Kirishima met Bakugo’s glare without a trace of concern, even as Bakugo clenched his teeth and fixed him with an intense stare.
In truth, before unleashing that supersonic strike, it was Bakugo who had given Kirishima the most cause for worry.
Knowing Bakugo’s relentless drive to be No. 1—as opposed to Midoriya or Mina—it was inevitable that he would feel an even greater blow from it.
While the others would simply marvel at Kirishima’s prowess, Bakugo’s perspective was entirely different.
For Bakugo, Kirishima was a mountain to be conquered, a crucial stepping stone in his ascent toward All Might.
He had no idea how someone like Kirishima would react to something so extraordinary.
At worst, Bakugo might be driven to utter despair.
Even so, Kirishima had resolved to reveal his supersonic strike to Bakugo.
Bakugo’s nature was such that if he were deliberately kept in the dark, he’d only explode later when the truth came out.
Besides, Kirishima believed that no matter how shaken Bakugo might be momentarily, he would soon pick himself up again.
"Why? You jealous?"
"Jealous? Me?"
"Yeah. You’ve got the look of a girl who’s just caught her boyfriend cheating."
"Ha! Jealous? I always knew you were a weirdo, but have you lost your mind?"
Though Bakugo’s expression still wavered, his tone had returned to its usual rough cadence.
Kirishima exhaled in relief.
Bakugo was a hotheaded, battered soul, but he was still someone Kirishima had known for ten long years.
Kirishima wasn’t about to watch him crumble in defeat.
"Hey."
"What?"
"You really think you can beat me?"
Bakugo’s serious question set Kirishima’s jaw tight.
For the first time, the guy who had always overflowed with reckless confidence was visibly shaken.
Kirishima couldn’t help but think that this was a striking sight indeed.
"You don’t really think so, do you?"
"I want to say I can—I want to say I'll surpass you one day and beat you, but honestly, the words just won’t come out."
Bakugo’s fist, clenched with every bit of his strength, trembled visibly.
Looking into Bakugo’s gritted face, Kirishima replied calmly, "Did the frog in the well choke when it saw the world outside?"
"What?"
"I’m only just getting started. I’ve barely set foot on the battlefield of legends. You already know my goal is All Might—and beyond. I’m talking about being the indisputable strongest in history, an immortal force no one will ever dare match."
"Ha. You’re crazy."
Bakugo shuddered at Kirishima’s measured tone.
The man before him truly believed every word he spoke.
Without a doubt, he was convinced that he would one day attain that lofty goal.
Bakugo was once again reminded of the caliber of the man he was chasing.
Kirishima was a mountain—an insurmountable peak that reached ever upward toward the sky.
"Tch. Why are you acting like a scared little kid? What, if I get so strong that you can’t keep up, are you just going to give up—retire from hero work after raking in a few bucks? Live a mediocre life, get cozy with your family, and leave some dying words telling them not to aim too high? Idiot. If you live like that, you won’t even get close to your goals—and you’ll kick the bucket early. Didn’t some old sage once say, 'Gnothi seauton'—know thyself?"
"What did you just call me?"
Bakugo’s glare deepened as he absorbed the biting, knife-sharp words from Kirishima.
But more than anything, he was furious with himself.
He couldn’t fathom that, even for a moment, he had entertained the thought of surrender because of Kirishima’s influence.
That ridiculously formidable guy wasn’t entirely wrong.
He was someone who constantly reached for the top without ever stopping short.
Though he had never beaten Kirishima, he still believed that victory was inevitable one day.
"Just because you start ahead doesn't mean you'll stay ahead forever. Even if you seem backsliding now, you might just find yourself at the summit later. Do I really have to spell it out for you? What am I, your dad? Jeez. Seriously, are you my best friend, or what? I even help out guys who’re flailing around trying to beat me—I’m practically a saint."
"If you’re a saint, then what does that make Deku—a Buddha?"
Bakugo, steadying his rattled heart, retorted in his usual gruff manner.
It was clear that Bakugo had changed.
He no longer carried himself as the invincible guy among his peers.
There was still a massive wall ahead of him—a towering barrier.
Yet he had resolved not to view it as insurmountable.
He would never again allow himself to wallow in a defeatist haze.
Even if he climbed, fell, coughed up blood, and broke every limb, he would rise again.
And if he kept climbing, he believed that, eventually, he would reach the top.
"So when the hell did you come up with that?"
"Huh? This?"
Without missing a beat, Kirishima demonstrated his familiar one-two combo in response to Bakugo’s query.
A lightning-fast punch zipped past Bakugo’s eyes.
It was delivered as if no special preparation was needed at all.
"Yeah. That insane punch."
"Insane? That’s an insult. Don’t call something this basic insane. Something worthy of that label would be an All Might punch—the kind that can change the weather with one hit."
"Ha. Is that what you think?"
Bakugo was once again struck by the difference in their standards.
This guy was already setting his sights on All Might.
Everything else was merely a stepping stone.
Even techniques honed with enormous effort were regarded as just part of the journey.
