Uraraka leaned against me, her pink costume still pristine despite the day's intensity. "Momo's so smart-she'll have a plan for Bakugo's explosions," she said, her voice a mix of hope and worry. I nodded, my Saiyan senses picking up her elevated heartbeat.
"Yeah, but Bakugo's improved since USJ. He's not just blasting wildly anymore." Kirishima, still sore from our match, pumped his fist. "Go, Momo! Show him that brainpower beats brawn!" Tsuyu ribbited thoughtfully, "Ribbit, Bakugo's tough, but Momo's Creation is versatile. It'll be close."
Bakugo stood at the edge of the arena, palms sparking, his red eyes locked on Momo as she entered from the opposite side, her ponytail swaying with confident steps.
Momo's costume was elegant, her expression calm but determined after her emotional win against Shinso-the insult about her family had snapped something in her, nearly escalating to violence before Aizawa's intervention.
Shinso had been scolded harshly, and Momo had channeled that rage into focus. Bakugo smirked, explosions popping in his hands. "Don't hold back, Ponytail. I'm ending this quick."
Present Mic's voice hyped the crowd: "The second semifinal: Katsuki Bakugo vs. Momo Yaoyorozu! Explosions vs. Creation-let's see some fireworks!" The audience roared, pros like Hawks and Best Jeanist leaning forward, Endeavor's fiery glare intense-he'd been watching Todoroki's loss with barely contained fury.
Midnight cracked her whip. "Begin!" Bakugo launched immediately, explosions propelling him forward like a rocket, his gauntlets glowing with stored sweat. "Die!" he shouted, unleashing a barrage of blasts that scorched the air.
Momo didn't flinch-she created a massive shield from her arm, reinforced with steel plating, blocking the initial wave. The explosions rattled the shield, but it held, her Creation quirk allowing her to generate objects from her lipids at will.
Bakugo didn't let up, circling with propulsion blasts, firing from angles. "Think a shield stops me?!" He detonated a close-range blast, cracking the shield's edge.
Momo discarded it, creating a net launcher in seconds, firing at him. The net expanded, but Bakugo blasted through, shreds flying. "Pathetic!" he taunted, closing in for a punch.
Momo dodged gracefully, creating smoke bombs that filled the arena with haze. The crowd murmured-smart move, obscuring Bakugo's vision. He coughed, explosions flaring wildly to clear the smoke, but Momo used the cover to create a series of traps: spring-loaded platforms and adhesive pads on the ground.
Bakugo stepped on one, the adhesive sticking his foot, but he blasted free, the explosion scorching his boot. "You're pissing me off!" he roared, unleashing a Stun Grenade, a flash of light blinding Momo momentarily.
She shielded her eyes, creating sunglasses mid-blink, but Bakugo was on her, his palm slamming close. The explosion sent her skidding, her costume singed.
Pain flashed in her eyes, but she countered, creating a cannon on her shoulder, firing rubber projectiles. Bakugo dodged most, but one grazed his arm, drawing a growl.
"Not bad, Ponytail! But you're too slow!" He propelled upward, diving with a spinning blast-Howitzer Impact. The attack detonated like a bomb, cratering the arena around Momo.
Momo created a bunker shield, reinforced with layers of metal and rubber, huddling inside as the explosion rocked it. Smoke cleared, the bunker cracked but intact.
She emerged, creating a taser staff, charging Bakugo. "I won't lose!" she shouted, staff sparking. Bakugo blocked with his gauntlet, explosions countering the electricity, but the shock numbed his arm briefly. He grinned ferociously. "You're tough, but I'm ending this!"
He grabbed her staff, explosions traveling along it to her hand. Momo dropped it, creating gloves for insulation, but Bakugo pressed, his other palm blasting low.
The force lifted her off her feet, sending her tumbling. She rolled, creating a grappling hook to pull herself back, firing it at Bakugo.
It wrapped his leg, but he blasted the line, using the momentum to launch at her. "AP Shot!" he yelled, a focused explosion piercing her defenses, singeing her side.
Momo gasped, pain slowing her, but her mind raced. She created a series of mirrors, reflecting light to blind him, then a smoke screen for cover. Bakugo blasted through, but she'd created a pit trap beneath him-rubber-lined to cushion the trap.
He fell in, explosions propelling him out, but Momo was ready, creating a weighted net to pin him. "Got you!" she said, net enlarging mid-throw.
Bakugo roared, explosions shredding the net, but the effort left him open. Momo charged with a staff, striking his shoulder. He staggered, blood trickling from a cut, but his eyes burned.
"Enough games!" He unleashed a massive blast, the shockwave knocking Momo back, her staff shattering. She created armor plating, but Bakugo's follow-up Stun Grenade blinded her, and his palm connected with her chest-controlled but forceful. The explosion sent her flying out of bounds, crashing hard.
Midnight declared, "Bakugo advances to the finals!" The crowd erupted, pros clapping. Bakugo stood panting, sparks dying, his expression a mix of triumph and respect.
Momo lay dazed, tears in her eyes-not just from pain, but frustration. Uraraka rushed to her, helping her up. "You were amazing, Momo!" Momo wiped her eyes, smiling weakly. "I... I almost had him." Aizawa nodded from the sidelines, his bandages stark-he'd seen her potential.
From the stands, I clapped, my Saiyan senses catching Momo's tremble. Shinso's insults had fueled her rage, but Bakugo's power had tested her limits. She'd grown, and so had Bakugo-his control was sharper than USJ. The finals loomed: me vs. Bakugo.