Kirishima, bandaged from our match, grinned despite his loss. "Kendo's from 1-B-she's tough, but Todoroki's ice is unbeatable." Tsuyu ribbited, "Ribbit, he hasn't used fire yet. Maybe he won't."
Bakugo slouched nearby, arms crossed, sparks popping. "He's holding back like an idiot. If he doesn't go all out, he's done." His glare shifted to me briefly, a silent promise for our potential semifinal clash. Momo stood poised, her ponytail swaying as she adjusted her costume, her match against Shinso next. "I must stay vigilant-Brainwashing is tricky," she said, voice steady but eyes focused.
Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, hyping the crowd. "Next up in the second round: Shoto Todoroki vs. Itsuka Kendo from Class 1-B! Ice vs. Big Fists-let's see some smash action!"
The crowd erupted as Todoroki and Kendo stepped into the ring. Todoroki's expression was cold, his right side already frosting, while Kendo flexed her hands, enlarging them to truck-sized fists with a grin. "I won't go easy, Todoroki! Show me what you've got!"
Midnight cracked her whip. "Begin!" Kendo charged immediately, her Big Fist quirk swelling her hands to massive proportions, swinging a haymaker that could crush concrete.
The air whistled with the force, but Todoroki didn't flinch-he stomped his right foot, unleashing a glacier of ice that surged toward her like a frozen tsunami.
The crowd gasped as the ice wave towered, but Kendo leaped, her enlarged fists smashing through the leading edge. Shards flew, and she landed with a thud, cracking the ground. "Not bad, but I'm not frozen yet!" she shouted, charging again.
Todoroki's eyes narrowed, sending another ice burst to encase her legs. Kendo punched down, her Big Fist shattering the ice around her ankles, but the cold slowed her. "You're relying on one side too much!" she taunted, closing the gap. Her fist swung high, forcing Todoroki to dodge left-into her trap.
She feinted, her other fist enlarging mid-swing to clip his shoulder. He skidded back, frost spreading from his right side to counter, but pain flashed in his eyes-the cold was building up, his body frosting over from overuse.
From the stands, I leaned forward, Analytical Mind breaking it down. Todoroki's ice was dominant, but Kendo's power and agility were pushing him to his limit.
If he didn't use fire to thaw himself, he'd lose mobility. Uraraka gripped my arm. "He looks hurt... why won't he use his fire?" My knowledge knew-Endeavor's abuse, the rejection of his left side.
But Kendo wasn't letting up; she enlarged both fists, slamming them down like hammers, forcing Todoroki to create an ice ramp to slide away.
The ramp shattered under her strike, and she pressed, her punches creating shockwaves that cracked the arena floor.
Todoroki breathed heavily, his left side untouched, flames flickering subtly but suppressed. "You're strong, Kendo," he said, voice steady. He unleashed a massive ice wall, towering 20 meters, but Kendo punched through the base, the structure crumbling.
Ice shards rained, and she leaped through the debris, fist aimed at his chest. Todoroki dodged, but her follow-up grazed his arm, the force sending him tumbling. Frost crept up his body, slowing him further. The crowd murmured-Endeavor's fiery glare from the stands burned holes in the air.
Kendo paused, fists still enlarged. "Come on, Todoroki! I know you've got more-use your fire! Don't hold back on me!" Her words hit like a challenge, echoing his internal struggle.
Todoroki's eyes widened, his left side sparking. The crowd hushed as flames erupted, melting the frost on his body. He stood, dual quirks active, ice on right, fire on left. "Fine," he said, voice edged. A balanced wave surged-ice to trap, fire to melt and steam-blinding Kendo.
She coughed in the mist, but her Big Fist smashed through, only to meet Todoroki's combined attack. Ice encased her legs, fire scorching the air around her. Kendo punched free, but the heat slowed her, her quirk straining. "That's more like it!" she shouted, charging one last time.
