AN: This chapter marks the start of the Sports Festival! So I did it differently, because it wasn't my favorite thing to write as most. The third round is what is mostly seen, not this chapter, but the beginning is glazed over for other story related direction.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 14

Smoke permeated the air around his hands as he laughed which echoed throughout the playground. Deku was such a weakling. He wasn't going to do anything except be target practice to aid him as he became the future number one hero. To get to the top spot he had to step on the weak and defeat anyone who got in his way. This included Deku. He wasn't going to be anything except a waste of space. A useless, quirkless Deku. That's what he was. It was a fact of nature so Deku needed to learn not to go against it. He needed to stay down and stop getting in his way.

"What are you going to do huh Deku?" Katsuki sneered. "Pretend to be a hero? You don't stand any chance without a quirk."

"I- I'll s-stop you myself Kacchan!" Izuku's timid voice answered. The young boy faced in front of…his friend with his fist up shaking. He'd protect that other boy even if it meant fighting Kacchan.

Katsuki grinned with an almost sadistic pleasure as he punched his fist igniting his fist. A blast erupted out and Izuku jumped in fear as his eyes watered, lip trembled, and body shook.

"I'd like to see you try! You're not a hero Deku! You never will be! You're quirkless so that means you're useless!" Katsuki laughed as he brought his hand down on Izuku and used his quirk. A bright light and smoke covered the area and a squeak of pain–

Bakugou flew upright out of bed panting as his red eyes burned fiercely into his hands as if the explosion his dream self made woke him up. His heart felt like he had run a marathon and he shook his head furiously to shake the dream that kept playing on repeat even during consciousness. He had been having this dream for about a week now ever since Izuku and that Icy-Hot bastard blew up the gym with their heart to heart. When he saw the bandages wrapped around his burns and learned they could leave scars Bakugou couldn't help thinking about what he had done as a child to one person he out loud called a friend. Did Izuku have any scars from when they were kids? He knew that what he had done to him wasn't anything close to horrible from the bits Izuku told him, but the pressuring guilt and burning questions said otherwise.

Izuku was up early the next morning. It was the day of the Sports Festival and he knew Aizawa needed to be there early as a teacher and bring Izuku to his sessions for therapy and healing. Since the next week was going to be hectic, Hound Dog requested they meet that morning before. Izuku didn't mind if it was going to make things easier and he was going to be there anyway. Afterward he was meeting with Recovery Girl for a check up on his overall health and the burns. She was optimistic when she saw him a couple days ago and said slow and steady wins the race with his situation.

However, Recovery Girl was angry at him, but a look in her eyes said her anger was out of concern and her heart said while she loved that he was helping his classmates he needed to look after himself too for he was still healing. Izuku said he would, but he didn't say he wasn't sure if he could keep the promise. Regardless, the skin looked good and a few had blistered, but she said with this session they should be healed. He would have scars, but they wouldn't cover as much skin as they initially believed. After meeting with her it would be time to watch his classmates do their best so at six a.m. he was up to do what he could.

"Izuku. You didn't need to make breakfast." Shouta said, slinking out of his room at seven. He planned to wake up in enough time to make sure Izuku ate and he had his coffee, but the smell of said coffee woke him up before anything else could.

"Oh I know!" Izuku said as he moved the eggs around. "I was up and thought I could help out some!"

"You don't need to do that." Shouta said.

"I want to! You've been doing so much to help me I thought this was the least I could do." Izuku said as he set the eggs over some white rice in bowls. It wasn't much, but he could at least make something that would hold them until lunch.

"As your current guardian I'm supposed to take care of you, but if you're adamant in helping we can talk about it. I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?" Shouta asked.

"Nope." Izuku said with a grin.

"You know this cheekiness you disguise as being sweet is an act, I see it."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Izuku replied as that shit-eating grin only got wider as he sat the bowl down and turned to grab their drinks.

They then proceeded to eat together, making small talk about today's schedule and what Izuku would be doing. Izuku had been instructed to either stay with him in the commentary booth or he could sit with his class. Izuku said he'd probably sit with his class and Shouta said he was welcome to join them and to sincerely think about it because he was stuck with Present Mic. All. Day. Other than that they sat in a comfortable silence, but Izuku couldn't help feeling Shouta's gaze on him.

