Queen's First Move

«I'll kill the manager» Kendo Rappa mentally says to himself as he watches his opponent fall to the ground. He thinks that he could have spared Hermes's life, if this was the first fight that ended in one blow. Even if he was the second, third, fourth, eighth, twenty-fourth... he's not some mad murderer who would kill him for failing twenty-four times. He knows that finding a worthy opponent for him is difficult. The cause of his death sentence is for failing him for more than ten years. He is undefeated since the beginning of his career as an underground fighter in Osaka.

As the referee begins the count to ten, Kendo couldn't help but brush against the bandages covering his forearms. He still bears the scars from the knife cuts caused by The Ripper. Memories of the best fight he had since his last match against his father. After that fight came the incident that closed down the Osaka headquarters and from there everything went downhill, the level of the fighters fell resoundingly.

What I understood from Hermes's complaints was that the money guy, who financed almost the entire organization, cut ties with the Masquerade Underground causing many high-level fighters, not having a mountain of prize money, not to enter and public visits fell accordingly. At the same time that less public translates to less money that leads to fewer fighters. The little that his father taught him and it is not related to throwing punches, is that people will not expose themselves to seriously hurt themselves without a large sum of money. All Might permanently returning to Japan this year was the final nail in the coffin to the underground business.

—4, 5— the referee shouts while Kendo Rappa waits for the formalization of the fight to end and end with this show.

This year, Rappa only wrestled in the arena twice and it was quick matches. Last year there were three fights that ended in the same way; very few and unsatisfactory. With complete confidence, he tells himself that at this rate he will do something very stupid. He is not a stupid beast as he is presented in the ring; he knows the laws and what it takes to get caught by a hero after killing in public. But every day the tremors in his shoulders increase; a karmic liberation they ask of him, they demand of him. One that is only obtained in a fight to the death. A fight that never comes.

He thought today was the day. When he received the call from Hermes, two hours ago, announcing a fight arranged with a lot of money involved in Naruhata's headquarters, Kendo left the unfinished beer on the bar table and without paying, he left the place running.

His father, Kondo, was a great fist fighter and since he learned to walk, not a day was spent teaching Kendo how to punch. The order to close the fingers when forming the fist, the position to take when hitting, the movement of the shoulder, the distribution of the body weight and, most importantly, supporting the blow. At three years old, he couldn't speak, but he could throw and take a good hit. Another lesson received was to always do the best warm-up. Kondo taught him to run five kilometers before each fight. Kendo wanted to run the thirteen kilometers that separated them from the bar to the venue. Trains and taxis are not for men of action, a thought he knows his father would agree with.

With just a few minutes left before the fight, an agitated Rappa arrives at the meeting point. Hermes, as always, awaits him at the secret entrance for fighters where they can get to the ring without going through the public stands. He notices an expression he never saw on his manager's face and his ever-present braid was not present. His hair falls free to his shoulders. It doesn't take long for him to learn the reason for his appearance. Within seconds of entering the building and starting down the stairs, he spoke to him.

—Are you okay… Rapper, have you warmed up yet? Hermes says. He wipes the sweat, which began to appear, with his handkerchief always present in the front pocket of his jacket. Kendo feels insulting. They have known each other for almost twenty years and he tells him something nonsense. Rappa doesn't like being wasted his time with questions, in his eyes, stupid.

—You worry about agreeing to fights. It's all I need from you, I'm in charge of fighting - Kendo answers coldly -. I don't forget the number of fights I participated in this year. It is you who should worry about doing the job well.

The manager's head snaps up and he looks at him puzzled, his mouth slightly open.

—Uh, oh, sorry about that, but it's not my fault. You know very well that the clandestine business is disappearing. Nothing I can really fix — Hermes stops talking when he hears an explosion above his head. Looking back, he sees a hole in the wall near him and a thread of dust connecting it to his fighter's fist. Instead of being scared, as Rappa thought, the manager, with thirty years of experience dealing with rude criminals, showed courage that was reflected on his face—. Do you think I'm afraid of you? You only know how to break bones and these can be cured. Your kills are quick, I don't have to worry about suffering. What they will do to me is worse than dying! Excuse me for worrying about wanting to know if the champion is in a position to put on a good show.

