Chapter 14: Power Up, Puff!
A few minutes had passed since the completion of the Obstacle Race. Once everyone had made it into the stadium, the moderators immediately slotted them onto a leaderboard.
But Blossom didn't need the leaderboard. She knew that she won. It was hard to forget when swarms of people were congratulating you.
Blossom didn't even seem to react to it. That was because it all felt like some sort of weird fever dream, from the blaring cheers and noises to the friendly faces. But every time her sisters hugged her or every time a student came up and shook her hand respectfully, she was once again reminded that it wasn't a dream.
Soon, everyone gathered around to look at the newly posted leaderboard on the huge screen in the stadium. And at the top, of course, were the words:
#1: MOMOKO UTONIUM
Underneath were rows and columns of different names, signifying different placements in the race. But soon, people noticed two things about the board.
For one, there were numbers next to their names on the leaderboard, with Blossom (Momoko) having the largest number. And secondly, only the top 45 people in the race were on the leaderboard.
And as evidenced by Midnight's next announcement, there was an explanation for this.
"Now people! As we come out of our first event of the festival, we're also coming across our first rankings. As you can see, there's a leaderboard of where you placed in terms of the race's outcome. But, if you can't seem to find your place on the board, that means one thing. It means that you have placed below 45th place, and are now ELIMINATED! Which means that you are prevented from moving on to the next event!"
At this, some students went into an uproar of shock and despair. Meanwhile, Bubbles gaped.
"What? There's ELIMINATIONS in this thing?!" she exclaimed.
Buttercup shrugged. "Of course there is! This whole festival is for showing that you're the best. They're not gonna let some lameos stay, when they can't even keep up with a little race."
At this, some eliminated students who were nearby gave Buttercup death stares. And of course, Buttercup wasn't bothered, and shot back a withering glare of her own.
"Besides," she sighed as some of the students moved away, "Why are you bothered? We got the top spots! We're good!"
Blossom nodded. "Buttercup's right. The matter of others getting eliminated is none of our concern now. If we wanna show the world who we are, we gotta focus on that and ONLY that."
Bubbles's eyebrows furrowed, but relented nonetheless. "I guess so."
Once all of the eliminated people left the stadium, Midnight talked again.
"As for the rest of you… CONGRATS! You're now officially moving on to the second event! Give yourselves a pat on the back! But, just know, it'll be harder from here on out. Especially when there's high stakes for the guys in the lead!"
After she said this, the points next to people's names on the leaderboard came into more focus, most notably Blossom's points.
"Now, to address what these numbers mean and the rules of our next event!" Midnight declared, "For the next event, we're doing a cavalry battle! The rules, like the race, are simple. People are going to split into teams of no less than 3 and no more than 4, and are assigned point values. Which, as you're starting to see, ties into the leaderboard. The last place runner has 5 points, as the spots scale up, so do the points by five. So, the first place runner, in this case Miss Utonium, has the most points: TEN MILLION!
"But don't think you're safe because you have more points. It's quite the opposite; you're the most vulnerable! The goal of this exercise is for teams to defend their collective points and steal from others. So if a team consisting of low tier students happens to steal from Momoko's team, they'll be set for first! So buckle in, for those of you at the top, because any little steal can send you tumbling into last place."
Just like that, Blossom's excitement about placing first dissolved as quickly as air leaving a popped balloon. Slowly, she saw that other contestants were starting to look her way with borderline menacing and smug faces, as they fully understood the advantage they had over her. What once were supportive and friendly competitors were now seemingly hungry sharks out for blood.
And for the first time at the sports festival, Blossom felt like she was a few minutes away from fainting.
If Midnight noticed the look of terror on Blossom's face, she didn't seem to care as she continued her peppy speech.
"So, if there aren't any questions, go ahead and BUILD YOUR TEAM! And you better hurry 'cause you got 15 minutes to do so!" she finished with a flourish.
Once that was established, everyone scrambled to get a team. And surprisingly, everyone came to Todoroki.
"Hey! Let me on your team!"
"We can do some great stuff together, Shoto, just join me!"
"Nuh-uh! Join US! We'll guarantee you a spot in the final event!"
As everyone crowded around him, the girls slightly moved away.
"Why's everyone trying to join up with Todoroki?" Bubbles asked.
Blossom narrowed her eyes, calculating. "I think it's because he has a perfect score. With 200 points, he has a sufficient amount of points, while not having a too high score. That way, not many people will go for him in battle."
Buttercup hissed through her gritted teeth, and for a moment, she looked the tiniest bit apprehensive.
"Yeah, but they'll go for you, won't they? I mean… you got TEN MILLION. That's HUGE!"
Blossom sighed. "Yeah, you think I don't know that? I might as well be throwing myself to wolves."
Bubbles turned to her, surprisingly determined as she curled her fists.
"Have hope, Blossom! It's not a sure thing that they'll get your points. This is a good thing! Just as long as you keep your points for the duration of the battle, you'll definitely get first place. You don't even have to steal from anyone!"
Blossom mulled it over before saying, "That's a good point."
Buttercup looked at other contestants, some already in teams. "That could work. That is, if you can find some helluva powerful teammates to defend you."
Blossom shrugged. "I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try."
But as she set off towards some people not in teams, they quickly spotted her and moved away. Blossom frowned before going to another group of unclaimed teammates, only for the same thing to happen.
