Chapter 21 - Izuku Vs. Uraraka

It had been thirty minutes since the side-games started. Izuku found himself wandering the halls of the contestant preparation center. He and Uraraka were slated to fight as soon as the side-games ended. The Cavalry battle had already pitted himself against one of his friends, and now he would have to face off against his best friend - in martial combat, no less.

Uraraka was strong, but she wasn't a fighter. Izuku already knew everything there is to know about her quirk. He had studied the quirks of all his classmates, but with Uraraka, it was different. There were no secrets between them, and she was the closest friend he had ever had.

And now, that friendship might be in jeopardy.

"Master Midoriya," came a voice behind him. Izuku recognized the voice instantly. He turned to see Alfred standing behind him, foam finger in hand, smiling.

"Alfred!" Izuku said. He had never been happier to see him.

"I have to say, you've been causing quite a stir among the veteran heros in attendance today," said Alfred. "Such is the burden of the bat, you might say." Alfred cocked his head. "Is something amiss, sir?"

"No, not at all!" Izuku lied.

"Izuku, in all my years in his employ, Master Bruce has never been able to keep the truth from me," said Alfred matter-of-factly. "What makes you think you will fare any differently?"

He had him there. "I don't know what to do," Izuku said. "I have to fight Uraraka."

"Ah, I see the quandary," said Alfred knowingly. "Miss Uraraka has performed quite admirably as well in these games. Perhaps she will pose to be more of a challenge than you anticipate."

Izuku looked at Alfred, puzzled. "Master Bruce has been a patron of UA for years, Master Midoriya," Alfred explained. "As such, I have had the distinct pleasure of handling most of the day-to-day aspects of that relationship, and I have seen a lot of students come through this course. There is a common theme among the students who succeed in the course, and those who fail."

"What's that?" Asked Izuku.

"The students who succeed don't always have lofty goals and admirable intentions," Said Alfred. Izuku immediately thought of Endeavor and his conversation with Todoroki. "What sets them apart from the others is their willingness to do what is necessary. The path of a hero isn't easy, and sometimes, it will put you at odds with those you would call your friends. And sometimes, failing to do what is necessary will only prolong the pain to come."

"I don't understand," said Izuku.

"If Miss Uraraka wasn't prepared to do what is necessary to succeed, she wouldn't have made it this far," said Alfred. "I'm sure she is just as conflicted as you, but knows that if she is to become a hero, than she knows that when a hero is called to battle, a hero answers, even if they know victory is slim."

That made sense to Izuku. It was easy to draw the line between hero and villain, but it wasn't always so black and white. Heroes often times found themselves on the other side of that line, as fighting those who were once their friends or allies, if that is where their mission took them. It was a difficult lesson, but a reality heroes had to face every day.

"Thank you, Alfred," said Izuku.

"The pleasure is mine, Master Midoriya," said Alfred. "Now, I must be back to watch the rest of the games. I believe you know where you need to be."

Izuku made his way to the preparation rooms. Uraraka should be in preparation room 2. He wanted to at least talk to her before the match started.

Izuku stood outside preparation room 2. He must have been standing there for at least two minutes, trying to muster up the courage to knock. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize Iida standing beside him and jumped when he finally noticed him.

"Are you all right, Midoriya?" Iida said. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's all right," said Izuku. "I was just distracted."

"I understand," said Iida. "You and Uraraka are close, aren't you?"

"Yeah," said Izuku. "She's the best."

"I can understand your predicament," Said Iida. "It wasn't an easy decision to fight against you in the Cavalry Battle." Iida went silent, looking away. Izuku understood. A part of him probably still felt guilty turning against Izuku in his time of need. Izuku put a hand on Iida's shoulder.

"It's ok," he said. "I understand."

Izuku turned back to the door, steeled himself, and knocked.

"Come in," came Uraraka's voice from inside.

"Uraraka," said Iida as he and Izuku entered the preparation room. She was sitting at a long folding table. It looked like she had been sitting there a while. "Deku," she added. Her expression was strange, a mix between happiness, excitement and fear. Izuku didn't quite know what to make of it.

"Hey, Uraraka," said Izuku awkwardly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm ok," she replied. Izuku could see right through her. Her hands had gone very white, as if she had been wringing them for a while, and she was trembling slightly. She must have caught on that Izuku wasn't buying it. "Ok, I'm a little nervous. A lot nervous." She added sheepishly.

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about," Iida offered. "I'm sure Midoriya won't use his full strength against you, right, Midoriya?"

"Er," Izuku said. A small battle waged inside his head. On one hand, Uraraka was his friend, and he would sooner disembowel himself before hurting her. On the other hand, Izuku was afraid that if he didn't go all out, Uraraka would be mad at him for patronizing her.

