Quirkball

Inspired by My Hero Academia

By Dr. Zenkai

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!  It’s a beautiful day out here in the U.A. stadium!  For all you sports fans out there, get ready for a heart-pounding thrill ride as Class 1-A and Class 1-B take each other on!  Their game of choice?  QUIRKBAAAAAALL!  …Man, this is way more satisfying when there’s a crowd.”  Once Present Mic’s voice stopped echoing through the mostly empty stadium, 9 students from the two sides walked the home plate of the field’s temporary baseball diamond.  Waiting for them was All Might, who was wearing umpire gear and reading a rulebook.

“OK, are we ready?” he asked, trying to get a rise of enthusiasm from the students.

“You’re all gonna die,” Bakugo growled at the 1-B team.

“Mind your sportsmanship,” All Might told him.  “Alright, the game is Quirkball – Baseball, but you may use your Quirks.  The normal rules of Baseball still apply, but there are a few extra related to Quirk usage.  The main two are these – you may only activate them while the ball is in play, and you may not directly attack someone else.  I trust you know the normal rules, so let’s get started.  Team captains, shake hands.”

“I look forward to a fun and friendly game, Miss Kendo!” Iida exclaimed.  The line-up of 1-A’s team included himself, Bakugo, Midoriya, Kirishima, Uraraka, Mina, Ojiro, Shouji, and Kaminari.

“Same here.  Good luck,” Kendo responded.  The 1-B team’s line-up featured herself, Pony, Rin, Tetsutetsu, Monoma, Tsuburaba, Awase, Shishida, and Kaibara.

“Team 1-B, head to the outfield,” All Might instructed.  “Team A, return to your dugout and send out a batter.”  As the teams took their places, the remaining students in the stands perked up to watch the game begin.

“Woo-hoo!  Go, 1-A!”  Standing on the edge of the stands was Hagakure, bouncing around in a cheerleader uniform trying to pump up her classmates.  “Take it to ‘em!”

“Fight on, ribbit!” Tsuyu cheered at her side, dressed in the same get-up.

“I can’t believe you made those again,” Jiro murmured to Yaoyorozu.

“Well, it’s not like they’re being tricked into wearing them this time.” 

“And what about those two?” Jiro asked, looking over at the two 1-B girls in the same outfit.

“Well, they asked so nicely,” Yaoyorozu answered sheepishly.

“Let’s go, 1-B!” Setsuna yelled, flailing her pompoms madly.  “Reiko, gimme a 1!”

“I’m dead inside,” she dryly replied, standing perfectly still.

“Gimme a B!”
“I can’t believe you tricked me into this.”

“What does that spell?!”
“Nothing.  It a single number and letter.”

“…Woooooo!” 

Behind the cheerleaders, the remaining students from both classes sat together, trying to mingle in a friendlier way than they were used to.

“What a mad banquet of darkness,” Tokoyami postulated.

“You have a weird vocabulary, dude,” Kuroiro told him.  Just behind them, Honenuki sat with Todoroki, who pulled an All Might-themed foam finger out of his bag.

“Hey, that’s a collector’s item, isn’t it?” Honenuki asked.  “Can I see it for a second?”

“Sure.  I brought a spare.”  Todoroki handed him the foam finger and pulled out another from his bag – an Endeavor-themed one with #2 written on it – that he slid onto his left hand.  “Woo.”

Out on the field, the game finally began when Iida came to the plate.  Behind him was Tetsutetsu as the catcher, and the pitcher he faced was Awase.  Around the diamond was Monoma at third base, Kendo at shortstop, Kaibara at second base, and Rin at first, and in the outfield was Shishida, Tsuburaba, and Pony.

“Hope you’re ready,” Awase said while adjusting his headband.  “I’m gonna put a little spin behind this.”

“I’m ready when you are!” Iida yelled back. 

After grinding the ball into his hip, Awase reeled back and hurled it towards home plate.  Iida swung his bat in a perfect arc, almost robotic in his accuracy, but from the spin Awase put on his pitch, the ball didn’t go any higher.  Instead, it was knocked straight backwards into Awase’s forehead, flooring him.

