Chapter 24- Two Friends

"AND NOW-" Present Mic sniffles into the microphone, drying his eyes from the last match. Aizawa rolls his eyes, leaning into his own microphone.

"Izuku Midoriya of Class 1-A vs. Ochaco Uraraka of Class 1-A," he drones, stifling a yawn. The two step into the light, a determined look on both of their faces. "Begin."

Uraraka dives forward, keeping low to the ground as she does. She reaches for Midoriya, who easily dodges her obvious attack. He grabs her arm, careful to avoid her hand as he whips her around him. She manages to stay on her feet, skidding to a halt while facing her opponent. She runs at him again, knowing that she can't give him a moment's rest. He quickly flicks a finger, sending her flying across the arena. She comes to a stop, mere feet from the boundary.

"I really don't want to fight you!" Midoriya yells, sliding to a stop on the other side of the arena.

"You don't really have a choice!" Uraraka yells back, trying not to think about who her opponent is.

[I can't fight him, he's my best friend! Is this what Kirishima and Hairo had to go through?] She shakes her head, running forward once more, still low to the ground. Midoriya jumps over her, pushing off her back as if they were playing a game of leapfrog. This shoves Ochaco into the ground, knocking the air out of her lungs.

"You didn't let me finish," Midoriya grunts, facing his opponent while preparing a fighting stance. Uraraka gets to her feet, breathing heavily. "I don't want to fight you, but a friend once told me that going easy on you won't help either of us!" Midoriya charges, his arm pulled back as power flows through it.

[I can't hit her, that could kill her. I just have to immobilize her.]

He stops short of Uraraka, smashing his fist into the ground. The cement explodes with the impact, causing shock waves to ripple through the arena, reaching into the stadium.

"WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! WHAT IS THIS POWER?" Present Mic yells, suddenly cured of his sadness as wind pushes his hair back. Dust fills the air, making the arena impossible to see. "WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN THERE?" As the dust settles, the pair is revealed. Midoriya is clenching a now broken arm, unbeknownst of Uraraka floating above him.

"I won't let you win that easily, Deku!" She yells, dropping herself onto him. His knees buckle under the sudden weight, sending both teens tumbling to the ground. While Midoriya is struggling to his feet Uraraka touches a few rocks, sending them flying upward. Midoriya, being the observant child he is, takes notice and glances upward. His eyes widen when he sees the sheer amount of rocks floating above their heads.

"Woah, woah… Uraraka," Midoriya chuckles nervously, taking a step away from the girl. "Won't those hit you too? It's not like they're just over me…." Uraraka, her hands inches apart, glances up, realizing that the rocks are indeed above her head too.

"You know what they say!" She smiles, her mind racing.

[I have to win this, for my parents! This was my only plan; I can't back down now! I can do this!]

"YOLO!" She touches her fingers together, allowing the rocks to plummet to the earth. Midoriya, his eyes wide, lifts his unbroken arm, flicking upwards. The power surges out of his finger, demolishing the rocks and Uraraka's dreams. Uraraka watches as the rocks above her friend's head disappear. She falls on her knees, the inevitability of her defeat sinking in. She lifts her head to the sky, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. She never saw the stone flying right for her head.

"Uraraka!" Deku jumps up, adrenalin rushing through him as he pushes his way through the debris and to his friend. He lifts her upper body up, thankful to see her chest rising and falling slowly.

"Midoriya, is she okay?" Midnight speaks up, tapping her foot worriedly.

"Yeah, I think so." Midnight nods, motioning for Recovery Girl's robots to take the girl away.

"URARAKA IS IMMOBILIZED, MIDORIYA WINS!" The crowd mumbles to one another, watching as Midoriya follows alongside the unconscious Uraraka.

"Will she really be okay?" Recovery Girl rolls her eyes, stepping off the stool beside Uraraka's bed.

"Yes, would you stop asking already? She just bumped her head."

"Why is she still unconscious?"

"You of all people should know my quirk makes people tired. Now come here, I need to heal your arms."

"Huh? Oh, right!" Midoriya sits on the bed next to his friend, watching as his mangled arms morph back to normal. "That's so cool…" Recovery Girl smiles, placing two candies in Midoriya's hand.

"Eat up, you need your strength!" Midoriya nods, placing one candy on his tongue. He glances at Uraraka, placing the other candy on the table beside her.

"Get better," he whispers, sad that his friend was in pain because of him.

"I AM HERE!"

"Shh! The girl is sleeping!" Recovery Girl hisses, swatting at the muscular man. All Might whispers an apology, scratching the back of his head.

"All Might!" Midoriya jumps up, his mentor's sudden appearance startling him.

"Calm down, my boy! I just wanted to congratulate you! You did well!"

"Oh, thanks." Midoriya smiles sadly, staring down at Uraraka.

"She'll be fine. She fought well too!" Midoriya nods, tears forming in his eyes.

"Why did I have to be the one? I didn't want to fight her!" All Might sighs, wrapping an arm around his apprentice and gently pushing him onto the bed.

"The odds were against you, that's all." The pair sit in silence for a moment, watching as Uraraka stirs.

"Deku?"

"Uraraka!" Midoriya springs forward, crouching beside the girl. She smiles, glad to have her friend near. "Are you okay? How's your head?"

"I'm fine, Deku." He nods, the tears coming back to his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I-"

"Hey, don't cry. You did awesome!" Deku wipes his nose with the back of his hand, making eye contact with his friend.

"But you lost because of me." Uraraka forces a smile, doing her best to make it look genuine.

"So that means you have to win. For me, okay?"