Chapter 58: A Fight in Desperation
The entire class files into the monitoring room, eager to watch the first real battle simulation of the day. The room is spacious, filled with large screens showing multiple camera angles of the training building. Everyone takes their places—except there are no chairs in sight. Aoi scans the empty space, raises an eyebrow, and turns to All Might.
"Professor, there isn't a single chair here?"
All Might gives a sheepish smile and replies in his usual booming yet apologetic tone:
"I'm sorry, young Aoi, but the monitoring room was designed this way. We want everyone focused on the screens and the action, not lounging around."
Aoi glances over at Momo, who is standing nearby with her arms crossed, already analyzing the screens.
"Hey, Momo, could you create a chair for us to sit on? Just one or two would be nice."
Momo shakes her head firmly, her ponytail swaying slightly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. That would waste energy unnecessarily. We're about to participate in a battle ourselves soon, so I can't spend energy on non-essential things."
Aoi lets out an exaggerated sigh, placing a hand dramatically over his heart.
"Well, my comfort is unnecessary… that's sad to hear, Momo."
He then flashes a small grin and shrugs.
"Guess I'll have to handle it myself."
Without another word, Aoi activates his blue flames. The azure fire swirls around him like living liquid, shaping and compressing with perfect precision until it solidifies into a tall, elegant throne of pure blue flame. He sits down comfortably, crossing one leg over the other, and says with satisfaction:
"There. Much better."
The entire room turns to stare at him in stunned silence. Aoi notices the attention and raises an eyebrow innocently.
"What's wrong, guys?"
Mina, still wide-eyed, blurts out:
"Aoi, wasn't your quirk just flames? How did you make a whole throne with it?"
Aoi leans back casually and explains in a calm, almost casual tone:
"It's simple. I control each individual flame and shape it into whatever I want, whenever I want. I honestly don't understand why other fire users don't follow this path. I think it's because, unlike their flames that generate heat and can become unstable, mine don't. I can compress them as much as I want without risking an explosion that would burn everything around me."
All Might watches with clear admiration in his eyes and says:
"Young Aoi, I have to say, your control over your quirk is truly impressive."
Aoi gives a small smile and replies:
"Well, thank you."
He then points toward the main screen and says:
"Look, Izuku and Uraraka are entering the building."
Everyone immediately turns their attention to the monitors. All Might picks up the microphone and announces in his booming voice:
"The training has officially begun!"
On the screen, Izuku and Uraraka slip through a high window, using Uraraka's zero-gravity quirk to float gently inside. Once they're safely on the floor, Izuku lets out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Well, it looks like the infiltration was a success. Neither Iida nor Kacchan saw us enter the building."
Uraraka, still floating slightly, asks:
"So, what's our plan, Izuku?"
Izuku pauses, thinking carefully: "I still can't control One For All properly. If I use it, I'll end up seriously injured. So I have to hold out as long as possible and only use it at a decisive moment. That means we can only rely on Uraraka's quirk."
He looks at her with determination and says:
"Uraraka, we need to figure out a way to separate Kacchan from Iida. That way you'll have a better chance of touching the bomb."
Uraraka nods confidently.
"Then let's walk around the building first to get an idea of our situation."
They begin moving carefully through the corridors, observing every corner and mapping the layout in their minds. Suddenly, a wall ahead of them explodes in a violent burst of fire and debris. Izuku and Uraraka barely manage to dodge in time, but the shockwave still stings their skin.
Izuku looks through the clearing smoke and mutters:
"Just as I expected… he's coming straight for me."
Bakugou bursts through the dust, eyes blazing with fury.
"Deku, you bastard! It was funny fooling me by saying you didn't have a quirk! Die!"
He charges forward, releasing a massive explosion. Izuku barely dodges, rolling to the side, and shouts:
"Uraraka, now! While I hold him!"
Bakugou, hearing this, roars with even greater rage:
"Who the hell are you holding back, you damn nerd?!"
In the monitoring room, everyone watches in tense silence as Bakugou goes completely wild, attacking Izuku without pause. Aoi, resting his chin on his hand, comments dryly:
"Well, looks like Izuku is fighting for his life. You're not going to stop the fight, right, Professor?"
