Yep.

XX

The Award ceremony was…disappointing. I don't mean as in it wasn't powerful or grand or incredibly awesome or whatever…but it wasn't person.

I felt nothing standing on this podium. I stood tall, clearly dwarfing the runner ups being Todoroki and Bakugo…it was as if to emphasize the difference in strength. This just seemed to miss the point. Why are we ranking Heroes? I mean sure, it's important to gauge and understand peoples strengths as we do to our enemies…maybe it is necessary, I don't know. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 'specially since I was the villain, and I ended up getting first.

Im sure that must be very awkward for everyone.

"Now!" Midnight called with a wave of her hand to gather attention, "We will award the metals! The presentation of the medals, of course, will be by this man!"

Loud uproarious laughter boomed from the top of the stadium, and I glanced upwards in spite of the sun to see the silhouette of a bunny eared man…All Might obvious from that stupid smile.

The crowd went wild as All Might announced his arrival, before he leapt off, catching the full sun and dropping with a "super hero landing" right in the center of the crowd.

"Our Very One Hero, All Might!" Midnight announced loudly, and the crowd just couldn't contain themselves with support and cheers for their hero.

Notice how I didn't say our hero.

I don't like that guy.

"I have brought the medals" he said as he was walking up with an awkward cough, clearly wondering if Midnight was going to say more or not and not interrupt after accepted the medals from her. He stepped up to third place, easily stepping on top the podium without hindrance to its height, and stood there for a moment admiring the restraints on Bakugo, as well as the seething anger behind his eyes.

"Good job our there! Your ability and combat skills put on an amazing show!"

I resisted the urge to snort, the audience couldn't see half the time from the smoke he blew out.

All Might removed the…was that a gag?! Bakugo was silent for a moment, before he rasped out.

"All Might…third place….like this?!...It's not worth ANYTHING!" he burned, a fiery anger blazing on his expression which I couldn't fully see…but from what I could.

It was two parts amazing, and two parts hilarious.

"In this world, where people are constantly being compared publicly, there are not many who can keep aiming for the top of an unchanging scale."

Bakugo did not look impressed…and neither did I. they were the academy actively supporting the "public comparisons". It's hardly fair to tell him how it is and act like its not something he can change when he is responsible, or is in a position to change it.

"Here, take this medal. Think of it as a wound, so you never forget!" All Might said proudly.

"I said I didn't want it!" Bakugo snarled loudly, and I cracked a small smile. He might be a righteous ass and a bit of a brat…but at least he's got pride.

He fought against the impending medal, and eventually All Might just stuck it in his mouth like a bit and walked off. What a champ.

Next, was Todoroki. He hopped over, pulling out a silver medal, "Congratulations."

Todoroki made no attempt to resist the medal, and All Might stepped back "I'm assuming there is a reason you didn't use your left side earlier during your fight in the final?"

I blinked. Pretty sure he did…was it just because he didn't use it till the very end?

"I had an opportunity during my match with Midoriya, but that I became unsure of myself. I felt an urge to use it last minute…but it wasn't the same. I think I understand a little of why you are interesting in him. I wanted to be a hero like you. but I didn't think it would be right for me to be the only one to break away."

…the only one? who is he talking about?

Todoroki looked up, confidently, "There is still something I must settle."

All Might nodded, "the look on your face is completely different from before." He came for a hug as he continued, "I wont ask the about the details. Im sure that you will be able to do what you need to do."

"Yes." He replied tonelessly, and I just glanced off to the side to the stands.

I couldn't see Amanda anymore…perhaps she left? Maybe she was trying to find her way onto the stage again. She was rather…headstrong about me being about my only close friend and all.

"Now then! Ikari Senshi! An excellent bout! Well met! Its unfortunate that you couldn't keep your pledge."

"I said I would try." I said blankly, "I didn't say I wouldn't. I didn't even know I had to do that pledge thing till I got called up."

He laughed, "Well! I suppose I can't fault you for that then."

"Spare me the speech, there is someone that I have to go see." I said simply. I didn't want to here his emotional rally or his "man to man" pep talk. I don't need this shit.

"Mm, I did see a young woman run onto the stage, maybe a year or two older than you. Is she family?"

"What she is, is waiting on you to finish up." I said flatly, and he let out an akward laugh, "You know, at the award ceremony I'm supposed to converse with the winners!"

"I wasn't supposed to win." I said quietly, and All Might stopped. "Don't bullshit me. If it wasn't for Aizawa practically arresting me outside the colleseum I would have left a long time ago."

I heard chains clink in a jerk as I glanced at Bakugo and Todoroki's shocked faces.

"Spare me the speech, or your words." I said lowly, "I have nothing to say, or want to here, from someone like you."

All Might was silent. It was clear that I was angry, and…from what I could see.

He didn't know about any of this either.

Interesting.

"Ill come chat with you later." He said with a nod, and I rolled my eyes. All Might jumped down, before turning with a large smile, "Well! They are the winners time! But listen here! Anyone here could have ended up on these podiums. It's just as you saw- Competing! Improving each other! Climbing even further! The next generation of heroes is definitely sprouting!"

He raised a hand to the sky, pointing at the clouds, and cheered, "So! I have just one more thing to say! Everyone, please say it with me!"

"Ready! GO!"

"PLUS ULTRA!" The crowd cheered loudly

All Might had apparently something different to say.

"Thanks for your hard work!" he chanted loudly, before an awkward silence descended.

"What?! It should have been "Plus Ultra" there, All Might!" The crowd roared with disapproval, and I smirked as All Might wilted.

I wouldn't have said either of them.

I said my own thing quietly.

"You lost this time, Heroes."

I glanced at the somewhat withered All Might as the crowd pelted him with boos, and I just hopped off the podium. I landed firmly on Bakugo's third place podium, and I seized the metal boxes around his fists.

"Sorry if this hurts, but I can guess you want out of here as much as I do." I said simply, before I held one in each hand firmly, and my arms pulsed. I crushed them enough to dent and disfigure them. I didn't want to completely smash them, his hands were still in there. I took advantage of the new foot holdings for my grip however, and I wrenched openings apart, slipping his cuffs off and letting them fall to the ground. I kicked them aside, and I focused on his arm braces. I ripped off each supporting bar, before I just straight snapped the black restraints off his arm. He winced in pain with a grunt, but said nothing. After getting his arms separated from each other, I yanked apart the chains after kicking it up a stage quickly, and falling back down. All that was left was the strap around the concrete block.

I walked around to see they were knotted onto stakes, and I just couldn't help but marvel at the way they contained this guy. Talk about the villain treatment.

"Allow me." I heard Todoroki say calmly, and he jumped up with some help from his ice that sprouted beneath him. He touched the band, and froze it over, before he looked at me.

I just smirked, and I pulled back an arm, flattening out my fist into a palm strike. Heat kicked off my shoulders, and I grinned widely as I pitched my weight forward, and with a strike almost too fast to track with the eye, an impact slammed into the frozen straps, snapping them in half along with leaving a massive crack in the concrete. The restraints fell away, and Bakugo walked a single step forward, rubbing his wrists, before letting an experimental spark flare in his palms. He turned to me and Todoroki, and, surprisingly, nodded, "Next time will be different."

I shrugged, "Cool, Im outta here. Good luck on your ways home."

"We aren't going home." Todoroki said immediately, and I blinked, turning back to him, "What?"

"We still have class."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Well fuck."

XXXXX

Shortie I know, but I think its a good...moment to transition. Take care all, stay safe out there.