- .My Hero Academia: 180 degrees. -
34. Where Izuku undergoes physical tests, Uraraka talks with Saito, Toga reflects on her encounter with Deku, and a fight begins at the Todoroki household.
Izuku was giving his all to make the most of the support gear that Hatsume had designed. Her devices were impressive, making him feel like he could overcome his limitations for the physical tests. That was one thing, but there was something unsettling in the air at that moment. Some of the students around him looked at him with curiosity, others with disdain; perhaps it was due to the fact that only quirkless individuals and those whose quirks harmed their users were allowed to use support equipment. There was also the fact that this type of support gear was generally quite expensive. In the end, Izuku decided not to pay much attention to the stares, as it was an important day, and he couldn't afford to get distracted.
Panting after running the 50-meter dash and frowning, he realized he was falling behind compared to the others. Up to that point, he hadn't achieved any outstanding results, and although he was almost certain he wasn't last, he was still not above average. He was keenly aware that the exam notice indicated that more than one student per block could be dismissed if they didn't meet the parameters set by the principal. However, at the start of the tests, it hadn't been specified what those parameters were.
The small machines that helped measure the results were lined up along the test course. Now he was at the last test: the long-distance ball throw.
"Can I kick the ball?" Izuku asked the small robot next to him.
The robot's lights blinked for a few seconds before turning green.
"It is permitted to use any part of your body to throw the ball in order to achieve the greatest possible distance," the robot responded in a mechanical tone.
"Thank you!" Izuku exclaimed, feeling a bit more optimistic as he prepared for the kick.
He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling All Might's smiling face in profile, surrounded by a dazzling golden glow. However, almost instantly, he shook his head and then managed a slight smile. Instead, he wanted to focus on someone else. Uraraka's image came to his mind, with a genuine smile, bright like a beacon amidst the storm of his thoughts, and he felt more ready than ever.
"Ready?" the robot asked, its visor blinking.
"Yes!" Izuku responded with determination, his heart pounding.
From one of the tinted windows, Toshinori watched him closely. "Come on, young Midoriya. Use One for All," he thought intently, wishing him all the success in that crucial moment.
Unbeknownst to him, Aizawa was also watching from behind.
...
20 minutes before the exam
Saito was leaning against the window of the train car door, watching the scenery with a calm expression.
Curious about the tranquility he exuded, and despite knowing that he had approached to talk about Himiko Toga, Uraraka decided to break the silence that had suddenly settled between them.
"Are you also heading to take the entrance exam for UA?" Uraraka asked, trying to sound casual, although she was still unsettled by how much Saito resembled Deku.
Saito looked at her for a second before answering.
"No. Actually, my quirk isn't suited for being a hero," he said with a smile that was both nervous and amused. "It would be a total disaster."
"A disaster?" Uraraka repeated, her curiosity growing even more.
Saito slapped his forehead, closing his eyes as if he had just said something he shouldn't have.
He let out a tired sigh before turning to her with a hurried smile. "Ah, please. If anyone asks, could you say that I don't actually have a quirk?" Saito pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture, a nervous smile appearing on his face. "It's pretty unlikely anyone would find out, but if they learn about my quirk, they might prevent me from working, and I really need the money to make my dream come true."
Uraraka looked at him in surprise and then repeated his words, hoping to get more information. "To make... your dream come true?"
Saito nodded with a broad smile, his expression turning carefree again as he flexed his arm in a gesture of enthusiasm.
"Yes! My dream is to one day play soccer professionally abroad!" he said with a special sparkle in his eyes.
Uraraka watched him for a few seconds before looking away when something unexpected caught her attention. Several passengers in the car started coughing. At first, it was a soft sound, but soon it turned into a series of more insistent coughs, as if something had invaded the space. Uraraka felt a wave of unease begin to spread among the travelers.
...
Night before the exam.
Himiko Toga was lying on her back in bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as if the shadows in the room could offer her answers to the thoughts tormenting her. Her breathing was soft, but in her mind, images flowed like a turbulent current.
The face of Deku, the boy with the wounded face she had encountered in the public bathrooms, appeared in her mind, followed immediately by Saito, the first person she had ever fallen in love with. She recalled him with a split lip, blood slowly trailing down the corner of his mouth as he prepared to fight the boys from the school's soccer team after an argument they had.
Saito had tossed the ball to the side until it reached her feet. Toga blinked, vividly remembering how her heart had pounded that day, accelerated by the mix of adrenaline and confusion as she saw his blood and the look on his face. She never fully understood why that had fascinated her so much, but she knew that something inside her had changed forever after that incident and that she could no longer hide it despite her parents' wishes.
