Cherry Bomb

A Cherry Bomb Is Born

Hibiki

How long had I waited for this? Trained for this? Dreamed of the day I'd finally get to face him? It wasn't anything like I thought it'd be.

Before this all started I wanted to channel all my rage. All my hurt. My suffering, at the boy...the man in front of me. But all I felt was relief. Cho's sister helped me through the maze. Working side by side with my allies in the stepping stones round. Bakugo lent me his shirt. Their kindness wasn't wasted.

But it wasn't over, yet.

From five feet away, he yelled, with a huge grin, "DON'T HOLD BACK! GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT, ASUGAAAAAA!"

I gasped. He...he called me...

After losing my mother I should've felt empty. Like a part of me was missing. But I didn't. I was happy. "I won't," I promised.

Midnight walked backward into the grass, away from the platform. "Both parties are consenting to a skipped recess! No foreplay today, my lovelies!"

Bakugo and I winced. "Why did she have to say it like that?" We asked aloud.

She cracked her whip. "Let the final match...begin!"

Bakugo didn't waste any time. He projected himself forward with his quirk and threw a right hook at me. I barely dodged it. His fighting skills combined with his reaction time and the ability to use his quirk made him a blur of light and color. I felt the tremors of his explosions beneath my feet, making me unsteady. The air reeked of smoke and sulfur. He was moving so fast that it was all I could do to steer clear of his hands.

Bakugo wasn't like the others. There'd be no mind games. No time for strategizing. Between his speed and stamina, I didn't have time to formulate a plan of attack.

I just had to go for it.

I dodged his kicks and punches, leaping in the air over his head when he tried shooting me with one of his explosions. It felt good to finally use my athleticism properly. I spun on my toes. Dodged through the air, avoiding his fists. I rolled across the floor, and kicked off of it with my feet for momentum.

It felt like our fight at the club. Whenever I tried to land a punch I missed. His attacks were far more accurate. But still, our match wasn't so much a fight as it was two people weaving around each other.

"ASUGA AND BAKUGO ARE BOTH SERVING THEIR BEST MOVES, PIPING HOT! BUT DO THEY KNOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FIGHT? INSTEAD OF WORLD WAR THREE, WE'RE GETTING A TOP SHELF-TANGO!"

I flushed with annoyance. "Seriously, Mr. Yamada?" I squeaked when I narrowly dodged a kick from Bakugo's boot to my face.

"You better not be holding out on me, Asuga!" He yelled, shooting another blast at me.

"AAHH!" I cried. This attack hit its mark, knocking me in the shoulder and into the air. I fell on my back with a hard slam. Pain shot through every part of me. The left side of my shirt was scorched. I struggled to stand. Every part of me ached.

"Stop dodging and FIGHT MEE!" He growled.

I recognized this tone now. It wasn't tender and patient, but all the same, I saw his taunts for what they were.

Encouragement.

"GET UP!" He yelled.

I blocked my chest with my arms, waiting for an onslaught of fire and smoke. But nothing came. I peeked between my fingers, blocking out the sun. Why...why isn't he attacking me? He's just standing there.

Then I remembered. If we fight I'll win by beating you at your best, not because I kicked you while you were down.

He won't attack me while I'm not on my feet. I groaned in agony, my arms trembling as I pushed myself back up. I took deep breaths and focused on staying upright. Come on, get up.