The ground rumbled beneath Uraraka's frozen feet as dust began to drift down from above.
With the 'weapon' almost within her grasp of 5 meters away, Uraraka felt the hold of ice weakening, excitement building within her as the prospect of winning came once more into view.
The tower rumbled yet again, loosening the crystal prison around her feet as it began to crack and give under the tremors from below. The signs of the battle beneath, cascading down on her through dust.
She hoped Izuku was okay. Even though he had changed much for the worse within one week. Even though he ditched her to solo fight the duo. The strongest within the class.
With yet another rumble, the ice around her boots and legs gave enough leeway for her to slide out of them, albeit with difficulty as she struggled with anticipation growing within her chest.
As seconds turned into eternity, the deafening silence turned into panic droplets rolling down her forehead. She struggled yet, her left leg almost free from its boot.
And with great effort, her foot was free of its prison. Now all she needed was her right foot to be free.
Straining against the hold of her boot, and with the additional strength of her left foot, she yanked her right leg upwards, attempting to free it.
Foreign footsteps echoed through the oppressive silence and dim lights of the second floor.
Uraraka was hysterical inside as she glaced around frantically, her heart exploding in her ears as her pants and grunts grew louder.
Her right foot was growing cold. Or yet, the air was getting cold.
Katsuki stormed through the second level, oblivious to the cacophony of echoes his boots made against the floor.
Why did Izuku suddenly give up? Why did he choose to get hit?
Fuming, his footsteps grew faster still. Masking the grunts and pants of effort of someone.
The timer was not up, yet Izuku chose to lose. Where was his Fire quirk even? Why did he choose not to use it?
Arriving at the weapon he was supposed to protect, a wide-eyed and panicking Uraraka was seen removing her right foot from their icy encasing.
Katsuki's heart skipped several beats, his rage building within his palms and heart firing up as Uraraka stepped forth, scampering with her capture tape around the 'weapon'.
Blasting forth, the wind screaming within his ears, Uraraka completed her round.
At once, the broadcast system flared to life.
"HERO TEAM VICTORY!"
Will update again soon because this is a short chapter!