My Hokuto Academia
AN: Just a fair bit of warning, there will be SPOILERS for both My Hero Academia [Vigilantes too], Hokuto no Ken, and Souten no Ken (and its continuation, Regenesis).
I DO NOT own Hokuto no Ken or My Hero Academia, they belong to their respective creators, Tetsuo Hara, Buronson, and Kohei Horikoshi. Support the official releases, especially of Souten no Ken. Support the official release! Mainly for emphasis!
In addition, any songs that were mentioned here belong to their original creators too.
Italics = Flashback
"Italics" = Speaking in a Different Language
'Italics' = Inner Thoughts
Italics = Flashback
"BOLD" = All-Might's tone or Present Mic [excited]
Chapter Twenty-Five:
"TIME'S UP! THAT'S END THE OF THE CALVARY BATTLE!"
The words said by Present Mic caused everyone to stop. Todoroki was looking at his hand, annoyed, mainly at the fact he couldn't overcome Midoriya with his ice alone.
"Holy crap, Midori! We made it!" yelled an excited Mina.
"Yes, Midoriya. My babies are on display for the entire world to see!"
"Midoriya, please don't pull stunts like that again. I got enough of that from Ashido in middle school," responded Sasukasa.
"Hey!" yelped Ashido.
"But we got first place in the end, so it's fairly inconsequential."
Announcers' Booth
"In First Place, we have Team Midoriya! Able to retain the ten million points and more! Any comments, my fellow commentators?" announced Present Mic.
"If you ask me, Midoriya was a little reckless when it came to fighting Todoroki, but he pulled through. Combat skills with a bit of his strategy could take him far in the world of pro fighting or heroism," answered Antonius. "In addition, I'm still curious about what fighting styles he knows."
"Midoriya may seem reckless at first but he was gauging his strengths and weaknesses against someone like Todoroki. He also demonstrated the following: conviction. To have everyone lock on to you AND come out on top, he will make it far as a Pro Hero."
Todoroki wasn't too surprised but was peeved. He made a vow not to use HIS power, only his mother's but Midoriya threw a wrench into that with his overwhelming power and surprising technique.
'Where did Midoriya learn that level of unarmed combat? I mean, he did mention a teacher, specifically three.'
"Todoroki, please calm yourself, save your fury in the next round," replied Tokoyami.
The bi-haired boy took a deep breath and exhaled, saying "You're right, I shouldn't get too angry over a loss like this."
"Following that is Team Todoroki! Especially those last-minute actions from his teammates. Any comments?"
"Todoroki definitely has a powerful Quirk, especially in how he utilizes it. However, he's limiting himself a bit too much," said Aizawa. "He could have utilized both aspects of his Quirk."
"I'll have to agree, it's like the equivalent of a fighter too stubborn to use his legs in a match. It's pretty insulting to not use your entire arsenal against your opponent."
Todoroki was a bit surprised by this announcement to say, replying "Wait, how is that-"
"I did snag a headband from 1-B." answered Tokoyami.
"I knew I picked you for a reason. However, there's something strange."
"In what way?"
"The moment I sent out my attack, he managed to dodge and attack simultaneously, almost as if he predicted it." pondered Todoroki.
"In 3rd Place is Team Bakugo! Following them is Team Shinsou? Wait, where did they come from?!" asked a shocked Present Mic. The other two were also shocked too, they barely saw the purple-haired boy make any moves during the Calvary Battle.
"Good work, guys." replied the purple-haired boy, walking away feeling satisfied. The team was confused about what happened to them during the entire event, especially a tailed boy.
"DAMMIT! THIRD PLACE!" yelled Bakugo. "Deku made me look like a fool, oh, I'll get my hands on him once the tournament begins."
"He's really not letting this go, is he?" asked Kirishima.
"Yup..." said a sighing Uraraka. "It's starting to become concerning now."
"No arguments here."
"So that covers the teams who qualify, right?" asked Antonius.
"Correct! We will also be taking a lunch break, so get in line if you want first dibs!"
"Going to my nap soon... okay?" said Aizawa as he wrapped himself up in a sleeping bag.
Izuku was glad he won, especially since Ashido and Sasukasa won't let him hear the end of it. However, he also saw Iida seeming a bit down.
"It's hard to believe, you managed to cancel it out," Iida said, albeit with some disbelief. "Though, I still wonder. Todoroki seemed to be very incensed at the thought of using his fire."
"I never knew it was that easy to set him off either," replied Ashido.
"That surprised me too, Ashido. In fact, that's the first time I ever seen such emotion elicited from Todoroki."
"Speaking of which, where is the guy?"
Iida quickly looked around, then realized: "He looked a bit tense, wanting to talk to Midoriya in private."
Lunch Room
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" asked Izuku but Todoroki's response was a cold stare.
'Okay, not very social, gonna need to try a different approach.'
"It's a good thing we arrived early, this place would have gotten crowded other-"
"I broke my pledge."
"Wait, what?"
"No one else felt it. I was overwhelmed to the point of using his power. Against you. However, your aura was different. It was a bit like All-Might to a degree but there was a lethal force behind those blows. Almost as if you were trained to kill."
The kid flinched a bit, but he won't deny it. Every technique that Kensei and others taught him was a killing shot but he was training to be a hero, so he needed to dial it down a bit.
"Umm... well..."
"You know, you heard of my dad, the Number Two?"
"Flame Hero: Endeavor, right?"
"He claimed he was surprised when he heard of a vigilante that was able to go toe-to-toe with All-Might AND even injure him. Here are the recurring details: rapid-strike techniques, suggesting he's an expert martial artist, and he utilized tons of pressure points."
The kid was starting to sweat, 'Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Todoroki's closer than I thought.'
"And your point is...?"
