Hey guys, I'm back again with the next chapter of this story! I'm glad to see that you all seemed to enjoy the previous chapter because it was a blast for me to write! This chapter will pick up where the previous one left off and we'll finally be getting to the fun part of this sports exhibition, the one-on-one battles! So, I hope you're all looking forward to that!
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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
"All Might/All Might" (Muscular Form)
"Announcer"
Quirk
Flashback/"Flashback"
Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia or any of its characters.
"I'm here..." Izuku said as he stood across from Todoroki, locking eyes with him. "You wanted to talk? Well, let's talk..." An awkward silence filled the tunnel as Todoroki and Izuku continued to stare at each other. After a few moments, Izuku chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "We should make this quick or else the dining hall will be packed, heh heh..." Todoroki simply continued to glare at Izuku, causing the green-haired man to start feeling uncomfortable. "Okay wow, this guy is WAY different than Kacchan. His intimidation is absolutely frigid."
"You completely overwhelmed me during the obstacle race and cavalry battle..." Todoroki said, staring down at his left hand and clenching his fist. "So much so that I briefly considered breaking my personal pledge to get the upper hand against you."
"Personal pledge..." Izuku thought as his eyes narrowed slightly, noticing that Todoroki was gazing down at his left hand. It didn't take long for everything to click in Izuku's head. "He must be talking about using his fire powers. It certainly would have been trouble if he had used his left side during the cavalry battle."
"During both the obstacle race and cavalry battle, I felt an almost overwhelming pressure coming from you..." Todoroki said, raising his head and locking eyes with Izuku. "And I've felt that same pressure from All Might as well."
"Is that so..." Izuku said as he gulped, nervously clenching his fists. He couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine as he stared into Todoroki's icy eyes. "What're you trying to say?"
"I just have to ask..." Todoroki said, pausing for a brief moment which caused the tension to rise considerably. "Are you All Might's illegitimate child or something?"
"That's what he thinks? Well, I guess that's a weight off my chest..." Izuku thought as he breathed a sigh of relief. Letting out a nervous chuckle, Izuku rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to come up with an excuse on the spot. "No, it's nothing like that. All Might saved me once when I was a kid and we've been close ever since. He's actually been training me for a long time. That's the type of relationship we have. So...let me ask you something...why'd you think I was All Might's kid?"
"You're a terrible liar, Midoriya. It's pretty obvious you're hiding something, but I suppose I won't pry any further." Todoroki said, causing Izuku to stiffen slightly as Todoroki began to glare at him once again. "As for why I asked...my father is Endeavor—the number two hero in Japan. So, since you're connected to the number one hero...it's all the more reason I need to crush you."
"Hey there!" All Might exclaimed in a boisterous tone, jogging after an imposing-looking man. "It's been a while, haha! Wanna grab some tea, Endeavor?"
Endeavor was a tall, sturdily-built man with a very muscular physique. He had short crimson hair, which he wore spiked up around his head, and sharp turquoise eyes. His beard and mustache were seemingly made of fire. His hero costume was comprised of a tight, navy turquoise bodysuit, with flames streaming across his chest, upper torso, arms, and most prominently, his shoulders. He used his flames as a makeshift mask around his eyes, and his tall boots appeared to be either made of fire themselves or constantly left alight, as only their soles and laces were visible around the flames. He sported white bracers on his lower arms, styled in a cage pattern, and a blue belt with a pouch on either side.
"All Might..." Endeavor said in a perturbed tone as he turned to face Japan's number one hero. "Of all people, why'd it have to be you?"
"Don't be like that! It's been such a long time! If I remember correctly, the last time we talked was nearly ten years ago, right?!" All Might asked, resting his clenched fists on his hips. "I saw you walking by and figured I should say hello!"
"Well, good for you. If that's all, get the hell away from me." Endeavor grumbled as he turned around and began to walk away from All Might. "As if I'd ever get tea with you. Fucking ridiculous. Now, I've gotta piss, so get lost!"
"Why the aggression!?" All Might asked, quickly dashing in front of Endeavor and blocking his path. "Your son, young Shoto...he did quite well in the preliminary rounds without using his left side. Someone must be raising him well." "
"What're you trying to say?" Endeavor growled as he glared fiercely at All Might, the flames around his face burning a little more intensely. "I'd choose your next words very carefully."
"I didn't come here to fight..." All Might said in a more serious tone, clasping his hands together. "Actually, I wanted to ask you for some tips about training the next generation."
"Did you really think I'd tell you a damn thing?" Endeavor scoffed as he rolled his eyes and roughly brushed past All Might, purposefully bumping into his shoulder. "Always with that god damned happy-go-lucky attitude. Pisses me off."
"Oh, uh sorry then..." All Might thought, awkwardly chuckling as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I knew it wouldn't go well, but I wasn't expecting things to be this bad."
"Know this much." Endeavor said as he stopped for a moment, the flames around his neck flickering wildly. "I'll mold that boy into a hero who surpasses you. That's the only really I made that kid."
"What..." All Might breathed out, feeling a shudder run through his entire body. Endeavor's cold and menacing tone sent a shiver down his spine. "I underestimated how much he resents me."
"Sure, he's a rebellious little shit right now..." Endeavor growled as his flames briefly flared out, causing All Might to flinch slightly. "But, he'll outdo you. I'll make sure he surpasses you!"
"My dad...he's one tough prick who only thinks of becoming stronger..." Todoroki explained, releasing a light sigh as he gazed at the sunlight shining at the end of the tunnel. "He's gone all out to make a name for himself as a hero, but...he's always seen that living legend, All Might, as a roadblock and nuisance. My father could never beat All Might by himself. So, he came up with a different plan."
"Endeavor always seemed to avoid All Might whenever we ran into him while training. It was easy to see there was some bad blood between them." Izuku said as he stroked his chin, his brow furrowing slightly. "But, I still don't get what this is all about. Why are you telling me this, Todoroki?"
"Quirk marriages. I'm sure you've heard of them." Todoroki said, a frown spreading across his face as he looked back at Izuku. "They became a real problem during the second or third generation after quirks appeared. Strong individuals would choose a partner and force them into marriage for the sole purpose of passing on a strengthened version of their own quirk. Tch, those in the previous generations were really lacking in ethics."
"Wait..." Izuku thought as his eyes widened slightly, knowing where Todoroki's story was likely going. "Don't tell me...did Endeavor really..."
