Hello everybody! I know that it's been a long time but I've been super busy with my current schooling.
Honestly ridiculous really.
IMPORTANT
Before I begin, I feel that I must draw attention to something a guest linked to in a review, and let me say that I had absolutely NO idea that that story existed.
And just by seeing the cover art, there's something in the cover that I was already going to be applying to my own story and I don't want to be accused of plagiarism or the like.
As such I won't be reading it (not that I have the time to really) to preserve the integrity of my own story and his.
Also, POLL IS UP! Won't really have an impact on the story, and I mean early Ahsoka not so much later.
Plus, quick question, did any of you catch any of the foreshadowing I put alluding to Jango's death? I mean…look at my cover art.
REVIEWS! (Skip if you'd like.)
Edeath: You gave a lot of reviews and perspective, thank you so much! I admit that while a Slick would be interesting, like you said there wouldn't be a cause for him. Not sure about cadets though.
ImHateful: I really do want to do something involving the past users, I actually have a plan in the works, stay tuned and thank you for your review!
Bfghunter2: I have an idea for 99 and the Bad Batch don't you worry.
Last Primaris: No spoilers :)
FFWhale: I have a plan for that! Thank you so much!
Gouravsilentreader: Thank you!
R0gueMess1ah: Ask and you shall receive!
Ben Turner1: Don't worry, I have something in mind.
Austin: I actually have an omake idea similar to that, but with a different fandom. Don't know Dark Crystal. Lots of cool ideas though.
Benjaminmaibaum05: It will be done, my lord.
Blaze1992: Yeah, foreboding is the least of it. And with the new Obi-Wan series out I have so many ideas for Kyofu.
Monkey D. Conan: Yes! More interactions!
AnimeFan13579: Yeah, it's kinda ironic. I think I may have thought about doing that, but it's been done a lot and there's nothing like a good old fashioned ass whoopin' to get the point across.
Nopeknight: Ooh…believe me, Overhaul Arc is gonna be a tearjerker.
7sky: Thank you again for your review.
Tsun: You…bring up a good point actually. I'll see what I can do. Translation is below each chapter though. However, for reader's sake it would be easier to do something else.
Guest: Weird indeed.
J4C00B0: I sent you a PM about that, but I'd like to know what mistakes you see so that I can see them.
Revitup93: It's difficult, but the more difficult it is the more it's worth it.
Zane122.34: Today.
Xion Cipher: What does it have to lose, indeed.
Wackuhdoodle: Because sometimes it's the shortest lived characters that have the most impact.
We've hit 661 favs, 748 follows, over 57k views and 219 reviews! Thank you all!
Now onto the story!
Legion: Acceptance
"Sometimes, accepting help is harder than offering it."
Once, when he was young and his face was whole, a boy had a mother. And only in his deepest memories, as faded and darkened as they were did he remember her once comforting touch.
How, one day, when he was crying, she gently caressed his head.
"But you want to be a hero, don't you?" He remembers her saying.
"It's okay for you to be one…"
Before he knew it, that was all that he remembered.
Todoroki idly wondered why his thoughts were on this moment in particular.
Especially since he was currently flying in the air.
His body roughly hit the ground and he rolled, quickly getting to his feet he glared at the boy.
The right side of his face was burning, and he quickly applied ice to numb it. His vision was already slightly blurry at the edges and he stumbled a bit before regaining his bearings.
"You…where was that strength before?"
"I've been saving it, as you can see," Izuku raised his hand, showing the purple, broken finger that he'd used. "It takes a lot out of me."
"You…"
"I made a promise, Todoroki, that I wouldn't let what happened at the USJ happen again. But with what you're doing right now. All I can see are the brothers you've killed."
Todoroki flinched at that, his old man's words coming back to his mind.
"And the people you will."
"What?"
'I'm sorry about this Todoroki.' Izuku thought as he continued his spiel.
"Every hero I've ever seen has given it their all. Every student here has given it their all and you spit on all of that thinking that you can coast by with just your ice."
Todoroki growled before sending a fresh wave of ice toward his opponent.
"Did my old man put you up to this?"
The ice completely missed its target as Izuku dodged and sped around the arena at speeds rivaling Tenya's.
"No. But I did just meet him. He's a real piece of work that's for sure. Kind of reminds of you."
Ooh, that pushed some buttons.
Todoroki snarled at the insinuation.
"I am NOTHING like him!"
"You're right. At least he had the decency to apologize for the deaths of my brothers."
Todoroki flinched as if he was struck.
"Way I see it, you trying to spite him by refusing to use your fire is pointless because you've already caused harm by not using it. So when will it stop, Todoroki? Is it 'cause they're clones? Will you finally use your fire when a real person's life is on the line?" Izuku asked, the tone in his voice just daring Todoroki to answer in the wrong way.
"I-, I-"
"Because the USJ can easily happen again, only this time, you won't be given a second chance."
"Shut up!" Another trail of ice that Izuku dodged.
"How many more, Todoroki?!" He said as he flipped over and almost struck him, Todoroki dodged at the last second. "How many more must die before you face the truth?!"
"I refuse to use his power!"
Wrong answer.
"Then you'll die with them!" In a flash of green lightning, Izuku kicked Todoroki straight in the chest, sending him back again.
"Shoto…"
Todoroki rolled back and tried to unleash another large attack but was kicked in the face.
"Those huge attacks leave you open!"
Todoroki grunted as he impacted against one of the ice walls that he'd created earlier before screaming as Izuku kicked him in the gut and straight through the ice. His mind temporarily went blank.
"Stand up already, if you're downed by something like this, forget beating All Might!" He remembers as he lay there retching.
"Please, stop! He's only five!"
"He's already five! Get out of my way!"
Smack!
"AH!"
"Mom!"
'Why am I remembering this now?'
Todoroki retched onto the ground, bile staining it as he desperately tried to regain his breath.
"Use your fire!" Izuku demanded.
"Kuh…no…"
The emerald lightning disappeared and in its place, a gun was placed to his temple.
The world froze.
"Midnight, don't call it." He heard Izuku call out before he heard it fire.
He flinched, but seeing that he was still conscious, turned and saw the scorch mark on the cement next to him.
"That's one. Use your fire."
"N-no!"
Izuku narrowed his eyes before rearing back his foot and kicking Todoroki across the face, sending him sprawling. Another shot impacted the concrete to his right, burning his ear with its closeness.
"That's two! Use. Your. Fire!"
"NO!" Ice shot up from his right side and Izuku was forced to jump back. The ice nearly reached him but Izuku sacrificed another finger, sending it sprawling away.
Todoroki found himself on the ground once more, Izuku's foot-stomping onto his chest, knocking the breath out of him.
Another shot.
"That's three, Todoroki! That's three people you've killed because you refused to use your fire to save them! And as it is, you're practically frozen from the inside out, I wonder what could fix that?"
Todoroki was taken aback, now seeing Izuku's goal with the shots.
"Use it." He growled.
