Chapter 24 : Perspectives

The video of the arrest of the Hero Killer Stain had gone viral. His last words were spread all over the news along with his accusations of the hidden home life of the Todoroki family. Journalists had dug up information that Endeavor's wife, Rei had been institutionalised in a mental ward for scaring their youngest son. Along with that, there were various records of an oldest child that went missing a few years ago by the name of Toya Todoroki. Endeavor and his team had organized a press conference to address the allegations and rumors.

"All the allegations that have been propagated in the news are slander and have taken out of context. My wife is in a mental hospital because she had an unknown mental condition that wasn't addressed which unfortunately caused harm to my child. My missing eldest is still under investigation and I have been working tirelessly to find him."

The conference did do a little to calm some of the public down but the damage to his image was done. Many were looking at the hero's actions with more scrutiny. Criticising every little mistake and perceived wrongdoing. This critical eye was also spread to hero society as a whole. 

Midoriya had been getting stopped in the street after the recording was released. Many of them wanted pictures and signatures. Even a few of the crooks ran at the sight of him resulting in a small chase.

Iida was reprimanded by the police and the heroes. The one that affected him the most was Tensei who calmly and with a disappointed look explained exactly what would have happened if he had succeeded in killing Stain. His going to prison and what his mother would have had to go through weighed heavily on his mind. 

The rest of the internship passed without much fanfare. Just patroling and sparing with Miruko. She had a lot of fun fighting someone who could shrug off her hits without issue. It forced her to improve, fighting more tactically with less wasted movement. The two of them now stand at the platform waiting for the train. 

"I'm gonna miss having such a great training partner."

"You really do only think about fighting do you." 

She elbows him in the arm. The sound startled the nearby passengers as anyone else hit by it would have flown into the tracks. Midoriya's train arrives and Miruko gives him an arm clasp rocking the train a bit and bids him farewell. 

---

Time passes, the class had taken their final written exam and now the class is gathered in front of a group of teachers for the final physical exam. 

"Welcome class 1-a to your final exam. You may be wondering why the staff have gathered here when it is a simple robot destruction test. Well considering the times we have been inclined to adapt our tests so today you will be put into teams and will be fighting-"

"Us."

The class was split into teams of two. That was the case until. 

"Katsuki Bakugou, Shoto Todoroki, and Momo Yaoyorozu will be fighting Eraser head. Which leaves Midoriya who will be fighting-"

"Me!" 

All Might came falling from the ceiling and landed in front of Midoriya who smiled in excitement. 

"The teachers will be wearing weighted cuffes on their hands and feet to give you an advantage however All Might will not be doing so." 

"But sir isn't that unfair for Midoriya? I know he is powerful but against All Might without restraints?" 

"I trust in his ability to adapt to the situation. Will the first team please get into position?" 

The tests go well enough for the most part. Not everyone passes but that is to be expected. Aizawa's test was the most interesting as Bakugou was immediately incapacitated and failing leaving Todoroki and Momo to complete the test. Todoroki was then wrapped in the bandages which immobilised him. He could have tried to burn them off but he refused leaving Momo alone to fight Aizawa. She managed to trick him into a trap and got the cuffs on him leaving Momo to successfully pass the exam. 

It was now Izuku's turn as he stood in the middle of a mock city waiting for the countdown to begin. His plan? Well, that's pretty simple. Beat All Might into the ground. 

A shockwave of air destroys the buildings around him as All Might falls from the sky. 

"California Smash!" 

The wind pressure blew around the strike as Izuku blocked it with his palm but the blow pushed him to bend his knees slightly and embeded his calves in the tarmac. 

"You've grown a lot stronger young Midoriya." 

"And you've gotten slower." 

Midoriya punches his right side sending All Might crashing into multiple buildings. From the hole made black tendrils grip at its edge. All Might flings himself with the help of black whip for another punch surrounded by golden lightning. 

"Minneapolis Smash!" 

Midoriya tried to block it but was sent back against a wall not damaging it but as his legs were in the road the skin ripped off and quickly healed. 

"But you have new moves." 

"With their powers how could I not adapt."

Midoriya turning his arms into a tendril copys his move which All Might dodges so he hooks around a post and kicks All Might in his side sending him back a few steps a trickle of blood leaks from his lips which he quickly brushes away and continues the fight. The class in the observation room watched in awe as All Might was fighting with all that he's got to restrain and defeat Midoriya but with every hit he deals he takes one back and it looks like he is getting slower. They may have wanted everyone to pass but seeing All Might lose was not what they were expecting. 

After taking another punch to the face All Might stops and takes a knee. Smoke billowed around his body obscuring the cameras. In a last-ditch effort, he wraps Midoriya in his black whips restraining him. Midoriya tried to bust his way out but he couldn't so he used muscle augmentation to boost his strength and broke out. Seeing this All Might decides to end it in one shot. Gathering and condensing the embers of One for All he gives it everything he's got. 

"United States of Smash!!" 

Dust clouds were created in the wake of the super move. Midoriya stood defiantly against it. As the fist landed the shockwave destroyed the buildings around it and it was even felt in the observation room. The dust clears revealing a destroyed test site filled with the rubble of the once-standing buildings and in the middle of the destruction, Midoriya stands tall with All Might's fist against his bare ribs revealing a writhing red mass underneath and a cuff around his wrist. 

"Villain captured!" 

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Next time

Chapter 25 : I-Island