After the latest table of participants was displayed on the giant screen, the entire Class 1-A collectively turned to look at Tenya Iida with a mixture of rolled eyes and bewildered amusement. He was the sole individual who had, by sheer luck, automatically advanced to the third block, bypassing the challenging second round entirely.
"You're a truly lucky man, Iida!" Kirishima said, his voice brimming with his usual cheerful sincerity, as he playfully nudged Iida. "Share some of that insane luck with me, man! I could use it for the next round!"
"Go gamble in a casino, Iida," Kaminari muttered with a frustrated frown, clearly annoyed by Iida's unearned advancement, especially after his own quick defeat.
"STOP THAT, YOU TWO!" Iida exclaimed, rubbing his temple with a visible exasperation, his arm movements becoming even more rigid and robotic than usual. "It was just a bit of luck, nothing more, nothing less! And besides... I admit I made a fool of myself in my fight because I honestly didn't want to hurt Hatsume, considering her precious 'babies'!"
"I-It's okay, Iida... a little luck never hurt anyone, right?" Midoriya said, attempting to comfort Iida as best he could, his voice a little strained from his own recent, painful match against Shoji. As he spoke, Midoriya suddenly noticed something significant. "Where's Katchan, by the way? He usually wouldn't miss a single match."
"Bakugo... well, he didn't take it too well, not qualifying for the final round," Kirishima explained, making a thoughtful face, his brow furrowed in contemplation, before shrugging his shoulders. "I tried my best to cheer him up, you know how he is... he just stormed off. Although he seemed a bit off, even more so than usual, perhaps. Anyway, he left right after your fight against Shoji, most likely heading to the recreation area or the dining hall to vent his frustration."
"Katchan..." Midoriya muttered, his voice filled with genuine worry for his childhood friend (or whatever their complex relationship had evolved into).
"I think he honestly deserves it a bit; he's really... something," Toru commented, her invisible form seemingly searching for the right word but failing miserably, ultimately deciding on a blunt assessment. "It's not that I don't like him... no, scratch that, I definitely don't like him, actually."
"Yeah, maybe bringing his pride down a bit will help him come down from his self-important cloud and humble him," Momo said, shrugging her shoulders dismissively, clearly agreeing with Toru's sentiment.
"Don't you have to fight Lena... right now, Momo?" Tsuyu asked, her large, dark eyes glaring at Momo, a subtle, almost mischievous glint in them.
Momo blinked for a moment, her eyes widening in sudden realization, before she shot off towards the preparation room in a blur of panicked motion. She hadn't realized that Lena had already departed a while ago to prepare for their match, leaving her running behind schedule.
"Relax, Izuku, I'm sure she's fine! Bakugo just needs some time to cool off and lick his wounds," Uraraka said, trying her best to cheer up her friend, patting him gently on the shoulder.
What no one noticed, or if they did, they wisely didn't mention, were Uraraka's slightly reddened eyes, lingering evidence of her earlier, private moment of profound sadness.
"Yeah, you're right, I have to concentrate on the competition, not on Katchan," Midoriya said, forcing himself to regain his composure as he directed his gaze towards the calm, seemingly unperturbed Todoroki, who was lying with his eyes closed. Midoriya, however, had the distinct feeling that Todoroki wasn't sleeping at all, but rather meditating or meticulously strategizing.
"THE QUARTERFINALS ARE ON! THIS TIME, WE HAVE A CLASH OF TITANS, A DUEL OF INTELLECT AND UNYIELDING POWER!" Present Mic's voice boomed, his enthusiasm infectious.
"ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE THE GHOST SPRINTER! FASTER THAN DEATH ITSELF! DON'T BLINK BECAUSE YOU'LL UNDOUBTEDLY MISS HER INCREDIBLE MOVES! THE CLASS 1-A VICE PRESIDENT! IT'S OXTOON LENAAAA!"
"ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE... THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD ITSELF! THE SERVANT OF THE HAND OF GOD! THE CLASS 1-A PRESIDENT! GIVE IT UP FOR YAOYOROZU MOMOOOOO!"
Both girls were already on the platform, their gazes locked, looking at each other as if they were two predatory beasts, each ready to finish the other off, their determination palpable.
