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[Reader's POV]
After Todoroki Shoto left, Konata Izumi originally wanted to go to the field to participate in the entertainment activities organized by the school. However, after hesitating for a moment, she turned around and went back into the changing room.
Although she had boasted to Todoroki earlier, saying things like how her spot in the semifinals was already reserved, she knew her own limits well, she had no real confidence that she could make it to the top four.
"Hatsune Miku's unlock mission still isn't completed, so I can't use that transformation yet. Shana's transformation is already on cooldown… so right now, the only one I can use is Railgun. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have used Shana's transformation in the first match."
Lying on the desk, Konata reached her hand out into the sunlight, watching the light dance on her fingertips, a troubled expression on her face.
For her, the first battle against Tokoyami Fumikage was already a tough fight. His Dark Shadow was both offense and defense in one, and she had no effective way to defeat him. While Railgun could probably take the win easily in the first match, the five-minute limit and the fact that the tournament had multiple matches meant she couldn't rely on that alone.
The more time passed, the more Konata realized the limitations of her cheat ability. While each transformation was undeniably a huge help, her base body was simply too weak.
And no matter how she looked at it, it seemed like the system was trying to develop her into some sort of muscle loli. Physical fitness was far too vague a term, and she couldn't think of a good solution at the moment.
"Hmm… starting tomorrow, I'll get up every morning to run and train. I'll also ask Midnight-sensei how to train efficiently. I definitely don't want to turn into a muscle-bound man."
Time ticked by. Even though Present Mic had told the students earlier to enjoy themselves to the fullest, for those advancing to the elimination matches, it was impossible to be that relaxed.
Some were desperately thinking up strategies to beat their opponents, like Midoriya Izuku.
Some were working hard to keep a calm mind, like Tokoyami Fumikage.
Some were making all sorts of preparations for battle, like Iida Tenya.
Some were adjusting their mindset and focusing their spirits, like Todoroki Shoto and Bakugo Katsuki.
Some were trying to ease their nervousness, like Yaoyorozu Momo and Uraraka Ochako.
And some were lying on a desk in the sunlight, sleeping soundly.
Everyone had their own thoughts, except for one certain person, and before long, it was time for the finals to begin.
"Hey guys, are you ready?!"
With Present Mic's voice, the stadium erupted into a wave of cheers from the audience.
"After so many events, the most exciting part is still the head-to-head matches! You can only rely on your own strength. Even if you're not a hero, in life you'll often encounter situations like this. I'm sure you all know the feeling, so bring out your will, your skills, your body, your wisdom, and your knowledge, and sprint to the top!"
It had to be said, Present Mic was truly the most suitable person for commentary, not just because his Quirk didn't use electricity, but also because of his natural talent for riling up the crowd with his words.
Under his infectious commentary, the spectators in the stands were fired up.
"The event you've all been waiting for, the final showdown, is about to begin!"
As the flames in the four torches on the corners of the arena lit up, Present Mic, as always, took on the full commentary duties. Aizawa Shōta, on the other hand, calmly sat to the side, content to just be the mascot.
"In the first match, we have, the king of shadows, hiding in darkness and waiting for the perfect moment to strike, from the Hero Course, Tokoyami Fumikage!
Versus, from the moment she enrolled, she has shown an unbelievably strong Quirk, turned the tide during the villain invasion, and took first place without dispute in both previous rounds, from the Hero Course, Konata Izumi!"
Tokoyami was already walking toward the stage, but Konata's entrance gate remained closed. By the time Present Mic was nearly done with his introduction, there was still no sign of her. His words faltered, and he shrugged helplessly.
"Alright, alright… looks like Konata Izumi is absent for some reason. According to the rules, if she doesn't arrive within five minutes, the victory will go to Tokoyami Fumikage."
"That girl…"
Frowning slightly, Bakugo turned and started running toward the girls' changing room.
At that moment, a certain someone was lying on a desk in the changing room, sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly, the door was kicked open. Bakugo Katsuki, face dark, strode up to the desk, and without thinking, slammed his palm down hard.