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Izuku's early morning session went well and he really liked just sitting down and talking with the other pro. Already he had met with the counselor three times since his first one and the hero was pleased when he returned after the first session. Izuku will keep it to himself that he may have howled in glee when Izuku told him he thought about what he wanted.

He thinks he wants to be a hero.

He wants to stay at UA High.

He wants to stay with Shouta as long as possible.

They touched on what to do with each of those desires. Nezu already agreed to testing him to see about staying enrolled even if it wasn't in the hero course. He was thrilled to learn Izuku was considering it and said he'll ask again after internships if staying in 1A was the endgame. Izuku agreed to the terms because he said needed to ask a hero a serious question that weighed on his decision. However, the last one wasn't necessarily weird, Izuku didn't know exactly how to describe it when he brought it up.

When he told Shouta what happened after waking up and his new desire to seriously consider being a hero, the raven haired man hugged him and told him he was proud. They both talked and Izuku agreed to see the quirk specialist in Hosu. Since they would go during internships it was perfect timing. A little too perfect, but Izuku remembered Shouta telling him that there was hardly any privacy in that rat's playground also known as UA. Afterward, Shouta got quiet. Or at least quiet for the man who preferred naps and coffee.

Izuku was beginning to have a gut feeling he had done something wrong. Izuku thought it might be that he was upset that Izuku asked about competing in the festival. He wanted to compete against his classmates and prove he wasn't falling behind. Despite the calmer exterior, Izuku could see the man got defensive. He explained he wasn't behind that while Izuku's health was much better he wasn't where he could strain himself. If they were to engage in combat Izuku would also be at a disadvantage. Izuku begged to differ on that one, but he wasn't telling Shouta that. Since they were allowed to use their quirks was Shouta's second main con. Even if he only used Blink it didn't seem to placate Shouta's worry. Izuku understood that right now his quirk was finicky, but the look in his eyes almost cried out in fear. Shouta never showed any signs of being afraid of his quirk so why was he so apprehensive about it? Izuku thought it best not to ask. The main reason was that the event was televised. That just screamed to his father and his lackeys that Izuku was being held at UA and showing him off. Teasing them to try and make a move. Izuku was convinced then that he couldn't risk it. Just being out in the public took a big enough risk. This would just paint a huge target on himself and scream 'I am here!' without the heroic connotation. So if it wasn't that, then Izuku couldn't figure what. Shouta was constantly looking at papers that he hid when Izuku came into the room. That morning wasn't the first time that Izuku tried to help. Hound Dog told him to talk to Shouta about it, but Izuku was scared. He was scared that Shouta would finally tell him it was time for him to go.

Izuku looked down at his arms and hands. Recovery Girl had already left and said Izuku could take the time he needed before coming out to join them at the stadium. She was right when they said it would scar, but it wasn't all that bad. Izuku smiled knowing he told Todoroki the truth when said he'd be okay with these new scars and some of his worst ones from the doctor weren't the same. They weren't as red as Todoroki's but it was easy to tell where the skin was discolored. The lines that once littered his arms were covered and Izuku thought it almost looked like plaid. Patch work he guessed. He no longer had to worry about infections and all that remained were dark splotches up his arms and a few on his hands. The door opening Izuku looked up expecting to see either Recovery Girl or maybe Aizawa, but this was someone he hadn't seen in a while.

"Excuse me. Recovery Girl isn't here, is she?" Toshinori said as he poked his head in the door.

"Oh. Hello Mr. Yagi. No, she isn't. She left to get ready for the festival. Did you need her?" Izuku said as the older blond man came in and sat across from him on the other bed.

"No, quite the opposite. Is everything alright Young Midoriya?" Toshinori asked as he motioned to the boy's arms.

"Yeah! My quirk got me in a little trouble a week ago, but Recovery Girl says I'll be fine." Izuku explained as he looked at his arms.

"That's good to hear." Toshinori said. He came to the office looking for him upon hearing from Recovery Girl she had to finish up with an overzealous teenager who was biting off more than he could chew. He was about to make small talk with him until Izuku beat him to it.

"Thank you for what you said the other day…All Might."

Toshinori's heart stopped and shut his mouth tightly to prevent himself from coughing up blood.

