Written by Aduubo, Buckichamp, and PKSprtn
Edited by Aduubo
I OWN NOTHING. KILL LA KILL IS OWNED BY STUDIO TRIGGER AND KAZUKI NAKASHIMA. MHA IS OWNED BY TOHO ANIMATION AND KOHEI HORIKOSHI.
"His resolve was clouded by his arrogance. What a shame."
Satsuki's gaze remained stern as Gamagori fell. There were tears that she could see in his eyes, but they did not ascend from his face. Their weight represented the heaviness of his loss, which fell with him before plummeting into the ground.
-ROUND 1 VICTOR: SHOTO TODOROKI AND KATSUKI BAKUGO-
"THEY DID IT!" Kirishima and Kaminari cheered as the rest of Class 1A, Tanaka and Mako hooted and hollered. Midnight and Cementoss looked on with relief, finally able to breathe a little easier after the intense finish.
"Here."
Todoroki quickly let a cold wave glaze over the platform as a cool ice block formed next to Bakugo's left arm.
"I don't need your help!" Bakugo shouted before looking away. "But thanks," he grumbled soft enough that no one could hear him. He had to admit, if it wasn't for Todoroki's quick thinking, Katsuki would have never gotten the chance to knock the giant down.
"Yeah, you're welcome," Shoto huffed as a vein popped on Bakugo's forehead. While the two walked, they peered over the edge to see how Gamagori was doing.
"Holy… I can't believe he survived a fall like that. The guy's a tank," Ichiro said with wide eyes as he observed Gamagori sitting up on his knees.
"No kidding. As much as I don't like them, Honnoji is impressive," Izuku followed up.
"More like crooked," Ichiro sneered.
"How pathetic…" Ira sniffled while his tears continued to fall.
The black stars on his uniform were scorched, nearly burned off from Bakugo's blasts. Two lowly delinquents were able to stain the uniform Ira wore with pride. To defeat him.
As he tried to get up, all movement in his body seized before rattling violently. Confusion ran in Gamagori's brain as he struggled to move.
"W-What's happening?!"
Everyone observing above set their eyes on him, perplexed by what was unfolding. The Life Fibers within were becoming undone, barely able to hold on.
"No way, it can't be!" Sanageyama's mouth dropped from disbelief.
Steam burst from the seams of Ira's uniform before shriveling up like a burnt piece of paper, leaving him with nothing on his back. His bare skin was exposed for all to see. The ultimate sign of failure.
Amongst the ashes of the Goku Uniform, a single red thread rose and began floating. Suddenly, Senketsu could feel something drawing towards him, like a signal of some sorts. He closed his eyes and hummed softly, feeling it get closer.
"Senketsu?" Ryuko spoke.
The thread glowed once it made its connection and bee-lined towards Ryuko. Her classmates all gasped once they spotted the luminescent string. It then went into the seams of Senketsu's being, allowing him to take the power it possessed.
"Was that a Life Fiber just now?" Ryuko wondered.
"Mmm, yes. It's been a while since I've absorbed one. It feels nice," Senketsu said in a pleasant tone.
"You're kidding. That kid defeated a Goku Uniform?" Jakuzure nearly laid on the platform to ensure she was seeing everything correctly.
"So powerful…" Inumuta could barely form the words.
"And yet, he does not possess hardened Life Fibers. Interesting," Satsuki commented.
"I can't live with this kind of disgrace," Gamagori hissed through his teeth before pulling out an unidentified object. He pulled it apart, revealing a dagger.
Ichiro's eyes widened once he saw the blade. When did Gamagori have a weapon with him? Was he even allowed to?
"What's he doing?" the model asked and turned to his peers. What he didn't expect was to see horrified looks on their faces. They all looked petrified. Izuku held his hand tightly against his mouth, trembling to the point he'd need to use the railing for support.
"He's…" Izuku was barely able to mutter out.
Ichiro gasped before he turned back to Gamagori.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!" Ira screamed, aiming the blade high over his head.
"NO! WAIT! STOP!" Tanaka cried out in hopes of reaching him as a final, desperate plea.
Before Gamagori could claim his life, something firmly grasped his left wrist to put his actions to a grinding halt. Ira heaved before looking up to see Bakugo by his side.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Bakugo screamed. Gamagori looked at his opponent, holding the hand that would have sealed his fate.
"Why are you-"
"So what if you lost the damn fight?! Doesn't mean you get to call it quits when things don't go your way! You're supposed to be their Disciplinary Chair or whatever. What kind of example are you showing if you off yourself now, huh?!" Bakugo lectured, earning a shocked look from Gamagori.
The spectators watched on as Katsuki Bakugo, the most violent member of the UA hero course, talked someone out of taking their own life, with Izuku being the utmost surprised at this development.
'Kacchan…' Midoriya thought.
"Use this as a chance to get stronger. The last thing this place needs is to lose one of their top fighters! Besides…"
Bakugo turned to his left to see Satsuki Kiriyuin standing over them, with a piece of cloth in her hand.
"It looks like you're still needed here. So don't go leaving before the job is done."
Katsuki let go of Ira's wrist and to walk away. As soon as he was a few feet removed from the disciplinary chairman, he turned his gaze back to Satsuki Kiryuin. The two made eye contact, as the heiress wondered what else Bakugo had to say.
"And you. Don't you ever look down on me again," Bakugo said to Satsuki, who's glare sharpened at his curt remark.
Katsuki took his leave and turned away to return to the stands. Satsuki stood idly and watched him before turning away herself. Soon, a low smile stretched across her face.
'Well done, Bakugo. You've proven to perhaps be just as capable as Midoriya,' Kiriyuin noted. 'Consider him as your next obstacle to your ambition.'
Sauntering back towards the stands, Kastuki finally had a moment to himself. He didn't want the brute to die. To him, it would have been blood on his hands.
..~~~HLK~~~..
"Matoi. What did you tell her?"
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked.
"Don't fucking act like you don't know what I'm talking about."
…
"You're looking at it. You know exactly what I mean. I know she hated me, but nobody would lose their shit like that during the Sports Festival. You obviously told her about what happened, didn't you?"
"No."
Katsuki gasped inwardly. Izuku's quick response time caught him off guard.
"I didn't tell her. I didn't tell her anything that she doesn't already know. Whatever set her off…"
Izuku looked Katsuki dead in the eyes with a soul-piercing glare.
"...It's all on you."
"Maybe now you'll know that the things you say can hurt people."
Izuku began walking and brushed past Katsuki, who was too stunned to form words.
"Like when you told me to kill myself."
..~~~HLK~~~..
Katsuki sneered before kicking at the seat in front of him. Why did he have to remember that damn nerd of all things? He won the first round against Honnoji. He should be feeling proud. But something felt off.
The ashe blonde teen glanced at Deku, watching him chat things up with his peers. He quickly turned away out of disgust. Whatever it was, it didn't matter now. All Katsuki wanted to do was focus on the remaining matches. There was something about it that was really picking at his brain.
'These matches… Something doesn't add up. What the hell are these guys planning?'
Katsuki turned his attention towards Matoi, wondering what other involvement she might have with Honnoji.
Ryuko had to hand it to Katsuki and Todoroki, they really knocked it out of the park. UA winning the first round was huge, especially when it showed Satsuki that they weren't a school to be messed with.
"How do you like them apples, Kiryuin?! One down! Still think you guys can take all of us on?" she called out to the Student Council President, her voice being as loud and proud as ever.
"Actually I do."
Ryuko's gaze on Satsuki broke as she set her attention on the voice that responded to her. It was Inumuta, who would take his turn in the second round of the Sudden Death Runoff.
"Don't start making assumptions because one of our own lost, Matoi. I will be UA's next opponent," Inumuta said.
"That's Inumuta, the big brain guy, right?" Kaminari asked for clarification.
"Yeah," Kirishima answered.
"Who would he want to challenge for this round?" Tenya wondered.
"Yeah, he's a lot less obvious than the last guy. I don't think I can figure him out," Shoji said.
"It could be any one of us, whatcha think, Midoriya?" Sero asked the boy in question.
Izuku stayed quiet. As far as he knew, he was more than likely going to be Inumuta's first choice. And whether he was going to face him alone or with a partner hadn't been decided. Even though Kacchan and Todoroki were the first to go, it still felt like the Elite Four and Kiryuin wanted a piece of him. This could get ugly.
"You okay, Izuku?" Ryuko checked up with him. Mako appeared right beside her to check as well.
"Mhm. I'm just a little bit antsy because Inumuta hasn't picked who he'll fight yet, that's all," Izuku responded softly.
"Tell me about it. I wish they'd just get on with it already. We don't have all day! They're being all dramatic like they're in a movie or something," Ryuko rolled her eyes.
She knew that wasn't the only thing though. Izuku was probably worried about being the next one to fight.
"That's what makes it fun, Ryuko! Especially when we get to the part where you guys kick their butts!" Mako said with a bright look in her eyes.
She brought up quite an interesting observation of this entire event. It actually made things sound a lot more exciting and fun, especially since Ryuko loved action movies.
"You know, I never even thought of it like that. That does sound fun! Like an action movie where all the loser baddies get clobbered!" Ryuko too joined in on Mako's antics.
Izuku could feel his worries washing away as he watched two of his friends having fun. He couldn't help but giggle. It was easy for their energy to spread onto him and take over. The two girls heard the joy in his voice, which only brightened their smiles more.
"Yeah, I guess so," Izuku said amongst his tidbits of laughter.
Ryuko felt her cheeks growing warm with red whenever Izuku laughed. It always sounded so pleasant and cute. That laugh was something that she'd come to cherish. At least they had something pleasant to talk about while waiting on Inumuta.
All was fine and good until Mako caught Gamagori sitting down at an empty row of seats far from where they were sitting, and all by himself.
"Hmmm…" Mako sulked, feeling empathetic.
"Is something wrong, Mako?" Izuku asked before he followed where she was looking.
"Oh, it's Gamagori."
"Is he naked? What the hell?" Ryuko asked.
Out of nowhere, Mako stood up and made her way towards Gamagori.
"Mako? Where are you-" Izuku asked, but saw that she wasn't stopping.
"Huh? Where's Mako headed to? Is she sitting with Gamagori?" Ochako wondered as well.
"Why would she do that? The dude gives me some serious bad vibes," Ichiro shuddered.
Izuku shared glances with Ryuko for a moment. It didn't take long for the two to know what to do next. Once they nodded in agreement, they followed Mankanshoku.
"Wait! You're both going too?" Tanaka halted them.
"Yeah, we are," Ryuko confirmed. Izuku nodded as well.
"But why? I'm not sure if sitting next to an unhinged guy like that is such a good idea. Let's think about this," Ichiro tried to plead.
"There's nothing to think about, Tanaka. Mako saw that Gamagori could use some company. And we're going with her," Izuku said sternly, leaving Ichiro speechless.
Izuku and Ryuko didn't wait a second longer and left. Ochako and Iida met eye to eye before getting up and doing the same.
"Huh? What- I-" Tanaka was even more confused.
Jirou stepped up next. Kaminari was a bit hesitant, but he trusted her word and went with her too.
Tanaka was understandably on edge. Gamagori did just try to off himself right in front of everyone. Tanaka didn't want to be near him! But he felt guilty now that he imagined Gamagori sitting in defeat, all alone.
"-sigh- Hope I don't regret this," Ichiro got off his seat and followed everyone else.
Gamagori sat with his arms folded, remaining in deep thought. He tried to think of any possible way to repay Satsuki's kindness in allowing him to walk free.
"Hey Gamagori," Mako chirped as she sat beside him.
"Hello, Mankanshoku," he greeted back. Ira looked up once he noticed that Midoriya and Matoi were also joining him.
"What're you doing sitting all by yourself?" she asked.
"If you must know, I've been demoted. I'm a no-star now, just like you. And as such, this is where I will sit for the rest of the runoff: in the no-star section," Gamagori said.
"Oh," Mako zoned out, realizing that she had been sitting with the 1A students.
"You should have already known this, Mankanshoku. But perhaps I am expecting too much from you," Gamagori shook his head.
"Uhh… hehe…" Mako chuckled sheepishly while gently placing her knuckle to her forehead.
In the distance, Ryuko overheard what Gamagori said and felt a blood vessel pop. The way he talked down on Mako just pisses her off! The moment she was within proximity, Ryuko puffed her chest out, inhaling deeply.
"Listen here, cun-"
"You know, Mako didn't have to sit here with you."
All eyes turned on Midoriya, who gave Ira quite the glare.
"She thought that you might have been lonely and decided to offer some company. At least try to act like you're grateful," Izuku sneered.
"I didn't ask for her or anyone's charity. This isn't a place to try and play hero," Gamagori shot back at him.
Ryuko felt a fist forming in her hand, ready to give Gamagori a well deserved concussion. But Izuku wrapped his hand around hers, tempering the rage.
"You're right. You didn't ask for it. But helping someone even when it's not asked for is still the right thing to do. You don't need to be a hero to do that. Just a good person."
