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---
A blaring buzzer echoed through the air temporarily drowning out all other noise and every team inside the arena came to a screeching halt.
"AND THAT'S IT! THE FIFTEEN MINUTES ARE UP AND THE SECOND EVENT IS COMPLETE. WHAT A STUNNING PERFORMANCE FROM ALL THE PARTICIPANTS! THE RESULTS ARE NOW BEING DISPLAYED!"
Every pair of eyes in the stadium turned to stare at the various screens and jumbotrons, watching a list of team names appear totaling up their points.
One by one each team reached its final score, however when second place stopped, it took another eight seconds until the first place score was revealed.
"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! KENJI ATOMA AND MEI HASTUME HAVE TAKEN FIRST PLACE KEEPING THEIR 1 MILLION HEAD START FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT AGAINST ALL ODDS!"
The cheer that rose from the crowd made the very air tremble, threatening to shatter like a pane of glass.
Mei threw her arms up in the air with a massive grin across her face as she felt the straps holding her to Kenji's back slip away dropping her to the ground.
"Damn right, we're first!" Mei boasted pounding her chest as her mechanical arms chomped at the air creating a metallic appaulse.
Mei turned around her smile still bright, "Honestly I didn't we stood a---woah you alright man?"
My jaw was clenched tight and my fingers twitched and clawed at the air which sparked as my body discharged the residual electricity running rampant in my flesh.
"I'M FINE!" I gritted out through my spasming jaw and a blinding migraine. Keeping the first place hadn't been easy, forcing me to overdraw on my flux's current in order to stay ahead of the swarm of people who hunted me down.
'I already pushed my limits levitating over the pit earlier, now my nerves are even more shot.' With a crack, I managed to unclench my jaw and I sighed in relief, 'I'll barely be able to use any of my lightning-based abilities for the last event.'
My mind wandered for a moment as I tried to think of a solution, 'I can make my flux into an insulator without disrupting the magnetic field, so again it all comes down to increasing my resistance....is it even possible without long-term exposure therapy?'
My thoughts were eventually disrupted by an outcry and I tuned back into my surroundings just as Midnight made an announcement.
"Due to exigent circumstances both Mashirao Ojiro, and Nirengeki Shoda have voluntarily withdrawn themselves from the Sports Festival."
A sparse mutter rippled through the arena and I frowned before looking towards Ojiro who had a dark look on his face. While I hadn't known the tailed martial artist for long I knew of his calm and stoic demeanor, which was why seeing the barely restrained fury in his eyes was so shocking.
Following his gaze I saw the target of his hatred, a tall young man with messy, indigo-colored hair and purple eyes dragged down by heavy dark circles under them.
'Wait that was his teammate,' I realized with confusion before glancing at the other student who had resigned, 'All three of them were...what the hell happened to make Ojiro so mad?'
"Moving on, the next event will be a single-elimination combat tournament between all remaining participants. We will now adjourn for a noon recess while the stage is set and pairings are drawn."
Nervous and excited chatter rose around me, though I was far from surprised. It was one of the most common reoccurring final events for the Sports Festival, which I had already prepared for and ranked my most difficult opponents.
'Though that was only for my classmates, judging from that one dryad girl Class 1-B has its own powerhouses,' I thought slightly concerned, 'I need to head back to the drawing board.'
---
"What do you mean you were brainwashed?!"
My closed eyelids twitched as Sero screamed, but I quickly tuned it out and focused on the design floating around in my mind's eye, 'No that's not right, the circuit needs to be grounded otherwise the voltage won't pass through...What if I fluctuate the voltage...that could reduce the shock for my muscles...but then I wouldn't have the conductivity from the cellular membranes.'
The design in my mind more complex than any I had attempted before was in a constant state of change. Going through countless iterations and variations with each passing second.
I was completely focused, but it still wasn't enough. The drastic change I was seeking either required lengthy periods of development or a catalyst that left me no other option but to improve.
