Preemptive Notice: I'm gonna take a bit of time away after posting this to address potential grammar issues. Despite being raised in the US, writing in a proper form factor has always proven itself to be troublesome to me. And while I don't know if there's anyone who would be willing to become a beta-reader for Dragon Ball Evolution: My Hero Academia Version, but if you want to be a beta-reader, feel free to hit me up via PMs. A part of writing this fanfic is just because it's fun, but at the same time, if it's written like it's barely legible to begin with, it kinda loses all purpose.
-Part Tres: The Top 16: Honorable Duels and Subzero Temperatures-
Before the scheduled Top 16 fights, Kaminari and Mineta were planning something extra devious. They approached Momo and Jiro, who were hanging out in the cafeteria.
"Y'know, I think Aizawa-sensei said something about having you girls do some cheerleading on the side!" Mineta lied through his teeth. Momo was confused.
"Hmm? You sure about that, Mineta? I don't remember him ever saying that." She responded.
"Nah, he definitely said something about being in some cheerleading garb," Kaminari added on.
"Well, if you're saying it as well, I suppose we can-" she was going in, but then Goku interjected.
"No, I don't think Aizawa ever said anything about that! He just said give it our all and smiling for the cameras!" Goku spoke bluntly, Mineta and Kaminari were vigorously shaking their heads. Jirou glaring them with a death glare.
"Are you shitting me?! You lied to our faces just so you can have us in some skimpy cheerleading outfits?! Do you seriously have no dignity, you perverts?!" Jiro was outright furious at these schemers, her earjacks waving intimidatingly at the two, causing them to scram. She looks at Goku and sighs, her jacks going back to normal. "I figured there was something fishy going on. Thanks for having my back, Goku. The gall of those two... seriously!"
"I feel a bit ashamed for almost falling for their scheme, Jiro," Momo looks a bit sad, though her friend patted her on the back.
"Hey, no harm, no foul against you, Momo. To be completely honest, I was almost convinced, too. I guess if it were those two, a third alibi would be required," she snarked. "Though, how can we punish them...?"
"I dunno, maybe have them be the cheerleaders?" Goku suggested. Momo's sadness broke as she looked at him with a grin. Jiro loved the words that came out of his mouth.
"Goku, that would be amazing if you can get them to wear those tacky cheerleading outfits," Momo said, Jiro nodding in agreement. And soon, she had created the outfits, fitting both Mineta and Kaminari, including some pom-poms and shoes. The pervert had left behind a rather crude drawing of themselves high fiving each other while the girls were in cheerleading costumes, in addition to guessing based on how the boys wore their school uniforms. After a bit, she made the outfits and sent Goku off.
With the tail in between their tails, Mineta and Kaminari were soon accosted by Goku, holding two cheerleading outfits. In addition to the rather low-cutting attires, Momo made some black spandex underwear, matching white socks with green stripes and pink shoes.
"I know how you can get the girls to wear them. You should wear these yourselves!" He spoke, holding the outfits out. They were dead fits for the two perverts. Mineta was naturally suspicious.
"I dunno... You did ruin our little surprise," Mineta said, a bit of a spoilsport.
"What if Goku isn't joking with us? What if that'd actually get them to wear it? They wouldn't be as opposed to it if we wore it!" Kaminari got it. Goku nods, and while Mineta was still suspicious, he grabbed his cheerleading outfit.
"Alright, I'm trusting you here, Goku!" Mineta warned.
"Don't worry, it'll be a gas!" the Saiyan said, as he took his leave. Soon, he met up with the two girls near the cafeteria exit.
"Did they take the bait?" Momo asked. Goku simply grinned.
"Hook, line, and sinker," he replied, Jirou started to smirk.
"You're actually pretty awesome, Goku. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when it's just the two of them. I should let Aizawa-sensei know beforehand, so he won't punish you for it."
"Now that everyone's got their concessions and that our Students are well-fed and rested up, it'll take a bit longer, but our Stage is almost set! To entertain you, we present the cheerleade- WHAT IN TARTARUS' SWEAT PITS IS THAT?!" Present Mic spat out, while Aizawa's eyes are wide open. In front of them, two cheerleaders. Mineta and Kaminari. Their spandex shorts only go just past the thigh, and their undershirts are still too short to cover their midriffs. Of course, the rest of the attire was exactly as Mineta wanted: Skirt barely covering the upper legs, the overshirt cut dangerously high up with the intent of easy underboobs, and shin-high socks with some pink shoes. Present Mic howls in laughter, as much of the Pros started to mutter in the stands. In the student stands, much of the students were laughing. Bakugou was enjoying the prank, that disgusting grape deserved it. Midoriya felt a bit bad, though with how much of a pervert he knew Mineta was, he couldn't really defend his actions. The girls from both 1A and 1B were laughing especially hard since they were targeted for the prank, though Jirou's was easily the loudest, almost matching the manic cackles of Mic's laughter. The exception was Tsuyu, though like Midoriya, she couldn't defend him because he planned to do this to her. She'll chalk it up to karma.