"My old man tried hunting down this vigilante, but no matter what... he kept evading him. It's almost as if he could sense his presence from a good distance away, a senses-enhancing Quirk to a degree. He thought that capturing the vigilante would boost himself up, get one over All-Might, but it didn't.
All it did cost was several hours and barely any traces of the vigilante known as Shichisei."
Izuku took this info in, ready to ask some questions of his own.
"Midoriya, are you biologically related to Shichisei in any way?"
The green kid had to blink twice to make sure he didn't mishear, asking for a repeat. The question was asked again, then Izuku started snickering, then it became full-on laughter.
"Answer. The. Question." said Todoroki, clearly getting annoyed.
"Look, I don't know where you got that idea. Plus don't get any ideas about All-Might either, I just respect him as a teacher, that's all."
"Interesting, it seems you don't have anything from the Number One Hero. If anything, this provides me more incentive to beat you. However, there's one thing I'm curious about: where did you learn how to fight?"
"I have a couple of martial arts teachers."
"There's more to it, is it? I won't pry too much. However, there's one thing to mention: All-Might was always an eyesore on my old man's desire to rise in the world."
"Where is this leading to...?"
"He couldn't beat All-Might, so he went for Plan B..."
"Oh, no," Izuku responded. "I really don't like where this is going."
"Have you heard of Quirk Marriages?"
Izuku nodded.
"My father has two things: accomplishments and money. Enough to convince my mother's relatives and also take my mother's Quirk to create a hero to surpass All-Might," responded Todoroki, feeling a bit ill. "That thing became a problem during the 2nd and 3rd Generation when Quirks first appeared. All brought on by a lack of ethics."
The green-haired kid's fist was closing up, shaking slightly in anger.
"Your own father couldn't surpass All-Might on his own... so he created you for that purpose," responded Izuku, fist bleeding a bit.
"I can still hear my mother crying in my memories, " said Todoroki. "It's also part of the reason why I have this scar on my face, to begin with."
The bi-haired boy parted his hair, revealing the large burn scar on the left side of his face, and it seems to bring back some horrific memories for him. He then said: "She was the one who poured boiling water on my face because my bastard of a father drove her to that point."
"Your left side symbolizes the blood of the Devil which is your own father," said Todoroki's mother in a manic state of distress, wielding a pot of boiling water.
"No... no... no child should ever go through that."
"I picked a fight with you to show that I can win without that bastard's fire Quirk... no, get first place without acknowledging that bastard, to begin with!" said Todoroki, but there was a cold hatred behind those words.
"At the end of the day, you're just chaining yourself to the past," responded Izuku. The bi-haired boy quickly turned around with hatred in his eyes, snarling a bit.
"Repeat. That. Again."
"You really want me to say it again, do you? It's horrible about what happened to you, I won't argue that, but to the point where you'll only use half your power?
What type of pledge is that?"
Todoroki was usually calm but he surprised the other kid by grabbing his collar, slamming him against the wall, and then snarling a bit.
"It's my pledge, something you'd never understand because of the hell I endured. Something you never faced. At all."
"A pledge or just an excuse to be chained to the past, Todoroki? Do you have an answer-"
"I will figure it out, Midoriya," quickly responded Todoroki. "I apologize for wasting your time, I lost my composure again, it won't happen again." said the bi-haired boy as his tone softened.
"Oh, really? I'm doubting that for a reason."
"Why?"
"Anything that seems to overwhelm you or reminds you of your father seems to set you off. It's subtle but it's there, you're doing this out of spite. Is that the type of hero you want to be?" responded Izuku. "If so, I don't have a reason to use full force against someone who's half-assing their efforts."
"My ice is enough, Midoriya. It's-"
In a quick flash of motion, the bi-haired boy felt wind pass by his face, almost like a bullet whizzing by. It was a fist, inches from his face, courtesy of Midoriya. The bi-haired boy was a bit shocked but regained his composure again, saying: "You were not holding back, were you?"
"That declaration of war you made, how about I return that with interest?" responded Izuku, a bit more serious.
"This is a different side to you, Midoriya. Where was this during the USJ Incident, you know what, I won't ask further. See you in the finals." responded a smirking Todoroki.
An Hour Later
"Well, that was a great lunch!" said Present Mic as he sat down. "It's also time for the final game too! For all those who didn't make the cut, don't worry! We have great news!"
"This is a Sports Festival, plus I like to mention this: there will be a post-game event. Notice how some of the audience are bigger than normal. Well, they are professional fighters or martial artists. The principal invited some of them personally to take part in said event." said Antonius with a grin on his face.
"Huh, wait, seriously?! I thought we were doing recreational games."
"Well, that too. However, this post-game event is quite interesting."
"What is Nezu planning really?" spoke up Aizawa.
"Now now, I can't spoil everything."
As the three were getting ready, there was some commotion down below, but what shocked Aizawa was the fact that it was his students, particularly the females. In cheerleader outfits. That emphasized quite... a lot.
"1-A?! What kind of fanservice is that?!"
Tournament Grounds
Izuku and some of the other boys were caught off-guard by the sight, their female classmates in cheerleader outfits, but the green-haired kid then thought of something.
'I'm gonna have to hurt some people, do I?'
"MINETA! KAMINARI! You tricked us, did you?!" yelled the Class Vice Representative. She fell to her knees, clearly embarrassed that she was tricked for a false cheer battle. The two perverts of the class were snickering but then felt a presence behind them.
"You know, I'm pretty disappointed in you both."
Both boys turned around to see Izuku with a frown, the latter tried explaining that it was for laughs but it was for naught. The kid dragged both perverts to the girls.
"Apologize. Now."
"M-M-Midoriya, it was just for-"
"Now."
Mineta was now tearing in fear, not wanting to piss off Midoriya further and on top of that, the same Midoriya that destroyed the Nomu at the USJ.
"I-I-I'm s-sorry for t-the-"
The apology was cut off because the entirety of 1-A's female student body all glaring at the two, but Mineta in particular.
