Izuku sat in his waiting room, arms crossed against his chest as his right leg bounced up and down. He stared at the clock on the wall as it counted down the minutes before the final battle of the Sports Festival would take place.

Him versus Kacchan…it would be his most difficult battle yet.

Bakugo had defeated Tokoyami easily, seeing as how his explosions heavily countered Dark Shadow. The bird student was forced to surrender, allowing the explosive blond to advance to the final round.

Izuku wouldn't lie, he was extremely nervous. Here he was, minutes away from fighting his best friend in the middle of a packed stadium for the world to see. Bakugo had a powerful quirk, sharp reflexes, and thought on his feet nearly as fast as Izuku did. They knew each other well and never stopped studying one another, so doing their usual and classic attacks and maneuvers wouldn't help out this time.

Izuku needed to use every trick and tactic up his sleeve if he wanted to win.

There was a loud knock at the door, which drew Izuku out of his thoughts. He stared at it in confusion, before flinching when it kicked open suddenly and forcefully, its knob slamming against the wall of the room.

Bakugo stood in the doorway, growling and glaring at him.

"Listen up shithead and listen good, cause I'm only gonna say this once!" He shouted while walking towards the greenette, who stared at him in surprise.

"K-Kacchan? What are-" Izuku began to ask, before Bakugo grabbed onto the metal table and flipped it across the room. "Kacchan!"

"We're gonna make a deal, understand?! If I win, you gotta take Sume out on a date this weekend!" The blond ordered, causing Izuku to freeze, his mind going blank. He looked at his friend with eyes full of confusion, his cheeks a tint of pink.

"Wha-"

"But if you win, which you won't, you gotta take one of the shitty extras from 1A out this weekend!"

"WHA-" Izuku began to ask, cheeks a dark shade of red, before he was cut off again.

"Do you understand?! Good, I'm fucking out of here! Prepare to fucking die, Deku!" Bakugo shouted, walking back towards the door and stepping out of the room. He slammed the door shut, not letting Izuku speak another word.

"What the fuck just happened?!"

(Five minutes out, the arena)

As Izuku and Bakugo made their way out of the tunnels, Present Mic's voice boomed loud enough for all to hear.

"WELCOME TO THE FINAL BATTLE OF THE UA SPORTS FESTIVAL!" Mic welcomed back those who were watching, causing the crowd to cheer and scream even more than any of the previous matches. "WE'RE ABOUT TO WATCH AND SEE WHICH OPPONENT WILL COME OUT ON TOP! FROM THE HERO COURSE WE HAVE IZUKU MIDORIYA, THE CLASS REP OF 1A, FACING OFF AGAINST HIS FELLOW CLASSMATE AND FRIEND, KATSUKI BAKUGO! METAL AND STRENGTH VERSUS EXPLOSIONS, WHO'S GONNA COME OUT ON TOP?!"

"We all know it's gonna be me, so you might as well drop out now Deku!" Bakugo shouted from across the field.

"The only thing you're winning is a trip to Recovery Girls office! Bring it on Ace!" Izuku shouted back with a smirk, causing the blond to growl.

"Call me that again, and I'll beat you to death with that shield of yours!"

"And, begin!"

Sparks formed at Bakugo's hands before he went off, using his explosions to propel himself up into the air and towards his green haired opponent. Izuku readied himself, body glowing as green lightning danced across his form. In a blur he was running across the field, kicking dust up into the air with his movements.

The two met in the middle, Bakugo's hands glowed a bright combination of red and orange as Izuku drew his right fist back. Time seemed to freeze as their attacks grew closer, like a calm before the storm.

And what a storm it was.

Their hands met, setting off a large explosion that filled the air with gray smoke. The two were sent flying out, with Izuku's shoes skidding across the cement while flew backwards, and with Bakugo using his explosions to stop himself from getting knocked out of the ring. The two friends grinned, before charging back into battle.

Bakugo pointed his arms behind himself, before blasting off and flying across the arena. Izuku met him again, right fist drawn back to hit. As he shot it forward, Bakugo aimed an explosion downwards, causing him to blast upwards to avoid the devastating hit. The blast made him land behind Izuku, and a hand was aimed at his friends back to set off an explosion.

But Izuku was faster.

Spinning around he raised his shield just before the explosion was set off, absorbing it and protecting him from the attack. Izuku dropped, leg swinging out to swipe his feet, but Bakugo aimed downwards and blasted himself above the attack like before. Arms behind him again, Bakugo shot himself downwards and aimed an explosion at his friend. But yet again it was blocked, bringing to the two into a stalemate.

