Deku and IcyHot had gone off into a corridor together. I hid behind the wall to listen to what they were gonna yap about.
"You wanted to tell me something," said Deku first. "What is it?" Then after a long pause, "If we dawdle, the mess hall will probably get really crowded."
Finally IcyHot said something. "You blindsided me. So much so that I broke my own pledge. Iida, Kaminari, Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami, Uraraka. None of them felt it. Only I did in that moment. After all, I was the only one there who had seen All Might's power up close."
Weird place to start. Deku replied, "So, what is it you want to say?"
"I'm saying that what I felt from you was the same. It felt similar. Midoriya, are you really All Might's secret love child?"
WHAT?! I thought for a second. That's what IcyHot was thinking? That's why he went up and challenged Deku?! Is he an idiot? I mean, I knew that wasn't true. I'd met Deku's dad before. No way in hell were he and All Might related - right?! He'd have told me wouldn't…no, he'd been keeping secrets from me before…but no way, no freaking way…
"Y-you've got it wrong!" Deku replied to IcyHot. "Well, of course, that's exactly what a secret son would say, so I get it if you don't believe me, but I swear that's not it! Actually, can I ask - why are you - I mean, why me - "
"The way you said that's not it," IcyHot cut him off. "In other words, you do have some connection to All Might that you can't talk about. Whatever that might be…My father is the Hero Endeavor. You must have heard of him. He's been the #2 hero forever now. If you're connected to the #1 hero, then that means I have even more reason to beat you. My old man will do anything to advance his position. He made a name for himself during his hero career firing on all cylinders. But it was never enough to outpace All Might. An unremovable mite, in his eyes. And because he knew he could never hack it by his own power, he devised a plan."
"What are you talking about, Todoroki?" said Deku. "What is it you're telling me, exactly?"
"You know about 'quirk marriages', right?" IcyHot asked. "After the phenomenon started, it came into the picture during the second, third generation. Choosing mates solely to enhance one's own quirk, to be inherited down the line, and forcing marriages for that purpose. They were simply treated as old fashioned arranged marriages. As a man of means and merit, my old man easily ingratiated himself to my mother's family, and got his hands on her quirk. All he wanted was to raise a hero to surpass All Might. Damn him. I'll never be a tool for that scumbag. In my memories, my mom is always crying. I remember she called my left side unbearable, before she poured boiling water on my face. The reason I challenged you is for the personal triumph. I won't use my damn old man's quirk. I'll become #1 without needing to. It'll be my total disavowal of him."
It was like feeling my stomach drop out of my body. I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. Of course, I'd heard of Endeavor. The #2 pro, always second best after All Might, always trying to surpass him. He was a fire quirk user, and he was strong and all, but nowhere near All Might's level, so I'd never paid him any attention. He'd been trying to surpass All Might forever, but I had no idea…nobody had any idea, nowhere had I ever heard this or anything like it.
I'd known IcyHot was his kid, but…but I'd never thought that. Never notice that he seemed to use his ice and only his ice in combat. I mean, it'd seemed strange that his dad was a fire user, that he had a half fire power…he had fire but never used it, but I'd just figured it was because he couldn't. Like he only had heat to counteract the ice or something. Not this. Never would I have guessed something like this.
Is that what trying to be the #1 will do to a person?
I heard IcyHot walking away. "If you can't tell me anything, that's fine. Keep your secret. I'll climb over you using only my right side. Sorry I took up your time."
Deku finally replied. "I…I've always had help, with everything I've done. That was true earlier too. I…the reason I'm standing here is because someone always saved me. All Might…I want to be like him, and I need to become strong enough to accomplish that and become #1. It may seem like a trifling motive, compared to yours, but all the same, I can't lose. Not only for myself, but to pay back the people who've helped me along the way. So I'll take that declaration of war of yours and echo it. I'm going to beat you too!"
The words were so strange, because at least half of it sounded just like I'd always felt. Ever since I was a kid I only ever wanted to be like All Might. And Deku…Deku'd admired him too, I'd noticed, but like he'd ever be anything like him. But now with that damn quirk and everything…
And it occurred to me that with that quirk Deku had, and that determination that's always wigged me out that he's got…maybe you will be IcyHot. No, you definitely will. If he's holding back half his power, then he's halfassing it anyway and hardly serious about trying to be #1. He's too busy with his stupid grudge to even pay attention to the match or to his rivals. Too busy hating his old man to see what's in front of his face. Well, I don't need to compete with someone like that anyway.
Deku's declaring war on IcyHot was declaring war on me too, then. I was going to beat him, no matter what. That was the one thing I truly knew.
"BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE FINAL EVENT, THERE'S GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO DROPPED OUT OF THE PRELIMINARIES! IN THE EDN THIS IS STILL A SPORTS FESTIVAL, SO TO HAVE EVERYONE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, WEV'E GOT SOME RECREATIONAL EVENTS IN STORE! JUST LOOK HOW FIRED UP THOSE CHEERLEADERS WE CALLED FROM AMERICA ARE…HUH? WHAT'S THIS? WHAT ARE THEY EVEN? WHAT HAPPENED, CLASS A?"
Somehow the idiots had tricked the girls in our class intro dressing up like cheerleaders. Once that idiocy was over, the real tournament started up again.
"ALL RIGHT EVERYONE, COMPETE YOUR HEARTS OUT. RECREATION!" said Mic. "AND AFTER THAT THE FINAL EVENT! FROM THE 4 TEAMS, 16 INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE IT THROUGH! IT'S A TOURNAMENT! WE'RE PITTING THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER IN ONE ON ONE COMBAT!"
"So it's a tournament, huh?" said Weird Hair. "WE'll be standing on the same stage we see on TV every year!"
"Oh, was it a tournament last year, too?" asked Raccoon eyes. "I forget."
"The system changes a bit each year," said Tape Arms. "But typically there'll be similar one on one competitions. Last year it ws more of a sports chanbara style event."
"All right," said Midnight. "Now I'll determine who fights whom through this lottery. Once the matchups are decided, we'll do a fun bit of recreation, and then we'll commence. Whether or not the 16 who will be competing want to join in on the recreation activities is up to you. Since I'm sure many of you will be wanting to take a breather or preserve your strength. So starting from the team that placed 1st, let's determine the order - "
"Um, excuse me, sorry!" said the tail guy from our class, raising his hand. "I'm sitting this one out."
"Ojiro, why?" cried everyone. "This is the place to show yourself off to the pros."
"Truth is, I don't remember anything that happened during the human cavalry battle up until the very last seconds," he admitted. "Probably due to that guy's quirk."
The guy who'd been leading his team.
"I know it's my big chance, and I know it's stupid to throw it away," he continued. "But this is the place everyone earned by clashing at their full power. I wouldn't feel right standing among you without even understanding how I got here. I just can't do it."
"Don't worry about it!" said Invisible Girl. "As long as you get results at this stage, it's fine!"
"Yeah, it's not as though I put in the most stellar performance either," said Raccoon Eyes.
"You don't understand!" said Tail. "This is my pride we're talking about here. I can't stand the thought of it! Also, why are you girls dressed like cheerleaders?"
"I don't remember what happened either," said a boy from Class B. "I want to abstain too. No matter how strong he may actually be, for a person who didn't so anything to rise up would defeat the point of the festival!"
"Man, you guys are super manly!" said Weird Hair.
"How callow" said Midnight. "I'll have you know that greenhorns like you…get all my love! I hereby recognize Shoda and Ojiro pulling out!"
I admitted they had a point, though I wouldn't have done it in their place. Two extras from Class B were transferred in, and the matches were announced.
My name was at the end of the bracket for round one. I was fighting…
"Uraraka?" I asked. "Who's that?"
I heard a gasp not far behind me and recognized the voice as Round Face's. I glanced at her and saw she was looking at me and looking real nervous. Oh, right, I remembered. Round Face's name was Uraraka. The one who always hung around Deku. So that was my opponent. I remembered she had some kinda screwing up gravity power. And hanging around with Deku all the time…during the Battle Trial she'd just listened to his orders. Basically she was like Deku's little sidekick or puppet or something.
So really, it's more like I'm fighting him, I thought, glancing to see where he was. First match of Round 1, fighting some extra whose name I didn't know. And in the same bracket…IcyHot, fighting Tape Arms.
So Round 2 would be Deku and IcyHot. From what I'd seen before, Deku would probably be beating that idiot, if he was only gonna use half his power. And nobody else in his bracket - or mine - looked like any kinda challenge. All just extras. Guess we'll be getting our rematch here then, I thought. And steeled myself. This time I'm gonna beat you. On national TV, in front of everyone. So don't hold back anything, you got that? I didn't say it to him though, because I got the feeling this time I wouldn't have to.
"OK, LET'S PUT THE TOURNAMENT ON HOLD FOR A MOMENT AND ENJOY SOME RECREATION!"
Even though he said that, it was hard not to feel really stressed. I spent my time alone, outside by the trees. It hardly seemed like any time had passed.
"HEY GUYS ARE YOU READY? WE'VE GOT A BUNCH IN STORE FOR YOU! IT'S HERE THAT YOU WILL BRAWL!" came Mic's commentary. We all gathered in the bleachers. Deku's match. Round 1.
"WHAT'S WITH THAT FACE? YOU DID WELL UP TO NOW DIDN'T YOU? HERO COURSE IZUKU MIDORWYA! YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING NOTABLE YET! GENERAL EDUCATION, HITOSHI SHINSOU! THE RULES ARE SIMPLE! THE SCUFFLE IS WON BY RINGING YOUR OPPONENT OUT, RENDERING THEM UNABLE TO MOVE, OR GETTING THEM TO SAY I GIVE! FEEL FREE TO WOUND! WE HAVE RECOVERY GIRL WAITING IN TEH WINGS! I HOPE YOU'VE LEFT YOUR SENSE OF MORALS AT THE DOOR! THOUGH YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ENDANGER EACH OTHER'S LIVES! NOW LET'S START!"
AS soon as he started, Deku said something to the weirdo he was fighting, some extra with purple hair. And then just stopped moving.
"AS SOON AS HTE MATCH OPENED MIDORIYA CAME TO A STOP!?"
