Total Command

Chapter 52: The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.

Izuku backpedaled, nearly slamming head-first onto the ground as an axe-kick from Miruko almost connected with the top of his head. His helmet screamed about the proximity of the attack as he attempted to regain his bearings.

He was faster with this new way of using One for All.

Wayyyyy too fast.

His own body was getting in his way every time he dodged one of her attacks. Even just keeping his own feet under him was being a challenge.

He just wasn't used to this new speed.

He pulled his head back, dodging another roundhouse kick from the pro. The force of his lean alone would've given him whiplash if not for the shock absorbers Mei had jammed his headgear with.

In spite of it all, he was sporting a smirk, one that was mirrored by Miruko.

"S̪o ̟ṯh̢is͓ i̟ş ͟w͉ha͇t͜ bei̮ng͕ a̬n a̯dre͜n͎alin͖ȩ ̞j̥u̝nk̖ie̫ ̧f̯ee͢ls͔ like̱ ͈hu̧h͈?̦"̲

Nana, 'Flow'.

"R̬ig̝ht,̩ r̰igh̞t."

He needed all the processing power he could get right now.

He breathed out and felt the nonessential parts of his brain shut down, emotion leaving him. In response, the eyes on his mask twitched, then split into three horizontal lines spanning his whole face.

He rolled under one of Miruko's kicks, getting behind her in an instant, but before he could land a solid hit she countered with another roundhouse, Izuku barely flipping back to dodge and gain some more distance from the Rabbit Hero.

"What's wrong? Can't keep up?" Miruko taunted. Her crimson eyes were a little wild and a smirk threatening to split her face in half. He caught the tensing of her neck flow down into powerful shoulders. Each twitch of her head to read his movements plain as day as her upper torso flexed.

Izuku didn't respond, only clenched his fists and pulled them up into a boxer's stance.

Miruko laughed. "Oh? Gonna tank it out? And here I thought I needed to get serious before I could land a hit!"

Izuku got in close, closer than Miruko could have expected. She felt her breath taken away as she had half a second to dodge the punch that came her way. Flexing her powerful core and forcing herself to keep her breath level, she dodged several more jabs that were leveled her way, forcing the heroine to go on the defensive for a moment.

Oh, he's getting my hopes up.

He shot out with a left hook that moved faster than it had any right to considering the bulk of machinery on his forearm. Some stray sparks caught Miruko on the arm, an action that almost caused her to flinch until the energy melted into her skin and she felt it.

Determination?

The sensation was intoxicating. Was the source of this amount of raw determination Izuku?She felt exhilaration, her smile getting wider. If he wants a real fight...

The next moment, in the place she once stood was a crater, the white and brown blur that was Miruko closing the distance between them in an instant, leg pulled back, ready to deliver the massive payload only her muscular thighs could deliver.

She released the kick, her foot arcing towards his gauntlet and head fast enough to break the sound barrier, cracking like a whip.

Maybe she was going too hard against the man; there was no way he could shake that of—