Present Mic: “Now comes the fourth match up! Kaminari from class 1-A vs Shiozaki from class 1-B!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJFeVtCoZc
3 seconds later.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dfQ3qe986
Present Mic: “And it’s over in a flash!! I’ll say it again, folks!! It’s done, finished. Fastest match yet. Shiozaki advances to the second round!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7KOIOinp
The winner said nothing, instead, she looked up at Izuku in the stands with a glare. What she felt in that first match was anything but pure. It felt… demonic.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIWmthgoRz
However, Izuku was lost in his own world right now.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9JuR1qsAH
Izuku: “That ability of hers is amazing. It wrapped and bound Kaminari, basically sealing his quirk. She had the advantage, but if he had played his cards right, he could’ve righted himself. But instead he panicked and fired off all his juice…”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztg8LCHLop
Kiri smiles as Izuku starts mumbling about quirks. It’s been a while. It would be better if it was just them, though. But no, Uraraka and Momo wanted to sit around him as well.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXvoYRWW4z
Momo: “Uh, Midoriya?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3YQe3jh0l
Izuku: “H-Huh!? S-Sorry!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGWfAqeTxr
Kiri: “Don’t. It’s cute.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqAwdZjjwJ
Izuku: “C-Cute!?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BwkRxTxky
Uraraka: “Hahaha! It only just ended, and you’re already forming counter-strategies based on how you see it playing out?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYerkWfKHV
Izuku: “W-Well, I-I… it’s what I like to do. It’s fun! I even compiled tons of notes on everyone in Class A! That includes your zero gravity, too, Uraraka!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdVTuF7QhI
Uraraka: “R-Really!?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY9UIu2cCr
Momo: “I even took a look at it while we were training. It’s quite detailed and a great source of inspiration.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeSPpdIYNJ
Uraraka: “I see… you’re really incredible, Midoriya. I’m happy to see you’re having fun again. I was worried.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3UaT7hbPL
Izuku’s face darkens for a moment before lighting back up when the next match is announced.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hq5N9PoCw
Present Mic: “All right, here comes the next matchup! Sprint to the top!! His coming across like a center fielder!? It’s Ida Tenya, of the department of heroic class 1-A!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbzsQezg2s
VERSUS!
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MSV6ZOgxL
Present Mic: “She who is fully decked in support gear!! Hatsume Mei, of the department of support.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3i4vwKGh2
Izuku: “Why do I have a bad feeling?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLhBHyEuV4
His feeling was right. Mei played Ida throughout that whole match, just to sell her products. At least she decided to bow out of the tournament after that, because she did not deserve that victory.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWbgSCrBCd
Momo: “How shameless.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOOUNKAZ7o
Kiri: “Nh.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJbsffFRce
Izuku: “There’s no doubt she saw how super earnest Ida is and fed him a nice-sounding line so she could take him for a ride. She’s not really that frank or honest; she’s actually the type who’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4Aw9T6UR8
Uraraka: “Uh… I’m going to the waiting room for a sec; I’ll be back.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MSpOLSQse
Uraraka got up and left the group with an unreadable expression. One that worried Izuku, it almost reminded him of how he could be.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIscRTpdUU
Momo: “You can check on her if you want.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqXmQ5oqud
Izuku: “Huh?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmM93tauPP
Kiri’s eyes widen at Momo’s suggestion. Why would she want Izu to follow some other girl? Didn’t she also…
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1QRh8lIOR
Momo: “Something is clearly bothering her. I’m sure she could use a friend to talk to. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you how the matches went. Right, Tae?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0tYb904YA
Kiri: “… Nh.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KUrZEGf1R
Izuku: “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmJlEZCS3V
The esper hurried and made his way to where Uraraka was. Meanwhile, Momo and Kiri turned back to the stage in silence.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5h8hqu3NG
Kiri wanted to ask a question, but she didn’t really know how to word it. So instead, she avoided it altogether and focused on the next match. One that might be interesting.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsHRhbgJC2
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwippRavTT
Present Mic: “These matches are going by quick! Will the next one be any different?!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfhQZ5hYwP
Jiro: ‘I hope not.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtUJ6yLQIW
Present Mic: “In one corner, the one who managed to get her hands on a sci-fi-looking blaster, Kyoka Jiro from class 1-A!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4tejpBSBT
