"Wahhhh... I could really use a nap right now," Lena yawned, stretching her body languidly across the cafeteria bench, her limbs extending with a soft groan. She wasn't particularly tired in a debilitating sense, but her personal, meticulously crafted "Lena's 100% Infallible Grand Strategy – Trademark" had proven almost too effective during the Cavalry Battle. The minimal effort expended meant there wasn't much physical exhaustion, yet the mental strain of constant vigilance and the subtle energy depletion still lingered, leaving a pervasive weariness.
"I still can't believe you were on Shoji's back for the entire second test... like a giant, adorable parasite," Kyoka replied, a note of disbelief in her voice, shaking her head. She had anticipated almost anything during the chaotic Cavalry Battle, but Lena's ridiculous and utterly effective tactic was on another level entirely, defying all logical expectations.
"Is that jealousy I hear, my little rockstar?" Lena asked smugly, cupping a hand to her ear, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Hmm?~ Is Kyo longing for a ride on the 'Human Horse' too?"
"You wish, Oxton," Kyoka retorted dryly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, but a smile threatened to appear on her face nonetheless. The banter was familiar, comforting.
Kyoka and Lena were currently seated at a small, rather cramped table in the Festival cafeteria, a bustling hub filled to the brim with participants from all three academic years. The noise was deafening, a symphony of chatter, clanking trays, and excited shouts. Honestly, it was a minor miracle that Kyoka had managed to secure a table to sit at in the first place, given the sheer volume of hungry students.
Toru was next to Momo in the incredibly long queue to order their food, apparently still entertaining themselves by talking animatedly to various members of their respective teams and other students. They were now paying the consequences of their prolonged social interaction, stuck at the very end of the line.
As usual, Lena had ordered a ridiculous amount of food, a truly colossal feast that would easily feed a small army. Kyoka, on the other hand, thanks to her recently implemented, specialized diet – a rigorous regimen designed to enhance her physical capabilities – was now forced to eat a bit more than she was traditionally used to, a subtle but significant adjustment to her metabolism.
"Um, so would you like me to ride on your back for the whole final event, Kyo?" Lena asked with a wide, innocent smile plastered on her face, looking Kyoka directly in the eyes, her gaze twinkling with mischief. "I think that would be just great, although I honestly think it would be even better if I carried you, don't you agree?"
"You were the one who carried me through the whole first event, you know, like a human taxi service," Kyoka commented with a feigned disdain, though a genuine smile threatened to break through her facade. "That actually helped me out a lot, though, so thank you, I guess."
A soft, amused chuckle escaped Lena's mouth, a warm sound. "Anytime, sweetie. My human taxi service is always at your disposal."
"By the way, have you noticed that all the tests so far are basically, 'run or die' scenarios?" Lena changed the subject abruptly, placing the palm of her hand on the underside of her chin, as if deep in thought, her brow furrowed in mock contemplation. "It's a little suspicious, don't you think, that everything revolves around speed and evasion?"
"You're overreacting, Lena, as usual," Kyoka rolled her eyes, a playful exasperation in her voice. "I don't think we'll be forced to run again, honestly. I fervently hope not... for the sake of my already aching legs."
A knowing, almost predatory, smile appeared on Lena's face before she looked up at Kyoka, who was diligently finishing her meal, completely oblivious to the subtle shift in Lena's demeanor. "Hey, Kyo."
Kyoka flinched slightly at the sudden, unexpected nickname, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise. "What's up, Oxton?"
"When the Festival is over, do you want to go eat somewhere? Just the two of us?" Lena asked suddenly, without changing the innocent, almost childlike expression on her face, her eyes fixed on Kyoka.
"Why such a sudden invitation, Lena?" Kyoka asked with a confused look, genuinely perplexed by the unexpected offer, before blinking rapidly. "I mean, I'm not saying no, of course, but usually it's Toru who meticulously plans all our outings, you know, organizes everything with her usual boundless enthusiasm."
"I don't know, I just spontaneously feel like going out with you somewhere, perhaps somewhere nice," Lena replied with an innocent shrug, her smile unchanging. "So~ what do you say, my dear Kyo? Will you accompany me on a culinary adventure?"
Kyoka narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Lena's unwavering expression for any hint of a hidden agenda or a mischievous prank. Finding none, she finally sighed, a sound of reluctant acceptance. "Well, as long as I'm not busy with other plans, of course. My training schedule is quite rigorous these days, you know."
"Cool! So—"
Suddenly, the cafeteria's omnipresent speakers crackled to life, and Present Mic's voice, though slightly muffled, could be clearly heard shouting, "YOU HAVE PRECISELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE BREAK ENDS! FINISH YOUR MEALS, ASPIRING HEROES!"
"It's better if we talk about it after the Tournament is completely over, Lena," Kyoka spoke, her voice laced with a hint of a smile, as she stood up from her seat, grabbing her tray. Lena nodded, doing the same, her eyes still sparkling with amusement. "I just hope it's an easy test... my legs are still complaining from the last two events."
<5 Minutes Later...>
The crowd inside the colossal festival stadium was a pulsating, living entity, its excitement palpable. The freshmen of U.A. had, without a doubt, demonstrated a ferocity and tenacity truly worthy of seasoned Professional Heroes, their raw talent undeniable.
