She didn't watch Kirishima and Tetsutetsu's battle. Akemi panted slightly as she rushed around the corner to the waiting room, gotta find Ochako, she's up against Bakugou for fuck's sake, god...
She turned a corner and slowed into walk as she heard Izuku and Tenya's voice— they're already there. She walked over and pushed open the door.
"... Even if it's not Kacchan, no one would think of holding back." She entered just in time to hear Izuku say, and they turned around to look at her.
"Akemi!"
"Akemi-chan..."
The look on Akemi's face softened.
"Ochako, I trust you." She stated. Looking at the notebook in Izuku's hand she already know what he's going to offer but she knows Ochako won't accept it. "So I'm not here to wish you good luck— you don't need it."
Izuku and Tenya startled, starting to stutter out some sort of response. But Ochako just looked up.
"Because you are strong. Ochako. You don't need luck. You don't need help. All you need to know, is that we're with you and by your side." She continued, grinning, "and no matter in which game or which way you plan on winning, your determination is all that you need, Ochako-chan, I'll be cheering you on."
"Akemi-chan..." The girl almost teared up, she sniffled and wiped her nose, "You're all amazing..."
"I keep seeing more and more amazing sides to you all... During the cavalry battle I thought it'd be easier to team up with friends, but now thinking about it, I might've been trying to rely on you, Deku-kun, Akemi-chan. That's why, when Iida said he'd challenge you, it actually made me feel a little embarrassed."
"Uraraka-san..."
"That's why, " she Looked up with determined eyes, "I'll challenge you all. Akemi, Deku-kun, Iida-kun." She nodded, "I'll give my all, and either outplan, or outsmart you!"
My speech! Akemi's eyes widened. The speech had been a conversation from her webtoon (which went viral just a while ago) which she discarded. It was supposed to be from a mentor to her student, who's cursed to be the protector of humankind and the last defence against a powerful deity. It moved her so much (She cried so hard while writing that) that she altered it, made it less dark and used it in her speech. It was a lot darker initially, but to hear it used like this...
She gave Ochako-chan a big hug, and smiled before holding out her hand.
"I'll see you in the semi-finals, Ochako!"
"You too! Akemi!"
They watched as Uraraka walked into the stadium, sitting silently next to one another.
"You were about to offer her one of your strategies, aren't you?" Akemi spoke up, "You're lucky; I stopped you."
"Huh? How'd you—" he glanced at the notebook in his hand, "...yeah. But why lucky?"
"Objectively speaking, I don't think Ochako can win." She said, leaning back. "Her physical stats and quirk power, when compared to Bakugou, is entirely insignificant. However, unlike Bakugou, her mental status is much better. While Bakugou is powered by greed and the pure animalistic desire to win, at least, for now." At Izuku's doubtful look she added quickly. "Ochako's determination has a steady base and isn't shaken easily. With the right words you can easily shake Bakugou and make him vulnerable, but with Uraraka, it's harder. Since she is not fighting for herself."
"Akemi... You're good at this!" Izuku looked at her with wide eyes, "Analysis, I mean."
"Well I am a novelist." She smiled. "I need to break down personalities, psychological states, and more to make a character convincing. It helps."
They turned back to the stage, "And, let me guess. Your strategy for her is to finish it quick, right?"
"...yeah." Izuku nodded, "in a real, close combat fight, Kacchan has almost no openings. And the more he moves, the stronger his quirk gets. His explosions can be used to increase his mobility, but if Uraraka touches him and makes him float..."
"... Then she would gain the upper hand." Akemi finished. "It's a good one, Izu. But..." She looked back at the stage, "I think Ochako has something much flashier planned."
She watched as Ochako dashed in swiftly, only to be blasted by Bakugou, and smiled.
That's a good one, Ochako. She glanced up, just make sure you outlast him.
Use the smokescreen. She leaned back and crossed her arms, find every last weakness and dig your teeth into it. And don't let go.
It was a brutal fight. But Akemi didn't look away. She can't. She can't when her plan is working so well; she can't when Ochako is so close to winning.
Boos started to come from the crowd, but Akemi paid them no mind. Here eyes are on the sky.
Bakugou...
You idiot.
While you're damaging the ring, every move you make...
Is giving her more weapons.
She smiled as Aizawa-sensei began to give the audience a stern talking to, and as she watched Uraraka wipe her brows she smiled.
That should be enough.
"See that?" She said, loud enough for the entire 1A booth to hear, "that, is what you call a plan."
"Uraraka-san—" Izuku almost gaped, "That plan is—"
"Reckless and brutal." Akemi finished, "But that's not what she's aiming for."
Tenya and Izuku looked towards her, and Akemi glanced at her.
"Everyone loves an underdog. The story of an underdog rising to the strongest is always fulfilling. Ochako-chan noticed this, and even. Even if she lost in this match, the heroes will notice her, see her." She grinned, "playing the long game, hu? Good play, Ochako."
Her smile didn't fall as the metro shower rained down, not did it fall as Bakugou fired off his explosion, demolishing it all.
She watched as Ochako fell, and as she crawled her way to Bakugou, before she finally, finally fell and passed out.
Ochako... She glanced towards the pro's booth, you've already won.
Please RnR for motivation!
