I have been busy in the last month. Work has been a roller coaster. From nearly nothing to do to way too busy and exhaustion setting in.
I have also been working on a few other fics, both AI and conventional ones. There will be more of that later but we'll see how it goes. For now, you can enjoy this part of the fic.
The training grounds buzzed with energy as the Class 1-A students, transfer students, and teachers gathered around the field. A joint training exercise had been announced earlier in the day, and now the teams were being finalized.
Aizawa stood at the front, clipboard in hand. His monotone voice carried over the murmurs of conversation. "The teams have been randomized to encourage adaptability. Each team will include students from UA and the transfer schools. Your objective is simple: secure the flag at the center of the field. Remember, teamwork and strategy are as important as individual performance."
Momo glanced at the list on the digital screen, her name highlighted in bold letters. Her teammates were listed beside her: Shoto Todoroki, Ochako Uraraka, Koji Koda, and Hanta Sero.
She blinked in surprise. It was a mix of familiar faces and new dynamics. While she'd worked closely with Shoto and Ochako before, Koji and Sero were less familiar in a tactical sense. Still, she trusted their abilities.
Her gaze flicked to the opposing team, where Saiko Intelli stood at the center of her group. The transfer student's composed expression didn't falter as her team gathered around her, but the sharp glint in her eyes as she looked at Momo didn't go unnoticed.
"Interesting teams," Shoto said quietly, coming to stand beside her.
"Yes," Momo replied, her voice calm but thoughtful. "It'll be a good opportunity to test our adaptability."
Ochako joined them, her usual bright energy tempered by focus. "This is going to be fun! I mean, challenging, but fun."
Koji approached hesitantly, giving Momo a small nod. She smiled at him in reassurance, gesturing for him to join their circle. Sero arrived moments later, his tape spools already primed. "Alright, team! What's the plan?"
Momo straightened, her leadership instincts kicking in. "We'll need to coordinate carefully. The opposing team has strong strategic players, and we can't underestimate their quirks. Todoroki, your quirk will be crucial for controlling the terrain. Sero, your tape can help us secure the flag or create barriers. Uraraka, your mobility will be key. Koda, can you work with the local animals to gather intel?"
Koji nodded quickly, his quiet determination shining through.
Sero grinned. "Sounds like a solid plan. Let's show them what we've got."
As the teams dispersed to prepare, Saiko's voice carried across the field. "Good luck, Yaoyorozu," she said, her tone smooth but pointed. "I'm looking forward to seeing how you handle yourself."
Momo met her gaze, her expression unwavering. "The feeling is mutual."
The stage was set, the tension between the two palpable as the match began to take shape.
Scene skip
Momo took a slow, measured breath as she stood with her team in their designated prep zone. The training grounds stretched before them, a mix of natural terrain and artificial obstacles, all leading toward the center flag—their objective.
She could already feel Saiko's presence, even without seeing her. She'll be watching. She'll be planning.
The others in her team looked at her expectantly. They were waiting for her plan.
She wouldn't let them down.
"Before we move, we need information," Momo said, her voice calm but firm. "Saiko will anticipate that we're coming with a structured plan, so we won't give her that advantage. We're going to react."
Shoto gave her a slight nod, understanding where she was going with this. "You want to see how she moves first."
"Exactly," Momo confirmed. "She can't adjust to us if we don't give her a clear pattern to work with."
Ochako frowned slightly. "But what if she expects us to hold back? What if she just waits us out?"
Momo had already considered that. "That's where Koda and Sero come in."
Koji perked up, standing a little straighter as Momo turned to him.
"You'll use your quirk to gather intel. If there are any birds, insects, or small animals nearby, have them scout the enemy's positioning," she instructed. "Saiko will assume we'll act based on visuals, but if we can track them before they expect it, we gain the first advantage."
Koji nodded firmly. He didn't speak much, but his body language was enough—he understood his role.
