QUARTERFINALS — MATCH 1:
YUTA AKUTAMI vs. IBARA SHIOZAKI
"Finally. The general studies kid is going on."
"What's with your excitement? I doubt this match will be as explosive as the last few."
"Haha! I know. I just love a good underdog rising."
"Meh. Can't argue with you there."
Murmurs swept through the crowd.
"So, who do you think will win?"
Uraraka asked.
"Yuta for sure." Sero grinned. "I feel he has this one in the bag."
"I don't necessarily agree." Momo adjusted her ponytail. "Akutami's speed is impressive. But Shiozaki's quirk is highly versatile. She can attack and defend simultaneously."
Mina's eyes lit up, nudging Hagakure. "Hey, Hagakure, you still mad at him? Still want revenge for all those 'accidents'?"
Hagakure sputtered. "W-What?! I—uh—!"
Mina's grin widened. "Come on, you were so mad back then!"
Hagakure crossed her invisible arms. "Well… since he reported Mineta and Kaminari's cheerleader scheme to us, I'll… reluctantly let it slide."
Kaminari and Mineta both groaned.
"We were so close…" Mineta muttered.
Midoriya watched the arena intently, analyzing.
"His speed is his biggest advantage. If he can close the distance before Shiozaki's vines fully deploy, he might be able to overwhelm her."
Present Mic's voice exploded across the speakers.
"FROM GENERAL STUDIES—THE DARK HORSE WHO'S SHOCKED THE ENTIRE NATION—THE SPEED DEMON HIMSELF—YUUUTAAA AKUTAMIII!"
Yuta waved to the crowd as he stepped into the arena.
"AND FROM CLASS 1-B—THE VINE HEROINE WITH FAITH AS STRONG AS HER QUIRK—THE GRACEFUL GUARDIAN—IBARAAAA SHIOZAKIII!"
Shiozaki walked forward with hands clasped together in prayer.
"Come On SHIOZAKI! beat this bastard" Mineta yelled from the viewing area while standing on the railings.
"Mineta. Stop that."
Shiozaki bowed to the crowd. "May we both fight honourably."
Yuta nodded. "Sure."
Midnight raised her whip high. "Contestants… ready?"
Yuta's gaze grew serious. Shiozaki's eyes closed briefly in prayer.
"BEGIN!"
Midnight's whip cracked.
Shiozaki's eyes snapped open. Thick vines burst from her scalp like a tidal wave, shooting across the arena like bullets
Chakra reinforced Yuta's body as he activated body flicker.
BANG!
The vines slammed into the ground where Yuta had been standing, shattering concrete in one move.
'He dodged.' Shiozaki's eyes widened slightly. 'Where—?'
She twisted, scanning the arena.
Nothing.
Her vines spread wider, creating a defensive perimeter around her.
'He's fast. But I won't let him—'
THUD.
A sharp impact struck the side of her neck. Instantly, her body seized as strength left her legs.
Ibara Shiozaki collapsed forward, and felt arms catch her before she hit the ground.
Yuta held her upright, one arm supporting her back, the other beneath her knees. He watched as he eyes fluttered, ultimately closing as she fell unconscious.
With Shiozaki down, the rampant vines lost strength as well.
".."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable. Yuta didn't seem to notice as he held the sleeping "angel" in a princess carry.
Then—
Midnight's whip shattered it. "SHIOZAKI IBARA IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE! THE WINNER IS—YUTA AKUTAMI!"
The stadium erupted.
"AGAIN! DID ANYONE EVEN SEE THAT?! ONE SECOND SHIOZAKI'S VINES WERE EVERYWHERE, AND THE NEXT—AKUTAMI'S ALREADY WON! ANOTHER INSTANT VICTORY! THIS KID IS UNREAL!"
Yuta walked calmly toward the medical bots waiting at the edge of the arena. He laid Shiozaki gently on the stretcher, adjusting her head so it rested comfortably.
'Well, that takes care of that.'
His gaze swept to the board that was currently replaying his win even though there wasn't much to see.
'If there are no unexpected circumstances, my next match is against Todoroki.' His gaze drifted to Class 1A. Not surprisingly, they were all looking back at him.
Two in particular with clear intensity. His lips curled to form a smile before heading back to the viewing area.
'This will be fun.'
Yuta disappeared into the tunnel.
Midnight watched his retreating form. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face.
