A.N: Hey-hey-hey all! As per usual, thank you all for your continued support, and onto the reviews!

Noble Graysin: Pfft, I wouldn't say that's what's gonna happen right off the bat dude XD. Seriously speaking, I'm trying to back the build-up of their relationship as realistic as possible. Them screwing right off the bat, while plausible, ain't what I'm going for... yet.

SkeenTheDream: Glad you loved the chapter my man! Also happy that you're glad with how I'm progressing Rappa as a character, at least in this version of events. Gotta say, that spin-off story sounds tempting... food for thought then. The battle is here, and I can only hope it delivers! Thanks for the support my man!

Longnose: Always happy to put out another chapter dude! Damn, it's crazy to think that close to three months have already passed since I made this story. Another three months sounds like a load of fun!

God Doesn't Love You: Hmm, powers for Rumi and Kendo, I'd have to say no. It's more about them mastering their new forms or tweaking them for better efficiency. Attacks? YES.

ChernoAlpha117: Hmm, as a fan of RWBY, Ember Celica seemed like a great choice at first for Kendo, but I decided not. The main reason it just because of how large Ember Celica would be on his arms. Sure, it'll increase his striking-ability, but it's still big enough that the metal used, even if lightweight, still weighs a bunch. That'll hamper his speed and cost him more precise movements. Still, not to say I can't take a little inspiration, eh? Ooh, Strong Rabbit is actually a pretty good name, if a little bit funny XD. Definitely something I'll keep in mind dude. Thanks for the support dude!

Anon: Oooh, another man of culture! Yup, Sendo's moves are based off of Dawei's Karate-Style in God Of Highschool. Glad you liked it dude, it ain't the only reference I'll make to the series!

And now, the moment I've been building up to since Rumi and Kendo first met by the tree all those months ago... the final round is here! Let's Rumble!

Rumble, Young Man Rumble!

Chapter 23

The final Showdown!

Both Kendo and Rumi were of the same mindset as of this current moment. They felt as if walking into the sunshine, the crowd roaring their names and raw excitement in the air. They kept their eyes down, knowing that they couldn't contain themselves if their eyes met.

'You realize that your body is completely fucked, right?' The other him said, 'You might not last all that long in the match.'

'I know,' Kendo chuckled as he took his shirt off, throwing it to the side, 'That's not stopping me and I refuse to bitch out. Not when she's the one in front of me.'

'Haha, alright then!' The other him laughed. 'Let's fight until one of us drops!'

'My right hand still isn't fully fixed up, my mind's still pretty groggy from using that thing, and I might still have a bit of a concussion,' Rumi thought, 'Some of my movements are gonna be off or inaccurate, and against Kendo, that would completely screw me over.' Even then, she struggled to keep the giddy smile from her face. 'Is it weird that I don't really care?'

"Finalists of the Fist Year Tournament!" Midnight called out, "ARE YOU READY!?"

Their eyes down, faces hidden from the camera, there were no words between the two warriors as they silently shifted into their stances.

"Hey-hey now… what's up with Kendo?" Yu asked, "His stance looks too loose compared to his last fights."

"Just because his second wind kicked in, it's highly unlikely that he restored any significant amount of stamina," Sendo answered. "Even with the thirty-minute break, his body's energy is only really hanging on by a thread. That stance… he's going to try and move with the bare minimum amount of energy his body has left. A sort of maximum efficiency on an almost-empty tank, I suppose."

"Then this'll be decided very soon," Shinji stated, "Or we're in for the long haul."

The entire area when silent, everyone leaning on the edge of their seats. Kendo began lightly bouncing on the spot, Rumi doing the same as the tension increased more and more.

"Let the final match of the First-Year Tournament… BEGIN!"

(Que Music: One Punch Man OST: Dark Energy)

In an instant, Kendo's body blasted forward just as Rumi did the same. Both of their eyes were up, both of them roaring as Rumi threw out a right-roundhouse kick, Kendo throwing a right-hook. Both of their attacks met with a sharp *BANG*, a shockwave zooming through the air as the crowd burst into cheers. Rumi and Kendo were smiling, wide, unrestrained, fierce and utterly happy. Still, the first clash had been a telling one. Rumi had only been forced to step back slightly, but Kendo had been blown back several feet, even if he managed to keep his footing. Yet despite that, he still rushed right back in, firing off a quick jab-cross.

