(The air was heavy. Both teams faced each other, not moving yet but ready to pounce. The crowd's cheering dulled into nervous murmurs, sensing the clash.)
Tokoyami (grimly): I thought we would not have a confrontation until later in this contest... he narrows his eyes at Shoto ...he seems to think highly of you, Midoriya.
Deku (snapping out of his thoughts): Only half the time left! Don't stop moving!
Shoto (cold and sharp): Iida, forward!
Iida (pushing his glasses up): Right!
Shoto: Yaoyorozu, prepare to guard us and conduct electricity.
Momo (already summoning something from her palm): Right!
Shoto (turning his head slightly): Kaminari, you—
Denki (grinning nervously, cutting in): I know what I have to do!
Deku (quickly): Watch our surroundings! It's not just one group coming for us!
Denki (electricity sparking off his body): Make sure you guard well... smirks ...this is gonna sting!
(Momo finished creating—a long metal rod stabbing into the ground, conducting energy, and a thick blanket-like insulator covering Shoto, Iida, and herself. Kaminari's grin widened, sparks flickering brighter and brighter.)
Denki (yelling): Indiscriminate Shock! 1.3 MILLION VOLTS!!
(The entire field flashed white-blue. Screams erupted from nearby students as the current spread out. Dark Shadow shielded Deku's team, but sparks tore through it—shaking violently in pain.)
Tokoyami (struggling, teeth clenched): Ngh—Dark Shadow...!
(Everyone caught in the radius was shocked—students convulsing, electricity rising from their clothes. Jiro's voice came through the static, stammering through clenched teeth.)
Jiro (trembling): Kk-kk...K-Kaminariii—!!
(Meanwhile, under the insulator blanket, Shoto's team stood unharmed. Denki drooped with his goofy short-circuit face, sparks popping from his head.)
Shoto (calmly removing the blanket after the shock passed): Less than six minutes left. he touched the metal rod ...Ice.
(In an instant, a glacier erupted from Momo's metal rod, spreading like a tidal wave across the field.)
Shoto: We can't back down now.
(The frozen spikes swallowed dozens of immobilized students, locking their legs in place.)
Shoto (flatly): Sorry, but you'll just have to bear it.
Present Mic (screaming into the mic): WHAAAAT?! WHAT'D HE DO?! TODOROKI TOOK CARE OF THAT CROWD OF TEAMS IN AN INSTANT!
Hae-Sil (grimacing, clutching Tokoyami's shoulder as the wind around her flickered weakly): ...He froze them right after Pikachu's shock stopped them... her voice low, annoyed ...I guess it should be expected. He even thought back to how people avoided traps in the obstacle course...
(Deku's team tried to retreat, but their pace faltered.)
Uraraka (panicked): We can't get away!
Tokoyami (raising his arm, eyes sharp): Then I'll restrain them! Dark Shadow—!
(Dark Shadow launched forward, massive claws aiming at Shoto.)
Shoto (calm, pointing): Yaoyorozu.
(Momo instantly manifested a heavy shield, Dark Shadow slamming into it with a sharp crack. The impact rattled but didn't break through.)
Deku (eyes wide): Yaoyorozu's creation is too hard to deal with!
Tokoyami (gritting his teeth): No...Kaminari is worse. With that level of armor, if it had been sunlight, Dark Shadow would've been ripped apart.
Deku (gasping, thought racing): ...Yeah, right!
---------------------------
(Flashback begins — Tokoyami and Deku in strategy discussion before the match.)
Deku (serious, hand gesturing): In any case, I want you to devote yourself to defense. You don't have to attack, so—
Tokoyami (arms folded, eyes glinting in the dark): Interesting. My quirk's offensive ability increases the darker it is, but it becomes fierce and difficult to control. On the other hand, under sunlight it becomes possible to control, but its offense becomes below average. he narrows his eyes at Deku ...To tell me I didn't have to attack with my quirk without even knowing that... It's a very unique choice under the circumstances.
(Dark Shadow rustles, almost proud.)
Tokoyami (with resolve): Very well... try using me. I'm counting on you, Midoriya.
(Flashback fades back into the present—tension gripping the arena again.)
