Chapter 105: Lie and Thank You

CRACKLE

Just as the blue blur that was Iida shot toward Kaminari, Kaminari himself turned into a streak of golden light, dodging in a flash and circling around to get behind Iida.

"That speed…!" Iida's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Kaminari to keep up with him, especially since he had pushed his engines to their absolute limit, generating speed he could only maintain for a few seconds.

"Ten seconds… that's all I've got!"

WHOOSH

CRACKLE

BOOM!

The arena became a whirlwind of motion, with a blue light and a golden light darting around, colliding, separating, and then charging at each other again. It was as if they were performing a high-speed dance, each clash sparking with intensity. The audience was on the edge of their seats, transfixed by the display.

"Wooah! Did you see that?! Iida and Kaminari are going all out!" Present Mic shouted, his excitement amplified through his Quirk. "This might not have the flash of Todoroki's ice, but the sheer speed and energy here, this is what the sports festival is all about!"

The Class 1-A students were equally amazed. Kirishima's mouth hung open as he stared at the blurs of blue and gold streaking across the arena. "Iida's this strong? And Kaminari's speed—it's insane! He's way faster than I thought!"

"How is Kaminari moving like that?" Asui wondered, her round eyes wide with surprise.

Only those who'd faced Kaminari in the obstacle race—Todoroki, Midoriya, and Bakugo remained calm, each understanding just how much Kaminari was capable of.

"He's gotten stronger," Tetsutetsu muttered to himself, his fists clenched tightly. Watching Kaminari push Iida like this only fueled his own drive to improve. "I've gotta keep working harder if I want to fight alongside him one day!"

Meanwhile, Kaminari himself was impressed. Iida's fast, he thought, dodging another powerful kick. And he's got guts, too.

Iida wasn't just matching his speed. Every time their bodies clashed, Iida endured another painful electric shock, yet he never slowed down. His resilience was remarkable, each strike pushing him to his limits.

Realizing the depth of Iida's determination, Kaminari felt his own resolve sharpen. He's giving it everything he's got, Kaminari thought, respect flashing in his eyes. Then I owe him the same in return.

"Dance, Iida!" Kaminari's voice rang out, amplified through the speakers, catching the attention of everyone watching.

Iida's eyes narrowed, the adrenaline surging through him. "This… this is the last one… my final blow!" he shouted, feeling the last few seconds of his boost slipping away. Channeling every ounce of his strength into his right leg, he rocketed toward Kaminari, a fierce determination blazing in his gaze.

"Kaminari-kun! This is everything I have—to defeat you, to surpass you!"

Kaminari's smile was fierce as he prepared for the impact. He wasn't about to back down. "Alright, Iida!" he roared back. "Bring it on!"

With one last burst of speed, Iida and Kaminari collided at the center of the arena, golden lightning and blue flames exploding outward in a brilliant flash.

BOOM!

Their final clash sent a powerful shockwave rippling across the arena, both fighters caught in a deadlock for a moment, Kaminari's electrified elbow against Iida's powerful kick. But as Iida's engines sputtered and gave out, he lost momentum, the force of the clash sending him flying backward.

"Danger!" Vlad King, the Class B teacher on standby, sprang into action. Using his Quirk, he transformed his blood into a soft, protective barrier, catching Iida before he could crash into the arena wall.

The electric sparks clinging to Iida fizzled out as he lay unconscious on the blood curtain, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion.

Stepping forward, Midnight raised her arm. "Iida Tenya is unable to continue! Kaminari Denki wins and advances to the next round!"

There was a smattering of applause, but it was muted. Although the battle had been thrilling, many in the audience felt uneasy about Kaminari's approach, especially after he'd taunted Iida so openly.

What they didn't realize was that, thanks to this fight, Iida had left a lasting impression. Among the professional Heroes watching, several were already discussing the potential of scouting him.

Kaminari, breathing heavily, let the golden glow around him dissipate. His hair fell back into place as he glanced down at the unconscious Iida. A small smile played on his lips. "You did great… class rep."

With that, he turned his back on the audience and walked off into the corridor, disappearing from sight as the second match of the second round came to a close.

---

Above, Aizawa watched Kaminari with narrowed eyes. "That kid… he did all of this to help Iida stand out."

Beside him, Present Mic was puzzled. "Why put on such a show, though? Doesn't he care about his own reputation with the pros?"

Aizawa shrugged. "Kaminari's not your typical student. He's… thoughtful, in his own way."

Meanwhile, in the stands, Momo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. "Kaminari knew that if he defeated Iida easily, no one would notice him. But by pushing him like that, he made sure Iida had his moment."

The students around her looked at each other, their initial misgivings about Kaminari fading as they processed Momo's explanation. Even Mina, who had felt uncomfortable watching the match, began to soften. "I guess that does sound like something Kaminari would do."

"Yeah!" Kyoka added. "He's not the type to be mean just for the sake of it."

As the students murmured among themselves, their respect for Kaminari grew.

---

Back in the medical room, Iida slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the soreness that lingered in his muscles.

"Are you alright?" came a familiar voice.

Looking over, Iida saw Kaminari leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, watching him calmly.

"No hard feelings?" Kaminari asked, his tone casual.

Iida chuckled, though the movement hurt. "Not at all. Thank you… for giving me everything you had. I know you could've ended the match in the beginning if you wanted to."

Kaminari nodded, acknowledging the truth of Iida's words. He turned to leave, but as he reached the door, Iida called out once more.

"It's a lie, isn't it?" Iida's voice was quiet, tinged with a hint of self-awareness. "You still had strength left, didn't you?"

Kaminari paused, his back to Iida. After a moment, he responded, his voice softer, almost gentle. "No… I gave it everything I had."

With that, he walked out, letting the door click shut behind him.

Lying there, Iida stared at the ceiling for a long time before a small smile crept onto his face. He let out a tired laugh.

"Liar… but… thank you, Kaminari."

***

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