MHA: A hunter in the world of heroes

The stadium roared with excitement as Present Mic's voice boomed across the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the main event! The one-on-one battles that you have all been waiting for!"

On the giant screen, the tournament bracket flashed, eliciting gasps and cheers from the crowd. In the stadium, the contestants studied their matchups with varying degrees of enthusiasm and agitation. Some grinned with anticipation, while others seemed to shrink into themselves, already expecting their inevitable defeat.

Killua smirked, cracking his knuckles with an audible pop. "Denki Kaminari, huh? This should be interesting." His eyes glinted with mischief as he side-eyed his first opponent.

From beside him, Denki started sweating bullets, his face a comical mix of dread and resignation. "I'm doomed," he fake-sobbed, dramatically throwing an arm over his eyes. "Absolutely, positively doomed."

"Aw, come on, don't be like that," Killua said, sidling up to his classmate. He threw an arm around Denki's shoulders, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Tell you what, I'll go easy on you, buddy."

Denki's head snapped up, eyes wide with hope. "Really? You mean it?" His voice cracked slightly, a mixture of disbelief and desperate optimism.

Killua's face remained serious for a split second before splitting into a devilish grin. "Hell no," he cackled, giving Denki a friendly but firm pat on the back that nearly sent the electric user sprawling.

Just like that, Denki's fleeting hope was crushed, evaporating faster than water on a hot stove. His shoulders slumped dramatically, and he let out a pitiful whine. "Oh man, I knew it was too good to be true. I'm gonna get zapped into next week, aren't I?"

"Probably," Killua agreed cheerfully, clearly enjoying his classmate's theatrics. "But hey, look on the bright side – at least you'll go out with a bang!"

"That's not funny, man!" Denki protested, but a reluctant smile was tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright. Just... try not to embarrass me too badly out there, okay?"

Killua's grin softened slightly. "No promises, but I'll do my best to make you look good. Maybe you'll even land a hit or two." He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well, probably not, but stranger things have happened."

As Denki groaned and buried his face in his hands, the rest of the participants buzzed with nervous energy and excited chatter.

Killua took another look at the bracket to check the rest of the match-ups, his eyes scanning the names until they landed on a particular pairing. He internally flinched as he saw Shoto was against Sero.

'Well, damn,' he thought, suppressing a grimace. 'Sero's a cool guy, but man, talk about a bad matchup.'

His mind drifted to his own opponent, and he couldn't help but smirk. 'Well, at least it's far better than mine. If Denki was stronger, then it would be an interesting battle, comparing our skills with lightning, our energy, and our endurance.'

Killua's eyes glazed over slightly as he imagined a future version of Kaminari, one who could actually pose a challenge. 'Maybe in the far away future, Denki would be able to rise up to the challenge, but that's in the far away future. Right now?' He glanced at the nervous blonde standing beside him. 'He's gonna get his ass handed to him... Poor guy.'

A small pang of guilt nudged at Killua's conscience. 'But I'm a nice guy, right? I'll allow him to show off a little bit, at least.'

His thoughts then turned to his best friend in this universe. 'Shoto, on the other hand...' Killua shook his head slightly. 'The guy's ruthless. Sero is - what was it Denki said? - "Absolutely, positively doomed."'

He could already picture the match in his mind's eye. 'He'll probably be frozen within seconds. At least Sero got to show off a little bit in the second round,' Killua mused, then frowned. 'He should have joined the recreational games to stick out more.'

A hint of frustration colored his thoughts. 'I'm the damn class president, not the class's babysitter. I didn't have to spell out everything for my classmates, they did this to themselves.' He could already foresee the aftermath. 'They should have stayed in the spotlight more. Now they'll probably complain about having only a few recommendations, and I'll be the one doing damage control.'

His eyes drifted further down the list. "Iida is against the pink-haired girl that was on Broccoli's team," Killua said, just loud enough for only Denki to hear.

