25

Chapter Text

He was the Hero that smiled.

That's what they'd called him in the years before he became known throughout the world as the Symbol of Peace.

Because a smile brought hope in this world. Those who smiled in the face of adversity, were the ones who were the strongest.

Nana had told him that, and he'd lived by those words.

But he knew that sometimes, even he, could lose the smile. That even he had his limits.

And when he reached those limits, he was dangerous.

So it was, when he saw his two students making their way to the arena... he knew something was wrong.

To others they would perhaps see little more than steely determination. Perhaps the drive to win.

That wasn't what he saw.

Bakugo had drive. Bakugo wanted to win.

Parker wanted something else.

"Stop the match."

His words were quiet, almost quiet enough that he hadn't even realized he'd spoken aloud until Snipe turned his head, looking at him.

"What was that?"

Yagi remained still in his seat, staring at the camera feed with a closeup to the arena.

"Stop the match," He repeated.

Snipe looked towards Vlad, both teachers looking at each other as though Yagi had lost his mind.

"Any particular reason?"

"This won't end well." He answered, with a calm he didn't wholly feel. "Give whatever reason you have to, just call the match."

"You know we can't do that."

He was right. They couldn't.

Not yet…

(X)

The opening bell sounded, and the two fighters charged. Katsuki with his Turbo Speed firing a massive blast behind him, and Parker kicking up dust and debris from his low leap forward. Their eyes were locked, and Katsuki reared back his right hand, as did Parker.

Just need to get in a good lick up close, beat Parker at his own game and send him flying! That'll teach him!

"Die!" Katsuki roared, seeing Parker's followthrough… and on instinct, tilted his head to the side as he thrust his right hand towards Parker's face.

Parker's fist flew through where his head had been located only a moment before. Katsuki's palm snaked past Parker's head as an Explosion rocked behind him while a small jetstream surged past the blonde's hair.

'This power… it's just like…!' He remembered, back at the Battle Trial. It wasn't as powerful as Deku's arm-shattering uppercut.

But it was dangerous nonetheless. It was then that Bakugo remembered Birdbrain's words back at that battle trial.

"First strike wins..."

For Parker that is.

His own blast roared past the American, whose stone face flinched as the underside of his right arm got singed and burnt.

Okay, scratch going in close for an Explosion. Too risky. Katsuki backed off, barely dodging a left hook, firing off his blasts at Parker's head. His left arm lashed out like a snake and he blasted forward, catching the American as he was rearing a leg back to kick. Parker yelled as he landed, then leapt back up, snarling like a beast, and charged again.

Katsuki roared with anger, blasting himself away from the charging American. He landed low, hands raised as the smoke cleared. Finally, he had some space.

Parker stood there, singed and bruised, teeth bared in a feral snarl. He staggered, and for a moment Katsuki thought he would fall.

Then he let out a yell and charged, storming across the arena with a strange, almost feral grace.

'Here he comes!'

Parker came down with a spinning punch to the ground. Katsuki sidestepped, raising both hands. The punch cracked the cement beneath their feet, cratering it and sending dust and debris flying all around. It was as if a missile had landed, not a fist.

With a yell, the blonde fired. But Parker sidestepped and came in on a backfoot leap, back turned as he lunged with a backhand of…

An iron pipe!? With a lump of cement on it like an axe blade?

'Give me some damn room!'

The blonde bomber ducked, feeling Parker's pipe catch his hair. He fired off a blast from his left, trying to drive Parker away and create some space. He was dodging by the skin of his teeth!

Finally, he caught Parker dead in the chest, hurling him away. With an angry grunt he pulled himself back up, fixing his eyes on Parker. The American stumbled, his shirt burnt and crumbling, his nostrils flaring with pent-up rage.

Katsuki finally exhaled, and the crowd roared. 'Good, that had to hurt'. He thought to himself.

Parker took off with a yell, dust flying behind him as Katsuki gritted his teeth and brought his hands together.

"Stun Grenade!" The bright flash was right in Parker's path. Katsuki dropped down, avoiding a diving slash.

'Idiot!'

Katsuki lay on his back, aiming his hands. Parker was right overhead! One full Gauntlet-level blast… and he could ring him out!

He roared as he fired, the blast sending him bouncing along the arena floor. He let off more explosions, throwing himself up to land on his feet. Parker had been caught! So he wi-

Katsuki saw him land and gasped, seeing a distorted and superheated iron pipe land out of bounds. He had used it to propel himself over his Explosion?!

Parker rose up, shirt and pants in tatters, skin singed and peeling…

Parker roared like a berserker and reared back his fist, charging once more. The blonde felt his heart skip a beat and instinct willed him to dodge, barely avoiding the giant cratering punch that impacted the arena. Katsuki took to the sky, dodging once again as Parker threw something at him. He glanced back, and saw that it was that metal pipe, crumpled against the arena wall.

He turned back to Parker. The American stood in the arena, gazing up at him with a glare that set his teeth on edge.

"WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HALF A MINUTE OF OPENING ACTION! BAKUGO HAS TAKEN TO THE SKIES! LOOKS LIKE PARKER IS WITHOUT THOSE WEB SHOOTERS FROM THE PREVIOUS ROUND! WHAT WILL HE DO NOW, FOLKS? HE ISN'T LOOKING SO HOT RIGHT NOW!"

Katsuki finally let out a breath of relief. Now…

'I need to do my best to dodge if I ever get close, but for now I need to rely on my Explosions. Getting in close is a death sentence.' Katsuki thought as he glared down at Parker, who leapt backwards, backflipping and landing near the crater he had created with the previous punch.

