Chapter 21- Third Event: Explosive Strategies

Blossom needs rest, Bubbles deals with Todoroki and the rest of the matches are tame-ish, with an explosive turn.

Hello again everyone! Sorry again for making y'all wait so long. Life happen and then such. I love how I got write this Sports Festival, but alas, this will need to be wrapped up. We have seen that Blossom is out and only one Kayama remains (And yes, I love the name Kayama now. Sue me, lol) and things will be fun.


Chapter 21- Third Event: Explosive Strategies

"Is she going to be okay?" Kirishima asked.

When the match between Todoroki and Blossom had ended, Kirishima rushed in to see if his friend was okay. After a short session of calming the girl's nerves, she fell asleep; he considered it a side effect of her quirk. Her two sisters were around the corner and walked over to assess her condition too, though they already knew that she wore herself out due to her strong use of her power. With Kirishima carrying the sleeping red head, they arrived at Recovery Girl's office, for there she would be tended to and given rest.

"She's fine. She has just worn herself out, again." Recovery Girl explained. She was not at all surprised by the girl's state. She knew from day one and the conversations with Nezu, that these girls were not like any other. Granted, she still did her examinations on the girl and aside from practically being frozen, the mental exhaustion is the one that really stood out to her.

"She's fine." Recovery Girl said in a profession tone. "She will just be out for a while, but other than that, she's in good health." Though she has seen many things as a hero and doctor, she could not help be a little in awe at how resilient these girls could be.

"That's good to hear." Bubbles said. She remained behind, while Buttercup readied herself for her match. She wanted to make sure that her sister was not alone when she woke up.

"In any way, I will ask one of you to leave. I only allow one visitor per patient." Recovery Girl said.

"I will go then. I only wanted to make sure she was in good hands. And she might be more comfortable to see one of her sisters anyway." Kirishima volunteered.

"That's wise. Honestly, I would push for the blonde one to stay, but you volunteering makes it easier." She chuckled at her little joke and Bubbles was also giggling. Kirishima was at a loss for words, but took it all in strides.

"See ya later, Bubbles." With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

Bubbles was silent, and it was like that for a few minutes before the door opened again. Revealing a blank face Todoroki, coming in. Bubbles could not help but let her eyes rest on boys demeanour. She was sure he wouldn't try anything to hurt her or her sister, but she could sense his mood was all over the place.

"Ah, Todoroki, I see. Do you need some care, I can imagine after the way you fought in the last match." The doctor asked.

He only nodded and that was enough for the doctor to get started on his treatment. She asked the boy to lift up his shirt, to see what she was working with. Bubbles, although knew she shouldn't have, snuck a quick glance and saw the purple bruises that adorned the certain areas of the boy's body. And with quick work of medical hero's quirk, the markings were gone and a slightly shaky Todoroki was left dealing with the slight side effect.

Recovery Girl handed the boy something, "Now, take these vitamins and rest. The bruises were not too severe, but my quirk still needed great stamina to heal them. You will be just fine for your next match." The doctor said, as she went out to run one or two errands.

The silence was quit palpable, no one wanting to make a sound, until the bi-coloured boy, took charge.

"Your sister was a fool for not taking the win there and then." He said bluntly. But Bubbles did not react to his words, only keeping her back turned towards him.

"She had the chance to knock me out of the stage, but she wasted it. I don't understand why, but it is as I said, she was merely a stepping stone to achieve my goals. I may not have liked how I won, but it will give me more motivation to be better in the next round." Feeling he was fine now, he decided to head out. Just as he was about to leave.

"Trust me when I say, you shouldn't underestimate people." The boy in question stopped, realizing the words said. "What?" He asked pointedly.

With her back still facing him, she continued, "My sister is anything but a fool. She is quit smart and she has proved it today, as she left that stage with all the restraint she could muster." She slowly turned to look at Todoroki, and what he saw were blue glowing eyes, of sorrow and anger.

"I believe that if she were to really fight you, she would have kicked your butt, harder than that." She said it, as if it was a fact.

Todoroki openly glared at the girl in question. "What makes you so s-"She didn't wait for him to finish.

"Because, when it comes to a Powerpuff, we don't back down so easily." Her glowing eyes dimmed down, and a smile was placed on, but was on for a moment.

"Powerpuff…" He trailed on, not understanding that word.

