Chapter : 56 Bravery

[3rd POV]

Sizzling sound could be heard in the silence. The audience held their breath because their brain could not focus on other things than the result of the clash.

The smoke slowly disperse, revealing a grinning Bakugo and a messed up Monoma who was way off the platform.

"Katsuki Bakugo is the winner!!!" Midnight declared the obvious and the crowd took that as a cue to absolutely went nuts.

*WAHHH!!!*

*BAKUGO!!*

*BAKUGO!!*

They chant his name like a holy mantra that worked wonders to widen the grin on Bakugo's face.

They were thrilled and they were very much riding on the high. In the current era, nothing more exciting could be found. Forget about other sports, forget about MMA, this was more exciting than all of them by a long shot.

Medic arrived and quickly took away Monoma carefully. Bakugo also waved at the crowd like the star he was before he also leave the arena.

He walked back to his seat where his classmates happily congratulated him. He just shrug them off with a smile and humbly said, "It was expected of me but thank you."

Especially Toru was on and on about how badass he was. "He was all 'DIE!!' but then you were unfazed and with a single attack you were like." She clumsily imitate his attacks and giggle sweetly.

"You were so hot." she finally said with a smile. Then she realised what she said and was instantly struck with embarassment.

She then turned to look at him but she saw him unresponsive. She tilt her head to the side in confusion when she saw him staring at her intently.

"Bakugo?" she gently touch his shoulder which caused him to came back to his sense.

He was flustered even though he did not show it. He was too infatuated at her happy little face that he was not concentrating on the talk.

His brain quickly recalled the last words he heard and clumsily put together a reply, "A-ah yes, oh. You could feel the heat of my attack from here?"

There was a pregnant silence before Toru's face morphed into a pretty smile and her eyes look at him like he was the cutest little thing ever,

"Sure." she said.

Leaving Bakugo confused, wondering if he should feel offended by how she looked at him and the amusement in her tone.

---__---__---__---

[MC's POV]

The second match continued without a break, the following match was between Todoroki and Shiozaki.

Everyone was excited, I noticed, except for one brown haired girl. She was awfully quiet and I could guess why.

She would have to fight me in the coming match.

She chewed on her inner cheeks in obvious anxiety and would often steal a glance at me. I knew she was wondering how I feel about the situation.

But there was nothing much I can do except make sure to not seriously injure her.

..

The fighters climb up the platform and the fight was about to start. The crowd roared for the son of the No.2 hero, especially the girls were a bit bias for Todoroki.

The match started and we see another show of pure power. Much like his first match, Todoroki instantly froze a quarter of the stadium, ending the match then and there.

It was the same display but it does not feel mundane. I don't think a display of that level of power could ever get boring.

The crowds cheered like usual and Todoroki was announced the winner leaving the girl to cry, maybe due to shock? I did not know why.

But it seems that there are people who cared for her as Class B went down the arena to console her.

The crowd was then able to witness a wholesome display of friendship.

...

Next match was between Momo and Ida. Momo was extremely nervous about facing up against Ida but she tried to put up a strong front on the surface.

"You are...good." I told her before she left for the match. I thought out a lot of cool and inspiring lines in my head but that's all I could bring out.

But it seems it did something because the tension on her shoulders visibly relaxed and she smiled at me. "Thank you."

"Give your best Momo!!" Ochako and Toru bid her the best of luck as well.

The match started and she indeed did her best. She struggled in all the possible ways she can. From producing oil to spreading some kind of glue on the ground.

She did everything she could but she also did everything wrong.

Right from the start of the match, she was on the defensive, trying not to lose instead of trying to win.

So no matter how hard she fought, she could not win, and if you do not win, losing was inevitable.

So she did, she lost. She was fighting a losing battle from the start.

I got up to go to prepare for my match, Ochako had already went before me so I walk alone towards the waiting room.

"Stay safe." Toru had said to me before I go. Since Ochako and me were her friends, she did not know who to root for.

I smiled and took my leave.

While I was walking, I met Momo in the hallway. Her eye was a bit downcast and she seems to be in deep thought, only noticing me when I neared her.

She was covered with bandages on some parts of her body, as she walk with a small limp. When she saw me, she smiled at me with her eye closed.

She closed her eyes to hide it from me as her smile did not reach her eyes.

I stop when I was standing on her side, "You did good, but next time fight to win." saying my part I went on my way.

I could feel her gaze on me for a long time before she yelled, " Good luck!!"

Hmm. I don't need that but thank you.

---__---__---__---

[3rd POV]

The next fight was Kirishima vs Midoriya but Midoriya automatically won as Kirishima was still too injured to fight.

Which brings us to the the next match between Ochako and Bakugo.

The crowd was again excited to see Bakugo once again which was made evident by the cheers that welcomed him.

They both claimed up to the platform and face each other. Midnight again announced the rules before she starts the match with a swing of her whip.

"LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!"

Ochako wasted no time, she couldn't lest she thinks too much and hesitate.

She rushed at him, adrenaline was rushing in her veins, her mind feels numb she could only see her opponent. Everything else becomes blank, empty.

Bakugo stood there and his lips pressed into a thin line, from his face you can tell that he was not very fond of the situation.

But he did what he must do, he swing his arm forward a huge burst of explosion occured right at Ochako. It was an attack that should end this distasteful battle right away.

Dark smoke rise and there was silence before something push through the smoke from his right side.

He knew it was not her, it was a distraction but he turn towards it anyways. Then it revealed itself to be a cloth and not Ochako, just like he expected.

Then Ochako appeared behind him, he turned around and saw her determined eyes through the smoke. She touched him, and then gravity ignored him.

He became weightless and he felt himself being brought up from the ground. Catching him by the arm, Ochako did a Judo throw and flung him away.

He continued flying away and when he was out of the platform, he felt his weight return to him and gravity became a thing again.

He fell down but just before his feet touch the ground they produce an explosion that propelled him towards Ochako.

He quickly reach her space and Ochako narrowly jump away by making herself weightless.

*Boom!!*

The ground was modified as a huge crater revealed itself, showing her what would have been if she was even a little slower to dodge it.

Bakugo stood up slowly and started at her intently, daring her to attack again.

And she dared.

She rush at him again but before she was able to make contact an explosion pushed her back.

It hurts, her ears were ringing and she felt painful burns on her skin but she quickly got up and charge at him another time.

But the same happened, an explosion pushed her away again, beating her down. But she got up again, and this time she attacked to the side.

*boom*

She could not get through at all but she was persistent.

*boom*

But sometimes persistence breeds nothing but harm. Now her arms were burning and her bones were stinging with pain.

But she did it again, smoke rised and she used that to cover up all the derbis she had sent to the sky.

'More, just a little bit more'

...

The audience was in a state of erie silence, they did not cheer for Bakugo, they did not know why but seeing someone who was so much weaker yet so determined stopped them from cherring for him.

They look at the display of bravery by Ochako and was reminded again that strength alone was not what heroes are all about.

"She is fighting to win..." Momo muttered to herself as she look down at the fight.

She clench her first and her eyes hardened with newfound strength.

...

Bakugo saw through her plan, not only because he clearly see it now but also because of his cannon knowledge.

But he played along, allowing the girl to show him what she wanted him to see.

His palm snap and a familiar explosion erupted out, pushing her away further this time.

She sat there on the ground and clamps her hands together and connected all her fingers. Her eyes shining with a sense of accomplishment as they did so.

"Here!! Take this." She said and he looked up at the sky.

The audience also gasp at what greeted them. Many debris and rocks fall down on to the arena with no particular aim.

It was a stupid plan, a vain struggle. If this were real she would also get hurt from the falling rocks.

He aim one of his hand up and a giant beam of heat blew out like a river. A literal road of golden scorch materialize and fill up the sky.

*BoooooooooooooooooM*

He stayed like that for a while, until the rocks melted away but he did not stop, his attack increased in one octave and the ground cried in pain.

*BOOOOOOOM!!*

Cracks like spider web appeared on the platform and the shockwave that erupted made the hair and cloth of the audience flutter in their wake.

"One shot huh..." Ochako muttered to herself.

Maybe it's due to the ear splitting sound of the attack, but when he stopped, a heavy silence covered the whole stadium.

He turn his head down and look at the girl who was sitting tiredly on the ground. Her eyes showed helplessness and....fear.

That made him flinch a bit but he quickly regain composure and glared at her with his blood red eyes.

To the audience and to Ochako, he looked like a higher being, something they could never surpass. His red eyes spoke of how much more superior he was compared to everyone else.

But even under those eyes, Ochako did not stay down forever. Her eyes shook with unwillingness and stubborn pride.

She weakly got up. Shaking in exhaustion, fear and nervousness but she stood.

Bakugo could not help himself from smiling widely at her, acknowledging her.

Ochako breath in and out, this was a fight to prove that she was strong and that even though she may first wanted to be a hero due to money, she was equally determined now.

And it was also to prove herself to Bakugo, that she would not stay weak and grow stronger, be worthy...

Her quivering legs gained stone like strength and she slam both her hands on the ground.

Bakugo with his eyes clearly sees what happened, a thin layer of pink energy washed over the ground. Then the ground shake uncontrollably.

Huge boulder of stone float infront of Ochako, the ones that have been destroyed under the pressure of his previous attack.

Ochako sends six boulders toward him by pushing them as hard as she can. She hid behind the biggest stone and push it forward, using it as a shield.

Bakugo lowered himself and in the blink of an eye, sends six attacks that destroyed the incoming boulders, then he gathered his power on his mouth and roared.

*Kuuuugh*

*BOOM!!*

Like some kind of mythical creature, he breath out a beam of energy that knocks Ochako out and send her stumbling to the ground.

She laid there, unmoving.

...

...

"Bakugo won the match!!!"

The crowd did not cheer this time, they just clapped their hands in applause and respect.

Bakugo made his way towards her and pick her up in his arms.

"I'm sorry but you were amazing." he whispered before he picked her up and make his way towards the nurse room.

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