Chapter 14: Dreams and Desires
Mina Ashido sat down next to Tsuyu and Toru with a tray of food. Across the table were Shoji and Sero.
"Ashido, Sero," Shoji said through an arm-mouth. "Well done to the both of you."
The two of them exchanged a glance. "Like I said before..." Sero grinned apologetically. "Bakugo did most of the work. Hopefully we'll have a chance to show off in the finals, though."
"How did you end up on his team anyway? Ribbit."
"Oh, I was with Kirishima for most of the obstacle race, and he kinda convinced me, I guess. It didn't occur to me that you guys might have wanted to team. I'm sorry."
"No hard feelings, ribbit. Clearly what you ended up doing worked."
"But Tsu-chan, you and Shoji-kun's strategy was amazing!" Toru praised. "If only you hadn't gotten frozen in Todoroki's ice, you definitely could have finished in the top four teams!"
Shoji's arm-mouth swallowed a bite of food and then said: "Perhaps. But there were many other powerhouse teams as well. We had confidence in our strategy initially, but seeing the end results, it might have been more prudent to team with Katayama."
"Oh yeah, that team was crazy for sure," Sero commented, leaning back in his seat and stretching. "Both class reps are super smart, plus Todoroki's ice...and Katayama's Quirk is tailor-made for an event where you have to steal stuff from people. Any team with him on it was basically guaranteed finalist. No wonder Todoroki tried to snatch him up."
"I'd never seen him use it like that before, ribbit," said Tsu. "After Todoroki-chan froze all of us, he just...flexed his arms, and all our bandanas were his. Did he ever show it off like that in middle school, Toru-chan?" She placed a finger on her chin.
The invisible girl appeared to shake her head. "He never used his Quirk at all in middle school. I think only his close friends even knew what it was."
Mina continued to eat silently. He forced me to join Bakugo and Kirishima's team...and ended up on Todoroki's team. But she understood now. She'd hung out with Kirishima enough to know when a man was being a stubborn man. In that moment...he'd thought that he was holding everyone back, and in the eyes of a boy, that was unforgivable. So he'd freed her of himself.
"Hey guys," said Doko, sitting down next to Sero, directly across from her. He placed his tray down and began to eat.
The other five glanced at each other, and then to him. His face was completely normal. He seemed...fine. Like nothing was wrong.
"Dokkun...?" Tsu asked. "Are you...?"
"I'm okay. Sorry about stealing you and Shoji's headband. The smug comments were a little unwarranted, but I kinda got caught up in the moment."
"Ah. Right. Well, we aren't angry about it, ribbit."
Shoji nodded in agreement. "Congratulations on making it to the final event, Katayama."
"Yeah, it feels like you actually earned your place, unlike me," Sero complained good-naturedly. "You played the system, pretending you weren't a threat and then getting teamed up with three of the most impressive people in class, and being front and center no less. You really had me fooled."
"I didn't really do it on purpose," Doko said plainly. "Todoroki asked me to team with him. The strategy was all his idea. Seeing how I didn't have a lot of options at that point, I couldn't say no."
"Uh, yeah...sorry again about abandoning you like that, ribbit," said Tsuyu. "Looking back on the match, we probably made a mistake. And it hurt your feelings."
"I'm sorry too!" Toru put in. "When you and Mina were talking to Bakugo again, I got pulled aside by Jiro and...they already had three people, so..."
"It's okay," Doko interrupted. "I'm not mad."
"Huh?"
"You're not?"
"Nah. I was before, but I was just being ridiculous, honestly. I was the one causing all the tension and making you all worry, right? All you did was take the best chances you thought you had at the time, because you wanted to compete. But you're all so strong." Doko smiled. "You're strong enough to compete against each other without sacrificing friendships, because you understand how you're going to become heroes. I'm sorry for not getting it. I'm still very new to all of this. I was the weak one, for creating tension and getting upset where it wasn't necessary."
A warmth spread through Mina's chest. The corners of her lips turned up without her permission. He...he came around...
"D'awww!" Toru exclaimed. "Apology accepted, Katayama-kun! And I'm sorry too, still!"
"Thanks, ribbit."
"You are forgiven, of course."
"Hey, no worries man."
"Thanks, everyone." Smiling, Doko turned to Mina, who couldn't stop herself from grinning.
"Does that mean you're gonna compete now? With me and Sero?"
"Of course, Mina. I wish the other three were coming to the finals too, but..."
"Good!" she interrupted, reaching over the table and putting her hands over his. "Because we still need to have a DDR rematch!" She winked.
He faintly blushed. "You won that, remember?"
"Not by enough points! I need to beat you harder!"