Ryuko and Mako stared at Izuku with wide eyes. He was lecturing Gamagori like how a teacher would to a student! This was the same guy who nearly beat their classmates to a pulp. Ira was rather surprised too. Izuku had changed significantly since the last time he saw him. The only way he could respond now was through a hearty chuckle.
"I see that you've developed a sharp tongue like Matoi's, Midoriya. It's good to see that the flame in your heart has returned."
"What do you mean by that?" Izuku asked, giving him a suspicious look.
"Your breakdown earlier. I'm happy to see that you've made a recovery," Gamagori answered him.
"Huh?" Mako, and Ryuko wondered together.
"Hold on, you were worried about me?" Izuku questioned.
"As a former chair of the disciplinary committee, I am to help any fellow student in need. Even though I am now stripped of that role, I make it my duty to lend a hand out to others. And that includes outsiders like you and your classmates," Gamagori said.
"Oh. Uhm, thank you," Izuku said, being just a bit bewildered.
Gamagori's ideals actually resonated with him, as they weren't that much different from his. If there was anyone that needed help, and Izuku had the chance to, he'd act in a heartbeat. With all of the bad things he knew about Honnoji, he never expected the Disciplinary Committee chairman to have some nobility.
"Whoaaaa! So Gamagori can be nice!" Mako cut in, which made Ira pop a blood vessel.
"What do you mean by that, Mankanshoku?! Maybe I wouldn't have to be so strict if you students just behaved!" Gamagori yelled at her.
"So you admit that you are a big meanie!" Mako shouted back at him.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"
"Looks like we came at the right time, huh?" Ochako giggled as she saw Mako and Gamagori's banter. Iida and the others soon arrived.
"You guys just missed it. Izuku was grilling into Gamagori," Ryuko said, still in disbelief.
"Huh? Really?" Ochako looked at Izuku. He stood tall with authority and his focus was locked. This was nothing like the timid boy he used to be.
Deep down, Ochako felt her heart fluttering again. The more she saw him like this, the more this feeling intensified. Ochako shut it out for now, focusing on what was happening in front of her.
"You gonna look after Izuku like a big brother now? That'd be soooo cute!" Mako swooned over the idea that was so wholesome.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, MANKANSHOKU!" Ira screamed through gritted teeth.
"Will you two shut up? I'm about to choose who my opponents will be," Inumuta intervened before muting them with his device.
He analyzed the rows of students one more time, one by one. Inumuta wanted to make sure that he made the right choice for his opponent.
"Hmm, yes. You two will do."
Everyone was on the edge of their seats. The vagueness of his statement continued to make them antsy.
"Momo Yaoyorozu, Mezou Shoji. Please step forward."
The group collectively gasped and all of their eyes focused on the two selected fighters.
"HUH?!" Yaoyorozu's head went light as she was thrown into a tailspin. She wasn't expecting to be selected.
'So I'm paired with Yaoyorozu,' Shoji soaked it in rather calmly, though it did beg another question, his eyes narrowed.
'Why us? We haven't really interacted much, so I'm not sure what exactly this guy's looking for.'
"Yaoyorozu and Shoji, huh? Funny, I thought you'd be his first choice, Izuku," Ryuko said to him.
"Yes, Matoi. As a matter of fact, that was my first choice. But that'd be far too obvious," Houka titled his head to the side with a smug grin.
"The hell do you mean by that?"
"I would've loved to put my knowledge to the test based on the extensive data I've collected on Midoriya. But what good would that do? Fighting an opponent I'm so familiar with would be pointless. There's no better way to challenge myself than to face the unknown. Hence, choosing opponents I don't have as much data on," Houka explained to her.
"Huh. I kind of see where he's coming from," Ichiro started to brainstorm while rubbing his chin. His friends then looked at him with curious glances.
"Midoriya's got a sharp wit and is quick to adapt in battle. But it doesn't take a genius to know that he's mainly a brawler as of now. When it comes to someone like Yaoyorozu though, you could never predict what she has up her sleeve. I've seen her creation quirk at work during the Sports Festival and the range of stuff she can make is incredible."
The fashion model paused for a moment, trying to piece together his next string of thought.
"As for Shoji, he seems to fit the role of recon. I imagine that with the ears and eyes he's able to form on his appendages, he could spot people from any direction. So stealth isn't exactly an option when fighting him. Though, I could be totally wrong."
'He's actually on point,' Shoji's eyes widened.
"Thank you, Tanaka. There were a few cracks in those statements I'd work on, but it's good enough. I'm glad to see you're not completely spoiled to the point of being brainless," Houka chuckled, which Tanaka frowned at immediately.
"Shall we move things along then? I'd hate to further waste Lady Satsuki's time."
Yaoyorozu and Shoji hesitated at first, but they eventually stood up and walked down the stairs to the arena. While they were stepping onto the plate, Inumuta had been studying them with his handheld device.
"I noticed that your heart rate has elevated, Yaoyorozu. I hope you aren't getting cold feet."
Momo winced immediately. The fact that he could read her heart rate felt gross. Nobody should know that much information on the fly. But she ignored what he said and faced forward. This was no time to get scared.
Shoji wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. This was the first time he was ever paired up with Yaoyorozu. Hopefully the two of them could come up with a strategy to win. All the fighters were on the platform, and the stairs behind them pulled back from it. The stage was now set.
"Begin," Satsuki announced.
"M'lady," Inumuta said before his collar clamped around his chin, and the three stars on it shined. He was soon engulfed in another light show for the audience.
"Three-Star Goku Uniform: Probe Regalia."
Once Inumuta's new form was in view, the first thing that stuck out to Yaoyorozu was the numerical keypads that were placed on his body. He typed away at them at high speeds, moving to other pads just as fast. Shoji was unsettled by how Inumuta never took his eyes off of him and Yaoyorozu while doing so.
"So, you got any strategies in mind, Yaoyorozu?" Shoji asked her.
"I don't know what Inumuta's capable of right now. The first step would be to figure that out," Yaoyorozu responded.
"I looked into your records during our stay at UA. Out of everyone in your class, you ranked highest in academics. Let's see if you translate that to your combat prowess, Momo Yaoyorozu," Inumuta said, readying himself.
Momo kept herself firm, blocking out whatever Inumuta said so that he wouldn't distract her. She created a metal staff to use as her primary weapon before looking at Shoji. They needed to figure out how they should fight. And if Inumuta wasn't going to make the first move, they would have to.
Shoji nodded, acknowledging Yaoyorozu's command. Once she moved forward, he followed right after. Both of them rushed Inumuta, with Momo swinging first, and Mezou following up right after.
"Left. And up high."
The corner of Houka's lip lifted before he hopped to the right, dodging Yaoyorozu's staff. He then ran towards Shoji and dropped to his knees, gracefully sliding under his large wing.
