The sweet holiday following the bloodbath quickly slipped away.
Kirishima, having seen Ashido off to school, encountered his classmates still discussing the incident from the day before yesterday.
"Did you catch the news yesterday? Our whole class got a fleeting moment on camera. For some reason, I didn’t stand out at all," one of them remarked.
Hagakure, pressing a hand to her chest as she spoke, received a nod of agreement from Ojiro.
"That seems to be the case," Ojiro replied.
"No one would ever stand out in that getup," another voice added.
Ojiro’s comment carried the thought of Hagakure—whose gloves were the only visible part in the girls’ group photo—in his mind.
In truth, had she drawn attention, it would have been an even bigger problem.
Leaning back in his chair, Kaminari remarked to Kirishima,
"By the way, every channel seemed to cover it pretty heavily, huh?"
"Yeah, I suppose," Kirishima answered flatly, unimpressed by the comment.
After all, their high school had been attacked by terrorists—in a world where information wasn’t being suppressed, the media would have had no reason to ignore it.
They were a group forever thirsty for any topic that could capture public attention.
As if reading Kirishima’s thoughts, Jiro raised her hand and said,
"It makes sense. The Hero Course that produces professional heroes got attacked."
"Imagine what would have happened if the teachers hadn’t arrived," another added.
Resting his chin on his hand and musing over the possibilities, Kirishima silently acknowledged that some outcomes were inevitable.
Shou, frowning, added,
"There’s no need to dwell on grim what-ifs. We made it through—even if the teachers had to intervene."
"Right. The other teachers were remarkable too, but All Might was the real standout. He took down that outrageously strong villain," another student declared.
Sato, his voice still imbued with emotion two days later, spoke, prompting Tokoyami to agree,
"Indeed. His strength was truly awe-inspiring. Even Kirishima, who fought him almost toe-to-toe for a while, looked superhuman..."
At that moment, Iida burst through the chatter, running over with determined energy and shouting,
"Everyone! Homeroom’s about to start! Enough chatter—take your seats!"
"We already are seated," one student retorted.
"Just you need to sit down," Iida insisted, and after receiving admonitions from every direction, he slumped into his seat with a pained expression.
Meanwhile, Ashido, indifferent to the commotion, reclined in her chair and called over to Tsuyu,
"Hey, Tsuyu! Who’s taking homeroom today?"
"Well, since Aizawa-sensei is hospitalized due to his injuries..."
Their curiosity was short-lived.
The classroom door swung open, and Aizawa, wrapped head to toe in bandages, entered with a subdued greeting.
"Good morning," he said.
"Aizawa-sensei! You’re back already!"
"That’s a bit too professional," came the retort.
Kaminari, looking stunned, added his comment while Iida eagerly raised his hand, exclaiming,
"Sensei! You’re safe!"
Even as Uraraka covered her mouth and whispered, "Are you really safe?" Aizawa paid no heed, proceeding to the lectern.
In a calm tone he stated,
"My condition isn’t the issue. More importantly, the fight isn’t over yet."
"The fight?"
"Surely not..."
Bakugo and Midoriya visibly reacted to his words, while Kirishima maintained an indifferent expression. After all, this was merely a continuation of the future he already knew.
"The U.A. Sports Festival is coming up," Aizawa announced.
"That’s so ridiculously school-like!" one student exclaimed.
Despite Aizawa’s even tone, the students cheered. However, not everyone shared the excitement.
Jiro raised her hand and asked,
"Wait a minute! We were just attacked by villains. Is it really okay to hold a sports festival right after that?"
"And what if there’s another attack..."
Aizawa calmly addressed the concern, explaining,
"By going ahead with the festival, we’re demonstrating that U.A.’s crisis management is rock-solid. Security will be ramped up to five times the usual level."
Listening to Aizawa, Kirishima figured there wouldn’t be any trouble.
Unless someone was downright insane, no one would attempt to attack a combat unit whose vigilance was at its peak after an assault.
After all, U.A., though a school, was also a training ground for heroes—a place where serious fighting power was concentrated, much like any well-prepared military unit.
Of course, while villains could be reckless, most of them were calculated enough to avoid unnecessary risks.
Even considering all the subtle changes Kirishima’s actions had caused, worrying about another attack during the festival was overcautious.
That said, it didn’t mean they could completely let their guard down.
As Kirishima mulled over these thoughts, Aizawa continued,
"More than anything, our school’s sports festival is your greatest opportunity. It’s not an event you can cancel just because of a few villains."
"Hmm... but it’s just a sports festival. Wouldn’t it be okay to cancel it?"
