Well, this is a wish come true! I wanted to at least get to 30 chapters for "Through the Rough" before the end of March, and we did it! Thanks so much for all of your support for this story!

I can't tell you how happy I am that we're able to get ourselves this far, especially with so much yet to come. But for now, it's time to start one of my favorite chapter that I've written. Please enjoy, everyone.

Within the waiting room, Homura held onto a dirtied, stuffed animal bear in her hands as she sat at the table. This was it. Shoto was the very person she had challenged and was now going to face. Though Shiki had made his declaration of war quite clear after defeating Fumikage, she was determined to beat the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user herself. She stood up from her seat and took a deep breath.

'I'll be going now... master...' she inwardly said, leaving the stuffed animal behind as it lied upon the table. Everything she had gone through was all leading to this moment. It wasn't just her wish to surpass Shoto. It was also Valkyrie's wish to surpass Endeavor. 'After this... I shall fulfill that duty...' Homura decided through her thoughts, 'and claim what should be rightfully hers!' she proclaimed.

Cheering echoed through the stadium. But the Soul Blade Quirk user's inner workings drowned it all out. Her life had changed completely when she had first met the woman who mentored her.

FLASHBACK

"Child trafficking?" Valkyrie said, standing beside a crime scene as two villains were being escorted away by the police. Naomasa was also on the scene, having been taking notes. He took off his hat and sighed.

"It seems as if these villains were planning on selling them into a form of child labor, possibly around cities like Kyoto and Shibuya," he explained as the Shining Star Hero looked on at the children being escorted by the police and tended to, "Some of them haven't even developed Quirks of their own yet..." he mentioned.

"They're that young?" Valkyrie inquired in disbelief as she widened her eyes.

"Uh, hey..." one of the officers said, catching her attention as she looked over to see a little girl in a kimono with short, royal blue hair that framed her face thanks to a ponytail of sorts that stuck up from the top of her head. She held onto a stuffed animal in her little arms as she trembled at the sight of the officers coming toward her.

"Don't worry, it's okay..." one of them assured.

"Yeah, you're safe now," the other pointed out. However, the little girl was far too frightened, backing away. Valkyrie took notice.

"Hold on, officers," she advised, walking over. They stepped aside to let her approach and kneel down in front of the scared girl. "You alright? You're not hurt, are you?" she inquired in concern. The little girl shook her head in response. "Good," the Shining Star Hero said with a small smile, "I'm Valkyrie," she introduced, "What's your name, little one?" she asked kindly.

"Um... uh... I'm..." the little girl stuttered out, trembling a little, "I'm... Homura..." she finally introduced.

"Homura, huh?" Valkyrie repeated, "That's a beautiful name," she noted as she reached a hand out to the little girl, "Why don't you come with me for a little while?" she offered to her surprise, "Until we find your folks, I think it's okay for a little one like yourself to stay with me..." she inferred, "right?" she asked, turning to Naomasa and the others. The detective let out a chuckle.

"Yeah, I suppose so," he responded. Homura's eyes sparkled. Her world was about to completely change...

END FLASHBACK

"She's advanced through the rounds with beauty and grace, all while carrying those amazing blades that can basically slice through anything like butter!" Mic exclaimed through the microphone, "From the Hero Course, we have Homura Kogetsu!" he introduced. The crowd went wild. Another deep breath was taken by the Soul Blade Quirk user. "VERSUS!" Mic bellowed, "He's advanced with some insane firepower, even bringing out some REAL fire in the last match!" he yelled, "Also from the Hero Course, Shoto Todoroki!" he introduced. A firm expression of determination was upon the face of the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user as he and his opponent stared each other down.

"Geez... this is already nerve-wracking..." Kyoka admitted, grimacing a little.

"After the last fight, I'm wondering if Todoroki's gonna go all-out like he did against Midoriya..." Tsuyu chimed in.

"Yeah..." Kyoka responded, glancing over to see the One For All inheritor sitting next to Rebecca and watching as bandages lined his entire right arm. Shiki and Katsuki looked on carefully at the field below, ready to see who they'd potentially meet in the finals if either of them won their next match. Midnight raised her flail.

"Kogetsu," Shoto began, getting his opponent's attention, "I won't lose here," he declared firmly. The Soul Blade Quirk user made her red-glowing markings shine brightly as she clenched her fists.

"Nor shall I," she echoed in response, "For my master's sake as well as my own, I will defeat you!" she vowed fiercely.

"Now begin!" Midnight yelled as she swung down her flail. In that instant, Shoto planted his right foot down and made a giant wave of ice surge up and seemingly engulf his opponent.

"Homura!" Rebecca exclaimed in fright as everyone widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Huh..." Shoto exhaled, thinking he had already won. Endeavor stared on crossly with his arms folded over his chest. But all of a sudden, the ice was cleanly cleaved in half. The Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user didn't even have a second to react as blood spurted out from the new cut upon his left arm. He yelped in agony before grabbing at it, grimacing all the while.

