We Are The Future
Chapter 4: The value of life
Before the buzzer sounded Hiroki recalled all the training he and his parents had given him. The lessons, the physical burn, and the strategies implanted in his brain needed to be put to good use and with this test Hiroki knew just how to do it.
His eyes flashed brilliantly as the starting buzzer signaled and he let others rush ahead of him. Nowaki must have had the same thought as the two of them eyed each other and shared identical smirks.
Hiroki's quirk blazed with life and he took flight above the pack in his phoenix forms. Awed expressions looked up and Nowaki took the opportunity to create a ramp of ice down the length of the stairs. He used it, speed skating across and letting it send his body flying.
Hiroki soared into view and Nowki grabbed him by the ankles, the two of them bypassing the entire pack in a rush of fire and ice.
Shinso whistled low and crossed his arms watching the display.
"Seems we've got a couple of standouts."
"Seems like…" Melissa looked at the forms and gave a slow smile. "Hiroki and Nowaki Todoroki… well I'll be." He eyes sparkled up at the two. "The new generation has arrived."
"I'm glad we worked out this team move beforehand… hey Nowaki how long you gonna hang on?" Hiroki complained. "Your hands are freaking cold."
"Yeah well your skin is burning my palm so just suck it up a moment longer…" His eyes scanned the ground and he located his target. "There! Let's go!" He let go and dropped directly down into the landslide area. He created a sled under his feet and guided himself down skidding along the soft muddy rock. Once he retained his balance he created two blades, one in each hand and simultaneously took out two villain robots in a single swing.
"Heh, and mom calls me the show off." Hiroki smirked and went into a dive. He morphed from a bird into a large fiery ape and beat his fists into the robot he landed atop of crushing it to pieces while simultaneously making it explode.
~Meanwhile~
"Just who the hell do those two think they are?" One participant complained mid run and being flanked by several others.
"Right? Such blatant show offs, it's disgusting." Another agreed with a sneer.
"Let them show off, none of us here are impressed by their flashy show." One boy laughed it off and suddenly grew ten feet. "They're not the only ones with impressive quirks! Let's show them what we've got!" He stomped his foot into a robot that suddenly popped up in front of the group.
"Looks like the rest of the group is finally taking action." Thirteen commented as Melissa made notes on a clipboard. "What are your thoughts, Mastermind?"
"Everyone here has potential, it's the reason they're recommended. They'll all gather points with ease… but the true test is their tenacity."
"Agreed," Melissa lifted her head. "They all want to be heroes… but there's a big difference between those who want to be heroes…" her eyes focused on the screen that showed both Hiroki and Nowaki working together to eliminate all the enemies in the landside area. "...and those who were born for it."
~Back with the Twins~
"Hiroki on your left!" Nowaki shouted to his brother and sent a barrage of ice arrows flying to imbed into the robot. It knocked the machine off balance but didn't make it lose stride. Hiroki whirled and brought up his arms, thankful for the lessons their parents had slammed into their brains.
~Flashback~
"Damn it, Hiroki, that's not how you guard!" Izumi slapped her hands together trying to get her son's attention. "Your hold and stance is too weak, any amateur can break through that." She grabbed his arms holding them up higher and she shifted his feet before gripping his shoulders. "Feel that? Apply pressure, stand your ground, don't give an inch!"
"If I do that then my arms are gonna break." Hiroki complained.
"Better a broken arm, then a broken neck. The point of guarding isn't to reduce the pain, it's to ensure that your vital areas are protected." Shoto explained his hands on his hips. "Let's use Nowaki as an example. The two of you are each other's weaknesses, you're powers cancel each other out, but Nowaki I'd say you have the disadvantage here. Your ice has to take shape in order for you to use it probably which takes time. Should Hiroki get in a point blank hit…" Todoroki lifted his arms up to cross them over his face. "Call the ice into your palms and cross them here. All of your senses are important, but your eyes and ears are too valuable to give up."
"Case in point…" Izumi pointed to her left eye which still had slight scarring from her tournament fight with Bakugo. "If I'd had all my senses when I fought your uncle Deku in the final round, I probably could have won. Determination and strength can only get you boys so far. You need to be smart and use whatever weapons you have at your disposal, while limiting as much damage to yourself as possible."
The sound of the baby crying alerted both parents to the bassinet on the porch. Shoto smiled at Izumi and held up a hand.
"It's my turn, I'll get him." He hurried up to the porch to pick up the crying baby. Izumi smiled warmly at the sight but then turned her attention to her twins.
