Chapter 17: Reflexes
Doko sat alone in the player waiting room, trying to calm down. His Quirk was acting up, causing him to flicker back and forth between two chairs like a glitch. He couldn't seem to stop trembling.
They all hate me...I've ruined my reputation as a hero...
All because I tried to keep my promise.
He'd just been trying to use a strategy like Mina, but he'd failed to account for how it would make him look.
Aizawa had tried to negate it with that speech, but how much would the crowd really listen? They'd be more inclined to form their own opinions.
Tokoyami had come in earlier, and the two of them had made awkward eye contact before the shorter boy had silently left. Doko had half been hoping that the Dark Shadow user might have had some advice for him, but that wasn't really in Tokoyami's character, was it? He was more the type to just give an upset person their space.
He and Todoroki would be fighting by now. The first semifinal. Doko's own semifinal would be soon.
I must go out there and redeem myself. I HAVE to try.
The door flung open. Doko looked up from his knees, surprised.
"Katayama-kun!" Hagakure exclaimed. "There you are...ouhhh, what?"
It was hard to tell with her, but Shoji, Mina, and Tsuyu's eyes were all darting back and forth between the two chairs Doko was flickering between.
Doko tried to smile. "My Quirk is hiccuping. It used to do this when I was a kid, but it's been a long time." His words came out stuttering, a side effect of the minuscule delay between the flashes.
"Have you overused it?" Shoji asked. The three girls came further into the room.
Doko shrugged. "Possibly. Recovery Girl said I was fine, though."
"But you aren't fine." Tsu leaned down in front of him, or at least...one of the chairs. "You got jeered at by thousands of people, ribbit. Anyone would be upset."
Doko frowned sourly, and briefly stabilised himself in the chair in front of Tsu. "Yeah, but a hero shouldn't get upset."
Hagakure seemed to roll her eyes. "Oh, come on. Why are all boys like this? It's okay to be upset, you know! It doesn't feel like a burden for us. It's okay to look vulnerable!"
Shoji shifted uncomfortably. "I see your point, but I see Doko's as well. If we are training to be heroes, we must learn to go through life with a smile, like All Might. That is how you gain trust from the public."
"Even if some people out there in the crowd don't hate me, after what Aizawa-sensei said," Doko muttered, "then they probably pity me. Pity is the death of desire."
Mina's eyes widened.
Doko looked up at his confused friends. "I only mean, like...the pro heroes. They value strength. I'm not going to get any work from them if they just feel bad for me."
"No," Mina said, with such steel in her voice that everyone turned to stare. "You'll get work from them by being yourself."
Doko raised his eyebrows as the pink girl, the one he may or may not have feelings for, the one he'd embarrassed himself in front of during their match, the one he'd defeated, leaned down in front of him, next to Tsu.
"Doko. These past two weeks and earlier today, you barely cared about competing in this festival. Even now you're still conflicted about it. And...even WITH all those feelings, you still made it into the top four. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Her black-and-gold eyes glistened with hope. "You're amazing, Doko. Your power is amazing. The pros would be idiots not to consider your potential. And unlike the rest of us, you still have a chance to turn it around. You've got another match."
"Yes," said Shoji, "against Bakugo. Whatever feelings you may have had before now, you will need to cast them aside in order to face such a powerful opponent."
"Yeah, and the crowd is mixed on Bakugo too!" Hagakure chirped. "I'll bet they'd rather root for you, and then you'll be good again!"
"I realise I can be blunt sometimes, and that probably doesn't help," Tsu croaked. "But please don't feel bad about us trying to support you. We're here because we want to be, ribbit. It's okay to rely on others. And I promise...for me, at least...that I don't pity you. I acknowledge your strength, Dokkun."
"As do I," said Shoji.
"Oh, and Sero said to send his regards!" Hagakure added.
Mina beamed as she and Tsu stood back up. "And I'm sorry for sort of causing this mess. I shouldn't have...messed with you like that."
Doko sniffed. "That's alright. I wasn't mad at you." I could never be. "Thanks, everyone. I feel like I need to repay you all somehow..."
All four of them protested at once.
"Goodness, Doko," Mina chuckled. "You never change, do you?"
"No, I do." The boy stood. "I will change for the better. And it starts now."
The acid user took a step toward him, and poked him in the chest, her eyes suddenly taking on a more seductive quality. "Just remember one thing, Mr. Confident. Now that you've beat me, you BETTER win this thing. I won't accept getting beaten by anyone but the winner, you hear me?"
