Golden Days Arc 2 - Chapter 9: Duel of Fates

Reviews!

Bruhman: Neither can I... it's a curse...

Harleking31: Ok... you figured that part of the story out, so good on you

JustJack: *bows* thank you, thank you!

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Now, I will let you know that we only have two chapters left of the "Golden Days Arc" before we hop into the "Conviction Arc", which will hop back into the present. Meaning I will soon change the Stories cover for the next arc.

Also, here's the list of the next Arcs that have been planned out:

1. Conviction Arc (Ch.13-25)

2. Black Summer Arc (Ch.26-38)

3. Remembrance Arc (Ch.39-44)

4. Lost Children Arc (Ch.45-?)

5. Takamagahara Arc (Ch. ?)

6. Jigoku Arc (Ch. ?)

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

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It was late at night, and Izuku lay down in his sleeping bag resting from the day. He had gone through extreme training today, facing off against both Joskuke and Kimihito at the same time, wanting to both push himself and train for a 1V2 situation for the future, so he was a little sore almost everywhere, not only that, he had pushed himself farther during his physical exercises, running farther than he was used to, moving and carrying more than he also used to.

As he was laying down, he looked up to the point of the tent and began thinking over the events that had transpired during his time here. He remembered Josuke giving him advice about talking with Toru when they arrived at the farm after what happened back in the city.

"You should talk to her,"

Izuku jumped a little as he turned around only to see Josuke behind him. Seeing that it was him Izuku let out a sigh of relief. "Don't sneak up on me like that, Josuke!" Izuku said

Josuke chuckled, "Sorry," he said, "Anyway, you should talk to her,"

"Who?"

"You know who,"

Izuku shook his head, "I would but I can't, and besides, it's my fault anyway," He said "She's been ignoring me ever since I got out of the hospital, and it's not like one conversation with her is going to make her be less angry with me," Izuku said

Josuke shrugged, "Who knows, but you could try," Josuke said

"Maybe..." Izuku replied

Josuke looked at his friend with a smile, while he knew that Izuku must have been through a rough patch before meeting them, he wished that he expressed his feelings a little more. "Just talk to her when you're ready, but I also say do it soon, after all, all those emotions built up by the both of you will come out and it will end in a fight, trust me," Josuke said

Izuku looked a little confused by Josuke's advice, it was almost as if something similar had happened to him.

"Josuke... did something like that happen to you?" Izuku asked

Josuke nodded, "Yep," he replied "I wasn't much of a good guy before meeting the others, I was a bit of a trouble maker, which caused me and a long-time friend to have an argument that lasted for a while, and eventually, all my anger came out, I said some things that I regret... I wanted to apologize but they transferred to another school and I haven't seen or spoken to them since," Josuke finished

"I'm... I'm sorry," Izuku told Josuke

Josuke just shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry about it," He said "I've accepted that it's one of those regrets that I won't be able to make up for," He said

"But-"

"I won't know unless I try, right?" Josuke told him with a sly grin,

Izuku realized where he was going with this and would admit that his friend made a very good point. "Right..." Izuku replied, "I'll try, Josuke," Izuku told him

Josuke gave him a wide smile, "Good," He said "Now go get your tent set up before you get a bad spot,"

"Ah! Right!" Izuku said as he grabbed his stuff and looked for a spot to set up.

Then the conversation he had with Toru while apologizing for his inability to help Monoma during the Villain attack.

"Toru," he called out

Toru didn't answer back.

"Toru... I know that you're angry with me and if I had to guess, it was because of what happened with the villain and with Monoma," he said

Toru still didn't answer back.

"I know that you're angry with me because I couldn't do anything, I know I didn't do much, I was useless the whole fight, and I... I hate that I couldn't do anything and Monoma nearly got killed because I wasn't strong enough... and I can understand why you hate me," Izuku said, "Cause it's the same reason I hate myself"

Hearing the beginning, she felt like she could unleash her anger and hatred on the boy, but then when he spoke the last part, she stopped. She turned to look at him finally and saw the pain and sorrow on Izuku's face.

"You already know I'm Quirkless, but I was bullied for it," Izuku said as he looked at her, "I was always made fun of and called names, like useless or weak, and I was treated like a freak and hated, I never fought back and I began to believe their worlds, and even now, despite how far I've come, I still believe them..." He said

"Don't" She said

Izuku was surprised by what she said and saw her face. Her glare was gone, there wasn't any anger or annoyance, instead, she looked at him with a bit of a sad expression.

"Huh?" Izuku asked

"Don't apologize," Toru said

Izuku was still confused but Toru set her branches and twigs down and walked over to him and Izuku was surprised by how close she got.

