Chapter XXVI: Third Event, Third Round
This was going to be embarrassing, wasn't it? No matter how he tried to think otherwise, Tenya Iida couldn't help but worry that Izuku would find a way to derail the entire fight into a shameful display. It was odd considering how Iida technically had the upper hand: he was faster, stronger, more experienced and had a far superior training. And yet, there he was, worriedly marching into the arena with concern etched on his stern face.
Up on the concrete battle ring, Midnight and Cementoss amicably chatted all while All Might waved at the crowd. To Iida's surprise Izuku was already in position. Oddly enough, he was in his Zero Tails form, eyes closed and faced scrunched in concentration.
"-Future Nº10, pages 70 to 73…" Muttered Izuku. "Alright, then there w-was th-that thing and…"
For some reason beyond Iida's comprehension, Izuku's face heated up in a blush. Whatever he was remembering in his most analytical form, it probably was embarrassing.
"Are you alright, Izuku?" Iida inquired.
Izuku, startled, snapped his eyes-wide open.
"Y-yes!" He spluttered. "D-d-did you come up with a good strategy?"
"You will find out shortly" Iida said with a confident smirk. If only he could feel as confident as he looked.
"Alright listeners are you ready?!" Present Mic called. "Third Round, ladies and gentlemen, so whoever wins this fight is heading straight to the Final Round and possibly…" he dramatically paused "…the Gold Medal!"
The stadium cheered, the air trembling with the ovation. One could almost feel their thirst for more fighting and violence. As much as Iida wanted to prove himself in combat against his peers, Iida could understand Izuku's desire to bring some kind of change to the festival. It had certainly proven to be unbefitting of an institution as prestigious as UA. Unfortunately, there was nothing Izuku and he could do other than play along, at least for the time being. Thus, Iida took a deep breath and ignored the audience, eyes focused on the still muttering green-haired boy.
"On the one side, he is speed incarnate and a gentleman at heart, the Representative of Class 1-A: Tenya Iida!" Present Mic announced.
The audience offered a round of cheering and applause.
"On the other side, he is the prankster of pranksters, the most devious of his kind, the one and only: Izuku Midoriya!" Present Mic shouted.
The audience did clap and cheer, but Iida got the distinct impression the crowd had their reservations towards Izuku. He wasn't sure if it had to do with the incident on the First Round.
"Fighters, are you ready?" Midnight asked.
Iida firmly nodded. Izuku, on the other hand…
"It was a bit expensive… but not as much as the rest in the collection… Guess prices would have been cheaper in Winter…" Izuku muttered, stroking his chin deep in thought.
Iida frowned, concerned. For a brief moment, he worried for his friend. However, he soon found himself squinting at Izuku with the utmost suspicion. Could this be part of a devious plan? To confuse Iida? It was possible.
"Eh… Young Midoriya?" All Might called.
"Huh? Oh right! S-sorry" The red-faced Izuku spluttered. "I-I'm r-ready!"
Midnight and All Might exchange perplexed faces. In the end, Midnight shook her head and raised her whip. Iida leaned forward, squinting at Izuku. Izuku, in turn, nervously smiled at him. Iida revved the engines on his legs, going over the plan in his mind. There was no room for hesitation or failure. He had to win this.
You need to be swift and finish the fight as soon as it starts. You can't give Midoriya enough time to act or you'll lose, Shinso had stated.
Yeah, because if you do he'll find some way to get to you and win, Ochaco had added.
"Alright boys. It's time to… FIGHT!" Midnight proclaimed.
Iida was about to shoot forward, ready to go for the plan he had discussed with Shinso and Ochaco, when Izuku burst into a cloud of white smoke. Iida had expected for Izuku to change form immediately and thus was about to ignore Izuku in favor of the plan. The one thing Iida was not expecting was to be greeted by the sight of the Five-Tails. Surprised by the strange course of action, the speedster couldn't help but frown, utterly baffled.
"Oh yeah, time for some fun!" Cackled the wild-haired fox boy. He grinned at Iida and pointed a clawed finger at the tall teenager. "Are you ready to go down, Robot Boy?"
Iida opened his mouth, feeling rather lost. Of all the forms he had mastered, why did Izuku take the Five-Tailed form? Neither Shinso and Ochaco nor Iida, had predicted this.
"What is it, my man? You wanted to see me as a hot chick?" Izuku teased with a Cheshire grin.
"Certainly not!" Iida shouted, an accusing finger pointed at the boy.
Damn, I forgot all about the plan! I can't allow Izuku's shenanigans distract me! Iida realized.
"Ready or not, here I go!" Izuku laughed.
He spun around, his entire form blurring out. Iida revved his engines and was ready to set off, only to catch something weird on the corner of his eyes. It was definitely not what Iida had expected. Instead, it was something that forced Iida to snap his head towards Izuku and pinch the bridge of his nose. There, staring at him, was an exact replica of Iida.
"I do not understand your plan, Izuku, but this is pitiful!" Iida remarked.
"I take offense on such a statement, fellow Iida. My actions definitely are most befitting to a prestigious institution like UA" the Iida-clone responded with a haughty huff.
Iida felt an eyebrow twitch on his face. What was Izuku playing at? Was he… pulling his leg? In public? With an audience of millions?
"Can you take this fight seriously?!" Iida exclaimed, karate-chopping the air.
"Me? Not take this fight seriously? You jest!" A clone of Iida responded, also karate-chopping the air.
"Please, Izuku, do try to – will you stop imitating me?!" Iida scowled, annoyed by the perfect imitation.
The Iida-clone, though, seemed determined to keep the motion of his arms.
"I do not look like that!" Iida exclaimed.
Izuku, though, wasn't done with the shapeshifting. He chuckled and spun around again, and instead of an Iida doppelganger, Iida found himself face to face with…
"Seriously? My brother?" Iida sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Are you trying to frustrate me, Izuku? Because that is proving to be a successful endeavor!"
"I am Hozu's finest!" Ingenium, clad in his well-known costume, said while posing. "I've come to party and beat villains, and I'm all out of villains!"
He really got down Tensei rather accurately, Iida thought with amusement, only to slap himself. I need to focus!
"Will you stop these rambunctious behavior?" Iida pleaded.
Izuku's form blurred into a hazy blob only to return to the Five-Tails true shape.
"You know, Robot Boy, you are way too stiff and serious. It is very easy to rile you up, especially because you are a bit self-righteous" Izuku snickered.
"I am not self-righteous" indignantly huffed Iida. "Are you ready to take the fight seriously?"
