Cafeteria
Izuku, Shoto, and Katsuki were the only people not in the cafeteria. Rex didn't know where Bakugo was, but Todoroki had attempted to take himself and Midoriya away. The problem was that Salazar needed a large meal, so he denied going while telling Izuku to fill him in later.
Hallways
Rex made certain to eat his fill before then collecting a wide assortment of food he could reliably store. He took it back to his class' waiting room and stored it in his locker with all the snacks he brought. If he ended up losing, it wouldn't be because his Quirk failed him at a crucial moment.
Once that was all sorted, he decided to wait by the 1-A entrance to the amphitheater. He also hoped to run into Izuku and see about learning what Shoto deemed important. Upon arriving, he saw the green haired student deep in thought.
"Hey Izuku." Rex called out startling him. "You look down. Was the conversation with Shoto that serious?"
Rather than answer, Midoriya posed a question of his own. "Rex, how would you help someone who was hurting?"
"Hm, was it really that serious a conversation?" Rex rubbed his chin. "I suppose I'd stick around and try to figure out what caused it. Once I have that, I'd see what I can do. Given there are many types of hurt, it'd require different solutions."
"What do you mean?" Izuku questioned.
"I guess it depends on how well you know the person, and what you're willing to do to help." Rex reasoned. "If you know enough about them and figure out what kind of problem they're having, it'll be easier to know what to do for them."
Midoriya took a second to think about the advice his friend gave him, but they couldn't talk about it more because the rest of 1-A were coming their way. In that moment, Rex patted his friend on the shoulder, and they agreed to talk about this later.
"GET THOSE FOAM FINGERS IN THE AIR!" Present Mic announced, signaling that the hour lunch break was over. "It's almost time for the last round. First though, good news for everyone who didn't make the finals! Since this is a sports festival, we've prepared some fun side games.
They're open for everyone to participate in, but once they're over, the 16 students from the top four teams will be duking it out one on one in a tournament style fighting competition! I promise you're not gonna wanna miss these epic match ups!"
"Aww Yeah." Eijiro declared. "Finally getting the chance to show what we're made of. I watched these finals every year, and now I'm actually in them."
"So, is it always a tournament?" Mina asked.
"The finals are always a one on one; however, the event can differ every year." Fumikage informed. "If I recall correctly, it was a foam sword fighting match last year."
Midnight was on the platform and had a box in her hand. "Come closer and draw lots to see who you're up against. Then, enjoy the pleasure of recreational games before we start. The sixteen finalists have the option of participating in those activities or sitting out to prepare for battle. I'm sure you all want to conserve your stamina. I'll start with the first-place team."
"Um…excuse me." Mashirao raised his hand. "Sorry, but I'm withdrawing."
That shocked everyone with Izuku being the first to speak up. "Ojiro, no way."
"This is a chance for you to be scouted." Tenya added.
"It wouldn't feel right." Mashirao explained. "I barely remember anything from the cavalry battle until the end. I think it was that guy's Quirk." He was referring to Shinso. "I know this is a great opportunity. I wish I could take advantage of it, but my conscience won't let me."
"Just think about this." Midoriya urged him.
"I have, okay?" Ojiro retorted. "Everyone gave their all during round two, but I was someone's puppet. No way. I don't want to advance if I don't know how I got here. It wouldn't be fair."
"I understand, Ojiro." Rex nodded respectfully. "Of course, you don't need my permission to do this, but you have my respect." He looked to the rest of his class. "Let him go."
"Thank you, Salazar." Mashirao smiled weakly. "I'm sorry it had to be this way."
Rex patted his shoulder. "It's fine."
"Nirengeki Shoda from class 1-B." Someone else had spoken up. "I think I should withdraw for the same reason. Regardless of how strong I am, this isn't how I wanted to get here. It would go against the values of the festival without earning my spot."
"Listen to these guys." Kirishima was tearing up. "They're so manly."
"This sort of talk is incredibly naive, my boys." Midnight remarked. "That turns me on! Shoda and Ojiro, you're withdrawn!"
Every student there mumbled in disbelief, "Did she say it turns her on?"
Yuga placed a hand on Mashirao's shoulder. "Don't worry for I'll win this in your stead."
"Now, let's see." Midnight pondered for a moment. "We'll have to move two students from the 5th cavalry team, so we have enough contestants."
