The spring seems to be coming (considering the snow has mostly melted 3 or 4 times already) but whatever happens to winter the chapters must keep flowing.

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Psy-Kick: And now you will

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Proofread by 3DPhantom

Chapter 48: Exposed

Izuku climbed a set of small movable stairs to the tallest middle platform. The audience was surprisingly quiet. There was constant background chatter but no large reactions to the winners' arrival, which was a relief with Izuku's thoughts and worries already running around faster than Tenya. He glanced at Todoroki who was having a staring contest with the ground.

"Todoroki," he said after making sure no one had microphones nearby. "Your life will change today. How much depends on you. You aren't alone if you choose to speak up."

Todoroki didn't respond, continuing his staring contest. Midnight stepped into the arena between them and the rest of the first-year students.

"Thank you for staying with us through this festival. We will now give out the first-year awards. The man to give those awards is…"

Izuku got a bad feeling about this, feeling a pressure squeeze his insides.

"AHHAHHAA," All Might's laugh echoed from above. Izuku's blood ran cold. He couldn't deal with the number one and number two at the same time. All Might jumped down from the stadium roof far above and landed with a thud.

"ALL MIGHT!"

"I AM HERE!"

"Sorry," Midnight apologised. "I spoke over you."

"No, no, I should have waited a little longer."

If there wasn't as much at stake Izuku would have scoffed or rolled his eyes at their antics.

"Now," All Might said, focusing on the trio. "Congratulations! Today I witnessed an amazing performance from all of you!"

He looked at every one of them, stopping with Izuku a little longer than the others. All he got in return was Izuku's standard hostile stare number one. Having the man around could be useful if Endeavour caused trouble, assuming he didn't side with his fellow 'hero', but Izuku wanted to vomit at the mere thought of needing the so-called hero for anything. All Might averted his gaze first so at least that was a small victory for Izuku. Instead All Might focused on Todoroki, they both did. He didn't directly face either of them even as All Might hung the medal on his neck.

"Young Todoroki, you demonstrated some great power out here today. Seems your loss was more about how your opponent matched your quirk. Perhaps you should utilise the fire of your quirk more."

That fool, that was all he got from Todoroki's fights? Todoroki barely muttered back. The tension and fear in his tone should have been obvious.

"No, that's not... I can't use that."

"It is okay, this school exists to help you master your quirk. Next year you might well become the champion. Congratulations, your father must be proud," All Might leaned to hug Todoroki who didn't move a millimetre except to squeeze his hands into fists. Izuku was surprised and a little disappointed he didn't freeze over or catch fire right there. That would have taught All Might a lesson.

Also he'd better not try hugging Izuku if he wanted to keep his arms. Unfortunately, Todoroki remained quiet as All Might backed off.

"You should stop by the Recovery Girl before going home. Seems you got a bit roughed up," All Might pointed at Todoroki's face. "Better safe than sorry."

Izuku wanted to scream at the man's face, but to the surprise of at least three people in the crowd, he managed to contain his emotions, at least for now as All Might moved past him to Honenuki.

"Masterful use of your quirk in turning the field to your advantage, but try not to depend so heavily on one or two ways of using it. In real life you often cannot simply melt everything around even during serious battles."

"I appreciate your advice," Honenuki nodded. All Might stalled in front of him for many prolonged seconds as his eyes glanced at Izuku. Finally he got over the death stare he received with every eye contact and moved to stand in front of Izuku.

"Young Midoriya, a stellar performance, you… surprised us all more than once, demonstrating the value of flexibility and adapting to your opponent. You… also had a lot to say to the people watching. How do you feel now that you have won and gotten those things off your chest?"

"I haven't," Izuku responded, quietly reminding himself that saying something offensive about All Might would only make people less likely to listen to him. "And many of them still aren't willing to hear me because of how I was born. People tend to listen to people they already predetermined to be heroic for whatever reason. Convincing them to change those assumptions takes more than words. Speaking of which..."

Izuku paused to look at Todoroki who visibly drew a deep breath.

"You might want to take a closer look at Todoroki's face. Actually, Midnight should. She saw him close up after his fights. Notice anything new?"

Midnight's head perked up and she exchanged a confused look with All Might. At least she still approached. The audience had gone quiet. She held her chin as she looked at Todoroki's face. Todoroki looked away.

"What are we looking fo…? Was that there before?" She pointed at the bruise.

"Seems he got off the tournament pretty lightly," All Might said, still ignorant.

"No," Midnight corrected. "That wasn't there before. I looked over every student after the matches just in case of injuries."

Izuku turned and jumped from his platform to Todoroki's to be closer to him and the microphones carried by their teachers. Being closer to All Might was just a price he had to pay.

"She is right. That injury," he paused. There would be no going back anymore, "was caused by Endeavour. He didn't like his son losing, not that domestic abuse was anything new to him. I guess that might happen when you buy a wife and start a family just to fabricate a custom quirk as a weapon for your own ends."

The audience finally got involved as an uproar raised over the stadium. Unfortunately, most of them were attacking the 'villain kid' for trying to slander an 'actual hero.'

"Todoroki," Midnight spoke despite the noise and pointed to Todoroki's face with her finger, "where did this injury come from?"

"It… It's not…" Todoroki started and tried to take a step back. Izuku put a hand on his back.

"Todoroki," Midnight said more forcibly, "how did you get it?"

"I… it…"

"Enough!" Endeavour shouted as he flew to them, thrusted forward by his flames. Izuku could feel how Todoroki was literally shaking against his hand, which suddenly felt uncomfortably hot.

"I won't listen to such slander, especially from that villain kid. Remove him from my son immediately before he steals Shoto's quirk."

"Okay, let's all calm down," All Might said, holding his hands up in a calming gesture. "I doubt young Midoriya would take young Todoroki's quirk."

Izuku hated being defended by the so-called number one hero, but he could always think of the man as a meat shield, and he was more concerned for Todoroki who had started breathing much faster. He bit his teeth together. Endeavour stepped closer past All Might so his stare could fully hit Izuku and Todoroki, who instantly took a step back despite Izuku's efforts. If there had been something left of his usually cold emotionless mask, it was now visibly shattering. Izuku bit his teeth together, forcing his own breathing to stay under control. He had gotten himself here. Now it was all or nothing.

And Endeavour was starting to piss him off more than scare him. In front of the entire stadium, he let go of Shoto and stepped in front of him, gesturing at him.

"Does this look like a reaction of a son from a healthy family?"

"There is certainly something fishy here," Midnight said, focused on Todoroki. "All Might, don't let Endeavour any closer."

"But…" All Might started, but then reached his arm out to block Endeavour's way. The flaming garbage pile stopped, but his temperature started rising. His flames flashed. Todoroki jolted backwards so suddenly Izuku had to turn around to make sure he wouldn't fall off the platform. He too was heating up enough to make Izuku sweat.

Then Endeavour's flames disappeared. It took him several seconds to realize it and glance at his hand, unable to produce fire. Izuku looked up at a small platform next to the booth where Aizawa and Present Mic had been narrating the festival. A completely bandaged man stood there, staring down at Endeavour.

"Now," Midnight turned to face Izuku. "You have brought some serious accusations. While Todoroki's reactions tell me a lot, with such accusations you are going to need some kind of evidence besides your words against his to convince people, especially given the… conditions you are facing."

She glanced at the audience who weren't as loud anymore, but had a tone of disbelief, not of the surprised kind, but of the 'he must be lying' kind. Izuku steeled himself and pointed at the microphone she was still holding. She got the message and handed the microphone over to Izuku.

"How about his words?" Izuku said and pointed at Endeavour. "Endeavour didn't just become a shit parent today. Mr. Aizawa, play it."

"Aizawa?" Midnight asked.

"The only thing you need to worry about my family is to stay away from it, especially Shoto. He will be the greatest hero and doesn't need to be seen with people like you." Endeavour's voice boomed from the stadium's speakers. The audience had a little gasp of surprise but no strong reaction to the words.

"People like what?" Izuku's voice joined in. "People who would like to be his friends?"

"You brat. You know what I mean."

"And what would be so wrong with him having friends?"

"Shoto doesn't need friends. The purpose of his existence is to become the strongest hero. That is what I made him for and that is what he will do whether he likes it or not." The audience had been surprisingly quiet, but that caused some muttering to go through the crowd.

