Stuck Between Realities-Remastered

Part 22~Second Half

"Out of my way," Todoroki snapped, glaring at his father.

"You disgrace me, Shoto. You could've crushed both the obstacle course and cavalry battle if you'd used your left side. Grow up. Stop rebelling like some petulant child. Remember your duty to surpass All Might. Understand? You're different from your siblings. You're my greatest creation."

Todoroki narrowed his eyes, his teeth gritting together. "That's all you've got to say to me? I'll win this with mom's power alone. I'll never use your power in battle."

"That may be good enough while you're a school kid. But you'll reach your limit soon enough."

~~

"The wait is over," Present Mic announced as Cementoss finished fixing the fighting arena. "The cream of the crop. Yet this guy's somehow still as plain as they come. Hanta Sero of the hero course. Versus the best of the best. Strongest of the strong. Shoto Todoroki, also of the hero course. Start!"

Sero stretched, warming up lightly. "I don't really feel much like winning, but I don't feel like losing either." Sero shot out his tap, wrapping around Todoroki as he began to turn, dragging Todoroki with him.

"He's trying to push him out with a surprise attack. It's probably the best strategy for him. Sero's giving it his all," Present Mic cheered as Todoroki took a breath.

"Sorry 'bout this." Before Sero could react, the arena was covered in ice that stretched over the crowd and high into the sky. Todoroki stood unharmed.

"That's overkill, no?" Present Mic stared in shock as Midnight turned to Sero.

"Sero, can you move?"

"You're kidding, right?" Sero winced in pain as Midnight called the battle.

The crowds all started to cheer and comfort Sero. "Good try." If anything, it made Sero feel worse.

Todoroki walked over to Sero, placing his hand on the ice. "Sorry, I overdid it. I was just annoyed." The crowds cheered more, but Izuku just watched, with a look in his eyes as he watched Todoroki intensely.

"Shoto Todoroki moves on to the second round."

~~~

"With the arena all thawed out, it's time for the next match," Present Mic cheered. "It's class B's assassin! Every something-or-other has its thorns?! Ibra Shiozaki! Versus the sparkling killing boy, Denki Kaminari."

Shiozaki blinked in surprise before she raised her hand. "Pardon my objection. But what exactly did you mean by 'assassin'? I have merely come this far seeking victory."

Present Mic coughed awkwardly. "Sorry about that. Start!"

"Wanna grab something to eat when we're done here? I'll be happy to console you if you want. Because this match will probably be over in an instant." Kaminari charged his Quirk, releasing the high volts of energy.

"But it's already over," Present Mic shouted in surprise as Shiozaki wrapped her wines around Kaminari, holding him off the ground. "In case you didn't hear me, it's already over. Shiozaki advances to the second round."

"Yes, I have not wasted the opportunity bestowed upon me," Shiozaki muttered to herself as Kaminari waved his thumbs in the air, every brain cell fried.

~~~

"Moving on, who's next in the battle for the top? Next up is Tenya Iida of the hero course! Versus covered head-to-toe in support items, Mei Hatsume of the support course. Looks like Iida," Present Mic paused in confusion, "also equipped with support items?"

"Aren't those forbidden for hero course students? You have to put in a special request for those things beforehand," Midnight explained as Iida turned to her in surprise.

"Oh, I forgot. I didn't think I'd be a problem, seeing as how Aoyama wears that belt of his."

"Right, he applied for an exception," Midnight explained as if it was obvious.

"I'm terribly sorry, then. However, I was touched by my opponent's sense of sportsmanship. Although she's a member of the support course, she came to me and said, 'If we're to be seen as equals, then we should fight on equal footing.' She gave me these items to use. Earnest spirit, I could never look down on it. That was my thinking." Iida waved his arms about heartily as Midnight shook her head.

"So naive. If both parties are fine with it, I think we can allow this, right?" Midnight turned to the other teachers and, when no one objected, nodded at Present Mic.

"Start."

Izuku snorted as he watched Iida run forward. "He's about to get wrecked."

The others around him gave him a confused look when Hatsume laughed, turning on a microphone and speaker. "What incredible speed, Iida. Your legs feel even lighter than usual, do they not? That's what you can expect with my custom leg parts, which keep up with their user's speed. But dodging is no problem for me with my hydraulic attachment bars."

Hatsume was lifted off the ground as bars shot out of her backpack, pushing her to the side. Iida ran past her before turning sharply.

"What deft manoeuvring Iida. My auto balancer makes those sorts of movements possible." Hatusme grinned as she continued, telling the crowd a play-by-play of all her tech and how they aided in a fight before she let out a happy sigh. "I believe they've seen it all now. There's nothing left to show off."

Finally, Hatsume stepped out of the ring.

"Hatsume is out of the ring. Iida moves on to the second round," Present Mic announced as Iida fell to his knees.

"You deceived me!" Iida stared at Hatsume as she smiled.

"Sorry for using you like that."

"I really dislike you."

~~~

"Back for the rematch, it's class 1A's Kirishima versus class 1B's Tetsutetsu. The winner of their arm wrestling match will decide who advances to the second round," Present Mic announced. "Start."

To say the arm wrestle lasted a while would be a vast understatement. It was almost as long as their actual match. After seemingly hours, a loud crack echoed around the arena and the rock they had been using as a table was cracked, Tetsutetsu's hand lying flat in the stone.

"Ejiro Kirishima moves on to the next round," Midnight announced as Tetstutetsu lowered his head in shame.

"Oh damn, my metal deficiency. I should've eaten more iron this morning."

Kirishima stood up, holding out his hand. "Hey man, you put up a good fight." He gripped Tetsutetsu's hand as the crowds cheered.

~~~

"The final match of the first round. It's the sparkling boy, Yua Aoayam, from the hero course. Versus the pinkest girl here today, Mina Ashido, also from the hero course. Start!"

As Present Mic announced the beginning, Aoyama blasted a beam of light at Mina, who began ducking and dodging, weaving around each attack and using her acid to move faster. She watched carefully, and the second she saw her chance, she threw her acid, melting into Aoyama's belt.

She ran up to him, delivering a devastating uppercut that finally knocked him out.

"Ashido moves to the second round!"