I needed to fight then...I needed to do something about those feelings. You didn't have to fight me, but you did anyway.
Why are things between you and me always so weird? So strained? Ever since we were kids.
"I'm not gonna be your punching bag, Kacchan!"
Always, I've always known you...but I've never told you...
I blasted up above him, preparing - and blasted down to try and get him. He dodged me again
"Close one."
I could see the gears turning in his head as I headed out for a full on blast in his direction. Do't let him think!
I threw another blast at him - he went backwards - he flipped out of the way - - I landed in a punch - he flew back adn hit the wall -
then flipped onto an iron fence - and flipped backwards and out of hte way as I threw a swipe at him.
I got his arm - and managed to toss him - then I fell into the fence.
He slowly got to his feet - and I couldn't believe it, but he was smiling.
"Guess it should've been obvious, but - you're getting stronger."
"What're you grinning at?!" I screamed at him. "You say you ain't gonna be my puncihng bag anymore, huh?"
I threw a blast at him and again he got out of the way - and stood up. "I won't."
"Sounds to me like you've got another scheme!" I threw a stun grenade his way. "That's what always pissed me off about you! I could never tell what you were thinking! I'd pound you again and again, but you'd keep sticking around! Even though you were a punk with nothing to offer! Always looking at me, with those eyes that seemed to know something I didn't! Always like - you were looking down on me. Llike you were just waiting for a chance to surpass me. You freaking eyesore!"
He'd stopped smiling. He was just staring at me. "Is that really what you thought? Normally, I wouldn't want anything to do with a guy who kept insulting me. But as you just said, I had nothing going for me. As bad as your bad side was, your strengths were just as impressive. You had so much that I didn't. I could admire All Might from a distance, but you were right there. This amazing person in my life! That's why I've always chased after you!"
My jaw dropped...He was moving faster, with a new kind of fire that I hadn't seen before...
this amazing person in my life...
no - he's coming - too fast - gotta guard -
"That's why I've always chased after you!"
He'd done it - sped up enough to catch me off guard.
'That's why I always chased after you' Past tense. Is he saying he surpassed me? I smiled a bit.
And came back with another blast as Deku moved - faster than before. Unleashing his true power, are you finally, finally doing it, Deku?
That wasn't fast enough for a direct hit. He's kicked it up a gear!
He caught himself and ran at me shouting "HTAT ALL YOU GUY?
"?HUH?!" I shouted at him.
It was strange how fast he was going as he jumped up, ready to land a huge hit on me. I've got the advantage in the air, I thought as I used my blast to reach him.
I headed up, ready to counter his next kick. The embodiment of something - the guy who had everything that All Might thought I should have, something I didn't - he's about to show me, and I've got to - I've got ot beat him!
And he caught me off guard and threw a punch instead of a kick.
But not strong enough to KO me.
"I AIN'T GONNA LOSE!" I screamed, and grabbed him -
and threw him down - and blasted to the ground -
and pinned his arms and legs and hands.
I was out of breath like nuts. I couldn't stop panting. AS I just sat there and looked at him.
"It's my win." I kept him pinned.
"All Might.s power. Even with that power, even after making it your own, you still lost to me. Right? Why'd you lose?"
"That's enough, you two!"
that voice - All might?!
"Apologies" but I overheard everyhting," he said, coming to greet us.
"All -" I started.
"Might" Deku finished my sentence.
There he was.
"I am very sorry that I never realized," and I knew that he'd heard it all.
"Too little, too late," I told him as I got off of Deku, and turned away. "So why Deku? Ever since that sludge thing, why? Why him, of all people?"
"Even powerless, he was more of a hero than anyone. I could tell you were strong. You were already on your way, so I decided to give him a chance to walk that path too."
"Nah, I'm weak. This whole time, I wanted to be strong like you. But I was weak, and you wound up like that. "
"This is not your fault. I was fast approaching my limit either way. This was always my destiny. And you are strong. HOwever, I was distracted by your strength. I burdened you with it. " And I couldn't believe it, but All Might placed his hand on the back of my head, and pulled me to his chest in a hug. "You too are only a boy."
Don't cry, dammit. I pulled away from him. He went on. "Being a hero all these years has taught me something. I love to win, just like you Bakugou. And like Midoriya, I strive to save those in need. If either aspect had been missing, I could never have stood for justice in the way I did. Midoriya looks up to your strength, Bakugou. And Midoriya, Bakugou fears your spirit. You've both just laid everything bare, so can't you see now? If you learn to respect each other and lift each other up, you can become the ultimate heroes, ones who save by winning and saving people at hte same time."
I looked at Deku. And he looked at me. Looked at me with those huge eyes.
I turned away. "You think that's what I wanted to hear from you?"
I collapsed and put my head in my arms. "You. The strongest guy out there put you on the fast track. Don't you dare lose again."
"I'll get stronger. Enough to beat you," he told me.
Yes. You will. I'll guarantee it.
"So who knows about this deal you and Deku got?"
"Recovery girl, the principal. Among the students, nly you."
"And you don't want the word getting out, Right All Might? If you're still trying to hide it, then I won't breathe a word. I won't spill the beans like stupid Deku here. I'll keep your secret.
