She's the Man
Author's Note: We're only a chapter away from the Sports Festival arc and I'd like to get my readers' opinion on the upcoming tournament. Who would you like to see in the finals? Who do you want to see fighting in the tournament? Who do you think would win Izuku Vs. Izumi, or in other matches like Yaoyorozu Vs. Izumi, or Tokoyami Vs. Izuku. Remember that both Izumi and Izuku have control of their quirks and their limits vary as well as their uses. Let me know in the reviews!
Chapter 9: The Ugly Truth
Izumi let out a long laugh as her and Todoroki turned the corner to the school dorms. Bakugo and Izuku had already made it back and were sitting on the steps both looking grim. Todoroki took one look at Izuku, and immensely felt better about Izumi's story. So, the two of them were twins, but which one was his real classmate?
"Hey you two," Izumi called out waving her arm smiling. "Why the long faces? Was the movie that bad?"
"Zumi…" Izuku stood up, his grim face had Izumi's smile fading fast. "You should sit down."
"What? What is it?" She walked faster and her heart caught in her throat whe Izuku took her hands. He had done the same thing when their mother had died. "Zuku what happened?"
"It's Grandpa Torino…" Izuku glanced up at Todoroki who joined them, his face stoic but eyes narrowing on the two of them. "He's in the hospital."
"What?" Izumi pulled her hands away. "Why? I was just with him earlier! What happened? Did he have a heart attack? I told him eating too many sweets could-"
"No, Izumi please listen." He struggled for composure his hands bunching at his sides. "He was attack by villains. He was tortured and left to die."
Her breath hitched and she backed away, she felt Todoroki's hands on her shoulders and shrugged them off.
"No! There has to be some mistake! Grandpa's retired, he doesn't fight crime anymore." She choked on a sob and bat away tears. "He's next to harmless… why would anyone want to hurt him?"
"I don't know, Zumi… All Might and the Principle are putting us on lockdown until they can get to the bottom of this."
"I should have stayed with him…" Izumi whispered and turned to Todoroki. "If I'd stayed with him, or insisted he come with us…"
"Your grandfather had his reasons, Midoriya. I only met him for a few moments, but even I could tell you, he would have gotten his way. What's more important is making sure he's okay." He looked to Izuku. "Have you gone to see him at the hospital yet?"
"No," this time Bakugo stood up his face in a snarl. "All Might, and mouse face won't let us leave the campus grounds. If you ask me they know something and just aren't telling us. It's pissing me off."
"Like hell they're gonna keep me from seeing my own grandfather!" Izumi narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth. "I don't care if I have to go to every hospital in this stupid city I'm going!" She turned to run off, but found herself staring up at All Might who had appeared from nowhere."
"Not so fast, young lady. I can't have you running off just yet." He rose a finger up as if to lecture. "I'll tell you what you want to know, but we must go inside. Young Todoroki, I think you should stay here as well for the night. I'll call your father and inform him of the situation."
"You? You're gonna call my old man?" Todoroki had to laugh at that. "That ought to be good."
The group made their way inside the dorms. The four of them sat on the couch as All Might stood in front, arms crossed, and mind whirling on how to go on explaining the situation.
"The villains that attacked Gran Torino were not after him, but of someone he's connected to. His injuries imply he was beaten and tortured for information. He's unconscious, and badly wounded, but the doctors all say he'll make a full recovery with time."
"There's some good news at least." Izuku said with a sigh of relief and clasped his sister's hand in his. "Right?"
"They're after someone connected to grandpa? Who?"
"It's difficult to say, but until he wakes up we'd best not take any chances or jump to any conclusions. Until he does recover it's best you two not leave campus grounds without teacher escort."
The twins nodded in understanding. All Might approached them and knelt to be on eye level.
"There's more, but it can wait til morning. You've both had a long day, and you've school tomorrow." he placed hands on their shoulders. "Try to get some rest."
He stood up and left, the room becoming eerily quiet without his presence. Todoroki felt a bit out of place and stood up.
"Dangerous situation or not, I don't think I'm gonna stay here. I'll have my dad's driver come pick me up." He looked down at Izumi who still had her hands clamped in Izuku's. "Are you gonna be okay?"
"Yes… Grandpa said he was staying with a friend in town. Maybe this friend of his is the person these villains are after. I should have asked grandpa who it was."
