Chapter 44: A Shocking Discovery

Hikoori P.O.V, after the internship, Ground Gamma:

"Now second group, take your positions! Be ready to the second round of the rescue race!" All Might sensei yelled excitedly.

I gulped, feeling a little bit nervous.

'Did I really have to go against Shoto-nii...'

I eyed my twin for a moment; he seemed pretty calm and focused.

'Unlike me...'

"Hey!" Someone yelled, nudging my shoulder a little bit too forcefully. I looked beside me, seeing Bakugou as expected, in his usual angry, competitive expression. He peeked at himself with his thumb saying with a superior tone: "I am your opponent in this! Do not get your attention off me or else you will regret it, damn Todoroki!"

Taken aback a little bit, I smiled, feeling confidence surge through my veins again.

'I see...'

"Of course." I answered, giving him a challenging look.

'Thanks Bakugou...'

He got pissed from my answer and shouted: "Don't get too confident and think that you can win against me dumbass! I will crush you!"

"You better hold your insults inside your mouth, or else I will shove them there." Nii-san countered immediately, a warning look lurking in his eyes like a deadly beast.

Bakugou's veins popped on his forehead and his eyes became white and sharp like Venom from Spiderman.

'Oh no...'

"You damn icy-hot! I will make you regret this!" He shouted, his anger and quirk exploding together.

"Just try it." Shoto countered immediately.

"It's okay nii-san." I started calmly, making both of them turn to me in confusion. After a tiny moment of silence, in which my smile grew into a smirk, I continued: "Because I will make sure that each of us two gets into his rightful place."

I could feel every nerve in Bakugou's skull cracking of anger. He smilled evilly, a dark shadow casted itself on his forehead and eyes.

"We are going to see." He bit out only these words rather quietly, which surprised me for a bit.

'Now it became more serious.

Good.'

"Mhm." I hummed agreeing to him.

"Hey, don't forget about us here too! You are not the only ones on the field!" Mineta complained angrily, moving his fists around as if throwing a tantrum. Asui-san, or should I say Froppy, looked like she agreed with him.

'Everything has a first time I guess...'

I nodded in acknowledgement.

'I am not underestimating anyone here. Each member of this group has great agility abilities, which will prove this to be a little bit hard...

That's if I don't succeed in this...'

We took our assigned positions separating from each other, and waited for the "damsell in distress" signal (as he chose to call it) from All Might sensei.

I closed my eyes in my usual attempt to amplify my tangible focus.

'Now focus your senses, and feel your muscles... there is someone calling for your help and you have to reach him as fast as your legs can carry you.'

A few seconds later, and the three beeps sounded in the area, announcing the beginning of our training. I opened my eyes and immediately surged an ice path for myself, running on it with my spikes out to be able to climb. Soon I was above the training field, seeing Bakugou and Shoto.

'As expected, us three will compete in the air, while the other two will be forced to take a lower ground in order to gain the advantage of obstacles variation, since their quirks are pretty suited for such environments.'

I continued on the ice path, which nii-san imitated in a way, sliding to the signal source as fast as possible, while melting the ice behind my back with my right foot's heat.

Bakugou was getting ahead with his explosions, while I and Shoto were not that far from each other.

Bakugou laughed almost evilly while he was jumping around in flexible moves with his explosions.

"See! You won't beat me in this, dumbass! I am the lord of explosions and no one can stop me!"

My face was so neutral that it was almost blank.I was so focused on my mission that I had no time to react to Bakugou's words.

'Besides, I still have something up my sleeve...'

Now that I was up above the field without the need to climb, I got the spikes inside the boots again then froze them. Then, I completed the ice path in a slide like form to the source of the signal. Next, I melted the ice on both my boots and the slide so slightly then froze them again to make them slippery. Last but not least, I focused the fire in my right hand then surged it out, giving myself a huge boost, surpassing both boys as a consequence.

'I can feel their shocked faces behind my back haha...'

"You dumbaaaaaaasss I will show youuuuuuu!" Bakugou screamed on the top of his lungs, his explosions following short after. The voice of nii-san's freezing ice was not that far away either.

But I was not planning on giving up easily.

