The Tournament Part 1
"We need to talk." Izuku froze as Todoroki stared at him expectantly, his eyebrows knitting in confusion. What did the Son of Endeavor want to talk to him about? He didn't know, and he didn't really want to find out either. Inching closer to Yanagi, he wanted to grab her arm or hand or something, but his fingers thumped in pain. He needed to go to Recovery Girl.
"I apologize for intruding, however Midoriya needs to go see Recovery Girl." Yanagi floated in front of them and pushed Izuku away. "It is a matter of utmost importance and we cannot waste time."
Todoroki grit his teeth and the little slight, "Waste time? Why-"
"Isn't that right Midoriya?" Yanagi asked, cutting off Todoroki. The boy scowled. Izuku simply nodded. "R-Right!" And was dragged away to Recovery Girl's infirmary, they had time until the tournament stage was set up so they could afford to take some time to head to Recovery Girl. Todoroki narrowed his eyes and followed them.
They arrived and Yanagi opened the door for Izuku, not wanting him to use his wrecked hands. She would be lying if she said she was alright with the way they passed on to the next event. She hated Izuku breaking himself. "Miss Recovery Girl, I have a patient for you." She said monotonously, masking her emotions.
The nurse simply turned, and sighed. "I knew it was too much to hope." She cursed under her breath as she walked over and gave Izuku a peck on his cheek with her extending lips. Afterwards, handing him some gummies. "Please, I don't want to see you again today." She stared at him blankly as he simply smiled. The smile made her sigh, "I'll get a bed ready for you…"
"Thank you…" Izuku simply said. "We'll leave now..." He didn't want to bother her anymore, especially when she had to put up with him so much already.
The two students walked out, only to see Todoroki waiting in the hall. "We can talk now." He glanced at Yanagi. "Alone, preferably." His voice was flat, but it held.. something. Something that made chills go up Izuku's spine. His eyes were also cruel looking, and the way he spoke felt off to Izuku. But... there was something else in them too, it looked like pain, and Izuku wanted to help.
Izuku glanced at Yanagi, the girl's eyebrows were knitted in either anger or annoyance, he couldn't quite place it. It was kind of cute. 'N-No! You can't think that!' He admonished himself. Silently, he patted her shoulder, and smiled. "It's okay, Yanagi-chan, just a small talk."
Yanagi looked like she wanted to argue, but she kept her mouth closed. "I'll be waiting for you in the stands with the rest of our try, please try your best to not be tarty." She said before floating away.
After she left, Izuku turned to 1-A's recommendation student before gulping.
They stood in an empty hall, Todoroki staring at him with narrowing eyes. "You made me use it…" He said quietly, lifting his left arm. "Eh?" Izuku was confused, he knew nothing about Todoroki after all. The boy was a complete stranger to him. "My fire." Todoroki clarified, "I swore to never use my fire in combat, but you made me use it." He glared at Izuku, like the greanette was the reincarnation of the devil.
"You, someone who came out of nowhere, not even admitted through recommendation, made me use my fire." Todoroki shook his head. "What's so special about you, to make someone like me break my promise?"
Izuku squirmed under Todoroki's gaze, but he still opened his mouth. "I-I'm not all that special at all…" He was only the successor of Japan's Number One Hero and Symbol of Peace, no big deal, but honestly, besides that there really was nothing special about him "B-But, why would you hinder yourself like that?" He asked, trying to stir the conversation.
The opposing boy recoiled, "Hinder?" Todoroki seemed to be angered, "Why would I be hindered, I'm not using that man's power. Why would I be hindered by that, Midoriya?" His voice was icy cold.
Izuku quickly understood that Todoroki didn't seem to like his father. But he did have to wonder why, after all they seemed to be very similar. But he found words to open his mouth. "W-Well, what are you going to do even if someone's freezing to death in a snowstorm? Or if your ice is ineffective in a fight because someone can perfectly counter it with their quirk? Or if your ice is hindering you in a fight-"
"Stop talking." Izuku immediately shut his mouth and stared at the silent Todoroki. The boy seemed to ponder Izuku's words before shaking his head, dismissing his thoughts. "Have you ever heard of quirk marriages?"
Izuku noticed he was diverting the topic. He didn't want to think about what Izuku had said, but Izuku didn't know why. Though the topic of quirk marriages had slightly interested him, he had of course heard of them, it was a booming topic on the news when he was a little kid. But it had been a while, he needed a refresher. "N-No…"
Todoroki nodded, "Marrying someone to get the simple product of a child with a strong quirk." He answered before looking down, spacing out. Or maybe remembering, pain, misery, sorrow.
Izuku understood. He had done that a lot sometimes, he would zone out and remember all of his life up until meeting All Might. Sometimes it happened because he thought of his old friend, other times it happened for no reason at all. But, he just knew that he didn't like it. He didn't like remembering the past, he wanted to move forward towards a brighter future.
