Chapter 21: Envy vs Pride
"Kyudai!" A mysterious and malicious voice said with visible anger. It was the same voice that talked to Shigaraki through the monitor after the USJ attack.
"Yes Sir?" An old man of short stature replied while shaking in fear. He was completely bald and had a very large, bushy mustache and he wore rather peculiar goggles. "Is something wrong? Did I forget your medicine?" The man identified as Kyudai added with a shaky voice. He didn't like how his usually calm master called him. At first, he thought he forgot about his medicine but after doing a mental check he was sure he didn't forget about it, and even if he had his master wouldn't be this mad at him.
The mysterious man who was attached to many medical equipment raised his hand with some effort and pointed at the screen that was playing the Sports Festival. To be more precise it was playing the moment when Izuku was running at top speed with the Chidori.
"Eleven years ago, when Izuku Midoriya visited you in the hospital to find out about his Quirk, you told me that he was Quirkless, right? You were one hundred percent sure of it and showed me his test results. So how? How come is he at UA?! How come he has the Sharingan?!" He shouted as he slammed his chair's arm making the shorter man flinch, as his eyes shifted from the screen to his master. "The blood tests?! Did you do a blood test?!"
"I-I only did… the X-Ray…" The doctor stuttered as he was overwhelmed by fear.
"You fool! You're lucky that I need you to make the Nomus or else I would've killed you!" All for One yelled.
"But this is not his own Quirk, this is One for All, mayb-" Kyudai began but was cut off by his master.
"You think that I don't know that this is One for All! Who do you think you're talking to? I'm All for One! I'm the creator of One for All and I know that Quirk better than anyone!" All for One exclaimed with visible rage and if the doctor didn't know better, he would dare say his master was… nervous. All for One took a deep breath to calm down and revert to his usual persona. "Look carefully…" He said as he stopped the replay when Izuku gathered lightning in his hand to create the Chidori. "This isn't One for All… This is something else, I fought eight users of One for All and none of them had lightning powers because that's not how One for All works at all."
"What are you implying All for One?" Kyudai asked as he let out a breath, one he didn't know he was holding. He pulled out a notebook and a pen to write down what All for One was going to say next.
"I have many assumptions. I don't think his Quirk manifested at age of 14 like he said during the player's pledge. I think it did when he was younger but he never noticed it, that or maybe it subconsciously fused with One for All. But he said that his Quirk manifested when he saved someone and was later on acknowledged by another person, who I bet is All Might and who later on gave him One for All. However, if and that is a big if, if what he said was true… then there's another possibility. We both know that it's impossible to get a Quirk at age of 14 and unlike these small-minded people, we know that the world is big. We know much more about its history and origins…" He smiled, but it wasn't the bright and cheerful one All Might had, it was a twisted smile full of malice.
"No way you don't mean…" The doctor said as his eyes widened.
"Yes, Izuku Midoriya might be the key we need to obtain and conquer everything. I have to say, All Might mislead us by choosing Izuku as his successor and now because of him we need to speed things up, but thanks to him we may have found the last piece to our puzzle…"
"That's mean, Kacchan… Can't you see he's crying? I-If you come any closer… I-I'll get angry!" Kid Izuku yelled as he took his fighting stance. However, he was scared, shaking and had visible tears in his eyes, but he just wanted to protect his peer, who was being bullied by Kacchan.
"Hahaha… Even though you're Quirkless…" Kid Kacchan said, while he and his lackeys activated their Quirks. "You're pretending to be a Hero, Deku?" He added with an evil grin, before he and his lackeys began their assault on the poor green haired boy.
Izuku remembered the first time he stood against Bakugo and when the whole beating and torment started. He was walking through the stadium's corridors, heading to the arena and with each step he took, more memories flashed through his mind.
"Oi, DEKU! YOU'RE BELOW THE REJECTS! YOU'RE A QUIRKLESS FREAK! HOW CAN YOU EVEN STAND IN THE SAME RING AS ME? YOU DAMN NERD!"
"No, wait, Kacchan! I-It's just that it has been my goal since I was little… And well… I won't know unless I try…" Izuku replied while stuttering nervously.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, UNLESS YOU TRY?! YOU PIECE OF SHIT! ARE YOU TAKING THE FUCKING TEST FOR FUN?! WHAT THE HELL CAN YOU DO? YOU'RE QUIRKLESS, DEKU!" Bakugo growled, while Izuku just remained silent, he was too afraid to retaliate after all.
Same thing could be said about Bakugo, who was also remembering his childhood with Izuku. He clenched his fists as the next memories came to his mind.
"The name Deku... the same one that you always use as an insult to call me useless and worthless. Well, guess what? The name Deku isn't going to mean useless or worthless or good for nothing anymore! Kacchan, from now on, Deku is a name that will mean you can do it, it will mean never give up, it will inspire others! From this day forward, Deku is not the name of the frail kid you bullied, but the strong man in front of you who'll become the greatest Hero! Deku is the name of the person who will bring you down today!"
"DEKU, YOU BASTARD I'LL KILL YOU!" Bakugo rushed at Izuku, but the latter didn't wait and got closer to the ash-blonde hair boy. Bakugo released an explosion at Izuku, aiming for his chest, but Izuku immediately ducked. He already had predicted this with his Sharingan.
"Lowest Round Kick" Izuku shouted before performing the attack, making Bakugo fall off of his feet. But before Bakugo could hit the ground, Izuku punched him in the gut, sending him flying to the other side of the corridor.
"Kacchan…" Izuku paused for a moment, Uraraka and everyone from the monitor room were looking at him in awe. "FROM NOW ON… WE'RE EQUALS!"
Both Izuku and Bakugo were finally able to see their respective entrances to the arena and before each one of them could reach his, one finally memory came rushing in.
"I'M JUST GETTING STARTED! YOU HEAR ME! FROM NOW ON YOU'RE… MY RIVAL AND I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU! HERE, I WILL BECOME NUMBER ONE, I'LL EVEN SURPASS ALL MIGHT! YOU WON'T BEAT ME AGAIN, BASTARD!" Bakugo yelled, his eyes were teary as he began to walk away. It was the first time, that Bakugo had to admit that he's not the best, and he learned it the hard way.
"And I won't lose either! Kacchan!" Izuku shouted.
*Music: BNHA OST S3 You Say Run + Bombing King*
Bakugo gritted his teeth as he set foot into the arena while Izuku took a deep breath to concentrate. He had quite a serious look on his face.
"NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR FINAL FOUR, WHO ARE SUPRISINGLY THE SAME FOUR WHO HAVE BEEN DOMINATING THE SPORTS FESTIVAL SO FAR! OR NOT SO SURPRISING! NOW IS THE TIME TO DETERMINE THE BEST OUT OF THE BEST! LET'S START THE FIRST MATCH OF THE SEMI-FINALS!" Present Mic announced as the stadium's screen displayed Izuku and Bakugo. The crowd cheered louder than ever as they knew this was going to be a great match.
"FIRST OFF IS THE GREEN POWERHOUSE THAT HAS JUST KEPT DOMINATING THIS ENTIRE SPORTS FESTIVAL WITH EACH AND EVERY ROUND. FROM THE HERO COURSE, YOUR FAVORITE CINNAMON ROLL, IZUKU MIDORIYA! VERSUS- HE'S GOT SOME ANGER ISSUES, EH? BUT HE'S THE MAN WITH THE WILL THAT DEFIES ANYTHING, EVEN IF IT'S THE LAWS OF PHYSICS! ALSO FROM THE HERO COURSE, IT'S KATSUKI BAKUGO!" Present Mic introduced the two competitors, but Bakugo had a tick mark on his face.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HAVING ANGER ISSUES! I'LL KILL YOU BASTARD!" He growled, which showed more than enough that he didn't like Mic's comment.
"Looks like we will be getting a rematch from their fight in Hero Training at the start of the school year." Tsuyu said as she and everyone were able to sense the tension in the air.
"Man, this is the worst match-up! These two become crazy when they fight each other!" Kaminari said as he shivered.
"The fated battle between Rivals…" Ochaco seriously pointed out. She couldn't take her eyes off Izuku and Bakugo.
"You're right Uraraka… This is a battle between Men. It's like they share a long history of fierce battles and this is yet another one." Kirishima exclaimed before he gulped. Even he was nervous.
"I wonder what kind of history the two of them share?" Itsuka questioned to no one really but loudly enough for the others to hear her.
"No one knows and no one asks about it. I've known Izuku for quite some time now but he never told me anything. Whatever happened between these two, I'm sure that Midoriya doesn't want to talk about it." Ojiro said as his eyes were glued to the arena.
Ochaco and Tenya looked at each other for a moment. They both knew that Bakugo used to make fun of Izuku for some reason, but was that really the case? Was there something more? In the end they decided to keep their mouths shut.
"Alright, I think it's time for me to wake up from my nap." Aizawa said, as he put his sleeping bag away. He knew about the heated history between these two, having seen first-hand their first battle. However, unlike last time, he knew that things won't go the same way. "Popcorn" He offered Present Mic who gladly accepted it.
"READY…!" Present Mic interrupted but was cut off by both Izuku and Bakugo.
"Me and him. One on one with no rings outs, no disqualifications…" Bakugo explained.
"No Holds Barred, the winner is decided when one of us submits or is completely knocked out…" Izuku continued.
"THIS IS A BATTLE TO DETERMINE…" Bakugo said, raising his voice, unable to contain his excitement.
"WHO'S THE BETTER HERO, WHO'S THE STRONGEST…" Izuku raised his voice too unable to keep his excitement in check.
"RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!" Both shouted in unison as they activated their respective Quirks.
"Uh… Eraser, is this following the rules? Can they actually do this?" Present Mic asked.
"If both contestants agree to it then it's fine, which is the case." Aizawa shrugged as he ate his popcorn.
"AMAZING! FOR THE MATCH BETWEEN IZUKU AND BAKUGO THERE WILL BE NO RINGOUTS! THE WINNER WILL BE THE ONE WHO MAKES THE OTHER SUBMIT OR KNOCKS HIM OUT!" Present Mic announced making the crowd cheer loudly.
Midnight climbed onto her stage and prepared her whip. "Alright boys, I know you're both excited to get on with it, so I'll make it quick. You two ready?"
Both competitors nodded.
She cracked her whip, "Start!"
Once they heard the signal both contestants dashed over each other with a roar, Izuku with his Full Cowl activated and Bakugo with his explosions propelling him. And as the distance between them got shorter both of them threw a punch. Their fists collided.
"Hey Kacchan… Remember that day, when the teacher revealed that I was going to apply to UA? I take back everything I said…" Izuku said before he delivered the mother of all uppercuts with his other arm, sending Bakugo high in the air. He then jumped, following Bakugo but went even higher. "I'm standing in the same ring as you today!" He shouted before he did a front flip and delivered an axe kick to Bakugo's back.
"Manchester Smash!"
The whole crowd cringed as Bakugo's body slammed into the arena with a loud thud. However, Bakugo wouldn't go down that easily. While he was still in midair Izuku suddenly noticed a large explosion coming towards him, so he put both his arms in a cross motion and braced for impact. Then out of the dust Bakugo appeared and grabbed Izuku from his shirt. "DON'T ACT ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY DEKU!" He angrily yelled as he threw Izuku towards the arena with a big explosion. Luckily for Izuku, he managed to land on both feet with a small crater under them.
Unfortunately, Bakugo wasn't planning on giving Izuku a break as he propelled himself with his explosions towards Izuku. Combine the power of his explosions and the earth's gravity pulling him back, he was too fast for the naked eye to track, unless you have the Sharingan.
I can see… I can see his movements! I can track him! Izuku mentally said as he dodged the incoming explosion but its sheer power managed to push him away. When he opened his eyes, he was shocked, half of the arena was pulverized. He had to thanks his Sharingan for evolving last month. If it hadn't well… let's say he didn't want to imagine what would've happened.
Bakugo couldn't see where Izuku went after the last explosion, the dust was covering the entire arena. He began to look around as the dust began to settle, but suddenly his face was met by a powerful roundhouse kick from Izuku, which sent him flying across the destroyed ring.
"WOW! SO MUCH ACTION! THIS MATCH GOT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT!" Present Mic yelled as the crowd cheered showing their agreement. "ERASER SINCE THEY'RE BOTH YOUR STUDENTS CARE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THEM?" Present Mic asked to which Aizawa groaned, but decided to give an answer.
"Honestly, both of them have been blessed with Quirks that suit them well. Bakugo is nothing short of a combat genius. His instincts, physical strength, tenacity and- well, explosive nature are all perfectly suited for battle. Combine this with his Quirk, and there you have it a warrior who shines on a battlefield. His biggest limitation is his ferocity but I see this more as an advantage in this tournament. Midoriya, on the other hand, is what you can call a prodigy. Thanks to his brilliant analysis skills and his Quirk that helps him with analyzing his opponents, he's nothing short but perfect when it comes to counterattacking. He's what you call an analytical fighter. He was easily able to figure out my Quirk after seeing it for a second during the first day of school which isn't a small feat. And as we saw during the previous matches, he always finds new ways to use his Quirk. However, his weakness is his Quirk itself. Since it hasn't been long since he first awakened it, his Quirk has more weaknesses than strengths. Hence, he always has to hold back, so when he gets overwhelmed, he tends to lose his composure and go all-out." Aizawa explained.
