"Reactions and Rewards"

The bright lights of the infirmary slowly came into focus as I regained consciousness, a faint throbbing pain still lingering in my body. I was greeted by the cheerful face of a nurse, who smiled warmly as she checked my vitals. As I tried to sit up, she gently pressed me back down, cautioning me to rest. It wasn't long before the nurse told me that the placement matches were over, and the results were in. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as I heard the announcement: I had secured third place, Todoroki had taken second, and Bakugo had emerged victorious in first. The news didn't seem to sit well with Bakugo, who stormed into the infirmary, his face twisted in a scowl. "Of course, I had to win," he muttered to himself, not even bothering to acknowledge me. Meanwhile, in his lair, Shigaraki was grinning to himself as he watched the reactions of the students on TV. He thought about how he could use both Bakugo and me as pawns in his game, taking advantage of Bakugo's pride and my... well, my ability to inspire and connect with others. Just then, the door to the infirmary burst open, and All Might walked in, a broad smile on his face. "Congratulations, class! I'm so proud of all of you," he exclaimed, holding up three medals. "And now, it's my honor to award these medals to our top three students." With a flourish, All Might pinned a medal around my neck, followed by Todoroki and then Bakugo. The three of us exchanged uneasy glances, Bakugo still visibly upset about being forced to accept the medal. As we exited the infirmary, we were greeted by a sea of congratulatory faces. Ochaco rushed over to hug me tightly, beaming with excitement. "You did it, Deku! I'm so proud of you!" Kirishima, Tsu, Mina, and Kaminari all chimed in with their congratulations, while Todoroki offered a friendly smile. Even Shinso and Monoma came over to offer their well-wishes, though Monoma's words were laced with his usual sarcasm. "Well, well, well. Look who's managed to scrape together a decent performance. I suppose you won't be getting too cocky now, Deku?" I laughed, feeling a warmth in my chest as I basked in the praise of my friends and classmates. Little did I know, however, that Shigaraki's eyes were still on me, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.