Chapter 16

The rest of the festival had been amazing to watch. Even better than when she had competed herself! Every moment had Ichika at the edge of her seat. Some victors had been predictable, while others were quite the surprise. But all were intriguing to watch.

The first battle had been against Izuku and a general department student named Hitoshi Shinso. The fight had ended in favour of Izuku, though it had been an intense one. Short, but intense. It seemed Shinso had some brainwashing quirk and the moment Izuku had spoken to him - or actually yelled at him, the boy had him fully under his control. And it didn't take Shinso long to force Izuku to turn around and walk out of the ring.

Yet at the last moment, Izuku managed to snap out of Shinso's control by using his quirk. Though he broke two fingers by doing so, it was still amazing to watch him break free from the mental grasp Shinso had on him. After that, Izuku had remained silent, no matter how much Shinso had tried to make him talk. And in the end, Izuku managed to throw Shinso out of the ring.

The second match had been between Shoto and Hanta Sero, which Shoto had easily won. Though it had been a bit of an overkill. Freezing his classmate in mere seconds, along with Midnight and half of the stadium.

Though in the end, neither of them had won the festival. Izuku had been defeated by Shoto during their second round, while Shoto had placed second. True to his words, Katsuki had come out on top. Though the funny thing about that, was that the explosive teen was actually furious for having won!

Thinking back on it still made Ichika chuckle. That boy...

Her attention was turned towards a snoring Mirio. He laid eagle-spread on his bed, with Ichika using his chest as a pillow. The light of the moon glimping through the crack of the curtain casted a faint light over his disheveled golden hair.

Unlike Ichika, Mirio had quite the active day. Not only had he managed to pass the first event but also the second and for the first time Mirio had managed to get to the one on one battles. Winning battle after battle, until he had landed a spot in de finals and had to face off against Tamaki. And luckily enough, Ichika had been able to cheer her boyfriend on as he faced off against his best friend.

With Izuku out of the game, Ichika had asked Endeavor is she could be excused for a bit, to which the hero had complied. Having stated that the upcoming battles weren't worth watching, until Shoto would once again had to fight.

'We better go watch a battle that's worth our time.'

To anyone else it would have been a displeased grumble the way he had spoken. Yet Ichika knew the man well enough to know he had meant it as a compliment. Of course he would never admit out loud that he though Mirio was strong, he had once stated that he was 'skilled enough' to be deemed her boyfriend. Which, coming from a proud man such as Endeavor, was as close as a compliment one could get. Though he had hinted

So along with her mentor, Ichika had watched the intense battle between the two friends. Both of them had given it them all and surprisingly enough Tamaki had managed to block out the crowd, focusing only on Mirio during that time. Just two of the three Big Three students against one another. Yet Mirio had come out victorious in the end.

Ichika wiggled a little into a more comfortable position. Using her left hand to trace figures over Mirio's bare chest, as her brows slowly knitted into a frown. Her thoughts drifting to the last member of the Big Three, the three top students of UA who represented the top hero candidates of Japan. A title that had passed Ichika by due to her lack of motivation to become a hero.

Unfortunately Nejire had once again failed to reach the second event, having been too preoccupied with her surroundings and being amazed with everyone's quirk. And all in all having a good time, without really doing much. Yet she was powerful enough to be dubbed one of the Big Three. Perhaps not the brightest, but when it came to strength, she definitely had earned that spot. So there was no shame in losing for her. Everyone knew how strong she truly was.

A muscular arm snaked around Ichika's waist, pulling her closer to Mirio.

'Can't sleep?'

She looked up to meet one of his blue eyes looking at her tiredly.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up.' She pecked the skin nearest to her head in apology.

'It okay.' Mirio gave her a reassuring smile when she looked up at him again. 'You were moving around quite a bit. Something wrong?'

Shaking her head, she told him was only thinking about today's events. How proud she was of her brother, of all of 'her' students, as she liked to call class 1-A. But also how proud she was of Mirio. How proud she felt when she saw him hold his ground against Tamaki, someone she knew he deemed a strong opponent.