"While I don't usually approve of these kinds of childish pranks, considering that those two in particular had been plotting something similar to the girls of the Hero Course classes thanks to a certain Kyoko Jirou telling me, I'll allow this logical ruse go to its conclusion," Aizawa said, smirking.
"Dang it, I knew Goku lied to us!" Mineta said, looking like a cute, furious grape. Kaminari, in the meanwhile, was sitting with a rain cloud over his head.
"I-I can't believe he did this to us, man...!" his friend said. The grape, however, wasn't perturbed by this Uno Reversal Card of a prank. He actually slapped the Electric student with his pom-pom, pumped up.
"We might have been tricked, but we'll bounce back and do a two-man cheerleading performance so awesome those girls will have to love us!" Mineta's words of wisdom went into Kaminari's head, he stood up and nods in agreement.
And then, they begin their impromptu cheerleading session. At first, nothing major happened. However, the two started to chant. UA. 1A. 1B, 1C, and as it continued on and on, the fires of cheering started to make their way up the stands! The two used their Quirks to set up some outrageous cheerleading routines, working in perfect sync! The invigoration eventually reached the Student Bleachers, and to their shock, they found themselves going along with the cheers! It eventually ended with a chant of "GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!" and a thunderous roar erupted.
"Well... Did you expect that, Shota? BECAUSE I SURE DIDN'T! MINETA AND KAMINARI PUT UP AN ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE THAT'S SURE TO STICK TO THE HISTORY BOOKS!" Mic belted out.
"I'll give them this, Yamada. They have guts and spirit, that's for sure," Aizawa concluded. "But it does put them on thin ice for a month. And that's the most leeway I'll give them."
"Speaking of leeway, I got confirmation that Midnight and Cementoss had finished up the arena for our FIRST YEAR TOURNEY! SINGLE ELIMINATION, BABY!~" The crowd had finally yelled in excitement. It can now begin, as the sixteen went up on-stage.
However, before Midnight drew the names for pairs...
"Midnight, if it won't of any bother, I'd like to withdraw myself from the tournament." Ojiro announced. The crowd gasped, as Midnight was taken aback.
"What?! No, you should stay in the tournament!" Mina protested.
"Yeah, I bet you're really good in the ring!" Goku added on. Ojiro, dejectedly smiling, shook his head gently.
"I'm sorry, guys, but I barely remembered anything between talking with a teammate and now. I hadn't earned my position here. If I enter the tournament as-is, it would be an inflicted wound on my pride. Besides, there's always next year," Ojiro bowed.
"D-damn... Such a manly way to resign..." Kirishima teared up.
"Actually, I should also resign my position, ma'am," Shoda piped up, going up front. "It's nice and all that I'm up here, but like Ojiro here, I don't remember a thing I did during the Cavalry Battle. It just doesn't feel right being on the stage along those who had earned their spots."
"I can't bear looking at this manliness anymore!" Kirishima started to bawl a bit.
"I must admit, this is a bit unprecedented... However, the dedication of you two warms the cockles of my heart!" Midnight chimed. "You two are now out! Though we still need two more... Itsuka Kendo? Is your group still around?"
"Yes, ma'am! However, we as a group decided to give our spots to Tetsutetsu's team!" Kendo declared.
"We'll get our chances eventually, and they definitely earned theirs!" The dark green haired girl close to Kendo, Setsuna Tokage, added on.
"They are the true fun guys!" A girl with a mushroom cap-like haircut, Kinoko Komori, spoke out.
"I quiver in anticipation to see how our friends do, as well..." A spooky ghost-like girl, Reiko Yanagi, said as she dangles her hands.
"Tetsutetsu, Ibara, good luck out there!" Juzo Honenuki and Yosetsu Awaze spoke together, the two stepping back with a bow to the two, who in turn stepped up to the stage.
"Excellent! With our 16 all gathered here, the Final Part of the First Years Sports Festival shall commence!" Midnight declares, a roaring wave of cheers signaling the beginning of the end.