Todoroki dived deep within himself, preparing a monstrous attack. He just needed a bit more time.
"Why…?"
"Because everybody's giving it their all, Todoroki. And I refuse to let more people die, I want to bring them hope. I can see it within you Todoroki, the struggle, the fear, the anger. It's what I've dealt with for years, it's what I'm dealing with now. I want to save you, Todoroki. I want to bring you hope, but you have to take the first step. You have to use your fire." Izuku warned as he pressed even further, his left leg almost crushing Todoroki's rib cage as Izuku held the gun to the side.
"I…I won't."
PTEW
"That was a child, Todoroki! And they looked up to you. They looked up to the hero," Izuku spat the word out like it was a curse. "Todoroki Shoto, and he let. Them. Die…all because of some asinine vow, because he thought he could become a half-assed hero just to spite his father."
Todoroki could see it.
And that's what scared him.
The same child with his face, unmarred and then broken. The same child that once wanted to play with his sibling but would later be dragged away for more training.
"Don't look at that, Shoto. They're from a different world than you."
"SHUT UP!"
Once more the stadium was shadowed in ice as another glacier worthy of the ice age erupted into existence.
Todoroki panted and shivered violently as he got up to his feet, the symptoms of hypothermia affecting his right side severely.
"I-it's finished, call the match, Midnight. I proved him wrong."
"Did you?"
Todoroki started as Midoriya appeared to his right, he instinctively raised his left arm which Midoriya knocked down with his ice-covered right. Todoroki tried to grab Midoriya with his right hand, but Midoriya grabbed his wrist and wrenched it back.
Todoroki tried to capitulate, but almost no ice came from his hand.
Midoriya then smacked him with his right arm, the ice bludgeoning him and the impact sending him crashing back first into one of the many stalagmites that had been created into the ground, his right side heavily injured by the impact.
He remembers a child crying.
"I don't wanna, Mom…I…I…I don't wanna be like Dad, I don't want to be someone who bullies you, Mom!"
"But you want to be a hero, don't you?"
He looked up and peered at her with confused eyes.
"It's okay for you to be one. As long as you have a future you feel strongly about."
A second wind came into Todoroki as he decided to go for close-quarters combat, delivering a multitude of strikes into Izuku's abdomen before delivering a right uppercut that sent pain through every nerve.
Shoto…
Todoroki screamed in pain before a left hook shut him up, making his teeth crack and his vision blur. A hand grabbed his shoulder and wrenched him back to face Midoriya who grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him. Emerald lightning surged again as Izuku raised his ice-covered arm and slammed it into Todoroki, the ice shattering from the force and brutally spiking Todoroki into the ground. His vision temporarily goes black.
"Mom, I'm going crazy…" He remembers overhearing, on the day that changed everything.
"I can't take it anymore. Every day the children seem to become more and more like him. Shoto, that child's left side sometimes looks very unsightly to me…I can't raise him anymore. I feel like I shouldn't…"
"M-mom…?"
The tea kettle whistled.
Todoroki's vision blurred even more as he lay there on the ground, the nondescript faces of the crowd merging into one colorful blob. With a weak groan, he started to crawl, forced to lean on his left side, he extended his right arm, trying to do something, anything.
But he was helpless.
Izuku grabbed his right leg by the ankle, the strength of his grip almost crushing it.
Todoroki knew that he could hear bones crack.
Dragging Todoroki, he then used the centrifugal force of his swing to slam Todoroki into another one of his ice walls, the damage to his right side increasing even more.
'He's breaking my right side…that was his plan all along.'
The worst part was how Izuku treated him, ragdolling Todoroki as such a simple thing. As if no effort was required.
Todoroki felt himself crash into some more ice chunks along the way as his body was drug across the stage.
Izuku abruptly let him go, his own momentum making him splay out onto the ground with a groan.
'I…'
"Good grief, this is an important time, too…"
"Where's Mom?" A bandaged child asked.
"Oh? She injured you so I put her in a hospital."
"It's your fault…"
"You're the one that made Mom…"
Izuku grabbed him and held him up once more, his feet dangling off the ground and ever so close to the boundary.
"One more chance, Todoroki. Use your fire."
"I, I can't." He needed to prove it, that he could become a hero with just her power. He needed to show her. "I will reject his power…I" He whispered as he weakly grasped at his arm with his left.
Izuku merely shook his head.
"When will you realize, Todoroki? It was never his…"
Todoroki gasped.
"It's yours."
Once, when he was young and his face was whole, Todoroki had a mother. And only in his deepest memories, as faded and darkened as they were did he remember her once comforting touch.
How, one day, when they were together, they watched an interview.
"Yes, that's right. Children inherit quirks from their parents. But the really important thing is not that connection, but recognizing your own flesh and blood–recognizing yourself." All Might said with his signature smile and his thumbs up.
"That's what I mean when I say: I am here! You see?"
Once, Shoto Todoroki had a mother, and she told him.
"But, you want to be a hero, don't you? It's okay for you to be one."
'Before I knew it…I had forgotten.'
"You don't have to be a prisoner of your blood."
Steam started to waft off of his right side, and smoke began to rise from his left.
"It's okay for you to become who you want to be."
And Todoroki burned.
Earlier
From the sidelines, everybody watched with anticipation as the two powerhouses from 1-A stood off.
Inko was of course, extremely worried, she'd heard from the Vode about what had happened at the USJ and she hoped that Izuku wouldn't give in to his anger.
She had confidence in her boy, and she knew that he could win.
Although he'd certainly given her more than a few heart attacks throughout this whole festival.
But she was also worried about what would come after.
She loved Mitsuki like a sister, but there had been a considerable rift formed between them when she found out what her son had been doing to her own.
How very little had changed even when Jango was there.
They watched as Izuku was nearly consumed by ice, before it stopped, and reversed direction with extreme force.
"AND TODOROKI STARTS OFF WITH HIS SIGNATURE ATTACK, BUT MIDORIYA PUSHES IT BACK WITH A FLICK OF HIS FINGER? WHERE WAS THIS BEFORE?"
"Holy crap, Inko! Your kid had that up his sleeve the entire time!? You should have told me!" Mitsuki yelled.
Inko merely smiled coyly.
"Have to have some secrets, don't I?" She replied before turning to Yagi.
"Toshinori? Is this what you meant earlier?" She whispered.
Toshinori merely nodded, paying almost exclusive attention to the fight.
"AND MIDORIYA COMES TO TODOROKI RIGHT WITH A BLINDING LEFT HOOK!"
She cheered as she saw the Vode start to roar, slamming their chest plates as they cheered for him.
They watched as the two continued to fight, and cheered as Izuku delivered three kicks in a row, the last one blasting the other boy through the ice.
The cheering stopped as he pulled out the gun.
"Use your fire!"
"Looks like vod's angry, and wants Todoroki to go all out."
Hizashi was surprised but turned to look at Cody, who motioned to keep the mic on.
They kept on the byplay between the two of them and Cody provided a bit more perspective on what was happening for the audience.
