"The first game of the first-year stage is finally over!" Midnight announced. "Now, take a look at the results!"

I beat Katsuki. That's all that matters.

The screen once again appeared and showed the results for the top 42 people. It seemed as though almost all of the hero course made it except for one person from Class A. There were only two other people not in the hero course; Shinso Hitoshi, who was in General Studies, and Hatsume Mei, who was in the Support Course. Shinso was placed 28th while Hatsume was placed 42nd.

And then there was me.

I placed 2nd.

Be proud, Fujiyama, be proud.

"The top 42 made it through to the next round." Midnight began explaining. "It's unfortunate, but don't worry even if you didn't make it! We've prepared other chances for you to shine." She licked her lips again. "The real competition begins next! The press cavalry'll be all over it! Give it your all! Now then, here is the second game. I already know what it is, but what could it be? What could it be? I just said it, and now here it is..." She gestured towards the screen as it spun only to show 'cavalry battle.' "Let me explain. The participants can form teams of two to four people as they wish. It's basically the same as a regular cavalry battle, but the one thing that's different is... Based on the results of the last game, each person has been assigned a point value." Midnight smacked her whip against the ground as people began talking. "You guys don't hold back even though I'm talking, huh?! Yes, that's right! And the points assigned go up by five starting from the bottom. So 42nd place gets five points, and 41st gets ten points! And the point value assigned to first place is... Ten million!"

Oh.

Poor Izuku...

I think I just saw him die a little inside.

"That's right." Midnight smiled. "It's survival of the fittest, with a chance for those at the bottom to overthrow the top! Those at the top will suffer more. You'll hear this many times as you attend U.A. This is what 'Plus Ultra' means! Midoriya Izuku, who placed first in the qualifier, is worth ten million points! Now then, I will explain the rules of the cavalry battle. The time limit is fifteen minutes. Each team is worth the total of its members' points, and the riders will wear a headband with that number on their foreheads. Teams will try to grab each other's headbands until time runs out, and try to keep as many points as they can. Stolen headbands must be worn from the neck up. So the more you steal, the harder it'll be to manage them! And the most important thing is that even if your headband gets stolen, or if your team falls, your not out! During the game, it'll be a cruel fight where you can use your quirks. But it is still a cavalry battle. You'll get a red card for attacks that are trying to make people fall on purpose! You'll be removed immediately!" A little ways away, I heard Katsuki let out an audible 'tch.' "Now, you have fifteen minutes to build your teams. Start!"

I looked around nervously as people from the same class quickly started grouping together. Michiko didn't make it to the top 42 either, so I can't team with her. And, if possible, I'd like to keep a fairly low profile during this game which means Izuku, Shouto, and Katsuki are all out as options.

Who do I know that doesn't stand out much but still wants to make it to the next round...?

My eyes lit up as my eyes finally came across a purple haired insomniac who still didn't have a team.

"Shinso-san!" I called out as I ran over to him, quickly gaining his attention. "D-do you want to b-be on a team together?"

"Alright," He, thankfully, replied with. It would have been awkward if he said no. "We still need two other people though."

"L-leave that to me!" I smiled determinedly. "I-I already have a-a plan!"

Shinso raised a brow at my retreating figure as I went to go grab two more people for our team. I had already scanned the area for people who had yet to form teams, and there were two I noticed that would work for my plan. I believe one of them is from Class A while the other was from Class B. They were already grouped together, so I'd be able to ask them at the same time.

"E-excuse me," I grabbed both of their attention. "I w-was wondering i-if you could or would l-like to join a group with myself and m-my friend."

"Uh, sure," The boy from Class A with a tail answered hesitantly. "We needed two more people too."

The student from Class B just nodded along.

"Do either of you have a plan, yet?" The Class A student asked me as we walked over to Shinso.

"Mhm," I nodded. "By the way, m-my name is Hideyoshi M-Masami, and my friend is S-Shinso Hitoshi. We're both from the General Studies Course."

"I'm Ojiro Mashirao." The student from Class A introduced himself. "I'm from Class A in the Hero Course."

"I'm Shoda Nirengeki from Class B in the Hero Course," The other boy introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet the b-both of you," I smiled.

"Likewise," Ojiro smiled before furrowing his eyebrows. "Aren't you the one who placed 2nd in the obstacle course?"

"O-oh, um, yes," I blushed sheepishly as I nodded my head.

"Wow, your quirk must be something!" Shoda exclaimed while I internally gained a tick mark. Of course, they assume that I got 2nd because of my quirk.

"O-oh, actually, I'm q-quirkless," I gave a slightly forced smile as I didn't give them time to say anything in return. "B-but that doesn't mean that I-I'm a lightweight. Anyways, I-I'll start explaining my plan n-now that we h-have all our members t-together. O-oh, and Shinso-san, p-please don't brain wash anybody e-except our opponents." The boy looked surprised as he realized I knew what he was about to do. "I'll b-be needing you t-to save your quirk for t-the game."

And with that, I began explaining my plan.

******

The buzzer went off as time ran out for picking teams.

In total, our team had 480 points which wasn't too bad, I suppose.

"Now then, it's about time to get started!" Midnight called out as she stretched.

"Come on, wake up, Eraser!" Present Mic tried to wake up Aizawa-sensei, who I guessed had fallen asleep during the fifteen minutes. I wish I could fall asleep right now too. "After fifteen minutes to form teams and talk strategy, twelve cavalry teams are lined up on the field!"

"There are some interesting teams out there." Aizawa-sensei commented.

"Now, raise those battle cries!" Present Mic yelled as the crowd cheered. "It's time for U.A.'s bloody battle! Light the signal fire!"

"Y-you guys understand the p-plan, right?" I questioned my team from my place in the front. Shinso was the rider as I had too many weights on to do it myself.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to come up with a plan like this in a matter of minutes," Ojiro admitted as the other two nodded at my question.

"I-I'm a quick thinker," I explained to them before Present Mic once again began his announcing.

"All right!" He yelled. "You've made your teams, right? I'm not gonna ask if you're ready or not! Now let's go! Counting down to the brutal battle royal! Three! Two! One!"

"Start!" Midnight finished.

People began moving almost immediately.

"It's basically a battle for the ten million points!" I heard Tetsutetsu yell. He wasn't exactly wrong, I suppose. Almost all of the teams were now running after Midoriya's team.

Of course, we weren't after the ten million points. At least, not yet.

I sighed as I looked onto the beginning of the clash between teams.

"Let the games begin."

***

1388 words excluding A/N's

I'm not very proud of this chapter...

Todoroki: 2

Bakugo: 2

OC: 0

Finished- 7:19 pm on October 7, 2018

Bye~