"Oh, what a wicked little talent," she murmured to herself, tapping her whip thoughtfully against her leg. "General Studies won't hold that one for long."
Up in the Class 1-A viewing box, Shoto Todoroki stood up the moment Yuta vanished into the tunnel.
He didn't speak a word, merely leaving through the exit.
"Todoroki-kun!"
Uraraka muttered as he disappeared.
'Well, guess it's my turn.'
Iida stood up shortly after
"Classmates! Please wish me luck. I'm up against Todoroki next!"
"You'll need it Iida." Sero called out. "Todoroki is seriously powerful. Are you sure you're ready?"
"Thank you for your concern, but I have to give it my all," Iida stated with firm resolve.
"My first match didn't really have any bright spots to consider. It was essentially a demonstration for Hatsume's support items. My family is watching this, and I don't want to disappoint them with a poor performance."
He adjusted his glasses and continued.
"Though Todoroki is a formidable opponent, I shall utilize every strategy I have formulated to ensure a victory worthy of the Hero Course!"
Iida performed a quick bow. "I must depart for the waiting room!"
"Good luck, Iida!" Uraraka cheered.
"Go get him, man!" Kirishima shouted.
Meanwhile, Yuta emerged from the arena floor tunnel, planning to circle back to the General Studies stands.
'My performance up to this point should be enough to get me into the hero course right?'
If he remembered right, then the qualifications for transfer basically rested on the will of the teachers.
'Even if none of the teachers recommend me, Nezu probably wouldn't let me stay in general studies after this.'
He rounded a corner near the stadium's service corridor, and stopped at the sight of Todoroki heading into the student waiting rooms.
'Hmm.'
Todoroki paused as well.
The next few seconds passed in an awkward face off. Until eventually, Todoroki broke away and stepped into the waiting room.
'Well that was awkward.'
He thought, heading to the viewing area.
A few minutes later
Present Mic's intro began.
"ALRIGHT LISTENERS! HOPE YOU'VE GRABBED A DRINK BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN! IT'S TIME FOR OUR SECOND QUARTERFINAL MATCH! THESE TWO HAVE GIVEN US SOME OF THE BEST DISPLAYS OF TACTICS AND POWER TODAY!"
Iida felt a rush of anger as Present Mic's words
"Some of the best displays of tactics and power"—echoed in his ears. It felt like a deliberate slight.
"IN THE LEFT CORNER! THE SON OF ENDEAVOR—THE MAN WHOSE POWER ROCKED THE ARENA IN THE FIRST ROUND! SHOOOTO TOODOROKIII!"
"AND IN THE RIGHT CORNER! THE CLASS PRESIDENT WITH ENGINE-POWERED LEGS! HE'S HERE TO PROVE THAT CLASS 1-A'S TACTICAL SPEED IS SECOND TO NONE! TENYAAA IIIDAAA!"
"BOTH ARE FROM HERO FAMILIES, SO IT'S BASICALLY A BATTLE OF THE ELITE."
"Contestants ready?"
"Begin!"
Todoroki moved first, a massive expanse of ice instantly erupting from his right foot, surging across the arena.
Iida dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the freezing wave as it swallowed his previous location in seconds.
'He's using that much ice from the start?!'
Iida zig-zagged through the arena, but Todoroki would send a wall of ice, causing him to turn back.
Eventually, Iida was boxed in the middle of several ice walls.
"IT SEEMS TODOROKI IS GOING FOR THE KILL IMMEDIATELY."
Sure enough, a massive Ice wave sweeping the available space between the walls rushed towards Iida.
'I was hoping to save this for the next match.' Iida squatted at the sight before him. 'But it seems I have no choice.'
He pushed every muscle to its limit, launching himself into a massive standing long jump. The massive ice wave crashed beneath him, swallowing the spot where he'd been a moment before.
He cleared the rear, soaring into the open air above the field of ice.
As he reached his apex, directly above Todoroki, the exhaust pipes on his calves flared with a blinding intensity. VROOOOM!
"Recipro Burst!"
This was the first time Tenya Iida had unleashed the technique in the Sports Festival.
He took a downward thrust to convert his jump into a devastating, short-range plummet.
Todoroki, completely focused on the predictable ground battle, expecting Iida to stay trapped, and had never seen this move before, was entirely exposed.
Iida plummeted, delivering a high-speed axe kick aimed for Todoroki's head.
The kick landed squarely on Todoroki's shoulder and upper torso with concussive force.
___
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