Chapter 13: Chapter 12
She was to face Yaoyorozu. What the announcer had said was true. Yaoyorozu was strong, with a quirk that when used correctly could overpower her. Of course, correct use meant having the correct weapons, and she was sure that the heiress lacked that kind of weaponry.
However, facing Yaoyorozu would be easy. Despite the apparent strengths of her quirk, it still had weaknesses made even more obvious in a one v one situation. The one she would bet on would be the time she needed to create something. She was sure of her superior speed and her ability to out speed the creation quirk.
"3…2…1…Start!!!"
The announcement was her cue. With lightning speed, she lunged on Momo and despite Momo's realization of an attack, she was far too late to defend. With a massively held back punch to the gut she was knocked out.
The action was so fast Present Mic didn't even have the time to commentate the battle.
"Misaka Mikoto wins!!! How did she do that?! What speed!"
Shortly after Present Mic's announcement, Midnight declared her the winner and she left the arena.
She went back to the stands and sat down to watch the next match. However, the matchup that interested her the most was Bakugo against Uraraka.
Strangely, Uraraka was absent from her seat, and she remembered her having said something about preparing. Wanting to give Ochaco some tips, she walked around trying to find her.
She found Ochaco, along with Midoriya and Ida sitting in a preparation room.
She walked in right as Izuku was giving Ochaco a strategy book, based on his observations on Bakugo's quirk. It was a part of Izuku she found remarkably interesting. For all his meekness and shyness, he was an observant person, a strategist in the making.
She had seen him in previous matches, and even in the USJ incident, hurriedly jotting whatever information he could get from the displays of quirks. What surprised her more was the accuracy of the observations and the ideas of improvement. She knew about the quirks of not only the teachers but her classmates too by having hacked U.A some days after her enrolment and thus knew how to battle against them. Izuku though, had, from just simple observation already hypothesized their strengths and weakness. It was… admirable to say the least.
"Thanks, Deku… but I don't want it."
At this point Uraraka noticed her standing in the doorway.
"Ah, Misaka-san come in. I want you to hear this as well."
"Okay…"
"Misaka-san and Deku, you both are amazing. You always do amazing things! And in the cavalry battle, even though I thought that the best strategy would be to team up with people I know, I had this secret hope that with you two I'd be able to pass the first round. Thinking back, it's kinda embarrassing, especially with Ida's declaration and all that. That's why I don't want your help."
"Uraraka…" Midoryia and Ida were left speechless and Mikoto was silently cheering, happy to see Uraraka's growth.
"After all, we are all rivals here. It'd be unfair to have outside help! I'll see you in the finals!"
Outside of the preparation room the previous fight had ended in a tie. Chills spread in 1-A who saw the upcoming match.
"The final matchup of the first round! On one side we have… the explosive Katsuki Bakugo and on the other one… the bubbly Ochaco Uraraka."
The students of 1-A were anxiously sitting in the stands, expecting the worse from Bakugo's attacks. It was a well-known fact that Bakugo didn't hold back and had a violent temper. Many of their classmates secretly hoped that Uraraka would surrender. They feared for her safety after the fight. For them it was a foregone conclusion that Bakugo would win.
"Hey Midoryia, what was the counterstrategy for Bakugo you thought up?"
Midoryia turned to respond to the female voice he heard.
"Ah, Misaka-san, when did you come here?"
"Just now. I was trying to find Cementoss to ask him something."
"Okay… Well about the strategy."
"Ah, tell me as well." This time a male voice interrupted his monologue.
"You can listen as well, Ida, if you want. Where was I… Ah, yes. Undoubtedly Kacchan has the advantage in close combat. The only way for Ochaco to get an advantage is by getting him floating and denying him mobility. She needs to charge at the start! That's her only way to win!"
"START!!!"
Immediately Ochaco charged. She knew Bakugo's personality. She knew she wouldn't dodge her, she knew his attack pattern, all she had to do was capitalize on it.
It was no good though. She was a hair's breadth away from touching Bakugo when an explosion went off in front of her, foiling her attack.
Bakugo didn't give her time to recover. He attacked the cloud of dust left behind by his explosion, sure that his target would be there.
