Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Satoru, along with every other person in that stadium, realized that Present Mic placed much more emphasis on class 1-A than he did with the rest of the classes combined. For their class, they had this huge dramatic entrance that was still going on even as they entered the field. Then, class 1-B basically got a simplified version of that without the villain attack being mentioned once. None of the classes' overall attributes were mentioned or anything. That probably sounds harsh, but it's something compared to what the rest of the classes got. They got their class letter called out. That's it. Not even a 'hey, here's class 1-C!' Nope. The rest of the classes were just jumbled up into one sentence.
Satoru is starting to understand why some of the students hate the hero course. They seem to just take all of the attention. He knew it happened in his memories as well. However, he thought that since the students left before anything bad could happen, unlike last time where they had to fight for their lives, Present Mic would give them a simple introduction like the rest. Nope.
He understands why most of that hatred is directed at 1-A even if he disagrees with the reason.
All the students stand in front of the podium where their coach Midnight stands to gather their attention.
"Uh, should Midnight of all people be coaching this event?" Sero questions as he scratches at the back of his head. Multiple guys (and girls) seem to have the same agreement as some of them are blushing just looking at her. Satoru has to agree with them on multiple fronts. Midnight is not only wearing a hero costume that would be considered inappropriate as an outfit, but her hero name is literally the +18 Hero: Midnight. They are teenagers. Satoru considers it more concerning that they hired her in the first place to teach at a high school, but there isn't anything he can do about it.
"Hello students, and welcome to your first year of the Sports Festival! I'm your host Midnight, and I'm here to watch the youthfulness occur! Now, representing the first-year class, Gojo Satoru!"
Satoru manages to hide his surprise well as he makes his way to the stage next to her. He had no idea that he was doing this. He was aware that a student represents every class and gives a speech, but he doesn't know how that is chosen. The only idea he gets is because he got first in the practical exams. That makes sense.
However, he would have appreciated the warning. What is he supposed to say?
Midnight offers Satoru the microphone with a smile, and Satoru takes it with a grin, "Hello, everybody! I'll be honest with everyone: I had no idea that I was doing this, so I'm doing this on the fly," He can hear a little bit a laughter, so he'll take that, "I would first like to say sorry for everyone that is not class 1-A because the amount of disrespect you guys received for your entrance is kind of sad. However, we are not sorry if we win. We are going all out because plus ultra. If you lose, that's your problem. Just give us a challenge to keep your dignity." Satoru hands the microphone back at Midnight and ignores the gawking faces he receives as he joins alongside his classmates again.
"Are you insane?! Are you trying to get us killed?!" Kaminari loudly whispers to Satoru.
Satoru merely grins back, "Uh-huh! I want a challenge!" A lot of people who know him can't blame him. He hasn't had one in a long time, and if there is any place where he might receive one, it's here. He's going to take full advantage of that.
"Cool, but did you have to involve us?!"
"Yes."
His other classmates seem just as done with him as Kaminari, but they will forgive him later. Maybe. He'll buy them dinner or something to make it up to them.
Midnight snaps her whip to get everyone to settle down again, "How bold! I like it! Now, without further ado, it is time to spin the wheel and see what the first event is!"
From behind Midnight, a large spinner pops out with different pictures on each section. She doesn't hesitate to grab it and spin it with all the force she can. All the students watch it carefully as the pin's fast clicking fills the air. Then, it starts to slow down, and some hold their breaths until it does stop.
"The first event of the day is the obstacle course! The rules are followed: you can do whatever you want as long as you do not sabotage others or go outside of the course! Everyone please line up at the gate behind the starting line!"
The students don't hesitate as they push and shove their way in hopes that they will make it to the front for an advantage. The calmer students stick more to the middle or back as the middle is almost just as crowded as the front. Either way, most students want a good place, so it's chaotic for a minute or two.
Satoru doesn't want anything to do with that. Instead, he sticks with the back to have a better view of his opponents and to avoid any traps at the beginning they may set up. Besides, he has no issues shoving his way through them with his barrier in the way.
Currently, his plan is to make it to the end in a place that will keep him in the game. While Satoru considers himself fast, there are quirks that out speed him in an obstacle course. He just hopes there isn't anything too extravagant. That would be inconvenient.
The whip's sharp sound captures everyone's attention, and they all focus.
Midnight stands just within Satoru's peripheral vision with a grin on her face as she starts the countdown,
"On your mark!
Get set!
GO!"
Satoru decides to wait a moment before going forward, and he is glad he did.