Rappa continued the descent after hearing the sincerity of his manager. He knows that Hermes must speak daily with the men in suits, criminal organizations and villains to keep the business afloat. He surely licked many boots to continue maintaining the web pages where the fights are broadcast; not counting the bribes to the police to keep the fighters out of prison «Osaka's fault» Rapper recalls. He is aware of all the work of a manager, his father had one too, he saw firsthand that his plates are full and you know what? He does not care. He doesn't like anything about this show anymore. He is the champion, but he feels like a loser. That is why he says the following.

—This is the last chance for you and this place. If I don't have the satisfaction of a fight to the death, it's over— Hermes's face tightens in anger, but he won't attack his fighter. Kendo looks at him with disgust, an excuse for a man in his eyes who used all his courage to yell at him instead of biting him.

In the end, the manager looks away and answers the ultimatum.

—You will have a better chance of fighting, if you stop winning with a punch. That doesn't sell — he sees Rapper get furious for insinuating that he doesn't fight seriously. A vision of his head smashed by a huge fist flashes across his eyes and he throws his hands up—. But that is the past. The present is different. Down those stairs is a wrestler who brought in a billion yen for the winning pot and three hundred thousand dollars to the organization as payment to challenge the champion and broadcast expenses.

—He bought his place in the arena and challenged me. Nothing you said interests me or surprises me— he comments on his perspective to Hermes—. You say things unrelated to combat and I have to be focused.

—Concentrated for what? — the manager asks him while he follows him with strong steps and begins to braid his hair.

—For my death. It is not written that this will be my last fist fight and if it happens, it is because I gave all of myself to the fight. Nothing will distract me in my release from the chains — explains The Rapper and begins to massage his shoulders.

—Then this is your day. Do not look at me like that. What I want to make you understand is that someone spends that much money, to generate a cash pot that goes to the ceiling, it will not bring a weak fighter — he tells him while finishing his characteristic braid. He reaches into the jacket for something and hands it to the wrestler.

—You'd better — he replies and grabs the mask from Hermes's hand. It is a bag that covers the entire head and has two holes on the front at eye level. He goes on to put on his steel knuckles—. Your life depends on this.

The businessman laughs nervously knowing that the champion The Rapper does not know how true those words are. He didn't tell him the whole truth. If the champion loses, the organization will be in the red. All available money went to the winning pot. It may sound like a stupid move, but the champion remains undefeated with pure easy wins and since he never accepts the prize money, the organization as a whole gets it. It's a sure win for them, that's what the big shots think. But this challenger is unknown, no one knows his abilities or his quirk. Adding up the huge amount of money at stake, the loser's manager's head will surely roll.

They soon reach the bottom of the stairs and the room where the fight will take place. It is a huge room full of people and a ring in the center. To say ring is to sweeten it; it is a reinforced cage made of robust and opaque metal. It gives the feeling of a coffin. Many who entered did not come out breathing. Kendo Rappa, when he enters, always thinks that perhaps this is the time that he will come out with his feet first. A result that only meant that he was finally able to give it his all. An end that he was not afraid would happen. Dying showing his true face and breaking the chains that bind him; there is no purer goal in life for Kendo Rappa than that. He mentally asks the head-to-toe hooded opponent in front of him to let him be who he is for the third time in his life.

—7, 8—the referee exclaimed with all his might while the public booed loudly.

The result was the same as always. Another fight, another punch, another victory. The same repetition of the entirety of The Rapper's career as an underground fighter. His right shoulder had the little momentary release of it; the tickling is still there and increasing. «I will release the left one in Hermes. I warned him, that he give me a fight to the death. He did not comply and I am a man of my word», Kendo says to himself. With fury reflected in his hidden face, he turns and goes to where his manager stands on the edge of the cage.

