Ren walked down the hallways with a satisfied smile on his face. He had left Mina in Recovery Girl's hands and was now savoring the sweet taste of complete victory.
Hmmmm... I keep telling myself I should stop being so obvious, but who can blame me? I saw the opportunity and I took it. Damn, I'm getting more shameless every day. At this rate, my hero name's gonna end up being The Bald Pervert for real.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the figure approaching from the side hallway until it was too late. His face slammed straight into a pair of firm, comfortable pillows. You didn't need to be an expert to know what they were.
Somehow I keep bumping into more and more breasts. Could it be that my protagonist aura finally kicked in?
When he lifted his face, he found a sexy woman in a dominatrix outfit. Nemuri had made her way over here at some point.
"Well, well~" she purred, adjusting the whip at her waist as she took a step forward to close the distance. "Looks like our star student is pretty distracted after dropping his lovely partner off at Recovery Girl's."
Ren took a step back, trying to keep his composure while Nemuri leaned forward with a dangerous smile.
"It was a normal match," Ren answered, though he knew perfectly well he didn't sound convincing.
"Normal?" Nemuri laughed, resting a hand on her hip. "Honey, I've been watching matches in this tournament for years, and I've never seen a girl collapse in such a... thrilling way. Especially with her face that red and her legs shaking like that."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, of course you don't~" Midnight took another step closer, subtly cornering him against the wall. "Let's just say I have a sixth sense for these things. And my sense is telling me you did more than just telekinesis down there. Little Ashido couldn't stop squirming. And believe me, my dear student, I know how to recognize when a girl is on the edge of an orgasm in front of a live audience."
This is the end. I've reached my limit. Goodbye cruel world, hello expulsion from U.A. It was a pleasure giving you pleasure, Mina. I regret nothing!
"But..." Midnight continued in a suggestive tone as she brought her chest closer to Ren's face. "I'm not here for that."
"You're not?" Ren said as he pushed Nemuri's nipple with one finger, moving her chest away from his face a little.
Nemuri froze for an instant, her gaze dropping to the finger before slowly rising back up to Ren's eyes. The surprise on her face lasted barely a second before transforming into a slow, feline smile. Instead of pulling back, she let a little more of her weight fall against Ren's finger, challenging him to hold the position while she rubbed her nipple against it.
"Well," she murmured. "Seems you've got more guts than you let on."
"No, my dear bald boy," Midnight continued, and her tone lost some of that flirty edge. "I didn't come here to scold you. I'm here because I just found out Makoto is here, at the sports festival."
Ren blinked, confused by the abrupt shift in conversation.
"Makoto? The detective?" he asked, trying to understand why that name mattered more than the fact that he had just given his classmate an orgasm in front of thousands of people.
What a persistent woman! But wait... MIDNIGHT-SENSEI! I JUST GAVE MINA AN ORGASM! Don't you understand priorities, woman? Isn't your job as a teacher supposed to be scolding me? Or did I actually reincarnate into a hentai world?
"Exactly~" Midnight crossed her arms, pulling back from Ren's finger, and her expression lost a bit of its playful tone. "Apparently she got press passes or something. And knowing Makoto, she's not just here to enjoy the show."
"You think she's gonna try to get close to me?"
"Of course she is. That's why I came to warn you." Midnight leaned closer, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "Makoto is stubborn as a mule when she fixates on something. And for whatever reason, you're her new obsession. Whatever she suspects about you..."
"Any suggestions?"
"It's simple, sweetheart. Avoid her." Midnight gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I need to figure out what's going on with you, because if Makoto is this interested, there's something I should know as your sensei. Anyway, go on. Your classmates are waiting for you. There's a thirty minute break."
"Thanks a lot!"
Ren nodded and started to walk away, but Midnight stopped him with one last line.
"Oh, and Ren-kun... next time you decide to give a classmate an orgasm in front of millions of viewers, I'm gonna beat you up, okay? My sensei heart can't take much more excitement."
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
"Of course you don't, honey. Of course you don't~"
Ren walked off down the hallway with a chill running down his spine. A beating... Shit, she meant it. He forced himself to focus; Makoto was a problem and Midnight was barely keeping her sensei rage contained, but none of that changed the immediate situation: the matches were starting soon and his friends were waiting for him. He shelved the existential panic for later and forced himself to switch gears, because right now being a good teammate mattered and the lucky pervert stuff could wait.
In another section of the stadium, Makoto Tsukauchi was staring at her phone like she wanted to kill it. Beside her, Kazuho Haneyama looked slightly embarrassed by her friend's explosive attitude.
"Ahhhhh, Nemuri is driving me crazy!" Makoto squeezed the phone in frustration. "She's not answering any of my messages! Doesn't she wanna say hi to a friend like me?"
"Makoto, you know Nemuri is super protective of her students," Kazuho tried to explain, attempting to calm the situation. "The problem here is that you don't wanna understand that."
"But doesn't she wanna help her cute friend with her Quirk research?!" Makoto shot back, waving the phone in the air like Nemuri could see her. "What I'm asking for isn't a big deal! I just want her to let me talk to that kid!"
