Hello again, everyone. well, it's back to the one-chapter-per-week schedule from now on, unless I specifically notify you all otherwise. This chapter has been a huge example of my struggle in exactly what canon events to showcase, and how much. As I stated at the very beginning, I'm trying to tell my own original story while honoring as much of the established canon as possible, unless something absolutely needs to be changed in order for certain details of my planned narrative to work. In the case of this chapter, my biggest obstacle in maintaining that balance was the fight between Deku and Todoroki; primarily because it is such a pivotal character-building scene in the overall story of MHA. so with that being in mind, and knowing that future plans involved the proportional involvement and subsequent character development of Shoto Todoroki, I was pretty much left with no choice but to depict that fight in its entirety from numerous perspectives. I feel it's important I say all this now, so that any potential detractors can't accuse me of being lazy in my writing.
Anyway, the further the tournament goes on, the more practice I get in writing fight scenes, so hopefully I'm able to entertain folks with what I came up with for this chapter, as far as original storyline events go.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and if so, please take the time to write a review. It hardly takes any time, and feedback, as long as it's constructive and honest, is pivotal for me to grow as a writer.
My Hero Academia is the property of Kouhei Horikoshi and Shonen Jump. I only own my original characters, original events surrounding them, and the alterations of established events that occur as a result of their existence in this universe.
Chapter 18
Second Round
(Второй Раунд)
"STAAART!"
As soon as the very announcement pierced the air, the arena below was swiftly enveloped in a line of spikes of ice, practically in the blink of an eye, drawing shocked gasps from the entire crowd. Worst yet, Izuku was still standing right in its path, with barely seconds left to react. Among the entire crowd (a newly returned Ochako now among them), anxiety and worry was all that could be felt. Nikolay was practically gripping the edge of his seat in a white-knuckled grip, unsure if the match was about to end before it even began.
At the last moment, however, Izuku grabbed his right arm, and with the slightest red spark emanating from his right hand, suddenly flicked his middle finger, producing a massive burst of wind pressure that shot right back through the ice, shattering it all nearly instantaneously with a deafening blast.
The burst of frigid air across the stadium drew many surprised outcries from the audience, but Nikolay paid that no mind, instead keeping his eyes intently focused on the fight itself. Shoto hadn't been moved back an inch, but the important thing was that Izuku was still standing; however, he was still clutching his right arm, and the Russian boy was quick to notice why.
Izukus' middle finger was now horribly bent and discolored, clearly badly broken once again; exactly what he was expecting to see after that last-second save. And he wasn't the only one to notice this, either. Pretty much all of Class 1-A, Toshinori and Tunguska alike all saw this, had all expected it, and all immediately began to do the same thing: knowing that every time he used his Quirk resulted in broken bones inherently gave this match a strict time limit, all based on just how many times Izuku was going to be able to deflect or counter Shotos' attacks, before he physically wouldn't be able to move anymore. It was now strictly a matter of counting down exactly how many moves the boy potentially had left, as stomach-churning a countdown as it would be.
Upon this realization, Tunguska noticed Toshinori instinctively flinch in his seat, but this time didn't even need to ask why in order for his colleague to see he wanted to know what he was thinking. "Midoriya-shonen; he has no idea of the sheer scale at which Todoroki-shonen can attack. So he's going on the pre-offensive by throwing out every single bit of that 5% of One For All he can use. He's going to end up putting his body through the wringer even more than usual as a result if the fight carries on like this, but it's the only thing he can do if he wants to avoid getting caught in that ice."
Shoto remained undeterred, as he immediately followed up with another blast of Ice, only for the same process to repeat, as Izuku countered with yet another finger-flick wind burst, stopping his attack dead in its tracks at the cost of yet another finger. By this point, Shoto had even produced an ice wall right behind himself, doubtless to keep himself from being blasted out of the ring.
Nikolay felt his stomach twist alongside the pained reactions of the rest of his classmates as he saw the agonizing look in Izukus' eyes as he kept staring Shoto down. 'This is terrible. I don't know if he's even been able to put together any kind of strategy for fighting Todoroki-san. All his fights have pretty much lasted no more than an instant. He can't just keep countering his attacks and hope to win that way, either. One way or another, he's going to have to go on the offensive at some point, but there's no telling if Todoroki-san even has any openings. His control of his Ice is pretty much nothing short of masterful. And Midoriya-sans' already lost two fingers. Counting the other eight, perhaps his arms themselves and both his legs, he has just barely more than ten moves left he can do before this match is pretty much over!'
Shoto was relentless still, as he sent a third blast of cold at an even greater force and speed, with Izuku once again barely able to deflect it with a third wind burst at the last moment, once again drawing exclamations of surprise from the crowd, even as the boy was visibly trembling, clutching his almost completely discolored hand.
Just as soon as the mist had cleared from that, Shoto immediately followed up with another fast-approaching trail of ice emanating from his right foot, crystallizing the arena with the speed of a gale force wind. Izuku just barely managed to get his hand up to deflect with another deafening smash. Once he could see clearly again from up in the stands, Nikolay almost felt himself dry heave once he saw the damage done. Izukus' entire right hand was now completely busted, that was plain as day for all to see. 'Less than ten moves left! Dammit, Midoriya-san, if you've got a plan in that head of yours to win this match, you better do it fast!'
"Aw, man, they've already started?!" Eijirou Kirishimas' voice suddenly broke through the cacophony of the fight and the crowds alike, momentarily snapping Nikolays' fervent attention from the fight to find the red-haired boy standing in the aisle next to their seats, his uniform still visibly roughed up from his previous fight.
"Hey, congratulations on making it to the second round, Kirishima!" Denki called from further down the row, causing the sharp-toothed boy to smile confidently. "That's right! You're next, Bakugo!" The confidence with which he spoke was a pleasant change, and if anybody seemed like they could stand a ghost of a chance against such an opponent, it would clearly be him; even if Bakugos' response was, as far as Nikolay was listening, something along the lines of "I'll kill you." However, Nikolay couldn't allow himself to dwell on anything but Izukus' fight for too long, once again finding himself enraptured in it, for better and for worse.
"Whoa, Kolya-sans' looking even more intense than ever. You'd think he was watching a horror movie or something." Eijirou commented as he inched past the boy and Mina, trying to find an empty seat. "Can you blame him? Midori-kuns' putting himself through hell against Todoroki-kun. And no matter who wins, if Kolya-kun wins his next fight, he's gonna have to go up against either one." Mina explained, barely able to take her eyes off the fight as well.
"Well, assuming Midoriya-san somehow manages to win the fight, he's not able to fire off his Quirk all rapid-fire like Todoroki can, so that would at least give Kolya-san some kind of natural advantage…again, assuming he or Midoriya-san manages to win." Eijirou was clearly trying to lighten up the mood for the potential future match, only to quickly realize he was failing, as neither of his friends were visibly in the right mindset to humor him, which as he watched, he realized he couldn't rightfully do for himself anymore, either.
Shoto was immediately on the offensive, actually closing the distance even after Izukus' most recent deflection. He had even managed to grab a chunk of his own ice and used it to propel himself over the green-haired boys' head just as he tried to deflect with one of his left fingers in retaliation, once more leaving the audience stunned. Before Izuku could turn around to try and preemptively strike, Shoto landed down hard, producing another blast of ice that for once actually managed to blow his opponent back through the air. Then without even a moment's hesitation, he proceeded to throw another wave of cold at Izuku as he still was in the air, managing to produce another trail of ice that this time managed to ensnare Izukus' right foot in it.
'No. Oh my God, that's it! If he can't even move to escape…it's over.' Nikolays' mind rang with this realization as he felt his heart collapse into the pit of his stomach. That confidence; that promise they both made to somehow beat Shoto…the promise they all made to fight for their beaten friends' dreams…was this really how that was all going to end for his friend? He immediately shot up from his seat, ready to cry out for Izuku to not give up when-
BOOOM!
Before anyone even realized what had happened, the entire arena went up in another deafening blast of power and resultant mist, leaving the entire audience blinded as to what had just happened. However, once it began to clear, they were all quick to see Izuku was back on his own two feet, his entire left arm now severely discolored, once more drawing pained reactions from everyone. Nikolay couldn't even decide if he was glad to see his friend had managed to get free, or despairing that he now had no more than two moves left in his body before he would become virtually helpless and have no choice but to forfeit.
Down on the stage, as the wind and mist alike cleared, Shoto could spot the extent of Izukus' injuries from a mile away. "That was a lot of power you showed just now. Was it because I got closer to you?" Izuku didn't say anything, but Shoto could figure why. With both his hands and one entire arm broken, no matter how much of a brave front he put on, it was clearly taking every last ounce of willpower he had not to be screaming bloody murder from the pain.
'It's not just Midoriyas' Quirk. His analyses, his countering, his agility, everything about his abilities…is powerful.' As he realized this, the fact that Izuku was choosing now not to try anything had Shoto feeling especially cautious; the boy in front of him being the only thing he was focusing on, while at the same time across the arena, while trying to block out the ungodly pain in his arms, Izuku had noticed something similar from Shoto: the boy was actually starting to shiver. It wasn't the kind of quaking and trembling one did when they were afraid. No, it was like what you saw when someone had been standing in the middle of a raging blizzard in nothing but their skivvies. Shoto Todoroki…was actually shivering like he was cold.
"Even though all you've done is defend and run away, you've reached your limit, haven't you?" As Izuku still tried to regain his breath, Shoto could hear the clamoring murmurs of interest and intrigue from among the crowd. "Just like I thought. All those Pros out there can now see that I'm more than just the 'son of Number Two'." From among the crowd, Shoto easily spotted the unmistakable flames of his father from amid the throng, just feeling his disapproving glare even from this distance. However, the boy felt no fear; only the mildest sense of what he could think to call 'satisfaction'.
"Sorry about all that. And thank you, Midoriya. Thanks to you…his face says he just got knocked down a peg or two." At this point, however, none of Shotos' words were even reaching Izuku. Right then, all he could think about was what his opponent had said in that tunnel before: of his desire to become Number One without his fathers' power, all to disavow him. In this moment, the thought ignited a fire in Izuku like few could scarcely comprehend.
"You really shouldn't fight with your hands the way they are now. So let's end this." With that, Shoto sent forth another row of icy spikes right for where Izuku was standing, while the boy on the receiving end finally managed to lift his head back up; his face now a mix between anger and pain. "WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?!"
BOOOM!
Another sudden deafening blast, this time not only destroying the ice, but even sending Shoto skidding back on his feet, before just as quickly creating more ice to stop himself right at the arenas' edge. "Are you serious?"
Up in the stands, as soon as the mist once more cleared, Nikolay was driven by sheer shock and wonder to try and see how on earth Izuku had managed to deflect yet another attack with both his hands out of commission. However, once he could see the boy, he just as quickly wished he couldn't, and he could hear from the pained and nauseous reactions of some of his other classmates, that he wasn't alone in that sentiment. "Oh, God…" he could even hear Mina barely manage to get out, sounding like she was going to be sick.
