Izuku, Kars, Scythe, and Kaen trained as much as they could for the Sports Festival when it arrived. The rest of their classmates in Class 1-A were also making sure to train their bodies and Quirks for the event and soon it had arrived. Everyone was currently in their PE Uniforms and waiting in the lobby area for the announcements to be made.

As Izuku was talking with Itsuka, he suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him and turned to see Shoko approach him. Despite being taller than her by a good few inches, Izuku couldn't help but back up as she got close.

"Midoriya, I need to speak with you. In terms of power, you and your 'brothers' are all stronger than me. But that just gives me more incentive to try and defeat you all."

"She barely speaks to anybody and now she's declaring war on us? What's up with this girl?" Kaen whispered to Mina, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Hey! Don't fight! Be friends!" Pony said, waving her hands as Shoko gave the equine-esque girl a cold look that made her clam up fearfully.

"I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to make good on a promise I made a long time ago..." Shoko said before turning to Itsuka, who kept calm despite the piercing glare the other girl was giving her.

"And Kendo...All-Might has his eye on you, which means that you're also somebody I need to surpass."

Itsuka cracked her neck to the side as her nostrils flared competitively. "Well, I'm not backing down without a fight. If we meet on opposing sides in this festival, I won't hold anything back."

A hand was placed on Shoko's shoulder as she turned to see Katsumi giving her a sneer. "And you forgot that Deku, his boys, and Yaoi Hands aren't the only students you should be issuing a declaration of war on."

Shoko huffed and brushed Katsumi's hand off as the announcements were about to be made. Ibara did one last silent prayer while Tsuyu reassuringly squeezed Habuko's hand.

Currently in the announcement box were both Aizawa and Present Mic, the latter excitedly looking over to see Class 1-A walk out into the field.

"WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO UA'S ANNUAL SPORTS FESTIVAL! AND COMING OUT OF THE GATES ARE THE KIDS WHO BRAVELY FACED A VILLAIN ATTACK HEAD-ON WITHOUT FEAR; IT'S CLASS 1-A!"

"Do you always have to scream like that, Yamada?"

"Haven't you ever heard of a little thing called showmanship, Shota?"

The crowds gathered went wild as Izuku smiled awkwardly, waving to the masses as Kaen held his hands out proudly, soaking in the cheers. Scythe and Kars both kept level-heads while the rest of their class looked around, some feeling rather overwhelmed at the applause.

"AND FOLLOWING AFTER THEM, THEY MAY NOT HAVE FACED VILLAINS, BUT THESE HERO COURSE STUDENTS ARE FULL OF SURPRISES AND CAPABILITY! GIVE IT UP FOR CLASS 1-B!"

Next came the all-boy class of 1-B. Izuku and Ochako both smiled when they saw Iida leading the pack and the bespectacled boy waved back to them when he noticed them. Kars narrowed his eyes when he saw Monoma in the middle of the class, the blonde still having a smug look of superiority. Kaen and Scythe also noticed Monoma and groaned.

"I thought that whatever Aizawa dragged him off for would humble him. Guess we were wrong..."

"We'll knock him off his high horse, Kaen. We just need to be patient for right now."

"AND AFTER THAT ARE THE HOPEFUL UNDERDOGS OF THE GENERAL ED COURSES; CLASS 1-C, 1-D, AND 1-E!"

The General Ed classes all stepped out, leading the 1-C group was Hitoshi Shinsho, the boy that declared war on Izuku and the others and the one Aizawa seemed to have his eye on.

Present Mic then finished introducing the other classes in the Support and Business Courses before getting down to business.

"AND ACTING AS THE UMPIRE FOR THIS SPORTS FESTIVAL, IT'S CLASS 1-A'S HOMEROOM TEACHER AND THE R-RATED PRO HEROINE: MIDNIGHT!"

Class 1-A saw their teacher walk up to the podium with a saunter of her hips as most of the males in the audience made less than noble comments. Kaen growled as he could pick up a few such words but a gentle hand from Kinoko calmed him down.

"Alright, my cute little students! It's time for the Athlete's Oath and since Izuku Midoriya was one of the top scorers, the honor shall go to him!" Midnight announced, pointing her whip at the greenette in question as he looked around before pointing a finger to himself to make sure he heard right.

"Go on, buddy! Say your piece!" Scythe said as he gently pushed Izuku forward. The freckled lad gulped before remembering his training with Rayleigh and stepping onto the podium, approaching the mic stand, and tapping it to make sure it was on. After a brief silence, Izuku cleared his throat and began to speak.

"I'm not very good at speeches, but I'll try my best. Before I came to UA High, I didn't think I would ever be able to become a Hero, as I dreamed. Then, when the people closest to me were in danger, I willingly risked my life to save them. I was only a child at the time and I almost died...but then there were people who saved me, people who believed I could be a Hero. And after working my hardest to reunite with the people I loved, I vowed to become a Hero who would make sure what happened to me would never happen to anyone else. That's my vow as a Hero-in-Training! A HERO WHO WILL SAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE CAN!"

Izuku's oath got a round of applause from the crowd. Toshinori, who was in the VIP booth, nodded proudly at the boy's words. Back on the island, Rayleigh and the whole populace were watching on a massive Jumbotron that the whole village could see. The old man smiled proudly as he heard Izuku's words.

"That's my boy...knock 'em dead!"

Izuku sighed in relief as he rejoined his class back on the field. A few of the students from Class 1-B actually ran over as well.

"Dude! That speech was totally manly!" Eijirou Kirishima, a boy with spikey red hair, shark-like teeth, and a vibrant smile said. He was also Mina's childhood friend and Izuku had seen them hanging out together after school occasionally.

"Yeah! That just got us all pumped up!" Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, a boy with similar teeth to Eijirou, strange eyelashes that went around his eyes, and messy silver hair cheered enthusiastically. Izuku couldn't help but blush as he felt Kar's hands rub through his hair affectionately.

"You did well out there, Izuku. We're all proud of you."

Izuku blushed and giggled as Midnight took out a large wheel and spun it. "And now we'll decide our first event of the festival!"

Everyone watched with bated breath as the wheel slowed down, the arrow soon stopping on an event as Midnight raised her whip high.

"And there you have it! Our first event will be; OBSTACLE COURSE RACE!"

Izuku looked to his brothers, Itsuka, Katsumi, and his classmates. They were all thinking the same thing at the same time.

"This is gonna be fun!"

She had been watching on the TV they had installed in her room a few months ago, the Sports Festival for UA High. When she heard that green-haired person talking, she felt something in her tiny chest that urged her to escape, a voice in her head saying that he was the one who would save her.

"Hey, kid? You watching this?" Spoke the big man. He was one of Overhaul's main enforcers but he always seemed nice to her, even though she was always told that he was a bloodthirsty brute who only cared about fighting.

Nodding her head, the man turned to the television and chuckled. "Gotta say, I'd love to see just how tough some of those kids are. Barely even first-years and they already beat some Villains..."

She looked down, her hands tightening around the hem of her raggedy dress. The big man noticed her and hummed, even though she couldn't see his face through the mask that he wore.

"Hey, how about I give you a head-start on getting out of here later today. Don't worry, I won't tell Overhoe."

And just like that, the small spark of hope in Eri's chest began glowing brighter than before. Maybe this time...she could be saved!

I'm gonna stop right here. In the next chapter, we'll be covering the Obstacle Course Race and after that, the Cavalry Battle and finally, the Tournament.

Also, did you like how I sneak peeked little Eri there? Don't worry, we'll see more of her soon.