Chapter Text
As the Cavalry Battle began, the atmosphere was tense. The crowd was filled with anticipation as students lined up, ready to put their plans into action. The first few moments were chaotic, as everyone scrambled for position, and Seohyun could already sense the teams shifting into full gear. She narrowed her eyes, scanning the battlefield for potential threats.
The first thing she noticed was Midoriya’s team—standing strong with the coveted 10 million point headband. Seohyun’s eyes flickered to Todoroki, who had already begun strategizing, the look of concentration on his face intense. But there was a problem. A lot of teams were already focusing on Midoriya, hoping to neutralize his team’s advantage early on. Todoroki’s team would be targeted as well if they didn’t act fast.
As her mind quickly analyzed the situation, Seohyun spoke up.
“We can’t rush in headfirst. There’s no way we’re getting to Midoriya like this, not with so many people after him. We need to let them exhaust their resources. We’ll wait, pick our moment, and strike when the time is right.”
Todoroki’s gaze shifted to her. “You’re saying we should wait?”
“Yes,” Seohyun said with certainty, her voice calm despite the adrenaline rising in her chest. “We’ll let Midoriya’s team run into a corner. They’ll be forced to defend themselves and separate from the pack. That’s when we attack—when half the time is left.”
Todoroki considered her words for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. We’ll follow your plan.”
Lida, who had been listening intently, stepped forward. “Got it. I’ll clear the way.”
Seohyun shot him a small nod, then turned to Momo. “Keep an eye on the other teams. We don’t want anyone sneaking up on us while we’re waiting for our moment.”
Momo nodded silently, focusing on the arena.
The battle began, and Seohyun’s team stayed on the defensive, watching as the chaos unfolded before them. Todoroki’s ice quirk froze any attackers who dared to come too close, and they also secured their headbands but they made sure not to get too involved in the melee. They needed the teams to expend their energy, and soon enough, the students focusing on Midoriya were spread thin, chasing him around the arena.
Seohyun’s prediction was playing out just as she had hoped. The other teams were too focused on Midoriya’s 10 million points, causing them to move in a frenzy and lose their coordination. Meanwhile, Todoroki’s team remained calm, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.
It wasn’t long before Midoriya’s team was starting to feel the pressure. His team began retreating toward a corner of the arena, hoping to find some respite from the constant attacks. This was the opening Seohyun had been waiting for.
Now, it was time to execute the plan.
“Lida,” Todoroki called, his voice steady. “Go forward. Push them back and keep their attention on you.”
Lida’s eyes lit up, and with a quick nod, he shot forward, his engine quirk activating as he darted across the arena. His speed was a blur, and he immediately caught the attention of several teams, forcing them to adjust their tactics. Meanwhile, Todoroki and Momo stayed in position, watching the flow of the battle.
“Seohyun… can you do it?” Todoroki’s voice cut through the din of the battlefield.
Seohyun’s heart beat faster, but she didn’t hesitate. Her quirk was still a mystery to most of the students. She nodded, her voice steady.
“Leave it to me.”
The battle had shifted. With the attention now split between Lida and Midoriya’s team, Seohyun saw her opportunity. She had to act quickly, knowing that every second counted. She stepped forward, her eyes scanning the field for any approaching threats.
With a subtle gesture, she began to manipulate the gravitational force around the opposing teams—excluding Midoriya’s. The ground beneath their feet seemed to distort, and suddenly, it felt as if the very weight of the world pressed down on them.
One by one, the other teams were thrown off balance. They stumbled, their movements slowing as their gravity seemed to increase exponentially, making it nearly impossible for them to stay on their feet. They dropped to the ground, their legs giving way under the unexpected pull of the increased force. Some even tumbled forward, landing in a heap as they struggled to regain control.
It was a quiet, efficient move—nothing flashy, but devastating in its simplicity. Seohyun didn’t want to overexert herself, but this small shift in gravitational pull was enough to give her team the advantage, clearing the path for them without direct confrontation.
“Now!” she shouted.
Todoroki followed her lead, unleashing a wave of ice in a single motion, freezing the path ahead and cutting off any escape routes for Midoriya’s team. They were cornered, with nowhere to go. Lida pushed forward again, forcing them into a tight space where they couldn’t easily move or retaliate.
Seohyun felt the tension building. Her heart raced as the minutes ticked down. Midoriya’s team had no choice but to fight back, but they were exhausted from the relentless attacks. That was exactly what Seohyun had been waiting for.
With only half the time left, her team sprang into action.
Lida was the first to charge forward, taking advantage of the opening they had created. Momo flanked to the right, covering the vulnerable spots as Seohyun stayed on the left, watching for anyone attempting to break free.
Midoriya’s team fought valiantly, pushing themselves to the limit as they worked to hold onto their hard-earned 10 million point headband. Seohyun couldn’t help but admire the fire in Midoriya’s eyes—the same intensity she had seen when he fought in previous rounds. But this wasn’t a time for admiration. It was a battle for survival, and Seohyun and her team were playing it strategically.
Todoroki’s team, led by the ever-reliable Lida, had made it to the front of the pack. Thanks to Lida’s quick thinking and his special move, they had managed to gain the upper hand and grab the headband.
