The Strength of Convictions.
My flames ignited on my back, the time was now. I had to do this. No matter how hot I got, no matter if I fell outta the sky… I had to see this through! I had something to fight for. Basically this exam brought all the hero schools of Jaan together in one big free for all event alongside rescues.
My phone buzzed against my leg, and I answered it, seeing that it was Dad and that if he called me it was something to do with encouraging me or something. He sounded really… nervous.
"Son? Are you going to be okay?" he asked, "Because your status on the insta thingy is concerning to me,"
"Dad, you serious? I thought you were gonna encourage me, but you're calling me about Denki, Mineta, and I on a motorized scooter?"
"Did anyone fall off?" he asked.
"Yeah, Mineta did, look Dad our humor and your humor is completely different,"
"Is that why I fell over cellophane and Natsuo filmed it? Or that time where I asked Fuyumi what Yeet means?" he wondered. I sighed.
"Dad, look, we can talk about memes later, I gotta go! Or… Look, when I get outta the exam I'll call you!" I exclaimed.
"Son, wait!"
"Ugh, what?" I huffed.
"I… I love you, son," Dad admitted. I hung up, the others seeing my flames go out, Denki reached out.
"Bro… it's okay…" he sighed, "Oh my god he's crying."
"We went too farrrrrr! I wanna go baaaaacccck!" I sobbed, "I wasn't ready!" They all looked confused but Shoto nodded.
"Dad said something really nice and Koyurei doesn't know how to take it," he explained. Everyone seemed relieved. I dried my tears, my eyes narrowed and my posture straight.
"Don't just stand there, guys! Let's go!" I declared, "We're a class of action not words!" Everyone seemed a little strange about my rallying cry but I had to inspire them. That's the way of the number one's son after all.
I marched towards the testing arena, closing my eyes and thinking back to the old me. The old me wouldn't even lead the charge. He'd sit back and do nothing. Sit back and let everyone do the work because he was too scared to finish it himself.
I looked in a mirror this morning. And I saw myself. The old me, standing there hunched and guarded, coat closed and hair gray. His dull blue eyes locked with my shining ones.
"What're we gonna do?" He asked.
"I don't know…" I sighed, he raised his hand to the glass, and I touched it too. He sighed and smiled.
"Be careful…"
I strode onward, my flames crackling as I spotted Momo nearby, I held my hand out for her to take and I felt her small hand in mine. She seemed nervous. Momo is the modern equal to a princess after all…
"Momo, is there anything wrong? Is it the fact that your breasts are showing again? Do you wanna borrow my coat?" I asked. She shook her head.
"I'm just… worried." she confessed. I grabbed her other hand, squeezing them. Momo leaned on me a little.
"Hey, chin up! We gotta try our best to get our licenses! I know you got this, Momo…" I said, letting go and grabbing her shoulders, yanking her into a kiss. She backed off with a blush and a smile.
"I needed that," she stated.
I nodded, tensing up as my flames flared, my hair bubbling a little. In came a breath, out came a growl. I needed to prove all those years of training weren't wasted time. I needed to show Dad that I wasn't a waste of effort.
"Hey, is your costume fireproof?" I asked.
"Yes, why?" she wondered. I scooped her into my arms and smiled.
"Good morning this is Todoroki Airlines this is your captian speaking, with a 100% chance of us crashing, this'll be one fucking doozy of a flight!" I exclaimed, Momo hugged my neck tightly.
"NO! Don't ever say that!" she yelled, "You know that terrifies me!"
"Oh my god I was kidding, honey!" I laughed, feeling the ground shift, "OKAY UP WE GO!" I flew skyward with Momo screaming in my arms. She clung tightly as I dodged the flying dodgeballs. It was hard to fly with Momo clinging to me.
Even harder with the goddamn WINDSTORM firing up. There was a guy on the ground shaking things up, and a guy above. A jet of wind got my leg and I tossed Momo, she went flying a little before a parachute deployed.
