Aftermath Rival Talk Between Pro and Trainee Heroes
Inko is watching the broadcast of the Sports Festival showing the names of the sixteen students who will be moving onto the final round of the festival, and her eyes widen of seeing Izuku's name there.
"Izuku, my baby! I'm so proud of you! But please don't get hurt in the final round!" Inko cried with tears literally bursting out like a water fountain, then she heard knocking at her door.
"I wonder who could that be?" Inko asked as she got up to answer the door.
(UA Stadium)
Shoto is looking at his left hand thinking about how he suddenly used his fire and feeling angry at himself.
"(I said I never use this to attack, but as soon as I was overwhelmed, I broke my own promise.)" Shoto thought clutched his fists.
"At this rate, he'll win, and I'll end up who he wants me to be." Shoto cursed himself.
The man Shoto is speaking about is watching him far from the top level standing near the bleachers behind the audience, staring at the boy with intense yet itty-bitty calm as well though not much.
He is a tall, sturdily built man with a very muscular physique. He has short crimson hair which he wears spiked up around his head and sharp turquoise eyes. His beard and mustache appear to be made of fire. He wears a tight, navy turquoise bodysuit with lines of flames streaming across his chest, upper torso, arms, and most prominently his shoulders. He uses his flames as a makeshift mask around his eyes, and the tall boots he wears appear to be either made of fire themselves or constantly left alight, as only their soles and laces are visible around the flames. He sports white bracers on his lower arms, styled in a cage pattern, and a blue belt with a pouch attached on either side.
This man is known as Endeavor, the Number 2 Hero of Japan and father of Shoto Todoroki.
"(Still holding that hatred towards me, are you?)" Endeavor thought before decided to leave the area for a bit.
"Okay everyone, it's time for the hour-long lunch break so you can all get some food in your bellies!" Makiko informed.
"Be sure to come back for the afternoon to enjoy the last event!" Present Mic added.
"Hey Eraser Head, let's grab some grub." Present Mic said to Aizawa.
"I'm taking a nap." Aizawa said letting out a yawn.
Meanwhile, few of the teams were beating themselves up for not being able to do much and upset for losing their points somehow.
"How disappointing." Tsuyu said upset leaving the crying Minoru and walking up to Mina.
"Well done, Mina, you played your part well." Futayo complimented to Mina.
"Thanks, I guess." Mina said feeling unsure of how she feels about this.
"Mina, congrats." Tsuyu said to Mina as Mazasumi walks up to Futayo.
"You did amazing out there, Futayo. I know you'll do our school proud." Mazasumi smiled at her cousin.
"I'm happy to hear words from our class representative and family." Futayo nodded.
"Thanks Tsuyu, but Bakugo only asked me to join because I could melt Todoroki's ice. It's not like, you know, I really helped that much." Mina stated.
"That is not sure, you didn't great in our hour of need and did the best of your abilities like the rest of us." Futayo believed.
"Wow, hearing that from you, I feel a whole lot better now." Mina grinned.
"Iida, you were holding out on us. I had no idea you could do that!" Ochaco said while running in place.
"Rest assured it wasn't my intention to deceive you, I was just being strategic." Tenya said though Ochaco still pouts at him.
"I have to say, that speed of yours was quite impressive almost Muneshige's God Speed Quirk." Kimi commented.
"Is that so, then that would make you my speed rival." Muneshige walked up to Tenya.
"It's an honor to meet you, Tenya Iida. I heard a lot about your family and wanted to see what you have to be offer on the path of heroes." Muneshige offered his hand of friendship.
"I also heard about the Tachibana, having speed that surpasses even the Iida Family like how you easily us though I hope our family can be good friends and allies." Tenya accepted the hand of friendship.
"My thoughts exactly, that speed boost of yours was something else." Muneshige commented.
"I just wanted to show that I compete on my own against Midoriya." Tenya said.
"You're always trying to one-up each other." Ochaco pointed out.
"Speaking of Izuku, I do not see him among you." Horizon said as she walks toward them while trying to search for Izuku.
"I'm afraid you just missed him, Horizon. He was asked to have a private talk with that icy-hot boy." Kimi mentioned.
"Really? I wonder what Todoroki wants from him?" Ochaco asked as Kimi shrug as she doesn't have a clue either.
Izuku and Shot are seen alone in one of the small entrances of the stadium as the former is becoming nervous.
"(He brought me here, now what?)" Izuku thought wondered.
(With Endeavor)
At the same time when Shoto and Izuku are together, Endeavor is walking down some steps deciding to get a little snack and check in with his sidekicks.