Denki snorted, giving Killua a bemused look. "Dude, what's up with your nicknames? They're horrible."

"They're awesome, thank you very much," Killua retorted, a hint of mock offense in his voice. He paused, thinking back to the second round, trying to figure out the mysterious girl. Activating his Gyo, he looked at the girl, noticing her quirk energy concentrated around her eyes, glowing a weird yellow color. The girl caught his eye and grinned widely at him. A little flustered at being caught, he waved at her awkwardly. He took notice of the unusual shape of her pupils.

Turning back to Denki, he asked, "What do you think of the girl that's against Iida?"

Denki's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "She's pretty, obviously lacking in comparison with Yaoyorozu, and Ashido can pull the pink factor so much better. Why? Is she your type?"

By the time Denki finished talking, Killua had developed a frustrated twitch in his eye. "You're useless," he sassed back, and Denki gasped in fake offense. Before he could speak, Killua beat him to it. "I meant what do you think about her skillset and quirk, not her appearance."

"Should have known," Denki chuckled. "Your type is the more withdrawn girls, petite and cute." Killua simply raised an eyebrow. "Hey, I may be mostly oblivious, but when it comes to stuff like that, I take notice... you spent awfully a lot of time with that girl from class 1-B."

Killua's face was dusted with pink, and he looked around, making sure no one overheard. "Back to our subject now," he gritted out.

Denki shrugged. "I'm not sure, man. I think she's from the support department. Remember all the weird mumbo-jumbo Midoriya had in the cavalry battle? I mean, the guy had flying boots, for crying out loud."

"Pretty sure they're not called that," Killua deadpanned. "But that's beside the point. I remember her from my speech; she was standing with the support class. And taking into account all the things Midoriya had in his possession for the battle, she's definitely the culprit. Still, she was the only support student to proceed further into the competition, so it makes me wonder, how skilled is she to make it all the way here with only a support-type quirk?"

"How do you know it's a support type?" Denki argued.

"She didn't use it at all in the second event," Killua pointed out. Kaminari's eyes widened as he realized that.

"You're right..." he exclaimed.

"Aren't I always?" Killua replied smugly, already checking the next pair. His worries increased tenfold as he saw Shinso was against Midoriya. 'The poor guy couldn't catch a break...' he thought. 'Oh well, I'll have to convince Dad to take Shinso under his wing. Something tells me he won't object too much.' still a mixture of concern and frustration bubbled up inside him.

He recalled the intense determination in Shinso's eyes during their earlier conversation. The mind-bending teen had been through so much already, constantly fighting against the stigma of his "villainous" quirk. And now, to be pitted against Midoriya of all people? It seemed like the universe had a cruel sense of humor.

'Midoriya's sharp,' Killua mused, absently chewing on his lower lip. 'If anyone can figure out a way around Shinso's quirk, it's him. And that One For All power...' He shook his head slightly. 'Shinso's got his work cut out for him.'

But despite the odds, Killua couldn't help but root for the underdog. There was something about Shinso's resilience, his unwavering drive to prove himself, that resonated with Killua. 'He deserves a chance to show what he's capable of. To prove to everyone – and himself – that he belongs in the hero course.'

Killua's mind wandered to their earlier conversation, to the tentative olive branch he'd extended. 'I hope he took my offer seriously. Dad could really help him develop his potential.' A small, wry smile tugged at his lips. 'Heh, imagine Aizawa with two problem children to mentor. He'd probably retire on the spot.'

Still, worry gnawed at him. This match could make or break Shinso's chances of transferring to the hero course. If he lost badly, it might crush that burning determination Killua had seen. But if he managed to put up a good fight, to showcase his strategic mind and the versatility of his quirk...

Killua's eyes hardened with resolve. 'Win or lose, I'll make sure Shinso gets the recognition he deserves. He's got too much potential to be overlooked.'

With a slight nod to himself, Killua refocused on the present. The first match would be starting soon, unfortunately, it was Shinso's match.