What he found though was only a floating jacket. He knew something was wrong. In that instant he felt someone behind him and attacked.
Ochaco had hoped the smoke screen would distract him. Him being distracted, would be the perfect opportunity to attack. However, she had to be relentless. If she got a lucky touch, she was almost sure she'd win.
She charged, only to be countered again, and again, and again. Each time she charged, Bakugo would be ready to defend. After many charges, she was full of bruises, while Bakugo was unharmed.
Even the crowd started getting upset. Countless shouts calling for the match to stop or Bakugo to just throw her out of the ring.
"That's not how a hero would act! You are so much stronger than her, just throw her out of the ring. Stop toying with her!"
It was a Pro Hero who had said that. He voiced the frustrations of almost all onlookers. Some even started booing the boy.
Even Present Mic started agreeing with the crowd.
"To be honest I kinda agree with them… Aack! Ouch!"
Another voice took over the microphone. It was a raspy, tired, middle-aged voice. The students of 1-A immediately recognized it.
"Who's the one who said he's toying with her? If that's you've gathered you should be ashamed and start job-hunting. This cautiousness, it is his acknowledgment of her strength. He wants to win, and he doesn't have to hold back!"
If the one talking had been more passionate, perhaps it'd have been inspiring. The speech however quelled the booing and put some people into deep thought.
Ochaco's charging had stopped. Instead, she looked ready to unleash a big attack.
Misaka and some other students had noticed it. Misaka found it a bit shameful, that all those booing heroes had not seen her preparing and instead booed. She had to admit though, Uraraka's plan was inspired. Indeed, by forcing Bakugo to focus on the ground by low charges, she had made free space to gather her weapons.
Bakugo never realized the attack was coming, as the preparation had been hidden by all the destructions his explosions caused.
The attack started. Countless rocks fell from the sky. It was the ultimate attack Uraraka could muster. She put her all into it, endangering herself for one last desperate attempt.
Bakugo had to dodge or intercept the rocks. Or it would be, if he didn't have such an overpowering quirk. It was foolish from Uraraka to think that Bakugo hadn't known she'd come up with a plan. Behind that aggressive exterior was a razor-sharp brain. He knew Uraraka would attack now.
Seeing his opponent's effort, he knew he'd have to respond in kind. He'd end it all with one attack. He put his hand above his head and started preparing one of his strongest attacks. Seconds before the rocks hit the ground, and with Uraraka meters away from him, he released his attack.
The loud shockwave of the blast shook the arena and destroyed all the rocks in the sky. The best attack Uraraka had, destroyed effortlessly. Still, she didn't give up. She had to make her family proud! She dashed but it was half-hearted. She had gone over her quirks limit. She fell, but still crawled, unwilling to give up even in her pitiful, fatigued state.
She felt someone over her shoulder. It was Midnight, the Pro-Hero turned referee.
"Uraraka is unable to continue. Bakugo moves on!"
Bots quickly moved to the arena to pick up Uraraka and take her to Recovery Girl.
"The first round is over with the elimination of Uraraka! We'll move on to the second after a quick break!"
A pissed off Bakugo walked to the stands. He seemed to be largely unaffected by the booing of the crowd, and more upset about the fight Uraraka put up.
"Rough match, Villain-Face?"
"You're a real good bad guy, ya know!"
"Yeah, blowing up frail little girls!"
The light-hearted banter didn't better Bakugo's mood, but the last comment drew a reaction from him, even if silent.
"Hmph! There's nothing frail about her!"
He sat down. At this moment the rematch between Kirishima and Tetsutetsu, a student from 1-B, was happening. Their previous match had ended in a tie, and now they fought again, this time in an arm-wrestling contest.
The loud crack of the concrete block signalled the end of the contest. It had gone on for a long time, almost 2 minutes, before one lost. In the end it was Tetsutetsu who had lost. Even if their quirks were one and the same, essentially the same, Tetsutetsu lost the battle, his quirk having reached its limit and the metal skin receded, allowing Kirishima to win.