'He did it with his broken fingers!' Shoto, for the first time, felt a genuine sense of shock inside as he saw the utterly mangled state of Izukus' right hand, now even more discolored and misshapen than it already was. No matter how this fight turned out in the end, even with Recovery Girl at the ready, he wasn't entirely sure that hand would ever be back to normal, and frankly, neither did Izuku, in the part of his mind that even bothered to think of such things.
"Why? Why are you going so far to-?" "You're shivering, Todoroki-san." Shoto was rendered silent, his normally stoic face now just barely betraying his surprise. The look on Izukus' agonized face was utterly vacant, as if talking through the pain was the one thing helping him maintain consciousness. "Quirks are just another one of our physical functions…so there's a limit to how much of your own generated cold you can take, isn't there?"
Shoto could feel his heart rate begin increasing. Had he actually started shivering, and had been too wrapped up in his own observation to even notice? "If that's the case, then you could just solve that problem yourself by using the heat from your left side, am I wrong?" By this point, the cheering and cacophony from the crowd had actually managed to die down to the point that those in the closer rows to the arena, if listening hard enough, could actually hear the two boys speak to each other; Nikolay one of the most intently among their classmates, while still reeling from the fact the fight was still somehow continuing.
"Everyone's…they're giving everything they've got! They're doing it so they can get that much closer to victory! They're doing it so they can someday become Number One! You think you can win using only half your power, but you haven't been able to put a single scratch on me yet! SO GET OVER HERE AND FIGHT ME!"
With that thunderous declaration, Izuku made his full intent known to all, even clutching his severely mangled right hand into a horrid fist, while Shoto could feel his blood beginning to boil with confusion and indignation. "Just what…are you planning?!"
Up in the stands, having just heard everything Izuku had said, Nikolay felt like he was in some kind of fever dream. How was this possible? Was Izuku finally going legitimately mad from the pain of his injuries? Why in the hell was he antagonizing Shoto now of all times?
Those were only a few questions that stood out to him in particular, but once Izukus' declaration had officially been made, something else just then occurred to him: 'He's criticizing Todoroki-san for fighting with only half his power? Why would he do that, unless…no. He couldn't be! He told us why he won't ever use it! Is he seriously trying to get Todoroki-san to use his Fire on him?! He seemed to understand why he chose not to do that, though! Why would he be trying to pressure him into doing that, then?'
"It's okay, Shoto…you…"
Shoto instinctively winced, hearing that voice calling from inside his head as he and Izuku continued to stare each other down. 'Damn you, Midoriya…I won't let you get to me…not like that!' "Just what do you think you're trying to do? You're saying…you want me to come at you…with all my might? Did my shitty old man pay you off? Because…NOW YOU'RE PISSING ME OFF!"
Once more, Izuku and Shoto charged at each other, the expectant vocalizations of the crowd growing in volume as they closed distance. Nikolay, all the while, was biting his lip nearly to the point of drawing blood, having long since given up trying to figure out who was going to come out on top. If Izuku were to somehow get Shoto to break and use his Fire, there was no telling just what kind of fury he would be unleashing onto himself in the process.
"Hey, Kolya-kun, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but does Todoroki-kun look like he's moving slower than usual to you?" Nikolay was swiftly snapped back to full reality at Minas' question, and upon looking closer, he realized: "My God, you're right! He is!"
And he wasn't the only one to notice it either, as he could not only hear the similarly confused murmurings of their classmates, but Izuku had realized it as well. Just as the boys were about to make impact, just as Shoto lifted his left leg, that same unmistakable red spark suddenly emanated from Izukus' right hand, and for a split second, all time seemed to come to a standstill.
'Of course, how could I have let myself forget? Todoroki-san said if he used his Ice too much, it would drain his body heat. Loss of movement is one of the first signs of frostbite or hypothermia! All those consistent attacks over the last few minutes were more than I ever saw him consecutively use back at USJ! Todoroki-san must finally be succumbing to his own cold, and Midoriya-san must have realized it just now! Maybe that's why he was antagonizing him into attacking!'
BOOOM!
A resonating shockwave of sound echoed through the stadium far different from every one that had come before in this match, as the power of Izukus' punch fully connected right into Shotos' stomach mid-stride, for once sending him flying back, while the whole crowd exclaimed with disbelief, the 1-A students most of all. "OOOH, AND A BITTER BLOW ON A BRITTLE BODY! BET YOU ALL FELT THAT ONE!"
'Yeah, that's one way of putting it! Dammit, Midoriya-san, if you don't end this soon, you're going to lose that hand!' That was the first of many thoughts that immediately came to Nikolays' mind once the wind burst had worn off and he had seen what had just happened, before just as quickly seeing the now-even-worse shape of Izukus' right hand, and the almost pallid color of his face in the aftermath.
Shoto had managed to erect more ice to stop himself from crossing over the arena boundary, clutching his stomach in pain and shock, looking at Izuku like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Frankly speaking, he couldn't.
'Why?' This was the only question he could even think to ask, as he swiftly summoned more ice to his right leg, spreading it toward Izuku with inhuman swiftness through the ground…only for the green-haired boy to not only sidestep from it, but to do so with hardly any effort, silently infuriating Shoto that much more, before his opponent sealed the deal with this one statement: "The power of your Ice…is weakening!"
Up in the stands, Tunguska and Toshinori were now both on the veritable edges of their seats. This whole fight so far had left them anxious, excited, admittedly nauseous, and now just straight-up speechless. They had both seen how much Izuku had been trying to maintain his control of the 5% of One For All he could manage, but this had long since gone beyond that, and now was equating to little more than self-torture. And yet, despite all of that, the boy was still standing, bearing injuries that would have left most full-grown Heroes nothing short of bedridden. And yet he was continuing to leap into this unimaginable pain with a resolve that frankly was a rarity even in the world of Pro Heroes!
Between them, the announcers, the referees, the audience, and the students, there was only one universal question racing through all their minds: JUST WHAT ON EARTH WAS DRIVING THIS BOY?!
"Goddamn, how much more can Midoriya-san take!? I don't think even I could keep going if my arms were in a state like that, I don't care how unmanly that sounds!" Eijirou made no attempt to even downplay how legitimately shaken this match so far had left him, and Nikolay and Mina couldn't even begin to say otherwise. This was far beyond what they or any of their classmates could have ever imagined this match turning out. For the few that could even bring themselves to take their eyes off of it, they could see that even Bakugo had the flickering of what looked like genuine surprise in his red eyes as he watched intently.
"I don't know, Kirishima-san. I feel like we might be reaching the end. Look, Midoriya-san can't even form a fist with that hand anymore." It killed Nikolay to have to say as such in regards to his friend, but blind cheering for the preferred winner could only delude one for so long before reality had to kick in.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Shoto had come to that realization as well, as he was once again visibly charging himself up for another blast of Ice. For a moment, it seemed like this would be the deciding moment…until Izuku did the insane and actually bit down on his broken thumb in front of everyone, drawing equal measures of disbelief and disgust from the crowd, as he forcefully jerked his thumb back into place, right before using it to create another powerful finger-snapping burst of wind, pushing Shoto further back, and rendering his attack wasted.
"Why?! Why are you going this far?!" Shoto couldn't even maintain his usual cold tone any longer, as he looked in disbelief to find Izuku was now charging him, looking like a boy utterly possessed through his pained expression. "I want to live up…to his expectations! I wanna be able to answer…with a smile. I wanna become…A SUPER COOL HERO!"
When Izuku cried out those last words, Shoto felt his whole body shake, as if those words had physically stricken him right in his chest. The utter conviction with which he said it, the tears in his green eyes that looked to be equal parts pain and emotion…it stirred something in Shoto Todoroki, something he had long tried to keep buried within himself, if for no other reason than to help drive him down the path he had taken that led him to this moment.
"Shoto…"
He felt his heart wrench painfully inside his chest. That voice again, why wouldn't it leave him at this most crucial moment?!
"THAT'S WHY EVERYONE'S GIVING IT THEIR ALL!" Izukus' passionate outcry echoed across the arena, as Shoto realized in his momentary distraction that he had left himself wide open, just in time for Izuku to once again nail another sparking punch into his gut, sending him flying further back, barely managing to stop himself again with his Ice, while his blood only continued to burn that much hotter inside.
"I can't even begin to understand your circumstances, or your resolution…but even so…now I think the idea that you'll become Number One without using your full strength…and that you're doing this to disavow someone…IS A GODDAMN JOKE!"
Those words coming out of Izukus' mouth left Shoto visibly frozen in place, momentarily needing to process that he had just heard the sheer gall of his opponent correctly. 'A…joke? Midoriya…you think…that it's all…A GODDAMNED JOKE?!' Even at the same time as he was mentally screaming with rage at such boldness on Izukus' part, Shoto could in that moment remember everything as clear as crystal, every moment that had driven him to push himself this hard.
"Stand up. If this is all it takes to make you fall, then you can forget about All Might. Even some idiotic bottom-tier Villain would be enough…"
"Please stop! He's only five…!"
"No, he's ALREADY five! Don't get in my way!"
Even as the ice began to visibly form across the right half of his body, the frigid burning didn't even register to Shoto…for all he could feel in that moment, completely blinded to the present reality…was a fury burning with the merciless heat of white phosphorous, only growing hotter with every single memory replaying in his head. "SHUT UP!"
"I hate this, Mommy…I…I don't ever want to be like Dad. I don't want to be like someone who bullies Mommy!"
"But you still want to be a Hero, right? It's okay, Shoto. You…if you have a strong vision for the future…"
"What is malenkii Midoriya trying to accomplish, pushing his own opponent into using his full power? He could easily just forfeit." Tunguska exclaimed with disbelief at what a turn this fight was beginning to take. At the same time, Toshinori could only look on with that same deeply introspective, analytical look, before something suddenly clicked in his head, urging him to grab onto his Russian colleagues' arm.
"Tunguska-san…remember what Endeavor said on the stairwell before, how he has been trying to mold Todoroki-shonen into a Hero capable of surpassing me?" Tunguska momentarily looked at the scrawnier man beside him like he had a veritable screw loose. "Of course, I couldn't forget the sheer arrogance of that statement if I tried. Why?"
"Think about it, if Todoroki-shonen really was the perfect progeny that Endeavor claimed he was, he would be using the full extent of his power without any hesitation, no matter who he was up against. And yet, not only does he abjectly refuse to use it; he even gets visibly agitated by the very suggestion of it. Why do you think that is?" It didn't even take a minute of deep thinking before Tunguskas' expression brightened, and Toshinori could tell they were on the same page.
"Another important question is why would Midoriya-shonen be so insistent on getting the boy to use his full power, when he clearly doesn't want to? It could very well be possible that Midoriya-shonen isn't doing this to make Todoroki-shonen angry and reckless…but potentially for the boys' own personal benefit."
Even from up in the stands, Nikolay couldn't possibly mistake the ice crystallizing on Shoto more and more with each passing second. "No…it's just as I thought, Todoroki-san really is succumbing to his own cold. If this fight goes on much longer, either Midoriya-san is going to be rendered completely immobile, or Todoroki-san is going to pass out from hypothermia. There's no way they can keep going on like this. Midoriya-san should either stop trying to force him into using his Fire…or one of them should just up and forfeit already…dammit."
