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What It Takes to Be a Hero

Chapter 17: Izuku vs. Bakugo

Notes:

"Speech"

"Thoughts" (Italics)

"All Might/All Might" (Muscular Form) ("Bold/Bold & Italics")

"Announcer" (Bold & Underline)

Quirk (Bold)

"Radio" (Bold & Italics)

"Phone" (Underline)

Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia or any of its characters.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"I'm just going to come out and ask it. All Might...are you a virgin?"

"..." All Might sat in silence for an uncomfortably long time, completely caught off guard and taken aback by Izuku's seemingly random question. After blinking rapidly several times, what Izuku had asked finally began to sink in. All Might's eyes suddenly shot open in shock and he nearly fell out of his seat. "HUH!?" For almost a minute, All Might sputtered and gestured wildly, seeming to be utterly befuddled. Eventually, All Might managed to somewhat compose himself, taking a deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why on earth would you ask me that, young Midoriya?"

"Well, like I said, it relates to my second theory..." Izuku said as he rubbed the back of his head, his face glowing near neon red. It was bad enough discussing this sort of stuff with his mother, but with the man he idolized, it was a whole other level of embarrassment. "I tried to think of ways you and I are different...ways that could cause One for All to change or behave differently...and...this is one of the main things I thought of."

"Well...I suppose that makes...wait a minute..." All Might said, his eyes slowly widening as a sudden realization dawned on him. "Young Midoriya...are you saying that you've had sexual relations?"

"..." It was Izuku's turn to remain silent as he felt an almost overwhelming sense of embarrassment. He wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and just disappear. But, Izuku eventually worked up the courage to speak up and nod his head. His voice was shaky and barely above a whisper. "Y-Yes..."

"Oh my goodness..." All Might grumbled, running his hand down his face as he released a heavy sigh. "Pre-marital sex? I thought I taught you better than that, young Midoriya."

"I...I know it was irresponsible..." Izuku muttered as he began to fidget slightly in his seat, avoiding All Might's judging gaze. "But...I really love her...and I just couldn't hold my feelings back."

"I suppose...it's not that big of a deal. You're both consenting adults...and I should have expected you'd do that sort of thing with, young Ochaco eventually. It was pretty obvious you two were in love. It really shouldn't be an issue if you've just done it with her..." All Might said, letting out another soft sigh as he sunk lower into his chair and stared up at the ceiling. However, All Might was surprised when another awkward silence filled the room. When All Might looked back at Izuku, he saw that the young man was literally sweating bullets, hands clasped on his lap as he stared at the floor. "Young Midoriya...it was just Ochaco...right?"

"...Momo too..." Izuku fessed up which caused All Might to let out an exasperated grumble, causing the green-haired boy to slightly hide his face. "I know it's gonna sound...strange...but we've got a special relationship worked out. Ochaco and Momo share me...and there will be other girls as well."

"Sounds like the plot of an ecchi manga..." All Might said, leaning forward in his seat as he gazed at Izuku. The young boy looked like an absolute mess, face flushed and unable to meet All Might's gaze. Japan's number one hero couldn't help but feel sorry for his protege, a small smile forming on his face as he chuckled. "Polygamy? I never expected something like that from you, young Midoriya. But...while it might be frowned upon, polygamy isn't illegal or anything like that. So, if you think that you can make such a relationship...who am I to oppose?"

"I'm glad to hear that..." Izuku said as he breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of his head. He still couldn't look All Might in the eyes, looking off to the side. "So...I know it's embarrassing...but...but can you answer my question?"

"I can't believe I'm about to say this..." All Might groaned, briefly hiding his face in his hands before he let out a heavy sigh. "Yes...I am a virgin, young Midoriya."

"Really?" Izuku asked as he finally looked at All Might and quirked an eyebrow, seeming to be genuinely surprised by his answer. "I would have thought for sure...I mean...you're so popular...and you could..."

"I've...just been focused on other things..." All Might admitted sheepishly, his face flushing slightly as he wrung his hands together. "With all the training, fighting villains, other miscellaneous hero work...and helping you...a romantic relationship has been the furthest thing from my mind. It's crossed my mind for sure, but I'd like for my first time to be with someone I truly love, not just some casual fling."

"Well...maybe you can consider that now." Izuku said with a small smile as he finally began to ease up, feeling the awkward tension in the room slowly starting to fade. "It's never too late to start looking."

"Perhaps...all in due time." All Might said with a light chuckle, before clasping his hands and locking eyes with Izuku. "Now, what is this second theory you have, young Midoriya? And why did you need to know if I've had sexual relations?"

"Well, One for All is transferred by ingesting DNA for the current user, right?" Izuku asked rhetorically which caused All Might to nod his head, closely following along. "But, that transfer can only happen if the current user willingly allows it to happen. So, perhaps when I had...sex...with Ochaco...that intimate sharing of DNA allowed her to form a temporary connection with One for All and use some of its power."

