Shinsou once again awed the crowd as he took down Kirishima, sending the rock boy from the arena with that glazed look in his eyes. Bakugou took the win over Hagakure pretty quick by using a large blast, covering as much area as possible to blow her out of the ring before she had a chance to use her invisibility to and advantage and get close. Tokoyami fought Midoriya and though the green boy was fast, Tokoyami had an absolute defense against Midoriya's limited number of reckless, immensely powerful attacks.

"Hey, listeners, let me hear a YEAHHHH for our finalists!" Mic announced with his endless bounds of energy present in his voice. He was always amped up for the Sports festival but having you going so far in it made his energy even more vibrant and if Aizawa were any less happy he'd grumble at the man tone it down by now.

"YEAH!" The crowd cheered and stomped, being as loud as possible as they cheered for the person they wanted to win. Your classmates cheered for you, Mina and Hagakure bounced beside you, bubbling in excitement shouting about 'girl power' as you got ready to leave.

"That's what I like to hear! From The Hero course's class 1-A Katsuki Bakugou, Fumikage Tokoyami, and [Name] Tenshi...and our resident underdog from our General Studies Hitoshi Shinsou! Lets watch them duke it out, I don't know about the rest of you but I'm excited. Right Eraserhead!" Mic asked rhetorically, grinning at his best friend. Aizawa rolled his eyes and grumbled a 'yeah' into the microphone.

The four of you moved from the stands with your classmates and split off, two of you were supposed to be in the waiting rooms and two waiting for the arena doors to open once more.

"Heh, see you in the finals Wings." Bakugou had his hands shoved deep in his baggy gym pants, a challenging, slightly menacing sneer on his face as he walked calmly past you.

"You still have to beat Shinsou and I, Tokoyami right? We could both lose." He stopped in his tracks and whipped around like a slightly feral creature. You were right but he refused to accept that, he couldn't even fathom how you'd have any doubts about winning. The genuinely perplexed expression you wore annoyed him, how dare you think he would lose to some nobody like Shinsou.

"Like hell I'm going to lose to some general studies extra! And you, don't you fucking dare lose to some birdbrain before I get to crush you. I'm going to have an indisputable win and that means I have to destroy the best, all or nothing. I ain't destroying some shitty bird-boy in the finals when you are fucking stronger." For someone without a vocal quirk, his voice was loud. You wondered if perhaps his explosions somehow worked in his mouth too, making his yells louder than natural.

"Thanks?" You weren't really too sure what to respond. He was either telling you he had faith that you were the strongest besides him or just wanted to repair his ego from you pinning him in training. You'd have to ask Kaminari and Mei about it later, possibly Midnight too since she mentioned how she knows 'everything about how a man works'.

"I'm going to crush you." He left it at that, no room for argument.

"Like you did during training?" You blinked up at him with a teasing smile that was much too similar to the ones Mic and Midnight wear when messing with Aizawa. Bakugou rolled his eyes and pounded an open palm to the crown of your head, shoving your head down harshly.

"I got more up my sleeve this time fuckwad. Now that I know how ya fight it'll be easy to break you." He grinned, it was harsh and promised pain but it was a grin nonetheless.

"I'm looking forward to it." You genuinely were, your eyes were eager and smile earnest when you ducked out of his grasp. He was fun, a challenge that made you push the limits and creativity of your quirk in order to successfully fight quirk against quirk if your body were to ever break like it had before.

Bakugou wanted to beat the strongest and his drive to win was so oppressive you knew he wouldn't go down without giving his all and then some. It would be fun, now because it wasn't just training, there was nothing to hold either of you back. It was going to be dirty, bloody, scrappy and you were both ready for it.

"Heh, what kind of dumbass is excited to get beat?" Bakugou snorted, scoffing like you were an idiot.

"I'm not, I excited to fight with you and specifically see how much our training has paid off." Bakugou mumbled something under his breath and stomped off. You shook your head with a small smile, Bakuogu was sometimes confusing, a hothead beyond anything you'd ever known, and his foul mouth made everyone cringe but he was funny and hardworking and you enjoyed being around him.

