Present Mic: “Now comes the fourth match up! Kaminari from class 1-A vs Shiozaki from class 1-B!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mikXp1JGV
3 seconds later.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4vEF9sOtx
Present Mic: “And it’s over in a flash!! I’ll say it again, folks!! It’s done, finished. Fastest match yet. Shiozaki advances to the second round!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9LRN3lYmd
The winner said nothing, instead, she looked up at Izuku in the stands with a glare. What she felt in that first match was anything but pure. It felt… demonic.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvdv4TMW8B
However, Izuku was lost in his own world right now.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdWgGgCjbe
Izuku: “That ability of hers is amazing. It wrapped and bound Kaminari, basically sealing his quirk. She had the advantage, but if he had played his cards right, he could’ve righted himself. But instead he panicked and fired off all his juice…”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVF6igNGti
Kiri smiles as Izuku starts mumbling about quirks. It’s been a while. It would be better if it was just them, though. But no, Uraraka and Momo wanted to sit around him as well.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNd5xnSGY7
Momo: “Uh, Midoriya?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnK2KGQSZG
Izuku: “H-Huh!? S-Sorry!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpW50uClMW
Kiri: “Don’t. It’s cute.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Iv8rM8Ux
Izuku: “C-Cute!?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSX40Xj0Ym
Uraraka: “Hahaha! It only just ended, and you’re already forming counter-strategies based on how you see it playing out?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfSsEZ8VtQ
Izuku: “W-Well, I-I… it’s what I like to do. It’s fun! I even compiled tons of notes on everyone in Class A! That includes your zero gravity, too, Uraraka!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCwQ79zJ0O
Uraraka: “R-Really!?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7g8uj1X7B
Momo: “I even took a look at it while we were training. It’s quite detailed and a great source of inspiration.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6rFJKBN3V
Uraraka: “I see… you’re really incredible, Midoriya. I’m happy to see you’re having fun again. I was worried.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIpicK4whB
Izuku’s face darkens for a moment before lighting back up when the next match is announced.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6cJdr7GO8
Present Mic: “All right, here comes the next matchup! Sprint to the top!! His coming across like a center fielder!? It’s Ida Tenya, of the department of heroic class 1-A!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6jXeJ7gLO
VERSUS!
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJIGFm4NNk
Present Mic: “She who is fully decked in support gear!! Hatsume Mei, of the department of support.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgGH8fLLng
Izuku: “Why do I have a bad feeling?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKRLyQMLiq
His feeling was right. Mei played Ida throughout that whole match, just to sell her products. At least she decided to bow out of the tournament after that, because she did not deserve that victory.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXIeLSZMGV
Momo: “How shameless.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8vkLaNKxM
Kiri: “Nh.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpmlEfXUFS
Izuku: “There’s no doubt she saw how super earnest Ida is and fed him a nice-sounding line so she could take him for a ride. She’s not really that frank or honest; she’s actually the type who’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD0oK5lT38
Uraraka: “Uh… I’m going to the waiting room for a sec; I’ll be back.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMthcohulr3
Uraraka got up and left the group with an unreadable expression. One that worried Izuku, it almost reminded him of how he could be.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzX1Ub0Ixh
Momo: “You can check on her if you want.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJyMyMpG56
Izuku: “Huh?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcEG8zUAa2
Kiri’s eyes widen at Momo’s suggestion. Why would she want Izu to follow some other girl? Didn’t she also…
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo52gbbB0Q
Momo: “Something is clearly bothering her. I’m sure she could use a friend to talk to. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you how the matches went. Right, Tae?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B1nI47o0o
Kiri: “… Nh.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4PI5BTg8E
Izuku: “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4GLtcdMzS
The esper hurried and made his way to where Uraraka was. Meanwhile, Momo and Kiri turned back to the stage in silence.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0taaiCreUJ
Kiri wanted to ask a question, but she didn’t really know how to word it. So instead, she avoided it altogether and focused on the next match. One that might be interesting.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrClltCPnK9
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaNT6TJO9F
Present Mic: “These matches are going by quick! Will the next one be any different?!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHvNj5d0LM
Jiro: ‘I hope not.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv4X0yG5yw
Present Mic: “In one corner, the one who managed to get her hands on a sci-fi-looking blaster, Kyoka Jiro from class 1-A!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizHgTt7GkJ
