I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
"Here we all are… The Finals. We've seen many great battles and fine fighters along the way. But now, we're at the pinnacle of what the First Years have to offer. So let's get right to the action and introduce our last two fighters!" Present Mic announced. The crowd roared as Todoroki and Bakugou took to the field. Mineta sat at the edge of his seat, carefully eyeing his dual colored classmate. What he does now will determine how this Sports Festival will end.
Next to him was Tsuyu, not looking too worse for wear, as she carefully observed Bakugou. Uraraka was doing the same, though she also had this worry surrounding her. What's strange was that Iida wasn't here. According to the others, he had to take a call from family. But judging how he still wasn't back, it meant that something came up. And Mineta could only pray that it wasn't too serious.
But that was something for another time.
"Todoroki Shouto, are you ready?" Midnight asked, whip aimed at the boy.
"I am…"
"Bakugou Ka–"
"I wouldn't be standing here if I wasn't! Just fucking start it already!" Bakugou interrupted with a shout. The R18 Heroine silently glared at him, rolling her eyes before raising her whip over her head.
"Then let the final match begin!" She shouted, bringing down her whip. Mineta, without even blinking, witnessed a glacier near instantaneously swallow half the field. The shorter boy rubbed his eyes before looking at the field again. Yep, that's certainly a glacier. He could then hear Sero groan at the sight, no doubt remembering his battle with Todoroki.
"Is it over already!?" Present Mic asked.
"I think your Quirk has finally given you hearing damage. Listen carefully." Aizawa said, causing the crowd to quiet down quite a bit. And that's when the sound of a loud but dull thumping became apparent. It slowly became louder and louder, the source of it becoming increasingly obvious. Eyes went to the glacier and, not too long after, an explosion burst forth from the ice. And standing in the hole was Bakugou, ready for a brawl.
Todoroki darted forward, right hand outstretched as the ground before him froze over. But his opponent simply blasted himself over the dual colored boy when the frost reached him. And when he was passing him, Bakugou grabbed the left side of his hair and jersey. Finally, as he completed the arc of his leap, the explosive boy hurled Todoroki towards the edge of the field.
"For how powerful his Quirk is, Todoroki doesn't know the basics of CQC." Kaminari commented. The boy in question managed to get a single finger onto the ground. From that, a curved wall of ice caught him and sent him back towards his opponent.
"Would that even help against Bakugou?" Sero asked.
"It's better than flailing around." Shouji replied.
Bakugou evaded the path of the wall and charged Todoroki, who was still sliding along the wall. The human grenade pulled his right arm back, a tell tale sign that he was about to hit really hard. The swing came in fast, but Todoroki deflected it with his left hand. Mineta leaned in a little closer, searching for any sign of heat. However, nothing as Todoroki ineffectively tossed Bakugou to the side.
The human grenade landed on his feet. But it was this lack of damage that heightened Bakugou's aura of rage. The fuse has been lit.
"Ah nuts, this is the worst time for Todoroki to make a change. Here's hoping that Bakugou doesn't undo what Midoriya did." Mineta thought, wiping the sweat rolling down the side of his head. Todoroki continued to dodge and throw out ice, but in an unmotivated way. And with each move, Bakugou's fuse got shorter and shorter. Soon, they all arrived at the point of no return.
"Quit making a fool out of me! Show me your fangs just like you did for weak ass Deku! I'll crush them just like I did everyone else! Lose with fucking integrity you half faced piece of shit!" Bakugou screamed, explosions going off. Honestly, it began to sound like a warzone down there. And the more it went on, the more the audience was beginning to feel unsettled.
Todoroki, though, was still somehow surviving the bombs going off all around him. However, he was starting to slow down. There was frost swallowing more and more of his right half. Mineta gathered every ounce of oxygen in his body and shouted from the depths of his heart.
"Stand up! Find your heart!"
The dual colored boy's eyes twitched before his left hand ignited somewhat. It wasn't much, but the cold on his body began reversing. Bakugou's rage dissipated a little with his lips being pulled into a sharp smirk. Todoroki then raised his lit hand towards his unmoving opponent and took aim. But, in a fraction of a moment, Mineta saw his dual colored classmate's eyes. There was still hesitation. And following that, the flame was put out as a wave of ice surged forward again.
Bakugou was nearly caught in it but his natural reflexes allowed him to avoid it. However, the rage that was held back, came back full force. Detonation was imminent.
"YOU SPINELESS SHIT FUCK! I've seen snails with more conviction than you. Everyone else fought like they meant it. But here you are, the biggest bastard of a wet blanket! Why are you even here if you're not in it to win? If you're going to keep this up, then you can fuck off stage!" Bakugou screamed. He then launched himself back before going straight into the air. He propelled himself towards Todoroki, using his Quirk to impart spin onto himself.
