MHA: Sand Sand Fruit

Monoma Neito pointed at Akira and Bakugo, his face red with frustration as he shouted toward Midnight. "Akira and Bakugo! They're breaking the rules! This is a clear violation!"

Midnight paused, cracking the whip in her hand to regain control of the chaotic scene. Her gaze swept over the participants before she made her decision. "While their actions might appear excessive, they don't actually violate any rules."

Monoma froze, his expression contorting in disbelief. For a moment, his face hardened in frustration, but soon, a sly grin crept across his lips.

"If the rules aren't in our favor, then we'll just *create* conditions that are," he muttered, his voice low yet dripping with malice.

His teammates exchanged worried glances, sensing the dangerous intent behind his words.

"Monoma," one of them said cautiously, "You're not seriously suggesting—"

"Exactly," Monoma interrupted, his grin widening. "We turn the tables. Don't forget, survival in the Hero world isn't about fairness—it's about winning."

"But that goes against what it means to be a Hero!" one of his teammates protested.

Monoma's grin sharpened, and his eyes gleamed with cold determination. "Oh, please. Were Bakugo and Akira being 'Heroic' when they decided to gang up on us? No! They're using raw power to dominate. If we want to stay in this competition, we need to fight fire with fire."

His teammates hesitated, their faces a mixture of reluctance and unease. Finally, one of them sighed in resignation. "Fine... But if this backfires, it's on you."

---

Meanwhile, Bakugo's palms crackled with explosive energy as he growled, "That bastard! Who does he think he is, running his mouth like that?!"

"Bakugo, calm down!" Kirishima urged, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Don't bother," Akira interjected, stepping forward with a calm yet commanding presence. "He's trying to bait us into attacking recklessly. Midnight's just waiting for us to slip up and break the rules."

Kirishima paused, the realization dawning on him. "You're right... But what do we do? Just let him get away with it?"

Akira's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Not exactly."

"What's the plan?" Kaminari asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.

"We wait," Akira replied, his tone steady. "If we engage him now, we lose control of the situation. But if we let this drag into the next phase—the one-on-one battles—Monoma will be left without his team to hide behind."

Yaoyorozu nodded in agreement. "The one-on-one matches will favor individual strength. If Monoma and his team are left at the bottom of the rankings, he won't even qualify for the next stage."

Bakugo's grin turned feral. "I like the sound of that. Let's make him suffer. Kirishima, you're with me!"

Akira turned to Kaminari. "Head toward Todoroki's position. We'll secure enough points to ensure our spot in the final stage."

"Got it!" Kaminari replied, readying himself.

---

At Todoroki's position, the atmosphere was tense yet calm. The icy barricades he had constructed loomed around them, solid and unyielding.

"Four minutes left," Todoroki muttered, his voice low and serious. "We've got the 10 million points and a strong defense. As long as we hold this position, we're safe."

"Do you really think Akira will target us?" Izuku asked, his tone betraying his nervousness.

Tokoyami folded his arms, his expression somber. "If anyone can, it's Akira. But with our 148,000 points, defense is our best option."

Ashido tilted her head, puzzled by their cautious attitude. "You guys are acting like Akira's some kind of unstoppable monster. I mean, he's strong, but isn't this overkill?"

The three of them turned to her with serious expressions, leaving Ashido blinking in confusion.

"You've never seen Akira go all out, have you?" Izuku asked quietly.

Ashido hesitated. "Not really... Why?"

Tokoyami's tone was grim. "If Akira decides to attack, no defense will be enough. That's why we have to make sure he doesn't try."

Ashido's confidence wavered. "You're joking, right? You're making him sound like some kind of unstoppable force..."

Before anyone could respond, a faint rumbling echoed through the ground.

Todoroki's gaze darkened. "He's coming."

---

Akira moved with deliberate purpose, his focus unshaken as the sands beneath his control shifted in a controlled storm around him. With Kaminari and Yaoyorozu at his side, he headed straight for Todoroki's team.

"We need their points," Akira said calmly, his voice cutting through the tension.

Kaminari gulped. "Uh... Akira? You sure about this? That's Todoroki!"

"Exactly," Akira replied with a smirk. "And Todoroki knows he can't afford to face me head-on."

The storm loomed closer, and Todoroki's ice wall rose higher, signaling his intent to defend.

"Stay focused," Todoroki warned his team. "If we lose control, Akira will capitalize on it."

Izuku clenched his fists, his determination wavering under the pressure. "We have to hold out... We can't let him break through!"

The showdown was inevitable. The question wasn't whether Akira would strike—it was when.