Todoroki vs. Confusion

Finishing up their meal they returned their dishes to the mess hall then headed back to the arena for the second part of the festival.

"Um, what are the girls from our class doing?" Terra pointed at their female classmates. They were dressed in cheerleading outfits and holding pom poms.

"I don't have a clue," Todoroki replied.

Midnight drew their attention. "All right, everyone! Compete your hearts out in these recreation games we have prepared for you all! And after that, it's the final event! From four teams, sixteen individuals have made it through! It's a tournament! We're pitting them against each other in one on one combat!"

In the midst of it all Ojiro lifted his hand. "I… I would like to withdrawal from the finals."

"Ojiro, why?" Everyone from Class 1-A turned to their classmate.

"You're not going to have many opportunities like this one to show off your abilities in front of the professional heroes," Midoriya said.

"My participation in the cavalry battle… I was in the top ranks in the last few seconds. And I don't know how I got there at all. I can't agree at all with that. Probably because of the quirk of that one guy." Ojiro looked down at the ground then over at the purple haired boy that graced their classroom that one day. "I know this is a rare opportunity… and to walk away would be stupid. However everyone here gave his or her best to get so far. I'll never be able to say the same."

"You don't need to think like that! There's no problem if you give your best until the end." Hagakure shook her pompoms. "Just win your matches."

Ojiro shook his head. "No, it's not like that. It's a question of dignity. I don't want to participate this way if I don't even know how I got here from the start. Besides, why are the girls wearing a cheerleading outfits?"

The girls cringed.

"I don't agree either. I want to pull out." Another student, short and chunky, spoke up. "It doesn't matter how strong I am… to let someone win without doing anything… Doesn't that go against the spirit of the sports festival?"

"What completely naive words. It turns me on!" Midnight said. "All right! You two are withdrawn!"

With no rule saying everyone had to participate in the recreation games, Terra and Todoroki head back into the hallway and to the outside of the arena. Settling into a shady area away from prying eyes they sat down together, listening to her soothing music until it was time to head back into the arena.

"You should head up to the seats now," Todoroki said as they reached the waiting rooms for the final event.

"Okay. Be careful out there."

"I will."

Terra slowly pulled away from him, keeping their hands connected for as long as she could before finally having to release him. She forced herself away from him and made her way to the stairs. Her footsteps were heavy underneath her. She wished she could stay with him through the final rounds.

"Hey, Terra."

Terra glanced over her shoulder to find Ojiro walking up behind her.

"I figured you'd already be with the others." He smiled.

"I was with Sho-chan." A pause. "Why aren't you already seated?"

"I had to speak to Midoriya about Shinso."

"Shinso?"

"The purple haired guy from before. He was able to control me with his quirk."

"He can control people?"

Ojiro nodded. "But you have to talk to him first. That's how it happened to me. I spoke to him and hings went blank. Next thing I knew I was awake and the cavalry battle was over."

"That's insane." They stepped out of the stairwell and headed down the curved walkway where the seats were. They found their assigned seating area and took their seats among their classmates. "I'm ready for this to be over. I'm glad I don't have to participate in the finals."

"You would have done fine." Ojiro smiled. "Shinso would never have defeated you since you don't talk much to people you don't know."

Terra hummed. "You might be right. Well, as long as he didn't insult Sho-chan. I don't know if I would have kept quiet for that."

"Hey, it's starting!" Hagakure said.

Terra settled in the best she could. While her eyes were on the cement stage her mind remained with Todoroki. She did her best to pay attention to Midoriya and Shinso's fight. And as Ojiro said, Shinso made quick work of his quirk. Midoriya was trapped in Shinso's control and walking towards the edge of the arena. Terra fiddled with her fingers as Midoriya suddenly stopped walking. Some how he managed to come back to his senses and charged at Shinso. Shinso didn't put up much of a fight. Midoriya won by throwing Shinso out of the ring. "Shinso's quirk is amazing. He'd be able to handle hostage situations with ease. With a quirk like that shouldn't he be in the hero course?"

"It's not surprising he's not," Ojiro said.

"How so?" Terra looked at him.

"During the entrance exams we were up against robots," Ojiro said. "The same one's we fought in the first event. A quirk like Shinso's is useless against machines."

"That would cause problems for a guy like Shinso."

The crowd and heroes' cheers rose up for Shinso even though he lost.

"Sorry to keep your waiting, folks! But the next round starts now! He's turned in an excellent performance to make it this far, and yet, what's with that plain jane expression? Does it ever come off? Sero Hanta of the heroes department! Versus! You who stand at the top of the top! He who is way too strong! From the selfsame department of heroics. Shoto Todoroki!"