"OH, I REMEMBER THAT! JUST LIKE THE DAY OF THE ENTRANCE EXAM WHEN HE FOUGHT THE ZERO POINTER!" Present Mic added, as he could never forget the day when Izuku landed that impressive smash. He even forgot about the exam for a moment and cheered for the boy.
"Exactly, his Quirk tends to backfire." Aizawa exclaimed with his usual monotone voice, before it picked up. "But, to be honest, both of them made so much improvement compared to when I first met them. I can assure that these two will go far."
"I SEE, YOU GOT SOME REALLY FLASHY STUDENTS, ERASER HEAD! NO WONDER, YOU HAVEN'T EXPELLED THEM YET!" Present Mic yelled as just like him, the crowd was greatly enjoying the match between the Rivals.
Bakugo stood up again as he spat some blood, before he dashed over Izuku once more.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME YOU BASTARD!" The explosive teen yelled as he prepared to attack his foe.
This is his famous right hook- no Izuku thought as he carefully read Bakugo's movements with his Sharingan. The right hook is a feint. And true to his words Bakugo fired an explosion and moved over Izuku in an attempt to get behind, but Izuku was already prepared to counter attack as he turned around. However, he didn't expect Bakugo to fire another explosion and quickly move to his side. I won't be able to react in time! He mentally thought.
"DIE!" Bakugo shouted as he fired a large explosion directed at Izuku's ribs making the crowd cringe once more.
The Sharingan user couldn't help but shriek as he was sent flying away to the other side of the arena. He felt that his ribs cracked under the force of the explosion.
"A DIRECT HIT! BAKUGO MANAGES TO FIRE A LARGE EXPLSOSION AT MIDORIYA FROM POINT BLANK RANGE! IS THIS THE END FOR MIDORIYA?!" Present Mic cried out.
Once Izuku stood up again, a hole in his PE uniform revealed the nasty burn in his side caused by the explosion. It stung as hell. He gritted his teeth as the pain was almost unbearable but the word give up no longer existed in his dictionary. "Is that all you've got asshole!" He shouted as was the one to dash over his foe this time.
What? Is Deku going in blindly? No this isn't him, knowing him I'm sure he's planning something. Bakugo thought as he knew that Izuku was an analytical fighter, who analyze before counterattacking. But to Bakugo's surprise, Izuku was just running towards him and didn't seem like he'll stop anytime soon. He was running towards him like… Ochaco. That bastard! Did he copy Round Face's movements now? It doesn't matter he'll share the same fate as her.
Bakugo fired an explosion at Izuku, just like he didwith Ochaco, but to his surprise this whole act was a feint. Izuku jumped in the air and rested his hand on Bakugo's head, before landing on his feet behind the Explosion Boy. Bakugo quickly turned around, but not fast enough to defend himself against Izuku's next attack.
"Lowest Round Kick!" Izuku shouted as he knocked Bakugo off his feet, then without showing signs of stopping, he kicked Bakugo high in the air.
"DEKU" Bakugo gritted his teeth as he was sent flying to the air. As much as he wanted to move and counter attack he couldn't. And before he even knew it Izuku was in front of him.
That is what I brought you here to talk about! The next All Might… the fledgling Symbol of Peace… Izuku Midoriya. I want you to tell the world I am here!"
All Might's words came to Izuku's ears, which made him remember his responsibilities as All Might's successor, it made him remember what he needs to do. But-
"FROM NOW ON… WE'RE EQUALS!"
All Might's and his words made him remember something more important, it made him remember what is he fighting for. He's fighting to prove his worth to everyone, to prove he's no longer that useless little kid, to prove himself to everyone including Bakugo. Yes, although he hates to admit it, Bakugo is the most important person he wants to prove himself to.
"I'm going to win Kacchan!" He shouted as his Sharingan began to spin and the lightning of One for All filled the air and moved intensely around him. Resonating deep within him, the past wills and power of One for All echoed in his body, granting even more power within him.
"One for All 8% Green Dragon Ultra Kick!" He yelled as he delivered a powerful kick to Bakugo's gut. The green aura morphed into a dragon who let out a mighty roar before Izuku's kick landed, sending Bakugo back to the arena with a loud thud once again. Did I get him? Izuku thought as the dust began to settle down.
Much to everyone's surprise, Bakugo stood up again as he spat some blood. He was frowning but was quickly relieved when he felt more sweat building up in his hands. I hate to admit it but Deku is strong… Although, when it comes to mobility, I'm superior, but still, those eyes of his are a real problem. Good time as any to use my new special attack. Bakugo sneered as he shot forward once more.
"Midnight" Cementos called his colleague.
"Hm… What's wrong?" She asked.
"Aren't these two going a bit too far?" He asked as the fight was starting to get too violent for a Sports Festival match.
"What? Are you unhappy that your precious arena got destroyed again?" She chuckled but she realized that Cementos was being serious. "Alright, let me check with Nezu on how far these two can go." She added before she called Nezu.
Izuku instantly began to move to the side, his eyes easily followed Bakugo's advancing form and his outstretched hands. If I can go around this explosion, I can catch him off guard. He thought as he dodged to the side them immediately pushed himself forward, moving around his opponent in two quick bursts of speed. He pulled his fist back and waited, time moving in slow-motion thanks to his Sharingan. Right when he notices me and turns, that's the perfect angle to land a Texas Smash!
True to his plan, Bakugo turned his head around slightly to get a good look at his foe, only to catch a fist straight to the jaw, causing more blood to fly from Bakugo's jaw as he gasped in pain.
"Texas Smash!"
Unfortunately for Izuku, this was his biggest mistake. In an effort to not injure Bakugo so badly, he couldn't help but throw that previous punch at 5% which wasn't enough to knock Bakugo by all means. The latter's jaw morphed into a savage grin beneath Izuku's fist, before he raised his hand and faced his palm towards Izuku's eyes. Izuku's heart sunk in his stomach.
"STUN GRENADE!" Bakugo yelled as the entire arena lit up and a shrill filled the air.
Izuku screamed in agony, his eyes were burning and he could barely hear anything. What was that?! How did Kacchan do that?! On instinct, Izuku closed his eyes, deactivated his Sharingan and covered his eyes with his hands and to make it worse Bakugo fired another explosion at him which sent Izuku flying until he slammed into the arena's wall, the one separating the arena from the stands. Izuku landed painfully on the ground. He couldn't do anything. Bakugo really managed to exploit his only weakness. He couldn't use his Sharingan anymore… For the first time in a long time, he felt utterly defeated.
