Hey Guys!
It's AzAlexZ back with a new chapter.
This is the third and final chapter of the Sports Festival Arc.
I hope you all have a good time reading this chapter as we dive into the climax of the tournament.
That's it from me! Please send any reviews, ideas, and constructive criticism my way!
Without further ado, let's get on with the new chapter, hope you all enjoy it! AzAlexZ out!
I DO NOT OWN POKEMON OR MY HERO ACADEMIA! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORS, STUDIOS, AND PUBLICATIONS!
Chapter 9: U.A. Sports Festival Final Event. The Fateful Battle!
The U.A. Sports Festival enters its climax as the semi-final round started with Satoshi besting Izuku in an exciting yet swift match. Serena and Katsuki will continue the fight for the right to meet Satoshi in the finals. How will their match go? How will the students of class 1-A close out their experience in the Sports Festival? With threats and villains in the shadows plotting and moving, how will such a prestigious event affect the students?
Let the chapter begin…
Following the events of the last chapter:
(With Satoshi in the stadium room)
"Either way, I'm going to win this, and I'll do my best in that process," Satoshi said as he spent the remainder of the break in the room, waiting for his match to begin.
(With Hunter J in Kamino Ward, Yokohama City)
Hunter J's casual demeanor changed to a serious one as she began to remember the events that happened all those years ago. Her life was great. She would pillage, break, rob, and steal to her heart's content. Beside her, every step of the way was the one she loved.
Everything was perfect, it was all magical.
Now she was, broken. Her mind is fixated on one thing and only one thing, revenge. Now she finally has a way to enact her revenge.
I'll bring them down, and with the creations given to me by Shigaraki's Master, I will finally be able to settle this straight.
(With Izuku in the waiting room)
The room was silent, so very silent, even though it was just Izuku. One would assume that the teen would be muttering about who knows what for God knows how long. Yet he didn't. Flipping through the pages in his notebook, he reviewed the detailed descriptions and observations of everyone in the book, including his next opponent.
The silence was broken as he sighed deeply. There was nothing, he had nothing, not a plan, not an idea for how to surprise his opponent. He had nothing against Satoshi, he couldn't process the notion of any plan working against his opponent when the reality was that Satoshi was faster, stronger, and more experienced than Izuku was.
After all, Izuku had only had One For All for 2 months.
No amount of planning or quick smarts will work against him. Izuku thought as he had his hands on his chin.
"I know that look," Izuku heard a voice as Fumikage had entered the room and walked by him.
"Hey Fumikage, what are you doing here?! How can I help you?" Izuku asked.
"Nothing except easing that mind of yours, I know how it despairs," Fumikage said.
"Have you been reading Lord of the Rings again?! There's no need to speak in riddles," Izuku sweat-dropped as Fumikage's stern expression turned a bit into embarrassment.
"No- I mean well yes, but that's beside the point," Fumikage responded, cursing himself as he had talked like another character in the book.
"Look, I faced Satoshi last match," Fumikage cleared his throat and continued talking, "he has been spotless this whole tournament, you saw how much I struggled against him, and he didn't even use his full power."
"Are you suggesting that he is holding back against you?" Izuku asked.
"On the contrary, he's only used that move against a villain. I am simply pointing out the fact that he knows how to hold back because he understands what it means to be a hero," Fumikage pointed out.
Izuku looked at him with a stern gaze, as if demanding an explanation for this conversation. Fumikage knew it too well as he observes Izuku's expression.
"Look, all I'm saying is, he'll give you no chance of winning without his full ability, whether you like it or not, so there's no need to dwell on it," Fumikage stated, "he is tactical, he is smart, and he knows how you fight. If you can find a way to use it against him, try it, that's your best shot."
"Sorry for taking your preparation time, I will depart from you, best of luck in your match." Fumikage waved at his classmate as he walked out the door.
The room was once again silent. Izuku frowned as the realization of the truth of Fumikage's words was beginning to dawn on him. With the level he had grasped with One For All now, he stood little to no chance of beating Satoshi.
But in his heart, there was a burning desire to win. Satoshi has never backed down, he charges bravely to save Kacchan against the sludge monster; he didn't cower against the Nomu at U.S.J; he didn't stop trying to help others, while still finding space to improve himself.
That is what is so great about him. Satoshi didn't stop at all.
And neither will I.
Izuku wanted to beat Satoshi. His mind was fixed on it. He wanted to win. He wanted to prove to his friend that he had grown. But more than anything, he wanted to show All Might that he was strong enough to tell the world "I am here", and that all of All Might's hopes aren't wasted on him.
(On the stadium field, 5 minutes later)
"Izuku against Satoshi huh," Tsuyu mused, "this seems like a tough match to call."
"Actually, in my opinion, this seems like quite the mismatch," Fumikage said nonchalantly as he walked back into his seat and crossed his arms, grabbing the attention of his friends.
"Why do you say that?" Denki asked curiously, slurping on his favorite juice.
"Throughout the tournament, it seems fair to say that Izuku has gotten by in close margins, while Satoshi has yet to show much weakness," Fumikage explained to Denki.
"If we look at the results of the 1-on-1 tournament, Izuku narrowly won both of his matches; while Satoshi has breezed through his matches against Denki and Fumikage with little difficulty," Minoru added.
"If you also consider that ever since school started, Satoshi has consistently gotten better results than Izuku, this does seem like a hard match for Izuku," Serena added.
"But Izuku has improved a lot during the 2 weeks of preparation. He's moving in ways that I did not think was possible for him to be moving in," Denki defended.
"Yes, but he was also training with Satoshi for most of those 2 weeks," Ochaco pointed out, "this means that most of, if not all of, Deku's improvements are either because of Satoshi or observed by Satoshi."
"But can't you say the same thing about Izuku knowing about Satoshi?" Minoru asked.
"Satoshi has been improving at a different level, although his peak has been a mystery," Shoto added, "either way, he may have seen more of Izuku's capabilities, thus the advantage of secrecy lies with Satoshi."
"But we've all seen what Satoshi can do, especially the other day when he went all out against All Might in that rescue training session," Denki retorted.
"Well, think about it this way Denki. Even if Izuku could anticipate Satoshi's moves, do you think he can match his speed?" Fumikage asked, "I can only think of Tenya being able to match his speed to be completely honest."
