"Yay! Mato-kun is in the final!" Toga exclaimed while jumping in the air.
"One last step, Mato... one last step," muttered Shigaraki under his breath.
"He did a good job, but he broke his right arm," Kurogiri noticed.
"Don't worry," Dabi replied. "They probably have someone with a healing Quirk in the infirmary."
"So... will he be fine?" asked Toga.
"Yes," Dabi said. "He'll be fine."
"What do we give him as a reward if he wins?" Shigaraki asked.
"Whatever he asks for," Dabi replied. "I think he deserves it; he's been working nonstop."
"Fine, we'll give him whatever he asks for," said Shigaraki.
__________
Infirmary
"He's opening his eyes!"
"He's alive!"
"Hey, Hideki, you okay?"
Mato slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on a hospital bed. In front of him, there were Uraraka, Izuku, and Shoto.
"Hi guys..." Mato weakly sat up, wiping away sweat from his forehead. "Shoto-kun... sorry if I hit you too hard."
"You deserved to win," Shoto said. "Not only did you push me to use my left side, but you also managed to defeat me at my fullest."
"We're proud of you, Hideki," Izuku said. "Right now, Kacchan is fighting Iida."
"Fine..." said Mato. "Whoever my opponent is, I won't lose in the final."
"Well said, Shirakawa-kun!" said Uraraka. "I hope Bakugo beats Iida, so you'll beat the shit out of him in the final."
"I don't promise anything," Mato whispered.
"You promised me to win if you met Bakugo in the tournament."
"Did I?" repeated Mato. "Well, if I really did promise that, I'll beat Bakugo."
Suddenly, Recovery Girl approached. "My, my, boy... you're in a terrible shape."
"Can you heal me?" Mato asked.
"First time breaking your bones, huh?" Izuku laughed. "I always break my bones, even after I fought you."
"Yeah, I know..." Mato said as Recovery Girl kissed his arm. "Or like that time I found you in the infirmary after the villains attacked you..."
As if by magic, Mato's arm grew back.
"Now you're ready to fight again," said Recovery Girl. "Since it's the first time you've broken your bones, I'm willing to heal you again if this happens again."
"Thanks, Recovery," Mato got up from his bed. "I feel tired. Can I please wait before returning to the stands?"
"Yes, but be ready when they call you for the final," said Recovery Girl.
"Hey, Hideki, can I ask you a question?" said Shoto.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Why do you always faint after a fight?"
"It's not that I faint, it's the negative side of my Quirk: I suffer from drowsiness, so I fall asleep if I overuse my Quirk as I did with you or Izuku."
"Oh, I see," understood Shoto. "So you didn't faint because I drained you."
"You did," said Mato. "You're probably the strongest opponent I've faced since I'm here."
"Thanks," said Shoto.
"You're the strongest in your class, aren't you?" said Uraraka. Mato nodded.
"Just for information... what do I get if I win this tournament?" Mato asked.
"Immense recognition, popularity, huge attention from Pro Hero Agencies, and bragging rights," Shoto replied.
"So, no physical trophy?"
"No."
(Pity. Even if I guess Shigaraki will reward me afterwards.)
"Well, it's time to return to the stands," said Mato. "Do you want to follow me?"
"Let's go," said Shoto. "We'll all root for you, whoever your opponent is."
"You should root for your classmate."
__________
Stands
Mato returned on the stand and clutched his right wrist.
"It's back as good as new."
Suddenly, someone rushed towards him.
"HIDEKI-KUUUN!"
Itsuka jumped onto Mato's arms, hugging him tight.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH!"
Mato hugged her back. "I'm alive and well, Itsuka..."
(Kyaaa! He's hugging me, he's hugging me!)
"Tell Tets and Tokage I'm okay," said Mato, breaking the hug. "And also that I'll win for our class."
"I will, Hideki-kun!" said Itsuka, leaving.
Mato sighed; he was tired, but he couldn't give up.
Suddenly, Present Mic shouted.
"TENYA IIDA IS OUT OF BOUNDS! KATSUKI BAKUGO ADVANCES TO THE FINAL AGAINST HIDEKI SHIRAWAKA!"
Mato's eyes widened. (Final against Bakugo? I gotta win. It doesn't matter how injured I am afterwards; I'm prepared to even lose limbs to win.)
He looked at his hand and clenched his fist. (I try to convince myself I want to win only because it's a direct order from All For One, but... strangely, I genuinely want to win. I know Himiko-chan is watching in Yokohama. She must be happy...)
Mato looked at the fighting stage.
(Himiko-chan... Shigaraki... Dabi... I'm going to win for you all.)
He stopped for a minute.
(And yes, even for you, Class 1-B.)
__________
"INTRODUCING THE TWO FINALISTS OF THIS SPORTS FESTIVAL!" Present Mic shouted. Mato slowly walked up onto the ring, his fists clenched. In front of him, his opponent: Katsuki Bakugo.
"ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WE HAVE THE OUTCAST WHO GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE #3 NATIONAL HERO. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN: HIDEKI SHIRAKAWA, FROM CLASS B!"
"AND ON THE LEFT SIDE, WE HAVE THE ONE WHO MADE EVERYONE SPEAK ABOUT HIMSELF. HE'S A HOTHEAD, BUT HE HITS LIKE A BLACKSMITH: KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
They looked at each other.
"You're not thinking about defeating me, are you?" Bakugo asked.
Mato laughed. "That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to kick your ass so hard you'll be scared when you hear my name."
"How dare you?" Bakugo snorted. "I'm the best, and you're just an extra!"
"Who's the best will be decided by who wins this match," Mato said calmly.
"Everyone is rooting for me," Bakugo smiled.
"I wouldn't be so sure, y'know?" Mato pointed to a spot on the stands. Bakugo saw a sign that read, 'Ganbare, Hideki'.
"They're rooting for me," Mato rubbed the back of his head.
"Only the ones in your class!" Bakugo snarled. "Class B is useless!"
"That's exactly what I hate to hear," Mato cracked his knuckles. "Like I said during my speech, I'm here to win to prove you Class B is worth becoming full of pro heroes."
(Tch, why am I saying this? This brat's right, I don't care about my class... or do I?)
"BEGIN!" Present Mic yelled.
"Come at me, extra!" Bakugo used his explosion to lunge towards Mato.
Mato put himself on guard. "Yeah, let's go, you hothead!"
Chapter 19 - End