The League's Declaration

The reserved viewing area went cold.

Several Pro Heroes stood at once.

All Might's expression sharpened. "What happened? Midnight, explain slowly."

Midnight forced herself to breathe. "They invaded U.A.'s computer system. Someone on their side must have an information-based Quirk or serious technical skills. They should not have been able to break in otherwise."

She looked toward the arena. "They declared that they will hunt down the winner of this year's Sports Festival."

The Pro Heroes turned to Nezu. "Principal, should the festival continue?"

"If we continue, the students may be in danger."

"There are thousands of spectators here too."

Nezu folded his paws. His face was calm, but his eyes were grave.

"The same enemy infiltrated USJ. We can't underestimate them. Continuing the Sports Festival does create risk."

He paused. "But stopping the festival suddenly creates other risks. The media, public trust, U.A.'s reputation, crowd control, and the message it sends to the League. None of those are small problems."

Before anyone could decide, the giant screen above the arena flickered.

The live feed broke apart into static.

Black-and-white snow filled the display. Then the static vanished.

Tomura Shigaraki appeared on the screen.

The man covered in hands stared down at the stadium. The crowd gasped.

"Who is that?"

"Why is he on the broadcast screen?"

"He looks terrifying."

Nezu's coffee cup slipped from his paw and shattered on the floor.

"Turn the screen off immediately," he said. "We can't allow Shigaraki to hijack the broadcast. There are hundreds of media outlets watching."

Midnight's face tightened. "We can't shut it down. They have control of the display."

On the screen, Shigaraki spoke first.

"I'm Tomura Shigaraki," he said, voice rough and cold. "The leader of the League of Villains, and the one responsible for the USJ attack."

For a moment, the stadium went quiet.

"This time, I'm here to tell you something. Everyone will remember my name, and they will remember it with fear."

His fingers twitched against his neck.

"The League of Villains will kill the champion of the U.A. Sports Festival."

Panic rippled through the stands.

The audience finally understood who they were seeing. The mastermind behind USJ.

The villain organization that had attacked U.A. once already.

"Stop the festival."

"They attacked USJ. What if they attack here?"

"How has U.A. still not caught him?"

"This is dangerous."

The media cameras turned toward the teachers, the students, and the screen.

The League had backed U.A. into a corner.

If U.A. stopped the festival, they would look afraid.

If they continued, the champion would become a target in front of the entire country.

Then a calm voice cut across the tension.

"Shigaraki."

Everyone turned. Yuto looked up at the screen.

"Has the sword wound from last time healed yet?"

Shigaraki froze. Then his hand clawed at his neck so hard that fresh red lines appeared.

"Yuto," he rasped. "Yuto Kanzaki. You again."

He remembered. At USJ, just before escaping, Yuto's blade had reached him. The boy's voice had stayed calm.

"The U.A. Sports Festival will continue. I will win the championship. If the League of Villains comes, it ends the same way as USJ."

He looked straight at the screen. "I'll make sure the world knows Yuto Kanzaki as a hero."

The words struck the stadium like a spark.

The fear did not vanish. It changed shape.

Class 1-A had fought the League at USJ.

Yuto had fought them and survived.

If a fifteen-year-old student could stand in front of the League without flinching, how could the Pro Heroes and U.A. students shrink back? One hero laughed first.

"He's right. Let them come."

Another Pro Hero cracked his knuckles. "We're heroes. This is exactly the kind of moment we exist for."

"The League wants attention? Then they can meet us in front of every camera in Japan."

Midoriya clenched his fist. "Yuto, I'm with you."

Bakugo bared his teeth. "Let them show up. This time, I will take down more villains than you."

Monoma's eyes gleamed. "This is Class 1-B's chance too. We can prove ourselves."

Honenuki, still bandaged from his match, nodded. "We missed USJ. We won't miss this." The mood reversed.

On the screen, Shigaraki looked as if he wanted to tear through the display with his bare hands.

"You keep ruining everything," he hissed. "Every time, it is you. I will kill you, whether you become champion or not."

Yuto shrugged. "Any time. But this time, you won't be as lucky."

Beside Shigaraki, Kurogiri's voice was low. "Tomura Shigaraki, our time is up." His red eyes burned.

"All Might. Yuto Kanzaki. Both of you will die."

The screen cut out. The live broadcast returned.

For a second, the stadium was still.

Then applause thundered through U.A.

"That was what a future hero should say!"

"No wonder Class 1-A survived USJ."

"The League put Yuto's name beside All Might's."

"That kid really has potential."

In the reserved viewing area, the teachers exhaled.

All Might nodded. "Young Yuto was right. We can't stop the Sports Festival because of a threat. The League won't honor anything we do, and showing fear only gives them power."

Nezu's eyes sharpened. "Increase security. Keep the festival going. There are only two rounds left, and the public is watching. U.A. won't bow to the League of Villains."

The Pro Heroes looked at Yuto with new interest. Calm under pressure.

Brave in front of evil.

Able to turn fear into momentum.

Every agency watching quietly moved him higher on their list. The festival continued.

After emergency crews reinforced the ring, the remaining matches moved quickly under tightened security.

In the semifinal, Yuto faced Eijiro Kirishima. A single clean Air Shatter broke through Hardening and sent him out of bounds.

Todoroki advanced as well, defeating Iida with overwhelming ice.

At last, Present Mic's voice rolled across the stadium again.

"The final is set! Shoto Todoroki, Quirk: Half-Cold Half-Hot, against Yuto Kanzaki, whose Quirk appears to involve vibration or shock waves!"

He drew in a breath.

"The championship match of the first-year U.A. Sports Festival is finally set!"

The crowd erupted. The showdown between two top rookies was almost here.

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