"I guess you're right…" Denki said as he began speculating the outcome of the next match.
"But even so, Ketchum managed to catch All Might off guard during the training session," Tenya added.
"He did? That's crazy…" Tsuyu croaked.
"Everything that we have seen of those two points to Satoshi being the faster, stronger, and the more versatile fighter," Shoto added.
"We don't yet know their full potential, but Satoshi at this point edges Izuku out. Izuku can still win if he finds an opening using his notes, his observational skills, and his quick thinking, but that's about all that he will have," Tsuyu stated with a blank expression.
"I don't think Ketchum will give him time to think of backup plans," Tenya said as he waved his hands excessively, "the only plans Midoriya will be able to use are the ones he comes up with now."
"Well, let's hope that Deku brings something effective to the table," Ochaco said as the crowd grew louder and louder, cheering sounds coming from all sides as they were excited.
"Alright, guys! Welcome to the first match of the third round! We have an exciting match coming up here between two students who have shown a lot of promise. The first student won both of his matches with impressive power while showing the tenacity of unbelievable proportions, from the Hero course, it's Izuku Midoriya! VERSUS! His opponent who won his matches with inhumane speed and a tactical mind, from the Hero course, it's Satoshi Ketchum!
"These two students have formed a tight bond over the last few weeks, they trained and prepared for this event together, I'm excited to see how they fare against each other in this match," Aizawa said.
"Well, Eraser Head has given us his two cents! Let's see how the students do!" Present Mic yelled at the top of his lungs, forcing Aizawa to cover his ears yet again, "let's start the match! Ready! Go!"
"Satoshi, I've been waiting for this moment," Izuku said as he got into battle position, green lightning crackling around his body, "let me show you how much I improved."
"I'm watching, alright!" Satoshi responded as a dark blue aura grew around his body enveloping him as he channeled his energy, "give me your best shot!"
Both students stood there, eyeing each other cautiously. Time stopped as they both held their breath for a brief moment. They waited for movement or any form of distraction. But none came. It was just the two of them, and what was seconds of evaluation felt like an eternity.
Izuku did not want to move first, he was slower, so moving toward his opponent can put him at a disadvantage, so he waited and waited. Before long, he felt movement as Satoshi had launched toward Izuku.
Satoshi is very similar to Kacchan in the sense that they have a pattern in fighting. Kacchan starts with a right hook, while Satoshi starts with a left one.
His observations proved fruitful as Satoshi moved quickly, picking up dust as he aimed to deliver a left hook at his opponent. The raven-haired teen was surprised to find that his initial attack was predicted by Izuku. With a quick sidestep, Izuku dodged the attack and grabbed hold of Satoshi, and attempted to flip him over.
The match could be over in an instant.
Though he was surprised, Satoshi had potential counters. Countering Izuku's movement, Satoshi used his right hand to conjure an orb, firing it down towards his opponent.
Izuku barely flinched as he fired off a wind blast that countered the attack, sending Satoshi and himself flying away from one another. As a result of this exchange, Satoshi was set free and was able to jump back, preparing for another attack.
Not bad Izuku, not bad at all.
"Would you look at that! Ketchum turned the situation around even when his opponent had countered his move. This exchange happened within seconds, and both students have delivered quite the stellar start of a match for us." Present Mic yelled.
"This is not just a battle of fists and power, but also an exchange of wit and tactical brilliance," Aizawa commented, "the familiarity between these two has complicated their match more than just aggressive exchanges."
Izuku had recovered from the exchange, as did Satoshi, and they looked at each other with a confident grin on their faces.
Satoshi fired an Aura sphere toward Izuku. it barreled down the field as Izuku responded by jumping over it effortlessly. Landing on the ground shortly after, he began to run towards Satoshi.
Satoshi can detect people even though they look different and even when his vision is obstructed, perhaps attacking his eyes is the way to go. Izuku thought as he aimed an attack at Satoshi's abdomen.
Satoshi took the bait and countered, sending a fist forward to meet Izuku, but Izuku retracted his arm immediately and aimed a punch at Satoshi's face. The punch was clean and knocked Satoshi back.
"Wow, aiming for the face?" Low blow. Satoshi grimaced as he clutched his forehead momentarily, feeling a rather unpleasant sting.
Izuku jumped back and continued the attack. In his mind, Izuku had removed an advantage that Satoshi had. He create a gale-force wind that traveled towards Satoshi. Firing a wave of Aura in response, the attacks collided and erupted into an explosion, blinding the whole field.
I got you right where I wanted. Izuku thought as he generated more wind attacks and sent them flying into the cloud of smoke, striking Satoshi. The Aura user felt the incoming strikes as his mind clicked, realizing the intent of Izuku's previous attack on his face.
Nice effort, too bad you used a plan without understanding how my ability works.
As the dust settled, Izuku's confidence lessened when he saw Satoshi emerge from the exchange unscathed, and with a barrier in front of him, blocking all of his attacks.
"Midoriya landed a good few combos, but even when he takes initiative and attacks, Ketchum's defense remains unmoved." Present Mic hollered.
Izuku grits his teeth as Satoshi smirked.
"Your plan was great Izuku, I have to commend it," Satoshi stated, "unfortunate though that you formulated a counter to my ability without understanding it fully."
So his eyes aren't what detects people?! Damn it, this guy is a walking cheat code. Izuku thought.
"Alright then, what do you say we keep this going?!" Satoshi asked as he launched himself toward Izuku, throwing a punch at him. Izuku responded in kind as the two teens charged into each other with enough force to create a gust of whirlwind.
As they both were pushed back, Izuku had to pause himself mentally.
He was running out of ideas, and his hands were starting to ache from his injuries vs Shoto.
I have to end this quickly.
"Satoshi, I'm coming at you with everything I got," Izuku said as he powered up, edging just above the 5% threshold, "give me your best."
Satoshi narrowed his eyes as he sensed a surplus of energy from Izuku, similar to when they were training a few weeks ago.
He's powering above his limit again, how reckless is this guy?!
Satoshi shook his head as he channeled more power into his fists. He prepared his attack, but Izuku's voice came to him and startled him.
"I'm coming at you with my best, aren't you going to do the same?" Izuku asked as he began running towards Satoshi, "do I have to go through the same conversation I had with Shoto?! Give me your best, Satoshi!"