'Good luck, Shinso,' he thought. 'Show them what you're made of.'

Killua sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. 'Well, can't change it now. Might as well enjoy the show.' His trademark mischievous grin slowly spread across his face. 'And what a show it's going to be.'

 ****************

Killua watched the matches unfold with keen interest, his analytical mind dissecting each encounter.

He couldn't help but admire Shinso's strategy against Midoriya. The guy had used his sassiness to provoke Midoriya into talking, a smart redirection tactic to activate his quirk. Shinso had made sure to actually converse with Midoriya earlier, so it wouldn't be painfully obvious that Shinso's quirk was voice-activated. 'Clever move, Shinso,' Killua thought, a small smirk playing on his lips.

However, as expected, Midoriya's physical prowess and combat training gave him the edge in close quarters. Killua's eyebrows rose slightly when Shinso, in a desperate move, actually bit Midoriya. 'Didn't see that coming,' he mused. But even that wasn't enough. Midoriya's escape from Shinso's control didn't surprise Killua much - not with One For All in his possession.

His gaze drifted to Sero, who was still trembling despite being cocooned in a blanket and nursing a hot cocoa. Killua sighed. As he'd predicted, Shoto had turned Sero into a human popsicle. What he hadn't anticipated was the sheer scale of the ice formation - an iceberg that could rival the one that sank the Titanic now dominated the stadium.

'Shoto's pissed,' Killua realized, noting the uncertainty and confusion in his friend's heterochromatic eyes. 'There's more going on here than just the match.' But he knew he couldn't help unless Shoto asked for it.

Scanning the crowd, Killua easily spotted Endeavor. His eyes narrowed, and he fixed the pro hero with a glare that would have made even his brother Illumi proud -He hated Illumi but he had to admit the guy's glare could make you piss yourself-. He watched with grim satisfaction as Endeavor shivered and looked around for the source of the murderous intent. When their eyes met, Killua flipped him off, regarding the Number Two Hero as if he were a measly insect beneath his shoe.

Endeavor shook with rage, heat rising visibly around him. Nearby civilians scooted away nervously. Beside Killua, Shoto watched the exchange with wide-eyed awe.

Killua sweat-dropped at his friend's expression. "Sorry man, but I don't swing that way," he quipped.

Confusion clouded Shoto's face. "Don't swing what?"

"Forget it, you're still too innocent for that..."

"Huh???" Shoto's bewilderment only deepened.

Shaking his head with amusement, Killua turned his attention to Wendy's match against Shiozaki Ibara. Wendy was putting up a valiant fight, her enhanced physical abilities allowing her to dodge and weave through Shiozaki's vine attacks. But Killua could see the toll it was taking on her.

Wendy's movements were becoming slower, her reactions less precise. She was pushing her quirk to its limits, enhancing her abilities to the maximum, but it wasn't enough against Shiozaki's relentless assault.

'She's going to lose,' Killua realized with a pang of sympathy. He watched as Wendy, panting heavily, narrowly avoided another vine whip. Her healing ability was keeping her in the fight, but it was clear she was running on fumes.

As Shiozaki's vines finally ensnared Wendy, pinning her arms to her sides, Killua couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and sadness. Pride in how far Wendy had come, in how hard she'd fought. But sadness that it wasn't enough to secure her victory.

'You did well, Wendy,' he thought as Midnight declared Shiozaki the winner. 'There's always next year.'

With the first round of matches concluded, Killua straightened up, rolling his shoulders. His own match was coming up soon, and he intended to make it a spectacle. After all, he had a reputation to uphold.

 ****************

"Begin!" Present Mic's voice boomed across the arena.

Kaminari, sweating bullets, took a deep breath. "Alright, here goes nothing!" He shouted, his body lighting up like a Christmas tree. "Indiscriminate Discharge 1,300,000 volts!"

