Present Mic (yelling, his voice booming through the arena):
"MIDORIYA! THE MATCH JUST STARTED... AND HE'S COMPLETELY FROZEN?! HE'S GOT A BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE AND ISN'T MOVING A MUSCLE! IS THIS SHINSO'S QUIRK?! HE DIDN'T STAND OUT AT ALL, BUT COULD HE ACTUALLY BE SOMEONE AMAZING?! HITOSHI SHINSO HAS GOTTEN THE BETTER OF IZUKU MIDORIYA!! WHO WOULD'VE IMAGINED THIS?! WILL THE BOTTOM REALLY OVERTHROW THE TOP?!"
The stadium roars in confusion, whispers flying through the stands like sparks.
Hae-Sil (thinking, eyes locked on Shinso):
Maybe his quirk is like mine? Stops people from moving? ...No... I thought that but...
Her gaze sharpens at Deku's expression, blank, hollow, completely detached.
Hae-Sil's thoughts continue, her chest tightening:
Like that loud mic monkey said, Midoriya's face is blank... Maybe... a brainwashing quirk? ...Woah... That's a strong quirk. ...Kind of envy that.
Down in the arena, Shinso stands with perfect composure, not sweating, not nervous—just calm.
Shinso (firm, steady voice):
"Turn around... and walk out of bounds."
Instantly, as though a puppet's strings had been pulled, Deku's body obeys. He pivots, eyes lifeless, and begins walking toward the white line of the boundary. Step by step, mechanical, inevitable.
Present Mic (jumping to his feet in shock):
"HUUUH?! WHAT?! MIDORIYA IS BEING OBEDIENT?!"
Gasps explode from the audience. Hae-Sil's pupils shrink, her jaw tightening.
Hae-Sil (her heart pounding):
That can't be... He's clearly exerting control over him. In essence... he's brainwashing him.
Ojiro (from behind, voice urgent):
"Yes! That's his quirk! I warned him about it!"
Hae-Sil shoots him a glance, startled, before snapping her attention back to the field.
Hae-Sil (thinking, panic stirring in her chest):
Oh my god... Midoriya, you'll lose—
Uraraka (her voice trembling beside Hae-Sil, eyes wide):
"Deku... why...?"
Iida (leaning forward, robotic hands clenching):
"If you go out of bounds then you'll lose the match!"
Bakugo sits stone-faced in his seat, arms crossed, narrowed eyes locked on Deku with predator-like focus, completely ignoring the chatter around him.
Deku's foot hovers closer and closer to the line, centimeters from defeat. His blank stare doesn't waver, his body enslaved to Shinso's command.
Suddenly—
A violent surge of energy bursts from Deku's finger, a blast of wind blast ripping outward with a shockwave! The concrete cracks beneath his feet, dust scattering. The invisible chains holding him shatter in an instant.
He gasps for breath, his chest heaving, free at last. His toes scrape the line, centimeters from stepping out.
Present Mic (practically falling over his desk, shouting):
"WOOAAAH!! MIDORIYA STOPPED!!"
The crowd erupts, cheers shaking the stadium.
Iida (leaping up, fists raised):
"MIDORIYA!!"
Uraraka (tears brimming in her eyes, her hands clutched together tightly):
"I'm... I'm so glad...!"
Ojiro (sinking back into his seat with a relieved grin):
"Th-that's crazy..."
Hae-Sil catches herself smiling—a small, unguarded smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes soften at Deku's resilience... but almost instantly, she realizes it and clamps down, frowning hard. She quickly turns her face away, hiding it.
Hae-Sil (thinking, scolding herself):
Why am I smiling? I don't even know him yet...
Her expression steels again, eyes narrowing, forcing herself back into seriousness as if nothing had slipped through.
Shinso (staggering back, eyes wide in disbelief):
"...Why?!"
His jaw clenched, his fist shaking with anger as he snarled:
"You shouldn't be able to move freely! What did you do?!"