"Don't you feel like you're getting kinda obsessed with this, Makoto?" Kazuho took a sip of her drink, looking at her friend with concern. "If he did some vigilante stuff, it was an isolated incident and that's it. What's the problem? He didn't do it again."
"It's just that I feel like if I interview him, I'll get a huge breakthrough in my research on Quirks in teenagers," Makoto said, slumping back in her seat with a depressed expression. "There's something about him, Kazuho. Something that doesn't add up. The precision with which he handles his telekinesis is enough to draw attention on its own, but the Trigger thing was another level entirely. He neutralized a powered up villain when he was barely a first year student with just a few weeks at the academy."
"Maybe he's just talented," Kazuho suggested with a shrug. "He's a U.A. student, after all. They're supposed to be the best of the best."
"It's not just that." Makoto leaned forward, lowering her voice even though no one was nearby. "I checked his background. Before getting into U.A., he was completely invisible. Average grades, mediocre physical condition, a part time job at a convenience store and nothing that stood out. And suddenly, in the entrance exam, he gets one of the highest scores in his year. Doesn't that seem off to you?"
Kazuho frowned, considering her friend's words.
"People can change, Makoto. Maybe he trained really hard before the exam."
"That's one option," Makoto admitted. "But a jump that drastic doesn't happen in a few months. Plus there's what happened with the Trigger. A first year with just a few weeks at the academy neutralized a villain under the drug's effects. Nemuri-san and a third year student were there, yes, but he's the one who landed the final blow. The data doesn't fit."
"And what does that prove?"
"That he's hiding something." Makoto straightened up in her seat, her gaze fixed on the arena as the cleanup crews prepared the ground for the next round. "There's important information that doesn't appear in his official records. And that's exactly what Nemuri-san is trying to protect by keeping me from getting close to talk to him."
Kazuho sighed, recognizing the determined look in her friend's eyes.
"Just... be careful, okay?" Kazuho lowered her voice. "Nemuri-san is our friend, but she's also a professional. If she decided to protect that student, she's gotta have a good reason."
"I know," Makoto nodded, though the frustration was obvious on her face. "But that doesn't mean I'm gonna leave things like this. I just have to find the right moment to talk to him without Nemuri-san getting in the way."
Ren arrived at the competitors' waiting area, where Ochako and Momo greeted him warmly.
"Ren-kun!" Ochako exclaimed, jumping up from her seat and waving her hand. "Look, the matchups for the next fights are up!"
"You probably would have known that already if you hadn't been in such a hurry to take Ashido-san to the infirmary... in your arms," Momo added. Her posture stayed impeccable, but her tone, usually warm and diplomatic, carried a subtle stiffness.
Waaaaaaait. Is Momo a little jealous, or is it my imagination? Omg, this is something new.
Ren walked over to the monitor where the second round bracket was displayed. He read the matchups one by one:
INKO MIDORIYA vs OCHAKO URARAKA
SHOTO TODOROKI vs KATSUKI BAKUGO
MOMO YAOYOROZU vs TENYA IIDA
REN HAYASHI vs KYOKA JIRO
Ren paled slightly when he saw the first matchup.
"Ochako..." he started to say, but she cut him off with a determined smile.
"I know, I know. I'm up against Midoriya-san," Ochako said, crossing her arms and trying to hide the slight trembling of her hands. "She's pretty intimidating, right?"
"It's not just that," Momo intervened, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "If we evaluate the raw power of her Quirk, Midoriya-san is, in all likelihood, the strongest student in our year."
"Wow, thanks for the encouragement, Momo-chan," Ochako said with a slightly forced smile and a touch of irony. "You really put me at ease."
Toru appeared from the other side of the room, her gym uniform floating animatedly toward them.
"But you made it this far, Uraraka-chan!" she exclaimed. "That's already incredible! I lost to Todoroki-kun in the first round and I'm not bummed about it. Well, maybe a little. But the point is, very few of us made it to this part of the tournament."
"Toru-chan is right," Ochako nodded. "Besides, I've got a really important reason for wanting to win this festival."
"A reason?" Ren asked.
Ochako took a deep breath before speaking.
"My parents have a construction company. They work super hard every day, but the situation is tough and they're really struggling to get by," her voice softened. "My goal is to become a pro hero so I can earn enough money to help them. I don't want them to keep working themselves to death anymore. I just want them to finally have a peaceful life."
The silence stretched out for a moment. Momo put a hand over her heart, clearly moved by Ochako's sincerity.
"Uraraka-san, that is..." Momo began.
"Admirable," Ren finished, crossing his arms. "But it also puts you in a tough spot. Inko is on another level, Ochako. And I'm not saying it to discourage you, just so you understand what you're up against."
"I know," Ochako admitted, looking down at her hands. "I saw her at the festival too. The way she dominated the cavalry battle... she really is too strong."
Ochako lowered her gaze, dropping her shoulders for a moment.
"So... do you think I don't have any chance?"
Ren looked her straight in the eyes.
"You can fight well. You're agile and you've got good combat instincts. Shoji can vouch for that after how close you came to throwing him out of the ring multiple times... but Inko is strong, and that's the truth."
