"ALL OF YOU LISTENERS WATCHING AT HOME AND IN PERSON...! SAY HELLO TO YOUR CHAMPION OF U.A HIGH'S ANNUAL SPORTS FESTIVAL...!"
Momo Yaoyorozu despised her bi-weekly sessions with Hound Dog. Every conversation and session was a painful reminder of her inadequacies as a Hero in training and as a person.
Every word spoke from her mouth felt like ash on her tongue. The lies... The insecurities...
She was no hero. She was just a coward... A child.
What did All Might ever see in her? He had complimented her drive, her passion and her heart.
Momo scoffed at it all.
What drive? Cleaning a beach from pollution and working out nearly six days a week? She wouldn't have done so had it not been for the fact that she wouldn't have been able to actually inherit One For All.
Passion? Tch.
Even thinking of the word made her nauseous and angry.
What passion was there?! She had only wanted to be a Hero to escape being Momo Yaoyorozu. Not because she wanted to help people and be a symbol. All she had wanted was to be her own person and not just another successful business woman who came from wealth.
Heart? Ha!
What heart? She couldn't even believe in herself! She was just an insecure child with power that didn't even belong to her. All of the sacrifices made by her successors would amount to nothing so long as she continued to wield One For All...
Momo ignored the painful throbbing in her chest at the words. She didn't care that One For All disagreed with her...
At the end of the day, it was all true.
Momo would never be All Might. She'd never amount to something so great and powerful. She didn't deserve to wield One For All!
She didn't deserve to be All Might's successor!
How was she to be the next Symbol of Peace and Hope if she couldn't even believe in herself?!
What manner of Peace followed a coward?! What Hope could she inspire with her inadequacy?!
Momo conjured a fake smile as she bowed to Hound Dog, promising to meet with him this Friday. Her body weighed a ton and yet, Hound Dog didn't seem to notice.
Not that she was surprised. She had a knack for masking her emotions and imitating someone she wasn't.
The door closed with a quiet thud and Momo was thankful that the hallway was empty. She ducked her head, spikey hair shadowing her face as she stared at the tiles on the floor.
Her stomach churned painfully causing her to hunch over. Tears began to stream down her face and she allowed them to flow silently.
Who was Momo Yaoyorozu?
An arrogant rich girl who lacked talent? An intelligent girl who possessed uncapped potential? A powerful successor to a living legend?
Momo shook her head, chest contracting painfully as she leaned against the walls of the hallway. Her vision blurred for a moment as she lost her footing, crashing down unto the floor.
Who was Momo Yaoyorozu?
A failure. A coward. An insecure child with the weight of the world on her shoulders. A little girl playing pretend Hero.
Momo ducked her head once more, grunting as her body spiked with pain once more. Covering her mouth to muffle her cries, Momo curled in on herself as the throbbing sensation only seemed to worsen.
Who was Momo Yaoyorozu?
No one important.
Stomach acid and bile ejected through her mouth and nose as she desperately tried to cover her cries of pain. Brown-ish green liquid seeped through her fingertips, falling unto the floor beneath her while staining her pristine uniform.
Another fresh lace of pain stabbed through her chest, dangerously close to her heart and Momo could no longer muffle the cries of pain and agony.
"Yaoyorozu-san?!"
Ahh... How comforting. To be saved by an actual Hero. Someone that embodied what it meant to be a true Hero. Someone who was her polar opposite.
As Momo's head cracked onto the floors of the school, she caught a glimpse of worried emerald orbs. Emerald orbs that were surrounded by a round face, specked with cute freckles.
"Izuku Midoriya..."
"She's g-going to be okay though, right?" Izuku questioned in a worried tone as he stood next to Momo's bed, watching her sleep peacefully.
Recovery Girl frowned at the boy as she monitored Momo. Her eyes fell to the clipboard in her hands and she had to force herself from frowning further.
Everything about what was happening was...
Well, she couldn't up and tell the boy that Momo's body was deteriorating from inside out. Why exactly? Recovery Girl was still trying to ascertain the exact reason but she suspected it had to do with Toshinori passing his quirk unto her.
This was not good.
"With a bit of rest, yes." She lied through her teeth, placing her hands behind her back whilst hiding the clipboard. "Now come on sonny, don't you have somewhere to be?"
She needed to speak with All Might as soon as possible.
"No." Izuku shook his head with a frown, choosing to sit down beside the comatose girl. "I want to make sure she's fine."
Recovery Girl wanted to frown at his refusal. Stubborn boy. She knew Izuku well, or had come to known him well these past few weeks. More often than not, he himself would be sent to the infirmary or he'd send others here.
It was truly 50/50 in that regard. Izuku wasn't necessarily accident prone but he didn't know when to stop. He'd burn himself out or end his training with extreme migraines that had him comatose.
She cursed Shota for allowing the students open excess to Training Ground Gamma. Everyday she had to deal with a plethora of Class 1-A students being rushed into her office, after school hours. They were running themselves ragged and no one seemed to bat an eye but her!
Even the most tame students of 1-A would end up here. Though, not necessarily by choice but they'd come all the same, making sure that their classmates were ok.
It was as endearing as it was reckless. They were just children, damnit!
"She isn't going to magically get up and start walking, Midoriya." The retired Pro Hero huffed out, slowly waddling to her desk to grab her personal items. "Also, it is seven in the afternoon... Ms. Yaoyorozu is going to be staying overnight. Go home, boy."
The stubborn boy pulled out his phone before making a call. The dial rang twice before a voice on the other side answered. A few words were shared between the boy and, who Recovery Girl likely believed was his mother, before the boy abruptly hung up.
"My mother doesn't seem to mind." He replied slyly, shooting her a quick glance.
Cheeky little brat...
"Your class' camaraderie never ceases to astound me..." The older women bit out in a chagrined tone, gathering her personal items. "Don't mess my office up! I mean it, Problem Child!"
Izuku grumbled at the woman's words. He wasn't that bad! You set flames to a room one time and everyone thinks you're some kind of arsonist!