Even though he couldn't take his eyes off the fight, and had even taking to biting down on one of his own knuckles out of sheer anxiety, he barely even noticed the understandably concerned looks on Mina and Eijirous' faces, seeing him this tensed up, as understandable as it was, given everything they'd already witnessed between the two.
"Kolya-kun, I get being anxious since Midori-kun is our friend, but I didn't think you'd be this roped up into it." "Yeah, man, we haven't even gotten to your second round fight yet, and you're acting like it's you in that arena right now. What gives?" Nikolay heard his friends' concerns loud and clear, but there was no way he could possibly tell them what he knew about Shoto going into this match, not like he did with Ochako. One big reason: Shoto wouldn't be anywhere near as forgiving if he did.
"I just…I think I understand exactly what it is that's driving Todoroki-san to fight the way he has been…why he isn't using his Fire, despite how easy it would be. I think the reason I understand…the best way I could hope to explain it, is cause it reminds me of…well, how you all saw me, back in the beginning of the year. There was a lot of fear…and even more anger behind it. And I think that might be the case with Todoroki-san as well…but I'm honestly just guessing right now, just listening to those two."
Exchanging worried yet knowing glances between themselves, Mina and Eijirou silently agreed that their Russian friends' answer had told them a lot more than he might have thought. Knowing what they knew about him and where he came from, how it had affected so much of his life; such a vague answer certainly seemed to justify his feeling a kind of unspoken understanding with why Shoto was fighting the way he was, and especially reacting the way he was to Izukus' comments.
However, as he continued to observe, another thought occurred to Nikolay, starting only as a spark, but quickly growing into a potentially enlightened inferno: Izuku had been there the day Tunguska had finally told all of Class 1-A about their past, and the reasoning for Nikolays' resentment, fear and hate of both Quirks and his father, himself. Izuku never once since then claimed to have no understanding of why.
So was it at all possible that, given what he now knew of Nikolay himself and their Quirk History teacher; was it at all possible that Izuku might have potentially also understood just where it exactly was that Shoto was coming from when describing his hate of his own father? Why it tied into his refusal to ever use his Fire side?
Was it possible, after having seen how Nikolay pushed himself to not only make peace with and accept his own Quirk, but to also finally begin the process of moving on from the past and forgiving Tunguska for everything before, that Izuku was potentially trying to help Shoto go through the same process, in his own special and self-mutilating way? Did he think that perhaps getting Shoto to finally accept his Fire side and actually use it, would be the most crucial step towards helping Shoto move forward towards becoming a real Number One? Was there any reason for Nikolay to think Izuku could have been wrong?
No.
With that realization, Nikolay began to actually feel his heart and mind alike start going less towards telling Izuku to stop, and actually encouraging Shoto to do it, and use his full power for his own sake. In that matter of barely more than a few minutes, introspection and reflection alone had helped the Russian boy finally understand just what exactly it was that Izuku was trying to do, and what it potentially could mean for Shoto.
All at once, his anxiety and fear had turned to anticipation and nearly fervent support.
Izuku came charging at Shoto once more, and as he tried to counterattack, he was met with yet another super-charged punch from the freckled boy, sending him flying back. This time, everything around him came to a crawl, but he couldn't say if it was from the shock, or if the painful remembrance was finally taking a stronger hold upon him; disjointed, but no less painful.
"Stop that peeking, Shoto. Those things, your older siblings, are people who inhabit a different world from you."
"Mom…I…I think I might be going crazy. I-I can't take it anymore. Every day, the kids, they become more and more like…like him. Shotos'…that childs' left side…sometimes…looks hideous to me! I…I can't take care of him anymore. If I raise him now, it'll be bad."
"M…Mommy…?"
Pain…a scalding, instantaneous pain the likes of which words could never do justice. That look in her eyes when it happened…why? Why wouldn't it leave him?! Why was it he could only ever see those hateful eyes when he thought of her?
"W-where's Mommy…?"
"Because she injured you, I had her sent to the hospital. For Gods' sakes…I told her this is the critical time, too…"
Fear and sadness…that gave way to a life-consuming pain and anger…and hatred.
"IT'S YOUR FAULT!"
Shoto didn't even feel when he had finally hit the ground. As far as he was concerned, this arena, Izuku, everything around him no longer existed. All there was, was that pain, that sadness, and that endless anger towards the man responsible for every last bit of it, and the continuous blight upon his very body that man had put upon him.
"My father-!" "IT'S YOURS! IT'S YOUR POWER!" His disavowal being cut off by such a powerful statement at the hands of the boy who was supposed to be his opponent, left Shoto visibly shaken, his face now twisted with conflicting feelings of sadness, anger and confusion. Who the hell was this boy to talk about his circumstances like he had any idea what the hell he was talking about? He was right, he couldn't begin to understand, so then why was he so fervent in trying to get him to just let go and use his left side? Was he really so desperate to lose? Did he care nothing for anything he had told him before?
"It's YOUR power to use, Todoroki-san, nobody elses'. Nobody else can tell you to use it but yourself. It doesn't have to carry the weight you think it does. That's what he's trying to help you see. You don't have to keep weighing yourself down like this anymore. Using the Quirk that's been given to you doesn't inherently make you a monster, or anybody elses' tool. So use your full power for yourself. Nobody else."
As the Russian boy continued to mutter his nearly silent support for Shoto from up in the stands, at a volume that made it almost look as though he were talking to himself, he never even noticed the utterly stricken looks from several of his classmates who had inadvertently overheard him, as they were now looking at him like he was a completely different person from who he had been in the beginning. Some looked genuinely more emotional and moved, hearing Nikolay say such a monumental thing of his own accord, knowing what they did about him now, while the rest simply looked shaken by the sheer gravity of this overall moment, and what it meant for all those involved.
In that encapsulated moment, all of Shotos' whirlwind emotions coalesced, bringing back to mind a memory he had long since forgotten, striking him in every fiber of his being harder than any physical blow ever could; a memory of a far happier time.
"It's true that Quirks are inherited by blood from parent to child, but what's really important is NOT that connection…but rather your OWN flesh and blood…it's yours and yours alone! And recognizing that is part of the reason I always say: 'FOR I'M HERE!' see?"
"But you still want to be a Hero, right?"
He could still remember every sensation of that moment: the awe he felt watching All Might on the TV, how inspired it made him feel to hear the Number One Hero himself decry the very idea of Quirk genetics that his father had so fervently dominated his early life by. And above all else, just how warm and safe he felt, not just there, but at any moment, with his mother by his side, his one single respite from the hell that was his life at home. All at once, all those long-forgotten nostalgic feelings coalesced in the depths of Shoto Todorokis' heart.
"It's okay, Shoto. You…you aren't a slave to your blood. You can become the man…you want to be."
In that moment, nearly half the arena became consumed in a sudden inferno of flames that drew surprised calamitous reactions from the crowd. Many reacted with shock and fear, while only a select few were able to stand and gaze upon the plainly awe-inspiring image and appreciate it for what it truly was, even through the ungodly heat.
"I don't believe it." Tunguska remarked with almost childlike wonder as he saw the visage of Shoto Todoroki, his left side completely imbued with raging fire. "Malenkii Midoriya…he actually did it. He got him to use it." And just beside the large Russian, Toshinoris' speculation all clicked together as he realized, as well, the true reality of just what their student had ultimately done: "He…he's actually trying to save him."
The very sight of Shoto half-consumed by fire should have been considered a terrifying sight to anyone and everyone…but from where he stood, having taken into consideration everything he knew about the boy, and what Izuku had been really trying to do…the sight now couldn't help but draw a tear of actual pride and accomplishment out of Nikolay, even as he sat in full view, taking in the sweltering heat that dried his tears as quickly as they could come; completely deaf to the numerous outcries of discomfort from many of his fellow classmates. They had just witnessed a monumental breakthrough they would never be able to fully comprehend. And for him, it was like watching what he had pushed himself through only weeks ago, only this time from the outside.
And down in the arena, Izuku was barely able to try and bring his arms up to try and protect himself from the heat, even though this had been exactly what he had been trying to accomplish from the start. Now that it had finally come to fruition, it was time for the endgame.
"Even though you want to win…goddammit…going out of your way to HELP your enemy…which one of us is the joke?"
As Izuku was finally able to lower his arms to look into the human inferno, he was met with the sight of Shoto Todoroki, not only engulfed in his own flames and not the flames of his father…but even smiling, which in turn only made the green-haired boy smile in return. "I…I'M gonna be…A HERO!"
"SHOTOOOOOOO!"
The booming, wrath-of-God-level bellow of Endeavor echoed through the aisles, as the Flame Hero hurriedly descended the steps to the railing; his flaming face twisted with the biggest, proudest grin the man had ever made. Even as far from him as they were seated, Toshinori and Tunguska could hear his words loud and clear, only going further to cement their respective theories of the significance of what they had just seen, for better and for worse.
"SO YOU'VE FINALLY ACCEPTED YOURSELF, HAVE YOU?! GOOD! EXCELLENT! NOW THIS IS YOUR TRUE BEGINNING! YOU WHO HOLDS MY BLOOD, SURPASS ME, AND REALIZE MY AMBITION IN YOUR SELF!"
"AND MR. ENDEAVOR WITH A VERY SUDDEN…PEP TALK? MUST BE QUITE THE DOTING DAD!" No, that wasn't it, and even from where he sat on the complete other side of the stadium, Nikolay understood that loud and clear. He could see the giant of a mans' fire clear as day, and that voice, those words, had nothing 'pep talk' about them. Just listening to him, he could hear Shotos' story from the tunnel replay as if he were right back there again, and everything he had told them about his father now made perfect sense. It was frankly enough to make the Russian boys' skin crawl.
Taking his eyes off the Flame Hero and back down to the fight, Shoto and Izuku were still in the middle of their standoff, but Shoto was now wiping his arm against his eyes, almost as though he were on the verge of tears. But finally, when the two boys met eyes again, a whole new intensity filled the air like never before. Even from this distance, he could tell that their fight was now truly on the verge of finally ending.
"Wow…what are you smiling about? With wounds like those, in your current situation…you're absolutely insane. But whatever happens, I don't care." With that declaration, Shotos' fire suddenly grew in even greater intensity, just at the same time as Izukus' left leg suddenly began to spark. This was it! The real deciding moment!
The two boys swiftly charged at each other, with Izukus' left leg audibly snapping in the process, and at the exact same moment, Cementoss had finally come off from his referee perch and swiftly threw his arms forward, creating several concrete walls between the two. However, neither of them stopped, as Izukus' right arm once again began to glow, and everyone could instinctively feel their hair standing on end for what was about to happen.
"COME AT ME WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!" Izuku cried out at the final moment before impact. Nobody else could hear it, but in that same instant, with the faintest yet most genuine smile on his face, Shoto looked through the cement walls between them to Izuku, and muttered only three words: "Midoriya…thank you."
