A King's Pressure

The smoke slowly thinned. The audience fixed on the center of the arena.

Yuto was still standing. Endeavor had been forced back.

The No. 2 Pro Hero's fist was lowered, and the ground beneath his feet had cracked from the impact.

Yuto's arms trembled. Steam rose from his red skin. His breathing was heavy, but none of his blades had fallen.

He had not defeated Endeavor.

He had not surpassed Endeavor.

But he had forced him back.

For a fifteen-year-old student, that alone was absurd.

The reporters were the first to recover.

"Get photos of him!"

"Get a shot of Yuto's face!"

"This is history!"

Flashbulbs burst like lightning. Class 1-A stared in shock.

Kirishima's voice shook. "He really did it."

Momo pressed a hand to her chest. "He blocked Endeavor's attack."

Bakugo grinned. "Of course he did."

Class 1-B was just as stunned.

Honenuki let out a slow breath. "So this is the strength at the top of Class 1-A."

Endeavor stared at his own fist.

He had not expected that. No one had.

At last, he looked at Yuto. "I acknowledge your strength, Yuto Kanzaki. It's real."

The stadium erupted again. Yuto raised one hand.

The cheers lowered bit by bit.

His expression was calm, almost cold.

"Don't cheer yet."

The crowd quieted further.

"Maybe you think a fifteen-year-old forcing back one of Endeavor's attacks is enough to cheer for. I don't."

His eyes fixed on Endeavor.

"My goal was to defeat him. To surpass him. By that standard, this is not victory."

For a split second, a golden pressure flashed across the arena.

It was there and gone almost before anyone could name it. But everyone felt it.

Some spectators dropped to one knee.

Even several Pro Heroes stiffened. Yuto blinked.

That had not been intentional. It was not control.

Only a spark, triggered when his will reached its peak.

But now he knew the path existed.

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