Mirio hummed contently, moving a little so he was now laying on his side. Ichika's head resting on one arm, his other one wrapped securely around her waist. Pulling her even closer to his warm body and placed a soft kiss on the crown of her head.

'I won, because I had my amazing girlfriend cheering for me.'

'You're so cheesy.'

He grinned, his head more clear now that he had fully awakened.

'That, my Angel,' he said cheerfully, 'is why you love me in the first place.'

He trailed his fingers over her back towards her side. Goosebumps followed after, his touch borderlining tickling and pleasant. A squeaky giggle slipped past her lips as she opened her mouth to reply.

'That would be those arms of yours.' Her fingers travelled from his chest to his bicep. Her green eyes admiring the bulging muscles as he flexed them, before they met his bright blue ones. 'Your cheesiness is the second thing I love about you. You should know that by now. Now shut up and go back to sleep'

His grin turned into a lopsided one, his eyes gleaming mischievously in the dim light of the moon.

'Well, I can't, now that I'm fully awake. I need to clear my mind first.'

'Do you want me to rub your back? It always helped Izuku to go back to sleep when he was younger.'

'Let's not talk about your brother, or any other guy.' His voice had dropped an octave as he leaned in to softly press his lips against hers. 'Not when you are laying naked in my bed, wrapped in my arms.'

He moved to press an equally soft kiss on her cheek and going to her neck, before returning to her mouth.

'I'd rather have you talk about me.'

Ichika's days off had come and gone in a blink of an eye and before she knew it, it was already Wednesday. Though unlike her usual schedule, she now found herself at Endeavor Agency once again. Though the reason as to why he had requested her presence had her dumbfounded.

Because the only reason why he had pulled her from her schoolweek, was because Shoto was doing his internship at the agency yet the boy was still tried his best to cross his father. So Endeavor now wanted Ichika to function as an example for Shoto. To show him what he could become - and better of course - under Endeavor's tutelage.

So now she stood before the towering hero, arms crossed as she glared at him. Insulted by his previous statement. How come the man could praise her - in his own strange way- one moment and insult her like this the next? She knew Endeavor wanted Shoto to take his place one day and perhaps even claim the number one spot. And she had been clear about her own ambitious. But the way the man had handled it was outrageous!

'You've made your point,' she grumbled as she tried to hold her tongue. 'Can I go now. If I can catch the next train, then I might be on time for my last period.'

'No.' His piercing gaze shifted from Ichika to some papers on his desk. 'You're here now, aren't you? Might as well stay for the day and show Shoto how it's done.'

When there came no response, he glance up and added; 'You are getting paid for today, so don't be an ungrateful child.'

Ichika clicked her tongue in annoyance, but agreed nonetheless. She should have been used to Endeavor and his antics, but that didn't mean she always agree with them or was happy about it. But she had to agree with the man, she was here already, so might as well make the best of it. Still, she didn't feel like being in Endeavor's presence right now. So she opened her mouth for permission to leave, when his commanding voice beat her to it.

'Now that we have that settled, go inform the Flaming Sidekickers to prepare to leave. We are taking a worktrip to Hosu. And yes, you are coming along as well.'

'Hosu?' This time it was Shoto to speak up. 'Why are we going to Hosu?'

'If the hero killer is following his pattern, then we know where he's going next. Which is Hosu city. So suit up and let's go!'

And that's how Ichika found herself in Hosu with Endeavour a handful of his sidekicks, and an intern. Patrolling the streets and on the look-out for any sign of Stain. Yet as the sun was setting, there was still no sign of the villain, much to the chagrin of Endeavor. Not to mention the growing tension between the number two hero and his son had made the others walk on their toes as they continued.

