Monoma, The True Side Character!

"Yes, I need Monoma, he's vital to my Zero Mortal Plan." - ???

_______________________________________________________________________________

Izuku was struggling, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he maintained One For All at 18%. His muscles screamed in protest, and every breath felt like fire in his chest. Across from him, Kendo eyed him carefully, her enlarged hands bruised but still strong. She could see the weariness in Izuku's movements and knew now was the time to strike.

Before Izuku could react, Kendo lifted her hands, and her expression hardened with resolve. Monoma, ever the opportunist, saw this as the signal. He grinned maniacally as he taunted Iida.

"I would love to keep playing, but alas..." He gestured with mock sorrow. "Time's running out!"

With a smirk, Monoma leaped from the hill into the shadows below, his form disappearing from sight.

Iida's sharp instincts kicked in, but the delay was enough for Monoma to make his next move. Suddenly, Tetsutetsu, with his Steel quirk activated, came crashing down from above. Ochaco narrowly dodged the impact, the force of the landing shaking the ground beneath them.

Iida watched as the Class 1-B students coordinated like clockwork. "Are they trying to eliminate us first?" he thought, analyzing the situation.

Suddenly, his shadow shifted, and Monoma sprang from within it. The cunning student had reappeared with a smirk, trying to deliver a surprise blow to Iida.

But Iida was ready. With a powerful roundhouse kick, he aimed straight at Monoma. However, Monoma, ever slippery, dove back into the shadow just in time, avoiding the strike.

Ochaco was still engaged in a high-speed dodge-fest with Tetsutetsu, his near-indestructible body making it difficult to land a hit. Meanwhile, Iida was stuck dealing with Monoma's hit-and-run tactics. Things were quickly unraveling, and the odds seemed to be tipping in Class 1-B's favor.

Meanwhile, Kendo finally found an opening in her fight against Izuku. She rushed forward with a shoulder check, slamming into him with brutal force and swinging him toward a shadow. Monoma, already in position, grabbed Izuku mid-air, using the momentum to kick him off the hill. As Izuku tumbled down, he landed near a darkened area, ripe for Monoma's shadow-based quirk.

Izuku winced, managing to block most of the damage as he rolled to his feet. But he found himself in a dangerous spot. He was surrounded by shadows, the perfect environment for Monoma's quirk. Izuku's mind raced as he tried to anticipate Monoma's next move.

"Is this the end?" he wondered, gritting his teeth. His body ached all over, and the toll of maintaining One For All at 18% was becoming too much. He couldn't afford to stay at this power level without risking permanent damage to his body. But if he lowered it, he wouldn't be fast enough to dodge Monoma's unpredictable attacks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Another shadow flickered, and Monoma popped out with a grin, delivering another rapid strike. Izuku barely managed to block, the force of the hit sending him staggering backward.

"Damn it, I can't keep this up," Izuku thought, dodging another bullet fired from Monoma's shadowy position. The bullets weren't lethal, but every hit would slow him down, and that's all Monoma needed.

It was a losing game. Monoma had the advantage of terrain, speed, and unpredictability, and Izuku was running out of options.

Suddenly, Izuku's mind flashed back to Kurokami's training advice. "You can't always rely on raw power, Midoriya. Sometimes you need to outsmart your opponent. Force them into a position where their strength doesn't matter."

"Outsmart him..." Izuku muttered, an idea forming in his mind. He couldn't fight Monoma on his terms. He had to change the game.

Taking a deep breath, Izuku lowered his power output, bringing One For All down to a manageable 8%. He relaxed his stance, making it look like he was slowing down, baiting Monoma to make his move.

As expected, Monoma grinned and emerged from a shadow directly behind Izuku, going for what he believed would be a knockout blow.

"Got you!" Monoma shouted.

But this time, Izuku was ready.

Just before Monoma could land his hit, Izuku spun around and unleashed a sudden burst of power, flicking his finger to create a shockwave that threw Monoma off balance.

