I did the best I could on this chapter and hope it's enough. I did my best to portray the fights rightly and had fun writing it. But I hope that it was fine in the end since I suck at writing action. hehe :D
Uploaded: 07/20/19
When Izuku came back, he was just in time to see Kacchan's fight against Momo and Yosetsu Awase. Kacchan being Kacchan, needless to say, the fight was tough. Not for his friend, but for the other two contenders who found it hard to keep up with his friend's wild and fast attacks. The two temporarily formed an alliance and even still they were no match for his friend's viciousness with the way he uses his explosions to increase his mobility and using the shrapnels of his blast as distractions.
The 1-B student was the first one to go when Kacchan's powerful explosion sent him rolling and throwing him out of the ring. Momo didn't stand a chance and followed suit next. 1-A's Vice-president didn't stand a chance against his best friend's attack and was pushed out of the field the next minute.
Just like that, the match was over and as always, he was in awe of how powerful his childhood friend was. No doubt a match between Todoroki and Bakugou would no doubt explosive—no pun intended—because in all of their tests, his ice and fire quirked classmate didn't use all of his power in it yet he could defeat all of them easily.
Todoroki's match against Fumikage and Mashirao, hesitant he was to call it a fight, was over in a heartbeat. His classmates never got to approach Endeavor's son as he unleashed large ice that was as tall as the stadium itself and freezing them inside it. Tokoyami and Dark Shadow's figure could be seen inside the white misty ice as the only dark silhouettes there.
He swallowed hard and his heart sped up. Whether it was excitement or fear he didn't know exactly, but nonetheless, all he knew was that his heart rate really just flew off the charts just looking at the raw power of Todoroki. He knew that when they fought the odds would be against him.
As if sensing his gaze, the camera caught his dual quirked classmate narrowed his eyes looking directly where they were. He knew that the look was meant for him. He gazed back at the other defiantly regardless if Todoroki saw it or not. It felt like it lasted forever, and might as well had for him with the intensity of Todoroki's gaze, but in truth, it was only for a mere seconds before he turned and returned inside.
"Good luck with that Midoriya," Mineta who sat behind him said and patted his back.
Good luck? I'll need more than good luck. He was confident in his abilities sure, but he knew Todoroki was leagues above him that it'd be an uphill fight for him when they eventually fought.
The crowd cheered, and Present Mic's voice thundered the stadium at his narration of events, but Izuku let all that pass by his other ears focusing on what just happened earlier.
"With that, the first part of the third round of Sports Festival is over! We will have a fight minute break before resuming the event, so better rest up while you can greenhorns!" Present Mic declared with enthusiasm opposite of Aizawa-sensei.
Various Heroes—even Endeavor—came to the ring and slowly destroyed the ice trapping their classmates.
"That was awesome," Kirishima commented solemnly, "but don't you think it was a little extreme?" His brow furrowed in thought.
He silently agreed with Kirishima's statement. It was over the top but he knew his classmate did it to prove a point to him or his dad. Possibly both of them. Glancing at Kacchan, who had a neutral expression and had his arms crossed looking deep in thought, he wondered if he had anything to say about Todoroki's match.
"He didn't maim and hurt the two of them, so it's fine," Izuku replied, trying to contain his mess of emotions. He got his notebook out and wrote the near maximum potential of Todoroki's quirk. He speculated that his flames were equally as powerful as his ice if his classmate did not refrain from using it. Whilst writing, he noticed his handwriting was a little shaky. Snap out of it! You're just worrying too much.
He breathed deeply clenching and unclenching his fist. There is no need to fear it, Izuku. You already knew this when you accepted his challenge.
"Are you okay, Deku?" Uraraka asked concern written all over her voice and face as she looked at his shaking writing hands.
Kacchan scoffed patting his back making him accidentally lean forward and messing up his writing. "Don't worry 'bout damn Deku. He's just nervous." He looked at his best friend and he looked at him strongly daring him to deny it, but he instead sighed knowing he's busted.
"Kacchan's right, I knew he was powerful, but he surpassed my expectations. I'm just worried." Would he even last a second against Endeavor's son? What they saw was just the ice part, what more if he decided to use his fire? He felt scared yet excited in wanting Todoroki to use his fire. "I'm worried I can't match that."
"Don't worry," Uraraka stated. "You got this." Her smile lifted his worries away and he wished he could've said more to cheer her up earlier.
He let out a shaky smile as he chuckled, "thanks for the vote of confidence," he said this just in time for Todoroki to come back with their other two classmates. Mashirao kept gazing at Fumikage and Todoroki looking downtrodden and solemn as he took a seat.
"Couldn't even come close to him," Ojiro muttered bitterly while Fumikage said nothing and crossed his arms eyes closed looking deep in thought.
For the rest of the five minutes, he tuned out the rest and focused on the things he'd seen that included the quirks of their 1-B schoolmates. He needed to write it down before he forgets even the small details.
In the five minutes they'd been given, Iida returned from whatever he did looking somber. The rest of them could see he was red-faced, especially on the nose and cheeks, and he was slightly snuffling with a runny nose. He stopped writing and was about to ask if he was fine if Kirishima didn't comment about it first.
"You okay, bro?" he said.