When he was an arm's length away for him to enter his hitting range and kill him quickly, The Rapper could see his eyes well; he had them wide open. He thinks that he knew he was going to die by his hand right now, that he's a dead man, but Kendo dismisses that thought as he hears him scream.

-Behind you stupid! —

The champion of the Underground Masquerade turns around and, in complete silence, watches his rival. He is standing. His hood had fallen back and he sees a female face. The black mask with yellow details and blonde bangs hides part of her face. The little that he could appreciate left him speechless. Youthful and fine features; sharp and perfect. And that was wrong. He hit her in the face; a clean hit of his quirk and looking at her face, he can't find any harm, as if she's taunting his punch, daring him to hit a better punch.

Kendo Rappa gladly accepts the challenge.

—I want to make one thing clear — Rappa says and clenches both fists—. This is nothing personal, but I'll beat you to the point of destroying that face. I have a reputation with my fists that I must carry on.

—Don't worry, I have no problem if you try. After all, that's how this arena is, but I'm surprised that at your age you're still active — the woman speaks with a mocking tone.

—Hahahaha you are strong, I must admit that. No one has ever gotten back on their feet after taking my direct hit. Let's see if you can take a second hit — he answers her without taking the bait of her taunting. His shoulders are shaking like years ago they didn't.

His rival responds to the challenge by taking a step and he takes another. Both walk without raising their fists, without defense, as if giving a message "you don't scare me". Walking until they are in the center of the cage. A deathly silence dominates the room. Everyone is on the lookout for the next move.

Kendo throws the first punch. A quick, precise, hard blow, putting all of his weight into the throw of his fist, just like his father did with him. To those who blink at that moment, it appears that the woman, who was standing looking at The Rapper, is thrown without cause against the edge of the cage. Her body impacts against the metal support pillars causing her to double over from the impact. Everyone is stunned and then comes the screaming.

-Oh yeah! For this I pay to be here—

—The Rapper, thank you, I finally won the "Two Strikes Rapper" jackpot!—

—Hahaha who would have thought that we would see a murder hahaha his fighter was nothing special hahaha we have a lot of money now! —

Everyone is happy for one reason or another, although money was always involved in one way or another.

Everyone except the supposed winner and his manager. After so many years watching his fights, Hermes knew how to read some of the physical language of his fighter. Kendo is still in combat mode. This is not finished.

《Finish her off now before she gets up. Your life and my life are at stake in this fight. Hitting her in that state is not dishonorable so don't stop.》Hermes wants to yell at him everything he thinks, but he knows that Rappa won't listen. So he keeps it for himself and with his heart in his fist, he watches attentively as the rival gets up, without visible difficulty, from the metal pillar. The impact not only bent the pillar, but also sank it a few inches.

—Why didn't you dodge it? — Kendo asks when he saw that the woman finished standing up. Her cloak was torn between the metal of the cage revealing a yellow and black latex suit.

—It pains me to admit it, but I tried. You're good at hitting women — the blonde comments as she stretches both arms up. The Rapper does not respond to the clear provocation —. Both times. I did not expect such speed. You are the first to have this acceleration and punching force since I arrived in this small country — without stopping talking, she begins to crack her neck, shoulders, and hips —. I don't like people touching me and I really came for something else, but today I'll make an exception— showing no fear or concern, she walks up to him. To be the same as a minute ago —- I won't leave you until I can dodge your fists.—

Kendo Rappa gladly accepts the challenge.

Over the course of minutes, the fighter in yellow is struck by hundreds of blows from the champion, as hard as steel. She doesn't protect herself from any of those. She tries to dance through the bullet fists to no avail getting hit by all of them.

She falls, gets up, runs, tries to dodge, flies and falls. A coordinated dance between the two of them was formed in the ring. The spectators do not stop screaming.

