All in an instant, Recovery Girl found life springing up from her old body.
"Have you been putting too much pressure on this young boy again?!" Her hand slammed right to the kidney of the number one hero.
"Owww– It was necessary, and that hurts!"
"Not as much as the kid's fingers do, I'd wager!" She shook her head from side to side. "Seriously, I know what you do is important, but don't take me for granted!"
"Understood…" All Might said, wheezing as Midoriya was reminded of one thing.
"Oh yeah, speaking of important, I had… something like another vision, All Might."
The number one stopped rubbing his side.
"Hm?" He pulled one of the chairs at the infirmary and sat down. "Really? Again?"
Midoriya nodded.
"This time I could tell. There were sixteen glows and… I think they were meant to be eyes. So, eight people in total?"
"Were the thrones there again?"
"Yeah!"
All Might followed up. Curiously he put one hand on his chin. "Did they say anything else this time?"
Midoriya nodded again.
"He is." he echoed the words back. "I think they were meant as an answer, almost like they were conversing."
Narrowing his eyes, Midoriya assembled his hands, and looked All Might in his eyes.
"One of the ones that watched on… their eyes were just like you."
"Like mine…" All Might mumbled, as his pupil assembled his hands concernedly.
"All Might… I-I think I was right. T-They could be the spirits of everyone else who used One for All!" Midoriya opened his hands. "Like, we talked about this before, but do you think I accidentally summoned them? Or did they sense that I needed help?.. Or were they always there, cheering me on?" Midoriya's mind came up with questions one after the other. "What do you think, All Might?"
However, the number one was spooked out of his mind.
"L-Like mine?!" He shook with both hands up. "Was I a ghost?!"
Midoriya was flabbergasted at his mentor being flabbergasted.
"I-I thought you'd have some answers now!" He retorted.
Recovery Girl shook her head.
No wonder Toshinori had chosen him to be his protege, the two of them responded to everything the same way, one was just more experienced–!
Suddenly the world around them shook!
"What's happening?" Midoriya bolted to his feet, while All Might was still on edge.
"Ghosts!" He blurted out.
Recovery Girl hopped on to her chair, and it rotated as she faced her monitors.
"Relax champ. They're not ghosts." She said. "It's actually something quite close to home."
Midoriya's gaze followed hers. The second quarter-final match was underway.
"Whoa whoa WHOA!" Pony skated on top of her floating horns, as a wave of ice outright followed her!
"What a narrow dodge ladies and gents!" Present Mic called out. "Only by a hair's breadth does Pony find herself in the clear!"
Ben winced. "Oooooooh…"
"It will be a tough battle." Kirishima said, and Ben shook his head, following up on it.
"The toughest of battles."
Todoroki putting his hand on the ground. Not breaking his poker face with an unfeeling cold gaze, he prepared himself.
"I can't do nothin about those attacks." Pony thought, looking down. "So, it's probably better to–!"
Todoroki put one hand on the ground, letting the field of ice grow like crops into the sky!
Pony could barely get out of the way. "He's not even giving me a chance!"
She swerved through the hair, weaving and dodging her way right out of the way of the pillars.
"It's over." Todoroki stated coldly. More and more pillars and spikes rose up, this time from the pillars that were already there!
Pony continued to maneuver. Crouching, jumping, even letting go of the horns and swinging on the pillars occasionally. It was like trying to survive in a spider's web.
"It's over." Todoroki stated, and sent one big barrage. Pony got right in front of it.
A barrage of horns launched from her scalp, stabbing and shattering the incoming surge of ice!
However, the horns weren't faring much better either. Just like the ice, they were also shattering. Pony had turned this into a war of attrition!
Todoroki's right side started to be enveloped with ice… something which a certain ash-blonde took specific attention to.
"It's like MP, huh…" he put a hand on his chin.
Todoroki seemed undisturbed by this development, even though his opponent was manifesting a smile.
He narrowed his gaze, and… decided to take a breath, as if he was meditating again, letting the ice that was crawling up his side to come to a standstill.
"I–"
"Got you!" Pony extended her hand, and suddenly two horns appeared from under the ice! Wedging themselves under his arms, they pushed the Todoroki back towards the line!
"I had them dig under for a surprise attack!" Pony said. "This is it!"
She let her control over those horns go, and launched two more horns as brand new skates, flying after her opponent!
His head was lifelessly down, until it came back up, showing a deathly glare.
A mound of ice suddenly grew behind him, stopping him right before he was about to head over the line.
"Crap!"
Pony readied several horns to shatter it, but Todoroki wasn't done. He manifested a field of pillars, and started to jump one to the other from them like steps.
With the last jump, he managed to grab onto the horns Pony was skating on!
"Hu– Hey, get off!" Both of them were losing altitude, and so Pony tried to stomp on his hands!
Todoroki tried to be resilient. Even though she kept hitting, he tried to stay strong–!
Pony lifted up her hoove again, only to have it impact some ice.
"Huh?.."
Ice crept up through the horns she skated on, to her left leg, and then extended to her entire body!
"Wha–?! How?!"
"It's not your fault. I've stuck to only using ranged attacks today. You didn't know I could do precision moves." Todoroki spoke.
He let go of Pony and landed on the ground on his two feet.
"Ow…" He rubbed his fingers, as his opponent crashed onto the ground, with everything but her face being frozen in a mass of ice.
Midnight's whip cracked.
"Tsunotori has been immobilized! Todoroki advances!"