Momo turned to Sero next. "Once we have intel, you'll use your tape to set up mobility points for us. If we need to reposition quickly, I want an exit plan. Saiko will anticipate static positioning, but we won't stay in one place longer than necessary."
Sero grinned. "Got it. If they try to lock us down, I'll make sure we slip away."
Ochako exhaled, stretching out her arms. "Alright, so what do I do?"
"You and I are going to be the ones adapting the fastest," Momo said. "Once we locate them, we'll decide if we attack or reposition. If it turns into an engagement, we need to draw them out, not charge in recklessly."
Shoto crossed his arms. "And me?"
Momo met his gaze, unwavering. "You're the biggest factor in this match."
Shoto raised a brow, waiting for her to continue.
"Saiko will know that you can control the battlefield better than anyone," Momo explained. "She'll either try to force you into a predictable pattern or push you into a fight early, knowing we'd rather hold back. If she pressures you first, she thinks you'll react on instinct and separate from us."
Shoto exhaled slowly. "And you don't want me to do that."
"No," Momo said with certainty. "You'll be our counter-strike. The moment we figure out her movements, that's when we'll use your ice to break her strategy. Until then, I need you to hold back."
A beat of silence passed. Then, a small smirk tugged at the corner of Shoto's mouth. "You've put a lot of thought into this."
Momo returned the smallest of smiles. "She's expecting me to overthink. So, I'm keeping it simple."
Ochako laughed. "This doesn't feel simple."
"It's simpler than what Saiko is thinking," Momo countered.
That was the key. Saiko would assume Momo would create a detailed strategy—so Momo wouldn't.
She would be reactive instead of predictable.
She would force Saiko to be the one adjusting.
Momo turned to the team one last time. "If any of you have a better idea, I'm open to hearing it. But for now, we can't afford mistakes. If we slip up, we lose momentum. If you think of a new strategy in the middle of the match, tell me—I'll adjust. But we go into this together, and we don't second-guess each other."
The four of them nodded.
"Alright," Momo exhaled. "Let's win this."
The team moved into formation, heading toward the training field, the weight of the battle ahead pressing down on them—but Momo felt steady.
She was ready.
Scene skip
The training field stretched wide, a mix of natural terrain and artificial structures designed to mimic an urban environment. The air buzzed with quiet anticipation as students from UA and the transfer schools gathered at the edges, their attention locked onto the two teams standing at opposite ends of the battlefield.
Momo and Saiko hadn't moved yet.
They stood facing each other from a distance, their teams behind them, waiting. It wasn't just about the battle—it was about who would make the first move, who would set the tempo.
From the UA side, Izuku Midoriya adjusted his stance slightly, his sharp green eyes analyzing the field. "They're waiting," he murmured.
"No kidding," Katsuki Bakugo grumbled, arms crossed over his chest. "Yaoyorozu's playing it smart. She knows that freakin' tea-drinker's not gonna rush in like an idiot."
"You think Saiko's waiting for something?" Mina Ashido asked, tilting her head.
"She's analyzing," Izuku confirmed, his mind already racing through possibilities. "Momo's trying to react instead of dictate the match, but Saiko isn't committing either. They're both trying to force the other to show their hand first."
Camie, sitting lazily on the fence, popped a piece of gum into her mouth and smirked. "Big brain chess, huh? I dig it."
Meanwhile, on the Shiketsu side, a group of transfer students observed with their own thoughts.
"That's Intelli for you," one of them muttered, arms folded. "She doesn't start a fight she hasn't already won in her head."
Another student from Shiketsu nodded. "She's got her team playing disciplined, but this isn't the kind of battlefield where you can plan every move. If Yaoyorozu figures out the pattern, she might break through."
The air remained tense, neither team moving.
Momo's stance remained composed, but her mind was sharp, calculating.
No sudden engagements. No easy tells.
Across the field, Saiko's lips curled into a faint smirk.
I see. You're not playing into my hand.
