BNHA: Singularity

In the wake of his match with Yaoyorozu, Izuku apologized for not being able to hold back against her before the two accompanied one another to the Class 1-A viewing area. The next match was between Ochaco and a boy whose Quirk allowed him to transform into a golem-like creature, but while his power was nothing to scoff at, his speed was horrendous.
By merely dodging her opponent's initial attack and touching him with the pads on her fingers, Ochaco was able to secure a technical victory when the boy floated in the air, unable to do anything but flail helplessly. If not for Midnight calling the match in Ochaco's favor, he might have continued floating off into space.
Following Ochaco's one-sided victory, Tsuyu, having drawn the shortest possible stick, appeared in the arena alongside Todoroki. He was already a bad matchup for Tsuyu due to her intolerance to cold, but things were even worse for her since Endeavor had appeared before Todoroki to give him a 'pep talk' before the match. As a result, when Midnight signaled to begin the match, the visibly pissed-off Todoroki unleashed a wave of cold that froze the entire arena.
Though it wasn't as impressive as his feat of creating a stadium-dwarfing iceberg in the anime, Todoroki's attack was too overwhelming for Tsuyu to endure. She attempted dodging in the air to escape the initial avalanche-like rush of frigid energy, but doing so left her completely defenseless as Todoroki unleashed a second wave while she was still airborne. She could have tried using her tongue to latch on to one of the many icy stalagmites that had abruptly formed within the arena, but she was afraid it might get stuck like a kid licking a pole in Winter...
With Todoroki freezing the entire arena, the fourth match was delayed until Endeavor, alongside a few other Pros, could clear away the ice. After that, Kaminari and Sero made their way onto the battlefield. However, as the latter had no way to counteract Kaminari's Electrification Quirk, it was another one-sided battle.
Fortunately, just as the crowd was starting to get a little agitated, Ida and Tokoyami entered the arena. The former should have had the advantage in terms of speed, but thanks to a casual remark Izuku made to Tokoyami when they were discussing training methods, the latter had already begun experimenting with wearing his Dark Shadow and using it to fly. Doing so required him to sacrifice a bit of range, but it allowed him to keep up with Ida's speed and escape to the sky when things got dicey.
Though Izuku expected Tokoyami to have an absolute advantage in the match, the primary reason for Ida's defeat was his engines stalling. His Strength, Agility, and Dexterity were amplified quite a bit while his Quirk was in use, so his perception and reaction time were simply better than Tokoyami's. If not for the versatility of the latter's Quirk, it may not have been a match at all. That's how absolutely broken Speedsters, even those who could only run a few hundred kilometers per hour, were.
In the wake of Ida's and Tokoyami's match, Bakugo and, somewhat curiously, Kirishima entered the arena. The two had been good friends in the anime and manga, but because of Izuku, they hardly knew each other beyond initial greetings. Bakugo didn't even remember Kirishima's name, referring to him as a 'dumb-haired bastard' when the former expressed his interest in having a manly showdown.
When the match between Bakugo and Kirishima began, Mr. Sparky Sparky Boom Man wasted no time in closing the distance, propelling himself with explosions from his palms. Kirishima crossed his arms and hardened his body to be as tough as granite but found himself utterly overwhelmed by Bakugo's explosion-enhanced martial arts.
Curiously, at least from Izuku's point of view, Bakugo never aimed his explosions at Kirishima directly. Instead, he used primarily used them to enhance the strength of his attacks while performing acrobatic, difficult-to-adapt-to maneuvers. Kirishima could have inflicted some real damage if he could land a blow, but Bakugo didn't afford him a single opportunity from start to finish.
("He's grown a lot this past month...") thought Izuku. And because of the recent fluctuations in his emotions, he actually empathized with Bakugo since Emission-type Quirks seemed to make their wielders unstable and needlessly 'expressive'...
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Name: [Katsuki Bakugo]
Quirk: Explosion
Current Level: 25
Effective Level: 50
[Attributes]
Strength: 53
Agility: 48
Vitality: 153
Intelligence: 81
Dexterity: 88
Luck: 78
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Though his base Level was higher than Bakugo's, Izuku couldn't deny the explosive youth was monstrously talented. His and Todoroki's base Levels were both 25, but the latter had a Luck attribute of 161, while Bakugo had a comparably modest 78. Both were Level 22 at the start of the term, so it was a real testament to Bakugo's perseverance, or perhaps stubbornness, that he could keep up with someone far more 'talented.'
