Sports Festival (6)

(Ida POV – Sports Festival Stadium)

I step onto the stage, facing what may be my greatest challenge yet—Class President Kata Okada.

His composure is unwavering, his movements calm and a neutral expression that almost never cracks.

'As calm as always… as if nothing ever phases him.'

"It will be an honor to face you, Class President," I declare, standing tall. "Please, give it your all!"

He simply nods. "I'll do my best."

A simple reply, as always.

'But that's not the full truth.'

Kata Okada never struggles. He never goes all out. I've heard him say those words to others, but he doesn't lie.

'Doing his best doesn't mean fighting his hardest.' But I don't know what he's doing his best for.

Present Mic's booming voice announces our match, but I barely hear him. My mind is racing. My plan must be airtight—I only have one chance.

'It's all or nothing. If I hesitate, I lose.'

I tense my muscles, readying my engines.

"START!"

The world slows.

"Recipro Burst!" I roar, flames igniting from my exhaust pipes as I surge forward in a blur of speed. Most wouldn't even register my approach.

But Kata sees me.

His eyes remain locked onto my form, watching with unnatural precision. He doesn't brace himself, doesn't dodge—he simply stands there, unshaken.

'I'll make him take me seriously!'

I reach him in an instant, launching a side kick at his torso. 'No stance, no guard—he's wide open! This will land for su—'

I miss.

No—he dodged.

He never even seemed to move, yet he's suddenly out of reach.

I pivot, using my momentum to spin and launch a second kick aimed at his head.

Without looking at me, he ducks—at the very last moment. His movement is so fluid, so precise, that even as I watch, I can't comprehend it. My kick slices through empty air.

'Eight seconds left.'

What follows is beyond reason.

Every attack—dodged. Not with frantic movement, not with any wasted motion or exertion. Just impossibly effortless evasion.

A light hop carries him away from sweeping kicks like he's weightless. A single step places him meters away in an instant.

To the audience, our movements must be a blur. To me, it's a nightmare. I strike again and again, but he doesn't counter, doesn't block—he just dodges. With crushing ease.

Until—

Contact.

An overhead kick. My rotation accelerated by my quirk, my foot colliding squarely against his head. The impact reverberates through the stadium.

Excitement ignites in my chest. 'I did it! I actually—'

"That's ten seconds."

His voice cuts through the air, like a hot knife through butter. The flames from my exhaust sputter out, as my Recipro Burst ends, and my engines stall.

And then I realize the truth.

My kick landed, yes—but only against a barrier. A thin, invisible film, ten centimeters from his face.

A surge of energy grips me. I try to pull back by kicking off the barrier. I find small success, but I immediately stop midair. Gravity and inertia having abandoned me.

"You were fast," Kata remarks, his tone as calm as ever. No pride. No mockery. No excitement. Just calm.

Then, without warning—I'm flung backwards.

I shoot across the air, accelerating beyond my control—until I cross the boundary line. Then, just as suddenly, I drop.

"Tenya Iida is out of bounds! Kata Okada moves on to the third round!" Midnight's voice rings across the stadium.

The crowd erupts.

I clench my fists, rising to my feet. I refuse to accept it. "Did you let me land that hit on purpose?!"

He stops, turning back to me. The same unreadable expression. Then, after a brief pause—he sighs.

"I couldn't keep dodging forever."

And then he walks away.

'He didn't deny it.'

If this were anyone else, I might have believed them. But Kata Okada is a liar—one who comforts people by letting them know only half the truth. Lies by omission from a liar who never lies.

I sigh, tension draining from my shoulders.

'That was his way of not discouraging me.'

I turn and leave the arena, fists still clenched. From the very start, my attacks would never have reached him.

(Kata POV – Sports Festival Stadium)

As I return to my seat, I reflect on my match. 'That was worthwhile. I showed my speed, reflexes, and defensive power. It should be enough to leave an impression on heroes with close combat battle styles.'

By the time I arrive, the next match is already underway. It's Momo vs. Mina.

The moment Present Mic announces the start, Momo moves decisively, creating acid-proof shoes and a large shield before charging forward. Mina, quick on her feet, dodges fluidly and retaliates with a spray of acid—only for it to sizzle harmlessly against Momo's shield.

