Chapter 39:

(Tenya vs. Shoto! I'm excited. And since it was suggested to me, I'll see what I can do about making a small theme about "brothers" that was recommended to me. I appreciate the idea from Digidestined, so i thank them for that. I guess I've decided that Lucas will intern with Endeavor, because it was the only one I could make better ideas for it. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!)

"The first match of the semifinals!" Present Mic announced, the crowd going wild once again, "Both come from hero families, making this a battle of elites! From the Hero Course, Tenya Iida! Versus…His classmate, Shoto Todoroki!" Tenya kept a serious look on his face, "I can't negate his attacks like Midoriya did. Plus if he uses his flames now, he's even more dangerous." Tenya had thought to himself, attempting to find a viable strategy against Todoroki. "Focus." He told himself, seeing that Shoto was dead serious, as well. They waited until Hizashi had said: "Start!" Shoto had sent a wave of ice his way, with Tenya making a run for it, to both avoid the coming ice and to immediately make a break for Shoto. "He's not wasting any time." Shoto kept watch and sent another wave of ice in Tenya's path. The speedster hit his brakes and moved toward a middle area. Present Mic revealed to the audience that Iida has been surrounded by Todoroki's ice! Shoto's next move sent another array of ice shards in Tenya's direction, Tenya used his Quirk to give himself a small boost when he jumped in the air!

"Oh, whoa! A standing long jump!" Uraraka said, Shoto grunted, realizing Tenya was now in close range for combat. "Recipro…Burst!" Tenya shouted, blue fire coming out of his exhausts. The speedster tried to kick Todoroki, but his opponent managed to dodge. Iida realized he had ten seconds before his engine would stall, "…Which means I have to win this…RIGHT NOW!"Tenya thought to himself, going in for another kick, and successfully hitting Shoto this time! "Look at that speed!" Present Mic said.

Class 1-A was in awe at Tenya's combative prowess! "That was a heavy hit." Sero had said, "I didn't know he could kick like that." Denki said,

"Nice one, Tenya!" Lucas said, watching Shoto try to freeze the floor beneath his opponent, but Tenya managed to grab Shoto and ran as fast as he could to out of bounds. "Eight seconds left."

"That kind of adaptability is incredible, and more than anything is what is needed for the unknown. Tenya's showed us that in spades…" Lucas explained, "Yeah, I agree. Tenya managed to get the drop on Shoto pretty well." Lucas looked on an saw what had transpired next.

"That said, don't count Shoto out yet!" He shouted, as Tenya looked to see his disadvantage. His muffler was blocked by ice! "When did you—?!" Tenya shouted, being cut off by Shoto's next attack. Freezing Tenya in place. "When you kicked me. I've only been showing off ranged attacks today. You forgot I could do precision moves, too, didn't you?" Shoto had asked Iida. The speedster grunted and shivered from the cold of the ice. Todoroki had managed to stand up, brushing his head. "I was trying to dodge your Recipro. But it was too fast to avoid, even for me." Shoto had explained.

While Midnight had called the match's winner. "Iida has been immobilized. Todoroki advances." She called out, with the audience cheering for this match. Hizashi had even called out that Shoto has won without using his flames this time, and those words—along with Shoto's further rejection of him—made Enji more confused. "Why are you holding back? Don't be a fool." Enji had said in his head.

Class 1-A was in shock, "Poor Iida…" Izuku had said. Lucas looked on and while he couldn't hear what he had said, his lips read something along the lines of: "I'm sorry, brother." Lucas looked sad, thinking of their conversation from before. "You still got this, Tenya!" Lucas thought to himself, deciding he'd try and cheer Tenya up later.

(Meanwhile)

"Fame…Money…That's what all of you who call yourselves "heroes" are really after." Hero Killer Stain had won the fight between him and Ingenium, mocking the man by saying the lot of them AREN'T heroes. Stain had stepped on Tensei Iida's cellphone, after it showed a missed call from Tenya. "Except him…The only one with permission to kill me." Stain had said, his katana soaked in blood.

Stain had stood intimidatingly above Tensei, claiming All Might to be worthy. The Hero Killer then walked up to Tensei to end this fight once and for all.

