Midoriya and Hatsume returned to Class 101-A's private suite, and the room buzzed with excitement as soon as they entered. Congratulations and praises rained down on Hatsume like confetti at a celebration.
"Hatsume! Girl, you were absolutely amazing out there!" Ashido beamed with enthusiasm.
"Yeah, seriously, that was some next-level engineering!" Kirishima chimed in, his grin as bright as ever.
Aoyama added his own flair to the conversation. "Oui! That laser attack was simply magnifique!"
Even Uraraka, who had her reservations about Hatsume, couldn't help but express her admiration. "You were awesome out there, Hatsume-san!"
More voices joined in the chorus of praise, and Hatsume grinned widely in response, thoroughly pleased with the positive feedback. "Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the acknowledgment," she said with her trademark bluntness, making her fellow students chuckle.
Then, in classic Hatsume fashion, she scratched her head and confessed, "But uh…what were your names again?" This remark caused some of the students to fall over in disbelief.
Sero couldn't resist a teasing comment. "She's as bad as Bakugo-san when it comes to forgetting names."
Asui, who appreciated Hatsume's blunt nature, added, "Kero. Though she isn't as rude, more so blunt than anything."
Iida, however, took a more serious approach. He sternly approached Hatsume and said, "Hatsume-san! While I am impressed and even inspired by your remarkable performance, I request that you put in the extra effort to remember your fellow students' names!"
Hatsume waved him off dismissively, making a tick mark appear on Iida's head. "Yeah, yeah! Sure thing, Glasses," she retorted playfully before heading to the refreshments table in the back. "Anyways, you want anything? What kind of fuel do those wonderful legs need?"
Iida blushed slightly at the compliment. "Orange juice," he replied before clearing his throat and emphasizing his point. "But don't change the subject!"
Meanwhile, Kaminari and Tsunotori observed Hatsume and Iida's banter with amusement. Kaminari couldn't help but comment, "Man, it's like watching a cheesy sitcom or something."
Tsunotori chuckled softly and playfully winked at Kaminari. "I know. At least it'll never be boring with them around." Her playful gesture left Kaminari blushing brightly, and he stammered a bit in response.
Jiro, who had been silently observing the exchange, turned away with conflicted feelings. 'Maybe… Maybe I should talk to my mom about what to do. I… I don't want to just give up on him…'
Tokage, seated beside Ashido, couldn't help but grin slyly as she watched the unfolding dynamics. 'Things are definitely getting juicy here.'
Amidst the lively atmosphere, Yaoyorozu approached Midoriya with a sports drink and several energy bars in hand. She was relieved to see that Midoriya no longer appeared troubled after his private conversation with Hatsume. A part of her couldn't help but be curious about the nature of their discussion.
"Here you are, Izuku-kun," she said, offering him the refreshments.
Midoriya nodded appreciatively and accepted them. "Thanks, Momo."
His gaze shifted to Todoroki, who remained seated alone in the front row. Though Midoriya couldn't see his face, he could tell something was weighing heavily on the dual-Quirk user's mind. Maybe it was the realization of how close he had come to defeat earlier, or perhaps it was whatever had triggered him to unleash a devastating glacier attack against Hatsume. Regardless, Midoriya knew he couldn't focus on Todoroki right now, especially with his upcoming match against Bakugo looming.
"By the way," Midoriya inquired, "do you know where Bakugo-san is?"
Kirishima, who had been talking with Ashido, responded, "Oh, Bakugo left earlier. He said he was going to stay in his waiting room."
Midoriya nodded in acknowledgment.
As the pair went to reclaim their seats, Uraraka turned to Yaoyorozu. "Hey, congrats on advancing, Momo-chan." Her smile then became sympathetic. "Although, I'm sorry the win was just handed to you like that."
"It's certainly not how I would have preferred the match to go," Yaoyorozu admitted with a shrug. "But I can only control what I can do."
Ashido leaned forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Still, making it to the Final Four is sweet!" She then glanced at Todoroki in the front row and leaned closer to whisper. "How do you feel about fighting Todoroki-san? Can you take him?"
Yaoyorozu hesitated for a moment, biting her bottom lip. "Maybe," she admitted quietly. "My options are limited against an opponent like him."
Tokage chimed in with a sly grin, "Just make sure you cover your face. Can't have the prettiest girl in class lose her title."
"Um, Momo-chan?" Yaoyorozu turned to Midoriya. "If you want to go over some tactics before your match, I'd be more than happy to help."
Yaoyorozu smiled fondly at him. "I appreciate the offer." She then gestured toward the jumbotron, displaying a 15-minute timer winding down. "But your match is coming up soon. You should get ready for it."
Midoriya agreed, acknowledging that it was time for him to prepare for his own Semifinals match. "Right," he said as he replenished himself with a sports drink and snack. "I'm going to head down. Momo, why don't you accompany me to the elevator? We can talk on the way."
Yaoyorozu felt her heart skip a beat at the invitation but pushed aside any personal feelings and nodded. "Of course."
