Dragon Rider
Chapter 4:
The sport's festival ended up being put on pause for the rest of the day as the whole ordeal with Endeavor was sorted. Momo returned to the dorms in a daze, confused and unsure what she was supposed to make of any of it. Izuku had yet to return. No one had even seen him since he had disappeared into the stadium with All Might.
Momo had decided to finally repay the favor for all the mornings he had served her. She was waiting for him to come through the door, a pot of tea on the stove, just waiting for her to turn it on and bring it to a boil. She imagined he could use it after the day he had had.
"Yaomomo?" a tired voice called from the stairs.
Momo turned to find a tired looking Mina rubbing sleep out of her half-lidded eyes as she made her way across the room.
"What are you doing down here?" Mina asked as she plopped down in one of the seats. "It's like one in the morning girl."
"Oh," Momo breathed. She blinked, trying to process that. She hadn't realized it had gotten so late. "I was waiting for Izuku to return."
Mina's eyes began to dance with excitement, all trace of her weariness from a moment ago gone, but then her eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, does he know you're down here?" Mina asked.
"No," Momo shook her head. "But that shouldn't be an issue. He'll have to come through here to get to his room."
"Umm, Yaomomo," Mina said as she bit her lip. "Doesn't he normally have that dragon of his just fly him to the rooftop?"
Momo's eyes went wide with realization. She was out of her seat in an instant. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed the cold pot of tea and sprinted up the stairs of the boy's side of the dorms. She made it to the roof, but what she heard stopped her in place long before she could make it to Izuku's door.
"Of course I'm angry!" Izuku screamed. His voice filled the quiet night air like an explosion and froze Momo's feet to the rooftop. "How can you take satisfaction in this?"
Momo couldn't think. Her breath was caught in her throat as she waited to hear someone respond.
"No," Izuku responded shortly.
What? Was Jade responding through his strange telepathic link? Were Izuku and Jade fighting? Momo had never seen them so much as disagree before. They teased each other, but even that was always so lighthearted.
"Because he never should have been a hero in the first place," Izuku snarled.
Momo should leave. She was intruding. That hadn't been her goal, but she most certainly was little more than an eavesdropper at this point. Before she could so much as start to turn around Izuku's door flung open, and there he was, frozen in the doorway, staring at her the same as she stared at him. The angry look on his face flooded away and left behind only shock.
"I-I'm sorry," Momo stammered. She slammed down into a deep bow. She couldn't look at him. Oh god. He'd hate her for this. She had to explain. "I didn't mean to. I-I was bringing tea."
"Please, stand up Momo," Izuku said softly. All that anger that had been twisted up in his voice was gone. Momo looked up in shock, to find him looking at her with an almost sad smile and kind eyes. "I'm sorry you had to overhear that."
"N-no," Momo shook her head as she straightened up. "I shouldn't have been eavesdropping."
"I doubt that was your intent," Izuku sighed. He sounded so tired.
"I was bringing you tea," Momo explained as she held up the pot in her hands.
Izuku simply raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. Momo could feel the blush spreading. It was awfully late to be stopping by for tea.
"That was very kind of you," Izuku said with a small bow. "I'm afraid I was stepping out."
"Stepping out?" Momo repeated in question. If it was late for tea, it was far too late for stepping out.
"Yes," Izuku nodded. Then he shot a startling hot glare back into the little bungalow. "I was hoping to clear my head."
"Are you and Jade fighting?" Momo asked, before she could think about how rude it was to intrude. She instantly wanted to take it back, but before she could Izuku was smiling at her.
"I hope not," Izuku commented. "He's coming with me."
"He is?" Momo gasped. If he wasn't fighting with Jade, then who? Could it have been the mysterious master Izuku had mentioned? Weren't they supposed to be a dragon too? Were they in the bungalow?
I am, Jade's deep voice rumbled in her mind as the dragon came out from the curtained portal into the room.
"Where are you going to go?" Momo asked, she was still trying to catch up with this whole conversation.
"Flying," Izuku shrugged.
"Flying!?" Momo nearly shouted. "But you don't have a permit! Do you have a permit?"
"No," Izuku shook his head. "But on nights as cloudy as this one no one can see us."
Momo's eyes shot to the sky and stared at the dense cloud cover that blanketed across the city. By the time she looked back down, Izuku was already sitting in the leather saddle that was nestled between Jade's shoulders. He was looking down at her, with a smile that bordered on a smirk, unlike any that she had seen on his face before.