'He dodged!' Shoji and Momo were left astonished.
"Not good! He's anticipating their moves," Kaminari anxiously gulped.
"He's pretty quick," Ashido agreed solemnly.
"A coordinated attack! Good! But not that good," Inumuta said before initiating an attack of his own on them.
He made a beeline for Shoji, who then raised his guard. But it turned out to be a ruse as Inumuta pushed off his foot in a sharp turn towards Yaoyorozu at the last second. Catching her off guard, he struck her with a kick to her abdomen. The force of it was enough to send her flying off balance.
"Yaoyorozu!" Shoji cried out.
"Keep your multiple eyes on me, Shoji!" Inamuta shouted before bombarding him with a flurry of attacks.
'Come on! Get up! Shoji needs my help!'
The pain in Momo's stomach stung like hell. But she had no time to dwell on it. She propped herself back up with her staff to rejoin the fight, preparing to strike Inumuta while he was occupied.
Inumuta anticipated Yaoyorozu's assault from behind and managed to block her weapon. Shoji came with another hook, only for Inumuta to dodge again.
"'Wha?! Whoa! How is he doing that?'" Houka mocked before pulling Yaoyorozu's staff, shoving her into Shoji in one quick motion. Before the two hero students could react, Houka launched another kick that sent Momo and Mezou skidding away.
"Please tell me that there's more to you both than that!" Inumuta shouted as he continued to push his opponents back. "I thought that fighting you two instead of Midoriya would provide a challenge!"
"Show me how UA was able to tame a beast like Matoi!"
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened. Scoping out other competition to learn their weaknesses was one thing, but him speaking of Matoi like that was especially strange.
"Matoi? What do you mean by "tame" her?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"After the chaos she stirred up at Honnoji, I was interested to see how well UA could handle her," Inumuta said.
Izuku and Ryuko started to get cold feet, as well as Cementoss and Midnight.
'I'd nearly forgotten Matoi was a transfer. It's been so long,' Iida recalled their first day sitting on the benches in the school courtyard. 'I hadn't brought it up again since.'
"So Matoi being a transfer student was true after all," Yaoyorozu pieced together.
"Perceptive as always, Yaoyorozu," Inumuta smirked.
Class 1A all shared puzzled looks before questions started to fill the air.
"What? I thought you could only get into UA by recommendations or by completing the entrance exam. UA rarely ever accepts transfers," Sato scratched his head.
"I knew Matoi was crazy, but she must have been a big shot here if UA allowed her to transfer in," Kaminari added.
While Matoi did explain to Ochako and Iida that the transfer was what happened, she never told the others. Ryuko cursed inwardly, how could she have been so negligent? Aizawa didn't explain it either, but she was there on the first day, which probably could have been swept under the rug.
But now everyone was going to ask questions.
"So, you used Matoi as a front in order to spy on UA. Is that right?" Yaoyorozu asked Inumuta.
"Not exactly. Originally, Lady Satsuki and I went to UA High School to see the progress that Matoi has obtained during her stay. News of the delinquent's sudden increase in strength came to our attention, so as such we were sent to investigate. All the while gathering data on those who have participated in the Festival," Inumuta explained.
"We didn't think we needed any more than that. Until something changed our plans. Or someone."
"You mean Midoriya, don't you?" Shoji asked.
"Correct. The data collected from you all was valuable, but it's a mere dip in the pool compared to Midoriya. He was able to figure out the obstacle course and adapt to all of his battles with just his mind," Ira explained.
"The more we looked, the more it became evident how much potential was hidden behind that boy. Having him stay at UA, knowing they had no real means to cultivate his mind was such a complete insult."
"You didn't," Bakugo gritted his teeth, his mind starting to piece everything together.
"Once the tournament was over, I was given permission by Lady Satsuki to recruit Izuku Midoriya so he could join the ranks of Honnoji Academy's elites!" Inumuta raised his hands up high, practically rejoicing.
At that moment, members of class 1-A looked at their classmate in shock. They had no idea that Midoriya was scouted by the Elite Four.
"Holy crap Midoriya! Is that dude being for real?!" Kaminari questioned.
"Y-Yes. It's true. Inumuta came to me and offered me a chance to go to Honnoji, but I turned it down," Izuku said nervously.
None of his classmates' exchanges reached Bakugo's ears. He was too stunned to form words. The Elite Four went to recruit Deku, and not him. One of the "winners" of the Sports Festival. It really messed with his head.
"When your opponent's mind is scattered, it's best to keep the pressure with chaotic attacks," Inumuta said as he rushed the duo again.
"That way, when they fall apart, you can focus on more important matters."
Yaoyorozu collided with the ground, being split up from Shoji again. Every time she and him regrouped, Inumuta would separate them. But, he always made sure that Momo was the one tossed aside, putting more focus on Shoji.
She could only watch in horror as a thought came to her mind. Did Inumuta not consider her a threat?
Momo tried to not let that get to her head and got right back up. In a hasty manner, she created a rocket launcher and aimed for Inumuta. She couldn't sit and watch Shoji get attacked like that!
Once she had a clear shot, Yaoyorozu fired a ball of binding tape at Inumuta.
"Right on time."
Houka smiled before dodging out of the way. Shoji was soon ensnared in Yaoyorozu's tape, since he was the only one on the other side of the attack.
"SHOJI!" Momo shouted.
"Don't lose focus, Yaoyorozu!"
The girl's head whipped back around with Inumuta inches away, causing Momo to jolt. Before she knew it, he dealt one swift kick to her back, sending her tumbling towards the other side of the platform and away from Shoji once more.
'Dammit!' Yaoyorozu grunted while trying to stand up, but Inamuta was right there.
'How did he move that fast?! I didn't even have time to think!'
She was scared and on the ropes. Not to mention, the several feet of air that she'd drop through before hitting the dirt wasn't too far behind her.
"Well, this has been fun. But I'm putting an end to this," Houka stretched his arm as if he was about to launch something from his suit. Momo shut her eyes, bracing for the worst.
But nothing.
"Huh?" Yaoyorozu looked up. She'd been shielding her eyes for the moment of impact that never came. Soon after, Inumuta stood straight up and reverted back to normal.
"Lady Satsuki, I think this match is over. Wouldn't you agree? I don't see the point in making things worse than they are now," Houka stated confidently.
"I would agree," Satsuki nodded. "You've won this fight, Inumuta."
And just like that, the Information and Strategy Chairman chuckled as the Honnoji crowd went into a frenzy. They rejoiced over the school's first victory over UA.
"No way!" Izuku looked at the battlefield, seeing his two classmates being defeated so quickly.