"I sense you're hurting Todoroki, but you won't be healed if that shadow continues to consume you." She said with a sympathetic face. Todoroki's eyes shot out wide, but quickly composed himself, "Humph", and left.

Bubbles took a deep breath. She understood why Blossom wanted to shake him a bit, but she really should be more careful. "I hope Buttercup is going to be fine." She said under her breath. She held her sleeping sister's hand and just sat close by for some time.

As Todoroki was speedily walking down the corridor, to get to the stand. He was stopped by the last person he ever wanted to see at that moment.

"You see what your foolishness could have cost you?" Endeavor's voice was low and full of disappointment, something that was never lost on the boy. When Todoroki did not reply, he continued. "I don't know what kind of trick that girl pulled, but I can only summarize that she might have felt sorry, beating you like that. Pathetic." He said, having no problem dismissing Blossom like that.

Todoroki was just about to walk pass him, "You have one last chance to use that god damn gift I gave you! Or, you will be another failure I created!" At that, Todoroki stopped, clenching his fist. Endeavor thought he might try something, but Todoroki simply walked away, leaving his father to his thoughts. 'Those girls, hmm…They might prove to be a liability or…a way for my son to grow up.'

As Todoroki entered through the gate, he realized that the battle had already started.


-Tenth Round: Ibara Shiozaki vs Kayama Buttercup-

The match had already begun and Buttercup, for her part, was overwhelmed at the start. After seeing that her older sister was in the care of Recovery Girl, she left immediately to the next match. A part of her wanted to stay with Blossom, but she knew very well that she would have wanted her to fight and pummel the competition; okay, not in those exact words.

She was up against the girl from Class 1-B, Ibara. When the match started, she was immediately socked with a vine whip and suspended in the air, at an incredible speed. With dozens of vines springing fourth from the ground that restrained Buttercup's arms and legs.

"IT SEEMS THAT BUTTERCUP HAS BEEN COMPLETELY INSARED BY IBARA'S VINE BIND! WILL THIS BE A SHORT MATCH EVERYBODY?!" Mic announced in the background of the crowd's roar. Even the members of Class 1-B were cheering their classmate on.

"Yeah Ibara! Show them what Class 1-B can do!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed.

"Yes, show them who the more superior class it!" Monoma manically said which earned him a karate chop to the neck.

"You are going to make us seem crazy." Kendo chided the boy. "Though, I would want Ibara to win this."

Class 1-A were on their seats, wondering if their own classmate was going to win this.

"Do you think she will lose?" Mina asked.

"Well, from my experience, those vines were tough." Kaminari said, shrugging it off.

"It was difficult for you, being that you short circuited your mind, straight off the game." Jirou said, making the lighting user flinch at the memory.

Tokoyami shook his head. "I think Buttercup has not even begun to fight." Saying that, they all kept a closer look

"Please, I ask that you surrender this senseless fight and I shall grant upon you, mercy." Ibara said pleadingly, behind her vine barrier.

"Forget that!" Buttercup snarled defiantly, her eyes narrowing as she struggled against the entangling vines. With a fierce determination burning within her, Buttercup refused to give in to Ibara's so-called offer of 'mercy.' Instead, she focused her energy, channelling it into her strength to break free from the vine bind.

With a powerful surge of energy, Buttercup unleashed her own power, generating intense heat from her hands. The temperature around her body to rise rapidly, causing the vines restraining her to wither and weaken under the intense heat. With a mighty burst of effort, Buttercup shattered the weakened vines, breaking free from her entrapment in a dramatic display of strength.

"Nice try." She said, as she landed back on the ground, and wasted no time, she made a move. Channelling her focus and determination into her fists, she charged towards Ibara with incredible speed.

"What? No!" Ibara said, unleashing barrages of vine whips.

Dodging and weaving through Ibara's attempts to ensnare her once more, Buttercup launched a barrage of rapid beams of energy, burning all the plants that came up to her.

The crowd erupted into astonished cheers as they witnessed Buttercup's incredible display of power and skill "WOW FOLKS! IT LOOKS LIKE BUTTERCUP IS TURNING THIS WHOLE THING AROUND!" Mic exclaimed, his words echoing throughout the arena.

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos and excitement, hero teachers and students from both Class 1-A and Class 1-B chimed in with a mix of reactions:

Tetsutetsu and Monoma exchanged incredulous glances, unable to comprehend the sudden shift in momentum. Even Ibara herself, caught off guard by Buttercup's unexpected resurgence.

