The enormous screens around the arena lit up, and Midnight's amplified voice rang out through the entire stadium.
"Alright, my beautiful little warriors!" She cracked her whip with a sharp snap that echoed through the stands. "You've survived the obstacle course and the cavalry battle, but now comes the moment to prove what you're worth as future heroes!"
The students, gathered in the center of the field, looked up at the screens with varying levels of excitement and nerves. Ren stood with his arms crossed, watching Midnight pace across the elevated platform with a predatory smile.
Here we go. Time to see who I'm fighting.
"The final event will be a ONE-ON-ONE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT!" Midnight threw her arms wide open. "Sixteen fighters! Eight matches! And only one will be able to claim victory!"
The crowd exploded into cheers as Present Mic's voice boomed from the announcer's booth.
"HEEEEY, EVERYBODY! LISTENNNNN! Are you ready for the MAIN EVENT?! Playtime's over! Say goodbye to your human shields and team strategies! There's nobody here to save you, just your own power! It's the moment of truth, where every one of you will show what you're really made of! SHOW US YOUR WORTH! PUT YOUR HANDS UP! YEEEEAAAAAHHH!"
Midnight's smile widened as she pointed up at the giant screens.
"Listen up, everyone! The system has decided your fate completely at random. No complaining if you draw a tough opponent! Facing the unexpected is what makes youth so fascinating."
She paused dramatically, passing her whip between her fingers.
"And now... let's finally see what matchups destiny has prepared for us."
The names started appearing rapidly on the screens, shuffling around before locking into place one by one.
INKO MIDORIYA VS. HANTA SERO
KYOKA JIRO VS. DENKI KAMINARI
SHOTO TODOROKI VS. TORU HAGAKURE
MEZO SHOJI VS. OCHAKO URARAKA
KATSUKI BAKUGO VS. TSUYU ASUI
EIJIRO KIRISHIMA VS. MOMO YAOYOROZU
TENYA IIDA VS. RIKIDO SATOU
REN HAYASHI VS. MINA ASHIDO
The stadium fell into a brief stunned silence before erupting into noise again. The students looked at each other, some celebrating their matchups while others looked clearly worried.
Ren stared at the screen.
Everyone from Class 1-A. In the original timeline there were students from other classes mixed in, but now it's just us. Did my presence really change things that much? Kinda a shame, I wanted to see if I'm immune to Shinso's mind control.
He looked over at his classmates to see their reactions. Todoroki kept his stoic expression, though his eyes stayed locked on Toru's name for a fraction of a second.
Bakugo exploded immediately.
"Why the hell didn't I get matched against the bald bastard?!" Bakugo roared, sparks popping between his fingers. "I wanted to wreck him first!"
"Bakugo-kun, please watch your language in front of the public," Iida demanded, moving one arm stiffly. "This event is being broadcast nationally and we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of U.A. students."
"Shut up, Four-Eyes! I don't give a damn about the broadcast!"
"Your disregard for basic standards of decorum is alarming!"
Ren listened to the exchange with a half-smile, though his attention drifted almost immediately toward Inko. The green-haired girl was frozen, eyes wide as she stared at her name on the screen. Her hands were trembling slightly at her sides, and even from a distance Ren could see the tension in her shoulders.
She's gotta face Sero in the first match with the whole country watching and the weight of All Might's legacy sinking into her shoulders. Definitely not easy.
Ren felt a pang of sympathy. That was a lot of pressure for anyone, especially someone who'd only had One For All for a few months.
His thoughts were interrupted by Toru, who appeared at his side with her uniform floating nervously.
"Ren-kun! We're fighting Mina and Todoroki!" Her voice sounded shaky. "I mean... I'm fighting Todoroki. That's... that's really bad, right?"
"You'll figure something out," Ren replied, though he wasn't entirely sure what strategy an invisible girl could use against someone capable of freezing an entire stadium. "Just don't let him box you in with ice walls."
"Easier said than done..."
Ren felt a knot in his stomach. Toru was his friend, basically his girlfriend at this point, and watching her get clobbered or hurt by someone like Shoto didn't sit well with him. On top of that, he was worried about how this fight would hit her confidence.
He took her invisible hand and squeezed it gently.
"I believe in you, Toru," he said quietly. "You made it this far among dozens of participants. If you win, that's amazing. If you lose, nobody can take away the fact that you reached the final phase. Just don't sit around waiting for Todoroki to set the pace. Move first and force him to react."
Toru stayed quiet for a moment, then her hand squeezed Ren's tighter.
"Okay. I'll do my best to scare him a little before he freezes me."
"That's the spirit."
"You just used a phrase that sounds like a P.E. teacher's pep talk."
"Don't ruin my heroic moment."
Ochako let out a small giggle nearby while Momo studied the screen with a thoughtful expression.
"My match against Kirishima-san is going to be tricky," Momo said. "His hardening reduces the effectiveness of most blunt weapons, though it doesn't entirely eliminate the tactical options."
"I'm sure you'll come up with something," Ren replied. "If anyone can turn a fight against an armored guy into an applied engineering lesson, it's you."
"I appreciate the confidence, Ren-san, though I'm a bit worried about your choice of words."
Ren opened his mouth to reply, but his attention drifted back to Toru's uniform.
Now that I'm looking properly... I almost forgot. They don't have cheerleader outfits.
In the original timeline, Kaminari and Mineta had tricked the girls into wearing cheerleader uniforms during the break. It had been one of the most iconic moments of the Sports Festival, and Ren had been secretly looking forward to seeing Momo, Toru, and the others in those outfits.
But apparently, his presence during lunch had shifted the flow of events enough that the prank never happened.
Although... I wonder if Momo would be willing to wear a cheerleader outfit during one of our cosplay sessions.
The mental image made him smile, and he had to shake his head to clear the thought before someone noticed his face.
You've got a tournament to win first. The Momo fantasies can wait until after you've beaten Mina.
Across the field, Inko was still staring at the screen with the same overwhelmed expression. Her breathing had quickened, and for a moment it looked like the pressure might crush her completely.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them, her gaze burned with determination. Her hands stopped trembling and curled into fists, with tiny green sparks flickering faintly across her knuckles.
All Might believed in me when I had nothing. When everyone said I couldn't be a hero without a Quirk. He gave me this power, and I'm gonna prove he was right to choose me.
She clenched her jaw with resolve as she turned toward the arena.
I'm gonna win.
The central platform rose from the ground with a deep rumble that made the stadium floor vibrate. Cementoss stood at the edge of the field, hands pressed against the dirt while enormous blocks of cement surged upward and locked into place.
CRAAACK! CRAAACK!
The structure took shape quickly: a wide rectangular arena raised about two meters above the grass. The surface was smooth, with no obstacles or terrain advantages. Just thirty meters of flat ground in every direction, marked off by precisely painted white lines.
Ren watched the construction from his spot in the waiting area, taking in how imposing the platform looked now that it was finished.
Enough room to maneuver, but not enough to run forever. The fights are gonna be brutal.
The crowd's energy had shifted from excited chatter to focused anticipation. Every eye in the stadium was glued to that concrete stage, knowing it was about to become the battlefield where futures would be decided.
Present Mic's voice cut through the tension.
"HEEEEY, EVERYBODY! LISTENNNNN UP! The stage is on fire and the gladiators are ready! This is the moment you've all been waiting for! LET'S START THE MAIN EVENT WITH OUR FIRST MATCH!"
The screens displayed promotional images of the two competitors.
"IN THE BLUE CORNER! The girl who defended those ten million points like a total beast against all odds! With a power that shakes the stadium and a will of iron! FROM CLASS 1-A... INKO MIDORIYAAAAA!"
Inko walked toward the platform with a steady stride, her festival uniform still a bit rumpled from the cavalry battle. The cameras zoomed in on her face as she climbed the stairs, capturing the resolve in her green eyes. The crowd roared in approval, and she forced herself to breathe normally despite the thousands of people watching her every move.
Don't think about the cameras. Just focus on the fight.
"AND IN THE RED CORNER! The man who's got everyone glued to their seats! The master of tape and tactical mobility! He's coming in ready to wrap up the victory and take it home in the blink of an eye! ALSO FROM CLASS 1-A... HANTA SEROOOOO!"
Sero jogged up the opposite stairs with a relaxed grin, waving to the crowd while stretching his arms over his head. His elbows flexed as he rolled his shoulders, and small strips of tape peeked out from the dispensers built into his joints.
He reached his starting position and looked across the arena at Inko, his grin widening.
Man, this is gonna get ugly. If she lands one of those crazy hits on me, I'm done in a second. But hey, power doesn't mean much if you don't have anyone to hit. I just gotta keep moving, keep the distance, and fill the ground with tape so the field is mine.
