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luminaryzine · 4 months

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On Your Marks

Description: It's Kaito's first Sports Day at Hope's Peak Academy and he's ready to make it count! Is everyone else? Written for Luminary of the Stars: A Kaito Momota Zine Word Count: 2082 Read on AO3 The sun was high in the sky, the conditions were perfect, not a cloud out there. No one, not even Mother Nature, was going to rain on his parade today! With a bounce in his step, Kaito crossed the grounds. His eyes skimmed over the track where the staff and volunteers were already starting to set up the coming events. Sure, there was still attendance and homeroom, but after that, he was going to have his first big victory here at Hope’s Peak Academy! He pushed open the entrance doors into the busy halls of before-class bustle.

As Kaito made his way in, a hand slapped his shoulder. “Good to see you came prepared with better footwear!” a voice boomed. The towering figure behind him was an upperclassman, one who seemed just as hyped as Kaito was for the event: the Ultimate Team Manager.

“Sure did.” Kaito grinned, hefting the sneakers he had slung over his shoulder by the laces. They had a personal touch too: gold laces and tiny embroidered shooting stars. Perfect for him! “I’m serious today, you’d better watch out!”

“Excellent! We could use a challenge from the first years!” Nekomaru laughed, hands falling back to his hips. He was wearing his own odd footwear, geta sandals, but the bag on his shoulder made it clear he was ready to change.

“A challenge? You gonna take us on? Bring it!” Akane chimed in from behind him, a wicked grin on her face as she packed a fist. What kind of challenge was she expecting?!

“Yeah, I’ll see you at the tug of war!” Kaito prompted, trying to steer things back to the event and away from… Whatever idea Akane had. He glanced across the hallway and pointed at the redhead leaning over a girl’s locker. “Your class too, Leon! You bring your all!”

“What?” The baseball star looked up with irritation, then shook his head. “Oh right, Sports Day? Tch, like we musicians care about something so dumb. Right Sayaka?”

Popping her head out of the locker, Sayaka giggled and smiled behind her hand. It always looked like that girl had a secret. “Oh, I don’t know, I think it’ll be fun! Got to stay in top form to perform.” The look of betrayal on Leon’s face was priceless. The idol turned her dazzling smile to Kaito. “Good luck today!”

“Thanks!” Taking this chance to escape before Akane set her sights back on him, he waved and left. He heard her challenging Leon as he made his way out of sight, Sayaka’s melodious laugh ringing out again.

The astronaut trainee rounded the corner into the hallway with his own year, his anticipation mounting. Their first time competing together as a team! Most of the studying done at Hope’s Peak had everyone split off for talents, but this? This would be a group effort.

Kaito opened the door to the hubbub of chatter, everyone spread out and ready to go! The energy in the air was excellent! He could feel the excitement, they really were going to show those upperclassmen that they wouldn’t be taken lightly! He pumped a fist in the air. “Alright!”

He was nudged out of the doorframe, his shorter classmate, Ryoma, muttering an ‘excuse me’ to pass. Looking back into the room, the bubble burst, his imagination having painted the room with far brighter impressions than actually resided within. There was chatter; Kaede in particular was talking with Miu and Angie, while Gonta was in discussion with Kirumi who was marking down attendance in the absence of their teacher. However, the only two who looked ready were Tenko, who was jogging on the spot, hair looped up into a bun as her eyes roved the room, and Rantaro, who had arrived in his gym clothes. Most others were seated at their desks like it was an ordinary day.

Kaito’s grin squished inwards at the underwhelming feeling, but he soldiered on, crossing the room to his sidekicks. They were both at Maki’s desk, the detective waving from his spot standing beside it while Maki glared from her seat. Kaito’s smile returned at the acknowledgement. He thumbed back at the rest of the class over his shoulder as he arrived, “Can you two believe this?”

Shuichi checked behind him, as if he was expecting something amiss, but looked back at a loss. “Believe what, Kaito?”

Maki didn’t even spare the room a thought, still waiting on the astronaut to spit out the rest. He was a little shocked neither of them seemed to notice.

“Believe the lack of spirit! Doesn’t look like everybody’s ready to win yet!” Kaito explained, patting Shuichi on the shoulder as he caught him up.

“We’re not going to win,” Maki retorted, sighing as she shook her head.

“What? Maki Roll, that’s quitter talk! Don’t you believe in us? I’m sure we can pull it off!” Kaito shot back as he raised a fist in the air, his shoes swinging from his shoulder loose as he did. The caregiver sat back to avoid them, crossing her arms, apparently unmoved by his declaration.

“Ah, it’s not that we don’t believe, Kaito, but, well… Our chances aren’t all that high,” Shuichi sheepishly chimed in. “Our class only has two athletes, and one of them is Ryoma. You know as well as we do his feelings on his talent. I doubt he’s going to be all that competitive today.”

“Now hold on! Just cuz someone’s talent ain’t athletic doesn’t mean they aren’t a competitor,” he countered. “Just look at Gonta, he could turn the tide in something like the tug of war, so long as we’ve got his back! Or front, since he’ll probably be the anchor, but y’know what I mean. And how about Rantaro and I!”

At the mention of his name, Rantaro glanced up from the stretches he’d started. He was without context but waved at them on cue before returning to extend his arm across his chest and push it back.

Kaito beamed and mirrored the same stretch before looking back to his sidekicks. “Both of us are in perfect shape for our own talents, even if they aren’t sports. Can’t be caught on any mission or excursion without some endurance.”