The door shut with a quiet click a moment later, signaling that Recovery Girl had finally left the room.
Izuku sighed quietly as he leaned over Momo's bed, resting his arms and chin on the small bars of the bed.
"What happened, Yaoyorozu-san?" He questioned to himself quietly.
VRRT VRRT!
Pulling his phone out, Izuku rose an eyebrow at the messages he was receiving. Ashido had created a group chat with himself, Yaoyorozu-san, Jiro-san, Todoroki-kun and Ashido-san herself.
There was several other group chats with various other classmates from 1-A but this particular group chat was for them specifically.
The name?
Well, Ashido-san created it and so they didn't really have a choice but to accept it. And so, the Trauma Buddies! group chat would forever live in infamy.
Ashido : u still at school, izu-kun?
Me : I'm in the infirmary with Yaoyorozu-san.
Jiro : c'mon dude... don't tell me you guys pushed it hard again? last night my mom threw a fit after finding out I was overusing my quirk everyday
Me : I was coming back from Gamma and was making my way to Hound Dog's office when I found Yaoyorozu-san kneeling on the ground and crying in pain. When I rushed to help her, she blacked out and slammed her head onto the ground. I'm making sure she's okay.
Todoroki : It's almost 8 o'clock. How long do you plan on staying and will Yaoyorozu be okay?
Ashido : omg! is she gonna b okay??? ;(
Jiro : jesus dude... did RG say what was wrong..?
Me : She said that with a bit of rest that Yaoyorozu-san will be okay but... I don't know. I get the feeling something's wrong. Yaoyorozu-san is strong. Something doesn't seem right.
Todoroki : What do you mean, Midoriya?
Me : I can't explain it but it seemed like RG was hiding something. Yaoyorozu-san seemed to be perfectly fine during Heroics today and had no problems during sparring and practice. But after a talk with Hound Dog, she's comatose and vomiting blood? It doesn't add up.
Jiro : whoa what the hell?! slow down, Midoriya! you never said she was puking up blood!!
Ashido : holy crap! ;(((
Todoroki : I highly doubt a bit of bed rest will really help Yaoyorozu if that's the case. It sounds like an internal issue. Perhaps quirk related? Did Recovery Girl say anything else about it? Yaoyorozu is the most physically fit student in 1-A. It seems incredibly unlikely that whatever is affecting her could be solved with a bit of rest.
Me : I thought so too, Todoroki-kun... And no, she didn't. She kind of avoided all my questions and only said that Yaoyorozu-san would be okay. It's not adding up.
Jiro : the only way to find out is to wait for Yaoyorozu to wake up i guess..
Me : Which is why I'm staying the night.
Ashido : mama midoriya gonna b okay with tht? ;) we all know how protective she can b... doesnt help your stayin with a GIRL allllll nightttttt
Midoriya made a face at the girl's words. He grumbled quietly to himself, typing a response while trying to keep from blushing.
He failed, obviously.
Me : Yes, she said it was fine and that she hopes Yaoyorozu-san is okay.
Jiro : let us know when she wakes up.
Ashido : yeeeeepppp! we gotta mke sure were all healthy for the sports festival! cnt let those LOSERS in 1-C try to show us up!
Me : They won't. And I will.
Todoroki: Good night, Midoriya. Update us with any more information you find out. Goodnight to you two as well.
Ashido : awwww! no personal good nights for us todo-kun???
Jiro : yea what gives? only midoriya gets a personal good night??? cmon man
Todoroki has disconnected from Trauma Buddies!
Ashido : wowwowowowowowowoow! he hates us!!!!
Jiro : smh my head. what a guy.
Me : Go to sleep you two. Good night, Ashido-san, Jiro-san.
Ashido : dawwww! a true sweetheart! can u giv me a goodnite kiss?! ;*
Jiro : LMAO! yo, give me one too dude! ;*
You have disconnected from Trauma Buddies!
Izuku shook his head with a raging blush as he pocketed his phone. Ashido teasing him was bad enough but when Jiro decides to step in and tag team him?
Absolutely not. Those two girls were too much.
Shaking his head of those thoughts, Izuku turned his gaze back on his curvy classmate. She seemed so... pale and weak. A far cry from the powerful girl he had come to known.
Momo was quite possibly the strongest student in 1-A, both physically and quirk wise. She was even stronger than Shoji-san, which was saying alot considering the boy was nearly 150 pounds heavier than her on top of being a full head taller than her. Izuku suspected she could even match Sato-san's level of physical strength but that was all conjecture on his part. He'd need to observe the girl as she weight trained to get a proper read on her strength.
To see her so weak... It was off putting to him. She was intelligent, strong and incredibly level-headed. Moreso than he was, atleast.
It seemed that with each day that passed, his string would grow thinner and thinner. It was only a matter of time until it fully snapped. He no longer had the same patience he once had in Aldera.
Perhaps he had finally grown tired of being passive in his social life. The incident with Bakugo at the beginning of the year coupled with the USJ Incident only seemed to further support this.
His bi-weekly sessions with Hound Dog were both enlightening and angering. Each week he'd learn something knew and each week he'd lose just a bit more of his patience.
Having been bullied for all of his younger life had caused his mentality and psyche to alter. It wasn't until he stared fighting back that he learned what freedom truly was.
It all circled back to his Quirk at the end of the day.
Izuku was an anxious and awkward child. He lacked self-confidence and had found it extremely difficult to form bonds and friendships. He preferred the silence and kept well alone. That all changed after he started to train with his quirk.
He became confident in his abilities. Though he continued to remain a recluse and self-isolated, he no longer dread the idea of being hurt and bullied.
If anything, he grew to welcome it. Because it meant that he could fight back. He was only ever confident with his fire.
Hound Dog had explained that his quirk was a mental crutch when growing up. One that Izuku didn't necessarily disagree with.
