~NRK~

Fuyumi hummed as they near the back of the stadium, drinking an energy drink of some sort.

"How do you feel about your chances?" Enji asked and the teen hummed some more, rolling her drink between her hands.

"I… O-Obito-kun is so strong, smart, and calculative. It's terrifying," Fuyumi admitted as Enji nodded.

"Sometimes, you're going to come up against a seemingly impossible wall. That's when you dig your heels in, your focus forward, and you find a way… despite how long it'll take."

Fuyumi wasn't so sure about that but understood. "Dad, why do you want to be Number 1?" She asked out of the blue, getting a flinch out of Enji. "I… I know it's the most prestigious title in all of Japan, it's likely right up there with being the Prime Minister… but I don't know why you want it so much."

Enji Todoroki breathed in deeply. "... I've tried for years… so many years…" He began slowly, Fuyumi nodding as he did. "... I need to… to prove that I… that I'm not working so hard for nothing. Those who work hard, are gifted and make themselves talented, those kinds of people can't be wrong. They must have some form of reward for them at the end of it all."

"..." Fuyumi processed his words. "Dad, you're the Number 2 Hero in all of Japan. The distance between you and the 3rd spot is so wide, it's hard to believe anyone will ever reach it," Enji's eyes widened a bit before he grunted. "... All Might's… sometimes, I really wonder if he's human, honestly."

"Hmph, I know that thought process well."

"I think a lot of people probably think so. I mean, someone whose sheer power doesn't come with a downside? That's beyond ridiculous, it's downright unfair."

Enji couldn't say he'd never thought the same thing. All Might had a quirk that wasn't realistic in a manner of ways.

"... So, I just don't understand…" Fuyumi said.

"..." Enji sighed. "... A man loves a chance to prove himself… many women do, too, I'm sure, but on principle, to us, a seemingly insurmountable wall is nothing but a wall no one's considered a way around."

Fuyumi's eyes widened as she remembered a lot of 'Obito reactions' she'd learned over the past month.

Wasn't that the same? Obito liked testing himself, maybe this was the same thing… but, still, Obito seemed to know how far he was willing to go.

Her father… Fuyumi wasn't sure if he even noticed.

"R-Right, Obito-kun is the same in some ways," she said as Enji smirked, rolling her eyes a bit. 'Honestly.'

"He has the right energy, that's for sure. He's made his debut and it's powerful, adding on that he's held true to his convictions, Obito's gained all forms of attention on himself," the Flame Hero said with a hum. "I guess that Keigo boy should be thanked for such an occasion."

Fuyumi giggled a bit, knowing that Keigo was an Endeavor fan made this all the funnier.

Still, she was talking with her dad, she needed this time. "Hmm, Obito-kun's able to blossom no matter the situation. I wonder how long it'd take for me to be that good?"

"You've made it in the top spots twice of both events, that's not something most normal students can say," Enji said as he rubbed the back of his head, looking off to the side as Fuyumi blinked at him. "... You should be proud, Fuyumi… I am."

Blue-Gray eyes widened to impossible limits.

"... I know," Enji continued. "... I don't… I didn't believe I was… neglecting you," her eyes widened more as her heart throbbed in her chest. "But, as time goes on, I've realized I'm… noticing things. Your mother. Rei, she's so…attentive. I didn't know when she was. I didn't know she was… watching me for so long," the hero said as Fuyumi blinked with some surprise.

She breathed in and out. "... Mom, she… despite everything, I think she thinks that's how to fix things. Our family's been so distant, apart," Enji closed his eyes as his head dipped down. "Mom wants to do everything to make us normal, to make us work… I want to do the same… at least, that was the original reason I wanted to be a hero."

His eyes widened as he looked at Fuyumi's resolved expression.

"But, I saw something new, dad… I-I saw you for the first time in so long," Enji was left there, stunned. "I saw my dad, not the Hero, Endeavor. I never understood you, didn't know if I could, but the more I trained, learned, and pushed through. I realized I want to be a hero. Not just for my family but because I want to understand why you do things the way you did. To learn how things got how they were and I think I've learned a bit. I'm going to keep learning, along with my friends, my family, Obito-kun, you, and everything else that comes my way."

"..."

"Because that's what being a hero means to me."

~NRK~

Minutes earlier before Izuku had found Obito, the fire-breather was simply resting in a hallway, away from the others, sitting on a bench with his mind playing a series of scenarios.

'Fuyumi is going to finally be forced to play the attacker,' Obito thought with his arms crossed. 'That said, Keigo's going to be the best fighter out of them all,' he realized.

The bird boy was scarily good and Obito had to assume that his training with Lady Nagant was good to be that way.

He smirked in interest before his eyes opened in surprise as a pair of loud steps reached his ears.

"I see, preparing in private, I can understand that," came the voice of a man Obito had only met once, his eyes turning to see him.

All Might, the Number 1 Hero in Japan.

"All Might?" He blinked in surprise as the No.1 Hero smiled. "I'm surprised. No one knew you were here, sir."

"I just came, I typically draw too much attention away," the man said. "May I sit?"

"Go right ahead."

The man's weight tipped the bench a bit but Obito didn't bother.

"What can I do you for, sir?" Obito asked.

"I've been watching, you're rather amazing," All Might admitted with ease and a laugh, leaving Obito to nod.

"I've decided to bring my all, I can't very well just let them think I'm going to go easy on them. I may have made my impression but it's also to push the others to push beyond their limits and fight me," he said simply. "I'm not like them, I didn't choose to become a hero ever since I was super young, I did so to help my friend to reach her goal."

"Really?" All Might was surprised. "You really didn't want to become a hero?"

"I… didn't see the point, not for me," Obito said. "I'm not someone the populace can say is the most positive. I'm more aligned with handling the world from below, making sure those lights… all those I care about can live their lives to the fullest."

"Many would say that's rather heroic."

"Many would also say someone so cold wouldn't someone they truly can bring true protection into their lives."

"You've thought about this for a long time… haven't you?"

"Yes… I have," Obito chuckled. "My little brother is quirkless," the hero perked up. "He wants to be a hero so badly despite his situation and I won't let his dreams die before we do everything in our power to give him the chance he deserves. A boy who wishes to save everyone… that's the kind of hero I believe could truly help society."

"... He sounds like an amazing young man," All Might said as his own memory shot to the forefront of his mind. 'Yes… I do remember a young man like that, don't I?'

Perhaps Obito Midoriya had opened the path to a successor? Simply not in a direct manner.

"Nii-chan!" Izuku Midoriya skirted the corner of the hall. "I knew…?!" The boy gaped as All Might chuckled.

"Welcome boy!" The hero said, throwing the boy a two-fingered salute.

"A-A-All Might?!" Izuku gaped, gasped, and then his eyes shined. "N-Nii-chan! You know All Might?"

"You remember that day when our cram school was attacked by villains?" Obito reminded him, the small boy choking. "Yes, that day."

"... T-Thank you, sir!" Izuku said, rushing over and bowing to the hero. "I… I know my big bro could do it but it's always nice to know you're on the scene!"

"I see, I see, you're his quirkless brother, right?"

"Y-Yeah, Izuku Midoriya!" Izuku introduced.

"Hm, hmm! A good response," alright, this kid was pretty interesting. "Tell me, Izuku-Shounen, your brother tells me that you wanted to be a hero?"

"Y-Yes!" Izuku answered with a thoughtful look. "... I… I always wondered… I've always wanted to be like you. To save people, to help everyone I can!" He said as All Might's eyes widened at his grin. "But my brother says it's not just about copying people. I once wanted to ask you if I could become a hero, even if I was quirkless, but I learned, it didn't matter! I'm going to save anyone I can with a smile! That's what it means to be a hero, right?!"

Blue eyes widened.

"When you have to save someone, they're usually in a scary situation. A true hero saves not only their lives but also their spirits... That's what I believe. So no matter how scary things get, give 'em a smile, as if to say, "I'm a-Okay". The people in this world who can smile are always the strongest."

'Nighteye… I think I did find him,' All Might realized with a grin. "Yes… that's one of the most powerful motivators to be a hero."

"I thought so!" Izuku grinned before blinking and turning to his sibling. "U-Um, sorry, sir. We need to go and see our parents."

"No, it's fine. I'm sure we'll meet again, one day."

Izuku's eyes shined as he pulled on Obito's arm, the older Midoriya chuckling as he got up.

"Take it easy, All Might," he said with a bow that Izuku copied. "And, for what it's worth," Obito's eye locked onto one of All Might's. "He is a good focus."

The hero grinned. "I understand."

Yes, he'd be watching how this all went down but also considering how to approach his potential new candidate.

~NRK~

"How ya feelin'?" Hisashi asked his oldest who was stretching by them, the seven males by a concession stand, the father of two holding onto a chicken kabob. "Can ya finish this off before you go out there and take names?"

Obito snorted as he stood up, taking the offering. "I can. Though, I'm not the one who's frozen," he said as they looked at Shouto, Katsuki, and Izuku who were freaking out. "Yep," he said as Natsuo chuckled before accepting a kabob.

