The World Faded Away

The World Faded Away

The roar of the crowd was deafening as Ren took her seat in the stands, the excited chatter and cheers of the spectators sounding like the roar of a distant ocean. The U.A. Sports Festival was in full swing, the air crackling with anticipation and energy as the young heroes-in-training prepared to showcase their skills and abilities.

Ren sat beside her father, Akira, the billionaire media mogul whose influence extended far beyond the boundaries of the business world. But Ren paid him little mind, her focus solely on the arena below. The field was a vast expanse of green, dotted with obstacles and challenges designed to test the mettle of the competitors. The sun beat down mercilessly from a cloudless sky, the heat shimmering in waves above the ground.

As Ren watched, her eyes were drawn to the massive screens that lined the stadium, each one showcasing a different angle of the action. And there, flashing across the screen for a brief moment, was her own face. She felt a flicker of annoyance as the camera lingered on her, the lens zooming in to capture her features in high definition. She knew what the audience saw - the perfect, polished heiress, the girl who had everything. But they didn't know the truth, didn't understand the suffocating weight of expectation that came with being an Ishikawa.

With a sigh, Ren reached into her bag and pulled out a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of oversized sunglasses. She slipped them on, the dark lenses shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun and the scrutiny of the cameras. Deep down, Ren knew that hiding away was best on a day that wasn't about her. It was about the young heroes on the field, the ones who had worked and trained and sacrificed to be here. And the one who occupied her thoughts more than she cared to admit, Shoto Todoroki.

Her grey eyes sparkled as they scanned the field, searching for those familiar shades of red and white hair. She smiled a little as she saw him, standing tall and proud among his classmates, his face set in a mask of determination and focus. Looking at him now, it was hard to reconcile this image with the boy she had known, the one who had been so broken and lost. Ren's heart clenched as she remembered the nights she had spent at the fence, listening to Shoto's sobs as his father pushed him beyond his limits, the times she had seen him come back from training with bruises and burns marring his skin. But Shoto had survived, had endured and overcome. And now here he was, ready to take on the world and prove himself once and for all.

As if sensing her gaze, Shoto's head turned slightly, his heterochromatic eyes locking with hers across the distance. For a moment, time seemed to slow, the noise of the crowd fading away until it was just the two of them, suspended in a moment of stillness. But then the moment passed, and Shoto's attention was pulled back to the field, back to the task at hand. Ren watched as he took his place among the other students, his posture straight and his eyes fixed on the horizon.

A hush fell over the stadium as the pro hero Midnight took the stage, her voice booming through the speakers. "Now, let's welcome the first-year students! Representing class 1-A, Katsuki Bakugo!" she announced, her tone dripping with sultry charm.The crowd erupted in cheers as the students filed onto the field, their faces a mix of nerves and excitement. And there, at the head of the pack, was Katsuki Bakugo.

Ren watched with a small smile as the explosive blonde marched up to the microphone, his shoulders squared and his chin held high. There was an arrogance to him, a brashness that bordered on disrespect. But there was also something compelling about his unwavering confidence, his absolute belief in his own abilities.

"I pledge," Bakugo said, his voice ringing out clear and strong, "that I will be number one."

The crowd erupted in a chorus of boos, their disapproval echoing through the stadium. But Ren just laughed, a genuine, unguarded sound that seemed to surprise even her.

"What an arrogant brat," Akira muttered beside her, his voice dripping with disdain.

"I kinda like him," Ren said, her words a mix of sincerity and defiance. 

She could feel her father's eyes on her, could sense his disapproval at her casual admiration of the abrasive young hero. But Ren didn't care. In a world where everything was carefully crafted and controlled, there was something refreshing about Bakugo's unfiltered honesty.

As the students took their places on the field, Ren's attention was drawn to a commotion a few rows ahead of her. Two men, clearly members of the press, were engaged in a heated discussion, their voices carrying over the din of the crowd.

"Did you hear that?" one of them said, his tone eager and excited. "Ren Ishikawa, she likes blondes."

"Get a picture," the other replied, his hand already reaching for his camera. "This could be a story." Ren felt a chill run down her spine, a sudden, sickening realisation washing over her. Even here, even in this moment that was supposed to be about the young heroes and their dreams, she couldn't escape the relentless scrutiny of the media. Her every word, her every gesture, was being watched and analysed, twisted and turned into something salacious and scandalous. 