Momo quickly realizes that a direct charge won't work. With a sharp pivot, she subtly creates a stun gun behind her shield. Her stance changes, mimicking another aggressive push. Mina, anticipating the attack, dodges—right into the stun gun's path. A crackling shock fills the air, and Mina collapses, unconscious.

The crowd cheers as the next match is set: Bakugo vs. Shoji.

As expected, Bakugo dominates with raw power and maneuverability, using explosions to propel himself at angles Shoji struggles to counter. But Shoji isn't defenseless—his multiple arms allow him to block, grab, and strike from unpredictable directions. Bakugo is forced to keep his distance, knowing that one well-timed grapple could end him.

After a relentless barrage, Shoji finally falters, unable to keep up with the continuous explosions, securing Bakugo's victory.

With that, the semi-finals are set as the large screen lights up.

Okada Kata vs. Todoroki Shoto

Bakugo Katsuki vs. Yaoyorozu Momo

I rise from my seat and head toward the tunnel leading to the arena. But as I round the corner, I sense someone waiting in the shadows.

'This will be annoying.' A small frown briefly appearing on my lips.

Sure enough, Endeavor steps forward, his massive frame blocking my path.

"There you are," he says, voice deep and commanding.

I stare at him, unimpressed. 'He really irritates me... reminds me too much of my own parents.'

"Endeavor," I acknowledge coldly.

His eyes narrow slightly, displeased by my lack of deference. "Your performance has been impressive. I think you'll be a good test for my son." His tone is condescending, with an eerie fascination that is devoid of warmth. "Push him to his limits."

I say nothing. I don't care about his obsession with surpassing All Might... but... I really hate how he goes about it.

Seeing my indifference, his expression hardens. "Are you listening to me?" He reaches out as if to grab my arm—

And stops mid-motion, blocked by my aura.

I tilt my head. 'He thinks he can touch me?'

"You're not my father," I say evenly. 'And you're really lucky you aren't.'

His scowl deepens, but I continue before he can speak. "I have no reason, nor desire, to entertain your delusions."

I step forward, walking around him and immediately, the flames on his body surge. "Know your place." He says slowly, an angry glare and menacing aura emanating from him.

"Or what?" I give him a dismissive look.

The surroundings begin to heat up, as his flames surge even higher. 'Is he trying to intimidate me, or will he attack? I wouldn't put either past him.'

So, I'll do what any logical person would do.

The air rapidly cools as Endeavour's flames immediately extinguish, much to his surprise.

He staggers, clutching his neck, as he breathes heavily, gasping for air.

I make no move as he continues to struggle helplessly against an invisible enemy he can't defend against. He slumps against the wall and slides down, his face turning red, as his heart works overtime to pump blood to his lungs.

I watch impassively and finally speak. "Fire can't burn without oxygen," I remark. "And without it, everything you built your ego upon is meaningless."

A long, tense silence stretches between us. Then, I stop pushing oxygen molecules away from him.

He gasps, sucking in air as his flames flicker back to life. But he doesn't move. He won't. 'He's too proud to admit being bested by a student. And even more, he'd have to explain why he was here when he shouldn't have been.'

Without another word, I turn and step onto the stadium and continue onto the arena.

Todoroki is already waiting.

(Todoroki POV – Sports Festival Stadium)

'He's finally here.'

Kata steps onto the arena, moving with the same composed and carefree demeanor. His gaze locks onto me, sharp and expectant—like he's waiting for something.

'I don't like it.'

I shift into my stance, analyzing every detail I can about him.

"Our first Semi-finals match. Kata Okada versus Shoto Todoroki!" Present Mic's voice booms across the stadium, igniting the crowd into cheers.

The energy is electric. The stakes are clear. But despite all of it… something about him unsettles me.

"Give it your best, Class President," I say neutrally.

He doesn't respond immediately like he does with others. Instead, he actually takes a moment to consider my words. Then, he speaks. His voice is calm, yet firm.

"Everyone asks me to do that. And I always tell them I will."

I narrow my eyes, sensing an exception coming.

"But I can't agree this time."

"Why?" I demand, my voice colder than before.

His reply cuts through me.

"Because they give me their best. Yet you're still holding out on me."

The words hit harder than I expect. I clench my fists. 'I'll prove him wrong. I don't need my fire to win.'

"I won't give my best," Kata continues, his tone devoid of mockery. "But I'll let you know that you'll never succeed against me if you half-ass everything."