The leader of the team, Hagakure, spoke up. "Actually, we were frozen most of the time and barely did a thing, right girls?" Her team shamefully agreed. "You should choose from the team that kept fighting the whole time, Team Tetsutetsu."
"Hagakure." Tetsutetsu was shocked, as was his team.
"It's only fair." Toru stated. "Just be sure to give it your best."
Tetsutetsu was starting to overflow with happiness. "We will!"
Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu and Ibara Shiozaki were the two chosen to join this round.
"Take a look at the bracket my dears." Midnight instructed. "These are your opponents."
Izuku Midoriya vs Mezo Shoji
Hitoshi Shinso vs Shoto Todoroki
Denki Kaminari vs Ibara Shiozaki
Yuga Aoyama vs Mina Ashido
Rex Salazar vs Tenya Iida
Fumikage Tokoyami vs Momo Yaoyorozu
Eijiro Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu
Katsuki Bakugo vs Ochaco Uraraka
"SERIOUSLY!?" Both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu yelled in unison. "HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING!?"
"I'll give it my all." Tokoyami stated.
"Good." Momo returned seriously. "That's all I ask of you."
"Mon cheri, I'm afraid it's the end of the road for you." Aoyama stated.
"I can't wait to melt your butt." Ashido taunted.
"Midoriya could be my second match while I'll need to wait for the finals to meet Salazar." Shoto noted. "Both of you must advance, so that I may beat you each with one hand."
"That is you, right?" Shinso had approached him. "Shoto Todoroki?" The half and half student glanced at him. "It's a pleasure. Are you excited?"
At that moment, Ojiro put his tail before Shoto's mouth. "Not so fast."
Hitoshi merely smirked at that before walking away, and only once he was gone did Ojiro remove his tail.
"I assume his Quirk is why you did that." Shoto noted.
"That's right." Mashirao nodded. "You cannot say a word to him."
"Uraraka?" Katsuki asked. "Who the hell's that?"
Ochaco was terrified of who she was against.
"Okay!" Present Mic announced. "Let's press pause for a momentary interlude! Before the battles begin, it's time for some pulse pounding side games!"
Almost everyone who couldn't compete played along in scavenger hunts and races while those left prepared to participate in the next round. Once all the games were done, students went to the bleachers they were assigned to.
Later…
"That's it." Cementoss was finishing the ring. "I'm pretty much done here."
"Thank you, Cementoss!" Mic announced. "HEY SPORTS FANS, ARE YOU READY!?" The crowd was going nuts. "After all the action you've already witnessed, it's time for the real battles to begin!
Can you feel the excitement!? Our competitors are on their own now. Sometimes Heroes have only themselves to rely on. Heart, Skill, Strength, Wisdom, Courage! They'll have to use all these things to rise to the top!"
Hallways
Izuku was standing within the hallways, awaiting his cue to head on out, attempting to calm himself.
"Hey!" Toshinori suddenly called out, drawing his attention. "Sorry I haven't said hi, but you've been doing with All for One."
"Wouldn't say that exactly." Izuku sighed. "I can utilize it, but I haven't truly made All for One my own. Right now, my max is ten percent, but I know that'd push my body to point I got to use it wisely. All that effort just for one tenth the power of this Quirk."
"Ten percent is more than you could use at the start." Toshinori buffed up. "With that, you've made it this far. Even if you're worried, stand tall and don't forget I am here to cheer you on!"
"All Might, I'll be sure to stand proud and give it all my absolute best." Izuku smiled before thinking of something. "No matter the results to come, I wanted to ask if we could tell Rex the truth about the Quirk."
"Hm, you want to tell young Salazar the truth?" Toshinori was a bit shocked to hear that. "I mean, his parents do know but to tell him…"
"I've been thinking about this over the month I trained with him." Izuku informed. "Even though he doesn't know, I wouldn't be where I am now without him. I think if he understood the truth, he'd be more of a help than he already is."
Toshinori wasn't blind to the help Rex gave his successor, but to entrust their shared secret to anyone was a risk. Though, he himself eventually found people he could tell. Perhaps having someone in his own age group aware of this would be beneficial.
If Toshinori couldn't allow Izuku to tell the person whose already been helping him this much, then who could he let his successor tell? None of this accounted for his own history with the Salazar family, or the fact that Rex always had the heart of a hero, even before his builds.
"I will give it careful consideration, young Midoriya." Toshinori informed genuinely. "Something like this cannot merely be decided on the spot."
Izuku nodded. "I understand."
