𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥

FФЯΓУ ΓHЯΞΞ

"Aw man, I was totally hoping I could wear my costume!" Ashido complained, picking at her uniform. It was the day of the sports festival, and everyone was in their PE uniforms as they waited around the locker room/waiting area for the event to actually begin. 

"At least everyone will be in uniforms, that will keep things fair, right?" Ojiro reasoned as he stretched beside her.

"I wonder what they have in store for us in the first round," Sato voiced worriedly.

"No matter what they've prepared, we must persevere." Tokoyami said calmly, and Shoji agreed. Suddenly, the door burst open, drawing attention to the person who had caused it to do so.

"Everyone, get your game faces on!" Tenya thundered, "We're entering the arena soon!" He announced; this made everyone even more nervous, especially Rui as he fidgeted in his seat. Suddenly though, someone called his name.

"Yasuda," Todoroki called, catching everyone's attention, even more so than Iida's entrance had.

"Huh? Oh, Todoroki, what's up?" Rui asked with an open expression, turning to face him fully. Todoroki locked his jaw for a moment, almost gritting his teeth. That open expression, like he'd be more than happy to do whatever it was that Todoroki asked of him, like there was nothing to fear, like he could do anything, it grated on the dual-toned boy more than anything else he could think of, besides his father of course. Staring at Rui, Todoroki spoke. 

"I heard that you were planning on throwing the festival," Todoroki revealed, causing anyone that wasn't already looking at them to give them their full attention. Rui blinked, shrinking slightly under the pressure of so many eyes. 

"Um, yeah, I am planning on that, why?"

"Yasuda, what are you thinking?!" Midoriya demanded. "This is your chance to get scouted!"

"Yeah, he's right," Kaminari nodded. "I mean, it's better for us if you give up, but why would you do that?"

"Guys, if he doesn't want to get noticed, he must have his reasons," Ojiro butted in, stepping toward his friend. He remembered what Rui had told them, how he wasn't going to use his quirk during the festival because he didn't feel comfortable with using the gods and their powers on live TV, but no one else knew exactly what Rui's quirk was, and it wasn't Ojiro's place to tell them, so this was the best he could do right now. 

"I don't care if he has his reasons," Todoroki narrowed his eyes at the incoming person before returning them to Rui, who flinched at the look in his eyes. "Yasuda, don't you dare even think about throwing the festival. If you do, I'll never forgive you."

"Todoroki, what do you care if he throws the festival or not?" Ojiro demanded. "It has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me," Todoroki said, directing his glare at Ojiro for a moment before he looked around at the rest of his classmates. "From an objective standpoint, I think it's fairly clear that I'm stronger than each of you, except," He looked back at Rui. "For Yasuda. He's beaten me fair and square, and so I need to prove myself and beat him fair and square. To do that, he can't hold back."

"Todoroki," Yaoyorozu finally spoke up, putting herself between the dual-toned boy and Rui, who seemed to let out a sigh of relief now that he wasn't in direct sight of Todoroki's glare. "We may be competing with each other today, but that is no excuse for your current behavior. As class deputy, I cannot overlook you obviously threatening a classmate, no matter the circumstances. Stand down."

"Yes, I completely agree," Tenya stepped up as well. "Todoroki, while I understand that you are feeling competitive, displaying it in this manner is unfitting of a hero. You can always compete, but demanding Rui to do something he has decided against doing through intimidation such as this--" he gestured between them at the obvious imbalance. Todoroki was standing whereas Rui was sitting, Todoroki's posture was perfect while Rui was hunched over, and Todoroki was glaring at Rui while Rui was looking down at his lap like he was trying to avoid his gaze. "Is unacceptable, and I must also ask you to stand down. Rui can do what he wants, you have no say over it, and that is the end of this conversation."

"...Fine," Todoroki basically spat, tossing one last hateful glance at Rui, who flinched, before turning around and walking away. 

~*~

"Hey! Make some noise rabid sports fans! Get those cameras prepped, we need hordes!" Present Mic yelled into the mic, broadcasting all over the stadium. "This year we're bringing you some of the hottest performances in sports festival history, guaranteed! I've only got one question before we start this show! Are you ready?!"

Meanwhile, class 1A had been allowed into the tunnel-like passage where they would be entering into the stadium from. "Let me hear you screaming as the students make their way to the main stage!" Present Mic yelled, and soon everyone was indeed screaming as the students exited the tunnel. Todoroki, Bakugo and Midoriya were the ones leading, Rui having blended into the middle of the crowd to stay as inconspicuous as he could.

He was still a bit shaken up about that confrontation, and his friends could see that. Yaoyorozu stayed next to him, as did Ojiro, both just offering their silent moral support as they strode out into the open stadium, which Rui was grateful for. 

"Welcome back to the UA Sports Festival, where up and coming heroes leave everything on the field as they fight for the chance to be given a medal by a celebrity! This first group are no strangers to the spotlight, you know them from withstanding a villain attack, the hero course students of class 1A!" Mic announced, causing several in the class to mumble about how nervous they were because of how many people had shown up.

Present Mic then introduced all of the other courses, but not as enthusiastically as he had for class 1A. "GIVE IT UP FOR ALL THE FIRST YEAR CONTESTANTS!" He thundered once everyone was out in the middle of the coliseum.

"Now the introductory speech!" Midnight announced, standing on the stage with her whip thingy along with a microphone for the person to do their introductory speech.

"Uh, someone should talk to Miss Midnight about what she's wearing.." Kirishima mumbled, Kaminari jumping in to agree right after.

"Yeah that costume should come with a warning." He gulped.

"Is it really appropriate apparel for a high school game?" Tokoyami asked uncomfortably. Mineta visibly liked it. Rui just kept his head down as Ojiro rubbed his back softly and encouragingly. 

"Silence everyone!" Midnight used her whip thingy, "And for the student pledge, we have Katsuki Bakugo!" Everyone looked at the explosive blonde, even Rui lifted his head up in surprise. This is gonna be a train wreck, isn't it? Rui thought to himself as the explosive blonde made his way to the mic. The stadium quieted down so that everyone could hear the first year rep speak.

"I just wanna say I'm gonna win." He stated calmly, and immediately everyone blew up in annoyance and boos. Rui sweatdropped, then flinched as he locked eyes with Bakugo. He was glaring at him just as hard as Todoroki was, which made him want to fold in on himself even more than before. Knowing two people in his class hated him that much was a lot of pressure. 

"Why would you be so disrespectful, you're representing us all!" Tenya reprimanded as Bakugo started moving back towards the stairs to come down from the stage.

"Not my fault you're all just stepping stone to my victory." Bakugo did a thumbs down breifly before making his way back towards his spot as many people were yelling insults at him. Rui didn't know how the blonde could stand straight with so much negativity coming towards him, but it was kind of inspiring. 

With that, the festival began in earnest. 

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