Doko didn't recoil from her touch. He only smirked back. "Loud and clear."
...
As the four of them went back to the box, leaving Doko to await his match, Mezo Shoji felt a tug on his uniform.
Mezo looked back and downward. It was Tsu. Ashido and Hagakure were going on ahead, chattering happily. They had a shield of noise; whatever Tsu wanted to say, she wanted to only say it to him.
"Shoji-chan," she said in her low voice. "You're pretty observant, aren't you?"
"Not always by choice, but yes." He'd unintentionally eavesdropped on many a conversation over the years, thanks to his Quirk.
"I was wondering." She blinked her large, vacant eyes. "Do you think Dokkun has a bad home life?"
Mezo took pause, and swallowed nervously. "What gives you that idea?"
"When we brought up siblings, he only mentioned his sister briefly. He's the only one who hasn't divulged his parents' Quirks in the group chat. He's always talking about how he has chores to do. And he doesn't seem to be very connected to the hero world or the Internet, and not by choice."
Mezo felt his eye twitch. "I...have noticed all these things, but they mostly happened a while ago. Why bring this up now?"
"The way he acts when we try to support him. Like it's a bad thing that he has to rely on other people. He feels the need to pay us back for simple kindness. That sort of behavior...is the mark of someone who's been mistreated."
Mezo inhaled, and then exhaled. "Even so...what could we do with such info? If he doesn't want to talk about it, then...we can't exactly ask him, Tsu."
"No, I know. But...just keep it in mind, I suppose."
Mezo nodded forward to the two more bubbly girls conversing in front of them. "Are you going to tell them?"
"Toru-chan perhaps." Tsu's eyes seemed to focus on Ashido. "I think Mina-chan needs to figure it for herself."
...
Todoroki and Tokoyami stood across from each other on the platform, staring each other down.
"This is crazy," Kaminari breathed.
"The two most serious students in class, facing off," commented Sero.
Ojiro nodded. "It's like two samurai in a duel."
Izuku had finally come back to the box, only to find many people missing. Apparently Katayama had beaten Ashido, meaning he was facing off against Kacchan next.
I wonder if Todoroki will use his flames on Dark Shadow. It would be the logical thing to do, but...did I really push him that hard, or did I only manage to bring it out for his fight with me?
Surely that question would be in Endeavor's mind as well.
Iida seemed to shudder strangely, and both Izuku and Uraraka gave him strange looks. "Sorry," he apologised. "That's my phone." He stood up and walked up the stairs. "I've got to take this."
"Hmm. I wonder who's calling him," said Uraraka.
"It might be his brother calling back. Earlier Iida tried to call him, but he was busy with hero work at the time," Izuku explained.
"Oh. I see."
...
"First semifinal, STAAAART!"
Without delay, Tokoyami deployed Dark Shadow. The thing came racing at Shoto, its razor-sharp talons glinting strangely.
Finally, an opponent that doesn't bloody talk. Gritting his teeth, Shoto sent out a huge pillar of ice, meeting Dark Shadow in the middle.
"OOOOOH!" Present Mic shouted, and the crowd gasped.
As the ice slammed into Dark Shadow, the creature expanded and grew upward, creating a shield that blocked it from reaching Tokoyami.
Then the creature shook itself off, and came round again, practically unfazed.
"ICE IS INEFFECTIVE AGAINST TOKOYAMI'S QUIRK! COULD THIS BE TODOROKI'S FIRST MAJOR SLIPUP?"
Okay, time to move. As the creature came at him, Shoto dug his heel into the ground, and slid outward in a wide circle, creating a banked slope of ice as he went. The spirit gave chase, but Shoto was circling and closing in on Tokoyami himself. The boy's eyes widened, and he pulled Shadow back to protect himself.
The second that happened, Shoto stopped sliding and slammed his fist into the ground, sending out a spiky ice wall that erupted in a line right along the tether between boy and shadow. Dark Shadow was briefly delayed in getting pulled back, getting caught on the ice.
In that moment, Shoto slid forward on ice toward Tokoyami, his heart racing. Must get there quickly quickly quickly...
Dark Shadow had been freed, and was now behind Shoto. Shoto was between the two of them, but the creature was closing fast.
Use your fire. Was that his father's voice, Midoriya's, or his own?
