I adore Mei entirely.
I aim to make the combat stage unique, every other fanfic makes them almost the exact same as canon...
Chapter Seventeen mentions what support items Izuku brought, I am not pulling things out of my butt.
The first thing Katsuki noticed when he woke up was the soft, warm green eyes of Izuku Midoriya lingering besides his bed. He almost jumped at the sight, but somehow managed to refrain. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Uraraka has made tremendous strides in combat, but you are still better. You should have won that fight, we both know that. You could have hit her with a high explosion, the kind that rocked the Battle Trial, hell even if you just aimed it skyward she would have been on her back. You have more then enough control to blast but not hurt her, it's one of reasons Mom was so upset with your attacking of me. She knew that it was a choice, given that incredible control... So I ask again, why did you lose?"
Silence, pained and deafening. "Don't you want to analysis the fights? You rmissing that Pink haired girl's fight, I heard she was a friend of yours."
Izuku smirked. "She is a support student, the best of the best, and a natural showman. She will turn it into a commerical, we already talked about that... Besides as much as I want analyis the fights, it would be fun to have a challenge if I fight Shiozaki. Now, answer the questions, why did you lose?"
"Because it didn't matter... a victory wouldn't change anything." He felt his chest tighten, his breathe burning out of his lungs. "There is no point in me trying to impress anyone, they know who I am, what's wrong with me and they won't care to help me become the best."
"Because your mentally ill?"
"IED and Narcassitic personality disorder, a cocktail of misery that makes me awful to everyone, including myself."
Izuku smiled softly. "I have Generalized Anxiety and Dsythima, which is a low grade years long depression. Hound Dog says I more then likely will have those issues for life. I've only become this confident through faking it til I make it. Well that and gaining confidence from learning that outside of having a quirk, I excel at most things I try. I mean Judo, parkour, engineering, memorizing and learning, you name it. I just pick things up. I was so concerned with having a quirk, I never bothered to try my hands at other things. I saw one failing as a complete absence of possible success period... but now I'm rambling.
You can't help being mentally ill, nor more then you can help being diabetic or epileptic. It is a part of you, one you manage with meds and therapy and self care. I don't blame you for trying to kill me or bully me, you weren't getting the help you needed. If you tried it again, I'd hold it against you, but since you are trying to be better... then I can't say that I hate you. You matter Katsuki, and you deserve to give yourself the second chance that we have all already given you. So suck it up and continue to do better, with each passing of the day and praise yourself when you succeed not just hate yourself for messing up. "
Katsuki could not help the heavy sobs that wracked his body as finally, finally, he started to let go and stop hating himself for something so far beyond his control. While it was not entirely gone, the knot in his chest loosened ever so slightly, leaving him finally able to take in a full breathe for the first time in what felt like forever. "Thank you, Izuku... and for what little it's worth... I'm sorry."
'''
After escaping the world's most awkward apology, a shaken Izuku walked down the halls away from Katsuki's room with a mind filled with confusion. 'He said sorry... and I accepted, after he tried to kill me. Why was that so easy to do, I should hate him... but I don't. It wasn't his fault, not entirely... I won't call him a good person, but I will give him a chance to prove himself. That he didn't maim Uraraka is proof of that..' So consumed with his thoughts, Izuku ran into a firm chest. Looking up, he reached out to stop himself from falling. "I am so sorry, sir, I was lost in thought and I... Endeavor?" he almost yelped, shocked at the sight of the Number Two Hero, looking at him in amusement.
"Ah. I was looking for you," Endeavor said, his voice smooth and rich, almost as handsome as he was.
Nodding, Izuku bowed a little. "It is an honor to meet you."
"I watched your fight against the metal boy," Endeavor replied. "Your skill is impressive, you were a bit campy but to say you are anything less then skilled would be a lie. That you took out my Shoto so easily is proof of that. I must thank you for that in fact, it revealed that he needs to train far more then I realized if he is to fulfill his duty and surpass All Might. It is what I made him for, what he was born to do."