"Thanks, Midoriya-san," he said politely, nomming away at the top of the chicken-on-a-stick. "... Nee-chan and Nii-chan's foods are way better," Natsuo whispered, minding the booth teen who grinned at his work.

"Hmph, I know what you mean," Hisashi chuckled before handing the gaping 9-year-old trio some food as well. "Come on, the women should be coming… well, them and Endeavor, assumably. You want in on this, Masaru? They're not spicy, so you're good."

The man hummed before nodding, Hisashi buying another for him. "Thanks. Still, Obito-kun, you have a good series of fights ahead of you. Are you that sure of your chances of victory?"

"I've trained almost half of those in the 16 fighters," Obito said. "Besides that, the only ones who may give me trouble are Keigo-kun and… Yu."

"Not Fuyumi-kun?"

"No offense to her, she's getting rather good, scarily so, but not only do I have an advantage in most aspects, she's not able to fully face me… not yet, I believe."

"... Ah, of course," Hisashi realized as Natsuo tilted his head. "Doesn't your sister still fear fire?"

His eyes widened as he looked down in thought. "... Nee-chan can be super-brave when she really wants to… I think she'll surprise you, aniki," Natsuo said to Obito who crossed his arms with a nod, food finished before he saw a familiar bull-girl.

"I hope so as well, be right back."

~NRK~

The time had come oddly quickly, the time for the tournament.

Obito stepped out onto the field and ignored the crowd's cheers as his eyes stayed focused on the others gathering in the center of the area from other entrances or already in the middle of the field.

Coming to a stop a meter away from the gathered group, the air filled with heat.

Bocho swallowed as Yu chuckled nervously, Umi holding a shaky stoic look.

Kaoruko's fists clenched in defiance as Onemu tightened a white headband around her head.

Keigo's eyes gained a powerful glint as he faced that 'pressure' head-on. 'So, this is what it'll be like facing you, huh?'

Fuyumi held her hands by her chest before her eyes narrowed against this pressure that Obito seemed capable of producing.

'This is the stage… and you're not going to show us mercy, are you?' She realized as he removed his top to let a sleeveless, skin-tight, top show.

And then it was like the world grew silent as the pressure increased.

"From here on out, I'm your villain," Obito declared as he tied his sports top around his waist. "We'll see if you all are capable of getting to the top."

~NRK~

The arena had shivered in unison, the families bunched together jumping at Obito's declaration.

"W-Whoa now, he made it chilly real quick!" Hisashi said as Inko swallowed with a nod.

"Was Obi-kun always so… full of pressure?" She wondered idly as Izuku, Shouto, and Katsuki clenched their fists.

"T-This is what I'd expect," Katsuki tried to say but he stepped back the slightest bit.

"I-It's cold?" Shouto blinked in confusion.

Izuku simply looked at his brother with as much courage as he could muster.

"You're number 1, nii-chan," he uttered.

Rei's fingers twitched while Natso grimaced in shock, the cold along their spines causing both to squeak at the sheer thought of only a look doing this to them of all people.

"I…" Rei hoped Fuyumi did well, really she did… but if it came down to facing the 'boy' in the arena, right now, she'd swallow her tongue if she didn't feel like Fuyumi was in serious danger. "S-She's going to be fine, right?"

"... Obito's not putting on the brakes for this," Mitsuki realized as Masaru nodded, eyes focused. "He's going all-in and he's making sure everyone knows."

"It's true, as terrifying as we feel, though, I doubt anyone down there is in danger," Masaru said with a shaky smile. "Still, they are in for a world of hurt."

"... E-Enji?" Rei asked worriedly and Endeavor looked at her calmly.

"Don't take my words as harsh," he slowly, and Rei's eyes widened as he did, his eyes going from her reaction back to Obito's 'demonstration'. "Fuyumi… she's stubborn, I figure I know where that comes from, she's not fragile."

Rei had heard that last word before… back when Shouto was getting 'training'... so why?

Why did him saying it now sound more like an encouraging father than she ever rememb… No, like when Touya was around?

Rei bit her lip before nodding.

Their child was stronger than either of them knew.

~NRK~

"!"

"Rumi, for the love of God, do not go down there!" Kido pleaded as he and Moe pulled her back for all they were worth.

"Dontcha see?! He wants me down there! I! Must! Challenge! HIM!" She fought before the three collapsed back into the stands, fighting taking place.

"Dammit!" Moe yelped.

~NRK~

Yoha shivered as Ryukyu twitched.

"T-That's some presence, yeah?" The second-year asked the hero with a shaky grin. "That's not a hero thing, is it?"

"... N-Not usually," Ryukyu didn't think she could feel so… pressured by just a kid. "Like, the only time something like this happens is usually from a really motivated hero or villain. So, like All Might when he's super-serious."

Well… was she saying that Obito was like All Might?

Yoha blinked.

~NRK~

"He's a certified badass, isn't he?" Hizashi asked with a blink as he felt that 'force' roll down his spine. "Geez, isn't he just a kid? Where's all this… whatever, come from!?"

"..." Vlad didn't know, Obito was seemingly more than just a student but a force of nature that had decided to become a hero only two or so months ago. "He's trained the group for years with Todoroki, Takami, Shinpi, and Shinya being there only for a few months. He's likely trained himself for more years beyond that."

"I've looked into his records and then some of his family's records," Nezu said as he put down his phone with a hum. "Obito-kun has trained his entire family for years as well. He's scarily efficient while also training his quirkless younger brother. He's a training machine. I'd have expected this out of Fuyumi-kun."

"He's always ahead of the class and the more I think about it," the Class B instructor said. "The more I think… he's an actual genius."

And that fact wasn't crazy or anything.

"Ooh! That's interesting!"

Hizashi snorted.

~NRK~

Nemuri grinned at the emotions rolling about. 'Just keep on doing your thang, huh?' Well, can't blame him for being eager and actually super-competent. "Alright! Let's determine the-!"

"Actually, Midnight, I'd like to shake this up a bit," came Nezu's voice over the speakers, surprising Nemuri a bit. "This time, I'll simply decide the brackets."

The crowd grew curious about that as the large screens above blurred before the brackets appeared on the screen.

And the decisions made had them all getting rowdy.

Obito simply kept his arms crossed as he saw himself in the first match along with… His eyes grew stoic as he turned and locked eyes with his opponent who grinned viciously back before looking back at the screen and rolling his eyes at his future matches.

"So, from the very beginning, he's gonna be, and keep on, facing us," Keigo said with a smirk. "And, his third match is…"

~NRK~

"Fuyumi," Enji said as he saw Obito's third opponent. "... This might be for the best," he considered as Rei blinked.

"H-How so?"

"If she can end her first battle quickly enough, she'll have far more energy, fewer wounds, and overall loss of strategy to use against him."

The mother of the three Todoroki children swallowed before nodding.

"Man, the principal really didn't hesitate with him, did he?" Hisashi noted. "If they all win their first, and second for the others', matches, Obito will be facing most of his friends save for a few," he observed with a sad smile. "I get the feeling they all wanted a chance to fight him. There's gonna be some disappointment."

"Mmm," Izuku looked at the matches. "Onemu-san, Yu-nee, Fuyumi-nee-chan, and… I-I think it'll be Keigo-san," he said as Katsuki frowned, crossing his small arms.

"He's the fastest and has feather swords, he can also fly like nii-chan," the bomber boy said with a huff. "He's the closest besides Fuyu-nee."

Shouto frowned at that. "... Fuyumi-nee-chan is going to fight… the girl with lightning feet." He wondered. "Yu-nee is going to be fighting… Bo-san?" That'd be an interesting match

"And Kaoruko-chan is going to be fighting on the same side as Keigo-kun and Umi-kun," Inko noted as Masaru hummed. "T-They're going to fight in the semi-finals!"

"Well, it's not like it wasn't possible," Mitsuki said. "I mean, it's a tournament."

"S-Still, they're going to get hurt," Natsuo said with a small frown as Rei sighed.

"It's true, they will," Masaru said with a nod. "But they're going to become heroes… I doubt this is more dangerous than anything they'll be facing out in the field," he said with a sigh as he ruffled his son's hair, Katsuki blinking at his resigned gaze. "In the end, we already prepared ourselves for this."

Enji grimaced the slightest bit as Rei sighed.

'He's not wrong,' and that fact was stupidly only hitting them now. 'Even when Shouto goes, he'll…' It'd be the same thing.

If Natsuo ever wanted to… even Enji was starting to find the idea a bit more worrying the more he considered it… but he knew, didn't he? That's why they trained, to prepare for whatever situation they'd ever come across.

Remembering Fuyumi's words from earlier he grunted.

'I'll watch you, watch over you, there won't be another… I won't allow that to happen again.'

Bet on that.

~NRK~

The new battle arena was a nice uplifted plateau of white stone, dark blue borderlines, and the UA symbol plastered on a thick panel at the edge.

