—. My Hero Academia 180 grados.—
50. Where Midoriya comes down with a fever, alarms go off at U.A., and two mysterious figures appear at the USJ
The bus slowed as it took the final turn on the path, and ahead of them, the massive dome of the USJ rose majestically, outlined against the clear morning sky. The structure gleamed under the sunlight, imposing and silent, as if expectantly awaiting their arrival.
Inside the vehicle, the murmur of students gradually grew louder. Some began to stretch with lazy yawns, while others sleepily reached for their backpacks, eyes still heavy with sleep. In the front row, Mr. Aizawa closed the book he had been reading to them.
"We've arrived. Get off the bus in order," he announced in a low, firm voice that immediately set everyone in motion.
"Bus naps are surprisingly the best!" Kaminari exclaimed, raising his arms over his head and rolling his shoulders. "Though it's impossible not to feel a little sore afterward."
Aizawa, who had heard him, gave him a serious look that sent a chill down Kaminari's spine.
"Kaminari, I expect a detailed report of what you understood from my reading—on my desk no later than Monday."
"Y-yes, sir..." he mumbled, shrinking slightly as he made his way toward the bus exit.
"Idiot," Jiro thought as she watched him pass by.
"Great job relaxing the students before an exhausting day of training at the USJ," commented Present Mic through the video intercom. "Looks like you haven't lost your touch since your school days, hahaha…" Aizawa didn't hesitate to switch him off.
"Are we... there already?" murmured Ochako, blinking slowly as she sat up.
She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep, lulled by the constant rocking of the bus and the monotonous yet oddly comforting tone of Mr. Aizawa's voice. Her cheek felt warm, and when she turned her face slightly, she understood why—she'd been leaning against Deku's shoulder.
He was still asleep beside her. His brow was faintly furrowed, hair clinging to his forehead, and a soft blush tinted his cheeks. His breathing was uneven, and he seemed to be struggling slightly.
"Deku?" Ochako whispered, leaning in a little closer, concerned.
There was no response. Gently, she raised a hand and brushed his forehead with the back of her fingers. Her expression tensed.
"He has a fever," she said in surprise, turning toward the others.
Bakugo, already halfway down the aisle, turned sharply, brows drawn together.
"What did you say?"
"He's burning up... and he hasn't woken up. I think he's sick," replied Ochako, clearly worried, still kneeling beside him.
Aizawa, who was outside organizing part of the group, leaned into the bus through the door with his usual sleepy expression.
"What now?"
"Apparently, this guy's running a fever," Bakugo reported in his usual irritated tone. "I'll take him to the infirmary. What a drag..."
"No. I can do it," Uraraka offered immediately. "It's easy with my quirk."
Aizawa looked at them both for a moment, weighing the situation. Then he turned slightly.
"Todoroki, you take care of it. Use your ice side to help bring down his fever. Take him to the infirmary in the central building. It's in those offices at the back."
Todoroki, who had been watching from a distance, nodded silently. He approached and knelt to check on Midoriya, touching his forehead and then brushing a hand along the back of his neck.
"He's really hot. Doesn't seem like just a regular cold," he murmured. Then he turned to Aizawa. "I'll take him."
"We're coming too," Uraraka tried to say firmly, but Aizawa shook his head.
"No. You two stay. This is part of the training as well. Todoroki can handle it on his own—and he will. I want you to learn to trust your teammates."
Bakugo scowled in annoyance but didn't argue. Uraraka lowered her gaze, clenching her fists. She wanted to stay by his side... but she knew Aizawa was right.
"Take care of him," she told Todoroki, her eyes filled with more worry than she could put into words.
Todoroki nodded. With steady movements, he lifted Midoriya onto his back, adjusting him carefully to keep him from jostling. A faint layer of frost began to form along the back of his hero costume, cooling the contact between them. Midoriya shivered slightly but didn't wake.
"I'll be quick," was all he said before turning and heading toward the building entrance.
Uraraka watched him until both he and Deku disappeared down the hallways. Then she lowered her gaze and sighed.
"I hope he'll be okay..."
Bakugo scoffed under his breath, but his eyes lingered a moment longer in the direction they'd gone. Then, without another word, he turned to follow the others.
...
"Well... looks like no one's coming to talk to us after all," the reporter murmured, visibly disheartened, her shoulders sagging as she looked around. Beside her, other journalists and camera operators had also given up, sitting on the ground or in folding chairs, their expressions tired under the afternoon sun. "We'd better leave before someone calls the police for obstruction."
A general murmur of agreement spread through the group. Some had already begun gathering cables and packing up cameras, resigned to leaving without a single official statement.
"Hey, everyone! Isn't that All Might?!" a raspy voice suddenly called from the back, feigning exaggerated excitement.
"What?! All Might?! Where?!" several voices shouted at once, springing to their feet.
In seconds, microphones were raised, cameras started recording, and a dozen reporters swarmed toward a corner of the outer wall where, in the shadows, a few long, golden strands could be seen swaying in the wind.
They rushed forward like sharks that had smelled blood.