"You heard what All Might said," Bakugo grunted. "No sense in jumping to conclusions til the old man wakes up. He's alive, be thankful for that."
"That Old Man is the only family Izuku and I have left! It's stupid they won't let us see him! What if the doctor's are wrong and he doesn't recover? This may be the last chance Izuku and I will get to see him!"
"Do you think he wants you to see him like that?" Bakugo countered. "Better for you that you saw him while he was still healthy and active rather than tied to a hospital bed with tubes and wiring."
"Kacchan..." Izuku held out his hands. "That's a bit-"
"Don't act as if you know anything about this!" Izumi countered her eyes lit with temper. "You've never lost someone who was close to you! You don't know anything so just shut up Bakugo!" She whirled around and rushed to the elevator.
She slammed the button for her floor and let out a little gasp of surprise when Todoroki shoved his way inside before the doors closed on him. She backed up into it cursing. "Why did you follow me? Why did-" the tears slipped down before she could stop them and she immediately turned her back to him. "You've… no business…. following me."
"You're right… " not quite sure what was coming over him he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He heard her breath hitch. "I don't know why I followed you, or why I'm doing this. I'm not really familiar with friendships, comfort, and all that and I never really know how to act when someone's hurting." He turned her around and wiped the tears away. "However, I do know what I would want. I wouldn't want sympathy, or compassion, or words of any kind. I'd just want someone to be there, so I wasn't alone."
"Todoroki-kun…" she sniffed and bat away her tears again. "You're so kind, even though I don't think you mean to be."
"I never made it a real habit. I grew up fast and never cared to make friends, let alone comfort them. Still, I'm finding it hard to pull away from situations like this." The elevator door opened to her floor and he escorted her out. "Before you go inside… I don't think Bakugo meant to upset you. I think in his own way, he was trying to comfort you too."
"Well he sucks at it…" she laughed. "Thank you, Todoroki-kun. Despite the way it ended, I had fun today." She rose on her toes and kissed his left cheek. His eyes widened a bit at the gesture and he stared at her sweet, slightly teary smile. "See you later." She went inside leaving him alone in the hall.
The next morning when she met Bakugo out front to walk to class together, he was holding a single picked flower out to her.
"It's not much of an apology, but it'll have to do since I can never seem to say or do anything right when it comes to you. Deku said you like flowers so here… I'm sorry."
She stared at the plucked blossom and had to laugh.
"Todoroki-kun has you pegged."
"Hah?" Irritated he wiggled the flower under her nose. "The hell is that supposed to mean? You gonna take the damn apology or not, squirt?"
"I'll take it…" She grabbed the flower and stuck it in her lapel. "Let's go, you jerk."
~Class 1A~
"Settle down, rookies." Aizawa grunted and waited until the class went silent before speaking again. "You've all done well in your training so far, but your fight has barely begun. It's almost time for the Sport Festival and you'll be faced with many challenges."
Izumi glanced up from her notebook and shared a look with Bakugo, the two of them suddenly looking very serious as apart to the rest of the class who were pumped up from the news.
"This festival is a huge challenge and chance for all of you. As most of you knew this is a golden opportunity for you to get scouted by the many hero agencies that will be attending or watching on TV."
"Internships, sidekicks, then pro-dom. This is gonna be awesome!" Kirishima punched his fists together and jolted when Aizawa glared. "Gomen."
"As I said, it'll be a challenge, but there's another factor you must all take into consideration," his eyes shifted to Izumi. "Especially you Midoriya."
Izumi's face went blue and she sat up straight. Oh boy, she thought, here comes the bomb.
"I've been made aware that a student from the independent studies course has been pre-approved for a transfer to the hero course. Depending on well she performs in the festival, she'll be joining our class the following week."
Ochaco narrowed her eyes a moment in deep thought.
"Independent studies… AH!" She stood up and eyed Midoriya with wide eyes. "Izumi! You mean Izumi is gonna be in our class?"
"Izumi?" Ashido glanced back at Ochaco. "Who's that?"
"Midoriya's twin sister…" Iida explained. "Ochaco and I met her briefly at the student dorms."
"That's right, Izumi Midoriya, according to her file she's one of the top ranking students in training and exams. Her score even beats yours, Midoriya."
