So ... I've been ditched again ...
And I can't even blame her.
In retrospect, I should have seen this coming. Hanada-chan isn't exactly an ideal date to a party, and apparently, sitting a few meters away from the epicenter of the crowd was not enough. Note to self: Sit far, far away from a raucous party. Far enough where you can't even hear the music. I stare at the forest she stumbled through. The same one she stumbled through last time. Where does she go? I didn't even get to return her handkerchief, all washed. Next time there is an event like this, I am going to follow her in. I will not be abandoned for a third time.
Having lost my companion for the evening, I resort to keeping to myself and wait the party out. I plan on how I should draw Hanada-chan tonight, given that she was undoubtedly ethereal tonight. Blacks, silvers, and whites. A tinge of blue. Once again, she reminded me of a moon goddess, but in the phase of the new moon. But that changes when I spot Midoriya heading for the school building. We've got some loose ends to tie up. I follow him at a distance. The building is mostly empty save for a few students having make out sessions against the walls or on the benches. He takes a turn to a hallway, presumably leading to the restrooms. I guess right. I wait for him to come out.
When he does, he yelps in surprise. "T-T-Todoroki-kun! Um. Hi! How's the celebration?"
I skip the small talk and head straight to the point. "Why? Why did you say all that during the match?"
He knows instantly what I mean. He takes a deep breath before looking at me unflinchingly in the eyes. "Your dad approached me before our match. Like you, he thought All Might's attention toward me was unusual. But then took your name. He said that it was your responsibility to surpass All Might, and that I would be the perfect stepping stone for that. At that moment, I think I really understood how you felt, Todoroki-kun. More so than when you took me aside in that alcove."
"What do you mean? Just what did my dad say to you?" I'm puzzled. Only part of my question has been answered.
"Endeavor thought I was just like All Might, but I'm not. The same way he wanted you to be his carbon copy, when you are not. He couldn't see the distinction, and that got under my skin. My conversation with him only lasted for a minute or two, but you've had to deal with that sensation for years. I sympathized with you, and I wanted to prove him wrong. I thought the best way to do that would be proving yourself to you."
I have no clue what to say that. He had no legitimate reason to support me. I was his opponent, for god's sake! He should have been focusing on taking advantage of my hesitation, not egging me to overcome it. I don't know if he's an idiot or an angel, or both.
He stammers again at my quietness. "I-I-I'm sorry if I overstepped! It's just- it's just, you had so much potential , and you were denying yourself of reaching that. I wanted to do something to help you because you're really amazing, Todoroki-kun."
"You admire me?" I ask dumbly, still trying to process what he said before.
"Y-yeah. You're really cool. I was hoping I could get to know you better. Possibly become friends," he answers timidly. A blush creeps up his cheeks.
Friends. That's such a foreign concept. With Hanada-chan, I had felt a resonance. That was why I had approached her first and extended the hand of friendship. We've acknowledged that we're best friends, but our relationship is peculiar nonetheless. I don't feel that same resonance with Midoriya, but I guess he does. Why else would he say that? I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try to make more friends. After all, I am going to see his face for the next three years. And he seems honest. Might as well. I accept his offer and we exchange numbers.
The next day, classes resume. It rains and thunders heavily.
As usual, the classroom is empty save for Hanada-chan and I when I enter. She's so invested in her new novel, that I have to snatch the novel from her hands to get her attention. "Hello? Are you here or still in Wonderland?"
She frowns as she tries to retrieve the book from my hands. I raise them way above her head. "No thanks to you, I am physically and mentally present. However, I would like to return to Wonderland for the next twelve minutes until the bell rings. Now, may I have my book back?"
"Nope." She jumps to catch it, so I move my arms to the side. To the side she bends, I reach down. Down she swerves, I jerk up. We're like children, and I'm taking joy from her petulance. My own grin widens as her frown constricts. Eventually, she stops and puts her hands on her hips. With an icy glare, she looks straight into my eyes as she pushes me to the ground. Not even shove, freaking pushes me!
I stumble over a chair leg and land on my back. Now I'm the one scowling, and she's the one with a Cheshire grin. She bends down to my side and plucks my fingers off the book, one by one. I stare at her in disbelief as she stands back up, sets her book on her desk, and extends her hand toward me. I reach to grab it, but I slip on the smooth floor surface, falling down again and bringing her with me. Ouch! My head just made impact with the floor. After wincing, I lean up on my elbows. Hanada-chan's on top of me, on hands and knees, face just centimeters away, appearing just as confused as I am. Once we realize what a compromising position we're in, her face flushes cherry red as she scrambles to get up, apologizing all the while. "I-I-I-I'm very sorry! It wasn't my intention to-to-to ... I simply wanted to help you up. Not - well - make you hit your head."
"It's not your fault," I murmur, just as embarrassed as her as I get up on my feet. "It was an accident. That's all. You apologize too much, Hanada-chan. For things that are your fault and for things that are not."
"I'm-"
"Don't finish that sentence," I warn. As an afterthought, I add, "Here's your handkerchief."