"Welcome to the first match of the Finals Tournament!" Present Mic announced.
"That's my cue." Midoriya turned to his exit. "I got to go."
Stadium
"With his Quirk, came from behind to acquire second place in the Obstacle Course. It's Izuku Midoriya from the Hero course!" Mic declared. "His opponent is one of his teammates who I think was crucial in Team Uraraka taking first place in the Calvery Battle.
It's Mezo Shoji who is also from the Hero course!" Both 1-A students made their way onto the arena. "The rules are simple. Immobilize your opponent or force them out of the ring! You can also win by getting the other person to cry uncle!
By this point, both students had reached the arena and stood across from each other.
"I may only be able to handle, at max, ten percent of All Might's power, but this'll be a good way to tell how well I can fight other people." He knew Shoji would be tricky to deal with. "He's strong and has the ability to change his hands into other sensory organs.
That means he doesn't really have any blind spots, and the only real weakness I see is his lack of long-ranged options. Granted, my lower usage of All for One means I'm not exactly swimming in them myself. They mainly worked in tandem with Ochaco's Quirk."
Midnight called both to the ready, so the 1-A students took fighting stances.
"Ready!" Mic declared. "Begin!"
Shoji vs Midoriya
Shoji wasted no time in charging at his classmate while bringing his right arms back for punch.
"Full Cowling: 5%." Izuku thought, deciding not to go all out at his comfortable 8%.
As green lighting danced along his body, Izuku shot forward. Even though they had been on the same team, being faced with this still surprised the multi-armed student.
In that moment, Izuku punched him square in the gut. "Texas Smash!"
It was a powerful blow that sent Mezo stumbling back, wide eyed and gasping for breath. Still, the guy was a small mountain of muscle, so he wouldn't go down easy. Shoji was quick to right himself, but Midoriya wasn't about to give him time to relax.
The smaller student began springing from side to side, forward, and backward hoping to feint him out before launching the real attack. Eventually, he dashed at Shoji from the left intending to go for the quick knockout. Instead, his classmate's middle left arm shot out.
It wrapped its fingers around Izuku's neck, holding him in place. The other two arms waved in front of Midoriya's face with one sporting an eye and the other an ear. That ear soon morphed into a mouth before Mezo spoke.
"I saw you slow down a bit when you were getting ready for your attack, and I heard your feet hit the ground a little harder than they have." Shoji informed. "Now, will you surrender, or do I have to throw you out of bounds?"
"Neither!" Midoriya grunted.
He managed to raise and cup both his hands together before hammer fisting them down on Shoji's elbows. The joints bent painfully, and Mezo was forced to let go. Upon hitting the ground, the freckled boy slammed full force into his opponent's gut, forcing him back.
"Alright, didn't expect that…" Shoji managed between sucking in air from the two blows.
"Now, it's your turn Shoji." Izuku voiced. "Do we keep fighting, or will you surrender?"
"I'd hardly be pro hero material if I gave up just like that." The six-armed boy readied himself. "Let's go, Midoriya!"
With that answer given, Izuku began running around the arena now as Mezo grew multiple limbs to keep track of him. Ultimately, Midoriya choose to launch a frontal assault before throwing in something he figured would catch Mezo off guard.
"Full Cowling: 10%!" Izuku declared to himself.
Suddenly, his current speed doubled in an instant, and despite the strain he was feeling, Midoriya pressed on. This sudden increase caught Mezo off guard as he now realized the freckled boy had lulled him into a false sense of security by only moving at half his max speed the entire time.
Izuku wound back his fist and connected squarely with Mezo's gut. "TEXAS SMASH!"
It was double the strength the prior one had been at. When coupled with the aided momentum of Midoriya's movement, and Shoji being caught off guard, the multi-armed student was sent flying. When he fell, the bottom half of his body was out of bounds.
"Shoji is out of bounds!" Midnight raised a hand. "Midoriya advances to the next match!"
Stadium
The audience cheered while Izuku disengaged Full Cowling and was left panting.
"With a powerful punch to the gut, we have our first victor of the finals." Mic declared. "Class 1-A's Izuku Midoriya!"
With that, Izuku approached Mezo with a smile and offered him a hand up. The multi-armed student immediately took it allowing the freckled boy to help him up.
"That was a good fight." Iida commentated. "I'm impressed Izuku improved so much." He turned to Rex. "You must be a good teacher, Salazar."
