Chapter Text
“AND FROM 1-A, WE HAVE OUR QUIRKLESS WONDER, THE UNSTOPPABLE CHAMPION TILL NOW—MIDORIYA IZUKU!”
A wave of cheers went up.
“AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE ASSASSIN FROM 1-B! PREETY THINGS HAVE THORNS, YOU KNOW. IT’S NONE OTHER THAN SHIOZAKI IBARA!”
Another round of cheers was interrupted by Shiozaki interrupting Present Mic.
“Excuse me, what do you mean by ‘Assassin’? I’m here to win the match, not take my competitor’s life.”
Izuku’s eye twitched. Her and Gyomei would really get along like a house on fire. Except… Gyomei had every intention of taking the lives of the demons he fought.
“S-Sorry.” Present Mic apologized nervously. “Anyway, START!”
Izuku's match against Shiozaki was over in less than two minutes. It wasn't that Ibara was weak; he was simply a bad match-up for her as his katana effortlessly sliced through her vines like water, without even needing any Katas.
It didn't take long for Izuku to break free from the dome of vines Shiozaki had attempted to trap him in. She tried to send another wave of vines, surprisingly level-headed, but Izuku swiftly cut through them, rapidly closing the distance between them and knocking her out with a swift chop to her neck.
“Shiozaki is unable to move! Midoriya Izuku moves to the next round!”
Cheers sounded around the stadium as Izuku was announced the victor of the match.
Izuku made his way back towards the stands allotted to 1-A. Many of his classmates give him their congratulations, some brave ones patting him on the back as he took a seat beside Iida.
“Congratulations on winning, Midoriya!” the bespectacled boy said.
“Yeah! Good job, Deku!” Uraraka joined in.
Izuku nodded his thanks as he turned to face the stage.
“AND NOW, FOR OUR SECOND MATCH! ON THE LEFT… HE’S BEEN SWINGING PAST ONE OBSTACLE AFTER ANOTHER, IT’S SERO HANTA! AND ON THE RIGHT, WE HAVE OUR RESIDENT ICE-PRINCE, TODOROKI SHOTOO!!”
Izuku frowned as he picked up on the cold anger Todoroki was radiating as soon as the boy entered the stage. He was shaken but fine when Izuku last saw him during lunch, what could’ve-
He blanched as he spied Endeavor standing at the mouth of the exit Todoroki had come from, his body encased in fire. That didn’t bode well…
“AND STARTTT!”
The match started right off with Sero making the first move and trying to swing Todoroki out of bounds. The ice user let himself get dragged for a while before he dug his feet into the ground and got into a familiar stance. Ice burst out from the bottom of Todoroki’s foot racing towards Sero with speed before extending out into a glacier that covered half of the stadium, jutting out from the top.
Izuku breathed out a visible puff of breath, adapting to the cold air biting at his lungs. He bit back a frustrated remark at the thin layer of frost he could see covering Todoroki’s right side. The foolish boy had clearly pushed himself past his limit to prove a point to his trash-bag of a father.
“Are you alright?” Iida asked.
“Totally fine!” Uraraka chattered, rubbing her hands together.
Momo eyed the glacier of ice inches from her face. “A little over board if you ask me.”
“I knew Todoroki was powerful…” Iida said, shivering “but this is something else.”
Izuku grimaced as he watched Todoroki use his left side to melt Sero and Midnight out of the ice. The audience started a chant of “Don’t mind it” for Sero which only served to make Todoroki shrink in on himself further.
Izuku glared at the flame Hero from his place. Todoroki actually seemed to be considering using his left side after their talk, albeit tentatively but this move of unleashing as much ice as he could at once screamed “I don’t need your fire to win.” Endeavour had definitely said something to undo the small amount of progress he’d managed to make.
If Izuku was still Iguro, he wouldn’t have cared about this or exerted any efforts to poke his nose in something that wasn’t his business, but being reborn had come with a lack of the severe self-hatred that had dominated his self-image in his previous life and with that had come a sense of compassion.
Now, Iguro- no, Izuku couldn’t imagine leaving Todoroki to his fate without making him understand that the fire was his to use. People like Endeavor should never get what they want. He wouldn’t let him use a classmate of his like a pawn.
Mind made up, Izuku started strategizing.
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
The match between Hatsume and Iida was the most ridiculous thing Izuku had watched that day and he’d witnessed Mineta trying to intimidate him. His friends, Izuku decided, were the most gullible fucks in class.