"Well, you're smart, Midoriya. You probably already guessed it...but, with his wealth and fame, my father made my mother's family agree to a marriage. All so he could get his hands on her quirk. He raised me as a hero who could surpass All Might, just to fulfill his own selfish ambitions." Todoroki continued, gritting his teeth in frustration as he pressed his hand against the left side of his face. "I hate it! Being nothing more than a tool for that piece of shit! As long as I can remember, my mom was always crying..."I can't stand to see that left side of yours"...she said, before throwing scalding water in my face."
"Holy shit..." Izuku thought as he felt a wave of anger and sadness wash over him, tightly balling his fists. "That's awful...how could Endeavor put his family through that?"
"In short, not using my left side against you is my revenge against that human garbage." Todoroki said, pushing off the wall and starting to walk away. "Never using my rotten father's quirk...no...by rising to the top without using it...I'll deny him completely."
"I had no idea Todoroki was carrying such a heavy burden. We live in such different worlds, it's chilling." Izuku thought as he watched Todoroki walk down the tunnel. "We're both aiming for the top, but our circumstances are so different."
"Your connection with All Might...keep it to yourself if you want." Todoroki said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he stepped out of the tunnel. "Either way, I'll rise above you with just my right side. Sorry for wasting your time, Midoriya."
"Those girls wouldn't stop yapping, so I came to get Deku...but...fuck that's heavy..." Bakugo thought as he leaned against a wall around a corner at the other end of the tunnel. "Damn Todoroki, you bastard...you should have said something. No one should go through that hell alone."
"I...I almost died when I was a kid...I was in a horrible accident...and there was a chance I'd never walk again." Izuku said, quickly following after Todoroki which stopped the fire-ice user in his tracks. Around the corner, Bakugo perked up a bit as he continued to eavesdrop. "But...with the help of others, I was able to overcome my injuries and make a full recovery. All my life, I've always had support...no matter the situation. I've only come this far because other people had my back...and I've always appreciated it...even if for some people, the support could be a bit...harsh, heh heh."
"You better not be talking about me..." Bakugo thought as his brow furrowed a bit, resisting the urge to reveal himself and jump into the conversation. "There's no way...I'd never...you're so full of..." Grumbling to himself, Bakugo scratched the back of his head. "Damn, Deku..."
"All Might...I want to be like him...and for that, I need to be the strongest." Deku said with a chuckle, before smiling and locking eyes with Todoroki. "That might seem like childish motivation compared to yours...but I'm not gonna lose. All the people who've helped me...that's how I'll repay them. So, let me return your declaration of war with my own." Todoroki could see the sheer determination blazing in Izuku's vibrant, green eyes. "I'm gonna beat you!"
"Let's see if you can back that up." Todoroki said as he turned around and continued to walk away, hands in his pockets. "That look in his eyes...he's not kidding. He's gonna go all out to win this."
"Man, that was intense..." Izuku muttered, breathing a sigh of relief as he pressed a hand to his chest. Feeling his phone vibrate, Izuku pulled it out and noticed he had nearly a dozen missed messages. "Shit! Lunch is almost over! I've gotta hurry back!"
(Ten Minutes Later)
"Before we get to the main event, I've got good news for all of you out of the running! We didn't want you to get bored, so we've prepared a recreational activity for all participants! We even shipped in cheerleaders from the good old U.S.A. to get you all pumped up!" The crowd in the stands burst into applause and hollers as the American cheerleaders ran onto the field and began to put on their performance. However, the crowd was surprised when a second, surprising group of cheerleaders walked onto the field. "Uh...what are they doing? Eraser, did you put them up to this?"
"I had nothing to do with this." Aizawa sighed as he watched the female members of Class 1-A appear dressed in semi-revealing cheerleader uniforms, even holding onto pom-poms. All of the girls seemed extremely embarrassed, hearing several of the male students whistle and catcall at them. "Someone probably tricked those girls."
"Mineta! Kaminari!" Momo yelled, glaring daggers at both men as she watched them giggle and give each other a thumbs up. "You bastards! You tricked us!" Feeling an almost overwhelming sense of embarrassment, Momo crouched down and hid her face in her hands. "I can't believe I got fooled by Mineta's stupid prank."
"Don't worry about it, Momo. They got all of us..." Kyoka said in a reassuring tone as she patted Momo's shoulder. "We'll get those pricks back."
"This is so embarrassing..." Ochaco muttered, her face flushing red as she used her arms to try and cover herself. "It feels like everyone is staring."
"Hey, it's not all bad." Mina said with a smirk as she gestured toward the opposite end of the field. Following Mina's gaze, the other girls noticed that Izuku was staring at them in wide-eyed wonder. His face was slightly red as she admired each of the girls in their outfits. It was obvious to each of them that Izuku liked what he was seeing. "We've certainly got someone's attention."
"The way Izuku-chan looks at us..." Tsuyu said, pressing a finger to her chin as her cheeks flushed slightly. "I kind of like it."
"Hey, there's still some time before the main event! No sense in just sitting around..." Toru said as she energetically shook her pom-poms. "Let's just go with the flow! It could be fun!"
"Toru is right." Ochaco said with a bright smile, beginning to perform an impromptu cheer routine. "Let's enjoy ourselves!"
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." The other girls of Class 1-A thought as they decided to join Ochaco and Toru.
"Well, I hope everyone enjoys this little recreational competition! Now that all the competitors are back, we're on to the final event! Between the 16 members of the four winning teams, we'll have a traditional tournament! A series of one-on-one battles!"
"A tournament, eh?" Kirishima said with a smirk, balling his fists in excitement. "We'll be up in the same ring I watch every year."
"Oh! Oh! I remember watching last year's tournament! We had a big watch party at Momo's house! It was so awesome!" Mina exclaimed as she practically bounced around with anticipation. "Do they have a tournament like this every year?"
"The format's usually different from year to year." Sero explained, turning to look back at Mina. "But, most years include some type of head-to-head competition."
"Okay everyone, pay attention!" Midnight exclaimed as she clapped her hands together, walking back out onto a small stage. The R-rated hero was carrying a small box with the word 'lots' written on it. "The matchups will be decided by drawing lots. Once that's settled, we'll move on to the festivities and then the tournament itself! It's up to you 16 finalists whether or not you participate in the fun. I expect quite a few of you would rather take a breather and save your strength. Now, let's start with the first-place team-"
"Um...excuse me!" Everyone was surprised when Ojiro suddenly spoke up and raised his hand. "I'd like to drop out."
