Chapter XXIII: Third Event I
"If you haven't gotten your hands on pop-corn, now it's the time, people!" Present Mic proclaimed through the speakers. "The Third Event will commence in ten minutes!"
There really wasn't that much of a need for an announcement. Everyone was already marching back to their seats. Photographers, representatives of various business and Pro-Heroes alike mingled with hard-core fans and casual spectators. Hero Journalists were already commenting outside the stadium while people recorded themselves with their cell phones. The excitement was in the air. To Hitoshi Shinso, it was the complete opposite.
Hitoshi must have gone to the bathroom five times already, if only to have an excuse to walk around the empty, desolate corridors of the stadium. With sweaty hands and aching heart, he knew he was more than a tad paler than usual.
I made it, he thought with a disbelief, I made it to the Third Event.
The problem, though, was that he knew he was screwed. He had to figure out some way to beat the fox guy. He had to. Clenching his fists, he kept walking. First was first, though, he needed to think.
"Good luck, man!"
Hitoshi froze and stopped. He recognized that voice. It was the redhead from 1-A. Pressing himself against a wall, he peeked from around the corner.
"Thanks" Midoriya chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
All around him Class 1-A were patting or nudging Midoriya while they ascended a flight of stairs towards their seats. One after another, Hitoshi squinted at the so-called heroes as they gave their encouragement to the fox guy. How come all of 1-A was so friendly to each other? It was nothing like 1-C.
Of-fucking-course he is popular, Hitoshi thought as he glared at the embarrassed green-haired teenager. What a circle jerk of self-aggrandizing idiots. They are just lucky the Entrance Exam was tailored for their flashy quirks.
"I am fully confident in your abilities, my friend!" Ingenium's lost clone exclaimed with robotic chops of his arms.
"You can do it, Izuku!" The round-faced girl, Uraraka, exclaimed.
And wouldn't you know it, he has a cute girl pinning after him, Hitoshi mentally growled.
She was same girl Midoriya had saved during the Entrance Exam, showing off his flashy quirk… of course Midoriya could go after the Zero-Pointer! The exam was made for people like him! Hell, he probably had had enough villain points destroying robots that he had the luxury of taking down the Zero-Pointer and show off his incredible quirk. Bet the round-faced girl loved his overpowered quirk.
However, as angry and jealous as he was, Hitoshi's eyes lingered on Ochaco's burned face. A pang of guilt pierced his gut. That had been Bakugo's doing… hers and many other injuries. But it hadn't just been Bakugo, had it? Hitoshi felt like someone had grabbed his heart as painfully constricted with remorse and shame.
I should apologize, Hitoshi knew. And yet, he stood rooted in place as 1-A left behind Fox Boy and… wait, was that rabbit girl there all along? And what about those two rabbit children? One other student from 1-A, though, stood behind, awkwardly scratching an arm while averting her eyes.
"Well, off to the stands" Rabbit Girl said with a grin. "Go beat that creep, alright?"
"Don't worry, I've got this" Fox Boy confidently said, sharing a mischievous grin.
She gave a playful punch and he nudge her, all while smirking at each other. Hitoshi's attention was taken, though, by the mocking sounds of kissing from the two children behind them.
"Brats" the rabbit girl huffed, smirking. Addressing Fox Boy she said "Just don't stay to chat, am I clear? And don't do anything stupid, like feeling pity for him".
Fox Boy uneasily chuckled at that. Without any farewells, the rabbit girl dragged her siblings away all while they kept annoying their sister with kissing sounds. Fox Boy turned around and spotted a blushing Kyoka Jiro by the stairs.
"J-Jiro! I-I didn't see you there!" Fox Boy spluttered.
"I guess you had your attention elsewhere" Kyoka mumbled, eyes on her feet. "Look, I don't want to take your time but – ehm… c-could…?"
Fox Boy walked over to her and placed a reassuring clawed hand on her shoulders. Kyoka looked up, only to reveal the nervous grimace on her face.
"You are going to do fine. Todoroki might be a powerful individual, but I am certain you can stand your ground" Midoriya softly said with a very strange serenity.
He really thought so? Hitoshi mentally scoffed. What could earphone jacks do against glaciers?
However, as derisive as his thoughts were, Hitoshi could help but feel surprise by the confidence Midoriya had. Didn't he know she had a rather dull and useless quirk? One that wasn't as flashy as his or Todoroki's?
"Yeah, well, I would be confident if I had your quirk" Kyoka grumbled. "How can you be so calm, dude? Did you take a pill for the nerves?"
"No. I just feel… strangely calm. Could it be that…? No, hopefully not" Midoriya hummed, studying his hands for a moment. "So, did you want anything?"
"A miracle, if you have one lying around" Kyoka muttered. "I just…"
"You want my opinion or pointers for your fight against Todoroki?" Midoriya guessed.
"Yeah…" Kyoka sighed. "It's right after yours so… I didn't know if I would have time to ask and… since you helped Ojiro and Toru beat him when I thought they couldn't…"
Hold on. The tail dude and the invisible girl somehow defeated Endeavor's son? How? And thanks to fox guy?Hitoshi thought, dumbfounded.
"You have a plan, though, don't you?" Midoriya said with an amused smile.
"Yes, I-I think I can- I can fight…" Kyoka was saying, only to chuckle "but I guess if anyone has figured out how I can use my quirk against him, it's you, huh?"
"Perks of being a fan-boy and nerd" Midoriya said. "I'm all ears".
As if to make a point, his fox ears flapped over his head. That earned a chuckle from Jiro before she nodded and started whispering. Hitoshi stared, flabbergasted. Since when was the fox boy so... helpful and kind?
I could get tips as well, Hitoshi realized. He stroke his chin, hope flooding into his heart. His eyes widened as a name popped into his mind: Bakugo.
With a sense of urgency he ran across the corridors. Thanks to the signs on the walls, he was able to find the infirmary. Not far from the arena's entrance, the infirmary's door had a large red-cross. Gulping and steeling his resolve, he went to the door and knocked.
The infirmary door opened and Shinso came face to face with Recovery Girl. The petite aged lady raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, young man, did you need a last minute fix up?" The woman asked.
"Is Bakugo awake?" Shinso asked.