'I am aware that reckless speeding will only hurt me, so I have to be clever about using all advantages this chance can give me without ruining all my work.'

I could see the end of the slide I have created, in other words, the source of the signal.

'I am close...! Now, to the next-'

"Don't you dare ignore meeeee!" Bakugou interrupted my thoughts with a very loud scream, and an explosion right on my slide, making a part of it break and melt away.

'Damn it...!'

Quickly regaining focus, I regenerated the missing part, cursing under my breath.

"Hikoori!" Nii-san yelled in worry and anger.

But Bakugou was not done yet.

"I said you won't stand in my way, so if you want to win, fight me!" He yelled again, his explosion aimed right at me this time.

'The best response to this is...'

With quick reflexes, I shot a fire attack right at him, amplifying his explosion and sending him away from me in a large cloud of smoke.

'Shit! That was too strong!'

"Bakugou are you-" In worry, I called for my friend, only to be responded by his fight-lusting-angry face.

"Hell yeah I am, stop worrying about me icy-hot!" He yelled, charging again.

Shoto interrupted him by an ice attack that pushed him away from us.

"This is a damn race, stop fooling around." He said with an annoyed tone.

The ice was obliterated to big pieces, revealing an overly angry Bakugou charging again, this time at nii-san.

"You're the one fooling around slacking off behind us in third place Half-and-Half Bastard!" He screamed an explosion ready in hand.

He tched, blocking him away with ice that once again got destroyed by the the latter's fire power.

"Get out of my way you Bastard!" If it was possible, he became even angrier. "I will win, by plunging forward and defeating my enemies! I want a full victory!"

'A full victory...!'

Right. Heroes have to win to save lives as much as they have to be fast, because if they lose, other people will be at risk from villains.

"Fine by me." I said, attacked him with fire making him lose his balance, then fused Ice with fire together, creating a thick, cold mist in the air, still sliding on the ice. On the melody of Bakugou's anger and crashing, I closed my slide, made it even more slippery, and plunged forward to the marked location.

When I arrived, All Might was indeed there, his face quivering in a large, uneasy smile.

"Hi-Hikoori shojo wins!" He said bumping a fist in the air, an umcomfortable expression still on his face.

Second came Bakugou, then Shoto nii-san, after him Froppy, and the last was Mineta.

You can guess what happened.

Yes exactly, a figurative explosion of anger, followed by a literal one, aimed right at me.

"What the-" I whispered under my breath as my body's reflexes reacted faster than my brain, creating a barrier of ice between us; however, the explosion never hit.

'That's weird, it should have hit alrea-'

"Let go of me!" Bakugou's triggered scream stepped right over my thoughts and answered my inner question: All Might grabbed him, preventing the angry boy from moving around too much, meanwhile nii-san was set in a ready position to defend me if needed, as he always does.

"Bakugou shonen you are not to fight with your classmates!" Sensei scolded, but without any fruition, because Bakugou kept on making explosions left and right trying to free himself.

'That was a close call, but... I did undergo the race without fighting him back there that much...

Even if I have a different understanding of victory, it does not mean that I cn simply pay his competitive feelings no mind.'

"Sensei, may I request something of Bakugou-kun?" I asked politely, making the latter pause his destructive behaviour, as his curiosity perked despite his angry expression. All Might seemed puzzled for a bit but allowed me to say what I have in mind nonetheless.

"Sure Hikoori-shojo, go ahead." He said, still a little bit uneasy.

'I wonder why sensei is acting like this today...'

"Bakugou-kun, is it okay with you if we have a competition after school today?"

I sat on my desk after our long session of heroic studies, a relaxed feeling washing over me, something that I have not felt in a while.

'Despite it not being the best way, But Bakugou has a unique method to make me push through my insecurities around fighting, resulting in a satisfying feeling like this one...

His anger still makes me tense though, so I think that makes things even.'

I took out my small sketchbook and started sketching randomly with my pencil.

"Drawing again I see!" an excited, friendly voice chirped beside me. I looked and saw Mina's pink features forming the nicest closed eye toothy smile. I smiled back at her as she opened her eyes again.