After a good minute of asking, pursuing, and being dodged, it was clear why people were avoiding Blossom like the plague. They wanted to keep the few precious points they have, and to not be jeopardized in the case of Blossom losing her points. Clearly they didn't trust her enough to carry their team and seemed to think that she would be the reason if they were to lose.
In short, they were underestimating her again. Ouch.
Finally, when the timer came down to one minute and thirty seconds, Blossom had enough and stopped pestering other participants. Instead she groaned and kicked at the ground harshly.
"Is it too much to ask for ONE of these people to join my team? I mean, COME ON!" Blossom muttered under her breath.
As she looked down at the ground, Bubbles and Buttercup walked up to her, looking the slightest bit amused.
"Any luck, Captain?" Buttercup asked.
Blossom whined as she put her head into her hands.
"Yes, actually. Things are going VERY well, thank you for asking." she growled, her tone thick with sarcasm.
Bubbles looked around, puzzled. "Then where are the teammates? I don't see them."
Blossom swung her head up with a glare. "Gee, Bubbles. You don't say!"
Buttercup clicked her tongue. "Alright. Knock it off with the sarcasm, Ms. Attitude. Since you are CLEARLY failing to get any buddies to join your group, just join up with us! How does that sound, huh?"
Blossom furrowed her eyebrows, slightly lifting her upper lip into a grimace.
"I mean… sure. But, would it be better if we went to separate teams? After all, you guys would have a much better chance at making it to the finals without my stupid points jeopardizing your scores."
Buttercup frowned while her mouth parted in a genuinely offended look.
"I don't know WHAT fact is more ridiculous: the fact that you suggested we split up the Powerpuff Girls, or the fact that you really think any person here has a chance of snatching your points and WINNING."
"Both. Both are equally ridiculous. And stupid too." Bubbles chimed bluntly.
Blossom glared defensively, her jaw dropping.
"Well, SORRY I'm concerned about you two not making it to the finals! I guess I should just not care about your fates in this festival!" Blossom snapped.
Just then, Buttercup seized Blossom's shoulders and shook her a tiny bit.
"Bloss! DO YOU EVEN HEAR YOURSELF? You're talking as if we're NOT superpowered fighting machines!" she hollered.
At this outburst, a few people around them stared at them before slowly moving away. Blossom, after glancing at them, sighed.
"Well, that's one way to fuel people's suspicions that we're high tech robot spies acting as humans to infiltrate UA."
Buttercup scoffed. "Like I GIVE a shit about that baseless conspiracy theory! The point is that you need to wake up and snap outta that mindset you're in right now. Let me explain it to you nice and slow. We are the Powerpuff Girls. YOU are our leader. We kick Villain butt almost every day of our lives. We have super cool and awesome powers, and our fighting style is tailored for TEAM and not SOLO combat. Now, as you keep these things in your mind, I want to ask you: in a competitive team event where superpowers ARE ALLOWED and where your competitors are people that you PLACED ABOVE in the race before this, how high do you think your chances are at winning?"
Bubbles lit up and waved her hand in the air. "Oh, I know! Our chances are very high!"
Buttercup nodded. "Ding, ding, ding! Real freakin' high. Let that sink in. … Now that that's settled, I'm going to ask you again. Do you want me and Bubbles to join your team, so that we can absolutely dominate this game and make it to the finals? Yes or no?"
Blossom raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at her lips.
"Okay. You want the Powerpuff Girls together? You got it."
Buttercup smiled as well before letting go. "Good. Glad you still have SOME of your senses."
After she said that, a horn blared throughout the stadium, signifying that the wait time had ended.
"And time's up!" Midnight announced, "Alright, teams, get into the position and the game will start shortly!"
Quickly, the girls mobilized into their cavalry positions: Buttercup standing in front, Bubbles standing in the back, and Blossom seated on Buttercup's and Bubbles's linked arms. Blossom then tied the points banner into a headband as instructed, tightening it with a confident grin.
"You ready, girls?!" Blossom shouted.
"READY!" Buttercup and Bubbles shouted in unison.
Finally, as everyone got into position, Midnight waved her whip, making a resounding snap.
"BEGIN!"
As the word registered, nearly everyone bolted from their spots, all of them racing towards the girls with eagerness.
"ON MY SIGNAL!" Blossom yelled as they stepped back.
Bubbles and Buttercup nodded, tensing up. And as the first team, Todoroki's team, got within a close distance of them, Blossom finally spoke again.
"NOW!"
Suddenly, the Powerpuff Girls rocketed into the air, fueled by Buttercup and Bubbles jumping in unison. As they soared over people's heads, they landed in a clear spot effortlessly.
"Get to running!" Blossom demanded as the teams scrambled to change their course.
"Roger!" Bubbles and Buttercup replied.
And so, the girls were off, zooming around the arena and dodging teams in their way. But a short moment passed before they were stopped in their tracks suddenly.
As Blossom lurched, she tried to steady herself with wide eyes.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Meanwhile, a chorus of groans and exclamations came from Bubbles and Buttercup, as they frantically moved around.
"It's our feet! They're stuck in the ground!" Bubbles exclaimed.
"It's like the ground MELTED or something!" Buttercup added exasperatedly.
As Blossom looked down, she saw that her sisters were right. Their feet were trapped in some sort of quicksand, rendering them frozen. Just then, she heard a cackle, prompting Blossom to look up with wide eyes.