Izuku threw his fist, just as Shoto had thrown another blast of cold, and immediately followed it with a blast of heat. Both those forces colliding into the concrete barriers between produced the single largest blast of pure wind and power that had been witnessed by any of the people in that stadium. The gale force wind was so inhumanly powerful, everyone had to hunker down in order to avoid getting blasted off their feet and into the air (Minoru being the only one unlucky enough to suffer just that before being grabbed by Mezo), while Nikolay ducked down just a fraction of a moment after impact had been made, sending him nearly tumbling into Mina and Eijirou alike, all three of them crying out in disbelief and shock at what was happening.
Across the stadium, Endeavor took the full force of the blast without even flinching, that self-satisfied grin still all over his fiery face. At the same time, Tunguska and Toshinori had both likewise steeled themselves to take the full force head-on, both of them still too thoroughly shell-shocked by the sheer display of power they had just bore witness to. Even individually, those boys' power was a sight to behold. But combined together like this, even facing against each other…if those two were to ever combine forces, neither of the veteran Heroes had a doubt in their mind, that Izuku and Shoto had the potential to be a nigh unstoppable team.
Once the deafening blast itself had finally run its course and the stadium had been left in dumbfounded silence, Nikolay was finally able to find the wherewithal to open his eyes and try to pick himself back up, quickly noticing Mina and Eijirou had either been thrown down or ducked down to the floor along with him to try and avoid it. As they too began to get back up, both just as thoroughly shaken as he was, Nikolay shakily got back to his feet and looked to find the whole arena was enshrouded in an impenetrable mist.
"WHAT WAS THAT?! WHAT THE HELL EVEN IS YOUR HOMEROOM CLASS, ERASERHEAD?!" "He simply applied heat to the air he'd cooled down, which then expanded." "SO THAT'S HOW HE MADE SUCH A FIERY WIND BLAST! DAMN THAT'S SOMETHING, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS HOT! AND I CAN'T SEE A THING! JUST WHO WON THIS MATCH?!"
The mist was slowly but surely beginning to clear, and as everyone else began to pick themselves up from all across the stadium, Nikolay was watching intently, looking for the very first sign of either of the boys below, just some visual confirmation was all he was asking for at this point.
Finally, the first sign of someone…a shoe! Only, even from here, Nikolay could tell it was far outside the boundary of the arena. Whoever that was, had effectively gotten beaten by ring-out. However, just as quickly did his spatial awareness come back. 'That shoe is on the left from me…but that's where Midoriya-san was, and—no.'
But just to further confirm his dreaded train of thought, the mist cleared further to reveal an unmistakable head of curly green hair in the same spot. Izuku Midoriya was barely keeping himself standing on his one unbroken leg right up against the wall of the ring. Looking back into the arena itself, Nikolay then saw the still-standing image of Shoto Todoroki, the left half of his P.E. uniform burned away, but still standing within the boundary. And it was just as quickly that Midnight and Cementoss had seen and confirmed it as well, with that leather cracking sound emanating through the air to signify the end.
"MIDORIYA…IS OUT OF BOUNDS! TODOROKI…ADVANCES TO THE THIRD ROUND!"
As the rest of the crowd and half of his classmates began to murmur and eventually cheer for the penultimate end of this indescribable match, Nikolay had no words. He could only just stand there, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, trying to comprehend the gravity of what he was seeing. Even as Shoto finally descended from the arena and made his exit, the Russian boy couldn't take his eyes off of Izukus' defeated form, having now face planted into the ground.
'He…he lost? Midoriya-san…actually lost? All that conviction…that determination and bravado and courage…it didn't do anything for him in the end.' This was a very painful realization to come to, and although his body was beginning to visibly tremble, fear was not the only thing registering in his head, even if those around that looked at him would've thought otherwise.
No, if anything, seeing his green-haired friend fight so bravely, even in spite of his grievous injuries, and even to go so far to try and push Shoto forward, even knowing what it would likely end up in…Nikolay Bezpalov actually felt inspired. Yes, there were things about this fight on Izukus' end that had been downright foolhardy at best, but the heart behind it all was what really made the difference. Hell, why else was he even driven to try and emotionally reach out to Shoto on his own accord when it wasn't even his fight? It was because he knew then what Izuku was really trying to do for him, and he wanted to try and help in the only way he could. Only a truly exemplary person could have driven him to do something like that, and he wasn't about to let that example go to waste.
Clenching his fists in a white-knuckle grip, one single train of thought was racing through Nikolays' head as he watched Izuku get carted off once more: 'Todoroki-sans' full power…it's truly unbelievable. But…but I can't let that scare me off. We both made that same promise, Midoriya-san; both those promises. You fought admirably…like a real Hero. Now, let me take that weight off your shoulders. I'll fight next, and I'll fight enough for both of us…to keep those promises alive. I'm gonna fight…for both of us…and for our friends. I'm gonna beat Todoroki-san for both of us.'
The echoes of applause from back in the arena meant nothing to Shoto, as he continued to walk, unable to stop thinking of exactly what it was Izuku had just made him do, and just what that boys' intentions had ultimately made it mean for him.
So lost was he in his own train of thought, that for a moment he didn't even realize the imposing form of Endeavor was once again blocking his way, arms crossed, and that same infuriatingly proud smile on his flaming face. "You're not going to say 'out of my way' this time, Shoto?" No, this time, he couldn't bring himself to say anything. If nothing else, he wanted to deny his father any of the satisfaction of that. Nonetheless, Endeavor remained completely unperturbed.
"The flame control of your left side…it's still too dangerous, like you can't take your foot off the pedal. But now that you have abandoned all that childish whining, you've finally become the perfect 'upgrade' of me! After you've graduated, come back to me! I'll let you be the one to walk the conqueror's path as my sidekick!" The instant Endeavor extended a hand to his son, that was what finally flipped the switch for Shoto to finally speak up: "There's no way I could just let go of that 'whining', as you call it."
For once, his words had provoked not anger from his father, but honest momentary confusion. Shoto couldn't even look in his fathers' eyes as he instead looked to his left hand in his own contemplation. "There's no way things could flip around so easily. It's just that, in that moment, that second…I FORGOT YOU." Endeavor, thankfully, couldn't even find the words to say, but that was all Shoto needed to finally start moving forward, once again leaving his father behind; his eyes focused solely on the path in front of him. "As for whether that was good or bad, or right, or whatever…I need…to think a little."
In Recovery Girls' office, Toshinori and Tunguska now hovered over Izukus' cot, having now been treated to a closer look at the true state of their shared students' injuries. It truly had been far worse than they could have imagined, as his left leg was now pretty much wired into a metal setting cast, and his arms had both been casted and bandaged together in a manner almost resembling that of a straitjacket. And all the while, they were both under the scrutinizing eye of the tiny nurse on the other side of his bed.
"He's got a crush fracture in his right hand. And I won't be able to revert it back to the way it used to be so cleanly anymore. For now, the fragments need to be extracted so that they don't get stuck in his joints. Healing has to come later." Even for as analytical as her description was, it didn't leave the two Heroes feeling any less awful, seeing the boy that was their mutual responsibility in such a state.
"All Might, you made him destroy his own body to this extent out of longing for you. You lit a fuse in the boy that led to his detonation. I can't stand this. This is overdoing it, from you and this child. And don't either of you even think of praising the boy for this." However, much to Recovery Girls' silent approval, neither Toshinori nor Tunguska looked like they had even been thinking of doing such a thing. Toshinori especially had a clearly guilty air about him in the face of her scolding.
"And as for you, Tunguska-san, you're supposed to be mentoring the boy right alongside All Might, you could at least try advising them both to exercise some form of restraint. Honestly, it's so disappointing. When I heard you were both going to be taking responsibility for his training, I thought that meant he would be getting a much more evenly balanced run of it. Instead, he has two bullheaded meatheads who don't think anything through when it really counts. Look at how the poor boy is suffering now because of both your abysmal examples."
While Toshinori bowed his head in deep shame, Tunguska felt Recovery Girls' words stab especially hard. He knew just how right she was. He had come to this school to give all those students, not just Izuku, a thorough education on the psychological and fundamental emotional aspects of being a true Hero. Being asked by All Might to personally lend his hand in training Izuku to take his place, Tunguska realized he should have stuck to that aspect in this more personalized field as well, and instead had allowed himself to get sucked up in teaching him nothing more than the physical needs of his future role as a Hero. And just as Recovery Girl said; without having been educated on maintaining the proper balance between the physical, mental and emotional, now the boy was a broken mess with now-permanent scars to show for it.
Looking down on Izuku in that moment, sharing in the guilt that Toshinori was likewise dwelling in, Tunguska felt an undeniable sense of utter failure in his duty as a teacher.
WHAM!
"DEKU-KUN?" "MIDORIYA?!" The office door suddenly blew open, and the cacophony of young voices that came barging in made Toshinori visibly flinch, and even surprised Tunguska to the point he jumped and left a clear dent in the ceiling where his head had pounded into it.
Hurriedly turning around, Tunguska and Toshinori were met by the sight of Nikolay, Mina, Eijirou, Ochako, Tenya, Tsuyu and Minoru all rushing in, their faces all equally wrought with concern over their miraculous classmates' condition. Miraculously, with the exception of Ochako for a brief moment, none of them even seemed to notice Toshinoris' presence (most likely mentally assuming he was one of Izukus' relatives if nothing else, thankfully).
With their arrival, Izuku seemed to finally stir back to consciousness, though still completely incapable of moving. "Ah…h-hey, guys…the next match…what…?" Before he could even say another words, his classmates were all rushing to his bedside, abuzz with anxiety and excitement alike. "Oh, my fight hasn't even begun yet, Midoriya-san. Probably won't for a little while." Nikolay hurriedly explained before Tenya likewise leaned in. "That's right. Due to the extensive damage wrought by you and Todoroki-san, there's a brief break for repairs."
"That whole display of yours was scary as hell, Midoriya! No Pro's gonna want anything to do with that!" Minoru practically screamed with disbelief, before Tsuyu hastily jabbed him in the side of the head with her tongue: "Look at the state he's in, Mineta. You don't have to rub salt in the wound like that."
"Seriously though, Midoriya-san, you guys were freakin' insane out there! There's manly fights, and then there's whatever the hell you would even call that! You and Todoroki-san are clearly on a whole other level!" Eijirou couldn't hide his childlike sense of wonder and more mature sense of shock if he tried. Frankly, in that moment, he was looking on Izuku as though he were a god, regardless of the extents of his wounds.
"Yeah, but it's still a level where you can get hurt when you're not careful. Seriously, Midori-kun, I don't know what you gotta do to stop hurting yourself using your Quirk, but you really gotta figure it out fast. Urara-chan was downright frantic by the time it was over." Even when pulling Ochako to the forefront, it was hard to differentiate where Minas' concern and teasing nature ended and started, respectively.
"Quiet, everyone, I say quiet! It's fine if you're all worried, but he's being prepared for surgery, so you all have to leave now!" Nearly all the students repeated the dreaded 'S-Word' in unison at Recovery Girls' statement, before the diminutive nurse continued forcefully ushering them all back out the door.