"Faster than death, eh, Present Mic? How precise," Lena muttered sarcastically, a subtle smirk playing on her lips, before pointing directly at Momo with a confident, almost playful, gesture. "Hey, Momo! I'm going to tear you apart out here, so make sure to give it your absolute all! Don't hold back for a second!"
"You're the one who's going to get absolutely smashed, Oxton!" Momo replied, her voice firm and resolute, as she adopted a disciplined close-combat stance. As she had painfully learned during the intensive training sessions at Momo's House, Lena knew exactly how well Momo could fight hand-to-hand, her skills surprisingly refined.
"We'll see about that, Yaoyorozu..." Lena said quietly, her voice a low challenge, as she adopted a fluid, low Taekwondo stance, her body poised for rapid movement.
"BEGIN!"
Immediately after the announcement, Momo made the first decisive move. With a swift, practiced motion, she created a sturdy Bo Staff from her skin and adopted a defensive stance, her eyes never leaving Lena, anticipating her next move.
Without breaking eye contact, both girls began to slowly circle each other, their guards meticulously raised, each searching for the slightest opening, a fleeting vulnerability to exploit. The tension in the air was palpable, a silent prelude to the explosive confrontation.
Suddenly, Lena instantly appeared directly in front of Momo, a blur of motion, attempting to punch her squarely in the chest. But Momo, reacting with surprising speed, managed to block the blow with her staff. However, she had not accounted for Lena's superior physical strength, which sent her stumbling backward several meters, disrupting her carefully maintained balance.
Momo, struggling to keep her footing, managed to regain her balance just in time to narrowly dodge a rapid series of Lena's kicks, avoiding them by the skin of her teeth. With a swift swing of her staff, Momo attempted to attack Lena from below, aiming for her legs, but Lena gracefully jumped back a bit before returning to attack Momo with another powerful kick.
But Momo, with an impressive twist of her staff, blocked Lena's attack with effortless grace before counterattacking swiftly with one end of the staff, aiming for Lena's exposed side.
Lena was barely able to move out of the way in time from the sudden counterattack, jumping backward. Both girls then circled back around, their gazes locked, an unspoken acknowledgment of each other's formidable skills.
Lena frowned, realizing with a hint of frustration that she couldn't easily break Momo's guard. Her opponent was far more resilient and skilled than she had initially anticipated.
Suddenly, both girls were once again engaged in a fierce, dynamic close-quarters battle, a flurry of kicks, blocks, and strategic movements.
Lena quickly launched a high kick at Momo's head, but Momo did something that completely surprised Lena. With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, Momo dropped her staff and, in less than a second, replaced it with a small, sturdy shield that had materialized from her skin. The shield perfectly blocked Lena's kick in its tracks, absorbing the impact.
Lena was momentarily stunned by this unexpected maneuver and could not react when Momo, seizing the opportunity, pushed her back forcefully with her shield, causing Lena to lose her balance for a small, crucial moment. But that brief moment of vulnerability was more than enough for Momo to swiftly pick up her staff and deliver a hard, precise punch to Lena's stomach.
"Guh!" Lena coughed, the air escaping her lungs in a painful gasp, her body doubling over from the impact.
Momo seized the opportunity, attempting to hit Lena in the head with her staff in a quick, decisive blow, hoping to knock her unconscious and end the match.
But Lena had already disappeared from her position, leaving only a faint light-blue trail, a shimmering echo of her accelerated movement.
'Shit!' Momo thought, her eyes widening in alarm as she quickly spun around, only to get a jarring kick directly to her hip. The force of the blow sent her a few feet off the platform, and she dropped her staff in pain, stumbling to the edge of the arena.
"You have to be more attentive if you truly want to defeat me, Momo," Lena said, her voice light and teasing, as she casually grabbed the fallen staff and, with a nonchalant flick of her wrist, threw it off the platform. She didn't bother using the staff herself, mainly due to the fact that she had absolutely no idea how to wield one effectively in combat.
"Ugh..." Momo groaned, shakily getting back to her feet, her hip aching. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to adopt a neutral stance, her determination still unwavering despite the pain. "I think you just broke a bone, Lena."
