The giant screen lit up, MIDORIYA VS TODOROKI flashing across it.
Mr. Mic: "THE FIRST MATCH OF THE SECOND ROUND! AT THIS YEAR'S SPORTS FESTIVAL, BOTH HAVE SHOWN TOP CLASS PERFORMANCES! MIDORIYA VERSUS TODOROKI! IT'S LIKE TWO GREAT RIVALS FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER! NOW—START!!"
The instant the signal sounded, Todoroki slammed his foot down.
A massive ice surge exploded forward, tearing across the arena like a frozen tidal wave, sharp pillars forming a deadly bridge aimed straight at Midoriya.
Midoriya didn't hesitate.
He snapped his finger forward.
"SMASH!"
The ice bridge shattered violently, blown apart by the sheer pressure of wind. The force ripped through the arena—but Todoroki was already prepared. A thick wall of ice formed behind him, anchoring him in place, stopping him from being blasted away.
The wind, redirected, howled past him and slammed into the stadium instead.
The crowd recoiled.
One of the spectators shouted:
"SO COLD!! JUST THE WIND IS ALREADY THIS COLD?!"
Todoroki narrowed his eyes at Midoriya, irritation flashing across his face.
Todoroki: "Just as I expected..."
Midoriya's finger bent at an unnatural angle—purple bruising spreading instantly.
Mr. Mic: "WOOOW!! MIDORIYA STOPPED TODOROKI'S ATTACK!!"
Without pause, Todoroki did it again—another explosive ice wave.
Midoriya answered the same way.
"SMASH!"
The ice broke once more—but this time, another finger snapped, the sound sharp and sickening.
Mr. Mic: "HE STOPPED IT AGAIN!!"
Todoroki clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
Todoroki: "Damn..."
Midoriya grit his teeth, sweat dripping as pain shot up his arm.
Midoriya's thoughts:
From what I know of Todoroki's fighting... he always attacks in an instant, so I don't have much data on him.
Data... during this fight, I need to find an opening.
The ice he's sticking behind him—that's probably how he keeps from being blown away...
Which means—I was right to use my fingers.
It's likely this could even work against a 100% smash where I sacrifice my arm...
I've got to look carefully... think... find it...
His breathing grew heavier.
I've got six more chances...!
Todoroki raised his leg again, eyes sharp.
Todoroki: "You're—"
Another ice attack erupted.
Midoriya answered instinctively.
"SMASH!"
Ice shattered for the third time.
Pain exploded through his hand.
Midoriya's thoughts:
Five more chances...!
Moving up into the stands, Kirishima came running down the steps, nearly tripping as he slid into place.
Kirishima: "IT STARTED?!"
Denki (grinning): "Kirishima! Good job making it to the second round!"
Kirishima: "Yeah! And I'll be up against you next, Bakugo—let's have a good fight!"
Bakugo (low, muttering): "I'll kill you."
Kirishima burst out laughing.
Kirishima: "Haha! I'd like to see you try! But man... you and Todoroki can both shoot off crazy powerful attacks that cover a huge area, like—BAM!"
Sero: "And you do it with no time lag."
Bakugo clicked his tongue, eyes still locked on the arena.
Bakugo: "I'm not just shootin' them off. Don't underestimate 'em..."
Kirishima: "Huh?"
Bakugo (voice sharp, serious):
"If you overuse your muscles, the fibers tear. If you keep running, you run outta breath. Quirks are physical abilities too... which means they've gotta have limits."
Kirishima blinked, then nodded slowly.
Kirishima: "When you put it like that... yeah, that makes sense..."
He looked back down at the fight.
Kirishima: "So against an instant-killer like Todoroki, Midoriya wants to—"
Back in the arena—
Todoroki (coldly): "An endurance match, huh? I'll end this quickly."
He struck again—another massive ice attack.
Midoriya answered on reflex.
"SMASH!"
A fourth finger snapped, blood streaking across his hand as ice shattered apart.
