Chapter 10: Sports Festival

A/N: Slow updates as of this month for the preparation of Christmas.

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"Look at them," Tetsutetsu sneered by the door, he gathered the class's attention when he yelled that there were a lot of people outside of the hall. Monoma didn't move, letting [Y/N] slipped her hand away to join others on the commotion.

"Damn Class A." Tetsutetsu grumbled as he made his way to the class next door, where students crowded their path. [Y/N] could hear Iida inside, and a familiar gruff voice mixed with ego. Tetsutetsu never wavered his tone as she and other watched him barged through the crowd enough for him to see.

"You guys are a bunch of asses." Someone said, a male student commented loud enough for the others to quiet down. [Y/N] can't see him but based on his footsteps he went closer to Class A's door. "I heard how impressive you are, but now meeting you in person, all I see is people full of themselves."

"Or it's just you? Can't get enough of feeding your delusions?" [Y/N] made a face. It's like hearing another Monoma. The silence stretched for a moment that even Tetsutetsu didn't dare to break. "Many of us here like myself wanted to be hero course. But things don't always go that way, having no choice but to choose a different study."

"Pro Heroes are watching—that includes the teachers. If they see what other students can do, they have a chance to be in the hero course. And of one you would be transferred."

This is new. [Y/N] leaned closer from their door, feeling Pony's hands clinging on her shoulders for support. "Can that actually happen?"

"Yep." Kendo replied, who was in the hallway for a better watch. "It's not well known, but teachers can transfer students if they see someone fitting to be in the hero class."

"I'm actually kind of glad they're not ganging up on us." Wrote Manga, adding a scribble of sweat beads in his sentence.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean were safe from being transferred." Rin countered, glancing at Manga for a moment then back at the drama.

"Some of my classmates might be scouting." The boy continued his speech. "But not me. Consider this as a declaration of war; I expect you egomaniacs to bring your very best or else I'll steal your place in an instant."

It was a bit melodramatic but given from what he said, the main target for this year's Sports Festival is to bring Class A down. She may not be in the crowd, but [Y/N] knew the guy's speech surely half-inspired some of the students.

"Hey you! What the purple guy said!" Tetsutetsu popped from the crowd with a fist and anger. "I'm from Class 1-B! We heard about your fought against the villains but now all I see is a bunch of brats thinking your better than us!"

...

"Don't you ignore me! I'm coming for you Class A!"

Another voice joined in the conversation, a Class A student. "Dude are you gonna say something? It's your fault everyone is hating on us Bakugo!"

Bakugo? [Y/N] called at Manga. "Isn't that the guy from the Sludge incident?" Manga lifted a thumb in confirmation. "Huh. I guess he's not bad."

"You know him?" Pony asked in a careful but understandable Japanese, some of their classmates turned their attention to [Y/N] who shrugged in response.

"We're in the same Arena during the entrance exam. He's rude, and his Quirk is exploding stuff. No wonder he's in first class." [Y/N] heard Bakugo say something. But her eyes were in their classroom, Monoma was nowhere in sight.

It felt empty getting on the bullet train without her. Monoma stared mindlessly on the window, earbuds in and playing music in a decent volume. Lyrics filling the corners of his mind without demanding anything to him. It helped him focus, at least that's what he's pretending to. His bag sat on his lap, arms keeping it from falling, and a finger light brushing his palm.

The glass pane reflected a faint version of himself: composed, unaffected, aloof. None of his classmates noticed that him—a loud, boisterous, and theatrical individual—did not join the eavesdrop earlier. But she did.

She always noticed. Monoma desperately hoped she had forgotten it. She might play along but the fretfulness in her had already embedded in his memory. Monoma didn't mean to freeze, meant to show anything. Yet...with one dumb text. [Y/N] reaching his hand to steady him and consoling with a playful question, hell, even what she said back at the tea house—all of it hit somewhere he didn't have control over.

'Love you, see you later.' He shut his eyes briefly, thumping the back of his head at the seat. It wasn't even directed at him, yet somehow the sentiment crawled its way in him, something sharp and longing he didn't dare to name. You're a fool. So affected by this. He stretched his fingers for a moment, her warmth lingering like a ghost against his skin when a notification interrupted his music. He brought his phone close which was resting on top of his bag as the train lurched.

