Dekiru 10: The Symbol Of Peace And The Protector Of Earth

by Phantomdanger

Izuku Midoriya, previously quirkless, was offered One For All by the greatest hero, but during training, he discovered the Omnitrix. Now his on the journey to be the greatest hero, the Symbol of Peace and The protector of Earth. It's Hero Time!

34. Ch 30: Explosive Confrontation! Part 2

"AND FOR OUR SEMI-FINALS! WE HAVE THE BOY WHO COMES IN WITH A DETROIT SMASH! THE SHAPE-SHIFTING, TRANSFORMING TEENAGER WHO LEAVES THE ARENA IN SHAMBLES-IZUKU MIDORIYA!!" Present Mic's voice thundered across the stadium, prompting an eruption of cheers from the audience.

...

Izuku stepped out into the blinding light of the arena, the roar of the crowd screaming his name reverberating in his ears. From the opposite tunnel, Katsuki Bakugou emerged, his sharp glare locked onto Izuku like a predator zeroing in on its prey.

In the Hero Course seating area, Class 1-A and their friends rose to their feet, cheering with all their might.

"Do your best, Dekiru!!" Ochako called out, cupping her hands around her mouth.

"You've got this!!" Itsuka shouted, her fists clenched in excitement.

"Don't let him rattle you!" Momo added, her voice firm with encouragement.

"Show that explosion jerk who's boss!" Toru and Mina hollered in unison, their enthusiasm contagious.

As Izuku strode forward, his focus wavered momentarily when a voice rang out from the crowd, cutting through the sea of noise.

"Kick his ass, Izuku!"

Izuku's steps faltered, his head snapping toward the stands.

'Was that...?' His thoughts churned for a moment, but he quickly shook them off, forcing his focus back to the task ahead as he approached the arena.

...

"AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE KATSUKI BAKUGOU, WHO-LET'S BE HONEST-MOST OF US ARE SECRETLY ROOTING AGAINST!" Present Mic's teasing remark earned a mix of laughs and cheers from the spectators, while Bakugou's glare deepened.

With his hands buried in his pockets, Bakugou marched to the center, radiating unrestrained aggression. On the sidelines, Midnight shifted uncomfortably, her unease apparent as she tapped her earpiece.

"Aizawa, are you absolutely sure about this?" she asked, her voice a mix of worry and frustration. "These two fighting... it's like lighting a match near a gas leak. This could go south fast."

Nezu's calm yet firm voice replied first. "Your concerns are noted, Midnight, but this is precisely why the match must happen. The S.A.C.T. is already watching Midoriya closely, and this fight is an opportunity to alleviate-or confirm-their concerns about him. However, there's another reason this match is vital."

Midnight frowned, her unease growing. "What other reason?"

"We need him to see it for himself," Nezu explained, his voice quieter but more deliberate. "Midoriya is a remarkable individual, but he's carrying a burden he refuses to acknowledge. The rage, the frustration-it's all there, simmering beneath the surface. He tells himself he's fine, but we know he's not. This match might be the only way for him to realize that for himself."

Aizawa's voice joined in, steady and pragmatic. "Midoriya's not a danger to anyone, but bottling this up isn't healthy. If this fight helps him confront what he's been suppressing, it's worth the risk. He's strong, but even he needs to recognize when he's not okay."

Midnight sighed heavily, reluctant but understanding their reasoning. "Fine. But I'm keeping a close eye on this, and if anything looks like it's going too far, I'm stepping in."

"Are you both ready?" Midnight asked, her voice clear and authoritative.

...

"Back at the Battle Training, you said you weren't afraid of me. I saw it then, and I see it now-both of us know you lied," Katsuki sneered, bending his knees as he prepared himself for the fight. "You better pick a good form, because I'm going to prove that Quirk or not, you're still just a useless waste of space. No capture tape, no teachers to stop it, and no Levin to protect you-you're a worthless ass!"

Green electricity crackled around Izuku, his body humming with energy as he took a firm fighting stance. His expression was focused, fierce determination blazing in his eyes.

"You know me better than that, Kacchan. I don't lie," Izuku said, his fist raised. He took a slow, steadying breath, preparing himself. "And I've beaten you without them. I'll do it again." His words quickly made Bakugou's face twist with fury at the fact.

Izuku felt the familiar sting of anger rising in his chest, his muscles coiling in preparation for the fight.

"Do you remember the day when I said I wasn't trying to compete against you?" Izuku asked, his voice steady but charged with the weight of past battles.

Bakugou's glare intensified, his anger almost tangible. Midnight raised her whip, sensing the escalating tension.

"I take it back," Izuku added, his words slicing through the air.

"Begin!!" Midnight shouted, and the fight exploded into action.

"RAAH!!" Bakugou roared, rocketing toward Izuku with a burst of speed. His fist swung for a brutal right hook, the air crackling with the force of it.

Izuku's Danger Sense flared, the warning buzzing in his mind just as Bakugou's fist came for him. He blocked the punch with his right arm and anticipated the follow-up-a vicious axe kick from the blonde.

"You really think I'd fall for that crap again?" Bakugou taunted, his voice sharp.

"Nope,"Izuku added as he grabbed Bakugou's leg mid-air, twisting and throwing him over his shoulder. Bakugou hit the ground with a harsh thud, the concrete beneath him cracking from the impact. Izuku backflipped over his opponent with precision, landing nimbly on his feet.

With fluid motion, Izuku aimed a punch at Bakugou's gut-but then the memories of their past battles flooded his mind. The pain, the suffering, the way he pushed things too far. Rage surged within him, and without warning, Izuku slammed his fist into Bakugou's abdomen, activating 16% of One For All.

Bakugou's eyes widened in shock as the blow landed with brutal force, a sickening crack echoing in the air. He coughed violently, bile and blood spilling from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.

"MIDORIYA DRAWS FIRST BLOOD!! SEEING THROUGH THE FAKE OUT!" Present Mic shouted, his voice full of excitement.

Bakugou, enraged, swung his arm, releasing an explosion that sent Izuku flying back. The blast sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, and Izuku was thrown across the floor, sliding to a stop, the smoke clouding the air around him.

Izuku's chest heaved with shallow breaths, his body still ringing from the force of his own punch. 'That... that wasn't... I didn't mean to do that. I need to calm down-'

Before he could gather his thoughts, Danger Sense screamed in his mind again. Izuku twisted just in time to dodge Bakugou's next explosion.

"You damn nerd!!" Bakugou screamed, launching another explosion at Izuku, who raised his arm to block. The explosion shook the air, but Izuku managed to stay on his feet.

"Why the fuck aren't you transforming?!" Bakugou yelled, his voice cracking with frustration. Izuku's heart pounded as he tried to focus, dodging Bakugou's relentless attacks.

Izuku's anger flared once more, but he forced himself to stay in control. With a quick leap, he avoided the next explosion, twisting his body mid-air and landing a sharp kick to Bakugou's face. The force of the blow sent Bakugou stumbling back, but he didn't fall.

Bakugou's grip tightened as he grabbed Izuku's foot mid-air, pulling him down with a growl before detonating an explosion right at point-blank range. The blast sent Izuku flying back, his body crashing to the ground as the air was knocked from his lungs.

Bakugou's voice echoed from the arena, dripping with fury. "Why the fuck aren't you transforming?! Transform into that four-armed guy! Now! So I can kick your ass!"

Izuku struggled to his feet, coughing and gasping for air. 'I can't. If I mis-transform into Rath or Ghostfreak, who knows what I'll do... Especially how I'm feeling right now.' As the bubbling rage was only getting worse.

Despite the overwhelming pain and frustration, Izuku stood tall again, his mind sharp. Bakugou's eyes gleamed with malicious intent, but when Izuku didn't reach for the Omnitrix, a flicker of confusion crossed his face.

'Why the hell isn't he transforming?!'. Bakugou thought, his rage only growing.

Izuku charged forward, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. His expression was unyielding, and Bakugou's anger flared again. Explosions erupted from the blonde's hands as he launched himself at Izuku, but Izuku danced around them, ducking and flipping as he launched into a powerful kick, striking Bakugou square in the chest.

The wind was knocked out of Bakugou, and Izuku landed gracefully on his feet, his heart racing but his mind focused.

'I can beat him. I will beat him.'

Izuku launched towards Bakugou as he began a barrage of punches.

Kendo watched from the sidelines, a proud smile tugging at her lips as Izuku executed the moves she had taught him.

He was relentless, pushing Bakugou to his limits. Bakugou staggered under a barrage of powerful punches to his midsection, the force of each blow leaving him gasping for air. Izuku followed up with a right hook to his face, knocking Bakugou's head to the side.

The whole time, Izuku's movements were growing faster, more fluid. He was adapting, his reflexes sharpening with every strike.

In a blur of motion, Izuku began to unleash a series of rapid kicks to Bakugou's chest. His feet flew faster than the eye could follow, using Bakugou's upper body as stepping stones, each kick landing with precision. The audience gasped in recognition.

"GASP! MIDORIYA IS USING LIU KANG'S SIGNATURE MOVE!!"

Bakugou's eyes widened, but before he could react, he grabbed Izuku's leg mid-kick, his fingers digging into his ankle. With a furious snarl, Bakugou exploded, slamming Izuku hard into the concrete. Izuku's body bounced off the ground, but he quickly regained his bearings, flipping into the air just as Bakugou rocketed toward him.

Izuku's Danger Sense went wild. He saw Bakugou's palms aimed directly at him, the explosive force building up with terrifying speed.

Without hesitation, Izuku moved, his body already in motion, narrowly avoiding the blast as it tore through the concrete beneath him. The explosion sent shards of debris scattering, but Izuku was already in the air, twisting mid-flight to get above Bakugou.

Bakugou wasn't done. He wasted no time in launching himself after Izuku, using a powerful burst to propel himself under his opponent. "If you won't transform, I'll force it out of you!!" he shouted, his voice full of malice.

His palms flared once again, and this time, the power behind them doubled, sending out a massive explosion-one even stronger than the motor-shower attack he'd used against Uraraka.

The crowd gasped in horror as Izuku took the full brunt of the explosion, a massive cloud of smoke billowing out from the impact. Class 1-A watched in stunned silence, their faces etched with worry as they kept their eyes on the smoke, hoping against hope that Izuku was still standing.

From within the cloud of smoke, the scorched form of Izuku emerged, his body singed and barely conscious. A trail of smoke still rose from his back, his green eyes shut in apparent defeat.

"Oh, you're still alive?!" Bakugou jeered, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. He blasted into the air, flying upward with a sadistic gleam in his eyes.

'C'mon, Izuku! Show me what you've got!' Toru thought.

'You can do this!' Ochako thought.

'Don't let him win!' Momo thought.

'Win!' The rest of the girls thought.

Bakugou reached Izuku, closing the distance with explosive speed. His palm aimed directly at Izuku's face, and he shouted, "If that's not enough to bring out your forms, then-"

He was cut off as Izuku's eyes snapped open, their usual brightness replaced with a fierce, burning intensity. Without warning, Izuku grabbed Bakugou's wrist, twisting it in his grip. He then shot his other hand up, grabbing Bakugou by the throat with a crackling surge of green electricity.

"AH!" Izuku roared, a surge of power erupting from his body as he slammed Bakugou downward, his fist driving the blonde into the ground with devastating force. The shockwave from the impact sent a ripple through the smoke, clearing it away as the ground cracked under the pressure of the hit.

For a moment, Bakugou lay there, dazed, gasping for breath as the sheer force of the blow left him stunned. But he wasn't finished.

A feral grin crossed his face, and in the blink of an eye, he released an explosion from his palms, blasting himself upward and pushing Izuku back.

Izuku barely had time to react, his feet skidding against the ground as Bakugou's force sent him stumbling backward before he crashed to the floor.

Izuku, still reeling from the explosion he had taken head-on, barely managed to lift his body, but before he could recover, Bakugou's boot landed on his elbow, pinning him to the ground.

A knee dug into his back, keeping him immobilized as Bakugou glared down at him, fury flashing in his eyes.

"This whole thing has been one fuck-up after another!" Bakugou hissed through clenched teeth, his body trembling with rage. "This useless, worthless piece of shit didn't even understand his place! Thinking he's the best? Fuck that! That pink bitch thinks he's hot shit? This fucking piece of garbage! I'll show everyone I'm the best!!"

His clothes were singed from the blast, the pain sharp and immediate as Bakugou's explosion cooked into his skin.

...

Explosion after explosion. Seething, burning pain coursed through Izuku's body as the blasts tore into him.

His arms felt like lead, his back ached with raw agony, and his ears rang incessantly from the relentless detonations. But he endured, his teeth gritted as he refused to let the pain drag him down.

"I was supposed to be the only one from that piece of shit school to get here!!" Bakugou snarled, his voice a venomous roar. Another explosion erupted as his boot pressed harder onto Izuku's arm, the impact sending waves of pain through his nerves. "This was supposed to be my path to victory! But you-you had to ruin it!" He leaned in closer, his fiery eyes filled with hatred. "You were never supposed to be here! A worthless loser like you?!"

Bakugou punctuated his words with another blast. Smoke curled off Izuku's burned skin, his clothes torn and singed. The audience winced at the ferocity of the attack, a few calling out in alarm.

"But NO!" Bakugou screamed, his voice cracking with rage. "I told your useless ass not to apply! I told you you were worthless, Deku!" His voice rose to a bitter sneer. "And yet here you are, acting like some kind of big shot! You've even got that annoying pink bitch and that earlobe freak thinking you're something special! And Ponytail? She thinks you're some genius! What a load of horse shit!"

Another explosion erupted, this one larger than the last, shaking the arena. Izuku's arm trembled under the unrelenting force, the searing heat digging into his skin.

"Deku!" a voice cried out from the stands. The fear in it was palpable, but Izuku couldn't tell who it was anymore. The constant ringing in his ears drowned out everything else. He could barely hear his own ragged breaths.

Another explosion.

"I'm-!" Bakugou roared, his words cutting through the chaos, but Izuku couldn't focus on what he was saying.

