Class 1-B's Strongest?

Yaoyorozu lightly tugged on Yuto's sleeve, her cheeks flushed.

"Yuto..."

Yuto turned toward her. "Hm? What's wrong?"

"My next match is against Tokoyami."

Yuto understood at once. Momo Yaoyorozu lowered her voice. "Tokoyami's Quirk, Dark Shadow, is very strong. In Class 1-A, he is one of the strongest fighters in a one-on-one match. My Creation is useful in many situations, but it takes time to create things. The more complex or larger the item is, the longer it takes."

She glanced toward the arena.

"Against Tokoyami, I may not have that time."

Yuto nodded. "Your opponent can attack and defend at the same time. Dark Shadow can launch instantly, and Tokoyami will almost certainly attack first." Momo listened seriously.

"Normally, you would create a simple shield first because it takes almost no time. That's the obvious answer."

She blinked. "Is that wrong?"

"Very wrong," Yuto said. "If you choose defense from the start, Tokoyami will overwhelm you before you can counterattack. He is not the kind of opponent who gives people time to recover."

Momo looked like a student facing a difficult problem. "Then what should I do?"

"Attack first."

Yuto kept his voice calm.

"At the start, create a high-powered spotlight. Use it to suppress Dark Shadow, then use the time you gain to create a shield. Dark Shadow is weaker under bright light. Once you force that weakness out, you can wait for a chance to counter. After that, adjust to the situation."

Momo's eyes widened. "Dark Shadow is weak to light?"

"Yes. That's your opening. Fire, electricity, strong light, anything that gives off light can pressure Dark Shadow. Your Quirk can create tools for all of those. Use the battlefield as a problem to solve."

Momo's expression settled.

"I understand. Thank you, Yuto."

In the commentary booth, Present Mic shouted, "Let's keep this festival moving! Next up, we have the dark warrior who controls Dark Shadow, Fumikage Tokoyami, against the versatile genius whose talent has already proven worthy of a recommendation, Momo Yaoyorozu!"

The crowd responded with fresh excitement.

"Tokoyami is strong. Dark Shadow is perfect for one-on-one fights."

"Yaoyorozu is a recommended student too, but she feels better suited for team battles."

"Creation is amazing, but can she make anything before Dark Shadow reaches her?"

"Tokoyami has this."

Present Mic leaned toward Aizawa. "The audience does not seem optimistic about Yaoyorozu's chances. What do you think, Eraser?"

Aizawa watched the ring. "In a direct one-on-one match, Tokoyami has the advantage. If Yaoyorozu fights normally, she loses."

"Short and harsh as always! Then let's see whether she can surprise us!"

On the stage, Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu took their positions. The countdown began.

Three. Two.

One. The match began. Tokoyami moved immediately.

"Dark Shadow."

The living shadow burst from his body and lunged across the ring. Its claws reached for Yaoyorozu with frightening speed. The audience cried out.

For a moment, it looked as if the match would end before it had truly begun.

Then Yuto's advice flashed through Momo's mind. Attack first.

A device formed in her hands.

She pressed the red switch.

A brilliant beam of light flooded the stage.

Dark Shadow recoiled so hard that its attack collapsed halfway.

"Too bright," Dark Shadow said, shrinking back. "I hate this."

Tokoyami's eyes sharpened. "It's only light. Don't fear it. Continue the attack."

Under Tokoyami's command, Dark Shadow surged forward again.

But the first chance had already been lost.

Momo had finished creating a large black shield.

The weakened Dark Shadow slammed into it, but the attack no longer had the same force. Momo braced herself and held.

Good.

It was exactly as Yuto had said. She could win.

As the match continued, Momo grew steadier. Each time Dark Shadow tried to press forward, she used light to cut its power, then created another tool to punish the opening.

A compact flamethrower. A stun gun.

A flash device. Another burst of light.

Tokoyami fought well, but the matchup had turned against him. Momo had turned Dark Shadow's greatest strength against it.

Present Mic's voice rang through the arena. "Unbelievable! Yaoyorozu is suppressing Tokoyami! She has identified Dark Shadow's weakness and is using Creation to control the entire match. This is textbook Quirk strategy!"

Aizawa nodded faintly. "Tokoyami is stronger in a straight duel, but Yaoyorozu made the right call. She is using knowledge as a weapon. This is a very good fight."

The crowd's mood shifted as the match went on.

"So that is why she is a recommended student."

"She completely turned Dark Shadow's weakness against him."

"Creation is scary when she knows what to make."

"There goes my bet."

In the end, Momo forced Tokoyami to the edge with a coordinated burst of light and flame. Dark Shadow faltered.

Tokoyami stepped out of bounds. Momo Yaoyorozu advanced.

Present Mic nearly shouted himself hoarse. "Yaoyorozu wins! She defeats Tokoyami and moves on to the next round!"

For a heartbeat, the audience seemed unable to process it.

Had Yaoyorozu really read Tokoyami so perfectly on her own?

Then Momo left the ring, hurried straight to Yuto, and hugged him.

"Thank you, Yuto," she said, unable to hide her excitement. "You were right."

Yuto smiled. "You won because you made the right choices. I only gave you a hint. From now on, you need to keep thinking that way in battle. Your Quirk is strongest when you understand what the opponent is trying to do."

"I know. Thank you, really."

The nearby students finally understood. It was Yuto again.

Present Mic laughed into the microphone. "So that was it! Yaoyorozu received advice from Yuto before the match. Still, she executed it beautifully. Everyone watching should remember this fight. A Quirk's strength is not only raw power. It's how you use it."

Aizawa's gaze stayed on Yuto.

"That boy's understanding of Quirks is unusual," he said. "His own strength is not just power. He understands how abilities work, where they break, and how to make them better."

The audience murmured with renewed interest.

One lucky guess could be called a coincidence.

Two correct reads in a row were harder to dismiss.

As the first round came to an end, the remaining names advanced in order. Yuto Kanzaki. Shoto Todoroki.

Juzo Honenuki.

And the other winners who had survived the chaos of the bracket.

Present Mic's voice rose again. "After a fierce first round, the second round is about to begin! And the first match is already a major one!"

The screen flashed with the names.

Juzo Honenuki, recommended student of Class 1-B. Quirk: Softening.

Versus Yuto Kanzaki, Class 1-A's rising monster, whose Quirk is believed to involve shock waves or vibration. The crowd erupted.

x

x

x

If you're enjoying the story so far, consider supporting me on Patreon ❤️
You'll get weekly early access to chapters, along with some exclusive content:

https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheDevotedReader