บท 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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