“So you think we’ll win with three more competitors? That’s not even half the class.” Maki frowned. Kaito could be imagining it, but she didn't seem to have the same finality this time. Progress! He patted her head happily. She ducked a few seconds later, like a delayed reaction.

“Well, not just them, there’s you two as well! Since we started training a couple months ago you’re both our secret weapons! Don’t tell me you weren’t counting yourself, Maki Roll? You’re fastest at pushups,” Kaito insisted. He really hadn’t expected that from her in the beginning, but given how tough her childhood in that orphanage had been, it wasn’t a complete surprise. Shuichi’s improvements were far more impressive, but he’d understand them assuming he wasn’t a ringer for the class.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, Kaito,” Shuichi chuckled, cracking a smile. “I’m not really the best at these sorts of things.”

“Do you really think we can win? The whole class has to participate.” Maki remained unconvinced but diplomatic. “I’m not saying I’m not going to try, but we’re not exactly a team.”

“Those are just the easiest people to point out,” Kaito sighed. “A team isn’t all about peak physical condition, it’s gotta have lots of parts. Everyone’s got a job, even if that isn’t lifting something or running fast. I bet there’s loads of secret strengths we can use! C’mon!” He grabbed Maki’s hand and swiftly yanked her up out of her seat.

Her eyes went wide as she found her balance, sputtering. Kaito didn’t need to worry about that of course, he knew she was on the ball. Kaito pulled her up to the front of the class with him, looking for someone to add to their arsenal of secret weapons. Of those sitting at their desks he locked onto someone who looked to need some spirit, a hand propping up their cheek.

“Here’s something no one else has!” Kaito announced, near scaring him out of his chair. He turned to look at the two of them nervously. “No other class has an Ultimate Robot! He’s bound to give us an edge!”

“Are you referring to today’s events?” Kiibo asked dubiously. “I’m unsure what help, if any, I’ll be. As a physical activity for health, they don’t account for someone like me. But I told Miu I want the true student experience, so I turned down her suggested improvements…”

No upgrades, huh? Kiibo’s strength was pretty average, most of his functions were smaller utilities. But that wasn’t enough to give up!

“That’s not the edge I’m talking about,” Kaito said, waving a hand. “I mean, sure those would help, but I bet a cool robot like you has more to prove than anyone else! Think of all the future robot highschoolers you can inspire if you win today! Something like that’s gotta be motivating, right?”

“That sounds ridiculous,” Maki said from behind him, freeing her hand and crossing her arms. “Just like the kids back at the orphanage talking about their Saturday morning shows.”

“It’s not ridiculous if it gets you going, though!” Kaito said, turning to lean back over the robot’s desk. “Don’t you want to be the hero of the class? The first robot to win at Sports Day?”

Kiibo seemed unsure.

“You should! Hold on, Maki Roll, you start training with him, I’ve got just the thing,” Kaito pushed off the desk and pivoted away.

“You are aware,” came a chilling voice as he passed another desk, “that we are to adhere to class rules until we’re excused, yes?” Kaito spared a glance over at Korekiyo, who sat tall in his seat, bandaged fingers clasped on the desk. His soft laugh as always was muffled by the mask. “Someone’s eager.”

“‘Course I am, you should try it,” he said, crouching in the closet. Kaito was positive this was where Tsumugi had stored her last project. Peering over his shoulder to be certain Korekiyo hadn’t followed him for a cheap scare, Kaito’s hand touched hair. He flinched back, eyes going to the closet again, where a face greeted him in the darkness. He caught himself when he recognized it as a familiar sleepy one.

“I’m just meditating, to gather mana…” Himiko mumbled from her spot tucked tight in the back. Tenko’s endlessly searching eyes made more sense now. In her own way, the mage probably needed this more than a warm-up; she might tire out if it was one guided by the other girl.

“Sure, do what you gotta,” Kaito agreed, reaching behind her to grab his quarry. He yanked free the black and white pom poms from his classmate’s cheerleader cosplay, bouncing them once experimentally before straightening up.

Maki was there facing him as he stepped out. Behind her it looked like Kiibo had taken up the stretching routine with Rantaro, to the latter’s amusement. Shuichi was speaking animatedly with Korekiyo. The energy in the room was changing, bit by bit. Even Ryoma was back, talking with Gonta, demonstrating some step-technique. Maki raised a brow at his find.

“They’re for encouragement!” Kaito said, waving the pom poms in the air.

“I think you’re already doing that without a prop. If we do stand a chance at winning, it’s going to be because you lead us there. I don’t think Kiibo’s a hero, or that Gonta will turn any tides. Shuichi and I might not be secret weapons, either, but I think you made a fair point about not quitting, there’s still a chance.” A faint smile appeared on her face.

Kaito’s eyes lit up. He jumped up to throw his arms around Maki, who startled. “That’s all I’m asking! We can’t go down without a fight!” He squeezed tight, the pom poms ruffling behind her a moment before—

“Yoink!”

The pair looked behind them as Kokichi liberated the fluffy props, and waved them about, laughing. “Can’t have a team without your supreme leader, right?”

“You give those back to Kaito,” Maki demanded, indignantly freeing herself from the embrace. Kokichi took off and she ran after him.

“Hey, wait! Save it for the relay you two!” Kaito laughed. They were all fired up now, there was no stopping this! They’d leave their marks on this school.

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