The encounter with Bakugo was nothing more than a brief episode. There was still plenty of time before the next round began, so Masata and Yaoyorozu decided to visit Chacha in the infirmary.
"I still lost," Chacha said lightly, already back to her usual cheerful self.
"Are you alright?" Yaoyorozu asked with concern, noticing that faint bruises still remained on Chacha's arms.
"Yeah, I've already been treated," Chacha replied, stretching lazily. "But I didn't go for a full recovery. I wanted to save some stamina."
Then she smiled again.
"Bakugo is really strong. All the tricks I copied from Masata didn't work on him at all. Looks like I still need to work harder!"
"You're wrong about that, Chacha."
Masata stepped into the infirmary, hands in his pockets, head tilted slightly.
"Bakugo had to put in a lot of effort to deal with your move. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given you a chance to get close to him. If your physical condition had been just a bit better, you might've won."
Masata had noticed it clearly—Bakugo's arm had its limits. No matter how powerful a Quirk was, it still relied on the body. If the body couldn't keep up, even explosions had a ceiling.
"Really?" Chacha blinked. "My parents were watching my match earlier. They called me just before you came in and told me to keep my spirits up."
Masata fell silent for a moment.
…His parents hadn't even called.
Same parents—completely different treatment.
"And Chacha," Yaoyorozu added gently, "your Quirk is actually far more suited for disaster relief. When we establish our Hero agency in the future, versatility will matter. Someone like you is indispensable."
She smiled warmly.
"Unlike Masata—no matter how you look at him, he's only good at destruction."
Masata was shot for no reason.
"Well, since you're okay, we'll head out," Masata said, shaking it off.
"I'm pretty interested in Izuku's match against Todoroki."
Izuku was a good friend. Todoroki had also sought him out earlier. The successors of the No.1 and No.2 Heroes facing each other—it was impossible not to be curious.
"If Yaoyorozu wins her next match," Masata thought as he walked down the corridor, "then she'll probably face me."
He wasn't worried in the slightest about losing to Bakugo.
"Endeavor?"
Turning the corner, Masata came face to face with a towering figure engulfed in flames.
"Are you looking for me?" Masata asked calmly. It didn't seem like a coincidence.
"You are Igarashi Masata, Class A's squad leader," Endeavor said.
"I've watched your matches. Your Quirk is exceptionally powerful."
Masata waited.
"I hope you can awaken Todoroki during this match."
"…Awaken him?"
After hearing Todoroki's story earlier, Masata didn't have the best impression of Endeavor. But now, things didn't seem so simple.
"Yes," Endeavor said. "My son bears the responsibility of surpassing All Might. But his twisted pride has become a chain around his neck."
"I've seen your strength—from every angle," Endeavor continued.
"I believe you're capable of breaking that knot in his heart."
So that was it.
A successful Hero—
but an awkward, clumsy father who didn't know how to talk to his child.
Masata sighed lightly.
"Don't worry, sir," he said, changing his tone.
"As class monitor, it's my responsibility to guide my classmates. With or without your request, I'd do the same."
He met Endeavor's gaze.
"But on the road to becoming the strongest, I won't hold back. That's my own lifelong goal."
"Hmph… the strongest…"
Endeavor recalled his younger self—the man who thought he had reached the summit, only to realize someone else stood far above him.
Perhaps… it wouldn't be so bad to have company on the climb.
"Welcome back!" Present Mic's voice echoed through the stadium.
"The second round begins now! No more warm-ups!"
"First match—Midoriya Izuku, who still hasn't fully mastered his Quirk, versus the powerful and undefeated Shoto Todoroki!"
"Will Izuku's luck save him once again?!"
"BEGIN!!"
Masata watched from the stands alongside his classmates.
This was a true clash of titans.
An enormous iceberg erupted from the ground, surging toward Izuku in an instant. Todoroki showed no hesitation.
"SMASH!!"
Izuku snapped his fingers, activating One For All. The resulting shockwave shattered the ice into fragments—but failed to break through completely.
The battle that followed was dazzling… and exhausting to watch.
The two stood their ground, trading long-range attacks—ice spreading relentlessly, shockwaves countering again and again. Neither side gave an inch.
By now, eight of Izuku's fingers were completely ruined by One For All's recoil. Frost crept steadily up the right side of his body.
"No matter how many times I see this, it's still insane," Kirishima said excitedly from the stands.
"Those huge attacks!"
"Same with Masata and Bakugo," Kirishima added.
"They're all monsters who can just throw out massive firepower!"
"Huh?"
Bakugo, watching quietly, finally spoke.
"You think attacks like that are free?" he scoffed.
"A Quirk is still a bodily function. Everything has limits. Continuous attacks drain stamina fast."
He clenched his fist.
"That's why I rely on my combat gear—to release my strongest explosions efficiently."
Masata nodded.
"True. Gear that can withstand that kind of output isn't easy to make. Todoroki's probably reaching his limit now too."
Bakugo said nothing—but he didn't disagree.
In the end, victory was decided.
Even as Izuku activated One For All with his face and thumb, pushing the ice wall out of bounds—
Todoroki never once used the power of his left side.
The match ended.
...
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