Weaving by both of them, she stepped in close, her left hand shooting up in an uppercut right for his chin, forcing him his step back again. The moment they parted, Kendo swayed back from a terrifying roundhouse kick that nearly took his head off, shock rippling through the crowd as Kendo returned fire, a quick jab-jab-cross combo ripping through the air, all of them dodged as she flipped back, deftly landing on her toes. Still Kendo continued to pressure her, dashing forward as his fists suddenly blurred. "Wrath Helix!"

She dashed right back in, eyes wide as she weaved and deflected his rush of punches to try and land one of her own. He was nimble of his feet, shifting back to let her punch whiff before he countered, a hard right-cross ripping through the air. She didn't stand idle, launching a whirling hook-kick, both attacks clashing with a sharp *BANG*, the force blowing them both backwards yet again.

"His strength is almost completely gone." Yu, Sendo and Shinji looked behind them to see Tetsude standing there, his face blank as his eyes remained on the fight. "I dunno how he's managing to keep his speed up, but his punches don't have any more weight behind them." They all turned back to the fight, and saw that his words rang true: Rumi was outright blocking and meeting Kendo's attacks head on, each little clash pushing him further and further backwards. His body, even if he was somehow managing to move at full speed, lacked that raw strength he held in the previous rounds. Rumi herself was the one who felt this the most, a small tinge of sadness in her eyes.

"Hey now, don't go looking at me like that!" Kendo laughed, clenching his fists. "I might not have that much strength left, but… I've never felt so loose before!" Her eyebrows immediately shot up as his combinations began to flow together, almost as if his body was made of water. Left-hook flowed into a right-cross. Right-uppercut flowed into an overhand-right. High-jab into low-jab. All of it blended together as his body picked up even more in speed, Rumi working her arms more and more furiously to keep up. "Swimming Swallow!"

'Goddamn Kendo! You're dead on your feet, you've got no power left, your body is a wreak… and you're still fighting like this!?' Her grin turned wider as he finally stood his ground, both of them locked in a stalemate. 'Normally, you're so stiff that you wouldn't be able to do something like this, but because of all the punishment you've taken, all your muscles are probably super-loose, huh? You're incredible!' Her eyes sharpened suddenly. 'Still… more speed doesn't change the fact that you're completely out of strength.' For a split second, she saw an opening in his rhythm and stepped in, shooting her foot straight for his chest. "Luna Strike!"

Her heel smashed right into him, his body skidding back as blood flew from his lips, his legs shaking as he struggled to stay on his feet. "THE FIRST HIT LANDED FOLKS!" Present Mic yelled, "RUMI HAS LANDED THE FIRST HIT OF THE FIGHT!"

'Good, that should slow him down for now-!'

"Flashing Wrath: SMASH!" This time, it was Rumi who went flying back, blood spurting from her nose and cut lip. Her back hit the ground but she rolled to her feet, her eyes wide in surprise. "If 'Raging Flash' is me closing the distance, and 'Wrath-Breaker' is about striking," Kendo chuckled, wiping blood from his mouth, "I'll just put the two of them together!" Rumi laughed as she shot to her feet, spitting blood onto the concrete.

"You're really the best Kendo!" The look on her face softened as she smiled openly. "I don't think there's anyone here who can give me a fight like you have. Thank you." He smiled back, equally soft and open.

"Ain't nobody else who deserves this more than you, Rumi."

Rumi took off like a bullet, her fist instantly cracking across Kendo's jaw. He stood his ground and roared as his fired a snapping jab back, busting her nose. She let her body flow with the momentum, springing from the ground and shooting a kick for his gut. He pushed off his toes and grabbed her ankle, heaving to slam her into the floor, but a heel to his neck forced him to let go, letting her tuck her body to spring off the ground once more, another roundhouse kick aimed to take his head off. He was ready this time, punching with all his weight and with a roar of "ORAA!" Something in his arm groaned as he barely caught her kick with his punch, dashing forwards and blasting into her cheek with a right cross, her body tumbling across the ground. The crowd was going nuts.