I got yanked back by a current of wind, seeing a boy in a ilot like suit, flying on air wore a hat with a gold S on it. He grinned and threw a dodgeball my way. All I did was try to blast it out of the way.
I tossed mine seeing the other drop weakly to the ground, my wings scathed my back, forcing me into a nosedive. Everything whirled as I couldn't get to ice in time. I crashed hard into someone, rolling with them. I landed on my back, "Ow… shit…" I mumbled.
My unwilling catcher was Shoto! He smoothed his hair and knelt over me, "Hey, Koyurei, you okay?" he asked. I raised my head a little, overheat making me sweat and making everything feel like it was in the distance. Nausea made itself known as Shoto dragged me off somewhere safe, trying to cool me down with ice.
"For… Forget about me, Sho! Just pass, man!" I snarled, trying to force him off, "You… you gotta… Gotta get outta here and pass!" I shoved him away again, seeing him come right back and loop my arm around his shoulders.
"That's not gonna happen, Koyurei," he said.
"Why not? Dad already made me a failure, it doesnt fucking matter how strong I get… I'll always be your sloppy seconds!" I said, "I can't even face Mom… All I can do is… I…" He glared at me intensely.
"Koyurei, what the hell are you doing?" he asked, "Whining, seriously? Look at me, look at my face! Do you think I let my scar stop me from forgiving Mom?"
"N-no…" I mumbled.
"Then what makes you think you can't do this and you get to be the big bad hero that sacrifices himself for little old me? You always did that!" He grabbed my shoulders and squeezed them.
"Lemme do the same for you, once I get out there, you run like hell, got it?" he asked.
I nodded, icing up instead of letting the flames reignite. Watching my twin surge out, throwing off the others so I could slip by unnoticed. I ran like hell was on my heels, my breath clouding in front of me, dodging balls and tossing them back, dodging a few more but soon feeling my ice weighing me down.
At that moment the vibrations from earlier started again, cracking the ground harshly and then it roared open, suddenly dropping me into a chasm of nothing but darkness until I found myself burning out of it, magma and eruption force pushing me up towards the light, a lucky gamble that just barely paid off because MY HANDS ARE BURNING!
Something sticky landed on my hands midair, "STICK TO THE WALL!" Mineta screamed. I clambered up the wall with the balls on my hands. I finally made it to the surface with the exam being over.
Mineta smiled, "Ya owe me!" He exclaimed.
"No I don't," I denied.
"Yo! You guys made it! Niceu!" Denki called haily and running over to us. I made eye contact with Mineta.
"Whatever you want, name it," I snarled.
"How about a nude of Momo or that hot gra-"
"FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I'LL THROW YOU IN THE HOLE." I snarled. Everyone seemed to pass the first round, but then I thought back to Shoto. He paved the way for me to keep going.
So here I was, the only Todoroki left in the whole exam with burnt hands and a slightly more burned back. My quirk strengthened again. It would keep getting stronger and stronger until I finally brought it to heel.
The stasis of ice and the wild bombasticity of fire… The pure permanence of my scars and the sheer burning rage I had deep inside. All about to-
"Darling!" Momo exclaimed, running over to me and hugging me, "You made it!"
"I know but at what cost? I know I could have failed but why did Shoto have to do it for me? I mean he wasn't wrong but still!" I mumbled. Momo blinked, a smile still on her face, but then she embraced me again.
"Koyurei… it's all going to be okay,"
"No, no it's not. Shoto threw away his shot at this." I sighed, "It's kinda my fault. If it wasn't for me freezing at the wrong moment… Shoto would've made it," Momo squeezed me.
"Koyurei," Momo said, "You're going to do amazing things, and this is the start of those. You're going to go out there and fight your hardest, all you've done till now is fight, now let's get out there and do it!"
I grinned, seeing Kaminari and Mineta coming up to me.
"Hey man, you okay?"
"Yeah, really harsh what happened to Sho," Mineta sighed, "Still, whaddya think of the hotties from other schools? Some of them were giving ya the eyes!"
"Foolish, they should know that once a Todoroki picks their woman or man, they stay that way!" I snarled, "Besides! I have other matters than women to attend to!"
"Whoa… harsh…" they sighed. I sighed and sat down, concentrating, centering myself and breathing deep, feeling the tumbling and rumbling of magma from below. I needed to center myself and focus. I didn't care about the other schools.
All I cared about was winning. All I cared about was passing this dumbass test. I clashed my fists together. I was ready to go. The next event was about to get started and now I had to strategize. I heard that it was a rescue exercise but I couldn't be too sure.
Maybe it was just nervousness that got me so shaky. I still felt not too confident in myself considering the nature of my quirk. But at this point there were a ton of people spread out around the area in multiple situations. I took off my coat and started fashioning bandages and slings out of them.
Already ready to pass but still nervous as all get out because…
"OI! GET OUTTA THERE IF YOU CAN MOVE!" Bakugou screeched. That… and…
"My character design doesn't allow me to carry people!" Mineta whined. That too. But for me, I flew over to a group of people holding their arms and I shot right towards them, going a little slower so I wouldn't startle them.
They all looked up at me, "Hey! You guys doing alright?" I asked.
"We all fell into this ravine! Most of us got our arms broken!" One of them yelled.
"I getcha, and… Ta-da! Slings! I exclaimed, putting them on the people using old skills Mom taught me about binding wounds and stuff. Then Momo came with some bandages, carefully making her way down with some rope too.
"Why'd you make a rope, Momo?" I asked.
"So I could get down here and help you," she said.
"You know I could just fly a few people out," I stated.
"You're not the only hero, dear," she said.
"I know, Momo, thanks for that," I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She just chuckled as I grabbed two people and gently got them outta there. Everyone was steadily getting out quickly and efficiently.
Suddenly, I heard a loud yowling call, almost like a keening whale. I saw a ton of guys come outta nowhere with weird black masks with oddly diamond-shaped designs on them. I gritted my teeth, my rare anger starting to stoke.
My eyes blazed as I walked towards them, seeing the others running around trying to get the civilians out of the way. A few of the students initially caught in the whale call were already out. I had to get the new guys out of my way.
I closed my eyes, my hair bursting into flames, my skin flaring bright blue and my wings fully extended. I didn't wanna use this, but these guys were gonna get in my way. I needed to show them the real strength of the Todoroki Family!
The goons turned tail and ran, not all of them, just the two before me. I stood in the middle of the area, the ground rumbling a little. Until I was blown off my feet by a huge blast of something, a tall orca like man strode forward, his cape billowing behind him as he spread his hands out, claws gleaming at the ends.
"Prove to me the strength of your convictions, Todoroki-kun!" He snarled, red eyes glaring at me as I launched at him.
'A hero never lets villains go! They sacrifice themselves!' I thought, 'That means going beyond your limits into something greater!' I blitzed at him, viciously tearing at him, feeling the claws tear my body and make my heat grow even more as I took more abuse from the Orca.
Gang Orca was tough, but my goal isn't to overpower him, it was to buy time. But the more he damaged me, the more my heat built before I couldn't take it anymore. I brought myself down out of the air, avoiding a loud barrage of his quirk, his suit burnt as he stood in front of me, seeming… proud of something.
"I see you're different from your famous father!" He exclaimed, "Your convictions are clear! SO TAKE THIS!"
I saw him burst out at me, quirk at full tilt. All I did was release my pent up energy from all this time, flames and magma making the area crater and Gang Orca had to hurry and dodge. My inferno went out as quickly as it came, my hair hardening to obsidian, the crater solidifying as Gang Orca teetered and tottered, the massive man falling.
I doubled over, cramps and nausea taking me down. I threw up, my stomach not being able to hold in my food. My eyes smoldered, my ice coming in to assist with cooldown. Gang Orca got up, looking down at me.
"Not bad, Todoroki," he sighed, "You thought of others before yourself… even if it means your expulsion from the test…"
I laid on the ground, my skin steaming, my eyes heavy. I closed my eyes, thinking of how mad Grandmother would be… and Dad, and everybody. Before I could even see Mom again… well, after my apology.