He cracked his knuckles, trying to shake the tension out of his shoulders.
Plan's simple: wrap her up, push her off the platform, and that's it. Let's see if I can get her out of here before those green lightning bolts start flying. Let's go.
Midnight stepped up onto the platform between them, her whip coiled in one hand as she dramatically pointed at both fighters.
"Standard tournament rules apply!" Her voice carried across the entire stadium without amplification. "Victory is achieved by knockout, surrender, or forcing your opponent out of bounds! The match ends when I say it ends!"
She looked at Inko, then at Sero, with a sharp smile.
"Now... show me what that energy of youth is made of. Are you ready?"
"Ready!" Sero shouted, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Inko nodded, already clenching her fists as faint green sparks began dancing across her skin.
"Ready."
Midnight raised her whip above her head, letting the tension build for one perfect instant while the stadium held its breath. Then she brought it down with a crack that sounded like thunder.
"BEGIN!"
WHOOSH!
Sero moved instantly, throwing his arms forward as strips of adhesive shot out from both elbows in rapid succession. The strips spread across the arena at incredible speed, zigzagging through the air in a coordinated pattern designed to trap Inko from multiple angles at once.
I gotta finish this fast before she figures out how to counter!
The tape closed in on Inko like a net, less than three meters away and tightening fast.
Inko's eyes tracked the attack, processing the trajectories in a fraction of a second. She planted her feet and channeled One For All into her legs, feeling the familiar burn of power coursing through her muscles.
Green lightning exploded around her thighs and calves, crackling with an energy that made the air vibrate.
Now!
Her legs tensed like springs. The stadium cameras zoomed in on her face, catching the exact moment her expression shifted from defensive to explosive.
BOOOOM!
The cement under her feet burst into fragments as she launched upward with a burst of speed that drew a collective gasp from the crowd. Sero's tape passed through where she'd been standing half a second earlier, slamming into each other and tangling in empty air.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Sero shouted, eyes wide.
Inko soared through the air in a perfect arc, green lightning still crackling around her body. She spun midair and landed five meters from Sero with an impact that cracked the cement under her feet.
"WHAT A START! UNBELIEVABLE! Did you see that, listeners?! Midoriya dodged the opening attack before he could even finish blinking! What reflexes! That's what I call getting into the rhythm of the fight from second one! YEEEEAAAAHHH!"
Sero instinctively backed up, firing more tape as he tried to create distance. Strips shot out in every direction, some aimed at Inko's feet, others at her arms, trying to limit her movement options.
Inko didn't stop. She activated One For All in one leg and launched herself forward, closing the distance in a blink. Green lightning left a glowing trail in the air as she weaved around the tape with sharp movements.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The tape passed within millimeters of her body as she kept advancing.
She's too close! I need space!
Sero planted both elbows into the ground and fired tape straight up toward the edge of the stadium roof, right where it opened up to expose the sky. The strips stuck to the metal structure, and he launched himself upward like a catapult, rising above Inko's immediate reach.
"There you go!" he shouted as he spun in the air and fired more tape downward, creating a net of adhesive that rained down on Inko from above.
Inko looked up, calculating the attack in a fraction of a second.
If I jump now, I'll get tangled. If I stay still, they'll catch me anyway.
Her eyes burned with determination.
Then I won't do either.
She channeled One For All into her right arm. Green lightning wrapped around her entire limb, from shoulder to knuckles, and her muscles tensed with contained power.
"HAAAAAH!"
BOOOOM!
Her fist struck the air directly toward the falling tape, and the impact of One For All generated a gust of wind so powerful it shredded the adhesive strips before they could touch her. Fragments went flying in every direction while the wind continued upward, slamming into Sero mid-flight.
"GAAAGH!"
Sero's body spun out of control through the air as he lost his grip on the tape. He tried to fire fresh strips to stabilize himself, but the force of the wind had completely thrown off his orientation.
He landed badly on the edge of the platform, rolling backward and barely stopping before falling out of bounds.
"BY A HAIR! OH MY GOD! Sero was THIS close to being OUT! He saved himself by mere millimeters, listeners! This is getting way more intense than any of us were expecting! WHAT TENSION!"
Sero struggled to his feet, breathing heavily as he stared at Inko from across the arena. Sweat ran down his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly.
I need to change my strategy. I can't keep attacking head-on.
Inko walked toward him with a steady stride, green sparks still dancing around her arms and legs.
"Sero-kun," she said clearly, her tone surprisingly calm despite the intensity of the fight. "I'm not gonna lose here. I'm sorry."
Sero smiled in spite of his desperate situation.
"Yeah, well, I'm not planning on giving up that easy either, Midoriya."
He raised both arms and started firing tape in every direction at once, creating a complex web that covered the entire arena. The strips crossed over each other, forming a three-dimensional spiderweb that filled the space between them.
If I can't catch her directly, then I'll make a field where every move tangles her up more.
The tape stuck to the floor, to the edges of the platform, even to other tape, creating a maze of adhesive that turned the arena into a labyrinth.
Inko stopped, looking at the trap forming around her.
If I move too fast, I'll get caught. But if I stay still, he'll catch me anyway.
Sero seized the moment of hesitation. He fired more tape toward Inko's feet, trying to pin her to the ground while she was distracted analyzing the situation.
The tape closed in on her ankles from multiple angles.
Inko reacted on instinct. She activated One For All in both legs and jumped straight up, completely ignoring the tape web Sero had built.
CRACKLE! FLASH!
Green lightning exploded with blinding intensity as she rose above the entire trap, her body turning into a green meteor rising toward the stadium sky.
The crowd roared in awe.
"WHAT A MOVE! WHAT?! What am I even watching, listeners?! Midoriya threw Sero's whole plan out the window and just jumped right over it like it was nothing! She skipped the subtleties and went straight to the point! That's the wildest, fastest solution I've seen in my entire career! CRAZY! YEEEEEAAAAHHH!"
In the stands, Bakugo watched with narrowed eyes.
"Tch. Damn extra... only knows how to show off."
Kirishima, sitting next to him, let out a small laugh without taking his eyes off the arena.
"Well, it worked out pretty great for her, don't you think? That was a really direct move."
"Shut up, Shitty Hair!"
Inko reached the peak of her jump, suspended in the air for one perfect instant while the cameras captured her silhouette against the stadium lights. Then gravity reclaimed her and she started falling straight toward where Sero stood.
Shit!
Sero fired tape toward the sides of the platform and threw himself out of the way just as Inko slammed into the floor with the force of a meteorite.
KRAKOOOOOM!
The cement exploded in every direction. Cracks spread out from the point of impact like lightning, and several chunks of debris went flying through the air. The shockwave rocked the entire platform and ripped gasps of surprise from the closest spectators.
When the dust started to settle, Inko stood in the middle of a two-meter crater, green lightning still crackling around her body. Her expression was fierce and focused, and her eyes were already searching for Sero through the rubble.
Sero was hanging from the edge of the platform, held up only by a strip of tape he'd stuck to the structure at the last second. He was breathing heavily as he tried to climb back into the arena.
I can't keep this up. Every one of her attacks is devastating, and I can barely dodge.
He climbed back onto the platform and got to his feet with difficulty. His uniform was covered in dust and he had several scratches on his arms, but his determination hadn't faded.
"I'm not done yet!" he shouted.
He fired a massive volley of tape straight at Inko, using almost all the adhesive he had left in one desperate attack. The strips spread out like an avalanche, covering Inko's entire field of vision as they closed in.
Inko didn't back down. Instead, she stepped forward and channeled One For All into her left arm this time.
Green lightning intensified into a blinding glow. Her muscles swelled with contained power, and her face tightened with the effort of holding so much energy in a single point.
"DETROIT..." she started to shout, her voice ringing across the entire stadium.
In the waiting area, Ren leaned forward.
Oh my god, she's gonna use her signature move. This is over.
"SMAAAAAASH!"
BOOOOOOOOM!
Inko's fist cut through the air with apocalyptic force. The shockwave generated by the punch was so powerful it ripped Sero's tape apart like paper, completely disintegrating the strips before they could touch her.
But the gust didn't stop there. It continued straight toward Sero, slamming into his chest with the force of a concentrated hurricane.
"AHHHHH!"
Sero's body went flying backward through the air, sailed over the edge of the platform, and dropped straight onto the grass outside the arena.
He lay on the ground for a moment, dazed and out of breath, while the crowd exploded into deafening cheers.
Midnight raised her whip immediately.
"SERO IS OUT OF BOUNDS! THE WINNER IS... INKO MIDORIYA!"
The stadium erupted. The cameras zoomed in on Inko, who stood in the middle of the crater with the green lightning finally fading from her body. She was breathing heavily and her face was flushed from the effort, but her eyes shone with triumph.
"YEEEEEES!" Present Mic shouted at the top of his lungs. "WHAT A WAY TO START THE TOURNAMENT! MIDORIYA SHOWED EXACTLY WHY SHE'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST COMPETITORS OF THIS GENERATION! THAT MOVE WAS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING!"
In the stands, All Might watched from his reserved seat with a proud smile on his face.
You did well, young Midoriya. You controlled your power without seriously hurting yourself, and you didn't let the pressure get to you.
Recovery Girl, seated beside him, shook her head.
"That young lady is far too reckless. A little more force and that boy ends up in my infirmary with more than just a few scratches."
All Might, keeping his imposing figure upright but speaking in a tone only she could hear, let out a small chuckle of pride.
"HA HA HA HA, but it wasn't like that, Shuzenji. Young Midoriya calculated exactly the amount of force needed to push him out of the arena without actually touching him. It was a very precise move. She knew exactly what she was doing."
Down on the field, Sero finally got to his feet with the help of one of the medical robots. His uniform was destroyed and he looked exhausted, but he was smiling as he looked toward Inko.
"That was an incredible fight, Midoriya!" he shouted, giving her a thumbs up. "I knew you were strong, but that was brutal!"
Inko stepped down from the platform and walked over to him, extending her hand.
"Thanks for the match, Sero-kun. Your tape almost caught me a few times."
Sero shook her hand firmly.
"That doesn't count when you're fighting someone who can shatter cement with her fists."
They both laughed, and the tension of the fight finally dissolved.
In the waiting area, Ren watched the scene with his arms crossed.
Inko is even stronger than I thought. If I end up facing her later on, I'm gonna need a completely different strategy.
Toru appeared at his side again.
"Ren-kun, that was amazing, wasn't it? Inko-san is really powerful."
"Yeah," Ren replied, not taking his eyes off Inko as she walked back toward the waiting area. "And she's barely starting to control that power."
Midnight was already back in the center of the arena, getting ready to announce the next match.
"Alright, my dear spectators!" Her voice echoed through the entire stadium. "That was just the APPETIZER! We've still got SEVEN more matches full of explosive action!"
The screens displayed the updated bracket, with Inko's name advancing to the next round.
"Get ready for the next fight! KYOKA JIRO VS. DENKI KAMINARI! Competitors, head to the arena!"
Jiro and Kaminari looked at each other from opposite sides of the waiting area. Jiro had a calm, almost bored expression, twirling one of her earphone jacks between her fingers. Kaminari, on the other hand, looked nervous and excited at the same time.
"Don't go short-circuiting on me before I can land a hit, Kaminari," Jiro said as she walked past him on the way to the arena.
"Hey, hey! I'm gonna give you the fight of your life!"
"Sure you will."
Inko arrived at the waiting area, and several of her classmates immediately surrounded her, congratulating her on the win. Ochako practically launched herself at her with an enthusiastic hug.
"Inko-san, you were amazing! That last hit was so strong!"
"Th-thanks, Uraraka-san," Inko replied, still a little out of breath. "But I almost lost when Sero made that whole tape net."
"Almost lost?" Momo appeared next to them with a smile. "You jumped right over it and took him out with a single hit."
Bakugo walked past the group with his hands in his pockets, side-eyeing Inko.
"Tch. Don't get too excited. That was barely the first round. When you have to face me, I'll show you what a real fight looks like."
Kirishima grabbed Bakugo's shoulder before he could continue.
"Come on, man. Let her enjoy her win in peace."
Ren watched the exchange from a distance, noting how Inko kept her composure despite Bakugo's provocation.
She's definitely changed since day one.
Midnight was already on the platform with Jiro and Kaminari positioned on opposite sides. The stadium fell silent again in anticipation as she raised her whip.
"Ready... BEGIN!"
CRACK!
Kaminari immediately fired an electric shock at Jiro, but she'd already moved, using her earphone jacks to launch herself to one side while throwing one of them at the ground near Kaminari.
BOOM!
The amplifier of her Quirk created a sound wave that shook the air and nearly knocked Kaminari onto his back.
Ren settled against the wall, getting ready to watch the rest of the matches.
The crowd roared again as Jiro dodged another electric blast and counterattacked with a sonic wave that made the entire platform vibrate.
The tournament had barely started, but it had already proven to be exactly as intense as everyone had expected.
********
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