May 6 arrived UA with banners, barricades, and enough security to make parents sweat before they even found parking.
The Sports Festival always did that. Turned a school into a pressure cooker and called it celebration.
Khan arrived early. He flashed his badge at a security he knew by first name, traded a quick greeting, and kept walking. Pro Heroes lined the paths in pairs. The patrols cut through the campus from gate to gate. Rooftops had silhouettes posted along the edges. Even the support tunnels buzzed with movement.
UA didn't do subtle when it felt threatened.
Khan took the stairs instead of the elevator. He liked the view from the upper concourse. You could read the crowd better up there. Parents packed the stands early, phones out, recording the empty field. Sponsors filled the boxes with smiles that didn't reach their cheeks. Press drones floated.
He reached the staff seating and slipped into a chair that sat a little off center. Not the edge. Not anywhere cameras loved. A clean line of sight to the arena floor and a decent angle on sightlines near the tunnels.
Perfect.
A few teachers noticed him and waved. Khan smiled back and greeted them by name. He asked after a shoulder injury. Complimented a tie. Took a comment about the weather and turned it into a harmless gripe about sunscreen.
Present Mic's voice boomed across the stadium, loud enough to rattle ribs. The opening spiel rolled out with a cheer.
Class 1-A filed out first.
They looked different than the last time he'd seen them together. Eyes sharper. Movements smaller. That post-incident stiffness hadn't worn off yet.
Khan approved.
Bakugo cracked his neck and snarled at the crowd. Kaminari laughed too loud. Kirishima slapped someone on the shoulder and got a grin back. Mina waved. Nobody waved back. She dropped her hand and laughed it off.
Todoroki moved through them without looking at anyone. He stared at the ground ahead of him. He didn't glance at the hero seats. Not at Endeavor's section. Not anywhere.
Midoriya walked out with General Studies.
Khan leaned back and watched him.
Midoriya kept his head up. He didn't shrink. He didn't fake confidence. He walked calm and stayed close to his classmates. When the noise swelled, his shoulders tensed, then eased. He breathed through it.
Midnight took the mic and the stadium leaned in. She stood dead center on the platform, whip resting at her side. The big screens caught her smile and threw it back at the crowd ten times larger. Parents shifted. Students perked up. A few pros groaned because they already knew how this went.
"Welcome, everyone," Midnight said, letting the word stretch just enough to get cheers rolling. "Parents, sponsors, heroes, and all you lovely troublemakers in the stands. This is the UA Sports Festival."
The roar came right on cue.
Midnight kept talking, riding the noise.
"Today is about growth," she said. "It's about showing what you've learned. Showing the world what kind of heroes you're becoming."
She paused and grinned. "And maybe breaking a few expectations while you're at it."
The screens cut to the students waiting below. Faces flashed across the monitors. Cheers rose when familiar names popped up. Gasps followed the scarier looking ones.
Midnight turned slightly, eyes flicking toward the Hero Course group.
"Let's invite the student representative for the opening speech."
"Katsuki Bakugo."
Bakugo stepped forward. He stalked up to the platform with his hands shoved into his pockets and a snarl already carved into his face. The camera loved him. He hated it right back.
Khan leaned forward in his seat. His eyes searched for Mitsuki, but failed. Didn't matter.
Bakugo grabbed the mic out of Midnight's hand instead of waiting for it to be passed.
"Listen up," Bakugo barked. "I'm winning this shit. All of it."
The crowd went half wild, half stunned.
"I don't care who you are," he went on. "Hero Course. Support. General Studies. If you're on this field, you're in my way."
Some parents laughed. Some frowned. A few teens cheered harder.
"I'm not here to make friends," Bakugo snapped. "I'm not here to look cool. I'm here to beat the hell out of everyone and prove I'm number one."
Boos rose from one corner. Cheers from another. A sponsor box went very quiet.
Bakugo pointed out at the stands, arm shaking with energy. "You can scream all you want. When this is over, you'll remember my name."
Midnight leaned in, smiling wide, eyes sharp. "Such passion," she said smoothly. "You really know how to set the tone."
Bakugo scoffed and shoved the mic back at her. "Damn right."
He turned and walked off without waiting for dismissal.
The camera followed him anyway.
Present Mic cackled from the boot. Aizawa covered his eyes with his hand.
"That kid's gonna give someone a heart attack," a teacher muttered nearby.
"Yeah," another replied. "Or three."
Khan smiled.
Midnight tapped the mic again and the sound snapped the crowd back into line.
"Alright, alright," she said. "Save some of that energy. You're gonna need it."
She turned, heels clicking as she paced across the platform.
"Now, as you all know," she continued, "the Sports Festival isn't just about fighting. It's about adaptability. Awareness. Using what you have when things don't go the way you expect."
The screens shifted. The image of the arena floor zoomed out, revealing sections that hadn't been obvious from the stands. Gates. Traps. Elevation changes.
Khan's eyes narrowed a fraction.
Midnight gestured with her whip, pointing toward the far end of the field. "The first stage is designed to test exactly that."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Students," she said, voice carrying easy authority, "your first challenge is the Obstacle Race."
Cheers broke out again.
"You'll face a variety of hazards," Midnight went on. "Some familiar. Some not. You'll need speed, creativity, and maybe a little luck."
She flashed a grin. "Those of you who rely on brute force alone might want to rethink your strategy."
Bakugo, already back with his class, cracked his neck and bared his teeth.
Midnight raised her voice. "Only a limited number of students will advance. If you fall behind, you're out. If you hesitate, you're out. If you get too comfortable, you're out."
The crowd quieted, anticipation tightening the air.
"Heroes don't get to choose their terrain," she said. "So we won't give you one."
The gates at the edge of the arena rumbled.
Midnight pointed toward the starting line. "Take your places."
Midnight lifted her arm.
"On my signal," she said, smiling wide enough to show teeth, "run."
The horn blasted.
The pack exploded forward.
**-**
This novel is completed. I'm currently editing the chapters and uploading them to Patreon. If you'd like to read the full novel and support my work, feel free to check it out. Available up to Chapter 55 so far.
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