"By the way, it looks like the match is between Kyoka and the leader from Css B!"

  Momo used the break while toss began repairing the stage again to lean over and whisper to Kaminari.

  "If Kyoka advances, doesn't that mean she might have to face the winner of the first two rounds again in the semifinals?" Momo's tone was casual, but her expression was thoughtful.

  Kaminari blinked, slightly surprised by the realization. His gaze drifted to the arerance where Kyoka had just gone down to prepare. He hadn't sidered this possibility before.

  "Hmm… If I end up beating Todoroki, there's definitely a ce I'd have to face Kyoka," he replied, a bit lost in thought.

  "Hehehe," Momo leaned in, a mischievous smile on her face. "If that really happens, what would you do?"

  Kaminari thought about it for a moment before replying with a grin, "I won't back down just because of that. I still have to try my best to win. I made a promise to go for first pce, after all. It'd be embarrassing to fall short now."

  Ashido, always ready to stir things up, leaned over with a mischievous look. "So… if it came down to it, would you be okay with 'domestic violence' on the field?"

  Kaminari's face turned deadpan as he stared at her. Domestic violence? Really? He decided to ighe term Ashido used and responded calmly, "I'll do everything I to win, but I'll make sure not to hurt her."

  "Kaminari," Tokoyami spoke up uedly, his tone serious, "Don't uimate Todoroki. He's not an oppoo take lightly."

  Kaminari's gaze shifted to Todoroki, who stood leaning against the wall, watg the arena below. "Of course. I'll give it everything I've got against him."

  As if sensing Kaminari's eyes on him, Todoroki gnced over. Their gazes met, a silent exge sparkiweeodoroki's icy blue eyes held a cool determination, while Kaminari's golden eyes shoh fidence.

  The tensioween them alpable, even making the usually loud Ashido and Mia quiet down for a moment.

  But before the atmosphere could grow any more intense, Present Mic's enthusiastic voice bsted through the stadium, breaking the silend filling the area with excitement.

  The two broke eye tact, both shifting their attention to the field as the final match of the sed round began.

  "Thank you, toss!"

  "Now, let's get ready for the st match of the sed round! From Css A, we have Kyoka Jiro, fag off against Css B's Kendo Itsuka!"

  Present Mic's voied through the stadium, setting the crowd on edge.

  "And the winner will secure the st spot in the semifinals!"

  As Mic hyped up the crowd, the four special-effect fmethrowers around the areed, casting a bze over the field.

  "Begin!"

  At the sound of the signal, Kyoka immediately went on the offensive, plugging her earlobe jacks into the ground in front of her. The floor shook with her signature move, cracks spreading toward Kendo with a rumbling sound.

  While the spearveled at the se, toss sighed quietly to himself. What's with this year's css? So many Quirks focused oru… Hopefully, I have enough t prepared for all this repair work.

  Kendo, however, repared. The leader of Css B wasn't about to let herself be caught off guard. Just as the grouh her began to crack, she sprang into the air, using her Quirk te her hands.

  "Boom!"

  With her giant hands, Kendo swiped at the air, creating a powerful gust of wind that propelled her forward. The force of the wi her hurtling toward Kyoka like a missile.

  "She use her hands to fly?!" several spectatasped in surprise.

  Even some of the pro heroes in the audience looked impressed, noting Kendo's quick thinking and adaptability.

  Kyoka narrowed her eyes, but she didn't panic. She extended her earlobes, aiming to intercept Kendo in midair.

  But Kendo anticipated the move, and with a grin, she swung her enrged hands again, geing anust of wind that disrupted Kyoka's attack.

  "Sorry, Kyoka! I saw that triing!" Kendo shouted fidently, her giant hand swooping in towards Kyoka.

  Kyoka tried to dodge, but the gusts kept her off-bance, blowing her cables away before they could reach Kendo.

  In that moment, as Kendo's massive fist closed in, Kyoka had a flicker ret. She gnced up at the stands, almost as if searg for Kaminari among the crowd.

  Sorry, Kaminari… looks like I couldn't make it to the semifinals like I pnned…

  In her mind, she'd hoped to advao the round, so that if she ended up fag Kaminari, she could throw the matd let him serve his energy for the final.

  But it seemed none of that would e to pass.

  The fight ended quickly. Despite Kyoka's initial advantage, Kendo's improvisation and tactical thinking turhe tables. In a matter of moments, she had overpowered Kyoka, winning the matd seg her p the semifinals.

  The entire crowd, including Kaminari, Momo, Present Mid Aizawa, watched in surprise. On paper, Kyoka's Quirk seemed like it would be a perfect ter for Kendo's cle style. But Kendo's clever use of wind to disrupt Kyoka's attacks had been uedly effective.

  "Looks like Css B isn't as weak as we thought…" Shoji muttered, watg as Kendo waved to the crowd with a bright smile.

  Kaminari, who had been watg closely, nodded. "They're just as capable as we are. After all, they're Hero students too."

  With that, he stood up, ready to make his way to the exit. He po che Kyoka and offer her some encement… and then, it would be time for his own match.

  Gng over to where Todoroki had been leaning against the wall, he noticed the spot was y. He turned his gaze slightly to the side, spotting Endeavor standing tall, fmes flickering around his body as he watched the arena with intense focus.

  Kaminari's eyes narrowed slightly. He'd soon show Endeavor just how serious he was.

  "I'll show you, Endeavor… my full power," he murmured to himself, g his fists.

  But as Kaminari walked dowands, Monoma o's voice rang out, filled with smug satisfa.

  "What's wrong, Css A? Weren't you supposed to be the better css? Losing to our css leader like that, even after 'fighting vilins'? How embarrassing!"

  Monoma had once again popped up over the wall, taunting them with his usual sneer. And this time, without Kendo to stop him, he was free to gloat as much as he wanted.

  "Get lost!"

  Bakugo, who was already simmering with anger from his own loss, stood up and gred at Monoma with a murderous expression, his voice a low growl.

  "Unless you wao blow you up right here, shut your mouth."

  Monoma's eyes widened, and he quickly ducked down, silenced by Bakugo's intense gre. His entire body seemed to shiver uhe weight of Bakugo's fury.

  What a terrifying guy… Monoma thought, swallowing hard as he stayed out of sight.

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 45+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.