Perhaps it was because he was genuinely chasing a faster, stronger version of himself.
Bakugo realized that there was much he could learn from this man—even if he hated admitting it.
"So, when did you make it?"
"If you’re asking when I made it, it’s just my usual one-two that I’ve been practicing as hard as I can. Sure, I did go through some special training on my own, but I wasn’t trying to invent some ultimate move. It’s just part of the basics."
"You’re insane. If you say something like that anywhere else, you’ll get a slap—so watch it."
Watching Kirishima casually toss out such intimidating words, Bakugo clicked his tongue.
When people witness someone accomplishing the seemingly impossible, they either revere or resent them.
But there was no need to broadcast every cutting remark and make more enemies in the process.
Bakugo, who himself was prone to blurting out harsh truths, felt a pang of concern for Kirishima.
Midoriya might be the same, but this guy was on another level entirely.
Bakugo had never seen himself as normal, but compared to the others, he was practically exemplary.
Everyone was fooled by the polite, respectable facade, oblivious to the truth lurking beneath.
Really, is it normal for someone to start training at age two just to become the strongest?
And after such grueling training—to brawl with an adult at age five and then become a top-tier Pro Hero by fifteen—that defies all sense of normalcy.
Contemplating the hellish training behind it all, Kirishima realized that, in some ways, he was even crazier than Deku.
Anyone who saw him in battle even once would agree: he wasn’t normal.
At five, with a gaping hole in his stomach, he still moved like a man possessed, delivering punishing blows to his enemies.
Back then, Kirishima had looked happy.
Happy to have an enemy with real intent, happy to strike back, even happy to get hurt in the process.
It wasn’t just the rush of adrenaline—it was the look of someone utterly consumed by the madness of battle.
"I’m only saying this because it’s you. I know I’m strong, and I know it’s not great to act like it’s no big deal. But more importantly, why am I the one listening to you lecture me on social skills? You’re the least social one in our group."
"No, you jerk. You’re the hypocrite, and I’m the honest one."
"Hmm. I wouldn’t say I’m a hypocrite—I’m sincere with everyone. Sure, if it were a villain, I could lie all day long."
"You idiot, you’re just a fight-crazed lunatic."
"Oh, that’s true. But I’m not completely crazy—I do think before I act."
"So that’s why you made the headlines a few days ago for taking down a villain?"
"Ah, well. I was a bit fired up then, but I didn’t just charge in blindly. I fought because I believed I had to."
"Oh, really?"
Bakugo found Kirishima’s words absurd, but he let it pass.
He wasn’t one to split hairs over every little detail.
Part of the reason no one saw through this man’s true nature was that his smooth tongue could make even the harshest words sound right.
He appeared polished and courteous, yet with those he was close to he unleashed merciless barbs so sharp that, after a while, even the recipient might believe the criticism was justified.
There’s a difference between stating a truth and delivering it in an abrasive manner—and when the delivery is rough, it can rub people the wrong way.
This guy had a knack for making even the nastiest insults seem acceptable.
"Anyway, that’s a wrap on the showcase. Don’t come back later with any more idle chatter. I made sure to show you everything fairly."
"Who the hell do you take me for?"
"A spoiled kid with a fragile ego who’d lose his cool if I kept something from him."
"Kyaah! You trying to pick a fight?"
"And if we do fight, can you even win?"
"I can’t stand it. Bring it on! I’m settling the pecking order today!"
"Nah. Friends don’t have a pecking order. Looks like your social skills are still a work in progress, huh?"
Kirishima dodged Bakugo’s charge, sprinting away as he spoke.
It wasn’t the malicious attack from their very first meeting—if anything, it felt like a bit of friendly roughhousing.
Of course, Kirishima had no intention of actually landing a punch; he was simply evading Bakugo’s pursuit.
Bakugo, unable to match Kirishima’s speed, eventually became exhausted from the chase.
"Huff, huff... Why are you so fast? Stay still over there!"
"If I stop, you'll just charge again, won't you? And I don't need you to compliment my speed—I know I'm fast."
"That hardly counts as a compliment!"
Finally, Bakugo collapsed onto the ground from sheer exhaustion.
Only then did Kirishima come over to sit beside him.
After exerting himself so much, Bakugo looked noticeably lighter.
Even on the dirt, Bakugo simply lay back, gazing upward at Kirishima as he spoke.
"Hey."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I'm definitely going to beat you. Even if I end up losing to everyone else, I'll beat you for sure."
"If you beat me, you'll probably be able to beat everyone else too."
"Hey, you damn—! Listen up! You ramble on so much I forgot what I was gonna say!"
"Maybe it's not that I'm rambling, but that you're just plain stupid."
Bakugo frowned at Kirishima, whose relentless jeering was starting to grate on him.
Looking up at Kirishima’s face—which somehow seemed even more distant when viewed from below—Bakugo spoke in a quieter tone than usual, "Forget it. I’m not interested in a verbal battle. I’ve got a favor to ask."