The others laughed. "Glad you've come around, ribbit," said Tsu to Doko. "You had us worried, but you ESPECIALLY had Mina worried."
She felt heat rush to her face. "Hey, sh-shut up, Tsu! Why single me out?"
"I don't know. It was the first thing that popped into my head."
Mina hurriedly retracted her hands from Doko's, blushing. His blush had curiously gone away, and he was looking at her in cute confusion, head tilted. Goodness. No wonder I got all jealous for a second when Yaomomo hugged him. Actually, I want to know about that.
And she did it the only way she knew how. By teasing.
"Say, Doko..." Mina leaned toward him, blinking her eyes prettily. "What's the deal with you and Yaomomo, hmm?"
"Huh? What?" The boy seemed genuinely confused.
"She practically threw herself at you after the match was over." Mina's grin widened.
"Yeah, wwwaaait a second, I saw that too!" Sero turned to the boy next to him. "Katayama, you traitor!" He began shaking Doko violently.
"Gaaaaah! What in the everloving fuck are you talking abOoOoOut?!" Doko's voice went up and down in sync with Sero shaking him.
"You've somehow pulled the hottest girl in class during the sports festival, all while still advancing! Tell me your secrets! Spill!" All the while, Mina was laughing maniacally.
"Aaaargh! I don't know! It wasn't like thaAaAt! Yaoyorozu was just...she was happy about our victory...celebrating as teamAaAtes...let me GO!" He pulled himself free of Sero. "Also, the hottest girl in class? Where'd you get that from?"
"Yaoyorozu, obviously! And you can't lie to me! I see through you." Sero made his fingers into circles and put them over his eyes.
Mina's eye twitched. Doko doesn't think Yaomomo is the hottest girl in class? Even I think that. She gulped. Could he...could he possibly think that it's ME?
"Sorry to reign on your parade." Doko coughed. "There's nothing going on, Sero. Not to worry. If I got a girlfriend, you'd know. Probably via trumpets in the sky heralding the end of the world."
"There he is," Toru commented happily. "The old Katayama-kun."
"In any case..." Doko looked between Mina and Sero. "I'm happy that three of us are going into the finals, at least. Even if we compete...I support you guys fully!"
Sero sighed and relaxed. "Same here, I suppose. Oh, who am I kidding. Of course."
Mina flashed another grin. "I got it, Doko! Friends can still compete with each other!"
"And we will support you from the sidelines, of course," said Shoji.
"Yeah!" Toru echoed.
"Ribbit."
"I'm just glad you're all so mature, and wish I'd realised all of this sooner," Doko said. "I wasn't being competitive enough, but you guys were just the right amount of competitive." Something flashed through his eyes that Mina did not understand. "It's the people that are taking it TOO seriously that I suppose I still have a problem with."
...
"I'm gonna try and beat you, too!" Midoriya was saying.
Shoto looked back. Midoriya had an earnest, determined expression on his face. He'd just told the green-haired boy about his past. He still wasn't sure why he felt like he needed to. He wasn't sure about a lot of things right now...but Katayama's words flashed through his mind again.
You'll be a good hero, but a bad person. Just like your father.
He realised he should say something to Midoriya. This boy...whatever his connection to All Might is...I DO respect him. That's what Katayama has failed to see...
Maybe because I haven't ever conveyed it all that well. He came off as cold, he supposed. "Right," he said to Midoriya stiffly, suddenly feeling awkward. "I...expect nothing less." Then he continued to walk away.
Forget Katayama for now. What he said isn't relevant to the main issue. My old man.
Regardless of the others around me, I have to show him...that I don't need his power.
...
"Alright, we've gathered up the cavalry battle participants on the field yet again! Let's have another round of applause for 'em!"
The crowd cheered as the students walked out on the green. Midnight stood up on the platform as they arrived. "Everyone here? Good. It's time to announce the final event...one on one matches!"
The crowd went nuts, but Doko noticed all the other students were silent. "Huh? What's going on?" he whispered to Sero.
"Erm...yeah. This was kinda predictable. They do matches like this every year. Not much point in building up to it in secrecy, but it always works on the crowd."
Midnight waved up at the big screen, which now became an empty bracket. "The sixteen students that were part of the top four teams in the cavalry battle will be set against each other in a tournament! The first matchups will be decided at random!"
Doko swallowed. One on one fights. I'll have no one to support me, and no large group of other participants to potentially catch audience attention. All eyes will be on me, and one other person. If THAT wasn't nerve-wracking...
"Excuse me?" It was Ojiro, stepping forward. Kaminari was behind him. "I...we...the two of us, I mean..."