She remembered herself after the incident when she attacked Ochako, crying as she buried herself under the covers upon arriving at Shigaraki's house, sinking into them as if she could escape her memories. She couldn't deny that meeting that boy who reminded her so much of Saito had affected her, reopening that wound in her heart that hadn't healed. Days passed steeped in that anguish, losing track of time, even forgetting to eat or dress. That was until Shigaraki found her when they first met. When she looked into his eyes, she recognized something, as if he too carried a deep burden. It was in Shigaraki's empty eyes that Himiko saw a reflection of her own sorrow, and in that moment, she decided to stay. Not because she thought they could understand each other, but because they shared that darkness, that void that connected them in some way.
Unaware of Toga's thoughts, Jin was tossing and turning under his own covers on the other side of the room, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, experimenting with the most peculiar postures. Then he turned to face Toga and noticed her staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, Toga," Jin's voice broke the silence suddenly, making her tear her gaze from the ceiling to look at him. "Can't sleep either? I admit I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow. Want to chat for a bit? It's been a while since you told me how things are going with that boy you said you liked. Did you manage to confess your feelings?"
Toga didn't respond immediately; her eyes, usually lively, were darkened by a strange seriousness that Jin rarely saw in her.
"Yes. I confessed," she muttered, her words lacking energy. "A total of 108 times."
Jin sat up in bed, crossing his legs.
"One hundred and eight times?!" he exclaimed in astonishment. "Wait... but... Don't tell me you used the appearance of other girls to do it, right?! Otherwise... they would have issued a restraining order or something! But... did you ever confess to him as your real self?"
Toga shook her head.
"Don't tell me you're too shy to tell the one you like face-to-face!" Jin interrupted with a teasing grin.
Toga frowned.
"I'm not shy, Jin!" she snapped, now slightly irritated.
Before the conversation could continue, an annoyed voice came from the next room.
"Would you guys shut up already!" someone growled, pounding on the wall.
"Oh! Sorry, Spinner," Twice quickly apologized, lowering his voice.
When silence returned to the room, Toga exhaled, trying to pick up where they left off.
"It's not that I'm shy..." she whispered. "It's just that after getting to know him a bit better, I realized he was a lost cause."
Jin raised an eyebrow, visibly confused.
"A lost cause?" he repeated. "Oh! Like a hopeless crush! But if you knew from the start it wouldn't work, why did you keep trying so many times?"
Toga's expression softened for a moment, and a mischievous smile appeared.
"Because it was fun to see him get frustrated, and I liked looking cute," Toga admitted.
"Just for fun?" Jin asked, surprised.
"I used the appearances of the cutest boys and girls I could find all over the city," she explained. "It was like going shopping and trying on different outfits without buying anything. But in the end, it didn't matter. He rejected every single one of them in the same way, without even looking twice. Although he grew more annoyed each time, his answer never changed."
Jin frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe that guy already likes someone else."
Toga had considered that. However, the more she watched him, the more she realized it wasn't that he was interested in someone else.
"No," she said, her voice becoming softer. "He's just not interested in those things."
In her mind, the figure of Bakugo appeared for an instant: turned away, his defiant posture, arms crossed, and that permanent scowl, except for the one time she had seen him smile. He was someone completely focused on his goal, romantically unreachable, as far as she could see.
"It seems like the only thing he cares about is becoming the number one hero. It's kind of cool because of that, but I wouldn't want to spend my whole life chasing after him, begging for attention."
Jin glanced at her sideways, waiting for a hint of what she would do next, but when she didn't continue the conversation, he decided to ask directly:
"So... are you going to find someone new to focus your love on?" he asked, sounding like a curious friend. "Maybe someone older and more experienced?"
Toga smiled.
"I already like you, Jin... but as an older brother," she clarified calmly, still smiling.
"Oh... as an older brother," Jin repeated, as if the idea suited him. "I can be that."
They both fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
"I'm going out for a bit," Toga suddenly said, getting up from the bed and starting to gather her things.
"But tomorrow's plan... and Shigaraki..."
"Just cover for me for a while, Jin!" Toga requested.
"Don't you want me to come with you?"
"No, it's something I have to do alone."
Jin hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
"Alright, I'll cover for you, but only because it's what an older brother would do. Just don't be thinking of betraying us, because you know... I hate snitches!"
"I'm not going to report you, Jin. There's just something I want to do before moving on."
"Alright, I trust you. But I expect to see you on time for tomorrow's plan."
"Yes," Toga replied simply before leaving the room.
...
50 minutes before the exam
Hawks and one of his agency's assistants were camouflaged among the branches of a sturdy tree. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves and the feathers on his back as they observed the façade of the Todoroki household. Sunlight filtered through the trees, creating a play of shadows that heightened the tension of the moment.
"What exactly are we doing here, sir?" the assistant suddenly asked, a mix of unease and curiosity in his voice.
Hawks smiled nonchalantly, his gaze still fixed on the house.
"Let's just say I'm following a kind of hunch," he replied, adjusting the long-range visor he held in one hand. His eyes sharpened as he scanned the area. "After all, they say the culprit sooner or later returns to the scene of the crime, or comes back to check on the victim who got away."
At that moment, the front door of the Todoroki house opened, and Shoto appeared, bidding farewell to his mother at the threshold.
"I'm heading to the UA exam, but when I return, we can go over the details of the move, if that's okay with you, Mom," Shoto said, his voice serious but carrying an undertone of happiness as he looked at his mother, who stood in the doorway.
"About that, Shoto..." his mother began.
However, the false Rei Todoroki couldn't finish her sentence. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps running at full speed toward the house caught her attention.
"They're here," Hawks warned as he looked through his visor again, feeling a jolt of tension in the air. "Damn. I didn't expect Dabi to come personally. This could get complicated."
He turned to his assistant, his expression becoming serious.
"You stay back for now and call for reinforcements who are strong against fire quirks. And if possible, contact Endeavor's agency and alert them to the situation."
The assistant nodded, aware of the seriousness of the situation.
At that moment, Twice emerged from the trees, his dark figure contrasting with the daylight. "You're not getting away from me, you freak!" he shouted, pulling out a long pipe from his back, ready to use it as a weapon.
"Who the hell are you?!" Shoto demanded, instinctively placing himself in front of his mother as a barrier of ice shot out from his feet, spreading like a protective shield.
"Chilly!" Twice commented, propelling himself over the ice with the pipe, performing a pole-vault-like jump. "But you don't need to defend her. That you're trying to protect isn't actually your real mother. So you'd do well to step aside if you know what's good for you."
At his strange words, Shoto could only frown as he watched his mother retreat further into the house.
"So my suspicions weren't entirely wrong," Hawks said as he descended to the ground beside Todoroki.
"What the hell is going on?!" Shoto demanded.
Shoto watched Hawks, who maintained a serious and focused look as he scanned the area in all directions. A second had been enough for him to lose sight of Dabi, and he expected him to reappear at any moment. Discreetly, he directed some of his feathers in different directions.
"Please, Shoto, go inside the house and make sure to protect her," Hawks requested, his tone now firm.
"Tell me—" Todoroki tried to ask for more explanations, but he was interrupted by another voice.
"Do you really want to leave them alone with me?" Dabi suddenly appeared inside the house, standing behind the false Rei Todoroki.
"It's you again!" Shoto shouted. "Damn you!"
Dabi attempted to grab the false Rei by the hair, but before he could, a pair of Hawks' feathers flew swiftly and precisely, guiding the woman toward the tree where his assistant was hidden.
"Well, those feathers seem pretty annoying," Dabi said, advancing menacingly. His presence was almost oppressive. "But I suppose they won't be a problem if I burn them all."
Suddenly, Dabi launched a powerful blast of blue flames, creating a wave of heat that separated Shoto and Hawks as they moved to dodge the attack. In the confusion, Dabi aimed a few more attacks at Hawks, who had to take to the air, crossing paths with Twice for a moment.
"Just be careful with your attacks! You wouldn't want to burn me by mistake, would you?" Twice questioned.
"Don't worry," Dabi replied, now focusing his attention on the tree where Hawks' assistant was hiding and launching another powerful blue flame attack, not anticipating that an imposing ice wall would block his way.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot you were here, Shoto. The current heir of the Todoroki family!" Dabi exclaimed, his tone full of mockery. "How does it feel? I guess I'll have to get rid of you before moving on."
Dabi assumed an attacking stance, his eyes shining with dangerous intensity. "Just make sure to put on a better show than your stupid father did against All Might."
"Wait!" Hawks shouted, but before he could move to protect Shoto, Twice tried to hit him with the pipe he still held tightly.
"Don't forget about me!" Twice demanded. "I'm the one who's most upset about all this! Tell me how you tricked my clone!"
"Come on, as if I could really do that," Hawks smirked for a moment, dodging his blows. He knew beforehand that the more agitated someone was, the more predictable their movements became.
"I can't stand those who betray the people around them!" Twice shouted. "Our duty is to protect each other! And if heroes and villains attack each other, it should be done face to face, not with dirty tricks."
"Just like how Shigaraki plans to attack directly soon?" Hawks asked.
"You won't make me talk about Shigaraki's plans!"
"So you are all working together," Hawks deduced.
That only made Twice angrier.
"I can't stand you! People like you, born to be heroes, will never understand those who weren't as lucky!" Twice accused.
"Let me tell you, you're wrong," Hawks replied seriously. "I didn't have it easy for a while, but I managed to overcome my past difficulties."
"And you expect me to believe that?! You manipulated my clone into betraying us!"
Hawks let out a tired sigh, glancing briefly at the blue flames.
Please... hold on just a little longer, Shoto.
...
Author's Notes:
Change from dashes to quotation marks: Thanks for your recommendation, Kakarifers. Starting from this chapter, I'll be using this format for dialogue, hoping to improve the reading experience.
Special thanks to James Birdsong for your comment!
Your comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading, following, and liking. It always makes me smile!