So, it took me long long enough. Been busy with other projects and also work and stuff. I want to try to get more writing done but sometimes, it can't be helped. Luckily I have a start on all my projects, so I will hopefully get something else out this month too. Something gayer for pride/ Both Izuku and Mina in this are bi though so it counts. Lot of bis and pans in this story. Anyway, my friends Jess and Rosa helped a lot here, both with beta reading and with bouncing ideas off of them. I also foreshadow a lot i this chapter and set up some cool plans and bits of canon divergence here, as well as calling back to past elements of this story.
I feel in retrospect the fights were too fast. Maybe I should flesh them out in the future, but nobody told me the pacing on them was too quick yet. I am always open to feedback, so let me know, frens.
Next chapter, I was hoping to wrap this arc up, but 11 might be more sensible. Either way, I think I am going to take a bit of a break from actively working on this fic (and Hand when I wrap up the same arc there)to get caught up on some other projects, both personal and for some fandom events. Who knows, maybe I will work on Shanty again? One day.
Anyway, I skipped over some things and rearranged others, but I did so after a lot of debate and thought over how this story should progress. I hope you all enjoy and look forward to the next one/ See you later, skaters.
All Might watched the matches unfold carefully. Izuku's first match against the general studies student Shinsou was certainly interesting, as was Mina up against team Midoriya's Aoyama. They both showed promise.
He should have expected no less from both of them. He remembered hearing young Midoriya and Kirishima talking about the pink girl having experienced a villain attack before and, despite being afraid, showing bravery in the face of the situation. She had apparently made sure the villain had met up with a pro who was able to safely subdue him, if memory served.
It was certainly risky, but to know both his successor and the girl who had stood up for him had already had such experiences had proven to be vindicating. He could not wait to see them in action against each other.
He thought back to the words of a former colleague. "You were wrong, Mirai. I think I made a good pick."
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Of all the times it could have been going off. He was tempted to ignore it, but as the number one hero, he had an obligation to check.
"Hi uncle might. It's Melissa. Did you get my letter?
The memories swept over the old pro, nearly taking his attention off the tournament unfolding before him. He sent a quick confirmation to Melissa and resumed his observations. He could worry about the i-expo later. There would be time for revelations later. For now, he had some proteges to cheer on.
The past would catch up with him eventually, like it always did. Until then, there were certainly some interesting matches besides Mina's and Izuku's. All the students showed potential, though some battles ended quicker than others. There was one that had caught the number one's eye: the fight between Ochako Uraraka and Katsuki Bakugou. Both had a connection to his protege, one being a current friend of Izuku's while the other was… not so much. He knew the boys knew each other, and that Izuku had rescued Bakugou from the slime villain, only to be reprimanded by other pros. However, he could sense a hostility in the air when the two boys passed by each other.
Uraraka lost, despite a solid strategy. Meaning the blonde bomber could end up as a potential hurdle for his protege to overcome. The pro looked to see Izuku and Mina comforting Ochako after her loss and congratulating her on a solid strategy while Bakugou was attended by his classmates: Monoma, Tokage, and Kendou. There were a few more fights in the first round left, so All Might watched carefully. The next one looked to involve more friends Izuku had made. The boy had been skittish and also very much a fanboy, but it was good to know he was able to connect with others. Sometimes, you need friends in the hero biz.
The pro looked at a blonde girl with horns entering the arena, the one Izuku had teamed with. She looked vaguely like a hero he met in America, but he decided to spectate rather than speculate.
X
Team Midoriya's Pony went up against Tsuyu. The two girls stood opposite one another with Pony wishing her opponent good luck in their match. Unfortunately her Japanese was a bit off, but Tsuyu got the basic gist of what she was saying.
Pony fired off her horns as Tsuyu approached, causing the frog girl to jump back in shock. The horns boomeranged back around and nearly pinned Tsu.
Leaping out of the way, the frog girl flicked out her tongue and wrapped it around Pony's left leg. The horse girl bucked like a bronco, surprising Tsuyu and causing her to recoil.
The two animalistic combatants moved around the perimeter, getting a feel for one another.
"You seem pretty formidable, Tsunotori. Did you get in on recommendation, ribbit."
"No, ms. Froggy girl. My aunt and uncle both offered but I wanted to get in on my own."
