Chapter 43 – The Final
«Talent or not…» Recovery Girl snorted, pointing the finger «You both pushed your student into reckless action. Don't wait for my approval, know that.»
«Don't worry, sensei.» Izuku tried to reassure her «Shield-san will be properly followed by me…. Hm?»
Sensing footsteps approaching, Izuku turned to the infirmary's front door, which suddenly opened wide, startling Toshinori.
««««Shield-san!!!»»»»
Momo, Jiro, Tsuyu, and Ochaco entered. Their faces showed deep concern.
«Lower your voice.» Izuku turned with a forced smile «This is an infirmary, not a market.»
«How is Shield-san?» asked Ochaco, ignoring Izuku's statement
«Her life is not in danger, but if she had not been so reckless, she would certainly be able to speak now.» Izuku replied after sighing heavily «She needs a lot of rest and quiet. So now it's better if we take our leave.»
The four girls exhaled in relief as they learned their friend's condition was stable.
I did everything I could to help Shield-san recover. Now it's time to get back to the arena.
*****
After leaving the infirmary behind, Izuku made his way back to the arena, finding Cementos had already repaired the damaged ring.
Joining Midnight, Izuku observed the ongoing match between Katsuki and Fumikage.
Fumikage is completely on the defensive. The light from Katsuki's explosions weakens his Quirk, Dark Shadow. Izuku notices that Dark Shadow weakens in the light. Katsuki's explosions, which generate light and heat, are perfect against Dark Shadow. Katsuki fights fiercely, preventing Fumikage from counterattacking.
Tokoyami-san shows impressive resilience against Ka-chan.
Izuku noted Fumikage's tenacity. Katsuki, impatient, took a gamble. He passed Dark Shadow and landed behind his opponent. Katsuki used the explosions to replicate a Stun Grenade, hitting Fumikage and his Quirk.
«A cloud of smoke! What's going to be going on inside it?!» asked, curious, Present Mic.
The smoke cleared, and Katsuki held Fumikage to the ground with his left hand, while with his right, he continued to generate explosions as if he were holding lit firecrackers. The light generated by those explosions was enough to keep Dark Shadow docile.
«Then you knew...» Fumikage stated in a defeated tone
«You've used your Quirk countless times. Even a child would have understood that, idiot!» Katsuki growled, his face bowed in a fierce grin «I'm almost sorry it was your turn to face someone like me.»
Fumikage can still fight, but he knows when to retire. Izuku read it in his eyes and from his frustration. Then Fumikage said the two words.
«I surrender...»
«Tokoyami declares himself defeated! Bakugou is the winner»
Spectators cheered the result of the clash. Obviously, students in the various classes had reservations or expressed different opinions about the clash, ranging from learning from it to condemning its outcome.
Despite condemning that Professional Hero for the harsh reality of the battlefield, it seems these guys aren't ready to understand it yet thought Izuku as he sighed.
*****
«The time has come! The final! The winner will be decided here and now! Todoroki vs Bakugou!» Present Mic spoke energetically «Contenders, are you ready? Then, start!»
Not again. Izuku thought, sighing, as he put on his helmet.
«Huh?!» Midnight exclaimed, surprised, finding herself once again in Izuku's arms and behind his heavy purple cloak.
As soon as Present Mic said "start," Shoto again created the huge glacier that had already been used against Hanta and Melissa. The transition was quick: the attack struck the observation deck where Izuku and Midnight watched, freezing the mantle once more.
«He'll like to use this move, but he needs to stop the indiscriminate fire,» Izuku said wearily, breaking again the ice that was blocking his cloak on the spot.
«…This is the second time you've suddenly hugged me.» Midnight said, her eyes twinkling between predatory and amused «You're so bold~» she concluded, licking her lips provocatively.
«Better if I get you hit by Todoroki-san's ice next time.» Izuku said, letting Midnight go «Maybe it helps you cool your hot spirits.»
«You're not funny, you know?» Midnight snorted, hinting at a pout.
«More than anything, sensei, how could you see my possible panicked expression if I was wearing a helmet?» asked Izuku, aware of why Midnight had made that initial statement
Midnight, realising that she had actually done her provocative act for nothing, her face turned red with embarrassment, but she still kept taking jabs at Izuku.
«Hmph. Careful. Many girls don't appreciate direct types.»
«Yes, of course.» Izuku laughed softly «But the… 'girls' I met before I got home only know the courtship theory. I'm glad you, sensei, are more the practical type.»
Midnight didn't answer, or rather, she didn't know how to answer. After all, that statement had both the value of a compliment and an insult. So, she remained silent and went back to watch the fight.
The glacier exploded, and Katsuki freed himself from the ice prison. He used his explosions as a springboard, lunged at Shoto, grabbed Shoto's hair and jersey, and threw him out of the ring.
«Don't underestimate me, you piece of shit!!!» Katsuki roared as he threw his opponent
Shoto avoided leaving the ring by creating an ice wall. Katsuki, aggressive, attacked again with explosions. Shoto dodged and took Katsuki's arm with his left.
If he used his fire, he could cause serious damage, if not win directly... Izuku thought, shaking his head and sighing, stubborn until the end.
There is a hesitant determination in Shoto's eyes. He wants to win, but hesitates to use his fire.
Finally, Shoto decided to counterattack, generating a wave of ice and using the opportunity to create some distance with Katsuki.
«When do you stop making fun of me and fight for real?!» Katsuki shouted angrily «I didn't come this far to get the victory as a gift. I'll rip it off from you, I'll use you as a rag to clean the ring! If you don't want to win, then what the fuck are you doing here?!»
What a tongue, Ka-chan… Izuku sighed, tired. But it seems his outburst has finally woken up that stubborn Todoroki.
Katsuki was preparing his attack, leaping into the air and spinning around, generating explosions from his hands. Giving Shoto time, whether unintentionally or voluntarily, to make a final decision and give it his all, using his fire.
Katsuki's attack was ready to be launched, and after gaining momentum from the rotation, he prepared the explosions to attack Shoto.
«Howitzer Impact!!!»
«Fire!»
The explosion generated a blanket of smoke and a thunderous detonation. By the time the smoke cleared, Shoto had been thrown out of the ring, passed out on the remains of the ice wall he had previously generated so as not to get out.
A bang ending, huh… hm?
Katsuki, having fallen to the ground, stood up, his expression twisted with anger, but also with shock and disappointment, because the fight was over.
«You… ugly… son of a bitch!!!» he shouted furiously as he approached Shoto «I don't accept it! I'm not done with-!»
«It's over, Ka-chan.»
Katsuki's hand was about to grab the collar of Shoto's suit, but the sudden appearance of Izuku's armoured hand and his statements blocked him, and he was grabbed by the wrist. With a simple movement, Izuku forced Katsuki to retreat, then positioned himself in front of him, acting as a wall separating Shoto from his opponent.
«Todoroki is out of the ring! The winner is Bakugou.» he declared by hitting his spear on the ground.
«I don't accept it-»
Katsuki was charging again, but this time his target was Izuku. The latter did not move, and in front of him, a kind of purple mist sprang up, stopping Katsuki and sending him off to the dream world.
Izuku's face turned to Midnight, who had torn off a piece of her white jumpsuit, revealing her white skin underneath. So this is her quirk...
Izuku nodded his head as a gesture of thanks.