"We'd like to withdraw," Kaminari said loudly.
The crowd went silent, whispering and murmuring. All the other students' eyes fell upon the two boys. Midnight raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"We...um..." Ojiro's tail swished back and forth. "Neither of us remember anything in the cavalry battle."
"We didn't feel like we did any work," Kaminari supplied. Both of them had grave expressions on their faces. They meant it.
Other Class A members were urging them not to.
"Kaminari, are you serious?"
"Ojiro, this is a chance to show off your skills!"
"Yeah, it doesn't matter if you didn't get to last round! Just take the advantage you've gotten!"
"This is DIFFERENT, okay?" Ojiro erupted. "It's a matter of pride!"
Doko couldn't believe it. They...they're willing to give up for the sake of their pride...shouldn't I be willing to do the same? If he hadn't managed to actually accomplish things in the cavalry battle, he might very well have. But I already promised Mina and Sero. We're all gonna compete, and support each other!
"I still don't get what you mean when you say you can't remember anything."
"It was someone's Quirk..." Kaminari shook his head and shuddered. "Like we were put under a spell."
"In any case, we talked it out and decided we can't go through with this," Ojiro told Midnight.
The pro heroine sniffled. "The morals of youth...I love it! And I'll allow it!" She struck a pose, making an absurdly emotional face.
Most of the students sweatdropped. She decided based on tastes.
Present Mic's voice cut in. "Well...this is highly irregular! There can't be a full bracket with only fourteen participants!"
"I'll allow the fifth place team to choose two people to move forward!" Midnight announced.
The 1B team chose Tetsutetsu and a girl with green, vine-like hair to represent them. Meanwhile, various students swarmed Ojiro and Kaminari to say that they respected their decision. Doko caught notice of Aoyama standing off to the side, smiling nervously. He was on their team, wasn't he? And he decided to not speak up. Guess he really wants to "shine" or whatever.
Wait, hadn't they been on the team with the purple-haired boy, Shinso? Doko scanned the crowd for him, and saw him. The general studies boy looked...off-putting, to say the least. He was watching Kaminari and Ojiro in anger.
"Alright!" Present Mic yelled. "Here's the bracket for the first eight matches!"
Match 1: Izuku Midoriya vs Hitoshi Shinso
Match 2: Hanta Sero vs Shoto Todoroki
Match 3: Tenya Iida vs Mei Hatsume
Match 4: Fumikage Tokoyami vs Momo Yaoyorozu
Match 5: Doko Katayama vs Ibara Shiozaki
Match 6: Yuga Aoyama vs Mina Ashido
Match 7: Eijiro Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu
Match 8: Katsuki Bakugo vs Ochaco Uraraka
Midoriya was looking at the scoreboard in confusion and fear, and then looked back to Shinso, who grinned.
Sero made a noise of annoyance next to Doko. "Damn, I'm up against Todoroki. Guess that rules out me meeting you in any match. I should probably come up with some kind of strategy to not make a complete fool of myself."
Hatsume, apparently the girl from support, was approaching Iida and talking to him so quickly and energetically that even the boisterous class rep was having trouble keeping up.
Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami exchanged a serious glance.
"Who's Ibara Shiozaki?" Doko muttered aloud.
"The vine girl from 1B," Mina cut in, leaning in front of him and smiling. "Did you see who's after you? Me and Aoyama! I can beat him easily, and if you beat her, then we can fight each other in the quarterfinals!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. That's true." Doko smiled. "Here's to hoping we win our first matches, and get that second dance battle after all."
"Hehe. What if we actually turned it into a dance battle, though? Instead of fighting, we just start bustin' some moves."
Sero made an exasperated face. "Please do not do that, you two."
"GRRR! I'm fighting a guy with basically the same Quirk as me!" Kirishima and Tetsutetsu roared, at the exact same time, with the exact same vocal inflection.
"Huh? Uraraka?" Bakugo was looking at the scoreboard in confusion.
Meanwhile, the brunette was shaking in fear. "Why him, of all people?"
Doko's eyes fell upon Ibara Shiozaki, his first (and potentially last) opponent. She was not paying any attention to him, talking instead to a bunch of Class B kids. Her hair was indeed made of vines, and he seemed to recall that she was ahead of him in the obstacle race. What sort of Quirk is that? If only he'd gotten someone from his own class, he might have been able to prepare.
"Let's get to the stands," Sero was saying. "They've got to set up."
...
Cementoss had created a platform/ring of sorts in the center of the arena. Midnight announced the rules of the matches.
