Chapter 28 - The Final Act

"And there you have it, folks! Bakugo wins this match and will go to the Finals!" Everyone cheered for the round, but more on his opponent.

It was a clear state that the opponent of Katsuki Bakugo can't withstand his Quirk, Explosion.

Staring at the monitor and the match result, Izuku closes his eyes in peace. He was all alone in the room. Excluding the monitor with sounds, he distanced himself from reality for only a moment.

He recalls the final result of the match... between himself and Shoto Todoroki.

==Flashback==

The outcome was unbelievable. Izuku was there, lying on the ground, just inches away from touching the boundary line.

Wearing a painful expression on his face, his clothes are tattered up, exposing his scars, full six abs, and some blood pouring out on some of his upper body parts. But his right arm is heavily damaged. Purple and blood leaking out.

Due to his condition, Midnight, who finally got out of her cover, would've proclaimed that Shoto is the winner, but there's a problem.

Shoto was nowhere to be found.

There's still some smoke lingering around the arena, but it's clear to everyone that Shoto isn't in the arena.

That could only mean one thing.

Once the dust clouds dissipate, they found the bi-colored-haired boy lying against the wall facing down.

With some slight cracks crack on the wall behind him he fell on his knees for a fraction of a second before falling face-first to the ground.

On queue, Izuku twitched before slowly moving his body while gritting his teeth. Bearing the pain all over his body, mostly on his right arm, he wills his way to stand up. Using his left arm to support him, he adjusted himself before he's back on his feet.

"Todoroki-kun is out of bounds! The winner who'll advance to the finals is Midoriya-kun!"

Crowds cheered for a magnificent, intense match. Izuku was tired of everything as of now before he fell on his butt, heavily panting from the climax of the battle.

He tried to help Shoto who was stubborn to not use his left side, dodging every attack that can immobilize him, except that moment where Shoto froze him and everyone thought he's the winner despite the efforts Izuku did.

But in the end, it's all worth the trouble. The shackles that bounded Shoto from his past are finally broken. He can finally be himself, well only a little due to his father still there.

He can imagine the disappointed expression from the defeat of his son. Guess that supposed 'encouragement' of his is not enough. Literally.

"Job's... not... done." Whispering between his heavy breathings, Izuku turned his attention to his partner.

"(You okay, Shadow?)"

"(Despite me getting tired, I'm okay. I can heal you, but at a slow rate.)" Shadow answered.

"(Approximately?)"

"(Twenty minutes.)"

"(Guess I need Recovery Girl-sensei to recover most.)" Izuku suggested.

Then the paramedic team arrived for both students with stretchers.

Shoto was unconscious while Izuku stood up with his feet wobbling. The members helped on settle on his own stretcher before they all went to Recovery Girl's Temporary Nurse's Office.

Izuku decided to take a rest with his eyes closed before he heard Present Mic announcing the next match that'll happen within ten minutes.

That's enough for the green-haired boy.

Regaining energy by resting, both Izuku and Shoto were carried to the said location.

==Time Skip==

"How you're feeling, Todoroki-kun?"

"I'm fine." The bi-colored-haired boy answered nonchalantly. The son of Endeavor recently woke up while the hero nerd was up the whole time. Let the author remind you, he still has a job to finish. Sleeping on a job is so wrong that could give you the worst punishment that can rival your worst nightmare as you grow up.

And yes, Recovery Girl was finished healing Izuku. Also, All Might was there with her, to check on both of his students.

"You two are amazing in your own ways, Young Midoriya, Young Todoroki." He complimented as Shoto slowly looked down, flustered from the statement.

As for Izuku, he looked aside and raised his right hand to scratch the back of his head, not knowing how to react.

All of a sudden, someone entered the room. It's none other than Endeavor himself, wearing a scornful look as everyone in the room stared at him.

The first person he locked his eyes is upon his son, brushing aside the presence of the three.

"It's nice to know that you're accepting your power and have ceased your childish rebellion." He said arrogantly that made Shoto annoyed. "However, you need to learn your power. It's dangerous to release so much fire at once. As soon as I trained you all the way until you graduate, you'll work for me. I'll lead you to the mighty path."

The boy stared at his bastard father before he sighed in irritation and responds back. "If you think that my feelings have changed so easily, you're absolutely wrong. Just that moment..." He paused. "I forgot about you."

The number two hero was surprised but soon snorted before he stated. "Believe in what you think is right. On the other note, it's really shameful that you lost the battle. You lost to a vigilante, Shoto." Just hearing Endeavor berate him makes him feel angry.

"'Former' vigilante." Shoto corrected angrily.

Izuku noticed his expression, feeling empathy towards the abused boy. To think that the boy has everything a person wanted. The son of the top ten heroes in their own country, having two Quirks, enrolled in a prestigious high school where he was enrolled through recommendations...

And yet...

Here he is, getting strict lessons and was still abused by the only person that made him... this.

"Whatever. You do remember that vigilantes are also villains, right?" Izuku internally face palmed himself, cringing from how wrong Endeavor is from saying that.

"First of all," Izuku butted in the chat. "Vigilante is a person who takes the law into their own hands. It depends on their actions, but mostly they volunteer to suppress and punish crime, even if it's against the law."

The hero switched his focus from his son to the vigilante student. He glared at the hero nerd with rage.

"I'm surprised someone as you graduated from U.A High School only for you to say something wrong. Can someone get him a library of dictionaries so that he can read them all over again?" Izuku mocked while looking around to act like he's talking to a crowd.

"Besides," He added. "For someone who's in second place for his entire life, you're not the right person to talk about being the best."

"Shut up." Endeavor threatened, but the boy wasn't fazed,

"Fine. Go ahead and try hurting me. I'm a vigilante in your eyes, right? You forgot that I'm a minor, a student, and U.A's property. So if you really dare, you'll get sued for what you've done to me." Izuku stood up with a glare.

Even though Endeavor wanted to, Izuku's logic was right. There are witnesses here, especially his son.

"You see, Endeavor, All Might is someone the society of people looks up to. And you? Well, you're doing all you can to surpass him. That's your only goal and nothing else. With your attitude like that, soon people will realize the real purpose behind the mask you wear and you'll be exposed. You'll never be like All Might... and for damn sure... you'll never surpass him."

The anger was off the charts. Endeavor never felt this so pissed off that he's showing dominance by letting out more of his fire Quirk.

However, the tension quickly disappeared as Recovery Girl interrupted.

"Endeavor, I know you're worried, but I would like you to leave." She said politely. "He may be your son, but he is our patient. You left him in our own care, so please leave. You can see him as soon as we heal him up."

Standing there for a few seconds, Endeavor glared at Izuku before he glanced at Shoto. After that, he left the room.

"Midoriya-kun." Recovery Girl called. "Please refrain from finding trouble even if you're a part of U.A."

"Understood," Izuku said. "Can I leave now? I have to prepare to see who's my next opponent." He asked as he began to wear his recently delivered new P.E uniform.

"Can you still fight even if you're tired?"

"That I am. After all," He approached the door and gave them one last look and statement, "I still have a job to do."

Then he left the room, leaving the people inside confused about what he said. A mission? What would that be?

We're about to find out.

==Flashback End==

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time!" The sudden roar of Present Mic interrupted the boy's peace, but he's ready.

Izuku didn't go to his friends, for he just went straight towards the room as soon as he left Recovery Girl, Toshinori, and Shoto Todoroki.

Ready for the moment of his life. To battle against his classmate, the very person who started to make his life a living hell worse than death.

After all of those things that happened to Izuku, it all comes down to this.

A battle against Katsuki Bakugo, against the bully, against the tormentor, against his... used-to-be childhood friend.

Standing up with his eyes narrowed and brows furrowed, he eyed the door while walking towards it. Grabbing the doorknob and twisting his wrist, the door opened, a signal for Izuku to leave the waiting room.

The hallways are silent, minus the roaring excitement outside. One step forward, an echo followed. Heart beating fast, he was waiting for this moment.

The job is finally here... for him to finish.