—Hahaha that's how a fight should be. I never wanted my opponents to ask for mercy or face me unprepared. Just forget about strategies and come head-on. I'm not looking for a weak point or counter your fighting style, that's not my style. That's why I appreciate you being so direct. I plan to attack you as many times as necessary until you break — Rappa says with real happiness. His body was beginning to heat up; It's been decades since he's pushed his body that long.

—You're very talkative for a big adult with a garbage bag over your head. Your fashion tastes are terrible —comments the blonde fighter after getting up from the ground—. Just shut up and hit with everything you've got. I can receive everything from you without breaking. I am not a weak spoiled woman. Never more.

The Rapper feels how the tremor of his shoulders now ran through his chest and stomach. He thinks that his body is getting lighter and faster with each passing minute, instead of slowing down and weakening. His eyes can only focus on the slim and short body that fearlessly approaches him. She doesn't run away from him or stays lying on the ground. His father, The Ripper and now her. He doesn't look down on her for being a woman or her small body looks like it will break like a branch. He feels through his knuckles the hardness, the strength that person possesses and can only feel fascination and deep gratitude for coming to find him and challenge him.

«Thank you» the man known as Kendo Rappa begins to punch harder and faster than ever before.

Before adopting the name Kendo Rappa, he only loved one woman in his life. His mother was special; she accepted him as he was, unlike his father after awakening his quirk. It wasn't his fault for being born like this.

His father was a professional boxer and like any current professional sport, Quirks are prohibited. Kondo possessed the Long Arm quirk that gave him the mutation of having eight inches longer arms, and as it was a mutation that did not give him a substantial advantage, he was able to pursue a career in boxing. As a good son and lover of fights, he followed in his footsteps against his father's refusals. It is not his fault that he possesses this quirk. He was allowed to enter the training if he didn't use his quirk. It was hard for him to hold back the tremors in his shoulders that begged for release. Years hiding what it is to finally be able to fulfill the dream of yesteryear that he shared with his father. His trainer gave him the opportunity to debut as an amateur boxer at the age of fourteen. There they all discovered the extent of the power he possesses.

He couldn't help what happened. When adrenaline flows in the blood, his shoulders cause great pain crying out to release the accumulated strength. At that moment he didn't know it, only that he felt complete freedom as if he had no mask or restrictions weighing him down. It's not his fault that child died.

It is not in the eyes of his mother.

Yes it is for his father.

The next thing he remembers, he left home after killing his father in front of his mother. He couldn't bear the look of disappointment on his father anymore, he would die if he saw that look on his mother's. So he ran away.

With his body bleeding from the fight against his father, Kendo walked through the deserted streets, in the middle of a storm towards a life where he could free himself and be as he is. To feel that feeling again.

Be real

Live without the pain of hiding.

Freed from the chains that restrain his strong shoulders.

Total freedom is the goal that he seeks since that day.

—Let's rest for a minute. Agh, agh, I think I'm getting it now — the woman says between puffs —. Ready for the next round?

—Aha haha hahaha — the masked man laughs with difficulty. Sweat covered his body and muscle cramps in his shoulders and hands begin to show. The metal knuckles on his gloves are dented and misshapen—. Impressive. You are truly a magnificent woman… no matter how many punches I throw at you, you keep getting up and I see no damage to your body… even though I can clearly see that you are not in top shape—

A grimace comes out of the fine lips of his rival. She knows that she was caught. His blows did no visible physical damage, but so many blunt impacts, mainly to her head, left her dizzy and her body felt heavier every time.

A grimace comes out of the fine lips of his rival. She knows that she was caught. Her blows did no visible physical damage, but so many blunt impacts, mainly to her head, left her dizzy and her body felt heavier every time.

—Talk all you want. I will do the same and continue straight ahead without hesitating. No one else will push me away — says the fighter in black and yellow, and she lunges at his rival.

Kendo, between admiration for finding such a strong opponent and the thrill of a real fight, positions himself to throw the punch he's been throwing all night. A straight punch. When she comes into striking range, Rappa strikes to kill…and doesn't feel the familiar contact between fist and face.

