Hearing this, Akira glanced around at Midoriya and the others, who were groaning on the ground, clutching their stomachs.
He paused, a thought flashing through his mind.
*Too fast... They all went down before I could even finish my meal.*
Akira sighed, his appetite dampened. "Looks like I don't have a choice. I'll eat later after this sparring session." He stood up slowly, brushing off the crumbs from his hands.
Walking to the center of the training ground, he found himself face-to-face with Tsuda Takeshi.
"Senior, please go easy on me. I'd hate to let my food get cold," Akira joked, a playful smile on his face.
Takeshi chuckled in response. "The principal seems to think you're fit to be the leader of the Five Secret Guards. If you're not stronger than them, how will they respect you?"
Akira frowned, muttering under his breath, "No way... Did the school just con me into this again? I really need to have a word with the principal after this."
Takeshi raised an eyebrow at Akira's complaint. "This kid... definitely an oddball," he thought.
For Akira, the situation wasn't ideal. Leadership roles and extra responsibilities weren't exactly his style. He preferred minimal effort with maximum reward, but here he was, the designated leader of a team he didn't even sign up for.
"Alright, Akira, get ready. I'm coming for you," Takeshi announced confidently.
Akira nodded, his expression calm but focused. "Let's do this."
The moment the words left his mouth, Takeshi vanished from sight, reappearing behind Akira in the blink of an eye.
"So many openings..." Takeshi thought, already positioning himself for a strike.
Meanwhile, his fellow Big Three members—Hoshino Sora and Fujiwara Reina—watched from the sidelines, observing the match.
"This feels like it's going to be another one-sided fight," Sora commented, shaking his head.
"Yeah, Takeshi is just on another level. I thought this guy would put up a better fight," Reina added.
But their conversation was interrupted by All Might, who stood nearby with a knowing smile. "You're underestimating Akira. He's not ignoring Takeshi's attacks. He simply doesn't think they'll work on him."
"What?" Sora and Reina turned back toward the fight, their eyes narrowing.
At that moment, Takeshi's fist moved toward Akira's back, only to strike... sand.
Takeshi blinked, startled. He leaped back instinctively, putting distance between himself and Akira.
Akira turned around, a confident smile on his face. "If your speed can't outpace my sand, you won't even get close."
Takeshi's eyes narrowed as he reevaluated his opponent. "So, you weren't as careless as I thought. The principal wasn't exaggerating your potential."
Akira smirked, disappearing in a blur. In the next instant, he appeared beside Takeshi, aiming a swift kick.
"So fast!" Takeshi barely managed to activate his Quirk, allowing Akira's kick to pass harmlessly through his body.
A grin spread across Takeshi's face as he counterattacked, his fist heading straight for Akira's abdomen.
But the moment his punch landed, his smile vanished.
His fist had passed through Akira's body—just like Akira's kick had passed through his.
"What...?" Takeshi muttered, his expression stunned.
From the sidelines, Reina and Sora stared in disbelief.
"His body... it's intangible? Isn't his Quirk supposed to be sand?" Sora questioned, his voice filled with confusion.
"Could he have copied Takeshi's Quirk? Or does he have more than one?" Reina speculated, still trying to process what she had seen.
All Might's deep voice cut through their confusion. "I warned you, didn't I? Akira's Quirk may appear straightforward, but its applications are far more complex than they seem. Even as his teacher, I've only scratched the surface of what he's capable of."
Both Sora and Reina turned their attention back to Akira, their expressions more serious now.
Takeshi, on the other hand, was feeling something he hadn't experienced in a long time: pressure.
Not only was Akira fast and well-defended, but he also seemed to possess a Quirk similar to his own. It was like fighting a mirror—and one with just as many tricks.
"This guy... is cheating," Takeshi thought, a small bead of sweat forming on his forehead.