He, along with Katsuki and Uraraka, eyed their eyeglass wearing friend with concern. "Yes," Iida nodded firmly, but he could see the denial behind those eyes. Judging from Kacchan's unblinking neutral gaze, Uraraka and Kirishima's frown, it looked like his friends didn't believe Iida like him. "I'm fine, thank you for the concern though. Don't let me bother you guys, it's nothing." He smiled but for Izuku it felt out of place because he could see that it was forced. Iida shouldn't have to hide something if it looks like it was hurting him, but he couldn't say anything or call him out because he knew Iida would tell them eventually.
He and Uraraka glanced at each other, her expression full of concern but he shook his head hoping she'd get the message of not forcing it out of him. Even Kacchan knew not to force it out of their friend.
Izuku patted Iida's shoulder hoping that his friend would get better even with that small act.
"Okay!" the voice hero screamed jovially, "It's round two of the third part of the festival! You better hold on to your seats because this will only consist of one on one match, unlike the first round!"
The spot was then given to Midnight who raised her hand and the roulette spun once again. He found himself restless as the digital roulette stop and he froze with eyes wide open when his name popped up first.
His enemy was, any second now, his heart raced as his anticipation getting the better of him. Slowly the roll stopped.
"Juzo Honenuki," he muttered.
Okay, from what Ibara-san had said to him, Juzo can turn anything he touches soft. A direct statement of his quirk that left most of its applications still left to be desired. Can Juzo still be affected by the softened ground or is he immune to the effects of his own quirk? While he was at it, how far does can his abilities reach out? Does it affect people? How long can he hold it? So many questions but he didn't have time to find the answer to it all.
That was not counting his martial abilities and personality. He simply did not know anything about the guy to give any conclusions and plan in advance unlike him and his classmates who had been on the center light with their performance on the USJ Incident.
He turned to Katsuki who sported a wide grin, "you better win Deku or I'll kick your ass. Got it?"
Uraraka pumped her fist and her eyes shining with confidence. "You can do it, Deku-kun!"
He nodded with enthusiasm at his classmates. Glancing at his friends, and subsequently meeting eyes with Todoroki as he stood up to leave, the two of them into each other. Izuku's stare morphed to a defiant glare and his fist curled.
"I won't lose on this round!" he muttered determinedly. He can't. He made a promise to fight his friends. To fight Todoroki and make him use his fire and he would make sure to would fulfill that!
Looking away, he turned and exited their bench.
He and Juzo exited towards the center field at the same time.
"Yosh! For the first battle, we have the 1-A's President Midoriya Izuku!" Grandiosely the hero waved his arm to the other side, "and his opponent, one of the recommended students, Honenuki Juzo from 1-B!"
He looked at Juzo—a pale teen that had angular and a lipless face revealing his teeth giving him a skeleton-like appearance and his hair had similar hue as his skin—in front of him with wide eyes. A recommended just like Todoroki. Clicking his teeth at his luck, he grinned feeling his blood pumped fast to see how far will he be pushed by the other.
The crowds roared, too eager for the fight to begin.
With a wave of Midnight's hand, their match has started.
Juzo ran towards him and Izuku did the same. Knowing what quick his enemy now, he jumped and with fist flowing red with One for All like an uncontrollable river. Gritting his teeth, he screamed out the pain that threatened to rip his arms as he smashed the ground! The field exploded sending debris flying everywhere. Juzo jumped back arms crossed and knees tucked.
Before he could he react and send him flying away, Juzo flipped and skidded on the rough ground. He prepared to flick Juzo, but his eyes widened when he sunk to the ground.
His eyes darted left and right, looking for anything that might give away his position but his opponent was not seen anywhere. Juzo can sink into the ground? He wondered and tucked that little fact away.
Juzo jumped out of the ground a few feet away from him causing Izuku to reel back wide-eyed and steeled himself quickly. Rearing his fist, he punched once again but he sunk again and stopped midway but kept his stance for anything that may fly out of the ground.
He gasped and sidestepped when Juzo dived out of the ground springing at him. Hands grabbed and pulled him down causing to go rolling. He gnashed his teeth when rocks hit him as he rolled. Stopping his roll, he quickly stood. The blank and ruined field was all he saw. Juzo disappeared once again. Red streaked electricity amassed and ran through his arms. The ground shook and cratered when his fist hit the earth cracking the floor more and rocks flying everywhere.
His opponent came out of the ruins and Izuku dashed towards him fist raised only to stop and slow down as the solid ground turned to mush. He walked in wet cement. A single gesture of his arms, a red portal swallowed him and he found himself on where he stood before. But still, he was still slowly swallowed by the soft ground.
"Damn." He bit. What can he do if there's no land to walk on? How deep does it go!
He had to at least keep Juzo away from him. He reared his fist back and punched. The resulting wind blew away the ground like water splattering everywhere and still no sign of the 1-B student. Juzo had to be somewhere, but where!?
No matter how deep, he'd keep blowing the liquified ground away. Spinning his extended left arm slowly, a portal swirled in front of him. If this didn't get his enemy's attention then he didn't know what would. It was a simple matter to punch it and bracing himself from the coming impact. He didn't have to wait long before the howling wind came above pushing him deeper in the soft ground.