'I need to use the arena, get into a favorable spot… then blast him with everything I've got! He may be tough, but…'Katsuki grinned. 'I can go Plus Ultra! He won't be able to survive a Gauntlet-level blast! I will be greater than All Might! You're strong Parker! Stronger than anyone in my class, but my will to win, is better than yours!'

"Can't reach me without your toys, huh?" He goaded. "Those blasts had to hurt too!"

Parker remained stoic, before a little smirk emerged through his pained breathing, He began to brush debris from his shoulders. Once. Twice.

'Oh you fucker.' Katsuki hissed mentally as he bared his teeth, explosions popping as he narrowed his eyes. Parker thought he could mock his amazing Quirk and be able to walk for a week!? Fuck no!

'No, he's taunting me! I just need to hold up here, wait for him to lose patience! He's been yelling like an animal here! Without those web line launchers of his, he can't get me unless he jumps. And with my view of the arena...all I have to do is pull off a quick dodge, and fire another Gauntlet-level blast towards the wall, and I win!'

Parker continued to stare at him, eyes set as he drew long, hard breaths. Katsuki couldn't help but smirk. It seemed like the fight with Vinegirl was starting to take its toll.

He saw his eyes move around, and remembered the previous match as Parker eyed one of the remaining braziers. He moved, breaking into a sprint towards it.

"I don't think so!" Katsuki flew off in pursuit. All he had to do was keep a healthy distance and try to fire a full power blast.

And prevent him from having a giant flaming bowl to throw. That thing could do some serious damage.

But then Parker stopped in his sprint towards the brazier, backflipping towards one of the craters he'd made in the arena. Katsuki saw his opponent go low, his hand reaching under the lip of the crater.

And then, with a roar, he lifted up one of the concrete tiles bordering the crater. He hefted it in his hand, and threw it like a discus at Katsuki.

Katsuki gritted his teeth. That thing was big enough for an SUV to sit on it! He had to dodge and…

The sound of cracking rock filled the air. By instinct alone, Katsuki brought his hands to the side and blasted himself out of the way, barely avoiding a shard of concrete. He could see Parker, kicking smaller shards his way like a soccer forward shooting for the goal. Each shard struck another shard and shattered it, debris spraying out like shrapnel.

He felt the pebbles flash past, his ear stinging as one of them nicked it. He felt a clang as one struck the sole of his iron-toed boot.

If he hadn't dodged…

"You're mine!" he yelled, shaking the morbid thought. He boosted hard, circling around his opponent. Parker kept an eye on him as he brought up another chunk of concrete like a hacky-sack and kicked, buckshot spraying out as Katsuki aimed upward, avoiding the debris.

Full power blasts to get a ring out. That was his only option now!

Twirling in the air to dodge the flying debris, the blonde brought his hands together.

"Stun Grenade!"

His hands flashed, bathing the arena in light. He surged forward, throwing both hands into Turbo, corkscrewing in the air as he accelerated. His arms ached, but he barely noticed.

Katsuki then twirled his body into a corkscrew as he began to use his Explosions to propel his movement. Faster, stronger, his arms began to mildly ache but he didn't care.

Time to end this!

"HOWIZTEEER!" The world was like a blur as fire and fury laced around Katsuki. "IMPAAACT!"

Fire and brimstone burst from his hands, washing over Parker in a blast the size of a house. Katsuki gritted his teeth, smiling through the burning in his hands and arms, and the pain of his bleeding ear.

Then he faltered, as the blast vanished, and he saw movement in the smoke. That explosion had finished him?

Fine! Time to go Plus Ultra!

"Again!" He fired, hot wind buffeting him as he unleashed another explosion.

"Again!" Katsuki fired once more, the fire and fury surging forward.

He exhaled, falling to his knees and panting as he winced. God… it fucking hurt.

But this was the pinnacle, the final battle. No pain no gain!

Smoke covered the other side of the stone arena, and Katsuki could make out that Cementoss was on the edge of his seat. No need to worry, this fight was ov-

Parker emerged, the smoke parting around him like the Red Sea. His shirt was gone, and his pants were in scorched tatters.

Katsuki felt his stomach fall out from under him as he stared, uncomprehending. Parker was panting, bare chest heaving, arms burned and peeling, as was his face. But that glare was still there, and still fixed on him.

How!? He'd been so close to the arena's edge! He should be out of-

Then he saw it. Just beside Parker was one of the arena tiles, standing on one end just in front of a deep crater. That sound from before! He'd punched the arena to make a foxhole, and made an arena tile lift up to make a makeshift shield!

Parker let out an exhale. He stepped forward, his steps like thunderclaps in Katsuki's ears, body coiled as if ready to charge. His muscles tensed for one giant leap, right at him.

Katsuki roared at the top of his lungs, terror and rage overwhelming him. He let off another explosion, this one even bigger than before, fire and wind gusting all around him.

"DIE!" He yelled, fire and fury lacing out as his arms screamed in silent agony.

"DIE!" Another, and another! "PLUUUUUS!" Another explosion. "ULLTRRRAAAA!"

'Fall Parker! Fall damn you!'

"DAMNIT! GOD-FUCKING!" And again! "DAMNIIIIIIT!"

More explosions erupted, and more, until the arena was wreathed in smoke and covered in debris. Those on the edge of the arena cowered in their seats, buffeted by the heat and the blasts.