"Yes..." I trailed away, remembering all those times I resorted to this particular activity to convert negative energy into something desirable.

"It looks so... sad though..." Mina said deep in thought as she observed the paper between my hands.

'Is it that sad...?'

I looked at my work myself; it was a man with white hair, however wut no any facial features at all. He was clothed in a long, black cape, but I did not make it that detailed, because it was already foggy my mind. He his arms were opened, as if he was trying to hug someone, but...

He was standing on a high cliff, almost falling off. Not only that, but this person was also burning in a blue light...

'I wonder why I feel I have seen this scene for thousands of times...'

"I don't know... it's just what came to my mind..." I explained to Mina, still looking at the paper. I could feel nii-san's eyes on me , so I continued: "though I am not sad myself, so don't worry!" I finished smiling brightly at her. She sighed in relief and smiled back, saying she is so relieved that everything is okay, then jumped on Kirishima greeting him when he appeared.

'haha same old Mina...'

Even Shoto-nii was relieved himself and turned to Iida again,as Midoriya came closer and joined them too.

Interestingly though, the green head gave me a long, thoughtful stare before looking away awkwardly when he spotted me looking back.

'It's like if he is... puzzled about something...'

"Ahahahah! Yes Bakugou's hair this morning was undeniably the most "interesting" sight !"

'Ah yes, our great school day began with Kirishima's and Sero's mocking of Bakugou's peculiar hair.'

I sweat dropped remebering his laying down hair that is completely hilarious compared to his explosion-like usual style.

'I wonder what Best Jeanist had done to him...'

Surely, if he changed anything in him, it was only his hairstyle, after all, his temper was still just like his quirk- short fused.

'Well, I guess I will have something fun to think of while in detention on the lunch break...'

During lunch break, inside the library:

I sighed again, burying my face between my arms as the clock ticked slowly in UA's library.

'Man I wish I was with Shinsou-kun and sensei now, they are having quirk training today...

Instead, I have to sit here and solve the extra homework sensei gave me during lunch break... and it is not even that challenging as sensei said...On top of this, I am not allowed to read any other books nor draw.'

I groaned silently, lazily taking my head out of my arms. However, instead of seeing the same monotone, grey bookshelf, my eyes met another curious, awkwardly staring, wide green eyes.

"Midoriya-kun?" puzzled of him being here instead of in the cafeteria, I asked rhetorically.

It was indeed Midoriya, standing in front of me, cheeks bright red in embarrassment as usual.

"Y-yeah T-Todoroki-san... I just w-wanted to a-ask you if-" He was flowing out stuttered words when suddenly his eyes fell on my hands. His nervosity was replaced by a huge smile and a childish excitement, and his voice found itself and he suddenly became Nejire: "The limited special edition super-rare Silver-age All Might pen! How? It is so rare that there are only 100 copy of it all around Japan! How-"

"M-Midoriya-kun we are in the-" I tried to remind him of the fact that he is still in the library, but he kept on going in his usual, muttering mode: "-did you get your hands on it?! Oh yeah right you are rich and all that... but how did Endeavour allow you to-"

Then, he was cut by an angry "hush it's the library" by the librarian herself.

Skin becoming like a red tomato in embarrassment, he apologized awkwardly, the excitement and energy still lingering in his eyes nonetheless.

'I thought nii-san was a big fan of All Might, but Midoriya just broke all the scores.

I can feel that there are still many other surprises under his skin, too.'

I coughed quietly to get Midoriya's attention, and it worked well. Still all worked up, he said, lowly this time: "Can you please come out of the library with me? All Might sensei wants to talk with you. Do not worry about your homework or Aizawa sensei, I have a written permission from All Might sensei in my pocket that shall give the needed explanation."

'All Might sensei wants to meet me? All of a sudden?

But Why? '

If I wanted to know, I had to accept.

'At least I will have a better use of my time I guess...'

Reluctantly, I nodded showing my agreement. Still embarrassed but also serious and excited, Midoriya led the way to All Might sensei's office.

'I guess I can tell him about the pen without mentioning his name...'

"This pen... I got it as present. Someone pretty close to me gifted it to me." I told Midoriya.

.

.

.