Houka walked up to Momo, pausing next to the girl before speaking.
"You're clever, especially being a recommended student to UA High. Despite that, book smarts aren't going to be what wins you glory on the battlefield. You've seen that first-hand with Matoi and Midoriya at the sports festival."
The world shattered around Yaoyorozu, as if everything was made of glass. Soon she sat on her knees in a black void. She was completely stunned and spaced out. Everything she'd done suddenly came crashing down.
Shoji watched in horror as he watched her shut down. Was it not enough that Inumuta beat them without breaking a sweat? He had to rub it in too? Shoji's muscles tightened the more he watched. The capture tape coiled around his arms, nearly snapping.
Inumuta made his way towards Shoji, kneeling down to undo the bind on him. Shoji felt his blood boiling to a point he might not need his help to get out of this trap. It would be so easy to attack him right there. But Shoji didn't like the idea of senseless violence.
Once freed from the tape, he stayed silent. No word came out of his mouth. Inumuta turned away, walking past Yaoyorozu as he deployed the steps.
"Thanks for the data. I'm sure I'll find something worthwhile in all of what I recorded."
Not even ten minutes had passed, and Momo and Mezou were defeated.
"He beat them…" Ryuko stared with wide eyes.
Paramedics were dispatched to escort Momo and Mezou to the medical bay. Their classmates could see the disheartened looks on their faces. It wasn't just the physical damage that stuck with them, rather the psychological toll, especially on Yaoyorozu.
Midnight saw this too. It seemed like a mirrored image of when Yaoyorozu walked off the stage after losing to Matoi.
'The poor girl."
She rested the ridge of her nose against her fingers.
'We knew that Honnoji would be difficult, but even Principal Nezu couldn't have expected this when he assigned Ken and I to gather any information we could. We're really in a bind here.'
This was a heavy blow for class 1A. Shoji and Yaoyorozu were some of the few that had an amazing handle on their quirks, yet they were quickly defeated by Inumuta. UA had one point of victory, and it was quickly snatched back by Honnoji. The fashion it was done in even left other members of the Elite Four appalled.
"Yeesh. Hard not to feel sorry for the kids," Sanageyama said.
"Mhm. For once I agree with you. I don't think any pep talk from their teachers will fix spirits that broken," Jakuzure added.
"Momo!" Jirou said shakily, gripping onto the railing.
"Jirou," Ryuko said softly, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"I-I need to go check on her," Jirou pleaded.
Ryuko nodded immediately, as she didn't need a second to think.
"Yeah, we'll go with you too."
Izuku, Tanaka, Kaminari, and Mako all nodded as well, making a unanimous agreement. Ryuko then walked over to the edge of the bleachers to call out to Satsuki.
"Yo! Satsuki! We're going to check up on our friends! Don't start the next round without us, ya hear?"
"Very well. Take a break for as long as you need," Satsuki answered.
"Tch, don't get too comfortable now," Ryuko snarled. She rejoined her friends and they were immediately off, as the gang heard everything. Satsuki watched them afar as she and the remaining elite four waited for their return. Inamuta stood on his pillar, being as smug as ever.
"Jakuzure."
"Yes?" Jakuzure answered Satsuki.
"While they settle their affairs, prepare for battle."
"Huh? Oh, okay. This soon already?" Jakuzure deployed the stairs towards the center stage and began walking down it.
"What's up? You seem surprised. You worried that you'll lose as bad as those two did?" Sanageyama jested with Jakuzure before standing up.
"OH BITE ME YOU- Wait, where are you going? I'm up next! Aren't you gonna watch?" Jakuzure asked.
"Nope. I gotta go get ready. I've got something special prepared for when my match comes up," Sanageyama said before he left his pillar.
"Something special?" Jakuzure wondered with genuine intrigue. "Bah, does he even hear himself? I bet it's all just hot air."
Thankfully nobody was injured, but that didn't put Kyouka's worries to rest. There was something far more damaged. Kyouka sped walked as fast as she could without leaving her classmates and Tanaka behind. Kaminari could see the aggression in her movement, but it clearly wasn't just that. Kyouka's heart was beating in her ears. She had to get to Momo.
The entrance of the nurse's office was dead ahead. Kyouka didn't even stop to brace herself before opening it, prepared to face whatever was going to happen.
"Oh, Jirou. Hello," Yaoyorozu greeted softly.
"Whoa, we've got quite a party here," Shoji said, sitting up on the bed. He didn't expect to see so many people.
"Yaoyorozu - Shoji, I- You guys are okay," Jirou stuttered as her voice cracked.
"Yeah, just a few bruises. That's all," Shoji reassured her while rubbing one of his arms.
The group split up to check on the two individually. Ichiro stood in the center of the room, observing while they talked to their friends. This kind of turmoil was something he felt that should be between them. While he stood by, Ichiro saw Todoroki appear to the left of him.
"Huh? Todoroki? When did you get here?"
"Oh. Hey, Tanaka," Todoroki responded with a tone as neutral as ever. "I guess we all had the same idea to visit."
"Gotcha. I'll leave you to it then," Tanaka nodded and stepped aside. He was surprised to see Todoroki being this 'proactive.' From what he remembered that the girls told him, Todoroki closed himself off from his classmates. Yet here he was, ready to accompany them. Tanaka then glanced over to Yaoyorozu's bed as Jirou was the only one with her. The others thought it was best to leave the two alone since Yaoyorozu would be the most affected by the loss.
"How are you holding up?" Kyouka asked while looking up at Momo.
"I'm fine. Really. You don't need to worry about me," Momo smiled while waving her hand. "I'm pretty sure I should be the one crying right now."
Kyouka gasped, realizing that her eyes felt a bit watery. How strange. It wasn't like her to cry like this. She quickly wiped the tears away.
"I-I'm not crying. I'm just pissed off. It's just not fair…" Jirou scratched at the blanket, tugging at them as she tightened her fingers into a fist. She rested her head down on Momo's bedside while her breathing became shaky.
"Jirou?" Yaoyorozu grew concerned as her hands hovered over Jirou's shoulders.
"Those damn Honnoji guys. Always trying to act like they're better than everyone. I can't believe they invited us all here just to step on us. You didn't deserve that, Yaoyorozu…"
Yaoyorozu's eyes softened and became somber. She figured there was nothing left she could say to Jirou, so she let her be while still being by her side. Momo's eyes drifted away and were left staring down at her legs. It didn't take long before she pulled her knees up and rested her face on it, her lips quivering in the process.
