Wilted Bloom

The energy in the stadium was electric, the cheers of the crowd reverberating through the air as the Sports Festival reached its peak. Maya sat forward in her seat, her excitement bubbling as she watched the students tackle the races and the battles that followed. It was thrilling to see their quirks in action, the arena alive with color and chaos.

But it wasn't until the match between Midoriya Izuku and Todoroki Shoto that her excitement turned to unease.

The two students stood across from each other, their determination palpable even from the stands. Maya could feel the tension building as the match began. Midoriya's strength-focused quirk clashed spectacularly against Todoroki's powerful ice attacks, the air in the stadium growing colder with every blast.

Maya's gaze was locked on the fight, her heart pounding with each strike. But as Todoroki unleashed a massive wall of ice, her excitement twisted into fear. The ice erupted with terrifying force, shooting outward and spreading dangerously close to the stands.

Her breath hitched as she realized the ice wasn't stopping. It hurtled toward her section, massive shards breaking off and scattering. One particularly sharp spike jutted toward her seat, its jagged point glinting in the sunlight.

For a split second, she froze, her body refusing to move as the deadly shard closed in.

"Maya!"

Shota's voice boomed from the booth above, his usually calm tone breaking into a sharp yell that echoed through the stadium. The sheer urgency in his voice sent a ripple of tension through everyone within earshot.

He stood abruptly, gripping the edge of the booth as his sharp eyes darted to the ice speeding toward her. "Someone get to her! Now!" he barked, his usual measured demeanor shattered.

Down in the arena, the students of Class 1-A exchanged alarmed glances. The sheer force of Todoroki's attack and the potential danger to someone in the stands wasn't something they had expected. Even Bakugo, known for his composure in high-stakes situations, looked momentarily stunned before his trademark scowl returned, and he bolted forward.

Nearby pro heroes hesitated, their focus momentarily split between the match and the unfolding danger in the stands. For a split second, everything seemed to stall—the fight, the cheers, even the movement of the crowd.

Maya stared at the jagged shard of ice speeding toward her, her heart pounding in her chest. Everything around her felt distant, the shouts and gasps fading into the background. Her hands trembled as she gripped the armrests of her seat, her body caught between fear and instinct.

She wasn't supposed to stand. She wasn't supposed to walk. Recovery Girl's orders had been clear, and everyone had gone out of their way to make sure she followed them.

But as the deadly shard closed the distance, she decided in that split second that maybe—just this once—it would be okay to defy those orders.

Her hands pushed against the armrests, her legs trembling as she forced herself upright. Her body protested immediately, weak and unsteady, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins kept her moving.

The ice was closer now, its sharp edges glinting in the sunlight, and Maya's heart raced as she tried to sidestep, her legs shaking like they would give out at any moment.

Just as the shard was about to strike, a blur of movement entered her peripheral vision. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a protective embrace as the force knocked her off balance.