Izuku mutters with his kick coming down, "I wasn't prepared for this new level of speed."

Bakugo grunts as Izuku's kick landed in his crossed arms. Izuku jumps back and continues muttering, "Going from a continuous five percent to eight percent isn't a dramatic change in the long run. But with that slight difference, just for an instant..." Bakugo ends up sliding away from the force.

Bakugo mutters, "You passed me." Bakugo shoots forward with an explosion.

Izuku with Full Cowling now at eight percent runs forward as well.

Both Bakugo and Izuku yell as they go forward and collide with each other. Izuku being faster and a bit more precise as well. Izuku almost hits Bakugo's face with a kick missing by just an inch. Bakugo uses a big blast to force Izuku back making a yelp come from Izuku. Bakugo is also forced backwards with a grunt and windows around them shatter.

Bakugo mutters, "My timing was off on that hit. He kicked into a higher gear."

Once Izuku landed he shoots back forward at Bakugo asking, "Is that all you've got?"

Bakugo gets ready yelling.

Izuku mutters, "I'd never admit something like this to your face. But the truth is...When I get riled up and my desire to win surpasses my desire to save someone, without meaning to, I start talking like you. You're so mean sometimes. And I hate it. But my idea of victory is so tied to the image of you and even Cara slightly in my head that, in those moments, I can't help but imitate you."

Izuku is in the air going towards Bakugo.

Bakugo jumps into the air towards Izuku muttering, "I've got the upper hand in the air."

Izuku coming down mutters, "I didn't jump without a plan. Kacchan thinks he's got a strong handle on my new Shoot Style. But I'm not nice enough to let him pummel me just to relieve a little stress. The only reason I'm using my kicks is so my arms don't get too abused. But I never said I couldn't use them at five percent."

Izuku gets ready to use his arm at five percent which has Bakugo gasp in surprise.

Izuku continues muttering, "You're the second best. That's why I want to defeat you!"

Izuku's punch connects with Bakugo's face forcing blood to come forth.

Izuku mutters, "I have to, in order to meet the expectations that All Might and Cara have for me."

Bakugo fighting it screams with Izuku still having his punch going into his jaw, "I won't lose to you!" Bakugo grabs Izuku's shirt sleeve and gets Izuku under him and using an explosion in his left hand forces them both to the ground with Izuku on the bottom.

Both are on the ground panting with Bakugo holding Izuku's face in his right hand and Izuku's right under Bakugo's left hand.

Izuku coughs.

Bakugo grunts stepping on Izuku's left wrist with his right foot and his left leg keeping Izuku restrained on the ground. Bakugo says, "That's it. We're done here - I won this fight. You have All Might's power, but even using his strength, even after making it your own, somehow you still managed to lose to me." Bakugo continues panting and then asks, "Why? How could you lose?"

Bakugo starts tightening his grip on Izuku's face causing Izuku to cough.

All Might says walking forward with me by his side, "Stop this right now. Both of you. I'm sorry. But I heard what you've said." All Might and I stop.

Bakugo stands and says, "All Might. Cara."

Izuku asks, "When'd you two get here?"

All Might walks forward again with me beside him watching them both. All Might says as Izuku sits up, "I didn't notice before. I should have."

Bakugo says looking away from everyone, "It's too late now."

I watch curiously as Izuku smiles slightly at the ground.

Bakugo asks, "Why did you pick Deku?"

Izuku gasps.

Bakugo continues, "It started when the sludge villain came, didn't it? So why him?"

All Might still walking forward says, "He was powerless. But still more heroic than anyone else. I knew you were strong. That much was obvious. You were someone who could already fight. So, I decided that he should have the chance to stand in the ring. And Cara here was my original choice but she always refused and I understand why she did that as well."

Bakugo breathes heavy and then says, "But now you know I'm weak, too. I always wanted to be like you, which meant being as strong as possible. But look what I did to you. Because I'm not good enough."

All Might and I get to both Izuku and Bakugo. I lean down and start assessing Izuku for any injuries glad to not find anything too bad. All Might says as I look over Izuku, "This is not your fault, Young Bakugo. I was always going to lose my power. You couldn't do anything to change that. You are strong. But I focused too much on your physical strength and overlooked what was important." All Might puts his bandaged hand on the side of Bakugo's head continuing, "This isn't your burden." All Might brings Bakugo's head into his chest as he says, "I apologize. Sometimes I forget that you're children."

I watch closely as Bakugo tries not to cry and then forces himself out of All Might's hands. I allow myself to stand.

All Might lets him and continues, "After being a hero for so many years, you learn a few things. Striving to be the best, like you, Young Bakugo. And caring deeply about people - about rescuing those in trouble, like you, Young Midoriya. Both of those feelings are necessary in a hero. Just ask Cara. Otherwise, they'll never truly be able to represent justice. That's why you admire his strength so much, Young Midoriya, and Cara's too as I see how you look up to her as well. And I know that's why you've always feared their heart and spirit, Young Bakugo. Now that you've laid your feelings out on the table, maybe you can understand each other. If you have mutual respect and focus on making one another stronger, I've no doubt you'll become the ultimate heroes, winning and saving people at the same time." I watch as both Izuku and Bakugo look at All Might.

Bakugo looks at the ground and says, "Dammit. That's not what I wanted to hear." I watch as Bakugo sits on the ground with his knees towards his chest. After being silent for a second Bakugo says, "You." Izuku looks up at him sharply, scared. Bakugo buries his head in his arms saying, "You had the strongest guy in the world lay the groundwork for you. Don't you dare lose again."

