Chapter 54: Beatdown

~Kotaro Hakari~

It was the next day, after my brief dalliance with Mina and Toga I spent the rest of the day actually resting to recover my internal organs as one does of course after very, very thoroughly cleaning the infirmary room with Micro Hydrokinesinesis. If I left the room covered in cum I was at least 50% sure Recovery Girl would inject my veins with cyanide the next time I ended up in the infirmary.

...Hmm, could I survive Cyanide? Probably, I could increase my mass with Scary Monsters enough that a lethal dose for a human body would only be problematic for someone with 20x the mass.

Anyway, as you can see with how absentminded my monologue is today, I did not have much to do while I waited for when my fight with Bro would start.

That's right, the next round was me vs Izuku. And unfortunately for my boy, I wouldn't be taking it easy on him, so he was definitely losing but I would at least give him a chance to shine. Who knows? Maybe he will get some real internships this time, but I still hope he sticks around with Gran Torino, I do not want him to miss the Hosu incident and for Engine to die.

He was a decent dude, not bro material that was for sure, but he was alright. We were close enough to make conversation when we bumped into each other but wouldn't seek each other out to make conversation.

But I could easily intervene myself, after all, I had so many goddamn sensory abilities clogging up my status than I knew what to do with. Hell, I could probably brute force shivers to get a general location in Hosu City and find Shit Stain using Byakugan in the span of an afternoon.

I would rather not if I didn't have to though, clearly following canon gives me more tickets than not. Still, if need be I will intervene, unfortunately, I couldn't value the lives of the people I cared about more than a ticket.

...I mean if we are talking about a diamond ticket here I might think about it just a little harder but even I am not evil enough to let people I know die for tickets.

As I was idly wandering around trying to find something to occupy my time with I bumped into someone who I could only assume was a child. I quickly bent over to reach down a hand to help them up only to see the sight of a very short-stack woman with emphasis on the stacked wearing a dress and with her red hair tied into pigtails. Noticing that it was me who she bumped into she quickly sputtered as I remembered who she was.

She was the girl I saved when I helped out with that situation in the Convenience Store. At least I'm pretty sure she was.

"Oops, sorry for bumping into you, I was kinda lost in thought, are you okay? Hey, you are the girl back in the convenience store, right? How is your arm? I hope it doesn't hurt anymore." She quickly nodded with a fierce blush, taking my hand and getting up while coughing into her fist and bowing. Damn, she was cute.

"T-thank you very much H-Hakari-san, please do not mind it, I'm used to people bumping into me." She rubbed her arm and smiled. "Thank you for asking, my arm is healed."

I gave a soft smile to her.

"Then I'm glad."

She glanced around and flushed a little more before pulling out a notepad from her pocket and extending it towards me while turning her head to the side.

"I-If it's not too much to ask could I please get you s-signature? I am a huge fan!" I took the notepad and signed where she pointed to with a stylized 'Hakari', it was nice to have a fan, even if she was a fan of a high schooler I was not enough of a hypocrite to point it out now did I care really. She looked really satisfied at my signature, giving it a beaming smile and giving me her thanks before I stopped her.

"I'm glad to have a fan. Say, how about you tag along with me? I'd like to treat you to some dessert, as thanks for being my favorite fan. Well, my only one yet."

She blushed up a crimson and shook her head strongly.

"Your F-f-favorite fan!? I-I'm unworthy, I wouldn't want to waste your time with boring old me!" I shook my head at her.

"Please don't be like that, I have plenty of time before my next round, besides, spending time with a cute girl is never a waste of time for me, especially one who is such a big fan." I shot her my signature roguish smile and she looked like she had taken critical damage as she clenched her chest making me chuckle.

"O-okay! Yes! I mean I'd love to! Please."

She hurriedly accepted, fumbling her words which made her seem even more endearing like a cute puppy who didn't know how to act.

With Manami in tow(She finally told me her name) I took her to the dessert shop I went to with Mirko, she looked immensely satisfied and extremely self-conscious to be hanging out with me, I didn't exactly get the hype she had toward me but it was a good ego booster.

We ate together and I even took some selfies with her, pulling her in close and doing a few poses as she basically melted under my attention, I would have really liked to pursue her further but I had a fight to get to, at least with her being such a big fan at least I would hopefully meet her again.

Still, now that it had become the time for my fight with Dekubro, I parted ways with the satisfied yet unhappy with separating from me Manami before heading back to the lockers and changing my clothes to a new set of UA Gym clothes.

Walking toward the arena down the ominously long tunnel just long enough to monologue in, I was lost in my thoughts, excited about what my Bro was going to show me in this fight. Hell, he even had the advantage of me still having slight internal organ damage. He better impress me with this one.

As we both walked into the arena in the middle of the stadium I couldn't but smile like a proud parent at the determined expression on Izuku's face, gone was the nervous mess. This was a hero-to-be in front of me. One that wasn't going to mess around.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the third round of this tournament! Both favourites and regulars of the infirmary yet both are even more well-versed in putting people there! Hakari Kotaro versus Izuku Midoriya!!!"

I ignored the fanfare and the hyping of Present Mic as I grinned at Izuku.

"You ready for this Bro? Out of respect for you, I won't be taking it easy on you."

Izuku nodded and held his arms up, mimicking the posture I had taught him, the glint in his eyes was steel. That boy makes me proud.

"I wouldn't accept it any other way, Hakari! Full Cowling 4%!"

Without sparing even a moment I saw his body covered in a hue of electric green before he charged at me, he got faster at starting it up, good. In response, I used Scary Monsters to turn myself into a hybrid and met his fist head-on, blocking with my arms and feeling the weight behind it. Even at 4% OFA was one monster of a quirk.

