"It looks like Midoriya hasn't been slacking off lately."
"He's probably using about ten percent of One For All now, right?"
Watching the two clash in the ruined street, Masata asked All Might with genuine curiosity.
He was still intrigued by One For All.
It was a pure power-enhancement Quirk—but how exactly did that enhancement work?
Was it just the green lightning crackling around Midoriya's body?
Whatever the case, it was clearly different from Masata's own strengthening.
Masata's power enhanced him at the cellular level.
If One For All worked the same way, Midoriya wouldn't suffer self-inflicted injuries from overuse.
"It's about ten percent," All Might nodded.
"But Bakugo has made greater progress in combat judgment."
"His timing and battlefield awareness are slightly better than Midoriya's."
As the previous holder of One For All, All Might had the clearest perspective.
In just half a year, Midoriya had grown tremendously.
From Quirkless to ten percent output.
The fastest growth in Class A.
Except for Masata.
"I won't lose like this!"
Midoriya's voice rang out.
In his heart, Bakugo represented victory itself.
If he wanted to meet All Might's expectations, he needed to win properly.
"SMASH!!!"
This time, Midoriya didn't use Shoot Style.
Instead, he drove his fist forward.
It slammed directly into Bakugo's face.
Bakugo's expression twisted under the impact.
But if Midoriya's belief burned bright—
Bakugo's obsession burned hotter.
"How could I lose to you?!"
Despite the hit, Bakugo forced himself upright.
He grabbed Midoriya's collar.
With his other hand, he blasted the ground violently.
The explosion launched both of them into the air.
"Still going hard…"
Even from a distance, Masata could feel the air tremble.
Fortunately, Bakugo had held back slightly.
If he had detonated directly against Midoriya's body, serious injury would've been unavoidable.
Midair was Bakugo's territory.
He had trained extensively in aerial combat.
Midoriya had only recently begun practicing.
He couldn't match Bakugo's control yet.
Bakugo quickly destabilized him.
Then he twisted in the air, pinned Midoriya beneath him, and drove him straight down.
They crashed hard into the street.
Gasping, Bakugo glared down at him.
"Even if you have All Might's power…"
"Even if you make it your own…"
"I still win!"
His frustration seemed fully vented.
He had feared that Midoriya had surpassed him.
But this fight restored his confidence.
"Alright, that's enough."
Masata flashed forward in an instant.
He grabbed the exhausted Bakugo and pulled him aside.
Another second, and Midoriya would've been crushed.
"Magma bastard?! Why are you here?!"
Both of them were startled.
So he'd seen everything?
"It's not just me."
Masata tilted his chin behind them.
"You two are in serious trouble."
Following his gesture, they saw Aizawa-sensei and All Might approaching.
"All Might…"
"Didn't you lose your power?!"
All Might was still in his muscular form.
Midoriya forced himself upright in shock.
"I'm sorry," All Might said quietly.
"I didn't notice how much you were carrying."
"You're still just teenagers."
"And my power didn't disappear because of you."
"My body was reaching its limit regardless."
"That was inevitable."
"But… All Might…"
Midoriya stepped forward urgently.
Seeing All Might's current form, it was clear some power remained.
"What you see now is only embers," All Might explained.
"And I must thank Igarashi for that."
"You already know the rest."
Bakugo fell silent.
He finally understood.
But unwillingness still lingered in his eyes.
"Why him?"
"Why choose that nerd?"
"Because he had no Quirk."
"And yet he had the heart of a hero."
"But I was weak too!"
"I wanted to become strong like you!"
"Shut up, Bakugo."
Masata cut in sharply.
"Real strength isn't handed down."
"I refused One For All."
"You don't get strong by relying on someone else's power."
Bakugo froze.
He looked at Midoriya.
Then at All Might.
Neither denied it.
It was true.
"See?" Masata continued mercilessly.
"Even with One For All, Midoriya's still at this level."
"I could take ten of him."
"Actually, I'll revise that."
"I could take both of you together."
"You bastard!"
"Asshole!"
Midoriya and Bakugo shouted in unison.
Their complicated emotions evaporated instantly.
"I'll beat you one day!"
"Tell that to your mom first."
"Masata, I won't lose!"
"It's been half a year and you still can't beat Bakugo."
"I'm embarrassed for you."
The two rivals, who had just been fighting each other, now stood united against Masata.
Perhaps even villains could bring people together.
All Might sighed in relief.
He hadn't known how to comfort them.
Thankfully, Masata handled it.
Though perhaps… a bit aggressively.
"I'll be the one to beat him!"
"I'll surpass you!"
"Only I get to crush that bastard!"
"But I said I'd defeat Masata too!"
The two continued bickering—
Unaware that danger loomed behind them.
"It's heartwarming."
Aizawa-sensei's voice suddenly carried immense pressure.
"To see you boys running around fighting after midnight."
He stepped forward.
Grabbed one head in each hand.
And slammed them together.
"Ugh!"
"That hurts!"
Already injured, they nearly collapsed.
"Who started it?" Aizawa asked coldly.
"I did," Bakugo admitted immediately.
He had already made up his mind.
If Masata could grow strong on his own—
So could he.
First surpass Midoriya.
Then beat Masata.
"Bakugo: four days confined to dorms. No going out."
"Midoriya: three days."
"You will clean all common areas morning and night."
"And submit a written reflection."
"No visits to Recovery Girl."
"You heal your own wounds."
The night ended not in flames—
But in discipline.