MHA: GAMER PATH

Chapter 108: Playtime Is Over! (2)

~Third POV~

[Nighttime, UA Highschool, Heights Alliance, Japan]

The group had moved back down to the first floor, where Setsuna now forced Neito's head forward into an apologetic bow as she said in an apologetic tone, "For the hundredth time, we're sorry about Monoma."

However, Neito was not in a penitent mood as he replied, "Don't interfere, Setsuna. I was scouting for weaknesses to exploit."

That was when Denki asked in a surprised tone the instant Monoma had exposed his true intentions, "Scouting? Hang on, you said before you were inspecting."

The latter slipped out of Setsuna's grip, defiant as Neito quickly replied nonchalantly, "Hmph. I dropped by to hang out, and you people didn't even put out tea. Class A just keeps showing its true colors!"

Ren spoke up with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow, "Now it's 'hanging out,' huh? Ugh, you keep changing your story."

However, Izuku remarked, sounding impressed, "Such a will of steel…"

Momo Yaoyorozu with a gasp said, "Ah, how could I forget!"

The group watched as Momo began marching off to the kitchen with Ren. Nearby, Kirishima and Tetsutetsu were having an animated conversation, admiring their rooms as they finished with a fist bump.

It wasn't long before Momo and Ren returned to the group with tea and cake. Quickly setting down the cups and saucers she had brought, she decided to keep them at Heights Alliance just for guests as Momo said in a kind tone, "Ren has prepared some sweets, and the tea is my blend. We hope it's to your liking."

The tea was deep red yet clear, hinting at a pure flavor unclouded by impurities. Then Ren said in a calm tone, pointing to the soft, pale-yellow cake, "This's lemon chiffon. And the whipped cream's got hints of honey, the perfect pick-me-up after a long day of classes."

Tetsutetsu's eyes widened seeing the cake and smell in a surprised tone, "You seriously made this, Ren?"

Ren smiled with a light nod. Pony soon took a bite as her eyes widened munching on the lemon chiffon in a blissful tone, "It looks so yummy! And taste soooo… good…"

Beside them, Setsuna looked around at the members of class A with a pained expression as she replied in a sheepish tone, "You really shouldn't have, especially after Monoma barged his way in here…"

However, Momo clasped her hands together with a happy expression as she said innocently, "Nonsense. You are our very first guests here, so this is no more than should be expected. Please, enjoy."

Setsuna looked unsure but ultimately agreed, nodding her head as she said, "Really? Well…if you insist."

Urged by Momo, the visitors tried the cake. Neito and Setsuna's eyes widened, eating the cake. Tetsutetsu's eyes widened, eating the cake, crying manly tears in a stunned tone, "I don't usually go for sweets, but damn, this is tasty! It reminds me of the time that my own mom made something…"

Tetsutetsu had his memory flashback as Pony moaned lightly at the cake, pleased with the food in a happy tone, "The cake and tea are perfect together! It just makes one almost imagine… hehe…"

Stopping herself, she blushed, taking a sip of her tea. Setsuna, on the other hand, had a bit of drool as she imagined in a blissful tone, 'Ah~ Just eating the cake felt like imagining myself naked. Being creamed all over – whoa!'

While his classmates raved about the offerings, Neito looked like he was swallowing a bitter pill rather than fine tea and sweet cake as he grumbled, "There was hardly a reason to go all out like this…"

Neito grumbled, glaring at his portion, though unable to find a word of legitimate criticism. He couldn't stop eating, either.

With the harsh room review fresh in his mind, Kaminari didn't miss a chance to stick it to Neito with a smug grin as he cackled, "So… Ren's cake has got you beat, huh!"

Neito is still on top of his game and replies in an indifferent tone, "Why should I care what you think, given your taste in interior decorating?"

However, Denki snapped hearing that as he asked in an offended tone with his arms crossed, "You sure talk big, considering we haven't even seen your room! If it turns out to be super lame, I'll never let you hear the end of it!"

Neito, with a raised eyebrow, asked Denki's outburst curiously, "And if it isn't lame? What will you do?"

Looking at Denki, the electric boy replied with a confident tone, answering, "I'll, uh, boil your tea water with my Quirk… No, wait, I'll use my electricity to heat class B's baths!"

Neito snickered as he whipped out his phone and showed Kaminari a photo, smugly saying proudly, "Here. My room."

Denki was at a loss for words, and a few other members of class A shifted around to get a look at Toru exclaiming in a shocked tone, "So totally stylish! Seriously cute!"

The photo showed pastel walls complemented by tasteful white antique furniture, all perfectly coordinated to achieve a superb sense of unity. There was something vaguely French about it, to the point that nobody would've been surprised to spot the Eiffel Tower just outside Neito's window.

Momo soon spoke up in an impressed tone with Ren nodding agreeing, "You've done a lovely job with your room, I must say."

Denki slumped, realizing he couldn't find a reasonable fault with the stylish room. Neito had a smug expression, practically snorting in a triumph tone, "Well? When will you be dropping by to heat our baths? Don't overdo it, now—we wouldn't want you shocking us!"

*Swooosh*

*Smack*

Delivering another chop to Nieto's neck, Setsuna said in an annoyed tone, "That's enough out of you."

That was when Toga asked in an excited tone about Setsuna's room, "Hey, hey, what's your room like Setsuna?"

Setsuna showed her sharp teeth with a smile, nodding her head and agreeing as she explained her room, "Heh. Pretty cool to me. I have an old wooden table and black steel furniture. Also, a few posters."

