So, I realized I never mentioned who was part of Akisho's team that won the Cavalry Battle last chapter so I'm going to put it here.
Monoma, Kendo, and Shino. Shino is Butterfly Wings that Hitoshi used to advance in the maze!
But seriously y'all I spent a good thirty minutes with my niece figuring out who would win with some of these mixes I got going on lol. Oh, and not everyone is going to have a detailed fight! For brevity's sake.
"Did you just say Mr. Aizawa is your father?"
Izuku looked intensely at the ground as he kept his hands tightly over his mouth. He knew his eyes were bugging out of his skull and that there was no coming back from this. Izuku was almost shaking as he stared at Todoroki. Who looked equally, if not even more, shocked than Izuku.
"N…No- I didn't say Mr. Aizawa" Izuku knew he had to think fast and he went with the first excuse he could think of. "-Aizawa is a really popular last name, you know…" He lowered his hands.
"Tora." Todoroki put his hands on his hips while narrowing his dual colored eyes.
"I'm not an idiot. I looked up you and your brother before this. As far as the internet can tell me: Hitoshi Tora and Izuku Tora do not exist on any social media platform. That Tora, is a fake name. However; I remembered that one of the villains called Hitoshi 'Shinsou.' and upon searching that I came across a news article. So, learning that Hitoshi is an orphan told me the same thing about you….I assumed that All Might had been the one to adopt you two and told you to change your names to Tora in an attempt to protect you… but it being Mr. Aizawa…"
Todoroki breathed as he leaned against the wall while putting his hand to his face. "I should have seen it." He looked more forlorn that his theory had been wrong than shocked.
Izuku honestly felt confused. "How?"
"It's obvious. That's how. Mr. Aizawa always seems to keep a close eye on you and Hitoshi alike. During the first day of school when Tora H defended you against Bakugo, Aizawa called on you two to hang back, he didn't talk to Bakugo. Then, right before the USJ attack, Tsuyu asked if you knew Mr. Aizawa because Hitoshi uses a capture a weapon like Mr. Aizawa, Hitoshi fumbled over his excuse until you came to his rescue. It was all there…" Todoroki whispered as he tapped his chin.
"...Fine. You got us. Mr. Aizawa is our father. Our Adoptive father, but, Todoroki, I need you to promise me-" Izuku grabbed on to Todoroki's arms in desperation. "You can't tell anyone." He whispered weakly. "If word got out that Aizawa is our father it'll lead to speculation that Hitoshi and I only got in due to nepotism or-"
"-Save it." Todoroki pushed Izuku's hands off of him. "I won't tell anybody, but I think you're all being ridiculous by hiding your real name. After all…" A shadow fell over Todoroki's face as he seemed to glower at Izuku. "I'm the son of the number two hero in all of Japan… do you think I got in through nepotism?"
"Well…you got in through the recommendation program… then again, so did Mineta. Regardless…from what I know about the recommendation program you still need to put in work in order to get in."
"Good point. Just…forget it, okay."
Izuku sighed and leaned down, putting his hands on his knees. "Todoroki…what do you want? I know you didn't drag me all this way just to ask me if All Might is my dad."
"...I don't know how you did it…but you- you- managed to make me break my personal pledge."
"Oh?" Izuku looked up at him.
"I made a vow. That I will win this sports festival without using my left side. My fire side."
"... You know that you could have done so much more if you would have used your fire during the race or even the cavalry battle, right?"
Todoroki closed his hand into a tight fist. "I will never use my left side." He snarled. "I'll never use his side."
"His side?" Izuku whispered softly, but not soft enough as Todoroki shot him a glare.
"You don't know? I figured the son of a teacher would have been taught this…"
Izuku shifted his eyes from side-to-side. "Know what?"
"About quirk marriages. About how I was created just to be the perfect hero. I am nothing more than a means to an end to my 'father'. Because he's the number two hero, he created me to defeat All Might."
Izuku didn't know why but he felt a strong pull to what Todoroki was telling him. It made him swallow hard as he stared at Todoroki.
"To be the next number one hero, that is." Todoroki finished as he looked away from Izuku and down at his scuffed up shoes. "But…I refuse to be his tool! I refuse to bow down to his demands! And I refuse to use my fire. Which pisses him off the longer I don't use it."
"Todoroki…"
"I hate him!" Todoroki snarled. "It's because of him I got this scar…" He then brought his hand up to touch the base of the scar at his left eye. "He drove my mother insane."
Izuku listened intently as Shoto explained everything to him. How his scar came to be, how abusive Endeavor was behind closed doors, how Endeavor punched a five-year-old Shoto in the stomach for not being 'good enough.'