"Bakugo?" The Pro-Hero frowned at the question as she repeated the name. "Yes but…"
"I need to talk to him" Hitoshi stated.
"Really? Are you sure about that?" Recovery Girl grunted, annoyed. She turned around. "Who would have thought? You've got a visitor, you ruffian".
"Huh? Who's that?" An angry voice asked from inside.
The old woman stepped outside only to send one last look at Hitoshi.
"I'll give you boys some privacy…" she said.
Hitoshi leaked his lips, heart drumming furiously. He wasn't used to chatting or asking for help. Heck, he hated human interactions with a passion. However, he had to. Thus, he entered the infirmary. He was surprised to find a rather spacious room with six white beds, three on each side, as well as an array of medical equipment. There was a door with "surgery room" written in bold letters on the far end that was a bit daunting and alarming, to say the least. More surprising, though, was the explosive teen strapped to one of the beds. An IV fluid bag was connected to an arm as the irritable boy glared at him.
"Oh, it's you" Bakugo huffed. "For a moment there I thought it was my mom…" he muttered under his breath. "Whatcha want?" He rudely scoffed.
"Why are you tied up?" Hitoshi asked, the question slipping his tongue before he could think better.
"Because the Old-" Bakugo started growling, only to pause and leaned to a side, as if checking Recovery Girl wasn't listening "-because the Old Hag is a bitch. Happy to see me like this?"
"Not really" Hitoshi huffed. Actually, he found it amusing that this was the second time he found Bakugo restrained like that. "I need your help".
"What? Help?" Bakugo wondered, baffled. "What for?" He asked, only for his eyebrow to shoot up with realization. "You want help against Deku? Really?"
"Yes… why do you call him Deku, by the way?" Hitoshi asked.
"Because that's what he is" Bakugo stated matter-of-factly. He glared at Shinso only to add "and no, I won't help you".
"What? Why not? Don't you hate-?" Hitoshi asked, confused.
"Because I'm not a fucking snitch like Deku. That and I'm the one who is going to bring down that piece of shit down" Bakugo growled, red eyes murderous. "If you need my help to beat him, then you are more pathetic than him and don't deserve help". Bakugo eyes him from head to cover, only to scowl. "Just look at you…"
Hitoshi felt a flare of rage swell in his gut.
"You are a fucking stick! If wanted to beat the shit off the extras, then you should have put some effort into it instead of being a scrawny wimp" Bakugo scoffed. "Hell, you are worse than the extras".
Hitoshi felt like he had been punched in the gut. Bakugo wasn't wrong. On the contrary, he was entirely on point. Even Hitoshi berated himself for the lack of effort he had put to accomplish his dream. Hitoshi, though, was pissed off regardless.
"You condescending arse" Hitoshi spat. "It is so easy to look down on others with that quirk of yours, isn't it? Flashy, powerful, versatile…"
"Oh, cry me a fucking river, loser. The extras all have pathetic quirks – except Big-Boobs and Scar-Face – and you don't see them being babies about it. Hell, they at least fucking try. They'll all end up being washed up attention-whores with a trigger-addiction, but at least they fucking work to be that" Bakugo spat. An eyebrow twitch with newfound annoyance "I can't fucking believe I just complimented the extras…"
Hitoshi gritted his teeth. He didn't have time to waste with that insufferable spoiled arsehole.
"Look, I just want to know one thing: is Midoriya an emitter type or an animal mutant type?" Hitoshi asked.
Bakugo blinked at Hitoshi, baffled.
"What does that got to do with anything?" Bakugo stated, confused.
"Just answer the freaking question" an exasperated Hitoshi spat, starting to get impatient. He was running out of time.
"Fine, don't see how that changes anything…" Bakugo shrugged "he's an emitter type".
"You sure?" Hitoshi asked.
"Of-fucking-course I'm sure! I've known Deku since before I manifested my quirk. The motherfucker was diagnosed quirkless and farted his fucking quirk later on" Bakugo shouted. "If he had been a mutant he wouldn't have been able to hide it, right?"
Hitoshi felt a wave of relief – and confusion. What did Bakugo mean Midoriya manifested his quirk later on? Just how late?
"What? Does it have to do with your quirk?" Bakugo asked, perplexed.
"I'm not entirely sure… just something that went wrong at the First Event" confessed Hitoshi. Glaring at Bakugo, he added "well, thanks for nothing, I guess".
"Always a fucking pleasure" Bakugo spat.
What an arsehole. That was all Hitoshi could think as he stomped towards the arena. However, as he marched across the dark corridors, fuming over his conversation, he was struck by a few minor details. He mulled over what Bakugo had said and a few interesting things stood out.
Midoriya had been diagnosed quirkless? Clearly, whatever doctor had checked him out had done a piss poor job at it. Could Bakugo be lying though? It was possible. Sincerely, Hitoshi hadn't expected Bakugo to be such an arsehole… alright, no, Hitoshi had kind of expected it. Anyone with a flashy quirk like Bakugo's was bound to have an inflated ego.
And to think he knew Midoriya since they were toddlers, Hitoshi thought with a shudder. That in turn meant they probably had lived in the same neighbourhood. Sincerely, Hitoshi couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Midoriya just knowing he had to deal with the likes of Bakugo for most of his life.
Hitoshi paused as he reached the threshold of the arena. Beyond it, he saw that the entire battleground had been remodeled. The trees, boulders, ashes and pits had been removed, replaced by a large ring of concrete. The Pro-Hero Cementoss and Pro-Hero Midnight were discussing something, while Midoriya, with his nine tails, stood by a side, staring at his hands.
Shouldn't they have announced the Third Event's overseer? Hitoshi wondered.
He had a gut feeling that it was All Might. There was no way U.A. would have missed the opportunity to show off their newest teacher… or perhaps Hitoshi really wanted to lay his eyes on the Symbol of Peace.
Hitoshi took a deep breath and marched out, hands in his pockets and carrying himself with his usual laid back demeanor. He ignored the lively crowd and focused on the platform. This was it. His future would be decided in a few seconds.
"Shinso" Midnight called as she saw him approach. She offered a kind smile. "How are you feeling, kid? Nervous?"
"A bit" Hitoshi said with a detached tone.
"We'll begin shortly" Midnight told him. "Stand over that cross" she pointed at the spot within the battle-ring with her whip.