"They can heal you later, Momo; besides, I did tell you I was going to break you, didn't I?" Lena explained, shrugging her shoulders dismissively, a confident smile on her face. "Plus, my Secondary Quirk grants me Minor Super Strength, among other things..." She then adopted another stance, this one appearing far more offensive than her previous one, her body leaning forward, ready to strike. "Not to mention, I genuinely enjoy working out..."
"Hehe, you workout maniac..." Momo said with a slight chuckle, a hint of amusement in her voice despite her discomfort.
"Know-it-all..." Lena growled good-naturedly at Momo's playful comment, a mutual respect evident in their banter.
Both girls smirked at each other, a shared understanding passing between them, before approaching each other once more, ready to decide the match's outcome.
Momo quickly created two metal gauntlets in her hands, their surfaces gleaming. Without waiting for her opponent's move, she threw a strong punch at Lena's shoulder. The latter deftly dodged it by leaning swiftly to the left before ducking and executing a sweeping leg maneuver.
Momo jumped backward, dodging the leg sweep, not realizing that Lena was looking at her with a predatory, almost gleeful smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
As soon as Momo's feet touched the ground, Lena instantly appeared within her fighting range, unleashing a rapid series of kicks in quick succession, giving Momo little time to think as she desperately dodged or tried to block the powerful blows.
Momo was unable to block all the relentless kicks, and with a clever feint, Lena managed to land a forceful knee to Momo's stomach that knocked the wind out of her. Lena then followed up with a powerful kick to the chest and another to the chin, a swift, decisive combo.
Momo fell backward, but fortunately, she remained on the platform, teetering precariously near the edge. Just as Lena was about to deliver the final push to knock her off....
"YAOYOROZU HAS FALLEN UNCONSCIOUS!!!! THE WINNER IS OXTON LENA!!!" Midnight announced, her voice booming through the stadium, as the crowd went wild, roaring its approval for the girls' incredibly evenly matched melee combat, a true testament to their skill.
Lena let out a long sigh of exhaustion and satisfaction as she plopped down onto the platform, her muscles protesting faintly from the exertion. She had originally thought Momo would overwhelm her with a barrage of powerful, self-created artifacts, but in the end, Momo had chosen to engage in a solid 1v1 hand-to-hand fight, a surprising and challenging decision.
'Momo is far more dangerous than I initially thought...' Lena mused, a new respect for her friend solidifying in her mind.
"I was honestly hoping Momo would win..." Toru sighed, an air of dejection in her voice, as she reluctantly handed over some yen to Kaminari, who was beaming with unadulterated joy, his eyes twinkling with delight.
"Come on, Lena!!! You've got this, my girl!" Kirishima shouted, his voice filled with renewed enthusiasm, as he received some money from a fellow classmate who had bet against Lena, now celebrating the Vice President's victory.
"Pay up, pay up!" Kaminari exclaimed, practically dancing with glee as he collected a few more yen from his companions. He had, with his usual opportunistic nature, started a small bet on who would win the fight between the class president and vice president. "Time is money, gentlemen! And I just made a fortune!"
"Don't you think it's fundamentally wrong to bet on who will win out of your own classmates, Kaminari?!" Iida exclaimed, his voice rising in his typical annoyed tone, accompanied by his strange, robotic arm movements, gesticulating wildly. "That's blatant favoritism and—"
As Iida launched into his customary lecture on how true Heroes should behave, outlining ethical guidelines and the importance of sportsmanship, Toru and Kyoka discreetly ran off, making their way to the preparation room for their own impending match.
"SECOND ROUND OF THE QUARTERFINALS! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR AN INVISIBLE CLASH!" Present Mic's voice boomed, his excitement palpable.
"ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE... THE SAINT LOST IN THE LIGHT! THE LUMINOUS SHADOW! IT'S HAGAKURE TORUUUU!!!"
"ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE... THE ROCKER LOST IN THE SOUND! THE MELODIC SHOCKWAVE! IT'S JIROOO KYOKA!!!"
'Where does he get the inspiration for those utterly ridiculous names?' Kyoka thought incredulously, shaking her head in exasperation. 'What is it about Present Mic? Does he have a severe case of Chūnibyō, a chronic addiction to dramatic, over-the-top pronouncements?'
