Kapitel 100: Chapter 99: The Battle of Convictions
"Tetsutetsu, Kirishima, after seeing Bakugo's move just now, do you think your Quirks could handle it?" Kaminari asked quietly, watching Bakugo as he stubbornly declined assistance from the transport robot, supporting his exhausted body and slowly making his way into the corridor.
Both Tetsutetsu and Kirishima fell silent.
While their Quirks provided them with strong defensive capabilities, it didn't mean they were invincible. If they exceeded their Quirks' limits, they could still be injured… or worse.
"You don't think you could take it, right?" Kaminari continued, addressing the unspoken realization of the Class 1-A students around him. "Then maybe it's time to think about how you'd deal with attacks of that magnitude."
Tetsutetsu and Kirishima exchanged glances. After a moment, Kirishima flashed a determined grin, instinctively reaching up to touch his dyed red hair.
"For me, there's only one path forward," Kirishima declared confidently. "And that's to keep pushing my 'hardening' to new heights. I'm committed to this route!"
"Just like my idol, the 'Hardened Hero' Crimson Riot!"
"If I'm not tough enough, then I'll make myself tougher—tough enough to withstand anything that comes my way!"
He turned to look at Tetsutetsu, who usually shared his goals and ideals. "That's the same for you, right?"
Tetsutetsu remained silent. If he'd been asked this question earlier, his answer would have been identical to Kirishima's.
But after spending time with Kaminari and being mentored by Daimon-sensei, his perspective had started to shift. He was no longer focused solely on pure "strength" and "defense."
Now, he was thinking more about "technique" and "versatility."
"Hey, Tetsutetsu!" Kirishima raised his voice, surprised by his friend's hesitation. "Didn't you tell me once that you wanted to compete with me for the title of the strongest 'hardcore' Hero in the future?"
At first, Tetsutetsu's challenge had bothered Kirishima. But over time, he'd come to appreciate having a rival, someone else with the same goals and convictions.
Yet now, Tetsutetsu was hesitating.
What did that mean? Had he given up on the path of being "hardcore"?
If that was the case, then Kirishima couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"I'm telling you, Tetsutetsu… to be the strongest 'hardcore' Hero, you have to have the toughest defenses. That's the only way."
Tetsutetsu's gaze grew resolute as he stood up, meeting Kirishima's intense stare. "Being the strongest 'hardcore' Hero doesn't mean having the hardest Quirk. It's about overall strength."
Kirishima's face twisted in frustration, veins bulging on his neck. He grabbed Tetsutetsu by the collar, his grip reinforced by his Quirk.
"What's the point of being a 'hardcore Hero' without being the hardest there is?"
"Remember this," Kirishima said, voice thick with conviction. "No matter what your Quirk is, if you're taking the hardcore path, there's only one way forward: make yourself harder and harder!"
"That's the way Crimson Riot proved it!"
Bang! Crack!
With his body steeled by his Quirk, Tetsutetsu gripped Kirishima's hand firmly, prying it off his collar as he held his ground.
"I'm going to walk my own path, Kirishima—not Crimson Riot's!"
With that, he released Kirishima and turned, striding towards the exit. Their next match was about to begin.
"Come on. I'll show you what my path looks like!"
Clang!
Kirishima, usually easygoing, was clearly unwilling to back down when it came to this kind of principle. To him, the path of being "hardcore" was something sacred, not something you could just redefine on a whim.
He clenched his fists so tightly that the sound of metal clashing reverberated, and he followed Tetsutetsu toward the arena, his furious expression drawing worried glances from their classmates.
"Kirishima…" Ashido called after him, but he cut her off sharply.
"There's only one 'hardcore path'!"
"He can go his own way if he wants, but he doesn't get to call it 'hardcore.' The term 'hardcore' can only be used to describe the path Crimson Riot paved!"
With that, he strode toward his designated entry corridor, his focus intense.
"Kaminari, do you think they'll be alright?" Kyoka asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, they looked like they were really going at it…" Momo added, worry clear on her face.
Kaminari gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry, there will be three teachers watching over them during the match."
Then he looked toward the field, his own excitement building.
This… this is what you'd call a true battle of convictions.
Between the two of them, Kaminari found himself more in agreement with Tetsutetsu. Taking a more versatile approach seemed more realistic to him than focusing everything on just durability.
But what exactly is Tetsutetsu's 'method'? he wondered, intrigued.
By now, the cement stadium, recently destroyed by Bakugo's battle, had been restored to pristine condition by the school's Cementoss-sensei. At the same time, Present Mic's booming voice filled the air once more.
"The eighth match of the first round—a showdown between two Quirks of raw, unstoppable power!"
On the big screen, both competitors' images appeared side-by-side, striking similar poses, which made the crowd chuckle.
"Representing the unbreakable spirit of steel! It's Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu!"