"Oh, but I am taking it seriously. Did you believe I was merely fooling around?" Izuku mused with a smirk.
Iida rolled his eyes at that.
"It certainly looked as much" Iida harrumphed.
"And yet you have been standing there. Didn't you have a plan to follow through?" Izuku pointed out. Iida's eyes widened. "Too late, Iida! You should have created your smokescreen when you had your chance!"
His form blurred and Iida stepped back, apprehensive. What was Izuku playing at? What form could he possibly take that could possibly bother Iida? Within an instant, Iida saw what Izuku had changed into, and his mind went haywire. His jaw dropped and his face burst into a furious red. There, standing in place of Izuku, was the Four-Tails. Oh, but it wasn't just the Four-Tails. Oh no, if only it was that simple.
"That- that- that-" stammered Iida, blood rushing to his face all while steam started coming off his ears.
Iida knew the fight would turn into an embarrassment, but he had underestimated Izuku. How? How didn't he foresee Izuku could do such a thing? Then again, how in the world was he supposed to guess Izuku would use the Five-Tailed form to transform into the Four-Tails wearing a swimsuit. While it was an emerald one piece swimsuit, it was definitely too tight and left a bit too little to the imagination. The posing didn't help either.
"Like what you see?" Purred Four-Tailed Izuku.
She leaned forward, giving Iida a rather advantageous view to her bosom, and whatever thought of actually carrying Shinso's plan died out, fading into obscurity. Iida turned to a giggling Midnight.
"This is outrageous! Isn't that against the rules?!" Iida asked.
"It isn't nudity and he didn't take his clothes" giggled Midnight next to a chortling All Might. "I'll allow it!"
Iida turned towards the still posing Izuku and snapped his head away, or else he would fear how his body would react. This was new. Not even Yaoyorozu's clothing was so revealing or suggestive.
"You don't like it? I have other options, you know…" purred Izuku "…like the entire Summer Collection of Bikinis!"
Iida's eyes promised to explode out of his sockets. Had Izuku said bikinis? Far more revealing swimsuits? He glanced at Izuku only to pry his face away. He had to avoid temptation, damn it!
"Who knew shopping for clothing could increase my arsenal like this, huh?" Izuku cackled.
"This- this in improper!" Iida exclaimed, covering his face while pointing an accusing finger at Izuku. "We are being watched by millions, Izuku!"
"Hey, don't blame it on me that you are such a prude" Izuku said. "Hey, look at this one swimsuit! You should have seen Rabbit Girl's face when I showed it to her!"
Iida would absolutely not even dare do such an outrageous thing! He was not about to ogle at a woman, no matter how outrageously attractive and exposed she so happened to be. He was raised to be better than that!
"Oh my, I don't remember it being that revealing!" Gasped Izuku. "Ouch, the top is coming off!"
Iida squawked and forced his eyes shut. A topless Four-Tails? What manner of dream- no, nightmare – had been trapped in? Sadly, Iida was, much to his shame, sorely tempted on taking a peek. The thought, though, immediately gave him the strength to scrunch his eyes even further shut. However, it suddenly struck him that he was, by all means and purposes, blind to Izuku's actions. His eyes snapped open and he turned towards Izuku, only to be greeted by a cartoonish pink heart to the face.
Izuku had won, much to his own surprise. It had been rather easy and his plan, definitely not one of his finest, had run way too smoothly. However, he had failed to account for something.
"Look, Iida…" Izuku sighed as he followed an angry friend.
Iida stomped ahead of Izuku across the dark stadium corridors, hands clenched into tight fists.
"Iida, please" Izuku pleaded again.
The tall teenager, though, wouldn't listen.
"Alright maybe I made you look a bit unfavorable but-" Izuku was saying, only for Iida to spin around and bare his angry face down on him.
"Unfavorable, you say? No, Midoriya, you made me look like an utter fool!" Iida exclaimed.
Izuku grimaced. Sincerely, he had never expected Iida to take it so badly. Then again, he should have known better.
"This not a battle trial or an exercise. This was the Semi-Final of the Third Event! Millions upon millions of watchers, including prestigious Hero Agencies, well known Pro-Heroes and my family! My family, Midoriya! You made a mockery of me!" Angrily shouted Iida.
Any other time, Izuku knew he would have recoiled and apologized. Somehow, he surprised himself by actually standing his ground.
"Oh, and what exactly was I supposed to do?" Izuku huffed.
"Not making me look like a blithering buffoon would have been nice!" Iida shouted.
"Oh for God's sake, Iida, I was at a disadvantage and you know it" Izuku huffed.
"Thus you employed a cheap trick to fool me?" Iida spat. "A hero is meant to be better than that. A hero-"
"What, Iida? I was supposed to allow you to steamroll me? Like a good hero would?" Izuku angrily interrupted. "I wasn't trained by Pro-Heroes like your parents and brother, I did not have training equipment to prepare me nor did I have a quirk for most of my life. Hell, until Rabbit Girl taught me I couldn't properly fight at all! And what did you expect, Iida? That I would make it easy for you? That I wouldn't exploit your personality flaws?"
"I understand that" Iida conceded in a huff. "However, you-"
"It is who I am, Iida" Izuku cut it with a tone of finality.
Iida paused, frowning. The green-haired boy took the opportunity and pressed on.
"Look, Iida, I know it was embarrassing and…" Izuku looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry I had to do it so publicly. But I was not about to fight you like some gladiator with my claws! You are my friend, Iida, and the last thing I want is to accidentally harm you. I am not sorry I fooled you like that, Iida, and if I have to, I will do it again."
Iida was still angry. Thankfully, he did look more subdued and contemplative. Izuku internally relaxed.
"If it makes you feel any better… I'm also embarrassed" Izuku admitted with a blush. "Forget what I said about the Four-Tails: I get the most embarrassing as the Five-Tails".
Iida took a deep breath and shook his head. For a brief moment, it looked like Iida was deciding whether to accept what he had heard. Izuku watched, worried, with his fox ears perked up and nine tails slowly swaying behind him. Then, a small smile formed on Iida's face and Izuku grinned.
"Do try to be less shameful… for both our sakes" Iida pleaded.
"No promises" Izuku chuckled.
Iida sighed, shaking his head. Without a word, the two started walking towards the Infirmary once again. Izuku's tails happily wagged and Iida seemed lost in his frustration at his rather embarrassing defeat.
"My brother will not live this down…" he grunted, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Really? He's the teasing sort?" Izuku asked, amused.
"Tensei has always been the more outgoing of the two, attending parties and overall having a more…" Iida trailed off, measuring his words "…tranquil attitude towards work and life".
