[READY… BEGIN!!!]
Present Mic's voice rang out, soaring through the air like a flare igniting the battlefield.
As if responding to a call, Midoriya's body shot forward—an explosion of emotion propelling him.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" he shouted, voice cracking with fury.
And in that instant… he made his biggest mistake.
His body froze—completely motionless the moment the words left his mouth. The entire stadium fell into stunned silence.
"Damn it… Ojiro and I did warn him," I muttered under my breath, frustration weighing down my voice.
[THE MATCH JUST STARTED—AND IZUKU MIDORIYA IS ALREADY FROZEN IN PLACE?! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!]
***
There he was…
Midoriya stood frozen—completely still. Not even a blink.
Shinso wore a faint smirk, clearly satisfied with the result. Meanwhile, Present Mic stood slack-jawed, and even Aizawa remained silent.
[HE'S NEVER REALLY STOOD OUT BEFORE—BUT COULD HE REALLY BE THIS POWERFUL?!] Present Mic exclaimed, still in his usual flair.
[Hitoshi Shinso: His Quirk is Brainwash. He can control anyone who answers his question. A devious ability, no doubt.]
Shinso's expression soured. Though composed on the outside, his eyes burned with jealousy as he stared at Midoriya's paralyzed form.
"Must be nice… being so blessed. Isn't that right, Izuku Midoriya?" he muttered bitterly.
Still, Midoriya remained unmoving—utterly under Shinso's control.
"Now, turn around… and walk out of the arena."
And just like that, Midoriya turned—stiff and empty, like a lifeless puppet. His steps were slow, robotic… but undeniable.
"Yes… just like that," Shinso whispered.
Each of Midoriya's steps was deliberate, like he was fighting his own body with every movement.
"Come on, Midoriya… are you really going to stop here?" I whispered, narrowing my eyes toward the entrance of the arena.
There, standing in the path Midoriya was walking toward, was a gaunt figure—tall and frail. His blond hair had faded into a dusty gold, and his sunken black eyes pierced through the haze.
"…Is that All Might?" I murmured in my thoughts.
He stood silently, his face filled with worry, his body trembling ever so slightly.
BOOM!!!
A sharp burst rang out—followed by a billowing cloud of smoke that engulfed the arena in an instant. Visibility dropped to zero.
As the smoke faded…
Our eyes widened.
Midoriya was standing again—fully conscious, having broken free.
But—his finger… it was a wreck. Bruised and mangled.
"Midoriya!! That was amazing!!" I shouted, joined by others cheering him on.
[WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! IZUKU MIDORIYA STUNS US AGAIN—SOMEHOW BREAKING FREE AND MOVING ON HIS OWN!!]