"GO RUMI, KEEP IT UP!" Yu yelled out.

"DO YOUR BEST KENDO!" Shinji shouted.

"FIGHT HARD YOU TWO!" Sendo roared.

"DON'T YOU DARE BITCH OUT NOW!" Even Tetsude was getting pumped up. Kendo was knocked back from a sharp right-cross on his cheek, his face open as Rumi lashed out with a left roundhouse-kick.

"Weeping Dragon!" Her body went flying into the air as he smoothly managed to redirect her kick straight up. Even still, deflecting one kick wouldn't be enough. She went with the flow, springing off her back foot and spinning to shoot out her right leg right into Kendo's temple. The *BANG* that went off made everyone wince as he stumbled back for a moment, barely managing to work his feet as he dashed out of her range.

'Shit, I can't just rely on one big Redirection-move! How the hell am I gonna use Weeping Dragon consecutively without leaving myself open?' He moved to step back again, but his eyes shot wide open as his legs buckled, his body stiffening out from the damage. 'SHIT!'

"KENDO'S HURT AND HURT BAD! IS THIS THE END FOLKES!?"

'It's a damn shame that we aren't at our best,' Rumi thought as she dashed forward, her right hand drawn back and clenched. 'Still, this fight was perfect. You've satisfied me, and I don't want you to get hurt unnecessarily. So… SAY GOODNIGHT!'

(Music End)

*BANG*

The crowd went dead silent. He stopped her punch with an open, steaming hand.

"Shit... didn't want to really use this thing, because I know that if I had to, then I'd only last maybe... two more minutes. But... you're worth my 1000% Rumi Usagiyama!" Veins bulged, his skin turned a light red, and steam rose from him as he looked up at her, grinning.

"Time to get real. ADVANCE."

Again, the crowd exploded. Cheers rained down as raw excitement roared through the arena. Kendo's fingers gripped Rumi's fist tightly, slowly pushing her back and down as bones creaked. 'I can control it!' Kendo thought, 'It's like trying to hold back a sports car, but I can control the Advance from going wild and completely wrecking my body. Now I use actual techniques without losing any precision! Not to mention…' He gripped tighter, seeing her wince in pain. 'Her hand was shattered against Ryuko's scales. I've got something that I can chip away at!'

"You big, stupid, stubborn goddamn idiot…!" Kendo was forced to let go as be barely put up his guard, partially redirecting a kick that he could barely see aimed for his chest, skidding back several feet. The sheer speed and force behind it was like a lightning-bolt, his arms going numb as the bones in his hands fractured.

'Ah shit,' He chuckled, looking up. 'I forgot you had that.'

Once more, her enlarged nerves pulsed and strobed with light, her hair flowing on its own as her eyes glowed like twin moons. Combined with her bleeding nose, her busted lip, her unwavering smile, she looked absolutely beautiful to him.

"If you're… gonna put everything on the line… like that," She said, moving into her own stance. "Then… I'll do... the same! You call your ace… Advance?"

"Yup. You come up with something?" He asked, his fists up as his blood raced.

"Yeah… I'll call this… KENGAN! Let's… finish this!"

"DAMN STRAIGHT!" He roared. "LET'S RUMBLE!"

Steam and lightning were blasted around the arena as they clashed, their bodies blurs of red and pale white. No thought for guarding, everything was attack, counters, and aggressive defence. His hook-upper cracked her ribs and jaw. Her kick-cross busted his liver and lip. A missed right cross as she weaved under, her foot lashing through air as he swayed back, only for the both of them to return beating the living daylights from each other. She dodged more and hit faster, but he was tougher, hopped up on adrenaline. Every blow he landed struck deep, her engorged nerves sending her body reeling with sharp agony even through the adrenaline. Even so, she smiled. His body, even with the controlled output of the Advance, was still screaming in agony and exhaustion. Still, he smiled back.

