The conclusion of Shiozaki and Kaminari's match marked the end of the explosive first round of the finals. "AND THAT'S IT FOR THE QUARTER FINALS!" Present Mic announced. "We'll be taking a short ten-minute break before kicking off the semi-finals! Grab some refreshments, because you won't want to miss what comes next!"
The remaining eight students dispersed, the air thick with anticipation. Some found quiet corners, others paced nervously. The waiting areas buzzed with hushed conversations and focused silence.
---
High in the stands, Endeavor finally resettled into his seat. His uniform was immaculate, yet a subtle flush lingered on his skin, and his turquoise eyes held a feverish intensity. The deep chill Souta had inflicted had taken considerable effort and time to burn away. Fuyumi cast a worried look his way; Natsuo retreated further into his own space.
Endeavor ignored them, his gaze sweeping the stadium below. Ice... Souta has mastered ice too. The memory of being trapped, helpless, was already being compartmentalized, overwritten by the strategic implications. Two sons, both wielding both elements... and Souta has that other power besides... The potential was undeniable. His ambition, momentarily frozen, now burned hotter than ever. The path to surpassing All Might seemed to have unexpectedly branched, and he would exploit every avenue.
---
In a less crowded corridor, Midoriya was muttering to himself, reviewing potential opponents, when Shoto approached. He stopped a few feet away, observing Midoriya's focused energy, the faint echo of green lightning seeming to linger around him.
"Midoriya," Shoto began, his voice quiet.
Midoriya looked up. "Oh, Todoroki. Hey."
"You fought well against Shinso," Shoto stated, an observation rather than simple praise. "You've gotten much stronger since the entrance exams. All Might seems... quite invested in your progress." The question hung in the air, unspoken but clear.
Midoriya met his gaze, understanding the implication. "All Might encourages me a lot, yes. But... the power is something I'm still learning to control." He felt more grounded now, less easily flustered.
Shoto nodded slowly, accepting the partial answer. "I see." He paused, his gaze turning inward for a moment. "Midoriya, when we fight... if we fight... I need you to know I won't be using my left side."
Midoriya blinked. "Your fire? But why? It's an amazing Quirk..."
"It's his Quirk," Shoto corrected, his voice hardening almost imperceptibly. "The Quirk of the man I refuse to be. I need to prove... to myself... that I can reach the top my own way. Without relying on his power." The declaration felt heavy, a deeply personal vow spoken aloud perhaps for the first time.
Midoriya looked at Shoto, seeing past the stoic facade to the turmoil beneath. He remembered Souta's anger, the stories he'd hinted at. "I understand... wanting to reject him," Midoriya said earnestly, choosing his words carefully. "But Todoroki... isn't it yours, too? Your Quirk, not just his legacy?" He didn't push further, just offered the thought gently, letting it settle.
Shoto held his gaze for a long moment, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before giving a curt nod and turning away.
---
Shoto found Souta leaning against a wall further down the hall, looking thoughtful rather than resting. He approached his twin, the tension between them a familiar, low hum.
"Souta," Shoto started, his tone more curious than accusatory this time. "Your fight with Shishida... the orange energy, the way you moved... it wasn't like your blue flames. What was that?"
Souta opened his eyes, meeting Shoto's gaze. He didn't smirk this time, just gave a slight, noncommittal shrug. "Something I'm developing."
Shoto frowned, a hint of disappointment entering his voice. "Developing? Or something else you kept hidden? Like the ice?" He lowered his voice slightly. "Are there other things, Souta? Other secrets?" The question wasn't angry, more weary, laced with the familiar feeling of being kept at arm's length by his own twin.
Souta let out a quiet sigh, looking genuinely conflicted for a moment. "It's... complicated, Shoto. Not simple enough to explain in a five-minute break." He met Shoto's gaze directly. "Yes, there are things I haven't told you. Things I haven't been able to."
He pushed off the wall slightly. "Listen, focus on the tournament. Win your next match." He paused, the challenge softer now, but still present. "If we both make it to the final... and you beat me, then I will tell you. When you're ready for the whole picture."
It wasn't the answer Shoto wanted, but it felt... different. Less like a taunt, more like a promise deferred. Souta gave him a brief, almost sympathetic look before walking towards the arena entrance. Shoto watched him go, the questions multiplying, adding another layer of complex motivation as the clock ticked down the final seconds of the break. The semi-finals were about to begin.
---
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE, BREAK TIME IS OFFICIALLY OVER!" Present Mic's voice boomed, jolting the stadium back to full attention. "The stage is set; the tension is high! It's time for the U.A. High School Sports Festival QUARTER-FINALS! Our final four matches will determine who moves on to the next round! Competitors, please remain in the designated waiting areas until your match is called!"
In the corridors and rooms beneath the stands, the final eight competitors took deep breaths, nerves mixing with determination. Friendships would be tested, limits pushed. Only four could advance.
"LET'S BRING OUT OUR FIRST QUARTER-FINALISTS!" Mic roared. "FROM CLASS 1-A, HE'S BURNED HIS WAY THROUGH THE COMPETITION WITH OVERWHELMING POWER, SOUTA TODOROKI! VERSUS! ALSO FROM 1-A, THE EMBODIMENT OF DARKNESS WHOSE POWER IS TRULY FORMIDABLE, FUMIKAGE TOKOYAMI!"
Souta walked onto the stage with a confident stride, his expression neutral but alert. Tokoyami followed, Dark Shadow manifesting beside him, already looking uncomfortable under the bright stadium lights even before the match began. They took their positions on the clean concrete stage.
Souta looked across at Tokoyami, a flicker of something almost like consideration in his eyes. "Tokoyami," he called out, his voice carrying easily across the stage. "Just a warning. My flames are bright. Dark Shadow might... struggle."
