Chapter 36 - A Heartbreaking Battle! Midoriya's Notes!
Tokoyami's eyes were trained on the battlefield ahead of him, eyes darting from Uraraka's quiet confident form, to Bakugou's clearly aggressive stance as his face was completely stone cold. He couldn't help the intrigue knowing that he would potentially have to fight one of these opponents, though if he was a betting man, his money would be on Bakugou. Uraraka was strong in her own way, but Bakugou's Quirk was pure strength and force.
"What was the counter-strategy you came up with for her against Bakugou," He heard the loud voice of Iida ask the smaller Midoriya.
Tokoyami couldn't help but listen in on their conversation, though his crossed arms and eyes were still focused on the two fighters on the field.
"Oh, that! It's really not all that brilliant or anything..." Midoriya muttered, that self-deprecating tone over his work rubbing Tokoyami the wrong way. "It's just, Kacchan is undeniably strong...! And in a close-quarters brawl, he's got almost no openings to speak of."
Bakugou's close range fighting stance was certainly a hindrance, Tokoyami had to admit. He was an aggressive guy with a penchant for anger, but with the technical ability and just the right Quirk to really excel and back up his power.
"And if you factor in the mobility his Quirk gives him, he's even stronger. That being said, while it's true he has maneuverability in midair as well... If she can cause him to float, she can gain the initiative from there." Deku's analytical voice was showing, calm and filled with concern for his friend, but his plan was sound, foolproof assuming she could actually hit Bakugou.
"So that's why... She needs to strike fast!"
As he said that, they heard the voice of Present Mic calling for the start of the match and in an instant, Uraraka darted forwards, headfirst towards Bakugou.
"If by some slip he gets tapped, he'll start floating, so he won't want her to draw too close! So if Kacchan is thinking what I think he's thinking..." Tokoyami couldn't help but glance at Izuku has the other boy began to really get in to the battle, his voice rising excitedly. "He won't dodge, he'll confront her!"
Just as Midoriya said, Bakugou stood still, waiting for Uraraka to arrive, slamming his hand forwards in a right hook, the explosion filling the air instantly as fire and smoke flashed through the battlefield straight in to Uraraka before she could react.
"She couldn't react fast enough," Tokoyami noted, watching as Uraraka was lost in the smoke.
From the stands below them, gasps of horror could be heard as people began to realize that Bakugou wasn't about to hold back just because Uraraka was his opponent, though Midoriya seemed aware of this from the start. The other boy was watching, that excitement still in his eyes as he watched two of his closest friends square off.
That was when Bakugou stalked forwards, Tokoyami's eyes looking in his direction to see Uraraka beneath the smoke, her jacket poking out into the open air. His hands tensed as he watched, hearing Bakugou's loud proclamation of "Now die! Don't underst-"
In that moment, the smoke behind Bakugou shifted, the brown haired girl launching from her cover with a determined scowl on her face.
"She made her jacket float. That was a sound strategy from Uraraka," Iida stated. "Though her unorthodox strategies have worked for her in the past as well." The taller male shuddered at the thought of her dreaded improvised home run attack from their combat training.
"She threw her jacket over and sent it floating, all on the fly!" Present Mic boomed out, echoing Iida's statement excitedly.
But Bakugou was too quick, slashing his hand back towards Uraraka before she could get close, the force of his explosion rocketing her away from him towards the other side of the stage.
Sero was the first to speak, genuine surprise tinged in his voice. "He reacted after spotting her...!"
"Smoke screens won't work against reaction time like that!" Kaminari echoed, a terrified expression on his face.
Tokoyami had to admit, his reaction speed was impressive. That instinct for survival was something he admittedly lacked, yet Bakugou had the natural prowess in spades. It was only just beginning to dawn on Tokoyami that he may be facing Bakugou at some point in the contest, and the thought chilled him to the core.
The true tragedy was just unfolding however, Uraraka continuing to charge forwards with as much might as she could muster, yet Bakugou would blast her back each and every time, knocking her away before she could grab at him.
Midoriya looked on in horror, as did Iida and the rest of the class, Tokoyami wanting to look away, but he couldn't help admiring the resolve in Uraraka's strategy. She was determined and he knew just what the expression on her face was showing - She couldn't lose.
"Ochaco..." Tsuyu muttered, a rare show of concern on her expressionless face, while Jirou had her hands covering her eyes in shock. Momo watched in dismay, Ashido couldn't help but stay silent and Hagakure was clutching on to the pink-skinned girl fearfully.
"Ugh. So Bakugou's that type of guy..." Mineta scowled.
"Coming from you," Tokoyami snapped back tersely, Mineta's eyes widening in fear as the raven-faced boy sharply glanced towards him with his fierce red eyes.
Shouji glanced to Tokoyami at that, from his seat next to Mineta, eyes pleading for Tokoyami to drop the conversation, which Tokoyami gladly did, turning away coldly while Shouji began to reprimand the gremlin.
"She keeps charging relentlessly, but... This is..." Present Mic found himself, for the first time, unable to really speak.
