Summary: Having passed and WON the U.A Sports Festival by either skill or the skin of his teeth, Soru had suggested an 'Endurance' portion of the Festival so to give others a fair shot of being the true winner. What will the outcome be?
Chapter 21
Heading back up to the bleachers with my friends, my two favorite girls were first and foremost waiting for me. "You did amazing", shouted Mina with glee. Momo had a big smile on her face, "That was one of the, if not the most intense battle I've ever seen. You just kept taking the blows, I don't know what to say. You beat Bakugo, no one else has yet to do that". I asked, "You didn't think I could"? She shook her head, "No, I'm just so impressed. I'm happy for you, you deserved that win". Kyoka spoke up, "I've got to hand it to you too Koizumi, that was pretty much nothing less than impressive". Toru, who was still wearing her uniform waved her pom-poms, "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Both of you didn't look like you'd give up". Tsu was even complimenting me, "It's hard to really judge that but, you did do a very good job there Soru. You used your quirk to your advantage, that's what we all need to do". Izuku came over, "I'm not sure how long I could've exerted myself like that but, even with just a basic quirk, you managed to beat Bakugo. But I have to ask, why risk giving it up"? Ochaco agreed, "That was nothing short of amazing. I'm with Deku, why'd you make up that little contest"? I explained, "I wanted to give everyone a fair shot is all. Any one of you guys, even the others from various classes. They all deserve a real chance after how much they exert themselves, even the ones who didn't win the Obstacle Course. Using your power in battle is the best way to showcase what you can really do for when you become 'pro heroes' or whatever". They all seemed to actually be on board with the news, but while that was settled, I saw Momo looking a little down, "Hey, what's wrong"? She brushed it off, "It's nothing, just forget about it". I insisted, "Come on, tell me. What is it"? She admitted, "We were all worried. After what happened with Izuku and especially Ochaco, we were I afraid you'd get killed. I was worried". I held her without a word, the others just watching. Izuku then brought up something, "So, whatever happened to Stain, did you get him to the station"? I came up with a plausible answer that wouldn't exactly implicate me, "Well that's the thing. I was jumped by some villains on the way there. I guess they didn't see me as little more than a speck of dirt so they just knocked me out. By the time I came too, he was dead". Ochaco was somewhat relieved, "Well, I don't wish death on anyone. But for our sake in the future, I guess it's good that we don't need to worry". The others too accepted it, "He was definitely not alright in the head with his methods. Hopefully, he rests in peace though", said Izuku, who seemed to have some respect for the fallen psycho.
After some waiting and getting healed by the nurse for my bruises and scrapes, I came back out to hear the news of the 'Endurance' Battle. My new competition consisted of mostly everyone in Class 1-A and 1-B while the other several classes didn't want any part of it. Since Ejiro was eliminated by me already, he and Katsuki were excluded. Around forty total students accepted included all of my friends, but two exceptions were Koji Koda, who was just a gentle guy, who had declined respectfully and Izuku who was too injured to fight further. The forty even consisted of the 'Big 3', the General Department and Department of Support Students, Hitoshi and Mei. Hitoshi seemed to want a second chance, while I think Mei just took it for more advertising time. Whether I lose or not this would be somewhat of a fun exercise for me; just me pretty much against the whole school, but one on one. Little to everyone's knowledge, this'd benefit me for when the time came, but the teachers, not taking part, of course, would be the real challenge. Everyone wished me luck, as I got into the arena to face my very first opponent, 'Pretty Boy', Yuga. I just shook my head the whole time, "You think you're up to this 'man'"? He flicked his hair, "I will best you yet Monsieur. I do appreciate this opportunity, however. May the best man, me, win". Beginning, he shot at me with his laser, but with 'Hardening' still in my possession, I blocked it by placing my arms in front of me, only giving me slight pushback. Running over at him he kept doing his best to try and get me, but I was too fast for him. Entering his personal bubble, I smashed the glass on his belt, before uppercutting him just like Mina, "Third time's a charm buddy, in other words, maybe next time". Taking him away, the next opponent was pretty much already there as I got into position. It seemed that everyone would be going in order, so the next person, unfortunately, was Mina. She pointed at me with both her index fingers, "Now this'll be a fair fight. Don't hold back just because it's me though, okay Soru"? I agreed, "Okay, but I'll do my best not to hurt you". She smiled at me warmly, but it quickly turned serious as Mic gave the go ahead. 'Skating' towards me with her acid, she began to toss some at me as well, myself using my arms for protection again.