Jiro adjusted her wrist blaster and hoped it worked as well as she imagined.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y7oGCA8cP
Present Mic: “And her opponent! The girl who dazzles with her athletics and unique color, Mina Ashido from class 1-A!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtp29erBCk
Mina: “Hehe, time for some payback. I won’t fall for the same trick again.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe52c0JFqT7
Jiro: “That means I need to think of some new tricks.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpIkRH5R76
Present Mic: “Ready?!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp6FPjYS0H
Mina lowers her stance, preparing to go full throttle from the start. Jiro gets her blaster ready to fire as her eyes narrow.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFFl5Lgs7D
Present Mic: “Start!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUaLf6hC5G
Jiro fires the blaster, sending the sound of her heart through it. The result? A thin sound wave aimed right at Mina. But seeing that coming from a mile away, Mina was already jumping before the trigger was fired.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSnrlLFKVp
Mina vaulted over the attack and skated towards Jiro using acid slide. But Jiro quickly aimed the blaster again and fired. Once again, Mina was able to dodge by going to the side.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2NKRImCgA
Jiro: ‘Shoot! She’s still getting closer.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDBXZb0EZF
The rocker girl started moving around while firing the blaster, keeping Mina at bay.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSnyy9An1K
Jiro: “You can’t dodge forever!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkot15PTAKe
Mina: “You can’t run forever either!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XoKHPwgME
Jiro: “I’ll get lucky before I get tired.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrzVk6NeNx
But why take that chance? Something they both thought. Mina, after dodging, threw a ball of acid she was generating at Jiro. With little choice, she had to stop firing and instead dodge.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp5X6vZC88
This gave Mina time to get closer, but she didn’t stop slinging acid. Instead of balls, though, these were just strings of stinging pain.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktqeuukBIK
Not wanting to experience acid burns, Jiro kept on the move and took pot shots every now and then.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRBh0LJYTL
Present Mic: “Well, would you look at this, folks! We have ourselves an actual shootout!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oJPAhirmZ
At this rate, Jiro was going to lose. Mina was too athletic and had no problem dodging. While for Jiro, it was a bit harder to dodge the acid, and her footing was slipping.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcM4dEQol4
Jiro: ‘I won’t win without taking some risks and pain. And I refuse to lose here!’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaLMuNpfM7
The rocker stopped dodging and charged at Mina. The alien girl had no problem with this and met the charge head-on.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmSLcJpk9A
Mina: “Handing me the victory? Thanks, Jiro!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP071WIbhd
Mina slung some more acid, expecting Jiro to dodge again. But instead, Jiro blocked it with her forearms. It lightly burned through the clothes and a bit of skin. The girl hissed in pain, but it was manageable.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DHjRnbt9l
Jiro: “Don’t thank me just yet!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdyyyzm82h
Countering, she attacked with her free earjack, and as expected, Mina caught it easily. But that second of halted movement was enough to fire another shot, this one too close to dodge.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS88rP0uhG
A thin and piercing sound wave hammered into Mina’s stomach. The unexpected amount of pain was enough to force Mina to let go of the earjack and kneel over.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyd0fo7Dll
Seeing her chance, Jiro tackled Mina to the ground and grappled her into submission.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLXmdWOTh5
Mina: “M-M-My w-w-whole b-b-body i-i-s s-s-shaking. I… t-think I-I’m g-g-going t-t-to b-be s-s-sick.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtxLJr3jpU
Jiro: “Give up, and I’ll help you to Recovery Girl.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5gYANseOe
Mina: “I-I-I g-g-give u-up!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslSKLsjOam
Midnight: “Ashido surrenders! Jiro advances to round two!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxfWDW92bj
Jiro looks up at Momo, who was smiling and clapping for her victory. The rocker girl smiled back while helping Mina to her feet.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DqR106J6D
Mina: “T-Thank you.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWu3cEaW2R
Jiro: “No problem. Sorry though, I didn’t know the blaster would make you sick.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM8EZ2vnoo
Mina: “I-It’s fine… a-all’s f-fair… ”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYvRgGB3e0
Jiro looked down at the wrist blaster and frowned a bit.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd8HGLd0xv
Jiro: ‘This thing was stronger than I thought. I have to be careful with it from now on.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGxYlAfwcU
After 15 or so minutes, the duo made it to Recovery Girl. But something was wrong; she looked… pale. She wasn’t the only one. Some skeletal-looking man was there too, rubbing the back of Recovery Girl. It was All Might, but these girls didn’t know that.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqlnZCoziX
Jiro: “Is she okay?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DsDF9naNH
All Might: “It would seem so. I found her like this.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo5NAu9tES
Recovery Girl: “I-I said I’m fine. I’m just… deep in thought. What’s wrong?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0JZOCAqKw
Jiro: “She has nausea, and I have some acid burns.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYeTCeFL8c
Recovery Girl: “That’s normal. Lay her down.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbwEOZkT6I
Jiro does so, and Mina relaxes on the soft bed, her face a mix of discomfort and relief. Recovery Girl then kissed Jiro’s arm, healing the light burns. Seeing that everything is all right, All Might leaves.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLtSEB49uY
He doesn’t know exactly where Shinso is, but Recovery Girl said he is fine and doesn’t remember anything from his match with Izuku.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuS6mJmap3
A shame, but there is not much else he can do.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtO2vhZE3b
Jiro: “Thank you.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmB8Mq1PNQ
Jiro takes a seat and once again notices that Recovery Girl looks off.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EPp9lCU98
Jiro: “Are you sure you’re okay?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRKD5j0J0M
Recovery Girl: “… I think it’s best if I keep what happened to myself. At least until I fully understand it. After that, I’ll discuss it with the pro heroes first.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu0SBF4z12
Jiro: “O-Okay.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuRYszF3A7
Jiro: ‘Well… that doesn’t sound good. What could have happened?’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2trPlIveA
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZwGKFK8ps
Izuku: “S-Shinso?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eoDjhm8mu
The esper just wanted to check on Uraraka. Why did he have to run into the thing that he was trying to ignore?
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKggNgkdl1
What’s worse is what Shinso looks like. He’s taller, slightly more muscular, and handsome. Like a Shinso 2.0.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FINPrJc3Q
But more than that, it’s what’s beneath the surface that concerns the boy. Shinso felt different; his psychic signature felt… like a growing flame. What was once an ember now felt like a contained inferno waiting for something to ignite it fully.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fT95Vqrga
Shinso: “What… did you do to me?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxLMuZW3TC
Izuku: “I-I… don’t know what you mean.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKjmT0PjsM
Shinso: “Yes, you do. I can tell. Answer me.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMOZuvamAf
Izuku: “… I don’t know. I-It was an accident.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQJCT5OUMN
Shinso: “An… accident?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5LCEsk8Fu
Shinso’s body shakes as he comes to terms with that fact.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpFVToCCCE
Shinso: “My quirk was already seen as evil, a quirk for a villain. How could you make it worse?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7JDDxDnqp
Izuku: “W-Worse?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBMOS6XFsA
Shinso: “… My quirk is brainwash. I used to be only able to use it if someone answered a question of mine. Now… that limitation is gone.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHInE2zK1jg
Izuku: “W-What? How?!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2rjHEz1Ve
Shinso: “When I woke up, I desperately wanted answers to what happened. The questions from Recovery Girl, ones I couldn’t answer, only confused me more. So I told her to stop. And she did. Everything.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5t6DhCROi
Izuku paled at the implications.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6pnvGlzP8
Shinso: “She stopped breathing because I told her to stop without being specific. If I didn’t cancel the command…”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtywo1egeB
Izuku: “I’m-”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IfY6IBYbo
Shinso: “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it. I just wanted to know why. But now… I know. It was an accident; my life was ruined because of chance.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡildUBERJfC
Izuku: “N-No! This doesn’t have to be a curse! It’s how you use your quirk that’s important. Y-You can still be a hero.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpPeoLk3OI
Shinso scoffs at Izuku’s words.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTi78RAmS6
Shinso: “Easy for you to say. Someone blessed with a powerful quirk like yours.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyxzbqXg1q
Izuku: “Blessed…?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEgc6ch9Po
Shinso: “Don’t try and say how hard it’s been. Your quirk is perfectly suited for hero work. Everyone will gloss over the darker aspects of it with time. Your sister proves as much. While mine… everyone will only see it as evil. Especially now.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyAR3qkJS4
For a solid minute, they said nothing, just stood in the darkened atmosphere. That was until Shinso began to walk away.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0jof6D3s6