His eyes widen as he watches the woman standing in front of his fist inches from contact. She took a step back before the crash. Her youthful face and her fine features begin to twist in rage, an ugly snarl to her mouth making her teeth appear as white as ivory.

—Are you making fun of me? Damned! What was that slow beat? — the blonde recriminates furiously. The champion understands quickly. That thrown punch was much weaker than the previous one. He lowers his outstretched arm and a feeling of shame runs through his body, overshadowing the tremors of his shoulders, chest, stomach and thighs.

《Shit. Shit. Shit. You can't end like this. Do you want to look like an idiot in front of her?》he berates himself in his head. He can't help but look down. A regret that eats away at his psyche clouds his mind. He finally found someone who enjoys fighting like him, someone who can take all the blows from him, the true self from him and not escape or run away. He is afraid of not seeing her again after tonight. That's why he wants to continue, last as long as possible and if he dies or lives in this place, let him be without regret. His goal has already been…

—Raise your head, wretch, I'm talking to you— his rival tells him and Kendo looks up, sees her blue eyes like sapphires centimeters from him. He can feel the warm breath making contact with the cold sweat. She pokes his chest with her latex-covered finger —. One: don't look away when I speak. Two: if I say that I can receive everything you throw at me, then it is your duty to give everything of you as an offering to me. You are very rigid when it comes to attacking — she patted his shoulders. Her small hands and slender fingers can't cover Kendo's huge deltoid muscles, but for a moment he feels trapped in a hydraulic clamp. You are very stressed. You must relax and free yourself. Are you having fun or am I wrong. I don't know who taught you to hit, but that way is not for you. Just be yourself and you will know what to do. Ok, let's start over.

The woman exposes her back to Kendo as she makes her way to the edge of the cage, but he makes no move to attack. The champion's vision blurs and he feels a river of tears run down his cheeks, wetting his mask. He doesn't know what he is feeling right now. No one told him that he could use his quirk against themselves, release everything he held inside of him and be himself.

《What do I do? How should I respond to her request? How can I break the chains?》these and many more questions went through Rappa's head and when he saw her mocking smile from the other side of the ring, he knew the answer. The only answer that came back was the same as always, the one that was taught to him from the first year of life. Hitting is the only answer he needs.

Don't think, just hit.

Do not think about the distance of the target, just hit so hard and fast that the punch hits her.

Seeing her meters away from him doesn't see that distance as an obstacle for some unknown reason. He knows that his blow would not miss. The tremors that covered him from his shoulders to his feet were moved and accumulated. He first takes a step forward, the tremors in both feet moving to the knees accumulating with the existing tremors there. Second he lowers his center of gravity a few inches moving the tremors from the knees to the hip and from the hip to the chest. With the following movements, Kendo Rappa has all the tremors accumulated in his right shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see arteries and veins being torn by the pressure and blood shooting out, soaking his clothes and the ring. All that is not something of importance for Kendo. His mind is completely focused on the strong fighter in front of him. With all his being he throws the best blow he gave in his life. The tremors jerked from his shoulder past his elbow to his fist.

The public does not know how to react. The champion of the Underground Masquerade hits nothing in front of him and his challenger, who is meters away, throws her head back, impacting, with a sharp noise, her neck against the last steel pillar that remained firm.

—Then that's the real you — as she was doing the entire confrontation, the blonde gets up without a problem —. You look more monstrous with those muscles that contract and grow randomly, but, like saying this and not sound weird, your eyes look more beautiful.

—Stop talking, now the real combat begins at last. I'll make you regret challenging me. Aaah, what a good feeling I feel. This is my true style and it's free at last. The best boxer is ready and is in front of you. I don't know how I'm going to attack now hahaha I don't know if I'm still human. I promise you that even if you scream I won't stop. I will break your body with my fists.

—Poor man. Your body went through a quirk evolution or maybe a liberation, and your brain can't recognize all your new senses and abilities — says the fighter in yellow with a smile. In front of her, Kendo Rappa is undergoing random muscle expansion and contraction throughout his body. Don't worry. I'm a kind queen and I'll blow your thoughts off so you don't have to think anymore today.