"Ah-ha… so he's a playboy?" Izuku guessed.
That irked Iida, but he couldn't bring himself to deny it. Truthfully, Izuku had heard how Tensei Iida aka Ingenium enjoyed the more fun aspects of life. He was also far more carefree than Iida.
"He's free-spirited" Iida awkwardly clarified "and he has attempted multiple times to encourage me to be less…"
"Prudish? Stiff? Robotic? Serious?" Izuku guessed.
Iida glared at his grinning devious friend.
"Yes, all of the above" muttered Iida. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can picture the entire scene playing. Unacceptable!"
Izuku chuckled. For some reason, he wondered what it would have been like to have a younger brother or sibling. Would he have been more protective like Rumi? Or perhaps an annoying sibling that couldn't stop teasing? Probably both.
"The entire world will mock my performance!" Iida bemoaned.
"If it makes you feel better, imagine the reception I'll get! I'll have lecherous people begging to get a glimpse of me as the Four Tails – especially in a swimsuit" huffed Izuku. It was his turn to whine. "Crap… the fashion agencies might even double down on their efforts!"
That did seem to please Iida.
"Perhaps you should consider modelling after all" Iida stated. "You sure appear to be rather talented on that department."
"When hell freezes over" muttered Izuku.
"Have you considered perhaps using your own strengths in your favor?" Iida remarked with a raised eyebrow and a smile. He sure was enjoying this. "Many people will definitely want to get images of the Four-Tails. You could use that… enthusiasm… to serve the public. Say, for instance, charity."
Izuku frowned at Iida. Was that even possible?
"I am no stranger to hero relationship to publicity stunts" Iida said. "My brother, for example, was able to raise funds for Villain Victims through a modelling contract."
"Really? I had no idea about that" Izuku hummed, surprised.
"It is far more frequent than you believe, and no only in modelling. Still, I am certain you could fund Japan orphanages with one photo-op as the Four-Tails. Perhaps you could even bring world peace" Iida teased with a smirk.
"Eager for a Four-Tails calendar, Iida?" Izuku asked.
Iida squinted at him, making Izuku snicker.
The pair entered the infirmary and paused by the door. To their surprise, they found Recovery Girl smacking her cane on Ochaco's head. The Usagiyamas were there, entertained at the whole spectacle, while Shinso held what looked like a grimace.
"Eh… what did we miss?" Izuku wondered.
Recovery Girl stopped her smacking and angrily walked away, leaving a pouting Ochaco to caress her head.
"You all heroes are the same" Recovery Girl grumbled as she walked out. "You go pushing yourself beyond your limits and then you all whine when your doctor tells you to lie down and stay still! I should start tranquilizing you all."
"But I'm fine!" Ochaco whined.
Recovery Girl snapped her head at the girl, who recoiled and covered her head.
"You'll be fine when I tell you!" The old woman exclaimed, waving her cane. She turned to Izuku. "I trust you to keep an eye on this lot."
"Yes, ma'am" Izuku nodded.
Recovery Girl sent one last warning glare towards Ochaco before she departed.
"What happened?" A baffled Iida wondered.
"Ochaco must have left her bed without Recovery Girl's consent" Izuku guessed.
"I just wanted a few snacks…" grumbled Ochaco.
"Recovery Girl had to drag her in" laughed Rumi. She nudged Izuku with a grin. "Nice match, Fox Boy. Loved the swimsuit".
"Really?" Izuku said with a smirk "do you want a closer look?" He asked, leaning close to her.
"You bet I do" Rumi purred back.
"Find a room you two!" Haku booed.
"Yeah, there are minors here!" Hana huffed.
"Shush, brats" Rumi scoffed. She turned towards Iida. "Fox Boy really got to you, huh?"
"Indeed" grumbled Iida. "We should have known Izuku would employ the Five-Tails in such a manner."
"And we had such a super awesome plan!" Ochaco whined.
"What was that plan, though?" Izuku asked. "I know you probably wanted Iida to use his Engine's combustion as a smokescreen…"
"We kind of guessed his greatest weakness was the Four-Tails" Shinso said. "Or at least Uraraka insisted on it. So they idea was for Iida to use his thick smoke and force you close to the boundaries where he could push you away".
"Yeah, he would go around you with his smoke in a massive cloud and then you would be blindly walking right to the boundaries" Ochaco summarized in her own way.
"It… actually sounds like a good plan" Izuku admitted. "It would cover me and impeded me from using the Four-Tails… then again, I could have taken the Two-Tails to escape the smoke". He frowned. "How was Iida supposed to know where I was inside the smoke?"
"By your coughing. Thick smoke like Iida's, from what we learned, isn't exactly good to breath" Shinso said "Sincerely, Midoriya, your quirk is overpowered."
"It was a strange fight, definitely not what I expected" Haku chimed in.
"Weird, definitely weird" Hana agreed.
"I liked it" Rumi chuckled.
"Of course you did" remarked Izuku huffed, nudging her. She chuckled and nudged back.
"Seriously, sis? Didn't you like people punching each other's faces into a pulp instead of all this planning and scheming?" Hana wondered.
"Oy, I've learned to appreciate the more subtle approaches to fighting" Rumi said with a grin towards Fox Boy. "After all, not all enemies are so straightforward, right Fox Boy?"
Izuku grinned, chest swelling with pride. He couldn't believe Rumi had actually taken his word to heart after their first spar at Dagobah Beach.
"Guys, the next fight is starting soon!" Ochaco cried out. "Quick, somebody get snacks!"
Everyone raised an eyebrow at her. Ochaco's expression fell and she grumbled with a pout as she leaned back onto her bed. She folded her arms and glared at them. Shaking their heads, the rest accommodated around the infirmary and ready for the match.
Haku and Hana hopped onto a bed while Iida went to sit on a chair next to Ochaco's bed. Izuku looked around for somewhere to sit, before he looked at the spot between Shinso' and Ochaco's bed and nudged Rumi. Confused, she stared at him as he turned into the One-Tails and dropped on the ground, only to grow in size. Rumi's eyebrows shot up and she grinned, before sitting on the floor and leaning back on the giant fox.
"Ah… comfy" Rumi hummed, patting the green fur. Izuku finished wrapping up around her so his head ended on her lap all while the rest of his body curled around the girl. "You know, you make an excellent sofa."
Izuku merely rolled his eyes. Rumi chuckled and proceeded to scratch the fox's head under one ear. Without another word, they looked at the screens, ignoring the funny looks they were getting from the others.