With a deep breath, you followed your cue and walked out of the tunnel, bright lights making your pupils contract. You shot a glance up into the announcers box, Aizawa met your gaze and gave you a nod, his lip quirking into the slightest of smirks. You looked over to where Kaminari and Hatsume were elbowing one another while cheering for you with massive, proud smiles.

Then there were Sachiko and Akito separated from everyone. Sachiko was smiling sweetly in excitement and Akito was jumping up and down, waving his hands wildly in excitement, though his mouth was covered you were sure he was cheering your name. You gave him a smile and a wave and he lit up even more. So many eyes were on you filled with disgust, fear, awe, excitement...none of that mattered, the only ones you cared to watch were doing so with pride, love, care. That's all you needed.

Finally, you turned your gaze to Tokoyami, he gave you a nod. You didn't talk much in class, just a few conversations here and there and that one time you teamed up for a training session, but there was a sense of camaraderie between the two of you.

It started 100% because you had the bird features he lacked and vice versa but was cemented when after you asked about his feathers being so soft and then a week later he brought you the special wash and moisturizer he uses for them. His inky black feathers were glossy in the bright light and if yours weren't still bandaged and some parts growing back, they'd be the same.

You both moved into the ring and bowed.

"We shall see who will prevail, the blackness of the night or the bright light of the sun. Let our kindred soul clash in tune with our rival quirks." He speaks with a low, edgy flourish that never fails to sound slightly poetic.

"...Not sure what that means but... I like it." You smile and his feathers fluff as he preens involuntarily. It happens every time anyone seems to accept him, to 'get' him at least a little bit. Embarrassingly enough for him, it's happened more than ever after joining class 1-A. You both ready your stances as Midnight's whip cracks, a mic picking up the sound and making it boom throughout the arena.

"Dark Shadow, attack!"

"Moving on to the final round with an impressive defeat over the bird of darkness, [Name] Tenshi!" Your match with Tokoyami was over faster than you and everyone else thought it would be. With Dark Shadow's only weakness being light, the bright lights of daytime paired with your quirk proved to be a perfect counter for his otherwise devastating strength. Honestly, if he were to go against anyone not capable of producing some sort of light, you'd bet he'd win almost every time.

Bakugou's match against Shinsou ended up with the blonde winning. As much of a delinquent Bakugou seemed, he was smart and payed attention. He was determined to be the best so he couldn't afford to be stupid. He noticed how Shinsou riled up his opponents, heard the talk of when they answered his questions they had lost. So, Bakugou bit his tongue and said nothing, even when being taunted to the point he was red in the face and fuming.

When he blasted the lavender haired boy from the arena, he made sure it hurt. But now, none of what the bastard said mattered to him because he was finally going to face you in a one-on-one without the limits of training. There was no trying to improve it was just fighting to win and Bakugou wanted to win and show the whole world he was the strongest.

You entered the arena, feathers shifting in anticipation. You were so close, so close to winning and showing Aizawa he wasn't wrong in taking you in to become a hero, that the people who worked so hard to reform you and show you the happiness of life weren't wasting their time. You wanted to win for them and for yourself; to prove to yourself that you can become a hero and win without the need for death.

Bakugou was wearing a downright feral grin, his ruby eyes alight with excitement. He walked tall, proud; the slouch he normally walked with was gone. He wasn't looking down on you nor you on him. His hands were open, twitching and ready to explode.

He looked more in his element than ever, he was nervous but he was happy, excited. He was burning with passion and the white-hot need to have an undisputed win against who he believes to be the strongest of class 1-A...for now. Next time, he'll fight you when you can fly and crush you once more.

His forearms were in pain already but he'd push through just like you were from the bite of cold. It kept you on more even ground, this was the final battle to push your quirks to the max from using them so much all day long. You didn't have all that much time left before things got critical and your light dispersed to save your insides from freezing so you'd give it everything against his hot explosions and try to win.

"The final battle is here! The annoyingly talented, hotheaded explosion user; resident bad boy of class 1-A, Katsuki Bakugou! Versus! The adorable, super amazing, my cute little cyborg; Ex-baby mercenary [Name] Tenshi!" Present Mic wasn't biased, not at all.

