Sora returned to her seat just as Kirishima and Tetsutetsu's match was about to end. She noted upon first glance that they were pretty evenly matched.
" How are your hands?" Yuu asked, looking down at her bandages.
" Oh, they're fine. They're stinging a bit that's all. More importantly..." She looked at the empty three seats by her side. " Iida-kun and Midoriya-kun?"
" They went to talk to Uraraka," Whisper stated. "Don't you two want to go?"
Sora contemplated on it for a moment and then shook her head. " Nah, it's fine. I don't want to overwhelm her just when her match is about to start." She directed her look back at Kirishima and Tetsutetsu as they fell to the ground rather beaten up. " Plus, there's nothing left to say for her. Ochaco-chan wants to get past this match... On her own."
Whisper and Yuu stared at the girl's beaming face slightly confused before Midnight announced that the match ended in a draw and that the winner will be determined by a contest when both players recover.
Just as the two invalids were taken away and the screen showed the opponents of the next match, Iida and Midoriya assumed their seats once again, rather anxious.
" Next might be the most disturbing match-up," said Asui.
Jiro rubbed her arms, feeling chills all over her back. " I almost don't want to watch..."
" Ochaco-chan..."
Uraraka finally stepped out of the exit and marched to the arena.
" The eighth and last match of the first round! He was kind of famous in middle school! This isn't the face of a regular person! From the hero course, It's Bakugo Katsuki Versus- She's the one I'm rooting for! From the hero course, it's Uraraka Ochaco!"
There was a deafening silence on the stage. Even though the voices of spectators rose high, neither Sora nor any of the three seated next to her could hear them. Their sole focus was Uraraka.
Sora could hear Bakugo telling her to forfeit while she had the chance.
" Midoriya-kun..." Iida's voice sounded as he turned to their friend. " What was the strategy you were going to tell Uraraka-kun earlier for her to use against Bakugo-kun?"
The green head took out his notes. " It wasn't much, really. Kacchan's strong. In a real close combat fight, he has almost no openings, and the more he moves, the more he sweats, making his Explosion Quirk stronger."
" If you say it like this it seems like there is no way to beat him!" Whisper grunted.
" That's just how strong of a person Kacchan is," Midoriya trailed. " He can use the blasts from his explosions to move around in the air, but if Uraraka-san touches Kacchan and uses her Quirk to make him float, then she would have the upper hand. That's why... The first thing Uraraka-san should do is..."
" Eighth match, start!"
Uraraka leaned forward and sprang at her opponent.
" ... A swift attack." Midoriya continued. " All right! That's good. Even if it's an accident, as long as she can touch him, she can make him float!"
" Bakugo-kun won't want Uraraka-kun to get close to him," Iida piped in.
" That's why, Kacchan won't want to evade. He'll want to counterattack!"
" Had she realized that?" Yuu squinted at her running figure.
" You can do it, Ochaco-chan!"
However, Bakugo blasted her away with a low explosion. Everyone recoiled at how strong it was.
Using the smoke screen caused by the explosion, Uraraka sent her vest flying at Bakugo. While he focused on it, thinking it was her, she aimed for a sneaking attack from behind.
Still, Bakugo was faster, blowing her up in the air.
Their faces frowned in wary of what may happen to the girl who was still getting blown away by every motion. The fume covering the field increased with each blast, making it hard to see.
Come on Ochaco-chan! I trust you! I know you can pull it! Do your best!
" Not yet!" Uraraka yelled but was pelted away by a burst of air, sending debris up in the air. Sora's eyes widened slightly when she glimpsed something. " I see..."
Uraraka kept charging at Bakugo, but could do nothing against his overwhelming power.
Other spectators started complaining, telling the blond off for toying with the girl and not pushing her out of bounds. Sounds of booing spread through the stage as the pro heroes disapproved of his ways.
" He doesn't know how to hold back," Whisper grunted, still eyes focused on the boy.
Present Mic was about to agree with the crowd before he got elbowed in the jaw by Aizawa as he grabbed the microphone.
" Was that a pro saying he's playing around? How many years have you been a pro?" His words shut the booing around the stadium. " If you're saying that with a straight face, there's no point in you watching anymore, so go home! Go home, and look into changing careers!"
" Aizawa-sensei...?" Midoriya blinked at their teacher's words.
" He's got a point, you know," Whisper told them all, earning glances from the whole of class A.
" Bakugo is being careful because he's acknowledged the strength of his opponent who has made it this far. It's because he's doing everything he can to win that he can't go easy on her or let his guard down."
" You're no soldier if you can't tell that much, " Whisper muttered. " Because she came at him with all her might he retorted back relentlessly. There is no meaning in holding back. Both of them are standing there because they know that very well. They're ready to bear wounds and injuries so they stood there unwaveringly."
" So... Bakugo-san..." Yuu began.
" Acknowledged Ochaco-chan's strength," Sora smiled. " Well, it's fortunate he did so."
" Sora?" Yuu blinked at her.
" I'm surprised the pros didn't notice it. Ochaco-chan lowered herself for a reason."
" Now that you mention it, Uraraka-kun kept her body close to the ground as she attacked." Iida tapped his chin.
Midoriya's eyes widened as he realized it. " She kept Kacchan's attacks concentrated towards the ground, which means..."
Everyone looked up as Sora and Whisper smiled. " She was waiting for the right moment."
Above the stadium, they could see thousands of debris floating overhead, waiting to be released and fall down.
" I'm gonna win!" She shouted as she released her Quirk. The debris as if being left by an invisible hand, came cascading down upon the blond.
" She had a desperate plan like that up her sleeve?!" Midoriya jumped to his feet.
Uraraka rushed at Bakugo, opting for an opening when he tried to either avoid or counterattack. However, the strong explosion he let out was enough to blow her off her feet and shove her back to the ground while decimating the falling rubbles.
" Ochaco-chan..." Sora clapped her hands over her mouth, realizing the girl's plan went downhill with that one shot.
Still, the brunette stubbornly struggled on her feet, waddling as she tried to keep her balance. She twisted to face him, however, her body gave in at the last moment and she fell back on the ground.
" Uraraka-kun..."
" She passed her limit a long time ago..."
" She still... Wants to fight though..." It was hard, seeing her friend crawling on the ground, trying to get her body to listen to her.
Midnight interfered, checking on Uraraka. " Uraraka-san's out of commission. Bakugo-kun advances to the second round!" She announced.
" Ochaco-chan..." It was all she could not to cry as Uraraka was transferred out, a sore expression on her face.