Following the match which was a glorified advertisement for Hatsume Inc, was Tsu and Mina’s turn.
Ball-fuck tried to shout encouragement at the girls to tire each other’s clothes but before Izuku could shut him up, Kaminari sent a zap of electricity through the small boy.
The two girls engaged in a commendable battle of physique and flexibility which Mina ended up winning by covering more or less the whole stage in acid and pushing Tsu out of bounds.
After that came the match between Kaminari and Shinsou. The peppy blond was noticeably down as he entered the arena with an uncharacteristic neutral face. Izuku wondered if he should’ve warned Kaminari about keeping his mouth shut because Shinsou didn’t even have to try to make the blond talk. Kaminari put his foot in his mouth all on his own by saying, “I’m sorry, but this match will end in an instant.”
“Is that so?” Shinsou deadpanned as electricity crackled around Kaminari.
Kaminari nodded, “Yeah. 1.3 millio-”
Izuku facepalmed as a blank look entered the blonde’s eyes and the electricity died down.
“WHAT IS THIS!! KAMINARI TALKED A BIG GAME BUT HE’S COMPLETELY FROZEN! HE’S GOT A BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE AND ISN’T MOVING A MUSCLE! COULD THIS BE SHINSOU’S QUIRK?!”
“That! That’s the same look you had on your face when you were fighting for Team Midoriya, Bakubro!” Kirishima exclaimed as he pointed at Kaminari.
Katsuki bristled like a cat and turned to glare at him, “Oi, Deku! What’s the purple zombie’s quirk?”
Izuku shot an unimpressed look at Katsuki, “Figure it out yourself.”
“SHINSOU HITOSHI FROM GENERAL STUDIES HAD GOTTEN THE BETTER OF KAMINARI FROM HEROICS! WILL THE UNDERDOG OVERTHROW THE TOP?”
“Turn and walk out of bounds.” Shinsou ordered. Slowly, Kaminari turned and walked towards the boundary.
“WHAT?! KAMINARI IS BEING SO OBEDIENT!”
“Kaminari! You’ll lose if you step out of bounds!” Iida said as he waved his arms around wildly.
“His quirk is mind control, isn’t it?” Katsuki grunted.
Izuku smirked and nodded, “Brainwashing, but essentially, yes. Cool, isn’t it?”
Katsuki scoffed.
The audience watched with baited breaths as with a final step, Kaminari stepped out of bounds.
“Kaminari Denki is out of bounds. Shinsou Hitoshi wins!” Midnight said with a crack of her whip.
The audience burst into cheers and Izuku clapped along as Kaminari looked around wildly.
“You’re very blessed to have a quirk that cool.” Shinsou commented as Kaminari turned to face him.
Kaminari pouted, “Says you. The guy with the actual cool quirk. I don’t even remember what happened!”
Shinsou seemed particularly taken aback at the positive remark as Kaminari extended an arm for a handshake. “Good match, Shinsou!”
“Uh, yeah.” The purple-haired boy muttered awkwardly, accepting the handshake.
“AND WITH THAT INCREDIBLE SHOW OF SPORTSMANSHIP, WE MOVE ONTO OUR NEXT ROUND!”
The next to go up on stage were Momo and Tokoyami.
Momo seemed confident enough at the start but Izuku frowned at seeing the dejected expression on her face after Tokoyami pushed her out of bounds. Making a torch would’ve worked better against Tokoyami instead of a shield but no one except him, Hatsume and Shinsou knew of Dark Shadow’s weakness against light (though, he didn’t think it was particularly hard to guess).
It didn’t seem like it, but he’d noticed that Momo was an insecure person. Izuku had no doubts she was probably blaming her judgement skills and capabilities as she walked out of the ground.
They’ll have to do something about that later.
Izuku noticed Uraraka’s absence for the first time halfway through Kirishima and Tetsutetsu’s match but didn’t go to check on her. Thinking back on the challenge she’d issued, Izuku knew Uraraka was strong enough to give Katsuki trouble.
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu ended up in a tie and were rolled out of the grounds together.
“AND NOW! FOR THE FINAL MATCH OF THIS ROUND! ON THE LEFT, HE’S BEEN BLASTING HIS WAY TO THE TOP THREE FROM THE START! IT’S BAKUGO KATSUKI! AND ON THE RIGHT- SHE’S THE ONE I’M ROOTING FOR! IT’S URARAKA OCHAKO!”
“AND STARTT!!”
The match started with Uraraka rushing towards Katsuki and taking an explosion from point blank range.
