The blast of wind caught the audience off guard, but a flash of heat and a flicker of flame cleared the smoke and residue. The arena was badly damaged-again-and Todoroki stood, favoring one side and a large portion of his uniform torn off, but standing. He was sucking in air and peering into the remaining smoke to see his opponent. When the air finally cleared, Midoriya was seen in the stadium's wall, the concrete behind him dented and he was not moving. Then he rolled his head and slid down, landing in a heap.
"Shoto Todoroki wins!"
A larger intermission was held, as Midoriya was rushed to Recovery Girl and Todoroki staggered away, down a strangely illuminated tunnel. Someone was waiting for him there? Ben heard footsteps and saw several of his classmates leaving to check on the downed teen. Ben decided not to join them, as some of those in the waiting rooms would tag along, probably resulting in an overcrowded infirmary.
"Quite the match eh?" Sato was the first to talk, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"Quite." Tokoyami nodded. "A display of power from both sides, pushing beyond their normal limits. I do wonder what Midoriya said that made Todoroki embrace his flames, if that even is what caused it."
"Who knows?" Kirishima leaned back, looking up. "All I know now is that the guy is going to be using both fire and ice in training now. Hard to believe he only used half his quirk up until now, and is still considered one of the strongest in our year."
No one had a response to that. The question still hung above them: why did Todoroki not use his fire? Relative silence held the room, a couple people making small talk, but it was mostly just waiting. Cementoss finished arena repairs, and the rest of class A came back into the room. Apparently Midoriya needed surgery, so they were kicked out. That was a shocking piece of news, rattling the class. But the Festival moved on, and Bakugo and Uraraka took the field.
Crack!
Bakugo was always a ruthless fighter, and that did not change against Uraraka. While one could praise his consistent level of effort, always giving it his all against his opponent, no matter who or what they are, it didn't make the match any easier to swallow. Uraraka fought valiantly, doing everything she could to get close, even using her uniform as a decoy at one point. If she could touch Bakugo, then the tides would tip in her favor, similar to how she beat Tetsutetsu. But it just wasn't happening. No matter how she approached, she was sent flying back by a close ranged explosion. Bakugo spared no expense in making sure she didn't get close.
In a strange twist, the crowd seemed to choose this match to vocalize their disapproval. There was just something wrong, in their eyes, seeing a girl being beaten down, every attack leaving her more tired and battered. This tug on the heartstrings of the audience was felt by the students as well, and even though their hearts went out for Uraraka, they couldn't fault Bakugo. As Aizawa said, taking over for Present Mic, the greater insult would be for Bakugo to not go all out. Was being a girl a reason not to take a person seriously? Was a female villain somehow more deserving of mercy than a male one? Still, it really didn't paint Bakugo in the best light, even for those who knew him.
The crowd's protest died down, and the match culminated into one last attempt from Uraraka. A shower of debris, held up by her quirk and released above the head of Bakugo in one final move. Bakugo looked up, but there was no shock or surprise. He merely lifted his hands, opened his palms, and shook the air with twin explosions that blasted through the falling concrete. The debris fell as little more than chunky dust, which Bakugo effortlessly brushed off. The two students charged one last time, one with a grin and one with a grimace. An explosive collision like the last match would not come, as Uraraka never made it.
The girl only took a few steps before her body shook. Another step and she fell, her body exhausted. Bakugo halted, his body tensed. Midnight climbed onto the arena and crouched beside Uraraka, quietly asking if she could continue. Uraraka's expression showed that she was not done, but no matter how much she pushed her body, she couldn't muster the strength to get up. Midnight shook her head sadly and cracked her whip, marking an official decision by the referee to end the match.
"Bakugo Katsuki wins!"
"Welp." Ben slapped his hand onto his knees and stood. This startled some around him, surprised he was still in the stands. "Guess I better head out."
Bakugo and Uraraka chunked out the arena badly, so Ben didn't feel rushed. He went down the stairs, through the halls and was met by staff. After a couple of cross words about being on time, the staff let him through with a sigh, walking off now that his job was complete for the quarter-finals. Ben didn't need directions, he knew to follow the tape. The crowd was recovering from Uraraka's defeat, taking in Aizawa-sensei's words. A look at the screen around the stadium told them Tennyson was back up. Excitement replaced shock.
Ben walked to the mouth of the tunnel, hearing Present Mic usher in Ida. Hearing his own introduction, Ben took a deep breath and walked out. The flashing lights never failed to surprise and disorientate him, but the shock wasn't as bad as the first time. He proceeded down the path and climbed into the arena, standing in front of Ida. Ben had to angle his head back to look Ida in the eyes, the teen quite a bit taller than him. Ben was still growing, but he wondered if he would ever reach Ida's height. Ben discarded those thoughts, those were for later. He had to focus.
"Just cause you're the president doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you Ida!" Ben lifted his left arm, showing off the Omnitrix.
"I would have it no other way, Tennyson!" Ida adjusted his glasses.
Crack!
"Alright, let's go- hughk!" Ben reached for the Omnitrix, but his finger never reached the dial.
Ida took off with a bang as soon as Midnight's whip cracked, the arena cracking from the force of his push-off. He barrelled right into Ben, his hand not halfway to the Omnitrix. Wrapping his arms around the smaller boy, Ida turned his forward momentum into a tight series of spins, eventually letting Ben go. Dizzy and unable to stick his arms out, Ben hit the ground hard, his head smacking the floor. Dazed, Ben struggled to roll over. He just needed to reach to dial!
'I can not let him transform!' Ida had no idea how Tennyson's quirk worked. Heck, he didn't even think Tennyson himself had a proper idea. All Ida could deduce was Tennyson had to use that watch on his left wrist to morph. Ida knew that the odds of winning against a transformed Tennyson were stacked against him. He had to strike in the little amount of time he wasn't transformed. That gave him only a precious few seconds to act in the beginning of the match to gain the upper hand. Thankfully, his quirk was perfect for acting fast.
Ida grabbed the back of Tennyson's uniform, hosting him up into the air. A mad dash ensued, with Ida aiming to throw Tennyson out of the ring and Tennyson struggling to prevent that. The audience held its breath. Had Ida figured it out?
This move would have easily eliminated the Ben from a couple weeks ago. But Ida didn't face that Ben, he was against one that had endured Aizawa-sensei's brutal conditioning training. Stronger than before, and with several weeks worth of casual fighting advice as well, Ben knew what he had to do.
"Ending a fight quickly is key to reducing the amount of damage a villain does." Aizawa-sensei's advice rang in Ben's head. "Aim for the head if possible. If not possible, go for the groin and neck."
Ben reached out behind him with his hands, and felt his palms hit Ida's back. Quickly and with a grunt of exertion, Ben stuck his hands out as far as he could and managed to wrap his hands around Ida's throat. A quick squeeze shocked Ida, and he slowed down just a bit, only for a second. Ben threw his body around, thrashing to get out of Ida's grip. The response was just a tighter hold, as Ida turned around to get a better grip now that he realized Tennyson wasn't stunned from his head hitting the floor. Ben squirmed harder, and eventually caused Ida to topple over with him.