The other students rushed off the arena, the 'Obito Group' going up to the stands for quick seats, right at the front.

"Alright!" Nemuri grinned as Obito and Onemu stood across from one another. "This will be the first match of the first-year bracket! Featuring students Obito Midoriya and Onemu Shinya! Are you two ready?!"

"Yes," Obito answered, arms uncrossed and at his sides before he widened his stance, back leg shifting back with his weight on his center. "And you, Onemu-san?"

"Heh!" She slammed her fists together, quirk fully activated as she followed his example but her palms were raised.

Her stance was an ironclad horse-stance with the slightest adjustment to her right leading foot, her arms adjusted similarly with the right one's palm more aimed towards Obito.

"I'm ready!" Onemu declared before her face shifted into one of focus, remembering Obito's earlier questions.

"I see," Obito cupped his chin with a nod as she snorted.

"It's not that easy, I'll have you know. Well, breathing in through your mouth and nose isn't that hard but then you need to focus on it. The whole point is to increase stamina, the oxygen flow in your blood and body, as well as the quality of it."

He nodded, eyes narrowed.

'There's no way he figured that out, right?' She was sure.

The training needed for that technique was something she hadn't even gotten down yet. Obito did have a strong enough body, from what she knew, and already did breathing exercises…

'... Oh fuck, please, don't tell me he did figure it out!' This was a family trade secret, dammit! 'Me and my big mouth!' She'd have to make sure he didn't say anything about it.

"Alright, then the match between these two munchkins… BEGIN!" Nemuri declared, her flag swiped down.

Wind pressure shot towards Obito in an instant, the fire-breather flipping to the side.

Onemu's other palm was already lashing out and he dodged once more. 'Keep him occupied! Don't let him breathe!' Morbid but necessary.

Obito, meanwhile, was focusing on how to approach this.

'Taijutsu,' he knew that much, all he needed was close-in on her.

He smirked before, with each flip, dodge, and slip, he got closer.

She wasn't stupid, though, the moment he was maybe two meters away, both her arms reared back as her forearms bulged.

"Stampede!" She slammed both hands around, together, and down.

The force ruptured the ground below him and Obito jumped up and over it, eyes blazing red as his opponent reared before unleashing a harsh haymaker out at the air.

"Burst Wave!"

It'd hit him and take him out of bounds. Obito's eyes narrowed before he threw himself to the side with a harsh revolution, getting a growl out from the bull girl.

She twitched, though, and he grinned before hopping from uplifted rock to rock with a shocking speed that Onemu choked at, vanishing into the dirt.

'Wait! How-?!' She looked around in front of her as Obito disappeared into the lifted dirt clouds, her body twitching from the repeated attacks.

Then a burst of smoke slipped to her side and her head turned to see…

A familiar top floated above her at her side, tied up like a little hang glider…

Her skin paled as another sound of bursting smoke came from behind her.

A kick slammed into her unprepared back and she was sent flying forward, slamming through an uplifted bit of the ground with a wet cough.

"The first stage," Obito said as he stood where she'd been. "Taijutsu."

~NRK~

"He's a regular ninja!" Yamada said in awe as Vlad chuckled. "Man, those special classes you told me about must be awesome!"

"They truly seem to be, most of that group have shown some form of proficiency in stealth," the man said proudly.

Nezu chuckled. "And, surprise surprise, Obito-kun's the best at it," he added and the two shrugged.

Not surprising at this point.

~NRK~

Nagant hummed at what'd gone down. "That was pretty good, scary good," she said to the man at her side who crossed his arms.

Wearing a wooden helmet, greaves, and gauntlets, his body was covered by a dark blue skin-tight bodysuit. On the edges of his gauntlets and greaves were gold metal bands with a similar metal band going down the top of his mask to the back of it.

"He's a genius," the man said, his small black eyes looking around at all the screens like many of the other heroes within the 'watch' room. "Like, geez."

"Hm, hm, he looks interesting to you, Kamui Woods?" She asked with a snicker as he crossed his arms with a huff.

"I doubt he's not to every hero here," he said as many of the said people laughed or agreed wholeheartedly. "Ignoring just how strong he is, imagine the popularity jump."

Nagant blinked, remembering those. 'Man, I've really been out of the game,' she realized with a finger scratching her cheek. "Yeah, I see it now."

That'd certainly mark a hero as exceptional, wouldn't it?

~NRK~

Keigo whistled. "Damn," was all he said as Yu nodded.

Umi rubbed her neck. "That was not cool," she shivered as the others chuckled.

"That was wicked," the giantess said as Onemu tore out of her stone confines before chucking pieces of the floor at him.

Sharp kicks sliced or broke them apart with ease, Obito smirking at his opponent who growled before coming into up-close conflict with him.

"I-It's so loud, too!" Bocho said as Obito blocked several of the Onemu's blows with his forearms.

The boy then used her size against her as he rotated around one of her arms to slam his foot into the back of her head but he was not done as he kept it there and locked his other leg around her midsection.

Obito brought her down to the ground in a rough rotation before locking her arm down with an arm bar.

They gasped before Onemu's body quickly de-transformed and rolled away into a crouch, wincing as she held her arm.

"He's seriously giving her the business," Kaoruko considered with a shaky grin, rubbing her own shoulder. "Ow."

"Yep," Keigo said.

Fuyumi swallowed nervously as she considered everything she knew about Obito's fighting style, quirk, and physical prowess.

It was so HOT.

She blushed and shook the thought away rapidly. 'Dammit! No! Not that!' Was she some kind of pervert?! 'Dammit! Dammit! No, focus on him fighting not… 'fighting',' Fuyumi realized that she'd completely missed her own point!

~NRK~

Obito kipped up to his feet. "Can you continue?"

Onemu didn't respond verbally, transforming being her answer.

"Understood," Obito said as he breathed out slowly, burning white flames flowing around his body before coalescing around his shins down to his feet. "I'm coming at you again."

Onemu didn't retake her normal stance, widening her legs farther so as to lower her center of gravity further. Her right arm curled at her side, palm up, while her left arm was out towards him, palm up as well.

'A new stance,' her first had been one for blunt blows while this one seemed like a chopping or piercing stance.

Still, he wasn't going to lighten up.

No, he was bringing down the heat!

Obito exploded towards Onemu and the girl grimaced before chopping diagonally-

Her eyes widened as legs locked around her neck, a body around her arm, and a knife-hand raised towards her eye, a sharpened blade of fire inches away from her pupil.

Nemuri whistled in disbelief at how quickly Onemu had been shut down.

"Do you concede?" He asked his classmate simply as she grimaced, muscles bulging, expanding his hold. "Good spirit."

He released her arm and leaned back, legs pushing up.

Onemu slammed, head-first, into the ground behind Obito as he released her from his legs, landing gently by her planted form.

Her legs wilted and Midnight grinned nervously at the boy's leg strength.

"I'm a kicker, Onemu-san."

"Alright! Alright! First match concluded!" Midnight said as the girl's transformed state went away, Obito lifting her out of her hole by the foot, allowing them to see her white eyes. "Onemu Shinya is unconscious! Our first victor is Obito Midoriya!"

The crowd exploded into whistles, cheers, and clapping as he nodded. Throwing Onemu on his back, he walked her over to one of the entrances.

"Damn! Are we really about to see a three-peat Number 1?!" Nemuri declared into her mic as the crowd grew louder. 'Damn, kid, you're gonna set a school record in no time flat!' And that'd be even better.

During her first year of teaching, too! Life was great!

~NRK~

Shouta hummed as he wrote his letter, watching the event in a mini-video window on his screen.

'He's too good,' should he really be writing this invitation? 'God, one time, that's all!' Shouta said as he rewound the livestream to watch the fight again. 'For now, estimating his abilities is important.'

The boy was a physical marvel, he'd agree to that.

~NRK~

"WOOOO! HELL YEAH!" Hisashi declared with raised fists as Izuku, Katsuki, Mitsuki, and Shouto followed suit. "GET 'EM!"

"Aniki!" Katsuki.

"Obito-nii!" Shouto and Izuku.

"End her!" Mitsuki.

Inko trembled at that last one. "What?!"

"Just kiddin'."

"Hmph," Enji observed every bit of Obito's fight replay in the screens above. 'Find his weakness or at least a plan for her to use,' Fuyumi was facing an uphill battle.

He'd have to find something to use to her advantage… His eyes narrowed at a thought. 'Wait… that might be it,' he pulled out his phone and checked something important. 'Yes… this might work.'

Rei let out a breath, clapping coming to a stop. "He's likely a terror to face," she noted uneasily. "I don't think I've ever feared Obito-kun before now. Or, really, feared for Fuyumi when she's doing something with him."

"Mmm," Natsuo hummed. "She's gotta make the ice melt on him," he said and Enji's eyes widened as, yes, that was a method.

He got up and Masaru chuckled. "Finally figure out a plan of action?" He asked with a smile as Enji paused before nodding.