Tsuyu noticed a mix of Japanese and English coming from the girl's mount. Tsuyu was only fluent in one but was picking up the other fairly well with help from Midoriya.
Tsuyu leapt onto one of the horns as it came for her and bounced off it, delivering a devastating kick. Pony, however, dug her hooves in and shot horns out again.
Mina and Kirishima cheered their friend on, pumping their fists in the air. Izuku, however, alternated. He knew Tsuyu longer, but felt obligated to cheer for his Cavalry battle teammates. Besides, Pony seemed nice and he could see her being a good friend.
"Have a thing for cute girls with horns, eh Izu?"
"It's not like that I...almost fell for that one. Nice try, Mina."
Turning their attention back to the fight, the young couple watched as Pony skidded towards the edge of the arena after being tossed by Tsuyu's tongue. The American braced herself and turned around to land a bronco kick on her froggy foe at the right moment, knocking the wind out of her.
The two girls seemed to be getting winded, equally exhausted as they gave their all, with neither going unnoticed. Pony spoke in her native English, throwing all but a few pros off who were more fluent than others in that language. With one last push, the girls charged forward, resulting in Pony getting knocked unconscious while Tsuyu stood up shakily.
Midnight announced the winner with gusto as both girls were brought to Recovery girl to heal up any injuries they incurred. Izuku was sad one had to lose, as Pony seemed really nice, but he was also glad his friend of several years had come out on top, even if Pony was his teammate.
"Dang, that was one banger of a fight. I know they are going to be out like a light, but want to check on them when they heal up?" Mina asked. Izuku nodded, having just put away his hero notebook. Perhaps he had a problem, but Mina seemed to think it was cute how passionate he was, so he kept it up.
"Yeah. Let's give them time to heal, then we can visit them." Izuku agreed. "In the meantime, I gotta go to the bathroom. I'll be back." the boy leaned in for a gentle peck on Mina's nose, which she crinkled as she smiled.
"Eeew, is this a pre-piss kiss?" the pink girl teased, sticking out her tongue. Izuku looked at her blankly for a few seconds.
"I don't like you anymore." he stated plainly before walking away.
"Nooooooo, I was kidding! Come back!" the girl whined in an exaggerated fashion while hanging onto her boyfriend. Izuku struggled while laughing softly.
"I know, babe. I really have to pee!" Izuku pulled away to no avail as the pink girl playfully headbutted his shoulder. Jirou watched in her seat nearby both disgusted and confused but also finding herself strangely drawn to how close the two seemed to be.
"Fine, but just know...you called me babe in publiiiic~! PDA Midoriya~" Mina sangm cheerfully after resigning herself. "Go to the bathroom."
Kirishima watched and laughed, all the while feeling a twinge of jealousy, based on his feelings for both. The other students watched in a mix of confusion and admiration.
X
After vowing to congratulate his friends on their incredible match,Izuku headed to the restroom, needing to relieve himself after watching several matches in the first round of matches. There was one left and he didn't want to miss it. Sure he wasn't as close to either combatant, but they both possessed interesting quirks, and he wanted to add more info in his notes. Sure enough, after the OfA holder exited the restroom, one of the combatants approached him: Shouto Todoroki.
"Midoriya. Can we talk?"" Todoroki with a sort of aggressive calm, a placid soft spoken demeanor that had a stubborn ego lurking just beneath the service.
"Oh...sure? What's up?" Izuku asked, hoping it wasn't about the displays of affection Mina and he had just showcased to everyone. He was not ashamed of his feelings for her, but he still felt a bit flustered. AT this point, however, he was mostly used to it.
"Your quirk is very similar to All Might's. I remember overhearing Asui say that as well. You also seem to have trouble controlling it. It's perhaps why you and him seem to be rather close."
Izuku did not like where this was going. This was worse than him asking about the PDA.
"Are you his secret love child?" The two-toned boy asked bluntly, confirming the Green-haired boy's fears.
Izuku just stared ahead, processing it all. All those years of wishing All-Might was his dad had culminated in this. At least All-Might was around. Still, at least it was only that.
"No. No. It is just a coincidence, I swear. Besides, I don't really look anything like him, do I?"
