Howdy folks, how's it going?
Sorry this is a bit later than usual, had to do some travelling today.
Anyway, as always, shout out to Chaos Productions for his continued help.
And as always, I own neither BNHA nor WH 40K.
Now, enjoy.
/
Momo had to admit, it was less daunting to be a part of the sports festival when you were looking at it from the perspective of the audience.
After their class had eaten their fill, and the few that felt the need for it were checked at the infirmary, they had been led to their own set of seats in the stands. Only Midoriya and Shoji, as the first two to fight, were currently absent, gone down to the stage and to the locker rooms to prepare, respectively. Class 1-B was just on the other side of a dividing wall, something that was made quickly obvious when Monoma-san's head popped up to disparage them, only for a large hand to pull him back down. In all honesty, as the class president, Momo had put a lot of effort into trying to create a good relationship with their sister class, and despite Bakugou's abrasive attitude having required some damage control on her part, she liked to think she'd been successful, enough so that she could consider their own president, Kendo-san, a friend, but it was plain to see that the redhead had her hands full with her own troublemakers, with Monoma being by far the most obnoxious and prideful of the lot…
Shaking her head and deciding to shift her thoughts to more important matters, the pony-tailed girl couldn't help but give a quick glance towards Todoroki, the scarred boy sitting apart from the rest of the class. Quite unlike his usual, impassive demeanour, her fellow recommendation student was frowning deeply, clearly in a bad mood, not even deigning to acknowledge any of the few comments and questions from the others, nor seething glares from Bakugou thrown his way.
She couldn't help but wonder what exactly had happened between him and Midoriya. The green-haired boy had also been acting very sour when he had rejoined the rest of the class for lunch, and he similarly didn't answer to any inquiries other than grumbling in discontent something about "poor sports".
"Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen, now that we all had a little break, the third and final event of the day is finally upon us!"
The girl's musings were suddenly interrupted by the bombastic return of Mic-sensei's commentary, and the ensuing roar of the hyped up crowd, loud enough that Jiro-san winced uncomfortably.
"And now, without further ado, let the Tournament round begin! First contestants, hit the stage!"
Once again, the crowd roared loudly, as from the two tunnels on the opposite sides of the stadium, the fighters stepped forth, moving towards the arena as if the spectators cheering loudly all around them just didn't exist. If she was being honest, Momo was impressed and a little envious of such composure.
"On this corner, from Class 1-B, as sharp as sharp can be and ready to slice through the competition, let's hear it for Togaru Kamakiri!" Mic-sensei introduced, as the mantis-like boy went up the steps. Momo didn't know much about him other than Kendo's comments that he could get a bit "intense" when it came to a fight…
"And on this corner, from Class 1-A, with a trail of destruction left in his wake, and still more surprises in his magic pockets, it's Izuku Midoriya!"
… Which if she was being entirely honest, was probably something Midoriya would find quite agreeable, the green-haired boy also stepping up. Even from this distance, it was clear that he still looked kind of grumpy, and was not yet wielding any of the sundry contraptions he could bring to bear, but by this point, she knew full well that the key word there was "yet"…
"So, how d'you guys think this's gonna go?" Sero-san inquired conversationally, as Midnight-sensei seemed to be addressing the two contestants down below.
"Well, I don't know anything about Kamakiri-san. I didn't really see him in action in the previous round." Kaminari replied musingly. "So yeah, coupled with prior precedent, I'd say my money's on Midoriya."
"I don't think anyone here would bet against that, ribbit." Tsuyu pointed out with a finger to her lips. "Not even Bakugou, if only because he wants to have a go himself."
The explosive blonde growled in aggravation, but nobody paid him any mind.
/
"Alright boys, I want a nice, clean fight, you hear?" Midnight said, as she glanced between Midoriya and Kamakiri. "So, you kids ready?"
Kamakiri responded with a grunt, throwing a withering glare at his opponent.
"I am going to tear you to shreds." He all but growled out, hands clenching as if they were itching to do just that.
At that, Midoriya almost seemed to start, looking towards his opponent as if just now was he actually paying attention to what was going on around him. He blinked once, twice… and then a wide, eager grin bloomed across his face.
"Eh, I like dah way ya think, Bugsy Boy, maybe diz' gun be gud aftah all…" He chuckled, which going by how the mantis-like boy's glare faltered into confusion, had not been the expected reaction. "C'mere, let'z fite."
