The match was over; despite Uraraka’s best efforts, she had lost.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fUtsLZEIR
Izuku: “Uraraka… ”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ChA9Bzpfs
Kiri: “Good fight though.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtoV7uRXTd
Denki: “Still brutal.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mMip1oSaU
Jiro: “Is it over?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIpFAxJF8c
Momo: “Yes, you can uncover your eyes now.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZOeVItiBj
Izuku: “I-I’ll go check on her. Tell me what happens with the next match if I don’t make it in time.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8qn6LIPt6
Kiri: “… Nh.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8nFOc2eOK
Izuku excused himself and made his way to where Uraraka might be. Along the way, he actually ran into Bakugo.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mFqqvIHJT
Izuku: “Kacchan.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY9fohZFeq
Uncharacteristically, Bakugo said nothing and studied the boy before asking his question.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHwdpq6Uzo
Bakugo: “… Oi, were you the one who put that plan in her head? The plan that had her fling herself so dangerously!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiHhuHunsa
Izuku: “… No. The plan, all of it, was what Uraraka herself came up with to beat you. It… was pretty cool, right?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUc27wV7Sx
Bakugo: “… Hmph.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxLa7P2Hfb
Bakugo gave Izuku one last glare before storming back to the rest of the class. With that confrontation down, Izuku made his way to Uraraka.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQIJQAySwQ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGyQH7wgyg
Sero: “Yo, hey, that was nearly as tough as your face is villain-y!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mCGXCvKOG
Tsuyu: “It was a weird match up, but you played an amazing little heel nonetheless, Bakugou.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VI9yMC1fm
Bakugo: “Shut up, just shut your goddamn mouths!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA96MOIepN
Denki: “But damn, man, you’re able to blast a fragile little girl with abandon. Knowing me, I couldn’t go through with it.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2kULvYQy9
Tsuyu: “But you got beat pretty easily, Kaminari.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUYeCPTsbg
Denki: “… Hey now, c’mon, Tsuyu…”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhT7039eqs
Bakugo sat down with a huff and thought back to the match.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeLI0XZQ2L
Bakugo: ‘Where do you see ‘Fragile’?’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqdaMKR6hT
Kiri: “Pay attention.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJt6QJIZb2
Kiri’s words caught everyone’s attention; her face was especially focusedon this match. Makes sense; it involves one of the psychics.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuzAS6Udwq
Present Mic: “And we’re back with three straight rounds of psychic fury! Will they live up to the standards set before!? First up, the girl with a glare that rivals Bakugo’s, Sabrina Kanto from class 1-B!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqt853sbk5
Bakugo: “Tch.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixfEU5BqMZ
The explosion boy narrowed his eyes at the girl. Out of everyone in the tournament, he knows that the quirks similar to Deku’s will be among the most difficult to face. So he needs to use this time to study all he can about his opponent.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjXAOxQIJf
Present Mic: “In the other corner, we have another one from class 1-B, Juuzou Honenuki.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdZ7kQDqwU
The two classmates stand opposed to one another, ready for action. Well… not really.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqUZEcC9cM
Sabrina: “I’m sorry, Honenuki. You did well to get this far.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0aKFuvaiK
Honenuki: “Thanks.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtspbqlIn3
Present Mic: “Start!!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmPzOfveNY
Before Honenuki could attempt to soften the ground, he was flung out of the ring. But thanks to Sabrina’s tight control, he didn’t slam into the wall. Instead, she placed him softly on the grass.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VvT65tl6k
Midnight: “R-Ring out! Sabrina Kanto advances to the next round.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlMCEPBUK7
Present Mic: “I-It’s over! A new record for this year’s tournament! We haven’t seen a ring out that quick since Tornado!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPSFHB3dAh
Sabrina said nothing as she left the ring. As for class-1…
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmPP9wHzEj
Jiro: “That was… too fast.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ0UrxlaJD
Denki: “You know, I’m glad I’m out. I won’t have to face that.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UqWbx6K6C
Kiri and Bakugo both narrow their eyes after seeing how quick that battle went. Several strategies flew through their head, ways to prevent such a quick defeat.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUH0rL4ksj
But the one panicking the most was Momo.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnewhx3CXIO
Momo: ‘How do I fight against that?! I barely held my own against Midoriya, and that was in an enclosed room. Even if I beat Sannomiya… ’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1cPg5Xnt4
Jiro: “Momo, are you okay?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGcy3UjU2y
Momo: “Y-Yes. Just thinking about my upcoming match.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu3nOEkCYY
Jiro: “I’m sure you’ll do fine. You’re so smart; I know you’ll come up with a plan to win.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jem5zovHr
Momo: “T-Thank you, Kyoka.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDNCV3nuN3
Momo: ‘But you think too highly of me.’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFPCoIKouV
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXPlAhSQH9
Izuku walks out of the waiting room where he found Uraraka. As he leaves, he can hear faint crying.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJATksqEMMN
Izuku: ‘Of course she’s hurting!! There’s no way she couldn’t be. Even if I told her, ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help’, I know I couldn’t deliver on that claim. I wish I could do more to-”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykrxvLIDB1
Just then, Endeavor of all people appeared from the side hallway.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEliCAIE8M
Izuku: “E-Endeavor!?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQPmvsgfeP
Endeavor: “Oho, so you are here.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1KgSSpqvA
Izuku: “W-What? Were you looking for me?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8brCsAxWEd
Endeavor: “Yes, not only did you make an impression, but you seem close to that Kiri Tae girl.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Trrjbp8bu
Any nervousness Izuku had went out the door, and in came a much colder glare. One that made Endeavor smile.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XvIXzJKSi
Izuku: “What do you want with her?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbvDIoJ3Io
Endeavor: “Her quirk, it’s very much like All Might’s. Such wind pressure and strength. Then your quirk, so much like Tornado’s, if not more impressive.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJbTDfNGNI
Izuku: “So what?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSqdDBombc
Endeavor: “My Shouto has a duty to surpass both Tornado and All Might. His match against you and Kiri Tae will no doubt prove an excellent test. So you two best not give him a disgraceful match.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMv5DQOaEr
Instinctively, Izuku smirked and whispered-
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWu14ieWSw
Izuku: “We’re not the challengers here.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpEgaVF9nu
Endeavor: “What was that?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGi66miPUA
Catching himself, Izuku covered his mouth.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEBjSDsTAY
Izuku: ‘What was that?! Why did I say that?!’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7PX5CPRs3
Quickly recovering, Izuku changed his tune and thought back to what Todoroki said to him.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEWdMrSpE8
Izuku: “I-I-I said that Kiri is not All Might, and I’m not my sister.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvs2O3BIbU
Endeavor: “Obviously.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ughvRojOr
Izuku: “Right? Then Todoroki, is not you either.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw5PiZT4eY
Endeavor narrowed his eyes at Izuku, but it didn’t intimidate him. In fact, Izuku coolly walked past the walking torch stick.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKcw78XffD
Recollecting himself, he eventually made it in time to see the end of the next match.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopcD6FU4sY
Present Mic: “Ring out!! And that’s the end of the match!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kWyiXIOd0
Midnight: “Kaoru Akashi makes it to the next round!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQPqmimllv
Kaoru: “Aw man, I didn’t finish it as fast as Sabrina. You did well, Tokoyami.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Hczb59zM
Kaoru, glowing like a miniature sun, holds out her hand to the downed Tokoyami.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CcPGPF0fW
Tokoyami: “Turn off the light… ”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLqIIFNfAW
Kaoru: “Oh! Sorry.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6G16m0rzB
The light shrinks, and Dark Shadow regains some of his size. Not wanting to disrespect his opponent, the boy gets up and shakes the girl’s hand.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmecF8dUZHn
Back with the rest of the class, they were once again in awe. Tokoyami was one of their best 1v1 fighters, and he was taken out with relative ease.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzyMpBedO6