"It's like Izuku said earlier, he wants everybody to give it their all. From the students in GenEd to his friends in the Hero Course. Izuku wants the best out of all of them. I don't know what they're saying, but Izuku just wants Todoroki to give everything he's got."
The crowd started to murmur and even some pros considered the words.
"I mean, what kind of hero doesn't give it their all?"
"Isn't he also their Class President, I guess you could say that he's looking out for him."
"I wonder why he's not using his full power though…"
Elsewhere in the stands, Kyoka shivered as she heard Izuku's words and the meaning behind them.
"Kyoka, are you alright, mon ami?" Yuga asked, she nodded but still looked worried.
"Yeah, I just…"
"You can hear what they're saying, non?"
"Yeah…it's not the best."
"Don't worry. Nobody will ask you to reveal their secrets."
"Thanks, Yuga."
As Cody explained, the crowd started to get excited at the potential full-power fight.
Then the stadium became Antarctica.
Kyoka idly heard Tsu's croaks and shivers, fortunately, she was being warmed up by their classmates. Momo had created a bunch of blankets for her after the last time this had happened.
"Is uh…Midoriya, down?" They heard Present Mic ask, the quietest she'd ever heard him.
Then they saw him move.
"NO, HE'S NOT! DIDN'T ESCAPE UNSCATHED BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING HIM!"
Then they watched the brutal dismantling of their classmate.
"Damn, Midoriya really said that these hands be rated T for Todoroki." Kaminari mumbled.
She hated how she found that funny.
"AND MIDORIYA SPIKES TODOROKI INTO THE GROUND, BREAKING THE ICE OFF HIS ARM AT THE SAME TIME! BOY DOES THAT HAVE TO HURT!"
"You know, this kinda reminds me of those old Pre-Quirk wrestling shows."
"AND MIDORIYA'S DRAGGING TODOROKI TO THE EDGE, SLAMMING HIM INTO HIS OWN ICE! NOW HE'S HOLDING HIM UP IN THE AIR, IS THIS A FINAL CHANCE?"
Kyoka listened as they traded a few words, and apparently, Izuku must have said something triggering because she could hear Todoroki's gasp.
And everybody could see Todoroki suddenly burn.
"T-THIS IS…!"
Back to where the families were, Inko was fearfully clutching Toshinori's arm as he realized Izuku's strategy.
'You broke his right side and forced him to use his left. Izuku, have you been trying to save Todoroki since the beginning?'
Looking to the other side, he saw Izuku standing tall, his body burnt from being so close to the eruption.
Smiling.
"I'm so proud."
"Even though you want to win…damn it…you'd help your enemy? Now, who's screwing around?" Todoroki asked as Izuku grinned from across the stage.
"That's the thing, Todoroki, you never were my enemy."
"You're right. I want to be a hero too!"
And for once, they both smiled.
"SHOTO!" The audience heard as Endeavor started to walk down the steps.
"Huh?" They heard Present Mic ask, both of them realizing that this was the first time they could hear him after being so focused on their fight.
"Have you finally accepted yourself? That's it! Good! It all starts from here for you! With my blood, you will surpass me…AND FULFILL MY DESIRE!"
Todoroki barely heard a word…he'd forgotten all about him.
"Endeavor suddenly shouts encouragement…?" Mic wondered. "Such a doting father."
Izuku kept smiling, proud that he'd managed to break through.
"Wow…"
"With everything you've done…even to the point of injuring yourself. Just for this? You're crazy."
Izuku merely chuckled.
"I've got about ten thousand voices in my head agreeing with you."
Shoto took a deep breath.
"I…I'm sorry about your brothers. I didn't mean to kill them. I was stubborn and…I'm sorry."
"I know…and I forgive you. I'm not the only one you should apologize to." Izuku reminded him.
"I know." He said as he stumbled forward, hissing as he felt his body twinge in pain.
"You really did a number on my right side…"
"Sorry about that, didn't really know what else to do that didn't involve me hurting myself."
"I don't blame you…you were right. I haven't given it my all, but I will now!"
"Then I'll do the same!"
Forcing himself to take another step, Todoroki ignited Half-Hot Half-Cold as ice surged from his right side and fire roared from his left.
Izuku let One For All charge throughout his entire body, emerald lightning surging as red veins decorated his body.
"Midnight!" Cementoss yelled as he surged Cement throughout the stage. "If this keeps going it'll be bad for the both of them!"
"An explosion of this size…" Midnight commented as she released Somnambulist.
A tsunami of ice erupted forward as it raced towards Izuku who leaped over it, deciding to give it his all, he allowed 100% of One For All to surge into his right arm, making it so that a veritable lightning storm was wrapped around his fist.
"LET'S GO, TODOROKI! COME AT ME WITH YOUR FULL POWER!"
The fire began to melt the ice at rapid speed, Todoroki raised his hand, ready to meet Izuku head-on.
"Midoriya," Shoto muttered, charging up for his last attack.
"Thank you." He finished, filled with hope.
The cement barely came up in time.
The explosion that followed could not sufficiently be put into words.
The cement walls that had been hastily raised were eradicated, utterly erased from existence as the cold air rapidly expanded from the heat. The force from Izuku's punch also added hurricane-force winds into the mix, causing the audience to have to take cover. Even his Vode were unscathed, knocked down by them.
Midnight had been flipped ass over teakettle and Mineta had to be held by Shoji to not fly away.
Outside all the heroes paused, gaping in shock as they stared at the smoke that was rising from the stadium.
Over in the other stadiums, they also paused as they saw the smoke rising in the distance.
From below, Cementoss idly admired the destruction caused as Present Mic continued his commentary, Aizawa explaining the explosion.
As Midnight got up from her fall, she too looked into the smoke to see the winner.
The families were utterly surprised at seeing the power held by the boy whose brothers had saved their children.
"I-Inko…" She heard Mitsuki stutter and wasn't that its own surprise.
"I think your kid is crazier than mine."
Inko chuckled half-heartedly but couldn't tear her eyes away from the stage, waiting to see where Izuku was.
"Toshi…?"
Toshinori breathed deeply, his senses finely attuned after decades of hero work.
He pointed.
"There."
From the smoke, a fist poked through.
And Izuku stood tall, cradled in his arm was an unconscious Todoroki.
"T-Todoroki is unconscious…MIDORIYA WINS!"
The stadium erupted into a cacophony, the crowd excited beyond all measure.
"AND IN A HURRICANE-LIKE FINISHER, MIDORIYA COMES OUT ON TOP! CAN NOTHING STOP THIS MAN? ERASER, WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH YOUR CLASS!?"
"VOD! VOD! VOD! KOTE! VOD!" The chanting began from the Vode, even Cody joined in from the announcer's box as they all raised and pumped their fists in homage to Izuku.
Todoroki slowly returned to consciousness. His body was extremely sore from pretty much everything.
"M-Midoriya…"
"Todoroki, man you're tough to get up from that."
