**Battle Scars and Broken Dreams**

The next match was about to begin, and I could feel my heart racing with anticipation. Ochaco and Bakugo were facing off in the arena, and it was clear that Bakugo was not going to hold back. The moment the match started, Bakugo charged at Ochaco, his Explosion Quirk propelling him forward like a human rocket. Ochaco tried to defend herself, but it was no use - Bakugo's sheer power and speed overwhelmed her, and she was quickly defeated. The crowd gasped in shock, and I could see the worry etched on my friends' faces. I tried to reassure them with a smile, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The next few matches went by in a blur, and before I knew it, I was one of the last four fighters standing. The first match of the semifinals was between Ida and Todoroki. It was over in an instant - Todoroki's Quirk proved too powerful, and Ida was defeated. Now, it was my turn. As I walked towards the arena, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Deku caught up to me, his eyes filled with concern. "Hey, Ida had to leave, and I was wondering if you want to see a strategy I came up with? It might help you against Bakugo," he said, his voice low. I smiled, touched by his concern. "I'm fine, Deku. But thanks for being worried," I said, trying to sound confident. Deku nodded, but I could tell he wasn't convinced. I took a deep breath and entered the arena. "LETS GOOOOO!" Present Mic's voice boomed through the speakers, and the match began. Bakugo charged at me, his Explosion Quirk propelling him forward. I dodged and weaved, avoiding his attacks with ease. But as I tried to find his shadow, I realized it was nowhere to be found. I was going to have to actually fight him. I called out to Osby, and he handed me a fan. I used it to blow away the smoke, and for a moment, I had a clear view of Bakugo. He charged at me again, and this time, I wasn't so lucky. He hit me with a powerful blow, and I stumbled backward. But I refused to give up. I charged at him, grabbing him and throwing him to the ground. I punched him in the face, and for a moment, I thought I had the upper hand. But Bakugo's expression twisted in anger. "Oh, you want to play dirty, shadow bitch? Heh, you're about to get your ass kicked now!" he snarled. I jumped back, but it was too late. An explosion hit me right in the face, and I stumbled backward, coughing up blood. I wiped the blood off my face and charged at him again, but it was no use. Bakugo punched me in the face, and I stumbled backward, my vision blurring. The crowd gasped in shock, and I could hear their voices rising in protest. "This is what heroes turn out to be? What a disgrace!" and "Don't hit that poor girl!" But Aizawa's calm voice cut through the noise. "He's not holding back because he knows she can catch him off guard, and he sees potential in her." I tried to focus, but it was no use. I saw Bakugo's shadow, but before I could grab it, another explosion hit me, and I fell to the ground, coughing up blood. I wiped the blood off my face and tried to get up, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. I charged at him again, but I tripped and fell. "I...I'm not done yet...I can get up," I said weakly, but it was no use. Bakugo stopped charging at me, his eyes filled with shock. And then, everything went black. Midnight's voice echoed through the speakers. "The match has ended, and Bakugo wins!" But instead of the robots rushing to my side, Bakugo picked me up, his arms cradling me like a child. I was taken aback, but I didn't have the strength to protest. He carried me to the infirmary, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. As I was carried away, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me. Would I be able to recover from this defeat, or would it leave a lasting impact on me? Only time would tell.