Deku's breathing ragged, he quickly clamps his hand over his own mouth, eyes burning with determination. He knows if he says one word, he'll be trapped again.
Silence. The crowd murmurs in confusion.
Shinso (furious, his voice breaking as he roars):
"WHAT DID YOU DO?! ANSWER ME!!"
Inside his head, Shinso's thoughts spiral:
He won't answer... Did he figure out my secret? ...No. He should've heard from that monkey—Ojiro—from the beginning.
Shinso lunges, trying to provoke, trying to break Deku open. But Deku bursts forward instead, sprinting, his eyes blazing. He slams his shoulder into Shinso, driving him back with sheer force.
Shinso (gritting his teeth, shouting):
"SAY SOMETHING!"
He retaliates, his fist slamming into Deku's face with brutal force. Deku stumbles, blood flying from his lip—yet his eyes only burn hotter. His thoughts echo in his head like a vow:
Deku (thinking, fierce):
I won't talk... I won't lose either!
With a roar, Deku digs his heels in and shoves harder, his muscles straining.
Shinso (eyes widening, sliding back):
Is he... trying to push me out?!
Desperation takes over. Shinso strikes downward, slamming his hand onto Deku's already broken fingers. Pain shoots up Deku's arm, his scream ripping through the air.
Shinso (snarling, shoving him away):
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!"
He slaps Deku's face, spittle flying with his rage:
"YOU GET OUT!"
But instead—Deku's hands latch onto Shinso's arm with iron grip. His body twists, years of practiced movement guiding him. With a mighty roar, Deku flips Shinso clean over his shoulder.
Time slows. The crowd gasps as Shinso sails through the air, landing flat on his back just beyond the boundary line.
Midnight (raising her whip high, her voice cutting sharp through the noise):
"Shinso is out of bounds! Midoriya advances to Round Two!!"
The arena explodes in cheers. Students leap to their feet, the audience thundering their approval.
Present Mic (screaming into his mic, practically bouncing in his seat):
"IN THE FINALS, THE FIRST PERSON TO ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND IS IZUKU MIDORIYA FROM CLASS A!"
Uraraka (collapsing into her seat, clutching her chest):
"Woaah... I was so nervous!"
Iida (adjusting his glasses proudly):
"Turning the tables at the last moment! As expected of Midoriya!"
Denki, sitting beside Bakugo, leans toward him, grinning with his usual clueless charm:
Denki:
"He did that shoulder toss on you before too, didn't he?"
Bakugo (snapping, his eyes still glued to Deku down in the arena):
"Shut up, dunce face..."
Denki's grin drops into a pouty, sulky frown, his shoulders slumping. Bakugo, however, thinks darkly to himself:
Bakugo (inner monologue, sharp and heated):
That damn nerd... He was definitely aiming for it. He led him right into it!
Present Mic (cheerful, but a little dismissive):
"YAHOO! KIND OF A BORING FIRST MATCH, BUT STILL—WE SHOULD PRAISE THEM BOTH FOR A BRAVELY FOUGHT BATTLE! CLAP YOUR HANDS, PEOPLE!"
The audience claps and cheers, some standing, others shaking their heads in awe at Shinso's display.
On the field, Cementoss sitting between them as the fight officially ends. Deku and Shinso both stand, their eyes lowered to the cracked floor beneath their feet. Silence hangs between them like a heavy curtain.
Shinso ignores Deku, shoulders tight, and turns away, trudging out of the arena. But before he leaves, voices from the crowd ring out—raw, genuine admiration:
Crowd voices:
"You were really cool, Shinso!"
"Good job!"
"I was really surprised!"
"You're the star of General Studies!"
"You put up a great fight against the guy who placed first in the obstacle course!"
One student points toward the pro-heroes in the stands, most of them murmuring approval, nodding in respect.
Student (calling down to Shinso, smiling brightly):
"You hear that, Shinso? You're amazing!"
