Chapter 24 - UA sports festival

[Placeholder text until I come up with something]

_________________

Hearing a feminine voice I turned to see Jiro looking at me, but as I locked eyes with her she quickly averted her gaze, while most of the girls were blushing slightly Jiro's face was so red you could see steam rising from her head... while I might be a little dense I know a sign when I see one. clearing my throat I asked

"Could you repeat that?" Jiro who was looking away shifted in place and played with her ear-jacks, slowly she opened her mouth.

"Um.. Are- are you alright? You didn't get hurt too badly right...? Bakugo went a little too far this time..." Jiro said, clarifying herself. She looked at me with expectant eyes... Is this a Rom-Com Cliche...?

I put on a teasing smile, and with a slight chuckle I responded

"Why? Were you perhaps worried about me?"

My tease worked as her face became even more red, she tried to calm herself down by quickly breathing

"You- You a**hole, you were blown up by a gigantic explosion! why wouldn't I be worried!" Thankfully she wasn't a tsundere

Ah~ my dream has finally come true, to tease a girl and make her blush. I remember putting it on my bucket list in my past life... let me remember...

- Get a job - Check

- Enjoy my life - 

- Tease a girl - Check

- Marry a girl -

- Kick a toddler in the head - Check

- Travel around the world - 

- become a millionaire - 

Some of the things on my bucket list came to mind... unfortunately, I already kicked the bucket, but hey I can always pick it back up.

Remembering I was in the middle of a conversation I snapped back to reality

"I'm fine" I raised my hands and said sarcastically, "The explosion was too weak to hurt me." In the corner of the room stood Bakugo, his face showed a slight scowl as he was dragged into a conversation with Kirishima and Kaminari, but his ears picked up what Rimuru said. His brows furrowed, but he calmed down but he still held a grudge against Rimuru for annoying him.

 On the other hand, Todoroki was sitting on a stool quietly listening to the other classmates chat. 'Weren't we here to visit Rimuru...? why are only Tokoyami and Jiro checking on him?' He thought to himself but his face suddenly went serious

'That explosion... I wouldn't have been able to block that... And Rimuru is barely hurt' His eyes snapped to Rimuru, staring at him up and down... 'It doesn't matter... I'll defeat him in the finals' Shoto clenched his fist and reaffirmed his conviction

.....

"You should get a room already..." commented Tokoyami, only then did I realize that I had been chatting with Jiro for a long time...

"You're a terrible wingman, Tokoyami..." I muttered,

"Heh, it's a pun..." Tokoyami then chuckled stood up, and walked towards the entrance, he then said

"I'm gonna get you something to eat, just make sure to use protection" He waved and closed the sliding door

Looking back at Jiro she was frozen stiff, her shoulders were shaking. I feel kinda bad for Jiro, but instead of comforting her I just waited for her to snap out of her stupor, I continued to stare at her face.

"cute..." I muttered

"E-h? eh?" suddenly Jiro jumped like a cat touching water

**************

Jiro Pov: (haven't done those in a while...)

...Rimuru.... he's quite the enigma, ever since I joined UA I always found him to be quite strange, although he's quiet he likes chatting, although he looks like a girl he acts anything but. 

Since my childhood I had a bit of trouble making friends, I was shy and reserved and my hobbies were different than the others. I loved music and playing video games. When I first arrived at UA I was scared I would be an outcast but it turned out completely different, The girls in my class were fun to hang around and I enjoyed talking with them. But... I sometimes wanted some quiet, and then I noticed them. Rimuru Tempest and Tokoyami Fumikage. They usually hung out alone and liked quiet, so I naturally gravitated toward them.

They were actually quite accepting so I started to hang out with them, I eventually learned about their personalities. Tokoyami was usually serious, it's hard to tell when he was joking, and Rimuru.... Rimuru was chill, and blunt but would always make jokes.

I eventually found out that they liked to play arcade games so I joined them from time to time, they were fun to hang around. But I also discovered additional things about them... apparently, Rimuru liked music! just like me! I sometimes notice Rimuru wearing wireless earphones and hiding them with his long hair, It was kind of funny.

.....

"Hey Rimuru! You've got to listen to this new song I found!" I raised my music player.

Rimuru quickly turned his head in my direction, every time I said something related to music his head would snap in my direction he would always try to find good music, and he would sometimes say 'If I can't listen to music then I'd rather die again'

"Hmh? What genre is it?" He asks

"It's Rock, you've got to listen to the guitar solo it's amazing!" I shoved the music player into his face, he moved his silky hair and put the earphones into his ears. A small smile formed on his lips. he looks cute when he smiles...

-Ahem anyway, I started playing the song, and Rimuru's smile slightly twitched... Did he not like it...? he slowly started to bob his head to the beat, phew he does...

*click* 

He started to snap his fingers to the beat of the song, I could vaguely tell what part he was on. As the guitar solo was close I crossed my fingers hoping he liked it.

"S-so how was it?" I nervously asked

"It was really good" His smile widened, shining like a ray of light. My heart jumped a little

"What's the name of the song? I want to add it to my playlist" He asked, im pretty sure his playlist is already 300 songs... 

"It's called 'Crying for Rain' by Minami! her songs are pretty good" I was a little excited as we would sometimes go shop for songs together, I heard the music store recently got new additions... I should check it out.

"Thanks a lot, Jiro-san!" 

"It's nothing, we're friends right?" I said excitedly, I didn't have many people I could call friends.

*Flinch*

Rimuru's smile broke. cold sweat ran down my forehead... was I being too forward???

...

Rimuru POV:

'Did I just get Friendzoned...?'

I recognized that song she played... That song was an anime opening at one point... to think such a good song became the opener for a borderline hentai sigh... (Crying for Rain Is the anime opener for 'Domestic Girlfriend... )

**************

[Thank you all for waiting, without further delay get ready to have your socks socks off. The Finals of the UA sports festival is now on!!! The two hero course students Shoto Todoroki VS. Rimuru Tempest! Who will claim first place?] 

And with Present's Mic announcement, the audience cheered even louder than ever, They were all waiting patiently for the fight to happen.

Two students started to make their way into the field, on one side Shoto Todoroki was walking calmly with a serious expression. On the other hand, Rimuru walked casually like he was taking a stroll, his hands were in the gym uniform pockets. thankfully he was provided another one.

...

'Raphael-chan~'

[What is it]

'Can you come up with a strategy to defeat Todoroki?'

[...Well you are way weaker than your prime.]

'Yeah I know' I snorted in my mind

[You could try to use 'Black Flame' but I believe it will drain your stamina rapidly to substitute magicules]

'So it's my trump card?'

[Yes. His ice ability could be easily countered just by 'Beelzbub' But the fire is tricky... I suggest condensing the smoke 'Beelzbub' creates and using it like a wall, But it needs to be dense enough not to be blown around by the fire itself]

'Arigato gozaimasu' I smiled, I could finally use Rimuru's objectively best skill, Without Raphael Rimuru would've been stuck as a normal slime forever. It is truly a cheat skill.

.....

The two contestants made their way up to the arena and they were now facing each other, Todoroki glared at Rimuru but Rimuru seemed to be distracted and staring into space, he suddenly smiled and chuckled like a crazy person.

Ms.Midnight as always stood in between the two contestants eyeing the both of them her gaze lingered on Rimuru for a second before she began to announce the match blah blah blah.

"Are you both ready?" She asked, causing the two to roll their eyes before quickly nodding, The match started soon after, Immediately as it began, Shoto Shot a gigantic glacier in Rimuru's direction much like in the match against Sero, but before the glacier could reach too high a gigantic hole was dug through it causing it to collapse.

Rimuru walked out of the hole nonchalantly, his hands still inside his pockets, his deadpan expression caused Shoto slight irritation

"Tsk" Shoto clicked his tongue, instead of continuing to use ice like he always insisted he switched immediately to fire shooting it in Rimuru's direction, causing Rimuru's sight to be filled with fire,

"It's time for my special move, I call it 'Flashfire fist'.... '2.0'" I smiled evilly and clenched my fist, causing black fire to ignite around it.

Throwing a punch an equally sized fire wave spread out. The normal fire being nowhere near as powerful as the black fire were quickly overwhelmed creating a spectacle and shocking all viewers

"W-What?!" Shoto seeing Rimuru using fire caused him to freeze

'H-how...? Since when can he use fire?... smoke...? Damnit' Shoto realized that Rimuru's quirk became stronger, instead of just manifesting smoke, he can now manifest fire. Although Shoto got it wrong it was the best conclusion for the change in Rimuru's quirk

[...A-Are you seeing what I'm seeing?] Present Mic asked, wiping his eyes in confusion.

[You are not seeing things.... Rimuru just used fire... What an interesting Quirk] Eraserhead muttered looking at the cheeky smile Rimuru was giving Todoroki.

.....

"T-This..." Endeavor's day was already bad, his son's performance was being stolen by his stepping stones, Shoto straight up ignored him when he tried to talk to him, and the day only got worse

Endeavor's face was filled with rage, his son, the person who would surpass All Might was being overpowered by the fire of another quirk user, His fire lost to someone else...

His hands clenched violently crushing the metal railing under the pressure, His beard and hair which were covered in fire ignited even more violently.

...

"Wow, Todoroki who would've thought your fire was so weak " I exclaimed, provoking Shoto.

My hand that shot out fire was now red, it hurt when trying to close my fist. Fortunately, it isn't as bad as Dabi, and my hand was healing quickly so I wouldn't have to worry about looking like a homunculus.

I slowly walked towards Shoto seeing his frozen expression I could tell he was surprised. Shoto, who suddenly snapped out of his stupor stepped back after seeing me approach him.

All of a sudden his brows furrowed and instead of stepping back again he got into a stance, both his left side and right were emitting ice and fire.

"I'll defeat you no matter what, I will show the world that I am the strongest" Shoto shouted his conviction. My smile Widened and I said

"Then come already Mini-Endeavor"

_________________

A/N: woo chapter done!

Is this romance I smell? (Ps. Kyouka is best girl. Fight me if you disagree)