A battle against the ash-blonde-haired boy. The boy thought he have a stronger Quirk than everyone.

"Are ya ready, everyone?!" The crowds roared.

"Of course, you all are! Because this match right now will determine who will be the winner for this year's first-year student of the U.A High School Sports Festival! Now, let's call on..."

He paused for a few seconds before he saw two small figures in his vision approaching the arena, and that's the cue for him to continue.

"Izuku Midoriya versus Katsuki Bakugo!"

As soon as Present Mic said that, both of the combatants were ascending to the arena, slowly closing the distance between them.

"Both have been using raw strength and Quirk as well! With Bakugou exploding his way towards the end, Izuku surprised us with his Quirk and shows why he's the winner in the last games and rounds. Let's see who's stronger!"

While Izuku's expressions are a mixture of disappointment, annoyance, and dissatisfaction, Katsuki's angrier.

When they're close, they stopped walking and faced each other, looking away is a way of losing this match.

"Remember this, Deku." He sneered at his opponent, who caught his attention.

"I'll send you straight to hell." Bakugo threatened.

"(Death threats as usual. It's a good thing he didn't change at all.)" Izuku was unamused by his childhood bully.

Adjusting his position by sliding his left foot backward and his body facing sideways, the hero nerd slowly raised his dominant arm forward, pointing at the ash-blonde-haired boy.

Fingers stretched for a few seconds before he pulled them back and uttered two words.

"Bring it." He said loud and clear, shocking Bakugo from his confidence, which triggered a bomb inside his mind. Showing off and mocking him like that is unacceptable.

"You..." The boy growled before he gets into his position, so does Izuku.

The confidence the hero nerd shows is rather unusual, and his expression as well. It's sour and one that doesn't give a fucking care whatever happens to Katsuki Bakugo.

This went unnoticed by his classmates, friends, his teachers, and the pro heroes that took an interest in the boy, specifically Miruko, and Mt. Lady's group.

"Izu-chan..." Nejire muttered with worry. She has never seen this kind of look from him before. It could be involved with that boy he's facing, but right now all she gotta do is watch with full attention.

Again, another personality of hers the boys, Mirio and Tamaki, haven't seen. A while ago, she was cheering when Izuku won against that Todoroki kid, but now? It's really serious.

As much as they hate to help, but they can't help in this situation. Much like the crowd, they are but an audience to the show.

"Deku-kun..." Not only Nejire but also Ochako was worried as well. The look on his face was making her uncomfortable.

Momo stiffened and clenched her fist trying to calm down, but it wouldn't help.

To think that that the uneasy aura Izuku gives reached his classmates and some of the first-year students. They were scared, well for Mineta at that, and anxious.

Never mind, scratch that. Miruko noticed this. As for Mt. Lady's? It's probably just anger, but there's more to it than that.

"Okay! Since I'm tired of shouting the go signal. I'm gonna let someone take it."

"(Mood.)" Everyone looked at him as if he's given up life. Only the two combatants' focus is on each other.

Then they quickly heard it.

"Let's go ahead."

"Die!" Katsuki made the first move, exploding behind him to launch forward. He noticed Izuku didn't flinch or move a muscle.

"What's up, Deku?! Scared to move?!" He taunted, and receive a response of the same expression.

Clicking his tongue, he decided to blast his face with his right arm.

"(Too obvious.)" Izuku thought as he grabbed the boy's right wrist before ducking down, slamming him to the ground with force.

Grunting in pain, Katsuki felt the world has multiplied into different dimensions.

Focusing his strength into his hand whilst still holding Bakugo's arm, he brought down a strong karate chop to the chest, inflicting more damage to the body.

"(Don't give your opponent a breath of air.)" Izuku remembered when he searched for tips on defeating your enemies.

And Katsuki felt that one into his spine as the air inside him left.

Then something stopped him from continuing as he let go and take a step back, contradicting those words a while ago.

But there's another reason why he did it.

To test how good Bakugo is.

Him defending and attacking at the same time is just a taste. What's next is true medicine.

Standing up with slight struggle, he glared at Deku, unamused and dissatisfied. Boiling with anger, Katsuki recklessly charged at Izuku again.

"(Again, huh? Knowing him, he'll feint.)" Izuku pulled his right arm, waiting for the right moment to parry.

Within hand's reach, the ash-blonde-haired boy quickly lets his palm out. Izuku attacked to parry.

But there's no explosion came out of his right palm. Instead, he used it on his left side, propelling him over the hero nerd.

"(I knew it.)" Izuku's field of vision was obstructed by a hand and quickly met by a blinding, painful light.

Katsuki Bakugo attacked him right in his face. Not only that, that Explosion Quirk of his is so hazardous that it results in permanent injuries if hit in the weak spots. One of those weak spots in the eyes.

Ignoring the loud gasps from the crowd, he then attacked him right to the gut. This time is a bigger explosion, sending him flying across the arena.

Rolling a few times before the momentum reached its end. The hero nerd was lying on his stomach, all eyes on him.

A sinister smile formed on the Explosion-Quirk user before he shouts, "How do you like that, Deku?!"

He's ready for more and waited for Izuku to move.

And in fact, got what he wanted.

Strained movements. Izuku was greatly injured as he lifts his head and stared at his opponent.

He narrows his vision, which indicates bad news to let everyone know...

His vision was damaged permanently.

Or at least that's what they see before Izuku closes his eyes and stood up.

He never opened them, which terrified the crowd.

"Hah! Never open your eyes, huh?! Whatever, I'm still gonna kill you!" He propelled towards his foe and cried out, "Die, Deku!"

All of a sudden, green sparks flying around his right arm. The Explosion boy followed it and saw Deku's hand already turned into a fist. At that moment...

"ORA!!!!"

He was met with a powerful right hook to the face.

'Ooh', 'Ouch' and many more came out of the crowd's mouth. They felt that punch as well.

The hero nerd opened his eyes and watched his opponent roll a few times before it halts.

"What the hell..." He said to himself. Not out of surprise, but of realization. "(To think... that this is the guy I'm afraid of...)" He thought.

And that punch? It was satisfying.

Through sweat and tears, those years of training his mind, and the body was paying off. Time will come when he will face Katsuki Bakugo and this is that time.

As for the latter, he felt his jaw smashed into pieces after that right hook. Turning his head around, he examined Deku's condition.

Uniform's slightly torn, his face is bruised with some blood leaking out due to scratches rubbing against the floor.

Unfortunately, Bakugo's in the same condition as well.

He wanted to grind his teeth against each other, but it'll only cause more damage. He tried to stand up quickly but regretted it next. Dizzying and bleeding, he drops to one knee and clutches his head in anger, wanting nothing more than to get these distractions off of his mind and focus on killing Deku.

"Started with a right hook..." Izuku mumbled. "You're predictable, Bakugo. Despite you making my life a living hell, I'm grateful for that. You know why?" He asked and got no response.

"Because I got to know your attack pattern." The hero nerd uttered.

Bakugo scoffed before slowly standing up and snarling, "Even though... you're scared... that's what I hate about you!"

"Like hell, I would be scared of you." The green-haired boy verbally fought back.

With another blast from his hands, Katsuki was flying straight towards Izuku in an attempt to destroy him, only to be blocked by a large black shield.

"This is..." Grunting, he went to the opposite of where the shield blocked his kick. "You're done!"

He attacked, but the hero nerd reacted quicker than that as he duck under and take a few steps back. And no, the green-haired boy has some help from the Spider-Sense, which is good, but he has to rely on his quick reflexes without it.

Bakugou's not gonna let Deku get some ground, time to think or recover as he launches himself towards him.

But then, Izuku tactically retreated.

"Tch. Stop running away and fight me like a coward you are!" Then he got what he wanted. A kick to the gut.

"Ask and you shall receive." The boy mocked and got a growl from his foe's mouth.

Spinning and landing a roundhouse kick, the ash-blonde-haired boy was sent flying but controlled himself and was sliding back on his feet.

"How does it feel, Bakugo? To get a taste of humiliation for the first time?"

Panting heavily, he barked. "Shut... the fuck... up."

"Why do you hate me, Bakugo? What did I ever do to make you hate me?

"As if... I would tell you."

"(Persistent bastard.)" Izuku sighed. "To think that you had the authority to call Quirkless people as weakling creatures of the Earth. To have the rights to those who are weaker than you, you're really are a dickbag."

"Shut up!"

With that, he launches himself towards the boy, but a little slower.

'Thwip'

Bakugo saw a strand attached to his shoulder, halting his attempt to attack, and was pulled forward.

Izuku leaned backward until his back's on the floor. Once facing the bully's face, he quickly reeled his leg for another kick to the gut, which made contact.

The impact sent Bakugo forward and made him do a front flip before his face and body scrapes against the floor.

Izuku stood up and turns around, examining his opponent with narrowed eyes.

More blood coming out of the Explosion-Quirk user's face as he scrambles to his feet and faced Deku once again.

Although this is different. He didn't rush forward, Bakugo was being cautious this time. He learned from his previous mistakes.

Those mistakes, he was blinded by pride and anger, and Deku shattered them one by one until to the point of realization.

"Starting to use your head, huh? Good." Izuku commented.

Bakugo scoffed as he watched Deku's movements with intensity before they simultaneously walked right.

They walk at a slow pace until they're standing on their opponent's original location before they lunged forward.

The green-haired boy made the first move by punching but was stopped by Katsuki, who caught his fist and had his palm aiming at his face.

Ducking his head, he went behind the ash-blonde-haired boy. The said boy anticipated this and used his left palm to blow Deku's face.

However, his movements came to a stop when Deku blocked it with his left arm.

Then, he received a knee to the gut but not without giving the green-haired teen a punch to the face in return.

Midoriya saw this coming, but ignored the warning and embraced the attack.

Stumbling back, they had eye contact for a mere second before they attack again.

Attack after attack,

Defend after defend,

Dodge after dodge,

They were on par with each other as the crowd watched with the support of loud, deafening cheers.

All except the students and pro heroes.

Observing their movements, strength, and skills, it's obvious there's one who has the upper hand while the other was struggling due to relying on his Quirk.

For a brief moment, Izuku thought, "(I have to finish this right now, or else...)"

"How about you surrender, huh?!" An eyebrow raised on his face. What does he mean by that? Unless...

"Surrender?" Izuku repeated the word. "I don't know the meaning of it." Izuku refrained any more words and focuses on-

"Surrender, VIGILANTE!!!"

...

No way. He didn't. He called Izuku a vigilante. One that was supposed to be known ONLY for them.

But now... secrets were revealed to the crowd... but more painfully... to the people who are watching U.A Sports Festival.

Everyone began to whisper to each other, while Class 1-A was shocked because Katsuki Bakugo exposes their classmate. Izuku's identity as a former vigilante was meant to be a secret, but no. Kids these days, especially a delinquent like Bakugo have to bark all over the neighborhoods.

By now every class is looking at Class 1-A as Monoma was literally mocking while Itsuka Kendo just sit there, eyes wide open while a small gap from her mouth was open as well.

Seeing his wide shocked reaction caused Bakugou to grab the opportunity. His eyes were covered by his hair and were looking slightly down.

"(This must be the reason why everyone wanted a villain to be killed quickly.)" Izuku thought before raising his head, staring at Katsuki Bakugo.

He remembered reading a lot of manga, especially those isekai or fantasy (otherworld) genres, with replies like 'Just kill him already!', 'Dumbass MC didn't kill him/her.' and many more.

Guess it applies to the real world, huh?

The moment the ash-blonde-haired boy caught eye contact, he felt Deku's stare. His eyes, they're lifeless, giving a malicious vibe that made Katsuki's spine chill. The pace was wrong, all wrong in every way.

"Don't give me that shitty glare, Deku!" The Explosion-Quirk user neglects the impending consequence of uncovering his childhood victim's vigilante identity.

More sparks began to fly around Bakugo's right palm and soon after...

'Boom'

A large explosion was the result of the ash-blonde-haired boy letting out his Quirk's full power. A strong wind came next, making the crowds raise their arms to partially or fully cover their sense of vision.

Clouds of dust filled the arena, rendering the crowds' eyes from seeing the match's result. Is it the end? Or is it overkill? The latter seems a better explanation for the current situation.

The wind sways away the dust and the first person they all see is Katsuki Bakugo, standing at his feet with his arm stretched forward where Izuku used to stand.

But they didn't see the green-haired boy.

Until something came out of the dust that was tossed in the air, getting everyone's attention, including Katsuki Bakugo.

A torn uniform that has a lot of holes and is mostly destroyed. It confused the boy before he saw a blur coming at his side.

It made harsh contact with his left side ribs before it retracts back to the dust clouds. Then a fist emerged, hitting Katsuki in the face.

Staggered back from the surprise attacks, the teen's nose began to bleed and it seems like his nose was broken from the punch.

The clouds of dust sway up in the wind, clearing away to show the results.

They saw red shoes and blue pants, but the clouds didn't reveal his upper body.

"You dug my grave deep, Bakugo." A familiar voice emanated from the dark clouds of dust.

"But I dug your grave deeper." Then it dissipates, showing Izuku... and his body full of scars, earning an earful of gasps from the audience. Scars trailing on his arms, front and back, and everyone got a good look at it.

"Remember these scars? They came from you and your lackeys, hurting me in every way ever since I was announced Quirkless." Izuku used his thumb and pointed at his chest with anger on his expression.

"To think that the school where we used to study supports bully... it made my life... far worse than villains." He stated. His childhood bully stood there, glaring back at him, showing no remorseful look.

Unknown to Katsuki, the pieces of evidence of him being a harsh individual, even to the point of obviously threatening everyone who stands in his way made the heroes and teachers doubt his growth potential to become a hero with that kind of attitude.

Sighing in annoyance, Izuku responds. "I don't care what happens to you now or even in the future. This time..." He shifted his body, bending his knees and ready for another round.

"Remember this, Bakugo, Katsuki. This Deku, this scum of an extra, this punching bag, it will beat you to a pulp that'll hurt more than just your pride. It's a taste of your own medicine."

The hero nerd charged forward and reeled his right arm. Steadying his hold, Bakugo prepared for the worst.

He tried to ignite his Quirk and results in a backlash of throbbing pain in his right arm, which he used for the full power a while ago.

He only has his left arm, but the distance is getting thinner. He has to time it.

At that moment, the hero nerd jumped on his right foot, his arm still reeled back. Katsuki took the opportunity and was about to blast him mid-air.

However, Izuku expected this and flick his left leg, canceling the ash-blonde boy's attack and landing a strong hook to the now more broken jaw.

Then a kick to the gut, making the delinquent cough out blood and kneel to the ground.

Bakugo's head was dizzy, eyes trembling and blood coming out of his nose and mouth. One of his hands was holding his stomach while the other was on the ground, supporting his wrecked, fragile body.

He heard a sigh coming out of Deku's mouth before he said, "You think that I only look up to All Might? No. I also look up to you when we were kids. Never in my life, I looked down on you."

Then the world fell into silence before Izuku broke it.

"Remember the time where I lend a hand to help you stand up?" Izuku asked.

"I was only helping you because you got tripped. I never thought of you being weak that day and time." He closes his eyes and shakes his head in disappointment.

"But because of that enormous pride of yours, your decisions are rash and predictable making villains easier to hurt or kill you." He walked behind his opponent.

"I'm really disappointed... for you never gave me a fight everyone wanted to see." Raises his arm, his hand positions into resembling a blade of a sword. Focusing his strength into his hand, Izuku Midoriya karate chops Katsuki's neck.

The next scene is the said person fell to the ground face first, and unconscious.

It was a moment of silence as everyone was speechless until they heard Midnight raise her whip in the air.

"Bakugo is unconscious! Your winner and the Champion of First-Year U.A Sports Festival this year, Izuku Midoriya!"