Shouto was unconvinced, but conceded that point. He supposed that if Izuku was the illegitimate child of All-Might, he would have blue eyes and blonde hair. It was possible he could have hair dye and contacts. He was friends with Kirishima, who apparently dyed his hair. Perhaps. He was even related to that Bakugou guy. They seemed to have animosity between them, but Shouto never got to spend a lot of time with his siblings, so he didn't have much knowledge of real brother relationships. Still that connection seemed unlikely. Having a long lost brother who hated you was like something out of a battle manga and was likely too out there to be real.
"I suppose. Still, it seems too convenient for you to just share such a specific quirk. Either way, I will beat you. No offence, but you barely have a handle on that power of yours. This will not take long, and neither will our fight. All I need is my ice. I won't fight you with the bastard's quirk."
"Why, though? It's your quirk, right? Just because you inherited it from Endeavor...that doesn't make it his. It's up to you how you use it. You're not him." Izuku reasoned.
"He hurt my mother...he drove her to the brink to the point where…" Shouto touched his face scar and looked down at his hands. "He said my eyes were like his, and when he found out what she did, he sent her away and continued his training of me, separating me from my siblings. His fire is part of his plan and I will not indulge him."
"It's not his fire though. He doesn't control you or what you can do. I know Endeavor is a top hero, second only to All-Might...but you're not him. Sorry, my words probably ring empty but...if we meet in the ring, remember that."
"Whatever. You're a nosey kid, Midoriya. We'll get this over with soon enough." the two-toned boy walked away, seeming simultaneously surly and introspective. He thought he heard Izuku say he would give his all but it didn't matter. They would fight and it would be over. He kind of didn't want to give his father the satisfaction, but he wasn't going to lose either.
Izuku stood there dumbfounded, trying to piece together what just happened. All he knew is that he would be facing off with Mina next and it was going to be challenging. He knew her moves better than he knew anyone else's besides Bakugou's.
Endeavor found Izuku not long after, hoping to speak with him early. It really seemed like the green-haired boy was popular today. He wasn't used to it and he wasn't sure he would ever be. "Guess I have to get used to it" he sighed to himself.
"This... loud mouth that Shouto is facing first… he seems like a waste, but everything will be compared to you. Your power...it is very much like All-Might's. I know not if you are related to him or not and quite frankly, that is no concern of mine. You will serve as a good test run to see if Shouto has what it takes to surpass him. That's all I wanted to say."
Izuku sighed. Of course people would notice the similarities. He should have foreseen it. It was like karma for years of wanting to be All-Might. And to have father and son draw that conclusion almost back to back no less. The young man brushed it off and turned around to shake in his seat from the intimidation of the flame hero. At least, that was the plan. That was what Izuku told himself to do.
Before the number 2 pro could walk off, however, the green-haired successor to One-for-All stepped up. He was sure he would regret this. He was about to tell off a pro, the one directly below All-Might himself. What's more, this was none of his business. And yet, he couldn't help himself. He wasn't sure if it was Mina's influence, All-Might's, or all his. Perhaps it was a mix. Either way.
"Wait… I am not All Might...and Todoroki is not you. We are all striving to be heroes, not proxies for our parents...and Monoma might be over the top...but he is not some piece of trash to be overlooked or discarded. None of us are. Watch the next match and see that. As for me, I am going to fight with my girlfriend and give it my all. If I fight Todoroki, I will do the same… but we are not tools for grudges."
"Watch your tongue, boy. Know that SHouto will crush you, then surpass All-Might where I could not...he will not fail...not like…" the imposing man trailed off and walked away.
Little did either party know that both Bakugou and Monoma could see the whole thing, albeit from opposite sides of the hallway. Monoma could feel a hint of respect, but refused to let anyone else know that. He couldn't let these 1-A clowns get too big of an ego, just because they did one cool thing.
X
Izuku walked back to his seat, shaking like a leaf. The weight of what he had just done was crushing him. It seemed like the right reaction at the time, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he had bitten off more than he could chew. All-Might would probably scold him for that, well, as much as All-Might ever scolded anyone. He was almost to the bleacher when he felt a hand on his shoulder, followed by a familiar smug voice.
"Oh god please...no more people. No more conversations. I just want to get back to my seat." Izuku thought, feeling the mental exhaustion of it all. He turned to face Monoma expecting him to start some shit too.