"Don't you dare," said Uraraka.

Izuku was taken aback. Uraraka had a look of fierce determination on her face. As she stared Izuku dead in the eyes, he couldn't help but feel an immense power hiding behind her bubbly and laid-back attitude.

"Don't you dare go easy on me, Deku," she continued. "You're wonderful. I see that over and over again, ever since you first came to my rescue back on that street. During the Cavalry battle I thought that it was a good idea to team up with friends. But now that I think about it, I might have been trying to rely on you to get by. That's why when Iida said that he was trying his best to beat you, I actually felt kind of embarrassed for myself."

Izuku never considered this. He was always looking up to Uraraka for her amazing abilities. He didn't realize that she was looking up to him as well. He was so used to being underestimated by others. He was told he was a useless nobody all his life by Kacchan. To be admired by both Iida and Uraraka was so new to him.

"Everyone is facing their futures and giving it their best," Uraraka said. "So that means we're all rivals, even you and me, Deku." She raised her shaky hand in a thumbs-up. "So I'll see you on the battlefield."

Izuku smiled. Uraraka really was amazing.

"It's time for the first battle of the finals!" Shouted Present Mic. "This promises to be an interesting matchup!"

Uraraka and Izuku's picture was thrown up on the jumbotron. As he made his way onto the field, Izuku saw Uraraka entering the stadium across from him. Her face was pale, but filled with the same determination she had from the room. They made their way to the center of the stadium, where a large fighting ring, surrounded by huge flaming torches. They stood on each side of the ring, facing each other.

"He's the hotshot upstart from way outta left field," Present Mic continued his commentary. "He's a wiz with the tech and has a penchant for explosions, and is the first quirkless student ever to be accepted into UA's hero course: Class 1-A's Izuku Midoriya!!" The crowd roared at his name. Izuku was too embarrassed to wave, simply looking ahead towards Uraraka.

"Verses, the one I'm personally rooting for," said Present Mic. "The Infinity Girl herself, Mistress of Gravity, also from Class 1-A, Ochaco Uraraka!"

Izuku dropped into his fighting stance. "Good luck, Uraraka."

Uraraka readied herself. "You too, Deku."

" Let the first match begin!"

Uraraka acted, immediately rushing Izuku. He was ready for her. All she had to do was touch him once. He had to maintain his distance. She ran at him, keeping low to the ground. She was going to swipe upward with her extended left and -

No, thought Izuku. No, she's not. It's a feint. She's going to attack with her right.

Just as he thought, when she reached him she launched her right hand forward, trying to catch him off guard. He deftly dodged her hand, grabbing it, used her built-up momentum to throw her over his shoulder. She tumbled and rolled back to her feet.

"Whoa!" Shouted Present Mic. "Midoriya has countered Uraraka's attack!"

Uraraka rallied quickly, rushing towards Izuku again. She began thrusting her hands towards Izuku trying to touch him. He continued to dodge and parry her attacks, making sure to avoid her fingers. "You've gotten a lot better, Uraraka," said Izuku between blows.

"Thanks, Deku," she said, smiling as she continued her attack. "I've been practicing!" Emphasising the last word, she threw a high kick directly at Izuku's head, who parried it, instinctively sweeping the foot she was standing on out from under her before she could retain her balance from the kick. She hit the ground hard, but rolled on her back and up to her feet.

She's really going all out, said Izuku, impressed. She really had gotten stronger.

Uraraka charged again. Izuku was ready for her. He leaped into the air above her. Uraraka craned her neck in surprise as she watched Izuku leap gracefully over her. Pivoting in midair, Izuku threw an explosive batarang at her feet, which exploded as soon as it made contact, throwing her forward.

She stood back up, brushing herself off. The blast had damaged the ring, debris and rubble strewn across it. Uraraka charged him again. Izuku threw a smoke pellet down at his feet, disappearing in the smoke as Uraraka rushed him.

"Midoriya is gone in a puff of smoke!" Said Present Mic. "His unique training has made him adept at disappearing, but how will it help him in an open arena?"

Uraraka ignored the smoke and pressed on, trying to grasp Izuku. Izuku couldn't see in the smokescreen without his mask, but he had grown adept at using his other senses to get his bearings. He could hear Uraraka's footsteps as they ran into the smoke. He had to be patient and wait for the right moment. He felt a small rush of wind against his side. She had brushed up against him.

Now!

He reached out and grabbed hold of something, but it was too light to be Uraraka. The smoke cleared, and he opened his eyes to reveal her gym uniform jacket.

He'd been suckered.

