Chapter 18
The sports festival had finally kicked off, and the electric atmosphere was palpable. The first event, the Obstacle Race, was about to get underway, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. As the starting gun fired, Todoroki burst forth from the blocks like a shot, his speed and agility leaving everyone in awe. It was no surprise to anyone, least of all me. I let out a low growl, my competitive spirit ignited as I surveyed the scene before me.
The students around me were scrambling to get out of my way as I prepared to take off. The tension was building, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. With a sudden burst of energy, I launched myself into action, effortlessly clearing the students who dared to stand in my way. My feet pounded against the ground as I sprinted towards the obstacle course.
As I approached the relay section, my mind began to whirl with strategy. Without hesitation, I transformed into my Kaju form, feeling an intense rush of power coursing through my veins. The ground shook beneath me as I landed hard on all fours, sending shockwaves through the earth. The students behind me gasped and yelped in shock as my tail spiked out from behind me.
A chorus of "Is that even allowed?!" erupted from the stands, but Aizawa's calm voice cut through the commotion. "Yes, yes it is," he declared firmly. "She is using her Quirk and in this festival, Quirks are allowed." The crowd's murmurs died down as they realized that anything goes in this high-stakes competition.
With Aizawa's words still echoing in my ears, I charged forward with renewed determination. The obstacle course lay before me like a gauntlet thrown down – and I was ready to conquer it all.
Todoroki, ever the quick thinker, shot a blast of ice towards me, but I was ready for him. I trampled it down with ease, my powerful legs absorbing the impact as if it were nothing. Then, I let out a mighty roar, like an anxious beast unleashed, and charged after him.
But before I could catch up to Todoroki, a new threat emerged. Robots, massive and imposing, almost as large as I was in my Kaju form, began to appear on the scene. I snarled at them, wasting no time in attacking the first one that dared to launch a salvo of rockets at me. With lightning-fast reflexes, I crushed its head in my teeth and wrenched it from its neck. The other robots didn't stand a chance; I clawed at them with ferocity, sending them crashing to the ground.
"Oh, she's clearing us a path!" someone exclaimed from behind me as I thrashed about, taking down robot after robot.
I lashed my tail back and forth before noticing that Todoroki had appeared before me once again. This time, he had encased one of the robots in a massive glacier of ice, freezing it solid. I huffed out a plume of smoke and let the body of the robot fall to the ground with a deafening crash. The earth shook beneath my feet as I thundered towards Todoroki once more.
The two-toned boy stood tall, his eyes locked on mine as we faced off against each other. The air was electric with tension as we circled each other warily, our Quirks crackling with energy. It was clear that this battle was far from over – and only one of us would emerge victorious from this epic clash.
As we approached the next obstacle, I could feel my heart racing with excitement. The Eco-End was notorious for its challenging terrain, and I was eager to see how Todoroki would fare against me.
The first challenge was The Fall, a treacherous canyon that required contestants to navigate across tightropes suspended high above the ground. Todoroki walked along the ropes with ease, as if they were solid ground. I let out a derisive hiss, confident in my own abilities. Why bother with tightropes when I could simply jump over the entire canyon? With a smirk, I took a running start and leaped across the chasm, landing effortlessly on the other side as if I were stepping up stairs.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Tetsutetsu's familiar voice echoed through the air, but Kirishima quickly came to my defense.
I snorted in amusement, blowing a raspberry at Tetsutetsu before continuing on to the next challenge. The last stretch of sand led us to The Mine Field, where hidden explosives lay waiting to detonate at any misstep.
I stood still, watching as Todoroki carefully navigated through the field with ease. Just as he finished, Bakugo caught up to us, shouting "Oi, lizard brain! Get out of the way!" He shot a blast of air at me, striking me right on the hip. I barely flinched, unfazed by his attack. With an unimpressed stare, I gazed out at the minefield before us, where small bumps and hidden dangers lurked beneath the surface.
The game was far from over – and I was ready for whatever came next.
I let out a thunderous, carefree laugh as I flew over the minefield, leaving behind a trail of explosions and chaos that sent shockwaves through the air. The ground trembled beneath my feet as I soared above the deadly obstacles, my wings beating powerful strokes that created whirlwinds of dust and debris. "HEY!" Bakugo shouted in frustration, his voice hoarse from yelling, as he realized what I had done - effortlessly dodging and weaving between the hidden explosives like a master acrobat. I landed safely on the other side with a slight crouch, my claws digging gently into the earth as I absorbed the impact. Then, with a triumphant flourish, I stood up straight, shaking my head and sending my long, flowing mane of hair cascading down my back like a waterfall of night.