The two boys were in a mess on the arena floor, Ben fighting tooth and nail to touch the Omnitrix. He landed on his back, and reached his right arm over his chest. Ida may not have landed on him, rather to his side, but he worked that to his advanged. Ida wrapped his powerful legs around Ben's torso, and used his arms to strangle his right arm. Ben could feel the engine parts of Ida's legs painfully pressing into his flesh. He pulled with all his might, but Ida was much larger and stronger than he was. Even with Aizawa-sensei's extra training, it was apparent that Ida regularly worked to get stronger. Ben wouldn't be able to break out of this hold. But then, an idea struck. He couldn't reach the Omnitrix, but what if he didn't have too?
"Hu!" Ben lifted his left arm up, the only limb not held back by Ida. Ben let it hang in the air for a second, his arm quaking, and then let it drop! "Haa!"
Beweep
Ben cheered internally as he heard the Omnitrix activate, and saw the dial pop up. It worked! Ida noticed this too, and started adjusting his position to be able to grab Ben's left arm. Ben fought this, trying to squirm his body away. His arm dragged along the floor, and Ben could hear the dial turning, the faceplate no doubt cycling through his aliens. That was the issue with this plan: Ben wouldn't know who he'd turn into. Well, that didn't matter. Anyone would work! Ben lifted his arm up, ignoring Ida's shout. He slammed it down on the ground, the green flash prompting Ida to let go and distance himself.
"Miss me?" Ben let out a chuckle, seeing who he ended up with.
"Of all the!" Ida took a step back on seeing Diamondhead rising from the ground, his shining crystals catching the midday sun's rays. Ida clenched his jaw, remembering how immovable this particular transformation felt during the cavalry battle. That wasn't enough to make him give up hope, however, and Ida crouched down, pushing out his right leg and holding his arms with his fingertips. It was true that Diamondhead crushed his team in the last event, but that was then, this is now. This was a transformation Ida had seen before, so he had one idea on how to beat him. Ida pushed off, and ran at full speed.
Wham!
Diamondhead raised an arm, and blocked Ida's flying kick. The impact was jaring, forcing Diamondhead back a few inches. Neither fighter was phazed, with Ida pushing off the arm to spin away and Tennyson drawing himself back into a battle stance. Diamondhead decided to take the fight to Ida, and charged forward, swinging his fists. None of his blows landed, as Ida backed up quickly, jerking back to dodge each thrown blow, his eyes alight with concentration.
Seeing how punches weren't working, Diamondhead morphed his right arm into a mace and his left into a sword. Lashing out with his left, trying to use the extra reach to catch Ida and bring him in for a finishing blow with his right. Ida quickly picked up on this, and everytime Diamondhead attacked, he would run left. The mace was far slower, and didn't even come close to hitting the speedster, and Ida took advantage to land a few more kicks before running away. Diamondhead narrowed his eyes. Ida was too fast to hit at close range. So, he'd have to go ranged.
Pewpewpewpewpew!
Diamondhead's barrage didn't hit either, as Ida just sprinted in a circle around him. To try to counter this, Diamondhead used his arms independently, following Ida with his left arm and predicting where he would be with his right. Ida simply ran faster, his body blurring out as he sprinted circles around the Petrosapian. To make matters worse, he started randomly changing his acceleration, slowing down and speeding up at unpredictable times. Diamondhead wasn't landing hits, but Ida was. The kicks weren't hurting him, not even close. But they were moving him, and Ben knew that Ida was smart enough to have a plan. He didn't know how, but Ida was planning on ringing him out.
But how to hit him? Ida was too fast for Diamondhead to hit. He could go for attrition, keeping up projectile spam until Ida got too tired to run. But what if Ida's plan came to fruition before then? He couldn't just wait and give Ida time. Diamondhead scoured the arena. The arena was unchanged, just a large square fighting platform. Plenty of space for Ida to run, gaining momentum. Wait, that's it!
'That's what Tokoyami meant by limiting his area to work with! I have to make the arena smaller!' "Grrrra!" Diamondhead stopped firing to slam a hand into the ground. Ida slowed down, his face scrunched in confusion. Then, the ground shook.
Shink! Shink! Shinkshinkshinkshink!
Crystals shot up from the ground, piercing through the concrete! Ida dove out of the way as Diamondhead raised his other arm, sending a wave of crystal. Instead of flying out of his hand, it appeared to be a wave, similar to Todoroki's ice. The crystals landed, and formed a large barrier that bisected the arena. More crystals shot up behind Diamondhead, preventing a win by ring out.
"An impressive display Tennyson. But don't think that you've won just yet!" Ida ran forward, his engines rumbling.
But it was over. With less than half the arena to work with, Ida's approach didn't have the time or space to generate nearly as much speed as he wanted. Diamondhead flicked out his left hand, sending a fan of crystals, forcing Ida to duck. This slowed him down further, but Ida pressed on. Waiting for him to get closer still, Diamondhead began his attack with a stomp, summoning a small crystal to jut out right in front of Ida's foot on the ground. Ida lifted the foot to keep running, but hit the front of his boot on the spike, sending him falling over. Diamondhead crossed his arms across his chest, and bashed Ida like a tank.
Ida spun with the impact, landing on his back and his glasses falling off. Despite having the breath knocked out of him, he desperately fought back up. He flinched as the sun got blocked, a shining giant looming over him. Two arms lifted, morphing into spears and piercing the ground beside him. The crystals looked like scissor blades, and acted as a restraining force. Ida fought for a second before relaxing. A defeated smile curved his lip up.
"I can not move and am at your mercy. I yield."
"Tennyson Benjamin wins!"
"A good match Tennyson." Diamondhead lifted his arms and morphed them back into hands. Ida stood, grabbing his glasses along the way. Fitting them back on his head, he found that he was the one having to look up at Tennyson this time. Diamondhead lifted his hand and smacked the nodule on his chest.
"Yup, that was a good one!" Ida had learned to avert his eyes from the green flash, and when he looked again, he saw Tennyson smiling at him. Ida stuck out a hand and Tennyson shook it. With the crowd roaring their approval, they descended the steps and started walking out.
Cementoss met them halfway. "While I understand you did what you had to do to win Tennyson, please, keep the arena in mind."
The students looked back to see the arena covered in crystals. "Oops. Well, I guess you can just move them? They do disintegrate into nothing after a bit, remember? Hahaha."
Ben cringed a bit as he saw an unimpressed look given to him by both his teacher and classmate. Cementoss pushed on, muttering something about having a thankless job and Ida reprimanded him for giving their teachers more work than necessary. The two parted, leaving through their respective tunnels.
Ida paused when he left the stage. He didn't really know how to feel after his defeat. He had lost, but he had also put up a fight against probably the strongest student at UA. He had lasted a bit longer than Yaoyorozu, and forced more out of Tennyson, at least in his opinion. But he had lost. It was not a pleasant feeling. Ida's thoughts wandered to his brother. How would Tensei react to his loss?