A deep frown marred my face, I could feel the lingering numbness in every muscle fiber. I was far from my optimal condition.
With that realization, creeping insecurity and pessimism started seeping through my concentration, and with a frustrated sigh, I opened my eyes, 'Fuck...I need to take my mind off things.'
As I moved to stand up, my phone rang in my pocket. Checking it my eyebrows quickly rose as I saw the message, 'Well, that will do it.'
---
"I almost thought you wouldn't show up," Mina muttered as I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind me.
"What and miss out on the scenery," I replied dryly with a smile as I gestured to the monochrome tiled bathroom.
Mina smirked before stepping up to me and looking into my eyes with concern, "What's going on up there?"
"Probably nothing much considering I've been electrocuting myself for the past three hours," I muttered as my hands snuck around Mina's waist pulling her to me, "Do I really look that bad?"
"Not enough for anyone who doesn't know you to notice," Mina replied as returned my embrace resting her head on my chest, "This isn't like you...not to say that you shouldn't be stressed...but this is something different."
"Well maybe if someone wasn't giving me blue balls," I joked but Mina silenced me with a look and I sighed, "I made a bet with my mother when I first told her that I wanted to go to UA. The only way she would agree is after I promised to take first place in the entrance exam and the Sports Festival."
"Really? Your mother doesn't seem that much of a stickler." Mina asked mumbling under her breath.
"Well actually she backed out of the bet when I got first in the Exam, but I still plan on following through," I answered hesitantly only to get a deadpan look from Mina.
"So you're stressed about a bet that doesn't exist anymore?" Min asked looking for clarification, and I answered with a nod.
"What's this really about?"
"My purpose in life."
I answered barely above a whisper and the sincerity of the statement struck me, "The first time I used my quirk was only three months ago, I saved three little school girls and a mother. Before that moment I had no ambitions or hopes for my life. But when I saved those people...I didn't even have to think about it. I just did it like I was...made for it."
My voice trailed off as a light bulb flicked on in my mind illuminating a new train of thought.
"Made for it," I repeated under my breath as my eyes unfocused and gazed off into the distance.
When I didn't speak for a moment Mina squeezed my ribs, "Kenji...are you alright?"
I blinked and glanced down at Mina staring into her dark eyes, "I don't know....I just had a thought."
Mina opened her mouth to respond only for Midnight's voice to echo in the distance signaling for our return.
"Are you sure you're going to be all right?" Mina asked sliding her arms down to take my hands in hers.
"I think...I'm going to be just fine," I answered as a smile spread across my face. Then before Mina could react I grabbed her waist and pressed my lips against her before invading her mouth with my tongue.
Mina let out a muffled gasp of surprise before she melted into my embrace and allowed her tongue to wrap around mine. We stayed like that for some time, but I quickly broke away when I felt my pants start to tighten.
"Alright let's go," I said with a grin before grabbing Mina by the wrist and dragging her out of the bathroom, "I got a tournament to win!"
--
"AND WE'RE BACK WITH THE FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS WHERE ONLY ONE WILL BE LEFT STANDING! THE RULES ARE FORCE YOUR OPPONENT OUT OF THE ARENA, GET THEM TO SURRENDER, OR IMOBILIZE THEM! NOW FOR THE FIRST BOUT, I'M SURE EVERYONE WILL BE EXCITED TO HEAR THAT HITOSHI SHINSO WILL BE GOING AGAINST KENJI ATOMA!"
I couldn't wipe the grin off my face as I strode onto the concrete platform at the sound of my name, to the cheer of thousands.
Across from me, I stared at my opponent who looked at me with a calm gaze that almost bordered on apathy, "How unfortunate, I believed you had a real shot at taking first place. I almost want to let you win...but I can't lose in the first round."
Despite the trash talk I only smiled all the brighter, "You're talking like this fight is over before it started."
As soon as I responded a twisted smile spread across Shinso, "Thanks to your response...it already is."