"We were both teachers to each other over that month." Rex responded nonchalantly. "Just as I helped him, he helped me."
Hallways:Later…
There was a ten-minute interval between each match which gave people time to restock on food, use the restroom, and allowed the students to walk wherever they wanted/needed to be. As such, Shoto was currently on his way to the arena only to run into his father.
"What do you want?" Shoto questioned.
"You're acting disgracefully, Shoto." Endeavor commented. "If you had merely used the power in your left side, you would have had an overwhelming victory in the first two rounds." Shoto merely walked past him.
"It's time to stop this childish rebellion of yours. You have a duty to surpass that imbecile, All Might. Do you understand what I'm saying? You're different from your siblings. You're my greatest masterpiece."
"Is that all you have to say to me, you bastard?" Shoto's voice replied enraged. "I'll win this match and advance using only Mom's Quirk. I won't give you the pleasure of seeing me use yours."
"Even if that works for you in this tournament, you'll soon find the limits of that power." Endeavor informed his son.
Todoroki merely pressed on.
Stadium
"Enough standing around!" Mic declared. "It's time to welcome to the ring our next players!" The screen showed the fighters as they stood within the arena. "Our next combatant hasn't really done anything to stand out, yet he's made it all the way here.
It's Hitoshi Shinso from General Studies!" He was perfectly calm. "He'll be facing off with someone who got into the Hero course based on recommendation." Said student's eyes were obscured by his hair; however, he was clearly angry. "It's Shoto Todoroki!"
"In a way, this is a test of how strong one's spirit is." Shinso stated. "If you know what you want, you can't care how people think."
"Ready!" Mic began.
Shinso sneered. "That monkey was going on about his pride earlier."
"Begin!" Mic finished.
Todoroki vs Shinso
"All I see him a is an idiot for throwing away his chance like that." Shinso continued.
With Ojiro's warning somewhere within his current state of mind, Shoto said nothing as he simply launched a massive amount of ice at Shinso. Everyone was stunned by the sheer amount of it as the whole thing took up part of the arena.
"He can create this much ice!?" Shinso was shivering while entombed completely by the ice; however, he wasn't ready to give up just like that. "Don't you think this is a bit drastic?" Todoroki stood there silently which only angered him. "No, he must talk back.
Did he figure it out? No, he's known because that monkey must have told him." He stared at Shoto, unwilling to let it end this way. "Come on, say something!" Silence. "I didn't know you had this much power. I'm honestly kind of jealous."
He was only met with more silence prompting Midnight to step in. "Shinso, I don't believe your opponent is going to answer you, so tell the truth. Can you move at all?"
"Thanks to the way my Quirk works, I've always been at a huge disadvantage, but someone blessed like you would never understand that!" Shinso ignored her as he became desperate. "You were lucky to have been gifted with a heroic Quirk! It'll be easy for you to reach your goal!"
"That's enough!" Midnight declared to Hitoshi's devastation. "Shinso has been immobilized, so Todoroki advances to the next round!"
The audience didn't know what to make of this. From almost all their perspectives, Hitoshi didn't do a thing beyond talk while Shoto absolutely destroyed him.
"Sorry, it was a bit much." Shoto apologized as he approached and began to melt the ice. "I was angry is all."
Shinso was angry with himself. As the ice cleared up, Rex noticed the way Shoto was carrying himself. He looked sad to have lashed out in anger against his opponent. This prompted the guy to tap Izuku on the shoulder and direct him to take a walk with him.
Hallways
"It's Todoroki, right?" Rex asked bluntly, referring to their earlier conversation.
"He told me some…personal things." Izuku looked down. "I want to help him, but I don't know how."
Your best bet will be to know what you're saying and doing when facing him." Rex informed.
"Are you talking about during our match?" Midoriya asked.
"It's the best I got from our own experience." Rex responded. "The two of us came to a better understanding of one another through our spars, and I'm banking on it working on Todoroki."
"Well, what's your take on him?" Midoriya questioned.
"From what I gather, he seems to have some sort of heat side to his Quirk that he's not using." Rex voiced. "Whatever he views as wrong with it; change that perception."
Midoriya thought about it for a moment before deciding to trust in his friend's advice. From there, the pair separated since Izuku had a lot to contemplate on.
Stadium
Shinso was soon freed of the ice and blew past Todoroki heading out of the stadium.
"You did great Shinso!"
Hitoshi suddenly stopped in shock and looked up to see some of his fellow classmates from General Studies.