The screen showed the battle ring, with the fighters moving into position. On the one side was Tokoyami, with his black crow head and red predatory eyes set on his opponent. On the other side, was Katsuki Bakugo. The onlookers blinked, baffled, as the camera zoomed on them.
"Wow, Bakugo looks… kind of pale" Ochaco commented.
"He looks like shit" Rumi snorted. "Ha, I bet the last battle really hurt his pride. Look at him! He's sweating bullets!"
The Usagiyamas found that humorous. Izuku, though, didn't share Rumi's delight at Bakugo's state. Truth of the matter was that Izuku found himself, surprisingly, concerned. He wasn't sure if for Bakugo or for Tokoyami… probably the latter.
"Perhaps he has realized that we are no mere extras" Iida harrumphed.
Izuku stared at his childhood tormentor. Truth of the matter was that he didn't really look that bad. However, Bakugo had never looked so haggard before. He was always filled with furious life and rage, and never so pale. Beads of sweat on his temple gave Bakugo an almost haunted demeanor.
The stress is getting to him, Izuku realized. But why? Why does he feel so pressured? Because he almost lost? Because he isn't performing like he expected?
The thought was astounding, to say the least, and he was sorely tempted to dismiss it. And yet, he couldn't help but feel concerned for Bakugo.
"Oy, Fox Boy, when you beat him make a run for All Might" Rumi suggested. "That bastard is bound to blow casket and try to murder you."
"Usagiyama, that is uncalled for!" Iida harrumphed. "I doubt Bakugo would turn murderous!"
"Iida is right. He'll probably need to be taken to an asylum with the breakdown he's going to get" Ochaco grunted.
"I bet one carrot he tries to kill Fox Boy" Haku whispered to Hana.
"Oh, that's obvious. Two carrots he attacks Fox Boy from behind" Hana retorted.
"Hey, I was going to bet that!" Haku whined.
"Whatever happens, I don't see Bakugo coming in one piece from this" Shinso said from his bed. "The guy seems to have a really fragile ego. If he doesn't get number one…"
As much as he agreed with the sentiment, Izuku couldn't bring himself to wish any of that on Bakugo. It was strange. After hating the guy, he was suddenly worried for him because of some stress? Then again, as much as he hated Bakugo's guts, Izuku didn't want him to just fall apart, not before millions of people. However, there was a chance, admittedly a small one, Bakugo could do something stupid... like in a fit of blind rage try to attack Izuku.
As before, the television was mute and thus they couldn't hear the re-introductions by Present Mic. Transfixed, their eyes were glued on the screen. Bakugo leaned forward and exploded forward, straight at Tokoyami. Izuku frowned, worried. Bakugo certainly looked off. The raven-headed teenager, in turn, braced himself against the charging enemy.
Instead of trying to punch or explode Tokoyami, Bakugo created a massive explosion a good distance away from his opponent. Blinding, and no doubt deafening, both Tokoyami and Bakugo were sent flying backwards, leaving a large cloud of smoke shrouding the center of the ring. Tokoyami rolled on the ground, scraping against the concrete, before he knelt up, disoriented. From the smoke came flying Bakugo, looking like a mad man.
Bakugo came down onto a startled Tokoyami, right arm ready to punch the bird-headed student. Tokoyami dizzily tried to stand up (still shaken by the first explosion) and prepared to block him. Bakugo, though, didn't punch and instead released a blinding explosion a meter or two before he reached Tokoyami. The raven-headed student stared onward and was left helpless against Bakugo's left hook to his face. That was before a massive shadowy hand sprouted out of Tokoyami's gut and buried a massive fist on Bakugo's face.
"So Tokoyami isn't exposing Dark Shadow" Iida hummed, stroking his chin. "I see… he avoids Bakugo's explosion from hurting his quirk and thus can employ Dark Shadow as quick counter attacks to successfully land powerful strikes…"
"But that also exposes Tokoyami to the brunt of Bakugo's explosions and attacks" Shinso pointed out. "It's suicidal and stupid."
Izuku grimaced. He had to concede with Shinso. Tokoyami's strategy was foolish. Then again, if Bakugo did manage to harm Dark Shadow enough, Tokoyami alone wouldn't be able to do much. Still, if Tokoyami was too badly beaten, there was no point in having kept Dark Shadow intact. Why was Tokoyami caring more for Dark Shadow than his own health?
Bakugo rolled onto the concrete, only to end lying on the ground. He knelt up and readied to stand, only to find Tokoyami had slung himself with Dark Shadow towards him. Bakugo successfully blocked Tokoyami's fists, but Dark Shadow took an opening to come from below and deliver an uppercut. A startled blond was sent up a few feet from the ground, before Dark Shadow stretched out and threw Bakugo towards the Boundaries.
The blond stopped himself with explosions, but he had panic written all over his face. Tokoyami pressed his advantage. Bakugo's eyes widened as Dark Shadow wrapped around Tokoyami's arm and formed a massive dark fist. The explosive blond ducked and delivered a round kick towards Tokoyami feet. The bird-headed student jumped and punched downwards, straight to the ground.
In a flash, Bakugo had rolled to a side and delivered a powerful explosion on Dark Shadow. The shadowy being visibly shrieked in pain, before Tokoyami used his shadow-wrapped enlarged arm to swat Bakugo and send him flying to a side.
Tokoyami took a moment to check on a whining Dark Shadow before he snapped his head to glare at Bakugo. The explosive blond, back on his feet, smirked back and cracked his knuckles. Things were about to get brutal.
The fight followed in the same vein. Tokoyami used Dark Shadow sparingly, pulling him back whenever Bakugo charged, and using Dark Shadow to surprise Bakugo when they engaged in hand-to-hand combat. That meant that Bakugo had to rely on explosions at a safe distance and try to stun or push Tokoyami away. The bird-headed student, sadly, seemed to grow more and more ruffled and disheveled with each passing explosion, stubbornly pressing on no matter the injuries he got.
"Bakugo isn't using explosions on Tokoyami… he's creating them with a distance as if to avoid scorching him" Iida realized. "I didn't expect Bakugo to – well – hold back like that."
"Thank goodness for that! I feared he would accidentally blow someone's head off" Ochaco sighed with relief. "Remember our Battle Trail, Izuku? If you hadn't intervened he could have broken my neck!"