Shoto reached out as he slid forward on his ice, getting ready to shoot another pillar directly at Tokoyami.
That's its weakness. Use the light of the flames!
Dark Shadow's claws grabbed Shoto's shoulders, and the boy slipped on his own slide. The crowd erupted in shock. Shoto whirled, holding up his left arm. Embers sputtered from it, inches away from Dark Shadow, and the creature pulled back for a moment, hesitating.
...but Shoto hesitated too.
Dark Shadow swiped with its claws, almost lazily. Shoto went flying out toward the boundary line, digging his right heel into the ground and forming up an ice wall behind him at the last second.
The crowd was going wild.
"OHMYGOD! Tokoyami nearly had him there!" Present Mic yelled.
I...I'm confused...
Dark Shadow came at him again, intending to finish the job. Shoto shook his head hard...and ducked low.
Dark Shadow slammed into the ice wall where Shoto had been a split second ago, as the boy rolled under and past him. This time, he didn't hesitate, sending out another wall of ice spikes that enveloped Tokoyami himself.
"OH! Tokoyami's been frozen from the waist down!" The bird boy struggled, shivering as cold raced up his body. "But can Dark Shadow continue the fight?"
The creature had re-oriented itself and turned to attack Shoto again.
Shoto lit his left arm up.
"OH! TODOROKI SHOWS HIS FLAMES AGAIN!"
But Shoto didn't attack. He only held his flaming arm out in front of him as his entire left side lit up with fire.
Dark Shadow paused, uncertain. The spirit shrank away from the light. I don't want to attack with my flames...but when I have them ignited, you can't attack me either.
The crowd murmured, confused by the pause in the fight.
"Tokoyami-kun," Midnight called. "Are you incapacitated?"
The boy struggled a moment more, and then relaxed, sighing. "Come back, Dark Shadow." Smaller and wimpier, the spirit slunk away, retracting back into the boy's body. Tokoyami turned to Midnight. "I am. I cannot move myself, and Dark Shadow cannot fight a man on fire."
"Then it is decided!" Midnight snapped her hand down. "Todoroki-kun advances to the final!"
Shoto walked over and began to melt Tokoyami out of the ice. "You...nearly had me," he said to the other quiet boy, stiffly. "I hesitated with my flames."
"It seems you are most likely to fight Bakugo in the final," Tokoyami commented. "Bakugo has a heat-based Quirk as well."
The unsaid advice was left hanging in the air. The only way to fight fire is with more fire.
...
Doko's heart was racing as he stepped to the edge of the tunnel. He'd seen Bakugo fight at the illegal ring, and had gotten further confirmation of his viciousness at the battle trial and in his match with Uraraka. He's fast, and relentless. I'm fast too, but...what can I do against him, besides maybe tire him out? I'd be more like to tire out first.
"Second semifinal! On this side, the ball of fire who has steamrolled right through all his competition so far! From the hero course, it's Katsuki Bakugo!"
The crowd's applause and cheering was significantly lesser than it had been for other people. Many of them are uncomfortable with how he fights. But do they feel any better about me?
"And on this side...his bad luck continues. Having to play the bad guy against two girls, and now fighting one of the festival's deadliest opponents. From the hero course, it's Doko Katayama!"
Inhaling, Doko stepped out of the tunnel and waved at the crowd again, smiling like he'd done before. Like everything was fine.
The crowd did cheer and clap for him. About the same as they did for Bakugo. Even if I don't win this...I WILL win them to my side again. And hopefully my top four placement will be enough from there.
The two boys stopped far apart. "You couldn't keep putting this off forever, crackhead," Bakugo called with a sadistic grin. "It's finally time."
"Dude." Doko scratched his neck, playing up the bit a little. "I don't know if this normal, but I kind of want to beat the shit out of you."
Some of the crowd heard that. Laughed. Good.
And it wasn't entirely untrue, either. Bakugo had shown he was capable of begrudgingly respecting others in combat, but outside of fighting? He was still the same asshole. And...I haven't forgotten Midoriya's notebook.
Bakugo had narrowed his eyes at the comment. "You're gonna regret those words, teleporter."
"And you're..." Doko paused. "...blocking my way to Todoroki."
Bakugo's eyebrows rose ever so briefly, but then he returned to a snarl.
...
In the Class A box.
"I'm scared, ribbit."
