The moment Robinn returned to the stands, fresh off her victory, her shoes still dusty from the arena. The first thing out of her mouth was, "Hey do you know where Bakugo is?"

  Kirishima looked up from his seat, still mid-reaction. "Hey Robinn, that move wasn’t very man-" he cut himself off, faltered visibly, and tried again. "...um, I mean honorable, I guess." He scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish smile tugging at his face.

  Robinn blinked at him, unreadable. "Well it got me the win… so do you know where Bakugo is?"

  There was a short pause. Kirishima stared at her like he was trying to figure something out, but gave up halfway. "Uh, I guess he’s probably in one of the break rooms since our match is next," he said, already rising to his feet.

  "Thanks. Shouldn’t you also be getting ready?" she added, her eyes already drifting toward the tunnel that led deeper into the stadium’s interior.

  "Yeah, I was just about to go. But hey... even if I don’t agree with your methods, congrats on the win."

  "Thanks."

  She turned on her heel, headed for the corridor, and he naturally fell into step beside her.

  "So was that improv?" he asked, glancing sideways. "Or did you plan that whole fight out?"

  "Improv," she said with her usual easy smile. "I didn’t really know the limits of his new move, so I couldn’t plan."

  Something about that answer visibly relaxed him. He gave a short chuckle, the tension easing from his shoulders. "We’re headed the same way, huh?" he said as they turned a corner in sync.

  "Well, yes... until you have to go to the other side of the stadium to your waiting room," she replied. "I’m stopping at Bakugo’s room."

  The narrow hallway gave way to a descending staircase, worn stone steps catching the harsh overhead lights. Their footsteps echoed slightly as they walked, Robinn's ponytail bouncing lightly with each step. Kirishima glanced up at her again, she looked so composed. So casual. Like she’d just returned from a jog, not a brutal fight. But that was typical, wasn’t it? In all the time he’d known her, she’d always carried herself like this. Cool, steady, and unshakeable.

  They reached the bottom floor. To the left was the way to Bakugo’s room. Kirishima’s own route took him right. It looked like Robinn might head off without saying anything at all, but then he stopped and turned toward her.

  "Since when are you so interested in Bakugo?" he asked, voice light but curious.

  She didn’t respond right away. Her eyes lost focus for a second, then dropped to her shoes. ,"It’s nothing… I just have to talk to him." Her voice was quieter than usual. Then she turned, putting her back to him. "Good luck, I guess."

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  She walked off, her silhouette quickly swallowed by the fluorescent-lit corridor.

  Kirishima lingered a moment. That had been... weird. Was that Robinn getting flustered? No, probably not. She was probably just staring at something the floor. He shook the thought from his head and turned toward his own path, already focusing on the fight ahead.

  Mina’s match against Tokoyami had been short-lived. Her acid wasn’t enough to overwhelm Dark Shadow, not with the way he’d controlled the space from the moment the match began. It ended quickly, and cleanly.

  Now, up on the stands, Uraraka found herself distracted from the next match, Kirishima versus Bakugo, then she spotted Midoriya emerging from the stadium’s interior walkway. She stood up immediately and hurried to meet him, her eyes flicking briefly to his arm in a sling and the scattered bandages still clinging to his skin.

  "Deku, are you alright? How did the surgery go?" she asked, voice still laced with worry despite the match behind her.

  Midoriya shrugged, offering a small, tired smile. "It went well, thanks. But Recovery Girl couldn’t heal me all in one go."

  His eyes drifted back to the arena, brow furrowing slightly. Below, Kirishima was pushing forward with an unrelenting barrage of strikes. Bakugo, surprisingly was on the back foot, ducking and dodging more than attacking.

  "It's weird seeing Kacchan on the defensive," he muttered. *And Kirishima’s attacks... they remind me of Robinn versus Ibara."

  Uraraka turned toward him, visibly surprised. Even post-surgery, he was still analyzing, still cataloging. She didn’t say anything, but her gaze lingered on him a second longer than necessary.

  Midoriya’s attention shifted upward, scanning the bracket display. He blinked. Robinn had won against Iida.

  "How was Robinn and Iida’s match?" he asked, glancing back at her.

  Uraraka tilted her head, thinking. "It was weird," she said slowly. "But Robinn won by using Iida’s momentum against him... she basically made him rocket out of bounds."

  Midoriya nodded, instinctively reaching for his notebook only to wince as the motion tugged at his injured arm. The sling reminded him of its presence, and instead he turned back toward the match.

  Bakugo was back in control now, launching harsh explosions at Kirishima. The blasts lit up the arena like strobe lights, harsh and rhythmic.

  But then, out of the corner of his eye, Midoriya caught a flicker of orange.

  He leaned forward, squinting toward the edge of the arena, near the tunnel entrance on Bakugo’s side.

  "Not again..." he murmured.

  Sure enough, there she was. Robinn. Standing half-shadowed in the entrance tunnel, watching the fight. Again.

  Uraraka followed his gaze and spotted her too. "Why is Robinn down there?" she asked, leaning against the railing beside him.

  "I’m not sure," Midoriya said, frowning. "But she was also there during Kacchan’s last match."

  Uraraka raised a brow. "Oh yeah... she asked Kirishima where Bakugo was earlier. She’s really been interested in him today, huh?"

  Midoriya hesitated, visibly trying to put something together. "I just didn’t think Robinn would be the romantic type-"

  "Robinn’s crushing on Bakugo!?" Mina suddenly popped up between them, voice sharp and scandalized. She’d been sulking a few seats away since her loss, but apparently couldn’t resist the scent of drama.

  Uraraka jumped, then burst into a laugh. "I’m not sure I’d say she’s crushing on him, she said, hands raised in a calming gesture. "But yeah, it looks like she has taken an interest in him today."

  Mina pouted, arms crossed, her tone switching into playful indignation. "Well I think they’d be a good pair," she said, straightening up with theatrical flair.

  Sero chimed in from nearby, his tone skeptical. "Robinn and Bakugo? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Both of them have serious communication issues. And they’re intense as hell. They’d be at each other’s throats in five minutes."

  No one disagreed. But none of them entirely dismissed the idea either.