He felt truly alive when utilizing his flames. The familiar warmth and serenity granted to him by the heat lulled him into safety. He felt confident when channeling a torrent of flames. He felt powerful when the familiar scorch of plasma reigned from his fingertips.
He was a completely different person when utilizing his quirk and Izuku didn't necessarily see anything wrong with it. Hound Dog hadn't either, thankfully. Because if he had, Izuku would have stopped listening to the dog-like man.
His quirk and his mother were the only two constants in his life. So long as they believed in him, then he'd continue pushing forward to his goals.
Izuku sighed quietly to himself before pulling out his earbuds and connecting them to his phone. As he found some music to listen to, he reached under his chair and grabbed his bookbag. Pulling out some papers and folders, he began to finish up some assignments and homework.
As he continued his work while the minutes went by, he felt his eyes began to grow tired. Izuku stifled a yawn, leaning back in his chair before closing his eyes for a moment.
Only for a moment, he thought.
Of course, he didn't realize a moment would actually equate to nearly three hours.
Izuku awoke with a startle, nearly jumping as his classwork and books fell from his lap. He blinked in confusion for a few moments before groaning quietly and rubbing his face. Taking his ear buds out and ignoring the silence, Izuku began to slowly pack his things up as quietly as he could, trying not to disturb Momo's sleep.
"You've been here this whole time?"
Izuku did not scream like a little girl. Anyone who said otherwise, he'd annihilate them with his flames!
"Y-Yaoyorozu-san?!"
There was a brief shuffle of noise as Izuku peered into the dark, squinting his eyes to see what his classmate was doing. A quiet click followed before the room was illuminated by the bed side lamp in the infirmary.
"Hello, Midoriya-san." Momo greeted the boy casually as if she hadn't just given him a heart attack.
Izuku threw his head back with a quiet sigh before calming his racing heart. After he was sure that his heart wasn't going to explode, he placed his belongings back down on the floor before responding.
"H-Hey, Yaoyorozu-san... You feeling better?" Izuku noticed something... off about his curvy classmate. Her face seemed like it was carved from stone, blank and unreadable as she stared into his eyes.
The girl stared at him.
And stared.
And stared..
And stared...
"No, not necessarily." She finally replied, voice even and measured. Her ebony iris' bored into his with an intensity he didn't expect from the girl.
Anxiety burned within him like the flames he commanded as he replied. "O-Ohh... Do uh... Do you need anything? Water? Food?"
Momo didn't respond, choosing to turn her gaze away from the boy. Her charcoal eyes strayed towards the window of the infirmary, blankly staring out into the night sky.
When she spoke, her voice was decidedly hollow.
"Why do you want to be a Hero, Midoriya?"
Izuku was taken aback at the question. Why... did he want to be a hero?
But... But she knew the answer.
Instead of voicing his confusion, Izuku spoke quietly with furrowed eyebrows. "I want to help people...I want to be the reason a random child chooses to become a hero... That they choose to be a hero to help others because it's the right thing to do."
Izuku frowned at the disgust in Momo's eyes. He recognized the look easily. After all, it wasn't as if he hadn't been on the receiving end of it for the better part of a month since the USJ Incident.
But he couldn't understand why Momo of all people was looking at him like that. They had both suffered because of the USJ Incident. Did she just not like his answer? Or was there something deeper here that he didn't seem to understand?
"I want to help people...I want to be the reason a random child chooses to become a hero... That they choose to be a hero to help others because it's the right thing to do."
Momo's eyes darkened and she had to refrain from curling her lip. Feelings of self-loathing and anger surged beneath her veins, threatening to swallow her whole.
How could she ever hope to compete with something like that?
Izuku was the embodiment of what it meant to be a Hero. He wanted to do good in the world because it was the right thing to do. He wanted to inspire those around him to do good because it was just the right thing to do...
What could she say to that? What lies could she create to convince herself that she deserved One For All? What arguments could she make to justify keeping All Might's quirk?
She ignored the stabbing pain that emanated from her chest at her words.
It didn't matter what she felt. She didn't deserve this power. She wasn't worthy of possessing the power that had culminated from the sacrifices of others before her.
Momo released a hollow chuckle, one dead to the world as she continued to stare out into the darkness. "You really are a Hero, huh Izuku?"
She spared the boy a glance, taking note of his confusion and concern. Even now, he was worried about her.
Why was he such a selfless person? How could he be so pure? How had he come to be like this?
So many questions. Questions she didn't want to ask.
"Tell me, Izuku..." She began slowly, furrowing her eyebrows as she continued to blankly stare out the window. "If you had the strength to save everyone... would you?"
She already knew the answer.
"Why... Why are you asking me this, Yaoyorozu-san?" Izuku asked with furrowed brows.
"Humor me, Izuku."
"I... If I had the strength... Then yes. I'd do anything to accomplish that." He answered resolutely, clenching his fist while conjuring those beautiful flames of his.
They shone brightly, like a beacon in the night. A bastion of strength and hope, threatening to illuminate the darkness of the world.
Hah... It was almost like it was fate.
Momo smiled hollowly. "What do you know about All Might's quirk?"
Izuku's confused expression was amusing. "Uhh... Well, I know about as much as everyone else. It isn't public knowledge but he likely possesses an emitter quirk that augments his physical capabilities... With the basic knowledge of what he can do and everything he's shown to be capable of... It isn't as simple as a strength enhancement quirk or super speed. He's been shown to change the weather with a simple punch but has also been known to leap miles with a single jump. The shockwaves formed from his punches have crushed steel and demolished buildings... I, personally, believe he has an emitter quirk that augments his strength but on a ridiculous scale. His strength is almost otherworldly..."
Momo's smile became a bit more genuine at Izuku's words. He really did idolize the man...
No one could be All Might, that was true. When he eventually retired, the world would suffer the consequences. The beacon of hope and peace would no longer deter the nastiest of individuals this world had to offer.
Crime and death would skyrocket. It was harrowing. The knowledge that the world could change on a dime terrified Momo. She, solely, was to be the replacement to All Might's legacy.
A burden she hadn't considered before agreeing to accepting his quirk...
"You are... fairly close to the true answer, Izuku." Momo spoke quietly, bringing Izuku out of his speculative mumblings. "And yet, you're incredibly far away as well."
Izuku eyed the curvy girl strangely. "W-What do you mean, Yaoyorozu-san? Do you... Do you know something the world doesn't?"
Instead of answering his question, she responded with another question. "Tell me Izuku, do you know of a man that used to call himself 'All For One'?"
Izuku furrowed his eyebrows at the name, shaking his head negatively.
Momo idly nodded her head, slowly sitting up in the infirmary bed while continuing to stare out into the darkness. "When Quirks first began to surface, the world grew into chaos. Crime exploded as those with unique power began to abuse it. Pro Heros didn't exist in the Pre-Quirk Era... Vigilantes roamed freely, skirting the law and permanently dealing with those who would abuse their newfound powers."
"As the world progressed, with the terms Heros and Villains being coined, so too did the underworld thrive. Society flipped on its head, forced to pick the pieces up as men and woman turned on one another. Prejudices and racism ran rampant, becoming even more violent as society shunned those who were different. Those with mutation quirks were vilified by society, villainized for something out of their control..."
She paused for a moment, closing her eyes as she spoke softly. "Society became nothing more than a bloody war ground as those with mutational quirks fought back against their oppressors. Hundreds of thousands suffered due to their genes. Society very nearly collapsed due to a single man. One who fanned the flames between those without quirks and those with them. That man..."
Momo slowly opened her eyes before shifting her gaze to Izuku. "Called himself 'All For One'. He possessed a quirk that allowed him to take away and give quirks to others... For those who wished to become 'normal', he granted them their wish. He took their quirks, forcing them into servitude. Vice versa to those who didn't possess a quirk and wished to have one..."
Momo bowed her head as she continued. "You're wondering, 'What does this have to do with All Might's Quirk?', aren't you?" When he gave her a hesitant nod, she continued. "All For One possessed a younger brother... A brother, who at the time, did not seemingly possess a quirk. Due to All For One's exploits, the younger brother detested his villainous sibling. But he couldn't properly fight against his brother, who had amassed so many powerful quirks."
"Like the twisted man he was, All For One gifted his brother with a quirk that would stockpile power in his body. In retaliation, the younger brother fought against All For One. He failed in his endeavor to eliminate his older brother, trusting in others to finish what he couldn't start..."
Here, Momo laughed in a bitter manner, shaking her head. "What All For One hadn't known, was that his younger brother actually did have a quirk... The opposite of his own actually. The man had the ability to transfer quirks to others... His stockpiling quirk managed to somehow merge with his original quirk and the rest..."
Momo watched as Izuku slowly began to connect the dots. His analytical mind pushed into overdrive as he mumbled and muttered quietly, managing to make sense of the story.
"T-That... That would explain... So many things..." Izuku began to chew on his thumb for a minute before suddenly coming to a startling realization. "You'd only know this... If you were..."
Momo's smile only seemed to grow more hollow. "Hah... That analytical brain of yours is second to none..."
Izuku wasn't smiling. Momo supposed he had no reason to.
"All Might's real name is Toshinori Yagi." Momo spoke quietly, staring directly into her classmate's eyes. "You remember him, don't you?"
Izuku idly nodded his head, face hardening as he stared into Momo's eyes. "All Might passed his quirk unto you, didn't he?"
Momo glanced away from the teen, nodding her head. "Yes... For the last two years I have possessed the quirk known as One For All..." Momo lifted her arm up before a pink glow emanated above her skin. Her arm bulked up significantly, a pink sheen of energy coating the appendage. "I possess the original quirk designed to fight back against All For One... A man who very nearly killed All Might himself years ago..."
Izuku furrowed his eyebrows before shaking his head "W-Wait! What do you mean... That All For One guy was still alive after all those years?! The guy would have been over a hundred years old!"
Momo sighed to herself quietly. "He managed to keep himself alive, likely with a quirk that rendered him ageless, or something to that affect. However, while All Might had defeated the man, he had been mortally wounded by All For One. As the years have passed, All Might's power has began to deteriorate. He can only use a fraction of his original power and has been limited to barely three hours of strength a day..."
Izuku was quiet for a moment as he processed the girl's words. Another sudden realization hit him directly after her words.
"So... That day when we were at USJ? When Thirteen held up three fingers..."
Momo looked away, nodding her head. "All Might wasn't there because he had used up his power earlier that day..."
The room became unbearably hot not a moment later. Momo's gaze snapped towards her classmate, watching as flames swirled around Izuku, spewing from his body dangerously.
The sheer anger on the boy's face...
"We suffered... because All Might... used..." The green haired teen grit his teeth angrily as his flames continued to roar. "Tell me... It's a lie!"
Faced with such anger, Momo did the one thing she could.
"I... I'm sorry, Izuku..." She mumbled quietly, wincing as the boy's flames only seemed to grow hotter. Sweat began to cascade down her face and she was surprised that the fire alarms hadn't gone off. "Izuku please... It's... It's getting extremely hot...!"
At Momo's words, Izuku's flames died out. Those beautiful flames of his sputtered out weakly as tiny wisps of ember's wafted in the room.
"Why..." Izuku mumbled to himself, leaning forward in his chair and covering his face with his hands. "Why did we have to suffer...? I-It could have been avoided..."
Momo could offer the boy no comforting words. She had processed her anger with her Sensei the day it had happened. She had yelled and ranted, belittled the man for his short thinking and recklessness. And when her voice grew hoarse, she had cried and sobbed.
Momo couldn't imagine the emotions Izuku was feeling. To have such an idealized vision of a person you respected so much, to the point of obsession, had to be a rude awakening.
Izuku's entire philosophy and goal in life was to imitate All Might. To be like All Might. To know that that indomitable pillar of strength was nothing more than a facade...
It had to sting something fierce.