Midoriya's thoughts:
I've used up all the fingers on my right hand!
Mr. Mic: "TODOROKI DOESN'T RECOIL FROM MIDORIYA'S POWER—AND HE'S GETTING IN CLOSE!"
Todoroki surged forward, creating an ice ramp beneath his feet, running up as it rose higher and higher. Midoriya raised his other hand, preparing to strike with his remaining fingers.
He fired.
The shockwave sent Todoroki flying, his body lifting into the air—then gravity pulled him straight back down.
Midoriya jumped back just in time.
Todoroki slammed into the ground, and the instant his feet touched down, ice exploded outward again.
Midoriya wasn't fast enough.
His left leg froze midair, trapped solid.
Midoriya's thoughts:
Oh no—he's too close!
Behind Todoroki, that familiar ice shield formed again, anchoring him just like at the start of the match—preventing him from being blown away.
Midoriya clenched his teeth.
That shield... it's the same trick.
Instead of using a finger—
He swung his entire arm.
"SMASH!"
The ice around his leg obliterated, but the resulting wind pressure was enormous, ripping through the arena like a hurricane.
Midoriya screamed in pain, his arm instantly turning deep purple.
Todoroki was pushed back hard, boots scraping as he struggled to hold his ground, frantically rebuilding the ice shield above and behind him.
Todoroki (shouting over the force):
"That's a lot more powerful than before...!"
He forced the ice down, stabilizing himself, eyes locked onto Midoriya.
Todoroki:
"Are you trying to tell me... to stay away?"
Midoriya gasped for breath, his arm trembling violently.
Midoriya's thoughts:
It's not just his quirk...
His judgment... his application skills... his mobility...
All of his abilities—are strong!
-------------------------------------------------------
One of the spectators in the stands leaned forward, voice trembling with awe.
Spectator: "He's already better than the average pro... that's what you get from the son of the Number Two hero..."
Back in the arena, Todoroki stared at Midoriya, eyes narrowing.
Todoroki: "What... you're that beat up just from defending and running away?"
Midoriya slowly lifted his head. His expression had changed—no fear, no hesitation. Just raw seriousness, almost anger.
Todoroki's eyes widened a fraction.
His left arm was shaking.
Midoriya's thoughts:
He's trembling...? So that's how it is... damn it...
Todoroki (quietly): "...Sorry."
He turned his gaze slightly upward and to the side—toward the stands.
Toward Endeavor.
Todoroki:
"Thanks, Midoriya. That guy's face is clouded over thanks to you."
His voice hardened.
Todoroki:
"...Without using my damn old man's quirk."
Midoriya grit his teeth.
Todoroki:
"With your arms like that, you can't fight anymore, can you? Let's finish this."
In an instant, Todoroki slammed his foot down.
A MASSIVE ICE ATTACK surged forward—larger than any before, swallowing the arena in freezing white.
Mr. Mic:
"AAAH! TODOROKI KEEPS ATTACKING WITH OVERWHELMING POWER! HERE COMES THE FINISHING ICE ATTACK!!"
From the stands, Hae-Sil's fists clenched.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
Don't let him win, Midoriya... damn it... he's so strong...
Suddenly—
Midoriya: "Where are you looking?"
Todoroki: "—?!"
A shockwave exploded.
Midoriya had fired another finger smash.
The blast slammed into Todoroki, sending him flying back—hard.
The ice beneath him cracked as he skidded dangerously close to the edge of the arena.
Uraraka & Iida (gasping): "—!!"
He was this close to being blown out of bounds.
Todoroki (gritting his teeth): "Bastard..."
Midoriya stood firm, his finger now an even deeper shade of purple, barely holding together.
Todoroki:
"With your broken finger... why are you going so far?"
Midoriya's eyes didn't waver.
Midoriya: "You're trembling, Todoroki."
Todoroki's breath hitched.