“…Man down!” Kendo called out.

“Wait, the ball’s still in play!” Monoma yelled, pointing up at the ball spinning in the air towards first base.  As Iida fired off his leg engines and zoomed through first base, Rin dashed forward and snatched the ball.

“Out!” All Might called.  Iida, who had nearly made it to third base by then, stopped rigidly and hustled back to his team’s dugout.

“Nice one!” Kendo complimented as she approached the pitcher’s mound.  “Hey, Awase, are you—”

“I’m up!” Awase yelled, popping back to his feet.  “My headband protected me!”

“Are you sure?  How many fingers am I—”

“Three!” he said before Kendo could put her hand up.

“It’s not a guessing ga—”

“Four.  No, six!”

“He seems fine!” Monoma said from across the field.  Kendo sighed and gave Awase a pat on the shoulder before returning to her position.

“Play ball!” All Might called as Bakugo came up to bat.  He smirked as he squatted down and prepared the bat, but then stood up straight and held out his bat towards the sky.

“He’s calling his shot already?” Kaibara questioned.

“Strike him out, Awase!” Monoma cheered.  Bakugo got ready to bat again and Awase pitched.  Instead of flying into Tetsutetsu’s glove, Bakugo made contact and the ball was knocked far over everyone’s heads.

“Oh crap!” Tetsutetsu yelled as the ball went over the outfield.  Bakugo had seemingly hit a homerun and looked very prideful over it, but just as it was about to leave the arena, it came to a sudden stop in mid-air.  “Oh, hey, Tsuburaba got it!”

“HUH?!” Bakugo screamed. 

The ball bounced back off the solid air wall made by Tsuburaba and fell into his glove below.  “I got it!”

“You’re out!” All Might called.  Bakugo threw his bat to the ground and stomped back to the dugout in a huff.

“Ooooh, we got a tantrum, folks!” Setsuna declared, swinging her pompoms around.  “Someone get his momma ‘cause this toddler’s rampaging!”

“WHAT’D YOU SAY?!  I DARE YOU TO COME DOWN HERE AND SAY THAT!”  Bakugo’s threat was met by Setsuna popping off her hand and throwing it over to him, where it landed with the middle finger up.

“How’s that?” she asked while striking a sassy pose.  Kirishima had to come out of the dugout and drag Bakugo back with him while Midoriya came out to bat.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Monoma cheered.  “Baseball, yes!  Do the sports!  Gameplay!”

“You barely know the rules, don’t you?” Kendo asked him.

“Maybe, but crushing our rivals like this is a chance I couldn’t pass up.  Get him out, Awase!” 

“Yeah!” Awase responded while grinding the ball into his hip.  Across the field, he could see green sparks coming from Midoriya, signaling that his super strength Quirk had activated.  “Here we go.”  Awase pulled his arm back and pitched it straight down the middle, but Midoriya was able to get a dead-on swing.  With his strength, the ball went flying forward sat an amazing speed, but it’s low angle left it in reach for anyone daring enough to catch it.

“Got it!” Kendo said.  Her ungloved hand grew to its giant size and she wrapped it around the ball, but the force behind it was enough to pull her off her feet and keep going.  “WOAH,OHMYGOD!”

“There she goes,” Kaibara droned at second base while Monoma gawked in disbelief.  Kendo kept a grip on the ball as she was pulled into the outfield towards Shishida.  Her hairy classmate ran into her path and pushed back against her hand to slow the momentum, which led to a painful but thankfully slower crash.

“You’re out!”

“DAMMIT, DEKU!” Bakugo yelled from the sidelines.  With three outs, the inning was over and the Class 1-B players went to their dugout.

“Nice work out there,” Kendo complimented while rubbing her shoulder.  “Let’s use this chance to take the lead.”

“They don’t even know how good our secret weapon is,” Monoma postulated while patting Pony on the back.  “With her, we’ve got this in the bag.”

“You’re right!” Tsuburaba said.  “Pony’s half-American!  Baseball’s in her blood!”

“I’ll get us started,” Kendo stated as she grabbed a bat.  “Get ready to send me to Home Plate, Pony.”