Todoroki blinked, seemingly remembering where he was before continuing. "I'm the fourth child, my father's "successful" one." Despite Todoroki speaking in monotone, Izuku could clearly tell he was being sarcastic. "So, I was forced to endure living hell, what he referred to as training, the only solace I had was my mother. I wasn't allowed to be around my other siblings, those he deemed failures."
Izuku felt himself frowning alongside Todoroki. It was horrible, still though, he had to wonder. "W-Why would Endeavor go through all this?"
Todoroki's eyes widened, registering he realized he hadn't told Midoriya the reason why. "He wants to beat All Might, to surpass the Symbol of Peace." Izuku went rigid. Something that did not go unnoticed by Todoroki. Though the two toned haired teen continued "He knew that he couldn't do it, so he passed it onto his child, to me…"
"I-I see…" Izuku muttered. He felt clammy now that Todoroki had mentioned All Might. That made things a little bit more personal, though he wished that Todoroki didn't realize that. Actually, the boy probably didn't even know, so that was fine, everything was fine!
"But then he took my mother away after she poured boiling water on my face.."
Izuku gaped, the conversation was nowhere near a lively one. It was depressing, extremely so, he didn't think it could get any worse. How? How could he be so wrong? "W-Why'd she… do that…? I-If you don't mind me asking." He tried to seem polite, but he didn't know if he did. He didn't know how to talk about… anything going on in this conversation.
Todoroki brought up a hand and rubbed his scar, as if remembering the day he had gotten it and the experiences that he had with it since then "She hated my father, she hated being trapped in our house, but she loved me." His stone faced facade seemed to crack as he clenched a fist. "But.. I reminded her of him, she couldn't take it anymore… and…." He ended with silence, letting it sink in.
Izuku frowned. "I'm sorry that happened to you. No one should go through that, especially not at the hands of someone who should give them unconditional love."
Todoroki glared at him, "I didn't need your pity Midoriya. I just wanted to inform you that even if you're strong, even if you made me use my fire once, it won't happen again. I'll use only my right side, only my mother's power, and I'll defeat you. You're my stepping stone to All Might. I'll beat the Symbol of Peace without using my fire and stick it to my old man…!" For once, there seemed to be emotion in his voice.
All Might's successor nodded, creasing his brows, thinking about Todoroki's words. "So… a declaration of war then?" The Son of Endeavor nodded. "Well then…" He'd admit, he was nervous as heck but… he met Todoroki's eyes with ones that were filled with determination. "I-I made a promise to someone… that I'd tell the world that I'm here! I can't break that promise, Todoroki. So I apologize but… I'm going to win! And I won't lose to you!"
The stone cold boy remained impassive however and simply turned away, "It's futile, no matter what happens, no matter how hard you try, you're still going to lose…" The green haired boy felt chills, but he wouldn't cower!
"Todoroki.." The boy barely glanced at Izuku by looking behind his shoulder, only to see Izuku smile. "Good luck!"
He paused, not expecting that part "I.. um… you too.. Midoriya…" And awkwardly walked away. Todoroki left and Izuku let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in. "OHMYGOD! That'ssomuchtotakein! I mean, quirk marriage! Endeavor! I mean he always looked mean or at least annoyed online and on TV, but to think he'd do something like that! The number two hero! And his siblings and mom too! Oh my GOD!" He panted, "I-I don't even know what to say!"
Needless to say, Izuku had a hard time keeping quiet about it, but he managed.
The boy sighed as he entered 1-B's seating area, his entire class was already there. He was just here to say bye, since it looked like he would have the first match. But he noticed that Monoma wasn't around, the boy wasn't seated in the stands.
"Hey where's-"
"HITOSHI SHINSO AND IZUKU MIDORIYA, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE STADIUM SO WE CAN GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" Izuku winced at the volume and sighed. He thought he had more time. "Well.. never mind I guess…" He muttered. "See you guys!"
"Midoriya wait!" Nirengeki Shoda shot out of his seat and stalked towards Izuku, he seemed to have his words caught in his throat before he shook his head. "I need to talk to you about Shinso.. I thought I'd have more time though, what were you even doing this entire time?! But! Just- don't respond to him, no matter what he says, alright?"
Izuku nodded dumbly, "A-Alright, but what's-"
"Midoriya." The monotone voice was obviously Yanagi, and it came from behind him. He flinched, because she always did that and it scared him! He turned around and came face to face with her, "I... wanted to give you something. " She said before she softly grabbed his hand and put something in it.
"Eh?" Izuku clenched it and looked at it, it was his friendship bracelet. But there was more now. Orange and Dark Green trims were on the leather band and it had little circles of red neatly ordaining it. On top of a pair of little horns that surrounded the gem. "Y-Yanagi-chan… this.. it's awesome." He didn't know what else to say so he quickly put it on his left hand.
It was tight, firm, and reassuring. He loved it. He smiled and looked back up to his ghosty friend. "Thanks Yanagi-chan." Izuku glanced at the stadium screen, a timer showing when the first match was going to start. "Umm I have to go now but I'll…buy you lunch or whatever you want, promise." He got to the top of the steps and waved. "See you!"
Yanagi smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. He liked it! She was so glad that he said liked it. She was worried that he wouldn't, but he did. So everything was a-ok. "That was a nice thing to do Yanagi." She turned to Kendo and tilted her head.
"Well, what else are friends for?"
Kendo smiled and shook her head. "Friends, right, right.."
The ghost girl perked up. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
Meanwhile….
"DAMN IT!"
SLAM!
A familiar blond punched a wall before wincing and grabbing his hand, he didn't think that punching a wall would hurt so much. "Stupid! Stupid hand! Stupid.. me…" His voice lost all of its rage as he sighed before leaning against the wall. He placed his hand against his foreheads, it felt like it was thumping.
From either quirkoveruse or a headache because he was about to start crying, he didn't know "I'm so dumb…" He fell to the ground. "For once, I thought I could do something. Help someone, be a hero…" Monoma chuckled. "What an idiot…"
"I don't think you're an idiot..."
"OH MY GOD!" The boy yelped before turning to his left, seeing a familiar floating head looking for once, not happy. He panted, his heart was racing. "Please tell me you didn't hear all of that?" Monoma asked with a mortified look.
Setsuna winced before the rest of her body came from around the corner, her head reconnecting before she sat down next to him. "Sorry, but I heard everything.." She pulled her legs to her chest and hugged them. "I know I should've minded my own business, but I was worried about ya." She turned to him, and he could see it in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Monoma flinched, for once someone was worried about him. UA was very different from Junior High. Back then no one gave him a second glance, because he was "The Copy Cat" a freak, a loser, someone always playing catch up. But no one had seen it that way at UA, he just had some really great friends. "No… I'm afraid I'm not…" He sighed and leaned his head back on the wall.
The shark toothed girl felt her heart tighten up, she was a jokester, a clown! She made people laugh and smile with her pranks, kind of like the Smile Hero: Ms. Joke. But she didn't know how to make someone smile in a situation like this.
She sighed before she leaned onto his shoulder. She just trusted her gut and opened her mouth. "I think you're a hero…" Setsuna heard him sigh.
"You don't know what you're talking about. Setsuna.. I'm not like you. I don't have a power of my own. No matter how hard I try, I will always be behind everyone else. I could never be someone like All Might, someone like Midoriya. I don't possess that brightness." Monoma dry chuckled. "I just- I wanted to win, to take Bakugo out of the Sports Festival so Midroiya wouldn't have to face him… and I couldn't even do that"
Setsuna's face fell as she sat next to her friend. What could she do? 'Think! Come on! Neito needs help, so help him, oh but how!' Monoma's quirk required contact with the individual whose quirk he wanted to use. She could be smart and use smart words when she wanted, so what could she do?
Suddenly, a glorious idea popped into her head, and some of her hair popped off of her head as she used her quirk. Her hair that previously went past her shoulders stopped near her ears as she grabbed the long strands and braided them.
Monoma raised a brow and looked at what she was doing. "What are you..?"
"Shoosh." She said and pushed a finger to his lips, making them squish up. Monoma sighed and nodded. She retracted her finger and continued working on whatever she was doing. With her brows knitted and her tongue sticking out, it was clear that she was concentrating.
The boy simply looked at her before turning away, wallowing in his own self pity a bit more. Though he didn't get to for long before a floating finger was poking him in the cheek. "What is it?" He asked.
Setsuna didn't say anything except, "Here." Monoma turned to her to see a very large braid that was basically a bracelet. He tilted his head at the object. "Take it." She insisted.
"Em.. alright…" He grabbed the hair bracelet and put it around his wrist, and instantly felt the warmth of a quirk being added to his arsenal. Monoma's eyes widened in realization. "Wait! Did you just-"
"TADA!" Setsuna bounced onto her feet and smiled as she placed her hands on her hips. "With this bracelet, you'll always be able to use my quirk, even when I'm not around!" She smiled and let out a hand to help him up. "So I'll always be with you, I'll always help pick you up, promise blondie."
Monoma put his hand in hers and she hauled him up, he looked down at her and smiled a little. "Thank you Setsuna. I- I don't know what to say."
She simply grinned wider, "Don't say anything then, we've gotta go cheer greenie on, isn't that what a good friend would do?" She asked with a raised brow as she bounced on a foot.
"Yes, I suppose it is." He chuckled as he moved to retract his hand, but he found it kept in place, holding onto Setsuna's. "Eh?"