Ren's hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her composure. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she plastered on a smile that felt brittle and false. She was an Ishikawa, after all. And Ishikawas never showed weakness, never let the cracks in their armour show.

The dark haired girl's attention was caught by a short reel playing on the screens. An homage to the hero Endeavour, part of her father's agreement to put some attention on the man during the festival, played for twenty seconds before the first round was to begin. Ren felt a little nervous watching the images of Endeavour, circled by flames, playing the hero- had it been enough to get him to back off from Shoto? To give her childhood friend some room to breathe?

Her eyes scanned the stands, searching for the imposing figure of Enji Todoroki. She glanced over her father's shoulder and spotted him standing tall, aflame, at the top of the stadium, his face set in a scowl of grim determination. Looking at him now, Ren felt a surge of hatred so strong it took her breath away. This man, this supposed hero, had done nothing but cause pain and suffering to those around him. He had broken his wife, had abused his son, had sacrificed everything for the sake of his own ego. And yet, here he was, basking in the adulation of the crowd, revelling in the attention and acclaim. 

She turned her gaze back to Shoto, to the boy who had endured so much, who had survived at the hands of that monster. Her hands clenched as she spied him walking determinedly to the starting line. While she hated the world he was a part of, hated that he was giving his everything to being a hero, Ren could not help but silently cheer him on. Her face settling into a determined stare as though she could telepathically tell him to finally prove himself, to his father, to the world. 

And so, as the first event of the sports festival began, Ren leaned forward in her seat, her eyes fixed on the field below. She watched as Shoto took his place at the starting line, his body coiled like a spring, ready to explode into action.

And as the signal sounded and the students burst forward, Ren felt a thrill of excitement run through her, a sense of hope and possibility that she hadn't felt in a long time. Because here, in this moment, anything was possible. Here, in this place, dreams could come true and destinies could be forged. 

Ren watched the first two rounds of the U.A. Sports Festival with rapt attention, her eyes glued to the field as the young heroes-in-training showcased their incredible skills and abilities. The obstacle course was a thrilling display of speed, agility, and quirk usage, with students racing through treacherous terrain and overcoming daunting challenges. Shoto took an early lead as one of the ones to watch, his ice quirk allowing him to glide effortlessly past his competitors. Ren held her breath as he navigated the pitfalls and hazards, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and exhilaration. 

In the cavalry battle, Shoto's team proved to be a formidable force, with his ice powers providing both offence and defence. Ren marvelled at his strategic mind and quick thinking under pressure. Even when faced with powerful rivals like Bakugo and Midoriya, Shoto remained calm and focused, leading his team to victory. Ren found herself cheering silently, a swell of pride rising in her chest as Shoto advanced to the next round.

And just like that, it was over, the first two rounds had been completed. As the break before the individual battles was announced, the crowd began to buzz with excitement, spectators rising from their seats to grab refreshments and discuss the exhilarating matches to come. Ren turned to her father, intending to ask if he wanted to have lunch together. For a fleeting moment, she thought perhaps this could be an opportunity to connect, to find some common ground. After all, compared to Endeavor's harshness, her own father's flaws seemed almost tame.

But as she opened her mouth to speak, Ren realised her father had already vanished, no doubt off to schmooze with his business associates and further his own agenda. A pang of disappointment tugged at her heart, but Ren quickly pushed it aside. She was used to this, used to being an afterthought in her father's world.

Shoto walked away from a stunned and bewildered Midoriya, following a tense confrontation. His mind was reeling with the weight of what he had said. He had revealed more than he had intended, sharing painful details about his family history and the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his father. The words had spilled out of him, a dam bursting under the pressure of years of repressed emotions.

He had questioned the origins of Midoriya's quirk and got nowhere, unsurprisingly. But what had surprised him was his green haired classmates challenge to see Shoto's own quirk in a new light. He had always felt that this power that had been forced upon him, honed into a weapon by Endeavor's relentless training. Shoto had always seen it as a burden, a curse he had never asked for. But Midoriya's words had struck a chord; could he make this quirk his own, wield it not as a tool of his father's ambition, but as an extension of his own will, his own desires? 