"E-Earthquake?!"
Konata shot up from her sleep, looking around in alarm. Her gaze was then drawn to the dark-faced Bakugo standing in front of her.
She glanced at the kicked-open door, then back at him, looking at him like he was some sort of pervert.
"You… you barged into the girls' changing room! You've been planning this for a long time, haven't you?"
Bakugo's expression darkened even further.
If it weren't for the time pressure, he really would have beaten her up right there.
Barely making it in the last minute, Konata finally arrived at the scene.
Although she was panting heavily and had to support herself on her knees, she had at least made it.
"Konata-san, you've wasted four minutes of everyone's time. Don't be late again, as a hero, having a proper sense of time is one of the most important things."
Standing on his chair, Present Mic looked down at her with some displeasure.
"Now then, let's begin the opening match!"
After giving her a light reminder, he quickly regained his energy.
"The rules are simple, make your opponent fall out of bounds, or make them say 'I give up,' and you win. Don't fear injury, because Recovery Girl is always on standby. But of course, any move that endangers your opponent's life will be judged as a serious foul, and you'll be disqualified immediately."
Beside him, Cementoss raised his hand.
"If someone commits a foul, I'll stop them."
Without waiting for Konata to recover from her fatigue, Present Mic announced the start of the match.
"Ready… start!"
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"Never thought the day would actually come."
Slowly straightening her back, Konata Izumi looked straight at Tokoyami Fumikage standing a short distance away.
Although Bakugo Katsuki had woken her up in time from her nap, and whatever drowsiness remained had been burned away during her frantic sprint here, the same run had also eaten up most of her already meager stamina. She'd recovered a little during Present Mic's explanation of the rules, but her current condition was still far from ideal.
Still, since her opponent was Tokoyami Fumikage, Konata felt they could at least share some common ground.
"Dark Shadow."
What puzzled Konata was that Tokoyami had no intention of exchanging lines with her. Instead, he immediately summoned Dark Shadow.
Alright, don't panic—acting still needs the full set.
Reaching her right hand into the empty air, Konata took a deep breath.
"So that's how it is? You already knew this battle between us would come. Then there's no need for me to be polite either."
Dark Shadow's attack came in an instant, automatically triggering the passive effect of her electromagnetic field, sending it flying back.
"So that's your answer? Then I won't bother being polite either."
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she decisively drew Shana's Nietono no Shana.
"Dark Shadow, return."
Seeing the burning blade in her hand, and remembering its destructive power from the tournament highlight reels, Tokoyami immediately chose to avoid the edge for now.
From the moment he learned his first opponent in the elimination round would be the strongest in the class, Tokoyami knew his chances of winning were slim. They'd been teammates in the second round, so she surely knew Dark Shadow's weaknesses. And even earlier than that, they'd fought before. He didn't even need to think about it—her transformed form from the first match, the flame-haired, blazing-eyed girl, could suppress Dark Shadow completely. So from the very start, Tokoyami's plan was to go all-out and put on a worthy fight, even if he lost.
But before the match even began, he felt her looking down on him.
First she'd been four minutes late for no reason, and when the match started, she still acted so leisurely. To treat him so lightly, to have such confidence in herself—
Even someone as mild-tempered as Tokoyami was starting to feel a spark of irritation. If she'd gone all-out from the start, he wouldn't be this annoyed. But this? What kind of attitude was this?
I am not someone you can casually look down on.
"Tch."
Fully serious now, Tokoyami's attacks became sharper and more aggressive. If not for the flames on Nietono no Shana making Dark Shadow hesitate, and the extra help from her skills, Konata might have already lost. As it was, she was looking more than a little flustered.
And to Tokoyami, her performance was blatant mockery. She could just transform into that form and beat him instantly, but instead she was toying with him like this—was that supposed to be fun?
"Feels like the more we fight, the more riled up Tokoyami's getting… This can't go on."