"Ida Tenya!" The class president jumped on the scream of a UA staff member reaching his ears, magnified by his isolated and quiet location. A woman ran from a side hallway, sweating and with a frantic look in her eyes. She had a phone clutched in her hand. Ida moved to assist, but the lady thrust the phone in his hands.
"It's your brother!"
Class 1-A Spectator Seats-
"You're certainly making Cementoss work for his paycheck today, huh Tennyson?" Kaminari joked as Ben walked in. He had bandages in a similar fashion as Sero, which was logical seeing as they fought the same girl.
"Eh, what can I say. Anything to win, right?" Ben glanced around, seeing class A almost whole. The only people missing were the other 3 that made it to the semi-finals. Ashido and Todoroki were probably waiting in the tunnels for Present Mic right now.
"Are you sure you got time to hang out?" Hagakure questioned as Ben took a seat. "There is only one match before yours! Bakugo hasn't come back, so should you?"
"Probably not." Ben shrugged. "But I do want to see who is in the finals. I have a feeling I won't be able to get much rest after the semi-finals are over. I want to be able to know what transformation to use for each match."
The class watched as the two students walked out to the arena, one of them for the last time this year. Ashido walked out more nervous than she had ever been, contrasting the downcast look Todoroki had. Shoji mentioned that the guy was unbalanced, and that was very much obvious now. His eyes looked down, his expression confused and he constantly looked at his left arm, flexing his fingers. Did using or not using his fire really mean that much to him?
'Todoroki is going to win.' Ben thought. 'But then again, I don't think anyone expected Ashido to make it this far. Midoriya also did something to Todoroki that sent him off his game. Maybe there is a chance?'
Unfortunately the difference between the two semi-finalists was too great. The moment the whip cracked Ashido made a mad dash forward, trying to end the fight before she could be immobilized. Todoroki barely acknowledged the attack, and lifted his right arm and slapped her outstretched arm aside. A simultaneous defensive and offensive move; not only did he negate Ashido's initial attack but also freezing her arm. The pink girl retracted her arm, but she was now weighed down by the extra weight of her frozen arm and down a limb. Her acid started to eat away at the ice, but Todoroki raised his right arm again.
Ben left at this point, frowning. While expected, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. As he descended the stairs, he could hear the announcement ring out.
"Todoroki Shoto wins!"
It didn't feel good to leave in the middle of a match. He didn't do that to anyone else, but that match had no destructive elements to it. The arena wouldn't need fixing so the next match would be started as soon as possible. Ben didn't want to be known as that guy who held up the entire Festival because he had poor time management. Well, he did, but he could at least appear as if he didn't. A staff member let him into the waiting room area, the same song-and-dance Ben had done twice before. He walked along the tapped halls, which he had memorized at this point, and waited for Presence Mic. He didn't have to wait long, as the radio hero ushered him in swiftly. Ben walked out. Bakugo awaited him.
The aggressive bomber speed-walked down his path, cheers falling on deaf ears. He had one target and one target only. The last obstacle standing between him and the finals, a stepping stone to greatness that would fall before him as everyone else did. His lips curled into snarl as he walked up the arena steps and saw Tennyson walking towards him. Their eyes met, and Tennyson held his gaze unflinchingly. Bakugo's anger rose. The little hotshot thought he was the shit, huh? Bakugo curled his hands into fists. He'll show the world what a phony the shapeshifter was.
Ben walked up the steps, and took his spot in front of Bakugo. Midnight was off to the side, talking on an earpiece and jabbing at the big screen. They were working on updating the big screen, which let hype around the last match of the semi-finals grow and grow. Ben switched his sights from Midnight to Bakugo. His opponent was bigger than him, not as big as Ida, but what he lacked in height he made up for in ferocity. Bakugo would definitely blitz him.
"Enjoy this while it lasts, runt." Ben was a little miffed at the height insult, but said nothing back. "I'm going to blast you and that half-and-half bastard to kingdom come, and take my rightful spot as number one!"
"Awfully confident, aren't you?" Ben put his hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow.
"Confident? Hell no, I'm just stating the facts. Sun shines. Plants grow. And I am number one!"
"Huh. If that's the case, then why haven't you beaten me before? I beat you in the entrance exam. You lost against Midoriya in our first hero class, while I won. Even today, I won the first and second events. I guess second in the new first?" Ben smirked as he watched Bakugo's face contort to a snarl.
"Think you're some hot shit, dontcha? Deku's win was a fluke! I'll smash your face in the ground for looking down on me! I beat spiky hair and round face! I'll kill you too!"
"Really? Who is looking down on who, you filthy hypocrite! You can't even be bothered to remember the names of our classmates! I'm not particularly close with Midoriya, Uraraka, or Kirishima, but I at least know their names!" Ben abandoned all pretenses of being polite. He'd had it up to here with this guy. "Who swears in every other sentence? Who belittles and scorns everyone who isn't them? Are you really incapable of being a decent human being for just a second in your life?"
"So the kid finally shows his true colors. And here I thought you were too stupid for such advanced concepts." Bakugo snickered.
"You are nothing but a big bully Bakugo." Memories of Bellwood Elementary flashed through Ben's mind. "And I hate bullies."
Cash and J.T. made his life miserable. While their quirks let them excel at sports, even managing to become subs for Bellwood's legendary little league team, Ben's did nothing but let him not get sick. Day after day of being pushed around, laughed at and teased. No one wanted to befriend him, lest they also become targets. The day Ben was going to leave for the summer trip with Grandpa Max was particularly bad, with the two bullies leaving both Ben and the kid he tried to save, Jamie, hanging from a tree by their underwear. They never got punished. Heck, Ben even saved them during his road trip, when they were traveling with their baseball team! Ben squared his shoulders. No bully would be victorious on his watch!
"Alright, sorry for the delay boys, but the match is ready to go!" Midnight then saw the hostile looks the two were giving each other. "Oh my! Whatever is eating at both of you, now is a good time to let it out! Just, take care not to critically injure each other, ok?"
The whip was raised. Neither student in the ring cared about anything else but the foe in front of them. It was more than a spot in the finals that was on the line. For Bakugo, it was his pride. That pride would not let this extra beat him again! For Ben, it was his ideals. He would not let someone who treated others like trash best him!
Crack!
Boom!
Bakugo wasted no time. He thrusted his hands forward and held his wrists together. Two large explosions roared forth, engulfing Tennyson in a mass of fire and ash. In just a second into the match, Tennyson was out of sight. Everyone in the audience either gasped, took a double take, or leaned forward to get a better look. Then, through the smoke, a flash of green! Two large red arms broke through the smoke, and then swiped to the side. Four Arms stood tall, his four yellow eyes glinting dangerously. The Tetramand pounded his fists together, and Bakugo threw his hands back out.
Boom!
