Chapter 36:
(Woo-hoo! The Sports Festival is almost over! After this, I'll be making a few chapters for Claus so I can further implement the Mother 3 parts of this story in better. Anyways, I've been working on 8-9 things all at once, you know. That's a lot, and it's hard to get motivated to write one thing when ur working on another. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!)
Izuku words rang like a bell through Shoto's head. Izuku's desire to live up to the expectations, to do whatever it takes to be a hero. The reminder that his left side was his now rather than his father's, finally his own resolve to be a hero.
The final strike between the two of them went out with a literal bang. Midnight had called it, Izuku was out of bounds and Shoto had won.
Lucas had ran out there, on the scene. Hood up and glasses worn. "O-Oh my gosh…" Lucas wanted to throw up a little, horrified by the damage. "Okay, I can't start the recovery until Ch—R-Recovery Girl gives you an assessment for damage." Lucas said to his friend, lifting him up on the medical bed accompanying the robot carrying him to the nurse's office.
Lucas could hear the crowd of people saying it's what Izuku deserved for provoking Shoto to do this, others calling out if it was part of a strategy and that Izuku had spirit. "Shoto, stop by the medical bay after this." Lucas shouted to his friend.
Katsuki growled, what with everything he had heard about Deku and getting ready for his next match.
(Meanwhile)
When Shoto was walking to the waiting room. He silently stood there, his father was standing right in front of him, a malicious looking smile on his face. "What's the matter? Not gonna tell me to get lost?" Enji had said to him, "You need to learn to control your left side. It's dangerous to release so much energy like that."
Endeavor rose his arms out, "But I'm glad you're finally seeing reason. Now that you've abandoned your childish rebellion, we can get back to what's important." Endeavor held his arm out for his masterpiece to reach.
"After you graduate, you'll work by my side. I'll lead you down the path of the mighty, Shoto."
Shoto lifted up his arm, "I haven't abandoned anything." He said, looking at his arm. "Huh?" Endeavor said, confused. He had finally used his fire, he was finally ready for the path, what was he prattling on about?
"You're a fool to think my feelings could be so easily reversed. Instead…Out there…For that one moment…" Shoto started to say, remembering when he released his fire, "I forgot all about you." That last response shocked Endeavor, "Whether that's good or bad, whether it's the right thing to do, I don't know." Shoto was walking off, his old man staring at him. "Maybe I don't need you."
(Meanwhile)
Izuku was grunting in pain, he was bandaged and casted up. "The bones in your right arm were shattered." Shuzenji had said, realizing that his arm will never be the same again. Toshinori and Lucas gasped. Recovery Girl planned to remove the bone fragments so they don't damage Izuku's or stay stuck in Izuku's joints. Nezu looked sad for the boy, and he could tell Lucas was overwhelmed. "That…Those…I-I-I-IDIOTS!" Lucas shouted, crying but showing anger! "Lucas?" Toshinori said, before the boy turned to Toshinori, pushing him to the side. "YOU pushed him to this! YOU told h-him to make the Sports Festival his d-debut! He overdid it because you told him to!" Lucas was angry, Nezu had never seen this kind of anger in his pup before. "Lucas, calm down!"
Nezu said, Lucas's heart was pounding with anxiety, but took a breath. "They put up everything they had back there, they both were giving it their all, and I'd be okay with that, normally…" Lucas's fierce anger in the moment rose again, "I'm gonna go blow off steam."
Shuzenji could see what Lucas was talking about, watching him walk out. "He's right, you know. You're going too far with this. You and the boy. Don't praise him for anything he's done today." She scolded the man.
"Midoriya?!" Tenya and Tsuyu said, while Ochaco said "Deku?!"
Toshinori jumped, "You scared the crap outta me." He said. "Are you okay?" Ochaco asked, "Oh. It's nice to meet you, sir." She introduced herself to Toshinori. "Uh, yeah."
"Guys, w-we're in the way, we need to go." Lucas said, Tsuyu was curious, "Sakai, what's with your sudden attitude?" Tsuyu said, reading his body language.
"I'm fine, Tsu. I'm gonna go find Shoto." Lucas said, "And p-punch him in the chest for being an idiot! …Chiyo-san, call me when you need me for the recovery." Lucas said. Tenya, Ochaco and Tsuyu looked at him in shock. The commonly shy Lucas was now boiling with anger, "Is he mad that Todoroki won over Midoriya?" Tenya surmised, "No, and it may not look like it, but he's actually holding back his rage." Tsuyu explained, "He's mad about something else." Nezu kept his neutral smile on. "Now, students. I understand why you're worried for Mr. Midoriya, but I assure you he's in good hands! Come on, off you go!" Nezu told the students, politely and cheerfully.