Goku sits in the student bleachers, as he watches Midoriya's fight with Shinsou. He notices that, much the same way he felt when he replied to Shinsou, he froze. But not just that, he saw Shinsou command his opponent to ring himself out, with Ojiro nearby cursing himself quietly. And if it wasn't for One For All's powers, he would have walked off! Afterwards, he saw Midoriya take down the purple-haired kid with his judo throw after taking a sluggish hook to his cheek. Goku cheers on his classmate for defeating his opponent. The second match was much faster! Starting with Sero wrapping tape all around Todoroki and pushing him dangerously close to the ring, yet in that instant, a massive ice pillar almost completely encased Sero and the aspiring son of Endeavor ending the match by knockout. The ice was so horrifically close that it nearly froze Goku and the others in their seats! This gets his Saiyan blood pumping, but feeling he'll be needed soon, he excuses himself to the waiting room. After the quickness of Round 3 with Kaminari swarmed by Ibara's vine hairs nullifying his electricity, followed by a long ad disguised Round 4 with a thoroughly dissatisfied Iida and a smug Mei declaring her own disqualification, and a quick Round 5 involving Mina uppercutting Aoyama after melting his belt, his name is finally called, as he heads out to the ring. Upon seeing Momo at the opposite end of the ring, he's smiled brightly!
"On one side of the ring, it's the Monkey King, the kid with the power to go Plus Ultra. Give it up for the aspiring SOOOON GOKUUUU!" Mic introduced. "On the other side of the ring, the brilliantly beautiful woman, Creator of all, but most importantly, creator of her own destiny...! She's one of 1A's Recommended, the cream of the crop, she's MOMO YAOYOROZUUUUUUU!"
"Alright, finally a chance to get to see you fight, Momo!" Goku said, before he assumes his fighting stance.
"You are clever, Son Goku, but do not believe you've won just yet!" Momo says, assuming her fighting stance. Goku feels the energy from her, and he's getting excited!
"Are you two ready?" Midnight asks the two fighters. They nod. "Begin!"
The two approach each other, gingerly, but deliberately. Then, as suddenly as it started, the two yelled as they sprinted and started to throw hands. These strikes were happening at such a rapid pace, much of the Pros in the stands couldn't see them! It was as if they both were multi-armed, but the occasional block reminded them that, no, they aren't multi-armed. What little expressions they could see, it looks as if the two were enjoying their fight, but they were grimacing as they gave it their all to block each other's blows, their eyes locked to each other exclusively. Aizawa, thinking Momo would simply use her Quirk, was genuinely shocked to see her keep up with the kid. Goku's impressed, as he did see that Momo had indeed been able to keep up with his fighting style, even moreso when he felt his side in pain before an open palm strike landed its mark on his chest, skidding as he sees her making a metal bo to wield against him. The Saiyan gives her a smile, realizing that she's doing bojutsu moves!
"Impressive Shitō-ryū techniques, Momo! But I wasn't done warming up yet!" Goku said, as he now goes on the offensive, startling Momo slightly as she tried to block the attacks and counterattack with the bo, but Goku's strikes were too fast for her to block them all while dodging her counters, landing blows on Momo's body, causing her to be forced back back, ending with a strike against the bo, shattering it at the mid-point as she skids near the out-of-bounds boundary. Momo looks at Goku, before smiling with confidence while panting lightly.
"You are indeed impressive, Son Goku. Even the punches you landed on me didn't feel any worse than mosquito bites, yet I've been forced back here! However, I'm not out yet!" She yells, as she goes back on the offensive, as she's striking faster and stronger with the two bo halves as makeshift escrima sticks, incorporating more Shitō-ryū maneuvering, actually causing Goku a little bit of worry as he can't seem to find an opening in her whirlwind of an assault, he'll need to go further, until he's put on the floor again with a jab by the shortened bo to his liver, dazing him just enough that she can form her shield in seconds and unleash a shield bash to his head, the audience gasping! Despite a bit of blood hitting the ground from his mouth, Goku felt more alive than he had ever felt before! He chuckles wholeheartedly, as he slowly got up, cracking his neck and knuckles, while Momo and Midnight were shocked that he just won't stay down.
"I am genuinely impressed with your prowess, Momo! This battle's been so exciting!" He said with enthusiasm. Even with the bruises on his body and a tiny bit of blood on his mouth, he's still able to keep his stance, as if he was barely even injured! His right fist starts to get coated in a white aura, as he focuses his energy into it.
"Here it comes!" Goku announces, as he punches the air, the aura was sent towards her. It was aimed at her midriff.
Momo readied her shield, but it couldn't hold up as she felt it shatter like glass in her arm and the punch continued into a powerful blow, the force sending her flying through the air, gasping in surprise when she found herself hanging off the boundary!
