"A tournament, huh? So we'll be up in that ring I see on TV every year!" Kirishima was excited.
"Was it a tournament last year too?" Mina asked.
"The format's always different, but most of the years involve some kind of head-to-head competition," Sero said.
"It should have been sword foam fighting last year," Brando said.
"The matchup will be decided by drawing lots. Once that settled, we'll move on to the tournament itself," Midnight announced and said, "Now, let's start with the first-place team!"
Brando, Jiro, Koda, and Shinso went to the podium to take the lot.
Koda was quite nervous since he didn't expect to be standing here.
Brando patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, you're in the first place, be confident."
"Y - Yes," Koda nodded. His family must be watching him and he needs to give his best. He was grateful that he had given him a chance to be standing here.
Jiro was also happy that she could also walk next to the final tournament.
Shinso didn't hesitate and took the lot first.
Brando took the final and saw that he was in the third match. He saw that the four of them didn't face each other for the first match. He was curious about who his matchup would be in the first match.
Shinso sighed in relief since he didn't need to face three of them who knew about his power.
"You have good luck, Shinso," Brando couldn't help but praise.
"What does that mean?" Shinso knew that this guy had a bad hobby.
"I don't mind anything, the three of us won't tell anyone about your power," Brando said.
"Yes, you don't need to worry and go wild," Jiro nodded.
"Yes," Koda smiled.
"Thank you," Shinso nodded.
They were waiting for everyone to take their lots and saw the result of their match-up.
"Kaminari, huh?" Brando looked at Kaminari.
"I won't lose to you, Dio!" Kaminari had a determined expression.
Brando just nodded and didn't say anything.
Kaminari knew that his opponent was very powerful but he wouldn't admit defeat.
---
"Shinso, that's gotta be...." Midoriya tried to remember him.
"Izuku Midoriya, is that you?"
Midoriya shuddered and turned. He suddenly remembered that it was the only student from the general department and the rider of Dio. He felt very regretful when he thought that he didn't see his action earlier, "Y - Yes..."
"Hmph," Shinso snorted and walked away.
Midoriya looked around and went to Koda and Jiro, "Koda, Jiro, can you tell me about Shinso?"
Jiro and Koda, who heard his question, couldn't help but shake their heads.
"Sorry, Midoriya, this time I won't help you, try to win with your own power," Jiro said.
Koda nodded in agreement.
Both of them thought that Shinso really had a powerful Quirk and both of them thought that it was very regretful that he was not able to enter the hero department.
Koda and Jiro also needed to think about their own opponents.
Koda would be fighting against Iida later and Jiro would be fighting against Kirishima later. Both of them knew that their opponent would be very hard to defeat later but they wouldn't give up.
Midoriya felt very confused now since he didn't have information about his opponent. He looked at him and decided to ask him.
---
"Uraraka, huh?" Bakugou looked at the name of his opponent.
"Huh?!" Uraraka was shocked when her first opponent was Bakugou.
---
"The battle will start in 15 minutes, for the participant please get ready for the battle, especially the first one match-up!" Midnight announced.
Brando saw that Shinso was waiting for him in the exit tunnel. He sighed when he saw him but he didn't mind helping him.
"Dio-kun!"
"Hmm?" Brando turned and saw that it was Shinso's first opponent, "Midoriya? What's wrong?"
"Do you know what Shinso's Quirk is?" Midoriya asked.
Brando smirked, "Do you think that I'll tell you?"
Midoriya sighed when he couldn't get the answer.
"Work hard, Midoriya, I'm sure that you still remember the thing that Aizawa-sensei has told to you," Brando said with a serious expression, "You're not fit to become a hero when you get hurt every time you try to use your Quirk, are you trying to save someone or asking someone to help you?"
Midoriya clenched his hand since he knew that he was right.
"Shinso also has a powerful Quirk but he can't enter the hero department, I've thought that he is quite suitable to replace you," Brando said and left him, "Try to show how much resolve that you want to become a hero or else you won't be able to beat him."
"Dio..." Midoriya stood there looking at his back.
---
Brando walked toward him.
"What are you talking about?" Shinso asked.
"He has asked your Quirk, but I won't tell him," Brando said.
"Is that okay? You're his classmates," Shinso said.
"I thought you'd be more suitable to enter the hero department than him," Brando said, and looked quite serious, "I'll tell you about him, try to win this."
"I will," Shinso nodded.
---
Midoriya didn't go to the waiting room but stood in the tunnel waiting for his match to start. He knew that he didn't have any help from anyone and he needed to work by himself. He still remembered what Brando had said to him.
'You're not fit to become a hero...' Midoriya clenched his hands really hard. He wanted to refute him but he couldn't since he still couldn't control his Quirk. He also started to worry about what was the Quirk of his opponent. His heart was beating very fast and he wasn't sure what he needed to do now. His mind was blank but he knew that he couldn't betray that person.
"Young Midoriya."
Suddenly a familiar voice called his name.
Midoriya turned and saw him, "All Might."