"Yo! Long time no see." All Might called out to the Flame Hero.
"Let's catch up, Endeavor." All Might said as he wanted to speak a few words with him.
"All Might." Endeavor said in a low tone, turns around to see All Might.
(Back with Shoto and Izuku)
"We should get lunch soon; the cafeteria is going to be busy. Don't you think?" Izuku pointed out, but Shoto didn't respond as he stares at him silence.
"(He's all cold and intimidation. Way different from Kacchan.)" Izuku thought gulped, then gasp a little when Shoto finally spoke.
"I was overwhelmed, and it made break the promise I made to myself a long time ago." Shoto said as Izuku look at his left arm.
"(It would have given him such an advantage to use his left side. And yet… he didn't.)" Izuku thought knew what Todoroki was talking about.
"Iida and Kaminari, Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami, Uraraka and Aoi… None of them felt it." Shoto recalled that very moment he and Izuku was charging at each other.
"In that moment, I was the only one who could sense your true power. It reminded me of something, experiencing All Might's Quirk." Shoto said.
"Okay, is that all?" Izuku asked, but he gets a bad feeling that Shoto is gonna say his and All Might's Quirk felt the same.
"The power coming from you felt the same as All Might's." Shoto said, proving Izuku's inner fear was right.
"Midoriya, tell me." Shoto paused for a second looking at Izuku in the eyes.
"Are you really All Might's secret love child or something?" Shoto asked.
"(I… What?)" Izuku thought shocked that Shoto thinks that he is All Might's child or something, then he remembers what Shoto said during declaration back in the locker room.
(Flashback)
"I've seen it. You've got All Might in your corner, helping you out." Shoto stated to the slightly surprised Izuku.
(Flashback End)
"(Okay, I can understand why'd thinks that. As insane as it sounds.)" Izuku thought.
"Well, are you?" Shoto asked again.
"No, no, that's not it at all! But I guess even IF I was, I'd totally say I wasn't, so you probably wouldn't believe me, no matter what, I bet." Izuku stated, a little stutter.
"Anyway, I promise you've got the wrong idea." Izuku assured.
"And… Why would you even think that about me?" Izuku asked.
"That's not it at all" is interesting wording. It suggests there is something between you two that you're not supposed to talk about." Shoto noticed.
This made Izuku shock, realizing that he should've been more careful with how he says and worry that Shoto would want to know more, but he decided to turn the conversation elsewhere.
"My father is the Hero Endeavor. You must've heard of him, which means you're aware that he's the number-two hero." Shoto mentioned his father.
"So, if you're connected to the number-one hero, All Might, in some way. That would mean… that I have even more reason to beat you." Shoto proclaimed.
(At the same time with All Might and Endeavor)
"I haven't talk to you since that press conference ten years ago. Been a while, I saw you and figured I'd say hi." All Might said friendly.
"Did you now? Well then, if that's all you wanted to do, we're done." Endeavor turned away from All Might.
"Chatting like we're old friends? What a joke." Endeavor snorted.
All Might laughs as he jumps doing a flip or two and lands in front of Endeavor blocking his path.
"Come on, why the cold shoulder?" All Might asked as Endeavor just becomes annoyed of this.
"You should be thrilled. After all, your son's doing very well out there, just using half his power. You must be a great teacher." All Might complimented.
"Are you implying something?" Endeavor asked.
"No, I want to know your secrets. How do we train the next generation of heroes?" All Might asked as he wants to put some more effort in his teaching job.
"Do you really think I'd tell you anything I've taught the boy? You're all flash and no brains as usual." Endeavor mocked.
"Out of my way." Endeavor shoved onto All Might's chest to push him back a little.
"Okay." All Might said, thinking this guy hasn't changed one bit since the last time he saw him.
As he walks down the stairs, Endeavor stops deciding to give All Might a little warning and probably to psych him out a little.
"Let me assure you of one thing, All Might." Endeavor said without turning towards All Might.
"Whatever it takes, that kid of mine will beat you someday. I'll make sure of it, that's why I made him." Endeavor smirked.
"You did what?" All Might had a bad feeling about the relationship between father and son.
"He's in a rebellious phase right now, but he will take your place. I'll make sure of it." Endeavor declared with intense stare that surprises All Might.
Endeavor walks down the steps having said his piece of mind to the "Number 1" hero of the world.
(With Izuku and Shoto)
"My father is ambitious; he aims for the top. He used his power to make a name for himself as a hero." Shoto started explaining about his father.
"But he was never able to best All Might, so the Symbol of Peace is living proof of his failure. He's still at it though, trying to take down All Might. One way or another." Shoto said.