He reeled back wide-eyed as Juzo approached him swimming fast like a fish unlike him! Closing his eyes, he willed portals to cover him and the gargling water-like substance changed to one of whirling wind. Prolonging the battle would not be good against someone like Juzo who can wait for him to tire and soften the entire ground.
"No matter what it takes!" Punch after punch he struck the deceivingly soft ground. The power of his punch was less because he had to avoid injuring himself. Even with less strength behind it, wave after wave, the soft ground swayed as if hit by storm winds. Juzo's dark form stood out on the dark liquid and he opened his arms wide.
You won't escape this! The multitude of portals that opened before Juzo quickly closed as he closed his arms. He grits his teeth when the portals drained him of his energy faster than he thought and still not a speck of Juzo elsewhere. Izuku didn't take any chance and added more in case he swims away regardless of the guy nowhere to be found. He let himself drop into the watery ground once more with a huge splash. He kept turning around looking for Juzo and blinked when the dark spot he saw grew bigger and portals opened before Juzo who evaded it with the deftness of a fish.
He knew it what was about to happen and was helpless and unable to move like before! Izuku spluttered and lost air and could do anything about it. Wait!
He held his breath and waited for Juzo. He stopped himself from smirking he his opponent grabbed and pushed him before he willed warps into existence. The gurgling water became the roaring wind and he swallowed air as like a hungry man.
"You're in my territory now!" He roared.
Black and red lightning streaks ran on his arms and overpowered Juzo's hold on him before reversing their position and pushing the teen down followed by swiping a warp that swallowed him whole. Everything was silent for the gnashing Izuku even with the wind on his ear. The tension on his body loosened and he grinned when Present Mic declared with infectious vigor, "Juzo is out! Midoriya wins!" followed by thunderous cheers that deafened him for the umpteenth time.
He landed on the grass and knelt immediately with heavy breaths. "He won." His eyes saw double and his breath erratic as his heartbeat but it was all forgotten in the thought of his earned victory.
Even though it cost some, he still won against Honenuki Juzo. He wondered if the gap between him Todoroki will be bigger than this and was all recommended students this good. Without a doubt, he was leaning on yes. All of UA's recommended was good. Momo had a good memory, knows how to apply things she learned and knew how to use her quirk effectively. Juzo was good with trap and suppression and he doubted that he would win it if it weren't for his first quirk. Todoroki was a force of his own even without using his other half and he just blinked at his challenge earlier. Now he knew the difference between the rest of the students and the recommended ones. There was clearly a gap between the two, and one he needed to fill the gap soon.
With that in mind, he had a goal after the exam. Izuku shook as he stood, his knees nearly giving up on him, but he still made it back to the benches alright after a quick drink of water.
Izuku wasted no time gathering data on the following matches of the others.
Todoroki and Shiozaki's match was exactly what he expected; full of destruction and ice flying everywhere. Shiozaki held on, but her plants were no match for his classmate's ice which wrought destruction to the field and her plants. He had to blink a few times and look away from the ice flying their way. Kacchan grinned menacingly at the thought of "showing" him his place.
Shinso and Kendo's fight surprised him. Kendo didn't say anything throughout the fight and dealt with his friend with Martial arts equal to Ojiro. In this fight, he saw what his friend was made of when he stood his ground against the physically superior quirked Itsuka Kendo. For Shinso to have lasted several minutes against Kendo spoke of his martial skills. The match was close as even the 1-B girl used her quirk, Shinso avoided and attacked with a precision he'd seen on their tailed classmate.
Despite all his friend's effort, he lost the match to Kendo when he fell for her feint and he was push back out of the ring. Despite losing, he cheered for him with Uraraka and Kirishima going along with it. His new friend proved his point by showing that he can match the hero course students. He could see the drive of Shinso to enter the hero course on his match against Kendo.
Iida and Bakugou's match was hard as Todoroki's. Kacchan was fast and but Iida was faster and knew how to navigate around him. The battle was fast, but Kacchan slowly closed in Iida while keeping the other away and in the end, Iida was blown out of the ring. He didn't know why, but was it him or was Iida slower than usual?
"Round two is finished!" Present Mic announced. "It's time for the third part! Who will win!? Is it the headstrong Bakugou? Todoroki and his unbreakable ice? The determined Midoriya? Or the big sister of 1-B; Itsuka Kendo? We'll see now who fights who in the roulette!"
The names now spun faster now that it was just the four of them and he found it hard to breathe as he looked at the digital roulette without a single blink. The stop was sudden as its start and was left breathless at the names displayed. Todoroki Shouto vs Midoriya Izuku.
Not one of everyone's words and reactions was even noticed for he only had his eyes on the names. Is it fate? Destiny? He wondered because for him and Todoroki to be granted the chance to see if whos will was stronger felt preordained. He expected the first fight to be him against Kacchan or Kendo.
"—after the five-minute break."
He blinked when hands waved near his vision. "What? Uh..," he stuttered glancing all around.
"Are you okay, Midoriya?" Iida asked.
I should be asking that, he thought while looking for cracks at his friends' expression. "Yeah," he said instead of saying his thoughts. "Just uh…thinking and preparing myself."
