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Aizawa blinked lazily as his gaze drifted over the scene. He didnt know what was going on, or what to think. But he did know one thing.
It was definitely planned.
Though how it was hidden from all the teachers was both impressive and quite worrying if he was honest. But they had managed somehow.
Beside him, Yamada was equally dumbstruck. In a way Aizawa had rarely ever seen. He might just have to give is kids extra credit for making Present Mic of all people so shocked he couldn't speak.
And Yamada wasnt the only one. The whole stadium floated in a confused silence. The only sounds were soft murmured questions and the gentle swish of fabric as people turned confused gazes to each other. From her spot overlooking the field, Midnight was obviously flustered. Unsure what to do or how to respond.
Because the bell had just rung to signal the start of the sports festival's first event. And not a single contestant had moved. Not even a twitch.
A familiar booming laugh filled the silence. But everyone could tell it was nervous and not the usual joy fill laugh. "This is most strange! Students, why do you not move? The event has begun."
"Not doing it."
Aizawa looked at the student who spoke. It was one of the ones from class B. Monoma or something like that. And he honestly couldn't say he'd ever heard that bored tone of voice ever come from that kid's mouth. And he could see every single student nodding their head in agreement. Hero course, general, support, even business. The faces of his own students and those in 2-B were absolutely resolute in their commitment.
Whispers and murmurs rushed through the stadium. What did he mean? Were they really not competing? Why? What was going on?
Midnight gaped, "Whaaaaa?"
A familiar growl answered her as Bakugou spoke. "Did you not hear Copycat Bastard? He said not fucking doing it. Get your damn ears checked." If Aizawa wasnt so used to Yamada he thinks he would have missed the way a second later Bakugou mouthed a soundless 'I thought I was supposed to be the deaf one.' He almost chuckled.
The teachers all blanched, though whether it was because of the language a student just used on live television or because none of the contestants were going to participate was unclear. With how used to Bakugou they had all grown, it was probably the second option.
Yamada's jaw dropped silently and yeah, Aizawa was definitely giving at least one kid extra credit. Then Midoriya opened his mouth and that number went up to two.
"After the events of last year's award ceremony, none of us wish to participate in today's events. Please understand." Midoriya gave a small, apologetic bow, but it was abundantly clear that not a single student was sorry at all. It was clear in the way Kirishima stood behind Bakugou fully hardened, their shoulders just barely touching. In the way Iida and Uraraka each played a hand on Midoriya's shoulders, or the way TetsuTetsu patted Monoma heartily on the back.
Midnight looked as if she was short circuiting. "I don... why... I'm sorry but what is going on here? None of you are going to compete?"
Monoma laughed and it was a much more normal tone to hear from him than the earlier boredom. "You think after last year when the top student in the school, from the oh so prestigious A class, got chained to a podium and humiliated for not wanting to accept an award that any of the rest of us in the 'lower' classes would want to risk that? Hell no!"
And just like that, everything suddenly made sense to Aizawa. Though the way Nemuri was floundering and Toshinori looked like a fish out of water, it was clear that it hadn't yet clicked for everyone.
A quick look passed between Midoriya and Bakugou before Bakugou gave a small nod. Midoriya cleared his throat.
"Due to the reprehensible action taken by the staff of UA during our festival as first years, of chaining and muzzling a minor on live television for wanting to turn down an award they did not feel was properly earned, none of the second year students wish to compete for fear of the same thing occurring and a student again being targeted and kidnapped by villains as a result. Acknowledgement of this wrong and apology by the staff has still not been forthcoming so we respectfully wish to say uh..."
Midoriya flushed, hesitant as he reached the end of his short speech. He turned to his classmates and fellow students who all gave encouraging grins or thumbs up.
Bakugou snorted, "Respectfully go fuck yourselves."
The crowd erupted in scandalized gasps and unintelligible yells. Whether they were in agreement or not was difficult to tell over the cacophony of noise.
Yamada was still in shocked silence. Fuck it, Aizawa was giving the entire damn second year class extra credit.