Author's note :
I just want to thanks the last reviews that are very kind.
Don't worry about my work, i have like everything written to chapter 27 and I continue to write.
As
Chapter 19: Shoot the horse to smash the leader.
"It has been a long time… Shouto."
Rei was scared that Shouto would run away and avoid her completely for the rest of the day… And by that she meant she turned him into Prince Zuko 2.0… Though she was in far less danger and weaker than Ursa and calling Endeavor an Ozai was a big stretch since one was redeemable and the other wasn't.
She also expected Shouto to freeze in front of her, as he probably wasn't aware that she was out yet.
She was filled with overwhelming warmth when instead, Shouto got closer and calmly hugged her. Even when he was young, Shouto had been a quiet kid. To feel him hug her tightly like that, she almost thought that she was dreaming, before she put her arms around him.
"So… You ran away from the mental ward? I am sure Nedzu can help if you ask."
"Actually, your father came."
As she expected, Shouto frowned upon the mention of his genitor. Rei sighed. She wouldn't try to defend Enji for his actions, as he deserved a lot of the blame. However, she wanted to give him credit where it was due.
"What do you mean, mother?"
"Your father came, apologized and basically offered me pretty much everything he owned and all parental rights. Also, divorce. He even gave his approval before we met for my release."
"No mind game or conditions or anything like protecting his reputation?"
"He actually offered to speak to the press if it could help me."
This time, Shouto blinked, as his mother sat by his side, gesturing to him to join her with a kind smile.
"It surprised me to learn Nedzu took you in. He doesn't often do something like that."
"He… He is a really kind grandfather. Nedzu often eats dinner with me, despite not liking the food." Shouto smiled a bit as he thought about the past weeks. "He likes to hear me out when I try to make some theories about things… It makes me happy, since, according to him, I got a few right, because I consider things that aren't usually normal."
She missed him, how he grew up and how she should have protected him, as a mother should. Seeing him smiling was something she didn't hope to see yet.
"That's nice. Did you make friends with your classmates?"
"I have two rivals and many friends. One of my rivals is also teaching me how to feel emotions, to express myself."
That was good to know. She, to her shame, had been so caught up in her investigation with Enji that she missed learning about how her other children were doing.. However, it was nice to see him having fun and being happy for the first time in his life.
"And what about Natsuo and Fuyumi?"
"Oh, they opted for their own apartments, one for each of them. They refused to go back home…"
"Yes, about that… I may have destroyed our old house."
This sentence got Shouto to shut up instantly.
"While I spend a lot of time with Enji for… reasons… I didn't want to go there again. So I kind of encased it in ice?"
For the first time, Shouto began to realize how strong his mother was..
"Oh… I kind of hoped to do it myself, but… Mood. Oh, and mother…" Shouto seemed bashful, before asking his mother the question that weighed on his mind for a long time. "Would it… Bother you if I used Endeavor's fire?"
Shouto felt Rei's hand in his hair, carefully patting him on the head. It was relaxing, and he felt his worries disappear. It was like that when Mitsuki hugged him back at the Bakugou's house… Or when Inko did the same for him.
"Oh… My poor Shouto… It isn't his fire or someone else's fire, but yours. You don't have to ask me for it, and honestly, I should have never said that to you or burned you…"
In the same way Enji wasn't the Ashen King, none of their sons were like him or her. Shouto especially lacked the boisterousness Enji had, and while you could see the same passion in his eyes, it rarely showed on his face. How could she have seen Enji in her son that day? She was filled with so much fear and irrationality… so much meekness toward her husband. In their younger years, she used to stand up to Enji. Sure, their therapist was right when she said that Touya's death was hard on both of them and they needed to support and help each other… But it wasn't a valid reason for her to react like that.
"Oh. That's funny. That's what everyone keeps saying to me. I guess they were right then."
! Her son had good friends who were trying to fix her and Enji's bad parenting.
"So… What about the rest of the family?"
"Oh, right. Fuyumi is doing fine as a teacher, helping Nedzu with some schools that are not up to his standards. Rather than destroying them and moving the students, which is a lengthy process according to him, he'd prefer to send his granddaughter there to see how they teach. Suddenly, people behave."
