A finger poked him in the side of the head.
Izuku was slowly realizing that Himiko forfeiting their match wasn't exactly her being nice. In fact, he was fairly certain that she knew he was exhausted, and that his body wouldn't be able to handle using One for All for very long.
Normally that wouldn't be much of a problem, but it most certainly was when he might have to fight Kacchan.
The finger poked him in the side of the head again.
"Do you have to do that?" Izuku groaned.
"Yes." Himiko smiled, dug her chin into his shoulder, and continued to poke him.
He had wanted to use the time so that he could rest, regain some strength, and hopefully calm his nerves. Those plans had completely backfired the minute he attempted to lie down in the nurse's office.
Himiko had taken it upon herself to lay on top of him and poke him in the face every few seconds so that he couldn't go to sleep. She had been doing it for the last five minutes, and in those five minutes, Kacchan had managed to win his fight.
'I'm so tired.'
"You know the less rest I get the larger the likelihood I'll be hurt because I couldn't fight Kacchan properly, right?"
Himiko hummed playfully," Oh, I know! Maybe you should've thought of that before breaking your promise."
Izuku closed his eyes, resisted the impulse to sigh, and just appreciated how soft Himiko felt. The nurse's office was chilly. Her body pressed against him, and the warmth of her lulled Izuku into a hazy muddled rest that her poking couldn't quite ruin.
"I love you," he smiled absently and let his arms wrap around the girl's small waist.
She stiffened for a moment, making him worry she might pull her warmth away, but surprisingly she relaxed," I love you too."
"Do you have to do that while I'm here?" Todoroki stared at them both with a very uncomfortable frown.
"I'm too tired and too cold to make her get off," Izuku mumbled.
"And I don't give a shit how uncomfortable it makes you," Himiko didn't spare the boy a glance as she poked Izuku again.
'Oh great, she's still doing that.'
Todoroki looked out the window next to him in a brave attempt at trying to ignore them.
"I think you hurt his feelings," Izuku whispered.
"How can you tell?"
Izuku looked at the boy and then back to Himiko," he looks like a little kid who just got scolded."
She looked at the boy's face for a second then just looked at Izuku like he was crazy," are you kidding? He looks like he's trying to freeze the window over with his mind."
"Nope, that's definitely a sulking look," Izuku laughed, bobbing Himiko up and down as she rose and fell with his chest.
"I'd prefer you both not use me as a way to flirt," Todoroki seemed very ready to leave the infirmary if for no other reason than to get away from them.
Himiko leaned down and whispered into Izuku's ear," Never mind, he's definitely sulking."
They both broke out into fits of poorly suppressed giggles.
It felt nice just enjoying each other's company again. It felt like it had been so long since they'd had a calm moment just to themselves since the U.S.J, and it was relaxing to just finally be together without any pressure.
"I'm still mad at you," Himiko grumbled.
Izuku sighed, staring up at the ceiling," I know, and I have a feeling Mom and Eri won't be too happy with me either."
The room was silent, save for the hum of the air conditioning that thrummed in the vents above them and the infrequent sound of footsteps in the halls outside. It was strange not hearing the crowd, despite how close they must be, it was odd to think how accustomed he'd gotten to the constant noise.
Himiko's soft hand brushed over his cheek, her fingers traced between the freckles that dotted his cheeks, and her eyes followed along in lazy pirouettes," I know what you're thinking."
Izuku smirked cheekily," You probably do. I think you know me better than anyone at this point… except maybe my mom."
She smiled brightly at that," You're thinking it's really weird how quiet it is. Aren't you?"
He laughed," Got it in one."
Himiko's smile softened around the edges, her fangs disappeared behind soft pink lips, and her eyes crinkled at the edges," you'll have to get used to large crowds like the one out there if you want to be a hero as big as All Might."
Izuku wasn't exactly thrilled about that, but then he had the thought that being an underground hero like Mr. Aizawa wouldn't be so bad. Maybe even Himiko would like it. She did have that whole 'scary stalking cat' thing going for her; she was basically a textbook stealth and infiltration hero.
He pushed the thought aside though.
