晴天の霹靂

Seiten no heki-reki

Thunderclap from a clear sky. / A complete surprise.

"BAKUGO WINS!" Present Mic announced. The audience clapped and cheered, and I sighed in defeat. I leaned forward and placed my head in my hands, groaning dramatically.

Missus Yukihime chuckled. "It isn't the end of the world," she said, clearly amused.

"B-but it is," I disagreed, frowning down at the arena. Cementoss had already started fixing everything for the next round, using the small intermission to get the battle area ready for the semifinals. "I c-can't b-beat Bakago, Izukun, or T-Todoroki in a r-raw p-power fight, so the m-match is already o-over," I raised up my hand, ticking off my fingers as I listed the ways they could win. "B-Bakago could j-just m-make an explosion and s-send me f-flying, Izukun c-can flick th-the air, and while I m-might be able to m-melt Todoroki's ice, I c-can't actually g-get h-him out of th-the arena."

Missus Yukihime clicked her tongue. "Don't give up so easily, Ichigo," she scolded. "I'm sure that brilliant little mind of yours can figure out a solution. I will not accept a defeatist attitude from any of my employees." She sniffed at the end, folding her hands in her lap primly.

I spread my arms and leaned back. "I-I'm doomed. Doooooomed," I whined loudly.

"No, you aren't," Missus Yukihime laughed. "Now get you gone. I don't want you missing your next match." Sulkily, I did as told, standing up from my stolen seat and shuffling across the aisle, dodging people's feet as I went. I heard more than a few shouts of encouragement from the people nearby, telling me they hoped I would win.

Quickly making my way down the stairs, which were filling up with people, I dodged glances and ducked my head to hide my face. My uniform marked me a Yuuei Academy student, but I didn't need anyone recognizing me as one of the semifinalists. The little girl from earlier had been sweet, but I didn't want to be asked for autographs again. Especially since my stutter would make me look and sound odd.

Seeing the locked doorway leading to the student seating areas, I nearly cried in relief, running forward and slipping through the doors. Shutting it behind me, I felt the tension in my body relax, no longer surrounding by crowds of people. Taking a moment to enjoy my isolation, I slowly strolled towards the Class A seating box.

I opened the door and was met with the first person I didn't want to see. Bakugo glared at me heatedly from his seat right next to the door. I gulped, and carefully tried to skirt past him, pressing my back against the wall.

It didn't work. "Ichimi," he started, and I immediately froze. "Present Mic just said you'll be fighting me in the semifinals. Don't you dare fuck it up," He turned his head, and I felt myself start to sweat. He was practically growling at me. "I'm going to fucking get that damn gold medal, so throw the fucking fight and I will blow you sky high. I don't give a shit about Deku or Half n' Half right now, got it?"

"Y-y-yeah," I stammered, nodding my head frantically. When he didn't say anything else, I darted away, practically throwing myself into the empty seat next to Ochako and Tenya.

Tenya bowed his head to me in greeting. "Welcome back, Ichigo. Congratulations on making it into the semifinals."

I smiled nervously. "Y-yeah, b-but I'm f-fighting Bakago, s-so th-that may n-not be f-for th-the best," I shivered, wondering how badly having my limbs blown off and regrowing them would hurt. I'd regrown a finger before (long story, there was a cooking accident) and it had been a terrible experience. I didn't want to consider how much more damage than a kitchen knife Bakugo could inflict given free reign. And with a quirk like mine, every match was no-holds-barred.

"Don't think about it like that, Icchan!" Ochako chirped, holding up her fist. "Think that you're going to beat him!"

"B-but I'm not," I deadpanned.

Tenya chopped his hand down firmly. "Do not give up before the fight even begins, Ichigo!" He ordered. "It is unbecoming of a hero!"

I looked up to the clouds for answers. "W-why is everyone I kn-know s-so determined to c-convince me t-to c-commit suicide?" I asked the sky plaintively.

Ochako laughed, patting me on the head and ruffling my newly brushed hair. I wrinkled my nose. "You're really negative, Icchan-"

"IT'S TIME FOR OUR NEXT FIGHT!" Present Mic roared, cutting Ochako off entirely. The big-screens stopped showing commercials, and I was treated to the wonderful view of Izuku walking onto the stage to face-off against a serious looking Todoroki. Izuku's eyes practically glowed with determination, and every alarm I had in my head started blaring. I was on full alert, eyes zooming between the two and wondering just what I had missed, because my instincts were screaming that Izuku was about to do something stupid. "IT'S IZUKU MIDORIYA VERSUS SHOUTO TODOROKI!" Present Mic howled, not bothering with anymore odd introductions. "THE WINNER MAKES IT INTO THE FINALS! ARE YOU READY?!" The audience screamed back in response. "THEN… START!"

By the time Present Mic had finished speaking, the first clash had already occured. My eyes widened as ice flashed across the battle area, rocketing towards Izuku, only to vanish in a harsh crash. Izuku was standing, arm braced, with a single purpled finger extended, while Todoroki leaned back on a wall of ice, keeping himself from being blown away. The crowd roared, and my eyes widened. Izuku was betting on sacrificing his fingers one by one, until he found an opening in Todoroki's defense? That was… insane.

There wasn't time to discuss Izuku's descent into madness though, because Todoroki was attacking again, ice running along the stage. Izuku once again blew it away, sacrificing another finger. I clenched my jaw, gripping my pants, and scanned Todoroki on the screens for any weaknesses. As another wave of ice flew forwards, I narrowed my eyes. There was a thin coating of frost growing up Todoroki's shoe. It was a stretch, but if his quirk worked like mine, using his ice would lower his temperature. It was the opposite of my own, but that meant there was a limit.

I had to stop my jaw from dropping. "A b-battle of attrition," I breathed, suddenly realizing what Izuku was aiming for. Against Todoroki, who's ended his fights as soon as possible, Izuku wanted a battle of stamina, where the last person standing won. I frowned. "B-but shouldn't T-Todoroki b-be able t-to heat himself up?" I wondered. Then stopped, because the conversation I'd accidentally eaverdropped on replayed in my head. I frowned, wondering if Todoroki was really that irrational…

People are stupid, I reminded myself. Of course he is that irrational.

It appeared that Todoroki had picked up on Izuku's plan to draw out the fight, because this time he followed his ice-wave, running along the top of the path and jumping when Izuku obliterated the ice. Todoroki dropped to the floor, shooting ice along the floor and trapping Izuku's foot.

Izuku jerked his arm back, aiming a punch at the ice climbing up his leg. The force of his blow not only swept away the ice, but Todoroki as well, who managed to create another ice shelter to keep himself from being blown away. Climbing up to his feet, Todoroki stared Izuku down from across the arena. My eyes assessed Izuku's mutilated arm, before sweeping over to Todoroki - who's breath was visible.

I grinned triumphantly. "H-he's running out of s-stamina!" I cheered.

Ochako glanced over at me with wide eyes. "What?"

I didn't get a chance to answer, because Bakugo spoke instead. "Quirks have limits, like any other ability," he interjected gruffly. "Half n' Half is pushing his limits with all his damn ice. He's fucking freezing himself," I nodded, because while not eloquent, Bakugo was right.

"S-see his r-right hand?" I added, pointing at the screen. "It's sh-shaking," I grinned, having seen my own hands tremble enough to easily recognize anyone else's too.

It was at that moment, Izuku did something so unbelievably stupid I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. Izuku raised his broken hand, and attacked again with his shattered index finger. I gaped at him, wondering what on earth he was doing, because his hand was officially beyond Recovery Girl's ability to heal. Todoroki smacked into the walls of his ice shelter, eyes wide in shock. Izuku held up his bloodied fist, glaring at Todoroki with burning eyes. He said something, that made Todoroki's jaw clench.

"- AND ACTUALLY FIGHT ME!" Izuku finished, shouting it loud enough that I could hear it up in the stands.

Ochako gaped at the battle field below. "Woah, Izukun is angry," she marveled. "I've never seen him so eager to fight."

Tenya adjusted his glasses. "Izuku isn't one to issue challenges out of anger," he observed. "It's likely there is something else going on." I didn't bother to add my thoughts, too busy staring is shock at Izuku's determined eyes. I had told him Todoroki needed help, but fighting him like this wasn't what I had meant. What was Izuku trying to accomplish, antagonizing Todoroki like that?

Todoroki bared his teeth at Izuku, charging forwards. He was much slower now, and I knew that I'd been right. Todoroki was running out of steam, the ice of his own quirk slowing down his movements. Todoroki launched a punch towards Izuku's head, and Izuku slipped right under it, dishing out his own blow to Todoroki's stomach. The heterochromatic boy went flying back, bouncing on the pavement. My eyes picked up on the ice on Izuku's arm, as Todoroki climbed to his feet.

Then, there was another wave of ice, and Izuku hooked his thumb in his cheek, using his mouth to flick his thumb at the icy attack. Like the others, it was brushed away with a harsh crash. This time, Izuku charged forward, eyes burning insanely, and I could see him speaking, even as he drew back his arm to punch Todoroki again. His fist hooked into Todoroki's gut, and the heterochromatic boy flew backwards, head-over-heels, looking strangely limp. He hit the ground heavily, laying there still for a moment, and Izuku didn't move to approach him.

I frowned, leaning forwards. "W-what is h-he d-doing?" I wondered, clueless as to why Izuku wasn't taking his chance to win the match. Then, achingly slow, Todoroki lifted himself from the ground. There was a moment, where he stood still, shaking, and then the inklings of a fire sparked on his left cheek. As flames licked up Todoroki left side, transforming into a roaring bonfire, my eyes widened like dinner plates. "W-what?" I breathed, then glared at Izuku with all of my might. "W-when I s-said h-help him, I d-didn't meam m-make him ten t-times stronger!" I protested. Izuku had just guaranteed Todoroki was going to win the competition, and I didn't want to fight that. That was not okay, and I wasn't going deal with the pain of burning alive if I ever had to fight him again… even if Izuku had likely just fixed Todoroki's attitude problem, based off of the heterochromatic boy's expression.