Deku (thinking fast, sweat dripping): I see... Kaminari's lightning...
Tokoyami (grim, Dark Shadow curling timidly behind him): As long as he keeps discharging electricity, attacking will be difficult. Dark Shadow will become timid.
Dark Shadow (whimpering softly): I'm against violence...
(Deku gasps. The arena wall looms close. Hae-Sil, tense and clutching at Tokoyami's shoulder, suddenly points forward.)
Hae-Sil (serious, sharp tone): We can't get away any further than this! It's the end of the arena—if we push back, we lose!
Present Mic (voice booming): TEAM MIDORIYA HAS NOWHERE LEFT TO GO!
(Deku clenches his fists, forcing a sharp inhale.)
Deku (eyes darting): Decreased offense... they don't know that, do they?
Tokoyami (low, steady): I don't think so. The only person I've told about this weakness... was Koda at USJ. And he is a man of few words.
Deku (determined, staring at Shoto's left flank): Then if they don't know, we can use it to hold them back. growls, gripping the headband tighter It's fine... no matter what, we'll hang on to the ten million!
Present Mic (hyped): ONE MINUTE LEFT! TODOROKI MADE THE ICE WALL BETWEEN BOTH TEAMS SO HE'D HAVE THE TEN MILLION TO HIMSELF TO SEIZE IN AN INSTANT! AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT FIVE MINUTES AGO—BUT UNBELIEVABLY, MIDORIYA'S BEEN ABLE TO KEEP AWAY IN THAT CRAMPED SPACE FOR FIVE WHOLE MINUTES!
(Shoto's eyes narrow, annoyed, sweat glistening at his temple.)
Shoto (thinking, irritated): He's keeping his distance... staying on the left side. He's paying attention. At this rate... if I want to freeze them over the shortest distance possible, I'll get Iida. And if he keeps moving like this, I'll do myself in if I freeze indiscriminately. his gaze shifts toward Tokoyami And that bird can defend against Kaminari's electricity.
(Shoto doesn't realize his miscalculation about Tokoyami's weakness.)
Shoto (quietly, to himself): One more minute...
(Deku wipes sweat from his cheek, teeth gritted hard.)
Deku (hissing under his breath): ...That bastard...
Iida (sharp, voice commanding): Everyone, there's less than a minute left. You won't be able to use me after this. I am counting on you!
(Shoto's eyes widen slightly as he realizes what Iida is about to do.)
Shoto: Iida...?
(Iida lowers into a stance, fire burning in his expression. His engines begin to glow red-hot, steam blasting violently from his calves. His voice rings with steel.)
Iida (yelling): Hang on tight! MAKE SURE YOU GET IT, TODOROKI!
(The engines scream louder, rattling the arena. Then—an explosion of speed. Iida vanishes in a blur, dragging the team forward like a rocket.)
Iida (roaring mid-burst): RECIPOBURST!!!
(In an instant, Shoto's hand rips the headband clean off Deku's forehead. The 10 million vanishes from Deku's grasp. Time slows—Deku's eyes stretch wide in shock, Uraraka and Hae-Sil gasping with open mouths, frozen in disbelief. Then Iida drifts hard, the team grinding to a halt on the ice.)
Present Mic (shrieking into the mic): AAAAAH, WHAT HAPPENED?! SO FAST! SO FAST!
(The crowd erupts in roaring cheers. Momo and Denki stand slack-jawed, their mouths hanging open, stunned by Iida's burst.)
Present Mic (still yelling): IIDA! IF YOU COULD ACCELERATE THAT FAST, THEN SHOW US IN THE PRELIMS NEXT TIME!!
(Shoto blinks, his expression breaking for once into shock.)
Shoto (stunned): ...What was that?
(Iida straightens, smoke still rising from his legs. His glasses gleam.)
Iida (calm, but voice proud): By forcing the torque and rotations to increase, I created an explosive power. his tone sharpens, serious While the recoil... my engines stall after a while, though.
(He clenches his fist to his chest.)
Iida (confidently): It's a secret move I hadn't told anyone in class yet.
(Deku stares at him, furious, sweat dripping. His breathing is heavy—his eyes locked on Iida with anger and disbelief.)