Izuku, his fox head on Rumi's lap, hummed in thought. He was thankful Bakugo had finally decided to hold back a little with his rather dangerous quirk, but a part of him felt that it had more to do with the same reason Bakugo was initially so haggard. Odds were, Aizawa had put his foot down and tried to rein Bakugo in before he accidentally killed someone with an explosion on someone's face. With the mounting stress and pressure of the tournament, Izuku had to admit it was for the best. While a tad unfair that Bakugo couldn't fight all out, it would definately avoid a tragedy from happening.
Minutes passed, and it became clear that Tokoyami was not giving up, even if by all means, he was losing – and badly. Dark Shadow landed a few more punches on Bakugo's face and stomach, all while Bakugo responded with kicks, explosions and punches of his own. It came to a point it was almost painful to watch. Tokoyami, no matter how much he endured, seemed unwilling to give up.
"Man, Tokoyami isn't looking good" Ochaco said with a pained face.
She wasn't wrong. He had ruffled feathers, a few spots missing and he wobbled a bit. The loudness of the explosions was probably affecting his eardrums. He was also panting and seemed ready to drop. He had been given a beating by Bakugo… and yet he stood. Speaking of Bakugo, he was sweating, but he carried himself with pride. His previous haunted demeanor was gone, standing proud – yet Izuku did not miss how he still remained a tad cautious and apprehensive. There were scrapes and scratches on his body and, by the looks of it, he had been hit perhaps one too many times on the nose, because he winced whenever he touched it.
"Tokoyami should surrender" Iida said. "He is injuring himself out there."
"Why isn't Midnight calling the fight?" Rumi asked. "Sincerely, what's the point of having All Might there if they only intervene just as they are about to pass out."
Izuku didn't like being the skeptic and cynic but he couldn't help but think the organizers really wanted the battles to drag on as long as possible.
After a short pause, Bakugo started yelling something. If Izuku had to guess, he probably was demanding Tokoyami to surrender. As much as he hated Bakugo, he had to concede Bakugo had been rather lenient than usual, perhaps due the massive audience. Tokoyami didn't outright respond but instead took a deep breath and shook his head. For a moment, they traded unheard words, before Tokoyami raised a defiant fist towards Bakugo and shouted something back. Bakugo looked at Tokoyami with eyes as wide as saucers. Whatever the bird-headed boy had said, it had hit a nerve. Bakugo grew livid after that and barked something back.
"Man, I wish we could hear what they are saying" Haku grumbled.
"Yeah… what could they be talking about?" Hana wondered.
The two suddenly charged at each other, Tokoyami summoned Dark Shadow and Bakugo exploded forward, right arm ready to deliver a powerful hook… when Tokoyami's eyes rolled back and he dropped forward. Bakugo flew past the bird-headed student. When he landed, he snapped his head at Tokoyami, ruby eyes transfixed by his fallen opponent.
Midnight called the battle to Bakugo but the explosive boy, as per usual, seemed pissed off about something. All Might had to step in front of Bakugo and stop him from approaching Tokoyami, all while a pair of medics hurried over to carry Tokoyami away in a stretcher. For a moment, Tokoyami regained conscience. To everyone's surprised, he directed his beak towards Bakugo and said something.
Whatever Tokoyami had said, it sent Bakugo into an apoplectic rage because he tried to attack the downed opponent. Said student, in turn, leaned back with a look of satisfaction. It was strange to see All Might holding Bakugo with ease, all while the explosive boy screamed like a mad-man. The only thing missing was foam coming out of his mouth.
In the end, Tokoyami was taken away and Bakugo was left to stomp away, as furious as ever. A pair of medics looked like they wanted to offer assistance but the explosive blond yelled them away. With that, the last fight of the Third Round had ended and the last break of fifteen minutes began. That meant…
"Are you ready to beat his butt, Fox Boy?" Rumi asked with a wide grin.
Izuku stroke his chin, thoughtful.
"We need to spend our time properly and prepare for your battle!" Iida exclaimed.
"Yeah! Maybe we could help you unlock and extra tailed form to surprise him" Ochaco enthusiastically said.
"Well, I was close to the Six Tails on the first round" Izuku hummed before shaking head. "It's fine guys. You don't have to worry" he offered a calm smile. "Besides, Iida, you a fight too."
Iida and Ochaco traded faces, grimacing. Izuku couldn't blame them. Odds were that Recovery Girl would find some excuse to keep Tokoyami from fighting and leave Iida to take the Bronze Medal without a fight.
"What about that fur manipulation thing I told you about?" Shinso wondered.
Izuku studied his arm, considering the idea. Could he really have such a power? It did sound useful... but odds were he would have to first master such control. That and they had yet to confirm the possibility that he could somehow grow and control fur on his arms. For all they knew, that could have been any other form that attacked and mauled Shinso's face.
"I don't know… even if I do manage to learn how to do that, I don't think I'll be able to use it effectively" Izuku said. "Don't worry, guys, I've got this."
"If you say so…" Ochaco trailed off.
"Just make sure to beat him good!" Haku exclaimed.
"Yeah! Teach him a lesson of humility!" Hana joined in.
"As long as you don't forget what I taught you, Fox Boy, you should be fine" Rumi confidently said.
"As if I could forget it" chuckled Izuku. "Seriously, though, I have a plan."
"Don't you always" Rumi huffed, rolling her eyes.
"I think I'll go for a walk" Izuku told them.
"A… walk?" Haku asked. "Seriously, Fox Boy?"
"To clear my mind" Izuku added. "I need some stuff to think about…"
Their conversation was interrupted by the infirmary door opening and a pair of medics bringing Tokoyami. Recovery Girl came right behind them with her usual 'I'll-kill-the-organizers' glare. Once the medics had carefully moved the bird-headed student onto the bed opposite Shinso, they left him to the school nurse.
"It was foolish of you to take such a beating" berated Recovery Girl with concern. "You should have surrendered when you had the chance. As unlikable Bakugo is, he at least has the decency of giving you the chance to avoid further damage… but no! Your pride is always more important, isn't it?"
Tokoyami, who was conscious, said nothing.
"One of these days this tournament will end with someone dying and I am sure everyone will carry on as if it was nothing… at least he didn't leave you any scars" grunted the school nurse as she checked on the bird-headed student. "You are staying put in that bed, am I clear? Nothing of running round." She sent a glare at a sheepish Ochaco.
"Will I be able to fight in the next round?" Tokoyami asked.
"We'll see" muttered Recovery Girl. "All in all, you are far better than I had expected. Maybe, just maybe, I'll allow it. But only if you stay put, am I clear?"
"Understood" Tokoyami hummed.
Recovery Girl harrumphed and shook her head before marching towards the surgery room.
"Tokoyami" Iida called, walking over to his bed. "You performed admirably out there, but I do have to comment on your… determination… to carry on fighting."