Katsuki coughed, seething as he got back to his feet. No foxhole would have been able to handle that barrage! And at that distance, any man would have been sent flying.

"He has to be… out of the ring by now…" he panted as he walked forward. His chest heaved, his adrenaline only barely blocking out the pain. But it couldn't compare to the elation he felt as he rose to his full height, amidst the dust and smoke.

"There… I'm the one… who is the one closest to All Might!" He exclaimed, smiling proudly. "Not you! You lost before! Back then when you got yourself caught! You brought trouble for everyone back then! Deku fucked up his body! Yaoyorozu got blood on her hands! Redhair became a fucking wimp! But me?! I've only lost by some stupid rules back against Deku in that stupid battle! People got in my damn way during the race and you all ganged up on me during the War!" Katsuki ranted and raved, grinning like the devil, heedless of the looks he was getting from the audience.

"But now! Everyone knows that I will be the greatest! The strongest! I'm going to be the Ace here! Not you!" He turned to his right, towards where Cementoss was sitting on the edge of his throne. "Teach! Call it!"

Yet his eyes were...

He caught movement in his peripheral vision. Katsuki felt his heart stutter in his chest as he snapped his head to the side, lightning-quick only for an upwards sledgehammer to land in his midsection, directly under the ribs.

The air exploded from his lungs, he could taste copper at the back of his throat as his whole body was lifted off the ground, blood flying out of his mouth. His body was a mass of pain, sparks flying from his twitching hands.

Parker was there, his kick catching Katsuki straight in the gut. His eyes shone with a pure unbridled hate, teeth bared in a silent snarl.

He could feel the vertigo, the inertia, the force of the kick. Bakugo struggled to keep his head on straight, struggled to figure out how to halt his body's momentum with blasts before he fell out of bounds.

Parker's hand snaked out, in a blur of motion too fast for him to fully see. He only felt the brutal, bone-crushing grip on his wrist and the red-hot pain of something snapping. All his momentum ceased in an instant, and the full weight of his body was jerked forward with a grinding crunch of a dislocated shoulder.

His vision swam and lurched as Parker tossed him towards the center of the arena, broken wrist and injured arm scraping along the ground, sending barbed wire from the underneath the ruined concrete between the sinews of muscle there as Katsuki howled and yelled in agony.

But still, he could think, even now piecing it together... replaying the fight in his mind and determining where it went wrong.

He'd blinded himself.

His blasts were so large that he couldn't see...

So Parker just jumped over the blasts... high enough and at the right angle and speed to avoid the shockwaves… so high and so strong that his explosions didn't even faze him.

Just like… Deku against Icy-Hot...

The whole time... the whole time he could have moved like this... done this...

He'd been playing him… from the opening bell.

'I never… Stood a chance…'

No...

NO!

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself onto his knees through the mind-flaying pain that lit his whole side on fire. He could sense Parker's footsteps as he looked up, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Real heroes... don't lose" he wheezed.

In an instant, he saw Parker's face twist, a rictus of pure, absolute fury, teeth bared. He let out a bestial avenging roar, his blazing eyes covered by his brown locks. He shot forward like a bullet, the cement shattering under his feet.

And then all Katsuki saw was yellow. Then there came a sound, a crash like two cars hitting head-on.

Silence. Powerful gusts bursting forth and washing over the arena.

"Ha-ha! I understand that you want to go Plus Ultra and win Young Parker, but I believe Young Bakugo is too injured to continue!"

What?

Katsuki felt his eyes widen, red irises trailing upwards to see the unmistakable form of All Might, in that god-awful yellow pinstripe suit, standing directly in front of him, blocking a rabid Parker.

The Symbol of Peace turned his head to smile kindly over his shoulder. "It's alright now Young Bakugo. You did your best."

He felt sick. His stomach heaved and he felt the strength literally drain from his body.

He...

He hadn't lost…

He'd needed to be rescued! Just like…

Back then… at the creek with fucking Deku so many years ago…

He'd needed to be rescued! AGAIN!

(X)

It was a delicate balance he was attempting to strike here, Toshinori knew.

The world could not know of this. They could not realize how close this had come to tragedy. Parker would have been ruined, as would U.A. The U.S.J. was bad enough, but a student maimed on National TV would have too much.

He did not know how the situation between them had deteriorated so quickly. That was his failing as a teacher, and he would accept responsibility for that.

But he could see it in Parker's eyes, in his face as the blinding fury left him and he fully realized what he had almost done. He looked hollow, drained, deflating like a balloon.

The blow was strong. Strong enough that even he felt it. Even if it hadn't killed Bakugo... it would have injured him severely, maybe permanently.

Toshinori looked down at Parker, brown eyes meeting dark blue. He held the boy's clenched fist firmly, but as gently as he could, still smiling all the while.

Not for the crowd, not for the cameras around them.

He smiled directly at the boy, both pleading and warning; praying all the while that he would understand.

He saw the fight drain out of Parker. It was done.

Midnight smiled as she raised her flag, and Cementoss eased himself back into his chair. They had both been asleep on the job, and they knew it. Neither had seen this coming.

"B-Bakugo Katsuki is unable to continue! The winner is… Peter Parker!"

The crowd roared their approval, seemingly oblivious to what had almost happened. Present Mic began his usual hype, hailing Peter Parker as Champion of the First Year Group of the U.A. Sports Festival.

All Might's hand landed on the American's shoulder, turning him towards Cementoss and Midnight, as the victory podium began to rise. He would need to talk to him after the ceremony, maybe in the locker room, if no one else was there.

