Earlier…
In front of his locker in a waiting room, Midoriya performed several Pilates while watching Kaminari and Tsunotori's match from a TV in the corner. He wasn't the least bit surprised by the outcome of the fight.
'Yeah, saw that coming. Kaminari just didn't have any way to aim his electricity in this scenario.' He briefly paused while pushing himself up to his feet, performing some rapid squats. 'Actually, that could be something he could approach the Support Department about. Mei may have some ideas…'
"Shiozaki Ibara, Midoriya Izuku, please make your way to the field. Bakugo Katsuki, Tokage Setsuna, please report to your waiting rooms."
Midoriya stopped exercising, took a quick swig of water, and promptly left the locker room. 'This is it; the first match.' The faint roar of the crowd grew louder as he proceeded down the tunnel. 'Shiozaki's Quirk is impressive; perfect for offense and defense.'
He recalled the instance during Risk Trifecta when Shiozaki had taken him by surprise and captured him. 'In an open setting like the tournament arena, I won't have any terrain I could use to hide or evade her vines.' His thoughts briefly drifted back to his sparring sessions with All Might during their time training before UA. 'Shiozaki is nowhere near Toshinori's strength, but the same issue still applies here. One wrong move and it's over.'
Midoriya stepped out of the tunnel and into the sun. The crowd's cheers increased as he and Shiozaki both stepped onto the field.
"I hope everyone's' back in their seats because we're about to kick off the next match!" Present Mic announced.
Midoriya walked up the concrete steps and took his spot in the corner, focusing on his opponent. From the opposite side, Shiozaki wasn't even looking at him as she folded her arms in a silent prayer.
"Gird your loins, folks! Because we have our first clash of the classes with 101-A versus 101-B!" Mic hyped up.
"In one corner, we have the guardian angel of Class 101-B, the topiary terror, the foliage fighter that will raise you up and bring you down! It's no wonder she's a Recommendation Student–give it up for Shiozaki Ibara!"
Receiving her que, Shiozaki serenely walked onto the ring. More than one girl in the stands or watching from home couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy. Shiozaki had a grace and beauty about her that few could ever hope to match. Even the green thorny vines that replaced her hair had an ethereal quality to them.
Before the crowd could get too worked up, Shiozaki raised her hand and opened her verdant eyes, turning her gaze to the announcer's booth. "Excuse me," her voice was soft and kind, "could you please refrain from introducing me with such aggressive titles? That is far from the image I wish to convey as a future Hero."
With microphones placed around the ring that fed into the staff's earpieces, Mic was able to hear her request. "Uh, okay. My apologies." He then awkwardly cleared his throat.
Midoriya blinked. 'So she's not the aggressive type.' He eyed his viney-haired opponent carefully. 'I think I could use that.'
Present Mic continued. "And in the other corner! Weighting in somewhere between jacked and ripped! He nipped at the heels of All Might's very own record in the Obstacle Course. He masterminded a total victory in the war game known as Risk Trifecta! He's the GI Wonder Boy that's taken the All-Star Games by storm. All the way from the U-S-of-A! Let's hear it for Class 101-A's Midoriya Izuku!"
Unlike with Shiozaki, who had cut off her own applause at the knees, the stadium went wild for the super-soldier. He could even hear "Yo Joe" chants in the crowd too.
Midoriya rubbed his ears, feeling mildly uncomfortable from the volume. Sometimes enhanced hearing has its downsides. He knew Jiro could relate.
"Greetings, Midoriya-san." Shiozaki politely bowed. "You've surprised me and many others today. You have great talent, truly."
Midoriya smiled from her sincere compliment and bowed back. "Thank you, Shiozaki-san. Good luck to you. But you should know I do plan to win."
Shiozaki nodded. "As do I."
"Are both contestants ready?" Midnight inquired.
Closing his eyes, Midoriya took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. 'I'll only have one shot at this. If I miss it, it's over.' He reopened his eyes, adopting a stern, steel-eyed expression. "Ready, ma'am."
Shiozaki clasped her hands together, closing her eyes. "As am I."
"Then…" Midnight brought down her whip. "Begin!"
The World War III veteran immediately sprinted forward in a burst of speed, still feeling the light aftereffects from removing his heavy training weights before the Games started. However, instead of rushing in a straight line, Midoriya zigzagged and stayed on the balls of his feet while keeping his gaze locked on Shiozaki; more specifically, her hair.
A few vines surged at him and Midoriya showcased his enhanced reflexes and incredible acrobatic ability by jumping, flipping, and twisting his body to evade the green tendrils around him.
'One shot! That's all I'll have!' He told himself, somersaulting over several sets of vines lashing out at him.
As Midoriya rapidly closed the distance between himself and Shiozaki, the ground underneath suddenly split open as dozens of vines shot out from the broken concrete and wrapped around his wrists and feet–suspending him in the air.
Shiozaki opened her eyes and turned, her face set in stone. She knew that Midoriya would go for a direct approach. Given his Quirk and the open setting of the tournament, it was the only option he had. All she had to do was capture him like before and the win would be hers.
"A good effort, Midoriya-san. But I'm afraid this is checkma–"
"HRAGH!" Without warning, Midoriya quite literally flexed through the vines that were holding him; much to her surprise. Landing only a couple meters away, he immediately launched himself straight at her.
Still taken aback by Midoriya breaking through her vines, Shiozaki was left with no time to counter before he closed the distance…and delivered a quick and solid left punch directly into her right side.
A liver shot.
A solid hit to the liver which can incapacitate even the toughest fighters. Protected by the ribs, it's not an easy strike to land as it takes a tremendous amount of timing and skill to pull off.
"UUUAAAGGHHH….!" Shiozaki's eyes shot wide open as sharp, debilitating pain flooded her core. The vine-haired girl hunched over and collapsed to her knees. 'I… can't… move…' The pain was too much as her vines went limp around her.
She had no idea Midoriya was this strong! She couldn't help but wonder why he didn't showcase this strength when she had captured him Risk Trifecta? Was he potentially keeping it a secret for the tournament round?
"Shiozaki, can you continue?" Midnight called out.
