Bakugo reacted swiftly. With an explosion from his palms, he halted his flight toward the wall, twisting midair to land on his feet. A scowl of rage crossed his face as his hands crackled with energy. "You think that's gonna stop me, idiot?" he shouted, launching himself straight at Toji.
Toji's expression barely shifted, a faint smile playing on his lips as he held a chain that coiled like a serpent around his fingers. With a fluid motion, he let the chain expand, transforming it into a metal staff that blocked Bakugo's initial explosion.
The impact reverberated through the building's hallway, but Toji barely flinched, using the force of the blow to slide to the side and counterattack. The staff morphed back into a chain, extending toward Bakugo to try and immobilize his arms.
"Don't get cocky, bastard!" Bakugo roared, detonating another explosion that shattered the chain before it could ensnare him. He leaped back to gain space, his mind racing. This guy wasn't fast. Every move Toji made was calculated, as if he could read Bakugo's intentions.
Bakugo charged again, launching explosions in rapid succession. Toji's chain spun and shifted, adopting various forms to block or deflect the attacks. Every time Bakugo thought he'd found an opening, Toji was already one step ahead, dodging or responding with a precise counter.
Still, Bakugo wasn't about to back down. "Fight me seriously, coward!" he yelled, pressing his palms together to gather a more powerful explosion.
Toji narrowed his eyes, his smile widening just slightly. "You're burning through a lot of energy for such poor accuracy."
As Bakugo unleashed the explosion, Toji used the chain once more, this time wrapping it around a nearby pillar to propel himself sideways, completely dodging the attack. The flames of the explosion lit up the hallway, leaving scorched marks on the walls.
Toji landed gracefully, wrapping the chain around his wrist as he advanced toward Bakugo with intimidating calm. "You're strong, but you're wasting all that power. What a shame."
The students watched the screen in silence, unable to look away from the intense battle between Toji and Bakugo. Every movement echoed like a drum inside the building where the test was taking place. Most of them could barely process the speed and power of the exchanges.
"Wow... those two are amazing," murmured Kirishima, arms crossed as his eyes sparkled with awe. "Bakugo's good, but that guy..." He couldn't finish the sentence. Toji's style was as brutal as it was precise, and he seemed so at ease in the fight, unlike Bakugo, who kept using explosions to maintain his distance.
"Who is that guy?" Kaminari asked, stunned as he watched Toji use a shape-shifting weapon to block the explosions. "That's insane! Is it some kind of magic weapon or something?"
"It must be some advanced equipment," Iida added, adjusting his glasses. "It's incredibly versatile and perfectly synchronized with his combat style. The way it changes form mid-attack… that requires exceptional control and focus."
Off to the side, Momo watched the fight with a serene smile. Although she didn't show it openly, she was enjoying Toji's performance and the mastery he demonstrated over the object she had created for him.
Jirou noticed the slight smile forming on Momo's face as she observed the screen. "Why are you smiling, Yaoyorozu? Do you know him?"
Momo seemed startled for a moment, as if she hadn't realized her expression had betrayed her. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide the faint blush on her cheeks.
"Uh… yes," she replied softly, not daring to look directly at Jirou. "We've been friends for three years. We went to the same school before coming here."
"Really?" Mina asked, stepping closer with curiosity. "That explains why you call him Toji-kun!"
Momo's blush deepened, and she nervously clenched her hands. "I-I only call him Toji-kun because, well, we've always been close. It's just natural for us..." She lowered her gaze, a faint smile on her lips. "I've never been able to call him anything else."
Mina and Jirou exchanged glances, both sporting small, mischievous smiles.
"Well, well, Yaoyorozu," Jirou said teasingly. "We never thought you two were that... close."
"It's not like that!" Momo quickly protested, waving her hands in front of her nervously. "He's just... well, he's always been kind to me... and different."
Mina couldn't help but giggle a little. "Sounds like Toji-kun is important to you."
Momo tried to reply, but the words got caught in her throat. Instead, she turned her attention back to the screen, clearly trying to hide her flushed cheeks.
"Different how?" Ochaco asked curiously.
Momo lowered her gaze slightly, nervous but determined to explain. "He always treated me differently from everyone else... he treated me like a normal girl." She paused, as if those words carried a special weight for her. "He didn't see me as fragile or as someone who needed protection, just as another person." And without saying more, she turned her gaze back to the fight.