But Tokoyami, his eyes on the battlefield, ignoring the crowd, had noticed something that seemed just a little bit off. As Uraraka launched towards Bakugou once more, her hands darted to the rubble on the ground, an odd movement. "Wait a minute..." He muttered more to himself, the others preoccupied with the crowd that was beginning to boo.
His eyes darted up, just as Aizawa's voice rang through the stadium.
"Is the one who said he's toying with her a pro? How many years of active duty? If that's what you're taking away from this, then you can leave. No point in watching. Go home and start looking at job hunting sites." The usually calm, dull voice of Aizawa had risen, like someone had just pissed him off. And it was in that moment that the world learned that if anybody took a jab at his students, he was going to fight back.
"She's come this far, and he knows her strength. His caution shows that he recognizes her as a worthy opponent. It's exactly because he wants to win so badly that there's no room for carelessness or holding back." At that, Aizawa's voice turned quiet as everyone noticed the telltale explosions of the battle had stopped.
Tokoyami could only look extremely impressed as his eyes were glued to the sky, while everyone else was glued to the ground. "Iida, you were right about one thing," He muttered quietly, the taller boy turning to him confused.
"What do you mean, Tokoyami?" Iida asked.
Tokoyami just motioned his head upwards. "Her unorthodox strategies are truly terrifying."
At that moment, Uraraka's voice rang out across the stadium. "Thanks for not dropping your guard." At that, her hands clasped together, as she screamed out three words.
"I'm gonna win!"
At this, everyone's eyes darted upwards, everyone finally seeing the true power of Ochako Uraraka. Countless rocks, debris, rubble, lifted straight from Bakugou's various explosions, were floating in the air, sustained by one young high school girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. And with a hand tap, that weight was released.
"It's a meteor storm!?" Iida choked out.
"Such an extreme self-sacrificing strategy..." Deku muttered in sheer surprise. "Uraraka!" Deku was at the edge of his seat as the debris began to fall, Tokoyami right there with him watching as she dashed her way through the rubble straight towards Bakugou, the determination etched onto her face as her gambit fell into place, Bakugou's face twisting upwards aggressively, his eyes widened in shock.
She was closer, even closer now, just a few paces awa-
The explosion rocked the stadium with so much force, reds, yellows, oranges and greys mixing together as a shockwave tore through the stands, Tokoyami feeling himself pushed back ever so slightly. But for the one in the center of it all, Uraraka was flung backwards like a rag doll, no warning as she slid and thudded to the ground, desperation and horror at his sheer power etched across her face.
"Must have been all that hanging out with Deku, huh?" Bakugou growled lowly. "I knew you had some kind of plan..."
Midoriya couldn't help but squeak in fear at his name being mentioned, shrinking back to his seat with a sad look on his face. And Tokoyami had to admit, he understood why. This battle was over.
Midoriya and Tokoyami knew. They had met her during the entrance exams outside the school and he'd seen first hand throughout their training how much her gravity Quirk affected her in long bouts. And with so much to hold up... "She's gone past her limits..." He muttered darkly.
And as Bakugou darted towards Uraraka, the girl turning to meet him, one of her legs buckled underneath her, the girl plummeting to the ground in a heap in front of Bakugou.
"Her weight capacity... She's already passed it," Izuku stated somberly, everyone turning to Tokoyami and Midoriya, who both watched as Midnight stepped in to check on Uraraka.
"Her weight capacity?" Kaminari asked.
Tokoyami nodded. "She has the power to make objects float, but even then she can only carry so much," He noted. "Midoriya has more first hand experience with her Quirk, but I'm surprised most of you were not aware."
And as he explained that, Midnight's voice cut through the silence.
"Uraraka is unable to continue. Bakugou moves on to the second round!"
Uraraka was taken out on the stretcher shortly afterwards to be sent to Recovery Girl, with Midoriya somberly getting up to head to the prep room for his match. But Tokoyami had one request he wanted to make, quickly tailing after Midoriya as he turned the corner to head to the stairs. There was something he needed to ask, seeing as he had no doubt Bakugou could end up being his opponent down the line.
"Midoriya!" He called out quickly, catching up the green haired boy he was looking rather glum. "I apologize for disturbing you, I know you have a match to get to, but I have a request."
Midoriya looked at Tokoyami, eyebrows arched in confusion as he turned to face the raven-boy.
"You had strategies for everybody in the class written down in your notepad. If it's not too much to ask, I was wondering if I could see what you have on myself and Dark Shadow." Tokoyami, direct and straight to the point, still had Shouji in his mind, the taller boy having read from Midoriya's notebook earlier in the day. He knew just how strong Midoriya was analytically and any strategy would do at this point.
"Oh, yeah sure, here," Midoriya muttered, pulling out a small black notebook. "Page fifteen, I don't have too much on you Tsuku, but I hope it helps. I have to go though."
With a nod, Tokoyami took the book into his hands, nodding Midoriya farewell and shouting a good luck to him. Facing Todoroki next would certainly be an interesting match to watch, but what he really wanted was to analyze any notes Midoriya had made.