(Teachers box)

"It's only just begun, and already it's a most enjoyable battle! These two will most definitely get plenty of internship offers!" Nezu exclaimed with a smile, watching the two do battle.

"They've been friends since childhood is what I've read from their reports. They know one another well enough to predict their every move, which means they'll have to be thinking outside of the box to get an edge over their opponent." Snipe spoke, before getting up from his seat. "Excuse me, gotta talk to Eraser real quick." And with that, he left.

"Not again." 13 sighed, drawing the attention from Vlad King.

"Not again what?"

"Well…"

(Announcer Box)

"For the last time, I am not letting you give my problem child a gun!" Eraserhead exclaimed, thankful he was wrapped like a mummy. If he wasn't, he'd more than likely try and strangle his friend.

"Just think about the possibilities Eraser! He'd be unstoppable with a quirk like his and a gun! C'mon, I'll teach him myself!"

"I trust Bakugo to not destroy anything in a china shop more than I do you teaching Midoriya how to use a gun."

"Eraser, c'mooooooon!"

"No, I trust Midnight to not do anything illegal to Midoriya when they're alone than I do you teaching him how to use a deadly firearm. End of discussion."

"Damn, it really be like that sometimes."

"Quiet Mic." The two growled in unison.

(Back to the fight)

Even as his hands ached, Bakugo continued firing blast after blast of his quirk, in hopes of giving himself an opening. But Deku was resistant and held strong, tanking each hit without his defense breaking.

"Fucking nerd!" Bakugo shouted, placing both hands together and setting off a bigger explosion than before, kicking black smoke into the air and across the field.

A green fist rushed out of the smoke, and Bakugo raised a hand and sat off an explosion to counter. He was tossed back, ragdolling across the field before clawing against it to stop himself. As the smoke cleared, Izuku had gone through the same thing.

'This is getting us nowhere. Stupid fucking shield protecting him.' Bakugo growled as he stood back up, stretching his arms behind his back as Deku did the same. 'Special attack won't help much, but it may give me an opening. If I can distract him for even a second, I know I can win.'

'Can't go above five percent, but it's hard not to when I'm up against him. I haven't gotten one good hit on him, and I need to change that. If I throw my shield he may blow it away, which gives him an opening to attack. His quirk hurts him, so I could just take the hits until he tires himself out. But he'd never forgive me for doing such a thing.' Izuku thought with a scowl. 'Need to go all out without hurtingmyself and leaving me defenseless.'

Theyshot off again, dirt, dust, and smoke swirling and floating into the air as they lunged at one another. Bakugo's explosion rocketed against Izuku's shield before the blond shot himself above the greenette, firing explosive shot again and again down at his opponent. But Izuku matched and blocked everyone, twisting and turning his body to face Bakugo head to head yet again.

Electricity crackled against his skin, and Izuku went got into a fighting position before going on the offensive. Jab after jab was sent Bakugo's away, with the occasional high kick thrown in in hopes of catching his opponent off guard. But Bakugo dodged each and every one.

Izuku's left hand shot forward at the same time as Bakugo's right, and the two connected, setting off yet more black smoke like before. But instead of being blasted back, the two latched onto each other, not letting one another go. Izuku's right fist came forward, as did Bakugos left, and their attacks finally connected.

Bright white light blinded Izuku as Bakugo set off a flashbang, and a fist filled with power connected with Bakugos chest, sending the blond skidding back across the arena. But as Bakugo was sent back, he was sent back with a prize.

Before the punch connected, Bakugo grabbed onto Izuku's shield. The blonds grip and the punches power was enough to allow Bakugo to tear it away from the greenette.

The blond grinned as he through the shield as he nabbed from Izuku out of the ring. He watched as his friend rub his eyes to get rid of the white. Finally, Bakugo had it.

An opening.

Blasting himself into the air and pointing his arms behind him, Bakugo shot himself forward while spinning, creating a drill of explosive power.

"HOWITZER-"

Izuku heard the shout, and as his vision slowly began to return, he watched the drill of fire that was his friend barreling towards him. There was no time to return his shield to him, so the greenette did what e could; surrounding himself in green lighting and charge forward himself.

"DETROIT-"

The attacks got closer, and the crowed watched in awe of green and red light filled the field. They waited with baited breaths as they moved closer. Five feet, then four, three, two…

One.