Of course she couldn't! Controlling her vines required mental concentration, which was something she most certainly couldn't do at the moment.
"...I…" Gasping for her air and wincing from the internal agony, Shiozaki struggled to get her words. "...can…not…"
Midnight held up her whip. "Shiozaki is unable to continue! Midoriya advances to the next round!"
There was a brief moment of silence before the crowd exploded into a chorus of shouts.
"What a shocking outcome, folks! If you were distracted by your phone, you just missed it. GI Midoriya one-shots Shiozaki into immediate submission! How did he do it?!" Mic exclaimed, sounding surprised.
"A liver shot." Aizawa answered. "Very tricky to pull off. But, if done correctly, it can take down most opponents."
Midoriya pulled his fist away from Shiozaki's side and knelt by her with a concerned expression, resting a supportive hand on her left shoulder. "I apologize for that. But it was the only way I could win against you."
"It's…alright…" Shiozaki closed her eyes as she winced.
Midoriya frowned, feeling disconcerted. 'I know I held back a lot. Still, hopefully that hit wasn't TOO much for her.'
The medical robots rolled in and helped Shiozaki lay down on a stretcher and started carrying her out of the arena. Instead of waving at the crowd, Midoriya decided to follow the robots to the medical ward.
He wanted to make sure Shiozaki would be okay.
"Look at that sportsmanship, folks! Midoriya may be a former GI, but he still has a good heart. Not to worry, we have Recovery Girl on standby; Shiozaki will be up and about soon. Speaking of 'soon', let's take a short break while Cementoss repairs the ring."
"ALRIGHT! Way to go, Izuku-kun!" Uraraka excitedly shouted out. "Did you guys see that?!"
"Heck yeah!" Tsunotori gave the other girl a fist-bump–due to Uraraka's Quirk, high-fives were off the table. "He took that girl down with one punch! So cool!"
Kaminari then glanced at the others with a cocky smirk. "And you guys thought Midori-bro had no chance."
Jiro felt her face flushed and looked away. Several other students felt mildly embarrassed as well.
Todoroki remained silent and subdued, but anyone could tell from his expression that he was surprised. 'One hit? That speed and strength… Could he be…?' He then shook his head. 'No, I'm jumping to conclusions. However, it would explain why All Might is seemingly spending so much time with him…' From there, the heterochromatic teen's mind began to wonder about potential conspiracy theories involving All Might and Midoriya.
Yaoyorozu momentarily stared at the arena with wide eyes and her mouth slightly agape. 'He did it…' She then lowered her gaze and frowned. 'I feel so silly. I was so focused on Shiozaki's Quirk…I completely overlooked Izuku's combat prowess and sheer will. Even after what I've seen him do, I still doubted him.' The ravenette heiress felt ashamed of herself.
Iida adjusted his glasses. "I'm not too proud to admit my mistakes. I shouldn't have counted Midoriya-kun out so quickly. I will not make that error again!" He chopped his hands.
"Kero. Same here. Although, I do hope his opponent's okay though." Asui said. "It looked like that punch was pretty painful…"
"Hey, at least he's going with her to Recovery Girl." Sero pointed out. "That's pretty cool of him."
"That poor hottie… How dare Midoriya-san injure such a graceful, luscious babe as her!" Mineta exclaimed heatedly.
"Well yeah, of course he did." Kirishima glanced back. "It'd have been super unmanly for him not to acknowledge her strength and give everything he has."
"He also would've lost." Asui added plainly. "Kero."
Ashido got excited. "I still can't get over those crazy acrobatics! Seriously, where did he learn to do them? I'm so jealous!"
The onscreen brackets then updated to grey out Shiozaki's name and advance Midoriya name to the Elite Eight; the first matchup for the Quarterfinals was settled.
"Welp, looks like we know who Pony-chan's fighting next." Jiro said offhandedly.
"So, what do you think, Pony?" Kaminari asked. "How do you like your chances against Midori-bro?"
"Well…" Tsunotori sheepishly scratched her cheek. "There's no way I could beat him in a melee fight, obviously. Staying in the air is my best option, I think."
Yaoyorozu nodded, chiming in. "Aerial superiority is a huge advantage. You could try flying Izuku out of bounds like you did against Kaminari, however, Izuku-kun likely already knows that… and has a counter for it…"
"The way that guy's brain works…how he can come up with ways to beat people… Ain't gonna lie, it's scary, man." Sero commented, earning nods of agreement from several students.
Tokoyami nodded, keeping his arms crossed. "Every battle is lost or won in the arena of the mind."
In the stadium's infirmary, Shiozaki laid on a bed clutching her abdomen and grimacing in pain, semi-conscious. Midoriya stood off to the side to ensure he was out of Recovery Girl's way while she examined her patient. The medical professional took note of her shortness of breath and pale appearance.
"Hmm." Recovery Girl hummed, looking over to the super-soldier. "I can't say I'm particularly happy that you caused these injuries. Striking someone's liver can be dangerous, especially with enhanced strength such as yours."
Midoriya nodded; he may have won the match, but he was concerned that he potentially put too much force into his liver punch. "Is it serious?"
Recovery Girl huffed. "Fortunately, no. It appears you hit her with just the right amount of force to KO her without causing any serious damage."
Midoriya exhaled in relief. "That's good…"
"Although had it been any harder, we'd be having a different discussion." She tersely added.
Midoriya lightly flinched and glanced at his hands. 'Right… I need to be a tad more mindful with my strength. Especially against those whose Quirks don't make them super-durable.'
The medical professional leaned over and kissed Shiozaki on the forehead. In seconds, color returned to her face as her breathing began to return to normal.
Her dark green eyes fluttered open. "The pain… it doesn't hurt… as bad…"
"You're suffering from a bruised liver, young lady. You'll make a full recovery." Recovery Girl diagnosed. "Though your right side will be sore for the next day or two."
The door suddenly slammed open. "Hey, doc! Is she okay!?" A young man exclaimed.
For a second, Midoriya had mistaken him as a grey-haired Kirishima, but recognized him as Tetsutetsu. Walking right behind him, he immediately recognized Kendo.