Denki sighed while he was seated in a chair next to Shoji's bed. He wasn't there, but he could imagine what was going on between Yaoyorozu and Jirou based on what he saw. Everyone was feeling down right now, but he tried to stay positive and hope that some peace and quiet would help everyone.
*BUZZ* *BUZZ*
Kaminari jolted upright from the subtle hum of his phone vibrating. Fishing his hand into his pant pocket, he pulled out his smartphone and checked the Caller I.D. When he saw who it was, a cold shiver ran down his back.
It was his dad.
The same dad he pretty much lied to when he said where he was going to for the weekend. Wasting no time, Kaminari excused himself and jogged out into the hallway. He then pressed the answer button and shoved the phone close to his face.
"Uh-HEY-hey, hey dad! How's it-uh…how's it hangin?" Kaminari cringed at himself. In what plane of existence does "how's it hangin" sound like a good way to say hi?
"Umm…fine? Why do you sound like you got caught with a fork in the electrical socket… again?" The Kaminari patriarch questioned.
Denki's face turned red with embarrassment, remembering that unfortunate moment from his childhood. What did he think would happen when he found out he had electrical power?! EVERY kid wanted to put forks into sockets.
"No! Nonononono- it's uhm uh…hanging out! Just me, hanging out with my friends. Doing what…teenagers do."
"You do realize that doesn't help your case at all, right?"
Kaminari could only bring his hand onto his face, groaning at his father's very sound logic.
"So, you're gonna tell me what's wrong or-?"
"No, no. Nothings wrong, pop. I promise. You kinda caught me at an… awkward moment is all."
"What, did I stop you from getting with someone or something?" Boruto teased, all while holding back a laugh.
"I-WHAT, NO! Come on dad, seriously!" Denki exclaimed in embarrassment.
Honestly, Denki needed this call.
He and his father talked a little more, throwing small bits of banter at each other. Jabs here and there that could only exist between father and son. And honestly it was what Denki really needed right now. A moment with his old man.
"So, what's up? Is there stuff going on at the shop?" Kaminari asked, ever so curious.
His question was met by a quiet pause on the other end of the line. This was a little concerning since Denki knew how to-the-point his dad could be.
"Dad? Hey dad, is everything okay?" Kaminari questioned.
"What? Uh-yeah. Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine, son. I just… well…"
"Well, what?"
The several awkward silences and the deflection started gnawing at Denki's nerves. What could be so bad that it was causing his dad to act so-
"I got a date."
Nevermind. Now he was even MORE lost.
"That's what it was? Seriously, dad! You almost gave me a heart attack!" The lightning user exclaimed, somewhat relieved by the absurdity of his dad's answer.
"Sorry, Denki. Didn't mean to startle ya," Boruto said, albeit softer.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, who's the lucky person?" Kaminari asked, a small grin on his face.
He knew how much of a hopeless romantic his dad was. Even when he was a toddler, his dad would go gaga over any lady that would give him a compliment. It wasn't like his son could relate. When it came to Denki with girls, they were like ducks to water.
"Well…"
"Dad, come on. I'm not the kind of guy to judge."
Denki was quick to squash any worry from his dad regarding romantic partners. Guy, gal, or anyone in between, Denki Kaminari would welcome whoever made his dad happy. If they could do that, then they were already better than-
"It's your mother."
The small smile Kaminari previously had dropped completely, leaving a stiff frown on his face. His entire train of thought completely derailed, with a sharp chill running down his back and an awful knot forming in his gut.
His mother. Of all the people his dad had to go out with, it had to be her. Why? Why now?! What about last year? Or five years back? Or back when they needed her.
"Denki?"
The concerned sound of his father's voice broke Kaminari away from his thoughts.
"Denki? Son, is everything okay?"
"I'm fine. Listen I gotta go, okay pop? Something… Something came up and I need to handle it. We'll talk later, okay?" Denki fidgeted his legs, wanting this conversation to be done.
"Um-uh-yeah! Yeah, of course. Just gimme a call when you're done. Don't wanna keep ya away," Boruto said with a small chuckle, probably in a vain attempt to ease the tension.
"Cool. See ya pop."
"Yeah, right back at ya, K-"
Denki hung up before his father could finish.
He had so many emotions all swirling around inside him. Anger, sadness, anxiety, worry, hurt, and the list kept growing. Anything that could be remotely negative kept bubbling up.
Pacing around the corridor, Denki eyed up a lone trash can nearby. In a fit of anger, he kicked the object hard down as it rolled a few feet before coming to a stop against the wall. Even with that little burst of energy let loose, Kaminari still felt the frustration growing. He kept pacing around and hoped it would at the very least steady his nerves.
He couldn't do this. All of his family bullshit coupled with the reality of him having to potentially fight some weirdo from Honnoji ate away at him from the inside-out like a mouse to a python. He just wanted to go home.
"Yo, Kaminari. Are you out here?" A voice called out at the end of the corridor. Kaminari's nerves begin to relax once the voice registered; it was Jirou's.
A lot of his previous worries began to alleviate, but not fade away. Denki's mind starts to unwind, the previous pressure that was placed on him now dissipating ever so slightly. Out of everyone in his class, Jiro was the one that could get him to slow down. Someone to keep him centered, to keep him anchored.
"Oh, sorry Jiro! I was just on the phone with my old man. No trouble going on here, promise!" Denki scratched gently at his cheek, facing Jiro. The frown on his face was replaced by a bright and embarrassed smile once he saw her approaching..
"Yeah…sure, whatever you say. Are you ready to head back?"
"Oh, really? So soon? Don't you wanna stay a little longer?" Kaminari asked, brushing the back of his head. "I figured everyone would need a bit before getting back to the fights."
"No. Crying isn't going to fix anything. The most we can do for Yaoyorozu and Shoji is settle the score. The sooner we can get out there and kick the Elite Losers' asses, the better."
Jirou looked at Kaminari with fire in her eyes that matched the intensity that Matoi had in hers. He was nearly intimidated by it.
"It's time to show Honnoji how we do things at UA," a smirk grew on her face.
How did she do it? Not long ago, Jirou was rightfully upset about the loss that her classmates endured. But now, she was back and ready for a fight. It was amazing how quickly she rebounded like that. Could Matoi have had an influence on her? Whatever it was, it made Kaminari's eyes glimmer passionately. Jirou looked so damn cool!
"Yeah. Let's kick some ass then. Come on!" Kaminari rushed to where Kyouka came through. All the while Jirou screamed at her partner to slow down.
..~~~HLK~~~..
"Has the girl gone up to fight yet?"
"No. She's been surprisingly patient in letting her classmates get a few turns," Mikisugi answered Tsumugu over the phone. "Inumuta made quick work of his opponents though. So Ryuko's match might come sooner than we think."