'Have a safe trip :) If you need someone to train with, I'm available.'

"Always considerate." Monoma mumbled, speaking as if [Y/N] was here. He needed distance for a while, and the training before the Sports Festival was perfect. Everyone will be busy, fitting their schedules to drill their Quirks. Obviously, Monoma needed to practice with someone, for now he won't bother [Y/N]. If she ever asked to spar, he'll be prepared with an effortless lie.

The training areas were opened even on weekdays for the upcoming event, and to avoid conflicts, the staff prepared timetables for each year and classes. [Y/N] made use of it, training by herself and with others, even meeting with Uraraka to train together and got to know more of her class.

"I'm glad there's someone decent in Class B." Mina remarked while taking a break, shaking her hands to remove any tensed muscles after producing acid. Same goes for Uraraka and [Y/N], resting their Quirks for a bit. Mina beamed at the two. "Here we thought everyone will be coming for our throats."

"Eh, no promises." [Y/N] replied truthfully, returning the grin and tossing a towel at the pinkette's direction. "It is a competition."

"And...I'm guessing you've met some of them, huh?" Mina groaned while Uraraka stared at the two with bewilderment. [Y/N] can't help but laugh. "As a part of Class B, I sincerely apologize."

"You met someone in her class Mina?" Uraraka asked, receiving a pout from the latter.

"He's so annoying! Always insults me and Kaminari whenever he can." Mina pointed towards [Y/N], whining. "What's worse is that your friends with him? How can someone like you befriend someone like that blond jerk?!"

Oh boy, I can't believe he's using Class A also to bring himself back. [Y/N] clicked her tongue, not surprised at Mina's conclusion. Her and Monoma were practically glued together. It didn't take long for others to identify the companionship. "It's no use. A number of chops by the neck won't stop Monoma."

"So that's his name. Sero and Ojiro told me the same thing happened to them." Uraraka shared. "It's really odd how you two are friends. Your like, opposite of each other."

"I could only give you nothing but prayers of patience at this point..." [Y/N] sighed in defeat.

"Can you go talk to him?" Mina pleaded, only to pout once again when [Y/N] shook her head. "Aw man..."

"He's been avoiding me, and I don't know why." [Y/N] informed casually only to be stared in return. She felt the assessment, and already regretting why she shared that detail.

"...You two had a fight?"

"Love quarrel!"

The cards flew past Mina, all of it hitting the same demolished rock behind her. It earned no swapping effect but it didn't matter. [Y/N] looked at the pinkette in shock, face in the same color as the diamonds on her left hand. "No! Are you insane?!"

"Oh wow! You're fast!" Uraraka's compliment didn't reached [Y/N]'s ears, occupied on Mina who had a devilish smirk on her.

"So...what happened?" The girl rushed up to her in a teasing tone. "Come on, tell me! Is this your first ever fight?"

"It's not—I—I don't know!" [Y/N] stammered, backing up in an instant and waving her arms frantically. "I don't know what's going on with him! He didn't even reply when I text—"

"You have his number?!"

"We're friends Mina! Of course I have his number!"

[Y/N] slumped on the ground, dread all over her posture. Uraraka immediately went on her side, sitting on the height to pat her friend on the back.

Mina hummed, squinting. "Hm...whatever you say [Y/N]." The two girls observed [Y/N], head hung, shoulder sagged, hands clasped together near her mouth, and eyes focused on the ground as if it would provide an answer.

"I just—" She took a deep breath, diamonds pressed to her forehead. The assumption had been bothering her for a while now, despite her performance in her trainings were exceeding. "I think I know why—probably a hunch, but..."

It was from one of the texts. [Y/N] was sure of that, yet she hoped it wasn't anything too bad. "I can't say much. It's...personal. Too personal for him. I don't want to push him, but I'm..." She sighed, admitting. "Worried."

Mina's playful expression softened, along with Uraraka's reassuring smile. The brunette shifted closer to [Y/N], now patting her head. "You really care about him, huh?" She paused for a second, forming the right words. "Sometimes people get scared when things matter to them. Let him come to you in his time."

[Y/N] took a peek, Uraraka was smiling her reassurance that helped her ease her worries. She stood up, pulling [Y/N] along. "Now come on, we still have training to do!"