"Feh," Kacchan huffed. He spluttered hunching forward when Kacchan and Kirishima patted his back at the same time. "You better get your shit together and beat halfa or I won't forgive you! Got that?" his childhood friend glared at someone behind but he already knew who.
"Do your best, Midoriya." Was the redhead's only words.
"You made it Deku-kun!" Uraraka cheered though there was a hesitant smile on her face that made his heart clenched tightly for it reminded him of his mother's smile every time they visit his dad's grave. "You too Kacchan!"
"Good luck Midoriya," Jirou said glancing at Todoroki and Kacchan.
"He needs more than just luck," Momo muttered.
"Who do you think will win in this fight?" he heard Sato ask.
"It's hard to see," Tokoyami replied.
Izuku quickly excused himself but not before meeting Todoroki's gaze directly on the opposite side of the stairs. He kept clenching and loosening his fist from his shaking as he walked to the exit. Plenty of thoughts ran in his mind, but what reigned was this was the last part of the third round. Only four of them remained. Three of which passed the rigorous two grueling activities best as they can. They would not easily lose to him, this was a fact he knew without a doubt. Not one of the contenders left could be underestimated for each of his potential opponents had attributes greater than those he had. Kendo had martial prowess, Katsuki had the vicious tenacity and quick thinking, and Todoroki had quirk prowess greater than all of them combined!
He prepared himself for the next match with deep heavy breaths for he knew it would his hardest battle. Between Kendo, Kacchan, and Todoroki, the only one he was confident in facing was the sole 1-B student. Though he didn't underestimate his chances with Kendo for she was fearsome in close range as seen before.
Todoroki was not just powerful with his quirk alone, but he'd seen some of his moves in training to know he was well trained in martial arts as well. How good, he can't say but what he was sure of was Todoroki was better than him in that regard. Though, thinking deeply about it, his martial prowess was only second to his quirk proficiency.
He had to beat Todoroki at close range without being touched or evade him throughout the match.
He looked up when he turned on the corner. The hulking figure of Endeavor took his breath away as he stood before him. Just like Todoroki, he had the calm yet intimidating look that pierced his soul and staring at it directly down to pat.
Izuku breathed deeply. "E… Endeavor."
"Midoriya Izuku." He shivered at the coldness of the way the pro hero stated it. No feelings, but just cold hard statement very much unlike his flame which usually represented passion and life. "I've watched your fight. A warp quirk and enhance strength. A wonderful quirk indeed. You create so much wind pressure by just a single punch and flick. A power like All Might."
If possible more, the coldness crept into his chest as if frozen by Todoroki's ice. Does Endeavor know? Izuku doesn't know and he was afraid to know the answer. "What…," he looked down fists clench tight and thought of Todoroki meeting possibly the same gaze for the rest of his childhood as he was trained and conditioned to beat All Might. "What're you talking about?"
Meeting his eyes even for a second he said with all cold feeling he could muster. "Excuse me, I have to go."
As he walked passed the hero and glanced back, the cold never really went away and thus, were at an impasse at looking at each other stoically. Does Endeavor know about One for All? Like All Might, he repeated. Judging by the pro's choice of words, he doesn't. All observations like his son said earlier.
"It is my Shouto's duty to surpass All Might."
The cold feeling in his chest became colder and hearing Shouto's scorning voice when they talked earlier. I will beat you without using his damn quirk! The thundering in his chest turned to something else just listening to the man's words echoing all over again.
"It will no doubt be a good test for Shouto. Don't disgrace yourself in it. That's all I want to say. Excuse me for taking your time before the match."
His fist curled and trembled. It was one thing to hear such truths from another person but it was vastly different from seeing it. Todoroki Shouto's words rang true to Izuku and he had to wonder how could his classmate live through it. This man was a hero?
"I－," damn it, don't stutter now! "I am not All Might."
Endeavor huffed but he turned to set his gaze on the hero who met his with the same cold indifference. "That much is obviou—"
"And Todoroki Shouto is not you either!" he swallowed his fear and whispered icily loud enough for the other to hear. "We will never be your or All Might." He left Endeavor standing there and headed for the field without looking back nor thinking back on it for he needed a clear head in this fight. "Please, let him be himself." He muttered the last part loud enough to be heard even in the distance.
All he could think of as he walked away from the hero was he knew why Todoroki had such anger behind his aloof eyes. If he could lessen the burden of his classmate—even by just a little— by making him accept who he was in this match. Win or lose in the end, it will be worth it.
The crowd's cheer if possible became more deafening than it already was and the corners lit aflame when he entered the field and climbing the stairs of the elevated ring they'd fight in. "On the right side, a recommended student that continues to win match after match in a landslide and leaving a trail of ice, Todoroki Shouto!"
Recommended student. The word echoed in his mind. This would be harder, possibly the hardest, than all the match he had earlier for he knew this classmate of his was gonna be tough.
"On the left side, the student that remained undefeated at the first and second part through sheer perseverance! The one that can disappear in a nick of time and 1-A's Class representative, Midoriya Izuku! Who will win and what kind of fight will they show us?"
All words passed by his ears when he stared determinedly right back at Todoroki. Everything faded and it was just him and his classmate in front of him. No matter how hard it was going to be, he can do this! He had a point to prove and he would not lose until he achieves it.