After barely blocking another strike from Dark Shadow, Konata found herself at the very edge of the ring. One more hit and she'd be out.
Biting her lip, she pressed her hand to the ground.
She could only swing Nietono no Shana three times total right now, making it unsuitable for the current situation—better to use it as a deterrent against Dark Shadow. If she wanted to break the stalemate—
"Iron Sand Storm."
A sudden whirlwind rose from the arena floor.
It formed behind Tokoyami.
Black grains of iron emerged from below the stage, drawn into the whirlwind. More and more gathered until the entire vortex turned pitch black.
Curiously, even though the storm's power should have been enough to drag the entire ring into it, its force seemed confined entirely within its own range. Standing less than a meter away, one could feel no pull at all—though speed and agility seemed slightly reduced.
"A new technique?"
Tokoyami frowned slightly, glancing behind him. Without hesitation, he commanded Dark Shadow to attack Konata, who was still standing at the edge of the ring.
The opportunity would be gone in a second—he wasn't going to miss his chance. Since she had looked down on him from the start, surely she was ready to be taken down.
But what he didn't expect was that just as Dark Shadow was about to knock her out of bounds, Konata's figure suddenly vanished, as if she had never been there at all.
"Impossible—"
Tokoyami's pupils widened sharply. As if realizing something, his face changed. But before he could turn, a flaming blade was already resting on his shoulder.
"I forfeit."
Closing his eyes, Tokoyami spoke calmly.
"A shocking reversal—Konata Izumi instantly appeared behind Tokoyami Fumikage! Is this magic? Or is this the terrifying reality of such an imaginative Quirk? But seriously, Konata, if you had that move, you could've used it earlier!"
As the outcome was decided, Present Mic's voice rang out.
"Winner—Hero Course's Konata Izumi! And remember, don't be late next time. Alright, what an amazing opening match to start the finals—let's give both of them a round of applause!"
"So tired…"
Tuning out Present Mic's words, Konata let out a huge sigh. Nietono no Shana vanished back into the void, and she staggered back a few steps before collapsing to the floor.
Her stamina was so depleted she could barely stand. Who knew Tokoyami would fight this fiercely?
"Can you still walk?"
As she was silently grumbling in her head, Tokoyami approached and extended a hand toward the girl sitting on the ground.
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[POV: Konata Izumi]
"You were late earlier because you overslept?"
In Class 1-A's viewing area, after Yaoyorozu Momo curiously asked Konata Izumi why she was late, the rest of Class 1-A who were sitting there received an answer that left them utterly speechless.
"Yeah."
Speaking of it, Konata Izumi herself looked rather depressed.
"If it weren't for—"
Just as she was about to mention that Bakugo Katsuki had deliberately gone to the girls' changing room to call her, she suddenly felt an overwhelming murderous intent aimed at her. Lifting her head, she saw Bakugo Katsuki giving her a cold smirk and making a throat-slitting gesture at her.
Cough "Anyway, speaking of this, Tokoyami Fumikage is really strong. Where is he, by the way?"
Looking around and finding no trace of Tokoyami Fumikage, Konata Izumi looked puzzled.
"After sending you up here, he went back down," Asui Tsuyu explained, pointing at the nearby passage.
"Uh."
At U.A., efficiency was everything. Once the first match ended and Cementoss-sensei did a quick repair of the arena, the second match began without delay.
Hero Course Kirishima Eijiro vs. General Studies Shinso Hitoshi.
This could definitely be called a bizarre match, because it ended in less than ten seconds. Within those ten seconds after the match began, Kirishima Eijiro voluntarily jumped out of the ring.
Glancing toward where Konata Izumi was sitting, Shinso Hitoshi turned and left.
Konata Izumi still remembered this guy—he had once come to Class 1-A's door to provoke them.
"A mind-control type Quirk, huh… Being able to control others is definitely strong, but… looks like in the next match, I might win without doing anything."
Opening her system interface and looking at the permanent passive called Heart of the Diva provided by Hatsune Miku, Konata Izumi had a thoughtful look.