The sea students shove their way through the tunnel, but it turns out there is too many of them. They are getting stuck in it. In the background, Satoru can hear Present Mic commenting about it, but he decides to ignore it in exchange of focusing on the pathetic scene before him.
It doesn't take long for a chilly breeze to be felt even with Satoru's distance and the crackling sound to fill the air as familiar ice decorates the entry way, trapping many of the students in it. Obviously, that's Todoroki's doing given the size of it.
Well, at least Satoru will get less resistance now. Though, he has to wonder if that is considered sabotage or not. Considering nobody is saying anything negative about it besides the students trapped, Satoru thinks it is legal. That's good to know.
Satoru finally starts the race by entering the tunnel, using the students as stability as he navigates on top of the ice. The tunnel itself isn't too long, and he soon sees the bright of day once more. There is an ice pathway in the middle of the course, but at least it doesn't cover up the entire thing. Satoru stays out of the way of that. He runs to what is considered the first obstacle of the course.
Robots. Specifically, robots from the entrance exam. Satoru has a good idea of how these things work, so it should be no issue to dodge them.
Of course, that's if nobody decided to block most the pathway. And, of course, that happened. The huge robots that Satoru ushered everyone away from sits in rubble with ice shards poking from it. Todoroki sure knows how to go plus ultra, huh?
Satoru sees Kirishima and another boy with a similar quirk to Kirishima's pop out of the rubble. That concerns him. People got caught up in that mess. If they didn't have those quirks, they would probably be severely injured, possibly dead.
"Is there anybody else under there?!" Satoru hollers as he rushes toward it.
"Nah, bro! It was just us! We're good!" Kirishima responds. Other students respond with similar answers, and Satoru releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. Todoroki doesn't know much about consequences, does he?
Satoru will worry about that later. Right now, he needs to get around this mess. While the others start climbing it, he steps back to see if there was any place where it wasn't being blocked. Satoru grins when he sees a narrow opening just at the edge of the course and dashes through it.
With that out of the way, Satoru is back in action.
It seems like those were the only big robots in this course as the rest of them are smaller. Satoru easily out maneuvers those now that he doesn't have to destroy them unlike before. If they get too close, he just brings up the barrier and moves on with his day.
It doesn't take long for him to reach the next course, which consists of giant chasms that the students must cross. Some of the students can fly over it or use other means similar, but if they can't, there is a line that they can use. However, it's small, so it requires either good balance or patience crossing unless they want to fall to the bottom.
Satoru could do that. He has gotten himself into situations like these out of boredom. However, why should he when he has teleportation?
Yes, Satoru figured out he can teleport. Unlike most other things he can do, he has no idea how he can do it. It just sort of happens like an instinct. He worked on it at home and school, so he's confident that he can do it. Satoru just doesn't want to take it too far yet, and it isn't a far distance.
Satoru continues running, and, with the blink of an eye, he appears at the other end with no issues. He ignores the complaints from behind him and moves on.
The final challenge that stands between Satoru and the end is a mine field. Mines are scattered across the course, and when someone steps on them, it throws the student up into the sky. That leads to a rough landing, obviously.
Looking ahead, Satoru can see Todoroki and Bakugo duking it out and Midoriya flying on what looks like a scrap piece of metal from the bots.
Aizawa calls Midoriya a problem child within reason.
Satoru doesn't mind Midoriya winning. Actually, he is rooting for him. However, Satoru will do everything in his power to beat Todoroki and Bakugo out of spite. They deserve it.
With no consideration of what would happen if the idea fails, Satoru starts running through the mind field with no precaution at all. The idea is that when he steps on a mine, his barrier will keep him from being thrown up. It will still explode, but it won't do any damage for him.
Luckily for Satoru, the idea works. He rushes through the field with exploding mines behind him while he watches Midoriya manage to get into the air again and fly ahead of the two boys. Todoroki and Bakugo don't take kindly to that as they go faster.
Eventually, Midoriya lands and scrambles through the finish line in first with the villains behind him.
Satoru grins. Since he is within range, he can safely teleport across the finish line now.
Satoru teleports from the minefield to the other side of the finish line right in front of Todoroki and Bakugo, taking second place from them.
When Satoru looks back, he grins in satisfaction at how angry they look. If he may be honest, if they weren't on live TV, Bakugo probably would have already attacked him by now.
And miss since he can't hit him either way.
Even though Satoru didn't get first place, he is more than happy at second since it means beating Todoroki and Bakugo.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone