"Shirakawa told me you want to become a hero," said Oro. "And I'm sure you will, with that Quirk of yours."
"Hideki... told you?" Izuku repeated.
"Yeah," said Oro. "We had a lot of fun during the internship, y'know? Speaking of Shirakawa, do you know why he isn't here?"
"Oro, watch out!"
Muscular attacked Oro from behind, but the hero just swung his arm towards him and pushed him away.
"Can't you see I'm talking with him?" he asked. "And attacking from behind is cowardly, you know?"
(He's making fun of me...) thought Muscular.
"So, are you gonna answer?" Oro repeated, facing Izuku.
"I don't know why he's not here," Izuku replied. "He said he didn't come because he had to help his girlfriend with something."
"Damn, skipping the training camp with your friends to stay with his girlfriend? That's not what a man should do," said Oro. "But I don't blame him, y'know? Girlfriend is important too, in the life... I should call mine, now that I think about it..."
"Oro!" Muscular shouted. "Let's fight!"
"Oh, right, you're here!" laughed Oro. "Sorry, I forgot about you."
Oro looked at Izuku from over his shoulder. "Midoriya, would you mind taking a few steps away and watching me fight? Once I'm done with this guy, we'll reach your friends."
Izuku silently nodded.
"Fine," Oro looked right into Muscular's eyes. "That prosthesis sucks. If you want, I have a nicer one at home."
"STOP MAKING FUN OF ME, YOU GODDAMMED HERO!" Muscular screamed, charging towards Oro.
"Rule number one," said Oro, dodging the punch. "Never attack in anger."
Oro delivered a powerful jab to Muscular's jaw. The villain stumbled backwards.
"Did that hurt?" Oro asked. "If it did, tell me. I'll hit you softer next time."
Muscular attacked again, but Oro dodged.
(He's totally clowning him...) Izuku thought.
Oro's punch clashed with Muscular's.
"Your Quirk is basically useless against opponents who are faster than you," said Oro, keep clashing.
"What are you talking about?" Muscular asked.
"First of all, enlarging your muscles may grant you more physical strength, but it slows you down a lot," Oro explained. "And if you can't hit your opponent, it doesn't matter how physically strong you are."
"Stop talking nonsense, you fucking steroid-head!" Muscular increased the force of his punches.
"Between the two of us, you look like the one on steroids," said Oro, countering without problems. "My physique is the result of rigorous training under the watchful guidance of All Might!"
(W-what? All Might trained him?) Izuku widened his eyes. (That's why his fighting style is very similar to All Might's...)
The two opponents kept clashing for a while, with Oro having the upper hand.
"Midoriya, how did this guy reduce you to that condition?" asked Oro. "I mean, he's weak!"
"He may be weak for you," said Izuku. "But he's very strong for me."
"Oh, right, I didn't consider that," said Oro, blocking one of Muscular's punches without turning.
"Can't you see I'm talking to Midoriya?"
Oro smashed Muscular against the wall.
"When a person is talking to someone, you shouldn't attack them, you know?" Oro crossed his arms.
"S-shut up..." Muscular slowly rose on his feet. "Fine! I'm going to use my ultimate move!"
Muscular's physique grew even bigger.
"Midoriya! Kid! Stay back!" Oro exclaimed. Muscular's muscles began to push him against the floor.
(Damn, he's very heavy... I can't move him...)
"You'll die from lack of oxygen!" Muscular said. "My body is pushing you against the floor! No matter how strong you are, you can't move me!"
"Oro!" Izuku screamed.
"Stay back, Midoriya!" Oro said. "I'm a hero, and heroes don't need the help of someone they're supposed to protect!"
Oro used both arms to try contrast Muscular.
"What's wrong? Aren't you the third strongest hero? Can't you move me?"
"Fine, you asked for it!" Oro exclaimed. "Light Smash: 100%!"
Oro's punch connected with Muscular's body. The villain stumbled back, and Oro broke free.
"W-what!?"
"LIGHT SMASH: Overdrive!"
SBAM!
Oro punched Muscular with all the strength in his punch. Muscular smashed against the wall once again.
(He... he won! And he said 'Light Smash'!)
Oro panted heavily. "You've just been Oro'd, muscle man!"
"Crap, that ultimate move of his was very hard to counter, but man, am I strong!" said Oro. He turned to Izuku and thumbed up. "See? This is how a hero wins, Midoriya."
(I've always thought All Might was the greatest hero, and that nobody could rival him... but Oro... he is...)
(These two are my heroes!) Kota thought.
Oro took a look at Muscular's unconscious body. "Let's leave 'im here. If he wakes up, I'll beat the shit out of him again."
Oro walked to Izuku and brushed off some dust from his shoulders.
"Thanks, Oro..." said Izuku.
"Oro-san, can I ask you a question?" Kota asked.
"Of course, kid," said Oro.
"Why did you save us?" the kid asked. "You don't even know who we are, but you saved us anyway."
"Because, kid," said Oro. "A hero saves everyone he can, no matter if he knows them or not. And for the record, I know Midoriya, I even signed his shirt!"
"Oro, I have now a question for you," said Izuku.
"Speak up, Midoriya," said Oro.
"Can you... Tell me more about your training with All Might?"
Oro smiled. "I love when people ask me this!"
Oro looked at the sky.
"In case you don't know, I'm 26. All Might is 30 years older than me. Let's just say that, when I was 14 and eager to enter U.A., All Might wasn't the hero he is now. We casually met after he saved me from a villain."
"Since he was stronger than me and I didn't know how to fight or defend myself, I asked him to train me. He accepted. Not only did he teach me his moves, his fighting style, and his philosophy, but he also helped me to masterize my own Quirk. That's why you would often hear me say things like 'Light Smash,' 'Light Texas Smash,' or moves All Might also uses."
"Under his wing, it's difficult not to begin fighting like him. Not that he complains about me using his techniques and placing the word 'light' at the beginning, though. We're not only mentor and student, but we're also great friends."
"He told me about you. I'm glad he eventually found his successor. My story is very similar to yours, you know?"
"I think I said everything, did I?" Oro scratched his chin.
"Yeah, I guess so," said Izuku.
(Sorry, Young Midoriya... this is not how I met All Might, but for now, you gotta listen to this.)
"Fine. Let's reach your friends, then," Oro said. "Can you walk?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Let's go."
Chapter 29 - End