CRACKLE
Just as the blue blur that was Iida shot toward Kaminari, Kaminari himself turned into a streak of golden light, dodging in a flash and circling around to get behind Iida.
"That speed…!" Iida's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Kaminari to keep up with him, especially since he had pushed his engines to their absolute limit, generating speed he could only maintain for a few seconds.
"Ten seconds… that's all I've got!"
WHOOSH
CRACKLE
BOOM!
The arena became a whirlwind of motion, with a blue light and a golden light darting around, colliding, separating, and then charging at each other again. It was as if they were performing a high-speed dance, each clash sparking with intensity. The audience was on the edge of their seats, transfixed by the display.
"Wooah! Did you see that?! Iida and Kaminari are going all out!" Present Mic shouted, his excitement amplified through his Quirk. "This might not have the flash of Todoroki's ice, but the sheer speed and energy here, this is what the sports festival is all about!"
The Class 1-A students were equally amazed. Kirishima's mouth hung open as he stared at the blurs of blue and gold streaking across the arena. "Iida's this strong? And Kaminari's speed—it's insane! He's way faster than I thought!"
"How is Kaminari moving like that?" Asui wondered, her round eyes wide with surprise.
Only those who'd faced Kaminari in the obstacle race—Todoroki, Midoriya, and Bakugo remained calm, each understanding just how much Kaminari was capable of.
"He's gotten stronger," Tetsutetsu muttered to himself, his fists clenched tightly. Watching Kaminari push Iida like this only fueled his own drive to improve. "I've gotta keep working harder if I want to fight alongside him one day!"
Meanwhile, Kaminari himself was impressed. Iida's fast, he thought, dodging another powerful kick. And he's got guts, too.
Iida wasn't just matching his speed. Every time their bodies clashed, Iida endured another painful electric shock, yet he never slowed down. His resilience was remarkable, each strike pushing him to his limits.
Realizing the depth of Iida's determination, Kaminari felt his own resolve sharpen. He's giving it everything he's got, Kaminari thought, respect flashing in his eyes. Then I owe him the same in return.
"Dance, Iida!" Kaminari's voice rang out, amplified through the speakers, catching the attention of everyone watching.
Iida's eyes narrowed, the adrenaline surging through him. "This… this is the last one… my final blow!" he shouted, feeling the last few seconds of his boost slipping away. Channeling every ounce of his strength into his right leg, he rocketed toward Kaminari, a fierce determination blazing in his gaze.
"Kaminari-kun! This is everything I have—to defeat you, to surpass you!"
Kaminari's smile was fierce as he prepared for the impact. He wasn't about to back down. "Alright, Iida!" he roared back. "Bring it on!"
With one last burst of speed, Iida and Kaminari collided at the center of the arena, golden lightning and blue flames exploding outward in a brilliant flash.
BOOM!
Their final clash sent a powerful shockwave rippling across the arena, both fighters caught in a deadlock for a moment, Kaminari's electrified elbow against Iida's powerful kick. But as Iida's engines sputtered and gave out, he lost momentum, the force of the clash sending him flying backward.
"Danger!" Vlad King, the Class B teacher on standby, sprang into action. Using his Quirk, he transformed his blood into a soft, protective barrier, catching Iida before he could crash into the arena wall.
The electric sparks clinging to Iida fizzled out as he lay unconscious on the blood curtain, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion.
Stepping forward, Midnight raised her arm. "Iida Tenya is unable to continue! Kaminari Denki wins and advances to the next round!"
There was a smattering of applause, but it was muted. Although the battle had been thrilling, many in the audience felt uneasy about Kaminari's approach, especially after he'd taunted Iida so openly.
What they didn't realize was that, thanks to this fight, Iida had left a lasting impression. Among the professional Heroes watching, several were already discussing the potential of scouting him.
Kaminari, breathing heavily, let the golden glow around him dissipate. His hair fell back into place as he glanced down at the unconscious Iida. A small smile played on his lips. "You did great… class rep."
With that, he turned his back on the audience and walked off into the corridor, disappearing from sight as the second match of the second round came to a close.
---
Above, Aizawa watched Kaminari with narrowed eyes. "That kid… he did all of this to help Iida stand out."
Beside him, Present Mic was puzzled. "Why put on such a show, though? Doesn't he care about his own reputation with the pros?"
Aizawa shrugged. "Kaminari's not your typical student. He's… thoughtful, in his own way."
Meanwhile, in the stands, Momo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. "Kaminari knew that if he defeated Iida easily, no one would notice him. But by pushing him like that, he made sure Iida had his moment."
The students around her looked at each other, their initial misgivings about Kaminari fading as they processed Momo's explanation. Even Mina, who had felt uncomfortable watching the match, began to soften. "I guess that does sound like something Kaminari would do."
"Yeah!" Kyoka added. "He's not the type to be mean just for the sake of it."
As the students murmured among themselves, their respect for Kaminari grew.
---
Back in the medical room, Iida slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the soreness that lingered in his muscles.
"Are you alright?" came a familiar voice.
Looking over, Iida saw Kaminari leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, watching him calmly.
"No hard feelings?" Kaminari asked, his tone casual.
Iida chuckled, though the movement hurt. "Not at all. Thank you… for giving me everything you had. I know you could've ended the match in the beginning if you wanted to."
Kaminari nodded, acknowledging the truth of Iida's words. He turned to leave, but as he reached the door, Iida called out once more.
"It's a lie, isn't it?" Iida's voice was quiet, tinged with a hint of self-awareness. "You still had strength left, didn't you?"
Kaminari paused, his back to Iida. After a moment, he responded, his voice softer, almost gentle. "No… I gave it everything I had."
With that, he walked out, letting the door click shut behind him.
