" Ochaco-chan!" Sora burst through the door of the waiting room rather frantically. She was surprised when Recovery Girl told her Uraraka had left as soon as she finished healing her.
" Sora-cha-" she was cut off as Sora pulled her into a tight hug.
" You were amazing Ochaco-chan! Your plan and everything! You were amazing!"
" Sora, you will kill her!" Yuu cried out when he realized Uraraka wasn't breathing.
" Your wounds?" Sora asked once she saw the plaster applied to her jaw.
" Most of them are healed, but I will have to keep this for the rest of the day." She pointed at the plaster. " Bakugo-kun was really tough."
" That's because-" Whisper was cut off when the door opened by Midoriya. He gaped at the brunette girl there.
" Uraraka... San..."
" Man, I lost..." She scrubbed her head seeing him. " I got carried away at the end thinking I could do it, dang it."
" Uraraka-san, what about your injuries? Are you okay?"
" Yeah, Recovery Girl took care of me. It was only moderate healing so it wouldn't drain my stamina, so I've still got scratches and stuff though. Man, but that Bakugo-kun was really strong! He totally got me. I need to work harder too!" She snapped when she realized everyone was staring at her.
" Are you... All right?" Midoriya was rather wary.
" Well, as long as she is frustrated that much, I think she is." Whisper sweated.
" I'm fine! Better than expected!" Her phone vibrated but she ignored it. " I mean, you immediately started looking ahead, Deku-kun, and just because I lost doesn't mean I can lose."
" That's-" He snapped when Sora held on the brim of his sleeve.
" Midoriya-kun, I think we should get going. You're up next right."
" Eh, ah, right," he trailed.
" We'll head out first then," said Yuu.
" Deku-kun, sorry. You weren't able to prepare at all since I was here..." Uraraka uttered.
" No, I'm fine."
She smiled at him. " I'll be there to watch you soon okay? Good luck."
" Thanks."
And they trudged out. Whisper lingered for a moment before turning to the brunette. " I'm pretty sure the delinquent acknowledged your strength, Uraraka. There's nothing to feel sorry about. Your performance was good."
And he caught up with the rest just as Mic announced Kirishima's advance to the next round.
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Sora stole a glance at the boy as he wiped away his tears. He must have known how his friend felt too. Sora wanted them to get out as soon so to give her some time alone and also for her to call her parents.
Just around the corner, a man covered in flames emerged into sight, a sullen expression on his face.
" Endeavor?!" Midoriya squeaked.
" Oh there you are." Endeavor rounded on the boy.
" The N.2 hero..." Yuu murmured.
Sora blinked at what he just said. What does he need from Midoriya-kun?
The man's light blue eyes swept through Yuu and Sora, stopping for a pretty longer period on the girl. " I hope you two won't mind leaving us alone for a moment?"
Yuu and Sora exchanged looks then nodded and trudged away, leaving a befuddled Midoriya to face the pro hero. What Endeavor didn't know was that they were able to listen to their conversation for a while.
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" I'm worried," said Sora while they awaited the arrival of the two players. Uraraka had joined them a moment after they had settled, eyes all puffed out, mostly because she was crying hard.
It wasn't long before Midoriya and Todoroki advanced to the newly repaired stage. Both faced each other, determined and resolved to fight to the very end.
" Todoroki-san..."
What intense aura they have. Sora gulped, realizing neither of them was going to hold back regardless of the cost.
" Start!"
Todoroki started off with a path of freezing ice while Midoriya smashed it down with a strong wind pressure from his finger. It traveled all the way back to Todorki who had manifested a chunk of ice behind him so not to get blown back.
It was the same for around three rounds before Todorki rushed off on a steep of ice that doubled as a cover. While Midoriya tore it apart, thinking it was the same as before, he was surprised by Todoroki closing by overhead.
He jumped out of the way before the other boy could freeze him with a punch, however, Todorki's ice instantly chased him, grasping his left foot.
A burst of air erupted as Midoriya swung his left arm, pushing Todoroki away from him. Still, it wasn't enough to get him out of the bounds.
Everyone else in the stadium was marveling over Todoroki's strength, saying it was nothing less expected from the son of the N.2 hero.
Hearing all their murmurs, Yuu felt his chest crunching. They don't acknowledge him for who he is.
" He's trembling," Sora whispered to her friend, taking his attention back to the match.