Midoriya:
"Quirks are physical abilities too. There's a limit to how much cold your body can take, isn't there?"
The wind howled around them.
Midoriya (voice rising):
"And isn't that something you could solve by using the heat from your left side?"
Todoroki scowled.
Up in the stands, Iida and Uraraka leaned forward, hearts pounding.
Kirishima, Denki, and Sero stared in stunned silence.
Shinso watched intently.
Hae-Sil's face remained unreadable, eyes locked on the battlefield.
Bakugo's scowl deepened, sharp and burning.
Midoriya:
"Everyone's fighting with everything they've got..."
He clenched his fist.
Midoriya:
"To win. To get closer to their dream."
The stadium felt breathless.
Midoriya:
"To become number one."
Bakugo's eyes flashed.
Midoriya (shouting now):
"You want to win with just half your strength?! You haven't put a single scratch on me yet, you know!"
He planted his feet despite the pain screaming through his body.
Midoriya:
"COME AT ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Todoroki's teeth clenched, anger flashing across his face.
Todoroki:
"Midoriya... what are you planning? Everything I've got? Did my damn old man buy you off or something?!"
He broke into a sprint, ice crunching beneath his boots.
Todoroki:
"Now I'm angry!"
Midoriya's thoughts:
He's moving...
Up in the stands, Bakugo narrowed his eyes, hand resting against his chin.
Bakugo's thoughts:
...Slow. It's because frost has built up in his body. Unlike my explosions, his power—
Below him, Hae-Sil's eyes sharpened, finishing the thought in her own way.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
...It's like MP in a game. He's draining himself. Was that scale during his fight with the tape guy his upper limit?
Back on the field, Todoroki closed the distance fast.
Todoroki:
"In close quarters, you won't be able to do anything about it!"
The instant he lifted his right foot—
Midoriya's thoughts:
This guy...!
Todoroki swung, aiming to end it in one blow.
Midoriya muttered under his breath, eyes burning with focus.
Midoriya:
"Imagine... the microwave..."
Todoroki's eyes widened.
Midoriya:
"It won't explode... it won't... it won't—"
His fist shot forward.
Midoriya:
"IT WON'T!"
BAM!
Midoriya slammed his punch straight into Todoroki's stomach.
Todoroki coughed sharply as his body lifted off the ground—but at the same time, his hand clamped onto Midoriya's arm, ice instantly crawling up it and freezing half of it solid.
Mr. Mic:
"A SOLID HIT! WE'VE GOT SOME ACTION!!"
Todoroki was sent flying back, skidding hard across the ice.
Midoriya staggered, breathing heavy—four of his fingers now a deep, dark purple.
The crowd erupted.
Crowd:
"OHHHH!"
"He hit Todoroki!!"
"Even though Midoriya looks way more beat up—!"
"I can't believe he went on the offensive here!"
From the stands, Hae-Sil's lips parted just slightly.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
Yes... yes... keep going...
Todoroki coughed again, icy breath spilling from his mouth.
Why...?
He slammed his foot down, creating another ice bridge—but Midoriya dodged to the right.
Midoriya's thoughts:
The ice... it's not coming as fast...
They clashed again and again—ice surging, wind pressure ripping through the arena.
Up in the officials' area, Cementoss frowned.
Cementoss:
"Should I stop it, Midnight?"
Midnight watched silently.
Cementoss's thoughts:
Midoriya's probably thinking Recovery Girl will heal him anyway. He's being reckless—running on pure adrenaline. He likely doesn't even feel the pain right now... but those injuries... they can't be fully healed in one go. Even if he wins, he might not be able to fight the next match.
Nearby, Aizawa muttered under his breath.
Aizawa:
"His power's gone down... but he's gained some control. He's not just fighting recklessly. This is the best he can do to win right now."
His eyes narrowed.
Aizawa:
"But still... even if it can be healed... throwing yourself into pain like that takes insane resolve. What's stirring him up this much...?"
Back in the arena, Midoriya sprinted forward again.