“Did he blast her?!” Mineta uttered in surprise.
“Even though you’re fighting a girl, you have no mercy, do you Bakugo?” Tsu said with a finger to her chin. By the way the rest of the people winced at Uraraka taking explosions after explosions, they all seemed to agree with her. Even Iida and Momo seemed pissed at Katsuki.
Izuku frowned in irritation and turned towards the students occupying the 1-A stands.
“I can’t watch!” Jiro said.
“Shut up!” He shouted loud enough to be heard over the explosions.
“What is wrong with you all?” He gritted out when everyone turned to face him. “You call yourself hero students yet hate on Katsuki for giving his best? Do you all underestimate Uraraka that much? What’s so wrong with him going hard on a girl? I know females who could kick all of your asses collectively without breaking a sweat so just SHUT! THE! FUCK! UP!”
He turned back to the front when everyone looked chastised enough but felt his anger spike up again when the audience started booing at Katsuki.
What the fuck was wrong with these people?! Are they fucking blind?
He was just contemplating going up to the announcer’s booth to give everyone a piece of his mind when Aizawa’s voice echoed throughout the stadium.
“Was that a pro saying he’s playing around? How many years have you been a pro, huh? If you’re saying that with a straight face, there’s no point in you watching anymore, so go home! Go home, and look into changing careers!”
The audience went pin drop silent as Aizawa continued ripping into them.
“Bakugo is being careful because he’s acknowledging the strength of his opponent who has made it this far. It’s because he’s doing everything he can to win that he can’t go easier on her or let his guard down.”
Izuku smirked as Uraraka finally took a pause. Time for the final showdown.
“Also, just how blind are you all to think that girl is defenceless? Each and every student that made it this far did it because they’re continuously thinking about beating each other.”
And this was why Aizawa was the only teacher Izuku respected enough to call ‘Sensei.’
“Thanks Bakugo.” Uraraka panted from the torn-up battle field. “For not letting your guard down.” She pressed her fingers in the seal for release.
Rumble and debris from the torn-up ground rained down towards Katsuki with momentum as Uraraka ran towards the blond.
Izuku noticed the moment Katsuki started using Total concentration breathing because his next explosion was the largest he’d ever made.
He sighed softly as Uraraka struggled to move before slumping in defeat.
“Uraraka is out of commission. Bakugo advances to the second round!”
There was silence in the stadium at the announcement so, Izuku stood up and started clapping. For both—Uraraka and Katsuki.
Momo and Iida followed his example and it spread from there as one by one everyone in the stadium gave a standing ovation for the match well fought.
And with that, the first round ended.
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
Izuku ran into Katsuki on the way to the waiting room. They both stared at each other for a beat before Izuku’s gaze dropped to the blonde’s forearm.
“I see you figured out how to use Total Concentration while using your explosions.” he mentioned nonchalantly.
Katsuki lifted up his arm and drug a thumb into the bone of the forearm.
“I honestly thought you were fucking with me with that breathing shit. But… an explosion that size should’ve cramped my arm for at least an hour, but it barely hurts. It’s like I reached a new limit.”
Izuku smiled, “I’m glad. Wouldn’t want you indisposed by the time we face each other.”
Katsuki predictably bristled, “Like hell! You better be ready to get your ass beat into the ground, Deku!”
Izuku smirked. “Sure. Looking forward to it.”
Katsuki narrowed his eyes, disconcerting whether Izuku meant it as a taunt.
“Well. I need to get ready for my next match.” Izuku waved behind him as he entered the waiting room.
“Oh.” Izuku looked around awkwardly as Uraraka hurried to wipe her tears.
“Ah, Deku. Man, I totally lost, huh?” Uraraka said in a fake happy tone as she rubbed the back of her head.
Izuku eyed the tear stains on her face and Uraraka dropped the smile as her lips wobbled.
“I’m sorry I can’t face you in the final.” She said in a watery tone as she rubbed her red eyes. “I tried so hard to be strong like you, but…” She hiccupped, “… it wasn’t enough.”
Izuku wasn’t really comfortable with physical contact but he still placed a hesitant hand on her hair.
“You did perfectly fine. Do you think I became this strong in one night? I too, had to go through a fair share of failures before I reached where I am.” Izuku murmured.
Izuku wished that Kanroji was here. She’d take one look at Uraraka and know exactly what to say to make her feel better. Kindness and compassion like this came naturally to her. But, she wasn’t here and as absurd as it sounded, Uraraka was his friend.
“So, don’t worry.” He continued, “You did well and… I’m proud of you.”