"Oh no," Terra said, her eyes locked onto Todoroki.

"What is it?" Asui asked.

"Sho-chan's angry," Terra said.

"Huh? He is?" Asui shielded her eyes from the sun. "How can you tell from way up here?"

Terra bobbed her leg up and down and drummed her fingers on her thighs. He must have run across his dad before entering the arena. That's the only thing that can get him this angry. Sho-chan…

"And begin!"

Sero wrapped Todoroki up in his tape and swung him around in the air like a doll.

Come on, Sho-chan. Don't take your anger out on him. A chill rolled up Terra's skin. "It's coming."

"What's coming?" Ojiro asked.

A wave of cold swept over the arena as ice sprouted from Todoroki. Almost all of Sero's body was coated in ice.

"Sero…" Midnight said. "Be honest. Can you move?" There was pause before she continued, "Sero is unable to move! Todoroki advances!"

Todoroki walked up to Sero and placed his left hand on the boy's chest.

Terra sunk back in her chair. At least Todoroki's first fight was over. Only a few more rounds before he had to fight again. To keep from stressing over Todoroki and his dad she forced herself to focus on the battles in front of her, to gather more information on the people at UA.

Kaminari fought against another vine user. Unlike Terra this vine user's vine made up her hair. Terra didn't have to pay attention to this fight to know who'd win. She was easily able to defend against his electricity. So this vine girl would be too. And she was right.

Next were Iida and the girl that teamed up with Midoriya in the human cavalry battle. Her name was Hastume. And she was from the support class. But she didn't fight Iida. Instead she showed off her creations, or babies as she called, them before willingly walking out of the arena, leaving Iida upset.

Then it was Kirishima and a guy named Tetsutetsu. With their quirks being of rock and iron their fight went on for several minutes as they threw punches back and forth until they both collapsed. Midnight announced they would have another fight of a different caliber when they woke up.

"Do you think Uraraka will be okay?" Terra asked as she and Bakugo walked out onto the battle arena. "Bakugo isn't the nicest guy around."

"True," Asui said. "But I doubt he'll go too far. He only has to knock her out of the ring or immobilize her. It's not like this a hero versus a villain."

The fight started. Uraraka rushed towards Bakugo.

Terra pulled her lip between her teeth. Bakugo shot of blasts each time Uraraka made a move to get closer to him. The aggressive boy was relentless. Time and time again he struck at Uraraka. So much so that some people in the crowd started yelling at Bakugo for being so harsh with a girl.

"Who do you think you are?! Going to hard against a frail little girl!"

"You should be ashamed!"

"He's just toying with her now! Call this fight off!"

"Yeah. I've got to say that I agree. Ow, huh, you elbowed me. What are you-"

Present Mic's voice was cut off before Aizawa spoke up.

"Who just said he's toying with her? Are you a pro? How many years? If you really believe this girl is that frail then do us all a favor, go home and hang up your cape. Never mind, you should stay and keep watching the match until it's over. He clearly recognizes the strength of an opponent who's reached this far and is on guard as a result. It's because he's doing everything in his power to win that he's refusing to let his guard down or stay his hand."

Terra blocked out their words after that. She's trying to get in close to Bakugo. Make sense since her quirk can't be used from a distance. But Bakugo's quirk is hard to get past. It's a shame she doesn't have something to use as ammo. Unless… Terra's eyes dropped to the arena. Several pieces had been broken off the floor, but Uraraka hasn't use any of them as weapons. She scanned the floor and between the columns of smoke. Pieces of cement mixed in with the dark smoke created from Bakugo's quirk. Why isn't she using those to attack- Terra looked up. Those broken pieces were floating about the arena. All at once they went crashing down towards Bakugo. Bakugo lifted his hands. With a loud blast the meteor shower Uraraka created shattered.

Uraraka's body trembled. Even from so high up in the stands Terra could tell the battle was over. Uraraka had nothing left to fight with and she fell to the ground.

Midnight held out a hand to halt Bakugo as she knelt down to check on Uraraka. "Uraraka is unable to move. Bakugo advances to the next round!"

Terra exhaled. "Definitely glad I'm not in the finals. There's no way I could stand up to Bakugo like that. He'd shred my vines."

"Yeah." Asui nodded. "I wouldn't have much to give against him either."

"Same," Ojiro agreed.

…

"Hey, that was nearly as tough as your face is villain-y," Sero said when Bakugo joined them a few minutes later.

Terra's eyes went to him. He still wore a scowl on his face despite having won his fight.