"Listen boys, if you're serious about going to UA you need to go in completely and utterly prepared, more so than any other student." She held up her hand and clenched it into a fist. "You'll be scrutinized heavily because you're part of both All Might's and Endeavor's legacies. Your Uncle Deku is the current #1 hero in Japan, your father is the top hero in America so you come from a strong line of heroes… but if you're not prepared to go into this full throttle you need to back down now.
Her eyes saddened and she unclenched her fist to lay it on her heart.
"I had no aspirations to be a hero. All I wanted was to stay beside my brother, to help him achieve his dream and protect him. I thought I could just make up the rules as I went along but that's not how any of this works. If you're not willing to step into the Hero Society as it is, then you'll do nothing but disappoint yourself and those who believe in you. So be sure that this is what you boys want." She smiled her eyes lighting up and pride shining through. "If it is, then I'll support you 110%. So tell me boys, is this really what you want? Do you guys want to become heroes?"
Hiroki and Nowaki look at each other… with a silent look that only twins could understand they smile and turn eager eyes up to their mother.
"YES!" They said simultaneously making her grin go wide.
"Excellent…" she cracked her knuckles. "If that's the case then be prepared to work like dogs for the next five years, because no kid of mine is gonna be seen as weak or incapable."
"Make that double." Shoto agreed looking cool and confident even with a baby on his hip. "Your mom can teach you how to properly defend yourself, but in terms of quirk use I fully intend to have you mastering them before you leave the continent."
" YES!"
~End of Flashback~
"OW! Damn that hurt!" He whipped around his legs fully ablaze and cutting through the metal like butter. "Better than a hit to the face though. Mom really missed her calling. "
"Try not to point that out when we see her again." Nowaki suggested and froze the final robot. "Alright, that's the last of them." He blew out a long string of frosty breath and slapped palms with his brother so they could both recharge their quirks. "Let's take a look around for any bystander dummies and then move to the next area."
"Good idea, I'll get a bird's eye view of the mountain, why don't you check over by the chasm, that's the perfect spot for potential victims."
"Alright, let's give each other until the five minute mark." He eyed the clock. "We'll meet up at the drop off point. If we don't see each other, we'll move on, agreed?"
"Sounds good! See yah!" He raced away and took flight.
Nowaki only managed to find one dummy sack in his sack. Either they'd buried the others during the fight which didn't speak well for he scores, or they were more hidden in cracks and crevices for effect.
"They're trying to make us eat our time. Seems wrong to be doing that with potential victims. Then again they are just sacks…" he paused and narrowed his eyes. "No… we're supposed to treat these like real people. There's a purpose for this…" He started to search a bit more frantically, his eyes scanning every possible nook and cranny.
Not looking where he was going he collided with a girl and the two of them fell backward.
"Ow!" The pink haired female lifted her head and glared at him. "Hey watch it!"
"My apologies." Nowaki got to his feet and dusted himself off and quickly ducked the beam she'd shot from her hand. "What was that for?"
"For getting in my way! I know exactly who you and your brother are, your quirks immediately give you away." She huffed and turned up her nose. "You're the sons of the Fire and Ice hero: Shoto… which means you're also the sons of that notorious No Mercy."
"Yeah, you're right… is that all? I've got a test to complete." He started to walk away from her but she grabbed his arm.
"You two think you're so special because you come from All Might's bloodline… but that doesn't give you the right to shove your fancy quirks in everyone's faces. You're blatant show offs and it's disgraceful! The two of you will never become heroes, just like your vigilante mother."
"Watch it…" Nowaki's voice lowered 30 degrees and frost crackled along his feet. "I don't take kindly to strangers speaking ill of my family."
"Humph! Go ahead! It'll just prove I'm right." She turned up her nose and walked further towards the chasm. Nowaki grit his teeth and clenched his fists. The hell did he care what this girl said? She didn't know his family, no one knew what they all had gone through and the sacrifices that were made to keep the world safe.
"Forget her…" he turned his back to her picking up the sack he'd dropped when he walked into her. He needed to get the sack to the safe zone and find his brother.
His stride hitched when the rock shifted under his feet. He quickly regained his balance, but something nagged him on the base of his spine. He quickly turned and saw the girl walking to another sack at the very edge of the cliff... and immediately saw the cracks under her feet.
"Hey Look Out!"
