Ch. 24 - The Fated Conversation

Ch. 24 - The Fated Conversation

"With the stunts by Midoriya paid off, they obviously advance to the final round." Present Mic declared as the cheers faded away, for them to listen to what the hero announcer will say next. While the students listen to Present Mic, their eyes are on the board with the list of the teams who passed and will qualify to the next round.

~~~~~

First Place

Team Midoriya

Leader: Izuku Midoriya

Members:

Ochako Uraraka

Amelia Kawakami

Hatsume Mei

~~~~~

Second Place

Team Todoroki

Leader: Shoto Todoroki

Members:

Tenya Iida

Momo Yaoyorozu

Denki Kaminari

~~~~~

Third Place

Team Bakugo

Leader: Katsuki Bakugo

Members:

Eijiro Kirishima

Hanta Sero

Mina Ashido

~~~~~

Fourth Place

Team Shinso

Leader: Hitoshi Shinso

Members:

Fumikage Tokoyami

Nirengeki Shoda

Mashirao Ojiro

~~~~~

(A/N: I'm sorry Fumikage. You're very great as well.)

"In second place is Team Todoroki, who gave their best, but still not enough. The next one is Team Bakugo! With the indirect help from the first place, they showed Team Monoma who's the boss in the arena."

"(It's kinda ironic to say that, Present Mic.)" Izuku thought with an unamused look.

"Next is..." The announcer paused as he double-checks on what he saw. "What is this?! Somehow, Team Shinso made it in fourth place! Being sneaky really paid off!"

As for the said person, he was smirking before he left and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

His teammates are Mashirao Ojiro, Fumikage Tokoyami, and a student from Class 1-B named Nirengeki Shoda. All of them were confused like what in the world happened there? Looking left and right before they look at their 'leader'.

"Now, we'll take an hour break for lunch before we start the afternoon activities! See ya! Hey, Eraser, let's grab some food."

"Shut up. I ate already, so I'm going to sleep." The said person groaned. "(Why is my life filled with noisiness?)"

The crowds began to walk away and go to wherever they want within the UA Campus while some stayed.

The students left the arena to relieve themselves from the morning activities of the U.A Sports Festival. Although one team was sulking.

"What happened? Before I knew it, we had zero points, and it was over..." Tetsutetsu said in a resentful tone and can't believe they didn't advance.

"Could it be the punishment for taking the small one's points indecently?" The girl named Shiozaki Ibarra questioned, recalling what she did to Team Mineta a while ago as the leader that time shouted that his headband's gone.

Unknown to them, someone was smiling evilly as if the plan worked for him before he walked away.

"I can't accept this!" Tetsutetsu shouted with both of his hands on his head.

As for Mineta and his team? You can see the leader's not moving like a statue with no pupils in his eyes and a look that they got eliminated.

"How disappointing." Tsuyu Asui said with a straight face, but you can tell that she's angry, irritated, annoyed, and much more. Also, clouds are coming out of her before they disappeared as she engages in a talk with Mina Ashido.

"Mina-chan, congratulations." The Frog-Quirk user spoke.

The pink-skinned girl did advance, but her face contradicts what everyone feels like if they won a trophy or the first place.

She scratches the back of her head before she talks. "Well, Bakugo just let me join to use against Todoroki's ice, so I don't know if it reflects my abilities."

"Nonsense. At least, you guys did something amazing." Tsuyu cheered, to remove the doubt that's weighing Mina Ashido down.

"Iida-kun, I didn't know you had a special move-in like that! Even though Deku-kun dodged that, it's kinda fair!" She imitated Tenya's running motion until she stopped when she mentioned Izuku at the end.

"I thought you're about to say unfair because Midoriya-kun did show us his Quirk, but you're right. It's a force to reckon with. But it has nothing with fairness, I just wasn't using it as intended." Tenya commented as he adjusted his eyeglass and did a shrug-off motion with his right hand.

Momo walked past behind him, not minding their conversation, and went towards Kyoka Jiro, who was waiting for her.

"That was fun." Denki 'Jamming Whey' Kaminari entered the scene with that hilarious expression on his face as he gives thumbs up.

"I wanted to do something that could compete with Midoriya." The Engine-Quirk user replied.

"Well, isn't that manly?" That's not Eijiro Kirishima. That's Amelia Kawakami, quoting the redhead boy's word of manliness.