Uraraka sobbed harder into her hand at that but Izuku didn’t let it bother him as he patted her head till she calmed down.
They both heard Present Mic announce Kirishima as the winner of the arm-wrestling match over the speaker.
“I should go get ready for my next match now.” Izuku said as Uraraka sniffled and nodded.
“Thank you, Deku. All the best for your next match.” Izuku nodded and left the room to let her compose herself in privacy.
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
The corridor got stuffier the closer Izuku got to the end stadium and he had a good idea why. Heavy footsteps rounded the corner and a flicker of flame entered his line of sight before the flicker became a blazing fire, sat on the shoulders of someone he wished didn’t exist.
“Endeavor.” Izuku spat as the Number Two Hero’s massive form stopped before him.
“Oh, there you are.” The hero said in a deep, heavy voice.
“Is there a reason you’re blocking my path, Blockhead?” Izuku asked, glaring into azure blue eyes.
The temperature around them spiked. “Watch how you talk to me, boy.”
“Sorry. Is there a reason you’re blocking my path, Mr. Blockhead sir?”
Endeavour eyed Izuku like he was a fly in his tea. “I watched your fights. You possess a lot of power for someone quirkless. Your skill with a blade is considerable and your combat prowess isn’t bad either—”
Izuku sneered, “What, do you want an autograph?”
Azure blue glared into emerald green. “Insolent Brat. I’ll enjoy it when my Shoto defeats—”
“Shoto isn’t yours, bastard. He doesn’t owe anything to you. Now, get out of my way.” Izuku spat with venom as he walked past the giant man.
“You have a lot of attitude for someone quirkless.”
Izuku turned and pointed a finger at the hero, “And you have a lot of audacity for someone stuck at Rank Two for years.”
The fire surrounding Endeavor’s body flared up as he stalked up to him in thunderously. “What did you say.”
“You might want to consider retirement if you’re already having trouble listening, old man.” Izuku smiled as the flames of Endeavor’s costume burnt close to his face.
“I would recommend watching your tongue.” Endeavor hissed.
Izuku leaned in closer to the hero’s face, “Or what? You can’t do shit.”
With that, he turned on his heels and made his way to the ground entrance.
“Oh, and by the way—” Izuku paused before turning the corner, “The whole flame- mustache get-up makes you look like a pervert and you don’t deserve the title of a father.”
Satisfied with the livid look his comment put on Endeavor’s face, Izuku turned the corner.
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
Shoto stood opposite Midoriya as Present Mic introduced them for the first match of the second round.
He’d cooled down significantly since his talk with Endeavor, but even thinking of the man made his blood-pressure spike. Shoto knew he’d gone overboard with Sero but he’d just been so angry. The need to show his father that he didn’t need his fire had overthrown his need to hold back.
Shoto’s eyes involuntarily drifted to the stands, blue and grey eyes catching on the large figure draped in fire. Endeavor as usual stood out among the commoners with his intimidating size and aura but he was surprised to note that his azure blue eyes were not trained on him tauntingly. Instead, they glared into the frame of his competitor.
“Where are you looking?”
Shoto’s eyes snap from the bright fire on Endeavor’s shoulder to the burning green of Midoriya’s eyes.
“Huh?”
“I’m your competitor, not him. Keep your eyes on me. Forget he’s here.” Midoriya said in a monotone.
Shoto pressed his lips in a tight line. When he’d asked Midoriya to talk to him during lunch, he’d never expected the talk to go in the direction it had.
I very well know what it’s like to have filthy blood. But I also know my blood doesn’t dictate my potential and my path.
Shoto felt… conflicted. A part of him understood the point Midoriya was trying to make but another part of him couldn’t think of anything but the fear and disgust in his mother’s eyes when she’d looked at him the day it all went south. How could he embrace something that made his mother react like that?
He shook the thought away as Midoriya drew his sword from its sheath. Now isn’t the time to get distracted. Midoriya was a strong opponent and he had to focus on winning.
Shoto had just one chance of winning. He’d already established that sending glaciers towards the shorter boy was useless—he simply couldn’t produce ice fast enough to catch him off-guard. The only viable strategy he could think of was using large attacks as a distraction to get close enough to freeze Midoriya’s arms to his chest.
“AND START!!”
The moment the countdown reached zero, Shoto sent a barrage of jagged icicles towards Midoriya. But Midoriya was too fast, his movements fluid and precise, easily evading the attack.