Iida (meeting his gaze firm, smirking slightly): I told you, didn't I, Midoriya? That I'd challenge you.
---------------------------------------
(The crowd explodes into cheers, the whole stadium shaking with excitement.)
Present Mic (nearly breaking the mic): THE TABLES ARE TURNED! OFFENSE AND DEFENSE RIGHT AT THE EDGE! REINING THAT IN, TODOROKI GETS THE TEN MILLION! AND MIDORIYA IS SUDDENLY DOWN IN THE LEADERBOARD!
Deku (shouting desperately): GET BACK THERE!!
Tokoyami (grim, gripping Dark Shadow tight as it shivers): As long as they have Kaminari, we'll be at a disadvantage if we attack!
Dark Shadow (whimpering softly)
Tokoyami (low, tense): Wouldn't it be safer to try for other points right now?
Deku (furious, veins straining at his neck): NO! I don't know how the other points got split up! This is our only CHANCE!
(Uraraka looks at him—at first nervous, then her expression hardens into sharp resolve. She suddenly leans forward, her voice loud, eyes blazing with determination.)
Uraraka (yelling with conviction): ALL RIGHT! shoves forward, forcing the team toward Shoto's side WE'LL GET IT BACK, DEKU! WE DEFINITELY WILL!
(Deku gasps, eyes widening as he looks down at her—her confidence sparking something deep in him.)
Deku (thinking, trembling slightly): Uraraka... That's right... it's not just me...
(He glances at Tokoyami, stoic but standing firm, Dark Shadow huddling behind him, then at Hae-Sil, who is tense but holding her ground, eyes locked ahead, refusing to yield. His breath shakes, his fists clench.)
Deku (thinking, heart racing): The feelings of the three... Hae-Sil, Tokoyami, Uraraka... who trust in me...
(Electric sparks crackle across his arms, muscles swelling as One For All surges through him. He lowers his body, arm cocked back, power bursting like thunder.)
Deku (roaring in his mind): I'm carrying all that... right now!!
(He rockets forward, his charged arm glowing violently, eyes blazing at Shoto.)
(Shoto's expression stiffens—he instinctively braces, ice erupting, but then—without thinking—his left side ignites. Flames burst out, wild and hot, covering his defenses as Deku barrels in. The air rips with the clash of power.)
(In the arena's center—Deku's crackling One For All fist and Shoto's sudden blaze collide, their glares locked dead ahead, neither yielding an inch.)
-------------------------------------------
Crowd cheering wildly
Present Mic: "WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT! TODOROKI CURRENTLY HAS FOUR HEADBANDS, HE'S WRESTED AWAY THE TOP SPOT FROM MIDORIYA! WHO WAS RUNNING LIKE CRAZY!"
The giant screen flashed:
Team Todoroki: 10,001,175
Team Monoma: 1,360
Team Tetsutetsu: 1,125
Team Kendo: 520
Present Mic: "WILL THESE BE THE TOP FOUR TEAMS TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ROUND?!"
Meanwhile—Bakugo raged forward, explosions blazing, chasing Monoma.
Monoma: "Tch! Stay back, you maniac!"
Bakugo: "SHUT UP AND HAND THEM OVER!"
With one savage blast, he tore two headbands straight off Monoma's neck.
The scoreboard shifted:
Team Bakugo: 695 (Zero ➝ Third place)
Team Monoma: 1,360 ➝ 665 (Fourth place)
Present Mic: "TEAM BAKUGO SEIZES TWO HEADBANDS TO MOVE TO THIRD PLACE! THE RANKINGS ARE SHIFTING IN THESE FINAL STAGES! THE PASSION OF YOUTH, PEOPLE!"
Aizawa, flatly: "Monoma... Class B's strategy was reasonable. But there's just one thing you didn't account for—"
(Cut to Bakugo barreling forward, refusing to stop.)
Aizawa: "—you didn't take into consideration the difference in tenacity."
Bakugo blasted through Monoma's teammate's glass shield, yanking the last headband free.
Present Mic: "BAKUGO IS MERCILESS! IF HE'S GONNA DO IT, HE'S GONNA GO ALL THE WAY! HE'S... you know, A PERFECTIONIST! NOW ONLY SECONDS REMAIN!"