Good. Let's see how long you last.
The match was about to begin.
Scene skip
The air remained thick with tension, neither team making the first move. The waiting game stretched on, every second weighing heavier as the onlookers leaned in, anticipating the first strike.
Then, Momo acted.
She tapped her earpiece—a silent signal to her team. Gather information first.
Koji closed his eyes, focusing his quirk, and within seconds, the wildlife around the field responded. Birds circling overhead, insects buzzing at the edges of the training ground—all feeding him glimpses of movement.
His eyes opened, and he made a small, quick gesture. Four enemy movements.
Momo took the information and adjusted immediately. No movement from Saiko yet. That meant she was waiting.
A perfect opportunity to test her.
'Sero, you're up.'
With a quick flick of his wrist, Sero fired his tape toward one of the nearby buildings, securing a line. Ochako followed immediately, grabbing hold as he yanked her upward with him, the two of them scaling the structure with speed. They needed a higher vantage point.
Saiko watched, her gaze sharp. A probe. They're trying to scout us.
'Counter it.'
"Toma."
Her Mirage-user teammate nodded, and within moments, distorted images flickered across the battlefield.
From the vantage point above, Sero and Ochako suddenly saw multiple versions of Saiko's team moving at different paces.
Sero frowned. "What the hell…?"
Ochako's eyes narrowed. "Which ones are real?"
From below, Momo saw it too. Mirage abilities. That would complicate things.
"Hold back," she ordered through the earpiece. "They want us to engage blindly."
Shoto, standing just behind her, glanced toward the illusions. Ice could break through them, but that would be revealing too much too soon.
Instead, he murmured, "Do we wait?"
Momo exhaled. No. Saiko wants us to hesitate. If we do, she dictates the pace.
She turned to Koji. "Can your animals detect illusions?"
Koji nodded hesitantly, his birds circling but not diving down. That meant they could tell something was off.
Momo made a decision. "Sero, Ochako—test them. Minimal risk."
Sero grinned. "Copy that."
Without hesitation, Sero fired a tape line at one of the mirages. It passed straight through. A fake.
Ochako launched a small rock toward another figure—this one reacted.
Momo's eyes sharpened. "That one's real. Keep tracking."
Across the battlefield, Saiko remained calm, watching.
You're not panicking. Good. But let's see if you can keep that up.
She gave a subtle hand signal to her teammate Ryohei.
Within seconds, he locked onto Momo's energy signature.
Saiko smiled. 'Now, let's turn the tables.'
Momo wasn't the only one gathering intel.
The match was officially in motion.
Saiko gave the smallest nod to Ryohei, and he immediately relayed movement data to the rest of their team.
"Yaoyorozu's still central," he murmured. "Sero and Uraraka are positioned high, tracking the mirages. Todoroki is holding back."
Saiko's eyes gleamed. 'She's waiting. That means she's protecting something.'
She turned to Mari, the defensive anchor. "Move toward the center and prepare to block routes. They'll try to reposition soon."
Then, to Toma, the Mirage-user, she ordered, "Make it harder to tell who's real and who's not. Adjust based on their scouting pattern."
And finally, she spoke to her primary disruptor—herself.
Time to apply real pressure.
She tapped her earpiece. "Force them apart."
From Momo's perspective, the battlefield suddenly became chaos.
The mirages shimmered and adjusted, some of them flickering away entirely while new ones appeared in more strategic positions.
Even worse—Saiko's team began their actual movement.
Ryohei's ability allowed them to track Momo's position, so her team was now being boxed in.
From above, Ochako saw it first. "They're shifting into formations!"
Momo's thoughts raced. They're closing space. They're going to force engagements where we can't dictate the terms.
"We need to move," she decided.
But before she could make a call—
BOOM.
A controlled shockwave erupted near the center field.
Mari had moved forward, her absorption quirk expelling built-up energy to create a disturbance. The attack wasn't meant to hit anyone—it was meant to disorient.
