Chapter 120: Cavalry BattleAuthor: Geraint
Midnight announced that the 42 students who placed at the top would advance to the next round, while the others were eliminated. The second event of the U.A. Sports Festival: The Cavalry Battle.
The top 42 students were to form teams of 2-4, earning points by grabbing headbands from the other teams. The point value of each student would depend on their placement in the Obstacle Race.
Ichika, who had placed 1st, was an exception to the point rule — his headband was worth a staggering 10 million points, a fact he had expected.
Midnight explained the rules: the event would last 15 minutes. Teams would accumulate points by taking headbands from others. The rider of each team would wear the headband, but it could only be worn around the head or neck. If a team lost a headband or fell apart, they wouldn't be eliminated. Quirks could be used but not maliciously. Midnight then gave the students 15 minutes to form their teams.
Ichika stood with his class — Roboco, Shinso, and Himiko. "Just as expected, it's just the four of us together," he said, removing his weights.
Fifteen minutes passed, and Midnight announced the start of the Cavalry Battle.
The battle began with teams immediately targeting Ichika's group.
"Bring it on, everyone!" Ichika shouted. "Feel free to steal this headband from me, if you can!"
"Ichika-kun!" Roboco called out.
"Yagi!" Shinso added, ready to fight.
Team Tetsutetsu rushed at Ichika, but his speed was blinding. Swoosh! In the blink of an eye, Ichika snatched their headband.
"Wait, when did you—?"
More teams tried to attack, but Ichika was too fast. Every headband they attempted to take was instantly gone. This forced the other teams to hesitate, changing their strategies.
Shoto noticed that Bakugou was avoiding Ichika and targeting other teams instead. Meanwhile, Izuku's team found themselves under attack. Ichika was ignored by everyone, his nullifying ability and speed making him too unpredictable.
After the Cavalry Battle concluded, the first four teams would move on to the final event.
Team Yagi (Ichika's team) placed first, Team Todoroki second, and Team Bakugou third. Izuku's team had nearly been eliminated when Fumikage, during the chaos, grabbed a 615-point headband. This allowed them to claim fourth place, much to Izuku's joy. Tears welled up in her eyes.
The Sports Festival then broke for a midday break.
Ichika made his way to Class 1-B to invite Kendo and her fellow residents for lunch.
"Kendo—" he began.
"Sorry, Ichika-kun! I promised to eat with my friends today," Kendo said, turning him down.
"What about Yui and Reiko? Are you eating with them too?"
"Yes," Reiko answered, with Yui nodding silently.
"I see… that's unfortunate. I already prepared something for everyone."
Their classmates stared at Ichika, surprised at how casually he called them by their first names.
"He invited you guys. Why refuse?" Setsuna asked Kendo.
"It's fine," Kendo replied with a smile. "We always eat breakfast and dinner together. He's a good cook, right, Reiko? Yui?"
Reiko and Yui nodded, confirming her words. This only confused their classmates more.
"Breakfast and dinner? You guys sound like you're living near his house and visit him often," Setsuna remarked suspiciously.
"Not really. We just live in the same dormitory," Kendo explained, shocking everyone further.
"What?!!" Setsuna gasped.
Ichika shrugged and headed to Class 1-A next, where he invited Toru, Kyouka, and Momo for lunch.
"Sorry, Ichika. It seems Toru can't face you right now after getting eliminated from the second event. We'll cheer her up first..." Momo began.
"I understand. I'll leave her to you two, but just a reminder today: don't get tricked, okay?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Momo asked, puzzled.
Ichika waved a hand as he walked off without explaining further. He returned to his own class, but Roboco and Himiko were nowhere to be found. He approached Shinso, but he wanted to be left alone.
"Eh..." Ichika sighed.
With no one else to eat with, Ichika had no choice.
His body suddenly burst into flames, and he transformed into his adult form, Captain Falcon.
"I'll hang out with my fellow Pro Heroes."
Ichika removed his helmet as he made his way toward the stadium. The audience gasped, seeing him without his helmet. He wasn't bothered — everyone already knew his identity.
Ichika spotted Midnight walking out of the stadium and approached her.
"Midnight!"
"Huh?" She turned and froze, her eyes widening as she saw Captain Falcon in front of her without his helmet. "Captain Falcon?"
"What's wrong? Of course, it's me."
"Why are you in that form? The Sports Festival hasn't ended yet. You still have to participate in the final event."
"I'm alone right now and thought I'd invite you to eat with me."
"What about your friends? Aren't you always with someone from your class?"
"They're all fired up about the Sports Festival. Everyone's still too competitive."
"Haha! That's youth—Wait! What about you?"
Ichika shrugged. "I'm not really interested in the event, but I'm having fun."
"You don't sound young to me. I don't get what age you really are."
"I'm a bonafide 16-year-old. I just happen to have experienced a lot of hardship to survive in this world."
Ichika stared at her for a moment.
"Okay, okay! Please stop staring at me like that!" Midnight protested, pushing his face away.
"Then, want to have lunch with me?"
"Fine…" Midnight agreed reluctantly.
The two of them sat down to eat in the cafeteria.
As they were eating, Thirteen approached their table with a meal tray. "Can I join you guys?"
"Sure," Midnight said, smiling. "We've got space."
Ichika couldn't help but stare at Thirteen, making her uneasy. "Uhmm..."
"I thought you were a guy, but when I saw your profile at the Commission, I realized you're actually a woman," Ichika said, still staring.
Thirteen smiled and removed her helmet, revealing her true face. She had short, navy-blue hair, with blonde streaks on top, spiraling like a galaxy. Her hazel eyes had rings around them, resembling black holes.
"My real name is Kurose Anan, and I'm Space Hero: Thirteen. Nice to meet you again, Captain Falcon. I was really amazed at how you defeated the villains at USJ. I'm glad no one got hurt on our side."
"If you encounter a strong opponent—err, villain—call me right away. Hehehe…" Ichika said with a grin.
"Okay!" Thirteen laughed.
Midnight looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Falcon, you caused quite a stir at USJ. You really overdid it."
Ichika turned his head, avoiding her gaze.
(To be continued.)(A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later.)