The confusion lasted for but a moment though, as with a blink of his own, the other boy grinned back in kind. Oh yes, Izuku dared say he was gonna like this git…
"Now, boys," Midnight cut back in, in a tone that, for once letting her more provocative persona slip, sounded more serious and exasperated. "I'm all for going Plus Ultra as much as any other teacher here, but let's not get too excited here, alright? Cementoss and I will step in if I think you are getting too into it, and deliberate, serious injury will land you in deep trouble, am I clear?"
The two boys glanced at her with the kind of accusing stare one often had in reserve for a mood killer, a sensation the teacher found she did not enjoy in the slightest, but then they both grudgingly grumbled in the affirmative, staring back at the other as they did. There was a moment of silence as their gazes met, and what seemed like some semblance of an understanding was had.
"So I ask again, ready?"
"Ready." Kamakiri replied, arms spreading to the side as he took a stance.
"Ready." Midoriya followed, hands slowly reaching for his pockets.
"Alright, then…" The woman said, letting a brief moment where the entire stadium went silent follow… "BEGIN!"
Kamakiri immediately charged forward, the sleeves of his uniform tearing open as massive, curved blades sprouted from his arms, effectively completing the appearance of a mantis. In the split second that followed, Izuku's eyes went wide as he saw the appearance of the incredibly sharp looking implements, and flashes of awe, envy and resolution flickered through his expression as he reached deep into his pockets…
"WAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!"
And then the boy eagerly rushed forth to meet his opponent with a war cry, pulling out the bulky frame of his power klaw was he went, and catching the first, scything blow, delivered with all the swiftness of the animal its wielder resembled, firmly in a steel-taloned grip, sparks flying upon first contact.
Undaunted, Kamakiri made to swing his other arm, only to be foiled as Izuku turned and pulled, sending the mantis boy's world into a spin as he found himself tossed away. Sharp instincts turned the fall into a roll, and as soon as he stopped, the boy was back on his feet, charging again.
This time Izuku let the git come to him, eager to see what he'd try, and sure enough, he was not disappointed as mid stride, the other boy leapt high and swiftly came bearing down on him like a guillotine.
Izuku brought his klaw to bear, and sparks flew as the blade was blocked by the gauntlet, scratching the paintjob. Kamakiri's eyes narrowed, and again he made to swing with his free hand, only for instinct to force him into an impressive summersault to avoid the blow that was blurring his way from the side.
Upon landing and judging there was some distance between them, the boy's eyes fell on his opponent, to realize that the hand that wasn't covered by the wicked looking contraption was no longer empty. Instead in its grip was what was obviously a bike handlebar, the break turned into a handguard, upon which was grafted what could only be described as a busted up, blunted lump of metal, making the whole thing into a close approximation, or perhaps a mockery, of a sword or cleaver.
"Not me first choice' o choppa, but dis'un should do just fine." The goggled boy commented with a wide grin. "Yer move, bugsy."
"And Kamakiri's starts off with a ferocious assault, but Midoriya meets him blow for blow! Just how much stuff does that kid have in his pockets?!"
"I think the better question right now is whether or not we should make sure Recovery Girl has tetanus shots ready…"
Kamakiri seemed to take a moment to consider, then with a roll of his shoulders he dashed forward again, swinging hard. Izuku was there to meet him, swatting the attack away with a backhand before lashing out with his choppa, and once again sparks flew as the retaliation was parried.
Kamakiri growled, ignoring how the impact jarred his entire arm, pushing the blade aside, and both arms came scything forward on the sudden opening, only for klaw and choppa to suddenly interpose themselves, and both combatants finding themselves locked together, as garbage dump scrap wrestled with quirk generated metal.
The mantis boy's let out a huff of exertion, muscles bulging and chitinous plates straining as he tried to push back his opponent, but to his growing shock, the much smaller boy didn't budge. In fact, slowly, but ever so surely, it was Kamakiri that found himself giving way, until the clash was finally broken with one final shove pushing him back.
It took but a moment for him to regain his footing, but Izuku did not press the advantage. Instead, with red eyes locked to his opponent's own, he begun slapping the side of his makeshift weapon against the back of his klaw, in a clangorous and obviously deliberate provocation.
Kamakiri's eyes narrowed, and he replied by wordlessly bringing his blades together, running them across each other in a shower of sparks, which just made the grin in Midoriya's face widen all the more. He was really starting to like this git, he knew the proper song and dance.