'A five-year-old…' Izuku's thoughts repeated in his skull as he watched Todoroki intensely relive those awful memories.
"So, now you must know why I must beat you. Even if All Might isn't your father, you're still clearly close to him-" Izuku took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Todoroki's shoulders. "W-What are you doing?!" Todoroki gasped in surprise.
"You're being silly." Izuku whispered to Todoroki. " 'Roki…it's your quirk. Not his. It's always been your quirk. It's your power."
Todoroki's gasp caught in his throat and he paused with his hands just hovering over Izuku's shoulders. "My…quirk- you're wrong-"
"I'm not." Izuku looked up at Todoroki and grabbed one on to Todoroki's left hand. "This is your hand. Is it not? It's not Endeavor's hands, not his body, it's yours! Don't get rid of your bodily autonomy because of Endeavor-"
Izuku felt heat. "Ah!" He cried in surprise as he let go of Todoroki's of left hand which had burnt him.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" Todoroki was swift as he grabbed Izuku's hand and pointed Izuku's palm upwards where an angry red blister was already started to form across almost the entirety of his palm. Todoroki quickly used his right hand to cool Izuku's burn. "I- That's never-" Todoroki gave his head a quick shake while his mouth twisted nervously. "I'm sorry." He finally whispered.
There was some silence between the duo as Todoroki laid his left hand gently on top of Izuku's right hand in an attempt to cool the skin without freezing it.
"Todoroki?" Izuku whispered as he looked up at Todoroki. "I understand your desire to piss off your father. Really, even though I can't properly explain it… I feel your struggle almost personally." Izuku felt his chest tighten as… a mischievous smile played across his lips.
"I was under the impression that Mr. Aizawa was a good father to you."
"He is and I'm not talking about him when I said that…" Izuku just couldn't explain it. Why he was smiling the way he was. "Regardless, Todoroki, you're doing it all wrong. You want to piss off your father by winning against me without using your fire? Then you're doing it the hard way."
"I'm sorry?"
Izuku kept that smile on his face as he leaned in to Todoroki's ear and started to whisper.
They were so close that he could see how wild Izuku's hair had become because of the last two rounds they endured. Todoroki didn't know why, but he almost wanted to touch those wild curls. To run his hands through them until they weren't so wild, until they were just manageable. But he'd die of embarrassment if he did such a thing.
Todoroki hung on Izuku's every word until Izuku was done. The shock clear as he let out a startled gasp on Izuku's offer. "But…that's up to you." Izuku finished as he pulled back. "It's a fifty-fifty win regardless of what the third round may or may not be."
"... I need…I need to think about it."
Izuku nodded and backed off. "Anyways. I'm getting some lunch. Care to join?"
"...No. No, thank you. I need time alone to think about your offer."
"Very well."
Izuku then turned and jogged away from Todoroki. Todoroki watched Izuku go running for the concession stands. Towards his brother and Kaminari no doubt.
"You are a mysterious person, Izuku Aizawa. I…nobody has ever given me these weird…feelings…" Todoroki sucked in a breath as his heart beated furiously. This feeling was a rush, new and exciting.
"There you are," Hitoshi huffed as Izuku came jogging up to him and Kaminari alike. "Here-" Hitoshi shoved a bowl in Izuku's hands. "Pork Katsudon."
Izuku was already salivating as he looked at the crispy fried pork. "You're the best!" He cheered as he grabbed the chopsticks. "What'd you guys get?" He asked as they all sat down a nearby empty table together.
"I'm going light. Takoyaki, I don't know what the third round will bring so I can't afford to go heavy." Kaminari explained as he opened his little box of Takoyaki.
"I'm starved. I went with pork curry and rice," Hitoshi responded tiredly as he undid his hair from it's hair tie. For a moment he let his long hair fall down around his shoulders. "My hair nearly came out during the cavalry battle."
Kaminari paused his first takoyaki ball only inches away from his mouth as he stared at Hitoshi. "That little titch kept pulling on it near the end like I was a damn horse." Hitoshi continued to grumble as he was bundling his hair back up in his hands.
Izuku broke his chopsticks and dug in, greedily inhaling a piece of pork. Like Hitoshi, he too was starved. His nerves only allowed him to eat a single piece of toast for breakfast. "You should consider cutting your hair-" Izuku started with his mouth half-full. Hitoshi tied his hair back up.
"Don't you dare say such blasphemous things, Izuku!" Kaminari, while blushing heavily, slammed his chopsticks down heatedly. Both Izuku and Hitoshi paused and slowly turned to look at Kaminari in question. Hitoshi just looked baffled while Izuku sported a smile.
"Oh?" Izuku baited with an innocent head tilt. "I'm just thinking logically, Kami."