Four Arms trucked through the explosion, ignoring the stinging pain they inflicted. He towered over Bakugo, one of his arms raised high. Bakugo had to propel himself into a sideways dodge to avoid the incoming arm.
Bam!
Dropping the arm like a sledgehammer, Four Arms broke the arena floor, caving in a portion and sending a shockwave that threw up nearby tiles. Bakugo fired himself forward, only to be immediately repelled by Four Arm's other two arms sweeping out for a backhand. The blonde could feel the tip of his nose get brushed by one of the red arms, and that small touch alone told him that a single hit from this transformation would end the match.
"Like you'll ever hit me!" Bakugo laughed maniacally as he jumped back to fire another explosion. That's what made his quirk the best: it didn't just make him a beast up close it could be used at range too! Four Arms just watched as Bakugo used his explosion to gain distance, and didn't move as he was once again blanketed in a flurry of nitroglycerin explosions. He didn't wave off the smoke this time.
"Gotcha!" Bakugo basked in his own greatness when a thud shook the entire stadium. Walking out of the smoke cloud was Four Arms. His skin bore some odd dark spots from the explosion, but no blood or bruises. The smoke trailed off his white and black uniform, slowly brushing off him. There was no smile, just a neutral expression.
Bakugo's body shook with rage. Did Tennyson really think he could beat him without giving it his all? Cause Bakugo was going to give it his all! Even if it tore new holes open in his palms, this american would not win!
"Die!" Bakugo jutted out his right hand and an orange explosion burst. It hit Four Arms in his upper right arm, thrusting back his shoulder. But he kept walking
"Die!" If that didn't work, then another!
"Die!" He was the best!
"Die, Die, Die, Die!" The stadium was rocked with heavy explosions, each one slightly stronger than the last. Bakugo was alternating his arms, thrusting one out after the other, ignoring the pain of his hands to push his quirk to the limits. He couldn't see anything; the constant flashing whites of his explosions blanketed the world around him and had caused his vision to swim, and ears to ring. He didn't need to see, he just needed to keep firing. But it wasn't enough! He wanted to save this next move for putting Deku back in his place, but this was just as good!
"Howitzer!" Bakugo pooled everything, every drop of nitroglycerin, every ounce of energy, every thought and emotion into one focused blast!
"IMPACT!"
BOOOOOOOM!
It was like a small warhead was detonated in the center of the arena. The very foundations shook, dust fell like rain in the halls, glass quivered and people were knocked down. Those in the front rows clutched their ears and covered their eyes in pain. Bakugo slouched over, panting. He had never fired off a blast that big before, and the pain he was feeling demonstrated that. He didn't want to look to see if the liquid running down his right palm was sweat, nitroglycerin, or blood. But there was nothing moving! He had won! Yes!
Wait...
"No!" There was something walking towards him! How had that little shit survived his most powerful attack? There was no time to think though. Bakugo let a sadistic smile crawl onto his face.
"This is why humans have two arms!" Bakugo switched out his right hand for his left. "Plus Ultra, you damn extra!"
BOOOOOOOM!
Bakugo watched as fire and brimstone enveloped the stadium in front of him, blowing away the top layer of the arena and settling a smoke cloud over it all. He was impressed, he would admit, that Tennyson could withstand one of his Howitzer Impacts. But no one could take two!
Fwoosh
"If it didn't work the first time!" Bakugo didn't have time to react to a red fist flying out of the smoke and catching him in the stomach. The blow knocked the air and spit out of him as he was suspended in the air.
"It won't work the second, third, hundredth, or thousandth time!" A second arm curved out and bashed Bakugo in the side of the neck. Feeling something pop, hopefully nothing vital, Bakugo could only gasp in pain as he went tumbling along the floor of the arena.
'I-impossible!' Tennyson was barely scratched! His skin had angry looking burn marks, the front of his forearms were blistered and his uniform was torn in many areas, but it didn't seem like he was in any serious pain. After all that too! But even worse was his slow walk. He still, even after all Bakugo did, wasn't giving it his 100%. Bakugo remembered the USJ, the Nomu, and how this form of Tennyson's went toe-to-toe with what was supposed to be a genetically-engineered weapon for killing All Might. Four Arm's blows shook the Earth, broke through concrete like tissue paper and bent steel like a crazy straw. Bakugo shouldn't even be conscious after a direct hit, let alone two.
"That... wheeze... that all you got?" Bakugo got back on his feet, unsteady, but up. His palms were begging him to surrender, but Bakugo Katsuki never gave up. He would win, and make all the pain worth it!
"You really think you can win?" Bakugo laughed in Tennyson's face at his stupid question.
"Think? I'm number one, remember! I've trained everyday for this. I deserve this! You're just some kid coasting by with a lucky quirk. Take that away from you, and you're nothing more than a snot-nosed brat!"
"Is your asshole jealous of the shit that comes out of your mouth?" Ben wouldn't dare let anyone he respected catch him talking like this, but against Bakugo he really didn't care.
"Your idea of training is hurting others with your quirk and throwing some weights around at the gym. You want to know how I trained? I fought. I fought villains. I was a vigilante." Ben knew Midnight wasn't around, Bakugo's explosions forced the referee to distance herself. He could talk freely.
"What?" Bakugo gasped, not at all expecting that response.
"I know I'm lucky. This power, the ability to transform, it was just chance that I got it. It was never intended for me. I never should have gotten this power at all." Ben rested a hand over the Omnitrix nodule. "If you told me that two years ago, it would have shaken me. But I've been through a lot. I've seen people get hurt. I've had to make decisions about life and death. I thought people I loved died because of me! But now? And coming from you? It doesn't affect me anymore. I've come to terms with who I am."
"Done with your speech?" Bakugo sneered. If Tennyson really was a past vigilante, then all the more reason to put him back in the ground! "Then come at me with all you've got, no holding back!"
"You want full power?" Four Arms didn't have any eyebrows, but if he did, it would be raised. Bakugo answered by firing at him again.
"Stun Grenade!" A direct hit to the face! Four Arms took a step back, his neck bent back awkwardly. Then he slowly moved back forward, his head gradually moving back, and Bakugo's fire grew a little dimmer.
"Well then...!" Four Arms slammed his four hands deep into the concrete. And then he flexed.
For the second time, Bakugo saw Four Arms channel all of his strength. Only this time it wasn't directed at the Nomu. It was for him. A small part of him in the back of his mind started to regret his request as he felt the entire arena shake. It was a single, balance-destroying shift, like an earthquake. Four Arms dug his hands deeper still. Bakugo jolted as he heard a massive crack, and saw the arena cracking apart where Four Arms was working. He wanted to lift his arms to fire an explosion at the Tetramand, while he was vulnerable. But his right arm just wouldn't make any more nitroglycerin. It was telling him that another blast, no matter how small, would leave permanent damage. So his left then.
RUMBLESHAKESHAKESHAKE
Bakugo never got the chance.
"Take it!" Four Arms roared, as he stood up with his hands still lodged in the concrete floor. With one massive heave, the arena cracked, falling apart as Tennyson ripped the arena in half and flipped it!