"Ojiro? Why are you doing this?" Ida asked in a shocked tone, giving his classmate a concerned look. "This is your best chance to get noticed by pros."
"During the cavalry battle...I have no memories of anything that happened up until the end." Ojiro explained, his brow furrowing as he pressed a hand to his head. Letting out a long exhale, Ojiro looked over at Shinso. "It's probably his quirk that did it..."
"Him..." Izuku thought as he glanced over at Shinso, noticing that he was avoiding Ojiro's gaze. "That's right, they were teammates during the cavalry battle. What on earth could his quirk be?"
"I know that this is a great opportunity. And I know it must seem stupid to throw that away..." Ojiro said as he stared down at his clenched fist. "But this final tournament...everyone else made it here with their own strength. Yet, I'm standing here, and I don't even know how or why. I just can't accept that."
"You're thinking about this too much!" Toru exclaimed, waving around her pom-poms wildly. "Just show what you're made of in the tournament!"
"Yeah, kick some ass in the one-on-one fights!" Mina chimed in as she crossed her arms and frowned. "By your logic, I really shouldn't be here either."
"No...no, I'm talking about my pride here..." Ojiro said, releasing a heavy sigh as he hid his face with his face. "I don't think it's right."
"I...I can't remember anything either...I should withdraw as well." Nirengeki Shoda from Class 1-B spoke up as he walked up next to Ojiro. Nirengeki was a slightly chubby young man of average height with short, ice-blue hair and a round face. He had large, wide eyes with small pupils and seemed to be sheepish. His eyebrows were also pointed upwards."This is a contest of skill. Letting someone who didn't do anything advance...doesn't it defeat the whole point of the sports exhibition? Isn't it even against the rules?"
"Oh, man..." Kirishima said, seeming as if he was almost on the verge of tears. "These guys! So manly!"
"This uh...is quite a strange turn of events."
"We'll have to see what coordinator Midnight decides."
"How naive and green..." Midnight said in a surprisingly menacing tone as she glared at Ojiro and Nirengeki, causing them both to gulp audibly. However, Midnight soon grinned and cracked her whip. "I like it! Shoda and Ojiro have officially withdrawn! Replacing those two will be members of team Kendo which came in fifth place!"
"I appreciate the opportunity, but if it's gonna be like that...shouldn't it be them instead?" Kendo asked, pointing toward Tetsutetsu's team. "I mean, we were immobilized practically the whole match. But his team was giving it their all to keep what they had until the very end." Seeing the surprised look Tetsutesu was giving her, Kendo smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Don't worry, we're not colluding or anything. This just feels right to me."
"You guys!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed as he cried in an overly dramatic fashion. "You're the best!"
"So be it." Midnight said, cracking her whip once again. "Tetsutetsu and Shiozaki will bring us back up to 16 competitors." With a grand, sweeping gesture, Midnight pointed toward the screen behind her. And here are the matchups!"
One-on-one Battles Round 1:
Midoriya vs. Shinso
Todoroki vs. Sero
Shiozaki vs. Kaminari
Ida vs. Hatsume
Ashido vs. Aoyama
Tokoyami vs. Yaoyorozu
Tetsutetsu vs. Kirishima
Uraraka vs. Bakugo
"If I win my first match, I'll be up against Todoroki...and for the first round, I'm fighting Shinso." Izuku thought as he stroked his chin, examining the rest of the match-ups. He grimaced when he saw who Uraraka was up against. "Ochaco has to fight Kacchan? Oh geez, I'm so sorry Ochaco, that's such an unlucky draw."
"Izuku Midoriya..." Shinso said, suddenly appearing behind Izuku which caused him to jump in surprise. "You've put on quite the performance so far."
"That MMF!" Izuku was cut off when Ojiro's tail suddenly covered his mouth. With a confused look, Izuku turned to look at Ojiro.
"Midoriya..." Ojiro said as he glared at Shinso, watching as he sighed and walked away. "That guy...don't talk to him."
"Looks like it will come sooner than expected..." Todoroki thought, staring up at the screen displaying the matchups. "You better bring your best, Midoriya. I'll take you down."
"Uraraka?" Bakugo said in a confused tone, clicking his tongue as he gazed at the screen. "Of all the people...it just had to be one of Deku's little girlfriends? Ugh, I'm not looking forward to this."
"Alright, everyone! Let's set the tournament aside for the time being! And enjoy some thrill-a-minute recreation activities!"
(One Hour Later)
While preparations were made for the one-on-one battles, many of the eliminated students participated in fun games and activities to pass the time. While those who were in the tournament were either trying to psyche themselves up or doing their best to relax. The girls in Class 1-A even went along with Mineta's prank and put on their own cheer routine, with some help from professionals brought in from the U.S. Everyone was dealing with the situation differently. And before they knew it, it was time for the tournament to begin.
"Okay...that should about do it..." Cementoss said as he finished setting up the last layer of cement for the tournament's battlefield. "Ready to go."
"Thanks, Cementoss! Hey guys! Are you ready!? You've been through hell to get here! But now, it's finally time for the one-on-one tournament! You've only got yourselves to rely on! Even if you're not a hero, this saying holds true! You know it! Spirit, technique, strength, wisdom, and knowledge! Use 'em all and show us your best"
"Alright...it's finally time..." Izuku muttered to himself, taking several deep breaths as he stood in one of the tunnels that led into the stadium. "I've given it my all so far, but now it's time to show the world what I can really do."
"Hey." Izuku instantly perked up when he heard a familiar voice speak from behind him. Turning around, Izuku smiled when he saw All Might, in his skinny form, walking toward him. "You're really doing a fantastic job, young Midoriya. I can't wait to see how you perform in these one-on-one fights."
"Thanks, All Might...I'm still a little uneasy though." Midoriya said as he stared down at his hand and clenched his fist. "I need to be so careful when I use One for All. One slip-up...if I lose focus for even a split second...I could cause a lot of damage...or even worse...kill someone."
"I see, One for All's power can be extremely dangerous if used without care." All Might said, exhaling through his nose as he approached Izuku. With a small smile, All Might reached out and placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "But, I have faith in you, young Midoriya. I believe in the heroic potential I saw in you all those years ago when you saved young Ochaco. You can do this."
"Thanks, All Might. I feel a bit better now." Izuku said with a brief smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I should probably get going, my match is about to start."