As Hitoshi started walking away, he couldn't help but overhead her conversation with his colleague.
"What do you mean he doesn't want to be the overseer?!" She hissed at Cementoss.
"He claims he doesn't want to be associated with a, and I quote, 'blood sport'" Cementoss sighed.
A tad too interested on the conversation, Hitoshi knelt down and acted as if he was tying his shoelaces, all at a rather safe distance. It sure wasn't his problem if the two Pro-Heroes couldn't have a whispered conversation.
"But we need him! The idea of having him as an overseer is to avoid any bloodshed or incident!" Midnight almost exclaimed.
"I know that, Nemuri, but after the Second Event he's been reluctant to act as if he agrees with the Sports Festival" Cementoss sighed. "That and I suspect he doesn't want to waste exposure time for something as inane as standing around. His time is precious, after all".
Hitoshi decided he had been eavesdropping long enough. So All Might didn't want to show up. Figures. By Midnight's hisses and spat, it seemed clear that she didn't quite agree with All Might's decision.
Midoriya was staring at the blue sky with a tranquil expression. In fact, if Hitoshi had to explain it, he was exuding some kind of otherworldly serenity. There was also a strange feeling coming off him…
"You doing alright?" Hitoshi asked Midoriya from his position within the ring.
The green-haired Fox Boy turned his smile towards Hitoshi. He opened his mouth to answer, but caught himself. Instead, he merely nodded. Oddly enough, he didn't look apprehensive, worried or angry at Hitoshi. It seemed he didn't mind Hitoshi could have brainwashed him.
Truth to be told, Hitoshi wasn't sure what to make of the Fox Boy. The fact he had been treated as someone quirkless when he had such amazing power… it went against what Hitoshi thought about him. Could Midoriya really be selfless enough as to rescue that Hatsume girl during the First Event even if it meant giving the likes of Bakugo bragging rights? Could Midoriya really have wanted to give Yukimora and others a chance to win back on the Second Event? Could he really have been so heroic as to save the round-faced girl at the Entrance Exam? Hitoshi really wanted to believe otherwise, even when was starting to get the impression that, perhaps, he was wrong about Midoriya.
People with strong flashy quirks are all the same. It always gets to their heads… Hitoshi morosely thought. And yet, Hitoshi couldn't help but contrast Midoriya with Bakugo. Whereas Midoriya took a moment to assist and give pointers and a vote of confidence to someone when facing the likes of Todoroki, something he had apparently done before, Bakugo seemed hell-bent on being an arse. The fact Midoriya could have such hopes for someone with a quirk like Jiro's, one that definitely wasn't flashy, made Hitoshi feel like he had been too quick to judge Midoriya.
"Alright, dear listeners, have you gotten your pop-corn? Everyone gone to the bathroom? Then let us waste no time and let's get this party started!" Present Mic announced "Are you ready?!"
The crowd, as expected, cheered.
"Accompanying our beautiful referee, let me introduce our overseer: from UA, Pro-Hero Cementoss!" Present Mic said.
While the crowd clapped and cheered, Hitoshi didn't need super hearing to know they were a bit disappointed. They probably had been expecting All Might. Still, by the looks of it, they were holding out to see whether the Symbol of Peace would make an appearance in later rounds.
"On the one side, from the General Studies, rising up to the challenge through grit and cunning and defying all expectations, Hitoshi Shinso!" Present Mic announced.
Sincerely, Hitoshi was a bit surprised, and overwhelmed, by the fact people actually cheered for him. Awkwardly, he looked around and offered a smile, waving a hand.
Nope, the crowds are definitely not my thing, Hitoshi thought as he tried to keep his cool.
"On the other side, from the Hero Department, it is the one, the only, the absolutely confusing and baffling mastermind of chaos and mischief, Izuku Midoriya!" Present Mic announced.
Hitoshi was really weirded out by Midoriya's calmness as he merely smiled and waved. Seriously, was the guy on drugs?
"Let's get started!" Present Mic exclaimed, much to the audience's loud eagerness.
"Fighters, are you ready?" Midnight called.
Hitoshi nodded at her, and clenched his fists in his pockets, trying to keep an outward look of calmness.
"Midoriya?" Midnight said.
"Oh, sorry" Midoriya chuckled, prying his eyes from the sky. Seriously, what was wrong with him? "Yes, I'm ready".
"You… sure?" Midnight wondered, perplexed by Midoriya's strange calmness. "You look a bit out of it".
"I think I might manifest the Six Tails at any moment now…" chuckled Midoriya. "But I can fight" he added with a firm nod.
Hitoshi's eyes widened. What? The guy was about to get yet another weird form?! Just how overpowered was Midoriya? And… wait, he still got forms to unlock?
"If you think so" Midnight shrugged before she turned towards the other side of the ring, where his colleague stood "Cementoss?"
Cementoss gave a thumbs up.
"Then…" Midnight said, glancing at the two. Slowly she raised her whip and- SLASH "FIGHT!"
Midoriya started by rushing at Hitoshi, all while the indigo-haired boy squinted at the Fox Boy. That stupid serene smile… The green-haired boy stopped and, suddenly, his tails buried into the ground behind him and sprung him forward. As he shot towards Hitoshi, he spread his tails.
Hitoshi's eyes widened as the Nine-Tailed fox came baring down on him. He rushed to a side and tried to roll right beneath the tails, but just as he thought he dodged the tails – one wrapped around his leg and lifted him from the ground.
Crap! Crap! Crap! Hitoshi exclaimed as he was hoisted into the air. Think! You can do it Hitoshi! Remember, trick number one!
"Argh!" Hitoshi screamed grasping his leg as if it had been broken.
Midoriya reacted immediately and released him, wide-eyed, all while Midnight frowned with concern. Hitoshi plopped onto the ground, dramatically acting as if he was in a hell of pain. A hand shakily held his allegedly broken leg all while trying to give his best sobbing impression.
"Y-you broke my leg! H-how could you?" He shouted, trying to keep the act.
Come on you stupid fox! Fall for it! Hitoshi mentally hoped.
Midoriya, apparently, fell for it and looked horrified. He opened his mouth, shocked, all before glancing at Midnight, who was glaring at the fox boy. It seemed that Hitoshi underestimated Midoriya's reaction because he was left speechless, bewildered and ashamed by the situation.
Crap, that didn't work. Maybe I overdid it with the acting, Hitoshi muttered. Alright, trick number two.
"Bakugo was right!" Hitoshi dramatically exclaimed, adding a few exaggerated sobs "y-you are just a Deku…"
After the shock of having supposedly harmed him, Hitoshi knew Midoriya had lowered his guard. Thus, he did get a verbal response this time.
"What did you-?" Midoriya growled.
Hitoshi smirked as he felt it: the opening. Without anything dramatic, he activated his quirk and allowed himself to smile. He had done it. He had achieved his first victory! Holy crap, he had actually done it!
Hitoshi stood up and dusted himself off, all while smiling contently. He turned towards Midoriya, ready to instruct him to leave, when he noticed the fox boy was moving. Hitoshi's eyes widened.
"Midoriya?" Midnight called, alarmed.
But Midoriya didn't respond. Instead, he growled, in all fours. Hitoshi felt his blood run cold as his purple eyes met those emerald ones trained on him. They had slit pupils, lacking any sign of humanity. Moreover, they were bloodshot and filled with murderous intent. An untamed raged came off the boy's entire being and Hitoshi knew right then and there, he had screwed up.
It's like that guy from the Tunnel, he recalled. A rush of dread and fear overtook him. He had an animal mutant quirk all along!
"Cementoss, stop the fight!" Midnight ordered.
Midoriya lunged at Hitoshi, saliva splatting on the concrete ground as he roared. Hitoshi was rooted in place, horrified. Midoriya jumped, right arm extending as he released another feral growl. Hitoshi caught the glint of silvery sharp claws raising to strike him. For a brief instant, Hitoshi thought he was as good as dead.
Then Midoriya disappeared behind a massive concrete wall. Hitoshi, shaking, stared with shock as he was back in safety. On the other side, he could heard something clanking only for an explosion to ensue. From each side of the wall, Hitoshi saw what looked like a purple gas crawl out. It took Hitoshi longer than it should to recognize the gas as Midnight's somniferous emitted quirk.
"Hitoshi, are you alright?" Midnight called, running towards him.
"Y-yes…" Hitoshi, trembling, nodded. "Holy shit that was-!"
CRASH. Hitoshi gasped as nine tails burst from the concrete walls. The entire structures broke down into smithereens and a cloud of grey dust spread everywhere. Pieces of concrete flew everywhere. Shocked, Hitoshi fell back on his butt, barely dodging a massive chunk of concrete.
"Midoriya, no!" Midnight exclaimed.
There was a loud roar and Hitoshi snapped his head ahead. Something was falling down towards him, something that bared down a pair of feral emerald eyes. Hitoshi remained there, petrified, as the monster reared a clawed hand with long pitch-black claws. This wasn't Midoriya, though. It couldn't be. He looked so different. With dark green fur all over his body, he resembled a fox more so than a human. At first, Hitoshi's eyes met the beast's gaze. However, his purple eyes jumped to the glint of sharp claws, all while they descended straight towards his face.
"Sis, what's going on?" Haku asked, confused.
However, Rumi couldn't tell. There had been a massive cloud of dust, followed by Midnight's purple gas sweeping into the entire ring. Then, all of a sudden, tall walls rose and blocked whatever happened inside from view within a massive dome. She did see Pro-Heroes rushing into the dome, Aizawa between them, each carrying gas masks. Other than that, it was impossible to tell.
"Your boyfriend went feral, sis!" Hana exclaimed. "Do- do you think he killed the creepy guy?"
As much as Rumi wanted to believe otherwise, there was a possibility that that was the case.
"It was like in the First Event" Haku gasped. "Remember that beast boy that attacked Fox Boy?"
Rumi's eyes widened. It suddenly clicked in her mind.
"Oh God, the creepy dude's brainwashing makes beast quirks into feral monsters" Rumi realized.
"Right! Oh no, everyone will think your boyfriend is a villain now!" Hana cried out, worried.
Frowning, Rumi perked her ears. To her surprise, it seemed the audience wasn't brainless and could add two plus two. Not that they were showing any signs of intelligence, though.
"A brainwashing quirk gone wrong? Geez, talk about a bad moment to misfire" a Pro-Hero scoffed.
"Damn, what a tragedy. That quirk would have been amazing for the police force" someone commented.
"Hey, was it me or did that Midoriya dude look more… furry?" Another person said.
Rumi's attention, though, was taken by her siblings who started pulling from her arms.
"Look! Look!" Haku exclaimed, pointing a finger at the arena.
The large dome had retracted and the scene was clear. Cementoss carried a bloodied Shinso in his arms towards the nearby medics all while Aizawa, Midnight and other Pro-Hero teachers stood around a kneeling Fox Boy. Rumi squinted at the scene below, only to discover that Fox Boy's nose was broken, probably from a punch.
"Please everyone, do calm down!" Present Mic told them. "It would appear Hitoshi Shinso did not know the effect of his quirk on people like Midoriya. Awful tragedy! But don't worry! I'm being told Shinso is fine and will make a full recovery".
Rumi didn't believe that one bit. The amount of blood on Fox Boy's hands, the very same he stared at with a haunted face, told another tale. The audience, on the other hand, eat it up like it was nothing. Then again, maybe they wanted to believe so.
"Ufff, that was close. Imagine if they cancelled the Third Event because of a little mistake" someone sighed with relief.
"Hey! I want to see Endeavour's son fighting!" Another person shouted.
"Insensitive jackasses! That boy could have died!" A random individual yelled with righteous indignation.
"That Shinso shouldn't have participated in the Sports Festival with a quirk like that" someone responded.
"Yeah, that's what happens when you mess with someone else's head" Rumi heard some idiot comment.
"It was just a bit of blood. I've seen villains left a lot worse by heroes" a person scoffed behind the rabbit girl.
While she was happy no one was calling Fox Boy a villain or a bloodthirsty monster, she was appalled by how dismissive the audience was towards Shinso. Had they perhaps cared nothing about him? Or were those truly concerned about him quiet, allowing for the noisy few idiots to act out? Whatever the reason, Rumi didn't want to sit around hearing the audience.
