The number remained above Megumi's name.
10,000,000 POINTS
For one suspended moment, the arena fell silent.
Then every first-year on the field turned toward him.
The reaction spread through the crowd of competitors in waves. Students who had been checking their own rankings stopped. Conversations died halfway through.
Hundreds of eyes settled on Megumi.
Kaminari stared up at the scoreboard.
"Ten million?"
Iida adjusted his glasses.
"The difference is deliberately disproportionate. Second place is worth only two hundred and five points."
"So they gave Fushiguro a ten-million-point bounty."
Several competitors had already taken a cautious step away from him.
Bakugo had not.
He stared at the number with a grin slowly pulling at his mouth.
Todoroki's expression remained unreadable, but his attention never left Megumi.
Midnight cracked her whip against the platform.
"Listen carefully! I will now explain the rules for the cavalry battle!"
The stadium screens changed. A diagram appeared showing four students arranged in a cavalry formation, with three acting as the horse and one sitting above them as the rider.
"The time limit is fifteen minutes. Teams may consist of two to four students, and each team's total score will be the combined value of its members."
A headband appeared on the rider in the diagram.
"The rider will wear a headband showing that score. Your objective is to steal headbands from the other teams while protecting your own!"
The graphic changed again. One rider snatched another's headband and tied it around his neck.
"Any headbands you steal must be worn from the neck up. The more points you collect, the more difficult they will be to protect."
Momo looked across the field.
"With forty-two remaining competitors, there should be approximately ten to twelve teams."
Sato folded his arms.
"And none of them are eliminated just because they lose their original points."
"Correct!" Midnight called. "Losing a headband does not remove your team. Even if your formation falls apart, you may continue as long as your rider does not touch the ground."
A murmur passed through the students.
Mina raised one hand.
"Then we could let someone steal our points at the start and take them back later when everyone stops chasing us."
Tsuyu glanced toward her.
"That could work, but we don't know how the points will be divided among the teams."
Midnight's smile sharpened.
"You are allowed to use your quirks, but this remains a cavalry battle. Anyone who deliberately attacks the horses to make a formation collapse will receive a red card and be removed immediately."
Bakugo clicked his tongue.
Midnight pointed her whip toward the field.
"You have fifteen minutes to form your teams. Begin!"
A timer appeared on the stadium screens.
15:00
The field erupted into motion.
Students rushed toward classmates whose quirks they understood.
Others shouted offers across the arena, listing their strengths as quickly as possible. Friendships mattered, but familiarity mattered more. Everyone wanted teammates whose abilities could be used without explanation.
Megumi stayed where he was.
The space around him emptied.
Students who had been standing nearby backed away until a clear circle formed around him. No one wanted to begin the event with every other team hunting them.
Megumi looked across the arena.
Students had already begun clustering around Todoroki and Bakugo.
That was expected.
Megumi, Bakugo, and Todoroki had separated themselves from the rest of the first years during the obstacle race. Megumi had been at the front of the course the majority of the time. Todoroki had frozen out students without sufficient strength at the beginning. Bakugo had crossed every obstacle through force and mobility.
The three of them had become the obvious favorites.
Teams built around them were expected to advance through individual strength alone.
The question was who would be willing to stand beneath the largest target.
"Fushiguro."
Kirishima pushed through the moving crowd.
Megumi looked at him.
"You need a horse, right?"
"You understand what joining my team means, right?."
"Everyone's gonna be chasing us."
"For all of the fifteen minutes. All at once."
Kirishima grinned and struck one hardened fist against his chest.
"Then you need someone who won't buckle."
Megumi glanced at his arms.
"You'll take the front."
Kirishima's grin widened.
Momo approached from the side.
"You will also need someone capable of adapting to abilities we have not seen."
Megumi looked at her.
"You want in?"
"Yes."
Her eyes moved over the forming teams.
"Your quirk offers exceptional versatility and firepower against most opponents, while Kirishima provides stability. I can supply equipment according to the threats we encounter."