"I'm sorry for being unfair, Izuku," Toru told him

"Unfair?" Izuku asked

Toru nodded, "I'll admit, I was angry at you for what happened with the villain, but I think I realize that I was more afraid and scared about Monoma and what might have happened to him and I took that out on you... I was even a bit jealous of you because in a short amount of time you and Monoma have grown closer," She told him "I don't hate you, Izuku, and I don't think you're useless like you believe... in a short amount of time you've gotten a lot stronger than most of us because you are very dedicated to fulfilling your dream," Toru said

Izuku was stunned by how this was resolved, but moreover, he was more surprised by her words. It really hit him, he had known that the others did believe in him, but hearing it from Toru, who he believed had come to hate him, made him feel a lot better.

"Thank you, Toru, and please, don't feel unfair, I now understand completely why you'd be upset with me, and If I was in your shoes, I may have done the same," Izuku told her

Then the other conversation that same day with Toru while she was helping get all the thorns out of his back, where he truly began to question his own dream and where his admiration for Monoma grew more, due to his own dream.

Izuku looked back at her for a bit and then turned back to the fire and saw the others smiling and laughing, which made him smile.

"Some view, huh?" Izuku asked

Toru looked at him with a confused look, "Huh?" she asked him

"Josuke wants to become a hero, but the way he talks about his Mom's Dojo, I think he really wants to train others and be a teacher, he's good at it," Izuku began, "As for Kimihito, he's a bit silly, and while he says he wants to be a hero as well, I've seen how much he loves to read, and even talks to me about how he wanted to write as a kid. Kanao's family owns a restaurant and I've seen her lunch and some of the cuts on her fingers, I think she wants to be a cook and maybe even create her own restaurant one day... Everyone wants to be Hero at our age, but they also have their own hopes and dreams that they truly want to fulfill..."

Toru kept listing to him as she pulled out more thorns and looked at him, letting his words sink in.

"Looking at them all from here, I almost think I can see their hoped and dreams flickering with the flames..." Izuku said with a smile

Toru finished and finally looked over at the fire and saw the others laughing and smiling, and she saw how happy they were, how free they appeared to be in the moment. And in that moment, she saw what Izuku saw, she saw all of her friend's hopes and dreams in the light of the flames, in their smiles... It made her smile as well.

"Like a Bonfire... of Dreams," she said

Izuku chuckled and smiled as he turned to look at Toru, "well that was Poetic, sounded like you were something of a princess for a second there," he said

Toru slightly blushed when she heard that, but she pouted as she looked at him, "Don't say something like that!" She cried, but she calmed down and smiled at him, "But I get it, it's like everyone has their own little light or fire that they bring to this little group of ours,"

Izuku nodded, "And to make sure that the weaker flames don't die out, others toss their own flames into the biggest fire that in turn helps their flames stay alive... And I think that big fire that we toss out flames into to stay alive, that's Monoma," He told her.

Toru nodded in agreement, "Yeah... that's him" Toru said with a soft smile

"I wish I could be like him," Izuku said softly

"You say something, Izuku?" Toru asked

Izuku shook his head and smiled, "Nothing," he said, he then turned back to the bonfire and watched the flames dance, while he could see everyone else's dream, he couldn't see his own, "Nothing at all..." He finished

Finally, he remembered the conversation he had with Monoma a few days ago about his own dream and goals as well as talking about Monoma's own dreams.

"Izuku... there's something that's been eating at me, something that's been troubling me,"

"what is it?" Izuku asked

"Well, What kind of Hero do you want to be?" Monoma asked

"huh?" Izuku asked, turning to his friend with a raised brow

"What kind of a hero do you want to be, Izuku?" Monoma asked again

"I want to be a Hero who can smile no matter what happens, even when fighting the worse of the worse, but also put a smile on the people who need one, I want to be a symbol of peace, just like All-Might"

"And that's it," Monoma said "That's what's been bothering me Izuku,"

"What?" Izuku asked, "What do you mean? How is the kind of hero I want to be bothering you?" Izuku asked, his tone a mix of hurt and anger

"It bothers me because all it is is living in a shadow, listen to me, I respect All-Might, I even look up to him in a way, but I don't want to be him, and I don't think anyone should try to be like him, because all someone will be doing is living in his shadow," Monoma told Izuku "Listen Izuku, all of us here, we want to be heroes, we dream of it, and we're all driven to pursue it, but it just seems like your dream is what everyone else wants,"