“Serpent Breathing, Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head!” Midoriya’s katana reflected the sunlight ominously as he slashed through Shoto’s ice with ease.
The clash of ice and steel rang through the arena as crushed ice flew in every direction. Shoto’s breath fogged in the chill he’d created, frost spreading around him as he focused on his strategy. He created towering ice glaciers—each bigger than the last—to obscure his position, moving swiftly to get around Midoriya to freeze his sword but it was useless.
Midoriya was unyielding. His eyes, sharp and calculating, followed Shoto’s every move. He said nothing, his face an impassive mask, as he slashed through the ice with his katana, effortlessly countering each of his moves.
A huge chunk of ice fell where he stood, forcing him to duck to avoid getting grazes by the jagged edges. Midoriya’s expression remained bored, as if countering Shoto’s efforts was nothing more than a mundane chore. Shoto gritted his chattering teeth. The calm, deadpan face mocked him more effectively than any words could.
“Serpent Breathing, Third Form: Coil Choke!” Midoriya’s katana spiralled through the air, and Shoto barely managed to dodge a kick, the attack grazing his side.
Shoto's breath came in ragged gasps, his right side covered in frost. His ice was strong, but it wasn’t enough. How was he supposed to reach Number One with his mother’s quirk if he couldn’t even defeat his classmate?
Every part of him itched to use his fire, to unleash his full potential and force Midoriya to acknowledge him as a worthy competitor. But every time he thought of using his flames, his mind blanked, paralyzed by the memories of his father.
Midoriya’s eyes bored into him, calm and unfeeling, as he approached Shoto, who was bent over, panting and shivering.
“Is this the type of hero you want to be?” Midoriya asked, his voice as steady as his gaze. “Someone who won't give their best? Someone who would rather accept defeat than face themselves?”
“Shut up.” Shoto growled, still trying to breathe through the knifes in his lungs.
“You have the power to be incredible, to be unstoppable, but you’re too afraid to use it. It’s pathetic really. Is this really how you want to live your life? In fear of becoming your father?”
The words struck Shoto like a physical blow. His restraint snapped. In a surge of emotion, flames erupted from his left side, merging with the ice to create a breathtaking display of power.
For the first time, Shoto didn’t think of Endeavor when using his flames. He didn’t even notice his father shouting in pride from the stands. Instead, a memory surfaced—blurry with age. His mother’s gentle voice saying “Shoto, you can be whatever you want to be. You are not bound by your father's legacy.”
“I told you to shut up.” Shoto swallowed, straightening. The chill in the air receded rapidly as feeling returned to his numb right side. In that moment, his fire smoothed the pain—bought warmth instead of heat and Shoto— Shoto burned.
Midoriya’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure, a smirk lifting his lips. “Finally. Show me what you’re truly capable of, Todoroki.”
Shoto moved. He launched powerful blasts of fire and ice, using them to herd Midoriya into a corner. The ice flowed easily, like water from his arms while the fire burst out in large burst, wild and untamed. It was intoxicating. For the first time, he realised that fighting could be fun. He aimed a wild stream of fire to block Midoriya’s line of sight and slipped under it to freeze his sword arm, but Midoriya countered with relentless precision.
“Serpent Breathing, Fifth Form: Slithering Serpent!” Midoriya’s katana weaved through the air, cutting through the fire with deadly accuracy, before he round housed a kick into Shoto’s side to push him back. Despite Shoto’s newfound power, Midoriya’s experience and skill were overwhelming.
Shoto summersaulted over a melting stump of ice and regained his footing to shoot fire—
“Shoto Todoroki is out of bounds! The match goes to Midoriya!”
Shoto blinked in surprise at Midnight, who had her arm raised with the referee flag. He looked down in a daze, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. The white boundary line ran between his feet.
“It’s over,” Midoriya declared, sheathing his sword. His voice was rough but not unkind.
Shoto, breathing heavily, nodded. He had lost, but he felt a weird sense of completeness and clarity—which is not to say he didn’t feel panicked or confused, just that, those particular emotions weren’t overwhelming.
Midoriya offered Shoto a nod of respect. “If you let that flaming trash-bag undo all the hard work I just did, I will be very pissed.”
A surprised burst of laughter burst out of his lips. Shoto stood up, for the first time realising that half of his jacket was burnt. “Thank you,” he said quietly, a bit embarrassed.
Midoriya, infuriatingly, smirked. “Maybe now, you won’t be such an embarrassment to fight.”
Shoto scoffed. “I’ll win next time.”
Midoriya nodded, “We’ll see.”