Midori the Girlfriend
Author's Note: I couldn't sleep I had to finish this chapter or it was gonna kill me! O_O ENJOY!
Chapter 11: The True Goal
Break up? Why? I don't understand…
I don't want to chain you.
Chain me… Shoto you're not…
I want you to choose me. Without hitches, without fallbacks, I want that commitment from you. So I'll give you time, give you space, and you give me an answer when you're ready.
Gran Torino stared at the young girl as she stared soullessly at the blank monitor of the TV. Looking between it and her he sighed heavily and picked up the remote tapping her on the forehead with it.
"If you're gonna space out in front of the TV, kid, you might as well turn it on."
Izumi snapped out of her daze at the tap, and glanced at Gran Torino with an almost broken look. "Gran Torino? When did you get here?"
"When? I've been standing here for the past fifteen minutes watching you play at being a corpse."
"I'm sorry…" She lowered her head. "Guess my mind is preoccupied. I've had entirely too much time to think."
Todoroki and Iida had long left the hospital, Iida getting transferred to a hospital in his hometown, and Todoroki released since his injuries were only minor. The room was empty and lonely without them there, and was giving her way too much time to think, which is exactly what Shoto had wanted.
She could understand a bit of why he'd done it. She knew he wasn't happy with their situation and the fact she full on admitted to loving not only him, but Bakugo as well. Perhaps it was that final ice pick that had brought them here. He was giving her space, but also giving himself some to heal. Bakugo had done the exact same thing.
"You're entirely too much like Toshinori," Gran Torino told her poking her in the head. "Always thinking, and always apologizing!"
"All Might?" Her lips curved a little in response. "Really?"
"Don't look happy about it kid. You worship that man far too much for your own good." He pulls a chair up by her bed and sits. "So what's going on in your head that's putting that look on your face."
"I… mmmph." Izumi looked down at her hands in her lap. She twisted and played with the fingers in a nervous habit. "Shoto broke up with me."
"Your partner…" that didn't make much sense to him. "Do you have any idea why?"
"Sort of…" She rubbed her head, messing up her hair and groaning. "It's complicated and confusing and I really don't want to get into it. It just threw me off."
"Then forget about it."
"Eh?" Izumi looked up in surprise. "Forget?"
"It was his decision to break up with you. You've more important things to concern your time with than to worry about a broken heart." He pointed his cane at her. "I was gonna tell this to you before, but your partnership with the boy was showing promise so I ignored it. Now that it's done you don't need the extra clutter in your already busy brain. Frankly in your position you don't need to be concerning yourself with romances, and boyfriends."
"My position… ah… All Might said something similar right before the Sports Festival. So you're saying I should concentrate on school and becoming a hero rather than the emotional baggage."
"Precisely… at least that Toshinori showed sense to tell you that." Gran Torino stroked his chin. "Let's get your mind off it, watch some TV." He grabbed the remote and flipped on a channell.
~On Screen~
The interviewer sat at her desk, notes spread out in front of her and she waited for the cue from the camera crew before putting on her smile. "Welcome back! Before the break we'd been talking about the latest news that's been spreading like wildfire and that's the capture of the infamous Hero Killer."
She flowed professionally into the topic her legs crossing under the table as she turned towards her left. "Welcome Back Viewers! Today we have with us the great Hero who is responsible for saving countless lives. The World's Number 2 hero, Endeavor."
Endeavor sat beside the desk, his costume flaring, and even sitting he gave off a strong intimidating aura. His face remained sober and cool, and he casually lay his hands on either side of his chair.
"We've covered the Hero Killer story," The interviewer said with a wicked grin. "Now let's get to the juice bits. There's a rumor saying your son is interning with you."
"He is, as is one other, but I'm not at liberty to discuss our business there concerning that." He said with a serious face that had the interviewer going a little blue.
"Of course, of course… but your son has been getting a lot of media attention of his own. Placing second in the Sports Festival, kissing a girl for the whole world to see." She giggled. "He's quite bold, your Shoto.
"Indeed he is, and the girl you speak of is Izumi Midoriya, I believe you all should be well aware of that name. I'm sure you'll be hearing their names together a lot in the future."
"Oh? I see, so you approve of the relationship then?"
Izumi went blue as she watched. When they flashed the picture of her and Shoto kissing at the Sports Festival she was tempted to turn it off, but something in the way Endeavor smiled at the interviewer had her wondering what he was gonna say. The nurse brought in food and drink for both her and Gran Torino and she picked up the cup of juice sipping at it as she continued to watch.