"Anything that doesn't help that doesn't matter, any sacrifice he needs to make he will make, and anything that stands in the way of that... Needs to stay away if it knows what is good for it."

"That sounds like a threat, but that wouldn't be very heroic. Should I take it as a threat?" There was more muttering, but not in agreement for either side.

"At least you aren't stupid. Shoto will be the most powerful hero, but to be number one he must also be the most popular. I don't want him to be seen with the quirk stealer unless he is defeating you."

"Well, it is good neither of us take orders from you then. But you should already know that for T… your own son… sons. Must have been a real disappointment when your abuse didn't make them submit to your will. Too bad you didn't learn after the first one."

"Them?" Kirishima muttered on the recording.

The entire audience pretty much shared his sentiment and fell quiet just as fast when Izuku began speaking on the recording.

"It was pretty shocking to hear how you have treated Shoto, but I was only surprised when I started looking into things more closely. It's pretty well known that you have three children. Not many know there is a fourth one, there was a fourth one, until there was a fire when he was alone. I wonder what you did to drive him into that."

"Enough!" Endeavour shouted on the arena and tried to step around All Might, unsuccessfully. Meanwhile the recording played the distinct sound of a hand hitting hard rock and fire sizzling between them.

"Kirishima, are you okay?" Izuku's distressed voice sounded to the otherwise quiet stadium. The teachers glanced at the redheaded student, easy to spot in the crowd despite having gotten a new shirt identical with everyone else's.

"Yeah, that was nothing. Not sure I can handle it if he cranks up the heat though.

"I knew you were evil, but to attack students at their school is low even for you." Izuku's voice clarified what should have been clear from the sounds.

"You brat, don't pretend to be innocent and keep your nose away from where it doesn't belong."

Some in the audience seemed to agree with him, clearly people with no hero potential.

"Afraid I'd find something you don't want the public to know, besides what I already did of course, anything that would ruin your 'heroic' reputation? Now I am curious."

"Midoriya," the recording Kirishima whispered in his best Tenya impersonation.Even that had been caught on the mic. Izuku would have to be more careful where and how he spoke while carrying his watch. Still, it was worth it. The recording was just coming to another good part.

"You are walking on thin ice kid. Things can happen to people that take that kind of risk, especially for people with villain quirks. You could easily get arrested for trying to steal people's quirks if you don't know how to behave."

Some in the audience muttered in agreement.

"Not really since I don't do that, unless you are suggesting you'd make false accusations. Thinking a judge would believe the number two 'hero' rather than the kid with a 'villainous' quirk?"

"I am glad I don't need to explain your position. Make no mistake. I can make your life very unpleasant and as far as anyone else is concerned it would be you who is considered responsible for getting burned, and I do mean that quite literally. Stay away from my Shoto."

Izuku brought the microphone back up to his mouth.

"I wonder if all of them would believe you now that you have openly admitted you would lie and make false accusations to get what you want, make your son what YOU want regardless of his feelings… and worse. I already knew the hero ranking system is rotten, but to name a domestic abuser number two hero..." Izuku fell quiet and shook his head theatrically, letting the words sink in. The audience's muttering was hard to read, probably divided and in disbelief, but at least the teachers present, including Midnight and All Might, stared at him and Todoroki in shock.

"How dare you!" Endeavour roared. "I am raising Shoto to be the number one! What would a villain like you know about that?!"

"I might not know what it is like being a hero, but neither do you. What I do know are bullies and people who think they are better than others just because of their quirk or power."

"You brat, someone needs to…"

"Needs to what? Beat me like you do to your son?"

Endeavour took a step closer.

"You will step away from him or you are going to regret it."

Hitoshi and Eijiro ran from the crowd of students and stood in front of the third-place podium. Tokoyami came after them, pulled by Dark Shadow.

"Midoriya," Todoroki said quietly. His voice shook like Izuku had never heard, except from himself, back quivering in front of bullies in Aldera and schools before it. He moved his hand up over Todoroki's shoulder like with Eijiro before, but holding him tighter as he stared at Endeavour. Todoroki's temperature quickly dropped down to near normal body temperature.

"I made the mistake of kneeling in front of bullies before. I won't make that mistake again. Everyone already heard what you are like behind the scenes. Are you going to show them and attack a bunch of students?"