"I wanted to say something to the oh so mighty powerhouse of 1A...You're...not a bad guy, are you?"
Izuku was surprised. He was not expecting this from Monoma. In the short time he knew the boy, he did not come off as the most reasonable of boys. The fact that he saw the boy around Bakugou a lot in a more friendly capacity and less of a parole one like Kendou and Tokage had him worried, but not many people knew the truth about Bakugou yet. That was the unspoken agreement.
"Come again?" the green-haired boy asked. Seriously, it felt like he was getting pranked consecutively, even though it seemed like all parties were completely earnest.
"Jeez, you have wax in your ears, don't you? I merely concede that maybe I misjudged your class, or perhaps you specifically. Tokage speaks highly enough of you and Tsunotori apparently thinks you are pretty cool. I almost felt betrayed until I saw you mouth off to a pro...in my defense. "
"You saw that?" the green-haired boy blinked. It really was just a marathon of drama, apparently.
"I did. I would have used that as evidence of 1A being too big for their britches but...one of our classmates fits that bill too, I suppose. Besides, if you could stand up for someone like me that you barely know… to be the number two hero of all people, well, you aren't as bad as I thought."
"Oh, well I mean...of course. I kinda got my power late, but before that, people thought I was quirkless, told me I wouldn't amount to anything...told me to ...nevermind. Sorry for oversharing. Um… good luck on your fight, Monoma."
"Oh good, you remember my name. Good. Don't let me think I misjudged you, Midoriya. I don't take kindly to being patronised. And don't get too comfortable, 1A. This doesn't change anything. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make my mark." The Dramatic boy waved condescendingly as headed towards his match.
"Of course…" Izuku sighed and slumped against the wall. That went better than he had expected. It was nice to know that even people like Monoma could be nicer. It reminded him of Iida in a way. The green-haired boy smiled and took a moment. Mina was probably wondering where he was, but a little break was always welcome.
"DEKUUU, WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD!"
And the break was over. Izuku ran to his seat, not wanting to deal with anymore people wanting a piece of him until his fights, especially not him of all people.
"Yikes, babe! You ok? You seem stressed."
"I… I just told off the number two hero…" Izuku said blankly, still processing his own actions.
"Oh, I see. cool...WAIT WHAT!?" Mina shouted, being shushed by Momo and Jirou as she jumped out of her seat."
"Yeah...I shouldn't have. It was a bad move and none of my business and he is THE NUMBER TWO HERO… but… I dunno. I will leave it at that." Izuku had second thoughts about airing what little he saw of Todoroki's dirty laundry. Still, he knew Mina would be curious.
"Are you sure? That seems awfully juicy. I heard bomb boy getting angry and screaming for you. Was it tied to that?"
"I dunno. Maybe. Apparently Monoma heard and was… actually reasonable."
The next match started with a lot of fanfare. It was a class A vs Class B brawl and the freshly brewed rivalry was about to reach a head here. Both combatants had only victory on their minds as they stepped into the arena.
"You're not worth the time. Let's get this over with." Todoroki, dismissed his opponent, shrugging the hand off his shoulder.
Monoma sneered. This was his time to show off to his powerful friend what he could do. He would show everyone what he could do. He had been told for so long that his power was not suited to being a superhero. He was told he would be lucky if he was considered a sidekick for a vigilante. He knew it was versatile.
He knew he could do a lot with it. And yet he was overlooked. There wasn't much of an inciting incident to make him hate 1a, if he could call it actual hatred. However, if there was one thing the blonde boy could not stand, it was being overshadowed. Everyone was the protagonist of their own story, with their own arcs to go through.
He felt in his heart that this was his and he would make sure to shine. And if he failed, he would cheer his classmates on until they succeeded.
"Giving me the cold shoulder, huh? Sorry for being drole."
Todoroki, just brushed off the blonde. "I will make this quick. Sorry."
Monoma felt his temperature fluctuate wildly. He was getting chills and a fever all at once until it settled. This was going to be a tricky quirk to handle.