"Wait a minute," Ochako turns around looking for someone. "Where is Izu-kun?"

"Now you said that, where is he?"

Everyone continued to exit the stadium. All except two. Two students are located at the entrance with a sign beside that says [Faculty and Student Entrance].

Those two students are none other than Shoto and Izuku, facing each other.

The dual-haired boy had that stare that can express anger, but the green-haired boy wasn't fazed by it.

"So," Izuku started the conversation. "What do you want to talk about?"

No response was received, he spoke again. "Look, we need to hurry, or else the cafeteria'll get crowded."

"(Is that really on your mind, bro? Food? Seriously?)" An exaggerated Shadow asked. "(Well, I did eat awhile, but all that things made me go hungry.)"

"(Ugh, fine.)" The Quirk gave up, he knew his partner was right. If they want to prepare for the next round, they wouldn't be in an empty stomach situation.

After a silent moment, Shoto finally responded. "That move you did, it almost got me."

"Hm?"

"Never in my life I need to get something I truly wanted, and it made me lose my cool, and almost broke my pledge." The listener listened, but never said a word, or else he'll miss it before he looks down to glance at the dual-haired boy's left arm.

"(To think that he never use it even if it would be a major advantage to him, was the pledge really that important to him?)" Izuku commented.

Shoto raised his left hand and stare at it as if he's cursing it with his glare. "Iida, Kaminari, Yaoyorozu, Kawakami and Uraraka, they never felt it. My arm moved on its own as if it has a mind of its own. It was only me who witnessed you and All Might's full power up close."

They both remembered that incident on USJ as clear as the skies above.

"What does that mean?" Izuku asked.

"It means I felt something similar coming from you." Changing his glance from his left hand to the hero nerd's eyes.

As soon as the greenette boy made eye contact, he felt his body tensed as if the next words Shoto about to say will really catch him off guard.

"Midoriya," The speaker called. "Are you..." He paused as if making the air feel tenser than ever.

...

"All Might's secret love child?"

...

"Huh?" The only word that came out of the listener's mouth. Not gonna lie, that question really caught him off guard, but it wasn't what he expected.

A moment of silence came by until Izuku scoffed. "Heh. Hate to say it, but I'm not All Might's child." He paused before he asked him. "Why do you think that about me, Todoroki-kun?" Straight to the point.

"Here I thought there's a connection between you two that you don't want to talk about it," Shoto replied, still had that icy tone in his voice.

Closing both of his eyes, he spoke. "You obviously know Endeavor, my old man. He's been stuck as the number two hero forever." Then, he opened his eyes to stare at the hero nerd. "If you were the son of the number one hero, then..."

Shoto paused until he narrowed his sight of vision at Izuku. The latter didn't falter and gave the Half-Fire and Half-Ice Quirk user the same stare. "I have even more reason to beat you."

"My old man has a strong desire to rise in this world." The dual-haired boy looked away. "As a hero, he won a name for himself with crushing force. And because of that, the living legend, All Might, is a great eyesore to him."

Now facing Izuku, the boy continued. "Since he can't surpass All Might, he moved onto his next plan."

Never said a word, the green-haired boy listened. "Have you... heard of Quirk Marriage?"

Those words alone are proof that Izuku's eyes widened as soon as he discovers them. He heard of it, but only through the internet and news. Lately, there's news about Quirk Marriage, but to discover it directly from Shoto Todoroki himself is a fact that the law is still alive.

"That law became a problem for the third generation until now. Choosing a wife only based on enhancing the Quirk and passing it on to their children, forcing people into marriage."

The boy inhaled, indicating a slight pause there for him to go on speaking. "The old-fashioned way of thinking brought about by a lack of ethics. Endeavor with both accomplishments and money, and won over my mother's relatives and got a hold of her Quirk. He's trying to fulfill his own desire by raising me, to become a hero that can surpass All Might."

