The broadcast hadn't ended with Endeavor defeating the freak-ass nomu. Nope, instead we'd seen Hawks supporting him as he stumbled and then another threat appearing as if outta nowhere.
Crap. I knew that guy. Black spiky hair, burned up face, black collar and long flowing cape? That League of Villains creep who -
Kidnapped me.
A bunch of unwelcome memories came sliding in. Crap crap crap. I'd been too damn worried about - not worried, dammit - thinking about IcyHot…
And now that villain had surrounded Endeavor and Hawks in a giant wall of flames.
"YES, THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS IS HERE! IT'S LEAGUE MEMBER DABI! HE'S SURROUNDED ENDEAVOR AND HAWKS WITH A WALL OF FLAMES!" The announcer had shouted.
"It's him!" Gasped Sensei. "But out in the open like that? What's he thinking?"
IcyHot's face had contorted in a really painful way. And Endeavor had actually fallen to his goddamn knees. While Hawks put a hand on his back like he was gonna stand in between him and that villain. Without any feathers. Guy had balls. My kinda pro.
But damn things weren't looking good for them. That creep was running straight at them, getting ready to fire more.
The flames were blown away with the force of what looked like an air bomb from above. And as they cleared we could see it was that badass MF from the Top 10, #5. Rabbit Hero Miruko.
Taking one look at her that creep snapped his fingers and that awful black sludge came out of his mouth, that same crap All for One used back in - back then.
And before even Miruko could get to him, he was gone.
At last. It was fucking over.
"THEY CAN'T HEAR ME DOWN THERE, BUT LET ME SAY THIS. ENDEAVOR, AND YOU TOO, HAWKS! YOU RISKED YOUR LIVES TO PROTECT US ALL AND YOU WON. OUR NEW TOP HERO IS THERE! AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY TO HIM NOW IS 'THANK YOU'!"
Chapter 2
Seeing IcyHot's old man nearly bite it on TV kinda made me…I don't know. For whatever reason I asked to visit home. Most of the rest of Class A was doing it so I figured, what the hell.
Since a lot of kids in class were asking the same thing, a bunch of teachers had to agree to it, and since me and Deku lived in the same neighborhood All Might ended up driving us together out there, since luck of all luck Deku apparently decided the same day I went to see my folks he was gonna.
We hadn't all been alone like this since you-know-what. It was kinda unnerving. Suddenly wondering if I should say something.
Thankfully Deku broke the silence. He really can't go long without talking.
"Is Endeavor gonna be ok, All Might?"
"He should be, Young Midoriya. From what Recovery Girl tells me, the scar won't heal, but he should be able to walk."
A scar. Just like IcyHot's.
There was a look in Deku's eyes, like he was thinking that over too, and I remembered he knew about IcyHot's screwed up family too.
We grew up together on the same quiet suburban block. Deku's place was really freaking different from mine, though. Big apartment building instead of a house. All Might set him down first and he waved kinda shyly as he left. I couldn't quite bring myself to wave at him, but I did give him a nod.
My old house, the place where I grew up. Was three stories high, with plenty of trees out front, a brick wall and lamplights. One of many suburban houses just like it in that area, really, but apparently bigger than most normal kids' houses or something, so as the old hag always told me I should consider myself lucky.
"Katsuki, there you are! Geez, all this trouble for your teacher! And All Might himself!"
"Whatever."
"Don't take that tone with me, young man!" And a slap to the back of the head.
Back when me and IcyHot were doing our earlier remedial classes together, I'd told him about this and he'd looked all freaked out. Like there was something about the old lady hitting me that wasn't…normal? I mean, not like IcyHot was any judge of normal, but still.
I guess I'd never realized my folks weren't normal till then. I mean, first time I met Deku's mom and she was all sugar-sweet nice it seemed kinda strange - why wasn't she yelling at him? - but then me and Deku had stopped hanging out, and I wasn't about to do some dumb slumber party with anyone else once I was too old for that, so I'd never really spent a lot of time in other people's houses.
"Sit down and take your shoes off, Katsuki! And don't give me that look, just like all boys to suddenly clam up like that. You sure aren't learning anything about manners at UA, that's for sure!"
Great to see you too.
I was annoyed as shit, but what was the point in yelling at her? She'd just hit me again. The old man stumbled out 'happy to see ya' or some shit. Whatever.
"Did you see what happened the other day with Endeavor? What an incredible fight."
"Hey, don't forget that Miruko and Hawks and all they did!"
"They're still talking about it on the news."
She switched the TV on as we'd settled into the living room.
"It's been two days since the battle, but public opinion on the number one hero continues to waver."
A woman was being interviewed first, one in a scarf and wavy hair. "He only barely won, right? Are we sure he can do this? The man was covered in blood by the end."
Two men were up next. "He let that one League villain escape again though,"
"And hang on, didn't they already catch a bunch Nomu? How's this guy struggling against one of those chumps?"
I guess they have a point. The #1 hero shouldn't look weak.
"Good point. Heroes shouldn't go showing their weak faces to people!" The old lady yelled, and I felt kinda gross all of a sudden. Shit, why'd she have to go and say the same thing?
"Some remain dissatisfied…but on the flip side," the broadcaster continued, and the screen changed to replay a picture of the kid who'd shouted about Endeavor being cool during the broadcast.
"So don't give up just cause the other guy's gone! There's still a dude out there risking it all for us! Cant'cha see?!"
"Well," said another interviewee, "I was an Edgeshot fan, but now how could anyone not be a fan of Endeavor?"
"I'm a fire type too," said another, "So honestly…yeah, I'm pumped about him."
A woman and her friend were interviewed as well. "That 'cantata see' kid was great!"
"Risking it all, cantata see?" "He kinda turned things around."
"The 'Cant'cha see kid has become something of a meme in his own right. His passionate cries have actually garnered support for Endeavor!"
"Now hang on! Endeavor did give us a good battle, but the Can'tcha see Kid's and Hawks' contributions were monumental! They united everyone to cheer on the big man. No one can deny that he's facing a powerful headwind, but now they're aware that we're in the age of Endeavor. Support for him will undoubtedly spread."
The news broadcast was switching to other topics. The old lady shrugged. "Well, guess we've got a new #1 now. Bout time! I mean, All Might was cool and all, but now he's done."
Thanks for the reminder. And we all know why he's not a pro-hero anymore, don't we?
"That wasn't your fault," All Might had told me back when I talked to him and Deku. Maybe it wasn't really, but most people didn't know that. Only me, All Might and Deku really knew the story, and it wasn't something we could ever tell anyone. So I get to live with being the reason everyone's relying on IcyHot's jackass dad to save the world.
"Endeavor isa little intimidating though, isn't he?" Said the old man. "They say he's a bit rough with people."
"Who cares? He gets the job done. That's what counts in the end!" Said the old lady with a shrug. "Being the best's the most important, the best and the strongest."
"That's not true."
I kinda couldn't believe I'd just fucking said that, but it was said. They both stared at me like I'd lost it.
"Katsuki? What'd you just say?"
"Being #1's about more than being the strongest hero around," I told her. Well, that's what All Might told me. "It's also about saving people."
"Well, sure," she said, looking confused and a little annoyed. "But the big thing is winning. You know that."
"That's not enough," I snapped back. Don't you get that? "Sure, a hero can beat up villains all day long. But that alone's not enough to be the best. And the next #1 ain't really Endeavor. He's just holding the place for now. The next #1's gonna be me."
They both gave me that eye-roll, 'sure kiddo' look that used to piss me off like crazy. But nah, I wasn't just saying that. And it wasn't just something I wanted for me anymore, or because it was my job as a strong young hero. Now it was my responsibility.
"Well, you better put your money where your big mouth is," said the old lady. "Don't go around bragging like that unless you're really gonna do it."
"I am."
Not a question anymore, if it ever was.
All Might drove round to pick me up. "I hope you had a good visit, young Bakugou."
"Hmph."
"We'll go get young Midoriya, then." After a pause, "How are you doing?"
All Might is asking me 'how are you doing'. I can't fucking believe this shit sometimes.
"Fine."
"Really?"
He's been treating me like I'm gonna break ever since that fight with Deku.
"Yeah." I pulled my face together. "Damn right I am."
Deku and his mom came together to the car. It was nuts watching her and how she was with him, fussing over his shawl, hugging him, smiling at him. Was that what most parents were like?
He waved goodbye to her and came running to the car. I sat with my arms folded as he pulled up his knees and we took off.
"How was your visit, young Midoriya?"
"Amazing! Mom asked a lot about you, actually, Al Might."
"Does your mom know?" I blurted out. I had kinda forgotten that we hadn't talked about this since…then.
They both looked at me as if they'd forgotten too, but remembered now.
"She knows that I have chosen Midoriya to be my successor," said All Might, very quietly, as if worried the car was bugged. "But about One for All, no."
"So what's she think about your quirk, then? It just popped up outta nowhere?"
"That happens sometimes," Deku argued.
"You never gonna tell her?"
"It'd just worry her," said Deku. "And if she knew I could pass it on…she might want me to," he murmured. "It's a bit dangerous."
"How's that work, anyway?" I asked, a little uncomfortable with Deku talking about 'giving it up'. "You say 'here's my successor', snap your fingers or something?"
"No, it's through DNA," Deku explained. "Blood, or hair, or saliva -"
"Gross, fuck, I didn't need to hear that!"
"We used hair," All Might said quickly, probably trying to get the other gross possibilities out of my head. "A single strand of mine. And one day, young Midoriya, when you feel you've found a successor, you will do the same!"
"Better be a long fucking time from now," I snapped at Deku. "Don't you go thinking the fact you can give it away gets you a get-outta-jail-free card! You're keeping at it till you master it and become the best…so I can show up and beat you!" I added.
Deku was smiling at me now. "Of course. And then I'll just go even higher than that."
"You sure ain't listening. Like hell I'll let that happen!"
And so on all the way back. It was kinda weird, but somehow arguing with Deku just felt natural. Arguing with my folks felt weird and off. Going back to UA felt like the right place to go.
