"Okay (Y/n), breathe," the (h/c)-haired chanted to herself as she inhaled deeply before exhaling. She had laid her head on the table as she stared at her feet under the table. She could feel her nerves going haywire especially with the silence that was shrouding the waiting room.

"Don't worry (Y/n)! I'm sure you're totally going to do this!" Kirishima spoke from beside her, making the girl look at him. She frowned unintentionally as the butterflies in her stomach were almost close to making her feel sick.

"Whoa (Y/n)," Kaminari shot the girl a worried look. "You don't look so good."

The girl immediately straightened up and flashed the male a thumbs up with a forced smile. "I'm totally fine! Nothing to worry!"

"Yeah! That's the spirit!" Kirishima mimicked her actions and patted her shoulder.

The girl sighed and her eyes roamed around the room. They instantly stopped when they met with crimson-colored ones directly across from her. The girl sent him a small smile, earning a scowl from him as he turned away, his cheeks red from being caught staring.

The female sighed and looked up beside her where Shouto was standing. He noticed her eyes on him and looked down at her, sending her a small nod which was returned.

Suddenly, the door opened revealing Iida. "Everyone, are you ready?! We will be entering soon!"

The girl took in a large breath as she swept her cascading hair back, pulling it back to tie it into a bun.

"Midoriya."

The all too familiar voice made the girl turn back to see Shouto, who was now standing next to Izuku, one hand in his pocket as his face was completely masked with nonchalance.

"Todoroki? What is it?" the green-haired boy stood up to fully give his attention to the male.

Everyone now was focused on the two, listening on to their conversation.

"Looking at things objectively, I think I'm stronger than you." the dual-haired male spoke out in a confident tone, earning a gasp from Izuku.

"Huh?" the green-haired boy cast a glance at his feet. "Yeah-um yeah..."

"But...All Might has his eye on you, doesn't he?" Shouto continued, his eyes burning holes into the boy's own.

Jeez, this again?... (Y/n) thought as she rested her cheek on her hand, her eyes still on the duo.

"I'm not trying to pry about that. But I'm going to beat you."

Izuku gaped at his bluntness and intensity, especially with the fact that Shouto was currently staring at him coldly, his intentions clear and unwavering.

(Y/n) closed her eyes and sighed, inwardly facepalming at his actions. Dammit...

"Oh? Is the best in the class making a declaration of war?" Kaminari asked, amusement written on his face as Kirishima immediately stood up, walking towards Shouto.

"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden?" he placed a hand on Shouto's shoulder to calm the already heavy tension around them, "Not now, we're about to start!"

Shouto pushed his hand away from him harshly, his eyes still on Izuku, "We're not here to play at being friends." he turned around to walk away from the room. "So what does it matter?"

"Todoroki, I don't know what you're thinking when you say you'll beat me," Izuku began, making Shouto stop in his tracks and look over his shoulder at him. "But, of course, you're better than me. I think you're more capable than most people. Looking at it objectively..."

"Midoriya, you probably shouldn't talk so negatively..." Kirishima interjected as he tried to stop the boy.

"But, everyone. The students from the other courses are aiming for the top with everything they've got! I can't afford to fall behind." he added, a determined look masking his usual shy, freckled face. "I'll be going for it with everything I have, too."

"Yeah."

(Y/n) smiled at Izuku's words, his words etching into her brain which somehow calmed her down and made her even more determined to reach the top. Besides, she herself entered the hero course to be a hero and since pro-heroes were going to be there, she had to do her best.

She was going to do it!

Game time***

As the students approached the arena, they could hear the screams and cheers of the congregation along with Present Mic's voice.

"The U.A. Sports festival! The huge battle where the fledgling heroes sharpen their swords once a year! Anyway, these are the guys, right? The miraculous new stars who overcame enemy attacks with their hearts of steel! Hero course, Class 1-A, right?!"

"Wow, that's a lot of praise," (Y/n) muttered under her breath as she walked beside Shouto and turned to him.

"What was with all that intensity back there?" she asked, earning a brief side glance from the boy.

"I was just stating my place," he said, his eyes focused at the end of the tunnel.

The girl shrugged at his brief answer, though having an iota of what it was really all about without saying anything.

As they walked outside, the girl turned her bewildered gaze around the millions of cheering fans, her heartbeat loud and clear in her ears. She felt her hand being traced by someone else's and she looked down at her hand to see Shouto's intertwining with hers, his thumb gently rubbing circles on the back of hers in a caring manner. She looked up at him to find him smiling down at her on which she returned it.

They were unaware of the envy-filled crimson eyes glaring at their connected hands, wishing that he could just severe Shouto's hand from (Y/n)'s. He was going to show her that he was the best, that he was worth being with, that he's number one. A determined grin crept up his lips at the thoughts of getting an undisputed win, especially over the half and half.

