Chapter 25: Sunlight Yellow Overdrive
Though Toru Hagakure had told Kira to go ahead, having a guy touch that spot would embarrass any girl—even her. But there was no better option now.
With a tone of calm resignation, as if facing life and death, Hagakure said, "There's still some left. Hurry up…"
"Alright, pardon me," Yoshikage Kira said, crouching down. He let out a soft shout: "Scarlet Overdrive!"
The Hamon energy wrapping his hands visibly shifted to a warm scarlet hue. Carefully, Kira extended his hand toward the elliptical ice block.
Who decided you have to shout JoJo-style moves out loud?
The ice on her feet had hurt so much when it cracked. Touching there would probably be even worse!
Hagakure clamped her mouth shut, bracing for the pain, but instead let out a surprised, "Huh? It's… kinda warm!?"
Hamon mimics the power of sunlight. Scarlet Overdrive generates heat through rapid friction. Worried Hagakure couldn't handle the full force, Kira cautiously used it to melt the ice.
Like ice under the sun's gaze, the bone-chilling block couldn't withstand the warmth. It slowly thawed around Hagakure, making her feel cozy, as if basking in sunlight. The ice beneath her melted, and she let out a soft, comfortable sound.
Soon, the ice turned to water. Kira's hand unavoidably touched Hagakure's body—soft, warm, nothing like silicone.
As the melted water flowed down Hagakure's body and Kira's hand, he faintly sensed a warm current hidden within.
Before he could think too deeply, Hagakure's body went limp, collapsing into his arms.
…So soft.
Hagakure felt utterly mortified. To do something like this at a time like this? Even falling into Kira's arms seemed trivial now.
Mom, I'll never get married now… she wailed internally.
Soon, the discomfort in her body faded, and even her shame dulled. She looked up, pushed Kira away, and stood on the icy floor. It was cold, but a warmth lingered inside her—like a ray of sunlight in winter, gentle but enough to warm her.
"What did you do?" Hagakure asked, shocked.
"I transferred some Hamon into your body. It clears negative conditions and keeps you warm," Kira explained, panting slightly. Converting Hamon to Scarlet Overdrive was taxing, especially maintaining precision to avoid burning Hagakure.
"I've got a plan to win, but I'm low on stamina," Kira said. Using Hamon, he could indirectly sense Hagakure's position. He looked at her seriously. "This plan… only you can pull it off."
Me?
…
"Only one shot…" Hagakure stared nervously at the half-open door, frozen solid. Doubt crept in. Can I really beat someone that strong?
Shoto Todoroki was a formidable foe, capable of encasing an entire building in ice. His Quirk was leagues above hers!
But a warm surge from within dispelled her doubts. Kira had told her even the strongest Quirks have weaknesses, like how the mightiest elephant in a beast chess game can lose to the weakest mouse. She could defeat Todoroki!
Hagakure's eyes hardened. Todoroki was the one who'd put her in this humiliating spot. No way she'd let him off easy!
And… she had Kira-kun.
Unknowingly, Hagakure had completely forgotten her earlier plan to blacklist Yoshikage Kira.
Crunch, crunch…
The sound of footsteps on ice grew clearer. Hagakure realized the "hero team" was approaching and gripped her capture tape tightly.
When Todoroki appeared alone at the stronghold, Hagakure nearly cheered—Kira-kun was right!
"Todoroki's indiscriminate, full-area ice attacks mean he'd avoid harming sensitive allies like Mezo Shoji. Once he confirms our position, he'll send Shoji out of the building. That's when he'll be alone… our chance to win."
Todoroki surveyed the broken ice and empty stronghold, slightly surprised. Why leave the nuclear weapon unguarded?
He glanced behind him, wary of a sneak attack, then cautiously approached the weapon in the shadowy corner. Seeing no one, he relaxed slightly, ready to claim victory.
Suddenly, his teammate's urgent voice crackled through the comms: "Todoroki, watch the window!"
Before he could react, a shadow dropped from above the window, growing larger until it crashed through the glass, lunging at him!
"Sunlight Yellow Overdrive!"
Kira had climbed to the rooftop from the sixth floor. Using Hagakure's comms to track Todoroki's steps, he coated the wall with Hamon for a Rainbow Six Siege-style rappel, launching a direct attack through the window!
To ensure a one-hit knockout, Kira unleashed his strongest move: Sunlight Yellow Overdrive!
Though caught off guard, Todoroki instantly conjured multiple ice shields. In a flash, they collided with the bright golden Hamon coating Kira's hands!
BOOM!
The room's ice shattered from the center, sending fragments flying in an icy storm!
Kira hadn't expected Todoroki's quick reaction. The recoil slammed him into the opposite wall, with ice shards cutting his body, nearly throwing him out the window.
Todoroki should've taken worse damage, but he gritted his teeth, conjuring ice behind him. Though it shattered, he stopped just at the doorway.
"Cough, cough." "Cough, cough."
Both were badly injured, coughing blood, unable to move, staring each other down from the floor.
"You're strong," Todoroki said, his combat suit's ice broken, revealing his red hair and burn scar—what Bakugo called his "half-and-half" face.
"If I were strong, I wouldn't be lying here like you," Kira said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. Despite his ambush and first strike, they were both down, unable to finish the fight. He used his remaining Hamon to heal his wounds. "…And you still had the strength to protect the nuclear weapon. As expected of a hero."
Even under attack, Todoroki had instinctively shielded the weapon's corner with ice, keeping it safe.
"But we still won," Todoroki said calmly. As he spoke, a figure with interconnected tentacles appeared at the door.
"Mezo Shoji, huh…" Kira chuckled weakly. "Without him, you might not have reacted in time."
"Exactly," Todoroki admitted. Without Shoji's warning, that terrifying power might've taken him out instantly.
Todoroki signaled Shoji to retrieve the nuclear weapon. One touch, and their team would win.
As Shoji approached, Kira suddenly grinned. "By the way, where do you think Hagakure went?"
"She probably left the stronghold earlier. Wherever she is, she's not here," Todoroki replied confidently. The shattered ice would've cut her like it did them. Even invisible, she'd show wounds, especially in her pristine combat style. Such damage could've been fatal for her.
With their suits, he and Kira had barely survived. Hagakure wouldn't.
"Is that so…" Kira smiled, saying nothing.
Todoroki frowned. Why was Kira smiling when he was about to lose? …Wait. One spot wasn't hit—the nuclear weapon!
Realizing it, Todoroki shouted to Shoji, who was about to touch the weapon: "Watch out…!"
"Checkmate!"
A girl's cry drowned out Todoroki's warning. Capture tape shot from nowhere, binding Shoji's hand just 50 centimeters from the weapon!
"What?!"
Shoji thought the room was safe. His duplicated limbs had only one ear, focused on Kira and Todoroki's talk, missing the faint breathing above him!
"Fifteen minutes up! Villain team wins!"
All Might's voice echoed through the training ground, clear as day to Todoroki.
Kira, regaining some strength, slid up the wall and stood by the window, letting sunlight cast a long shadow across Todoroki's face.
"Looks like I won," Kira said with a smile. "Todoroki, you know, the moment you're closest to victory is when you're most likely to fail. So, don't get too cocky, alright?"
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Author Note: My brother has reviewed and edited this chapter and the next few. I'd love to hear your feedback: do you prefer this chapter over the previous ones? Please share your thoughts