"Remarkable. Buttercup's strategy and execution are impressively precise," Nezu remarked, his calm and analytical tone betraying his approval.

"Hmm, Buttercup's technique is quite impressive. She's adapting to the situation well," Thirteen observed, their tone reflecting a mix of surprise and admiration.

"A decent showing, I suppose. But let's not get carried away; there's still much room for improvement," All Might commented, his praise tinged with a mild, backhanded tone.

"Whoa, did you see that? Buttercup's really bringing the heat!" Kirishima exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Tch, she's nothing special. Just lucky," Bakugo scoffed dismissively, his attitude reflecting his usual abrasiveness.

Meanwhile, Midoriya watched with a mix of admiration and contemplation. "She's really pushing herself to the limit. It's inspiring," he mused to himself.

With each blast of energy, Buttercup drew closer to Ibara, her movements swift and decisive. Sensing her impending defeat, Ibara's expression shifted from confidence to desperation as she attempted to repel Buttercup's relentless assault.

But it was too late.

With a final burst of energy, Buttercup delivered a powerful blow in to the ground. The shockwave was enough that it sent Ibara flying backward, crashing through the vine barrier and out of the arena with a resounding thud.

"Ibara has been knocked out of bounds! The winner is Buttercup!" Midnight announced

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as Buttercup emerged victorious, her indomitable spirit and unwavering determination shining brightly for all to see.

"Man, that was annoying." Buttercup said to herself, and was about to leave to check on her sister. "Excuse me." Buttercup stopped a moment, and turned her attention to the girl with vines for hair.

"I hope there are no hard feelings. I am sorry for any discomfort when it came to my vines." Ibara said with a sense of sincerity. Buttercup, baffled at first, just shrugged.

"Hey, no problem. Beats being grappled by a monster the size of a skyscraper." She said casually.

That confused Ibara, until Buttercup said, "I mean…it was just a friendly battle. Your skills are not too shabby." She said, trying to save the scene, she extended a handshake.

"Um, thank you." She said with a confused smile, shaking her opponent hand with in respect.

"YOU SEE THAT FOLKS?! A TRUE SHOW OF SPORTSMANSHIP, WE CAN ALL LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THESE FIRST YEARS!" Mic said, the background of cheers were agreeing with him.

"I have to say, Buttercup is quite the adversary in battle." Momo said.

"Yeah, she seriously kicks butt." Jirou agreed

"Hey Deku, isn't your match coming up next? You're up against Iida, right?" Uraraka turned to the boy.

"Oh yeah…I better prepare for that." He said as he stood up leave.

"Just make sure you don't break any bones on the way." Uraraka said with a giggle.

That made the green haired boy to sweat drop as he awkwardly smiled at that, before leaving.


-Eleventh Round: Tenya Iida vs Izuku Midoriya-

After the intense battle between Buttercup and Ibara, the arena was buzzing with excitement as the spectators eagerly awaited the next match. The air was electric with anticipation as the competitors prepared to face off against each other in the ring.

As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers, breaking through the chatter and drawing everyone's attention back to the arena.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME FOR THE NEXT MATCH OF THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL! ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ACTION-PACKED BATTLE?!" Mic exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their anticipation reaching a fever pitch as they awaited the announcement of the next competitors. Meanwhile, in the waiting area, Izuku and Iida stood face to face, their expressions determined as they prepared to go head-to-head in the upcoming match.

"FIRST IN THE RING, WE'VE GOT THE SPEEDSTER WITH A HEART OF GOLD, TENYA IIDA! HE'S QUICK ON HIS FEET AND EVEN QUICKER WITH HIS MOVES, SO DON'T BLINK OR YOU MIGHT MISS HIM!" Mic announced.

Iida, exuded confidence as he stood opposite Izuku, his engines revving with energy. He had trained hard for this moment, honing his skills and perfecting his techniques. Now, he was ready to prove himself that he is worthy of the Tenya name. 'I have to win this, for my family's name.'

"AND SQUARING OFF AGAINST HIM, WE HAVE THE ONE, THE ONLY, IZUKU MIDORIYA! HE MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR AVERAGE JOE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GUTS AND DETERMINATION, THIS KID'S GOT IT IN SPADES! GET READY FOR A CLASH OF STRATEGIES, FOLKS, AS THESE TWO POWERHOUSES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD!"