"I'll be right back."

~NRK~

"YEAH! HELL YES! LET ME IN THERE!" Rumi shouted with eyes full of fire. "I wanna bring him off his high horse!"

"Kettle, pot called, he says you're a color-hoe," Kido said as Moe snorted while Rumi grinned.

"I'm as black as chocolate!"

"Well, she's aware," the pale boy scoffed.

"She's always been, she's just ignored it," Moe said with a laugh.

~NRK~

"Whew, he did not hesitate, did he?" Ryukyu asked as Yoha grinned shakily.

"No… no, he didn't," had she really been training with the monster down there a year or so ago? "Oy vey."

"Hm, hm," the dragoon hero understood.

She'd not want a piece of that action if she was a Freshman.

~NRK~

"Yikes," Kamui Woods rubbed his neck. "Ouch."

"Yeah, well, she was transformed and he pulled her out before it wore off completely," Nagant chuckled. "Still, I know he's a kicker, he takes my class and I've seen his normal classes, but that kind of leg strength is good."

"Don't I know it," Kamui Woods pat his thighs. "I need to get around on these things and I think I'd just barely do that to that girl."

She laughed.

~NRK~

Nezu chuckled as Vlad flexed in pride.

"He's my top student," he said.

"Blow it out your hole," Yamada snorted. "Honestly, the kid's a hoot! Though, maybe my ears are off, didn't he use the word 'taijutsu'?" He considered as Nezu nodded.

"Body techniques. He's flexible, has strong joints, and even stronger muscles. That's rather fair. He also said 'The first stage, Taijutsu'. Do you think he was trying to come at her in her own setting?"

"It seems so. Of the class, Onemu, Keigo, and Obito have the best close-combat skills. Of them all… the scariest is Keigo due to him having swords," Vlad said.

"Oh! You think we'll have a swordsman-kicker showdown!?" Yamada looked excited. "It'll be like in old martial arts movies!"

"Hmph, maybe."

Nezu chuckled.

~NRK~

Dabi gaped as Ujiko snickered.

"So, that kind of leg strength would work wonders for our Nomu. He's kind of like a reverse Six. Where did he go, actually?" The doctor hummed as he checked his cameras. "Ah, there, he's causing trouble downtown, again. You'd think he'd learn from three years ago to not go to fight clubs but nope."

Dabi frowned. "Who's Six?"

"Well… that's classified, for now at least," the man at the computer said as Dabi groaned. "It's fine, young sir, you'll learn in time. Our boss simply doesn't want you to know about those yet."

"Even if I know about Nomu?"

"It'd be hard to not explain that."

~NRK~

Shigaraki growled as he looked at the screen with narrowed eyes, anti-itch cream around his neck as his bartender groaned.

"Why were you so worked up about him?" The shadow man asked with a huff.

"..." Shigaraki grimaced, looking at his slightly pale-skinned hands before they curled into clawed-up states, quickly clenching into fists. "I don't know," he growled. "He's… He looks like someone I know I hate but I can't…"

"... Fa…th?!"

He held his head before slamming his fists down onto the counter.

"Can you not?" Kurogiri sighed. "You're, what, 14? That can't be a long list. Much less a list of living people."

Shigaraki looked down, pale-blue hair falling past his hand-on-his-face accessory.

"... I need to know," he hissed slowly. "Who is he, really, Kurogiri?"

"I don't know."

~NRK~

He blinked in awe as he sat in his small apartment.

"T-That was so cool!" He said, his brown eyes with slightly oval-shaped irises shining as he watched it. "... Man, I missed my chance," he slumped, fair skin sagging a bit in sadness. 'I don't regret saving that girl, I couldn't, but the fact that I lost my papers…' It'd been a sort of karma, it had to be.

He ruffled his short brown hair before looking at an outfit beside his TV with a nervous grin.

If he couldn't make it to UA, he had his own ways of at least helping people… Illegally.

~NRK~

Yu grinned shakily as she got up. "Oh, God, I'm up next," she whispered in horror, looking at the hole Obito had just thrashed Onemu into. "Oh, no."

"You've got this!" Kaoruko cheered her on with a fistpump and resolute eyes.

"R-Really?"

"Maybe!"

"That doesn't help me at all!"

Bocho swallowed before following suit. "T-To a good fight, Yu-chan," she said with a stutter and Yu rubbed the back of her head in response.

"Like, of course, it's just gonna be rough with our quirks," she said with a shaky grin as Bocho blinked. "... Bo-chan, look how big that arena is," Yu insisted and the girl did… before paling. "Yep."

"C-Can we fit in that without stepping out of bounds?!"

"You just gotta use a good height," Keigo said with a chuckle. "Can't do much else."

"It's true… You two just have to get creative!" Fuyumi cheered them on with a nod. "Right now, I have to focus on fighting… Jena-san," she remembered, looking at the girl in question.

She seemed to be praying, that wasn't good. Fuyumi began to feel bad as the girl held a cross, three horseshoes earrings, and a set of giant four-leaf clovers around her neck.

Okay, now she was just concerned.

"Well, she's a believer," Kaoruko snickered. "Then again, even if she could get through you… senpai's right after. I think I'd be praying, too," she sweatdropped and Umi agreed.

Yeah, no, that kind of double-whammy would make her just give up.

"I'm kind of sad, I only get to fight Kaoruko," Keigo said with the smallest bit of red on his cheeks. "But that also means I have standards. I better see you in the semi-finals or I'm clowning on you for the rest of our year."

The bubble girl snickered. "Then same, bird boy. It'd be kind of sad, in a lot of ways," he scoffed. "If you got taken out by someone outside of the group, Mr.I-train-with-an-actual-hero."

He froze before grinning nervously all the way down to his bones, Obito coming up to the group.

He looked at Keigo who grinned more nervously, before turning to his class. "Anyone who can beat Keigo in the loser games gets a full course, 5-star, dinner," Obito said simply to the classes who looked intrigued. "And, for the sake of credibility, Endeavor loved my food."

That'd cinched it. "YES!"

"Prepare to die!"

"Keigo, a loss shouldn't be held against us!"

Keigo paled like a ghost tweety.

"You didn't think I forgot did you?" Obito asked him casually as the girls balked or giggled.

"... That's up for me, too, right?" Yu asked.

"Of course."

"Hell yeah! You're going down, birdie!"

Keigo's form turned to stone. "W-Was that really necessary?"

"Yes," Obito said as he sat down next to Bocho and Fuyumi. "That felt better than I expected, actually."

"Dude?!"

"Now, now, Keigo-kun," Kaoruko nodded sagely next to his horrified form. "...What's two losses in a row, right?"

"Oi!"

Yu was pumped as she headed off. "Yes!"

Fuyumi giggled a bit as they watched her and Bocho leave.

"What do you think about their chances?" She asked Obito who hummed in thought.

"Right now, they have the same max when it comes to heights," Obito said. "While Yu has a more literal solid form, Bocho has one that's amorphous. If Yu tried to lift her, it'd be an issue but that liquid-like state is still not perfect because Yu can just break away due to how Bocho's 'grabbing' works."

"It hardens the parts," Kaoruko supplied as Keigo moaned in his seat. "If that's the case, she also has a way of grabbing her perfectly and throwing her."

"We'll see."

~NRK~

The arena was fixed quickly enough for the two to get on stage.

The crowd cheered for them and Yu grinned as she waved out at them, blowing kisses back and forth with a jump or two.

"Yes! My people!" She said as Bocho giggled a bit, waving at a similar-looking bunch. "That your fam?"

"Y-Yep!" The shorter girl said before swallowing. "I-I'm bringing my A-A-game!"

Yu grinned. "Damn right! How'd I look if we both didn't give our all?"

"R-Right!"

"Hm, hm, you girls ready?" Nemuri asked them and they nodded. "Then let the second match of the first brackets… BEGIN!" She announced before jumping back quickly.

Bocho swallowed before changing into her noh blob as Yu considered her situation.

She ran at the expanded girl, Bocho's form curling inwards as the blonde jump kicked, quirk activating in an instant.

The now 4-story girl's attack caused a rocking shock wave that caused the ball-form Bocho to jiggle but not much more.

Yu grit her teeth, thankful for her gym uniform's customized elastics, something she'd gotten last minute before coming down here. She shrunk before her feet became engulfed by 'Bocho material'.

She jumped back before yelping and turning tail immediately, the normally meek girl's form rolling towards her!

"Dammit!" She ran forward before grinning and coming to a halt, turning to face her wrecking ball of a friend.

Yu focused and held a wide stance, growing to half Bocho's size as she collided with her.

Her feet dug into the floor as she held her before slowly growing bigger and bigger, gripping firmly.

She twisted and send the normally shaky girl rolling, right towards the outbounds-

"Gotcha!" Came a small voice from Yu's shoulder and she froze and looked down to see Bocho waving at her, kicking her feet.

"H-Huh?!"

~NRK~

"I didn't think she could do that on the fly," Obito noted as the others blinked.