Tetsutetsu's team were right in front of them, and one of the teammates was touching the ground, making the ground around Blossom's team distorted and liquidized.
"It's a Quirk!" Blossom cried in surprise.
With a wily grin, Tetsutetsu shouted, "GET THEM!"
At his words, the team surged towards the girls, as they tried to get out. But as Tetsutetsu reached out for the headband, Blossom glared and swung her hand. In a flash, a pink energy blast pushed the team back, deflecting their attempt to snatch the headband.
Although it wasn't a strong offensive maneuver, it granted Bubbles and Buttercup enough time to free themselves.
Quickly, the girls flew backwards, away from the quicksand. As they ran backwards though, Blossom suddenly felt her headband sliding up and off her head. And as she lost the headband, she saw Bakugou's face grinning evilly back at her as his team ran off, leaving them in the dust.
As they stopped, it didn't take long for Blossom to register what happened. Bakugou's team had stolen the headband, and therefore, they had lost their points.
"NO!" she shouted.
"Shit! That asshole stole our points?!" Buttercup screamed.
"Oh god, oh god, oh GOD!" Bubbles whispered.
"Well, don't just STAND there, let's get those points back!" Blossom snapped.
Quickly, the girls ran after Bakugou's team. But just as they started running, Bakugou's team disappeared into the mass of teams. What previously had been a synchronized pursuit towards the girls had devolved into a crazy free-for-all scramble for points of any kind, as frenzied hands snatched headbands.
As the girls pushed past other teams, Blossom searched the crowd. And after a few seconds, she found them.
"OVER THERE! LET'S GO!" she shouted.
After she said that, she could feel Buttercup and Bubbles push forward, evading teams in the way, straight towards Bakugou's team. As they got closer and closer, Blossom prepared to reach out and snatch the headband from behind.
But just as her fingers grazed the silky headband, it immediately got snatched by someone else. As she registered what happened, Blossom yelped with wide eyes and the girls skidded to a stop.
Meanwhile, Bakugou's team turned around as they realized that the headband was stolen, to Bakugou's rage. Immediately, his furious eyes landed on Blossom, who didn't bother to look at him as her eyes landed on the true perpetrator.
It was Izuku and his team, and the headband was stolen by Tokoyami's Dark Shadow.
"Izuku?!" "DEKU?!"
As Izuku turned his head towards the two indignated teams, he looked almost terrified yet confident as his team sped up. They flashed along the arena, almost as quickly as the girls were.
"How the hell are they moving so fast?!" Buttercup yelled.
With a few seconds of analysis, Blossom deduced the cause. "Ochaco's Quirk is making them more light on their feet and lessening their gravity. Not to mention the load of equipment they have provided by one of the support students."
"EQUIPMENT?! Aww, how are we gonna compete with that?" Bubbles whined.
Buttercup glared. "You better not mean that. Some scraps of screws and bolts is not much to compete with when you have OUR skill! I don't care WHAT Deku has on his team, we're gonna BEAT him!"
Suddenly, the girls were shoved to the side by Bakugou's team surging past. Bakugou's eyes looked wild as they sprinted towards Izuku's team. And to everyone's surprise, Bakugou got up and leapt off of his teammates' arms, blasting into the air like a rocket missile.
"DIE!" he roared, charging up an explosion to throw.
Before the attack could land, a large misty shape rose into the space between Bakugou and Izuku's team, blocking the fiery explosion. It was Tokoyami's Dark Shadow, providing a solid defense for their team.
As Blossom watched the scene unfold, she started to mull on the subject of Izuku. With his plan that gained him near-victory of the race to the seemingly calculated and perfect roster he chose for the cavalry team, Izuku was smarter than she had thought. And his shrewd tactics were starting to jeopardize her success. She couldn't have that, especially if she wanted to make it to the top and prove to everyone that her skills were top tier.
It was settled. As of right now, Izuku was her biggest threat.
As the attack faded, Bakugou came falling back towards the ground. But, before he could hit it, his teammate Sero used his Quirk to wrap the former in tape and pull him back to the safety of his teammates' arms. Meanwhile, some teams who watched started to murmur in shock and confusion. Soon, Midnight's voice echoed over the stadium.
"For those who are wondering, yes! Bakugou's maneuver is allowed in the game! As long as your leader doesn't touch the ground, you are safe to do whatever move you'd like!" she announced.
At this, the girls lit up with excitement.
"AW HELL YEAH!" Buttercup whooped.
Blossom smiled slyly with a hand on her chin. "Well, with THAT in mind, I think I'll revise my plan. But first, we need at least some points."
After she said this, a crackling noise suddenly filled Blossom's ears, causing her to tense. Immediately, she knew from the sound what was about to happen.
"Quick! Jump up!" she ordered.
"Huh?" Bubbles and Buttercup asked in unison.
"JUMP!" Blossom hollered.
Their faces growing startled, her sisters complied as they took off into the air. And right as their feet left the ground, it was instantly frozen over, as ice spread across the majority of the arena.
Immediately, Blossom knew the cause of the sudden flash freeze. "Todoroki!"
Sure enough, Todoroki's team skates on by frozen and defenseless teams, going for Izuku's team, who was able to escape the onslaught of ice. To Blossom's shock, she noticed that there were not only one but multiple headbands looped around Todoroki's neck, implying that he has a plethora of points.
Looks like he has some points to spare…
As Bubbles and Buttercup landed, Blossom looked towards Todoroki's team, her eyes swiftly narrowing.
