Well, here we are once again. After a bit of time, we've gotten ourselves up to the big battles of the Sports Festival, starting with this third round. Be warned, I went all-out with what I had to work with. It was a lot of fun to write these fights that you'll see up ahead, along with the emotional moments that follow.
Thanks for all your support as March is close to ending. I'm hoping that we'll get to 30 chapters before the month's over. For now, please enjoy.
Tenya was quick to start his engines, accelerating past Homura as she closed in on him. However, she managed to nick his left thigh, making him wince. He veered back around, and she pivoted.
"Snake Strike!" she exclaimed, repeatedly thrusting her blade forward at her incoming foe. He was quick to evade her blows, attempted to land a roundhouse kick with his right leg. The Soul Blade Quirk user quickly blocked it with the broad side of her blade, exchanging a fierce glare with Tenya before they leapt back from each other.
"Already, this fight's looking to be one of the most impactful thus far!" Mic exclaimed into the microphone, "Two Hero Course Students with distinguished backgrounds and Quirks fighting to determine who could win it all in the end!" he pointed out emphatically. In the meantime, Rebecca had just returned to the stands, now donning a new jacket.
"Hey, Rebecca!" Ochaco called out, getting her attention as she saw the Zero Gravity Quirk user wave her over, "You're just in time!" she noted. The Leaper Quirk user sat down next to her, Shiki, and Kyoka.
"It looks like Iida's got the upper hand when it comes to speed..." the latter of the group noted, "but I doubt Kogetsu's gonna give in that easily..." she mentioned with narrowed eyes.
"I don't care who wins!" the Satan Gravity Quirk user chimed in excitedly, "Good luck, everybody!" he exclaimed.
"Hmm..." Rebecca hummed out. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand as she saw Homura narrowly lean back in time to avoid another roundhouse kick from Tenya's right leg. As she attempted to retaliate though, the Engine Quirk user sped away.
"Hey, did you run into Deku on your way back?" Ochaco suddenly asked, causing the Leaper Quirk user to snap away from her thoughts for a moment.
"Oh, uh, yeah..." she stuttered in reply, "He's getting ready for his match with Shoto..." she noted, recalling Midnight and Cementoss coming in and their discussion about what happened with Katsuki. She glanced over to see him there with his usual scowl upon his face as he watched the match continue. Homura continued to nick at Tenya with her energy blade, while he managed to land a few strong kicks. Nevertheless, both of them were starting to grow weary as they heaved their breaths.
'I suppose now's as good a time as any!' the Engine Quirk user decided inwardly, taking a ready stance. Blue flames expelled from his exhausts.
"Torque Over..." he started to bellow, "Recipro... BURRRSSSTT!" he exclaimed, speeding forward in an instant. Seeing that, Homura widened her eyes. She readied her blade in both of her hands, aiming it at her incoming foe.
"Warrior Maiden Single-Sword Attack..." she began as her weapon shined brightly, "Snake Bite!" she yelled, thrusting it forward. However, Tenya ducked under it as he managed to sweep her feet out from under her with his right leg.
"Apologies in advance, Kogetsu!" he shouted, rearing his left leg back afterwards.
"Indeed..." she agreed to his surprise, "I did not think I would be pushed to this point..." she admitted as her sword's form changed into its original state, still shining brightly, "Warrior-Maiden Single Sword Attack..." she started to echo, causing Tenya to grimace as he was off balance at the moment and likely would accidentally speed out of the very ring if he tried to dodge, "DRAGON FLASH!" she exclaimed, spinning toward him and slashing fiercely down across his chest. His jacket ripped as the force of the blow sent him crashing onto the ground, also knocking off his glasses.
"Ergh..." he groaned in agony, gritting his teeth together. As he attempted to sit up, he blinked in surprise to find the tip of the energy blade aimed at his face from his opponent, who loomed over him. He lowered his head in frustration. "I yield..." he said simply. Midnight raised her flail.
"Iida has yielded!" she announced, "Kogetsu wins and advances to the semifinals!" she exclaimed. The crowd erupted into cheers upon witnessing the result.