As they were forced out, Nikolay tried to stick his head above everyone else, desperate to get the words inside off his chest: "Midoriya-san, I understand now! I know why you pushed Todoroki-san the way you did! You did the right thing! I know you did! Don't worry anymore; I'm going to uphold both our promises from here! Don't worry!"
Once they had finally been ushered out and Recovery Girl had locked the door, Izukus' gaze had returned to the sterile ceiling overhead, while Tunguska and Toshinori both let out tremulous sighs of relief that nobody had thought to ask who the former was.
"I'm so sorry…All Might." The weakened voice of their student drew both Heroes' attention back to his bedridden form, to see his freckled face was now wrought with pure emotional anguish, on the verge of inconsolable tears, in fact. "I couldn't make good…for either of you. If I…I had just kept my mouth shut…but I just had to go and tell Todoroki all that, and…and I…"
Toshinori and Tunguska exchanged another knowing glance, both resolute in what they had witnessed, and most importantly, had come to realize from watching the two boys fight. "You were simply trying to impart something onto him." Toshinori stated plainly, with understanding. Regardless, Izuku could still only reflect regret in his pained face. "I for sure…saw Todoroki…so sad…and butted my nose in…that's what I thought. But in reality…more than that, at that time I was just feeling…regret. I lost sight of my surroundings…and the way forward…please forgive me…"
Toshinori let out an accepting sigh as he sat back down at Izukus' bedside, while Tunguska bowed his own head in contemplation, arms crossed as he took in the pure emotion behind their students' words, and the example they had parted unto him that led to this. "It's certainly an unfortunate outcome. And don't take this the wrong way, Midoriya-shonen…but it's an outcome that frankly couldn't be helped."
Following in his colleagues' train of thought, Tunguska lifted his head to look Izuku in the eye. "He's right. Something that's never really considered by Heroes your age, malenkii Midoriya, is that at the end of the day, tournament matches come and go. The real take-away from them is getting to observe how those that participate conduct themselves, and getting to see firsthand just what it is that drives them so hard, that is what truly matters."
Izuku thankfully looked to be particularly affected by that sentiment, causing Toshinori to visibly brighten in expression. "That's right. Today, we all saw you go out of your way to try and help Todoroki-shonen with his own personal problem, even when it came at the cost of your own personal victory! In its own way, that's more valuable than you having actually won. Do you know why?" Just as he had hoped, the freckled boy now looked to him like he was the one with all the answers.
"Because not only us, but the entire Pro Hero world got to see the heart that burns inside of you firsthand, today. Yes, the pain of losing is sharp and cuts deep, but even so, you know what? 'Butting your nose in' is one of the principal qualities of a true Hero." At this, Izuku laid his head back, eyes partially obscured behind his green curly bangs…and the face once wrought with emotional pain at losing…now ran free with tears at the sheer gravity of his lifelong idols' praise of his self-sacrificing actions. In a way, it was indeed better than any tournament win would have ever felt.
"All right, you two, the pep talk is nice, but I really do need to get this boy ready for surgery, so you need to leave now." Recovery Girl was adamant as she hurriedly unlocked the door and began motioning for the two men to take their leave. Once they had been backed out into the hall and had the door shut in their faces, Toshinori visibly flinched again. "Tunguska-san, we should hurry back! Bezpalov-shonens' fight is next." All at once did the massive Russian at his side once again nearly jump his head through the ceiling at the realization: "Oh, dammit, I forgot to tell Kolya about his Quirk extension again! I swear, my head would fall right off and I wouldn't even notice, if it weren't attached!" With that, Tunguska nearly took off like a bolt, with Toshinori trying his hardest to keep up.
The air in the athlete waiting room was more than tense, as Nikolay had taken to busily pacing around the room, rhythmically closing his hands into fists and opening them back up, again and again, while trying to steady his breathing. His fight was barely minutes away, and he couldn't count on just winning through dumb luck like last time. From now on, he had to be ready for anything, and just as ready to act. All the while, Mina and Eijirou were watching their friend intently.
"Hey, you're driving yourself up the wall looking all worried like that, man! You gotta go into these fights with confidence! Yeah, that Shiozaki girls' got a pretty impressive Quirk, but I'll bet once you go in there and get your brain going on all cylinders, you can totally follow through, win, and keep that promise you made to Midoriya-san, no problem!" As confident as the red-haired boy himself sounded, it did little for Nikolays' general mental state, simply because he had completely misunderstood what the Russian had really been referring to.
'It's down to me, now. As far as our promise of beating Todoroki-san, it's all on me. And as far as fighting for our friends' goals and dreams? It's down to just me and Mina in that regard. But anything I could have thought of to fight Todoroki-san was because he was only using his Ice. If he's fully committed now to using his Fire on top of that, I need to re-strategize…but that's assuming I even win this fight. Shiozakis' Quirk has very impressive range and defensive capabilities. How can I hope to close in fast enough to-?'
"Kolya-kun, could you please just stop for a second? You're going to make yourself too dizzy to even fight if you keep going in circles like that." Minas' suggestion was thankfully enough to make Nikolay realize her point and finally come to a stop. However, her eyes still looked just as inquisitive and serious. "I guess it's kinda pointless to ask, but I will anyway: are you nervous? About fighting Todoroki-kun if you win this fight, I mean."
The absurdity of such a question, now of all times, brought out an instinctive laugh from Nikolays' gut. "Of course I am. In fact, this time I am actually scared. But who knows…maybe in the end; that might actually help me. They say fear is a natural survival tool, after all." As he tried to focus on that train of thought in order to calm his nerves, Mina still looked visibly curious at him.
She didn't want to risk prying into something too personal by asking just what this promise Nikolay had mentioned between him and Izuku was. She only knew about the four-way pinky swear they had all made to fight for each other and their beaten friends, but something was telling her that hadn't been what her Russian friend was referring to.
"ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, REPAIRS ARE DONE AND WE CAN FINALLY MOVE ON TO OUR HEAVILY ANTICIPATED NEXT MATCH! CONTENDERS, COME ON UP AND GIVE THESE FINE FOLKS A TASTE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO!" The distant echo from the arena sounded, and Nikolay took a deep, resolute breath through his teeth, before sighing and shaking his whole body from head to toe, limbering himself up.
As he began to head for the door with a determined stride, Mina knew this would be the last chance to say something, so she began to follow after him with just as much determination of her own. "I know you can do it, Kolya-kun." He momentarily froze as he reached for the doorknob, slowly looking back over his shoulder to see the confidence in her eyes as she wished him luck. "I know you can do it…and we'll be cheering you on the whole way."
She had been half-expecting Nikolay to break out into another flustered stutter, or for his fair face to start turning red again. But instead, a bright smile of confidence now adorned his face, with his green eyes practically igniting with hope, causing her own eyes to light right back up in kind. "Thank you…both of you. I'm gonna be cheering you all on when it's your times, too." And with that, Nikolay finally stepped out into the hall for the arena, with Mina and Eijirou eagerly following after him to get to the stands.
"THE SECOND ROUND OF OUR TOURNAMENT CARRIES ON, AND AFTER THE BOMBASTIC SPECTACLE WE WITNESSED LAST FIGHT, OUR NEW COMBATANTS HAVE SOME PRETTY BIG SHOES TO FILL! WE HAVE A MASTER TACTICIAN WITH A WIDE-REACHING QUIRK THAT'S NOTHING TO LAUGH AT, AND OUR SOLE FOREIGN PARTICIPANT WITH THE REACTIONARY REFLEXES AND POWERFUL QUIRK TO POTENTIALLY LAUNCH HIMSELF TO THE TOP, FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY! SHIOZAKI IBARA VERSUS NIKOLAY BEZPALOV!"
This time, as he stood on his end of the arena, Nikolay didn't feel nearly as minuscule as he did the first time around, but he didn't feel any less intimidated. From a distance, keeping her green vine-adorned head bowed and her hands clasped together in that same praying stance, Ibara Shiozaki looked anything but threatening. But seeing her in action last round had dispelled that foolish notion long ago. Right now, Nikolay was just mentally figuring out what his first course of action was going to be as soon as Present Mic gave the go ahead. He could hear his classmates cheering him on from behind, but he couldn't let that occupy his head any more than it already was. As far as he was concerned, now was do-or-die time.
"STAAART!"
With a surge of adrenaline rushing through his body, Nikolay immediately hopped off his feet and fired himself forward, meeting the ground in a mad sprint, while Ibara had immediately turned her back to him, sending numerous vines right for him. Seeing them coming, however, Nikolay immediately fired himself with one hand to the left, dodging the first few, before just as quickly diving forward and firing himself to the right, underneath the first bunch of vines in order to dodge the next ones, and then just as quickly launching himself upwards to avoid the third bunch from the right.
What should have been a dash to reach his opponent that would have only lasted five seconds at most, took nearly three times as long, as Ibaras' vines only seemed to increase in number and density, forcing Nikolay to halt his advance and keep firing himself from side to side, upwards, backwards and forwards in order to avoid getting ensnared. And all the while he had to keep focusing on not using up too much of his kinetic power, keeping enough on standby for when (and if) he would be able to get close enough to actually lay an attack on her.
At one point, several collective strands of vines tried to converge on him from several directions, but through sheer gut reactionary reflexes, Nikolay somehow managed to not only keep out of their respective reaches, but even managed to direct them into tangling amongst themselves, pulling tight enough to ultimately sever themselves from the root that was Ibara herself.
However, the momentary respite Nikolay thought he had bought himself turned out to be a dream, as even disconnected, the vines actually seemed to still be collecting among themselves and reaching up to attack or trap him, forcing the Russian boy to get back on the evasive. 'Dammit, her vines are relentless, even disconnected from Shiozaki herself! I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Even measuring the power of my blasts, I'm gonna run out soon.'
Nevertheless, continue onward he did, as Nikolay kept his eyes open for every vine that lashed out his way, forcing him to launch himself back, sideways, up or forward. It was a nonstop game of cat-and-mouse, as Ibaras' vines just seemed to keep growing in number, stabbing into the ground he just launched from, or even emerging through the concrete to try and snare his feet, only missing him each time by what felt like a miracle.
Eventually, Nikolay managed to get close enough to launch himself in that same catapult arc, finally managing to get over the vine shield Ibara had formed behind herself, and managed to land right in front of her, immediately turning himself around to find her completely exposed, still with her eyes closed, maintaining that prayer stance.
He didn't waste a second as he fired himself forward, reeling an arm back to deliver a single-handed blast into her point blank, but at the last moment, several more vines suddenly sprouted out from the ground, effectively cutting him off from her. He barely managed to fire a braking blast with his non-attacking hand, stopping his momentum before he got a load of thorny vines to his face.
Unfortunately, she wasn't going to let up, as those same vines immediately lunged for him, forcing Nikolay to launch himself further back, only to be right back where he was before, continuously on the evasive, as more and more vines either kept bursting out of the ground to try and catch him, or kept forming up in front of every opening Ibara still had, effectively blocking any hope for an attack he still had.
