Sorry it took me so long. It's a bit rushed and I am currently editing it in post, but damn. This is it, the end of a saga. I might take a rest after this, from MHA at least. I do have a full time job and other things I want to work on. Nevertheless, when I do return, I want to have a slice-of-life chapter or two before jumping into plot shit. Either way, I feel I kind of paced this weird...both this chapter and this arc. I wanted to gove Kirishima a monet though, so he gets it here. I hope you enjoy what I set up here, as I am introducing an OC I have big plans for. STory of my life, really.

Speaking of set-up, we will be building slowly towards Kamino. Anyway, I hope I did a good job here. Let me know if there is anything I can do better. I did kind of try to power through and make this an eventful month, but I need to slow my roll a bit. I would have written yesterday, but it was mine and my partner's anniversary so I wanted to celebrate that instead.

—-

The mysterious older woman watched, her red aviator sunglasses reflecting the sun as she shifted in her seat. She raised an eyebrow as the redhead struggled. Perhaps he wasn't worth observing. She could have watched it from home with her dog. And yet, she kept watching.

Kirishima slumped, feeling his confidence slip. He wasn't having much success aping his friends. He tried leaping like Tsuyu, deftfully dodging like Mina, and emulating the moves he saw from Izuku earlier. It was then that his friends' voices reached him.

"Oi Kiri! Come on, horn buddy! You got this! Whup her whip!" Mina shouted!

Tendril so of water shot out like spiky tentacles , almost like thorns really. Izuku couldn't help but notice how similar they were to Shiozaki's vines, and yet they were very much different.

"You think a little soak will be enough to wipe me out? I've got friends cheering me on. I am nothing flashy, but I'm not out yet."

Kirishima powered through, as the water smashed against him. He felt like the rocks from the old TOEI introductions in front of anime movies. His shirt got torn and drenched, but that was fine by him. He removed his shirt with a grin, much to the chagrin of his opponent.

"Are you crazy!? Put your shirt back on!" she blushed and hid her face.

"You kind of destroyed and soaked it. It's not like losing a shirt means I lose my fighting ability. I'm used to fighting without one anyway."

Mina raised an eyebrow and grinned, her brain racing as she made note of Chikuchi's reaction. Not like she could blame her. Her friend was cute. They all were. Nobody was cuter than her boyfriend, though.

On the sidelines, Ibara sighed and blushed, feeling for her teammate.

"You're tough. I admit, and that feels brisk as heck, but I can't give up. NOT IN FRONT OF THEM!"

The tendrils of water converged to block Kirishima's blows and knock him back.

"Getting hard on yourself , then cocky? Tsk. Pick a mood or I'll pick one for you: defeated!" Chikuchi hissed through her teeth, an icy clare of contemptuous determination piercing her opponent as she pushed through. "Think you're tough because you got in when we didn't?"

"I'm actually surprised she didn't. That quirk is very well suited for combat and could have been very useful against the robots at the entry exam. How did she not get in?"

Chikuchi overheard somehow, feeling herself get aggravated, however, instead of acting out, she attacked more ferociously, hoping to do to this boy what she failed to do to the robots at the exam, what she managed to do more successfully with the scaled-down ones from earlier, and what she was too afraid to do when the opportunity arose last time.

"You take this for granted. You probably heard that purple-haired scarecrow complain earlier. I suppose I can sympathize, but my quirk...I can do this...I should have been able to...but I froze. I failed, while you get to reap the benefits of being the focus of attention. That spot is mine."

In a way, Kirishima could understand her frustrations, though not entirely. Still, it's not like she would be replacing him. There was an actual vacancy that had opened up so, if anything, she was just making herself seem like a jerk to her potential classmates.

"I'm not limber...i am more rigid...i blame my quirk...but…" Kirishima pulled his Leg back and pivoted, delivering a powerful kick to the girl's ribs.

"Didn't take you for a leg guy, but Nakamura, you're not…" Chikuchi growled and shot out her tendrils one more time, pushing Kirishima back again. This time, he ragdolled across the Arena like a rock. However, he grit his teeth and sharpened his arms, deciding to punch through the water as he ran. It certainly wasn't graceful or cool but it was the best he could think of. He remembered seeing the move in an old broadcast of Crimson Riot from back in the day.

The mysterious old woman in the crowd smirked. "Well look at this fanboy. Sloppy...very sloppy...but a sight for sore eyes. " She couldn't help but feel a crimson wave of nostalgia hit her. THere might have been some reason to come here after all.