"I wasn't entirely sure at first, but yes, her battle with my son impressed me. She's a good strong talent and over the past several weeks I've been training her personally to help her improve her skills."
"Interesting... does her dating your son deter away from the training at all?"
"No, in fact it's one of the main reasons I chose to take her on. The relationship she has with my son is strong. She's a good influence on him and has helped him uncover strengths inside himself that he'd held back. In fact their strong teamwork is the soul reason I continue to support their relationship. In time and with training, their teamwork could make them a powerful combination."
"I see," the interviewer smile. "So you see them working together as heroes in the future?"
"Not just as heroes… Mrs. Midoriya and I are both looking forward to seeing them marry... After they've graduated of course."
"Really? What wonderful news!"
Izumi spat out the juice she'd gulped and went right into a coughing fit. Gran Torino's sandwich hit the floor as he too was shocked by the announcement. Across the screen the topic bar went from "Endeavor Hero Savior" to "Endeavor's son engaged?!"
Across town in his hotel room milk dripped onto the tile floor as the carton Shoto had been holding was now crushed between his fingers. He stared at the TV screen and his dad's smug far, and could only think…
"You Bastard!"
~End of Internships~
Her face was everywhere. Izumi couldn't escape it and it was pissing her off. She'd had the smart sense to call Fuyumi and ask her to pack up her stuff and send it back to her apartment before the press caught wind she'd been living with Shoto, but even being at home was a nightmare. People flocked the blocks near her house wanting pictures and interviews, asking her questions like "aren't you too young for marriage?" or "how did he propose?" and "Where's the ring?"
There was no ring! He didn't propose, there was NO MARRIAGE! She wanted to scream it at them, but knew it would all be tossed back at her. For the first time since she'd enrolled Izumi used her quirk to get to school, leaping over crowds and jumping buildings to get to the station. She even went as far as to put on sunglasses and a breathing mask to hide her face and an ugly sports cap on her head to hide her hair.
She was gonna kill Endeavor for this, if Shoto didn't get to him first. What seriously lousy timing. They'd just broken up and now suddenly everyone was invested on the ShoZumi or was it IzuTo bandwagon… whatever couple name they were given she wasn't having any part of it. She would ignore it just like Gran Torino said and focus. Nothing! Was gonna throw her off her game.
~UA Highschool~
People parted ways even as they gawked. The young blonde strut through the halls feeling confident and determined towards his agenda. Any and all thoughts of balking on his new lifestyle had changed with Endeavor's announcement. He had nothing to lose! Absolutely nothing!
He opened the door to class 1A, and spotted Izumi talking with Iida and Uraraka. She'd doffed the mask and was finally herself again, happily hearing about Uraraka's progress in Gunhead Martial arts. He let the smile form on his lips and spoke. "Good Morning."
Heads turned at the silk smooth voice, and the group consensus was…
"Who the hell are you?"
Confusion was etched on every face as Bakugo strolled into the room. He'd styled his hair himself today, instead of the sleek part or the wild spikes he'd slicked it back with some fringe giving him an almost princely look. As he walked, Izumi could swear there were flowers dancing around him as if he'd just emerged from a shojo manga. He went straight to her and held out a single rose. "For you Izumi, you look lovely today."
"Ka….Ka….Kacchan!?"
"EH!?"
Izumi blinked in utter shock at what she was seeing. Not just the smooth hair, but his uniform was pressed, ironed of wrinkles, and neatly buttoned. His voice was soft and smooth like rich velvet, the kind that made young females swoon, and mother's sigh. The look in his eyes was that of mischievous playboy looking for true love in an unsuspecting female.
"That's right," he laughed gently at her shocked expression. "Surprised Izumi?" He took her hand and kissed it. "My internship was well received."
"Kacchan… why are you acting Aoyama-kun?" Her eyebrow twitched, and she glanced around nervously as all eyes were on them.
"I don't know what you mean." Bakugo felt his lip wanting to twitch in irritation but he ignored it. "Best Jeanist has brought out the Gentleman in me. Now I can become a proper hero with the gentleness and charisma one needs to offer comfort and morale."
"Ah, I see…" Best Jeanist, Izumi thought, you are truly a frightening person. She tried to smile even with her brows furrowed together. "I'm sorry for this, Kacchan."
"Sorry?" He blinked then coughed as Izumi punched him in the gut and sent him flying across the room into the wall. Before Bakugo could catch his breath Izumi was on top of him, her hands scrunching his hair trying to get the spikes back.