While Kyoka was lost in her amused, critical thoughts, Toru was concentrating with 120% of her focus on Kyoka, no, SHE WAS CONCENTRATING WITH 200% OF HER FOCUS ON KYOKA. Every fiber of her being was dedicated to her opponent.
Aim. Shoot. Win. Aim. Shoot. Win. Toru thought repeatedly, her internal monologue taking on a rigid, almost military tone, as she mentally imagined herself as a disciplined soldier. Perhaps she wasn't as singularly focused as she thought...
"BEGIN!!!"
Toru, without wasting a single precious second, quickly clasped her hands together and began to charge her 'Gatling' Quirk to moderate power, while meticulously aiming directly at Kyoka. She was still feeling a profound weariness from her previous grueling fight against Uraraka, which undeniably put her at a serious disadvantage in terms of stamina and energy reserves.
Kyoka, meanwhile, simply ran in a quick, evasive zigzag pattern, attempting to get closer to Toru and make it incredibly difficult for her to aim effectively.
"Here!" Toru shouted, as she unleashed her 'Gatling,' raining hundreds of concentrated light bullets towards Kyoka, a relentless barrage.
Kyoka, seeing that she was about to be instantly turned into Swiss cheese by the onslaught, quickly threw herself to the ground, connecting her earphone Jacks with the platform. With a powerful, strategic jolt, she sent a strong sonic vibration throughout the entire platform, knocking Toru down and effectively nullifying her 'Gatling' attack, disrupting her concentration.
"Shit!" Toru exclaimed, scrambling to quickly get back up... only to see Kyoka now standing over her, pointing her earphone Jacks intently at her, a decisive end to the match.
"Good match, Toru," Kyoka said with a deadpan face, her voice calm and unwavering, before activating her Jacks with a final, concussive blast.
Toru was blasted off the stage by a loud, powerful sonic wave in less than the blink of an eye, sent flying into the outer perimeter of the stadium.
'That's not fair at all!!!' Toru thought grumpily, landing with a soft thud on the grass, a pout on her invisible face.
The last bout of the round, while also fast-paced like Toru's and Kyoka's, was ultimately far more exciting and suspenseful due to the impressive display of powerful Quirks from both Todoroki and Midoriya, creating a truly electrifying confrontation.
Third Block Matchups:
Todoroki Shoto VS Oxton Lena Jiro Kyoka VS Iida Tenya ...
"Good luck, Kyo!" Lena cheered, her voice ringing out with enthusiastic support, as she beamed broadly at me, her smile a beacon of encouragement. "You've got this match, absolutely no doubt about it!"
"Cheer up, Kyoka! Kick his ass into next week!" Toru exclaimed, her invisible form punching the air with gusto, simulating a boxing match, her excitement palpable.
My lips stretched upwards into a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, girls, I'll kick his ass, I promise!" The support from my friends filled me with a quiet determination.
After that brief, morale-boosting exchange, I headed towards the preparation room for my confrontation, the anticipation building within me.
Momo's confrontation was... peculiar. It was both boring and, in a strange, anticlimactic way, almost fun at the same time. I hadn't even remotely expected Koda to surrender in less than a second, his voice cracking with fear. But seeing how incredibly seriously Momo was taking the Festival, her intense determination practically radiating from her, I could see how it might have unintentionally scared Koda off, overwhelming his gentle nature.
Lena, at first, was utterly confused about who Koda even was, asking if he was perhaps from another class. This genuine lack of recognition made me look at her in surprise, before I simply shrugged it off. Lena, despite being quite animated and friendly in small groups, wasn't one to initiate conversations with everyone, often preferring to observe. It was actually nice to see her more reserved side when there were a lot of new people around her, showing a different facet of her personality. I've noticed that she usually doesn't look to start a conversation, but she has absolutely no problem following one once it's begun. So, it was only natural that she wouldn't have crossed paths with someone as quiet and unassuming as Koda, even if her presence was still just as striking.
I gently bit my tongue, the slight pain helping to dispel these trivial thoughts, forcing my mind to focus.
'Kyoka, concentrate on your current target,' I sternly lectured myself, my internal voice firm. 'You absolutely don't want to disappoint them after they've placed their unwavering trust in you, do you? You owe it to them, and to yourself.' I looked into a mirror, meeting my own gaze, my eyes reflecting a steely resolve.