"Calm yourselves!" Recovery Girl snapped. "Aside from some soreness, I was just telling her that she'll be fine." She then stepped away, rolling her eyes. "Young people, always worrying I don't know how to do my job."
"I'm glad you're feeling better, Shiozaki-san." Midoriya bowed lightly. "I do apologize for hurting you. But a KO blow was the only way I could beat you under the circumstances."
Shiozaki smiled kindly. "It is alright, Midoriya-san. There is nothing to forgive." She accepted a cup of water Tetsutetsu had gotten for her from the water cooler in the corner. "Thank you, Tetsutetsu-san."
"No problem! Just glad you're alright. And you!" Tetsutetsu snapped his head to Midoriya. For a second, he thought the Kirishima clone would be angry with him, but his sharp-toothed grin said otherwise. "Despite her looks, Shiozaki's super-strong! I won't lie, the way you took her down with one punch was pretty badass. Also, it was really manly of you to go with her to Recovery Girl; between you and Kirishima-san, I guess your class might not be that bad after all."
"Thanks…?" Midoriya hoped the good outweighed the bad–Bakugo and Mineta, specifically.
Shiozaki fully sat up and turned to Recovery Girl, who was sitting by her desk across the room. "Is it alright if I return to my class's suite, ma'am?"
Recovery Girl nodded. "Yes, you're clear to go. I recommend you take it easy the next couple of days. If you experience any complications, please seek medical attention. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I understand. Thank you." She bowed in gratitude.
Relieved that Shiozaki would be okay, Midoriya was about to politely excuse himself.
"Oh, Midoriya-san." He turned to see that Shiozaki was smiling sincerely at him. "Thank you for coming to see me; I do appreciate that. And I will be cheering you on, unless you are facing anyone from our class. Still, good luck to you."
Midoriya smiled and nodded. As he left the room, Kendo walked out with him in the hallway. "That was a killer liver shot." She smirked. "But I'm curious…how many martial arts do you know?"
"Only a few." He smirked coyly.
"Playing coy, eh? Fair enough. Did you seriously learn all of that in the American military?"
"For the most part."
Her eyes widened. "Wow. Not gonna lie, that's impressive. They really do things differently over there in the States, huh?" Kendo commented.
Recalling memories of his intense special forces program, Midoriya inwardly shuddered. "You have no idea." He murmured.
"Well, after what happened in Risk Trifecta, I'm anxious for a rematch."
Midoriya smiled confidently. "I'm always game for a good spar."
"How about the Semifinals?" She suggested, grinning earnestly.
Midoriya paused, remembering that Bakugo's match was next. "Wouldn't that be a matchup, but I think we'd both be guilty of thinking a little too far ahead."
"Yeah," she rubbed her shoulder sheepishly, "you're right about that."
Midoriya extended his hand. "Still, good luck to you, Kendo-san."
Kendo accepted the handshake. "Same to you, Midoriya-san."
As the pair cordially parted, the ginger Hero-in-training was left to ponder something. 'So the American military taught him those fighting skills. What were they training him for that required him to know so many martial art skills though?'
"Izuku-kun!" Uraraka practically leapt out of her seat to pull the verdette into a hug. "Congratulations on the win!"
"Oh, uh…" With her head under his chin, Uraraka didn't see the pink that tinted his freckled face. "Thank you, Occhan."
'She does realize her chest is pressing into me, right?' He mused, feeling flustered by the softness pressing up against him.
'Oh wow! He's so ripped!' Uraraka internally shouted, feeling flushed.
Yaoyorozu's eyebrows knitted together and frowned, feeling a pang of jealousy from seeing Uraraka hug Midoriya so tightly. It was a fleeting feeling though when she recalled how she had predicted Midoriya's defeat while Uraraka maintained her confidence in him.
The creation heiress internally sighed, rationalizing that the moment Uraraka was having with their shared friend was well deserved.
"Nice work, Izuku!" Tsunotori reached up to pat his shoulder. "You totally kicked butt down there!"
Kaminari glanced back in his seat, smirking. "You certainly didn't waste time, man."
Uraraka let go and backed away, her blush marks a little darker. "Oh, is Shiozaki-san okay?"
Midoriya nodded and sat down amidst his friends. "Yeah, she'll be okay. My punch did bruise her liver, but Recovery Girl healed her right up."
"Midoriya-kun." Iida stood up and bowed to him, much to his confusion. "Let me be the first to apologize."
"For what?"
Iida kept his gaze on the floor. "I hate to admit it, but I wrote you off in your match against Shiozaki. I was convinced you'd be unable to overcome her Quirk. Clearly, I misjudged you once again. I humbly ask for your forgiveness!"
Midoriya blinked twice. "Um… It's alright, Iida-kun. You can relax; I'm not mad."
"Bakugo Katsuki, Tokage Setsuna, please make your way to the field. Iida Tenya, Kendo Itsuka, please report to your waiting rooms."
Iida straightened up. "I'm relieved to hear you're not angry with me. I must be going now. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck, Iida!" Uraraka waved.
"Don't break a leg or anything!" Ashido called out.
"Don't jinx it." Jiro lightly chastised.
"Iida!" Midoriya calls out, making the bespeckled teen pause. "Kendo-san is a skilled fighter. I'd advise not getting into a prolonged melee with her."
Iida nodded in understanding. "Thank you for the advice! I'll see you all soon." With that, he hastily walked down the aisle and exited the suite.
Realizing that Yaoyorozu hadn't said anything so far, the verdette glanced over to his right and noticed that she wasn't looking in his general direction. Odd.
"Hey… Is everything alright, Yaomomo?" He kept his voice down to not draw attention.
"Oh!" She snapped her head to him. "Um, yes! Apologies, I was lost in thought." She chuckled awkwardly.
Midoriya cocked a brow. He could tell her smile was feigned, but he opted to drop the issue for now. He'd bring it up later in a more private setting for her sake.
"Alright, folks! Now that the ring is repaired, let's get started with the next match!" Present Mic brought them back to the present.
The crowd roared in excitement while the large screens highlighted the next match.
Bakugo Katsuki vs Tokage Setsuna.
