After the first round of the finals, the contestants who advanced quickly moved on to the second round, including the first group of winners from the first round.
"Shinso Hitoshi from the General Studies Department, not only has a strong Quirk, but also good hand-to-hand combat skills!"
"VS, Ojiro Mashirao from Hero Course Class A, who looks ordinary but is surprisingly a martial arts expert?!"
With the exaggerated and loud introduction from "Commentary Hero" Present Mic, the two contestants stepped onto the stage.
"Please guide me!"
"...!"
Shinso Hitoshi bowed to his opponent with his hands clasped, and although Ojiro didn't respond verbally, he also bowed in the same way.
"Midoriya, Ojiro, and Shinso look like they're in a martial arts movie!"
Uraraka Ochako, watching the two on stage, noticed their bowing gestures, just like in the Chinese martial arts movies she had seen, where they bow to each other before a fight.
"You're right, it is a martial arts match!"
"Huh?"
Midoriya replied, while Takeyama Urei beside him was confused, wondering why they were using martial arts instead of Quirks in a sports competition.
"Shinso Hitoshi and I both learned Bajiquan at Ojiro's family dojo, so we're technically fellow disciples."
"What! I'm going to learn too!!"
Hearing this important news, Takeyama Urei decided to find Ojiro Mashirao and learn martial arts at their family dojo!
"So, Shinso and Ojiro's match is like a sparring session between fellow disciples?!"
Ochako asked thoughtfully, and Midoriya Izuku nodded in agreement.
"Because Ojiro knows Shinso's Quirk well, their fight is just a martial arts sparring match!"
"Who will win?"
Ochako asked curiously, and Takeyama Urei looked at her like she was silly, while Midoriya couldn't bear to see Uraraka's question...
"Uh..."
Ochako felt embarrassed after asking, realizing it was a silly question... Shinso Hitoshi had only been learning Bajiquan for a little over six months, while Ojiro had been practicing it since childhood.
While the people on the stage were gossiping, the match on the ring began!
Knowing that his martial arts skills were definitely not as good as Ojiro Mashirao's, and his physical condition was also far inferior, Shinso Hitoshi did not get discouraged. He clenched his fist and launched an attack on Ojiro.
Ojiro easily blocked Shinso's punch, grabbed his arm, took a step back, and pulled Shinso over. At the same time, he used his other hand to chop at Shinso's chest.
When the chop landed, Ojiro released Shinso's hand. Shinso staggered back a few steps, and Ojiro made a gesture of concession.
"Is it just a touch?"
Midoriya Izuku, who was in the audience, saw everything clearly. When he was learning Bajiquan at the dojo, students often sparred with each other. Because Bajiquan is a very dangerous martial art, they always stopped at a touch to avoid serious injuries.
Shinso Hitoshi rubbed his chest. Ojiro's hit wasn't heavy, just enough to push him back. But he understood... if this wasn't on the ring and Ojiro Mashirao was an enemy, he would be dead.
"I give up!"
"Huh?... Shinso Hitoshi forfeits, Ojiro Mashirao wins!"
Shinso's quick forfeit surprised the main referee, Midnight-sensei. Was this student too decisive? He gave up after just one hit. But as a referee, she had to be fair and just. If a contestant forfeits, you can't stop them.
"Thanks, Shinso!"
"Don't give me that. A loss is a loss!"
Shinso Hitoshi turned his head away, not wanting to look at Ojiro Mashirao's gratitude. After all, they had known each other for a long time as fellow disciples. They both knew each other's strengths and weaknesses. Saying more would be unnecessary.
"But it was so cool, just like in a real martial arts movie!"
Uraraka Ochako's eyes sparkled. Although she looked like a good girl on the outside, she was a martial arts movie fan and loved scenes like this!
"Uraraka, you can also learn Bajiquan at Ojiro's house!"
Midoriya Izuku added. Takeyama Urei, standing nearby, looked wary. It seemed Uraraka was a rival to watch out for.
The next match... Yaoyorozu Momo versus Todoroki Shoto, another internal battle of Class A, but also a very brutal one.
All the spectators, including professional heroes, did not favor Yaoyorozu. Although her Quirk was strong and practical, facing someone like Todoroki Shoto was too harsh.
The previous match's scene, where Todoroki's ice attack took up half the ring and eliminated his opponent, was still fresh in everyone's mind. Now, almost everyone felt sorry for Yaoyorozu. Facing such an opponent was truly cruel!
"Todoroki..."
"Yaoyorozu."
The two students on the ring greeted each other. Yaoyorozu seemed to want to ease her pressure. After all, her opponent was Todoroki Shoto, a terrifying opponent, and she couldn't think of a way to win.
Todoroki just nodded in response. His opponent was a girl from his class. Although he wanted to win the match, he couldn't treat Yaoyorozu the same way he treated his previous opponent.
"Begin the match!"
As Midnight announced the start, the battle between the two students began.
"Attack first!"
This was the only strategy Yaoyorozu could think of. She activated her Quirk, creating a flashbang, and threw it to the ground as she caught it with her right hand.
The blinding light flashed, and Todoroki instinctively covered his eyes to avoid temporary blindness.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yaoyorozu rushed to Todoroki Shoto, holding a stick she had just created, and swung it at Todoroki's head with full force!
Using the same strategy as Sero Hanta, against an opponent like Todoroki, she could only force a flaw and then strike with all her might to win.
Using the flashbang as cover, Yaoyorozu aimed to knock Todoroki out with this hit, but her body suddenly stopped...
"Sorry, Yaoyorozu... I won't fall for such an obvious trick."
Yaoyorozu's lower body was completely frozen. When she looked down at Todoroki Shoto's feet, she saw the ice spreading from beneath him, creating a trap that froze her as soon as she stepped into it.
"I lost..."
Realizing there was no point in struggling, Yaoyorozu decisively admitted defeat.
"Winner, Todoroki Shoto!"
After Yaoyorozu Momo conceded, Midnight quickly announced the winner.
"The result was expected, but that girl's strategy was correct."
"I heard her Quirk is creation? It seems quite powerful."
"Is her name Yaoyorozu? Is she from the Yaoyorozu family?!"
After the match, the audience started chatting and gossiping. This year's U.A. Sports Festival had given them plenty of exciting topics.
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