'Well…this is uncomfortable.' Izuku thought to himself, arms crossed against his chest as he and Todoroki glared at one another.

After the cavalry battle had ended, Todoroki had dragged him off to a hallway in order to talk privately. What he wanted to talk about exactly was unknown, and why exactly he hasn't said anything the past few minutes was also unknown. They just stood there, awkwardly looking at each other.

'Should I start? Maybe compliment his hair? Is that what he wants? OH MY GOD is he about to come out to me? I mean if he was a chick I'd probably smash but as a guy? No thanks, I'm good.'

"So, you brought me here, and neither of us have said anything for the past like, five minutes. Now what?" Izuku asked, and received no reply in return. He suppressed a growl of annoyance. "The cafeteria is probably pretty busy, and I'm starving from the past few rounds. Maybe we should grab a bite to eat before the final round begins?" He suggested. And again, he received no reply.

'Trying to intimidate me? Doesn't he know I grew up with Kacchan? I'm immune to intimidation!'

"I was overwhelmed." He finally spoke, surprising Izuku. "And it made me break the promise I made to myself a long time ago."

"You're talking about your fire side. It would've given you such an advantage these last few rounds. I've always wondered why you never use it since school began." He informed. Todoroki nodded, and brought his left hand out of his pocket to stare at it.

"Iida and Kaminari, Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami, Uraraka…none of them felt it. I don't even think Bakugo felt it. But in that moment up there, I was the only one able to truly sense your true power. You didn't even need to touch me, but I still felt it. It reminded me of something, experiencing All Might's quirk back at the USJ after you went down."

'He's trying to say something. But what?'

"We have similar quirks. It's obvious I would've reminded you of him."

"I'm saying, the power coming from you felt the same as his."

The greenettes eyes widened for a split second, before he scowled again.

'What do you know, Todoroki? What do you think?'

"Midoriya, tell me. Are you really All Might's secret love child or something?"

All of Izuku's worry vanished at the question, and was replaced with pure confusion.

'What the fuck is wrong with this guy?'

"Am…Am I being filmed right now? We're on some kind of prank show right now, aren't we?" Izuku asked, but Todoroki's glare showed that no, he wasn't joking. He was 100%, completely serious.

"Answer the question please."

"No, it isn't like that at all! We're not related and he isn't my dad. I haven't seen my dad since I was four, when he moved to the US for his job."

"Isn't like that, huh?" He questioned. "That implies there is something going on between the two of you that you aren't supposed to talk about." His eyes narrowed. "Am I correct?"

'Shit, he's more observant than I thought. Better watch myself from now on.'

"My father is the pro hero Endeavor. You must've heard about him before." He changed the subject. For some reason.

"Ranked second only to All Might, been that way for a long time. He's brutal, but gets results during combat." Izuku stated, already knowing about him. The man had a few pages in one of his earlier hero analysis books. He was pretty sure it was book number six.

"Correct. I'm connected to him, just as you're in some way connected to the current number one hero, All Might. That just gives me yet another reason to beat you."

"You're speaking as if you don't have a choice."

"It's because I don't." He stated coldly. "My father is ambitious, and he's aiming for the top. He used his power to make a name for himself as a hero. But he's never been able to best All Might, who is the living proof of his failure."

'Sounds like Kacchan but worse.'

"He's still at it, trying to take down All Might through any means necessary. One way, or another."

'He's building up suspense so he can drop a knowledge or truth bomb on me. Why not just come out and say it?' Izuku thought.

"Have you ever heard of quirk marriages?" He questioned, causing the greenettes eyes to widen.

"They taught us that back in middle school. They were a real problem when quirks first appeared, and the sole purpose was to create a powerful child." Izuku stated, finally realizing the truth. "And your father-"

"Bought my mothers relatives to get his hands on her quirk. And now he's raising me to surpass All Might."

"He's trying to live and accomplish his failed dreams through you. He sees you as a means to meet an end rather than a child." Izuku had to suppress his anger. The thought of anyone, much less a hero, doing such a thing was despicable. To make and use a child for such a petty reason? It was awful!

"It's so annoying, and I refuse to be as such." He growled. "Every memory I have of my mother, I only see her crying. I remember, she called my left side unbearable. I can still feel the boiling water being poured on my face." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "It's why I decided to pick a fight with you, the one who closest resembles All Might in this class. I want to show him what I'm capable of doing without his damn fire quirk. I'll show him I reject his power, and that I can make it to first place without using it."

'Our lives are so different. His sounds so terrifying. It's weird how we're aiming for the same thing despite different childhoods, despite different reasons.' Izuku thought, watching as Todoroki exited the hall to go outside.

"It's obvious you're connected to All Might, even if you won't tell me about it. Just know that no matter how furiously you come at me, regardless of which quirk you decide to use, I will defeat you using my right side. I can personally assure you of that."

"I can't imagine what you've gone through, and what you're going through. I've had help in the past, and continue having it here." Izuku said, thinking about All Might, Mei, and everyone else as he stared down at his shield. Him talking stopped Todoroki in his track. "In order to become like All Might and become number one, in order to keep the promises I've made to so many people, I need to be strong, and I can't lose this either. I owe it to everyone whose helped me reach this far." He took a deep breath. "You declared war on me earlier, but unfortunately for you, I've never learned how to give up. So listen to me when I say that declaration of war is being thrown right back at you. I am going to beat you, and I will throw everything I've got to make sure I do. So be prepared, Todoroki."

The half got half cold quirk user stood there for a few seconds, before continuing his walk. Izuku sighed and made his way back into the stadium. Both were unaware of a certain blond who had heard the entire thing.

(Back in the stadium: 15 minutes later)

'Why, are they, un cheerleader uniforms?!' Izuku thought to himself, trying to keep his eyes from wondering to his fellow classmates in their current attire.

Those who ended up passing round two were called out to the arena, and when Izuku walked through the tunnel, he felt his mind short-circuit at seeing the seven 1A girls in orange and white cheerleader outfits. He didn't know why they were wearing them, but he thanked whatever god existed in making them.

'Oh god please don't think dirty thoughts, think wholesome thoughts Izuku!' He pleaded to himself.

"Hey, you okay Deku? You seem pretty red." Izuku yelped as Uraraka touched his arm, looking down at her and trying not to let his eyes wander.

"I-I'm f-fine Uraraka. I-It's just, y-you know…" He trailed off, lips dry. "Pretty." He informed, unable to come up with any other words while gesturing to her.

She blinked, before her face turned the same shade of red his was. She buried her face into her yellow pompoms.

"T-Thanks Deku."

"I'm gonna throw up." Bakugo growled, stepping between the two to create distance. There was no way he was losing to Racoon Eyes!

"I'm sure you all want to conserve your stamina!" Midnight exclaimed, cutting the three off before another word could be uttered. She had been talking the whole time about how the third-round match ups were going to be picked. "I'll start with the first-place team!" She informed, holding a yellow box that read 'Lots' in black letters.

"Um, excuse me!" Ojiro called out, raising his hand before Midnight could get off the stage. "I'm sorry, but I'm withdrawing." He said, causing 1A to gasp in shock.

"You can't be serious!"

"But this is a rare chance for you to get scouted!"

"It just…wouldn't be right." He sighed. "I barley remember anything from the cavalry battle until the very end. I…I think it was the quirk of our rider?" He said, still confused over the whole thing.

'His teams rider?' Izuku thought, eyes scanning the sea of students until he spotted a familiar head of purple. His eyes met the eyes of the purple haired boy, who declared war on 1A weeks prior. The guy scowled before looking away. 'That guy again. What is his quirk? Mind control? Memory wipe? How is it activated? If his eyes meet with someone else's? Through talking with someone? Too many unknown variables, I need to keep my distance and watch him.'