"Would you like to come with us?" he asked.
"Me?" she whispered. Was he serious? Was he really asking her to fly through the sky with him?
"Only if you'd like," and that devious smirk was replaced with a warm smile that had Momo's heart pounding in her chest. He offered her a hand, even with Jade crouched low as he was Izuku's hand was still far above her reach.
"Yes," Momo agreed in an instant. She nearly dropped the tea pot in her rush to put it down.
Jade extended his foreleg and Momo used his knee as a step to reach up and grab Izuku's hand. He lifted her with ease and helped her behind him in the saddle.
"Here," he instructed as he motioned to a series of loops that dangled over the side of the saddle. He reached down and slipped the loops over her ankles, securing them snuggly in place.
"What about you?" Momo asked. He wasn't secured at all. Surely, he would fall off.
"I'll be fine," he chuckled, the sound light and musical in her ears. "Hold on tight."
That was all the warning she got before Jade's great wings rose up and with a great push launched them into the air and over the green below. The wind buffeted her violently, threatening to rip the ponytail out of her hair. She grabbed onto Izuku out of instinct, a scream sneaking out of her before she could stop it.
And then they were flying. It wasn't the breakneck racing that she had seen from Jade before. This was gentle, almost lazy, as they spiraled upwards above the building and into the night air. Momo stared out at the city lights as they rose higher and higher. It was beautiful.
"Wow," Momo whispered.
I know, Izuku's voice whispered back in her mind.
Momo had never heard Izuku speak in her mind before. His soft and steady tone were just the same, as if he had whispered the words into her ear.
It gets better, Izuku told her.
"Vardi nosu," Izuku commanded, his voice barely audible over the wind in Momo's ears.
Then they were in the clouds themselves. Yet somehow it was warmer than the cold night air had been only moments before. The water that she knew should be clinging to her simply wasn't. Momo knew it was Izuku, his magic protecting them, but it still amazed her.
When they broke through the other side of the clouds though, she forgot all about her earlier feelings as a new sense of wonder was born. The stars were like she had never seen them before. An infinite number of bright pin pricks against an endless sea of black.
The clouds block out most of light pollution, Izuku explained. Not all of it, but enough that you can see almost as much as back home.
Almost as much? Izuku's home must have been something to see then.
Indeed, Izuku agreed wistfully.
Momo was too enraptured to even realize that her subconscious thoughts had been read. She was too busy staring around in wonder at the beauty around her.
Jade leveled out, more gliding than flying as they soared along, barely above the line of clouds. Momo took to identifying the constellations, stars she had barely been able to see now shining bright and making it a simple task. Momo did not know how long a time passed before she stopped staring at the stars, but when she did, she instantly became aware that her arms were still wrapped around Izuku's waist.
"S-sorry," Momo apologized as she pulled her arms back and rested them in her lap.
She instantly missed the warmth he had provided her, but she wouldn't be so forward as to rewrap her arms around him.
Do not worry Momo, Izuku told her.
"Why are you doing that?" Momo asked. She instantly bit her tongue. She had not meant to ask such a rude question. Something about Izuku brought all of her guards down. The years of social etiquette that had been drilled into her simply falling away with them.
It can be difficult to hear over the sound of the wind, Izuku explained. He looked back over his shoulder to look at her. If you would prefer, I can switch to speaking, but your ears are not as sensitive as mine, you may struggle to hear me.
"I-its okay," Momo stammered. She could feel the heat in her face as she said it. She was hesitant to admit how much she enjoyed hearing him in her head. She instantly scrambled for a change in topic, anything to keep from thinking about it or the fact that she was nearly pressing against his strong back as they sat in the saddle together. "S-so what were you arguing about?"
Izuku sighed and Momo cursed herself for her lack of tact. He was coming to escape that, not relive it.
My master commended me for my assault on Endeavor, Izuku told her, and instantly she was confused.
Assault?
You see I did not need to make a spectacle of things the way I did. I did not need to kick him through the wall or knock him out with a punch. He looked at his hand in front of him as he brought forth a simple flame without so much as a whisper. I was angry. I lashed out. My master does not see the issue.
"Oh," Momo murmured. She hadn't seen it that way. She had seen it as him protecting himself. Something he had done commendably.
I was still angry, Izuku admitted with a sigh of his actual body. I lashed out at Saphira as well. I owe her an apology.
"It's okay to be angry," Momo whispered.