Satoshi studied his expression. There was no hesitation, there was no doubt. Izuku wanted a fight, he wanted to win, and he wanted to do it with his best.
Satoshi's sighed and relaxed his posture, he began channeling more power into his body, and then, he glowed a light-blue color. He took a deep breath and then zoomed across the field, meeting Izuku in the middle.
It was like slow motion. Izuku and Satoshi clashing. Time felt slower.
Izuku was faster than he had ever been, he had improved drastically since the day when All Might chose him to be his successor. He wanted to make All Might proud, and he wanted to give Satoshi a good fight.
Undeniably, he did.
Satoshi wore the brightest smile on his face as he continued moving forward.
Izuku, you're growing, it's astonishing and scary. You've managed to catch up with the class, and you've earned your spot in the top 4. I am proud to be your friend, and I am happy to be able to fight you here.
Izuku saw the grin on his friend's face and showed one of his own.
Thanks for being there for me. You, All Might, mom, Ochaco, and everyone else who believed in me. I am beyond happy to be here. And I owe it to you all, that's why I am so proud to be here, fighting to be the best.
But I am here to win it all. They both thought as they edged forward, challenging each other through the deliverance of their respective final blows.
In the end, Satoshi managed to outmaneuver Izuku and disrupt his flow. Using his strength and the force that Izuku exerted, Satoshi managed to negate Izuku's movement. Turning his force against him, Satoshi guided Izuku with adequate force, sending him flying towards the sidelines.
"Izuku Midoriya is out of bounds, Satoshi Ketchum wins and advances to the final round!" Midnight declared and the crowd erupted.
The first finalist has been decided.
With his hands on his knees in a slouched position, Izuku was sweating and panting. The world was both silent and noisy as the crowd around him amidst all the chaos, he heard footsteps.
Extending a hand, Satoshi greeted Izuku with a warm smile. Izuku looked at the hand that was held out towards him and grinned, taking the gesture and returning the sentiment.
"Ladies and Gentlemen put your hands together for Izuku Midoriya and Satoshi Ketchum for bringing us such a wonderful match! Ketchum advances onward, awaiting the winner between Serena Yvonne and Katsuki Bakugo, which will start momentarily."
(With Serena in the preparation room)
The honey-blonde was watching the previous match conclude on the TV as it shows Satoshi and Izuku walking back into the stadium.
Satoshi is in the finals now, huh. He certainly made good on his part of the promise. Serena thought as she was reflecting on her performance in the tournament.
It's been a good tournament, I think my performance has been great, and I made it into the top 4.
Serena stretched out and then stared into space. Her thoughts drifted into the past as she remembered all the times she would train with Satoshi.
(Flashback)
(5 years ago)
"Satoshi, let's go use our quirks outside! We have the whole afternoon!" Serena hollered as she skipped out eagerly into the backyard of her parent's summer house.
"Coming! Jeez. What's she so excited about?!" Satoshi muttered as he followed his friend to the backyard, there were lawn chairs and tables out there, as the backyard had a very gathering-focused identity.
"Let's use our quirks and be strong!" Serena chanted as she conjured a small fireball in her palm.
"It's not fun, you always get the better of me," Satoshi whined as Serena turned around and frowned. Annoyed at her friend, she threw the little fireball at him, catching him by surprise as it hit him in the face.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Satoshi yelled as he had his hands on his face in response to the sudden attack.
"To get you out of the bad train of thought. Do you want to beat me? You gotta train harder!" Serena responded as her friend lowered his head in shame.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Satoshi muttered.
(4 years ago)
"Serena dear, are you going at it with the training again?" Saki, Serena's mother asked as the honey-blonde conjured a bubble and air projectiles at the same time, repeatedly.
Over the years, this was the way that she trained, honing the power and accuracy of her abilities.
"Are you resting well?" Saki asked, "don't overwork yourself."
"I can't afford not to. Satoshi is working hard, I owe it to him, and to myself, to work harder than ever," Serena replied.
"Well, just make sure you take care of yourself first," Saki reminded
"Yes, mom!" Serena faked an annoyed tone as she embraced her mother and went out to continue her training session.
(3 years ago)
"let's end the fight!" Serena hollered as she created an air stream and fired it at Satoshi, who charged at her with a punch. The power of the air jettisoned towards the raven-haired teen and blasted him back.
Satoshi crashed into a tree and landed on the ground with a thud.
"That… hurt" Satoshi grimaced as he placed his palms on his back, holding himself up, "you're not holding back a bit huh?"
"Of course not, I'm trying to move forward as fast as possible," Serena informed her childhood friend, "you should too if you want to catch up with me."
(19 months ago)
"LET'S GOOO! TAKE THIS SERENA!" Satoshi hollered as he unleashed a blue orb full of chaotic energy Serena.
The orb traveled quickly as it impacted a barrier of pure air energy created by Serena. It struggled against the barrier, but in no time, it formed a small crack in it, breaking the barrier. The girl had to put up another barrier and was just in time as it blocked the orb from hitting the girl, but the force was strong and caused her to trip.
"Owww!" the girl yelled as she clutched her stomach.
"Serena!"Satoshi yelled as he ran to her, he took a look at her and placed his hand on her. Blue light engulfed his hand, healing her wound.
"Are you alright Serena?" the teen asked in a concerned manner.
"Yes, I'm fine, Satoshi." Serena said as she stood up, "that was powerful, and it was only one orb. It seems you have caught up with me in terms of power."
"Finally, about time though." Satoshi exclaimed, "you've always had the upper hand in the defense on me."
"Well, don't get comfortable," Serena said, "I'll make sure to surpass you soon."
(Flashback Ends)
He passed me with so many years of hard work, and he's one of the best in our class. Serena thought.
I have to do my best too!
Serena took a deep breath as she departed from the preparation room, she wore a determined look as her mind was focused on the next match.
(A few moments later)
"Congrats Satoshi! That was a very good match you had out there!" Ochaco beamed as the raven-haired teen returned to the stands.
She was given no response as Satoshi was deep in thought.
Ochaco tapped his shoulder gently, trying to capture his attention. He jerked his head quickly towards the brunette, startling her as her eyes enlarged at the sudden movement.
"I'm sorry Ochaco, did you say something?" Satoshi apologized.
"Oh it's nothing, just wanted to say a good job. All good," Ochaco smiled
"Right, thanks Ochaco," Satoshi replied as he greeted the rest of his friends.