"That is definitely an interesting theory." All Might muttered, stroking his chin as he furrowed his brow. "There's a lot of mystery surrounding One for All and all the secrets it has hidden. So, I'd say your theory is certainly possible. But, is there a way you could find some more evidence to back it up?"

"Well...we could try to see if Momo can tap into One for All, maybe after the sports exhibition." Izuku suggested as he shrugged his shoulders. "As for Ochaco, she said that she felt One for All's power fade away. So, she may be unable to use it any longer. But, I could always..." With his face burning up, Izuku formed an 'O' with one hand and inserted his index finger into it. "You know...and see if she's able to use it again." Feeling an overwhelming sense of shame, Izuku hid his face in his hands. "I am NOT telling him about Mina and Kyoka, I can't handle this much embarrassment."

"I hate everything about this conversation, it's making me so deeply uncomfortable." All Might grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, just be careful, young Midoriya. One for All's power can't be taken lightly, it can be very dangerous if handled incorrectly." Letting out a soft sigh, All Might got out of his seat and made his way to the door. However, he stopped in the doorway and looked back at Izuku. "You could be looking at this too rigidly, young Midoriya. Perhaps One for All is simply creating a to protect those you love and cherish the most." With those final words, All Might walked out into the hall. "Good luck in your next match, I'll be cheering for you!"

"I...never thought about it that way..." Izuku thought as he stared down at his hands. "Maybe One for All is just trying to keep my loved ones safe in the only way it really can."


(Same Time: Stadium Battlefield)

"And another counter! Bakugo can't seem to land a solid hit against Kirishima!"

"They really seem to be a stalemate."

"Damn it! He's not even fazed!" Bakugo thought with a scowl, leaping away from Kirishima as a growl rumbled in his throat. "He's more than just 'hard'."

"HA! Like I told you, no dice, my explosive hombre!" Kirishima laughed as his burned and tattered uniform puffed off smoke. "You're gonna have to try harder than that!"

"Keep taunting asshole!" Bakugo thought, a vein bulging on his forehead as he ducked and dodged a series of punches from Kirishima. "I'll make you eat those fucking words!"

"Tch, you're slippery!" Kirishima grunted as he tried to hit Bakugo with another powerful punch. "Gotta take you out quick!"

"Right back at ya!" Bakugo growled, rushing forward and ducking underneath Kirishima's attack. Lunging forward, Bakugo hit Kirishima with a barrage of rapid explosions aimed at the same spot on his side. Hissing in pain, Kirishima gripped his smoking injury. "HA! Looks like I finally got through!"

"Looks like Kirishima really felt that hit!"

"You're always going on and on about how fuckin' hard your body." Bakugo said with a feral grin as smoke billowed off his palms. "But, it looks like with enough quick attacks..." Sprinting back in, Bakugo hit Kirishima with another barrage of explosions. "You start falling to pieces!" Kirishima raised his arms to try and defend himself, but Bakugo's attacks were relentless. With Kirishima now battered and dazed, Bakugo lunged forward and grabbed his face. "Now die!" With one final, massive explosion, Kirishima collapsed to the ground, knocked unconscious. "I had a feeling you wouldn't last in a drawn-out battle against me."

Kirishima was quickly grabbed by a medical team as Bakugo made his way off the field. With Bakugo's constant explosions, much of the battlefield was destroyed and littered with debris. But, Cementoss had the field repaired within minutes, ready for the next battle. Moments later, Izuku and Ida began to walk out of their tunnels, out into the stadium.

"And it's over folks! Bakugo's low-down carpet bombing blasts him forward into the third round! "

"Looks like we've got our contenders for the final four. Next up is Izuku Midoriya vs. Tenya Ida."

"Let's keep the momentum going and move right on to the next round!"

"Man, I've barely had time to catch my breath." Izuku said, rolling his shoulders as he walked out onto the battlefield. "You ready to do this, Ida?"

"Ready when you are, Midoriya." Ida said with a small smile as he reached up and adjusted his glasses. "After watching some of your past performances, I'm eager to go up against you in a one-on-one fight."

"Ready...START!"

"Well, I'll be sure-" Izuku stopped mid-sentence when a piercing pain shot through his head. Looking up, his eyes shot open when he saw that Ida was flying toward him at a blistering speed. Activating One for All: Full Cowling, Izuku quickly ducked underneath a powerful kick from Ida, feeling a rush of air from the force of the attack. "That insane speed...it's definitely Ida's Recipro Burst." With green electricity crackling in the air around him, Izuku reached and grabbed Ida's other leg. Using 3% of One for All's power, Izuku swung Ida through the air and slammed him into the ground back-first. "SMASH!"

"GRAH!" Ida gasped as all the air was knocked from his lungs and his vision blurred slightly. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Ida glared at Izuku. "He dodged my Recipro Burst again! It's like he can predict it or something." Hearing the engines in his legs roar to life, Ida knew that he had to act quickly. "I have about eight seconds left before my engines stall! I have to end this before then!"

"You're still fast as ever, Ida. I barely managed to-" Another burst of head-splitting pain cut Izuku off, alerting him of another incoming attack. Looking down, he noticed Ida steadying himself on the ground. Quickly realizing what was about to happen, Izuku instantly lept into the air. He narrowly avoided a whirlwind of kicks as Ida spun on the ground like a top, using the engines in his legs to increase the speed and power of his attacks drastically. "Nice, Ida! That one almost got me!"

"Damn it! Four seconds!" Ida thought as he stopped himself on a dime, feeling his head still spinning. The second Izuku landed back on the battlefield, Ida sprang onto his feet and launched himself forward. Knowing that Izuku would likely need a split second to recover after landing, Ida knew that this was his last chance to end this fight. "It's all or nothing!" Using every drop of power he could muster from his engines, Ida shot toward Izuku at a blinding speed and wound his leg back for another kick. However, to Ida's dismay, Izuku ducked underneath his kick at the last moment, his leg grazing the green hair on top of his opponent's head. "What!? He even managed to dodge that?!"

"Sorry, Ida..." Izuku said, One for All's power humming in the air as he shot upward. Before Ida could react, Izuku hit him in the chin with a devastating uppercut. After being sent flying through the air, Ida crashed into the ground, his engines sputtering as they lost power. Letting out a short exhale, Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow as he deactivated One for All. "That was a great fight, Ida."

"That was too one-sided to really call a fight..." Ida muttered as he struggled to sit upright, feeling intense pain radiating throughout his entire body. "Tch...I'm sorry brother..."

"And another one bites the dust! Ida is unable to continue! Midoriya moves on to the final round!"


(Same Time: Hosu City)

"This is the Hosu police station, requesting immediate backup!"

"Fame...money...for nothing else, these fools call themselves heroes..." A low, menacing voice growled as a lone figure stood over the bloodied body of the pro-hero Ingenium, Ida's older brother. The figure was an intimidating, muscular man who walked with a distinct hunch and had a flat, somewhat triangular face without a nose, and an extraordinarily long tongue tainted with numerous small papillae. He had long black hair, which he wore messily; it would drape over his face if not for his headband and mask. "HA...HAHA...no...you're not heroes...only he is..."

He sported a dark combat suit, plated with metal armor across his body to holster his weapons. The torso was sleeveless, so he wrapped his arms in yellow bandages from just below his shoulders to his wrists. The figure also wore long black wristbands and a watch on his left arm, and his knees were protected with metal pads; black boots with steel armor and spikes completing the costume. He always donned a blood-red scarf, matching headband, and a tattered cloth he wore around his face as a mask.

"The only one with permission to kill me...hahh..." With a twisted and insane look in his eyes, the mysterious figure licked his chipped blade with his grotesquely long tongue. "...is All Might!"

"We need backup now! There's a hero killer on the loose!"


(Back at the Sports Exhibition)

"You're so damn annoying!" Bakugo growled as he unleashed another explosion that was promptly blocked by Tokoyami's shadow. Wildly swinging his arm, Bakugo fired out another violent explosion. "Just die already!"

"Such intense bloodlust." Tokoyami muttered, raising his arms to shield his face from some debris that was sent flying by Bakugo's explosion. "It's quite intimidating up close like this."

"It's Bakugo vs. Tokoyami! And Bakugo seems truly unstoppable!"

"Tokoyami has come this far with a series of wins thanks to his seemingly invincible quirk. But, he's being put on the defensive right now. He can't find any openings to attack."

"C'mon, Tokoyami!" Mina cheered as she energetically pumped her fists into the air. "Your attacks were super strong when you fought against me!"

"We seem to be missing something..." Momo muttered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stroked her chin. "What could it be? Tokoyami doesn't look to be in top form."

"The light from all those explosions is keeping him at bay." Ochaco chimed in as she gripped the fabric of her pants, intently watching the battle unfold. "It's a really bad matchup for Tokoyami."

"There's still a chance he could turn this around..." Kyoka added, her brown furrowing as she watched Tokoyami narrowly avoid another explosion. "But, that all hinges on Bakugo not figuring out his weakness."

"After everything I've seen so far, I shouldn't have underestimated him." Tokoyami thought as Dark Shadow wrapped and coiled around him like a snake. "I have no time to recharge Dark Shadow's power. And if he runs out...it's all over for me. Trying to time me out...he's more clever than I gave him credit for." Seeing that Bakugo was rushing in for another attack, Tokoyami manipulated Dark Shadow to form a defensive barrier. Wincing when the explosion hit, Tokoyami quickly sprang into action when he saw a potential opening. "Grab him, Dark Shadow!"

"As if!" Bakugo barked, unleashing an explosion directly underneath himself which propelled him into the air and over Tokoyami. Landing and skidding back a few feet, Bakguo tightly clamped his hands together. Then, before Tokoyami could react Bakugo rushed forward, a bright light forming in his palms. "Stun Grenade!"

