Getting up from the dent in the podium, I ignore Mirko and once again address everyone present.
"Before we get the events started, let's hear a quick word from our student representative, Katsuki Bakugo of Class 1-A!"
The audience erupts in cheers as Bakugo — hands in his pockets — walks up the podium. I hand him the mic.
He glares at me for a second. I smirk in amusement.
Turning back to the crowd, he speaks into the mic with his usual explosive charm.
"I just want to say... I'm gonna win."
He tosses the mic back at me and walks off stage, much to the other students' irritation.
I catch it and smirk. "And there you have it, folks! Is it confidence or arrogance? Find out during the course of the Sports Festival!"
The crowd roars, while many students shoot dirty looks at 1-A.
"Let's get this thing rolling with..." I point toward the monitor high above the stadium as it cycles through potential events.
Of course, I already know what it'll land on.
'Theatrics…'
"Obstacle Race!" I announce.
I give a quick explanation: "The course will run along the outer circumference of the stadium — around 4 kilometers, or about 2.5 miles."
"And the rules?" I grin. "As long as you stay on course — anything goes!"
More cheering.
"Now then, everyone get into position!"
The lights above the massive gate turn on one by one, then begin shutting off in sequence.
As the last light goes out, I shout into the mic, "Start!"
The race begins.
I watch the students for a while, but quickly lose interest — it's following the anime almost to the letter.
Leaving commentary duties to the announcers, I turn to the real source of my entertainment: the troublemaker beside me.
Cracking my knuckles, Yukei jumps from my shoulder and scurries away, already sensing what's coming.
Mirko flinches slightly. No matter how fearless she is, she's developed a sliver of caution when it comes to fighting me.
She quickly recovers, settling into her stance.
"You're also a referee, aren't you? So why am I doing all the work?" I smirk. "Maybe I should make this downtime meaningful for both of us."
As the audience watches the race, I disappear from my place — reappearing mid-air at Mirko's side, my leg already swinging toward her ribs.
She reacts, but too late — all she can do is brace for impact.
My sudden move draws the attention of the other pro heroes, as well as some confused spectators.
I grin and ignore them.
Mirko crashes into the stadium center from my kick.
"Cheap shot!" she shouts.
"Yeah? What're you gonna do about it?" I tease, smirking.
She answers the only way she knows how — launching herself straight at me.
I make a quick estimate.
'The race should take about 10 to 20 minutes for the top 42 students...'
"Just enough time to kick her ass..." I smirk.
She closes in. I throw a haymaker, which she leans back to dodge, countering with an upward kick toward my exposed chin.
I grab her foot and fling her a short distance away. "Nice try."
But she comes right back.
'Same move again...?' I throw the same punch to play along.
This time, instead of dodging backward, she sidesteps and grabs my arm. Springing up, she wraps her legs around it.
"Luna Tijeras!" she shouts, trying to crush my upper arm between her thighs.
I smile at the effort.
'Bold. But not enough.'
Before she can tighten the grip, I crouch and slam her into the ground.
A burst of air leaves her lungs as she's winded.
I go for a finishing axe kick — she barely rolls away in time, but the ground beneath still cracks under the force.
"You trying to kill me?!" she yells.
I don't answer. Just smirk.
She charges again, this time unleashing a barrage of kicks.
"Luna Rush!"
I cross my arms to block, analyzing her strikes.
'Definitely stronger than a year ago.'
"You've gotten better," I comment.
"Doesn't feel like it when I'm fighting you!" she shoots back, grinning.
I glance up at the monitors. The students have reached the minefield.
'Time to wrap this up.'
I remember the podium kick she gave me. A vengeful smile appears on my face.
She kicks again — and I vanish.
I reappear behind her, her leg still extended.
"You asked for it," I say cheerfully, driving a kick into her side and sending her flying into the wall beneath the audience seats.
"How refreshing." I stretch, wiping imaginary sweat off my forehead.
As the dust settles, Mirko claws her way out of the crater. She's ready to charge again.
"All right, that's enough for now. The students are coming."
I move back to the podium and sit on its ledge. Yukei hops back onto my lap, and I resume petting her.
The crowd, realizing they missed most of the race, erupts with noise again.
Mirko stomps over, scowling. "You better finish what you started."
"Yeah, yeah. Later," I say, not bothering to look her way.
She sits next to me, eyeing the screen. "So? Who's winning?"
"The broccoli head."
The monitor pans to Bakugo and Todoroki leading the pack.
Mirko squints. "Do you need your eyes checked? Which one's the broccoli head?"
I grin. "Just keep watching."
A massive explosion follows.
The camera pans again — and there he is, Midoriya, flying through the air.
Mirko raises an eyebrow. "This kid's got guts."
"He does, when it matters," I murmur.
She keeps her eyes on him. "How's he gonna land though?"
"Just keep watching."
She groans.
Midoriya, using a piece of metal, launches himself off a mine — stunning both Bakugo and Todoroki — and runs crosses the finish line.
First place.
"Classic protagonist move," I smirk.
The rest of the students trickle in.
'Results are the same: both 1-A and 1-B pass. Mei and Shinso too.'
I pull out a pair of sunglasses and put them on, shades hiding my eyes. One hand on the mic, one holding Yukei.
"All right contestants! A magnificent effort! Audience — LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!"
The crowd obliges, the stadium roaring to life.
The crowd doing as I say stirs something deep in me. I shrug it off.
"Next event is..." I point at the monitor again.
"Cavalry Battle!"
Students murmur anxiously.
"All right, quiet down!" I laugh. "Let me explain the rules..."
I break it down quickly. The 10-million-point bomb lands on Midoriya, and I laugh loudly at his horror.
Even Yukei and Mirko snicker.
As teams begin forming, I summon a pair of loungers and lie back.
With my eyes hidden behind the shades, I let them drift shut — and my voice drop to a thought.
'System, how's the reward coming along?'
The reply hits me like a truck.
[Host has not observed anything deserving of a reward so far.]
'What...?'
I frown.
'Sludge Villain… Entrance Exam… USJ… all those gave me something.'
I quickly organize the events and their importance.
'The sludge villain incident let's Midoriya acquire One for All.'
'The entrance exam shows Midoriya using his power for the first time.'
'And U.S.J. is the first meeting between Midoriya and Shigaraki...'
Something I missed during the heat of the moment occurs to me.
'At USJ, I interfered too early. Shigaraki never developed a grudge against Midoriya... Hopefully the protagonist does what he does best and pisses him off, otherwise this will come to bite me in the ass later...'
Backtracking slightly, I reach a conclusion.
'The System must be saving the next reward for something significant...'
'...Todoroki vs Midoriya.'
Of course. A pivotal moment in the story.
I exhale and relax.
At least I haven't wasted my time.
Then I notice — it's quiet.
Too quiet.
Everyone's staring at me.
Even Mirko.
I blink. "...What?"
Mirko snorts. "They're waiting for you to start the Cavalry Battle."
I glance at the teams, already assembled.
"...Oh."
I sit up slightly and raise my voice.
"Apologies everyone! Begin!"
No one even reacts — they just charge forward.
I turn to Mirko and hand her the communicator. "You take over. I'm napping."
"Whatever," she mutters, annoyed, but takes it anyway.
And just like that, I doze off.
The Cavalry Battle? Not interesting enough to keep me awake.