CONTEST START!!

Location: North Royal Palace

Tenya is preparing a horse and supplies for a long journey with Prince Shouto to Mt. Northern Star where the contest is held.

"Is everything ready, Iida?" Shouto asked as he approached Tenya.

"All ready! But...are you sure we went to the contest site on foot? We can bring two other horses for us to ride." Tenya was worried about Shouto's will.

"I want to take off my mind a little from the pressure of that person. Therefore, I think walking to the contest site is the right way." Shouto scratched his neck.

"If that's what you want, then I can't refuse it." Tenya gave Shouto a warm smile.

"Attach this to the horse." Shouto gave earrings to Tenya to attach to the horse they were going to bring.

"Earrings? What's this for?" Tenya asked.

"This earring was a gift from Midnight. He said by attaching it to the horse I brought, the horse would go to where Midnight was." Shouto answered.

"Alright, I'll attach this earring to the horse." Tenya approaches the horse they'll bring to pair the earrings from Midnight.

"Iida, do you think I should look for someone in the contest to accompany you to be one of my knights?" Shouto asked.

"Eh? What are you talking about? Do you think I'm not strong enough to protect you? Besides, you are already very strong and very skilled at using swords." Tenya is upset and behaves like a robot.

"It's not like that, I think I just need a partner. What do you think?" Shouto was waiting for Tenya's response.

"It's all up to you, anyway I don't mind your choice too much when you say a reason like that," Tenya answered with his hand cutting the air.

Prince Shouto and Tenya began their journey to Mt. Northern Star.

Location: Mt. Northern Star

Izuku and the other contestants arrived at the foot of the Mt. Northern Star. After a long day's journey, Eraser Head finally decided to stop there.

"Mic! Tell them that this place will be our camping ground during the contest." Eraser Head asked Present Mic to announce it.

"Okay! ATTENTION TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS!" The shouts of the Present Mic made all the contestants pay attention to it.

'(Does he have to scream?)' Ochaco thought.

"We'll make this place our camping ground during the contest! Therefore you can start setting up a comfortable place to rest! You can rest anywhere provided that you don't get too far from our tent, the judges! " Present Mic announced it to the contest participants.

"Mic, can you call Uraraka-san? She's one of my students and I haven't seen her since we left ." Midnight asks Present Mic to call Ochaco.

"Okay! ATTENTION! For Midnight student named Uraraka-san, Midnight is waiting for you at the sound source!" Present Mic calls Ochaco.

"It looks like Ms. Midnight called me. I haven't told her if I decided to come along to help her in this contest. Maybe she wants to make sure whether I come or not." Ochaco murmured.

"Uraraka-san, maybe you need to go to meet her. I also have to prepare a campfire and prepare dinner." Izuku gave a suggestion.

"Alright then, see you Deku-kun!" Ochaco ran leaving Izuku while waving her hand to meet Midnight.

Izuku began to look for a place for him to rest. He wandered around where they stopped and saw a comfortable place to rest and light a campfire. The day began to get dark and Izuku finished cleaning the shelter. He began to light a campfire to cook food. Izuku had prepared groceries from his home for tonight so he didn't have to hunt and look for groceries. Izuku started cooking his food as his mother taught him when she left a few days from home when he was little so he had to cook his food.

"Luckily I still remember how to cook soup. Sometimes what you teach is not in vain, mom" Izuku smiled remembering his mother while tasting his cooking.

"Oi! Damn Nerd!" someone approached Izuku.

"Oh, K-Kacchan. I-Is there s-something wrong?" Izuku asked who began to sweat seeing Katsuki.

"It turns out you are serious too, wanting to take part in this contest." Katsuki sat across from Izuku.

"Umm...W-well...I-it's like that." Izuku started to feel uncomfortable with Katsuki who was calm when talking to him.

"Hear me, you Damn Nerd! I want to ask you something. This morning I called you for it but you were talking to that crazy witch. So I undo my intention." Katsuki murmured.

"Eh? S-so t-this morning did you c-call me? Th-then what do you want to ask me?" Izuku asked, who was already sweating profusely because Katsuki was a little different from usual when he was near him.

"When in the forest, you gave a different expression than I thought when we talked about your sword. Are you hiding something from me?" Katsuki asked.

"E-eh? A-about this sword? That...umm...this s-sword..." Izuku was confused at answering.

'(Do I have to tell Kacchan about this sword story? Does he realize something different from this sword? I don't know whether this sword story should be kept secret or not because Gran Torino-san didn't tell me to keep it a secret. But...I-I'm afraid Kacchan will be more curious about this sword, but what's even scarier if I don't tell him then...Aaaarrrrrggghhh What should I do?)' Izuku thought as he closed his eyes tightly and bowed his head.