Time moved in slow motion for Bakugo. One moment he was watching Four Arms stand, bringing a part of the arena with him, the next he was being flung in the air, toppling over backwards as the floor he was standing on was lifted. He couldn't see Tennyson anymore. All he saw was the arena floor, which should be below him, rise in front of him.
'Focus you idiot!' Bakugo would not fall here! His mind raced, trying to find a solution. He couldn't go below, he'd hit the ground and be ringed out. He could only go sideways or up. Going left or right was too long. Going up and over was shorter, and would give him a height advantage over Tennyson. Bakugo braced his palms downwards as he fell down through the air. He knew it would hurt, but pain from quirk overuse was temporary. The pain of losing like an extra would burn forever.
Smash!
The half of the arena bearing down on Bakugo was suddenly now two quarters as a punch cracked through. Two red fists, coming right at him. His hands were already firing an explosion to propel him up. He couldn't dodge. It was over.
The fist hit him in the side, and Bakugo knew ribs were cracked. He was catapulted out of the arena, and thumped against the wall. His body slid lifelessly down the wall, and crumpled to the floor. His vision was foggy, ears were ringing and his heartbeat shook his entire body. He could hear the faint noise of Midnight announcing something to the crowd.
"Tennyson Benjamin wins!"
He... lost? He, Bakugo Katsuki, lost? That's not right, that wasn't how this was supposed to go! He grunted, trying to move, but his body refused to obey. He managed to focus one eye, seeing the destruction that had decimated the arena. His explosions had carved up the concrete arena, and then Tennyson had halved and quartered it. Tennyson. There was a flash of green. A small figure was walking towards him. Was he coming to gloat? Of course he was.
"Bakugo." Ben stood over his opponent's body. Glancing to the right, he saw some medical staff hurrying over. He had to speak quickly.
Ben leaned down to whisper into Bakugo's ear. "Don't bother trying to tell anyone about what I said. Those who matter already know, and the rest won't believe you."
Ben stood and assisted the medics with lifting Bakugo onto a gurney. Then, a step back, and watched Bakugo get carted off, amidst raucous cheering and applause by the audience, who were blown away by the battle.
It was difficult for Bakugo to process what happened to him after his match against Tennyson. His body was barely holding onto consciousness; only the pain radiating from his palms kept him awake. He never remembered entering the infirmary, nor did he feel Recovery Girl's kiss and medical treatment. One moment Tennyson was whispering in his ear, and the next he was in one of the beds in the infirmary. He couldn't move, hear or see. He could only keep replaying the fight, over and over again, in his head. This wasn't a fluke win. Tennyson had won. That realization shook Bakugo to the core.
'Is this what losing feels like? Being utterly beaten? Being... a Deku?' A dry, weak and rasping laugh escaped his lips.
'This fucking blows.'
Ben's waiting room: 5 minutes until the finals-
'I should not have said that.' Ben buried his head in his palms
"I should not have said that!" Oh, he was an idiot! Why would he tell Bakugo that? Why would he tell Bakugo anything? That was literally one of the biggest things the Contract specified, and he broke it! He just got so caught up in the moment, that it just flooded out. In a way, it felt good to finally let out some of the truth that was bottled up inside. But it was not worth the anxiety that followed.
'What's done is done.' Ben sighed. Hopefully those last-minute words to Bakugo would stop him from talking. Bakugo didn't talk much, and he almost never initiates conversations. He never went to the teachers for help in school either. Did this mean he was safe? Maybe. He'd have to tread carefully for a couple weeks.
'Bakugo riled me up. I shouldn't have talked back.' His joke about Midoriya's talking during his matches really didn't seem to be in good taste anymore. Ben talked pretty much the same amount. There was no rhyme or reason for talking, it didn't make logical sense to talk in a fight. It just wasted oxygen and energy, and left you open to attack. But there was just so much he wanted to say to Bakugo. From the moment the blonde learned Ben beat him in the entrance exam scores, he had been nothing but trouble. But maybe Ben took it too far?
Ben slapped himself. This was a tournament. There was no room for regret, if he wanted to win he needed to go all out. He did so against Yaoyorozu and Ida. Bakugo was treated no differently, and neither would Todoroki. Ben flicked his eyes up to the light set above the door. He could hear the noise of the crowd, Present Mic hyping up the finals, and his own nervous beating heart. This was it. In this match, he could finally show Todoroki what he meant in the waiting room hours ago.
Ding
A soft red light glowed.
'Best not keep them waiting.'
Ben rose, cracking his neck and shaking out his stiff joints. This walk was different from the rest. There was something in the air, something heavy and dense. The back of his head burned, as if there was someone dangerous watching him. But no one should be here. Ben shook his head. No time for that, he had to focus. Ben had made it this far. He transformed on national television. There was no going back. May as well finish in glorious fashion, no?
"Boy."
Huh?
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hall behind him. Ben saw the light of fire shine on the tunnel's walls. Heat breathed down his neck, causing sweat to roll down his face. Ben turned around, and there was someone marching towards him. Massive, bulky, and on fire. This was the man that yelled during Todoroki's match against Midoriya, when Todoroki brought out his fire. Why was he here?
"Umm." Ben looked around. There was only him here. The man stopped in front of him, and crossed his arms across his chest. Ben couldn't help but be a little bit intimidated by the man. "Are you talking to me?"
"You are Tennyson. The one with the transforming quirk."
"Yeah? That's me. Who are you?"
A pause.
"Do you not know who I am? The number one crime fighter, the 2nd highest ranked hero in all of Japan?" The man's fire pulsated with anger.
"Err, I don't know if Present Mic said so over his commentary yet, but I am from Bellwood. America. The United States?" Ben forced himself to slow down. "I never was that into hero culture. I mean, it was cool, but I wasn't a super fan. I knew a couple of American heroes and All Might. That's it."
"Is that so?" The man still sounded pissed, but he thankfully moved on. "I am Endeavor, the flame hero."
"Ok. Good to meet you, sir. I got a match to attend, so if you don't mind." Ben started to turn back around, but the hero started barking out questions, causing Ben to jump.
"You have unimaginable power and potential, but no one has heard of you until today. Why is that? When did your quirk surface?"
"Uh-"
"You must have had a mentor. You obviously have combat experience. Was it that grandfather of yours?"
"Grandpa Max? Well, no, but he did-"
"Why are you here in Japan? America has no shortage of hero schools. Unless you are looking for a certain type of education?"
"I don't really think I-"
"It matters not. Listen closely boy, I'll only say this once. After the Sports Festival concludes, your class will be given lists containing the agencies that have submitted requests for student work-study partnerships. You will tell them you chose Endeavor's agency. You will follow a strict workout regimen in preparation for your time learning under me. Then-"
"Hey, hey, woah, woah! Time out!" Ben formed an X with his arms as he interrupted the hero. "What are you talking about?"
"Do not interrupt me when I am speaking." The hero gave him a death glare. "I told you I will only give you these instructions once, so pay attention!"
