MHA: Sand Sand Fruit

At this moment, on either side of Akira, a pair of massive sand hands suddenly erupted from the ground. Their speed was astonishing, and in the blink of an eye, the sand hands swatted Bakugo like an insect.

With a loud *bang*, a large hole exploded in the palm of one sand hand, and thick black smoke poured out from the impact.

As the smoke cleared, Bakugo's figure slowly emerged, battered but unyielding. His sports uniform was in tatters, and blood trickled from the wounds on his arms and face, mixing with the dirt smeared across his skin.

"Damn it! Even with my current strength, I can't even scratch you?" Bakugo growled, frustration dripping from his voice.

"Use every move you have," Akira said calmly, his gaze steady as he raised his head toward Bakugo, who stood atop the sand hand.

Bakugo gritted his teeth, his fists trembling as he clenched them.

"Don't get me wrong, Bakugo," Akira continued. "I don't mean to look down on you. We've walked different paths, faced different struggles. That's what shaped us."

Bakugo took a deep breath. "I know," he replied through clenched teeth, his voice quieter but resolute.

"Good," Akira nodded. "If you understand that, then it's fine. But honestly, I suggest you stop for now. Fighting further won't do much good. Your Quirk development still needs work, and your physical skills have room for improvement.

"But don't worry too much about it. All Might said we'll head to Brave Academy after the sports festival. That place might just help you unleash your potential."

Bakugo exhaled sharply, his shoulders loosening slightly. "Fine. I already know the gap between us. No need to drag this out."

He leapt down from the sand hand and landed heavily on the ground.

Akira nodded approvingly, then turned his gaze to Todoroki, who stood quietly nearby. "Your turn."

Todoroki stepped forward, his expression stoic as ever.

"Don't hold back," Akira told him. "Use your Quirk to its fullest. Don't worry about hurting me."

Todoroki gave a small nod. "Understood," he replied.

"Good. Then come at me."

Without hesitation, Todoroki raised his foot and stomped the ground. A wave of frost spread out, freezing the ground in an instant. From the ice, a series of jagged spikes shot up, each larger than the last, aimed directly at Akira.

"Shoto Todoroki," Akira muttered, watching the icy onslaught. "A composite Quirk of fire and ice… powerful, versatile, and dangerous."

In response, Akira stomped the ground as well, and the earth loosened beneath him. A massive wave of sand rose like a tsunami, meeting the ice spikes head-on.

The impact was deafening, a resounding *boom* that shook the entire training ground.

On the far side of the field, Midoriya staggered to his feet after taking another One-for-All backlash. He had barely recovered when the ground trembled beneath him.

"What… what's happening?" Midoriya stammered, his eyes wide as he turned toward the commotion.

Sand and ice clashed violently, sending debris flying everywhere.

"Sand and ice…?" Tokoyami muttered, his dark eyes narrowing.

"It's Todoroki and Kitagawa," All Might said, his tone calm but tinged with awe.

"What an incredible clash," Tokoyami murmured.

"Yeah… Akira's Quirk and Todoroki's are both incredibly strong," Midoriya added, envy creeping into his voice.

"Todoroki might be the second strongest among us," Tokoyami speculated.

"Second?" Midoriya frowned.

All Might chuckled. "Bakugo isn't weak either. If you compare him to Todoroki, it's probably a fifty-fifty match. But regardless, Akira stands far above them both."

The mention of Akira's name sent a shiver through Midoriya. He thought back to when they first met at the beach a year ago. Back then, Akira had been skilled but far from the powerhouse he was now.

"Yeah… it's unbelievable how much he's grown," Midoriya muttered.

All Might nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Indeed. Back then, his physical skills were decent at best. Now… he's unrecognizable."

"Let's rest for now and watch the battle," All Might suggested.

Midoriya and the others nodded, their attention locked on the ongoing fight.

On the battlefield, sand and ice continued to collide in a spectacular display of power. The clashing elements sent chunks of ice and waves of sand scattering across the ground.

Despite the intensity of the battle, Akira's breathing remained steady, while Todoroki's breaths grew labored.

What was worse for Todoroki was the thin layer of water forming on the icy half of his body, a sign of overexertion.