"Change of plans, girls. We gotta go for Todoroki and his team, and swipe one of his headbands! Leave Midoriya's team alone for now."
Buttercup looked almost appalled by this. "But they got our points! You can't be letting them go unscathed! What happened to–"
"Trust me, letting them go is the last thing we're doing." Blossom interrupted, "We just need at least a couple of points to fall back on in case we can't get to it on time. And with the third place points…"
"... that will bump us up some!" Bubbles finished, her eyes flashing with understanding.
"Exactly!"
With a new plan in gear, the girls were off. Using powerful kicks and maneuvers, the girls gilded as one across the ice, their flying trails propelling them like rockets. But just as they closed in, Blossom saw something that made her heart stutter.
An ice wall twice their size formed directly in front of them, easily doubling in size with every passing moment.
Instantly, Blossom thought to scream to her sisters, who were speeding along like bullets. But she knew better. At the speed they were going, her sisters wouldn't stop in time. They were reckless cannonballs dead set on a target that could easily smash any hopes of them getting to Todoroki.
No. Like hell it would.
With that thought in mind, Blossom thrusted back her elbow. From her fingers, fire ignited and trailed down her palms. Finally, with a war cry, Blossom shot her hand at the large wall.
In seconds, the wall exploded on contact, sending icy gusts and crystals flying everywhere. Amid the foggy mist, Blossom looked up from her angry glare. And a familiar scarred face stared back, wide-eyed with surprise.
He walked himself right into her trap.
Instantly catching onto the spontaneous plan, her sisters changed their trajectory, switching the position of their feet so that they ran right past Todoroki and his team. And as they did, Blossom looped a finger under some of Todoroki's headbands and lifted them right to her.
After that, time picked up from Blossom's slow-motion worldview, as the girls skidded to a stop right before they hit the barriers of the arena. It was then that Blossom picked up on the rabid cheers of the crowd and the shocked looks on everyone's faces as they stared at the girls.
Yet she was only fixated on Todoroki's face. His furious red-hot face.
He seemed to forget about Izuku's team entirely at that moment, as he ordered his team to charge forward. But by then, Blossom gathered her senses and urged her sisters to escape, narrowly avoiding his grasp as they pivoted out of reach.
Her sisters backed up towards the middle of the arena among the chaos of teams scrambling for headbands. All the while, Todoroki stalked towards them ominously. Occasionally, a team would flash by between the two teams, blocking Blossom's sight of Todoroki. Yet every time, he was still there and his teammates still marched on.
And in her mind, Blossom's gears were turning.
Up until the festival, she never assumed Todoroki would be an enemy of hers. They stayed out of each other's way for the most part. But both of them were forces to be reckoned with. It was a fact that sooner or later, these forces would come to clash.
He had clashed with her during the race. And now, he's coming at her full-force.
Blossom gritted her teeth, cursing herself. All this time she was worrying over the small things, when the bigger issues went unchecked. The very thing she didn't want to do.
Damn it!
"Um… what's the plan, Bloss?" Buttercup called to her.
Suddenly, as quickly as she was sucked out of it, Blossom came to her senses. Now was no time for her analysis.
"No matter what you do… do NOT let Todoroki get his headbands. Be prepared to give it your all in defending our points, understand?!"
"YES MA'AM!" her sisters declared.
But before the declaration could even reach Blossom's ears, they finally took action.
With breakneck speeds, Todoroki's team closed the distance between them. Just as Todoroki thrusted a hand out, Blossom was thrown to the side by her sisters so that he couldn't reach her. Before she could register the movement, her sisters sprinted away, their heavy steps in sync.
Blossom instantly looked over her shoulder to see Todoroki in hot pursuit, following them in a heated chase. But as she did, another team off to the side seemed to catch her eye.
Izuku's team. With her 10 million points.
Currently, his team was doing everything in their power to keep their points, defending and evading their opponents. Yet Izuku himself was fixated on the girls and Todoroki, watching with bated breath and wide eyes.
It was almost like he was in the crowd rather than an actual participant.
Despite herself, Blossom fixated on his face, watching him sit among his teammates gawking. And after all this time, they managed to defend the 10 million headband. They, as in Izuku's teammates. Izuku himself didn't seem to be doing much other than yelling occasional orders.
Some self-proclaimed leader he is… always trying to steal the spotlight while not actually DOING anything.
Blossom tore her eyes away, suddenly disoriented. For a good second, it seemed like Blossom was feeling anger towards the green-haired boy. What are you DOING, Blossom?!
"Alright y'all! Two minutes LEFT! Get to scrambling and secure those points!" Midnight declared with a flourish.
At the announcement, Blossom felt paralyzing fear as she looked at the clock, which indeed showed two minutes. So far, the three headbands looped around her neck equaled 250 points. Considering everyone else's scores, that would place her and her sisters at 4th place. All below everyone else.
Below… everyone.
"Hey, Bloss! Todoroki's off our backs now!"
As she heard Buttercup's words, Blossom's head snapped down. "What?!"
"He's not chasing us! He went after Midoriya instead." Bubbles clarified.
Sure enough, as Blossom whipped her head around, she saw Todoroki's team quickly changing course to head for Izuku's team. It seemed like the girls completely slipped his mind. The two minute warning probably made him take another course of action to scale the leaderboard. And other teams seemed to think the same as their attention strayed towards Izuku's team. What better team to go after than the ten million point team?