A wave of cheering erupted. He turned back to his opponent, still straining herself to launch her horns or just break out.
"And I wanted to get others to forget too. My precision moves." He said, looking down at her. "But you were too nimble to be caught by anything. Yanagi wasn't wrong to give you credit."
Pony continued to try breaking out, but… resigned over having heard those words.
Todoroki crouched and provided some fire from his right to break her out.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time, T-T-Todoroki." she said, starting to shiver. "Ca-Count on it."
"She lost that fast?" Midoriya said in awe.
"Yep, that kid of Endeavor is no joke." Recovery Girl followed up. "Not only that, but at this rate his hissy fits are going to give everyone hypothermia!"
Her eyebrows went up.
She turned to Midoriya. "Try not to get hypothermia, dear. I really don't want to deal with that."
"You don't want to treat your patients?" All might asked, arms crossed.
"I mean the parents that line up on my doorstep afterwards!" Recovery Girl angrily looked at him.
"'Oh, isn't your quirk to fix this stuff?!' or 'How irresponsible of this school to allow our children to get sick…' Take your pick, even when you explain your quirk!"
An apprehensive nod was the way in which Midoriya's body responded. They were set to face off in the semi-finals now, that much was inevitable…
"Hey, Young Midoriya." All Might called out, and his pupil turned, eager to listen.
There wasn't a chance to help him about the upcoming difficult fights… but maybe this could help ease his spirits.
"About those visions, I agree with your theory too. They… *might* be ghosts of One for All past." He said, jokingly. "And I may not be sure why they are deciding to bother you now, or what they want–"
"Like I said, they might be here to cheer me on or something."
"I know." He cut him off. "Maybe that's what they wanted as well, but… I can say for sure that they are clear signs that you're getting a better handle over One for All. Well done."
Midoriya's eyes lit up. "Really?"
All Might smirked, and lifted his arms up from his pupil, crossing them.
"You'd think I would lie to you after all this?" He pointed to one of the monitors which displayed the tournament brackets.
"Now, aren't some of your friends going to go up next?"
Midoriya did a mental recount.
"Oh, right!"
There was Iida against Kendo and Tennyson against Bakugo! He definitely wanted to cheer them on… especially after all they did for him.
"You're right. Thank you both very much!" He opened the door and ran back to his classmates.
"You're welcome!" Recovery Girl yelled behind her, but a response didn't come. Midoriya was out of range.
"So…" she spoke again. "He saw one that looks like you too."
"That's good." All Might lowered his head.
"Yes, it is… but what do you think is up with the thrones?"
All Might side-eyed the nurse of the school. "For the sake of Young Midoriya, I hope we can find out soon."
In probably less than five minutes, Midoriya managed to arrive at the stances. The battle between Kendo and Iida was just getting underway.
"It is time for the fight of class presidents, dear viewers! Here's Class 1-A vs 1-B! Iida Tenya versus Kendo Itsuka! BEGIN!"
A glimmer from his glasses covered Iida's expression.
"I can't engage her in hand-to-hand combat like Yaoyorozu did, no matter what." He searched for any medium, for which he held the advantage.
And in that, the answer was obvious.
As proficient as she is, she shouldn't be able to counter recipro, and maybe even my fourth or fifth gear…"
Kendo ran up to him.
"If you won't engage me, I will, Iida!"
With a swing, she missed! Iida's engines were roaring loudly, as he had sprung into action.
"Of course! I shall have expected nothing less from you, Kendo!" he said.
Iida retreated his way around the arena.
Kendo of course continued to give chase but kept her movements fairly and deliberately limited.
Midoriya put a hand around his chin. Kendo wasn't being nearly as playful as she was while fighting against Yaoyorozu–
"Hey, Earth to Midoriya." Tennyson tapped him on his shoulder, as he held a bag of Gold'n Crispz in his other hand. "Nice job with your match by the way."
"Thanks. Y-You too… in your first match." Midoriya blurted it out, but Ben wasn't bothered. They both then turned their attention back to the fight.
Always keeping a firm stance, Kendo had turtled back to a more stationary style. She waited and listened for attacks, before going for the counter!
"Ha!"
She slammed her open palm down. Iida changed direction.
"Close one!" He leaped, and attacked from her side! Kendo blocked it with the back of her palm, and then went for a counter.
And Iida didn't cease this.
"My engines are still in fourth gear. And I refueled just before the match." He thought. "I'm sure to catch her!"
He riddled her defenses with a series of continuous kicks, very much akin to a gatling gun! However, Kendo's response remained static.
Blocking, and a downward counter hit which always missed Iida, instead connecting with the ground.
"What's she attacking low for?!" Tetsutetsu shouted from the stances. "Kendo, your target ain't the bugs on the ground! Hit the speedster!"
"Be quiet and watch, Tetsutetsu." Monoma spoke with the slyest of tones. "Kendo is one of the cream of the crop from Class 1-B! She definitely has a plan!"
Iida's eyes were soon interested in Kendo's style of attacks.
"Indeed she has a plan." He thought. "She's trying to obstruct the path I run on."
He noticed the cement cracking and crumbling under those hits, creating many different spots where one wrong move could cause him to slip!
"She's trying to slow me down, make me careful… but it's futile!"
He lowered his speed down to first gear to let his feet slide on the ground, making a narrow turn.
"Second."
He ran as he widened his form.
"Third."