Izuku's shoulders began to shake in front of her. For a moment Momo was unsure what was happening, but then a soft laughter filled her mind. Momo was practically speechless. His laugh had always been musical, but hearing it bounce around the inside of her own head it was like a symphony.
Yes, I suppose it is, Izuku relented. But it does not excuse a lack of control.
Momo didn't really know what else to say. She sat back in the saddle and looked out once again, lost in the sea of her own mind as well as the sea of clouds they flew above.
Yaoyorozu, the deep rumble of Jade called within her mind.
"Yes Jade?"
I recall you seemed familiar with a sword, he commented.
"Yes," Momo confirmed with a nod, though she realized the dragon would be unable to see it.
Izuku needs a sparring partner, Jade told her. It was in an almost off hand way, a passing thought, but Jade had only spoken to Momo directly a handful of times. So why this?
"I doubt I would be a very helpful partner," Momo told him with a shake of her head, both in denial and to clear away the wandering line of thought. "Izuku bested me in a matter of seconds when we crossed blades."
That was a matter of physicality, Izuku explained. Jade is correct that a sparring partner would be useful. Our match is the only practice match I've ever had against an opponent. I would of course not use my strength or speed as I did in our first match if we were to spar more regularly.
"Would it even be useful then?" Momo asked uncertainly. Surely if he were holding back then he wouldn't be gaining anything.
I imagine so, Izuku nodded. More so than the repetition of forms I am currently trapped in. You do not need to decide now. Think on it, and if you accept then we can go from there.
It is time we return, Jade told them. The clouds are beginning to disperse.
Izuku sighed. Momo too felt disappointed to leave behind such a beautiful world and return to the mundane earth to which she was normally bound.
Jade, Izuku said, it sounded like a warning, his whole body had tensed while Momo was distracted with her own thoughts.
Hold on tight, Jade commanded, and Momo could hear the grin in his voice.
The world suddenly turned upside down as Jade entered a lazy loop in the air. Momo squeaked in terror and grabbed tight onto Izuku once again. There was a split second of perfect stillness as they reached the apex of the loop, and then the world blurred. Jade twisted right side up as he rocketed through the night sky. Momo never let go.
"Welcome back ladies and gentlemen!" Present Mic called through the speakers of the stadium. "After all of yesterday's excitement who's ready to finally see these young heroes in training go head-to-head!"
The crowd roared in response, louder than ever before. Apparently, they had come back with renewed vigor.
"You've waited long enough," Present Mic shouted over the noise. "Let's go ahead and show you the bracket for the final round!"
Izuku looked up to the screen and found a standard tournament bracket being displayed. He was in the first round against someone named Monoma. He wasn't sure who that was, but he figured he better go and get ready. He stood from the designated 1-A seats and began making his way to the field.
"Good luck Izuku," Momo told him as he was leaving.
"To you as well Momo," Izuku returned with a smile.
As Izuku walked through the concrete passageways of the stadium he listened to the echoed roars of the crowd and wondered about today. He had been considering dropping out, all things considered. He hadn't seen the point after yesterday. But Momo had reminded him of why he needed to be down on that field, even if she didn't know it. He needed to prove to the world that he was more than unbridled strength and fury.
I think you just liked the way her arms felt around you, Jade teased.
Izuku did his best not to react as he walked out of the tunnel and onto the grass of the field. At the center of the field was a concrete platform that would be their sparring ring. Izuku approached calmly, climbing the steps as the crowd cheered.
"Here we have him folks," Present Mic called. "The man of the hour, Midoriya Izuku!"
The crowd again went wild. Izuku looked around. He wondered what box his mom and Toshi were in. She had cried for hours yesterday after it was all said and done, but she had promised she was coming again.
"And his opponent," Present Mic's announcement rang out, cutting off Izuku's musings. "The copy master himself, Monoma Neito!"
Izuku's eyes narrowed as he recognized the boy across the platform from him. It was the blond boy who had accosted them outside the classroom the other day. After everything else he'd been through since then most of Izuku's anger about it was gone, though he was still left with a dislike of the boy.
"Alright," Midnight called with a crack of her whip. "The rules are simple. You win by ring out, knock out, or submission. Anything goes, but if you take it too far, I will step in. Now do you both understand the rules."
"Yes, ma'am," Izuku nodded.
"Sure," Monoma shrugged.
Careful with this one, Jade hummed. He was watching from the edge of the field today, relaxing in the sun and sprawled in the grass. He's got something up his sleeve.
Izuku just internally rolled his eyes. Would you like to come fight him? Izuku asked.
No, Jade laughed. I have complete faith in you.