Flashes of memory raced through Izuku's mind:

The mocking laughter of his classmates.

The cruel sneers that greeted him every day.

His own mother's tears as she struggled to find words to comfort him when there were none.

For fourteen years, he'd been told he was nothing. For fourteen years, he'd been reminded over and over again that he didn't matter-that he wasn't good enough, that he shouldn't even try.

And now, Bakugou was here, repeating the same words.

Another explosion tore through him, ripping him back to the present. The sound was deafening, the pain numbing.

And then, something inside him snapped.

Bakugou was mid-sentence, but Izuku didn't hear it. The world went silent, save for the crackling of One For All surging through his body. The green electricity burned brighter, wilder, and for the first time, he didn't try to hold it back.16% coursed through his body.

Midnight quickly began to approach to stop this her fingers tearing into her clothing but that soon wouldn't have been necessary.

"YOU DON'T FUCKING-!" Bakugou roared, but before he could finish, Izuku's fist shot upward with devastating force, a massive uppercut colliding with Bakugou's jaw.

The impact was instant and brutal. Bakugou's body rocketed into the air, his arms flailing as he was sent flying. The shockwave of the punch rippled through the arena, silencing the crowd as they watched in stunned awe.

Izuku didn't stop to breathe. His muscles screamed in protest as he poured everything he had into his legs, pushing One For All to 19%. The strain was unbearable, but he didn't care. He couldn't care.

With a roar, he launched himself into the air after Bakugou, green lightning trailing behind him like a comet. His eyes burned with fury, his body moving on pure instinct as he twisted mid-air.

"RAAAH!!" Izuku shouted, pouring all his power into a roundhouse kick. His foot connected with Bakugou's side, the force sending the blonde hurtling across the arena like a ragdoll.

Bakugou hit the ground with a deafening crash, tumbling across the concrete before coming to a stop. The ground beneath him was cracked, debris scattered everywhere.

Izuku landed shortly after, his knees buckling from the strain, but he stayed standing. His chest heaved as he stared at Bakugou, green electricity still crackling wildly around him.

For a moment, the arena was silent, the air thick with tension.

...

Bakugou struggled to push himself up, coughing harshly as blood spilled from his mouth. His vision blurred as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. "When did-"

His thoughts were cut short as Izuku appeared in front of him with terrifying speed. A flying knee strike slammed into Bakugou's face, the sickening crack of his nose shattering filling the air. Bakugou's head snapped back, his skull reverberating with pain.'When did he get so fast?! And strong?! I can't dodge! I'll have to go on the attack!'

Bakugou instinctively tried to retaliate, his palm igniting with an explosion, but Izuku was already moving, his other knee slamming into Bakugou's ribs with bone-crunching force.

The impact sent Bakugou hurtling sideways, but Izuku was relentless. Before Bakugou could hit the ground, Izuku closed the distance, his movements swift and calculated.

His hands gripped Bakugou's head, and with unyielding force, he drove it into the pavement. The sound of the impact echoed through the stadium as Bakugou's face smashed into the concrete, leaving a jagged indentation behind.

All Izuku saw was red.

Bakugou tried to roll away, desperation fueling him as he pushed up on trembling arms. Izuku's foot collided with his jaw, snapping his head back with a force that sent him airborne. Dazed and barely conscious, Bakugou activated another explosion to create distance, the sparks flaring weakly in his hands.

But it wasn't enough.

Izuku leapt after him, his hands clasped together like a hammer. He brought them down with a thunderous blow, driving Bakugou into the ground once more. The impact rattled Bakugou's already battered body, and he let out a choked gasp as the breath was knocked out of him.

...

Todoroki's eyes widened as he glanced down. "He's moving—at least twice as fast as usual," Shoto thought, startled.

...

Bakugou's quirk-enhanced durability was the only thing keeping him conscious, but even that was wearing thin. Pain radiated from every corner of his body as he stumbled back, attempting to create space with another desperate blast.

He managed to gain a few feet, but Izuku landed effortlessly in front of him, the green electricity of One For All crackling violently around his frame.

Izuku's fist shot forward, a brutal overhead punch that shattered what was left of Bakugou's broken nose. Blood sprayed across the arena, and before Bakugou could react, Izuku followed with a savage uppercut, snapping Bakugou's head back again.'He's moving to fast...!'

Bakugou tried to fight back, raising his hands for an explosion, but Izuku was too fast. He grabbed Bakugou's wrist, his grip ironclad. Bakugou let out a pained scream as Izuku redirected the explosion harmlessly to the side.

"AH!" Bakugou cried out, his voice cracking in desperation.

...

Izuku didn't stop. With Bakugou's nose freshly broken and blood still streaming freely, he yanked him forward and drove his forehead into Bakugou's with a brutal crunch."ARGH!"

The impact sent another eruption of blood cascading down Bakugou's face, splitting his brow open and smearing crimson across both of them.

Bakugou staggered, his legs wobbling as his vision blurred, fresh blood dripping onto the ground in thick, sticky drops. Izuku released his wrist, spinning sharply, and delivered a devastating back kick to Bakugou's ribs. The strike landed with a sickening crack, snapping ribs and forcing as Bakugou's body was launched like a broken doll."Ugh!"

He hit the ground hard, the jagged pavement shredding his exposed arms as he skidded across it. Blood smeared in his wake, painting a grim trail as his body tumbled violently. He finally came to a halt in the middle of the arena.

...

The stadium was silent.

No cheers, no murmurs-just the sound of Bakugou's ragged, gasping breaths. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the cracked concrete.

In the stands, the Aldera kids sat frozen in their seats, their faces pale with terror. They didn't cheer for Bakugou; they didn't jeer at Izuku. They were too consumed by fear to do anything.

Izuku stood in the center of the arena, his shoulders heaving with every breath. The glow of One For All flickered around him, its crackling electricity illuminating his hardened expression. Slowly, he turned his gaze back to Bakugou.

Without a word, Izuku marched forward, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.

"D-Deku..."

Ochako stared, her hands trembling as she clutched the railing in front of her. Her wide eyes were locked on Izuku, unblinking.

Momo had both hands clasped over her mouth, horrified at the scene. Beside her, Kyoka looked away, unable to bear watching. Mina and Toru stood frozen, trembling, while Tsuyu's expression remained stoic, though her hand was clenched tightly at her side.

Ibara let out a soft gasp, horrified. Setsuna, Pony, Itsuka, and Kinoko exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of shock and dread.

Even Mineta, who often tried to find humor in everything, muttered quietly, "Beware the anger of a good man..."

Kirishima swallowed hard, his voice shaky. "A-At least it's over, right?"

"No." Kyoka's voice was low, almost trembling. "It's not."

Everyone turned, following her gaze.

Izuku was still walking toward Bakugou, his expression unreadable, but his eyes burned with a single-minded fury. The electricity crackling around him only heightened the tension, casting jagged shadows across his face.

"H-He wouldn't..." Kaminari stammered, his voice cracking. "It's not like Midoriya..."

But Izuku didn't stop.

His steps were steady, deliberate, the sound of his shoes against the concrete echoing in the unnervingly quiet stadium. Every movement radiated purpose, the hardened look in his eyes enough to send shivers down the spines of everyone watching.

Bakugou lay on the ground, barely conscious, his battered body trembling as Izuku approached. For the first time, the unshakable Katsuki Bakugou felt something unfamiliar and foreign: fear.

Izuku cracked his knuckles, green lightning sparking as his gaze locked onto Bakugou.

All he saw was red.

...

Aizawa's voice cracked through the announcer booth's microphone, urgency lacing his words. "Kayama!" he barked into the earpiece, his eyes trained on the scene unfolding in the arena.

Midnight, stationed as the referee, was already moving, prepared to intervene. She tore at her costume to release her quirk, but before she could even finish, Izuku's Danger Sense ignited in his mind like a blaring alarm. Without hesitation, his hand shot up, and with a flick of his middle finger, a concentrated shockwave tore through the air. Though it didn't hit Midnight directly, the force alone shattered the air around her, sending her body hurtling into the stadium wall. She crumpled against it, her eyes rolling back as unconsciousness claimed her.

The stadium gasped collectively.

Cementoss, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, raised his hands, preparing to subdue the boy. But Izuku's head snapped in his direction, Danger Sense warning him again. Another flick followed, the strain causing his finger to break with a sharp crack. The shockwave erupted like a cannon, slamming into Cementoss before the hero could react. His body was launched across the arena, colliding violently with another wall and leaving him sprawled in a heap. Dust and debris settled over the shattered concrete, the air thick with tension.

Izuku lowered his hands, clenching his fists through the searing pain in both broken fingers. His breaths were measured but heavy, his eyes fixed on Bakugou.

The pro heroes stationed around the arena froze, their bodies locked with indecision. They had just witnessed two staff members-trained and experienced-taken down in mere seconds. The sheer precision and brutality of Izuku's movements left no room for doubt; any wrong step would provoke disaster.

In the announcer's booth, All Might's voice thundered through the earpiece. "Aizawa! Stop the pro heroes! Tell them not to engage Midoriya!"

Aizawa frowned, his grip tightening on the edge of the control panel. "What? Toshinori, do you understand what's happening out there? We can't just-"

"You must! Listen to me, Aizawa!" All Might interrupted, urgency bleeding into his tone. "Young Midoriya has a sixth sense-an instinctive danger detection ability. If he feels threatened, he'll react immediately and without restraint. If the pro heroes attack him now..." All Might paused, his voice lowering. "There's a high likelihood he will transform."

Aizawa's blood ran cold. "Transform? What are you saying?"

All Might took a shuddering breath. "If Midoriya transforms into one of his alien forms while in this state... when he's already lost control..." He left the sentence unfinished, the gravity of the unspoken words sinking in.

The image of Izuku unleashing unchecked devastation flashed in Aizawa's mind. Gritting his teeth, he slammed the microphone button. "PRO HEROES, STAND DOWN! DO NOT APPROACH MIDORIYA UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! U.A. STAFF WILL HANDLE THIS!"

The command echoed through the arena, sharp and unyielding. The pro heroes exchanged uncertain glances but obeyed, backing away slowly.

Meanwhile, Izuku's steps were steady, his cracked knuckles flexing and curling as he approached Bakugou with a singular purpose. His emerald eyes glimmered with an intensity that made even the bravest onlookers falter. The students in the stands sat frozen, a mixture of fear and disbelief etched across their faces.

"IZUKU MIDORIYA!" Aizawa's voice rang out again, desperation evident. "THIS IS AN ORDER FROM YOUR HOMEROOM TEACHER! STAND DOWN IMMEDIATELY!"

The words fell on deaf ears. All he could hear were the explosions on his worst days.

Bakugou stirred, coughing weakly as he attempted to prop himself up. Blood dripped from his busted lip, his glare defiant despite his broken body.

He lit his palm with a small explosion, trying to create distance, but Izuku was faster. In an instant, he was on him, delivering a brutal kick that drove Bakugou back into the ground with a dull thud. Dust billowed up around them as Izuku climbed atop him, pinning him down.

Bakugou spat blood in Izuku's face. "Deku..." he rasped, his voice dripping with venom.

Izuku's jaw tightened. Without hesitation, he cocked his fist back and brought it down like a hammer. The sound of the impact echoed through the arena, a sickening crack that reverberated in every chest. The ground beneath Bakugou fractured slightly, the force sending tremors through his body.

"GAH!" Bakugou's scream was hoarse, barely audible over the ringing in his ears.

Izuku's fist rose again. Boom. Another punch connected, splitting the air with the weight of his fury. The ground behind Bakugou gave way further, forming a shallow crater beneath his body. Blood sprayed with each impact, Bakugou's screams becoming weaker with every blow.

"MIDORIYA, STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Aizawa's voice cracked over the speakers, but Izuku didn't respond. His ears were deaf to everything but the echoes of explosions that had haunted his worst days. All he saw, all he felt, was red.

Punch after punch fell, each strike a testament to the rage boiling over within him. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their breaths held as they bore witness to the relentless assault.

...

As Izuku's fist slammed down like a sledgehammer, the concrete beneath them cracked, chunks flying out with each impact. Bakugou's face was a bloodied, swollen mess, his features unrecognizable beneath the onslaught. Blood dripped steadily from Izuku's knuckles, his hands trembling-not from fear, but from the unrelenting force of his rage.

Izuku's face was cold, his eyes shadowed by his fury. He didn't say a word, didn't scream or shout. His silence was more terrifying than any yell could have been. His expression spoke of resentment, years of bottled anger, and an unrelenting need to keep going. Why should he stop? Bakugou had never stopped. Not when he begged. Not when he cried.

Another punch slammed down, and the arena echoed with the sound of bones colliding with broken concrete.

"Midoriya, stop!" Kirishima's voice rang out, desperate. "That's enough! You're going to kill him!"

"Please, Izuku! He's had enough!" Ochako shouted, her voice cracking.

"Midoriya! You're better than this!" Momo cried, her hands clutching at the barricade as if she could somehow reach him.

Even Kyoka, normally collected, shouted, "Green! Knock it off before you do something you can't take back!"

The crowd's murmurs grew into panicked cries. "Someone stop him!" a spectator shouted.

"What is U.A. doing?!" came another frantic voice.

But Izuku couldn't hear them. Their voices were muffled by the weight of his own anger, drowned out by the deafening the constant explosions he had to endure.

His fist raised again, veins glowing red as faint, jagged lines of power spread across his arms. Dust swirled violently around him as the ground beneath cracked further.

"100%!" Izuku muttered, his voice low and chilling.

The audience gasped in unison, the air thick with fear.

"Midoriya, please!" Itsuka's voice broke through the chaos, rising above the pleas and the cries. "Stop this! This isn't you!"

Izuku's fist froze mid-air, trembling. That voice-it cut through everything. His breathing hitched, his bloodied hand lowering slightly as Itsuka's words rang in his ears.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. Her words pulled him out of the storm of his thoughts, grounding him in something warmer, something kinder. He blinked, and her voice-soft and trembling, but sure-filled his mind.

"You're always so dedicated, always working so hard... it's one of the things I admire... respect..."

The memory of her confession crashed over him like a wave, washing away the anger. He could see her face in his mind, flushed and nervous, but so sincere.

"You don't feel the need to show off or prove them wrong, and that... that's something special."

The blood on his hands felt heavier now, shame sinking into him like a stone.

"That's why I love you, Izuku Midoriya."

Those words, whispered softly, shattered the last of his resolve.

The veins on his arms dimmed, the glow fading as his fists dropped to his sides. He staggered back a step, panting, his chest heaving as his tears finally spilled over.

The anger and resentment that had consumed him began to falter, like waves crashing against an unmovable shore. His fists slumped to his sides as he stared at Bakugou, his chest heaving with exhaustion and shame.

He looked around at the destruction he had caused-the fractured ground, the horrified faces of his classmates and the audience.

Bakugou's mangled face, the cracked ground, the wide-eyed, horrified expressions of his friends-all of it came into focus now. He looked around, as if seeing the destruction for the first time. His breath hitched, and he whispered, "What... what am I doing?"

"DEKU!" Bakugou roared through gritted, broken teeth. With every ounce of strength he could muster, he lit his hand and unleashed a massive explosion.

The blast flung Izuku violently across the arena, sending him skidding and tumbling along the cracked concrete. Black smoke trailed behind him as he slammed into the far side, stopping just short of the edge of the platform.

...

The audience held their breath as Bakugou slowly rose, his palms crackling with explosive energy.

The sheer rage and hatred he exuded sent waves of tension across the arena. His previous attacks had already sent Izuku hurtling across the battlefield, but Bakugou showed no sign of slowing down.

Izuku coughed, the smoke stinging his lungs, but he didn't stay down.

His body screamed in protest as he fought to get back on his feet, each breath labored, but there was no stopping him now. He glared at Bakugou through the haze, his voice hoarse but resolute.

"I hate you," Izuku said, his words sharp like a blade.

Bakugou growled, a low, menacing sound, his fury only growing.

Izuku's eyes burned with a mix of pain and anger as he spoke again, his voice full of venom. "I want to tear you apart. Rip you apart, limb from limb."

The pain in his voice sent murmurs through the stadium, his emotions bleeding through in every syllable. His teeth clenched as he fought to hold back the overwhelming rage.

"But..." Izuku gritted his teeth, his hands shaking as he pushed himself up. Every inch of his body screamed in pain, but there was no hesitation in his resolve. "If I'm going to surpass the man who placed everything in me..."

"If I'm ever going to become the next Symbol of Peace... If I am ever going to be..." Izuku's voice faltered as pain ripped through his muscles and his back burned, but he pushed through, his eyes shining with determination.

"I can't pretend... I can't hold back..." Izuku said, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I can't keep saying I'm okay... I-I..."

Izuku slammed his fist into the ground, his glare never leaving Bakugou. The stadium fell deathly silent in anticipation.

"I CAN'T PRETEND I DON'T HATE YOU WITH EVERY SINGLE FIBRE OF MY BODY!" Izuku shouted, the words pouring from him like a torrent of emotion. "I WANT TO TEAR YOU APART! BEAT YOU LIKE NEVER BEFORE! I HATE EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOU!"

The raw resentment and pain in Izuku's voice were unmistakable, echoing across the arena. Bakugou's eyes burned with hatred, but Izuku wasn't done.

Izuku's breath steadied, but the anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, louder than ever. "But..." he continued, his voice stronger now, "If I'm ever going to... to be the hero he wants me to be! The hero I need to be! The Symbol of Peace, like he asked me to!"

Izuku clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles whitened. His conviction was undeniable.

"I won't pretend my feelings for you aren't there! I'll face them head on!" Izuku shouted, the words ringing with unshakable determination.

In the stands, Ochako's eyes widened, frozen in place as she watched Izuku fight not just Bakugou, but the turmoil inside him. "Dekiru..." she whispered under her breath, her heart aching for him.

"The only way I'm leaving this arena..." Izuku's gaze sharpened, every fiber of his being focused on Bakugou. "And facing Todoroki... is when I beat you!" Izuku shouted, the intensity in his voice overwhelming.

Bakugou's hands trembled, not just from exhaustion, but from sheer rage as he glared at Izuku. His crimson eyes blazed, his voice dripping with venom as it tore through the air.

"YOU BASTARD!" Bakugou roared, his words sharp enough to cut through steel. "YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING DOWN ON ME EVER SINCE WE WERE DAMN KIDS! YOU THINK YOU'VE ALREADY WON, HUH!?"

Without hesitation, he launched himself at Izuku, the air crackling with explosions. Danger Sense screamed in Izuku's mind, forcing him into a quick backflip to dodge the oncoming strike. Bakugou's palms slammed together mid-air, unleashing a blinding burst of light.

"STUN GRENADE!!" Bakugou bellowed, the arena flooding with an overwhelming flash.

Izuku's vision went white, and before he could fully react, a solid fist drove into his stomach. The breath left his lungs in a pained gasp as Bakugou followed up with an explosive blast that sent him flying backward. Izuku tumbled across the cracked arena floor, his arms instinctively bracing himself as he skidded to a halt.

Bakugou stood, panting heavily, his chest heaving as his voice thundered once more.

"NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF YOU, YOU JUST KEEP GETTING BACK UP AND COMING AT ME!" Bakugou's words were raw, unfiltered. His lips curled in a snarl as he took a step forward.

"EVEN AS KIDS, YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN TO QUIT! YOU-YOU HAD NOTHING!" Bakugou's voice cracked, his anger cutting deeper. "AND EVEN NOW, YOU'RE STILL LOOKING DOWN ON ME! YOU WON'T EVEN USE YOUR DAMN FORMS AGAINST ME!"

Through the settling dust, Izuku emerged, his emerald eyes sharp and unyielding. A wisp of black smoke curled from beneath him as he focused his gaze on Bakugou. He clenched his fist, One For All surging through his arm as he crouched low.

With a burst of speed, Izuku rocketed toward Bakugou. His fist came up in a powerful uppercut that slammed into Bakugou's jaw with a sickening crack. Bakugou's feet left the ground, his body hurled upward from the sheer force.

Bakugou twisted mid-air, his rage unwavering as he glared down at Izuku. Explosions crackled from his hands, propelling him forward, but Izuku was already there. He leapt into the air with incredible speed, his arm cocked back before delivering a devastating hook punch. The blow connected with bone-rattling force, Bakugou's body sent careening across the arena.

Bakugou's momentum finally came to a halt as he fired an explosion to steady himself, his body aching and his teeth gritted in frustration.

...

"I HATE THAT DAMN LOOK ON YOUR FACE!" Bakugou roared, his voice cracking as he jabbed a finger toward Izuku. "YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING DOWN ON ME! YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME!"

Izuku's chest heaved as he took in a ragged breath, One For All sparking erratically across his body. His green eyes burned with frustration. "Looking down on you?" he repeated, his voice low and trembling with restrained emotion.

His fists tightened at his sides as his words came faster, sharper. "Looking down on you? I admired you! Everything about you! I thought you were strong, fearless, someone I could look up to!" Izuku's voice cracked, but he pushed on, the weight of years of torment spilling out. "And for all of that, your excuse for making my life a living hell... is because I was looking down on you?"

His words were raw, each syllable dripping with the pain he'd carried for years.

"Your pride couldn't handle what? That I existed? That I dared to stand near you? That I didn't grovel enough at your feet? What I that I was breathing the same air as you?" His voice shook, not with fear, but with anger he had kept buried for far too long.

Izuku's eyes glistened as he fought back tears. "Looking down on you?" he said again, his tone quieter now.

He let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow. "You know what, Bakugou? Kevin was right about you."

"Kevin?" he growled, though his voice lost some of its bite.

"You know what he used to say to me?" Izuku asked, his voice steady but cold, each word landing like a blow.

Bakugou didn't answer.

"He told me," Izuku continued, his tone laced with a bitter edge, "'If Bakugou ever told you why he hates you so much, it'd be the dumbest thing you've ever heard.'"

The words hung in the air like a physical weight, and Bakugou flinched as if struck.

Izuku's voice was barely above a whisper as he processed everything he had gone through. He knew he was Quirkless that he had to be bullied.

He was weak and powerless, that just how life had to be for him. But even knowing that his anger, resentment couldn't be contained.

"And you know what? He was right. If this is seriously your reason... if all of this, all the years of bullying, the pushing, the insults, was because you thought I was looking down on you..."Izuku said barely above a whisper.

"That's... Just..."Izuku couldn't even find the word. He inhaled, taking a calming breath

"Every day, Kevin told me you were a terrible person," Izuku said, his gaze never leaving Bakugou's. "And every day, I made excuses for you. I told him you'd be a great hero someday."

The arena fell silent save for the crackle of electricity around Izuku's frame. His toxic green eyes locked onto Bakugou's burning crimson ones.

"I think it's time," Izuku said, his voice firm and resolute, "I finally started listening to him."

With those words, Izuku lunged again, One For All coursing through him as he twisted his body for another strike.

"DAMN YOU, DEKU!!!" Bakugou roared, his voice shaking the air as a massive explosion erupted from his palms, the heat and force surging to meet Izuku head-on.

...

Izuku's body was already in motion, charging forward with everything he had, the world around them fading to nothing but their clash.

The crowd watched in terrified anticipation as the two of them launched at each other with unstoppable force.

Izuku twirled on his heel, narrowly avoiding Bakugou's explosive barrage. His body was sore, aching from every inch of the brutal battle, but his determination was sharper than ever. He managed to control the fury building within him, focusing all his energy on the fight at hand.

Bakugou, unable to hold back, launched himself forward, his palms exploding with sheer force directed at Izuku's head.

Izuku ducked low, the blast just grazing his hair as he rolled under the attack, barely maintaining his balance.

Without missing a beat, Izuku shifted his weight, using the momentum to perform a breakdance-style move.

His legs twisted and slid as he maneuvered around Bakugou's next explosion, his body twisting in fluid motion.

...

Bakugou's eyes burned with fury, but he couldn't land a single hit as Izuku slipped past him again, dodging each explosion with grace and skill.

Then, in a split second, Izuku's foot shot up in a powerful arc, his body twisting as he landed lightly on the ground. But before he could fully steady himself, Bakugou launched an explosion directly at him.

The blast sent a shockwave through the arena, but Izuku reacted instantly, his body dropping to the ground as he evaded the explosion.

With incredible agility, Izuku propelled himself upward, his hands hitting the ground as he launched into a smooth, acrobatic maneuver.

His foot swung up in a clean, powerful kick that landed squarely on Bakugou's chin, sending the blonde bomber stumbling back.

...

"WHOA! MIDORIYA HAS SOME SERIOUS DANCE MOVES!" Present Mic shouted, his voice carrying through the stadium.

In the stands, Mina's face flushed a deep shade of lilac as she watched Izuku move with such precision, her heart racing with both concern and admiration.

"Midori.." she whispered, her eyes locked on him as he spun, launching another kick to Bakugou's midsection, pushing his opponent even further back.

...

The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, their excitement reaching a fever pitch as the battle raged on. The raw emotions between the two fighters crackled in the air, almost as palpable.

"Crap, you can feel these two's emotions!" someone shouted, barely able to hear their own voice over the chaos.

"I can't even tell what they're saying, but holy shit, this is insane!" another yelled, their eyes glued to the stage.

"Shouldn't someone stop this? That Midoriya kid could seriously hurt Bakugou!"

"Hurt him? Are you blind? More like kill. Hurting him is an understatement."

"Yeah, but if he wanted to, Midoriya could've ended this fight five minutes ago. He's not even using his full power!"

"And why should he? Did you see that blonde bastard wailing on him earlier? If anything, Midoriya's too soft on him!"

Every explosion and strike seemed to send a ripple through the crowd, drawing hushed murmurs and thunderous cheers in equal measure.

"Man, look at that," one of the boys in the stands muttered, his voice tinged with awe. "It's like they're fighting with everything they've got, no holding back."

"Yeah," another added, his tone quieter. "It's not just a fight. It's like... they're trying to settle something way bigger than this match."

Despite the injuries, the exhaustion, and the sheer brutality of the fight, no one could look away.

...

Meanwhile, Midnight groggily began to wake up, blood trickling down her forehead. She blinked as her vision slowly focused, struggling to get her bearings.

Thirteen, speaking to the other teachers, couldn't hide her concern. "Shouldn't we end this? Bakugou could seriously be injured. The only thing keeping him going right now is adrenaline."

Across the battlefield, Bakugou finally came to a stop, blood streaking down his face as he wiped it away with a grimace. His eyes locked onto Izuku, his glare burning with unwavering resolve.

He was injured, exhausted, but the rage and determination in his eyes hadn't faltered for a moment.

Izuku stood his ground, chest heaving with labored breaths as he fought to steady himself. His emerald eyes flicked to the stands, locking momentarily with a pair of striking teal ones.

Itsuka's gaze was intense, filled with something that made his heart pound harder than the battle itself.

Her words echoed in his mind.

"That's why I love you, Izuku Midoriya."

He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, forcing the chaos in his chest to quiet. The trembling in his hands stilled as his breathing grew steady, his focus sharpening like a blade."Come on Izuku."

Notebooks began to flip in his head, drawing of Bakugou flipped in his head his fighting style explosions.'I can't transform with the way I'm feeling right now I know I won't hold back. But...'

When his eyes opened, they glowed with a toxic green intensity. He shifted his footing, his stance firm and grounded. Arms poised, knees bent, his body readied itself.'I need to face him as Izuku Midoriya. The Quirkless kid he used to pick on.'

Bakugou snarled and launched himself forward, explosions propelling him with a deafening roar. The heat of his attack scorched the air as he rocketed straight at Izuku.

But Izuku didn't flinch.

As Bakugou closed in, Izuku sidestepped with fluid grace, his body twisting just enough to avoid the first explosion. Before Bakugou could react, Izuku seized the opening.

His hand shot forward, redirecting Bakugou's arm and destabilizing his momentum.