Shinso: “I hope to never see you again.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYdW8p0XYw
Izuku: ‘No…’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyqgjyXmTl
How could he let it end like this? How could he, of all people, ruin someone else’s chance at being a hero? So… he made a choice.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pQA9xhKIV
Izuku: ‘Just this once. Please… one of you… help me to help him.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgz0WG40wn
The multitude rejoice, as their prince has accepted his place, at least for this moment. Using the opportunity, the most suited manifested into the world through him.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjGAiocV4S
Izuku’s eyes burn bright gold as The First speaks through its prince.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPdSJ3XUk0
Izuku: “&*%^”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtcrCKJNs7
Shinso stops in his tracks; he recognizes this voice. He blocked off most of what happened within Izuku’s mind, but that voice wouldn’t fade no matter what.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZzOA5tVni
So he turns around to see Izuku with golden eyes and a different aura.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU3KwnU7uQ
Izuku: “&#*^.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2W8sU7MOy
Izuku: “Wait a minute, this is not going to work.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEtTlTmd1K
The prince closes his eyes and listens, trying for the first time to understand what that entity was saying. After a moment, he got the general picture. He opens his eyes, and his natural green returns.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrBIzXnTIN
Izuku: “I-I understand.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqQU2EkDyA
Shinso: “Seriously, what are you?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2mfv34flN
Izuku: “… I don’t know anymore. It’s complicated. But… I know what happened to you and how you can control it.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11YL3lyuLd
Shinso: “… How?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrcKZdXG3b
Izuku: “T-The First… choose you as its… child? The real word is confusing.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYs1xCQ8T6
Shinso: “Child?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4P6blQLhU
Izuku: “Your quirk is similar to it, and it thought you would make a good… hero. One to inherit its power of Authority. But in order to inherit it, it had to… change you. Otherwise, your body couldn’t handle it.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj8HN3KkO6
Shinso: “Huh? Look, I don’t really understand any of that. Just tell me how I can control it.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjivh2ah6L
Izuku: “W-Well, you use the prefix command to specify when you want to use your quirk. That way you don’t accidentally use your quirk like before.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsZ7rPqvkU
Shinso: “I see… ”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj0KoMJ3L9
Izuku: “S-See! You can still be a hero! And Authority doesn’t just extend to brainwashing or mind control. You can command inanimate objects and-”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQmBinqHj7
Shinso: “And would I explain that?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fjVsD7aZC
Izuku: “H-Huh?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDFNWuOIHM
Shinso: “My quirk is not like yours. It’s not something that can just grow new abilities. I already have to somehow explain this growth spurt. Face it, I’m stuck with the label society has given me.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmgSuniR9X
Izuku: “O-Oh… well… as for the growth spurt, you have a passive psychic field that makes it so everyone thinks it’s normal.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnveF4cIchi
Shinso: “R-Really?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwBPfpMzLt
Izuku: “Did Recovery Girl notice your growth spurt?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv26X9m8vxx
Shinso: “… No. She didn’t.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp8rLgbary
Izuku: “As for your quirk gaining new abilities and how people judge it… I don’t know… ”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8s5XcboEr
C: “Society is not something that can’t be bent in time, my prince. If they won’t accept him, make him yours.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn40ixTGeWz
It sounds like a good idea, but for some reason… this seems like the first step to something much bigger. But if he wants to help Shinso, to be his hero, then he has no choice.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCUkPWQuAv
Izuku: “I-If they won’t accept the new you, Shinso, then I will.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaL0p5piQH
Shinso: “What?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmd9ESg7lQ
Izuku: “I say you can be a hero. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. I will help you master your new quirk, and together, we’ll both be the heroes we want to be. Deal?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydmAo9pRsP
Shinso looks at the boy’s outstretched hand, the same boy who did this to him. He wants to knock it aside and walk away. But despite what Shinso may say, he does want to be a hero. He doesn’t want to be labeled evil or some villain in the making.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSzBvRemDi
So, with a small spark of hope in his heart, he grasps the hand.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWlstBeNVu
Shinso: “Alright.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TzVkLROeh