Jiro adjusted her wrist blaster and hoped it worked as well as she imagined.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcC3KN1dhh
Present Mic: “And her opponent! The girl who dazzles with her athletics and unique color, Mina Ashido from class 1-A!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT11PXZCj0
Mina: “Hehe, time for some payback. I won’t fall for the same trick again.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sWN6OSoik
Jiro: “That means I need to think of some new tricks.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAfIePsnrC
Present Mic: “Ready?!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnWcFoHZAo
Mina lowers her stance, preparing to go full throttle from the start. Jiro gets her blaster ready to fire as her eyes narrow.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k2q3tZWrB
Present Mic: “Start!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4R0Wid4G4
Jiro fires the blaster, sending the sound of her heart through it. The result? A thin sound wave aimed right at Mina. But seeing that coming from a mile away, Mina was already jumping before the trigger was fired.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NsdPwVKO0
Mina vaulted over the attack and skated towards Jiro using acid slide. But Jiro quickly aimed the blaster again and fired. Once again, Mina was able to dodge by going to the side.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s568HJQ9T
Jiro: ‘Shoot! She’s still getting closer.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tWZw7WjiH
The rocker girl started moving around while firing the blaster, keeping Mina at bay.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvcJgZmais
Jiro: “You can’t dodge forever!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr4w4zRA8a
Mina: “You can’t run forever either!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFlmDnYNg8
Jiro: “I’ll get lucky before I get tired.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjxPACjfAL
But why take that chance? Something they both thought. Mina, after dodging, threw a ball of acid she was generating at Jiro. With little choice, she had to stop firing and instead dodge.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wSz2JTYax
This gave Mina time to get closer, but she didn’t stop slinging acid. Instead of balls, though, these were just strings of stinging pain.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrBE7jca5n
Not wanting to experience acid burns, Jiro kept on the move and took pot shots every now and then.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj4ApCVVHA
Present Mic: “Well, would you look at this, folks! We have ourselves an actual shootout!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK4caW0N8h
At this rate, Jiro was going to lose. Mina was too athletic and had no problem dodging. While for Jiro, it was a bit harder to dodge the acid, and her footing was slipping.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJR7aqhWYz
Jiro: ‘I won’t win without taking some risks and pain. And I refuse to lose here!’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsTT2fmkCC
The rocker stopped dodging and charged at Mina. The alien girl had no problem with this and met the charge head-on.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvoFElTtOk
Mina: “Handing me the victory? Thanks, Jiro!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBRaImopee
Mina slung some more acid, expecting Jiro to dodge again. But instead, Jiro blocked it with her forearms. It lightly burned through the clothes and a bit of skin. The girl hissed in pain, but it was manageable.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxGWoGtCRu
Jiro: “Don’t thank me just yet!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBTyufnwKp
Countering, she attacked with her free earjack, and as expected, Mina caught it easily. But that second of halted movement was enough to fire another shot, this one too close to dodge.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UdQChjwMP
A thin and piercing sound wave hammered into Mina’s stomach. The unexpected amount of pain was enough to force Mina to let go of the earjack and kneel over.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwclil9JVcx
Seeing her chance, Jiro tackled Mina to the ground and grappled her into submission.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgWzVQrBVQ
Mina: “M-M-My w-w-whole b-b-body i-i-s s-s-shaking. I… t-think I-I’m g-g-going t-t-to b-be s-s-sick.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCjVmrv3WF
Jiro: “Give up, and I’ll help you to Recovery Girl.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyehh9P21g
Mina: “I-I-I g-g-give u-up!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pfQcOSaWu
Midnight: “Ashido surrenders! Jiro advances to round two!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgERivN9ZKz
Jiro looks up at Momo, who was smiling and clapping for her victory. The rocker girl smiled back while helping Mina to her feet.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4GxtjfLFf
Mina: “T-Thank you.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfq6go7bxg
Jiro: “No problem. Sorry though, I didn’t know the blaster would make you sick.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4l3ph8JT0
Mina: “I-It’s fine… a-all’s f-fair… ”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3R5PJBq6q
Jiro looked down at the wrist blaster and frowned a bit.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQhOUfegIc
Jiro: ‘This thing was stronger than I thought. I have to be careful with it from now on.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ksJYkZWme