"How do you feel about being in the finals?" Denki asked.
"Great, I get to show off my abilities to everyone watching, as well as my parents," Satoshi responded.
"That's good, are they here in person?" Ochaco asked.
"Yes, they are, I hope that I have put on a good show for them," Satoshi said.
"You're in the finals of the event, I'd be hard-pressed to think of any better ways to 'put on a good show' for your parents, Ketchum," Tenya stated, "by the way, Yvonne has left to prepare for her match, she told us to say 'congrats' to your win."
"I do hope she does well in her match," Ochaco added.
"Yeah, same…" Satoshi trailed as he recalled his earlier conversation with Katsuki and then with Serena.
You got this Serena, you can beat him.
"Alright folks, we got two more matches to go! The last battle of the third round is upon us! Like the first match, these two students show a lot of promise as they have won their battles with a fiery passion! On one side, is a student who has used all sorts of abilities to keep her opponents at a distance. She wields elemental power of envious proportions, from the Hero Course, it's Serena Yvonne! VERSUS! Her opponent who is as ruthless as he is excellent, his explosive personality matches his prowess as he blasts his opposition with unrelenting aggression! From the Hero Course, It's Katsuki Bakugo!"
"This is an interesting match, whoever can close the distance more effectively will be the one with an edge," Aizawa commented.
"Eraser Head is giving us all the juicy intel on these promising students and how they should fight, thanks, guess we'll have to keep that in mind!"
Satoshi, Izuku, Shoto, and Katsuki. They are all brilliant in their different ways, and they all worked hard to get to where they were today. They have one goal, and they work towards it, and that is, they want to be the best they can be.
So do I. I also want to soar above them and become stronger myself.
Serena focused her mind on her opponent, who looked at her with an uninterested gaze.
"Hey honey-blonde, try to at least be a decent challenge before I advance to the final and beat up your precious lover boy," Katsuki taunted.
"How about keeping your focus on the here and now? You might not even get through me," Serena retorted as she shot him a glare.
"Tch, we'll see how this goes then," Katsuki smirked.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?! Let's get this match started! READY! GO!"
Serena started the match by conjuring a large bolt of electricity and sent them barreling down the field. The saturated yellow color streamed across the field, aiming for a quick hit onto its target.
Serena wasn't underestimating her opponent. She knew how fast Katsuki could be, but she wanted to see how he would react to her attacks.
As if responding to her expectations, Katsuki blasted Serena's electric attack away and propelled himself toward his opponent, blasting her with a strong explosive that sent her flying away.
Recuperating quickly, Serena blew him away with a strong air stream attack.
She then rushed towards him and released a close-distance fire attack that caught him by surprise, Katsuki was unable to fire an explosion on time was scorched by the intense heat.
Serena saw him get up again, and she moved on to her next plan, using air to lift herself as she flew up in the air.
Tch, she's taking to the air again. It's too bad I can do that too. Katsuki thought as he also propelled himself into the air, meeting his opponent.
"Would you look at that! Both Bakugo and Yvonne have decided to take this battle into the air. It is an aerial battle! I'm super excited and who knows how this fight will go on!"
"Using their quirks to give themselves an advantage, this is certainly evolved into an interesting match," Aizawa commented.
"Hey Midnight, what are the rules on the aerial battle?" Present Mic asked.
"As long as they don't land on the ground in the out-of-bounds area, they are free to use the skies to their liking," Midnight answered quickly.
"Well, it looks like we have the approval of our beloved Midnight, let's see how the two students continue to conduct this match!"
(With Izuku)
Izuku's head was lower than it was compared to when Satoshi offered his handshake.
Sure, he gave it his all in the fight. He was happy for Satoshi for making it to the finals. They even promised each other that there would be no hard feelings regardless of the result.
Still, I would have liked to win. Izuku sighed as he was walking through the audience section.
"Hey, that was a good match, Young Midoriya."
Izuku did not need to lift his head to know that it was All Might who was walking toward him. The towering figure approached him and gave him a faint smile as the No.1 Hero pulled the teen into a tight embrace.
"You have done well, you have improved so much over the last month. I am so proud of you, and I am very happy to see you have found a proper rival," All Might said as the teen in front of him had tears in his eyes.
"Young Midoriya?"
"All Might, I wanted to do what you told me to do, I wanted to tell the world that "I am here" like you did. But now I lost," Izuku said, "even though my friend won, I am happy for him, but I also wanted to win."
All Might walked towards Izuku and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Young Midoriya, it's okay to be sad when faced with the prospect of defeat," All Might encouraged, "it is equally important to be reflective on that experience. But, you are allowed to feel proud about your progress, and you finished in the top 4 of the tournament, that is no easy feat."
Izuku wiped his tears and gave All Might a slightly more positive expression, nodding his head. All Might saw determination and a desire to improve from Izuku's eyes
"Now that's what I'm talking about! For now, I think it would be a good idea for you to go watch the rest of the matches with your classmates."
You could do away with all that crying while you're at it too, Young one.
(On the battlefield)
Serena zoomed around the battlefield as she tried to find an opening on her opponent.
Let's try an electric blast first. Serena thought as she fired a high voltage current towards Katsuki, it traveled quickly towards the field and hit him. She took this opportunity and propelled towards him, but as she got close, she got negated by an explosion from Katsuki that pushed her back.
Ow! She grimaced as she eyed her opponent, who looked at her with a stern expression.
"HEY! Come at me with something bigger than that, damn it!" Katsuki yelled.
That didn't work, how about a hot air current?! Serena fired a blast of air and combined it with fire to create a hot air current. Katsuki reacted quickly and simply flew away, and threw an explosive shot toward Serena.
The attack hit Serena and caused her to lose her balance as the impact stopped her ability to stay airborne. As she dropped, Katsuki used this chance to grab her.
"GO TO HELL!" Katsuki yelled as he released his opponent, using the momentum to throw her out of the battlefield.
Serena flipped through the air like a speeding bullet, and she was running out of time.
I can't think. I don't have the time, I gotta do something now! She thought as she created a barrier of air that caught her, though it was more of her crashing into it than otherwise. Nevertheless, it did its job as she was able to jump back onto the ground, recovering quickly. Katsuki also landed on the ground, breathing heavily as he was beginning to get tired from the airborne fight.