And it worked.
Sero's tape line faltered as he lost footing.
Ochako had to adjust her positioning.
Even Koda flinched.
And in that split second of disorder—
Saiko attacked.
Momo barely had time to process before Saiko herself was moving toward her, fast.
She wasn't sending her teammates. She was coming herself.
Momo's instincts kicked in, and she immediately created a metal staff, blocking just in time as Saiko aimed a precise strike at her midsection.
CLANG.
The impact vibrated through Momo's arms, but she held her ground.
Saiko didn't hesitate, stepping back smoothly. "Not bad," she remarked. "You're adapting quickly."
Momo's gaze remained sharp. "And you're more aggressive than last time."
"Sometimes, a direct approach is necessary." Saiko smiled, but her eyes were sharp. "I can't let you control the game forever."
Momo exhaled through her nose, reading the situation.
Saiko wasn't trying to win in this moment—she was testing. Measuring.
And worse—she was keeping Momo occupied.
Momo's stomach clenched. If I'm here, what's happening to the others?
She quickly tapped her earpiece. "Report."
Static.
Saiko had cut their communication somehow.
A cold realization hit her. She's trying to isolate me.
Momo tightened her grip on her staff, keeping her stance firm. Saiko had forced a direct fight. It wasn't what Momo wanted, but she wasn't about to be pushed into a corner.
Saiko, ever composed, circled slightly, not attacking yet. She's waiting to see how I react.
Momo's mind raced. She wants to draw me into committing first. If I make the wrong move, she'll exploit it.
'I won't let her.'
Momo adjusted her stance and made the first move, sweeping low with her staff. It was a quick strike—not a full commitment, but a test.
Saiko read it and stepped back just out of reach, her reaction fast and controlled. She's measured. She's not reckless.
But the moment she dodged, Momo followed up, extending her weapon slightly to force Saiko to move again.
Two steps back. Predictable.
Momo's instincts told her Saiko was conditioned to dodge first, not counter immediately. That meant she wasn't fully confident in close combat.
Use that.
Momo pressed forward, swinging her staff from the opposite direction, forcing Saiko to react again.
This time, Saiko didn't retreat. She deflected the strike with her forearm, shifting her weight in an attempt to close the distance.
Momo saw it too late.
Saiko had calculated the momentum shift.
With a sharp pivot, she struck forward with the heel of her palm—aiming for Momo's ribs.
Momo barely adjusted, twisting to absorb the impact, but the force still staggered her slightly.
She gritted her teeth. She's trying to disrupt my rhythm.
Saiko, always analytical, gave a small smile. "You're reading me, aren't you?"
Momo didn't respond.
"I can tell." Saiko adjusted her stance. "You're adapting. Trying to see my weaknesses. Just like last time."
Momo exhaled. "So are you."
Saiko's smirk widened slightly. "Of course."
They weren't just fighting. They were studying.
Saiko wasn't waiting anymore. She attacked first this time.
Her movements were precise. Clean. Measured.
A quick jab to probe Momo's guard. A feint to test her reactions. A low kick to see how she adjusted.
Momo blocked where she could, evaded where she couldn't. But Saiko was fast—not naturally, but because she was efficient.
No wasted movement. No overextensions.
Momo had to disrupt her tempo before Saiko dictated too much of the fight.
When Saiko went for another targeted strike, Momo twisted mid-dodge and retaliated faster than expected—catching Saiko's wrist and shoving her back.
Saiko's eyes widened just slightly before she adjusted, rolling with the push instead of resisting it.
She landed gracefully, brushing dust off her sleeve.
Momo lifted her staff, her confidence returning.
I can match her.
Saiko exhaled, adjusting her gloves. "Better than last time."
Momo's gaze didn't waver. "I learn fast."
Saiko smirked. "Let's see how fast."
As they circled, Momo heard a faint sound in her earpiece—static.
Then—
"—mo! Can—you—ea—me?"