"If you're only going to use your right side from now on like before, then you've already committed to lose," Homura's voice pointed out, getting his attention as he looked ahead to see her walk out with just a single blade of energy in her right hand, "As I've inherited this power from my master, I shall cut you down with her blade!" she declared, aiming her weapon toward her foe.

FLASHBACK

Ether-Type Quirks are much different than the more common ones that one would find. For example, a wielder of an Ether-Type Quirk can pass it on exactly to another person. They don't even have to be related by blood.

"Hold that position," Valkyrie advised, sitting on the porch and finishing a small bowl of rice as she watched a young Homura stand up firmly on her right leg.

"Yes, teacher!" she responded, all while sweating profusely. The Shining Star Hero smiled, glad to see how dedicated she was. It had been two months since she had taken the little girl in to live with her for the time being. Without any knowledge as to who her parents were, she either would wind up in an orphanage, or in the care of someone else. Yet something changed.

Homura was speaking out, sometimes when she didn't need to. And she wanted to return the kindness her hero had given her, by striving to become as strong as her. Thus came a very surprising decision. She was going to make the little girl her successor. Her phone buzzed next to her. She picked it up, pressing the answer icon.

"Yeah, what's up?" she asked, taking a moment to listen, "Downtown, huh?" she inquired as she stood up, "Alright, I'll be there," she confirmed, ending the call, "Got a mission," she told her apprentice, getting her attention, "I'll be back soon," she promised, hurrying off. A few hours passed. Villains were defeated and apprehended. The Shining Star Hero yawned as she returned home early that evening. As she entered through the gateway, she blinked in surprise.

Homura still stood there on her right foot, sweating buckets all while maintaining her balance. Valkyrie was astonished. She knew that the little girl was dedicated, but she never realized how much so. She smiled a little.

'Homura...' she began inwardly, 'I swear, I'll help make you into a fine hero...' she vowed through her thoughts.

END FLASHBACK

"Leopard Rain!" Homura yelled as she had two energy blades in her hands, using them to slash mightily and rapidly at Shoto. He attempted to block her off with his ice, but she was cutting right through it with ease. And his attacks were starting to slow down.

"What are you doing, Shoto?!" Endeavor roared in question from the stands, "Use your left side!" he commanded.

"Ergh..." his son growled out, ignoring his yells. He planted his right hand against the ground, making ice surge up and engulf his opponent in an instant.

"Another ice wave?!" Denki exclaimed from the stands.

"I guess fighting up close would be difficult for most people..." Weisz noted aloud, putting his hand onto his chin.

"Huh... huh..." Shoto exhaled in exhaustion as frost had built up along his right side, "I... don't need my-!" He stopped talking as he saw the ice shatter again, widening his eyes. Homura had her teeth clenched fiercely as blood flew off from her arms, where her skin had been ripped by the ice.

"I told you... NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE ME!" she bellowed, swinging her blades down fiercely at her foe. She made more cuts in his body as blood spurted out. He winced in agony, quickly placing his right hand against his new cuts to seal them in ice.

'Why...?!' he wondered inwardly. The way Homura was fighting him... eerily was reminiscent of Izuku. At this point, she was willing to sacrifice her own body in order to win. And everyone could see it.

FLASHBACK

Years passed. Homura not only exceptional as a student in learning how to use the Soul Blade Quirk passed onto her, she was excelling. Valkyrie was watching with amazement as the girl she took in as an apprentice continued to swinging her energy blade about the dirt field where they trained. Over time, she herself had grown attached to Homura. She had helped teach her, showed her how to cook and clean around the house, gave her schooling lessons, and even slept with her.

'It's like she could be my...' she started to say inwardly, stopping herself with a happy sigh. Though she was never a parent herself, she wanted to be. The experience was something she yearned for someday.

"Huh... huh..." Homura exhaled with exhaustion as sweat dripped down her face, "Teacher..." she began, getting the Shining Star Hero's attention, "you've finally made it to Number Three in the rankings," she noted while letting her blade disappear momentarily, "At least, that is what I learned on the news today," she mentioned in recollection. Valkyrie gave off a small grin.

"That's right," she confirmed, folding her arms over her chest, "That means I've got only more more hero to beat," she noted. Homura blinked in surprise.

"Do you not mean two more?" she questioned, arching an eyebrow, "There is of course Endeavor and then-"

"All Might," Valkyrie finished for her, "Yeah, I know I don't stand a ghost of a chance when trying to reach his level," she admitted with a sigh, "That guy's not only too strong, but he's got an incredible sense of heroism," she told her apprentice, "I'll fight to get up to the Number Two spot..." she vowed, "but that's as far as I know I'll go," she confirmed.

"How will you know if you do not try?" Homura asked suddenly, causing her to blink in surprise, "Don't underestimate yourself, teacher," she insisted with a smile, "I think you're the strongest hero I've met," she pointed out honestly. And with that, Valkyrie found herself having to work even harder than before. She was determined to not only surpass Endeavor, but All Might as well. All the while, her apprentice kept training.

Whenever the Shining Star Hero went out on a mission, Homura would take it upon herself to practice her sword swings until she returned for dinner. Some missions weren't long, while others were. That very night, Valkyrie hadn't returned. And the moon shined brightly overhead as Homura continued to train.