"The rules are simple! Your opponent goes out of bounds, you win! If you immobilise your opponent, you win! If your opponent gives up..." she licked her lips. "You win. Forget your morals and hangups for a moment; use your Quirk to its fullest. With Recovery Girl on standby, we can handle any injury! With that being said, anything life-threatening is obviously off the table."
Cementoss created a cement throne for himself, on the opposite side of the ring from Midnight. "We will monitor to make sure things don't get out of hand. If they do...we will interfere."
"Ooookaaay!" Present Mic shouted. "That's the rules!"
Doko sat down in the second row of Class A's box. Mina sat next to him. Sero and Shoji sat on his other side. Tsuyu and Hagakure sat behind. "Man, Doko," Mina commented, grinning and grabbing his arm. "If only you were brave enough to use your powers on other people. You could end every match in an instant."
"If they let me get in close, sure. And that COULD fall under life-threatening injuries, like Midnight just said. If I became the guy that murdered another student at his first Sports Festival, I'd never become a hero."
Sero chuckled. "Bakugo could use that advice for his matches."
"Fuck did you say, Flat Face?"
"My name's Sero."
Uraraka and Iida were in the first row, right in front of him. Doko leaned forward. "Midoriya's up first, right?"
Uraraka glanced at him nervously as if she was afraid to speak to him, but Iida turned, all friendly. "Yes, Katayama. It's a shame we don't know the details of his opponent's Quirk."
Doko slumped. "Him and me both. I'm up against some broad from Class B."
Jiro's eye twitched. "Did you seriously just say broad?"
"You should ask her out if you win," Kaminari suggested. "She'll be so taken by your strength." A slap from the earplugs. "Ow!"
Ojiro came into the box last, meaning all nineteen of them were now here. Midoriya was obviously about to go on.
The tail user sat down next to Hagakure. "Ojiro-kun..." the invisible girl breathed. "Your display to Midnight was very noble!"
"Heh...thanks, Hagakure."
"Hey, I forfeited too! Give me attention!" Kaminari leaned forward.
"Shut up," Jiro said. "Is that the only reason you went along with Ojiro? So girls would think you're noble? You sicken me." Another plug-slap. "OWWW!"
"Where were you?" Doko asked.
"Huh?" Ojiro raised his eyebrows, as if surprised that Doko was addressing him. "Oh, I was just warning Midoriya about Shinso's Quirk."
"Hmm?" Uraraka turned, interested. "What is it?"
"I'm not too keen on the details, but I think if you answer his questions or respond to him, he can put you in a trance. But blunt force can knock you out of it. That's all I know."
"Huh. I guess that's how he did so well in the cavalry battle. He probably just asked some teams to hand their points over."
"In any case..." Ojiro clenched his fists. "I hope Midoriya doesn't fall for it. Since I withdrew...I'm counting on him, and the rest of you guys, to do your best in my place."
"Of course!" Mina declared.
"Got it," said Doko, smiling at him.
"HERE IT IS! THE FIRST OF EIGHT QUALIFYING MATCHES! On one side...the boy who made a splash in the obstacle race, from the hero course, it's Izuku Midoriya! Wait, why's he making that face?"
All eyes in 1A fell to the green-haired boy walking out of the opening, and up onto the platform.
Doko leaned forward. That Shinso guy acted all high and mighty. He's another person who doesn't care about others in pursuit of his goal. He hasn't reconciled both dreams and friendships...much like Todoroki.
Midoriya...show him what you're made of.
...
Izuku tried to smile as he made his way out, thinking of All Might's words.
"I want you to tell the world...I am here!"
The responsibility of One For All was on his shoulders. And now Ojiro and Kaminari's honor, as well. They were counting on him. Plus...if I win this...
I face Todoroki.
"And on this side...he's done nothing to stand out so far! From general studies, it's Hitoshi Shinso!"
The other boy's eyes were tired, but he was grinning. The two of them stopped in the middle of the ring, facing each other.
Midnight looked between the two of them. "Ready?"
"Ready," Shinso said.
Izuku thought back to Ojiro's warning. Don't talk to him, right? But...
He thought back to Katayama, stopping him from jumping in to save All Might, when all it would have done was break his legs. And how Katayama had gone largely unnoticed for most of the festival, but still making it through. That's right. Katayama knows when to hold back...to observe, and focus! To be careful!
"Ready," said Izuku.
"First match!" Present Mic shouted. "STAAAAAART!"
Izuku began walking forward to Shinso, slowly and deliberately. The other boy had his hands in his pockets. "You hero students...you confuse me." He scratched an ear, as Izuku came on forward. "I thought you all wanted to show off a bit. Isn't that the point of this festival? But that monkey...he decided to waste his chance, don't you think?"
