Mha oc

Sports festival-part six

I leaned against the railing overlooking the arena, chin resting on my palm as the battles played out below. Each fight had its own flair, but I wasn't watching for entertainment—I was studying. Every move, every quirk, every habit or tell my classmates had was filed away in the back of my mind.

Todoroki won his fight against Midoriya, though Izuku gave him a hell of a challenge. That kid's bones may as well be made of paper, but he made up for it with sheer grit. Tokoyami took out Mina in a clean and calculated match—his Dark Shadow was going to be a pain to deal with if we ended up facing each other. Then there was Bakugou, who blew Kirishima out of the ring after a flurry of relentless attacks. Predictable, but effective.

I sighed, pushing off the railing as my name was called.

"Ryosuke Woods vs. Ibara Shiozaki!"

Dragging my feet to the stairs, I muttered to myself, "Great. I get stuck with the tree hugger. What's next? Someone going to toss me into a forest for a bonding retreat?"

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as I trudged into the ring, rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck. Across from me, Ibara stood tall, her hands clasped in front of her in what I could only assume was a prayer.

"May we have a fair and just match," she said softly, bowing slightly.

I waved a hand dismissively, stifling a yawn. "Yeah, yeah, peace and blessings or whatever. Let's just get this over with, Groot."

Her serene smile didn't falter, but I could see the faintest twitch in her brow. Bingo.

"Begin!"

I barely moved as her vines shot toward me, weaving together like snakes hunting their prey. Instead, I expanded my barrier just enough to deflect them, the vines bouncing harmlessly off the invisible field.

"Seriously?" I said, scratching the back of my neck. "This is your plan? Just throw leaves at me and hope for the best?"

Her expression remained calm, but her vines adjusted, attempting to encircle me from multiple angles. I let them get close before shifting the barrier outward in a quick pulse, forcing them back.

"You're going to have to do better than that," I said, smirking lazily.

Her strategy shifted, the vines forming a dense wall to box me in. I let out an exaggerated sigh, shoving my hands into my pockets.

"Really? A cage? Cute. But there's one problem..." I raised a hand, and the barrier expanded again, shattering her wall like glass. "You're not the only one who can control space."

Ibara's eyes narrowed, her composure finally cracking. She sent another wave of vines my way, faster and more erratic this time. I sidestepped the first few, deflecting the rest with quick flicks of my barrier.

"You're trying so hard," I said, my tone almost pitying. "But the thing is, you're fighting someone who's literally impossible to hit."

Her vines lashed out again, more desperate now, and I decided it was time to end this. With a flick of my wrist, I created a dome-shaped barrier that trapped her vines mid-strike, locking them in place.

I strolled up to her, my barrier forming a protective bubble around me. "No hard feelings, right?" I asked, raising a brow. Then I stepped through her defenses and tapped her shoulder.

"Out of bounds," Midnight's voice called.

The crowd erupted in cheers and groans as Ibara's vines fell limp, retreating back to her sides. She bowed her head in quiet resignation, muttering something about doing better next time.

Ibara straightened, brushing off her skirt and offering me a small bow. "You fought well, Ryosuke Woods. I pray you continue to fight with honor."

"Yeah, sure. Honor. Whatever you say," I muttered, waving her off as I trudged back toward the exit.

From the stands, I could hear Kirishima laughing, Bakugou yelling something unintelligible, and Mic cheering like I'd just won the damn championship.

"Next time, maybe someone who doesn't have vines for hair," I muttered to myself, shoving my hands back into my pockets. "I'm allergic to bullshit."