All Might keeps his eyes on the screen and replies firmly:
"No. The young Izuku is still fighting with everything he has. Stopping the match now would be disrespectful to him, considering how hard he's trying."
Tsuyu tilts her head and adds quietly:
"But he looks like he's in trouble, kero."
Kirishima nods and says:
"Well, Bakugou may be a little crazy, but he wants to be a hero like everyone here. He won't go overboard."
Back in the fight, Izuku dodges another explosion that destroys the wall behind him. Bakugou tries again, but this time Izuku reads his movements perfectly and manages to throw Bakugou to the ground.
While Izuku and Bakugou continue their intense clash, Uraraka slips away to search for the bomb. She spots it at the end of a hallway, guarded by Iida. She quickly hides behind a pillar before he can see her. Iida tries to put on a menacing face and declares:
"I am the supreme evil! Fear me, hero!"
Uraraka can't help but giggle at his terrible acting.
Meanwhile, the fight between Izuku and Bakugou rages on. Izuku dodges a strike and counters with a kick, propelling himself forward. He looks at Bakugou with fierce determination and says:
"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Kacchan."
Bakugou snarls furiously:
"Fine! Then use your quirk to survive my attack! I asked my hero costume to accumulate all my sweat, so take this full blast!"
All Might, seeing the danger, shouts into the microphone:
"Young Bakugou, stop now! Are you trying to kill him?!"
Bakugou shouts back:
"He'll only die if he doesn't dodge! All the sweat I've been accumulating will explode at once!"
BOOOOMMM!
The massive explosion shakes the building. Aoi whistles in awe and says:
"And Izuku still has the nerve to call them childhood friends. Honestly, a crazy childhood friend like that… no way I'd want one. But I'm lucky to have such a cool childhood friend, right, Momo?"
Momo blushes and mutters:
"This isn't the time to say that…"
Kirishima glances at Aoi and says:
"Aoi, this isn't the time to enjoy the show."
Aoi responds calmly:
"Relax, Kirishima. Bakugou isn't a villain. Even if he's 90% like one. And even if Izuku gets hurt, as long as he's still breathing, I can bring him back from the gates of death."
All Might, remembering Aoi's quirk, relaxes slightly and continues watching as the smoke begins to clear.
Meanwhile, Uraraka tries to reach the bomb, but Iida moves at high speed, relocating it each time. Bakugou relentlessly pursues the injured Izuku, shouting:
"Why aren't you using your quirk?! Are you looking down on me? You think you can beat me without it?"
Izuku replies firmly:
"You're wrong. I know you look down on me, but it's exactly because you're so incredible that I want to defeat you. I want to win. I want to beat you, you idiot!"
Bakugou yells:
"Stop looking at me like that, you damn nerd!"
Both charge toward each other, preparing their final attacks. Bakugou accumulates his explosion to finish Izuku. Izuku gathers all the strength he can muster and shouts:
"Detroit…"
Everyone in the monitoring room becomes worried at the sight.
Kirishima exclaims:
"This is bad, Professor!"
Aoi comments calmly:
"Well, that's a lot of concentrated love. Now it's time to receive the other's feelings first."
Tsuyu says:
"Professor, you have to stop them, kero."
At that moment, Izuku shouts:
"Now, Uraraka!"
He directs all his power upward, creating a massive hole in the ceiling with the shockwave of his punch. Bakugou is left stunned. Uraraka seizes the opportunity, grabs a pillar, and attacks Iida with debris. Iida dodges the attacks but loses his chance to stop her.
Uraraka lands on the bomb and says:
"Got it!"
Iida shouts desperately:
"No! The weapon!"
Bakugou looks up in shock. He then turns to Izuku, who is on the ground, and says:
"So you're telling me from the very beginning you…"
Izuku replies:
"I didn't want to use it. Not because I look down on you, but because I can't control it. Every time I use it, the energy this power generates destroys my body. So this was the only way I could think of to win."
At that moment, All Might shouts into the microphone:
"The hero team wins!"