"Come on! Let's hurry!" She tugged and dragged him through the halls, heading back up to the stands. "Little Sheep's match is going to start soon, Neito!"
"Alright, alright!" The boy conceded himself to his fate and glanced down at the bracelet of hair now wrapped around his arm. "Alright… Setsuna"
"FROM THE NORTH TUNNEL WE HAVE HITOSHI SHINSOU, A MYSTERIOUS DARK HORSE FROM THE GENERAL COURSE THAT IS HERE TO PROVE THAT HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO MATCH UP TO THE HERO COURSE!" He heard Present Mic yell.
Izuku calmed himself as he walked through the halls of the stadium. He felt his heart bouncing in his chest, wanting to be let out as it was about to explode. But, he already told himself that he couldn't prolong it, he had to do this, here and now. There was no turning back.
"…AND FROM THE OTHER TUNNEL, WE HAVE IZUKU MIDROIYA FROM CLASS 1-B, THIS CLASS' TOP STAR THAT GOT FIRST PLACE IN BOTH PREVIOUS EVENTS!" Izuku felt his hands go clammy before rubbing them on his clothes and smiling as he walked out of the tunnel.
Cheers, overwhelming cheers, he felt like it was too much, but he kept his head held high. "It's now, or never…" Izuku stepped onto the stone stadium platform, locking eyes with the lilac haired boy from the Cavalry Battle.
"Kuroiro-kun was on his team too, but they all seemed confused afterwards…" He remembered what Shoda said to him, to not respond. "I'll do my best.."
Midnight smiled as the cheers reached an all time crescendo. "Quiet down!" She cracked her whip on stone and felt giddy as the crowd immediately piped down, she enjoyed having so much power over people. "Do both contestants understand the rules of the tournament?!" She yelled loudly.
Shinso lazily glared at Izuku and nodded. Izuku closed his eyes, took a breath, let it out, opened them, and nodded. "I do."
Midnight's smile grew to manic levels. "THEN LET THE FIRST FIGHT OF THE TOURNAMENT BETWEEN IZUKU MIDORIYA AND HITOSHI SHINSO BEGIN!" She cracked her whip before they all heard the familiar yell of Present Mic.
"START!" The yell shook the stadium but not either of the combatants as they both started, each in their own unique ways.
Izuku quickly activated Full Cowling and sprinted towards Shinso, feeling the familiar wind in his hair was invigorating but then he heard Shinso speak. "It must be so easy for you, having such a powerful quirk." Izuku stumbled before coming to a stop, meters away from Shinso.
Gran Torino narrowed his eyes as he watched on. "What's that kid doing now…"
"Is something the matter, sensei?" All Might asked. Gran Torino simply shook his head. He didn't know what his latest student was doing, but he was definitely intrigued. And he most certainly knew that the zygote facing off against his student was up to something.
Izuku gulped and shook his head. He had to remember what Shoda told him.
His opponent, Shinso, raised a brow and smiled. "I guess they told you about my quirk, huh? It doesn't have as much combat ability as yours. I wasn't able to get into the hero course because we had to fight robots, but I'm sure you got in easily."
Izuku shook his head, he hadn't gotten in easily at all. He got zero villain points and only got in because he blew three of his limbs off and somehow acquired 60 rescue points in exchange.
However, Shinso wasn't done yet, "But I mean seriously, instead of someone like me, they chose a rotund fat kid who chose to drop out because of his pride, how stupid." He spat out.
And Izuku felt something crack. "…what did he just say….?" He said numbly, staring off into space, to seemingly no one. It wasn't a response, and he didn't feel anything take over him like he was led to believe.
Shinso smiled, "Oh? Did I hurt a nerve? What are you thinking? Defending someone like that? They're in the hero course but they don't deserve it, neglecting their body like that."
Before Izuku knew it, Full Cowling was sparking and he was stomping with fury toward Shinso, "SHUT YOUR MOU-" Both his voice and his quirk cut off as he stopped his charge, seemingly freezing in place.
"WOAH, WHAT HAPPENED! MIDORIYA'S TOTALLY GONE FREEZE FRAME ON US!" Present Mic yelled, signaling the audience to start muttering and whispering about what was happening on stage.
"Young Midoriya!" All Might yelled, wondering what was happening to his student. Gran Torino sighed, "That idiotic buffoon…." The other boy was clearly responsible, but he trusted the boy to get out of the situation he had put himself in.
"Greenie, what are you doing, he's right there!" Tokage yelled as she grabbed the railing, having gotten up just minutes before, yelling at Izuku to get moving, but he didn't budge at all.
Yanagi and Monoma shared a glance. "Something out of the ordinary has occurred, for once Midoriya's not charging in head first. Something's wrong…" Yanagi stated to which Monoma nodded.