Kaminari wasted no time, unleashing a massive electrical discharge. The audience gasped as lightning engulfed Killua...only for their jaws to drop as he stood there, completely unaffected.

"Is that all you've got?" Killua yawned, examining his nails. "I've had more exciting static shocks from my socks."

Kaminari's jaw dropped. "What the... how are you not even singed?"

Killua grinned, electricity crackling around him. "Let's just say I've built up a bit of a resistance."

Before Kaminari could blink, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, eyes widening as Killua stood behind him, crackling with absorbed electricity.

"Thanks for the power-up," Killua quipped, before flicking Kaminari's forehead, sending him stumbling backward.

"Ow! Hey, no fair using my own juice against me!" Kaminari whined, rubbing his forehead.

Killua shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "All's fair in love, war, and ridiculous school tournaments."

Kaminari, desperate, tried to charge up again. "I'm not done yet!"

"Neither am I," Killua smirked. He disappeared in a blur of motion, reappearing behind Kaminari. "Boo."

Kaminari yelped, spinning around wildly. "Stop doing that!"

"Make me," Killua taunted, zipping around the arena at lightning speed, leaving after-images in his wake.

Kaminari, dizzy from trying to track Killua's movements, stumbled. "I think I'm gonna be sick..."

"Aw, come on, I thought you'd have a stronger stomach than that," Killua teased, suddenly appearing in front of Kaminari.

In a last-ditch effort, Kaminari lunged forward, trying to grab Killua. "Gotcha!"

Killua sidestepped easily, letting Kaminari stumble past him. "Close, but no cigar."

As Kaminari turned, Killua was there, poking him in the chest with an electrified finger. The jolt wasn't painful, but it was enough to make Kaminari's hair stand on end even more than usual.

"Give up yet?" Killua asked, grinning.

Kaminari, his brain finally short-circuiting from overuse of his quirk, gave a dopey smile and two thumbs up. "Wheeey..."

Killua chuckled, patting Kaminari's head. "I'll take that as a yes." He turned to Midnight. "I think we're done here."

As Midnight declared Killua the winner, he helped a still-dazed Kaminari off the stage. "Good effort, buddy. Maybe next time try fighting someone who isn't immune to electricity, yeah?"

Kaminari, still in his dimwitted state, just grinned goofily. "Yaaay... pretty lights..."

Killua shook his head, amused. "Come on, Pikachu. Let's get you some recovery gummies." 

 ****************

As Iida stumbled off the stage, still dazed and covered in various gadgets, Killua couldn't contain himself any longer. He burst into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over and clutching his stomach.

"Oh man, that was... that was..." he wheezed between fits of giggles, unable to complete his sentence.

Nearby, Katsuki was trying (and failing) to maintain his usual scowl, his shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth. Shoto, typically stoic, had a glimmer of amusement dancing in his heterochromatic eyes.

Iida, still flustered and agitated, marched over to them. "I fail to see what's so amusing about this situation!" he declared, his arms chopping the air in his signature style.

Killua, wiping tears from his eyes, tried to compose himself. "Come on man, see the positive of the situation," he managed between bouts of laughter and wheezing breaths.

"And that is???" Iida gritted out, his glasses flashing indignantly.

Katsuki, finally losing his battle with composure, let out a bark of laughter. "That you're making a fucking hilarious salesman," he snorted, now openly guffawing alongside Killua.

"You mean guinea pig," Shoto added quietly, but loud enough for those closest to him to hear.

Killua's eyes lit up at Shoto's unexpected quip. "That's a good point, Sho! She literally used you as if you were a test subject!" He dissolved into another fit of giggles.

Iida's face reddened, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "This is most undignified! As fellow heroes-in-training, we should be supporting each other, not... not..."

"Laughing our asses off at your expense?" Killua supplied helpfully, earning a glare from Iida and another snort from Katsuki.

"I must say," Shoto mused, a small smile tugging at his lips, "Hatsume's strategy was... unexpected."

