27 Closest man to God

The tournament was over.

After one of the biggest flex in all history of mankind, the crowd filled with heroes was wilder than a herd of animals in heat.

They were all either shouting in total hype like groupies or calling Kotei's name in hope of drawing his attention and thus recruiting him as a side-kick hopefully.

At this point, everyone was certain that his mere presence was enough to deter any villains from getting in the same town as this seemingly monster in human's skin.

The majority of viewers were glad that such a kid was on the 'good' side, as they couldn't even imagine what kind of disaster it would be if he were to be a villain.

A walking calamity like this would just drop meteors and meteors on towns.

Everyone looking at his figure leaving the arena, hands in his pockets. They were all thinking the same thing aside from the typical 'monster' 'sexy little ki-'.

Without morals, he would be a god walking among insects (not ants).

Kotei was currently sitting in an empty room, reserved for the next fighter.

After all of this, he didn't feel like going with his classmates as he knew that they were going to be all excited by the events and ask him stupid questions.

A few minutes later, the organizers of the event, in particular the teachers, seem to have come to their senses as they were calling the finalist for the award ceremony.

At this point, they did not bother announcing Kotei's as the winner as it was pretty obvious after his recent actions.

"A-after this magnificent demonstration of the power from Kotei Juryoku, we will now begin the award ceremony. All finalists please come to the arena!"

Kotei briefly lifted his head toward the speaker then his eyes fell back once again to his now undamaged hand.

Using his quirk, he made some black flames dance around his palm for a few seconds, seconds during which the room's temperature rose by a notch.

Closing his hand, Kotei rose from his seat and began walking toward the door, more precisely toward the arena where he was going to receive his award.

'My regenerative quirk acted on its own and healed me without any interaction from my part. I thought that I was controlling it pretty well but it seems that when I am too focused on a thing it can go out of hand.' Kotei thought, thinking back at when he was fighting the bicolor-head.

He actually forgot about his other quirk and his injury as it healed him unintentionally.

Stepping back on the arena, Kotei's posture switched as he lifted his head high, his gaze seemed to observe uninteresting things beneath him.

When he was seen by the spectators, the crowd went wild once again as they recognized the strongest student of this new era!

He was walking completely casually toward his deserved first-spot where his classmates were waiting for him, but it seems like each step he took was heavier and heavier, each more majestic as each other.

When he stopped in front of the podium, Kotei began to float a few meters above the ground as he slowly stepped on the highest step.

On his right, Todoroki appeared to be lost in his thoughts, his gaze switching between his hands, Kotei, and his father who was looking more calmly at where they were.

On Kotei's left, Bakugou was seen looking strangely very calm. It was almost frightening when compared to his usual behavior.

He too seemed to be lost in his thoughts as his gaze was locked in front of him.

Iida was not here for some reason.

Midnight looked at the trio on the podium and contently licked her lips when she looked at the particular silver-haired boy.

A few minutes later, the whole students were gathered in front of the podium.

Kotei was simply looking at the sky above them, his arms crossed, totally ignoring whispering students and the loving-gazes of some of the girls and boys.

"Now then, let's move to the award ceremony!" Midnight started, moving her hand as to introduce something.

"Due to some personal circumstances, Iida who would have the third-place too was forced to leave early. Please understand!" She said making a kissing motion toward the spectators.

"Now, time to confer the medals! And the one who will present the medals this year is naturally none other than..." She began to announce.

"It is I! And I am here with the medals!" "Our hero All Might!" The newly appeared All Might said, jumping from god-know-where to the podium but was talked over by Midnight.

It was pretty awkward.

"Congratulations, Bakugou! You really became stronger since our first encounter! You will clearly be a strong and reliable hero in the future! Continue like this!" All Might said, putting the medal around Bakugou's neck.

The blond kid was seemingly still deep in his thought as he mechanically nodded without speaking.

Patting his back a little he spoke to the boy one last time.

"Remember! It is not because you are not first that you are not a good hero! Keep improving!"

Once done, he walked toward the bicolored-haired boy and put the silver medal around his neck.

Not knowing what to say, the pro-hero was going to just go with some encouraging words, but the kid spoke first.

"I know that I am not weak. I lost because I can't do anything in front of such overwhelming strength... yet." Shoto said, glancing at the boy at his left.

Looking back at the hero in front of him, he spoke once again.

"But I know that suppressing my power won't help me achieve anything. As Midoriya said, it is my power, not this guy's."

Nodding at his words, the Symbol of Peace decided to simply encourage him as he seems to have a solution to improve himself.

Hugging the boy and patting his back he spoke to him.

"Your expression is completely different from before. I won't pry any deeper but I know that now, you can come to a reckoning without a doubt."

Walking in front of the last waiting boy, he approaches to put the gold medal around his neck as he did with the other two boys.

"Young Juryoku you are clearly a blazing star in these dark times! I am certain that you will be able to protect the whole of Japan from the claws of these villains."

Nodding at his words without speaking, Kotei continued to listen as the hero seemed to still want to say some things.

"You are clearly not interested in being the Symbol of Peace. So I will propose another title if you accept of course!"

"I am listening."

"Haha! Then continue to be the improve yourself and become in the future... the Symbol of Righteousness!" The pro-hero said, rather proudly.

"What a mouthful title." Kotei said, almost immediately.

'No way I am wearing that stupid alias.' He thought.

"I have one in mind."

"What is it?"

"... The Symbol of Fear."