A Few Days Later
Honnouji Academy
Those who survived the Naturals Election gathered in the schoolyard at exactly 8:30 am. All of the No-Star students waited just outside the entrance. Y/N leaned against a wall, checking his watch, while Mako vibrated with excitement.
(Y/N): 8:30 on the dot. Why does the apocalypse always have to start so early in the morning?
Mako: Ryuko is gonna win! She'll totally win!
Back in the courtyard, Satsuki emerged from her tower, gazing down at the masses like a queen on her throne.
Satsuki: Fellow comrades of Honnouji Academy! You have struggled through seven days of mortal combat to stand here today! However, the real battle has only just begun! We will determine the new hierarchy based on the results of this battle!
Suddenly, massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, shooting skyward with a deafening rumble.
Satsuki: There are five towers! Those standing atop them will be the candidates!
(Y/N): Covering his ears Loud noises and property damage. Yep, definitely a school event.
Ryuko: There she goes, being dramatic again!
Ryuko charged at one of the towers, carving a path through the desperate students, and claimed the top. The other four towers were instantly occupied by the Elite Four.
Satsuki: I see you aren't called the Elite Four for nothing.
Nonon: Naturally. Did you expect us to lose to the rabble?
Gamagoori: Lady Satsuki! We propose a new rule! We each wish to face Ryuko Matoi in single combat!
Sanageyama: Yeah! I want another crack at her!
Nonon: If we're going to crush her, let's do it on the big stage.
Satsuki: Very well. This should be amusing.
Another, much larger tower emerged from the center of the schoolyard, creating a main arena.
(Y/N): Stares at the transforming landscape Who builds this stuff? And do they have a permit?
Three Hours Later
Honnouji Academy - Hallway
The trio were eating lunch in a quiet corner. Ryuko was inhaling food at a terrifying pace.
Mako: Here, Ryuko! Have some tea!
Ryuko: Gulp Thanks!
Mako: Eating Mom's mystery croquettes gives you 1 million horsepower!
(Y/N): And a million grams of saturated fat. You're gonna cramp up if you fight on a stomach that full.
Ryuko: Shut up! I'm fueling the engine! I'm gonna burn it all off anyway.
(Y/N): Just saying. Don't blame me if you throw up mid-fight.
SMACK
(Y/N): Ow. Why is your spoon so heavy?
Aikuro: What a pickle this is, Matoi...
Aikuro Mikisugi appeared, leaning casually against a pillar, his shirt already unbuttoned halfway.
Mako: Mr. Mikisugi!
(Y/N): Teach. Put a shirt on.
Aikuro: I'm just here to check on my favorite student.
(Y/N): Eyes narrow That's not creepy at all.
Aikuro: Sighs Listen.
Suddenly, Aikuro flicked his wrist. Several senbon needles flew through the air. Two struck Mako, freezing her instantly. One struck Y/N right in the forehead.
Ryuko: You bastard! What did you do to my friends!?
Aikuro: Adjusts glasses Relax. I hit a pressure point to paralyze them temporarily. We need privacy.
Ryuko: So what the hell do you want?
Aikuro: Drop out of the fi-
(Y/N): ...Hey.
Aikuro froze. Ryuko's eyes widened. Y/N reached up and casually plucked the needle out of his forehead. A tiny drop of blood beaded up, but the skin healed almost instantly.
(Y/N): You missed the pressure point. Also, rude.
Aikuro: W-What!? That needle should have mobilized an elephant!
Ryuko: Y/N! You're okay!
(Y/N): I'm durable. Takes more than a sewing kit to stop me. He stands up and picks up the frozen Mako like a surfboard. If you wanted to talk, you could have just asked. I'll take Mako and wait over there.
Ryuko and Aikuro watched Y/N walk away, carrying the stiff Mako under his arm.
Aikuro: ...That boy is an anomaly.
Ryuko: Tell me about it. So, what were you saying?
Aikuro: Right. Drop out. The Elite Four are on a different level than the clubs. If you fight them all in a row, you and Senketsu might not survive.