"Not bad huh, Honey-blonde!" Katsuki hollered with a maniacal laugh as he launched himself quickly towards his opposition, "but don't go looking down on me just yet."
Alright, here he comes! Serena thought.
"STUN GRENADE!" Katsuki created a flash of light that explodes as he edges closer to Serena, Serena closed her eyes and flipped across him, dodging the incoming attack, she turned in the air she conjured electricity on her fists. She landed a punch on Katsuki, knocking him back. She then jumped back and landed on the field, creating a safe distance between her and Katsuki.
"Looks like this fight is officially back on the ground! Both sides have demonstrated great stamina and power in the air, so who will we see come on top on the ground?!" Present Mic's voice echoed loudly through the stadium as the audience shared his sentiment.
"Sorry, I'm late guys!" Izuku called out as he approached his friends, "who's winning?"
"They're both neck and neck, though I have to say, you missed a sweet airborne fight between the two," Denki answered, but grimaced as he felt an elbow to his shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?" Denki demanded as he turned to the culprit, Satoshi.
The raven-haired teen pointed at Izuku, and Denki turned to look at his face, and he noticed a bit of red, the kind after one was crying. He face-palmed as the green-haired teen's face was fixed on the battlefield.
"They're both giving their all, Deku. That's why it's a great match to watch," Ochaco said as she gestured for her friend to sit on the seat next to her.
Izuku smiled as he sat down, wearing a stern look on his face as his attention was firmly on the match.
"Serena's a good match for Kacchan huh?" Izuku asked.
"Yvonne has sufficient firepower to match him," Tenya answered, "but Bakugo seems to be faster as far as I'm observing."
"We also know from Ochaco's match that he has superb reflexes, rivaling Satoshi and Shoto's, so it must be hard for her to sneak up on him," Denki commented.
"Yet…she managed to get in a sneak attack," Satoshi said, "if she can manage to create enough chaos on the field, similar to how Ochaco did, then she can win. Unless she has a secret move that I haven't seen before, I don't know if she has anything that can overwhelm him completely."
"Come at me!" Katsuki yelled as he kicked Serena in the stomach, forcing Serena back. He continued to test her defenses as he threw blast after blast after the explosion, but Serena managed to create a barrier of air that was thick enough to stop the explosions.
"I said…COME AT ME!" Katsuki yelled as he shot toward Serena, he planted his hands into her face, or rather, that was his plan, but Serena dodged the attack and hit him with an electric shock. She then conjured electricity on her fights and kicked Katsuki in the face, sending him flying back.
"For someone who wants me to "come at you", you seem very eager to take your advice," Serena stated coldly, "you are such a narcissist."
"I win," Serena yelled loudly as she froze him in ice and punched him in the face.
"Bakugo is trapped in an icy prison by Yvonne, she won her last match like this too. Will this be the end for him?" Present Mic hollered.
"Katsuki Bakugo, can you still move?" Midnight asked.
As if I would lose here! I will beat this nerd, and ascend to the top! Katsuki thought. A moment passed before a faint noise could be heard by the people around Katsuki. The ice that trapped him began to crumble as he used his explosions to forcibly break himself out of the ice.
"Of course, I can still move, the damn blonde-hair thought she had me," Katsuki responded, "but I gotta hand it to her, she was super close."
"Looks like this match isn't over just yet! Bakugo has gotten himself out of an icy situation." Present Mic yelled.
"Please stop it with the puns!" Aizawa facepalmed as the crowd joined him in that sentiment, groaning and whining at Present Mic.
Serena was unfazed at the development of the match, she conjured a barrage of fireballs and hurled them toward Katsuki, who blasted it with a flurry of explosions.
"Alright, I'm tired of this exchange of cheap attacks," Serena yelled, "this is my finishing move, you got something big enough to fight it?"
"Do your worst! Come at me with your best shot!" Katsuki retorted.
Katsuki propelled himself in a spiral motion. He got faster, the oxygen acting as fuel to build up his attack, engulfing him in a twister-like storm that traveled towards Serena.
"I wonder, huh?! You haven't seen this before! I call it Scorching Stream!" Serena smirked as she conjured a blast of fire and a blast of water that merged and formed a spiraling beam that crackled with energy. It grew in size that the previous attacks couldn't get to, expanding into a huge beam.
"HOWITZER IMPACT!" Katsuki released all of his energy and it collided with Serena's blast. The aftermath of the blast was an explosion that covered the whole field, obstructing all vision.
When all is revealed, Serena was out of bounds, while Katsuki was barely still in the field
"Serena Yvonne is out of bounds, Katsuki Bakugo wins and advances to the final round!" Midnight declared.
You were so close Serena, that was a good match. Satoshi sighed as he put his head in his hands. He felt a pair of hands resting on his shoulders as he turns around to look at Izuku and Tenya.
"Hey, she did great right?" Tenya asked.
"Yeah, she did. So there's no need to be unhappy," Izuku added.
Satoshi blinked at his friends.
"Guys, I'm not unhappy. It was a good match, and Katsuki was a worthy opponent for Serena," Satoshi flashed a big smile as he stood up and departed from the stadium stands.
"I hope he's going to be alright," Denki said.
"He'll be fine, her loss was kind of tough, but I think Satoshi should be happy that she put up a good fight, and I think she would be happy too," Ochaco stated.
(With Serena)
I lost. I was so close, but I still lost.
The aspiring hero sighed as she walked down the halls of the stadium.
"Serena, hey!"
Serena turned around to see Satoshi running quickly towards her. She smiled at his presence as she waved, putting on the biggest smile that she could.
"Hey, I'm back Satoshi," Serena greeted, "I did my best."
Satoshi stopped just a bit before her and studied her expression.
"You did great Serena. I am so proud of you. You did a good job," Satoshi complimented as he pulled her into a tight hug, Serena smiled softly as she clung to her boyfriend, reciprocating the embrace.
"You know. I… wanted to win. So, so badly…" She said quietly.
"I know that," Satoshi replied.
"I wanted to make everyone proud of my accomplishments and see how much I've grown."
"I know that, and you have made people proud."
"Then…why does it feel so bad…"
Serena continued to hold onto Satoshi tightly as she struggled to process her loss. The raven-haired teen moved his fingers through her hair and brushed gently, doing his best to soothe her spirits.