Izuku stopped short. MONKEY? Did he just call Ojiro a...he began to run, his emotions getting the better of him. He almost shouted "how DARE you!"...and stopped himself.
"Huh?" Shinso's eyes widened. "You...of course he warned you!"
Izuku kept running, not saying a word. I'll push him out. I will.
The crowd was cheering, although many of them were confused. "Midoriya gets in close! What's Shinso's plan?" Present Mic asked.
"The entrance exam wasn't rational," Aizawa sighed, shuffling papers. "Shinso's Quirk is no good against robots, so of course he didn't make it into the hero course."
Izuku reached Shinso and grabbed him, shoving him back. Just...
"You're lucky, aren't you Midoriya?"
Don't...
"Born with a power like that."
Talk...
Frantically, Shinso punched Midoriya across the face, but Midoriya drove an elbow into his chest, driving him further to the boundary line. "Why isn't this working?!"
Shinso...I understand...because I WASN'T born with this power. I understand your frustration. But you're right. I HAVE been blessed!
Shinso tried to grab his arm and spin them around, but Izuku used the momentum...and performed the same grab-flip he'd done on Kacchan in the battle trial. Shinso's body slammed into the ground, half out-of-bounds.
The crowd went nuts. "Shinso is out of bounds!" Midnight announced. "Midoriya advances to the quarterfinals!"
Izuku stood up tall, his breathing coming a little faster. I did it. I held back, I was careful...
Sorry All Might. I had to save the glory for next round. That's where my power will really be needed.
When Shinso stood, he looked sad, defeated. His mouth quivered, his teeth grinding in frustration.
...
"Shinso's Quirk could certainly be useful for a variety of situations..." Shota mused up in the box. "But he, like Monoma from Class B...failed to count for the drive found in my students."
...
"Shinso, why do you want to be a hero?" Izuku asked.
The boy sniffed and turned away. "You can't help the things you long for."
Izuku held a hand up as he walked off. I...I don't know what to say...
He was gone.
...
Doko looked down at his hands, suddenly feeling rather empty.
"He looked so sad..." he mumbled. Shinso had just disappeared into the opening under the stands.
"Gotta go, guys. Wish me luck," Sero was saying, as he stood up and stretched.
"You can't win against Todoroki, dude," Kaminari told him.
"Yeah...we'll see, I guess." The tape boy left. Todoroki was already below, getting ready to go on.
"Deku-kun won!" Uraraka said with an excited grin, holding up her fists.
Iida nodded, smiling. "And he has managed to hold off on relying on his Quirk so far. His restraint and creativity has been admirable."
"He heeded my advice..." Ojiro sighed, and relaxed. "I was kinda worried. Midoriya can let his emotions get the better of him sometimes, I think."
"It's like a victory for you too, Oji-kun!" Hagakure exclaimed.
"Ah...I wouldn't go that far."
"Doko?" Mina asked, leaning in. "Are you alright?"
"Man...I feel kinda bad, actually." Doko leaned back in his seat, smiling sadly. "I was being unfair to Shinso. He may have been too cold or abrasive in his pursuit...but it was because he was such an underdog. Now I feel sorry for him."
Mina turned her nose up. "Meh. I'm glad someone from our class won, anyway."
"Ribbit," said Tsu.
Speaking of...Doko narrowed his eyes. Someone with the same personality problem is up next...and they're decidedly not an underdog.
...
"I mean, he's good, but he's gotta work on being so plain! From the hero course, it's Hanta Sero!"
"Damn, that's kinda rude," Hanta said, smiling and stretching his hands against each other. One of his advantages had always been his lankiness...now all his body felt loose, ready to spring. He was ready to go.
I got into the top ten in the obstacle race. Don't let that have been the peak of my day! I may not have stood out much in the cavalry battle, but here I'm the underdog! Let me do my best!
"And up against him, the cold warrior who's made quite a statement today! Second in the first event and first in the second! From the hero course, it's Shoto Todoroki!"
Todoroki walked out onto the platform, staring Hanta down. Hanta just grinned back at him.
Second fight with another classmate, after Asui. Won that one. Let's see if I can keep up my winning streak! The odds are against me, but I want to challenge my friends! Ashido...and Katayama!
"Second match!" Present Mic boomed.
"Man, I don't really think I can win..." Hanta scratched at his neck sheepishly, trying to briefly distract the ice user.
"STAAAAART!"
"BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE LOSING, EITHER!" He shot out tape with both elbows, wrapping Todoroki up and constricting him. Releasing one side, Hanta began to spin, trying to throw his opponent out.