"You'll be targeted because of me."
"I am aware."
"You might lose before you get to show what you can do individually."
Momo's expression tightened.
"Then I will make certain we do not lose."
Megumi nodded.
"You take the right."
Dark Shadow stretched across the ground beside them.
Tokoyami stepped forward.
"The formation lacks defense against attacks from multiple directions."
Dark Shadow rose over his shoulder.
"And everyone is going to attack from every direction."
Tokoyami pushed it back with one hand.
"We offer our strength."
"Sure..." Megumu replied weirded out by the chuunibyou entrance by Tokoyami. He could swear there was special effects coming off Tokoyami.
Megumi studied the four of them.
Kirishima could anchor the formation and withstand direct attacks.
Momo could create whatever equipment the situation required.
Tokoyami offered independent defense over a wide area.
Megumi could focus on controlling the field and protecting the headband with his quirk.
It was perfectly balanced.
More importantly, none of them had hesitated to join his team, even with Megumi being the biggest target.
Kirishima lowered himself into position at the front.
"So Fushiguro is the rider?"
Momo moved to the right side.
"He carries the ten-million-point value. Placing him above us gives him the best view of the field. Along with the need of his hands to use his quirk."
Dark Shadow leaned over Tokoyami's shoulder.
...
Bakugo found himself surrounded by volunteers.
Mina raised one hand.
"Bakugo, pick me."
Sato approached from the opposite side.
"You'll need physical strength beneath the rider."
Aoyama placed one hand against his chest.
"Perhaps your team requires elegance."
Bakugo looked between them.
"I don't know what Quirks you all have!"
Mina stared at him.
"You don't know our quirks? I can understand not knowing Class B's, but--"
"He doesn't pay attention to what's around him at all, huh?" Sato said.
"That is so much worse."
Sero stepped closer.
"I can handle movement and sharp turns with my tape."
Bakugo pointed at him.
"Flat Face."
"It's Sero."
He pointed at Mina.
"Raccoon Eyes."
"My name is Mina Ashido."
Bakugo turned toward Sato.
"You're strong."
Sato nodded.
"Yes."
"Good enough."
Mina folded her arms.
"I swear I've only heard him say Fushiguro's name."
Bakugo climbed onto their shoulders.
Sato took the front. Mina and Sero supported either side.
"We're taking the ten million."
Sero looked toward Megumi's completed team.
"They have Kirishima, Yaoyorozu, and Tokoyami."
"So?"
"So their defense is ridiculous."
Bakugo's palms crackled.
"Then I'll break it."
...
Todoroki had already chosen his team.
Iida stood at the front of the formation while Jiro and Kaminari waited on either side.
Todoroki looked over each of them.
"Iida will handle mobility."
Iida straightened.
"I will not disappoint you."
"Jiro, use your earjacks to ward off any attacks and to steal any headbands."
Jiro adjusted one of her earphone jacks.
"That I can do."
"Kaminari, keep teams from closing in on the left."
Kaminari raised a hand.
"You know I can't control an indiscriminate discharge, right?"
"You won't use one unless I tell you."
"That doesn't make me feel better."
Iida looked up toward Todoroki.
"And you will attack with ice and fire?"
Todoroki's gaze moved toward the professional section of the stands.
Endeavor sat among the heroes, impossible to miss.
"No."
His voice hardened.
"I won't use my left side."
Jiro followed his gaze but said nothing.
Todoroki climbed into the rider's position.
His attention returned to Megumi.
"First place is ours."
...
Midoriya stood alone.
Students moved around him without stopping.
His second-place finish had made him valuable, but it had also made him uncertain. He had launched himself across the minefield without demonstrating a clear quirk, and no one knew whether he could protect a team once the battle began.
"Midoriya."
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Uraraka hurried across the field.
"Let's be a team."
Midoriya turned so quickly he almost stumbled.
"Uraraka?"
She nodded.
"If we stay mobile and avoid the strongest teams, we can gather enough points to advance."