Todoroki grinned and said something to Izuku. I couldn't read his lips, but Izuku grinned back in response, raising his fist. The largest wave of ice I'd seen Todoroki use yet came shooting forwards, and Izuku jumped higher than he had any business jumping, flying over the ice towards Todoroki. Cementoss and Midnight reacted immediately, trying to stop the two from attacking each other, but it was far too late. Todoroki was consumed by a pillar of fire as every inch of ice in the arena melted away. I barely got to see the dark imprint of the concrete walls Cementoss had built between them shatter, before an explosion went off, and I was clutching the sides of my chair and trying to keep from being blown away.

When I opened my eyes, it was to a smoke cloud that was rapidly clearing away. Todoroki was standing in the center of the arena, battered and exhausted, and against the wall of the arena was Izuku, slumped against the crumpled peices of his own impact crater.

Blood rushed into my ears, and I never heard Present Mic declare Todoroki the winner, or Mister Aizawa explain the explosion, because I was jumping over the railing of the seating box and plummetting through the air. I activated my quirk automatically, landing in a rolling stop in the arena grass. Coming up to my feet, I darted over to Izuku's side, scanning his mangled hands and broken legs. He had burns running up his arms and face, and there was blood dripping from the back of his skull. He looked half dead, and far beyond Recovey Girl's healing capabilities. Clenching my jaw, I reached forward and carefully tapped his cheek.

He vanished in a burst of steam, as my quirk worked to heal every inch of bruised and broken skin at once, repairing his bones and numbing all the pain. After a few seconds, all of his injuries were healed, and Izuku's eyes fluttered open as wreathes of steam floated away from his skull.

Hands on my hips, I glared at him sternly. "I s-said h-help him," I scolded. "N-not create a w-weapon of m-mass d-destruction."

Izuku blinked at me blearily for a moment, before smiling at me. "But I did it, right?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, y-you did," I agreed, offering him my hand. He took it, and I dragged him to his feet. Izuku rolled his shoulders uncomfortably, and I nodded knowingly. "B-burn injuries always f-feel w-weird," I told him.

"LOOKS LIKE KUROSAKI HAS JUMPED IN TO HEAL HER CLASSMATES!" Present Mic screamed, and I glanced up at him irritably. There wasn't a match going on anymore, his commentary wasn't needed. Unfortunately, the cameras had already focused in on me when I dropped into the arena, so everyone was watching anyways. "TALK ABOUT EFFECIENCY! SHE HAD MIDORIYA FIXED UP IN SECONDS!"

Izuku looked over at me. "Are you going to heal Todoroki too?"

"D-do I h-have to?" I questioned, because I had jumped down when I saw Izuku looking half-dead, and Todoroki was still standing.

Izuku looked at his hands thoughtfully. "Well, I might have broken a few of his ribs when I punched him," he considered. I huffed in exasperation, knowing that meant Izuku wanted me to heal him, and if I refused I would get a big speech in response. Sprinting up the demolish remains of the stage, I made my way over to Todoroki. He looked at me oddly, but there was blood trickling down the side of his neck, so I decided that I'd not leave this one to Recovery Girl either. Standing on my tiptoes, I poked Todoroki's cheek.

I then immediately turned my back on him, trying to keep myself from blushing. Todoroki was not properly dressed right now, and that was not okay! "Y-you sh-should b-b-be fine n-now," I stuttered, and rushed back towards Izuku before he could respond. Snatching Izuku's wrist, I tugged him towards the tunnel, trying to get out of the arena and avoid listening to Present Mic's commentary ("WAS THAT A BLUSH?!"). I glared at Izuku over my shoulder. "I h-hope y-you're happy," I grumbled.

Izuku smiled, but his eyes were far away. "I am, but…" he looked down sadly. "I wish I had won."

"Th-there are p-prizes b-better than medals," I told him, squeezing his wrist reassuringly. "Y-you j-just changed Todoroki's l-life for th-the better. If y-you w-want to be a h-hero," I grinned at him. "Th-that means w-way more th-than a s-silly medal, and y-you still have n-next y-year."

Izuku nodded slowly, then glanced at me contemplatively. "What did you mean by 'a weapon of mass destruction'?" He asked. "Todoroki isn't a tool."

"I know," I huffed, letting go of his wrist to cross my arms. "B-but now, n-not only c-can h-he create fiery hell," I complained. "H-he c-can freeze it over t-too!" Izuku laughed, sounding pretty startled, and I grinned despite myself. "N-now, why don't y-you g-go back up and r-rejoin everyone? M-my match is n-next, s-so I'll just w-wait it out h-here."

"Yeah," Izuku agreed, smiling back at me. "I'll see you after, okay? I hope you win."

I gave him a thumbs up. "K-kick Kacchan's but, g-got it!" Izuku laughed again, taking off down the tunnel. As soon as he rounded the corner, I sighed in relief. I lowered myself to the floor, taking off my new jacket and bunching up it's sleeve, shoving it into my mouth.

I hadn't used my quirk for too long, so the gap in between the matches would be enough time to cool off before I fought Bakugo.