("I just wonder who he's going to replace...?") thought Izuku, three figures immediately appearing in his mind. Most would believe the obvious choice to be Mineta, but if he had a choice, Izuku would expel Koda, the boy who could converse with animals, or Aoyama, the french parody that could fire a suspiciously 'liquidy' laser from his navel. The former, at least in Izuku's opinion, lacked the temperament of a Hero. As for the latter...well, he was just way too suspicious...
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Name: [Yuga Aoyama]
Quirk: Navel Laser(Vestige)
Current Level: 15
Effective Level: 17
[Attributes]
Strength: 13
Agility: 18
Vitality: 84
Intelligence: 30
Dexterity: 16
Luck: 12
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Not only did Aoyama have some of the worst attributes in the Class, but his Quirk, Navel Laser, had the 'Vestige' suffix attached. In other words, it wasn't his original Quirk, but one he had 'received' from someone. Izuku had already informed the Principal and Toshinori about this, but they had yet to take action since they were still investigating the matter. Aoyama's parents came from exceptionally wealthy backgrounds and were staunch contributors to the Hero's Association, so Nezu couldn't expel him without cause.
Simply put, Aoyama's inclusion in the Hero Course was largely the result of nepotism and Nezu's desire to keep Izuku's Quirk a secret. The latter was fully aware of this and trusted Nezu's judgment, so unless Aoyama exposed himself, there was little he could do but keep tabs on the ever-sparkling Frenchling...
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With the seventh round ending with Mina's victory over a random kid from the General Course, Izuku was sitting in the waiting room, patiently awaiting his match against Ochaco while observing Toru fight a boy with the ability to manipulate water. Unfortunately, while water manipulation was typically a powerful ability, the blue-haired teen could not produce it on his own.
As only students of the Support Course were authorized to use Support items, including a simple water bottle, the blue-haired youth's only option was to fight Toru in hand-to-hand combat. However, with the latter taking off her clothes as soon as the match began, even that wasn't an option as he couldn't see her. It was kind of hard to watch as Toru just kept shoving the boy at random to avoid being grabbed while she was naked...
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Interrupting Izuku's focus on the monitor depicting Toru's match, a knock sounded from the entrance of the waiting room.
"It's open," called out Izuku, rising to his feet just in case his visitor wasn't an ally. While that was ultimately the case, he did not attempt to attack the person who had entered his room, a towering figure with a muscular build, metal pauldrons, metal armguards, and a blue bodysuit wreathed in flames. Similar flames covered his eyes and protruded from his face like a beard and mustache, so it wasn't difficult to guess the man's identity, the No. 2 Hero, Endeavor.
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Name: [Enji Todoroki]
Quirk: Hellflame
Current Level: 103
Effective Level: 549
[Attributes]
Strength: 299
Agility: 165
Vitality: 4,753
Intelligence: 85
Dexterity: 240
Luck: 152
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Though 'Enji' clearly had his Quirk active, Izuku was still surprised by the man's stats. It wasn't for no reason he had been the No. 2 Hero for literal decades. He also had the highest tally of reported case resolutions, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say the man had been grinding that entire time.
Interpreting Izuku's reaction as the same response most would give when meeting him for the first time, Endeavor adopted a notably practiced smile as he said, "I observed your victory in the previous match and witnessed your performance during the first and second events of the Festival. You have a promising future as a Hero, young man."
Before Izuku could pretend to be thankful for Endeavor's 'praise,' the man revealed his true nature, adding, "Unfortunately, it is my Shoto's destiny to surpass All Might and become the No. 1 Hero. To that end, I expect you to do your best as a stepping stone for his future. If you can pressure him into using his flames, I will have a reward for you should you intern at my agency."
"..."
Furrowing his brows, Izuku caught Endeavor off guard by stating, "You're even more of a douche-canoe than I expected. I mean, what even is the point of raising your son to 'surpass' All Might when the latter is basically on the cusp of retirement? You should have focused on&ndash;no, forget it. I'm not going to waste my time trying to reason with you. The simple truth is that Todoroki-kun will 'never' surpass All Might when he has someone like you holding him back. Your fantasy of living vicariously through your son's success will forever remain the delusion of a man who failed to overcome his own ego, obsessed with a rank that means nothing in the face of true Heroism..."