Izuku's team was the spotlight now. Nobody focused on the girls now.
"I guess that's better for us, huh?" Buttercup sighed with a grin. "While those wimps take the heat off of us, we got our top 5 spot secured–"
"NO!"
Her sisters immediately tensed at Blossom's scream, which came out of nowhere.
"Huh? What happened?!" Bubbles asked, worried.
But Blossom was stuck in her own world completely now, as a ghost of rage twisted her features into a scowl. "No, no, no! I'm not giving up! We're taking the headband from Izuku!"
Bubbles glanced at the other teams frantically. "But–but the other teams…!"
"I don't care about the other teams. We're getting that headband one way or another." she growled. "Now on my mark, fly towards them and don't stop, got it?"
"Bloss, I don't think this is a good–"
"I DON'T CARE!"
Bubbles quickly shut up at her sister's shouts, while Buttercup seemed to shiver a little bit with pride and determination (maybe even a little fear).
"You heard her, Bubs. Get ready to blast off!"
With that, Buttercup and reluctantly Bubbles got into position, readying themselves for Blossom's signal. Meanwhile, Blossom watched Todoroki and Izuku, her eyes narrowing.
The two teams were in a heated confrontation, and the ten million points seemed to be on the line. Every jerking maneuver and every dodge loosened the headband on Izuku more and more. Soon, there would be an opening, when Blossom would make the call, yet she ached to grab it more than ever.
Until it happened.
Todorok has his hand on the headband, pulling it towards him. But simultaneously, Izuku holds on tight, trying not to let go. It's a tug of war, and the ten million points stretch in between despite the chaos of everything happening around her as the match draws to a close, Blossom zeroes in on the headband.
The prize was hers.
"NOW!" she yelled.
She wasn't going to be a pushover anymore. She wasn't some kid they could ignore. No. She was a hero. The greatest hero nobody could dream of beating.
And as the girls blasted off as a tricolored rocket, heading straight towards the two teams, Blossom finally let the cheers of the crowd in, soaking in their energy.
This crowd wanted a show? She'll give them one.
"HAAAAH!"
Suddenly, Blossom sprang up from her sisters' grasp in a long jumping leap. She twirled through the air, using the momentum gained from their flight to launch her like a bomb.
She fit in the gap between Izuku and Todoroki seamlessly. She could feel the headband they raised high into the air graze her front before snatching it. Once she flew past, she saw their heads turning to lock their gazes on hers.
And for that moment, Blossom could see it in their eyes. That spark that could set the world on fire if they wanted it to. The passion and determination were strong, and easily strengthened her own.
She wanted to see that. More than ever.
Maybe that's why she grabbed the headbands around her neck, yanking them off and sending them into the air like ribbons.
And once again, time sped up.
She hurtled dangerously fast towards the barrier, and would have flown right over it. But suddenly, strong hands caught her and brought her back down to Earth. And before Blossom could even gather her bearings, the buzzer blared throughout the stadium.
Just like the end of the race, everything was deafeningly quiet until Present Mic called it.
"THE WONDER GIRLS SWEEP THE WIN!" he screams.
At this, the cheers come back in full swing. Just then, the leaderboard flashes into view, confirming the victory.
#1: MOMOKO, MIYAKO, AND KAORU
"Absolutely AMAZING, folks! It's safe to say we're witnessing history here with the hottest Cavalry Battle we've had yet!"
Blossom could only stare at the leaderboard, dazed. That is, until she was suddenly launched into the air by her ecstatic sisters throwing her up and down.
"WHAT THE WHAT!? THAT WAS INSANE!" Buttercup whooped, completely over the moon.
"YAY BLOSSOM!" Bubbles hollered.
As they set Blossom onto her feet, a dizzy grin was now on her face, as her sisters wrapped her into a suffocating hug. Once again, she watched the people around her, feeling like she was in a dream.
Coming right after, a few points shorter, was Team Todoroki in second place, as Todoroki was aided by the headbands Blossom tossed towards him. But compared to his other teammates, he looked significantly less happy, as his fist nearly strangled the headband in his grip. If he had any intention of acknowledging Blossom's presence, he clearly tried not to indulge it by not even glancing her way.
Bakugou was a different story entirely, as his team got pushed all the way to 3rd place. He looked absolutely livid; some of his friends even had to restrain him so that he wouldn't go crazy. He seemed to be the only person looking in the girls' direction, pure hatred and fire in his eyes.
And then there was Izuku, who was crying as his teammates stood around him. At first, it looked like he was devastated, like he had lost. But it soon appeared as tears of joy, once Blossom noticed what Tokoyami was holding. His Dark Shadow had caught the headband she threw at them, along with some other points they snatched along the way.
Which boosted Team Izuku all the way to fourth place, taking up the last slot.
Which meant, as Blossom realized with shock, that mostly, if not only Class 1-A students were going to move on. From now on, her opponents would be her classmates. And maybe, even her sisters.
The thought of fighting them used to stir so much anxiety in Blossom's gut. But as she stood there, trapped in between her sisters' hug, Blossom felt that same feeling. That creeping feeling that influenced her actions in the Cavalry Battle seemed to become so much clearer for her. It was a belief of hers, a fact that she finally seemed to find again beneath the layers of her insistent anxiety.
Blossom was miles above these people.