"I'll leave the rest to you, Vice President," said Midoriya as he walked away, leaving Kaminari and Mineta to their fates.
A Few Minutes Later...
Mineta and Kaminari were more or less tied up but were swinging on a metal pole like a tetherball, complete with them screaming in humiliation. Yaoyorozu was feeling much better but Hagakure was a bit disappointed.
"Ah man, I wanted to have some fun with this at least."
"You're actually okay with this?" asked a surprised Uraraka.
"I mean, it's only a few minutes before the finals, right?" said an excited Hagakure who put on her best cheerleading face.
"ALRIGHT! MAY WE HAVE ALL 16 COMPETITORS WALK TO WHERE THE NEXT EVENT WILL BE! A TOURNAMENT! ONE-ON-ONE FIGHTS!"
The 16 competitors marched to the podium where Midnight was standing.
"Every match will be randomized!"
As the competitors were listening, one hand rose up, and their response?
"Excuse me, I will be dropping out of the event."
All of 1-A stared at the blonde, revealed to be Mashirao Ojiro.
"Wait, why?" asked Izuku.
"This is a big chance! The Pros get to see you," responded Iida.
"I don't remember a thing. At all. Only until the end, I woke up. I believe it was my team leader's Quirk."
"Wait, that shouldn't matter! Why quit now after going this far?" Hagakure responded. "All that matters is producing results in the Finals!"
"Everyone here competed by giving their all! I can't… I can't be up there with everyone without knowing what really happened. Everyone else made it here on their merits, I'm just standing here. I just can't take it in all honesty."
"Nah, I understand why. You rather have done it via your own merits than being carried here, I understand completely!" said Kirishima, immediately understand Ojiro's reasons to drop out.
"I understand it, you felt as if you cheated your way unwillingly? If that makes sense, right? You honestly felt that you were handed it instead of earning it?" responded Izuku. "Hey, I'm glad you owned up to it. Besides, there's always next year, right?"
Ojiro was a bit caught off guard but appreciated it regardless.
"Thanks for understanding, Midoriya. And... you're right, we get three chances. That's all the more reason to train harder!"
A chubby silver-haired student from 1-B stepped up and voiced a similar thought.
"I'm Nirengeki Shoda from Class B. I also want to withdraw for the same reason. Regardless of ability, don't you think it goes against the goal of this Sports Festival for those who didn't do anything to move onto the final round?"
In a total surprise, Yuga Aoyama also said he was going to drop too.
"I will drop too, my light was dulled during the Second Round. To save a speech, my reasoning is the same as Shoda here."
"Well, this is unprecedented. Midnight, what does she-"
"Such youth! It excites me! You three, I happily accept your withdrawals!" Midnight said with a grin that was bordering on lecherous.
'Should I run now or...' was the collective thought of the three.
"Uh, should we-" asked a questioning Kaminari.
"Bro, just roll with it," responded Kirishima who felt a bit uncomfortable too.
"In this case, we will have to move up three people from the 5th place team from the Cavalry Battle," responded Midnight. Team Kendo was a bit surprised at this but accepted it anyway.
1-B as a whole congratulated them on their placements, but a silver-haired boy with muscles was tearing up a bit, saying: "Do well out there Kendo!"
"However, there's the issue..." says Kendo.
"... Out of us..." continued Yanagi.
"Which of us... " follows Yorucho.
"... will go to the final?" finished Tokage.
Team Kendo decided in a game of rock-paper-scissors, best two out of three.
The first one out was Yanagi.
"Well, there's always next year."
"Alright, that settles things! Yorucho, Kendo, and Tokage will move up. Now, we have 16 competitors for the tourney! The tourney will now begin in a few minutes! By the way, we now have a roster for the first round!"
Izuku Midoriya vs. Hitoshi Shinso
Tyrone Kishijuu vs. Itsuka Kendo
Fumikage Tokoyami vs. Katsuki Bakugo
Tenya Iida vs. Setsuna Tokage
Sunako Yorucho vs. Bella Sasukasa
Mina Ashido vs. Mei Hatsume
Ochako Uraraka vs. Eijiro Kirishima
Denki Kaminari vs. Shoto Todoroki
The moment when the roster was announced, Todoroki stared at Midoriya like it was a stand-off.
"Victory will be mine, Midoriya."
"Only if you bring your A-game, Todoroki."
He flinched for a bit but ignored it while Bakugo's palms were crackling with anticipation. In the corner of his eye, the purple-haired student, likely Shinsou walked up to Midoriya.
"First match? I look forward to it."
Midoriya smiled and nodded, surprising the purple-haired boy. He walked away, slightly frustrated to a degree. Ojiro watched the interaction and said:
"Midoriya, wait, do you know-"
"I only have an idea for the most part. His Quirk likely has something to do with mind control, right?"
"Y-Yes. But there's a condition: it's by verbal response likely. It's the reason why I don't remember the events prior to finishing the event. Just be careful, okay?"
"It's not a problem, I also notice you do martial arts too."
"Yes. It's called Keido Daido Juku, mainly headed by my family. A hybrid of several variations of Karate, Judo, and a bit of Sambo."
"Oh, shit. A balance of hard and soft techniques."
"Agreed. I honestly would have liked to spar with you."
"The feeling is mutual. However, I think my fight is ready."
Midoriya nodded, then made his way to his room to prepare for his upcoming match.
Tourney Stage
'A mental manipulation Quirk that relies on a verbal response. Easy to fall to.'
Izuku made his way to the stage, listening to the announcements made Present Mic, and also focusing on his opponent.
"IN THE RIGHT CORNER! MR. FIRST-PLACE HIMSELF, IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
The audience was cheering loudly, mainly to the point where Kensei and Rouga have to cover their ears for the most part.
"AND FROM GENERAL STUDIES! HITOSHI SHINSO!"
Shinso just walked onto the ring, accompanied by cheers. However, it was slightly lower than the cheers for Midoriya.
Vs. Hitoshi Shinso
"ARE YOU READY?! FIGHT!" yelled Midnight.
Shinso started off, taunting him, saying: "Shame for your friend, was he that pitiful?"
However, there was something wrong. Izuku wasn't taking the bait, he was coming right at him, arms raised, mouth closed, and eyes focused. The purple-haired kid was coming up with a new insult, but...
BAM!
He got an uppercut to the chin, courtesy of Izuku. The kid raised his arms to block, but Izuku unleashed a small barrage of jabs into Shinsou, almost breaking through it and the coup de grace being a front kick. Shinsou was sent tumbling a bit but quickly got back up, he was mad, very much so.
"Why do you... have all the luck?!" yelled Shinso as he threw a sloppy jab but it was parried by Izuku and he follows it up with an elbow smash. The kid feels the impact badly but still has the strength to rant.
"You have an ideal Quirk and proper training! Meanwhile, I was criticized for having a Villain's Quirk my entire life. Do you know what's that like?!"
SMACK!
A palm strike was sent into his face, stunning him, but it was the prelude to something potent.
Hokuto Raging Flash!
A series of seven strikes all in the pattern of the Big Dipper, all in Shinso's frame, and the last hit sends him near the edge of the ring. The purple-haired kid was on the ground, now gasping for air, wondering what exactly happened.
'D-Damn... that combo was like getting hit with multiple shotgun blasts. How strong is this guy?!'
Shinso was now getting worried, sweating even, exactly trying on how to beat Midoriya! However, that would never come to be. He gets hit by a roundhouse kick, right in the side, and a follow-up elbow strike into the collarbone.
"What's his issue?" asked Antonius.
"It's his Quirk, Brainwashing..."
Name: Hitoshi Shinsou
Quirk: Brainwashing- Answering his question or replying to him turns on a brainwashing switch in his opponent's brain, forcing them to do whatever he says. If he does not want the brainwashing switch to turn on, it won't.
"If anything, his Quirk is very much utility-based. It's practical even, great for defusing delicate situations such as hostage negotiations, barroom brawls, or even petty school fights. The issue here? The Entrance Exam is an irrational mess that focuses on physical-enhancer Quirks or flashy ones at worst. It's why Shinso was relegated to General Education instead of the Heroics Course." said Aizawa, waking up from his nap.
"Wow, that's nice to know."
'I am lucky, but I wish I could tell you what's it like being Quirkless.'
BAM!
Shinso was taking more hits, each time he threw a punch or swung, he'd get parried and kicked in.
SMACK! SMACK! BAM!
The purple-haired kid was on the edge, his legs were feeling stiff, but the end came: a hook punch that sent him out of bounds.
"MATCH OVER! THE WINNER... IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
The kid quickly went over to Shinso and helped him up, taking off what dirt stuck to his UA gym-suit. The purple-haired kid was a bit disappointed in himself, but Midoriya interrupted that by saying: "You want to be a hero, right?"
"Y-Yes."
"Why?"
"Well, you can't help what the heart yearns for."
"You did good, plus if I had said anything, you would have definitely won the match. Plus I do hear a few cheers for you."
Shinso tilted his head in confusion, wondering what he meant.
"Shinso, you did great!"
"You made it far!"
"We will definitely get them next year!"
Shinso was happy to hear it but Izuku interrupted it by saying: "Besides, I think my master can help you out in some way."
"Wait, wait. Your master's here?"
"He's in the stands."
Shinso nodded in understanding as he left the stage, Izuku following him after, signaling for Kensei to meet him.
Tyrone Kishijuu vs. Itsuka Kendo
"That was a great first battle! Don't you agree, gentlemen!"
"Yes, the only difference was the combat experience, a pity too."
"Shinso's Quirk would work on one condition: verbal responses. So, who's in the next match?"
"Kishijuu vs. Kendo."
"Alrighty then! From 1-A, it's the one who's big and scaly but he's smart! TYRONE KISHIJUU!"
A scale-skinned student who's between Shoji and Sato in terms of height arrived on the stage. However, the width of his shoulders made him appear bigger, the blue scales added a calming nature to him, plus his head is what made him stand out. It was a small human-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex head.
He then adopted a southpaw stance, showing that he's a left-handed fighter.
"From 1-B, the Scion of Karate, give it up for the 'Big Sis' of 1-B, ITSUKA KENDOO!"
The orange-haired girl walked up to the stage, confident enough to meet the challenge. However, she took on a stance similar to that of Karate, a forward stance to be specific with fists at the ready.
"FIGHT!"
Tyrone started off with a quick jab which was blocked by Kendo's forearm. The kid was surprised but he kept at it until...
SMACK!
Kendo enlarged her free hand for a side blow into Kishijuu's frame which caused him to flinch. It was the opening that she was planning on, she started out with a front kick, then went on a small flurry of strikes into the dinosaur boy's body, mainly consisting of punches, elbows, and then finishing it with an uppercut.
An attack that should knock out most people.
Kishijuu felt the blow, forcing his head up, but forced it back down with a grin.
"You are definitely strong! My scales felt that!"
Kendo was ready and waiting for the next attack, but! Kishijuu grabbed her and got her into a lock!
"Chokehold?! Wait, does Kishijuu know wrestling?!" said Antonius.
"I looked at his records at middle school. Kishijuu excelled in cross-country and took part in freestyle wrestling." Aizawa responded, "He's proficient enough to turn the tables around."
Itsuka didn't panic, she spread her legs, took a big step to the right while wrapping the attacker's hands with her arms, and the next step? An elbow into the gut with a free arm.
"Oof!"
Four Star Blow!
A series of four strikes were sent into his frame, causing him to back up a bit. Kishijuu then tried blocking for upcoming attacks but Itsuka stepped back a bit to prep a different attack.
Fiery Star Lance!
A powerful front kick but had streaks of electricity enhancing it!
BAM!
Kishijuu was hit hard, making him cough up some spit in the process, but realized he needed to start striking back.
He got back into his southpaw stance, then unleashed a barrage of strikes, mainly consisting of jabs. It seemed that they were hitting her but felt that his blows were curbs or slightly thrown off direction, it started frustrating him a bit, but there was a surprise waiting.
Jumbo Lance!
A nukite-strike but her hand was enlarged! The hit made a dent in Kishijuu's scale-like skin, followed up by a roundhouse kick to the side, and then another.
SMACK!
An elbow strike near the neck area was the deciding factor.
"Da...mn... that took things out of me," said Kishijuu. "It doesn't mean I can go down now!"
Kishijuu was in a runner's pose, then sprinted as fast as possible, intending to land a hit.
Tyranno Strike!
It was a heavy flying knee strike that had a punch in the process, knocking Itsuka back a few inches. However, it wouldn't be enough to keep her down, all it did do was motivate to do the following: find Kishijuu's weaknesses.
Gourai-Ryu Ougi: ASPECT THUNDER FIST!
Itsuka's hand was covered in some sort of electricity, surprising Kishijuu and the crowd. She then ran right at him, forcing the other fighter to block from where it was coming from, but it was for nothing.
CRACKLE!
The incoming fist faded, only to appear right in Kishijuu's gut which sent him flying for a bit... but Kendo was going to finish this fight: roundhouse kick into his other side. The dino-kid was clearly on the ropes but didn't give up quite yet: he gave his response in the form of a desperate punch only for Itsuka to sway into the side and give a final blow:
A crescent kick.
Right into the liver.
"URGGH..."
Kishijuu went down to the ground, clutching his liver. In those few moments with his guard down...
BAM!
A rising snap kick into Kishijuu's face, knocking him out cold.
"MATCH OVER! THE WINNER... ITSUKA KENDO!"
Kishijuu was carried by paramedics to the nurse's office as quickly as possible. Kendo gave a thumbs-up to the unconscious fighter, saying: "You know, I don't mind if you want a rematch. Just name the time and place."
In the stands, her teacher Vlad King was beaming with pride but was a little concerned with the finisher she utilized.
Audience Stands
"So, you wanted to meet me?" asked Kensei, looking at Izuku and the purple-haired kid, Shinso.
"He said you could-"
"Help you out? Yea, you also realize that someone's presence is here, right?" responded Kensei, but his face focused on the opposite direction. "You know, you can come out now. You couldn't hide your presence that well if you tried."
"Well, thought I could." said a voice that had experience behind it. Once stepping out of the shadows, the three got a good look at him: he was definitely around Kensei's height, albeit slightly slimmer than him, chinstrap beard with mustache, complete with sunglasses on. He had on a dark blue suit vest with a black tie and a mid-length dress shirt underneath the vest too.
"How long has it been, Martin?"
Izuku's eyes widened, realizing who it was.
"M-Martin Jo-Jovanovic?"
"In the flesh. I'm guessing he's your apprentice, who's the other kid?"
"Hitoshi. Shinsou." answered the kid, a bit nervous about this stranger.
"You have a potent Quirk, do you? But there are some drawbacks, are there?"
Shinsou nodded.
"Well, kid. You look like you need some martial arts expertise to supplement your Quirk, what is it by the way?"
"Brainwashing."
"I see. You want to be a Pro Hero in your own right but things have been stacked against you, that's the gist, right?"
"Yes, I'm tired of it."
"Well, congrats, kid. I'm gonna train you. Come to this address every afternoon from now on."
Shinsou's mouth dropped at that answer.
"Let's get back to watching the matches."
Fumikage Tokoyami vs. Katsuki Bakugo
"Well, that was an excellent match-up. Time for the next one."
"The Scion of Darkness himself, The Prince of Crows of 1-A himself, FUMIKAGE TOKOYAMI!"
A bird-headed boy walked up to the ring, bowing to the praises.
"And also from 1-A! He's MEAN! A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE! KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
"THE FUCK DID YOU SAY ABOUT ME!" yelled an irate Bakugo as he walked onto the stage.
The match began quickly after that exchange.
"DARK SHADOW, ATTACK!"
You got it, boss!
A sentient bird-shaped shadow emits from Tokoyami's frame, dead-set on attacking Bakugo. However, this was a poor match-up in hindsight. As soon as he tried, Bakugo let off an explosion, hitting the solid bird shadow.
AHH!
"So, he can't handle light all that well," Bakugo said to himself. He then launched two more explosions at Tokoyami, now forcing him on the defensive. However, this was where Bakugo almost made a mistake.
Shadow Hammer!
The bird shadow formed two hammer-like fists to strike down the explosive teen.
SMACK!
The explosive teen was hit fairly hard, sending him to the ground.
"Do you yield?"
"The fuck I will!" yelled Bakugo as he produced an explosion in his face, forcing Tokoyami to defend himself but the bird shadow was beginning to show signs of fatigue.
"DARK SHADOW, HOLD ON!"
Dynamic Burst!
A two-palm strike that was sent into Dark Shadow from a lowered position, right into Dark Shadow, and pushing Tokoyami further away. He then threw several explosions via palm strikes that he picked up from watching fighting games.
"H-He's gaining... did he discover my weakness?!"
"Not a good idea to say that, Bird Head!" yelled Bakugo as he let off another explosion, directly at Tokoyami! This is where the bird-headed boy made a risky move: get in close right after the explosion, specifically to tackle the explosive kid.
"Get off me!"
Tokoyami grabbed on, then called on Dark Shadow to engulf him, but there was an issue: the bird shadow wasn't responding as fast as he could. Bakugo took notice, then elbowed him in the face, and got him into a chokehold.
"I... give..."
"MATCH OVER! WINNER... KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
"Did you discover my weakness so easily?"
"Going, to be honest, I had a sneaking suspicion that Dark Shadow didn't like intense light. Blasting you seemed to confirm it."
Bakugo walked away from the stage while Fumikage followed suit.
Audience Stands [Student Sections]
"Tokoyami did not have a chance, did he?" said Ochako. Iida believed the same too, but there followed an explanation from him: "Tokoyami's real weakness was great quantities of light."
"That is true but there's something I did notice," piped up Ashido. "The big bird shadow using a hammerfist attack, that's a bit unusual for someone like him."
"Why is that, Ashido?"
"Tokoyami would just use his Quirk to grab an enemy, then throw them out. However, this implies a few things."
"Like what?"
"He's been self-training in fighting with his hands, mainly Dark Shadow as a sparring partner if I get the gist."
Iida analyzed her words but then realized his match was next.
Tenya Iida vs. Setsuna Tokage
The green-haired girl was feeling confident as she walked onto the stage, waving to the crowd. The other competitor was bowing to the crowd, albeit stiffly.
"IN THE LEFT CORNER! THE VP OF 1-A WHO'S SOMETIMES TOO STRICT FOR HIS OWN GOOD, TENYA IIDA!"
Aizawa sighed a bit, then responded: "I understand that his nature can be a bit... overbearing. However, that attitude is good in any situation, getting others to fall in line or be organized."
"Ignoring That... THE RIGHT CORNER! A RECOMMENDATION STUDENT WHOSE MIND MASKS HER TRUE SELF! GIVE IT UP FOR SETSUNA TOKAGE!"
Iida took a runner's stance, befitting because of his Quirk. Tokage had a confident smirk on her face while assuming a free-form stance: hands out that are ready to grab.
"FIGHT!"
The speedster boosted his way towards Tokage, expecting to get a hit on her. In those few moments, he knew for sure he hit the green-haired girl once he made contact.
However, he only felt air.
"You might want to watch where you're hitting," said Tokage, but her torso was clearly floating!
Name: Setsuna Tokage
Quirk: Lizard Tail Splitter - The user is able to split her own body into 50 pieces, using them telekinetically!
The next moment that shocked Iida was her splitting into multiple pieces except for her head.
"What the?!"
He's now being pushed by her segments, taking advantage of his momentum, all the way to the edge of the ring!
"Gotcha..."
Iida immediately jumped out of the way, saving himself from loss via ring-out, but then saw Tokage reform her pieces into one again. He took a moment to think, then charged again.
"Didn't you learn the first ti-"
A flying knee was coming right at her.
She then split herself into multiple pieces, bypassing Iida's kick, and on top of that, the segments were ready to wail on him!
BAM!
Iida's face blindsided by a segment, followed by several other segments wailing on him but he put his guard up, now only bearing the barrage.
'Keep going... this Iida can't last forever.'
'She can't keep battering me in separated segments for too long either... can she?'
Iida's guard was holding.
The segments kept hitting him as their speed permitted them to. The blue-haired speedster was holding on further but noticed something, the segments were slowing down. A tiny bit though.
Recipro Burst!
Iida grabbed a piece of Tokage while boosting out of that situation, realizing a potential weakness in the reptilian girl. Tokage gritted her teeth a bit, realizing that Tenya caught on faster than he thought.
"Recall!"
The segments were recalled into one. Despite this, Iida rushed forward, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pushed her out of the ring.
"MATCH OVER! WINNER... TENYA IIDA!"
Setsuna was shocked by this turnaround, the mouth was open too, but Iida reassured her that the match wasn't a fluke in any fashion.
"I'm glad for that match, Tokage."
"But..."
"You had me on the ropes actually. I may be able to outspeed you but your Quirk is great for dealing with speedsters from long range." Iida responded.
Setsuna's eyes widened a bit, saying: "Y-You're right, you know, I don't mind if we have a re-match soon."
"I look forward to it!" said Iida, bowing quickly.
Sunako Yorucho vs. Bella Sasukasa
The two female combatants stepped onto the ring. The white-haired girl adopted a free-form stance while the mulberry girl took a boxing stance, signifying that they were ready to fight.
"IN THE LEFT CORNER! SHE'S PALE WHITE WITH A SOMEWHAT SCARY DISPOSITION! THE NIGHTMARE! SUNAKO YORUCHO!"
Sunako gave a grimace in response to that.
"IN THE RIGHT CORNER! SHE'S KNOWN TO BE SAUCY BUT DON'T LET THAT FOOL YOU! SHE STINGS AS MUCH WITH HER QUIRK AS WITH HER MOUTH! BELLA SASUKASA!"
"I'm not really saucy though..."
"FIGHT!"
Bella was playing keep away because she saw what happened when Sunako used her Quirk. People would go wild with fear, something she did notice.
"So you know how my Quirk works to a degree? Not like it will make a difference!" yelled Yorucho who took a defensive stance. Bella quickly decided to blindside her, mainly trying to hit the side.
THWACK!
'W...What?'
Bella was found on the ground, back-first, wondering what happened.
She got back up but was grabbed by Yorucho and thrown to the ground. Again.
In a desperate bid to turn things around, Bella charged at her! However, she was caught in a clinch and got hit by a knee strike. At that moment, Bella went for an elbow strike which did hit Yorucho square in the forehead.
"Okay... that's it!"
Darkened dust was forming around Yorucho's palm until...
STING!
"YAOWWW!" yelled Yorucho as she held her hand. At that moment of distraction, Bella punched her in the face and then elbowed her in the gut, making her spit in the process. The stinger girl threw an uppercut which was caught by Yorucho's unaffected hand, stopping it a few inches from her face, and then sucker-punched her in the gut as a response.
She then grabbed her by the shoulders, pivoting on her left toes, then using her right leg to sweep Bella's legs and then whirling her own body to the left. The mulberry-haired girl tried getting out of the hold... but it was too late. Yorucho's right leg was stable, already in the ideal position, and Bella's next thoughts were filled with lightheadedness.
The stinger girl's right thigh was against her opponent's thigh.
Yorucho used her hip as her form of leverage. She then kicked her right foot up, completing the throw.
"DOWN!"
Bella moaned a bit in pain but then felt her neck getting tightened!
Yorucho wasn't done yet! She used the UA PE uniform's lapel to exert tons of pressure on the neck while lifting the left arm as a side effect. Bella was struggling to breathe, even shaking her right hand as a way to tell that she was still conscious. The mulberry-haired girl then thought of an idea and it was worth it, she thought.
STING!
The white-haired girl yelped in pain, releasing the chokehold, and then said: "Ow! The fuck!"
BAM!
Yorucho gets sucker-punched in the face, Bella kept at it, thinking she had her on the ropes. Unfortunately, that exposed her to Yorucho's Quirk. A swirl of dust was forming and then touched the mulberry girl.
"Got...cha!" responded the grinning the white-haired girl.
Bella felt her world darken at that moment.
"Wait, where am I?"
As she scanned her surroundings, she then saw a group of what appeared to be middle-schoolers.
"Hey, it's the future villain..."
'Wait, no. I'm not.'
"Oh, please. Your dad walked out on you because he-"
"Stop..."
"-was disappointed-"
"Stop...! I'm not!"
"We're planning to be heroes, you would be the first villain we-"
"NO! I'm not evil! I don't ever want to be like that! Why would you think I'll become like that, because of my Quirk!"
Bella ran away from them, trying to drown out their insults, but were they right? The mulberry girl disagrees with it, those same people who bullied her aren't around her anymore and in fact, she heard they got rejected from the high schools of their choice.
She still runs.
"RING OUT! WINNER BY RING OUT! SUNAKO YORUCHO!"
The girl's eyes widen at that call, realizing that her surroundings are back to normal, and one thing to notice: her feet out of bounds.
"What?! The?! H-H-H-How?!"
Sunako walked out of the ring, albeit wounded to a degree.
Mina Ashido vs. Mei Hatsume
The two combatants were there, but something was off. Mina had some jet-pack like gear attached to her back while Mei had some ergonomic boots along with an extending stick.
"IN THE LEFT CORNER, THE DANCE BATTLER OF 1-A, MINA ASHIDO!"
"IN THE RIGHT CORNER, THE MAD GENIUS HERSELF! MEI HATSUME!"
"Excuse me! Ashido, you didn't sign the proper paperwork for Support Gear!"
"Oh, well... she wanted me to test out the gear she created!"
Midnight pondered, then accepted the answer.
"FIGHT!"
Mina activated the jet-pack, mainly forming a side-kick that Hatsume promptly dodged by pushing on the extension stick. However, she started talking, almost like an exhibition.
"As demonstrated, that's the Mk. III Jet Pack, an improvement of Air Jet's normal jet pack. Capable of enabling flight through short distances with the press of a button!"
"TAKE-"
A kick missed.
"THIS-"
A missed punch.
"SERIOUSLY!"
"As you see, ladies and gentlemen. The Hydraulic Bracers are excellent at dodging incoming attacks from several enemies, courtesy of the sensors within my backpack. There is another surprise I have waiting too!"
There were two bracelets that generated form-fitting armor as soon Mina finally made contact.
"The Bruiser Shields, a pair of retractable gauntlets that are perfect for defense against any sort of surprise attack!"
Mina then went for a reverse straight punch, trying to break through the gauntlets, but there was a twist to it. Acid was emitted through each strike, starting to chip away at the shielding gauntlets.
Dissolution Barrage!
Hatsume's eyes widened, realizing her gauntlets were starting to break down, forcing her to back away. Ashido's technique was halfway done, but then saw the pink-haired inventor launch herself into the air, and utilizing her Quirk, she saw some executives in the stands who were clearly interested in this match.
"Oooh, I see there are some visitors from Europe too!"
Mei quickly saw a suited female with slicked back blonde hair and a balding middle-aged man in a blazer. The two look with interest, the suited female whispering to her colleague in the process, and the middle-aged man nods yes.
The inventor landed safely on the ground, giving a bow, saying: "And that's the conclusion of my presentation!"
"Before I leave, my name is Mei Hatsume from the Support Department." said the pink-haired inventor as she walked out of the ring.
"WINNER...? MINA ASHIDO!"
Mina was pouting in frustration, realizing that Hatsume more or less used for promoting all her gadgets, screaming in a few seconds too.
Ochako Uraraka vs. Eijiro Kirishima
"IN THE LEFT CORNER! THE FLOATING WONDER and I'm secretly hoping for her to win, OCHAKO URARAKA!"
"IN THE RIGHT CORNER! HE'S HARD AS STONE AND RARING TO GO, EIJIRO KIRISHIMA!"
"No hard feelings, right?" said Kirishima.
"Correct, but one thing.
Don't go easy on me, okay?"
Kirishima nodded with a grin.
"FIGHT!"
Kirishima hardened his skin as a response, now going after the floating girl. He throws jab after jab but Ochako barely dodges, getting a small cut in the process, but this was part of a risky plan.
She touches him by the shoulder.
"Wuh-What?!"
Kirishima is floating into the air, almost like a pinata. However, the gravity girl slightly pushes towards the edge of the ring. The red-head is panicking, trying in vain to go in the opposite direction, but Ochako says the following words:
Skill Release!
In a split second, Kirishima drops outside of the ring.
"WINNER BY RING-OUT! OCHAKO URARAKA!"