With a sharp pivot, Izuku's palm struck Bakugou's ribs with a loud thud, the shockwave of the blow reverberating through his torso. Bakugou let out a strained grunt, the impact forcing the air from his lungs as he stumbled.

Not letting up, Izuku drove his elbow into Bakugou's shoulder with precision, the blow jolting his body sideways as he hissed in pain. Bakugou tried to recover, but Izuku's movements were relentless.

Izuku twisted his hips, channeling all his strength into a spinning roundhouse kick. His leg cut through the air like a whip, connecting with Bakugou's side in a thunderous crack.

The sheer force bent Bakugou's body midair, his arms flailing as the impact sent him flying.

The audience gasped as Bakugou's body hurtled across the arena, the kick sending shockwaves through his frame. He hit the ground hard, tumbling uncontrollably as his limbs sprawled.

The concrete beneath him cracked from the impact, his momentum finally halting just inches from the white boundary line.

Bakugou groaned, his body wracked with pain as he pressed a trembling hand to the ground to steady himself.

His breaths were ragged, every inhale sending a sharp pain through his side where Izuku's kick had connected. "Damn you, Deku..." Bakugou snarled through gritted teeth. "That's one of the reasons I hate you, you damn nerd!"

But he wasn't done. With a deep growl, Bakugou forced himself to stand upright, his muscles screaming in protest. He locked eyes with Izuku, his crimson gaze burning with unrelenting fury that made the crowd hold their breath.

"I CAN NEVER TELL WHAT YOU'RE THINKING!" he roared, his voice raw and filled with frustration.

Without another word, Bakugou blasted himself into the air, the sheer force of his explosions leaving cracks in the arena floor. He twisted his body mid-flight, his movements a blur of speed and precision.

A deafening boom followed as he spun in a wild, tornado-like motion, explosions erupting around him and creating a chaotic whirlwind of force.

Izuku's eyes widened as he recognized the technique instantly. "The same move he used against Iida..." His mind raced, replaying the fight like a movie on fast-forward.

...

The wind began to whip violently around the arena, as Bakugou gathered explosive momentum. His palms crackled with raw energy, pulling in oxygen and pressure, his body coiling like a spring, preparing to unleash his most devastating move yet.

"HOWITZER..." Bakugou roared, his voice carrying across the battlefield as the air around him seemed to compress. His body twisted, gathering the force needed for the final explosion.

'I need to stop his momentum!' Izuku thought.

Izuku stood his ground, his heart racing, knowing that his time was limited. He quickly raised his arm, aiming directly at Bakugou.

"DELWARE..." Izuku muttered to himself, His finger began to glow.

"SMASH!!" Izuku shouted, flicking his finger forward with explosive force. The sheer power that followed was unlike anything seen before-an enormous shockwave erupted from the tip of his finger, tearing through the air with a deafening crack.

The audience winced as the result left Izuku's finger broken making a swollen red ugly color.

He pushed through the pain, the blast of wind sending debris scattering across the battlefield.

"IMPACT!!" Bakugou yelled in response, launching himself into the air with explosive speed. He used his explosions to spiral upwards, creating a tornado of force that gathered even more momentum.

With a roar, he released the enhanced blast, a missile-like wave of destruction rocketing toward Izuku.

The two attacks collided in a blinding flash of light and sound.

The Delaware Smash tore upward like an unrelenting storm, meeting Bakugou's spiraling Howitzer Impact with earth-shattering force. The collision erupted into a chaotic explosion of wind and fire, the shockwave expanding outward in a brutal surge that rattled the entire arena.

The ground beneath them trembled violently, cracks spidering out from the epicenter as the raw energy of their clash carved a massive crater into the battlefield. The air was filled with swirling smoke and debris, the once-pristine arena now a battlefield of chaos.

Through the storm of power, Bakugou was hurled violently upward by the force of the impact, his body spinning uncontrollably as he fought to regain control. The relentless shockwave slammed into him, knocking him off course.

...

"Damn it!" Bakugou growled through gritted teeth as the momentum from the explosion carried him toward the arena's edge. His eyes widened in frustration as he saw the white boundary line approaching. "Fuck!"

Before he could tumble out of bounds, Izuku moved like a blur, his legs surging with power from One For All. With a single explosive leap, he launched himself upward and grabbed Bakugou by the collar midair. The sudden halt in momentum made Bakugou jolt in surprise.

Without hesitation, Izuku swung Bakugou around, using precise control to hurl him back toward the arena with just enough force.

Bakugou hit the ground with a violent thud, skidding across the concrete platform in a shower of sparks and grit. He groaned as his battered body protested, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Still, his fiery resolve refused to let him stay down. He pushed himself to his knees, his glare cutting through the pain.

"He countered my Howitzer like it was nothing! What the hell is he pulling now?!" Bakugou spat, his fists trembling with frustration.

"Kacchan!" Izuku shouted from above, his voice steady but fierce. "You're not the only one with an ace up your sleeve!"

Bakugou snapped his head up, locking eyes with Izuku as he floated in the air. Lightning crackled around Izuku's body, his silhouette illuminated by the electric power of One For All.

Bakugou's sharp eyes caught something unsettling-red veins pulsing along Izuku's neck, glowing faintly as if channeling energy.

'What the hell is he doing now?!' Bakugou thought, his instincts screaming at him to brace himself.

From above, Izuku inhaled deeply, his chest expanding as an ominous rumble grew in his throat.

"Houston..." Izuku's voice was low and guttural, carrying a warning that sent a chill down Bakugou's spine.

Bakugou's eyes widened. "What is he-?"

"HOOOOOOWWWLLLL!!" Izuku roared, his voice exploding from his mouth in a devastating shockwave of pure sound. The air rippled violently as the sonic blast surged downward with unstoppable intensity.

The ground beneath Bakugou cracked and shattered under the sheer force of the sound wave. The deafening roar struck him head-on, sending vibrations tearing through his entire body.

"AAAAH!!" Bakugou screamed, dropping to his knees as the unrelenting force overwhelmed him. His hands clamped over his ears in a desperate attempt to block out the unbearable noise, but it was futile.

Every nerve in his body screamed in agony as the vibrations wreaked havoc on his senses.

...

In the stands, the audience was left in stunned disbelief.

"HOLY HELL! HOW CAN HE DO THAT WITHOUT USING FORM ECHO ECHO?!" Present Mic screamed, his voice nearly drowned out by the aftershock.

Aizawa, his expression calm but sharp, answered matter-of-factly. "It's not a new power. Just a different application of his Quirk. He's been working on this for weeks-honing it as part of his training."

...

All Might's jaw tightened, his hand gripping the railing so hard it bent slightly under the pressure. "My boy..." he muttered, his voice tinged with both pride and alarm."I know you can do this. You got this!"

Meanwhile, in the Class 1-A section of the stands, the students exchanged incredulous looks.

"Wait, is that why he was taking singing lessons with Jirou?!" Hagakure asked, her invisible hands flailing in shock.

Kyouka, staring at the battlefield in disbelief, muttered, "Y-Yeah... I guess..." Her face flushed slightly as she pieced together the implications of their impromptu training sessions.

...

Bakugou fell to his knees, his trembling hands clutching his ears, trying in vain to block out the residual vibrations from Izuku's devastating sonic attack. His vision swam, the world around him a chaotic blur. But despite the agony coursing through him, he refused to stay down.

"I WON'T LOSE!!" Bakugou roared, his voice raw with desperation and fury.

Through sheer force of will, Bakugou pushed himself upright, his muscles trembling as he brought his palms together. His Quirk surged to its limits, every pore on his palms beginning to secrete nitroglycerin at an alarming rate. The sweat mixed with blood as his skin tore under the strain, the raw flesh beneath visible.

"AAAHHHH!!" Bakugou screamed, the pain fueling his resolve as a colossal explosion erupted from his hands, a blinding inferno of force and heat that consumed everything around him. The air rippled with unbearable heat, the shockwave tearing through the arena like a bomb.

Izuku barely had time to react. The explosion hit him point-blank, the searing heat ripping through his uniform and scorching his skin. His body was flung backward, pain exploding through him as his senses momentarily dulled.

But one image stood out-a memory of Itsuka, her determined smile, her unwavering belief in him.

The thought sparked something deep within, piercing through the haze of anger and pain. His heart pounded fiercely, a mix of rage and an emotion he couldn't yet name.

He grit his teeth, his body trembling with effort. "I have to end this," he muttered, his resolve hardening.

Through the smoke and the chaos, Bakugou's figure became clear once more. His hands, though burned and broken, were still poised for another attack.

"DELAWARE SMASH-SEVENTY PERCENT!" Izuku roared, flicking his finger downward with all his might.

The air split apart as a massive shockwave erupted from his fingertip, tearing through the smoke like a blade. The sheer force of the blast slammed into Bakugou, the impact so powerful it drove him into the cracked arena floor with a deafening crash. The ground buckled beneath him, fragments of concrete shooting into the air like shrapnel.

The recoil of the attack sent Izuku soaring higher into the air, his body twisting from the force as he struggled to steady himself. Below, the devastation was clear.

Bakugou lay sprawled on the shattered arena floor, blood streaking from the corners of his mouth. His arms were limp at his sides, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.

...

Izuku soared higher, his chest heaving as he steadied his breathing. Looking down, he saw Bakugou, bloodied and gasping for air, his body trembling. Crimson stained the ground beneath him, spreading outward in a haunting display of his injuries. Yet even through the haze of pain, those defiant eyes stared back at him, flickering with a stubborn flame that refused to extinguish.

Izuku's gaze hardened.

Flipping midair, he repositioned himself, his legs tensing in preparation. He raised his hand again, energy gathering at his fingertip.

"DELWARE SMASH-100%!"

The blast erupted upward, the force propelling Izuku downward with blinding speed. The air screamed around him as he rocketed toward the ground, his figure a blur of raw power.

Mid-descent, Izuku raised his leg high above his head, his form mimicking one of the most devastating moves he'd seen.

"LUNA...ARC!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. Withb 16% of One For All coursing through his legs. He pushed the limit more the strain burning to a staggering 18%

Miruko's eyes widened in shock, recognition lighting her face as the young hero executed her signature axe kick. The crowd collectively held their breath, their awe palpable as Izuku's heel came crashing down.

The impact was cataclysmic.

Izuku's foot collided with Bakugou's chest like a meteor strike, driving him deep into the shattered arena floor. The sickening crunch of bone breaking under the force reverberated across the stadium as Bakugou's body convulsed briefly before falling limp.

Blood burst from his lips in a gruesome spray, splattering across the cracked concrete. His chest heaved unevenly, his breath rattling as he lay battered and utterly broken beneath the debris.

The shockwave of the attack rippled outward, a massive dust cloud consuming the battlefield. The air stung with the scent of scorched earth and sweat, and the once-pristine arena was now a cratered wasteland.

...

Midnight struggled to rise from the thick dust cloud that had engulfed the arena, her eyes squinting through the haze. What she saw was undeniable-the aftermath of a brutal battle.

Izuku Midoriya stood tall in the crater of the arena, the reinforced concrete beneath him cracked and shattered from the force of his attacks.

Class 1-A and some of Class 1-B began to look on with bated breath. The dust parted slowly, and as Izuku's battered body became visible, tears of relief and disbelief began to fill their eyes.

Izuku stood at the epicenter of the devastation, clenching his broken fingers, the sound of crunching bone echoing throughout the silent stadium.

His foot slammed down into the shattered arena, the crackle of One For All igniting around him like a storm.

Beneath him, Bakugou lay motionless, his body crumpled at Izuku's feet.

His blood pooled beneath him, staining the cracked concrete, and his chest heaved in shallow, labored breaths. His eyes were barely open, glazed over with pain, his lips bleeding as he struggled to hold onto consciousness. He's face was a swollen mess, his ears trickled blood.

The crowd held its breath as Izuku's memories of every insult, every cruel word, surged through him like a tidal wave. His head jerked up, his eyes wide with pain and frustration as he let out a guttural scream, unleashing everything he had held inside.

"RAAAH!" Izuku's scream echoed through the arena, raw emotion bleeding into every word. His whole body trembled from the sheer intensity of it, the weight of the fight finally crashing down on him.

"Katsuki Bakugou... is knocked out! Izuku Midoriya wins!!!" Midnight's voice rang out through the stadium, and with that declaration, the arena erupted into deafening cheers, the crowd wild with excitement.

But in the midst of the celebration, one voice rose above the rest, filled with frustration and disbelief.

"Hey... what is this bullshit? Get up, Bakugou! You can't lose like this... this...!" Ishida's voice cracked with desperation. His eyes darted over to the motionless Bakugou, his hands clenched into fists. "C'mon, get up! What are you doing? Jokes over! Seriously, get back up and show him why you're better! Why he's worthless!"

His pleading was drowned out by the roaring cheers of the crowd, the sound almost mocking in its intensity.

Naomi stood nearby, her eyes wide and vacant, as if unable to comprehend the sight before her. She stared at Bakugou's unmoving form, her lips trembling as she whispered, "He... won." Her words were barely audible, a hollow realization settling in.

Ishida, leaning against the railing, was frozen. His mind refused to process the impossible reality before him. He couldn't believe it.

Izuku Midoriya, the "useless Deku," had done what no one thought possible. He had defeated Katsuki Bakugou, the prodigy, the one who was supposed to be destined for greatness. And now, that same Bakugou was lying in the dirt, unconscious.

Ishida's teeth ground together, his fists tightening until his knuckles turned white. "Out of everyone... it had to be him," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with disbelief and rage.

...

The crowd's reaction was a mix of awe, unease, and hushed whispers.

"Holy shit, that Midoriya kid is one hell of a monster!" someone muttered, their voice barely audible over the murmurs.

"Yeah... I always thought he was just some quiet, nerdy kid, but damn, did you see what he just did?"

A woman in the audience folded her arms, her expression a mixture of discomfort and disapproval. "I didn't like that Bakugou kid, but honestly... Midoriya went way too far. That wasn't a fight-that was a massacre."

Among the murmurs, a pro hero leaned forward, his hand on his chin as his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Those two definitely have a history. You don't fight like that unless there's a personal score to settle."

--

Lt. Steel stood silently, his arms crossed as he observed the aftermath. His gaze was sharp, calculating, taking in the bruised and battered figures in the arena. "Midoriya..." he muttered under his breath, watching the boy's labored breathing.

--

Miruko, standing near the edge of the stands, tilted her head slightly as she watched Izuku. Her arms were crossed, but a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Using my own super move, huh? Not bad, kid," she said to herself, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and critique. "Hell of a fight too, though..." Her smirk faded as she tapped a finger on her chin. "But anger makes your moves sloppy. You're fast as hell, but if it weren't for that speed, Bakugou might've had a chance to turn this around."

--

Among Class 1-A and their friends, the atmosphere was heavy. Ochako stood frozen, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Tears threatened to spill as she stared at Izuku, taking in his trembling body and the way his chest heaved with each breath. "Dekiru..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"He's in so much pain..." She wiped at her eyes furiously, but the sight of his broken fingers and the raw anger on his face made her chest tighten.

Beside her, Itsuka's face was pale as she tried to process what she had just witnessed. Izuku's gaze turned toward her, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and shame. For a moment, their eyes met. She felt her breath catch at the sight of him-this wasn't the kind, selfless boy she knew. Even now, though, as anger radiated off him, all she could feel was worry.

"I... I've never seen Izuku so... angry," Yui said softly. Her usually neutral, unimpressed expression was replaced by an uncharacteristic look of concern.

Momo frowned, her hands clutching the edge of her uniform. "He has treated Izuku like that? The yelling, the constant belittlement... because he felt like Izuku was looking down on him?" Her voice trembled slightly, but there was an unmistakable disdain in her tone.

Monoma, uncharacteristically quiet until now, shook his head. His usual smug demeanor was replaced by something that almost resembled sympathy. "It's not surprising, honestly. You've all seen how powerful Midoriya is," he said, gesturing toward the battered boy in the arena.

"Abilities like his... they're beyond extraordinary. He can replicate quirks and powers like ours but amplified to an absurd degree. In comparison some of ours are kinda useless."

"Can you imagine how many people would be envious of that? How many would feel overshadowed?"

The silence that followed was heavy.

"So... you think Bakugou lashed out because he felt like he couldn't beat him?" Itsuka asked, her voice hesitant.

Monoma shrugged, his gaze steady. "Hey, I'm just calling it as I see it. I'm not saying Bakugou outright bullied him or anything like that, but..." His voice grew quieter, almost contemplative. "When people feel the spotlight might be taken from them, they'll do whatever they can to keep it-even if it means tearing someone else down."

The group exchanged uneasy glances as the sounds of the cheering crowd continued in the background.

"But in my opinion. Bakugou was definitely a bully." Monoma said with finality.

...

Izuku stood there, the crowd's applause feeling distant, like a muffled hum far off in the background. His gaze drifted across the arena, taking in the aftermath of the battle. The destruction was overwhelming.

His bloodied hands trembled at his sides. Cemenoto's lay unconscious, and Midnight, caught in the crossfire, had blood trickling from her forehead. Guilt churned in his stomach, a weight that threatened to pull him under.

This wasn't supposed to happen, he thought, but the devastation surrounding him told a different story. His fists clenched, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his chest.

It wasn't just the physical destruction; it was everything. His past, the failures, the pain, all of it-had come crashing down on him.

This was the culmination of all that he'd tried to bury. And now, there was no escaping it. He couldn't pretend like he was okay.

With his head hanging low, unable to face the wreckage or the spectators, Izuku turned to leave the arena.

His footsteps felt heavier with every move. As he passed Midnight, his voice was barely a whisper, barely audible in the stillness. "I-I'm sorry..."

Midnight's gaze softened, her voice gentle, almost maternal as she responded, "It's okay. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

Izuku nodded in response, but before he could take another step, a violent cough rang out from the crater. Bakugou. Bloodied palms gripped the ground as his body trembled from the strain of his overexertion. His muscles screamed, barely holding him together as he pushed himself up-only for his legs to give way, sending him crashing back down.

"Get... back... here... Deku..." Bakugou rasped, his voice rough and strained, as the silence of the arena stretched around them. "And... fight."

Izuku's steps slowed, his shoulders stiffening as he glanced back, but he didn't stop. His body felt like it was made of stone, the weight of everything bearing down on him.

Despite the blood staining his body, Bakugou gritted his teeth, determined. He dragged himself forward, each movement agony as he pulled himself closer, his will to keep going stronger than the pain.

"You... haven't fucking transformed... yet," Bakugou forced out, his words strained, but the fire in them still burned fiercely. "I refuse to lose... to someone who hasn't given their best."

Izuku's fists clenched tighter at his sides, his body trembling with the urge to fight back, to finally release everything that had built up inside him.

But he kept walking, his steps slow, heavy, as if moving through water.

Then Bakugou spat the words that cut deeper than any punch: "I actually feel bad for your mom..."

Izuku froze. The world seemed to stop, the air thickening around him. That one sentence-the thing that had always been his worst trigger-was like a match to dry kindling. The anger, the resentment, the frustration that had been brewing inside him for so long suddenly exploded, overwhelming him.

Midnight's eyes widened in immediate recognition. She saw the shift in Izuku's expression, the storm building behind his eyes. She tried to act fast, tearing at her costume purple mist filled the air.

Izuku instinctively released 16% of One For All. Midnight's aroma, the one she'd tried to use to knock them out, was swept away like it was nothing more than dust in the wind.

...

Bakugou's voice rasped through the air, so low and strained that the audience couldn't hear it. His words, however, reached Izuku with brutal clarity.

"She didn't deserve everything falling apart because of her quirkless son..." Bakugou's grin twisted as he spoke, his words carrying venom.

Izuku stood frozen in place, the pressure of One For All crackling around him, sending gusts of wind spiraling outwards. His body trembled, not just with power, but with the raw, seething anger that surged through him. This isn't just about you, Bakugou...

"First, her sorry deadbeat husband dies, and all he left was the shit stain who only made her life worse!" Bakugou taunted, his voice growing more vicious as he spoke. The insult cut deep, but it was the final straw.

"Midoriya..." she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

But Izuku was already moving, his trembling hand rising, his fingers clenching into a fist. His chest heaved as he drew in a shuddering breath, anger igniting every muscle in his body.

"100%," he said, his voice low and laced with restrained fury.

Midnight's heart raced. "No! Stop! You'll kill him!"

But it was too late. His arm shot downward, the pure force of One For All ripping through the air. Years of torment , anguish, and pain as he shot towards Bakugou's face. One For All glowed brighter. Red vein like coiled around his arm.

But before the punch could devastate everything below him, Izuku's willpower seized control. With a roar, he redirected it-forcing the punch upward, towards the heavens.

The arena trembled.

A hurricane of wind erupted from the epicenter, the sheer force knocking Midnight and Bakugou away like ragdolls.

The two were flung violently through the air, tumbling uncontrollably until they crashed into the distant walls.

The force was so immense that the audience was tossed from their seats, some struggling to hold on as the air itself became a violent force.

Mineta, already airborne, was saved by Shoji, who quickly grabbed him to keep him from being sent into the sky.

The entire stadium rattled with the power of the punch, the sound deafening, like thunder that never ceased.

Endeavor struggling against the pressure, was knocked off his feet. He stared in disbelief, his voice booming despite his disorientation. "Where the hell does he get that type of force?!"

Miruko planted her feet firmly into the ground, her muscles straining to keep her rooted as the storm of energy swirled violently around them, a visible reminder of the devastation Izuku had unleashed.

And then, just as quickly as it had begun, the force started to dissipate. The winds calmed, the hurricane of power fading into nothingness. But then, something else-something surreal-happened.

Above, the clouds churned violently as the shockwave pierced the heavens.

The swirling vortex collapsed inward before exploding outward, the force scattering the storm clouds and revealing a blinding shaft of sunlight. Then, as if nature itself had been humbled, the sky darkened once more, and then...

A single drop of water hit Death Arms' face.

He looked up, his eyes widening in shock. The entire stadium, breathless from the chaos, looked up as well.

And then, as if to confirm what they'd all just witnessed, a steady shower of rain began to fall.

"He... He changed the weather..." someone gasped, a whisper of awe rippling through the crowd.

"In... in one punch?" Mt. Lady's voice was filled with disbelief, her gaze fixed on the rain that now poured down in sheets.

Izuku's arm hung limply at his side, grotesquely swollen and reddened, the bones clearly shattered. His chest heaved, his. He turned slowly away and walked away.

Bakugou, lying motionless at the edge of the arena, coughed weakly. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to speak. "Get... back here... and fight, Deku. I'm not... through with you."

Izuku's voice was calm, almost eerily so, as he replied, "But I'm through with you."

He turned his back on Bakugou and began walking away. His words hung heavy in the air, cutting deeper than any punch ever could.

"You're not worth it... You never were."

Bakugou's pupils shrank as his body finally gave out, darkness overtaking him. His last sight before unconsciousness was Izuku's retreating figure, disappearing into the falling rain.

...

The stadium was utterly silent, the only sound the steady patter of rain falling from the sky. The raw, unrestrained strength Izuku had unleashed left everyone frozen in awe.

The storm he summoned had vanished, but the weight of what they'd witnessed lingered, heavy in the air.

Izuku's figure was barely visible as he made his way into the tunnel, his broken arm hanging uselessly at his side.

Behind him, Bakugou's limp, bloodied body was carefully loaded onto stretchers by the medical robots, their quiet efficiency contrasting with the tension in the arena.

"That kid... his strength is on par with All Might," a voice murmured from the stands.

"Yeah, but look at him. It breaks his bones every time. Why didn't he transform? He could've won without tearing himself apart like that."

Another pro hero nearby nodded in agreement. "It just seems reckless-almost foolish. No hero can or should keep putting themselves through that kind of punishment."

"But," a third voice interjected, quieter yet resolute, "he proved something today. Even without transforming, that kid is one hell of a powerhouse."

The words hung in the air, a murmur of agreement rippling through the crowd.

...

Ishida and Naomi stood rooted in place, their clothes damp from the remnants of the rain Izuku had unleashed. Though the storm had subsided, its presence lingered in the air, like an unspoken warning.

"He... changed the weather," Naomi muttered, her voice trembling as she stared at the sky now clearing.

Ishida's jaw tightened, his usual arrogance shattered. "How... how the hell is Deku capable of that?" His voice was low, edged with fear and disbelief.

The other bullies exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of what they'd just witnessed pressing down on them. For the first time, the image of the "useless Deku" they'd clung to for so long was gone-replaced by a force they couldn't understand and dared not mock.

They trembled slightly, fear spreading like wildfire.

"D-Deku wouldn't do to us what he did to Bakugou... right?" one student stammered, their voice shaking.

Ishida's eyes snapped toward them, wide with disbelief. "What the hell are you scared of? Deku?! You're scared of fucking Deku?!"

"Mother fuck, yes!" the student shot back without hesitation. "He changed the damn weather with one punch!"

Ishida flinched, his bravado faltering. His mind raced, searching for excuses, for anything to cling to, but the truth was undeniable. His world was cracking, and he couldn't stop it.

Naomi, however, stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the bloodied and shattered arena. Shame weighed heavily on her chest, more crushing than any fear. "He... he really hates us," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The sweetest, kindest guy she had ever known had unleashed such terrifying strength and resentment. She could feel it-every ounce of his pain-and it left her hollow.

Her hair fell over her face like a curtain, hiding her expression as she turned away. "I need some air," she murmured, leaving the others behind without another word.

--

Todoroki's gaze lingered on Izuku's retreating form, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he scoffed softly and turned on his heel.

'I need to win my next match,' he thought, his mind sharpening with resolve. 'If I want to face him, I can't underestimate him. Even without his forms, he's dangerous.' His fists clenched slightly.

--

In the stands, Miruko sat with her arms folded, her sharp eyes locked on Izuku as he disappeared into the shadows of the tunnel. She absently chewed on a carrot, her expression one of thoughtful amusement.

'That kid... he's a damn powerhouse, no doubt about it,' she mused, her lips curling into a smirk. 'But he's a walking, talking fuse ready to blow at any second.' Her gaze shifted to the battlefield, still scarred from Izuku's overwhelming punch.

'Still, that was one hell of a move,' she thought, leaning back slightly. 'Ballsy, too-facing Bakugou head-on without relying on his transformations. That takes guts. But guts aren't enough, kid.'

Her sharp eyes narrowed, her smirk deepening as her thoughts shifted. 'A hero-especially someone like him-can't afford to lose their cool. No matter how strong he is, he needs to learn that lesson fast.' She snapped the carrot in half, the sound punctuating her thoughts.

Miruko's mind lingered on the contrast she'd seen in Izuku. He carried himself cautiously, almost meekly, outside of battle-a tamed lion forced to act like a cornered rabbit.

But in the heat of combat, the timid façade melted away, revealing flashes of the predator lurking beneath. It was raw, untamed, and powerful, but more importantly, it was real.

Even in his previous fights, she had noticed it. There was kindness in his actions, a deliberate refusal to harm his opponents unnecessarily. Yet, that kindness never stopped him from taking them down when it mattered. It was a strange balance of compassion and ferocity-one she hadn't seen often in young heroes.

Miruko leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her fist as the rain continued to fall. She smirked, the idea forming clearly in her mind.

"Yeah," she muttered to herself, her voice low but confident. "I'm definitely taking him for my internship."

Her grin widened, the sharpness in her eyes mirroring the predator she'd glimpsed in Izuku. "Can't have him acting like he's some cornered rabbit,"

...

A few minutes passed as Present Mic called for a brief break, urging the crowd to settle down while Cementoss worked to repair the damaged arena and receive treatment for his injuries.

In the stands, Class 1-A wasted no time, quickly rushing out to check on their classmates. Concern was etched deeply across their faces, and several girls from Class 1-B joined them, equally anxious.

They soon reached the infirmary, ready to barge in, when a towering figure stepped in their way-All Might.