Even if Himiko wanted to be a hero working from behind the scenes he would never be able to. The symbol of peace that All Might was training him to be is a public and prominent figure. If he wanted to bring light to the world he would need to be in the light for that.
He sighed," Yeah, I guess I will have to get used to it," Izuku smiled at Himiko," but you could be a really cool underground hero like Mr. Aizawa! You'd be so cool!"
She laughed," I was thinking the same thing. I've had a few name ideas, but I haven't put too much thought into it. It's just all so surreal that I'm actually here and doing this. I'm almost afraid I might wake up and none of this will have been real."
Izuku squeezed her shoulder and twirled an absent finger around a piece of hair that stuck out of her two buns," I feel like that sometimes too," he grinned dumbly, like a child who had just found a piece of candy," but then I get to do stuff like today with you and everyone else, and it's all so amazing."
Himiko looked at him with a very dry expression.
Izuku laughed," Okay, not all of it is amazing. I could definitely have handled my fight with Todoroki better. But other than that, hasn't this whole thing been kind of fun? We got to run an obstacle course, I got to have a fistfight with Kacchan, and we came up with interesting ways to use and combo our powers during the cavalry battle! Okay sure, the individual battles could've gone better, but some of them have been fun."
Himiko brought a thoughtful finger up to her lips," Mmm, I suppose other than me almost killing glasses guy, and you almost killing yourself and the edge lord over there," she hooked a thumb at Todoroki, who looked extremely indignant at that," it hasn't all been bad. But you've still got time for it to get very unpleasant. After all, you've got to fight—"
"Hey hey, listeners! Our final intermission is coming to an end, and it's the moment we've all been waiting for! Will our final contestants please make their way to the arena!?"
"The blond asshole," Himiko leaped from the bed with entirely too much pep and pulled Izuku to his feet.
"You want me to get hurt, don't you?"
Izuku looked at her accusingly, but all he got in return was a wide-eyed look of confusion," huh? I don't know what you're talking about. If you couldn't get rest when you were lying in a bed it's entirely your fault."
Izuku groaned, but there was no use crying over spilled milk. He would just have to go into the fight on the edge of exhaustion. He contented himself with the knowledge that Kacchan wouldn't be entirely fresh for the fight either, but he definitely wasn't worse off than Izuku himself.
'Maybe I should forfeit. If nothing else I know it'll piss Kacchan off, and that would be extremely funny.'
But then Izuku also knew how Kacchan was. He would be entirely too insufferable. There would be a lot of yelling, and cussing, and someone would probably have to stop him from just trying to fight Izuku anyway.
So he sighed and made his way to the arena again. At least the day was almost over, and all Izuku needed to do was make it through one last fight; win or lose.
Thinking that was all well and good, but actually having Kacchan in front of him and pitching for a fight was very nerve-wracking. Every other they'd fought so far had been under different circumstances that didn't give Izuku time to let the situation fully sink in.
But with a crowd roaring around him, the thundering pulse in his ears, and Kacchan's hateful gaze centered on him, Izuku could only tremble.
'Come on!' Izuku grit his teeth and balled his fists,' It's just Kacchan! I've fought him a bunch of times already. So why? Why am I so scared?!'
"It's the moment we've all been waiting for! The showdown to end the Sports Festival for our first-year students! We've got some really interesting guys for our big finale! In one corner, Katsuki Bakugo. He's a guy with a volatile temper and an equally explosive quirk! He's dominated almost every match he's been in, but I have a feeling his opponent will give him a real run for his money!"
The crowd was unbearable. The noise was so loud that Izuku was sure people from two provinces over would be able to hear the racket. And above it all Present Mic was somehow heard loud and clear.
"In the other corner, Izuku Midoriya! He's been starting upset after upset all over the place the whole day. He's had so many ups and downs I wouldn't be wrong if I compared him to a rollercoaster! And that's nothing to say about his quirk. He might be a bit timid at times, but I think everybody knows that when the going gets tough; Izuku Midoriya gets going!"
"I said I'd put you in a damn hospital nerd, and I'm going to keep that promise," Kacchan slammed a fist into his palm letting out a small explosion," you'd better put up a real fight. Otherwise, all these extras watching won't know just how much better than everyone here I am."