The tension was palpable as the teams prepared for the cavalry battle. Todoroki's team had a clear advantage, having already secured the 10 million point headband thanks to Lida’s special move. The sheer speed and precision of Lida’s quirk had left everyone else scrambling, but it was Todoroki's calm leadership that had guided them to this crucial point.
As the race continued, Midoriya’s team, though determined, was facing the inevitable pressure of trying to reclaim the 10 million point headband. Seohyun, watching from her vantage point, noticed how Midoriya’s team was steadily pushing forward. Their strategy was good, but their naivety in rushing into things was clear. Seohyun’s sharp mind quickly began to work, sensing an opportunity to capitalize on that exact flaw.
Todoroki’s face tensed when he saw Midoriya charging toward him. The pressure was mounting. Midoriya, sensing Todoroki’s hesitation, went for his most powerful move. This meant Todoroki would have to reveal his fire abilities—the one quirk he hadn’t fully embraced in public. It was a risk, but he had no choice if he wanted to hold onto a headband.
“Todoroki,” Seohyun called out, her voice calm but firm. “Put the 10 million headband at the last spot. Keep them guessing. They’ll think they can get it, but they won’t know it’s not the right one.”
Todoroki paused, glancing at Seohyun before nodding in agreement. Without hesitation, he switched the headbands, making sure the valuable one was well-hidden, while the others stayed visible. Seohyun's plan was simple, yet effective—Midoriya’s team would charge in with the wrong target in mind, and the real prize would slip from their grasp when the timer ticked down.
As the timer neared its final moments, Seohyun’s prediction came to life. Midoriya, with his unrelenting drive, charged toward Todoroki, his eyes fixed on what he thought was the 10 million point headband. But in his haste, he overlooked the clever maneuver Seohyun had suggested. His focus was entirely on the headband he believed to be the prize, not realizing that Todoroki had switched it at the last minute.
“Don’t let them get too close,” Seohyun murmured to her team, feeling her fever spike but keeping her composure.
With only a minute left on the clock, Midoriya and Bakugo both locked eyes on Todoroki, racing toward him in a final attempt to capture the elusive headband. Seohyun watched as the tension escalated. Bakugo’s fiery determination and Midoriya’s relentless will were both forces to be reckoned with. But Todoroki stood firm, prepared to brace himself for the incoming storm.
That’s when Seohyun’s mind raced again. She knew that time was running out. She had a few tricks up her sleeve that she hadn’t fully revealed yet.
In the chaos of the moment, Seohyun turned toward Tokoyami. Without hesitation, she gestured for him to send Dark Shadow to Todoroki’s collar.
Seohyun’s fever was rising, and her vision blurred slightly, but she ignored it. Focusing all of her remaining strength, she tapped into her quirk, manipulating the environment around Todoroki. As her energy flowed through her, she loosened the headband from his collar, just enough so that Dark Shadow could slip it off unnoticed.
The dark, ethereal tendril of Dark Shadow slid like a wraith across the battlefield, unseen by the others. With one swift motion, it snatched the headband from Todoroki’s collar and took it back to Seohyun. The entire process had taken only a moment, but it was enough to tip the scales.
Seohyun grinned triumphantly, feeling a rush of accomplishment. She was feeling light-headed, dizzy even, but she kept it hidden beneath her calm expression. Her fever was definitely worse, but thankfully, no one had noticed her discomfort. Her mind was still sharp, and that’s all that mattered.
Seohyun felt her vision blur, dizziness threatening to overtake her, but she pushed through it. The effort of using her quirk was draining her, but she focused on the task at hand. As Midoriya and Bakugo closed in on Todoroki, desperate to reclaim the headband, Seohyun made sure the headband was now safely in Dark Shadow’s possession.
Midoriya, thinking he had the upper hand, lunged for what he believed to be the 10 million point headband. But as the timer hit zero, he found himself empty-handed.
The whistle blew.
Seohyun allowed herself a small, triumphant grin as the results were revealed. Her team had won. Despite Midoriya’s relentless spirit and Bakugo’s fiery attacks, they had all been outplayed by a well-timed strategy. Seohyun’s team—Todoroki, Lida, Momo, and herself—had managed to secure their victory.
“Nice work,” Seohyun said to her teammates, giving them a tired but satisfied smile.
Todoroki, who had held his ground despite the pressure, gave her a rare nod of approval. “You were right. Switching the headbands at the last minute was the key.”
Lida grinned, wiping the sweat from his brow. “That was intense. You really know how to think on your feet, Seohyun.”
Seohyun smirked, though it was laced with exhaustion. “Sometimes it’s not about brute force. It’s about patience, deception, and taking advantage of the right moment.”
As the teams began to clear the battlefield, Seohyun couldn’t help but admire the fighting spirit of Midoriya’s team. They had fought with everything they had, and yet, their naivety had been their downfall. Seohyun couldn’t shake the thought that they were a little too quick to trust their instincts without considering the bigger picture.
She felt dizzy, but she pushed it aside, unwilling to show weakness in front of her team. There was still a long way to go, and the real challenges were only just beginning.