"And Bakguo has managed to get behind Tokoyami and is going in for a big attack!" Everyone in the stadium shielded their eyes as a condensed blinding explosion went off. A thick cloud of dust and debris covered the battlefield, obscuring the outcome of Bakugo's attack. "Always with these damn dust clouds! What's even going on down there!"

"So...you figured it out..." Tokoyami said as he let out a weak grunt, watching as the smoke around them slowly began to fade. "I was hoping I could keep my weakness a secret."

"It was obvious after a couple of hits..." Bakugo said with a feral grin, gripping Tokoyami's beak as he loomed over him. "Well, I can't blame ya, this was a real bad matchup." Pinning Tokoyami to the ground, Bakugo has one arm cocked back with small explosions crackling in his palm. "This is checkmate for you."

"Tch...I...I give up..." Tokoyami relented as he clenched his eyes shut in frustration. "Just let go of my nose."

"Tokoyami has surrendered!" Midnight announced, cracking her whip as the crowd broke out into cheers. "The winner is Bakugo!"

"Looks like our final match is set! Midoriya vs. Bakugo!"

"This should be interesting."

"Poor Tokoyami..." Ochaco said as she watched the cleanup crew quickly repair the battlefield in preparation for the next fight. "I was really rooting for him to pull through."

"With his quirk, he almost seemed invincible." Kaminari added, letting out a soft sigh as he crossed his arms. "But, I guess every quirk has its drawbacks."

"Weakness to light is a pretty nasty setback." Kirishima said as he rubbed his nose and furrowed his brow. "And it's one Bakugo was happy to exploit."

"So, it's Midoriya-chan against Bakugo-chan..." Tsuyu muttered, pressing a finger to her chin as she cocked her head slightly. "I wonder how this one will turn out."

"With the history those two have..." Momo said as her eyes narrowed slightly. "This will surely be an intense fight."

"Bakugo definitely is tough." Kyoka added, nervously clacking her earlobe jacks together. "But, I'm sure Izuku will win."

"Izuku has got this in the bag!" Mina cheered as she pulled out the pom-poms they had used in their earlier impromptu cheerleading session. "Go! Go! Izuku!"

"Right now, we should focus on observing and learning." Ida said, pushing up his glasses as he crossed his arms. "We can-" A sudden buzzing sound cut Ida off mid-sentence. Pulling out his phone, Ida quirked an eyebrow when he saw that he was getting a call from his mother. Quickly excusing himself, Ida made his way to a more secluded section of the stadium. Taking a deep breath, Ida answered the call. "Hello. I lost, mother...I apologize if I've disappointed-"

"No! This isn't about that...oh, Tenya...please...stay calm and listen to me..." What his mother said next caused Ida to stop dead in his tracks and nearly drop his phone. "Your brother...a villain got him."


(Back in Hosu City)

"You people haven't realized..." The villain who had defeated Ida's brother mused as he crouched atop a water tower that overlooked much of Hosu City. "How they're mired in vanity and hypocrisy...these so-called heroes...in this twisted society. But I...will make you realize..."

"We meet at last, hero killer...Stain." Hearing a distorted voice come from behind, Stain whipped around and instantly swung his sword. However, he was surprised when his sword hit nothing, slicing clean through an inky, black gas. "Oh, please relax...we're on the same side after all. You're already quite infamous. I really wanted to meet you." Fully materializing, Kurogiri stood before Stain. "May I have a moment of your time?"


(Stadium Prep Room 2)

"It's almost time..." Izuku muttered as he stared down at the table he was sitting at, clenching and unclenching his fists. "I know that I've fought against Kacchan during training sessions, but this will be a one-on-one fight." Releasing a light sigh, Izuku leaned back in his seat and looked up at the ceiling. "Will I be able to-" Suddenly, the door was kicked open and Izuku yelped in surprise, nearly falling out of his chair. Quickly looking over, Izuku was shocked to see Bakugo standing in the doorway. "K-Kacchan!?"

"Huh?" Bakugo said in a confused tone, his leg still hanging in the air as he stared at Izuku. "The fuck are you doing in here, Deku? Oh shit...is this prep room 2?"

"Y-Yeah...it is." Izuku replied as he began to relax, ready to fall into his usual routine with Bakugo. "So...you ready, Kacchan?"

"You're damn right I am." Bakugo said, sauntering over and slamming his hand on the table which set off a small explosion. With a devious smirk, Bakugo locked eyes with Izuku. "But the better question is...are you ready, Deku?"

"If you had asked me a few years ago I probably would have said no..." Izuku said as he met Bakugo's gaze, his green eyes blazing with determination. "But now, I'm more than ready."