"It's probably his opponent's quirk, Shinso. Not much is known about him since he's from general studies, which is fortunate for him." With first year hero course students being in the limelight due to the USJ, some of them were highly researched. People sought to find anything on them and make a scoop on it, that included quirks.
But Shinso didn't have that, he truly was a wild card.
Shinso's smile widened as he stared at Izuku's motionless standing form. "Great, now turn around and walk off the stage." The boy simply obliged and turned around before taking a small step, and then another.
"WHAT'S MIDORIYA DOING??? HE'S GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE GRASS, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, WHO PROBABLY WENT TO TAKE A PISS WHEN WE WERE EXPLAINING THE RULES, THAT COUNTS AS A LOSS!!" Present Mic's screams echoed through the stadium as Class B began to yell, trying to get their rep to go back, to get out of whatever funk he was in, but it didn't work.
"Gah! I told him too!" Shoda grimaced as he buried his head in his hands, believing Midoriya had already lost. Shishida patted his his friend's back, telling him that there was nothing that he could've done.
Yanagi's hand clenched as she hoped for Izuku to do something to turn the match around, she just didn't know what that something had to be. "Shiozaki! Pray or something for him!" Awase yelled before turning back to the stadium, "COME ON MAN! FUCK UP THAT TULIP LOOKING GUY!"
But nothing worked.
And everything was going similarly for Izuku.
"STOP, GO BACK!" Izuku ordered his body, but it didn't listen. It's like he was a back seat driver in it. He didn't like this feeling at all. Izuku tried planting his feet, to root him to the ground, but that didn't work either.
He was well and truly going to walk out of the arena. "Stop… please…." He'd reached the point of begging, he couldn't make demands so it was his only choice. But even so, nothing changed.
But then…
"Midoriya, My Boy,Ninth…" Tons of unknown voices exploded in his mind and his eyes locked onto something. Where he was walking, a tunnel, full of nothing but darkness, held... figures. Izuku had no idea who they were, but be felt something, something, a feeling. A shock of electricity travel through his veins. A new burst of power. And then One For All exploded.
BOOM!!
"WOAH! WHAT'S WITH ALL THIS WIND!" Present Mic screamed as loads of air shot into the stands, messing with people's hair, food, and even sending a certain short member of Class 1-A flying. Monoma's eyes widened as the wind cleared, "He didn't…. or did he?" He smiled as familiar green locks became visible.
Tetsu smiled. "NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MANLY!" Tetsu's screams caused all of 1-B to start cheering for their rep as the air cleared, revealing Izuku. He was barely standing within bounds. "NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL SUSPENSE!" Present Mic cheered, "IZUKU MIDORIYA OF CLASS 1-B STOPS INCHES BEFORE THE OUT OF BOUNDS LINE! WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW??"
Izuku turned around and winced, his right index and middle fingers were broken. But… "How! How're you moving!" Shinso yelled as Izuku looked up and into the widening eyes of the now scared Shinso. "No one's ever broken out of it before…" Shinso grit his teeth as Izuku crouched down, not saying a single word, and charged up Full Cowling. Plan B then "It must be nice for you!" He yelled.
The Successor leaped forward, rushing Shinso, keeping his mouth shut and focusing on his goal. "Having such a strong quirk!" Shinso continued. "Not being looked down on because of the thing you were born with!
The green haired boy felt bad, he truly did. He didn't know what Shinso had been through, but from what he could gather, they were similar. Izuku was looked down on like Shinso, but for something he wasn't born with. A quirk.
SLAM!
Izuku's fist collided with Shinso's face and the boy tumbled back, the blow hurt a lot and drew blood from his nose. He tried to ready himself to fight back but Izuku was in front of him within a second. BAM! A blow to Shinso's stomach made the boy hold it and look down, trying not to throw up. Then he bit his tongue as Izuku hit him with an uppercut.
With a roundhouse kick, Izuku sent Shinso tumbling away.
Izuku stared at Shinso as he panted for breath, One For All still danced on his skin even as he heard Present Mic screaming about the combo he just did and Midnight began counting to ten. Shinso didn't get up. "MIDORIYA'S THE WINNER!" They cheered, especially his class, it made him smile. People were rooting for him, he turned to look at All Might and Gran Torino, giving them a smile and a thumbs up, before turning back to Shinso and walking towards him.
The crowd quieted down and Midnight raised a brow in interest. "What's he doing?"
"Neito, what's Greenie diong?" Setsuna asked the blonde.
The boy shrugged, "I'm not too sure.."
"Hey, Shinso-kun.." Izuku smiled as he stood in front of the boy, the general course student winced and looked up, seeing Izuku looking down on him. He grit his teeth in anger, before a hand was laid out for him to take. "That fight- it was amazing! You're quirk is so cool too! I've never seen one like that before, it felt so weird too, but a funny kind of weird! Can you tell me about it- Ah! L-later of course!" Izuku blushed and shut up.
The lilac haired boy tilted his head in confusion as he, with caution, put his hand in Izuku's, the boy easily lifted him onto his feet. "I um… yeah…" He stumbled over his words, lost in confusion.
Izuku smiled, stars filling his eyes. "Thanks Shinso-kun!" The boy squinted as Izuku's face was way too bright.
"Y-Yeah…." Shinso replied.
Monoma sighed and smiled to himself as he propped his elbows on the rails. "Of course Midoriya would make friends with him.." He couldn't believe his rep sometimes. "I swear, he'd try making friends with Bakugo if they were in the same class, even though he doesn't deserve it."
"That does sound like something our mutual friend would do.." The end of Yanagi's lips turned up as Midnight cooed about the display of sportsmanship that Izuku had shown as the two boys walked together to one of the tunnels
None of them heard all the compliments some of the pros were throwing Shinso's way, but the lilac boy wouldn't have been able to even process those compliments because he was already getting too many from the green boy in front of him.
"It would be so good for heroics, you wouldn't even need to fight! Of course, if they know what your quirk is then that would be a problem. But you could circumvent that with support gear that maybe changes your voice? Or perhaps being an underground hero would help better?"
"I uh… Midoriya." Shinso butted in, snapping Izuku out of his rambles. "That's.. you think I could be a hero?" He asked.
Izuku smiled and nodded his head rapidly. "Of course, especially with your quirk!"
Shinso clenched a fist, "You… don't think it's villainous?"
"Eh.?" Izuku paused and scrunched a brow. There really was no such thing as a villainous quirk per se, there was no heroic quirk either. It all just really mattered how they were used. "No, not at all."
"Why..?" Shinso didn't get it, Midoriya was so weird, so different, from everyone else he had known for all of his life. The boy just didn't make sense.
Izuku stopped walking and turned to Shinso, tilting his head a bit. "Well… I… analyze quirks a lot, since I used to be quirkless…" Shinso's eyes widened at that tidbit of information but he didn't say anything, but now he truly did feel horrible for what he had said during their fight. "But… from what I've seen, there really aren't any "villainous" quirks, just the way people use them."
Shinso just stared dumbfounded before nodding. "A-Alright…"
"Anyways, wanna come to the 1-B seating with me? I really wanna ask you more about your quirk, Shinso-kun!" Izuku smiled.
Shinso grumbled, "can I even do that..? Sit in the hero course area..?"
Izuku looked up and thought, "Well, I don't know, but I'm the class rep for my class and it's alright with me!" Shinso sighed at the loophole and decided to just go with whatever Izuku wanted.
The two arrived at the seating area for 1-B, chatting happily. Izuku was asking as many questions about the boys quirk, it's limits, what needed to be done for activation, all of the such.
"Does it work on you? Like can you ask yourself a question?"
"I've never tried that before actually.."
"It'd be really cool if you could!"
The Dekusquad stared deadpanned as Izuku came in, chatting with his previous opponent. Shoda seemed to be a little annoyed, but Kuroiro found the situation really funny.
"It seems like Midoriya has mastered the power of friendship and has used it to vanquish some darkness in Shinso's heart.."
Komori turned to her black skinned, literally, and white haired friend. "Did you say something, shroom?"
"Ah, no, n-nothing at all." Kuroiro shook his head, and turned away. The two sat down at the front, Izuku sitting next to Yanagi, before the greanette noticed something, "Where's Tetsu-kun?"
Kendo responded, sitting right behind him, "He went down already, his match is about to start." They all saw Izuku's bounce in excitement, ready to analyze his friend's quirk.
Shinso wondered if Midoriya was like this all the time.
Both boys stepped out onto stage, unlike the last match which was hero course versus non hero course, this was Class A against Class B. Something Monoma was very excited for.
"SHOW THEM HOW MARVELOUS WE ARE IN COMPARISON, TETSu-" Setsuna laughed as Kendo chopped Monoma on the neck, knocking him out.
"Quiet down you…" The redhead sighed.
The rest of the class sat in anticipation, even Shinso was a little excited with the little energy he had from being an insomniac. Izuku, well, everyone knows how he was. The two combatants stood staring at each other, grinning, itching for a fight. "THE MATCH BEGINS IN 3, 2, 1, STARTT!"
"ALRIGHTTT!" Tetsu cheered, metaled up, and charged. Kirishima did the same, but just went for a war cry instead. "RAAHHHH!"
Thuds of hardened feet and metal ones on ground before they both met and slammed fists into each other's faces. Despite the simultaneous attacks, neither of them moved.
"Woah… they're completely even…" Izuku commented as he started writing in his notebook, using a bit of One For All to make his writing speed faster. He was using the strongest quirk in the world, given to him by the Number One Hero: All Might, to take notes. Yes. After all, quirks were just tools, and he was using it as one, even if it was the most special tool in the entire world.
"As this rate, neither of them will win, they'll gas each other out and that'll be it…" Kendo enjoyed observing fights and taking them apart. But she didn't enjoy seeing the two of them going at each other with the outcoming being a stalemate. "If Tetsu wants to win he'll have to come up with something else, do something different, he won't get anywhere with what he's doing now.."
"Now, that'll be hard, he's not really much of a thinker." Setsuna said as she, or rather her arms, put an unconscious Monoma in the seat next to her. "Unless he's changed? But I doubt that.."
Izuku perked up. "Why, you don't think people can change?" He asked.
Setsuna shook her head, "People are just.. opposed to changing I guess."
Well Kacchan hadn't changed since he got his quirk almost eleven years ago so Izuku guessed that she was right, but there was also All Might. So went from saying Izuku couldn't be a hero, to saying that he could be one and bestowing upon him One For All, all within a day.
People could change, and Izuku believed that Tetsu could change the way he fought and win this.
The two had been at it for minutes and were still at a complete standstill.
"RAH!" Kirishima took a punch to the face and skidded back, "You're done!"
"Not yet!" Tetsu received a punch in retaliation.
It'd been going on for a while, and the crowd was starting to get bored, and the two combatants were starting to get tired too. Neither ready for a battle of stamina.
Tetsu winced as the hardened fist connected with his face. 'I can't get more blows in! We're completely even!' If it ended up carrying on like this, then there was no telling how long this fight would last.
Tetsu jumped back, but made little ground due to his steel form's weight. Kirishima was upon him and slammed a fist into his face, making him wince. 'WHAT WOULD MIDORIYA DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS!'
Y-You're increased weight when you use your metal form makes you slower!
He was slower… in his metal form, to counter that…. Brain capacity 100% reached, 'BRAIN BLAST Don't use my metal form!' IT WAS SO OBVIOUS!
Kirishima grit his teeth and powered through his exhaustion for one final blow. "RED GAUNTLET-" Only to hit air.
"DOWN HERE!" Tetsu yelled, drawing Kirishima's attention, the teen smiled as his normal skin steeled up in a second, "THIS- IT THE POWER OF MY FRIENDSHIP WITH MIDORIYA, STEEL IMPACT!" Tetsu sent a fist careening up, an uppercut that perfectly landed on Kirishima's jaw.
The boy went up, fell back, and stayed down.
Tetsu panted for breath as his steel skin instantly went away, he staggered on his feet for a couple of seconds, hearing nothing but his breathing, until the crowd exploded into cheers.
"Damn, I should've tried to get harder…" Tetsu heard his opponent curse as he tried to get up.
He walked over and let out a hand, "Hey!" At the yell, Kirishima looked up, "Good fight!"
"AND IN A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF SPORTSMANSHIP, JUST LIKE MIDORIYA, TETSUTETSU TETSUTETSU, SERIOUSLY MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER CHANGING THAT LAST NAME, GIVES HIS OPPONENT A HAND, HOW BEAUTIFUL!" Present Mic yelled into his microphone as the two walked off stage.
The students of 1-B, plus Shinso, all sank as the excitement danced out of their bones. Making some of them feel a little lighter than before. "Man, that was fucking cool.. boring as hell for a while though" Awase smiled, pulling off his headband and wiping his forehead, a bit of sweat collected there during the match.
"I know! I thought it was never gonna end considering they're both…"
"The exact same just, but just recolored?"
"Yeah…"
Izuku finished scribbling in his notebook, letting One For All die out as he didn't need it anymore. "He limited his use of his metal form so he could move faster. It's the same principle with my Burst Style…" He muttered as he tapped his pen on his book.
The boy looked around to notice that both Kuroiro and Komori were gone. "What happened to Kuroiro-kun and Komori-chan?" He asked aloud.
"Kuroiro's match is next, Greenie, he went down to the waiting room. Shroomy just went with him." Setsuna responded, a sleeping Monoma sitting next to her still, well he was knocked out but that was neither here nor there. "You seriously have terrible special awareness."
The two sat in comfortable silence, Kuroiro making sure that he wasn't getting too nervous, "T-Thanks.. for coming with me.. Komori…" He muttered quietly.
Komori simply looked up and smiled, her grin reaching high, and her eyes peeking out just a bit. "You're welcome, shroom!"
The white haired teen shivered a bit as he stood up, "W-Well, I better get going then… I'll see you later." Komori simply nodded as the sound of the door slamming closed resounded through the very quiet waiting room.
Her hands clenched under the table, scrunching up her gym pants. "G-Good luck… and please don't get hurt…"
Kuroiro made his way onto stage, if he was being honest, at least a little nervous. Yaoyorozu was one of Class A's recommendation students and his quirk was very situational . With how long the tournament had been going on, he had no shadows in the stadium to use. "Damn sun…."