As they began to soften I knew I had to touch her and get a replacement power. Coming up on me, Mina made sure to avoid me, circling around more so with her acid shots coming at me faster. Digging up a large rock, I lifted it up with not much struggle and tried tossing it into her abdomen to push her out of bounds or at least give me some space. As the rock came at her, she made sure to use 'Acid Veil', blocking it from hitting her, but since it was a big object, it did manage to push her away some, almost near the boundary line. She persisted, coming back over, "I'm not getting out of bounds that easily". With her determination obviously there, I had to get hands on her. As she carelessly got closer to pelt me with more acid, I followed her pattern close as she circled me over and over. Once close enough I stretched out my arm in a random area, and without paying attention she ran into it, knocking her down. Getting a touch of her soft hand, the Acid was now mine, and this fight would get a lot more interesting. Getting up and continuing to toss acid at me, I created my own shield of acid to block the shots. Due to my normal shoes, I couldn't skate, so I tried thinking of good strategies I could use. "How you holding up", I checked on her. She responded, "I'm doing great. But I'd be better if you'd surrender". I laughed, "That's not happening, even for you". Having a little plan in mind, I dropped the 'veil' and started shooting acid at her face, with the lowest possible solubility to prevent hurting her. As the liquid obscured her vision, she couldn't see where she was 'skating' and with that I ran over to jump onto her. Immobilizing her with my strength, I picked her up, holding on tightly as she struggled, "Let go", she shouted. Eventually, I let her go as her vision returned and bringing up her guard she formed more acid balls, only to hear Ms. Kayama shout I had won. Looking where she was standing, she frowned, "Damn". I stretched out my hand, "Good fight". She took it with her bright smile still forming, "Same to you. I did much better this time around". Next was Tsu, and she was about as expressionless as always, or at least no one could read her face, "You ready", I asked. She responded, "*ribbit*. Yeah, I'm ready. Don't hold back, okay"? Hopping at me with just one leap, she was right in my face, her blank eyes right in front of my own, "*ribbit*". Opening up her mouth, she wrapped her tongue around me, lifting me up and trying to toss me out. Before she could throw me though I made sure to use the Acid I still had, giving her a light burn to let me go. Dropping down a few feet but otherwise okay, I almost choked on my new frog tongue. Jumping back a little bit, Tsu tried again to get me with her tongue, so I countered with my own, literally getting us tongue-tied. Each of us pulling back, we pulled so much that we both ended up unable to hold out longer and were then flung into each other with force. Opening up my eyes, my tongue was in her mouth and hers in mine, her just staring, actually visibly nervous with some blush, "Well isn't that romantic", Mic gave his two cents. She tasted, unique to say the least, "Sorry" I said getting up and helping her do the same. Tsu responded, "That's, okay, it was an accident. But, how about we get back to fighting". Gripping both my hands and feet to the ground, I hopped back and forth to make sure not to get caught with her tongue again. Lashing at me again with it, she missed time and time again as I evaded with jumping quite easily. Seeing what I was doing, Tsu switched it, slapping me across the face with her elongated appendage, I quickly turned back around to see she was gone. Looking around vigilantly, I managed to spot her just in time, not completely invisible but camouflaged into the color of the dirt. Striking her with my own tongue, she was sent back a little, returning to visibility. Seeing as this wasn't going very well, I thought, and with that I got something. Waiting for the next time she sent her tongue at me, I just stood still until she did so. Launching it at me, I used my own frog like reflexes to put my hand in the way, grabbing her slimy tongue. Using it as leverage, I reeled her in, Tsu unable to do anything since it was attached to her. Once she was close enough, me already being right at the boundary line, I simply swung her around and tossed her outside the arena, "Koizumi wins", Ms. Kayama declared. Letting go of her tongue, Tsu came over to me, with her slouched posture, "Good fight Koizumi", we shook hands. "About, that", I brought up the earlier exchange. She had no hard feelings, and actually, I don't think she minded it very much if that blush meant anything, "It's fine, just an accident is all. That's why two people with the same quirk don't always make the best fights, without diversity things like that can happen. Don't worry about it though".
The next person to show up on the field was Tenya, but I wouldn't throw in the towel just because of a speed power. "It's very admirable for you to give everyone a chance to come out on top like this. Why is it you have no plans on becoming a Pro Hero like the rest of us"? I answered him, "I just don't have the urgency or real interest in doing so. They might protect us but really most are just glorified freelancers who get paid for using their powers. That's not what the world needs more of when there's enough of them already as it is". Starting off the battle, Iida came right at me, so I created an acid shield for protection against the impact of his foot. Taking note that I was staying still he tried to pull the same trick he did as on Ibara, ramming my shield as the bottoms of my shoes scraped the ground rapidly. I shoved back, cause while he was fast, I was still not very weak, even without powers. Dropping the shield and rolling away, he nearly crossed the line by mistake, only stopping himself inches away. The second he turned, I dowsed his glasses with acid so he couldn't see very well, forcing him to take them off. During the brief moment of vulnerability, I snagged his power so he couldn't have such an advantage on me anymore. Now with 'Engine', I ran over to start sending blows his way in rapid succession, from his chest to his face in each about five times in ten seconds flat. Countering, he gave me a roundhouse kick to the chin, knocking me away only for him to immediately follow by coming at me again with another straight kick. Seeing it coming, I ducked down and gave him a nice sweep kick, followed by pinning him with his legs. Grabbing one of his ridiculously bulky legs, I began to pull and bend it much to his pain. Using his free leg, he kicked me away again, making me fall on my back in the dirt. Getting up right away, this battle, like Tsu had told me with the same power fights, was going almost nowhere, so I needed to keep relying on my brain in the long run of things. Thinking about his weakness, I managed to get a little plan; if I run around the arena long enough, he'll run out of 'fuel', and since I drank plenty OJ this morning without thinking of getting this power, I don't have anything to worry about. Taking this idea into action, I began running around the arena aimlessly so he couldn't really predict what I'd do, giving him ample time to mess up and go out of bounds with speed control as a bonus. Chasing after me for around five minutes, I heard a little *putt putt* come from his 'exhausts' and before he could get to me he slowed to a halt, leaving only me with the speed now. Seeing he was out of luck and knew it, I ran right towards him, taking him by the arm and tossing him outside the arena, taking home the win.