"You damn nerd." Bakguo growled, before kicking the table in front of him over. "All your stupid fucking speeches..." With another growl rumbling in his throat, Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets and began to walk into the room. However, Bakugo stopped in the doorway and looked back at Izuku. "Don't you dare fucking hold back. I want you to go all out because I sure as hell am."

"Don't worry, I-" Izuku was cut off when Bakugo slammed the door behind him and stormed out of the room. Releasing a soft sigh, Izuku perked up a bit when the PA system crackled to life. Taking a deep breath, Izuku stood up. "Alright, let's do this."


(Five Minutes Later: Main Battlefield)

"At last we've arrived! The best of the best among U.A.'s first years will be decided!"

"This final match will be between Midoriya and Bakugo."

"Ready! Steady...START!"

The second the match started, Bakugo rocketed toward Izuku at blistering speed. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the battlefield and was only a few feet away from Izuku, small explosions crackling in his palm. However, Izuku was prepared for this and was more than used to Bakugo's aggressive fighting style. Green electricity sparked in the air all around Izuku as he activated One for All: Full Cowling. Before Bakguo could react, Izuku dashed toward him and ducked down low. Springing up, Izuku hit Bakugo in the stomach with a 5% punch. Gasping in pain, Bakugo lost all his momentum and slammed into the ground.

"The gauntlet has been thrown down! And Midoriya has landed the first hit, it looked like a strong one too!"

"I think I felt that punch from here."

"Holy shit..." Bakugo thought, taking a shaky breath as he clutched his stomach. "It feels like I got hit by a damn bat!" With a growl rumbling in his throat, Bakugo glared daggers at Izuku. "You fucking nerd, you'll pay for that!"

"You told me not to hold back, Kacchan. So, I'm not going to." Izuku said as he raised his clenched fists, a smirk spreading across his face. "Don't tell me that's all you can take." That small taunt is all it took for Bakugo to see red, his eyes shooting open in pure rage. "Good, looks like he took the bait."

"You're fucking dead!" Bakugo roared in unbridled fury, using an explosion to launch himself back onto his feet and sprint full speed toward Izuku. Instead of counterattacking, Izuku simply dodged Bakugo's attack, leaping away from the explosions. This began a game of cat and mouse, where Bakugo would chase Izuku around the battlefield, with Izuku avoiding his every attack. After yet another missed attack, Bakugo yelled in frustration. "God damn it! Stop fucking running away! Either fight back or let me hit you!"

"See, that's your problem, Kacchan." Izuku said as he came to a skidding stop a few feet away, green electricity surrounding his entire body. "You let your emotions get the better of you. One taunt from me was all it took to set you off. And when you're angry like this, you tend to make mistakes, Kacchan."

"Spare me your fucking lecture." Bakugo snarled, tightly clenching his fists as a vein visibly throbbed on his forehead. Setting off two large explosions, Bakguo propelled himself toward Izuku. "Just shut up and fucking fight!"

"If that's what you want." Izuku said as he raised his arm, a low hum filling the air. "Delaware Smash!" Firing a ball of wind pressure at an incredible speed, it slammed directly into Bakugo, stopping him dead in his tracks. While Bakugo was temporarily dazed, Izuku rushed in and grabbed ahold of Bakugo's leg. Performing a quick spin, Izuku hurled Bakugo toward the edge of the battlefield. Recovering mid-air, Bakugo set off a series of explosions to slow himself, landing on the very edge of the battlefield. "Should have known that wouldn't take you down, Kacchan."

"You're really getting on my damn nerves, Deku!" Bakugo growled, miniature explosions going off in his palms as his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Stop fucking with me!"

"I'm trying to help you, Kacchan. Just like I helped Todoroki." Izuku explained as he let out an exasperated sigh. "We all should be trying to improve as heroes."

"I don't need your fucking help!" Bakugo yelled, rocketing toward Izuku at an incredible speed. "You should know your place and just stay behind me!"

"Sorry Kacchan, but I can't do that." Izuku said as he reached out and grabbed Bakugo's fist, causing his eyes to widen in shock. Yanking Bakugo close, Izuku lifted him into the air before roughly slamming him into the ground, causing it to crack slightly. Bakugo gasped in pain as the air was knocked from his lungs. Grabbing ahold of Bakugo's shirt, Izuku locked eyes with him. "I know the idea of me passing you pisses you off Kacchan and you preferred it when I was the little kid who looked up to you. But, it wasn't gonna be that way forever! I've trained and worked my ass off to get where I am! And if me getting stronger makes you mad, good! Use that as motivation to improve yourself! But don't be stubborn and ignore people who are trying to help you! I only got to where I am now with the help of others!"

"I...I..." Bakugo mumbled as he turned his head, tearing his gaze away from Izuku's. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Bakugo tightly clenched his fists. He hated it, and would never admit it out loud, but what Izuku said was right. However, Bakugo couldn't easily break his stubborn resentment as he felt a sudden rush of anger. With a growl rumbling in his throat, Bakugo turned his head back and glared at Izuku. "Piss off, nerd! Stop fucking lecturing me!"

