Screen 1 – School Festival Begins
After the intense and traumatic events of the Overhaul Arc, U.A. High decides to hold its annual School Festival — a chance for students to breathe, smile, and remember why they chose to become heroes.
Colorful decorations fill the campus. Music, food stalls, and laughter replace sirens and rubble.
Ben looks around, eyes wide, taking it all in.
"…This is amazing," he says, grinning.
For the first time in a long while,
U.A. feels like a school again — not a battlefield.
Screen 2 – Festival Preparation
The gym buzzes with activity as Class 1-A prepares for the School Festival.
Jiro stands at the center of it all, tuning her instruments and guiding the band. Her music isn't just sound — it carries emotion, meant to reach people's hearts.
Nearby, Yaoyorozu checks clipboards and schedules.
"Stage timing is set. Food stalls are coordinated. Please stay on schedule."
At the entrance, Bakugo stands guard with crossed arms.
"Oi. Don't mess around near the stage. This is security, not a playground."
On a ladder above them, Hatsume laughs while wiring lights and effects.
"If it explodes, that just means it works!"
In the corner of the room, Eri sits quietly, hands folded, eyes down.
She's been invited to the festival — but the noise, the colors, the happiness all feel unfamiliar.
Ben pauses as he walks past, chili fries gone now.
He glances back at the small girl.
She's smiling a little… but it doesn't reach her eyes.
Ben frowns slightly.
"Hey," he mutters to himself. "Something's off."
He looks around at the busy room — everyone laughing, arguing, working — then back at Eri.
"…Guess not everyone knows how to have fun yet."
Ben doesn't say anything out loud.
But he keeps an eye on her as the preparations continue.
Some heroes notice danger.
Others notice quiet pain.
Screen 3 – Midoriya & Ben vs. Gentle Criminal
The night before the festival.
The campus is quiet. Lights glow softly in the distance.
Midoriya suddenly stops.
"Ben… someone's here."
Ben taps the Omnitrix.
Click.
A blue blur flashes — XLR8 skids to a halt beside him.
"Found him."
Standing on a floating elastic platform is Gentle Criminal, tipping his hat politely.
"My, my. Intercepted before my grand debut."
From behind him, La Brava raises her device, eyes shining.
"Gentle! I'm boosting you now!"
---
The Fight Begins
Gentle claps his hands.
The ground, walls, even the air itself turns elastic.
Midoriya leaps forward, but his kick bounces him backward violently.
"His Quirk changes the environment…!"
XLR8 moves instantly, running along the elastic walls, but even he slips as the surface bends unpredictably.
"Okay, that's annoying."
Gentle glides gracefully.
"Young heroes, please understand. I don't wish to hurt anyone."
La Brava activates her Love Quirk — energy surges through Gentle.
His movements become faster, stronger, sharper.
---
The Mistake
La Brava watches the fight closely… then her eyes widen.
"W-Wait—!"
She realizes too late.
Her boost is draining faster than expected.
"Gentle! I can't maintain it!"
The power spike destabilizes Gentle's control.
The elastic field ripples wildly, creating openings.
Midoriya notices immediately.
"Ben! Now!"
---
Turning the Tide
XLR8 accelerates, calculating the rebounds perfectly.
He uses the elastic terrain instead of fighting it — running, bouncing, redirecting momentum.
Midoriya follows, timing his movements carefully.
He doesn't strike to injure — only to restrain.
"Gentle," Midoriya says firmly, "you don't need to ruin people's happiness to be seen."
Gentle hesitates.
That single pause is enough.
XLR8 disarms him in a blur.
Midoriya lands, gently but decisively pinning him.
The elastic field fades.
---
Aftermath
La Brava rushes to Gentle's side, shaking.
"I messed up… I'm sorry…"
Gentle smiles sadly.
"No, my dear. This was my choice."
Midoriya loosens his grip, still holding Gentle securely.
"I won't let the festival be ruined. But I won't crush your dream either."
Sirens approach in the distance — quiet, controlled.
Ben reverts to human form.
"Festival's safe. Nobody hurt."
Gentle closes his eyes.
"…You truly are heroes."
As they lead Gentle and La Brava away, music begins to play faintly from inside U.A.
The festival goes on.
And for the first time that night,
Eri will get to smile —
without fear.
Screen 4 – After the Storm
Gentle Criminal and La Brava are taken into custody — quietly, without spectacle.
They aren't beaten. They aren't humiliated.
As they're escorted away, Gentle adjusts his hat one last time.
"A gentleman accepts the consequences of his actions."
La Brava glances back once… her eyes stopping on Ben.
Her face turns red.
"H-He was so fast… and kind…" she whispers.
Ben scratches his head, confused.
"…Uh. Good luck?"
La Brava's heart nearly explodes.
He talked to me…!
Gentle sighs. "Focus, La Brava."
---
Inside U.A., the School Festival continues uninterrupted.
Music fills the air. Lights glow warmly. Laughter echoes across the campus.
Eri stands among the crowd, clutching Midoriya's sleeve at first —
then slowly letting go.
She watches the stage.
She listens to the music.
And then…
she smiles.
It's small.
But it's real.
Midoriya exhales, eyes watering.
"We did it."
Ben watches from nearby, arms crossed, smiling quietly.
"Yeah. This is why we fight."
Around them, Class 1-A laughs, teases, and celebrates together — closer than ever.
Not as rivals.
Not as individuals.
As a team.
For a brief moment, hero society rests.
No alarms.
No disasters.
Just peace —
before the next storm arrives.
Be continued