"Oi! Give me an answer already!" Katsuki was getting annoyed.

"Y-yeah...a-about this sword..." Izuku who couldn't think of another reason finally told Katsuki about the story of the sword and himself who became the successor to the Legendary Knight.

"Pfftt…AHAHAHAHAHAHA ...W-WHAT KIND STORY IS THAT? AHAHAHAHA..." Katsuki burst out laughing after listening to Izuku's story.

"I-I...I don't trust that s-story too..." Izuku felt ashamed for being laughed at by Katsuki.

Katsuki suddenly stopped laughing and stood up and left Izuku without saying a word.

"K-kacchan?" Izuku was surprised by Katsuki who suddenly left him.

Izuku was silent after being left by Katsuki and realized when the food he was cooking was ready.

The next day...

All participants have gathered at the place determined by the Eraser Head and are ready to listen to the Present Mic that will explain the rules of the contest.

"E-ehm...Alright! I will explain the rules of the contest. So listen carefully! The contestants will go exploring this mountain to look for interesting objects. We'll not give you examples of objects you should look for. However, King Endeavor said that the more rare and valuable that thing is, the more chance you'll become of a Royal Knight. Therefore try to look for rare and valuable objects around this mountain. Your time is only until tomorrow morning because we plan to shorten the contest from what was set at the king's request. Besides that-" While Izuku was paying attention to the explanation from Present Mic, Katsuki patted Izuku's shoulder frightening him.

"E-eh? K-kacchan? What's the matter?" Izuku asked scared.

"After hearing the rules, I already knew what items I would look for." Katsuki smiled at Izuku.

"Eh? Is it true? What thing is-" Izuku realized what Katsuki was after.

"You realize that?" Katsuki asked with a smile.

"D-Don't tell me, you..." Izuku opened his eyes wide and walked back slowly away from Katsuki.

"Yes, what you think is right, Deku. I will take your sword and give it to that useless king." Katsuki gave a frightening smile.

"B-but I thought l-last night you were..." Izuku's words were interrupted by Katsuki.

"Do not believe? Of course, I don't believe in your fake stories! But I think the king will believe me if I tell this sword story." Katsuki turned his smile into a serious look.

"THIS CONTEST BEGINS!" Present Mic shouted indicating the contest had begun.

Hearing that, Izuku immediately ran into the forest away from Katsuki and tried to calm his mind. He continued to run without turning back to see whether Katsuki was chasing him or not. Izuku continued to run through the bushes and trees without turning. Izuku continued running straight until he reached a rocky road. Izuku finally stopped for a moment to sigh.

"OI!" Someone shouted from behind.

"K-Kacchan?!" Izuku immediately turned his body towards Katsuki.

"Finally you stopped too, Deku!" Katsuki tried to sigh after chasing after Izuku who ran quite far from the gathering place.

"W-why do you w-want this s-sword so much, K-kacchan?" Izuku asked.

"Eh? Didn't you listen to that noisy old man and my explanation just now? That sword looks quite rare and valuable and knowing that I won't waste my chance to snatch it from you so that I can become a royal knight!" Katsuki walked slowly toward Izuku.

"NO!" Izuku shouted.

"Hah?" Katsuki stopped hearing Izuku's scream.

"I will not give this sword to you!" Izuku looked at Katsuki with a serious look.

"Oh? So you want to play rough? Alright, listen to me! You Damn Nerd!" Katsuki returned Izuku's gaze.

Izuku just paused and only looked at Katsuki.

"We will solve this by fighting! The one that immobilizes the opponent is the winner!" Katsuki challenged Izuku to fight.

"What fight do you mean?" Asked Izuku who thought that Katsuki wouldn't give up on taking this sword, even though Izuku kept running.

"What I meant is sword fighting!" Katsuki answered while pulling his sword from its scabbard.

"(Do I have to fight Kacchan in the middle of the contest? If it continues like this I don't have time to look for things that look expensive and rare. But looking at Kacchan, it seems like he will never give up on taking this sword from me. It seems like there is no choice, I have to fight Kacchan and defeat him as soon as possible!) Izuki thought while holding the sword by his waist.

"What?! Are you afraid?" Katsuki pointed his sword at Izuku.

"No!" Izuku pulled his sword from its scabbard and pointed it at Katsuki.

Katsuki gave an evil smile at Izuku's answer.

"I accept your challenge and will defeat you quickly so that I can win this contest!" Izuku answered Katsuki's question confidently.

"Alright then, LET'S START!!!" Katsuki ran towards Izuku by raising his sword.

"HHHAAAAAAA..." Izuku shouted while raising his sword and running towards Katsuki.

*CLASH* *SHRINK*

The sound of two iron swords meeting and rubbing against each other signaled that the battle between Izuku and Katsuki had begun.

To Be Continued...