She wondered where her master was so late in the evening. Even if a mission had taken longer than usual, the Shining Star Hero was careful about returning in a timely manner. But tonight, she didn't. As she took a moment to catch her breath, Homura noticed a police car parking on the street beside the household. Entering through the gateway was Naomasa along with another officer. A solemn look was upon his face as he removed his hat. Slowly, Homura widened her eyes in realization, dropping her created blade to the ground.

"I'm... so sorry..." the detective apologized somberly.

END FLASHBACK

"HRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Homura roared as she slashed mightily across Shoto's chest with her blades.

"SHHHHHHOOOOOTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOO!" his father bellowed out. Stumbling back, the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user breathed heavily in exhaustion. He was losing ground, unable to bring out his ice fast enough to stop his foe's barrage. Even when he could, it was rendered useless upon being slashed apart.

"Why... are you pushing yourself like this...?!" he exclaimed in question, struggling to stay on his feet as he trembled, "You're going to end up worse than Midoriya...!" he pointed out. Homura took a deep breath, aiming her right blade at him.

"I would think the answer would be obvious as his," she responded to his surprise, "My master's dream was almost realized," she noted, "She had aiming to overtake your father before beginning her run against All Might for the number one spot," she told him as he blinked in surprise, "But of course... you know what happened, as do I," she recalled, trembling a little at the memory.

FLASHBACK

Valkyrie had died. She had taken part in a mission that involved a human trafficking case, but wound up ambushed by a large group of villains. She lost her left arm, and half of her face was left burnt. The police had found her standing on her knees with one of her blades planted against the floor to keep herself upright. It was a tragedy.

And Homura was left crying for days. Even when training and living on her own, she would think of her master and break into a sobbing mess. But in spite of that despair, she knew what she wanted to do next. She wanted to fulfill Valkyrie's goal and become the strongest hero.

Laboring for years on end, the Soul Blade Quirk user found herself faced with an important decision. Which hero school would she attend? She had never asked her teacher about her past experiences. Ultimately, she chose U.A. And she excelled in the Entrance Exam, earning herself top marks in the practical test.

After receiving the notice of acceptance from the hero high school later that week, Homura went to a small room in the household she stayed in. It was a small shrine dedicated to her master. She knelt down in front of it and trembled.

"Thank you..." she whimpered with gratitude, "I promise that I won't fail you..." she vowed.

END FLASHBACK

"At the end of it all..." Homura began to her opponent, "I WILL SURPASS YOU!" she roared out, charging forward, "Even if you don't use your flames!" she added fiercely. In that instant, Shoto hesitated. Embers flickered off of his left arm as he remembered Izuku's words from before. And with that, the fire dwelling within him erupted.

He winced as the intensity of his flames was searing his cuts. But he endured it, swinging his left arm back. He fired off a powerful stream of flames, striking his foe as she screamed in pain, tumbling back from the force.

"Homura!" Rebecca cried out from the stands.

"Todoroki used his fire again...!" Hanta noted in disbelief. Elsewhere, Endeavor grinned.

'That's it. Good...' he said inwardly, 'You're finally moving past the idea that using just half of your Quirk will be enough...' he realized, 'And with that, you'll-!' He was snapped away from his thoughts as he saw Homura rise up to her hands and knees, having her markings glow brightly as her sleeves ripped off up to her shoulders, while her pant legs tore away up to her thighs. She looked up and glared at Shoto, who flinched in surprise.

"Thank you... Todoroki..." she said with gratitude, "Now I will have a reason to use my master's ultimate move..." she declared. All of a sudden, several energy blades appeared in the air above and around her. "Odin Strike..." she growled out. Everyone was left amazed.

'That technique...' Endeavor uttered inwardly. Back on the field, Midnight and Cementoss hesitated. Things were looking rather dangerous, even more so than in the previous match. Shoto readied a waved of ice like he did before, while Homura got onto her feet. She charged forward with her blades. They struck the ice one after another, breaking it up into chunks.

More still soared towards the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user, who intensified the flames at his left side as his foe closed in. They roared loudly... followed by a powerful blast.

"WAH!" Minoru yelped, being almost sent flying from the force if not for Mezo catching him. Endeavor ran down the steps to find out what had happened, looking uncharacteristically concerned. The smoke and dust were slow to clear. But when it did, his eyes widened.

Homura was left with burns along her right arm as most of her jacket had been burnt away, revealing her black sports bra underneath. Ice coated her left leg as she breathed raggedly. Her opponent was in a different state. Several of the energy blades were scattered about and pierced into the ground behind him. However, some were pierced into his arms and legs. He looked just as exhausted as his foe.

"Kogetsu..." he uttered out, "I..." he tried to say, falling backwards and losing consciousness. At that same moment, Homura did the same. They both hit the ground as the crowd remained silent in disbelief.

And that does it for that battle! I have to say, writing Homura's origin in contrast to Shoto's was a fun challenge. And I hope I delivered on her characterization here. So looks like there's been another draw, huh?

I guess we'll see what happens next time! Thanks for your continued support, everyone!