Momo did not speak, allowing Izuku to process everything he had heard. She would worry about revealing All Might's weakness another time.
She could trust Izuku.
A tired sigh escaped Izuku as he leaned back in his chair, covering his face with his arm. "This is... so much to take in..."
Momo only remained quiet, knowing it was only going to get worse.
"There is a reason..." She started quietly, gaining the boy's attention. "I've told you this, Izuku." When the boy uncovered a portion of his face, Momo continued.
"I want you..."
Here, she hesitated for the briefest of moments, clenching the thin fabric that covered her body. She glanced over towards the green haired teen before opening her mouth and speaking.
"I want you... to take All Might's quirk from me..."
"I want you... to take All Might's quirk from me..."
Izuku's mind grinded to a halt as he processed Momo's request. The desperation in her tone... The pain in her eyes...
"Y-Yaoyorozu-san..." He stuttered, removing his arm from his face. "I-I c-can't do that..."
Momo's expression only grew more desperate, eyes watering as she spoke frantically. "Please! I'm begging you, Izuku! Please! Please, take One For All! I'll do anything...! I swear it!"
Izuku was taken aback by the girl's words. Her tone bordered on manic, charcoal eyes wide as she stared at him like some deranged follower belonging to a cult.
"Money?!" She pleaded hopelessly, gesturing with both of her hands toward the boy. "I can give you anything...! I swear! Fame?! Power?! Notoriety?! What do you want?! I can give you it all! Just please! PLEASE!"
Izuku found himself backing away from the now, manic girl. Gone was the confident and calm girl he come to know. Her bloodshot eyes, stained with tears, wide and crazed as she stared at him... No, through him...
As if he was some kind of prophet. A God that would whisk away her problems and bestow joy upon her.
"Momo..." He whispered quietly, slowly standing to his feet while back stepping away from the girl. "I... I can't do that..."
Her expression only grew more crazed, causing his heart to clench tightly at the sight.
"Yes, you can!" She gestured wildly once more, fresh tears falling down her face. "All you need is my DNA! It's simple! It would only take a second! You wouldn't even feel the transfer, Izuku!" Dilated pupils overshadowed the whites of her eyes as she shifted her body towards him, swinging her legs over the bed.
The action caused Izuku to step away once more, now becoming cautious of the manic girl. If Momo was aware of his discomfort and worry then she did little to truly show it.
"I'm begging you, Izuku!" And though tears continued to stream down her face, Momo didn't seem the least bit sad or depressed. She looked... mad. Crazed. "Relieve me of this burden! Take it away! I beg of you! I can't... I can't be the next All Might! I won't...! I can't...! What do you want?!"
When he hesitated to answer, her expression shifted fiercely. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" She screamed hoarsely, falling out of the infirmary bed while landing harshly on her knees.
Izuku's knee jerk reaction was to rush to the girl's side, making sure that she'd be okay. However, he refrained from doing so, truly worried for his safety and what his friend would do in her mental state.
"M-Momo... I need you to calm down..." He slowly rose his hands, palms facing the girl as she struggled to rise to her feet. "L-Let's just talk, o-okay?"
"No..." Momo denied while shaking her head, struggling to rise to her feet due to her weakened state. "I don't want to talk, Izuku... I want to be free...!" She rose her eyes to his, staring into his eyes as if he was her savior. "You want to be a Hero, right Izuku? Right?! Then please...!"
The curvy girl bowed her head, slamming her forehead onto the ground with a harsh crack.
"...save me, Izuku..."
Izuku's heart clenched painfully at the sight, hearing the sheer hopelessness and desperation in the girl's voice.
"A-All Might chose you, Momo... W-Who am I to-"
"FUCK what All Might chose! He was a fool for choosing me! I don't deserve this Quirk!" The girl screamed harshly, throat scratching painfully as she raised her bloodied face, pinning Izuku in place. "I don't want this anymore...! It can't be me...!" She clenched her eyes tightly while shaking her head side to side. "I'd rather die than continue on living with this Quirk..." Her eyes shifted dangerously, putting Izuku on edge as she continued to speak.
"Izuku... You wanted to be a Hero right?" Her tone caused the hairs on the back of Izuku's neck to stand on edge. There was a certain level of calmness to them that chilled him to his bone, rooting him in place. "Y-You wanted to save people, right? Because it was the right thing to do? T-That's what you said right? Right?!"
Izuku chose to remain silent, desperately trying to think of anything that could diffuse this situation.
A pink glow emanated from Momo's exposed arm. The girl reached towards her arm before pulling out an item that was distinctly small with a handle. A glint of steel followed shortly after, briefly reflecting the light of the moon.
Izuku's eyes widened to saucers upon noticing the knife in Momo's hand. His blood turned to ice as he shifted his gaze to her broken smile.
Momo released a laugh that caused Izuku's stomach to churn. The manic glint in her eyes made him nauseous. His blood pounded through his body as wisps of flames stretched along his fingertips.
"I took those people's lives..." Momo spoke quietly, haphazardly wielding the blade in her hand. "The recoil from the sniper... I still feel it. I still feel those ejected casings... Burning my skin as I loaded round after round..." The girl shook her head with a smile, tears falling down her bloody face. "The smell of gun powder... The harsh CRACK of the bullet..." A quiet grunt escaped her lips as she finally managed to rise to her feet.
"What kind of Hero am I, Izuku?" She asked as she tilted her head, spikey hair covering a portion of her face as she haphazardly twirled the blade between her fingers.
Izuku swallowed the saliva in his mouth as he spoke calmly. "Momo... Drop the knife, please."
"No... No, I don't think I will..." She responded wistfully, slowly shaking her head. "You're going to have to make me, Izuku."
"Momo... Please. Don't make me do this." Izuku pleaded with a strained expression as flames began to surface along his hands and arms.
Momo smiled.
It was a rather... sad smile.
"One way or another... You're gonna be a Hero, Izuku."
Momo took a step forward, which in turn caused Izuku to take a step backward.
