads.
"Sorry—I'd heard U.A. High was supposed to be fun. At the very least, it certainly won’t be boring," one of them murmured.
With that, Kirishima and the others dispersed once again, off to prepare for a party none of them would ever forget.
Iida later told Kirishima to meet at the reception hall at 6:30.
"To attend the party?"
"Exactly. Wouldn’t it be better if we all went together?"
"I’m fine with that, though I’m not so sure about my group."
"I’m in! I’m in!"
"Parties are the best!"
Hagakure and Ashido immediately jumped up and down, hands raised in enthusiastic approval.
"Ribbit. Weren’t we always going to attend the party? I bet that’s why Kirishima told us to get our formal wear ready."
"We’re definitely going—the question was whether we should all head out together."
"I’m in, too. When you’re with people you know, it’s less nerve-wracking."
"Honestly, there isn’t much to be nervous about at a party… but fine, I’ll take that as a yes."
After gathering everyone’s opinions, Kirishima turned to Bakugo and asked, "What about you?"
"Like hell I’m going to some place like that. I’m not wasting my time in a meaningless venue—and besides, I didn’t even bring a suit."
"In that case, I brought one for you."
"Huh?"
Bakugo shot a glare at Sho, who had emerged from the sidelines to speak up.
Sho, without even batting an eyelid, said firmly, "I figured you’d say that, Bakugo, so I prepared one in advance. It’s all about experience—if you become the top hero you aim to be, you’re going to need to attend parties over and over. Might as well get some practice now."
Bakugo didn’t reply; he simply twitched his brow, clicked his tongue, and finally nodded. "Tch. If you put it that way, fine—I’ll go with you."
Upon hearing Bakugo’s decision, Kirishima looked to Iida and said, "Alright! Then we’ll swing by Kaminari’s place and deliver his invitation, too!"
"Oh, right. Kaminari mentioned he was working a part-time job here, didn’t he?"
"That’s right—we happened to have an extra invitation."
"Well, who you invite is up to the class rep. Alright then—see you later."
With a brief farewell, Kirishima turned and set off with the others.
All in preparation for a party none of them would ever forget.
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