(A/N:Happy new year, dear readers! Another holiday treat for y'all! Again, regular Tuesday update will still happen. Now, I won't be posting on every holiday. Just when I feel like it. But this holiday season really helped me get through the sports festival arc faster. It's so much longer than I thought it would be! XD There's just so much to cover! Though the sports festival arc is half of season 2 of the anime and 20 chapters of the manga so I digress. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Formatting reminder: "Dialogue heard through a sound system." ... "PRESENT MIC'S DIALOGUE HEARD THROUGH A SOUND SYSTEM." )
...
"MOVING RIGHT ALONG, LET'S GET TO THE NEXT MATCH! HE'S GETTING QUITE A FOWL-LOWING, WITHOUT 'FEATHER' ADO, IT'S TOKOYAMI!"
Hitoshi watched as the bird headed teen exited the opposite tunnel and walked towards the ring as the crowd cheered.
"VERSUS! HE'S STILL A BIT OF A MYSTERY, BUT HAS HIS OWN 'SWAY' OF DOING THINGS! HERE TO 'PHRASE' THE ROOF, IT'S SHINSOU!"
Taking a deep breath, the General Studies student left his own tunnel and made his way to face the Hero Course student. Hitoshi knew what the dark teen's Quirk was as he had talked about it with Izuku. Dark Shadow. A sentient shadow monster that manifests from Tokoyami's body. The spirit was strong but the brainwasher knew about its weakness to light. Which made sense because the entity acted like a shadow and seems stupidly obvious after Izuku had pointed that out during their discussions about Quirks.
I have nothing that could create more light, but since we're fighting in broad daylight, Dark Shadow should be weaker than he normally is. Though I don't actually know how strong that is exactly to begin with.
"I was warned about you," Tokoyami stated, crossing his arms while staring down his opponent. Or rather up because Hitoshi was taller than him. The purple haired teen raised an eyebrow in a silent question. "One of my classmates has a theory as to how your Quirk works."
"READY?"
The brainwasher silently stared at the other, gauging the bird boy who had shared their lunch table not too long ago. Though more because of Izuku than anything else as they had been on the same cavalry team. He was curious as to what this classmate had told the other exactly and if the other knew what his Quirk actually was. A challenge he had already met when he faced off against Shiozaki. So not wanting to shut him up yet by talking in case he did know, Hitoshi tilted his head in further question in response in lieu of speaking.
"He believes it requires a verbal response to any question you ask," Tokoyami continued. Yep, good call on the not talking. "However, if I do not reply then you will not be able to use your Quirk."
"BEGIN!"
Tokoyami Fumikage vs Shinsou Hitoshi
"Well, I guess you have me all figured out, don't you?" Hitoshi spoke with a smirk, watching the other shut his beak immediately.
Tokoyami moved to a defensive stance as Dark Shadow emerged. He didn't seem too worried about ending the match immediately, even though he could, since Hitoshi didn't have a Quirk that could be used as a physical weapon. All he had were words. Which didn't seem like much and that his chances of winning were slim to none. However, Izuku had a theory about his Brainwashing and how it would affect a certain Quirked entity.
Let's test that theory out, shall we?
"A mutual friend said I would have to fight you for the title of being friends with the darkness," Hitoshi drawled, not bothering with his Quirk just yet. Tokoyami wasn't his target. "Guess he was right."
The bird headed teen quirked a brow but said nothing. He still stood defensively, seeming to be waiting for Hitoshi to make the first move.
"You have this whole 'darkness is my friend' vibe," Hitoshi continued, standing casually as can be. "That mutual friend is Izuku, by the way, and so I know all about your Quirk."
Tokoyami and Dark Shadow both glared at him warily.
"Izuku, who you probably already know is Hiro since he can't seem to keep his yap shut, told me all about it along with all the other Quirks in the Hero Course. But then again, he is a muttering Quirk fanatic."
The glares intensified into a scowl but still they said nothing.
"It's safe to say that your Quirk is stronger than mine," Hitoshi confessed, readying his Quirk for what he said next. "Don't you think so, Dark Shadow?"
The spirit grunted in confirmation with a nod. It was quiet and short, but the response was enough for Hitoshi to brainwash the entity.
Interesting.
Appearance wise, the phantom looked close to normal. The only evidence of it being under his control were the eyes. The typically yellow color was gone, brainwashed away to hollow white. A change that Tokoyami didn't seem aware of as his focus was on Hitoshi.