Monoma felt flames engulf him. It was too much. Was that why Todoroki refused to use them? Maybe a more personal reason. All Monoma knew was that it hurt. His vision was obscured by the waving of the heat in front of him. And yet, he hissed and pushed on. If he could put it out with the ice, he could push through. He refused to fall here. He got to the tournament. He was here on a grand stage where pros were watching. He would prove his class's resilience. He would prove all his naysayers wrong. Kendou was sure to chop his neck for this, but he would deal with that later.
"I don't know why you don't use all your power. Do you pity me, Todoroki? Is that it? I hate to break it to you, but I don't take pity sitting down. So I will stand until I faint. "
Todoroki's eyes widened. This boy was insane. He was clearly going to pass out. He had bitten off more than he could chew and was going to pass out. It wasn't a power he was used to...but Todoroki was. He remembered words that Izuku had said to him earlier., when he had said they would face off in the final round.
"It's not your father's power or anyone else's...it's yours."
Those words echoed in his head, on loop until the voice saying them became Monoma's.
"I'll use this power of yours to prove my worth."
"You're right...I have been holding back...This is my power."
Monoma countered the fire with Ice and the ice with fire. His clothes were nearly charred away, his pants holding through. The blonde boy said a silent prayer to the gods of decency and pushed through.
He hit the wall with a thud and fell unconscious.
Todoroki walked out of the ring and carried the unconscious 1B student to Recovery girl. He was crazy, he was brash, but he had proven himself worthy of Todoroki's respect.
Todoroki turned to look at Izuku.
"Thank you...I know I haven't fought you yet, but you were right. THis is my power, not the old man's. This guy helped me see that too. I'll have to thank him after he comes to...He might be obnoxious though. I should just leave a note. If I wanted to be shouted at, I would go to the old man."
X
Monoma woke up, surrounded by a few of his classmates, with Bakugou in the back, looking as cheerful as always. However, his surly cockiness was replaced with a sort of...seething concern, if Neito had to place it. He still felt achy and tingly all over, from his injuries and the sting of defeat. FIrst round of the tournament and he went down too quickly, in his eyes. The crowds would certainly talk, alright. Not in the way he wanted though. It's ok. They always talked.
Neito looked at the note, grabbing it carefully as he winced. He reached for his reading glasses, but remembered he didn't have them on him. He wasn't anticipating needing them.
"Sorry for not holding back but I suppose I should be thanking you. I have the feeling you would want nothing less than my all. You're kind of annoying like that. May our next battle last longer."
Monoma laid back in his bed. He honestly couldn't tell if he felt condescended to or acknowledged. The fact that he was able to step toe to toe with one of 1-A's heavy hitters was boosting his ego a bit, even if he lost. He had just hoped that after a bit of a rest, and once the Sports Festival had ended, he could see if any of the pros took notice.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, KNOCK OFF!?" Bakugou burst in, growling like a ferocious beast.
"Don't worry, copy cat. I'll show those extras what I can do, especially that shitty Deku. I have some questions I need answered."
"Don't be so mean, Bakugou! 1-A is really cool, especially, Midori-" Pony spoke up, having just recovered enough to visit her classmate and friend, Monoma.. However, she was cut off by the explosive boy with a fiery shout.
"Don't even finish that sentence, Goat girl. I am going to wreck his shit. And then he is going to tell me how the fuck he has a quirk." The boy growled, angered by the questions raised and why someone who had previously been nothing more than scenery in the past was now competition.
"Stand down, Katsuki. Pony means no harm. Still, I appreciate the vigor. Midoriya and you seem to have a history, correct? I have no gribe with him. He seems alright...but I don't know him as well as you do. Besides, a win for 1B would be too sweet indeed. So give him hell, ma amie." Monoma yawned in his bed and looked over at his classmates, who all looked concerned.
Bakugou scoffed and turned to exit. "Glad to have someone with some sense around here, big mouth. I'm going to cool my head, then I will punch Deku in his when the next round starts."
The blonde boy didn't even turn to face his classmates. They were strong alright. They unfortunately didn't get much chance to shine, but he was admittedly impressed. Still, he was dead set on being the best, and no matter how strong someone like Todoroki or Uraraka or Tsunotori was, he would be stronger, and kick Deku back to the side of the road where he belonged. That was his vow.
X
With that fight, the next bracket arrangement was set, with a brief reprieve so that the combatants could get ready. In the preparation room, Izuku went over his notes on Mina, focusing less on the doodles in the margins and the notes from Mina herself. She said something about healthy thighs to make Izuku blush, so he tried erasing it until he realized that Mina used a ball point pen to write her bits.
