English is not my first language. My apologies for any mistakes.

...But this is what you wanted.

When he was a kid, Katsuki loved to sit down at the living room and watch the U.A.'s Sports Festival, like any other kid of his age. He would normally sit at the floor, with some snacks, sweets, and juice. You'll only seem him stood up to run to the bathroom while there were commercials, otherwise, he would not get up until the Festival was concluded.

It was amazing. Katsuki found amazing watching all those quirks, all the students fighting each other in the name of becoming the number one. Even by his young age, Katsuki thought it should be pretty cool to have all the attention and being at the spotlight.

One day, he would be at the spotlight. One day, he would be admired by others. One day, he would be the number one hero Japan even had, even better than All Might.

And that day would never arrive.

"They are so amazing" [...] said while they were watching the Sports Festival of that year.

Their mutual admiration of heroes was the only thing they had in common, and that was enough for both of them to be friends with each other when they were four years, as Katsuki was not much of a jerk. None of them had a quirk yet, and that was okay because both can imagine what kind of quirk they would have until the moment arrives.

"Heroes always win!" Katsuki said while smiling "And we are going to become the most amazing heroes. But of course, I'll be number one!"

"Ah!" [...] protested "Not fair, Kacchan! I want to be number one too!"

"Shhh! The Sports Festival is about to start again"

The sweet dream of becoming a hero that every child has. The dream of saving people. The dream of being famous and fight for justice.

The sweet dream that turned into a nightmare for Katsuki.

A week after that Sports Festival, Katsuki's quirk manifested. Katsuki started to change his way of thinking. He started to think he was indeed better than anyone. This is when he started to treat [...] as garbage.

And then, sometime later...

It happened.

Did you hear? [...] doesn't have a quirk!

Eh?

Right! He's quirkless

Sucks to be him.

The day were everyone knew [...] was quirkless.

The day were Katsuki smiled to himself and thought:

That's right.

I am better than him.

Katsuki growls at the memory he just had.

Crap.

How much longer is he going to be thinking about the past? For how long are these memories going to haunt him? For how long is it going to be this way?

How long?

How long until this is all over?

He looks at his classmates and how everyone was excited about the Sports Festival to start. They are at the 1-A prep room, getting ready and thinking of being the number one.

"Is everyone good and ready? The event's about to begin!" Iida exclaimed while moving his hands

"Wish I could wear my costume," Ashido said aloud

"They're not allowed, in the interest of fairness" Ojiro answers her and Sato nodded.

Even when everyone looked excited, they were also nervous. This year, they know they had some of the spotlights due to the USJ incident, so they need to try harder than the other classes.

Katsuki looked at his hands. He needs to try even harder if he doesn't want to be remembered as the one student who pukes each time he's outside. He needs to focus on not puking again. But his mind is spinning and doesn't seem to stop anytime soon. He's thinking about Inko's eyes full of hatred and how much broken she looked the other day. He's thinking about his mother, who he hasn't look in almost a month. He's thinking about his father, in how hard he tries to keep the peace between them but he clearly looks uncomfortable.

"Bakugou"

Katsuki looks up and saw the indifferent expression of Todoroki.

"What?" he asks confused.

They haven't cross any word after the USJ incident, so he's not sure what he wants.

"Objectively speaking, I'm stronger than you. Since I am more capable and you always look like you are backing off"

Everyone went silent.

"The fuck you said?" Katsuki said while he stood firmly.

He may not want to be here. He may be wishing to be anywhere but here, but he's not going to let this bastard to talk shit about him.

"I will beat you" Todoroki declared

"At being the worst, that's for sure"

Todoroki moved his head a little and then blinked.

"Oh! A declaration of war from the strongest in the class?!" Kaminari said smiling.

"Hey, man, why pick a fight now? We're about to go on..."

"Ah," the bi-colored boy said, not listening to Kirishima's words "I knew I recognize you somewhere else"

Katsuki raised an eyebrow confused. He's sure he hasn't seen Todoroki anywhere but here before.

"How come?"

"A year ago, you found one of your former classmates after he jumped from your middle school rooftop. Right?"

If anyone would come to the room, they would be able to feel the tension at the air. Some students gasped surprised by Todoroki words.

"I think I remember that," Sato said after a minute "It was all over the news"

Asui, Jiro, Tokoyami, Shoji, and Aoyama looked at each other with a nervous expression. When the news of All Might teaching at U.A. was first heard and all the reporters were around the school, they saw how Bakugou was intercepted by one and how she also recognize him, and when she was about to ask him, Bakugou shut her.