The mental pull on Dark Shadow's mind felt a bit different than when Hitoshi used it on a person. Normally the puppet strings from the brainwasher's mind felt solid and firm. Like the tension on a guitar string. But with Dark Shadow, the strings felt different. Softer, fuzzier. Like a loose piece of yarn being played with by a kitten. Not as much tension but enough to feel pressure. It was strange and new and fascinating. But most importantly, the pull was there in the first place. He'll have to tell Izuku about it later.
"Glad we're in agreement," Hitoshi said, smirking again. "Now, Tokoyami, would you be so kind as to step out of the ring?"
His opponent looked at him in confusion before smirking himself and silently shaking his head no.
"No?" Hitoshi asked, quirking a brow before shrugging. "Well, alright. Dark Shadow, please force Tokoyami out of bounds."
"Do you really think my own quirk would lis-…?" Tokoyami began, feeling safe since it wasn't a question or directed at him in the first place, only to be interrupted.
Dark Shadow, as commanded, grabbed Tokoyami and lifted him up. It was interesting to see that the sentient shadow being could pick up the other without touching the ground itself. Tokoyami was surprised at this turn of events, as was the crowd, and began to flail in hopes of escaping his own Quirk's clutches.
"WHA?! DARK SHADOW SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING SHINSOU'S LEAD!"
Unceremoniously, Dark Shadow plopped Tokoyami down on the other side of the boundary line. Once the other had made contact with the ground, Hitoshi released his hold on the spirit.
"Tokoyami is out of bounds!" Midnight announced. "Shinsou will advance!"
Dark Shadow was clearly confused as to what happened as he looked from Tokoyami to Hitoshi and back.
"WELL 'OWL' BE! YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE 'MOA' FIGHTING, BUT SHINSOU HAS 'SWAN' AGAINST THE BIRD BOY!"
Hitoshi walked over to the other boy as the entity started to fret over its person while Tokoyami stared at the approaching teen in confusion. The winner of the match offered a hand to the other and helped him up. Dark Shadow floated near the two visibly concerned and tearfully gloomy.
"W-what happened?" Tokoyami asked, sounding somewhat distressed. Hitoshi could guess he never had Dark Shadow turn on him like that before.
"I used my Quirk on Dark Shadow," Hitoshi explained, looking at the spirit briefly before turning back to the other boy. "I wasn't sure if it would work, but Izuku thought it was possible to control it since Dark Shadow is sentient."
"But Dark Shadow did not say a word," Tokoyami stated, still confused.
"Any verbal response, even if it's only a sound, activates my Quirk," Hitoshi replied. "I wasn't lying when I said that your Quirk is stronger than mine. Physically anyway. But once you are under my control, strength doesn't matter anymore."
"I…I see," Tokoyami said, his nervous understanding showing on his face.
"I hope there's no hard feelings," Hitoshi said, offering his hand again cordially. "This is the Sports Festival after all. Everyone is putting their all into this, including me. You could have won this match easily if you had attacked first. But you hesitated and I used that to my advantage."
Tokoyami stared at him in contemplation before reaching out and taking his hand.
"Your assessment is correct," the bird headed teen conceded. "I should not have deferred the initiation of the fight to you. My belief that only I was vulnerable to your Quirk was my hubris and brought my downfall. I appreciate your approach to this fight and the creative use of your Quirk. You have provided me with much to consider."
Hitoshi smile and nodded his head in thanks as he gave the other's hand a shake. Upon releasing the other boy's hand, the purple haired teen then offered his hand to Dark Shadow. The being looked to the hand to Hitoshi to Tokoyami, who gave an approving nod, then back to the offered hand. A hesitant shadowy hand, not used to being acknowledge like this, reached forward and grasped Hitoshi's.
Much like the mental pull of Hitoshi's Quirk, the feel of the spirit's hand was also different to what a person's hand typically felt like. The shadowy substance Dark Shadow was made of buzzed with energy. As if it was static condensed and captured into a being. Or one of those hand buzzers. Yet another observation Hitoshi planned to share with Izuku later.
He released his grip on Dark Shadow's hand who then retreated back to Tokoyami who in turn gave the entity a comforting pat on the head. They left the field together in good spirits, the brainwasher, the shadow wielder, and the spirit itself.
...
"SHINSOU MANAGED TO SNARE ANOTHER WIN! HE KEEPS RISING IN THE RANKS BY LEAPS AND 'SOUNDS'!"