"I ain't goin' easy so you better not fucking wimp out on me now wings." The ash blond commanded huskily, eyes narrowing, begging you to defy him and see what happens.

"I wasn't planning on it. I can't win if I hold back now." You wanted this just as much as anyone. As rude as Bakugou was, his belief that you were deserving to make it this far only furthered your feeling that you belonged, that you weren't unworthy to try to become a hero too. So there was no way you'd hold back when he asked you not to: you couldn't, you wouldn't. You'd give him the fight he's itching for.

"Damn straight." He scoffed but it lacked any real bite. He was relieved you weren't going to hold back or some shit just because you were strong and won in training. You didn't underestimate him nor did you look down on him, you were going to fight him like a rival and he found the pull to you strengthening slightly. He was going to kick your ass for it.

Your eyes stayed locked, passionate lilac meeting blazing crimson, until the whip cracked. Bakugou launched himself in the air with a scream, twisting midair and coming down with an explosion-powered axe kick. The ground cracked where his heel made impact. If that hit...

Bakugou knew you were giving this your all, so he wasn't going to hold anything back even if it broke one of you. He didn't waste a second, twisting his body to send powerful explosions at you. They singed your sleeves but you put a shield, glowing transparent spikes coming from it aiming right at him. Two grazed him, the rest were destroyed by his explosions. He hissed at the sting of the cut, little dollops of red blood trailing down his cheek in small rivulets.

He grinned, that was way better than the shitty squares you were making before. You exchanged hits, the ground crumbling from his attacks and bruises forming from the landed blows.

The crowd, everyone watching was invested into the scrappy, impressive brawl between the two of you. In close combat Bakugou pulled out moves much more refined than in training, at one point he even repeated the move you'd taught him to incapacitate others, you being just a bit too fast in your counter.

"I thought you ain't holding back!" The blonde blew smoke in your face, and went low, sweeping your feet out jabbing your spine between the junction of your wings and releasing an explosion that put a hazy smokescreen around the both of you.

The crowd gasped, shouting at how it was a low blow to aim for where you were injured. However, they were all silenced from their anger when the smoke cleared and Bakugou was thrown back by a slash of a glowing wing. Your real ones were still hanging uselessly but taking over, like a plate of armor, wings that could do all but fly were covering your back "THAT'S MORE LIKE IT DAMMIT!"

The hit had barely made contact before you made the guard, it hurt but the stitches were gone and the skin was only tender now so it was fine. It was a push to get you to work harder. Not only was Bakugou better with his strategies, your training together and apart had left him with more skill in combat. His improvement was unexpectedly large. He was right, he had more up his sleeve this time.

His hands were seizing up, arms trembling as his chest heaved to get air into his lungs. You let out a breath, the air visible with how cold you were becoming. Bakugou launched for another attack. Like a barrage of needles, glowing shards of light rained down at him. He grit his teeth and yelled as he used a large blast, one too strong for how much his muscles were screaming to stop. It stopped the attack but thats what you were counting on.

Your wings slammed him to the ground where you coiled around him, locking him into a specialized arm bar that both choked him out and locked his arms immobile. If he dared move he'd dislocate his shoulder at best. You wrapped gauntlets around his hands, containing the small sparks as best as you could, replacing them each time he broke through.

"Tap out." You pleaded, pulling tighter. In this position, the bend of your knee was on his neck, cutting off his airway enough to turn his face red...a warning.

"Like hell I will." Bakugou choked out harshly, thrashing trying to get away. Damn, he won't give up. My only option now is to knock him out like this. You tightened your leg down on his neck, squeezing to the point he couldn't suck in enough air to breathe. One minute, you were breathing heavily, body straining to keep the stronger boy under lock. Bakugou was pissed as black spots danced on the edges of his vision.

'I can't lose to Wings, I have to be the strongest, I have to win'

The crack was audible to everyone. Bakugou cried out as he dislocated his right shoulder but it allowed him to escape your vice grip. The arm hung awkwardly but he forced it up, gritting his teeth through the pain. He placed his hands together a loose fist over an open palm. "Fucking die!" Instead of a large explosion, he centralized it to a smaller point, almost like a laser blast, making it more powerful.