"What do you mean?" Izuku asked

"Izuku, everyone dreams about being the next symbol of peace and holding the title of number 1, even if they don't realize it, everyone dreams about being in All-Might's seat or dreams of becoming him, your dream is like everyone else's who wants to be a Hero!" Monoma said "We all live and die by our dreams, Izuku, but it's important to know whether our dreams are our own or our dreams are the product of what we wish we were, a true Hero doesn't live by the dream of becoming the same person he idols or following in the footsteps of his idol which will only lead to living in shadows, a true Hero must have his own dream, a dream of who he wants to be without living in the shadows of another or those that came before him, A Hero, must have his own reason for becoming a hero, for fighting, for living, they should put their heart and soul into protecting and making sure their dream becomes a reality, they should never hesitate to defend their dream, and they should never be afraid to reach the dream no matter the cost... Izuku what you want to be, you'll just be living in a shadow like those who want the same thing... don't live in shadows Izuku, take it from someone who knows,"

Izuku had taken in everything that had happened, and the things that had recently changed him and made him think. Was his dream of being number 1, of being like All-Might, really all that special? Did he actually have any sort of dreams or goals for the future? Was he going to keep being in the shadow of his idol? Was he going to break free? What was he going to do...?

Izuku thought hard about it, he had all this time to figure out what he was going to do in order to figure out his dream, what he was going to do to break free from the shadows that surrounded him.

After a while, and after weighing out options to figure out what he was going to do... he eventually, figured something out, an idea of what he was going to do in order to find himself and his dream, but he knew it was not going to be easy nor were the others probably going to like it, which is why he needed advice, and then completely he just needed to think it over. So he unzipped his sleeping bag, got out of his tent, and made his way to another tent.

Once Izuku made his way to the tent, he unzipped it and looked inside, "Josuke, can we taaaaa- oh my god..."

The sight Izuku had walked in on was an unexpected one, Josuke was kneeling over Kanao both were only inches away from the other but both were looking at him like a deer in headlights.

"Uh... I-I'll just come back," Izuku said as he was about to close the tent and walk away

"W-Wait! Izuku! Don't go! we uh... we were just finishing up," came Kanao's voice.

"R-Right!" Josuke said

Izuku come back inside the tent and closed its flap behind him and he sat in front of the two embarrassed teens.

"So, what's uh, what's up?" Josuke asked

Izuku took a few deep breaths and looked at Josuke, "I um... I think I'm going to be leaving the farm soon,"

"What? Why?" Kanao asked

"Because, my time here on the farm, I think I've learned that my dream and my goals, as well as who I am... It's not really my dream or who I really am, and I want to find out who I really am, or at least, who I really want to be," Izuku told them "Monoma, Toru, Kimihito, Mei, and even you two... you all have goals and a dream for the future and you know that's what you really want, but me... I don't know a damn thing about what my own dreams and goals are, nor who I am, which is why I need to leave, I need to do this for myself and by myself"

Josuke looked at Izuku with a small smile, "So, that's it huh?"

Izuku nodded, and looked down, feeling a little ashamed, "Yeah... that's it," Izuku said

"Then go for it," Josuke told him

Izuku looked up at his friend in surprise, stunned that his friend would actually agree and go for it. "R-Really?" Izuku asked

Josuke nodded, "Yeah," Josuke said with a small smile on his face, "Izuku, I went through something similar before I met Monoma and the others, and I did it all on my own, which gave me time to think hard and figure myself out and what was wrong with me and what I could do to better myself and atone for my past actions, so when you just told me that you're going through the something similar, I won't tell you not to do it, I support you the entire way," Josuke told him with a soft smile on his face

"Josuke's right," Kanao said "Everyone needs to do something in order to find themselves and figure out what they want for the future, and if this is what you have to do, then do it, and know that I will also support you,"

Izuku looked at them and a soft smile appeared on his face as he could feel tears form in his eyes as he looked down to hide his tears, but they knew why he looked down. Izuku was glad to have friends that understood and support him, something that he knew he had with them, but it still felt good to be reminded of it.

"Th-Thank you," Izuku said with a bittersweet tone, "Both of you,"

Josuke and Kanao smiled, knowing that this is what Izuku needed to hear.

"Of course, Izuku," Josuke said

"It's no problem," Kanao said with a smile

Izuku nodded and looked back at them, "I'm still deciding on what I'm going to do but thank you for supporting me if I decided to leave," He told them

Josuke and Kanao once again reassured him it was no problem and with that, Izuku left the tent, and made his way back to his, and once he was back inside and snuggled back in his sleeping back, he thought about what he was going to do, but in the end, he already knew what he was going to do...

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As the days pass on, their time at the farm was nearly over, but summer was not, and today, Izuku would be making his choice today. He packed everything as today was going to be his last day at the farm, he had already made arrangements to go home today, and with his resolve, he picked up his practice sword and walked over to the others, specifically, he walked over to Monoma.