"SNAP OUT OF IT BAKA! YOU'RE FREAKING ME OUT! WHAT THE HELL WAS BEST JEANIST THINKING TRYING TO CHANGE YOU LIKE THIS I OUGHT TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM!"
"Geh!" Kaminari twitched and stammered as he watched the display. "What the hell, first Bakugo's flipped his lid and now Midoriya."
"Thats right! Mess him up Midori! Show him who's boss!" Uraraka cheered and punched the air in full support of her friend.
"Even Uraraka's changed. What the hell did Endeavor and Gunhead do to those girls?"
"Oh No, Kaminari, the truth is women are scary" Mineta made a frightened face biting his thumb. "They act all nice and sweet and hide their true personalities."
"Alright! Damn it! Baka Usagi! Get off me!" Bakugo finally grabbed Izumi's hands and growled at her. "I SAID ENOUGH!"
"That's more like it." He hands still in his Izumi smiled down at him. "There's my Kacchan, all grumpy and explosive."
"Your…" His face went from annoyed to serene, the mix of embarrassment and surprise so adorable Izumi couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you two doing" Todoroki stood over them having just walked in. His brow twitched in irritation.
Jiro and Ashido who had been in stitches over the entire event calmed their laughter. "Todoroki! You gotta see this!" Jiro flipped her phone around to show him Bakugo's Prince act, and Izumi punching him and yelling at him. The first made him twitch more, but the second had him smirking.
"Ah, now it makes sense." He looked back with a dooming smile. "Bakugo was just being a fool."
"Get off me, Usagi!" Bakugo snarled. "I need to beat some sense into your boyfriend."
"Don't you mean fiancee?" Ashido giggled… but then her laughter died when both Izumi and Shoto's faces went grim and murderous.
"Shoto… I'm gonna kill your father."
"Not if I get to him first…" Shoto countered. "Smug bastard thinks he can get away with it."
"I didn't spend the last three days of my internship in an hospital just so he could go around spreading rumors." She grit her teeth. "I was a fool for trusting him even a little."
"So… the two of your aren't engaged then." Bakugo asked and got the death glare from Izumi.
"He's not my fiancee… How many times do I have to say that before people stop saying it to me? The next time I see Endeavor I'm gonna beat the living tar out of him!" She punched her fist out sending a shockwave right next to Bakugo's head.
"Oi! Usagi, Calm down!" Bakugo took her hand but she snapped it away and quickly got up.
"Calm down? CALM DOWN!?" She grabbed him by the shirt front, yanked him up and shook him. "How can I calm down when everyone I know is acting like an idiot! You're changing your hair and acting all princely, Endeavor has illusions of grandeur, and Shoto says he loves me then breaks up with me! THIS ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS IS TOO MUCH!" She shoved him back, eyes widening at the announcement of the break up.
"That's it, I can't take it anymore. I'm gonna do what I should have done in the first place and listen to All Might and Gran Torino! You guys can find romance with other people because as far as I'm concerned this girl! Will be forever SINGLE!"
~During Lunch~
"What the hell did you do?" Bakugo asked Shoto catching up to him in the cafeteria.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what did Usagi mean by that you broke up with her? You were in a relationship with her, and what seemed like a good solid relationship, so what the hell happened in Hosu that changed it?"
You did, Todoroki wanted to say but kept his mouth shut. He jerked a thumb towards outside and the two boys walked out where they could talk more privately.
"I broke up with Izumi, because I was tired of being her ball and chain." Shoto admitted when they were finally alone. "As much as I love her, as much as I know that she's coming to love me, it's not enough."
Shoto stuffed his hands in his pockets his head low as he fought back the tears. The pain was back in full force and he was shaken with it.
"You feel the same way too, don't you Bakugo?"
"What do you mean?" Bakugo looked away stuffing his own hands in his pockets.
"When you apologized, I'm sure Izumi would have taken you back had you asked her out properly. Yet instead you let her make her own decision." Shoto looked up at the sky. "I thought you were an idiot, and I was lucky… but now I see it. You had the right of it from the start, until I know she wants just me, until I can trust that she'll never walk away from me, I can't be in a relationship with her." He ran fingers through his hair. "I told that stupid old man what I'd done…and why I'd done it and I guess he took measures into his own hands."
"Why does your dad want to you two together so badly?" Bakugo asked shockingly calm. Shoto thought Best Jeanist's training did more than just turn the exploding Bakugo into a Shojo Manga Prince.