And the multitude rejoices, for the first apostle has been claimed. A soft green glow emerged from their hands, and the connection was formed.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTWtkwqhV1
Izuku: “We’ll meet up after the festival and talk some more, okay?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF3sVwfReG
Shinso: “Right, thanks, Midoriya.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqYkyYA0ne
Izuku nodded and let Shinso go back to wherever he was suppose to be.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY0EZqUKll
Izuku: “Thank you.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhxFs6STBs
C: “Of course. Now, are you ready to-”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw029rYnsI
Izuku: “No.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzlERLFmWQ
The voices are still as the prince employs his own Authority.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Y7aZstmQ
Izuku: “None of this would have happened if I didn’t block you all out better. This was the only time I will allow something like this. No more. I’m done.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZgVDjZauC
And just like that, the voices were cut off. Silence reigned in Izuku’s mind.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj57OedOrJ1
Izuku: ‘I’ll master my quirk, but not that part of it. Shinso may think his quirk is villainous, but he has no idea. That side of me… is better discarded.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYW1T709Gs
How else is he supposed to see that side of himself, after what The First explained to him? The details of how he broke Shinso’s entire being down to nothing and rebuilt it into something explicitly not human.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmuAJVhrYy
Izuku: ‘And if that was required to handle just a portion of his power… what does that say about me? I have all of it and much more within me.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisNBPmEzIB
But worse than that was the rush when he accepted his role as prince, if just briefly. It felt similar to when he fought the Nomu. The feeling of accepting that side of his quirk is exhilarating. The power and confidence it offers is intoxicating.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqwObjKTO3
He felt… whole. But better to be incomplete than to become some monster. Monsters can’t be heroes.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHI67K3Dcg
Izuku: ‘Never again. I’ll use only what I already have, the basics. That’s enough for me to become a hero.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIQ7LaWnHq
With that declaration, he felt a bit more free. The burden of that power and its implication fades into background noise. Thanks to that, he suddenly remembers why he came here.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6SosOO7Ff
Izuku: “Oh, Uraraka!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLrBdoZMLJ
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhFAmsGEOr
Present Mic: “The matchup of nearly identical quirks, Kirishima vs Tetsutetsu!! It was a full-on, close-quarters punch-up!! But who is the victor?”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV9Flhi9Bp
Kirishima dodges another strike and counters with a mean uppercut that sends Tetsutetsu to the ground.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VjzShZEv1
Midnight: “Tetsutetsu is out! Kirishima advances to round two!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6TaxdC1ZF
Kirishima holds out his hand to the quickly recovering Tetsutestu.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX1J3gKLea
Kirishima: “That was a fine match!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XvbNSIN76
Tetsutestu: “Keh.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVutB4PVwJ3
He accepts the gesture, and the two shake hands. Kiri looks on with a smile.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBZpoatyfn
Kiri: “He’s gotten better.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY7kAgX9yg
A few minutes later, the next match was announced. Uraraka vs Bakugo.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4cl7l5GdI
Izuku and Ida rejoined the rest of the class in preparation for the match. Kiri glanced at Izuku and noticed how tense he was. She didn’t think it was because of the match.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaG0vWZCZX
Kiri: ‘Did something happen again? Why is it so hard to feel his emotions sometimes? I wish he would talk to me more.’
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR290Eusu3o
While Kiri focused on her brother, the match was getting underway.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlgSHG1wI1
Tsuyu: “Next match is that match… the one that’s bound to be the most upsetting.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ2Imsc7lJ
Jiro: “I feel like I might have to look away.”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6LE8cMTHQ
Present Mic: “And here’s the next match! The boy who’s been somewhat famous since middle school! But that face ain’t the face of a kid on the straight and narrow! Katsuki Bakugo of class 1-A!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEK4x17oJd
Present Mic: “Facing him is the kid I’ll be rooting for!! Ochako Uraraka of class 1-A!”
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeudtCGtU6
The results of the match were as expected.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU2MQzdERZ
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjLpQPReph
A/N: Okay, I may as well say what I’m adapting. I’ve dropped enough hints by now.
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9R18c33LX
Concepts Adapted: Superhuman (Visual Novel)
ns216.73.216.187da2
