Izuku had to watch the rest of the tournament from the sickbay while his ribs were mending themselves back together. At least he wasn't lacking in company. Shinsou had gotten off lightly, but the fractures and bruises had him still confined to a bed. Tokoyami had it probably the worst. Bakugou had vented most of his frustration on him over the letter Izuku had him read and was dealing with a concussion and light burns. Even Asui had joined them and looked like she had been crying.
None of them dared to breath when Todoroki faced Bakugou.
Until Todoroki got his ass promptly kicked.
"This is some bullshit." Shinsou said.
"… why didn't he use his fire?" Izuku said.
"Probably didn't want to make things too easy for himself. Something the two of you have in common, crazy kid." Shinsou said.
Asui's tongue flicked Shinsou on the forehead.
"Ow! What the hell?" Shinsou complained.
"Sorry. Thought I saw a fly." Asui said.
"It was a valiant effort none the less." Tokoyami said.
"Is it wrong to wish that Todoroki had at least burned his hair off?" Asui said.
"No." Izuku, Shinsou and Tokoyami said in unison.
The broadcast moved on to the award ceremony, but Bakugou was standing alone on the podium. Or chained to the podium as it was. The door to the infirmary opened and Aizawa-sensei entered supporting Todoroki who walked with a limp. Suddenly all Shinsou's bored confidence melted away and he started fiddling his fingers and stealing glances at Aizawa-sensei.
Once he had helped Todoroki sit down, Aizawa-sensei turned to face them all.
"I suppose congratulations are in order. Particularly to Izuku and Tokoyami for placing third. Not a mean feat. All of you can be proud. Even you Asui. I see you moping there." Aizawa-sensei said.
Aizawa-sensei looked at Shinsou.
"Your performance was also commendable."
Shinsou blushed.
"… thank you, sir."
"Which gets me to my next point. A seat has opened up in my class and if you want it, it's yours."
Shinsou looked ready to drop dead from shock and tears started to gather in his eyes. Words from six months ago echoed in Izuku's ears.
"You can be a hero. I'll give you my Quirk."
Shinsou turned to face Aizawa-sensei and gave him a tearful smile.
"… I… I… Yes. I do." Shinsou said while drying his eyes.
Izuku started crying.
"You did it!" Izuku managed to say between the tears.
"… come on. Don't… don't do this to me, crazy kid." Shinsou said while wiping his eyes furiously.
No man could fight against the floodgates forever and Shinsou started to cry. Asui began to wipe her own eyes.
"Guys shouldn't be so quick to cry." Asui said while swallowing tears.
In response Tokoyami started bawling next in big snot filled sobs. Asui's self-control cracked and she stopped resisting the tears. Aizawa-sensei looked at the crying race that had began playing in front of him and turned to Todoroki for support only to see him break down crying too.
"You guys are awesome!" Todoroki said while crying his eyes out.
"No! You are!" Izuku said.
"You're both awesome!" Asui said.
"I get to be a hero!" Shinsou said.
"Bwakoo!" Tokoyami cried out.
When the crying turned into a group hug, Aizawa-sensei made his escape.
"I expect to see all of you in class next Monday." Aizawa-sensei said as goodbye before slamming the door.
Once they had managed to dry their tears the mood turned awkward fast. Asui's and Tokoyami's parents came to pick them up. Izuku left the school together with Todoroki and Shinsou.
"I hope you realize that if you tell anyone about that, I'll have to kill you." Shinsou said.
"… naturally." Izuku said.
"Sounds reasonable." Todoroki said.
"Good we're on the same page." Shinsou said and pulled out his phone: "Hey, crazy kid. Since we're going to be classmates you can have the honor of giving me your number."
"I… I would like it too." Todoroki said and cast his eyes downwards: "I… I've never done this before. Exchanged numbers with… you know… friends."
Todoroki's eyes darted when he wondered if he'd crossed some line that was obvious to everyone but him. They came from different worlds, but Todoroki had grown up as lonely as Izuku.
"… it's new to me too." Izuku said while sending the signal that added his number to their phones.
Shinsou rolled his eyes.
"You two should get a room already."
Todoroki blushed, but not as badly as Izuku.
"It's not like that!" Todoroki said.
"… yeah." Izuku said and tried to convince himself he wasn't a bit disappointed.
"Hey. I'm not here to judge." Shinsou said.
"You asked for his number first." Todoroki said.
"I'm game if the crazy kid will have me." Shinsou said and made a hard turn: "Well, my home is this way. I'll be seeing you two lover boys on Monday."
Todoroki looked after Shinsou with unmasked annoyance.
