"Kaminari…"
In the corridor, after recharging his electricity reserves, Kaminari made his way back to the auditorium to meet Kyoka and the others. On the way, he crossed paths with Tetsutetsu, who was heading toward the arena.
"Tetsutetsu…"
Kaminari offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry, but I might not make it to the finals."
"You'll make it. You will make it!" Tetsutetsu's tone was firm, even though both of them uood that the oute was still uain.
"But if—just if—you don't, then I'll give Todoroki a proper beating in your pce!" Tetsutetsu decred, his voice rising with vi. "Because I don't accept it!"
Kaminari raised an eyebrow. "Don't accept what?"
"I don't accept him making it to the finals in this way!" Tetsutetsu said, log eyes with Kaminari. His voice was loud and full of dissatisfa.
For him, if Todoroki made it to the finals without having ear fairly without truly fighting, it was nothing short of an insult to the petition.
"Heh, well, before you worry about Todoroki, maybe you should figure out how to beat Tokoyami first," Kaminari teased with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood.
Tetsutetsu chuckled but didn't deny it. Kaminari, however, seemed to slip into a thoughtful tone, analyzing the situation aloud.
"Tokoyami's strong, but… if you figure out how to handle his 'Dark Shadow,' he's not that hard to beat," Kaminari said, his mind tig through Tokoyami's strengths and weaknesses.
"Most of his power is tied to Dark Shadow, and while it's fast and strong, Tokoyami himself isn't as remarkable in other areas. If you lure Dark Shadow far enough away from him, you could use that window to rush straight at Tokoyami with something like 'Shave.'"
Tetsutetsu smirked at Kaminari's familiar way of disseg strategies. It reminded him of Midoriya.
"Yeah, well, about that… I'm still w on 'Shave.'" Tetsutetsu scratched his head sheepishly. "I only just figured out the right step frequency. I 't trol the dire or distance properly yet."
"Ah…" Kaminari blihe out a disappointed sigh. "That's a shame. I was kind of looking forward to seeing you teleport all over the field."
Tetsutetsu ughed at Kaminari's hoy. "Don't worry, though. Even without 'Shave,' I'll take down Tokoyami and make it to the finals!"
With a fident grietsu patted his chest and walked past Kaminari toward the arena. Just before entering the corridor leading to the field, he paused without turning back.
"Whether you make it to the finals or not, Kaminari, I'll be waiting for you there."
Kaminari stood silently, watg his friend's retreating figure. In that moment, he felt a pang of gratitude for having such a determined and loyal partner.
---
Oher side, Tokoyami had already stepped onto the t arena amidst cheers. He stood still, his sharp gaze fixed on the shadowy corridor where Tetsutetsu was emerging.
"Be ready for his straactics," Tokoyami thought to himself, steeling his resolve.
Tetsutetsu stepped into the light, his iron-hard stance exuding fidence. Kaminari, now seated among his cssmates, gnced around, notig that Todoroki was spicuously absent from the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the Css B side, Monoma was unusually quiet. His typical sharp tongue was o be found as he observed Kaminari from a distance, his expression tinged with unease.
"Kendo, listen," Monoma said to the e-haired girl beside him. "If Kaminari or Todoroki ends up being your oppo in the match, my advice is simple: forfeit. There's no way we pete with them."
But Kendo shook her head firmly. "I 't do that."
"Kendo—"
"I know they're both way strohan me, and my odds of winning are basically zero," Kendou interrupted. "But bag down just because of that? That's not what a hero does."
Her voice was steady and filled with vi. "Plus Ultra. Relentless progress, never-ending. Even if I lose, I'll at least nd a punch before I go down!"
Monoma fell silent, though it was clear he didn't agree.
---
"Start!" Present Mic's eic voice sighe beginning of the match.
As soon as the game began, Tokoyami's Dark Shadow emerged, its massive form rushing toward Tetsutetsu.
her side wasted time exging words. Tetsutetsu charged straight iing Dark Shadow's assault head-on. His first attack came in the form of a powerful kick, his steel-coated leg striking with tremendous force.
Boom!
The collision was explosive. Tetsutetsu's kick sent Dark Shadow reeling back, uo withstand the sheer power of the blow.
"Don't fight him head-on! Go for aerial attacks—aim for his head!" Tokoyami called out, recalling Bakugo's strategy against Tetsutetsu earlier.
Dark Shadow quickly adjusted, flying high above Tetsutetsu and diving down toward his upper body.
But Tetsutetsu just smirked.
In the audience, a tall, muscur man with a stern expressioetsu's mentor, Daimon Goro also allowed himself a small smile.
As Dark Shadow dove dowetsu shifted his stance, adopting a judo posture that took everyone by surprise.
"You've been too focused on my legs," Tetsutetsu said. "Time for me to remind you what real grappling looks like!"
Before Dark Shadow could react, Tetsutetsu caught its arm and, with a powerful movement, smmed it into the ground.
"What?!" Tokoyami's eyes widened as he watched the normally indomitable Dark Shadow crumble uetsutetsu's teique.
"Attag from above? That's a rookie mistake," Tetsutetsu said fidently. "I've been training with Daimon-sensei for years, he's over two meters tall. I've faced overhead attacks more times than I t."
"And…" Tetsutetsu added, his grin widening, "I've figured out your weakness."
Before Dark Shadow could recover, Tetsutetsu unleashed another devastating kick, this time enhanced by his developing "Shave" teique.
Boom!
The blow sent Dark Shadow flying, its form dissolving into streaks of bck light as it was forcibly pushed back toward Tokoyami.
"Move, partner!" Tokoyami shouted, leaping to the side to avoid being caught in the backsh.
But Tetsutetsu's voice cut through the air. "It's no use, Tokoyami. You and Dark Shadow are ected. You 't escape."
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as Tokoyami's expression shifted from calm to arm.
"Not good!"
***
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