Midoriya then pulled out one of his notebooks. Where he had been keeping it, the other students were not sure. He opened to a blank page and started an entry for the upcoming fight. "This should make for an interesting match."
"So, what do you guys think?" Ashido leaned forward. "Do you think Setsuna-chan has a chance?"
"I did give her a few tips…but Bakugo's extremely determined and tenacious." Midoriya said. "He won't go down easily. This will either be another quick match…or a long one."
"Hmm…" Tokoyami hummed thoughtfully. "First strike victories have been the trend so far."
In one of the waiting rooms, Bakugo had watched the match via one of the TVs in the corner while performing several sets of warm up exercises.
Unlike most people watching, Bakugo was not surprised by the outcome of the previous match. 'Of course the bastard won. There's no way he'd let Vine Girl just toss him out of the ring. He's too slippery…like a damn snake.' He mused.
"Bakugo Katsuki, Tokage Setsuna, please make your way to the field. Iida Tenya, Kendo Itsuka, please report to your waiting rooms." An autonomous voice said over the speakers.
"Finally. Let's get this dumb match over with." Bakugo growled, standing up and exiting the locker room.
The faint roar of the crowd became louder as he walked down the tunnel. Bakugo popped his knuckles and cracked his neck before stepping out into the light.
"Alright, folks! Now that the ring is repaired, let's get started with the next match!"
Oh, Bakugo was more than ready for his match, though he was a bit disappointed with who his opponent was. 'Seriously, out of everyone, I get Mossy Head for round one.' He thought bitterly. 'Not Glasses, Ponytail, or Icy-Hot. Dammit, why'd Kirishima have to be a dumbass and not advance. Idiot.'
The only opponent Bakugo didn't want to fight in the First-Round was Midoriya. He was mildly disappointed that they were both in the same bracket and couldn't face each other in the Finals. Nonetheless, he was still satisfied that he'd at least have the opportunity to crush Midoriya in the Semifinals, which were widely watched as well. Regardless, there'd be much attention on their match.
As he approached the arena, he received the go-ahead by Midnight to step onto the ring.
"We have ourselves another battle between classmates from the Hero Course's Class 101-A! In one corner, it's the young man who takes having an explosive personality too literally! He's the blonde bomber who placed in the top ten in the Obstacle Race! The angry artillerist who blasted the Castle Node in Risk Trifecta to smithereens–give it up for Bakugo Katsuki!" Present Mic flamboyantly introduced.
"Tsk!" Bakugo clicked his tongue in annoyance about the Castle Node being brought up again.
Tokage took a deep breath to steady her nerves. 'It's alright. You got this. Just do what Greenie said and stay out of his blast zone.' After Bakugo's introduction, she received the signal to walk onto the ring by Midnight.
"And in the next corner, it's the girl with a very peculiar Quirk! She pulled off an incredible second place finish by a literal fingertip in the Obstacle Race and put on a steady showing in Risk Trifecta! The literal concept of E Pluribus Unum–give it up for Tokage Setsuna!"
The crowd roared with excitement, and Tokage couldn't help but grin from her over the top introduction.
Bakugo and Tokage stopped near the center of the square arena, at least 10 meters (~32 feet) separating them. Bakugo kept his scowl focused on Tokage while she kept her expression uncharacteristically neutral. She was not taking this match lightly.
"Again, the rules are simple." Midnight called out. "The match is over if a fighter is knocked out of the ring, or they are deemed unfit to continue. If there is any violation, Cementoss and I will stop the match immediately, understand?"
Cementoss waved at them from the edge of the arena on a concrete high-rise seat that he made for himself to watch over the matches.
"Got it, Sensei." Tokage gave him a thumbs-up.
Midnight turned to Bakugo, who nodded in acknowledgement. All he had to do was tone it down enough that he didn't cripple or kill his opponent. Simple enough. He wouldn't need his full power to win this match anyway.
"Are you both ready?" Midnight inquired.
"I'm ready, Sensei." Tokage replied.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just start the damn match already!" Bakugo barked.
Midnight flipped on her wireless microphone. "Let the third match of the First-Round…" She cracked her flogger-whip. "BEGIN!"
Wasting no time, Bakugo threw his palms back and let off a stream of explosion that propelled himself forward.
Tokage's limbs and head separated from her body and scattered. Bakugo reached out with his right hand to shoot off a point-blank explosion towards Tokage's head, only for her detached right hand to latch onto his wrist and turn the hand away.
The sudden redirected explosion resulted in Bakugo losing his forward momentum and careening off to the side. Before Bakugo hit the ground though, one of Tokage's legs flew into view and sharply kneed Bakugo in his right side while another leg delivered a strong kick into his face.
"Oof!" Bakugo's head was knocked to the side as some spit flew out of his mouth.
'Now's my chance!' Not wasting her opportunity, Tokage's left hand grabbed hold of Bakugo's other wrist while her legs hooked around his knees as she started carrying him towards the boundary.
"Tokage delivers the first blows and is trying to carry Bakugo out of the ring!" Present Mic exclaimed.
Bakugo overpowered the grip of the detached hands latching onto his wrists and turned his palms backward, firing off another string of explosions. The resulting force overwhelmed Tokage's telekinetic control over her limbs as Bakugo rocketed himself forward once more.
"Did you think I'd go down that easy?!"
'Dammit!' Tokage internally cursed while her lost appendages reformed. 'Plan B!'
She then scattered herself and, with no defined target, Bakugo was forced to hold out his hands to ignite an explosion to stop himself from flying out of bounds.
When Bakugo's feet touched the ground, Tokage's body parts swarmed around and started pelting him all over. After getting punched in the face, Bakugo fired an explosion to destroy the offending hand…but was then kicked in the back by a leg. This cycle continued with Bakugo destroying a few body pieces followed by more flying in to strike at his blind spot.
The greenette was thankful for lunch and break time as using her Quirk to regenerate new body parts was taxing. Her strategy could backfire if she advanced to the next round, but she could worry about that later. Right now, she has to win this match first!
"Bakugo is under assault by a swarm of body parts! And, for the folks who are listening on the radio waves, I know how that sounds but there is no bloody gore involved here!" Mic clarified.