"Come on Young Parker, let's get ready for the ceremony. You'll need to check in with Recovery Girl."

All Might kept his signature smile in place, but his heart ached as he glanced back. Bakugo was on a stretcher, the medical robots griping at eachother as they lugged him away. His arm was over his face, but All Might could see the tears streaming from his eyes, the cries of agony and despair bitten down. Recovery Girl was waiting at the tunnel mouth, ready to do her part.

"Sure." Parker replied, his tone hollow as they walked together towards the diminutive nurse, the crowds chanting their names until they were hoarse.

(X)

Holy shit.

There were no other words.

Shouta's jaw flapped open, like a lab skeleton with its wire cut. There was nothing he could say, no commentary he could add. Mic was going on and on as usual, throwing out some speech about how awesome the match was. As usual, the crowd lapped it up.

He couldn't see everything from the commentator's booth, but he could see enough. He could see Bakugo, easily one of his strongest students, being carried away on a stretcher; utterly crushed. He could see Parker, the victor, his reputation as the next All Might firmly established.

The motions were acrobatic, the blows flashy for the camera.

But those were the ones that didn't matter.

The ones that did…

Shouta knew that Peter was strong. There was no denying it; his ball pitch spoke for itself, as did the rest of the physical exam. Except, they were exactly what he expected after witnessing the Battle Trial, the race, and the War of the Flags.

The tip of the iceberg, and for once, Shouta wished he'd seen the signs before now.

That final blow had made All Might flinch, even if only a little. Shouta had seen it, and he hoped that no one but Midnight and Cementoss noticed. The audience seemed too surprised by his sudden appearance to register it.

Parker had moved him. The man who Shouta had seen shrug off falling buildings, and bombs detonating in his face.

And that wasn't the worst of it.

No quips, no jokes or clown antics. For five minutes, he saw Peter Parker more focused than he'd ever been in homeroom or any classes. In any other time or place, it would have been a dream come true.

But in those five minutes, he had led Bakugo on, and then crushed him utterly in two moves. From what Shouta could see, his shoulder was dislocated, and ribs likely cracked. If Bakugo had not been such a proud fool, those blows alone would have won Parker the victory.

But Bakugo was what he was. And whatever had happened before the match, and after the Shiozaki fight, had put Parker on the warpath.

Hell, he was even yelling and roaring like Bakugo at times during his bout, while it was Bakugo who talked the most. As if the two were emulating each other unintentionally.

Parker had dragged this out. He could have ended it quickly, but he wanted to keep his opponent in the right, to string him along, and make the fight last.

He had wanted to make a point. And what that was, Shota could only guess. The two were clearly enemies, or at least rivals. U.A. tolerated such rivalries, and even encouraged them to some extent; as they drove students to go beyond themselves, to become the best heroes they could be. Admittedly it was one sided – Parker had ignored Bakugo, and Bakugo had driven himself harder because of it – but it still begged the question.

Just what had Bakugo done to make Parker hate him so much?

Questions would have to wait, for now, Shouta had to make some calls. The event had been broadcast live, but Shouta had to make sure that only certain moments went into the highlight reel. All Might's interference could be chalked up to him being him, anything else the school could handle with ease.

For now, the footage was the priority, if his students were to continue. If all went well, he could destroy that minute of footage, and avert the scandal it was bound to provoke.

(X)

There were a lot of things that Shinji, Kamui Woods, could get used to.

The constant grind of patrolling, the mountains of paperwork, and Takeyama gushing about her ward every second. So when the break came and everyone was cheering and hollering as the champion of the festival was crowned, Shinji couldn't help but notice one voice not adding to the chorus.

Mount Lady had barely moved since the start of the match, her face still a sheen of horrified disbelief. As the minutes dragged on, she became even more reserved, until she didn't even notice that Shinji had stopped next to her.

As the highlight reels rolled and the break table exploded into commotion as dozens of heroes pulled out their phones to call their agencies, Shinji elbowed Takeyama in the side, snapping her out of her stupor.

"Oh, Kamui, what's up?"

"You haven't said a thing in five minutes," Shinji pointed out. "Was wondering if you were okay."

"Me?" Takeyama asked before giving off a light laugh. "How could I not be fine? Did you see Peter out there?!"

Deflection, standard tactic. One that she played off with her carefree grin and exaggerated hand motions. Might have worked, if Shinji hadn't seen it before.

Even so, he played along.

"I did, so did every other hero in the country."

A fact that couldn't be more true. The hero websites had crashed halfway through the fight, as had most of the fan websites and plenty of social media sites. By the time that the sites were back up, chances were the Top Ten would have their pick of the finalists.

"Yeah, he's got to have like, a hundred different emails filling up his mailbox."

"I'm sure he does," Shinji said.

"He's come so far. I mean, did you see how he jumped over those explosions? Anyone else would've been knocked out, but not him. Then there was those hits I mean, one and bang-and-the-boom kid is down!"

And there she goes, her mouth going a mile a minute, saying so much without going into anything meaningful.

Truth be told, he'd have enough.

"Takeyama," Shinji said, cutting her off, "What's wrong?"

Mount Lady stopped her spiel, and her smile faltered. It became sadder, concerned as she turned back to the highlight reel.

"I just… I've never seen him like that."

Shinji crossed his arms and quirked his eye, "Focused? Determined?"

"No... angry."

(X)

"Now then, onto the Awards Ceremony!" Midnight declared as she gestured to the podium.