She wished she realized it sooner, like in the Battle Trial, or even way back when the entrance exam was taking place. But, Blossom was now realizing how much power she held. She was a Powerpuff Girl, way before she would ever be anything else. A UA student. A Class 1-A student. A friend. Or a training hero. Before any of that, first and foremost, she was a Powerpuff Girl. A Powerpuff Girl who could easily beat these kids without breaking a sweat.
And yet she and her sisters stood as the most criticized, the most judged, and the most watched UA students here right now. Maybe in history. All of Blossom's otherworldly accomplishments and self-confidence were buried under those jabbing comments from students and critics, as well as the patronizing sympathy. Not anymore.
She didn't care if she had to take down a whole army. She'll do anything to show these people who she really is. And Izuku and Todoroki will be the ones to help them realize that.
Something Blossom was at ease about was the break that came after the battle.
Despite her determination, Blossom had to admit she was exhausted. From the race to the battle, it was a little too much. So when they announced everyone would disperse for lunch, Blossom was relieved beyond measure.
That is, for two seconds.
Bubbles and Buttercup were already having the time of their lives, as their 1-A friends invited them for a tour of the food vendors at the festival. But as they whined to Blossom to go with them, Blossom politely declined and said that she'll catch up with them later.
And so, Blossom was alone.
That's exactly how she wanted to be. She wanted to feel normal for once, taking a break from the action and the chaos. Even though her little epiphany during the battle did clear a lot of things from her conscience, Blossom still felt the need to reflect on everything so far.
Which was a nice activity to do, especially on a peaceful walk around the outside of the arena.
As she walked, Blossom's stomach grumbled, impatient that she wasn't at a food truck with her friends stuffing her face. Blossom sighed the grumbles away, breathing in the fresh summer air and taking in the sounds of the breeze.
But with the breeze came… a voice. A voice that chilled Blossom to the core, just like his merciless ice.
"Momoko."
She swiftly turned around to see a face she had been dreading to see. Todoroki was approaching, all alone. And even though he didn't look angry, the tense atmosphere he brought with him seemed to choke Blossom up.
Before she could say a word, Todoroki said, "I need to talk to you."
It wasn't a question. Those words held a finality that rooted her to the spot. Meanwhile, Todoroki moved around her, heading towards one of the openings that served as a stadium entrance. Once he did, he glanced over his shoulder, seeing if she was going to follow.
Blossom gulped slowly, wondering what would happen if she just walked away and never looked back. Not even considering how Todoroki would feel, Blossom knew she couldn't, solely because she wouldn't. Her curiosity was too damn persistent.
So, with her head held high, Blossom walked towards the opening, leaning on the wall across from Todoroki.
As she leaned back, she looked at Todoroki, crossing her arms. She waited for him to speak or do something. But, it was like he was a blank slate, just staring at her with empty eyes. Todoroki seemed to be completely unreadable. All the while, Blossom braced for anything. A scream. A glare. Venomous insults. Anything.
Finally, after a long moment, he whispered.
"How?"
Blossom's churning thoughts stuttered to a stop.
"Huh?"
Todoroki was quiet once more. And before Blossom could fear another tense moment of silence, he spoke again.
"During the race and the cavalry battle, you always seemed so quick to win," he muttered. "You move like a bullet. Faster than anything a human could possibly achieve. I've never seen anything like it."
Blossom's breath caught in her throat, and suddenly, she felt the need to hide from his piercing stare.
"They weren't lying when they would talk about you and your sisters. You guys are the youngest people to enter UA, and yet… you manage to outsmart and outcompete every person here." Todoroki continued, calm as ever. "And the power you hold… it begs the question of how much power you guys have in the first place. So… I have questions."
Blossom's jaw ticked, and she willed her heart to stop beating so fast. But it was hard to. With every sentence Todoroki said, it was like he was inching closer to a truth she could never reveal. One that could ruin everything if he knew it.
That was where her mind was going. Until Todoroki asked this:
"Are you Superman's secret love child or something?"
Blossom blinked.
It was like her tension magically disappeared with the question, leaving her in a state of confusion. The question Todoroki asked seemed completely ridiculous, and Blossom couldn't help but let a bewildered chuckle escape. And yet, Todoroki stood there with his eyes narrowed, waiting.
He wasn't even messing with her; he genuinely wanted to know.
"... No?" Blossom answered.
"No?" Todoroki asked, tilting his head slightly.
Suddenly abashed, Blossom jumped. "AH! I mean, no! No no! I didn't mean to sound unsure. It just seems like a weird question. I don't think I've heard that before. Superman? Does he even exist in this—"
Quickly, Blossom snapped her mouth shut, as she saw Todoroki's eyebrows raise. Finally, she looked off to the side, scratching her head.
"No, I'm not." she finally sighed.
Todoroki bowed his head slightly, once again back to his blank slate face.
"I admit, it's a stupid question to ask. Superman is merely fiction."
Blossom lowered her hand, suddenly grateful for not letting her last sentence slip. But then, she frowned.
"Then… Why did you ask?" she questioned.
Todoroki looked up at her, pausing for a second.
"You're like him. Flight. Laser eyes. Ice breath. Your powers and his are nearly identical. Your Quirk is like a comic book superhero come to life."
Blossom fidgeted with her hands, looking uneasy.
"Yeah, well… it's not like I understand it much either." she said, speaking truthfully.
Todoroki tore his eyes away and looked off to the side.