"I'm not really sure what you're getting at. What are you trying to tell me, Todoroki?" Izuku asked.
Shoto became silence for a second and decided to ask Izuku a simple question.
"Have you ever heard of Quirk Marriages?" Shoto asked as Izuku felt like he heard of something like that before.
"They became a problem in the first few generations after superpowers became widespread. There were those who sought out potential mates solely with the intention of creating powerful children, many people were forced into relationships. They were simply viewed as old-fashioned arranged marriages. But clearly, it was unethical." Shoto explained, clutching his fists.
"My father has not only a rich history of accomplishments, but plenty of money to throw at his problems. He bought my mother's relatives to get his hands on her ice Quirk, and how he's raising me to usurp All Might." Shoto revealed.
This made Izuku gasp as he is starting to see the big picture right now, of what Shoto is saying about his father.
"It's so annoying. I refuse to be a tool for that scumbag." Shoto said showing his anger.
"And every memory of my mother… I only see her crying." Shoto remembered how much his mom would cry.
"I remember she called my left side unbearable, before she poured boiling water on my face." Shoto revealed with his left hand on his scar.
Izuku becomes even more shocked that something like that happened to a boy like Shoto, going through such hardship from within his own family.
"The reason I picked a fight with you was to show my old man what I was capable of doing. Without having to rely on his damned fire Quirk." Shoto explained.
"You see, I'm going to show him that I reject his power, and I can take first place without using it." Shoto determined.
Unknown to him, Katsuki has been listening to the entire conversation from the corner and Suzu is standing outside of the entrance having heard a couple of voices here and heard all that as well.
"(The life he led is so different than mine. It sounds terrifying.)" Izuku commented.
"(How strange that we could be aiming for the same thing despite such different childhoods.)" Izuku thought surprised as well.
Shoto decided that was enough talking for now as he walks away, Suzu stand still though he didn't notice her at all as he was more focused on Izuku right now than anything else.
"You're obviously connected to All Might, even if you won't tell me about it. But no matter how fiercely you come at me in the future, I will defeat you using only my right side. I can assure you of that." Shoto determined.
"That's really sad, you know?" Izuku said, causing Shoto to stop walking and looks at him.
"What do you mean by that?" Shoto asked.
"It just you're so focused on the past more than trying to actually move on and you said you'll only be using your right side. It's pretty sad when you think about it." Izuku explained what he meant.
"It'll just mean that you'll never be able to beat anyone like that, you'll just be lying to yourself that you're going full power even though that is not true." Izuku stated.
"You're just letting the past and your dad get you down. And you said that fire is "His" then you really are neglecting yourself more than you realize." Izuku said.
"Neglecting myself! You think I'm the weak one here?" Shoto asked, feeling a bit upset.
"(Shoto, this is the reason why you were so focused on me. You're like a comic book character, a hero with a tragic backstory, fighting to raise above it.)" Izuku thought.
"Listen, I'm only here because others have supported me. I've been really lucky." Izuku said.
"In fact, I've had even more help since I've come to UA." Izuku looked at his right hand, remembering all the people who has supported him from he first met All Might to the people today like Kimi. And the words All Might said to him.
"Young man, you too can become a hero."
"All Might is constantly saving people with a fearless smile. He's the greatest hero, and I want to be just like him." Izuku stated.
"In order to do that, I have to become strong enough to become number one. I know my motivation might seen stupid compared to yours." Izuku started looking strongly at Shoto.
"But still—I can't lose this either. I owe it to everyone who's supported me to try my best." Izuku said.
"You declared war on me earlier. Well, right back at you. I am going to beat you and I'm going to you realize just how shallow and stupid you're being at yourself." Izuku determined pointing his fist at Shoto.
Shoto look at Izuku suddenly feeling like he was just struck in the heart though didn't show it and walks away making a mental note that Izuku feels stronger just now.
"Wow, you really made an impression on him, I heard his heart racing a little." Suzu amazed.
"Really? Then I'll have to make sure I give this my all." Izuku nodded, then his eyes widen of shock when he just realizes Suzu is here.
"AAH?! Suzu, what are you doing here?" Izuku gasped.
"Well, I heard vices here and got curious. I kind of heard about everything you two said, but I promise not to say anything!" Suzu explained and blushing a little.
"Oh, that's great. Let's go get lunch then." Izuku said as Suzu agreed.
Katsuki just closes his eyes for a moment and walk away from the scene.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
That intense talk has always made me feel bad for Shoto living a harsh life and always seem to blame his father which is mostly true, but Izuku also raised a good point about Shoto never moving on from the past and he will have to knock some senses into the guy.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!