"MAN, OH, MAN, THIS MATCH HAS BEEN RELENTLESS! SHIOZAKI IS REALLY ON HER A-GAME AGAIN! BEZPALOV HAS BEEN PERFORMING ADMIRABLY TO BE ABLE TO AVOID GETTING ENSNARED BY HER VINES EVEN ONCE, BUT HER DEFENSE IS DOWNRIGHT IMPREGNABLE! HE CAN'T GET A SHOT IN, NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION HE TRIES TO COME IN FROM! WHAT ARE YOU GOINGT TO DO, DEAR COMRADE?!"
If it hadn't been for his focus on trying to find an opening, coupled with his own realization of how depleted his kinetic energy stores had now become, Nikolay would've had half a mind to tell Present Mic to shut up. Alas, it was still a damn good question: what was he going to do? He had barely enough energy left for another evasive launch, let alone an attack, and even as the vines finally opened back up to reveal Ibara herself, he knew she was just waiting for him to make one wrong move, and she would have him ensnared and helpless, just like she did with Setsuna.
As a matter of fact, as he came to that realization, he took that moment to observe his surroundings, and realized that not only were there now numerous collected masses of vines now completely encircling the two of them, but there was now a growing rumbling from beneath his feet.
'Oh, God…I fell for it, after all. It's exactly like what she did in the first round; that Venus Flytrap trick. This is it. I couldn't even get close to her in the end.'
Nikolay felt his spirit and heart alike sink as the rumbling grew louder and louder, to the point the concrete was once again beginning to crack. The Russian boy couldn't even bring himself to look back to his classmates in his exhaustion and apologize for letting them down.
However, at the moment the rumbling and cracking reached its crescendo, and he saw the very beginnings of the last vines begin breaching the concrete surface…a sensation, like an unheard yet deafening voice from within the deepest depths of Nikolays' brain, suddenly spoke out with a resonance that echoed through every singular fiber of his being and spirit, communicating only one thing that rang truer than anything else: JUMP.
All at once, not only did Nikolay suddenly feel a surge of kinetic power he didn't even think he had, suddenly expand within himself like the bursting of a star, but he felt it all immediately rush through his muscles, not to his hands…but down to his feet, to the very soles.
BWOOOM!
The absolute power of the shockwave that fired out from the bottoms of his feet was unlike anything he had felt fired forth from his hands. It obliterated his shoes to practically dust, along with his uniforms' pant legs from the knees down. But what really registered to him in that moment, was just how inhumanly high that launch had sent him, nearly to the point of overshooting the roof of the stadium itself.
As his body hung at that peak height for a moment, he looked down in disbelief at the dust cloud he had left in his wake, just before that entire section of the arena below had gotten swallowed up in Ibaras' vine trap, with her in it. And yet, from just having been ready to face his own defeat a second ago, he instead found himself on the outside, technically still in the fight, with the collective gasps and cries of surprise from the entire audience barely able to be heard in his state of momentary shock.
Down below in the stands, Tunguska, Toshinori, and every 1-A student looked up at the distant speck in the sky in mute shock, all scarcely able to comprehend the sudden ability they had just seen Nikolay do for the very first time, pulling a miracle escape from the jaws of defeat.
As gravity finally came to reclaim Nikolay, as he began to freefall back down into the stadium, he saw the vine cocoon below quickly start opening back up; no doubt because Ibara had realized just as suddenly as everyone else that her opponent wasn't even there.
However, what was racing through Nikolays' mind was not a miraculous last minute strategy, but rather a blind panic at the fact he was still freefalling toward the unforgiving cement floor below. However, there was one momentary return of reason that made him realize his plummeting, and the resultant wind friction, had quickly restored a good portion of his kinetic energy stores.
As a result, as he saw the ground was now less than three seconds away from meeting him face-first, Nikolay finally brought his hands up in defense, feeling all that energy come racing down his arms again.
BWOOOOM!
At the very last moment before his body met the unforgiving ground, his hands fired point blank into the ground; the added momentum behind it producing a deafening shockwave almost to the same level as the one that signified the end of the previous match. The whole crowd erupted in surprised cries as the shockwave of landing could be felt across the entire stadium, producing a wind burst powerful enough to even take Ibara Shiozaki off her feet, tearing all her planted vines in half from her head, thus sending her rolling and tumbling across the arena floor.
As soon as the wind had finally died down, and people had started to get back up from the floor, they all looked in disbelief, once the dust had settled, to find Nikolay Bezpalov lying flat on the arena ground, but for all intents and purposes virtually unharmed. And thankfully, he was soon moving again, as he slowly picked himself back up onto his knees, looking around in an attempt to try and regain his bearings, still in a state of shock as to what he had just done over the last twenty seconds.
Nobody in the audience could even bring themselves to cheer or make any kind of sound, as Nikolay continued looking like a veritable deer in the headlights, until his sense of awareness seemed to return to his eyes like the flipping of a switch. Looking around again, he realized, to his unspoken relief, that he had landed in one piece back in the middle of the arena, and what was more, he could see Ibara Shiozaki beginning to pick herself back up as well, right on the edge of the ring.
With a momentary burst of determined adrenaline rushing through him again, and still able to feel a good portion of energy inside his body, ready to be used, the young Russian wasted no time firing himself forward and up towards her, high enough to avoid her disconnected vines still trying to grab for him from below.
Once he was clear of the scraps, Nikolay let himself meet the concrete in a full sprint, eyes dead-set on Ibara as she just as quickly noticed he was less than a handful of steps away from having her in his melee attack range.
In a moment of involuntary reflex, Ibara got back to her feet and immediately launched all her vines right for him, just as Nikolay dove forward towards her with a minute blast from his hands, in the hopes the added speed would be just enough to get to her, before her vines could get to him.
However, it was only a fraction of a second too late, as her vines had managed to latch onto Nikolays' entire body, their thorns biting and digging into his skin with a myriad of painful punctures and stings from head to toe. The Russian boy couldn't even delude himself into thinking he could force himself an inch further, those vines had him bound and motionless, just as he had been less than a foot from getting her into grabbing range.
However, even through the steadily worsening pain, he was able to realize one thing: his whole body may not have been in close enough range, but his fully extended left arm was, with his still open hand barely more than an inch from Ibaras' now calmer face.
With the light bulb of a literal last second idea going off in his head, Nikolay went with the one thing he thought he could possibly do. Thus, he closed his open left hand until just his index finger was still pointing right in Ibaras' face. And as she momentarily looked at his nonsensical action with silent confusion, she saw the hole on the tip of his finger was pointing directly at her, and at just the moment her eyes visibly widened in realization—
BWOOOM!
Nikolay, through all the sheer focus he could muster, took all the collected energy he could muster into the tip of his finger, and fired it all point blank directly into Ibara Shiozakis' face, sending all that pure vibration directly through her head and into her entire body, sending her into disoriented and dizzied spasms as her head was practically spinning and her ears almost literally ringing. It had been enough to even send her vines into spasms, just before going slack and letting Nikolay finally land flat on the ground.
When he picked himself back up from the concrete, Nikolay looked just in time to see Ibara, still twisting and turning from the full force of his Quirk firing into her whole body, inadvertently end up finally losing her sense of balance and tripping over her own two feet, right over the boundary of the arena.
As soon as she fell to the ground, clutching her hands over her ears to try and stop the ringing in her head, the sound of Midnight cracking her cat o' nine tails finally sounded through the air.
"SHIOZAKI IS OUT OF BOUNDS! BEZPALOV ADVANCES TO THE THIRD ROUND!"
This time, Nikolay was not in a state of disorientation that prevented him from being able to hear the utter cacophony of cheers that erupted upon her announcement. Getting back onto his feet and simply looking around to see the sheer numbers of people cheering for him specifically, he finally got an idea of just what Mina had described this feeling like, having all of that adoration and support being directed towards him alone. It felt more than good. It was downright indescribable, and it filled his chest with a feeling of well-and-true accomplishment.
"WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE TURNAROUND! LOOKS LIKE CLASS A'S RESIDENT RUSSKIE HAS MORE SURPRISES UP HIS SLEEVE THAN WE THOUGHT! AND WITH HIS ADVANCING TO THE SEMIFINALS, I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO SEE HOW HIS MATCH AGAINST TODOROKI IS GONNA TURN OUT! FEEL FREE TO TAKE A MOMENTARY BREATHER, FOLKS! THOSE VINES DID YET ANOTHER REAL NUMBER ON THE ARENA, BUT WE WILL PROCEED TO OUR NEXT MATCH VERY SHORTLY!"
The reception Nikolay had been met with from his classmates as soon as he had left the arena was nothing short of insane. Pretty much everyone he had come to legitimately know well, were cheering for their Slavic underdog like mad, while even those he had only known on a much less familiar basis were going so far as to extend their congratulations.
"Damn, Kolya-san, that launch you did with your feet, you were like a friggin' human rocket! How the hell did you even do that?" "Yeah, man, I thought that was over and done with once she started getting ready to snap you up like that Tokage girl, but then BOOM! You're airborne out of nowhere! Admit it; you were saving that trick all day for just such an occasion, weren't you?" "Yeah, any other surprises you've got in that head of yours, Kolya-kun?"
The nonstop commentary and questions from Denki, Rikido and Tooru respectively, were frankly becoming too much, as Nikolay was not only still trying to process the mere fact that he had won, but just exactly how it was he had managed to escape loss in the first place. "I don't know how else to say it, guys; I don't know how. If I knew I could've done that, do you seriously think I would've just kept that to myself?"
However, despite the sincerity in his confusion, none of the three seemed to believe him, as they all couldn't help but laugh. "Man, Kolya-san, someday you've really gotta learn how to dial back the modesty and enjoy your moment for what it's worth. That was a hell of a show you gave everybody back there, be proud of that!" Denkis' congratulatory thumbs-up was swiftly motioned away by an equally excited-looking Eijirou. "Alright, guys, come on, give the guy a minute, okay? We can get back to the celebration once we catch back up on the stands, okay?"
With considerable begrudging, the rest of their classmates decided to give their winner of the minute his privacy, with those like Kyouka, Tsuyu and Mezo once again expressing last-minute congratulations, before returning up to the stands. Once he was sure they were gone, Nikolay let out an utterly exhausted sigh before collapsing onto a nearby chair, his whole battered body going lax, while Mina already began rummaging through her pockets, before pulling out two handfuls of more colorful, designed band-aids.
"Okay, now let's see to getting those wounds patched up, okay? Don't worry, Kolya-kun; Nurse Minas' gonna make sure you're tip top again in no time," she announced with another beaming cheeky smile and adorable giggle. This time, neither Eijirou nor even Nikolay could resist laughing right along with her, as she leaned in and began applying a band-aid to each little puncture mark lining Nikolays' arms, legs and face.
As she placed one band-aid after another on every mark she could find, she chanced a momentary look up to see Nikolays' eyes gazing distantly, not at her, but down to his own bare feet. There was an unmistakable look of confusion in those green eyes, like he was racing through a hundred thoughts a second. Everyone else had simply taken his confusion at his own miracle save as some humorous attempt at humility, but that gaze was way too intense to be fake. That's what made it click in Minas' head that Nikolay had actually been telling the truth; he really didn't know he could have been able to do that.