"You..." muttered Endeavor, regaining the perennial scowl he was best known for. "You've got a smart mouth on you, boy. Did your father never teach you to respect your betters?"
Suppressing the rage welling within him behind a smile, Izuku retorted, "Did yours never explain the concepts of dignity and setting an example for others to follow? Or do you think it 'normal' for a Pro Hero to enter the waiting room of someone aspiring to become one, calling someone thirty years his junior a stepping stone before promising a reward in exchange for getting his son to use a power he should have felt comfortable using his entire life? If you had been a better father, Todoroki-kun might very well be on the path to becoming No. 1. Now, he'll be lucky to take 'second' in even a single Sports Festival before our graduation."
Though his expression didn't change in the slightest, Endeavor's flames became much hotter, causing the interior of the waiting room to become like a sauna. He had anticipated Izuku taking offense to being referred to as a stepping stone. In fact, that's the entire reason he came over. To get the boy 'motivated' so that he might draw out Shoto's true potential. Had he known he was going to be lectured by some random brat, he wouldn't have wasted his time.
Instead of lashing out or attempting to threaten Izuku, Endeavor turned away, his grasp on the waiting room's door handle causing it to become red hot as he asserted, "As sure as the Sun rises in the East, my Shoto will be the No. 1 Hero. You may come out ahead in this tournament, but all of your efforts will amount to nothing when he realizes his full potential and accepts his destiny..."
Waiting until Endeavor was stepping out of the room, Izuku pointedly remarked, "You should start wearing a helmet from now on. I don't want you to lose what little mental capacity you have left once you fall off that ridiculously high horse of yours."
Stopping midway through the door, Endeavor took one last look at Izuku over his shoulder, committing the boy's 'smug' face to memory as he said, "We'll see who falls..." before slamming the half-melted door on his way out...
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Encountering Ochaco on the way to their match, Izuku could only smile wryly when she asked, "Why are you sweating so much? Don't tell me you were training until just now..."
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "We can talk about it later," before asking, "Are you ready for our match?"
Striking a guts pose, Ochaco exclaimed, "You bet! I might not be able to win, but I'll give it my all! Just be careful I don't get my hands on you, or else...!"
Adopting a teasing smile, Izuku raised his right hand, producing several black tendrils as he remarked, "It's you who should be careful. If you try and send me floating into space, I'm taking you with me..."
Furrowing her brows, albeit only slightly, Ochaco complained, "That's not fair, Izuku-kun. If I can't even use my Quirk, how am I supposed to win?"
Closing his fist with a 'pop,' Izuku answered, "I honestly don't know. But if you manage an upset, I'll listen to one of your requests in the future. That includes going out on a date."
Blinking in surprise, Ochaco asked, "Seriously?" before pumping her fists a second time and exclaiming, "Now I'm really fired up!" with illusory flames burning in her eyes. Her reaction made Izuku feel a little awkward, but he just smiled and allowed the petite gravity girl to dream.
Coming down from her momentary high, Ochaco looked up at Izuku and asserted, "Hold on. If my reward is being able to request something from you, it's only fair that I offer a similar prize. Or is there something else you want as a reward?"
Seeing Ochaco staring at him with her big, trust-filled eyes, a faint sigh escaped Izuku's nose as he replied, "Fine, I'll play along. As for what I'll request...how about having you dress up as my favorite Heroine during our end-of-the-year Christmas party?"
Blinking several times, Ochaco subconsciously moved closer to Izuku as she asked, "Who's your favorite Heroine?" in a genuinely curious tone. Her own was Space Hero Thirteen, but she doubted that Izuku, or any boy for that matter, would have such 'tame' preferences.
Regaining a teasing smile, Izuku replied, "I'm half-tempted to lie and answer the Vigilante Heroine, Pop☆Step. But I'll be honest and go with my genuine favorite, Rabbit Hero, Mirko."
As Mirko had been one of the top female Heroes since her debut, Ochaco could easily picture the muscular bunny's outfit in her mind. As such, her face went bright red as she pressed the pads of her fingers together and murmured, "That...might be a little much. I'm nowhere near as fit and athletic as someone like Mirko. There's no way I could pull off wearing her costume..."
"That's something we strongly disagree on," asserted Izuku. "However, the last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable. If that's asking for too much, I could always have you assist me with one of my inventions."
Shaking her head rather vigorously, Ochaco hastily responded, "No, no, no, it's fine! I don't mind trying it on if you think it'll suit me! Can I change just one, teenie tiny little thing, though?"