Shit…
My head hurt. Everything hurt. I tried to sit up but my neck hurt too much. Tried to move my hands or arms or anything and it all hurt. My body was screaming for rest and I knew one thing when I woke up…
I failed. I threw everything away. Instead of calming down I lost myself and almost made the arena look like Pompeii. Now what would Dad think? What would Mom think? What would Shoto and Grandmother and Fuyumi and Natsuo think?
What would they think of me? What would they do to me?
I groaned, tears would be running down my face if not for the fact that I totally overheated. They'd think I'm a failure, I'm an embarrassment to all of them. I tried to look over or listen. All I heard was muffled, and I had a mask on my face.
A… cooling tank?
"WHABA WHABA WHAAA!" A glowing orange blob yelled.
"Whaba… whababa wa," The second one, tall and a little orange, said.
"WHA! BA! WHABAWA!" The big orange one raised its hand and smacked the other one, "Whaba wa wa!"
I closed my eyes, feeling the fluid make my aches go away, it was green and oddly squishy. Aloe I think. Soon I was let out, feeling better but still… empty. Hollow even when I saw Dad waiting for me with a grin on his face despite the growing bruise on his cheek.
Nearby was Grandmother, arms crossed, blue eyes glaring at the two of us. I looked down at my feet, the bustling staff all around us as she took a deep breath.
"Koyurei, I'm not mad," she said.
"Why do I feel like you are?" I asked.
"Look, sweetie, I know what you did was right in your mind and your situation, but… you let it get to your head just like your father over there," she sighed, laying a hand on my shoulder, "That's why we're no-"
I hugged her suddenly, crying as she stiffened a little, she wasn't too showy with affection but she still hugged me back. I didn't want to say it, I didn't want to hear that I failed but I know I wasted the shot Shoto gave me.
Which is why I stopped Shoto just before he went to go see Mom. "Hey! Wait! I wanna go too!" I ran up to him, my obsidian hair billowing slightly. Grandmother and Dad both looked at us leaving and I smiled.
"Me and Sho will be back soon!" I yelled, waving as I followed him. Shoto glanced at me with a slight smirk.
"You didn't have to yell," he said.
"Oh come on! I just wanted to be loud like them!" I objected, "Still… Its been a while since I've seen Mom!"
"Been a few months, she's been really worried about you, let's go though, I'm tired and Ibara wants to go out,"
"Say no more, bro! Hrrrgh! Heeeeeeemmmmm! Hrrrrrrrrr!" I strained, trying to ignite, my eyes glowed but nothing else occurred, "Heeemmmmmiiiiii MAMAJAMMMA!" I yelled, feeling a small spark ignite in my hair before going out.
"Aww dammit! I was gonna fly us there! Shit!" I cursed, "Guess we'll have to take the train then…" Shoto grinned as we went down to the station. Getting on the train and waiting for our sto.
Mom's been doing way better, they're talking about letting her out soon, but… Him.
"Look Shoto, Dad's genuinely trying to change, ever since the Fest where I went bonkers,"
"You were the one always getting burned," he said, "Never forget that,"
"I haven't, but I'm willing to move on, you and Natsuo refuse to, you know how much that makes Fuyumi sad?" I asked. Shoto gritted his teeth.
"Don't try to guilt me into something I don't want!" He snarled.
"Oh yeah, blame me! Just like you did when Mom left! HOW THE FUCK WAS HER BURNING YOU MY FAULT?!" I felt a searing tearing cold suddenly surround us, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING BURNED OVER AND OVER FOR EVEN ONE MISTAKE?!" I thundered.
Shoto sighed, making me seethe even more, "What. Do. I. Have. To. Do. To. Make. You. Stop. Blaming. Me." I snarled.
"Start right now by coming with me to see Mom," he said.
"Fine." I stated, "Just know that this is gonna be something we look back on and laugh." We arrived at the hospital, with Shoto taking the lead and leading me to her room. It was sad in here. Just how sterile and distant it was.