"Oh! A swift attack from the underdog! Will this be the day's first upset?!"
As he was being spun, Todoroki locked eyes with his opponent, and Hanta froze, his heart skipping a beat. The boy's eyes had killing intent.
"Sorry," he growled.
He drove his right heel into the ground, and the arena filled with ice.
...
The entire Class A box was stunned in silence. An ice wall had just filled their vision.
"That power is practically unfair!" Kaminari whined.
"The darkness only grows," whispered Tokoyami.
Doko leaned forward, his jaw practically on the floor. Todoroki broke the tape by freezing it and then shattering it. He'd sent out an ice pillar taller than the arena, and almost as wide. With just one heel.
Midoriya, who'd returned right before the match started, was muttering up a storm. Bakugo had a similarly analytical expression on his face.
All the pros in the crowd were stunned. "He did that much?"
"Such power..."
"Damn, man..." Sero's teeth chattered, trapped in the heart of the pillar. "Wasn't that a little overkill?"
"Sero, can you move?" Midnight asked.
"What does it l-look like?"
"Sero is immobilised! Todoroki advances to the quarterfinals!"
"Sorry again," Todoroki said as he began to melt the ice around Hanta. "I was...angry." He glanced up in the stands, where Endeavor stood watching.
...
Sero and Todoroki returned to the box as Iida and Hatsume got ready to face off. "Tough luck, Sero," said Doko as the tape user sat down.
"Ehh. It was just how the random bracket stacked. Shame we couldn't meet later on, though. My battle plan in such a scenario was to ask you about girls again."
"Gah!" Doko trembled, and Mina and Sero both laughed.
Tsuyu's vacant eyes followed Todoroki as the ice user went and stood behind the back row. "Sero-chan. What did he say to you when he was melting you? We can't hear from up here, ribbit."
"Oh...he said sorry, and that he'd gotten a little angry. I don't know if he was angry at me for bothering to try against him, or if it was something else."
Doko folded his hands under his chin. If it was the former, I have all the more reason to fulfill my promise. If it's the latter...Doko found Endeavor in the stands. It wasn't hard. The number two hero's flaming facial hair stood out like a sore thumb.
Todoroki has been glaring up at him periodically. Perhaps his refusal to use his fire is connected to his dad? When he'd said to the boy "just like your father," that had clearly pushed a button. If he's angry like Sero says...good. I need him unstable.
He was really going all in on this, wasn't he? He almost chuckled to himself. Go big or go home.
There was some confusion down below about Iida using support items.
"You have to sign a petition to use those!"
"I apologise! I forgot! I thought...since Aoyoma had a belt..."
"He signed a petition for that!"
"Prior planning, monsieur." Aoyama winked in his seat, as if anyone was listening to him.
"Iida's up against Hatsume, huh?" Shoji wondered aloud.
Sato nodded. "I wonder what sort of skills support students have that factors into this."
"She has those gadgets," said Doko. If only I'd been up against her, I might have had objects to work with. As it stood, the platform the fights were taking place on was completely bare. There was nothing he could warp via his arms.
Midoriya leaned forward, muttering. "Iida's best bet in any match is to attack right away, with his speed, but without knowing what he or Hatsume are wearing or what those gadgets do, it is impossible to truly tell...mutter mutter mutter..."
"Erm...Deku-kun..." Uraraka gave him a cute, nervous glance.
"Gah! Deku! Shut UP!" Bakugo roared from behind.
"Ah! Sorry, Uraraka, sometimes I get carried away..."
Doko leaned forward and pointed at the burned packet of paper he saw next to Midoriya. "What's that?"
"Huh? Oh, Katayama! It's, um...my notebook. I have notes on heroes and Quirks and stuff."
"Why's it burned?" Doko asked plainly.
"Uhh..." Midoriya's frightened eyes flashed in Bakugo's direction, for half a second. Doko got the gist. HE did it.
"Actually, I have notes on Quirks from people in the class as well..." Midoriya began to thumb through the pages. "Katayama, would you like to see yours?"
Doko's eye twitched. "I think I'm good, thanks." He's written about me.
"Wow, Deku-kun, that's amazing!" Uraraka praised. "You're so logical and thoughtful!"
"Huh? Ah, it's n-nothing!" he sputtered, waving his arms around and turning the color of a tomato.
Mina leaned forward, smiling at Doko, and then looking at the antics of the two people in front of them. "Ah, young love."
Doko snickered. "This one's so obvious even I've noticed it." They weren't listening to them, of course.
Iida and Hatsume's match was a bit of a joke and a bit of a disaster. Hatsume utterly embarrassed Iida for the sake of showing off her gadgets, and then threw the match by walking out. Doko found himself getting mad at her as well. Iida's a good guy under all that...personality of his. He deserved better! He'd earned them the win in the cavalry battle.
"Doko, something wrong?" Mina asked.
"Oh, nothing. Besides the fact that I'm getting way too into this and getting upset about the result of every match in one way or the other, everything's fine."
Mina giggled. "You want justice for Sero and Iida, don't you? That's pretty heroic, you know."
"Good to hear. I don't feel particularly heroic." As Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami walked out onto the stage, he stood. "My match is soon. I'd better get ready."
Mina gave him a coy look. "Sure you don't wanna stay and cheer for Yaomomo?"
Doko looked down at Tokoyami, and shivered, rubbing the cuts on his arms. "It's no use. She's going to lose." Dark Shadow is too much.
As he walked out of the box, Shoji and Tsu and Hagakure wished him good luck. He nodded to them. Todoroki was not present by the tunnel door like before. Must have gone off somewhere.
He headed for the player waiting room. "Katayama, wait!"
Doko turned. It was Midoriya.
"Hey man. What is it?" The guy was holding the notebook. "Listen, whatever you've written in there, I really don't want to..."
"Just please listen for a second," the boy said, not stuttering at all. "You...when you saved me at USJ...I was thinking about that. During my fight with Shinso. I thought about your restraint and your strategy. How you know when to hold back. And that's how I managed not to fall for his Quirk. So...thank you."
Doko grinned. "Hey, that's all you, man. You didn't HAVE to take my actions into account. Besides...I don't know if..."
"You've really been holding back?" Midoriya finished. Doko's eyes widened.
"I don't know either. You've confused me for a while, Katayama. I just recently started your notes, along with everyone else's, but...I wanna know. Why do you want to become a hero?"
"Because, because I..." the old motivation, the old excuse, it wasn't cutting it anymore. Not for this competition, not for this school. Things had changed already in such a short period of time.
"Once I just thought I wanted to use my natural power where it could be of the most help. But...it's more than that. I...want to be a champion of the downtrodden. The underdogs. The people who don't believe they can win, but try anyway. People like Sero, who keep a smile on their face even in defeat. People like Shinso, who work through the disadvantages of their Quirk to achieve their dreams. People who understand what it's like to be at the bottom, who understand the value of things beyond powers and competition. Like friendships."
Midoriya was grinning, ear-to-ear. "I knew it. I won't ask what may have happened to you in the past, Katayama. I already heard enough of the darkness of the past today." He clenched his fist, and Doko wondered what he meant by that. "I don't know what your circumstances were with your Quirk, but someone put you down, didn't they?"
Doko could only nod. I haven't even told Mina and them the truth about my parents, but this guy's nearly figured it out on his own.
"But...I, like you, was in some way part of the 'bottom' for a long time. That's how we can respect the top for what it is, in a different way than some who've spent their whole lives up there might. That's why...I just want to offer this one piece of advice."
Doko sniffed, barely keeping his emotions in check. "Go ahead."
"I don't know a lot about your powers, Katayama. But...the limits you've imposed on them? They may not be as hard as you think."
Then the boy turned around and headed back for the box.
Doko swallowed. Midoriya...you really are amazing. I'll...think on your words.
As he went down the steps and across the hall to the waiting room, he encountered...
"Ohmygod." Doko stopped short. Looming over him was a massive muscular man with a flaming beard and piercing blue eyes. Todoroki's father. Endeavor.
"You. I have been looking for you," he said deeply, looking down at Doko. Doko was five-foot-nine, taller than all but three in his class, but Endeavor towered over him. The warping boy's face began to twitch uncontrollably. The purple energy sputtered. "I might begin to spit nonsense," he squeaked. "If that happens, sorry in advance."
Endeavor raised a confused eyebrow. "I expected you to be a strange one, but...I wanted to ask you something. How did you convince my Shoto to let YOU take the rider role in the cavalry battle?"
"H-huh?" Doko gulped. "Sir, he...um, yes. Endeavor, sir. He told me to be the rider, Endeavor. It was his, um, idea. Because I could warp people's..." he spontaneously circled a finger around his own head. Damn it! Words! "The headbands. I could warp them if I got close enough."
Endeavor narrowed his eyes. "I see. And did he explicitly volunteer to carry you from the right?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Grrr." The hero clenched his fists.
"I'm...sorry I couldn't be of more assistance."
"It's not your fault," the hero mumbled, already walking away. "Not your fault my most prized creation is rebelling."
Creation? That's a weird way to talk about your son. That almost spilled directly out of Doko's mouth, but he'd forced it down.