"Yeah, I know." Izumi had to smile. Way to go, Izuku. He had taken the written exam and aced it. "I'm looking forward to competing with her."
"That's amazing!" Ochaco wiggled as she took her seat again. "How come you didn't tell us, Deku-kun?"
"For the same reason you shouldn't be so happy about her joining this class." Aizawa, irritated from the constant interruptions slapped his folder down. "This classroom is for twenty students only. If she achieves her goal, that means she'll transfer in, and the weakest link in this class we'll be transferred out, or in a worse case scenario, be expelled."
"EH!?" The entire class suddenly came in an uproar.
"Are you serious?!" Kaminari shouted in disbelief.
"So you're saying if we don't perform better than her we could get expelled?" Hagakure motioned erratically in a fit of panic.
"If she wanted to be a hero why didn't she take the hero entrance or recommendation exam like the rest of us?" Jiro demanded.
"She couldn't…" Izumi gripped her pen glaring down at her notebook. "She was hospitalized and missed the test. So the school allowed her to stay under independent studies and use the sports festival as her practical test."
"Why is she getting special privilege? Is your family rich or something?" Mineta accused and had Bakugo's teeth setting in a sneer.
"Shut it, half pint! It's not like that at all!" Bakugo scowled and stood up facing the class. "The lot of you stop whining and get your heads straight! This is the hero course, if you want to stay then work hard and don't complain!"
"You can't honestly tell me you're okay with this Bakugo?" Mineta pointed a finger at him. "Are you really okay with possibly being expelled for-"
"It doesn't matter!" Bakugo stopped shouting, his voice going dark and deadly. "So long as you rise to the top none of it matters. So shape up, or ship out, side characters."
Aizawa, though he didn't like being interrupted again, approved of Bakugo's harsh words. "Bakugo's right. This is a good lesson for all of you." He glanced at Izumi who was giving Bakugo a look of embarrassed gratitude. "You can't be a hero aiming for the middle of the pack. If you want to be a pro, you aim for the top."
~Lunch~
"I know we should be worried… but damn I'm excited as hell for the Sports Festival!" Kirishima shouted out. Bakugo's words had pumped him up all over again, and he knew now he had to work harder than before. "You're right that we all need to step up our game." He glanced at Bakugo grinning, the two of them sharing a moment of male bonding.
"Don't be a dunce and fall into last place." Bakugo warned and lounged back in his seat. Izumi was putting her books away getting ready to head out to the cafeteria.
"Speaking of the festival though…" Kaminari jogged over to Midoriya's seat and placed his hands on the desk. "Tell us about your sister, Midoriya."
"Hah?" Izumi lifted her head up, brow twitching at how close he was to her. These boys had no sense of personal space. "What about her?"
"You know… what's she like?" Kaminari sparkled with curiosity. The other students either crowded in with him, or strained their ears to listen, all of them curious of her.
"She's the kind of person who hates being talked about behind her back." Izumi sighed, realiizing that harsh tone and words were not her brother's style. The hell was she supposed to say? She rubbed the back of her neck sighing. "She's got a bad temper. I get angry, but my sister is way worse. She and Kacchan fight all the time when they're in the same vicinity."
"That's cuz your sister's a bitch." Bakugo grunted and earned a kick to the ribs. "OW! Well it's true damn it!"
"Apart from that!" Izumi's teeth grit, her eyebrow twitching irritably. "We're twins so a great deal of our physical traits are the same. Same same coloring, similar bone structure…"
"She's basically Deku in a dress." Bakugo dodged the next kick by jumping on his desk earning disapproving looks from Iida. "What I can tell you about the bitch is, she's idolized her nerd of a brother since they were in diapers for whatever reason." Bakugo scowled. "The only reason she joined U.A. is becuase of Deku."
"That's…" Izumi narrowed her eyes at him, and clenched a fist over her stomach feeling the guilt. "That's not the only reason." She looked down her eyes saddening. "I don't think she's quite figured out her motives yet, but I know she wants to be a hero for her own purpose."
"While this is all way fascinating, I for one just want to know if she's hot." Mineta put his two cents in and earned a smack upside the head from Tsuyu's tongue.
"No," Bakugo's own temple throbbed. "Like I said she's a boy in a dress, completely not your type, shorty."
"Shame…" Mineta rubbed his sore cheek.
"Just because she's not your type, Bakugo, doesn't mean she's ugly." Todoroki stepped up to the conversaion, having noticed Midoriya's akward silence and bowed head. "I've met her and I think she's quite attractive."
"I have to agree with Todoroki's statement." Iida pushed his glasses up his nose. "For the brief time we met her, I'd say she's got a boyish charm, but definitely not unattractive. Normal is how I would put it."
"That's true… I didn't know Todoroki-kun met Izumi." Ochaco asked curiously.
"Yes, we-"
"The two of you are dating aren't you? OW! Damn it, Deku what was that for?!" He snarled at Izumi who was now glaring at him.
"Just because Grandpa asked Todoroki-kun to take her to lunch and walk her home doesn't mean they're dating, baka."
"Ah… I see…" Todoroki held his chin. "I had wondered if my outing with her constituted as one."
"Of course it didn't. You guys just met… sure you went shopping, and the arcade, and ate crepes…" she trailed off, her face going blue. Shit, she thought, that really did sound like a date.
"You've made a valid point, Midoirya. I didn't ask her out personally, nor was the money we used mine. I'll have to think the details over and do it correctly."
"Say what now?" Her head started to spin and she felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.
"I enjoyed my time with your sister, and I'd like to know more about her. I'll come to the dorms after school and ask her out properly this time."
Izumi could feel steam escape her ears as her face went beat red. She covered it with her hands groaning with embarrassment.
"Oh god… excuse me a minute." She quickly exited. Todoroki watched her leave, his lips twitching and wanting to smile. So that prove it, he thought, Izumi was the classmate. It would be Izuku Midoriya he'd have to sum up and match his power against. If the brother was anything like the sister, Todoroki knew he'd be an admirable opponent.
Iida and Ochaco tracked Izumi down in the busy hallway where she'd amde her escape. After a few minutes she'd managed to calm down some, but for reasons beyond her, her heart was pounding hard in her chest.
"Midoriya-kun…" Iida placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah," Izumi tried not to flunch. "Todoroki-kun just surprised me is all. I mean he just met my sister yesterday." She rubbed the back of her neck blowing out a long breath. "It's a bit of a shock."
"Does your sister get asked out often?" Ochaco asked.
"No, not at all. She's never dated or had a girlfriend. She's gonna be really confused and weirded out by all this. She's still trying to deal with all that's happening outside class, she doesn't need this right now." Izumi could sense the panic in her own voice. She tried to concentrate on playing her role, but Todoroki's confession had left her flustered and wide eyed.
"You're right…" Ochaco's sudden dark voice turned Izumi's attention and she blinked in surprise. The normally chipper girl was clouded with determination and purpose. "Right now everyone should be concentrating on winning and doing their best at the sports festival." She punched her fist in the air. "I'm gonna kick some ass!"
"Yeah!" Spirits immediately lifted, Izumi high fived her and felt her calm returning, "That a girl, Uraraka! What about you, Iida?"
"Hmmm me?"
"You've motives of your own to do well don't you?" Izumi put her hands on her hips smirking. "You gonna let my sister beat you?"
"Certainly not, I strive to be like my brother. He's the Turbo Hero: Ingenium."
"Ingenium, huh?" Izumi's eyes sparkled. "I knew your quirk and costume looked familiar. So you're his younger brother?" Truth be told she'd already known Iida was the younger sibling of the Iida family, but she'd wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth.
"Yes, he's an inspiration to me and the rest of my family. He's a great leader, a kind soul, and a fierce fighter. I truly admire him and aspire to be like him one day." Iida said, his chest boasted out, pride in his voice.
"Now I feel embarrassed." Ochaco held her flushed cheeks. "My motives are so impure compared to yours, Iida-kun."
"No motives are impure, Uraraka-san. If it motivates you then of course it's a good thing." Izumi pat her shoulder, oblivious to the little hearts dancing around Ochaco's head.
"What about you, Deku-kun? What's your motivation?"
"Me?" She pointed at herself, thought of her brother and her smile went soft and nostalgic. "Well because of the origins of my quirk my sister and I were believed to be quirkless. We grew up admiring heroes like All Might, and it became a kind of bonding thing for us. Even without a quirk I wanted to be a cool hero... someone who could smile against adversity."