"If we are talking about the internship or work-study or whatever thingamajig that's happening after the Festival, what makes you so sure I'll pick you? I thought that while agencies could ask for students, it's the student that makes the final decision." Ben questioned.
"There is no one more qualified to teach you than I. You are strong, but lack refinement. I will make you great. All you must do is listen to me." Endeavor couldn't understand why the boy was being so resistant. Wasn't the opportunity to work under the number 2 ranked hero good enough?
"But I thought-"
"It doesn't matter what you think! This is the real world, not some fantasy! I now see that whatever your grandfather told you has blinded you to your own potential."
"Huh? You've met Grandpa Max?" Ben didn't like where this was going. Grandpa did look off when Ben last caught a glimpse of him. Was this the reason why?
"Your grandfather is an old man with old ideals. He is living in a past age, unable to move on. Japan has the greatest heroes of the modern age because we know how to train them. The strong have an obligation to society. Learning under me is the best way for you to meet that obligation."
"Don't insult him." Endeavor paused. The boy was different now. While before he looked overwhelmed, confused, and nervous, now he was still as stone. His green eyes glared up into the hero's own. "I don't mind being called names anymore; Bakugo insulted me almost everyday in my time at UA. But Grandpa Max is far above you. You think you're a great hero, but you are nothing compared to my grandpa!"
There it is again! Endeavor's head throbbed with annoyance at another display of confidence from Tennyson. What made Tennyson Maxwell so strong that this child would have confidence in him rather than a professional hero?
"It doesn't matter what your grandfather thinks or is. I am a licensed hero and he is not. I am the only one strong enough to bring you down the path of greatness.
"Yeah, but, why would I choose you? You've got a fire quirk, and it looks like a strong one, but it's still a fire quirk at the end of the day. I'm sorry sir, but I really don't think you and I are the best match."
"...what did you just say?" Did the brat really just compare Hellflame to a normal fire quirk?
"Come on, fire quirks are kinda common, surely you know that? I mean, fire quirks are a dime a dozen back in the States. I'd rather learn under someone with a cooler quirk."
"Watch your tongue boy!" Endeavor roared, his fires roaring to life.
"No. You act like you know me. That you know my powers and everything that I can do. But you don't know squat." Ben stood his ground, and looked the hero dead in the eyes. "I'm going to transform into something against Todoroki that will show you I don't need the lessons of a fire user. Especially one that insults Grandpa Max when he isn't here to defend himself."
Endeavor's eyes were bulging out of their sockets, veins throbbing with anger and his flames burning close to dangerous levels. His hand reached out, trembling with unchecked emotion, fingers twitching. Then, Present Mic's voice rang out, startling the student and hero.
"WE HAVE FINALLY REACHED THE FINALS OF THE FIRST YEAR'S SPORTS FESTIVAL! THE FINALE TO DECIDE THE WINNER IS UPON US! THE FINAL MATCH UP! FROM THE NORTH GATE, THE PRODIGY OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS, ONE OF THE FOUR FROM THE RECOMMENDATION COURSE, AND SON OF ENDEAVOR! GIVE IT UP FOR TODOROKI SHOTO!"
"Now, if you'll excuse me." Ben turned his back to the hero, ignoring the roaring flames. "I've got a match to win."
"AND FROM THE SOUTH GATE, THE AMERICAN SUPERSTAR WITH POWERS THAT NOT EVEN WE AT UA HAVE SEEN BEFORE! THE INFINITE SHAPESHIFTER, THE YOUNG UNDERDOG, WITH EVERYTHING TO PROVE, IT IS TENNYSON BENJAMIN!"
'It's showtime! Ben lifted his arms as he walked out. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest, from the confrontation with Endeavor and the adrenaline rushing through his veins. This was it, his showdown against Todoroki. Winning the obstacle race, winning the cavalry battle, and all his past matches, all of it was for this one chance!
Once Ben reached the arena, he noticed Todoroki gazing down at his hand. He lifted his left hand to his face, looking deep in thought. He lacked that aggression, that rage that let him so easily win his previous fights. There was something different about him. Ben opened his mouth to say something, but Todoroki beat him to it.
"A lot has happened today Tennyson." The hand dropped. As the limb passed the scar that marred his face, Todoroki's expression changed with it. His eyes grew cold, his face tightening. "I do not think it needs to be said, but I will be taking this win."
"And here I was thinking that the edgy boy from the waiting room this morning had vanished in the fire." Ben actually was glad that Todoroki had broken through his mental slump. That would make this victory all the more satisfying.
"Alright, this is the last battle of the Festival boys." Midnight raised her whip high. "Make it count, leave no regrets!"
Crack!
Todoroki hunched over, arching his back and slamming his right hand near his right foot. Cold flowed through his body, and glaciers and icicles fired out, all aiming at Tennyson. The air was blown back, icy and bone-chilling, with the arena floor covered in ice. The flood of dangerously sharp ice consumed the ground, creeping onto Tennyson's side of the arena at a rapid pace. It surrounded him on all sides! Tennyson had nowhere to run, couldn't dodge and the ice was going to freeze him whole!
"My turn." Ben slammed his hand down on the Omnitrix, his alien chosen long ago.
Flash!
Fwooosh!
Then, a wave of heat! The ice that threatened Tennyson a second ago sizzled and melted into water, which then evaporated into steam. Waves of pure heat pulsated out in waves, shattering the ice. The first pulse broke the ice down. The second melted it back into harmless water. The third created a massive steam cloud that settled over the arena. Todoroki pushed against this sudden explosion of heat, the chill he previously felt from quirk use gone in an instant.
"HAAA!"
A pillar of fire blasted into the air! Screams and shouts echoed throughout the stadium as spectators, heroes and students alike pointed at the geyser of flame. The fire dispersed the steam cloud, and everyone could finally look at Tennyson and what he had turned into. Todoroki looked, and his normally passive face froze in shock.
This form was humanoid, but only in form. The skin was broken into smoldering red plates of molten rock. Between the plates ran fiery orange magma, moving like blood. The hands and feet were made of this hot material, the figure opening and closing his hand. Every step forward left a burning footprint, melting through solid concrete. The head looked like a mask wreathed in flames. Two eye sockets that held no eye or pupils, just exposing the fire behind. A small piece detached itself at the mask's bottom, forming the chin and mouth. An Omnitrix nodule lodged itself in the center of the chest.
"You're in trouble Todoroki." Ben cackled, raising a finger and summoning a small flame. The flame burned bright, growing from a small burn to a large flame, into a massive sphere of fire. Ben lifted the finger above his head, the fireball still resting on the tip of his finger.
"This guy packs some real firepower!"