Izuku flexed his fingers, readying himself for the battle ahead. He knew that Iida's Quirk, Engine, granted him incredible speed and agility, making him a formidable opponent. Despite his nerves, Izuku remained determined to give it his all.

"Alright competitors! Are you ready?!" Midnight asked.

"Yes!" The both said.

"Alright! Begin!"

As the match began, Iida wasted no time in jetting off to attack Izuku. Izuku barely had time to dodge a kick that was aimed at his side. As Izuku recovered, Tenya was already circling around the boy. Izuku was on guard, trying to pinpoint what he would do. Suddenly, with a burst of speed, Iida dashed towards Izuku, his legs a blur as his engines roared to life. A kick was aimed at his chest, and when he went to block it, it was a fake out. With Iida delivering an engine leg to his head. A groan escaped the green haired boy's mouth.

Iida stepped back, nodded at his attack. "You'll have to do better than that, Midoriya! I won't let you get away so easily!"

Staggering from the impact, Izuku gritted his teeth against the throbbing pain. He knew he couldn't afford to falter, not against someone as fast as Iida. 'Iida's speed is incredible...I need to stay focused and find an opening.' He thought to himself.

He then activated 5% of One for All, giving him a boost to his speed and reflexes, Izuku sidestepped Iida's next attacks, narrowly avoiding the flurry of kicks aimed at him. Despite Iida's speed, Izuku remained calm and focused, analyzing his opponent's movements for any openings; doing his level best to block or dodge. Many people from the crowd, and even their fellow peers were amazed at the show.

"Wow, Iida's really bringing the heat! But Midoriya is not giving an inch, he's holding his own out there!" Uraraka said.

"Yeah, but Iida's got some serious speed. Midoriya better watch out!" Kaminari said.

"Izuku's strategy seems to be to observe and find an opening. He's not rushing in blindly." Momo said

Drawing inspiration from his recent training sessions, Izuku launched into action. With a swift spin, he delivered a series of rapid kicks, aiming for Iida's legs in an attempt to disrupt his balance. With a move he dubbed "Swift Cyclone," Izuku aimed to disorient Iida while maintaining his distance.

'I need to keep Iida off balance... Maybe I can catch him off guard!'

Iida countered with a barrage of kicks of his own, his movements precise and calculated. He aimed to overwhelm Izuku with his speed, leaving him little room to manoeuvre.

"You're too slow, Midoriya! Is that the best you can do?" Iida, mockingly asked.

However, Izuku refused to back down, his resolve unwavering as he continued to press forward.

"Not even close!" Izuku proclaimed.

As the battle raged on, Izuku began to anticipate Iida's attacks with greater accuracy. With each exchange, he adapted his strategy, seeking out Iida's weaknesses and exploiting them to his advantage. Despite his initial doubts, Izuku's confidence began to grow with each passing moment.

"Midoriya's doing well to keep up with Iida's speed. He's analyzing his opponent and adjusting his tactics accordingly." Aizawa commented.

Sensing an opportunity, Izuku feigned a retreat, luring Iida into a false sense of security. As Iida charged forward, his engines roaring with intensity, Izuku seized the moment.

"Now's my chance! Zephyr Dash!" With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between them in an instant, catching Iida off guard.

'What? How did he...?' He tried to dodge his incoming opponent, but Izuku anticipated that.

In a swift and decisive move, "Palm Push!" Izuku delivered a powerful blow to Iida's side, knocking him off balance. With a triumphant shout, Izuku sent Iida tumbling out of stage, his victory secured.

"Tenya Iida has been knocked out of the stage! The winner is Izuku!" Midnight declared.

"THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS! MIDORIYA IS THE WINNER AND WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING FOUR TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS!" Mic exclaimed, as the cheers raged out.

The crowd erupted into cheers as Izuku emerged victorious, his determination and skill on full display for all to see. As he caught his breath, a sense of pride swelled within him. Despite the challenges he had faced, Izuku had proven himself capable of standing toe-to-toe with U.A.'s finest. And as he glanced across the arena at his fallen opponent, he knew that this was only the beginning of his journey to greatness.

"I can't believe I lost... I should have been more focused. I let my speed blind me... I won't make the same mistake again." Iida told himself.