Ryuko: If you aren't gonna tell me the truth about my dad, then shut up and watch! I'm gonna beat them, beat Satsuki, and drag the truth out of her!
Ryuko waved Y/N back over.
Ryuko: Done talking. Being around you is exhausting, teach. My friends are better company.
(Y/N): Walking back You guys done with the secret meeting?
Ryuko: It wasn't a meeting!
Aikuro: Sigh I can't stop you, can I? Fine. The needles are safe to remove from Mako.
(Y/N): Pulls the needle from Mako
Mako: GASP! Ryuko! I'll cheer for you until my throat explodes!
Aikuro: Good luck.
(Y/N): Weird guy.
Ryuko: You're one to talk, Mr. "I-Can-Tank-Needles-With-My-Face."
(Y/N): I drink a lot of milk.
1:00 PM
Honnouji Academy - Arena
The schoolyard was packed. Every student in the academy was watching.
(Y/N): Is attendance mandatory? It's really hot out here.
Mako: Of course! Everyone wants to see the fight!
Satsuki: Begin!
ROUND 1: GAMAGOORI VS RYUKO
Ryuko and Gamagoori faced off. Ryuko stood still, refusing to attack.
(Y/N): Smart. His uniform absorbs damage to power up. If she doesn't hit him, he can't charge.
Gamagoori: If you won't attack, I will punish myself! Scourge Regalia!
Gamagoori began whipping himself violently.
(Y/N): ...Okay, I did not see that coming. That's... disturbing.
The whips lashed out, forcing Ryuko into a corner. She tried to attack, but Gamagoori absorbed the blows, inflating his uniform. He trapped her, molding her into a literal mold.
Mako: She's like a human waffle!
Ryuko escaped, but got sucked inside his armor.
Gamagoori: I have you now!
Suddenly, spikes burst from the armor. Ryuko evolved Senketsu, turning him into a pincushion.
SENKETSU SENJIN! (Senketsu Blade Flash)
(Y/N): Huh. Spikes. Practical.
Ryuko shredded Gamagoori's uniform. He fell, defeated.
WINNER: RYUKO MATOI
Gamagoori, in shame, pulled out a blade to commit seppuku.
(Y/N): Woah, easy there, drama queen!
Satsuki: Stop, Gamagoori. Wipe your tears. It is too early to kneel.
Satsuki walked away. Gamagoori collapsed, sobbing.
(Y/N): Satsuki has a heart? Or maybe she just doesn't want to do the paperwork for a dead student.
Ryuko: Next!
Inumuta: I suppose I am next.
Ryuko: I'm gonna wreck you too!
(Y/N): Ryuko, maybe take a breather? Your engine is overheating.
Ryuko: Shut up! I'm fine!
ROUND 2: INUMUTA VS RYUKO
Inumuta stepped up.
Inumuta: Three-Star Uniform: Probe Regalia.
(Y/N): Squints He looks like a gaming keyboard.
Inumuta began typing on himself, analyzing Ryuko.
Gamagoori, now in his underwear, slammed down onto the bench right next to Y/N and Mako.
Mako: G-Gamagoori! You're naked!
Gamagoori: I am a No-Star now! I belong in the stands!
(Y/N): ...Dude. The bench is huge. Do you have to sit on me? You're taking up 80% of the space.
Gamagoori: Hmph!
Inumuta used optical camouflage, turning invisible.
Mako: He's gone!
Gamagoori: Fool! He is camouflaged!
Inumuta beat on Ryuko while invisible. Ryuko, annoyed, expanded Senketsu into a massive flat sheet and slapped the entire arena floor.
WHACK!
(Y/N): Area of Effect attack. Nice. Can't dodge if you hit everything at once.
Inumuta reappeared, glitching. Before Ryuko could finish him, he transformed back.
Inumuta: I forfeit.
Ryuko: What?!
Inumuta: I have the data. Fighting further risks damaging my collected information. I chose data over victory.
WINNER: RYUKO MATOI
(Y/N): He quit? Well... tactically sound, I guess. But kind of lame.