——————
"So… Why are students allowed to use quirks in the classroom?"
"Well, they are children and children play…"
"Oh. I guess I should ask my father Endeavor if there is a jurisprudence for children using their quirks on public grounds?"
"Heeeermm"
"I mean, that is also impressive of you. As their teacher, you understand that you take full responsibility for them, and probably would be getting multiple cases of illegal use of…"
"STOP, NOBODY IS USING THEIR QUIRKS ANYMORE."
——————
"She told me over the phone that she is having a lot of fun and loves teaching young kids. Apparently, they often call her mommy by mistake. I think they just love her a lot."
Rei beamed with a mother's happiness, learning that Fuyumi had a fulfilling job, and kids loved her. Maybe they wouldn't turn out like she and Enji did?
"And what about Natsuo?"
"Apparently, his studies to become a doctor are going well. His new mentor is someone well respected at the hospital he is interning at."
—————
The day before.
"And this is how you make a cast for an insect mutant, new guy."
Inko was beaming as she put a cast on the mantis mutant who had just tried to escape from the hospital. A small-time thug, suspected of being linked with S.M.A.S.H. Nothing big, but not something they could let slide.
As a result, because heroes and police officers couldn't stay at the hospital 24/7, the doctors had a special quirk license they could obtain, giving them permission to defend the hospital. People in the medical field knew that Inko in the Musufatu Area was their most terrifying combatant. It was also an open secret that Inko was likely a vigilante doctor in the past.
Natsuo could see why, as she was the one who broke the insect mutant's arm by locking his wrist with her Attraction, and then drop-kicking him, with surprising grace, in the back. He was admiring Inko, as she switched from fighter to kind nurse, as if she wasn't the one who harmed the criminal.
"… Will you teach me how to do that?"
"You mean the cast?"
"No, the whole… Fighting thing."
"Oh sure. Drop by over the weekend. Shouto will be happy to see his brother, I guess."
"Wait… You know Shouto?! He comes by your home on the weekend?!"
"Actually, he goes to my best friend's home, but yes, he is a delightful child."
Just like that, Natsuo knew he had found a wonderful mentor and someone who would defend Shouto if anything happened.
——————
"I think I know her, but she and her friend want to speak with you about the whole boiling water on the face thing. I am not sure it is a good idea to meet them yet, even if I told them it was all father's fault."
Rei suddenly noticed something about Shouto's speech pattern. He didn't call her mom but mother, kind of the same way he called Endeavor Father… Or when Endeavor talked about his genitor. Even if Shouto had rationalized her action as reaching her breaking point because of abuse, it made sense that he still had some deep unresolved anger in his heart.
"That is nice to hear… And for the tournament, what's your goal?"
"Oh, just having fun. After everything with Father, the fact I can finally relax and learn how to be me… I want to take it easy yet seriously. I mean, it is just a tournament, and as my friends said, everyone already knows how strong I am. I want to have fun and a good time. I have no stake in it. I wanted to know about the whole fire thing because Katsuki would bitch a lot if I didn't fight him at 100%."
"He seems… passionate?"
"I chose him as my teacher because of that. He taught me how to say 'fuck'."
Rei was concerned by the smile he had after he swore, but took it as him slowly becoming a normal child.
"Also, what did you mean by, 'I work with your father'?"
Fuck.
"Well… Your father actually needs help on an investigation and I am the best person for the job. Don't worry, I can take care of myself."
Technical truth is the best truth.
"That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it, especially with the whole prearranged marriage…"
"Oh. That. Shouto… I know you will have a hard time believing it, but… Until Touya's death, Enji was a good father and a good husband."
Shouto's eyes told her that he didn't believe her for one second.
"Also, my father was actually trying to sell me… And I don't think it would have been for marriage."
——————
A certain Dr Garaki sighed a bit. The new noumus were coming along, but he still regretted that he had to scrap that Ice based Noumu mixed with a sensory disabling quirk. He had a lot of love for classic youkai and a Yuki-Onna would have been great for his collection.
——————
"Hmm. I agree to disagree and I am still kicking him in the nuts next time I see him."
He will obviously ask for this internship now, just to make sure his father doesn't hurt his mom again and if he does… He literally has All-Might on speed dial.