Shoto knocked on the door, waiting for our mother to respond.
"Come in." she said.
"Shit! Shit! Do I look okay, Shoto, wait!" I called, getting shoved in before him, my hair making me fall to the floor. I got up and smoothed my hair, shooting finger guns at Mom.
"Heeeeyyyy! Guess who decided to… Drop in?" I asked, hearing Shoto's soul leave his body in a groan that would make even the Furies scream. Mom snickered, her shoulders shaking a little.
Then she laughed, loud and joyfully, making my cheeks warm up and I stood, "M… Mom, that wasn't my… best material," I mumbled.
"I know, dear! Just… that's the first joke I've heard in a while," she said, "How have you been? Your hair is different,"
"It's cause… I… well… Grandmother's quirk had something to do with me." I mumbled, "Call her what you want, she's still got style."
"I'd say so, but… dear, wasn't your hair lava and not obsidian?" she asked.
"I… well… went all Te-Ka on things, and failed the Licensing Exam," I sighed. Shoto glared at me.
"You did what?" he snarled.
"Shoto, let Koyurei finish," Mom said, "Sweetie, I'm sure you just tired yourself out like at the festival,"
"I missed a whole section of the exam…" I sighed, "Then I woke up and came here to see you, my fire overtook me… I just thought of Shoto failing and the rest of my class failing…"
"You did what you could, dear, you're just as brutal to yourself as you were when you were little," she sighed, "All the time you'd be burning yourself just like… him. You always protected Shoto from your father too. You always told me, if nobody can do it, why not me?"
She hugged me, "You were always the one who smiled and took it all… but failure is NEVER a bad thing, Koyurei. You were such a confident little boy. I know he's still in there,"
I closed my eyes, hugging her back gently, "Mom… I… I…"
"I wanna come by more often,"
"Of course!" She exclaimed. I felt a smile tug at my face a little. I felt better. Mom and Shoto and I sat down, talking about more things. We had a nice time and everything. At the end of it… Mom stopped me from going for just a moment.
"Look at you now! So tall, back when you and Shoto were born you were tiny…" she said, "I'm so proud of you, no matter what you do,"
"Mom…" I muttered, "Thanks,"
When it was all over, we went back to the dorms and everything. I just ignored everyone, just wanting to go to bed. I failed. And everyone else passed. I undid my coat, looking at the new scars from my lava. I sighed and felt someone hug me from behind.
Momo nuzzled me and kissed my jaw, coming around and hugging me.
"I know what happened, Koyurei. It's okay," she said, "Your hair is warm…" I blushed as she kissed my neck, biting a little and pulling me into bed with her. She pulled the covers over us and smiled, holding me.
"Darling… I have something special to tell you!"
"Does it have anything to do with your stomach? Do I need to drop out and get a job?" I asked, Momo laughed.
"No! Not at all!" she exclaimed.
"Then what?" I asked.
"Well… it's about our upcoming marriage!" she declared.
"WHAT?!" I exclaimed.
"Honey! They are sleeping!" She cautioned, "I just started planning things out for it. Don't freak out,"
"So what does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"Well… let's go out sometime, that way we're somewhere where we don't have any wandering eyes," Momo reasoned.
"Okay, honey," I agreed. Momo laughed and kissed me.
"I love you…" she said.
"I love you too," I said, kissing her on the forehead and bringing her close to my chest. Covers over both of us.
"Ya know what, Momo I was thinking… wouldja like to live on an island somewhere someday?" I asked.
"Maybe when we're old and empty nesters, then we can buy an island."
"Wait… you can do that?"
"Of course!"
"Oh my God, I have the best wife ever," I said, being cuddled to her chest. Momo kissed me on the cheek.
"Goodnight, dear, oh!" she exclaimed.
"License… my name… on back… wooo..." I mumbled.
"He's asleep, aww… and he's dreaming!" Momo muttered. Getting grabbed and held tight.
"And… and the crowd goes… wild… woooo…" I muttered the night away.