"Welcome back to the live broadcast of Sunyoung High School's Sports Festival!

The contestants for the next match are already eager to give it a try.

Everyone!

Year One Hero Class A Senzaki Setsuna versus Year One Hero Class A Takeshi!! "

Mike turned off the microphone after reading the opening remarks with great passion. He glanced at the silent Kota Aizawa Mummy Ver.

"Eraser, at least half of the top eight contestants are from your class. How about you get a little excited and act like a homeroom teacher?"

Kota Aizawa Mummy was unmoved. She silently gave him a cold look until Mike thought she was not going to answer. Just as he was about to turn on the microphone again, she spoke calmly.

"It's because I'm a homeroom teacher that it's not time for me to get excited."

What do you mean?

This sentence floated in his mind for a moment, but he had no time to think about it. The contestants from both sides were already in position. Even the audience had quieted down, waiting for the order.

Mike had no choice but to turn on the volume control. His high-octave voice rang out again.

"Match, START —!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the two contestants who were still as silent as virgins on the sidelines suddenly moved like rabbits. They were both people who prioritized efficiency in a battle. Unless it was necessary, they would not waste time talking.

Bao Hao pushed the air with his hands and charged straight at Setsuna, who was on the sidelines, ready to start the match with a blast. However, before he was halfway through the battle, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. The pain of the steel needles piercing his left arm a few days ago flashed through his mind. He forcibly stopped his momentum and looked at the row of steel needles less than ten centimeters in front of him. The sharp needles were pointed straight at his torso, as if they were going to stab him into a hornet's nest.

He smiled.

That's right, this is it.

The wind from the kick whistled past his ear. He turned around abruptly and blocked with his arm. The dull pain and the cold tone of his opponent were transmitted to the depths of his consciousness.

"Where are you looking at?"

"Boom!"

The sudden explosion set off countless heatwaves. Amidst the billowing dust, where was the figure that was just inches away from him?

However, the enemy was in the dark, but it was not a good sign. Bao Hao leaped off the ground with Blast. Just as he left the smoky area, he suddenly met a pair of eyes that seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time. He was shocked, but he did not have time to think about what she wanted to do. He raised his hands in the air and made Blast.

Such a straightforward attack was naturally unable to blow up Setsuna, whose calculation speed was less than a second. After one round of fighting ended, she landed on the side of the field again. She looked up at the opposite side, and as expected, she was safe and sound.

"Sneaky little tricks, hey —"

It seemed that the tense fight had made him particularly excited. Bao Hao raised his voice and shouted across the air, "Do you really think that those dirty tricks of yours will be of any use in such a spacious field?!"

It would be impolite not to reciprocate. Setsuna raised her hand and responded to his threat with a row of steel needles. Since she did not need to consider the limit of weight in a 1v1 match, she brought all the steel needles that she could apply for. Besides, Bao Hao's personality was simply adding weapons that could be used in the field at any time, so she really did not feel bad about wasting them at all.

"Even if I don't play tricks."

In the second round of close combat, she used materials on the ground in the billowing smoke. Dozens of fragments fell vertically from the sky, causing Bao Hao to explode towards the sky. Setsuna took the opportunity to get close to him and was ready to use Space Warp to tell him what it meant to go out of bounds because the field was limited. Unexpectedly, the person in front of her had superb reflexes and twisted his body to avoid it. But because of this, he hit the needle array that was fixed to a fixed position and waited for the rabbit. Although most of the needles missed, there were still two that hit his thigh.

Setsuna, who landed lightly on the other side, finished the second half of her sentence.

"Bao Hao is such a brainless guy. He will also be burdened to death by himself."

["Little Sheng, he's probably a rather egotistical person."]

[Midaya, who was behind the stands, smiled a little perplexedly.]

["When it comes to understanding other people's thoughts, rather than saying that he's not good at … it's better to say that he disdains …?"]

"Hah —???"

Blasted Tyrant, who was in pain, was like a wild beast that had been injected with stimulants. Not only did he not back down, his fighting spirit rose to another level. "I don't know what Trash Jiu said to you, but a cowardly and hesitant piece of trash is still trash. Don't make a mistake about this —"

Before he finished his sentence, Setsuna had already pressed forward again. Thanks to Bao Hao's attack power, most of the close-combat between the two of them were drowned in the dust. Moreover, their mobility was quite good, and they appeared and disappeared mysteriously in the smoke. The stands were silent, and only the microphone in the broadcast room quietly lowered the volume.

"Hey, Eraser, do these two students in your class have a personal grudge?

If the TV station broadcasts this, it won't be good for Sunyoung's image, right? "

"If that's the case, why don't you not invite the TV station to broadcast the match in the first place?"

Aizawa, the Bandage, was expressionless, as if he was not surprised by the development in front of him. "This doesn't help the Hero event."

"No, no, no, that's only limited to you, Eraser. I've never seen you hate the media so much …"

"It's not that I hate it, it's just that it's not necessary." Aizawa's tone became heavier. "Broadcast your match properly."

"Yes, yes, I wonder whose student she is …"

After turning off the microphone and complaining about his colleague — after all, he should not wash his dirty linen in public — Mike turned his attention back to the arena. While they were talking, a few more rounds had passed, and both of them were more or less injured. Setsuna was in a better state. One could only see that she was a little embarrassed from the burnt ends of her hair and the loss of her sleeve in the explosion.

Bao Hao did not seem to have any new injuries, but the damage caused by the steel needle nailed to his thigh had increased over time due to the intense exercise. Bright red blood seeped out from all sides and quickly seeped into his dark-colored sports suit.

"You'll suffer less if you admit defeat."

Setsuna raised her eyebrows on the sidelines. "The longer that thing stays in the body, the more troublesome it will be. But if you want to continue, I don't mind —"

["And … well, other than admitting defeat …"]

"— who wants it?

To a half-baked like you. "

The next second, his voice was almost close to her face.

["Xiaosheng hates people who are not decisive."]

"Admit defeat —??!!!"

A huge explosion sounded very close. Setsuna dodged at the critical moment. Unfortunately, her hearing was affected and caused a moment of tinnitus. She took two steps back, trying to maintain her balance.

["Chisaki classmate, you were very confused for a period of time, weren't you?

When you were in first grade, you would say that you wanted to be a hero or something when asked. Because this was also my goal, I always knew … "]

[When Midaya said this, his eyes flashed with longing or sadness.]

["I've always been envious that Chisaki classmate could say this openly, but after 'that incident' …"]

She was looking for death by fighting with Bao Hao's potential limit. She gritted her teeth and used the steel needle to open a path. Under the cover of the smoke, she jumped and closed the distance.

["… He's become very depressed."]

(Even if it was me.)

["I-I-I-I-I'm not blaming Chisaki classmate!"

Midaya finally realized what he had said. He waved his hand desperately, so fast that there was almost an afterimage. "And I don't think Xiaosheng meant that. At that time, Chisaki classmate was really in pain. She was probably struggling between giving up and persisting. I understand!

I can understand!

But Xiaosheng, he …! "]

(I didn't want it either.)

Bao Hao's combat intuition was indeed very good. He knew clearly that he couldn't be in contact with Senzaki Setsuna for more than 0.72 seconds. The fierce hand-to-hand combat only lasted for a few seconds before he pulled away again. Setsuna compared the remaining physical strength of both sides, gritted her teeth, and chased after him.

"… It's probably just like how it was for me back then. What Little Sheng thinks is, 'If you can't do it, just give up.'"

(How did he become like this?!!!)

Dozens of steel needles shot out. Her brain's calculation efficiency was at its highest. The landing point of each steel needle was just right, blocking all of Bao Hao's escape routes.

"That's why I said —" There was anger hidden in his voice. "You can't do anything to me with these little tricks!!"

The fire from his palm engulfed the array of needles in one go. The unique smell of burnt metal filled the entire space. Setsuna took the opportunity to get in front of him.

"You're so weak that you can't take a blow!"

"You're scum who can't understand other people's feelings!"

The steel needles were raised, and fire splashed everywhere.

Her fingers wrapped around his wrist, and his palm pressed on the top of her head.

Through the thick fog, Chi Tong met Bi Tong's eyes. Both of them were determined not to take a single step back.

"I won't lose to you!!"

"I won't lose to you!!"

There was an explosion, and sand and stones flew in the center of the field. Takeshi panted heavily, and his sharp eyes swept the ground under his feet to make sure that he was still in the circle that he had just drawn in the field.

(… In other words.)

He looked up at the girl who had been smashed into the huge pit in the field. She took his explosion head-on at zero distance. Unless her head was made of steel like her weapon, there was no suspense about the result.

"WINNER!!!

Takeshi from the Year A Hero Section!!!! "

Teacher Mike's voice could be heard clearly even if her brain was groggy. Setsuna resisted the desire to vomit and coughed dryly in the smoke and dust. However, the air she coughed out rolled up the dust on the ground. It was not that she didn't want to sit up, but the consequences of using her head to take the explosion were too serious. She hadn't recovered to the level where she could control her body.

(Ah … there's also a little ringing in my ears … my vision is also blurry.

It seemed that she had to enjoy the treatment of being carried down on a stretcher …

This thought hovered in her mind in a daze. She forced her eyes open, trying to see the scene in front of her, but she kept feeling that there was a hand in her blurry vision …?

(…?)

No, there was really a hand.

She closed her eyes and opened them again. This time, her vision was clearer. She adjusted the angle of her line of sight and looked up along the arm.

"What are you looking at? Get up if you're awake. Or do you want to be carried down on a stretcher?"

His voice was as unpleasant as ever, but his outstretched hand stayed there steadily, without the slightest intention of moving.

After a few seconds of silence, she raised her hand and shook it.

The stands, which had been as quiet as chickens during the whole game, burst into cheers at this moment. But she had no spare energy to think about this too strange phenomenon. She was pulled up by the explosion and couldn't regain her balance. In the end, she had to hold on to the only thing that was fixed beside her.

"I hate you, scum."

She leaned on his shoulder and let this sentence be drowned in the noise of the stands.

And he raised the corner of his mouth.

"Really? What a coincidence."