The next matches pass by mostly unceremoniously.
The pink-haired girl - Hatsume - was just using Iida as her model to show off her gadgets and willingly stepped out of bounds.
Those gadgets were pretty awesome, though.
Ashido beats Aoyama.
Tokoyami defeats Yaoyorozou.
Humorously, Kirishima and steel boy - Tetsutetsu - have a tie.
In a matter of minutes, the final match, and perhaps the final interesting match of Round 1 will begin: Bakugou vs Uraraka.
But Hanada-chan thinks differently. She has been observing every match with a keen and critical eye, as though each one was equally intriguing. When I asked her why, she smirked mischievously. "Why not?" she had said and left it at that.
Now Bakugou and Uraraka step onto the concrete battlefield. Bakugou is as graceful as ever, wearing his signature sneer. Uraraka, however, is frowning in determination, which would look impressive if her face was not so cute. Like the previous matches, I can't hear anything, but it's obvious that Bakugou is goading Uraraka, as if he wants her to initiate. That seems odd for someone who typically takes the initiative first. On the contrary, Midoriya's voice is loud and clear. He's analyzing the hell out of the two. Curious, I eavesdrop.
"Kacchan is undeniably strong! And in a close-quarters brawl, he's got almost no openings to speak of. If you factor in the mobility his quirk gives him, he's even stronger. That being said, while it's true he has maneuverability in midair as well, if she can cause him to float, she can gain the initiative from there. So that's why she needs to strike fast!"
I guess all that analysis isn't nonsense because Uraraka does exactly as he says: she dashes toward Bakugou, palms spread out to levitate him as soon as she finds the chance. But Bakugou is no less. Once she closes in, he releases an explosion so powerful it almost blows her back. Lots of smoke cloud the arena. From what little I can see, he bends down to where he thinks Uraraka is, but she rounds him, approaching from behind. She tries to float him as he's distracted, but he swings his arm out again in another explosion, this time blowing her back meters away. This process repeats: she charges forward, he blows her back, smoke accumulates. Some people think that he's being excessive and brutal with his attacks, but I beg to differ. So does Aizawa-sensei, who calls out the dumb people and tells them that he's going to these lengths because he acknowledges Uraraka's prowess.
All the while, blocks of debris hover midair, just above their heads. It all makes sense. Those blocks rain down like hail on Bakugou, and while he's sidetracked by them, Uraraka runs one last time, but at the last moment he blasts so immense she's flung to the other end of the arena. I am simultaneously astonished and overwhelmed. As a last feeble attempt, she tries to run again but promptly falls to the ground, unable to move. And so, Bakugou advances.
This match was the last of the Round 1 matches, so the teachers announce that there will be a longer break this time. I seize this opportunity to beckon Hanada-chan to follow me. I intend to visit the shop stalls just outside the stadium and explore what they have.
But before we get there, she makes us take a detour to the cafeteria.
"If you want food, we can find some at the stalls," I reason.
"None of those stalls have milk," she counters. "And my milk cravings are hitting in."
To my suspicion, she stops just before the cafeteria hall, and tells me to go in there first. "Please check if the woman at the counter has blonde hair, brown eyes, and wrinkles."
"Why?" I ask with unveiled suspicion.
"Just do it. You don't have to talk to her. I just need you to check."
I give her a weird look and do as she says. When I return seconds later, her face is hopeful. "No, a woman of that description wasn't there. Instead, it was someone with black hair, green eyes, and youthfulness." She sighs in obvious relief. "Now, will you tell me why you sent me on that strange errand?"
She looks away. "Before my match, I came here to fill my thermos with milk. That lady with wrinkles was at the counter then, and she refused to give me milk. When I said she could cut it from my lunch account, she stayed adamant. We negotiated, and I gave her 800 yen. That's the average price of a gallon of milk, and my thermos is only a quart. Now that I want more milk, I was worried that if she was still there, she would charge me again. I admit I'm rich, but even I have a budget," she grumbles disdainfully.
I chuckle unrestrained. Even when we head in and Hanada-chan asks for more milk - this lady is kind enough to cut it from her lunch account - I'm grinning behind my hand. She's thoroughly annoyed with me because she shoves me lightly.
"You said we would check out the shops," she scowls, clearly trying to change the setting.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go," I accede.
But when we get there, I spot an ice cream stall, and I can't resist one last tease.
"It's a shame: you could have had ice cream had you not been looted."
She shoves me again.
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Blossoms of the Dark
RomanceHanada Selene. Todoroki Shouto. Two troubled souls living troubled lives. But they somehow find solace within each other. They first met in a dream, and later again in real life. Both of them were initially wary of each other. But with time, the...
