---
The following week at U.A. brought a strange calm. After the USJ incident, security was tighter, teachers stricter, and the students warier—but life moved on.
And then the bombshell dropped.
"The U.A. Sports Festival is happening in three weeks!"
The classroom buzzed immediately.
"Aren't they pushing it a bit?" Kaminari asked. "I mean… villains just attacked!"
"They want to prove we're not scared," Iida answered, hand slicing through the air. "It's a message to the world that heroes stand tall!"
Ron leaned back in his chair. He wasn't surprised. Principal Nezu wasn't one to show weakness.
But he also wasn't thrilled.
This would put him on center stage.
Exactly where he didn't want to be.
---
At lunch, the class gathered around the table with Ron at the center.
"So, you're gonna crush everyone, huh?" Kaminari laughed nervously. "What with your copy quirk and all?"
"I don't crush people," Ron replied. "And just because I copy a quirk doesn't mean I use it better than the original."
"That's what makes you scary," Jirou muttered.
Ron raised a brow. "Scary?"
"You've got One For All," Midoriya said quietly from across the table. "And my Explosion, Half-Cold Half-Hot, Engine," Bakugo added with a scowl.
"Super Regeneration," Todoroki added.
"Plus your weird battle instincts," Uraraka smiled awkwardly. "You kinda came out of nowhere."
Ron gave a small smile. "I'm not the strongest. Not yet. I just… adapt fast."
---
Later that day, All Might called Ron aside for a private talk.
They stood beneath the training dome, shadows stretching long behind them.
"Ron," All Might began, "the Sports Festival is more than just a tournament. It's a stage for the world to watch."
"I know," Ron said quietly.
"And you will be the center of attention."
Ron met his gaze. "Should I hold back?"
All Might paused. "Only you can decide. But power… attracts danger. You've already felt it."
Ron nodded. "I'll fight. But I won't expose everything."
All Might's eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and concern.
"That may be wise."
---
Meanwhile, in a luxury lounge far from UA…
Several pro heroes and talent scouts watched the USJ footage on private monitors.
"That kid… Ron," one of them muttered. "Copy quirk? No, that's something else."
"Mark my words," another said. "If he dominates the Sports Festival, agencies will fight to recruit him."
"He might become the next big symbol."
"And if villains come for him?"
"Then he better be ready."
---
Back in his dorm, Ron sat by the window as the stars glimmered overhead.
> [System Update:]
– New Threats Detected
– Event: U.A. Sports Festival
– Visibility: MAX
– Objective: Dominate Without Revealing All
Ron closed the screen with a swipe of his hand.
He looked down at his hand—the same one that had crushed the Nomu… the same one that held the power of multiple quirks within it.
"Three weeks, huh?" he whispered. "Let's give them a show."
---