The echoes of Souta's words hung heavy in the air around Team Shoto's ruined base. Shoto clenched his right fist, then slowly looked down at his left hand, a storm brewing behind his usual stoicism. Use everything...? Momo stood frozen for a beat, the adrenaline fading just enough for the terrifying implication of Souta's casual "If I didn't hold back..." to sink in. She had been reckless. She could have been... She shook her head, forcing the thought away, her resolve hardening anew. There was no time for fear, only for action. "Kaminari, help me secure this perimeter, now!"
In the stands, Toya finally managed to catch his breath between laughs, wiping tears from his eyes. "Oh man... he really said that? To both of them? Hahaha!" Fuyumi buried her face in her hands while Natsuo slid further down his seat.
Endeavor's expression remained a granite scowl, but the flicker in his eyes was undeniable – a complex mix of anger, perhaps pride, and definite calculation.
Nearby, Ryukyu strained to keep Mirko in her seat. The Rabbit Hero was practically vibrating, teeth bared in a predatory grin, eyes locked onto Souta's retreating blue-flamed figure with an intensity that bordered on possessive hunger. "What a brat..." Mirko growled, low and thrilled. "Gotta catch him later."
Souta, meanwhile, paid the reactions no mind. He zeroed in on Team Tetsutetsu, who were just recovering from their failed assault on Shoto's base. They saw the azure comet heading their way and barely had time to brace.
"He's coming! Steel up!" Tetsutetsu roared.
Souta didn't engage in a brawl. He shot past Tetsutetsu, trailing intense blue fire. He didn't melt the whole arm, just flashed superheated points on Tetsutetsu's joints, causing the metal to glow white-hot and seize up, forcing him to stumble. A precise blast of azure flame vaporized the detached body parts Setsuna Tokage sent his way, and a wave of heat forced Yosetsu Awase to abandon his attempt to weld Tetsutetsu free. Before they could fully recover, Souta zipped past their flag carrier, snatched their main flag with effortless grace, and was already ascending again.
"Points are points!" he called back nonchalantly, leaving them stunned and flag-less.
"HEY! BLUE FLAME BASTARD!" The enraged roar could only belong to one person. Bakugo, ignoring Kirishima's protests, was blasting towards Souta, propelled by furious explosions. "YOU DONE RUNNING?! FIGHT ME!"
Souta banked, looking back with a smirk. "Running? I thought we were playing tag, Sparky. And guess what?" He pointed a flaming finger at Bakugo. "You're it!" With another powerful burst of blue flame, Souta shot off towards the center of the arena.
"GET BACK HERE!" Bakugo roared, taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.
What followed was less a fight and more a masterful manipulation. Souta, easily outpacing Bakugo, led him on a wild chase. He spotted a chaotic three-way skirmish between teams from 1-B and 1-A fighting over a cluster of mini-flags. Souta swooped lower, drawing Bakugo's attention.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Bakugo screamed, launching a massive AP Shot.
Souta dodged fluidly, letting the concentrated blast slam into the middle of the unsuspecting skirmish, sending students scattering. While Bakugo descended like a blonde wrecking ball, shouting indiscriminate threats, Souta weaved through the chaos with surgical precision. A quick heat blast disoriented one flag carrier, allowing Souta to snatch it. He used Bakugo's wild explosions as cover to disable another student attempting to flee with two flags.
"Thanks for the lovely distraction!" Souta called out, already blasting away with three new mini-flags, leaving Bakugo surrounded by angry, disoriented opponents who now targeted him. Bakugo simply roared and started blasting them too.
Elsewhere, the intensity reached its peak. In another sector, Jurota Shishida of Class 1-B was showcasing his own brand of power. Hulked out in his beast form, fur bristling, muscles bulging, he ripped through a rival team's defense with sheer brute force. He roared, sending opponents flying with powerful swipes of his enlarged claws, grabbed their main flag, and tossed it back towards his teammates before charging towards another cluster of points, embodying relentless power. His individual score was rapidly climbing.
FINAL MINUTE!
The clock was merciless.
Shoto, wordlessly, was rebuilding sections of the ice wall, thicker this time, his expression unreadable. Momo and Kaminari worked frantically to reinforce the remaining defenses.
Team Iida executed one last, swift flag run, Midoriya and Iida moving in perfect sync while Uraraka and Shinso stood vigilant guard over their impressive collection.
Kirishima had finally managed to physically restrain Bakugo, dragging him back towards their base just as Mina and Honenuki repelled a final desperate probe.