"You know?"

"I didn't quite recognize you at first until I started thinking back about what you said. Also All Might having a secretary sounded off to me too. I didn't want to bring it up to you because it never seemed like the right time and you didn't seem to recognize me. Well, that and I was afraid." Izuku explained as he put his head down in shame.

"Afraid of what my boy?"

Izuku snorted. "My father is your greatest enemy and it scares me what people will do with that information. As far as I know, you're the only one who truly knows here what he's capable of. The horrors he'd committed with nothing but a smile on his selfish face. I guess I was afraid that one of my favorite heroes would look at me like I was the enemy."

Toshinori sighed as he reached out and patted Izuku's fluffy curls. He told Aizawa he didn't blame a child for the sin's of the parents and that held true. It's parents who guide their children throughout life and if they choose to follow down the same path, or not, then that's their choice. This was the same child who helped him the other day although he may not know it. He visited Nana's grave the other day and told her about the boy he met. How he was the son of their nemesis and shined brighter than any smile. He gave him hope in the world that had gotten so dark. He said he made a promise to be there for the boy to make sure that fire didn't burn out.

"As I told you that day, he may have influenced your quirk, but it's what you do with that power that shows who you become."

Izuku's eyes snapped up to look at the deflated form of the number one hero in the hollow eyes. Green met blue as they wavered with determination and then tears started to well up.

"Can someone like me become a hero? A person whose father is the worst villain alive. A person who has hurt so many others. A person whose entire existence has caused pain and suffering." Izuku asked with a voice that held such honesty seeking determination yet wavering uncertainty.

He told Kacchan the other day he was still thinking about becoming a hero. He needed to ask All Might this question. Not as the number one hero he admired, but as the hero who has fought against the horrible man who called himself his father. The good that battled against the pure evil that apparently flowed in his veins. The man who said he was a murderer because he was the reason everyone he's ever tried to help has died. The good that only caused pain, suffering, and death.

"Young man." All Might said in a stern voice which caused Izuku to look up at him. Although still in his weakened form, Izuku felt the overwhelming power of the number one hero upon him. He also realized his filter wasn't working and he said all that out loud. "Your father is an evil man who doesn't care about those around him. He sees everyone as obstacles or pawns to get what he wants. We haven't known each other long, but you are nothing like him. If you want to use the power you have for good and be a hero then I will support that wholeheartedly. Everything I've heard you do has been nothing less than heroic. His crimes, sins, any injustice he's committed will never transfer to you. The people who died weren't because of you. You didn't tell the Nomu to kill those people. You didn't cause the death of anyone after that. You are innocent and no one expects a small child to be a hero. You're a hero for more than just the people you've already saved. You didn't want them to die and wanted to save them. You grieve for them and that's the first makings of an incredible hero. Compassion. The act of wanting to see others safe from harm whether it's from those who wish harm or from themselves."

Izuku was full on silently sobbing by that point. He was so worried All Might was going to make his worst fears and nightmares come alive. All the thoughts he had were going to be true. He was his father's son. He was a killer because he couldn't save anyone. All his choices ended in people dying. If Izuku thought about it, at least those people the doctor killed weren't alone. He just wanted to end their suffering and didn't want anyone else to feel what he did. The overwhelming hatred and despair. He was a hero even though he hadn't fought villains. He wasn't his father's son. Far from it.

"And what's the second?" Izuku asked through his tears.

"Meddling when you don't need to is the essence of being a hero." Toshinori said as he put a hand on his shoulder. After the seriousness of his words sunk in, he gave Izuku a grin. "I'm sure at that moment he didn't appreciate you prying, but I'm sure Young Todoroki is better for it."

Izuku laughed as he nodded and wiped his eyes. Shouta was right, no one in this school could keep a secret. "Yeah. He's going to be a great hero."

"And so are you. I'm sorry for what has happened to you my boy and I'm sorry that I at one point selfishly thought to use you to get to him."

"It's okay. I understand."