"It's alright, Serena. It's going to be alright."
(On the stadium field, 15 minutes)
"We're finally at the final match, the climax of the tournament. You all are excited, I can feel the energy from here! Let's waste no time and introduce our students! One of them went through his opponents with explosive precision and calculated strategy, from the Hero Course, it's Katsuki Bakugo! VERSUS! The other one dominated every single match with his superior speed and his adaptive abilities, also from the Hero Course, it's Satoshi Ketchum!"
"I look forward to beating you down nerd," Katsuki taunted as his palms crackled with explosive sparks.
"You can try Katsuki, but you haven't beaten me yet. So I wouldn't count on it." Satoshi retorted coldly as he channeled energy into his body.
"Gen, it's the final battle. Let's hope Satoshi gives us a good one!" Hanako beamed.
"Oh I'm sure he will, he hasn't disappointed us yet. Regardless of his results in this match, I am happy with his results and his performance," Gen stared.
"So am I, he has done very well. So let's just cheer for our boy!" Hanako said as she shifted her attention to the battlefield.
"You read my mind, honey," Gen smiled.
"For the last time this tournament, we're looking for an exciting and explosive match! Without further ado! READY! GO!" Present Mic hollered as the final match of the tournament began.
Satoshi started by unleashing a powerful Aura orb. It zoomed across the stadium, heading swiftly towards Katsuki. The blonde-haired teen reacted equally as fast, countering the attack with his explosions. Using the cover of the smoke, Katsuki started his attack by furiously sending explosions toward Satoshi.
The explosions collided into a resisting surface and expanded into a smoke cloud. When the smoke disappeared, Satoshi remained unscathed as a barrier of light-blue hue stood between him and Katsuki, similar to how Serena defended herself in the previous match.
"Hey, are you going to keep defending like a little scaredy-cat, or are you planning on attacking me sometime in the next year?!" Katsuki taunted.
"You mean after your pathetic explosions bounced off my barrier? I'm good. I think I'm going to stick to defense for now," Satoshi retorted with an unfazed expression.
"Don't look down on me, damn it," Katsuki yelled as he launched himself towards Satoshi.
Wanting to destroy the grin on his opponent's face, Katsuki pressed his palm into Satoshi, but the former wasn't fast enough as Satoshi dodged it in the nick of time and delivered a strong punch to Katsuki's face.
Satoshi then grabbed the blonde teen and kneed him in the abdomen, finishing this combination by throwing Katsuki onto the ground. The blonde teen landed on the ground with a loud thud as Satoshi jumped back, creating a safe distance between him and his opponent.
"An impressive set of attacks from both sides, though it seems like Ketchum has the upper hand for the time being, how will Bakugo retaliate?" Present Mic commented.
Katsuki got up immediately and launched himself at Satoshi again, but this time with greater speed.
He wasn't about to fall behind this damn extra. Not this time. Not like this.
Satoshi tried to dodge Katsuki's attack like he did last time, but this time he was caught in a preemptive explosion. With quick reflexes, he flipped over Katsuki, bypassing the impact of the explosion completely.
"Come on, is this the best you can do?!" Satoshi taunted as he jumped away.
"Do you take me for a fool, you idiot?" Katsuki scoffed, "did you think I would fall for the same trick a second time? Don't underestimate me you damn loser."
"Of course, I take you for a fool, you're the biggest one out here," Satoshi retorted as he threw a blue sphere at Katsuki, who countered it by unleashing another devastating explosive barrage.
"Thanks for letting me use your strategy though. I have to admit, it's quite handy to use," Satoshi cried out as he emerged out of the cloud of smoke with an Aura sphere in his hands as he detonated the point-blank attack on Katsuki, sending him flying.
However, Katsuki wasn't out of tricks.
Throwing a Stun Grenade toward Satoshi, he caught the raven-haired teen off guard and forcibly willed Satoshi into the impact zone. Satoshi was pushed back as Katsuki was pushed back from the Aura orb.
Both Katsuki and Satoshi landed on the ground with a loud thud.
"Both students are relentless in their attacks. They both made successful hits as the match is heating up very quickly," Present Mic hollered.
"Both students have learned from their tricks as classmates and as competitors in this event, they are using their experiences to find ways to outsmart each other," Aizawa commented.
"Now the question is, who will emerge on top at the end of it all?! Who knows. They have both displayed great battle prowess, this is too exciting!" Present Mic added with great enthusiasm.
Perhaps too much for Aizawa's liking as he clutched his ears in frustration.
Katsuki initiated the attack once again as he propelled himself toward his opposition, furiously tagging his opponent as he ignited explosion after explosion. Satoshi read Katsuki's movement and dodged all of his attacks, trying his best to keep himself out of harm's way as the smoke created by Katsuki's explosions only made the raven-haired teen's time easier.
Using his Aura sense, he could sense Katsuki's movement perfectly. With the cover of the smoke, he could do whatever he wanted.
Satoshi charged up his fist as he drove them into Katsuki who landed on the ground.
Katsuki was as angry as he was in pain, groaning and wincing at the attack thrown at him.
As much as I hate to admit it, the damn nerd is not a simpleton, he knows how to defend against my direct explosions. I have to be more sneaky. Katsuki thought as he propelled again towards Satoshi, who expected a frontal attack.
Katsuki changed his tactic at the very end, using an explosion to change his course as his sudden movement caught Satoshi off guard. Using this momentum, Katsuki picked up the raven-haired teen and hurled him towards the ground. The Blonde teen smirked as his fake-out move was more than successful.
"Not bad, I guess you were able to do better than earlier after all," Satoshi grinned as he was stood up, barely fazed by the sneaky attack.
"Tch, keep talking smack loser, let's see how that works out for you in the end!" Katsuki yelled as he propelled toward Satoshi, unleashing a huge barrage of explosions toward Satoshi.
"Same tactic again?! Really? How utterly predictable. Can't you do something new here?" Satoshi said as he dodged the blasts perfectly.
His words came to bite him quickly as Satoshi felt a fist connect with his face. Luckily for him, Satoshi was in reach of his opponent as he unleashed an Aura orb that collided with Katsuki, causing an explosion that blew both of them away from each other.
Satoshi quickly fired off another Aura orb as Katsuki responded by detonating a Stun Grenade. Both attacks collided with the other, resulting in yet another stalemate between the two contestants.