"And with that, we've got our first semifinalist in Homura Kogetsu!" Mic shouted through the loudspeakers, "So will she be up against Todoroki? Or Midoriya?" he wondered aloud. The Soul Blade Quirk user helped Tenya onto his feet, also giving him his glasses.
"Thank you, Kogetsu," he said with gratitude, putting his spectacles back on over his eyes, "I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming round," he mentioned as he smiled a little.
"Thank you, Iida," she responded as she bowed, "I will do my best as I vowed," she affirmed, turning and walking off towards the tunnel amidst the cheering crowd. Her mind was focused on honoring her mentor. And in turn, she would win with everything she had.
Izuku took deep breaths. He had essentially just confronted Endeavor after he encountered him in the hallways. It was possibly a slip of the tongue... but he said that Shoto wasn't his father. Just as he wasn't All Might.
'Just do your best!' Rebecca's voice echoed encouragingly in his head, making him smile a little. He came to a stop at the end of the tunnel and took a deep breath.
'Yeah... I'll do my best,' he decided inwardly, exiting onto the pathway up to the stage. Everyone cheered as they saw him and Shoto take their positions, being introduced by Mic beforehand. The watching heroes and students all looked in anticipation, especially Rebecca. She knew that her best friend had spoken with the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user about rather sensitive subjects earlier today. She didn't know how it would affect him going to into the battle, so she'd have to wait and see.
"So you decided to show up after all..." Shoto noted with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah..." Izuku responded, taking another deep breath, "Todoroki..." he began, causing his opponent to perk up, "I'm sorry that you've gone through so much in your life..." he apologized to his surprise, "Honestly, I can't imagine what that's like..." he admitted, "but..." he continued, balling his hands into fists, "don't think that I'll just let you beat me lying down," he advised seriously, activating his Full Cowling as sparks crackled around him, "I'm going to beat you!" he declared. From the stands, All Might's eyes shook.
'Young Midoriya...' he uttered inwardly. Ice started to show upon Shoto's right foot.
"I don't care how you feel about this match..." he said, "I already said that I'm stronger than you," he pointed out.
"That's where you're wrong," the One For All inheritor retorted, making him blink in shock, "I'm willing to come at you with all my might, even if I'm breaking myself..." he mentioned seriously. From how he was talking, Shoto found himself starting to feel perplexed... followed by being enraged.
"He spoke to you... didn't he?" he guessed, glaring at his foe.
"...He did," Izuku confirmed, "But it's not what you think," he added firmly, "I-"
"SHUT UP!" Shoto roared, unleashing a huge rush of ice. The One For All inheritor quickly leapt over it, curling his right pointer finger in and holding it back with his thumb.
"SMMMMAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yelled, flicking his finger to unleash a pressurized blast of air that shattered the ice and blew his opponent back a few feet. In the process, it broke, making him wince in agony.
"I knew you were going to use your body in a way similar to your fights earlier," Shoto noted, "All I have to do is hold out long enough for you to be too injured to-"
"Don't think I'll just give up!" Izuku bellowed, coming down in an attempt to land a fierce punch, only for the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user to jump back and evade him as he struck the ground. Shoto then followed with another ice wave, which his foe quickly blew away by flicking his right middle finger, breaking it as well.
"Izuku..." Rebecca uttered out, shaking with worry. He was facing Shoto with a determination she had never seen in a long time. It was... shocking to watch him break himself in order to try and beat the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user. But at the same time, she had a feeling she knew why.
"Damn you!" Shoto yelled, unleashing a bigger wave of ice. Izuku leapt away and gritted his teeth, flicking his right ring finger to blast the ice away in an instant. He landed, wincing from his three broken fingers. But his fierce glare never wavered.
His opponent glared back with gnashed teeth, rushing out at him. But he was slower than before. The frost building upon his right side was hindering him. And it gave Izuku an opening. Without making the egg in the microwave explode, he landed a left straight punch to Shoto's chest, sending him tumbling back along the ground.