What the actually fuck? Birdbrain lost to that fucker? No way! That Vulture's Quirk is strong. Is that Troll Doll cheating too? Like Deku? The two freaks are friends so I wouldn't put it past the fuckers. How else could that Gen Ed extra beat Bird Boy?
Katsuki was fuming. He had been so sure about his prediction of the shadow wielder's victory and that he would be the blonde's next opponent after he beat the crap out of Shitty Hair. But he had been wrong. The Bird Fucker lost and Katsuki would be facing off against the Gen Ed reject. The one that spouted crap of being able to transfer into the Hero Course.
Yeah right. Like that's ever happened. If you can't pass the Hero Practical, you don't have what it takes to get into the Hero Course.
Only the strong are accepted into the elite program and, having placed first in the practical, Katsuki was the strongest. No one can beat him.
'Yet you haven't placed first at all', that annoying voice said again.
Katsuki growled in irritation and pushed the voice to the back of his mind with a big mental 'fuck you'. His anger was growing as his thoughts lingered on that annoying fact because it was true. The blonde hadn't placed higher than second since the start of the Sports Festival and was demoted to third after the Cavalry Battle. All the while Half-and-Half remained in first and that damn Deku still wasn't eliminated.
All of this pissed him off. This wasn't how this day was supposed to go. He needed to punch something. Needed to let out this anger inside him. If he didn't do that soon, he felt like he would explode.
"LET'S BLAZE THROUGH TO THE NEXT MATCH 'CAUSE IT'S SURE TO ROCK YOUR WORLD!"
Fucking finally.
"GROWING 'BOULDER' WITH EVERY FIGHT, IT'S KIRISHIMA!"
Perfect, Katsuki thought as he watched Shitty Hair walk out to the field. With his Hardening Quirk, that means I can really let loose.
"VERSUS! OUR OWN PERSONAL TICKING TIME BOMB, IT'S BAKUGOU!"
At the sound of his name, Katsuki headed for the ring, hands in his pockets and a determined scowl on his face. Time to let off some stream…through explosions.
...
Izuku was so proud of his friend and happy for his win. Seems that my theory about how Dark Shadow could be brainwashed was correct. Or, at least he thought that was what happened, but it was hard to tell since you couldn't hear what the fighters were saying from the field. Unless you have a microphone and hack the PA system like Mei did.
Hitoshi had won though and against Tokoyami whose Quirk made him a strong opponent. However, the dark teen seemed to rely on Dark Shadow a bit too much and should probably learn how to fight without the entity. The greenette made a mental note to add that to Tokoyami's profile. Close combat skills were good for a Hero to have.
"LET'S BLAZE THROUGH TO THE NEXT MATCH 'CAUSE IT'S SURE TO ROCK YOUR WORLD! GROWING 'BOULDER' WITH EVERY FIGHT, IT'S KIRISHIMA!"
That's right. Kirishima-kun is up next against Katsuki.
Izuku looked down at his shark toothed friend as he walked out into the arena. The greenette hadn't had much of a chance to talk to Kirishima since the other boy had started to sit with Katsuki at lunch. They did manage to talk through text these past few weeks, but with their schedules and personal routines being so different, they hadn't been able to interact face to face.
Hopefully, that will change soon. Once Hitoshi-kun and I are transferred to the Hero Course.
"VERSUS! OUR OWN PERSONAL TICKING TIME BOMB, IT'S BAKUGOU!"
Out came Katsuki, a scary determined look on his face and Izuku knew that it meant the blonde was looking to explode something. Kirishima's Hardening would protect him from the blasts, of course. But the real question was how long he would be able to keep it up before the use of his Quirk became too much.
"READY?"
Good luck, Kirishima-kun.
"BEGIN!"
Kirishima Eijiro VS Bakugou Katsuki
The pair below ran towards each other instantly at the call to start. Kirishima aimed a hardened fist at Katsuki and partially landed a hit on the blonde's right cheek. The rough surface of his skin cut into the other's face despite his attempts to turn his head away from the punch. In retaliation, Katsuki let off an explosion against Kirishima's right side.
The red head's hardened skin protected him from the blast, but the same couldn't be said for his shirt. There was now a sizable hole where the explosion was fired off. Both were pushed back by the attack and Kirishima seemed emboldened by his Quirk protecting him from the other's power. He smiled his shark-like smile as tendrils of smoke dissipated around him.
Kirishima-kun's Hardening is strong and gives him great protection from most attacks. But Quirks are physical abilities. Much like exercising, if you use it too much you can wear yourself out. The longer this match draws out, Kirishima-kun may overuse his Quirk and take himself out along with it.