The rock gave way and the girl gasped and clutched the sack protectively to her chest falling backwards into the chasm. Without thinking Nowaki dropped his sack and rushed to the edge to leap after her. He grabbed her in one arm and with his free one created a blade digging it into the side of the rock to slow their descent. Their bodies jerked and the girl squealed clutching onto the dummy weight. Halfway down the chasm they stop and Nowaki pushed pressed a foot to the wall.
"Ice Bridge!" The ice protruded from the chasm and spread out to the other side creating a bridge in the gap. He slowly lowered her down and let out a side of relief when the ice held firm. "Good, looks like the rock is sturdier down here." He looked up and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Oi! Hiroki! HIROKI!"
When no one answered he clucked his tongue.
"Damn it, he's probably already in another area." He looked to the girl. "Are you okay?"
"I… I yelled at you. I called you names. Why did you save me?" She shook still holding the dummy with tears in her eyes.
"Are you sure you want to be a hero?" Nowaki asked her suddenly and had her eyes widening.
"What?" She looked at him completely dumbfounded by the question.
"You asked me why I saved you… there's only one real answer to that." Nowaki placed a hand on her shoulder his expression cool and serious. "Saving people is what heroes do."
"This is only a test." Her face softened but her eyes remained confused and observant. "You're not being given points for saving me, so you didn't have to-"
"This isn't about a test, or about points," he snapped at her and grabbed the dummy and tossed it off the cliff. She let out a gasp at that but then looked into his eyes, her expression wide and frightened. "This is about the difference between life and death. If I had let you fall you would have been either dead or seriously injured. I was here and you were in trouble, that's it. I don't know you, I don't like you, but I saved you because every life is worth saving!"
That was that… Nowaki turned his back to her shaking. He'd been so close to just walking away. If he had left her and she had fallen…
"Hell…" He slapped his palm against the side of the casm creating a ladder. "I'm going up, you can either sit here scratch your head on why someone just saved your life, or you can follow me and continue the test like you're supposed to." He started up the ladder, and after a brief hesitation she followed him.
"Annika!" She called up to him and he glanced back. "Annika Mori. That's my name."
"It's a pleasure." He turned his attention forward. "I'm Nowaki Todoroki."
"Yes…" she smiled up after him her cheeks flushed with the first stages of puppy love. "I know."
~End of Test~
"Time's up!" Melissa called out and clapped her hands as everyone gathered up at the entrance again. "You all did splendidly. Please treat yourselves to some refreshments we've provided and catch your breath while we tally up scores."
"Woot what a rush!" Hiroki jumped up with hands in the air and glanced back at his brother who casually strolled up. "Hey I lost track of you in the landslide area. How did you fair from there?"
"Alright I guess. I ran into a roadblock, but I quickly caught up by taking out a horde that was hiding nearby and clearing out the bystanders there. I may have lost points though so I guess we'll see how I fair." He explained crossing his arms and rubbing them.
"I'm sure you did just fine, Nowaki. No need to look so glum." Hiroki slapped his back making him grunt and adjust the glasses on his face.
"I'm not… just realizing that mom was right all along." Nowaki lifted his head up anticipating the scores with owlish eyes.
"She usually is… but what was she right about this time?" Hiroki asked curiously.
"You shouldn't train to become a hero…" The scores appear on the board and pride soared through him when he saw his and his brother's name at the very top. They'd blown the competition out of the water. "Unless you're prepared for it."
~Izuku and Bakugo's Flat~
"Congratulations!" Izuku popped the party favors in his hands all grins and smiles. Bakugo stood irritated beside him blowing on a noisemaker much to his embarrassment. Streamers flew all over decorating the twins in paper and glitter. Hiroki shouted with joy at the sight of a small celebration, including cake and decorations and best of all pizza.
"Woot! PARTY!"
"Thank you, Uncle Deku." Nowaki brushed glitter out of his hair and let the hero hug him with tears of joy streaming his face.
"You're welcome, oh I'm so proud of both of you! Your mom and dad are going to be so thrilled." Izuku bounced excitedly, his green eyes sparkling with absolute pride.
"Yeah, yeah, good job…" Bakugo tossed the noise maker over his shoulder and walked to the table with all the food. "Can we eat now."
"Kacchan…" Izuku pouted with disapproval. "Why do you have to be like that? This is a big day for them."
"Just because you get into UA through recommendations doesn't mean you'll make it as a hero. If you recall that Juzo guy in class B got in through recommendations and he never made it past sidekick."
"Freya's right, you really do suck the life out of a party." Izuku muttered with a little black cloud forming over his head.