Shinso stops dead. His face twitches, the weight of all his bitterness and self-doubt crashing against the unexpected warmth of their cheers. His eyes grow wet—not with tears, but with something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Slowly... he smiles. A small, raw, almost fragile smile.
He turns to Deku, his voice steadier now:
Shinso:
"I'll... do my best to beat you next time."
Deku, still catching his breath, lifts his head and nods firmly, respect in his gaze.
Deku:
"Yeah."
The match ended. The arena stood empty, its dust settling into silence. From the stands, Hae-Sil slowly rose from her seat. Uraraka glanced up at her with a curious, gentle look.
Uraraka:
"H-Hae-Sil? Where are you going?"
Hae-Sil froze for a second, her back stiff. After a pause, she muttered without turning fully around:
Hae-Sil:
"...Cafeteria. I'm hungry."
Uraraka blinked, unsure, her smile fading slightly. She gave a small nod, but her expression was uneasy. She still didn't understand Hae-Sil—her walls, her sharp edges that sometimes softened only to harden again. Hae-Sil walked away, guilt brushing faintly against her chest, though she ignored it.
The hallways stretched endlessly. She frowned, turning corner after corner. She was terrible with directions—always had been. Cafeterias, classrooms, dorm halls... they blurred together. And soon enough, she realized she was lost again.
Her steps slowed when a sign caught her eye. "Recovery Girl's Office."
She hesitated. If Midoriya was anywhere, it would be there. For a moment, she thought—
...Maybe I could be a good girl and make sure he's okay.
Her hand hovered over the doorknob when suddenly—
Recovery Girl's sharp voice (muffled inside):
"You put some weird pressure on him again, didn't you?!"
Hae-Sil froze. A thud, then a punch sounded.
All Might's weak voice (muffled, wheezing):
"It was necessary! Ouch..."
Deku's voice (muffled, strained but earnest):
"Oh yeah... All Might... "
Hae-Sil's eyes widened. That wasn't All Might's voice. Not the booming, confident hero everyone knew. This was frail, tired, almost broken. Her mind raced—
...All Might? That... can't be him... can it?
"I... I had a vision... There were eight... or nine people. I'm not sure how many. But when my mind was fogged by the brainwashing, that vision appeared... like it was driving the fog away. It felt like I could barely move my fingertips for just a moment."
Hae-Sil's eyes narrowed, lips parting slightly. She pressed closer to the door, barely breathing.
Deku (continuing):
"There was someone with eyes like you, too, All Might... Was it... the people who inherited One For All who did it?"
Hae-Sil's breath caught. Her thoughts reeled—
...One for all? Inherit? What the hell is that?
Wait. Just listen...
All Might's voice (flustered, uneasy):
"...Scary... What the heck?"
Deku:
"What?! I thought you'd know about it!"
All Might:
"No, I also saw it before... in my younger days. It's a clear sign that you've got a better grasp on One For All."
Deku (confused):
"What does that mean? ...
All Might (explaining): I think it's like a trace they left behind in One For All. Not something with intent that can interfere with me—and I can't interfere with them. In other words, that vision isn't what got rid of the brainwashing. It was my strong emotions when I saw the vision that let me break free for just long enough to move my fingertips... I think."
Deku's words faded from determined into exhausted. She could picture him rubbing the back of his head in frustration.
Deku:
"That explanation... isn't satisfying at all though..."
All Might (bursting louder, his voice like an awkward clap of thunder):
"DON'T GET TOO HUNG UP ABOUT IT! More importantly—don't you need to see who you'll fight next?!"
Hae-Sil's eyes went wide. Her chest pounded as if she'd been caught spying. She snapped her head up and without a second thought—
—she ran. Silent, quick footsteps echoing barely audibly down the hall, slipping away just before Midoriya opened the office door.
She rounded a corner, breath sharp in her throat, and almost collided with a towering figure. She looked up to see Mount Lady standing there, arms crossed casually, curious at the small student rushing around.