"S-Since when could she leave the material?" Keigo wondered. "... Oh, wait, duh. Our specialized training days, right?" He said with a snort.

"Exactly."

~NRK~

Yu swallowed. "L-Let's not do something we'll regret, right-"

Bocho smiled widely before black material exploded over Yu's body.

"E-Eh!?" Was all she got out before she was but a head sticking out of black material.

A noh face appeared next to her and Yu paled as they rolled towards the out-of-bounds.

Then Bocho slipped out and Yu wailed as she went over the line.

"And that's the match!" Nemuri announced as the crowd cheered. "Hm, hm, hm! These girls were prepared to fight but only one giant was allowed to proceed! And that was BOCHO SHINPI!"

The normally shaky girl smiled and waved her arms out at the crowd.

Yu whined.

~NRK~

Yu slumped next to the others, foods of all kinds in her arms, as she munched down.

"MImmm kmossstt!" She whined as her corndog muffled her words.

"Don't waste my money by choking your food, please," Obito said with a snort. "Seriously. Yes, it's not great, but you two did your best."

"I-I'm glad!" Bocho said with rosy cheeks as she remembered the cheers. "B-But that means I-I'm…" Her head turned to Obito who smirked as Fuyumi chuckled a bit. "... oh no."

"I'm looking forward to it," was all he said as the others laughed, their fellow students nervously swallowing behind them. "You'll get a magnificent test."

She looked nervous as Keigo snickered.

"Now, Fuyu-chan is up," Kaoruko said as Fuyumi nodded, standing and looking for her opponent.

The praying girl threw her a smile… before holding up a series of green horseshoes.

"I think I'm more afraid of God helping her than I am of her," Fuyumi sweatdropped. "Well… right, lightning feet."

"Don't make any assumptive mistakes," Obito said simply as they locked eyes. "That's all I'll say."

Fuyumi smiled. "Yeah, I've got to do this with my own strengths," she said with a nod as she walked off. "Still… If I keep winning," the Todoroki looked at him seriously. "I'll make sure to make you sweat."

"Hah!" Keigo said.

"Keigo, you're one word away from being ganged-up on," Obito said and the bird boy choked as Umi giggled. "Exactly."

Fuyumi had still blushed before pouting a bit. "H-He always was a pervert, I think," she said as Kaoruko started laughing while Bocho blushed.

Yu just shook her head as she swallowed. "He's a real chatty one, too."

~NRK~

"Match number three!" Nemuri spoke up as the girls stepped into the ring. "We have a real interesting match! We have Todoroki FUYUMI! Daughter of the No.2 Flame Hero, Endeavor!"

The crowd exploded into roars and cheers that Fuyumi blushed brightly at as her friends roared along with them.

"YEAH! Bring her down!" Yu cheered.

"Y-You can do it!" Bocho said.

"Believe in yourself!" Kaoruko declared.

"Don't your dreams be dreams!" Keigo quoted.

"You know your opponent! Use that!" Umi said.

"Don't forget your training!" Obito declared with powerfully crossed arms. "You wouldn't want to not meet me in the semi-finals, right?!"

"Oh! What's this?! Our trailblazer is talking smack?! Or encouragement?!" Midnight said loudly as the crowd grew louder. "These girls have such large weights to carry! Fuyumi-chan, the weight of the biggest contender and Raikage-chan, put up against the biggest contender's favorite!"

Said girl shivered as her feet were surrounded by a spinning circuit of lightning, crouching low as the electricity reached her eyes.

Fuyumi clenched her fist. 'Remember all of it,' she told herself as ice spread out from her feet. 'Don't waste energy, remember, you have two fights ahead.'

Fuyumi wasn't thinking lowly of herself, Obito… Obito was the top. He was her age yet he wielded so many advantages over her and even their friends.

The boy with the stealth, smarts, power, speed and confidence to push towards his goals was pushing her forward.

These were her steps, in the end. She could just let him do that, Fuyumi would make sure the world knew she was here.

"Then the combatants are ready!" Nemuri said with a grin. "On your marks! Get ready… GO!"

The stadium hadn't gotten to cheer, to heckle, to speak, to chatter.

For ice dragons exploded over the field and engulfed the Todoroki's opponent in seconds, the frost shimmering in the sunlight as Fuyumi let out a cool breath, standing up from her crouched position.

"A-Ah!?"

Enji laughed loud and proudly from the railings by the stairs, his voice traveling throughout the stadium as the crowd choked in unison.

"YES! FUYUMMMIIIII!"

The girl blushed bright red as she groaned. 'D-Dad, please!' But it wasn't a bad feeling.

She felt amazing.

She looked at him as he smirked at her, eyes alight with a fire she knew to meet full force.

Fuyumi wouldn't let Obito even think about the first place spot with her around.

~NRK~

"Holy crap!" Yu jumped as she looked at the building-sized arcs of white ice. "O-Oh, fighting her's going to be… f-fun?!" She squeaked as Bocho paled.

Umi grinned. "I'm not!"

"We're glad for you."

"Hm, hm, she's really going all-in," Kaoruko said with a grin as Keigo smirked.

"To her, there's no other way. This is her show. That she's here," he said before chuckling as he looked at Obito. "But I guess one of us understands this event more than we do."

Obito smirked as he stood up.

Fire exploded from his mouth into a bursting ball.

It swept across the field of ice in second, melting through it in seconds while also carving out Fuyumi's opponent with ease.

When it finished, it vanished along with any ice that existed.

Another declaration that the crowd grew rowdy over.

You'll need better than THAT.

And Fuyumi beamed right at him.

"Oh?"

The others just cackled.

~NRK~

"I live for this shit," Rumi nearly cried tears of joy as Kido snorted. "That was totally a declaration of war!"

"Yea, hard to miss it," he snorted.

"Well, at least she's calmed down, damn," Moe said as he laughed.

~NRK~

"She's not going to get that win easy," Hisashi said with a chuckle as the group clapped. "Still, she's made her statement. Fuyumi-kun is coming for his spot and won't be dissuaded."

"Nee-chan can do it!" Shouto declared with determined eyes as Izuku frowned in thought. "If she can make lots of places without oxygen, she can do it! S-She made so much ice, too!"

Katsuki blinked before considering it. "Hmm… but I don't think she can," he said as Natsuo cupped his chin.

"It might be easier to make super thick ice, right?" He considered as Masaru hummed.

"Well, the thing is, can she make thick enough ice? Obito-kun has trained a lot of his friends in breaking through walls of her work," the glasses-wearing man asked.

"Huh? Even over the past week?"

"Past week?"

~NRK~

"Well, a frosty showdown that ended in seconds! This ice princess may actually be a quickdraw samurai!" Yamada said with a laugh. "Man, I didn't think she'd come out so strong but, hell, these kids are inspired!"

"They're the best of the best, it's what you'd expect," Vlad said with a chuckle. "Up next is going to be Keigo from the Class B team."

"Just outright ignoring Karuko and Umi? That's focused," Nezu said with a laugh. "I'm curious how the more technical members will act. With less flashy quirks, they'll have to show their ultra-competent, not that I'm concerned."

"It'll need them to be good backs to stand behind," Vlad said with a smile and nod. "They'll be the biggest contenders."

~NRK~

Dabi snorted a bit as Fuyumi won.

"It's certainly an instant shock, that's for sure," he said. "But… can she beat that fire boy?" The black-haired teen huffed with a frown in his room.

That kid seemed like some kind of mentor to them or the strongest. They seemed to consider him more personally than the other students. That little friend group.

As he watched the other matches, Dabi ignored the bubble girl's, rather impressive he wouldn't lie, fight with a boy that could change into a golem of some kind.

… Okay, so, maybe, he didn't ignore it, hard to do that when she seemed so oddly skilled to take him out of bounds with minor trickery and good footwork.

Then there was the girl with a spear and fin-like ears. He'd expected her to be the most boring of the friend group but her spear work was very practiced as she tore apart a girl from Class A with a series of fur that absorbed blows easily.

Finding how she slipped out of that had been hilarious. The fur grew bigger and thicker the more it absorbed and, so, she simply rolled her out of the ring when her opponent was too puffed up.

Then came the last boy of their group, Keigo Takami, right?

He'd decimated the lion boy he'd faced before he could even land a hit with footwork that seemed like he'd flowed in and out of battle with a dancer's grace.

"These guys are too good," what the hell were UA Freshmen being fed if this was how they were? "... No, someone's making them good… and I think I know," he'd remembered how Obito had called out to Fuyumi to remember her training.

Not like a friend who trained normally alongside her… no, like a teacher who'd taught her in-depth.

~NRK~

The group looked at their matches.

"Me and O-O-kun, huh?" Bocho said nervously as Obito nodded, cupping his chin.

"Fighting you seriously will be interesting," Obito said with a nod as she whined a bit. "Come now, it won't be that bad. Use everything in your ability to win, it's easy."

She didn't look too happy but Fuyumi nodded to her with a determined smile.

