Chapter 64: Bakugo vs. Uraraka
Bakugo sent Ochaco Uraraka flying back again with another explosion. Smoke filled the air, obscuring his vision. Uraraka shot out from the side of the smoke cloud, her hand just about to touch him, when Bakugo suddenly spun around and unleashed an upward blast, brutally sending her flying once more.
Uraraka tumbled across the ground several times. After a brief pause to catch her breath, she ignored her injuries, lowered her stance, and charged at Bakugo yet again.
The audience could hardly bear to watch anymore. They knew that in the next moment, Uraraka would just repeat the same action and be blown away again.
"Bakugo isn't showing any mercy at all. Ochaco-chan is pushing herself too hard..." the Class 1-A students in the stands said, their faces filled with worry.
Mineta mused, "Could it be that Bakugo has some kind of special sadistic fetish?"
Midoriya's heart was in knots.
Before the match, his injuries had been completely healed by Ryanne. To be honest, her treatment was a cut above Recovery Girl's, with no side effects at all. However, the sensation of being pricked by that long, thick thing was not an experience he wanted to have a second time.
He had found Uraraka in the waiting room, wanting to share his strategy for dealing with Bakugo, but she had refused him with a smile.
"Midoriya-kun, this time, I don't want to rely on you anymore."
Uraraka's Quirk, Zero Gravity, was geared toward cooperation with teammates. Bakugo's Quirk, Explosion, was a top-tier combat ability. The difference between them was vast; there was no comparison. If she wanted to win, she had to charge him at the start of the match and touch him with the pads on her hands to gain the advantage.
This was Midoriya's strategy, and even without hearing it, Uraraka was doing exactly that. It seemed the plan she had come up with was the same as his.
The moment the match began, she had rushed him, using her jacket to draw his attention. She had successfully gotten behind him, her hand about to make contact—but with his superhuman reflexes, Bakugo had instantly spun around and blasted her away.
After that, Uraraka never got another good opportunity. Every time, she was mercilessly blown back before she could even get close.
"Hey! Do you call yourself an aspiring Pro Hero!? If there's such a huge power gap, you should just end the fight!" a Pro Hero in the audience couldn't take it anymore and stood up, berating Bakugo.
A petite female hero with gills on her ears also spoke up for Uraraka. "Exactly! What kind of skill is there in bullying a girl!?"
A portion of the audience began to boo Bakugo. Present Mic hesitantly started to say, "Actually, that's what I was thinking too...", but he was cut off by an elbow to the ribs from Aizawa.
Shota Aizawa narrowed his eyes. "The person who just said that... are you a Pro Hero? How many years have you been in the business? If you're serious, then you shouldn't watch any more of this. Pack up and go home and find another job."
Aizawa's words were merciless. "Bakugo is being so cautious precisely because he acknowledges the strength of the opponent who has fought her way this far. It's because he genuinely wants to win that he can't afford to be careless for a single second..."
On the stage.
"Bakugo-kun, thank you. Thank you for being so cautious. It's because you acknowledged my strength..." Uraraka was bent over, gasping for breath, but a smile was still on her face. "...that you never noticed the opportunity I was creating!"
Uraraka pressed her hands together, the pads on her fingertips touching. A barely perceptible wave of energy flashed, and the sound of a torrential downpour came from above Bakugo's head.
"What!?" Bakugo snapped his head up. His pupils contracted. At some point, the space above him had become filled with countless pieces of rubble—the very same rubble that had been created when he had blasted Uraraka and destroyed the stage.
In an instant, like a downpour, the debris came crashing down on Bakugo. And at that moment, Uraraka began to run.
Even for Bakugo, dealing with this much rubble would be a massive undertaking. Whether he dodged or blasted it away, it would create an opening. If she could just touch him during that window, she would win.
The spectators in the stands were stunned into silence, none more so than the Pro Hero who had spoken up earlier. As a Pro Hero, he hadn't even noticed the debris being moved above Bakugo's head. Was this a hero's failure?
His face turned shades of red and purple, ashamed of his earlier comment but also happy for the girl who had found a path to victory.
At that moment, he shot a glare at the girl in front of him who had already started cheering for Uraraka, who looked as if nothing had happened, completely unembarrassed.
In any case, go for it, girl!
"Midoriya-kun, you asked me why I want to be a hero? It's not for a grand reason like Iida-kun's. It's just for the money."
"I just want to become a Pro Hero so I can go home and help with my family's construction company, so my mom and dad can have a comfortable life."
That's right. My reason for becoming a hero is just that realistic. But that doesn't mean I'll give up easily! I don't want to just stand behind Midoriya-kun, watching him get hurt while I can do nothing to help!
However, the grim expression Bakugo had been wearing all this time changed to one of indifference. He gave a cool glance at the charging Ochaco Uraraka and raised his right hand, holding the wrist with his left.
"I figured you'd try to pull some trick after hanging around that damn Deku all the time. That's why I was so cautious. But if you think something like this is enough to make me lose, then you're seriously underestimating me."
"You know why I need the sweat-storing devices on my costume? It's so I don't have to burden myself during a fight, so I can use that move without any side effects," Bakugo muttered to himself, as if speaking to no one. "But that doesn't mean I can't use it."
Hearing Bakugo's monologue, Uraraka had a bad feeling and quickened her pace. The next second—
An intense flash of light, a cannon blast of energy as thick as a Spirit Bomb, shot from Bakugo's right hand. Without any of his support gear, he had unleashed the same Howitzer Impact he had used against Midoriya.
The powerful explosion obliterated every piece of rubble above him, turning them into fine dust that scattered in the wind. The shockwave, no less powerful than the one from Midoriya's punch, blew the remaining debris away. Even Uraraka, who had gotten so close, was sent flying by the immense pressure, tumbling several times across the ground before coming to a stop just at the edge of the white line.
A sparse patter of small stones rained down on the roof of the stadium grandstand. The spectators, who had been unable to open their eyes against the blast, now looked on, sucking in a collective breath of cold air.
This kid... he's a monster!
The stage was now completely clean. All the smoke and debris had vanished, leaving only Bakugo and Uraraka.
Bakugo slowly lowered his still-trembling right hand and looked at Uraraka. After her initial shock, the determination in her eyes returned. She shakily stood up.
This girl... she still hasn't given up!
"I guess... it wasn't enough," Uraraka said, a smile still on her face. "But even so...!"
Bakugo also flashed his usual ferocious grin. "Good. That's what I like to see. The fight is just getting started!"
Bakugo, who had been on the defensive the entire match, seemed to cast aside all his worries and charged toward Uraraka. Uraraka let out a cry and ran to meet him.
Thump. Ochaco Uraraka collapsed heavily to the ground.
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