"I will be honest with you. This whole festival will be a waste of time. None of you will be able to get first place. Why you may ask?... Because I am here."

The moment those words echoed, silence fell in all the stadium, before it suddenly exploded in a rain of shouts from the students.

Most of them were very proud and had every reason to be proud, so, even though they knew that Kuroha was the first in all departments, they couldn’t help but be angry at his arrogance.

The situation in the stands wasn’t that much different. The heroes present were all wondering how strong that kid really was to be able to spout such words.

“OHHHHH!!! THIS WAS THE SPEECH FROM HAYATE KUROHA. WHAT A SHORT BUT IMPACTFUL SPEECH, LET'S SEE IF HE WILL BE ABLE TO ACT ON THOSE WORDS.”

Ignoring the glares of his fellow students as well as the shout of Present mic, Kuroha put back the mic and simply began to walk down and took back his place.

Midnight, who was still a little bewildered shrugged it off before taking the mic.

“Now, let’s get started right away. Now, here the fateful first game.”

A screen appeared behind Midnight as she said this and showed a picture.

“This year, the first test is an OBSTACLE RACE!! All 11 classes will participate in this race. The course will be the outer circumference of this stadium---about four kilometers!”

She let out a sadistic smile as she faced the students,

“Our school’s selling point is freedom! As long as you stay on the course, it doesn’t matter what you do! Now, take your place everyone.”

Izuku, who heard those rules, frowned a little, before looking at his arm, and then sighed.

‘Well. At least I should fight to get second place.’

The moment he heard that it was a free for all, he immediately understood that only one person could win this race.

-----

All Might, who was seating in the VIP section, watched this with a bitter smile. He really wanted Izuku to win this race. But, like Izuku, he already understood who would win it.

In fact, the question wasn’t even about whether he would win but rather how he would do so.

“UA students of the first year are really unlucky.”

Nigheye, who was sitting next to him, also had the same idea.

“What did you think of this speech?” He asked.

“It wasn’t like him at all. Then again, I wonder if we ever really understood him.”

All Might answered with lost eyes. Ever since the massacre of Saitama, his already strained relationship with Kuroha nearly snapped.

Despite that, he still viewed Kuroha as his nephew and would do his best to protect him.

‘Though, it doesn’t seem like he needs my protection any longer.’

It was then that he remembered something,

“How is your current investigation going?”

Nighteye readjusted his glasses as he said,

“It seems like the heir of All for One is currently recruiting. What more, not long ago, he made contact with the Yakuza. Even though the contents of their discussion are unknown, it’s easy to guess that they reached some sort of deal.”

All Might clenched his fist as he said,

“I see, be careful.”

Nighteye simply smiled,

“Don’t worry. I am always careful. Nothing will happen to me.”

-----

Back to the race, all the students stood in front of the door, as they waited for the signal.

Izuku was feeling particularly tense.

Getting second place would be in no way easy. Iida aside, in terms of speed, neither Bakugo nor Todoroki or Inasa were slouches. He also knew about Minegata. Frankly, if he wasn’t so uninterested in fighting, these guys would be at the top of class 1-A.

‘I lack a large amount of information. Even though I have the stats of the students in class A, the other classes are blank for me. Well, I will just swing it. No need to think too much.’

“START!!!”

---

It was like watching a race of predators. They all began to rush toward the door as if their lives depended on it.

Present mic couldn’t help but shoot, “OKAY!!! Here the start of the race. What do you think dry eyes?” He said as he addressed Aizawa.

Aizawa, ever the stoic man, didn’t bat an eyelid at being called dry eyes. He and Present mic were friends since their time as students at UA. This kind of battering was usual,

“You are the one who forced me to come.”

“Don’t mind the small details. So, what should we pay attention to during the early stages?”

“This.”

The moment he said so, a wave of cold air immediately washed the gate, before Todoroki went out of it and let most of his teammates completely unable to move.

Sadly, this move only affected normal students. The best one was fast enough to react and avoid this trap. In fact, basically all the students of class A managed to avoid it.

Aizawa nodded in appreciation and continued to watch the race. What followed was an impressive display of skills and power as Inasa and Todoroki completely destroyed the giant robots. One with his ice and the other with his winds.

“AMAZING!!! TODOROKI AND YOARASHI ARE IN THE LEAD. AS EXPECTED OF RECOMMENDED STUDENTS”

Aizawa nodded and was about to comment when,

“OH!! WHAT IS GOING ON? THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FIRST IS STILL ON THE STARTING LINE. COULD IT BE THAT HE GAVE UP?”

This made everyone focus on the lone figure standing alone in front of the gate. It was without a doubt, kuroha.

What they didn’t know, was that Kuroha was currently facing a dilemma.

‘I already have a mark at the finishing line. Should I just teleport and be done with it? Or should I just use my hoverboard and be done with it?’