Chapter Fourteen

Target Midoriya and the rest of Class A.

That's what [Y/N] heard about Monoma's next plan, half listening on how he convinced their classmates to corner one of the top three winners from the last game. Tetsutetsu didn't hid his determinations like the others, while the latter part such as Kendo went for the ten million only. Midnight gave the contestants fifteen minutes to form a team, and another fifteen for the game. [Y/N] expected everyone would team up with someone who is the same class, only a few would be a mix of both or from other departments. The girl saw Midoriya struggling to recruit, but unfortunately, she's one of those people who wanted his points. She walked around instead to survey the area—she already had someone she wanted to be with.

Luckily, he was still available. [Y/N] called Shoda's name as she approached her classmate with a wave. "Let's team up!"

The insistence reached Monoma's vicinity within the noise of the audience and other students. He had already picked his members for his team, just waiting for the countdown to end by observing each team and which Class A to target first. It was not intended to set his gaze at her, yet his eyes followed her form. [Y/N] and Shoda would make a menacing duo—both Quirks were versatile. Monoma could predict what kind of tactic they'll have. More than he hated to admit, those two had the upper hand in the second game, and from the starting lineup itself, he needed to be more guarded with his headband and points.

His curiosity got the best of him as he watched to two looked around for more members. Most of their classmates had a team now of either two or fours and carrying neither of them won't make their Quirk useful. He didn't expect the student from General Studies would come up to them, the purple hair had someone in his group, a Class A student with a tail as his Quirk. Monoma couldn't make what interactions or plans the two pairs were saying, but in the end, they agreed to be in a team.

Three out of four Quirks, and the one with the tail won't probably do much in a group. Monoma concluded, recalling how the boy used it to make himself hurl momentarily on the Obstacle Race. Now for the General Studies...Monoma was blank. He didn't notice if the student activated his Quirk back then, him and the rest of Class B were too busy to observe the rivaling class.

"Students take your places outside of the line!" Announced Midnight. "And remember make someone fall on purpose you and your team will be slapped with a red card! Stepping out of the line during the game will lead to disqualification!"

The crowd chanted along with the countdown. "Five, four, three, two, one—"

"Begin!"

Everyone rushed towards Midoriya, and with the help of Hatsume's gadgets the jetpack that the boy was wearing bursts to life and sending him and his team flying, successfully avoiding Honenuki's attempt to soften the ground where they once stood. But not a second, they were safe in the air as a pair of metal jacks head straight to them. Tokoyami called Dark Shadow where the dark matter of a bird blocked it with a claw.

"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami called again, this time in surprise watching his Quirk become stunned for a split second then darting around their space. "Are you alright?"

"Something just went past me!"

What?! Which one of them? Midoriya thought as he looked around. Dark Shadow was parrying the incoming attack while hovering with clean effort, yet someone among the other teams managed to split through their defense. He turned towards the field; half were wanting to grab a hold of his headband while the rest shifted their goals to other teams. Where did it come fro—

A clean swish almost struck his forehead, dodging it in time and the members gripping his soles firmer. Midoriya in frantic regain his balance in time despite Uraraka made the team lighter.

"Watch out!" He said in alarm when another slice cut through, just in time to shield his headband with an arm. Midoriya felt a sting on his skin, no blood drew but it still left a mark.

Under the rampaging grounds, Shinso had his head by the neck watching with almost no interest when Bakugo flew from his protesting team to try and steal the point. Mindlessly he tapped a red card an offbeat rhythm in his other hand. "He has a pretty good reflex."

Shinso turned towards his team; the Class A's name was irrelevant for him, but his Tail Quirk was useful. Thick and sturdy enough for it to act as a temporary seat for an easier and faster sprint, and only a hand in each of his feet to maintain leverage. Shoda was placed in front, and had no problem with lifting, only busy in throwing [Y/N]'s cards with a lighting speed through the tight spaces of their opponents' defenses.