Kaminari continued to blush while a slew of, what could be described as, noises left his mouth in rapid succession. "-Nothing!" Was the only coherent word he finally managed to say. "Just forget I said anything okay?!" It was with that did Kaminari take off fully running from their table with his food in tow.
"I grow more and more concerned for that boy every day." Hitoshi shook his head.
"He has a crush on you, you know."
"Of course I know. I've known since the battle simulation." The two resumed eating.
"How do you feel about it?"
"How should I feel about it? It's just a crush, besides, Kaminari leans way more towards girls than guys. He'll get over me once a pretty girl shows interest in him."
"So, you're not going to turn him down?"
"Nah, better to just play dumb than break his heart. Wanna trade pork pieces?"
"Sure."
They quickly gobbled up their lunch after that, wanting to get back to the stadium before the rest of the students-
SLAM!
Neither boy flinched when Akisho slammed his hands down on their table. He was glaring at Izuku in question. "I thought you were quirkless." He spat the word out like it was poison.
"I thought so too, funny how fate turns out, isn't it?" Izuku inquired as he and Hitoshi stood up.
"Whoa-" Akisho got in front of Izuku stopping him from walking away. "No, you're not walking away from this. How'd you get that quirk, Izuku?"
Hitoshi made a noise but didn't speak.
"Excuse me? 'Get?' It's mine. Both of them, thank you very much. I didn't 'get' it from anyone, Akisho."
"Bullshit." Akisho poked Izuku in the chest and Izuku huffed puffing his cheeks out in irritation.
"Last I recalled, we weren't friends. Even if I did get these quirks from someone, which isn't even possible, I wouldn't tell you. Now, you're in my way-" All civil feelings gone, Izuku pushed Akisho to the side. "See you in the next round."
Izuku started to walk away ready to get into the stadium where round three, the final round, would be announced. He was maybe ten feet away when he noticed that Hitoshi wasn't following him. "Hichan-?" He looked behind him and saw Hitoshi talking to Akisho.
Was talking the right word? It look more like intimidating. The way Hitoshi stared intensely at Akisho and was so close to the other boy that Hitoshi was practically on top of him. Akisho was glaring right back at Hitoshi. However, there was something else in Akisho's black eyes, knowing and maybe even a bit of fear. Akisho snarled something back at Hitoshi to which Hitoshi snatched Akisho by his collar-
"Hichan!" Izuku roared out making his brother and Akisho whip their heads in his direction. "Leave him alone! You'll get your chance in the next round!"
Hitoshi's eyes darted from Izuku to Akisho. He then, begrudgingly, dropped Akisho. Hitoshi then jogged right back up to Izuku. Izuku sighed. "What am I going to do with you?" He teased as the two of them walked in step. "You really don't have to go jumping in everytime someone says something mean to me, you know? I was kind of hoping…"
Hitoshi raised an eyebrow. "Hoping?"
Izuku shoved both of his hands into his gym pockets and let his shoulders slump. "Forget it."
'I was hoping by winning the first race on my own with out your help would prove to you…that I don't need your help anymore. That I can fight my own battles and fights.' He thought rather sadly as he looked at his shoes. Kicking a stray pebble away, Izuku looked back up. 'Maybe this round will be different…it depends on what Todoroki wants to do.'
The third round was a one-on-one battle between the four teams that won the cavalry battle. The fights were set up so no one fought on their own team for the first round at the very least. Izuku stared at the brackets.
It was like luck was laughing at him like how it laughed at him during the battle simulation,
Round one battles.
Izuku VS Akisho
Todoroki VS Sero
Koda VS Kendo
Mineta VS Ashido
Momo VS Shino
Iida VS Kirishima
Kaminari VS Monoma
Hitoshi VS Bakugo
"It had to be Akisho." Izuku whispered angrily as he paced around the waiting room. "Not only that, but whoever wins goes up against Todoroki in the next round. If Todoroki wins his own round that is."
Izuku sat down and pulled out his notebook. Thank goodness he remembered to bring this with him. He just had it stuffed into his locker until now. "I should be thankful," He ruffled through the pages until he got to where he wanted to be. "It's someone who's quirk I know well, meanwhile, Akisho doesn't know my quirks."
Akisho, the Marionette, the Puppetmaster… His quirk was straight forward. Much like Hitoshi's own quirk he can control people. Unlike Hitoshi, he doesn't need speech, he needs touch. Which could be easy enough to avoid. His quirk also has a major drawback, which is that he needs to move with those under his control. Granted walking in place should be simple enough, but still. It's a tiring quirk to use, no doubt.