"Sure, go for it," replied Izuku.
Pressing the tips of her index fingers together, Ochaco looked up at Izuku with a bashful smile as she asked, "Do you mind if I only show it to you? If I wore such a revealing outfit in front of our other classmates and had my photo taken, I might die of embarrassment..."
"Ah..."
Recalling that there were die-hard perverts like Mineta and Kaminari in their Class, Izuku didn't hesitate to respond, "Sure thing. In fact, if going out is too much, you could always send me a secure photo. I promise not to share it, no matter the circumstances."
Leaning forward slightly and linking her hands behind her back, a potent blush began to spread through Ochaco's cheeks as she suggested, "I'd rather not leave behind any evidence. How about, instead of waiting until Christmas, I purchase the outfit and invite you to my apartment to view it directly? My family lives pretty far away from Musutafu, so I've been living in an apartment by myself since school started..."
"..."
Though he knew Ochaco shouldn't have any ulterior motives behind her invitation, Izuku was surprised to see how assertive she was behaving. It didn't match his image of Ochaco from the anime, but that didn't stop him from adopting a smile and replying, "Just let me know when everything is ready, and I'll literally come running over."
Snorting in a cutesy way, Ochaco rose to her full height, adopting a fairly mischievous grin as she said, "Don't get ahead of yourself, Izuku-kun. If you get complacent, I might actually come out on top. If that happens, it won't be 'me' wearing Mirko-san's costume..."
Understanding the implications of Ochaco's words, the smile faded from Izuku's face as he asserted, "You've sealed your fate. If my dignity as a man is on the line, I'll be giving it my all from the start. That, and I really want to see you in Mirko's costume."
Instead of being intimated by Izuku's words, Ochaco pumped her fists one final time, exclaiming, "Then let's give it our all!" with the same fiery expression as earlier. After all, even if she lost in the coming match, she felt she had achieved something significant by inviting Izuku to visit her apartment...
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When Izuku and Ochaco finally entered the arena, Midnight, with her microphone turned off, commented, "You two sure took your sweet time arriving. Are you reluctant about fighting the person you like~?"
Contrasting Midnight's expectations, Ochaco replied, "I'm ready!" with a serious expression, while Izuku asserted, "I won't hold anything back." in a firm tone.
Licking her lips, Midnight teased, "Well, are you two just the cutest little things?" before flipping on her microphone and shouting, "Sorry for the delay, folks, but it looks like our contestants are, at last, ready and raring to go! Show them some love~!"
Though the crowd's response wasn't nearly as loud as it could have been, the combined force of tens of thousands of people cheering and clapping was enough to shake the stadium. Izuku could feel the vibrations through the soles of his feet, but instead of feeling intimidated, he had a confident smile on his face as he met the eyes of the girl standing opposite of him in the arena.
With Izuku and Ochaco in their respective starting position, Midnight raised her bondage whip high, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement as she shouted, "Now, without further ado, let the first round of the second elimination matches...begin!"
Expecting Izuku and Ochaco to have a nice, 'friendly' brawl, Midnight and the spectators were more than a little surprised when the former abruptly 'exploded.' Izuku had promised Ochaco that he would be going all out, so dozen Blackwhip tendrils, resembling teal-tinged black lightning, erupted from his body, flickering around him violently before compressing to form a protective layer around his arms, legs, and chest. Then, demonstrating a surprising degree of flexibility, he raised his right foot nearly 180 degrees, emulating one of Mirko's signature techniques as he briefly multiplied his power more than a thousand times, splitting the entire arena...
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Though she didn't ordinarily watch the UA Sports Festival, uninterested in the performances of a bunch of brats, Rumi Usagiyama, better known by her Hero name, Rabbit Hero Mirko, had received numerous emails about a 'promising youth' that would appear among the first years. Such an email wouldn't have been able to divert her attention away from her Hero duties under normal circumstances, but, as the sender was someone Mirko owed quite a few favors, she decided to check it out.
Recognizing Izuku's form the moment he raised his foot, a somewhat predatory smile developed across Rumi's face as she thought, ("Is this cheeky little brat copying me? But what's he hoping to accomplish from so far away...?")
Answering Rumi's question, Izuku's leg abruptly became a blur, much too fast for the camera to follow. The aftermath of his attack, however, was all too obvious, causing Rumi's carmine eyes to widen quite a bit. She prided herself on having the most powerful legs in Japan, potentially even the entire world, so she knew how strong someone would need to be to split reinforced concrete like a karate tile.