Chikuchi was thrown from the ring , landing with a thud as her water tendril went limp and soaked her to the bone. Spitting out some water that had entered her mouth, the girl sighed in frustration. At least she got further than her chief competitor had. If anything, this boded better for her getting into the hero program.

And yet, she didn't get as many cheers. How disappointing. At least a few of her friends thought she did well. The girl saw a shadow on the ground surrounding her and looked up. The boy she was fighting was standing there with a towel, an understanding smile, and still no shirt.

"You made a wrestling reference back there. You like Ring of Honor, sis ?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. I am not here to make friends. I have enough in general studies. Keep your towel. You need it to cover yourself," the girl huffed, walking off in a tizzy to the confusion and sadness of Kirishima. "And I am not your sis!"

"She didn't have to be like that." Kirishima sighed, returning to his spot and joining his friends. He was wondering if maybe he still had a way to go if he wanted to be like them before he was swarmed by hugs and noogies from Mina and a barrage of excited murmurs from Izuku, while Tsuyu smiled and gave a thumbs up.

"Guess I am a winner today afterall," Kirishima smiled, deciding for now just to relax and drink in the festivities.

Time elapsed, burning like an olympic torch as the event wound up to a fever pitch. As the battles waged on, there were only two competitors left. Kirishima ultimately lost, but was happy to cheer Izuku on in return, like the green-haired boy had done for him before. He had even volunteered to get snacks while others participated in a quick scavenger hunt.

"Hey, where's Midoriya?"

"He went to prepare for his fight. We'll just have to wait and cheer him on, ribbit." Tsuyu croaked calmly. Kirishima shrugged and smiled, taking his seat and holding onto his friends' snacks for them, wondering silently what the final match would hold.

X

Izuku could feel himself getting tense. His next fight would be against Bakugou. He hoped he could get through it and just move on, that the tension would blow over and that this uneasy alliance could persist as long as the two former-friends kept out of each other's way after this. He knew deep down, however, this wouldn't be the case.

He hoped the other boy would have grown more mellow with friends, especially with Tokage there to keep an eye on him.

"You ok, Izu-bean?" Mina entered, taking a seat next to Izuku as he thought out loud.

"I'm...not really. Kinda nervous, actually. I still don't have much of a grasp on One-for-All and Bakugou is too good. He has such good instinct and fluid movements and a head start on his power that I don't."

"Remember our fight?"

"It was today, so it is hard to forget."Izuku laughed softly.

"We had fun. We just did our best to push each other and you did pretty well." Mina smiled, ruffling her boyfriend's hair. "I know Bakugou is an ass, and I agree with you, but you're going to do great. And if he acts like an ass, don't let him get you down."

Izuku looked up, his face relaxing slightly. He was still worried. This fight was up in the air as to who could win, though the green-haired boy was still reverting back to old habits and doubting himself Regardless of who won, however anything that was bottled up would likely be unleashed and it would be hard, if not impossible, to contain it again.

"If you win, you're buying me dinner. If you lose, I'll buy dinner. Deal?"

"I mean, I can cook for you. You don't have to spend money on me, Mina."

"Well yeah. I don't have to be as cute as I am but I still am anyway. Doesn't matter if I have to. I want to, because you're my boyfriend and you made it to the finals. Regardless of the outcome,

I am super duper proud of you."

Izuku couldn't help but break down. He was feeling pent up, anxious, but also ready to get it on with. Knowing how much he was cared for and supported was giving him a second wind.

"You really are too good for me, Mina."

"Quiet, you. You are amazing and you know it. You impressed freaking All-Might and also made it to the finals! You will end up in the winner's circle...steppy things...You're going to get a medal,ok? And even if you didn't, I would make you one! For being a big dorkus and the best boyfriend. Now go kick bomb bitch's butt!"

"Alright. Alright. I'll do my best. But if I break any bones, try not to beat me too hard for being reckless."

"I will push Recovery girl out of the way and kiss your boo boos myself. That is a threat AND a promise."

Izuku sighed and smiled, placing his head against Mina's as they took in the moment together. "If Mineta were here he probably would have had you and the other girls dressed up in cheerleader uniforms."

"I can still do that for you."

"Cut it out. That's not what I mean. I'm just...he was gross but it's still surprising. I hope he's ok."

"You really do worry for guys you shouldn't, huh?"

"Guess it's a doormat thing."

"It's a cute and heroic thing and you're a good boy. Besides, I don't need that costume as I am already your biggest cheerleader, you dummy."

