The Strongest Quirk in My Hero Academia

After getting the cards, Akira was delighted. His hand revealed a 7, 8, and 9—a mixed straight. It was a strong hand, and he was ready to make a move.

The previous round's winner, a stocky man named Sato Rikuto, smirked and casually tossed 10,000 yen worth of chips onto the table. His gaze shifted to Akira, challenging him to follow.

"Sure," Akira replied nonchalantly, matching the bet with a stack of chips. The others at the table followed suit, each hiding the glimmer of hope or fear in their eyes.

Among the five players, Rikuto held a 4, 5, and 6—another straight, but weaker than Akira's. The other players had small pairs or junk hands, putting them at a clear disadvantage. With his divine perception, Akira could see everything, making his victory almost certain.

After a few rounds, one of the players folded. Rikuto, emboldened by his cards, raised the stakes with another 50,000 yen, trying to intimidate Akira into folding.

Akira smiled faintly, pushing his chips forward. "I'll match that."

The two remaining players hesitated before folding, leaving only Akira and Rikuto in a tense showdown.

"You've got guts," Rikuto sneered, his eyes narrowing. "But it'll cost you."

The betting intensified until the chips on the table exceeded 200,000 yen. Rikuto's confidence began to waver as Akira calmly matched each of his bets without hesitation. Finally, Rikuto slammed his cards on the table. "Let's see your hand!"

Akira smiled and revealed his cards: 7, 8, 9. His straight was superior, leaving Rikuto stunned.

"Better luck next time," Akira said, sweeping the pile of chips toward him.

Rikuto's face darkened with fury as the game continued. Akira played cautiously, folding bad hands and betting strategically on strong ones. Over time, his pile of chips grew, exceeding 700,000 yen.

Then came the defining moment: Akira was dealt a kingly trio—three Ks. His excitement was well-hidden behind a calm expression as he assessed the competition. Two players had mediocre hands, while Rikuto held three Qs. It was another leopard, but one that couldn't rival Akira's.

The tension at the table was palpable as the players began raising their bets. One by one, the weaker hands folded, leaving only Akira and Rikuto in the game again.

"200,000 yen," Rikuto declared, tossing a towering stack into the center.

"I'll match that," Akira said coolly, pushing his chips forward.

The betting spiraled out of control until the pot swelled to over two million yen. Rikuto, his frustration mounting, slammed his hand down. "Let's end this. Show me what you've got!"

Akira laid his cards on the table with a flourish. "Three kings."

The crowd gasped as the realization hit Rikuto like a sledgehammer. His face twisted in shock and disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Rikuto muttered, his voice barely audible.

Without hesitation, Akira swept the massive pile of chips into his bag. "Thanks for the game," he said, turning to leave.

"You're not going anywhere!" Rikuto suddenly shouted, rising from his seat.

Akira stopped and turned, his expression icy. "Any issues?"

"You must've cheated," Rikuto spat, pointing an accusatory finger. "You used your quirk!"

The accusation drew murmurs from the surrounding tables. In the underground *Pro Hero* casino, cheating—especially using quirks—was a grave offense. The punishment was swift and brutal, often involving the confiscation of all winnings and a lifetime ban.

Akira's eyes narrowed. "Cheated? That's a bold claim for someone who lost fair and square."

Rikuto smirked maliciously, trying to rally support from the crowd. "I don't believe for a second that luck was on your side all night. Prove you didn't use a quirk!"

The croupier, a sharp-eyed man named Kaneshiro, stepped forward. "Gentlemen, we take such accusations seriously. If the young man has nothing to hide, he won't mind undergoing a quirk inspection."

Akira crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Fine by me. Let's settle this once and for all."