Bakugo was pissed! Every time he destroyed a few body pieces, more would soar in to pelt him. It was like trying to fight a bee swarm. This fight wasn't supposed to go this long. He should've won sooner!
"Dammit! Just die alre–AGH!" Bakugo cried out when Tokage's detached jaw bit down on his forearm, her sharp teeth digging into his flesh. He was distracted long enough for her leg to fly in and sharply knee him in the gut.
'Cheap shot!' Bakugo hunched over and staggered back. He raised his right hand to fire out of instinct.
Tokage swiftly responded by moving her arms to latch onto his wrists and put them in a lock behind his back, causing him to howl in agony. Reattaching her legs to her hips, she then wrapped them around his neck and squeezed tightly. He fell to his knees and gasped from the painful combo of the wristlock and the choke hold.
The audience gasped as Present Mic cried out over the speakers. Tokage wasn't focused on any of that.
She bared her sharp teeth, and she tightened her holds on to his neck and wrists. "If you thought this'd be a cake walk, you're dead wrong!" Tokage defiantly exclaimed. "I'm here to win!"
Bakugo gasped, his air supply cut off by legs that betrayed how muscular they were under their attractive shape.
'I know he's too prideful to tap out…So pass out dammit!' Tokage internally yelled.
'No… I REFUSE!' The Explosion-user was too prideful to concede defeat; especially in the First-Round. However, even he knew that he couldn't hold out for much longer if he didn't free himself. Writhing and tussling in her hold, Bakugo realized that he couldn't free his wrists without dislocating them.
So, he did the only thing he could do under the circumstances.
Explosions fired off his palms like firecrackers and, with the gasping roar of an animal, let loose a full blast around himself that enveloped him and Tokage. A violent explosion erupted in the center of the arena, choking the field with a plume of smoke.
Everyone watched on with bated breath, waiting for the smoke to clear to reveal the outcome.
Before them, Bakugo was on his knees but gasping and breathing hard, his blue gym shirt in tatters and covered in burns and bruises. He painfully winced from his dislocated wrists, which were beginning to swell up. It was the price to pay for getting out of the body-splitter's submission chokehold.
Tokage, however, was lying flat on her back and panting heavily. Lizard Tail Splitter deactivated as her surviving limbs reattached while the ones destroyed in the explosion reformed under her uniform, which was now shredded and in tatters.
'Sorry…Yuto…' She involuntarily twitched as her eyes fully shut, slipping into unconsciousness.
"Tokage is unconscious!" Midnight raised her whip. "The winner is Bakugo!"
The crowd roared in approval, cheers erupting as Bakugo shakily returned to his feet. He watched with wide eyes as the medical robots rolled in to carefully lift Tokage onto a stretcher. He momentarily looked at her in surprise before his stoic visage returned.
"Wow-Za! What an incredible First-Round match!" Mic excitedly exclaimed. "That was possibly the match of the tournament! Tokage Setsuna gave everything she had and then some, but came just a little bit short! I doubt we'll be forgetting this fight any time soon!"
"Those two will make fine Pros someday…if they can reach that point, that is." Aizawa added, sounding sincere.
Midnight nodded in agreement. Even though Tokage had lost, with so many Pro Heroes in attendance whispering to themselves alongside talent scouts, she and Bakugo had certainly left an impression. After what happened in the last event, she had been worried about Bakugo's self-control, but he had shown excellent restraint in the match only until he was pushed into a corner, yet not too little to insult Tokage either.
"Not to worry, ladies and gentlemen. With Recovery Girl on standby, Tokage will make a full recovery. Let's give the girl a big round of applause for her efforts!" The stadium responded kindly with applause and cheers as the medical bots carried the mossy-haired girl away.
Exhaling heavily, Bakugo's ruby gaze focused on the robots carrying Tokage away toward the tunnel leading to the medical ward. 'Not bad, Mossy Head.' He internally grumbled.
He then pocketed his hands (ignoring the flaring pain from his wrists) and started following after the robots. With his injuries, he'd have to have the old hag heal him up again.
What a hassle!
From Class 101-A's private suite, the students watched as the TV screens in the corner showed Tokage being carted off the field.
"Aw man. Poor Tokage…" Ashido muttered sadly. Gone was her good cheer, genuinely sad that her friend had lost.
"It looked like she almost had him too." Tsunotori added, equally somber.
"Yeah." Jiro nodded; her voice subdued. "Never seen anyone but Midoriya push Bakugo-san that far in a fight."
From his seat between Yaoyorozu and Uraraka, Midoriya weighed in. "Tokage had a solid strategy in mind; even when she failed to push him out of bounds, putting him in that chokehold was a smart move. Bakugo-san was just too stubborn to give up though..."
"Gotta admire the determination both of them had." Kirishima commented. "It's so manly!"
"I hope she'll be okay." Yaoyorozu said worriedly.
"We should go check up on her soon. Maybe after the First-Round matches?" Ashido suggested, earning nods of agreement from the others.
"Iida Tenya, Kendo Itsuka, please make your way to the arena." A robotic voice over the intercom said. "Todoroki Shoto, Honenuki Juzo, please report to your waiting rooms."
With that, Todoroki stood up from his seat and wordlessly left the suite.
Sero shivered. "Man… That guy still gives me the chills."
Asui nodded in agreement, sitting next to him. "Be thankful you're not cold-blooded. Kero."
"So, if Iida-kun wins, he'll be facing Bakugo in the Quarterfinals." Tsunotori noted.
Kaminari winced at the thought. "That'll be a tough one. Though, I guess it could give him a chance to get some payback on Bakugo for not being a team player in the Battle Trials." He jokingly suggested.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. He'll have to get past Kendo-san first." Midoriya mentioned. "She'll be no slouch."
"Didn't you beat her in a four-on-one in Risk Trifecta though?" Jiro asked.
"I did." Midoriya opened his notebook to a blank page and swiftly started writing out an entry for Kendo Itsuka. "But Kendo-san's combat prowess is still proficient for someone her age. Paired with her Quirk, she's an effective melee fighter."