"A hero faces evil regardless of the pains he endures" Tokoyami hummed. "That and perhaps I wanted to…" here, he awkwardly cleared his throat "…beat Bakugo as much as possible."
"I know the feeling" Rumi laughed.
"Midoriya, I pray for your victory" Tokoyami hummed.
"Thanks, Tokoyami" Izuku said with a saddened smile.
There was a brief moment where Tokoyami was left in peace and he was able to close his eyes, finally able to start using the inter-round break to recover as much as possible. Of course, there was one question that they wanted answered.
"Hey, Tokoyami… what did you tell Bakugo at the end?" Ochaco asked, intrigued.
Everyone stared at the bird-headed student, equally intrigued. Tokoyami, on his part, looked rather smug.
"Oh, merely the truth" Tokoyami hummed. "I told him that-"
You'll always be second best to Midoriya.
Those words echoed in Bakugo's head, infuriating the boy. What was so great about fucking Deku? Why did everyone think so highly of him? How did he even make friends? It seemed everyone kind of looked up to Deku. Why?
Bakugo placed the cold plastic cup over his forehead and allowed himself a sigh of relief. That bastard, Bird-Face, had surprisingly done quite a number on him, and all for some sense of duty and heroism. Not that he truly managed to hurt Bakugo. Of course not!
Entertained by his thoughts, Bakugo ignored the people around him. The concession stands around him were occupied, but the number of people walking around were a far fewer than before. He was thankful for that. At the moment, Bakugo wanted to think and wind down a bit.
Holding back on Bird-Face was a real pain, Bakugo grumbled. If he could have landed one good explosion on the extra the fight would have been over in an instant! But no, I've got the be careful with my explosions... bah!
"Stupid Deku… stupid extras… stupid Aizawa…" Bakugo muttered.
Frustrated, Bakugo checked his phone and grimaced. He had ten missed calls, all from his mom. He took a deep breath and sighed. Of course she would try to call him. She probably would be all worried that he had had a few bumps on his way to the Gold Medal.
Better not to call her or else she'll be annoying, Bakugo thought only to halt on his march and glance down at his phone, apprehensive. Although if I don't call her now… she's going to flay me later.
"Urgh, fine!" Bakugo spat.
And thus, he reluctantly marched to the nearby trees next to the concession stands and, in the safety of the trees, he called his mother. For a moment, he prayed she was busy on something and wouldn't attend. Of course, that was a foolish hope. She didn't take long to take the call.
"Katsuki! Finally! What the hell have you been doing?! Do you know how many times I've called you? What? You found some chick to escape into a changing room?!"
Bakugo was thankful he was immune to loud noises. Still, the shrill of his mother's worried voice forced him to keep the phone at a rather safe distance from his head before he could speak.
"I was busy, mom, and you know I'd never do that!" Bakugo retorted with disgust.
"Yes, and I expected to at least check your phone every once in a while!" His mother exclaimed. She sighed, trying to rein in her temper. "Alright, alright, no more yelling…"
Thank goodness, Bakugo thought with relief.
"How are you doing, Katsuki? I saw your fight right now and you look a bit under the weather" his mother stated. "Are you alright? Was it a punch or is it something else? Come on, spill it. Is it because of your Second Strike?"
"It's the fucking extras" Bakugo growled.
"Oy, what did we say about calling them that?!" His mother said.
"It's what they are… they are all weak and pathetic and will never amount to much" Bakugo spat.
"Oh for the love of – do you really believe that? After how they got the better of you a couple of times do you truly believe that? I think they've been pretty cool and you should give them some credit!"
"They must have taken Trigger. There is no fucking way-" Bakugo muttered only to be interrupted.
"Oh yeah, Trigger. Please, Katsuki, U.A. would kick anyone out if they catch a whiff of that drug or any other and you know that. There are thousands of cameras and smelling sensors to catch any hints of cheating. That and you must remember anyone who uses Trigger gets one hell of a power-up. It would be too obvious to your teachers."
"What about a diluted dosage, huh?" Bakugo harrumphed.
"Don't be a child, Katsuki. You know they got to you fair and square" his mom chuckled, making the explosive blond blush.
"I know those extras" Bakugo insisted. "They must be taking something!"
"Or maybe they aren't as much of extras as you believe?" Her mother suggested, humming. Bakugo groaned. "Oh come on, you need to fucking lighten up! You are seriously going to mess it up, you know? You are one Strike away from expulsion."
"Thanks to you" Bakugo grumbled.
"Oy, before you start pointing fingers let me remind you that you are the one that hasn't been living up to his promises. Didn't you promise me you would stop looking down on your classmates? You told me this very morning you would go easy on the ex- on your classmates!"
"I – you… it's not that easy, damn it! The extras keep asking for it!" Bakugo huffed.
"It isn't easy to treat your classmates as human beings? What the fuck, Katsuki! You can't keep making excuses. You know you are being a little shit to your classmates – hell, everyone around you - and you are letting your arrogance and anger get the worst out of you" his mother ranted.
Bakugo groaned again. As much as he wanted to cut the call, it was better to get it all out of her system or else she would explode later on.
"Katsuki…" Bakugo was surprised by the solemn tone "…your father and I are worried about you. We love and support you, son, but you are taking the festival a bit too far. We want you to win but if it means making enemies out of everyone, is it really worth it?"
"Why should I care?" Bakugo scoffed. "Those extras have been nothing but a pain to me!"
"You mean they haven't been kissing your ass enough. Holy shit, we've been over this" snorted his mother. "Stop making excuses, damn it! Don't you see what's going to happen? You keep this fucking attitude and your teacher will expel you, Katsuki! Expel you, damn it! Do you want that? Because it is going to be all your fault."
Bakugo scowled, but said nothing. She had a point, and he hated that.
"Katsuki, your dad and I want you to win, alright? We love and believe in you and we know you are meant for the top. We know you will be a great Pro-Hero, the best out there. However, you are going to screw up if you keep running your mouth and being an arsehole. Everyone will treat you like a villain and then what?" She said. "This Festival is your chance to prove everyone wrong, damn it! All I see if you acting like- like a villain."
Bakugo felt a pang of anger as he remembered his latest conversation with Aizawa.
"Trust me, Katsuki. One day you'll screw up and you'll regret pushing away everyone around you, and your father and I don't want that."
Bakugo grimaced as he recalled how he had unwillingly caused Shinso's accident… not that it was his fault. Of course it wasn't! It was Deku's fault.