“You got it!”

Kendo went out to the home plate where Kirishima was putting on the catcher’s gear.  In the field, she saw Bakugo on the pitcher’s mound, Ojiro at first base, Mina at second base, Midoriya as the shortstop, Kaminari at third base, and Iida, Uraraka, and Shouji in the outfield.

“Play Ball!” 

On All Might’s signal, Kendo raised her bat and grew her hand size to increase the strength of her swing.

“Uuuh, you’re kinda blocking the bat,” Kirishima pointed out, making Kendo realize her hands completely enveloped it.

“Whoops,” Kendo said while shrinking them back down.  Once she was ready, Bakugo clenched his teeth and pulled his arm back.

“DIE!” he screamed, letting an explosion carry the ball forward at breakneck speed.  Unfortunately, the burst made the ball swerve from its path and rocket into Kendo’s helmet, knocking her off her feet.

“Are you OK?” All Might and Kirishima asked.

“Dammit, that hurt!”  Kendo growled while sitting up.

“Well… if you can play, then take your base.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” she said while removing the batting helmet and walking to first base, shooting Bakugo a glare.

“Bakugo, just pitch the ball normally,’ Mina suggested from behind the pitcher’s mound.

“Shut up!  I know the problem, so it won’t happen again!  I need a stronger explosion so it keeps going straight!”

“Are you sure it won’t just swerve even more?” Kaminari asked nervously.  “Don’t kill anyone, OK?”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

Once Pony was set at home plate, Bakugo pitched the ball again, this time using an extremely powerful explosion.  True to his word, the ball went straight into Kirishima’s glove, but the strength behind it threw Kirishima straight back into the wall of the arena.  Pony was left shaking and letting the bat droop onto her shoulder, while All Might ran to check on Kirishima.

“I’m OK,” Kirishima said woozily.

“Uuuhh… ball one?” All might called, making Bakugo grit his teeth even more.

“How about we switch him out?” Mina suggested.

“Agreed!” Iida said as he came infield.  “Bakugo, as team captain, I’m switching you out.  Trade positions with Midoriya.”

“You’re replacing me with DEKU?!”

“Oohh, it’s tantrum round 2, folks!” he heard Setsuna yell from the sidelines.  “Get your earplugs ready, ‘cause this baby’s gonna be cryin’ for a while!”

“I can eject you from the game completely, if you’d rather,” Iida warned.  Bakugo grumbled in rage, but relented and changed positions with Midoriya.

“How’re we doing, Pony?” Kendo yelled to her teammate.  Pony didn’t respond, or move from the base, so Kendo called a time out and carried her back to the dugout.  “I’m calling in a pinch hitter, All Might!”

“Sounds good!  Play ball!”  With the game continuing, Rin was next up at bat and facing down a fresh pitcher.

“Go, baby!” Setsuna cheered.  “Hit a home run!” 

Midoriya could be seen with green sparks around him again, but seemed to be lessening the strength to maintain his precision.  Once he pitched, it came toward Kirishima’s glove with crazy speed, but to Rin’s surprise, he was able to make contact and hit a ground ball. 

“Nice one, baby!”

Rin took off in a sprint for first base, trying to outrun the ball before someone could grab it.  It bounced and flew to third base where Kaminari grabbed it and lugged it across the diamond to Ojiro, who wore his catching glove at the tip of his tail.  With the extra length, the ball reached his glove just before Rin cross the plate. 

Ojiro then whipped his tail to toss the ball to Mina at second plate, but Kendo slid her leg under Mina and touched second base just in time.

“You’re out!” All Might told Rin.  “Kendo is safe!”

“Nice one, Ojiro!” Hagakure applauded.  “Put that tail to work!”  Once Rin made it back to the dugout, Tetsutetsu went out to home plate and puffed out his chest.

“Gimme your best shot!” he challenged while activating his Quirk, turning his skin to metal.  Midoriya activated his own in turn and pulled back his arm to pitch.  Once the ball was thrown, Tetsutetsu swung with all of his might and hit it, but it popped up and to the left towards the stands.