Omnitrix Form #10 - Species: Pyronite, Hero Name: Heatblast
Strengths: The first alien Ben ever transformed into, Heatblast is a versatile pyrokinetic, whose species evolved on the surface of a volcanic planet. Fire is the name of the game, as anything you can think of involving fire, Heatblast can probably do it. Manipulate his fire, other people's fire, pre existing fire, anything that is fire can be used by Heatblast. Able to make heat hot enough to melt steel and asphalt, there is little that can withstand a Pyronite's wrath. He can will his flames to be explosive, mold fire into weapons, and even control fire to generate flight has limited terrakinesis by channeling fire through the Earth itself. Being made of fire, Pyronites are quite strong and resilient, and anything that touches them are at risk of burns.
Weaknesses: There is only one way to douse a Pyronite: water. In the time of making this Omnitrix Library Documentation, there is no feasible way to create an environment cold enough to put out a Pyronite. When doused in water, however, a Pyronite will be temporarily put out and be unable to use their fire powers. The only way to permanently put out a Pyronite is through death, through a fight or old age. While physically adept by human standards, Pyronites are average close-quarter fighters and are generally reliant on their fire powers. Make no mistake though, Heatblast is Ben's most iconic alien and he has a near flawless track record to back it up.
Azmuth Note: When under the effects of human sickness (known as a 'cold') a Pyronite's powers become inverted, gaining cryokinetic powers instead. Pyros does not have natural pathogens due to its extreme nature, only housing Pyronites and their natural predators, the Crabdozers. Requires further investigation.
"Well? Come at me!" Heatblast beckoned Todoroki to attack, gesturing with his other hand,the fireball still looming overhead.
"Hmm!" Choosing to indulge the taunt, Todoroki whipped his right arm around and out, sending a wave of ice crashing towards the alien.
Heatblast just flicked his finger out, sending out his fireball. In a brilliant flash, the fireball exploded, melting the ice wave instantly and Todoroki lost his footing. He hit the ground hard, tumbling to the side. Slapping his right hand down, a small concave of ice formed to block him from falling out of the arena. The teen climbed back up, wiping his eyes and mouth free of ash and tiny ice fragments. It was an impressive display by Tennyson, he would admit. But his will was iron and his resolve was set: he would win!
Todoroki thrust out his right arm and expelled a cone of cold, a flurry of ice and snow, towards his fiery foe. Heatblast mimicked his stance, raising his left arm and shooting out a jet of fire. The two elemental blasts clashed in the arena's center, and for a second appeared evenly matched. Then the ice cracked and snow disappeared, and Todoroki was the one who had to dodge the fire jet. The half-quirk user clutched his side, hissing in pain. He wasn't quite fast enough on the dodge to avoid damage.
Heatblast bent his arms, bringing them in tight to his body. Building up power, the alien then flung out his hands and twin fire lances fired out. Todoroki quickly expelled more ice, sliding along the edges of the arena. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the fire lances lodged in the ground, where they slowly dissipated, leaving two smoldering holes. Todoroki vowed not to get hit. He did not want third-degree burns.
Heatblast threw out some smaller fire projectiles, and Todoroki seemed content with skating around, making his rink in front of him as he went. That wouldn't do! Heatblast gently rested his hands on the ground, and started heating up the ground. The arena floor changed, from pale immodible concrete to bubbling magma. The ice Todoroki was using for mobility melted away, forcing the teen to jump and leap back. Without means to move about quickly, Todoroki flung around his right hand again, throwing out a spear of ice. Heatblast intercepted it with an outstretched palm, letting the spear melt into nothingness with just the heat of his limb alone.
Todoroki was panting and, for the first time in the Festival, hot. He was in trouble and he knew it. His ice had no effect on this form made of fire. He wasn't going all out, not 100%, but he was pretty darn close to having to do so. He couldn't make his ice any colder, and everything he threw just evaporated. He only had one advantage: he was not cold anymore. The overuse of his right side had been affecting him for the worse up to this round, but not anymore. While using his quirk was draining his stamina, he at least didn't have to worry about his own temperature balance. If anything, he had to use his ice because he was currently boiling, sweat running down his body.
"Got a present for ya!" Heatblast spun in place and then flung out a disk of fire. The disk flew through the air and Todoroki reflexively channeled some ice to stop it. The disk chewed through his ice barrage like it was nothing and got dangerously close. Then it flew unnaturally, stopping it's natural arc and plummeting straight down. It hit the ground with an explosion that engulfed Todoroki in smoke, causing him to hack and cough.
'I must change strategy!' Todoroki knew that at this rate he would tire out. He had been reacting to what Tennyson had been doing, so he should try and shift that dynamic. Getting close was risky, but he had to try. Breaking out into a sprint, Todoroki bounded forward, arms outstretched. He tried to summon ice around his fist, but Heatblast saw his approach and punched the ground in front of him.
Boom!
An explosion indicated the arrival of a wall of fire. The sudden appearance of the fire wall summoned a wave of heat and forced Todoroki back. Frustration was building. He couldn't stay at range, couldn't approach, what could he do? Did he have to break out his fire again? But would fire even work on a being made of fire?
"Hrng!" Todoroki slammed his right foot down hard, channeling his power into another glacier attack. The same strength as the one that eliminated Shiozaki! No, more! More! Anything less than everything he had wouldn't be enough! He meant what he said to Midoriya, he wanted to be a hero! And a hero couldn't afford to half-ass anything.
Shing!
"Woah. This is new." Heatblast commented. Indeed, Tennyson had expected all of Todoroki's ice attacks to melt just by getting close to him. What a surprise, then, when he suddenly found himself surrounded by ice. Stuck between interlocking glaciers, Heatblast's flame was still burning, but the ice held strong. Todoroki was stunned.
'Did I... do it?'
"RRRRRAHHHH!" Heatblast suddenly roared, screaming to the heavens! The fire burning around his head flew into a frenzy and fire was being expelled every which way! Thrashing about, the glaciers that were holding strong slowly began to melt away, their strength fading with every second. With a final push, a surge of fiery power, Heatblast freed himself and dropped down to the floor. Holding up his hands, two fireballs manifested. Heatblast took aim, and chucked them, one after the other.
Todoroki flipped out of the way of one, but the second exploded right in front of him. Eyes screwed shut, his instincts were crying out that he was not out of danger yet. They told him to move. So, he threw himself back, not bothering to land on his feet.
Slice!
When Todoroki reopened his eyes, he saw a deep cut in the arena, and Heatblast with his hand enveloped in flame shaped like a sword.
"You know, I've never really used this technique with Heatblast before!'' Todoroki ran from another swipe. "I usually do this sort of thing with Diamondhead, but this is pretty rad!"
Todoroki shot out an ice storm, forcing a pulse of heat from Heatblast. He was getting tired, he couldn't afford to let this battle drag on for more than a minute. He would end this, right here and now!
"Hooo..." The air in the stadium chilled, a familiar sensation to Todoroki's first match. Everyone gripped their seats in anticipation. They knew what was coming.
"Alright, we doin' this!" Magma energy started collecting into Heatblast's arms. Heat rose, countering the chill in the air.
The north side of the stadium chilled over, Todoroki's right arm trembling under the strain. The south side heated up, Heatblast's arms growing brighter and brighter. The two student's locked eyes for a second, and then they flew their arms out.