"I've always thought about it. Ever since you arrived. Yet, my sights weren't focused on you. I never intended to clash with you during this festival. I had assumed Midoriya would be my first threat."
Blossom's eyes widened, confused by his confession. "Izuku?"
Todoroki nods. "Yes. After all, he is the closest to All Might."
Blossom frowned, bewildered. All Might?
But the more she thought about it, the more Blossom realized there was truth to Todoroki's admission. During her time at UA, she had seen Izuku and All Might interact. And every time there was something she thought were coincidences. Shared glances. Private conversations. There was even that one moment back at the USJ incident, where Izuku was overwhelmingly concerned about All Might.
The whole time, Blossom had chalked it up as nothing but coincidences. But now, she did admit there was something between the green-haired boy and the Number One Hero.
Maybe he's All Might's secret love child, she thought dryly.
But then, a far more important question came to her mind.
"Why does it matter that he's close to All Might?" Blossom asked.
Todoroki suddenly looked back at her, surprised that she would ask such a question. But the moment was brief as he composed himself.
"Beating him would be the closest I would get to beating All Might."
His confession threw Blossom for a loop.
"What? Beating All Might?! Why would you want to do that?" she asked, dropping her guard entirely.
Todoroki seemed hesitant as he closed his eyes.
"... Because it's my destiny."
The world stopped.
All of the loud noises of the festival seemed to drift away, leaving only Todoroki's voice and hers. It was like with only his words, Todoroki froze the very atmosphere. Including Blossom, as her blood ran cold.
"Your… destiny?"
Todoroki nodded once more. "It has been my destiny since birth. Ever since I became the son of the Number 2 Pro Hero."
Blossom's eyebrows furrowed. Immediately, her countless research on Pro Heroes came to mind, as she recalled the Number 2 Pro Hero. Which she did in seconds.
"You're the son of… Endeavor?"
Todoroki paused, then nodded. Blossom stumbled back, flattening against the wall as she recalled the Hero.
"That's right… Enji Todoroki." she whispered. "He's the Flame Hero, who has a Quirk who can control fire."
Todoroki scoffed softly. "Yeah. And he's a complete disappointment of a father."
Blossom gasped, taken aback by his words. Meanwhile, he looked unbothered.
"Your knowledge gained from online articles only tell you so much. If you knew it all, you would know that Endeavor isn't just a #2 Hero. He's a madman, hellbent on taking the #1 title from All Might."
Blossom's eyes softened. He was right. She didn't know all of that. But even so… the fact that Endeavor had this fiery rivalry with All Might wasn't something she felt the need to look into. Until now.
Todoroki's eyes glazed over slightly, as if tuning everything out.
"My old man is obsessed with All Might. Everything in his career, he did to rise above All Might. And if he couldn't do it himself, he would ensure someone of his kin did. He wanted to make sure that his child would be the perfect mold for the Number One Hero. With the strongest Quirk, the keenest intellect, and the ability to meet high expectations. That's why he entered a Quirk Marriage to ensure it completely."
"Quirk Marriage?" Blossom asked.
"A union. Between two powerful Quirks. That was how he came to be with my mother. And how I came into this world. My Quirk was the perfect balance. Fire and Ice. Hot and Cold."
Blossom couldn't believe what she was hearing. Taking in his lineage and the potentials of his Quirk, Todoroki was an unimaginably strong person. A fact that ran way deeper than she could ever comprehend.
Todoroki continued on, unaware of Blossom's horror-stricken face.
"From my conception, I've been trained to take over the #1 Hero spot. It was the only reason why I was created, of course. My old man isolated me, you see. My family were distractions, he said. And my mother… I almost never saw her. The only memories I have of her now were her crying… and this scar."
Todoroki softly touched the left side of his face, where his pinkish healing scar was.
"H-how does a scar remind you of her…?"
Todoroki closed his eyes. "She gave it to me. She had called my left side, my fire, unbearable before burning me with boiling water."
Blossom quickly put a hand to her mouth, biting back a gasp. She couldn't help but feel pure terror in that moment for Todoroki. All for an event that seemed to have happened years ago.
Despite that, if Todoroki noticed any horror on her face, he didn't acknowledge it.
"The moment I entered this festival today, my old man wanted me to do it. Use the fire he's given me to win this tournament. But… I refuse. For the things he's done to my family. To my mother. He doesn't deserve the pride he'd get from me using my fire side."
After he said that, Todoroki's gaze cleared and he blinked. He finally focused on Blossom, who tried her best to hide any sign of concern or worry she felt in that moment. And it was like Todoroki suddenly realized what he was here for, as his gaze took on a steely determination.
"But you… you nearly drew it out of me. This whole time, you've been beating me, driving me to the edge. And now, the only reason I pass on to the final round is because of your handout."
As he says the last word, his voice takes on a suddenly venomous anger, startling Blossom. Todoroki takes a deep breath, his shoulders dropping slightly.
"And yet… I feel compelled to fight you, Momoko. There is no doubt we'll cross paths again in the final round. And when that time comes, I have no doubts or reservations. I won't lose to you again. And I won't let you tempt me to use my fire again."
Blossom let his declaration hit her at once, as her fist curled by her side. And as she did, a realization hit her just as hard.
She wasn't thrown off by Todoroki's determination. In fact it was the opposite.
She had caught a glimpse of it when she stole the headband. That look of pure fire and battle-ready passion. That very thing was what made fighting so amazing to her. Every opponent she faced, no matter how strong, had that passion that made Blossom want to push herself to her limit.