Bakugo laughed loudly like a maniac, this was the moment he was waiting for since the Battle Trials. This was the moment he kept dreaming of everyday for the past month as he went through his hellish training. "HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, DEKU?! I MADE THAT STUN GRENADE ESPECIALLY FOR YOU! BUT DON'T BLAME ME DEKU! IF YOU WANT TO BLAME SOMETHING BLAME YOUR STUPID QUIRK! AFTER ALL, I TOLD YOU BEFORE, DIDN'T I?" Bakugo exclaimed as he began to remember what he told Izuku long ago when they were kids.
"You're so lucky, your Quirk is so cool! I hope I get mine soon, too." Kid Izuku said as he and Kid Bakugo were walking through a forest, while Kid Bakugo had a fishing net in his hands.
"No matter what Quirk you get, you'll never beat me!"
"NO MATTER WHAT QUIRK YOU GET, YOU'LL NEVER BEAT ME! I ALMOST FEEL BAD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE CURRENT LOOK ON MY FACE!" Bakugo added with a shit-eating grin on his face. Normally, flashbangs can make you blind for a few seconds, so with those sensitive eyes of his, Deku must be in hell! He mentally told himself.
All Might clenched his fists nervously, he was so worried and he couldn't take his eyes off his successor's collapsed form. One is fighting to prove himself and be acknowledged and the other to prove he's the best. Young Bakugo really wasn't kidding when he pledged to become the strongest student in UA. His plan to take down Young Midoriya was flawless. I know that I shouldn't play favorites but Young Midoriya, you worked so hard for the past year just for this moment. You worked so hard to prove yourself to the world… You can't go down like that young man!
In the stands below, Inko was tightly gripping Himiko's hand. Her face clearly showed that she was unable to bear witness the sight of her son in distress. Himiko uncomfortably shifted in her seat too when the jumbotron displayed a close-up of Izuku's pained expression. Even Mitsuki herself couldn't help but think that this has gone too far. She wanted to yell at Katsuki but there was nothing she could do.
Midnight didn't know whether to announce Bakugo as the winner or not, as she looked at the heavily-panting and injured Izuku on the ground. Nezu said it's fine as long as no injury is life threatening or truly severe and according to his words, they're the one who made it into a No Holds Barred fight, but, still, isn't this a bit too much? She thought.
However, the whole crowd was surprised as Izuku began to stand up again, he was heavenly panting and it was really hard for him to stand up as the pain made him so dizzy. Seeing this, Bakugo couldn't help but smirk.
"You know what they say, don't you Deku? When two warriors are powerful enough, they're able to read each other's thoughts simply by an exchange of fists. Without ever uttering a single word, get it?"
Izuku panted more as he desperately tried to stand up.
"You've always been naïve, Deku! Tell me, do you know my thoughts?" Bakugo approached Izuku. "Can you tell what's on my mind?!"
What are you trying to say, Kacchan? Izuku mentally thought but his thoughts were interrupted by a loud boom as pain resonated in his entire body once more. Bakugo fired an explosion, so strong that it made Izuku stuck to the wall.
"You make me so angry Deku, do you know that?! You sicken me!" Bakugo exclaimed with a frown. Meanwhile, Izuku felt a throbbing pain in his chest. That last explosion left a serious burn mark on his skin. "You have always been following behind me, ever since we were kids! You were always behind me! No matter how much I beat you up, you were always stuck to my back like glue…! But then you disappeared for a year and… became so strong out of nowhere… So strong that the roles were reversed! I couldn't help but ask myself everyday why?! Why?! Why did I end up chasing after a small fry like you! You, who were once a pebble in my way, humiliated me in front of everyone during the Battle Trials! You defeated me without using your full power, as if I wasn't even worth the effort! You made me look like a total fool! Tell me, during our final year in middle school, while you've been getting stronger every day, you've been looking down on me the entire time, haven't you?!"
Izuku gasped in shock as he heard Bakugo's words. It was the first time in his life where Bakugo expressed his feelings. Is this what you truly believe Kacchan?
Bakugo clenched his fists in anger, "SAY SOMETHING YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Bakugo shouted before he punched Izuku in the face. "IS THIS TRUE?!"
"Hey, watch it Bakugo! This may be a No Holds Barred but you really are going too far now, I'm sorry Midoriya but I'm afraid I'll have to end this match!" Midnight announced but was quickly interrupted by none other than Izuku. "NO! Don't stop the match! Everything is under control! This is between him and I!" He said which made Bakugo angrier.
"STILL ACTING ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY DEKU! STILL LOOKING DOWN ONE ME, THEN HOW ABOUT THIS!" Bakugo shouted before he slapped Izuku twice. Izuku grit his teeth in anger. "WHAT, DEKU? ARE YOU FEELING ANGRY, HUMILIATED, IS THAT IT? YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TRUE HUMILIATION IS, YOU FUCKING NERD! BUT DON'T YOU WORRY, I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU WHAT TRUE HUMULIATION FEELS LIKE, JUST LIKE YOU'VE DONE DURING THE BATTLE TRIALS! JUST LIKE YOU'VE DONE DURING THE SPORTS FESTIVAL AND JUST LIKE HOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING DOWN ON ME THIS ENTIRE TIME!" He yelled before kneeing Izuku in the stomach, making him spit more blood.
"You're an idiot Kacchan…" Izuku muttered.
"What was that?" Bakugo asked half angry half confused.
"I SAID YOU'RE AN IDIOT!" Izuku shouted before he slammed his head into Bakugo's head, giving him a powerful headbutt.
"When… When I first met you and we became friends, I was so happy. You were someone who was amazing and I just wanted to see how far you would go. I was so eager to get a Quirk, to be able to keep up with you, to become a Pro Hero with you! But… I didn't. I didn't get a Quirk while you got an amazing one. You were always able to do everything, and everyone was always fawning over you. You were so far ahead of me and I knew it. To me you are the image of victory. You were so amazing that I couldn't help but become jealous of you. I envied you. Even after everything you did to me, I couldn't help it, so I ran after you and chased you. Once I got my Quirk, I worked so hard on myself to become like you. I saw you as a rival who I had to surpass, who I had to prove myself to. Even now, I still feel the same way. The truth was, I really just wanted to be like you, you… you were everything I aspired to be, that's why…"
"I'M JUST GETTING STARTED! YOU HEAR ME! FROM NOW ON YOU'RE… MY RIVAL AND I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU!"