Despite talking with him and lifting him up, Toshinori felt guilty for thinking so cruelly and seeing on his face that Izuku really did understand. Originally Toshinori sought out the boy to use him to lure his father out of hiding. If he could get a read on his father then he might be able to pin him down and put a stop to him for good. The more he thought about that man it probably wouldn't have worked. He'd watch his son suffer before helping him or he'd send others to do his dirty work. This boy wanted nothing to do with his father and the work he did. Ironically, he wanted to be the opposite and Toshinori thought of it as some sick twisted karma. Asshole deserved it, but it gave him a good hearty chuckle. He didn't want to use this child anymore. He wanted to protect him like he wanted to do for everyone around him which led to a burning question.

"Young Midoriya, I have a question for you. Do you know about your uncle's quirk?"

"Yes." Izuku answered seriously. He knew about One For All. The quirk his father had been chasing for over a century. A quirk his father attempted to make him learn to see if he could replicate it. He couldn't do it and his father was livid at his uselessness. He lied when he told Shouta about it in the interview. He knew it was a secret that couldn't get out. Just like his father was a mystery, a myth, in the underworld of society, so was his quirk and the story and quirk born from it.

"I promise I won't tell anyone."

Toshinori chuckled. "I'm not too concerned about that. If you had any ill will you would have made a point by now, correct? As a hero you want to see others protected."

"Yes sir. Can I ask, and sorry if it's not my business and you don't have to tell me exactly who, but have you passed it on? My father mentioned he would be on the lookout for who would one day hold that power. He…was planning an attack on them because they'd be vulnerable at a young state. I just want to make sure that whoever that is, is safe."

Toshinori smiled. How could All For One's genetics flow through this child? He was nothing like his father. He was compassionate and held guilt for wrongdoings he never committed. One they would never see him ever commit. This just made his blood boil at the thought of what All For One did to Izuku to make him think he was nothing more than an accessory to murder.

"I haven't passed it on yet. I haven't found the right person and I don't wish to share the burden now that I know he's still out there. I will defeat him and leave it to my successor to take the power forward to become a greater hero in a better world."

"I think whoever it is will be great." Izuku said as his eyes looked up to the clock. It was past ten already. He was missing the Sports Festival! "Oh, the Sports Festival! I'm sorry All Might, but I promised everyone I'd cheer for them and Mr. Aizawa gets nervous when he can't see me."

Toshinori chuckled. "That's quite alright. I too need to be on my way."

They walked out together and were going their separate ways in the hallway. Izuku figured he might as well go see Shouta since typically everyone participates in the first event. From the sounds of it that echoed it had already started and was a wild ride.

"Hey, All Might." Izuku said getting the man's attention before he was too far away. "I know you don't want to burden others in dealing with him, but you can share that burden with me. If I'm going to one day become a hero then he's not just your enemy. My father is someone I have a responsibility to deal with too and no one should be alone."

"Man!" Kaminari whined as he leaned back in his chair. "It's a shame Midoriya couldn't participate with us. I bet he would did awesome!"

"You know exactly why, dunce face!" Bakugou yelled back. Although he wasn't voicing his agreement. Izuku would have kicked ass with his versatile quirk and that big head of his.

"I know, but still! It has to suck!"

Bakugou snorted as he leaned back in his chair. Everyone in the class was sad to hear Izuku couldn't participate in the Sports Festival. Izuku told them the main reason was that it was televised and he'd sit with them in the stands.

"Everyone listen up! We're about to go on!" Iida said, bursting through the door.

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"Katsuki Bakugou will give the student pledge!" Midnight announced.

Bakugou walked up to the stage with his hands in his pockets. Behind him he could hear the whispers of the other students. That he only got to do it because he was first in the heroic entrance exam. That may be true, but that only showed his drive to get to his goal. Bakugou didn't know what his goals were really anyone besides the more childish one of becoming the Number One Hero. A main goal, finding Izuku, was already completed…

"I just wanna say…I'm gonna win. I'm going to win because as a hero I'm going to strive higher than anyone else to make sure the people, especially the ones I care about are safe. Whether it's from villains, you extras, or myself. Find where each of us stand on the pillar of greatest to rise to the top. So I'll make my pledge here to be the strongest and you better do the same. You think I don't deserve this, then come at me and find out why I'm going to win." Bakugou said as he then turned around and walked off the stage ignoring the boos he got from some of the other classes.