"Ring out!" Goku runs over and gets Momo back up on the ring, as Midnight announces the end of their bout.
"Son Goku will move onto the Round Two! What a stunning performance by these Hero aspirants!" The crowd cheered, however there were a handful that booed Goku. The audience as a whole, however, applauded both 1A students for giving it their all. "What do you have to say to that, Aizawa?!"
"I will admit, Mic, that was not what I had anticipated," Aizawa spoke. "While it had looked like the two were viciously fighting, they were matched up near-evenly. Though it was obvious Son Goku had held back initially, I couldn't have anticipated Yaoyorozu actually pushing him that far back. While that shield bash looked like it had hurt and I would personally not recommend using that move as anything except a final resort, he got up as if it was a fly swat to his face."
"That was one powerful blow, Son Goku." Momo said. However, she looks up to the Saiyan with a smile as she was helped up. "I know that wasn't your full strength, but you still went at me with what you've got. Thank you for taking me seriously and I'm sorry I drew blood on you."
"Hey, it's fine! I've had so much fun fighting you and getting to see your prowess for myself! Plus, I think you and I were in the same bojutsu class, and that's not to say of those amazing Shitō-ryū techniques you've done!" Goku said, chuckling. Momo chuckles alongside him, as they make their way off the ring towards Recovery Girl's office, arm in arm.
"What is this? Despite all the intense action these two exerted in the ring, and that especially brutal air punch that send Momo out of the ring, not to mention that powerful shield bash that landed right on Goku's face, the two are walking, arm in arm! Is this mutual respect, or is it something deeper?" Present Mic was hamming up the situation while Aizawa would have pinched his nose in annoyance at his partner's commentary, much to the two fighters' embarrassments. However, Momo wasn't exactly going to prove them wrong at this moment. There was something about her opponent that was... endearing, beyond simple respect.
On a small television, Denkiken saw the entire match in his personal dojo. He was grinning ear to ear. "I was not wrong to have taught you, Yaoyorozu, and I saw you were able to integrate your Quirk into your Shitō-ryū. Though I must admit, I had forgotten just how much of a beast you were in a fight, Goku. You've both done well and I'm proud to call you two my finest pupils." He spoke softly, as he drank a shot of osake to celebrate.
Up in the stands, Mineta and Ashido cannot believe what they saw, the fight was brutal looking, yet they were able to walk off unassisted. Midoriya was also shocked, not only with Goku's power control, but Momo's impressive prowess despite being up against him! Round Seven, Hardness vs. Metal as it was dubbed by Mic, Goku didn't watch, as he met up with Uraraka and Midoriya after Recovery Girl healed up his bruises.
"What a match Yaoyorozu and you were in, Goku!" Midoriya said, with Uraraka nodding.
"Yeah, I think you must have brought out something in her if she was fighting well against you, Goku-kun!" Uraraka jovially pointed out. He chuckles in response.
"I had felt something in her, but she seemed to have realized it, too! She's really good, and her Shitō-ryū is seriously polished!" he says, satisfied with his battle against her.
"Though some crowd wasn't too happy, they thought you were toying with her," Midoriya mentioned. Goku looks in confusion.
"I think you two were fighting in earnest, I could tell by the glint in Momo's eye," Uraraka cuts in. "And I have a feeling I'll need to do much the same with Bakugou."
"Perhaps he'll go easy on you, because you're a girl?" Tenya asks, but is met with a glare from Goku.
"You never go easy in a fight, even if your opponent's a girl. Especially if they respect your strength and give it their all like Momo had," Goku said.
"Goku-kun's right. Besides, even if he was wrong, Bakugou's not the type to just go easy. He always gives it his best shot, and I will, too!" Uraraka says.
"Uraraka, Bakugou, your match is up next! Kirishima and Tetsutetsu fought to a draw!" Present Mic says on the intercom.
"I'll see you guys in the Finals!" Uraraka says, as she goes up, with the three boys wishing her good luck in the fight!
Goku came back to the Students' seats as he watches the fight between the two. As he watches, he's shocked to see how systemically Bakugou disassembled Uraraka on the stage. And yet, he's pleasantly surprised to see her fight to the bitter end, despite the uphill battle! However, he's annoyed to hear the crowd, some of the students and especially the Pro Heroes, booing Bakugou for "going hard on her". While the fight was going on, Uraraka simply locked eyes to Bakugou, as if she is saying "Ignore them, Bakugou". Midnight was rather annoyed with the booing, Aizawa was getting ticked off, and Mic rightly backed away.