For the first time, both fighters run to meet and continue with the rare dance.

—Darling, it's not his fault—

—You've ruined my career! No one will hire me for having a murderous son — Kondo yells as he sneers at his son —. That boy was the son of a western boxing star. The demand we will have will leave us bankrupt. Stupid boy.

Kendo felt his jaw crack from the boxer's punch. His mother hugs him the next second. A comforting hug that shows all the love from him.

—Wait, he's just a kid! —

—No. That quirk is created to harm people. That thing is a monster. That is no longer my son — with those harsh words, he lifts the child's battered body with one arm and rests his fist on the chest with the other — You asked for this, brat. You shouldn't have followed a path you weren't welcome.

Kendo felt firsthand his father's strongest blow, one that he never taught him. The one inch punch. A spinning punch of maximum power. He went flying into a wall with a hole in his chest. A pool of blood began to grow under him.

—How could you? He's our beloved son— Kendo's mother accuses her husband while she cries.

—Loved? That cannot be loved. No one will accept its, let alone love its with that quirk —

—Agh, agh, you're right father — Kendo says, standing up with difficulty and a hand in the hole in his chest —. I don't know of any place where they accept me as I am, not even in my own home. But maybe, if there is a place that truly loves me.

—It's just an absurd dream, monster— Kondo spits at him, watching the half-dead boy stagger closer.

—Yes, a dream, a dream that I know you won't be there and that's because I'll take you out of my life — Kendo comments and rest his right fist on Kondo's abdomen —. Goodbye father. Good night.

—Finish her, The Rapper! —

—Hit her harder. Show her that men rule! —

—Booo, so long and no blood. Booo! —

—Now, woman, throw a punch! You didn't attack all night —

Hermes, who was 100 percent attentive throughout the match, reacted upon hearing that boo, as if lightning were traveling through his nerves. A choked pain that didn't come out of his throat. Reality hit him. That blonde never attacked. If we think that it is absurd that he was weak when attacking, showing that level of resistance, then this fight is lost. Kendo showed an unknown transformation and that did not prevent him from being on the brink of exhaustion while there are no signs of wear on the opponent. Everything points to the loss of his fighter.

He was so into the fight that he forgot his head would roll if he lost The Rapper.

The next minute, Hermes was no longer in the building.

Rappa didn't think about Hermes for the rest of the night or the days that followed and kept throwing punches. The woman in front of him gets all his attention. The rival that he had been waiting for since he was fourteen years old, finally found him. His broken fingers, his bare knuckles (the gloves were recently lost), his shoulders bleeding from abusing them, and the cheek-to-cheek smile he feels on his face tell him he's happy.

Happy to release his muscles again and again.

— Hahahaha let's keep going blonde, let's keep going and find out what breaks first. My fists or your face hahaha— Kendo only moves to continue with that ecstasy that he is feeling, like a child who eats chocolate for the first time and cannot stop devouring, tasting that new flavor.

The masked woman is about to tell him to shut up, but a metallic taste on her palate stops her. She quickly swallows the red liquid before it spills between her lips. She never thought that a person other than her type could hurt her to such an extent. She knows that she was tempted to fate by abandoning all defense and just trying to dodge his blows. It's a test of speed for when she takes on her archenemy. If she can't dodge this man's fists, fighting the butterfly would be suicide. So she risks her beautiful face to dodge those attacks. She has no doubt that she can stop him with her arms or counter with her own fists to break his hands, but she wouldn't get any better; she must learn to dodge them. With the new transformation of the garbage head, her training is more difficult compared to the beginning of the match. His current blows reverberate through her body slowly. She must complete her self-imposed lesson and end the fight quickly.

With that mindset, she runs around the ring and tries to get close from all angles, only to be interrupted each time with a punch to the face. Before each impact, she avoids her instincts to headbutt him to shatter his hand and instead she twists her torso relaxing her neck muscles making the subsequent impact for missing greater than if she had done nothing.