"With that our line-ups are ready! Without further ado! Two of the rising stars of 1-A fighting for dominance! Midoryia vs Todoroki!"
It was an exciting match. The powerhouse of strength, Midoryia, versus the one who controlled fire and ice, Todoroki.
Misaka was looking forward to this match. She had previously seen Todoroki's strength which she equated to be around Level 4 to quasi-5. She had also seen Midoryia's quirk. It was strength, stronger than what was naturally possible. Even in her enhanced state, she was sure Midoryia's full strength would overpower her. However, that strength had a weakness. It was too strong even for its user.
Misaka wanted to see, how would Midoryia adapt to an opponent on the same level as him. Would he use his brain, or would he just overpower Todoroki? Would he even win? After all, Todoroki was as strong and as smart as Midoryia, and not to mention, he probably had the guidance of his father Endeavor, the 2nd ranked Hero.
"Start!!!"
Immediately, Midoryia attacked with a flick of his finger. At the same time, Shoto attacked with a stream of ice.
The results were explosive. The ice shattered, and so did one of Midoryia's fingers. However, Shoto didn't stop at that. He attacked again, but the result was exactly the same. A stream of ice erupted and Midoryia smashed it again. He was now down to 5 <<shots>>, flicks of his finger essentially.
Another stream of ice came his way, but this time something was different. Midoryia countered for the fourth time, but Todoroki moved in to close the gap this time.
Midoryia saw that and prepared another shot. He had miscalculated Todoroki's speed though and was caught unprepared, forced to dodge an attack. However, by jumping into the air to dodge he put himself in a vulnerable position. Ice started creeping up his leg.
He had to defend and blow the ice back. He had to resort to something he didn't want to, owing to its heavy toll. He punched, a ferocious punch, with all his strength in it. He knew that after the fight his hand would be broken everywhere, but it was worth it.
The punch broke the ice and generated gusts of winds that reached the stands. Midoryia had managed to defend himself, but Todoroki was still unharmed, having put up an ice shield.
Todoroki's defence overshadowed Midoryia's attack, and excited whispers spread around the arena.
"So young, yet so strong!"
"That's the power of the son of Endeavor! How strong!"
"He's stronger than most of us Pro Heroes!"
Everyone was praising Todoroki's strength. Todoroki himself still had a cold exterior, and even if his competitor was almost done, he continued to attack relentlessly. Another stream of ice left from the ground, in an attack that looked to end the match.
But Midoryia wouldn't give up so easily. He charged another shot using an already broken finger and shattered the ice. It was a display of his unyielding spirit. Even if he had to endure enough pain to render an adult paralyzed, he'd never give up. He shouted something that most people would be unable to hear. Misaka however did.
"Todoroki! You must be reaching about the limit of cold you can handle. Why aren't you using your left side to thaw yourself!? While everyone's giving it their all to win, you are only using half your power?! Come at me with everything you've got!"
Everyone felt something change. They saw Midoryia on his last legs and a panting Todoroki, who they expected would attack. What happened surprised everyone. Todoroki dashed, and so did Midoryia. Todoroki though, was much slower, and full of openings.
He paid for them in the form of a punch in the solar plexus and was thrown far away, tumbling before coming to a stop, some distance from the out-of-bounds line.
The crowd went wild. It was unimaginable, that Midoryia, who stood bruised, beaten, and two hands broken, had landed a hit that threw Todoroki so far.
"Wow, he landed a hit!"
"Yeah!!"
Some though saw the reality of the situation. More specifically the teachers.
"Midnight, should I stop the match? They are both running on adrenaline it seems, Midoryia more so. Even if he wins, he'll be in no shape for the next match."
"No need for now, Cementoss. I'll tell you when to step in."
"Got it."
Even inside the commentator room, Aizawa was in deep thought.
'He's starting to control his quirk, even if it costs attack power. That's good. Yes, this is the best strategy for now if he wants to win. But still, enduring that much pain takes a lot of guts!'
Todoroki got serious. He knew his dash was a stupid idea and he didn't try that again. He just shot ice again, but Midoryia was ready. He charged his thumb and bit it in order for it to flick. The ice shattered again, but it was clear Midoryia was losing. This time though Midoryia dashed just like Todoroki had done before.