At Shou’s muttered remark, Midoriya leaned back and queried,
"Huh? Shou, you’ve never experienced the U.A. Sports Festival?"
"I have, but not much. In Okinawa, it’s the kind of event only a few watch," Shou explained.
As Shou noted the regional differences, Aizawa elaborated on the festival’s significance,
"Our Sports Festival is one of Japan’s major events. In the past, the Olympics were revered as the grand celebration of sports, capturing the whole nation’s excitement. These days, with a smaller scale and population, it’s become more ceremonial. In Japan today, the U.A. Sports Festival has essentially taken the place of the old Olympics!"
"Oh... so it’s a bigger deal than I thought," a student murmured.
Beside Shou, Yaoyorozu chimed in,
"Of course, the top heroes nationwide watch it. They’re scouting for talent!"
"Hmm. I knew that much..."
"After graduation, the typical path is to join a Pro Hero agency as a sidekick!"
With a thumbs-up from Kaminari, Jiro added dryly,
"That’s precisely where many miss their chance to go independent and end up as permanent sidekicks. Kaminari, you’re headed that way if you keep being an idiot."
As Kaminari made a sheepish face, Aizawa continued,
"Naturally, joining a renowned hero agency provides more experience and attention. Time is limited—if you catch a pro hero’s eye, your future opportunities multiply. You get one shot a year—only three chances altogether. If you dream of becoming a hero, this is an event you cannot afford to miss. So, if you’re serious about it, don’t slack off on your preparation!"
"Yes, sir!"
"That’s all for homeroom."
And just like that, homeroom ended, and the morning passed uneventfully.
At lunchtime, the students broke into small groups, buzzing with excitement over the upcoming Sports Festival.
"Everyone’s so fired up..."
"And you? You’re enrolled to be a hero—of course you’d be excited!"
In response to Midoriya’s comment, Iida clasped his hands together in a dramatic gesture and replied in his own quirky way.
Tsuyu observed the scene and remarked bluntly,
"Iida, the way you get fired up is truly unique. It’s odd."
"Midoriya isn’t any different!" another chimed in.
Brushing aside Tsuyu’s comment, Iida turned to Midoriya and asked,
"So, Midoriya, are you really that fired up?"
Midoriya offered an uncertain smile and replied,
"I guess so... but there’s something more to it."
Then Uraraka, her expression unusually intense, called out to them,
"Deku, Iida—let’s give it our all at the Sports Festival!"
Startled, Midoriya nearly jumped out of his skin, and Ashido voiced her confusion.
"Uh, your face looks kind of serious, Uraraka!"
"What’s wrong? You don’t seem cheerful at all, Uraraka," another remarked.
In response, she stamped her foot and declared determinedly,
"Everyone! I’m going to give it my all!"
"Oh!"
"I’m going to give it my all!"
"Yeah... but why the long face? You’re acting a bit off," someone observed.
Amid the puzzled looks from his peers, Midoriya thought, “I never even asked Uraraka why she chose U.A.”
Heading down the stairs for lunch, he finally asked her,
"Uraraka, why did you choose U.A.? What makes you want to become a pro hero?"
"Eh? Well..." she hesitated, then, gathering her courage, explained.
Although she felt a bit shy, she trusted everyone around her enough to speak honestly.
Midoriya was taken aback,
"Money? You want to be a hero because you need money?"
"If I’m being completely honest, yes. I mean—sorry if it sounds unpure. Even someone like Iida has such noble motivations, and here I am feeling ashamed," she admitted.
"But why? Why is pursuing a livelihood not a noble goal?"
Seeing Iida quickly reassure her, Kirishima, who had been quietly walking beside them, thought that was perfectly understandable.
After all, isn’t being a pro hero all about earning a living?
"Haha, right. Eijiro’s a bit different," someone chuckled.
As Ashido laughed along, Kirishima mused that there was nothing awry about such ambitions.
But Midoriya’s eyes widened as he inquired,
"Huh? Kirishima, your dream still hasn’t changed?"
"Would it even be a dream if it changed that easily?" Kirishima countered.
"Childhood dreams do change frequently," observed another.
"But mine isn’t something light," Kirishima replied firmly.
As the conversation drifted into territory known only to their small circle—Kirishima, Midoriya, Ashido, and Iida— Iida, ever curious, asked,
"Kirishima, what kind of dream is so important to you?"
"Well, there’s nothing I can’t share. My dream has remained the same since I was a kid—to become the strongest," he answered without hesitation.
"That sounds a bit like Kacchan, doesn’t it? Hahaha," someone teased.
"Don’t laugh, idiot. Yours is essentially about becoming like All Might," Kirishima shot back.
"So what? What’s wrong with that?"
"What’s wrong with me?"
"What?"
"Nothing," he finally mumbled.
While Midoriya and Kirishima rarely butted heads so openly, Ashido burst into laughter and then revealed a little secret,
"Eijiro actually used to say he wouldn’t mind being a villain when he was little."
"Well, that was when we were kids. Once I grew up, I knew I had to pursue being a true hero," came the gentle retort.
"I can’t really imagine Kirishima saying he wouldn’t mind becoming a villain—somehow, that’s a relief. Just keep pursuing the hero path," encouraged one of them.
In response, Kirishima frowned slightly and said,
"Of course I will. I come from a decent family, and all my friends are good people. Why would I throw everything away to become a villain? When I was younger, it was all about being the strongest, but now I have a lot more at stake."
"For example, someone like me?"
At Ashido’s teasing, pointing at herself with both index fingers, Kirishima clicked his tongue and replied with a slight grimace,
"Tch. I won’t deny it. In any case, aiming to be a hero to earn money is just fine. Without making a living, you’re not a pro—you’re an amateur. And there’s no such thing as an amateur hero."
Uraraka felt a surge of relief from Kirishima’s words.
She scratched the back of her head, as if gathering her thoughts, and explained,
"Yeah. Thanks. My family runs a construction company, but work has been scarce—so we’re really strapped for cash. I usually don’t share these things, but..."
"Construction!"
"With your quirk, once you secure the permits, cost isn’t much of an issue!"
"Right? I told my dad that a long time ago," she recalled.
Responding passionately to Midoriya’s comment, Uraraka added,
"But my dad said he’d be happiest if I achieved my dream."
She drifted into a memory of the past,
Remembering how her father had once patted her head with his large, warm hand, his voice filled with gentle reassurance,
Even now, she could not forget that comforting touch.
Gripping the hem of her skirt with determination, she declared,
"I’m going to be a hero, earn a ton of money, and make sure my mom and dad live comfortably!"
"That’s amazing. What a devoted daughter," someone applauded.
"Yeah! I even hope to have a daughter like Uraraka someday," another added.
"Bravo! Uraraka, bravo!"
The mix of Kirishima’s measured reaction, Ashido’s eccentricity, and Iida’s over-the-top enthusiasm all blended together in the chatter.
Midoriya mused quietly to himself,
"It’s not just simple admiration—there’s a practicality to it too..."
"Oh! There you are, Midoriya boy!"
Just then, All Might appeared from around a corner, emerging from an alley where the road bent.
Clutching an adorably small lunch box that contrasted sharply with his normally booming presence, he shyly greeted,
"Let’s eat together, shall we?"
"Pfft! That’s so adorable!" someone teased.
"Gladly..." came his bashful reply.
With Uraraka’s laughter echoing behind him, Midoriya trailed after All Might.
The students who had seen Midoriya off gathered in line at the cafeteria and began chatting.
"I wonder what’s up with Deku today?"
"I heard that when All Might was ambushed by villains at USJ, he bolted. Maybe it’s related to that?"
"Huh? But wasn’t Eijiro the same?"
Kirishima casually dismissed Ashido’s inquiry, adding,
"I wasn’t going after All Might—I grabbed Midoriya when he ran out."
"Oh, really?"
Iida then offered his two cents,
"Like Asui mentioned on the bus, the two of them have similar quirks. Perhaps All Might took a liking to him? Now that’s impressive!"
In Iida’s pure, unguarded admiration there was no hint of jealousy, and Kirishima found himself equally impressed.
It wasn’t easy to be as upright as that—rigid if you will, but a genuinely good kid.
Still, he wasn’t a pushover; when it counted, he’d surely step in.
Yet, someone else’s eyes sparkled with determination at Iida’s words.
"All Might and Midoriya Izuku..."
Todoroki quietly murmured the names to himself.
Feeling a faint flicker of hostility in Todoroki’s fleeting glance, Kirishima smiled.
Jealousy over someone who captured an idol’s attention—so quintessentially youthful that it was almost amusing.
Kirishima didn’t hold a particular fondness for the Sports Festival anyway, given the overwhelming disparity in fighting strength.
But watching his fellow students unknowingly take up positions as rivals was unexpectedly entertaining.
He usually preferred direct combat, yet he found enjoyment in observing the clashes of others, especially when a story lay behind every battle.
For some reason, Kirishima couldn’t shake the feeling that a storm was brewing for this Sports Festival.
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