"You going to check on your boyfriend?" Haku asked.
"Yep" Rumi said. "Can I trust you not to run away?"
"Don't worry. We'll behave" Hana promised.
"I'm holding onto that promise" she warned.
She hopped away, pondering on what had transpired and the impact it would have on Fox Boy. On the one hand, Rumi hoped Hero Agencies turned a blind eye to the whole incident. It had been, after all, an unforeseen accident. On the other hand, there was something wrong about dismissing the entire thing.
While Rumi wasn't sure where Izuku would be taken, her first guess was the infirmary, if only to get his nose repaired. Thus, she hurried across the echoing corridors of the stadium and followed the arrows and signs. Before long, she had made it to the infirmary. For a moment, the rabbit girl hesitated. Wouldn't there be someone outside to make sure no journalist or creep tried to harass Fox Boy? However, with a sense of urgency, she rushed to the door and stepped inside.
There were a few people Rumi expected in the infirmary. Fox Boy had been a possibility, like Aizawa. Whilst a surprise, Rumi didn't mind to find Infinity Girl and Robot Boy there as well. The one she hadn't expected to find was Bakugo of all people still in the infirmary, much less tied down to a bed. Rumi did not miss the IV bag of fluid connected to him.
Rumi found there were two rows of beds. Three to his left, three to his right. On the far end, Bakugo found himself tied to one of the beds whilst a despondent Nine-Tailed Fox Boy sat on the one to the right with a friend on each side. Standing in between the rows of bed, arms folded and looking more tired than usual, was Aizawa.
"Fox Boy" Rumi called, hopping over to the teenager in question.
She was greeted with a saddened smile from the Fox Boy.
"Rabbit Girl" he responded.
"It's good to see you, Rumi" Infinity Girl said. "We are trying to cheer Izuku up but…"
"Yeah, Fox Boy can be like that" Rumi said, nudging the green-haired boy.
"Urgh" commented a certain tied explosive boy.
Rumi snapped her head towards Bakugo, squinting at him. The boy, though, was giving the stink eye to Aizawa, who so happened to be responding with a warning raised eyebrow.
"Something to say, Bakugo?" Rumi growled.
"Usagiyama" Aizawa said.
Rabbit Girl really want to ignore the warning and lay it out to the bastard, but she had to focus on what was important.
"How are you holding up?" Rumi wondered.
"As good as I may be, given the circumstances" Fox Boy sighed, eyes closed. "Thanks for coming…"
"As if I would ever abandon your sorry arse" scoffed the rabbit girl with amusement. She turned towards Aizawa "is he in any trouble?"
"Legally? No. Is he disqualified? No. Regarding public opinion... it's doubtful" Aizawa stated. "The problem, however, will be the Hero Agencies".
"Absurd! Hero Agencies will most definitely understand that this was beyond Izuku's intention and a result of Shinso's own quirk" Robot Boy harrumphed.
"Agencies are fickle things" scoffed Rumi "it's all about image with them. Any hint you can cause a PR scandal, and you are out."
"Not that that changes anything" Bakugo scoffed. "Most of Pro-Heroes end up with some stupid shit or another. Trigger addiction, fucking some guy to get ahead in the rankings or just being fucking useless… they are all just stupid extras".
Rumi, alongside Infinity Girl and Robot Boy, rolled their eyes in perfect unison. Of course that would be Bakugo's worldview.
"Language" Aizawa admonished, squinting at Bakugo. The boy scoffed, but warily averted his eyes, the closest Rumi had ever seen the bastard act sorry about anything.
There was a pregnant pause in which no one spoke. What could they even say? Fox Boy could have killed a boy just now and there they were, talking about hero agencies. There was something wrong with the world…
"How's Shinso?" Rumi asked, grabbing Fox Boy's hand and giving it a squeeze.
"Under surgery" Fox Boy grumbled. "Recovery Girl says he'll recover but… I know the damage was extensive".
"Izuku insists on staying here in case they need his help. You know, Fox Fire and all" Ochaco added.
"You should join your classmates, problem child" Aizawa stated. "Recovery Girl won't ask for your help and you should focus on yourself. You'll need all the energy you have for your next match".
"There won't be a next match" muttered Fox Boy. "I quit".
"What? But why?!" Infinity Girl gasped.
"Izuku, you can't waste this opportunity! You need to make a good impression-!" Robot Boy was saying.
Rumi, differently from his two classmates, could understand where Fox Boy was coming from. Did she like it? Of course not. Then again, she was well aware that had she clawed someone's face, she sure wouldn't want to go for another fight. Or at least, she hoped she was more like Fox Boy and less like Bakugo.
"No" Fox Boy cut in, glaring at his lap. "I refuse to play along this… this blood sport. I didn't join UA to be an entertainer, and I sure don't want to be a hero for the attention or fame". He looked at Aizawa. "Besides, if anyone should move on to the next round, it should have been Shinso. He managed to brainwash me, after all".
"Oh, stop being such a fucking hypocrite" Bakugo derisively scoffed.
Fox Boy snapped his head at Bakugo and growled at him, ears flat on his face. Aizawa, on his part, sent a warning glare at the explosive blond.
"What? I'm right! Deku has always loved watching heroes beat villains to a bloody pulp. He didn't care when Pro-Heroes stomped on someone's face but now that he has to fight, he quits!" Bakugo exclaimed.
Even though Bakugo was talking to Fox Boy, Rumi felt a pang of guilt and shame. After all, as much as she wanted to complain about the audience being dismissive of Shinso's grievous wounds, didn't she enjoy when Pro-Heroes beat the crap out of villains? Did she ever spare a thought about the villains getting beaten?
"I admire heroes and how they use their quirks! That doesn't mean I enjoy needless violence!" Spat Fox Boy.
"Then quit!" Bakugo huffed. "If you aren't willing to go all out and fight for your fu- freaking dream, Deku, then you don't deserve to be here".
Fox Boy growled at the explosive teen, baring his sharp teeth.
"Enough. Midoriya, leave. Recovery Girl made it clear she wouldn't require of your assistance. If you wish to withdraw, then you may do so" Aizawa told him. "However, you can't allow this event stop you, Midoriya. Accidents happen. You must have the strength and will to keep fighting regardless".