Normally it wouldn't have seemed possible that someone could have gone this long and not at least known all the ins-and-outs of what they could currently do with their own Quirk…but then again, considering just who she was thinking about right now and just what he had gone through in the span of a month, that suddenly didn't seem so outlandish anymore.
As soon as she had finished patching up both his arms, a pair of heavy footsteps rounding the nearby corner drew all three teens' attention, to find Tunguska towering in the hallway, the brightest glimmer in his eyes as he saw them, immediately rushing over.
"Kolya, thank goodness! I'm so proud of you, son! You performed even better than I expected you would," he immediately congratulated, even showing the courtesy of speaking so his sons' friends could at least understand alongside him. However, to his (expectant) worry, Nikolays' face was not reflecting the same kind of excitement. In fact, he just looked downright confused, and even a touch suspicious, as he finally looked his father in the eye. "Dad…did you know?"
While Mina and Eijirou were both visibly surprised that he was sounding even remotely accusatory, Tunguska instead let out a resigned sigh, figuring his boy was going to want answers, first thing. "No. I only found out about it this morning. Recovery Girl told me about it after she had patched you up from the Obstacle Race. She said the only reason she hadn't brought it up to you was because she honestly assumed you already knew about it."
Nikolay somehow looked even more shaken than before, while for Eijirou, it was finally registering just how new this was for everybody, scarcely able to comprehend his Russian friend somehow not knowing he could have done something so huge before now. When Nikolay couldn't find the words, Tunguska felt it was safe to keep going further: "She believes that this may be a very recently developed extension of your Quirk, since apparently the holes formed on your feet are even smaller than the ones on your hands. I swear I had been meaning to tell you all day since then, but the bloody Festival just kept getting in the way. I know I should have just buckled down and told you anyway, but I…I didn't want to risk the news upsetting you so much and breaking your focus. You've been doing so, so well today; I didn't want to risk ruining that for you."
Again, much to his regret, Nikolay looked to be processing every word. This was still so much for one child to take in, both an unknown extension of their own ability, and the fact that his only family knew about it before even he did. By this point, even as she kept loyally applying band-aids to his wounds, even Mina now had a very worried look on her face; neither she nor Eijirou having any idea just how the boy was going to react, if he could even find it in himself to speak again. As for Tunguska, he also had a pretty good idea just what else may have been weighing most heavily on his son in that moment, as this experience really went to show.
"I'm sorry, Kolya. Not just for this. I realize that our…our communication with each other has really fallen by the wayside these last couple of weeks. Not just in regards to this. I'm sorry I…I'm sorry I didn't take the opportunity to just simply tell you that I had taken on Midoriya as a personal student." This thankfully spurred Nikolay to look his father in the eyes again, while his classmates were both visibly caught off guard by such a sudden unexpected detail, although Eijirou silently seemed to be putting it together, no doubt figuring that was why the boy in question had been performing so intensely up till now.
All the while, Tunguska couldn't stop himself now that he had gotten started. "I know that our whole dynamic has resembled more, that of a teacher and his student, rather than a father and his son. I know that kind of transition has been hard for both of us, even more so on you. And I understand if you seeing me devoting that same kind of effort on Midoriya in your place might have…left you feeling, perhaps…neglected, or left out, or…even replaced. It's been harder for me than I've let on; trying to separate the teacher from the father in me. I had hoped that perhaps having one to take the role of the student, so that you could focus on simply being my son, would have made the transition easier. Nevertheless, I should have just told you from the start. And for that, I can only hope that you can forgive me."
Finally, Nikolay took a deep, shaky breath through his teeth, drawing all eyes back to him, as he tried to get his feelings and words all together. "I…I had been feeling some of that, honestly. But…it's not like I'm free of any of the blame for that, either. For these last few weeks, I'd been so focused on trying to become a Hero through my own hard work and means that I essentially ended up pushing you out without even asking. I'm sorry for that, too."
Both father and son felt considerably awkward, having finally gotten it out between them, but at the same time, there seemed to be a much freer light in both their eyes now, having finally spoken up to each other again. "Well…perhaps we could both make a more concerted effort to try and just talk about these things amongst ourselves again." Tunguska finally suggested, to which Nikolay gave the faintest crack of a smile, nodding just as much: "Yeah…I'd like that."
His fathers' expression almost immediately beamed with relief, his bearded face spreading with a smile that couldn't help but draw the same from all three teens before him, seeing both their spirits lift. "You know I don't want to put any unnecessary pressure on you, Kolya, but…you are more than welcome to join me and malenkii Midoriya in training, if you want to, of course."
Nikolay couldn't help but chuckle to himself, recalling how Izuku himself had even extended the same invitation more than an hour ago. "Honestly, Dad…right now, I just want to see how far my training so far can get me in the Festival. Depending how that ends up going…I think I'll be able to give you a real answer to that then." Thankfully, Tunguska looked to completely understand his sons' hesitance, giving him a nod to say as much. "Also, even considering how I'd honestly felt before…I really don't mind if you want to keep training Midoriya-san as a personal student, either. He's my friend, and…I think between you and All Might as teachers, he couldn't ask for better."
At this, father and son were both finally able to give each other an understanding and supportive smile again, the once frayed bridge of mutual understanding and connection between them finally re-established, while both Mina and Eijirou could only continue to silently watch this sudden heavy exchange and its perfect resolution with heartfelt smiles of their own, having gotten to witness something so personal and moving.
However, unbeknownst to the four of them, just behind another nearby corner, once again, Shoto had been keeping himself out of sight, and had once more been listening intently to the exchange, silently thankful for his other two classmates' presence necessitating their speaking in Japanese this time.
As he listened to all the withheld emotions between Tunguska and Nikolay being let out, Shoto felt something stirring in his chest he both recognized, and yet also struggled to fully define. It was like a mixture between frustration and confusion. More and more, Nikolay Bezpalov was proving a frustrating enigma to him. In the beginning, he had seen a great number of similarities between them, primarily in how they both, at one time, despised their god-given Quirks and their fathers alike.
And yet, listening to him now, he couldn't for the life of him find a single trace of that resentment towards Tunguska evident in Nikolays' voice anymore. It was just that same sentimental softness and shaky emotion that had been his new norm for the last few weeks. Just hearing him speak this way to the man Shoto knew he once hated, made the conflicting emotions building in his chest that much more agitated.
How was it possible that after everything Tunguska had said he had cost Nikolay and inadvertently put him through over the years, that the boy was suddenly now able to speak to him in such an understanding and sentimental manner? It simply went against everything Shoto considered to be logical. How was it that Nikolay was somehow now able to, not only become so much more capable and comfortable with the Quirk he once hated in practically no time at all, but also now speak to the man that had destroyed so much of his life with such a caring and even forgiving manner?
Just the thought of such a change got under Shotos' skin like even he didn't expect at first. He thought they had been considerably similar to one another. And yet, as hard as it was to finally buckle down and use his Fire, he knew for a fact he could never, ever be able to forgive someone like Endeavor for what he had done, and what it had cost Shoto in the end. The one question that continuously hung over his head that irritated him to no end as he stood behind that corner: what was it that could have so thoroughly changed Nikolay Bezpalovs' mind and outlook?
"OKAY FOLKS, ONCE AGAIN THE ARENA IS BACK IN PRISTINE SHAPE, AND WE CAN OFFICIALLY BEGIN OUR THIRD MATCH OF THE SECOND ROUND! COME ON DOWN, OUR INTREPID COMPETITORS, AND SHOW US A BATTLE WE WON'T SOON FORGET!"
The announcement had come at just the moment Mina had finished applying a final pink band-aid adorned with yet more hearts on the last tiny puncture wound just under Nikolays' left eye. As soon as they all heard, the pink girl practically leaped back onto her feet, her face beaming and her pink hair nearly standing on end with excitement. "Oh my gosh, it's finally time! I gotta get going! Hurry back to the stands, guys, I don't want you to miss it!"
Likewise, Nikolay was quick to get back on his feet, he and Eijirou likewise practically trembling with excitement as they tried to rush for the nearest stairs back to the seats, while Tunguska took the chance to hurry back to his own, still visibly radiant with satisfaction at his and his sons' at last repaired bond.
Just before they reached the stairs and Mina rounded the final corner leading to the arena, Nikolay nearly skid to a halt, hurriedly looking to their departing mutual friend. "Mina, wait!" Thankfully, she did just that, looking back to her two friends with anticipation and eagerness. Nikolay had to mentally steel himself, trying to stand uncharacteristically tall and straight as he tried to maintain eye contact, all the while completely ignorant of how ridiculous he looked like that, albeit indicated by her barely stifled giggling.
"I just wanted to wish you good luck out there. Like I said before…we'll both be cheering you on the whole time." The heartfelt smile on Minas' face was enough to thaw virtually any heart, as she momentarily looked back to the waiting arena and back to the two boys. After motioning for Eijirou to come down from the steps as well, she hurried over and pulled both boys into a tight, emotional embrace.
"You guys cheering me on, that's good luck enough as it is for me. Both of you alongside everybody else from class cheering me on? How could I ever ask for more? Just you watch." With that, she finally let Nikolay and Eijirou go and took off running for the arena, waving farewell to the two the entire way until she was finally out of sight. "C'mon, Kolya-san, we gotta get a good spot with the others! She's gonna do great, you'll see," Eijirou said with the utmost confidence before he proceeded to pull Nikolay along back up the steps.
"OKAY, LET'S GET THE THIRD MATCH OF OUR SECOND ROUND ROLLING, LADIES AND GENTS! GET A GOOD LOOK AT BOTH OUR COMBATANTS, BECAUSE ONLY ONE WILL GET TO MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE! HIS FIERCE DEMEANOR AND MENACINGLY SWIFT QUIRK ARE PERFECTLY COMPLIMENTED BY EACH OTHER! HER AGILITY , HARD-HITTING FIGHTING STYLE AND POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING QUIRK ARE ALL ROUNDED OUT BY A BEAMING SMILE THAT RADIATES CHARM! FUMIKAGE TOKOYAMI VERSUS ASHIDO MINA!"
Everyone in the crowd was once again cheering excitedly as Nikolay and Eijirou inched their way to their respective spots amid their classmates, just in time to see Mina and Tokoyami standing across the arena from each other. Nikolays' heart was pounding with equal parts excitement and anxiety. He wished he had gotten a chance to see how Mina could really carry herself in a fight; perhaps then he wouldn't have felt so nervous seeing her go up against someone as inarguably effective in a fight as Tokoyami.
Looking to his red-headed compatriot next to him, he envied how Eijirou could look so unshakably confident right now.
"STAAART!"
Nikolay whipped his head back to the arena just in time to see Tokoyami immediately summon his Dark Shadow and send it bolting across the arena straight at Mina, who by her visible flinch, clearly hadn't expected him to go all out like this right out the gate. She immediately reacted by trying to glide back and aside on her feet with her acid slick, quickly following with two thrown handfuls of acid aimed right at the shadowy mass.