"You have no idea how happy you made me that day. It was the first time you ever said… anything, acknowledging me. I was overjoyed to hear this from you." Izuku shouted as he punched Bakugo in his chest, knocking him away. "THAT'S WHY YOU ARE A FUCKING BASTARD!" Izuku yelled.
"You truly think you could still win, huh, Deku? Look at you, you're blind! You can't even use your Quirk anymore! You're a Quirkless loser, just like the old days…" Bakugo exclaimed.
"If there's one thing I've learned from this journey, it's that it's okay to be weak, but it's not okay to stay weak! That's why I'll turn my greatest weakness into my greatest strength! I will win no matter what! I already said this before, but I'll say it again. I won't give up! I never go back on my word, because… because that's My Hero Way!" Izuku said as he retook his fighting stance. I'm sorry All Might… I'm so sorry, I know how much you warned me about not using both powers individually to mask the true nature of One for All but… there's no other way. Izuku mentally said as he activated One for All once again. The scent of ozone filled the air and the green lightning began to swirl around him.
Seeing this, everyone gasped in shocked. They all thought that for Izuku's Quirk to activate, he had to activate it from his eyes first. After some thinking most people shrugged it off as him activating his Quirk from every part of his body except from his eyes. Class 1-A were even more convinced by this, since they saw Izuku activating his Quirk only from his eyes during the Battle Trials. However, this wasn't the case for people like Endeavor, The Three Elders and certain dark figures who were watching the match and knew a lot about the Sharingan or so they thought. Izuku was desperate and he knew it. Forget about fighting without his Sharingan, he had to fight without his sight and this was a big disadvantage on its own.
*Music: Naruto OST -My Name (Extended)*
"DEKU!" Bakugo shouted as he propelled himself with his explosions to reach Izuku. "I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THAT MY QUIRK IS SUPERIOR TO YOURS!" He tried to fire an explosion at Izuku, but the latter swiftly kicked his hands and elbowed him in the chest before he could make his sweat explode.
"IZUKU MIDORIYA MANAGES TO BLOCK BAKUGO'S ATTACK DESPITE BEING BLIND! OI, OI, OI! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! ERASER SAY SOMETHING!" Present Mic said with visible shock as he and the crowd were in awe. They didn't understand how was Izuku able to fight despite being blind for the moment.
Aizawa couldn't help but stare in pure admiration at Izuku. He had done the one thing that he himself was never able to do.
What the- He managed to kick my hands before I fire an explosion, how?! Bakugo thought as million questions popped in his head. However, his thoughts came to a stop once he saw Izuku moving in to attack him. Bakugo's eyes widened, while Kurogane had a smirk on his face.
Izuku wasn't someone who would waste time. Right now, he knew where Bakugo currently was and this was his chance to counter attack. First off, he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Bakugo's ribs, before he kicked the Explosive Boy's chin. Izuku carefully calculated when will Bakugo start falling, and at that precise moment he did a backflip and landed a devastating kick.
"Midoriya is actually relying on his other senses to pinpoint Bakugo's location!" Aizawa exclaimed, his eyes glued to Izuku. I can't believe what I'm seeing… This first-year student who just awakened his Quirk last year already managed to cover up for its weakness! Something that a Pro Hero like me wasn't able to do with my Quirk!
"ERASER ARE YOU 100% SURE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?! I MEAN YOU KNOW EVEN YOU…" Present Mic said but Aizawa gave him a sharp nod. He was sure of it.
Present Mic took off his glasses for a moment and looked seriously at his friend. "I don't know what to say… Just teach him well Shota, make sure he reaches his full potential."
"You don't need to remind me." Aizawa replied.
Flashback:
"Sen…Sen- Sensei, I made it back." Izuku said, as he was trying to catch his breath.
"You cheated. You used your Quirk, didn't you?" Kurogane questioned the younger boy.
"How did you-" Izuku was going to ask about how he knew about his Quirk, but figured out that Mori probably told him. "Was I not allowed to do that?" Izuku changed his question.
"Yes, using your Quirk defeats the purpose of this training." Kurogane replied.
"You have to be kidding me sensei, I barely made it out alive using my Quirk." Izuku exclaimed.
"I figured out that you'd use your Quirk, so I made things harder for you."
"But what if I didn't use my Quirk and that knife hit me?" Izuku asked, as he questioned his sensei's sanity. Was he a psychopath who wanted to kill him or something?
"The knives are made out of plastics, they're not even sharp." The man simply replied.
Izuku was relieved that his sensei wasn't at least a psychopath who was willing to kill him, but he didn't let the ghost part get out of his head, until the man spoke again.
"Now go back there, and redo the exercise this time without your Quirk." The man said, as Izuku fell on his back.
"Mom, I'm sorry I didn't make it out alive." Izuku simply said.
"Cut the slack and get going, my advice is that you should concentrate on your breathing, focus, and feel the air around you, and use other senses than your vision. I know that your Quirk enhances your vision, but what would happen if you're in a circumstance where you can't use your eyes?" The old man said.
"I see so this exercise's purpose is to cover for my weakness." Izuku said, as he could only agree with his sensei. He then got up and went back to the mountain.
Midoriya I know that this training might be too much on you but if you're going to be the greatest Hero, the next Symbol of Peace, then you should become a strong Hero, capable of protecting others and himself.
"All right, let's do this again." Izuku said, as he was making his way down this time without his Sharingan, and once again the fog was thick as hell. However, it wasn't long before Izuku fell into a hole. "Ow… oh damn, I hurt my arm." He said, as he got up, and after a few steps, he got smacked by a log, then tackled by a rope and fell on the ground.
"This is not good, remember Izuku, concentrate, breath and use your other senses." He said to himself, as he tried to focus on his other senses and his breath. "There!" He said, as he dodged some pebbles. "I did it! I was finally able to do it!" He cheered as he started to make his way down the mountain, dodging the traps.
"About time you showed them boy!" Kurogane exclaimed. He was totally proud of his student right now.
"YOU… DON'T TELL ME… ARE YOU REALLY RELYING ON YOUR OTHER SENSES?!" He asked half shocked half angry.
Izuku only gave a smile, his confidence coming back to him. "Not so sure of winning anymore, Kacchan?" He taunted his foe which made Bakugo even more mad if that was even possible at this point. "I'm going to say two things Kacchan. First, you're loud, everything about you screams the word LOUD. Secondly, you're probably used to it so you didn't really notice but you smell just like caramel. After all, nitroglycerin has a scent like sugar. And the more you sweat the more the smell intensifies. Thanks to these two factors, I'm having no problem knowing where you are."
"JUST HOW FAR?! HOW FAR ARE YOU GOING TO GO DEKU?!" Bakugo questioned as he clenched his fists.