"I mauled someone's face! I refuse to do it again and much less to a cheering audience!" Midoriya exclaimed.
"Even if it means saving a life?" Aizawa asked.
Silence fell on the infirmary.
"How far would you be willing to go in order to defeat a villain, Midoriya?" Aizawa asked. "There are monsters out there, Midoriya, lurking in the shadows, vying their time to strike. Would you hesitate against them?"
Rumi's eyes widened. Her mind went back to the conversation she eavesdropped. It suddenly struck her how, perhaps in a few years, everything could very well go to hell and it would probably be their generation who would have to fight through what would ensue. All Might was headed towards retirement and a villain organization was preparing for an attack. Fox Boy had to be prepared for what was going to come. All of them had to.
"Will you hesitate to draw blood? Will you pause if there are people watching?" Aizawa pressed on, much to Fox Boy's mounting dread. "Take the Third Event of this festival as your hero debut, Midoriya. Prove to yourself, not the world, that you can beat your opponents without the need of drawing blood. Prove to yourself that you truly have what it takes to be a Pro-Hero".
Fox Boy looked down, frowning, while Rumi watched him. As much as she hated to admit it, Aizawa had a point. Still, she couldn't blame Fox Boy for wanted to quit after having blood on his claws.
"Learn from your hardships, Midoriya, and grow stronger from them. It is a disservice to take the blame for something outside your control and to therefore waste an opportunity to test yourself" Aizawa said. He turned to Infinity Girl and Robot Boy. "The same goes to you two".
There was a long prolonged moment of silence as Fox Boy stared at his lap. Rumi grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. Slowly, he looked at her. Red eyes bet emerald, and for a brief moment, they just focused on each other.
"Uh, the next match is about to start!" Infinity Girl gasped, staring at the screens.
Everyone snapped their head to the nearest hanging television. There, the battle ring had been fixed and the two fighters stood at the ready. On the one side was the thin fearful Jiro Kyoka. On the other was the cold Todoroki Shoto.
"It's going to be a quick match" Bakugo scoffed. "It won't even be a fight".
They all glared at him. However, as much as they despised him, Rumi wasn't about to claim otherwise. Jiro, for all of her lively spirit that Rumi could appreciate, was no match to Todoroki's quirk.
"Are you sure about that?"
Rumi, surprised, turned towards Fox Boy. She wasn't the only one. They all eyed him, confused. Although his eyes were dark with shame and remorse, a mischievous smirk was planted on Fox Boy's face. Rumi frowned at him. He couldn't possibly believe the girl with just Earphone Jacks as a quirk could do anything against a boy that could create glaciers in seconds.
"Oh, for fu-" Bakugo, once again, paused to glance at Aizawa. "For God's sake, you can't be stupid enough to think Weird-Ears stands a chance?"
"Want to bet on it?" Fox Boy's smirk had turned almost feral.
Infinity Girl and Robot Boy were utterly perplexed. Rumi, though, was grinning. What did the mischievous Fox Boy had in store for them? She wasn't the only one. Aizawa was smirking all while Bakugo squinted, suspicious, at Fox Boy.
"What is it, Bakugo? Do you also believe Jiro stands a chance?" Fox Boy said. "I didn't know you thought so highly of her…"
"Oh hell no! With that quirk of hers… fine, Deku!" Bakugo barked. "What do you want to bet, huh? Money?"
"No. If I win, you apologize to Ochaco" Fox Boy replied. "You apologize for burning her face and for thinking she can only make it into the Hero Industry by selling her body".
"Like hell I'll do that!" Bakugo spat.
"Afraid?" Fox Boy taunted.
Bakugo merely growled. Rumi could tell that as much as the explosive boy wanted to take the bet, all too sure about Jiro's defeat, he was hesitant and rightfully so. Fox Boy knew something.
"As if that extra could last more than a second" Bakugo scoffed.
"We'll see" Fox Boy said.
All they could do, however, was wait. They stared at the television and waited. The television was clearly muted, or else they would have heard Present Mic's commentary. The camera changed, showing Jiro's pale and uneasy face before jumping onto Todoroki's detached and cold face.
"Look at her. How do you think she can make it, Deku?" Bakugo stated.
Whilst boisterous, Rumi could tell he had his doubts. He probably knew Fox Boy wouldn't be so confident about Jiro without good cause. Rumi sure hope so, because she could only reluctantly agree with Bakugo. The girl didn't look like much. She was rather thin and she seemed utterly nervous.
Then it started – and it was all over. One moment the two were standing on the concrete battle ring. On the next instant, a massive wall of ice had run straight towards Jiro. On the screen, there was nothing but ice.
"Ha! See?" Bakugo laughed. "It's-"
The ice shattered, flying everywhere, and out came Jiro. She bore a surprised (and relieved) face. Her earphone jacks were drilling forward, smashing through the ice like it was nothing. A wide-eyed Todoroki was forced to jump to a side.
"WHAT THE HELL?! SHE-!" Bakugo was screaming, before his face was covered in Aizawa's scarf-like capture weapon.
"There's a surgery going on the other room" Aizawa scoffed.
However, as annoyed as the Pro-Hero was, he couldn't shake off the wide grin on his face. Neither could a smirking Fox Boy. Rumi laughed, unable to believe it. Back on the screen, Endeavor's son tried repeating his previous strategy, this time summoning a bigger wall of ice to push Jiro out of the ring… only for those earphone jacks to somehow undo the ice crystals. The ice shattered into smithereens and rained down onto the concrete.
"How?!" Bakugo exclaimed once Aizawa released him. "She- she must have taken Trigger or some shit! She-"
"What is that, Bakugo? Jiro is not that much of an extra?" Taunted Fox Boy.
"Boys" Aizawa interrupted them. "Eyes on the screen".
The fight, though, seemed to have maintained the same strange cycle. A frustrated Todoroki kept trying to use his ice against Jiro. However, the now confident girl was somehow using her earphone jacks to undo the ice creations with a touch. Rumi was truly curious how she did it. Could it be… vibrations? Could those earphone jacks be capable of generating vibrations in the necessary frequency to shatter the ice?