Her stomach clenched. Communications are coming back.
Saiko noticed the flicker of recognition on Momo's face.
She knows.
She moved immediately.
This time, she wasn't aiming to attack.
She was trying to break away.
Momo reacted instantly. No. You don't get to dictate when this fight ends.
She lunged forward, staff striking toward Saiko's side.
Saiko spun sharply to avoid it, but Momo had already adjusted—this time sweeping her leg low.
Saiko stumbled. Just slightly.
And in that instant—
A voice crackled clearly in Momo's earpiece.
"Momo! Sero and Uraraka engaged—need your call!"
Momo's heartbeat spiked.
She didn't look away from Saiko, but she needed to make a decision—fast.
Chase Saiko down, or disengage and respond to her team?
Saiko, still regaining her footing, noticed the hesitation.
And she smiled.
Because now?
Momo had a choice to make
Her pulse pounded in her ears. Saiko was still standing. Still analyzing, still waiting for her to make a mistake.
But Momo wasn't about to let her dictate the battle anymore.
She exhaled sharply, making her decision.
Her team needed her. That took priority.
She took a deliberate step back, breaking engagement with Saiko.
Saiko's eyes flickered with understanding, her smirk almost approving. "You're pulling back."
Momo didn't respond. She didn't need to.
She tapped her earpiece, reconnecting fully now that the signal interference was fading.
"Sero, Uraraka, report."
Sero's voice came through, rushed but steady.
"We got engaged early. Mirage guy tried to box us in, but Uraraka tagged him—confirmed one's real."
"Are you pinned?" Momo asked, already moving, her mind shifting from duelist mode to full commander.
"A little," Uraraka admitted. "They're trying to cut off our mobility, but we can break through."
"Do it," Momo ordered. "We need to take the battlefield back."
A flicker of movement—Saiko took a step forward.
Momo tensed, but Saiko didn't attack.
Instead, she studied Momo one last time and left with a smile.
"You're making the right call," Saiko mused. "But it might be too late."
Momo didn't waste another second. She turned and sprinted toward her team's position.
Saiko let her go.
Sero vaulted off his tape, landing on a rooftop just as a burst of energy blasted the space he had been standing in.
Mari—the tank. She was guarding a section of the battlefield, *absorbing momentum-based attacks and countering hard.
"Okay, she hits," Sero muttered, rubbing his arm where he'd barely dodged a shockwave.
"Stay high!" Uraraka called, flipping through the air. "She can't reach us up here."
Mari frowned, her stance shifting. She knew they weren't coming down to fight her.
Which meant her job was containment.
She turned, signaling to the Mirage-user, Toma, who refracted his illusions again—making it even harder for Uraraka and Sero to see openings.
Uraraka's brow furrowed. "They're trying to keep us in one place."
Sero fired another tape line—this time, aiming wildly.
If it stuck, it was a real target.
It passed through nothing.
"Damn it."
Before he could try again—
BOOM. Another shockwave.
Uraraka barely adjusted her flight path in time, flipping midair as the force knocked her momentum off.
They were losing control of positioning.
And then—
Momo's voice cut through.
"Break through. I'm almost there."
Sero grinned. "Copy that, boss."
Uraraka exhaled in relief. "Finally."
They just had to hold out a little longer.
Momo was coming.
And the battlefield was about to shift again.
Momo sprinted toward the battlefield, her mind already piecing together the attack.
Saiko had spent the first phase of the battle forcing reaction.
Now, Momo would dictate the tempo.
She tapped her earpiece, issuing the first order.
"Sero, Uraraka—use the terrain. Break out of containment and force their tank into a disadvantageous position."
Sero's grin was audible. "Gladly."
Above, he fired his tape in three rapid bursts, not at the enemy, but at surrounding buildings.
Within seconds, the battlefield changed.
His tape pulled debris loose, sending a cascade of metal and stone down.
