? Benevolence ?

At the sound of a bell, a voice boomed around the arena, "START!"

In an instant, I was surrounded by movement. I was pushed and pulled by those around me trying to get through the starting gate. I'm too short to see over everyone's head...

A burst of determination overcame me and I grabbed the shoulders of the student in front of me, using him to leap high enough to see over the crowd.

In an instant, I was ahead of everyone, dashing down the path. I noticed ice trailing ahead and steered away from it. Todoroki probably.

I continued forward, my classmates joining me. Looking over my shoulder, I grinned as I saw Shinso was being carried by some others.

Turning back to the front, I skidded to a stop. The robots from the entrance exam were blocking the way. I contemplated using my quirk but I didn't want to overuse it too soon.

"Every obstacle course needs obstacles! Starting with the first barrier. ROBO INFERNO!"

At Present Mic's commentary, I began to scan the area for a way through.

Suddenly, ice erupted from Todoroki and encased the robots. I was about to dash after him but a hand gripped my shoulder, stopping me in place. I looked up to see Shinso watching the bots.

Following his gaze, I saw the bots shaking unsteadily before collapsing.

"1-A's Todoroki! Busting through and sabotaging the others! This guy's cold!"

My breath caught in my chest at the sight of familiar red hair disappearing underneath the incapacitated bot. Remembering the entrance exam, I relaxed. There's no way he'd go down that easily.

"1-A's Kirishima has been crushed!"

At the announcement, said redhead burst through the top of the bot, followed by a kid seemingly made of steel.

I could just barely peek through the rubble to the side. With a smile, I grabbed my tired companion's hand. I popped us passed the bots and he tossed me a smirk before running off ahead of me.

"[L/n] from 1-A! Using his nifty quirk to help out a friend it seems! Looks like not all of 1-A is out for blood!"

I took off after him and was soon joined by others in my class.

"The current leaders are overwhelmingly from 1-A!"

Mic's voice was soon joined by Aizawa-sensei's. "Class A knows there's no time to hesitate. They've been exposed to the outside world, up close and personal," he droned.

"They've had fear planted in them. They've endured it. Overcome it. Each has grown from the experience... and forgotten how to hesitate."

Running through the path, I opted to dodge and avoid the bots. I felt a jolt of panic as I spotted one aiming at me and quickly slid between the legs of another, making the bot shoot one of its own.

Soon enough I reached the next obstacle and took a moment to take it in.

"This is the Fall!"

A few students had already made it across, after watching a support student take off.

"Cool."

I looked to see Shinso standing ahead of me. "Need a little help?"

He looked down to me and shook his head. "Nah, I've got a plan. See you at the finish line."

I shrugged before easily popping across the obstacle. My hearing went a little fuzzy at the distance but I shook it off and continued.

"..nd our le..de.. has re..ch..d the ...nal ...arri..r!"

I didn't bother trying to make out what was announced, focusing on the path ahead of me. I slowed down at the sight of a sign reading 'Danger! Mines!'

I flinched as Bakugou blasted overhead. "Ou..ta the w..y b...sco....t!"

I turned my attention back to the minefield ahead of me. I could distantly hear what must have been Present Mic explaining the obstacle but I couldn't quite make it out. I could pop across but at this distance it could knock out my hearing completely for who knows how long.

I frowned before deciding to make my way across the field on foot. Light flashed across my vision in the distance but the sounds hardly registered.

Upon reaching halfway across the field, I chanced a look around. Todoroki and Bakugou were at the front and, like me, many others were slowly picking their way across the field.

I was continuing my way across the field when a shadow passed over me and I looked up to see Midoriya sailing overhead on a sheet of metal. That's one way to get it done...

To my left, I noticed Shinso had caught up to me. I turned back to the path, stepping carefully.

As soon as I cleared the field I took off. Now that it was safe to look up, I watched as Midoriya cleared the finish line, quickly followed by Todoroki and Bakugou. I picked up the pace and soon dashed into the arena after a few others.

I was soon joined by my lilac haired friend. "Th..n..s for t.. h...lp."

I tilted my head, "Sorry, my hearing isn't the best. I overused my quirk a bit..."

Shinso nodded before pulling me forward and leaning down. "I said thanks for the help," he drawled in my ear, before pulling back.

I blushed at the proximity, stuttering. "I-it was no problem! That's what friends are for."

The tired boy gave me a sly smile, leaning back down. "Thats not how a competition works," he said teasingly.

I shoved his shoulder lightly. "Well regardless, I was happy to help a friend." I crossed my arms and dropped my gaze, desperately trying to will away the red on my face.

Suddenly, an arm was thrown around my shoulder and I was pulled into a side hug. "[L/n]! You made it!" A boisterous voice faintly registered as Kirishima.

Before I had a chance to respond, I saw Shinso smirk before murmuring something to the redhead.

He nodded before leaning down to my ear, "Is this better? Your friend said your hearing was bad and to do this."

I blushed again, glaring at Shinso. "U-um yeah, I can hear you better."

The tired teen smirked again before shrugging. "Good job during the course! I saw you dodging the bots! So manly!"

I smiled, pushing the redhead away slightly. "You did awesome, too! When you climbed out of the bot it reminded me of the entrance exam."

"Oh yeah! It'll take a lot more than something falling on me to get me down!" He grinned brightly.

I flinched as the crowd suddenly roared in my ears.

At Kirishima's concerned look, I ran a hand through my hair, "I'm fine. My hearing just cleared up and it surprised me is all.

Shinso hummed in acknowledgment, before gesturing to the stage. "We should probably get ready for the next event."

Kirishima tossed me a bright grin before saying something about joining Bakugou and running off. Left with my lilac haired companion, we joined the crowd of student to wait.

———
I hope you're all doing well!