Ren walked over to Ochako and, without warning, placed his hands on her shoulders. The girl looked up, surprised by the sudden contact. He started massaging her tense shoulders gently, with slow movements.
"But that doesn't mean you should go in already defeated," Ren continued, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Listen to me, Ochako. You made it this far. You beat Shoji, a guy who's literally a wall with six arms. That's already a huge achievement. You're gonna fight someone absurdly OP, so there's no shame in losing if you give it your all."
"That's right!" Toru agreed, bouncing happily on her heels. "Honestly, I felt super bad when Todoroki-kun knocked me out in the blink of an eye. But then I started thinking that very few of us made it this far in the festival. And you, Uraraka-chan, made it to the second round of the individual matches! That means you're in the top eight of all first year students at U.A.! It's incredible!"
Ochako felt the tension in her shoulders gradually easing thanks to Ren's massage. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"I think you guys are right," she admitted. "I already made it way further than I imagined. And even if I end up losing to Midoriya-san, at least I'll have shown that I can put up a fight against the best."
"That's the spirit," Ren said, giving her one last pat on the shoulder before letting go.
Then, without any kind of warning, Ren took a side step and slid his arm around Momo's shoulders, pulling her toward him in a casual hug.
"Besides..." Ren began, while Momo went rigid with surprise from the sudden contact. "Momo promised that her family would hire your dad's construction company, so the money problem is something that's gonna get solved later anyway."
"I-Is that true, Yaoyorozu-san?" Ochako asked, her eyes lighting up with hope.
"I-I... y-yes, actually..." Momo stammered, her face turning slightly pink from Ren's unexpected hug. "My father has... he has a commercial complex development planned in Mie prefecture. If I'm not mistaken, that's the region your family is from, isn't it, Uraraka-san?"
Ochako nodded quickly, her expression shifting from hopeful to completely thrilled.
"Yes! Exactly there! Oh, Yaoyorozu-san, that would be... it would really be incredible. My parents have been waiting for a project that big for years!"
"Then it's decided," Momo said, recovering some of her composure. "I'll speak with my father about your family's company. I'm certain he'll be interested in hiring local builders with experience."
Momo is such a sweet person, Ren thought as he squeezed her shoulder gently. The Yaoyorozu heiress, with all the money in the world, admiring the struggle of a working class girl... You're amazing, Momo!
"Thank you, Yaoyorozu-san!" Ochako said, and practically jumped over to Momo, wrapping her in an enthusiastic hug that almost made Ren lose his grip. "Thank you so much! This... this means everything to me."
Momo laughed softly, returning the hug with grace.
"You don't need to thank me, Uraraka-san. We're classmates, and it's natural for us to help each other."
Toru joined the group hug, her gym uniform pressing against both girls.
"Group hug! Ren-kun, you too!"
"I'm already hugging Momo," Ren pointed out.
"Then hug harder!"
Bakugo walked past in the hallway at that moment, saw the group hug, and snorted in disgust.
"Tch. Damn extras being sappy."
When they finally separated, Ochako wiped the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes.
"Alright," she said with renewed determination. "I'm gonna fight Midoriya-san with everything I've got. Maybe I won't win, but at least I'll let her know that Ochako Uraraka isn't someone you can just ignore."
"That's what I wanna hear," Ren said. "Now, let me give you some tactical advice before your fight starts."
He stepped slightly away from the group and started pacing back and forth, clearly slipping into strategist mode.
"First, your biggest advantage against Inko is your mobility. She's powerful but predictable. Explosive jumps and direct punches. You're more agile and harder to read."
Ochako nodded, listening carefully.
"Second, don't try to block any of her hits directly, and don't even try to dodge them by a narrow margin. If she grazes you even slightly, that's enough to send you out of the ring or knock you unconscious."
"Got it. Keep my distance."
"Third, and this is crucial," Ren stopped in front of her, looking at her seriously. "Your Quirk is ideal for destabilizing stronger opponents. Touch her and make her float, use the ring to create obstacles. Use your head before your muscles."
"And what if I manage to make her float?" Ochako asked, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Then let her go when she's over the edge of the ring," Ren answered. "Gravity will do the rest, but she can use her power to push off even in midair, so you'd have to time it perfectly."
Momo stepped in, adding her own observations.
"Also consider that Midoriya-san has been working on controlling her strength for a while now. During the obstacle race I saw her use calculated bursts instead of full explosions. She has more stamina than she lets on."
"Great..." Ochako murmured with a nervous laugh. "So I get to fight someone with incredible strength who's also been refining her control for a while now. Wonderful..."
"Welcome to U.A.," Ren said with an ironic smile. "Where everyone is absurdly broken in one way or another."
Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, making everyone jump.
"ALRIGHT, LISTENERS! THE BREAK IS ALMOST OVER! GET READY FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE INDIVIDUAL MATCHES! OUR FIRST MATCHUP WILL BE BETWEEN INKO MIDORIYA AND OCHAKO URARAKA! BOTH COMPETITORS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE ARENA!"
Ochako took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to center herself.
"Alright," she said, opening her eyes with renewed determination. "Here we go."
******
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