Izuku froze, hate welling up within him. He looked at his man, thought of his words and of Shoto's cold personality... the clear detachment so present in the boy's every action, detachment that Izuku himself was all too familar with... several things clicked in his head and it horrified him.
'Please be wrong... I need to have someone investigate this man, if he is doing what I suspect then... ' As cold as he could, he looked at the handsome man, the arrogant father and spoke slowly. " No child is born to a duty, we choose our own fates despite what our parents would like. Shoto is his own person, if he surpasses All Might it will be because it is his choice not because you created him for that purpose. Good day."
With that he walked away, hiding the shivering in his hands, the urge to beat the man silly. It would be a foolish attempt, the man was an utter beast in battle, but he might feel better for a minute. It was tempting...
'Please, please let me be wrong. Please let Endeavor not be abusive, let me be looking into things too much and seeing the worst in others.'
:::
Endeavor did not scare easily, or ever really. He was too powerful for that, too experienced to let a petty feeling like fear control him. However he was capable of being shaken and the look in the boy's eyes had done just that. It reminded him far too much of All Might, a man who's raw aura and charisma could sway even the most volitale and vile of villans to submitting to his will. It was a gift the Flame Hero envied, one thing he had never replicated...
And yet that boy, that small frail thing had managed too ooze a similar yet entirely different aura of strength. It was not as potent as All Might's, not yet, it was a mere spark... but it was there and it would grow into something that made even All Might's aura seem feeble and weak. How that happened was beyond him...
'I will keep my eyes on you, boy, and use you as a stepping stone for Shoto to one day surpass All Might... you can count on that.'
"""
As it turned out, Izuku missed not only Mei's fight but the other two fights from Class B, which had apparently ended very quickly. From whawt Iida told him when he asked, Kosei could create sheilds of solid air. Monoma won however by copying his quirk, an awesome power, and outsmarting him. Sen beat Shihai only technically since Shihai forfieted for some reason... in either case, Izuku was given no real advice, as he requested since he really wanted a challenge. He wanted to see what he could manage without being informed and making specific plans...
Prideful and foolish but still, he stuck to his guns! Iida almost sobbed in pride when he told him that, making his odd hand chopping motions as he did so...
And so, before he could blink, it was Izuku's turn once again, this time vs Enjiro Kirishima, the literal worst person he could go up against. His overwhelming power, combat power, defensive body... he was a literal beast and he would be the hardest fight for Izuku. He had plans, naturally, but he wasn't sure they could work against Kirishima... hell, unlike Tetsutetsu his rock body was immune to electricity. so Izuku couldn't even zap him!
This was going to be hell...
"It's the guy who won his last fight by a landslide through sheer force. The hero course's Enjiro Kirishima!" Mic announced. "And this kid turned the last fight into a commercial for his Support items and then utterly destroyed his opponent in an electrifying display of power. Also, from the hero course, Izuku Midoriya!"
Taking a deep breathe, Izuku walked into the arena, ignoring the wash of nerves that filled him as he approached his opponent.
Kirishima smirked at him. "Best man win?"
" I plan to." Headphones already on, Izuku's voice carried through the arena, making people chitter with laughter.
"BEGIN!" Mic screamed out and Izuku ripped a grenade from his utility belt and tossed it at Kirishima. The boy tried to swat it aside, only for it to explode into a cloud of smoke and light and sound that ripped through the entire arena, casting all into shadow. "Izuku Midoriya surprises us again, shocking us all and taking immediate control of the battle. What could be going on in that cloud friends!"
Izuku laughed into his microphobne, softly, making his laughter ring maliciously through the arena. Rushing into the smoke with delicate steps, he closed his eyes and followed his senses, mainly his sense of hearing, following Kirishima's curses and grunts.
"My eyes, my ears, so unmanly Midoriya, everything hurts!"
"That's the idea, my friend, your power is hardening so I had to attack your senses, which are still sensitive to damage. That little bomb affects hearing, sight and smell all at once. I was going to make it full of pepper spray but that felt cruel, it is a perfect weapon to create a diversion, allowing little old me to mask my presence and do whatever it is I please while you cannot see me." Grabbing another three balls from his utility belt, his only chance at winning this fight, Izuku got as close as he could to Kirishima..."I hope you know, no hard feelings."