"Why won't you let me-" Izuku stopped mid-sentence when a sharp pain pierced through his head. Without even looking, Izuku's free hand shot out, stopping Bakugo's arm before it could reach him. A split later, a massive explosion blasted past Izuku's head, just narrowly missing him. Huffing in frustration, Izuku slammed Bakugo's arm onto the ground, causing him to wince in pain. "Damn it, Kacchan! Why won't you let me..." Letting out an exasperated sigh, Izuku locked eyes with Bakguo. "I know it may not seem like it, but we're friends, aren't we, Kacchan!? I want us to be amazing heroes together!"

"I thought I said to spare me the goddamn lecture..." Bakugo grumbled as he breathed heavily, glaring daggers at Izuku. He wanted nothing more than to keep fighting, to blow Izuku away and prove that he was stronger. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him to keep going. But, deep down he knew that there was no way he could win, at least not with how he was now. He knew that Izuku was right. Growling in frustration, Bakugo leaned his head back. "Get the fuck off me already, I give up."

"Bakugo has surrendered!" Midnight announced, cracking her whip as the crowd broke out into thunderous cheers. "The winner is Izuku Midoriya!"

"What a shocking turn of events! Bakugo has actually given up! That means our contest is concluded! The first-year winner of U.A. University's Sports Exhibition is Izuku Midoriya of Class A!"

"For real...I won..." Izuku breathed out as his eyes widened in shock, a smile slowly spreading across his face. With an ear-to-ear grin, Izuku let out a boisterous cheer and pumped his fists into the air. "YES! I did it! I actually won!" Izuku let the applause of cheers wash over him, feeling his entire body tingling in excitement. He looked over where Class 1-A was seated and saw all his classmates were out of their seats, cheering for him. Ochaco especially was practically falling over the guardrail as she cheered and waved to him. Feeling his heart soar, Izuku turned his attention back to Bakugo and offered him his hand. "You did great too, Kacchan. Don't beat yourself up because of this."

"Whatever, nerd..." Bakugo grumbled, reluctantly taking Izuku's hand and getting back onto his feet. Huffing in frustration, Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets and glared at Izuku. "You may have won today, Deku, but you fucking won't next time. You better prepare for me to kick your ass."

"I look forward to it." Izuku said with a smile as he extended his hand toward Bakugo, waiting for him to shake it. However, Bakugo merely scoffed and rolled his eyes, before turning around and walking away. Releasing a light sigh, Izuku's smile softened and he rubbed the back of his head. "Baby steps I guess."

"Alright, everyone!" Midnight announced, fireworks and explosions of colored smoke going off in the air above the stadium. Behind the R-rated hero, three podiums were quickly wheeled out onto the battlefield. "It's time to move on to the award ceremony!" Quickly, the three finalists stepped up onto their respective podiums. "In third place, we have both Tokoyami and Ida, but Ida had to leave due to a family emergency. In second place, we have Katsuki Bakugo! And...in first place, we have Izuku Midoriya!"

"Family emergency?" Izuku thought as he quirked an eyebrow, finally noticing that Ida indeed was nowhere to be seen. "If I had to guess, it probably has something to do with Ida's brother...I really hope everything is alright."

"Now for the medals!" Midnight continued as she cracked her whip, making a sweeping gesture toward the finalists. "Presenting this year is...you know him! You love him! It's..."

"I am..." A familiar, boisterous voice boomed throughout the entire stadium, causing the cheers and applause to become almost deafening. A small shockwave burst out from the stands as a large, imposing figure shot through the air. Performing several flips, Japan's #1 hero, landed on the battlefield with a perfect superhero landing. Letting out a hearty, boisterous laugh, All Might unleashed a beaming smile. "Here with the medals! HAHAHA!"

"The first years this year are something else!"

"Even All Might came to watch them."

"I'm not surprised! They really kicked ass this year! Best showing I've seen."

"Congratulations, Tokoyami, kid!" All Might bellowed, laughing as he placed the medal around Tokoyami's neck. "You're a strong one!"

"You honor me too highly." Tokoyami said as he bowed his head slightly, feeling the medal drape across his neck. "I'll use this as an opportunity to improve."

"That's good! Using this as a learning experience!" All Might exclaimed, leaning forward and tightly embracing Tokoyami as he patted him on the back. "Relying on your quirk alone won't be enough to overcome a bad matchup. Keep honing your innate strength to open a world of opportunities!" After Tokoyami nodded in understanding, All Might moved down to the next finalist. Bakugo had a sour look on his face as All Might stood before him. "Young Bakugo, congratulations."

"Tch, let's just get this over with..." Bakugo grumbled as he crossed his arms and averted his gaze. "This whole thing is pissing me off."