Todoroki met her fist with an ice-fire punch, the clash exploding in steam and shards. Kendo flew back, out of bounds, her fists shrinking as she landed. Midnight declared, "Todoroki advances!"
The crowd went wild, pros like Hawks nodding. Todoroki stood panting, flames dying out, his expression conflicted. Kendo grinned from the ground. "Good fight! Use that fire more-you're unstoppable with it."
Todoroki nodded slightly, a small step toward accepting his left side. From the stands, I clapped-my USJ stand had sparked this, pushing him to grow.
Uraraka squeezed my hand. "That was intense... Todoroki's fire is scary." I agreed, Analytical Mind noting his potential-if he mastered both sides, he'd be a true rival, even to my Saiyan power.
Present Mic hyped the next match: "Now, Hitoshi Shinso from General Studies vs. Momo Yaoyorozu from Class 1-A! Brains vs. Creation-let's see some mind games!"
Momo stepped into the ring, her ponytail swaying, costume pristine. Shinso slouched opposite, purple hair messy, eyes sly. "You're from the recommended slot, right? Must be nice being rich," he said, voice casual but baiting. Momo frowned but stayed composed. "Let's have a fair fight."
(Warning to readers: something bad will happen now)
Midnight cracked her whip. "Begin!" Shinso smiled. "Why do you want to be a hero? For the fame?" Momo opened her mouth to respond, but paused-Brainwashing required an answer.
She resisted, creating a shield from her arm instead, charging silently. Shinso's eyes widened. "Not talking? Smart, but predictable." He dodged her swing, taunting, "Your family's loaded-heroes are just a hobby for you, right?"
Momo's eyes narrowed, creating a net launcher, firing at him. Shinso rolled away, his voice relentless. "Come on, answer me-what's a spoiled girl like you doing here?"
She resisted, creating earplugs and stuffing them in, blocking his voice. The crowd gasped-smart counter. Shinso frowned, dodging her next attack, a staff created mid-swing. "You think that stops me?" he shouted, but muffled.
Momo pressed, her Creation quirk producing smoke bombs, filling the arena with haze. Shinso coughed, visibility zero. She resisted his taunts, but he grabbed her arm, yanking an earplug out. "Got you! Now, what's your worst fear?" Momo almost froze, but snapped free, creating a taser to shock him. "I won't fall for it!" she said, voice steady.
Shinso's eyes gleamed. "Oh, you answered." Brainwashing activated, Momo's eyes glazing. The crowd booed, but Shinso commanded, "Walk out of the ring."
Momo turned, steps robotic, but resisted, her body trembling. Shinso smirked, pushing: "Your family's a joke-rich but weak. I fucked your mom, Momo."
The insult hit like a bomb. Momo's eyes snapped clear, rage breaking the trance. "HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed, resisting fully. Her quirk surged, creating a massive barrier to shove Shinso back. He staggered, shocked. Momo charged,
Creation producing chains to bind him, then a launcher to hurl him toward the edge. Shinso resisted, but her fury fueled her-chains tightened, launcher firing. He flew out of bounds, slamming hard, winded but alive.
The crowd went silent, then erupted. Momo stood panting, eyes blazing, almost advancing to kill him, but Aizawa's voice cut through: "Yaoyorozu, stand down!"
His Erasure quirk activated, nullifying her Creation mid-step. He limped into the ring, scarf wrapping Shinso. "That was out of line, Shinso. Insults have limits-consider yourself warned."
Shinso coughed, glaring but silent. Midnight declared, "Yaoyorozu advances!"
Momo collapsed to her knees, tears streaming, resisting the rage. Uraraka rushed to her, hugging. "You did it, Momo!"
From the stands, I clapped, my Saiyan senses catching her tremble-Shinso's words had cut deep, but her resistance showed her strength. The crowd murmured, pros like Best Jeanist noting her control.
Aizawa gathered us after, his bandages stark. "Two matches today-rest for tomorrow's semi-finals. Midoriya, you're up against Shoto Todoroki next." I nodded.