The air in the UA control room was dense with tension as the dust from Midoriya and Bakugo's match finally settled.
All Might and class 1-A lined the glowing monitor stations, the other proctors and staff excusing themselves to grant the students—and this iconic hero—the stage. Despite the roars and chaos outside, in here, even the faintest breath felt loud.
Aizawa also joined All Might's class 15 minutes earlier.
All Might was practically radiating pride, his giant hands braced on the console as he watched the slow-motion replay of that thunderous final clash.
"Astonishing… truly astonishing! !" He couldn't contain his grin, eyes shining as he patted the monitor affectionately.
Aizawa, standing with arms crossed at the back, grunted his approval with a rare sliver of a smirk.
"They're both wrecking the place. They need to control restraint." he muttered, but the twinkle in his eye betrayed a silent satisfaction.
Across the rest of 1-A, the reactions were just as energized—Kaminari's eyes sparkled with hero worship, Sero jacketed by a stunned laugh
("Man, Sero always cleans up in the background!").
Kirishima clasped his hands behind his head, muscles flexing.
"That was so manly! Did you see those hits?"
With adrenaline still sizzling, everyone tuned in as the other teams' matches flashed across the screens in brisk, replayed cuts:
Sero & Midoriya vs. Bakugo & Kaminari: The classroom was still abuzz from that match's ending. Sero's sneaky tactics and Midoriya's sheer power finally outmanoeuvred Bakugo and Kaminari's coordinated electric-pyro combo, giving Team Hero the edge and the win by bomb retrieval.
Ashido Mina & Kirishima Eijiro vs. Aoyama Yuga & Shoji Mezou: Mina's fluid, acrobatic acid work, paired with Kirishima's unbreakable defense, let them break through Shoji's multipronged guards and Aoyama's dazzling laser assaults. The match ended in an acid-dissolved barricade and Kirishima catching the bomb with a grin.
Ojiro Mashirao & Jiro Kyoka vs. Sato Rikido & Tsuyu Asui:
Ojiro's muscular tail swipes and Jiro's sound detection wove a net that tripped up Tsuyu's leaps. Sato powered up with sugar but couldn't keep up the pace.
Ojiro's tail flick snatched the bomb clean.
Iida Tenya & Ochako Uraraka vs. Aoyama Yuga & Sero Hanta:
Uraraka's gravity manipulation and Iida's blinding speed steamrolled most obstacles, even with Aoyama showing off his navel laser
("I CAN Do This!" he'd shouted, before nearly fainting from overuse).
Uraraka deactivated gravity just in time for Iida to vault and grab the bomb in a blur.
Each team had its moments—wild turns, laughter, quirkful improvisation—but one upcoming match now had every eye fixed on the monitor's largest panel, and every heart beating a little faster.
All Might's voice boomed with excitement, almost theatrical, as the Hero D vs. Villain D captions lit up on the projected displays:
"NEXT… Heroes D V/s Villains D!"
"Young heroes. Watch and learn! For this… this will teach you more than any textbook ever could!"
The room brimmed with anticipation. Even Aizawa's stance straightened, already focusing on the screen with keen, tired eyes.
------------------
Nagato and Toru stood at the threshold of the villain stronghold, the late afternoon sunlight reflecting off the frozen facade.
Every door and window was sealed shut by thick, blue ice—a fortress of gleaming crystal.
Toru tapped her invisible chin, watching frost shimmer on metal.
"Must be Todoroki-kun's work."
Nagato nodded, never taking his eyes from the icy barriers.
Toru looked down, fingers twiddling nervously against her gloves.
"Just so you know… I'm not really a fighter. Stealth and sneaking is more my speed. I'll do my best to help, but—"
Nagato offered a calm smile.
"Don't worry. I've got this."
With a low hum of power, he pressed his palm firmly to the freezing ground.
The building vibrated—hairline fractures spider-webbing through the ice. In a moment, the bizarre fortress collapsed into a storm of sparkling particles, breaking apart into a flurry of glittering dust that floated and scattered on the breeze.
Inside, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu watched the spectacle through the frosted glass.
Todoroki's face remained impassive, but his eyes-
"I knew something like that wouldn't stop him…"
He glanced at his partner.
"Yaoyorozu-san, I'll stand my ground against Nagato—don't let Toru get near the bomb. Make a detection wire web all around the area."
Yaoyorozu nodded;
"Uzumaki-kun's strength is almost overwhelming. If we're going to win, our best chance is to play for time until the clock runs out."
Todoroki only nodded—
Outside, Nagato's tense focus shifted as he glanced upward, vision flickering with X-ray clarity, seeing past concrete and insulation to pinpoint the duo's exact position on the upper floor.
"They're there," he said quietly.
But Toru's nerves weren't quite steeled for the fight. She hesitated, her invisible form fidgeting. "U-Uzumaki-kun… I have a question—" she blurted.
Nagato didn't turn, scanning the rafters, but kept his voice intent, "What is it, Hagakure-san?"
"C-can you… see me?" she asked, her tone laced with embarrassment.
Nagato froze, a faint blush rising.
How was he supposed to answer? Honesty, he decided, was best.
He turned to face her, focusing on where her emerald eyes would be, meeting her gaze directly for the first time.
"Yes," he said softly, "I can."
A moment of silence pulled taut between them.
Both of their faces turned scarlet—even if only one was visible, the air practically glowed with embarrassment.
'Hazukashiiii!' Toru screamed inwardly, her whole body tingling with the flush of surprise and bashfulness.
Nagato coughed, faintly blushed-
"Ahem—Hagakure-san, maybe we should… focus on the mission first."
Toru straightened, clearing her throat as well, still red.
"Y-Yes, Nagato-kun!" she whispered, summoning every ounce of her courage.