The Emerald Prince

Chapter 30: A Gentle soul

Yes, that is Amajiki Tamaki in the picture.

———

Izuku, Iida, Tokoyami and Bakugou were the finalists.

Izuku glanced up at Iida who nodded. They rose and left together.
"Ready?" Asked the greenette, eyes shining.
Izuku was very excited, though Iida could not match him for skill, the teen's speed would make the fight at least interesting.

Iida gave a tight smile. "Izuku. I'm a proud member of a famous family, with a powerful quirk, who, as far as the public will see it, is about to be completely defeated by someone without them even needing their own quirk."

Izuku had the decency to look a little guilty at that.
"First remember this is the semi finals!" He exclaimed, "Then remember all the excellent wins you've already secured. Then remember how fast you can go. After that remember I'll give you ten attacks like with Toshi. Use them Tenya. And I promise if I win this match, I'll work my hardest to win the whole thing so you won't look bad!"

"Tenya?" Asked Iida hesitantly.
"We're friends...so I thought it felt right. But if it is too informal for you...?"
Izuku glanced away, he'd actually said it without thinking.
"No...it sounds excellent to me, Izuku." Iida smiled broadly.
The greenette turned and grinned up at his companion, making the latter flush a little.
"Great! Then let's do this Tenya!"
"Of course!!!"

Once again, having fired Iida up enough not to realise, Izuku broke UA tradition by walking out with his opponent.

They faced each other and Izuku closed his eyes.
He wondered faintly what chance there was of Inko watching this. He really hoped not.
He shook his head. She definitely wouldn't recognise him anyway. Half the point of the hair to begin with.

Focus.

He listened to the shouts of Present Mic. The whispers of the crowd. The crackles of popcorn. The tugging of fabric in the heat.
The heat.
He could feel it on his skin, a thin sheen of sweet already forming, his hairs rising at the sudden breeze.

Sudden breeze?

Izuku dodged Iida's kick just in time, flipping to land in a crouch and get some space.
Typical, he'd focused too much.

It was a closer fight than his one with Shinsou. Though Shinsou had more skill, Iida's speed meant Izuku had to practically predict where his next attack would come from if he was to react in time.

Three... kick to the torso.
Two... jab to his face
One... leg sweep.
Time.

Izuku jumped high up and as expected, Iida rose to meet him.
So brave.

The greenette practically embraced him, slipping easily around the larger teen's chest so as they fell, he'd be straddling Iida's back.

He leaned back to dodge a blind elbow, catching it, and trapping Iida's right arm between their bodies as he tighten his chokehold around the taller male's neck with their landing.
He deliberately ensured his feet hit the ground first to break the momentum to avoid injuring his friend, before trapping Iida beneath him.

After a minute of struggling, Midnight called it as Izuku's win.
He released the blue haired male and helped him to his feet.

"Fun?"
"...yeah." Replied Iida, surprised with the realisation.
"Then we better make ourselves scarce, it's Kaachan's turn."
They wished Tokoyami luck and left together.

Bakugou won of course, he was especially effective since he sneakily used the concentration to volume ratio that made the explosions brighter and less damaging.