Recovering her predatory grin, Rumi couldn't help exclaiming, "Not bad! Great, even! It's no wonder that busybody of a Principal sent me such an email! Looks like UA found itself a good seed!"
Having made up her mind, Rumi leaped to her feet, shedding the white and purple-trimmed kimono she often wore in her traditional Japanese home before racing off to change into her Hero costume. Near the end of his email, Nezu had asked if she would help reinforce security during the Sports Festival, but Rumi had refused. Now, however, she was at least a little interested in seeing how things played out. Thus, after changing into her Hero outfit, consisting of little more than a sleeveless, exceptionally skin-tight white leotard, purple stockings, and a pair of white gloves, Rumi bolted from her house, producing a sizeable crater as she leaped several hundred meters into the air at near-supersonic speeds...
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Though he had nearly slipped into the crack he had created, Izuku was spared from embarrassing himself as the tendrils of Blackwhip embedded into the surrounding concrete, preventing him from falling. As for Ochaco, she had leaped into the air, remaining afloat using her Quirk, but her eyes were completely round as she stared down at the devastation below.
Breaking the usually bubbly girl from her stupor, Izuku called out, "I told you I wasn't going to hold anything back. This should also give you some ammunition to utilize with your Quirk, so if you're ready to continue, so am I."
Shaking her head and waving her hands, all while tucking in her legs to prevent herself from spinning too much, Ochaco loudly replied, "No, I'm good! I've seen everything I need to understand I don't stand a chance against you, Izuku-kun! You're way, way, way stronger than I expected...!"
Though he returned a smile in response to Ochaco's compliment, Izuku couldn't help thinking, ("You say that, but if I didn't reinforce my body with Blackwhip, my leg would be a mess right now. I really need to work on my timing...")
Using Blackwhip to lower himself onto the stage, Izuku clenched his teeth as a sharp pain ran up his leg. He didn't think it was broken, but he sure as shit wasn't using it to execute any flashy moves the rest of the day...
Having been paying close attention to Izuku's and Ochaco's dialogue, Midnight directed her gaze to the latter, asking, "Are you sure you want to forfeit the match? You won't get another opportunity like this for an entire year, you know?"
Releasing her Quirk, Ochaco landed on the arena, the extra-thick padding of her shoes cushioning the impact as she replied, "It's okay, Midnight-sensei. I know when I'm beaten. Besides, not having another opportunity for a year means I can use all that time to practice! Just you wait, Izuku-kun! I'll be ten, no, a hundred times stronger next year...!"
Nodding his head in approval, Izuku's smile broadened as he said, "I have no doubt that'll be the case, Ochaco-san. But, fair warning, I don't intend to slack off. Especially not when I have such a compelling reason to win..."
Understanding that Izuku was talking about her dressing up like Mirko, the perpetual blush marks on Ochaco's face became noticeably redder. At the same time, after observing the duo's interaction with an affectionate smile, Midnight raised her bondage whip, loudly announcing Izuku as the match's victor...
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Though he was tempted to agree to Ochaco's suggestion, especially knowing she was one of the more dutiful girls present, Izuku's expression softened as he replied, "I want to agree, Ochaco-san, I really do. But as I pointed out a few minutes ago, now probably isn't the best time to start a relationship. Not when we have internships, the Hero Licensing Exam, and Work Studies right around the corner..."
Turning his attention to the other girls present, Izuku added, "Besides, at this point, I'm not sure I have the right to date any of you. I thought I was being smart by casting a 'wide net.' I've since come to realize my actions were exceedingly shortsighted..."
With Izuku's final words directed her way, Toru understood she was the reason he decided not to date anyone. The realization caused her to feel pained, but deep down, she was relieved he had rejected Ochaco's offer. Even more so since she knew she was Izuku's 'number one' among all the girls in the Class...
Pouring cold water over the illusory steam rising from Toru's head, Mina pointed out, "You mentioned before that you weren't looking for a 'serious' relationship. The two of you could try dating as 'just friends' and see how things develop from there. You know, kind of like when the two of us went out. A practice date."
Making things much worse, Mina added, "Better yet, since you've clearly put a lot of thought into this, you could try going on mock dates with each of us. Not everything can be learned from simply observing people. If you want to find out if you're truly compatible with someone, you need to go on at least one date together."