"One last thing, young Midoriya!" All Might said with a beaming smile, transforming into his muscular form as steam radiated off his body. "When you're feeling worried or scared...that's when you gotta smile! You've done great so far, but now you'll be on the main stage, with all eyes on you! So, show some bravado, even if you have to fake it! Never forget how much I believe in you and don't forget that I'm expecting big things!"
"Yes, I'll give it my all." Izuku said as he felt a swell of confidence and determination wash over him. However, just as Izuku took a step down a tunnel, he suddenly stopped. Something nagging at the back of his mind. "Hey, All Might...did One for All...ever...I don't know...warn you of danger?"
"Huh? Warn me of danger?" All Might said in a confused tone, cocking his head slightly as he quirked an eyebrow. "I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
"It's just...during the preliminary rounds..." Izuku said as he pressed a hand to his head, remembering back to the previous events. "I would get these sharp pains in my head just before I would be attacked...almost as if I could sense the attacks were coming."
"That's...unexpected." All Might said, his brow furrowing as he stroked his chin. "Well, One for All is supposed to grow in strength with every new user...so perhaps something changed when you inherited it. I can't say for sure. I'll try to look into it, but please let me know if anything else changes with One for All."
"Of course, I'll let you know right away." Izuku said with a small smile as he nodded his head. Taking a deep breath, Izuku turned back around and continued to walk down the tunnel. "Watch me, All Might! I won't let you down!"
"It's time for the first match!" Present Mic's booming voice echoed throughout the stadium as Izuku and Shinso walked out onto the battlefield. Flames around the steps that led up to the battlefield dramatically enhanced their arrival. While Shinso looked stoic and somewhat bored, Izuku had a large smile on his face. "Izuku Midoriya from the hero course walks out with a big smile! Whoa! I thought All Might was here for a second! HAHA! Well, he's got lots of reasons to smile after his excellent performance in the previous events. And he'll be battling against Hitoshi Shinso from the general studies! Uh...sorry to say this, but this guy hasn't really done anything to stand out yet!"
"The rules are quite simple. You win by knocking your opponent out of the ring, immobilizing them, or making them surrender. Feel free to go all out. However, this should be obvious, but trying to seriously injure or kill your opponent will lead to an instant disqualification. True heroes should only use violence when trying to take down villains."
"Make them surrender, eh?" Shinso repeated as he stared across the battlefield and locked eyes with Izuku. "You get it, right Midoriya? This battle is going to test your strength of will. If you've got any kind of vision for your future, there's no sense in worrying about how you get there."
"Here we go, folks! Let's get this thing started!"
"Like that utter imbecile with a tail, droning on about his stupid pride." Shinso sneered, causing Izuku's brow to twitch in irritation. He may not have been particularly close with Ojiro, but Izuku didn't take kindly to someone insulting one of his classmates. "He reminds me of a dumb monkey."
"READYYYYYYYYYY!"
"It's beyond ridiculous..." Shinso said as he shrugged his shoulders, noticing Izuku balling his fists. A sly smirk spread across Shinso's face as he realized Izuku was about to fall into his trap, he just needed one final nudge. "What kind of dumbass throws away an opportunity like that?"
"START!"
"Wh-" Izuku began to say, taking a step toward Shinso. However, before Izuku could even get the first word out, he winced as a familiar, sharp pain shot through his head. Gritting his teeth, Izuku pressed a hand to his head. "That pain...there's no doubt anymore, it's definitely warning me of threats."
"A mind control quirk?" Izuku asked in a confused tone as he looked at Ojiro in surprise. "That sounds insanely powerful. How am I supposed to win against that?"
"Learn from my loss. My memories stopped as soon as I talked to him." Ojiro replied, tapping the side of his head. "If I had to bet, that's the trick."
"I see..." Izuku said as he clasped his hands on top of the table, his brow furrowing. "So, it's all over if I slip up and say anything."
"I wouldn't say that. It doesn't seem to be some all-powerful ability." Ojiro reassured, pausing and releasing a light sigh. "Remember how I said that I didn't remember up until the end of the cavalry battle? When Shinso had us run past to nab Tetsutetsu's headband...I think that I bumped into someone on his team. That's actually when I snapped out of it. I suddenly became aware of what was happening."
"Interesting." Izuku said as he stroked his chin, mulling over what Ojiro had revealed. "So, physical contact can undo his quirk?"
"Seems likely to me." Ojiro said, leaning back in his seat and staring up at the ceiling. "That being said, I have no idea how strong the contact needs to be. And in a one-on-one fight, you can't expect help from anyone else." Suddenly sitting back forward, Ojiro got out of his chair. "That's everything I can tell you." Walking over, Ojiro placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder and locked eyes with him. "Forgive me for making a selfish request...but please, win this for me."
"Looks like Ojiro was right, I'll have to thank him later..." Izuku thought as he glared at Shinso, knowing that he had to keep his mouth shut no matter what. However, just as Izuku was about to move, the flames behind Shinso suddenly flickered. Izuku's eyes widened when he saw what appeared to be several shadowy figures amongst the fire, their piercing gaze causing him to freeze up. A chill ran down Izuku's spine as he felt a strange mixture of comfort and uneasiness. "W-What the hell is this?"
"What's going on!? Midoriya is just standing in place! He looked so fired up when the fight started, but now he seems rather confused! Is this Shinso's quirk!?"
"No, he's not under my control." Shinso thought, gritting his teeth in frustration as he felt sweat form on his brow. "Did he somehow figure out how my quirk works? It doesn't matter, I have to get him talking! Insulting that Ojiro guy earlier got him pretty worked up, let's go a little further." Letting out an overly cocky chuckle, Shinso shrugged his shoulders. "I gotta say, it must be nice having everything handed to you, Midoriya. And you sure are popular, always surrounded by so many people. Those girls talking to you earlier were pretty cute, especially that brunette." Shinso perked up when he noticed Izuku tense up, he was on the right track. Closing his eyes, Shinso smirked and shook his head. "But, I gotta be honest, she didn't seem that impressive. I wonder what she did to get accepted into U.A. University. I bet-"
The words barely got out of Shinso's mouth when he heard a thunderous clap. His eyes snapping open, Shinso was shocked to see Izuku was barely two feet away. In the blink of an eye, Izuku had crossed the entire battlefield. Izuku's fist was cocked back as his skin and veins glowed with One for All's immense power, the air around him crackling with green electricity. Seeing the look of pure rage burning in Izuku's eyes, Shinso instantly knew he had gone too far. Time seemed to slow for Shinso as he felt a level of fear he had never experienced before, almost as if he was staring at death itself. All sound seemed to fade away, the only thing Shinso could hear was the hum of One for All's flowing power.