"That's admirable, but what do you mean you two were thought to be quirkless?" Iida questioned.
"My sister and I didn't attain it til we were thirteen after our mother died."
"Oh my gosh!" Ochaco held her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Deku-kun!"
"It's alright," she waved it off, determined not to cry. "After she died, and our quirks activated, we were taken in by Grandpa Torino who taught us how to use it." she looked down at her fist and closed it. "I worked hard to achieve my dream to come to U.A. and now I'm here."
"Does your sister have the same dream?"
"No… oh she wants to be a hero… but like I told Kacchan she hasn't quite figured out why." It felt odd, Izumi realized, expressing her thoughts as someone else. "Maybe it is because she wants us to stay close… or maybe-"
"Young Midoriya is here!" All might appeared in a swirl of air and pointed at Izumi. She jumped and backed into the window holding in a stream of curses.
"A-All Might? What are you doing here?"
"I've come to find you." He held up his lunch. "Your twin and I are having lunch in my office. I'd like you to join us. There's something important I need to speak to you both about."
Izumi's expression changed, with a stern frown and narrowed eyes she nodded.
"I see… then I accept." She looked to Iida and Ochaco. "We'll talk again later you two. For now can you go tell Bakugo I'll be having lunch with All Might."
"Sure thing…" Ochaco watched the two walk away before she and Iida made their way to the cafeteria.
All Might opened the door to his office and Izumi spotted her brother in his uniform munching on a bento box.
"Hey, All might found you. Come eat, he made us both bento boxes." He held out out for her grinning.
"Before that, I've got a spare girls uniform in the bathroom. Go ahead and change."
"Huh? Why? I'm just gonna have to change out of it again."
"Aizawa is gonna take over hero class for the day, in which you'll be excused from. I'm taking you off campus today." All Might nudged her along. "Can't walk around with two male Midoriyas… go on now."
"Alright alright," Izumi grunted and walked to the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later smoothing the lines of her shirt and fluffing her hair a bit. He'd even included a flower pin for her hair to make her appear more feminine. "That better?"
"Very much so, come sit and eat." he started preparing tea.
"What's all this about, All Might?" She sat and crossed her legs at the ankles before picking up her bento.
"I brought you here to give you an update on your grandfather." He started and placed a cup of tea in front of her. "And to give you that explanation that you wanted."
The twins eyed each other and immediately set down their food and looked at him attentively. Their appetites were completely forgotten, All Might realized.
"Your grandfather was not targeted by his hero status, but rather his connection to another hero." He folded his hands, sighing. "That hero is me."
"Eh?" Izuku's eyes widened at this. "You? That can't be right. Grandpa barely even knows you. You only had dinner at our house once."
"You're the friend…" Izumi murmured, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. "You're the friend Grandpa was staying with."
"Yes, though I'm afraid that's not all. It's time for me to come clean. I was gonna wait til after the Sports Festival to tell you the whole truth, but in light of the recent events I feel it's time you knew everything." he swallowed hard.
"Your grandfather was the best friend of my mother, Nana. He helped raise me to become the hero I am today… and he's in the hospital now, because I selfishly asked for him to help me raise my own children."
"You have kids, All Might? Who-" before Izuku could finish his sentence it dawned on him. He turned his gaze to his sister who had gone deathly pale, her eyes wide and shaking. "No, it can't be."
"Yes… the truth is, young Midoriyas… I am your father."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: I can't help but hear Darth Vader each tiem I read back that last sentence… but then again there are a lot of Star Wars easter eggs hidden in My Hero Academia so it kinda fits. :P
QUESTIONS!
For Izuku: What are your thoughts about your sister dating?
Izuku: Uh, well, I guess I'm okay with it. I mean she puts up with me and Kacchan all the time so she deserves the same courtesy right?
For Gran Torino: What about the Midoriya Twins gets on your nerves?
Gran Torino: They're too much like their fool hearted father! Always thinking with their feelings instead of using their heads! I can't tell you how many times I've had to go down to the police station or the hospital because of their acts.
Briry: Thanks for the support guys, and don't forget to let me know in the comments about your suggestion and votes on who should fight who etc etc etc in the upcoming Sports Festival.
Next Chapter: New Found Motivation