"Someone her age? Pft!" Uraraka playfully nudged him in the side. "Geez, you make it sound like you're an old man or something. You're only four years older, Izuku-senpai." She teased.
"Hehehe… Yeah." Midoriya chuckled wryly. "Well, you know what I mean."
"So then, who are you guys picking to win this match?" Tsunotori asked.
Yaoyorozu responded first. "I want to say Iida-kun given Recipro Burst, but I'm afraid I don't have enough context on Kendo-san's abilities to make a sound prediction. Izuku, what do you think?"
Midoriya cupped his chin in thought. "It depends on how serious Iida takes this match. If he uses Recipro Burst from the start, he can push Kendo-san out of bounds immediately. But if it draws out into a melee fight, Kendo-san will undoubtedly have the advantage."
"Let's get started with the next match!" Present Mic announced, earning more cheers from the crowd. "We have the clash of rival classes Take 2!"
"From the Hero Course's Class 101-A, we have the man with literal engines in his legs! The only one to take points away from the Blue Team in Risk Trifecta—Iida Tenya!"
Iida robotically stepped onto the ring. He tuned out the crowd and placed his focus on his opponent across the ring.
"Versus! The Kung Fu girl with heavyweight hands, the ginger grappler from Hero Course's Class 101-B–give it up for Kendo Itsuka!"
Kendo walked onto the stage and waved at the crowd enthusiastically, even striking a confident pose as she walked.
"It's a classic Fists vs Feet matchup! Which fighting style will come out on top?! Don't you dare change that channel, dear listeners, because we're about to find out!" Present Mic hyped up.
As Mic gave the introductions, he was mentally reviewing his stratagem. 'Though we were on the same team, I didn't see much of Kendo in Risk Trifecta…' He recalled the scene of Midoriya defeating his squad in a four-on-one matchup. 'Though we both lost to Izuku, my fight against him did last a bit longer than hers. I also have my own combat training to fall back on. Additionally, Engine does make me much faster than Kendo too.'
Iida stopped near the center of the rectangle; his orange-haired opponent standing several meters away. 'I should be able to win this match without using Recipro Burst.' He surmised. 'Midoriya did advise against getting into a prolonged fight with her, so I'll blitz her and throw her out of the ring.'
Meanwhile, Kendo was internally assessing her own plan as well. 'Yesterday's friend is today's enemy.' She humorously mused. 'In a straight line and with enough distance Iida is clearly the quicker one between us. If I give him a single chance, he'll toss me out of the ring before I can even react. I'll need to keep him off balance. So…' She rolled and popped both of her shoulders.
"Are both contestants ready?" Midnight asked from her spot on the high-rise.
"Yes!" Iida responded.
Kendo then took a knee to get into a meditative runner's stance while closing her eyes. "Ready, Sensei."
Iida blinked twice, confused. 'Wh-what is she doing?'
If Midnight were confused by Kendo's action, she didn't let it show. "Then…BEGIN!" She brought her whip down.
The moment the word came out of Midnight's mouth, Kendo swung her arms to the side and enlarged her hands. This helped her practically launch herself forward before charging the rest of the distance (while shrinking her hands back to normal size) in a full-on sprint; much to Iida's surprise.
'I'll close the distance myself and go straight on the offensive!' Kendo internally declared.
Taken aback by her sudden charge, Iida had no time to react before Kendo came in and started attacking. In his panic, he managed to block a few strikes, but Kendo's hits landed hard and fast and forced him to backpedal.
"AWK!" Iida went staggering back from a blow to his midsection.
He then activated his Engines and retreated toward the other side of the stage. Iida shook his head and returned his gaze to Kendo, who had moved towards the middle of the stage. 'She took me by surprise…but not again!' He revved up his Engines and charged straight for her.
Kendo widened her feet and kept her teal eyes trained on Iida, taking note of his footwork and overall body movements. 'He's fast, but…' Iida came with an Engine-boosted kick to her side, which she evaded by taking a sidestep. '...his moves are straightforward.'
Rushing forward, Iida unleashed a series of high-speed, powerful kicks that would've taken down most opponents that he faced. However, to an experienced melee fighter like Kendo, Iida was practically telegraphing his moves to her in his haste. Kendo expertly dodged, ducked, and pivoted away from his attacks while barely moving. Then, with the smallest of movements, she countered with precise hand strikes aimed at exposed pressure points.
Needless to say, Iida was becoming frazzled. 'I don't understand! How is she predicting my moves?! Is she as skilled in combat as Izuku!?' Unbeknownst to the speedster, though Kendo wasn't nearly as skilled in martial arts as the war veteran, she was still formidable; definitely the best fighter (not counting Midoriya) in the Hero Course.
Realizing he wasn't making any headway, Iida backpedaled and quickly put some distance between them. He then rushed straight forward with the intent of tackling her to the ground.
Kendo immediately responded by enlarging both hands, slamming her right into the ground behind her to anchor herself (breaking the concrete apart as a result) while holding out her open left to shield herself. Using her outstretched hand, Kendo tossed the charging Iida over her shoulder.
Iida flipped in the air and landed on both feet, wincing from the blows he had received. 'No sense in holding back anymore!' Revving up his Engines close to their max, he prepared to activate Recipro Burst. 'I'll end this in an inst–wait, what is she doing?'
With an enlarged hand and a grunt, Kendo smashed the ground in front of her, breaking the cement tiles into dozens of chunks, or ammunition as she would call it. With one hand smashing the ground, she used the other to pick a handful of rocks to throw at her opponent.
Before he could perform his move, Iida spotted the debris and was forced to dip out of the way. Kendo scooped up more payloads of debris and began lazily tossing them at Iida. The bespeckled speedster was put on the defensive as he dodged, ducked, and ran away from the tiled fragments thrown at him. This continued for several more moments before a stray piece of debris finally struck Iida in the left shoulder, causing him to wince in pain.
'I can't let this continue!' While evading the concrete pieces, he waited for a moment to use Recipro Burst… but he soon noticed a problem. The ground around the martial artist was cracked and smashed to pieces. If he tried to use his super-move on such uneven terrain, he'd likely trip himself up.