"Huh? What...?" said Toshinori, turning around abruptly, visibly confused. He was dressed in a brown janitor's uniform and was pushing a huge wheeled trash container. "I'm just... a humble member of the cleaning staff."
Just behind him, a tall man wearing glasses, a cap, and a stoic expression was struggling to hold back a smile. He covered his mouth with one hand, but the slight tremble in his shoulders gave him away.
"And I'm... his assistant," added Sir Nighteye tensely, doing his best to sound convincing.
"Wait a minute..." a reporter cut in, narrowing her eyes with suspicion. "Isn't U.A. supposed to have robots doing all that work?"
Sir Nighteye cleared his throat and stepped forward, quickly regaining his composure and seriousness.
"That's correct," he said firmly. "Ninety-five percent of maintenance is handled by automated units. However, it's only logical to maintain a small percentage of manual labor by human staff to detect anomalies, malfunctions... or unusual behavior from the robots themselves."
There was a brief silence. The explanation seemed reasonable enough.
"Makes sense..." the reporter admitted, frowning thoughtfully.
"Hey everyone! We can go in now! Let's find All Might, quick!" a reporter shouted from the main entrance.
"What?!" the reporter gasped, and before anyone could stop them, they all ran toward the entrance like a stampede.
"Wait, hold on!" Toshinori called out, reaching a hand toward them, but his voice was lost in the commotion. Then he froze, paralyzed, as he caught sight of the metal structure meant to protect the main entrance from unauthorized personnel.
The shine of the steel was gone. The surface showed a strange pattern, as if the metal had melted or decayed slowly under some unnatural corrosion. It wasn't rust. It was something else... like it was breaking down from the inside out.
Toshinori's heart sank as he recognized the pattern.
"Shigaraki..." he whispered.
...
The alarm kept blaring from the ceiling of the cafeteria, casting red flashes over the forgotten metal trays, overturned chairs, and plates still half-filled with food.
"Everyone, please stay calm! Remain inside the building until we know what's going on!" Mirio shouted, standing on one of the chairs, his firm voice trying to rise above the nervous murmur growing among the students gathered near the exit.
Tamaki had positioned himself by the door, shoulders tense and hunched, but his arms stretched wide. His tentacles moved with precision, forming an improvised barrier to contain the more impatient students. Above them, Nejire floated, using her Quirk to soothe the more stubborn ones with a calming tone. "It's probably a false alarm! This has never happened before!"
"Remember, there's a protocol, and panicking won't help anyone!" Mirio added, this time with a more conciliatory tone.
"But that alarm... it sounded like there were intruders in the school!" a tense voice protested from within the crowd.
Mirio frowned and jumped down lightly to the floor. He walked quickly to one of the nearby windows and, shielding his eyes from the midday sun with a hand, looked outside.
And then he saw them.
"...It's the press," he murmured in relief, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders.
Tamaki cautiously approached, peeking just over his friend's shoulder.
"R-Really? Were they outside the school again? Why do they always try to film people?"
"Maybe it's because of you, Mirio," Nejire teased, gently descending to his side. "The future Symbol of Peace! Of course they want to see you!"
Mirio let out a hearty laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No, no, that's impossible! That was just a joke from Sir! You know how he is... behind that serious look, he's got a pretty unique sense of humor."
But then, a dull roar shattered the moment—the sound of a frantic crowd approaching. The three of them exchanged quick glances before turning back toward the window.
"Are they... running toward the main building entrance?" Nejire asked, frowning.
"Oh no..." Mirio muttered, worry spreading across his face.
From their position on the third floor, the scene was clear: dozens of reporters and cameramen pushing against each other, climbing the exterior stairs, and beginning to force the main gate like an uncontrolled wave.
"They're trying to break in!" Nejire exclaimed.
"Quick, alert the teachers! I'll try to intercept them and talk to them," Mirio ordered, starting to phase through the floor using his Quirk.
But before he could fully vanish, a voice echoed throughout the building, deep and resolute.
"U.A. students," said Mandalay, using her Quirk to project her voice. "Remain in the cafeteria. This is not a drill. A real threat has been detected on school grounds."
"A real threat? Haven't they realized it's just the press?"
...
Todoroki ran silently through the hallways, his footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor of the building. Midoriya lay slung over his back, his breathing still unsteady. Though his weight wasn't too much, Todoroki carefully maintained their balance.
Upon reaching the infirmary, he pushed the door open with his foot and called out in a formal voice tinged with urgency:
"I'm from Class 1-B at U.A. He's running a fever."
No one was there. Without wasting time, he approached one of the beds and gently lowered Midoriya, helping him lie down. His right hand began to emit a soft chill, which he passed carefully over his friend's forehead, then over his cheeks and neck. The contact seemed to soothe him a bit: Midoriya relaxed, though his eyes remained closed.
As he placed a cold towel on his forehead, the silence of the room wrapped around him completely. He couldn't help it—his mind drifted back to memories of the past.
He remembered how Midoriya had found him among the junk. How, despite not knowing him at all, he had taken him home. And how, when he woke up, the first thing he saw was Midoriya's face sitting beside him, waiting patiently without asking more questions than necessary.
