The tension from the U.S.J. attack still lingered in the air, but U.A. was not a school that stopped moving forward.
Just a day after the attack, Aizawa stood at the front of the classroom, still bandaged but with his usual tired expression.
"Listen up," he said. "The U.S.J. incident was a setback, but the world isn't going to slow down for you."
The students listened, still recovering from the shock of facing real villains.
Reiji leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, already bored of the conversation.
He knew what was coming next.
"The U.A. Sports Festival is still happening."
Silence.
Then—
"Wait, already?!" Kaminari exclaimed.
Mina gasped. "Shouldn't we delay it? We just got attacked by villains!"
Aizawa sighed. "That's exactly why we're not delaying it."
His gaze swept across the room.
"The world is watching us now. If we hesitate, if we show weakness, the villains will think they can intimidate U.A. That's why this year's Sports Festival is more important than ever."
A realization dawned on the students.
The Sports Festival wasn't just a school event.
It was a national event, where pro heroes, talent scouts, and agencies watched to find the next generation of heroes.
For some, it was a stepping stone to greatness.
For others, it was the first and last chance to make a name for themselves.
Reiji smirked. So this is where things really begin.
After class, the students buzzed with energy as they discussed the festival.
"Man, this is our shot to prove ourselves!" Kirishima grinned. "Everyone's going to be watching!"
"Yeah, we could get scouted by pro heroes," Jirou added.
Bakugo stood nearby, arms crossed, his usual cocky grin in place.
"Tch. Doesn't matter. I'm winning. Simple as that."
Reiji chuckled. "Confident, aren't you?"
Bakugo's eyes twitched. "I don't need to be confident when I'm just better than everyone else."
Reiji smirked. "Guess we'll see."
The moment those words left his mouth, Bakugo's crimson eyes burned with fury.
But before he could say anything, a new voice cut in.
"You two aren't the only ones aiming for the top."
Todoroki stepped forward, his heterochromatic eyes locked onto Reiji.
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Ice Prince wants a shot too?"
Todoroki's face remained cold and unreadable.
"I don't care about the competition," he said. "But I do care about one thing."
His gaze hardened.
"I will defeat you."
The entire room went silent.
Reiji's smirk widened slightly. Interesting.
He tilted his head. "And why's that?"
Todoroki didn't blink. "Because I don't trust you."
A flicker of amusement crossed Reiji's face. Finally. Someone who wasn't afraid to say it.
Todoroki's suspicion had grown.
And that just made things more fun.
Later that night, U.A. released the official announcement of the Sports Festival.
The entire country took notice.
TV stations broadcasted the news. Social media exploded with discussion.
And across the city… people started talking about one name.
Reiji Kurobane.
Videos from U.S.J. had leaked—footage of his brutal fight against the Nomu, the flames that had burned through its regeneration, and the eerie, calculated way he had taken it down.
Some called him a rising star.
Others called him a dangerous anomaly.
But one thing was certain.
Everyone was waiting to see what he would do next.
At the same time, in a dark room far from U.A., a figure watched the footage.
Shigaraki's hands twitched violently as he stared at the screen.
"That damn kid…"
His breathing was uneven, his fingernails scratching against his own neck in frustration.
Kurogiri stood behind him. "He is formidable."
Shigaraki gritted his teeth. "No. He's a threat."
He slammed his fist against the table. "I was supposed to send a message at U.S.J., but that bastard turned it into his show."
Kurogiri's voice was calm. "So what do you propose?"
Shigaraki's lips twisted into a dark grin.
"We watch. We wait. And when the time is right…"
His fingers flexed.
"…We erase him."
Back at U.A., Reiji stood on a rooftop, staring out at the city.
His golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
He could feel it.
The pressure. The expectations. The weight of every eye watching him.
And yet…
He smirked.
This was exactly what he wanted.
The U.A. Sports Festival would be his stage.
And he was going to show the world exactly who he was.
End of Chapter 11.
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