Extending Toru a ray of hope, Izuku shook his head, stating, "While I can't refute your words on their merits, I'm fairly confident in my assertion it's a bad idea. One guy shouldn't date multiple girls from the same Class, even if it's just practice."
Blinking in surprise, Mina remarked, "That's a little surprising, coming from you. With how thorough you've been, I genuinely believed you were trying to form a harem. Isn't that like every guy's dream? To have a girl for every day of the week?"
"Maybe if they're children..." replied Izuku, his expression morphing into a deadpan as he asserted, "Real men are loyal to a fault. It's fine to test the waters if you're an adult trying your luck in the dating scene, but once you enter a relationship, you have an obligation&ndash;no, a duty to see it through to the end. People who sneak around or cheat on those they purport to care for deserve every punishment Hell has to give..."
Realizing that everyone was looking at him with expressions of shock and concern, the fury in Izuku's eyes abated, an apologetic smile developing across his face as he said, "Sorry about that...the truth is, my father has a second family in America. He basically abandoned my Kaa-chan and me, so I don't have a particularly good impression of people who fool around in a relationship..."
Hearing about Izuku's family circumstances, each of the girls, especially Mina, had apologetic looks on their faces. If she had known about Izuku's situation in advance, she would never have made such a tasteless joke...
Attempting an apology, Mina hung her head and muttered, "Sorry, Izuku-kun, I..." but stopped when Izuku shook his head, saying, "No. I know you were just joking, Mina-san. If anyone should apologize, it's me. I shouldn't have let my anger get the better of me like that..."
Recalling his encounter with the baldie from the One-for-All space, Izuku couldn't help thinking his recent 'instabilities' were the result of inheriting an Emission-type Quirk. He knew better than anyone he had some shit to work through, but he usually kept his emotions hidden. At the very least, he wasn't the type to lash out at unrelated people. If that were the case, he'd be no better than Todoroki...
Regaining his calm, Izuku attempted to ease tensions by regaining his smile and stating, "To be honest, your suggestion isn't a bad one. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to try dating everyone here. I just can't view it as 'practice.' If I'm going to date someone, I intend to give it my all from start to finish. That being said..."
Turning his attention to Ochaco, causing her to sit a little straighter, Izuku added, "I really would like to date you, Ochaco-san. You're inarguably one of the kindest and most considerate girls I know. I'm just not in the best mental or emotional state right now. I don't want to hurt you...I don't want to hurt anyone..."
As his words were intended to create a bit of distance between him and the girls, at least until he could get his shit sorted, Izuku was left at a loss for words when Ochaco pumped her fists and exclaimed, "That's no good, Izuku-kun! When we're in pain or uncertain about the future, turning away from friends is never the answer! When friends work together, there's no hardship they can't overcome...!"
"..."
While Izuku was momentarily at a loss for words, Mina softly but excitedly remarked, "You go, Ochaco-san! Now finish him off~!" with sparkling eyes.
Though she wasn't paying attention to Mina's words, Ochaco looked up at Izuku, staring at him with upturned eyes as she appealed, "Please, let me help you, Izuku. Whatever you're going through, I promise it'll be easier if we face it together...!"
("How the hell am I supposed to say no to this?") thought Izuku, his gaze briefly shifting to Toru. As he pointed out previously, he was the type that took relationships seriously. If he and Ochaco started dating, there was a good chance they would continue dating throughout High School...if not much, much longer...
Seeing Izuku look her way, even if only for a brief moment, Toru's body and heart tensed. If she had known that feigning ignorance would hurt this much, she never would have broken things off between them. She had thought she was being considerate of the other girls, but now she wasn't too sure...if anything, it felt like she had sacrificed her happiness for Ochaco's benefit...
Causing Toru's heart to twist painfully in her chest, Izuku, his gaze fixed on Ochaco, said, "You're right, Ochaco-san. If we work together, there's nothing we can't overcome..."
Smiling broadly, Ochaco was about to ask if that meant they could start dating but stopped herself when Izuku shook his head, adding, "But we don't need to be dating to support one another. It's barely been a month since we began attending UA. For now, it's probably for the best that we remain friends. Maybe even best friends."
Exhaling a long, adorably exasperated sigh, Ochaco deflated in her seat as she said, "I thought you might say that..." with a dispirited but smiling look. She had given it her all, but it was very clear Izuku wasn't ready to start dating. It was disappointing, but, knowing they could remain friends, Ochaco wasn't particularly upset. At least this way, things wouldn't be too awkward between her, Tsuyu, and the girls in her Class...