Yaoyorozu stood across from him, Midnight on her podium smiling and holding her whip high. "The third match of the first round, will now-" "STARTTT!" Present Mic finished for her.
Kuroiro immediately broke into a sprint towards Yaoyorozu, if he could get into her hair then he would win.
However, before he got too far, Yaoyorozu pulled out a net gun and fired it at him. "W-What!" Kuroiro stumbled as his legs and arms got caught in the net before he tripped and fell forward.
"Yikes…" Setsuna winced. "It's alright man!"
Kuroiro cursed and put his hands on the ground, attempting to get up, before looking up and seeing the end of a sword pointing directly into his eyes. Yaoyorozu's own eyes staring down at him. "Surrender."
With the blade pointed at his head, he gulped and smirked "Shouldn't have gotten so close." Kuroiro said, jumping into her shadow.
The Yaoyorozu heir yelped as Kuroiro disappeared. She looked around, trying to find him, but to no avail. Until a hand grabbed her leg. "AH!" She yelled and stared down, seeing him coming out of the shadow.
"Kekeke... how are you going to fight a shadow?"
Yaoyorozu's brows clenched before she smiled, "By simply getting rid of it!"
"Wait wha-AHHH!" Kuroiro yelled as a blinding light overtook the stadium, he fell out of her shadow as it disappeared and she ran away from him.
Kuroiro quickly stood up only to see two flash grenades in her hands. "Like I said earlier, surrender."
He winced and sighed, he knew he wouldn't be able to beat her. "I yield."
"It's alright, it's alright, it's alright!" The crowd didn't quite cheer, but they muttered as Kuroiro deflated as Midnight declared Yaoyorozu the winner.
The raven haired beauty left soon after, content with her win, while Kuroiro left throughout his own tunnel, a little downtrodden. "T-that match ended so fast… damn it…"
"That's going to have an effect on his confidence for sure…" Kendo winced, remembering matches from when she was little. Losing to older, bigger kids and crying about it for hours afterwards. Of course she got better, but for a while her confidence was down by a lot.
"So it would seem…" Monoma grumbled as he finally woke up, "Note to self, fear Kendo-san…." He rubbed the top of his head, feeling the ghost pain of the chop.
Setsuna smiled and dragged his head down to her shoulder, where she rubbed the spot he had been hit, "There there, Setsuna's here to make it feel better."
"This is a hundred times worse."
"You know you don't mean that." She teased with a big grin, and she didn't get a response either. Just the boy sighing and making himself comfortable on her shoulder.
"The next match is between two people in 1-A, right? They got a lot more people into the tournament than we did…" Tsuburaba sighed, "Man, one of you guy's gotta win, alright?!"
"LIKE I'D LOSE AFTER MY MANLY DISPLAY EARLIER, I MUST WIN NOW!" Tetsu yelled, activating his quirk in excitement.
"Wouldn't be so sure about that one metal man, you're going up against fucking stutter in the next round." Kamakiri muttered as he crossed his arms.
Izuku blinked, 'Was that a compliment?' He wondered. Though he didn't try to voice these thoughts, preferring to keep them to himself. Still, even if it was on accident, the compliment made him smile.
Tetsu looked over at him and smiled, "TODAY'S THE DAY I BEAT YOU MIDORIYA!" He yelled with excitement, some wincing at his volume, "AND THEN WE'LL BE EVEN-"
"Tetsu duck!" Kendo grabbed him with a giant hand and pulled him down as a giant glacier appeared in their viewing area.
Izuku shivered, breathing heavily, and observing mist coming from his mouth at the cold volume. "Todoroki…."
This was the power of the son of Endeavor?
END
Jesus Christ, I'm so sorry, it's been more than a month. School has been breaking my shit in and I have just not had the time or inspiration to write. I wanted to get more chapters in since I'm on break, but I think I could only maybe do one more, and that's a big maybe.
But this was the first four matches of the sports festival, the next four of round one will be next chapter, all of round two will be after that and so on.
So Monoma and Tokage are closer now, and yes they might be moving fast but seriously it's Tokage whaddya expect?
Izuku knows more about Todoroki and has befriended Shinso. What I like about Izuku is that he influences other people, he pushes them to be better, like Shoji during the license exam. Yaoyorozu gets trapped and they save her and the tea chick asks why they did and Shoji flashbacks to Izuku in the Forest arc, "If I have to save one of them, then I want to save both" is what he said or something like that, and Shoji was there and then pushed himself to save Yaoyorozu.
Now, Izuku pushes people to be better without even trying, but with him being more positive I want him to go out of his way to help Shinso, and with him knowing what it's like to be bullied and stuff, they have a way to connect.
OK, i think that's all and again, I'm sorry it took so long, please don't take my head.
Jay out!