As soon as Izuku grabbed that information, he clenched his fist and bit his lip in anger. He can literally feel the frustration and anger that's boiling out of Shoto Todoroki's soul.

All of a sudden, the speaker looked down with grimace and sorrow.

"It's so annoying. That's why I'll never become a tool to him." The dual-haired boy's eye twitched as he carries on.

"In my memories, my mother is always crying." He raised his left hand and covered the scarred part of his face.

"'Your left side is unsightly.' Those are the words my mother said... as she poured the boiling water on-"

"Stop."

The sudden word out of the hero nerd's mouth caused Shoto to stop. He looked at Izuku, who had a face of understanding and sympathy.

"I've told you my story, and you told me yours. I've heard enough, and I'm satisfied. You can stop your story now so that you won't hurt yourself anymore." The Cinnamon Roll explained. The Half-Ice and Half-Fire Quirk user was taken by surprise.

"People created rules, then those rules evolved into a law. I can't say this exactly, but we're both outsiders of the society." The dual-haired boy was perplexed as he listened.

"What I mean is," Izuku explained properly. "We both got abused by the super-powered society." As soon as Shoto heard that, he quickly understood.

"Even though my Quirk manifested at a very late period, I got bullied because I was Quirkless before, and you were trained to be a 'hero' your delusional father wanted and caused your mother to hate you," Izuku paused. A few seconds went by, the hero nerd never said a word. He's literally trying to find a word after.

"I'm sorry I can't find the words I wanted to say, so I feel sorry for you, Todoroki-kun. I felt your pain." His facial expression shows concern and sympathy. The glare from Shoto slowly faded and show his own expression of sadness. Possibly, the first revelation of look before his life went downhill.

"All I can say is you're Shoto Todoroki-kun, destined to be a hero, but not the hero your shitty father wanted." Izuku encouraged. For multiple and solid reasons, hearing him insulting Endeavor felt really good to his ears.

(Am I right, readers?)

"People today are so blind, impossible for them see that attention-seeking No. 2 Hero with a bad eye. Those who have heart and brain can see through those garbage, fiery eyes." The hero nerd replied.

"I don't know if I said this to our classmates, but I almost commit suicide." Shoto's eyes are a bit big as soon as he heard that word that disgusts him. Generally, everyone. It shocked the dual-haired boy to the core.

"But, I managed to endure all those beatings thanks to my mother. My Mom made it all bearable. She's a sweet woman who loved and cared about me for me. When I had no one, I had her." Izuku looked down and produced a warm smile, reminiscing the moments he had with his late mother.

The listener, Shoto, can understand how the hero nerd feels. His mother is the same. When he's so lost, so hurt, he'll go to his mother to find comfort, love, care and a shoulder to rest.

A moment passes by and Izuku inhaled the air before he responds.

"Todoroki-kun." He called out. "If we ever meet at the arena, but all things aside. Your pledge, your father, everything. Just fight me with everything you've got and I'll do the same."

"I know you won't use your other half, but," Then he walked away, but not without finishing the sentence. "It's the only way to beat me."

When Izuku's far away, Shoto's eyes are still looking at the path he walked, thinking what to do if they ever fight each other at the same arena sooner or later.

A few seconds later, he started to walk back to the cafeteria, not knowing someone was eavesdropping on their conversation at the last few minutes.

==Time Skip==

Twenty minutes left and lunch break is over. Izuku already finished eating his lunch and decided to walk around. Walking within the hallway, he didn't notice someone was walking in his path of direction and they bumped into each other.

"Ack! Hey, watch where you're go-"

"I'm so sorry about tha-" Both persons didn't finish their statement as they look at the ones who they bumped at.

For Izuku, he was met with none other than Miruko, the No. 6 Hero of Japan. Same goes to Miruko, who met Izuku Midoriya. The person who was stuck in her head all the time.

"It's you." She said.

"Miruko-san." He bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Come now, get your head off the floor." Miruko instructed as he lifts his head.