His technique wasn't perfect, you'd only discussed the possibility and he hadn't had much time to work on smaller more powerful blasts but now was as good a time as any. It struck you in the side, searing your skin deeply cutting into the flesh above your hip. The wound cauterized from the heat so there was no blood but it hurt. You let out a pained gasp, tears springing to your eyes.

Bakugou had hoped it would be enough to win, that you'd weaken enough he could throw your ass out of the ring. It was time to finish it. He launched at you, his quirk was at its absolute limit and he couldn't decide if the pain of his shoulder or his arms hurt more. He was crying involuntarily as he reached out to slam you out of the ring.

You grabbed his outstretched palm with your metallic arm. His eyes widened in panic "FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Using his momentum, you flipped him onto his back, your knee putting all of your weight onto his sternum as you gripped his hand tightly. With your other hand you were forcing his dislocated arm, his hand crossing the line. He looked so utterly defeated, a far cry from the prideful aggressive look he always had on. You didn't like it.

"I had fun...thank you" You gave him a bright, exhausted smile. There was a deeper meaning for the thank you part but Bakugou didn't know what. And as mad as he was, he had fun too, it taught him what he was lacking.

"The winner this years class 1 Sports Festival is Class 1-A's [NAME] TENSHI with her brutal finisher. What a nasty battle for these future heroes!" There were sum excited cheers, some reluctant cheers, and many mutters of whether or not you were the bad guy or Bakugou was. Either way, everyone loved to watch a good fight and you both delivered.

You slumped over at the call, lying on the warm boy, trying to use some of his body heat as your own as the medics came to drag the both of you off until the awards ceremony. He couldn't even get words out, too exhausted and shocked both from pain and losing to do anything but close his eyes in sadness, anger, self-loathing. At that moment he vowed to win from now on, never again, not to you, not to anyone. He was going to train until he could utterly destroy you.

Bakugou was definitely strong and stupidly smart and adaptive in battle so you were certain with a (lot) more polishing and experience he would be easily able to win; however, you had the experience and the refinement he didn't. He was better with his quirk but even then it was still not at its full potential. No matter how strong his quirk is, your battle experience and undeniable skill in combat alone were too much.

***

You were wrapped in a heated blanket barely able to stand on spot of the podium after Recovery Girl's healing session to seal the wound on your hip. Bakugou was to your left, slightly in his second place spot, and wearing a heated glare looking ready to kill anyone who comes near him. He was stewing in his defeat but that was it, his classmates were surprised. Everyone thought he'd be rioting by now.

His arm was in a sling, with Recovery girls healing she fixed the pain to his muscles in his forearm but that left his shoulder to be put back into place and forced to heal on its own until the next school day; he didn't have enough stamina or some shit.

Shinsou and Tokoyami were on the lowest blocks of the podium in their third place. Though he wanted to win, Shinsou was proud of his third place, he was up here getting a medal. He made it this far, not anyone from the hero course, not any of the people who called him a villain...him. His lavender eyes kept flickering to look at you, the one so similar yet so different. He wasn't sure how to feel but he'd glad you won over the arrogant prick Bakugou.

"It's time to confer the medals and this year there is only one man we could possibly ask to do the job..." Mic paused for dramatic effect as a missile launched into the arena, doing a perfect superhero landing, a grin on his face as always.

"I AM HERE...With medals!" All might smiled awkwardly, holding up the medals as he stood tall, muscles rippling. He definitely didn't mean to come in too early but he was too excited.

"Our hero All Might!" The stands went wild, some woman threw her bra and more than a few people passed out in excitement.

"Congratulations Tokoyami my boy! You're a tough customer." Tokoyami bowed and All might slipped the medal over his head.

"Your words are too kind." Tokoyami preened harder than he ever had before especially when All Might pulled him into a hug. He felt all his feathers ruffle and his face felt hot.

"In order to crush that problem of unfavorable matchups, you can't keep relying on your quirk. If you train up your own strength, your own potential, your chances of taking it will increase in kind!"