"I could say the same about you." He mumbled as Izuku helped him stand on his feet.
"Todoroki, will you raise your fist with mine?"
Todoroki paused and nodded.
"Yes."
Raising his left fist, his right was far too broken. Todoroki faced the cheering crowd for a few moments before stumbling.
"AND AGAIN, MIDORIYA RAISES HIS FISTS WITH HIS OPPONENT! WHAT AN INSPIRATION!"
Izuku helped Todoroki get onto the stretcher held by the mediclones, who nodded to their brother and took off, him following behind.
Todoroki groaned a bit from the pain but needed to start with this.
"Vode…I'm sorry…about your brothers. About what I did. When I get the chance, I'll apologize to each…and every one of…you." He finished before falling unconscious again.
The two clones looked at each other before nodding and continued to make their way to Recovery Girl's temporary office.
"Alright! Well…we kind of have to fix the stage now. So let's all take a nice break!" Mic said before turning to the others after turning off the mic.
SMACK!
"Ow! Dammit, RG!" Izuku cried out, helpless to do anything against Recovery Girl's assault on his shins.
"You don't get to say anything, not only did you shatter your arm and fingers, you broke so many bones on Todoroki's right side it's a miracle he's even conscious! Just cause I told you to lessen the damage, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE ONTO YOUR OPPONENT!" She finished her tirade with another smack.
"OW! Dammit woman! Didn't you take the Hippocratic oath!?"
"Consider this my personal prescription for your diagnosis: Unrelenting Idiocy!"
"So mean!"
After a minute though, he stopped with the jesting and looked at Todoroki who was currently occupying the bacta chamber.
"Will he be alright?"
"He'll be fine. Just used up too much energy for me to heal him in one go. The bacta will deal with the worst of it until he can get back up on his feet, then I'll put some food in him and heal him back up."
As Izuku stared at the bacta however, another thought came to mind.
"Recovery Girl?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think…?"
"That bacta can be used to heal, Yagi?" She finished as they both stared at the pod.
"Yeah…"
"I…I want to believe that it can, Midoriya. It's already done healing on par with mine, albeit on a slower scale. I want to believe that with frequent sessions, Yagi could get better. But we're talking about cellular regeneration on a massive scale. Organs being reconstructed from the tiniest amount of material still available. Skin tissue being regenerated, surgeries being reversed…"
She shuddered as she went through the explanation, one hand on the pod and her mind half on the events that led to Toshinori being reduced to his current state.
She knew that she'd saved his life. But at great cost.
Maybe now they could reduce that cost.
Izuku came up to her, one hand on her shoulder.
"I think it'd be good for us to at least try, right?"
Recovery Girl nodded.
"Alright, that's enough out of me, and don't bother trying to hide that yawn. You've got plenty of time to rest until the finals since they're rebuilding the stage. Eat, then rest.
"Aye aye."
All For One smiled as he observed Tomura pay attention to his self-proclaimed Player Two.
While of course, he could not see the Sports Festival with his own eyes, that did not inhibit him in the slightest.
Plus that foolish cockatoo of a hero's commentary was more than helpful. And surprisingly enough the clone's as well.
All For One, throughout all his years had never managed to get a True Sentient quirk into his collection. The last time he had attempted so, the creature had lashed out and had destroyed itself, unfortunately taking a few of his collection along with him.
Since then he'd never dared, although the temptation was great.
Those kinds of quirks were just so…unique.
All For One had a suspicion, however.
As to the nature of this particular quirk.
Something familiar, and in more ways than one.
Heh. How ironic.
"So, little brother…looks like you've found another."
He idly observed the boy, and judging by what he was hearing and 'seeing', the boy certainly had a lot of potential. He also was firmly entrenched in the follies of heroism, yet his actions, his words, his ideals…so much potential.
Already stirring up trouble.
Oh yes, he'd already heard about the HPSC's efforts to stymie the young boy's career, halted as they were by Nezu.
And then the whispers, the sheep were oh so comfortable in their calm pastures, fenced in by their laws and protected by their shepherds.
For one of their own to start cracking the fence.
Bah, he was delving too much into metaphors.
Either way, Midoriya Izuku was pushing against the status quo and it was pushing back.
It would only be a matter of time until one would break.
But which one?
Tomura idly scratched his neck as he forced himself to observe, while he'd rather be playing his video games, he admitted that this was pretty good info.
Kurogiri had compared it to him reading one of his magazines to finally find out where the hidden secrets were to his favorite games.
That had made it more bearable.
Stupid hidden achievement.
But as he watched Player Two. Midoriya Izuku, he could see what was hidden behind that fake smile, behind those taunting fists.
Anger. A whole lot of anger.
And it looked like he didn't like hero society too.
Taking a Single Player campaign and turning it into a team run, destroying the Ten Million and causing absolute chaos to the masses.
The chaos he wanted to cause.
Then the 1v1s…
He admitted that he was actually feeling disappointed at his near loss until he managed to turn it around, then he took out the purple-haired kid and utterly crushed the blond.
Then, the fight against Endeavor's brat.
The sheer brutality.
Midoriya had utterly manhandled his opponent, and even when he pulled out his secret technique, Midoriya still managed to stay on top.
But what was most interesting was the moment that made everyone go silent.
When he pulled a gun out and pointed it at the other boy.
The words were muddled, but Tomura knew that it was important. Midoriya was angry, infuriated about something, more than likely something that happened at the USJ after he'd left.
So many hidden secrets, it was a shame that Kurogiri couldn't go digging into UA again.
Perhaps there were other options?
He'd certainly like to know more but for now, he had an intermission to watch.
"FINISHING UP THE SEMI-FINALS, IT'S 1-B'S LAST CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO THE END, HE'S BEEN CUTTING THROUGH THE COMPETITION-"
"That pun was horrible."
"AND HE'S ITCHING FOR A FIGHT, KAMAKIRI TOGARU!
"Beat his ass, Kamakiri!" Monoma frothed at the mouth, still sore over his humiliating defeat.
Kendo was quick to chop him down.
"AND FROM 1-A, THE BOMBING KING OF U.A. WILL HE RISE TO THE TOP TO CHALLENGE MIDORIYA, OR WILL HE FALL JUST SHORT OF THE MARK? IT'S BAKUGO KATSUKI!"
The crowd roared for both of them, and both were eagerly anticipating the fight.
Katsuki snarled but grinned, he was gunning for Deku, but he had a feeling that it would be a good fight.
"START!"
Katsuki immediately started with an explosion, while Kamakiri turned into a tornado of blades.
The two impacted brutally.
And Katsuji found himself turned back.
'What the-?'
Katsuki was immediately forced to dodge, the edge of one of Kamakiri's blades nicking his face and shaving off the edges of his hair.
Katsuki launched another explosion, greater than the first but missed as Kamakiri dodged to the side at an unnatural angle.
"How the-"
Katsuki almost bit his tongue as he dodged another blade as Kamakiri grinned wildly.
"Gotta thank Hatsune, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't know my body's limits!"