But with Ichika being Ichika and having won the favour of Endeavor for some reason, she decided to mingle herself in the silent family affair that was going on. It was suffocating, even if she was out in the open. So after taking a deep breath, Ichika walked up next to Shoto and started explaining to him the basics of heroing as they walked around the city.

'So you have to be sure you stay alert all the time, so...'

'You don't have to do this, you know,' Shoto suddenly interrupted her, though he seemed grateful nonetheless. His expressions having become more easily to read after his fight with Izuku. 'I can handle my old man myself.'

'I'm sure you can.' She flashed him a smile, before her green eyes shifted over to the stoic man walking in front of them. 'Besides, he's a big softy on the inside.'

'Watch your mouth, kid!'

'What, I'mnot telling Shoto anything new.'

She was met with two pairs of eyes glaring at her. One pair of piecing turquoise and one pair heterochromia eyes, one brown and one piercing turquoise.

'You are awful familiar with my father.'

'What can I say, someone needs to keep Endeavor for being too cold-hearted.' Upon hearing the said man grumble in anger, Ichika just rolled her eyes. 'Anyway, I didn't do it for you. I was getting sick and tired of whatever family drama is going on between the two of you. It's not professional behaviour.'

'Better not mingle with them,' Burnin warned, but Ichika ignored it. She had long since figured out she was able to get away with much more than the others. Even if it would probably result in Endeavor giving her an never-ending preaching.

'I know you are listening as well, so there's no need for me to repeat myself.' Endeavor made no indication that he heard her. 'As the number two hero, you should be able to keep work and private life separated. No matter how much you are provoked, you are an example to others.'

Then Ichika turned her head to see Shoto wear a shocked expression, though the corner of his mouth was twisted upwards in a suppresed smirk. He probably wasn't used to seeing someone scowling his father and with the rebellious act he had been showing he must have found it pretty amusing to witness. Not the Ichika took pride in it, but it was necessary. Otherwise she would be going mad!

'As for you,' her green glare was now on the younger teen, taking him by surprise. 'I don't care what the resentment you have towards your father. Whether it is just a rebellious phase or something deeper. Whatever it it, it is not what is expected of you here. You are an intern right now and I expect you to behave like one.'

Her eyes moved towards Endeavor. Yes, she was still pissed about that little stunt he had pulled today, but she would never let it get in her way while in public. Teasing, yes. Especially since Endeavor had showed not to care too much about her teasing and it helped show his more human side to his fans. But out in public it was expected for heroes to behave professionally and family drama did not belong there. No exeptions!

'The man walking before us might be your father, at this moment he is not! Right now, he is Endeavor, thenumber two hero of Japan and he deserves at least some form of respect.'

The look of surprise turned into a glare, before he looked away. Pouting like a child most likely. Though before anyone could reply, a loud explosion came from a couple of blocks away. Without a word, they hurried over to the commotion, with Endeavour in the lead.

Though somewhere along the way, Shoto got a text message and dashed off in the opposite direction, much to the chagrin of his father. But the boy didn't care. Instead he told him he was going to an alleyway at 4-2-10 Ekou street. Apparently a friend was in trouble and requested back-up.

'Send any pros that way once you can to back me up.'

And with that, the two-toned boy left, leaving a fuming Endeavor behind. Though he did continue his way towards the explosion, Ichika and his sidekicks following suit.

'Over there!'

Before they could even reach the site, something else had caught Ichika's attention. A small figure clad in yellow was fighting against a hideous monster. The green skin looked sickly and it appeared to have its brains on the outside of its body.

'A nomu,' she heard Endeavor grumble before he moved towards it. Shooting a low blazing fire at it as a k.o. warning shot. 'I came to Hosu in the hopes of catching the hero killer, but this nomu will have to do. Thanks, old-timer. I'm afraid I don't know you, but I'll handle it from here.'

Upon noticing the pro hero and his sidekicks, there was relieved commotion. Though when the fire died out and the nomu appeared to be unharmed, civilians panicked and ran to safety. The nomu moaned as Ichika made her way over to Endeavor, just when flames emitted from the nomu in a raging fire.

Thinking quickly, she rushed towards Endeavor. Using her quirk to reduce the flames as Endeavor analysed their opponent next to her. The small man that had been fighting it earlier turned out to be an elderly man, who had jumped away the moment the nomu shot the fire at Endeavor and him.

'Watch it, Todoroki,' the man warned as he flew mid-air. 'I think this guy has more than one quirk!'

'Is that even possible?'

Her question was immediately answered by the nomu itself as its muscles grew at incredible speed and jumped into the air.

'I see,' Endeavor stated calmly, still analysing. 'So that's how it is.'

He lifted his hand to shoot out another flame, but the old man was quicker and knocked out the nomu. Looking at the now knocked out nomu, Endeavor complimented the stranger, even if it did come out as a sneer.

'Leave him to my sidekicks,' Endeavor then continued, turning towards the man. 'They'll make sure that the cops take him in. There's an adres I need you to investigate for me.' He turned to face Ichika. 'Phoenix, you too. As for reinforcements for the others, Endeavor alone is more than enough.'

'Are you sure?'

'Of course I'm sure! Just go help Shoto!'

'Yes sir!' Reaching for her phone to navigate towards the adres, she turned towards the stranger. 'Follow me!'

With that, the teen ran off. Only glancing over her shoulder to see if the elderly men was following her. Judging from his previous movements, she was sure he was a hero. Or at least used to be one. And with the speed he had used to knock out the nomu, she wasn't surprised to see he was easily keeping up with her. Even with her phoenix wings out for acceleration.

'Pardon me for asking,' she began, her eyes trained on the road ahead. 'But what is your name?'

'Huh?'

By jumping in the air and using streams of air from his soles, the man could easily keep up with the fast pacing Ichika.

'Well, I don't know who you are, but you clearly have done some heroing world before. That much was clear from the way you handled that nomu.'

She heard him chuckle and looked over her shoulder for a moment. Then she glances down at her phone and back ahead once more. They were getting close to their destination! Then it hit her how disrespectful it might gave appeared and immediately apologised.

'Not that me not knowing you is any indicator though,' she quickly added flustered. 'I'm not really a hero fangirl. I just have a select few that I admire. All my hero knowledge probably comes from my brother. He's a real fanboy, with those notebooks of his where he writes down everything about every hero he knows. And I don't mean just the popular ones.'

And out came the word vomit. All because she thought she was being disrespectful towards the elderly man. Yet now she was bombarding him with useless information while heading over to an alley where Shoto was. What an impression she's made...

Yet to her surprise, the man next to her let out an amused chuckle. Them he actually started laughing! Was her mumbling really that funny to him? It wasn't like she had said anything useful, right? So what was this man laughing at?

'You remind me of someone,' he explained with a grin upon noticing her confused expression. 'He has this habit of mumbling uncontrollably as well. Anyway, the name's Gran Torino. And you are Phoenix, the rising star of Endeavor Agency.'

'Well, it's nice to meet you, Gran Torino.'

'Likewise, kid.' He flashed her a smile, before looking ahead. 'So, how far is it?'

'Not too long.' Ichika looked at her map as they ran into an alley. 'We should take the next one right and then a left.'

Though the moment they exited the alley, the pair stopped dead in their tracks. For on their right, walking out of an alleyway themselves, where three familiar faces.

'Izuku?'

'Why're you here? I told you t'stay in your seat!'

Before Izuku could even react, the elderly man was in his face. Quite literally, his booted foot had left an imprint on the surprised boy's face as he landed on the ground in front of him.

'Never mind what he's doing here. What all three of you're doing here.' Ichika stopped in front of the three students, here eyes scanning each and every one of them. 'What happened? And how did you manage to tie up the hero killer?'

'Does it even matter, Phoenix?'

She glared at the two-toned boy, telling him that it did in fact matter. That the man was a dangerous killer and they were just a couple of first-years.

Though with the sudden arrival of other pro heroes, her reprimanding was cut short. So with a sigh, she instead focused on the injuries. Luckily Shoto only had a couple of scratches, though visibly exhausted. His red and white hair was stuck to his forehead as sweet dripped off his brow.

Izuku was pretty best up. Once again he had broken his arm. But from the looks of it, he had also broken a leg. Or at least sprained an ankle. Why else was he being carried by a hero - who looked to be in bad shape as well.

Though Iida was the worst. Though he was able to walk by himself, his arms hung aimlessly down his body. His hero costume was broken and covered in blood. His helmet was gone, as were his glasses. Though the worst part was the look in his eyes. They showed horror and grief, which he tried to hide by hanging his head low. But Ichika noticed. When the wind picked up for a moment to mess with his usual styled blue hair, she could see the pain.

'Iida?' Her voice was gentle now as she walked up to the tall teen. 'We should wrap your arms up until the medics arrive.'

He didn't show any indication that he had heard her. He didn't even look up when she started to rip the fabric of her skirt. Only when she started to wrap up one arm, did he flinch. And that was all the reaction she got from him. Every time she looked him in the eyes, there was a distant look in them. And she couldn't blame him. Whatever had transpired in that alley, must have been traumatic.

It was only when Ichika inspected Izuku's wound - while giving him an earful - when Iida broke down. With tearstained eyes, the poor teen apologised to his friends for putting them in danger. To which Izuku apologised as well for not realising the state Iida was in - whatever that meant. While Shoto chided him for losing his composure.

Though Ichika only half noticed what was being said between the three. Instead, her attention was drawn to the sky the moment Gran Torino warned them to get down.

A flying nomu was heading their way. The left side of its face bleeding, where an eye was missing. Though before she could react, the thing had grabbed Izuku and flew off with him.

'Izuku!'

Without even thinking, her body moved on its own. Running as fast as she could, Ichika followed after the nomu, but it was just too fast. Even Gran Torino couldn't keep up with it! But suddenly there was a flash and then the nomu dropped Izuku, before dropping down itself. A knife pierced through its brain, Stain atop of it.

Ichika blinked, looking over her shoulder to verify that the villain was in fact no longer in their custody. Then she turned to look ahead again. Izuku was struggling to get back to his feet, but the hero killer was already moving. With one hand, he held down Izuku, while he used his other one to rip the knife out of the nomu.

'Phoenix, don't move!'

She glanced over to the smaller hero, her eyes filled with fear. Fear for the life of her brother. She had to save him, she had to! But how?

Then the booming voice of Endeavor filled the air. The anger evident in his voice as he told them one of the nomu had rushed their way.

'Wait.' He sounded slightly surprised, though still pissed. 'Is that..?'

'Endeavor.'

At the sound of his voice, Ichika just froze. It wasn't just the person who had spoken. But also the way he had spoken. So collected, yet with so much emotion - hatred - seeping through. It was terrifying! It took her all her willpower to turn her attention towards the hero killer again. It was the smartest thing to do, right? To keep an eye on the enemy.

Yet her body refused to face that dangerous man! Though slowly, Ichika was able to shakily face the glowering villain as he rambled on about fake heroes and the society they lived in. His piercing red eyes glaring at everyone. His whole presence intimidating as his shuffled towards the group of heroes. A group, if working together, should be able to take him on. Especially in his current state. Yet no one was able to move. Only Endeavor moved with his signature move towards the villain, only to stop midway.

'That guy.' His voice was exceptionally quiet as he looked at Stain. 'He's out cold.'

It was only then that Ichika dared to breathe again. Her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she felt sweat dripping from her brow. Never before had she felt this frightened! Immobilised by fear! And it was only after she had seen Stain being taken away, that she even dared to relax again. But that feeling, that suffocating fear would haunt her for the rest of the week. Never again would she forget that man's glare. Nor did she hope to ever see it again.