"I'm really looking forward to hating him." Todoroki said.
"… he's not so bad." Izuku said and then whispered: "You're not going to get in trouble, are you? With Endeavor. For… losing."
Todoroki shrugged.
"Don't worry. He stopped caring about the tournament the moment I beat All Might's son."
Izuku stopped.
"… what?"
Todoroki pressed his finger on his lips.
"Your secret is safe with me. I get it. I'm the son of the number two hero and I have more kidnapping attempts under my belt than princess Peach. You must have it so much worse."
"… I… I'm not…"
Suddenly Todoroki bowed.
"I'm sorry. For how the tournament ended. Even after you threw the match… I couldn't win."
Todoroki looked up.
"I thought I would be able to use the fire, but… then I started thinking about my father and it just… sizzled out."
"… it's all right."
"It's not." Todoroki said and looked at him with renewed determination: "Next time I'll win. Fair and square."
"… you might find it harder than you think."
"Wouldn't want it any other way." Todoroki said and suddenly turned serious: "You need to promise me something."
"… what?"
"Don't tell anyone what my father asked from you."
"… what? He… he asked me break your hand."
Todoroki gripped his wrist.
"Midoriya. Please. Promise me."
The look in Todoroki's eyes was so pleading, so desperate, that all Izuku could do was nod. Todoroki smiled, but even the smile had a sort of desperation to it. When Todoroki let go of his hand, he looked… lost.
"I'll see you in class on Monday." Todoroki said.
Izuku and Todoroki went their separate ways. He checked his phone for messages from Himiko, but there were only congratulations from All Might and Mr. Oguro. Who would have thought that one day a message from All Might wouldn't have made him dance with joy? Too much was on his mind. Neither Himiko nor Todoroki would leave him alone.
Izuku walked up the stairs home and opened the door.
"Mom. I'm home."
"Welcome home, honey." Mom said.
"Wassup, Izuku-Izuku?" Himiko said.
Izuku's bag hit the floor and he stared mouth agape at mom and Himiko who were peeking at him from the kitchen. Without thinking or saying anything he pulled Himiko into a tight hug. Mom just smirked, but Izuku couldn't bring himself to care.
"Got yer message." Himiko said.
"Everyone did. She came here almost immediately." Mom said.
Izuku didn't find the words to answer and just hugged Himiko tighter. He was afraid that if he let go, she'd disappear.
"She's been helping me with dinner. I can handle the rest myself. You two should go watch the recap."
Mom pushed a soda in his hand and Himiko guided him to the sofa. They were replaying Bakugou's fight with Kirishima, but Izuku only had eyes for Himiko.
Suddenly Himiko said something.
"… sorry. What?" Izuku said.
"I said those two are fucking." Himiko said.
Soda burst out of Izuku's nose and he tried not to suffocate.
"… what?"
"Come on. It's super obvious. Just look at them. Both are rock-hard." Himiko said.
Izuku glanced at the TV. Bakugou was going full blast at Kirishima who was taking it all with his body-hardening Quirk until Bakugou found his limit. Izuku could only nod and keep staring at Himiko. Was it getting creepy? Should he stop? Could he stop?
When mom called them for dinner, Izuku sat in the table like a zombie and could only play with his food. Mom and Himiko filled the kitchen with chatter that Izuku was barely able to follow. How was it possible to want to see someone so bad, but not have anything to say?
"You should walk Toga home." Mom said when the dinner was over.
"He really should. Ya never know when a villain will jump ya." Himiko said and clung to Izuku's arm.
"… I need to do something first." Izuku said.
He took a plastic bag to his room and started filling it with all the Endeavor merchandise he had collected throughout the years. Himiko laid down on his bed and watched him work.
"Ya getting rid of yer toys? Who are ya and what have ya done to my Izuku-Izuku?" Himiko said.
"… met Endeavor." Izuku said.
Himiko perked up.
"So, yer in the know now, huh? Welcome to the program." Himiko said.
Izuku didn't know what to say and sealed the bag. Outside he threw it in the trash. Himiko collected snot in her mouth and spat in the trashcan. After some consideration Izuku followed suit.
"Yer mom seems happy." Himiko said.
"Well… I did come in third." Izuku said.
Himiko just grinned.
"… what?"
"Ya'll know soon enough. Don't wanna ruin the surprise."
"… have you found a new place yet?" Izuku said.
"Yup. New friends too."
"… if I ask about them, will you disappear again?"
"Wanna find out?"
Himiko brought him to a new apartment complex that was much nicer than her previous one. It was new and built sparing no expense. The doors were made of the kind of glass that could withstand trucks.