Kacchan always managed to get under Izuku's skin, whether it was when he was yelling at him, cursing him out, or just using violence.
Izuku wished he could get the boy to just leave him alone, or at least stop shouting so much. But Kacchan wasn't the type of person to listen to reason and Izuku himself didn't particularly want to try reasoning with him. He needed to get rid of this fear he's been carrying all these years.
So he did two things. He smiled as sincerely as he could at Kacchan, and then he flipped him off," fuck you."
"Let the match…. BEGIN!!!!!"
"……..," Kacchan was ominously silent. He just stared with an unreadable expression at Izuku's outstretched middle finger.
Time seemed to pause, the world grew silent, and all that Izuku could see were the small black pinpricks of Kacchan's pupils swimming in his blood-red irises. Slowly, Kacchan's eyes narrowed, he slouched down, put his hands down by his sides, and turned the palms facing behind him.
'He's going to charge, but will he throw a big left hook? No. He knows I'd predict that. Either he's going to charge me head-on and tackle me to the ground, or he'll try blinding me and then hit me with an explosion from behind.'
An explosion propelled Kacchan forward and Izuku was given only half a second to decide what his next move would be.
So Izuku filled himself with two percent of One for All and leaped up into the air.
A fist slammed into his gut and air flooded out of Izuku's lungs.
"I knew you'd try some candy-ass shit like that, Deku! It's always so fucking gross how you're always taking notes on every little goddamn thing. I bet you thought I wouldn't throw that left hook, well guess what," Izuku was slammed bodily into the ground, and as he was gulping greedy lungfuls of air in, Kacchan held his open palm in front of his face," You were fucking wrong."
'Shit!' Against his better judgment Izuku let more of One for All's power fill him, and he leaned back on his elbows. With the eight percent of One for All he could control, Izuku curled back on his arms, and sprang up into Kacchan's face, feet first.
Something in his right arm made a sharp *SNAP* noise. Izuku let out an involuntary cry at the same time Kacchan did when Izuku's feet met his jaw.
"Oh! That looked like a painful exchange of blows didn't it everybody?!" Present Mic shouted, his commentary definitely not helping Izuku's current state.
They both rolled on the ground, groaning and cursing, Izuku clutched his right arm, and Kacchan his jaw. The crackling energy of One for All dissipated and all Izuku could feel was the sharp electric pain in his arm
"I'm gonna fugging gill you degu," clearly his jaw was either broken or dislocated, if the pain in his shoulder was anything to go on, then Izuku's arm was too.
"Oh shut up," Izuku groaned, pulling himself up to his feet as Kacchan did the same
The crowd cheered as they rose to their feet and Present Mic roared even louder," It looks like these two are fired up just like when they had that tousle on the obstacle race! But how's this match gonna go when these two have been fighting with all they've got all day?"
'I'm not gonna be able to use One for All at eight percent anymore, and I'm definitely not stupid enough to use it at one hundred percent after already pissing Himiko off.'
Kacchan glowered through the pain he was clearly feeling. Izuku was sure that, if he could, Kacchan wanted to cuss him out even more than he had been. But thankfully he was spared the other boy's tirade because of his injured jaw.
Izuku gripped his right arm and grimaced at the movement as a lance of pain shot up his arm, along his neck, and up his jaw. The pain had been bad, but manageable. At the very least it was nothing compared to the pain he'd felt when he had woken up momentarily after the fight with Todoroki.
Could he win with just one arm? Was there any way?
'Maybe if I focus on his jaw again?' Izuku stared over at his childhood bully and frowned. Kacchan's gaze was shaky, his pupils were dilated, and while it was minute, there was a tremor in his legs,' I think I rattled his brain with that last attack. Maybe one more solid hit could knock him out.'
Before Izuku could think of a way to land the decisive hit he would need, Kacchan burst into motion, his arms out at his sides; ready for an attack. A large blast of smoke from Kacchan's right hand concealed his movements.
Izuku leapt into the air over the smoke hoping that he would be able to ambush the boy from above as he emerged from the smoke. But suddenly another blast of smoke rushed upward from the middle of the smoke and Izuku was blinded.