"Are we still going through with what the rat asked us to do?"
"Come on, Tsumugu. Have some respect for Principal Nezu," Mikisugi chuckled.
"Whatever."
"But yes, we are. Bring whatever you think you will need," Mikisugi said.
"On it. I got a few more things to pack, then I'll head out."
Aikuro tucked his phone into his pocket and sat on the edge of his window, where he could see Matoi and her friends returning to their seats.
"Entrance march! Under the Double Eagle!"
A whole band filled with percussion, trumpets and nearly every musical instrument marched down the steps of Jakuzure's platform as she led them from the front, playing on tempo and on point.
"She hasn't picked out her opponents already, has she?" Kaminari wondered. "Why make an entrance when the fighters aren't even down there?"
"Hell if I know," Jirou watched the band members disperse once the pink-haired girl reached the platform. That confident look on her face made Jirou want to gag. "All of these Honnoji folk love to show off. I hate it."
Giving herself a moment to soak it all in, Nonon closed her eyes and took a breath. Finally, it was her turn.
"Where did the UA brats I wanted to crush go?" Jakuzure mumbled under her breath with a devious grin.
"She's pure evil!"
Everyone turned to the middle row and saw Mineta's teeth chattering together. For whatever reason, he was freaking out.
"What are you talking about?" Sero asked.
"She's giving off the same vibes as Mt. Lady! There's no way I'm going to fight her," Minoru curled up a little more, not wanting to mess with Jakuzure.
"Relax," Jirou put his worries to rest. "I doubt she'd want to fight you."
"You're right. I don't want to fight him," Nonon directly addressed Kyouka, catching her by surprise.
"The funny thing is - I want to fight you and Mr. Sparky up there."
"WHAAAAAAAAA?!"
"WHAAAAAAAAA?!"
"Jirou and Kaminari?" Matoi looked over to her classmates. "Why them?"
"Does it really matter? Now come on down so we can start," Jakuzure remained calm, her smile not disappearing.
'I'm saved!' Mineta internally screamed at his good fortune.
Denki gulped. To be honest, he never expected to be selected in the slightest. He thought they'd have it easy and not have to fight at all. However, he could tell that Jirou had other plans. This couldn't have been a more perfect opportunity to get payback for Momo and Shoji. Even with the thrill of evening things out, her hands still shook.
Deep down, Kyouka wasn't sure if she would even be able to do it. Matoi or even Midoriya would be fine enough to get back at Honnoji, but she felt like this was something she had to do. And she did not want to fail. How could Jirou face Yaoyorozu if she lost?
Denki reached over for Kyouka's hand and squeezed it firmly, both for her sake and his. She was then snapped out of her negative thoughts.
"H-Huh?! What are you doing?!" Jirou blushed like mad at the sudden display of affection, as Ashido and Matoi picked up on Kaminari making a move.
"It'll be just like the battle trial," he smiled calmly. Beneath the surface, Denki had to admit he was really nervous, but the least he could do was try to reassure her.
"We'll go down there and knock her socks off. I'm a little better at controlling my electricity, but I'll need help. We can do this, okay?"
Kyouka didn't know how to react initially, still stunned as her head tried to regain some semblance of sense. It wasn't only the surprise of being picked for the battle getting to her, but her heart was racing even more as she looked into his eyes.
'He's gotta be scared, right?' Jirou wondered. 'But…'
She squeezed his hand back as the railing in front of them disappeared and the steps that would take them to the ring connected to the platform in its place.
"After you," Jirou insisted as she looked straight forward. Kaminari nodded, hoping this would help take some of the edge off."
"Mhmm. Let's go."
Kyouka and Denki stood up and made their way to the platform, their hands separating once they reached the arena floor.
'Ooh! Jioru~! I didn't expect this from you!' Mina giggled enthusiastically. More class drama on this trip to provide ship material? She couldn't get enough of it.
"I don't really know how she fights," Ryuko whispered to Izuku. "I wish I could help them out."
"Me too. But for now, we'll just have to trust that Jirou and Kaminari will figure out a strategy," Izuku tried to reassure her, but something didn't sit well with Ryuko.
This felt like a trap.
"I hope you both know I won't be as sloppy as Gamagori, but we'll still have some fun," Nonon cheerily smiled.
"Fun?" the two collectively pondered out loud.
"Prepare to be pummeled cheerfully, jauntily, and utterly one-sidedly!"
"I think your definition of fun needs a re-work," Kaminari deadpanned, with Kyouka snickering in response.
Jakuzure chuckled for a brief moment before the three stars on her Goku uniform flashed and engulfed her in a bright light that kept expanding in size.
"Whoa! What's going on?!" Hagakure called out.
"How are the instruments flying up like that?!" Uraraka's eyes grew wide as they disappeared into the growing brightness.
"This breaks every law of physics," Izuku said with little emotion, stone faced at whatever was happening.
'Dammit!' Ryuko growled. So this was Jakuzure's plan?!
The non-athletic committee chair soon came back into view, with a skintight suit that highlighted her body's prominent features.
"A SKINTIGHT SUIT! SO HOT!" Sero and Mineta locked their eyes on her.
"He sure changed his mind fast," Sato rolled his eyes.
Jakuzure's red suit was laced with boned structures and patterning, frills, and her hat had changed as well. What was more jaw-dropping was the fact she was several feet off the ground in what appeared to be a mobile, heart-shaped tank with boombox features in its design.
"Three-Star Goku Uniform: Symphony Regalia Grave!"
"Whaaaaat…" Kaminari's voice trailed off into a squeak.
"Is that?!" Jirou finished his sentence.
"Impressed?" Jakuzure rhetorically asked as the bloodlust in her eyes grew at the sight of two easy victims.
"I think she's compensating for something…" Kaminari whispered. Jirou broke out of her state of fear and fell into a snicker. Damn it! How did he always make her laugh at the most inappropriate times?
"You wanna repeat that?" Jakuzure snarled while a vein popped on her forehead.
"N-No thanks, ma'm!" Kaminari nearly fell back.
"Thought so," Jakuzure sneered.
"For my first piece, the light cavalry overture!"
With a flick of her baton, the speakers fired up and rippled sound waves everywhere. No one was immune from the effects of the music as the visiting students locked up, trying to brace against the sheer force being exerted.
"That's so loud!" Kaminari shouted and covered his ears.
"Then let's shut it down with a different tune!" Jirou's jacks plugged into the amps in her boots. She sent out soundwaves straight for Jakuzure, hoping to disorient her and knock her out. Quick and clean.
"Very cute."
Flicking her baton again, Jakuzure's woofers went all out with her own sound, canceling out Jirou's. The power of her bass shook up the entire stadium, forcing all of the audience to cover their ears.
