Chapter 16: Proving Myself to You

It seemed like everything was fine until a few raised hands sprung from the crowd of participants. Midnight had just announced the next event and asked if there were any objections or questions. I thought that statement was just for the sake of formalities, but apparently, there were a few concerns.

"Excuse me!" A stout, light-blue-haired student raises his hand. "I want to drop out!"

There were hushed murmurs in the crowd above, and a few puzzled looks were given to him by the participants.

"I-I-I…w-w-want to d-d-rop out too!" Koda stuttered out. I turned my attention to him, tilting my head in confusion.

From afar, Midnight raises a brow, asking a simple question: "Why?"

Though Koda was usually a timid guy, he seemed determined, walking out of the crowd. All eyes and ears were on him. The same light-blue-haired student stood beside him, they look at each other, nodding in understanding.

The unfamiliar boy speaks first: "I don't remember anything that happened from the cavalry battle. All I remember was…" he trails off, glancing at the violet-headed participant to my left. He gazes at the two boredly. Koda interjects.

"It -d-d-doesn't feel r-right not knowing how I got here. I-I-I feel like I'm taking s-someone's spot…s-s-so! I want to quit!"

"Wow… I didn't know Koda was so manly…" Kirishima muttered from beside me. "Respect dude!" He looks down with a closed fist, almost as if he's doing it in solidarity, though I could only shake my head at this.

Midnight looked apprehensive, placing a hand on her chin in contemplation. But contrary to her looks, she was excited about this new development, exclaiming her plus ultras and something about youth.

"But we do need students to take your place, or the brackets will be uneven!" she announces. There were murmurs as spectators gossiped about the fairness of the competition, now that two additional participants would have to be chosen.

"Those who will fill up the spots will have to be from the team who placed fifth! Team Kendo!"

"So that's how it is…" Kendo, who I recognized as the girl with large fists that gave us a really hard time during that fight, speaks. "I think that instead of us, you should give this chance to a team that fought until the end and got a high ranking. Team Tetsutetsu."

The man with scary-looking eyes and gray hair dropped his jaw agape. He was at the stand beside them, beside Yosetsu, who stared at me intently with a grin.

"It's not because we're friends! I just think it's the right thing to do." She says, smiling at her fellow classmate.

And so it was decided that Tetsutetsu and Yosetsu would join the tournament. I smirked when Yosetsu walks down into the arena. He raises up a fist to bump, and I meet him in the middle.

"You somehow weaseled in here. Good to see you up and fighting," I tell him.

"You know I wouldn't miss a chance to whoop your ass!"

I rolled my eyes but didn't fight back a grin. "We'll see about that."

I give Yosetsu a very strong pat on the back, knocking him forward slightly. I giggle, and suddenly spot the friend beside him–the student known as Tetsutetsu.

"So you're Yurin! You would not believe how much Yosetsu—" the said boy intervenes between both of us and urgently shushes his friend. I giggle again.

"I hope he's not talking trash about me behind my back!" Getting the memo, Tetsutetsu grins, and I reach out a hand to shake his. "It's Tatsumori. Tatsumori Yurin. Thanks for taking care of him, I know he's a handful." I squeeze his hand firmly.

He gave a hardy laugh.

"Not at all! It's Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu." I raise a brow. "Wow. I think I saw your name on the entrance exam scoreboard, but I didn't think I'd actually see you. What a… creative name?"

He only grins back, returning the firm grip with his own.

"Alright let's show the pairings!" Midnight announces, pointing to the screen behind her. It shows the names of everyone in the brackets, randomized.

I spotted Yosetsu's name beside Kaminari's first, then my name beside Aoyama's. I stare at the boy in question, who meets my gaze and gives a nervous, dazzling smile.

"BUT FOR NOW, LET'S PUT THE TOURNAMENT ASIDE AND ENJOY THE RECREATIONAL EVENTS!"

The participants who didn't make it to the final round were gathered together center-stage. The rest who are fighting were promptly ushered out to prepare themselves. I walked accompanied by Yosetsu and my classmates.

I notice my shortcomings and introduce him to my friends.

"Oh right. Yosetsu. These are my friends. This is Sero, that one is Mina, Hagakure—I think I told you about her—Yaoyorozu, Jiro, and Kirishima, but I think you've already met him. Everyone, this is Awase, Yosetsu. We grew up in the same town, and I've known him for a long time."

Everyone gives him their greetings.

"Where's Tetsutetsu?" I ask him. "He could have joined us if he wanted."

"I think he met up with Kendo-san. I think he's gonna thank her for the spot," he says "...or scold her for it." He mutters and we are whisked away.

"Man, I can't believe I'm up against Todoroki of all people!" Sero whines. I hum.

Todoroki is a tough opponent.