'It's taking everything I have to just barely keep up!' Kendo thought, his mind reeling for a moment as he took a kick to the liver, his blood-pressure suddenly dropping for a moment. 'But… holy shit, this is so much fun!' He barely slipped past a trio of kicks, one of them just barely brushing his ribs, yet still breaking it all the same. He moved in and fired off another Wrath-Breaker right at her guard. It was Rumi he ducked right under the mighty punch, slamming her elbow into his solar-plexus and immediately following up into a back-handed strike, so fast that it seemed as if she struck two places in one instant move.

'He's a hell of a lot faster, and his punches have more bite,' Rumi thought, her damaged areas ringing with sharp, stabbing pains, 'But I can still deal with it! I don't know how he's managing to control the Advance, but his body's still too tired to do any real damage to me! I'll end this soon!' The point-blank fire-fight raged on, Kendo blasting away with his Wrath Helix barrage, his fists seeming to multiply in the air as they rained down on Rumi like a hail of bullets. In spite of that, she was dodging almost every single one of them, a small handful clipping her but otherwise dealing no real damage.

"How in God's name is he not hitting her!?" Yu asked, aghast at the display of might happening between the two fighters. "Sure, she's faster than Kendo overall, but she shouldn't be able to dodge damn near everything at such a close range!"

"It's not just speed," Sendo said, "It's her ability to see and react even faster than Kendo. She can probably see every punch coming her way, and her body is now fast enough to respond to her brain's commands. He'll be hard-pressed to hit her!" Indeed, just as he said that, Rumi's punch ripped through the air and blasted right into Kendo's stomach, blood flying from his mouth before she followed up with three more instantaneous punches to his stomach, chest and eye, even more blood flying through the air as a gash opened up right over his left eye. With his eyes closed on reflex, Rumi threw out one more careful but devastating attack, tensing her toes as she lashed out with a low kick.

There was a sickening *SQUELCH* as her big-toe pierced the skin of his thigh, going an inch deep as he grunted in an attempt to stave off the agony, quickly throwing up his guard just as another kick was sent to impact his chin, his body blown onto his back before he rolled to a crouch. He muffled a cry of pain as blood spurt from the wound in his leg. 'Dammit! It's not just gonna affect my footwork, but the Advance…!'

'You'd best shut it down,' The other him warned, 'You could go into shock if you don't.' He kissed his teeth, his skin returning to its normal shade and his blood-circulation returning to normal. Every inch of his body still felt like he was about to break, his muscles tired and utterly tortured. And yet… 'Guess I've finally warmed up.' Rumi dashed forward, still intent on finishing the fight before her brain was fried, shot out a left-straight right at his chin.

*PING*

Her eyebrows shot up once more as she missed. 'No, not missed… he used Redirection! How about consecutive strikes!?' She did the same thing thrice, her fist turning into three streaks. *PING-PING-PING*. Yet again, they didn't find their mark. 'So that's what you're doing huh?' She realized with a grin.

"Redirection: Flowing Edge." Just before she made contact, he blocked with his hands at an angle, changing the trajectory of her strike before it could land. 'Now I can Redirect consecutive strikes!' Every strike he redirected seemed to bend before fading away, Kendo getting to his feet and slowly moving forward. Still, coming up with a brand now technique had its flaws. Rumi's strikes still managed to slip through here and there, eventually letting a sharp kick land right into his liver. He curled over in pain, vision swimming as he paused, and that was the opening she needed.

*CRACK*

His head was whipped to the side, his entire body almost giving out then and there from the elbow to his chin, his sight warping as he was mercilessly riddled with blows. 'Oooh… ShIT!' His mind warbled, barely able to hear himself think. 'I took iT… WhAT aM I dOIn agaIN?' Even with his guard up, her blows found their way through. The entire world seemed to bend and stretch in his eyes. He saw the twisted image of his friends in the stands. The roaring visage of someone he thought he hated, but in reality he held true respect for. He swore that he caught a glimpse of his parents, screaming his name. 'What was…?' He looked in front of him, and steadily, everything seemed to snap into place. The image of Rumi, her eyes glowing as the poured her heart and soul out to beat him.

(Que Music: My Hero Academia OST: You Say Run)

Images and memories flashed through his mind. All Might. Training. Meeting Rumi for the first time. Cutting the tree down. Her heartfelt whisper of 'watch me.' All of this replayed over and over again, until finally…

The man overcame his despair and formed a fist.