"You made it."
He huffed. Of course. I want you and the world to know that I am here! I am here to be the hero that my father was. To be the hero All Might is. Was what he wanted to say.
"Todoroki," he instead replied already on his stance. "Use everything you have or you won't get past me." Todoroki's gaze hardened and became colder but he remained unperturbed. He matched it, at least to try controlling his erratic nerves.
All of them in this Sports Festival went in with nothing but their one hundred percent. Some lost, some won, yet they learned what they lacked, what their limit was. All for becoming a better hero. He won't let a hero that half-assed it win without giving it their all! Does he even know how many tried and did their best to enter UA and still lost? Or how even their best was not enough, and yet here his classmate was fucking with them by succeeding despite using only his half! If that was not a slap to them, then he doesn't know what was!
He will give it his all no matter what! "For the people that supported me." Mom, Yagi Toshinori-sensei, Kacchan. "I will beat you!" He pointed his fist at Todoroki.
His mind ran many simulations of what-ifs, what could be, and what will. It all flashed in his mind like a movie but with different versions of events. Stop overthinking things, Deku! Just do it! Kacchan's reminded him.
He'll come at me with ice. He knew it so surely and he waited for it with bated breath. No need to hold back.
"Start!"
Ice crackled louder and exploded all over the place with a single flick of his finger. It may not break his finger like it used to, but it stung nonetheless and he could only grit his teeth at that. He didn't let the opportunity go because Izuku followed it by swiping his hand and numerous red swirling portals came and swallowed the ice going sideways for a second. His opponent's quirk rattled and launch towards him with great once more but speedier than before as it rained down on him.
Numerous ice fell from the sky and banged against another ice barrier formed by Todoroki. He mustn't give his classmate any chances or openings even for a second! One for All coursed through his arms covering his arm with red lightning and released the punch. The wind howled and screeched with the breaking ice's crackling like a chaotic symphony as it was torn to shreds.
He flicked once more, sending more ice flying and cracking open the ice. He glared at Todoroki whose back was against an ice wall and evidently glaring back to him even amidst the chaos.
Not yet. He shouldn't expend his energy yet. He knew what this was; this was a battle of attrition and he was sure his classmate expected him to use his original quirk more thus tiring him more. If he kept using his warp more like this, then it'd drain him faster as expected. So what he needed was a hole. There had to be a weakness of Todoroki's quirk.
Present Mic said something but it got lost on the howling wind and the constantly breaking ice. The ice broke for the umpteenth time and he blinked when his classmate wasn't behind it anymore. Ice formed on his left formed and heading towards him in impressive speed and would have hit had he not blown it. Ice mist covered the field but was blown away along with everything.
"Where are you Todoroki?" he muttered to himself with his eyes glancing all around the ice-covered field. A blotch appeared on the ground, eyes widening, he looked up at the swiftly falling Todoroki. He flicked his hand or tried to, but his classmate already landed and instead threw warps all around as he Todoroki ran towards him. Every strike was dodged by creating an ice pillar the blocked his warp.
Todoroki jumped then evaded midair before landing before him. The telltale crackle of his quirk and frost-covered hands on the ground was all it took for him to know what would happen next.
He let the power flow just as Todoroki's ice was onto him and smashed it against the frozen object. He gasped and evaded right when a fist came out of the mist and he returned with his own punch to his left.
Watch the right side. He constantly reminded himself as he weaved through the flurry of attacks sent his way. He could only defend and evade at the hand to hand skill shown by his classmate. The strikes sent his way was fast and he had trouble defending himself, but no way he was going to get frozen again! He moved to kick his opponent away but he winced when he can't move.
He didn't have to look down to see what happened and he had to avoid it better. After deflecting a punch, he retaliated with a One for All kick at Todoroki's right side sending him skidding back. His vision turned red for a second just before he winced from falling and landing from a few inches off the ground.
Cold pain flared and crept up on his right foot making him briefly glance down seeing it frozen solid. One for All crackled and flowed on his foot but large white objects filled all his vision getting bigger than the last one as it approached. Transferring power on his arm, he punched the incoming ice. He didn't waste any time and raised his frozen foot powered by One for All then smashed it against the ground. His agonized scream fell on deaf ears with all the ice debris flying everywhere and howling wind of his punch.
For a second, he flexed his trembling foot but it took a lot just to move it and he cursed himself for not seeing the attack. Putting power in it was a futile effort for he knew his foot had the beginnings of frostbite. The degree of the attack proved how dangerous his classmate was with the precision of this kind. As expected of Endeavor's son. He was trained well.
Both hands clenched, he braced himself for the next attack which was bigger than expected. He had to hand it to Todoroki for he was stubborn in proving the superiority of his ice. Well, he was not the only one who came prepared! Two portals came before him which he punched. The result of his attack came from two sides and the wind cried as it threatened to fly everything away and he could only cross his arms and hold his ground to prevent himself from flying. Even as he did so, he shivered from the cold—despite the thickness of the clothes—wind blowing all over that sent everything flying everywhere.
Another came and he can't help but grin, despite the pain on his leg, on his opponent's fierceness. Squinting, futile as it was since everything was hidden with the thick ice vapor, scattered frozen debris littered on the frozen white ring while he scanned the field for anything that might come his way. He saw and heard no one, and his eyes widened at the sudden idea.