"My grades are better than yours."

"That's it. Not cheering for you anymore. You're mean. No kisses for bullies."

Izuku tripped over his words to apologize, then narrowed his eyes as Mina just grinned and winked. She really was a handful. "Alright, alright. I give. ANyway, I will try to be civil and appeal to his better judgment. Maybe I can get through to him and have him see me as an equal after getting this far."

"What if that doesn't work, babe?"

Izuku shrugged and hung his head down. "Then I'll have to chip one of his teeth."

"Brutal. Don't do that. "

"Why? I might get expelled?" Izuku turned back to face her.

"Probably not. I was thinking more of where the Recovery girl would have to kiss him to fix that. Open mouth kiss from a grandma?"

Izuku could barely contain his giggles as Mina made a series of exaggerated faces at him. If he won this, he would take her up on her bet, maybe a nice Karaoke place. He may have had stage fright, but he knew she did not.

Either way, his body started moving towards its destiny, knowing what it had to do, and that regardless of outcome, Mina's love and acceptance would be his greatest reward.

X

Elsewhere, in 1B's break room, a different tone resonated through the walls."You're not going to go over the top, are you?" Itsuka voiced her concerns in an exasperated tone. She knew Monoma was hard to handle sometimes, but Bakugou was really ready to go in for the kill during a televised event. She knew him as grumpy and egotistical, but he was ferocious right now.

"Don't fucking lecture me, hands. I knew this kid and he was a weakling loser. Something is up and I will beat it out of him. Not going to let him pity me, dammit! If I am going to go to the same school as him, I am going to beat his ass until he wishes he went somewhere else."

"Oh my. That is really uncouth, almost unheroic, dare I say… But I like the competitive spirit, Bakugou my friend. Just don't go too rough on him. He's not all bad." Monoma smiled.

"Are you enabling this? Really?" Kendou sighed, placing her face in her palm. None of this was really necessary.

"You couldn't even beat Icy-hot, bowl cut. Shut your damn mouth...and don't worry, you wanna show how great our class is? I'll carry this whole lot on my back and beat those other losers, including shitty Deku! Today!"

Setsuna chimed in, trying to appeal to his good nature, despite having very little evidence of its existence. She knew enough about the basics of his childhood with Izuku and that one had bullied the other, but she was still just a 3rd party who had heard of it from others and never witnessed it herself.

"Hey...wasn't he your friend? He's kinda mine too. I know his girlfriend better, but like, you need to behave better, bro. We're at the top hero school."

"Don't you fucking lecture me, Lizard bitch. I don't need anyone's approval to be the best. Get out of my damn way so I can kill him in front of his nosey ass girlfriend."

Bakugou slammed the door, feeling his blood boil. He didn't need friends. He was strong on his own, stronger than everyone else. He didn't need to be chopped on the neck. He got that enough from the hag. He didn't need friends, only victory and to be the best. He was going to show All-Might himself how great he was, the strongest hero in the world.

More than victory, however, Bakugou wanted answers, and if he couldn't get those today, then he would just have to stomp his former friend back into the mud where he belonged. He would be proven to be weak and then maybe, some sanity would be restored when the people who took pity on him started to see sense.

"Hey!"

Bakuhou snapped his body in an instant towards the sound of a high, feminine voice. It was the horned foreigner in his class, Tsunotori. "The fuck you want, Goat!?"

"My name is Pony, not Goat! Please be nicer to our classmates. And to Midoriya. He is really nice." the blonde girl pouted, stamping a hoof in agitation. She looks like a toddler to Bakugou, despite them being in the same age range. He was willing to tolerate these people if they stayed out of his way, but it seemed that wasn't happening right now.

"Haaaaaah?! The fuck you talking about? You don't know him, horns. Otherwise, you would see him as the pebble he is. I am tired of people gushing about trash. Take your broken ass Japanese back into the bleachers. I have a nerd to kill." Bakugou scoffed, feeling his ire rise as explosions roared in the palm of his hand. Pausing his hurried steps without turning his back, he spoke once more, this time in perfect English. "Don't get in my way again, American."

Pony felt her face go hot with frustration and her blood run cold with fear. Her classmate really was scary. As she ran back towards the bleachers, Bakugou walked towards the light, ready to snuff out those doubts in the back of his mind. He was not going to exist at UA on a compromise he never decided on. He was meant to be the only one from his middle school for greatness. He was going to set it right for the world to see, and nobody could stop him.