"U-Understood, Principal!" Tenya had said, Izuku grunted and opened his eyes, "Oh, hey you guys. Shouldn't you be watching the matches?" He asked, "The stage is far too damaged. They're taking a quick break to repair it now." Tenya had said.
"That match was incredible, Midoriya. I gotta admit though, it was a little scary to watch." Tsuyu said, "You're all too noisy. I know you're worried, but I've got to focus on surgery now."
She and Nezu tried to push the students out, "SURGERY?!" The three of them asked, scared for Midoriya more-so now. "Go on. Get out of here." Shuzenji had said. "But—"
"As I've said, Mr. Midoriya is in good hands. His recovery is our biggest priority at the moment. Don't you panic, now." Nezu explained, the three students protested. "Will his wounds be healed?" Tenya asked, being pushed out. "Ribbit…" Tsuyu had said.
Izuku looked sad, "I'm sorry." He said to Toshinori, making the man gasp.
"I couldn't do what you asked of me." Izuku said, feeling ashamed of himself for losing in the Sports Festival. Izuku was told to make the Sports Festival his debut, his grandiose appearance in the world and proudly say "I am here!"
Izuku was supposed to be the second All Might, and he feels like he failed that mission, already. He grunted, "If I had shut up, not said anything…I might have been able to beat him."
Toshinori felt ashamed, he had put too much pressure on his protégé, and pushed him to overdo. Toshinori needed to make him feel better about one thing, "You got Todoroki to realize something very important about himself."
"I guess so." Izuku said, "I noticed Lucas absentmindedly made Shoto use his left side during their match. Lucas was trying to bring him out of his pain. But I could tell. He looked so sad. I was trying to figure out why when I should've been focused." Izuku felt he made a bigger mistake, "Whenever we were fighting, I was just so…So frustrated. I couldn't see the bigger picture. Or what it would take to win. I'm sorry." Izuku apologized once again.
Something hit Nezu when Midoriya said that last statement, and he realized why his pup was made at his friend and Todoroki-san.
"It's true that the match didn't go how we wanted it to, and realizing where you went wrong won't change that." Toshinori said, Nezu understood where his old friend was going with this. "Meddling where you don't technically have to, is the essence of being a hero." Izuku whimpered, shedding a tear.
Shuzenji had sighed, walking toward the boy. "It will be okay, Mr. Midoriya. I must ask you to forgive my dear boy for his anger." Izuku already knew why Lucas was mad at him.
"No, he's right. I got lost in the fighting. It's understandable, I think."
(Later)
Lucas walked down the hall, he saw Shoto. He took a deep breath, "H-Hey, Shoto." Shoto looked at his new friend.
"Oh, Lucas. How is…Midoriya?" Shoto asked. "What's wrong? He's giving off this…intense emotion." Lucas didn't have it in him to punch his new friend and he didn't want to do that to Izuku, either. "You're an idiot." Lucas said. Shoto was shocked by the blunt mockery. "What?"
"I'm not mad about you confronting your pain. I'm mad that you lost yourself while fighting Izuku." Lucas said, making sure Shoto didn't get it confused. "Wait…why?"
"Because it was stupid of either of you to keep going! You two got completely out of hand that Nemuri-san and Ishiyama-kun were trying to stop you from killing each other!" Lucas said, Shoto wasn't expecting this kind of anger from Lucas, but he feels nostalgic for his rant about their first training exercise. "Not only did not consider your own selves, you got so lost in the moment that you were no longer aware of what was around you!" Lucas was talking about the audience. "Not only our very own classmates, but tons of innocent people could've been injured by what happened."
Shoto felt a bit of shame, but he knew Lucas wasn't necessarily wrong. "I'm…sorry." Shoto apologized, Lucas took another breath, finally letting the anger go. "I'm sorry, too. I didn't wanna get angry like this, you know? Remember, it's going to be our duty someday. We can't lose sight of the people we can put in harm's way." Lucas said, "It's just something I've needed to internalize. My view isn't the same as everyone else's." Shoto nodded, understanding where the boy was coming from a little. "You know, you sound a little like Mr. Aizawa." Shoto said, "I-Is that a bad thing?" Lucas asked.
