A Fool's Bonds
Chapter 24
-Izuku-
"Aaaaalright everybody!" Present Mic cheered as Cementoss put the stadium ring back to normal, all the excess concrete being shaped into blocks that were easily moved elsewhere, "That concluded the second event!" the crowd roared their excitement as all the teams that competed in the second round were assembled to hear the announcement of who got to move forward.
"In first place, with eight million points, we have the masters of the field, teeeeeeeeam Jiroooooo!" the purple haired rocker grinned, holding up her palms for eagerly returned high fives from himself and Momo. Given how their group of five had technically tied in the first event, yet he'd been the one quite literally 'carrying' the Ten Million points had been divided up between the five of them. Everyone he'd carried had one million points while he had the rest. It meant that his team, as well as Mina and Eijiro's, didn't have to worry about collecting more headbands.
"In second place, with two million and eighty points, we have the stalwart, team Shinsoooooo!" Eijiro and Mina let out eager whoops, gesturing for their third scowling teammate to join in only for the tired looking purplette to scoff and give them a glare. Izuku knew that Ejiro had brought Shinso on to their team in the hopes of making a new friend, but he had some worries that Shinso hadn't taken it that way.
"In third place, with eight hundred and five points" Present Mic continued, immune to the suddenly awkward atmosphere while safely sequestered up in the commentator's booth "we have the fast flying, Team Bakugooooooo!" the screen, which before had just been showing a loop of Izuku raising up their 'mountain' as well as the two teams atop it dramatically now showed Bakugo's team zooming around the field. With some sort of hover tech provided by the support course member of their team, it allowed Bakugo to help their flight with explosions while Sero used tape to pull them from one target to the next. They didn't always snag a headband but by being constantly moving they were hard to pin down and never lost any points.
"In fourth place, with seven hundred and ninety points, we have the might team Tokoyaaaamiiiiiii!" the screen now showed the trio of 1-A students. Todoroki was able to shoot off ice from his foot on the ground to freeze targets, Ida able to use his speed to pull the team along to escape attackers, while Tokoyami and Dark Shadow worked together to snag the headbands while keeping their distance. An overall balanced and efficient team.
"And finally, in fifth place and the last team moving to the third round, with five hundred and five points, we have team Monoomaaaaa!" the camera switched to a group from 1B that Izuku didn't recognize, the few he knew from that class due to Class Representative meetings not a part of it. Although given the expression on the team's blond leader that was the one who'd been gloating about '1B superiority' earlier.
"There you have it everybody!" Present Mic cheered as the screen now showed sixteen faces "Your top sixteen first years! Now, we're going to give a two-hour intermission to give these kids a chance to rest and recharge. Once they're all had a chance to stretch their legs and grab some grub, we can get on to what you all really came here for!" the crowd roared with approval as an empty tournament bracket replaced their faces on the screen "The one-on-one tournameeeeeeent!"
"Each fight will be determined randomly." Aizawa picked up, remaining the much calmer 'straight man' to balance out Present Mic's energy "And just before each match, that way those competing will have to prove their creativity and ability to plan on the fly. The randomizer will be for each round so there's now way to predict who will face who."
"And to those who have sadly been knocked out of the running, don't worry, we have plenty of other games and events you can take part in." Present Mic wrapped up as the various students who'd competed in the calvary battle dispersed, Shinso noticeably storming off with a scowl.
"Think he's going to be a problem?" Kyoka frowned, having noted the foul mood of Eijiro and Mina's teammate.
"I don't know." Izuku shook his head, "I think I remember him from the entrance exam though. He looked angry at everything then too if I'm not mistaken."
"A lot of people have a chip on their shoulders." Mina sighed, "I guess we'll just have to keep our eyes open."
"Midoriya." Jumping slightly at the monotone voice of Todoroki, having not heard their classmate approach, Izuku turned around to see the scarred student looking uncomfortable, "Can we talk…alone?" the last part was said with a glance towards his friends.
"Fine." Izuku sighed, "But can we make it quick? I still want to eat before the third round."
"That is acceptable." Todoroki nodded before heading to one of the tunnels.
"I'll catch up with you guys in the cafeteria. Can you grab me some food? I'll pay you back." He glanced over at his bonds who grinned.
"No problem bro." Eijiro gave him a thumbs up as he nodded and followed after their heterochromatic classmate. They walked in silence for a few minutes until they were well and truly far from anyone else, Izuku not able to hear the sounds of anyone else near them.
"So, you wanted to talk?" he glanced over at the recommendation student.
"I…you challenge me." Todoroki grit his teeth, "I came here today to win. To crush the competition with just my ice, to prove to my father that I don't need him or his flames to be a hero." Ice started forming along half of Todoroki's skin as he ranted, "I intended to win each round without anyone else coming close. I even took your words to heart and treated every competitor like a threat." Todoroki's eyes blazed as he met Izuku's gaze, "Yet you dominated both of the rounds."
"I gave it my all." Izuku answered slowly, not wanting to come across as an arrogant braggart and also positive that Todoroki was building up to something else.
"You've confirmed that I was right to levy my declaration of war at you earlier." Todoroki started to show whisps of flames before realizing what was going on and ruthlessly putting the embers out "But now it is because I know that you are my biggest threat in this tournament. I wanted to renew my declaration of war, and to make sure you know it is nothing personal. I will be going at you with everything I have. I will do everything I can to crush you when we meet in this tournament. I will prove him wrong."
Taking the statement as a strange form of respect and praise, Izuku frowned at one part he didn't understand "What does your father have to do with this?" Todoroki stilled before seemingly studying Izuku's expression.
Whatever he found must have satisfied him as Todoroki crossed his arms, "What do you know about quirk marriages?"
-Momo-
Frowning, Momo glanced over at Izuku as they sat in the class 1A booth. He hadn't told them what he and Todoroki had discussed but whatever it was must have been serious. Izuku had come back with a shellshocked expression a few minutes after Todoroki, shock that slowly gave way to a dark rage. Yet whenever she saw him glance over at Todoroki, she just saw sadness and sympathy. Something that Todoroki had said had made Izuku furious on their classmate's behalf, not at him. And something told her that it was going to come out sooner rather than later.
"Hey, the first match is being chosen!" Ururaka pointed at the board excitedly as the randomizer started spinning, the faces of the sixteen competitors rushing in a blur until it finally stopped on two.
"And we have our first match of round three everyone!" Present Mic's voice echoed "Izuku Midoriya, the versatile Representative of 1A against Neito Monoma, the frontrunner of 1B!"
-Omake-
-Izuku-
"What's wrong Kyoka?" Izuku sat beside his girlfriend, the girl back in her tracksuit with the cheerleader costume Mineta had tried to trick the girls into wearing tossed aside.
"It's gonna sound stupid." Kyoka grumbled, the two of them sitting alone in their class booth as everyone else got lunch or enjoyed the games.
"If it's upsetting you then it's not stupid." Izuku ran a hand down her back, "Come on, just tell me."
Kyoka relented with a sigh, "I…hate that creeps like Mineta perve on girls but when he leers over every girl but me, I can't help but feel that I don't measure up." Kyoka scowled as she talked, clearly hating the knee jerk feelings. At least he understood why she felt it was stupid.
"Then it just shows that Mineta is as dumb as he's perverted." Izuku wrapped an arm around Kyoka's waist, pulling her closer to him, "You're amazing Kyoka."
"You're my boyfriend, you're supposed to say that." Kyoka looked away with a grumbled huff even though he could see her ears starting to turn red.
"I'm serious Kyoka." Izuku moved so she had to keep looking at him, "You're amazing. You made it into UA, the top hero school in the country. You helped kick villain ass in week one here. You…you're my strength, you're the one who helps me keep going whenever I'm afraid I'll falter."
"Izuku." Kyoka whispered softly, her fingers wrapping around his even as her cheeks grew redder.
"But if you were looking for more physical things then fine." Izuku gave her a lopsided grin "You have beautiful eyes that sparkle like amethyst whenever you laugh. You have a voice that could make angels weep with envy when you sing. And I could bounce a coin off your ass."
"Izuku!" Kyoka's blush went from a two to a ten in an instant at the last one as she swatted his chest. The small grin that she tried to hide told him he made the right call though.
"It's all trueeee." He sing songed, laughing as he pulled her into a hug, ignoring her half-hearted escape attempts, "You're amazing Kyoka. And I'm glad every day that those other guys are too stupid to realize what they missed out on when you said you'd be my girlfriend."
"Dork." Kyoka huffed even as she gave up trying to escape his hold, pressing her back against his chest.
"Your dork."
AN: Yeah, I had a few ideas for interactions for an Izuku/Jiro story but since I'm trying to hold off on posting anything new besides one shots until I finish more of what I have, I'm going to work them into this as Omakes or other things.
AN2: Next chapter we start getting into the one-on-one fights! And Oooooh boy do I got some good stuff planned for y'all.