Relief washed over Izuku, knowing he had secured his place in the semi-finals, but there was also a lingering sense of apprehension. He knew that his next opponent would be even tougher, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Meanwhile, amidst the cheers of the crowd, Iida struggled to come to terms with his defeat. His mind raced with thoughts of what he could have done differently, where he had gone wrong. He couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment, both in himself and in his performance.

As he made his way off the arena, Iida's expression was a mask of determination. He knew that he would have to train harder, push himself further if he wanted to stand a chance in the next Sports Festival. With renewed resolve, he vowed to come back stronger, to prove himself worthy of the title of hero.

-Break Room-

The Powerpuff Girls were in the break room. Once Blossom had woken up, they decided to meet up there, while the rest of the match went on the way.

"You sure you alright Blossom?" Bubbles asked, as she was taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Yes Bubbles, I am doing much better. I'm just glad that I could rest away from our classmates. I did not want to be hounded with questions." Blossom said, taking a sip of her drink.

"I bet candy cane head, would love to have a 'word' with you." Buttercup quipped.

"He was actually at the medical bay while Bloss was asleep. We had a little chat, to say the least." Bubbles said vaguely. That caught the attention of Buttercup.

"Oh please tell me you slugged the guy." Buttercup said with hopeful smile, that was met with an eye roll from the red head.

She shook her head, "No. I just defended Blossom from some of his mean words. Though, I could still sense he was sad. You letting him win shook him a bit."

Blossom sighed. "I know very well that I didn't let him win. I had no choice but to leave. Especially if things would have gotten as bad as I thought." She said as she knew the likely outcome. Bubbles gave a comforting should pat to ease her fear.

Buttercup spoke. "Honestly, I am glad that you held back, red." That garnered some surprised faces.

"Really, Buttercup?" Bubbles asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yup, so that I can take him down instead." She said, a maniacal grin plastered on her face.

The two girls groaned at her sister's plotting. At that moment, their attention was turned to the screen, as they heard that Izuku won.

"Wow, green bean did it. I am proud of the guy." Buttercup said with a smile.

"I am honestly impressed at how far Izuku has come. Glad we could help him out." Blossom said.

"Yeah, it's nice that he will be in the semi-finals with you." Bubbles added.

Mic then made his announcement. "WE HAVE NOW WEEDED OUT THE COMPETITION AND MOVING ON TO THE SEMI-FINALS! SO, WE NOW HAVE OUR FOUR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT BATTLES! CHECK IT OUT FOLKS! THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAIRED OFF AS WELL!" The screen showed what everyone was waiting for:

*Bakugou Katsuki vs Buttercup Kayama*

*Todoroki Shoto vs Izuku Midoriya*

The girls saw the players on the marquee and only knew that this would be a very, interesting match.

"Great, I will have to face Boom-Boom baby first!" Buttercup grumbled, not liking her opponent.

"That is so…but I have a plan on how you can win." Blossom suggested. That got a surprised response from the raven haired girl.

"What?! You think I won't win against that grown-ass man-child?!" Buttercup exclaimed, shock and angry.

"No Buttercup, that's not what I am saying." She said in exasperated tone. She took a deep breath, "I was suggesting a way in which we don't further expose ourselves as it is. I know very well that you will go all ape on him, the moment they say begin. Am I wrong?" She asked pointedly. To which the other girl just huffed.

"I know that Bakugou is not your favourite person. Heck, he is not our favourite. Right, Bubbles?" For which Bubbles nodded in agreement. "But I don't want you to fight him to the death or anything like that, he is not a villain, even if he acts like one at times." She said, and the girls giggled. Even Buttercup smirked.

"Alright red." She relaxed. "What is your well thought out plan, oh leader of mine." She may have said it mockingly, but you could tell she was interested.

And so, Blossom gave very interesting points for Buttercup to work with.

-Semi-Final, round 1: Bakugou Katsuki vs Buttercup Kayama-

Time was approaching the beginning of the first match of the semi-finals. Many in the stands were on the edge of their seats, anticipating what will be an interesting and dynamic fight to come. There were even some commotions in the Class 1-A section, wondering who will be the winner of the this and everything to come.

"Wow! Members from our class have reached the finals!" Toru exclaimed excitedly.

"I wonder which one of our classmates will win this round? It could be Bakugo or even Buttercup." Tokoyami calmly stated

"It's anyone's guess," Tsu said, a finger to her chin.

