Your Own Power

Yuto's fists struck the air on both sides. The atmosphere split.

The ground shook. The water left by Todoroki's shattered ice gathered under the force of the quake and rose into a towering wave.

It rolled across the arena toward Todoroki.

Boom. The wave hit. Todoroki was thrown backward and crashed across the broken stage, soaked and battered.

Present Mic shouted, "Yuto used the water from Todoroki's own ice to create a tidal wave! Once again, he is turning the battlefield itself into a weapon!"

Aizawa's eyes stayed on Yuto.

"The difference is clear," he said. "If Todoroki refuses to use his full Quirk, he can't beat Yuto."

Yuto did not pursue immediately.

He looked at Todoroki, his voice low, though the arena microphones caught every word.

"Do you know why I fight with everything I have?"

Todoroki pushed himself up, breathing hard.

Yuto continued, "Because I'm not fighting alone."

His gaze swept over the stands.

"Yaoyorozu. Uraraka. My classmates. The people cheering for me. They're all supporting me."

He looked back at Todoroki. "And the opponents I defeated. Monoma. Bakugo. Honenuki. Kirishima. I'm carrying their share of this with me too. That's why I want to win this championship."

The stadium was silent. Yuto's hand moved to his sword.

"Todoroki, use everything. Give me a fight that will shake everyone watching."

He drew his blade partway from the sheath.

"The power inside you is yours. It belongs to you. You control it. You'ren't chained to what your father wanted you to be. You can become the person you want to become."

Todoroki froze. Yuto's words echoed in his mind.

They were familiar. Too familiar.

A memory rose from somewhere deep. His mother's voice.

"Shoto, you want to become a hero, don't you? If you want to, you can. You'ren't bound by your blood. You can become the person you want to be."

He had forgotten those words.

Or maybe he had buried them because remembering hurt too much.

Now, because of Yuto, they returned.

Warmth spread through his chest. Todoroki's mouth curved faintly.

Steam rose from the left side of his face. The air hissed.

Then fire erupted. A wave of heat burst from Todoroki's body and swept across the ring.

The temperature that had dropped from his ice surged upward at once.

Flames wrapped around his left side. Todoroki clenched his teeth.

"You said from the beginning that you wanted to win the championship," he said. "You clearly want to win. And yet you still help people."

His voice rose. "I don't know which one of us is more ridiculous."

He looked straight at Yuto. "I want to become a hero too. Thank you, Yuto. From here on, I will fight with everything I have." The flames grew hotter.

"And I will defeat you."

Yuto drew his sword fully and smiled. "Come at me. I'm still going to win."

In the commentary booth, Present Mic nearly forgot to breathe.

"This is unbelievable! Todoroki, who has refused to use fire throughout the entire tournament, has finally used it on the final stage! Yuto Kanzaki broke through Todoroki's mental block!"

Aizawa leaned forward, his usual exhaustion briefly gone.

"That boy really did it. He actually got through to Todoroki."

Present Mic shouted, "Now Todoroki has broken free! The real final begins here. Full-power Todoroki against the final boss, Yuto Kanzaki!" The crowd erupted.

The heat rolled over the stands like the opening of an oven.

"Todoroki used fire!"

"Yuto actually got through to him."

"This match is going to be insane."

"Yuto reminds me of All Might."

"No wonder people cheer for him."

In the Class 1-A seats, Midoriya's eyes shone. "Yuto is so cool. I need to write this down."

Mineta stared at him. "Are you a fanboy? Actually... yeah, that was pretty cool."

Kirishima wiped at his eyes. "He beat me, and now he's carrying my share too. That's manly."

Bakugo clicked his tongue, face twisted with irritation. "That bastard. If he loses to that Half-and-Half bastard after this, I'll kill him."

Among Class 1-B, Honenuki watched the stage with a complicated expression.

"Monoma," he said, "did you notice it?"

Monoma frowned. "Notice what?"

"Yuto has something that draws people in. The makings of a hero. Maybe even the makings of a leader."

Monoma scoffed. "He's Class 1-A. Why would I support him?"

Honenuki looked at him. "Then who do you want to win?" Monoma opened his mouth.

No answer came out. Honenuki smiled faintly. "That's what I mean. He is a reliable opponent. Maybe even a reliable ally one day. Don't misunderstand me. I still want Class 1-B to beat him."

Kendo and Ibara fell silent, thinking it over.

They had made Yuto their target because he was strong.

But perhaps strength was not the only reason.

In the reserved viewing area, Endeavor stood, his eyes burning with emotion.

"Shoto!" he roared. "You finally accepted your power! Good. Very good. This match is your new beginning. Use that fire, surpass me, and fulfill my ambition!"

On the stage, Todoroki stood half-covered in frost and half-wrapped in fire.

For the first time in the tournament, Todoroki had unleashed Half-Cold Half-Hot in full.

All Might stared at him. "So this is Young Todoroki's full strength."

Endeavor turned toward him. "Do you see it now, All Might? This is Shoto's true power. He will surpass you."

His eyes went back to the ring.

"Now what are his chances against Yuto?"

All Might answered honestly. "About fifty-fifty."

Endeavor laughed. "No. Shoto will defeat Yuto." Then his expression shifted.

"But I will admit this much. Yuto Kanzaki deserves to be called a hero. He made Shoto use his fire. He saved him in a way."

His gaze hardened.

"Even so, Shoto will win."

Before he could say more, Yuto's blade flashed across the ring.

The final had truly begun.

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