"I'll go as far as I can until I reach my dream Kacchan, and nothing will ever stop me. Not even you!" Izuku replied.
"IF THAT'S HOW IT IS, THEN I'LL HAVE TO CRUSH YOU AND PROVE THAT I'M THE BEST! BUT I'LL ADMIT IT YOU'RE STRONG DEKU, JUST NOT AS STRONG AS ME!"
"I guess there's only one way to prove it to you, Kacchan." Izuku replied as he fully understood Bakugo's feelings. He envies Bakugo, but the latter is too prideful. From kindergarten to elementary school, middle school, and high school… They've known each other for a long time, but until now, they've never talked about how they really felt. They've never understood each other.
"ENOUGH, NO MORE WORDS! IT'S TIME YOU AND I SETTLE THINGS ONCE AND FOR ALL!" Bakugo shouted.
"Then come KACCHAN!" Izuku yelled before he heard the sound of an explosion. From above! He thought as he dodged the incoming attack by jumping back. "That was close…" He muttered.
Don't make me think! Bakugo said in his mind as he propelled himself with his explosions to clear the distance between him and Izuku.
He's gonna get here before I land! This is bad! Repel his hand! He thought as he tried to defend himself and counter attack. Unluckily for him and to his surprise, Bakugo fired an explosion to propel himself upwards, then another one downwards to land quickly behind him. Izuku tried to quickly turn around but was met by a powerful punch infused to his guts, which knocked him away.
He tried to get up quickly, but Bakugo wasn't giving him a moment to rest, as before he could even properly stand up, Bakugo was already in front of him, firing another explosion at him. He tried to jump and evade it but Bakugo caught his leg.
"I GOT YOU NOW, DEKU!" Bakugo exclaimed before throwing Izuku back to the destroyed arena.
I don't even have time to catch my breath! Izuku thought as he kept rolling around until he finally stopped. My way of fighting by pinpointing his location and predicting his moves before acting takes too long! Damn, I really wish I could use the Sharingan right now! Izuku thought as he stood up again.
Bakugo was getting more and more pissed. No matter what he did, Izuku just keeps getting up. It infuriated him. He propelled himself with his explosions again before he pulled his fist back to punch Izuku.
Izuku heard the sound of the loud explosions, he knew Bakugo was getting closer, but didn't really know what to do. Bakugo was being careful now before hitting him and would immediately attack from somewhere else if he suspected that he'll block or dodge the next attack. Damn it Izuku think! He mentally shouted. Guess there's one thing to do… He thought as he steeled himself, before he felt the impact of the devastating punch to his face.
Bakugo was smirking as he thought that this time, he got Izuku for sure. However, his eyes widened as Izuku grabbed his arm. "DON'T TELL ME…"
"I got you now Kacchan!" Izuku said before he lifted him above his head and brought him down crashing to the ground with a strong force.
Bakugo really hated that move with every fiber of his body. Then next thing he knew, he was being lifted by the same arm and sent high in the air. "Curse you Deku…" He muttered.
Izuku soon followed, it was finally time for that other attack he saw in his dreams besides the Chidori. He had to end this now. There was no way that Bakugo was going to give him another chance like this this. He was closing in on Bakugo, he was right behind him, just where he wanted. Unfortunately for him, Bakugo recovered quickly and span around as he grabbed him by his throat. "DON'T LOOK DOWN ON ME YOU BASTARD!"
"Stun Grenade!" Bakugo yelled as the entire arena lit up and a shrill filled the air for the second time. And for the second time, Izuku was barely able to hear anything. And Bakugo wasn't so nice as soon after, he fired the largest explosion he could fire right now, making the crowd cringe.
"DIE!" He shouted, before Izuku slammed into the arena with a loud thud.
Izuku landed painfully, he was so dizzy and vaguely noticed his erratic breathing growing worse by the second. He felt his head get fuzzy from the pain or the lack of oxygen or some grim combination of the two. He felt himself completely isolated from the outside world. He was afraid that Midnight may think that he passed out so he weakly raised his hand to show that he's still conscious.
I don't have many options now. Should I use that forbidden technique? If I do, then I'll definitely win the match but there's also no doubt that I won't be able to fight in the finals. Oh well, second place is much better than third place. Izuku mentally thought as he gathered his strength to stand up again. But then, he saw the shadow of a person coming towards him. Wait? I can see?! He thought. At first, he thought it was Bakugo who was going to attack again, then he dismissed that thought and was sure that it was Midnight, who wanted to check on him. However, it was neither. It was none other than Shisui!
"Hehehe, so now I'm hallucinating, great." Izuku said with a chuckled. "Damn, I must be dizzier than I initially thought." He added as eight mysterious shadowy figures surrounded him, their features hidden besides their piercing eyes.
Shisui chuckled before he responded. "It's been a while, nice to see you again Izuku. And seems like the others are eager as well to finally meet you."
"The others?" Izuku questioned as he looked at them. He noted that one of them looked like a scrawny All Might, and another one looked… familiar. But he just couldn't see her facial features.
"Don't worry everyone, I got him. No need to interfere with him. Now is not the time anyways." He exclaimed as the eight figures began to disappear.
"Who were these people?" Izuku asked with visible confusion.
"They are the past users of One for All." Shisui replied as Izuku's eyes widened and his head started to get filled with questions. "Look, I don't have enough time to explain everything to you. I promise that soon enough you'll get most of your answers, because there's a lot we need to discuss but now is not the time. Remember you have a match. Just know that they helped with healing your eyes." Shisui explained to which Izuku gave a nod.
"Wait a second? You healed my eyes, how?" Izuku asked.
"Well, it's not like actual healing. It's just that One for All powered up the Sharingan temporarily to negate its weakness... The two powers are changing Izuku and don't worry, I'll tell you more about this later." Shisui replied, making sure that the younger boy understands what happened.
"Oh, thanks about that, it's nice to know that I have such a helpful… Quirk, I guess? Anyways, I think I'll just use a forbidden technique I learned a few months ago and end this." Izuku explained his next moves.
"And then you won't be able to go to the final round. No, that's not an option you should consider." Shisui replied.
"Then what should I do, Shisui? I have no other options." Izuku pointed out what seemed obvious to him.
Shisui patted his head and let out a sigh. "You really do underestimate the power of the Sharingan, don't you? Well, I can't blame you because no one taught you how to really use it, so here's the plan…"
"Wait!" Izuku interrupted him. "I don't want your help, because I'll feel like I'm cheating. I'm sorry it's nothing against you but it's a matter of principles." Izuku sincerely exclaimed.