Adopting a somewhat self-deprecating smile, Ochaco perked back up as she said, "Well if you ever change your mind or just want to hang out, you have my phone number. Jiro-san isn't the only one who enjoys listening to music, you know?"
Suppressing the notion he was a massive prick, Izuku returned a smile of his own as he replied, "I'd like that, Ochaco-san. Just remember, that's a two-way street. If you ever want to hang out and I'm not busy, just shoot me a text. No, even if I 'am' busy, I can always make time for the people I care about."
Hearing Izuku unabashedly insinuate she was someone he cared about, Ochaco's smile became a lot broader. At the same time, she couldn't help thinking that if they exchanged texts and frequently spent time together, it wasn't much different from being a couple...
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Following the mid-festival intermission, the students participating in the Finals were gathered in the arena to hear Midnight's explanation of the rules and to draw lots. In Izuku's case, he, unfortunately, ended up being paired against Yaoyorozu in the inaugural match, surprising each of them quite a bit...
Standing across from each other on a square-shaped stage prepared by Cementoss, Yaoyorozu had a wry smile on her face as she remarked, "It looks like my journey in this year's Sports Festival ends here..." Then, with a markedly more confident look, she balled her hands into fists, striking a 'guts pose' as she added, "But make no mistake, Midoriya-kun! I have no intention of giving up...!"
Punching his right hand into the palm of his left fist, Midoriya returned a smile as he replied, "I expect nothing less from our Class Representative! Now, come at me, Yaoyorozu-san...!"
As the match had already started, Yaoyorozu kicked things off in a rather 'interesting' way, unzipping her top to reveal her toned body and a stylish black sports bra. The objects she produced with her Creation Quirk would destroy her clothes if she attempted to materialize them while clothed, so Yaoyorozu had little choice but to expose quite a bit of skin if she wanted to produce something large.
Accompanying a rainbow-hued flash, Yaoyorozu materialized a medium-sized canon from her body, shouting, "Please try not to get injured...!" as she unleashed its explosive package in Izuku's direction.
Contrasting the expectations of Yaoyorozu and many within the crowd, Izuku didn't attempt to dodge the explosive projectile. Instead, he stood his ground, waiting until the very last moment to raise his foot, kicking the cannonball directly. This, unsurprisingly, resulted in him being enveloped by the subsequent fireball, but it barely had time to form before dozens of bluish-black tendrils dispersed it, revealing him to be unharmed.
Seeing Izuku take on her most powerful attack without flinching, a look of disbelief briefly marred Yaoyorozu's face. However, true to her word, she didn't give up. Instead, she produced several flashbangs and a canister of tear gas, shouting, "Let's see how you handle this...!" before lobbing them in Izuku's direction.
Realizing what Yaoyorozu was up to, Izuku thought, ("I see she took my comment about having enhanced senses to heart. Not a bad plan, if not for the fact we're outside...")
Before the canisters could reach him, Izuku dashed forward at a blinding speed, bypassing them mid-flight and appearing before Yaoyorozu in an instant. What surprised Izuku was that despite being caught off guard by his maneuver, Yaoyorozu managed to counterattack immediately, dozens of tungsten rods erupting from her chest and abdomen to push him away and propel herself backward. At the same time, she generated canisters of pepper spray from her palms, unleashing their torrents at Izuku's face.
("I'm starting to see why she's ranked first in the Class...") thought Izuku. Yaoyorozu's ability to adapt on the fly was extraordinary, so much so that if she were given time to strategize, Izuku felt she could defeat just about anyone. Bar a few outliers...
While dodging backward faster than the tungsten rods could extrude from Yaoyorozu's body, ten tendrils of Blackwhip emanated from the tips of his fingers, surging forward like teal-tinged bolts of black lighting. Yaoyorozu did her best to dodge, but the tendrils of Blackwhip were way too fast for someone with a fairly ordinary physique to dodge. As a result, Yaoyorozu could only grit her teeth in vexation as her wrists and ankles were bound, followed by her being flung rather unceremoniously from the arena. Izuku would have preferred a gentler approach, but the raven-haired Ojou-sama was simply too capable for him to hold back without it looking like he was toying or overtly flirting with her...
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Chapter 35: Chapter 35