All of this just to be prepared for that day.

Out of the corner of her eye, the fighter in yellow sees the signal and she sadly knew that she could not continue with the training. She must move on to the next step of the plan.

—Hey, garbage bag head, you want to continue! — she yells enough for Kendo to hear her amidst the shouts and boos from the audience. She said it as a fact, I don't ask.

—You… you're really amazing to be my opponent— Rappa whispers between deep breaths. He tries to lift his arms, but they feel like rocks. His shoulders no longer feel them and the tremors stopped all over his body. That feeling that accompanies him since the awakening of his quirk, he no longer feels and that alters him in many ways.

—And you are that stone that will make me stronger— said his rival, as if she had heard his words despite the deafening shouting of the spectators and responded to him—. You have the queen's respect, but this must come to an end.

—Yes, although not as you expected — Kendo sees the strange look of the blonde —. I can no longer raise my arms or move any muscle. I can't go on — he explains as different explosions rumble through the large room, though the man in the ring pays no attention —. Sorry, I couldn't meet your expectations. Really sorry, you can capture or kill me now.

—Hey, are you an idiot or what?" Why do that? — the masked woman asks, ignoring the screams of the public escaping from the rubble that falls from the ceiling.

—You're either an undercover hero or a criminal looking for the organization's money. No answer interests me and that does not change this result. I lost and it won't be long before the heroes come for these explosions that are surely from your group — the blonde wrinkles her nose at Kendo's correct words —. Even if I escaped for some reason, the organization will hunt me down and kill me for losing the fight. I'd rather be killed by a person I respect.

The fighter in black and yellow sees sincerity in those eyes. On the verge of death, he shows happiness in his gaze. She doesn't want it to end like this. She still couldn't dodge any blows.

With a new resolve, she strides forward, stopping a meter from the fallen champion. She extends her arm fluidly and gently wraps her hand around his wrist; her slender fingers cannot fully encircle his muscular wrist. Using her other hand, she closes his fingers into that skinless fist that she feels she knows well and with the slowness of a second hand, she positions her arm straight with the fist resting on her petite nose.

—It takes only a little effort on your part to hit me. Have no doubt that I will dodge it — the blonde promises her rival.

—Please, take off my mask— the woman complies with the request —. My name is The Rap-, no, my name is Kendo Rappa, undefeated champion of the Masquerade Underground.

—My name is Queen Bee. The pleasure is yours —

After the introductions, they both stand still as statues as the place falls apart. No spectator is seen in the room. The noise of destruction is the only sound that exists.

As in the beginning of the fight, Kendo Rappa makes the first move. The most powerful attack in his arsenal is unleashed in Queen Bee's face. His numb arm and blurry vision tricked his senses. He doesn't know if the blow hit or not. The momentum of the blow is enough to knock the champion to the ground. A few moments later he heard a metallic crash fall near his face. He tries to focus his eyes with great effort and sees something strange.

A golden bee-themed comb.

Before he can wonder how something like this got there, he sees a tanned female hand pick it up and is temporarily blinded by a bright light. When he regains his sight, he sees that the latex fighter disappeared. Instead he sees a golden-haired teenager dressed in yellow and white clothes; a rare creature flies around her.

—Was all this necessary? Queen Bee is out of commission in the middle of the plan. There are many ways for the mission to fail without Queen Bee active — explains the flying creature.

—You know it was absolutely necessary — she points to him as if he were an object, a thing —. Years since we haven't found someone capable on whom I can train my skills.

—But in the middle of a mission? — screams the yellow creature.

—You are the one who complained for years that I never trained in the other life. Well now I take my training seriously —

The yellow flyer wants to say something, but it closes its little mouth and remains motionless, looking at the girl, without blinking. Kendo speaks with the last of his strength.

—So for you it wasn't a fight to the death… I was just training for you hehehe — he tries to laugh, but ends up spitting up blood — I am not offended. The loser cannot criticize the winner. May I know who you are targeting that you risked your life to train?