"And facing him, embodying the will of unyielding rock! It's Kirishima Eijiro!"
But despite Present Mic's enthusiastic introductions, neither Tetsutetsu nor Kirishima responded. The tension between them was palpable, like a storm waiting to break.
Kirishima's gaze was full of defiance, while Tetsutetsu's eyes remained calm and determined.
"Begin!"
BOOM!
"You need to show some respect for the 'hardcore path' and Crimson Riot!" Kirishima shouted, his arms hardened, as he charged forward, fury fueling his movements.
Bam!
With his entire body transformed into steel, Tetsutetsu charged forward without hesitation, meeting Kirishima's attack head-on.
"Of course I respect him! But my choice is still the right one!"
Under the watchful eyes of 120,000 spectators, these two determined young men, each driven by their own beliefs, roared and clashed in the center of the ring!
BOOM!
Their fists, one hardened to stone and the other gleaming like polished metal, collided with a force that sparked and crackled in the air.
"Their strength is perfectly matched!" Present Mic exclaimed into his microphone, his excitement radiating through the stadium. The crowd erupted into cheers, thrilled by the sheer intensity of the match.
As soon as their fists separated, Kirishima, still fuming, swung again, driving his hardened fist forward.
"What's this 'method' you keep talking about? Isn't this the real 'hardcore path'?"
"Then I'll show you what I mean by my path!" Tetsutetsu shot back, his stance shifting as he readied himself.
He took up a judo stance, watching as Kirishima charged in recklessly. Just as Kirishima closed the distance to less than two meters, Tetsutetsu made his move.
Sliding his right foot into position inside Kirishima's right leg, Tetsutetsu turned his body, ducking under Kirishima's punch. Using his right hand, he grabbed Kirishima under his left arm and leaned into him, using Kirishima's momentum against him.
Then, with a twist of his hips, Tetsutetsu hurled Kirishima high into the air, slamming him down onto the concrete floor.
CRASH!
As Kirishima's hardened back struck the ground, the arena floor shattered beneath him, splintering like it was made of brittle tiles.
Tetsutetsu exhaled a steadying breath, looking down at the stunned Kirishima.
"To be the strongest, you need more than just toughness. You need to combine 'technique,' 'strength,' and 'durability' into one."
"I might not have the hardest Quirk, but I'll be the strongest in history!"
"Kirishima, remember this—I'm following the path of the 'unbreakable,' not just the 'hardest'!"
***
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Kapitel 101: Chapter 100: Imagination?
BOOM!
CRASH!
THUD!
The stadium was dead silent as 120,000 spectators watched, wide-eyed, at what now looked more like a demolition site than a sports arena. Every time a resounding crash echoed through the stadium, everyone felt it reverberate in their chests.
"So brutal… Kirishima..."
Mineta covered his eyes, his voice shaking as he peeked between his fingers, barely able to watch.
"Yeah…" Ashido nodded solemnly, then turned to Kaminari with a frown. "When did Tetsutetsu learn judo?"
"A few months back," Kaminari replied quietly, his gaze fixed on Kirishima, who was struggling to his feet for the umpteenth time after being thrown to the ground. He spoke softly, almost to himself.
As he looked around at his classmates, Kaminari realized that nearly everyone in Class 1-A had something they were fiercely dedicated to, something they were willing to fight for, no matter what.
Midoriya, Todoroki, Bakugo, Iida, Ojiro, Koda, Kirishima, Tetsutetsu…
All these kids, most only around fifteen years old, were pushing themselves beyond their limits for what they believed in.
What a class...
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Present Mic's voice blared over the speakers, breaking Kaminari's thoughts. "What's going on down there?! When did Tetsutetsu pick up judo? He's tossing Kirishima around like a ragdoll!"
The announcer's bewilderment echoed the audience's reaction. From the stands, it really did look like Kirishima was being used as a human punching bag.
"Damn it!!"
Kirishima, his sports uniform in tatters and his expression battered but defiant, punched the cracked ground and staggered back to his feet.
"I don't accept this!"
"I'll never accept it!"
"This 'path' of yours… it's NOT the 'hardcore path'!"
Fueled by sheer willpower, Kirishima activated his "hardening" Quirk again, lunging toward Tetsutetsu with renewed intensity. This time, however, he was more careful, paying attention to Tetsutetsu's movements.
Stay calm, stay calm!
Every throw is exactly the same, he's only using one judo technique!
Adopting a different approach, Kirishima switched from punches to open-handed strikes, swinging his hardened hands like steel blades, making it harder for Tetsutetsu to grab him.
It was clear now that his earlier rage had clouded his thinking. After being thrown around twenty times, he was finally starting to adjust his strategy.
But Tetsutetsu wasn't done surprising him.
