My steps gradually carried me closer to Midoriya. I lifted a hand and waved at him.
"Midoriya!!!"
Just then, Ojiro appeared behind him, quickly covering his own mouth as Midoriya seemed about to respond to Shinso.
"Midoriya, don't answer his provocations!" Ojiro warned sharply.
I approached, blinking at the tension in the air. With a puzzled look, I scratched my head and asked,
"What's going on here?"
Ojiro glanced around nervously, clearly trying to avoid talking to me directly.
"Ah… It's nothing. Really. Midoriya, don't forget our talk later, okay? Don't forget your promise!"
Midoriya blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Did I… make a promise?"
Ojiro met his gaze and blinked a few times—clearly trying to signal something—before turning and walking away, his figure slowly disappearing from view.
Once he was gone, I turned back to Midoriya.
"By the way, how did things go with Todoroki?"
Midoriya turned to me, waving his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about it. It was just… a direct challenge. Still, I didn't expect him to say what he did."
I tilted my head slightly, one brow raised.
"What exactly did he say?" I asked curiously.
Midoriya let out a long sigh, then gently shook his head.
"It's nothing. He just said he's been fighting for this, and I told him that I'll fight too—and that I'll win. I will win this match."
I chuckled softly and stepped beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Then fight with everything you've got, my friend."
We shared a brief moment of quiet as our eyes wandered toward the stadium staff preparing the entertainment equipment.
Then I broke the silence.
"Hey… About that conversation with Ojiro. I won't pry, but I have to say this—Shinso might be more dangerous than he looks."
Midoriya flinched, turning toward me with a faint look of panic.
"H-how do you know that?" he asked, slightly tense.
I gave him a light laugh and patted his shoulder again.
"Come on, don't tell me you forgot—I can see a person's Quirk, remember?"
Realization flickered across Midoriya's face, and he let out a deep breath.
"Yeah… right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
***
Now… all eyes were fixed on the arena stage, where a thin mist clung to the ground like a veil. Two figures stepped forward, locking eyes—each wearing an expression completely different from the other.
[AND THE FIRST MATCH BEGINS!!! THERE ARE A LOT OF POINTS AT STAKE HERE! WHAT'S WITH THAT INTENSE LOOK ON IZUKU MIDORIYA'S FACE?! AND LOOK AT SHINSO, FROM THE GENERAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT, CALM AS EVER!!]
Present Mic's voice boomed with infectious energy, igniting the crowd.
Nearby, a teacher with a block-shaped head and skin the color of concrete—Cementos—sat calmly, his presence firm and grounded like the material he resembled.
"The rules are simple," he announced. "If you step out of bounds, or are rendered unable to move, you lose. Don't hold back—Recovery Girl is on standby for any serious injuries. Give it everything you've got! But remember: intentional lethal force or malicious attacks will result in immediate disqualification. And of course, you may surrender at any time by declaring, 'I give up.'"
On the battlefield, Shinso stood with a smirk that dripped with mockery and condescension.
"Surrender, huh? You still don't get it, do you? Izuku Midoriya… This tournament exists to measure the strength of our resolve. If someone's truly determined to fight for their future, then fear shouldn't even be an issue, right?"
Midoriya clenched his teeth, visibly rattled by the provocation.
Meanwhile, I muttered softly to myself from the sidelines,
"...I wonder if Midoriya can actually win this."