Bakugo charged first, palms igniting violently.
BOOM!
The initial blast tore through the arena floor, sending rocks and debris into the air. Izuku rolled low, letting the shockwave pass over him, dust cloud curling around his frame.
Bakugo swung with a spinning kick, igniting the ground beneath him to stabilize. Izuku ducked under the leg, rolling behind him, then delivered a rapid palm strike to Bakugo's back, sending him stumbling forward.
CRASH!
Bakugo recovered mid-air, blasting the ground to launch himself backward, but Izuku was already anticipating it. He sidestepped, catching the next incoming palm and redirecting the energy into the empty arena floor.
BOOM! BOOM!
The explosions were deafening, shaking the stadium, but Izuku's movements were smooth as water—every dodge flowing into a strike, every strike into another.
Bakugo lunged with a furious combination: a punch, an elbow strike, and a downward kick. Izuku ducked, twisted, and delivered a spinning elbow to Bakugo's midsection, followed instantly by a low sweep kick that knocked the explosive prodigy off balance.
BOOM!
The ground erupted beneath Bakugo as he tried to stabilize with another palm blast. Izuku jumped high, somersaulting through the smoke, landing gracefully behind him. A rapid succession of jabs connected to Bakugo's sides and shoulders, each strike precise, each movement calculated.
CRACK! BOOM!
Bakugo turned, trying to counter with an aerial explosion, but Izuku had already anticipated it. He slid low across the arena floor, catching Bakugo's ankle mid-spin and flipping him over in a textbook throw.
BOOM! CRASH!
The audience gasped, the dust clearing to reveal Bakugo scrambling to his feet. His eyes were wild, explosions sparking uncontrollably from his palms. Izuku, however, stood calm, hands in pockets for a fraction of a second before exploding into motion.
He ducked a wrist-blast, rolled through an explosion with impeccable timing, and delivered a sharp knee to Bakugo's chest, then spun low, his foot connecting with Bakugo's shin.
CRUNCH!
Bakugo lashed out with a quick elbow, but Izuku caught it, twisting it behind him, forcing Bakugo to use a palm explosion to break free. Izuku leapt back as the explosion ripped through the arena. Rocks and dirt flew everywhere.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
In the aftermath, Izuku sprinted forward, each step measured. He ducked under a midair kick, avoided a forward explosion, and landed a flurry of rapid strikes to Bakugo's chest, ribs, and jaw. Each punch staggered Bakugo, each kick tested his balance.
Bakugo tried another palm explosion to create distance, but Izuku was already there, sidestepping the blast and delivering an uppercut that sent Bakugo spinning back mid-air.
BOOM!
The arena shook from the repeated detonations, smoke curling around Izuku like a cloak, but he remained untouchable. He danced around Bakugo, each movement smooth and fluid, landing strike after strike while dodging with near-perfect anticipation.
Bakugo tried to regain control, using midair spins and blasts to overwhelm Izuku, but every attack was countered with precision blocks, parries, and well-timed evasions. The crowd watched in awe, every explosion punctuating Izuku's flawless hand-to-hand domination.
Finally, after a long sequence of throws, dodges, blocks, and rapid-fire strikes, Izuku saw his opening. Bakugo had overextended after attempting a palm explosion combo, leaving his chest exposed.
Izuku crouched, coiled like a spring, and in a single, fluid motion surged forward. His fist, moving faster than the eye could track, connected squarely with Bakugo's chest.
BOOM!
The sheer force of the punch, combined with the lingering shockwave from Bakugo's last palm, sent him flying across the arena. He slammed into the ground hard, dust and debris erupting in every direction.
The smoke cleared. Bakugo lay there, chest heaving, eyes wide in disbelief. Izuku, standing tall, breathing evenly, hands behind his back, gave a small, calm smile. Not a scratch on him.
Midnight announced " IZUKU MIDORIYA WINS "
The crowd erupted in cheers, the VIP stands buzzing with astonishment. Heroes, students, and spectators alike were stunned by the display.
Izuku extended a hand, offering Bakugo a chance to rise. "Good fight," he said calmly.
Bakugo, chest heaving, took the hand, glaring but silently acknowledging defeat. His explosions sputtered harmlessly as he muttered, "Next time…"
Soon after the winners were announced, medals were draped over their shoulders. The gleaming gold reflected the stadium lights, catching the attention of everyone nearby.
'This… this reminds me of that "Hey U.A." meme back on TikTok,' Izuku thought with a small smirk. 'Man, the MHA fans really ran this goated series through the mud with their BS. Some of them till this day think Izuku is gay. Freaken retards'
He chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head at the absurdity of internet culture. Around him, the other students were still buzzing, their chatter filling the now quieter classroom.
Despite the thrill of the festival, Izuku felt a calm satisfaction rather than excitement—like he'd simply done what was necessary and moved on.
As if on cue, Aizawa entered the room, his eyes scanning the class as usual.
"Alright," he said in his monotone, flipping through his notes, "we'll give you two days off to decide which agency you'll be joining. So… see you all later." With that, he turned and left, the door sliding shut with a quiet click.
The room fell into a low murmur. Ochaco leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Wow, Izuku… you were number one in every single event. How does it feel?"
Izuku shrugged casually, leaning back in his chair. "Honestly? It's overhyped. Everyone makes such a big deal about this stuff. I was thinking… maybe we should start training together."
Ochaco's face lit up immediately. "Oh! I was thinking the same thing!"
He smiled faintly. "Yeah… we'll talk more about it after the internship."
She nodded, returning her attention to the front as the bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
Letters from hero agencies were distributed next. Each one crisp and official, stamped with colorful seals. As expected, Izuku had received more than anyone else. He methodically placed them all in his bag, careful not to crease or damage a single one.
Stepping out of the school, he was immediately surrounded by a throng of people. Phones lifted, hands waving, and excited voices calling out his name—it seemed overnight he had become a viral sensation.
"Can we get a selfie?"
"Congrats, Midoriya!"
"You're amazing!"
He smiled and obliged, politely taking pictures and signing autographs as he walked through the crowd. It was chaotic, but he moved with an easy composure, greeting people with a wave or a nod.
By the time he reached home, his mother, Inko, was waiting at the door. Her eyes widened, and she rushed forward, enveloping him in a warm embrace.
"I'm so proud of you, my son," she whispered.
Izuku hugged her back, holding the moment just a little longer than usual. Then, with a grin, he handed her the bouquet of flowers he had bought along the way.
"Oh, Izuku! They're beautiful!" she exclaimed, taking them carefully, her smile lighting up the room.
After their small celebration, Izuku went to his room, closing the door behind him. He sat in front of his computer, the soft hum of the machine filling the quiet space.
'What to do now?' he thought, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
The festival was over, but his journey—his real journey—was far from over.
TO BE CONTINUED