Announcement: Not that anyone asked, but Selene's Hogwarts House is Slytherin, followed by Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor. This is obvious from her personality, but stating this detail might put things into perspective, especially about her comment of Gryffindors. No offense to any Gryffindors, however. Shouto has always struck as me as a Slytherin, followed by Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff. I don't think characters or people can be clearly defined by just one House, so I view them as a list: primary House, secondary House, and so on.
Todoroki-kun made it up to me by buying ice cream.
And he promptly ruined it when he commented that I would get diabetes at this rate.
We snacked on a few other dishes before returning to the stadium.
But when we got there, his jovial mood dropped into solemnity.
He despondently gave his farewell before preparing for the next round. After all, his match against Midoriya-san is the first of the second round. Their mutual declaration of war echoes in my head, and I scrutinize this match more than usual. I even amplify my hearing to eavesdrop on the dialogue that is bound to occur.
When it comes down to it, it's just two male egos fighting. It is tiresome and vapid most of the time, but I feel that this instance will be different. From what I've seen of the two of them, Todoroki-kun will attack first, presumably with his ice spear wall. Midoriya-san will counter with an immense pressure blast, and break a bone or two in the process.
And that is exactly what happens. There are only two things that surprise me. The first is when the dust dissipates, and I see that Midoriya-san has only broken one finger. I'll give him this much: although he is still a novice with his quirk, he is learning fast. Some precision is better than no precision. However,If Todoroki-kun's "I expected as much" are any indication, then he is not fazed. The second is that Todorok-kun has constructed a much smaller ice wall behind him, a barrier of sorts to prevent himself from being pushed out of bounds.
The same scene unfolds again and again: Todoroki-kun's ice and Midoriya-san's blast. He breaks two more fingers. For someone whose modus operandi is to finish a battle quickly and efficiently, Todoroki-kun is understandably frustrated. At the same time, he's puzzled as to how Midoriya-san is holding out his own for so long against him.
A new voice distracts me from my observations: Kirishima-san's. He is excited to be facing Bakugou-san in his next match, while Bakugou-san is simply irritated. When he looks at the ongoing match, he sighs, "Both you and Todoroki can send out a whole bunch of really strong attacks rapid-fire without breaking a sweat, huh?"
This irritates Bakugou-san further. "We don't just shoot them rapid-fire, idiot. Strain your muscles, and you'll tear them. Run too much, and you'll be out of breath. Quirks are still physical abilities. Even this guy's gotta have some kind of limit," he counters. The conviction in his voice ... It's evident that he is speaking from experience. And I cannot argue with that logic. There's the way Iida-san waited until the last moment to use his superspeed trick, there's the way Kirishima-san and Tetsutetsu-san became exhausted quickly during their matches, there's the way Midoriya-san damages his bones, and of course there is me. Kirishima-san concedes, too.
"Are you trying to make this an endurance match? Then I'll just end it right now," Todoroki-kun's voice returns my attention to the battle. The scene repeats for a fourth time. However, Todoroki-kun runs over the wall and leaps at Midoriya-san. Just as he lands, Midoriya-san prepares to defend himself. But he unleashes another ice wall, and Midoriya-san has to use more than a finger to block that attack. The dust takes longer to dissipate. Now, all his fingers, both hands, and both arms are badly damaged. Todoroki-kun hasn't escaped unharmed either - patches of frost dot his right arm. "That was a lot of power you showed just now. Was it because I got closer to you?" he analyzes. He approaches Midoriya-san. "Even though all you've done is defend and run away, you've reached your limit, haven't you?" It is a confident move, but a disguise to hide his subtle shivers.
He continues speaking to add on to the bluff. "Just like I thought. All those Pros out there can now see that I'm more than just the 'son of Number Two.'" So he took my words seriously ... "Sorry about all that. And thank you, Midoriya. Thanks to you, that guy's face says he just got knocked down a peg or two." He glares at his father, and I recall the conversation I had overheard just a few hours ago. Then he returns his attention to Midoriya-san. "You really shouldn't fight with your hands the way they are now. So, let's end this."
"WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?!" Midoriya-san shouts. I had expected the match to go the way just as Todoroki-kun said, so this outburst shocks me. And what shocks me further is when Midoriya-san switches from defense to offense. With a broken arm, he releases a surge so powerful, I can feel the wind from my seat. I can only imagine the force Todoroki-kun felt being so close to him.
Furthermore, Todoroki-kun is just as puzzled. "Why are you going this far to-"
"You're shivering, Todoroki-kun," Midoriya-san interrupts, on the point of collapse. But two very opposite thoughts form in my mind. The first is an appreciation of Midoriya-san's observation skills: he did not buy the bluff. The second is pure jealousy. Just when did you become so friendly with him? I'm the only one who calls him Todoroki-kun. At this moment, the feeling of envy supersedes the feeling of respect. Perhaps that is why my irritation rises when he begins evaluating. "Quirks are just another one of our physical functions. So there's a limit to how much of your own generated cold you can take, isn't there? If that's the case, then you could just solve that problem yourself by using the heat from your left side, am I wrong?"
To make things even better, he's not finished with his speech. "Everyone's giving everything they've got! They're doing it, so they can get that much closer to victory! They're doing it, so they can someday become Number One! You think you can win using only half your power, but you haven't been able to put a single scratch on me yet.
