Chapter 43

The roar of the locker room was a comforting cacophony. The smell of sweat and liniment, usually repulsive, was today invigorating. We, the would-be heroes of U.A., were a force to be reckoned with, a brotherhood forged in the fires of training and adversity. Today, the Friday of Spirit Week, was our chance to let loose, to show off a different kind of strength – the camaraderie of a team.

Katsume, with his usual scowl and hidden warmth, was tying his cleats, Ryan was stretching his long limbs, and Tensei was already meticulously polishing his helmet. Anix, ever the observant one, sauntered over, a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

"You know, Anos," he said, his voice a low rumble, "you should make a speech. Rally the troops, you know?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. Speeches weren't really my thing. My past life as Superman had conditioned me for action, not oration. But looking around at these guys, my second family, I felt a surge of something akin to pride. I nodded, climbed onto the nearest bench, and clapped my hands for attention.

"Alright, guys! Can I have your attention for a sec?"

The room quieted, all eyes turning towards me. "Tonight," I began, my voice resonating with my inner excitement, "is our night. We started as nervous freshmen, and now, look at us. We're in the top 100 hero trainees in the country. We earned that. Remember the struggles, the late nights, the near-failures. We pushed through, together. Tonight isn't just about winning some games, it's a chance to de-stress, to remember how far we've come, and to have some damn fun. Let's show everyone what U.A. boys can do!"

The room erupted in cheers, a cacophony of shouts and claps that made my chest swell. We finished getting ready, the energy palpable. Aizawa-sensei, his usual stoic self, appeared in the doorway, informing us that it was time. We burst out onto the field, a wave of teenage masculinity, our names booming through the stadium speakers. The cheers from the crowd were electric, a symphony of support.

I scanned the stands, noticing the first years, including Class 1-A. Izuku, my little brother, looked a bit out of his element, though I knew his talent lay in other fields. I saw our grade, a sea of familiar faces waving banners, screaming encouragement. My gaze lingered on the first years' stand, where Momo, my girlfriend, was beaming at me, her cheeks painted with a soft blush. I smirked, winking at her, and watched her blush intensify. She was adorable.

The referee called me and Katsume over to flip a coin for possession. This was it. We squared off against the familiar figures of Katsuki and Kirishima. "Heads," I said, and to our luck, it landed tails. The first years took possession but we were ready.

The game was intense. We tackled hard, ran faster, and pushed ourselves. The first years, especially Bakugo, were fierce competitors. But our class, with all our training, held the advantage and we ended up winning by two points. My lungs were burning, my muscles aching, but it was a good kind of tired.

The locker room was a buzz of exhaustion and exhilaration. I grabbed a water bottle, gulping it down. I noticed Ryan's arm. It was a bit sore, so I helped bandage it whilst Katsume was focused on wrapping Marcus's ribs, his usual gruff exterior replaced with a rare hint of blush. I smirked, catching Marcus whispering something that made Katsume's face heat up further. I laughed lightly to myself and announced it was time to head back.

The game against the third years was brutal, Mirio and Tamaki proving to be formidable opponents. But we poured our heart and souls into it and hours later we walked off that field with another win. My class, we won the football tournament. The day flew by, a blur of relay races, soccer matches, swimming competitions, even wrestling. Each event was a chance to show off, to support each other, to just have fun.

Then it was time for the model contest, a different kind of competition altogether. Momo was the representative from Class 1-A, looking stunning in a black and red gown. Diamond, my best friend, represented our class, dazzling in her signature blue and yellow lightning dress. Nejire, from the third years, was a vision in purple and blue. All three were beautiful, but Diamond took the win.

I congratulated her, then went to Momo, telling her she was amazing even if she hadn't win. I knew models were never her thing but she still killed it. She smiled, happy with the opportunity.

Then, came the guy's turn. Izuku went first, looking a tad uncomfortable in a green and black outfit, but handsome nonetheless. I followed, sporting a fancy black and gold outfit. It was a little out of character for me, but I enjoyed the change of pace. Mirio followed after me in his blue and black suit and everything felt light and fun. I glanced at the crowd and I could see girls blushing and some even with nosebleeds. I chuckled lightly. Then, to my utter surprise , Ms. Midnight announced me as the winner. I bowed, accepted my trophy, and a round of congratulation. It was fun, nothing like the seriousness of hero-work, but fun.

After the awards, I stayed behind, helping with clean-up. The satisfaction of a day well-spent was a warm feeling in my chest. As I picked up stray water bottles, I thought about the day- the games, the camaraderie, the sheer joy. This life, as Anos Midoriya, was completely different from my past life as Superman, yet it was just as rewarding, just in a different way. I was no longer saving the world from cosmic threats, but I was strengthening bonds, building friendships, and living a life that was real and messy and beautiful. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.