"It was a weird match up, but you played an amazing little heel nonetheless, Bakugo," Asui said.

"Shut up, you morons!" Bakugo growled before plopping down in a seat.

"But dang, man, you're able to blast a fragile little girl without holding back," Kaminari said.

"Knowing me, I'd end up not going through with it despite myself." Kaminari crossed his arms.

"But you got beaten pretty easily," Asui said.

"Hey! Come on, Tsu!" Kaminari whined.

"That girl is anything but frail," Bakugo said.

Though Terra wasn't sure if anyone heard him. Everyone's attention had already go back to the next battle. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu had returned to the arena. Their rematch was an arm wrestling match. Like their previous match this one took time, though not as long as the first. Both boys were using their quirks to their fullest. But Kirishima won in the end.

Terra swallowed. Todoroki's match had finally arrived. He and Midoriya stood facing each other in the ring. Her eyes drifted off her best friend and landed on Endeavor. The elder Todoroki was standing where he was the first time she saw him. Worry swept into her mind like a tidal wave as her eyes made their way back to her best friend.

The fight began with Todoroki shooting out ice at Midoriya. Midoriya lifted a hand and flicked his finger at the ice.

Terra twitched. Her fingers drummed on her knees before slipping into something soft and smooth. The battle continued with Todoroki shooting ice at Midoriya and Midoriya would attack by flicking his finger.

Coldness washed over the stands with each attack.

"He destroyed it! And again!" Present Mic's voice was a distant buzz in the back of her head. "Todoroki is continuing his overwhelming offense! It looks like this ice will make for the finishing blow!"

Then she saw it. Todoroki's moves were becoming slower from all the ice collecting on his body. "No… He's not using his fire to remove the ice from his body."

Then Midoriya landed a punch on Todoroki's stomach. Todoroki picked himself up and started at Midoriya.

The battle came to a pause.

Terra growled. The two boys were exchanging words. But being so high up she couldn't tell what they were saying. Then suddenly fire flared up from Todoroki's body. A gasp forced out of her mouth. "He used his fire!"

"Yes! Shoto!"

Terra jumped at the sound of Endeavor's voice booming out into the air. Everyone's eyes turned to the elder Todoroki as he descended down the stairs towards the arena.

"So you've finally accepted your fate! Good! Excellent! Now this is your true beginning!"

"And Endeavor gives his son some words of encouragement? What a doting father," Present Mic said but his tone proved he didn't believe them.

Quakes rolled through Terra's body. She knew all too well that Endeavor wasn't giving his son words of encouragement. She tightened her arms around the soft object she was holding.

"Terra?" Asui asked. "Are you okay? Terra?"

"I hate that man," Terra whispered.

"Terra." Asui tapped her on the shoulder.

"What?" Terra turned to Asui. The green haired girl pointed to the other side of Terra.

Terra turned and noticed the soft thing she was holding was Ojiro's tail. She released him. Heat rushed over her cheeks. "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to grab your tail! When did I grab your tail anyway?! I didn't mean to! I am so very sorry!"

"It's okay. You were clearly upset. Holding my tail seemed to calm you down." Ojiro flicked his tail over her lap. "Feel free to hold it any time you need."

"Um… okay? I guess." Terra turned her attention back to the arena, her hands going back to Ojiro's tail of their own accord.

Midoriya and Todoroki charge at each other, both ready to end this fight one way or another. Concrete rose up between the two but did nothing to stop the massive explosion of clashing quirks. Wind gushed up around the crowd.

Terra squinted into the wind in an attempt to see through the mess of smoke and concrete to find if her friend was okay. Her heart pounded like a drum, blocking out screams then Present Mic's words as the air cleared. Todoroki was standing, half his shirt missing. Terra didn't look for Midoriya. Her legs threw her from her chair and up the stairs. Reaching the stairwell she shot out a vine. It wrapped around the end of the handrail. Her feet barely touched the landing before she snapped out another vine to grab the end of the next handrail. She proceeded to jump down the stairs until she reached the ground floor. With her feet knowing where to go she found him in a few more seconds.

"Shoto!" Terra threw her arms around him.

"Terra." Todoroki's warm, strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"I was so-" Terra's heart skipped a beat. Behind Todoroki was his dad. She released Todoroki in a second and bowed to Endeavor, clasping her hands together to keep them from trembling. "Sir."

"Don't bow to him." Todoroki put his arm back around her waist and led her away from the pro hero.

The door clicked behind them.

"Sorry I worried you." Todoroki wrapped her in a hug once they were alone in the waiting room.

Terra relaxed in his hold, letting her cheek rest again his. "What happened out there? You used your quirk."

