Chapter 28: The Stakes are Raised

Toya, now awake from his slumber, stretched his arms and let out a contented sigh. "I'm glad today is the weekend," he muttered to himself, grateful for the opportunity to relax and recharge.

After freshening up with a quick shower, Toya made his way to the kitchen, where he found his mother, Rei, busy preparing food. "Ah, you finally woke up," she greeted him, her eyes briefly meeting his before she returned to her cooking.

Toya simply responded with a noncommittal "Hmm," as he helped himself to the food his mother had prepared for him.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Rei couldn't help but inquire about Toya's recent state of exhaustion. "What have you been doing, Toya? I've never seen you this tired before," she questioned, concern evident in her voice.

Toya, aware of his own actions, admitted, "I pushed myself a little too hard, and I got a bit carried away last night."

Rei's eyebrows furrowed slightly, seeking further clarification. "Really?" she probed, wanting to understand the reasons behind his exhaustion.

Toya nodded, affirming his previous statement. "Yes," he replied, keeping his response brief.

Rei, taking on her role as a caring mother, offered a gentle reminder. "If that's the case, next time, don't overexert yourself. You're still growing, and you need proper rest," she advised, her words filled with maternal concern.

Toya acknowledged his mother's advice with a simple "Understood"

After finishing his meal, Toya noticed Fuyumi approaching him. Sensing her concern, she asked hesitantly, "Are you mad at me, Onii-chan?"

Toya's expression softened as he reached out to pat Fuyumi's head. "No, I'm not mad," he reassured her gently. "But please, don't do that again, okay?"

Fuyumi nodded in understanding, her eyes reflecting her remorse. "Hmm," she murmured, acknowledging his request.

Toya, satisfied with their conversation, decided it was time to retreat to his room. He looked at Fuyumi and said, "I'm heading back to my room now. If you need anything, just call me, alright?"

Fuyumi saluted playfully, a small smile gracing her face. "I understand," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of sincerity and affection.

After settling into his room, Toya decided to engage in meditation, channeling his focus to gather as much energy as possible. Tonight's upcoming fight weighed heavily on his mind, and he knew he needed to be at his best.

However, his concentration was interrupted by a knock on his door, followed by Natsuo's voice. "Aniki, can I ask you a question about Quirks?" Natsuo inquired.

Toya opened his eyes, a smile forming on his face. "Sure, come in," he welcomed his younger brother.

Natsuo entered Toya's room and took a seat in front of him, eager to learn. He posed his question, "Toya, on the note you mentioned something about Quirk Awakening. What is that?"

Toya considered his response carefully before explaining, "In simple terms, it's the evolved version of your Quirk, a heightened manifestation of its power."

Natsuo's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, how do you unlock it then?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Toya's expression grew more serious as he responded, "It usually comes through experiencing a near-death situation, combined with the dedication and hard work of training."

Natsuo's brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, isn't that quite risky and potentially dangerous?" he voiced his concern.

Toya nodded, acknowledging the inherent risks. "Yes, it can be dangerous, but currently, we haven't found any other reliable methods. The key is to keep training and pushing your limits. Perhaps, through that process, you might unlock your Quirk Awakening."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Natsuo contemplated his brother's words. He then shifted the conversation, expressing his curiosity about the technique Toya had been developing in recent days. "Aniki, I've been wondering about the technique you've been working on. Can you tell me a little bit about it?"

Toya's smile turned mischievous as he replied, "It's a secret, something only I need to know for now."

Natsuo playfully persisted, hoping to glean some information. "Come on, can't you give me a hint or share a little detail?"

Toya remained firm in his decision. "No," he stated definitively, leaving Natsuo with a sense of intrigue and curiosity.

...

At 12 PM, Toya dressed in his suit and quietly left his room through the window, making his way towards the fighting arena. As he arrived, he observed a multitude of fighters getting ready to enter the battle royale. The stage itself appeared different this time, lacking the usual cage around it. Instead, a massive circular platform stood, surrounded by spikes made of a special metal.

Toya couldn't help but notice the absence of Ryuji, a familiar face he had grown accustomed to encountering in previous battles. This realization added an extra layer of anticipation and uncertainty to the upcoming fight.

The arena was devoid of an audience, as the matches were being broadcast to a separate location to prevent any bloodshed from reaching the spectators.

Toya scanned the area, spotting a few familiar faces among the crowd of fighters. However, he remained vigilant and prepared, knowing that many of his opponents possessed unknown and potentially dangerous Quirks. He mentally braced himself for the upcoming war that awaited him.

Unbeknownst to Toya, he had become the center of attention for many eyes in the arena. Lee, the enigmatic old man, had orchestrated a twist to the battle royale. He had secretly informed the other fighters that if they managed to kill or defeat Toya, they would receive a reward greater than the prize money itself. Lee's intention was to witness Toya's growth and push him to become even stronger, just as he had done with Ryuji.

As Toya stood amidst the sea of competitors, he remained unaware of the heightened interest and potential dangers that awaited him. His focus was solely on the battle ahead, determined to face any challenge that came his way.

In the VIP room, the butler couldn't help but express his concern to Lee, seeking his opinion on Toya Todoroki's chances of survival in the battle royale.

The butler's question prompted a response from Lee, who seemed unfazed by the potential outcome. "Probably not," Lee acknowledged nonchalantly. However, he added, "But if he does survive, I would be pleasantly surprised and even more excited. If he ends up dead, well, who cares? Stronger fighters mean more money."

Perplexed by Lee's response, the butler ventured to share additional information. "I thought you might want to know that your friend has sent his creation into the battle royale to test its strength," the butler revealed. "I'm not confident that all of our fighters will survive, especially when faced with something that possesses multiple Quirks."

Lee's expression twisted into a crazed smile as he responded, "I am well aware of that, which is precisely why I allowed it to enter the battle royale. Our audience thrives on bloodshed and carnage. Many of them have a penchant for the macabre, and their insatiable greed drives their desires."

With a sense of twisted enthusiasm, Lee continued, "This will undoubtedly increase our profits even further. The more blood spilled, the more our audience will revel in it."

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