"As you wish." He stared at the medal, trying to flatted his feathers as he kept up his stoic facade.

All might moved to the other side where Shinsou was staring at him in utter awe.

"Congratulations Young Shinsou, you shocked everyone, you have proved heroes can come from any class!" Shinsou stiffened, bowing to hide his shocked and embarrassed expression at the praise he'd wanted to hear for so long.

"Thank you All Might." He muttered, still in shock. The weight of the medal felt wonderful against his chest. Though All might didn't know him, he still hugged Shinsou and the boy short circuited.

"Your quirk is very impressive, hero material for sure. Young Shinsou, do not get discouraged by your place in General studies. There will be chances to apply for the Hero course again and after your performance you have a shot. However, fi you want to match up to the rest of the students you cannot rely on your quirk, you must strengthen yourself mind and body."

"I will." There was something in Shinsou's firm agreement that resonated with you. He terrified you but there was something else. Even if his quirk made you quiver, somebody who could make it this far in the festival, fighting for good...fighting to be a hero should be allowed in the hero course. He should have been in it in the first place.

"Bakugou my boy." All Might placed a hand on the boys shoulder, though he looked angry, he looked more crushed than anything. "You did well. Next time I shudder to think of how much better you will be." He slid the medal over Bakugou's head and pulled the boy into a hug.

"Get the fuck off'a me All Might. I don't want your pity!" He shouted and squirmed but couldn't break free, making you giggle.

"You may not have won an undisputed first place but now you know where you are lacking. Take this medal as a wound, as a symbol of what you lack and use it to make yourself stronger. You are strong both in quirk and body, Bakugou my boy, do not stop training, never let up and you can win. I believe in you."

The ash blonde went lax and gave an acknowledging grunt of resignation.

"I will surpass you one day All Might." His pride was wounded, but All Might said he believed in him and that meant something. He wouldn't stop, not now not ever. He was gonna win against everyone.

"I look forward to it Bakugou my boy." All might ruffled his spiky hair and finally stood before you. His smile was nice, kind of creepy but it definitely made you feel safe. You hadn't talked to the hero much, Aizawa always grumbled about him, but everyone else loved him and Izuku rambled nonstop when he realized you knew next to nothing about the man.

"Congratulations Young [Name], you were truly impressive even limited by your lack of flight. I did not get to see you fight at USJ but I understand now why Aizawa and the rest of your class is alive and well."

"Thank you." You didn't even want to think about USJ. You bowed and he slipped the golden medal over your head. He hugged you, it was warm and he was huge. His hugs weren't as nice as Aizawa's but it felt nice.

"You have made those who take care of you proud, Young [Name], and despite your less than welcoming upbringing, you are on the right track so do not take heed to whatever the media will say now that you are exposed to the world. You can become a hero, do not let anybody sway you from that." You looked up at him in slight shock wondering how he knew.

"I will do my best All Might." You smiled at him, some of your fears were quelled and your shoulders slumped in relief. No wonder he was the number one hero. He pat your head awkwardly and spun around. He was kind of dorky, especially when he messed up Plus Ultra. Even you knew he should have used it.

As soon as you were able to leave, you hauled your tired ass up the stairs to the announcers box and slammed the door open. Hizashi and Aizawa both spun around in their chairs, one grinning widely and the other looked more content than normal.

"I did it." You breathed out, a wide smile splitting across your face as you took in the fact that you won. You. Actually. Won. You cocked your head at your almost-dad and he responded by uncrossing his arms. You took that as invitation and jumped into his arms, curling yourself in his lap, hugging him tightly. "I did it." You repeated.

He hugged you back, rolling his eyes fondly. "Yeah. You did, plus ultra." God, he really was going soft.

"Family Hug!" Hizashi was dramatically wiping away fake tears as he wrapped the both of you in his arms. "You did soooo good my little cyborg. I'm such a proud uncle." Aizawa grumbled in annoyance, already done with the affection but you just laughed and allowed it to happen, not letting him leave the group hug.

​​​​​​​A/N: Thank you for reading, happy new year everyone!