He dodged her hand as her fingernail barely scratched his cheek. He flipped into a back handspring, getting some distance between them, but not before he left her a parting gift. She balked as she heard a loud, beeping sound somewhere close to her. Very close. Looking down at the source was a small, flashing device attached to her hip. The explosion knocked her off her feet, sending her cascading towards the other side of the ring. She hit the ground hard and rolled a few times before finally coming to a stop, lying in the prone position on the ring. The crowd around them roared in protest, howls and boos ringing out across the stadium. "Hey, you big bully!" Shouted one of the pros, standing in protest. "What's the deal, using bombs on her?! If you're really so good stop toying with her and push her out of the ring already!" Several other heroes yelled in agreement.

"Whoa!" Said Present Mic. "The crowd is actually booing Midoriya! I can't say I totally blame them, using explosives on her like tha --" He suddenly yelled out in pain. "Hey, man, what the crap?!" He said indignantly.

"Where is the man who started this uproar," came Aizawa's sharp voice. "Are you a Pro? Because if you're being serious, you can go home and hang up your cape. I'd suggest looking into another career." The crowd went deathly silent. The hero in question looked completely flummoxed by Aizawa's words. "Midoriya's fierceness is an acknowledgment of his opponent's strength. He knows she deserves to be here. He's using whatever he can to keep her at bay to come out on top."

Come on, Uraraka, thought Izuku. Get up.

Uraraka slowly staggered to her feet, looking at Izuku with a smile. "Thanks Deku," She said. "For not taking it easy on me. . . and for keeping your eyes focused on me." Izuku cocked his head, confused. She began to put her hands together, as she did when releasing something she --

It suddenly dawned on him. Looking sharply upward, he finally saw what she was talking about. Floating at least ten meters above them were several of Izuku's bombs and explosive batarangs. Izuku couldn't help but laugh despite this. He was so impressed. She continuously rushed him so he would have no choice but to focus on avoiding and countering her. In doing so, she was able to swipe his tools and explosives right out from under him. She had been studying him all this time so she would know exactly what pockets to pick. What's more, Izuku didn't think he needed the countermeasures that protected unauthorized access to his belt for this event, so he deactivated them before the match. He had played right into her hands.

He was never going to hear the end of it from Bruce.

"RELEASE!" Shouted Uraraka. The bombs and batarangs all came crashing down quickly. Uraraka charged Izuku again. The plan was brilliant. If he let the bombs drop, they would detonate on impact, and send them both out of the ring. If he tried to stop them, that left him open for Uraraka to use her quirk. She really had gotten so much stronger. But Izuku still had his ace in the hole. He pressed a button on one of his gauntlets. It sprang to life, making a humming sound and glowing a dull blue color at the back of the hands and the forearm. He positioned himself, stretching his palm towards the falling arsenal, bracing it with his other hand. It was time for that field test.

The explosion erupted from his outstretched palm was deafening. It cascaded up into the air at least 30 feet, colliding with the other falling weapons, causing them to erupt in an explosion that rocked the stadium, blasting the contestants and some of the audience back, shattering windows and displays. Uraraka was thrown backward in the blast as well, once again landing hard against the floor of the ring. Smoke and debris billowed and fell across the stadium, and the crowd had gone deadly silent.

Uraraka strained to get up, but her body screamed in protest. She was pushed past her limit. The last explosion had nearly knocked her unconscious. As the smoke began to dissipate, she saw Izuku walking towards her crumpled form, cradling his hand.

"Deku?" Said Uraraka weakly.

"That hurt like a mother," said Izuku. "Are you ok?"

"I can still fight," Uraraka said, wincing as she tried to lift herself. But Izuku held her down.

"I want you to listen to something, Uraraka," Said Izuku. She paused, straining her ears to listen. She could hear a sound, like a cascading waterfall. No, it was clapping. Applause. "That applause is for you," Izuku continued. "You did so well. I'm so proud of you."

Tears began to form around Uraraka's eyes. "I knew I wouldn't have been able to beat you," she said.

"You almost did," said Izuku. Uraraka looked up at him in surprise. "You pulled one over on me. I had to use my trump card early just to stop it. Honestly, you gave me a run for my money."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Uraraka is incapacitated!" Shouted Midnight. "Midoriya wins the first - huh?"

Midnight stopped short. Izuku had picked up Uraraka up off the ground to a standing position, supporting her weight. Together, they raised their hands to waive the cheering crowd before them.

"Wow!" Said Present Mic. "The crowd is really showing their love for these two contestants! Uraraka put up a great fight, and Midoriya being such a great sport, this is truly one for the record books, people!"

And with that, the first round of the finals came to an end.