The corridor was quiet and dim, with only the sterile glow of the lights overhead casting a pale hue over the empty space. Kyoka walked forward slowly, her footsteps eg as her head hung low. Behihe muffled cheers from the stadium drifted down the hallway, but they only served to deepen the ache in her chest.

  In that heavy silence, regret filled her thoughts.

  If only… she thought to herself, if only I'd spent more time honing my Quirk instead of fog just on music, maybe things would've been different today.

  "Kyoka?"

  A familiar voice cut through her thoughts, breaking the lonely rhythm of her footsteps. She looked up, surprised, only to see Kaminari standing there, a warm and reassuring smile on his face.

  "Kaminari!" she excimed, her face brightenie herself.

  He walked up to her, his expression soft with . "You okay?"

  The way he looked at her with such genuine care made the disappoi in her heart begin to melt away. It felt like that familiar jolt of electricity that he always carried with him had dispelled the lingering shadows in her mind.

  "Let me tell you something, Kyoka," he said, his tone sincere. "Making it to the quarterfinals is a big deal. Think about hoeople would've loved to get this far. Look at all the students who didn't even make it past the first round. You did great."

  A small ugh escaped her. "You're really trying to make me feel better, huh?"

  "Of course!" he grinned. "I'm serious, though. You don't o feel disappointed. You were incredible out there."

  Kyoka let out a soft sigh, her shoulders rexing. "I know… It's not really about the tour. I just… I guess I feel like I could've done more. Like, if I'd focused a little more on improving my Quirk, maybe I wouldn't have beeen so easily."

  "Hey," Kaminari said, stepping closer. Before she could react, he pced a gentle hand on top of her head, mussing up her purple hair ever so slightly. She blinked up at him, caught off guard by the ued gesture.

  "Thank you, Kyoka," he said softly, his voice filled with gratitude. "You did more than enough. And… I promise, I'll do my best out there."

  As he let his hand fall away, Kyoka found herself momentarily speechless, watg as he turned and tinued down the hallway toward the stadium. His parting words lingered in the air.

  "Stay up there and watch. I'll make you proud."

  Once he was out of sight, she reached up, toug the spot where his hand had been. Her face turned slightly red, and a quiet, barely audible whisper slipped from her lips.

  "...You're only a month older than me, you know. Who said I wanted you as my big brother…?"

  ---

  Ba the arena, Kaminari emerged from the tunnel and was greeted by a blinding flood of light and the r cheers of the crowd. Across the field, Todoroki stepped forward, calm and posed as always, though his eyes held a certain iy that hadn't been there in previous matches.

  The atmosphere was electrio pun intended. It felt like everyone iadium khat this was the battle they had been waiting for.

  "Todoroki and Kaminari on the field!" Present Mic's voied over the speakers, barely managing to cut through the deafening roar of the audiehis is it, folks! This match promises to be one for the ages!"

  Present Mic ractically boung with excitement, and eveypically stoic Aizawa had leaned forward ever so slightly, his eyes fixed owo students.

  As the crowd settled, Kaminari took a few steps forward, meeting Todoroki's gaze. "So… your dad stopped by to talk to me before the match."

  Todoroki's indifferent expression flickered, a slight scowl f. "Endeavor?"

  Kaminari nodded. "Yeah. Not to be blunt, but your dad's kind of… intense. He wanted me to make sure you use your full power."

  Todoroki's face hardened. He already suspected what Endeavor had wanted, but hearing it firmed from Kaminari only deepehe tension in his posture. "Did he offer you something? Money, maybe? Or some other iive?"

  "Nope." Kaminari shrugged. "But he did promise to let me punch him if I mao push you into using your fmes."

  Todoroki's eyes narrowed, both puzzled and irritated. "A punch?"

  "Yeah," Kaminari said with a grin. "Apparently, he thinks if I force you to use your fmes, that would be worth a punch to the face. And you know, the idea of deg the wo hero in Japan is pretty tempting."

  A dry chuckle slipped from Kaminari's lips, but when he tinued, his tone grew serious. "But this isn't just about my deal with your dad."

  "Then what is it about?" Todoroki asked, his voice colder than the ice he wielded.

  Kaminari's face darkened, his usually carefree eyes turning steely. "This isn't about your dad's deal. This is about you. If you hold back… if you refuse to use your full strength… then I'm going to make yret it."

  The threat was delivered quietly, but it carried an unmistakable weight, causing even Todoroki to stiffen slightly.

  "I'm serious, Todoroki. If you don't e at me with everything you've got," Kaminari warned, a fierce glint fshing in his eyes, "then I'll beat you dht here, in front of everyone. So if yoing to be stubborn, then don't bme me for what happe."

  Todoroki's eyes fshed with a hint of flict, his fingers g slightly. For a brief moment, he seemed almost uain. Theraightened, his gaze id resolute.

  "My power isn't something for you or him to decide," he said coolly. "I know what I'm here to do."

  Kaminari let out a soft sigh, his lips curving into a small, dangerous smile. "Fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

  As Present Mic's voice called out for the start of the match, Kaminari took a stance, electricity crag around him. He kept his eyes locked on Todoroki, a look of unwaveriermination on his face.

  And as the match began, Kaminari silently hoped that Todoroki would finally let go of the weight that held him back. Because if not… then Kaminari was fully prepared to knock it out of him.

  ***

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