"There-there are so many um...people..." Izuku stuttered as he nervously looked around the packed arena.

"Well, it is a popular event, Izuku!" (Y/n) said as she glanced around, her eyes trying to locate her guardian who had promised to be there.

"They haven't been getting much of airtime, but this class is also full of talent!" Present Mic's voice boomed again from the microphone. "Hero course, Class 1-B!"

The other students of Class B walked out of their tunnel into the arena, their faces filled with determination.

"Next up, general studies Classes C, D, and E!" Support course, Classes F, G, and H are here too! And business course, Classes I, J, and K! All of U.A.'s first years are here now!"

The students stopped in front of the podium.

"Time for the player pledge!" the umpire, Midnight, proclaimed as she smacked her whip at the air.

"What is Ms. Midnight wearing?" Kirishima asked, his cheeks tinted red similar to most males' in the crowd.

"That's an R-Rated Hero for you," Kaminari added.

"Is it okay for her to be at a high school even though she's R-Rated?" Tokoyami, who seemed unaffected, inquired.

"Yes!" Mineta threw up a thumbs up, his perverted side glowing.

(Y/n) paid Shouto a sneaky side-glance to see if he was affected and giggled upon seeing he wasn't, a small part of her proud of him.

"What?" he asked, turning to look at her amused face.

"Nothing," she cleared her voice, though a large smile was plastered on her lips.

Shouto went to push her on the matter but what cut off when Midnight ordered everyone to be quiet.

"Representing the students is Katsuki Bakugou from Class 1-A!" she announced, making everyone gasp in shock as they turned to look at him, who seemed unaffected.

He started walking towards the steps of the podium, both his hands stuffed in his pockets, a nonchalance look on his face.

"What? It's Kacchan?" a bewildered Izuku wondered, his mouth agape.

"That guy did finish first in the entrance exam."

A girl sighed, turning her hateful gaze towards (Y/n)'s class. "In the hero course."

"Jeez. They really don't like us, eh? Besides Katsuki might say something really fucked up to rouse them up," (Y/n) murmured to Shouto who simply nodded, his hand still entwined with hers.

Everyone waited in bated breath for the ash-blonde's most likely twisted pledge, (Y/n) certain that she heard someone gulp loudly next to her.

"I pledge," Katsuki began. "That I'll be number one."

"I knew he'd do that!" most students acclaimed in horror as the other students booed at Katsuki, throwing him a thumbs down.

"He's really something," (Y/n) smiled in wonder as she stared at Katsuki, who was unbothered by the jeers.

"Why are you doing something so disgraceful?!" Iida yelled at the boy, his hands chopping the air wildly in a scolding-like manner.

Katsuki turned around and threw a thumbs down at the booing students. "At least become a nice bouncy step for me to jump off."

As (Y/n) stared at Katsuki while he went down the podium, she couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't smirking like he always does whenever he was challenged. She didn't know him well enough as a friend but she had sat next to him long enough to at least catch on to some of his mannerisms. But she wasn't one to pry so she just left it at that.

But really, Katsuki, did you have to bring us into this?...(Y/n) made a withered face she leaned her head on Shouto's shoulder.

"Now, let's get started right away!" Midnight began, gaining all the people's attention. "The first game is what you'd call a qualifier! Every year, many drink their tears here! Now, here is the fateful first game!"

A large screen appeared from behind the woman in a lottery fashion. "This year, it's...this!"

Everyone stared at the screen.

"An...obstacle...race?" (Y/n) asked herself as her mind imagined them running and jumping over hurdles, an image that made her smack herself mentally.

"All eleven classes will participate in this race. This course will be the outer circumference of this stadium...about four kilometers!" Midnight explained and raised her whip in the air. "Our school's selling point is freedom! As long as you stay on the course, it doesn't matter what you do!"

The crowd started cheering at her words as she directed her arm towards the exit. "Now, take your places, everyone!"

(Y/n) took the opportunity to pull her hand away from Shouto's and turned to him. "Hey, listen to me."

Shouto turned to look at the girl, silent as he listened to what the now serious-looking girl had to say.

She blew out her cheeks and nodded to herself before beginning. "We're going to start all of this and this it will be different. We won't be a team but rivals so...what I'm trying to say is...don't-don't go easy on me. Because I won't. We both want to win and if we're both distracted by each other, we won't get anywhere. Okay?"

Shouto stared back at the girl, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he nodded.

"Understood."

(Y/n) smiled at him, happy that she had finally got what was bothering her out of her chest. She turned to face the front and readied herself, her determined eyes on the buzzers.

She was going to become a hero.

For them to be proud of her.

Even if they weren't watching.

***