Tokoyami dipped his head slightly, acknowledging the obvious disadvantage. "We are aware," he replied, his voice tight. Dark Shadow grumbled nervously beside him. "But we will face the challenge regardless."
Midnight raised her whip. "Quarter-final match 1... BEGIN!"
Souta didn't hesitate. Blue flames erupted around him, not in a wild torrent, but in a controlled, intense aura that banished every shadow from the stage and bathed the arena in brilliant azure light. The heat washed over the platform instantly.
Dark Shadow cried out, physically shrinking against Tokoyami's back, looking small and weak under the intense glare. "Too bright... too bright!" it whimpered.
Tokoyami gritted his teeth, immediately on the defensive. "Stay close, Dark Shadow!" He knew a direct confrontation was impossible. He darted sideways, trying to use the sheer distance to create even the slightest reprieve, hoping Souta might overextend or create a momentary shadow with his own movements.
Souta advanced steadily, his blue aura flaring, keeping the pressure constant. He wasn't using massive attacks yet, simply controlling the environment, letting the light itself disable his opponent's Quirk. "There's nowhere to hide, Tokoyami."
Tokoyami desperately tried a quick maneuver, commanding Dark Shadow to lash out in a swift jab while partially shielded by Tokoyami's own body. The shadow entity managed a weak, short-range punch, but it lacked any real force and retracted immediately, looking even more diminished.
Souta easily sidestepped the feeble attack. He raised a hand, concentrating his blue flames into a focused stream aimed not directly at Tokoyami, but at the ground just in front of him, cutting off his path and forcing him back with a wave of heat. "Give up. You can't win like this."
Tokoyami stumbled back from the heat, breathing heavily, Dark Shadow now barely more than a frightened face peering over his shoulder. He saw the truth in Souta's words. There was no strategy that could overcome this fundamental weakness under such intense, sustained light. He couldn't endanger Dark Shadow further.
"I... yield," Tokoyami stated, lowering his head in frustration.
Midnight cracked her whip. "Fumikage Tokoyami yields! The winner, advancing to the finals, is Souta Todoroki!" Souta let his flames die down, plunging the stage back into normal daylight as Tokoyami and the weakened Dark Shadow walked off, defeated.
---
"AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY FOR TODOROKI!" Present Mic announced. "THE LIGHT PROVED TOO MUCH FOR THE DARKNESS! BUT NOW, GET READY FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTLE! IT'S AN ALL-1-A SMACKDOWN BETWEEN PALS! WILL HARDENING PREVAIL AGAINST EXPLOSIONS?! LET'S WELCOME EIJIRO KIRISHIMA! VERSUS! KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
Kirishima grinned, already hardening his arms as he stepped onto the stage, radiating excitement. "Let's do this, Bakugo! A real manly fight!"
Bakugo stomped onto the opposite side, sparks already popping aggressively in his palms, a feral grin spreading across his face. "Don't go crying when I blast your rocky ass outta the ring, Shitty Hair!"
"Bring it on!" Kirishima roared back, settling into a fighting stance.
"Quarter-final match 2... BEGIN!"
Bakugo exploded into action immediately, literally. He launched himself forward using explosions, closing the distance while simultaneously firing AP Shots – focused, armor-piercing blasts – aimed at Kirishima's hardened body.
Kirishima met the assault head-on, gritting his teeth as the explosions impacted his crimson-red hardened skin. Each blast stung, jarring him, but his hardening held. "That all you got?!" he yelled, swinging a wide, hardened hook.
Bakugo used a smaller explosion to redirect himself mid-air, dodging the punch with practiced agility. He landed lightly, then unleashed a rapid volley of explosions, trying to find a weak point, testing the limits of Kirishima's durability. "SHUT UP AND LET ME BLAST YOU!"
The stage became a chaotic dance of rock-solid defense and explosive offense. Kirishima relentlessly pushed forward, trying to corner Bakugo and land heavy blows, his fists hitting like concrete slabs whenever they connected. Bakugo used his superior mobility, staying airborne much of the time, raining down explosions, mixing powerful blasts with blinding flashes like Stun Grenade to disorient Kirishima.
Kirishima knew he couldn't withstand this forever. Seeing Bakugo pause momentarily to recharge; he took his chance. "RED RIOT: UNBREAKABLE!" His body transformed, becoming jagged and monstrously hard, his ultimate defense. He charged, ignoring the explosions Bakugo immediately threw his way, aiming for a single, decisive blow.
Bakugo's eyes widened slightly at the sheer tenacity. "STUBBORN BASTARD!" He couldn't easily evade the direct charge while Kirishima was in this state. Instead, he planted his feet, aimed both gauntlets forward, and unleashed the biggest explosion he could muster without resorting to Howitzer Impact – a massive, roaring wave of concussive force and heat.
BOOOOM!
The explosion engulfed Kirishima's charging form. For a terrifying moment, it seemed like even Unbreakable might shatter. The monstrous form held, but the sheer force of the continuous blast halted his advance and then, slowly but surely, began pushing him backwards, scraping him across the concrete stage. Just as the Unbreakable form began to flicker, indicating its time limit was up, the sustained force finally shoved Kirishima over the boundary line.
Kirishima landed on the grass, his Unbreakable form dissipating completely, leaving him breathing heavily, covered in scorch marks, but grinning despite the loss. "Damn... that was awesome, Bakugo!"
Midnight raised her whip. "Eijiro Kirishima is out of bounds! The winner is Katsuki Bakugo!"
Bakugo landed back on the stage, smoke rising from his gauntlets. "Took you long enough to fall, idiot!" he yelled, but there was a grudging respect in his eyes as he watched Kirishima give him a thumbs-up before heading off.