One minute he was on the ground and the second he was falling. He only had one shot to do this. He punched as he fell. The wind slowed his fall and scattered the mist. There! Near the upper right corner was Todoroki with his back against an ice wall. A warp opened in front of him and he landed grunting behind the ice on Todoroki's rear, his arms spread with gritted teeth as portals opened all over him and Todoroki. The energy drain was immense, but he held on and closed it on his classmate. As if that wasn't enough, he released a strong punch that destroyed the ice and sent it flying.
Izuku ignored the painful flaring of his arm to look for the exit portal. He saw it not far and he saw ice drop out of it and shattered but no Todoroki.
Is it over? He wondered. No, no way it was gonna be that easy. No wondering came from him when he saw his classmate on the other side of the ring, only bewilderment. He grinned at him despite him feeling the opposite. Between the using of his quirk earlier, the electric shock he received from Kaminari, he was feeling the cost on his body now with his heavy breathing and aching body.
"Is that all you got, Todoroki!" he said coolly and hiding any weakness he had now with his bravado that could only come from spending time with someone like Kacchan. He hid the discomfort he was feeling. "I expected more. Guess I overestimated you."
Todoroki said nothing back while still looking nearly prim if not for the ruffled hair. He envied his classmate for being so strong that he wasn't fazed that much like him who had to calculate everything lest he lost early and break his promise to himself and those that supported him.
"You're not gonna get past me with only your ice," he stood firm and went to stance once more as his body filled not only with One for All but energetic determination to stand against the odds. His body was pushed much worse on the USJ Incident and if he could bear that, then he could do this. "You'll never get past me with half-assing it."
He held his breath—One for All coursing through his veins ready for anything—, curious yet wary of what Todoroki would do for he offered no words in return. He winced, but nonetheless dashed forward with powerful steps, on the offense this time around. With each step, the agony of his frozen foot constantly flared but he ignored it like the many times he nearly or broke his limbs training.
Large ice met him, but his warp swallowed it then exiting behind him. He gritted from the drain but otherwise didn't stop. He was already on Todoroki's face fist ready to hit and his eyes widened when his classmate's hands went for him. He saw the vapor in the fingers about to touch him and he grit his teeth when red filled his vision and trusting his instinct to punch forward as he landed. He hit something soft and but screamed when cold hit his other arm.
Todoroki went rolling away from him giving Izuku time to breathe and hiss at his frozen arm. His classmate surprisingly was quick to get up and glared at him. Izuku easily returned the favor while he moved his arm in a futile effort.
"Is this all your resolve, Todoroki." A manic grin found its way on his face bearing the cold and numb feeling of his arm and letting the power flow followed by the red electricity arcing all over him. He can only imagine what a mess he looked right now. "Is this everything you have to offer as a hero! How can you save people by not doing your best, dammit!" He glared at Todoroki pointing at him with the nearly disabled arm that took double the energy to move.
Don't let Endeavor control your life, dammit! He wanted to scream frustratingly at his classmate but he knew it'd just be rebuked with denial and statement that he was not by not using his fire.
"Do my best," his opponent growled and his body stilled. "Do my best. Use my fire, you mean to say. You don't think this is doing my best." The cold pair of eye glaring at him turned colder and he shivered at the controlled anger behind it. "Did my old man put you up to this. Did he pay you to make me use his quirk!"
Not even if my life depended on it.
"To use this curse he has given me." His right hand trembled and curled in cold fury followed by vapors filling the air around them.
His quirk!? No, it's yours and yours alone!
"You're wrong!" he screamed his anger at Endeavor growing by the minute. No child needed to grow like Todoroki. They needed to be wild, free, and innocent. Not as a legacy to pass down your own any unfinished business or desire! "It's yours! You choose how to use it, not him. Don't let him control your life!"
"I don't." He ran and launched ice at him.
It took Izuku a second to blink at the unusual speed of it and suddenly everything clicked in his mind. He was quick to meet the quirk with a punch and screamed —before quickly stifling it to a grit—from the pain that echoed in it.
The result of the clash was the same as the ones before it. Ice went flying all over as cold as winter wind blew all over the stadium. He was down two limbs due to being frozen, and he wasn't willing to needlessly risk another for the third time. So, Izuku punched and kicked creating strong winds all over—ignoring the limits of his body that screamed he stop before he breaks any bones and muscles and let himself breathe for he was straining himself hard—followed by portals appearing and disappearing quickly creating attacks from all directions.
Every strike he dealt, Todoroki met it with ferocity and when the last one was destroyed, he went on his defensive stance for Todoroki was nowhere to be found. Looking up, he squinted at the dark form of his classmate falling with his arm covered in most definitely was ice. He jumped back in time—and wincing at the painful throb of his leg—for the ice exploded causing him to cross his arms.
The rubber soles of shoes clanged loudly as his opponent charged and he could only take a defensive stance himself. They met and Izuku could only be on the defense against at the expertise of Todoroki at close combat. Punching and kicking they went, and with the knowledge he could not match his classmate at it, put more strength at his ever strike. Often times, he saw Todoroki react later by a second later than he expected making his hypothesis right. With one last kick at his opponent's side—with much more power behind it—he caused him to roll many times before managing to stopped and skidding to a stop crouching when a piece of ice behind stopped him from sliding anymore. Izuku took the time to recover the lost air he had and rest his already strained body.