Kamakiri struck multiple times, with Katsuki using his explosions to escape his blades and gain some distance.
He snarled, his pride stung at having been forced to move backward, he couldn't believe how much things had turned around.
Kamakiri pressed his advantaged, turning into a tornado of terror as he constantly pushed against his opponent, refusing to let up and thus giving Katsuki very short time to actually fight back.
Katsuki however, was far from done.
And he refused to let another extra get in way of his rightful victory.
Katsuki let out a large explosion, but this time put more flash instead.
Kamakiri stumbled, blinded by the impromptu flashbang. Using the opportunity, Katsuki snarled and braced his left arm.
KABOOM!
A monstrous explosion ripped out of his arm, tearing his shoulder from its socket. Katsuki grit his teeth, snarling and panting like a wild animal, clutching his arm in pain but refusing to fall.
He would never fall.
The smoke cleared and it was only Katsuki's sharp instincts that let him dodge that blade that nearly cut his face.
'Impossible! That wasn't enough!?'
When would these extras just stay down!?
Kamakiri turned, already spinning for another attack that he wouldn't be able to dodge. Katsuki tried to lift his arm but couldn't as pain spiked through his body.
Whoosh
The blade went wide as Kamakiri stumbled and fell on his back, unconscious. His body was severely burned and was smoking from where the explosion had caused the most damage.
Katsuki could only stare, frozen in shock.
"BAKUGO WINS! HE MOVES ON TO FACE MIDORIYA IN THE FINALS!"
The smoke had cleared completely, showing deep gouges in the concrete where Kamakiri had braced himself thourougly by flooding his body with blades.
He had barely moved a few feet.
Katsuki could only stare in shock as his fallen opponent was wheeled off to Recovery Girl's office.
Idly walking away, ignoring the crowd that was cheering for him.
'That was my biggest explosion yet…'
He clenched his fist, unable to raise it.
"Tch."
"AND WHILE WE FIX THINGS UP, FEEL FREE TO STOCK UP ON SNACKS!"
Izuku could hear Present Mic talking yet paid no mind to it. He sat in his room, pondering.
Bakugo's last fight had been interesting to say the least. He could see however, that the aftermath had shaken him.
Seeing two opponents who he'd obviously deem extras simply tank his explosions like they were nothing, although they eventually fell in the end, would greatly affect his psyche.
He could use that to his advantage.
He could…
Oh, who was he kidding…he could try and analyze this as impartially as he could, but in truth he was worried about the fight. Not because of the battle itself, but what would happen after.
He knew that the outcome of today would change things irrevocably.
And truth be told. Bakugo unfortunately was a major source of his anger. So many conflicts throughout the years, so much anger and vitriol, and for what? For what possible reason could he be like this? What had he done to deserve such hatred?
They were brothers once…
Once.
Before the Betrayal.
But then Jango was there…and now he was gone. His brother, his friend, his only comfort throughout the rough years of his childhood. Five years of his constant presence, and now he was gone.
"I wish you were here brother…I feel so lost without you."
A broken body.
Cracked helmet.
Blood flooding the ground.
Raatin aliit…
Suddenly, the dark memories were washed away, and he felt…a presence.
Near him, comforting him. Although it was similar to Jango's comfort this felt more…
Motherly.
How odd.
Either way, Izuku was thankful for the change in his thoughts, right now he needed to focus. This time, the fight with Bakugo would not need a cheap trick. Today, he would face Bakugo head on and finally win with his own strength.
And maybe finally, just finally…he could let go of him.
'Kaachan…'
Izuku shook his head and snorted in derision. The past was in the past…and the friend that once bore that name was long dead.
The light turned green in his room.
Now, it was time to fight.
As he rose, he felt the comforting presence leave him, although he'd like to know more about it, he couldn't put too much attention to it. A part of him wanted to believe that it was his brothers, still in the Mindscape cheering him on.
But this was different.
No matter, he had a fight to win.
"Izuku…" A whisper echoed, unheard by him.
"EVERYBODY! IT'S TIME! THE MATCH THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! HE'S BEEN TAKING FIRST PLACE SINCE THE BEGINNING, WILL HE GET THE HAT TRICK AND BRING HOME THE GOLD!? THE LEGION HERO OF 1A: MIDORIYA IZUKU!"
The crowd deafened his ears as he stared ahead at his opponent, coldly analyzing him, the slightest flickers of anger pooling in his heart.
"VOD! VOD! VOD! VOD!" The clones pounded their armor with each cry for their brother.
"AND THE CHALLENGER, RISING UP FROM THE ASHES OF HIS OPPONENTS, ALL TO TAKE DOWN THE WOULD BE CHAMPION! WILL HE SNATCH THE GOLD FROM HIS OPPONENT'S GRASP? IT'S 1-A'S BOMBING KING: BAKUGO KATSUKI!"
The crowd hadn't stopped cheering eagerly waiting for the ensuing fight.
Something was odd, however.
It was savage, brutal, and spoken with derision from all the Vod'e that littered the stadium. But one word.
"ARUETII, ARUETTI, ARUETTI!"
From above in the announcer's box, Aizawa and and Hizashi looked at each in concern. They knew that Bakugo and the Midoriya's had some bad blood between them, but how bad was it?
"Cody…what is that word?" Hizashi questioned, turning to the younger man in concern.
…
"Aruetti…" He muttered, merely staring coldly at the stage before them.
"And what does it mean?" Aizawa asked, almost afraid to do so.
Cody remained silent.
The two were now very worried about this fight.
"Hey…Inko?" Mitsuki slightly nudged her shoulder.
"Yes, Mitsuki?"
The blonde sadly gazed at the two boys in front of them.
"You seeing the same thing I am?" She sadly asked.
"...Yes." Inko whispered as she nodded sadly.
"They…really haven't been friends for a long time, have they?"
"Jango used to call him Aruetti, Mitsuki."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Betrayer. Just in case you were wondering." Izuku snarked as he clenched his fist.
Bakugo's eye twitched as he snarled in return.
"You and your clones have a lot of nerve. Always looking down on me, that piece of shit you called a brother and the ones that dared to shoot me back at the USJ."
Midnight was about ready to drop her crop, but Izuku raised his hand.
Surprisingly enough she waited.
"You mean the ones that saved your life!? After your dumbass almost got yourself killed going against the Nomu?" Izuku snapped back.
"I could have killed that thing myself if you and your damn clones hadn't interfered!"
"You're an idiot!" Izuku seethed. "My brothers died to save your ass and all you can think about is your overblown ego!"
"Your clones are just as worthless as you, Deku! If I'd been there, at least they wouldn't have died, especially that upstart extra!"
Izuku's eye twitched, as unpleasant memories started coming back.
Blood.
Broken bodies.
Death.
FEar.
AnGeR.
HATRED.
Clones that were crippled, only just now being able to be healed by Recovery Girl.
Nightmares that plagued him every night.
The death screams of over a thousand of his brothers.
The emptiness in his heart.