Izuku nods slightly and says, "I'll work harder so that I can beat you."

Bakugo sighs and sits up slightly saying, "Okay, so talk. Who knows about you two?"

All Might says, "Recovery Girl and Principal Nezu do. As well as Cara here as she's helped me train him since the beginning. As far as the other students go...Only you."

Bakugo says with his hand in his hair, "And you don't want this to get out. 'Cause that would be bed. Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. I won't tell anyone what's going on. Unlike, Deku, I can keep my mouth shut and I know Cara can as well. This will stay between us."

Izuku looking at Bakugo says, "Thanks, Kacchan."

All Might says quietly but still audible, "I don't deserve this. I should be down on my hands and knees begging for you to keep this secret for me. Yet here you are, being considerate and helping me out. Thank you."

Bakugo stands and says looking towards All Might out of the corner of his eye and looks directly at me, "I'm not doing this for you. It would just be a real pain if this got out and messed stuff up."

All Might says, "Now that it's come to this, I can explain what happened between me and Young Midoriya as well as Cara. That's only fair."

Izuku looks up at All Might shaking slightly.

And so, All Might told Bakugo the whole backstory. About the power passed down through generations in order to be used against great evil. About how he used that power to become the Symbol of Peace. How he was gravely injured, which limited his strength. And finally...how he chose his successor when his original denied him.

Once we were walking back towards Heights Alliance though we were still in Ground Beta, Bakugo says, "If this got out people'd be confused, and they'd start wondering where the power is. You idiot. What were you thinking when you first told me about it?"

Izuku grunts and sighs.

All Might says, "It was my own choice to use up the last of my abilities. I said this earlier, but...That was in no way your fault."

Bakugo mutters, "Yeah. Sure." Bakugo says audible, "It doesn't change what I have to do."

All Might looked back slightly at Bakugo from his place behind me as Izuku and Bakugo walk behind him. All Might remembers when Bakugo said, "I'm gonna end up being the number-one hero no matter what!" when he tried to comfort him about his loss against Izuku and Ochaco the second day of school.

All Might says, "True. You're right about that."

Bakugo continues, "Things aren't gonna be the same, though, Deku. You got that?"

I look back at them as I see Izuku look at Bakugo.

Bakugo says, "You've been watching me and everyone around you, absorbing what you see to get stronger. Well, I can do the exact same thing and keep getting better myself. I'll go higher than even you, Chosen One."

Izuku gasps slightly before looking down and saying, "Right, then I guess I'll just have to be better than that."

Bakugo asks, "You what?"

Izuku looking at him with fists clenched by his chest says, "I have to go higher than you."

Bakugo grunts and says, "Dammit, nerd. I just said I was gonna be the one to surpass you."

I just roll my eyes looking forward.

Izuku says, "I know! And now I'm saying that I'm gonna go beyond that level."

Bakugo says, "What?!"

I mutter, "Boys..."

All Might mutters behind me, "They've become proper rivals now. In a way that they weren't before."

The secret between me, All Might, and Izuku became a secret the four of us shared.

We finally arrived back at Heights Alliance 1-A and I knew hell was waiting for them with Dad and I would not want to be on their side of that though I was standing behind Dad when he was glaring at Izuku and Bakugo.

Izuku and Bakugo had their injuries patched somewhat and then Dad wrapped them up in his Capture Weapon and says, "You fought the night you finished the preliminary hero licensing exam? I'm glad to see that you two have so much energy."

All Might says trying to help, "Aizawa, wait, hold up with those restraints. It's my fault that they sparred in the first place."

Dad turns with his eye twitching to All Might saying, "Huh?"

Dad remembers when All Might had appeared in front of him as he was leaving from Heights Alliance, Dad had said, "Midoriya and Bakugo. Why am I not surprised to hear that." Dad had started to walk down the steps and towards All Might saying, "I understand they're at the practice field."

All Might said putting his hands down, "Yes. I wanted to catch you before you went. I've known these two since before they came to UA. And I've given the pair quite a bit of thought. Will you leave them to me for now? I'll bring them back. Though I would like your daughter to help."

I had jumped down and followed with All Might easily startling Dad though I don't think either of them realized I was on the roof as Dad mentioned I shouldn't jump from my balcony and I didn't argue with that.

Dad back in present says, "Your fault? And how is that?"

All Might started backing away slightly. Both Bakugo and Izuku yelped.

All Might goes and whispers to Dad even though I can hear clearly, "It seems Young Bakugo has been feeling like he was responsible for my retirement. He had to face the licensing exam with those pent up emotions and then his inferiority complex exploded and this happened. It's all because I didn't realize I was being negligent. This whole fight was brought about because of the failure of his teacher."

Dad grunts and releases them from his Capture Weapon and says, "I understand that they felt they had to break the rules." Both Bakugo and Izuku look up at Dad's glare as he continues darkly, "But this isn't something I can just ignore. There must be a suitable punishment. Who threw the first punch?"

Bakugo thankfully was honest as he looked to the side and says, "I did."

Izuku looking at the bed says, "I also went pretty hard. It wasn't just him."

I roll my eyes as they now deserve what they are going to get.

Dad pointing at them says, "You're both on house arrest. Four days for Bakugo, and three for Midoriya. During that time, you'll clean all the common areas in the dorm, morning and night. Plus, I want a written apology. If your injuries need to be checked out, head to the infirmary. But don't rely on the old lady's Quirk this time. Figure out a way to heal yourselves." Dad sighs and says quietly, "That's all! Go. Cara, in my room now."

I nod quickly and go knowing he probably wanted to know why I wasn't sleeping when All Might came.