After 15 or so minutes, the duo made it to Recovery Girl. But something was wrong; she looked… pale. She wasn’t the only one. Some skeletal-looking man was there too, rubbing the back of Recovery Girl. It was All Might, but these girls didn’t know that.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuS92ojGwc
Jiro: “Is she okay?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxkJ9btfuj
All Might: “It would seem so. I found her like this.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxsgRVmxeB
Recovery Girl: “I-I said I’m fine. I’m just… deep in thought. What’s wrong?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY7c3isRCV
Jiro: “She has nausea, and I have some acid burns.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrINMV9xTrQ
Recovery Girl: “That’s normal. Lay her down.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXpJcoq67i
Jiro does so, and Mina relaxes on the soft bed, her face a mix of discomfort and relief. Recovery Girl then kissed Jiro’s arm, healing the light burns. Seeing that everything is all right, All Might leaves.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbjSHjw2WU
He doesn’t know exactly where Shinso is, but Recovery Girl said he is fine and doesn’t remember anything from his match with Izuku.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GqT7E1IAO
A shame, but there is not much else he can do.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVhIQy8Nxr
Jiro: “Thank you.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEqXBgEW8i
Jiro takes a seat and once again notices that Recovery Girl looks off.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaAwPIUANx
Jiro: “Are you sure you’re okay?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8FP6WDqRx
Recovery Girl: “… I think it’s best if I keep what happened to myself. At least until I fully understand it. After that, I’ll discuss it with the pro heroes first.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixwYgF8B3N
Jiro: “O-Okay.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdf2VwWghp
Jiro: ‘Well… that doesn’t sound good. What could have happened?’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo7YorOB9p
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojMxzuwmTO
Izuku: “S-Shinso?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTxaxfKM16
The esper just wanted to check on Uraraka. Why did he have to run into the thing that he was trying to ignore?
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjtnJWRCqH
What’s worse is what Shinso looks like. He’s taller, slightly more muscular, and handsome. Like a Shinso 2.0.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS5paSHwmN
But more than that, it’s what’s beneath the surface that concerns the boy. Shinso felt different; his psychic signature felt… like a growing flame. What was once an ember now felt like a contained inferno waiting for something to ignite it fully.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aQe8KcbnE
Shinso: “What… did you do to me?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1qwJcQWt4
Izuku: “I-I… don’t know what you mean.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5LGj80Ny5
Shinso: “Yes, you do. I can tell. Answer me.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhCrJkSiO2
Izuku: “… I don’t know. I-It was an accident.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9BQFqMysl
Shinso: “An… accident?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsft4WHTQZ
Shinso’s body shakes as he comes to terms with that fact.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtRieTgmub
Shinso: “My quirk was already seen as evil, a quirk for a villain. How could you make it worse?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPIqfpA7Xn
Izuku: “W-Worse?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEjap5pmlR
Shinso: “… My quirk is brainwash. I used to be only able to use it if someone answered a question of mine. Now… that limitation is gone.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOQS3MC0gz
Izuku: “W-What? How?!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpTKGk6t9y
Shinso: “When I woke up, I desperately wanted answers to what happened. The questions from Recovery Girl, ones I couldn’t answer, only confused me more. So I told her to stop. And she did. Everything.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj70dAAAiiH
Izuku paled at the implications.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1eNBr4T1H
Shinso: “She stopped breathing because I told her to stop without being specific. If I didn’t cancel the command…”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDsW3WKSA6
Izuku: “I’m-”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuVep8dK0w
Shinso: “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it. I just wanted to know why. But now… I know. It was an accident; my life was ruined because of chance.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KPPQF8eTp
Izuku: “N-No! This doesn’t have to be a curse! It’s how you use your quirk that’s important. Y-You can still be a hero.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPC3oHv254
Shinso scoffs at Izuku’s words.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeQTTx1uaN
Shinso: “Easy for you to say. Someone blessed with a powerful quirk like yours.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8W0jsydOD
Izuku: “Blessed…?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc7EfyJiua
Shinso: “Don’t try and say how hard it’s been. Your quirk is perfectly suited for hero work. Everyone will gloss over the darker aspects of it with time. Your sister proves as much. While mine… everyone will only see it as evil. Especially now.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T5I0osIa4
For a solid minute, they said nothing, just stood in the darkened atmosphere. That was until Shinso began to walk away.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCqVkrxA9y