"Come on guys, Don't you wanna join the recreational events? I heard it was fun this year," Kirishima offers.

"Oh! I want to!" Hagakure raises her hands, jumping enthusiastically.

"Sure, why not?" Sero smiles, with his crescent teeth.

"I guess we have nothing better to do." Jiro sighs. Yaoyorozu nods along, and everyone makes their way in the direction I came.

"I think I'll pass this one. I'm gonna prepare for my fight," I tell them. "What about you?"

Yosetsu looks at the group blankly and scratches his head at the attention. "I want to prepare for my fight too. You think I can hang with you for a bit, Yurin?"

I give him a small nod.

"That's fine."

We wander for a bit around the arena to find somewhere quiet. The hallways were a little cramped, but the walk around it was filled with natural conversation with my best friend. He caught me up to speed about the happenings of his life and how he's been training. Though the conversation was quite short, I was spacing in my head, focusing on the fight ahead of me.

I'm confident that I'll beat Aoyama, but I don't want to let that get into my head. In fact, little nerves always help me over-prepare. I don't want to be anything less than ready for any fight, and I don't ever want to underestimate my opponents. Though his quirk was simple and straightforward, I've never actually been hit by those things yet, so I don't think it's a good idea to tank them with my shield.

Since the rules for victory didn't just mean knocking your opponent unconscious, there was always a chance to beat someone with a greater quirk. Knocking an opponent off the platform also counts for victory, and with Aoyama's quirk, if he plays it well enough, he could knock me off.

And looking ahead of that, based on the match-ups, the winner of Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu's fight will be my next opponent. The odds are aligning in Tokoyami's favor. Though I admire Yaoyorozu's flexibility and resourcefulness, Tokoyami's quirk was much more suited for combat. He was a much bigger threat to my advancement, and his fight was one of the larger concerns in my head.

"-Yurin?" I shake my head.

"-ah sorry, Can you repeat what you said?" I turn to Yosetsu, who shakes his head.

"Are you worried about your fight?" he asks me, again.

"When am I not?" I replied. "A little anxiety never hurts anyone. Are you?"

He looks at the hall ahead of him.

"Yeah. I am," he says softly. "I feel a lot of pressure to win since you're here with me. We came from the same place, yet I feel like you're leaving me behind."

"Leaving you behind? What do you mean by that? I'm always here." I punch his shoulder playfully as he shakes his head.

"No–I mean–with all the villain stuff–your entire class is super strong, and our class barely made it through the tournament. I can only imagine that you fight those guys often, and I know that you were already so much stronger than me. You're getting stronger and stronger every day, but I'm just… still here. I feel like I'm falling behind."

We make it out of the arena. It was a cool summer afternoon, where though the hot sun pounded down, yet the wind softly blew. Out of its heat, and into a tree's shade was the perfect place to rest. I sighed and sat, cross-legged on the grass. He takes his place beside me, sitting on the grass in the same way.

"I don't want to fall behind. I want to prove myself to you."

I ruffle Yosetsu's spiked hair. "You don't have to prove anything to me."

But it seems like he doesn't appreciate the gesture. He reacts with a frown and furrowed brows, a vexed expression litters his face, making me retract my hand from his hair.

"No. I do. I'm not a kid anymore, Yurin. Don't you see that?"

I frown once he says the words.

"Do you remember what you told me when I asked you about how you didn't freeze during that villain attack? I'll never forget it. You said that above all else what scared you most was the fact that—"

–I wouldn't be able to protect you. I completed the sentence in my head as Yosetsu spoke the words. I remembered the phrase as if I uttered it just yesterday. I lived my life on that principle. I lived in constant fear that I wouldn't be able to protect those I cared about.

"You know, you don't need to protect me, right? I'll be a hero too. I don't want you to think that I'll be someone in your way or—

"I would never think that Yosetsu," I interject. But he shakes his head immediately.

"-no! You don't get it. I've seen you tear yourself apart my whole life because of what happened that day. And it just feels like you wouldn't have been like that if it wasn't for me!" Yosetsu yells out all of his emotions, worries, and guilt to me, as I continue to listen.

I've never once heard him raise his voice. He always seemed so carefree... I just thought that… Has he been living with it this whole time?

He takes a deep breath, eyes widening as he processes the words that left his mouth. "...I didn't mean to say that. Sorry," he mutters, monotone. I place a hand on his shoulder as comfort.

I close my eyes and think about the words carefully.

"I guess you're right. I'm a hero because of what happened that day—but it's not your fault! I know it seems like I'm working myself to the bone—"

"-Because you are!" Yosetsu interrupts.