"Monoma," Izuku called out as he walked over and stood in front of said boy

Monoma turned to Izuku, as did the others, and when they saw Izuku he had a neutral expression on his face. No one knew what Izuku wanted but when he raised up his practice sword and pointed it at Monomao, it became clear what he wanted.

"Today is my last day here... Before I go, I want a spar," Izuku told his friend

Now it was all clear. Izuku wanted to challenge Monoma, but the question was why?

"Izuku? What are you doing man?" Kimihito asked

"I have to find my own dream and my own purpose... But I can't do it here, and not with you guys, I have to find out who I am and what my dream is, but first, I have to do this," Izuku told him.

Monomao stepped forth and looked at Izuku, and when Toru saw his face, she saw a slight look of disappointment and sadness present on her crush's face.

"Alright then, but how about this," Monoma began, "If you lose, you stay with us, if you win... You're free to leave," Monoma said

Izuku nodded in agreement. Monom hardened his face and he went to his tent to grab his practice sword when he returned, he pointed it at Izuku and Izuku took a stance, ready to act.

Toru looked at Josuke, "Shouldn't we stop them!?" Toru asked

Joskike shook his head, "No... This is something that needs to happen," Joskike told her

"Needs to happen!? But-!"

"Toru,"

Toru turned around only to see Kanao looking at her, "Josuke's right,"

Toru was shocked, they were really going to let these two fight and possibly ruin their friendship. She turned back to the two boys only to see the setting sun illuminating them as it rose behind them.

They stood there, looking at the others with a face devoid of emotion. In an instant, Monoma jumped forth and tried to jab Izuku with his sword, but Izuku stelled to the side and in quick succession, he knocked Monoma's sword down and quickly pointed the tip of his practice sword at Monoma's throat.

Everyone was stunned. Izuku, in such a fluid movement, had disarmed and won against Monoma so fast that even Josuke himself was impressed.

Izuku moved his sword away from Monoma's neck and the boy fell to his hands and knees as he was at a loss for words, looking down at the ground in disbelief. He had lost. Which means he had lost Izuku.

Izuku looked down at his friend and while this was just as hard for him, he still needed to push and carry on.

"I'm sorry Monoma, but this... I need to do this to seek out my own path and my own dream," Izuku said

And with that said, Izuku turned and went to grab his things and leave the farm.

As he left to go pick his things up at his tent, Toru went over to Monoma to try and comfort him, she asked if he was ok but he didn't respond, worrying her.

She then looked up to see Izuku walking toward the road and she wanted to stop him and yell at him for walking away from Monoma and the rest of them after all they did for him, and didn't even have the decency to say goodbye to them. But... Another part of her, a much more logical side of her, held her back, telling her that he was not leaving them and being ungrateful. She then remembered the conversation she had with him only a few days ago.

Toru looked over at him, hoping to strike up a conversation, but when she saw his face, she saw the conflict written on it. "You ok?" She asked

Izuku let out a sigh before he looked over at her, "What... What's your dream Toru?" Izuku asked

"My dream?" She asked him

Izuku nodded, "Yeah," He said, "And I'm not just talking about becoming a Hero but... what is your biggest dream?"

"My dream... Well, it's not really an amazing dream, but I think it's a dream that I can say I really want to make happen," Toru told him

"What is it?" Izuku asked

"To live a long and good life," Toru said with a soft smile, "It's a simple dream, but I want to live a life that had meaning in it, part of it is becoming a hero, but for the most part of it is just living a life where I and my friends can smile, where I can get married and grow old with the one I love... a good and long life," She told him.

"You all have amazing dreams..." Izuku said "But I... I don't know what kind of Dream I have,"

Toru was a bit confused by what he was saying, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know what my dream is anymore," Izuku told her, "I thought I did but I think that I've come to realize that it might not be my real dream, but just something that I wanted to prove to others, and now that I realize that, I've become a little lost," Izuku finished

"So... what are you going to do?" Toru asked, looking a little concerned

Izuku sighed and shook his head a little, "I don't know yet..." Izuku told her

Toru put her hand on his shoulder to reassure him, "Do whatever you have to do Izuku, if you need time, take your time to figure out what your dream is... but remember that we will always be here for you," Toru said.

And she quickly realized that Izuku had taken her advice, that Josuke and Kanao were right, and that this is what Izuku had to do in order to find his dream.

As she watched him walk toward the road, she couldn't help but feel his heart aching.