Kendo took a stance to guard from the front, but Iida had other plans.
"And now, FOURTH!" He disappeared, reappearing with a kick winded back to her side–!
Kendo stepped back and slammed the ground once again. But this time, a boulder immediately popped out!.
"What the–?!"
"Rock-like!" She hit it with her palm, hauling it towards Iida.
With a sudden click into fifth gear, the class prez of 1-A barely managed to avoid it!
"What was that?" He thought. "How did that rock.."
"You assumed I had no ranged attacks, didn't you?!" Kendo slammed the ground and another rock popped right out! "Well Iida… You were wrong!"
She slammed it ahead, whining so close to Iida's ear.
"She hasn't been aiming for my engines at all!" Iida thought as he was forced in the backfoot. "She's been making ammunition!"
*BAM!*
Iida dodged.
*BAM!*
Iida dodged again. His eyes traveled across the cracks. Coupled with her retreats, she had managed to carve up the entire arena almost!
"How ingenious!" He could think. "However!"
Twisting and turning, even incorporating some drifting, Iida thought to himself.
"If this was her plan, that means most of her focus was on compensating for her weakness in range. She hasn't been thinking about the close-quarters aspect nearly as much." He thought. "Now if I pushed my rpm to fifth gear…"
Avoiding another rock, he got into runner position.
"Such a significant increase in speed might just do the trick!
Warm colored fire came out from his mufflers– only to be stopped by not one rock, but a whole shower of them!
"Now you assume I can only throw the big boulders, Iida!" Kendo punched the rock in front of her, breaking it apart, and grabbing whatever small pieces were left over from it.
Iida's strategy was once again foiled.
"Honestly, I agree it *is* a little too street brawl for my tastes." Kendo tossed the rocks up and down in her giant hand. "But I have to admit, Uraraka definitely had the right idea!"
She closed her fist.
"Batter up, 1-A!" Monoma shouted in her place. Kendo riled her hand back and pitched the rocks forth like a shotgun!
"Recipro!" Iida narrowly avoided it. "No choice now. I only got 10 more seconds!"
Kendo continued to toss more and more rocks she unearthed, but Iida dodged.
Zigzagging around, he then came back around with a high knee!
Kendo couldn't even bring up her arms to block it. It landed, and Kendo was thrown sliding across the arena.
"This is it–!"
Iida grabbed her arm from the ground. However, Kendo's teal eyes still had some fight in them.
"Not yet, Iida!" Growing her hands, she managed to slow him down only for a second.
In that second, she got to her feet, and hugged Iida from behind!
"Sorry for this one!"
"And Kendo's got 1-A's class president from behind!" Present Mic shouted.
"Yes, that's it, Kendo!" Monoma shouted, grinning from ear to ear. "Do not let go of him! No matter what! Told you, you arrogant 1-A members are not better than us!"
The entire 1-A class rolled their eyes, even the more prideful students like Uraraka, and Bakugo.
Kendo rolled her eyes, the entire pride of pulling this move over the class president of 1-A leaving her body.
"You know Iida, I'm down to letting you go right now, if you want."
"I… appreciate… the offer." Iida replied as he struggled to breathe. "But, no thanks."
Tetsutetsu then landed a chop behind Monoma's neck–
"Still though." Kirishima spoke up, and turned to 1-B. "You guys got quite the class prez."
As he had Monoma by the collar, Tetsutetsu felt his eyes widen.
"Thanks man, you guys too." He said. "Both a class prez and a vice prez."
Iida gritted his teeth. It was a chore of the highest order to inhale right now.
"She's trying to knock me unconscious through hypoxia!"
Kendo, very faintly, increased the force she was putting on him.
"You best give up, Iida." She said. "Trust me I'm being careful so you can't get hurt too bad, but falling unconscious like this isn't as heroic as you think."
"I… know." he responded. "And I… don't intend to."
"It looks like Iida has nowhere to go!" Present Mic called out. "Did Kendo really catch this bull by the horns, and still stopped it?! What upper body strength!"
Aizawa settled for rolling his eyes.
"I shall give it a 10 count." Midnight said.
"Oh, or that too." Kendo thought. Honestly, she forgot there even was a countdown if you happened to get pinned like this…
Iida's engines started hastening even louder. The fire and smoke erupting from them was unlike anything before!
"Rev it! Over the limit!" Iida tensed his legs. He could feel the heat, it was agonizing… but necessary!
"Owww!"
The blue fire outright erupted, faintly burning Kendo's leg! Her grip loosened.
"I apologize!" Iida declared, finally getting to take that deep breath he was oh so looking for. "However! I also aspire to win it all!"
He grabbed her by the arm again.
"There is no time to take her to the edge of the arena." He remorsefully closed his eyes. "Please forgive me for this as well, Kendo!"
With his engines still on, he started to spin her around!
"It ends here!" Iida opened his hand, and as his engines stalled out… Kendo got launched beyond the line.
"Kendo is out of bounds!" Midnight raised her hand. "Iida wins!"
Smoke was rising from his mufflers.
"Ugh." Grimacing, Iida fell to his knees. Midnight got off from her podium.
"Hey, are you okay dear?"
Iida looked down at his legs, sweating. "I think I require Recovery Girl's services." His legs were scorching hot, unnaturally so.
Midnight nodded and called the robots over. "You sure you didn't injure yourself too hard?"
Iida shook his head. "No, I should be alright. Thank you."