It was the first time—aside from his sister—that he had felt someone cared for him without expecting anything in return.
Back in the present, he looked down at him. Midoriya still wasn't responding. His forehead was burning, even with the ice. Todoroki slightly increased the intensity of the cold, careful not to overdo it.
Then another image crossed his mind.
That training session at his house… and the honest words Midoriya had said to him then:
"But that's also because you're important to me, Todoroki! I like spending time with you, and… you're my friend!"
He wasn't used to such sentimental declarations. But ever since that moment, something inside him had changed.
Returning to the present, he dampened the towel again and placed it over his friend's chest.
"Midoriya…" he whispered with concern, as if saying his name could bring him closer to consciousness.
And again, another memory surfaced:
That night when he felt dizzy after drinking at the party, when he had clung to Midoriya's shirt. He hadn't pulled away. Instead, he had lain beside him. And later, in the middle of the night, he had hugged him tightly in his sleep.
He remembered how, amidst the hazy drunken confusion, he had watched him in silence for several minutes until sleep took him again.
Now, he looked at him once more, and for a moment, stopped using his quirk.
"Uraraka…" Midoriya murmured suddenly in his sleep, his voice weak and sluggish.
Todoroki watched him closely. He saw how Midoriya's brows furrowed with slight unease, as if something was troubling him.
And then, a strange feeling rose in him. Something that caught him off guard, as if something was forming in his chest. He placed a hand over the center of his torso, sensing—and it shouldn't have felt so odd—a mix of cold and warmth.
Todoroki didn't understand it, but he smiled.
"Of course…" he murmured, resuming the task of cooling him down. "You're always thinking about her, aren't you?"
He gently brushed away a strand of hair stuck to Midoriya's forehead and refreshed the towel once more.
Because even if Midoriya never realized how much he had helped him, even if he never truly understood what he meant to him… Todoroki already felt at peace just being able to care for him.
Just as, without hesitation, Midoriya had once cared for him.
...
"Hello. Welcome to the USJ!"
Uraraka was the first to turn toward the voice, and as she did, her face lit up instantly.
"Oh, no way! It's...!"
"I'm Thirteen," said the heroine in a calm tone, raising her hand in a friendly gesture. "Some of you may already know me as a rescue hero. I want you to look around. This place was designed to train you for disaster situations and civilian rescue. While Quirks have been adapted for combat against villains, you must never forget that they can also be tools for saving lives."
Everyone listened attentively, drawn in by her serenity, experience, and the passion in her words.
"That's why I'm here today. Over the years, many people have been hurt because of improper Quirk use. Some had accidents from not knowing their own limits, and others were harmed just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Thirteen paused, calmly observing each student.
"But if you train with discipline, if you learn to use your Quirks with responsibility and wisdom, you can prevent those accidents. You can become protectors. Heroes who not only fight... but also save. Never forget that other purpose of your powers: to protect others."
Bakugo, arms crossed, seemed unimpressed by the speech, but he remained quietly attentive. Aizawa watched him from the corner of his eye, as if gauging his reaction.
"I hope this class helps you understand how important that really is."
She finished with a soft bow that sealed the atmosphere with a sense of calm.
"That's all. Thank you for listening."
"I love Thirteen!" Uraraka said in awe, though she soon seemed a bit downcast. "Deku would've loved this..."
"Yeah. Thirteen really is amazing!" replied a voice that clearly didn't belong to any of the students.
In a blink, Aizawa reacted. He fired his capture weapon without hesitation, binding the newcomer from head to toe.
"It's Hawks!" several students shouted upon recognizing the winged hero's face.
"Great reflexes, Principal Aizawa," Hawks complimented from the floor, still smiling even while restrained.
"What are you doing here? All visits must be authorized and registered in advance," Aizawa said, not sounding particularly thrilled or inclined to let him go.
"I know. I figured as much, but I suddenly had this inexplicable urge to check out the new generation of heroes-in-training, so I thought I'd drop by for a quick look. Hope I'm not intruding."
"That's what the Sports Festival is for," Aizawa replied without moving. "And I find it hard to believe in your sudden interest, considering you've never requested UA students for your agency before."
"Well, I was thinking... maybe that could change this year."
From behind, Tokoyami stepped forward, seemingly intending to help him. But Yaoyorozu gently placed a hand on his arm and shook her head softly.
"How can we be sure you're the real Hawks and not someone else using your appearance?" Momo asked seriously and firmly. "There've been reports of villains easily impersonating others."
At that, Uraraka couldn't help but lower her head, the image of Himiko Toga disguised as Camie flashing through her mind.
"To be or not to be a disguised villain... that is the question," Hawks joked with a crooked smile.
In that instant, the air suddenly grew tense. A surge of energy distorted the space a few meters ahead. A deep hum echoed as a dark swirl opened like a wound in the air.
Somebody slowly emerged from the vortex, his body covered in hands. Silence thickened. Aizawa stepped forward, his Quirk already activated. Thirteen instinctively raised her arm, shielding the nearby students.
Hawks narrowed his eyes at him, the smile vanishing from his face.
"Shigaraki..."
...
Author's Notes.
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