"Also, I want to apologize for scalding you…"
"Nah, I understand, you thought I was becoming like Father…"
"Actually…"
"The second part of the festival is about to begin! Everyone gather on the field!"
"Seems I have to go, mom. See you later? Or call me maybe?"
"With pleasure, Shouto."
That day, Shouto decided that he really liked his mom's hugs.
Rei didn't have the heart to tell him she poured the water because she feared he would become just like Touya.
—————
Meanwhile, Enji stood in front of three giant boards, covered in strings and various photos of people from his database, as a giant map established the route taken by the ambulance that brought Hisashi to the hospital appeared. A lot of heroes and villains were on it, including him and Rei, much to his surprise. If he was right, and he was almost certain that he was, it was the beginning of their breakdown. That day was just before their therapist told Rei to not use her quirk against her husband because her aim was bad.
In the scenario he had laid out, it was likely that Rei's Ice Ball actually smashed into the side of the ambulance, since she was aiming at Endeavor (not really abusive or dangerous for him, but it would have made him soaking wet).
He actually had to ask for help from his sidekicks and they were becoming progressively more scared of the vast network of events that happened that day.
Hell, he was not sure, but even Snipe may have been there that day as they found a bullet quite similar to his in the victim's butt.
"Holy shit, that is crazy."
"Yes, I can see why the cops dropped the case: too many suspects to investigate and honestly, if they tried to prosecute even half of the people on the board…"
Burnin came with more files at this moment.
"I have found proof Wash was in the area and Captain Celebrity too!"
"Oh god, them too?! Hell, I am pretty sure the only top 10 Hero currently missing is Best Jeanist!"
"Actually… I found out he was at the hospital, sir. Apparently, he filed for an incident when he used his power for sick children, and he apparently accidentally hit the spinal cord of an unknown man, and paralyzed him."
Enji was going to have a long day… but he was going to watch the recording at the airport.
—————
When Mei learned she was the prime target for everyone because of her headband, she had just one thing to say with a Cheshire grin.
"BRING IT ON EVERYONE, AND MAKE MY BABIES SHINE!"
"GAME ON, PINK BITCH!"
A fight between Mei and Bakugou? Most people decided it was wise to stay away from the ensuing explosions, since they liked their limbs still attached to their body.
"NOW, NOW, DEAR LISTENERS, THIS PART OF THE TOURNAMENT IS TO SHOW OUR STUDENTS CONTROL OVER THEIR QUIRKS! So, attacking the leader to make him fall on purpose is grounds for elimination, too."
"He isn't joking. That's our actual rule. You are supposed to only steal the headband, and the headband must be visible on your body. Also, if you fall off your teammates, you are eliminated the moment you touch the ground."
"ALSO THIS TIME IT'S A TEAM EFFOOOOOORT! MAKE TEAMS OF FOUR PEOPLE, EVERYONE!"
"It also shows pros that you know how to work with others and choose your teammates to complement your abilities. For example, using a leader that can erase quirks while his horse blasted them apart worked very well."
"Yes, and having a certain green-haired woman supporting you was nice too, no?"
"Miiiiiiic…"
However, Izuku and Toru weren't like most people. Mei was Izuku's friend and if Toru wanted time in the spotlight and to make a name for herself, she needed to take some risks. Even if the risk was an explosion, but, hey. It happened.
Now for the last member of the team… Well, she came to them.
"Let me help your team, everyone!"
It was the always dependable and reliable class president of the 1A, Momo Yaoyorozu.
"Not that we are against it, but… Why us?"
"Izuku? Remember when I said that my company might sponsor you?" In the background, Mei's eyes changed into yen symbols. "My parents loved your interview and asked me to do my best to help you reach the third round."
"So sponsorship and visibility?… Wait, you mean that interview was LIVE?!"
"Yep. You are apparently trending a bit. Turns out that the public likes that kind of underdog story and you are also the most 'classic' hero between yourself, Katsuki, and Shouto."
Izuku blushed at that revelation.
——————
"I knew it. He didn't know it wasn't something that was going to be edited."
Tomura smiled, as he was focusing his attention on his unofficial cousin, enjoying his distress. He should also note his team is technically a full female team and like a small harem.
"You can see him from here?"