Uraraka steps out of the ring, helping Kirishima up, and they shake on it. The latter granting her luck for the next rounds.
Denki Kaminari vs. Shoto Todoroki
"IN THE LEFT CORNER, THE ELECTRIC WHO SHORT CIRCUITS CONSTANTLY! DENKI KAMINARI!"
"IN THE RIGHT CORNER! THE SON OF ENDEAVOR HIMSELF! THE FUSION PRODIGY, SHOTO TODOROKI!"
"FIGHT!"
Denki grinned, believing he had this from the get-go.
Indiscriminate Discharge: 1,300,000 Volts!
A huge shockwave is sent through the entire arena... a winning move if one could say so. However, Todoroki blocked it by generating an ice wall and to no one's surprise, it was able to tank it.
"A good trump card... if it wasn't your only one."
Frostbite Strike!
An ice-generated gauntlet formed and Kaminari was on the receiving end of a vicious jab.
BAM!
However, he wasn't done. Todoroki went into a boxer's stance.
BAM! BAM!
BAM!
SMACK!
SMASH!
The last strike was a headbutt, knocking out Kaminari, but some of Todoroki's classmates noticed something: cold fury. All in his eyes. However, they returned back to normal.
"I went too far... I'm sorry about that."
"W-W-WINNER! SHOTO TODOROKI..."
Audience Stands [Student Sections]
"Was it really necessary to do that? Kaminari was already done, but why go further...?" Jirou said to herself.
"There's something off about him... he was just as brutal as Midoriya during the USJ attack," Momo responded.
"Oh, no. Another potential case like Midoriya," says Iida. "Speaking of whom, where is he?"
The answer was staring in front of him, it was Midoriya's buff master, Kensei, his mere presence made things tense. A good chunk of 1-A is now seeing the master in person and there followed some questions.
"How did you get that buff?"
"Are there more like you?"
"Were you ever a Pro Hero at one point?"
Kensei managed to answer all these questions, but for the second one: "Believe it or not, I'm not the only one. As the announcers said, there are other professional fighters here. Some whom I know personally."
Some of 1-A flinched in response, they saw how Midoriya fought, they got a solid idea of how powerful Kensei could truly be, but facing professional fighters on that level? They would think that retreat is a viable option at this point.
"Are some of them Pro-" Jiro asked.
"Believe it or not, some of them had careers in the ring before establishing themselves as Pro Heroes."
"I am now completely terrified!" said a cowering Mineta.
"Then you're definitely not making it next year, kid," Kensei responded.
Some of the other members in 1-A agreed with this statement, especially Jiro.
Commentators' Booth
"ALRIGHT! GREAT FIRST ROUND! Now, we have the quarterfinalists all listed here!"
Katsuki Bakugo
Izuku Midoriya
Sunako Yorucho
Shoto Todoroki
Ochako Uraraka
Mina Ashido
Itsuka Kendo
Tenya Iida
"There's an order to this, but let's see how they're matched up," Antonius responded.
The electronic board more or less randomized the match-ups and the results were a bit of a surprise.
Itsuka Kendo vs. Mina Ashido
Sunako Yorucho vs. Katsuki Bakugo
Tenya Iida vs. Izuku Midoriya
Ochako Uraraka vs. Shoto Todoroki
The crowd was getting hyped at this, followed by Antonius smirking, and Aizawa well... sleeping for a bit.
Outside UA Stadium
"Who do you think will be winning the quarterfinals, sir?" asked Garm.
"So far, I'm going to say Kendo, then Midoriya, Todoroki, but the match between this Yorucho and Bakugo is making me second-guess myself," Bladefowl answered.
"In what way, sir?"
"It's like Uraraka's last fight or a showdown in the Old West. The first strike will decide things."
"It's because of her Quirk, right?"
"Yes definitely. However, it reminds me of a villain that existed before my generation."
"Who was-"
"Hey, Bladefowl!" shouted Death Arms. "A guy from the countryside wants to see you!"
Bladefowl wondered who the visitor was.
"Alright! Time for the Quarterfinals! Our first match is Big Sis of 1-B Kendo vs. Break Battler Ashido!"
"You're really introducing them like that?"
"He's gotta liven up the commentary somehow, plus the titles aren't entirely inaccurate," Antonius responded.
"What's next, entrance themes for each contestant?"
"As my two co-commentators are just chatting! The contestants are in the ring!"
Itsuka was adopting a stance, mainly where the rear leg is bent while her front is slightly bent. The rear foot is turned to the side, almost as if it's a counter-attack at the ready. If anything, she seemed more of the defensive.
Ashido was holding her hands up, elbows in, and her legs slightly bent. She was ready to go on the offensive.
"FIGHT!"
Author's Note: Apologies for taking too long, work, and the pandemic really ate up the majority of my time. That and my bosses really like my work ethic, so the chances of being a full-time employee are coming closer. The next chapter will be out sooner, especially since I have more time on the weekends. Again, I apologize for the delay.
Glossary:
Shadow Hammer - Dark Shadow forms a pair of hammer fists, ready to hammer the opponent down. Its original name is called Kagetsui.
Dynamic Thrust - A two-palm attack from a crouching position which sends an explosion into the opponent. Its original name is Doteki Sho, taking the characters of 'dynamic' and 'thrust'.
Dissolution Barrage - A barrage of strikes, mainly starting off with a potent reverse straight punch. The final hit of this combo is usually one of three techniques: front kick, liver blow, or elbow. Its original name in the Japanese language is called Kaisan Renda.
Kokotsu Dachi - It's also known as the back long stance because of the rearfoot and the body turned away with the exception of the head. It's great for defense, mainly because of useful the rearfoot is when delivering a counter-attack.
Kickboxing Stance - The feet are not too far apart, complete with hands up, elbows, and knees slightly bent. It's the basic stance for any Kickboxer in a match.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!