Uraraka acted instantly, touching a section of the rubble—zero gravity.
And then—she let go.
A sudden gravity shift sent obstacles crashing down—straight toward Mari, the defensive tank.
Mari braced herself, absorbing some of the impact with her quirk, but it forced her backward—off her intended position.
For the first time, the Shiketsu team lost ground.
And then—Momo arrived.
From above, Izuku's eyes widened. "She's controlling everything now."
Katsuki scoffed, arms crossed. "About damn time."
Down below, Momo didn't slow.
She immediately calculated her next move, already making use of the space Sero and Uraraka had freed.
She pulled a flash grenade from her creation quirk—timing it perfectly.
BOOM.
A blinding light erupted, shattering the remaining mirages that had been distorting the battlefield.
Saiko's illusion-user was now exposed.
Momo gave the next order. "Sero, Uraraka—engage!"
With nothing to hide behind, Toma, the Mirage-user, faltered.
Uraraka saw her opening and launched herself forward, touching him—zero gravity.
Toma floated, completely thrown off.
Sero fired tape, locking him in mid-air.
Eliminated.
She scanned, locking eyes with Koji, who had been holding back.
"Now," she ordered.
Koji immediately activated his quirk.
From the shadows, birds dived in toward Saiko's remaining members, intercepting their positioning.
They weren't attacking—just disrupting.
Ryohei, the Tracker, lost sight of the battlefield.
Mari, the Tank, was out of position.
For the first time, Saiko's team wasn't controlling the match.
Saiko clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing.
Yaoyorozu's not just reacting anymore.
She was planning two, three steps ahead.
She exhaled, watching as her teammates struggled to regain positioning.
She had known Momo was good. But this?
This was an adjustment beyond what she expected.
Momo wasn't just leading. She was winning.
Saiko's grip tightened. I won't let it end like this.
Scene skip
The sudden shift in momentum sent a ripple through both schools watching from the sidelines.
UA's students exchanged glances, processing what they had just witnessed.
Camie whistled low, her usual easygoing smirk widening as she watched Momo completely dictate the fight. "Daaamn," she drawled, twirling a strand of her hair. "Homegirl's more than just a pretty face and a killer body."
Katsuki, arms crossed, snorted. "Tch. Ponytail's got a brain worth respecting. No wonder Icy Hot listens to her."
Izuku, his eyes darting across the battlefield, was already analyzing her performance. "She's controlling the entire pace now," he murmured. "Every movement they make, she's already prepared for."
Mina pumped her fists excitedly. "Yao-MOMO!"
On the Shiketsu side, however, the reactions weren't as enthusiastic.
A few of them looked visibly annoyed. "Intelli's getting wrecked right now," one muttered.
Another crossed his arms. "I thought she was supposed to be UA's intellectual rival?"
"She still is," a third student corrected, gritting his teeth. "But Yaoyorozu's proving she's not just brains. She adapts. That's the problem."
"Yeah," another added, frowning. "Most strategists need time. She's making decisions instantly. That's the real danger."
Down below, Saiko heard none of this.
But she didn't need to.
She knew exactly what was happening.
And she refused to let it end like this.
Saiko took a slow, measured breath, forcing her mind to sharpen through the chaos.
Everything's crumbling.
Mirage? Gone.
Positioning? Lost.
Momentum? Completely in Yaoyorozu's hands.
And now, Momo had just given the final command.
"Todoroki—end it."
No.
Saiko's eyes narrowed sharply.
I won't lose this easily.
Momo's final move was already in motion.
Shoto stepped forward, ice forming beneath his feet, his expression completely calm.
He already knew how this was ending.
One clean strike. Game over.
Saiko had seconds.
One chance.
She called out, her voice commanding:
"Mari! Absorb and fire back!"
Mari, still shaken from being out of position, gritted her teeth and braced herself.
Shoto exhaled.
And unleashed a wall of ice.
The battlefield froze in an instant, frost racing toward Saiko's remaining team.
