The afternoon session began with the "Recreational Games," which had effectively become a consolation bracket for the losers. Those who were eliminated in the Cavalry Battle were burning with a desperate need to redeem themselves.
Naturally, the girls of Class 1-A were among them. I had planned to stand at the edge of the stadium and cheer them on with pom-poms, but they explicitly told me not to. Apparently, they were so terrified of what I might do next that they'd feel much more "supported" if I just sat somewhere and stayed quiet.
I don't get it.
Well, the Mummy-teacher had summoned me earlier and scolded me to "sit out the recreational games and stay quiet until the final event starts," so I guess I'll follow orders. But still...
Do you really not need my cheers?
Oh, okay. I'll behave.
Tsk.
Since I had nothing left to do and couldn't be bothered to change, I stayed in the jacket I'd borrowed from Kacchan and sulked in the designated student seating area, eating popcorn by myself.
I was munching and crunching in a fit of pique. Crunch, crunch... Caramel popcorn really is the pinnacle of snacks. It's strange... how can something this delicious exist while world peace remains so elusive? It's a tragedy.
May sugar be with us all.
"Midoriya, would you mind if I joined you?"
"Hm? Oh, Momo. Go ahead."
"Thank you."
As I was lost in my own profound thoughts, Momo sat down next to me. She was carrying all the snacks I'd shared with her before lunch. She was undoubtedly in "lipid-replenishment mode."
"Aren't you doing the games? Ashido and Ochaco went because they were bored of waiting."
"No, I decided to decline. I need to replenish as much body fat as possible before the main event. Making those costumes and the stress of the Cavalry Battle really drained me..."
Hearing that, I noticed her chest looked a bit smaller.
Boing.
"Eek?!"
I gave them a quick poke to test my theory. Yep, definitely smaller. I mean, they were still huge, but...
"Midoriya?! What on earth was that for?!"
"I just thought your boobs looked smaller. I didn't realize that part shrank too."
"W-well... the bust is composed mostly of lipids... so naturally, if I overexert my Quirk, well..."
"So if you eat fat, they get big again? They always seem to stay the same size. Isn't it a pain to have them change every time you use your Quirk? How do you even handle bras?"
"T-that... well... store-bought ones don't really work. I make my own using materials with high elasticity. If the size changes too drastically, I have to use padding to—What are you making me say?!"
There was a sudden thud from behind us.
I turned around to see Sero and Ojiro sitting in the row behind, leaning forward with their heads turned away in a very suspicious manner. I decided not to ask what was going on with them.
"Hah?! Sero?! Ojiro?! A-ah... did you... did you hear that?!" Momo stammered, her face turning bright red.
At her flustered voice, Sero and Ojiro turned toward us. They wore smiles so unnaturally bright and innocent it was almost refreshing.
"Hey, Ojiro. Did you hear something just now?"
"Eh? No, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh... thank goodness..."
Looking at Momo's relieved face, I had a sudden realization. I'm sure all three of us were thinking the same thing: Momo is a total pushover.
A little while later, once the boys had straightened their backs and stopped acting weird, I decided to speak up again.
"By the way, Ojiro. I can't believe you had the nerve to show your face to me after you were shaking that tail around. I should have plucked it off."
"Please don't. We haven't even fought yet."
If I had, it would have given me a massive advantage...
Sero, sitting next to Ojiro, started smirking. "Plucking it off, huh? What's the deal, Ojiro? Are you and Midoriya a thing now? Did you steal her away from Bakugo?"
"Sero, seriously, stop that joke," Ojiro said, deadpan. "It's not funny. I'll end up being the one Bakugo punches instead of you."
"W-Whoa, don't give me that scary look! How much do you value your life? It was a joke, a joke!"
Wait, did Ojiro do something to Kacchan?
"Anyway," Sero continued, "I didn't expect to see Midoriya alone. Where's your husband?"
"Husband?"
"I mean Bakugo. You're basically his 'newlywed' wife."
I silently delivered a sharp uppercut to Sero's funny bone. I didn't hold back. As he rolled around in pain, I grabbed his leg and locked it in. It was one of "Nico's 108 Secret Techniques"—the Scorpion Deathlock.
"GYAAAAAA!! TAP! TAP!! I'M TAPPING! STOP! SOMEONE GIVE ME A ROPE!!"
"Look at the bright side, Sero," Ojiro noted. "You're finally getting some physical contact with a girl."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!! Ojiro! It was my fault!! Save meeee!!!"