"Akisho is taller than I am with longer legs. Meaning he can reach farther and even leap farther if it comes to it. I'll have to use one-for-all to flick him away and out of bounds. It seems easy enough…"
"How'd you get that quirk, Izuku."
Akisho sounded almost genuine, at the time Izuku hadn't realized it as he was too frustrated with Akisho to hear it. Leaning back into his chair, he tapped his fingers against the table as his mind flashed back to Hitoshi. That intense look on his face as he leaned into Akisho's own face. The anger.
The fear.
The knowing from both parties…
It kind of pissed Izuku off in all honesty. Hitoshi's been hiding something from him, Izuku wasn't an idiot, far from it in fact. Not only that but the increased protectiveness his twin acquired was almost smothering at times.
"Take his quirk, Izuku-"
"Urg!" Izuku grabbed at his head at the stabbing pain. It felt like someone was trying to get to his brain with an ice pick. It hurt. His breathing turned ragged as he stared down at his notebook. "Get out of my head!" He cried to the voice that's been torturing him during this whole festival thus far.
He didn't even want Akisho's quirk!
Finally, the pain started to die down and Izuku slowly sat back and sighed. He heard the sound of a buzzer outside of the room followed by:
"Izuku Tora and Akisho Shin please make your way to the stage."
"It's time."
"Man, I can't believe the girls didn't believe me about Aizawa wanting them to be cheerleaders." Kaminari whined as he leaned against Hitoshi.
Hitoshi's leg shook up and down as he stared down at the battleground. It was empty now, but soon Izuku and Akisho would be the first ones up. The first ones to fight. He could do nothing but watch. "Yeah well… it was a dumb idea. Maybe if Mineta had tried to get the 1B girls involved as well…" Hitoshi tried to talk to keep his mind off his growing anxiety as his leg continued to shake.
"I'll kill you-" Those where the last words Hitoshi had almost yelled at Akisho. And he meant it. He meant every word.
It made Hitoshi's hands tremble.
"Hey-" Kaminari saw this and grabbed both of Hitoshi's hands into his own. "Izuku is going to wipe the floor with Akisho!"
'Bless you…' Hitoshi turned away from Kaminari.
'It wasn't Akisho that had went to All for one. It was his own father, a quirkless man unable to get a job due to his quirklessness. He just needed one quirk to help his family. One… the fact that someone so close to All for one was right next to us this entire time makes my blood boil.' Hitoshi thought as he watched Akisho and Izuku both step out. They were on opposite ends of the platform.
'Was he a spy? Is he a spy now? Or… is he okay? Is Akisho safe to be around?' Hitoshi's breath turned shaky as he wrapped his hands around Kaminari's for support. "Don't go easy on him, Zuchan. Fuck him up."
"Well, maybe I'll just tell your precious Zuchan about All for one, get his memory in check because I'm not an idiot. I know he went to All for one the way my own quirkless father had-!"
"-I'll kill you-"
'If he knows what's good for him…he'll keep his fucking mouth shut.'
Kaminari stood suddenly making Hitoshi look at him with surprise. Kaminari let go of Hitoshi's hands and cupped his own hands over his mouth. "Go, 'Zuku! Show Akisho we're not going to take his bullshit anymore!" Kaminari roared.
Then, a surprising cheer-
"You better win, Deku!" Bakugo's own voice soared over everyone's, this caused a shocked hush to fall over the crowd as all eyes were on him. He stood up on the top of his chair. "I still have beef with you!"
It was like a domino effect as all of 1A cheered for Izuku. Izuku's eyes went wide as he looked from person to person cheering him on.
"Beat his ass, Zuchan!" Hitoshi cheered with the rest of 1A. "You- You have permission to fight him this time! It's not middle school anymore! Don't you dare hold back either!"
Izuku smiled at Hitoshi's words.
Hitoshi hated that smile… it's the same smile Izuku's been sporting all day.
It looked exactly like All for one's damned smile.
Izuku immediately dodged right as Akisho lunged for him. Rolling on the ground for a moment, Izuku shot right back up to his feet. He went to flick air at Akisho to blow him out of the ring, but Akisho was faster than Izuku anticipated. Akisho charged for Izuku again, making Izuku jump back to avoid being grappled.
Akisho growled as he turned to face Izuku. "You've gotten faster." He grinned and the two of them started to circle around, waiting for the other to make the first move. "I remember there was a time when I could easily punch you."
"Heh." Izuku smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you, Akisho-" Izuku raised his right hand up and put it in a flicking position. Akisho gave a laugh.
"What? Are you going to flick my forehead?-"
Izuku created a small gust a wind.