A clone that came back with cracked armor and familiar scorch marks.
Jango.
"Raatin vod'e."
Izuku snapped back to reality as sheer fury welled through him.
Screw it.
"How about a deal?"
"Ha?"
"Midnight, make it so that the match doesn't count ringouts or anything. Just unconsciousness. Just a straight up fight to the end. How about that, Aruetti?" Izuku growled, using the term against him for the first time ever.
Bakugo laughed.
"For once, I like the way you think, Deku."
"Midnight?"
Midnight stuttered before nodding.
"Both participants have agreed to a no-holds barred match! Ringouts won't count! Only until one is fully unconscious will a victor be declared!"
The crowd started to cheer even louder at that.
The two fighters glared at each other and Izuku was itching to finally knock Bakugo down a peg.
"You should have just stayed out of my way like the pebble you are, Deku."
"Shut up already and make me. You'll fail to stop me just like you did all the other times."
"FIGHT!"
Bakugo, angry beyond all measure launched an explosion point blank.
"DIE!"
Smoke and fire covered the stage before a flash of green pierced it and a fist buried itself into Bakugo's gut.
"Kuh!"
Bakugo stayed there, folded over Izuku's fist as he roared and punched forward, launching him out of the arena and to the grass away.
Izuku panted and grimaced, 20% of One For All flowing through him at the moment, just barely restraining himself to 10% at the moment of impact.
Already his skin had split in some places, the slightest trickles of blood flowing down his legs, staining his pants.
Izuku cracked his neck and jumped.
Bakugo could barely breathe. The surprise attack had knocked the wind out of him, and even worse he'd been sent out onto the grass in a single attack.
'THAT DEKU! HE MADE THE DEAL JUST TO SHOW ME UP! I'LL TEACH HIM A LESSON FOR LOOKING DOWN ON ME!'
Then he heard the roar.
Looking up he saw Deku coming down on him, ready to punch him into the ground. Rolling over, he launched an explosion to dodge out of the way before sending another combined explosion to launch Deku back.
"You don't have that damn clone to hide behind anymore, Deku!" He yelled as he blasted forward and tackled the other boy.
The two fell into a pile of limbs, Bakugo rolling on top and punching Deku with his explosions.
Izuku blocked as best as he could, before finally managing to grab his arms and buck him off.
Rolling to his feet, he let his quirk flow back to 15%, letting him get to Bakugo before he could fully rise.
As a testament to his instincts, Bakugo was already on the move, launching his classic left hook.
It did not work.
With a crushing grip, Izuku forced the explosion into the air before brutally backhanding Bakugo, stunning him.
"You think Jango was my shield?"
With a yell he slammed Bakugo into the ground from over his shoulder, the latter gasping in pain at the brutal impact.
"Jango wasn't protecting me!"
Izuku then placed his foot on Bakugo's chest, arm still in hand.
"He was holding me back."
And pulled.
POP!
"ARGH!"
Bakugo screamed as Izuku coldly stared at him.
"I've studied you for years Bakugo, I know your every move, your every tactic. So many ways I could have fought back, really fought back. I might not have had the strength then but I certainly do now. But back then, Jango convinced me to ignore you, to leave you alone. To leave things be. But you never did." He finished with a whisper before rearing back and kicking him.
Bakugo rolled across the grass, and Izuku stumbled, the previous strain throughout the day and jumping his quirk up to 10-20% hadn't done him any favors.
Coughing into his fist, he grimaced as he saw the blood decorating it.
Recovery Girl was gonna tear him a new one.
"Stop…"
'Crap, I can't move. I can only brace.'
"LOOKING DOWN ON ME!"
Izuku screamed as he was sent flying back towards the arena, Bakugo's explosion scorching away at his jacket.
Izuku's vision started to fade but he grit his teeth and forced himself to his feet.
"I…refuse…to fall." He whispered to himself.
Rising to his feet, he glared at Bakugo who glared right back.
"You should have just stayed out of my way. But you and that damn clone just refused to stay down. I'll beat you down so badly that you and your clones will never want to be heroes again." Bakugo growled, his arm limp to his body.
Izuku chuckled.
"And you'll fail, again and again, just like the other times you tried to make us stop. I'll never stop being a hero. I'll never stop 'being in your way'. You can do whatever, Bakugo! But I'll never stop! I'll become a SYMBOL OF HOPE!" He roared with pure conviction, drops of blood splattering the cement.
Bakugo twitched.
"Deku…that kind of talk…JUST PISSES ME OFF!" Bakugo screamed as he charged him.
"GOOD!" Izuku roared back as he met him halfway.
The two met in a flurry of punches and explosions.
"I'll never quit! I refuse to surrender to YOU!" Izuku yelled as he punched Bakugo in the face.
"Grr! And look where that got you! You were too weak to even fight back, and now your clones are dead! Jango is dead because of you!"
Izuku stilled before lashing out with a fist.
"You don't get to mention them!"
A punch to the chest.
"You don't have the right to say their names!"
A knee to his leg.
"You don't have the right to say his name!"
A headbutt.
"You don't have the RIGHT!"
An explosion.
"KAgh!"
"And you don't have the RIGHT TO BE A HERO!" Bakugo dragged Izuku by his arm, forcing himself to use his left he spun and tossed Izuku away with an explosion enhanced throw.
"YOU ARE BENEATH ME!"
Izuku landed roughly on his back, the edges of his vision going black. Stubbornly turning to his front an getting on his hands and knees, he forced his body to rise.
'I have to get up.'
Blood dripped onto the ground in front of him, his vision blurring and his ears ringing.
'I have to beat him.'
He stumbled onto his feet, pure rage fueling his body at Bakugo's words.
'I have to avenge them!'
He shakily looked forward, seeing Bakugo also getting up, his last explosion also hurting him. The mere sight of him made him inexplicably angry.
'I have to-'
Izuku breathed in.
SNAP.
The world went dark.
"You have a lot of anger in you, Izuku."
Izuku gasped as he woke up in the Mindscape, but it was different. Darker, with shadows all over the place.
Looking around his attention was caught by a beautiful woman who smiled sadly at him.
He recognized her.
All Might had shown him a picture of her only a few days ago.
Shimura Nana.
"...!"
With a start he touched his face, only to see himself as a part of the shadows themselves.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to speak soon…I hope. You're inside One For All right now, we're connected to the Mindscape, but this section is dependent on how much control of it you have. Eventually as you grow stronger, more of yourself will appear." She explained before patting a shadowy seat next to her.
"Here, come sit with me."
Izuku warily looked at her, before shrugging. If he was here, then that means that he probably lost the fight.
It was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Don't worry, you haven't lost yet. Time here can be relative if we choose it, why, you're not even unconscious. Just spacing out for a bit.
Izuku narrowed his eyes, already itching to get back out there and finally beat Bakugo.
"You know…all that anger isn't good for you."