"Momo, please... Put the knife down..."
Another step. Another retreat.
"I need you... to save me, Izuku."
"I can't take what rightfully belongs to you, Momo... If you don't believe in what All Might says then believe in me... Please, Momo..."
"It doesn't belong to me... I don't want it anymore... Take it, Izuku... Grant me the peace I want..."
Izuku's back impacted against the wall but he didn't dare take his eyes off the girl. "You're wrong, Momo. That quirk is yours now... It belongs to you... It's a part of you."
His words caused the girl to briefly pause in her approach. "My only Quirk... Is Creation..."
Izuku shook his head. "You're wrong, Momo! One For All was entrusted to you by someone who believed in you! Toshinori gave you that quirk...! Not All Might! He believed in you! It doesn't matter why! All that matters is that it's yours!"
Momo's face twisted in pain at Izuku's words. "I don't deserve it..."
"Yes, you do!" He exclaimed fiercely, staring into her eyes. "You're the strongest person in 1-A! I've seen the work you've no doubt put in to master that quirk! You're one of, if not the, smartest person in class! You're quick on your feet and learn from your mistakes! You want to be a Hero to do good, don't you?!"
Momo just shook her head with tears in her eyes. "I wanted to be a Hero to escape from my family name, Izuku... What about that screams Heroics to you...?"
Izuku shook his head with a frown. "Maybe when you were younger, sure! But now?! Is that still how you feel?!"
Momo's eyes strayed away from the teen as she remained silent, clutching the blade between her hands with white knuckles.
"Why are you lying to yourself?! You deserve your spot in 1-A just like the rest of us! What makes you so undeserving of One For All?! What makes you think you can't be as great as All Might?!"
"Y-You wouldn't understand!" She screamed back fiercely, hands shaking as she clutched the blade between her hands. "I-I just don't!"
"Then help me understand, Momo!" Izuku yelled back in response, matching her ferocity. "Let me help you!"
"Why?!" She screamed angrily, using one of her hands to wipe the stray tears from her eyes. "Why can't you just take it away?!"
"You said it yourself, Momo..." Izuku responded calmly, taking a cautious step towards his classmate. "You need someone to save you... I'm going to be that person." He continued to slowly approach the crying girl, speaking calmly as he did. "Drop the knife, Momo. Just talk to me, okay? Let me help you."
Momo's eyes frantically flicked from the blade in her hand to Izuku's approaching form. "E-Even after all this...! You still want to help me?!"
"Of course I do." He responded firmly, continuing to close the distance with the girl. "Why wouldn't I?"
Momo could only laugh at the incredulity of it all. "You're... You're something else, Izuku..." The knife slowly fell from Momo's hands, clattering on the ground uselessly.
As Izuku slowly reached the manic girl, he kicked the blade away before gently grabbing ahold of Momo's shaking hands. He slowly guided her back to the infirmary bed, gently coaxing her to lay back down and rest.
"R-Rest, Momo." He glanced around the room, slowly rising to his feet before searching for some bandages and alcohol. He returned to her side a moment later, first aid supplies in hand. "I'm going to clean that gash... Hold still, okay?"
The curvy girl allowed Izuku to do as he pleased, energy spent after her manic breakdown. She hissed quietly as the boy dabbed her forehead with a cotton ball. The stinging bite of the alcohol burned harshly, sobering her thoughts.
With each second that passed, Momo's self-loathing only grew. Shame filled her heart as she clenched her eyes shut, unwilling to look Izuku in his eyes.
She... She had almost...
What had she been thinking?! Was she truly so gone that she'd attack a friend?! What the fuck?!
"...I'm so sorry..." She whispered quietly, tears falling down her cheeks as Izuku continued to dab the gash in her forehead.
"L-Let's keep this between us, yeah?" He responded softly before applying the bandages to Momo's forehead. "Besides, I've dealt with worse."
"You have?"
"No." Izuku replied almost instantly, managing to crack a smile on Momo's face. He double checked the bandages on the girl's face before nodding his head and returning to the seat beside the bed. "Get some rest, Yaoyorozu-san."
A tired yawn escaped the girl's lips as she turned her head towards the boy, eyes growing soft as she met his gaze. "Back to formalities, huh?"
"I-If you prefer, I can call you M-Momo from now on."
"I would like that, Izuku."
"Good night, Momo."
"...thank you..."
Izuku only pursed his lips at the girl's quiet response. He monitored her for the next ten minutes, making sure she had actually fallen asleep before allowing himself to rest as well. Bowing his head with a tired sigh, Izuku proceeded to cover his eyes with one hand.
Who did the Heros rely on when the day was over? Who was there for them when the stress and fatigue could no longer be ignored? Who was to be their Hero when they needed it most?
Was it a blessing to always stand strong in the face of adversity? Or was it a curse?
Was a strong human truly strong because they possessed strength? Or were they truly strong because they were human?
These were questions that Izuku often wondered about. Things that nagged at his brain, keeping him up at night as he stared at the ceiling of his bedroom.
Was the path of a Hero just a glorified fairytale? A golden brick road that led to fantasies of grandeur and ecstasy?
Or was it something more sinister? A winding path that only truly led to one conclusion?
What was his purpose in life? To bring change? To do good? To inspire others to follow in his footsteps?
Izuku didn't truly know...
The only thing he could do was place one foot in front of the other. If others chose to follow, then he'd gladly lead them. All he truly had to do was take the first step.
Was tonight's event a precursor to his future as a Hero? Could he talk someone off the ledge? Did he have the stomach to best the horrors of the human psyche when at their lowest?
He... He didn't know.
Perhaps that was for the best.
All he did know was that he couldn't give up. An obstacle was only an obstacle until it wasn't. Everyone failed in life. No one was perfect.
Izuku knew that more than anyone. He'd never strive for perfection. But he was devoted all the same.
What was that old saying...?
Devotion inspires bravery, bravery inspires sacrifice, and sacrifice...
A fitting quote for those who chose to risk their lives for a better tomorrow.
