Original Author Note
A note of caution
This is a self-congratulatory novel by myself for myself.
Please overlook typos and omissions.
The setting is messy.
Gudako = Ritsuka Fujimaru
Due to the setting of the story, the original character's position has been changed to Ritsuka.
If you're okay with that, go ahead.
"Die!"
With a line unbecoming of a hero, Bakugo blew away his opponent with a constant bombardment.
"Bakugo Katsuki advances to the next round"
"Now we have the top four."
There's no pause, the next match start immediately.
Midoriya took his place in the audience, not wanting to miss the next match. Not only Midoriya, but most of the audience was paying attention to this match.
"Semi-final! Let's get cracking.
Elite from a heroic family! What's with that quirk? It's too cheating!
Todoroki Shoto!
So far, everything has been over instantly! The strongest girl in the normal department suddenly appears! Her abilities have yet to be discovered!
Ritsuka Fujimaru‼︎"
《START！》
Almost at the same time as the signal, Todoroki released an iceberg that struck Ritsuka. The venue was filled with cold air.
"Oh, no! Even for girls, Todoroki doesn't show any mercy.
Is this the end of the match?"
It would be impossible to restrain that iceberg.
Not just Midoriya, but everyone in the audience who had watched Ritsuka's matches so far thought so. However, it was hard to imagine that the frightening reaction speed that even Ida's "Recipro Burst" could not match would not be in time for Todoroki's attack. Todoroki must have known this as well. Immediately after his attack, he immediately moved away from the spot.
However, there was no change in the iceberg, and he couldn't even tell what was going on inside the iceberg. Just when the uninformed spectators were convinced that Todoroki had won.
"uaaaaa!"
Red flames erupted from the iceberg as the girl's cry was heard. And coming out of the hole in the iceberg was Ritsuka, with beautiful golden eyes. In her hand, she was holding a fan.
"wh-wh-wh-what the heck!?
Isn't Fujimaru quirk chains!?"
Present Mike shouts out.
The venue was filled with noise.
『Thank you very much for choosing me master ... I Kiyohime am are very thrilled!』
"uu... I choose kiyohime because she can wield flame, but is this really the correct decision?"
『Did you say something?』
"Aaah,...no, I'm just so glad to talk to kiyohime after such a long time (true feelings)"
『Aaah... master you're such a... (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)』
Ritsuka was having a leisurely conversation with Kiyohime, who had possessed her. Then, ice suddenly attacked from the side.
She quickly dodged it, but the ice continued to attack her.
『Is that guy trying to disturb my reunion with master?...
I'll burn him down.』
"Please don't"
When Ritsuka swung her fan, a blue fireball appeared in the air and shattered the ice that had attacked her.
"Eiya!"
She takes another swing, and the flames go towards Todoroki.
Todoroki stopped it with ice and attacked again. However, no matter how hard he attacked, Ritsuka easily bounced it back. At first, the fight seemed to be evenly matched, but it was clear to the audience that Todoroki was gradually losing ground.
"...Why don't you use your left side?"
Ritsuka spoke to Todoroki.
In the previous match against Midoriya, Todoroki used his left hand, which he had not used before. But to Ritsuka's eyes, Todoroki seemed to be in doubt. Todoroki didn't say anything.
The simple attacks increased. Although he didn't show it on his face, Todoroki was getting impatient with the way Ritsuka was pushing him.
"...all right that's good enough."
It's convenient for me, Ritsuka muttered in her mind.
And then, suddenly, she closed the distance between her and Todoroki.
"Hah!"
She vigorously swung her large fan, which was enveloped in flames.
Ritsuka's attack hit Todoroki directly.
She put her hand on Todoroki's chest without pause, and before Todoroki could react.
『~Burn~』
said Kiyohime, raising her voice. At that moment, Ritsuka and Todoroki were enveloped in a huge pillar of fire. Screams erupted from the audience at the sight. Some were stunned by the sheer amount of heat. When the pillar of fire subsided, there was Ritsuka, who was unharmed, and Todoroki, who was tattered but barely standing. Todoroki quickly distanced himself from Ritsuka. He was surprised to find that he still had some strength left to move. No, he hadn't actually been engulfed in a pillar of fire. The flames had just barely touched Todoroki.
『Well... he's a stubborn man.』
"Are we still doing this?"
