MHA: Sand Sand Fruit

Shoto Todoroki's Quirk, a powerful combination of ice and fire, came with its own limitations. The right side of his body could unleash devastating cold, capable of freezing an entire building in seconds. On the left, flames raged with a force that could incapacitate a large number of enemies in one strike. However, his power wasn't without drawbacks—overuse of either side could result in frostbite or burns.

What held Shoto back even more than his limitations was the emotional burden tied to his flames. His father, Endeavor, had molded him to surpass All Might, treating his mother as nothing more than a tool for breeding powerful offspring. The emotional scars of his mother's breakdown and the scalding water she poured on his face left Shoto rejecting the flames that represented his father's ambitions.

As the battle continued, sand and ice clashed violently, filling the air with fragments of their respective elements. The ground trembled under the force of their collision, yet the outcome was becoming clear. Shoto's breathing grew heavier, his right side encased in an increasingly thick layer of frost. He knew he was reaching his limit.

Deciding to pull back, Shoto darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another sand wave that crashed where he had just been standing.

"You're stopping already?" Akira called out, pausing his assault. His gaze locked onto Shoto, observing the frost creeping over his opponent's body.

"You're only using half your power," Akira said with a frown. "Do you really think you can surpass your limits like this?"

Shoto remained silent, his gaze flickering with doubt.

"I don't care about your reasons for holding back, but this fight is meant to test your limits. Do you even know what that means?" Akira's voice carried an edge of frustration.

Shoto flinched, the words cutting deeper than he expected.

"You're you, and your father is your father. Are you living your life just to defy him?" Akira pressed.

Those words struck a chord. Shoto clenched his fists, memories of his mother and father flashing through his mind.

"As your team leader, I order you: stop holding back and attack me with everything you've got," Akira demanded, his voice firm.

After a moment of hesitation, Shoto gritted his teeth. "Understood."

Raising his left hand, flames erupted, engulfing him in a blaze. The frost on his right side melted away, and his body returned to balance.

With a roar, Shoto unleashed a fireball toward Akira, the heat distorting the air around it.

Akira spread the sand wings on his back, lifting into the air effortlessly. With a powerful flap, the flames were redirected back toward Shoto.

Shoto dodged swiftly, but Akira appeared in front of him in an instant, a dark fist coated in Armament Haki driving toward him.

Shoto raised an ice wall, but Akira's punch shattered it like glass. The blow connected with Shoto's torso, sending him stumbling back. Yet, he managed to stay on his feet, his breathing heavy but his resolve firm.

"Not bad," Akira said with a grin. "You've worked on your physical conditioning."

Shoto nodded. "While developing my Quirk, I focused on my physical fitness too."

"Good," Akira replied, his fists once again coated in Haki. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, delivering a flurry of punches to Shoto's abdomen.

The impact was too much. Shoto coughed violently, spitting out saliva as he was launched backward. He hit the ground with a heavy thud and didn't rise.

Akira approached quickly, concern flickering in his eyes. "You okay? Sorry, I might've hit you harder than I intended."

Shoto winced but managed a faint smirk. "I'm not dead."

"Want to keep going?" Akira asked.

Shoto shook his head. "No… I've learned my limits."

"Good. That's what this was about," Akira replied calmly.

With Shoto and Bakugo both out, the training for the day was over. Meanwhile, All Might and the others—Midoriya, Tokoyami, and the rest of Class 1-A—watched from the sidelines, awestruck by the sheer intensity of the battles.

"All Might, is this what the top of the class looks like?" Midoriya asked, still lying on the ground.

All Might nodded, his expression contemplative. "Indeed. But Kitagawa is in a league of his own. His rapid growth over the past year is… remarkable."

The group turned their attention back to the training ground, where Akira stood with his hands on his hips, looking over the battered field.

---

Over the next two weeks, All Might organized intensive training sessions for Akira, Bakugo, Shoto, and the others, pushing them to refine their skills for the upcoming sports festival. Though grueling, each of them grew stronger with every session.

And so, as the days passed, the opening day of the U.A. Sports Festival arrived. The arena buzzed with anticipation, a stage set for heroes-in-training to showcase their strength to the world.