MHA: GAMER PATH

Chapter 137: UA School Festival Arc (10)

~Third POV~

[UA Highschool, Festival Grounds – Amusement Park Area, Japan]

Just as the Business Course students were returning from their strategy meeting to find that the takoyaki business was booming, Tenya Ida, Shoto Todoroki, Fumikage Tokoyami, and a clone of Ren Yuki with a deadpan expression were riding a miniature locomotive in a pint-size amusement park area.

While riding the miniature locomotive pint-size ride, he, Ida, asked excitedly, "How amusing! Wouldn't you agree, Todoroki?"

Todoroki, with a stoic expression, said bluntly of the ride, "Sure. Feeling kinda cramped, though."

Which made sense, since these attractions were typically rented out for children's events. Besides the train, there was also an incredibly short roller coaster and a panda-themed ride that might have been plucked from the roof of an old department store.

Ida, who seriously tackled even amusement, was determined to enjoy every attraction available, declared proudly, pointing to a novelty photo board with holes cut out over an image of the U.A. school building and Principal Nezu's face, "Wonderful! Let's take photographs over there next! Which cutout would you prefer, Todoroki? Our fair school or our esteemed principal?"

Todoroki groaned, annoyed, and replied, "Does it really matter?"

Ida shrugged as he stoically answered his question, "I suppose not. But since I'm taller, I will assume the role of the school."

Ida and Todoroki stuck their faces through the panel while Tokoyami and Ren used their phones to snap a few pictures. Noticing this Ida said excitedly, "Now I will take photos for Tokoyami and Ren!"

Both Ren and Tokoyami said immediately in a dead tone, "No, thank you…"

But Dark Shadow had other ideas as it cried out loud, "I want a picture!"

Ren sighed as he put his face through the school hole, and Dark Shadow became Principal Shadow while Tokoyami stood off to the side, looking awkward. For Tokoyami, being in proximity to the entire ridiculous affair was nearly as embarrassing as actually sticking his face through the panel as he heard Dark Shadow whine childishly, "Fumikage! I wanna drink that!"

It was when they noticed students carrying the Cementoss novelty tumblers. It was a fair request they'd worked up a thirst while running around from one kiddie attraction to another.

While Tokoyami and Ren went off to buy the drinks, Ida and Todoroki sat down at a nearby table with Ida remarking, excitedly surveying the scene, "It's quite a thing, seeing our campus so transformed."

Weeks of steady preparation on the whole school's part had led to this one day, so everyone present was letting loose and having fun. For one day, they could put their studies aside and even forget that this wasn't the norm.

It was a welcome relief to have from time to time. But that was when Todoroki said bluntly, making Ida pause from his words, "I do hope Yuki and the others are enjoying themselves… And that girl… Eri, right? I wonder if she's having fun."

Hearing Todoroki's words earns a profound nod from Ida. The image that arose in both boys' minds was that of Yuki growing increasingly gloomy as his work-study progressed.

They now knew about how it had all gone down roughly, and they could tell in retrospect that Yuki had been swallowing a lot of grief, unable to put his feelings into words. Being a good friend was about more than knowing every detail of someone's life, but Ida and Todoroki still found themselves wishing that Yuki had trusted more in their connection.

They also knew that Eri was a big part of the feelings Yuki had been holding back. Without a doubt, her smile would mean the world to him as Ida said curiously, "But that Yuki is always pushing the envelope! Like how he nearly didn't make it in time to our performance this morning. What would we have done had he failed to show up?"

Hearing that Todoroki explained stoically with a shrug of his shoulders, "He said he had something to do."

Ren had decided to cover up his conversation with Gentle Criminal and La Brava, so as far as the rest of class A knew, he'd just needed something last minute. Not that that had placated them when Yuki showed up mere minutes before their live performance.

Ida snorted growing frustrated just remembering it as he muttered, "It really was like 'baby's first errand,' as Sero put it!"

However, that was when they heard Tsuyu's voice as she got their attention along with her group, bluntly saying, "Oh? If it isn't Ida and Todoroki. Ribbit."

Ida, spinning toward the approaching group, which also included Uraraka, Togata, Eri, Nighteye, Izuku, and Aizawa said, "Hello, Tsuyu."

Ochaco, seeing her other classmates, said curiously, "What're you guys doing?"

Pointing to a clone of Ren and Tokoyami busy buying drinks, Ida explained stoically, "Tokoyami and Ren are buying us those drink receptacles in the shape of Cementoss Sensei. Wait a moment?"

That was when Todoroki asked, noticing a missing member, "Wasn't Ren with you guys? The original one, I mean?"

Ochaco made a face as she said sheepishly, explaining to them, "He said he had some business to take care of. Then he ran off somewhere…"

Eri added on, looking dejected as she muttered, "I dunno where Ren went…"

Noticing her dejection, Togata, with a wide grin, spoke up in an excited tone, "Don't worry! At the speed he was going, I bet he just needed to take a tinkle! He'll be back before we know it!"

Eri merely replied in a confused tone, "Oh. Okay…"

Eri is seemingly aware that Togata is just guessing in an attempt to cheer her up. Observing this, Aizawa leaped into action as he asked, "Eri, do you like cats? How about we try the Cat People Cafe?"

Despite her confusion, Eri's interest was piqued by Aizawa's thoughtful suggestion as she said curiously, "Wait, are they cats, or are they people?"

Having their next course, the group had walked away as Ochaco asked Ida and Todoroki, "Hey, if you bump into Ren, tell him we went to the Cat People Cafe, okay?"

With that, as soon as the group left, both boys voiced their thoughts with Ida muttering, "I somehow doubt that Yuki really left them simply to use the restroom…"

Todoroki nodded his head, agreeing as he voiced his own thoughts on what their Class Rep would be doing stoically said, "Knowing him, he's probably sticking his neck into something weird again – "

They looked at each other and realized that they were both picturing their friend diving into danger without a second thought. This caused Ida to shout in an annoyed tone, "That Yuki I swear he doesn't know the first thing about ICE!"

Todoroki, genuinely confused, asked with a raised eyebrow in a confused tone, "Uhh, is that something I could help him out with?"

Listening to Todoroki's confusion, Ida quickly explained stoically the term 'ICE' as an acronym to his friend, "No, not ice. I-C-E. An acronym stands for 'inform, communicate, explain.' When he dashes off without informing us where he'll be, communicating with us along the way, or explaining what's happening, naturally, we're prone to worrying! Like in this instance! Baby's first errand, indeed!"

Hearing the acronym 'ICE,' Todoroki nodded his head as he said bluntly with his arms crossed, "He just forgets when he's in a hurry… Maybe we could try tracking him with GPS perhaps…?"

Ida rolled his eyes as he sighed out loud in a defeated tone and replied the obvious, "Sigh… But he often leaves his phone behind his [Sub-Space], as is the case now. We'll need to put him in the habit of remembering it!"

Todoroki could only reply in a defeated tone, "Guess so."

How could they race to their friend's aid in times of trouble without knowing his location? Their frustration was palpable, though, of course, it came from a place of caring.

There was more to friendship than keeping constant tabs on a friend, but that didn't mean that Ida and Todoroki weren't concerned for Yuki, as a mother might be. In the meantime, Tokoyami and a clone of Ren returned with the drinks.

Dark Shadow, clearly in a good mood said, "Coconut! Yummy!"

Ren mumbled as he took a sip of his drink, "Glad you like it."

However, that was when Tokoyami noticed their expressions sensing that something was off asked in a confused tone, "What's the matter with you two?"

Ida explained that Ren had once again run off on his own, and Tokoyami said, "We just saw him running toward the dorms. Although why not ask the clone?"

Their eyes landed on the clone, blinking as he explained calmly, "Oh, that's simple. But why spoil the surprise?"

The guys all gave the clone a deadpan stare. The clone merely laughed cheekily.

/////

[UA Highschool, Heights Alliance – First Floor, Japan]

Ren noticed as the group of boys ran up to him in the Heights Alliance kitchen as he asked curiously, "Hey, guys, what's going on?"

On the counter beside him was an apple, a bag of sugar, and a small bottle of red food coloring Ida chided, "What's going on, Ren, is that when you sneak off to the dormitory on your own, you must inform somebody! That's what's going on!"

Tokoyami immediately noticed his favorite food on the counter and asked curiously, "What is the apple for?"

