Dekiru 10: The Symbol Of Peace And The Protector Of Earth

Chapter 31: Finals! The Flames of the Father! Part 2:

Kamui Woods tilted his head slightly, the most smug grin barely hidden beneath his mask. "Well, well..." he drawled, turning his attention to Mt. Lady. "Seems you bet on the wrong horse."

Mt. Lady's fists were clenched at her sides, her face nearly as red as her costume. "Don't push it, Woods," she growled, glaring daggers at him.

"Oh, I'm pushing it," Kamui said, his tone oozing satisfaction. He tapped the side of his mask. "And just so you know, I am smiling under here. Very smugly, I might add."

"Ugh!" Mt. Lady huffed, her glare intensifying.

Kamui cleared his throat, extending his hand toward her. "Ahem. That'll be 20,000 yen, if you don't mind."

Mt. Lady's shoulders slumped slightly, the defeat evident in her posture, but she quickly recovered, leaning closer to Kamui with a sly, seductive grin. She trailed her fingers along his chest, her voice dropping to a sultry purr.

"It seems I have forgotten my wallet in another costume... but maybe there's another way I can pay you back?" She pressed against him, her ample chest brushing against his torso.

Kamui's deadpan reply was immediate. "Yeah, no." He took a step back, holding his hand out more insistently. "I want my money."

Mt. Lady clicked her tongue in frustration, her seductive act vanishing in an instant. She pulled out her wallet with exaggerated annoyance, muttering under her breath. "Fine. Here, happy now?"

As she handed over the cash, Death Arms, who had been watching from the sidelines, chuckled. "So, your wallet wasn't in another costume this time, huh?"

Mt. Lady's eyes snapped toward him, her voice a mix of embarrassment and fury. "Shut up!"

Kamui Woods carefully counted the yen, nodding in satisfaction.

"Pleasure doing business with you," he quipped before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Mt. Lady fuming behind him.

....

.....

"...I am here," Izuku whispered softly to himself, the words weighing heavy on his heart.

"Midoriya." Iida's voice broke through his thoughts, making him jolt upright.

"Y-Yeah?" Izuku stammered, his face reddening. "S-Shouldn't you guys be heading over to watch the ceremony?"

Yui, sitting at the edge of his bed, shook her head calmly. "! "You blew up three stadiums. They're repairing what they can."

"And the top three are out of commission," Iida added, adjusting his glasses. "Either you, Todoroki, or Bakugou needed to wake up before anything could proceed."

"Plus, the audience is still too stunned after that crazy dragon attack you pulled to mind waiting," Kyoka chimed in, her tone dry but impressed.

"I've never seen anything like it!" Toru exclaimed. "Your flames—wow—they were unreal!"

"Yeah, dude, they were crazy gorgeous!" Mina added enthusiastically. "It was like this rainbow of fire! You went whoosh, and Todoroki was all freeze, and then you were like 'nuh-uh!' and boom!" She mimicked dramatic explosions with her hands, grinning brightly.

Izuku rubbed the back of his head, wincing at the lingering phantom pain. "Y-Yeah... trying to get him to use his left side was probably pretty reckless in hindsight."

"You... you were trying to force him to use his flames?" Ochako asked, her tone incredulous.

Momo and Kyoka exchanged guilty glances, which didn't go unnoticed by Pony.