Izuku just shook his head.
"Begin," Midnight called with another crack of her whip.
Monoma instantly took off at a dead sprint straight towards Izuku. Izuku blinked in surprise. He'd been expecting an emitter quirk with the attitude. As Monoma reached Izuku he extended a hand to grab at him, much the same way Uraraka always did. So just the same, Izuku smacked Monoma's wrist and diverted his hand away.
"Ha!" Monoma exclaimed as he leapt back. So, it was skin contact and not in his palms. "Now I have your quirk you fool!"
Izuku tilted his head in curiosity. His quirk? Did that mean he had one.
"Cocky assholes like you always think their quirks make them so special," Monoma spat. Then his face twisted in confusion. "Wait, why didn't I get it? What did you do?"
Izuku sighed. So, he really didn't have a quirk. What a time and place to have that finally confirmed.
Monoma screamed in rage as he leapt towards Izuku again. This time Izuku grabbed the boy's wrist. He quickly swept his ankle, spinning him in the air and pinning him with his arm twisted behind him.
"Damn it," Monoma cursed, the words distorted as his face was pressed into the ground. "I can't lose to you 1-A assholes."
Izuku realized to late what he was doing. Monoma ripped himself forward, trying to tear himself out of Izuku's grasp. He only succeeded in dislocating his shoulder. His scream of pain rang through the stadium and sent ice through Izuku's veins.
"Monoma, can you move?" Midnight called.
Monoma panted for a moment before quickly shaking his head.
Midnight cracked her whip. "Monoma Neito is unable to move. Midoriya Izuku wins!" she announced.
Izuku instantly released Monoma. He felt a pang of sympathy for him as his arm hit the ground and he flinched in pain.
"I'm sorry about your shoulder," Izuku told him with a bow as Monoma stood up.
"What?" Monoma asked through his teeth, face contorted with pain.
"I did not imagine you would fight against the hold. I can heal it if you like," Izuku offered.
"And what? That's supposed to make us all peachy?" Monoma asked hotly.
Izuku shrugged. "I merely wished to correct a wrong," he explained.
"Fine," Monoma spat.
Izuku stepped forward and placed a hand on Monoma's shoulder. "Heal," he commanded.
He felt the joint pop back into its socket beneath his hand and was pleased to watch the pain melt away from Monoma's features.
Izuku stepped back once the healing was done and gave a small bow. He left without another word.
Izuku watched from the stands as his classmates battled each other. It was a rather intense spectacle, but all things considered it progressed perhaps predictably.
Todoroki froze Sero in place, though it was with a much more controlled burst of ice than Izuku had expected. Iida was toyed with by the support department girl until her time was up and she stepped out of bounds. Mina avoided Aoyama's laser and got in close enough to knock him out with a single punch. Momo produced a bright light and reduced Dark Shadow to little more than a songbird before shoving Tokoyami out of bounds. Shinso called out to Shiozaki and when she responded sent her walking herself out of the ring. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu entered a battle of attrition that Kirishima managed to win by the skin of his teeth. Uraraka grabbed Kendo's enlarged hand and threw her weightless opponent directly out of bounds.
Izuku made his way back down to the field and faced off against Todoroki. Todoroki was staring at him, but it wasn't the same hostile stare he had been directing his way all of yesterday. It was filled with much more curiosity and perhaps confusion this time, his face neutral as his eyes danced with emotion.
"You both know the rules now," Midnight called to them. "Are both competitors ready?"
"Yes ma'am," Izuku nodded.
"Yes," Todoroki responded shortly.
"Then begin!" Midnight decreed with another crack of her whip.
Izuku decided to wait and see what Todoroki was planning. As a result, the two of them stood there starring at each other for a moment, neither moving to begin the fight.
"I haven't gotten to speak to you since yesterday," Todoroki commented.
"Was there something on your mind?" Izuku asked curiously.
"Why did you do it?" Todoroki asked him. "Why did you stand up to him?"
"Because it was the right thing to do," Izuku answered without hesitation.
Todoroki stared at him again, his eyebrows furrowing as he stared. "You're a strange person Midoriya."
With that Todoroki turned and walked out of the ring, leaving Izuku thoroughly confused.
"Todoroki has left the ring, Midoriya wins!" Midnight declared.
Izuku was still thinking over his strange match with Todoroki as he returned to the stands. The whole thing was weird.
"Congratulations Midoriya!" Uraraka cheered as he sat down in the seat beside her.
