Chapter-31

What did it mean to be the best?

According to Bakugo, it was the ability to crush those who dared to stand in your way, to demonstrate that you were superior to them and to underline the stark contrast between them and you. His entire life, since he manifested his quirk at the tender age of four, had marked him as a prodigy destined for a future filled with remarkable achievements, one of which was becoming like All Might.

Throughout his adolescence, he had engaged in countless battles, emerging victorious against anyone who dared to challenge him. He harbored no fear of facing opponents older or stronger, for he believed unwaveringly in his own victory. But now, everything had shifted. Not only had the seemingly worthless Deku grown strong enough to challenge him, but he had even bested Bakugo in that infuriating bomb exercise.

Then there was Todoroki, the quiet but dangerous girl who hailed from the lineage of the second-ranking hero. Bakugo knew her capabilities well; she operated on a level that he had yet to reach. These two formidable foes presented significant challenges, but he clung to the belief that victory would inevitably be his, as it had always been.

That belief, however, crumbled when an individual emerged who would shatter Bakugo's arrogance and send him plummeting from his self-imposed pedestal: Uzumaki Naruto. The mere mention of that name filled him with rage. Naruto hadn't just defeated him; he had humiliated him, toying with him as if Bakugo were inconsequential. The fury only intensified when he witnessed Naruto's true abilities – abilities the Uzumaki hadn't even deemed necessary to use against him. It felt like a mockery, a taunt, and it drove Bakugo to madness.

The explosion that followed was thunderous, a blast that shook a nearby building, causing it to crumble. Amidst the wreckage, Bakugo panted heavily, his arms hanging limply at his sides. Spasms wracked his trembling limbs, evidence that they had been pushed far beyond their limits. Sweat poured from his brow as he gazed upon his hands.

Closing his eyes, all he saw was Naruto – that infuriating figure walking away with an arrogant smile. Small explosions crackled around his hands as he clenched them into fists. With a deep breath, Bakugo spread his arms wide.

"Uzumaki!" He screamed with seething anger, unleashing an explosion even more colossal than before, obliterating everything within a fifty-meter radius.

It didn't matter how, when, or where. Bakugo was determined to defeat Uzumaki. He would prove he was the best, that he was number one.

….

"I'm going to visit Mom... Do you want to come with me?" Fuyumi Todoroki was a young woman with snow-white hair streaked with red and gray eyes. She wore rectangular glasses, a modest pink sweater, and baggy sports pants that concealed her figure. Being the eldest daughter of Endeavor, she possessed a more mature appearance than her younger sister. Currently, she observed her sibling stretching in the mansion's courtyard.

The younger Todoroki, clad in a simple white sleeveless shirt and dark pants, performed various movements while ice frostily emanated from her right arm. She paused, taking a deep breath, and gazed at her older sister.

"I don't care about what you say or think about me! You can call me a murderer, a lunatic, or even a monster! But I won't let them talk about my family!"

Shiori briefly recollected the Uzumaki's impassioned words that had resonated throughout the academy. She pondered the importance of his family to him. Even though he seemed alone, he had mentioned having a family and yet lived in a solitary apartment in the city's red zones. In her eyes, he remained an enigmatic individual. Shaking off her thoughts, the red-and-white-haired teenager addressed her elder sister.

"No," she replied, showing little concern for Fuyumi's pained and disappointed expression. As soon as her sister departed, Shiori intended to resume her training. However, the heavy footsteps approaching her prompted a spark of hatred in her eyes. She turned to face the intruder.

"What do you want, old man?" She retorted insolently, paying no heed to her father, who stood just a few meters behind her.

"The UA sports festival is about to commence... You know what you must do, right?" Endeavor asked with gravity, not even sparing a glance at his youngest daughter, the one who had inherited both her parents' abilities and was considered his tool to surpass All Might.

"Yes." Her desire to train waned as she turned away, contemplating her return to the mansion. Passing by her father, she noticed his stern and unyielding demeanor, causing her to pause momentarily as she caught his growl.

"Uzumaki Naruto..." The girl couldn't help but look surprised upon hearing the name of one of her classmates from her father. Both father and daughter continued to keep their backs turned to each other as the conversation unfolded. "He has the unconditional support of All Might, though I still don't know why. I only know that he's a troubled boy with issues, who eliminates anyone in his way. He's a psychopath," Endeavor remarked, raising an eyebrow at his daughter's response.

"Maybe... but you're not the best person to talk about that, old man. Perhaps his actions are extreme, but at least he prioritizes his family, something you will never do," she retorted. She wasn't sure where that came from, but she was certain that her classmate, Uzumaki, wouldn't stand for his own family being slandered or spoken ill of. In a strange way, she found herself respecting that.

The loud growl of the number 2 hero was the teenager's response as she watched the flames flicker and dance around her father. "Watch your words... if the time comes when you have to face him, don't hesitate to finish it," Endeavor warned. He continued with a menacing tone, "And if you think you can win using only your right side..." A tense silence enveloped them as both Todorokis locked eyes. "You're dumber than I thought..."

"I'll win that festival... just using my right side. I don't need anything from you," the defiant response caused the pro hero's eyes to narrow menacingly.

"Maintain that mindset, and I guarantee you'll taste the bitterness of defeat. You have the potential to surpass even All Might, to be better than everyone... you are a disappointment," he stated before walking away from his daughter, who remained in her place.

As minutes passed, the girl with white and red hair stood there, lost in her thoughts. Clenching her fists, she looked up, determination evident in her gaze. "I will win, just to make you eat your own words," she thought to herself, then turned and reentered her home.