Chapter 48: Interval

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites!

"TIME'S UP!" Mic announced, "Team Tokoyami has their hands on the 10 million points but they were not able to completely pull it off! What is the referee's verdict?"

Midnight waved her flag, "The headband was still on Shouji's head, they keep the 10 million points!" Midnight ruled.

The crowd cheered, "Well then folks, we have our qualifiers. In the first place, we have team Watanabe. In The second place is Team Tokoyami and the third place is Team Monoma. Team Todoroki barely qualifies as they are in fourth place. They didn't get any points but rather qualify because they kept their original points," Mic explained to the crowd.

"There will now be an interval of 30 minutes for lunch. The contestants will refill their energy. Those who have been disqualified can attend a scavenger hunt later. The third round will be a one-on-one fighting, tournament style. The matchups will be revealed after the interval," Midnight finished.

"Yo, Iida," Izuku went up to the boy with a sheepish grin, "I'm sorry I stole your glasses," he handed back the spectacles.

Iida took them without a word. After having put them on, he sighed, "Please don't do this again,"

"Can't promise that," Izuku grinned, "But a piece of advice, you better wear straps on your glasses or you might lose them in a villain battle,"

Iida nodded, "Thanks for the tip," he told in a tired tone and left to get lunch.

"Well played, Tokoyami," Watanabe congratulated, "Thought you were the quiet guy like Izuku. Not so… outwardly chaotic."

"I can't help but pass up a mad banquet of darkness," Tokoyami said.

"Um…Ok," Watanabe said, unsure of what he meant.

"Hey, Kaminari, can I talk to you?" Shouto asked.

"Sure, what do you need?" Denki asked.

"Actually, I want to talk to all three of you. You, Izuku, and Watanabe," Shouto said.

The trio shared a look but followed him to a secluded area, "What's this about?" Izuku asked looking around at the shadowy corridor.

"Have you heard of quirk marriages?" Shouto dived straight in.

Watanabe and Izuku froze but Kaminari looked confused, "What's a quirk marriage?"

"It's when two people with strong quirks are made to marry each other to produce a super-strong offspring. Like selective breeding but in humans," Watanabe said darkly.

"I had no idea that's why you have ice and fire quirks," Izuku seemed angry at himself for not seeing it sooner.

"Wait, so your mom and dad were forced to marry?" Denki asked trying to clear things up.

"More like my mom was forced to marry my dad. Endeavor knows he can't surpass All Might and decided he's going to make an ultimate child and make him surpass him," Shouto said.

"Why are you telling this to us suddenly?" Izuku queried.

Shouto looked at his hands with anger, "At USJ, you got hurt because I refused to use fire. I felt like you deserved to know the reason. I will never use my fire, I want to win with only my mom's quirk,"

Izuku looked to be taken by surprise by his declaration. He didn't fault Shouto for what happened at USJ but he didn't support him not using his fire either. Luckily, Denki burst, "That's stupid!"

Shouto scowled, "I don't expect you to understand. I just wanted to let you know,"

"I do understand, but you are being stupid. This time it was Izuku who nearly died and the only reason he's alive is because of All Might. Who knows how many more will die because you refused to use your fire!?" Kaminari demanded.

"That won't happen. I'll save them with my ice,"

"Isn't that what you tried at USJ too?"

"I-" Shouto tried to argue but could not make his point.

"Shouto, it's your quirk, not his," Izuku told him calmly.

"Izuku's right," Watanabe agreed, "And anyway, if you rise to the top using your ice, you are proving his point anyway,"

Shouto narrowed his eyes, "How? I didn't use his quirk,"

"No, but you are his son. That is the point. He believes it's enough if his child surpasses All Might. If you surpass All Might with only your ice, it will have made your father happy and it will also have proven that if you used the fire, you could be stronger. His point is proven," Watanabe said, hands behind his back, his eyes darting off into the distance, "On the other hand, if you don't surpass All Might without your fire, Endeavour will hold it against you by saying that he knew you needed his fire. You are screwed either way," Watanabe finished.

Shouto stared at Watanabe. He punched the wall next to him with rage, he had never thought of it like that, "Then what the hell am I supposed to do!?" He demanded, tears now streaming down his face, "No matter what I do, I end up pleasing him, is that what I do?"

Kaminari smiled sadly, "Maybe so. But, if you use your fire, you'll at least know that you tried your best in every situation,"

"Yeah, maybe," Shouto rubbed his eyes, contemplating his decision.

"There is… another option," Watanabe said slowly.

"What?"

"Use both your fire and ice but you never surpass All Might. Your dad will be proven wrong," Watanabe said sagely.

Izuku deadpanned at his cousin's audacity and sighed, "It's up to you what you want to do but I think using your fire is the best. No regrets in major situations. What I want you to know is that we'll be there for you always. You can stay over at our house even if you like," Izuku offered.

"Yeah… maybe. But I can't just leave my sister to him," he spat.

"Well, maybe you can tell someone like Nedzu. He'll be able to overrule Endeavour and free you!" Izuku said.

"Maybe but I don't want to risk it. He might get angry and hurt Fuyumi,'

"Fuyumi?"

"My sister,"

"Oh," Izuku replied, "Well, Nedzu is smart so he'll be cautious. And we'll be there with you, every step of the way!"

"But how do I get to Nedzu?"

"Well, he'll be taking classes with us soon, right after the internship. Maybe then?" Izuku asked.

"Yeah, maybe…"

"Well think about it, we can save you, your sister, your mom, everyone!" Kaminari tried to sway Shouto's mind.

Shouto laughed dryly, "My mom, huh? She's in a mental institution,"

The three froze, "…What?" Watanabe asked angrily.

Shouto nodded slowly, his face contorting into a sad frown, "My dad drove her to insanity. She couldn't stand him. One night, she poured water down on my eye because I looked like him,"

Izuku gasped, "I thought that was Endeavour's doing or a training accident," Watanabe clenched his fists in anger.

Shouto shook his head, "I don't hold it against her though. It was all Endeavour's fault. She was crying because of what she had done. It wasn't her fault. It's all because of that bastard!"

Watanabe became angrier and angrier at what he was hearing, "I'm going to go and punch that asshole!" he said determinedly and started walking off but was held in place by Shouto's ice, "Don't cause a scene. You've given me things to think over. I've put up with this since I was a kid. I can handle it a bit longer,"

"Fine, but he does something else, and I'll kill him!"

"He's the number 2 hero, how would you kill him?" Shouto asked plainly.

"There are more ways to kill than overpowering," Watanabe said darkly. Kaminari knew that he wouldn't be capable of that but the sheer menace in his voice scared him.

"Regardless," Kaminari spoke, "You need to use your fire, Shouto. It's literally a matter of life and death. There are three of us who know your secret and you'll have to fight one of us in the tournament. If you don't use your fire… you don't stand a chance!" Kaminari said firmly.

Shouto smirked slightly at the challenge.

"Interval's almost over. Shall we get lunch?" Izuku offered.

"Yeah, sure," Shouto wiped the tears off his face and gave them a bright smile, the first they had seen. Evidently, getting it off his chest and hearing the advice had made him happier.

"I think I dropped my wallet here, you guys go on and get me a plate too," Watanabe excused. Kaminari nodded and they took off. Once they were out of earshot, Watanabe turned, "You know I can see you with my X-ray right?"

Bakugou stiffened and stepped out of the shadowy corridor, "I wasn't planning to eavesdrop,"

Watanabe rolled his eyes, "Look, you apologized to Izuku and you seem to have turned for the better. I don't have anything against you so I trust you will prove you have changed by supporting Shouto instead of locking horns with him?"

Bakugou nodded slowly, "One condition,"

"Hm?"

"If you go after that bastard," Bakugou's eyes flashed, "Take me with you too!"

Watanabe was dazed but smirked, "Of course," he grinned to Bakugou who returned a toothy sadistic grin of his own.

"Holy crap! Bakugou and Watanabe are walking together peacefully!" Ashido yelped as the two entered the cafeteria.

The two looked at the acid girl inquisitively and then simultaneously scowled, "So what?" Bakugou demanded.

"That means you guys are becoming friends!" Kirishima grinned.

"Is that so, Watanabe?" Kaminari feigned a hurt tone, "And here I thought I was your best friend. But to think you replaced me so easily,"

"As if!" Watanabe huffed, "We aren't friends, we're just classmates, ok?"

"Whatever you say," Jiro said, clearly not buying it, "Whatever," Watanabe shrugged and got his food from lunch rush. He plopped down next to his classmates who hurried away from him.

"What?" he asked concerned.

"Seriously?" Sato asked in disbelief. Watanabe stared at him, "Bird poop?" Sato pointed at his head.

Watanabe paled and ran off to the washroom to clean himself up, dripping everywhere, "Huh, I didn't notice," Shouto said.

"Didn't Watanabe puke on you?" This time Shouto paled and he too ran off after Watanabe to the washroom.

Izuku and Kaminari looked at each other, "How the hell did we talk to each other that long while that smell was around?" Kaminari asked, disgusted.

"We were talking about something too serious to bother," Izuku said nasally, putting tissues up his nose to block the smell, "But still, holy crap! Literally!"

Bakugou cackled, "I didn't know that he's so ruthless considering he's mute!" he addressed Koda.

"Still did far better than you," Koda retorted quietly.

The class took a moment to register that Koda was talking back to Bakugou before all of them fell into peals of laughter. Bakugou turned slightly angry at first but he cracked a smile, "Good to see you aren't tongueless. You'd make an awful rescue hero otherwise,"

"Aww, look at that, he cares!" Kirishima teased.

"Shut up shitty hair!"

"Still, Shouji deserves more applause than you guys," Momo said, "You guys tossed him like a goddamn football,"

"Momo, you cursed!" Hagakure said excitedly, "I didn't know she knew curses," Jiro added.

Momo took no notice of them, "Izuku's been teaching me on how to be a better class rep and one of them is using curses,"

The class collectively furrowed their eyebrows and turned to Midoriya who kept sipping his juice like it was nothing, "First question, why?" Hitoshi asked, "And second, I didn't know you curse, Izuku,"

"You be around Watanabe for a year and you'll have an urban dictionary of curses. And the class rep thing might have been a lie. I just wanted to teach Momo how to curse so that she wouldn't be feeling left out when we tease each other," Izuku explained.

Sato laughed, "You really are a gremlin,"

"Please, Izuku's the quiet mastermind. Watanabe's just pulling the strings for him," Kaminari waved his hands.

"I think Watanabe is pretty smart, kero," Tsuyu said and the class nodded.

"He is smart but not intelligent,"

"Is that different?" Aoyama asked puzzled.

"Obviously!" Iida said, "It means Watanabe tries to use the rules against people while Izuku does things while abiding by the rules," Iida said and turned to Kaminari for verification, "Exactly! Cookie?"

Iida deadpanned and Kaminari shrugged.

"Offensive but kinda true," Izuku agreed.

"So basically Watanabe's street smart," Kirishima verified, "And Izuku's a quiet gremlin, like Nedzu?"

"Oh, but I'm a rat, possibly a bear?"

Kirishima jumped at that, banging his toe painfully against the table, "P-principal Nedzu!"

Nedzu laughed, "I'm sorry for startling you but it is a part of me. Don't worry, I quite agree with your assessment of your classmates,"

Izuku frowned, "Isn't that insulting yourselves?"

Nedzu shrugged, "I don't really care, I have been called many things in my life. I just came to congratulate all of you. Team Koda, you may not have passed but your effort was outstanding. Using bird poop to drop the headband. Very good!" The principal praised. The team members looked shocked for a bit but then thanked the principal.

"Team Todoroki, I'm pleased that you found the loophole on substituting the rider and carrier. Well done," Iida bowed at the praise.

"Team Watanabe, wait where's Watanabe?" Nedzu asked.

"Right here!" Watanabe announced, "Sorry, I needed to clean up," he excused. Shouto also sat down, eyeing Nedzu analytically. He was trying to see whether he could be trusted with his secret. Izuku was right that he could put a sword to Endeavour's neck, but, did he have the courage to tell the principal?

Nedzu noted down Shouto's glance to think about it later and turned to Team Watanabe, "I'm extremely pleased with you! Who found the loophole about separation?"

"Watanabe did. Izuku made the plans for rendezvous and how Shouji could protect the headband," Kaminari explained.

"I see. Well hats off to you Watanabe for figuring out the loopholes in the first and this round. You too Koda. I will have to be wary of ravens from now on," Nedzu grinned.

The class stared at Koda who slunk back in his seat, "YOU STOLE THE PLANS FROM THE PRINCIPAL!?" The class shouted.

Koda smiled sheepishly and nodded, "Damn," Watanabe looked impressed, "Izu, our throne's being usurped. We must defend it!" he said dramatically.

Nedzu laughed, "What throne? I'm still the king!" he declared causing some of the class to laugh and others to stare at Watanabe's audacity to talk so informally with the principal, "And Izuku, wonderful plans this round. But Shouji really was the glue in your team. Anyone else would have lost the headband,"

Izuku nodded, "Yup, we're really glad we had him!" Izuku grinned and pulled him closer. The quiet giant looked to have been taken by surprise by the praise and mumbled a quick thanks.

"Lastly Team Tokoyami," here Nedzu stopped to cackle, "Wonderfully done to disqualify those who would move to the next round and provide competition," Nedzu referred to Bakugou who grunted in annoyance, "And Uraraka's flight along with Tsuyu's tongue to steer yourselves, Brilliant!" Nedzu praised.

"Thank you," Tokoyami said with respect.

"Well, I can't wait to see who wins it. Let's see if you find any loopholes this time. I've tried to close as many as I can this round," Nedzu winked to Watanabe who grinned, "You're on!"

"But, I do believe Hatsume can outdo you. She's a wonderful inventor and can use all the support equipment," Nedzu cackled. The class was surprised that someone from the support department was being backed by Nedzu but Izuku smirked and clapped for her, and the class followed suit.

"Thank you, the world will marvel at my babies!"

"Babies?" Sato asked but Shouto simply waved it off.

"Ah, almost forgot, the matchups have been announced," Nedzu said and placed a tablet on the large table, "You still have 10 minutes left, so enough time to prepare I believe. Goodbye,"

Kaminari reached for the table to turn it on.

"How on earth were you so cavalier with the principal?" Jiro demanded from Watanabe, "What's wrong with it? He's still a teacher. Just be normal and everything's fine,"

"Nuh-uh. He's feared by villains for a reason,"

"He's a good guy," Izuku assured.

"And how do you know. It seemed like you already knew him from before," Tsuyu inquired.

Izuku froze for a moment but Iida dug them out, "Remember the court case, Principal Nedzu was there. Maybe they met there?"

That seemed to blow away all the questions and Izuku sighed with relief.

"How do you turn this thing on?" Kaminari struggled.

Watanabe gave his friend a deadpan expression and reached out, to push a button. A hologram appeared. Kaminari grinned and put it down on the table for everyone to see.

The class marveled at the matchups and some of them like Uraraka gulped.

"This is going to be hard," Watanabe admitted.

"It will be interesting," Izuku flashed a grin to his cousin who nodded.

"Oi, Shadow bastard," Bakugou yelled, not taking his eyes off the board. He was following the lines to see who might have to fight who, "You have a hard bracket but you better win the tournament! I'd rather be the guy who got disqualified by the winner than the guy who lost to a no-name,"

Tokoyami stared at Bakugou for a second before grunting, a smile sneaking out, "Of course,"

A/N: Just a bit of shenanigan in this chapter, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, FFN is a bitch and won't let me put in the tournament bracket, so, here it is in written form.

ROUND OF 16:

FIRST BRACKET:
1) Tokoyami vs Tsuburaba
2) Iida vs TetsuTetsu

SECOND BRACKET:
3) Shiozaki vs Yaoyorozu
4) Todoroki vs Kaminari

THIRD BRACKET:
5) Izuku vs Hitoshi
6) Shouji vs Uraraka

FOURTH BRACKET:
7) Watanabe vs Tsuyu
8) Hatsume vs Monoma

The winner of each bracket progresses to the next round (Quarter-Finals)