"Unexpected?" Killua exclaimed, slinging an arm around Shoto's shoulders. "Sho, my man, Hatsume Mai is an absolute legend! She turned her match into a bizarre infomercial and then dramatically forfeited. It's marketing genius!"

Katsuki, still chuckling, nodded in agreement. "Gotta hand it to Support Girl, she's got balls."

"And brains," Killua added. "She got way more exposure for her inventions than she would have in an actual fight."

Iida, still indignant but starting to see the humor in the situation, sighed heavily. "I suppose... from a certain perspective... it was a rather clever tactic."

"That's the spirit, Iida!" Killua grinned, patting him on the back. "Look at it this way – you're probably the most memorable victor of the first round. No one's going to forget your match anytime soon!"

As Iida groaned and buried his face in his hands, the others continued to laugh, the tension of the tournament momentarily forgotten in the wake of Hatsume's audacious performance.

Killua, wiping away the last of his tears of mirth, couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for the pink-haired inventor. In a competition full of physical powerhouses, she'd found a way to stand out and showcase her unique talents. It was a reminder that in the world of heroes, sometimes the most unexpected strategies could lead to victory – or at least, unforgettable moments.

As the loud roar of the crowd's cheers echoed through the stadium, drawing attention to the ongoing match between Kirishima and Ashido, Killua's gaze drifted to Yaoyorozu. She stood at the edge of the arena, her eyes puffy from her recent loss to Tokoyami. He sighed and got up, walking towards her. Shoto looked at his retreating back curiously, while Katsuki muttered to himself about "goody two-shoes," and Iida nodded approvingly towards the silver-haired boy.

"Yaoyorozu," Killua called softly, coming to stand beside her. She turned to face him, trying to put on a brave smile but failing.

"Killua... I..." she began, her voice trembling.

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You did great out there. Tokoyami is a tough opponent, and you held your own."

She shook her head, tears welling up again. "I should have been able to counter his Dark Shadow. I feel like I let everyone down."

Killua's expression softened. "Hey, everyone has their moments of weakness. What matters is how you pick yourself up afterward. You have incredible skills and intelligence. This loss doesn't define you."

Yaoyorozu sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Killua. I just... I wanted to prove myself."

"And you did," he reassured her. "Everyone saw how hard you fought. Plus, look around," he gestured to the cheering crowd, "the spirit of the competition isn't just about winning. It's about pushing your limits and showing what you can do."

She nodded slowly, a small smile finally breaking through. "You're right. Thank you for reminding me."

Killua smiled back. "Anytime. Now, let's go watch Kirishima and Ashido. It's looking like a real showdown!"

As they turned their attention back to the arena, the electric atmosphere of the tournament wrapped around them. The crowd's cheers resonated as Kirishima and Ashido clashed with both determination and excitement. Kirishima's hardened form deflected Ashido's acid attacks, each impact creating bursts of steam and sizzle. Ashido danced around him, her agility and acidic attacks keeping Kirishima on his toes. Despite her relentless assault, Kirishima's unyielding defense and powerful strikes gradually wore her down.

Killua and Yaoyorozu watched as Kirishima, his skin glistening like unbreakable stone, charged through a particularly potent acid blast, emerging almost unscathed, with small sizzling burns, and delivering a decisive blow that knocked Ashido out of the ring. The stadium erupted in applause, the crowd's energy surging with excitement.

Killua turned to Yaoyorozu, a proud smile on his face. "See? Everyone has their strengths and moments to shine. Kirishima and Ashido both gave it their all, just like you did."

Yaoyorozu nodded, her eyes reflecting a newfound determination. "You're right, Killua. I won't let this setback hold me back. I'll keep pushing forward, just like everyone else."

Killua smiled back. "That's the spirit. Now, let's celebrate Kirishima's victory and get ready for the next round. We all have our own battles to fight."