Hae-Sil (panting lightly, clutching her stomach):
"Uh—sorry. Um. Where's... the cafeteria? I'm starving."
Mount Lady blinked, then chuckled at the blunt way she asked, her lips curving into an amused smile.
Mount Lady:
"Haha, you're a funny one. It's way down that way, kiddo."
She pointed in the opposite direction. Hae-Sil nodded quickly, muttering a faint thanks before darting off again, her mind racing with heavier thoughts than hunger.
...One For All. Inherit. All Might's real self. What the hell did I just overhear?
Still, her stomach growled loudly, dragging her thoughts back down to earth. With quick steps, she hurried toward the cafeteria at last.
-----------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, when Midoriya returned to the stands, the crowd still buzzing faintly from his victory—
Uraraka (brightly, waving):
"Oh, Deku!"
His head snapped toward her voice. He saw her sitting beside Iida, her face glowing with relief and excitement.
Uraraka:
"Good work!"
Iida (pointing at the seat next to him with his usual stiff gesture):
"We saved a seat for you!"
Midoriya smiled, cheeks a little red. He bowed his head slightly.
Midoriya:
"Thanks."
As he walked over, Ojiro glanced back at him from behind, raising his fist in a silent "congrats." Midoriya's smile grew, and he nodded in return.
Not long after, Hae-Sil appeared at the top of the steps. She carried a rice ball in one hand—her usual fallback. Japanese snacks didn't sit well with her, so she always stuck to her own: rice balls stuffed with tuna. The scent was faint, but familiar and grounding to her.
She caught the sound of Uraraka's voice again—too warm, too inviting.
Uraraka (beaming, waving her over):
"Hae-Sil! You came! Come on, sit here with us!"
Hae-Sil's eyes flicked toward her. The way Uraraka's voice carried, bright and eager, rubbed against something sharp inside her. Her gaze darted to Midoriya, who was already chatting with Iida. And that's when the thought twisted in her chest:
...Why does she want me with her like that? What's her deal? What's wrong with her?
Her jaw tensed as she stood there, unmoving. Seconds stretched too long, and finally one of the nearby students muttered for her to sit down somewhere. The words snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. She blinked and saw Uraraka looking up at her, blinking back in confusion, her smile faltering.
Hae-Sil exhaled sharply through her nose, almost a sigh. The other seats were packed—mostly beside boys. The only open one saved for her was beside Uraraka, with Momo on the other side. No other choice.
She stepped down slowly and dropped into the seat. Uraraka leaned toward her, voice soft, hesitant.
Uraraka:
"Are you... okay?"
The silence hung thick. Hae-Sil didn't answer right away. Finally, she muttered—
Hae-Sil:
"...Yea. I'm fine."
She raised the rice ball and took a hard, irritated bite out of it, her jaw working like she was chewing down on her own irritation.
Uraraka smiled faintly, though uncertain, and turned her gaze back toward the arena. Momo gave Hae-Sil a sidelong glance but said nothing, her usual calm composure intact. The energy around their row shifted, tension running invisible between the claps and chatter of the rest of the class.
--------------------
Present Mic (voice booming with energy):
"THANKS FOR WAITING! NEXT UP IS... THESE GUYS!!"
The giant screen above the arena flickered to life, first showing Shoto Todoroki's picture with his name glowing underneath, then Sero's right after.
Present Mic:
"HE'S GOOD! HE'S GOOD! BUT WHAT'S WITH THAT PLAINESS HE JUST CAN'T GET RID OF? FROM THE HERO COURSE... IT'S HANTA SERO!!"
Sero stretched his arms and neck, his usual casual grin plastered on his face.
Sero:
"...That's mean."
Present Mic:
"VERSUS! TAKING THIRD, THEN FIRST IN THE PRELIMS! YOU'RE WAY TOO STRONG, KID! HE WASN'T RECOMMENDED FOR ADMISSION FOR NOTHING! FROM THE HERO COURSE... IT'S SHOTO TODOROKI!!"
