Chapter 33: Deku vs Kacchan Part 2
I've been in this world for nearly a year now, and even before my reincarnation, I hadn't watched the sports fest arc in some time. I'd completely forgotten about the massive 'fuck you' iceberg Todoroki encased Sero in.
It had taken the better part of half an hour for a team of fire and heat-based heroes from the crowd to remove all the ice from the field, and if I was being honest with myself, I didn't particularly appreciate the extra time to overthink my upcoming match. Bakugou was reckless and hot-headed, but he wasn't a fool. He was guaranteed to have poured over film of our previous fight, searching for any way to improve his style as well as any weaknesses in mine. While I could always counter him by simply increasing my power level, there was still the risk that this timeline's version of Katsuki would overcharge himself and catch me off guard.
My mouth set into a hard line as the volunteer heroes completed their task and began making their way off the field, Present Mic thanking them for their assistance and apologizing to the crowd for the delay. Katsuki is well aware of the gap between us at this point, so he's likely to try something desperate. Our relationship is already dicey enough as it is. I don't want to imagine how things might deteriorate between us if I defeat him as quickly as I did Shinso, but I also can't hold back and risk him one shotting me with a new move. I have no choice but to go all out from the start and bank on him having some sort of strategy to keep this match going longer than thirty seconds.
"Sorry again for the delay, folks, but we are now ready to begin our first match of the quarterfinals! Can we get a warm welcome for our two contestants?" Present Mic requested, reinvigorating the crowd.
Pushing down the anxiety in my stomach, I made my way onto the field, my eyes quickly focusing on Katsuki as he entered the arena opposite me. Noting the apparent absence of emotion in his features, I found myself idly wondering if he felt any trepidation at all beneath that veneer of absolute confidence.
"From the hero course's Class 1-A, we have the diabolical destroyer of little girl's dreams, Katsuki Bakugou!" Present Mic heralded, eliciting a mixed response of cheers and jeers from the crowd, as well as a reminder of impartiality from an exasperated Aizawa. "Versus his classmate, the dominant frontrunner of the tournament thus far, to say nothing of his mysterious connection to our very own number one hero, Izuku Midoriya!"
The response to Present Mic's transparent reference to my relationship with All Might was thunderous. While I struggled to maintain my smile under the overwhelming audial assault, Katsuki remained motionless, radiating cold determination in the face of the hostile crowd. He hadn't so much as sneered at Present Mic's words, and his crimson eyes remained locked on mine throughout our introductions as he seemingly tuned out our surroundings.
I wonder if Explosion gave him hearing problems…
"Now…"
No time for that. One for All, Full Cowling, eight percent.
"BEGIN!" Present Mic shouted.
The two of us simultaneously launched off the ground, covering the distance separating us in little more than a second. Just before my fist could make impact with his sternum, Katsuki released a small explosion from his left hand, redirecting him to the side as he brought his right arm around in a daisy chain of explosions.
Casting my left arm out, the wind pressure dispersed the explosions and sent Bakugou flying towards the edge of the arena. Reorienting himself in midair, Katsuki fired off a larger explosion to propel himself back towards me.
Spinning to face the oncoming threat, I fired off a Delaware Smash, the compressed burst of air grazing past Katsuki's head as he rolled face up to avoid the attack. The small grimace of exertion on Bakugou's face was the only warning I received before a large explosion tore through the air, allowing him to cover the remaining distance between us in an instant.
Shit!
Grabbing onto the collar of my uniform, Katsuki somersaulted. I blinked in surprise when, instead of following through with an explosion-fueled catapult move, Bakugou merely utilized his momentum to flip behind me and fire off an explosion into my back.
Thrown forward by the unexpected attack, I caught myself just before face planting and used a hand to springboard back onto my feet.
He knew that if he kept his hands on me for more than a fraction of a second, I'd have him. He's being-
Not giving me any time to think, Katsuki renewed his assault, blasts rippling from his palms as he pushed himself faster and faster. Instead of waiting for him to attack, I jumped into the air before flipping upside down and kicking towards the sky to shoot back down and straight into Bakugou. Slamming into his back with a crack, I pinned him face down into the ground, but just as I raised my arm to deliver a quick blow that would render him unconscious, Katsuki turned his hands palms up towards the sky.