"I have to win my next round against a boy in our class," she said as she looked around for him. "He's the boy who can shoot spikes out of his shoulders, I think?"

"He is," Keigo said. "Tetsudo-kun is a decent protector, that can turn against you" he explained.

"But he's also completely still when his quirk activates," Kaoruko said as Yu nodded.

"I could just pick him up and place him outside of the ring," the giantess added. "You just gotta hit him with everything you've got before he becomes annoying. Then you can sweat!"

Fuyumi sweatdropped. "That sounds supportive."

"I'm trying!"

"Then, I'm fighting…" Umi turned to Kaoruko who smiled in determination. "I-I'll be bringing my 'A' game, Kao-chan!"

"I know! I won't hesitate!" Kaoruko declared back. "I've got an idea for dealing with Kei-kun, you are a different case," Keigo perked up.

"You've got a fool-proof plan?" He asked.

"Hah! Not even close!" She grinned. "But it's workable."

"I'm now very interested," what could she do to him to prevent air supremacy?

"Will Obito and Bocho come down?!" Midnight asked over the microphone as Obito and Bocho nodded, standing up. "It's time for the second quarter-finals, everyone!"

The crowd was growing heated as they cheered on the duo, Obito's names shooting out into the field as Bocho trembled.

He pat her shoulder with a nod as he walked past. "Don't focus on them. You focus only on me until one of us loses," Obito said with a small burst of that 'pressure' sobering her up.

Bocho blinked before nodding with a growing confidence. "Y-You're right, O-kun… I'm gonna give it everything I've got!" She said with determination.

"No, seriously, what is that?" Yu asked and Obito chuckled.

"Beat Keigo and I'll tell you."

"Keigo-kun!"

"Dammit!"

~NRK~

Standing out on the field once more, Obito stretched his arms as he considered his battle plan against Bocho.

'She could snuff out my flames,' that was the truth.

Working with her Noh Material, they'd learned quite a bit about it. It was elastic, obviously, could absorb far more damage than expected, and could become sticky or slick depending on what she chose.

She could make her hands as large and long as she demanded but it took from her body size. She could grow beyond a three-story building, like Yu, and was strong in that state.

Also, she could leave it 'going', too, as they'd seen earlier without being inside.

'The only spot I know that's weak to my hits is her face,' anything else would be too hard to reach so deep inside. 'She's seriously trouble.'

But that was the thing, he'd said all that in the physical sense. Elementally? He grinned.

"Are the combatants ready?!" Nemuri asked as Bocho began to grow in size.

The little knowledge that one could activate their quirk, in a small area, beforehand was a godsend.

Obito breathed out fire that coiled over his body. 'Bring it, Bocho,' he'd match your determination!

"Then, let's get this going!" Midnight grinned as she dragged her flag down. "FIGHT!"

Bocho expanded to her full height in an instant as Obito shot off the floor immediately after, floating to her eye level.

"The next stage, quirk usage," he said with a grin as her form stayed that of a ball with no appendages. 'Waiting for my move?' That was smart.

She could sprout her limbs from any part of her body, which meant she could very well catch him… physically, he reminded.

Obito smirked and the noh mask of a face she had grew worried as he float higher above the stadium.

He formed those three concentrating handsigns, the one he was very familiar with.

"KATON: O-HOSENKA!"

The sky grew red as bright red fireballs the size of cars rained down on her?!

"WHAT?!" Bocho jumped out of her blob while, at the same time, expanding it to cover the platform floor. "Yikes!" She landed safely before bouncing around on the currently-fading-away material.

The fireballs erupted around her, burning away more of her Noh Material. 'He has the height and long-range!' She should have remembered.

Engaging Obito immediately was for the best.

Obito, meanwhile, was dropping. Using a large amount of his oxygen, at any time, caused his flaming creations to burn away due to his controlled attacks being so big.

It's why he couldn't do too big of an attack or else he'd lose his small moves.

Still, as he fell, he focused on the flames burning around the arena, the fire had done its job.

Time to use that part of his quirk.

He made the Snake seal before flipping upright as the red flames around Bocho spun around her before shooting up into a sphere that he landed on.

"I don't use this skill often, Bo-kun," he said from atop the white ball of flames, the elemental sphere the size of a van. "Now, watch out," Obito smirked as he raised his hand, performed a half-Tiger seal, and twisted it.

Bocho's pupils shrunk as the ball of white flames grew a face.

"Mass Flame Summoning Style: Burn Eater."

She stepped back before her face became determined as Obito jumped off his sharp-mouthed creation.

Bocho transformed into her biggest size as Obito threw his hand forward.

The flaming beast slammed into her center, causing the transformed girl to grunt as a shockwave ruptured the floor.

'H-He can control it! Remember!' She thought as Obito shifted his hand to the side, the ball of fire shooting away from her. 'He's going to keep me away with it. He can use red flames normally, though,' but not as much as he could before.

When Obito was controlling white flames on this scale, he couldn't do anymore but could breathe out red flames.

So, before he could attack with it, she reared back an arm that grew larger, her main body growing smaller.

"Noh Ram!" She swung out with the easily house-sized fist like a big fan, skirting along the ground towards him. 'He can only go up!'

And Obito did, breathing out red flames that allowed him to go high into the sky.

"Got-!" She'd already had another hand coming out at his location but had forgotten, for a moment, about his Burn Eater.

The flaming ball with a mouth slammed down on her 'finishing' hand and she screeched as she reabsorbed both limbs immediately after.

"AHH!" She trembled at its sharp teeth. "?!" Bocho shrunk in an instant as it began shooting about her as Obito landed with a burst of flame breath.

'She's not used to taking pain like this,' he was banking on it. 'Bocho simply doesn't have that kind of will yet,' they'd work on it.

He slammed his hands together into the Inu and Ryu handsigns.

The Burn Eater changed from a ball into ten streams of white fire before slamming into her orb-like body, constricting and locking her into the shape.

"Good effort," he said before flicking his finger, her form rolling away and out of bounds.

Bocho whined as she failed to get out of her bindings.

"Nooooo!"

"And the fight's come to a big conclusion!" Nemuri punned as Obito snorted. "Ha-ha! He enjoys puns!"

"No comment," Obito said as the crowd applauded.

~NRK~

Fuyumi giggled a bit as Bocho slumped next to the group.

"It was honestly pretty good," Yu said with a hand patting her fellow giant-grower on the back. "Maybe you should have just swallowed him?"

"I-I don't want to do that!" Bocho whined in horror as Obito snorted, sitting down.

"It's still a potential strategy," he said with a shrug as the group gaped at him. "Don't look at me like that, you're acting like she'd actually be swallowing people. If you can stop them, no matter what, sometimes it'll be… unorthodox."

"D-Dude, I didn't you were that kind of dude," Keigo said nervously as Obito raised a brow. "Oh, you don't know this kind of joke. You're kind of pure, aren't you?"

"Once again, no comment."

"Still, you really had to put in effort for Bo-chan," Kaoruko said with a grin as Umi blinked.

"I-I mean, he did have to figure out how to deal with her Noh Material," the fin-eared girl said.

"She's a pain to fight up-close," came a voice coming over to them, her bandaged form huffing as she sat down. "God, I lost like that?"

Onemu Shinya had returned and they all greeted her warmly.

"So, yeah, you can't fight Bocho normally, it's just not doable," Onemu said with a flat look as Bocho chuckled nervously. "He'd have to hurt her in a different way and that means with actual fire."

"I-It wasn't that bad," the 'noh' girl said as she rubbed her bandaged arms. "It'll only leave a bit of scarring, Recovery Girl said. I'm surprised it hurt that much though."

"I concentrated the heat at the tips of Burn Eater's teeth," Obito explained. "It was its second form, too, so it'd be more powerful."

"Right, that's that serpent thing, right?" Fuyumi asked and Obito nodded. "And the final stage is that serpent?" Obito grinned and her eyes widened. 'It's not?'

"It's what it is. Most of my attacks aren't like that. Especially since my white flames can only really have their temperature controlled."

"But your control allows you to fine-tune it," Keigo said with one eye closed as he leaned back in his seat. "Right?"

"You all know the ins and outs of my quirk," Obito explained with a chuckle. "My quirk's impressive from the way I've perfected my control but my red flames require more concentration to be a bigger threat while my white ones require me to not use too big of an attack or else that's where the telekinesis stops."

That was true. Obito's quirk, despite how big and powerful it was, wasn't limitless. For one, it could overheat, Fuyumi knew, as well as require more control depending on how big his creation was, meaning it could only do one thing at a time, at those moments.

'Can I do something with that?' Obito was also someone who used 'small usage' as a concept to not overextend himself. 'If that's all true, and he hasn't hidden anything about it from us… wait,' that was right, wasn't it?

Obito needed to concentrate more by using those weird 'hand seals', he called them. They all held meaning to him.