Izuku released a quiet yawn before pulling out his phone and texting a response to the group chat.
Me : Momo is going to be okay. She's just been incredibly stressed lately. Take it easy on her tomorrow guys.
Izuku stared down at his message for a few moments before sighing quietly and leaning back against his chair. He closed his eyes a moment later, trying to forget everything that happened tonight.
Of course, it didn't happen but it was the thought that counted.
The days came and went. Classes continued on as usual for 1-A as the U.A Sports Festival neared. Classwork, homework, assignments, Heroics and training.
It was an ever repeating cycle for the twenty students. Training Ground Gamma had basically become their second homes as they continued to train and experiment with their quirks after school hours.
Some took their training alot more seriously than others but all that mattered was that the effort was being put in. Some of the students preferred to train by themselves, i.e Bakugo whilst others, like the patented Trauma Buddies!, trained together as a group.
Despite knowing it was a competition that would end in a tournament style bracket of 1v1's, the students of 1-A didn't seem to care. They shared tips and tricks with one another, offered aid where it was needed and shared information about their abilities when needed.
"You guys nervous?" Jiro questioned as she sat atop one of the various tables provided in their waiting room.
"Only a lil!" Mina answered in her usual carefree tone. "There's gonna be like, millions of people watching! No pressure!"
Izuku made a choking noise at the reminder. "M-Millions?!"
"Wow. You'd think the guy who was the most obsessed with Heros would know the exact number of people who tune in to watch the U.A Sports Festival." Jiro remarked with a smirk.
"Approximately 10 million viewers, usually peaking around 35 million in the Grand Finals. This is all cable and live service and doesn't include streaming numbers." Izuku answered almost robotically, causing his friends to smile in amusement.
"Wow... So more like, a hundred million huh?" Jiro reaffirmed with a grin.
Izuku's previous bravado and confidence disappeared as he made another choking sound.
"It will be okay, Midoriya." Todoroki assured his friend calmly. "It's not as if everyone in the entire world will be watching you. Even more so now than the USJ Incident."
What was supposed to make Izuku feel better, only did the opposite.
"Y-You guys are going to give me chest pains..." Izuku murmured with a grimace. "I'm only fifteen!"
Mina tackled the boy, landing atop his abdomen with a carefree giggle. "Don't you worry your little head, Izu-kun~! Mina-chan's gonna make it alllll betterrrr~!" Her teasing tone had slowly tapered off into a sensual one and it made Izuku feel... things.
"A-Ashido-san!" He squeaked with a blush.
"So haaawwwwttt~!" Mina cooed sensually as she placed her hands on her cheeks, slowly rolling her hips side to side on the boy's stomach.
"Guys?!" Izuku called out to his friends, desperately looking for their aid.
Jiro's back was facing the two, earphone jack's plugged into her phone as she blasted music. Todoroki had his phone up to his ear, having an incredibly fake phone call with his mother. Momo herself was filing her nails with an innocent expression as she gazed around the room.
"GUYS?!" Izuku yelled once again, completely in disbelief that his friends would ignore his plight.
"Don't act like you don't like it, Izu-kun." Mina winked playfully before deciding to relent on her favorite teasing target. She rose to her feet, offering the freckled boy a hand, which he took with a quiet grumble.
"W-Why do you always tease me, Ashido-san?" He grumbled quietly, rubbing his face to stave off his embarrassment.
"Your reactions are cute." Mina replied simply, grin fixed on her face.
"If ya didn't make a big deal about it everytime she wouldn't target ya, dude." Jiro stated simply, smirking to herself as she fiddled with her phone.
"Or perhaps, Ashido-san teases you because she's incapable of mustering up the confidence to confess her true feelings for you." Momo piped up with a coy smile, side eying the girl.
A feint sheen of red dusted along Mina's cheeks as she gave Momo a warning look. Momo's smile only grew more coy as she rose her hands, placating the girl.
"It would explain so much." Todoroki mumbled, thumbing his chin as he nodded along to Momo's words.
"Pfft! You're the last person to be sayin' that, Todo." Jiro snorted with a smirk.
"I know enough." He replied simply.
"Comin' from the guy with 3 moms? I don't buy it." Jiro snorted once more.
"I know. I'm simply overqualified in this manner." Todoroki agreed with a nod.
"T-That's now what she meant, Todoroki-kun." Izuku responded with a light blush, sending Mina a glance.
"I know what she meant." The dual haired boy replied easily.
"Oh yeah?" Mina challenged with a grin. "What'd she mean then, Todo-kun?"
Todoroki was silent as four pairs of eyes zeroed in on him. He shot each of them a glance, stalling for time he didn't really have.
"Odd. Do you hear that?" The dual haired boy questioned, feigning interest somewhere else while raising one of his hands to his ear. "It's the sound of me not understanding social cues." Todoroki immediately walked away, not even bothering to entertain his friends and their teasing ways. The quartet began to laugh as they followed after their friend, lightly teasing him.
"You ready for this, Deku?"
Izuku offered his old bully a cursory glance, curious as to why the boy had chosen to strike up conversation.
"Are you?" He shot back evenly, side eying the boy.
The two of them stood at the entrance of the tunnel, awaiting for Present Mic to announce their arrival. This dark tunnel was the only thing separating them from being seen by millions.
Behind them was the rest of their class, staying a few feet back to either calm themselves or mentally psyche themselves up.
Bakugo offered the boy a wicked smirk, small crackles of explosions emitting from the palms of his hands. "Do ya even need ta ask?! These fuckin' extras won't know what hit 'em!"
Izuku eyed his old rival and bully curiously. "Not that I necessarily care but... Why are you speaking to me, Bakugo? I thought you hated my guts."
The volatile teen offered the green haired teen a glance before sneering. "Tch. Don't get ahead of yourself, Deku. I still do hate you." His beady red eyes focused on the darkness leading towards the stadium. "You've changed since Aldera, Deku..." He was silent for a few moments before turning back towards the boy. "But we got the same goal today... To smash those stupid fuckers and prove to 'em that 1-A is better than everyone else!"