With a determined look, Tetsutetsu didn't move into his usual judo stance. Instead, he took a few bold strides forward, jumped into the air, and swung his iron-hardened leg at Kirishima.
"What—!"
Kirishima's eyes widened as he registered the change. He quickly tried to raise his guard, crossing his arms in front of him to block the incoming kick.
But reality is often harsher than intention. Before he could fully react, Tetsutetsu's iron foot slammed into his chest, leaving sparks in its wake.
BAM!
Kirishima was launched backward, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud, kicking up a cloud of dust that hung in the air. The entire stadium fell into a hushed silence, with every pair of eyes locked on Tetsutetsu, who was calmly retracting his right leg.
"Judo isn't all I've been training in," Tetsutetsu said, his voice carrying across the arena. "I've been building up my leg strength too. Honestly, I spend more time on that than anything else."
Standing tall with the golden sunlight casting a glow around him, Tetsutetsu looked every bit like a colossus. His gaze drifted up to the stands, where he locked eyes with Kaminari.
For a brief moment, the two stared each other down from across the stadium, an unspoken challenge passing between them.
"This guy…" Kaminari raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. Is he… challenging me?
The cameras caught the moment perfectly, and it was displayed on the big screen for all to see.
Even though we're friends, I want to beat you fair and square in the finals, Tetsutetsu thought, clenching his fists. Only if I'm your equal can I truly be your partner, Kaminari Denki!
"Awesome!!" Present Mic shouted enthusiastically. "Tetsutetsu and Kirishima just gave us one heck of a brawl!"
"But I gotta say, Tetsutetsu, maybe 'Iron-Man' suits you better than judo or karate!"
"I'm not 'Iron-Man,'" Tetsutetsu responded, looking up at Present Mic with a smirk. "I'm the 'Colossus'!"
With that, he turned to Kirishima, who was slowly getting to his feet, clearly battered but not beaten. Tetsutetsu extended a hand.
"Kirishima!"
For a moment, Kirishima just stared at Tetsutetsu's outstretched hand. The whole stadium went quiet again, tension hanging in the air. In Class 1-A's section, everyone watched anxiously, hoping the two wouldn't leave on bad terms.
Then, with a resolute nod, Kirishima took Tetsutetsu's hand, gripping it tightly as he pulled himself up.
"I still don't agree with your approach," he said, his voice steady but respectful. "But I lost this time."
"But next time, I'll win. And I'll do it the real 'hardcore' way."
Tetsutetsu just grinned. "I'll be waiting!"
Side by side, the two walked off into the corridor, their departure followed by a roar of cheers from the audience. Kaminari watched them go, feeling like he was watching an episode of a live-action anime.
This is exactly like a scene out of a shonen manga. He couldn't help but think he could even hear some kind of epic BGM playing in his mind.
On the stage, Midnight twirled in place, hands pressed to her flushed cheeks as she watched the scene with starry eyes.
"So youthful!" she exclaimed, practically swooning. There was nothing she loved more than this kind of passionate, youthful spirit. It set her heart racing every time she saw it.
Yes! She lived for moments like these, just like the ones in those high school dramas!
"Phew, I'm just glad they didn't end up really fighting," Uraraka said with a relieved sigh, placing a hand over her heart as it finally slowed down.
"Tch, that was boring," Bakugo muttered, cracking his knuckles as he scowled at Kirishima's retreating back. "Can't believe that spiky-haired idiot actually lost."
"Well, it makes sense," Kaminari said calmly. "Tetsutetsu's hard work and dedication are on another level."
"Hard work pays off. It's not just a saying."
"Huh?!" Bakugo's face twisted into a fierce scowl, his shark-like grin returning as he glared at Kaminari. "Just wait. I'll blow that steel moron to bits if I get the chance!"
Kaminari chuckled, giving a casual shrug. But inside, he was a bit worried for Tetsutetsu. Judging by the match order, it was likely he'd face Bakugo soon.
"Ka-chan, don't get so worked up…" Midoriya said, trying to calm Bakugo down. His tone was almost like someone trying to soothe an unruly child.
Bakugo's face darkened, and he spun on Midoriya with a snarl. "Shut up, you damn nerd!"
"It's our turn next!"
Just then, Momo, seated in the front row near Kaminari, stood up and turned to face Kyoka, who was seated to Kaminari's right.
"Kyoka, I'm going all out!" Momo said, her tone full of determination.
"Bring it on!" Kyoka replied, matching Momo's intensity with a confident smile.
Sitting between the two, Kaminari couldn't help but feel the tension as sparks seemed to crackle between them.
But for some reason, he noticed something… different in Kyoka's gaze.
Is it just me, or… is there something more going on here?
He glanced from Yaoyorozu to Jiro, feeling a bit puzzled by the vibe he was picking up.
Maybe it's just my imagination…
***
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