A space in the green had been cleared out: a huge dirt clearing where the cavalry battle would take place. Twelve teams had been formed, now standing far apart from each other on all sides of the clearing.
Len saw that Hagakure had joined up with Jiro, Koda, and Sato. Altogether that team wasn't worth very many points. Did she want to go more unnoticed? I guess that fits for Hagakure. They'd have to be on the offensive to accomplish anything, though.
Continuing to scan the other teams, Len saw that Midoriya's team was interesting. He'd gotten Tokoyami and the lone girl from the support course who'd made it through. And of course, Uraraka.
"Iida," Len said to the boy next to him. "I thought you might have joined Midoriya's team. Not trying to pry or anything."
"Ah, yes, well…" the normally excitable class rep seemed to be mellower, perhaps apologetic. "Midoriya has done nothing but surpass me since the beginning of the year. I felt like I needed to prove myself without following behind him. We are still friends, of course. At least I think so." Iida gave Len a glance. "What about you? I thought you might end up teaming with Ashido or Asui."
"There was an attempt," Len muttered sourly, "but it kinda fell through. It seems like we all had different priorities at this Sports Festival."
"I see," Iida nodded. "And what is your priority, if you don't mind me asking?"
Len started. What IS my priority? It's not like I'm trying to come out on top, or anything… "To not make a fool of myself, I guess."
"Hmm." Iida adjusted his glasses. "Pardon me, Kagamine, but it seems that your issue is a lack of drive. I noticed it slightly during the Battle Trial. Why did you come to UA, if not to be the best hero possible?"
"Well… I did come for that. I just don't see how that translates to fighting other students."
Iida's face twitched. "I could see why you would think that. The system in place for training new heroes encourages competition, due to heroes being so popular and prevalent now. Unfortunately, we are merely kids and cannot yet do anything about it, as I'm sure you're aware. All we can do is use the system to the best of our ability, and hope it will be better for the future."
Len sighed. "I suppose it's a good problem to have, having too many heroes. Thanks, Iida. You may have given me something to think about."
Iida nodded and smiled. "As class rep, I want to make sure that everyone in our class is properly motivated. We cannot afford to drag our feet now that we know the League of Villains is out there."
Len looked back out at the clearing. Everyone's so competitive… and I guess I haven't heard a bad argument for it yet. And everyone keeps telling me that I need to stop being wishy-washy. Well, they're thinking it, and conveying it to me in nicer ways, at least. He met eyes with Mina, whose team was off to the right. She made a surprised expression upon seeing what team he was on.
Oh yeah. I suppose if I want to start being competitive, teaming up with THIS guy was a good way to go about it.
"Alright, you three," said Todoroki, gathering them to him. "I chose you all because I thought it would be a stable formation. I'll be the right wing, holding off enemies and blocking them with ice. Yaoyorozu, you'll be the left wing. You can defend and assist with movement by any means necessary. Create whatever you require. Iida, you'll be the front horse, as the main source of mobility and physical defense."
"Pardon me, Todoroki, but would it not be more prudent to put you in the front, or on top?" Iida asked. "If you're on the right side, your left hand will be focused on carrying the rider, and you won't be able to use your fi—"
"I'm not going to use my fire," Todoroki interrupted, glancing up at the stands. Len followed his eyes… to where Endeavor was standing, watching. "And I never will."
The other three exchanged worried glances. This guy is holding back, of all people? I thought he wanted to win, Len thought. But he couldn't think about the incident in the locker room right now. That would just make him angry.
"Besides," Todoroki said, turning back to them, "Kagamine needs to be the rider."
Len's eyes widened. "Huh? Me?"
"You cannot teleport other people, correct?"
"No. It would be a dangerous thing to attempt in a friendly competition like this."
"Right." Todoroki's eyes narrowed, showing what he thought of terms like friendly competition. "So there's no use in you carrying someone else. Instead we'll have you up top, wearing the headband. If we get close enough, you will be able to teleport other people's headbands off and claim them as ours. Namely Midoriya's."
Len's eyes widened. I… I could… in theory…
He coughed. "Todoroki, it could work. However, these bandanas… people will WANT to keep them on their person. My Quirk is connected to willpower. If another person possesses the desire to hold on to something, it makes it much harder for me to warp it away from them." He'd learned that when he was younger, with his sister. Back before his parents had really put their foot down.
"I see," said Todoroki. "But it IS still possible?"
"Yes… but I will have to get closer than my usual. Perhaps as close as three or four meters."
"We can take care of that," said Iida. "We'll get you in."
Len looked at the ground. "Also, I mean… I'm a bit nervous. You three are all much more impressive than me, but I'm going to be the one up top with the bandana?"
"Don't worry so much," said Yaoyorozu, smiling at him. "You're certainly impressive in your own way, Kagamine. And we'll be there supporting you for all fifteen minutes." Iida nodded in agreement.
Feels like empty praise coming from these elites. They all saw the battle trial, didn't they? They just want to make me feel better. Yaoyorozu and Iida were being forced to put trust in Todoroki's plan just like he was, after all.
"Also, you're tall," Todoroki said flatly. "Taller than me or Yaoyorozu, and taking Iida off the ground would be counter-intuitive. It will be hard for other riders to reach up and grab your headband… even if I slip up and let them through." He clenched his right fist, and a cold gust seemed to emerge from it.
Len sighed. "Alright. I apologise in advance if I let any of you down."
"It's okay," Yaoyorozu reassured, patting his shoulder.
"We have the highest point value besides Team Midoriya, by the way," Iida said, looking up at the scoreboard. "A smart team may choose to target us instead while everyone else goes for the ten million. That would put them cleanly in second."
"It doesn't matter who comes," Todoroki told him plainly. "I will not let them through."