"So, please, just… keep your word and do try to play nice. Try to make friends or else your next three years at UA are going to be shit… if you last that long, I mean. Please, Katsuki, we know you can be the best hero out there but you need to start acting better!" sighed his mother.
Bakugo rolled his eyes, annoyed by her words. And yet, he felt a knot in his gut. His last month at U.A. had already been shit. He thought he could get used to being ignored or hated, especially considering he was surrounded by shitty extras… but by the looks of it, none of the extras was going to go any day soon (perhaps with the exception of the perverted dwarf no doubt).
"Good luck, Katsuki" her mother said. "Go and win, alright? And please, don't beat Izu-kun that badly, please… I know Inko and I aren't on speaking terms but… please, don't get carried out".
"I won't hurt him that much" Bakugo grunted.
"Alright, I'll leave you then. Love you, brat" her mother said, adding a few kissing noises.
"Love you too" scoffed Bakugo with an amused smile.
When the call ended, Bakugo glared at the screen. A few seconds passed, before he crushed the cup in his hand and threw it at a tree. This was not how the Sports Festival was supposed to be. He was supposed to finally establish his dominance and place! His mother should be calling to express how happy she was not to berate him for saying a few mean things and acting a bit rough on the extras.
This is so messed up, thought Bakugo, shaking his head. But it doesn't matter. All I have to do is avoid exploding Deku's face off and I'll be alright… yes… that will be easy… the Gold is as good as mine.
And yet, as he thought of Deku, Bakugo felt the urge to burn that stupid face. His thoughts, though, were interrupted when a familiar boy entered, looking worried. Bakugo scowled as none other than Todoroki, in his new scar-free face, stepped in. As expected, Half-Ice's face morphed from concern to wintry anger upon finding the explosive blond.
"I thought I heard something…" Half-Ice said.
"Yeah, yeah, you can fuck off now" Bakugo spat.
The extra seemed ready to do so, only to pause and turn around. Irritated Bakugo glared at Half-Ice. Why in the world was the dichromatic boy staring at him like that?
"What do you want now?" Bakugo grunted. "What are you even doing around like a creep? Enjoying your pretty new face, huh?"
Half-Ice squinted at the explosive blond, dichromatic eyes burning with hatred. His eyes, though, glanced at his left hand, as if he had been considering something relating to it. Whatever it was, Bakugo couldn't care less.
"I was thinking about something important until I heard some kind of child throwing a temper tantrum" Half-Ice coldly stated, earning a scoff from Bakugo. "Why are you this way, Bakugo?"
"This way? What the hell are you talking about?" The explosive teenager retorted.
"Why do you look down on everyone?" Half-Ice asked with venom in his voice. Bakugo, though, did not miss the confusion.
"Why? Oh please, isn't it obvious? You lot all want to be Pro-Heroes but aren't up to the challenge. Face it, more Pro-Heroes out there are fucking pathetic losers that thought could be something only to discover real life is a shit ton of crazy. They all end up needing Trigger to stand a chance or to blow this or that guy just to stay relevant…" Bakugo huffed.
Half-Ice merely raised an eyebrow at him.
"Did you never read or hear the news, Half-Ice? Did you never watch the Hero Hunter?" Bakugo wondered. "Look at Pro-Hero Satyra. She was from my district… what a fucking mess. She ended up needing Trigger to beat some random villain and before long she was so addicted to the stuff she was caught blowing some business guy."
"That is one hero of many" Half-Ice remarked. "There are bad apples, Bakugo. Trust me, I know that… but they aren't all like that." He frowned, more confused than before.
"Ha, as if" snorted Bakugo. "Weak quirks breed weak heroes, and weak heroes are nothing but trouble. They give false hope and end up bringing a bigger mess, failing when they are most needed. But these days they are worse. We've had so much peace and so few villains thanks to All Might, they all end up being little more than celebrities, all perverts and delusional. Sometimes they get lucky and all that fame get to their heads, always screwing up at some point. You extras are no different. I'm not like that. You hear me, Half-Ice? I'll be the next All Might."
"Unlikely" Half-Ice remarked with disdain. "You do understand just how dislikeable you are, don't you?"
"Oh please, no one will give a shit about me running my mouth when All Might retires, will they? People are fucking sheep. Once All Might is out of the picture, then what Half-Ice? People will start sucking to the next strong guy that can take his place – and I'll do it. I'll fight the next Dark Age with my two fucking hands."
Half-Ice raised an eyebrow at him once again, looking rather disbelieving and baffled. His expression, though, returned to a cold glare.
"And does that excuse bullying Midoriya? You did bully him throughout his entire childhood, didn't you?" Half-Ice harshly hissed.
Bakugo gritted his teeth. Who the hell was Half-Ice to make such accusations? He didn't know anything!
"Deku was freaking annoying. He would always be around to irritate me" Bakugo's voice turned into a shrilly high pitched "'Oh, kachan, that's too dangerous', 'oh, kachan, you are so amazing… but should you do that?', 'Oh, kachan, that's wrong'… fucking annoying! But that wasn't the worst of it… Deku always looked down on me".
"I wonder why" Half-Ice stated without a hint of emotions.
Bakugo decided to ignore the comment.
"I never understood Deku. There was always something… off" Bakugo confessed. "No matter what I told or did to him he would always come back and treat me like a friend. Seriously, that guy just wanted to piss me off. It took him years to start keeping his distance and even then he carried on like I was his friend, calling me kachan and shit. Oh, and did I tell you he wanted to be a Hero and enter U.A. even though he was quirkless?
"He was all talk, of course. He didn't train, he didn't do anything other than be a freaking nerd. He was fucking taunting me." Bakugo grunted. "But now he has a fucking quirk. Like, what the fuck? I guess I was always right. It makes sense now. All that shit about becoming a hero and getting to UA… he must have manifested his quirk and hidden it from me, probably had a good laugh behind my back, all while pestering me with his quirkless form."
Half-Ice rolled his eyes.
"What? You don't believe me? Oh you know Deku. He fucking loves tricking people, right? Why is this any different? It makes sense… he makes me think he is quirkless and secretly learns about me, all while he prepares to get to UA and surprise me for the Sports Festival, in front of everyone!" Bakugo exclaimed.
But Half-Ice wouldn't believe him. Instead, he looked down on him with the coldest face to date.
"You are pathetic, Bakugo" Half-Ice said "a scum of a human being. Your behavior leaves a lot to be desired but this hatred towards Midoriya… now I know the truth. I can't believe Midoriya is willing to-"
He cut himself, holding his tongue before he revealing something. With a last freezing glare at Bakugo, he spun around and started marching out.