"Hey, you are going up against Ashido, right?" Ochako asked, sitting next to Izuku and looking at his notebook, which he promptly hid.
"Yeah. Kind of nervous. I am thinking of holding back but Mina would kill me if I did. I don't want to lay hands on her. We are her students together. Who knows if we'll ever be up against each other in future training exercises."
"Have you thought of grappling moves? This way you could fight her without hitting her." The brunette pondered. She wasn't as much of an analysis buff as her friend was, but she was able to formulate a solid plan of attack, even if it backfired. Izuku had offered to help her, so it was only fair, right?
"I suppose. She would probably reverse it. She likes using leg locks…" Izuku blushed, while Ochako did so similarly, trying not to think of the implications, or of what a leg lock from an athletic girl like Mina would feel like. Mentally, punching herself to get back on topic, Ochako scratched her head.
"I don't know, de...Sorry…"
"It's ok. Um Uraraka? I trust you. You seem nice but...why did you almost call me Deku?"
"I dunno...I know you have bad blood with Bakugou and that it apparently means like… useless puppet… but it can also be read as 'Someone who can do anything', you know? That's how I choose to see it, but I will stop if it brings back bad memories." The gravity girl apologized as tears of embarrassment streamed down her face.
Izuku smiled and nodded. "I still don't feel comfortable with that nickname and the memories it dredges up...but that is a perspective I never considered. Thanks, Uraraka."
"Any time, Midoriya."
"Izuku… call me Izuku…"
"Ochako froze, blushing as this thoughtful boy asked him to use his first name. Could he do that? Wasn't he already dating Mina?
"Yeah. We're friends, right? I am not exactly used to being so casual like this, but I have had a good support structure for a few years now, so it only seems right, you know?" Izuku scratched the back of his head.
"You really care about her, dontcha?" Ochako rested her face on the table as she looked at her friend. The boy just sighed wistfully as he felt his face heat up. "She was my first friend in a long time… she believed in me and saw me as someone worth talking to when nobody else did, and I learned to slowly come out of my shell because of her. I made some friends because of her…" the boy stood up. "So as hesitant as I am to hurt her, I also owe it to her not to hold back. This is our shared dream and we'll push each other to new heights...Sorry if that was cheesy." Izuku slumped back into his chair sheepishly after seeing Ochako stare blankly.
The girl grabbed his hands tightly and looked him dead in the eye. "That was the single most romantic thing I have ever heard, holy freaking super crap! I can't wait to see what you and Mina do out there, Izuku." the girl smiled.
"Thanks, Ura...Thanks, Ochako."
"Any time."
The two laughed and sat down to strategize, while Mina hyped herself up in the hallway, feeling her heart race faster, both from the anticipation of this match and the kind words of her favorite boy.
X
Mina and Izuku stood at opposite sides. They could feel the hairs on their arms stand straight as they tried to push their nerves down. Most couples would not want to fight. And yet this was it, the climax of their competition this whole festival so far. They would get to test their mettle against each other and put on a show for everyone watching to see.
"Just letting you know, babe, I won't hold anything back."
"So you're going to disfigure me?"
"N-no. That's not what I meant. Also, try not to break your arms. You need those."
"I thought this was an all out fight."
" You know what I mean!"
The fight was fast and fluid, with Mina's fluid and rhythmic movements contrasting with the raw, feral energy of her boyfriend. Over time, however, he started to adapt and even try to imitate her movements.
"Wow, I really am flattered, Izu, but if you're going to bite my style, you might chip a tooth!"
Mina leapt in the air and stomped down, bracing herself for her next onslaught. Sweat dripped off of her forehead as a wide grin formed on her face. This was not just a fight. It was a dance, This was her yard to stomp and she couldn't have picked a better partner than her boyfriend.
They both were so early in their tenure at UA but had already come so far. This would be their chance to really see what they could do against each other.
Wiping off her sweat in a dramatic fashion, Mina let loose with some acid, using that to try and ring Izuku out. Instead, the green haired boy rushed forward like a deranged rabbit, replicating her moves to the best of his ability. They weren't as graceful, but they were recognizably Mina's. He let loose a punch, feinting as to not hit her. She countered with an uppercut. Mina's eyes widened, realizing that she had just hit her Izuku.