The camera zoomed in on Shoto. His face was shadowed behind his bangs, his gaze low, his expression unreadable—cold, yet brimming with something dangerous. The air seemed to thicken around him.
Present Mic (hyped, oblivious to the tension):
"AND NOW, FOR THE SECOND MATCH OF THE FINALS—READY?!"
Mrs. Midnight raised her whip, her voice cutting sharp:
"Start!!"
Sero exhaled, pretending to slump like he was already worn out.
Sero:
"...Well, I don't feel like I can win..."
But the instant the match began, he snapped into action, eyes sharp. His tape shot out, wrapping tight around Shoto's arms, yanking him toward the edge of the bounds.
Sero (gritting his teeth, dragging hard):
"...But I don't feel like losing either!"
Present Mic:
"A SURPRISE ATTACK AIMED TO PUSH HIS OPPONENT OUT OF BOUNDS! DON'T YOU THINK THAT WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THIS SITUATION?! SERIOUSLY, GET HIM, SERO!"
For a split second, it seemed like Sero had the upper hand. Until—
Shoto's head lifted, and his visible eye glinted with something sharp, furious, dangerous.
Shoto (low, cold, dangerous):
"...Sorry."
In that instant, ice exploded outward from his feet, tearing through the stage in a monstrous surge. The ground trembled violently—so much that even Recovery Girl's office shook. Papers fell, and All Might grabbed the edge of a desk.
All Might:
"Wh-what is this?!"
Recovery Girl (eyes wide):
"...Impossible..."
Back in the arena, Present Mic's sunglasses slid down his face as his mouth hung open. Even Eraserhead's eyes widened, his usually calm expression cracking with shock. Mic couldn't even speak anymore. The stadium roared, but it was Midnight who picked up the call, her voice shaking slightly.
The ice bridge didn't stop—it rose high, spiraling, stretching out of the stadium itself. Outside, two pro heroes gasped as they watched the towering glacier pierce through the air, the tail end sprawling far beyond the walls.
Hero 1:
"W-what the hell is that?!"
Hero 2:
"That's... ice?!"
Up in the stands, Class 1-A shielded their faces from the icy wind gusting their way. In front, the massive ice bridge just kept rising, monstrous and unstoppable. Hae-Sil's jaw dropped, her eyes wide.
Hae-Sil (screaming in her head):
"WHAT THE FRECKLE TACKLE WAS THAT?! ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME?! H-HOW... OH... MY... GOD, SHOTO!!"
The ice swallowed everything. On stage, Sero was caught in it, his body frozen solid up to his neck, only his head sticking out. His teeth chattered violently as he tried to speak.
Sero (stammering):
"D-don't... d-don't you think that's a bit too much...?"
Even Mrs. Midnight's platform had been half-frozen, icy shards surrounding her legs.
Mrs. Midnight (calling, tense):
"Sero... can you move?"
Sero (voice breaking):
"O-of course... n-n-n-n-not...! Ow..."
Mrs. Midnight (raising her whip high):
"Sero is immobilized! Todoroki advances to the second round!"
But the cheers didn't come. Instead, the crowd murmured in low whispers, faces pale and uneasy.
Spectator 1:
"...Don't worry about it."
Spectator 2 (nodding quickly):
"Yeah, don't worry about it..."
The whispers spread, more and more repeating the same phrase, trying to convince themselves it was fine—but the atmosphere was heavy, cold, like the ice still crawling across the arena.
Shoto walked slowly to where Sero was, the frost still clinging to his own arm, his breath visible in the air. He stopped in front of his frozen classmate, his eyes shadowed.
Shoto (quietly, looking away):
"...Sorry. I went overboard."
He placed his left palm against Sero's chest—not fire, just warmth. Carefully, deliberately, he melted the ice away bit by bit, freeing him from the frost's grip. His voice was low, distant.
Shoto:
"...I was angry."
________________________________________________________________________________
TO BE CONTINUED!