"Stop," All Might commanded firmly, raising a hand to halt them. "I understand you're all worried about Young Midoriya and Young Bakugou, but they need time to rest."

"B-But Izuku..." Yui's voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes.

The other students quickly chimed in:

"Is he okay?" Momo asked, her voice trembling.

"How's Dekiru holding up?" Ochako added, her concern evident.

"Can we see him?" Itsuka pressed urgently.

All Might's expression softened as he raised a reassuring hand. "Young Midoriya is fine. He didn't sustain too many injuries and will still be able to compete in the next match if he chooses to."

The students collectively sighed in relief, but the faint sound of a loud smooch from inside the infirmary room made them freeze in place, exchanging bewildered glances.

"He'll need time to recover, but there's nothing to worry about," All Might continued, ignoring the noise from within.

"I-Is that okay?" Kaminari asked hesitantly, breaking the awkward silence. "I mean, Midoriya seemed... off."

Ochako nodded, her concern deepening.

All Might nodded firmly. "It's his decision. If he feels he's not ready to compete, then he won't. In that case, whoever wins between Todoroki and Pony will be declared the Sports Festival champion."

The students exchanged confused looks, until Kirishima spoke up. "Wait, if Midoriya quits, doesn't that mean Bakugou automatically wins?"

All Might's face grew somber. "Young Bakugou will not be able to compete, regardless of Midoriya's decision."

A hushed silence fell over the group, tension hanging heavily in the air.

"Is... Bakugou alright?" Iida asked cautiously. Despite his issues with him, he didn't wish for the worst.

All Might hesitated briefly before responding. "He will be fine, but... he'll require surgery before he can fully recover."

Their faces paled, the weight of the revelation draining the color from their expressions.

"Don't worry," All Might added quickly. "Both Young Midoriya and Young Bakugou are receiving the best care. Now, please, return to your seats and allow them their rest."

Reluctantly, the group turned away, though the worry in their hearts lingered as they slowly headed back to the stands.

...

Nearly all of Class 1-A either had their heads down or were frantically talking to each other about what they had just witnessed.

"Since when the hell could Midoriya change the weather with a single punch?!" Kaminari exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"He broke his arm doing it," Aoyama muttered, crossing his arms. "That wasn't flashy at all. More reckless than anything else."

"That Quirk of his is very strange," Iida added, adjusting his glasses. Concern was written all over his face. "But... the more pressing issue is Bakugou and Midoriya's relationship."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the group.

The girls stared down at the floor, their expressions somber. Ochako had her hands tightly intertwined, her lips trembling as she fought back tears.

"Seriously, I know Bakugou's a jerk, but... bullying?" Sato said, his voice uncertain yet heavy with concern.

"Okay, whoa, let's not jump to conclusions here, okay?" Kaminari quickly interjected, waving his hands defensively. "Bakugou's rough, sure, but bullying? That's not-"

"Jump to conclusions?!" Toru interrupted, her voice trembling with anger. "The guy exploded Midoriya's back! He was screaming at him, saying how he ruined everything for him!" Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Kaminari flinched back, his usual bravado gone as he hugged his knees. Kirishima, sitting beside him, looked equally uncomfortable.

Momo stood a little further back from the group, her hands trembling. Tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes as her mind replayed Izuku's fight. The ferocity of his words, the sheer anger in his voice-it had been a side of him she had never seen before.

"I... I have never seen Dekiru so angry," Ochako said quietly, her voice breaking as she sniffled. "If he hated Bakugou so much..." She hesitated, her fingers tightening around each other. "Then... why didn't he ever say anything? Why would he just hold all that pain and anger inside?"

Ashido shifted uncomfortably, her own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I mean, we haven't known each other for that long, but... he could've talked to us, right?" she said, her voice filled with guilt. "He didn't have to go through all of that alone."

Tsuyu placed a comforting hand on Ochako's shoulder. "Midoriya's always been like that," Tsuyu said quietly. "He doesn't like being a burden."

Momo's face suddenly paled, her expression blank as Izuku's words echoed in her mind: "I don't want to win like that. I don't want to prove my strength by pushing other people down. If that's what being the strongest means... I think I'd rather go back to being the Quirkless kid I used to be."

Her breathing became shallow as the realization hit her. The way Bakugou always attacked Izuku, the sheer intensity and aggression-it was overwhelming enough now that he had a Quirk. But if he'd attacked Izuku with that same intensity back when he was Quirkless...

Her hands trembled as her mind wandered further, picturing what might have happened if Izuku had been defenseless. The thought of the bullies that she met recently cornering him the way they did with no way of fighting back...

"Momo?" Tsuyu asked, noticing her classmate's distress. She placed a hand on Momo's arm.

Momo jolted at the touch, her wide eyes locking onto Tsuyu's. She quickly tried to steady her breathing, her voice shaky. "I-I'm fine," she stammered, though the tears in her eyes said otherwise.

The group exchanged worried glances but didn't press her.

"I know you're all worried about Izuku," Momo began, her voice cracking slightly. She clenched her fists tightly, her emotions shifting to anger as she tried to maintain her composure. "But Midoriya might not feel ready to open up to us. If we all try to confront him at once, he'll just feel cornered. Especially if whatever he has gone through with Bakugou."

"But how can we just leave it like this?" Kirishima asked, his frustration evident. "If he doesn't talk to anyone, he'll just keep bottling it up until-"

"He won't listen if we push him," Momo interrupted firmly. "Midoriya needs time. If we force him to talk, we'll only push him further away."

"She's right," Shoji said. "He's been through a lot today. Let's give him some space."

Ochako hesitated but eventually nodded, though tears still streamed down her cheeks.

"But what about Bakugou?" Toru asked, her voice tinged with worry. "If they're both so angry at each other, isn't it dangerous to keep them in the same class? What if something worse happens?"

Momo took a deep breath, her hands tightening into fists. "Maybe... maybe it would be best if they separated Bakugou from Izuku," she said, her tone heavy with regret.

Kirishima looked conflicted, his loyalty to Bakugou warring with his concern for Izuku. "Bakugou's not all bad," he muttered. "Yeah, he's rough, but he doesn't mean half the stuff he says. He's just... not great at handling his emotions."

"But that doesn't make it okay," Toru argued, her voice shaking. "Midoriya shouldn't have to keep suffering just because Bakugou can't control himself."

"Let's not make any decisions for them," Shoji said calmly. "It's not our place to judge either of them until we know the full story."

The group fell silent again, the tension lingering in the air.

...

[Thirty Minutes Later.]

Izuku's eyes fluttered open as the harsh light of the infirmary hit him. He groaned and sat up slowly, his body feeling heavy and blank. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was calm-far calmer than he'd ever been before.

He felt relief.

Looking down, he saw that his arm was fully healed. The first thing that caught his eye was All Might in his skinny form, standing at the edge of the bed.

"Hey, kid... How are you feeling?" Toshinori asked softly, his tone laced with concern.

Izuku groaned again, his body resisting every movement. The emotional exhaustion weighed on him far more than the physical. "Ugh..." was all he managed to say.

"Yeah, figured as much," Toshinori replied with a small sigh. "You've been through one hell of an emotional ride."

Izuku turned to his side, avoiding All Might's gaze. The weight of guilt bore down on him. "How's Kacchan... Bakugou?" he asked quietly, the use of Bakugou's last name catching Toshinori's attention.

The older hero glanced toward the adjacent bed where Bakugou lay. He was motionless, an oxygen mask strapped to his face as he breathed shallowly. Bandages wrapped tightly around his torso, keeping his fractured ribs stable.

Deep purple bruises marred his pale skin, and a bandage secured his broken nose. IV lines ran from both arms, delivering fluids and painkillers.

Toshinori winced at the sight but let Recovery Girl speak first. "He'll be fine, dearie," she said gently. "He'll need rest, though. I've managed to heal most of his injuries, but..."

Her voice trailed off as she chose her words carefully. "It'll take time."

Izuku sat up shakily, ignoring the protests of his body. "I feel sick," he muttered, the nausea of guilt and exhaustion washing over him.

"No surprise there," Toshinori said. "You should relax for now. Your next match isn't for a while."

Izuku winced as another wave of exhaustion swept over him, but he shook his head. "No... I can't quit. I've come too far. I'm going to see this through," he said firmly, though his voice lacked its usual conviction.

Toshinori exchanged a concerned glance with Recovery Girl. "You don't have to push yourself, son," he said gently. "You can stay here and-"

"No." Izuku cut him off, throwing the covers off his legs. "Seeing him like that... it makes me feel sick." His voice carried an edge of anger and bitterness that startled Toshinori.

Before Toshinori could respond, the infirmary door slid open with a loud whoosh, and a group of voices filled the room.

"Midoriya-chan!" Tsuyu called, her expression as calm yet concerned as ever.

"Izuku!" Momo shouted, her hands clenched in front of her.

"Midori!" Mina and Hagakure yelled in unison.

"Dekiru!" Ochako said, rushing forward.

"Greenie!" Kyoka added with a smirk, trying to hide her worry behind her usual teasing tone.

Toshinori nearly jumped out of his skin, a small spurt of blood escaping his mouth in shock. "God, you scared me!" he yelped, clutching his chest.

The girls didn't even glance at him as they zoomed past, their focus entirely on Izuku.

"Izuku, are you okay?" Itsuka asked, her sharp eyes scanning him for any visible injuries.

Izuku nodded slowly, sliding his feet into his shoes. He glanced at Bakugou briefly, letting out a sigh. "I'm fine," he said, though his tone was distant.

"B-But your arm and fingers... they were broken!" Ochako exclaimed, her brows furrowing in confusion.

Izuku raised his hands, examining them for a moment before noticing a faint scar running across his palm. His face was unreadable as he studied it. He didn't respond to Ochako's concern and instead stood up, preparing to leave.

Recovery Girl's voice broke through the tense silence as Izuku reached the door. "Let that scar be a reminder, Midoriya," she said firmly, her tone both stern and caring. "Bottling up your emotions, especially as someone as powerful as you, isn't just dangerous-it's self-destructive. You're not just hurting yourself. You're hurting everyone around you."

The words struck like a hammer, causing Izuku to pause mid-step. His shoulders tensed, but he didn't turn around. He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, the weight of her statement settling heavily on his chest.

Ochako flinched at the words, her hands clenching into fists by her sides. Bottling up emotions... The phrase echoed painfully in her mind as she stared at Izuku's back. She had been doing the same-hiding her feelings for him, burying the love she felt deep inside because she didn't want to complicate things or make him uncomfortable.

But now, seeing him like this-so isolated, so hurt-made the ache in her chest nearly unbearable.

Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the fabric of her skirt. I'm no better than him, she thought. I've been holding back, too, and it's tearing me apart.

Tsuyu, standing beside her, noticed the subtle shift in Ochako's demeanor and gave her a sidelong glance. "Ribbit," she murmured under her breath, her eyes narrowing slightly as she pieced things together.

As Izuku began walking again, Ochako couldn't stop herself. "D-Dekiru?" she called, her voice softer, more hesitant than before.

He stopped, glancing over his shoulder. "Hm?"

"Are you... okay?" she asked, her voice trembling just enough to reveal her inner turmoil.

Her chest felt tight, a mix of sympathy for his pain and the weight of her unspoken feelings.

Izuku blinked, his tired green eyes meeting Ochako's. His shoulders slumped as though the weight of her concern-and everyone else's-pressed down on him. "N-No," he admitted softly, his voice trembling. "But I just... I need to focus. I need to keep moving forward."

Tsuyu stepped closer, her calm yet firm tone cutting through the tension. "Ribbit. You don't seem fine, Midoriya," she said bluntly, her unflinching gaze steady.

Izuku hesitated, his fists clenching tightly. "I'm not fine," he said at last, his voice shaking. "But I can't let Bakugou take anything else from me. I've come too far for that." His emerald eyes burned with desperation and determination. "I'm going to win. I have to win, no matter what."

Kyoka frowned, her arms crossing as she leaned against the wall. "You're allowed to feel, you know," she said quietly, her sharp tone softening just enough to betray her concern. "You don't have to act like it doesn't bother you."

Momo stepped forward, her soft voice full of warmth. "We're here for you, Izuku," she said gently. "You don't have to carry all of this alone."

Ochako hesitated, her gaze falling to the ground as her hands tightened into fists. She desperately wanted to tell him how much she cared, how deeply she understood his pain, but the words stuck in her throat. The feeling of holding back emotions for someone.

'How can I help him,' she thought bitterly, 'when I can't even tell him how I feel?'

Frustration bubbled within her as she closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself. When she opened them again, she stepped forward, rounding on Izuku and taking both his hands in hers. The touch startled him, his green eyes widening as she held firm.

"You... you don't have to hold your feelings back!" Ochako blurted out, her voice trembling.

The other girls exchanged glances, a silent wave of mutual agreement passing between them: hypocrite.

'That's rich coming from her.' Mina thought.

'Wow what a hypocrite.' Yui and Itsuka thought.

Ochako winced, clearly sensing their unspoken judgment, but shook her head and tightened her grip on Izuku's hands. "You can talk to us," she said earnestly. "I-I mean, we care about you. A lot..."

Izuku's eyes widened, his hands trembling in hers. "I know," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I know I need someone to talk to... I just... I need time."

Ochako didn't let go of his hands, her warm brown eyes locked onto his. Around them, the others exchanged glances-Mina folding her arms, Tsuyu tilting her head, Pony nervously wringing her sleeves, and Toru leaning slightly forward as if silently urging him on.

"How do you feel?" Ochako asked.

Izuku took a deep, shaky breath, his voice raw as he finally spoke."I... I don't know. Frustrated, tired. And scared what everyone thinks of me."

Yui spoke up."No matter what you did it doesn't change how any of us see you. We just saw... A part of you we don't usually see. You being angry doesn't make any of us think any less of you. It just shows even the best of us can get angry."

Izuku felt his resolve crumble. "I didn't know I could get so angry," he admitted. His hands trembled, his shoulders shaking. "I... I didnt even realize how much I've been holding it in for so long, but when I fought Bakugou... letting it out felt good. But beating Bakugou like that felt so... Hollow. I won like he did. Got my undeniable win. But all I feel is so hollow...He wouldn't have given up no matter what... But..."

His eyes dropped to the floor, his face contorting with shame. "But I hate that a small or large part of me wanted to beat him in a way that no one could deny... That I was stronger than him."

"I...I have finally surpassed him. Got the win I have always wanted. Beat him in a way that he could only respect...But it feels so hollow... so shallow." Izuku said."There's no question that I'm stronger than him‐-

Tsuyu was about to speak up.

"Look I know you guys think I'm stronger than him. But... I-I needed to prove it too myself. That... I guess I am stronger the Ka-Bakugou." Izuku said.

Kyoka approached."We know you're stronger than that blonde prick that much was obvious."

Momo nodded."I...I don't know your history is between you and Bakugou..."Momo said."But I know if I were in your shoes I probably would've done the same thing."

Which made the girls look a bit surprised. Izuku scoffed."You don't even know our history."

"No," Momo agreed. "But I know you. You've never fought out of malice or pride. You've always pushed yourself for others-for the people you care about. Even if you let your anger take over for a moment, it doesn't change who you are."

Izuku smiled at Momo, as his hands that were still clasped in Ochako's made him squeeze picturing her and Jirou's hands on his.

"Im sorry...All that anger, frustration-it just exploded. And now, I can't stop thinking about how much I've ignored, how much I've been pretending."

The girls stiffened, their eyes widening as his words sank in. Izuku's voice cracked, his words spilling out like a dam had burst. "For so long, people only looked at one part of me, and they judged me for it. And I hated it. But the truth is... I did the same thing to Bakugou. I admired his quirk. His drive. But I ignored everything else-the way he treated me, the way he treated others. I let myself believe that was fine, because I wanted to believe in him so badly."

Mina's usual carefree expression darkened, her lips pressed into a tight line. Tsuyu's calm demeanor faltered as she frowned slightly, her eyes fixed on Izuku.

"I feel like a hypocrite," Izuku admitted, his voice shaking as he pressed his palms against his temples. "I hated being judged for just one thing. But I did the same to him. I pretended everything else didn't matter, and I let myself believe in him because it was easier than facing the truth."

His voice wavered as he looked around, meeting their eyes. "I-I just... I don't know how to fix it. I don't even know if I can."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of his confession hanging heavy in the air.

They had never seen Izuku like this so open and vulnerable he had been so perfect, he had the quirk and was always so nice to everyone seeing him show him anger even if he was holding back, the girls heart fluttered seeing a side to him they barely had seen.

The room was silent, Izuku's confession lingering like an unspoken truth.

The girls had never seen him like this before-not just angry, but raw and human in a way that felt startlingly real. Izuku was always so composed, so driven, a shining example of what they aspired to be. But this? This was a side of him they'd never known, one that stripped away the idealized image of perfection. It wasn't just his vulnerability-it was the sheer force of his emotions, the way he let them spill out instead of bottling them up. It made their hearts ache and flutter all at once.

Ochako took a step forward, her voice gentle but steady.

"Ribbit," Tsuyu said, her calm tone breaking the silence. "You don't have to feel ashamed, Midoriya-chan. Everyone gets angry."

Izuku let out a dry chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, but not everyone nearly destroys a stadium," he muttered, his voice laced with self-reproach.

Itsuka stepped closer, resting a firm hand on his shoulder. Her touch was grounding. "Maybe, but the only person who got hurt was Bakugou," she pointed out with a small shrug. "And, well..."

Kyoka crossed her arms, her expression deadpan. "Let's be real. He needed a good ass-kicking," she said bluntly.

Izuku's lips twitched upward, a quiet laugh escaping him. The sound eased some of the tension in the room, and the girls couldn't help but smile at the rare, genuine moment of levity.

"Every great hero loses their temper once in a while," Pony added, her voice bright. "It doesn't make you any less amazing."

Yui gave a small nod, her voice low but sincere. "We don't think any less of you."

Momo offered him a kind smile, her voice as soothing as a lullaby. "She's right. And if you ever need someone to talk to, we're here for you."

Mina leaned forward, her grin infectious. "Exactly! Plus, Bakugou had it coming. Maybe this'll teach him to stop being such a asshole."

Toru's voice chimed in, her tone filled with unwavering support. "You're still incredible, Izuku. Don't let this eat you up inside."

Izuku's gaze swept over them, their words wrapping around him like a warm embrace. The weight on his shoulders felt a little lighter, and his chest tightened with an emotion he couldn't quite name. His cheeks flushed as he tried to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

"Thanks," he said softly, his voice trembling with gratitude.

Ochako stepped closer, her hands instinctively reaching for his. She held them gently, her warm brown eyes meeting his in a moment of quiet understanding.

Izuku blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Uh... Ochako, can you, um... let go of my hands?"

Ochako froze, her face turning a brilliant shade of red as the realization hit her. She yanked her hands away, waving them nervously. "Oh! S-Sorry! I didn't even realize-I mean, it's not like it was romantic or anything!" Her laugh was shaky, her blush refusing to fade.

The girls exchanged knowing glances, their expressions varying between exasperation and amusement. 'Wow, she's so obvious,' they all thought in unison.

...

"Thanks, guys, honestly," Izuku said, exhaling heavily. He clenched his fists before slapping both hands against his cheeks. The sharp sound echoed slightly, drawing the attention of those nearby. With his nerves shaken off, he took a step forward, his emerald eyes blazing with renewed focus. "Now, I've still got one match to go." He slammed his fist into his palm with determination. "Right now, it's Hero Time."

The announcer's voice thundered across the arena. "ALRIGHT, SPORTS FESTIVAL FOLKS! THE ARENA IS REPAIRED AFTER THE ABSOLUTE MASSACRE THAT WAS THE LAST MATCH! BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'VE GOT TWO MORE TO GO! LET'S HEAR YOU SCREAM, SPORTS FESTIVAL FANS!"

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their excitement electrifying the air.

Pony jumped to her feet, her face lighting up with excitement. "Ooh, that's my cue!" she said, practically bouncing with energy. Before Izuku could react, she darted forward and pulled him into a tight hug, lifting him slightly off the ground.

"E-Eh?! Pony!" Izuku yelped, his voice cracking as his face flushed red.

"Wish me luck, Midoriya!" she said, grinning as she set him down. She gave him a quick wave before running off toward the arena.

Izuku stood frozen, his cheeks still glowing pink. Kyoka nudged him with her elbow, a teasing smirk on her face. "C'mon, lover boy, let's go watch her match."

--

Izuku made his way back to the Class 1-A seating area, still reeling from his earlier match. The second he walked in, his classmates swarmed him, their voices a cacophony of reactions.

"Midoriya!" multiple voices called out at once, practically overwhelming him.

"That was the scariest match I've ever seen!" Mineta exclaimed, his face pale as he recalled the intensity.

"Seriously, dude, that was nuts!" Kaminari added, throwing his hands up.

"I didn't know you could snap like that!" Sato said, his tone a mix of amazement and concern.

Aoyama struck a dramatic pose, his expression as exaggerated as ever. "That battle was far from elegant, mon ami, but it was magnifique in its ferocity! Even I was frightened!"

"Not even using a form?" Sero chimed in, his tone conflicted. He crossed his arms, his gaze flickering between Izuku and the floor. "Can't say Bakugou didn't deserve it, but... seeing you like that was rough. I... kinda feel bad for enjoying what you did to him."

Izuku winced slightly, unsure how to respond, but the influx of comments didn't stop.

"Everyone, please!" Iida's authoritative voice cut through the noise as he stepped forward. He gestured with his hand in a signature chopping motion. "Let's give Midoriya some space. I'm sure that match took an enormous emotional toll on him."

The group reluctantly stepped back, murmuring their agreement.

"Thanks, Iida," Izuku said, offering him a small, grateful nod. He made his way to an open seat and sat between Momo and Kyoka, his muscles still tense from the earlier confrontation.

The murmurs continued around the room as his classmates processed what they'd just witnessed.

"Man, that was intense," Sero muttered under his breath, his voice carrying just enough for the others to hear. "I never thought Midoriya could lose it like that."

"Yeah," Ojiro added. "It was so out of character for him."

"A beast's quiet nature does not make it harmless," Tokoyami said cryptically, his arms folded as he gazed at Izuku with a mix of respect and wariness.

Shoji nodded solemnly. "Even the best of us can lose our temper, especially toward those who've wronged us deeply. While I don't condone acts of revenge, I understand the resentment. There's no need to feel shame for what happened."

Izuku glanced at Shoji, appreciating his calm understanding. He nodded slightly, though the weight of their words still lingered.

The awkward tension hung in the air until Momo broke it with a question.

"Midoriya," she said, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity, "how were you able to perform such an attack with your voice? It was... unexpected."

"Right!" Hagakure chimed in, her enthusiasm palpable. "I really want to know too!"

Izuku scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish smile forming as he tried to explain. "Oh, uh, you know how I can focus my power around my body or specific parts?"

"Yes," Momo replied, leaning in slightly.

"Well, I just applied the same principle to my vocal cords and lungs. It was something I'd been experimenting with... and honestly..." He turned to Kyoka, his expression sincere. "Thank you, Jirou. Your help really made it possible."

Kyoka crossed her arms, her lips twitching into a faint smirk as a blush crept across her cheeks. "Don't mention it. Just don't blow out your voice next time, dummy."

...

"You can do that?!" Sero blurted out, echoing the shock plastered on everyone's faces.

Izuku gave a small nod, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, it's... not easy, though."

Shoji folded his arms, his expression turning thoughtful as he recalled the aftermath of Izuku's earlier battles. "Hm... So, what would happen if you used your full power with that move?"

Izuku tilted his head, tapping his chin with his finger as he considered the question. "Well... if it's anything like when I used too much power with my bones, then my lungs would probably..." He paused, his face paling as a dark realization hit him. "...Explode."

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at him in stunned disbelief, the weight of his statement sinking in.

""ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Hagakure screamed, grabbing Izuku's shoulders and shaking him back and forth with surprising strength. "WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?!"

Meanwhile, Kaminari leaned back, his expression a mix of awe and terror. "Honestly... kind of badass."

That earned him a series of sharp glares from the girls, their collective fury making him visibly shrink. Even Kodai, with her typically stoic expression, gave him a piercing look that spoke volumes.

Kaminari quickly hid behind Tokoyami, waving his hands defensively. "I-I mean, Midoriya, that was really irresponsible!" He glanced at the girls, still glaring, and added hastily, "A-And stupid! Like, my level of stupid!"

The girls nodded in grudging approval before turning their worried eyes back to Izuku.

Izuku chuckled nervously, holding up his hands in surrender. "Uh... no risk, no reward?"

The guys collectively smacked their foreheads, groaning in unison.

"NOT WHEN THE RISK IS YOUR LUNGS BLOWING UP!!!" they all shouted, their voices blending together.

Before the tension could build further, Present Mic's voice blasted through the speakers, redirecting everyone's attention. "ALRIGHT, THE NEXT MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"

Izuku let out a quiet breath of relief, grateful for the distraction. His eyes turned toward the screen as the announcement continued. "WE HAVE TSUNOTORI PONY, THE HORNED ADORABLE GIRL FROM CLASS 1-B!!"

The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers reverberating through the stadium. Pony stepped into the arena, her nerves evident as she faced her opponent—Shoto Todoroki.

Todoroki stood with his usual calm demeanor, his icy gaze fixed on her. Pony, on the other hand, trembled slightly as she tried to formulate a strategy.

'Okay, think, Pony. If I shoot my horns, I could push him out of bounds... No, he'd freeze me in an instant,' she thought, her mind racing as the tension grew.

"Are you both ready?" Midnight's voice rang out, her whip poised.

Ice began to creep across Todoroki's body as he gave a slight nod. Pony swallowed hard and nodded in return.

"Begin!" Midnight declared.

The instant the match started, Todoroki prepared to launch an ice attack, but Pony quickly raised her hand.

"I surrender!" she shouted in English, her voice loud and clear.

Todoroki froze mid-attack, exhaling a misty breath as he blinked in surprise.

Midnight looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Tsunotori Pony has forfeited!"

"REALLY? JUST LIKE THAT?!" Present Mic exclaimed, his voice echoing in disbelief.

"A hero knowing when to surrender isn't weakness," Aizawa's voice interjected calmly through the speakers. "Recognizing an unwinnable fight and choosing to swallow their pride shows maturity."

"LOOKS LIKE OUR FINAL MATCH IS SET!" Present Mic roared, the excitement in his voice igniting the crowd. "MIDORIYA VERSUS TODOROKI!"

The stadium vibrated with excitement, the crowd roaring louder than ever. Todoroki turned his cold, unwavering gaze toward Izuku, who felt a shiver run down his spine.

...

Izuku groaned as he stretched his arms. "Guess it's Hero Time," he muttered, standing up from his seat. He pressed the button on the Omnitrix, scrolling through his selection of aliens as he made his way toward the arena.

Momo and Kyoka exchanged a look before subtly slipping away from the group to follow him.

"Oh, poor Pony," Ochako said softly, her expression sympathetic.

Sero shrugged. "I kinda get it, though. Todoroki's attacks are so wide-range that there's no way she could've dodged or countered in time."

"Yeah, he'd have frozen her solid before her horns even got close," Kaminari added.

"And let's be real," Kirishima said, leaning back. "Neither of those guys—Midoriya or Todoroki—have any obvious weaknesses. They're both crazy strong."

--

In the stands, spectators buzzed with excitement, their voices rising over the hum of the crowd.

"So many hard-hitting battles from the first years this year," one man said, shaking his head in amazement.

"They're gonna have a field day with the draft, that's for sure," another agreed.

"That Midoriya kid, though," someone else chimed in. "He's definitely getting a ton of offers from pros."

"No kidding," a woman said. "I've never seen a Quirk like his. Transforming into all those forms? He's practically compatible with any pro's strategy."

"And he's a counter to just about any villain," another added.