Mari, as ordered, absorbed the impact. Her quirk pulled in the energy, her muscles tensing.
And then—she released it.
BOOM.
A massive shockwave erupted, shattering the ice, sending a brutal counter-blast across the field.
Shoto was forced to step back, repositioning.
And for a second, Saiko saw it—an opening.
If she could get to the flag now—
She moved.
Fast. Precise. The final gamble.
She sprinted toward the objective, her mind already running victory scenarios. "If I reach it before Yaoyorozu resets positioning, we win."
But Momo was already watching.
Already tracking.
And already moving.
Saiko had tried to flip the battlefield in one final push.
But Momo had predicted it.
Saiko wasn't the only one who adapted.
Momo lifted her hand—and threw.
BOOM.
A smoke bomb exploded right in Saiko's path.
Instant visibility cut.
Saiko's sprint faltered, her eyes darting. Where?!
And then—the sound of ice.
Saiko turned just in time to see Shoto unleashing his second wave—directly at her.
The moment she hesitated—
It was over.
Ice surged forward.
The flag was sealed.
And the buzzer signaled the end of the match.
Silence.
Then—
The announcer's voice cut through the speakers.
"WINNERS: TEAM YAOYOROZU."
A mixed reaction erupted from the sidelines.
Mina cheered the loudest.
"YAO-MO-MOOOO!"
Ochako and Sero collapsed onto the ground, panting.
Koji exhaled a deep breath of relief.
And Shoto just gave Momo a look, nodding slightly.
"You played that well," he murmured.
Momo, still catching her breath, smiled slightly. "Thanks."
Meanwhile, on the Shiketsu side, the disappointment was clear.
One of the students shook their head. "Intelli lost."
Another sighed. "First time I've seen her strategy completely dismantled."
Saiko remained completely still.
Her mind replayed every second.
'Where did it fall apart?'
'What could I have changed?'
Then, she exhaled.
And smiled.
Because even in defeat—
She had learned something.
And next time, she wouldn't lose.
The battlefield was still settling, but the results were undeniable.
Momo stood at the center of her team, catching her breath, the adrenaline still fading from her system.
Saiko, still standing despite the ice surrounding her, exhaled slowly.
She was composed. Collected. But defeated.
A few seconds passed before Saiko finally broke the silence.
"…You were better prepared than I expected."
Momo turned her gaze toward her, not gloating, not taunting—just level.
"You forced me to be," she replied simply.
Saiko gave a small, acknowledging nod. "I assumed you would stick to traditional structure. Command, control, strategy."
She tilted her head slightly. "But you didn't just strategize. You adapted. That was the difference."
Momo exhaled, her body relaxing slightly. "I knew you'd try to control the match. My only option was to make sure you never had full control."
A beat of silence.
Then—Saiko smiled.
"Interesting," she murmured. "Very interesting."
Momo watched her, sensing something beneath the surface. Saiko was analyzing her. Not sulking. Not complaining. Studying.
And that meant—
She's already thinking about the next time.
Saiko met her gaze, sharp but no longer as challenging.
"Don't think this is the last time I'll test you, Yaoyorozu," she mused, her smirk returning slightly.
Momo didn't blink.
"Wouldn't expect anything less."
And with that, the tension finally settled.
Saiko took one last glance at the field, taking in every moment she had lost.
Then, with perfect composure, she turned and walked away.
Momo, watching her go, exhaled slowly.
This wasn't the end. Just the beginning.
Scene skip
The battle was over, but the reactions had only just begun.
Class 1-A was still buzzing from the victory, while the Shiketsu students were processing the loss.
But one person in particular wasn't about to let the moment pass without having some fun.
Camie Utsushimi.
She hopped off the fence, strolling over with her usual lazy, cat-like energy, a sly smirk already in place.
"Daaamn," she mused, hands on her hips as she looked between Momo and Shoto. "That was kinda hot."