Endeavor looked back over his shoulder at him one last time. "You wouldn't happen to know where I might find Izuku Midoriya, would you?"
"N-no, sir." A lie, of course. But he didn't really want to send Endeavor up to the Class A box or even know if it was allowed. I suppose the number two hero probably just does whatever he wants, but still.
The two of them parted ways.
When Doko walked into the waiting room, he accidentally stumbled upon Yaoyorozu, sitting alone at the table. Her face and eyes were faintly red, and she was sniffling.
"How many weird meetings am I going to have on the way to my match?"
"Huh? Ah!" Yaoyorozu started, leaping out of her seat upon seeing him. "Katayama-kun...you..."
"Hello. I didn't see your match because I kept getting held up by people in the hallway, but I assume you lost it?"
She sniffled again. "...Yes."
Damn. Other than Midoriya, pretty much everyone he'd rooted for had lost. Iida's win didn't count since Hatsume basically toyed with him the whole time.
"Dark Shadow is tough," Doko said awkwardly. "We found that out in the cavalry battle."
"Yes, but..." she put a hand on her chest, looking sadly down at the table. Her lip was trembling. "I was able to block and counter him then, because I had all of you with me. You and Todoroki and Iida. You're the wonderful ones, truly. All by myself, I couldn't do anything..."
"Well..." Doko felt really awkward. He'd never had a conversation with this girl before today, and they'd had several...moments over the course of the day. "Your Quirk is better suited to coming up with a plan beforehand, right? So you know exactly what to make. I'm not real good at planning, so I wouldn't get it too much, but..." he scratched his head. "If your instincts are your weaker side of things, then that's what you train to improve, I guess. And...have more confidence in yourself. A lot of the Creation you did in the cavalry battle was instinctual, and most of it involved saving my ass. I should be the one praising you, in all honesty."
Yaoyorozu rubbed her eyes and stood to face him, appearing surprised. "You...you can't mean it..."
"Why would I lie about something like that, Yaoyorozu?"
"You...you can call me Yaomomo, if you like." She smiled. "That's what all the girls call me."
Doko sweatdropped. Fuck. Not this again. One of the girls indeed.
"Oh!" Momo's eyes widened in shock. "My match ended ages ago! You're probably up any second, Katayama!"
"Shit." She had a point. "Well, wish me luck. And don't stay in here crying forever. Everyone up in the box misses you, probably." He left the waiting room, giving her a parting thumbs up.
...
"It's time for the fifth match!" Present Mic shouted. The crowd went wild, ready to see another battle. The first match had been rather underwhelming, with no powers used. The second had been one massive burst of excitement before ending. The third had been a joke, and the fourth had ended too quickly. The crowd was starving for some real action.
"On one side, the graceful assassin of Class B! A recommended student, so her abilities are certified! From the hero course, it's Ibara Shiozaki!"
Crowd cheered. Doko let out a deep breath, and stepped from the tunnel to the open arena, afternoon sunlight shining in his eyes.
"On the other side...the flashy rider and star of the cavalry battle! His powers kinda confuse me! From the hero course, it's Doko Katayama!"
Doko smiled and waved at the crowd, playing the part a little. He spotted Mina's pink skin and horns high up in the box, and tried to wave specifically in that direction, hoping she got the message.
"Pardon me," Shiozaki was saying, raising a hand toward the announcer's booth.
The entire crowd fell silent.
"What did you mean by assassin? I come not to murder my fellow students, but to nobly challenge them in the field of battle, with the hope of a desirable result."
"Oh..." Present Mic mumbled, as the crowd whispered among themselves. "Sorry..."
A halo seemed to appear over her head. "I have entered UA High to become a shining light and help others, not to push others down. I do wish my introduction would reflect this."
"I said I'm sorry, okay?!"
What the hell is her deal? Doko wondered as she turned to face him, equidistant from the center of the platform. Is she some kind of joke character?
And I still don't know how her Quirk works. Apparently she was a recommended student like Todoroki and Yaomomo. Which means...well, I don't know what it means.
In an empty open platform like this, without any objects to work with, Doko only had one option. Dodge attacks with his own warps, and warp in close enough to push the other person out. I'll just have to give it my all, he thought. Like Midoriya, and Sero, and Yaomomo, and Iida...and most of Class A!
"Are you ready, my loves?" asked Midnight.
"Ready," said Shiozaki.
"Ready," said Doko.
"Fifth match!" Present Mic yelled. "STAAAAART!"
I've become increasingly obsessed with cliffhangers. Next chapter won't have one I swear
Thanks for reading as always!