"What is it? If it's something I can do, I’ll listen. We’re friends, after all."
"You. Never lose again. If you lose to anyone other than me, I won’t forgive you. Knock everyone down and keep climbing. Hold that throne until I come to claim it."
Kirishima paused, pondering what on earth Bakugo was really getting at—and why he was calling it a favor—before bursting into laughter at the absurdity of it all.
He truly was an interesting bastard.
What fun would life be if there were only enemies to fight and allies to protect?
Sometimes it’s those unpredictable, neither-enemy-nor-ally types who add excitement to the mix.
Mina and Midoriya were good guys, but they lacked that certain spark.
They had ambition, sure—but it wasn’t directed at Kirishima.
In contrast, Bakugo was always eyeing Kirishima and charging straight toward him.
Kirishima thought it was a blessing to have at least one friend who kept pushing him like that.
"But what if Midoriya overtakes you?"
"Huh? Are you out of your mind? Me? Lose to Deku?"
"You heard that Midoriya got a Quirk, right? He can’t control it yet, but they say the output is off the charts."
"No matter what Quirk that Deku bastard ends up with, I'll still win! I’m going to win, no doubt about it!"
"Uh... sure. Yeah."
Kirishima patted the rattled Bakugo on the shoulder.
Knowing that Midoriya had inherited One For All, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
He wasn’t sure Bakugo would lose, but he did think the road ahead for him would be rough.
Kirishima was only thinking about the hardship Bakugo would endure—not the struggles lying in wait for himself.
Afterword
Thank you to everyone who read, recommended, favorited, and commented.
@Some Freeloader / I do plan to strengthen Bakugo.
That said, in the original work he grows stronger in various ways, and the mechanism by which Bakugo uses his Quirk seems limited in my opinion, so I’m still mulling over how best to power him up.
I’ll have to think about it some more.
@Magic Sword Keyboard / Bakugo will, at the very least, mature a bit faster mentally than he does in the original.
I don’t know what Pepsi Fire tastes like either—haven’t tried it.
Honestly, I’m not even that curious.
I enjoyed Ma Jae’s videos too, but the biggest inspiration for this novel’s Kirishima was actually Im Gyeong-bae’s King of Fists Reincarnation.
I felt that the rock-solid body capable of withstanding any attack—a trait shared by original HeroAca’s Kirishima and Jim Unbreakable in King of Fists Reincarnation—was a central theme.
@Heavenly Wheel Sage King / First off, I don’t agree that a single Quirk has an upper limit.
All Might and All For One were designed as the ultimate beings in this world, and aside from each other, only Midoriya (or his archenemy Shigaraki) even comes close.
Because that rule must be maintained, any Quirk that might threaten them is burdened with various penalties—a prime example being Aizawa.
If Aizawa were a villain without constraints on lethality, I believe he could even take down All Might.
The Quirk Apprehension Test already showed that [Erasure] can completely shut down One For All’s activation.
If Aizawa were to hide among a crowd with a lethal weapon—a gun, perhaps—and fire while nullifying the target’s Quirk, most heroes wouldn’t have a chance to respond.
Even All Might, reduced to a 220-centimeter seasoned warrior without One For All, would struggle to dodge or block bullets.
Frankly, I believe that a defensive, passive hero who operates in the open cannot counter an assassin like Aizawa.
That’s why in the original, Aizawa refrains from killing and resorts to capture tools instead.
Just handing him a pistol would make him vastly more dangerous than he is now.
Of course, that won’t be happening.
Another example is Yaoyorozu’s Creation.
In theory, this Quirk can manufacture weapons of mass destruction akin to nuclear arms—so powerful that it can rival even irregulars like One For All or All For One in terms of destructive force.
Even without direct physical impact, it could cause massive economic and societal damage by creating precious metals, checks, and the like.
Granted, given that she’s an aspiring hero, I doubt she’ll ever unleash her power fully in an offensive role.
If the examples above are about Quirks whose inherent nature allows them to challenge the strongest, what I’m talking about now is more fundamental.
It’s not something just anyone can do—yet Shigaraki’s awakening proved that even a single Quirk can wield unimaginable destructive power.
With nothing but [Decay], Shigaraki can tear a city apart.
I believe this opened the door for other single Quirks to become equally formidable, depending on their evolution.
Of course, Shigaraki receives special treatment as the protagonist’s archenemy, so I’m not entirely sure if the same applies to other characters.
Still, keeping that in mind, I made Kirishima the central figure—after all, the story repeatedly emphasizes that he is "growing endlessly stronger."
It might just be a rhetorical flourish, but I figured it was better than having nothing at all.
Finally, there’s the Quirk singularity.
The original work suggests that as generations pass, Quirks become increasingly complex and may pose a threat to the world.
Within the current generation—and even two or three generations down the line—we may see Quirks emerge that are powerful enough to rival true irregulars like One For All or All For One.
Sure, there are already Quirks like Creation on the scene, but as a reader, it’s hard to feel their impact when the protagonists are so underrepresented.
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