Akisho threw his arms up to protect his face as he flew back only a small bit but not far enough to disqualify him. "Urg!" Akisho grunted out in surprise as he nearly fell on his back from the force. "So, it's not just telekinesis you have?" He grinned a little. "Tell me…" Akisho lowered his arms as well as his head. "What did you have to do for him to give you two?"
Izuku's smile dropped as Akisho whisper the last part to him.
Izuku shook his head. "You're talking nonsense." He responded loudly and put his fists up.
Akisho rushed towards Izuku, Izuku saw Akisho raise his right hand up ready to strike, so he dodged to the left quickly.
SLAP!
Izuku fell for a trap as Akisho slapped him across the face with his free hand. "Gotcha!"
Izuku had no control over his body. To prove this, Akisho raised his left hand up high in the air and Izuku was forced to do the same. 'Dammit! It's like grade school all over again.' Izuku thought-
A noise of surprise left his mouth as he felt like he was being whirled by his arms.
'Faster, Daddy!' Little Izuku cheered as Aizawa-
No-
Someone else-
-Had both of Izuku's arms in his hands as he whirled the little boy around in a big circle. Little Izuku's feet left the ground as his father spun around faster as requested. "Wheee!-"
Izuku grunted as his right hand raised with Akisho's own right hand. "Dodge this-"
"-Oof!" Izuku grunted as he harshly punched himself in the face. It hurt as Akisho put a lot of power behind the attack.
"You know…I could just have you walk out of the arena. But the rules clearly state that you could also be unconscious or unable to move, right?"
"Urk!" Izuku's right arm was jutted out violently. "You wouldn't dare!" Izuku snarled.
Izuku's right hand raised up in the familiar flicking position that he's grown used to using. Izuku watched his own hand tremble as he tried to fight against Akisho's quirk. "Let's see how you do against your 'own' quirk." Akisho grinned.
'No! I won't! Not for you!' Izuku gnashed his teeth as his hand trembled against Akisho's hold. Akisho's smile fell just a tad as Izuku fought against him.
One for all crackled under Izuku's skin as he and Akisho fought for control.
Akisho's own teeth gnashed as he tried to literally force Izuku's hand.
'I won't lose to you! I can't!' Izuku thought as for a very real moment they looked like they were at a standstill. One for all continued to crackle, green lightning shooting off all over Izuku's body. He could feel it, the power itching to be released-
Izuku felt nothing but pain as one for all shot off in his middle finger. Akisho let a out gasp as he tumbled back a couple of steps. Izuku looked at right hand, his middle finger, it was a deep purple color, a telltale sign that he had broken it.
Still, Izuku wasted no time grabbing Akisho by the throat and hoisting him up off of the ground with his right hand. His left hand was still under Akisho's control. As he had a grip on Akisho's neck, his left hand grabbed on to his right wrist in an attempt to free Akisho from his grip. Akisho's face started to turn red as he desperately kick, but because he was off the ground it did nothing.
Izuku looked at Akisho before he used One for all in his right arm to throw Akisho away from him and out of bounds.
"Akisho Shin is out of bounds! Izuku Tora advances to the next round!" Midnight yelled while giving her whip a good crack. Izuku gave a sigh of relief as his shoulders slumped slightly. He then walked over to Akisho.
Akisho was sitting up, his head hanging low while his burgundy colored hair was in front of his face. "Damn…" He breathed out. "I was really hoping I'd win."
Izuku leaned down he braced his bad hand on his leg while using his left hand to reach for Akisho.
Akisho looked at him before sighing. "You even look like the bastard, you know." Akisho huffed softly as he grabbed on to Izuku's hand. "Though…it's been so long since I saw that bastard's face…" He whispered and Izuku pulled him to his feet.
"Who are you talking about, Akisho, please just tell me that?"
"..." Akisho let go of Izuku's hand and started to walk away but not before growling in frustration. "Ask your 'twin'. He knows exactly who I'm talking about."
Recovery Girl gave a sigh as she gently took Izuku's hand into her own. "What am I going to do with you, my dear?" She asked as she gave his finger a quick inspection.
"I'm sorry…"
"You've got to be careful, one day you'll come across an injury that I might not be able to heal if you keep this up." She lectured before kissing his hand. It took a few seconds, but it worked and his finger healed completely. Izuku flexed the finger up and down and nodded.
"Thank you, Recovery Girl, hopefully this'll be the last time I'll see you today!"
"I doubt it."
Jumping up from his seat, Izuku stretched his arms above his head. "Thanks again, Recovery Girl!" He called to the nurse as he opened the door-
"Jesus!" He jumped as he looked at Todoroki who was on the other side of the door looking ready to knock. "You startled me…" Izuku whispered as he put a hand on his heart.
"Can we talk?"