Thanks to Dark Shadow, he was able to prevent an instant ring out by hanging onto the stage. But as soon as Kaoru learned that Dark Shadow was weak to light, it was over.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNW72v3lvx
Denki: “Man, at this rate, the only hope for our class coming in on top is the Midoriyas, Todoroki, and Bakugo.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEtHtpUX32
For that insensitive comment, he got a slap over the head by Jiro’s ear jacks.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2XWSfxuHI
Jiro: “Oi.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RVXpolzbJ
Denki: “Ah… sorry.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfK1A3UkRB
The two look at Momo, who is increasingly worried about her match. The only saving grace? Shiho Sannomiya wasn’t like the others. She couldn’t instantly K.O you. But considering how crazy Nogami’s match was, you can never be certain.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbOCiVzQU2
Momo: “I better get ready.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1DmnO6xPR
Momo got up and headed towards the waiting room. But before she could exit the stand, she ran into Izuku.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UHbRMVNPd
Momo: “Midoriya.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEgnleLysO
He said nothing, just put his hand on her shoulder and smiled.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyVgKu3pJL
Izuku: “Give it everything you’ve got, Yaoyorozu.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaDO8A7a5c
She gave him a soft smile and nodded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9tEoUMXWq
Momo: “I will, thank you.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgTvTUOSJt
She moves past him and prepares for her match.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuamkDaPdn
Five minutes later.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQTxmREfvT
Present Mic: “At last, we come to the final match of round 1! On one side, we have the president of Class 1-A, Momo Yaoyorozu!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhrPlOsYdK
She comes up to the platform with a weapon already in hand, a bo staff.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uonfqn2Lh
Present Mic: “Her opponent, the mysterious psychic girl that managed to talk her way into having a sword. Class 1-B’s Shiho Sannomiya.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uU7pDkUPz
The girl smiles as she brings the sword Momo made for her to bear.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctsot40GME
The two girls get into their martial stances. Momo wears a tense grimace, while Shiho is the picture of calm waters. That alone told everyone how this match was going to go.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv9kIR1OWA
Present Mic: “Start!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJId9yXeoX
Shiho blasted off into action with perfect grace and posture. As if she were a master swordsman. Momo hurried into a defensive stance, but it quickly became hopeless.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDarr2L31H
Shiho’s attacks were relentless and insane considering her age. Every attack was perfectly done and used at the most optimal time. Momo was an adept staff fighter and had gotten even better over the training period.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxCr0MIEU1
But the person in front of her was a goddess with the blade. There was no contest.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv47itfgOdC
In a panic, she created a flash grenade from her bo staff in an attempt to stun Shiho. But with lightning quick reflexes, she caught the bomb, spin-kicked Momo away, and threw the bomb at her.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJdWeLlM8n
Thanks to Shiho’s quirk, she knew exactly when the bomb would go off as soon as he touched it. So, when Momo opened her eyes, what was in front of her was a great flash of light.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJwU28TAtv
Shiho dashed forward with her own eyes closed and hit the disoriented Momo with the butt of her sword. The next second, it was over.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpAvZUBYvq
Midnight: “Ring out! Shiho Sannomiya proceeds to the next round!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LzkUa7nWY
Present Mic: “You heard it, folks! The first round is over! We’ll get back to it after a short break!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67DwWY03zb
When the world stopped spinning, Momo realized where she was and what happened.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrKywTd3Cw
She looked up to see her classmates looking down at her with surprise and worry. She quickly turned away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSpg4z7Zeo
Shiho: “I’m sorry it had to end that way. But you were better than I thought. It was just a bad match up. One of the abilities of my quirk, Psychometry, allows me to master nearly any weapon or vehicle I touch.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ghkFoV3EU
Momo: “So… I never stood a chance.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zTLSUN0Qq
Shiho: “Not unless you were a master too or had some trick that could catch a master off-guard.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVlFJmtQDm
Momo: “I see… thank you… for informing me.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmLd5kZFyE
The two shake hands, and Momo fails to see Shiho’s eyes flash light blue again.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0c2NbtJnX
Shiho: “Ah… I really am sorry. You deserved to win more than me.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTOFu5WLnO
But Momo doesn’t hear her; instead she walks back to the waiting room in a daze.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UkYsCpYRo
As for the rest of class 1-A.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ccjogqofg
Jiro: “Poor Momo.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ84IFtizB
Tsuyu: “Kero.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo2alvYdy4
Izuku looked at Momo and saw… a face he used to see in the mirror. The self-doubt, the feeling of powerlessness, the… disappointment. Old parasites he knew all too well.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2WZdtpI4a
He balled his fists and made his choice. What kind of friend would he be if he didn’t help? Shinso’s situation is… complex. He couldn’t really comfort Uraraka. But Momo, he won’t fail her.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKQxUuRNms
He won’t let her suffer what he suffered for so long until he got his quirk. So before Jiro could get up and comfort her friend, Izuku teleported away first.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn37qiLGMgy
Jiro: “Whoa, what the-”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEBMMsl555
Kiri: “Onii?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6Y7VHsp4Y
In a flash of light, Izuku appeared in the waiting room and looked around for her. But she was nowhere in sight. So he ran out of the room and started looking. Eventually, he found her sitting against the wall of a deserted hallway, a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRXTEz3B58
Izuku steeled his heart and approached her. His footsteps caught her attention; seeing who came to see her, she quickly wiped away her tears.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYJZ3NBjjT
Momo: “M-Midoriya…”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3dFL51bVZ
Izuku: “M-Mind if I sit down?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHFjMn8pHX
She shakes her head, and so Izuku sits down next to her. For a solid minute, they said nothing. The silence was peaceful, uncomplicated. But it won’t solve the problem, so Izuku decided to break it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJOLDjpCG8
Izuku: “I… understand how you’re feeling right now.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNjlkCynvi
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Momo shrinks as she tightens her fists.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHmTqw1oGz
Momo: “How would you know? With a quirk like yours? You’re most likely going to win this tournament, and it won’t even be that difficult for you.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprV5r3TM2L
She tried really hard not to scream those words at him. How could he, of all people, understand what it’s like to fail to meet expectations?
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡievuIPMX0o
Izuku: “… I didn’t always have a quirk.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacxT8wPtwV
Momo: “… What?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXxZD8GYB0
Her body stills, and her fist loosens.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFBeuRAnld
Izuku: “That’s right. Brother to Blizzard and Tornado, quirkless. So yes, I know how you feel because I felt that way nearly my whole life.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQl1pm5EN2
Momo’s mouth opens as Izuku continues to lay a part of his soul out to her.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHVrwaxxZW
Izuku: “I never believed in myself. That feeling, it’s suffocating. Like it’s trying to drown the rest of you out to the point where all you feel is just-”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBWMvJ2ejm
Momo: “Disappointment.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7CShbmz0Z
Izuku: “… Exactly. And not just in yourself, but you start to feel others’ disappointment in you. It wears you down and breaks you until you’re a mess of emotions.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXmrz0RJEN
Momo: “How did… you deal with that?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWFB8VhT5b
The boy thinks back to Kiri, how she ate some of the negative emotions he had. If not for her, who knows what may have happened. He may have even…
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAnSpGKIq0
Izuku: “I had help from Kiri. But… I also gained my quirk.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RwQokmepd
Momo: “I see… as I thought.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41R7G10q0o
Once again, Momo shrinks in on herself.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV994pkhl7U
Izuku: “B-But my quirk is not perfect! Yes, it’s powerful. Yes, it’s helped me become more confident. But it’s also brought me problems.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvFzWtWvK1
Momo: “What… problems?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgLyokp4iH
Should he tell her? What would she think of him? Would she see him as some monster?
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKO8SsoACk
Izuku: ‘No! If I want to help her, I need to be honest. At least a little. Just enough that she understands.’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHiMWIc5rv
So that’s what he does. He bares a bit more of his soul to her. About the darker side of his quirk, about what he can actually do. How dangerous it can be and the fear that causes in himself and others.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4anT3Idgx
Pretty much the same thing he told Kiri.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch0bBlHrsq
Izuku: “So you see, I’m still not fully alright.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOpFUKj1k1
Momo: “I… had no idea.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTNVOGoFH9
Izuku: “I-It comes with being a hero, I guess. That’s why I don’t want to see you breakdown or become like how I was. You have so much potential, Yaoyorozu! I already gushed about your quirk and intelligence enough; you know what I think about you.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJEdUDw5ZD
Momo: “But why? I’ve lost nearly every battle since I came here. I… refused to come here on recommendation because I wanted to prove that I have what it takes to be a hero. And I’m… failing. I’m letting everyone down.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce84opv8CC
Izuku: “But you don’t need to win every battle! Do you really not see how amazing you are?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYU2X6hw56
Momo looks at Izuku for the first time since this started and sees how much admiration he holds within those emerald orbs.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DaxPHjsJj
Izuku: “During the battle trial, you led the heroes nearly to victory. If not for you, Jiro and Kaminari would have died during the villain attack. You almost beat me. You would have won the race if not for me causing Nogami to teleport. Then, outside of the ten million, you won the cavalry match.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAWpD2I7Ii
Izuku: “Sure, you didn’t get first place or win everything. But that’s fine.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17DI8VJxEP
The boy’s mind wanders to Endeavor, who hurt his son all because he was obsessed with being the number one hero.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAugrRwv1nl
Izuku: “Don’t be so obsessed with being number one or winning every fight. You’re perfect the way you are.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVIMGxv6nw
Momo’s mouth fell open once more as she gazed into Izuku’s eyes with wonder. So much so, Izuku was getting self-conscious. A very beautiful girl was staring at him after all.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMclcNCvI7G
Izuku: “S-S-So, yeah, Sannomiya is strong, but you shouldn’t let this loss get you down. It was one fight, and we’re only going to get stronger from here. L-Let’s both go beyond and do our best. So that we can make sure we never let these negative emotions drag us down again!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJb4LMoKPE
Momo: “Midoriya… ”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNEpJL1ek5
Izuku: “And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqzlaiYge0
The reassuring smile and words filled with kindness. That combo did it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgTtW7jhAH
Moving with instinct alone, Momo closed the distance and captured the boy’s lips with her own. Izuku’s eyes flew open as he felt a sensation he never thought he would ever really experience.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSII2XdOzbO
A kiss from a pretty girl.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIkir17UzE
But because of that, he couldn’t kiss back. So, Momo regained her senses and blushed before pulling away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYai0UnQ4TV
Momo: “I-I-I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjU062Phj5
Izuku: “N-N-No, it’s fine! I was just… surprised, that’s all.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NCeC2e4Zd
The two looked away, trying to hide the obvious blush painting their faces. Unable to speak right now, Momo spoke from the heart instead.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf8LaT0nuM
Momo: “Thank you, I-Izuku. For everything.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP2rkE0OcM
Still stunned by the kiss, he didn’t even register that she used his first name. What he did notice was Momo getting up and speeding away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhtIqCBY7A
He watched her go, still too shocked to get up himself.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozmbBDYyr1
Izuku: “W-Whoa. A-A-A g-g-girl r-r-really k-k-kissed me.”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzmJKayOpO
Izuku: ‘I want to help her more. I know she can become a great hero. Maybe… could she handle One For All?’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTwK688sLs
He would have stayed and thought about it more if not for the announcement of the next match, his.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6hoqq3dPV
Izuku: “Oh! I better go!”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3jJWFjGYo
The boy got up and sprinted to the arena, where he will face Todoroki.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yaZQmTFiK
Izuku: ‘I’ll help him too. I can do this!’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6gymMcGsn
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hYAuv71jb
Unbeknownst to the duo, they had another duo watching nearly the whole ordeal.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJkc20TtbV
Jiro: “Whoa, I never thought Momo could be so bold. What do you think, Tae? Do you think Midoriya likes-”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJULDngBjDV
Jiro turns but finds no Kiri.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQRRCVcgih
Jiro: “Huh?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9ismzJ6wF
No, Kiri could not bear to watch it. She left as soon as she saw what was coming. Right now, in another part of the building, she is holding onto a wall. A wall she is slowly cracking.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsQJr354XZ
Kiri: “Izu… why?”
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVXPcJxITA
Kiri: ‘HE’S MINE! WHY IS UDDERS KISSING HIM!? IT SHOULD BE ME! WHY DID I WAIT!?’
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRdWhnL1pX
The girl tried her hardest to keep the raging emotions down, but it was no use. She needed to vent. So, not giving a damn about cameras, she transforms into her Valkyrie persona.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmQmN45YKu
She quickly moves through hallways, bypassing any who would recognize her and making her way outside.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2uvJlYiur
Kiri prays there are some quirk beasts out there, because right now, she needs to kill something.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU0Myu62kR
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u3rgZHE9e
Fanfic Adapted: Thank You by MizuToriFFN [2019 – 2021]
ns216.73.216.144da2
