---
Ron sat quietly in the waiting lounge of the arena. His body was relaxed, but his mind was far from still.
He had dominated the Obstacle Race. Cameras swarmed him. Rumors spread. And now, the One-on-One Battles were next.
"First seed versus last," Midnight announced on the broadcast. "Ron from Class 1-A… versus Shinso from General Studies!"
The stadium buzzed in confusion.
"Who's that?"
"Isn't that the mind control guy from last year?"
Ron heard the whispers but ignored them.
Across from him, Shinso approached—stoic, calm, with a determined fire in his eyes.
Ron looked up. "You're not here to play, are you?"
Shinso's voice was steady. "I came to prove I belong."
Ron stood and extended a hand.
"You do."
They shook.
System Alert: Quirk Detected – Brainwashing – Copied
Ron's eyes flickered. He now had mind control. Dangerous, especially with One For All reinforcing it. He made a mental note not to use it recklessly.
---
The fight began.
Shinso made the first move. "So, you're the one everyone's watching, huh?"
Ron didn't respond.
"Too smart to fall for it," Shinso muttered.
Ron charged—not recklessly, but with explosive control. Using 10% One For All, Frostfire Boost, and Engine for sudden acceleration, he appeared behind Shinso in a blink.
*Boom—*a burst of compressed wind shot past Shinso, barely missing.
"You're testing me?" Shinso asked.
Ron nodded. "Just wanted to see if you'd dodge or freeze."
Shinso smirked.
Ron used Capture Tape from Aizawa's copied quirk (absorbed days ago via handshake in class). He wrapped Shinso gently but firmly.
Midnight called it.
"Winner: RON!"
---
As Ron exited the stage, he turned back to Shinso.
"I meant what I said. You belong here."
Shinso grinned.
"You'd better win this thing, copy-boy."
---
Back in the locker room, Bakugo was slamming his gauntlets into a wall.
"He's mocking us."
Kirishima raised a brow. "Who?"
"Ron."
Bakugo's eyes burned.
"He used my Explosion quirk. In public. And better than me."
"That's just how his quirk works—"
Bakugo growled. "I don't care if it's his quirk. That bastard's playing hero with everyone else's strength. But when we fight... I'll show him whose power is superior."
---
In the next few rounds, Ron crushed his opponents with precision. He never used more than necessary. He never showed off.
But everyone was watching him.
Uraraka noticed it.
"He's holding back," she said to Midoriya.
"Yeah… he hasn't even used full One For All. Or mind control."
"Or that regeneration he mentioned once."
Midoriya looked uneasy. "I think… he's hiding something deeper."
---
In the arena lounge, All Might stood beside Aizawa.
"Ron's not just strong," All Might murmured. "He's aware. He's calculating everything—the battlefield, the crowd, the impact."
"And yet, he says nothing. Doesn't boast. Doesn't explain."
"He's a mystery even I can't solve."
---
Matchup announced: Ron vs Katsuki Bakugo.
The crowd exploded with excitement.
The prodigy vs the explosive powerhouse.
Ron walked onto the stage, calm as always.
Bakugo followed, eyes wild with fury.
"You think you're a better me?"
Ron smiled slightly. "No. Just a better version of everyone."
Bakugo's rage detonated.
---