Then, Izuku's fist rocketed forward as Shinso braced himself for his own demise. But, that demise never came. Izuku's fist stopped just a few inches away from Shinso's face as the entire stadium was blasted by a powerful air wave. Everyone in the crowd had to shield their eyes from the intense winds, some of the onlookers even being knocked out of their seats. Shinso stood motionless as he stared at the fist right in front of his face. He took rapid, shallow breaths as his heart pounded loudly enough for Izuku to hear. After a few more moments, Shinso began to wobble before collapsing to the ground.
"That's it!" Midnight announced as she cracked her whip. "Shinso is unable to continue! Izuku Midoriya moves on to the second round!"
"Wow! That was a strange round everyone!" The crowd's cheers and applause were deafening as Izuku stood over Shinso. "At first, it seemed like Izuku wasn't going to fight! But then, he beat Shinso without even having to land a punch! Midoriya is moving on to the next round!"
"If you want to insult me, go ahead, I can take it. But, don't you dare even think about besmirching Ochaco. Especially all the blood, sweat, and tears she's shed to get where she is." Izuku said in a menacing tone as he glared at Shinso, his brow furrowed in anger. Taking a deep breath, Izuku felt his anger starting to wane. Raising his head, Izuku stared into the flickering flames behind Shinso once again. "After I was warned of the danger...what was that? I could have sworn I saw people...One for All is passed down like an Olympic torch...were those people...was that some type of sign that I'm linked by this power to the past?"
"Ugh...what the hell..." Shinso muttered, clutching his head as he sat upright. Taking a moment to look around, Shinso quickly realized his situation and let out a heavy sigh. "Looks like I lost, didn't I?"
"Yeah...but, don't let that stop you from following your ambitions." Izuku said as he offered Shinso his hand. After staring at it for several moments, Shinso reluctantly took Izuku's hand and got back onto his feet. "Shinso...if you don't mind me asking...why do you want to be a hero?"
"..." Shinso didn't answer for a few moments before he turned his head away, hiding his face. "We don't get to choose the things we naturally admire."
"Ah...I think I get it. He's kind of like me before I got One for All..." Izuku thought as he gave Shinso a sympathetic look, watching as he began to walk away. "But as I am now...I don't know what I should say to him."
"Great job, Shinso!" Hearing this immediately caused Shinso to perk up as he looked into the stands. He was surprised to see several of his classmates from the general studies course. "You were awesome out there! You're the shining star of the general studies course!"
"That quirk would be awesome against villains! I wish I had it..."
"What the hell is U.A. thinking, putting that guy in general studies?"
"Well, they can only admit so many, that's just how it is."
"Heh, you hear that, Shinso?! You're awesome!"
"They'll consider transfers to the hero course depending on the results here. Remember that." Shinso said as she stopped walking for a moment, turning his head to look back at Izuku. "Maybe I failed this time, but like you said...I'm not giving up. I'll show them I've got what it takes to make the hero course, and I'll become a greater hero than all of you. So, just promise me one thing..." A smirk spread across Shinso's face before he began to walk away once again. "Don't lose in a pathetic way out there."
(Fives Minutes Later: Stadium Infirmary)
"I'm sorry about that, All Might..." Izuku said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't smile much out there."
"Well, after what Shinso said, I can't blame you." All Might said as he scratched his cheek, staring at his successor. "But, I have to say, you had me worried. For a moment, it did seem like you were going to really hurt, young Shinso."
"Yeah...when he started insulting Ochaco I saw red for a second...but, I managed to reign myself in." Izuku said, staring down at his hand briefly before raising his head and locking eyes with All Might. "Actually...during the fight, something else happened with One for All."
"Oh?" All Might said in a curious tone as he quirked an eyebrow. "So soon? You just told me about this supposed 'danger sensing' ability earlier. Now, something else has happened?"
"I had some type of vision..." Izuku said, his brow furrowing as he tried to remember what he had seen in the flames. "There were eight...maybe even nine figures...but, I can't be completely sure. I saw them in the flames behind Shinso. I swear one of them had your hairstyle. Could they have been the 'souls' of the people who have inherited One for All?"
"Holy shit..." All Might breathed out as his eyes widened slightly. "That sounds scary."
"I know that you said you didn't know anything about additional abilities that One for All had..." Izuku said, gripping the edge of the table he was leaning against. "But these visions...do you know anything about them?"
"Yeah, I saw them once when I was young..." All Might replied as he stroked his chin, causing Izuku to perk up slightly. "It's a clear sign you're becoming more attuned with One for All." Exhaling, All Might crossed his arms. "They seem to be the traces of the quirk's past bearers. But, whatever they are, they can't directly interfere or influence you. Nor can you affect them. Your strong will and connection with One for All allowed you to see those faces."
"I suppose...but it still bothers me..." Izuku said, releasing a light sigh as he stared down at his feet. "After all this time, there are still so many things I don't know about One for All."
"Well, don't worry about that right now." All Might said with a smile as he walked over and placed a comforting hand on Izuku's shoulder. "You should be focusing on your next opponent."
"You're right..." Izuku said in a slightly more upbeat tone, standing up and heading toward the door. "I'll see you later, All Might. I promise not to let you down!"
"Let me down?" All Might thought as he watched Izuku leave the infirmary, a proud smile on his face. "You haven't disappointed me yet, young Midoriya. I'm not expecting you to start anytime soon."
(Same Time: Back Halls of the Stadium)
"..." The only sound that filled the hall was Todoroki's footsteps as he made his way toward the locker. Turning around a corner, Todoroki paused for a moment and released a light sigh, seeing a familiar face leaning against the wall in front of him. "Move aside."
"You disgrace me, Shoto." Endeavor said in a gruff tone, crossing his over his chest as he glanced sideways at his son. "You could have crushed both the obstacle race and cavalry battle if you had used your left side." Without a word, Todoroki brushed past his father, paying him no attention. "Oh, grow up. Stop throwing a rebelling like a petulant child. Remember, it's your duty to surpass All Might." Gritting his teeth in frustration, Todoroki continued to walk down the hall, doing his best to ignore Endeavor. "Do you understand? You're different from your brothers. You're my greatest creation!"
"Are you done yammering?" Todoroki finally said as he stopped walking for a moment, shooting his father an angry glare. Releasing a heavy sigh, Todoroki turned around and started to walk away once again. "I'll win this with mom's power alone. I'll never use your power in battle."