(Back with The Sports Festival)

Things were certainly heating up now! It was Katsuki Bakugo versus Fumikage Tokoyami, with Katsuki's vicious rushes being unstoppable as Hizashi had shouted to the audience.

Fumikage had kept Dark Shadow up as a defense from Katsuki's explosions, "Such brutality." The bird boy had said, before Present Mic said how far the boy has come in the matches due to his almost unbeatable Quirk.

Mina and Momo had no idea how Tokoyami was more unable to hold his own against Bakugo.

Ochaco, Izuku and Lucas had figured out from the cavalry battle that Dark Shadow's weakness revolved around light. "He can't go in the offensive because of all the light." Ochaco said, "This matchup couldn't be any worse." Lucas looked on, "Most people don't know about his weakness. Kacchan may not have figured it out yet." Izuku had said.

"I'd say Tokoyami-san's tactical skills are less likely, but possibly, he could use Dark Shadow as a distraction, and attack Bakugo-san with his own fists when the guard is elsewhere." Lucas explained. "Right, but that's problematic, because Kacchan's reaction time is fast." Lucas and Izuku both looked at each other, "More than likely, Kacchan/Bakugo-san will win." Lucas and Izuku said, simultaneously, which also surprised the two of them. "Wow, you guys came to the same conclusion? That's actually impressive." Ochaco said, Lucas looked embarrassed while Izuku just chuckled, nervously. The two then regained their composure and watched the fight between Katsuki and Fumikage play out.

"I underestimated him. I don't have any time to recharge Dark Shadow's power. I'm running out of darkness!" Fumikage could see that Dark Shadow even began to tear up as a show of his deteriorating powers. Katsuki had jumped in the air and used his Quirk to boost his speed. "Is he just trying to wear me down?" Fumikage asked himself, "It looks like his moves are getting faster." Katsuki's leap into the air had send him to attack Dark Shadow at the head, to which he launched a direct attack at Dark Shadow. "Grab him! Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami shouted, to which Dark Shadow did what he was told and tried to grab Bakugo while he was in midair.

It seemed Bakugo had prepared for this and used his Quirk to boost him further in the air! "Wow! Bakugo leaps behind Tokoyami!" Present Mic said, watching the student in question flip in the air before landing on his feet. Bakugo prepared another explosion, "STUN GRENADE!" Katsuki shouted. In an instant, the battlefield had succumbed to a giant explosion, and smoked rose into the air. "How am I supposed to commentate when I can't see? What's happening?" Present Mic had said.

When the smoke cleared for the two of them, Tokoyami was being held down by the beak, an explosion in Bakugo's other hand. "Tell me, Bakugo: Did you know of my weakness before?" He asked, and he saw Katsuki's near psychotic grin return. "I figured it out by attacking over and over again. It was a pretty bad matchup for you. Almost feel bad. But you're done." Katsuki said to him, cocky as ever. Fumikage had no other choice, there was no opening for him that was left. "I surrender." He said, almost honorably.

"Tokoyami gives up!" Nemuri had called it, "Bakugo's the winner of this match!"

Fumikage had gotten up and Katsuki scratched his arm, no doubt causing it much recoil when the two fought. Hizashi then announced the final match of the Sports Festival:

Katsuki Bakugo vs. Shoto Todoroki.

Katsuki looked over and stared down Todoroki, who returned with a more icy glare in contrast to the fiery one Bakugo had given.

"Man, what a bummer. Poor Tokoyami." Ochaco said, "I totally thought the bird would win for sure." Hanta said, "I guess that means his Quirk's not invincible after all." Denki had said. Eijiro scratched his nose, "So light is his weakness. Interesting."

Lucas brushed his hair a bit, "I had a feeling, when I shot fire at him during the Cavalry Battle, I noticed when Dark Shadow took the blow, he flinched." He explained, "And seeing the kinda guy Bakugo is, he's the type who would exploit that."

Class 1-B was in shock, with Itsuka gently hitting the head of Neito, "You chose a terrifying person to make your enemy." She said, coyly. Neito rose up his hand in objection, "Not at all. Just luck that his Quirk worked so well against that guy."