As Todoroki stood, his body trembled and his skin slowly covered by white patches. He could see his enemy's breath on the air.
"What's wrong Todoroki. Can't handle the cold?" Izuku said clenching his arm to stop it from shaking. His opponent said nothing and looked at Izuku with hatred he didn't know Todoroki was capable of doing. "Quirks are physical too. Use too much of my warp and I run out of energy. It's the same for your right, isn't it? If you use your ice side too much you'll get frostbite. This wouldn't have happened if you use your left. Your fire."
"Why do you want me to use this curse, Midoriya," Todoroki replied, but he could hear the growl behind the voice. "Why do you want me to use his quirk so much! Why would you go that far for me to use it!?"
A single glance at Todoroki's right side and he knew it threatened to strike Izuku down. Why? Why was he so persistent in making him use fire? "I may only know a little of what you went through and how you felt during those times, and may never know what I would do if our positions were reversed. But I do know one thing; a hero do their best in everything they do! Do you think All Might does things halfway? Do you think UA does? Of course not! That's why the motto "Plus Ultra!" existed! You want to defeat All Might with only your other half by defeating me first?" He snorted derisively and anger rolled off in his chest to stop his tirade in the middle of their match. "You're letting your dad control you if you think that way. Forget beating All Might! Forget being the best! Just be the best hero you can be! The hero you want to be!"
People may have been constantly cheering but for him everything was silent. It was only Todoroki and him. The silence between them that felt infinite and everlasting as the frost continued threatened to cover his opponent's body with every second that went by.
Izuku blinked and crossed his arms when red and orange filled his vision as roaring flames tall as the stadium came out of Todoroki's left and whatever frost that cling to him melted in an instant. The flame was so hot he could feel himself sweating even with the distance between them. Todoroki wiped something from his face and when he looked at him, all the anger, hatred, and all that was dark from his face before all disappeared. An excited grin—that looked off yet right at the same time— replaced it that he couldn't help but replicate.
"What're you smiling about," he said calmly, the grin still on his face. "You did this. You asked for this. Don't blame me for what will happen."
He was in trouble but he can't help but be excited knowing this was Todoroki at his fullest! A flame so large it reaches the sky, and ice so cold that the very air around him grew cold from his presence alone. From the start, he knew Todoroki was beyond him but still, he poked the sleeping bear. He did not regret it for one second for he achieved his goal.
No more words needed to be said as large blocks of ice sped towards him with greater ferocity than before. Gathering what energy left in him, he steeled himself and punched the air! He bit his lip from the sudden pain on his left arm before he fell on the ground and coming out atop the stadium and falling fast. The fire was so thick he couldn't see where exactly Todoroki was only his shadow that grew large.
The fire that was stationary, was then aimed at him. Crossing his arms and putting the two in front of him, he gnashed his teeth and shouted. A big warp—bigger than any he created before—came forth and blocked the blinding fire. Below him, he didn't need to see the fire and ice fighting each other and made another making his vision blur from the effort alone. He fell behind Todoroki and put power in his remaining fine leg and spun midair. The strong wind destroyed the ice barrier and sent him careening forward while slowing his fall.
Izuku landed on his knees and huffing for air deeply. He craned his head up, with greater effort than before, to glance at Todoroki. His uniform, like his body, was beaten and rugged, with the left side on the torso and arms burned all over and more exerted than he usually was. Despite this, Todoroki did not seem tired as Izuku was. Here he was, running on adrenaline and determination while his opponent was only looking fresher than him.
He was sure he looked worse than he thought he was and many people were probably wincing from at him. He knew he would not last long, but he wasn't going down without a fight!
"Is… that… all," every word he said was accompanied by a deep breath as he stood on weak legs. "I could do this all day." He said grinning at his classmate while stretched his arms and legs and wincing as he did so. Weak now he may be, but he had one last trick on his sleeve. He just needed to time things right.
No words needed to be said and for he was sure that they both knew this was the end of their match. Todoroki unleashed his fire this time by swiping his arms at him and he countered it with a single large warp. A torrent of fire came from above and his opponent was quick to block it. Raising his other arm, another portal appeared and if his estimation was right then he needed one more. Pushing himself, he sank into the ground. He landed on the ground with a groan before pushing his hand forward through a warp small warp half the size of his torso and grabbed something that fit his hand and pulling it. He willed the portal to enlarge and with one last hefty pull, his groan turned to a scream throwing what he hoped was Todoroki out of the portal and behind him!
Izuku fell on his knees, as became heavy and his vision darkened. He crossed his arm before he hit the ground.
Izuku woke up and blinked away the bleariness of his vision. The light above him was too bright making him cover his eyes. Or so he wanted to but only groans came from him when his body felt slow and heavy. It was as if someone with the opposite of Uraraka's quirk doubled his mass instead of making him light.
Not only that, his body was sore all over, especially his right arm and right leg, while his left arm felt stiff. Moving them even just a little was hard and painful.