"Hey, you better not be holding back on me! I want to beat your ass you fair and square, just like how I beat your precious girlfriend," Katsuki taunted Satoshi as he wore a maniacal expression, "I can't consider this a satisfying win unless I ascend to higher heights than you and that damn nerd Deku. Come at me with the energy that you had against him, and I'll beat you here and now."
"You talk too much, but since you asked so nicely, I'll oblige with your wish. Game time is over, time for me to end this now!" Satoshi yelled as his body become engulfed with light blue color, similar to when Satoshi fought Izuku. Focusing all his aura on his arms and legs, Satoshi charged forward.
"Come and meet your maker then you damn nerd! HOWITZER IMPACT!" Katsuki yelled as he once again propelled himself in a spiral formation. He gathered enough momentum and energy, soaring towards Satoshi.
I already saw this move when you used it against Serena, I had some time to think and I thought of a way to counter it. Satoshi thought
When he got close enough to Satoshi, he released all the explosive energy as it collided with Satoshi. The whole field was covered with thick smoke due to the impact of the moves, blowing back everything, and everyone, even the students in the stands had to grab onto their chairs to avoid being blown away.
After the smoke dissipated, Satoshi was seen behind Katsuki. With the speed he gained from his abilities, he was able to dodge the powerful attack. In one final swoop, Satoshi grabbed Katsuki and punched him in the face, knocking him out as he hurled him out of the field.
With that, the raven-haired teen was standing in the field while Katsuki was on the ground and out of bounds.
"Katsuki Bakugo is out of commission and out of bounds, Satoshi Ketchum is the winner of the 1-on-1 Tournament!" Midnight declared as the crowd cheered loudly for the spectacular match.
"Looks like our winner has been decided, what a huge honor this has been for yours truly! let's take a quick moment to go over the moments of this tournament before we conclude the tournament with the medal award ceremony for the top 4 placements in 30 minutes!"
"Our son did it!" Hanako cheered happily and loudly, "Gen, he did it."
"I am beyond proud of him! We should celebrate tonight, we will need to prepare something big for him later tonight," Gen echoed as he waved his arms highly as Satoshi departed from the stadium.
"Yes, after the event, I will go prepare his favorite food," Hanako said, "this is going to be a wonderful evening, I just know it!"
Satoshi took one look at the crowd, scanning for his parents, he found them and waved, giving them a trademark smile. Gen and Hanako looked on proudly as the raven-haired teen disappeared into the stadium.
"I also need to contact the village elders, they would love to see the progress he made in the last few years," Gen stated.
"It's been that long huh?" Hanako asked, "do you think he's ready?"
"He's not ready yet, but before that. I need to make a few phone calls to the All Might's Agency," Gen wondered, "if I can apply to the agency, then perhaps I can ask All might for permission to keep an eye for Satoshi."
(With the Pro Heroes currently ready to patrol the stadium grounds)
"Wow, I knew that Ketchum was strong, but that Bakugo kid sure as hell packs a punch, those were some explosive abilities," Kamui Woods stated nonchalantly as he had a hand on his chin.
"This whole 1-A class is nuts, I'm honestly scared for the number of invitations they are going to get from Pro Heroes for their internships, particularly the trio of Ketchum, Todoroki, and Bakugo," Mt Lady added as the other Pro Heroes looked at her with pleading expressions, as if demanding an explanation, "yes, I know Shoto didn't make it into the top 4, but the Todoroki name does carry quite a lot of benefits."
"I can't wait to see them grow stronger. Ketchum has my eye, but I've also taken interest in another student," Death Arms said as they felt footsteps incoming.
"I too have taken interest in a student," Ryukyu said, "perhaps they will want to intern under my agency."
"Looks like we have to cut the chatter, my fellow Heroes," Gang Orca pointed out, "we should separate and ensure the safety of the students."
The heroes did just that as they spread throughout their area of patrol, carefully navigating through the stadium as they had a job to do.
(20 minutes later)
"Satoshi!" The group came to congratulate him as he was resting in the preparation room.
"Good job! That was an awesome fight," Serena cheered as she pulled Satoshi into a tight embrace.
"Thanks, Serechi," Satoshi thanked as he turned toward his friends.
"How do you feel?" Izuku asked as the duo shared a fist pump.
"To be honest, even now it's kind of hard to believe," Satoshi responded sheepishly, "I did pledge to win it all, so I guess in that regard I did not make a fool of myself."
"Yeah, you got us pretty nervous there, we thought Bakugo took over your spirit or something," Tenya stated.
"As if he could ever!" Satoshi laughed.
"We should go, the ceremony is about to start," Izuku said as the students left the preparation room.
(On the stadium field)
"It's finally time to award the medals to our top 4 placements!" Midnight announced as the crowd cheered loudly for the students.
"Performing this honor, we invited an important guest!" Midnight hollered, "please join me in welcoming! The No.1 Hero, All Might!"
As the crowd was getting excited, they could hear the trademark smile of their favorite hero.
"I am here with the Medals!" Launching himself from the top of the stadium, All Might landed in the center of the stadium as the crowd cheered and clapped for him.
"All Might, please award the medals starting with the two semifinalists," Midnight said.
"Of course Midnight," All Might said as he took both bronze medals and walked towards Izuku and Serena, who looked at him with a bright smile.
You have a completely different expression Young Midoriya, I am pleased to see that.
"Izuku Midoriya, you have done many wonderful things in this tournament, and you have come a long way from your first few days of school," All Might praised as he placed the bronze medal around Izuku's head, "Be mindful of how you use your quirk and always strive to be a hero who makes everyone smile! I'm sure that you be able to do great things!"
"Yes, All Might!" Izuku looked at him and gave him a big nod. He took a quick look at his medal, holding back the urge to cry.
Mom, I hope you're proud. I told the world that "I am here".
All Might then turned towards Serena, who was standing next to Izuku.
"Serena Yvonne, you have a wonderful quirk, and you have demonstrated your mastery of its abilities," All Might praised, "but you must learn to not rely solely on your quirk. You have many areas to work on, but you're going in the right direction, I look forward to seeing you improve."
"Thank you All Might, I will do my best!" Serena smiled.
All Might then retrieved the silver medal and walked over to Katsuki, who wore an annoyed look on his face.
