U.A Festival (Part 5)

...

Kaminari takes a deep breath and leans back in his chair, closing his eyes as he does so. The room is quiet, and he can hear his own heartbeat. He exhales slowly and tries to clear his mind, focusing on the task at hand.

He's been preparing for this moment for a long time, training every day to become stronger and faster. He knows he's ready for whatever comes his way, and he's not afraid to face it head-on.

Raio opens his eyes and takes another deep breath. He flexes his hands, feeling the power and energy coursing through his body. He's confident in his abilities, but he's also respectful of his opponent.

He knows that Todoroki is a formidable foe, with incredible strength and abilities. But Raio believes in himself, and he believes in his training. He's ready to give it his all and show everyone what he's capable of.

Raio smiles to himself, feeling relaxed and focused. He knows that the next few moments will be crucial, but he's ready to face them with determination and strength.

He was lost in thought when Todoroki entered the room. He stood up to greet him, feeling a mix of excitement and unease.

"Hey, Todoroki. Ready for the match?" Kaminari said, trying to break the ice.

Todoroki nodded, his expression stoic. "Yes, I am ready. And you?"

Kaminari took a deep breath. "I am, but I must admit, I am a bit nervous."

Todoroki raised an eyebrow. "Really? You don't seem like the type to get nervous."

Kaminari chuckled. "Well, I guess I'm not as cool as I thought."

He sat there for a moment, staring at Todoroki. He knew what it was like to be a product of an arranged marriage. His own parents were brought together for the sole purpose of creating a child with the right Quirk. It was a common practice among Quirk users, and it left a sour taste in Raio's mouth.

"I know what it's like," Raio said finally, breaking the silence. "To be a pawn in someone else's game."

Todoroki looked at him, his expression softening a little. "You too?"

Raio nodded. "My parents were brought together for the same reason as yours. They didn't love each other, but they had to have a child with the right Quirk. That child was me."

Todoroki seemed to understand, and there was a moment of silence between the two of them.

"I don't want to be like my father," Todoroki said finally. "I want to make my own path."

Raio nodded. "Me too."

They sat in silence for a few more moments before Todoroki got up to leave.

"Good luck," he said as he walked out the door.

Raio watched him go, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the other boy. He knew that their paths would cross again in the arena, but for now, they were just two boys from arranged marriages trying to make their own way in the world.

...

At the stands, class 1-A ponders about who's going to win the upcoming match. They chat excitedly amongst themselves, speculating about who will come out on top in the upcoming match between Kaminari and Todoroki.

"Man, this is gonna be intense," Kirishima says, leaning forward in his seat. "Both of these guys are seriously powerful."

"Yeah, but Todoroki's got that insane ice and fire quirk," Satou chimes in. "I don't know if Kaminari can handle that."

"But Kaminari's got lightning, right?" Sero interjects. "That's gotta give him an advantage somehow."

The conversation continues on like this, with each member of the class voicing their own opinions on the match-up. Some are rooting for Kaminari, others for Todoroki, but everyone agrees that this is going to be a tough fight. The anticipation in the air is palpable as the stadium buzzes with excitement.

As the anticipation for the match grows, Jirou and Yaoyorozu sit next to each other in the stands. Yaoyorozu fidgets with her fingers, looking down at the arena nervously.

Jirou notices her friend's anxiousness and pats her shoulder gently. "Hey, it'll be alright. Kaminari will do his best, and we'll be here to cheer him on."

Yaoyorozu nods, giving her a small smile. "Of course, you're right. I just can't help but feel a bit worried."

Jirou chuckles. "I know the feeling. But hey, you can always distract yourself by thinking about that moment earlier with Kaminari, right?"

Yaoyorozu blushes and glances away, feeling a little flustered. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Jirou laughs again, "Oh come on, I saw the way you were looking at him. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Yaoyorozu's blush deepens, and she glances back down at the arena, not wanting to continue the conversation. Jirou smirks knowingly, enjoying the teasing.

Jirou couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she teased Yaoyorozu about her moment with Kaminari earlier. Jirou found herself getting lost in her thoughts thinking back to the time Kaminari had a panic attack over his restraining collar being taken off. She remembered how scared he had been, and how she had stayed with him and talked him through it until he calmed down.

She quickly pushed those thoughts aside, however, and focused on cheering on her classmates in the upcoming match.

...

Midnight steps onto the stage and clears her throat, calling out the names of the two contestants.

"Next up, in the semi-finals, we have Todoroki Shoto and Kaminari Raio!" she announces, her voice echoing throughout the arena.

The crowd erupts in cheers, and the excitement in the air is palpable. Todoroki and Kaminari stand up, making their way to the stage, both looking determined to win.

As they enter the arena, the cheers grow louder, and Kaminari takes a deep breath to steady himself. He feels a mix of excitement and nervousness, knowing that this match will be a tough one.

Todoroki looks calm and collected, his expression unreadable. Kaminari can't help but feel a little intimidated by his opponent's stoic demeanor.

The two contestants stand across from each other, their eyes locked in a tense stare-down.

"Are you ready?! Set... START!" Midnight signals for the match to begin, and the two charge towards each other.

The match begins with Todoroki taking the initiative and launching a barrage of ice attacks at Kaminari. Kaminari quickly jumps to the side to dodge the first few attacks, but Todoroki continues to advance, with his ice attacks growing larger and more powerful.

Kaminari quickly realizes that he can't keep dodging forever, and he decides to make a move. With a burst of electricity, he charges forward, dodging another ice attack and landing a solid punch on Todoroki's stomach. Todoroki grunts in pain but quickly recovers, and grabs Kaminari's arm, which freezes almost immediately.

Todoroki's ice attack hits Kaminari's arm with a cold and sharp force. Kaminari's muscles tense up as the freezing sensation spreads throughout his arm, causing him to grit his teeth in pain. He tries to shake off the ice, but it's firmly attached to his arm, restricting his movements. He can feel the cold seeping into his bones, making his arm feel numb and heavy.

Kaminari looks at Todoroki with a mix of fear and determination, knowing he has to continue the fight despite the pain. He tries to focus on his breathing to calm himself down, but it's difficult with the pain pulsing through his arm. He flexes his fingers, hoping to regain some feeling and mobility, but the ice remains solid.

The crowd watches with bated breath, wondering if Kaminari will be able to recover from Todoroki's attack. Midnight stands ready to intervene if necessary, but for now, the match continues.

Todoroki's ice encases Kaminari more and more, threatening to completely encase him inside an ice coffin. Just when it seems like it's too late, Kaminari channels all the electricity in his body and unleashes a massive lightning blast that shatters the ice into a million pieces.

The electricity crackles around Kaminari's body as he pants heavily, his arm still throbbing with pain from being frozen. Todoroki looks surprised but quickly regains his composure, readying himself for the next round of attacks. The crowd erupts into cheers, impressed by Kaminari's power and determination. Midnight looks on in awe, amazed at the display of strength and skill from both competitors.

Kaminari, seeing that single attacks may not work, energizes his body and changes tactics: A barrage of light attacks, just enough to not seriously maim Todoroki.

Kaminari's lightning attacks hit Todoroki with great speed and accuracy, leaving him struggling to defend himself. Todoroki's ice shields are shattering one after another, leaving him vulnerable to the next incoming attack.

In a moment of desperation, Todoroki's instincts take over and he unleashes a burst of flame, surprising both Kaminari and the audience. The heat is intense and oppressive, causing many in the stands to shield their faces or look away.

Todoroki tried to shield himself with his ice, but it was clear that it was not enough to withstand the force of Kaminari's attacks. The crowd was on their feet, watching in awe as the two powerful contestants clashed. Suddenly, Todoroki unleashed a massive wave of fire, engulfing the area and momentarily blinding Kaminari.

As the flames cleared, Todoroki was standing there with a fierce look in his eyes, his body covered in ice on one side and burn marks on the other. Kaminari was panting heavily, his body smoking from the intense heat of the flames.

The two contestants stood there, catching their breath and sizing each other up, knowing that the next move could be the one that decides the match.

Kaminari's arm was still numb and cold from being frozen earlier, and he could feel the bruises forming on his body from Todoroki's attacks. However, the adrenaline was keeping him going, and he was determined to win this fight. He knew he had to be careful not to overdo it with his electricity, or risk short-circuiting himself.

Todoroki was feeling the effects of Kaminari's powerful electrical attacks, with his muscles twitching involuntarily from the shocks. His ice attacks had proven ineffective against Kaminari's lightning, and he had resorted to using his flames out of desperation. He was torn between wanting to win the match and not wanting to lose control of his emotions.

As Kaminari darts around, he feels a sudden shift in the footing beneath him, causing him to stumble slightly. He quickly recovers, but something catches his eye. He glances down, and a spark of recognition lights up in his mind. He grins to himself, knowing he has found the opening he needs to end this fight.

Kaminari was lost in thought, so focused on formulating a plan that he didn't notice Todoroki's move. Suddenly, Todoroki attacked with a swift strike of his ice, piercing Kaminari's side. Kaminari let out a cry of pain and stumbled back, clutching his wound.

"Dropping your guard is a mistake," Todoroki said coldly, watching Kaminari writhe in pain.

Jirou's eyes widen as she sees Todoroki's ice pierce through Kaminari's body, fear evident in her expression. She clutches her hands together tightly, hoping that Kaminari is okay. The rest of the audience watches in awe as Todoroki's attack lands, some of them believing that the match is over and Todoroki has won.

Kaminari gritted his teeth as Todoroki's ice pierced his shoulder. He stumbled back, barely managing to stay on his feet. He knew he had to act fast before Todoroki could launch another attack.

Kaminari grinned, his plan finally coming together. "You know, Todoroki," he said, "dropping your guard was a mistake."

Todoroki frowned, confused by Kaminari's sudden confidence. Before he could react, Kaminari slammed his fist into the ground, sending an electric shockwave through the arena.

Todoroki's eyes widened as he realized what was happening, but it was too late. The electricity traveled through the ground and surged up through his body, leaving him temporarily paralyzed.

Kaminari couldn't help but laugh as Todoroki stumbled to the ground. "Looks like I win this round," he said with a smirk.

As Todoroki stumbled and fell to the ground, he looked around in confusion, trying to figure out what had just happened. It was then that he noticed: He is laying at a puddle of water.

"What...what happened?" Todoroki demanded, trying to make sense of it all.

Kaminari walked over to him, still grinning. "The truth is, the game was rigged from the start," he said, relishing the look of confusion on Todoroki's face.

Todoroki's eyes snapped up to meet Kaminari's, but before he could say anything, Kaminari continued. "I noticed the water on the ground from the melted ice, and I knew I had to lure you into using your flames."

Todoroki's face twisted in realization as Kaminari's words sunk in. He had fallen right into Kaminari's trap. He had been lured into using his flames, and it had cost him the match.

Suddenly, Midnight's voice boomed over the speakers. "And with that electrifying performance, Kaminari secures his place in the finals!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, but Kaminari paid them no mind. He slowly made his way over to Todoroki, wincing in pain with every step.

Kaminari walked over to him. "Thanks for the match," he said, his voice slightly strained. "You're really strong, Todoroki."

Todoroki took his hand and stood up, still a bit unsteady. "You're... not bad yourself," he said, his eyes flickering with respect.

Kaminari took a step forward, electricity crackling around him, extending a hand to Todoroki. "It was fun."

Todoroki hesitated for a moment before taking Kaminari's hand. "Yeah," he said quietly. "It was."

The two competitors exchange nods, both silently acknowledging the intense battle that had just taken place. As they are helped out of the arena, the crowd continues to cheer and applaud their impressive display of strength and skill.

The Class 1-A students erupted into cheers and applause as Kaminari's victory was announced. They were all amazed by the skill and ingenuity that had been on display throughout the fight.

"Wow, that was incredible!" Uraraka exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I can't believe Kaminari pulled that off!"

"Yeah, he really surprised us all," Iida agreed, a look of awe on his face. "His plan was brilliant."

Bakugo snorted in annoyance. "What are you all so impressed by? It was just a stupid trick."

"Hey, it takes skill to pull off a trick like that," Kirishima retorted, punching Bakugo in the arm. "Kaminari really outdid himself this time."

"I can't believe it!" Mina exclaims, eyes wide with wonder. "Kaminari did it!"

Aizawa rubbing his eyes as if he can't quite believe what he's seen. "That was an incredible display of strategy and skill," he remarks. Principal Nezu and All Might exchange a knowing glance, both impressed by the display of strategic thinking and quick reflexes they just witnessed.

In the stands, other students and spectators alike are left stunned by the incredible battle. Some murmur in amazement, while others break out into spontaneous cheers and applause.

"Ladies and gentlemen, that was an absolutely stunning performance by both of our contestants today. But there can only be one winner, and I am pleased to announce that Kaminari from Class 1-A will be moving on to the finals!" Present Mic loudly says.

The cheers grow even louder as Kaminari steps forward to accept the applause, grinning from ear to ear with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

As the battle concluded, Endeavor watched with a fierce intensity from the sidelines. He had seen Todoroki pushed to his limits, forced to use his full power against an opponent he had previously underestimated. And despite the loss, Endeavor couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his son's growth and determination.

But as Kaminari emerged victorious, Endeavor's expression soured. He couldn't stand the thought of a "flashy" hero like Kaminari being hailed as the victor. In his mind, true strength came from grit and perseverance, not flashy powers.

As the crowd cheered and celebrated Kaminari's victory, Endeavor stood stoically in the background, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. He would have to train Todoroki harder, to ensure he would never be caught off guard like this again.

...