ROUND 3: NONON VS RYUKO
Nonon Jakuzure marched out with an entire band.
(Y/N): Oh great. The loud one.
Inumuta, now in a tracksuit, sat down on the other side of Y/N.
(Y/N): ...Really?
Inumuta: This is the optimal vantage point.
(Y/N): I am sandwiched between a half-naked giant and a human calculator. This is my personal hell.
Inumuta: Holds up a scanner Hold still, (L/N). I need to figure out why your physiology resisted the paralytic agent.
(Y/N): Pushes the scanner away Personal space, dude. No paparazzi.
Nonon transformed into a massive tank/sound system.
SYMPHONY REGALIA: GRAVE
(Y/N): That is... excessively large.
Gamagoori: Hands Y/N earplugs You will need these.
(Y/N): Thanks. You're surprisingly thoughtful for a guy who whips himself.
Nonon blasted Ryuko with weaponized classical music. Then, she transformed into an airship.
(Y/N): It can fly?
Mako: It can fly!
Gamagoori: It can fly.
(Y/N): I hate flying quirks. They're so annoying to catch.
Nonon rained missiles down. Ryuko looked finished, buried in rubble.
Mako: Don't give up!
Ryuko burst from the smoke, Senketsu transforming into a jet engine.
(Y/N): ...She can fly too?
Mako: She can fly!
Inumuta: THIS DEFIES PHYSICS!
SENKETSU SHIPPU! (Senketsu Gale)
Ryuko took to the air. Nonon, furious, unleashed her encore.
SYMPHONY REGALIA: DA CAPO
She fired a massive beam of sound. Ryuko didn't dodge. She vibrated her own body to match the frequency, turning the sound into a solid mass and reflecting it back.
(Y/N): Resonating sound waves to cancel out the impact... she's getting better at using her head.
Nonon was blasted out of the sky.
WINNER: RYUKO MATOI
Nonon crashed into the stands, landing right on top of the group.
(Y/N): Sighs Why is everyone gathering here? It's getting crowded.
Nonon: Shut up, you lazy slouch!
(Y/N): I'm a slouch? You're the one lying on the floor.
Sanageyama: Finally. My turn.
Sanageyama stepped up, his eyes sewn shut, radiating intensity.
Sanageyama: I will take the liberty of putting her down, Lady Satsuki!
ROUND 4: SANAGEYAMA VS RYUKO
BEGIN
As they charged, Y/N felt a chill. It wasn't the wind. It was a killing intent—sharp, sweet, and utterly malicious. He sat up straight, his boredom vanishing instantly.
(Y/N): Hey. Who is that?
Gamagoori: Who?
(Y/N): The girl in pink. Walking into the arena.
A girl with a parasol and an eyepatch skipped between the two fighters.
Ryuko: Huh?!
Sanageyama: Get out of the way!
Sanageyama swung his shinai. The girl blocked it with her pink umbrella. One-handed.
(Y/N): Eyes widen She blocked a Three-Star attack with an umbrella? That's not normal strength.
Inumuta: Impossible!
The girl giggled, hooked a finger onto a loose thread of Sanageyama's uniform, and pulled. Instantly, the Goku Uniform unraveled. Sanageyama was sent flying, naked.
(Y/N): She stripped a Banshi with one finger. That's... dangerous.
Satsuki: Why have you come here, Nui Harime?
NUI HARIME
(Y/N): Watching the giant letters slam into the ground behind her She's interacting with the text. That's a reality warper vibe. I don't like this.
Nui: Giggles I pulled this out of your dad!
Nui revealed a purple Scissor Blade.
Ryuko: THAT'S-!
(Y/N): The other half.
Ryuko: Wait... it was you?
Nui: Yep! It was me! I was the one who killed your father!
Ryuko: BIIIIIIIIITCH!!!!!!!!
The air in the arena grew heavy. Y/N stood up, his hands coming out of his pockets for the first time all day. Small explosions popped in his palms, unnoticed by the others.
(Y/N): Whispering This isn't a school fight anymore. That girl is a villain. A real one.