"You're not the only one who can use hit-and-run tactics!" Izuku shouted as he lunged forward, landing a solid punch to Monoma's gut, sending him flying.

Monoma hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as the wind was knocked out of him.

Izuku didn't stop there. With One For All coursing through him, he rushed to regain control of the hill, standing tall as Kendo, Tetsutetsu, and Monoma regrouped, now on the defensive.

"This isn't over yet!" Izuku thought, his resolve burning brighter than ever. He wasn't just fighting for himself—he was fighting for his classmates, for everyone watching, and for the chance to prove that he could stand with the best.

Yeah, nah, I hate you like Gege hates Gojo.

Izuku groaned as the pain spread through his chest. Three rubber bullets had hit him hard, fired with precision by Monoma who now stood over him, looking smug and pleased with himself.

"Surprised, Midoriya?" Monoma sneered, lifting his shirt to reveal his steel abdomen. "I'm not just a sharpshooter. I copied Tetsutetsu's quirk! I can take a beating too!"

Izuku's mind raced, reeling from both the physical pain and the emotional blow of being outmaneuvered. Monoma was a tricky opponent, and Izuku knew he was nearing his limit. His control over One For All was slipping after the strain of using 18%, and his body wasn't holding up.

Meanwhile, Kendo, who had captured Ochaco in her giant hands, grinned as she glanced between her teammate Tetsutetsu and the upside-down Iida she had in her grasp. "Man, even the girls in your class are crazy strong!" she laughed, shaking her head. Ochaco squirmed, frustrated by the comment and her predicament.

Tetsutetsu agreed, chuckling as he helped secure the situation. "It's been one tough match after another, huh?"

Pony, who had recovered and rejoined the group, nodded and asked, "Should we take the hill now?"

Monoma, carrying the now nearly unconscious Izuku, smirked with a victorious gleam in his eyes. "To the victors go the spoils," he announced dramatically, clearly reveling in their apparent win.

But it was too soon to celebrate.

Iida, still held upside down by Kendo, took stock of the situation. His analytical mind worked quickly, seeing the complacency in their opponents. They were overconfident. And Iida? He was far from done.

As he focused, he felt the heat building in his engines. "Our Class President may act like a child in most situations..." he began, his voice calm yet determined, "but when it comes to understanding quirks, he is always spot on."

Before Kendo could react, Iida's leg engines ignited with a fiery blaze. The heat was too much for Kendo to handle, and she instinctively released her grip.

Iida dropped to the ground, and in one smooth motion, he planted himself in a runner's stance. The crowd around the arena could almost hear the roar of his engines as the air around him seemed to vibrate with energy.

"RECIPRO OVERDRIVE!"

With an explosive burst of speed, Iida vanished from sight, a blur of motion too fast for most to comprehend. In less than a second, he had closed the gap between himself and Monoma, whose smug expression faded as he barely had time to register the movement.

BAM!

Iida's elbow slammed into Monoma's stomach with full force, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

Tetsutetsu, who didn't even see Iida move, could only stare in shock. His eyes darted from the spot where Monoma had been standing to where he now lay crumpled on the ground. Iida, however, was far from done. But as he prepared to move again, his engines sputtered out, cooling down from the intensity of Recipro Overdrive. He had used too much power in that burst, and now his legs were temporarily useless.

Tetsutetsu took the opportunity and grabbed Iida, locking him in a vice grip with his steel body. "You're fast, Iida, but that's it for you!" Tetsutetsu said, relief washing over him. "I thought for a second we'd lose to another Class 1-A monster."

Kendo, still shaken from losing her grip on Iida, sighed in relief. "That was too close..." she muttered, but just as she began to relax, her eyes caught sight of something in the sky.

A figure slowly descended toward the battlefield, framed against the bright sunlight.

Ochaco, who was still trapped in Kendo's grip, immediately recognized who it was. She groaned in frustration. "Ugh, I really don't wanna be saved by this guy..."

Bakugo Katsuki.

His expression was nothing short of pure rage, a scowl etched deeply into his face as he stared down at the battlefield. His eyes locked onto Izuku, unconscious and in Monoma's grasp just moments ago.

"Deku... losing to extras... again?" Bakugo's voice dripped with venom. His fists clenched, explosions popping in his palms as he descended toward the battlefield.

Kendo, now fully on guard, widened her stance and prepared for the worst. But she wasn't fast enough. Bakugo rocketed toward her with blinding speed, the explosion from his gauntlets propelling him like a bullet.

"DIE!" was all he said as he slammed a point-blank explosion into Kendo, sending her flying backward. The force of the blast knocked her out instantly, her enlarged hands releasing Ochaco in the process.

Without missing a beat, Bakugo turned toward Tetsutetsu, who was still holding Iida. With a quick flick of his wrists, Bakugo raised both palms, creating a bright burst of light.

"FLASHBANG!"

The light blinded Tetsutetsu momentarily, and before he could react, Bakugo was already on him. "Die," he whispered, releasing a powerful explosion directly into Tetsutetsu's chest, knocking him out cold.

The battlefield fell silent as the dust settled. Bakugo stood alone among the fallen bodies of Class 1-B, his chest heaving with exertion but his expression calm and focused.

Pony Tsunotori, the last conscious member of her team, stood frozen, eyes wide in terror as she gazed at Bakugo's menacing form.

He glanced at her, then scoffed, turning away. "You're not worth my time," he muttered, dismissing her entirely as he moved toward Iida and the others.

Ochaco, still sore from her earlier battle, rubbed her wrists and shot Bakugo a glare. "You could've just... y'know, helped a little sooner."

Bakugo ignored her, his eyes focused on Izuku as he walked past the recovering Iida. "Deku better wake up soon," he muttered under his breath, his fists sparking with mini explosions. "I'm not done with him yet."

As Present Mic's voice boomed over the arena, announcing the victory of Class 1-A's team, the crowd erupted in cheers. Aizawa, still sipping his coffee, sighed in his usual bored tone. "Well, that was inevitable."

Present Mic, ever the enthusiast, added, "But what a show! Bakugo demolished the competition! Can anyone stand up to him?!"

Aizawa turned to him and shrugged. "There's still plenty of time for surprises."

...

As Bakugo finished his explanation about how Class 1-B had taken out most of their classmates, he made sure to emphasize that it was him, Todoroki (Icyhot), Kurokami (Dwarf), and Kirishima (Sh*tty Hair) who had to come to the rescue.

With a typical smirk and an air of superiority, he told them all not to slack off, before blasting off into the air with a powerful explosion, leaving the rest to deal with the aftermath.

Ochaco let out a sigh of relief, thankful she had somehow avoided being called "Kirby" again. She shook her head in amusement but was also visibly exhausted from the intense battle.

Izuku, who had been lying on the ground with his eyes shut, slowly opened one of them and stared at Bakugo's retreating figure. He clenched his fists slightly, murmuring to himself, "Still... not there yet." Even after all that, Izuku felt the growing gap between them and knew he had a long way to go before proving himself to Bakugo.

Iida, with his engines still cooling down, looked over at Pony, who was still awkwardly standing there after her team's defeat. "Pony Tsunotori, please take your teammates and return to the infirmary. I suggest you take this opportunity to recover and regroup for future matches."

Pony, still a bit shaken from Bakugo's overwhelming presence, nodded quickly, gathered her fallen teammates, and with an awkward wave, hurried off the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Shoto Todoroki was catching his breath, standing atop one of the golden hills. He could feel the strain of overusing his ice quirk too early in the match. His hand was shaking slightly from the cold creeping up his right side. "I need to pace myself better," he muttered under his breath.

Momo Yaoyorozu, who had been holding her hill with Mina Ashido, approached him. "Todoroki, thank you for helping us hold the line. We wouldn't have kept our hill without you."

Mina added with a playful wink, "Yeah, you were pretty cool out there!"

Todoroki simply nodded, his stoic expression betraying none of his exhaustion. "It's only natural to help my classmates," he said, avoiding any unnecessary praise.

As Bakugo landed nearby, scanning the surroundings for any remaining threats, his sharp eyes quickly took in the situation. No more enemies—just his extras standing around. Satisfied, he crossed his arms and yelled, "Hey, Icyhot, you're not tired already, are ya?"

Todoroki, unwilling to let Bakugo have any kind of edge, stared him down, his voice steady as ever. "I'll be fine." The competitive tension between them was palpable, even as Bakugo smirked and turned away.

Overhead, Present Mic's voice boomed across the stadium, the excitement in his tone mirroring the energy in the air. "AND THAT'S A WRAP! The 'King of the Hill' event has come to a thrilling conclusion!"

The massive crowd erupted in cheers, thrilled by the performances they had just witnessed. The contestants had shown exceptional skills, and the spectators couldn't wait for what came next.

Midnight, addressing the crowd, flashed a confident smile as she raised the microphone to her lips. "Congratulations to our top 16 competitors! You've proven yourselves worthy of advancing to the next stage!" Though she kept her enthusiasm up for the crowd, a part of her sighed internally—Class 1-A had dominated again, with over half of the finalists being from their class.

The screen above the stadium flickered to display the matchups for the finals, and the names drew collective gasps from the crowd as Midnight read them out.

Kurokami Tenshin vs. Hitoshi Shinso

Shoto Todoroki vs. Hanta Sero

Izuku Midoriya vs. Denki Kaminari

Ibara Shiozaki vs. Mei Hatsume

Tenya Iida vs. Mezo Shoji

Fumikage Tokoyami vs. Bakugo Katsuki

Eijiro Kirishima vs. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu

Momo Yaoyorozu vs. Ochaco Uraraka

The crowd murmured in excitement as the matchups were displayed. This was going to be a test of both skill and strategy, and everyone could sense that the best was yet to come.

Aizawa, though visibly exhausted, spoke up in his usual deadpan tone. "For the finals, we'll have a few recreational activities and some... fun times... or whatever." His monotone delivery drained the excitement from the words, but his statement was punctuated by a sip of coffee as he settled back into his chair.

Sensing the need to save the moment, Present Mic burst into enthusiastic commentary. "AND LET'S NOT FORGET! There's a special surprise waiting for our Top 3 winners! That's right, folks! A mystery prize that could change the game! So buckle up and get ready, 'cause this next round is going to be LIT!"

...

As Midnight finished announcing the matchups, the stadium buzzed with excitement, anticipation hanging in the air. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers for the finalists, though Class 1-A seemed to dominate most of the bracket, which wasn't much of a surprise to anyone.

Bakugo crossed his arms, a smug look plastered across his face as Present Mic hyped up the coming matches. He couldn't care less about the side activities or surprises for the winners. All he cared about was proving once and for all that he was the best—and that meant crushing his opponents, one by one.

As he flew back down to the Class 1-A section, he made his usual round of snarky comments.

"Oi, Icyhot, you better not wimp out in your match against Tape-Arms," he called to Todoroki, who was standing a little further away, arms crossed as he watched the bracket come together on the big screen.

Todoroki didn't flinch, giving only a calm, "I'll be fine. Focus on your match."

Bakugo smirked. "You better. Otherwise, you'll miss watching me crush that bird brain." His eyes flicked toward Tokoyami, his opponent in the first round.

Nearby, Iida, still resting after pushing his engines to the limit, raised his head and tried to regain composure. "I'll do better this time, Bakugo," he declared, though exhaustion weighed heavy on his voice. "As Vice President, I must ensure that I perform at my peak!"

Bakugo barely glanced at him, uninterested. "Just stay on the hill next time and don't get in my way," he grunted before flying off to cool down. He noticed Ochaco breathe a sigh of relief as he left, no doubt thankful that she'd avoided being called "Kirby" again. He had been hammering that nickname home lately.

Meanwhile, Izuku, though still feeling the aftereffects of his earlier battle, had one eye open, watching as Bakugo moved about.

Not there yet, Kacchan... but I will be, he thought to himself. Despite their fractured relationship, Izuku knew he needed to become stronger to close the gap and truly stand beside Bakugo as an equal.

As Midnight finished announcing the matchups, the stadium buzzed with excitement, anticipation hanging in the air. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers for the finalists, though Class 1-A seemed to dominate most of the bracket, which wasn't much of a surprise to anyone.

Bakugo crossed his arms, a smug look plastered across his face as Present Mic hyped up the coming matches. He couldn't care less about the side activities or surprises for the winners. All he cared about was proving once and for all that he was the best—and that meant crushing his opponents, one by one.

As he flew back down to the Class 1-A section, he made his usual round of snarky comments.

"Oi, Icyhot, you better not wimp out in your match against Tape-Arms," he called to Todoroki, who was standing a little further away, arms crossed as he watched the bracket come together on the big screen.

Todoroki didn't flinch, giving only a calm, "I'll be fine. Focus on your own match."

Bakugo smirked. "You better. Otherwise, you'll miss watching me crush that bird brain." His eyes flicked toward Tokoyami, his opponent in the first round.

Nearby, Iida, still resting after pushing his engines to the limit, raised his head and tried to regain composure. "I'll do better this time, Bakugo," he declared, though exhaustion weighed heavy on his voice. "As Vice President, I must ensure that I perform at my peak!"

Bakugo barely glanced at him, uninterested. "Just stay on the hill next time and don't get in my way," he grunted before flying off to cool down. He noticed Ochaco breathe a sigh of relief as he left, no doubt thankful that she'd avoided being called "Kirby" again. He had really been hammering that nickname home lately.

Meanwhile, Izuku, though still feeling the aftereffects of his earlier battle, had one eye open, watching as Bakugo moved about. Not there yet, Kacchan... but I will be, he thought to himself. Despite their fractured relationship, Izuku knew he needed to become stronger to close the gap and truly stand beside Bakugo as an equal.

With Bakugo gone, Pony awkwardly looked around at the aftermath of the battle. Iida, always the gentleman, asked if she could take her knocked-out teammates and leave, a gesture she gratefully accepted. She stumbled as she gathered them, feeling a little embarrassed at how the match had turned out, but thankful for the gesture nonetheless.

Across the field, Shoto Todoroki took a deep breath, feeling the toll of overusing his quirk. "I need to pace myself better," he muttered quietly. While his raw power was undeniable, he realized that relying too heavily on it this early in the festival would leave him vulnerable in later rounds.

Mina Ashido and Momo Yaoyorozu, both stationed on his hill, smiled and thanked him for his assistance. "Thanks for protecting us back there, Todoroki! That was super cool," Mina said with her usual upbeat energy.

Momo nodded in agreement. "Yes, you were a huge help in keeping this hill secure."

Todoroki simply nodded, his stoic expression unchanged. "It's only natural to protect your classmates," he replied, though internally, he was relieved to have performed well so far. He couldn't afford to fall short in front of everyone, especially not when so many eyes—including his father's—were on him.

As the announcements continued and the brackets lit up on the screen, Kuro, back from his run-in with Mei, scanned the list of matchups, humming to himself as he floated lazily just off the ground.

His first match was against Hitoshi Shinso, a name that didn't ring many bells. But Kuro wasn't too concerned. "Should be fun," he muttered to himself, excited for the challenge ahead.1

...

Back in the Class 1-A waiting area, the atmosphere was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and steely determination.

Izuku checked his wrist, feeling the weight of the cuffs that Kuro had made for him. They had been helpful so far in limiting the destructive output of One For All, but he wondered if they'd be enough in the finals. Denki Kaminari, his first opponent, might seem easy enough to deal with, but Izuku knew better than to underestimate anyone.

Ochaco, who would be facing Momo in the first round, took a deep breath, stealing glances at her friend from across the room. "It's gonna be tough going against her... She's smart, and she knows how to use her quirk well," she thought, trying to steel herself for the upcoming match.

Across the room, Kirishima cracked his knuckles in preparation. His opponent? Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu—his literal counterpart from Class 1-B. "This is gonna be manly as hell," Kirishima grinned, knowing their match would be a slugfest between two unbreakable forces.

Todoroki and Bakugo remained in their corners, each lost in thought but for very different reasons.

For Todoroki, the looming shadow of his father weighed heavily on his mind. He had to prove something here, not just to the crowd but to himself. Meanwhile, Bakugo's only thought was obliterating every opponent in his path. "I'll kill 'em all... and then I'll face Kuro in the finals. That's where it ends."

As the timer ticked down, the first two competitors—Kurokami Tenshin and Hitoshi Shinso—were called to the arena.

Stepping into the massive stadium, Kuro floated lazily in midair, still smiling with that carefree attitude of his, while Shinso walked in with a much more serious expression. The crowd hushed as they took their positions.

Shinso, whose quirk was still a mystery to many, looked up at Kuro and spoke calmly. "Do you think you'll win this match, Kurokami Tenshin?"

Kuro, his large eyes sparkling with mischief, tilted his head. "Huh? I dunno. I'm just here to have fun."

The first match of the Sports Festival finals had begun in the cement arena, crafted by Cementoss's quirk. The vast space was perfect for a variety of quirks, but right now, the tension between Hitoshi Shinso and Kurokami Tenshin was palpable.

Shinso stood with a quiet confidence, his eyes sharp as he observed Kuro floating mid-air, seemingly relaxed. Shinso, ever the strategist, tried again, his voice cutting through the silence.

"You think this is all just a game, don't you?" Shinso asked, his tone steady. "A game? Kinda-"

In an instant, Kuro stopped moving. His body, which had been effortlessly gliding through the air, froze. His large eyes, once sparkling with carefree enthusiasm, became unfocused. He hovered there, utterly still, as if he had been paused mid-thought. The crowd murmured in confusion, unsure of what had just happened.

Up in the stands, Izuku Midoriya, who had been watching the match closely, furrowed his brow. "Something's wrong," he muttered, leaning closer. "Kurokami just stopped moving."

Iida, ever the observer of rules and tactics, adjusted his glasses. "It happened after he responded to Shinso's question. There were no visible signs of a quirk activation—no hand movements, no energy, no physical contact. It's likely voice-activated."

Izuku nodded, deep in thought. "That's what I was thinking too. But if that's the case… can Kurokami break out of it?"

Bakugo, standing nearby, scowled at the conversation, not taking his eyes off the match. "Tch, that dwarf's not going to lose to some brainwashing freak. No way he's going down like this." He sounded more certain than worried, his trust in Kuro's strength unshakable.

Meanwhile, down in the arena, Shinso's plan was working perfectly. He had successfully pulled off his brainwashing quirk on Kuro, and now, Kurokami Tenshin stood there, completely under his control. The expression on Kuro's face was blank, his large eyes devoid of any life, staring forward like a puppet with its strings cut.

Shinso, feeling a wave of relief, approached confidently. "I didn't think this would be so easy," he muttered to himself. "One question, one answer, and even the great Class President is mine."2

He studied Kuro more closely now, taking in his expressionless features. Just like all his other victims, Kuro was completely still, unresponsive, as if he had slipped into a deep trance.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Kuro's face remained motionless, but his eyes... they began to well up with tears. Slowly, silently, tears streamed down his cheeks, falling freely to the ground below. It was an eerie sight.

His body was still, his face devoid of emotion, but the tears kept coming, as if some deep well of emotion was being tapped into while he remained locked inside his mind.

Shinso, usually composed, felt a twinge of discomfort at the sight. He had never seen one of his victims react like this. "Crying…?" he whispered under his breath, watching the steady flow of tears. For a moment, his guard dropped as he tried to understand what was happening.

