Chapter 21: XXI: Awards
The energy beams clashed with a blinding ligjt, momentarily overwhelming the spectators' vision.
Yet, neither the teachers nor the participants flinched—they stood focused, witnessing a duel that had far exceeded the power of a typical student confrontation. The intensity of the fight was palpable, leaving the audience in awe.
The two forces collided midair, their impact rippling through the arena, destroying the ground.
Raiden's Hyper Beam quickly overwhelmed Nejire's Wave, its sheer intensity tearing through her attack and advanced toward her with frightening speed.
Nejire strained to keep up, but it was an impossible task—she was utterly exhausted. The toll of the battle weighed heavily on her, and Raiden's use of ancient power had amplified his strength, momentarily multiplying it. Though he too was fatigued from an entire day of continuous combat, Raiden's new abilities granted him an almost overwhelming edge.
The clash reached its inevitable conclusion as Raiden shattered Nejire's attack, leaving her defenseless. The winner was undeniable, and the arena fell into a stunned silence. Eraser Head immediately rose from his seat, his sharp gaze fixed on Raiden.
Then, abruptly, Raiden's hands faltered, and the Hyper Beam dissipated mid-charge. He continued to hover, confused by the sudden inability to summon his energy.
"This sensation… it feels like…disable" Raiden muttered to himself. His eyes darted toward Eraser Head, who was glaring at him with intensity.
The realization hit Raiden—it was the teacher's Quirk, a disabling force that felt far more potent than anything he'd experienced before, more than his own.
"That teacher has a scary face," Raiden muttered under his breath. But he quickly redirected his focus as Nejire, having exhausted her energy, collapsed midair.
Without hesitation, Raiden surged forward, catching Nejire before she could hit the ground. He cradled her carefully, ensuring she was unharmed, and ascended slightly to avoid the now-ruined battlefield below.
Hovering above the chaos, he glanced toward Present Mic, who erupted with his signature enthusiasm."oooh yeah! what a final! ladies and gentlemen, we have our winner! after a battle of pure might where both participants pushed beyond their limits, the sports festival champion of this year is… Raaaaaideeeeeen!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the arena, igniting a wave of cheers and applause from the captivated audience.
Declared the victor, Raiden flew toward the entrance of the arena, still holding Nejire. As he cast "Life Dew," a soft, shimmering light enveloped them both. For Raiden, it eased the strain on his body; for Nejire, it mended her more significant injuries.
Back at the teachers' observation seats, Eraser Head turned to Snipe with a scrutinizing look. "What kind of training did you give these kids to reach this level? Every one of them is like a monster in their own right."
Snipe chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. "Ho ho ho, I didn't do much. I just focused on their weaknesses and helping them understand their Quirks better. They also sparred—a lot—with each other and with me," he explained.
"With you?" Vlad King interjected, raising an eyebrow. "That's supposed to happen later, during the semester exams with all of us," he remarked, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Well, you know me," Snipe said with a grin. "I've always believed they should get real experience earlier. And what better way than with someone who knows what they're doing?"
"A different approach from the usual curriculum," Vlad admitted with a chuckle. "But the results are undeniable."
Principal Nezu, the diminutive yet ever-insightful director, interjected with a thoughtful hum. "Perhaps it's worth reviewing. After all, our mission here is to provide the best possible training and education for these students."
Nezu's gaze shifted to the battlefield. "I believe focusing on a smaller class size this year was a wise decision. With just eleven students per class, we've seen incredible potential. Many are already discovering innovative ways to use their Quirks—thinking outside the box."
Eraser Head frowned slightly. "Yes, but I don't think we can repeat this next year. The government provides substantial funding, and even though they know we produce only forty elite heroes annually, they keep pushing to increase that number. Now, we've halved it. They're bound to push back harder," he remarked, his tone laced with concern.
Nezu sighed, his expression serious. "Even if they force us to admit more students next year, remember this: getting into U.A. is one thing, but keeping up with the pace here is another. I'd love to graduate a hundred students per generation, but that's simply unrealistic. Not everyone can handle what we demand."