"Tch, that may be good enough while you're still in school." Endeavor shot back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But, you'll reach your limit soon enough."
(Ten Minutes Later: Back Within the Stadium)
"Over here, Deku!" Ochaco called out as he stood out of her seat and waved, trying to get her lover's attention. Her eyes lit up when Deku noticed her and began to walk over. With a bubbly smile, Ochaco patted the seat next to her. "We saved a seat for you!"
"Thanks..." Izuku said, letting out an exhausted sigh as he sat down. "Man, I'm tired."
"I'm not surprised." Ida said as he pushed up his glasses. "You've been doing an excellent job throughout this whole exhibition."
"He's right!" Mina exclaimed, suddenly popping up behind Izuku and wrapping her arms around him. "You've been kicking some major ass, Izuku!" Izuku's face flushed slightly as Mina's breasts squashed against the back of his head. "I'll share some of my energy with you! Feeling better yet?!"
"Oddly enough, yes I am..." Izuku said as he felt a comforting sensation wash over him. "Thanks, Mina."
"Mina, how many times must we tell you to refrain from doing things like this in public?" Momo asked, releasing a light sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Glancing around, Momo noticed that several people were staring in their direction. "People are starting to look."
"Oh boo! You guys always have to ruin the moment!" Mina huffed as she released Izuku and sat back in her seat. Crossing her arms, Mina puffed out her cheeks and pouted. "I don't care if people look."
"Uh, if you don't mind me asking..." Ida said, cocking his head slightly as he gazed at Izuku and the girls surrounding him. "What relationship do you all have? You're oddly close with one another."
"Oh uh...we're you know..." Izuku began to stammer and mumble as his face began to burn bright red, nervously rubbing the back of his head. "It's just that...they're my..."
"We've all been friends since high school." Kyoka chimed in, saving Izuku from further turning into a sputtering, incoherent mess. "All of us have spent a lot of time together, so yeah, we're pretty close."
"Oh, I see now!" Ida exclaimed with a smile, slamming his fist into his palm. "That makes sense! You're all old friends! Ah, it's good to see that you all have such a strong bond!"
"Thanks for the save, Kyoka..." Ochaco whispered as she breathed a sigh of relief. "That last thing we need is Ida finding out about what's actually going on between us and Deku. He'd probably lecture us for hours."
"So, Izuku has some special relationship with those girls that they don't want people to know about..." Itsuka Kendo thought with a smirk, overhearing the conversation as she sat a few rows behind Izuku and his group. Leaning forward in her seat, Itsuka rested her head on her palm as she gazed at Izuku. "Things just got a whole lot more interesting."
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen! The wait is finally over! The next battle is about to begin, with our contests entering the arena right now!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the loudspeakers as Sero and Todoroki walked out onto the battlefield. "We've hopefully got a more exciting matchup this round! Hanta Sero of the hero course! Versus...one of the shining stars of this competition, Shoto Todoroki, also from the hero course! Let's not waste any time! Time to start the battle!"
"Oh, man..." Sero groaned as he raised his arms above his head and stretched them out. "I don't really feel like winning..." Suddenly snapping to attention, Sero lowered his arm and fired out a line of tape from his elbows, wrapping up Todoroki. With a flick of his arms, Sero lifted Todoroki off the ground and began to hurl him toward the edge of the battlefield. "But, I don't want to lose either!"
"Look at that! He's trying to toss Todoroki out of the ring with a swift attack! That's probably his best play right now!"
"Looks like Sero is really giving it his all out there."
"Don't hold this against me..." Todoroki said with a menacing look in his eyes, managing to swing his right arm. Instantly, the temperature in the stadium dropped considerably as a towering wall of ice was erected. Those in the crowd on Sero's side of the stadium looked on in awe as the ice wall completely blocked their field of vision, even reaching out above the roof. Todoroki let out a frigid breath as the right side of his body was partially frozen over. With a crack, the tape binding Todoroki crumbled to pieces as he was freed, landing on slightly shaky legs. "Sorry about that, Sero...I think I went a bit too far."
"Y-Ya...t-think...?" Sero stuttered out through chattering teeth as a majority of his body was encased in ice. Turning his head, Sero's eyes widened slightly when he saw the wall of ice looming behind him. "T-This is a b-bit overkill..."
"Sero..." Midnight said, pausing to shake her head in an attempt to remove the ice flakes that had formed in it. "Can you move?"
"Y-You have to be j-joking me..." Sero struggled to say as he felt pins and needles across his skin, his breath visible in the air. "C-Can you h-hurry and get me o-out of here!? I'm...I'm s-starting to lose feeling in my t-toes!"
"Sero is immobilized!" Midnight ruled, raising her arm into the air. "The winner moving on to the next round is Todoroki!"
The crowd seemed somewhat confused by the fight's outcome, not knowing who to cheer and applaud for. Most seemed to be cheering Todoroki for his swift and decisive victory. While others were offering condolences to Sero, and trying to cheer him up by telling him he did his best.
"Good try!"
"Good try!"
"Good try!"
"Sorry about that, I really did overdo it..." Todoroki said, using a small amount of power from his right side to unfreeze himself and help free Sero. As the crowd continued to chant, Todoroki helped pull Sero out of the ice he was trapped in. "I was just a bit annoyed and I took it out on you. I hope you can forgive me, Sero."
"We're cool man..." Sero said with a grint as he stepped out of the ice, one last chill running down his spine. With chuckle, Sero rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, that was a really bad pun."
"It looks like it was lost amid the cheers from the crowd, but I noticed..." Izuku thought, closely observing Todoroki as his brow furrowed slightly. "I saw Todoroki use his left side to defrost himself and free Sero. Something about him...just seems really sad to me."
(Twenty Minutes Later)
"Alright, we're back everyone! With the arena all thawed out, it's time for the next match!" With Present Mic's boisterous announcement was followed by billowing flames as the next two combatants walked out onto the field. "It's Class B's assassin! Every rose has it's thorns, right?! Ibara Shiozaki! Versus! The sparking, killing man! Denki Kaminari!"
"Sparking, killing man?" Kaminari repeated as he stroked his chin, a grin spreading across his face. "I kind of like that!" Perking up a bit, Kaminari took a minute to examine his opponent. Ibara was a girl of medium height with green, thorn-covered vines for hair, one set wrapped around her forehead a couple of times in the shape of a cross. She kept her vines at a reasonably manageable length, just above her waist. Her eyes were also dark green with long lower eyelashes. "She's got such pretty, round, acorn eyes. But...she's definitely strong. Do I really have to blast her with a full discharge? Someone so beautiful? So cute? I know...I'll just have to ask her out once this is all over! Yeah, that'll totally work!"
"START!"
"Wanna grab a bite to eat after our match is over?" Kaminari asked suddenly, shoving his hands into his pockets. Cocking her head slightly, Shiozaki quirked an eyebrow. "I'll be happy to lend you an ear if you want." Shiozaki appeared to be taken aback, clearly taking offense to Kaminari's brazen attitude. Balling his fists, electricity began to crackle in the air around Kaminari. "Because this match will probably be over in an instant!"
"..." Shiozaki said nothing in response, simply releasing a light sigh as the vines on her rapidly grew. In seemingly an instant, right as Kaminari unleashed a massive burst of electricity, Shiozaki used her vines to ensnare him, while also creating a shield to block his attack. The amount and power of Kaminari's electricity intensified as he attempted to break free. But, it was all in vain. Shiozaki's vines completely deflected his electricity and in no time, Kaminari was fried, being left a babbling, incoherent mess. "I thought you'd put up more of a fight."
"It...it's over? Already?! Well...I guess he did say the fight would be over in an instant..."
"Shiozaki advances to the second round..." Midnight proclaimed, raising her arm into the air to signal the end of the fight. "Make preparations for the next fight!"
"Yes..." Shiozaki breathed out as she closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. "I haven't squandered the opportunity bestowed upon me."
"Shiozaki's ability to unleash her vines is truly impressive. She can build walls, bind enemies...while Kaminari's quirk was useless against her." Izuku muttered, rapidly scribbling down notes in his notebook. "She countered him exceptionally well. He might've had a chance if he tried to move around more, but...he went all out and short-circuited after one attack."
"He's the same as always..." Ochaco thought with a loving smile as she observed Izuku painstakingly jot down charts and diagrams. "Deku gives it all when it comes to hero work."
"I thought Kaminari's quirk would be stronger, but Shiozaki ranked fourth in the entrance exam. She's the real deal..." Izuku mumbled, looking up from his notebook for a few moments to observe Shiozaki and Kaminari before quickly returning to his notes. "Shiozaki's vines are quite similar to Kamui Wood's binding attacks. Attacks that immobilize your opponent are always strong. It's rare to see someone break free. It'd be pretty much impossible to dodge all the vine attacks, so the only counter is to rip them apart with brute strength...hmmm, but if you tried that, they're most likely going to restrict your hands first..."
"Give it a rest will ya..." Kyoka said with a huff as she prodded Izuku with her earphone jack, pulling him from his ramblings. "Your match just finished and you're not even trying to relax."
"It's good to think ahead strategy-wise..." Momo said, crossing her arms under her chest as she flashed Izuku a soft smile. "But, it's important to regain your strength between matches."
"They're right!" Mina cheered as she playfully shook Izuku's shoulder. "Let's go get some snacks!"
"I'm not trying to strategize or anything..." Izuku said in a somewhat embarrassed tone, his cheeks flushing slightly. "You guys know studying quirks is a hobby of mine. We finally have a chance to see the quirks of people outside of our class. But..." Izuku turned his notebook around and held it out toward the girls. "I do have a bunch of information about everyone in Class A in here. So, if any of you would like to study up, feel free to take a peek."
"I think it's safe to say you know our quirks the best." Momo said as she took the notebook and began to flip through it. "You've seen them all extensively for quite a while."
"I always thought you were amazing, Deku..." Ochaco said, placing her hand on Izuku's knee and smiling at him. "But this sports exhibition is bringing out a different side of you...even after all these years, I'm still seeing different parts of you."
"Hey!" Mina exclaimed as she butt in between Ochaco and Izuku. "What about the snacks?!"
(Ten Minutes Later)
"Let's keep the battles going! Who's up next?!" The crowd roared with applause and cheers as the next two contestants walked out onto the field. "We're nearing the end of the first round! Up next, we've got Tenya Ida from Class A of the hero course! Versus! She's covered head-to-toe in support items...Mei Hatsume of the support course!"
"Uh...unless my eyes deceive me..." Aizawa said, noticing that Ida also appeared to be decked out with various support items. "It seems like Ida is also equipped with support items."
"Hold on a minute!" Midnight called out as she cracked her whip, getting everyone's attention. "Aren't those items forbidden for hero course students? You have to put in a special request for those things beforehand."
"Oh! I apologize! I seem to have forgotten!" Ida exclaimed, bowing his head apologetically. "But, I didn't think it'd be a problem, seeing how Aoyama wears that special belt of his."
"Right, that's because he applied for an exception!" Midnight said as let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I swear...these students are dumb as rocks sometimes."
"Once again, I apologize! I'm terribly sorry!" Ida said, pushing up his glasses. "However, I was touched by my opponent's sense of sportsmanship! Although she's a member of the support course...she came to me and said, "If we're to be equals, then we should fight on equal footing." She gave me these items to use! Her earnest spirit...I could never look down on it! That was my thinking!"
"There's a limit to how naive someone can be..." Midnight thought as she slowly shook her head. "Whatever...I don't feel like arguing with him."
"If both parties are fine with it...I suppose we can allow it...right?"
"Oh god..." Izuku thought, watching Mei pull down what appeared to be a headset with a microphone as she began to chuckle. He remembered what Mei had told him during the earlier rounds of the exhibition. "Ida...she's going to use you as a demonstration for her support gadgets."
"START!"
"Heh heh heh heh..." Mei chuckled as she watched Ida shoot toward her at an amazing speed. "What spectacular speed, Ida!" Everyone in the stadium was surprised to hear Mei's voice echo out through the speakers. "You're doing incredible!"
"A microphone?" Ida said in a confused tone, continuing to rocket toward Mei. "It doesn't matter! I need to focus on the fight!"
"Your legs feel even lighter than usual, don't they!?" Mei asked with a massive smile, gesturing toward the gadget strapped to Ida's legs. "That's what you can expect from the custom leg parts Melissa and I cooked up! They make sure to keep up their user's speed!" Just when Ida was about to reach Mei, metallic legs fired out of the pack on her back, pushing her out of his way and causing him to fly past her. "And dodging you is no problem for me with my hydraulic attachment bars!" As Mei landed back on the battlefield, she used her quirk, Zoom, to search through the crowd of onlookers. It didn't take her long to spot who she was looking for, a group of representatives from various support companies who were eagerly watching her display. "There you are. Oh yeah, they're eating this up!"