"Oooooohh, Midoriya is taunting Kamakiri, and 1-B's blademaster's not gonna take it lying down. These boys mean business!"
"Then they should get to it instead of wasting time with pointless displays."
"Ah, don't be such a spoilsport. There's nothing wrong with a little bit of showmanship!"
Going by the roar of the crowds as they cheered for the combatants, it certainly seemed like the spectators agreed with Mic on that one.
Then, for once, it was Izuku that went on the offensive, stepping forward with an overhead swing of his cleaver, which was parried aside as the mantis boy retorted with a scything sweep of his own, another shower of sparks flying as the klaw came up to swat it away, the sheer momentum of the impact jarring the opponents apart again, but this time Izuku recovered faster and once again brought his blade down on his opponent. Kamakiri barely had the time to cross his arms before him, catching the incoming attack in a cross parry.
For a long moment, the two fighters were locked in place like that, once again straining with all their strength against the other. But then, with a keening groan that culminated in a loud snap, the mantis boy threw his arms wide, and the blade of his opponent went flying.
A triumph he barely had the time to savor before the palm of his foe's gauntleted hand came slamming against his left side, forcing him away with a grunt of pain. Izuku took the moment's reprieve to consider the now broken grip in his hand, making a mental note to invest on duct tape for the next iteration, before flicking his hand so he was holding it in a reverse grip, and braced for the next bout.
"Ooooh, and Kamakiri breaks Midoriya's blade, but the lil'gadgeteer seems undaunted, clearly ready for more!"
Within moments, the mantis was upon him once again, swinging yet another scything blow. Izuku promptly brought his klaw up and caught the blade in its steely grip…
…Only for his instincts to scream at him, noticing the blades suddenly sprouting from his opponent's shoulders and torso, heading straight for his own, before his eyes did, and it was only this split second warning that allowed the goggled-boy to lash out with an uppercut with his now makeshift knuckle, hitting Kamakiri right in the insectoid chin, sending the mantis boy flying.
"Ooooh, dang! Kamakiri tried to pull a sneaky with his quirk, but Midoriya's lightning reflexes allowed him to just barely avoid the trap and cause a mutual first blood!"
Izuku blinked at the commentary, before a stinging sensation on his cheek made him finally notice the cut he'd gotten there, as well as other slight scratches spread around his shoulders and chest. Uh, the git had almost gotten him good…
The teen's red eyes once again turned to his opponent, who was shaking his head to shake off the stars from the corners of his vision, blood dripping down his chin, before his own eyes regained focus and met Izuku's own.
In a single moment, the roar of the crowds going quiet around them, the two fighters, seeing in the other a fellow warrior, came to an understanding.
It was time to finish this. One last blow, winner takes all.
Kamakiri spat some blood to the side, the blades in his arms receding, and a new, large one sprouting from his right hand. And then, with a warcry of his own, the mantis boy came charging forward again. Izuku braced, apparently ready to block… only to completely drop his defense at the very last moment and duck instead, Kamakiri's swing striking air as, caught completely off-guard, he was unable to do anything as his opponent lashed out with a punch straight into his leg, right above knee, forcing him down on it from the sudden jolt of agony.
The double whammy of surprise and pain left the mantis boy unable to react as the power klaw then came down to clamp around his neck and shoulders, and with shocking ease, lift him high off the ground…
"WAAAAAGGH!"
And then, with that final bellow, Izuku swung his opponent back down in a chokeslam, hitting the ground so hard that it cracked under the pressure. Kamakiri groaned, weakly trying to break free, giving his captor one last, defiant glare… and then his eyes rolled back, and his head hit the ground as consciousness left him.
"Kamakiri is out! Midoriya wins!" Midnight immediately called out.
"And there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen, after one savage match, Midoriya manages to keep his win streak going!"
The crowd roared ever louder, but Izuku wasn't really paying attention, basking in the wake of a fight well fought. Glancing down at his downed opponent, the green-haired boy had the feeling that this was the start of a beautiful friendship.
/
I wonder how many people are gonna catch on to the inspiration behind the choreography for this particular fight.
Ah well, at least Izuku finally got to have some fun, and probably made a new friend along the way.
Anyway, next up, the tournament will continue, with some matches being faster than others.
But before that, next update will be for Through the Eternities, so look forward to that.
Cya all on the next one, stay safe and take care.