"Thank you," Izuku said with a bow of his head. He took a moment to look around for Momo.
"Looking for Yaomomo?" Uraraka asked.
Izuku gave a single nod, really hopping he was hiding any hint of a blush that threatened to show itself at how easily he was read.
"She went down to the locker room to prepare for her next match already," Uraraka explained.
"And in a burst of speed Iida has pushed Ashido directly out of bounds!" Present Mic called.
Izuku looked back to the field to find Iida helping back up a disappointed looking Mina.
"That was quick," Uraraka laughed.
Izuku could only nod. The whole tournament seemed to be whipping by at breakneck speeds.
"Young Midoriya," the familiar voice of Toshi called. Izuku turned to find Toshi standing at the entrance to their section. "May I have a word with you?"
"Sure," Izuku nodded.
He ignored the stares of his classmates as he followed All Might out into the passageway. It was empty back here; the general public not being allowed in order to keep the students from getting overwhelmed and delayed.
Toshi laid a hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"Are you all right my boy?" Toshi asked. He had a concerned look on his face as he looked down at Izuku.
Izuku nodded. "Yes, I'm fine Toshi," he assured him. "I've calmed down now."
"That's good," Toshi sighed. "Last time I saw you that upset Jade threw me at the faculty."
"Sorry about that," Izuku said with a small chuckle as he scratched nervously at the back of his head. He didn't necessarily regret calling out the staff, but he'd been rude to Toshi, and that wasn't really fair to him.
"Not at all my boy," Toshi waved him off. "I was actually hoping to get the chance to speak with you once this was all said and done."
"Okay," Izuku nodded. "Is it about anything in particular?"
"Just an idea I had," Toshi told him.
"Okay," Izuku agreed again.
"Just stop by the teacher's lounge after the awards ceremony," Toshi instructed. "I'll meet you there."
Momo had managed to defeat Shinso by the time Izuku had returned to his seat. Uraraka was already in the middle of throwing a weightless Kirishima out of the ring, so Izuku decided to simply head straight down to the ring lest he miss his match. It was a smart decision, as he made it right as Present Mic was calling for both him and Iida.
Izuku walked out onto the field. He and Iida watched each other as they approached, neither's eyes going to the crowd that cheered around them.
"I'm sorry Midoriya," Iida called as they walked up the concrete steps. "I'm afraid I must make my brother proud. I will not be losing."
"I will also be giving it my all," Izuku promised.
"Good," Iida commended with a stern nod.
"Competitors, are you ready?" Midnight called.
"Yes ma'am," Izuku and Iida nodded at the same time.
"Then begin," Midnight called with a crack of her whip.
"Recipro burst!" Iida cried.
Blue flames burst from his calves as he streaked forward. Izuku was prepared for speed, but it was still surprising to have Iida moving so quickly towards him. As he got near, Iida extended his hands to grab Izuku's shoulders, but Izuku simply ducked beneath them, throwing himself to the floor and sweeping Iida's feet out from under him.
Iida hit the concrete hard, his momentum sliding him along and causing him to tumble. He didn't stop until he was far past the line and hit the wall of the stadium.
"Iida is out of bounds. Midoriya wins!" Midnight announced.
Izuku stepped out of the ring, but by the time he reached Iida he was already standing.
"Your reaction time was better than I thought," Iida sighed. He seemed disappointed, though Izuku couldn't really blame him.
"It was a good strategy, but perhaps a little dangerous given the narrow nature of the ring," Izuku said as he and Iida exchanged small bows.
"Indeed," Iida agreed as they turned and walked back into the stadium. "Will you be returning to the student section?"
"No," Izuku shook his head. "I doubt I would have much time and I'd rather watch the next match. I will remain here."
"Very well Midoriya," Iida said with another bow. "Good luck in the finals."
With that Iida left and Izuku was left alone as he stared out at the stadium. He wondered about the final and who would win. Momo was a versatile fighter, but Uraraka simply needed a single touch to claim victory.
"Izuku?" a voice called from behind him.
Izuku turned and found Momo standing in the dark passageway behind him. She looked just the same as she had this morning. It seemed the matches weren't giving her too much trouble at least.
"Hello Momo," Izuku greeted her.
"What are you doing down here?" she asked.
"I wanted to watch your match," Izuku confessed. "I hadn't considered that you would be needing to use this exit. I hope it isn't a bother."
"No, of course not," Momo shook her head.
Present Mic was calling for her and Uraraka to come to the ring now.