Lying there, Iida stared at the ceiling for a long time before a small smile crept onto his face. He let out a tired laugh.
"Liar… but… thank you, Kaminari."
***
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Tap, tap, tap.
The corridor was silent except for the sound of Kaminari's footsteps echoing against the walls. Occasionally, Present Mic's excited commentary from the stadium speakers would break through, but otherwise, Kaminari walked alone, deep in thought.
"Hmm… Tokoyami versus Ashido Mina. That one shouldn't have much suspense," Kaminari muttered to himself, picturing the likely outcome as he headed toward the exit to the audience seats. But suddenly, he caught another sound—another set of footsteps, heavier than his own.
He froze for a moment, just as a flash of red light appeared around the corner. Stepping into view was a towering figure, nearly two meters tall, wreathed in flames. Kaminari's eyes widened in recognition.
"Endeavor…!" Kaminari whispered, instantly recognizing the number-two Hero in Japan.
"Ah, I found you," Endeavor said, his deep voice resonating through the corridor as he fixed his intense gaze on Kaminari. It was clear he'd been looking for him specifically.
"Looking for me?" Kaminari asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I saw your performance in the matches," Endeavor said, his tone carrying a rare note of approval. "You're impressive, perhaps even a 'genius' in your own way."
"Thanks, I guess," Kaminari replied, unsure of where this was going.
Endeavor continued, "You're likely the only student among this year's freshmen who can push Shoto to his full strength."
"Oh?" Kaminari replied, tilting his head. "What about Bakugo?"
Endeavor looked momentarily surprised but then shook his head. "That explosive kid? He's strong, yes, but he's still not enough to make Shoto go all out."
Kaminari's brow furrowed slightly. "When you say 'Shoto's full strength,' you're talking about him using his Quirk on the right side too, right?"
"Correct," Endeavor said, his expression unreadable. "To be precise, I mean using both Quirks together—fire and ice. That's the true potential Shoto has, and it's the key to him surpassing All Might."
Kaminari noted the almost fanatical gleam in Endeavor's eyes as he spoke. There was a deep, personal determination behind his words, something intense and unsettling.
"So, what exactly did you come here to ask me?" Kaminari asked, his voice wary.
Endeavor's gaze sharpened. "Judging by the bracket, you'll be facing my son soon. I think this match could be a perfect testing ground for him. I want you to force him to use his fire."
Kaminari took in the request, feeling a flicker of irritation. "Testing ground, huh?" he echoed, his tone cooling. "Sounds to me like you're assuming that once he goes all out, he'll win easily."
Endeavor looked down at Kaminari with a steady, almost dismissive gaze. "I'm confident in Shoto's abilities, yes. You're talented, but there's a difference between a talented student and Shoto at full power."
Kaminari clenched his fists, his expression tightening. "You keep talking about Shoto's 'full power,' but you haven't seen what I can really do, either."
"Perhaps," Endeavor replied, his tone unwavering. "But I trust in the strength of my bloodline."
Kaminari's patience frayed. "So that's what this is about? You think your bloodline is somehow superior?"
"No," Endeavor corrected, his voice cold and detached. "It's not about nobility, it's about strength. Shoto is the perfect result of my efforts to create someone capable of surpassing All Might. No amount of talent can change that fundamental difference."
Kaminari gritted his teeth, holding back his anger. He knew it wasn't wise to provoke Endeavor outright, especially given the power difference between them. But the arrogance in Endeavor's words was hard to swallow.
After a moment, he forced himself to stay calm. "And why should I help you?" he challenged. "Why should I push Todoroki to use his fire if it means giving up my own shot at winning?"
Endeavor's gaze didn't waver, though he seemed almost disappointed. "If it's compensation you're looking for, I can provide that. Money, connections—once you graduate, I could even place you in one of the top agencies."
Kaminari's expression hardened. He looked away, as though dismissing the offer as trivial. "No thanks. I don't need your money, and I don't need your connections."
He took a step forward, brushing past Endeavor, but paused just as he passed him. "But fine. I'll do what you're asking, on one condition."
Endeavor's eyebrows rose slightly, intrigued.
"Just remember… you owe me a punch," Kaminari said, his voice low.
Endeavor's expression didn't change, though he didn't turn to watch Kaminari walk away. The number-two Hero didn't take the words seriously, he barely registered the threat.
"It's up to you," Endeavor said over his shoulder, his voice cool and detached. "As long as you push him to use his fire, that's all that matters."
Kaminari didn't respond. He simply continued walking, disappearing down the corridor. But Endeavor's flaming brows furrowed slightly as he replayed the words in his head. Something about Kaminari's tone had struck him as genuine.
"Hmph… nonsense," Endeavor muttered, dismissing the thought.
---
When Kaminari returned to the Class 1-A seats, the match had just ended. Tokoyami's Dark Shadow had overpowered Mina, pushing her out of the arena.
"Kaminari!" Kyoka called out, noticing him return. She seemed to want to ask him something but hesitated, glancing at the others around her.
"Don't worry," Kaminari said, reading the question in her eyes. "I just came from the infirmary. Iida's awake, and he's fine."
"Thank goodness!" Kirishima said, letting out a relieved sigh. "Man, I thought you two were gonna kill each other out there!"
Kaminari smiled, his tension easing as the mood lightened around him. Whatever misunderstandings his intense battle with Iida had caused seemed to have faded.
"Alright, everyone!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the stadium. "After thirteen thrilling matches, we're gonna take a quick break! Thirty minutes to grab some snacks, stretch those legs, or take care of… uh, any pressing needs!"
The students laughed, a few of them visibly relaxing as the announcement of a break set in.
"And don't forget, folks—when we're back, it's time for the fourth match of the second round: Bakugo Katsuki versus Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu! It's explosion versus steel! Don't miss it!"
***
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