With the cheers of the crowd echoing around them, Killua and Yaoyorozu joined their friends. She found herself cheering alongside Killua, her spirits lifted by his comforting words and the thrilling display of heroism in the arena.

 ****************

Katsuki Bakugo leaned against the cold metal wall of the waiting room, his hands balled into fists at his sides. The victory over Uraraka was supposed to be satisfying. Instead, it felt hollow, a gnawing emptiness exacerbated by the crowd's harsh boos echoing in his mind.

The door creaked open, but Katsuki didn't bother looking up. He could sense the presence of another person entering the room and closing the door quietly behind them.

"Hey, Katsuki," came a voice, calm yet carrying a hint of curiosity. Katsuki finally glanced up to see Killua standing there, his hands in his pockets and his silver hair casting a soft glow in the harsh fluorescent lighting.

"What do you want, Zoldyck?" Katsuki snapped, though his tone lacked its usual ferocity. 'He must be pissed if he's calling me Zoldyck' Killua thought.

Killua shrugged, stepping further into the room. "Just checking on you. That was a tough match out there."

Katsuki scoffed, turning his gaze away. "She was tougher than I expected, but that's not what's bothering you, is it?"

Katsuki's jaw clenched. "What do you know about it? You're just some kid who doesn't understand what it means to be a hero."

"And you do? Hate to break it to you but we are the same age" Killua said with a sigh, a few moments of tense silence passed.

Killua's expression remained unphased, meanwhile, his sharp eyes observed Katsuki's every move. "I know more than you think. I've faced my fair share of challenges and dealt with plenty of criticism. It's part of the job, isn't it?"

Katsuki snorted. "You don't get it. I won, and yet they boo me like I'm the villain. What kind of hero gets booed for winning?"

Killua walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "The kind who doesn't understand the power of perception. You're strong, Katsuki. No one can deny that. But sometimes, it's not just about winning. It's about how you win."

Katsuki's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Killua met his gaze steadily. "You fight like you've got something to prove like you're trying to crush anyone who gets in your way. It's effective, sure, but it doesn't always win you fans. People want to believe in their heroes, not fear them."

Katsuki's fists tightened, his nails digging into his palms. "I'm not here to be liked. I'm here to be the best."

"And being the best means understanding your audience," Killua countered. "You can be powerful and still inspire people. It's about balance."

Katsuki stood up abruptly, his anger boiling over. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't see how everyone looks at me like I'm some kind of monster? I'm doing what I have to do to prove myself!"

Killua remained seated, his voice calm and measured. "And in doing that, you're pushing people away. You have the potential to be a great hero, Katsuki, but you need to find a way to connect with people. Show them why you want to be a hero, not just that you can win."

Katsuki stared at Killua, his mind racing. He hated to admit it, but the guy had a point. All his life, he had strived to be the strongest, to prove that he was the best. But in his relentless pursuit of power, he had overlooked the importance of empathy, of understanding the people he was supposed to protect.

"So what am I supposed to do?" Katsuki asked, his voice low and strained. "How am I supposed to change?"

Killua stood up and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Start by listening. Listen to the people around you, to your friends, your teachers, even your rivals. They can help you see things from a different perspective. And remember, strength isn't just about power. It's also about heart."

Katsuki looked down at Killua's hand on his shoulder, then back up at the boy's earnest eyes. For the first time in a long time, he felt a flicker of something other than anger and frustration. Hope, maybe. Or understanding.

"I'll try," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Killua smiled a rare genuine smile that softened his usually sharp features. "That's all anyone can ask for. Just remember, being a hero is about more than just winning. It's about inspiring others, showing them that they can be strong too."

Katsuki nodded slowly, the weight of Killua's words settling over him. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to be the hero he always wanted to be. Not just the strongest, but the one people could believe in.

As Killua left the room, Katsuki sat back down, his mind churning with new thoughts and possibilities. He still had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt like he was on the right path.