Hearing his question Ren sheepishly says, "Well, you see…"

Ren explained how he had promised Eri another apple lover a candy apple, but according to the festival pamphlet, there were no stalls selling them. So, he had bought an apple during his shopping excursion that morning and returned to the dorm to prepare the treat.

Understanding his concern, Ida finally remarked stoically, "I see… So this is all for that little girl."

Ren, with an awkward grin, nodded his head as he explained sheepishly, "She was really looking forward to a candy apple, so I just had to make it happen somehow."

Ida and Todoroki glanced at each other, and their mutual smiles seemed to say, 'What are we going to do with him?'

Of course, their friend had once again run off for someone else's sake, so their exasperation looped back around to pride and admiration, as Tokoyami said, looking intense, "So the girl is fond of apples… She and I might get along."

Remembering the time he and Tokoyami had eaten apple pies at a theme park, Ida said in a surprised tone, "Yes, you have that in common! You could be apple-loving chums!"

However, Tokoyami eyes Ren with the ingredients at the ready as he asks, "But can you really make a candy apple, Yuki?"

Ren grinned lightly as he loaded up a candy apple tutorial video on his phone in a confident tone, "It's simpler than you'd think. Even I can't screw this up, probably. Look!"

The video showed someone sticking a chopstick into an apple, boiling a batch of sugar water, adding red food coloring, and finally dipping the apple in the sugary mix until it was coated. The group of boys, impressed with how simple the process seemed, said, "Ooh!"

Nodding his head, Ren grinned as he continued speaking, prepping the apples calmly, "I started to panic when I noticed the pamphlet, and my clones told me none had any. Fortunately, I prepared for this just in case the school festival didn't have any."

Ida smiled as he adjusted his glasses in a proud tone, "I would expect no less from our resident confectionary master!"

Todoroki, checking the ingredients and looking at a small container, asked in a confused tone, "Red eye? Like a flight that leaves late at night?"

Seeing Todoroki checking the red dye, he explained as he started to get himself pumped up to prepare his cooking, "Not red eye! Red dye! Like food coloring. All right, time to do this…!!! Time to cook!"

Sensing Ren's determination to brighten Eri's day, the rest of the boys stood by and encouraged him. They all gave their comments as he began cooking the candied apple for Eri.

"Be careful not to stab the chopstick all the way through."

"Yuki! The sugar solution has started to boil!"

"Here's the dye, yep."

"Spin the apple carefully now…"

"Like a dance at a banquet of darkness."

After doing his preparation Ren grinned happily as he exclaimed happily, "It's done!"

His candy apple, with its glossy red coating, looked just as well made as one from any festival stall. Upon inspection, the group was satisfied with the final product. But Ren, glancing at the clock, got up alarmed, "Whoops, gonna be late! I'd better run!"

*Swooosh*

Ren immediately ran quickly to find Eri as Ida said in a hopeful tone, "Godspeed!"

Caught in the moment, Todoroki added in a determined tone, "Don't trip and fall again, or it'll all be for nothing!"

As he ran, Ren turned back, smiled, and waved to his friends. Outside, the setting sun had dyed the sky as red as the candy apple he held.

While being caught in the moment, Tokoyami had a thought as he asked out loud with Dark Shadow placing a shadowy hand over its chin, "You know, a thought just occurred to me… he can just teleport, right?"

*Crack*

Both froze, realizing Ren could've just done that as they both said, "Ahh…"

While the boys were caught in realization, a clone of Ren began to start cooking as he grinned happily, 'I just reached peaked cooking level! The time has come after making Eri's candy apple! It's time to cook!!!'

The clone cooked as he grinned even wider, wiping tears of joy from his face as he thought in a proud tone seeing the screen pop up, 'I've done it... my first maxed level skill... sniff... it makes a gamer cry tears of joy... sniff...'

[Cooking Skill is at MAX level!]

The clone wiped his tears of joy as a mischievous expression was now on his face as he thought with a sly grin as he thought, 'With great power comes great responsibility - ah fuck it. I'm gonna cook and make everyone foodgasm!! Even the teachers!!! They'll experience my MAX-level cooking!'

With mischievous thoughts in mind, the clone began to create a banquet for the original's classmates and teachers. None the wiser that they'll be hit with the greatest taste they'll ever get and climax as he hums, seeing their goofy expressions...