Shinso: “I hope to never see you again.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PiUV1OudK
Izuku: ‘No…’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVN7mTtpUl
How could he let it end like this? How could he, of all people, ruin someone else’s chance at being a hero? So… he made a choice.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYtrFE4mJu
Izuku: ‘Just this once. Please… one of you… help me to help him.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Y1GYvUhD
The multitude rejoice, as their prince has accepted his place, at least for this moment. Using the opportunity, the most suited manifested into the world through him.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0Y83xRb26
Izuku’s eyes burn bright gold as The First speaks through its prince.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0sG40bjQE
Izuku: “&*%^”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdcllsW2JV
Shinso stops in his tracks; he recognizes this voice. He blocked off most of what happened within Izuku’s mind, but that voice wouldn’t fade no matter what.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqKD6njmqK
So he turns around to see Izuku with golden eyes and a different aura.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ZIoGP84z
Izuku: “&#*^.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy1Ya91Acd
Izuku: “Wait a minute, this is not going to work.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf8VWNMItt
The prince closes his eyes and listens, trying for the first time to understand what that entity was saying. After a moment, he got the general picture. He opens his eyes, and his natural green returns.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2pE3U5pNu
Izuku: “I-I understand.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C3Ae7SD5m
Shinso: “Seriously, what are you?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeomzwgnIiz
Izuku: “… I don’t know anymore. It’s complicated. But… I know what happened to you and how you can control it.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ77u2dWbM
Shinso: “… How?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUyMerEEy1
Izuku: “T-The First… choose you as its… child? The real word is confusing.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzEmsgJSzc
Shinso: “Child?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSFTAQHgH0
Izuku: “Your quirk is similar to it, and it thought you would make a good… hero. One to inherit its power of Authority. But in order to inherit it, it had to… change you. Otherwise, your body couldn’t handle it.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly91iDWLVf
Shinso: “Huh? Look, I don’t really understand any of that. Just tell me how I can control it.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeHL9lVEHm
Izuku: “W-Well, you use the prefix command to specify when you want to use your quirk. That way you don’t accidentally use your quirk like before.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVPLZcdqe1
Shinso: “I see… ”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QLDG6vgup
Izuku: “S-See! You can still be a hero! And Authority doesn’t just extend to brainwashing or mind control. You can command inanimate objects and-”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgN8FWtgSu
Shinso: “And would I explain that?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzXq8ZZ9yJ
Izuku: “H-Huh?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCaFubcMEf
Shinso: “My quirk is not like yours. It’s not something that can just grow new abilities. I already have to somehow explain this growth spurt. Face it, I’m stuck with the label society has given me.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1c1MgWlQP
Izuku: “O-Oh… well… as for the growth spurt, you have a passive psychic field that makes it so everyone thinks it’s normal.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMVQg3yiiF
Shinso: “R-Really?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9VYEMwrFV
Izuku: “Did Recovery Girl notice your growth spurt?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJP17AAfGa
Shinso: “… No. She didn’t.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj7h1vh0AK
Izuku: “As for your quirk gaining new abilities and how people judge it… I don’t know… ”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoWBgcyFWH
C: “Society is not something that can’t be bent in time, my prince. If they won’t accept him, make him yours.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbDY0xEytI
It sounds like a good idea, but for some reason… this seems like the first step to something much bigger. But if he wants to help Shinso, to be his hero, then he has no choice.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADhSUosP07
Izuku: “I-If they won’t accept the new you, Shinso, then I will.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ78ZgyXTu
Shinso: “What?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p3swd2DtN
Izuku: “I say you can be a hero. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. I will help you master your new quirk, and together, we’ll both be the heroes we want to be. Deal?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXRb2cqOIw
Shinso looks at the boy’s outstretched hand, the same boy who did this to him. He wants to knock it aside and walk away. But despite what Shinso may say, he does want to be a hero. He doesn’t want to be labeled evil or some villain in the making.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJSy4nDrIt
So, with a small spark of hope in his heart, he grasps the hand.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqM0LDmBT8
Shinso: “Alright.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM10vFp0fih