"I wish you the best of luck in your match," Izuku offered with a small smile.
"Thank you," Momo bowed.
Then she was gone, rushed past him and onto the field. Izuku blinked in surprise at the hasty exit, and then blinked again as the soft scent of lavender lingered in the air. He could feel Jade sigh at him.
Then the match started, and Izuku's attention was elsewhere.
Uraraka was rushing at Momo as quickly as she could, but the light of Momo's creation was already strong. By the time Uraraka made it halfway across the field Momo had a strange metal gun in her hands, wires running from the back of it to her skin. When Momo pulled the trigger a jet of pure fire launched from the gun and sprayed a line between the two. Uraraka stopped dead in her tracks. Momo slowly advanced, continuing the jet of flame and driving Uraraka backwards.
In a bold move, just before she was driven completely out of bounds Uraraka used her quirk on herself and leapt into the air, aiming to make it over the flames and to Momo's side of the ring. The moment she did Momo dropped the flame thrower and her quirk lit up across her skin again. She pulled a shotgun from her arm and took quick aim at Uraraka. Uraraka began to squirm in the air, but she couldn't drop her quirk over the fire that raged below her. A single shot rang out and Uraraka was sent flying out of the ring and into the stands.
"Uraraka is out of bounds, Yaoyorozu wins!" Midnight announced.
Momo sighed in relief, sagging a little before rising back up and standing tall. She looked to the audience and gave a single nod before making her way back to the entrance Izuku stood at.
"Congratulations," Izuku greeted her as she entered the shadows of the passageway.
"Thank you," she nodded. "Now all that's left is the final."
"I suppose."
"How long do you think they'll give us?" Momo asked.
"While normally we would give our finalists a break," Present Mic's voice came over the speaker as if he had heard her question. "This year we still have the second years' sport's festival after this, so if Midoriya and Yaoyorozu could please make their way to the stage, we'll go ahead with our final match."
"Oh," Momo murmured.
Izuku just shrugged and turned and headed out to the field. Momo was right beside him as they walked across the green and up the concrete steps for the last time.
Izuku walked across the concrete platform to the other side, the flames having died out as they burned away their fuel and leaving little but scorches on the concrete behind. He turned and faced his opponent, and they exchanged bows.
"Are both competitors ready?" Midnight asked.
"Yes," they both acknowledged.
"Then begin!"
Izuku instantly moved. Leaving Momo time to create and plan was a sure-fire way to lose. So instead, he sprinted across the ring. He was on her in seconds, but it still wasn't quick enough. She slashed at him with a short sword and forced him to jump back and out of her range.
"Why are you holding back?" Momo asked as she began a full-frontal assault, Izuku dodging her blade as he backpedaled.
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked.
"You could have ended this in an instant with your magic," Momo explained.
"True," Izuku agreed. "Though that hardly seems fair to anyone else. Everyone wants to display their abilities and I don't want to be the one to stop them."
"Don't you want to do the same?" Momo asked him as she sliced for his ankles.
"Didn't I yesterday?" he countered as he leapt over her attack.
Momo's brow furrowed. Then the glow of creation lit up her arms. Izuku leapt backwards and away from the potential attack, flying halfway across the ring.
Momo pulled another short sword from her arm and threw it at him. It clattered to the floor not ten feet in front of him.
"Fine," she huffed. "Then how about you show them something else?"
Izuku stared at the sword, and for a moment he wondered if it was a trap. It was an incredibly clever one if it was. Izuku stepped forward, but Momo simply waited for him on the other side of the ring. He picked up the blade and found that while it was a touch front heavy it was still a fairly well-made sword.
Before Izuku could consider much else Momo was upon him and that was all he could focus on. Izuku raised his sword and the clang of metal on metal marked the match's second round. This time Izuku could do more than dodge. He and Momo exchanged blows, catching or deflecting each of their opponent's before countering with a blow of their own.
Momo proved Izuku's point from last night. With each attack Izuku realized how much more comfortable she was than him in an actual fight. She adapted her strategy and tested his defenses. Izuku met her blade each time, but he learned as he did. Her adaptability and tenacity made her formidable.
Momo huffed as she leapt backwards, but Izuku stayed close. He wasn't going to let her create. She had asked for a sword fight, and he would finish it as such. The light of creation lit up Momo's forearms. Izuku swung the sword faster than earlier and rapped the flat of his blade into her knee.
Momo cried out in pain as she fell to her knees. Izuku brought the tip of his sword to rest at the base of her throat.
They were both panting as they stared at each other.