This was the first step in being a hero. His eyes were trained to the ground as he walked. He had a lot on his mind. Who was he? What kind of hero hurts people? Leaves scars of those they claim to care about? He vowed he was going to become a hero to find and save Izuku. But that goal was accomplished so now what? Was he just some simple extra who was becoming a hero just so he could say he helped others and make up for being a…bully. Izuku deserved more than that. He deserved a friend that would watch his back instead of blowing it up.

"The first event will be an obstacle course!"

That was why he was going to win. He already saw his weaknesses. He just needed to get past them.

Izuku ran quirky down the hall. Present Mic was pretty loud and he could hear that the first event had started already. He needed to hurry or he was going to miss it. He told the others he'd take notes and help them out if possible. Kacchan said he was only allowed to help him and no one else. Izuku thought that wasn't fair. He also was going to see if he could talk to Todoroki. They hadn't spoken much since that day in the nurse's office as Izuku wanted to give him space and have the other boy approach him first. Considering what happened last time it might be the best. Izuku turned the corner and slammed into what felt like a brick wall. He hit the floor and felt an intense gaze and burning heat wash over him. He carefully looked up into the burning face that was Endeavor. Izuku had only been intimidated by a couple people with nothing more than a gaze. He knew this look. He had seen it before in his father. A man obsessed with power and would do everything, even unmoral deeds, to get it with enough tenacity to see to it. The most dangerous kind of people.

Bakugou was pissed as he kicked at the field. He currently was in second place overall after the first event, the obstacle course, losing barely to Todoroki. At the last moment that bastard put up an ice wall preventing him from entering first and was able to slide by. He looked around to the stands hoping to see Izuku's cheering smile, but saw it was empty. Where could he be?

"I heard Class 1A has a dead weight." a voice sneered and the entirety of Class 1A turned around to face a smug blond. Everyone's eyes narrowed in on the student from 1B, Neito Monoma.

"What was that?" multiple voices rang out.

"I mean, it's no secret that you're missing a student because he just isn't up to the challenge. Not to mention your whole class got attacked by villains putting your poor teacher in peril. It's just sad you're all unable to live up to the expectations of being in the hero course especially your new transfer student. I do wonder how long he'll stick around for."

Everyone's eyes narrowed, zeroing on their newest target. Although this blond didn't know anything about Izuku, they wouldn't allow this injustice. Despite the cavalry battle about to start and they all were going to strive to get the most points, they had at least one side quest to accomplish: taking a shot at this asshole.

Despite not coming in first in the cavalry battle, Bakugou was smug about how it ended. He ended up getting a couple shots at that 1B bastard and knocked him out of the competition. It was also fucking entertaining to watch the others in the class do the same. Between Sparky zapping him, Ponytail throwing a putty at him, and even Icy-Hot freezing him in place he hoped he learned not to talk shit about Izuku…who still hadn't fucking shown up! He was going to take his break and find him.

"Bakugou. May I speak with you a moment privately." Todoroki said before Bakugou could walk off.

"Make it quick asshole." Bakugou said as he got up and followed the other out into a secluded hall.

Todoroki had been thinking all day. When it came time for the events he was focused on the path ahead, but during the downtime his thought revolved around one person, Midoriya. He thanked the boy for giving him space to figure himself out, but he wanted to talk to him before the festival began. However, he never showed up. From what Bakugou said this morning, he had a session with Hound Dog and Recovery Girl, but those shouldn't have taken too long. Also Bakugou had been acting odd all week and now it was more obvious than ever. Something the other boy said stuck out to him though and he had to know.

"I know you care about Midoriya."

"No shit." Bakugou answered as he narrowed his eyes.

"Your speech."

"What the fuck about it?"

"You mentioned protecting those people from yourself. Do you have any intention in harming Midoriya?" Todoroki asked as he looked Bakugou in the eyes with the iciest and most heated glare he could muster.

"What the fuck half and half!? I'm not going to hurt Izuku!" Bakugou said, stepping toward him. If this bastard kept talking he wouldn't make it to the last event. They could fight it out here and screw being disqualified.

"I didn't think you would either as you seem to have his best interest and protect him. He doesn't seem like the type to tell someone they're hurting him even if they're close. My apologies for making a baseless assumption. At least we seem to be on the same page."

"What fucking page?"

Todoroki looked down at his left hand before clenching his fist. "I wanted to talk to him more and understand him. He's helped me more than he knows. I wanted to ask him a question, but I can't seem to find or I was concerned you might have done something to scare him off."

"You can take that assumption and shove it up your ass. I will NEVER hurt Izuku. Not anymore and the fact you noticed just means I'm doing a piss poor job at hiding it until I can talk about it." Bakugou snarled. His next therapy session wasn't until next week. For the moment he and Hound Dog decided to move their appointment until right before internships so he could focus on the festival. He wasn't sure if he could contact him and ask for help to work things out. Already they'd gone over a couple breathing exercises to help calm himself down when he got angry, but every time he couldn't control himself it was always involved Izuku. Hound Dog said he needed to figure out his questions then seek answers and that might mean talking to Izuku about it. He couldn't bother that nerd with his problems when he had his own to deal with. "I haven't apologized."

"For what?"

"I'm not going to completely spell it out for a moron like you, but while I might be Izuku's friend, I wasn't always. I used to beat the shit out of him. I punched bruises that probably went down to the bone and left burns on his skin that probably scarred. Yet, that little shit looks at me like I'm the best thing since sliced bread and I can't figure out fucking why. I won't feel that Izuku will be completely safe from me until I apologize. Not until I can make sure he's okay." Bakugou said before walking off. This was a waste of time and he wasn't holding hands and singing campfire songs with Icy-Hot. Aizawa, Eyebags, his parents, and Hound Dog were fucking bad enough. He needed to find where Izuku went anyway.

"Bakugou."

"What?" Bakugou groaned.

"I know you don't want any aid, but Midoriya is my friend too so I'll help you ensure his safety."

"Tch. You better."

Abandoned buildings no one dared go toward were perfect places to hide out. It was so easy to fool the heroes too! It was almost right under their noses too as Shigaraki grinned at the sight of their new base and with a new start meant they could finally build the League of Villains. Finally the Master could see for what he was worth. A main player in this game's goal, that was to break society for the wrongs they've committed. If only they weren't so insistent about having this crazy fool join them. They wouldn't get anywhere if they could never agree.

"So you want to recruit me?" The man in the red mask and tattered clothes asked. His hands were kept trained on his weapons that were nestled in the holders as he eyed the two in front of him. In an instant he could strike these two if they dared to do anything.

"Yes and no. I want to destroy anything that pisses me off and I need someone to get their hands dirty recovering someone of importance." Shigaraki said before pulling out a photo and holding it up. A old one sure, but would do the job or letting this man see his target. "See this little brat. He belongs to my master and he's escaped. I'm supposed to find him, but I request assistance with this boring side quest. He's in my way, but I don't want to upset the master. I'm sure UA has locked him tight, but they'll let their guard down soon enough. That's when you and us are given the chance to grab him. I don't care if your get your blades a little dirty either."

"I don't do favors and you losing a kid isn't my problem. You have no conviction or true desire. You spill blood for the sake of chaos."

"No desires huh? I have a desire to see this present society crash and burn. A stupid NPC who is lost to this society and the heroes that you say infect it. They say they protect him, but at the cost of their own lives or for the sake of thousands, I don't think so. An individual with blood on his hands parading around as a hero. Nothing could be more disgusting. Would you say it would be best to remove this player? That child you say isn't your problem, oh, he will be."

Red eyes widened as a knife flew passed his face, barely grazing it. What he was once holding was gone and would be no more. Nothing more than a once minor pain, just like the fresh cut. A cracked grinned appeared as he turned around to see the same knife buried in the wall behind in stabbing straight through the picture of Izuku Midoriya.

AN: That's setting up for ominous next arc huh? The next chapter finishes up the sports festival and we get into my favorite parts of this story being basically all arcs after! It's gets a little more exciting or more fights and such! Hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

POST NOTE:

Fair warning about my writing style with characters that can be addressed differently especially for MHA! I can explain it more if you want, but long story short, the way I address characters and switch with names, depending whose headspace the narrator is in, is on purpose. It's not me being be dumb or something.

Just a quick reminder that this story already has 50 completed chapters (posted elsewhere) and the minor rewrite is being cross-posted here! I won't change big moments, but mainly fill in gaps and put in moments I thought of later! Just wanted to share a work with another audience! I hope you're all enjoying it regardless!