"I know this is a great opportunity, and I wish I could take advantage of it. But my conscious just won't let me."

"Hold on now, give it some more thought Ojiro. This is a big decision to make after all." Izuku informed, trying to make the tail quirk user think about it before proceeding. Participating in the third round could shapen and mold his future after all!

"I have. Everything gave their all in round two, and I was just someone's puppet! I don't want to advance if I don't even know how I got here. It wouldn't be fair."

'His prides been hurt. I understand where he's coming from, but to throw everything away? To just give up? It's hard to stomach down.'

"You're making way too much of this! Just kill it in the final round and prove you deserve to be here!" Toru exclaimed, not wanting her friend to give up after making it this far.

"Yeah, what she said! I didn't do much in the second round either!" Ashido agreed.

"That's not it." He growled in annoyance and frustration. "I'm talking about my pride here! And I refuse to give that up!" He informed passionately. "Also, why are the girls dressed like cheerleaders?" He asked, causing them to blush.

'Don't question it!'

In the end, Midnight allowed not only Ojiro to drop out, but also a boy from 1B who was on Ojiro's team who more or less gave the same reason. The team in fifth place would've sent two people in as replacements, but Kendo and her team disagreed seeing as how they had been frozen the entire match. After some talking, it was decided that Tetsutetsu and Ibara would enter the third round.

After all of that the bracket was made, and revealed that Izuku would fight the very first match.

Against the purple haired kid, whose name was revealed via the bracket. Shinso.

'Of course I'm paired with the unknown variable. Well, could've been worse. I could've gotten Kacchan or Todoroki off bat.' Izuku thought to himself.

"If I had to guess, I'd say you were Izuku Midoriya, correct? Seems like we're going to war sooner than I anticipated." A voice said from behind, causing the greenette to turn. "It's a pleasure to see you again. You excited?"

'Weeks ago he said we're at war, now he's being friendly? What's the angle? Trying to see how I react?' Izuku thought, hating how he had little to no information about this Hitoshi Shinso. Wanting to test something he was about to speak, before a tail covered his mouth.

"Not this time." Ojiro growled, causing Shinso to smirk. He proceeded to walk away after that.

"Quite protective, aren't we?" Izuku asked, turning around to face the blond.

"I guess you could say that. I just don't want you falling victim to him like I did." He informed. "You can't saw a word to him."

"This is about his quirk, correct? It's activated if you talk to him?" Izuku questioned.

"Exactly, his quirk is something like mind control. It didn't activate until after I answered a question before the second round."

"So I need to keep quiet and make him unable to use it. Seems easy enough, not many things can make me tick." Izuku nodded to himself. "Of course, there's always a chance I screw up. And if I do, I'm as good as finished."

"Not necessarily." Ojiro stated. "Near the end of the battle I ended up bumping into someone, and it broke the trance he had on me. It's only a guess, but it's the best I've got."

"Thanks for the tip, but it'll do me little good seeing as how it'll just be the two of us. I can't rely on someone else helping me out." Izuku informed grimly. "I appreciate the help though, it's letting me make the unknown in this situation, known."

"I'm happy to help in whatever way I can." Ojiro smiled, before raising a fist. "This may sound selfish, but I'll say it anyway. Beat this guy, for you and me. Alright?"

"He won't know what hit him." Izuku grinned, bumping his fist against the blonds.

The time after their conversation passed by quickly. Those who didn't make it into the third round were allowed to play different games, and those who did were also allowed. While some did take part in the games, others like Izuku and Todoroki decided against it in order to conserve their strength and stamina. After a while Cementoss created a stage where the finalists would fight, and Izuku found himself in a hallway waiting to be called out.