Izuku blinked as he looked at the woman next to him./
"I know you're angry, Izuku…at the world, at those villains, and especially at that boy. But you can't let your anger control you. That's how you spiked One For All to 20%. That combined with Legion is putting strain on your heart."
Izuku gasped as well as one could without a mouth and his eyes turned to the ground, he started to shake and breathed heavily through his nose.
'But how am I supposed to get rid of this anger?'
"I bet you're wondering how to get rid of that anger, right?"
Izuku jerked in surprise and Nana merely laughed.
"You remind me of Toshi, whenever he saw some injustice he'd always get that anger in his eyes."
Izuku's eyes softened ever so little at the mention of his buir.
"I found it really sweet how you've basically adopted each other."
Now he was blushing, could she even see the red through the black? He sure hoped not.
"I know what it feels like to be angry, Izuku. To be so angry that I wanted nothing more than revenge. I…I lost my husband to the same monster that killed me and hurt Toshi."
Izuku turned to her in shock, he hadn't heard about this before.
"To protect my son, I sent him away to be adopted…I…don't know what happened to him. After that I took All Might with me and we trained harder than ever. In my anger, I became blinded…and that led to my death, with him watching on." Nana sadly reminisced as she looked off into the distant void, lost in memories.
"My second son, had to watch his mother die."
Izuku stared at her in shock, she'd felt the same way about All Might?
"He too became angry, and in his fight five years ago, his anger was what led to him being scarred." She then turned to him and held his face.
Her touch was soothing.
"I don't want the same thing to happen to you." She softly murmured as Izuku looked down in shame. It was true, he had been blinded by his anger and look where it got him.
"Eventually, you'll learn to let go of the pain that's in your heart, Aay'haan, right? But first you must release your anger, and to do that, you must grieve."
Izuku looked up sharply at her, how could she say that he hadn't grieved? What else had he been doing throughout these last two weeks?
"You know that what you've been doing isn't proper grief, you've been bottling up your emotions, keeping yourself in check with only a few minor outbursts like with that Ochako girl." She corrected as she held his shoulders, which were starting to tremble.
Izuku fell to his knees, shaking as he tried to hold it in.
Nana gently knelt in front of him, and held him close.
"It's okay, Izuku…"
He closed his eyes, clenching them tightly.
"You can let go now, for as long as you need to."
…
Drip. Drop. Drop.
And Izuku did so.
With a shudder he finally let out all the emotions that he'd been holding back for weeks. All the pain, the fear, the rage and suffering. All of his grief and misery.
All of his love for Jango.
'I miss you so much, vod.'
Heartwrenching and violent, yet silent sobs echoed from his body as he gave into Nana's embrace.
For however long it took…
Izuku Midoriya finally grieved.
After what seemed like hours, yet were only minutes within a second, Izuku lifted up his tired gaze into Nana's own sad eyes and nodded in gratitude.
He felt lighter, still pained…but lighter.
And he finally understood. Why the nightmares were going away.
'Thank you, Nana.'
"You're welcome, Izuku. Now, you have a fight to get back to, I know that that Bakugo boy is a pain in the ass, especially after what he did. But this is your fight, it's something you have to finish. Just remember, you're not alone anymore. You haven't been for a long time."
Stepping back from him, Nana smiled widely.
"Don't forget to smile. After all, the strongest are those who always smile."
Izuku nodded, starting to notice that white was starting to peak through the shadows.
"Tell Toshinori that I love him, that I don't blame him for my death…and tell him this…" She whispered as she started to disappear.
"Toshinori…Ni kar'tayl gal sa'ad." [I know your name as my child.]
Izuku nodded rapidly as the Mindscape disappeared.
"Thank you…Nana." He whispered.
She smiled.
"Good luck, Nine."
Izuku breathed out.
Again he found himself in front of his old friend turned enemy. But as he looked at him, he felt…
Nothing.
And Izuku smiled.
Because he could finally let go.
"What's that grin for, Deku? You finally snap!?"
Izuku chuckled before he planted his feet.
"The strongest are those who always smile, Bakugo."
"HA!? YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME AGAIN!? EVEN AFTER THE BEAT DOWN I GAVE YOU!?"
Izuku snorted and shook his head. Of course he wouldn't understand.
"Nevermind…let's finish this, once and for all, Bakugo!" Izuku challenged as One For All surged through him one last time.
'One For All: Beskar'gam." [Full Armor] He commanded with a whisper, and like armor, the power surged protectively over him, the slightest hint of Nana's embrace being felt within him as red veins glowed on his body, the slightest hints of lightning surging around him.
"I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!" Bakugo roared as he faced his palms down and exploded, flying into the air. Placing his hands strategically, he started to explode and spin, a mini tornado appearing around him as he prepared for one final glorious explosion.
Planting his feet, Izuku prepared to meet the attack in turn, power surging through his right arm.
'Goodbye, Bakugo.' He thought to himself.
"VOD'E…!"
"HOWITZER…!"
"AN!"
"IMPACT!
"SMASH!"
Izuku's uppercut met Bakugo's explosion head on, the entire arena turning into a tornado in response. As two opposing forces collided in a brutal impact that rocked the stadium. Cement blocks that had risen up to defend had been shattered, people had been blown away. Once again Mineta had to be held so that he wouldn't be sent flying like a cow in Oklahoma.
"Goodbye…Jango…" Izuku whispered as he finally let go.
"Thank you..."
"IT'S THE FINAL ATTACK OF THE AGES, MIDORIYA AND BAKUGO WENT FOR ONE FINAL BLOW, THE SMOKES CLEARING OUT OF THE ARENA, WHO'S STILL STANDING?"
Katsuki idly noticed that he could hear Present Mic again, he hadn't really been paying attention to the commentary throughout his fight with Deku.
Due to the angle of his attack, he'd flown almost straight up in the sky when their attacks collided, and he'd been thrown brutally to the ground in almost a straight line, although fortunately, his impact had been buffeted by the winds.
As it was though, his body was screaming in pain. He could barely blink let alone move.
He knew however, that Deku had to have fallen.
There was no way that he should still be standing after that.
The smoke started to clear, and Katsuki's heart stopped.
There, a shadow within the fog, a body still straight.
It couldnt be…
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE!
But there he was, standing defiant and tall, with his broken fist still raised in the air and his head bowed, back slightly hunched over as if he was leaning on something. Unmoving, and unrelenting.
Never falling.
Never staying down.
"Damn you, Deku!" Katsuki growled as he tried to get up, to force his body to obey his will. The crowd already cheering.
He refused to lose to DEKU!
"MIDORIYA'S STILL STANDING, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE! HE'S STILL STANDING! AND LOOK, BAKUGO'S STILL CONSCIOUS TOO! ACHING TO GET BACK UP WHILE MIDORIYA IS…still standing?"
Plip. Plop. Plap.
Katsuki stopped to stare at the water droplets that had fallen to the ground before forcing himself to look up at the sky.
Clouds.
Soon enough, a slight drizzle began to fall over them all.
"It's raining? But today was supposed to be clear skies?"
One by one, the crowd began to understand.