Todoroki raised another wall of ice—
Midoriya's thoughts:
I can't make a fist...!
So he didn't.
He used his thumb—and his teeth.
SMASH!!
A massive blast of wind tore through the ice.
Todoroki threw up another wall behind him just in time.
Todoroki:
"Why are you going so far?!"
Midoriya's voice cracked—but didn't waver.
Midoriya:
"Because I want to live up to everyone's expectations!"
He stepped forward, pain screaming through his body.
Midoriya:
"I want to be able to smile and respond to them... to be a cool hero!"
Todoroki faltered—just for a moment.
That was enough.
Midoriya surged in and drove another punch into Todoroki's stomach.
Midoriya:
"THAT'S WHY—"
The impact echoed across the stadium.
Midoriya:
"EVERYONE IS GIVING IT THEIR ALL!"
Midoriya staggered forward, breath ragged, eyes still locked on Todoroki.
Deku:
"There's no way I can know all of your circumstances... or your resolve."
He clenched his jaw, pain screaming through every nerve.
Deku:
"But for you to become number one without giving it your all— to completely reject your father—"
His voice sharpened.
Deku:
"Right now, I think you should stop screwing around!"
That was the moment Todoroki froze.
His vision blurred—
a small room, cracked walls, the smell of medicine and tears.
A trembling hand on his cheek.
You don't have to be a prisoner of your blood...
It's okay for you to become who you want to be.
Deku:
"THAT'S WHY I WILL WIN!"
He forced his body to move again.
Deku:
"I'LL SURPASS YOU!"
One last time, he drove his fist into Todoroki's stomach.
Todoroki crashed to the ground, sliding back—then slowly, painfully, he stood.
Ice cracked beneath his feet.
Todoroki (low):
"I'll reject my old man's power—"
Deku (shouting):
"IT'S YOURS! YOUR QUIRK—NOT HIS!" "
Todoroki gasped and his eyes snapped wide.
Up in the stands, Hae-Sil frowned, unease tightening her chest.
Hae-Sil's thoughts:
What are you trying to do, Midoriya... don't tell me—
You're trying to help him use his fire...?
Todoroki stood frozen, staring into nothing, his mother's voice echoing in his mind.
You don't have to be a prisoner of your blood...
Suddenly—
WHOOSH.
A massive wave of fire erupted from Todoroki's left side, roaring across the arena.
Mr. Mic:
"THIS—THIS IS—?!"
Uraraka (shielding her face):
"The fire... it's so hot!"
Hae-Sil grit her teeth, frustration flashing across her face.
He's going to lose.
This is reckless.
And damn it... I didn't want Todoroki to win at anything.
Iida:
"He used it!"
Steam hissed as Todoroki's ice began to melt around him.
Todoroki:
"Even though you want to win..."
He laughed breathlessly.
Todoroki:
"To help your enemy... which one of us is screwing around now?"
Flames burned steady at his side.
Todoroki:
"I want... to be a hero too!"
Midoriya smiled.
Not strained.
Not desperate.
Just a simple, real smile.
Todoroki stared—then smiled back, a single tear sliding down his cheek.
From the stands—
Endeavor:
"SHOTO!!!"
Hae-Sil flinched, instinctively turning toward the sound.
Endeavor stepped closer to the railing, eyes blazing.
Endeavor:
"HAVE YOU FINALLY ACCEPTED YOURSELF?!"
Endeavor:
"THAT'S IT! GOOD! IT ALL STARTS FROM HERE FOR YOU!"
He clenched his fists.
Endeavor:
"WITH MY BLOOD—YOU'LL SURPASS ME! YOU WILL FULFILL MY DESIRE!"
Mr. Mic (awkwardly):
"...Huh? Endeavor suddenly shouting encouragement...? Such a doting father..."
Midoriya muttered softly, still smiling.
Deku:
"Wow..."
Todoroki:
"Why are you smiling?"