"Well, Katsuki Bakugo, you are a great piece of work, I know that winning is something you hold very highly, that is respectable," All Might advised as he placed the medal over the reluctant Katsuki's head, "but sometimes, it is important to realize that the greatest life lessons come after being defeated. It's okay to lose sometimes, but it doesn't mean that you are a failure, remember this lesson."
Katsuki took the medal and grunted, reflecting on the words of the Hero.
This wasn't over. I will soar to greater heights.
Finally, All Might took the gold medal and approached Satoshi.
"Satoshi Ketchum! It looks like you fulfilled what you said at the athletic pledge huh?" All Might asked with an amused tone.
"Yes I did," Satoshi responded as he smiled with a sheepish grin.
"Good, a hero takes what they say seriously, and uses action to prove themselves worthy. You have proven that today," All Might said excitedly, "you have shown that you are true to your word. You have also demonstrated a great deal of control and finesse when it comes to your quirk. You are still very far from the best, though you were good enough to take first here, you can still have a lot of room to improve."
"Yes All Might, I will do my best!" Satoshi hollered as he bowed, taking in the advice that All Might gave to him.
Satoshi had just made the first big step towards his goals. But the grind doesn't stop here, he has to keep going, and he is eager to continue his next step in his dream of becoming an Aura Guardian and a Pro Hero.
I will continue to improve and grow. I have done what I sought to do in this event, and I will not slow down! It's full speed forward now!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to conclude the U.A. High School First Years Sports Festival. We are grateful for all of your support and your encouragement. Congratulations to Satoshi Ketchum and the first years for a wonderful show of skills, drive, tenacity, and of course, talent. We hope to see the students again next year, and we all look forward to your growth as Hero students. For now, let us finish this event with a chant brought to you by All Might. All Yours, Number 1!"
"Alright then, folks! For the last time today, and for many more times in the future, join me in chanting the U.A. High school motto!"
As All Might said those words, the students, the audience, and perhaps even the Live Audience members sitting at home, had excited expressions on their faces.
"Go Beyond!" All Might chanted.
"PLUS ULTRA!"
The thunderous chants of everyone echoed throughout the stadium. Satoshi, Izuku, Serena, and the rest of the first years (excluding Katsuki, of course) all wave happily at the crowd.
(In Kamino Ward, Yokohama City)
"So that damn brat won huh," Kurogiri cursed under his breath as he glanced at the TV screen alongside Shigaraki, who watched the TV as the news was on.
"Hey, Sensei, when will we be able to make a move on those damn kids?!" Shigaraki asked his teacher through the intercom, "they're getting way too ahead of themselves, being all happy and smiling like that."
"Don't be hasty now, my precious students," the voice answered nonchalantly and gleefully, "first, we will let our new partner enact her little crusade of justice."
"I thought you sent her here to help me?" Shigaraki whined, "why are you letting her dictate the pace around here?"
"Because she agrees with what I say," Shigaraki's teacher responded, "I sought her out because she knows about your anger, and she empathizes with it. She agreed to help our mission because it aligns with hers. All I'm doing is help her with her needs so that after the fact, she can help you."
If you had any conviction, Shigaraki, that would be good too, she will teach you that, at least, that's what I hope will happen.
"I don't understand what this all means, but if it's your wish, then I will do my best to learn from her," Shigaraki muttered.
"Good, my boy, I have one job for you," The voice said in a satisfied tone, "for this one time, I will ask you to assist her, and listen to her instructions. I will provide you with a few Nomu, and you will help her inflict chaos, misery, and pain on the streets. Can you do that for me?"
"If that is your wish, teacher, then Kurogiri and I will see it done till you are satisfied," Shigaraki answered after a moment of consideration.
"Excellent! That's what I like to hear. I will relay your acceptance to Hunter J and send you the information you need in a few minutes. With this information you to help her Hunter J the stage," Shigaraki's teacher instructed as he disconnected promptly from the intercom.
"Kurogiri, it looks like we got some work to do," Shigaraki sighed as the duo departed from the bar room. After a few moments, his phone buzzed as he had received a message from his teacher.
My prized pupils,
Here you will find everything that you need to know to be helpful to the esteemed Hunter.
*Assault on XXX, your objective will be to take out xxx, make sure to destroy xxx*
I look forward to hearing your successful results.
(In a hospital somewhere in Kamino Ward)
The room was pitch black, the only lights coming from monitors, screens, and other devices. 2 men sat across each other, one of them fastened into a device that helped restore health and vitality. The man has a disfigured face as his eyes and nose were nowhere to be seen, only his mouth remained. This situation is possibly the result of an epic battle long ago.
"Doctor, do you think our band of merry fighters will be up to the task?" he asked the scrawny old man sitting next to him.
The man that he referred to was currently overseeing several incubators.
In those incubators were monster-like creatures similar to the ones that the 1-A students encountered during the U.S.J incident. Those monsters, commonly referred to as 'Nomu' by the general public, were being engineered there through unnatural fusions and mutations.
"I hope they achieve moderate success, but it would be helpful to keep the heroes busy," the doctor replied nonchalantly, "while they have their gaze fixed on Shigaraki and the active League of Villains, you and I are free to experiment and create more impactful Nomu to use against those heroes."
"I like the way you think, Doctor, and together we will bring an age of dark reckoning."
"That is all I desire," The doctor replied, "if your prized students succeed in their operations, then we can move in 3 months."
(Later that day, in the 1-A classroom)
"Alright students, the Sports Festival is over and you have all done well," Aizawa said in a muffled voice, the bandages wrapped around his face made it hard to be concise with his words, "You will have the rest of the week off, so we will be back at school next Monday. I'm sure that most of you will be receiving invitations from Pro Heroes for the incoming internships that begin next Wednesday. I will tell you more about that when we return back to school on Monday."
The students all looked at him with different expressions, but chief among them was excitement. They were excited to finally begin this part of the course
"That is all, class dismissed, have a good short break."
Alright! This seems like a good place to end the story.
The Sports Festival Arc has now ended, with Satoshi winning it in the end, fulfilling his oath at the beginning of the event.
It seems like Shigaraki and Hunter J are getting ready for their plan as they prepare for something big. Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all is taking his time to do...what exactly?
Well, we'll just have to find out in the later chapters!
Chapter 10: Well When Else Are They Going to Relax?!
To be continued…