"Damn it...what's she doing..." Ida grunted as he came to a skidding stop and whipped around. "Stop running and fight me!"
"What fantastic movements, Ida!" Mei continued her sales pitch, dodging away from Ida once again. "Our auto balancer makes those sorts of movements possible!"
"Keep it up, Mei!" Izuku perked up a bit when he heard a familiar voice yell out from a few rows in front of him. Looking up, he saw Melissa leaning over the railing. "Show off the grapple next!"
"Those two...they're natural-born saleswomen."
This back-and-forth game of cat and mouse went on for nearly ten minutes, with Mei giving a play-by-play sales pitch. Eventually, the demonstration seemingly came to an end, and both Mei and Ida were drenched in sweat after running around for so long. Panting slightly, Ida glared at Mei, annoyed by the smug and satisfied look on her face.
"Man, that was great...I believe they've seen everything now." Mei said as she let out a content sigh, wiping the sweat from her brow. Spinning around, Mei casually stepped out of the ring and eliminated herself from the competition. "There's nothing left to show!"
"Hatsume is out of the ring!" Midnight announced, cracking her whip. "Ida moves on to the second round!"
"GRAH! You deceived me! I really dislike you!" Ida exclaimed as he angrily pointed his finger at Mei. "If you had just been honest with me, I may have still helped you out!"
"Sorry for using you like that..." Mei said, continuing to walk away as she desperately tried to avoid looking at Ida. Right before she stepped into the exit tunnel, Mei looked up into the stands and spotted Izuku. She saw him sitting next to two girls, watching as they chatted and ate popcorn. Seeing this caused an unusual pain in Mei's chest that she hadn't felt before. Frowning, Mei walked into the tunnel and clutched a hand over her heart. "I wish Izuku had been my demonstration partner instead."
"Well...Mina and Momo left for their battles..." Ochaco said as she got up from her seat and began to walk toward the entrance back into the stadium. "So, I'm gonna head to the prep room."
"Ochaco..." Izuku thought, noticing the strange look on his lover's face. "She has to be worried about her fight against Kacchan."
(Ten Minutes Later: Ochaco's Prep Room)
"God...I feel like I'm about to throw up..." Ochaco thought as she released a heavy sigh, her brow furrowing slightly. Hearing the door to the room open, Ochaco was expecting Ida to walk in, but she was surprised to see that it was Izuku. "Deku...what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be watching the other matches? Momo and Mina will be disappointed if you miss their fights."
"Well, their matches actually ended really quickly. Right now, Kirishima and that Tetsutetsu guy from Class B are brawling it out. Mina managed to damage Aoyama's belt. When he started to panic, she knocked him out cold with an uppercut. Then, Tokoyami actually managed to beat Momo. He overwhelmed her and made sure she couldn't use any objects she created." Izuku explained, walking over and sitting down next to Ochaco. "You're up against Kacchan...and I'm sure that's got you pretty scared."
"Is it that obvious?" Ochaco said with a nervous chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head. "But yeah...I'm kind of freaking out right now. I already know the answer...but, do you really think Bakugo will go all out against me?"
"Yeah, he definitely will." Izuku replied, moving his seat a bit closer to Ochaco. "Everyone's competing here with the hope of becoming number one. No one is holding back, Kacchan least of all..."
"Haaaaah, I was holding on to a shred of hope he might give me a break." Ochaco groaned as she leaned forward in her seat, resting her head on top of the table. "So...what are you doing down here, Deku?"
"Well, I was originally going to let you go through my notebook to try and come up with a counter-strategy against Kacchan. But..." Izuku said, leaning over and embracing Ochaco, holding her tightly. "I figured you wouldn't want that. You'd want to give it your all on your own, without anyone else's help. So...I just came down here to wish you luck and try to comfort you a bit."
"Well, mission accomplished." Ochaco said with a bright smile as she sat back up and wrapped her arms around Izuku's neck. Gazing into Izuku's eyes, Ochaco leaned in and gave him a loving and passionate kiss. After a few moments, the two lovers broke their liplock and Ochaco pressed her forehead against Izuku's. "I love you, Deku."
"And I love you too, Ochaco." Izuku said, reaching down and giving Ochaco's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You should probably get going, you're match is about to start."
"Yeah, you're right." Ochaco said as she gave Izuku one last, quick peck on the lips before standing up. "Everyone here is fighting for their futures. So, at least for today, we're all rivals." Making her way toward the door, Ochaco paused and looked back at Izuku. With a bubbly smile, Ochaco gave Izuku a thumbs up. "I'll see you in the finals, Deku!"
(Five Minutes Later)
"Well, that was an intense mirror matchup! Tetsutetsu versus Kirishima! It was just a straight-up, knuckle-dusting beat down with those two! But it ended with a tie! Once they both recover, we'll determine the winner with a quick arm wrestling match!"
"Ugh, I'm worried the most about this next match..." Tsuyu said, pressing a finger to her chin as she blankly stared at the battlefield. "Of all the match-ups."
"I honestly don't want to watch..." Kyoka said as she nervously rubbed her shoulder. "The last thing I want to see is Ochaco fighting against Bakugo. I hope Mina and Momo get here soon and we can all cheer Ochaco on."
"Do your best, Ochaco." Izuku thought, tightly balling his fists as he felt a nauseating anxiousness wash over him. "I know Kacchan is gonna go all out, but I don't think he'll try and hurt Ochaco. All she can do is give it your all."
"Here we are, folks! The final matchup of the first round!" The crowd's cheers were almost deafening as Ochaco and Bakugo made their way onto the battlefield, bursting flames hyping up their entrance. "A stand out since his middle school days, with a face only a mother could love...it's Katsuki Bakugo of the hero course! Versus! My personal pick...Ochaco Uraraka, also from the hero course!"
And done! I hate to end it on a cliffhanger, but I didn't want to start another big fight scene, especially since I do have a surprise planned for Ochaco's battle against Bakugo. So, the next chapter will surely be an action-packed one, with both Ochaco vs. Bakugo and Izuku vs. Todoroki. I hope you're all looking forward to that! I'll be moving over to work on my Pokemon fic next. But, please be patient and I'll return to this story as soon as I can. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON (any support is greatly appreciated!), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and feel free to PM me ideas for my stories. So, until next time, I'm outta here!