'You're not in high school anymore... you have true friends now... real, forgiving friends who support you wholeheartedly and genuinely care about you,' I gritted my teeth, a fierce determination overriding the oppressive feeling that still sometimes gripped my heart, making me involuntarily swallow saliva, a lingering echo of past insecurities. 'You're going to win this, whatever it takes... you're going to show everyone, especially yourself, that you're not a weak person anymore, that you've grown.'
I let out a deep sigh, attempting to calm the pervasive nerves that were slowly invading my body, and forcefully refocused my mind on my target: Tokoyami and his strange, enigmatic companion, Dark Shadow.
'Time to come up with a solid plan, huh? This isn't going to be easy.'
"ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE AUDIENCE, LET'S GET TO THE THIRD ELECTRIFYING BATTLE OF THE TOURNAMENT!!!" Present Mic announced, his voice booming through the stadium, as he secretly prayed, almost pleading, that the upcoming battle would finally be to the crowd's liking, a true spectacle worth their attention.
"ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE CLASS 1-A'S MUSIC AND SOUND SPECIALIST! THE ONE AND ONLY JIRO KYOKAAAAAAA!"
"ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE THE ENIGMATIC LORD OF DARKNESS AND SHADOWS! THE FOREBODING FUMIKAGEEEE TOKOOOYAMIIII!"
After their dramatic introductions, both participants stood facing each other on the platform, their gazes locked in a silent stare-down. Neither seemed overtly nervous or scared; instead, a profound, almost unsettling indifference resonated from their eyes, making the audience a little uncomfortable, unsure how to react to such composed combatants.
"I wish you luck in our battle," Tokoyami said formally, executing a slight, polite bow, his voice calm and steady.
"Same to you, Tokoyami," Kyoka replied, returning the slight bow, her own voice equally composed.
"THREE!"
Quickly, both Kyoka and Tokoyami returned to their original positions on the platform, but with a subtle yet significant difference: Kyoka adopted a low, ready fighting stance, her body tensing, poised for action.
"TWO!"
The stadium stirred with palpable excitement, a collective buzz rising from the stands. This battle, unlike the previous two, promised to be a truly thrilling and unpredictable spectacle, a clash of unique Quirks and tactical minds.
"ONE!"
The stands erupted with cheers, students shouting encouragement for both participants, their voices echoing through the arena.
"BEGIN!"
"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami, without wasting a single precious moment, swiftly summoned Dark Shadow, sending his formidable companion hurtling towards Kyoka with incredible speed, intent on ejecting her from the platform. "Envelop our opponent with darkness, Dark Shadow! Leave her no escape!"
Dark Shadow zigzagged rapidly, its shadowy form a blur as it approached Kyoka. But Kyoka didn't move an inch, her eyes fixed intently on Dark Shadow, her fighting stance remaining unchanging, unyielding. Tokoyami, seeing her stillness, mistakenly assumed she had given up and thought nothing more of it. Dark Shadow extended its shadowy palm, ready to push her away, but then....
BROOOM!
A loud, concussive vibration suddenly erupted from Kyoka, pushing Dark Shadow away with immense force. Tokoyami reacted just in time, bracing his hands on the ground, preventing himself from being sent flying out of the arena by the unexpected shockwave.
"Um... interesting," Tokoyami murmured, turning his gaze back to Kyoka, who now had one of her earphone Jacks pointed directly at his position, the other firmly planted on the ground. "I honestly didn't expect your vibrations to be so incredibly powerful, Jiro."
Without giving him even a second to fully recover or get back to his feet, Kyoka ran towards Tokoyami with all her might, her earphone Jacks moving like two agitated snakes around her, poised to strike.
Tokoyami, still recovering, swiftly sent Dark Shadow to intercept her as he struggled to stand, but kept his stance low to the ground, attempting to avoid another sonic attack that could potentially knock him off the platform.
Dark Shadow lunged at Kyoka, launching a series of rapid, slashing attacks with its sharp claws.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Kyoka jumped backward with agile grace, narrowly dodging his relentless attacks. She was momentarily forced to retreat, recognizing Dark Shadow's incredible flexibility and blinding speed. She crouched low to the ground in a strange, almost unnatural posture, expertly dodging another brutal blow from Dark Shadow. And then, with a mischievous grin, she simultaneously sent both of her earphone Jacks hurtling directly at Dark Shadow.