"Katayama's gonna do better than the others, at least," said Sero.
"I don't know about that," Kaminari snorted.
"Yeah..." Kirishima rubbed his hands together. "As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think Katayama has a chance at all. I beat him in the battle trial, and Bakugo beat me, so..."
"Feel free to take that back anytime," Mina growled through clenched teeth, and all eyes fell on her.
Kirishima's eyes widened in shock. "Whoa, Mina, I...I mean, I wasn't trying to be rude or anything..."
"I know. Just shut up already."
"I don't know if Katayama truly has the motivation to beat Bakugo," said Ojiro.
"I think..." Yaoyorozu leaned forward, puzzled. "I think his look is different from before."
"What do you think, Deku?" Uraraka asked him.
Midoriya folded his hands under his chin, resting his elbows on his knees. "Kacchan's reflexes are superhuman. I mean, he was able to keep you at bay no matter what."
Uraraka pouted. "Katayama is faster than me, though."
"Even so..." Midoriya's eyebrows furrowed. "Even if Katayama got within range of Kacchan, what could he do? Try and push him out? Kacchan can propel himself in whatever direction he wants in an instant, and that explosive power definitely overrides normal human strength. I just...I just don't think Katayama's odds are too good."
Iida still had not returned.
Todoroki quietly left the box to go get ready for his final. He was pretty sure Bakugo would win. I must think about what I'm going to do.
...
"Ready?" Midnight asked them.
"Mmhmm." Bakugo's face was serious now.
"Am I ever," Doko said.
Midnight gave him a worried glance, and then backed up.
"SECOND SEMIFINAL!" yelled Present Mic. "START!"
Doko got into a defensive position, ready for Bakugo to blast toward him...and nothing happened.
The blonde boy just stood there, watching him solemnly.
Doko relaxed, confused. "What are you doing? We've started."
"I know."
"..."
"..."
Doko stepped slowly sideways. "You were so ready to fight me before. Not gonna attack?"
Bakugo shrugged. "Nah. I saw what you did with Raccoon Eyes. Just pulled her along on a string. I'm NOT letting you make a fool out of me that way." He might have smirked. "I'm not some girl like your last two wins. You want to fight? Fight like a man, crackhead. Come at me." He remained where he was.
Doko's face twitched. "Fine," he growled.
He cracked his neck both ways, and then took two steps forward, punching the air as if loading his fists. The crowd gasped. "OH!" Present Mic yelled.
Doko ran straight at Bakugo, not hesitating, an expression of absolute determination on his face.
"What's your plan, idiot?!" Bakugo swept up an explosion with his right hand as Doko came into range...and Doko flashed backward out of range just as the explosion went off. Before the smoke could clear, Doko warped again through the smoke, and swung an uppercut into Bakugo's chin as hard as he could. Bakugo staggered back, and the crowd roared in shock. Doko shoved him toward the line, pushing as fast as he could, but the explosion user regained his senses. Bakugo grabbed Doko with his left and hand and with his right sent out an explosion behind them both, propelling them forward into the center of the platform. Doko warped sideways out of his clutches.
"KATAYAMA OPENS STRONG! HE NEARLY HAD HIM THERE...damn it..."
"Wow, I wonder who you're rooting for," Aizawa said sarcastically.
Bakugo looked up, a wildness in his eyes. Blood was dripping from his face. "You're gonna pay for that tricky shit you just pulled," he growled.
Pretense had been abandoned.
Bakugo screamed in fury, and came launching right at him.
Doko warped out of the way of the first explosion, but Bakugo predicted which way he'd flash, and sent out a sideways impact with his other hand. Doko got a faceful of heat and ashes as he warped backward, frantically trying to escape.
Bakugo was relentless. He launched at him again. Doko feigned a flash, rolled under the next explosion, and landed a glancing punch on the other boy's shoulder. When Bakugo's open palm came around in a wide swipe from the left, crackling with fire, Doko nearly warped right to get out of the way...but time seemed to slow, and he saw Bakugo's right fist charging up an explosion at his side.
Doko ducked the left swipe and warped left, crossing Bakugo and punching him again. This time, he got within Bakugo's arm range, and the explosion went past both of them. In the split second before Bakugo grabbed him by the shirt, Doko landed four lightning punches to his stomach.