'Curses! It's too late to use Recipro Burst now… I'll just have to go for broke!' Ducking under a stray rock, Iida fired up his Engines to blast himself directly toward his opponent as fast as he could go given the distance and terrain.
'That's it… Come at me!' Kendo prepared herself.
While her right hand was scooping up debris, the speedster lashed out with an enhanced flying roundhouse kick aimed at her head.
The martial artist suddenly untucked her normal-sized left hand and enlarged it, literally catching Iida's kick; much to his shock. He thought he had gotten her with her guard down, but it was all a ruse.
'Now's my chance!' Without wasting a moment, Kendo pivoted on her heels and used Iida's own momentum to toss him away.
Iida twisted his body to control his fall before managing to land in a crouching position. He rose up, ready to continue, until he heard a bell.
"Iida, you're out of bounds!" Midnight pointed her whip at him.
"What?!" He looked down and, sure enough, he was standing over the marked boundary line.
At that moment, the speedster felt like a deflated balloon.
Midnight continued. "The winner is Kendo!"
The audience erupted into loud applause.
"The battle of Fists vs Feet ends with the Fists on top!" Present Mic declared. "What are your thoughts from this battle, Mummy-zawa?"
"That's not my name." Aizawa responded, sounding irritated. "Anyways, Iida clearly underestimated his opponent. Kendo disrupted his flow from the start, and he never recovered. Had he taken her more seriously from the start, he could've pushed her out of bounds immediately."
Iida's head dropped in shame, knowing that his professor was right.
"Good points, co-host! Still, let's give it up for both of our competitors! Only Kendo is moving on, but Iida still put up a good fight!"
As soon as the fight ended, Kendo walked over to Iida. "You alright, Iida-san?" She asked concernedly.
Iida lifted his head and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine." He held out his hand for a handshake, which she accepted. "Congratulations on your victory, Kendo-san."
"Thank you. That was a good fight." Kendo replied.
Iida nodded. "Perhaps we can have a rematch in the future. Good luck to you in the next round."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." She replied. 'I'm definitely going to need it…' Remembering that her next opponent would be Bakugo.
With that, the pair cordially departed and headed towards different tunnels. Iida kept his head held high until he entered the tunnel and stopped. He lightly banged the side of his fist against the concrete wall, feeling frustrated.
'I apologize Tensei…' Iida inwardly lamented. 'I wanted to do better… But it seems I still have much to learn…'
Later, after Iida and Kendo stepped off the stage, Present Mic announced the broadcast would transition to a short commercial break. This gave Cementoss time to repair the areas of the stage that Kendo had broken.
Ashido whistled, impressed. "That girl's got some moves."
"She had Iida played from the beginning, kero." Asui said.
"Man… I don't think Iida got any hits on her." Kirishima noted. "Those martial art moves of hers were killer! It kind of reminded me of Midori-bro's moves."
From his position in the front row, Bakugo's ruby gaze focused on the jumbo screens that showed the current bracket. He had been dismissed from the infirmary earlier and had witnessed most of the match play out.
'Man Hands is skilled in a regular fight, sure. But all I have to do is blow her ass out of the ring. Should be pretty easy.'Though he told himself that, memories of his fight with Tokage flashed in his mind. He had thought that match would be easy too, but he had nearly lost and was forced to set off an explosion around himself just to break out of a chokehold.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue, pausing to take a swig of a sports drink. 'Just a fluke. I'll be right back to dominating starting in the next round.'
Uraraka frowned worriedly. "I hope Iida-kun will be okay."
Yaoyorozu nodded, frowning empathetically. "I'm sure he's disappointed."
"Knowing Iida though, he'll bounce back from this loss quickly." Midoriya said while scribbling down notes with his observations from the match.
"BW-HA-HA-HA! EXCELLENT!" A muffled voice shouted. The class looked around for the source–sans Midoriya and Jiro, who immediately turned to look at the left wall. "WITH THIS VICTORY, CLASS B HAS EVEN THE SCORE AGAINST CLASS A! NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE LEAD AND LEAVE THEM IN OUR DUST! BW-HA-HA-HA!"
"Ugh." Ashido rolled her eyes. "I can give you one guess who that is."
"That dude's really passionate about this whole class rivalry thing, huh?" Sero commented.
"I'm all for competition, but he's just acting childish. Kero." Asui stated.
"He realizes this isn't high school, right?" Jiro coolly asked.
The door opened as Iida stepped back into the room. "I am back!"
"Welcome back, man!" Kirishima smiled.
"What happened down there, Iida?" Ashido asked incredulously. "Why didn't you use your super-move?"
Iida reclaimed his seat. "I'm afraid I can only use that move sparingly, so I didn't want to rely on it as a crutch … Also," he lowered his head, "like Aizawa-sensei said, I underestimated my opponent. I was too confident in my own combat abilities."
Midoriya nodded, agreeing with the assessment. He internally noted that Iida's sense of honor and fairness played a part in his defeat too. Kendo had read Iida like a book and dominated him by capitalizing on that mindset.
"Lessons learned, right?" He asked
Iida vehemently nodded. "Indeed! Going forward, I'll need to increase my own combat training. Clearly I've fallen behind."
'That's not exactly the issue, Tenya.' Midoriya internally critiqued.
"Todoroki Shoto, Honenuki Juzo, please make your way to the arena. Hatsume Mei, Kaibara Sen, please report to your waiting rooms." The automatic voice brought the group back to the present.
Midoriya perked up at the mention of Hatsume's name. 'Mei is on-deck now…' Before he could allow his mind to brainstorm strategies for Hatsume, the others started discussing the upcoming match.
"Honenuki? Who's he?" Kaminari asked dumbly.
"He's the guy from Class B with the skull-face." Sato replied. "His Quirk was really something during Risk Trifecta."
"He is one of the four Recommendation Students in the Hero Course." Yaoyorozu added.
"I can see why. Kero." Asui crocked. "His Quirk alone almost sunk the whole Green Team."
"Literally. The way he turned the ground into mud." Kirishima recalled. "Is that his Quirk? Turning stuff into mud?"