It was easy to manipulate the two into Shinso's control, one friendly and other timid, no hard work for him to steal points too. It was perfect.

"But reckless." Almost perfect. The feminine voice added more annoyance than before, and Shinso didn't care if [Y/N] narrowed her eyes for a second when he scoffed. "Midoriya has a knack for breaking his bones."

Hands in his pockets, Shinso strode in a relaxed composure towards the two who were standing like lost sheep. Faltered footsteps followed behind him with no mind in present.

"You guys have a team?" Shinso asked when [Y/N] first took notice his approach. He gestured to his teammate. "We're still lacking some members."

"Oh, well...yeah. We're uneven at the moment." Shoda answered for the both of them.

[Y/N] flickered her eyes between the three. They way the tailed student moved was odd—he was too stiff, too...obedient. It was uncanny to the girl. Shoda shifted his weight. "How many people are you looking for?"

"Two." Unpleasantry rumbled in her stomach, all so sudden, the pressure of Shinso's stare faded the noises into a dull. She didn't spoke, not yet, watching—observing how this would play out. Shinso then smiled a little when she was caught, yet he continued with the conversation. "But I only need one who can pull off my plan."

Both Class B students furrowed their brows. "One? What sort of plan do you have?"

"Simple."

A headband appeared in his hand, the startled yelp from Kamikiri and Pony made him smirked. Present Mic didn't even notice it was their team who stole it, the Pro Hero confused as the two. They might later catch on though, if they ever caught the sight a piece of dark blue cloth falling into the ground, never touching the surface as running footsteps kept the stadium alive.

"Better find a new target, fast." A command behind the boy's sluggish tone. He picked another red card out of [Y/N]'s left knuckles, using it to tear a small piece of his P,E. shirt by the hem then touching the end of the card on it. On the other hand, [Y/N] had her right as a platform for Shinso's foot, using it as a hiding spot for her to produce black cards.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." [Y/N] muttered, scanning the field for a potential point to snatch, darting at the ten million points from time to time.

The smirk widened on his face, bringing satisfaction as Shinso watched [Y/N] call out to Shoda, the boy not responding. She called again, once, twice.

Nothing. Not a flick of recognition of his name or his classmate.

"Smart of him to join." Shinso spoke, lidded-eyes hinting a quiet smugness. He uttered a simple instruction and Shoda wordlessly walk towards him, feet dragging. "Better if you come along too. You can't advance to the next round as a single player."

He waited, never broke his gaze on [Y/N]. Her jaw was tight, shoulders tensed, hands curled in tight fists. "Gonna leave your friend behind?"

...

"You remember what we talked about earlier right? Not sticking to one group for too long."

Shinso's brow ceased for a mere moment. Shoda haven't replied—he was still dull. Yet [Y/N] continued with an even voice anyways after a nod. "That's what I thought."

"If one person gives all the directions, it's easy for the rest to get cornered." The girl met his eyes. "Especially if that person becomes a target."

Shinso had his brows creased again at the earlier interaction. A taunt and a bold, precise conclusion from someone he'd just met. Every word she spoke was aimed sideways for avoidance still having an upper hand to hit the mark Her plan was a well thought one too, seeing how others pinpoint the nearest team with accusation and charging without hesitation. Points changed in between hands, headbands were stolen, voices rose and fell. None of it held his attention for long. His gaze kept drifting back to [Y/N] where she moved through the field, always half a step ahead, never staying still long enough for them to be cornered.

Most people back in middle school understood his Quirk for negative purposes only. Manipulating people however they want, his classmates voice out all the things they would order. Some learned to shut their mouths around him, distancing themselves to feel safer. But not [Y/N], both of them caught some team's interest. With a glint in her eyes, she took a side glance at Shinso, giving her trust to him to deal with the bursts of proclamation from Tetsutetsu.

A/N: I only noticed now I keep spelling Midoriya's name wrong in the past chapters 😅