"Wanna come in and show me yer Quirk?"
"… sure."
Himiko punched in a code and the door opened.
"It's a pity ya got yer ass kicked. I had good money riding on ya winning." Himiko said while walking to the elevator.
"… I could have won."
Himiko giggled while typing another code for the elevator.
"There ain't no word more useless than could've. Things can only go one way. The way they did. The rest is bullshit. Ya lost and that's it. Can't even imagine how small yer dick must feel right now. Ya lose to Todoroki and he gets whooped like a red-headed stepchild by Bakugou. Whose grand achievement was emasculating ya."
Izuku grimaced and Himiko pinched his cheek.
"Ya scared I'd dump yer adorable lil bubble-butt for Todoroki?"
Izuku couldn't look Himiko in the eyes.
"… Himiko… what… do you see in me?"
Himiko's smile cut like a knife. When the elevator door opened she stepped in and Izuku followed.
"Wanna know a secret? At first, I was gonna pick Todoroki. Had it all figured out. Would have been great. Him and his long family line of heroes against lil ol' me. Then ya came along. Lil crybaby Izuku-Izuku with no Quirk. Ya worried I made the wrong choice? How does that make ya feel? Are ya imagining Todoroki fucking me? Are ya depressed? Or pissed?"
It wasn't Todoroki's fault, but for a moment Izuku wished he hadn't thrown Todoroki the match. He had his own problems. No one could expect him to carry the world on his shoulders. He wasn't… All Might.
"… pissed."
Himiko grinned.
"Wanna know what I'm thinking, Izuku-Izuku?"
"… what?"
"Todoroki fucking me and ya fucking him. Bet it would feel like ya were doing us both. Would that brighten yer day?" Himiko said.
"… I'm not…"
"Wanting to fuck Todoroki doesn't make ya gay. Just smart." Himiko said when the elevator doors opened in the top floor.
Himiko typed in one last code before opening the door to her apartment with a key.
"Drop yer pants and turn up yer Quirk."
Stain sat in the bar and followed the award ceremony. It was a bloody farce. The winner had to be tied up like some wild animal. Dabi's eye had been twitching ever since the fight between Bakugou and his brother had ended, and you could make out all the muscles in his jaw. Twice had worked his way through six shots of cognac, but that didn't stop Kurogiri from pouring him a seventh. Tomura had lost interest and was playing his game.
"So… did I win? Am I rich now?" Twice slobbered.
"Twice." All for One said through the laptop.
"Yeah?"
"Don't rub it in." All for One said.
Dabi stared at Bakugou eyes full of fire and brimstone.
"Are you going to kill that little bastard?" Dabi said.
"No." Stain said and smiled: "You will."
"Please do, but don't forget to bring the lass along. Where is she anyway?" All for One said.
"The neighbors! The neighbors!" Izuku gasped between Himiko's thighs.
"Don't care! Don't stop! Don't stop!"
Izuku realized he didn't care either. He'd reached the point where it was impossible to care about anything else. Mom and All Might could have walked in and he wouldn't have been able to stop. Nothing mattered and then there was nothing.
When Izuku came to he was sprawled face down on the sweat soaked sheets.
"… what… happened?"
"Ya blacked out that's what happened. Ya came and then ya went. Scared the hell out of me. Thought ya had a heart attack." Himiko said between gasps for air: "Ya are lucky I'm on the pill. Otherwise that would have gotten me pregnant three times over."
Guilt came over him when he could think clearly again. One for All wasn't supposed to be used for… that. It felt like he had stepped all over a taboo.
"… that was so wrong."
"Really? I thought it was fun. The last one to fuck me like that were child services."
He had to get up and take a shower before heading home, but he was so tired. Just keeping his eyes open was torture. All the exhaustion from last month poured over him at once.
"… Himiko?"
"Yah?"
"… I…"
I love you, Izuku thought and then remembered how that had worked out last time.
"… I… won't ask you to tell me everything or where you went. I can wait until you're ready, but… if you're in trouble, tell me."
"And why would I ask help from my archenemy?"
"… heroes save everyone, but I… have only one archenemy."
If he had to play Himiko's game to get answers from her, so be it. For a moment he saw a look on Himiko's face he had never seen before. There was a… painful clarity to her features.
"Izuku…" Himiko said.
"Yeah?"
The pain passed, and the usual crocodile grin returned.
"Have I told ya the green pubes make yer dick look like a wood elf?"
"… yeah. That joke gets… funnier every… time." Izuku said and fell asleep.