And she saw it now, clear as day on Todoroki's face and even as he turned to walk away without warning. Which is what drove her to make a brash choice.
"Wait!"
Todoroki paused at her call, keeping his back turned but glancing over his shoulder. As he did, Blossom felt her leader confidence rushing back as she stood tall and narrowed her eyes.
"My motivation to win may not be as heavy as yours. But if we do fight again, I won't let you win easily. No matter what happens at that moment… I will beat you, Todoroki."
Todoroki let her declaration sink in as well. Finally he walked away.
"I'll look forward to it."
As he left the area, Blossom slowly exhaled. She knew now that Todoroki was to be her rival, the only thing stopping her from getting to the top. And like he just told her, she was the same to him as well.
Even though the conversation still ran wild in her mind, Blossom set off in the opposite direction. She had her mind made up.
There was one more person she needed to speak to.
"Ah! Momoko?!"
Blossom was quiet, staring at the boy in front of her. After long minutes of searching, she had finally found him alone in the locker rooms. Izuku Midoriya… the intriguing classmate that Todoroki had first intended to fight.
And this time, Blossom would be the one grilling him.
She tilted her head, watching Izuku as he sat on the bench. Thankfully, no one was with him but she knew people would soon be coming in after lunch. She had to be quick with this.
"Hi, Izuku. Do you mind if we talk?"
Izuku blinked, surprised by the proposition, leading him to mildly panic.
"OH! Yes! I mean– no, I don't mind. Yeah, we can talk."
Blossom nodded as she sat on the bench right across from him.
"I don't mean to interrupt your alone time. I just… have a lot on my mind." she sighed.
Izuku seemed to relax, the tenseness leaving his body slowly. And to her slight surprise, his eyes grew worried.
"Yeah… I know the feeling." he finally answered. "This sports festival has my mind racing."
Blossom smiled a little. "Same here. It's a lot, huh? Knowing all of Japan is watching you?"
"Definitely. It's nothing like I'm used to! It's kind of scary but it's also motivating too!" Izuku gushed before looking a little nervous. "At least, that's how I see it."
Blossom silently agreed, recalling the intense fighting spirit she felt in both the race and the Cavalry Battle. And as she reflected on those moments, she could remember Izuku's face. That spark of determination to win.
"... Is that why you tried to beat me those times?"
Izuku's eyebrows raised, surprised. "What?"
Blossom closed her eyes. Well, there's no turning back now.
"I've seen you in the race. And the Cavalry Battle too. Every time I did, you tried to pull ahead, and you almost did. There's no doubt that if I didn't manage to find that boost of energy to steal the win, you would easily win both events. You're a very calculated person, you know."
Izuku blinked, his anxiety more apparent. "You think so…?"
"I know so. Somehow, you have this ability to measure your opponent, finding the best ways to win that's suited to your abilities. Not just in this festival, but in the Battle Trial and even the entrance exam!"
Blossom opened her eyes, as they strayed towards Izuku's hands. With a start, she noticed that they were bandaged, his fingers set in a temporary cast. She never noticed it, yet it was all the more proof she needed for her next point.
"Yet… in the heat of the moment, you became a different person entirely." Blossom continued, narrowing her eyes. "You're way more reckless. It's like you don't think about your actions before you do them even if it hurts you. Especially with your Quirk. Despite the fact that it hurts you, you always use it to win."
Izuku lowered his head, as if ashamed. "I do do that, huh?"
Blossom sighed. "I don't really mean it in a judgemental way. I just…" Suddenly, overtaken by courage, she stood up. "I want to see that more!"
Taken aback by her sudden movements, Izuku's eyes widened. "Momoko!"
"You're a mystery, Midoriya. And more than ever, I want to know just exactly what power you hide!" Blossom declared before pointing at Izuku. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. But, I want to see your fighting spirit. That's why I want to battle you in the final round!"
Izuku stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face. As he did, Blossom felt her moment of willpower lessen a little, as she lowered her hand.
"Sorry. I kinda got caught up in the moment." Blossom mumbled.
After she said that, Izuku shook his head and stood up as well.
"No. You're right. I understand. It's why I wanted to fight you too."
Blossom's eyes widened, this time being the one in shock. "You do?"
Izuku nodded before slightly smiling. "It seems we both have mysteries of our own. And I hope we can settle them in combat. Plus… I still have to get back at you for stealing my 1st place spot."
Blossom let his words sink in. Finally, she nodded and stuck a hand out with a smile.
"Then let's promise to give it our all!"
Izuku looked at the hand before finally offering his good hand and shaking hers.
"Right!" he said with an equal grin.
With the promise sealed, a chime played over the intercom.
"This is an announcement to all festival attendees!" Present Mic's voice spoke through the speakers. "Please make your way to the stadium. The events are about to resume!"
As the intercom turned off, Izuku looked up. "That's our cue."
Blossom nodded as she looked around. As she looked towards the locker room entrance however, she caught something that flashed past for a second.
A shock of blonde hair.
Startled, Blossom rushed to the door, to Izuku's surprise. As she reached the door, she looked out into the dark hallway.
No one was there.
"Momoko! What is it?" Izuku asked, coming up behind her.
Blossom swallowed slowly, watching the hallway with a frown. After a short moment, she shook her head.
"It's nothing. Come on. Let's go to the stadium."