"Sorry about bumping into you. I wasn't looking." Izuku apologized.

"Nah, it's my fault as well." She said sheepishly before she asked. "As soon as the first round starts, you intrigued me, Midoriya. But only for a little. And your Quirk, I have never seen anything about it."

"Oh, it's kinda hard for me to explain it. Long story short, My Quirk manifested at a late period, and still getting used to it." He answered.

"Getting used to it? For me, it looked like you're more than used to it." She replied honestly.

"(Dang, she can see right through me.)" Izuku was taken back by her observation skills.

"My Quirk appeared before my vigilante-" That moment, he quickly closed his mouth, almost spilling the truth to a Pro Hero.

He knows some heroes wanted to turn him in to the police and placed him behind the bars. Even though Miruko isn't like those heroes.

"Vigilante? Oh." She muttered out, realizing who he was, as he sighed that he got caught.

"If you uh, want me to turn in to the police, maybe after-"

"Nah, I won't turn you in." Miruko interrupted, making him sigh in relief.

"But..." His body tensed as soon as he heard her. Of course, there's a catch.

"Why did you use your Quirk to become a vigilante? Not that you're stealing the work of the heroes, but what made you go that path?" Miruko asked with curiosity.

He didn't answer right away. Looking left and right, checking the surroundings around him to make sure no one's eavesdropping on them. He faced the Bunny Hero and said, "Let's go somewhere else."

==Time Skip==

Three minutes flew by and they are outside. More like, in the forest that was far from the stadium, but near a building.

"Okay, looks like we're away from everyone else," Izuku stated before he took a deep breath and replied before she starts the conversation.

"The reason why I became a vigilante is," Hesitated, he scratched his head while looking away from Miruko's glance. Taking a lot of courage, he spilled the truth.

"I became a vigilante is to help people whenever they're in danger and become a hero in my way." A deep sigh came out of his mouth before Izuku looked down, waiting to hear his response.

Miruko didn't say a word as time pass on, and it gives Izuku the shiver down to his spine and his body getting tenser.

"But, there's more to it than meets the eye, right?" She asked, making him look up and stare at her eyes.

"Yeah." He answered. "I did say my Quirk displayed before I go to vigilante work. For most of my life, I was treated like a dirtbag, a laughing stock, a piece of shit that was bound to be in the grave with the dead. When I lost everything, someone told me to jump off the roof and hopefully reincarnate with a Quirk."

The back story of his life made Miruko taken by surprise. His is really worse than hers. During her time as a kid and teenager, she's been bullied and mocked because of her Bunny Quirk. In her point of view, the best way to prove those who put her down is to train hard and declare that a strong hero wouldn't need help from anyone.

"I want to prove everyone wrong that I can become a hero and train harder than everyone else." Izuku declared before he was met with her face and jumped, making the tension drastically drop. You can see his face is reddened, all because Miruko's so close to him.

She walked around and poke his arms multiple times before she steps back in front of him.

"(Under that baggy clothes, he's really stack. If he really trained that long, then there should be no drawbacks to whatever his Quirk is.)" She thought as she stared at his messy, blushing face.

A smirk formed on her face. "You've got more potential than every student out there, Midoriya." She complimented. "And," She added. "You're secrets are safe with me. And, I'll be waiting for the moment where you'll show me something good."

Then she went off, but not without a look over her shoulder with another smirk she showed to Izuku.

Izuku stood there, still looking at Miruko's back as her figure went small and small before she disappeared in his vision. After that, he stared at his hand before looking at his right arm, covered with an arm sleeve.

Yes, from the very start, even before the UA Sports Festival began, he wore black arm sleeves that covered the scars. He bought those yesterday, mind you.

Then, a resolve of determination and undying fires of hope lit up in his eyes as he starts to walk back to the stadium.

He'll prove it. He'll prove to them that he can be a hero.

But first, there are things he needs to settle.