Scoreboard shifted again:
Team Bakugo: 1,360 (Second place!)
Team Todoroki still leading at 10,001,175.
Team Tetsutetsu: 1,125 (Third).
Bakugo, snarling: "NEXT! We're going after Deku and Icy-Hot!"
Arena center—Deku's One For All crackled across his arm as he clashed with Shoto's sudden burst of fire. Their eyes locked, neither giving way.
Deku thinking: "It's fine—I'm not gonna hit him. Like cutting through air... break down the defenses!"
He swung with all his force, the air pressure alone forcing Shoto's left arm away—snuffing out the sudden flames.
Shoto, stunned, thinking: "My left... what am I—?"
Deku, gritting teeth, pain in his arm: "It hurts... but not broken! He flipped them around to hide the values...!"
Noticing the guard break, Deku lunged, hand snapping a headband free.
Deku, gasping then shouting: "This one—!! ...I GOT IT!!"
Crowd erupts in cheers.
Present Mic: "WITH JUST ELEVEN SECONDS LEFT, A MIRACLE RETRIEVAL! CAN MIDORIYA'S TEAM FLIP THIS AT THE VERY LAST SECOND?!"
Hae-Sil, worried: "W-wait a sec... d-don't tell me..."
Deku glanced down—his face froze. The headband read 70 points.
Deku, horrified: "T-They got us...!"
Momo, firm: "Just in case, we switched their positions! You underestimated us, Midoriya!"
Deku, Uraraka, Hae-Sil: "...!"
Iida, sharp: "Todoroki! Get a hold of yourself—focus!"
Present Mic: "OH NO! TEAM MIDORIYA DIDN'T RETRIEVE THE TEN MILLION!"
The scoreboard flashed their new rank: Team Midoriya—6th place, 70 points.
Deku, whispering in despair: "Seventy points... isn't good enough..."
Present Mic: "TIME'S ALMOST UP! COUNTDOWN START! TEN...!"
Deku: "TOKOYAMI!!"
Tokoyami: "Dark Shadow!"
Shoto: "KAMINARI!"
Denki, already sparking like an idiot: "H-heeeh?!"
Suddenly Bakugo blew through the ice walls, screaming: "DAMN DEKU!!!"
Deku: "URARAKA!!"
Uraraka: "Got it!!" (pushing herself harder despite missing a shoe.)
But Iida's engines stalled—his legs giving out.
Shoto: "Yaoyorozu!"
Bakugo: "The ten million points are—!"
Momo quickly created a long metal rod; Shoto froze it instantly, a spear of ice in his grip.
At the same time—Hae-Sil clenched her teeth, activating her new move with her eyes. Bakugo, mid-air, suddenly froze in place, his body unable to move.
Hae-Sil, whispering desperately: "Please, Midoriya... take it!"
The arena held its breath—
Present Mic: "TIME'S UP!!!"
Hae-Sil blinked and dropped her hold, Bakugo crashing face-first into the ground.
Present Mic: "AND THAT'S THE END OF ROUND TWO—THE CAVALRY BATTLE!"
Deku halted, fist trembling, gritting his teeth.
Across the field—Sero, Kirishima, and Mina sprinted to Bakugo.
Sero: "Bakugo!"
Kirishima: "You okay, man?!"
Bakugo, muffled groans, slamming the ground with his fists repeatedly.
Shoto stepped off Iida's back, muttering low: "...Dammit."
The scoreboard froze with the final results.
----------------------------------------------
Present Mic (booming): "NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP FOUR TEAMS RIGHT AWAY!!"
Crowd quiets, eyes on the scoreboard.
Present Mic: "IN FIRST PLACE—TEAM TODOROKI!!"
Momo, exhaling in relief: "Even though we won... it felt like we were skating on thin ice."
Iida, clenching a fist: "Sorry. I caused everyone trouble..."
Momo, shaking her head: "That's not true. Without you, we wouldn't have won."
Present Mic: "IN SECOND PLACE—TEAM BAKUGO!!"
Mina, shaking her hands from sweat dramatically: "Aaah! We were so close!"