What's this, Ojiro? You want to help him? You've got guts! Don't think for a second I won't use the same move on you!! I'll give you something even more—Oh, you're not gonna help him? Okay then. Never mind.
"OJIROOOOO!! HELP! HELP MEEEEE!!"
***
After releasing Sero on the condition of a certain "tribute," I got bored and decided to go look for Kacchan. I could have stayed to watch the games, but they were making me restless. These kinds of events are boring until they start, but once they do, I can't help but want to join in. Especially since they were "voluntary participation"—it felt like they were practically begging me to cause chaos.
I felt like an old man at a gallows whispering to me that first place was mine if I just reached for it.
But if I gave in to that temptation, the Mummy-teacher would bury me. My summer vacation deal might even get scrapped.
I walked around asking people, "Have you seen a cranky explosion-head?" and found him almost immediately. For some reason, every person I asked gave me a warm, knowing look, which was a bit confusing, but I wasn't going to complain since I found him.
He was sitting on a bench, staring off into space. I snuck up behind him and threw my arms around his neck. He let out a startled, "Whoa?!"
"Kacchaaan! What are you doooing? I'm bored, entertain me—"
"Gah?! ...Oh, it's you. What do you want?"
"Hm? Nothing in particular?"
He seems to be in a bad mood. I figured if I said something stupid, he'd just yell at me for no reason, so I zipped my lip and sat down next to him. He looked like he wanted to say something, but since he probably wouldn't initiate, I decided to be the bigger person and ask.
I really am a saint. A total goddess.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Why the hell haven't you changed yet? Give me my jacket back already."
"Hm? Oh, it was too much effort. I'll give it back right now if you want."
"Just keep it on, you idiot."
He tells me to give it back, then tells me to keep it. What does he want from me? Good grief.
Since there was nothing to do, I joined him in staring blankly at the sky. Suddenly, he spoke up. "Hey."
I looked at him and our eyes met. He actually didn't look angry for once.
"Seriously, what is it?"
"It's nothing big. I... talked to that half-and-half bastard during lunch."
"I see."
"He said some stupid crap."
"I figured."
I didn't know the details, but it was rare to see Kacchan so introspective. Truly rare. I hadn't seen him like this in a long time.
"...And you didn't like what he said?"
"Yeah."
He looked away. I realized he probably hadn't been able to get angry at Todoroki. He didn't know how to handle the situation, so he was just brooding over it. Kacchan has a foul mouth and a worse attitude, but he isn't just a mindless thug. If he were, I wouldn't have stuck by him for this long.
"...Kacchan, give me your lap—"
"W-What?!"
I forced my head onto his lap anyway. The weather was too nice not to take a nap. His legs were a bit bony, but I wasn't going to be picky.
"H-hey! You brat! Get off!"
"Fufu. Don't be shy, don't be shy."
"I'm not being shy!!"
He yelled, but he didn't actually push me off. He could have easily forced me away, but he didn't. He's so dishonest with himself. He should just be happy that a beautiful girl like me is using him as a pillow; it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As he kept shaking his legs to try and move me, I grabbed his hand and looked up at him.
"—Hey, Kacchan?"
"—Huh?"
"You know... I like you."
"!!?? Wh-?! What?!"
"As a person, I mean."
"..."
The blank, stunned look on his face made me giggle. Seeing a Kacchan without a permanent scowl felt so wrong. I decided to bring him back to his usual self.
"You've got a foul mouth—"
"You're one to talk."
"Your attitude is absolute garbage—"
"Takes one to know one."
"You lose your temper over everything and you're a total pain in the neck—"
"Shut it."
"—But even so, I like you."
"I like your strong words."
"I like how you're always scrambling forward with everything you've got."
"You're a total mess, but when I listen to you—when I watch you—it makes me feel like I should try my best too."
"So, it's okay."
"Kacchan can just stay as Kacchan."
"You don't have to force yourself to put things into words. The important things will get through eventually."
"It doesn't have to be right now. Todoroki is much stronger than you think. He's the type of person who notices things. He'll understand your feelings one day."
I closed my eyes while holding his slightly rough hand. The warmth of his lap and the pleasant sunshine were making me incredibly sleepy.
"—So, it's okay."
"—Just keep laughing with all that confidence, keep yelling those loud words, and keep doing things your way."
"—It'll reach people."
"—Even if nobody else understands, I do."
"—Because I'm always listening. I'm always watching."
"—So it's okay."
"—Just like always..."
"...Talking all that crap just to fall asleep on your own. I really hate that part of you, Nico."
***
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