She tucks the cloth in her pocket, remains quiet, and buries her face in her book, obviously trying to save whatever is left of her pride. I don't pry and pointedly keep to myself until the bell rings. How can she be so bold one second and timid the next? Then again, that same question applies to me. Our classmates come in. The mood shifts instantly. Everyone is cheery and energetic from the Festival aftermath. Midoriya briefly makes eye contact with me and smiles, and I nod in response. Aizawa-sensei follows shortly, and he looks much better - if that's even possible for a guy like him - with his bandages removed from his face. He tells the class that today's class is special. "It's time to formulate your codenames. Your hero names."
God, the reaction the class makes! It's like each one of them won the billion dollar lottery and don't have to pay income tax for it. They leap out of their seats and scream in excitement. With fists raised and feet stomping, Class 1-A has turned from a group of future Pro-Heroes into a bunch of farm animals. I wouldn't be surprised if someone grew hooves and started stomping at this point. I glance at Hanada-chan, who's unnaturally still, whose eyes are tightly shut and hands are clutching her ears. Her breath comes out unsteadily. I reach out and place my hand over hers. She opens her eyes ever so slightly to look at me. She's terrified, so I gently stroke my thumb against the back of her hand as if to say It's okay. Everything is all right. Slowly, she relaxes as the ruckus dies down. I remove my hand, pulling a red spider lily from her hair as I do, and she smiles weakly in thanks. Feeling assured that she's okay, I focus on what Aizawa-sensei is saying.
"This is related to the draft nominations by Pros I mentioned the other day. The nominations will truly start mattering only after you've gained some experience and your adaptable fighting ability is judged during your sophomore and senior years. In other words, the nominations you're getting this year are more akin to expressions of 'interest' in your future potential. And it's not rare that that interest dries up by graduation or is simply unilaterally swapped. Now, the tally of nominations is as follows." He beckons toward the blackboard, which has a list of names and horizontal bars and numbers next to them. Each bar varies in length as they detail the number of nominations a particular student has received. Mine is the longest, and the number beside it reads 4,123. Second is Bakugou's who reads 3,556. Third is Hanada-chan's with 2,822. Everybody else's bars fall below 500. "Typically the results are more balanced," Sensei points out. "But this year, all the attention leaned toward the three of you."
The class has mixed reactions. Yaoyorozou says, "Just as expected, Todoroki," and Hanada-chan whispers, "I didn't get to properly compliment you that day. Congratulations, Todoroki-kun."
Both to which I reply, "A lot of that's just gotta be because of my Dad." And it's true. I stare at the blackboard with simultaneous apathy and simmering resentment, knowing just how far nepotism can get someone.
"Based on this, regardless of whether you received any nominations, I'll be having you all go get some so-called 'work-place experience,'" Sensei brings the class back to attention. "You've all dipped a toe in the world of the Pros, unfortunately. But I think experiencing the activities of Pros firsthand will prove to be more fruitful training than before." And that's why we need hero names. "Of course, placeholder names are fine, too, but something appropriate ..."
"BECAUSE IF NOT, IT'LL BE HELL FROM THERE!" a voice interrupts. It's Midnight-sensei's. "The names you pick now, the names you come to be known by the world as now ... In many cases, they stay that way after becoming Pros!" Aizawa-sensei doesn't make a fuss as he hands the teaching rein toward her and promptly opens up his sleeping bag. For the next fifteen minutes, my classmates and I work on names.
Aoyama presents his first: I cannot stop twinkling. Can't say I'm surprised. Ashido goes next: Alien Queen. Also, unsurprising. More students go up, with predictable names. When it's my turn, my chosen hero name seems to surprise not only my classmates but Midnight-sensei. I wrote Shouto, remembering the words my mom, Midoriya, Bakugou, and Hanada-chan said to me. Forge my own identity. Break the chains of nepotism and make the people remember me for me, not my dad.
When I return to my seat, Hanada-chan smiles at me in understanding. It's a sweeter smile this time, not of pity, not of sympathy. "I like it. Although, it will feel strange calling you by solely by your first name when I am used to calling you with honorifics," she jokes with a whisper.
"As long as I'm the only one of my family who you'll call Todoroki-kun, I'll make an exception for you," I reciprocate the joke.
Bakugou goes up next with a ... memorable ... name: King Explosion Murder. Iida uses my idea as he presents the name Tenya. Midoriya goes with Deku as his hero name.
Hanada-chan hasn't gone up yet. I whisper, "Hey! Aren't you going to present your hero name?"
"I'm waiting for the right moment."
Huh? What does she mean by 'right moment?' I am about to ask her as such when Midnight-sensei distracts me by telling Bakugou that for the time being his hero name will simply be his real name. Now, with everybody having gone up, Hanada-chan stands up and walks to the center. She holds up her name board. The name on it surprises - no, stuns - me.
I don't know if I should be afraid or impressed.
I wanted unpredictability and she gave it tenfold.
Lightning flashes outside.
With that Cheshire grin looking more diabolic than mischievous, she declares her hero name.
"Lucifer."
Note: I have copied some dialogue from one of the English-translated versions of the manga. The link to the chapter is here: .online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-45/