Midoriya's smile faded.
Todoroki's eyes hardened, flames flaring brighter.
Todoroki:
"With those injuries... in this situation..."
He took a step forward.
Todoroki:
"You're crazy."
A pause.
Todoroki:
"Don't blame me for what happens next."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly—
Ice and fire erupted at the same time.
Todoroki's right side unleashed a colossal surge of ice while flames roared violently from his left, the two forces colliding and twisting together into something unstable and terrifying.
Midoriya answered instinctively—
One For All surged through the right side of his body, wind screaming around him.
Cementoss slammed his hands down, walls shooting up between them.
Cementoss:
"MIDNIGHT! IF THEY KEEP GOING—THIS'LL BE BAD!"
Midnight (already moving, eyes wide):
"His body won't hold up!"
The ice attack expanded—
HUGE. ENORMOUS.
Sharp enough, cold enough, powerful enough to kill.
Midoriya reacted in a split second—
He blasted upward, riding the force of the ice itself.
At that same moment, Todoroki's flames ignited again, concentrated, blazing.
Todoroki (quiet, steady):
"Midoriya..."
Midoriya twisted midair, his shattered right arm glowing, wind spiraling tighter and tighter around it.
Todoroki (soft, sincere):
"...Thank you."
Then—
They attacked at the same time.
Fire.
Wind.
Ice.
Cementoss's walls shattered like paper.
BOOOOOOM—
A deafening explosion tore through the stadium.
Midnight was hurled backward by the shockwave, crashing hard.
In the stands—
Mineta was already airborne.
Shoji grabbed his leg mid-flight.
Mineta:
"WHAT THE HECK?!"
Hae-Sil's eyes went wide, hair whipping violently upward, breath stolen from her lungs.
Kirishima, Sero—
Even Bakugo stiffened, eyes snapping wide in disbelief.
Denki:
"MAN—SERIOUSLY?!"
Momo (squinting, arm raised):
"w-what happened?!"
Jiro couldn't even open her eyes.
Pro heroes in the stands froze.
Outside the stadium, pros stared in shock—eyes wide, mouths hanging open.
Through it all—
Endeavor was still smiling.
Smoke swallowed the arena.
Slowly...
It began to clear.
Cementoss pushed himself up, staring in awe.
Cementoss:
"Just because something is powerful... doesn't mean it's good."
A pause.
Cementoss:
"But that was... amazing."
Mr. Mic had fallen clean out of his chair.
Mr. Mic:
"WHAT WAS THAT JUST NOW?!"
He scrambled up, coughing.
Mr. Mic:
"What the heck is up with your class?!"
Aizawa (eyes narrowed):
"The air—thoroughly cooled—was suddenly heated and expanded."
Mr. Mic:
"THAT'S what caused the explosion?! Just how hot was that?! JEEZ—I CAN'T SEE A THING!"
He leaned forward desperately.
Mr. Mic:
"HEY—WHO WON THE MATCH?!"
Midnight stood shakily, rubbing the back of her head.
Through the thinning smoke—
A figure was standing.
Uraraka, Iida, and Hae-Sil gasped at the same time.
Bakugo's eyes widened—just a little.
It was Midoriya.
Still upright.
But—
He was leaning against the wall.
Outside the boundary.
His eyes unfocused.
His body gave out, collapsing to the ground.
Midnight (voice shaking):
"M—Midoriya... is out of bounds..."
In the arena—
Todoroki stood frozen.
Sweat poured down his face, steam rising from his skin.
The upper half of his uniform was gone, chest heaving, muscles taut.
He stared at where Midoriya had fallen.
Then—
Midnight raised her whip.
Midnight:
"Todoroki Shoto advances to the third round!"
The stadium erupted.
Cheers thundered from every direction.
Todoroki stood there, panting hard, flames flickering weakly at his side—
Victorious.
But his eyes never left the place where Midoriya lay.
________________________________________________________________________________
TO BE CONTINUED!