X

Izuku walked past Ochako on the way to the ring, ready to do his best, feeling the ache in his bones before he had even started. He wasn't sure if it was from his previous injuries, anticipation of new ones, or both. His friend stopped him, regardless.

"Hey Midoriya?" Ochako asked, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder."

"Yes?" the boy asked. He really was just bumping into people today, huh? It was to be expected during the biggest competition in the country. He was half expecting Tsunotori next, but she was probably indisposed.

"I know you probably already talked to Mina and she knows things better, but best of luck. I know you have a touchy history with Bakugou that I don't know all the details of. However, you are a really good guy with a strong heart. Your quirk is powerful, but I think your willingness to keep going is your greatest strength."

"Wow...That's very candid...thank you, Uraraka. That helps a lot." The boy smiled, taking a deep breath afterwards and bracing for the coming conflict.

X

The fight began violently and almost instantaneously, with Bakugou barely giving his opponent time to react. He had been watching Izuku, his quirk, and how he used it. For starters, it was too sloppy, but very powerful, a challenge for his own abilities. What's more, it was very similar to All-Might's, and that led him to one possible conclusion: he was absolutely furious right now.

Izuku sensed this and barely dodged an explosion, feeling the ends of his hair singed and his ears ring. It was like history was repeating itself. He felt caught in a time loop, especially when he said that name he swore he would never use again.

"Kacchan...please. Let's not do this here. Can we just have a normal fight?

"Fuck you, Deku. You weren't supposed to be here. You are a weakass pebble, who should have just ended up as a janitor or something. You keep standing in my way, and now you lord your bullshit over me, like you're better than me. You know the fuck you aren't! And I thought you were going to stop calling me that!"

"Will you SHUT YOUR MOUTH FOR ONCE!? I AM SURPRISED I KEPT MINE SHUT THIS LONG!" Izuku shouted, the bottled up frustrations finally being too much to bear as he shoulder tackled his former friend towards the edge of the ring and used the momentum to throw the boy over his shoulder.

"That's right! Rage, you damn nerd!" Bakugou spat. "STop hiding behind your weak ass feelings and come at me!"

"You want Rage? NOW YOU WANT RAGE?! Fine...But you're only still here because I HAVEN'T SPOKEN UP YET! DETROIT SMAAAAAASH!"

A hush filled the arena as the words echoed through. Not everyone could quite make it out, as the competitors didn't have microphones. However, there was chatter among those that could make it out. Mina clasped her hands over her mouth. She kind of hoped at first that her boyfriend would spill the beans but had supported his decision regardless.

Tsuyu frowned. She had not seen half of the bad blood between the two former friends, mostly managing to avoid contact with the blonde bomber altogether.. She had only heard most of it from secondhand accounts. It seemed like things would boil over eventually, but she believed her friend's conviction to let bygones be bygones. She thought of her best friend from her own middle school and how they were still very close. It was sad that not all friendships lasted, but she could see why.

Even if the details were still locked up tight, this tirade was going to get people talking, as was the ensuing fight. The gossip could wait. There was still a fight occurring, with unresolved trauma and aggression bursting out like a fireball.

"I'm not laying down for you and I'm not covering for you. I ' M GOING TO WIN THIS!" DELAWARE SMASH!" Izuku roared, sending a brutal punch towards Bakugou, who spat up saliva and a bit of vomit. Not being one to just take that shock lying down, however, the boy got pissed, persevering and going for a facegrab on the other boy, despite concern from Cementoss.

He was bloodied and barely able to stand. Izuku's body wanted to give out and rest. However, his adrenaline kicked in, keeping him on his toes. He dashed behind his former friend and aimed a finger flick at the boy's face.

Feeling the wind in his face, Bakugou growled through it, bringing his arm up for a raging blast. However, Izuku grabbed it, flashbacks to the blonde's movements playing in his head. The green-haired boy landed a kidney punch without All-For-One. He wasn't sure if he hesitated out of fear or if he wanted to make it last, but Izuku mentally kicked himself for not trying to end it sooner. His former friend was formidable and a prodigy. Perhaps that's why he valued strength the way he did. Izuku would call it admirable if it hadn't left him with multiple scars; physical and emotional.

Izuku seemed outclassed at first by his opponent's fluid movements and powerful combat instincts. However, he was a strategist and a boy who refused to give up. Taking his already broken hand, Izuku winced through the pain, blood starting to drip to the floor. Winding up his shot, he used the momentum of his opponent's approach and slapped him with as much of One-for-All as he could muster, essentially sending Bakugou nearly out of the ring, though it wasn't enough.