It impressed the big 3, as Izuku was pretty far away and Tomura was still able to see him clearly.
"If I can annoy him, believe me, I will take any opportunity."
"You seem to have a good relationship with him, don't you?"
"If he wasn't attending this school, I would do my best to recruit him for my father's corporation for gifted youths."
"Well, from what I learned from my sources, he is at the top of his class in the most elite school in Japan. You could say he is smart."
"Hey, he is the only person who can beat me in strategy games."
"Hmmm?"
"… Until Nejire came. She wrecked me a few times and I still don't know what happened."
Tamaki smirked at that.
"Let me guess. "Hero" card game? Nejire is a…"
"A total novice who's never played that game before, but just so happens to be very lucky, right Tamaki?"
Nejire had her smile, the one that told you that you should follow her lead for your own safety. Also, it was fun having Tenko underestimating her, while she was a reigning champion back home.
Hey, being nice and often airheaded didn't mean she wasn't smart and cunning. What most people mistook for coincidence, luck or anything in between, was actually the scary amount of intelligence Nejire could display. Tamaki himself discovered that after she found him every time he tried to brood alone.
Tamaki chose wisely to nod furiously at Nejire's suggestion, while she happily hummed, enjoying her ice cream. Mirio, meanwhile, watched the beginning of the match and winced.
"Ouch. I feel sad for your friend. Did you see the team in front of him?"
Tomura stopped smiling at Izuku's minor misfortune to look at his new major one. That was to say, the Katsuki, Mina, Jiro and… Shouto team.
Oh boy.
"Oh good, that is going to be a bloodbath."
"Don't you mean 'oh God'?"
Tomura smiled at Mirio knowingly.
"I know what I said."
——————
Since Mei was at the center of their formation, getting her headband would not be an easy task and Izuku, as their leader, allowed their team the ability to easily steal others.
Honestly, they kind of needed every advantage, since Katsuki was being propelled by his quirk, while Shouto froze Mina's acid and Jiro was tracking their movement and using some ranged attack to stop them.
"GO AFTER SOMEONE ELSE KATSUKI!"
"NEVER!"
Meanwhile, Monoma's team was sitting behind the front lines. Or rather, observing the Tom Jerry chase happening in front of them.
"So… Monoma, how does it feel knowing you antagonized them and their allies despite the fact that they are all good friends?"
"Listen, everything is going according to plan. All we need to do is learn what their quirks are so we know how to counter them later on."
"Monoma, you fucked up and you know it. Oh well, let's successfully get into the next round so you can get your ass kicked by them."
——————
Since Katsuki wasn't a dumbass, he quickly noticed several things. First, Izuku kept dodging his attacks. That wasn't that surprising, as they both knew what kind of training Atsuhiro did to Izuku. However, he also noticed the many headbands Izuku snatched. Mostly from teams that tried to block his team's path… Before taking a hit from Katsuki, as Izuku redirected him toward other teams.
"Katsuki, I am wondering. Isn't Izuku using us to secure points for himself, that way if we steal Mei's headband, he will still have enough to carry his team to the final round?"
Shouto speculated out loud while Izuku waved at them and gave them a thumbs-up. To everyone's surprise, or not, It didn't calm Katsuki down.
"IZUKU, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR USING ME LIKE THAT!"
Katsuki, while often as driven as a bull against a red cape, knew when to fold them. He also knew he had a responsibility toward his team to take them to the finals. So, he did something he never thought he had to do.
"Izuku, if you don't give me your headband now, I will email to everyone in the class your fanfics. All of them."
That made the other team stop in their tracks, as pretty much all the girls were very interested in what Katsuki had to say.
"… Izu-kun write fanfiction?"
"I am pretty sure I have seen a…"
Katsuki got interrupted by Izuku's headband suddenly landing on his head.
"Don't you dare say anything else, Kacchan. Seriously, otherwise I will hunt you down."
"That's fair."
Katsuki smiled at his victory and was a graceful winner.
"Good Deku."
"Kacchan, I will fucking punch you next round. I have a card with your name on it."
"Is it a superhero? Tell me you picked someone strong to face me with!"
Izuku grumbled and looked at the girls.
"Hey, it's not like we aren't in the lead, once again, thanks to Mei, that we're going to stop."
"Wait. Mei's…"
"BYE KACCHAN. DON'T FORGET TO UPHOLD YOUR WORD!"
"… Katsuki, did you seriously forget that it was Mei who had the 1-million headband point? I pointed it out just before..."
"Shut up Icy bitch."
"I'm just saying you take that rival thing a bit too seriously."
Everyone stared at Shouto.
"What? It isn't like I declared you were both my rivals and I was planning to remove you from school or something."
——————
"Wonderful memories, right Mic?"
"Shut up."
"No, no, you asked me to be your co-speaker. Do you remember how you were forced to surrender in our third…"
"CONTINUE LIKE THAT AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES."
"THEN FUCKING UNTIE ME!"
Midnight had the time of her life with the other teachers, who were all wondering what happened between the two teachers.
"Before anyone asks, Aizawa knew about Mic's crush on someone and made him abandon their fight via blackmail."
"How the hell are they friends again?"
"Because if you hurt one of them, the other will relentlessly hunt you down. Before you ask, I'd prefer to be chased by Aizawa. Mic can be quite violent if he is angry."
——————
"So… We have more than enough points. Honestly, I think we're in the clear, even if we lose Mei's headband. I wonder why people didn't attack us more."
"BOMB INCOMING!"
Momo discovered she had a common interest with Mei. They liked explosions. When Mei used her spider legs to make them taller, Momo took that opportunity to throw as many pepper bombs as she could. Real bombs would have been a bit too much (and honestly, it would have hurt Me's spider legs too). Mei gave her a rocket launcher to propel her bombs further and Momo actually squealed in delight.
"That's a funny duo, don't you think?"
"Quite."
Izuku was happy to sit on the robotic legs, holding hands with Toru as they passed the remaining time peacefully, letting the two chaos gremlins beside them have their fun.
—————
Meanwhile, elsewhere a fourth team was also doing well. Some students from 1B and 1A worked together to ensure they would reach the next round, mainly Hanta as the rider, Kirishima as one of his horses, Tokoyami as the second support and Yui helping Hanta by making his duct-tape bigger.
After their heroic exercises with Izuku, Hanta noticed that his power wasn't as offensive as the heavy hitters in the class, but it was incredibly useful to stop and restrain the enemy. With Yui's help, he could now control the size of his attacks, and he took full advantage of that. They didn't need to get close. He just needed to hit the bullseye with his quirk. They also had a solid defense, thanks to Tokoyami and Dark Shadow. Kirishima also made the structure almost unshakeable.
"FOR VICTORY!"
"FOR THE DARKNESS THAT CONSUME US!"
"FOR MANLINESS!"
"FOR VICTORY!"
"We seriously need to work on our team war cry."
Yui nodded as Hanta sighed and they continued to work together to get as many headbands as they could.
—————
Meanwhile, Mineta and the teammates that got him were seething. It was his chance to get noticed, and he was missing it! Sure, he had easily constructed an almost impregnable defense thanks to Shoji, but they missed their precision strike that would have allowed them to get a second headband and maybe get onto the leaderboard!
He was technically one of the top students if Gen Ed, and he couldn't and wouldn't lose here.
At first, he had wanted to be a hero because he thought that would make him cool and make the ladies interested in him. Now, however, he wanted to be part of the heroic because he felt he should have made the cut If it wasn't for that purple-haired dude, who even had the gall to surrender his headband with his team. Apparently, none of the hero students wanted to shine! What was the point of being a hero if you didn't shine and shape society?
"Shit… We need to score one good win! Or eliminate the leader!"
Mineta was smarter than most people expected. In fact, he was actually the student that had the top score on the written portion of the entrance exam. What his partner said was actually right, as their team was most likely fifth. The Katsuki team had such a destructive power that trying to fight them was almost impossible, the Monoma team were almost an ally as they helped them get quite a few points from 1A and finally the mixed-team had one of the strongest defenses aside from his team.
However, team Izuku, with the leader openly flirting with his girl, was a sight that enraged him and the fact he had temporarily lost focus was an opportunity.
"Well, you know what they say: shoot the horse to kill the leader."