"-yes, that may be true, but I think I'm better because of it. Stronger even. I finally feel like my life has meaning. The things I was afraid of when I was a kid, a greater fear looms over me, and because of it, I think I can overcome a lot of things. I don't know if this is making any sense but–"

I look into Yosetsu's eyes, hoping the sentiment reaches him. He looks at me but slowly nods, though he doesn't look comforted. I pat his back. "Don't think about it too hard! I chose this! Don't worry about it."

He sighs and we continue to sit under the tree's shade in silence.

Starting contestants were ushered into waiting rooms, and since I was a part of the second branch of fighting, I stayed with the rest of the class to watch the matches. Though, it wasn't too eventful.

The first match between Midoriya and Hitoshi barely contained action. They spoke for a while, but from afar, you couldn't really hear what they were saying. Midoriya seemed to be walking out of the arena, but at the last minute, hit himself and snapped out of whatever trance he was placed in. It only took one punch to get Hitoshi out of the ring.

Watching the fight awakened a fear I've had in my inadequacy as a hero. It seems like this whole time, the commotion around Koda, and that other guy from class 1-B was caused by that boy. The same boy that reached out to me to join this team. His quirk was definitely related to a mind-control ability, a quirk that I could not imagine existing in this world. How broken is that? How will I fight against villains that can control my actions with a snap of their fingers? What precautions will I take to ensure that they don't use me to hurt others?

My stomach sank as my worries clouded my thoughts.

The second fight was a valiant effort on Sero's part, but there was nothing he could have done. Sero bursts forward in an attempt to catch Todoroki off guard, but Todoroki barely breaks a sweat. He created a mountain of ice, trapping Sero in its glaciers and dropping the temperature of the stadium several degrees. It was over before it even began.

But as the second round came to a close, tensions were high as I waited in anticipation for the next fight. The two competitors made their way toward the arena. Kaminari waved, smiling to the crowd in a burst of confidence, while Yosetsu gazed forward, the big screens showing a stern expression, unfazed by the cheering crowd.

From then on, my eyes were fixed on my best friend's form.

As Present Mic announced the competitor's names, Midnight walked up with a flag in her hand, signaling the start of the fight.

Immediately, Yosetsu charged movements swift. He closed the gap and swiped at Kaminari's form, but once he was in range Kaminari let out a huge shock. The bright yellow tendrils reached over to his opponent and buzzed loudly over the crowd's cheers as it hit.

I breathed in sharply as Yosetsu was stunned in his place, convulsing at the blow.

Frazzled, he hops back, as Kaminari gives a cheeky smile.

That interaction was a great representation of the disparity between their quirks. This fight was not in Yosetsu's favor, all because his quirk required close contact, which can easily be countered with a protective emitter quirk like Kaminari's. This reality made my heart ache. Based on quirks alone, this fight had been decided.

There was a moment of stillness. Yosetsu took a deep breath. The shadows in his eyes blocked what would be a stern expression. It felt like he had come to realize the same thing. But as he lifts his head, I see carefree confidence in his expression. His lips pulled up to a smirk, and his crescent eyes locked dead-on to his opponent. From his bag, Yosetsu pulled out his signature metal cylinders and started welding them together into a thick pole. There was some dialogue from Kaminari, as he takes the offensive to stop Yosetsu. But he was not fast enough.

Yosetsu evaded Kaminari's swiping attempts and shocks with ease, dancing around him. If there was anything I knew about my best friend, it was that he beats Kaminari physically, in both speed and strength. How could he not? He was my best friend for crying out loud! Yosetsu couldn't have been my friend for years if he didn't train with me at least once a month! I laughed as I watched the scene unfold, joy bubbling in my stomach.

As Yosetsu finished his poles, he welded them into the concrete. He orbited around kaminari who stood near the center and stuck them equally spaced for all four corners of the arena. Kaminari could only attempt to stop Yosetsu, and though some of his shots were able to reach him, Yosetsu kept pressing forward, valiantly.

Then, I finally noticed what the poles did.

As Kaminari lets out an electric shock, streaks of electricity shoot toward the poles that Yosetsu creates.

By having a conductor around the vicinity of the arena, a lot of the electricity Kaminari was generating was being redirected to the poles. This mitigated the amount that reached Yosetsu and decreased the damage it was doing to him. The little shocks that hit Yosetsu made him flinch, but it seems more tolerable as I see him pressing onward despite the pain.

Yosetsu's persistence despite the odds was something I never truly witnessed from him. Unlike his normal demeanor, there was something intense in Yosetsu's expression as he fought with all his might.

I pondered on all the times in our past when he would approach the world with a steady, yet carefree confidence. I've always admired that about him growing up. In both lives, I never once achieved the same freeness he exhibited. I was quite envious of it. Perhaps because of this perception, I labeled my best friend as someone without worries.