"Gotcha!" Kyoka exclaimed triumphantly before activating both of her Jacks, unleashing a powerful, concentrated sound wave directly at Dark Shadow. The concussive blast sent him flying high into the sky, more specifically... right above the blazing, unforgiving sun, exposing him to his greatest weakness.
"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami shouted, a rare note of genuine panic in his voice, as he felt the crucial connection with his Quirk/companion weaken considerably, a chilling sense of loss washing over him.
Shooting out towards Tokoyami, Kyoka shouted, "You should worry about yourself now, Tokoyami! Your companion is out of the picture!"
Tokoyami, momentarily distracted by his concern for Dark Shadow, quickly tried to throw a desperate punch at the left side of Kyoka's head, but Kyoka stopped him effortlessly with her forearm. Before he could react, she swiftly kneed him hard in the stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs, and then delivered a quick, precise slap to his chest with her other hand, pushing him forcefully backward, causing him to lose his balance and fall ungracefully to the ground.
Kyoka, seizing the advantage, sent both of her earphone Jacks towards Tokoyami, causing him to freeze in place, his eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear.
"Do you give up now?" Kyoka said between breaths, her voice calm but firm, as she looked directly into Tokoyami's eyes, her resolve unwavering. "Or do you want me to physically push you out of the arena?"
"How could you possibly push Dark Shadow? He's... he's a shadow, an intangible being..." Tokoyami spoke, his voice laced with pain and confusion as he placed a hand on his aching stomach, struggling to comprehend.
"He may be a shadow, Tokoyami... but he can still physically touch and move things, which means he's tangible, at least to a degree," Kyoka explained patiently, her earphone Jack still pointed at Tokoyami, its tip almost touching his chest. "I noticed it during the previous test when a Class 1-B team attacked you; your Dark Shadow easily pushed them away. And I overheard from Midoriya's mutterings that Dark Shadow was severely weakened by intense light, especially direct sunlight. So, I simply decided to separate you two and damage Dark Shadow with the sun's scorching rays. At this hour, the sun is incredibly hot and at its zenith, so I assumed I would be able to hold him there for a while, effectively taking him out of the fight."
Tokoyami simply stared at Kyoka, his eyes narrowed in deep contemplation, absorbing her astute explanation. 'Dark Shadow is almost fully recovered now... I just need—'
Suddenly, Tokoyami was knocked off the platform by a loud, concussive sonic blast that sent him hurtling into the soft grass outside the arena, his body tumbling to a stop.
'Looks like we still have some serious work to do, Dark Shadow...' Tokoyami thought, a wry, almost self-deprecating smile playing on his lips, hidden from view as he closed his eyes.
'That looks like Toko...' Tokoyami received Dark Shadow's thought, a faint echo in his mind, accompanied by a small, almost apologetic feeling from his cute shadow companion.
"THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS.... JIRO KYOKA!!! SHE ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS!" Present Mic's voice boomed, confirming Kyoka's victory.
"Looks like our little girl is doing incredibly well, doesn't she, honey?" A woman, bearing a striking resemblance to the girl now displayed triumphantly on the stadium screen, exclaimed excitedly. Her voice was filled with a profound sense of pride and joy. "She's grown so much since she started at U.A., becoming so much stronger, so much more confident..."
"So it seems, my dear... so it seems," her husband replied, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Although I still believe she'd be far better off if she were a composer, writing beautiful music for a living..." He sighed, earning a playful nudge and a sigh of exasperation from his wife, a familiar, loving exchange. "But I must admit, I had no idea our little girl could be so remarkably good at fighting. It's truly a revelation."
"Fufufufu... our Kyoka is always full of delightful surprises, isn't she?" His wife chuckled softly, a knowing smile gracing her lips, her gaze fixed on the screen, brimming with unwavering maternal pride.
Walking towards the stands at a slow, measured pace, a short, black-haired girl with a pair of distinct wires in her ears could be seen. This was the triumphant winner of the third round, Jiro Kyoka. And right now....