"Hmm… being controlled should count as an abnormal status, right?"
Third match—Bakugo Katsuki vs. Uraraka Ochako.
This fight could definitely be called impressive. From what Konata Izumi knew, Uraraka Ochako's Quirk was Zero Gravity—in some situations, it was very useful, but the requirement to touch her opponent in order to activate it made it quite limiting.
In battle, even a single second could decide victory or defeat. Konata Izumi originally thought this would be a one-sided crush, but Uraraka Ochako's display of strength was far from ordinary.
She used the rubble from Bakugo Katsuki's explosions, floating them in the air under the cover of dust clouds, and when enough had gathered, she dropped them all at once toward Bakugo Katsuki—all to create an opportunity to touch him.
If it were anyone else, Uraraka Ochako would have won. But against Bakugo Katsuki, it was all for nothing.
When Konata Izumi saw Bakugo Katsuki knock out Uraraka Ochako without the slightest mercy, she began to seriously consider something:
Maybe when it was her turn to face Bakugo Katsuki, she should just surrender. After all, she'd annoyed him so many times before—he'd probably take this chance to beat some sense to her.
Konata Izumi suddenly had a bad feeling.
Fourth match—Iida Tenya vs. Yaoyorozu Momo.
This match ended almost as quickly as the second one, even breaking the record for the fastest match so far—three seconds.
Yaoyorozu Momo's Quirk was Creation. As long as she knew the composition of an object, she could use her body fat to create it, though she couldn't create living things. In theory, if she were a genius in physics, she could even make uranium.
It was a terrifying Quirk with a high ceiling, but in this fight, she lost the fastest.
Before she could even create her first object, Iida Tenya had pushed her out of the ring in an instant.
It happened so fast that Present Mic and Midnight-sensei, who was acting as referee, were both stunned—they had just announced the start of the match, and in less than three seconds, it was over.
Iida Tenya's Quirk was Engine—speed-oriented, and he could temporarily boost his speed to extreme levels at the cost of stalling afterward. It was this burst that pushed Yaoyorozu Momo out.
Fifth match—Midoriya Izuku vs. Aoyama Yuuga.
A match with no suspense, and honestly, nothing worth watching.
To be frank, Konata Izumi really didn't understand how Aoyama Yuuga even made it into the top sixteen.
Sixth match—Ashido Mina vs. Sero Hanta.
Ashido Mina, also from Hero Course Class A, had light-purple-pink skin, a pair of horns on her head, and an Acid Quirk. Konata Izumi's impression of her was pretty good—she was like Hagakure Tooru, full of energy, though her way of speaking was sometimes childlike.
Sero Hanta's Quirk was Tape—he could shoot tape-like material from organs in his elbows. He was probably the only truly normal person in Class 1-A, though Bakugo's Katsuki often called him a "background extra face."
This fight was pure Quirk countering—Sero Hanta's tape was completely corroded by Ashido Mina's acid and had no effect at all. Combined with Ashido Mina's superior physical abilities, the outcome was never in doubt.
Seventh match—Todoroki Shoto vs. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu from Hero Course Class B.
Tetsutetsu's Quirk was Steel, which was nearly identical to Kirishima Eijiro's Hardening. But against Todoroki Shoto's ice, steel was useless.
Eighth match—the last of the top sixteen to top eight matches.
Shiozaki Ibara from Hero Course Class B vs. Monoma Neito from Hero Course Class B.
Shiozaki Ibara's Quirk was Vine, and Monoma Neito's Quirk was Copy.
The match never happened—Monoma Neito surrendered right away. His Quirk required touching the opponent to copy their Quirk. Even if he won this match, he'd have no way to approach Todoroki Shoto in the next round, so he decided to give the chance to his classmate Shiozaki Ibara instead.
After all, Monoma-senpai's true passion was in provoking and taunting others, not winning.
And so, the top eight were decided.
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Forgot to upload a chapter yesterday, teehee~ I'll make it up to you with an extra chapter later!
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