"The same reason he forced my mother to marry him. He believes Izumi and I would greatly benefit his legacy. Make strong offspring and all that. Her quirk is powerful, you should see it in true action. Our battles at the Sports Festival are nothing compared to what she's capable of. Combine my elemental quirk, and just imagine what you'd get."
Bakugo's face contorted. "I'd rather not thanks."
"It could still happen…"
"Not unless you happen to work magic and get her to want a relationship again."
"Not unless she's already pregnant." Shoto clenched his fists at his side. "I don't know if she-" he felt the punch connect and Shoto stumbled and barely managed to catch himself on the wall before falling face first into it. "Ow… shit I should have figured that'd be your reaction."
"You mean to tell me the two of you have had sex!?" Bakugo's hands were sparking and exploding.
"Don't blow up at her… it'll just make things worse."
"Screw that! You mean to tell me while I was wasting my time at that stupid internship, the two of you were fucking in Hosu?"
"Fu- can you be anymore lewd? That's not what it was like at all and we only did it once. She didn't let me touch her like that again after."
"Well damn good for her, she should have told you to stay the hell away to begin with! She had no problem pushing me back."
"Take it up with her why you never got that far because I'm not getting into it. I'm just telling you there's a possibility and not to be surprised by it. Don't explode at her, don't get angry with her over it, just accept it because it's all done! Until she's ready to make a decision on what she wants, on who she wants, we're all back on the same playing field."
Like hell they were, Bakugo thought as he went over the entire conversation again in his head. They were getting dressed for Hero Basic training and he couldn't help but think about Izumi in the next room, stripping down. She'd shown that body to someone else… to IcyHot of all people. He grit his teeth and slammed his locker shut. He was a fool to think that any training with that grooming idiot would be worthwhile.
"Welcome Back!" All Might greeted them at Field Gamma. He took stock of his young students, particularly Izumi who looked ready to fight and take on any challenge. Good, he thought, whatever training Endeavor had put her through was showing promise. He'd been surprised by the announcement on TV… but he'd talked with her about that later.
"Welcome to Training Field Gamma, here we're going to do a Rescue Mission Race."
He went over the set up, going over the rules and regulations of the exercise before flying off to his appointed destination. The class was split three groups that would go against each other in a race to rescue All Might. First one to find him in the confusing labyrinth, wins.
"So who do you guys think it's gonna be?" Kirishima asked. "My money's on Sero."
"Hmmm, but Ojiro is there too." Kaminari countered.
"Ashido for sure, she's got a super athletic body." Mineta put in.
"Even though he's injured, I still think Iida has the best chance." Uraraka nodded firmly at her decision.
"You're all wrong…" Todoroki countered his arms crossed and his eyes remaining firm on the screen.
"Seriously? You don't think Midoriya's gonna win?" Kaminari asked. "Sure she's fast, but Iida's definitely faster, and her quirk is mostly used for destruction and she can't get past all those tall structures without causing major property damage."
"Just watch." Todoroki said confidently and kept his eyes on the screen. When the starting bell rang all the participants took off, everyone kicking up speed and adrenaline as they raced through. Sero was shown to be in the lead, using his tape to jettison up and over the buildings.
"See, I told you. In a crazy set up like this. It's always better to go up!" Kirishima pointed out, but then got a rude awakening when a blur of green lightning zipped by Sero nearly knocking him off point.
"What!? Midoriya! Whoa! When the hell did she gain that much speed?!" Kirishima and the rest of the class gawked.
"Amazing… in the sports festival she could jump and run some, but she's flying… and hopping like a rabbit or…"
"Like me…" Bakugo finished stepped forward to grip the railing in front of him. The way her body moved and arched was very much like the way he used his explosions to propel himself up and over, and around obstacles.
"I told you…" Todoroki told him standing beside him. "Her quirk is powerful… and there's plenty more she's capable of."
When had she gotten that good? Bakugo thought with a sneer. When had he fallen so far behind? He knew she was strong, but this… this was ridiculous. Watching her, seeing the fierce look in her eyes, reminded him of her words at the Sports Festival.
If you take your eyes off me for even one second, I'll make you regret it.
He had… he'd been too blinded with love and affection and jealousy to really see her as his competition… and now that he had, he felt his bruised pride bleed. Romance, jealousy, and all those other stupid emotions could wait. All that mattered now he thought glaring at the TV screen. Was making sure she didn't surpass him. HE was number one and he won't let her forget that.
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Whew, okay I couldn't stop myself from posting this now because you guys have been blowing me up with reviews. Unfortunately because of this I have no questions planned but next chapter I'll have a bunch ready! Promise!
Next Chapter: Prepare for Finals