"IMPACT/SMASH!"

As if a nuke has gone off in the middle of the stadium, a powerful wind washed over the crowd, knocking off hats and sending balloons flying, and nearly knocking some people our of their seats. As black and white smoke attacked the crowd's sight and smell, a ringing in their ears made it difficult to hear. Not even Present Mic's voice could go through to them.

"AS MIDORIYA'S AND BAKUGO'S ATTACKS HIT HEAD ON! A NASTY SMOKE HAS COVERED THE ARENA AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE! ONCE IT CLEARS, WHO'LL BE LEFT STANDING?!"

The question sat on everyone's mind (or at least the minds who could still hear the question). But as the smoke began to lift and disappear, people at their answer.

Both were, technically.

Bakugo stood tall, hands and arms aching and screaming in pain as he wiped his nose of blood. Cuts and bruises littered his dirty body, and he huffed and puffed for air. Izuku was on all four, huffing and puffing, just as in much pain as Bakugo was.

"Stay down." Bakugo growled, setting off mini explosions to show he still had some juice left to fight (even though the explosions still caused him pain). "Final warning."

Something flew past him, and Izuku's shield sat connected to his arm yet again. The greenette pushed himself to stand onto his feet, before raising his fists shakily into a fighting stance.

"I can do this all day." He breathed out, angering the blond.

'You never did know when to give up.' They both thought. 'It's why I respect you so damn much.'

They rushed forward, albeit slower this time, and attacked. As Bakugo swung for Izuku's head, the greenette ducked and aimed a punch at the blond's stomach. It connected, causing bakugo to grunt in pain before latching onto Izuku's arm.

Twisting his body, Bakugo lifted Deku with all of strength and slammed him into the ground. Izuku gasped as his breath was knocked out of him, but still rolled out of the way as Bakugo fell to his knees, slamming a hand where Izuku's head used to be and setting off an explosion.

Everything hurt, but they both refused to surrender.

They scurried to their feet and went at it again. Bakugo dodged as Izuku sweat for his feet, and izuku dodged as Bakugo swung forward. Izuku twisted his body and flung his shield, which connected with the blond's stomach.

Bakugo skidded back and fell to his knees, before bile escaped his mouth and painted the cement below him. He wiped his mouth and stood back up.

The blond stood, and as and the greenette raised fists yet again. They charged forward, bent on punching each other wherever they could.

But after a few feet, only one of them continued standing.

Izuku fell backwards, feeling a sudden weight on his body. He groaned in pain and looked down, his eyes widening in surprise. He pushed the blond off of him, and watched as his chest rose and fell.

His eyes were closed.

"Bakugo has been knocked unconscious! The winner of the match, and Sports Festival, is Izuku Midoriya of Class 1A!" Midnight gave her call, and was met with silence.

Until it wasn't.

Izuku didn't hear the cheers or the screams, or Midnight asking if he was okay. He was busy grinning ear to ear, over the moon with joy at his victory. But soon his eyes fluttered shut, and he fell backwards, landing right next to his friend before passing out.

He. Was. Victorious!

(Hours later. Izuku's apartment.)

As the door to Izuku's apartment was opened, both he and Bakugo were met with darkness. Even as Izuku repeatedly flipped the switch, they never came on.

"Mom?! Are you home?!" He called out as the two entered the apartment, with Bakugo's palms sparkling to light their way. "Huh, she must've been called into work."

"No shit sherlock. If she was here, she'd be hugging us and crying her eyes out." Bakugo growled.

The awards ceremony has been hours prior, and the two had just returned from a party UA had thrown for all classes. Izuku got 1st place, Bakugo got 2nd, and Tokoyami got 3rd (as did Iida, but the speedster of 1A had vanished mysteriously without telling anyone, so he didn't get a medal). After that they had a party that lasted hours, and Mei would not stop congratulating them on their victory.

She also wouldn't let go of Izuku, but the greenette didn't mind.

"No need to be rude." Izuku grumbled as he maneuvered his way through the apartment.

"I'm not rude! I'm-…"

Izuku was confused when the blond didn't finish his sentence, and how eyes widened in surprise at hearing a thud. He turned, and stared down at where he assumed Bakugo was laying.

"Kacchan? Are you okay?"

"You're a very difficult person to contact, Izuku Midoriya."

Izuku froze, body slowly turning towards the darkness.

He wasn't alone…