"Don't tell me…"
"...he changed the weather…"
"...with his punch!"
Katsuki growled as he forced himself to his feet, stumbling and falling to his knees again he glared hatefully at Deku who still wasn't moving.
"Did he really change the weather with his punch!?"
"Like All Might!"
"Such power!"
"Damn it, don't just stand there, DEKU!" Katsuki roared as he tried to get up again.
Midnight then slowly approached Izuku, who was still standing there, no sign of movement or response or anything. The crowd had in turn become as silent as him, only the sound of rain piercing the silence. She idly flipped back her damp hair as she got closer to him.
"Midoriya?"
Nothing.
Taking a closer look, she saw eyes, blank to the world, a serene smile on his face.
'Don't tell me…'
A quick check confirmed it.
"I-Izuku Midoriya is unconscious! Bakugo Katsuki wins!" She declared with a whip of her crop.
At first the stadium was silent.
Then the cheers began.
"UNBELIEVABLE, MIDORIYA'S LITERALLY STANDING UNCONSCIOUS, HELD UP BY HIS PURE CONVICTION TO THE END, FIST RAISED HIGH! IT'S A SHOCK FOR THE AGES! BAKUGO KATSUKI WINS THE FINALS!"
Bakugo was frozen.
He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it.
"No…no, no, no, no, NO!" He denied, his anger reaching its peak as he forced himself to stumble forward.
"Is this some kind of sick joke, Deku? I refuse to accept this as a victory! You should be lying at my feet like the pebble you are! Why won't you go down!? Fall! Fall!"
He stumbled and fell back to his hands and knees, a mere few feet away from Deku.
But he could do nothing, the rain having washed away all the sweat from his body.
Why wouldn't he fall?
Why wouldn't he stay down?
Why did he always have to get in the way?
"Why do you always have to be so much better than me?" Katsuki whispered. A plea that begged to be answered.
He finally fell before Deku, the darkness embracing him.
Izuku never replied.
But if one looked closely, they would see how Izuku's hair slightly floated in the air, even while being drenched.
However, nobody would ever see the woman who smiled as she held Izuku up in the air, somehow support his body with her own as she held his clenched fist high.
And that's a wrap! I know, shorter chapter than expected, but I felt that this would be a fitting place to stop the narrative.
So, couple of quick questions, do you all prefer me adding the brackets like that? I can do it to certain phrases, and if they have entire conversations in Mando'a to indicate that I'll put dialogue instead of Mando'a, at least to help understand the outsider's perspective.
I hope that you all enjoyed the fights, next chapter will get into the Sports Festival aftermath and the start of the Internships! And that means, you guessed it…STAIN!
Oh I have plans for that arc.
I promise not to take a month and a half for the next chapter, it's been hectic lately. I've started the next third of my schooling for my job in the Navy, and it's barely leaving me with any time.
I won't abandon this story though, you can count on that!
Reminder Poll! Here's the question: Which of the 1-A girls do you think best relates to Ahsoka from the beginning of her appearance? This won't affect the story for a while but its for an idea I have!
And now, some small Omakes…well I guess they're story ideas, they're just too small for me to post in the Manifold.
1: Senbonzakura
Todoroki grimaced as he fended off the troublesome pink blades, they were extremely fast and dangerously sharp, cutting his ice waves into pieces before they could even reach Midoriya.
"I already warned you once, Todoroki. I shall not warn you again. Use your fire, or you will not be a hero." Izuku said. The boy's cold stare combined with his longer hair and kenseikan made for a chilling image, but Todoroki was nothing if not stubborn.
"I told you, I refuse to use his power. I'll become the Number One Hero without ever using it!" He boldly declared.
Izuku closed his eyes in disappointment and sighed deeply.
"Very well then. If you will not do what is necessary to save the lives that you will have been entrusted to, then I shall crush you with everything I have and render you incapable of being a hero!"
The blades returned to their singular sword form and Todoroki tensed at what Izuku would do next.
"You have left me no choice, Todoroki Shoto." He said as he turned his blade upside down.
"I will kill your career, here and now, before it's too late." He finished as he dropped the katana.
'He dropped his sword?'
The sword then seemed to melt in the ground.
"Bankai." And absolutely gigantic blades began to appear in rows behind him.
Todoroki gasped stepped backwards as their shadows fell over him.
"Scatter. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Omake/Idea 2 Class 1-B Izuku vs Katsuki
Katsuki's Howizter fueled hand clashed harshly against Izuku's fist, forcing him backward.
"I get it now, Deku. Whatever power you pulled out of your ass is so worthless that you can't even use it right! IT'S PATHETIC! JUST LIKE YOU!"
The force pushed forward even more, and Izuku arm spurt out blood.
"HRAAGH!"
Itsuka gasped in horror, her friend being brutalized like this was horrible to watch.
'When you think you're at your limit…remember…'
Izuku's eyes widened as he remembered Nana's words and Itsuka's.
'You are who you choose to be, but always remember where you came from.'
Izuku's foot planted into the ground and he refused to move.
"It's not because I want to be a hero," Izuku started as his eyes began to glow. "I have people who believe in me now, and I refuse to let them down."
They finally stopped, just before the arena edge.
"You can resist all you want, Deku! But you'll never be anything more than a pebble on the road!" Bakugo snarled.
"That's why I can't-!"
Izuku's arm sparked.
"What?"
"I REFUSE. TO LOSE!" Izuku proclaimed as he let Bakugo's hand fly forward and struck him with his left fist.
All Might watched worriedly. 'He's doing that switching thing again for more power, he used his right arm as bait!'
Katsuki grit his teeth in anger, sparks crackling along his arm as he prepared to return fire.
"What's wrong, Deku? That was WEAK!"
He gasped as he saw Izuku rear back his broken arm.
"That's because…I didn't put my back into it that time!"
One For All surged through him as he remembered All Might's words.
"This power has gone from generation to generation, not only to fight against evil, but to save and inspire those who needed it. To save the hearts of the downtrodden, and the smiles of the fearful. And now…it's your turn. Go, my boy."
Izuku clenched his fist, pure power surging from it as Katsuki launched his biggest explosion yet.
Izuku dodged.
Coming out of the smoke with a smile, he pivoted forward with one last battle cry. Katsuki's eyes filled with fear as his fist came closer and he could do nothing.
'Goodbye, Bakugo.'
CRUNCH!
His fist impacted brutally against his former friend's face.
"UNITED STATES OF…"
Spiking him into the ground, a small tornado of wind formed around the two of them.
"SMAAAAAAAASH!"
The dust settled and the last words Katsuki heard before he finally fell unconscious were filled with remorse.
"Goodbye, kaachan."
And Izuku was finally free.
And that's that. I actually had another idea for US of Smash, if you want to see it, along with any other of my older, crappier drawings. Look of DraconisIgnites, with an e, on DeviantArt. That or just look up Deku United States of Smash.
Please review me any of your ideas, comments, concerns, ect. And thank you all for your love and support.