"ORAAA!" Out of seemingly nowhere, his left hand blasted across her face in a left hook, knocking her bodily to the side and sending her reeling with shock. He roared at her as he stomped his feet down, following up with a right-straight zooming for her face. Gritting her teeth, she weaved under and blasted her left into his gut. He faltered, but never fell. His left hand shot straight out, barely grazing her cheek while she countered with a low kick to his already injured thigh. Again, his body faltered, but he never fell. He stepped forward, throwing an overhand left so fast that she had no choice but to block it, her bones creaking and the ground cracking from the impact as he roared. They traded strikes for some time, Kendo's sheer will at times becoming too much for a simple block to handle, other times her speed and timing getting the better of him.

His body was thrown skyward, several ribs broken. He barely touched down before Rumi was already hitting him, her body leaving sparking afterimages as her punches and kicks struck like literal lightning. He threw out a hook, trying to guess where she was, only to have his cheek fractured.

'This is it! This is the fight that I've always wanted!'

"LUNA LIGHTNING: STRIKE!" Her heel exploded on his knuckles, her raw speed and momentum outright blasting his fist away before she repeated the attack to his chest, more ribs snapping and blood gushing from his mouth.

'A fight to the finish, with no holding back!' Her mind thought, cartwheeling away from his punch barrage before she dashed to the side, a swift punch to the jaw almost dislocating it and sending him reeling.

"THIS IS IT! LUNA LIGHTNING: MONSOON!" Rumi roared, her voice booming like an incarnation of lightning itself as she swung her foot straight up as hard as she could while adding a slight twist. The result: a sudden miniature tornado appearing in the middle of the arena, swallowing Kendo and battering his body. The wind abruptly died down, his body falling to the floor with a dull thud. Even through all of that, he scrambled to his feet, his eyes meeting a grinning Rumi. Once more, he raced forward, fists clenched as she did the same.

Winding up, he threw another left overhand, only to feel his fingers break as Rumi's elbow intercepted it. She grabbed him by the neck, whipping her head forward and smashing her dome into his face, blood flying from his nose. Again, he faltered, but his heart never fell. He lunged forward with an elbow of his own, one that landed in Rumi's stomach and forced her away. Trying to follow up, he threw a right hook, aimed for her head, but she saw it coming. She crouched deep, letting out a war-cry as she blasted her foot forward right into his stomach, lifting him a foot off the floor as his eyes bulged. When he came down, his right knee hit the floor, unable to block as she leapt in with a knee right to his cheek. His body skid across the floor, face covered in blood and bones trembling, yet he didn't fall.

(You Say Run, 2:04 minutes)

Her body was on its last legs, but she didn't stop, leaping in and spinning her body like a tornado before her left foot lashed out in a chopping roundhouse-kick, aimed right at his head.

"Luna Lightning: Vortex."

Everything seemed to slow down for Kendo. In that moment, his battered body moved on its own. Steam burst from his reddened skin. His right arm Redirected it, if only slightly. The power flowed through his limp body like Water. He pushed off with his toes, rising like a roaring Flame. And his fist, as unbreakable as Adamantine, blurred straight up.

"DEMON-BANE X ADVANCE."

The air detonated with a thunderous *BOOM*, a shockwave unlike any other throwing stone and debris into the air. The sound reverberated throughout the arena for some time, the dead-silent crowd looking on in utter shock and awe. After a few seconds, an announcement rung through the speakers.

"… AND WE HAVE A WINNEEEEEER!"

And at that, the crowd burst into cheers and roars. With that, the U.A Sports Festival's First Year Tournament drew to a close.

(To Be Continued…)

A.N: Once more, I am an asshole when it comes to ambiguous endings. Regardless, it's done! Rumi and Kendo have finally settled the score between them in what I feel is my absolute crowning achievement of a fight-scene (at least for now...). As for the winner... well, that'll be wrapped up in the next chapter, the final chapter of the Sports Festival Arc. Hope you all enjoyed this explosive finale, and look forward for the wrap-up next time around!