—Mmmh, since you are going to die, I can tell you that I have a problem and it is stronger than you. I'm exceptional at almost everything, but dodging isn't my style. A queen doesn't run away… but it doesn't hurt me to practice dodging blows. Moreover, if everything goes wrong, All Might ends up getting in and dodging his punches is essential. Stopping or countering the current world king's fists is impossible—

—All Might, do you want to face All Might? — Rappa asks incredulously.

—Nah, I don't want to meet that man, but he's a king and I'm a queen. We will meet at some point in my rise to the top. Aaah, it irritates me that I couldn't dodge any of your blows! — yells frustrated Queen Bee.

—None? — he says surprised.

—Yes, idiot — the young woman answers and bends down until she is on top of Kendo. He can clearly see her being so close. Her formerly present braid is missing; a river of wavy locks fall around a flawless face. Until a drop of blood falls from her hair, passing through her forehead, eyebrow, cheek and chin until it ends up on the ground. Others follow it —. You messed up my braid. I hate you so much I could kill you with my own hands…

Queen Bee falls limp face down, with a thud, next to Kendo.

The explosions stopped, but at a glance, the former champion realizes that the ceiling and walls won't hold much more. They will be entombed before the heroes arrive. Strangely he doesn't care about himself. He feels that his new body can withstand the falling debris. It is because of the one he has next to that he has doubts. In her black and yellow latex suit she did not spill a drop of blood; she now finds himself without the suit, passed out on the floor with a pool of her own blood under her head and spitting red from time to time. He looks at the yellow creature and fearfully asks:

—Will it survive the rubble? — he speaks with difficulty because of the blood that accumulates in his mouth. He expects a positive response from whatever that thing is that it can talks. He gets a cold denial from it.

—No, she won't do it... unless you can't either —Kendo looks at it surprised by its words. The flying creature leaves his field of vision and the next second, he feels how his body is dragged —. I don't think I should tell you, but if you do something funny with her, Death will never come to save you — a few words, colder than the worst winter, are whispered in his ear. An indescribable, unspeakable, unimaginable sensation runs through every molecule of his being.

He doesn't even move the muscles of his face and lets it drag him like a corpse until he is covering Queen Bee's body with his own. The only thing he can do is use what little strength he regained and give the delicate girl a comforting hug; trying to clear the cold from his body and warm with human contact. His mind couldn't shut off, despite attempts, and he's reliving the events of the day that led up to it.

While he is buried alive, he feels fascination, appreciation, admiration, freedom, happiness, gratitude and the infernal cold over and over again. Over and over again, in an endless circle.

A yellow creature flies around the pile of rubble, singing happily.

—La La La, the chains are gone La La La, the true truths will return La La La, the worlds will be molded La La La, the crown jewels will obey La La La, the chains are gone La La La —

Hello everyone!

I am alive.

It was a super difficult year. Working in Argentina you don't earn much, but it was enough to be able to go to writing classes. As you will see, I improved. Although I exceeded the amount of words. I thought of it as a 3,000 word chapter and ended up at almost 7,000 words. I hope you liked the character build. He is one of my favorites from MHA.

About what I will do now. I'm writing a novel and that leaves me with little time for fanfic. But yes, I will give myself a week a month to write fanfic. The outline of this story has many arcs written and I don't want to leave it in the trash.

I will continue writing fanfic.

About what you read in the chapter, well it's my Chloe with the established personality. The first chapter I wrote without thinking about the future. Seeing the ideas I have, that Chloe from the series cannot be exist. The first chapter will be redone and there it will be explained about Chloe's change, the one you saw in this chapter. Events will stay the same, don't worry.

To advance the information and not be confused by Chloe's current attitude, in the first chapter it will be explained that Chloe had decades of life in the other world. Adding up the years that she lived in this world, she has another way of seeing things.

I don't say anymore.

I will be reading them because that encourages me to continue writing.

Vicav12 says goodbye.