"Not exactly. More like he softens it." Yaoyorozu corrected. "It's touch-based, much like Occhan's Quirk."
"So this a battle of the elites." Uraraka stated.
"Who're you guys picking to win?" Sero asked.
"Well, there are different variables at play. It's not just about who has the strongest Quirk, but rather who utilizes their skills the best." Yaoyorozu explained, learning her lesson after witnessing both Midoriya and Tokage's matches. "This match could ultimately come down to who strikes first."
"That seems to be the trend so far." Jiro remarked.
As both Todoroki and Honenuki stepped onto the stage, the class gave the match their undivided attention.
Bakugo's ruby eyes narrowed as his lips twisted into a sneer.
Midoriya remained stone-faced, his emerald eyes analyzing every move that the combatants would make.
Earlier…
In his shrunken form, Yagi walked through the stadium vendor level with a fruity smoothie in hand. Not having a stomach anymore did limit his diet, after all. As he navigated through the crowd en route to the private suite he was sharing with Dean Nezu, his mind mulled over the results of the first half of Round One matches.
The Number One Pro was quite impressed with his students' performance so far; particularly Bakugo, Tokage, and Kendo. Bakugo showed his unyielding desire to win, freeing himself from a chokehold even at the expense of hurting himself while Tokage displayed sheer grit and determination. Kendo showcased her combative prowess and utilized her Quirk quite well.
And, of course, the Captain couldn't go unmentioned.
At the seeding ceremony, Yagi would admit he was a tad nervous when it was revealed that Shiozaki Ibara was slated as the Captain's first opponent. As a Recommendation Student, she was a formidable opponent. And in an open ring setting without any weapons, a combatant like the Captain was at a disadvantage. Memories of their one-on-one training prior to UA flashed through the blonde's mind.
But, in spite of the odds, the war veteran found a way to win…with one-shot nonetheless.
'Shield or not, he's still the Legend. Everyone seems to be impressed too. Actually…' Curious, Yagi pulled out smartphone and (while careful to avoid bumping into anyone) navigated to a social media page following the All-Star Games and looked at the most recent comments.
Can't believe #UASoldierBoy manhandling the competition! We sure his Quirk isn't luck? – Goddayboy
Still betting on #RealFlameHero son! These games are rigged otherwise! – BurninsBurner
BurninsBurner Don't sleep on #BlondeBomber! That kid's got serious firepower! — RealDeathArms
RealDeathArms Eh, he's just a loudmouth. Todoroki all the way! — BurninsBurner
That mind control dude's Quirk is scary. Hope he don't become a villain. — Everyman05
All those girls are H-O-T! – NudeMaster69
#UASoldierBoy Don't need a flashy Quirk? Guess we'll see how that holds up against the rest. – Peakeedivi
That energy shield and jet pack were like from those old spy movies! Look out for #SupportGirl ? — DNDKeg
#UASoldierBoy is totes adotes ~olala~ ? ﾟﾘﾝ – GlamorousUtsushimi
Does #UASoldierBoy really think quirkless people can be heroes? What a DA – Flashyraff
Flashyraff Your standard for heroes is warped. Selfless moments = true heroism. #UAAllStars – Corvette_381-PCE
Yagi arched a brow. 'I wonder who that could be.' He mused sardonically.
Corvette_381-PCE True heroism is a rarity these days. Todays so called pros do not deserve the title of Hero. — TheTrueHeroOverseer
Come off your high horse TheTrueHeroOverseer. Pros work harder and sacrifice more than you'll ever have to. — RealNativeHero
Motivational speech? Check. Telling HPSC to shove it? Check. Lapping the competition in the race and masterminding total victory in the second game? Check! Some say that's epic, G.I. Jacked calls it a Tuesday. A legend is born! Yo Joe! #UASoldierBoy #UAAllStars – MonkeyDConan
After scrolling through several more comments, Yagi felt like he had a general consensus of the public's reactions. Many were impressed by the Captain's performance while others were still critical over his opening speech pertaining to what Heroes are.
'If Izuku wins, I can imagine that speech will only gain even more traction.' Yagi mused, switching the screen off and pocketing the phone.
As the emaciated blonde walked away from the vendors, his ears perked up when he heard mention of Midoriya's name from some seats nearby.
"...despite his anger, there is an audience out there that someone like Bakugo can appeal to. While we're on the topic of the big players, what do you think of Midoriya?"
Yagi stood behind a nearby pillar and nonchalantly listened in.
"I was initially concerned, but after his performance against Shiozaki, I believe his stock will climb."
"Agreed. Though his Quirk in of itself isn't that flashy, he makes up for it with his sharp mind and combat prowess. Tell me, if you took management for his agency, how would you market him? Any opinions?"
"Appearance is…rather average if I'm being honest. Easy on the eyes, yes, but there doesn't seem to be much that makes him physically stand out."
"Not necessarily. Sure, he's not supermodel material, but with that body he'll surely attract a crowd; particularly from females."
"His body is good and all, but so are many other male Pro Heroes. I'd highlight the traits beyond just physical appearances. His tactical brain is certainly noteworthy. Additionally, the fact that he's a former soldier from America may also garner some interest; if not for the exotic factor."
"Judging by his appearance he does have Japanese heritage… That could confuse the general public if you try to market that. Perhaps marketing him as a 'warrior' is a better option?"
"Alright, we can highlight that in addition to his mind, impressive strength, and combat prowess. Still, I feel like he's lacking something. We'd need to emphasize something else that's exclusive to him."
"Hmm… Considering all we've discussed, how far do you truly believe someone like Midoriya could go as a Pro Hero?"
Yagi was paying close attention now.
"I believe he could be successful for the most part…but he's still limited by his Quirk. I don't foresee him climbing very high in the ranks."
"I concur. He'd be lucky to crack the Top 150."
"So, a mid-tier Pro Hero at best. Noted. Now, how about Todoroki?"
"Ah, yes. Where to start with him…"
"Tch." Yagi scoffed. "Business Course students. They never change…"
He then started walking away and tuning out the students, trying to keep himself from crushing the smoothie cup in his hand out of frustration. 'If only they knew…'