“Duck!” Setsuna yelped.  Everyone the crowd ducked down as the ball descended towards them, where it bounced off of Ibara’s head.

“Are you OK, Ibara?” Honenuki asked.

“Of course.  Jesus is my helmet,” she claimed as a trickle of blood went down her face.

“Sorry!” Tetsutetsu yelled.  Once Midoriya got the ball back, the game continued and he pitched again.  Tetsutetsu swung and made contact again this time, sending the ball far into the outfield.

“I’ve got it!”  Iida whirred his engines and made a run to grab the ball, but it flew right over his glove.  Shouji used his Quirk to grow a long string of extra arms, but he was too slow and the ball went by him too.  Once the ball hit the ground, Uraraka was able to make a successful grab, having used her Quirk to cancel out her gravitational pull.

“Here it comes, you guys!”  She threw the ball back down the field, aiming for Kirishima as Kendo rounded third base.  Despite using her Quirk to make the ball weightless, Kendo was able to cross home plate and score the first point of the game while Tetsutetsu stopped at second base.

“Alright!” Monoma applauded.  “First point of the game and it’s ours!”

After a long and grueling afternoon, the final inning was underway with a tied score of 6-6.  The bases were full as Pony waited at third base to run to home, backed by Rin at second and Tetsutetsu at first.  With two outs, Monoma, the final batter, prepared himself to try and finish off the game.

“You got this,” Tsuburaba told him.  “If Pony crosses that plate, we win.”

“You can count on me,” Monoma told his teammates.  “I’ve got a secret weapon in store just for this.”

“A secret weapon?  Like what?” Kendo asked.

“Just watch,” Monoma told her while quickly leaving the dugout.  As he sauntered up to home plate, he saw meeting at the pitcher’s mound between Midoriya, Iida, and Bakugo finishing up.  Iida returned to the outfield, but Bakugo was the one to stay at the pitcher’s mound while Midoriya claimed the shortstop position.  I guess Bakugo’s figured out how to pitch with his explosions more reliably, Monoma realized.  That or he’s confident he can strike me out without his Quirk.  Either way, I’ve got this in the bag.

Monoma slipped the helmet over his head and gripped his bat tightly, waiting for the pitch to be thrown.  Once Bakugo began to wind up, he called upon the Quirk he had been able to copy not long ago – Midoriya’s.  Don’t put too much into it, he told himself.  It’s a pretty finicky one that may break my bones if I’m not careful.  If I can hit the ball, it’ll definitely be a home run.  I’ll end this game in style. 

Across the diamond, Bakugo sent the ball forward and let off an explosion just as it left his palm.  It flew ahead at insane speed, but Monoma was able to begin his swing to try and hit it.  Everyone waited with bated breath to see if the bat would connect, but they all realized the ball was swerving.  The explosion had sent the ball careening into Monoma’s groin, obliterating his protective cup and striking the sensitive area underneath.  After a moment of stillness, Monoma fell on his side and let out a drawn-out wheeze of pain, almost like a deflating balloon.  Bakugo, on the other hand, fell to his knees in a crazed fit of laughter.

“Hey, we won!” Tsuburaba yelled from the dugout.  “Monoma gets to got to first base now, and since the bases are full, Pony goes to home plate!”

“He’s right!  We win!” Awase realized.  The 1-B students in the crowd began to applaud and cheer in victory while the players convened at home plate.

“I doubt that was your secret weapon, but good job anyway,” Kendo complimented.

“We won, Monoma!  How you feeling?” Pony asked.  Monoma let out another wheeze of pain, but still gave a thumbs-up. 

“All… According… to plan.”

At the pitcher’s mound, Bakugo finally stopped laughing and looked around in confusion, having been too distracted to hear the final call being made.  “What’s going on?”

“Dude, you just lost us the game,” Kaminari told him.

“Huh?”

“You obliterated Monoma’s junk, so they scored.  We lost,” Mina repeated.  Bakugo was shocked silent by this until he pounded his fist into the dirt, letting out two explosions.

“DAMMIIIIIIIIIIT!”

“And that’s tantrum #3!” Setsuna announced.  “It took a while, but we got to number three! Thanks for coming, folks!”