"We're proud of you!"
"You made it further than us and a lot of people from the Hero course!"
"Yeah, you're the star of our program!"
"Todoroki!" Shinso called out to the 1-A student as his anger was replaced by hope. "Depending on the results, they might transfer people into the Hero course. I want you to remember that. Even if it didn't work out this time, I won't give up.
I will get on the Hero track, be certified, and work to surpass you as a pro." Hitoshi looked back and met Shoto's eyes. "Stay on your guard; otherwise, someone else in this might just end up taking you down. Don't lose in a way that makes me look bad."
After a moment, Shoto broke eye contact and walked away. "I have no intention of losing."
After the Ice is Cleared…
"Welcome back to the finals everyone!" Mic announced. "Sorry for that long wait, but the insane amount of ice has finally been cleared meaning it's time to welcome new competitors. Even beautiful flowers have thorns. It's the assassin from class 1-B, Ibara Shiozaki!"
She seemed slightly saddened at that introduction. "Her opponent is the boy with the electric personality. Another Hero in the making. Denki Kaminari!" He looked ready to win. "KEEP THOSE EYES PEEEEEEEEELED! I want to see a super flashy battle this time!"
"Excuse me." Ibara spoke up, getting Mic's attention. "Pardon the interruption, but I'm not sure why you called me an assassin. I've come to the festival in search of victory, not to take my opponent's life. That wouldn't be in line with the values of a Hero at all, sir."
Mic apologized, but she kept going. "I didn't enter UA for wicked or selfish reasons, but to deliver salvation to others." Somehow, the sunlight around her intensified. "It is my humble quest to spread true good across this world."
"Listen, I said I was sorry!" Mic reminded her. "That was my bad, okay?"
The light around her went back to normal. "I thank you for your kind understanding."
She bowed respectfully before moving to take her place across from Denki. "Well, she's made it this far, so that must mean she's tough." He was focused up and determined. "That said, I got something to prove, so I can't afford to let anything trip me up."
"So…anyway…BEGIN!" Mic announced.
Kaminari vs Shiozaki
"After what my prior classmates have given, I got no choice but to win." Kaminari flashed a winning smile. "Of course, I'd probably feel this way even if we were the first match."
Shiozaki cupped her hands for a prayer and spoke with a concerned tone. "What sinful pride in the midst of conflict."
Even though he aimed to win, Denki had learned better than to be rash. As such, he decided to test the waters with a decent amount of lighting that wouldn't go near shorting out his brain.
"Let's see you handle this!" Denki shouted.
He discharged his lightning only for Ibara to turn, cup her hand, and unleash a massive wall from her vined hair which protected her from the being shocked. Given the burst wasn't all that powerful, it quickly dissipated, and the 1-A student saw something moving through the ground.
"Looks like I got to close the ground between us quick!" Denki thought.
He dodge rolled to the right as vines popped out of the ground attempting to ensnare someone who wasn't there. Kaminari broke into a run as he had electricity flow around himself.
"As a virtuous guardian, it is my duty to punish wickedness in any form." Shiozaki commented, only to suddenly realize she hadn't entrapped her opponent.
Before she could comment on it, Denki managed a skid around her ivy wall and lept at her back. Ibara looked behind her in shock as her vines began to grow, but it was too late. Kaminari crashed into her, and she was shocked by the electricity as he pinned her belly down.
When he knew she was rendered unconscious, Kaminari stood. "Alright, I cleared the Top 16!"
"Ibara Shiozaki has been rendered unconscious!" Midnight had come out to check on the girl before making such a statement. "Kaminari advances to the next round!"
Unlike with the mock battles you saw prior, these matches were not die rolled into existence. I deliberated on them for a while before deciding on them as they stand now. While in canon Hitoshi got Izuku to respond, here he has Full Cowling which would ultimately result in Shinso being put out of bounds before he finished goading Izuku into speaking. As such, I put Hitoshi up against Todoroki since he devastates his opponent regardless and gave Izuku a proper battle instead. When it comes to Denki, the changes introduced here led to his win.
Maximum Rhapsody: Anything more Van Kleiss could aspire to would potentially come after everything is said and done with the present path. Right now, he's essentially in the Orchimaru from the Konoha Crush mindset in that he wants to turn the windmill, so to speak. Van Kleiss' present goal is to take the world out of its present stagnation. He wants change. Through All For One and Shigaraki, he sees that potenital for change if the boy grows into the role.