"GRAHHHHH!"
Fire flooded out, snaking along the floor and racing to find something to burn. Ice crackled and snapped, covering any surface in sharp icicles. The two elemental forces met in the center, in an explosive finale!
Boom!
The same steam cloud hazed over the stadium, and tensions built. Who would be left standing? Who would be crowned the winner? The steam slowly faded and the stadium held its breath.
Thump
Exhausted, out of breath, Todoroki fell to his knees. His body may be fine temperature wise, but he had bottomed out. He couldn't even find the energy to keep his body upright. He slowly collapsed, his eyelids flickering. He had lost. But he didn't feel bad. It felt good, to get out all the frustration and strange feelings that had been building up in a battle where he could go all-out. He may have lost, but he didn't feel like a loser.
"Hey." Todoroki managed to turn his gaze to the flaming man walking over to him. He watched as Tennyson stood over him and stuck out his hand. He was giving him a thumbs up.
"That was a good fight." There was no hidden malice behind those words. They had fought, pushed each other. Both fought and left no regrets.
Todoroki curved his lips into a smile. A genuine smile. He caught Midnight's eyes and nodded.
Crack!
"Tennyson Benjamin wins!"
Thirty Minutes Later-
PewPewPew PomPomPom CrackCrackCrack
Fireworks cracked in the sky lighting up the faint hues of the evening. The audience was standing, clapping and cheering for those who stood below. The entirety of the first year of UA stood in the stadium's center stage. The Festival was over, and now it was time for the award's ceremony.
The classes muddled together, gathering in front of three large cylindrical platforms. Each pillar was marked 1-3, with the smallest being 3 and the largest being 1. Ben stood atop the highest pillar, still a little red in the face at how he got up there. UA wanted him untransformed for this, so he had to climb up without his aliens. This proved to be a bit difficult, as he just wasn't quite tall enough to reach the edge of even the smallest pillar. In the end, Shoji stepped forward and gave him a boost all the way to the top. Ben rubbed the back of his neck, a tad bit embarrassed at the faint laughs in the crowd and audience.
Todoroki stood on pillar number 2, quiet and stoic as ever. He was still doing that weird thing with his hands, constantly bringing up his left hand to his face. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, thinking to himself. The time between the finals and the awards ceremony had flashed by, with the arena quickly being replaced with solid ground to form the pillars. Todoroki just went to where he was directed to without complaint. He was never really aiming for a medal anyways. At first he just wanted to beat Tennyson. But now, Midoriya's words bounced around in his head. What now?
Ashido took pillar 3, waving her arms around, all smiles and laughter. She never expected to get as far as the semi-finals, and even though she lost, she couldn't be happier. She may be known as the genki girl of her class, and had an academic record to prove it, but she was as devoted to heroism as the rest of them. Now, she had proof of that too. Third place in a year with Tennyson, Todoroki and Bakugo! Wait, speaking of the blonde bomber, where was he?
"Let us begin the award's ceremony!" Midnight walked out, her hands gesturing towards the three students being honored.
"We do recognize that Bakugo Katsuki is as deserving of the third place spot as Ashido Mina, but he has declined the invitation to be on stage. So, we will be continuing without him!" That stirred up some hubbub. A student declining being honored center stage, in a national spotlight? Well, Bakugo did exhibit some strange behaviors during the Festival, putting it lightly, so maybe it was for the best.
"So, let us cut to the chase! We will be honoring the three students who placed the highest in this year's Festival! The One who will be presenting the medals in this year's ceremony is none other than-!"
"I am here!" All Might came spinning down from the sky, leaping from some unknown far location. The crowd gave him a standing ovation as he landed with a crash, medals clutched in his hands.
"The symbol of peace, All Might!"
"-with medals!"
All Might and Midnight awkwardly looked at each other, realizing that one had deviated from the script and caused them to speak over each other. They quickly shook the mistake off and Midnight waved him forward, and Cementoss formed stairs leading up to each pillar. All Might brought out the bronze medal and approached Ashido.
"Young Ashido, you have gone above and beyond today, demonstrating that skill is just as important as strength. You took what you did know and turned it into a weapon that you brandished against the opposition. Your future is bright, with boundless opportunities. I do think everyone is looking forward to what you will do in the future, miss third place! Congratulations. Wear this medal with pride!"
"T-thank you sir!" Ashido could barely contain her tears of joy as All Might gently placed the bronze medal over her head. The metal rested on her chest, the heavy material reminding her that this was no dream, but in fact, reality. Her hard work, days of pushing herself, mind and body, had paid off. All Might tugged her into a hug, which she reciprocated, several tears managing to escape.
"Young Todoroki, you showed your worth today, shocking everyone with the power that you wield and the grace in which you did so. While many were surprised at your ability to use fire, and your reluctance to use it, I know you have your reasons."
"I am... confused. Everything that I had done, what I wanted to work to become, it's all just..." Todoroki averted his gaze. "I don't know anymore. I've lost sight of what I want to do."
"That's why we are here, my boy." All Might put the silver medal over Todoroki's head and brought him into a hug. "I will pry no further, but know that whatever battle you are fighting, you do not have to fight alone. But, from your expression, I think you know that, don't you?"
"Yes." Todoroki bowed his head.
"Finally, Young Tennyson." All Might stepped up to the first place pillar, one last medal in his hand. He didn't even need to come up the entire staircase, just two thirds was enough to get him to eye level with Ben. Yet All Might kept walking until he dropped to a knee and put a hand on Ben's shoulder.
"You exploded onto the scene, and have demonstrated that you deserve to be here, no matter your circumstance. Your power and drive are what landed you in first today. Through it all, you never lost control. You were always proving, demonstrating to me, your classmates, the nation itself, that you are the future. I can only begin to fathom the new age you will be able to bring."
"Thank you sir." Ben could feel the emotion behind All Might's voice, knowing that he meant every word. He bowed his head to let All Might slide the gold medal over his neck.
"You have shown unimaginable promise, and I hope that you never stop striving for growth." All Might gently brought him into a hug and patted his back. "Keep your feet on the ground, but aim for the stars above!"
'Oh, you have no idea how true that statement actually is All Might.' Ben returned the hug, the reality of it all settling in and giddiness filling his body. He had done it, like he promised Grandpa Max! He was first!
"Here they are, people of Japan! The three winners of the first year's Sports Festival! They have emerged victorious, but take heed that anyone in the crowd below me could have stood atop these pillars as well! They have proven they have the guts, the nerves and the strength to push themselves, and each other, advancing farther and farther! These students are the next generations of heroes!"
"Everyone, say it with me now!" All Might threw a hand into the air and the crowd burst out.
"Plus Ultra!"
"Great work...? What?"
Laughter from all sides echoed through the stadium. A second round of fireworks was lit and the sky once more painted with UA's blue and silver. Ben lifted his hands, one of them clenching his gold medal.
'Just one step forward on the road to greatness!'