"Why're you going so far?"
"I just want to be a strong, dependent, cool hero! That's why I'm giving it my all!"
A punch broke Todoroki out of his stupor, but Midoryia continued his speech.
"I can't begin to imagine what you've gone through, why you're so determined, but what I do know is this! If you become Number One so half-heartedly, I don't think you are really serious about denying him everything!"
"Shut up… you don't know what I've been through to get here. I won't use his side to win!"
"Don't you know that your power is your own?!"
"Didn't you want to win? Why are you inspiring me all of a sudden?"
Flames erupted in the middle of the arena, and when the smoke settled down it revealed a chilling sight.
Todoroki, whose one half was covered in ice, and his other covered in flames getting ready to attack Midoryia.
The sight made a certain someone very happy. It was no other than Endeavor, Todoroki's father.
"Shotooo!!! You've finally accepted it!!! Excellent!!! Yes, with this you'll surpass me and fulfil my ambitions!!!"
Midoryia and Todoroki got ready. They'd put their everything on one final attack. The air started to crackle, as ice and fire mixed and Midoryia started gathering power in his hands for his ultimate attack.
"Cementoss, now!!!"
Midnight recognized the danger of what was about to happen and as she began to do something to forcibly end the match, she called on to Cementoss to go ahead with their earlier discussed plan.
Todoroki and Midoryia dashed, and as cement walls sprouted in the arena, their attacks met, though hampered by the walls.
The aftermath of the attack was destructive, leaving the arena in tatters, and the blast reaching the grounds.
"Whaaaaaat a blast! I'm sure the arena is destroyed! But who won?! We can't see anything!"
The cloud covering the arena slowly parted and revealed the destruction caused by the attack. But most importantly, it revealed the winner.
"Midoryia… is out-of-bounds! Todoroki moves on to the third round!"
The crowd clapped and cheered for the two contestants, but the result left a sour feeling.
"Why did he provoke Todoroki so much?"
"Did he want to win or lose?!"
"Nevertheless, he was very powerful!"
Stretchers carried Midoryia out of the arena to the nursery, for Recovery Girl to see.
People from the class went to see Midoryia, to ensure his well-being. After all, there was a break to have the arena repaired.
Misaka didn't join them. Instead, she went to see how the magicians were doing. She knew where they were, so it was no problem finding them. She was sure that they'd be around waking up now.
She'd let them leave, but she had to erase any traces of her from their memories. After all, she didn't want to be tracked by the Magic Government or whatever it was called. She found them lying exactly where she left them, both sound asleep.
What she was about to do was risky but tried. She'd control their neural impulses, the electric signals in the brain, and block the memories of events before, after, and during their meeting. It was magnitudes easier than rewriting memories, and completely untraceable. This was how she'd managed to go undetected as a famous Vigilante.
5 minutes later she was done with her work and heard the light snoring of the boy who began to wake up. Happy with her work she went back to the stands.
The boy woke up startled. He was in an alley. To his surprise he found his partner sleeping soundly next to him.
"Hey. Wake up! Wake up, darnit!!" He tugged her clothes, rolled her around and shouted at her, but the girl wasn't waking up. He made one final try.
"Wake up, and we'll go to that arcade you wanted to go."
Immediately the girl woke up.
"Aaah! When!? Wait, where are we?"
"Good, you're up. As for where we are, we're still at U.A, for the mission if you remember?"
"Hmph, of course I remember! But why were we sleeping?"
'Ah, she's so cute when she pouts!' "I can't say I remember. I just saw some hooded figure, and all I know, I've woken up some time later."
"Doesn't matter! Shō, have we completed our mission?"
"No, Yuki."
"Then, what does that mean?"
"That we have to complete it!"
"Good, you remember your first lesson well. Let's get going then, to the meeting with that thing. And no mention of what happened anywhere. Got it?"
"Yes, yes, relax a little. After that, do you wanna see the matches?"
"Hm, yes. It sounds interesting. Who knows, we might even find someone with the potential to join us."
(Also, quick question: could Misaka use the Meltdowner?)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone