Present Mic: “Now comes the fourth match up! Kaminari from class 1-A vs Shiozaki from class 1-B!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtaRC6mrrM
3 seconds later.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDOH0j1kzI
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!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHaCt5l4hz
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4WMErlFTj
However, Izuku was lost in his own world right now.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHUSFxQAiw
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…”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqqi5aYCe6
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gQ95laAqb
Momo: “Uh, Midoriya?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr7BWWi42A
Izuku: “H-Huh!? S-Sorry!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyGiB2wkXG
Kiri: “Don’t. It’s cute.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLaFrXk8HT
Izuku: “C-Cute!?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWCsVkJfIm
Uraraka: “Hahaha! It only just ended, and you’re already forming counter-strategies based on how you see it playing out?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzExTFWnJvG
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!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj55y7OpYc
Uraraka: “R-Really!?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QchQR2hWP
Momo: “I even took a look at it while we were training. It’s quite detailed and a great source of inspiration.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMxzb59IF6
Uraraka: “I see… you’re really incredible, Midoriya. I’m happy to see you’re having fun again. I was worried.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4iOHTYcLo
Izuku’s face darkens for a moment before lighting back up when the next match is announced.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1whkUBPiw8
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!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnV5Pui7mk
VERSUS!
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQzOSyWj6Z
Present Mic: “She who is fully decked in support gear!! Hatsume Mei, of the department of support.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM748sVSne
Izuku: “Why do I have a bad feeling?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A0TX4M83r
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HIpSLmfvI
Momo: “How shameless.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwC9lTTJ2l
Kiri: “Nh.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIgKxVDqWM
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCtAZGkU6E
Uraraka: “Uh… I’m going to the waiting room for a sec; I’ll be back.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUzc9coEpJ
Uraraka got up and left the group with an unreadable expression. One that worried Izuku, it almost reminded him of how he could be.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknOrDHLUCB
Momo: “You can check on her if you want.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfiq40GS0h
Izuku: “Huh?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhzQowNkAv
Kiri’s eyes widen at Momo’s suggestion. Why would she want Izu to follow some other girl? Didn’t she also…
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQSrAXVDOF
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?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglbiUFhdiJ
Kiri: “… Nh.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiadZgxUnY
Izuku: “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yXmvCoNlj
The esper hurried and made his way to where Uraraka was. Meanwhile, Momo and Kiri turned back to the stage in silence.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7c3f36osF
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkridk3sZgT
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecDQWJxcFn
Present Mic: “These matches are going by quick! Will the next one be any different?!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dn2ymAvIj
Jiro: ‘I hope not.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKxHA6qmTJ
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!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvJZSRLAfr
Jiro adjusted her wrist blaster and hoped it worked as well as she imagined.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgc1EXrb2b
Present Mic: “And her opponent! The girl who dazzles with her athletics and unique color, Mina Ashido from class 1-A!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7LZN8Nq00
Mina: “Hehe, time for some payback. I won’t fall for the same trick again.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAdGcLMxZw
Jiro: “That means I need to think of some new tricks.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48PdTaKQct
Present Mic: “Ready?!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lxnvWzT2r
Mina lowers her stance, preparing to go full throttle from the start. Jiro gets her blaster ready to fire as her eyes narrow.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7qUMPDLog
Present Mic: “Start!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxppxrb4ad
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkcsNSkQ7W
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyIT7WXJ47
Jiro: ‘Shoot! She’s still getting closer.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgV1eaDK5H
The rocker girl started moving around while firing the blaster, keeping Mina at bay.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrivt6SFdU
Jiro: “You can’t dodge forever!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv2w2rKmLk
Mina: “You can’t run forever either!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBfl2eaa3f
Jiro: “I’ll get lucky before I get tired.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoQXfEvLnL
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7PDlTblYd
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVY7f86WmY
Not wanting to experience acid burns, Jiro kept on the move and took pot shots every now and then.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbcZkVlWXT
Present Mic: “Well, would you look at this, folks! We have ourselves an actual shootout!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dJvlZQyQ1
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6JG00tCUB
Jiro: ‘I won’t win without taking some risks and pain. And I refuse to lose here!’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yiddfeUao
The rocker stopped dodging and charged at Mina. The alien girl had no problem with this and met the charge head-on.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk1HjDy8cH
Mina: “Handing me the victory? Thanks, Jiro!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm2lVUnENR
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINTsBKHQmN
Jiro: “Don’t thank me just yet!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uV6TbwQjz
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKF3HbWZGj
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPODvblSH0v
Seeing her chance, Jiro tackled Mina to the ground and grappled her into submission.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlJmTPd8cJ
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1FLVZhN14
Jiro: “Give up, and I’ll help you to Recovery Girl.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji0Krb9g0z
Mina: “I-I-I g-g-give u-up!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqDrWbt4Vt
Midnight: “Ashido surrenders! Jiro advances to round two!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUl4kH68U4
Jiro looks up at Momo, who was smiling and clapping for her victory. The rocker girl smiled back while helping Mina to her feet.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5FFrCngIz
Mina: “T-Thank you.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNALPkappb
Jiro: “No problem. Sorry though, I didn’t know the blaster would make you sick.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe7dt5iLmW
Mina: “I-It’s fine… a-all’s f-fair… ”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQYtQPE6rG
Jiro looked down at the wrist blaster and frowned a bit.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qiG6VVnTz
Jiro: ‘This thing was stronger than I thought. I have to be careful with it from now on.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcy21Ld4zD
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrCz4AIuR1
Jiro: “Is she okay?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UBvymZFJA
All Might: “It would seem so. I found her like this.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcEfa6ix2G
Recovery Girl: “I-I said I’m fine. I’m just… deep in thought. What’s wrong?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXz4OmpBNk
Jiro: “She has nausea, and I have some acid burns.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuv6uIXfHm
Recovery Girl: “That’s normal. Lay her down.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5RUZbzw9d
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44yzCOaLiS
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MTJSOCIrj
A shame, but there is not much else he can do.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYmlZU7x1P
Jiro: “Thank you.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQKFA6CqTA
Jiro takes a seat and once again notices that Recovery Girl looks off.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3PHiMRhvl
Jiro: “Are you sure you’re okay?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NcW6DuQvM
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wx9rqes2I
Jiro: “O-Okay.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ph6sSHQfI
Jiro: ‘Well… that doesn’t sound good. What could have happened?’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9PTYkKsNh
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbWgu2X0Pg
Izuku: “S-Shinso?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEyX5gDdLq
The esper just wanted to check on Uraraka. Why did he have to run into the thing that he was trying to ignore?
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2enqFdDnG
What’s worse is what Shinso looks like. He’s taller, slightly more muscular, and handsome. Like a Shinso 2.0.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwNlKjbZgD
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD53Q1FYXhR
Shinso: “What… did you do to me?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa7LznyuLF
Izuku: “I-I… don’t know what you mean.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGAssAek8e
Shinso: “Yes, you do. I can tell. Answer me.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrzCVhJa70
Izuku: “… I don’t know. I-It was an accident.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlnVnNThk7
Shinso: “An… accident?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuYe4Ezr4e
Shinso’s body shakes as he comes to terms with that fact.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXl9HYlRuQ
Shinso: “My quirk was already seen as evil, a quirk for a villain. How could you make it worse?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6dDOOniy5
Izuku: “W-Worse?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7hEPsTl8h
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnz2N2YY6g
Izuku: “W-What? How?!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZwV2d89Jv
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiOM9WbXz6
Izuku paled at the implications.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MlQ8KQy7y
Shinso: “She stopped breathing because I told her to stop without being specific. If I didn’t cancel the command…”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytHN0SZwYL
Izuku: “I’m-”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfNtC2PQo4
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYokIKzwV0t
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aD4LE96xv
Shinso scoffs at Izuku’s words.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Dx1m6olfl
Shinso: “Easy for you to say. Someone blessed with a powerful quirk like yours.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWY9Q3MyrQ
Izuku: “Blessed…?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDQkLmjogK
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LIz48G7wo
For a solid minute, they said nothing, just stood in the darkened atmosphere. That was until Shinso began to walk away.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjLD2ifzkF
Shinso: “I hope to never see you again.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCElKKCqLa
Izuku: ‘No…’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkukFPg4GpR
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvwNEEmiuy
Izuku: ‘Just this once. Please… one of you… help me to help him.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRd7PHOd2z
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjYGZT1RCQ
Izuku’s eyes burn bright gold as The First speaks through its prince.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptStxPykXy
Izuku: “&*%^”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew0FlJO5zQ
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgviXeL3JN
So he turns around to see Izuku with golden eyes and a different aura.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI6GZ34Ytp
Izuku: “&#*^.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjOIgY2Ea1
Izuku: “Wait a minute, this is not going to work.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVL1dxQ1gf
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8TBeJlfeQ
Izuku: “I-I understand.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHK8GwY0pZ
Shinso: “Seriously, what are you?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmHzIL1PQH
Izuku: “… I don’t know anymore. It’s complicated. But… I know what happened to you and how you can control it.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWWTrWKSRZ
Shinso: “… How?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtDJGzD6DO
Izuku: “T-The First… choose you as its… child? The real word is confusing.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm9qSieweB
Shinso: “Child?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc6US5MqVq
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP8vLBeyx1
Shinso: “Huh? Look, I don’t really understand any of that. Just tell me how I can control it.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6ImWWCCMI
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3BknwQE7y
Shinso: “I see… ”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cXdK8hg83
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-”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeW76tIHyJ
Shinso: “And would I explain that?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhny3Mj8RqH
Izuku: “H-Huh?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeT6yN2xmJ
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYu17hUY5k
Izuku: “O-Oh… well… as for the growth spurt, you have a passive psychic field that makes it so everyone thinks it’s normal.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQAbmukMZ4
Shinso: “R-Really?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQJvza9xHR
Izuku: “Did Recovery Girl notice your growth spurt?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxzw2m0ddt
Shinso: “… No. She didn’t.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra6KuRPTmC
Izuku: “As for your quirk gaining new abilities and how people judge it… I don’t know… ”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAWn3x2p2h
C: “Society is not something that can’t be bent in time, my prince. If they won’t accept him, make him yours.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswOqq2fvGx
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZyA0EsuXw
Izuku: “I-If they won’t accept the new you, Shinso, then I will.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWUAyJDXoq
Shinso: “What?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOfoPWXgdo
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?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0IvMgdaB3
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6RxjxN1Fw
So, with a small spark of hope in his heart, he grasps the hand.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRQMO04cC5
Shinso: “Alright.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0RQypRgJG
And the multitude rejoices, for the first apostle has been claimed. A soft green glow emerged from their hands, and the connection was formed.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSej6kjOnR
Izuku: “We’ll meet up after the festival and talk some more, okay?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLpCC1Eqkv
Shinso: “Right, thanks, Midoriya.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4swMZVnvO
Izuku nodded and let Shinso go back to wherever he was suppose to be.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1qTYdqcl4
Izuku: “Thank you.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2SJ9kQ0Ps
C: “Of course. Now, are you ready to-”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoeTNRWsxZ
Izuku: “No.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIgIl7DStb
The voices are still as the prince employs his own Authority.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JVhuYeZK1
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.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp052szo8as
And just like that, the voices were cut off. Silence reigned in Izuku’s mind.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdaMJsKkfp
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.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8ipy7awYs
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5ayrvWkyN
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.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi1JjjZK2w
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a1Vgwfafm
He felt… whole. But better to be incomplete than to become some monster. Monsters can’t be heroes.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM1gCc4dGW
Izuku: ‘Never again. I’ll use only what I already have, the basics. That’s enough for me to become a hero.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oGdRdKE7W
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVLhWjWUkk
Izuku: “Oh, Uraraka!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4as7W93Pc
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrR2SmHDF5
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?”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviDj6x4hTp
Kirishima dodges another strike and counters with a mean uppercut that sends Tetsutetsu to the ground.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlYJ08F02Q
Midnight: “Tetsutetsu is out! Kirishima advances to round two!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN1AvrVzD5
Kirishima holds out his hand to the quickly recovering Tetsutestu.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LQ7sdZdjF
Kirishima: “That was a fine match!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRpziBE3z6
Tetsutestu: “Keh.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VXACP8mlY
He accepts the gesture, and the two shake hands. Kiri looks on with a smile.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm918uZUhK
Kiri: “He’s gotten better.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmk1Fb8mhG
A few minutes later, the next match was announced. Uraraka vs Bakugo.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwIceMb0BD
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.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxkmbnVHrt
Kiri: ‘Did something happen again? Why is it so hard to feel his emotions sometimes? I wish he would talk to me more.’
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxBBRrjrQj
While Kiri focused on her brother, the match was getting underway.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLLPXBeJAE
Tsuyu: “Next match is that match… the one that’s bound to be the most upsetting.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioMTsOo2f4
Jiro: “I feel like I might have to look away.”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRQP1dDrK9
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!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy5c46MiEq
Present Mic: “Facing him is the kid I’ll be rooting for!! Ochako Uraraka of class 1-A!”
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX13fspc0W
The results of the match were as expected.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVZmmUfEG6
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9aHAzxHqr
A/N: Okay, I may as well say what I’m adapting. I’ve dropped enough hints by now.
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lg1HC4GcE
Concepts Adapted: Superhuman (Visual Novel)
ns216.73.216.144da2