I was almost pushed back by the fist but instead ducked and shoulder-tackled Deku with my speed, throwing him back before rushing in behind him before he could re-orient himself but before I reached him, he did something unthinkable.

His index finger glowed with power before he flicked his finger at me.

"SMASH!!!"

WOOOOOSH!!!

A blast of air with the force of several trucks came at me and-

-Did nothing.

I blinked at Deku owlishly, inspecting clothes that didn't even look dishevelled. He mirrored my look of astonishment too, looking at his own arms and broken finger in confusion. He was so befuddled he even forgot about his broken finger. Hell, he looked downright betrayed by his own quirk.

Why the hell didn't that do anything- Oh, right, Expert Wind Resistance. Unless the attack is going to level Japan it won't do much to me if it is based on wind. I decided to explain to poor Izuku who looked so confused, he didn't deserve disappointment like that.

"Sorry Bro, but wind-based attacks don't work on me like that, better commit to something else!"

I rushed in again and Midoriya seemed to shake off his confusion and regain the determined glint in his eyes as he refused to move from his spot even as I approached, and then he clenched his fist as it glowed and swung toward me.

...Wait is he trying to fucking kill me?

Well, I have to appreciate his dedication to winning.

'He has somehow managed to release his limiter just a little, using it at 10% will really hurt but he can keep moving with it.'

My Half-Light chimed in as the fist approached me, I ducked to the side, aiming a punch toward his ribs before he caught me off guard when I felt a sharp pain in my leg. He feinted a fist and hit my leg with a powerful kick that I felt bruised instantly. But this boy must be out of his goddamn mind if he thought that getting my leg injured would be enough to stop by any means.

"Guagh!!!"

Midoriya was sent back as my fist connected with his ribs, not breaking them but at least fracturing them. But I had done worse to him before in our spars. I rushed at him again but he decided to counter my approach in a different way, as I approached, he put more power into his leg and stomped on the ground, creating the sound of an explosion as fragments of concrete and dust went everywhere.

Opting not to go in toward the superpowered boy while I had impaired vision I jumped back but then the dust was suddenly swept away by a burst of wind from Midoriya, and his next action made me sweat.

"That boy is something else...!"

"Eat this! SMASH!"

Midoriya's postured mirrored the posture of when he threw the ball in the quirk apprehension test. Only instead of a softball, he was pushing forward a sizeable rock with a 100% power finger.

Boom!

"Guh!"

Caught off guard as the stone broke the sound barrier I crossed my arms and hurriedly turned on Defensive Form just in time to get hit by what was essentially a massive rock tank shell, I dug my feet into the ground as I felt my skin tear from the stone shrapnel. Fuck that was not good.

"You really are insane aren't you Bro? Let me return the favour!"

The feral grin that I wore was definitely because I was petty from getting caught lacking. Not at all.

I sped toward Izuku with Offensive Form, the stone beneath my feet shattering as I almost broke the sound barrier, and the moment Izuku crossed his arms I swung, I would have definitely torn his arms off if he hadn't had OFA active.

My punch sent him across the arena, but he managed to skid to a halt, looking at me with a defiant smile.

"Is that all you got Hakari-kun?"

"When did you get so cheeky?"

I charged at him again as his arm glowed.

⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀

"Izuku Midoriya is down, the winner is Hakari Kotaro!"

Izuku learned quickly in short order that, it was in fact, not all I'd got.

Even with only Scary Monsters and Phase Shift, I was too much bass for my bro handle.

Midnight cracked her whip and declared as Izuku lay on the ground, face down and completely unconscious with more broken bones than not broken bones.

I looked down at the downed Izuku and couldn't but be reminded about who my next opponent was. Since we were the 2nd fight of today, the first match was already concluded.

I was fighting Bakugou tomorrow.

That oughta be fun.

────────────────────

Feat Achieved! Defeat Izuku Midoriya in the Tournament and advance to the finals!

+Gold Item Gacha Ticket

────────────────────

Just hit me, no need to wait for this one. I'm done stacking.

────────────────────

[Bloom Stone]

|Rarity: Rare|

An ancient relic made out of a special green chlorophyte gem fitted into a necklace, under sunlight it absorbs sunlight and converts it into regeneration for its wearer, its potency depending on the time of day.

Morning - Uncommon Regeneration

Noon - Rare Regeneration

Afternoon - Uncommon Regeneration

Evening - Common Regeneration

Night - None

────────────────────

Huh, that sounds like it would complement my Chlorophyll really well. I can also give it to someone like Izuku in a pinch to help heal him.

I couldn't help but smirk at the downed Izuku.

Stand proud bro, you helped me win a great ticket.

...Oh wait, he can't stand because I just beat the breaks off of him.

Oh well, I'll treat him to some grub to make up for it later.

A/N: A wild Aiba appears! Hakari used casual flirting and date, it was super effective! Manami Aiba has been successfully caught! Seriously, Aiba in her neet mode is like ultra-easy mode, you do not even need to interact with her to get her love. And Hakari made her fall deep into the rabbit hole with a few interactions. Did you guys enjoy her short encounter? It was mostly supposed to set up more future encounters.

Izuku stands on business, unlike canon he has learned to work around the limitations of OFA before 90% of the way through. He genuinely put Hakari on the backfoot for a moment there, and I was honestly pretty pissed that in canon they never made Deku simply throw stuff for ranged combat. Overhaul would have been fucked if Izuku just threw a rock at his forehead at Mach 3. Did you guys like the short fight? I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

_______________________________

If you like my works and want to support me and my works you can do so at my P*treon at: p*treon.com/BronzDeck. You can also read up to 10 chapters ahead on all of my works there and participate in story polls.

Just replace the * with an a.