Shoto held his hand up, "Not at all. I understand why you'd be cautious."
Lucas said, "That said, I also want to say congratulations. I'm glad you're going into the next round." He said, Shoto smiled a little. "Thank you. I appreciate the support, Lucas." Shoto said, politely.
"I'll be rooting for you, Shoto. See you." Lucas needed to help with the recovery for Izuku's injuries.
Shoto walked back, processing everything that had happened. Izuku and Lucas's push to make Shoto realize his fire was his own. The realization that he had forgotten his father and the pain he caused him. His victory, he went back to his seat to watch the rest of the matches.
(Later)
"Rgggh!" Lucas grunted, using his powers to heal Izuku's injuries. "I appreciate this, Lucas." Izuku said to him, along with Shuzenji healing his injuries. "I-It's no problem. I…I apologize for getting angry at you earlier." Lucas apologized, "We've healed you enough, so you should be able to walk perfectly again. But be careful."
"I-It's okay. N-No worries." Izuku said to Lucas, "Thank you very much, ma'am." He said to Recovery Girl, looking at his scarred arm, shocked by how it was crooked. "That's what you get for using your Quirk in a short time frame. Consider your crooked right hand as a warning from now on." Shuzenji had said, "And just so you know. I will not hear injuries like this anymore." She said, which shocked the four people in the room with her. "Recovery Girl, are you sure that is wise?" Nezu had asked his friend, "I understand your reasoning, of course, but…"
"Toshinori, you must find a new way for him to use his power." Shuzenji had said to him, "There has to be an option that's not so self-destructive." Izuku had gasped. "Y-You can leave that to me. We'll figure it…out…" Lucas looked weak, like tons of energy had been torn right out of him. "Easy, son. Take a rest on the bed for now, okay?" Nezu had advised his child. "R-Right…" Lucas set himself on the hospital bed.
"I can see Mr. Midoriya's not the only one who's overdoing it." Nezu had said, worried. "He'll be okay, right?" Izuku asked.
"This happens when he overdoes the healing. It's just mild exhaustion. He should be fine in a few hours." Nezu explained.
Lucas fell fast asleep, eyelids were immediately heavy. The boy had passed out almost too immediately.
(Speaking of)
Lucas awoke to hearing some buzzing ringing in his ears. Lucas felt the heaviness in his eyes wash away. The boy lifted himself up and saw the world around him. He was back here, the dream of the sunflower fields. The ones that were familiar to him, "This place…I will say this, it's beautiful." Lucas said, walking to see if he can walk farther to see all this lush land.
"I still don't get it…Why does this place feel so familiar?" Lucas asked, still baffled by this unknown feeling. He smelled the sunflower, taking a moment to relax. "Maybe…Papa took me here when I was little?" Lucas thought to himself, "That idea…sounds close…but it also sounds wrong." Lucas tried to think about it more.
"Hmm…A puzzling land, to be frank." Lucas had heard someone say. Lucas looked behind him and saw…some strange being, lifting a sunflower into the air and sniffing it. "A-Ah!" Lucas was startled, "Who the heck are you?!" He asked.
The being looked like they were surprised, "Y-You're cognizant of me? That's…abnormal, but…wonderful." The being said. "What…?" Lucas was immensely confused.
"You may not have known of my existence…But I've known you since your infantile days." The being said, the voice sounding like a man. Did part of him sound British, the boy was asking himself. "Is my voice alarming to you?" The being asked. "N-No. A-Anyways, I'm…I'm Lucas." The boy introduced himself.
"It's truly a pleasure, my boy." The being smiled, "My name…
…is Giygas."
(Okay, ending the chapter here! I know it's derailing itself a little from the Sports Festival, but I figured I'd finally reveal who this mysterious being is. Uh-oh, it's Giygas! That ain't good! Anyways, I've finally decided on the voice I wanted him to have, and it's gonna be*drumroll* Harry Lloyd, the voice of Z(Zed) from Xenoblade Chronicles 3! Anyways, Lucas's ideology was taking the more simple ideas of a hero and turning it into a full mindset. It affects how he can act in these situations, and it's of course, why he gets on his friends for failing to see the world around them in their fight. Add that with his concerns for his friends's well beings, and it resulted in this anger and anxiety. I hope I didn't make him hate-able. Anyways, we'll pick up from the Sports Festival in the next chapter! Stay strong and awesome!)
Romans 8:6 KJV
For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