"Yield," Izuku commanded.
Momo's eyebrow twitched before she gave him a small smile.
"I yield," Momo called loud and clear.
"Yaoyorozu has yielded, Midoriya wins!" Midnight called and reminded Izuku that he was surrounded by an audience on all sides. The roaring of the crowd, which before had faded into the background was front and center to Izuku now.
Izuku pulled his blade from Momo's throat and offered his hand in its stead. She accepted it with a smile and then raised his hand as she faced the audience. The audience reacted with a great roar of approval. Present Mic's announcements were lost in the uproar.
The medal ceremony had gone without a hitch. Izuku's gold medal still hung around his neck as he arrived at the teachers lounge. He could sense Toshi inside all alone, but he knocked all the same.
"Come in," Toshi called.
Izuku opened to find a pretty generic office space with a number of desks and a pair of couches beside a small counter space. Toshi was already sitting on one of the couches, with a pair of soda bottles on the table in front of him. Toshi motioned for him to sit and Izuku complied, though he was hesitant to drink the soda.
"Thank you for meeting with me my boy," Toshi sighed as he took a sip of his soda.
"Of course," Izuku nodded. "How was your date?"
"It was good," Toshi told him off handedly. Izuku watched as the realization of what he said hit him. Instantly he began to blush and scratch at the back of his head. "Well, I mean, of course, perhaps I should have asked, but then again-"
"Toshi," Izuku cut him off with a laugh. "I'm glad it was good."
"Ahem," Toshi cleared his throat and sat back up. "Yes. Your mother is a lovely woman."
"Now what did you want to talk about?" Izuku asked, sparing the hero any further discomfort.
"Ah, yes," Toshi nodded, his somber attitude returning. "You see my boy I've been thinking on something for some time. Do you remember what I said when we spoke with your master, after she told us of your duty?"
"You said I could be a symbol," Izuku nodded.
"Yes," Toshi nodded. He looked down at his hands, palms up in his lap. "I once thought the same about myself. I became a hero to be a symbol of the peace I wanted to bring about in society."
Toshi raised a single fist before him. "And now I want to ask you to continue that legacy," he told Izuku. He looked up, and there was a large grin on his face. "I want you to inherit my quirk."
Izuku sat there and thought through what Toshi had said. Never mind that it didn't make sense, he knew Toshi wouldn't lie about this. So instead Izuku was left trying to decide what to say.
You could accept it, Jade offered, but he knew Izuku's heart. Just as Izuku knew his in turn. Jade wanted Izuku to be safe, but Izuku had other concerns.
"No," Izuku shook his head, answering both of them. "I could never accept."
"What?" Toshi gasped.
Izuku looked him in the eye. He was sure in this. "Toshi, I took down the number two hero with a single punch," he reasoned.
"Because you found out he was a criminal," Toshi exclaimed, he sounded almost offended.
"I'm not saying I was wrong to do it," Izuku shook his head. "I'm asking if I was the one who needed to be stopped, if Jade and I decided that society was irredeemable and needed to be destroyed, who could stop us?"
"But you would never do that!" Toshi argued. He sounded angry, offended even that Izuku would suggest it.
"Toshi," Izuku sighed. "Jade and I will persist long beyond this day and age."
"What?" Toshi gasped.
Izuku raised a questioning eyebrow. "Did Nedzu not tell you?" Izuku asked. "I am ageless through my bond with Jade."
Toshi sputtered in shock, but he only stared wide eyed at Izuku.
"In five hundred years I may not be the man I am today," Izuku continued. "I would like to have faith that I will remain just and righteous, but I cannot know that. And so, I will not accept your quirk, because I believe that you are my check. You are the one who would be there to stop me. And if you're saying that you can pass on your strength, I ask that you find someone else."
Toshi stared at Izuku for a long moment before he responded. When he finally did, he seemed resolved, something Izuku was happy to see.
"Very well," Toshi nodded. "I commend you Izuku. You continue to surprise me."
"Who else are you considering?" Izuku asked.
"No one," Toshi sighed. Izuku scowled at hearing that. "Now don't give me that. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. This is important. I need to be sure."
"Well okay then," Izuku nodded. "Was there anything else?"
"No my boy," Toshi shook his head. "So, what do you say we go find your mother. We can treat her to a real Lunch Rush meal before she leaves."
"Alright," Izuku agreed with a smile.
Before they could get up, Toshi's phone began loudly ringing, his own voice declaring that 'a phone call is here!'
