Unfortunately I couldn't hide in the waiting room forever.

I was planning on coming out to watch Kacchan's match anyway, but before I could, the door slammed open.

There stood my best friend. "Huh? Kacchan?" He stormed over and snatched my arm and pulled me off the table.

If it wasn't for my excellent reflexes I would've crumbled to the floor.

Not saying anything, he continued to drag me along. "Hey, wait-Kacchan!" I called, but he didn't say anything and continued dragging me along.

Well, even if I fought against him he'd continue to drag me along. So I just allowed him.

He took me back to the seating area. Our classmates looked at us weirdly.

Kacchan didn't pay any attention to them and pulled me to the front row, right next to Izu, and shoved me into the seat.

I bounced slightly at the harsh movement. "There is no hiding out in there anymore. Now watch me beat your friend and everyone here and win. I'll kill them." With that said he left.

I stared after him, a little surprised.

Izu stared as well. "It's rare to see Kacchan so kind." He said in surprise. I nodded in agreement.

"That was being kind?!" Kaminari, Jiro, and Sero shouted. Izu laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. I raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was pretty obvious."

They all kind of fell at that.

The crowd picked up as Kacchan and Uraraka entered the arena. "The tenth and last match of the first round! He was kind of famous in Junior High! This isn't the face of a regular person! From the Hero Course, it's Bakugo Katsuki! Versus! She's the one I'm rooting for. From Hero Course, it's Uraraka Ochako!"

I'm a little torn here. On one hand, Uraraka is a nice girl, and she's my friend. But Kacchan is my best friend. No, he's more than that. He and Izu are my family. My most precious people.

I mean, I know he's going to win, and I still want him to.

Sorry Uraraka.

As usual, Kacchan has an intense look on his face. "You're the one that makes things float, right, Round Face?" I sweat dropped as Uraraka jumped, not at all amused by his nickname. "Round . . . ?" Ah-ah.

Can't you at least remember your classmates names?

"If you're going to withdraw do it now. You won't get off with just an 'ouch'." He warned. Well, at least he didn't say it with as much menace as he usually does. That's nice.

Surprisingly so.

Although she is nervous to go against such a strong opponent, Uraraka didn't back down from his glare like normal. Oh?

She's serious. "Midoriya." Hm? Izu and I glanced over at Iida. "What was the strategy you were going to tell Uraraka earlier for her to use against Bakugo?" He asked.

Huh? Ah, well it makes sense Izu would want to help her.

But she didn't want it? Izu most definitely would have told her, yet it seems she didn't accept it. Ugh. As I thought, it's more of this 'pride' and 'hero' determination everyone seems to have.

I mean, this is a school for those who want to be Heroes, but I wonder . . . when is it that their determination fades?

Izu gripped the burnt up notebook in his hand. Ah, that's from a year ago.

The one Kacchan burned the day we met All Might.

"It wasn't much really. Kacchan's strong. In a real close combat fight, he has almost no openings. And the more he moves, the more he sweats, making his Explosion Quirk stronger. He can use the blasts from his explosions to move around in the air; but if Uraraka touches Kacchan and uses her Quirk to make him float, then she would have the upper hand. That's why the first thing Uraraka should do is . . ."

"Touch him." I finished, staring at the two below.

That may be true. Her only chance would be to do that. However, even if he does float, he can move around by his explosions.

She'd need a lot of things around to win.

"Tenth match, start!" Mic announced.

As soon as he did, Uraraka ran to Kacchan, staying pretty low to the ground. "Withdrawing isn't a choice!" She shouted at Kacchan. Izu and Iida grinned, excited to see her in action.

"A swift attack! Even if it's an accident, as long as she can touch him, she can make him float!" Izu said, watching the match with an intense gaze.

Of course that's what she needs to do. But Kacchan knows that too. "Bakugo won't want Uraraka to get close to him." Iida inputted. We nodded.

"Yep. And since it's Kacchan, he'll want to counterattack. Evading really isn't his style." I spoke, watching the scene below.

"Then die." He responded to her, his right hand moving slightly.

His signature starter.

As Uraraka neared, he pulled his right hand back. She needs to dodge.

She is in front of him now, but he swung his hand and sent a large explosion. I internally winced for her.

Ouch. That can't be fun. "Uraraka!" Izu and Iida shouted simultaneously.

Our class watched anxiously, fearing for her. "Even though you're fighting a girl, you have no mercy do you, Bakugo?" Asui mulled.

My temple throbbed in annoyance. That's a little sexist isn't it? Fighting has nothing to do with gender. It battle, man or woman means nothing.

Smoke filled the area they're in, but from our positions we can kinda see. "Don't underestimate me!" Kacchan shouted, slamming his hand on her and setting off an explosion.

Wait, that's not her. Uraraka jumped out of the smoke behind Kacchan.

Eh? That's pretty clever. "Oh! She made her jacket float and sent it over there?! She did it in an instant too!" Mic announced.

Uraraka went to touch Kacchan. Before she could though, he turned quickly and sent another explosion her way, flinging her back.

She hit the ground roughly and rolled a couple of times, but she quickly got on her feet.

Eh? That's actually pretty good.

The class murmured in fear for her. I don't think any of them wants Kacchan to win other than me. Maybe Kirishima.

It was a good plan though. And if it were anyone else, she would have gotten them.

But Kacchan's reflexes are amazing. They're even on par with mine, and I was trained like a ninja. He did all that on his own. She's at a disadvantage against him.

Uraraka ran at him again when he emerged from the smoke. "Too slow!" He shouted. He swung his hand low with the large explosion, breaking the ground and blasting her away again.

Izu, Iida, and the rest of the class went pale. Smoke covered the area more, and she popped out again, going for a direct attack again. "Take this!" She roared. Kacchan just attacked with another explosion.

While our class cringed and hid their eyes, unable to watch, my eyes went wide as realization dawned on me.

No way. She's doing this on purpose. And her plan . . . I didn't give her enough credit.

Each time she charged, Kacchan blasted her away, making it look almost cruel to everyone here. Everyone who's ignorant. Everyone who is close minded.

Normally someone would have admitted defeat. But she didn't. She kept on going and taking his attacks for her plan.

Well, well. You are a lot more hardcore then you look, aren't you?

"Uraraka keeps attacking without rest, but . . . this is . . ." Mic's voice isn't as loud. As he is also seeing this as cruelty.

Explosions kept on going off and more and more smoke filled the air. The Heroes and spectators tried to get Cementos to stop them, but the Hero ignored them.

Ah, does he see it? Of course he does, he built the ring.

As this kept on happening, more and more Heroes and civilians began to bash on Kacchan.

"Hey! How can you say you want to be a Hero like that?! If there's such a huge difference in your abilities then hurry up and send her out of bounds!" One Hero shouted down at Kacchan.

"Stop bullying and playing with the poor girl!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

The crowd began to boo and my anger began to rise. My instincts screaming at me to protect Katsuki.

Protect him from their words. They always tell me to. Whenever it involves Izu and Kacchan, my first reaction will always be to protect them from anything and everything.

The booing only got louder and my anger spiked.

Shit.

I closed my eyes tightly, willing my emotions to go down. Don't activate. Don't activate. For the love of god don't!

My fists clenched so hard my fingernails stabbed into my palm, making blood seep from the wounds.

As the booing continued it became impossible to control it. "There's booing from part of the crowd. But honestly-" Stop.

Don't say it. Don't. Don't say bad things about him!

"I also feel the sa-ahg! And elbow?! What are ya doin?!" Present Mic screamed at someone.

"Was the Pro saying he's playing around? How many years have you bee a Pro?!" Eh? I opened my eyes and looked up to the area the two announcer sat.

The stadium immediately went silent at his rough voice, his words, his tone. "If you're saying that with a straight face, there's no point in you watching anymore, so go home! Go home and look into changing careers!"

Aizawa . . . Sensei?

He sounds . . . angry.

"Bakugo is being careful because he's acknowledged the strength of his opponent who made it this far. It's because he's doing everything he can to win that he can't go easy on her or let his guard down."

My eyes went wide at his words. "He . . ." Izu and Iida looked over at me. "He understands . . . Katsuki." I spoke in wonder, surprising them.

We turned our attention back to the two in question.

The smoke cleared up a lot in the time Aizawa-Sensei was talking. Uraraka is still standing. Beaten and exhausted, but standing nonetheless. "It's about time . . . I think." I can barely hear her talk.

Kacchan went on guard again at her words. Preparing for anything.

My gaze glanced upwards. He's not going to expect this. "Thanks Bakugo, for not letting your guard down!" She held her hands apart, ready to touch her fingertips together.

I smirked. "Kacchan isn't a fool. And it's not his own fault that he couldn't see, because she used his Explosions to cover it, but those idiot Heroes who were booing sure are embarrassing." I said, fully satisfied.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Kaminari asked.

My smirk remained and I pointed up. They followed my fingers and their eyes went wide and their jaws dropped.

"It took me a minute, but I figured it out. She kept her body low as she advanced, concentrating Kacchan's attacks on the ground so she could stock up on weapons. The smoke that comes with the explosion is also a key detail. Narrowing his field of vision with relentless attacks to keep him from noticing."

Everyone seemed to realize all at once. The sky above them is filled with floating debris.

"I'm gonna win!" She exclaimed, touching her fingertips together.

The debris came raining down in a hailstorm. "A meteor shower?!" Present Mic shouted. "You should've noticed." Aizawa-Sensei deadpanned.

While it fell, Uraraka ran at him again. While he's either dodging or deflecting, he can't pay all his attention to her. This is her chance.

As she ran at him, Kacchan raised his hand into the air, grabbing his wrist with the other to hold it steady.

What is he doing?! If he does that without the gauntlets . . !

As Uraraka neared him, he sent out one of his largest, and farthest explosions yet. Katsuki!

At the force, Uraraka flew back and even we were affected by it. The force pushed me back a bit against my seat and my hair flew wildly around my face due to the intensity.

Kacchan . . . if you do that without those gauntlets, your arm . . .

Uraraka, I got to give you credit. You made him do that. That's an incredible feat on its own.

Once the smoke died down, we see Uraraka on the ground, a bit away from him.

She sat up, staring at him as the smoke dispersed. "Since your friends with Deku I thought you'd be up to something." He told her.

Uraraka is pale, whether it's in pain, exhaustion, or even disbelief. "B-Bakugo delivers a satisfying explosion! He blasts boldly through Uraraka's secret plan!"

I turn my eyes to Kacchan. He exhaled deeply. His arm shaking and twitching slightly. I need to take him to Recovery Girl after this. Of course Uraraka will need treatment first.

Uraraka looked at the ground, her hair blocking her face. She must be frustrated. That was an impressive plan, and I bet she'll be one of the only ones who have gotten one over Kacchan like this.

Ah. She's standing. Once she did, she swayed a bit. How much more can she take?

Kacchan smiled a bit. Of course it kinda makes him look arrogant. "Alright, let's get serious then, Uraraka!" My eyes went wide with disbelief.

"Izu . . . did he just-did he just call her by her name?" I asked. Izu's own eyes went wide with realization. "He did . . ."

Holy shit.

Uraraka you are amazing.

Kacchan ran at her, finally going on offense.

She clenched her fist and turned, fully intending to keep on going. But her legs tripped up a bit. Kacchan's eyes widened slightly and he slowed his run as she began to fall. He stopped the moment she hit the ground.

"Uraraka's down!" Mic called. Uraraka's body twitches as she tried to get it to move.

But she can't. She's spent. "She passed her limit long ago . . ." Izu said, looking at her with a mix of sorrow and amazement.

She tried to crawl up, but couldn't. No matter the determination, if the body doesn't match, it won't do. Yet, here she is, still trying to stand.

As she crawled, Kacchan moved a bit, to be on guard just in case. Finally she stopped crawling.

Did she lose consciousness? Midnight walked over and kneeled next to her to check. "Uraraka's out of commision. Bakugo advances to the second round!

They put Uraraka on a stroller and sent her off. Kacchan watched a bit before leaving as well. Izu stood and left soon after, saying he's going to the waiting room.

It was a bit quiet in our section. Although some tried to make small talk, it was kind of difficult for them. "Nozomi." Iida spoke to me.

I glanced over at him a bit. It seemed like he decided something based on the look on his face. "In your fight, is it true, what you said to him?"

Our seating area tensed a bit, as if he touched a forbidden subject. "If you're asking if I meant it, then yes. I don't see a need to lie about it."

He pursed his lips tightly together. "Iida, you're free to dislike me y'know. That's your own decision. You don't need to force it because I'm close to Izu."

He seemed surprised I said that. "I'm not happy with your words, but I wouldn't go as far to unfriending you because of it." I blinked.

What? But Iida is the type to hate people like me, right? Ahg. Everybody here makes my head hurt.

After a bit, Kacchan came back, hands shoved in his pockets. "Hey Bakugo! That was tough, huh? Playing the bad guy." Sero spoke, trying to lighten the mood. "Even if it was because of the matchup, you played an amazing villain Bakugo." Asui commented.

"Shut up! Be quiet!" He snapped.

I stood and walked over to him. He turned his attention to me, eyes slightly narrowed.

Reaching up, I placed my hand on his head and ruffled his ash blonde hair. "You did well." I praised. He stared at me a bit.

I understand Kacchan's true intentions. Because I've known him the longest.

He clucked his tongue, smacking my hand away. "Stop that! And I told you. Me losing isn't even possible!" He barked.

I smiled teasingly and poked his cheek. "Eh? What's this? Are you embarrassed?" I teased. This just ticked him off and he tried to hit me but I jumped away.

"Shut up Kiri!" He roared, making me laugh at him mockingly.

"Oh, is that all? You're slower than usual." I provoked purposefully. He swung at me again. "Die!" He shouted.

He went to swing again and I caught his injured arm, making him stop as he went to hide the pain.

We stared at each other intently, the others watching us curiously. I gripped his arm a bit. He didn't flinch, but his eye twitched.

"As I thought. We're going to the infirmary." I told him.

He pursed his lips. "I don't need to." He growled out. He tried yanking his arm out of my hold, but I wouldn't let him. We continued our stare down.

I allowed him to see some emotion in my eyes. He jumped a bit and looked away angrily. "Fine." He grumbled.

Nodding, I dragged him out of there and to the infirmary. Once I was sure we were out of their hearing range I let go. "Really now. Using that trick without the gauntlets."

He grumbled under his breath. "I had no choice." He said irritably.

I smiled, ever so lightly. "I know. But, was that a nice fight for you?" He didn't look happy at all, but I could tell."That's the first time you've said any of their names." I told him.

He stilled slightly. Oh, he hadn't realized it.

"At least you finally have some people to spar with now."

Before, everyone either kissed up to him or avoided him in fear. Neither were going to even think about fighting against him. But here is different for him.

They will fight. And they won't do what those brats did in Junior High did.

He scoffed but didn't respond. "Hey, Katsuki." I felt his gaze on me.

I looked over and lifted the corner of my mouth in a half smile. "Thanks for showing me a great fight."

He looked away, the perma scowl still on his face. But it's softer.

"It wasn't great. The next fight I'll definitely kill them." He claimed.

"Yes, yes."

~

"Ow! The hell is your problem?" I growled out, glaring dangerously at Kacchan for smacking me upside the head. "Quit sleeping all the damn time." He responded, glaring at me as well.

Our glares clashed and our classmates sweat dropped as we brought an intense atmosphere about us. "I'll do as I want you blonde bimbo."

"Hah?! You wanna go?!" He shouted. We growled at each together, the atmosphere becoming more intense.

"K-Kiri. Bakugo." Uraraka sweat dropped.

"You are so ungrateful! That damn Deku's match against half and half is about to start."

I stopped glaring and immediately turned to the arena. "Eh? Why didn't you wake me sooner?"

This ticked him off. "I DID! You dumbass-ow!" I punched his leg, giving him a charlie horse.

"Thanks for waiting everybody! The third match of the second match is a big match! The man who won a huge victory in the first round and literally left the audience frozen! From the Hero Course, it's Todoroki Shoto! On the other, hand, this guy barely made it past the first round! What kind of fight will he show us this time?"

My temple throbbed in annoyance as I shot a glare in the direction of the Hero. "I'm just gonna rip out his voice box." I declared.

Uraraka and Iida began sweating tremendously at my claim.

"From the Hero Course, it's Midoriya Izuku!"

Ah-ah. I can already tell. This match is not going to be good for my heart.

"At this years Sports Festival, both have shown top class performances! It's like two great rivals fighting against each other. Now! Midoriya versus Todoroki!"

The two were tense, their gazes unwavering, and they seemed closed off from everything around them and focused on one another. It seems I missed something. Ah well, he'll tell me later.

The crowd grew anxious, and so did we.

After all, we really don't know who will win.

Todoroki, star recommendation student with natural talent, or Izu, the boy who overcomes every obstacle that's thrown his way.

Even I don't know who will win. This match will definately be one of the best in this entire festival.

"START!"