At Souta's base, Shiozaki's vines were an impenetrable fortress, and Tokoyami's Dark Shadow patrolled the perimeter as Souta landed gracefully, depositing his sizable haul of flags – including Team Tetsutetsu's main flag – just as the final buzzer blared across the stadium.
BWAAAAAAAH!
"TIME'S UP! THE SECOND ROUND, FLAG FRENZY, IS OFFICIALLY OVER!" Present Mic announced, his voice filled with excitement.
Silence fell as the scores were tallied on the giant screen. Dust settled. Students caught their breath, some elated, some devastated.
Midnight took center stage again, whip tapping against her thigh. "Well, well, that was quite the explosive round, wasn't it? Now, for the results everyone's been waiting for!" The screen flickered, displaying the final team rankings.
"In fourth place, with a solid strategy and excellent teamwork... TEAM BAKUGO!" Bakugo scoffed, turning away, but Kirishima and Mina cheered, dragging Honenuki into a group hug.
"In third place, blasting their way through... TEAM IIDA!" Iida, Midoriya, Uraraka, and Shinso allowed themselves relieved smiles and fist bumps.
"In second place, holding strong despite adversity... TEAM SHOTO!" Shoto gave a curt nod, while Momo and Kaminari shared a look of exhausted relief.
"And in first place, playing the field and finishing strong... TEAM SOUTA!" Souta gave a lazy wave, while Shiozaki offered a serene smile, Shoji nodded stoically, and Tokoyami crossed his arms, Dark Shadow nodding beside him.
"These four teams will advance to the final stage!" Midnight declared. "HOWEVER! As you know, Reiko Yanagi of Team Shoto was unfortunately eliminated during the match. According to the rules, her spot in the final bracket, determined by individual points earned throughout this round... goes to one exceptional student who demonstrated incredible power and point acquisition!"
The screen shifted, highlighting individual scores below the top teams. A picture flashed up.
"Give it up for Class 1-B's Jurota Shishida!"
Down on the field, Shishida, now back in his human form though still imposing, straightened slightly, adjusting his glasses with a grunt that might have been satisfaction.
His classmates, Kendou among them, offered surprised but proud applause.
---
The cheers for the advancing teams and the surprise qualifier, Shishida, gradually subsided. The field cleared as medics attended to minor injuries and support staff began preparing the arena for the next stage. Dust settled, revealing the expectant faces in the crowd and the determined, exhausted, or thoughtful expressions of the sixteen students who remained in the running.
Midnight stepped forward again, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. The R-Rated Hero seemed to relish the drama and tension. "And with our advancing competitors decided," she announced, her voice echoing clearly, "it's time to reveal the event that will truly test their individual might! The final stage that generations of heroes have battled through... A one-on-one fighting tournament!"
A fresh wave of cheers erupted from the stands. This was the main event many had been waiting for – pure, unadulterated Quirk-on-Quirk combat.
"Let's see how our brave students will be matched up!" Midnight gestured dramatically towards the giant screen behind her. "Bring up the tournament bracket!"
The screen flickered, displaying the familiar structure of a tournament tree, populated with the faces of the sixteen finalists. The matchups for the first round were revealed:
U.A. Sports Festival - Final Round Tournament Bracket
Left Side:
Match 1: Souta Todoroki (Class 1-A) vs. Jurota Shishida (Class 1-B) Match 2: Fumikage Tokoyami (Class 1-A) vs. Mina Ashido (Class 1-A) Match 3: Eijiro Kirishima (Class 1-A) vs. Mezo Shoji (Class 1-A) Match 4: Katsuki Bakugo (Class 1-A) vs. Juzo Honenuki (Class 1-B)
Right Side:
Match 5: Shoto Todoroki (Class 1-A) vs. Ochaco Uraraka (Class 1-A) Match 6: Izuku Midoriya (Class 1-A) vs. Hitoshi Shinso (General Studies) Match 7: Tenya Iida (Class 1-A) vs. Momo Yaoyorozu (Class 1-A) Match 8: Denki Kaminari (Class 1-A) vs. Ibara Shiozaki (Class 1-B)
"OOH! LOOK AT THESE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS!" Present Mic roared over the speakers, unable to contain himself. "Right off the bat, first-place finisher Souta Todoroki takes on the powerhouse qualifier Shishida! We've got classmates facing off! And look – Midoriya versus the mysterious Shinso from General Studies! Plus, Kaminari's electricity against Shiozaki's vines! This is gonna be good!"
The finalists looked up at the screen, absorbing their fates. Souta met Shishida's intense gaze across the field with a confident smirk. Shishida merely adjusted his glasses.
Midoriya saw his opponent, Shinso, and felt a prickle of caution despite his knowledge – instinct was hard to overcome. Shinso offered a faint, unreadable smile.
Kaminari gulped dramatically looking at Shiozaki, while she clasped her hands, looking serene.
Shoto glanced at Uraraka, then his eyes flickered towards Midoriya further down the bracket.
Bakugo just glared at Honenuki's picture as if it had personally offended him.
"Now," Midnight continued, cutting through the commentary and the murmurs of the crowd. "Our finalists deserve a chance to catch their breath, recover their strength, and strategize for their upcoming duels! We will now take a one-hour lunch break! Grab some food, visit Recovery Girl if needed, and prepare yourselves! Because when we return, the final battles – the ones that could shape your futures – will begin! Don't you dare miss it!"
The roar of the crowd finally began to fade as the arena staff cleared the field and the sixteen finalists filtered back towards the designated waiting rooms and corridors. The hour-long break was a much-needed reprieve. Relief washed over some, while tension coiled tighter in others as they eyed their first-round opponents on the tournament bracket displayed on nearby monitors.
The air buzzed with nervous energy. Students clustered together, grabbing refreshments, rehydrating, and talking strategy. Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida huddled with Shinso, analyzing his Quirk and brainstorming potential counters, the camaraderie forged in the previous round evident. Kirishima was valiantly trying to channel Bakugo's explosive energy into productive planning, with limited success. Momo reviewed potential items she could create, while Kaminari nervously practiced small, controlled sparks. Shoto stood apart, contemplative, his gaze distant.
Souta grabbed a quick meal and found a relatively quiet corner in the hallway, leaning against the wall, wanting a moment away from the chatter. He closed his eyes, focusing on centering himself, letting the blue flames that still seemed to hum beneath his skin settle. He didn't get long. A familiar, oppressive heat preceded the figure stepping into his peripheral vision. Endeavor.
Souta didn't open his eyes. "Go away."
"Souta." The voice was low, gravelly, demanding attention. "Your display... impressive. The flames finally manifest."
Souta sighed, opening his eyes to fix Endeavor with an icy stare. "Get to the point. I don't have time for your critiques."
Endeavor ignored the dismissal, stepping closer. "What you did out there... challenging Shoto. That antagonism... continue it."
Souta's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Don't let him stagnate," Endeavor pressed on, his gaze intense. "He needs that friction, that push. He refuses to accept his full potential. Your role, now that you wield your flames, is clear. Force him to embrace his left side. Provoke him. Fight him. Do whatever it takes." A familiar obsession burned in Endeavor's eyes. "Only then can he fulfill his purpose... to surpass All Might."
A cold, dangerous amusement flickered in Souta's expression, quickly replaced by disgust. "My role?" he repeated, his voice dripping with scorn. "You think this is still your damn puppet show? You think I'm goading Shoto for your ambition? You learn nothing."
He pushed himself off the wall, facing Endeavor fully. "Stay out of Shoto's head. And stay the hell out of mine. He doesn't need me, and he certainly doesn't need you whispering poison in his ear."
"He needs strength—"
"He needs to be free!" Souta cut him off, his voice rising, the air shimmering slightly around him. "Something you've never allowed! You weren't there when it mattered, old man. Toya and Fuyumi were. They picked up the pieces you shattered. We owe you nothing. His power is his, and if he ever uses it, it will be on his own terms, not yours."
Souta turned to leave, the dismissal absolute. "You will never surpass All Might by climbing over the wreckage of your own children."
He took several steps down the corridor, then paused, his back rigid. He spoke without turning, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
"And never think... not for one second... that we will forget. Or forgive."
A flicker of orange lightning, almost too fast to see, danced around his form. He spun around, closing the distance in an instant, his hand reaching out. Not in anger, but with a chilling deliberation. He touched Endeavor's arm.
A wave of profound cold erupted outwards. Ice, thick and opaque, instantly encased Endeavor from the ground up, capturing his shocked expression, freezing the furious retort on his lips. The frost spread like a virulent disease across the floor, up the walls, plunging the immediate area into a sudden, frigid winter.
Souta retracted his hand, breath misting in the icy air. The blue flames around him seemed to dim, overshadowed by the sheer cold emanating from his touch and the frozen statue that was once his father. He didn't look back again, walking away down the now freezing hallway, leaving the monument to his pain and defiance standing silent and immobile.