Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

There was only one word to describe the fourth round: indisputable

I, along with everyone else on the platform, stared at screen with wide-eyed disbelief as Bakugou stood over an unconscious Setsuna Tokage. Her purple-scaled body shook with the repercussions of Bakugou's final blast. I wasn't surprised by that - he had blasted her at such a close range even our teachers would've barely survived.

What I was surprised by was how Bakugou stood tall. His breath was slightly laboured, but no victorious grin stretched his lips. There was no degrading comments or bragging. He just stood there, an expression of acceptance relaxing his usually harsh features.

Tokage's words just before her fatal blow rang in my head.

'How is it that you've changed so much?'

In the beginning, I'd thought this fight would get ugly. But Bakugou had protected his teammates, with Sero, Kyoka and Sato protecting him in return. No questions asked, they just did it despite obviously not having a solid plan. They didn't necessarily work together, but they worked off each other, adapting their moves to follow their teammate's previous attacks.

Something the other team hadn't considered, and that was why they lost.

'I haven't changed,' Bakugou said, contemplating Tokage's shaking form. 'My goal has always been the same. To surpass All Might and become the Number One Hero.'

Vlad King's breath shuttered into the mic. 'The horror... the shame... The match didn't even last five minutes!'

'All right!' I cheered along with my classmates, watching Bakugou and the others place Class B's entire team into their jail, the small Principal Nezu sign on top lighting up with congratulations.

'Thanks to some unexpected teamwork, Class A wins with the day's perfect score of four to zero!'

'About time he stopped with the biassed commentary,' Kirishima mumbled near me. 'Although, he sounded more upset than anything.'

'Baby steps, Kiri,' I said as I pated his back, a broad smile on my face. 'The fact still remains: our classmates rule!'

It didn't take the two teams long to make their way back to the platform, although Class B looked a little worse for wear. Tokage was being held up by Awase while Bondo and Kamakiri walked with their heads hanging down. Sympathy coursed through me at the sad sight. On paper, they had an excellent team and an executable plan to boot. It should've been an easy win and they knew that.

But as I watched my friends walk together - Sero, Sato and Kyoka chatting cheerfully amongst each other while Bakugou walked in front silently - my sympathy dissipated completely. My friends deserved this win, indisputably so.

The two groups walked up to there respective teachers and awaited their analysis.

Mr Aizawa started by giving a simple thumbs up. 'You didn't do unnecessary damage and you neutralised your opponents efficiently. Bakugou might have taken the lead, but you three supported him. Solid win. Great job today.'

'That's the nicest briefing he's ever given,' I murmured to Shoto beside me, both of us watching the briefing intently.

'He's just telling the truth,' he replied matter-of-factly. 'Nothing to pick on if they made no mistakes. Which, for the most part, they didn't.'

I gave him a skeptical look. 'Are you actually giving Bakugou a compliment?'

'I'm giving the team a compliment. There's a difference.'

I smirked and turned back to watch the briefing. 'Keep telling yourself that, Sho.'

He groaned quietly beside me, no doubt rolling his eyes too. 'You're unbelievable.'