'Dog and Dragon,' that had made it so those streams could separate… 'Do they all perform different things?' If that was true, that meant he had a serious tell at 100%. 'Tiger is used when he's going all-out and can alter his flames' heat to the max. I know he uses Snake when he's capturing, forming a big ball, and/or making a 'net' around someone, even himself.'

If she could remember all his hand seals… she might be able to force him into a situation where she could win!

Tiger, Snake, Dragon, and Dog, those four handsigns… weren't they Buddhist in origin?

Did that not mean he had more? Or was it that he used those specific signs because they worked?

She stood up as she was called into the arena. 'I need to research all of his potentials and find a way to deal with them all…' Fuyumi looked at Obito with a nod and he raised a brow. 'I'm going to win. I need to find a way to handle you,' was all she thought before leaving.

Obito's eyes glinted in the sunlight and she knew he understood her thoughts.

~NRK~

Enji remembered all the information he could about Obito. He researched those handsigns of his, his flames' temperatures, he estimated his distance control and all manner of things.

There had to be something that Fuyumi could do to lock him down. Her ice was the densest but that 'Flash Freeze' move she'd done hadn't been as thick as he remembered.

Obito couldn't break through her normal ice structures that easily. He'd need precise moves like his sharp whistle streams…

His eyes narrowed as he replayed that 'team battle' rounds.

'Yes, that might be an idea.'

~NRK~

Fuyumi Todoroki's following match had gone… about the same as her previous.

A field-encasing explosion of ice that the opponent had literally no answer to.

Dabi frowned. 'When were you so forceful? You know how Enji Todoroki is, don't you?!' But that was another thing.

The way that Endeavor had roared her name had shocked Dabi a good bit, it'd not made sense.

Enji Todoroki cared only for his last child, that was true up till a couple of months ago… so what had changed? Was Fuyumi Todoroki's want to be a hero the catalyst? Or…

Blue eyes locked onto Obito Midoriya's sudden explosive flame technique, one that carved apart the ice burst that Fuyumi had created.

A single hand gesture had been made by him and all he did afterward was cross his arms like some kind of high-level fighter, like a mentor showing their student how far they have to go.

And Fuyumi didn't look saddened in the least. Neither surprised nor annoyed.

No, she smiled at him like they'd known one another for years, like he was a part of her life, dearly.

'Who the hell is this kid?' How had he entered their lives?

All this power, skill, connection, and friendliness, it didn't make sense to him!

Watching those two girls from that group fight hadn't so much as landed on his radar, his eyes lost and not on the TV anymore.

"I need to figure this kid out," Dabi realized. "He's ruining everything," he growled.

What if Enji Todoroki had… changed? Was that possible?! It shouldn't have been, he was but a demon dressed as a man who could only focus on his own future.

Something had gone wrong and he needed to know what.

~NRK~

Keigo grinned as he returned to the group with a victorious grin, all of the group buzzing with energy as the last two matches before the finals were shown.

Obito Midoriya vs Fuyumi Todoroki

Kaoruko Awata vs Keigo Takami

The area grew intense as Nemuri Yazama grew more excited as the crowds roared in excitement.

"IT'S TIME FOR THE BIGGEST MATCHES OF THE FRESHMEN BRACKET! THE UNTOPPABLE, OBITO VS THE ICE PRINCESS, FUYUMI!"

And the world was focused on them.

~NRK~

So, we get a VERY important talk between Fuyumi and Enji right here. Obito and All Might speak, too, but that's clearly set-up for Izuku.

The more important talk is the father-daughter. The fact remains that Fuyumi's right. As much as Enji's tried, he's similar to All Might but from 2nd to 3rd. She learns more about how his mind works and Enji, in return, learns her real reason for starting her path.

They need this. The Todoroki family, Enji especially, need to sit down and fucking talk but Endeavor makes that so difficult and that's why Fuyumi knows that this is the only way and it's working.

Enji is revisiting things mentally for her. The fact remains, with how he's never considered Fuyumi as a potential 'successor', so to speak, he's forced to look back at how things got this way and gets a small revelation

And we're moving on to Part III! The final act of the Sports Festival Arc!

So, with how things are going, Obito's gained both Shigaraki and Dabi's attention, for good or for worse… but what if it's for good? Less on that later because that'd be a very big potential change if I actually went through with that version of what will become of the two.

Just know this. Obito's willing to help… but he's not one to hesitate.

That will make a lot of big changes.

So, the following chapter is full of battles.

Obito vs Fuyumi.

Kaoruko vs Hawks

And whoever meets in the middle for the final match.

Now, let's have some fun with a nice, feel-good, omake, right?

~NRK~

~Omake: Is That… Dad? Ft. Enji and ?~

The event had startled everyone during their internships, a day following the events of Stain's defeat.

They'd been resting, relaxing, post-grilled after the events they'd gotten involved with.

The TV in their shared room was playing some of the news about Stain's defeat, as expected, when things got weird.

It wasn't an explosion, no sudden attack, and no screams or yells.

There, in the background of the news crew trying to speak with Manual, was a man… a very tall, built, man with red hair and a small mustache.

Wearing some casual clothes of a pinstripe dress shirt and black slacks, he was wearing some loafers and carrying around, seemingly, a bag of groceries and a child?

-Huh? What is Endeavor doing here?- The newswoman asked as the man kept walking without paying attention to them. -Sir? Sir! Can we talk?-

-Hm?-

Shouto, Izuku, and Tenya blinked at the man's surprised expression, none more so than Shouto who blinked at the child in his arms.

The spiky black hair and blue eyes were surprising for some reason along with his fair skin.

-Excuse me? Is something wrong?- Enji Todoroki asked… pleasantly?

"What the hell is going on?" Shouto asked in total confusion.

-E-Endeavor-san! It's just, odd, to find you here after the recent Stain development!- The newswoman said as he blinked.

-Stain?- He looked confused and that's how things got odd. -... Wait, what do you mean Stain situation recently?- Enji looked alarmed. -That wasn't recently, that was almost half a year ago-

The news got confused, Izuku got confused, Tenya was confused, and Shouto gawked at the man's non-aggressive eyes and calm confusion.

-... Oh no- He facepalmed. -I believe… that getting home got odder than I expected-

"What?!"

~NRK~

Enji winced as he adjusted his groceries in his arm before removing a receipt and handing it to the woman.

"You'll understand in a couple of seconds," he said as she looked at it.

"I don't understand, what…!?" She jumped in disbelief, looking back at it and then Enji a few more times before choking. "H-Huh?!" She squeaked. "T-This is from five months from now?!" She shrieked and the surrounding groups balked. "S-Sir, what is the meaning of this?"

"I believe that it's about what it looks like," he said as a flaming star landed by them moments later. "But this should be more obvious," Enji said as powerful stomps came over to them.

"WHO ARE YOU!?" Endeavor, No.2 Hero of Japan, yelled in shock, anger, and rage. "Why do you have my face?!"

"Uh, I don't remember gramps being that mean," the boy within the odd-Endeavor's arms said as Endeavor froze, the newscasters froze, and those nearby froze. "Gramps, this is weird."

"I know, Tobi," Enji said with a sigh as his counterpart choked. "But, well, for the sake of simplicity and making this odder… I'm you from the future… most likely," he considered and Endeavor's eyes widened in horror.

"WHAT?!"

~NRK~

"WHAT?!" The three UA students choked in absolute disbelief. "T-The future?!"

"W-What's going on!? He's Endeavor from the future?!" Izuku balked before swallowing. "B-But he seems so… approachable!"

Shouto slowly shook his hand as the situation crashed into him and 'his' father on screen.

-What are you trying to say?! The future?! YOU?!- The Flame Hero 'of their time' exploded in confusion.

-Yes, well, I have a few theories- The 'Future Enji', , said in confusion. -Still… I guess this isn't easy to accept but I can confirm it with you and you alone-

Endeavor looked ready to explode once more before going forward.

whispered something into his ears and his eyes widened to impossible levels.

-...- Endeavor's fists clenched and his face went neutral. -If that's true…-

-It should be if things are where they're supposed to be- said with a sigh. -I didn't think Obito's time-space flames could do this, it's never been an issue before… but they were fighting that odd villain- The future man frowned. -If that's true, he and Fuyumi should end up in a similar situation, soon-

-Fuyumi?- Endeavor blinked and looked confused.

-... W-Wait, I need to know- looked pale. -Fuyumi, your daughter, did become a hero… right?

And the three boys' eyes widened to impossible levels as Endeavor flinched in shock.

-W-What are you saying? She… she didn't… not here-

-... oh, so that's how big of a difference this is- said as Endeavor's mouth fell. -Then this isn't just a different timeline… it's a different dimension- He frowned as Tobi spoke up.

-Wait, Gramps doesn't know ma and pa?- He asked and Shouto held his chest in shock as Endeavor hit his knees in disbelief. -Come on, gramps… oh, wait- The small boy seemed to figure things out.

-W-What did you say?- Endeavor asked in horror as the boy's face scrunched up in thought. -Y-You're my… what?-

"S-Shouto-kun!? Breathe! Please!" Tenya said as Shouto began to hyperventilate. "NURSE!"