"But," a different woman interjected, shivering slightly, "that Quirk comes with a serious liability. Breaking his bones every time? That's a huge risk for any pro agency."

"If that scares off a pro," Mirko's loud, confident voice cut through the chatter, "then that pro's just a coward!" She grinned, her excitement palpable as she leaned forward, clearly eager for the final match.

--

In Class 1-B's seating area, Tetsutetsu groaned, slumping in his chair. "Aw, man! Midoriya's been stealing the spotlight all day!"

Itsuka patted his head with a smirk. "Told you—you picked one hell of a guy to try and compete against."

Monoma, however, was sweating as he recalled Midoriya's earlier matches. "He's just lucky," he muttered defensively. "If it weren't for that ridiculously overpowered Quirk of his—"

"Uh-huh," Itsuka cut him off, rolling her eyes.

Mina leaned forward, her gaze fixed on the arena. "So, it's those two," she said.

"How's this gonna go?" Ochako asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Tokoyami folded his arms, his tone serious. "It depends on what form Midoriya uses—or if he decides to use one at all."

"Yeah!" Toru chimed in, bouncing in her seat. "Midori can totally counter Todoroki's ice! You all saw how hot Heatblast was during the USJ attack."

Everyone nodded, remembering the intense heat that had left most of them sunburned for days.

"So Midoriya has the best chance?" Mina asked, hopeful.

"If Todoroki doesn't use his flames, then yes," Iida replied, adjusting his glasses. "However, if Todoroki decides to unleash his fire, that could shift the battle in his favor. It depends we've never seen Todoroki use his flames, so it's an unknown factor."

Mina clenched her fists, silently rooting for her classmate. 'Come on, Midori, win!'

Tsuyu stared at the arena, her hands pressed together. 'Don't lose, Midoriya—you're so close to victory!'

Ochako's expression remained calm, though her thoughts betrayed her worry. I know you can do this, Midoriya.

--

In a dark room, Tomura Shigaraki sat hunched over, his fingers scratching at his neck as he glared at a monitor showing the arena.

"Pay close attention, Shigaraki," a distorted, ominous voice said through the speakers. "The boy with the watch is more dangerous than you realize."

Shigaraki scoffed, his lips curling in disdain. "You don't have to tell me that," he growled, his nails digging into his skin. "That damn kid with the watch is nothing but a thorn in my side."

His eyes remained locked on the screen, hatred and annoyance seething beneath his chaotic demeanor.

...

Izuku walked along, absentmindedly scrolling through his alien forms. "Okay, definitely Diamondhead. Or maybe Amphibian? No, that would end the fight too quickly. Upgrade... no, tech-based... pretty useless. Hmm... maybe his energy beam? That would definitely..."

Suddenly, Momo's hand gripped his shoulder. "Izuku, wait!" she said, her breath slightly hurried as she stood alongside Kyoka.

"I-Izuku?" Momo asked, her voice soft, but concerned.

Izuku blinked, turning to face them. "M-Momo? Jirou?"

Momo exhaled before speaking, her tone full of concern. "Izuku, I know this may be a lot to ask, but please, don't push yourself too hard. I know you have excellent control over your quirk, but... I can't help but worry about you."

Izuku's cheeks flushed slightly. "I won't hurt myself, I promise. I don't exactly enjoy breaking my bones, you know?" He chuckled awkwardly, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Well, I hope I won't break any bones." He mumbled the last part, as if trying to reassure himself more than them.

Jirou's eye twitched. In an instant, she jabbed him with her earjack.

"Ow!" Izuku winced, his hand instinctively going to his side. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Oh, just making sure you're not some kind of masochist," Kyoka remarked, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, you can win without breaking anything, you know."

Izuku sighed in relief. "Right. I'll be careful."

Kyoka raised an eyebrow, her voice turning serious. "So... you've got a plan, right?"

Izuku hesitated, his fingers nervously tapping at the screen of his Omnitrix. "U-uh... I may or may not have a plan," he admitted awkwardly, glancing up at Kyoka, then at Momo. He scratched the back of his head, still unsure. "I mean, I want to win! But... I don't see any reason not to... help him out a little."

Momo raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Help him? How?"

Izuku shuffled back a little, his face turning slightly pink. "O-oh, you know... Maybe... help him use his left side?" he stammered out, his words slipping together in a jumble.

Momo and Kyoka both furrowed their brows in confusion.

"Pardon?" Momo asked, her tone sharp with disbelief.

Izuku cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing deeper. "Help him... use his left side," he repeated more clearly, but it still sounded odd in the air.

Momo looked at him with a blank expression, while Kyoka simply raised a pinkie and cleaned her earjack, as though double-checking if she had misheard.

"Huh... that's funny. Could've sworn you just said something insane. Care to run that by me again?" Kyoka teased, her voice laced with incredulity.

Izuku sighed, a deep breath escaping his lips. "Look, it's everything he told us. I don't want Todoroki to suffer like this, denying a part of himself just because of the expectations placed on him. He thinks his left side ruined his life..." He swallowed, looking between the two girls. "I know what it feels like, being afraid of what people expect from you."

Kyoka and Momo exchanged a glance, the silence stretching for a moment. Momo bit her lip, struggling to find the right words.

"I know it sounds... crazy," Izuku continued, his voice quieter now, almost pleading for understanding. "But I have to at least try. It might backfire, it probably will, but... I have to try."

Momo hesitated, her arms still crossed, but she softened. "I don't know why you feel the need to help Todoroki, even if it seems a bit... illogical. But," she paused, her gaze steady, "I'll trust you, Izuku."

"Thanks," Izuku murmured, his voice thick with gratitude.

Suddenly, a sharp spike of danger awareness shot through him. He immediately swiveled his head, his danger sense flaring. Both Kyoka and Momo jolted at the same time as the warmth in the air seemed to increase.

"Ah, it's you," a deep, authoritative voice called out.

Izuku and Kyoka both froze in shock as their eyes met the towering figure of Endeavor rounding the corner.

Izuku froze. "Endeavor!?" he and Kyoka said in shock, both stepping back instinctively. Momo's eyes were wide in surprise.

"So you're the one making waves this year," Endeavor said, his voice low and measured. The aura of the Number 2 Hero was imposing, and his presence seemed to dwarf the three of them. His eyes were sharp as he sized up Izuku.

...

"Endeavor... Why're you back here...?" Izuku asked, his voice slightly shaky as the towering figure loomed over him. The sight of the Pro Hero was intimidating up close, and despite his usual calm, Izuku couldn't shake the discomfort.

It was as if his body was protecting the girls from any potential threat, so without thinking, he subtly shifted, his body edging them both behind him.

"I've heard about your performance during the USJ incident," Endeavor said, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp and calculating. "They say you have flames that rival my own." His eyes narrowed, as if sizing up Izuku, who couldn't suppress the slight tremble in his form.

"T-That's... a bit of an exaggeration," Izuku stammered, trying to stay composed under the pressure.

Momo, stepping forward, chimed in before Izuku could respond, "Endeavor's flames are known to reach temperatures of around 2,000C, but reports suggest you've exceeded that by 3,000C—"

Kyoka quickly nudged Momo, giving her a sharp look that silently urged her to be more cautious.

Endeavor scoffed, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips. "Heh, you've got quite the potential. I'm more inclined to believe you'll be the one to bring out my son's true flames. Your form, your power— even without your quirks, you already possess strength that compares to All Might's."

A cold sweat ran down Izuku's back, his heart rate quickening.

"S-So I've been told..." Izuku muttered, nervousness creeping into his voice. "Do you girls mind... giving me some space? I should be going." He shot Kyoka a subtle look, silently asking for her understanding. It was clear she didn't want to be involved in this conversation either.

"Uh, right!" Kyoka replied, her voice a bit rushed. "Come on, Momo." She grabbed Momo's arm, gently pulling her away from the situation.

"Sorry, but I've got a match to compete in," Izuku said, his words trailing off as he walked past Endeavor.

In his mind, Izuku couldn't help but worry. Does Endeavor know about One For All? he thought. No, if he did, he would've brought it up. He's the one person who could figure it out, but I can't let him get too close to the truth... Or the Omnitrix. The thoughts raced through his mind as he continued walking, but the man's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"It's Shoto's duty to surpass All Might, to claim the title of the Number 1 hero," Endeavor's voice cut through the air, and Izuku froze. His body tensed as he felt Kyoka tense beside him as well. They both knew what he was implying.

"And his match with you," Endeavor continued, "will be the perfect test of his training. So hit him hard. Make him bring out his flames. Don't disgrace yourself or him by holding back."

Izuku's thoughts flashed back to his earlier conversation with Shoto, and he felt a sharp pang of frustration.

"I've said what I needed to," Endeavor added, turning away. "I'll apologize for the interruption."

Izuku had enough of this. His patience snapped. He had to speak his mind.

"Endeavor..." Izuku called out to the No. 2 hero, his voice cutting through the air. Endeavor stopped walking, turning to face the young hero. Izuku's piercing green eyes met his, and for a moment, Endeavor felt a flicker of familiarity.

"I'm not All Might," Izuku stated firmly, his voice steady. This caused Endeavor to blink in confusion, clearly puzzled by the obvious fact.

"What? What are you talking about?" Endeavor asked, his brow furrowing.

Izuku took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "And the same goes for Todoroki," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I won't let your warped, twisted ideas for him hold him back from becoming the hero he wants to be."

Endeavor's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Izuku. The air seemed to tense, and the flames around Endeavor intensified for a moment before he narrowed his eyes, growing even more agitated.

"He may be your son, but he's not you," Izuku added, his voice cutting through the growing tension.

Endeavor's eyes widened, but then narrowed again in a barely contained fury. He growled low in his throat, flames licking at the air. "You've got your father's tongue," he spat.

Izuku stopped in his tracks, confusion flickering across his face. "What?"

"You better watch that tongue," Endeavor warned, his tone dripping with venom. "It caused enough trouble for Hisashi as it did."

Izuku's heart skipped a beat as his eyes widened. "H-How do you know that name?" His voice cracked, his surprise mixing with a rising sense of unease.

Endeavor's gaze softened briefly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Huh? It's your father's name, right? I recognized those freckles anywhere."

Izuku's mind went blank for a moment as he processed what he was hearing. "I-I... How did you know my dad?" he stammered, a knot forming in his stomach.

Endeavor's expression hardened again, frustration creeping into his voice. "What, he never mentioned me?" he scoffed, turning away with a dismissive gesture. "Same way All Might did. We were the Big Three of our generation."

Izuku felt a rush of disbelief wash over him as Endeavor walked away. He stood frozen for a moment, processing everything he'd just learned. Present Mic's voice boomed over the intercom, snapping him back to reality.

Izuku's thoughts whirled as he made his way toward the arena. 'A-All Might knew my dad? No… he would've said something. But why would Endeavor lie? No, he has no reason to lie… But if he went to U.A., why didn't anyone mention it? Does Mom know? Why didn't she ever tell me?" He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Calm down, Izuku. I'll ask him myself. After the match… I'll ask him.'

...

Izuku walked out onto the field, his eyes immediately locking onto Todoroki, who had just stepped into the arena from the other side. The crowd erupted into cheers as the atmosphere grew electric.

"AT LAST WE'VE ARRIVED!! THE BEST AMONG U.A.'S FIRST YEARS WILL BE DECIDED!! IT'S THE FINAL MATCH!!"

Izuku couldn't tear his eyes away from Todoroki, his mind replaying everything from earlier in the day—the outburst, the anger, the frustration. Every emotion that had boiled over, and through it all, Izuku couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

'Todoroki, I think I understand at least a little of what you're going through. Everyone's pain is their own… Endeavor's power is so overwhelming, and there's so little you can do.' Izuku's thoughts were clouded with empathy as he observed his opponent.

"WE HAVE THE KID WHO CHANGED THE WEATHER WITH A PUNCH! A MAN OF ACTION COMING WITH A DETROIT OF ACTION, IZUKU MIDORIYA!!" Present Mic's voice boomed across the stadium, and the crowd erupted in cheers, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts for a moment.

'You can't cause him the same pain that he's caused you. You can't carry the weight of all that frustration and isolation. Not when you've already suffered so much.' Izuku continued, his mind still focused on Todoroki, the words almost feeling like they were for himself as much as for his opponent.'

'No matter how hard you try, it feels like Endeavor can get away with anything and everything. And you feel like the only way to oppose him is by holding back your fire, keeping it buried inside. But you don't have to do that anymore, Todoroki. There's another way.' Izuku's expression hardened as he clenched his fist, his gaze unwavering.'Rejecting everything about him... Even yourself. Kinda I wish I was like that having the resolve to reject everything about someone especially when they have caused you so much pain.'

'I think I get it now. Or maybe I don't. I can't say I fully understand, but I do know what it feels like to be driven by resentment and the desire to defy someone. That's something you and I both share. To an extent.' He took a deep breath, walking toward the platform, his determination growing.

'But holding yourself back won't solve anything. I've learned that the hard way. I know I probably sound like a hypocrite, especially with the issues I have with… well, with Bakugou, but still. I can't stand by and watch you suffer from the same pain I've been through.' Izuku thought, tightening his grip on his fist.

'I'll help you, Todoroki. No matter what.' His resolve was clear as he took his position, ready for the fight ahead.

"VERSUS THE WALKING BLIZZARD! THE SON OF ENDEAVOR! THESE TWO HAVE BEEN GOING AT IT, SHOTO TODOROKI!!" Present Mic's voice rang out once more, the stadium erupting in cheers.

Izuku activated the Omnitrix, the transformation process beginning as Todoroki's eyes widened. He braced himself, taking his own fighting stance as he sized up Izuku.

Midnight watched the exchange, her eyes widening as she saw the expression on Izuku's face. It wasn't just the look of a fighter preparing for a match—it was the look of someone who was ready to save someone.

Izuku smirked, a glimmer of confidence in his eyes as he locked eyes with Todoroki, ready to face whatever came next.

"It's Hero Time."

...

Any feedback would be appreciated, whether it's complimenting the story, pointing out something wrong, or just giving out a suggestion.