"It was Midoriya. Again. He broke through my walls."

"How?" Terra pulled back to look into his eyes.

"He said something you once said to me." Todoroki looked at his left hand. "He said this quirk is mine not my dad's."

"Are you okay with that?"
Todoroki clenched his fist. "I don't know. My mind is very hazy right now."

Terra's eyes dropped to his bare shoulder. She traced her fingers over his skin before pressing her forehead against it. "You idiot. I know how you feel about your dad… but don't you ever let ice build up on your body again." Tears dripped from her eyes. "Never again. I don't care if Endeavor is watching you or not. Don't do it."

"Okay." Todoroki rubbed her back. "I promise, Ter-chan. I won't do that again."

They stayed like that for several minutes before breaking away from each other. Todoroki pulled out an extra shirt from a box and put it on. They left the waiting room hand in hand.

"I'm staying with you," Terra said as they walked down the hall. "I'll stay in the doorway while you fight."

Todoroki nodded while he led her out into the stands. They stood off to the side and watched the matches until it became his turn to fight again.

Terra stayed out of the way as she watched Todoroki fight against Iida. She leaned against the wall with a sigh while the battle went on, grateful that this one was less stressful than the one against Midoriya.

With a standing long jump Iida knocked Todoroki down then grabbed his leg and made a dash for the edge of the battle arena. Iida paused. Being on a lower level Terra couldn't tell what happened to make the young man paused but figured it was Todoroki's ice when it rose up on Iida's body.

They ended up back in the waiting room. Terra sat quietly with Todoroki as he tried to work through this confusion swirling around in his mind.

The quietness was abruptly interrupted when the door slammed against the wall. Bakugo stared into the room. "Hm? Huh?! What are you two doing here?! This is supposed to be mi- Wait a minute! This is waiting room two?!" He checked the room numbed for he walked farther into the room. Todoroki lowered his eyes to the table. "Whatever. I was the one who got the wrong room. And I want you to come at me with everything you have during our fight!" He slammed his hand on the table with a blast. "I'm talking to you, Icy Hot!"

"That's something Midoriya also yelled at me for," Todoroki said. "That guy… seems compelled to drag peoples' problems out of them and blow them right open. You were his childhood friend, right? Has Midoriya always been like that?"

"Do I look like I care about that nerd?" Bakugo kicked the table away. "I don't care what he said to you! Or about your problems at home! Or your feelings! None of that matters! Just come at me with everything you got!" He stalked towards the door with his hands in his pockets. "I'll make that runt bow before me when I'm at the top!"

"What was that about?" Terra asked after the door slammed closed.

"I don't know," Todoroki said.

A few minutes of silence passed before she asked, "Will you be okay in the final round?"

Todoroki nodded. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"You don't sound convinced."

"I'm confused. That's all."

"Fine. But be careful. If you're this confused don't think about using your fire. Push it out of your mind and focus on your ice."

Todoroki placed his hand over hers and squeezed. "It'll be fine. One more fight and this will be over."

"I wish it was over right now."

"It will be soon."

…

Terra stood at the entrance way to the battle area. The final round had come. Todoroki and Bakugo were facing off against each other. The crowd's roars rolled over the stadium.

The fight began with Todoroki trapping Bakugo behind an ice structure. Eerie booms came from within the ice before Bakugo exploded from it. Bakugo launched himself over Todoroki and grabbed his shirt and threw him across the arena. Todoroki shot out ice and surfed it before landing.

Terra's eyes remained locked on Todoroki. His moves were slower than they should have been. He was hesitating. "He really is confused."

"Don't give up!" Midoriya's voice reached the ground floor.

Terra started to look up to him but paused when Todoroki flared up. But fire faded before it was used. With an explosion ice and cement flew through the air. As it cleared they all found Todoroki was out of the ring. She started to run towards the ring but paused. The fight wasn't over until Midnight made the call.

"Todoroki is out of bounce! Bakugo wins!" Midnight announced.

Terra bolted for the battle arena. She shot out her vines, pulling herself over the broken arena and ice blocks. Her shoes slipped on the ice a couple times before she managed to scramble up to Todoroki's side. She cupped his cheek. "Sho-chan? Sho-chan!"

"He'll be fine. He's only knocked out," Midnight said.

Terra looked at the older woman then at Bakugo who was passed out next to Todoroki. "What happened to him?"
"I used my quirk on him," Midnight said. "He wasn't pleased with the results of the battle."

"Oh." Terra turned back to Todoroki. She exhaled. It was finally over. Well, the sports festival was. Todoroki still had some things to work out.