"SO GET OVER HERE AND FIGHT ME!" he cries, clenching his broken fist in an act of passion.
Maybe I should feel motivated. Energetic. However, this time the thought that arises is one of resignation. I am surrounded by too many Gryffindors. And this particular Gryffindor is more exasperating than most. Because who in their right mind would challenge their opponent to do better at a time like this?
Todoroki-kun is enraged, on the other hand. "Just what do you think you're doing? All my might? Did my shitty old man pay you off?" He dashes forward, aiming to attack in Midoriya-san's face. "Now you're pissing me off!" But Midoriya-san bends low and punches him in the stomach very hard. And he used his quirk in that punch, causing him to fly meters back. Internally, I wince. It takes Todoroki-kun to get back up, and even then, his breath is laborious. The frost has reached his cheek.
He slams his foot and unleashes more ice, but the effect is much weaker. It is balanced out by Midoriya-san's weak counter blast. "Why are you going this far?" Todoroki-kun asks again.
Midoriya-san's answer intrigues and disappoints me simultaneously. "I want to live up to his expectations! I wanna be able to answer with a smile. I WANNA BECOME A SUPER COOL HERO!" He's charging toward Todoroki-kun now and shoots a blast at close-distance, effectively pushing him back more meters. Exhaustion finally enters his voice. He whispers, "I can't even begin to understand your circumstances or your resolution. But even so, now I think the idea that you'll become Number One without using your full strength, and that you're doing this to disavow someone is a FUCKING JOKE!" Never mind. He still has enough energy to yell and be annoying. Also, I didn't take him for the type to swear. I agree that Todoroki-kun's motive is rather petulant, but I wouldn't go so far as to calling it a joke. Is Midoriya-san goading him?
If so, it's working. Todoroki-kun trembles in fury and seethes, "Shut up." The frost is spreading across his entire right side. The sight reminds me of his hero costume, with an ice-like suit covering the left side of his body. Only now, it's reversed. His behavior has reversed, too. From rage and determination to blankness and consternation. He's lost in a memory. Midoriya-san unknowingly takes advantage of this to punch him again, this time making him do a backflip. To my worry, it's not enough to return him to the present.
"My father ...," he mumbles.
"IT'S YOURS!" Midoriya-san interrupts him again. "IT'S YOUR POWER!" No explanation is required for what power Midoriya-san is talking about.
And that changes something inside Todoroki-kun. It is physical. He stares wide-eyed with clenched teeth. He looks as though he will cry. He desperately needed to hear those words ...
A new Todoroki-kun stands before Midoriya-san, before the crowd, before me. He generates a bonfire of orange flames, instantly melting the frost. He whispers in newfound passion, "Even though you want to win ... Goddammit! Going out of your way to help your enemy ... Which one of us is the joke?"
"I'm going to be a hero!" he finishes, with simultaneous ice and fire crystallizing and billowing from him. His eyes glint wickedly and mouth tilts deviously. This new version of him is quite appealing. If this were a manga, then this panel would be the home screen of millions of fangirls.
And it seems like Endeavor feels the same. His every step on the stairs resonates loudly, his voice even louder. "SHOUTOOOOOOOOOO! So you've finally accepted yourself, have you? Good! Excellent! Now this is your true beginning. You who holds my blood, surpass me and realize my ambition in yourself!" It stuns him when he receives no response.
Midoriya-san is oddly very happy about this development. So he really was just goading him to make him realize his potential. How Gryffindor of him. Todoroki-kun wipes the sweat from his brow and comments on Midoriya-san's smile. "Wow. What are you smiling about? With wounds like those, in your current situation, you're absolutely nuts." The smile drops. "But whatever happens, I don't care."
Now the real match begins. Before was just the appetizer; now is the main course meal. I must be hungry again, since my analogy was about food. Both of them crouch, quirks activated. They unleash their forces at each other just as Cementoss-san manipulates his concrete to form five towering boulders to stop them. It's useless. Todoroki-kun has released his most powerful ice wall yet, and Midoriya-san runs over it. Then Todoroki-kun blasts an inferno so colossal, and Midoriya-san a pressure blast so violent, the boulders shatter like glass. Debris flies everywhere, and wind blows as strong as a hurricane. I have to cling to the edges of my seat to prevent from being thrown back. Smoke and dust spiral up in the air, generating a massive cloud. The arena is destroyed. Everyone watches with raptured interest. When the dust has settled down enough, I can see that Midoriya-san is inert and out of bounds. He collapses. Todoroki-kun is standing with half his uniform shirt burnt.
Midnight-sensei declares Todoroki-kun as the victor, and med-robots soon arrive to take Midoriya-san away.
Meanwhile, Todoroki-kun turns around without another glance.
He has a lost look again.
It is different from the one before.
I know that look.
I know it all too well.
I glance at Endeavor exiting the stadium.
Not a coincidence.
I get up and exit as well.
It is obvious what discussion will ensue between the two of them, but it is not my place to intervene.
Instead, I'm concerned with what will happen after that.
Note: I have copied some dialogue from one of the English-translated versions of the manga. The links to the chapters are here:
.online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-38/
.online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-39/
.online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-40/