Momo paid it no mind. She just couldn't get that image out of her head. That look on Peter's face, and that road. The crowd was singing his praises, and social media was ablaze.

But none of them knew, or cared, how their Champion really felt.

"Yaoyorozu-san…"

It was Todoroki, wearing what on anyone else she would have called a look of concern. "You said nothing during the match."

Yes, I was…engrossed," she replied.

The cameras panned to the victory podium, heroic musing blaring from the loudspeakers. Two places were already filled.

"OUR THIRD PLACE WINNERS ARE SHIOZAKI IBARA OF CLASS 1-B AND MIDORIYA IZUKU OF CLASS 1-A! EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR THE BEAUTIFUL AND DEADLY MOTHER OF NATURE AND THE GREEN LIGHTNING FLASH HIMSELF!"

The green-haired girl stood on the number three platform, looking rather bashful. Right beside her, a bandaged Midoriya waved with his good hand.

"I'm so happy for Deku! He's made it so far!" Uraraka bounced on her heels, delighted for her green-haired friend.

"He only fought once though, and that was against Todoroki" Kirishima pointed out. "Not that I'm talking you down Todoroki! I'm just that…well…" He trailed off awkwardly.

"It's fine. He deserved it." Todoroki cut in, focusing on the stadium before him. "He beat me fair and square."

"Well, coming from you that's saying a lot." Kaminari stated. "Right, Koda?" He looked up towards the dinosaur boy. Koda smiled softly, nodding.

"Still, Midoriya got you because he didn't get to fight against Iida. Where is he anyway?" Jirou wondered as she sat beside Momo.

"Yeah, we never saw him come back, and he isn't answering his calls either." Kaminari added with a wave of his phone. "What's up with that?"

"DUE TO HIS CURRENT STATUS, SECOND PLACE WINNER BAKUGO KATSUKI WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE CEREMONY! BUT NOOOW! WE HAVE OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER…PETER PARKEEEEER!"

Peter was standing at the top, healed yet looking absolutely drained. He was smiling but Momo wasn't fooled by it. There was no light in his smile, no twinkle in his eyes, no joy in his heart.

Peter had changed after Bakugo had defeated Pony. He'd become more curt than usual, more cold. He'd displayed a ferocity against Shiozaki that she had never seen in him, and never dreamed possible.

And in the battle with Bakugo, that hadn't been the Parker she knew. No quips, none of his usual joking and endless talking. He had been silent, but for roaring like a beast, as if he were trying to become Bakugo somehow.

That last moment thought…

She looked back up at Midoriya. He too looked uneasy, glancing nervously at his friend on the higher podium, and towards the empty second place platform. Was it for Parker? Or for Bakugo? Apparently they had been friends when they were younger; though they didn't seem like friends to her.

All Might waved at the crowd, laughing as a robot approached with the medals.

"Congratulations Young Shiozaki! Your performance throughout the festival was nothing short of sensational!"

He beamed, the vine-haired beauty lowering her head to let him place the bronze medal around her neck.

"However, relying on just your quirk alone isn't enough to overcome a bad situation! Focus on your innate strength young lady, and the sky is your limit!"

"Thank you very kindly, All Might sir. I'll take that advice to heart."

She bowed, and looked down at her medal, but Momo could see that her eyes were looking at her past opponent.

The Number One Hero then turned towards a beaming Midoriya, who bowed in turn to receive the bronze medal.

"You did well, Young Midoriya! You've come a long way from when the school year started!"

All Might rose to his full height, grinning down at him.

"You have surprised many people here, helping them as you progressed, and I know that without a doubt your path towards herodom will be a bright one!"

Midoriya's eyes brimmed with joyous tears.

"You are truly Plus Ultra, and you have truly declared to the whole world…" he waved his hand out to the crowd, "…that you are here!"

The tears erupted, bursting from his eyes like geysers. The crowd laughed, for the most part good-naturedly, as did All Might, who smiled wryly as he stepped back.

"Well, someone's happy to be up there." Sero jested with crossed arms.

"You can say that again." Sato added.

"Alright, time for the Ace and his reward!" declared Kirishima. Momo looked to Peter, who was still smiling. But his eyes just looked far off.

All Might took his steps towards the sullen-looking Peter, his hands in his pockets as he looked to be deep in thought.

"Young Parker," he declared with pride, as the American boy raised his head, and the gold medal came down. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you" he uttered, his voice hoarse.

"The feats you accomplished today were nothing short of spectacular!" All Might went on, with his hands on his hips. "You are at a level that perhaps not even myself was at when I walked on these grounds at your age!" All Might placed a hand on his shoulder. Midoriya bit his lip, looking away at that statement. "I hope you can take pride, as you lived up to your opening speech of going further beyond!"

"Yeah. I did." Peter sighed, "Didn't I…"

Momo couldn't see much, but she did see All Might bring him in for a short hug, much to the crowd's approval. Shiozaki clapped her hands.

Yet why did Peter look… so sad? He did the best of any student here! This was supposed to be a Sports Festival! Where everyone was doing their best and putting their best foot forward!

Midoriya himself frowned, gazing at Peter; though he continued to smile and wave besides the Symbol of Peace.

"Now then!" All Might turned, letting go of Peter and standing before the crowd. "Everyone here today has the potential to reach the top, as you all witnessed! It is through competition and encouragement that we thrive! To reach ever greater heights! For the seedlings you have seen today," his hand was outstretched, as if offering it to the world, "will grow into great mighty oaks of tomorrow, heroes that will go above and beyond! Now then, in that spirit!" He reeled his hand back in. "One final cheer! Everyone with me! One, two!"