"And he calls me cynical." Nowaki commented and took a seat eying the food with mild interest. Hiroki was already digging in and slurping up gooey cheese with long appreciative mumbles.
"You are cynical, and I'm just giving you fair warning squirts." Bakugo hefted up a slice of pizza onto his plate. "Getting into UA is just the beginning. You're in for a wild ride. You may have breezed through the recommendation test, but don't forget Freya is now your direct competition and I can guarantee there are more students at UA who will give you a far greater challenge."
"Bring it on!" Hiroki shouted after swallowing his slice. "I beat Aunt Freya in hand to hand combat during training and if i can beat her then I can beat anyone."
"You do realize the only reason you won is because you covered your fists in fire to compensate your lack of speed." Nowaki commented and pulled off pepperoni's from his plate and put them on his brother's.
Hiroki made a face at that and slumped in his seat.
"Yeah well I'd like to see you keep up with her "god" mode." He muttered and nibbled on another slice.
"Mmm…" Izuku laughed a little at that. "I actually have to agree with you there Hiroki. Very few people can keep up with Freya when she's in full power up mode. I've sparred with her a couple times myself and even I lose track of her once or twice."
"Whoa, seriously!?" Hiroki dropped his pizza in surprise. "Aunt Freya actually beat you?"
"Oh, no, I won, but she sure did give me a run for my money. I can only imagine what she'll be like once she's fully utilized her quirk." He scratched his cheek laughing.
"Damn, I need to find a way to get faster." Hiroki muttered again his hair flaming up as he went into deep thought.
"Careful, Hiro, you'll set off the fire alarm again." Nowaki frosted his hands patting his hair out.
Izuku smiled at his nephews, and just listened as the conversations started up. Bakugo would put in his two cents here and there, and Izuku loved watching his face soften or change expression when addressing them.
He really would make a great father…
Izuku let that single thought fill his mind for the rest of the night. He let the boys watch some TV and play video games, but had them in bed by 10pm tucking them in personally.
"Good night you guys…" He rubbed their hair. "I really am proud of you."
"Hey, Uncle Deku…" Nowaki spoke softly and Izuku turned his attention to him.
"Yeah, Nowaki?" He sat on the edge of his bed. He wanted to pay extra attention to him, keeping an eye for any sign of grief or trauma that might leak through.
"I'm sorry if I made you worry before." Nowaki let a gentle smile spread on his face. "It was really nice of you to let us stay with you. Thanks."
Izuku's heart strings tugged tight and he turned his face away as it squished up with emotion.
"Sure, n-no problem." he quickly bat away tears and turned back smiling. "I love having you guys here. I'll be a bit sad when you go into student housing."
"Hiroki and I can come visit on the weekend." Nowaki sat up and hugged his uncle tightly. "That'll be okay, right?"
"Nowaki…" tears welled up again and Izuku stroked his hair hugging him. "Of course. I'll look forward to it. Also if you guys ever need me I'm only a phone call away. Even if you just need to get something off your chest, I'll listen. Okay?"
Nowaki's eyes sadden a bit and Izuku felt his grip tighten some.
"Anything?"
"Absolutely anything… do you need to get something off your chest, Nowaki?"
"No…" He pulled back and held his chest as if it was feeling pain. "At least… not right now."
"Okay…" feeling that was enough Izuku rubbed the top of his head again. "When you're ready to talk, I'm here, okay?"
"Mmm, thanks Uncle Deku." Nowaki lay back down and let his uncle cover him up. Izuku closed the door behind him and held his chest tears welling up in his eyes. It was more than just the worry that brought on this sensation in his chest… there was a pang that he hadn't realized before.
"I… I..." He looked down at his hands, remembering how good it had felt to pet the boys' hair, hug them, and tuck them in. He remembered listening to Izumi over the phone, hearing her scold and laugh, and the sounds of her younger kids running in the background squealing happily. It was crystal clear to him now what caused the pang in his chest.
"I want kids of my own."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Oooh Deku's biological clock is ticking away… lol. What did you guys think of this chapter? I'm sorry I didn't go more into detail with the test but I didn't want to give away too much of Hiroki and Nowaki's quirk utilization so soon especially since I plan on going through the Sports Festival.
I'm taking requests for possible scenes or scenarios you'd like to see in this segment. I've got a guideline on where I want the story to go, but there's plenty of room to add bits and pieces or change things if I find the idea intriguing so let me know what you'd like to see!
Next Chapter: First Day, Empty Nest