'I see why you didn't say goodbye, Izuku... Because this isn't goodbye,' Toru thought 'See you later Izuku... And when you come back, I... I hope you figured out your dream,'

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2 Months Later:

Back in Musutafu, Izuku was walking back from the kendo dojo, his wooden sword strapped and sheathed behind him. Since he got back from the camp, Izuku had been training and bulking up nonstop, his sword skills had improved and he could even hold a much bulkier and larger version of his sword that was just as tall as him. He had even been testing his skills by going to different kendo dojos and fencing schools, and so far, he hadn't lost, sure there were a few bruces and sore arms and sides, but he hadn't lost yet.

During all of this, he had found and realized a few things about himself, for one, he had found his confidence again, he didn't doubt himself as much as he once did, and he found his own sense of humor. He learned that he was actually quite the calm person, but he realized that thanks to his repressed emotion, mostly his anger, he sometimes in certain situations got angry really easy, he was able to keep in anger under wraps but some things, like a few people from his old school still calling him "Deku" did raise his anger but nothing to the point where he would fight them.

As for his dream, he was still figuring it out, but he felt like he was close, he just had this gut feeling that he was close, and he would find it. He just knew it.

For the others, he hadn't really seen or hung out with them in a while, the people he mostly talked to in the group were Josuke and Kanao, from what he heard, they were doing ok and wished him the best, though Kimihito and Mei apparently missed him, Toru not so much but also hoped he would come back, as for Monoma... from what he learned, Monoma has become more distant from them since they got back, worrying them, and it also worried him as well.

He knew this had to be hard on Monoma, after all, they were close, they shared similar hopes and dreams, and some might differ, but they were close nonetheless. He wanted to go see them more than anything, they were his best friends, they had helped him train for his dream and they shared some important things with each other, and he would be ready soon, school would be starting soon in a couple of days, which gave him time to figure his dream and then figure out a way to face them.

He would find his dream soon and he would rejoin his friends, help Monoma out of this depressive rut, and then help Monoma fulfill his dream, that was a promise he was going to keep.

Elsewhere in Japan, Dr. Garaki got up from his chair and made his way to a small office, and once inside, he looked to see his boss, who just happened to be one of the most powerful super-villains of all time, a man not bound by time and a man who's mind rivaled the best of today, and who had connections that spanned all over the world.

This man, if you could even call him that, was All For One, the most dangerous man alive over the past 100 years.

"Sir, I have splendid news," Dr. Garaki began, "The new Nomu have reached their maximum Mark, we have over 10 Lower-Tier and Middle-Tier Nomu, 25 Upper-Tier Nomu, 15 Near High-End Nomu, and 7 High-End, but that's not all we finally created 4 God-tier Nomu, one of which is me,"

All For One looked over to the doctor and smiled, "I see, The god-tier Nomu's are good to hear, I assume that you did yourself before doing it to two others correct?" he asked

"I did sir," Dr. Garaki replied with a nod

"Good," He said, "Now, I assume that you're telling me all this because we're finally ready to proceed with another Eclipse Act, Correct?" All For One asked

Dr. Garaki nodded, "Yes sir, and I think that you'll be somewhat pleased to hear that this time the act will actually fall on an Eclipse, a solar one," Dr. Garaki told him

All For One's smile grew "That is good to hear, after all, what kind of "villains" would we be if we didn't have presentation?" All For One chuckled

Dr. Garaki smiled and nodded, agreeing with his boss.

"Have you located another Kanjōmu Egg?" All For One asked

Dr. Garaki nodded once again, "Yes," Dr. Garaki replied "But it's not just any Kanjōmu, it's the Ten'nō Kanjōmu,"

Hearing this, All For One smile grew, "Where is it?"

"Somewhere in Musutafu City," Dr. Garaki told him

Hearing this, All For One smiled, "Musutafu you say?" All For One asked, "What do you know... I haven't been there in a long time," All For One said with a chuckle

With that, the Dr. and the Super Villain planned out this "Eclipse Act", and whatever it was, it was not something Japan nor our heroes would ever forget...

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Longest chapter by far I think and that's only because I had to add a few more details before finishing up. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you stick around because the next chapter is the one I think you've all been waiting for.

"Kanjōmu Eggs" is what the behelit's are called in this story, Kanjōmu translates to "Emotionless" while "Ten'nō Kanjōmu" translates to "Emperor Emotionless". Another thing that should be noted is that these "Eggs" aren't stones like in the original, these are just Nomu's in the shape of small eggs that are given 3 quirks, which are transportation, space manipulation, and unbreakable force field.

Why are these Nomu so small? Well, their origins are not for the faint of heart, in fact, I don't even know if I should reveal just how they're made just yet...