The stadium buzzed with electric anticipation as the next match was called, and Reiko sat on the edge of her seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Her heart pounded as she watched Deku step into the arena, the determination in his eyes unmistakable, but so was the weight he carried. She'd seen him fight before, seen his unbreakable spirit, but this time… this was Todoroki. Todoroki, whose power was legendary even among the students of U.A., the boy with fire and ice, whose quirk held a devastating potential.
Reiko bit her lip as the two faced each other, and she couldn't ignore the nervous flutter in her stomach. "Come on, Deku… you've got this," she whispered, as if her voice could somehow reach him, reassure him, wrap around him like a shield. She knew how much this fight meant to him, knew he was willing to push himself to the edge to help Todoroki understand his own strength. But she also knew how stubborn Deku could be about pushing himself too far. She could see it in his eyes: he would sacrifice everything to reach Todoroki, even if it broke him.
Meanwhile, further up in the stands, Kuri sat beside Bakugo, feeling the tension radiate from him. His jaw was clenched, his eyes narrowed, locked onto the arena below with a fierceness that worried her. Bakugo barely breathed as the fight began, his hands occasionally sparking in frustration as he watched Deku take Todoroki's attacks head-on. She knew this wasn't just any fight to him. Every blow Deku took, every punch he threw, was like a challenge to Bakugo, a reminder of the rivalry simmering between them.
As Todoroki unleashed his ice attacks, Reiko's breath caught in her throat. Deku dodged, countered, then took a hit that made her wince as she felt his pain from across the arena. She could see the bruises forming, the strain in his muscles as he pushed himself further, fighting not just Todoroki's quirk but his determination to reach him, to break through the walls Todoroki had built. Every time Deku stumbled and rose again, Reiko's fingers dug deeper into her palms. She hated seeing him hurt, and yet, she knew she couldn't interfere—this was his fight, his path, his way of proving himself.
Beside Kuri, Bakugo's frustration was palpable. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white, and his eyes never left Deku. Each moment Deku pushed forward, challenging Todoroki's strength, Bakugo felt a twist of insecurity tighten inside him. Deku had always been his competition, his reminder that he wasn't the only one striving to be the best. But seeing Deku's unwavering determination and how he'd pushed Todoroki to his limit felt like salt in a wound Bakugo couldn't ignore.
When Deku finally pushed Todoroki to use his fire, the roar of flames filled the stadium, and Bakugo's anger flared just as violently. He knew the risks Deku was taking, knew that one wrong move could cost him dearly, and yet, Deku kept going, even as his body screamed in protest. Bakugo let out a growl, his frustration reaching a boiling point as he watched Deku bear the brunt of Todoroki's power. Kuri glanced at him, concern in her eyes, but Bakugo refused to meet her gaze.
As the final clash of power left a cloud of dust in the arena, Reiko's heart was in her throat. She waited, breathless, until the dust cleared to reveal Deku on the ground, battered but breathing. She sprang from her seat, bolting down the stadium steps as the medics approached him. She couldn't wait. She needed to be there for him, to make sure he was okay, to comfort him in any way she could. She was the first by his side, kneeling beside him, her hands gently touching his bruised face.
"Deku…" she whispered, her voice thick with worry. She brushed a strand of hair away from his face, eyes soft with concern. "You're going to be okay. I'm here," she murmured, her hand resting gently on his cheek. Her presence seemed to calm him, and despite the pain, he managed a faint smile just for her.
Up in the stands, Kuri tried to reach out to Bakugo as the crowd began to settle. "Bakugo," she started gently, "are you okay? I know you were—"
He tore his gaze from the arena, his expression dark with anger and hurt. "Of course I'm not okay!" he snapped, his voice raw. "That damn Deku—every time I turn around, he's doing something to prove he's stronger, to make me look like I'm nothing! And you're just here… pitying me!" His words were harsh, cutting, but she knew it was his insecurity, his frustration with himself, speaking.
"Bakugo, that's not true," Kuri said softly, reaching out for his arm. "I'm here for you—"
"Don't touch me!" he yelled, yanking his arm away. His face twisted with hurt, a mixture of anger and vulnerability flashing in his eyes. "Just… leave me alone," he muttered before storming off, his shoulders tense, leaving her standing alone in the crowd, a worried, sad expression on her face as she watched him disappear into the stadium's corridors.
As Reiko helped Deku up, steadying him with a gentle touch, Kuri glanced down at them from the stands. Despite the ache in her chest, she knew this wasn't the end—neither for Bakugo's internal struggles nor her unwavering care for him, no matter how he tried to push her away.