"That's enough!" Aizawa yelled, his voice was furious. "You so-called 'Pros' are nothing short of disgusting. Had you not been so 'righteous', you would have noticed that Bakugou is taking his opponent seriously, making him work for his potential victory. You had years of experience, and yet you're lecturing him on going too hard?! That's how the world works, and you're blatantly ignoring all that in your sexist beliefs that she's 'fragile'. That behavior is nothing short of pathetic and it's entirely unacceptable."
"You tell them, Aizawa!" Goku yelled. He felt the same disgust his teacher felt, as the latter simply groaned and sat back down.
"You aren't as fragile as those cowards think you are, Uraraka," Bakugou said rather calmly, a rarity as he made her back off with another Explosion. "However, don't ever expect me to hold back!"
"I'll take that and you using my name as high honor coming from you, Bakugou," Uraraka replied, also eyeballing down her opponent. "And I don't expect you to hold back. Always give it your best!" Then, the Meteor Storm was ready, Uraraka stayed back, and then she put her plan into motion.
"WHAT A GAMBIT, FOLKS!" Mic belted out. "WILL SHE WIN IT ALL LIKE I'D LOVE TO SEE?!"
BOOM! A massive explosion destroyed the Meteor Storm, and despite the distraction, Uraraka still was blasted back by an explosion. Barely able to stand up, she simply glared at Bakugou, who goes back into a wide-standing stance, arms reddened by the stress of his attack. However, when she tried to run, the brown-haired gravity girl finally fell, exhaustion and nausea having overcome her.
"Ochaku Uraraka is unable to battle! Bakugou is the winner!" Midnight declared. The crowd was silent, aside from a few cheers. They wanted to boo Bakugou again, but hell hath no fury like a tired teacher.
Bakugou, in a rare show of respect, waits for the stretcher to come in and get her, before he walked out. No showboating, no roars of victory, just silent appreciation for his surprisingly tough opponent.
"WHAT A HOT END FOR URARAKA VS BAKUGOU! They had fought valiantly, but only one can go ahead! Tetsutetsu! Kirishima! Please head up to the main stage for a tiebreaker round!" Present Mic announced.
Goku and Midoriya, out of worry for their friend, rushed downstairs to see her, only to encounter Bakugou near the staircase up to the bleachers.
"Deku... You gave Uraraka those plans to defeat me, didn't you?! It couldn't have been that monkey..." Bakugou growled.
"What do you mean? I mean, I offered her my advice, but she declined! What you saw is her own ingenuity at work!" Midoriya replied back.
"Hmph, her plan didn't work. But I will give her this, she was actually pretty damn strong," Bakugou mused to himself, Goku nodding in agreement. "I had to go all out on her, or else she would have certainly eliminated me. It's all the better, since I get to go up against any of you two or that two-faced punk!" he says, before heading out.
The two boys head over to the waiting room, seeing Uraraka sitting on the chair. She looks at the two, with a slight morose expression. Surprisingly, the worst she got was a cheek patch.
"Uraraka-san! Are you doing okay?" Midoriya asked. She nods.
"I'm doing fine, Deku and Goku, really. I've still got my head on, and my goal remains steadfast. I won't lose again," Uraraka chants to herself.
"Losing is all part of the learning experience, Uraraka," Goku said. "At least, that's what my father tells me. The best thing you can do is to not look at this as a failure, but as a learning experience, first and foremost."
"Midoriya, Todoroki, your quarterfinal match is up! Kirishima won his tiebreaker against Tetsutetsu!" Mic announced, Uraraka snapped out of that silent spell as she looked at Midoriya.
"Sorry, Deku-kun! I wasted too much of your time! I'll cheer you on in the finals!" Uraraka said, as Midoriya goes to his match.
"I better get ready myself! You really were strong, Uraraka!" Goku said.
"Stop it, Goku-kun! You're embarrassing me!" Uraraka said semi-bratty, a small smile breaking out as she giggled. "I'll also cheer you on in the finals if you get that far!"
Goku nods and leaves, before she calls her father, her morose being broken by sadness and tears. Yet, the voice of her father wasn't one of shame, but pride, admiration for her resolve and desire, simply glad she's up and okay.
AN: A bit unrealistic to have Momo fight on par with Goku, though I had the Chi-chi v. Goku fight and a bit of Jackie Chun v. Tien Shinhan on the mind when I wrote it, just with more weapon violence. I'd imagine it's more that Goku's testing her out, seeing just how well she had trained. And for reasons, I'd love to joke that Mineta and Kaminari as cheerleaders had somehow channeled the Para Brothers and used the Para Para Boogie to get everyone to cheer along with them.