The battle changed when Jiro reached Todoroki and tried using one of her earphone jacks at him. Rumi wasn't sure what she could gain from poking at the boy, but Todoroki sure wasn't going to stand still and find out. However, Jiro underestimated Todoroki as he lunged at her. Surprised by that, Jiro tried to retreat while attacking with her quirk, only for Todoroki to expertly dodge. He reached her and delivered a rather well executed roundhouse kick to her gut.
Damn, kid knows how to kick, Rumi mused. For some reason, she was surprised that Todoroki could be so proficient on hand-to-hand combat.
Jiro was sent back and barely had time to react as Todoroki tried to freeze her. She managed to avoid being turned into a popsicle, but by that point Todoroki had managed to deliver another kick. Jiro tried to poke at him, only for the boy to dodge and, with a simple touch of his right hand, caught one of the earphone jacks inside a chunk of ice. The other one swept over to break the ice, only for Todoroki to repeat the process with surprising swiftness.
With her two earphone jacks pulled down by ice blocks, Jiro was left helpless against Todoroki. The boy rushed towards her, all while she stared. One second later, Jiro's legs and arms were frozen within a tall pillar of ice. She was immobile. Todoroki had won.
"We should go" Fox Boy said, before turning towards Iida. "You are next. Are you ready?"
"Yes. I have trained and prepared myself for this moment" Iida stated with vehemence. He frowned at Fox Boy. "What about you, though? Are you feeling better?"
"No" Fox Boy admitted, before turning towards Aizawa "but I won't let that stop me".
Aizawa gave a nod of approval. The group turned to leave. Once outside, Iida bid his farewells and hastily hurried away all while the others offered their support.
"You can do it, Tenya!" Infinity Girl cheered.
"Good luck" Fox Boy said half-heartedly.
"Kick better than your brother, Robot Boy!" Rumi shouted at the departing form of Iida.
Robot Boy didn't stop but he did offer a final indignant glare at her only to disappear round the corner. With only Infinity Girl and Fox Boy, she turned towards them.
"So… what are you going to do, Fox Boy?" Rumi wondered.
"I-I don't know" muttered Fox Boy, glancing at his claws. "I really don't want to be part of this… this stupid game. For now I'll just stay to support Iida and Ochaco".
"Oy, whatever you chose, I am behind you 100%" Rumi said with a nudge.
Fox Boy gave a sad smile at that.
"Come on, guys, we are going to miss the fight!" Ochaco exclaimed.
"Do we meet again after Iida's fight?" Rumi asked.
"Yes, we need to discuss Ochaco's strategy and battle plan" Fox Boy said.
For a moment, Infinity Girl looked surprised by that. However, there was no time to waste. Thus they ran away, desperate to avoid missing Iida's fight. Rumi glanced back at Fox Boy. As much as she wanted to believe he would was doing better, Rumi could only worry about the silly Fox Boy.
Back at the stands, Haku and Hana were curious to know about Fox Boy's state. Before Rumi could reply, Present Mic did his announcements. The ice had been cleared and it seemed that they would start without much of a pause.
"On the one side, he's a mean engine of rule following and a staunch fighter for justice, the Class Representative of 1-A, Tenya Iida!" Present Mic announced. "On the other, as Vice-Representative, she is the smartest and most talented – not to mention creative – of her group: Momo Yaoyorozu!"
And without a hitch, the fight began.
"That was…" Izuku trailed off, unsure "Well… I have to say it was – well…"
"Pathetic" Rumi deadpanned.
Ochaco just laughed alongside Haku and Hana. Iida, in turn, averted his eyes, blushing furiously at the ground. The group was outside, at the steps of the Stadium's entrance. They had a full view of the ongoing fights thanks to the holographic screen over the entrance's threshold. Other than that, they felt like they were in a ghost town without a single soul around. The concession stands sure were creepy without people.
"It wasn't… bad" Izuku chuckled. "He did win in the end".
"He should have lost" Rumi scoffed. She pointed an accusing finger at Iida "Really? Not wanting to kick or punch a lady? What the hell, Robot Boy? You can't be so condescending!"
"I was raised to be a gentleman!" Iida exclaimed, with steam sprouting off his ears. "I can't bring myself to harm a woman".
"Pushing her out of the limits was pathetic! You made her look like a pushover!" Rumi growled. "And don't give me the gentleman excuse. What are you going to do against a female criminal? Push her?"
"I think it was for the best" Ochaco giggled. "Iida's kicks can be dangerous – deadly even".
"Then punch her!" Rumi growled, pulling her long white hair in exasperation. "If I had been your opponent, you sanctimonious arse, I would have kicked your butt to kingdom come!"
"It was a good strategy to use his exhaust smoke to cover her face before pushing her out of limits" Izuku conceded. "However, Iida, you are lucky you were fast, or you would have lost. I must say, it was interesting to see Yaoyorozu produce shuriken and coat them with paralyzing poison… I had no idea she could create liquids or gases like she did."
"Her smoke was a good move!" Ochaco exclaimed. "But she sure can't create it like Bakugo. The flash grenade almost worked, though".
"Whatever" Rumi spat. She turned towards Ochaco. "Let us talk business!"
"Oy, keep it quiet!" Haku exclaimed "the next fight is coming up".
It was between the Aizawa-lookalike, called Masako Himura, and Hatsume Mei. Hana was already staring at the screen intently and ignoring the teenagers.
"So, Infinity girl… you have the honor of kicking the bastard's butt" Rumi said with glee. "What's your plan?"
"Guys" Ochaco sighed, shaking her head. "I appreciate all of your support but…" she stood up, raising a fist and staring at the sky with determination. "I have to do this on my own".
Iida and Izuku traded baffled expressions. Rumi, though, scowled. She stood up, walked in front of Ochaco. For a moment, they merely stared at each other. Then Rumi karate-chopped Ochaco's head.
"You idiot!" Rumi grunted.
"Rabbit Girl" Izuku sighed, separating the angry Rumi from Ochaco.
"Guys, it isn't that I don't want your help" Ochaco clarified, caressing her head. "It is just that… I want to be better…" she looked down, only to turn towards Izuku "…I don't want to always rely on you, Izuku".
"What do you mean?" Izuku wondered, surprised. He wasn't alone on that.
