Chapter 29

"To be able to smile...for people to live in peace...I need to keep moving forward."

-Deku, Izuku Midoriya

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"Fight!"

The students watched as Kirishima hardened his arms and rushed towards Izuku, who was casually moving as if he was dancing on the streets.

"He's dancing!" Mina exclaimed excitedly, "Oh my gosh I didn't know Midori could dance!"

"I don't think he's dancing," said Kaminari as he pointed at Izuku who was easily kicking Kirishima on the face while moving so lightly to easily evade the red head teen's punches.

Mina snapped her head towards him with an annoyed look, "Have you seen those moves! He's totally dancing! He's almost as good as me!"

"Capoeira," said All Might as the others turned towards him, especially Ochako who heard from Izuku that he uses that particular martial arts, "It's an Angolan martial arts that combines the elements of dancing, acrobatics, and music. It is known for its acrobatic and complex maneuvers, often involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks. It emphasizes flowing movements rather than fixed stances."

Mina gasped, "You mean to tell me there is a martial arts that uses dancing!? How come I didn't know about it!? I need to learn that! I bet I'll be a master soon!"

Ojiro, the blonde teen with a quirk tail nodded, "Not only that, I can also see some traces of other martial arts as well. He just doesn't stick to Capoeira."

"Well, he was known as the strongest martial artist of his generation for a reason," said Shoji, the tall guy with silver hair and a mask with multiple arms, "He didn't became a champion of Golden Fist Tournament for no reason."

"Judo, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, and several more I couldn't recognize," said Ojiro, "And he's very proficient in all of them."

The class observed as Izuku was sending kicks, knees, punches and elbows at Kirishima, not even giving him time to harden his body.

"First weakness," they heard Izuku say, before he bolted towards Kirishima and sent a right hook, the red head hardened his left arm to block, but it was a fake, as Izuku uppercuts him on the chin, "Your hardening is focused more on your arms and chest, making other parts of your body more vulnerable."

"Second weakness," Izuku said as he rushed to Kirishima and punched him in the face, before grabbing his arms and sweeping his legs and raised him up before throwing him back down to the ground, "You focused too much of your defense on your upper body, leaving your lower body unguarded."

Izuku waited for Kirishima to stand up before saying, "Third weakness...."

The class was in awe at Izuku's performance, as Kaminari couldn't help but exclaim, "Holy crap! He's totally kicking Kirishima's ass!"

"Let's not forget that he already noticed several weaknesses on Kirishima after only a few minutes of fighting," said Jiro, a petite girl with short black hair with and earlobe similar to a jack.

"You all seem to forget about something though," said Shouko as nearly everyone turned towards her, "He hasn't used his Quirk yet."

"Oh damn! You're right!" Exclaimed Kaminari as he focused back to the fight, "He should use it soon though. Kirishima might beat him otherwise."

The others were about to agree when they heard a snort. Turning their heads, they saw Bakugo with an amused face, looking at them.

Momo, who was next to him also appears to be slightly amused.

"What's wrong?" asked Sato, a tall and muscular teen with thick lips.

Bakugo let out a soft chuckle, "Haha, nothing. It's just, now that he got a powerful and flashy Quirk, people forgot that the nerd was Quirkless most of his life."

It was those words that made them remember a particular information about Izuku Midoriya. For fourteen years of his life, he was Quirkless. He only got his Quirk for less than a year.

"That's right," Momo smiled, "All those years, Izuku fought people with Quirks and beat them, using nothing but his skills and intelligence. Even without using his Quirk, Izuku is still capable of beating more than half of us here."

"Heck, if he was given enough time to make a plan, and lure you to his domain where he has all the advantage, he would probably all of us here." Said Bakugo, "What's scary about him is not his strength, or power, but his intelligence. Remember that in just a minute or two after the match starts, he already figured out several of wierd hair's weaknesses."

"Weird ha—"

"Garg!?"

The students quickly returned their gaze back on the arena, where Izuku standing unharmed over an exhausted and beaten up Kirishima.

"Oh damn, Kirishima couldn't fight back at all!" exclaimed Kaminari.

"Even without using his Quirk, Midori trashed him and made it look so easy." Said Toru.

Izuku sighed and scratched the back of his head, "So...you gonna give up? I look like a bully beating you black and blue. It doesn't look heroic at all."

"Hrk..." Kirishima pushed his body to stand up, earning more of Izuku's respect, "I...ain't done..yet..."

Izuku raised his hands, "Sixth weakness. Though you can harden other parts of your body even further, it leaves the other parts more vulnerable and weaker. Further hardening your arms weakens the hardening on the rest of your body."

Kirishima grinned, "You...really are...manly..."

He closed his eyes, remembering the press conference of Izuku Midoriya and the rest of Four Stars months ago.

It was the night after he froze in fear seeing the giant hulk of a man threatening his classmates, and he actually decided to not become a hero.

However, certain words lit something in his heart when a reporter asked something.

'Mr Midoriya, that fearlessness and confidence you showed in dealing with the villains, was it the result of your training with All Might?'

'Ahaha, I don't really call myself fearless. In fact, I was so scared that my mind went blank for a few minutes.'

'Then why did you decide to do what you and your friends did?'

'Ah, well, it was because of that fear, that I know what the people who were held as hostage are feeling. Those looks in their eyes are something I couldn't ignore. You could say that my fear of their well-being overpowered my fear for the villains.'

'Truly a heart of a hero! Then, Mr Midoriya, do you have any words to say to those young ones who wanted to be a hero, but are too scared to make a move?'

'Oh, um, well, I guess I have some. Ahem, just remember, bravery is not the absence of fear, I believe only fools lack that feeling, being brave is feeling that fear, that doubt, that insecurities, and deciding that something else is more important. Once you overcome that fear, well, I believe you already have the spirit of a hero.'

Kirishima went to a boxing stance and grinned, 'Those words felt like something that Crimson Riot would say, and it really inspired me. I have admired you ever since that day, even watching your match and winning almost everything despite not having a quirk...you are definitely the definition of a man I wanted to become...'

'That's why...' He took a deep breath as he felt his body tightening, 'For my pride, for my dreams, for myself...I will fight till I drop! Become a brave and unbreakable hero who will shield everyone!'

"Raarrggh!" Kirishima roared, as Izuku stared in amazement and the other students were in awe.

Kirishima's body became rugged and sharp, his appearance can only be described as monstrous.

"Holy shit! He looks scary!" Kaminari exclaimed in awe.

"Hm, a monstrous power hidden within him has been awakened." Said Tokoyami, a teen with bird as a head.

"Oh lord, please protect his soul even with that demonic appearance." said Ibara, clasping her hands.

Bakugo smirked, 'Man, the nerd sure will have fun with that opponent. U.A sure is the best, definitely much better than that shitty middle school.'

"I admit, that appearance is lit." Said Camie in amazement. "He's like, super awesome."

Bakugo frowned, giving his girlfriend an annoyed glare, which Camie noticed as she just stick her tongue out.

"Don't be jealous you big baby."

"I'm not. I'm just annoyed that the nerd gets to fight him and not me."

"Yeah~"

Momo, who was at the side just furrowed her brows and stared at Kirishima, 'Just looking at him, I can already tell he's much tougher than my Iron Scales.'

Back in the ring, Izuku smiled at Kirishima as he cracked his neck and knuckles and asked, "So, can you move in that form?"

Kirishima struggled to speak, "I...Don't...know..."

Izuku grinned, activating One for All at Five Percent as green electricity danced around his body before he went to a boxing stance.

"Wanna find out?"

A grin was his answer,

"Yes...sir!"