It surprised most of his team seeing how determined he was, but Mineta clearly had a plan. So they followed his lead when he told them to charge the mad bombers… And didn't go for their headband. Instead, he grabbed one of his sticky balls, and with a well-trained aim, threw it just under one of the spider legs.
Suddenly, the structure became shaky, and despite Toru grabbing him, Izuku saw the legs were getting ready to collapse. If Momo, Mei, or Toru fell on the ground, it wasn't important. However, if he did, then the team would be eliminated.
——————
"Oh? Apparently, one of the students noticed the loophole."
"What do you mean, Eraser?"
"We forbade them from attacking the leader. We said nothing about their teammates. It's a smart move: sometimes, you need to aim for the weak point."
"You mean like that time Joke brought you to a cat café to seduce you?"
"… How do you know that?!"
"WHO DO YOU THINK FEEDS HER INTEL?"
——————
Izuku was in a pickle, as he was dangerously close to the ground. Desperate times called for desperate measures and Izuku reached his right hand up his other sleeve, to touch the cards inside of it.
The green boy prayed for luck, for once.
And then something weird happened when he touch a card from the Old Guard deck.
——————
Up in the stand, Yagi felt something stirring inside of One for All, coursing through his body and blood. A warm feeling, something that protected him, despite him coughing up blood… But no one in the booth missed what appeared to be a bright light appearing on the field, unlike anything else Izuku had summoned.
When the light disappeared, only a silhouette was visible, one that Yagi could never forget.
"That's… that is impossible…."
—————
As Izuku felt his grip slipping through Toru's hands, as Mei and Momo tried to get out to form a new structure to help Izuku, he felt another hand grabbing him. A hand that easily grabbed the other girls as well, before putting them on the ground first, and Izuku on top of them.
In front of them, floating in the air, was a woman with chiseled musculature, and a smile beaming as much as Izuku on a bright day… Whom patted his head, quickly, with a somewhat maternal look.
She then looked up towards the stands, and in a supersonic boom, reached it in an instant.
"What the fuck was that?!"
"I DON'T KNOW"
"YOUR QUIRK IS WEIRD!"
"I KNOW!"
—————
In front of All Might, in his skeletal form, stood a figure he never dreamed of seeing again… at least, until his eventual demise.
"Nana…"
"Hey, boyo. Long time, right? Sorry, I don't have much time and I'm not sure there will be another chance. I just wanted to tell you…"
Yagi felt her powerful arms as they pulled him towards her, while the other teachers watched the scene, understanding nothing that was happening.
"I am proud of you, Yagi. You are the best student I could ever have, and you went above and beyond everything I thought you would accomplish."
No one would have expected to see All Might crying in someone's arms, but they could see it right then and there… as Nana began crumbling, her legs turning into dust.
"Ah, shit. Time to go. Remember though. I am with you, always."
Nana was smiling, as she usually was, when the situation was dire… And then only ashes remain on the ground. All Might was left bewildered. What… what just happened?
—————
"Inko, are you okay?!"
Atsuhiro saw his loving (to-be) wife dropping one of her favorite tea sets on the ground, as she saw a ghost on the TV.
He had an idea of the reason and clearly understood why. Hell, if Harima just came back to life to save him, he would be quite puzzled, too.
"Yes… No… I don't know. I don't know. Do you think Izuku has her card on purpose or…"
"I don't think he knows, Inko. But maybe, just maybe, you should try to talk to him about it?"
"Yes… Sorry. I just need a bit more time. But… she was smiling, like when I was a kid…"
On her TV screen is an image of the hero Floaty, not the most powerful or the most popular hero, but still a fairly known member of the Old Guard, the generation before All Might.
"Mom…"
——————
"Nedzu? I need a meeting. Soon."
Looking at the record, Endeavor knew his hunch was right, while he reached for a file with Izuku's photo on it. He was going to need it.
"Oh? What did you find?"
"I can't speak about it on the phone, dad. But it is of the utmost importance. Bring All Might too, we might need him. Because I found out who killed Hisashi Midoriya… And it means we should put Izuku Midoriya under high surveillance as of now."
"… Come immediately."
On the screen, Enji could see the silhouette of one of his former nemesis… As he looked at Izuku's file, he wondered, what might he be?