Authors Note: Yes Grand Torino knows about the pool, it was active when he worked at UA. He made out like a bandit betting that Toshinori would not end up with anyone. He knew that the boy was too focused on getting better and still mourning the death of his mentor. I still own nothing.

Hospitalized

When they reached the hospital they were separated. None of them wanted to separate, they were all still quite shaken up after the fight with Stain but the nurses reassured them that they would be next door to each other. That was Manual and Grand Torino's insistence. If Stain escaped custody, though that seemed unlikely, and came after the kids who'd caught him no one wanted to have them separated, as it would make it harder to defend them all. Native, Shoto and Iida were all wheeled into the same room. The next few hours was a swarm of doctors and nurses, stitches and healing quirks to speed their recovery. Once they were all dressed in the hospital gowns, their wounds wrapped and healing, only then were they allowed to ask questions.

"How's Midoriya?" Iida beat Todoroki to the question by a second. The doctor nodded.

"The girl who was brought in with you? She's going to be fine. Her injuries were much more minor than either of yours, or Native's." The hero had been wheeled out a while back and hadn't returned. Iida nodded as Todoroki let out a breath.

"And Native?" The doctor smiled.

"He's going to be fine as well. He needs some minor surgery but he'll be alright. We're waiting for some test results for you Mr. Iida, but all told none of you should be here for more than a few days." There was a tap on the door. Grand Torino poked his head into the room.

"Do you mind if I talk to these kids for a minute doctor?" The doctor nodded to the hero.

"Of course!" He turned back to Iida. "We'll let you know as soon as your test results come through." With that the doctor turned and left. Grand Torino cast a calculating eye over the two boys.

"So the three of you together beat the hero killer." Todoroki made to speak but Grand Torino held up a hand. "Don't worry I've heard at least most of the story from Midoriya already." He shook his head. "I wish Toshinori had warned me how much of a trouble magnet that girl is." That part what whispered, like he hadn't meant either of them to hear it. Before Todoroki could ask who Toshinori was Grand Torino continued. "I thought you would like to know that her injuries were quite minor. Six stitches to the slash on her ankle, and she managed to overwork the muscles in her right arm. But she's going to be ok. The slashes from that Nomu thing weren't deep enough to need stiches, just a few bandages."

What Grand Torino failed to tell them was that she was exhausted. He had visited her as soon as the doctors allowed it. He couldn't not check on her, after all he felt it was his duty to look after her, make sure she could live up to the legacy she had taken on. She had been so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, but she'd told him everything she could. She reminded him quite a bit of Toshinori but she also remined him of Nana Shimura. All three of them had a kind of light inside them that shone out when they smiled. He had a theory that all of the possessors of One for All had that light. But he only had a sample size. There had been eight holders of this quirk, now nine with Toshinori's successor. She had drifted off to sleep as he left the room. He would hazard a guess that she had used One for All a bit strenuously. She had only figured out that she had to let if flow though her entirely that morning after all.

"She's sleeping now. I suggest you two should get some sleep as well. There are several pros on guard. No need to worry." With that he slipped out of the room, leaving the boys alone with their thoughts. Iida spoke first.

"I'm glad neither of you were injured too extensively." Todoroki nodded.

"I'm glad you're alright too. But there's one thing I can't figure out." Iida nodded for him to continue. "Stain saved her. That Nomu was getting away, there was no way for us to stop it without risking her. But the Hero Killer saved her. Why?" Iida nodded.

"I had forgotten that you showed up after that." Todoroki raised an eyebrow at him. The room was dark but he could make out Iida's face in the light of a streetlamp outside the window. He looked contemplative.

"The Hero Killer said he believed she was worthy of being a hero. That she was worthy of living." Todoroki stared at him. Iida shook his head. "She showed up in that alley because she had a hunch. He was seconds from killing me. She saved me. Refused to run, stood to defend myself and Native. I begged her to run, but she… She said something All Might said. That getting involved when one doesn't have to is the essence of being a hero. It was after that that Stain said he refused to kill her."

Thinking about it Stain had every opportunity to kill Midoriya the second time he'd managed to paralyze her. Todoroki had done his best to defend her but he couldn't move away from Iida and Native and risk them being killed. Once he'd paralyzed her Stain had left her alone. They fell silent for a moment.

"He's right about one thing." Iida looked up at Todoroki who was staring at his left hand. "She is a hero, through and through." Iida nodded.

The morning after Stain's capture Grand Torino made a phone call.

All Might picked up on the third ring and spewed blood at the voice on the other end of the line.

"You should have warned me about Izumi Midoriya, Toshinori." Their conversation was short. Grand Torino had chastised him for not telling her more about One for All. He needed to tell her everything he knew. There was a very good chance that All for One was behind the league of villains. She needed to be prepared. Before he hung up though he made one final request.

"Put 4,000 yen down on that Todoroki boy and Midoriya ending up together by the end of the year. I know the pool is still active Toshinori don't argue. We can split the winnings at the end of the school year."

He wasn't the only one making a phone call though. After being debriefed and reprimanded slightly by the Chief of Hosu Police Todoroki had slipped out of the room and called his sister.

"Shoto! I was so worried about you! One of dad's sidekicks called yesterday. He said you'd gotten into a fight with the Hero Killer! Please tell me you're alright!"

"I'm fine sis. Just a couple of stitches." He paused. The official story that was being put out was that Endeavor had saved the day, finding and defeating the Hero Killer. The news had gotten footage of the street when Stain had killed the Nomu and saved Izumi, so the pros let out a story that the students present had simply been there on their internships. That, aside from what they couldn't cover up, the students hadn't been involved in the fight at all. But Todoroki looked around quickly, checking that he was alone, and told his sister everything. There was a pause in the conversation as she processed everything he'd said.

"I'm so glad you're ok Shoto!" He nodded, hesitated and spoke again.

"You said I could talk to you about anything."

"Of course."

"I think… I think I like her."

"This Midoirya girl?" Shoto could hear the smile in his sisters voice.

"Izumi, yes." The name felt right on his tongue. "I don't know what to do about it though."

"Well the first step is admitting your feelings to yourself. You've done that. The next step is figuring out what you want to do about it." Shoto frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to pursue this girl, if so how? You could be open and just tell her how you feel, though I would wait a bit. A big scare like what you all had last night can rile up emotions." Shoto sighed at his sister's words.

"I know. When I thought Stain was going to kill her, or she was going to be carried away by that Nomu I was terrified. It was like I couldn't breathe."

"Sounds like you've got it bad Shoto." He nodded looking back down the hall at the room Izumi was currently in, talking to Iida.

"I suppose I do."