"I hope you take what Young Midoriya said to heart..." All Might said, draping the silver medal around Bakugo's neck. It was hard for him not to notice Bakugo flinch slightly at the mention of Izuku. Reaching out, All Might patted Bakugo's shoulder. "This world is constantly graded on a curve. It's pretty much impossible to stay at the top forever. And, if you want to stay near the top, you need to constantly push and improve yourself. So, let us help you do that."

"Whatever..." Bakugo mumbled under his breath as he turned his head away, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "God damn it! I fucking HATE when that nerd is right!"

"And finally, it's your turn, Young Midoriya." All Might said with a nearly blinding smile, stepping in front of his protege. "I can't put into words how proud I am of you. Not only did you show everyone here your strength, but you also went out of your way to try and help your classmates whenever you could."

"Thank you so much, All Might. You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." Izuku said on the verge of tears as he used all his willpower to not start crying. Bowing his head slightly, Izuku felt his heart soar as All Might placed the gold medal around his neck. Raising his head, Izuku locked eyes with All Might and smiled brightly. "I promise, I'll continue to make you proud."

"I know you will." All Might said, before leaning forward and embracing Izuku in a tight hug. This pushed Izuku over the edge, a few tears streaming down his cheeks as he returned All Might's hug. Once All Might let him go, Izuku quickly sniffled and wiped away his tears. Letting out another boisterous laugh, All Might turned to face the cheering crowd. "Well! These are your winners! But, hold on everyone! You all have the potential to be standing up here on these podiums! As you all witnessed! Competition! Encouragement! Pushing each other to climb higher and higher! The sprouts of today will grow into the heroes of tomorrow! In that spirit, let's all have one final cheer!" Pausing for dramatic effect, All Might raised his arm into the air. "Everyone say it with me! One, two, and..."

"Plus Ultra!" Nearly everyone in the stadium yelled simultaneously.

"Thanks for the hard work!" All Might surprisingly exclaimed, causing everyone to groan in disappointment. Hearing several jeers and boos, All Might chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh right...HAHA...it's just that they all did work so hard."


(Two Hours Later: Class 1-A)

"In light of the Sports Exhibition, you'll have tomorrow and the next day off." Aizawa announced as he stood at the front of the class, still wrapped in numerous bandages. "Scouting reports and such from the pros will be waiting for you here after the break. So, look forward to that as you enjoy your time off. Well, that's all for today, you're dismissed."

"I'm enjoying this time off and doing nothing..." Kyoka said, releasing a light sigh as she leaned back in her seat. "After everything that happened today, I need some time to kick back and relax."

"I'm with you on that." Ochaco agreed as she slumped forward, resting her head on her desk. She watched as their classmates began to gather their things and exit the classroom. "I'm exhausted."

"I plan on doing some studying. I need to learn from where I failed today." Momo said, sliding some things into her bag. "But...some relaxation does sound nice."

"I wouldn't be opposed to hanging out." Tsuyu said as she pressed a finger to her chin, glancing around the now mostly empty class. "We could go see a movie or something."

"Oh, that sounds fun." Ochaco said, perking up and looking at her friends. "We should totally do something! How about you, Mina? Do you want to come?"

"Nah, I've got something better in mind." Mina with a smirk as she got out of her seat, sliding over and sitting on the edge of Izuku's desk. Leaning over, Mina rested her arm on top of Izuku's head. "Izuku and I are going on a date!"


(Same Time: Hosu General Hospital)

"Brother!" Ida exclaimed in a panic, bursting into his brother's hospital room. "What happ-"

"Tenya, keep it down..." Ida's mother pleaded as she reached out and gripped her son's shoulder. She noticed that Ida instantly froze up when he saw his older brother, lying on a hospital bed, covered in bandages and hooked up to several medical machines. "The anesthesia just wore off. He opened his eyes, but he's still out of it. Had the surgery been delayed by just a few minutes, it would've been too late."

"Tenya...Mother..." Tensei weakly said, barely managing to move his eyes gaze at his family. "My...amazing...little brother...I know...you...look up to me..." Tenya clasped a hand over his mouth as he gasped, unable to stop his tears. "So...I'm sorry...Tenya. Your big brother...I...lost."


(The Next Day: Todoroki Household)

"Eh? T-The hospital?" Fuyumi, Todoroki's oldest sister, said in a confused tone as she watched her brother put on his shoes. "Why all of a sudden? I mean, you really shouldn't go with telling father, Shoto."

"You're probably right." Shoto said as he opened the front door and began to walk out of the house. "I'll be back later."

"Why now? Why go see her now, after all this time?" Fuyumi called out, standing in the doorway as she watched her younger walk away. Shoto said nothing as he disappeared around a corner. Once her brother was out of sight, Fuyumi released a light sigh and clutched a hand over her heart. "He's been acting odd ever since he got home yesterday."

"My very existence drove her away. That's why I never went to see her..." Todoroki thought as he walked into a hospital, the staff looking quite surprised when he told them who he was there to visit. Learning what room he needed to go to, Shoto thanked the staff. "I know that my mother's been my father's prisoner this whole time. So I, with all I've got...with my whole spirit...I'll say 'I want to be a hero' again."