His training in psychology had prepared him for many things, but this... this was strange. Kuro wasn't resisting in the usual way. This wasn't a physical fight, and there were no signs of an internal struggle, yet here he was, crying.3

Shinso's mind raced. "What kind of person cries in their sleep?" he thought, his analytical side kicking in. "It's a sign of deeply suppressed emotions, something buried so far inside that it only comes out when their mind is completely shut off…"

But Shinso wasn't here to be anyone's therapist. He was here to win.

"Whatever's going on in his head, it doesn't matter," he told himself, stepping closer to claim his victory. "I've got him. He's mine."

Oh, no, Shinso's about to win? Nah, PLOT!

As Shinso stood there, caught in Kurokami's intense gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine. The moment of silent tension was palpable. Kuro's eyes were no longer blank—something had clearly snapped back into place, but how?

Shinso thought quickly, noticing that Kuro's tears had fallen onto his own feet. Could physical contact with the real world have broken the brainwashing? Shinso cursed under his breath, realizing the subtle twist of fate that had allowed Kuro to break free.

Without fully understanding what had just happened, Kuro wiped his face and blinked, looking at the moisture in his hand. "Do you have a water quirk or something?" he asked, genuinely confused. He didn't seem to realize those tears were his own.

Shinso, who knew better than to explain, stayed silent. It didn't matter now. Kuro had broken free, and the match was back on.

"Hitoshi Shinso," Kuro began, his tone shifting, "you're the only General Course student to make it here, right?" There was an unexpected intensity in his voice. "Don't disappoint me."

He then adjusted his hero suit, the recently repaired "Divine Spirit V3," now flame-resistant, gleaming in the stadium's light. The crowd, sensing the change in atmosphere, grew quieter. Kuro stood ready, a determined smile on his face, his eyes sharp and full of energy.

Shinso, still processing the shift, furrowed his brow. "You think you're fighting me?" he asked, a hint of incredulity in his voice.

"Of course I am!" Kuro said with the same childish enthusiasm as before, almost bouncing in place as he prepared for the fight.

But Shinso, now clearly frustrated, waved it off. "Are you this stupid?" he muttered. "No, I'm giving up. There's no point. You're too strong."

Kuro blinked, seemingly caught off guard. "You're giving up? Just like that?" he asked, his tone turning a little more serious. "Don't you want to be a hero? Don't you want to prove you belong here?"

The question hit Shinso harder than any punch could. Of course he wanted to be a hero. More than anything, he wanted to prove that his brainwashing quirk didn't define him as a villain, that he too could save people. But he couldn't deny the truth. Kuro was leagues above him in power, skill, and experience. How could he ever win?

"I… can't beat you," Shinso muttered under his breath, fists clenched at his sides.

Kuro shook his head, smiling wide. "Then don't beat me. Fight me." His tone was simple, direct. "No quirks, no powers. Just fists." He cracked his knuckles, stepping into a stance. "Show me how much you want to be a hero, Mortal."

Shinso flinched at the last word, Mortal, a term Kuro used with that strange confidence, as if he truly believed he was something more. It irked him—but it also gave him something to focus on. If Kuro wanted a fight, he'd give him one. What was there to lose now?

"Fine," Shinso muttered, bracing himself. "But don't think I'm just going to roll over."

With that, Shinso charged at Kuro, his fists swinging with everything he had. To his surprise, Kuro met him head-on, not using his quirk to dodge or fly, but standing there, fists raised, meeting each blow. The hits came fast, but something was off. Kuro's punches… felt weaker than expected. Not in a way that implied he wasn't trying, but as if he was deliberately holding back.

Despite that, it became clear very quickly that Kuro was far more skilled. Each time Shinso threw a punch, Kuro dodged with minimal effort, occasionally blocking or redirecting the attack with a casual flick of his wrist. The difference in combat experience was staggering.

Up in the stands, Present Mic's voice boomed over the arena. "Well, folks! Looks like we've got a classic showdown here—Class 1-A's President, Kurokami Tenshin, is showing some real honor by engaging Shinso in a one-on-one fistfight! No quirks, just pure skill! Talk about a twist!"

Aizawa, less enthusiastic but still invested, added his own commentary. "It's a gamble. Kurokami is clearly stronger, but if he's holding back too much, he could very well lose. The stakes are higher than they look."

In the stands, Bakugo scoffed, arms crossed. "What an idiot," he muttered. "He's playing with him."

Izuku, still watching intently, felt his heart racing. "Kuro looks like he's not using his full strength," he noted, looking to Iida.

Iida, with a serious expression, nodded. "Indeed, he's testing Shinso, pushing him to his limits. But that's just the kind of person Kurokami is. He values fairness, even in a situation like this."

Todoroki, sitting further back, silently observed. "So, he's still the same," he thought to himself. "Always trying to level the playing field, no matter the odds."

Down in the arena, Shinso continued to push forward, his breath ragged, his body aching from the barrage of hits. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't land a solid blow on Kuro. And though Kuro's punches weren't as strong as they could be, they were enough to bruise, to wear him down bit by bit.

"Come on," Kuro said, still smiling, though now with a hint of encouragement. "I know you can hit harder than that."

Shinso, gritting his teeth, swung wildly, hoping to catch Kuro off guard. But it was no use. Kuro dodged again, his movements fluid and natural, like he was dancing around the blows rather than fighting them.

"Is that really all you've got?" Kuro asked, his tone almost teasing now. "You're not gonna get anywhere like that."

Something snapped inside Shinso. His frustration boiled over, and with a guttural scream, he launched himself at Kuro, fists flying in a desperate flurry of punches. Kuro blocked most of them, but one—just one—managed to slip through, landing squarely on Kuro's cheek.

The impact was enough to stop Kuro in his tracks. For a brief moment, the crowd gasped.

Kuro slowly turned back to face Shinso, a hand on his cheek where the punch had landed. His expression wasn't one of anger or shock, but rather, excitement.

"Magnificent," Kuro said his grin widening. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Shinso, breathing heavily, stepped back, his fist throbbing from the impact. "What… what is wrong with you?" he muttered, more to himself than to Kuro.

"Nothing at all!" Kuro responded cheerfully. "This is what being a hero is all about! Pushing past your limits, even when you think you can't."

Up in the stands, Bakugo sighed again, though this time it was less annoyed and more resigned. "He's not gonna lose," he muttered to Izuku. "No matter what, that idiot won't let himself lose."

Izuku nodded in agreement, feeling the same way. "He's always been like that," he thought. "Always pushing forward, no matter the odds...though I feel like I would have done the same..."

Todoroki watched the scene unfold, arms crossed. "It's not about winning for him," he realized. "It's about the fight itself."

Back in the arena, Shinso knew it was over. He had given everything he had, and though he had landed a solid punch, it wasn't enough. Kuro was still standing, barely even winded.

With a heavy sigh, Shinso lowered his fists. "I can't beat you," he admitted.

Kuro nodded, his expression softening. "Maybe not today. But that doesn't mean you won't be able to tomorrow." He extended a hand, offering Shinso a genuine smile. "Come on, let's finish this together."

Though hesitant at first, Shinso took Kuro's hand, accepting the gesture. The crowd erupted into applause, cheering for both fighters as the match officially ended.

____________________________________________________________________________-

[Auther: Hi.

1. My annoying supporter, Eufuzy.

I'll be sure to put other people here if I feel like this.

Matches:

Kurokami Tenshin vs. Hitoshi Shinso X

Shoto Todoroki vs. Hanta Sero

Izuku Midoriya vs. Denki Kaminari

Ibara Shiozaki vs. Mei Hatsume

Tenya Iida vs. Mezo Shoji

Fumikage Tokoyami vs. Bakugo Katsuki

Eijiro Kirishima vs. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu

Momo Yaoyorozu vs. Ochaco Uraraka

]