The corridor was quiet and dim, with only the sterile glow of the lights overhead casting a pale hue over the empty space. Kyoka walked forward slowly, her footsteps echoing as her head hung low. Behind her, the muffled cheers from the stadium drifted down the hallway, but they only served to deepen the ache in her chest.
In that heavy silence, regret filled her thoughts.
If only… she thought to herself, if only I'd spent more time honing my Quirk instead of focusing just on music, maybe things would've been different today.
"Kyoka?"
A familiar voice cut through her thoughts, breaking the lonely rhythm of her footsteps. She looked up, surprised, only to see Kaminari standing there, a warm and reassuring smile on his face.
"Kaminari!" she exclaimed, her face brightening despite herself.
He walked up to her, his expression soft with concern. "You okay?"
The way he looked at her with such genuine care made the disappointment in her heart begin to melt away. It felt like that familiar jolt of electricity that he always carried with him had dispelled the lingering shadows in her mind.
"Let me tell you something, Kyoka," he said, his tone sincere. "Making it to the quarterfinals is a big deal. Think about how many people would've loved to get this far. Look at all the students who didn't even make it past the first round. You did great."
A small laugh escaped her. "You're really trying to make me feel better, huh?"
"Of course!" he grinned. "I'm serious, though. You don't need to feel disappointed. You were incredible out there."
Kyoka let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "I know… It's not really about the tournament. I just… I guess I feel like I could've done more. Like, if I'd focused a little more on improving my Quirk, maybe I wouldn't have been beaten so easily."
"Hey," Kaminari said, stepping closer. Before she could react, he placed a gentle hand on top of her head, mussing up her purple hair ever so slightly. She blinked up at him, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture.
"Thank you, Kyoka," he said softly, his voice filled with gratitude. "You did more than enough. And… I promise, I'll do my best out there."
As he let his hand fall away, Kyoka found herself momentarily speechless, watching as he turned and continued down the hallway toward the stadium. His parting words lingered in the air.
"Stay up there and watch. I'll make you proud."
Once he was out of sight, she reached up, touching the spot where his hand had been. Her face turned slightly red, and a quiet, barely audible whisper slipped from her lips.
"...You're only a month older than me, you know. Who said I wanted you as my big brother…?"
---
Back in the arena, Kaminari emerged from the tunnel and was greeted by a blinding flood of light and the roaring cheers of the crowd. Across the field, Todoroki stepped forward, calm and composed as always, though his eyes held a certain intensity that hadn't been there in previous matches.
The atmosphere was electric—no pun intended. It felt like everyone in the stadium knew that this was the battle they had been waiting for.
"Todoroki and Kaminari on the field!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, barely managing to cut through the deafening roar of the audience. "This is it, folks! This match promises to be one for the ages!"
Present Mic was practically bouncing with excitement, and even the typically stoic Aizawa had leaned forward ever so slightly, his eyes fixed on the two students.
As the crowd settled, Kaminari took a few steps forward, meeting Todoroki's gaze. "So… your dad stopped by to talk to me before the match."
Todoroki's indifferent expression flickered, a slight scowl forming. "Endeavor?"
Kaminari nodded. "Yeah. Not to be blunt, but your dad's kind of… intense. He wanted me to make sure you use your full power."
Todoroki's face hardened. He already suspected what Endeavor had wanted, but hearing it confirmed from Kaminari only deepened the tension in his posture. "Did he offer you something? Money, maybe? Or some other incentive?"
"Nope." Kaminari shrugged. "But he did promise to let me punch him if I managed to push you into using your flames."
Todoroki's eyes narrowed, both puzzled and irritated. "A punch?"
"Yeah," Kaminari said with a grin. "Apparently, he thinks if I can force you to use your flames, that would be worth a punch to the face. And you know, the idea of decking the number two hero in Japan is pretty tempting."
A dry chuckle slipped from Kaminari's lips, but when he continued, his tone grew serious. "But this isn't just about my deal with your dad."
"Then what is it about?" Todoroki asked, his voice colder than the ice he wielded.
Kaminari's face darkened, his usually carefree eyes turning steely. "This isn't about your dad's deal. This is about you. If you hold back… if you refuse to use your full strength… then I'm going to make you regret it."
The threat was delivered quietly, but it carried an unmistakable weight, causing even Todoroki to stiffen slightly.
"I'm serious, Todoroki. If you don't come at me with everything you've got," Kaminari warned, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, "then I'll beat you down right here, in front of everyone. So if you're going to be stubborn, then don't blame me for what happens next."
Todoroki's eyes flashed with a hint of conflict, his fingers clenching slightly. For a brief moment, he seemed almost uncertain. Then, he straightened, his gaze icy and resolute.
"My power isn't something for you or him to decide," he said coolly. "I know what I'm here to do."
Kaminari let out a soft sigh, his lips curving into a small, dangerous smile. "Fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
As Present Mic's voice called out for the start of the match, Kaminari took a stance, electricity crackling around him. He kept his eyes locked on Todoroki, a look of unwavering determination on his face.
And as the match began, Kaminari silently hoped that Todoroki would finally let go of the weight that held him back. Because if not… then Kaminari was fully prepared to knock it out of him.
***
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