"From the day we met… you haven't stopped helping me" Ochaco said with a sad smile. "You saved me at the Entrance Exam and- and thanks to you I got enough rescue points to make it into U.A. You encouraged and helped me push forward during this month of preparation… even gave me the motivation and tips I needed. And today…" she looked at the ground, ashamed "…even today I can't manage to stand on my own two feet".
Izuku looked at her, baffled, while Rumi frowned. Iida seemed to look somewhat depressed himself, as if sharing Ochaco's doubts.
"I have to fight Bakugo on my own" Ochaco said. "I want to be like you, Izuku… and you, Rumi, and that means facing Bakugo with my own smarts and strength".
"Infinity Girl…" Rumi sighed, once again approaching Ochaco. The red-eyed Rabbit Girl offered a kind smile, one that Ochaco responded in kind. Then Rumi proceeded to karate-chop her head again. "You idiot!"
"Rabbit Girl!" Izuku exclaimed, holding Rumi behind. He was forced to use his tails to keep her from hitting the brunette any further.
"Let me at her! Let me at her!" An angry Rumi exclaimed, karate-chopping the air as a weird rendition of Iida.
"Usagiyama, as much as I share your desire to assist our fellow friend, it won't do to injure her before her fight!" Iida exclaimed, with karate-chops of his own. "It is, also, an admirable sentiment we should respect!"
"Oh hell no! I would agree if it was anyone else, but Bakugo isn't just anyone. That bastard won't second guess himself because she is a girl, differently from others" Rumi scoffed, sending an accusing glare at Iida. "Bakugo will get carried away, Infinity Girl. Without a good plan, he could wreck you. He'll go out of his way to embarrass you in public".
"Thanks for the concern but that's a risk I'm willing to take" Ochaco firmly responded.
"That makes you an idiot" Rumi scoffed. "You have the most cunning fighter here" she gestured at Izuku. "We aren't asking you to follow our orders or battle plan. At least ask Fox Boy for some guidance – to see if what you came up with isn't suicidal or ridiculous".
"I made my mind" Ochaco hummed. "This is my fight".
"Alright then…" Rumi sighed. She seemed to calm down for a moment... only to try and jump at Ochaco. Nine fox tails kept her suspended in the air as she tried to karate-chop Ochaco's head once again. "Let me at her! Let me at her!"
"We'll you cease this behaviour?!" Iida exclaimed, angry.
"Look, Ochaco, while I respect your desire to prove yourself… you do know that part of that is to understand your own limitations?" Izuku pointed out.
Ochaco frowned, only to scrunch her face with determination.
"Don't worry. I've got this" she said with a tone of finality. "I am sure my plan is going to work".
Izuku, still suspending an angry Rumi mid-air, frowned at Ochaco, only to stroke his chin. He hummed at her, all while the round-faced brunette blinked at him. He couldn't just guess her plan, right? Sadly, she was wrong.
"You are going to charge at him blindly and use debris of his explosions for a distraction so you can get close enough to remove his gravity, aren't you?" Izuku sighed.
Ochaco didn't outright respond. Instead, her eyes widened and she looked at Izuku with a gaping mouth. She seemed ready to gasp and convey her surprise by his accurate guess, but held her tongue at the last second.
"I figured as much" sighed Izuku. "Alright, you can bonk some sense into her now". He said, releasing an angry battle-lusting onto Ochaco. Rumi, in turn, gladly went back to karate-chopping Ochaco's head.
"See? This is why you need some help! You don't get Fox Boy's level of planning abilities overnight!" Rumi exclaimed, giving a couple of bonks before stepping back to Izuku's side.
"What's wrong with my plan?" Ochaco wondered, rubbing her aching head.
To her disdain, Izuku started counting the flaws with a hand.
"First, you are under the assumption there will be enough debris – as in, you actually believe Bakugo will for some weird reason target the ground and not you. Second, you actually believe he won't notice you as you make the debris float. I mean, he does have good situational awareness and even if he produces smoke… he won't be as affected by it as you. Third, Bakugo can easily destroy anything you throw at him or just jump away with an explosion. Fourth, the same debris that might fall onto him will also fall onto you… so you might get hit too. The difference? Bakugo can take falling chunks of concrete. You can't. Fifth, you are basing this on the very strange assumption that removing Bakugo's gravity will be enough" Izuku said.
"It won't?" A surprised Ochaco asked.
"Rabbit Girl?" Izuku said, turning towards Rumi.
"With pleasure" Rumi replied with a smirk, before karate-chopping Ochaco's head again. "No, you idiot! He can use his explosions to stay within boundaries! Heck, he could stay up there without problems!"
"Oh, right" Ochaco frowned. Her shoulders slumped "I'm awful at this…"
"Hey, there is nothing wrong in being unable to come with a good plan. I mean, you are limited in options here and Bakugo is no easy opponent. Between nerves, inexperience... don't beat yourself" Izuku said, offering a reassuring squeeze of her shoulder.
"But what about his smoke? I was planning on using his explosions to create a smokescreen" Ochaco said.
"That… that shows you don't understand his quirk" Izuku sighed. "His quirk isn't explosion, per se, it is to produce a nitro-glycerine-like sweat and be able to oxidize it in his palms. What you must understand… he can control both processes. He can create extremely pure explosive sweat or a dilute version, just as he can generate an efficient oxidation or a very slow and poor one".
"Huh?" Ochaco wondered, confused.
"He means that Bakugo can regulate the amount of smoke, light and sound output as much as the strength of shockwave in each explosion" Iida explained.
"I- I didn't know that…" a crestfallen Ochaco said.
"And that's fine. I am a quirk nerd, remember? And I've seen him use his quirk enough times to figure it out. You barely know him as it is, and it isn't like we had many opportunities to see each other using their quirks at their best" Izuku said.
Ochaco looked at her hands. Differently from Bakugo's quirk, her quirk was far from versatile. In fact, hers was pretty much one note.
"I'm going to lose no matter what I do, am I?" She wondered.
"Actually, there is something I was curious about" Izuku asked, stroking his chin. "About your quirk, I mean".
Ochaco frowned at him. What could he possibly mean by that? Her quirk was very simple, at least in comparison to Bakugo's. The more she heard about it, the more she understood where he got such a big head about it. Still, if anyone could figure a creative use of her quirk, it sure was Izuku.
"Have you ever... ehm… used it on the ground?" Izuku tentatively asked.