The entire crowd along with many homes in Japan and out on the streets, save for the Class 1-A suite, a dark domicile above a seedy bar, and a young heroine patrolling the empty vendor grounds.

"PLUS ULTRAAAAAA!"

Yet all Momo could think about was the boy who helped her get this far. He said not a word, nor did he join the chanting. He only gazed down at the medal hanging from his neck - more like a millstone than a badge of honour – with the eyes of a soul in torment.

He was her friend. He had helped her, ever since they had first met at that race track. He had helped her in so many ways. It was her duty as Class Representative to help her Deputy.

No, not duty, not position. Not here and now.

She had to talk to him, soon.

(X)

"How could the situation have deteriorated to this point?"

Principal Nezu's voice was soft and placid as he stood before the teachers in the athletes' hallway, paws behind his back.

"This is recent, most likely after Bakugo's fight with Tsunatori," Aizawa answered dryly. "That said, they never got along. I let it go because it drove Bakugo to improve, but…clearly this got out of hand." He bowed. "I take full responsibility."

"Tossing blame around will get us nowhere." The mouse-bear Principal shook his head. "Even in the War of the Flags I did not observe this kind of deep animosity, so I suspect your hypothesis to be somewhat correct. What we need to focus on now is where we go from here."

"Disciplinary action should be taken. Quietly" Aizawa stated. "All Might intervened in time, but only just. We can't let this action go unpunished."

"I find myself forced to agree, but we all lack enough data to determine how severe this punishment should be on Mr. Parker wh-"

"Wait."

All Might's voice echoed through the halls for the first time since the conversation began.

The two turned to see the massive Number One Hero bow at the waist towards Principal Nezu.

"As the teacher who stopped the attack, I ask that you grant me a favor. Allow me to speak to Young Parker, and then be the one to determine his punishment."

"Whilst he did stop that attack, I have to disagree. No offense to you All Might, but you're hardly a disciplinarian at heart." Aizawa narrowed his eyes. "I'm his Homeroom Teacher, and I admit that I let Bakugo and Parker's distaste for each other fester. It's on me. Not you."

The Number One hero rose back to his full height, looking towards the Eraser Hero with a gleaming dark-blue eye.

"He is my student too, Aizawa."

"I'll allow it." Nezu said, cutting through the tension. "But I have a condition of my own. Whatever you discuss and whatever punishment you decide on must be discussed and subsequently cleared with me first. We avoided a bullet that would have destroyed U.A. I'd rather not be laissez-faire about this. Do you understand?"

The Symbol of Peace offered a single, firm nod before turning away from his colleagues and marching towards the locker rooms.

Toshinori stood in front of the door, steeling his nerves with a slow, deep breath before reaching forward and opening it.

Parker was sitting on a bench in one of the locker rooms, and Toshinori could see that the youth's eyes were puffy and red from crying. He didn't turn his head.

"I really messed up huh?" He asked in English, too distraught to manage Japanese.

"You did at that, Young Parker." All Might responded back in kind, his English as crisp as a native American speaker. He didn't mince words, now wasn't the time for it. And the young man in front of him was smart enough to know he'd have been lying if he said any different.

All Might closed the door behind him, marching forward to sit beside the youth on the bench. There was silence for a long time.

Finally, All Might broke it.

"What happened Par-Peter. Why such anger? I… I don't recall ever seeing such rage from you."

Peter raised his head to the ceiling, blinking away the tears as he took a deep breath. "He just... we talked, before the match and he just…" He paused, puffing his lips before seething. "He said something... and I..." He closed his eyes, lowering his head. "Doesn't matter... no matter what he said, I took it too far. And if you hadn't stopped me I... I'm not sure I'd have stopped."

All Might nodded once, hands clasped together as he leaned his elbows on his knees. "It's good that you recognize that... but you haven't answered my question. Why? What made you so angry?"

"The reason doesn't matter. No matter what he said, it's just…" Peter glared at the ground. "Fucking words from a jackass!"

"I think it does matter."

More silence. Then, finally, Parker found the strength to speak.

"Do you know how I got here... All Might?"

"You're an exchange student Pe-"

"I got here by losing All Might." Parker turned towards him, looking him straight in the eyes. "I lost everything. My aunt, my best friends, my classmates, the girl I liked, Mr. Stark. I lost everything. We lost. We tried so hard but we still lost. They're all gone and I couldn't do a fucking thing. Do you have any idea what that's like?"

All Might's face turned to stone as his heart skipped a beat. Those eyes of his…

He knew them. He remembered seeing them in the mirror every day in the days following that one fateful day. He remembered that time clearly.

"Now... it's your turn. I'm counting on you... Toshinori."

"I got here because I lost everything and everyone I ever loved. And then he…" Peter's face twisted as the anger came again. "He fucking comes in here and says that 'Real heroes don't lose.'" He was speaking in Japanese again. "That the people who lose can't be called heroes and I just..." The young man shrugged. "Then he said it again, even after I completely crushed him, like I've never crushed anyone before! He just…wouldn't…!" Peter gasped, closing his eyes and shuddering as the tears started up again. "I just saw red. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make that little shitface motherfucker suffer. I wanted him to feel that kind of moment." Peter paused, breathing hard. He had never looked so hollow. "For him to feel so desperately that he was right, only to lose, all the same. Just…" He gulped, wiping his eyes with a towel, "…like me."

Toshinori understood, only too well. If Endeavour had said something like that, so soon after Nana died…it would not have ended well for either of them. "Young Bakugo is flawed, but…"

"He isn't a Hero, All Might." Parker sniffed, wiping at his eyes. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with everyone, why everyone just keeps... looking the other way but the guy's a thug... he doesn't deserve to be a Hero. And neither do I, in the end."

"And why is that?"

"Because I messed up!" Peter snapped, head in his hands. "I nearly killed him! I was nearly a murderer! I nearly…" He broke down, letting out a strangled sob. Toshinori shook his head, and placed a hand on his shuddering shoulder.

"Young Parker, if making mistakes meant we couldn't be heroes, we would have very few heroes. Indeed, no heroes at all." He turned to look straight at Peter, allowing his smile to return to his face.

"Young Bakugo is wrong," he said in English. "Heroes fail all the time. Believe me, I know. Sometimes they fail to save someone, or to stop someone. Sometimes they do everything right, but never have time for those they love. It isn't success or failure that makes a hero. It is…being able to keep trying, to carry on even after the worst failure. Only when we give up do we truly fail." He squeezed Peter's shoulder. "You made a mistake, a grave one. And Young Bakugo's pride is as dangerous to himself as it is to others. But you cannot give up on yourself, and we cannot give up on him." He fixed his eyes on Peter's own, and remembered that fateful day over a year ago. "I nearly made that mistake once. I nearly gave up, and told someone he could not be a hero. I so very nearly broke his heart, and mere hours later he flung himself at a villain he had no hope of defeating, while veteran heroes stood by, unable to intervene." He paused, remembering his despair and shame, the need to conceal his darkest secret warring with the yearning that had sustained him all his life. It pained him to remember what he had become, how his troubles had dragged him down, making him forget what he truly was. "In the end he proved me wrong. He has proven me wrong many times since, and I learned something by his example. So ask yourself Peter, what would that mentor of yours do? You know in your heart of hearts that he would not tell you to give up." He put on his smile, that big smile Nana had always liked so much, the smile she had taught him to wear for those in distress. "After all, this Mr Stark seems like a fine man. What would he say?"

Parker's eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment, gazing into a spot on the floor.

Toshinori heard his words, whispered as they were.

"I wanted you to be better." Parker sniffed, reaching up to wipe at his eyes again. "Wh-where do we go from here, All Might?"

The Symbol of Peace stood, moving to stand in front of the boy as he placed his hands on Peter's shoulders.

"I will not lie to you young Parker, your actions were grave, and must be handled appropriately. But...you can become a Hero. You've only fallen down, but here you can stand back up, knowing your mistake. And for every step of the way," he looked down at him as Peter gazed up at him, eyes wide. "Know that, I will be there to help you become the best hero you can be."

Peter bit his lip, and he leapt up, embracing the titanic hero, burying his head in his chest. "Thank you… I...I'll accept anything… my way…"

All Might nodded, hands allowing him to let it all out.

Besides, he had countless yellow pinstripe suits. Tears didn't usually stain. "That's good. Just let it all out. Whenever you're ready, I will tell you of your punishment, alright?"

The American nodded his head, letting out a "Mhmm."

(X)

"Haaaa, what a Sports Festival! That sure was exciting!" An old man got off his sofa, and grabbed his cane. "Still… that American boy is a strong one, if he was able to make Toshinori flinch like that." He got to the fridge, opening it and jumping up, higher than his small height to grab one of the dozens of Taiyaki pastry boxes. "Time for dinner!"

Sorahiko got out his frozen custard fish-waffles and placed them in the microwave. As he waited for them to cook, he began to wonder if he would take an intern this year. Peter Parker was the rising star, the one the media were gushing over. The attention had been on the U.A. freshmen, especially those who had survived that villain attack on U.S.J. Sorahiko had been in the business long enough to know that many of them would make exceptional Pros. Even some of Class 1-B had put on a good show; especially that vine girl, and the horse girl too.

And that war game looked like a lot of fun!

"Heh, makes me wish they had that back in my day." The Pro Hero known as Gran Torino chortled to himself as he swayed in his seat, watching the seconds go by on the microwave. He looked out the window, seeing that the sun was beginning to set. For heroes to form teams at random and to respond to a given situation with planning, it was no wonder that the Red Team was able to force a tie using lesser quirks against superior firepower.

However, as much as Sorahiko would love to think about how the media's silly comparisons of Parker to Toshinori were, he already had his eye on one student. Toshi's successor: Midoriya Izuku.

'Toshi said that Midoriya didn't have much control last we spoke. Guess the brat got it handled.' He heard the microwave ping. 'Still, he seemed to be on the verge of winning his sole fight against Endeavor's boy. Why did he push him to use his fire, I wonder? Either way, he can use some of Toshi's full power in certain limbs, but at a cost. If he trains with me, we'll need to have him strengthen his core and overall muscle.' Once a teacher, always a teacher.

He got up and collected the hot plate of warmed-up Taiyaki, blowing on it as he took it to the table. He was grateful that his gloves also acted as oven mitts. They allowed him to grab his treats whenever they were done! Now they would cool faster on a cool dinner sur-

His phone began to ring and Sorahiko blinked.

"Hmmm? Who could that be?" His phone was usually reserved for a select few government agents, Toshinori, and his liaison. He walked over to the coffee table near the couch and grabbed his smartphone, putting it on speaker. "Hello?"

"Hello? Gran Torino-san?" It was Tsukauichi Naomasa!