Going on the offensive, Kirishima sent out punch after hardened punch at Katsuki who dodged every one of them. His evasive movements were pushing him back, ever closer to the boundary line. The blonde, having had enough of being on the defensive, countered again with an explosion to Kirishima's left side.
Again, the red head hardened his skin while his shirt suffered another burnt hole. Katsuki had a feral smile on his face with his hand positioned threateningly in front of him. Wisps of smoke leaked form his hands, hinting at the explosions about to be unleashed.
Then the fight turned…brutal. Katsuki held nothing back and produced a blast with both hands. The light from it was blinding. After that, the explosive teen fired off explosion after explosion at Kirishima. Between flashes, you could see more and more of the hardened boy's uniform being burned away. The barrage was so rapid, all he could do was shield himself while the other continued the steady attack.
With the intent to finish the match, Katsuki swiped one last explosion at the other with his right hand. Kirishima was blown back and fell to the ground covered in carbon and soot. And he did not get back up.
"Kirishima has been KO'd," Midnight declared. "Bakugo is the winner!"
I'm not surprised, Izuku thought as he watched his friend get loaded onto a stretcher. Kirishima-kun put up a good fight, but Katsuki outlasted him. His tenacity to win is strong and helps to fuel his Quirk much like his nitroglycerin-like sweat. He's just so powerful.
"WITH THAT FLARE-OCIOUS WIN, BAKUGO IS ADVANCING TO THE SEMI-FINALS! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THESE ARE OUR FOUR FINALISTS!"
Up on the screens appeared next two matchups for the third round.
One on One Battle Semi Finals Lineup
Midoriya Izuku VS Todoroki Shouto
Shinsou Hitoshi VS Bakugou Katsuki
With Katsuki winning, that meant that Hitoshi would be fighting him next while Izuku would be going up against Todoroki. There was going to be a short break before the semi-finals began and the greenette wanted to prepare. Mei gave him a hug of encouragement and as he left the 1-H section his classmates gave their own well wishes. It was rare for a student outside of the Hero Course to make it so far in the tournament and, although they might not be the closest of friends, the Support Class of 1-H was proud of their remaining representative in the Sports Festival.
Smiling warmly as he left, Izuku made his way to the waiting rooms and did a final check of his Support Items before his coming match. His Jet shoes, Fire Breath mask, electric escrima rods and gloves, collapsible shield, goggles, and the various bombs in his belt. All were in working order with only minor damage to the devices. Such as small divots on his shield where Ashido's Acid had melted the metal. But it was still functional despite that. The greenette wasn't sure which of his gadgets he would need in the upcoming match against Todoroki. But they all worked and he was ready for whatever the ice user threw at him.
Once the short break was up, Izuku once more donned his Support Items and left the waiting room. He was heading towards his designated tunnel when it happened. First, a flaming boot appeared from a connected hallway and then the rest of Endeavor's towering fiery figure came into view. The temperature of the corridor rose due to the active fire the Number Two Hero emitted as part of his Hero costume.
Izuku wasn't sure how to feel right now. On one hand, holy crap the Number Two Hero was standing in front of him! His inner Hero fanboy was freaking out. On the other, holy crap his friend's abusive father was standing in front of him! His inner Hero voice was screaming to punch the bastard where it hurts. Let's just say he was…conflicted.
"Ah. There you are," Endeavor said as he noticed Izuku. "I was looking for you."
Eh?
"Y-you were looking for m-me?" Izuku stuttered out, nervous. Whether from geeking out or feeling intimidated, he wasn't sure. "What i-is it that you want?"
The man stared down at him for a moment with his arms crossed, scrutinizing the boy for some reason. Izuku stood there watching the man apprehensively.
"I've been watching you since the First Round," Endeavor finally spoke up, a frown on his face. "Since that announcer pointed out that you were helping others rather than focusing on the race and, by doing so, squandered your chance of placing higher in the ranks. This is a competition, you know. Not a charity event."
"W-well, sure, b-but I…" Izuku began only to be interrupted.
"Then in the Second Round," the man spoke over him rudely. "It seemed you had some sort of strategy to stay low and almost lost your chance to continue when another team stole your spot at the last second. Only luck of having the top four teams continue rather than the top three saved you."
Izuku cast his eyes around nervously as the fire user continued to talk. Why exactly was the Number Two Hero criticizing him? Because he helped people and didn't want the top spot?