Uraraka, showing her support, wrapped Midoriya in a heartfelt hug. "Good luck, Izuku-kun! I know you can do it!"
Midoriya, a bit flustered, but appreciative, returned the embrace. "T-Thanks, Occhan."
As he departed, all of his friends echoed Uraraka's words, eliciting an appreciative smile from Midoriya. Together with Yaoyorozu, he walked out of the suite, leaving behind a slightly envious Uraraka.
Noticing Uraraka's emotions, Ashido patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Hey, it's alright, girl."
Asui chimed in. "He probably just wanted to discuss strategy with Yaomomo in private. Kero." She gestured toward Todoroki, several rows down, who appeared lost in his own thoughts.
Uraraka managed a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Ashido grinned knowingly. "You know, when you and Yaomomo were facing each other, he never played favorites. He looked so proud watching you two in action. So don't feel like he's playing favorites between you both."
Uraraka's smile radiated warmth as her thoughts revolved around her handsome, broccoli-haired friend and neighbor.
The man who had valiantly rescued her and Yaoyorozu from a potentially perilous situation in an alley, facing down a group of menacing punks with unwavering resolve and incredible skill. The man who was her constant companion, whether they were training, studying, or simply enjoying each other's company. The man whose expertise ranged from combat techniques and historical knowledge to Heroics, but hilariously lacked any grasp of pop culture.
The man who had undeniably transformed her life for the better since their very first encounter, guiding her toward personal growth as both a Heroine and a person.
In that profound moment, the realization of Uraraka's feelings washed over her, causing her blush to deepen. 'Oh my gosh... I've got it bad, don't I?'
Ashido, Tokage, and Tsunotori exchanged knowing glances when they noticed Uraraka's flustered expression. 'Looks like she's figuring it out. Just two more to go,' they silently communicated with each other.
Midoriya and Yaoyorozu strolled down the corridor toward the elevator, their conversation revolving around strategies for her upcoming match against the formidable Todoroki.
"Without a doubt, Todoroki-san is a formidable opponent," Yaoyorozu began, her expression pensive. "Even though he isn't using his fire, his ice still poses a challenge."
Midoriya nodded in agreement, a serious expression on his face. "You need to take him down immediately," he advised, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "Todoroki will go for the easy win if given the chance."
Yaoyorozu acknowledged his advice with a nod, her mind already working on potential tactics. "I could create a cannon to blast him out of the ring." She suggested, "Nothing lethal, of course. But it would take some time to fabricate..."
Midoriya mulled over her words and then made an intriguing suggestion, "I wonder, in times when you need a weapon fast, what if you could create an object but keep it attached to yourself? You'd be able to cut down on your attack time by a significant margin."
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened with realization, recognizing the merit in Midoriya's unconventional idea. "That's... an interesting thought," she replied thoughtfully. "I'll have to explore that idea further."
The upcoming match against Todoroki had stirred up a sense of determination in Yaoyorozu, but it also reminded her of her previous doubts regarding Midoriya's abilities during his First-Round match against Shiozaki. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt about it, and she decided to address it.
Just as the elevator doors slid open and Midoriya was about to step in, Yaoyorozu halted him with a gentle touch. "Izuku..."
He turned to face her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Yeah? What's wrong, Momo?"
She began hesitantly, her demeanor reflecting her unease. "I wanted to apologize."
Midoriya raised an eyebrow in slight bemusement. "Apologize? For what?"
Yaoyorozu bowed slightly, lowering her head as she continued, "During your first match against Shiozaki, I... I doubted you. I didn't think you'd make it as far as you did in the tournament."
Midoriya blinked twice, genuinely surprised by her apology. It seemed a bit trivial to him, as he couldn't fault her for her assessment. Shiozaki had been a formidable opponent, and his victory had hinged on a single, well-timed move. Had he failed, Shiozaki would've likely thrown him out of the ring.
However, he couldn't help but smile softly, finding irony in the situation. Just as he had apologized to Hatsume earlier for blaming himself for the Arc Reactor's destruction, now Yaoyorozu was apologizing for doubting him. Neither he nor Yaoyorozu were in the wrong in either situation.
"Hey, Momo, it's okay," he reassured her sincerely. "I'm not upset with you at all. We all have moments of doubt and uncertainty. What matters is that you've grown from that experience... just as I have."
Yaoyorozu straightened up, a sense of relief washing over her as she took in his understanding response. "Thank you, Izuku-kun. You've come so far... and you've inspired me, Occhan, and all of us." Her determination shone through as she looked at him with renewed confidence. "I want to make you proud in my match against Todoroki."
Midoriya's emerald eyes sparkled with pride. "You've already made me proud, Momo," he replied, stepping inside the elevator and pressing the ground-level button.
Yaoyorozu was very pleased by that sincere statement. "Izuku-kun," she said with a confident smile. "I'll be cheering you on and… I'll see you in the Finals."
Midoriya smirked and nodded just as the elevator doors slid closed.