Lucas could overhear that and walked over, "It's okay, Monoma-san. Given your power and with a great amount of combat training, I'm sure you could eventually go toe-to-toe with Bakugo-san." Monoma looked over and saw the peculiar one from 1-A. The boy gave a smug smile to him, "I see. So you really have no problem with us showing you up, then?" Neito had asked. "It's not a matter of being shown up, I'm simply trying to offer advice." Lucas explained. "If you really care about attempts to one up our class, the best way is to work hard." Neito becomes perplexed whenever he talks to this one.

"What is up with you? Don't you want to be the best?" Neito had asked. The other classmates were curious by this one, who didn't seem to care about competition.

"I-I want to be the best I can b-be, but I-I believe it is selfish to care about reputation or status." Lucas explained, now stuttering his words. Neito frowned, if this was an act, it was impressive. "Of course you wouldn't, since you were knocked out the first round." Neito had said, trying to bait him into being angry. "Th-That IS true, of course. I certainly have to become stronger if I wish to help in battles against villains." Lucas explained. "So, we're not good enough for you?" Neito had asked, "No, you guys are probably better than me. But…But either way, we aren't enemies. We should be c-comrades instead." Lucas had said. Neito was baffled by this student, he was offering friendship instead of spite and continued to be down on myself. "I-I'm sorry, I've wasted your time." Lucas said, respect in his voice. "No, no. I appreciate that…" Neito had said. "For a 1-A student, he's surprisingly humble." Shiozaki had said, smiling.

"Still, these finals have been one big showcase for Class 1-A." Tetsutetsu looked really annoyed at that, before another student admonished how incredible the first years were, winner or loser.

The audience were excited for the final match with both competitors shown on display, one even pointed out the draft was going to be insane this year.

Lucas returned to his seat, next to Izuku and Ochaco. "I wonder how this match will be like. Besides intense." Izuku had explained, "You'll have to take notes for next time." They had heard Tenya's voice calling. "Iida." Izuku had said, smiling, with Tenya smiling in return. Lucas wanted to ask if he was okay, but was unsure if Tenya had given himself a good pep talk earlier. Both Lucas and Ochaco smiled as well before Tenya's three friends nodded. A moment of startle revealed itself when Tenya seemed to be vibrating. "Whoa, what's wrong?!" The three of them asked, "It's just my phone." Tenya had said, with his friends breathing in relief. "I'll be back." Tenya walked off to answer his phone. He noticed it was a call from his mother.

(Later)

Tenya held the phone up to his ear. "Hello, Mom? I'm sorry to tell you this, but I lost." Tenya had explained. "No, son, I'm not calling about that. I mean, I'm sorry. But, Tenya, please listen carefully. It's your brother." Tenya felt anxious about this, considering Tensei never responded when he called. "A villain got Tensei!" His mother had said to him. In that moment, Tenya could feel darkness surrounding him. How could a villain have gotten Tensei?

(With the villain in question—speaking of which—BLEHEGH!)

Stain stood atop a water tower, watching the city. He had licked Ingenium's blood off of his katana, watching the police handle the crime scene of his battle with the hero. "You haven't even noticed it, have you?" He asked, "This warped society mired by hypocrisy and vanity. That's fine, I'll open your eyes, "heroes."" Stain vowed that the heroes would see the world that they've created, before realizing someone was behind him. He slashed his katana out into something that looked some sort of portal. "Please remain calm. We are of the same mind." A man's voice emerged from the smoke of darkness. "I have been searching for you, Hero Killer Stain. I heard of your exploits and wanted to meet you in person." The man then said he would be interested in what he had to offer the Hero Killer.

(Time to check up on a manchild)

Shigaraki had been previously watching the Sports Festival, analyzing certain students per his master's request. That green haired brat, the hooded brat who head-butted him, the explosive one. But now, he was watching something else, "Hero Killer…Stain." He said, seeing a picture of him during the reported fight with Ingenium.

(Sheesh, a lot of perspective changes, but I hope it was worth the read! Hoo boy, we're near the end of this arc, ain't that exciting? I bet Lucas has some things to say about Bakugo, tho. And I didn't do this intentionally, but i feel like i made him the antithesis of Hero Killer's ideology. That said, I do have an idea of how I would want this story to end for Lucas, and I hope that'll be worth it. Anyways, stay strong and awesome!)

Galatians 6:10 KJV:

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.