Nothing broke, but the One For All inheritor was starting to feel the pain getting to him as blood dripped from his broken fingers. He disregarded it though, dashing forward and heading for his opponent. Unfortunately, he got up in time to make another wave of ice surge up and slam into his foe, sending him flying back. He managed to land down and slide to a stop just before he could reach the lines.
"Dammit..." he cursed, getting onto his feet. He gritted his teeth and rushed forward. Another ice barrage went his way, but it was much slower. He evaded it easily, ramming into Shoto with all his might head first, blowing him back.
"Geez..." Kyoka uttered out, quite stunned.
"Yeah..." Ochaco agreed, "It's almost like... they're fighting for their lives..." she noted, quite surprised.
"It's exactly like that..." Rebecca noted just as Tenya and Homura returned to the stands, causing everyone to look over at her in surprise, "Izuku's going to do whatever it takes to win, same as Shoto..." she added, trembling all the while.
"SMAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the One For All inheritor roared, flicking his right pinky finger to blast away another wave of ice. Shoto breathed heavily, exhaling cold puffs of air.
"Why...?" he uttered in question.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Izuku inquired back rhetorically to his surprise, "I'm aiming for the top just like you..." he noted while managing to close his broken fingers together into a fist, "That's why... I'm giving it my all..." he stated firmly, lunging forward and slamming his head into his foe's stomach, "Just like you should be!" he shouted, "Like I said, I don't know a thing about what you've been through..." he mentioned, "If you wanna reject your father, then fine..." he continued, "but you don't have the right to be number one if you aren't gonna use your full power!" he shouted fiercely.
"Izuku..." Rebecca whimpered out as tears pricked her eyes. Shoto seemed hesitant in that moment, letting frost continue to build up around his body. He felt that by refusing to use his left side, he was rejecting his father's wishes. He'd be a fine hero without having to use his flames. At least... that's what he thought.
"That's why... I'm going to win this!" Izuku exclaimed, "I'LL SURPASS YOU!" he screamed, slamming his right fist into his foe's gut, in spite his five fingers being broken. He blew Shoto back as the frost building up along his body shattered. He thought back to his mother... and how she gave him his scar since his father pushed her over the edge.
And that's when he resolved to only use his ice over his fire. But ultimately, neither power he had was his parents'. In fact...
"IT'S YOURS!" Izuku roared out, "YOUR QUIRK, NOT HIS!" he added loudly. And in that very moment, thinking of the hero he admired the most... Shoto unleashed his flames. The warmth of them washed over the crowd as everyone looked on in amazement.
"Incredible..." Tenya uttered, while Homura stared in disbelief as her eyes shook. The battle had been culminating to this very moment. And as Izuku leapt over the final wave of ice shot his wave and dove toward Shoto, he was prepared to unleash the full power of One For All through his right arm as his sleeve was ripped off.
"Midoriya..." Shoto began, aiming his left hand forward as it burned brightly with flames, "thank you," he said simply with gratitude. Concrete blocks erupted in between them, produced by Cementoss. However they, plus Midnight's gas, were rendered useless by the following blast. Everyone braced themselves from the force as they shielded themselves, with Minoru hanging onto Weisz for dear life. Once the gust subsided, those in the stands looked to see the smoke start to clear. Half of Shoto's shirt had gotten burned away from his fire, while Izuku had merely lost his sleeve, along with having a broken right arm that bled onto the ground. They both breathed heavily. When the smoke finally cleared, everyone was surprised.
"They're both... out of bounds?!" Mic exclaimed in disbelief. The crowd started murmuring, wondering who wound up winning the battle considering that the smoke likely veiled whoever went out of the ring first. Their voices weren't heard by Izuku, whose eyes started to dim. He fell forward onto his knees.
"Izuku!" Rebecca screamed as she shot up to her feet. Her best friend managed to glance over to the stands, having heard her. He forced a smile before falling over. "IZUKU!" the Leaper Quirk user screamed again.
I know, I'm awful. You'll find out what happens next time, hopefully soon. Thanks for reading, guys!