"Are you sure? I came second, so we'll still have a large headband."
Uraraka smiled.
"You got second because you were good enough to get second."
Midoriya looked down.
"I didn't really control the landing."
"You still crossed the line."
"Right."
He looked across the field.
They had mobility through Zero Gravity, but they needed another student who could defend them.
He approached Iida before realizing Todoroki had already recruited him.
"Iida."
Iida turned.
Midoriya glanced at Todoroki's half-formed cavalry.
"I was thinking that if I teamed with someone who had a mobility quirk, we could avoid fighting directly. Uraraka could make the formation lighter, and you could handle the front."
Iida adjusted his glasses.
"That is a reasonable strategy."
Midoriya brightened.
"Then you'll join us?"
"I am afraid I must refuse."
Midoriya stopped.
Iida's hand tightened at his side.
"Since the entrance examination, I have repeatedly relied upon you. Your judgment has helped me, and I consider you a valued friend."
His expression became more serious.
"That is why I cannot continue following you."
Midoriya stared.
"Bakugo and Todoroki are not the only students who consider you a rival. If I want to grow, I must challenge you instead of standing behind you."
Iida bowed his head once.
"I am sorry."
Then he returned to Todoroki's team.
Midoriya watched him go.
The competition had changed something between them.
They were still friends.
That did not mean Iida was willing to help him win.
Before he could choose, Hatsume landed directly in front of Megumi.
Mei Hatsume stepped into Team Fushiguro's path carrying enough equipment to outfit a small agency.
"You're first place."
Megumi looked at her.
"Yes."
"Excellent. Let me join your team."
Kirishima blinked.
"Straight to the point."
Hatsume leaned closer to Megumi.
"Every camera in this stadium will be watching the ten-million-point team. If I stand beside you, every support company in the country will see my babies."
Momo frowned.
"Your babies?"
"My inventions."
Hatsume activated a compact engine attached to her backpack. It coughed smoke into Kirishima's face.
He waved it away.
"That one okay?"
"It only does that sometimes."
Megumi looked over the equipment.
"You want to use my position for publicity."
"Yes."
She looked over the completed formation.
"Which one of them are you replacing?"
"No one."
Hatsume's smile remained unchanged.
"Your team is full?"
"Yeah."
She turned immediately.
"Then I need the next most visible team."
Kirishima watched her walk away.
"She recovered from your rejection pretty fast."
"She's a support course student, her goal is to advertise her inventions. She's just looking to take advantage of the situation." Megumi said.
Hatsume scanned the field.
Her gaze passed over Todoroki and Bakugo. Their teams were already complete.
Then she found Midoriya.
Second place.
Not the largest target, but close enough to attract cameras.
She ran toward him.
Midoriya recoiled when Hatsume appeared inches from his face.
"You placed second."
"Yes?"
"I'm Mei Hatsume from the support course. Let me use your position."
Uraraka stared.
"She said the same thing to Fushiguro."
Hatsume glanced at her.
"Do I know you?"
Uraraka's expression fell.
"No."
Hatsume turned back to Midoriya.
"If I join a high-ranked team, every camera will follow us. If every camera follows us, major support companies will see my babies."
Midoriya looked over her equipment.
"Those are support items?"
"All of them."
A small metal arm unfolded from her shoulder and nearly struck him in the face.
He leaned back.
"Could you control that?"
"It has excellent reach."
"That wasn't my question."
Uraraka touched the engine attached to Hatsume's back.
"Does that let you fly?"
"For short periods."
Midoriya's mind began working.
Uraraka could reduce their weight.
Hatsume could provide bursts of movement to let them get away.
They still needed a fourth member.
Someone approached before he could search.
Shinso stopped in front of him with his hands in his pockets.
"You came in second place behind Fushiguro."
Midoriya looked up.
"Ah... you're that guy from the general courses."
"Yes, but that's besides the point. Fushiguro, Bakugo, and Todoroki already have teams."
His eyes moved across the field.
"They're the three strongest students here individually. Everyone expects their teams to pass because they can carry a formation by themselves if they have to."
Midoriya's expression tightened.
"And you don't think I can?"
"You're different."
Shinso's answer came without hesitation.
"You took second without showing anyone exactly what your quirk does. You proved you can beat them. That makes you valuable."
Midoriya waited.
"It also makes you look vulnerable."
Uraraka frowned at Shinso.
"Why do you want to join us?"
Shinso looked at her.
"Because you need me."
Uraraka opened her mouth.
"Wait."
Midoriya raised one hand.
He studied Shinso.
The purple-haired student had crossed the ravine during the obstacle race with several students carrying him. Midoriya had noticed something off about the situation.
"What's your quirk?" Midoriya asked.
Shinso's face remained flat.
"You'll see."
"That's not much to build a strategy around."
"You're already missing a fourth member."
Midoriya glanced toward the timer.
01:14
Most teams had formed.
Shinso continued.
"The top three teams will attract most of the field. We collect points while everyone else throws themselves at Fushiguro."
"You're assuming they'll advance."
"I'm assuming their strength will prevail."
His eyes moved toward Megumi, Todoroki, and Bakugo.
"Those three have enough of it to force their way through. We need a strategy."
Midoriya looked at Uraraka.
She appeared uncertain but nodded.
Hatsume raised one hand.
"As long as the cameras follow us, I don't care."
Midoriya took a breath.
"All right."
Shinso stepped closer.
"I'll be the rider."
Uraraka blinked.
"You just joined."
"My quirk works better from the top."
Midoriya looked at him.
"You said you wouldn't explain it."
"I didn't."
Shinso lowered himself onto their shoulders once the formation took shape.
Midoriya and Uraraka formed the front and left side. Hatsume took the right, adjusting the equipment attached to all three of them.
Midoriya glanced up.
"We should still know what you can do."
Shinso looked across the field.
"When someone speaks to me, I can create an opening."
Midoriya waited for more.
Nothing came.
"That's all?"
"That's enough."
...
The final minute of team preparation began.
Megumi sat above Kirishima, Momo, and Tokoyami.
Momo created reinforced grips that attached across their shoulders and forearms, binding the formation together without restricting movement.
Kirishima tested the connection.
"This should hold even if Bakugo hits us."
Momo looked up.
"Please do not treat that as an invitation."
Dark Shadow spread behind them.
"I can catch him."
Tokoyami adjusted the headband around Megumi's forehead.
"Defense first."
"Then I catch him."
Megumi studied the field.
Team Todoroki stood near the center.
Team Bakugo waited several meters away.
Team Shinso remained closer to the edge, with Midoriya and Uraraka listening to Hatsume explain the equipment.
The remaining formations had begun positioning themselves around Megumi.
Most did not bother hiding their target.
Present Mic leaned over his microphone.
"After fifteen minutes of frantic recruiting and strategy, twelve cavalry teams are ready!"
Aizawa sat beside him.
"There are some interesting combinations."
"That almost sounded enthusiastic!"
"It wasn't."
Midnight lifted her whip.
"Riders ready!"
Megumi prepared his hand into a handsign
"Everyone will attack us at the same time," he said.
Kirishima grinned.
"Let them."
Momo tightened her grip.
"Do we evade or counter?"
"Both."
Dark Shadow rose over Tokoyami.
"The pursued must become the hunter."
Across the arena, Bakugo pointed toward Megumi.
"We take the ten million first."
Todoroki watched Megumi without moving.
Shinso surveyed the closest teams from his rider position.
Midoriya shifted beneath him.
"What do we do at the start?"
"Stay away from those three."
Hatsume activated the engines on her back.
Uraraka touched Midoriya and Hatsume, reducing their weight.
Shinso looked toward Megumi.
"Let them make everyone desperate."
Present Mic began the countdown.
"Three!"
The field tensed.
"Two!"
Megumi's shadow spread beneath his team.
"One!"
Midnight brought down her whip.
"Start!"
...
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