25 Chapter 22: Sport's Festival Pt. 9 - Cut The Talk, And Just Die! Bakugou vs. Akutagawa

"IT'S THE SECOND MATCH OF THE SEMI-FINALS AND IT'S A MATCH YOU ALL MUST'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! I KNOW I HAVE, THESE KIDS ARE INSANE, some more than others, BUT LET'S GET ON WITH THE MATCH"

"WE'VE GOT OUR EXPLOSIVE CONTESTANT WITH THE MOUTH OF A BAD-TEMPERED PORTER, FROM THE HERO COURSE KATSUKIIIIIIIIIIIIII BAKUGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU!"

"OI, WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT ME!?", Bakugou raised his head to bark at the booth Present Mic and Aizawa were seated within after hearing the jab.

"VERSUS, HE'S BEEN BLITZING THROUGH OPPONENTS AND GIVING US ALL A BRILLIANT SHOW SO FAR, THE CLASS PRESIDENT FROM THE HERO COURSE RYUNOSUKEEEEE AKUTAGAWAAAAAAAAAAA"

Akutagawa walked up the steps leading to the stage with a blank face. He was deep in thought over a conversation that took place a few minutes before this match.

<<<<<Prior to the Match>>>>>

Akutagawa pushed open the door of the toilet as he came out, sighing as he adjusted the mask on his dripping face. His chest was feeling some discomfort from the earlier match with Tokoyami. It seems all the activity of today is bringing him close to his limit, but it shouldn't be a problem to carry on.

Turning to walk he didn't notice another figure coming around the corner before they smacked their foreheads together.

*CRACK*

"Ah..."

"Fuck! Watch where you're going you damn- oh. It's you, you bastard"

"Bakugou..?", Akutagawa rubbed his slightly red forehead as he winced from the pain. Shaking his head, he slightly bowed his head as he apologized. "Sorry, didn't see you there", he said as he prepared to walk away.

Before he could get far Bakugou called out to him.

"Hey, our match is coming up soon".

"Yes?"

"When we're out there, you better go all out. I don't want that bullshit charity work you're giving the rest of 'em. I want you to show that same power you showed during the USJ incident. If you give me anything less..."

Bakugou paused as he slowly turned around. His face came into view, the light shading it and giving his grin an even more ferocious feel. His pupils dilated and his eyes were bloodshot.

"I might just fucking kill ya!"

<<<<< Back to the Present >>>>>

"Bakugou, what you said earlier-"

"MATCH START"

Before Akutagawa could get another word out the match started and Bakugou took off with a massive explosion. There wasn't even time to register what was happening before Akutagawa felt heat approaching his face.

With panic on his face beneath the mask, he hurriedly tried to dodge while bringing his arm up, unsuccessful in his attempt but managing to shield his face with his arm.

Taking the full brunt force of Bakugou's explosion, he was flung out as he skidded on his feet that struggled to stay up. Bakugou continued his advance, this time sending a strong right hook that Akutagawa ducked down out of before stepping back and getting into the Eight Trigrams stance with his left foot forward and left palm up. His right arm hung behind him with its jacket sleeve torn away and now red and bleeding.

Quickly stepping in he thrust his arm outwards only for it to get pushed out of the way by Bakugou. He quickly sent a straight with his left that Akutagawa tanked with the shoulder of his right arm.

Using the force of the blow on his right shoulder he spun and formed a fist with his left, tapping Bakugou on the chin before following with a roundhouse aiming for his head.

Bakugou recovered fast, he's not a genius for nothing. He blocked the kick with his right arm before grabbing Akutagawa's leg in a fluid motion and thrusting his left arm to the side, flipping his palm outwards. Igniting it, the explosion rotated the two as Bakugou held Akutagawa and slammed him into the stage floor.

"Kahk!"

He gasped as his breath was knocked out of him. Bakugou demonstrating an excellent feat of strength lifted Akutagawa by his leg. Acting quickly he wrapped his left leg around the arm that Bakugou used to hold his other leg and twisted while gritting his teeth.

The audience slightly cringed as they heard an audible pop and crunch as Bakugou's arm was pulled out of its socket.

"AAAGH! Dammit!"

Cursing, Bakugou in a fit of anger ignited his right arm that was slowly releasing Akutagawa's leg. Akutagawa's eyes widened as panic set in and he tried pulling his leg away.

He just managed to free it but his leg was still close to the explosion. With a boom, he was whipped away as he crashed into the floor again. Bakugou himself was flung as he kneeled on the ground while grimacing.

Both glared at each other as they slowly rose from the floor. One's arm slightly burnt and bleeding while the other's dislocated and maybe fractured. The audience couldn't help but quieten down as they felt the atmosphere between the two youths.

Natsuko in the audience gripped Iwao's arm as her nails dug into his iron-like arm. She was biting her lip so hard it could bleed at any moment.

After a moment of glaring the two rushed at each other, Bakugou exploding forward and Akutagawa sprinting. As Bakugou stretched his claw-shaped hand out Akutagawa howled.

"Devoured Space!"

Using the short break from their battle Akutagawa had prepped Devoured Space to be used. Using the little time allowed by Devoured Space Akutagawa pointed with his uninjured arm.

"Rashomon: Agito!"

A howl tore through the air as a crimson beast materialized from Akutagawa's ragged jacket and closed down on Bakugou. As the jaws closed Bakugou flipped out his palms out before a blinding explosion emerged.

"STUN GRENADE!"

"AHK!"

Akutagawa covered his eyes as Rashomon was torn apart from the explosion. As he opened his eyes that streamed with tears he felt Bakugou's fist impact with his chin, sending his head whipping to the side before he got headbutted.

This sent him reeling back till Bakugou grabbed his collar and brought him forward. He could barely react before there was a boom and their position was covered in smoke, inhibiting the audience from seeing what the outcome was.

As the smoke slowly cleared, the audience could see Bakugou standing while panting as his arm hung beside him limply. His sweat dripped down his face as he stared forward at his opponent.

Akutagawa was kneeling on the ground with his head down. The audience couldn't see his face with his hair hanging over it. Slowly he rose his head and there were audible gasps.

His simple gas mask had been torn apart and hung in tatters from his neck and his shirt and jacket had been blown away, leaving a single sleeve on his uninjured arm, the bandages destroyed revealing minute scars barely noticeable, but the most shocking was his face.

His lips trembled as he coughed blood mixed with saliva. His eyes were half-closed. They were somewhat blurry as he made an effort to stand. Midnight looked ready to intervene, Cementoss palms already on the ground waiting to block the two off.

Akutagawa raised his arm and waved them off as he took a deep breath. Straightening his back with a crack he exhaled, his breath coming out raspy and bubbly from some blood stuck in his throat.

"Is that all? I asked for your all dammit"

Bakugou grunted as he grit his teeth. This wasn't half of what he showed when fighting at the USJ. What bullshit is this? That pathetic appearance, stop kidding around!

Akutagawa was silent as Bakugou stared at him. Everything was still before a soft laugh was heard. It was from Akutagawa.

"I can't believe this. Here I was...trying to explain myself but you just wouldn't listen. Well, I guess it was foolish of me to try and talk during a serious match, especially against an opponent...Haaaah....such as yourself...."

Akutagawa shook his head before his blurry eyes regained clarity and shone, burning with anger.

"CUT THE TALK, AND JUST DIE"

Bakugou screamed and faced his palms downwards before he went flying in the air with an explosion, boosting towards Akutagawa. He faced his palm outward, flinging his only working arm in different directions, and slowly started to spin, the explosions building his momentum before he became a tornado of destruction and rage.

Akutagawa grit his teeth and clenched his fists as he awaited Bakugou's approach, his legs shifting to brace for the impact.

"HOWITZER-!"

"RASHOMON-!"

"IMPAC-"

"GOKU MON AGITO!"

Bakugou's figure within the smoke was snatched out of the air by massive jaws that materialized, chomping down on him. The teeth were made blunt by Akutagawa but the strength of the jaws was still there, squeezing Bakugou's body as he screamed in pain and anger.

Akutagawa put his fists together and slammed downward in a hammering gesture, the jaws imitating his movement and slamming Bakugou into the stage. The tiles cracked as he gasped.

"Rashomon: Sawarabi!"

Bakugou was once again flung to the air by the blunt spikes at an incredible speed. Akutagawa's raspy and rough voice sent shivers down the audience's spine before he made his last move to close the match. He held up his clenched fists and screamed.

"RASHOMON: HIGANZAKURA!"

The spikes that stuck to Bakugou's back encased him. Before Akutagawa could finish him he suddenly felt his vision blur and a strange scent lingering in the air.

The exhaustion and pain of the previous and current match attributed to Midnight's quirk as he fell forward and smacked into the stage, his eyes half-lidded as he blurrily watched his Rashomon dissolve and Bakugou fall only to be caught by a platform made by Cementoss.

"The match is over. Before the intervention, Katsuki Bakugou was incapacitated. The winner is Ryunosuke Akutagawa!", Midnight announced before picking up Akutagawa's ragged form and carrying him off-stage to a stretcher along with Bakugou, sending them off to the Nurses Office.

The audience watched the two get wheeled off before speaking hurriedly.

"That was like a full-on deathmatch! What the hell!?"

"Those kids have got really destructive quirks, they tore apart the stage!"

"You're talking about the stage, did you see their condition!? They look half dead!"

They chattered excitedly with shock, awe, and worry about the fight while some pros thought about their potential. Aizawa sat beside Present Mic with his brows creased beneath his bandaged form. It wasn't apparent what his thoughts were.

"W-well, that sure was a turnout! THOSE KIDS HAVE GOT SOME REALLY OVERPOWERED QUIRKS RIGHT!?!? THE WINNER IS RYUNOSUKE AKUTAGAWA, HE'LL BE FACING SHOTO TODOROKI IN THE FINALS, if he can that is", Present Mic added to the announcement quietly.

Class 1-A sat in their seats with worried expressions on their faces, especially Mina and Kirishima, as they got up immediately after Akutagawa was wheeled off.

"Where are you two goin?"

"To see Ryu, duh!"

"T-then let's all go together, he is our Class President!", Momo chimed in and stood up to follow along with the rest. Midoriya also hurried along to check on Bakugou.

//////////////////////////

Maerdy Notes: I don't know im pretty sure some of yall might not like this outcome? I mean since the start of this novel Akutagawa has gotten pretty beat up even with a powerful ability like Rashomon but I mean, Bakugou is a genius. Im not hyping him up or anything, it is shown he has high potential, enhanced reflexes, strength and durability and a high IQ despite his anger issues. I could always just make him the living embodiment of roid rage but that feels wrong. I dont like the casual route of "Oh ive got a bigger quirkier dick than urs so suck this young master and be grateful". Besides, Bakugou has trained since early childhood as well. Also, abt the fight scenes, i enjoy writing hand-to-hand fights. I'll try to incorporate more quirk usage if it bothers you, just let me know.

On other news, ur cute author-chan has been to the doctor throughout this whole new year! AWESOME INNIT! It's mostly cuz i can't handle the sun too good so that fucks with me. I've also got a problem with my right eye so cant see too good through it. It's like watching smth in 4k but half the screen glitches into 144p. Idk weird comparison but anyways, also had to go to school like this so yeah, been a struggle. But I'm still doin my best ofc dattebayo.

On some other other news that isnt at all positive, jesus this whole author note is quite depressing, i got, idk how to say this since its kinda hmmmmm. Okay so I got touched in a sensitive area by someone without my consent and he also showed me his *AHEM*, so that had me a bit shook but yknow we move, we stay on the grind. Stay pushin 🅿. I came out safe. So yeah my year so far hasnt really been that fun. Thank you for your comments, reading them really got my mind off things and i apologize for delaying chapters and whatnot. Read a comment and someone said this is their favourite fanfic rn and that really warmed my heart. YOU'RE SO FUCKING CUTE ISTG. But yeah, i dont have any other news to tell you aside from that ig, sorry for rambling.

If there are any mistakes then its cuz im hopped up on pills rn so my vision is spinning, I'll definitely correct any I find after I can see straight.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have an amazing day, night, week, month, all that good shit cuties. Love you <3 headpats as usual pls and thx