"Are you underestimating me, Deku?" He spat venomously into the concrete.
The nitro-sweat on Katsuki's palms began to spark, and I pushed away just as a huge explosion tore through the air above him.
I took advantage of the short reprieve bought by the smoke cloud to catch my breath and take stock of the situation. I expected Howitzer Impact almost right out of the gate. Does he think my quirk is like Sato's or Momo's and that he can just outlast me? What is Katsuki trying to do here?
"AP Shot!"
My ever present smile fell as several condensed orbs of fire emerged from the smoke, slamming into my torso and sending me skidding backwards. Grimacing in pain from the impact, I glanced down to see that the bolts had each left a smoldering hole in my gym shirt.
How the fuck did he…
My head snapped up to look at the screens ringing the top of the stadium, and my eyes widened in realization as the broadcast displayed an instant replay of what had just happened.
He left the smoke cloud on the opposite side and used the stadium screens to discern my location before firing AP Shot through the smoke? What the fuck?
Booming explosions drew my attention back to Katsuki as he wrapped around the edge of the stadium, building up speed as he went.
"Don't hold back, Deku, you bastard! I'll tell you what'll happen if you make a fool out of me. I'll kill you!" He screamed before adjusting his course to fly directly at me.
Idaho Smash!
Slamming my palms together, I prepared to follow up on my attack once Bakugou hit the ground, only to find him flipping over the shockwave of my smash and into the air above me.
"Try harder!" He demanded, holding his hands inches apart and rattling off dozens of small explosions in the space between his palms.
Recognizing Stun Grenade, I closed my eyes and turned away, swiping my hand out to propel Bakugou away with the air pressure.
This is insane! He's using moves he didn't create until much later in the… No, this isn't the manga where characters are limited by what the author has thought of up to that point. Katsuki has had these moves planned out for years, and his loss to me gave him the motivation to spend the last few weeks training for exactly this moment. I can't hold back.
One for All, Full Cowling, ten percent.
Unshackling my personal manifestation of One for All, green lightning began to drape over my body as I settled into a combat stance. Levying Katsuki with a foreboding smile, my brow twitched in surprise when he responded with a feral grin of his own.
"There you are, Deku. That's it, don't you dare hold back." Katsuki broke into a dead sprint, holding his arms out behind him as sparks began to sizzle on his palms. "SHOW EVERYONE HERE YOU'RE TRYING TO DESTROY ME!"
The corners of my mouth curled upward even further at his words.
"You asked for it, Kacchan. You want my best shot? Then DIE!" I cried out in response.
Slamming my palms together at twelve percent, I winced as the recoil reverberated up my arms. The shockwave tore apart the concrete in front of me and just as expected, Katsuki once again took to the sky, launching himself up and over my Idaho Smash.
Releasing the pent up power in his hands, Katsuki rocketed towards me. Jumping up to meet him, I couldn't help the small feeling of satisfaction at the surprise that flashed through his eyes in the instant before impact. Grabbing a hold of his collar, I shoved my foot into his stomach and used his momentum to flip us both around before pushing off, firing him into the concrete below.
Landing a few yards away from him, I waited patiently as Katsuki shakily rose to his feet and spat out a globule of blood.
"Bakugou, do you want to concede the match?" Midnight offered, her tone taking on a hint of concern at Katsuki's battered state.
I scoffed loudly. "Are you kidding? This is finally getting good."
Blinking in surprise at my interjection, Midnight was cut off from replying by Katsuki's rasping laughter. "You heard the nerd. I'm not backing down. Not when we're just getting started." He agreed grittily.
Flexing his hands, Katsuki straightened before darting forward with speed belying his injuries. Charging to meet him, I skid to a halt when Bakugou launched himself off the ground and began to use rapid explosions to corkscrew himself in midair.
Here it comes. I don't know what Howitzer Impact is capable of, so I can't afford to hold back.
I felt myself grinning madly as adrenaline pumped into my veins and green lightning raced across my skin in anticipation. Cocking back my fist, I channeled one hundred percent into my arm, my gym sleeve peeling away before the unrestrained power of One for All.
"HOWITZER-"
"DETROIT-"
"IMPAAAAAACT!"
"SMAAAAAASH!"
The arena exploded.