Unfortunately, its body was able to contort, bend and twist around both her projectiles with almost mocking ease, and that only served to make Tokoyami send it at her even faster, easily intercepting her escape path before she could even react.
Nikolay, Eijirou and nearly half their classmates shot up from their seats, all voicing similar exclamations of shock and disbelief, as Dark Shadow finally collided with Mina, pushing her further and further back on her feet; and yet no matter how much she tried to either push back or try to wriggle her way out beside it, nothing worked. It simply kept her where it needed her, and with each passing second, kept forcing her further and further back.
Finally, before everyones' eyes, and to the collected gasps and cheers of the audience, Mina had ultimately gotten pushed on her feet all the way over the boundary of the ring, producing the crack of Midnights' cat o' nine tails, once more signifying the dreaded end, as Nikolay and Eijirou felt a chill run up their spines in surprise. "ASHIDO IS OUT OF BOUNDS! FUMIKAGE ADVANCES TO THE THIRD ROUND!"
Everyone in the crowd continued to cheer as Tokoyami withdrew Dark Shadow and descended from the arena, while Mina simply balled her hands into fists and gave a single kick at the ground in childlike frustration, before just as quickly taking her leave. A good majority of 1-A was still cheering for their crow-headed classmates' victory regardless, but Nikolay and Eijirou couldn't bring themselves to share in the sentiment. In fact, as soon as she had begun to take her leave, Nikolay was already rushing for the stairs back down to the tunnels; Eijirou following closely after.
Across the stadium, Tunguska had watched the unfortunately brief match with a sense of mourning in the pit of his stomach. He could only imagine how Nikolay was feeling right now, having just seen his closest friend in the whole class get beaten so easily.
Nikolay and Eijirou alike were pretty much skipping every other step on their way down to the tunnel; the Russian in the lead nearly treating himself and Mina to a repeat of their very first meeting, as he nearly bowled into her rounding the last corner, barely managing to sidestep in time to where he only ended up planting his back against the opposite wall.
"Kolya-kun, Kirishima, what are you guys doing? What's the rush?" The downright casual tone she asked that question with, frankly, floored both boys as though they couldn't believe what they were hearing. "'What's the rush?' We just saw Fumikage-san eliminate you from the tournament in less than a minute, that's the rush! Ashido, we wanted to check and see that you—"ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS ROUND, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WATCH HALF THE RING GET DESTROYED, SO WE CAN GET RIGHT ON TO THE FINAL MATCH BEFORE THE SEMIFINALS! WILL OUR PARTICIPANTS COME ON UP?!"
For the first time today, Eijirou looked genuinely conflicted, looking between Mina and Nikolay and the arena, visibly unsure what to do. Not giving him a chance to say anything, however, Mina gave the red-haired boy an assuring grin, pointing her thumb back the way she came. "It's all right, Kiri; I really appreciate you two coming down to see me, anyway. Now go on; you're bound to do better, no question."
Eijirou looked visibly surprised, both at her sudden use of his frankly rarely-used nickname, and the fact that she was still being so forthright in her support despite having just lost. But finally, swallowing the lump of hesitation in his throat, he gave his friends an accepting and resolute nod, before finally rushing back down the tunnel, ready to face his own explosive challenge head-on.
As soon as Eijirou had disappeared from sight, Nikolay and Mina made awkward eye contact with each other again; prompting the Russian to get himself off the wall and get to the real point. "Are you really alright, Mina?" To his surprise, Mina could only giggle to herself at how overly worried he sounded. "Of course I'm alright; all I got was a ring-out. I mean, it's not like Fumikage-kun threw me around like a rag doll or anything like that."
She began to continue for the stairs, but just as soon stopped when she realized he wasn't walking after her. "You know that's not what I meant. I'm asking if you're alright with…having just lost." At that, she finally turned back around to look her Russian friend in the eyes, that assuring smile on her pink face still having not faltered a bit. "Yeah, I am. I mean, even if I wasn't, what good would complaining about it do? But seriously, I'm fine with it."
It was almost too easy to see just how off-guard her casual answer had gotten Nikolay, as he looked like he was actually trying to make sense of it all. "It's not rocket science, Kolya-kun. I lost, but I'm okay with that." At this, he frantically shook his head, trying to clearly not get lost in another wayward train of thought. "Yeah, I understand all that. I guess I just thought that, after we all made that promise to fight as hard as we could for each other and our friends…I just thought you would be more upset, knowing you couldn't go any further now."
Hearing this, Mina had visibly gone into deep thought of her own, simply trying to find the way best way to describe the way she felt, now that the reality of it all had officially sunk in. "Well, yeah, I'm bummed that I lost, who wouldn't be? But see, again, you're letting yourself forget, Kolya-kun: today wasn't about the students who lost getting transferred to a different Department or getting kicked out of Yuuei. It's all been about just showing everybody and each other what we can do so far with our Quirks, and seeing how far it gets us. That being said, I think I got pretty darn far today and right now that's good enough for me."
Nikolay instinctively couldn't help but laugh, quick to explain himself when he glimpsed the misunderstanding look in Minas' eyes at such a response to her saying something so smart and heartfelt. "I'm sorry…it's just amazing to think that you're taking this all so much more maturely than I am. You're right; it's unbelievable how many times I've let myself forget something so simple over the course of one lousy day."
Once he had gotten it out of his system, Nikolays' more sentimental demeanor came right back, too focused on what was going on between them in this moment to hear the distant rumblings of explosions from the arena outside. Miraculously, the same was able to be said for Mina, as well. "I do get what you're saying, though, Mina. Testing how far we can get with the training we've had so far is all it's ever been about, and I need to stop letting myself forget that. That being said, though, as crazy as this sounds, there was actually a part of me that was looking forward to seeing how we'd fare against each other if we had both actually managed to get that far."
Having said that, though, Nikolay once again adapted that out-of-character straight posture to show how serious he was, even when it once again got him an amused giggling fit out of the pink girl on the steps above. "I've been continuously thinking about that pinky promise we made in the waiting room before. With you, Midoriya-san and Uraraka-san now having been eliminated from the tournament, it all falls to me now. I'm going to keep doing the very best I can for the rest of this tournament, and I'm gonna keep both the promises I made today: ours, and the one I made with Midoriya-san before."
Despite how inspired saying it out loud made Nikolay feel inside, he felt that sensation just as quickly fade when he saw a distinct reflection of worry in Minas' eyes, rather than the proud beaming smile he had been hoping to give her as a result. For a moment, it looked like she was visibly struggling to figure out how to say exactly what was going through her head, before shutting her eyes tight and finally looking back down at him with a conviction of her own, finally descending back down the steps to be back on his level.
"Kolya-kun, I get you wanting to fight for all those promises and everyone, since fighting for people is what Heroes do, but you really shouldn't be putting all this pressure and expectation on yourself like this. If you push yourself too hard when you're fighting out there, fighting for everyone elses' sake but your own…how do you know you won't really end up losing focus and end up getting yourself hurt really bad? It makes me glad to see you dedicating yourself so much towards wanting to be a Hero like the rest of us, but I don't want to see you weigh yourself down and get yourself hurt to the same level Midori-kun was. I don't want to see you destroy yourself trying to live up to everyone elses' expectations."
Her voice was beginning to slightly tremble with raw emotion of her own, and seeing it begin to reflect in those black-gold eyes of hers, was what finally spurred Nikolay to do something he realized then he had never done before on his own. He took the step forward and pulled Mina into a secure and assuring embrace of his own, feeling her body momentarily go rigid in his grip as she realized as well this was the very first hug the Russian boy had initiated on his own. The realization made her eyes go wide with fluster, and her pink face grow a few shades darker with blush.
"It's not just for my own personal aim or carrying everyone elses' dreams that I'm trying to get to the top today, Mina. You and so many other people have been supporting me and cheering me on, helping me to not give up over this last month, and all that faith and trust you've all been giving to me up to this point…I…I want to be able to pay that all back, to all of you. I want to prove to you and everyone else that your encouragement and faith in me wasn't wasted…just as much as I want to prove it to myself…once and for all."
As he continued to hold her, Nikolay never realized it, but his words had stricken a chord in Mina that made her unable to help but shed a single tear in silent understanding. In so many words, the Russian boys' expression of just how far his determination was driving him, and just what that determination itself really was, had summarized everything she herself had always believed real Heroes stood for: they did everything in their power to carry the hopes and dreams of both themselves and other people alike. Nikolay was putting all of that together with the dreams and goals of their friends and all the support they had been giving him from the beginning, and was using that to try and help make himself an example of that very hope that Heroes were always supposed to represent to everyone. In the end, Heroes help everyone, in ways both literal and emotional.
Yes, there was a part of him putting all of that pressure on himself that seemed selfless to a fault in her eyes, but at the same time, there was such an old-school Heroes' sense of nobility in it all; that even despite her concerns for him, Mina couldn't rightly bring herself to tell Nikolay he was wrong for using it to drive himself at all. So, with no other words that came to mind making any justifiable sense to her in the weight of this moment, Mina stifled her emotional tears before they could begin running down her face, and finally brought her arms around Nikolays' sides in return, holding him just as tight, silently expressing her understanding and acceptance of just where it was he was coming from.
"OH MAN, WHAT A MERCILESS FINISH! THAT'S ONE HELL OF A WAY TO FINISH THE SECOND ROUND OF OUR COMBAT TOURNAMENT, WOULDN'T YOU SAY, FOLKS?! WITH A CONTINUOUS POINT-BLANK BARRAGE OF EXPLOSIONS, CLASS A'S BAKUGO KATSUKI WINS BY T.K.O. AND IS NOW MOVING ONWARD TO THE THIRD ROUND!"
The sudden intrusion of Present Mics' voice didn't carry nearly as much of a shocking weight as just exactly what he had said did, as Nikolay and Mina alike let each other go with mutual looks of disbelief on their faces, looking down the tunnel to the distant arena. "Kirishima-san…actually LOST?!" His and Minas' simultaneous expression of utter shock was soon followed by an announcement that left them both shaken even further, causing Nikolay especially to break out into an anxious and utterly frigid sweat:
"AND WITH THAT, OUR SEMI-FINAL ROUND IS SLATED TO BEGIN IN JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES, AND I HOPE YOU'RE ALL AS EXCITED FOR OUR NEXT MATCH AS I AM! IT'S OUR SHINING ICY, FIERY STAR PERFORMER OF THE DAY, VERSUS OUR RISING RUSSIAN STAR WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A PLETHORA OF TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVES! THAT'S RIGHT, FOLKS! OUR FIRST MATCH OF THE SEMI-FINAL ROUND OF THE YUUEI ACADEMY SPORTS FESTIVAL: TODOROKI SHOTO VERSUS NIKOLAY BEZPALOV!"
And there's the new chapter for you, folks! I hope you all were entertained and thrilled by it, because the next chapter is going to be a lot to take in! If you liked what you read here today, please take the time and effort to leave an honest review. In the meantime, I will see you all with the next chapter next week on 04/17!
Stay safe, and have a great week!