Meanwhile, scattered throughout the stands, hundreds of Professional Heroes were already intently interested in several of the Class 1-A students, diligently taking notes and considering them as potential practice partners for their agencies. The obvious crowd favorite, the student garnering the most immediate attention, was undoubtedly the son of Hero Number 2, Shoto Todoroki, whose powerful Quirk and stoic demeanor commanded respect.
But that didn't mean that the others were entirely overshadowed by Todoroki's father's immense fame and pervasive influence, not at all. The truly discerning Heroes, those not easily swayed by public opinion or the allure of a famous name, saw a class brimming with untapped potential and raw, unpolished talent, a fertile ground for future greatness.
"That boy is truly interesting..." a veteran hero with a scruffy beard and a scarred eye muttered, his gaze fixed on Midoriya, dissecting his every movement.
"He doesn't seem to be used to... this level of pressure, does he?" another hero, a tall woman with a telepathy Quirk, mused aloud, observing Kaminari's nervous fidgeting.
"She certainly lacks experience... but he could be worth the investment..." a third hero, a sleek figure with a stealth Quirk, whispered to his associate, his eyes tracking Lena's confident stride.
Hundreds of Heroes were meticulously taking mental notes on each student, analyzing every detail: the way they moved, their creative application of their Quirks, their strategic thinking, their raw power. Every minute detail was being scrutinized by hundreds of Heroes, and that's not even counting the thousands of Heroes who weren't physically present in the Festival stadium but were undoubtedly watching their performance remotely, evaluating them from afar.
"VERY WELL, DEAR AUDIENCE!" Present Mic announced, his voice reaching a fever pitch, sending the audience into a wild frenzy. "THIS GRAND FESTIVAL IS RAPIDLY COMING TO ITS CLIMAX! SO, LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE MAIN EVENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
The giant screen came to life again, its bright display filled with various lines crossing and intertwining, before finally converging into a single, definitive line at the very end. The audience immediately realized what the final event was, and a fresh wave of excitement and cheers erupted, even louder than before.
"THAT'S RIGHT, MY DEAR AUDIENCE! IT'S A ONE-VERSUS-ONE BATTLE TOURNAMENT! A GRUELING TEST OF INDIVIDUAL STRENGTH AND SKILL!"
"Now let's draw the match-ups for these epic battles!" Midnight exclaimed, her voice purring with seductive charm as she looked at all the assembled participants, her gaze sweeping over them with a playful anticipation.
The screen changed to display a large, transparent sphere that looked remarkably like a giant bird cage, with several smaller, white balls inside. The large sphere began to spin rapidly, causing the smaller balls to collide with each other for a few seconds, their rhythmic clacking accompanied by a straining, almost suspenseful music that played over the stadium speakers, building the tension.
Suddenly, the sphere stopped, its internal mechanisms whirring softly, and then, with a small puff of air, it precisely ejected two bingo balls from its chute.
The first ball floated gently onto the display, revealing a name: Kaminari Denki.
"For the love of—" Kaminari muttered, his face visibly paling, a sudden surge of apprehension replacing his earlier confidence.
The second ball descended, displaying its chosen participant: Oxton Lena.
"Ara~" Lena simply purred, a subtle, almost predatory smirk playing on her lips, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous anticipation. Her first opponent was Kaminari. This would be entertaining.
The process of drawing combatants was repeated a couple more times until the entire table of participants, the bracket for the final tournament, was fully completed.
The final order of the bouts and combatants:
... Kaminari Denki VS Oxton Lena Yaoyorozu Momo VS Koda Koji Jiro Kyoka VS Tokoyami Fumikage Tenya Iida VS Hatsume Mei Sero Hanta VS Todoroki Shoto Hagakure Toru VS Ochako Uraraka Mezo Shoji VS Midoriya Izuku ...
"ALRIGHT! NOW ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE READY! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF INTO A WORLD OF UNPARALLELED ACTION AND DRAMA!" Present Mic announced, his voice practically exploding with an enthusiasm that quickly transmitted itself to the entire Stadium, infecting every single spectator. "ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE THE MASTER OF ELECTRICITY WHO WILL MAKE THE GIRLS FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS SPARKS! GIVE IT UP FOR KAMINARI DENKI!"
Emerging from the dark tunnel, a visibly nervous Kaminari appeared, his usual confident swagger replaced by a hesitant, almost trembling gait. He looked around at the colossal stadium, his eyes wide with apprehension, which raised a few eyebrows from his classmates, as it was the complete opposite of his normally cocky attitude. However, they knew his nervousness was entirely due to the thousands of eyes watching his every move, the sheer weight of public scrutiny.
Shaking his head quickly, Kaminari forced a confident face onto his features, attempting to curb his nervousness, as he made his way with deliberate steps to the combat platform, trying to project an aura of self-assurance he didn't quite feel.
"ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE THE FAST GIRL WHO WOULD MAKE A FOOL OF EVEN THE LEGENDARY FLASH! DON'T BLINK, OR YOU'LL MISS HER INCREDIBLE SPEED! IT'S NONE OTHER THAN... LENA OXTON!"
Out of the other tunnel came Lena, a wide, confident smile plastered on her face, as she tried her absolute best to ignore all the annoying crowd noise, the deafening roar of the thousands of spectators. Her eyes, however, sparkled with an almost childlike excitement, ready for the challenge.
Both students stared at each other for a while, a tense, silent standoff. You could almost see the raw, electric sparks clashing between their gazes, a palpable energy building between them.
"ONE!"
"TWO!"
"THREE!"
"START!"