~NRK~

Rei Todoroki dropped the cup she'd been holding as it came onto her medical room's TV.

"WHAT?!"

~NRK~

Dabi faceplanted into the counter as it hit the TV.

"WHAT?!"

~NRK~

Fuyumi and Natsuo balked from within the cafe.

"WHAT?!"

~NRK~

"There's a lot that needs to be explained, I believe," said as the hero-him shakily got to his feet. "I think we should talk at the home… right, the one home," he remembered as Endeavor's mouth stayed dropped. "Come on," he said as he walked off. "It is still on that XXX street, right?"

Endeavor's feet followed only by way of involuntary confusion.

WHAT?!

~NRK~

Making it to their home had been… mind-opening, for .

"Haaa," he sighed loudly as the news newscasters let them out of their truck. "Thank you, this would have gotten far more awkward had we come here after such a long walk."

"I-I-It's nothing, sir!" The woman choked, blushed, and bowed along with the crew. "... OH GOD," she looked like she didn't know what was happening.

nodded. "Come on, the code should be…" He blinked. "Oh, there's no keypad here."

"Keypad?" Enji was left there, stunned, as his 'future' self considered their surroundings. "We installed a keypad?"

"Yes. It was so Tobi couldn't just walk outside whenever he wanted… but that became a moot point after he got his quirk," he said and Endeavor was surprised.

"Is he not two?"

"Yes but quirks can develop early, on special occasions," he said as the boy grinned.

"Foom!" He said as fire spilled from his mouth into a flaming cloud.

It hissed before raining a small bit of ice, much to 's amusement.

"He gained his parents' quirk in interesting ways. I know the two of them haven't even tried to teach him yet so he's simply a natural. Shouto might have but last I heard, he was busy at their agency," he said mindlessly as Enji's eyes widened.

"Not our agency?!" He growled a bit and Enji stopped, turned around, and faced him with a look of horror. "... What?"

"... Oh… Oh God, where's Rei?"

The silence that reigned on was as horrifying as it was enraging.

"Where's Rei?'

~NRK~

Rei stared at the doorway where stood with a pale face.

"W-What is she… doing here?" He asked in horror as he sped over. "What happened? Why are you here?" asked as he kneeled by her bedside and Rei stared in shock at blue eyes.

Blue eyes full of care? Care that she'd not remembered outside of a repeatedly fresh flower on her window… Care that hadn't been expressed on a face in such a long time.

She sniffled as her eyes watered and choked while Tobi frowned, patting her thigh.

"W-Why's gram-gram sad?" He whispered and Rei broke down.

How the hell had things gone so wrong?!

's face shadowed as he gently left Tobi to reassure his future grandmother before he turned to Endeavor whose own fists clenched… before he looked away from the sheer amount of rage on his future self's face.

"WE NEED TO TALK."

~NRK~

They sat in the family room in silence, the door closed, the cameras off, and the nearby areas empty of people by the two's words.

"..."

"..."

"What happened?"

Endeavor frowned at the tone. "Hmph…" He didn't have an immediate answer, it was as mortifying as it was embarrassing. "... She threw hot water onto Shouto's face."

The way his future self's face seemed to ashen caused Endeavor's hands to clench.

"What?" looked sick. "W-What?! She wouldn't! She loves our children far too much for that to…" His own eyes widened as he flopped back into his seat, hand coming up to drag down his face. "... This is our fault…"

"We didn-"

"DO NOT tell me that fucking shit directly to my face," said as flamed exploded from his scalp. "Do not lie to your own face and act like we didn't have a hand in all of this!"

"We didn't force her to do this!" Enji shot back. "I won't take such tone from a man who may very well know nothing about what happened?"

's eyes narrowed.

"Clearly I followed through," Enji said with a frown. "I'm not you. That is clear. I've not given up everything I WORKED FOR just a moment of comfort!"

"Your ambitions aren't WORTH IT!" said and Enji growled. "Congratulations, now that small thought in the back of your head can be put to rest. It ISN'T worth it. I wondered where such rage was born from my own eyes… but now I understand. You've officially lost yourself to your ambition."

"..."

"Tell me, when was the last time you've spoken to Natsuo? Did you speak with him about his medicinal trials?" Enji frowned. "By this time, he should be almost 20. Did you help him get into college outside of MONEY? Do you even know other people, cordially, outside of your own mind? When was the last time you spoke to Rei?"

"That's not the same…"

"..." sat back in his seat and leaned back with narrowed eyes. "In the future… you're going to become the No.1 Hero," hissed as Endeavor looked alarmed. "And none of the efforts you put in are the reason," he mocked him.

Enji froze as his eyes widened, hands clenching into fists as they trembled. "WHAT?!"

didn't look satisfied like Endeavor would have expected from himself when he was proven right.

No, the dimensional man looked at him with contempt. "There you go, you make it to the top. Not Shouto, not Touya, you do… and everything you've done up to that point. I really want you to look me in the eyes and tell if it was worth it."

What? He'd become the Number 1? Why?! How?! What happened?! NEVER BEFORE!

So, why now?! After everything…!

Enji's eyes widened as nodded with a grim expression.

"Everything was for naught and you'll realize that things got farther away from you than you'll ever have realized. There is no pride, no satisfaction. No worth in that title that can be found from everything we've done. Because it's going to come right up on your doorstep and fall into your lap in the nightmare that you know you've had."

'What?' Endeavor's eyes trembled. 'No, all that I've…'

Shouto's face passed in his mind.

'I didn't…!'

Natsuo, Fuyumi, Touya…

'I didn't… it was never to neglect you. Everything I worked for… why I had you…'

Rei… Oh, God, Rei…

"And know this, it's going to happen," said. "It's not something that can be prevented. It can't be stopped. The title will end up in your lap… this very year."

And Endeavor's eyes widened as he looked down at his hands.

The man stayed like that for over ten minutes, leaning back in his seat with a long breath.

'I can't fix things here, I can't,' he realized with a full-on grimace. 'This… Obito wasn't born in this dimension,' that he was sure of. '...'

He opened up his phone before being a bit surprised by having a connection… and then he opened it and looked down at his contacts.

And pressed the name of an important.

~NRK~

Shouto had leaned back in his seat, utterly drained, as his classmates simply looked at him.

"It's… i-if that's your dad from another dimension like he thinks… what do you think was different?" Izuku asked Tenya who frowned.

"If he's right, some things are still the same to him… Stain still happened," he clenched his sheets and Izuku frowned softly. "Dammit! That man still persists no matter what?!"

"Tenya-kun… Well, w-what if things didn't happen like you think?!" Izuku suggested with a shaky grin as the boy looked at him with confusion. "Y-You heard what he said… S-Shouto's… older sister, she was a hero where he's from. That boy, Tobi, t-that's Shouto's nephew."

Shouto choked as he sat up instantly. "I-I… have a nephew?" He thought in horror before the TV switched to a channel that showed a pair of blazing stars shooting away from the Todoroki home. "What? Where…?!" Shouto's heart began to throbbed rapidly once more at the sight of rushing into the mental home reached screens but they couldn't go any further inside. 'H-He went to…'

If things hadn't gone the way they were supposed to… w-were things not ruined?

Then maybe 15 minutes later, his phone rang.

The three boys blinked at it as Shouto's hand reached out to pick it up, shaking.

The number was odd… he didn't know these… no, wait, he did.

But the last two digits were different… oh.

He answered it cautiously. "... H-Hello?"

-... Shouto-

He cracked, eyes trembling. "I-I…"

-No, it's fine, you don't need to say anything- , he was sure, said softly. -I… things for you were probably difficult… No, I'm sure they were-

Shouto's eyes clenched shut as he held it to his ear. "... I-It was."

-...- The way the man's fist slammed into something around him caused Shouto's heart to hurt. -... Where are you?-

"... At the Hosu Medical Hospital."

-When we've… finshed talking over here, I'd like to meet you… this you-

Should he? Shouto was going to head over to his mother after he was healed… but there may never be another chance for this.

"Fine… I'll be here."

-Alright… I'm sure this was said in a way you've never cared for. Perhaps I never did say this- The future man said as he breathed in.

And Shouto nearly cried.

-I'm proud of you-

The call ended and Shouto clenched his phone in his lap.

He cried stubborn tears.

Because how had things gone so fucking wrong?

~NRK~

And that's how things go down. It's not… a happy ending but we'll see maybe two more parts of this.

In the end, this is this fic's future Enji. One who's truly reconnected, mellowed out a bit, and gained some understanding of those around him six and a half years later. Don't worry too much about dates and numbers. It's not the point.

Is this canon? Well, it'll depend mostly on times and dates, ironically.

We'll see. Just enjoy that. The sheer dysfunction of the Todoroki family as a future changed man tries to change things for the better a good bit before that moment with All Might vs AFO.

Ciao.

Words: 14.5k

~NRK Out~