Rise up

~19~

"This might be the most disturbing match-up." Tsu voices her concerns that most of the class agrees with.

"I know I almost don't wanna watch it."

I ignore my class and watch Ochaco and Bakugo walk out into the arena. Bakugo's face is so serious and hardened in a sneer that I can't help but snort at how he looks. If I had my phone on me, I probably would have snapped a photo to make fun of him. 'Shut up. We don't like him right now.'

"The eighth and final battle of the first round of the matches. Katsuki Bakugo, the hothead from class 1-A vs. the one I'm personally rooting for Ochaco Uraraka."

I stare at the two as Present Mic announces them. Ochaco takes deep breaths calming herself while Bakugo just stares blankly ahead, ready for the match to begin.

"Let the eighth match begin!"

Instantly Uraraka gets low to the ground and charges at Bakugo. The blonde holds his palms out at his side, ready, watching, and waiting for the approaching girl. As Ochaco gets closer, Bakugo draws his right arm back, ready to release an explosion. I believe Ochaco may have a chance if she can duck under the attack. Still, Katsuki sweeps his arm up from the ground leaving no chance to duck under the explosion.

"Uraraka!" As Midoriya yells for the girl, who was just blown away by the blast and the rest of the class gasp.

~*~

It went on for what felt like hours—attack after attack after attack. Uraraka kept getting back up and rushing Bakugo, only to be sent back by an explosion each time. The brown-haired girl is banged up from the relentless attacks but never quits.

I watch as Ochaco stops with her continuous attacks wiping the dirt and sweat from her face. She readies her hands as if she is releasing something. I furrow my brows, confused about what she is trying to do. Bakugo relaxes from his fighting stance, also confused. I can barely see the shock present on his face as he gazes at the sky above him. I follow his gaze, my eyes widening at the discovery.

'So this was her plan? Pretty clever. Not sure how he will manage to avoid that.' I smirk as the possibility of Bakugo not making it through the first round increases. I would have liked the chance to fight him, but this attack of debris just seems unavoidable.

Ochaco yells as she brings her hands together, releasing the many rocks floating above the boy's head. Bakugo stares up at the falling debris as Ochaco begins charging at him again, ready to float him out of the arena. As she closes in, Ochaco begins floating herself. Katsuki finally makes a move to do something and raises his arm to the sky.

The whole arena shakes as Bakugo sends off the most powerful explosion I have seen from him. A heavy wind blows hats off of people and rats their hair. The sheer force from the explosion that wasn't directed at Uraraka was enough to force the girl back. I notice the subtle way that Bakugo holds his wrist and flexes it as if the attack hurt him.

As the wind dies down, Ochaco stumbles up to her feet, determined to keep going. Bakugo smirks, happy to keep the fight going, and begins charging at the girl. As Ochaco gains her balance a little, she turns to face the charging hothead but falls to the ground, worn out from the fight.

Bakugo hesitated and stopped short when Ochaco fell to the ground. I'm shocked once again during their match since the boy who never knows when to quit actually realizes that the fight is over. Just when he relaxes, though, sure of his victory, Ochaco pulls herself across the ground. She's stubborn, not wanting the fight to be over just yet, but then her head slowly falls to the side, and she passes out.

Midnight cautiously makes her way to the browned-haired girl on the floor. She places a delicate hand on her back before announcing the end of the match. "Uraraka is KOed. Bakugo advances to the second round."