'I'm ravenously hungry...' Kyoka thought with a profound sense of resignation, her stomach rumbling faintly in protest. 'Lena and Momo are absolutely influencing me... what I've already eaten in the cafeteria is literally two times more than I usually consume, and this new diet of mine is incredibly weird... although, I'm certainly not complaining about the subtle growths that have mysteriously happened to me in the last few weeks... however small and imperceptible they may be to others.'
"Hey! Kyo!" A very familiar voice, loud and cheerful, shouted from in front of her. Before Kyoka could even react, she was met with a tight, suffocating hug from a girl much taller than her. It was Lena, her embrace warm and overwhelming. "You were absolutely amazing out there, Kyo! Simply phenomenal!"
"You could have at least waited for me to reach the stands, couldn't you, Lena?" Kyoka said, her voice slightly muffled by the hug, as she returned Lena's embrace, deliberately ignoring the two large, distracting personalities currently colliding with her face.
"No! It was much faster this way, Kyo! And besides, I couldn't wait another second to congratulate you on winning the third round!" Lena exclaimed, breaking the hug and smiling brightly, her eyes sparkling with unadulterated joy. "Tokoyami literally didn't stand a chance against your genius!"
"Don't yell, Lena, I hear you perfectly fine... and thank you," Kyoka murmured, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, as she nervously fiddled with her earphone Jacks, unaccustomed to such effusive praise. "Who's competing now, anyway? I seem to have lost track."
"Ehhh... It was the robot against the mechanical girl, if I'm not mistaken," Lena replied, placing a finger to her chin and thoughtfully furrowing her brow, trying to recall the names. "I don't really know the mechanical girl, so I have no idea who might win this one."
"You really should stop giving ridiculous nicknames to people you don't even know, Lena," Kyoka said with a resigned sigh, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Nah, it's far more fun that way, Kyo! Now come on, we don't want to miss the show, do we?" Lena said, shaking her head playfully, her smile unwavering.
"Alright, alright, let's go..." Kyoka sighed again, but this time, a small, genuine smile graced her lips, a reflection of her enduring affection for her eccentric friend.
The match featuring the robot, or rather, Iida's rather peculiar confrontation, was, to say the least, an experience unto itself.
"THIS IS INVENTION NUMBER..."
For Iida's sake, and perhaps for the sake of everyone's sanity, we really don't want to delve into the excruciating details of that particular bout. Let's just say it was less of a fight and more of a protracted, somewhat bizarre, infomercial.
While the peculiar match was unfolding at the U.A. stadium, a horrifying, brutal scene was simultaneously taking place in a desolate alleyway in Hosu.
"Mercy! Please..." A man, dressed in a tattered Lion suit, whimpered, his voice a desperate plea. His eyes, wide with primal fear, reflected the stark terror of impending death. His body was bloodied all over, grotesque lacerations marring his skin; he could barely speak, much less move, utterly incapacitated.
"Kukuku... so the Lion begs for mercy, does he? How pathetic..." A masked man, his face contorted into a murderous grin, a crazed smile stretching his lips, sneered with chilling amusement. He was dressed in tattered, blood-stained red and black rags, which somehow served to highlight the array of sinister weapons he possessed, conspicuously strapped to his back and waist. "Too bad this is the jungle, little Lion... and in the jungle, there is no such thing as mercy. Only the strong survive."
This chilling phrase alone was enough to make the Lion Man literally pee his pants in sheer terror, his body trembling uncontrollably as he began to cry and desperately beg for his life, his dignity long forgotten.
"Stop, Villain!" A sharp, authoritative shout suddenly echoed from another side of the alley. The masked man swiftly turned his head, his gaze sweeping to see a silver knight, clad in gleaming armor, rapidly approaching their grim meeting place, launching a powerful kick.
The masked man, with a fluid, almost unnatural movement, jumped backward, gaining some distance to get a closer look at his new opponent... no, his new fake hero.
"Kuku, another insignificant fly approaching the predator, eager to be swatted..." The grim masked figure chuckled, a chilling sound, as his long, serpentine tongue sensuously licked his lips, savoring the impending confrontation. "Heroes... you will all learn your lesson, one way or another. Your demise is inevitable."