And the multitude rejoices, for the first apostle has been claimed. A soft green glow emerged from their hands, and the connection was formed.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ4vdD2Wz1
Izuku: “We’ll meet up after the festival and talk some more, okay?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrM6aDyY8O
Shinso: “Right, thanks, Midoriya.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVmir9EDcQ
Izuku nodded and let Shinso go back to wherever he was suppose to be.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPyBTtIgGh
Izuku: “Thank you.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtBqI3wr5s
C: “Of course. Now, are you ready to-”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbOXdXocLj
Izuku: “No.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Zbvfcknb
The voices are still as the prince employs his own Authority.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk4663hINW
Izuku: “None of this would have happened if I didn’t block you all out better. This was the only time I will allow something like this. No more. I’m done.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiCp0p5WWX
And just like that, the voices were cut off. Silence reigned in Izuku’s mind.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6CalW7h53
Izuku: ‘I’ll master my quirk, but not that part of it. Shinso may think his quirk is villainous, but he has no idea. That side of me… is better discarded.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5mQXeWEUm
How else is he supposed to see that side of himself, after what The First explained to him? The details of how he broke Shinso’s entire being down to nothing and rebuilt it into something explicitly not human.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FZAXpOycW
Izuku: ‘And if that was required to handle just a portion of his power… what does that say about me? I have all of it and much more within me.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tr9BXkcHb
But worse than that was the rush when he accepted his role as prince, if just briefly. It felt similar to when he fought the Nomu. The feeling of accepting that side of his quirk is exhilarating. The power and confidence it offers is intoxicating.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dcaRo73TI
He felt… whole. But better to be incomplete than to become some monster. Monsters can’t be heroes.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0MJbu7QXV
Izuku: ‘Never again. I’ll use only what I already have, the basics. That’s enough for me to become a hero.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4yo4LTaKp
With that declaration, he felt a bit more free. The burden of that power and its implication fades into background noise. Thanks to that, he suddenly remembers why he came here.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt8wggSaWi
Izuku: “Oh, Uraraka!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYWPK4tiZN
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM4LLcIuZn
Present Mic: “The matchup of nearly identical quirks, Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu!! It was a full-on, close-quarters punch-up!! But who is the victor?”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPO9v1i0V8
Kirishima dodges another strike and counters with a mean uppercut that sends Tetsutetsu to the ground.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1CxVx5RwC
Midnight: “Tetsutetsu is out! Kirishima advances to round two!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjaGvfZWQB
Kirishima holds out his hand to the quickly recovering Tetsutestu.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv80oWBUBT
Kirishima: “That was a fine match!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp571NHOoF
Tetsutestu: “Keh.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTrG58vlL2
He accepts the gesture, and the two shake hands. Kiri looks on with a smile.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrUAmpDRur
Kiri: “He’s gotten better.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcigEnmLwst
A few minutes later, the next match was announced. Uraraka vs Bakugo.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjbLJtleLi
Izuku and Ida rejoined the rest of the class in preparation for the match. Kiri glanced at Izuku and noticed how tense he was. She didn’t think it was because of the match.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfVV80IEc7
Kiri: ‘Did something happen again? Why is it so hard to feel his emotions sometimes? I wish he would talk to me more.’
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxAPshv2JZ
While Kiri focused on her brother, the match was getting underway.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE3ZiFtyxR
Tsuyu: “Next match is that match… the one that’s bound to be the most upsetting.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Qqp8Cpie
Jiro: “I feel like I might have to look away.”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RuraDjuxZ
Present Mic: “And here’s the next match! The boy who’s been somewhat famous since middle school! But that face ain’t the face of a kid on the straight and narrow! Katsuki Bakugo of class 1-A!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMGGLa97n4
Present Mic: “Facing him is the kid I’ll be rooting for!! Ochako Uraraka of class 1-A!”
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzadZ0YYTkl
The results of the match were as expected.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qMsknfxjY
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5TYjMgDBh
A/N: Okay, I may as well say what I’m adapting. I’ve dropped enough hints by now.
70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LAulE5wFh
Concepts Adapted: Superhuman (Visual Novel)
ns216.73.216.45da2
