Chapter 81: Echoes of Victory

Chapter 81: Echoes of Victory As I walked alongside my classmates, basking in the warmth of their congratulations, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this victory than met the eye. The medal around my neck felt heavy, not just in weight, but in the sense of responsibility that came with it. I glanced over at Bakugo, who was still visibly seething, his pride wounded by the fact that he had to accept the medal from All Might. "Hey, Bakugo," I said, trying to break the tension, "don't be too hard on yourself, okay? You won first place, that's something to be proud of." Bakugo scowled at me, his eyes narrowing. "You think I care about being 'proud' of a victory that was practically handed to me? I won because of my own strength, not because of any favors or sympathy from others." I sighed, understanding that Bakugo's pride was still raw and tender. "I know that, Bakugo. And I'm not saying it was handed to you. You worked hard for it, and you deserve it." Todoroki, who was walking on the other side of Bakugo, shot me a sympathetic glance. "Bakugo, come on. Don't be like that. It's just a competition. There'll be more opportunities for you to shine." Bakugo snorted. "Opportunities? Ha! The only opportunity I care about is being the strongest. And I will be, no matter what it takes." As we continued to walk, I noticed that All Might was lagging behind, chatting with Ochaco and the others. I fell back to join him, curious about his thoughts on the recent events. "All Might, what's on your mind?" I asked, noticing that he seemed a bit preoccupied. All Might smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Just thinking about the future, Vesper. The placement matches may be over, but there's still so much more to come. The real challenge is only just beginning." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?" All Might's expression turned serious. "The world is full of heroes and villains, Vesper. And as a hero-in-training, you need to be prepared for anything. The League of Villains, led by Shigaraki, is still out there, plotting their next move. We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I processed All Might's words. The thrill of victory was still fresh, but the reality of the challenges ahead was starting to sink in. Little did I know, Shigaraki's plans were already in motion, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.