Calm Before The Festival

The sun had barely risen, but the house was already awake.

Azaria stood in front of the bathroom mirror, toothbrush hanging loosely from his mouth, eyes fixed on his own reflection. His hair was messy, half of it flopping lazily over his eyes. He hadn't bothered fixing it yet. Sleep still clung to his skin, but his mind had been alert since 4 a.m.

Today was the day.

The U.A. Sports Festival.

The biggest spotlight a hero student could get—the media recording, pro heroes and agency eyes watching for every available talent and he wanted no part of it.

Not because he was scared, he understood the significance. Recognition, internships, future opportunities. But none of it felt real. Not when he was constantly calculating his next move in a life that didn't belong to him. Victory at a school event wouldn't change the fact that he was still someone else's pawn. Still under surveillance. Still trying to buy his parents' lives back with obedience.

He spat into the sink and washed his face. His uniform was folded neatly on the chair beside his bed, sports outfit already packed. Everything in order. His phone buzzed quietly on the table beside him.

Messages from classmates filled the group chats. Everyone was talking about the upcoming Sports Festival, training regimens, friendly trash talk, theories about what the first event would be. He scrolled through them without typing a word.

It didn't excite him. He tied his shoelace and gave himself a once-over in the mirror. He looked..... normal.

As he walked downstairs, the scent of eggs and toast hit him. His mom stood by the stove, apron on, humming under her breath. His dad was at the table, coffee in one hand and phone in the other, reading the news like it was any other morning.

"Morning" Azaria said.

They both looked up at once. His mom smiled, warm and proud. His dad's eyes flicked over him like he was scanning for signs of nerves.

"You ready?" his dad asked.

Azaria grabbed a piece of toast and bit into it. "Does it matter?"

His dad raised an eyebrow, sipping coffee "Whoa, where did this attitude come from young man? I thought you were interested in the festival."

"Maybe he's nervous and he doesn't want to show it" His mom walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder as she fixed his collar. "Relax, you got this."

He nodded. "Thanks. I'm not actually nervous, it's just that.."

He glanced at curious eyes, he didn't want to tell them the truth. Didn't want to spoil the mood by reminding them of their cruel fate and life—AFO. He sighed as he took another bite "It feels exaggerated for me, I don't know."

Ruki cleared his throat. "But you've been training a lot more recently since your injury. Isn't that for the festival?"

"No." Azaria responded, his tone was level. "That's just... because I need to."

His dad nodded once, accepting the answer. "Still... if you do decide to take part, don't hold back."

"It's not just about winning," He continued. "It's about showing them that you're capable."

His mother added gently, "And you've never liked losing."

Azaria scoffed lightly. "That's because Dad cheats."

"I bluff."

"You hide cards."

"It's still strategy."

A small smile tugged at Azaria's lips. It didn't last long, but it was real. He stood, nodding once toward them before heading for the stairs.

Just as he reached the top, his mother called after him.

"Azaria?"

He paused. "Yeah?"

"Want me to drive you to school?"

***

Azaria slid into the passenger seat of the car, watching as his mum started the engine with practiced ease. The car hummed to life, the soft vibrations almost comforting as they pulled out of the driveway. The morning air was still cool, and the streets of the city were beginning to fill with the usual hum of early risers.

The quiet was easy, almost like a blanket, wrapping around them. Yumi didn't speak right away, but he could feel her eyes flicking toward him briefly as they drove. She drove slowly and carefully, an opposite of Ruki, who wasn't reckless but drove how most dad would drive. Needless to say, Azaria preferred his dad driving him but wouldn't dare say it.

"Big day today," Yumi said casually, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. "You sure you're not nervous?"

Azaria didn't answer right away. Instead, he gave a noncommittal grunt, still staring ahead as if the world outside the window could distract him from his own thoughts. "No, I'm fine." he muttered.

Her eyes flicked toward him briefly before she returned her gaze to the road. She was quiet for a moment, but Azaria knew she was waiting for him to elaborate.

"You sure? I thought you would be excited for this" she asked again, her tone soft but insistent. "Is there something wrong?"

Azaria let out a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his seat. He hated when she did that. He felt she could always read him better than anyone else. "It's not about the festival. It's just... a lot, you know?" Compared to the dream and AFO, the sports festival still seemed trivial to him.

His mom didn't press him further. She just nodded, keeping her focus on the road. "I get it. But just remember, you don't have to be perfect, Azaria. You don't need to win everything. You just need to show them what you're capable of."

Azaria snorted softly, shaking his head. "Show them? It's just a school event. It doesn't mean anything."

His mom glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "You don't think it means anything?"

Azaria shrugged, staring out at the passing streets. "Not really. I mean, yeah, there'll be media and pro heroes watching, but it's just a competition. This might not necessarily mean that I'll be scouted by a pro agency or anything big."

His mom didn't say anything for a moment, just letting the silence sit between them as they neared the school. Finally, she spoke up, her voice gentler now. "You do know you're doing this for yourself right? I mean sure, you're making your Dad and I proud but it's all for you, you know. My name's not going to be recorded, neither your Dad but you, if you win. We tried our best to give you this opportunity so you could shoot for the stars. Don't let anyone make you forget that."

Azaria was silent, processing her words. As they neared U.A. High, the imposing gates of the school loomed in the distance. The place felt more like a fortress than a school, a symbol of everything he was supposed to be and everything he was running from.

"Alright," his mom said, her voice breaking the silence. "You've got this, okay? No matter what happens today, we're proud of you."

Azaria met her gaze for a brief moment, and though his expression remained neutral, there was a hint of something softer beneath the surface. "Thanks, Mom."

She smiled warmly, but before he could say anything else, she added, "And remember, you don't have to win to impress anyone. You're just being like that hero, the one with the two spikey hair."

"All Might?"

"Yeah, just show them that you are here. Show them the strength of Azaria Arashi."

Azaria chuckled dryly. "Yeah, I know. I'll just try not to embarrass myself."

With a final wave, she pulled the car up to the curb in front of the school, and Azaria opened the door. He glanced back at her, offering a small nod, before stepping out into the cool morning air.

The school loomed in front of him, the excitement of the other students palpable as they streamed toward the entrance. It was game time.

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A/N: This marks the end of volume one!! Thank you for supporting through the chapters and helping the book grow with your views and power stones.

Sorry that I hadn't been posting recently, I've actually been ill. So I'm taking time to rest and recover but would come back soon ᕙ⁠(⁠ ⁠:⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠∧⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠:⁠ ⁠)

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