"It looks like Katsuki Bakugo threw up a smoke screen! Can Izuku Midoriya avoid whatever's coming next?!"
'Crap! I can't see!'
Three quick bursts of Kacchan's quirk drew Izuku's attention. From the sound of the direction each explosion had come from, Izuku guessed that the boy was either right next to him or just above.
'Not good I need to get to the ground fast! I'm a sitting duck up here.'
BOOM*
An explosion scorched Izuku's back and he was slammed into the ground by the force, chest first. The blast had scattered the smoke down in a rush, the rolling remnants of the cloud crawled along the ground, and Izuku was exposed.
Present Mic sucked in a sharp hiss over the loudspeaker," Ooooh that looked like it hurt!"
His chest ached, his arm throbbed even worse from the jarring force, and Izuku flipped over; wheezing pitifully.
Kacchan seemed to hang in the air, his glare centered on Izuku, but then he twisted oddly. His quirk activated in powerful bursts as he spun faster and faster. He rose high into the air and then all at once the spinning mass of explosions turned and raged right toward the spot Izuku was in.
"Oh crap!" Izuku flipped over painfully and managed to throw himself just far enough so that Kacchan's attack had struck the spot he had been in. The concrete was completely destroyed, and a crater had been torn into the arena. Izuku panted and glared through the dust where he could see the other boy's silhouette" Are you crazy!? You could've killed me!"
"Shud up, Degu!" Kacchan slurred, his jaw still affecting his speech," If I waned to gill you, you'd be dead!"
This was getting more and more dangerous. Kacchan might not intend to kill Izuku but that didn't mean he was going to be gentle either. Izuku didn't want to be in any more pain if he could help it, honestly, he'd rather just forfeit at this point, but the issue of Kacchan's temper was still very much a problem.
"You're such an… asshole." Izuku sighed tiredly.
"The hell did you say, Degu?!"
He could feel a vein throb in his head, and the stirring of a migraine was building.
A sudden idea popped into Izuku's head, and he almost let an evil grin, one that would have been at home on Himiko, spread across his face," I said you're an asshole! You don't listen to what anyone says, you don't think about how what you do affects other people, and to top it all off, you're a loudmouth prick!"
Kacchan's eye twitched, his lips pulled back in a snarl, and his quirk activated in quick sharp explosive bursts," That's it! I'm gonna gill you. You're fuggin dead, Degu!"
He sprang forward, all semblance of thought completely gone. Kacchan thundered forward, flashes of explosions carried him forward and he cocked his left fist back; readying another haymaker.
Izuku smiled, filled himself with a safe amount of One for All, and then when Kacchan threw his punch, Izuku caught it and flipped him just like he had during the class team battles.
"That shit ain't gonna worg, Degu!" Kacchan twisted in Izuku's grip, landing on his feet, Izuku had expected that, and better yet he still had a hold on the other boy's wrist.
Izuku cocked his leg back and used as much force as he could muster to sweep Kacchan's feet out from under him.
"The fu—"
Izuku slammed his foot into Kacchan's chin knocking him out.
For long drawn-out seconds, the entire stadium was silent, but suddenly the crowd roared in excitement.
"I don't believe it! Through pain, near exhaustion, and having all the odds against him; Izuku Midoriya has wooooooooon!" Present Mic boomed over the speakers, his voice shaking the whole stadium, and making Izuku's whole body vibrate.
Himiko slammed into Izuku and they tumbled to the ground," I knew you could win."
Izuku just laughed weakly and tried desperately not to fall asleep where they were sprawled out.
IMPORTANT!!!
END A/N
Okay so a lot of people are enjoying this fanfic, and even I'm enjoying writing it. Typically there are parts of a story I don't like writing, but I've enjoyed writing almost all of this story with a few exceptions and those are only maybe pieces out of a few chapters.
That being said I wanted people's opinions on whether I should include the my hero movies as separate arcs where I would place them in the timeline where they are widely accepted to be. Either that or I could do separate Oneshots for those stories that could be read without strictly needing to be read so it doesn't ruin the story flow.
Idk I'll think it over and if you guys have any input on the idea just leave a comment and it'll be a huge help. After all, this story is for all of you as much as it is for me!!!!
