章 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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章 102: Chapter 101: Kyoka vs. Momo
With Present Mic's enthusiastic announcement, the ninth match of the first round was ready to begin.
Kyoka and Momo stood at opposite ends of the freshly repaired concrete arena, staring each other down in silence.
The two of them had complicated feelings about this match. For Kyoka, it was an unusual mixture of tension and determination. Before she'd joined the Hero Course and met Kaminari, her personality had always been carefree and straightforward; she hadn't put much thought into things like competition or rivalry.
But after Kaminari had started studying and training closely with Momo, Kyoka found herself caring about things she'd never thought about before.
Things like family background, appearance, figure, and even academic performance, all areas where she felt she fell short compared to Momo. In the end, it bothered her to realize that the only thing she felt she could truly compete with Momo in was music.
Though she still considered Momo a friend and respected her as a classmate, that small feeling of inferiority had settled deep in her heart.
This isn't about family or looks or grades, Kyoka thought, clenching her fists. In this match, I'm going to give it my all and prove that I'm better than her, at least here!
On the opposite side, Momo was unaware of Kyoka's inner turmoil, but she, too, was driven by a desire to win.
If I've chosen to walk the path of a Hero, then I have to do it right. I have to be excellent. All the years I've spent training my Quirk and studying would be meaningless otherwise.
Present Mic's voice rang out, echoing through the stadium: "Start!"
The second the match began, Kyoka acted first. She stretched one of her earphone jacks, plunging it into the concrete floor in front of her.
Momo's Quirk requires time to create items, so I have to disrupt her before she can build up momentum!
Using her amplified heartbeat, she sent powerful shockwaves into the ground through her earlobe jacks.
CRACK!
Large fractures spread across the concrete in front of Kyoka, as if an unseen force was tearing through the ground. The cracks rapidly expanded toward Momo, causing the ground to buckle and heave like something massive was stirring beneath the surface.
"I knew you'd go for that!"
Kyoka's attack method was direct but predictable. Momo had anticipated this strategy, and she was prepared.
Before the "earthquake" reached her, Momo leapt into the air, a faint shimmer of colorful light glowing around her hands as she activated her Quirk.
A moment later, a bright red pogo stick with a pattern of ninetales appeared in her grip.
With practiced ease, she stepped onto the foot pedals, using the pogo stick to bounce gracefully across the unstable ground, keeping her balance even as the concrete cracked and shifted beneath her.
"A… pogo stick?" Kaminari muttered, eyebrows raised in surprise. He couldn't be the only one thinking it; wasn't that just a toy they all played with as kids?
"INCREDIBLE!" Present Mic shouted, his voice booming with excitement.
"As expected of the top recommended student! Momo Yaoyorozu is bouncing through the earthquake zone like a fire butterfly! Where did she even get this idea?!"
Aizawa-sensei, watching closely, nodded thoughtfully. "It's impressive. The pogo stick is a surprisingly effective counter for Kyoka's attack. It gives Momo the mobility she needs to keep creating items."
But in the back of his mind, Aizawa wondered if this was something Momo had thought up on the spot, or if she knew Kyoka well enough to have planned for it.
Either way, it was an ingenious solution.
Back on the field, Kyoka frowned as she watched Momo bouncing around her attacks. The frustration was building.
What do I do? Think, Kyoka! There has to be a way…
While continuing to send shockwaves through the ground, she kept her distance from Momo, racking her brain for an opening.
Meanwhile, the colorful glow on Momo's hand faded, and an orange, compact net gun with a small fox pattern appeared.
Momo smiled in satisfaction as she examined her handiwork. It took longer to make this while bouncing around, but it's ready!
As Momo reached the peak of her jump, she took aim and fired.
Bang!
A burst of orange string shot from the net gun, unfurling mid-air into a large net nearly two meters in diameter, heading straight for Kyoka.
But Kyoka was no fool. She'd seen the glow around Momo's hands and had figured she'd been preparing something.
The instant she saw the net gun, she dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the net as it landed harmlessly on the cracked concrete.
"Nice try, Kyoka, but how many of those shots can you take?" Momo called, bouncing back and forth and reloading her net gun by creating fresh "ammo" using her Quirk.
This time, the faint glow spread to her abdomen and legs, hinting that she was preparing something else as well.
Bang!
Another net shot toward Kyoka, but this time, Kyoka was ready. She quickly inserted her other earphone jack into the ground, amplifying her heartbeat to shatter the net from within before it could expand.
"How did she do that?" Momo thought, startled by how Kyoka had neutralized the net mid-air. But she quickly regained her focus, analyzing her own mistake. Maybe I'm too close…
But if I go too far, she'll have more time to dodge... Not good!
Just as Momo prepared to create more ammunition, Kyoka suddenly dashed forward, closing the distance between them. She aimed her earphone jacks straight at Momo's equipment, ready to disrupt her creations directly.
Kyoka's plan was clear: if attacking the ground didn't work, she'd go straight for Momo herself. She couldn't let her keep making things freely.
And her strategy was working. With her earphone jacks constantly disrupting her, Momo found it harder and harder to concentrate. Kyoka's attacks kept interrupting her, stopping her from creating new ammo or even keeping her pogo stick stable.
The battle's momentum had shifted. Now it was Kyoka who was on the offensive, forcing Momo to defend herself.
But, as the saying goes, no one can keep up a perfect defense forever.
After several minutes of relentless pressure, Kyoka's earlobe finally managed to snag one of the pogo stick's foot pedals. With a sharp crack, the pogo stick snapped beneath Momo's feet, and she lost her balance with a surprised yelp.
This is my chance!
With fierce determination, Kyoka plunged her earphone jacks into the cracked ground once more. As soon as Momo's feet hit the ground, Kyoka activated her Quirk, sending another powerful shockwave into the concrete.
"Ahh!"
Momo staggered as the ground trembled violently, making it impossible to regain her footing. Her unloaded net gun slipped from her hands, clattering uselessly to the side.
"I've got you now!"
The tremors stopped for a brief moment, and before Momo could fully process what was happening, Kyoka rushed forward, giving her a firm push. Momo stumbled backward, right towards the edge of the ring.
"Kyoka… you…" Momo murmured as she fell back, catching a glimpse of the unwavering determination in Kyoka's eyes.
She really wants to win this…
"Not good!" Kaminari jumped up from his seat, alarmed. It wasn't the loss he was worried about, but the fact that Momo was falling backward, and her head was dangerously close to hitting the ground.
But his panic was short-lived, as Momo's fall came to an unexpected stop.
"Idiot," Kyoka muttered, glancing up at Kaminari with a slight smirk. "Did you really think I'd let her get hurt?"
It turned out Kyoka had extended her earlobe jacks to catch Momo just before she hit the ground. Simultaneously, Class B's instructor, Vlad, was standing nearby, ready to catch her if needed.
"Out of bounds!"
Midnight announced, cracking her whip with flair as she declared the outcome.
"Kyoka Jiro advances to the second round!"
***
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