All Might had shown up at one point and the two talked, with the former saying how proud he was of his successor for getting so far and for doing so well in the tournament. They spoke about One For All and Izuku's control, with the hero revealing the student had control over at least five percent, a decent percent in such a small amount of time.

They talked some more before there was a buzzer, signaling the fighters would be called out any second. Izuku fished around in his pocket for something.

"Oh, before I forget, can you hold onto my phone? I forgot to give it to Kacchan before I le-" Izuku cut himself off from talking after starring at his phone, and saw he had a text message from Ashido. "Ashido? What does she want?" He asked, before unlocking his phone and tapping the notification.

All Might was confused as his successor suddenly turned cheery red.

Mina Ashido

Win and you'll get another pic as a reward Was the message, and below it was a picture of Mina in her cheerleader uniform. She was facing a large mirror, smiling and winking, phone in one hand and skirt in the other, lifting it to reveal a pair of black lace panties.

Izuku took a deep breath, before turning off his phone and handing it to his hero.

"I'm kicking this guys ass." He said, before turning and walking out into the stadium, confusing the hero even more. What had gotten his successor so fired up in a matter of seconds?

(Stadium)

"WELCOME OUR FIRST FIGHTERS!" Present Mic exclaimed as they began walking out of their hallways. "WITH A WILL STRONGER THAN HIS SHIELD, WE HAVE CLASS 1A'S CLASS REP, IZUKU MIDORIYA! VERSUS! HITOSHI SHINSO FROM GENERAL STUDIES, WHO HASN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING TO STAND OUT SO YET! THE RULES ARE SIMPLE: IMMOBOLIZE YOUR OPPONENT OR FORCE THEM OUT OF THE RING! YOU CAN ALSO WIN BY MAKING THE OTHER PERSON CRY UNCLE! BRING OUT THE INJURIES BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN RECOVERY GIRL WAITING ON STANDBY! SO PUT YOUR MORALS ASIDE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO PLAY DIRTY!"

"Don't listen to him, keep the injuries to a minimal." Aizawa ordered.

"I'll stop anyone who tries to get too rough." Cementoss informed, sitting on a concrete chair off on the sidelines.

"To give up after making it this far, it's pathetic and idiotic, wouldn't you say?" Shinso asked, causing Izuku to raise an eyebrow. "In a way to test how strong your spirit is. If you know what you want your future to hold for you, you can't worry about what other people think."

'The hell is he talking about?'

"READY?!

"That money was going on about his pride earlier." He scowled.

"BEGIN!"

"But I just think he's an idiot for throwing away his chances like that." He said, causing Izuku's eyes to narrow. The greenette stared at him, and Shinso held back a smile, knowing he had gotten under his opponents' skins. But he grew worried and confused seeing the Izuku smirk.

'I would've fallen for that, had it not been for Ojiro telling me about Shinso's quirk.' Izuku thought, starting to slowly make his way across the field. 'I need to thank him again after I toss this guy out of the ring.'

'Why isn't he saying anything?!' Shinso thought, taking a step back each time Izuku stepped forward. The purple haired boy growled. 'Stupid monkey! He must've said something to him! Now what do I-' Shinso's eyes traveled up to the 1A box, where he saw a certain pink skinned girl talking to a girl with red hair. He remembered something, and it made him smile.

"Must be awesome being in the hero course, you get to meet so many people with interesting quirks. But you also meet a lot of freaks, don't you?" Shinso questioned, getting ready to finish this. "There's a few freaks in your class, especially that chick with the awful pink skin. How do you deal with looking at such a monstrosity all day?"

For a moment, Izuku's brain stopped working, and his previously emotionless self was replaced by a pure, unbelievable rage. The dragon part of him was itching to tear his opponents face off. The boy growled, anger and electricity sparking in his eyes.

"What the fuck did you just-" Izuku began to say, moving faster than before. But then, everything went black. His movements stopped as he felt something take control of his mind. 'What the? I-I can't move!'

"Bingo." The general studies kid smirked.