Standing outside the desired hospital room, Shoto stood for several moments. He could feel his heart racing as he reached out with a trembling hand, tightly gripping the door handle. Taking a deep breath, Shoto heard Izuku's words echo through his mind. Calming his shaky nerves, Shoto slowly opened the door.

"I'll tell her that. There's so much I have to say." Todoroki thought as he stepped into the hospital room, spotting a lone figure sitting near a window, sunlight shining on them. "Even if she's not asking for it...I'll save her." Taking another deep breath, Shoto finally spoke up. "Mom." The figure, who was Shoto's mother, Rei, turned to look at him, seemingly shocked by his presence. Tightly balling his fists, Shoto closed the door and stepped closer to his mother. "That's my starting line."


"I wonder what I should make for lunch today..." Ochaco muttered to herself, carrying a small reusable grocery bag as she walked up the steps to her apartment. "Probably something cheap...I guess I'll have mochi, then." Reaching into her pocket, Ochaco pulled out her keys. "I wonder what Mina and Deku are going to do on their date...and are they going to..." Ochaco paused as her face flushed slightly, imaging the possible lewd things Mina and Izuku were likely going to do. Quickly shaking her head, Ochaco took a deep breath to calm herself. However, when Ochaco put her key in the door's lock, she was surprised to find that the door was already unlocked. "Huh? I'm sure I locked this when I left."

"OCHACO!" Yelping in surprise, Ochaco was shocked when two figures burst out from around the corner and began to sprint down the hall toward her. However, it didn't take Ochaco more than a second to recognize her father's smiling face as he gave her a thumbs up. "Your mom and I came by!"

"Mom!? Dad!?" Ochaco exclaimed in shock as she looked between both her parents several times. "What are you two doing here? Weren't you both busy with work?"

"We just had to stop by and see you!" Ochaco's mother said in a cheery tone, stepping forward and patting her daughter's head. "We're here to celebrate with you."

"And your old man just had to see his little champion." Ochaco's father said with a proud smile as he rested his hands on his hips. "So, work can be damned for a day or two! HAHA!"

"You guys...you're the best!" Ochaco exclaimed rushing forward and enveloping both her parents in a tight hug. "Let's head to the kitchen, I'll make us lunch."

"Before that sweetie..." Ochaco's mother said with a smile, leaning in closer and lowering her voice. "Tell us how things are going between you and Izuku."

"Yeah!" Ochaco's father exclaimed as he crossed his arms. "Has that boy finally manned up and asked you out?"

"Oh uh..." Ochaco said, her cheeks flushing bright red as she rubbed the back of her neck. "We...we have a lot to talk about."


"Do you have any plans today, sweetie?" Inko asked as she looked up from the dishes she was washing, noticing her son walk into the kitchen. With a sly smile, Inko nudged Izuku with her hip. "Are you meeting one of your little girlfriends?"

"Yeah, actually, I am." Izuku replied, fussing with his collar as his cheeks burned light red. He was dressed in a pair of jeans with a short-sleeve green, button-up shirt. "I'm going out on a date with Mina."

"Oh, so your little sharing experiment is going well?" Inko continued with renewed interest as she set down the dish she had been cleaning, giving Izuku her full attention. "I had my doubts, but I'm happy to see things are working out."

"There haven't been any issues yet. So far so good..." Izuku muttered as he felt his phone buzz. Pulling it out, he saw that he had gotten a message from Mina, letting him know that she had arrived. Slipping his phone back into his pocket, Izuku walked over and gave his mom a kiss on the cheek. "Alright mom, Mina is here. I should be back later tonight."

"Okay, honey. Have fun." Inko said with a smile, tapping her son on the shoulder before he could leave. When he turned to face her, Inko's smile turned sly and she winked at him. "Remember to stay safe. As much as I would love grandkids, you're still too young."

"Yeah, I'm out of here, bye." Izuku said as he quickly exited the kitchen, his face burning near neon red. Making his way to the front door, Izuku managed to calm down as he put on his shoes. Taking a breath, Izuku pulled the door open, ready to greet Mina. "Hey Mina, ready to..." Izuku stopped mid-sentence when he saw what Mina was wearing. "...whoa."

"Now, that's the reaction I was hoping for." Mina said with a smirk, stepping closer to Izuku which caused him to inhale deeply through his nose as he tried desperately not to ogle her. She was dressed in an extremely form-fitting silver sequin dress that perfectly highlighted her curves, particularly her rather large rear end. Grabbing Izuku's hands, Mina tugged him out of the apartment. "Come on, Izuku! We're going dancing!"

 

Notes:

And done! The Sports Exhibition is officially over, with Izuku coming out on top as the big winner! The next chapter will have Izuku and Mina's date, as well as their lemon scene, along with starting the next arc. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that! So, until next time, I'm outta here!