Bakugo gritted his teeth, frustrated by Toji's arrogance. His body trembled, not just from the effort but also from the rage of feeling underestimated. "Shut up! I'm gonna crush you!" he shouted, charging again, this time with more erratic movements, trying to catch Toji off guard.
But to Toji, Bakugo's moves were as clear as water. Explosion to the right, a spin to attack from the left. Then he'd create distance... predictable. As he watched Bakugo approach, Midoriya's detailed explanation of Bakugo's patterns surfaced in his mind. He had outlined every tactic and common strategy in Bakugo's fighting style. Toji had listened attentively, not because he really needed it—it just made things easier. Though, it's not work if you're not getting paid.
He let Bakugo get close, allowing the young hero to feel like he was gaining ground. Just as Bakugo prepared another explosion, Toji moved his chain with surgical precision, striking Bakugo's wrist and deflecting the attack's direction. The explosion went dangerously close to both of them, but Toji remained unfazed, while Bakugo instinctively retreated.
"Is that all you've got?" Toji asked mockingly, taking up the chain like a whip. "I expected something more impressive from a kid who yells so much."
"Shut your mouth!" Bakugo growled, but his mind was beginning to race. How the hell is he dodging everything? Even with his strength, he shouldn't be able to keep up like this against my explosions… What is he doing?
What Bakugo didn't know was that Toji wasn't just predicting his movements but also evaluating how long Bakugo could maintain his frenetic pace. With every explosion, with every step, Toji noticed the slight slowdown in Bakugo's movements. He doesn't have much left in the tank.
"You know," Toji suddenly said, breaking the rhythm of the fight with his calm voice. "You're a good opponent. Lots of potential… but you lack brains. All that noise doesn't make you stronger, just more predictable."
The taunt hit its mark. Bakugo roared with anger and charged with a more powerful explosion, one that shook the entire hallway. However, Toji was no longer there. With a swift move, he used his chain to propel himself backward, watching Bakugo from a few meters away with a smile as the boy panted, recovering from the effort.
Bakugo, breathing heavily but with a malicious grin, quickly recovered after the exchange of blows. His gaze burned with fury, and a flash of satisfaction crossed his face. "You think you've already won, bastard?" he roared, his body tensing, preparing for a final attack. "Not so fast!"
With a swift movement, he raised his hands, showing the grenade-shaped gauntlets he was wearing. The fingers of the gloves gleamed with a palpable threat. "See what I can do now!" he shouted as he yanked hard on the pin of one gauntlet, activating the mechanism.
A series of sparks ran through his hands, and the tension in the air intensified, as if the imminent explosion could consume everything.
Toji narrowed his eyes, assessing the situation. Bakugo's expression had changed: it was no longer the reckless attack from before. This move had a purpose. "Oh…" Toji murmured with a crooked smile. "Finally, something interesting."
A flash of light and a deafening roar filled the hallway as Bakugo detonated the accumulated sweat in his gauntlets. The explosion was massive, unleashing a shockwave that shook the entire building. Chunks of concrete and smoke covered the area, even forcing Bakugo to step back a few paces from the force of his own attack.
The screen lit up with the blinding flash of the explosion. All the students fell silent, their eyes fixed on the image of smoke and rubble covering the area.
"That was point-blank!" Mina exclaimed, clutching her head. "Fushiguro-kun couldn't have come out of that okay!"
Uraraka pressed her hands to her chest, clearly worried. "He's not even wearing proper gear! That must've hurt him a lot!"
Momo said nothing. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists. Although she didn't look away from the screen, anyone could see the concern on her face.
Kirishima broke the silence with a growl. "That guy's tough… but that explosion was brutal. Bakugo really overdid it this time!"
"How about that, huh?! Bastard!" Bakugo shouted, panting as he held his ground. The explosion had reduced the area to rubble, and for a few moments, smoke enveloped everything.
"That had to have blown you to pieces!" he muttered, gritting his teeth.
Suddenly, a familiar sound made him frown. It was the noise of light footsteps. Bakugo quickly turned, searching for the source, but he didn't see it coming. From the side, Toji appeared out of nowhere, completely unharmed, wearing his usual carefree smile.
"Is that all?" Toji asked in a mocking tone, dusting off his jacket.
"What?!" Bakugo exclaimed, taking a step back, incredulous. "I blew you up in the face!"
Toji scratched his chin, pretending to think. "You know? That was a pretty big explosion… but way too obvious. When you pulled the pin, I knew exactly what you were planning."