Momo, still coming down from the battle, blinked. "I—what?"
Shoto, standing beside her, just tilted his head slightly. "…Hot?"
Camie grinned. "Like, y'know—cold and tactical on the battlefield but warm off it." She shot them both a knowing look. "Kinda spicy."
Momo froze.
Shoto blinked.
Mina, never one to miss a golden opportunity, gasped dramatically. "Oooooh! Camie's got a point!"
Ochako, caught between amusement and secondhand embarrassment, covered her mouth. "Oh wow."
Sero, grinning, nudged Kaminari. "Dude, she's not wrong."
Shoto's brain was catching up.
Slowly.
He frowned slightly, processing the words.
…Cold. Tactical. Warm.
Warm off the battlefield?
His gaze flicked to Momo.
Who, at that moment, was rapidly transforming into the human embodiment of a Christmas tree.
Bright. Red. Overheating.
Oh.
Oh.
Shoto's own cheeks tinged faintly pink.
Momo, frantically trying to regain composure, waved her hands. "T-That's not—I mean, I—! We just—! That was a battle strategy!"
Camie giggled. "Mmm-hmm. Sure, babe."
Mina leaned in. "Momo, your face is sooo red right now."
"I-It's just the heat from the battle!" Momo blurted, her voice an octave higher than usual.
Shoto, still working through everything, exhaled slowly. He wasn't as flustered as Momo, but his mind was definitely still processing.
"…I don't think we're warm off the battlefield," he said thoughtfully. "We maintain standard body temperatures."
Kaminari lost it. "BRO."
Sero wheeze-laughed. "Oh my god, he's so LITERAL."
Camie full-on cackled.
Momo, somehow even redder now, buried her face in her hands.
"Please," she whispered. "Please let me disappear."
Shoto, finally realizing that he'd just made things worse, frowned slightly. "…Did I say something incorrect?"
Mina, between giggles, patted his arm. "No, no, you're doing amazing, sweetie."
The teasing continued.
And Momo?
Momo was not surviving this moment.
While Intelli was still recovering from the absolute onslaught of teasing, the excitement from the battle was finally settling down.
And that meant Katsuki Bakugo had something to say.
As the group dispersed slightly, still chatting about the fight, Katsuki walked past Momo and Todoroki, hands shoved in his pockets, scowl still in place.
He didn't stop walking, but his voice was clear and direct.
"Oi, Ponytail."
Momo, still mildly recovering from earlier embarrassment, perked up slightly.
"Yes?"
Katsuki didn't look at her, but his voice was gruff with something that wasn't quite annoyance.
"Tch. That brain of yours? It's a damn problem."
Momo blinked. "I—excuse me?"
Katsuki finally turned slightly, side-eyeing her.
"You're too damn smart," he muttered. "That's why Icy Hot listens to you. That's why you wiped the floor with Tea Girl."
Momo wasn't sure how to take this.
Was this… a compliment?
From Bakugo?
Shoto, standing beside her, seemed equally confused.
"…Isn't intelligence a good thing?" Shoto asked, his usual bluntness returning.
Katsuki clicked his tongue. "No shit, but I don't like dealing with it." He jabbed a finger at Momo, eyes narrowing slightly. "I wouldn't wanna fight you. You'd have some stupid contingency plan and make it annoying as hell."
Momo's brows lifted slightly. "I… thank you?"
Katsuki just grunted. "Don't get soft. Next time, you might have to pull that crap on someone actually worth a fight."
Then he walked off, muttering to himself.
"…Ponytail thinking like a damn war general. What the hell is this timeline?"
As soon as he was gone, Momo exhaled, still processing.
"…I think that was the closest thing to a compliment I'll ever get from him."
Shoto just nodded. "It was."
And just like that, the battle's legacy was sealed.
I got one more fic planned but this is what I want to have out now. Weirdly enough, there are people who are interested in this fic. I hope this was to your liking.
Saluut.