Curious about the upcoming match, Uraraka turned to Izuku. "You do you think will win, Deku?"

"It's hard to say. They're both tough fighters. I wish I could talk to her before the match to learn her game plan," He said thoughtfully.

"Hey Blossom, your back!" At Kirishima's words, they all turned to see Blossom and Bubbles approaching, the latter sitting next to Koda and the former sat on the seat next to Izuku.

Before anymore was said, the event was about to begin.

The atmosphere in the U.A. Sports Festival arena was electric as the next match approached. Present Mic, the boisterous announcer, took to the stage, his voice booming over the excited crowd.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS! ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER THRILLING SHOWDOWN?!" The crowd erupted into cheers "GET READY TO WITNESS THE CLASH OF TITANS AS TWO FIERCE COMPETITORS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN A BATTLE OF STRENGTH, SPEED, AND SKILL!" As Present Mic introduced the next contenders, Buttercup Kayama and Bakugou Katsuki. Buttercup stood tall and confident, her eyes fixed on her opponent, while Bakugou exuded his trademark intensity, ready to unleash his explosive power.

"I hope you're going to give me a worthwhile match, princess." Bakugou said dismissively.

Buttercup felt a surge of irritation at the insult, but she maintained her composure. "Let's just get this over with," she retorted coolly.

"BEGIN!"

"TAKE THIS!" Bakugou dashed forward, sending an explosive strike at her. Buttercup wasted no time in springing into action. She darted around the arena with lightning speed, evading Bakugou's explosive blasts with ease. Bakugou realized this with a scowl. "GET BACK HERE, BITCH!" Setting off explosives to catch up to her target.

But amidst the chaos of the battle, murmurs began to spread through the crowd. "What's she doing? Is she just running away?" One spectator remarked, scepticism in their voice.

Another chimed in, "She's not even trying to fight back. Is she scared or something?"

"Wasn't it that same girl who bad mouthed us?" Someone mentioned.

"Your right!" A random hero said. "Maybe she was all talk and no game in the end!" He loudly proclaimed.

Buttercup heard the bullshit comments rising up. It caused her to get momentarily distracted that she did her best to evade the blasts with lightning-fast reflexes, but a few lucky shots grazed her, leaving scorch marks on her uniform. Bakugou smirked madly at the sight, fuelling his determination to crush his opponent.

"Not so tough are ya?!" Unleashing countless more blasts that shook the field around her.

Many of Class 1-A were watching this match with different thoughts going through her head.

"Yo, why do think Buttercup is not attacking?" Jirou asked curiously.

"Yeah like, hasn't she been up in Bakugou's grill since the start of the year. I would think that she wanted to battle him." Kaminari commented.

"Hmm, she must be strategizing." Izuku said out loud, that it caught the attentions of his friends.

"I would suppose that this is one of the rare moments that she thinks with her head and not her fists." Iida spoke bluntly, as he adjusted his glasses.

Uraraka giggled a bit, "Maybe, but she should really start fighting back. Bakugou is not one to play around." She said.

"I wouldn't worry about it. She's just buying her time." Blossom said calmly, and it made some of her classmates wonder as they paid closely to the match.

Meanwhile, Bakugou grew increasingly frustrated by Buttercup's evasive manoeuvres. "Stop running, you coward! Fight me like a real hero!" He shouted, his voice filled with anger.

'That jerk is getting on my last nerves.' Buttercup felt her own temper begin to rise and hands glow intensely. The thought of vaporizing the guys sorry ass was appealing, and for a moment, she was tempted to abandon her strategy and retaliate with equal force. But she had to stick to the plan.

She then moved on to the next step, getting him angrier. She launched at the guy, much to her opponents amusement, "It's about time you took this fucking seriously." He said. When it seemed as though she was aiming to land a punch. "YOU ASKED FOR IT!" He set off an explosion straight ahead, only for her to jump over him, took a hold of his arm; and in a flash, she slammed him on the ground with a thud. The impact was enough to knock the wind out of him.

She jumped back, relished the satisfaction of what she did. "Ah, what's the matter can't seem to handle a 'coward', Boom-boom baby?" Buttercup grinned.

Bakugou quickly got up, eyes lit with rage, "DAMN YOU! Want to play dirty, huh?! Fine by me, princess! I'll wipe that smug grin off your face soon enough!" Bakugou's voice dripped with venom as he clenched his fists, his explosions crackling around him. Buttercup's smirk only seemed to fuel his anger further, but she remained composed, knowing that getting under his skin was all part of the plan.

