Episode 61

Standing in the dark at Ground Beta, Izuku argues that fighting now breaks the rules and that a supervised spar would do. Katsuki dismisses that, since no instructor would ever permit a full-power exchange, and tells him to guard himself. A feint sets up an explosion that catches Izuku head on. A camera drone reports the fight to Shota, who rises to intervene until All Might asks to handle it himself.

Izuku keeps trying to defuse things while Katsuki hammers at him, remembering a childhood in which no amount of beating ever shook Izuku off his heels. When Izuku finally counters and floors him, the offered hand is refused. Emotion breaks through: Katsuki demands to know why a nobody was the one All Might recognized, and confesses that he holds himself responsible for the retirement. The revelation stuns Izuku, who never suspected that guilt had been carried since Kamino.

The fight still looks pointless to Izuku, but he understands that he alone can receive what Katsuki is putting out. He kicks him in the face, remarks that Shoot Style needs a test subject, and states plainly that he will not hold back. For two people who have known each other their whole lives, this is the first honest exchange of feeling between Deku and Kacchan.

Katsuki gets the upper hand, and Izuku recognizes that overanalysis is slowing his reactions even as he confirms he has grown. Katsuki says he cannot stand having Izuku behind him as though looking down on him. Izuku corrects him: he looks up, and always has, because Katsuki stood nearer All Might's level than anyone, which is exactly why he had to work so hard.

Feeling and physique together push his ceiling from five percent to eight. He kicks through the guard, shouting that he has been chasing Katsuki because Katsuki is incredible. The speed and force jump sharply and the two trade blows at pace. Izuku notes that his own habit of insulting opponents mid-fight came from Katsuki, victory made flesh, and says he intends to beat that incarnation of victory to justify All Might's faith. He lands a punch instead of the expected kick, then Katsuki reverses him mid-air and detonates them both into the ground, pinning him and asking why All Might's power still lost.

All Might arrives and ends it. Asked why he picked Izuku, he answers that a Quirkless boy behaved more heroically than anyone else. Katsuki says he only ever wanted All Might's strength and became the cause of his fall. All Might tells him the power was always going to fade regardless, embraces him, and charges them both with being heroes who win and heroes who save. With the feelings aired, he believes they can finally understand each other, and that mutual recognition would make them the greatest. Katsuki tells Izuku not to lose while carrying that power, Izuku promises to keep growing, and Katsuki asks who else knows before swearing the secret stays among the three. They leave together, the vow to overtake All Might restored in Katsuki and now aimed at Izuku as well, who intends to reach number one himself. All Might sees two genuine rivals at last.

Once they reach Heights Alliance, Shota ties them both up and hands down house arrest despite All Might's attempt to smooth it over. The next morning the class learns of the bout and teases them. Vacuuming the common room, Izuku risks a question about Shoot Style, and Katsuki answers evenly, advising him to speed up his kicking mechanics.

Katsuki reveals he blames himself for All Might's retirement, guilt he has carried privately since the Kamino Incident.

Izuku's emotional surge pushes his One For All output from five percent to eight during the fight.

All Might stops the brawl, absolves Katsuki, and tells both boys to become heroes who win and heroes who save.

Katsuki is let in on the secret of One For All and swears to keep it, and Shota punishes both students with house arrest.

The episode adapts the back half of chapter 117 through chapter 120 and the opening pages of chapter 121, staying at Ground Beta and Heights Alliance.

Before the drone catches the fight, the adaptation inserts a scene of Katsuki setting off explosions and wrecking the surrounding buildings.

More flashbacks appear here than in the corresponding chapters.