"You will n…" Endeavour fell quiet and stopped still mid-sentence, staring into nothing with empty eyes. Izuku brought the microphone to his mouth and looked at the audience around and above them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the quirk Brainwashing. It doesn't care how high you are ranked as a 'hero' or as a villain."

He gestured towards Endeavour with the microphone. He looked at Todoroki who tried to return the gesture. but always returned to check on Endeavour.

"He's not going to get to you," Izuku said quietly.

"Yeah," Eijiro said a bit louder from below them, "Hitoshi has brainwashed me many times. Endeavour isn't going anywhere until someone slaps him."

"Not that Aizawa and… All Might would let him through anyway," Hitoshi added.

"Or me," Dark Shadow said confidently.

"See?" Izuku said with a soft smile. "You don't need to fear him."

A rapid inhale was the only warning before Todoroki's legs failed him. Only Izuku's combat training let him react fast enough to catch Todoroki with his other arm and lower him gently on his knees as tears flowed down the unburnt side of his face. Izuku gritted his teeth, trying to push aside the anger at Endeavour to focus on the person needing rescue next to him. The rest of them climbed to the platform and covered them from the audience. They waited in silence until Todoroki got past the initial sobbing state where even breathing could be difficult.

Izuku had a lot of experience of those from the past decade.

Only once Todoroki's breathing slowed down and eased enough for Izuku to deem him past the worst did he push up against Todoroki's chest with his other hand to coax him into getting up. Once Todoroki was standing somewhat steadily he brought up the microphone one more time.

"If you don't believe me or even Endeavour's own words, maybe you believe how his own son reacted to being protected from him, to having people care more about him than what he could do them."

Izuku tossed the microphone away.

"Let's go."

"Where?" Todoroki asked, unable to even properly look at Izuku. "Even if… I can't just…"

"You aren't going to go anywhere where he can," Izuku assured, "with what just happened even someone in his position won't get away with what he has done. I can promise that."

"As can I."

Izuku looked around, then down until he found the stern-eyed small creature that was their principal. Despite the creature's small stature, he was radiating something, danger that Izuku could feel deep down his throat.

"I take the safety and wellbeing of my students quite seriously. You can be assured of that. Please go inside somewhere more private," he glanced at all of the students on the platform, "all of you. I will see to the situation out here."

Izuku nodded and half guided, half dragged Todoroki with him back down from the platform. Hitoshi, Eijiro, and Tokoyami joined them. Hitoshi stopped next to the principal.

"When you need to wake him up just have someone punch him in the face."

"I have been informed on the basics of your quirk Shinso. It is quite an impressive power, especially for de-escalating heated situations, truly the quirk of a hero."

Hitoshi quickly caught up to the rest, having formed a bit of a smile over his previously grim expression. They soon entered the shade of the corridor and the noises of the audience dulled. Todoroki kept glancing back though.

"He's not going to follow us," Izuku assured. It helped a little. Instead of staring behind them he was now staring at Izuku, tears still in his eye. They kept walking towards the dressing room without saying a word. Izuku never let go of him on the way.

Aizawa was already waiting outside the dressing room, leaning against the wall like a mummy that had been misplaced in a museum. He had moved fast for someone who should probably still be in a hospital. He looked at them for a long, quiet moment.

"How are you feeling?"

"I," Todoroki whispered. He shook under Izuku's arm. "I can't go home."

"You won't," Aizawa spoke before Izuku could. "It would not be wise for you to go home right now, at least not until Midoriya's accusations have been investigated. Social services will likely show up soon to take you… I'll tell the guards at the gate to let Midoriya's car in and guide it here."

Did this man read Izuku's thoughts or something?

"It wasn't difficult to predict what you would do. Seems you have added Todoroki to the list of people to be protective over," Aizawa said.

Clearly, yes, he did.

"Don't waste time. Social services aren't going to let him leave with a bunch of teens if they get here first."

"Leave whe…?!" Todoroki said, but Izuku pushed him to move forward and into the room. He already had his phone in his other hand.

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This is finally the last chapter of the sports festival arc. Turned out pretty hefty one but I hope you have liked all the character moments that stretched it out. The story continues in three weeks with chapter 49. Is anyone curious what Bakugo has been doing?