"Woohoo! The queen of monsters is showing you who's boss!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the mic, echoing off the canyon walls as he amplified my declaration to the entire arena. I gave him a sly glance, my piercing purple eyes locking onto his through the hubbub of excitement and chaos. My gaze was like a laser beam, cutting through the noise and distractions to connect with Mic's own intense stare.
Just then, I spotted Todoroki sprinting towards me with all his might, his speed impressive but not enough to intimidate me. His ice-blue eyes blazed with determination as he pumped his arms and legs in perfect syncopation, his breathing steady and controlled despite the exertion. But I was unfazed by his approach. With a feral grin spreading across my face like wildfire, I reached forward with teeth bared in a snarl - not just any snarl, but one that could curdle milk at fifty paces. My jaws yawned open wide enough to swallow Todoroki whole as I lifted him off the ground with ease, holding him dangling in mid-air like a rag doll.
"Hey, what-" he sputtered before Bakugo charged past us like an angry bull, shouting "Hah!" at the top of his lungs as he launched himself at me with reckless abandon. But I held him back with ease, weaving around the two boys with agility that would put a prima ballerina to shame. My movements were fluid and sinuous as silk as I sidestepped Bakugo's wild attacks and countered with playful swipes of my claws - not meant to harm but to tease and tantalize.
"Hey, what gives?" Bakugo shouted again, his face red-hot with frustration as he stumbled backward from our little dance-off.
But I just smiled sweetly as Izuku approached us from above like an avenging angel on wings of justice - or in this case, on wings of pure awesomeness fueled by One For All's power coursing through his veins. Our eyes met for a brief moment as he soared above us on thermals of wind created by our battle royale below - mine sparkling like amethysts in sunlight while Izuku's shone bright blue like sapphires afire.
And then...I purred contentedly as I continued to weave around Bakugo and Todoroki like they were mere playthings for me to bat around at will - which they were!
"Let me go, you useless reptile!" Bakugo shouted and blasted at my head as it came into view, his words dripping with venom and frustration. I closed my eyes, feeling the air ripple with the force of his attack, but I didn't flinch. Instead, I chuffed at him, a low rumble that sent a gentle vibration through the air.
"Not very nice, little one," I purred, my voice like honey dripping from a spoon as I opened my eyes to gaze at him. Bakugo's face blushed bright red with rage and embarrassment as he realized he was no match for me in this form. I knew that in this state, I was undeniably powerful - my true self unleashed and unbridled.
My voice was the only thing about me that remained secure, a constant amidst the chaos of battle. It was a voice that could charm the birds from the trees or shatter glass with its intensity. Right now, it was a soothing melody that wrapped itself around Bakugo's anger, calming him despite himself.
As our eyes locked, I could see the struggle within him - his desire to break free from my grasp warring with his growing awareness of his own limitations. His pupils constricted to pinpricks as he tried to focus on anything but my mesmerizing gaze. My purple irises seemed to expand, filling his vision like a dark star exploding in slow motion.
I held him suspended in mid-air, my claws curled around him like gentle parentheses as I savored the moment. The world around us melted away, leaving only us two - predator and prey locked in a silent understanding. In this instant, Bakugo knew he was mine to toy with as I pleased...and he hated every minute of it.
Todoroki lifted his arm, and ice began to grow in a shimmering, crystalline lattice that threatened to encase me. I chuffed at him, a low, husky sound that sent a ripple of amusement through the air as I circled around them like a siren luring sailors to their doom. "Ice won't do you any good, little candy cane," I said, my voice dripping with sugary sweetness as I smirked warmly.
With a flicker of my gaze, I turned off the Kaiju form, shedding my monstrous scales like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. My clothes reformed around me in an instant, fitting snugly against my curves like a second skin. The fabric seemed to shimmer and rustle with an inner light, as if infused with the essence of moonbeams and starlight.
Present Mic's voice stuttered from the stands, trailing off in stunned silence as he struggled to process the sudden transformation. "O-oh!" he finally managed to stammer out, his words hanging in the air like confetti suspended in mid-air. "W-well...that's...uhh...something!" The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their faces aglow with wonder and excitement.
I struck a pose, one hand on my hip and the other holding an imaginary microphone as if ready to belt out a show-stopping number. My hair cascaded down my back like a waterfall of night, each strand seeming to shimmer with an inner light that drew all eyes towards me. My smile was radiant, bright enough to guide ships safely into harbor on a stormy night.
Bakugo's eyes narrowed into slits as he took in my new form, his face twisted into a scowl that only made him look more adorable. Todoroki's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he snapped back to attention, his eyes flashing with determination as he prepared for our next move.
The air was electric with tension and anticipation - what would I do next? Would I unleash another devastating attack or perhaps treat them to an impromptu dance routine? The possibilities were endless when it came to me...
I turned to the two boys, Izuku's eyes already gleaming with determination as he prepared to take the first place winner's spot. I just knew it - I just had to keep these two occupied for a little while longer. "Come on, you two," I beckoned, waving a hand and smirking, my sharp teeth glinting in the light like diamonds. "I'm on equal playing ground with you two now. Come at me."
Bakugo shuffled forward, laughing to himself as he drew his arm back, building up momentum for a devastating blast. Then, with a fierce cry, he unleashed a torrent of flames that would have incinerated any ordinary opponent. My hair flew backward as if blown by a hurricane, but somehow I remained standing, my eyes fixed on Bakugo like a predator sizing up its prey.
The only thing that shielded me from the blast was an invisible aura that shimmered around me like a heat haze on a summer day. The flames crackled and danced over me, casting flickering shadows on the ground as they died down. When they finally dissipated, Bakugo blinked in stunned silence.
"Huh?!" he burst out, his face slack with shock.
"Oh look at that! Tazura are fireproof!" Present Mic shouted from the stands, his voice booming through the arena like thunder.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause once more, their faces aglow with excitement and wonder. Izuku's eyes narrowed into slits as he analyzed my abilities, his mind racing with strategies to take me down. Todoroki's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded to himself, his determination renewed.
I smiled sweetly at Bakugo, my lips curving upward like a crescent moon. "You should've known better than to try fire against someone who's been kissed by the sun," I purred, my voice dripping with amusement.¨
I looked over at the scoreboard and saw that indeed, Izuku had taken first place. The people in the stands erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement, and I saw Bakugo's face fall for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. Todoroki's expression remained stoic, but I caught a flicker of determination in his misty eyes. I smirked, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me.
"Sorry, boys," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "I would've aided your win, too, if you had just been what I was looking for." I walked forward between the two of them and gently grabbed Todoroki's cheek, turning his head toward me. My thumb traced the curve of his bottom lip as I gazed into his eyes. "Someday, you will win," I whispered, my breath caressing his skin.
I turned to Bakugo next, my smile still playing on my lips. "And someday, you will see what you're really good at." With that, I walked away from them, leaving them standing there like buzzing bees - wanting to either sting or bend to my will.
I made my way over to where Izuku was lying on his back, his chest heaving with exhaustion. I smiled and bowed down to his level, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him up into a sitting position. He yelped in surprise as I cradled him in my arms, holding him close as if he were a precious treasure.
"Well done, my star," I whispered into his ear, my voice full of warmth and pride. "I knew you could do it." Izuku's eyes sparkled with happiness as he nestled deeper into my embrace, basking in the praise and adoration.
The crowd continued to cheer around us, their applause washing over us like a wave of approval. But in that moment, it was just Izuku and me - lost in our own little world of triumph and celebration.
I gently set Izuku down, his eyes still shining with excitement, and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Now come on, we can rest," I said, my voice soft and soothing. I took his hand in mine, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me as our fingers intertwined.
As we walked away from the battlefield, I was acutely aware of the multitude of glares on our backs. The other students' eyes seemed to bore into us like hot coals, their jealousy and resentment palpable in the air. But I didn't let it faze me. Instead, I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction.
Izuku's hand felt small but strong in mine, his fingers tightening around mine as if seeking reassurance. I squeezed his hand gently in response, my thumb tracing gentle circles on his palm. The tension in his body began to dissipate as we walked further away from the arena, replaced by a sense of relief and exhaustion.
We made our way through the winding corridors of U.A. High School, the sounds of murmured conversations and rustling uniforms fading into the background as we disappeared into the crowd. The sunlight streaming through the windows cast dappled shadows on our faces, illuminating our smiles as we basked in the glow of victory.
For now, at least, we could put aside our differences and simply enjoy this moment of triumph together.
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