Mato was sitting on the stands beside Itsuka and Setsuna.
"AND NOW, FOR THE THIRD MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND, WE HAVE SHOTO TODOROKI, FROM CLASS A, AND HANTA SERO, FROM CLASS A AS WELL!"
"Who are you rooting for, Hideki-kun?" Itsuka asked.
"Todoroki," Mato replied. "The one with the scar on his face."
"You're friends with everyone in this school, huh?" said Tetsutetsu.
"Yeah, kinda," said Mato.
"BEGIN!"
"Well, I don't feel like I can win," said Sero.
Suddenly, he used his Quirk to trap Todoroki. "But I don't feel like I want to lose, either!"
In a fraction of a second, though, Todoroki used his Quirk. He froze the entire fighting stage.
"A bit too much," Mato commented. "But efficient, I must say."
"Sero, can you move?" Midnight asked.
"N-no... I can't move..." Sero replied.
"THE WINNER IS TODOROKI!" Mic announced.
"Sorry," said Todoroki, slowly freeing Sero from his ice. "I got a bit too overwhelmed."
__________
A few minutes later, after Tokoyami Vs. Yaoyorozu
Mato went downstairs. He knew what time it was: Uraraka Vs. Bakugo.
"Gotta motivate her," he said to himself. "Even if we're not close friends."
He knocked at the door of the waiting room.
"Who's there?" he heard Izuku's voice.
"I'm Hideki," Mato said.
"Come inside."
Mato opened the door.
"Hi, Shirakawa-kun," said Uraraka.
"I've come to motivate you a bit," Mato stated. "That's what a friend is for."
"Really?" Uraraka repeated. "I'm glad!"
"Listen, Uraraka," Mato started to explain. "That guy won't go easy on you just because you're a girl. I'm not underestimating you, but let's say that, from what I could see, he's stronger than you."
He walked closer and sat upon the table.
"Even if you lose, don't be sad. You're facing an opponent far stronger than you."
"On a scale that goes from 1 to 10, what's my chance of winning?"
Mato looked at the ceiling and thought about it.
"2,5."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And I'm being optimistic."
(I'm not really motivating her, I'm doing the opposite!)
"Do you have any tips to beat him, Deku-kun?" Uraraka asked.
"No," said Izuku.
"Remember my words," said Mato. "Even if you lose, think about the fact you fought against a strong opponent."
"But... I'm not sure if I'll manage to..."
Mato pushed himself off the table.
"Let's make a deal then."
He crossed his arms.
"If you lose, I'll defeat Bakugo for you later in the tournament, okay?"
"How?"
"We can catch up in the final."
"But you'll need to defeat Deku-kun first..."
Mato looked at Izuku.
"Then I will defeat him."
Izuku smiled.
"Challenge accepted."
"I know it's pointless to tell you," said Mato. "But I'll tell you anyway: don't break all of your bones during our fight."
"I'll try to."
Mato turned to leave.
"Good luck, Uraraka."
"Thanks, Shirakawa-kun."
__________
Stands
Mato was leaning against a wall, drinking cola to stay awake and avoid falling into drowsiness.
"I hope Uraraka wins," he said to himself. "I don't want to face that hothead in the final."
Suddenly, Present Mic shouted.
"THE FIRST MATCH OF THE BLOCK B OF THE FINAL ROUND OF THE U. A. SPORTS FESTIVAL IS... OCHACO URARAKA VS. KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
The two of them stepped onto the fighting stage.
On his right, Mato heard Izuku's voice approaching.
"Hideki," he said. "Are you rooting for Uraraka-san?"
Mato nodded.
"Why so nonchalant?"
"Because the fact that I have to fight you later pisses me off."
"Why?"
"Because I'm sure you'll hurt yourself by overusing your Quirk. Add it to the blows I'll deliver you; it's a miracle if you survive."
"No matter what, I'll defeat you."
Mato smiled and playfully punched Izuku on the arm.
"Yeah, sure you will."
"Wanna join us? I saved a seat for you between IIda and me."
"No, thanks. I like standing."
Izuku nodded.
"See ya, Mato."
"LET THE MATCH BEGIN!" Present Mic.
(C'mon, Uraraka, show Bakugo that a woman can be strong.)
Uraraka dashed forward in Bakugo's direction, but he used his Quirk and nearly made her detonate.
(Yeah, that's the exact thing I'd expect from someone with a face like his.)
Bakugo raised dust.
"Where are you, Round Face?"
He saw a silhouette through the dust and attacked it. Though it was only Uraraka's jacket. The girl reappeared behind him.
(Good move, Uraraka...)
Before Uraraka could make Bakugo float, he used one of his explosions to throw her away.
(With Bakugo's reflexes, Uraraka's clearly at a disadvantage, especially if she can't use her Quirk without touching him.)
The more Uraraka tried to touch Bakugo, the more Bakugo made her nearly explode.
(Is he aiming to kill her? Does he know he can't?)
Mato clenched his fists.
BOOM!
A huge explosion.
(Oh, crap... she's 100% dead...)
When the dust settled, though, Uraraka was still standing.
(Oh, wow... she's alive.)
"Thanks, Bakugo," said Uraraka. "Thanks to you, I have the environment by my side."
The debris Bakugo had created with his explosion started to float.
(Oh, that's a good move...)
The debris fell down in the attempt to disorient Bakugo. But it didn't work.
(Dammit, that's not you, the one I want to fight... I want to fight that Shirakawa sucker!)
BOOM!
Bakugo released an even bigger explosion that almost destroyed everything. Mato shielded his eyes with his arms.
When the dust settled, almost everything was destroyed.
(Uraraka is barely standing, but she's still within the fighting stage...)
"Since you were friends with Deku, I thought you were something," said Bakugo, brushing off some dust from his shoulder. "But I was clearly wrong."
Bakugo assumed a fighting stance. "Let's get serious then, Uraraka!"
Bakugo rushed towards Uraraka, aiming to end the match. Suddenly, Uraraka turned in a final attempt to touch Bakugo, but she fainted on the ground.
(She's exhausted... Understandable.)
"URARAKA IS NO LONGER ABLE TO FIGHT! KATSUKI BAKUGO ADVANCES TO THE SECOND ROUND!"
(Dammit... now I gotta keep my promise to Uraraka... I must defeat him in the final...)
Mato pushed himself off the wall and scratched his left eyebrow.
(Another reason to win this tournament.)
Chapter 15 - End