"AARGH!" Kyouka's lobes retracted before she collapsed on the ground. The noise caused her great pain, which was the cost of having better hearing than others.
"JIROU!" Denki quickly ran over to her.
"M-My ears are throbbing… Everything hurts!" Kyouka struggled to get herself up off the ground.
"That bass is like bees stinging in your ears, isn't it?" Nonon taunted, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Let's sharpen up the tune a bit, shall we?!"
Bladed musical notes were blasted from within the woofer's cavities and headed straight for the two.
"Crap!" Denki picked Kyouka up on her feet and quickly booked it. They both ran in different directions to divide up Nonon's attention.
"HAHAHAHA! That's it, dance!" Jakuzure cried out joyfully.
In the corner of her eye, Jakuzure saw that Kaminari turned tail and ran straight for her. Yellow bolts of electricity was coursing through his body. But, he was thrown back by the powerful bass of Jakuzure's woofers.
"Kaminari!" Jirou joined back with him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. My stomach's feeling funny, but I'll be fine," Kaminari responded. "I think I might even have an idea on how to beat her."
"Good. Because I'd like to have some payback," Jirou's eyes narrowed.
"Same here," Kaminari stood up. "I almost got close enough to taze her. If you can just distract her, I might be able to end this."
"Are you sure? Because the frequency could affect you too," Kyouka asked out of concern.
"I'm sure. Don't worry about me," Denki smiled.
It took a moment, but Kaminari was able to put Kyouka's worries to rest. She didn't need any other reason to trust him.
"Okay. When you're ready then."
"It's okay to call it quits here, ya know! You don't need to work so hard to match up to perfection!" Jakuzure shouted.
"Yeah? Match this!" Jirou triggered another wave of sound from her stereo boots.
Jakuzure prepared her woofers, feeling confident that no danger was coming her way. That was until she was met with a much stronger force. The blowback made her bump her head into her LRAD, along with it being pushed near the edge.
"Ow! Crap!" Jakuzure amped up her bass to a higher degree to counter. But even then, Jirou actually kept her at bay.
'How is she-?! Kid's got more spunk than I thought!'
To make matters worse, Kaminari sprung into action once again. This time he was much closer than before!
"Got you!"
"Not so fast, buster! I won't let the show end that quickly!" Jakuzure's LRAD sprouted out more subwoofers and kicked off another paralyzing sound.
The blonde screamed as he was thrown back. Jirou was able to catch him with one of her lobes, resulting in her attack weakening. But that was the least of their problems.
Nonon's LRAD was now ascending in the air, being powered and carried by the extra subwoofers, and paired with extra tails for turn control. The machine somehow grew into the size of a small blimp, the absurdity of it all left Kaminari and Jirou dumbfounded.
"SYMPHONY REGALIA PRESTO!"
Horrified gasps were all that could be heard from the duo as they witnessed what they were now up against.
"Shit! We're screwed!" Jirou exclaimed. This was beyond anything they could have ever prepared for. And all of that talk about getting payback for her classmates, just to fail like this?
"I'd love to be positive, but there's no way around it," Kaminari shuddered, with Jakuzure snickering at the two scaredy cats.
"Heh. Looks like I was wrong about you two. And here I thought your sound and electric combo might be fun to play with. Time to send you both to the bleachers!"
Just as Jakuzure's Symphony Regalia was about to fire, a shadow darted above the arena as everyone looked up.
"LIFE FIBER SYNCHRONIZE! KAMUI SENKETSU!"
Sparkles rained down from above as Ryuko landed in between her classmates and the pink haired girl, raring to go in full sync mode. She slowly rose from one knee to a standing position, drawing her scissor blade in the process.
"Get the hell out of this ring, new girl! This isn't your fight," Jakuzure barked.
"I'm sorry! I don't even attend Honnoji Academy. Don't think the rules apply to me like it does to you," Matoi smirked triumphantly, silencing Nonon in the process.
"Besides, the Elite Four is 'best of the best' right?" Ryuko asked mockingly while making quotation marks with her fingers. "I'm sure Satsuki wouldn't mind if I jumped in. Isn't that right?"
Satsuki's gaze narrowed slightly before softening into a more neutral expression.
"You don't think you can handle a three-on-one fight?" Kiryuin posed to Jakuzure, much to her surprise.
"O-of course I can," the pinkette reaffirmed, dialing back in with an anxious smirk.
"Besides, I get first dibs at Matoi. This might actually be worth my time."
"Matoi," Jirou broke her silence, grabbing the Kamui wielder's attention. "We're no match for her. So why are you jumping into this?"
"Jirou's right," Kaminari agreed. "That thing is huge! Even with the three of us, I don't really see a way to beat her."
Ryuko knew the Elite Four were tough, Sanageyama was a personal testament to that. Though over the past few months she spent at UA, she knew why it was necessary to do something.
"When I was told I'd be going to UA, I completely rejected the idea at first," Ryuko said loud enough so everyone could hear her.
"Hmm?" Kiryuin raised an eyebrow, recalling that morning a few months back.
"What's she going on about?" Sanageyama muttered.
"Beats me," Inumuta shrugged.
"But when everyone from our class came together, I never felt more at home."
She turned to her two allies, who were hanging on every word.
"When we were going up against Yaomomo and Mineta in the Battle Trials, we made a good team, and I learned a lot about myself that day. The day I decided to stay in Musutafu," she said with more of a smile before directing her fierce glare back at the other side.
"Matoi…" Kaminari and Jirou felt touched.
'Do it Ryuko,' Izuku gave a knowing nod, smiling at what he saw coming.
"I couldn't let you two go up against her on your own, not after everything you've done for me. I'm not gonna let her push you around. As heroes, we have to look out for the people who aren't strong enough to take it on all alone, that's part of my mantra."
Ryuko pointed her scissor blade straight past Jakuzure and up at Satsuki, a proud smile showing through.
"Today, this is the debut of the Crimson Blood Hero. I am Damenblut!"
To Be Continued…
Aduubo A/N:
YAYYY NEW CHAPTER. This one took a while cuz there was a lot to iron out! But I'm very proud of how it turned out! I hope you guys enjoy it too! When you're done reading! Be sure to check out my Deku x Ryuko Bubbling Heart comic dub on my youtube channel! Have a good one, everybody!
Full disclosure: While the chapters still credit Buckichamp and PKSprtn, we are no longer working together. However, that is because they contributed to some of the writing on many of the future chapters. I'm leaving one last reminder that I am operating solo now!
Also, did you know that Boruto means 'Bolt' in Japanese? LMAOOOO