At Ritsuka's question, Todoroki reflexively nodded. Fortunately, thanks to the use of flames by the opponent, the disadvantage of using only ice on the right side to lower the body temperature is compensated for.
It's just a matter of how much energy he have left. In the first place, he was completely out of his depth at this point. Todoroki was planning to give it his all in the next attack.
"I'm almost at my limit. I'll finish this with the next move."
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『Tenshin Kashou Zanmai(Samadhi Through Transforming Flames)』
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"You may want to be a hero, but so do I. ...
Todoroki gave a small grunt. Then, with all his might, he put his right hand out in front of him.
I saw Ritsuka looking at me with a puzzled look on her face.
Her mouth was half open, and her eyes were wide open. Todoroki was puzzled.
Had he said something strange? Why did she stop attacking? What's with that face? What is going on all of a sudden?
Ritsuka didn't make a single move. This may have been the perfect time, but Todoroki was confused.
The venue began to buzz again when they saw the two of them. No wonder. The two people who had been fighting just a moment ago were still staring at each other in silence and not moving an inch. At that moment, Ritsuka shook her head and said something.
"...not"
"What?"
I asked back. This time, Ritsuka answered loud enough for Todoroki to hear.
"No, I'm not. I'm not a hero. I don't know why I'm doing this...!
... when I'm not qualified to be one."
The last part was almost too abstract for Todoroki to hear. He just looked suspiciously at Ritsuka, who was upset all by herself.
"What's wrong both of you? If you keep this up, both of you will be considered to have abandoned the match!"
Midnight's words brought Todoroki back to himself.
And then, with some confusion, he tried to seal Ritsuka, who still refused to move, with an ice freeze.
"...All right"
Faster than todoroki, she arranged her fingertips and pointed his hand to the sky.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru, I abstain."
Ritsuka proudly announced her surrender.
"...What?"
It was not only Todoroki's voice, but the voices of all the people in the venue.
"What's your reason?"
When Midnight asked why, Ritsuka twisted her head in confusion.
"Stomach pain- maybe?
She definitely just thought of that
Everyone felt that way, although they didn't say it out loud.
Maybe? What does that mean. Also why did you end your sentence with a question.
"I see, ..., I accept Fujimaru's abstention from the match!."
"IS THAT ALL RIGHT!"
This time everyone in the venue said it in unison.
Or rather, Ritsuka herself was saying it in unison.
"Fujimaru abstain
Todoroki-kun ───… Advance to the third round!"
Ritsuka hurriedly left the venue.
The remaining spectators and Todoroki were still unable to comprehend the situation as the match ended.
As a result, the U.A High School Sports Festival ended with the victory of Bakugo Katsuki of Class A.
The sports festival was over and all that was left was to go home.
It was when Shinso was going through the back of the gym to use the restroom.
He heard the sound of water running from the faucet in the washroom on the other side of the turn.
It seemed that someone had left the water running without turning it off. There was no sign of anyone else around, so he tried to turn the corner to turn off the water, and stopped in his tracks.
There was a girl in the washroom, which he had thought was empty. The girl was staring blankly at the flowing water.
Her face looked pale.
Shinso knew the girl.
She was a regular student, but she made it to the finals and showed overwhelming power before eventually giving up.
-It's Ritsuka Fujimaru, who is also shinso's classmate.
He hadn't spoken to her since the end of Ritsuka's match and had many questions he wanted to ask her, so he tried to talk to her.
But for some reason, he couldn't.
Her eyes were actually blank as she stared at the water flowing from the faucet, and he couldn't read any emotion in her pale face.
It looks like she's not feeling well, but...
He quietly moved away from her without making a sound so that she would not notice him. It would sound like an excuse. But for some reason, He felt like he shouldn't talk to her right now.
And even if he had, she would have said, "It's nothing". I'm sure she would have replied, like that.
Maybe ────...
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Maybe, if you're a hero, if you're All Might, (the symbol of peace).
I wonder if All Might, (the symbol of peace), would have been able to call out to her.
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He's sure she was suffering alone at that time.
Translator note:
The last part is kinda hard to explain. I think the author is trying to say something like how shinso doesn't have the courage, charisma, or communication skill like All Might. If All Might were the one who found Fujimaru at that time, He would definitely try to talk to her.
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Oh and in case you're wondering why Ritsuka has a puzzled look, it's probably because she told kiyohime (Who is possessing her body) to lose the match.