"Now in the one-on-ones, your Support Items have been carrying you through," Endeavor sneered, as if using them made his wins mean less. "This entire time you haven't shown your Quirk once, relying on those inventions of yours like a crutch."
"What e-exactly are you getting a-at?" Izuku asked timidly while wringing his gloved fingers.
"This leads me to assume that you do not have a strong Quirk," the man said with disapproving glare. "Which means you have no place to be in these last rounds. The only reason you are still in this competition is due to your Support Items. Not your natural strength."
Izuku could only stare up at him. The man, Endeavor, thought that he didn't belong. That, because he didn't show a strong Quirk, he shouldn't still be in the running.
"On top of that, your apparent need to help others is reminiscent to All Might," the Number Two Hero said as he leaned and leered down at him as Izuku's eyes widened in fear. "The thought of another one of him pisses me off."
And now apparently is pissed at me because my desire to help people reminds him of All Might? Does Endeavor not have that same desire? If not, why is he a Hero in the first place?
Todoroki's words rang through Izuku's head.
'My father, Endeavor, is the Number Two Hero. The second greatest Hero of all time. A powerful man with a powerful Quirk. But being second best wasn't enough. Not for him. My old man is an ambitious bastard. Always aiming for the top and becoming stronger.'
Endeavor wasn't a Hero to save people. He was a Hero for power, pure and simple. Fought his way up the ranks for the prestige of the Number One Spot. But all his plans, all his efforts, have been for naught as he found himself stuck as the Number Two Hero.
'But, despite all his power that helped him make a name for himself, he could only ever go so far.'
All Might, a perpetual thorn in his side, had claimed that spot and had kept it ever since. His charisma and helpful attitude secured his rank as the Number One Hero and there was nothing Endeavor could do about it even with all his power.
'But he refused to let that stop him. So, he came up with a plan to take down All Might. By any means necessary.'
In desperation to fulfill his own desires, Endeavor had forced a Quirk marriage and kept attempting to create the perfect Quirk combination, having three 'failures' and one 'success'. His 'masterpiece'. It made Izuku sick to think that a person, a parent, would think of a child, their own child, as a sort of 'project'. An 'experiment'. One that the man had repeated until he got the desired result.
'I was created to do what he never could. He raised me to fulfill his own ambitions and be the one to usurp All Might.'
"I don't know what your quirk is," Endeavor said, breaking the younger out of his thoughts. The man walked around the boy clearly dismissing him as irrelevant. "And, despite reminding me of him, you are no All Might when it comes to power. Somehow you have made it this far, but that crutch of yours will only hold you up to a certain point. Which is now. Fight my Shouto and allow him to use you to show his superiority."
WHAT.
He was pissed. He was seething. He felt like how he imagined Katsuki did all the time.
Izuku.
Was.
Angry.
"What does it matter if I have a strong Quirk or not," Izuku called out, causing the Number Two Hero to pause and glance back at him. "I fought my way here same as everyone else. I have earned my spot through hard work just as all the others have. Quirks don't determine who has the 'right' to be in these final matches. One's efforts do."
The supposed Hero huffed out a dismissive sigh, but made no further move to interrupt.
"You say my helping others reminds you of All Might," the greenette said. "That it pisses you off. But why? That's what a Hero does, right? Help others?"
Endeavor continued to glared down at him.
"But it seems that all you care about is power," Izuku continued, hands clenched and shaking. "'Natural power', as you said. Power you can use to rule over others. Like your son…"
The flames emitting of the man grew a bit larger and a bit hotter at the implication.
"My helping others does not make me All Might," Izuku declared, glared at Endeavor over his shoulder.
"Of course not…" the man attempted to interrupt.
"The same as sharing blood does not make Todoroki-kun you," Izuku pushed onward, talking over the other. "He has the right to be his own person and the kind of Hero he wants to be. Not the one you 'created' him to become."
The man's brow twitched at the word 'created' and there was a flash of panic at the potential of the boy knowing what he had done. But it was only a flicker that was quickly covered up by anger.
"You're right that I am no All Might," Izuku stated as he began to walk away, continuing to his original destination. "And Shouto…"
He paused for a moment, sparing a fleeting glance back at the angry bastard. The man's expression had morphed into one of seething, shaking slightly in anger as if he was holding himself back from hurting the boy.
"…he is not you."
Without another word, Izuku stormed down the hallway.
...
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Notes extension: post/639136422910181376/chapter-48-sports-festival-birdbrains-and