As I came around the corner into Ekou Street, I saw what I had essentially expected to see.

Iida had taken an internship in Hosu city. The only reason he'd do that would be to track down and defeat the Hero Killer in revenge. Judging by the look I'd seen on his face, he'd do it at the first opportunity. The Hero Killer was likely, given his patterns, to attempt another assassination in Hosu, so Iida would have plenty of opportunity. If Midoriya, Iida's best friend, had noticed what I had, he would surely find a way to get to Hosu and stop Iida from getting himself killed. However, given Midoriya's and Iida's inexperienced and limited abilities, the seasoned villain would probably succeed in pinning them, leaving Midoriya no choice but to send out for help.

As I expected, Midoriya and Iida were both on the ground, alongside a pro hero I wasn't familiar with. The Hero Killer was standing over Iida with his blade at the ready. He was a large, muscular, hunch-backed man with wild hair, a blood red scarf, bladed weapons all over his body, and a half mask.

A wall of ice was enough to deter him from harming Iida, though only by a second.

"Midoriya," I said, a little snappily. "Learn to write more specific directions. I was almost too late."

"You too, Todoroki?!" cried Iida, who was bleeding a little and lying face down.

"But how'd you - and - your left!" cried Midoriya. Midoriya, I noticed, was wearing a very different costume as well, just like me; darker in color, with a grill instead of a mask and the hood back, exposing his face.

"How?" I repeated. "That's my line. Took me a few seconds to figure it out. That group text to everyone with nothing but your location. Because sending out a totally meaningless message isn't your style. I realized it meant 'I'm in trouble, help.'" As I spoke, I made use of another ice blast to deter the Hero Killer, and sweep his would-be victims out of his reach behind me in a single move. "Don't worry. In just a few more minutes, the pro'sll be here."

With the fire training regime, I'd learned to direct my flames, and I used them now to stop the Hero Killer from charging me. His three near-victims slid behind me to safety. The Hero Killer did not stop moving; as soon as he was away from my fire, he charged once more. "It's like the reports said," I mused. "But you're not killing these guys today, Hero Killer."

"Todoroki!" called Midoriya. "Don't let him get your blood. I think he paralyzes his opponents by swallowing it. That's how he got us."

"Explains all the blades. So I've just gotta keep my distance - "

A knife whizzed by my cheek, cutting it; if I hadn't moved, it would have gone straight through my face. And in a second, the hero killer was on top of me.

"You've got some good friends, Ingenium," he growled out.

Dammit.

An ice wall to stop the movement of his blade before he could cut my head off. He looked upwards, and I followed his gaze. Spinning above my head…A katana. At the same time he threw the knife -

The hero Killer had seized my jacket and was leaning in, his tongue inches from the bleeding cut on my face.

A fire blast was the only thing that saved me from being paralyzed like the others. The Hero killer had to jump back. Close one. Each move he makes sets him up for multiple attacks. He's strong.

More ice was necessary to keep the hero Killer from immediately going after me again.

From behind me, Iida called "Why?! Both of you, just stop it. I've inherited my brother'd name. I have to do this. He's mine to - "

"Inherited his name? That's weird," I told him, as I again deterred the Hero Killer with a barrage of ice. "Cuz the Ingenium I know never had that look on his face before. You've got a dark side. Guess my family isn't the only one."

"Todoroki," I heard Midoriya mutter from behind me."

The Hero Killer had cut up every piece of my ice wall in seconds.

"Obstructing your own vision when up against an opponent faster than yourself. Poor strategy indeed."

"You'd like to think so," I snapped back at him, annoyed as I readied my fire.

Pain stabbed through my left arm as two knives flew into it before I could react. The Hero Killer was above me, his katana drawn and aiming straight at the Pro Hero.

"Above!" I cried - I couldn't react in time, with my injury -

Midoriya swept the Hero Killer backwards, leaping into the air and moving as if with ease, as I had never seen him move before, to seize the Hero Killer's scarf and pull him away alongside a stone wall.

"Midoriya!" I cried, half worried, half impressed.

"Somehow I can move again just fine!" he called back to me.

"So it has a time limit?" I mused, watching Midorwya's progress.

"No," said the Pro Hero. "He was the last of us to get hit, and I still can't move."

The Hero Killer threw Midoriya off by elbowing him in the gut.

"Get back, Midoriya!" I called, sending another ice barrage to keep the Hero Killer away. Midoriya did as told and I was able to drive the Hero Killer back.

From next to me, coughing and slightly winded, Midoriya said, "So he tasted our blood and paralyzed us. But I was the first to break free somehow. I can think of three possible explanations. Either the effect is weaker the more people he uses it on, or it's about how much blood he gets, or its effectiveness depends on blood type."

"Blood Type?" said the Pro. "I'm B."

"And I'm A," said Iida.

"Blood type," snarled the Hero Killer, grinning. "That's right."

"Though it's not like knowing that'll really help us," said Midoriya, echoing my thoughts.

"We need to hurry and get these two out of here." I added. "He's quick enough to react to both my fire and ice, so I'm not seeing an opening. Until the pros get here, our best hope is to keep him at bay and keep dodging."

"You've got too much exposed blood, Todoroki," Midoriya countered. "I'll draw his attention while you provide rear support."

"Pretty risky plan, but yeah. The two of us will protect them."

"Two on one, huh?" the Hero Killer growled back. "At least you're not naive."

As Midoriya jumped into action, I found myself thinking of the man behind me. Ever since your brother got taken down, I've had my eye on you. Because all that built-up resentment was written all over your face. I know that when I see it. And I know just how much grudges like that can cloud a person's vision. I was shocked how fast my mom went from crying and apologizing to smiling and offering forgiveness. I've been able to move on, eyes unclouded, because she said she wanted me to be happy. To save people. At any point before that, I never would've dreamed of choosing my dad's agency for my internship. It's not that I forgave him. I doubt I ever will. It's just that I want to witness and experience for myself what makes him the number one hero out there. No matter how much of a scumbag he is, I had to see for myself the decision making and intuition that's made people label him number two. It was so simple. All of it. So simple, yet I couldn't see it.

"Your power is your own."

That simple, single thought…

The Hero Killer had slashed Midoriya's leg and taken him down once more.

"Stop it," cried Iida. "I can't take it…"

"If you wanna stop this," I replied, "then stand up!" Because I've got just one thing to say to you.

"Sorry, Todoroki"! cried Midoriya.

As the Hero Killer came charging at me once again, I redied for yet another impact. But to Iida, I added, "Never forget who you want to become!"