Pony nodded her head till Momo asked her question in a curious tone, "How about your room, Pony?"

Pony looked a bit embarrassed due to her voice containing a hint of embarrassment as she said, "My room…looks like this…"

She showed the picture on her phone, showing a room with anime posters and figures covering every spare surface. Seeing that Ren smiled as Pony said in an excited tone, "I love Japanese anime! Japanese culture is the best!"

Ren soon spoke up, sharing some common ground in an interested tone, "Neat. You and I can agree on that. Is that the latest manga volume of One Piece I, see?"

Pony, seeing a common ally sharing an interest in anime, smiled and nodded her head, agreeing, asking in a curious tone, "Yup! The latest volume where I'm at the Marinefort War Arc! Things are getting intense…"

With them sharing the topics of anime, Neito watched bitterly as the entire group got along famously. Then he suddenly said, standing up, "Come on, time to go. Wouldn't want to overstay our welcome."

Without a word of thanks for the tea and cake that he'd polished off, he marched toward the front door, only to have Denki and Ren cut him off. That was when Denki asked with a raised eyebrow, "Whoaaa, there. You stomp around like you own the place, criticize our rooms, eat our cake, drink our tea, and now you wanna go home…? You've had your way, but I think it's our turn now. Right, Ren?"

Ren nodded his head feeling a bit spiteful tonight as he added with a light grin, "Right. We haven't forgotten all that stuff you said…"

Seeing the situation, Neito flatly denied them the chance as he said, "No, no, no, that wasn't a criticism. I was just stating things objectively."

But they didn't have it. That was when Denki stated in a neutral tone with a raised eyebrow, "Stating the facts, huh? That's just a fancy way of insulting us even worse!"

Ren nodded his head as he spoke in a somewhat offended tone by Neito's earlier comments, "What's so wrong with being plain? Everything plain and ordinary provides a standard to work off of!"

Neito had hurt their pride, so these boys were like wounded beasts who wouldn't back down, or perhaps a pair of grumpy kittens attempting to scratch back. It wasn't every day that class A went out of its way to engage with Neito, though, and he was all too happy to take the bait and then some as he said, "Huh? What do you propose we do about this? You won't let me leave, so you must have something in mind, right? A competition of sorts? A way to separate the wheat from the chaff? To determine once and for all which class is superior?"

Neito's rivals, the ones he loved to hate and hated to love, were, for a change, having a go at him. Setsuna attempted to halt the brewing storm, but her protests fell on deaf ears as Denki said defiantly, "Some sorta contest? Sure! Assuming you're not chicken!"

Neito smirked, seeing he got both Ren and Denki's attention as he asked curiously, "What sort of contest shall it be then? I'm ready for any challenge you decide to bring!"

Todoroki gasped softly as if he remembered something. Ida seeing this asked stoically, "What is it, Todoroki?"

Todoroki soon spoke up in a stoic tone, coming up with an idea as he left to his room, "If it's a competition we need, I might have just the thing."

After a small amount of time, Todoroki returned from his room with the barrel-shaped toy. Everyone presents recognized the design, which featured slots around the circumference and a hole on top.

Players would take turns sticking swords into the slots, only one of which would trigger the pirate emerging from the barrel to fully pop out, determining the loser of the game. A popular and beloved classic.

Denki soon said in an excited tone who wasn't the only one grinning at the sight of the familiar toy, "Oh, the good old Pirate Panic game, huh!"

Momo blinked a bit surprised that Todoroki had a toy in a surprised tone, "I wouldn't expect you to have such a thing, Todoroki."

Shoto stoically said offering no further explanation, "Someone gave it to me."

Ren was confused as he tilted his head wondering out loud in a baffled tone, "Was the pirate-in-a-barrel game always so big, though?"

The classic design they all remembered from childhood was small enough to grab with one hand, but this barrel was as big as a basketball. Still, they were too caught up in the moment to give it much thought as Denki said eagerly, "Must be the deluxe edition! And the perfect way to settle our score, yeah?"

Neito smirked, agreeing with a member of Class A for a change in an excited tone, "Yes, the time has come to see whether fate will side with Class A or B!"

They settled on the rules of their bout; turns would alternate between classes A and B, and whichever class inserted the losing sword and produced the pop-up pirate would lose. Both classes furnished teams of two boys and two girls each since that was all class B had to offer.

Representing class A were Kaminari and Ren, an excitable Toru Hagakure, and Mina Ashido, who'd just wandered over after finishing her bath. Neito won a quick round of rock-paper-scissors against Kaminari, so he got to decide which class would stick in the first sword, as he proudly said, cackling more triumphantly than the minor victory warranted, "Hahahaha! As expected, Lady Luck is on class B's side today!"

Mina said in an excited tone, eager to get started, "Hurry up and choose you!"

None of the spectators nor even the class B members who'd been drawn into Neito's shenanigans managed to summon quite the same enthusiasm. After all, this grand showdown would be decided over a children's game as Neito declared boastfully, "In that case, I will take a stab at drawing first blood!"

*Click*

*BZZZZZZ*

He picked a slot and inserted one of the toy swords. The onlookers heard a mechanism click within, then a violent buzzing as electricity flowed through Neito's body via the sword. He let out a voiceless scream and collapsed on the table, twitching and smoldering.

There was a moment of stunned silence as Ren thought in a surprised tone, 'What the fuck… Where the hell did Shoto get this?! And where can I get one!!'