Bakugou bursted inside the hospital room angrily, as if he was at home. He then roughly threw a small gift box into my hand, gaining himself cold angry stares from my twin.

.

.

.

"Really? Who gave it to you?" Midoriya asked filled with curiosity.

"Well..." I trailed off, remembering Bakugou's words.

.

.

.

"Don't you dare tell anyone what present I bought you, or else!" He rudely yelled at me, a slightly visible shade of pink on his cheeks.

.

.

.

I mentally sighed.

'Well I promised him I won't mention him in any way, so...

Sorry Midoriya...'

"Sorry Midoriya-kun." I started, my tone a bit down. "But I promised I won't mention who gave me the present..."

Midoriya nodded in understanding, disappointed nonetheless.

"It's okay! I understand." He said with a cheeky smile.

"Oh! We're here." He suddenly exclaimed, stopping in front of a very large door. He knocked on the door gently, and got in a moment answered by the traditional heroic voice of All Might saying: "get in!"

Midoriya slid the door open quickly, then motioned me to get in first. Muttering a "thanks" with a small smile, I nervously got inside the office of All Might. It was not exactly too big or small, only average sized and somewhat more plain than I had expected it to be. All Might was standing tall in his muscled form, a huge smile plastered on his face as usual.

"Hello Todoroki-san! I am glad you accepted my invitation!" He stated happily.

'If my hunch was right last time, then these muscles I see now are not exactly "real", or to say the least "permanent"...

The only way to make sure is to make a surprising pro-gamer move...'

"You don't need this formality nor this form, Yagi-san." I stated, pressing slightly on the last word.

Midoriya choked and his eyes became so wide that its blood vessels became visible, while All Might sensei sweated and laughed nervously.

'Their reaction is so priceless!' I giggled internally.

A moment of silence stretched, then got cut off by All Might sensei himself:

"What are you talking about-" He tried to deny the obvious, but I interrupted him, feeling the need to prevent him from making himself look even more awkward.

"Sensei, it's obvious. You are so close to Midoriya-kun: you helped him during the sludge incident, you gave him special attention in the battle trial training we had in our first hero foundations class, you regularly call him to your office and you even have lunch with him. On the other hand, in your other form, and during the sports festival, you were laser focused on Midoriya the whole time, and you stayed by him, and only him when he got injured. Not to mention the similarities in your looks between your muscly and skinny form, like your eyes and hair." I explained to him.

Sensei spat out blood, as steam started to get out of his body, while Midoriya was wide eyed and speechless.

Sensei did turn to his skinny form, sweat-dropping and a worried expression all over his face.

"Was it that obvious...?" He asked, placing his thumb and peak finger on the edges of his nose bone, closing his eyes.

"Well... not really. It was just a hunch of mine. I don't think anyone suspected it, yet." I expressed my thoughts, stressing on the last word.

All Might sensei removed his hand, then gave me a warm closed eye smile:

"You're bright as I expected you to be, Todoroki Shojo."

Although he soon regained his seriousness, changing the feeling of the atmosphere really quickly.

"Now, I did not bring you here for this. Please take a seat first." He said signalling me to take a seat on the couch. Wondering about the reason behind this change of character, I did as he said, Midoriya soon joining me as well.

Sensei sat opposed to us two, taking a cup of warm green tea in his hands.

'His eyes are so dark, making the atmosphere even more dense... I wonder what is on sensei's mind...'

"Your teachers are aware, as you know already, of the situation surrounding your passive quirk..." Sensei started explaining.

The mention of my passive quirk made me gulp, as my heart start racing.

"However, those who are knowledgeable of the details are only Aizawa-kun, the director Nezu, and me, in addition to your family." He continued, his tone not losing an inch of seriousness.

I crossed my hands on my lap, as if I was shielding myself of what is coming next.

"Each time I get filled by the details by Aizawa-kun, and the weird situations that happen between you and Midoriya shonen, I become more and more certain..." He continued explaining, making my heart rate go faster and faster.

'That I am a monster in human clothes...

That I am dangerous and should not be here...'

"That this quirk was not something that you were born with. This quirk got inserted into you, forcefully." He finished.

'Got... what?'