Doko got ready to flash out, thinking Bakugo was about throw him, but then the boy's other hand lit up toward the ground...and they both went flying, Bakugo carrying Doko several feet into the air. At the peak of their jump, Bakugo slammed down with both fiery fists, and Doko felt his back explode in burning pain as he zoomed back toward the concrete ground.
At the last second, Doko flashed sideways, changing his gravitational velocity and rolling somewhat messily away from where he would have impacted.
"OH! THAT FELT LIKE A FINISHING MOVE FROM BAKUGO, BUT KATAYAMA NARROWLY AVOIDED GETTING KNOCKED OUT!"
Doko got shakily to his feet, realising his gym clothes were partially charred and torn. Was his back smoking? There had been an explosion of pain, but now he couldn't tell if he felt anything.
Bakugo landed and smiled, his palms crackling. He looked Doko up and down. "I'll give you this much, you're a challenge to finish off," he said. "Come on, attack me again."
Doko wiped sweat off his face, shrugged, and obliged.
...
Class A watched in increasing shock and awe as the two boys charged each other. "OH, THAT'S A...YIKES, ANOTHER...OOOOOH!" Present Mic kept interrupting himself.
It was the fastest paced fight yet. Bakugo launched himself up and over Katayama, trying to blow the warper's back, but Katayama teleported and crossed him again, landing a kick to the back of Bakugo's legs. Bakugo briefly crumbled, but sprang off the ground with two more explosions as Katayama's fist swiped through open air. Bakugo turned as he went upward and launched two more explosions towards Katayama, who warped through their smoke to punch Bakugo in the face. The explosion user dodged left by blowing up his right hand out to the right, and brought his left hand up from below, nearly finally landing a conclusive blow on Katayama...but the warper flashed out of the way. This continued, on and on. They danced with each other at lightning speed. The crowd was going nuts. The constant explosions and smoke made it hard to see, but they could see enough.
"Holy shit," Sero muttered.
"This is insane," said Kaminari.
"Katayama's fighting completely differently from before," Ojiro pointed out. "In his fight with Ashido, he mostly warped backwards to dodge attacks...but now, he's mostly warping sideways, or even diagonally forwards. He's defending by attacking. He's...matching Bakugo's fighting style."
"Did you not hear their conversation?" asked Jiro.
"I did," Shoji piped up. "We were probably the only ones, due to our Quirks. Bakugo asked Katayama to attack him. Katayama is simply giving him the fight he desires."
Midoriya was leaning so far forward that it looked like he was keeled over sick. "I don't believe it."
"What?" Mina asked, talking over Uraraka, leaning toward the green-haired boy. "What is it?" She wanted any insight to what was happening.
"Kacchan's reflexes are insane, like I said before. I've never seen anyone match them consistently...until now."
Bakugo had just taken two more light blows from Katayama. He screamed in pain and frustration and sent out a flurry of explosions, like a less intense version of what he'd finished off Kirishima with. Katayama simply warped sideways and forward, only getting grazed by the heat, and kicked Bakugo in the stomach.
The crowd and Class A all gasped as Bakugo staggered back, briefly seeming vulnerable.
"Kacchan's not used to something this hard," Midoriya muttered, loud enough for only Uraraka and the leaning Mina to hear. "Obviously he was somewhat ready for it...but still. I was taken aback but how much he managed to keep cool during his first two fights. But now? I think he's getting frustrated. And that must be what Katayama wants."
Mina looked over at Doko...who didn't look too great either. He HAD taken hits here and there, and he was battered, his clothes burnt. His limbs seemed to hang limper than before.
"Hang in there, please..." she mumbled. She didn't notice that Tsu was listening.
...
"You think any of your little flurry punches are doing anything to me?!" Bakugo taunted, launching over his head again. Doko was getting tired, attacking less. He chose to warp backward this time, leaning out of the explosion just in time.
"Grrr! Come on, where's your attack!" Launched at him again. Doko warped sideways.
"DON'T START THIS NOW! I swear I'll blow you to smithereens!" Bakugo sent out another series of fast explosions, spinning as he did it to cover all his sides. Doko had tried to go sideways, and paid the price, getting the full blast of one and flying backward. He warped to slow himself, and skidded on his heels to a stop.
The crowd was murmuring.
"This is crazy."
"Did you hear what the blonde kid said?"
"I'm kinda rootin' for the grey haired kid now."
Doko's eyes flashed downward to the decimated platform. Pieces of concrete rubble had broken apart all over the place from Bakugo's explosions.
Pieces.
Uraraka...hope you don't mind, but I may refine your idea a little bit.
Bakugo launched himself forward again, and this time Doko stood his ground...lifting his arm up, and sending the violet energy out through his hand. The crowd all noticed at once. "OH?" from Present Mic.
Bakugo hesitated a moment...and Doko warped the concrete chunk over his head, dropping it.
"HOLY SHIIII..."
Bakugo nearly ran out of time, being forced to blast himself out of the way rather than blow the rubble out of the sky the way he'd done Uraraka's meteor shower. The concrete struck the ground loudly and broke into pieces.
Damn, Doko thought as he dodged Bakugo's next relentless attack. His reflexes are still just too quick.
"Round Face's idea is gonna fail just as hard with you doing it!" Bakugo shouted at him.
Doko kept warping back away from the blonde boy's attacks, making sure he stayed oriented and far enough off from the boundary line. My meter limit is my advantage here. Dropping them from less height than Uraraka...gives him less time! And I can do it an instant! As the two of them danced over another section of rubble, Doko warped three more pieces over Bakugo's head, flinging both hands into the air, glowing violet. Bakugo blasted them to pebbles, and charged again. "This isn't going to work, useless extra!" he growled.
Doko dodged again, and again. He warped another chunk. Bakugo blasted it. "And next..." Doko held one hand behind his back, and flicked it, trying to mask that he'd dropped another rubble piece, but Bakugo blew it away too. "...you'll try some behind-the-back shit. Predictable!"
Doko warped out of the way a second too late, and got another faceful of hot embers. He stumbled backward, choking and waving a hand in front of his face.
Every part of his body ached and felt charred. His clothes were a ruin.
And the boundary line was right behind him.
"KATAYAMA'S LAST STRATEGY SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED! IS THIS IT?" Present Mic declared.
The crowd muttered.
"Look how tattered he is..."
"He can't go on like this..."
"Sure you don't want to give up?" Bakugo asked angrily, stepping forward slowly. "You may have started trying, thinking stupidly that you could compare to me, but you'll still be an extra," he snarled. "And you were too much of a little bitch for too long. You don't have my respect, Crackhead."
"No one respects YOU, so why should I care?!" Doko yelled back, and the closest crowd went suddenly silent. "Shout at people, talk down to them, do whatever you like! Every time you do, you make the chances of you having ANYTHING besides your stupid powers grow smaller and smaller. But sure, this fucking match matters. Putting me in my place matters, oh of course. We wouldn't want anyone realising they're better than the great Bakugo. So go ahead, come at me! Blow me out of this ring! I won't run!" He put all his fury and determination into his face.
Bakugo roared, and launched at him, corkscrewing in mid-air with spinning explosions, sending beams of smoke out in all directions.
"OH MY GOD!"
"He's gonna kill him!"
Time it right.
"MIDNIGHT!" Cementoss shouted, getting off his throne. Midnight frantically ripped her sleeve.
He'll land...
Bakugo stretched his palms back for the final blow. "HOWITZER..."
...there.
Half of Class A stood up at once. "DOOOOKOOO!" someone shouted.
"IMPAAAAAACT!" Bakugo swung his hands forward as he landed with a BOOOOM, and Doko disappeared in a great eruption of light. The explosion was massive, sending a rumble through the stands that reverberated through everyone's skin.
A single chunk of concrete, glowing purple, was dropped from the sky, landing hard on the top of Bakugo's head.
The crowd went from an uproar to complete silence, like all the air had just been sucked from them.
Bakugo's eyes seemed to bug out cartoonishly as the chunk slowly slid off his head. He swayed drunkenly, and then collapsed.
The smoke cleared to reveal Doko Katayama, standing behind the fallen boy with his arm up in the air, having warped completely clear of the blast.
A stunned Midnight took her hand off her sleeve. "Bakugo...is out of bounds! Katayama advances to the final!"
The purple light faded from Doko's hand, and he closed it into a fist, thrusting it further into the air in silent victory.
The celebrations from the crowd were deafening.
Next time...the chapter you all (and I) have been waiting for. The final. The promised face off between Doko and Shoto. Also, there will be some other stuff, like All Might's reaction to all of this and an explanation from Midoriya as to how Doko managed to defeat Bakugo. Stay tuned...we'll end 2019 with the end of the Sports Festival.