"DON'T GET COCKY, SHITHEAD! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ON LIVE FUCKING TV! DROP DEAD!"

Izuku froze like a deer in headlights, running low on stamina and was probably going to lose, but at least he gave it his all. 2nd place wasn't bad, he thought out loud. Besides, he was used to it. The explosions, the death threats. It was nothing new to him. However, he had people cheering him on were people who believed in him, even before UA. Things were different now.

He closed his eyes and hissed through his teeth. His arm hurt and it was about to hurt even more but not as much as Bakugou's pride. The two boys lunged for each other and gave their all, screaming their attack names as if they were still kids, playing hero battle.

"EAT SHIT! HOWITZER IMPACT!"

"TEXAAAAAS-" Izuku's arm glowed with power, tingling with a burning strength that somehow numbed the pain. It was as if his arm wasn't about to break again, similar to what had happened at the USJ. Regardless, Recovery Girl would not be would just cross that bridge when he came to it. In an instant, his arm shot forward like a gun, causing a shockwave as it hit his opponent's attack. "SMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!"

He gave 100% effort to the attack, and as much energy as he could muster to not get ragdolled by the kickback. Both Izuku and Bakugou were knocked back in an awe-inspiring sonic boom that blew everybody's hair back. Cementoss tried to put a barrier up between the two students to prevent anything too serious.

"Boys, stop! That's enough!" he shouted, as he erected his walls. ANd yet it was not enough. When the dust settled, only one boy was in the ring, sweat dripping off his brow as he hunched over in pain, breathing heavily.

You...first...asshole…" Izuku spat out as he clung to consciousness. He could see Bakugou on the outside of the ring, temporarily unconscious. That probably wouldn't last long. It was then that everything hit Izuku: the pain in his body, outburst of emotions, and the outcome. Had he… just beaten Bakugou.

"IiiiiIIIINCREDIBLE! WHAT WE SAW JUST NOW WAS ONE HELL OF A SHOWSTOPPER, FOLKS! MIDORIYA JUST BLEW BAKUGOU OUT OF THE RING!" Present Mich shouted over the speakers, while Aizawa groaned, telling him not to be so noisy.

Tears of joy and disbelief started to fall. Izuku had won, not just beating his tormentor of years and coming out on top, but fulfilling his promise to his mentor to announce his presence to the world. And yet, his brain felt fuzzy. The adrenaline wore off and the pain caught up to him. Most of all, he had a moment of clarity.

"What did I just do?"

Before the boy could everything sink in, he was tackled to the ground and immediately lifted back up by a blur of pink fluff!

"YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT YOU DID IT YOU DID IT!" MY BOYFRIEND WON!"

Izuku sighed and smiled. He could worry later. He could go to the nurse later, or at least right after this. For now, he let himself be held by his biggest cheerleader in the world. She really reminded him how lucky he really was. After all he had been through, he no longer had to go through it alone. Sure, he knew that for a while, but it was really hitting him again.

Soon after, Kirishima and Tsuyu started cheering from the bleachers, followed by Iida, Setsuna, Pony, and the rest of his teammates from the Cavalry battle. Perhaps Shinsou was right earlier. He was blessed. Noy by birth, of course, but by the people he had come into contact with. The ramifications of his outburst in the ring could consume him later. For now, he was trying to breathe as Mina hugged the breath out of him.

All-Might couldn't believe it. He was still in shock at what his protegee had done. He wasn't expecting an easy victory, or really a victory at all. At the end of the day, he would still support the young man to whom he had bestowed his quirk. And yet despite the odds, Izuku had won.

In the back of his mind, however, there was a slight worry. The country had seen the Sports festival, that was a given. Who exactly would take the most notice of Izuku, however, and what would their plans entail. For now, however, all he could do was applaud and be proud of his students. It was then that it hit him that he was to be the one to award the medals, so he burst into his heroic form and started the process.

Meanwhile, in a seedy bar in the heart of downtown Kamino, the sports festival played loudly on the television while Kurogiri cleaned glasses. Shigaraki watched the whole thing with the utmost attention. From a monitor next to him, a deep, aging voice spoke.

"Interesting,,, So that's the new holder of One-fo-All. He really is interesting,,,and so was his opponent."

"That's what I'm thinking, master...which is why I have a plan." the scrawny young man spoke to the computer, as Waniago and Kurogiri kept a careful eye. But first, we have other things to do."