Toshi pulled it out and answered with a quick "Hello?"
Izuku waited, watching as Toshi's face grew paler and paler.
"I'll be there as quickly as possible," he promised.
Toshi hung up and looked like he was ready to book it out of the room at top speed. Then, as if he had only just remembered him, his head snapped to Izuku.
"Toshi?"
"I need you to come with me to Hosu."
Izuku slid out of Jade's saddle before the doors to Hosu General Hospital. Toshi landed not half a moment later.
"Come on," Toshi instructed.
He led Izuku inside where they were met by the detective who had taken their statements after the USJ incident.
"How is he Tsukauchi?" Toshi asked as they began making their way through the halls.
"He's stable," Tsukauchi responded, but his voice sounded grim. "He still hasn't woken up. He's the first victim in the area. We don't even know if Stain is responsible, but it fits too well for me to think otherwise."
"Stain?" Izuku asked.
"He's a serial killer," Tsukauchi answered automatically. He turned and looked at Izuku, before turning to Toshi with a raised eyebrow.
"He can help," Toshi told him, his voice was still tight.
Tsukauchi sighed and opened the door to a room filled with medical equipment. Laying in the bed, connected to a nearly impossible amount of medical equipment, was a strangely familiar looking blue haired man. Familiar, because Izuku would have sworn it was Iida, if not for the fact that Iida was sitting at the bedside looking like he had run all the way here.
"M-Midoriya, All Might," Iida greeted them, his voice was hoarse.
"Young Iida," Toshi greeted gently as he walked into the room. He stood beside Iida and put a hand on his shoulder as he looked down at the man in the bed. "I came as soon as I heard."
"T-thank you," Iida nodded. "I only just arrived."
"Iida who is this?" Izuku asked as he approached the bed. The man was less a mirror image of Iida up close, but the resemblance was still undeniable.
"He's my brother, the hero Ingenium," Iida explained.
Izuku hadn't heard of him, but he could still feel for his classmate. Izuku did his best not to scowl. Toshi had said he could help, but this was a hospital. He couldn't do much here.
"Don't worry Iida," Toshi assured him. "I promise you, we'll catch whoever did this. And we'll make sure your brother walks out of here."
"Toshi," Izuku snapped.
"You can do this Izuku," Toshi assured him.
"It's illegal," Izuku hissed. "You think I wouldn't spend every day in hospitals if it were that easy?"
"Ah, but I am here," Toshi announced proudly as he thrust his thumb at his chest. "And I otherize you to act on the best interest of the heroics commission."
Izuku continued to glare at Toshi. "It can't be that easy," Izuku huffed. He turned to Tsukauchi, who gave a confused shrug in response.
"P-please Midoriya," Iida begged. Izuku turned back to find his classmate in a perfect ninety-degree bow, the sheets below his bowed head wet with fresh flowing tears. "Please save my brother!"
Izuku's heart broke watching Iida. He reached across the bed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll do what I can," he promised.
Izuku went to the end of the bed and picked up the clipboard. It was bullet point basics of the prognosis. The major cause of trauma was a stab to the base of the spine. The spinal cord had been cleanly severed. The large intestine had been punctured as well. That was the cause of the major health issues. The leakage from the large intestine had turned the wound septic.
Izuku closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Repairing the damage to the body would be easy enough. But an infection of this magnitude could prove difficult. Saphira had taught him how, but he'd never done it before.
You can do this, Jade assured him. The energy requirement won't be high. Just focus. It will be over soon.
Izuku nodded. He returned to the side of the bed and held a hand over Ingenium's body. The burning energy of magic filled Izuku as he prepared himself.
"Heal," he commanded.
There was no need for a song here. Ten seconds and the spell would work, or it wouldn't. Izuku could not see the damage. He had no way of knowing if his spell was working besides the drain in his energy reserves. And then, the spell had run to completion.
Izuku took a deep breath and stepped back. There was a silence in the room as Izuku waited for anything to happen.
"Is that it?" Toshi asked after a moment. "I thought it would take longer."
"It's easier when I'm not regrowing stomachs," Izuku huffed.
"Well, it's good to know at least I didn't lose my stomach," a weak voice joked.
Everyone turned to the hero lying in the bed, who smiled shakily behind his oxygen mask.
"Brother!" Iida screamed and threw himself at the hero.
Izuku sighed in relief seeing that it had worked.
Always so quick to doubt yourself little warrior, Jade huffed.
Izuku remained silent, watching the good he had brought to this once dark room.