The other boy's voice sounded confused. " What?"
Izuku answered by chucking one ball at his chest, the damn thing detonated sending the hardened hero flying back, rolling across the ground and dispering a lot of the smoke. Enough to see the other boy coughing, but unharmed, swatting at his chest and the smoky air.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
Izuku laughed again. " A lovely weapon, inspired by Bakugo actually. These explosive balls are a great tool to use against people with tough defenses, moving them away without really doing damage, since it is a hero's perogative to minimize damage." With the accuracy of a professional ball player, Izuku tossed another ball at Kirishima the moment he managed to stand, smacking him full in the chest and sending him flying once more...
Right over the Boundry Line, hopefully...
"You almost got over the line!" Kirishima called out, just as the last of the smoke faded, revealing a shirtless redhaired boy looking at him with annoyance. "But that is not enough, you'll lose soon enough."
Laughing some more, Izuku settled into a stance for a moment and pulled out his escrima sticks. "Brute force it is... I really didn't want to do this, but you asked for it. " Before charging at the other boy, leaping up and over him just before they crashed into each other. Landing, Izuku fell back and rolled backwards, through Kirishima's legs, popping up to slam his sticks home, smashing them into the boy's chin with enough force to send the other boy into the air and onto his back.
Without resting, Izuku grabbed the boy's legs and pulled hard, lifting him into the air and spinning him around before tossing him away with great force. The other boy landed hard, tumbling and rolling back onto his feet... only for Izuku to be there the moment he popped up, smashing his face with the sticks once more. He did not let up on his assult, smashing and battering, ignoring the throbbing in his arms. When Kirishima attempted a strike, Izuku dodged it and lashed out with a strong kick that sent the boy back a few feet. Dodging another strike, Izuku grabbed Kirishima and flipped him once more, slamming him hard into the ground.
Over and over again they repeated this dance, Izuku's body aching from the other boy's impressive defense and the occasional glancing blow. The fight went on for what felt like an hour before finally, Izuku felt the defense... lessening. The pain was less intense from each strike, the boy recoiling more and more, he was making progress. There was hope afterall...
And then he felt it, regular flesh! Kirishima screeched as his Escrima sticks slammed into his shoulder, which popped out of place. " DAMN IT!" He screamed before Izuku slammed a single stick over his head, knocking the boy out entirely.
Panting, he stepped away, shaking and sore... and soaking in the applause of the countless people in the stands.
"Kirishima is unconcious, Midoriya is the winner!"
It took everything to stay standing, and so Izuku turned on heel and marched back to his seat, eager to get some rest before his next fight... thankfully none would be as hard as that one had been...
Right?
'Who would have guessed that brute force was the path to success here... I sure as hell wouldn't have though that... I think I got a little lucky he can't keep his hardening up for too long, otherwise he would out stamina me... still, I'll count the success for me. I earned this damn it.'
:::
"A sensory overload bomb and a literal explosive device to deal with people like Kirishima. It seems that Young Midoriya planned to fight the boy, that was almost tailored to the other boy's weaknesses." Nezu smiled, pleased to see the intelligence demonstrated before him. "His plan was almost successful and yet he still managed to physically overpower his opponent, a tremendously strong and defensive boy with a power quirk. That is something to admire...I wonder if the rest of the crowd has figured out that he lacks a quirk? I can imagine how shocked they will be to figure out a quirkless boy is dominating.
We are going to have to protect him once this is over, from the media if nothing else... sigh, such is life but it is so worth it I think. They will try and consume him, desperate to get his story I can already see it. Parasistes the lot of them."
Rubbing his eyes, already tired from just thinking of the incidents bound to pop up from the reveal of Izuku's power or lack there of. It would be so worth it, but it would be a pain none the less. At least it would help justify tutoring the boy personally. Always a silver lining!
"I cannot wait to see if he wins this and if so, how... so much excitment."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was fun to write, but hard since I struggle with action scenes.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.