"Of course." Izuku quietly walked through the door and shut it behind him.
"Walk with me." Todoroki demanded and the two of them started to walk down the hallway together. Todoroki had dark circles under his eyes as he looked pissed off at the world. There was some silence between the two of them say for their shoes squeaking against the linoleum.
"Is everything okay?" Izuku questioned softly.
"..." Todoroki stared at the ground with an intense hatred. "I hate Endeavor…I hate him."
Izuku lightly patted the area between Todoroki's shoulder. "I'm sorry." He whispered to Todoroki.
Todoroki stared at the ground. "I face up against Sero next. I plan on winning."
"I'm sure you do."
"Then you know what that means?"
"That the next round we face off against one another. Yes."
Todoroki sucked in a deep breath. "Let's do it."
"Seriously?!" Izuku whipped his head at Todoroki in surprise. "I'm not going to lie, I didn't think you'd want to."
"At this point…I just want to piss him off more than anything." Todoroki grabbed at his chest with his left hand so tightly and harshly that Izuku could see whisps of smoke rising from his palm, no doubt his quirk threatening to burn a hole into his shirt. "I told him what you told me…that I won't let him take my bodily autonomy away from him and you know what he told me?"
"What?"
"That I had none…That I'm his tool for winning. I'm going to show him…he's wrong even if it means I lose."
Izuku smiled as he then took his hand and wrapped an arm around Todoroki's shoulders, pulling the dualed hair boy in close. "Todoroki, I'm going to teach you something that might even be better than revenge. I'm going to teach you how to be spiteful. Something Hichan and I both are very fluent in. Just make sure you win again Sero, okay?"
"That won't be a problem."
A problem it wasn't.
At first it seemed like Sero had the upper hand in the match by wrapping Todoroki up in his tape, but Todoroki shut. It. Down.
One stomp of his foot and Sero was absolutely incased in ice, ice so high that it nearly hit the audience, so high that it was higher than the stadium. It was absolutely breath taking.
It took a while for the glacier to melt, but once it did everyone was able to move on to the next round. Koda VS Kendo from 1B. Kendo won that one. Poor Koda as strong as he was and even with the help of the pigeons couldn't help him when Kendo used her giant fist to smack him out of bounds. Hard.
After that was Mineta VS Ashido. In all honesty, Mineta could have won with his quirk, but he was just too busy trying to flirt and being an all around creep by groping her. Mina managed to incapicitate Mineta by wrapping him up in a slimy case of her acid along with his sticky balls. She melted down his purple sticky balls to the point that it actually stuck to him, pinning him to the floor. She showed no mercy. Aside from some minor acidic burns to his person, Mineta would be perfectly fine.
Next up was Momo VS Shino, or as Izuku and Hitoshi knew him as, Butterfly wings. His wings were back to the style of a monarch's. Izuku then learned during Shino's fight with Momo that his wings lose color when he flies. Once completely transparent he could no longer fly until the color returns. Shino tried to blow Momo out of the ring with powerful gusts of wind, but in the end Momo won when she created a metal shield and used the light from the sun to blind Shino. She then tossed the shield like it was a frisbee hitting Shino directly in the head, knocking him out instantly as the shield was made of metal.
Next up was Iida and Kirishima. It was a tough battle speed VS strength. No matter how strong Iida's kicks were they just seemed to bounce off of Kirishima's body. At the cost of Iida's legs. Each kick to Kirishima's rock hard body cut into Iida's flesh. It almost seemed like Kirishima was going to win as they were nearing the end. In desperation Iida tried a new move that Izuku hadn't seen before. It was fast and powerful to boot, but it just wasn't enough and it caused Iida's engines to stall allowing Kirishima to sink the win by flipping Iida over his shoulder and out of bounds.
Izuku's notebook was filling up and fast. All these quirks and what they can do, it was a dream come true for him. He wrote so fast that he was sure the paper was smoking.
It was time for the final two battles. Kaminari VS Monoma from 1B. And Hitoshi VS Bakugo.
"Good luck, Kami!" Izuku flashed Kaminari a thumbs up. Nervously Kaminari swallowed as he made his way down the stadium steps. Instead of going to the back to prepare, Kaminari stayed with Izuku and Hitoshi to help his frayed nerves and now time was up.
Hitoshi looked absolutely terrified. So terrified that Izuku felt it best not to bug his brother until it was over. Izuku pityed his brother so hard. 'I wish you would have gotten Akisho and I could have gotten Bakugo.' He thought as he rubbed Hitoshi's tense shoulders.
Hitoshi's shoulder suddenly jerked. "Oops!" Monoma gasped out in surprise as he grasped on to Hitoshi's shoulder to keep himself from falling down the steps. "Sorry about that." Monoma apologized as he seemed to tighten his grip on Hitoshi's shoulder. "Hitoshi, was it?"
"Yeah." Hitoshi growled a little.
Monoma gave Hitoshi a smile. "I've seen you use your quirk during the race and during the cavalry battle. It seems you just need a response to work it, right?"
"...yes?" Hitoshi now looked Monoma up and down, untrusting.
"What a powerful quirk…heh…thank you." Monoma finally let go of Hitoshi's shoulder as he jogged down the steps.
"What was that about?" Hitoshi inquired and Izuku shrugged.
"Maybe he just likes your quirk, Hichan. It is a powerful one after all."
"..."
Kaminari and Monoma stepped out ready to start their battle only a minute later.
"Go Kami! Show him what 1A is made of!" Izuku roared over the crowd. Kaminari flashed Izuku a thumbs up.
"Begin!"
"Tell me something, Pikachu." Monoma started before Kaminari made any move. Monoma raked his fingers through his hair, only pulling the blonde strands back and out of his face. "Do you really think you can beat me?!" He gave a loud almost maniacal laugh as he asked this.
"I know I can!-"
Then… it happened.
Kaminari's face went slack and his eyes lost all color.
"What the-" Hitoshi slowly stood up from his spot. "That's-"
"Why don't you do me a favor. Walk out of bounds for me." Monoma made a 'shooing' motion with his hand as he said this.
"Monoma Neito! Quirk: Copy! After coming into physical contact with someone, depending on the quirk, he can copy that person's quirk for a short amount of time!" Present Mic announced to the crowd.
"Tch! That bastard!" Hitoshi growled as he looked at the shoulder that Monoma had touched only moments ago. "He just needed to know how it worked…"
"Kami! Snap out of it!" Izuku practically threw himself over the seat in front of him to yell out to his friend. "Kami! KAMI!"
"Save your breath…" Hitoshi sat back down slowly. He looked pissed as he stared at the arena. "You know as well as I do, once someone is under my control it's almost impossible to come out of it. No amount of yelling will snap him out of it. Only touch."
Izuku puffed his cheeks out as they watched Kaminari walk out of bounds.
Monoma probably had the shortest win there was.
"Okay…I'm up next." Hitoshi shook his hands as he stared ahead. He had fifteen minutes to plan against Bakugo. "I won't lie…I'm a little nervous. It's no secret Bakugo hates me so, the sociopath will probably enjoy whatever he's going to do to me." Hitoshi whispered to Izuku. "Any pointers?"
"The biggest one I can give you is to be careful." Izuku whispered back. "He's probably going to try and blast you out of the ring immediately. You need to get him to talk to you."
"Which will be hard. He knows how my quirk works and won't open his mouth, not for me anyways."
"Yes, so my suggestion with Bakugo? Cut deep. Insult him get him mad so he'll have to talk to you. Hold nothing back and dodge."
Before Hitoshi could say anything more he was struck in the back of the head. "Stop fucking cheating off of Deku and face me yourself, or are you too scared?" Bakugo demanded as he looked down at Hitoshi.
"Fuck you."
"See you on the battlefield, Mindfuck. Though if I were you? It'd be less embarrassing if you'd just give up here and now." Bakugo strolled down the steps nonchalauntly.
Hitoshi gnashed his teeth together. "We'll see about that." He then got up and walked away from his seat. "I'm going to win the festival. Prove to the world, that I have what it takes to be looked at."
'Hichan…' Izuku thought as he watched his brother go. 'Between the two of us…you have what it takes to be looked at. You could be number one! I know it.'
Hitoshi looked at Bakugo as Bakugo looked at him. The crowd was roaring, cheering, waiting for the bloodshed to begin, but Hitoshi blocked it all out. His only target was Bakugo.
"Begin!"
Immediately Hitoshi dodged to the side and Izuku had told him right. Bakugo had tried to blast him out of the ring. The blast wasn't a little one either. "Tch." Bakugo sucked on his teeth. "Come on, eyebags-" Another blast coming Hitoshi's way and he only just managed to avoid it as he dodged to the right. He could feel the heat from Bakugo's attack as it was uncomfortable, like opening an oven door and getting smacked with that wave of heat.
Hitoshi tried to charge, but Bakugo did another large explosion, this one did knock Hitoshi back, but not down-
'If he knocks my feet out from under me, I'm screwed. He'll just hit me with blast after blast until I'm out.' Hitoshi thought as he closed his eyes from the heat.
"You're pathetic!" Hitoshi roared to Bakugo. "Look at you, you think you can win so easily! I'm going to pop that manhattan sized ego-"
Another explosion. Hitoshi felt his feet move back a few inches as he raised his arm up to protect his face from the debris. "Urg!" He grunted as he was forced down to his knee try and slow himself down.