The conversation ended as Nezu stood, his small form radiating authority. "If it comes to that, Aizawa-kun, you may need to act as the filter. Better to expel a student than to lose them during an internship or real-world training,"
He said gravely before turning to prepare for the awards ceremony. "Oh, and before I forget—amazing job, Power Loader. These optical illusions with the holograms and moving walls almost made it seem like the kids were actually teleporting. I think we should explore this further; it could have incredible applications for our classes."
With that, Director Nezu left the teachers' stands
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Back with the students, Raiden carried Nejire to the infirmary. There, Recovery Girl examined her and explained that Raiden had already healed most of her injuries. She took care of the final steps of the recovery process, ensuring that Nejire's wounds, which were mostly minor cuts combined with severe fatigue, would heal fully. "After some rest, she'll be fine, she is just tired" the elderly healer reassured him.
As Recovery Girl spoke, Nejire regained consciousness, her eyes fluttering open as she sat up on the infirmary bed.
Moments later, several students from Class 1-A began filing into the room, eager to congratulate their peers and check on Nejire.
"That was awesomeeee!" exclaimed Mirio, bounding forward and enveloping both Raiden and Nejire in a big hug. His excitement was infectious, his grin practically glowing with admiration.
"Rai-kun, I had no idea you had that much power!" Mirio admitted, his tone a mixture of amazement and introspection. He glanced down at his own hands, visibly reflecting on his performance and his current abilities.
"Honestly, I don't know how I could've stood up to that level of strength… But," he continued, his voice sharpening with determination, "I won't let myself be left behind. I'll catch up to you someday, and when I do—let's fight!"
Raiden gave a small smile in response the fatigue slowly started to loom over him, but his eyes glimmered with the same fiery resolve. "I'll be waiting, hahaha, I had no idea how to make my attack land on you, it will be fun" he said simply with a light laugh. Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Tamaki and Mirio. "Oi, what happened with the last fight? Weren't you two supposed to face off for third place?"
At this, both boys exchanged awkward looks. Tamaki, ever the shy one, pressed his forehead against the wall and mumbled, "I… surrendered."
Though surrendering wasn't unusual for Tamaki, the room still collectively turned to Mirio for an explanation. Surely, he wouldn't just accept Tamaki's forfeit without protest.
Mirio scratched the back of his head sheepishly, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Yeah, uh… I let him," he admitted with a nervous chuckle. His words drew confused stares from nearly everyone—except Raiden.
Raiden's perceptiveness had less to do with superior intellect and more with understanding the aftermath of his own battle. "Your injuries… they're that bad?" he asked, his tone a mix of concern and curiosity.
Tamaki gave a small nod, confirming Raiden's suspicion.
Recovery Girl interjected, her sharp gaze cutting through the conversation. "He needs more time to recover. With proper rest, he'll be back to full health in about a week, unless he gets external help. But you," she added, turning her attention to Raiden, "are forbidden from using your healing Quirk again until tomorrow. From what I've seen, you've improved in controlling your powers, but that ability of yours still puts too much strain on your body. And don't think I didn't notice how many times you used it bringing Nejire-chan here."
Caught red-handed, Raiden sighed but didn't argue. "Tomorrow, then, haha" he said with a smile, looking at Tamaki. "I'll help you recover."
As the group lingered in the infirmary, more classmates trickled in to celebrate and congratulate the duo. Among them, Taro and Rei stood out with their heartfelt gratitude. Though it might have seemed unusual, their appreciation stemmed from the realization sparked by Raiden and Nejire's battle. Watching the two push their limits had inspired Taro and Rei to rethink their approach to using their Quirks. Snipe's constant advice to "think outside the box" now resonated more deeply than ever. They finally understood the potential their powers held beyond their basic applications.
The lively chatter soon turned to more casual topics, and before long, the students began planning a celebratory party. They decided to hold it at the end of the week, giving everyone time to recover and prepare. The excitement was palpable, and the room buzzed with laughter and lighthearted conversations.
Their merriment was interrupted by an announcement echoing from the stadium. The award ceremony was about to begin.
When everyone returned to the arena, they were greeted by a vibrant green field stretching before them.