"What's that you've got there?" He heard a voice ask, jumping a few paces back as the tall Shouji popped up behind him. When Shouji saw the book, a sly smile appeared on one of his many mouths. "I see you couldn't resist Midoriya's notes either, could you."
Tokoyami shrugged. "I need every advantage I can get against Ashido and Bakugou."
"Well, what does it say?" Shouji asked, muscling his way to the notebook as Tokoyami flipped it open to the correct page.
What greeted him was a sprawling wall of well organized text that spanned at least two pages. Tokoyami couldn't help but wonder how Midoriya felt this many notes wasn't too much, and he had to wonder what too much actually was.
"Well that's interesting," He thought, his eyes reading a few sentences regarding Tokoyami's Quirk, Dark Shadow.
"Dark Shadow's symbiotic nature with Tsuku makes them a deadly duo to face in battle. With Tokoyami able to transfer his own energy to his Quirk to avoid the weakness to light, using this bond could allow Tsuku to overcome foes that use light as a primary weapon, like Bakugou."
"He calls you Tsuku?" Shouji quipped jokingly. "And here I thought only I got to call you by a nickname."
"Hmph, call me whatever you wish, it's just a name," Tokoyami groaned, knowing exactly where this was going.
"Mhm, just a name that he calls you. Just saying, there's more notes on you than there is on most of the class in there," Shouji whispered.
Tokoyami felt his cheeks heating up under his feathers, extremely grateful that the jet black of his plumage hid those reactions. It made him hard to read and he preferred it that way, though he wasn't fooling Shouji if the taller boy's expression of glee was any indication.
"Did you know apparently there was a Hero with the same bird mutation as you?" Shouji then stated, pointing to a small picture that Midoriya had clearly stuck in to the notebook.
It was off a dark raven-like man with feathers all over his entire body, aside from his arms. The photo was in black and white, but he had a piercing stare not unlike Tokoyami's own gaze. Though as Tokoyami was scanning the picture, he noticed a name, The Raven, and two years underneath the photo.
"A date of birth and a date of death," He stated darkly. "It says that this man was a Pro Hero who passed away sixteen years ago. Apparently Midoriya listed him as a reference for me since we share similar mutations. Apparently his wife went missing a year later after their child was stillborn."
"Sounds grim," Shouji muttered. "But that's quite common among Pro Heroes. Dying in the line of duty, leaving their families..." The taller boy's voice was sad in tone as he said this.
"He could be worth looking up though," Tokoyami admitted. "If I still have a home tonight, I'll do some research."
"You'll be fine," Shouji stated calmly. "Remember what I said earlier, when I went around to your house your parents didn't seem to want to kick you out. I'm sure they're just trying to light a fire under you."
"Or put the fire out entirely," Tokoyami replied sharply.
"Ever the optimist." Shouji's sardonically droll reply as the taller boy looked out down the hallway had Tokoyami chuckling quietly to himself. "It seems like the break's almost over, should we return to watch Midoriya's match?"
Tokoyami nodded quietly, clutching the notebook to his chest.
Now he had even more to think about. Midoriya's notes mentioned how his bond with Dark Shadow, should he gain the endurance, would be enough to even withstand attacks from Bakugou. But that old Pro Hero, The Raven, was also on his mind. Someone with a similar mutation to his own was rare to see and he couldn't help but have his interest piqued.
As they walked back to their seats, Shouji sitting near Mineta once more to keep the lascivious shark at bay, Tokoyami took his seat by the front of the stands once more, Iida already glancing down towards the field intently.
"Have they started yet?" A familiar female voice called out, Tokoyami's eyes turning to see a shocking sight.
Uraraka had just arrived, her eyebrows puffy and red, eyes somewhat swollen. Iida cried out, "Were you blinded!? Hurry up and go see recovery girl!"
Tokoyami had to wonder just how naive Iida could be when he wanted, a trait he seemed to share with Izuku. Because he could tell from an instant that she had been crying. Though he wouldn't admit it, sleepless nights as a child when Dark Shadow was at it's peak of anger had left him in similar states before.
"I did already. This is from... something else..." She muttered quietly, clearly trying to brush away the conversation, though Tokoyami couldn't help but offer a sympathetic look.
Though keeping his cool and calm exterior, he added, "Don't regret your loss, Uraraka. Just learn from it and move on, you fought well."
"Thanks, Tokoyami," She smiled back to him halfheartedly, still reeling over her loss.
And in that moment, an announcement blared across the stadium as two students stepped out into the ring. And Tokoyami had to admit, he hadn't felt more tense in his life as Todoroki, the one who declared war at the start of the festival, stepped up on to the field against Midoriya, one of his closest friends and supporters, who was carrying All Might's legacy on his shoulders.
This was a battle he had to watch.
The chapter ended just a little bit shorter than intended, but I'd covered everything I needed to hit this chapter and felt no need to drag it out longer than it had to be. I wanted to give attention to Uraraka's fight because she's had quite a bit of minor focus in the fic and Tokoyami does pay attention to her as a student given she was one of the first people he met in this fic.
And the notebook is just me setting up some fun stuff. Plus I like the idea of Midoriya completely lying to Tokoyami about his notes on him to seem less stalkerish.