As the robots came and helped him onto the stretcher, she went to check on Kendo. It was apparent that she had a rough landing, but thankfully with a split second decision, she had grown her hands again, cushioning the fall at least a little.
"I'm… fine." she said.
Midnight smiled and gave a thumbs up for Present Mic to see. The blonde pro-hero nodded.
"What a fierce third quarter-final!" He extended one arm. "Thank these students for their hard work! Not only are they excellent themselves, but they are also leading their classmates to that greatness!"
Aizawa looked over to him. "That was a bit verbose."
Present Mic turned off his microphone. "Hey, I've been thinking on my feet for almost two hours now. Not all of them are gonna be a hit."
He cleared his throat. "Running out of water too…"
Aizawa shrugged, and Present Mic couldn't help but take that as a challenge.
"However! Their time in the spotlight is over! TIME FOR THE LAST ONE!"
Present Mic closed his microphone again. "Man, now that I think about it, these really just blew by. When compared to the first ones that is."
Aizawa nodded. "There were eight matches between students in the first rounds… not to mention the four preliminaries."
"MAN, WE DID SO MANY BATTLES!"
He turned his mic back on. "NOW! Final competitors! Get up here to the stage!"
"It's time." Ben cracked his fingers, getting up from his seat. From the corner of his eye, he caught Bakugo already getting a move on, and… maybe even in an excited way?
"Good luck." Midoriya said. Kirishima hardened his arms.
"Give us a manly brawl!"
"That's the plan." Ben said. "But… you got any pro-tips?"
"Hey Iida!"
As Iida laid on the stretcher, helped out of the arena through the gate by the robots, he crossed paths with Kendo.
"Nice moves out there."
"The same goes for you. Witnessing your skills first hand was very different, as opposed to just watching your match with Yaoyorozu." Iida replied.
"Thanks, she was something else too, I'll admit. And brave." Kendo crossed her arms behind her head. "You were as well, real quick on your feet, not to mention with that engine stunt…"
She gestured to his smoking legs. Iida faintly laughed.
"It's what the Iida family excels at. I just hope I can fulfill my part one day… stand next to my brother at work."
Kendo nodded, before her eyebrows went up.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me. I couldn't tell it to Yaoyorozu, but I can't wait to work together with you guys on our joint training classes, and… I don't know if I want to wait for it."
She tapped the stretcher.
"What do you say? Me and some of the class train in the gym from time to time, wanna join us for a session or two?"
"Yes!" Iida responded. "It would do wonders for our class' unity and the hero class spirit!"
Kendo nodded. That was one advantage to the whole thing.
"Alright. Make sure to bring it up to Yaoyorozu too, tomorrow."
"Yes, of course, I…" Iida raised an eyebrow. "Why tomorrow?"
He gestured to his legs. "As soon as I'm tended to, I will go notify her right away on the stances."
It was Kendo's turn to be surprised. "Really?"
"Yes, why?"
Kendo raised her hand. "Because I didn't see her in the stands, at all… for like four matches."
Iida tilted his head. "Really? Why–?"
The robots came to a stop, and so did Kendo.
There was a man standing right in front of them. Tall, well-built, having black hair with the faintest shade of blue. He huffed and puffed in front of them with two security guards by his side.
"Father?" Iida got up on his stretcher. "What are you doing here…"
"We're leaving." He curtly stated. "Get your legs treated by Recovery Girl and… we need to go after that."
Iida very much felt on edge. Whatever reasons his father harbored; they couldn't be good.
"Father, what–"
"I will tell you in a minute, but…" He sniffed.
Iida noticed the tears around his eyes!
"Promise me…. you're going to listen calmly."
In the waiting room, Ben got up from his seat.
"Okay. It should be about time." He stretched his limbs, and then checked the Omnitrix out of habit.
All alien holograms were here, and considering he hadn't used it in a while, it was safe to say he had his full two hours to mess around with.
"Well, it depends on how fast Bakugo decides to poop that party." He shrugged–
"You think it's his time of the month?"
Startled, Ben turned around and found Midnight, leaning to the doorway. The joke only clicked for him just then.
"I get it."
Midnight smirked with her arms crossed. "Of course you do. You're at that age…"
Ben didn't hear that last part.
"But… *should* we really be talking about our classmates that way, sensei?" He asked knowingly.
"As long as it's on the harmless fun side." Midnight said, walking up next to him. "Besides, I believe he says worse stuff to you guys on a daily basis."
Ben tilted his head. "Yeah, but everyone just kind of came up with a mental filter for it at this point. Even Iida."
Midnight nodded.
"In either case, I am here to call you over."
"Yeah." Ben cracked his knuckles again. "It's showtime… or maybe hero time?" He put a hand on his chin. "Huh…"
"I think it would be both for you." Midnight responded, and Ben held the laughter. She was right, wasn't she…
As she left, Ben opened the door and went to the gate on his own.
"Here's everything you've been waiting for, everyone!" Present Mic's call outs fell right next to his ear! "The next match! THE last fight of the quarter-finals!"
Present Mic nudged Aizawa, and groaning, he held a piece of paper in front of him.
"We've seen lots of heart and valor presented on this stage. However, only four of them will go home, rewarded by a medal. Let's see who that fourth member is." He spoke with the most monotonous tone anyone had ever heard.
Present Mic took over, as both fighters got onto the stage.
"To end it off, we had a grudge match long well in the making! On the left side, we have a student we're all too familiar with! However, who knows just what kind of surprises he still hides?! It's Tennyson Ben of the hero course!"
With both of his feet planted to the arena, Ben let his gaze wander off. The crowd had cheered loudly as he had shown his face, just like how they did when they saw the other competitors.
As he then turned back, Ben only found a more disgruntled opponent.
"Hey. Eyes over here." Bakugo spat out under his breath.
"Versus! Not certainly the crowd's favorite, but certainly one of the most proficient faces we've got to see today! A student well beyond just an explosive temper, Bakugo Katsuki of the hero course!"
The eyebrows of the ash-blonde in question crossed at his opponent.
"What's with that attitude?" Bakugo put his hands to his sides, ready to send a blast on a whim. "You're so confident you don't even need to look at me?"
Ben shrugged, playing it cool.
"A little." he replied humorously, before looking away again.
That little tease made Bakugo lean forward with murderous intent–
"But, that's not really what I had in mind."
Bakugo stopped. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Look at the people, matchstick." Ben gestured with his thumb. "Look at them, and then the cameras."
Bakugo did as he was told, however he didn't see the point in it. They didn't change his mood, he didn't think anything extra. The freak show in question however… thought the world of it.
"Do you know how many people are about to watch this fight?" He asked, looking away again. "Like, Mr. Aizawa said, this was one of the biggest watched events in Japan, right? The pro-hero hub of the world?"
"Yeah." Japan's population was around 120 million, Bakugo knew this. "Your point?"
"As in, what we do here is important." Ben took his stance, with one hand next to his Omnitrix. "We inspire people. They take heart in what we do, cheer for it, and wish to repeat it one day on this stage..."
Unlike how the audience tended to excite most of the competitors, Ben couldn't help but find himself feeling the complete opposite. He might have not had the chance to go outside and fight today against…whatever Kevin was fighting against today, but behind all those screens, behind all those eyes and cameras, were at least thousands of people watching these fights.
The fact that these eyes were on what he was about to do… felt like a real source of serenity.
"That's why I let my opponents fight a decent amount of time. I want them to put what they got to the test as well, to inspire others and… maybe even inspire themselves."
The thought evolved unpromptly. "It's even what Midoriya did with Shinso, don't you think?"
Bakugo's eyebrows went up, twitching.
Present Mic called out to them, giving the countdown, however both were only listening by the faintest of margins.
A teasing smile appeared on Ben's face "Say, since you were… 'friends'. Was it always in his nature to help people like this?"
Bakugo's fist shook. The aggression that he was holding at bay snapped out of its restraints.
"What does that nerd have to do with any of this?... Focus on the match., and fight me with all you got!
Threatening explosions finally sparked in his palm! Ben nodded. "Any requests?"
That comment marked the end of Bakugo's patience.
"Guess not!" Ben slammed the dial–!
With a signature right hook, Bakugo carried out his first fierce detonation. However, from the flash of light, and veil of soot, Chromastone emerged.
"You know, for the record, that was probably the longest conversation we had without a death threat."
Bakugo took flight instantly. Sending himself way up, and then coming down like a missile!
"DIE!"
"There it is!" Chromastone raised his fists. "Lights on!"
Concussive rainbow lasers flew towards Bakugo one after the other!
However, Bakugo was nimble. Tennyson's shots couldn't even get close as Bakugo was the master of the 3-D space!
Weaving to the left, spinning to the right, perfectly slowing down or speeding up, he was maneuvering in the air without fear!
Putting his hands behind him, he catapulted himself ahead. Chromastone fired a blast with both hands, but Bakugo sent an explosion to his right, managing to land on Tennyson's left!
He flipped around and landed an explosion right on Tennyson's back.
"I've seen these moves before!"
From the spikes behind him, Chromastone tried to fire without having to turn around. But Bakugo took it to the air again and landed an explosion next to his head!
Tennyson tried to readjust and fire. Bakugo immediately retorted, sending himself down with an explosion to the sky, and detonating the ground Tennyson stood on!
Kaminari marveled from the stances.
"Wow, have you guys ever seen Bakugo so…"
"... into fighting?!" Kirishima watched on the edge of his seat. "No sir! He doesn't give anyone this light of day!"
"Notably, not since his fight with Midoriya." Shoji said, making the greenette flinch. "His moves are quite impressive."
Koda refrained from watching it.
"Bakugo knows very well that his explosions are at a disadvantage against Tennyson's diamond-hard skin." Tokoyami said, arms crossed and eyes closed. "Contrary to his usual method of battle, he's forced to avoid a direct confrontation of power."
As Tennyson lost his footing, Bakugo propelled himself forth, and grabbed his face, slamming and pinning it to the ground!
"You still feel like you don't need to look at me?!"
Dark Shadow emerged from Tokoyami's body. "You were saying?"
The raven hero grunted. Despite everything, he didn't back down from what he said.
Covering his entire body in a rainbow glow, Chromastone decided to retort.
"Here we go… PRISMATIC EXPLOSION!"
And it worked. Bakugo was knocked away with the shockwave. However, mid-air he managed to stabilize and land back on the ground.
Chromastone got to his feet. And… he made no gestures indicating he was annoyed.
He just waved his finger from side to side.
Bakugo gritted his teeth, however, didn't rush ahead. Chromastone smirked.
"I knew it. This isn't like before."
Before the two had even come to blows, Ben had noticed him stepping onto the ring with his hands out of his pockets, very much unlike how he presented himself against Uraraka.
"He's being more wary of me."
Chromastone then let his body embellish in the rainbow glow again but he directed them down to his fists. "Let's see if I can bait him out."
He rushed ahead, and Bakugo didn't back away! Chromastone punched with his left, Bakugo ducked and landed an explosion with his right!
With a quick turnaround, Ben tried to hit him from the other side, but Bakugo then kicked that hand away!
"How does it feel?!" Bakugo landed another explosion, covering the area in smoke. However, from within it, he could see Chromastone charging for another attack.
The bastard was raising his hand to fire, and Bakugo felt ready for it. As soon as the attempt was made, he would dodge and counter.
"Heh–!"
Just before he fired though, Bakugo noticed the positioning of Tennyson's other hand, next to his chest. Instead of a rainbow, the light that came was colored green!
"Bath time!" Water Hazard's portholes emerged.
Bakugo quickly directed his hand toward the ground, using a full powered blast with his left, making a hole to barely avoid it.
"If that lands, I'm dead." He remarked under his breath. There were some droplets splashed onto his arms, washing away his sweat, but not much.
"Remember me from the obstacle course?" Water Hazard remarked. Bakugo got on the move. He erupted forth from the hole!
"You got some powerful forms..!"
Water Hazard was taking aim again, just like Chromastone–!
"But they all have a weakness!"
Reaching into his pockets, he took out some small rubble and launched them all with an explosion just like Kendo.
One of them got into Water Hazard's porthole!
"Huh?!" The red armored form reacted.
Dropping down, he then readied a divekick with both feet, RIGHT TO HIS–!
"Got you."
Water Hazard slammed his fist on the dial, and now that he was fast approaching into his close range, an animalistic roar emerged!
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHIN, STUDENT NUMBER 17 OF HERO CLASS 1-A, BAKUGO KATSUKI!"
Before he could reposition, Rath grabbed Bakugo with both arms, and then strengthened his hold over his waist.
Bakugo tried to blast the arms but Rath didn't flinch!
"SUALOCIN SUPLEX!"
Arching his back without mercy, Rath slammed Bakugo on the ground! Getting back to his feet, he tossed him up.
"ALTAIR DROP!"
Rath jumped, spiked and then butt slammed right on top of him!
"AND NOW, HAEDUS HAMMERLOCK!"
He bent Bakugo's left arm behind his back and pinned him to the ground!
"SO… ARE YOU SCARED YET?!"
Bakugo, after that concussion, still managed to open his eyes. "I… won't give… NOT YET!"
From the right pinned hand, Bakugo unleashed a full powered blast, but the cat didn't flinch enough!
"WAS THAT IT, HUH?!" Rath spoke with some of his fur on fire. "THAT WAS WEAK–!"
Bakugo then rolled the dice again. Barely managing to lift his left hand, he sent another full-power blast, right to Rath's face, loosening his grip just enough!
With another explosion, he managed to free himself, and get some distance. Rath rubbed his eyes.
"AHH…" His veins became more prominent, as the instincts of the form started blaring loudly in his head. "Let me tell you some–"
"STOP WITH THE GAMES!" Bakugo shouted.
Rath… felt perplexed.
"Aren't you still done with your warm-ups?…" He panted. "Bring it all you got already!"
"ALL I GOT?" Rath asked, shrugging with a coy attitude. "RATH ISN'T SURE WHAT YOU MEANS–!"
"Yeah, keep up with that damn f**king grin on your face. See what happens." Bakugo clapped back.
Rath's green eyes narrowed. "*RATH* ISN'T SURE IF HE APPROVES OF YOUR LANGUAGE–"
"Good!" Bakugo was fuming. There was no answer from the bastard. "Don't you think I see what you're doing?!" He pointed. "You think I'm that stupid?!-"
"Rath thinks you *look* that stupid."
Bakugo gritted his teeth, as not only Tennyson's snickering at his own joke came to his ear… but the chuckles of others on the stands.
"Fine." Bakugo thought, before calming his tone as the laughter died down.
"I've seen that smile of yours in 11 different forms, all playing around, either today or sometime else. You do that because you enjoy it…"
Rath shrugged–
"But there is a form you have to force that smile."
Rath paused.
"Your 'most dangerous' form, right?! That's what you called him back on the bus?! You don't play around with him?"
In a moment of clarity, almost like Ben's instincts took over, he hit the dial and transformed back. "Bakugo, don't–"
"Back at the USJ, I heard you even beat that villain all on your own with it!" The ash-blonde didn't give a second to him. "There is no way the other 9 could do that!"
"Yeah…" Ben agreed. "The villains had you in a bind. If I was gonna save you there, I didn't really have another choice but to resort to him."
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHY YOU USED IT THERE! It's about what you're doing now!"
It… was very well Ben's turn to shut up and listen.
"Today you only, repeatedly, used those other damn nine forms. You even made a new one with Ears' quirk or whatever… all the while holding out on me."
Bakugo seethed. He remembered Tennyson's words from earlier, about holding out on them, to give them time to show what they got–
Grumbling rose from his class' stances.
"Pipe down, peanut gallery!" he said. "I won't let you treat me like a joke… not like all those other damn extras."
Tennyson shook his head. "Bakugo, you do not want this fight."
"I WANT my indisputable first place!" He spoke with his teeth together. "And that's not possible, if I beat scum that underestimate me!"
"I can't." Ben said. "After the USJ, All Might pulled me aside. Apparently some of the rubble around the compound… it's still irradiated from my blasts, and so I–"
"If you're scared for me, be scared about yourself!"
Ben shook his head. "It's not that I'm scared. It's that I'm not allowed t–"
"SINCE WHEN DO YOU LISTEN TO OTHERS, HUH?!" Bakugo let explosions roar in his hands. "You didn't listen to jack when we were fighting in the USJ, did you?! Or when that purple haired bastard did his declaration?!"
Todoroki's words came to his mind now.
"Looking at things objectively, you three feel like the most trouble."
The damn icy-hot didn't consider him as a threat.
And the nerd… At the stairs, after his match with pink cheeks, he had stood defiantly again!
"No." Deku had said. "Uraraka came up with that plan, and all those moves. If that battle was really that annoying, then it was because of her, and her alone!"
He had been tossed to the side, pitied and not respected, ever since he came here.
"My 'Deku' means 'You can do it!'"
"WELL, NO MORE! You said that today was the day to show the villains what kind of heroes they'd face in the future?! Is this it, huh?! AN EXTRA WITH NO INTENTION OF WINNING?!"
Sero leaned to Kirishima next to him. "Is Bakugo really encouraging Tennyson right now?"
"He's trying to goad him." Midoriya stated as he and Uraraka were sitting together. "All to get whatever he wants."
Ben raised his arm… and scrolled through his aliens, stopping right as he landed on the armored furnace.
"I know you're playing me, Bakugo." He took a deep breath. "And… I hope you don't regret what comes next."
With a flash of light, Ben felt himself change form. All in an instant, his body became a being of pure energy, imprisoned by a heavy, dark green-teal containment suit, with three slits to see.
"NRG!"
All the teachers who'd seen him appear were suddenly unnerved… as was All Might. "You better know what you're doing, Young Tennyson."
"Finally." Bakugo outright growled from under his smile. This… THIS RIGHT HERE WAS EVERYTHING HE WAS LOOKING FOR!
He leaped through the air with an explosion. Crossing his arms, he made two explosions both in the left direction.
"IF YOU'RE GONNA STAND IN FRONT OF ME, YOU BETTER CONCENTRATE ON WINNING!"
Spinning his body, and being straight as an arrow, Bakugo was coming right at NRG as if he was a tornado of ash!
"What's Bakugo doing?!" Mineta yelled from the stances.
"A prolonged fight would do no good in this scenario." Ojiro answered. "It's smart. The best chance he's got is to put it all on the line with one massive attack, and hopefully push him out."
Ashido pouted in agreement. "That armor's heavy for sure, but I guess if you were to hit him hard enough–"
"TENNYSON!" Bakugo shouted! "You claim I didn't want this fight! I assume that means you won't be a coward, and try to dodge this hit, right?!"
NRG just turned around, almost as if he was presenting his back as a target for him to hit.
As steam rose starting from his feet, and the three facial slits glowed, he remarked.
"Bring it."
Bakugo's grin extended from ear-to-ear. He was going to pound him with everything he had!
"HOWITZER… IMPACT!"
The tornado abruptly stopped, as he fired such a blast that it brought him to a stand still mid-air!
"Wow wow wow! A DIRECT HIT! Bakugo combined speed and rotation with that huge blast he used against Uraraka! What technique!" Present Mic yelled.
However as the dust settled, the once cheering crowds had fallen silent. The potent question in everyone's mind were: "Under all those cinders, what became of the competitors?"
Bakugo was revealed first. As his muscles were strained to the limit, he had fallen onto his belly, maneuvering just enough to raise his torso and look ahead.
"Take that…" He put himself through the ringer again, getting back onto his feet. "That's what you get… for doubting the greatest herooo–"
His dark red pupils contracted. Tennyson came into his field of view, not outside the ring!
The mobile suit of armor was lying face first in one half of the arena… which had its whole surface transformed into lava.
"The force of that wasn't half bad."
It was NRG's turn to put his hands on the ground, and lift himself up. "Good thing that I decided to add a little insurance."
The lava around the ground quickly cooled down to volcanic rock.
It was Aizawa's turn to lean forward. "I see…"
"That's why steam was coming out of his body already." Midoriya also remarked from the stances of Class 1-A. "As he warmed up, the air around him–" The light bulb lit over his head. "That's why Tennyson turned around!"
Uraraka echoed. "So, ever since he turned around, he melted the ground behind him?"
Ojiro stood up and pointed to his face. "Using the energy beam from the slits on his face..."
"Y-Yeah, but isn't lava kind of dangerous to do it with? A-And how come lava worked?!" Mineta panickedly asked as the same question was sparked by Present Mic in the booth.
And Eraser Head had his answer.
"Of course it is. That's why he rapidly warmed up the ground, before lowering its temperature just barely to the point of hardening, to protect Bakugo and everyone else." Eraser's eyes narrowed. "It worked out for him too. As physics goes, the cooler lava is, the thicker it is. It allowed him to get a better grip on the floor while not putting anyone at too much risk."
"Y-YEAH BUT HOW DID TENNYSON KNOW THAT?"
Aizawa looked back down. "I have noticed him paying attention to class, even though he tries to pass it off as if he's not. However… this IS something peculiar for him to know."
Could it be similar to Brainstorm and Rath? Did the form allow him to have that knowledge?
"H-Huh?" Bakugo, who was still in the arena, was shaken at the sight in front of him. Other than the armor having tints of red due to the heat, there was seemingly no damage received.
NRG walked towards him.
"RAHHHH! RARARARAARRAAR!"
Bakugo started sending explosion after explosion at the armor.
"WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!"
"Bakugo, has this *ever* worked?" NRG, cooling his fist down as much as possible, punched him in the face!
The student was blown back, skidding across the ground. NRG, even if he moved slow, managed to grab his ankle.
"L-LET GO!" Panickedly, the ash-blond tried to blind him, but behind the veil of his armor, NRG's eyes were perfectly safe.
"At the very least, I do see your pride." NRG dragged him to the safer section of the arena, which was the part he hadn't melted down into lava just seconds earlier.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!" Bakugo tried to do more explosions but the grip wasn't loosening! They were right on the edge of the arena!
NRG lifted Bakugo to eye-level.
"But next time… check it at the door."
He pressed Bakugo outside of the ring, and the ash-blonde couldn't do anything about it.
Midnight declared him as the winner, and Tennyson, with a green flash, appeared again in his regular form, eyes closed.
As he opened them, and those green eyes looked down on him, Bakugo shook Tennyson's grip off from himself.
"Get away… freak show."
Midnight approached to ask if he needed medical attention, but Bakugo walked away, grunting, not saying another word.
He knew where that old hag's office was. And… it wasn't like Ben expected him to say anything.
"I'm sorry." he said, and it only made Bakugo walk faster.
That word, that apology… only frustrated and angered him more.
Making his way back to the stances, Ben found himself swarmed by his classmates.
"Wow Tennyson." Sero remarked. "You were so intense out there."
"Are you feeling okay?" Ojiro asked, as other comments followed.
"Yeah yeah." Ben raised his hands, backing away from the group. "Sorry… you had to see me like that."
"What are you talking about, dude?" Sero asked.
"We knew you were under the effects of your quirk." Shoji stepped forward, raising one of his many hands. "It's water under the bridge."
Ben's eyebrows raised.
"Yeah man, and that fight was awesome!" Kirishima joined the emotional support train.
"Oui!" Aoyama nodded his head.
Asui agreed with them as well. "Still, it must have been hard to be forced to use him without necessarily needing to, ribbit."
"It was, a little." Ben stated. "But I didn't do it just for him."
From the wave of classmates with all shapes and sizes, he managed to find Todoroki in the corner… and made sure he saw him as well.
"I guess I wanted to prove to myself too…" He said, changing the way of his glance. "...That even if NRG is a cursed power of mine, I can still try my best and make sure he isn't avoided… but rather used properly, to improve the hero I am."
Ben glanced in the class' number 2's direction again. Across his usual dismissal and the recent persistent irritation, there seemed to be a mild surprise.
And after noticing it, Ben wanted to double down.
"That's the Ben move."
Just like Midoriya's match, he wanted something good to come out of this–
"Yeah, that's right! Glass half full!" Ashido cheered. "What do you think, Yaomomo?"
Like a gun was fired into the air, the atmosphere changed.
Ben lifted his eyes off Todoroki, as both dread and relief rushed into his mind at the same time.
The following reassurance which came upon finding her onyx eyes, polite smile with her hands held together over her chest, not to mention uninjured stature… dashed any other thought Ben had at the time.
"I also agree." She said. "It was an exciting match, however…"
She turned to her side, and Ben felt her turning a little serious.
"I… did have some notes about it."
He got the message. There was no need to also force her to gesture towards the door.
"Oh really?" Ben put on a more spirited fake grin. "Could I get a look at them?"
The two, without listening to anyone else, exited the stands.
And… as they walked further and further away with Yaoyorozu in front, they both got to hear Present Mic announce a small break before the semi-finals.
"Good, so we have time." Ben thought.
"So." He held his head up high, wanting to start by lightening the mood, even though he was still wary. "How… was it?"
Yaoyorozu, as she first eyed up the sides for any onlookers, turned back to her friend.
"It was terrifying." She said straightforwardly. Ben felt like if words could be conjured into words, even NRG's armor wouldn't stand a chance–
"... but also, exhilarating."
Ben's eyebrows went up. "Exhilarating?"
Yaoyorozu nodded, and Ben noticed her smile growing to be appreciative as well as reminiscing.
"The experience was very informative, and… I-I believe I've even managed to make a significant difference in the outcome."
Ben felt genuine joy flowing back into him as a result.
"I'm glad. Congrats." He breathed a sigh of relief, however Yaoyorozu then suddenly turned tense.
"However, I'm sorry… I truly am, Tennyson…"
Initially averting her eyes, she stumbled on her words. But once she saw Ben's ever growing concern, she–
"Yaoyorozu…" Ben interrupted her instinctively. "Did something happen?"
She couldn't help but wince, and that was all the proof Ben needed.
"What did? Momo, tell me. What happened?"
And maybe if only he had waited for it… he would have heard the announcement that his next opponent, Iida Tenya, the class president of his class 1-A had withdrawn from the competition.
Midoriya and Kirishima caught up to them as well, noticing that Gwen hadn't arrived. And seeing everyone together, Yaoyorozu grew increasingly melancholic.
Midoriya could still notice that there didn't wasn't any of the fear coupled with her sorrow this time… but rather outright compassion.
"What went wrong?" Ben asked.
Momo bowed her head.
"It had started off so well…"
And with bated breaths, they listened.