We watched on TV later that day, on bated breath to see all the announcements. It was as always shot in a professional arena, and the announcements came in after the Red Carpet Ceremony.

My old man, ranking #1. Just like he always wanted.

"IT'S THE FIRST BILLBOARD CHART SINCE THE KAMINO INCIDENT! AND EVERYONE EVERYWHERE UNDERSTANDS HOW MAJOR THIS IS! NEVER BEFORE HAVE HEROES TAKEN THE STAGE IN PERSON AT THIS PRESENTATION. THE TIMES, HOWEVER, ARE A-CHANGING! STAY TUNED! NUMBER TEN! SHE USED TO BE NINTH, BUT SHE FELL A SPOT! DRAGON HERO RYUKYU!"

Uraraka and Asui whooped and hollered, cheering on their sensei.

"NUMBER NINE! ANOTHER ONE WHO FELL! THAT'S UNPRECIDENTED FOR HIM! EQUIPPED HERO YOROI MUSHA!"

"YES, GO, GO SENSEI!" cheered Ashido, Hagakure, and Aoyama.

"NUMBER EIGHT! YOU KNOW HIM FROM THOSE CLEAN N SHINY COMMERCIALS! LAUNDRY HERO WASH! NUMBER SEVEN! IT'S A GREAT LEAP FORWARD FOR THIS UP-AND-COMER! KAMUI WOODS!"

Sero and Kaminari put in their two cents, cheering and whooping again.

"NUMBER SIX! ROCK STEADY AS EVER, THIS ORTHODOX HERO HAS MAINTAINED HIS RANK! SHIELD HERO CRUST! NUMBER FIVE! THIS UNYIELDING BUNNY WAS BUMPED UP IN THE RANKINGS! RABBIT HERO MIRUKO!"

We paused for a gasp of resepctful excitement.

"NUMBER FOUR! THE MYSTERIOUS SHINOBI WHOSE INCIDENT RESOLUTION RATE AND SUPPORT ARE SKYROCKETING! NINJA HERO EDGESHOT!"

Kaminari and Sero joined in again.

"WHICH BRINGS US TO THE NEXT MAN! STILL AT NUMBER THREE, EVEN THOUGH HE'S TAKING TIME OFF! WITH A HIGHER PUBLIC SUPPORT RATING THANY ANYONE, IT'S THE FIBER HERO! BEST JEANIST! EVERYONE'S ANXIOUSLY AWAITING HIS SWIFT RETURN!"

We all gave Bakugou a glance. He was silent. Maybe thinking of Kamino again.

NUUMBER TWO! HE DOES THINGS HIS WAY, BUT ALWAYS FIERCELY! WITH UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM, HE'S MADE IT TO SECOND PLACE! WING HERO HAWKS!"

Tokoyami gave a nod as we all turned to smile at him.

"AND FINALLY! THIS GUY'S BEEN ON TOP FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW, BUT TODAY IT'S OFFICIAL! HE'S WAITED A LONG TIME TO CLAIM THE THRONE AND BECOME NUMBER ONE! FLAME HERO ENDEAVOR!"

Everyone was looking at me. I wasn't sure what to think. Sure looks irritated doesn't he, damn old man.

The president of the heroes' public safety commission had stepped up to the mic.

"We decided to put on such an elaborate ceremony because this is a critical juncture for our times. It's been about three months since All Might's retirement, and word on the street is that our society is still missing an icon. But the heroes standing before you are ready to take on the mantle. So let us join them in their quest for a peaceful society. And now, a word from our heroes."

Ryukyu took the mic first. "Thank you for this honor. However, in truth I would've withdrawn my name if that were allowed. There have been lives I couldn't save, so going forward, I'll strive to really earn my ranking."

A hush fell over Uraraka and Asui.

"I FEEL YOU RYUKYU!" screamed crust. "THAT PAIN IN YOUR HEART, LIKE YOU'RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH! WE NEED TO STAND TALL AND FIGHT ON! WE CAN DO IT RYUKYU! I BELIEVE IN US!"

"The mission is the same as ever," Musha said into the mic.

Ashido and her friends looked a little confused.

"WASHA WASHA!" said Wash.

"Edgeshot was kind enough to let me join his team," said Kamui Woods, "so I'd like to make him and all my superiors proud."

Still not quite the rousing speech Kaminari and Sero had hoped for.

"WHY WASN'T I IN KAMINO THAT DAY!" screamed Crust. "IT STILL HURTS DEEP DOWN EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT!"

'To all the plotters and schemers out there!" Miruko smirked. "HOPE YOU'RE READY FOR ME TO KICK YOUR BUTTS!"

"Well, at least the top ten have their own Bakugou," laughed Kaminari. Bakugou huffed but didn't bite.

"IF public approval were the only factor," the interviewer was asking Edgeshot, "you'd be in third place!'

"numbers don't concern me," said the ninja. "I'm greatful to all my supporters, of course, but I don't do this job for fame or reputation. The ability to preserve law and order is the true measure of a her-"

"WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK WANTS TO HEAR THAT CRAP!?" Hawks interrupted. "Stain, maybe?"

Excuse me?

Silence in the room and on TV. We all glanced at Tokoyami as if somehow his mentor's words were his responsibility.

Wouldn't have expected Tokoyami's mentor would be the one to get everyone upset.

"Sassy, I like it," said Miruko.

"You always did enjoy rocking the boat," scolded Edge.

"I just hate holding back how I feel," said Hawks, grabbing the mic from the reporter and flapping his wings until he was floating above the stage. "Ahem. You wanna talk public support? Best JEanist would be number one if that was all that mattered, thanks to the boost he's gotten during his leave of absence. I'd be second, Edgeshot'd be third, Endeavor fourth and so on. Public approval? Sure, it matters more than nything else now, but c'mon. This isn't the time to dwell on the past. And you say that staying the course is the answer? Our symbol's gone. Today's a turning point, so what I don't wanna hear is a bunch of PR- friendly sound bites from the guys and gals below me! Try coming up with something actually heroic to say! That's all from me," he added, descending to Endeavor. "You're next. Dude with a lower approval rating than me. Mr. Number one."

Is my old man gonna attack him?

"After my junior colleague fanned the flames like that, I don't have much to say, except...Just watch me."

There was applause. From Hawks. And with that the broadcast was wrapping up.

What on earth is even going on?

The show ended and we went our own ways, a little unsure what to say.

I wasn't sure what Hawks was trying to do or what he meant, but I almost felt...sorry? For the old man? Watching all that?

But after all that happened with Mom...

It happened then, when we were all gathered again to watch TV in the Heights Alliance living room together. A few hours later, just flicking through channels, then suddenly Kirishima looked up from his phone at me, looking panicked.

"Oh no..."

"What?"

"Channel 5..."

They turned it on.

"ONE OF THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS' NOMU IS ATTACKING - ENDEAVOR AND HAWKS HAVE BEEN HOLDING IT OFF, BUT..."

The old man. Hovering facing the villain with his Prominence Burn move...

And the Nomu creature had thrown some kind of blow

ripping up my

old man's face...

the right hand side. Tearing it to pieces and blowing him

into the ground.

Lying there broken.

"I'm hoping to become a hero you can be proud of."

"Todoroki!" cried Kirishima.

"As your father and the number one hero..."

"Oh, Todoroki!" said Midoriya

"I hope to become someone who deserves that title."

"Todoroki," gasped Yaoyorozu, gazing at me with softly terrified eyes...

My old man. Dying.