Shisui smiled as he gave him a nod. "Very well, I can respect that. You're my descendant and I'm sure you'll come up with a brilliant plan."
"Easier said than done, but I want to confirm something first. Is it safe to use the Sharingan right now?" Izuku asked.
"It should be fine, just don't strain it." Shisui said to which Izuku gave a thoughtful look.
"I have a plan… I'm not so sure of it but it's worth the try." Izuku said, before Shisui patted him on his shoulder. "Then do it and show them what you're made of." Shisui said, before he disappeared.
All Might gripped his hair nervously, his heart was beating fast at the sight of his protégé. "Get up. Get up! Come on young man, damn it!" He muttered under his breath. Despite his words, Izuku didn't move and he couldn't help but feel like he was down for the count.
Many students from Class A and B had the same thoughts. They truly wished to see Izuku stand up once more, but it seemed like this time Bakugo finally got him. But this doesn't mean that some other people like the Bakusquad weren't cheering for him along with other spectators.
"Izuku Midoriya is unconscious! Kat…" Midnight began but was interrupted by the scene that transpired in front of her.
When Izuku reopened his eyes, he was lying on the destroyed arena. His breath and hearing were back to normal and he was no longer dizzy and Bakugo had just landed. Seems like I was out for a few seconds. He said in his mind, before he stood up to his full height. His eyes were still closed. Everyone gasped in shock before Izuku took off his UA PE shirt. This thing is torn and so damaged that it will just be a hindrance. He thought. Many girls and well creepy women couldn't help but stare at him and his amazing muscles. They never knew that under the pile of clothes he wore was a well built and magnificent body like his, hidden too by the fact that he's an innocent sweet cinnamon roll.
"So manly…" Kirishima said with tears streaming from his eyes. He was clearly able to see how hard Izuku must have worked out to reach that level. And he hates to admit it but he was a bit jealous.
Itsuka, Momo and Ochaco couldn't help but blush at the sight of Izuku's muscles. His muscles were even more refined than a professional swimmer. And the fact that he was covered in burns, bruises and blood but did didn't seem to care made him look like a badass and hot in the eyes of women, especially Himiko and Midnight.
Midnight licked her lips and squealed. It seems like she was going to attempt something and Aizawa felt his Dadzawa instincts warning him. "Nemuri if you even think about doing something inappropriate, I won't hesitate and call the FBI!" He shouted with a tone suggesting that he wasn't joking or taking any chances.
"Tsk… Fine." Midnight muttered under her breath.
Seeing this Mineta couldn't help but loose his mind. "I WON'T FORGIVE YOU MIDORIYA! WHY IS IT ALWAYS YOU THAT THE GIRLS ARE FAWNING OVER AND NOT ME, YOU BASTARD! YOU'RE-" He began as his eyes were filled with… blood. But Ibara captured him with her vines and Tsuyu slapped him with her tongue.
"Gross…" Ibara simply said.
*Music: Naruto OST -The Raising Fighting Spirit (Extended)*
Izuku didn't care about what was happening around him. He had to focus on his match and nothing else mattered right now. He took a deep breath as he got into his battle stance. Bakugo looked at him as he clenched his fists in anger. He had enough, he dashed over Izuku with his explosions to finish this once and for all. Izuku opened his eyes and activated his Sharingan as he stared at Bakugo's eyes. His Sharingan began to spin.
"I TOLD YOU DEKU! IT'S NO USE, YOUR QUIRK IS WEAKER THAN MINE! YOU WILL NEVER SURPASS ME!" Bakugo yelled as he tried fire a stun grenade at Izuku, but the latter quickly closed his eyes and swiftly dodged to the side.
"TRIPLE KICK!" Izuku shouted before he delivered the three devastating kicks, sending Bakugo flying away.
"Don't think you can get me twice with the same trick Kacchan!"
But this would've been a third for my ears… Oh well, it doesn't matter.
Bakugo got even more mad and fired an explosion to send himself high in the air and surprisingly Izuku was there, just before him which totally surprised Bakugo.
"Detroit Smash!" Izuku sent Bakugo back to the arena, but the latter used his explosions to slow down his fall. However, Izuku landed quickly behind him, ready to deliver his next attack.
"Twin Strike!" He shouted as Bakugo was knocked away.
"Is that all you've got Kaachan? I'm getting bored here." He taunted as he yawned, showing how completely bored he was.
Bakugo's eyes widened, many sparks ignited in his hands, before he propelled himself once more and tried to punch Izuku, but Izuku easily caught his hand before he could even throw the punch.
Bakugo got even more confused and angry by this as he tried to fire an explosion with his other hand, but before he could Izuku caught his hand and forced him to fire the explosion to the air.
"You're going to take a step back now and say are you reading my mind?" Izuku simply said and true to his words Bakugo took a step back.
"Are you reading my mind?" Bakugo gasped in shock. How did he know? He thought.
"Next you're going to say: Wait can you see into the future?" Izuku pointed out what would happen in the next second.
"Can you see into the future?" Bakugo grit his teeth. He didn't understand what was happening?
Izuku put a hand on his chin, not taking things seriously at all. "Yes, I can see the future now."
"Cut the crap Deku!" Bakugo growled.
"You don't believe me? Try it for yourself. It's only natural, but I've gotten stronger…" Izuku simply said with a smirk.
"WHAT ARE YOU SMILING ABOUT?!" Bakugo shouted as he propelled himself with his explosions and tried to fire an explosion at Izuku but Izuku easily dodged it by jumping back. "I'm sure you're up to something!" He said as he fired another explosion but Izuku jumped above it. "THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME SICK! I CAN'T TELL WHAT YOU'RE THINKING! NO MATTER HOW MUCH I BEAT YOU UP, YOU STICK CLOSE! EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE NOTHING, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME! THAT ATTITUDE YOU HAVE LIKE YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME, LIKE YOU'RE SERIOUSLY GONNA SURPASS ME—IT'S AN EYESORE!" Bakugo said in frustration.
"Is… Is that what you thought?" Izuku questioned as he landed back on the arena. "I mean, normally, if someone keeps looking down on you, you won't want anything to do with them anymore." Izuku said as remembered all the bullying and torment. He clenched his fists. "But like I said before, because I had nothing at first, along with the parts I hated about you, I saw vividly all the amazing things you could do! You who had so much that I didn't have, were an amazing person much closer to me than All Might!" Izuku yelled as the energy of One for All surged through his body. He closed the distance between him and Bakugo in a second. "It's because I thought you were amazing… That's why…"Izuku said as he hit Bakugo with a powerful roundhouse kick. "I kept chasing after you!" Bakugo tried to block the kick with his forearms but it proved useless under Izuku's sheer power. However, Izuku didn't expect Bakugo to fire a large explosion that created a lot of smoke. Shit I must have lost control because I got emotional. He thought.