Yuu thought back to their combat training, to his breath that seemed like a mist. At first, he thought it was because of how cold the building was... But seeing it again and again... Yuu wanted to slap himself for not noticing.
" 'Quirks are also physical abilities', huh," he quoted Bakugo's words. " I should have known. He doesn't show it but, his body gets affected by his Quirk as well."
" He gets cold?" Sora asked in astonishment. " Then if he continues like this..."
" His right side will freeze," Whisper added.
" It could be solved easily by the heat from his left, however..."
" He would rather lose than use it." Sora's hands balled.
Todoroki launched another wave of ice at Midoriya, with his broken fingers and arm, there was little to what he could do. However, he startled them all when he managed to produce a strong air pressure by using his broken finger again and almost pelted Todoroki out.
It was hard for everyone to hear what the players were saying down in the arena unless you count their shouting. Only Sora and Yuu could hear the full conversation.
" Did he just... Provoke him?" Sora wondered.
Yuu shook his head. " No..."
Todoroki rushed at the green head, yet, they could see his movement slowed down. When he jumped, Midoriya lunged at him, kicking him in the gut. Yet, Todoroki managed to put ice on Midoriya's left hand. It was something unnoticeable, but Yuu and Whisper knew what it was for almost immediately.
" If he didn't do that, that reckless soldier would use his broken arm if he felt it needed. " Whisper pointed.
" Really? Even though in a match?" Uraraka blinked in surprise.
" As I thought... Deep down, Todorki-san is a kind person..." Yuu muttered.
Todoroki's breath was getting more and more rugged due to the frost. Even his ice was slower and smaller than when they started off. Todoroki approached, trying to freeze Midoriya from up close but he was pushed back by a strong gale as he snapped another broken finger.
" That idiot! What is he thinking of, using his already damaged fingers?" Whisper groaned.
As the fight raged on, nobody could take their eyes off them.
" Shouldn't they be stopped?" Iida waved his arms around. " It will be dangerous if they keep up!"
" It would be better if they choose the winner with a contest like what happened with me," Kirishima added.
It was clear the teachers were keeping a close watch on them, apparently thinking along the same line.
" Midoriya-san... Is determined to win despite the agony," Sora muttered, seeing the tears welling up in the green eyes with each strike.
" He won't stop. That kid set his mind on a goal, and he won't stop until reaching it," Whisper stated, unable to take his eyes off the curly head. He didn't hate his guts.
" Midoriya-san... Is really awesome..." Murmured Yuu.
When he no longer can move his fingers, he resorted to pressing them against the side of his mouth to be able to produce a strong impact. The ice covering Todoroki's body increased before Midoriya punched him again, sending him flying near the white line.
" It's your power, isn't it?!" Midoriya shouted at him. Yuu and Sora's eyes widened as they heard that.
" That's your Quirk, Yuu. That's your own power. Something only you can decide whether it's useless or not. We couldn't choose our Quirks, but we can choose how to use them. Don't let others choose for you."
Uncle...
The heat wave that followed Midoriya's words was so strong it could be felt from their box.
" The fire is here..." Complained Uraraka.
" He used it!" Iida exclaimed.
" He made him use his left!" Sora wasn't less surprised.
" He... Saved him..." Yuu stared at the green head. " Though he knows what that means."
" Shoto!" Everyone was able to hear the N.2 shout back then. Fired up was the perfect description for him back then as he walked to the very front. Yuu listened to him telling his son what he has to do and couldn't help feeling frustrated. It was the same as his parents, though they kept telling him what he couldn't do.
Todoroki on the other hand seemed to ignore him. Whether or not he actually heard him was yet a question. Todoroki created a huge field of ice while Midoriya formed a strong gale around him with his power pressure.
Ice flung at the green head but he managed to sail over it, trying to get close. Todoroki then proceeded to heat the place with his flames, defrosting the ice he had just made. It was then they heard Todoroki thanking Midoriya before Midnight and Cementess stopped them.
Five walls of concrete rose from the stage, blocking off both attacks. They were broken to smithereens as debris flew off in every direction by a strong explosion. Everyone covered themselves, yet, how they were unharmed was unanswered.
When the strong wind died, they dared to peek out. Midoriya was thrown out of the arena and into the wall. He stood still for a moment before falling to the ground while Todoroki stood there with half his shirt burned off.
" M-Midoriya-kun is out of bounds..." Midnight trailed. " Todoroki-kun advances to the third round!"