"Ahh Tsukauichi! Good evening! How are you?" he asked, grinning.

"Gran Torino-san, I… I have important news."

"Hmmm? What could be important that you have to call me? You got that dummy Toshinori," he reached for a Taiyaki on his plate, getting ready to bite. "To call and-"

"It's about Shimura Nana, sir."

The sound of broken china resounded in the room, along with several Taiyaki flopping onto the floor.

Sorahiko froze, his eyes turning towards the phone. He clenched his jaw, breathing hard through his nose. Tsukauichi has never messed around from the times he'd known him. There was a reason he was Toshi's best friend and most loyal confidant. "What about?" His cheery tone was gone.

"Gran Torino-san, let me give you the background on how this connects to Yagi's predecessor." The old man didn't plop onto his couch, crossing his arms as he glared at the phone, his attention undivided. "Me and my team finished up with forensics at the U.S.J. over a week ago, combing the entire facility to ensure that no stone was left unturned. One major thing of note was a certain item worn by the leader of the so-called League of Villains: Shigaraki Tomura."

"Toshi told me. They crafted some monster who was designed to kill him in combat." Sorahiko mused.

"Yes, but this is not about the Noumu, although the fact that we found multiple blood types and how each finger on the beast was different could be a link to him. To your and All Might's nemesis."

"How is all that connected to Nana? Get to the point!" How long had it been? It must be a lifetime ago when he last saw her, and her smile.

"Well, the item was… a hand. It was used as a mask, and according to eyewitness reports from the other students…" Sorahiko's blood ran cold, and a part of him prayed that this was some kind of prank. "The villain had hands all around his arms, neck and hands. Shigaraki was thwarted in a hostage rescue courtesy of All Might's student, Midoriya Izuku. He destroyed the mask that was on Shigaraki's face. We collected the remnants of the mask, finding most of the hand destroyed… except for the fingerprints.

"Sorahiko… we ran tests and prints from past files of missing persons. The hand that was on the face of Shigaraki Tomura… belonged to Shimura Kotarou, Nana's son."

Sorahiko walked away, hands on his face as he breathed, willing his heart to slow.

"How do you know of this?" he hissed, glaring down at the phone as if it was somehow responsible for his anguish. "You could be mistaken!"

"Gran Torino-san, the fact of the matter is that Shimura Kotarou was killed fifteen years ago, along with his entire family."

Sorahiko fell onto his backside. He felt old, so very old.

"What?"

"I found Shimura's file in a cold case, sir. He was murdered fifteen years ago, along with his wife, her parents, and his children at his house. The police at the time dubbed it a homicide, and the media around Kashiki Ward was in a frenzy. There were bodies but… there wasn't much left. We had to use their dental records."

The old pro buried his face in his hands, trying to stop the tears.

Nana…

After her husband had died, she had put her son Kotarou in the foster care system. It was for his own sake, for she was a great hero, and had many enemies; chief among them All for One, Japan's shadow king. She had given him up, denied him his family and his true identity, for a chance that he might live.

And yet he died all the same. Murdered, along with his wife, and his children. Nana's daughter-in-law and grandchildren, whom she never got to meet.

Murdered. All murdered.

"Dear god…" Sorahiko muttered, looking to the floor. "Nana…"

"Sir? Are you there?"

"Yes, yes I'm here." He waved, coughing as he grabbed a nearby washcloth and dabbed his face. "So… do we know who did it?"

"We don't know. The file states how his house was destroyed, along with the deaths of his family. But, there is something of note here. The youngest child was never identified."

"What do you mean, Tsukauichi?"

"The Kashiki PD wrote off Shimura Tenko, aged five, as a potential kidnapped child. He's been in the system since then, but there's been no sign. Either he was murdered with the rest, and his body went missing, or he was kidnapped." Sorahiko breathed hard, trying not to dwell on the ramifications. A child of five, barely more than a toddler, kidnapped by who or whatever had destroyed his parents and siblings.

"So…why tell me and not All Might this?" Sorahiko asked, trying to drive away the horrid notions tormenting him.

"I fear All Might's reaction if he learned of this. I don't know what he would do. The fact is, Shigaraki Tomura has some connection with Shimura Kotarou, who in turn has a connection with a monster who has multiple Quirks."

Sorahiko narrowed his eyes. Yes, he could see what his student would assume; who he would believe was responsible for destroying his mentor's child and his family. "You think All for One is involved?"

"It is possible. All Might seems so… relieved to be teaching. Happy to have found his successor. If I told him this, All Might may drop being a teacher and focus on the League of Villains. He follows his heart, sir. You use your head."

"Hnnn, your head's not bad either." Sorahiko rubbed his eyes. "So, need me to help with your investigation then? If you need anything, just ask."

"I appreciate it sir, but we have it under control. I just wanted to let you know, Gran Torino-san... "

"Thanks." Sorahiko's eyes looked to the floor, seeing his spilt taiyaki and shattered plate. "Take care."

"You too sir." The phone hung up and the old pro sauntered over to behind his fridge, collecting his personal broom and dustpan as he walked back over and began to clean up his mess, tears dropping to the floor past his beard.

"Nana… I'm sorry…" Gran Torino shook his head as he continued to clean. "I'm so… so sorry…"

"And with that, the Sports Festival for U.A.'s freshmen is over! Our coverage of the U.A.'s prestigious event will go on into the night along with your nightly news!"

The TV news anchor droned in the background of the sullen-looking residence.

"Back to you, Toyotomi!"