Curtains flapped open and he couldn't see who it was but he had a hunch.
"Consider yourself lucky Midoriya." Recovery Girl stated, detecting annoyance in them. "You nearly broke your fingers! Not only that, you still persisted in running and even with a shattered Tibia! Good thing that was your only injury and nothing more. You had frostbite and managed to avoid it thanks to your classmate raising your temperature. You may know how to control your power but you don't know when to stop. It was clear you're injured and yet you persisted in fighting."
"I," he breathed and said slowly, "wanted to help… him. Is he…"
"Fine? Yes, the boy's fine and left quickly." The healing hero sighed. "I understand that. But next time, be careful. Knowing when to stop is not a bad thing. That just means one knows their limit. Our determination knows no limit, but our body can only go so far before it self-destructs. We're not infallible despite the advantage evolution gave us."
Like All Might, he thought went unsaid by Recovery Girl considering that the UA Staff knew of All Might's condition.
The head of the bed was propped higher giving him a view of the heroine checking his injuries while humming an unfamiliar tune. He was then left to his own but not before opening the front part of the curtain revealing a small television hanged on the other side of the wall just above Recovery Girl's desk. "Oh, if you're curious, the fight is a draw. Neither of you got to the last round. You threw Enji's boy out of the ring at the same time when you lost consciousness."
So, that meant that Bakugou and Kendo will be the ones fighting. Sadness—or was it shame?—filled his chest. The fight that he and Kacchan wanted didn't come to be. This was one they wanted for so long! To know who was better in a no holds—or nearly—barred match. He hoped Kacchan wasn't angry at him. He did his best but Todoroki was still beyond his league.
There's always next year, right? Maybe so, but it felt like he wasted a good opportunity.
Focusing on the television, he wasted away the time watching Kacchan's fight in silence.
After Kacchan's match, which he demolished the girl from 1-B with his quirk, the award ceremony now was a quick affair. Both him and Todoroki were third, Itsuka Kendo on second and Kacchan on the first place.
It was disheartening, shocking even, to know that Iida wasn't there because of the injury Ingenium sustained from a villain attack in Hosu. Whereabouts of the attacker were still unknown. That would explain the sad expression that stuck on his friend's face. He felt guilty to know that he waited until the end of the Sports Festival before leaving right after his match.
He hoped that Ingenium was okay. He hoped Iida and his family were okay. Izuku never lost someone close to him before—Kacchan being nabbed by the slime villain was close—, but he hoped that the Iida family was going to be okay.
The Sports Festival ended before three and so, they still had time for an announcement from their Homeroom teacher. So here they were now back in their room. Everyone looking okay except him—with a cast on his arm and foot while using a crutch— and Todoroki who had several slight discoloration and splotch on his face.
"In light of the Sports Festival," their sensei started. "You will have a two-day break because the Sports Festival for the higher years will be held. When you return, the scouting reports from Pros and Agencies will be given, so look forward to it. That's all."
They all stood to leave but he approached Aizawa-sensei and motioned for Kacchan and the others to go ahead without him.
"Aizawa-sensei," he cleared his throat as if that'd wash away the fact that he was nervous to talk about this to their stern teacher.
"Midoriya," he said, remaining seated.
Understanding it as permission to speak furthermore, he did so. "I understand the rules of Sports Festival says only those who won are granted to—"
"This is about the General Education student, Hitoshi Shinso, isn't it." He said dryly and in a matter of fact.
He swallowed hard and nodded in response. Was he that easy to read? Did their teacher know about his friendship with Shinso? Oh, God. Would Aizawa-sensei think that he's biased in his assessment of Shinso?
"I know what you're trying to do; you want me to consider him to be transferred to Heroics Department. I'll consider it." Eraserhead's eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me of your assessment of him."
He blinked for a second at what his teacher said. Okay, he had a chance to give his friend the opportunity to achieve his dream. To help him prove to those that said his quirk was "villainous" wrong. He had one shot at this. He told his teacher their training the week before the event and he left no detail unsaid from his quirk, and the skill and determination he showed that laid under his calm disposition, to what equipment his quirks worked on. Breathing deeply, he concluded. "Hitoshi Shinso is a very determined student. He trains hard and I've seen it personally when I joined him during the preparation week for the festival. He has a good grasp of martial arts that showed during his match against Kendo. His quirk is good for heroics too."
He thought of it sometime before. The Entrance exam was unfair against people that didn't have a physical quirk like Shinso. Maybe in another type of exam, he, and others with similar quirk would've shone in it.
What their teacher thought about his assessment was not revealed in his dark dry eyes. The covered body also didn't help since he couldn't read his body language, that was if there ever was one for Eraserhead.
He did what he could for the UA Staff to recognize Shinso's talent, dedication, and skill. Great as he may have been in the festival, but his match against Kendo was unfortunate with the advantage her strength and her quirk gave her. Though he was impressed by his overall performance and hoped that not only Aizawa-sensei had their attention turned on Shinso, but also some UA Staff.
Sweat trickled down his temple as he waited for a response. He resisted the urge to wipe it. "That's all. Thank you, Midoriya."
"Thank you, sir." He bowed to Aizawa before going out. He can only hope that Shinsou would get what he dreamed of and get into the Heroics Course.
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