As Shoto turned the corner, lost in thought, he barely registered his surroundings. His mind was a maelstrom of emotions, a whirlwind of doubts and fears. He was so caught up in his own head that he didn't notice the figure in front of him until he had already collided with them.

Startled, Shoto looked down to see Ren Ishikawa, her grey eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his brain struggling to shift gears, to pull himself out of the depths of his own thoughts. But as recognition dawned, so too did a flare of irritation, of pent-up frustration and agitation. The conversation with Midoriya had left him feeling raw and exposed, and the sight of Ren, with her knowing eyes and her uncanny ability to get under his skin, was suddenly too much to bear.

"Why is it," Shoto growled, "that whenever I turn a corner, you're always there? Don't you have anything better to do than constantly pester me?" The words were harsh, uncharacteristically aggressive, his expression was stormy, his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched tight. Ren could practically feel the waves of tension radiating off him.

The girl blinked, taken aback by the sudden hostility in his tone. It reminded her of when they were children, how Shoto would sometimes lash out when he was hurting, pushing her away and retreating into himself. "I was just taking a walk…in the break," she said softly, trying to keep the hurt from her voice. 

"Then why are you here?" Why are you wearing red and white? Why are you looking at me like that? Why won't you get out of my head? "Shouldn't you be out there, basking in the attention?" He demanded, his gaze flicking to the crowds of spectators streaming out of the stands.

Ren flinched at the accusation, a flare of indignation rising in her chest. "Believe it or not, I'm actually trying to avoid the cameras," she said coolly, "Is it vanity or arrogance that leads you to believe everything I do revolves around you?" The two stared at each other angrily, Ren rolling her eyes at his reaction to her, Shoto unable and unwilling to acknowledge that she had a fair point. He looked away, clearly unready to apologise.

Seeing the fight drain out of him, Ren's expression softened. "You did well out there," she said suddenly offering a small smile. "In the first two rounds. I was watching." Shoto glanced at her, surprised by the sudden praise, his eyes softening as she tried to make amends. But before he could respond, Ren's face grew serious, a shadow passing over her features.

"I saw your dad in the stands," she murmured, her eyes misting over with bitter nostalgia. "Watching you. It...it reminded me of when we were kids." Shoto stiffened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He didn't want to think about his father, didn't want to dwell on the pain and trauma of his past. But Ren's words struck a chord, echoing the thoughts that had been plaguing him all day.

"I can't imagine what the last ten years have been like," Ren continued, her eyes shining with a mix of sadness and compassion. She took a step closer, her gaze locked on his. "You are nothing like him." Slowly, hesitantly, Ren reached out and placed a hand on Shoto's cheek, her fingers gentle against his skin. 

Shoto's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening at the sudden contact. Usually, when they touched, Ren would recoil in pain or shock, but she held her hand against his face as though she could not feel what was happening between them. In fact, she seemed completely unaffected, unlike him. 

As Ren's hand lingered on his cheek, Shoto became acutely aware of his own quirk, the ice that flowed through his veins and the chill that always clung to his right side. But instead of the usual numbness, he felt a sudden sharpening of sensation, as if Ren's touch had awakened something deep within him. His blood seemed to turn to sheets of ice, flowing through his body in crystalline streams. The cold intensified, becoming more acute, more vivid. 

Shoto's mind raced with questions, with possibilities. Was this simply a result of Ren's touch, the physical contact igniting something primal and instinctual within him? Or was it something more, a hint of the quirk he had long suspected she possessed?

But as Ren gazed up at him, her grey eyes glinting with a hint of coyness, Shoto found his thoughts taking a decidedly different turn. If her hand could provoke such a intense reaction, what would the rest of her do to him? His gaze dropped to her lips, soft and inviting, and he felt a sudden paralysis take over his whole body. His left side turned warmer, his right side turned colder, his breathing deepened. The world faded away. 

Ren seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere, the charged tension that crackled between them. What on earth was she doing? Here? Now? With the boy next door? Did he feel it too? This pull, this desire, this agonising anticipation? 

"Shoto!" Endeavor's shout shattered the moment. "What are you doing!?"