It's not a taunt. It's a declaration of a fact. One he truly believes.

Anger surges through me. "You'll regret underestimating me," I say icily.

He merely shakes his head, and to my continued irritation, I catch a flicker of disappointment in his expression.

The match begins.

"START!"

I waste no time. A wave of ice surges forward, spikes racing toward him. 'He'll destroy them, then I'll close the distance—'

But then—

A deep, unnatural chill spreads through the arena.

My ice spikes don't just break—they shatter. A biting, bone-deep frost creeps into the air. The once-roaring crowd feels muted, their cheers distant and hazy.

My lungs burn with every inhale and my breath fogs with each exhale.

"I won't fight you," Kata's voice carries through the cold like a winter storm. "So I'll give you a choice."

I grit my teeth, already knowing what he wants.

"I'll keep decreasing the temperature. We're already below zero. Either use your fire and give me a fight, or keep using only your ice—" He pauses, voice emotionless. "—and pass out from hypothermia."

A shiver I can't control wracks my body.

'Fight me with fire, or surrender to the cold…' That's what he mean.

I don't have the time to wonder how he's controlling the temperature, as warmth seeps from my body.

"No… I can still win!" I growl, forcing my legs to move.

My breath comes in sharp gasps, fogging the air. I launch another barrage of ice, but Kata dismantles them without effort. I rush him—only to be pushed back effortlessly.

He's proving his point. This isn't a fight. It never was. Anger grips me. Not because of him, but because I'm weak. Unable to force him to even take me seriously.

The temperature drops further. My limbs feel sluggish. I stop shivering—a dangerous sign of hypothermia. Proof that my body has given up fighting the cold. 'No, I can't lose like th—'

"You said you wanted to be a hero?" Kata's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. "What kind of hero will stubbornly refuse to use all his power while people are dying?"

The words burrow into my mind, deeper than the cold itself.

"Why do you want to be a hero?" He demands.

I try to answer—but my voice fails me.

'Why…?'

I don't even realize I've fallen to my knees until I feel the rough texture of the arena floor against my palms. My eyelids grow heavy, my body desperate for warmth, as it compels me to rest. A short nap and my struggle will end…

'No… If I close my eyes now, it's over…'

"Was it to prove Endeavour wrong? That you don't need him to be the best?" His voice remains the same, but I feel insulted.

"Then, you were never aiming to be a hero." Kata finishes, as my vision entirely fades.

Then, it hits me.

A memory, buried beneath years of resentment.

When I was a child, sitting on my mother's lap and smiling, All Might spoke during an interview.

"Quirks are passed down from our parents… but that's not all that matters. We shape ourselves. We decide who we become. That's what I mean when I say it. When I say, 'I AM HERE!'"

I had forgotten.

I decide.

I decide who I want to become. What kind of hero I want to be.

Not my father. Not my past.

'Was this… what Kata was trying to make me realize?'

He could've just finished the fight, but instead, he chose to break my resolve. To break the shackles binding me to my past.

A bitter laugh nearly escapes me.

'I see now…'

'Thank you… Class President.'

(Kata POV – Sports Festival Stadium)

I watch as Todoroki collapses to the floor, frost crawling over his skin. His breath comes in weak gasps, eyes unfocused.

'Hmm... Maybe I overestimated myself.'

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. 'I'm not Izuku. I can't heal people's trauma with my bullshit.'

Midnight catches my eye, already raising her hand to call the match.

'Yeah, it's over.'

But then—

A spark.

A flicker of light, small but growing.

Fire erupts from Todoroki's body, roaring to life as it pushes back the cold. The frost coating his skin melts away, steam rising in the air. His breaths deepen, his body steadying.

I narrow my eyes as he slowly gets to his feet.

His eyes, once clouded, now burn with an intensity I haven't seen before.

"It's... not over yet!" he shouts, his voice raw but firm. "I... I want to be a hero too!" His fists clench. "And I won't hold back anymore!"

I exhale through my nose, watching him carefully.

A small smile tugs at my lips. "Will you do your best?" I ask, this time with real curiosity.

Todoroki meets my gaze, eyes unwavering. He gives me a slow, deliberate nod. "I will."

His flames burn hotter. His ice sharpens.

I nod back. "Then I'll give you my best too."