Bakugo wasn't stupid by any means. Sure he was loud and ferocious and barely showed signs of being smart, but the truth is, he truly is smart. Once he hit Izuku with that last explosion, it clicked in his mind. That fucking nerd! That whole thing about seeing the future was just a trick, it was one of his damn illusions! Bakugo said in his mind.
When the dust finally cleared, both Izuku and Bakugo were still standing, barely able to, but they were. "Is that all you've got you bastard!" Izuku cried triumphantly as he made another mad dash towards Bakugo. This is gross, so I can't tell you to your face, but… When my feeling of I have to beat you is stronger than I have to save you, I inadvertently start spouting more insults. That's the part of you that I hate, but the image of victory I have inside me is of you.
Bakugo tried to lift his arms but the combined backlashes of his previous made it nearly impossible. Fuck! Move! Damn it, I overdid it with the explosions! In the end, Bakugo settled for a kick which Deku swiftly dodged and punched the former right in his face.
Bakugo howled and fired a series of weak, but rapid explosions from his palms that forced Izuku to retreat once more. Izuku coughed some blood and panted heavily, his lungs screaming from the repeated smoke inhalation. "Just how much will it take for you to give up?" Izuku asked.
"I prefer to die than to give up to you!" Bakugo replied. His whole body was covered in bruises and blood, his jaw and ribs were probably broken. His arms were screaming at him to stop using his Quirk. Both fighters were in a bad shape. "Why don't you give up?" Bakugo asked.
"Never, I'll win right here and right now! Because I vowed to win!" Izuku replied.
"I guess there's only one way to find out now…" Bakugo simply said. He then took off into a run, stumbling at first before pushing past his limits and broke into a full sprint. He roared as he opened his palms downwards and fired, skyrocketing up.
Izuku grinned as he looked at his opponent skyrocketing to the sky. This is it. This is his final attack… He's going beyond his limits. He's going beyond PLUS ULTRA! Izuku kneeled before green lightning began to gather in his right hand.
Bakugo fired a carefully timed series of explosions from either hand, spinning faster and faster until he was surrounded by a swirling, violent column of wind.
Izuku's hand was finally covered with green lightning. He looked at where Bakugo was before he jumped with all his might, going as high as he can as he thrust his hand forward. In order to meet the expectations of All Might, who chose me! Izuku thought as he remembered the day All Might acknowledged him. In order to prove to them that they were wrong! That I'm not worthless and useless! Izuku though as he remembered his past classmates and teachers. In order for you to acknowledge me as a Hero…! Izuku though as he remembered everything Bakugo put him through. I'll become the greatest Hero!
"Midnight we have stop them now! They've gone too far!" Cementos cried out as he activated his Quirk to create cement walls.
"On it!" Midnight replied as she tore her Hero Costume's sleeve to use her Quirk.
However, both attempts were useless.
"DEKUU!" Bakugo yelled as he saw Izuku coming closer with the Chidori.
"KACCHAAN!" Izuku yelled.
"HOWTIZER IMPACT!" Bakugo yelled as he fired a massive blast.
"CHIDORI, ONE THOUSAND BIRDS!" Izuku shouted.
"EVERYONE TAKE COVER!" Present Mic cried out as he and Aizawa quickly hid under the desk to brace for impact.
"I SAID THAT THESE TWO ARE CRAZY AND SHOULDN'T FIGHT EACH OTHER! PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Denki screamed as he and Mineta held each other and prepared for the worse.
The two attacks finally collided causing a terrific explosion with a loud BOOM that shook the whole stadium as if there was an earthquake. Even people who were outside the stadium were able to see and feel the blast. As for Midnight and Cementos, they were blown to God only knows where.
The smoke and dust took a long time to clear. The crowd slowly started to physically recover from the explosion, but not mentally. They were too shocked by the sheer power of two first-year students. Once the dust and smoke finally settled down, their jaws dropped to the floor. The arena was gone, there was just a massive crater in the middle of the stadium where the ring once stood. Finally, two figures were visible, one was kneeling and the other was standing. Izuku was kneeling and covered with burns and blood as if he took a dive into a minefield, while Bakugo was still standing, his shirt nowhere to be found.
"I won't lose to… D-Deku…" He muttered before he fell down, he collapsed to the floor. He was completely rendered unconscious. Everyone was silent, only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Present Mic finally took back his seat again as he rubbed a bump on his head. His eyes widened as he observed the conclusion of this epic battle. "THE LAST MAN STANDING IS THE GREEN POWERHOUSE IZUKU MIDORIYA! HE IS THE WINNER!" Present Mic cried out.
*Music: About A Voyage MHA Ending*
Izuku was stunned but he slowly stood up, his whole body was screaming and aching from the pain but he stood up. He looked around, searching for his mentor until his eyes met his. He smiled. Tears threaten to come out of his eyes, but he knew he couldn't cry now. It was really hard not to, but he knew better. He raised his arm in victory. He did it! He won!
It took a moment for everybody else to process what just happened, but then the crowd erupted into uproarious applause and cheers!
Finally! He thought. He won and surpassed Bakugo!
In a small house far from the sports festival, a short man with grey hair, wearing his Hero Costume was eating taiyaki while watching the Sports Festival from his TV.
"Hoho! Seems like Toshinori found an interesting successor… And I have to admit the other three geezers prepared him well. I can't imagine what would've happened if the boy was only trained by Toshinori. That fool is so bad when it comes to teaching! Pfft squeeze your buttocks and yell Smash, only an idiot would use One for All like that."
Sir Nighteye Agency:
Nighteye was really proud by Mirio's performance today. The boy made him nothing but proud today, as he got first place. It was the first time he ever came first place and Sir Nighteye was so happy for him. He wished he could've been there for him but he had some Hero Work to do. He had just heard that the first-years Sports Festival's was still going on, so he decided to watch it since he had nothing better to do. It was also a good opportunity to see the 9th successor of One for All. Sir Nighteye was really displeased by All Might's selection since his friend and idol chose someone who wasn't even on the candidates list. Heck he thought that Mirio who was the second-best candidate from the list was more worthy of One for All than Izuku for many reasons, including Izuku's father wishes. However, once he turned on the TV and began to watch some main highlights like Izuku's Chidori vs Bakugo's Howitzer Impact, or how Izuku fought his opponent while being blind and finally how he's standing tall and smiling after winning the toughest battle he ever fought, he couldn't help but stare and watch. Hmm… Interesting… He thought.