None of them wanted to bring such a delicate topic, mostly because they don't know how to ask him.

Meanwhile, Katsuki was looking at the ground and felt the bliss coming from his throat. He's trying his best in controlling his breathing and not to puke.

He can't― he can't do this.

Not here.

Not now.

Not when the festival is about to start.

But this is what you wanted.

Please.

Oh God, please.

Just―

"Dude, shut up"

Katsuki opened his eyes (he doesn't even know when he closed them) and saw Kirishima's angry expression.

Todoroki blinked confused and also surprised by how Kirishima talked to him.

"It's not fair to say such a thing just minutes before the Festival is about to start. Is this how you plan on winning? That's not mainly"

"No" Todoroki answers "I didn't think that―"

"Yes, man, you didn't think" Kirishima interrupt him "And while I am concerned, this is not our business"

Todoroki backed off and turned around and left the room.

"Anyone else wants to say something?"

When no one answered, Shinso stood up and sighed.

"Better get going"

One by one started to leave the room. And only Bakugou and Kirishima were left.

"Dude..."

"Thank you," Katsuki said and smiled a little but full of relief.

Kirishima smiled back and nodded.

"Let's go"

They walked to the tunnel and at each step, the screams of the crowd were getting stronger.

"The first years of the hero course! It's class 1-A!" Present Mic announced

"What a crowd!" Uraraka said nervously

"And we're expected to put on the best performance we can in front of many spectators" Iida say while looking around "I suppose this is merely one more necessary skill if we hope to become heroes"

"They're really giving us too much credit... but we won't let it shake us, right, Bakugou?"

"Nope" Bakugou simply says

Would his mother watch the festival? Would his father? Inko?

Katsuki shakes his head.

No.

He needs to focus.

When the rest of the classes were already formed, Midnight stood up in front of them

"Now, for the athlete's oath! Your student representative is from class 1-A, Bakugou Katsuki!" Midnight announced.

"What?!" Kaminari exclaims surprised

"Must be because he placed first in the entrance exam?" Sero says while he and the others looked him walking to the podium.

"Will he be alright?" Yaoyorozu asked concerned

"He will be," Kirishima says with confidence

At each step he takes, Katsuki can feel the stares of the other classes. Stares of envy, of angry, of hate. The kind of stares he used to give to the rest of the world.

To Izuku.

Right.

He needs to focus.

I don't want to die

He needs to make the declaration of war.

He needs to push himself. Telling himself he can't lose.

"The athlete's oath..." Katsuki spoke highly.

I don't want to die.

I want to be a hero like All Might

Quirks are so cool, doncha think, Kacchan?

"...Be the heroes you dream to become"

Class 1-A clapped and smiled. The other classes looked between them and also clapped at his words.

"Well... one would expect from class 1-A to be cocky," one girl of class 1-C said aloud

Katsuki got down of the podium and his classmates cheer for him.

If he only would have understood those words a year ago, it would have been better.

"Now, without any delay, let's get the first event started!" Midnight said "These are the qualifiers! It's in this stage that so many are sent home crying every year...!"

While Midnight was explaining, Katsuki felt his ears buzzing.

It's just... been my dream since I was little, you know?

I don't want to die.

And, well...

There's no harm in trying...

"START!"

Katsuki and the rest of the students ran.

"The first event is the obstacle course race!" Present Mic explained "It's a lap around this stadium, made just for today! According to the rules, anything's fair game as long as our contestants stay in bounds. It's a harsh game of chicken!"

Todoroki was already in the first position and Katsuki was close behind him. The robots were easy going for Katsuki and smile crossed in his face when he jumped high and avoid the robot in front of him.

The first barrier ended and now they were facing the second one: the fall.

Asui didn't seem to have any problem crossing the ropes. Todoroki continued to lead the path and Katsuki too was able to crossover without any problem thanks to his explosions and then...

He surpassed Todoroki.

Katsuki looked at him and Todoroki did the same thing

"Fuck you," Katsuki said to him very angry

He won't forget his words so easily. Todoroki can say whatever the crap he wants, but he has no right to say shit to him.

And they ran.

Fighting each other while they ran. Todoroki taking him by the arm and him blasting him back.

I want to be a hero

I want to...

I ...

He can't hear him.

Not anymore.

"The winner is...!"

Thank God.