Bakugou was now effectively a human artillery shell.
Mineta gritted his teeth as the uncertainty became deeper on Todoroki's face. He wasn't ready to utilize the very thing that has made his life Hell. It didn't matter how inspiring the words were, he nor Midoriya could break what was a lifelong curse in one day. Still, there must be something that the shorter boy could say.
"Todoroki-kun! Don't lose!"
Like that. Wait… Mineta quickly turned around, just as the others in 1A did. And there he was, standing on weak legs and had eyes clouded with exhaustion. But despite all the ailments that plagued him, the light within him still shined brilliantly. And, with hope, it can lead Todoroki to victory.
"Midoriya!?" Class 1A blurted out, taken aback by his sudden appearance. The green haired boy ignored them as he let out another inspiring roar, this one with even more emotion behind it.
"It's your power! Shout 'I AM HERE' with it!"
Mineta and 1A snapped back to the field and saw a new development. Todoroki's eyes changed as a brilliant blaze enveloped his left side. He then raised it towards the oncoming Bakugou, who seemed to have sped up in excitement. Time slowed as the shorter boy observed the two shapes about to collide. Bakugou was rabid in the way an attack dog gets over a fine cut of meat. While Todoroki remained still with an intense stoicism, much like the icebergs he conjures.
But, in that slight moment before impact, Todoroki's eyes reflected a painful memory… And with that, his flames died out as his light faded.
Contact.
An explosion completely enveloped Todoroki and his bit of the field. The glacier the dual colored boy made had begun to crumble away. Was it over? Present Mic and Aizawa began commentating while the smoke and mist cleared. But the general prediction wasn't in Todoroki's favor. Proof came once the dust settled and the field was clear once more.
Bakugou, laying flat on his stomach, stared blankly ahead of him. The audience was gaping as they looked on as well. Mineta could hear his partner's fist clench, no doubt frustrated at the sight. Todoroki Shouto was lying on a pile of his own ice, completely unconscious.
"Todoroki Shouto is out of bounds and unable to continue the fight! Bakugou Kats–!" Midnight started before a desperate shout interrupted her. And it was such a rare sound that even Mineta couldn't recognize the source.
"No! Not like this! Don't let it end like this!" Bakugou screamed, rushing to his defeated opponent. He then grabbed Todoroki by the collar, other hand ready to blast him to kingdom come.
"Get up! This hasn't proven anything! I haven't pro…" The explosive boy shouted before falling over. There was a glittering mist around him, the source of which went back to Midnight. Her Quirk did the trick it seems. The R18 Heroine looked to the commentator's box, causing Present Mic to launch into the closing statement.
"With that unexpected conclusion, we can bring a close to the UA Sports Festival! The winner of the First Years is Bakugou Katsuki of Hero Class A! We'll be taking a short break as we prepare for the award ceremony! Students, make your way to the field in five!"
"Guess that's that. The fight was pretty awesome, but it felt heavy." Kirishima commented as he stood up.
"It was quite noticeable on Todoroki-san. I wonder what happened between this match and the last one." Yaoyorozu replied, stretching out her body.
"We could always ask Midoriya to illuminate these strange turn of events." Tokoyami suggested.
"Good idea, hey Midoriya?" Mina asked as she turned to him. The green haired boy uneasily got away from the railings and wobbled back towards the exit.
"Sorry guys, maybe later. I've got to check back in with Recovery Girl."
"I'll help you there. You look like you'll collapse at any minute." Uraraka said as she quickly went to him. Midoriya was about to decline. But a particularly bad stumble caused him to reconsider. Especially when it was she who stopped him from falling down. With her Quirk. Again.
"You guys go on ahead. We'll be there shortly." Uraraka said before she dragged the floating Midoriya off. While Mineta internally cheered for his partner at the sight, he kept that thought to a minimum. He knew Midoriya still had his mind on Todoroki's situation. No doubt feeling like he could've done more for him. First chance he gets, Mineta will reaffirm his partner's actions.
But for now, the award ceremony awaited them.
…
Mineta didn't know what to expect. Bakugou took first place like he said he would at the Festival's opening. However, this was the last answer he could concoct. And while it made sense given what happened in the final match… This was a tad excessive and over the top.
"RRRRR!" Bakugou grunted through his muzzle. He, Todoroki, and Tsuyu were upon the podium, first, second, and third place respectively. But while the other two stood there, Bakugou was fully restrained in an attempt to contain his anger. The explosive boy railed against his restraints of steel, the rattling of the chains filling the already noisy air. All to try and get at the second place winner.
Speaking of which, Todoroki was ignoring everything around him. It seemed he wasn't even here in the present, that downcast look said as much. But that was understandable, a lot has happened to him today after all.
Both of them really made Tsuyu stand out despite her restrained demeanor. She looked straight ahead and showed the appropriate amount of joy. Honestly, having such a beacon of calm allowed Mineta to ignore the drama going on the other side of the winner's podium. Although, it was starting to slowly become harder to do so.
"K-Kacchan!?" Midoriya shouted as he and Uraraka arrived on scene. The green haired boy was standing much steadier now. His face also had a little more color to it.
"What did we miss?" Uraraka asked fearfully as she eyed the still thrashing human explosive.
"He, uh, woke up like that." Kirishima said with a chuckle.
"Such blood thirst… And he still aims to be a Hero?" Tokoyami asks. Before any other answer could crop up, Midnight spoke to the whole stadium.
"Normally, we would have a battle between the semi-finalists who lost to determine third place. However, due to his injuries, Midoriya Izuku cannot participate in the match. Therefore, Asui Tsuyu takes third by default. So, without further ado, let me introduce the man presenting the winners their medals! You know him! You love him! It is indeed…"
From the roof of the stadium, a figure shrouded by the afternoon sun leapt off. And with a serious number of somersaults, a juggernaut of a man landed before them all. His signature line tearing through the air with a boisterous boom.
"I AM HERE!" All Might shouted.
"ALL MIGHT!" Midnight announced simultaneously. The two Heroes proceeded to awkwardly stare at the other, the latter place her hands together in apology. But despite that, the Symbol of Peace's presence still riled the crowd up. So upon moving on, All Might bestowed the three with their medals. Not only that, he offered advice based on their performance. But Mineta felt like it could apply to all of the students.
"Young Asui, there is not much I can offer you. Your strengths are well balanced and you had such creative applications for your abilities. If you continue to hone those skills, you'll be quite the Hero upon graduation." All Might said, putting the bronze medal around Tsuyu's neck.
"Thank you, All Might." Tsuyu answered with a bow. The Hero then patted the girl on the shoulder, his pride that obvious to everyone. He then moved onto Todoroki, hanging the silver medal around his neck. The dual colored boy was still lost in thought though. Not even when they started to converse did he snap out of it.
"What's troubling you Young Todoroki. Ever since your match with Young Midoriya, you hesitate whenever your left side is involved." All Might asked.
"… I don't know where I am now. For so long, I thought that the way forward was straight and easy. But Midoriya had since shown me the other paths I've ignored. And though another person encouraged me to explore those new roads… I couldn't bring myself to stray from my mission, no matter how much I wanted to. I… I believe I need to search for myself before I could be a Hero like you." Todoroki answered, still somber as ever. The Symbol of Peace placed a hand onto the boy's shoulder, emotion clearly running through it.
"Worry not, Young Todoroki, you will find your way. Consider your troubles and then solve them to the best of your abilities. If you can't do it right now, then wait until you're a little stronger or wiser."
"Okay, thank you."
Finally, All Might went to the winner of the whole Festival. And despite having the Symbol of Peace before him, Bakugou was still thrashing in Todoroki's direction. Mineta buried his face in his hand. He knew the guy had his pin pulled, but this was getting ridiculous. All Might snapped at the restrained explosive, catching his attention.
Guess that's the Number One Hero for you, he probably seen it all.
"And finally Young Bakugou. While this is quite the scene… I must say, you managed to live up to your promise and claimed first. Now, if you'll excuse me…" All Might said as he removed Bakugou's muzzle. That proved to be the Hero's mistake as the explosive boy became the devil possessed. Which was appropriate seeing that the aura around him could only be described as 'beyond satanic'.
"This win means jack squat. I don't care what anyone else says, I didn't earn this. So keep that medal and wait until things are done right."
"Still, in a world where things are up and down, there aren't many who continuously stay at the top. Keep that drive going and use this medal as your fuel. Remember today young Bakugou, it will help you some time in the future." All Might said, presenting the gold to the restrained explosive.
"I don't want it! It's junk to me!"
The Symbol of Peace proceeded to try and get the band over Bakugou's head. However, the boy was resisting, pressing his hard against the concrete slab behind him. All Might eventually settled on putting the ribbon between his teeth. Bakugou, while still angry, didn't spit it out and stood there, teeth gnawing at the award.
"And there you have it! Our top three fighters! But hang on a minute, there's still so much to say! Everyone standing here had the potential to stand on this podium. And though today was not that day, soon you'll succeed if you continue to work hard. So work with your friends, clash with your rivals, and push each other to new heights. The seeds have been planted, now it's up to you to see it bloom." All Might said, turning to the first years. Mineta could feel it, the enflamed spirit of everyone around him. The Symbol of Peace inspired them all, a wondrous feeling only brought on by a true Hero.
Perhaps Midoriya was closer to All Might than Mineta previously thought.
"Now, in spirit of all that's happened, let's have one last hurrah! Everyone, say it with me! One, Two, and–" All Might said, raising his fist high up.
"PLUS ULTRA!"
And with that, the Festival was over. The audience began to clear out and the students began preparing to return to class for the afternoon announcements. Well, everyone except 1A, who had to wait for Bakugou to be unshackled. Which was going to take a while, seeing that all staff members were afraid of approaching him.
"The Hell you standing around for! Get me out of this fucked up shit!" Bakugou screamed, medal still hanging from his teeth. That, however, only made the staff even more hesitant to release him.
"I know Bakugou's pretty antagonistic, but this is ridiculous." Jirou commented, nervously staring at the standoff going on.
"You know what they say about good and evil." Kaminari said with a shrug.
"About how they are but two sides of the same coin? About how fine the line between Hero and Villain is? About how it only takes one bad day for someone to descend into madness and be lost in the black abyss forever?" Tokoyami ranted, voice growing more guttural by the syllable. 1A stared at the bird boy, taken aback by the intensity of his words.
"Uhhh… What?" Hagakure asked.
"Tokoyami, have you been writing trashy gothic poems again?" Shouji asked. Tokoyami turned away, his feathery cheeks gaining a light pink color. And this was despite how dark his feathers were.
"… You can't prove anything."
"Midoriya, Mineta."
The two boys in question turned to the voice calling for them. And upon laying eyes on the source, they found Todoroki and Tsuyu had joined the group. But while the girls were focused on their amphibious classmate, the dual colored boy unflinchingly walked over to his targets. He stopped before Midoriya and Mineta, his presence still strong despite his weighted shoulders.
"Hey, uh… Congrats on second?" Mineta said, unsure of what to say.
"Todoroki-kun… Are you okay?" Midoriya asked. What happened next surprised the Class of 1A… Todoroki bowed to the two, eyes closed and arms at his side.
"I'm sorry; I've wasted your faith in me."
"Excuse me!? Since when did he became your minion!?" Mina shouted. Mineta felt his eye twitch as he pointed straight at the girl. His voice was soon filled with rolling thunder, startling his classmates. And honestly, if this wasn't for Todoroki, the shorter boy would've been surprised too.
"Mina, I owe you and the girls a lot… But now's not the time." He growled. Mina threw her hands up, slowly backing away as Mineta regained his composure. Midoriya began to gesture for everyone to settle down, going to his dual colored classmate last.
"Todoroki-kun, it's okay, a lot has happened today. And it's as All Might said, you'll find your way."
"And it's as I said, you'll stumble and fall along the way. But as long as you keep getting up, you'll be where you need to be." Mineta added. Todoroki raised his head and nodded to them. And then, he simply walked off, ignoring the disbelief of his surrounding classmates. But Midoriya and Mineta saw it in his stride. There was now a greater purpose in his footsteps. And while he only won silver, it was clear he gained something much more valuable today.
The means to finally move forward.
"Apologize to me first damn it!" Bakugou screamed, rattling his restraints at Todoroki. Midoriya gave a long sigh as Mineta buried his face into his hands.
He just had to ruin it…
And that has been Chapter 35. And here we are, the end of the Sports Festival arc. While having more changes than the previous one, it's still just ripples in the pond. So I hope that I'm able to do something with the Internship week that will create waves.
"Don't play stupid, you've already planned something crazy. You sledgehammered Canon so bad, you'd need to glue it back together!"
Damn it Eris, stop spoiling things! But it's true, I've got something interesting in my head. It'll test, to the fullest extent, my ability to write as I'll be exploring philosophy and dipping my toes in heavy subjects. Consider it just as much as a trial for me as it is for our little grape rat. But the start of that won't be for another few updates. So do stayed tuned.
"There's that you've got to mention too."
Yeah... As you know, since the pandemic, I've been making two updates every month. Well, with how May ending on a Sunday, you'll have to wait three weeks between this update and the June update. This cannot stand. So I'll be making updates every two weeks now. Whether that means more chapters on average... We'll have to see.
"I don't think the readers would realize anything's different."
Probably, but that's enough about the future. What did you, my dear readers, think of this chapter? I know, despite Mineta furthering Todoroki's growth, things play out the same. But thinking about it, a person needs time to internalize the lessons they've learned. And that can't happen unless, at the very least, a day has passed. No one could instantly change... But no one stays permanently static either.
"Head's up, tha-"
NO! Bad! Anyway, next time, Mineta makes an interesting discovery while on break and gets pulled into a strange little side quest.
"I do hope y'all remember that magazine he and boltdolt found."
So with all that said...
Until Next Time. T1.