"Oy, who are you calling pathetic?! I am not Deku, you hear me?!" Bakugo screamed.
Half-Ice, though, kept walking and ignored Bakugo. That only infuriated the blond further.
What was that about Deku that Half-Ice left unsaid? No, it didn't matter.
Deku... Bakugo thought with rising anger. It all comes back to that- that...
He was going to destroy Deku. It was high time Bakugo repaid the bastard for playing him for a fiddle all those years. It made sense now. Deku had been helping the extras, probably debulding all about how he fought and how to annoy him...
"It's time to put down that worthless piece of shit" Bakugo growled as he stomped out, towards the stadium. "I'll show you Deku. It's fucking time I end this."
It evening was as pleasant as the morning, if not a tad more comfortable. The air was warm and fresh, and the gentle breezes were a soothing change from the stale air of the stadium corridors. Sincerely, it had been a great idea to take a stroll around the grass fields beyond the Concession stands. Izuku allowed himself to take in the many scents and smells that pervaded the vast green fields, all while Rumi walked by his side.
"I must say… never thought I'd ever get this far" Izuku admitted with a grin. "A month ago I would have never used the Four Tails the way I did. I probably would have stuck to the Zero Tails and Nine Tails, perhaps the One Tails every now and then".
Rumi, who was walking with her eyes closed and arms crossed behind her head, directed a ruby eye towards him.
"And you needed… what? A few thousand smacks to the head?" Rumi chuckled.
"Maybe" Izuku shrugged. "I'm amazed, still. Everything that happened… I'm really fortunate, you know?"
"Oy, it was more than just luck" Rumi scoffed. "You worked hard. We both did."
"You are right. Still… having this quirk of mine, meeting you… I really wonder what it would have been of me had it been any different" Izuku hummed. "Would I have been a student of UA?"
"Bah, who knows? Who cares?" Rumi dismissively said. "Don't work yourself up before the fight, Fox Boy, or else I'll give you a loving smack."
"Oh, I'm sure of that" Izuku chuckled. "A pity the Festival has been… not as enjoyable as I expected."
"Hey, you had Bakugo. That was bound to ruin everyone's fun" Rumi said.
"We can't blame Bakugo for everything, Rabbit Girl" Izuku sighed.
He grimaced at the mention of the explosive teen. Sincerely, there was one thing that troubled the fox boy, and it was the ensuing fight. It would be, for the first time, the chance for Izuku to actually stand up and defeat his childhood bully, to finally do something against the guy Izuku hated so much. At the moment, Izuku wanted to think about anything other than Bakugo.
"Did you have fun last year? At the sports festival, I mean" Izuku suddenly said.
Rumi scowled at that.
"Yeah… I kind of did. I mean, it was the chance of a life time to beat the crap out of my classmates – who I'm telling you, are annoying" Rumi admitted, only to grimace. "But thinking back to it… I might have been a teensy bit… eh…"
"Bakugo-ish" Izuku teased.
"Alright, yeah, I was a jerk. I kind of deserved the Third place" Rumi grumbled.
"Oh, don't say that" Izuku huffed. "I know you worked hard for the top."
"Yeah, but I was impatient and maybe too aggressive" grunted Rumi. "Pro-Hero Ursai said the same thing when I interned with him last year, you know? Really tried to tap down my tenacious fighting spirit – failed miserably but hey, at least he tried."
"Wait, you interned with Pro-Hero Ursai? From the Iron Agency in Hiroshima?" Izuku asked, surprised.
"Oh right, I never did tell you about that" Rumi chuckled. "Geez, that was so long ago… yeah, it was fun. He was just the kind of hero I liked: tough and buffed. I think I want to intern with him again."
"Well, we might be crossing paths then" Izuku said. "I think I'll take Pro-Hero Arachne's offer."
"You don't have to. I understand wanting to be around me. I am awesome, after all, but you shouldn't be sticking with me all the time" Rumi scoffed.
"Hey, who says it's because of you?" Izuku teased.
"It isn't?" A surprised Rumi said, snapping her head towards him.
"Of course not, Rabbit Girl" Izuku chuckled. "The world doesn't revolve around you, you know? Besides, I would never try to get in the way between you and training."
"You're damn right" Rumi laughed. "But wait, why Pro-Hero Arachne? There will be a shit ton of top heroes out there to intern with."
"Well… she is more of a sneaky Pro-Hero and I think I want to be more of an Underground hero myself so… Pro-Hero Arachne seems perfect. That and I want to visit Hiroshima. I've been eager to see a city with mostly animal mutant quirks like ours" Izuku confessed. "I've heard that they are a bit closed-off towards non-mutant quirk users, though."
"It is also one of the biggest villain hives out there" Rumi said. "Maybe you should take some place safer."
"It's my choice, Rabbit Girl. Besides, I'll just be an intern. I'll probably be stuck cleaning the Agency or bringing coffee to Pro-Hero Arachne" Izuku guessed.
"I get the feeling you'll end up doing something stupid" Rumi grunted.
"Me? Stupid? Pfft" Izuku scoffed. "You make it sound like I'll just run into the Hero Killer and fight him or something."
Rumi didn't say anything.
"Hey, why would you think I'd do such a thing?" Izuku said, bewildered.
"Because you are too god-damn selfless and foolish at times. I bet that if you hear someone in need you'd run head first like an idiot" Rumi stated.
"Isn't that… a good thing? Hey, I'm the smart one of the two. I'm the one that analyses the situation, remember? You are the one that just headfirst into action" Izuku retorted.
"Yeah… no. You are the nerdy one. I'm the smart one, remember?" Rumi corrected.
"Then I'm the pretty one, right?" Izuku joked.
"Oh no, I'm that too" Rumi offered.
"So I'm just a nerd" Izuku deadpanned.
"Pretty much" Rumi said.
The two laughed at that.
"Seriously though, it won't be that bad" Izuku told Rumi. "And that's still way in the future. Maybe Pro-Hero Arachne doesn't send an internship request after all or maybe I take another offer. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
"Well, well, well, look at you, Mr Overthinker" Rumi chuckled. "Good for you. Finally landing on the present."
Izuku merely grinned. He checked his cell phone and grimaced.
"Alright… I think it's time" Izuku sighed, shaking his head. "We should go back. The fight between Tokoyami and Iida should begin soon."
"At last, the final round!" Rumi excitedly said. "It is time to end the Festival!"
Izuku smiled. The pair turned around, eyeing the massive stadium.
"Yeah…" Izuku softly said. "It is time to end this."