The crowd was now in awe, the tides were turning and Buttercup was fighting back; even if it was teaser attacks. She waited for her moment to finish this; and when it finally came, Buttercup seized the moment with unwavering determination. 'Let's get it on.' She launched herself into action, delivering a series of precise blows that sent Bakugou reeling.

As Bakugou's rage reached its boiling point, he bellowed with fury, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SHIT! I'M ENDING IT NOW!" His eyes blazed with determination as he prepared to unleash his devastating move, 'Howitzer Impact.' The crowd held its breath, sensing the impending clash of titans.

But Buttercup, ever vigilant, saw her opportunity. She began to charge up her own energy attack, her green aura pulsating with power. As Bakugou screamed his battle cry and launched his explosive assault, Buttercup focused all her energy into her attack, ready to meet his head-on.

As Buttercup's green energy blast collided with Bakugou's Howitzer Impact, a deafening explosion engulfed the arena. The sheer force of the clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, pushing back both combatants and spectators alike. As the dust settled, "WHOA! THAT ATTACK WAS INTENSE!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the chaos, his commentary punctuated by the intensity of the moment.

His sharp smirk didn't fade, in fact enjoying the fact that his strong attack didn't work. And now that he was feeling hot from the heat, his sweat was working over drive. "What, you think that was enough to take me down?! I am not going down that-"

"Bakugo!" Midnight calling his name brought a sneer to the teens face, glaring her direction. "Don't distract me! I'm in the middle of-

Midnight snapped her whip his way, cutting his words off. "You're out!"

Bakugo's eyes shot open, glancing behind himself in disbelief before he felt a sickening lump in his stomach. He didn't look behind him from the rubble he avoided, but he was certain he knew where he landed. All except for the back of his heel touching the stage over the line. "Wh-what!?"

Midnight's hand went up into the air as she smiled. "Bakugo has stepped out of bounds. Buttercup is the winner!"

The stadium burst out a roar of cheers to the victory, while sudden and surprising, a win by ring out nonetheless. Present Mic leaping out of his chair as he screamed in excitement. "YEAAAH! NOW THAT'S IT FOLKS, BUTTERCUP WILL BE GOING ON TO THE FINAL ROUND!"

Cheers were the loudest from the class 1-A block, where two particular girls and a green haired stood.

One in the arena however, glared to the ground beneath him.

"No… this bullshit." Bakugo hissed out, his breath coming in more ragged every second. "Out of bounds? I don't belief that shit. I was only getting started, and I lose to a technicality?"

His fists clenched in fury as he felt his hands sparking out. "A true hero… doesn't stop because of a line. They fight until the battle is over. All Might would not quit until he got the job done…" His glare rose up to Buttercup once more. "And I cannot lose to her!"

Buttercup's victorious smile dropped to a scowl plastered on her face, when she saw Bakugo burst across the stage, his hands out. "Bakugo, stop! The match is over!"

The cheers turned to gasps as the students saw the sudden change below. "Dude, Bakugo's still trying to fight!" Kaminari yelled in surprise.

"I'm not unconscious, and that means I am still kicking! I fight until… I… Until… win…" Bakugo's words slurred as his eyes grew heavy, his mind fogging up before he passed out from the pink mist floating in front of his face. Midnight intervened, using her Quirk to knock him out and end the match once and for all. The crowd fell silent, shocked by Bakugou's refusal to concede defeat.

Shoji shook his head in disappointment. "It seems Bakugo doesn't take any kind of loss well."

"Yeah… he is more competitive than anyone." Kirishima sighed out and rubbed his hair. "Sometimes a bit too competitive."

Blossom and Bubbles, on hearing that, rolled their eyes at that. Bubbles took a moment to look over at Izuku who stared at blank faced, bi-coloured boy.

"My turn."


Author's Notes:

I must say, this was a heck of a write. I know that some of you will be wondering why I didn't let Buttercup pulverize Bakugou. Believe me when I say that the idea came by, more than twice! But, didn't want to much heat on the girls yet. I have more ideas for the next chapter. This Sports Festival Arc ends in the next chapter. Thank you all for giving this a read.

Next chapter will be posted next week Tuesday.

As I say, comment and let me know what you think. Bye!