Another explosion-
Another one-
Another one-
'Is this how I go down?' Hitoshi as thought as he was bombed with explosion after explosion. He started to feel the effect of the heat as parts of his skin, namely around his face, started to peel, to blister, to burn.
Bakugo paused just long enough for Hitoshi to get back up on his feet. Hitoshi took only one step-
BOOM!
Another one. This one knocking Hitoshi on to his side. It hurt. His skin hurt. The heat was almost unbearable. Bit of the platform fell around him and pebbles fell on his body.
Hitoshi went to stand up, another explosion, this one knocked him off of his feet and he did a flip before landing on his thigh. It knocked the wind out of him something horrible.
It wasn't until he got his breath back did Hitoshi hear booing. They were booing him he realized only moments later.
"Someone put that purple one out of his misery!"
"This is just pitiful!"
"Just give up!"
"Is he quirkless!? Give it a rest sweetie! You've met your match!"
They laughed and they jeered in his direction.
"Did this kid really think he had a chance!? How pathetic!"
It almost made Hitoshi want to cry. 'I'm trying dammit!' He thought as he dared to look up at Bakugo.
When Bakugo didn't attack anymore, he looked at him more fully, Bakugo was standing there, bored, hand in his pocket, one hand ready to attack if Hitoshi even so much as made a move.
'Dammit…damn this dumb system!' Hitoshi gnashed his teeth as his body shook. Bakugo was smirking. Hitoshi wanted to punch that stupid smirk off of his face.
"Fuck you!" Hitoshi looked towards his brother's yell. There, standing on his chair, proud and bold as bold could be, Izuku stood as he pointed towards the people that started the booing.
"What did you say, punk!?" The hero demanded as he stood on his own chair.
"You heard me! Fuck you! That's my brother and he may not have a super flashy quirk but he doesn't need one! He's the best and his quirk is powerful! How dare you boo him! He's going to be in the top ten! Just you wait! He deserves it more than you!"
"Yeah! So stop running your mouth or we'll shut it for you!" Kaminari barked as he also stood on his own chair both of them raising their fists threateningly.
"Things are really heating up in the stands it seems-" There was scuffle for the mic before Aizawa came on replacing Present Mic.
"One: Izuku Tora and Kaminari Denki, sit your asses down. Two: Hitoshi has a powerful quirk. One that can rival even that of Bakugo's if used right. It's not flashy, but it's useful. Do not underestimate my students. They are all powerful in their own rights with their own styles and quirks."
Hitoshi smiled as he looked down at the ground below him.
"Give up yet?" Bakugo demanded cooly.
'Get him angry. Make him talk… I have something that'll do it. It's a risk but… I'm going to win this festival.' Hitoshi slowly pushed himself up to his knees. Just his knees. Bakugo raised a hand ready to make another explosion. Looking behind him, Hitoshi saw he was only meer inches away from the out of bounds.
"You know…you stand there in front of me and say that you were once a friend to my brother, but I know that can't be true. My brother would never be friends with someone like you."
"..." Bakugo narrowed his eyes.
"After all…What kind of friend pushes their best friend in the river when all that friend was just trying to help them up!" Hitoshi yelled at Bakugo.
Bakugo's eyes went wide. "How could you possibly-"
It worked. Holy crap. It worked and Bakugo was under Hitoshi's control.
Shakily, Hitoshi stood to his feet. His whole body trembling. His breathing ragged while he stared at Bakugo. "Walk…out of bounds." Hitoshi demanded between breaths while pointing towards where he wanted Bakugo wanted to go.
Bakugo did.
He walked out of bounds.
"Bakugo Katsuki is out of bounds! Hitoshi Tora is the winner!"
Hitoshi didn't release Bakugo in fear of the retribution to come. No, Hitoshi didn't release Bakugo until he, Hitoshi, was half-way towards Recovery Girl's office.
The sound of an explosion going off less than thirty seconds later told him just how mad Bakugo was. Hitoshi was surprised he even heard it with how badly his ears were ringing. So, this told Hitoshi that Bakugo was pissed and Hitoshi didn't doubt it. Still, Only one thing was on Hitoshi's mind right now. One lone sentence.
'I never should have said what I said.'
Alright next chapter we're finishing up the Sports Festival! What diabolical plan did Izuku hatch with Todoroki? Well, you'll see. :) and the question now is…who's going to win the sports festival at this point.
:) again, you'll see in the next chapter! Enjoy! And have a wonderful night!
And what will come of Hitoshi saying just a bit too much?
Well…again, you'll see.
