A Fool's Bonds
Chapter 21
-Izuku-
Working to calm his breathing, Izuku kept igniting and then extinguishing cerulean flames in his palm. The sight of the flames of his quirk helping to calm him down, those who he shared bonds with seemingly relaxed by their presence as well.
"Midoriya." Jerking, he looked up to see Todoroki staring him down, "I believe we can all agree that I'm the stronger one between the two of us."
"The hell man?" Kyoka gaped at the out of nowhere statement.
"You've seen the forms Izuku has." Momo nodded in agreement with Kyoka's shock.
"Irrelevant." Todoroki dismissed their comments, "I have seen you use your quirk Midoriya and while powerful, you cannot use it for long periods of time. By that fact alone I am the stronger between us."
"Okay, I think everyone just needs to calm down and-" Eijiro started trying to diffuse the situation, but Todoroki barreled on regardless.
"Yet still, you are the one who is the focus of today. You are the one people are excited to see. So, this is my declaration of war. I am going to come after you today Midoriya, and I am going to win."
Putting a hand on Eijiro's shoulder to keep his Star from trying to protest, Izuku stared Todoroki dead in the eye "If you keep thinking like that, then you're going to lose." Izuku decided to be just as blunt as Todoroki to see if that would get through to his heterochromatic classmate.
"What?" Todoroki's unburned eye widened in surprise.
"Look around Todoroki," Izuku gestured to the rest of Class 1-A, all of whom were watching the confrontation with varying degrees of intensity "I'm not the only one here ready to give you a challenge. Then there's class B. And who knows how determined the other courses are. If you waste your time having tunnel vision in trying to stop me, then everyone else is going to surpass you with ease."
"…Very well. Then may the best Hero win." Todoroki's closing statement was addressed to the entire class, a series of eager grins being the response.
"Come on everyone." Izuku saw the clock and stood up, "It's time. Let the games begin."
Striding out of the tunnel at the front of his class, Izuku held his head high, the voice of Present Mic filling the arena "And out the gate first is UA's very own class 1-A! They've already survived villains but let's see if they can make it through today's events!" the crowd roared eagerly.
"He's making it sound like this is gladiator blood sport." Kyoka scoffed, his strength deadpanning at their teacher's dramatic commentary.
"Those who are about to embarrass themselves salute you." Izuku grumbled, working to remain calm given he was about to have to give the Student Pledge.
"Ave, hail!" Momo giggled out as they heard 1-B get introduced behind them, followed by the other various classes who'd chosen to compete today to show off their skills to investors or to try and gain a transfer to the Heroics course.
"And last but certainly not least," Present Mic's voice roused him from wandering thoughts about his upcoming speech as he looked up to the stage, hearing the click of high heels "our Chief Referee and Master of Games! You know her, you love her! The ever-beautiful Midniiiight!" the R rated heroine strut onto the stage, whip at her side as the audience let out an all new and very eager cheer.
"Hello!" Midnight soaked up the attention, "Yes, yes, I love you all as well! But today is not about me, nor is it about you, my beloved audience. Today is about them!" Midnight gestured out to the gathered students, "The Students of UA! Hopeful Heroes, Heroines, and Engineers aplenty. But before we get to our first event, it's time for the Student Pledge by the Class 1-A's very own Class Representative, Izuku Midoriya!"
Taking a deep steadying breath, and feeling Momo, Kyoka, and Eijiro clap him eagerly on the back, Mina giving him a thumbs up, Izuku made his way up onto the stage, accepting the microphone from Midnight.
"Thank you." He nodded to one of his Mentor's two best friends. Looking about at the assembled crowd, Izuku decided to stop trying to think about how he didn't have a speech, how nothing seemed to fit whenever he wrote one down, and just followed his gut.
"I believe it's safe to say, that everyone here today came to 'win'." Izuku's voice carried in the suddenly silent arena, the audience curious about what sort of pledge he would give, "Many of you are probably positive that there's no way you won't win." Izuku took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he felt his power bubble up and grow.
He felt the drive to be a Hero from Momotaro.
Kronos's refusal to be conquered.
Vlad Tepes' indomitable will of a King.
The silent observations of whatever form was tied to the Star.
The divine resolution of Quetzalcoatl.
Izanagi's poised and unflappable assurance of victory.
Thor's unquenchable thirst for battle.
And even the form of his Chariot, so long untouched, was beginning to wake up and take notice.
Izuku's eyes snapped open, the green replaced by shining gold as the cerulean flames of his quirk swirled around him. The blade of Momotaro appeared in his hand as he pointed it out at the gaping crowd, "To that I say you'll have to get through me first. I'm here to win as well, and I don't plan to just roll over." The eagerness his multitude of forms felt for the coming competition.
"I'm going to give everything I have today, so you better do the same. I'm here to win," Izuku's grin widened just a bit more "so bring it."
AN: Short chapter I know, but I wanted to transition into the sports festival and show more of how Izuku's various forms can affect him even when not transformed. Next chapter is the obstacle race and will be much longer.