And how could I not? Frankly, I always thought that he was a little mischievous in the way he stayed out late despite having piles and piles of homework due the next day, or how he cursed knowing there were teachers nearby, or even how he snuck out on bathroom breaks to watch my PE class. He never really had an excuse for these actions, cause he constantly assured me that things would work out, and though I hate to admit it, he was right almost all of the time.

Seeing him talk to me today about his own worries, seeing him face uncertain victory with a grave face–it was a side I've never seen. The Yosetsu I knew had been a friend, a younger brother, an ignorant child assured of his victories. This Yosetsu was a hero who never backed down even if the odds were against him, aware of everything that could go wrong.

Is this what you meant by proving yourself, Yosetsu?

But even with newfound bravery, this battle was far from over. Even with the poles, the only way Yosetsu will manage to win this fight is if he gets Kaminari to short-circuit before he passes out.

The problem was that Yosetsu didn't know about Kaminari's limit. He could be under the impression that this would go on forever, and hastily try to look for an opportunity to strike. If he's even the slightest bit impatient, he could seriously hurt himself to a loss.

Kaminari, in either a stroke of genius or stupidity, constantly spewed shocks recklessly even when they had a high probability of it missing. He was giving off the impression that he has no limit, scaring his opponent into submission.

A game of cat and mouse ensued, with Yosetsu evading Kaminari's advances. Yosetsu dodges the shocks with an odd shuffling movement. It was a deliberate action that initially, had me confused. Though, I was able to realize that Yosetsu carefully positioned himself out of line from the poles he created.

Those poles did mitigate the damage of Kaminaris shocks, but they were also a hazard to Yosetsu's movements. If he positioned himself anywhere between a pole and Kaminari, it would mean that he would get a more concentrated electric shock. The perseverance and mindfulness he was exhibiting was unlike anything I've ever seen from him in my life.

Unfortunately for him, there were times when he stumbled too close to his opponent or the poles. Yosetsu stumbles too close to the poles he creates, and gets caught up in its lingering electricity. Slight mishaps cause Yosetsu to take damage, and it's becoming difficult to watch as my best friend continues despite getting hit, but this was good. Kaminari can't be far from short-circuiting.

I lean on the edge of the balcony, inching closer to get a better view of the fight. Kaminari catches Yosetsu further away from his metal poles, getting a particularly devastating shock in his direction. Yosetsu convulses, and drops, exhausted, making my heart drop.

"GET UP YOSETSU!" I scream at the top of my lungs, as I see my childhood friend drop onto the concrete. I feel irrational anger seeing him fall so easily after working so hard. I ignore my classmates as they turn toward me and give me questioning looks.

Yosetsu turns slightly, as I see the grin spread across his shadowed face, his hand's snake to his back pockets. Time slows as Kaminari approaches him, to give him one last final shock. But it doesn't come.

Fast hands bind Kaminari's shoes and pants to the concrete, holding him in place. The boy is startled, and screams out in surprise, trying with all his might to lift his feet from the concrete to no avail. Yosetsu takes a step back and breathes, muttering a few words to his opponent. The big screen focuses on him and I smile.

All Yosetsu has to do is knock him out with a long pole from behind, and he's the victor.

I heave a sigh of relief, calming my pacing heart from the actions I witnessed.

But it seems I was celebrating too soon. On a last-ditch effort, Kaminari lets out a million volts, taking Yosetsu out in a second.

And you will not believe what happens next.

A very stupid, dunce-faced Kaminari takes out his shoes and slips off his pants to free himself of Yosetsu's binding. Jiro starts losing it, laughing hysterically off of her chair. The jumbo screen quickly cuts to Kaminari's white underwear and the whole stadium roars in laughter. Kaminari carries a disabled Yosetsu off the stage and Midnight announces the winner.

"AHAHAHA—AND THE WIN-WIN-WINNER! IS KAMI-HAHAH–KAMINARI DENKI!" Midnight couldn't stop herself from giggling.

Kaminari holds a thumbs up as the whole crowd laughs at him and takes him away.

I shake my head.

Only Kaminari would win using his stupidity.

A/n:
Long time no see! Very excited to showcase this chapter with its special twist! I've been neglecting Yosetsu for a while and wanted to take some time to showcase how he's changed from the original. His character was never fleshed out from the beginning. Here is today's question: What's another character you would love to see fleshed out more? Editor-san: Hey guys, sorry for the late chapter, things have gotten a little hectic here since the previous post. As you've noticed, if you haven't already, we're slowing down the weekly posts to once every two weeks to make sure we could keep the same quality. Mili-Onee-chan has expressed that scheduling has gotten harder so I've decided it's the best option to keep her motivated. Our passion for telling this story has not gone down one bit, so don't worry, we're planning to see this ship through to the end. I thank you for your patience as we keep writing the best of the best for Mili's work.