While Izuku didn't necessarily agree with how Bakugo said the words, he did ultimately agree with them.
Izuku offered his old bully a single nod as he responded. "That's the plan. And if we meet in the finals... I'm not holding back on you, Bakugo."
A fierce smirk painted the blond boy's face as he stared into Izuku's eyes. "Good! Give me a hundred and ten fucking percent! It'll be all the better for when I eventually crush you, Deku!"
Izuku merely narrowed his eyes at the boy and chose to forego a response. Not that it was necessarily needed. Both rivals understood how the other felt. All they had to do was prove themselves in the events to come.
"AND NOW! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...! I WELCOME YOU, THE VILLAIN SLAYERS! THE INEXPERIENCED HEROS IN TRAINING THAT BEAT BACK A VICIOUS GROUP OF VILLAINS AND LEFT THEM WITH THEIR TAILS BETWEEN THEIR LEGS! I GIVE YOU...! THE TALENTED AND INCREDIBLY GIFTED CLASS OF 1-A!"
Izuku's face hardened at Present Mic's words as he immediately led his class towards the entrance of the tunnel. His heart thumped with excitement, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he and his classmates neared the end of the tunnel.
The sheer roar of the stadium threatened to deafen Izuku and his classmates as they exited the tunnel, exposed to the brilliant lights and sights of the crowd.
Thousands upon thousands of people roared and cheered from their seats, incoherent chants and mindless screams of approval.
"Surreal, huh?"
Izuku turned his gaze toward the voice, slightly surprised he had even been able to hear Jiro.
Izuku offered the girl a small smile as he responded. "Yeah... Let's do our best, Jiro-san."
The petite girl offered her friend a grin as she responded. "I'll see you in the finals, Green Bean! Better watch out!"
"You're on!" He challenged back, sharing a grin with the girl.
The roars from the crowd only seemed to grow louder and louder as each and every class was announced, forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with one another in front of an elevated arena platform that would be the final event for the day.
"Helllloooooo~!" Midnight greeted in a sensual tone, dressed in her hero outfit with a microphone in one hand and her signature whip in the other. The dominatrix woman cracked her whip with a wink, posing provocatively as she did so.
"Are you all ready for a show?!" She questioned loudly, trying to amp up the crowd.
It was a success if the deafening roar from the crowd was anything to go by.
"Ohhh myyyyy~!" She licked her lips while cracking her whip once more. "You're all so excited... I'm getting wet just at the thought!"
Izuku choked on his spit, pounding his chest with one hand as Jiro and Todoroki mimed his actions to his back, trying to aid the boy.
"Before we begin with today's events, I'd like to welcome a special someone to the stage who has a few choice words to say!" Midnight's vivid blue eyes scanned the students beneath her, honing in on her target. "Allow me to welcome to the stage, 1-A's very own Class Representative...!"
"Izuku Midoriya!"
The roar of the crowd was deafening as Izuku slowly made his way to the front of the stage. Each step he took, his body seemed to grow heavier and heavier. Anxiety flowed through his body as finally reached Midnight, accepting the microphone with only a minor tremble.
Izuku closed his eyes for a brief moment, calming himself down as the arena stadium became eerily silent.
Just breath.
Innnnnn.
Outtttttt.
Izuku's eyes slowly opened as he stared down at the various students below him. Over 200 pairs of eyes were locked onto him, patiently waiting to see what he had to say.
Those 200 pairs couldn't compete with the possible millions that were likely to be watching as of this moment.
Innnnnnn.
Outtttttt.
"M-My name is Izuku Midoriya." He began softly, green eyes flicking to his friends who all possessed smiles on their faces. His anxiety eased somewhat at their encouraging expressions. "I had... a whole speech written out. But uh... Well, I seem to be blanking. So I guess, I'll just start by saying this..."
"A month ago, my face was plastered all over the internet and news. An infamous event that everyone came to know as 'The USJ Incident'. Myself, alongside that of my 19 other classmates and friends, were all attacked by a group of villains who's goal was to eliminate The Symbol of Peace."
Izuku closed his eyes as he spoke. "We were forced to defend ourselves, doing what was necessary to survive... I, alongside two of my very close friends, made decisions in the heat of the moment that will forever affect us..." He paused for a moment, unwilling to open his eyes and be subjected to the scrutinization of millions of individuals.
"On that day... I lost my innocence. I'll never get it back. I wasn't conscious of my decisions. I was only focused on saving my friends and making sure that we all walked out alive. What I lost that day... I'll never recover." He clenched the microphone tightly, voice cracking with emotion. "I may have lost my innocence that day but it didn't break me... It only made me stronger! What it did do, was strengthen my resolve."
Izuku finally opened his eyes, gazing directly into the camera in front of him. "My name is Izuku Midoriya. And I don't regret a single thing that happened at USJ. My hands may be bloodied but atleast my friends and classmates made it home that day! If I have to shoulder the burden for others, then I'll do so! I'll become the next Beacon of Hope! I'll shoulder the weight of the world so others don't have to! I'll be the one to save the day! With a smile on my face! Screaming! I! AM! HERE!"
Izuku very nearly clasped his hands over his ears as the crowd practically exploded after his speech. A look of awe painted his features as the crowd chanted and raved, singing his praises as if it was some kind of gospel. He proceeded to pass the microphone back to Midnight who accepted the item with a wicked smile.
"Now, I don't know about all of you but I'm definitely feeling an extra tingle down there, if ya know what I mean!" Midnight spoke into the mic, getting the crowd all rowdy once more. "Now! Let's! Get! STARTED!"
AN: WOWEE. Stupid long chappy for zero reason.
To answer a question that's sure to popup : No, Momo isn't dying from OFA. It'll be explained later so just, be patient or whatever. (unlikely)
The Sports Festival continues next chappy! Who's gonna win?! Well, that'll be fairly obvious but spoiling is boring!