She forgot herself in the moment and apologized profusely, only to be swept off the ground and pinned.
"Easy, you're starting to sound like me."
"No fair! You literally avoided hitting me."
"And you didn't."
Their banter was not completely audible to the crowd but Jirou, who was sitting with her other classmates, could hear. SHe scoffed and smiled. "I can't tell if those two are crazy for each other or just crazy but I have to watch out for them."
Izuku put focus into his leg and rushed forward, trying not to break it while still aiming to use One-for-All. The propulsion caused him to rocket Mina's direction, only for her to spin out of the way and deliver a kick of her own.
Gasping for a moment, Izuku grappled Mina once again and tried to spin-toss her. However, she quickly adjusted and landed on the ground, barely avoiding a ring-out as she slid across the Arena.
"That was more fun than scary, Zuku. We should try that again later." the girl giggled.
Mina somersaulted over izuku and leaked some slippery slime from her hands with a very weak acidity. As the boy slipped and slid, she used the moment to kick him towards the edge of the ring.
A flurry of blows lept escalating, with both parties dodging each other deftly while sustaining some blows. What really captured the audience was the level of trust between the combatants. It was like a game between two people who knew each other intimately and would constantly come up with answers for the questions the other's fists were asking.
Izuku flicked the air and sent a shockwave towards Mina, leading her to block the air from her face and close her eyes. Izuku's open palm struck her chest, causing her to cough as she was sent reeling. Acting on instinct, Mina flung acid towards Izuku, a stronger dose this time. She was desperate. She didn't want to hurt Izuku but didn't want to lose either. Besides, she knew she couldn't hold back forever.
Bracing himself, Izuku gritted through the pain and punched Mina in the leg as she aimed to kick him.
Izuku hopped out of the ring, flinching a bit from the pain. Walking over to where Mina was, he reached down to help her up. Mina hopped up to kiss her boyfriend on the lips before smiling at the crowd and giving a peace sign to them all.
"That was sneaky!" izuku blushed, sighing as he hid his face.
:Yeah, well we both deserve something good. Good luck with your next fight, babe."
Izuku looked towards his next opponent, one he was both dreading and anticipating: Katsuki Bakugou. This would be the toughest one he faced yet. It was sure to be both challenging and Cathartic.
"Thanks. I'll need it." Izuku smiled as he gazed into Mina's eyes and booped her nose, shrinking away when he heard someone clear their throat. He turned to see his next opponent and felt his blood run colder. It was Bakugou.
There were sure to be many other interesting bouts. Izuku would have loved to watch them all, both as a friend and as a classmate. However, he was too focused on the coming battle with his old friend turned tormentor. It was a long time coming and he was not sure how he would fight fully. He needed to strategize.
"Hey, Midoriya. You ok?" Kirishima asked.
Izuku smiled at Kirishima and offered a thumbs up. He supposed he could cheer his friend on and let his brain relax a bit. However, the looming bout kept him on edge. Mina noticed, resting a hand on the boy's shoulders as her eyes sparked with concern. Izuku nodded sheepishly and offered a small smile, trying to reassure both his girlfriend and himself.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Good to hear, buddy. Hey...if there is anything wrong though, you can tell me." Kirishima gritted his teeth as he looked at the ground bashfully. "We're friends, right?"
"Of course, bro." Izuku smiled, offering a shaky fist. He was still not great at it, but he was more confident in goofing off with his friends and encouraging them.
Kirishima reciprocated the gesture and fistbumped Izuku back. "Awesome. Anyway, wish me luck. My fight will be next."
"Awesome, Horn buddy!" Mina cheered, showing up almost randomly, as if friendly support summoned her like a kind of "good vibes" fairy. "Who is your opponent?"
Ibara stepped into their midst, having just said a prayer for strength. "I believe I am. May god smile upon us both, Kirishima...because I will not hold back." Her vines writhed like a viney kraken, preparing to strike.
"What a coincidence. Neither will I, Shiozaki," Kirishima grinned while slamming his fists together in response. The next few fights were sure to be exciting. From the bleachers, a mysterious old woman watched with interest.