Bakugo stared at him, still not understanding.
"So, instead of standing there like an idiot…" Toji continued, pointing to the ceiling, "I made sure to use your own explosion to my advantage."
Bakugo looked up and saw the marks on the ceiling. Toji had jumped right before the explosion, using one of the upper beams as support to propel himself backward and away from the blast radius. The force of the explosion had even helped him gain more distance, using the shockwave to launch himself out of harm's way.
"It's an old trick, but it works," Toji said, shrugging. "Sometimes, less is more."
Bakugo's frustration turned into pure fury. "Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot!" he screamed, charging at him again.
"Anyway… It's my turn now," Toji said, his voice serene but laden with menace. The calm in his tone contrasted with his intent.
Before Bakugo could react, Toji vanished from sight. It wasn't an exaggerated leap or a flashy move; it was pure speed, as if the distance between them had vanished in the blink of an eye. Bakugo barely felt the air move when Toji appeared in front of him, so close he couldn't even raise his hands in time.
"Tch!" Bakugo tried to retreat, but his movements were too slow. Toji's fist struck directly into his abdomen, the blow so precise and forceful that it sent him flying back like a rag doll. The ground trembled under his body as he rolled, groaning from the pain as he struggled to recover.
"What's wrong? Where's all that noise?" Toji said, advancing slowly, each step relentless as a sentence.
Bakugo gritted his teeth, his rage intensifying. He stood up, trembling, his body still aching from the blow. "Don't underestimate me!" he shouted, and without thinking twice, he launched an explosion at Toji, aiming straight for his face with thunderous fury.
But Toji had already moved. Instead of dodging to the sides, he advanced toward Bakugo, defying the explosion. He passed through the shockwave with terrifying ease, the hot air barely grazing him, the attack failing to stop or slow him.
"Too weak," Toji murmured, barely moving his lips before landing an elbow on Bakugo. Bakugo tried to block it, but he couldn't prevent the impact from sending him crashing against the wall with such force it groaned under his weight.
Bakugo groaned, his body aching but his spirit intact. He rose, fury blazing in his eyes, but Toji didn't give him time to recover. In the blink of an eye, he was on him, unleashing a flurry of quick and precise strikes. Each was aimed at a strategic point: shoulders, legs, abdomen. Each impact slowly weakened Bakugo's ability to use his quirk effectively.
"Your quirk depends too much on your body," Toji said, not stopping his attack, his tone almost observational. "But if you can't move, you can't use it, can you?"
Bakugo, panting from the effort, tried to regain control. With a growl, he blasted the ground, creating a shockwave that sent him backward, away from Toji, giving him a temporary reprieve.
"Shut up already!" Bakugo shouted, adjusting his stance as he prepared for the next offensive. "I don't need your damn lessons!"
Toji smiled coldly. "At least you've got guts. Let's see how long they last."
Before Bakugo could move, Toji grabbed a piece of rubble from the ground and threw it with deadly precision. The projectile flew at an impressive speed, like a bullet, forcing Bakugo to shift his attention and use an explosion to destroy it in the air. However, the move left an opening in his defense, and Toji wasted no time exploiting it.
With overwhelming speed, Toji closed the gap in the blink of an eye, grabbing Bakugo's wrist with brutal strength. "You know what your problem is, kid?" he asked, twisting Bakugo's arm back effortlessly. "You rely too much on your power… and not enough on your brain."
Bakugo, in a last-ditch effort to break free, detonated an explosion near his own body, hoping to escape the hold. But Toji had anticipated the move, using the explosion's force to slam him into the ground with a brutality that made the floor shake beneath his body.
"Damn you!" Bakugo growled, struggling to get up, fury and pain mixing in his gaze.
Toji let out a short, almost derisive laugh and crossed his arms. "You're loud, but you're not ready for someone like me."
Before Bakugo could react, Toji, with a single precise movement, struck him with an open palm at the base of his neck.
The impact was so strong and well-aimed that Bakugo didn't have time to scream. A flash of pain coursed through his body, and his mind immediately went blank. His muscles relaxed, and his vision darkened. Before he could do anything else, the dark embrace of unconsciousness claimed him completely.
Toji watched Bakugo's body fall to the ground with an almost indifferent calm, as if the fight had never been a challenge. He crouched briefly, ensuring the boy was completely knocked out, then stood and walked toward the stairs.
"Why's it taking so long?" he said aloud, annoyed at Izuku's delay.