Chapter 18- Victory or Defeat

"NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHO OUR TOP FOUR TEAMS ARE!"

1ST PLACE: TEAM SHINSO WITH 10,002,730 POINTS!

2ND PLACE: TEAM TODOROKI WITH 705 POINTS!

3RD PLACE: TEAM BAKUGO WITH 660 POINTS!

4TH PLACE: TEAM MIDORIYA WITH 180 POINTS!

"THESE FOUR TEAMS WILL MOVE ON TO THE FINAL ROUND!"

"Sorry, Green Team. I was rooting for you." Father mutters into the mic, clearly very downcast. The team in question- composed of Shiozaki, Asui, Takahashi, and Kamakiri simply shrug, undeterred by the loss. "Well, it's time for a break! I'm going to get lunch!"

"Wait, what the hell just happened?" Aren is looking around, rubbing his head. "Why can't I remember…" He watches as our rider, Shinso, walks away. He narrows his eyes, his aura filling with hate. "That asshole. He brainwashed us, didn't he?"

"Is… is that what happened, Saiki?" I shrug, not caring about the conversation.

"I hope a gang of delinquents find him and beat him in an alley," Aren growls, his face turning red with hate. I sigh, turning around to leave, but Todoroki catches me before I can.

"Saiki. I need to speak with you."

'I need to set this straight.'

[What a pain.]

<What do you want?>

"Your quirk. What is it, exactly?"

<Why do you care?>

"You're the only other person I've meet that has more than one power, other than myself. But I don't understand… how are you so powerful?"

<I fail to see why it matters.>

"As you know, my dad is Endeavor. He has spent his entire career chasing after All Might, but he has never been able to surpass him."

<What's your point?>

"Have you heard of quirk marriages? They became a problem in the first few generations after superpowers became widespread. There were those who sought out potential mates, solely for the intention of making powerful children. Many people were forced into relationships. It was simply viewed as old fashioned arrange marriages, but clearly, it was unethical. My father has not only a rich history of accomplishments but plenty of money to throw at his problems. He bought my mother's relatives to get his hands on her quirk, and now he's raising me to surpass All Might. It's so annoying. I refuse to be a tool for that scumbag. In every memory of my mother, I only see her crying. I remember she called my left side unbearable before she poured boiling water on my face. The reason I picked a fight with Midoriya was to show my old man what I was capable of doing, without having to rely on his damned fire quirk. You see, I'm going to show him that I reject his power, and I can take first place without using it. I may have made a mistake challenging Midoriya. You would easily beat him in a fight. That means you're the one I must beat. I must defeat you to prove to my father that I don't need him. I mu-"

<Are you done?>

"Huh?"

<I get it, you have a tragic back story.>

"This isn't what this is about."

<Right. You're challenging me. Well, sorry, but I'm far more powerful. You'd never beat me.>

"You don't know that."

<I think we both know that. By the way, maybe make sure no one is around before spilling your sad past.>

"What do you mean? No one's he-" Todoroki trails off as he hears footsteps retreating from around the corner. "Wait, who was th-"

I teleport to the cafeteria, sitting down and apporting my money for a meal.

[Man, what a pain.]

"THE 16 COMPETITORS FROM THE TOP 4 TEAMS WILL BE DUKING IT OUT ONE ON ONE IN A TOURNAMENT STYLE FIGHTING COMPETITION! I PROMISE YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO MISS THESE EPIC MATCHUPS!"

The finalists draw lots to determine who we'll be fighting.

"BEFORE THE BATTLES BEGIN, THERE WILL BE SIDE GAMES! ENJOY!"

During the side games, I find an empty room, one that probably won't be used.

[I might as well watch in here.]

I sit in the corner, crossing my eyes and watching as the time passes.

"HEY SPORTS FANS, ARE YOU READY? IT'S TIME FOR THE FIRST MATCH! IT'S HITOSHI SHINSO FROM GENERAL STUDIES VS. KOKOMI TERUHASHI FROM CLASS 1-A!"

The world seems still as the crowd sits in silence, mesmerized by Teruhashi's beauty.

'This will be a piece of cake! Even if I lose, the audience will just feel bad for me, and recruiters will look at me anyway! It's a win-win!'

The fighters make their way to the middle of the arena, waiting for the match to begin.

"Hey, Shinso?"

"What?"

"BEGIN!"

"Can't you just be a dear and walk out of bounds for me?"

Shinso's eyes widen as he makes a 180-degree turn, walking straight for the boundary.

"WOAH! WHAT A TWIST! IT LOOKS LIKE SHINSO IS GOING TO STEP OUT WITHOUT EVEN FIGHTING!"

No… stop. My legs, they won't stop moving. But why? Is… is this what it feels like? I have to win, otherwise, I'll never make it to where I want to be. I have to…

"What is happening?"

"You must not want to hit a goddes-" Teruhashi trails off as Shinso's quirk takes over.

"Why don't you walk out?" Teruhashi, her face like a zombie's, turns 90 degrees, making her way to the edge of the arena.

"WHAT IS THIS?"

"It appears that Shinso, even under Teruhashi's control, was able to use his quirk against her. It's a sign of perseverance if you ask me." Aizawa drones, only interested in Shinso's future.

"WELL, IF YOU ASK ME, HE'S PUPPETEERING A GODDESS! HOW DARE HE?"

"Aren't you supposed to be unbiased?" Aizawa asks, clearly not caring either way.

"Yeah, how dare!"

"Release her!"

"She deserves better than this!"

"Let the goddess go!"

The crowd, now wound up thanks to Present Mic, begins throwing things at Shinso, angrily yelling that he's the villain here. Both teens continue to walk straight, their brains numb. The crowd goes silent once again as the two near the edge, both only a few yards away. Silence fills the air as the whole world waits with anticipation. A foot finally falls over the white line, marking their loss.

"TERUHASHI… LOSES. SHINSO IS THE WINNER." The crowd boos, throwing more things in Shinso's general direction. The pair release their quirks on one another, turning around in confusion.

"I… lost?" Teruhashi whimpers, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Don't cry, my angel!"

"You did your best!"

"You were amazing!"

"We love you!"

"Th-thank you. Thank you all." Teruhashi says, dabbing her face with a tissue. "And thank you, Shinso. For putting up and amazing fight. You'll be a good hero, one day."

'See? Even when I lose, I'm nice. I'm the perfect pretty girl.'

"She… thanked Shinso?"

"Were we wrong to hate him?"

Shinso dips his head in embarrassment, turning to Teruhashi and bowing.

"I'm sorry for my behavior. I shouldn't have fought with such tactics. I hope you can forgive me."

"Of course! You just did what you had to!" Teruhashi smiles, walking up to Shinso and grabbing his hands. "You did great out there."

The crowd, unsure of themselves, slowly begin to shout apologies.

"I'm sorry Shinso!"

"We're sorry!"

"We shouldn't have thrown things!"

"Please forgive us!"

"WHAT A WAY TO END IT! IF YOU ASK ME, NO ONE'S A LOSER HERE."