The students glanced around in awe—not because of the field itself, but because of the sheer speed and efficiency with which U.A. had transformed the stadium. Just moments ago, it had been a chaotic battleground, and now it stood pristine and unrecognizable, a testament to the school's incredible infrastructure and resources.
In the center of the arena stood two podiums: one for the presenter, where the diminutive principal Nezu stood behind a microphone comically oversized compared to his stature, and another set of three smaller podiums to the side, awaiting the event's top winners.
Nezu lightly tapped the microphone to ensure it was on, his composed demeanor instantly commanding attention. "First, let us congratulate our students," he began, his voice steady but filled with warmth. "Our future heroes—the beacons of light in a world that so often faces darkness. Guardians of peace, protectors of the vulnerable. Today, we witnessed a remarkable glimpse of the hope they will bring to our society. I can say with certainty that the world, even from this day forward, will be a better place because of them…"
The speech carried on for a few minutes, each word carefully chosen and eloquently delivered. Nezu's oratory skills were nothing short of masterful, and his words resonated deeply, stirring pride and determination in all who listened.
It wasn't until the principal's final words that the solemn atmosphere gave way to an eruption of cheers and applause. "To present the awards to our promising students, we have a very special guest," Nezu announced, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Just as the crowd leaned in with curiosity, a booming voice reverberated across the arena.
"The award ceremony is fine. Why? Because I am here!"
The powerful declaration echoed, and all eyes turned skyward as a towering figure descended with dramatic flair. In a controlled crash, the man landed in the middle of the arena, his signature tight suit and golden hair unmistakable. It was All Might—the number one hero in Japan.
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their excitement palpable. All Might stood tall, his larger-than-life presence radiating strength and reassurance. He wasn't just a hero; he was a symbol of peace and hope, a figure who had guided the nation through its darkest hours.
And now, he was here to deliver the awards.
Nezu invited the top three winners to step forward and take their places on the podium. As their names were called, each student moved with a mix of pride and humility. First came Mirio, who walked confidently to the third-place podium. Then Nejire, with her characteristic poise, stood on the second-place platform. Finally, Raiden approached the first-place position, his expression calm but filled with a smile of happines.
The audience erupted into cheers, their applause echoing throughout the stadium.
Carrying the medals in hand, All Might stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone present. He stopped in front of Mirio first, his deep voice resonating with warmth as he spoke.
"You did exceptionally well, young Mirio," All Might said, his smile broad and genuine. "You fought with bravery and gave your all in this event. It fills me with hope to see such a promising hero paving the way for our future." As he draped the medal over Mirio's neck, the crowd responded with enthusiastic claps and cheers.
Next, All Might picked up the second medal and turned to Nejire. "Young Nejire," he began, his tone filled with admiration, "your talent is nothing short of extraordinary. Your combination of strategy and raw power will take you far. I have no doubt you'll one day stand among the greatest heroes of Japan. Your unwavering spirit and refusal to give up were truly inspiring." With a final congratulatory nod, he placed the medal around her neck.
Then, with deliberate steps, All Might approached Raiden, the final winner. "Young Raiden," he said, his voice carrying a mix of authority and pride, "your competitive spirit is remarkable. Your strength is undeniable—that much is clear. But what I want to commend above all is your heart. Time and again, even after grueling battles, you rushed to help your friends when they were injured or in danger. In this career, raw power alone doesn't make a hero. It's the will to protect and the spirit to help that truly define one. You embody that spirit."
As All Might placed the first-place medal over Raiden's shoulders, the crowd erupted into the loudest cheer yet, their voices filled with admiration for the three exceptional students.
With the final words spoken and the awards ceremony complete, the U.A. Sports Festival came to an end.
For some, it was a moment of pure joy and celebration. For others, it was a time of reflection, or frustration.
But for all, it was a day they would never forget.
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patreon.com/earth1 + 12 chapters in advance.
Hello guys, at one chapter of the end of the first arc. When this arc is done here, thank you for reading. Leave some comments and drop some power stones!
As we start the week again, I will release one extra chapter if we reach 60 power stones. I will update the chapter each time one stone is dropped.
POWER STONES 4/60 (it take a time to be seen by everyone)
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