Sero, rubbing the back of his neck: "Well... second place isn't bad. All's well that ends well."
Kirishima, looking forward at Bakugo who's sulking on the ground: "...Do you really think that's how he feels?"
Bakugo, exploding up, screaming: "AAAAAAH!!"
Present Mic: "IN THIRD PLACE—TETSU—HUH?! WAIT A SECOND!! IT'S TEAM SHINSO!! WHEN DID YOU COME FROM BEHIND?!"
Shinso, calm as always, to his confused teammates: "Thanks for your hard work."
Meanwhile, Team Midoriya huddled in silence.
Uraraka, softly: "...Deku?"
Deku, hanging his head: "Um... I'm really sorry..."
Uraraka blinked twice, then smiled. She pointed her finger behind her at Hae-Sil and Tokoyami, who were standing side by side.
Hae-Sil, sighing but with a faint smile: "Well, Midoriya... it's okay. We all did our best anyway... But don't thank us, though."
She slowly revealed two hidden headbands—one with 95 points from Tetsutetsu's team, and the other with 60 points from Kendo's team.
Hae-Sil: "I know they're not enough... but I tried my best too. I grabbed them when everyone was too busy fighting each other. Used my telekinesis from a distance, pulled them quick, and hid them."
Deku's eyes welled up instantly.
Hae-Sil turned her gaze toward Tokoyami, waiting.
Tokoyami, calm but firm: "Todoroki was clearly shaken by your first attack. I had hoped to take the ten million... but things don't always go as you wish."
He raised his hand—and Dark Shadow appeared, holding up a headband with 615 points proudly.
Tokoyami: "I took the one from his head. His guard was weakest there. Midoriya, this was thanks to the opening you created with your last spurt."
Hae-Sil nodded, agreeing. Dark Shadow raised a thumb with the headband.
Deku's tears burst out, overflowing.
Present Mic (yelling): "IN FOURTH PLACE—TEAM MIDORIYA!!"
Deku, sobbing uncontrollably: "Uwaaahhhhhh!!!"
Hae-Sil, blinking at him: "...What the hell is he doing? Is he okay?"
Tokoyami, dead serious: "Tears of happiness."
Hae-Sil, muttering: "Didn't think it'd look like that. Midoriya, stop crying! The crowd is staring at us, dude!"
Present Mic: "AND THESE FOUR TEAMS... WILL ADVANCE TO THE FINAL ROUND!!"
Hae-Sil turned her head—her eyes catching Shoto standing off to the side, staring at his left hand with a conflicted look.
Hae-Sil, in her thoughts: "...So, he doesn't wanna use his daddy's quirk..."
Without saying a word to anyone, she slipped away. Quiet steps, no announcement, no goodbye. She left the stadium, hunger gnawing at her, heading to the cafeteria alone.
Present Mic (booming again): "NOW WE'LL TAKE AN HOUR'S BREAK FOR LUNCH BEFORE WE START THE AFTERNOON FESTIVITIES! SEE YA!"
Tetsutetsu's team, standing off to the side, looking completely baffled.
Tetsutetsu, scratching his head in frustration: "What happened? Before I knew it, we had zero points—and it was already over..."
Then his face twisted, and he clenched his fists.
Tetsutetsu (shouting): "I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS!!"
Behind him, Shinso smirked faintly as he walked away, hands in pockets, not even bothering to explain himself.
Scene shifts—Uraraka walking beside Iida, mimicking his stiff jogging style with little hops.
Uraraka, in a cute voice: "Iiiida~ I didn't know you had a special move like that! No fair!"
Iida, straightening his glasses, chopping his hands robotically: "It has nothing to do with fairness! I simply wasn't utilizing it properly before!"
Denki pops up next to them, throwing double thumbs-up, sparks buzzing faintly.
Denki (grinning): "Yeeeah, man! That was totally awesome!"
Iida, still stiff and serious: "I only wanted to try something... something that could compete with Midoriya—and that girl on your team. She seemed mysterious and strong."
Uraraka, tilting her head, smiling: "Ohhh, you mean Hae-Sil! Oh—speaking of which... where did Deku... and Hae-Sil go?"
________________________________________________________________________________
TO BE CONTINUED!