At the practical training grounds…
"Alright, brats. Today's lesson is simple—Hero vs Villain simulation. One-on-one matches. Roles will be assigned at random. This will help us evaluate your actual combat value," Aizawa said lazily, yet sharply.
This is different from the anime… but fine. The better I do, the better my chances against All For One. Izuku thought, exhaling slowly.
Names were called. Roles were assigned.
Villain? Wow… I'm a villain, Izuku thought.
"Um…" a soft voice called out beside him.
It was an invisible girl—though faint outlines shimmered around her.
Hagakure. She's different from anime… she can control the visibility a bit?
"Do your best, Midoriya-kun!" she chirped.
"Ah, thank you. You too, Hagakure!"
And she's a villain too… great.
The battle locations were displayed on the screen.
Shoto, huh…? We barely talked, but he's strong. Even in the anime, he was a monster.
Separated into their designated building, Izuku walked in and found Shoto already waiting.
"Nice to meet you, Todoroki," Izuku greeted.
"…Midoriya. No hard feelings. But my quirk might hurt you," Shoto said flatly.
If I didn't know his personality, I would've been pissed. This guy is rude as hell, Izuku thought.
"Don't worry. I'm tough too, you know," he answered.
The timer started—15 minutes.
Shoto didn't hesitate. Ice shot forward in jagged shards.
Izuku dodged by inches. "Whoa—close!"
But Shoto blitzed him immediately, slamming a fist into his face.
"Eh!?" Izuku stumbled, shocked.
Danger Sense activated but I STILL couldn't react!? What the hell!? I'm not a fighter… not even in my previous life!
"Full Cowl… 15%!" Izuku pushed power into his limbs.
He dodged the second barrage—barely.
"You're doing better than expected, Midoriya," Shoto commented casually.
Better…? This bastard… I've been working my ass off ever since I came here and he takes it for granted because he has a quirk…
Deep inside him—something stirred.
The vestiges sensed it.
"What's happening to the Ninth?" Yoichi asked.
"This is… new," Nana whispered.
"…Say that again, you bastard," Izuku growled—and kicked Shoto, sending him flying several meters.
Shoto stood up, eyes widening. "What's happening to you, Midoriya?"
"Me? I feel like I'm on fire," Izuku said, smiling… too widely.
Calm down, Izuku-kun. This isn't you, Nana's voice urged.
Shut up, Izuku snarled inwardly.
Full Cowl 30%.
"He's never passed 15% before," En said in shock.
"Something's wrong," Bruce muttered.
Izuku dashed in, movements sharper, wilder, unstable.
"What now, Shoto? Your fire's a bit hot—but not for me!" Izuku laughed as he punched Shoto back.
Shoto's instincts screamed. His left side lit up.
I used… my fire, Shoto realized, staring at the flames.
"About time. Full Cowl… 40%."
Izuku leaped in for the finishing blow.
Detroit Sm—
"Midoriya. That's enough."
Aizawa erased his quirk mid-punch while Midnight swept in, binding him.
Even without his quirk… that punch still had force. If I'd been one second late… Aizawa thought grimly.
Izuku blinked, as if waking from a fog.
"…Sorry, sensei. I… went too far."
He walked toward Shoto, breathing hard.
"That was a good match, Shoto. Sorry I lost my cool. I'm not usually like that. Also… can I call you Shoto?"
Shoto hesitated, then nodded. "You can. And… that was my loss. I look forward to fighting you again, Izuku."
Izuku grinned. "You're not as bad as you look."
"Is that so?" Shoto said and turned away.
But Izuku swayed.
"Eh—?"
His body gave out.
I used One For All too much… hope I didn't break anything… he thought as he fell—
—but Shoto caught him before he hit the floor.
Darkness swallowed him.
In the Mindscape
Izuku blinked into the vestige realm.
"Kid. What was THAT?" Kudo barked.
"…I don't know," Izuku answered quietly.
"You don't know!? You used One For All without breaking bones and you don't know!?" Kudo shouted.
"Kudo-san, don't scare him," Bruce said.
"That was quite a show, kid," Banjo laughed.
"You looked REALLY scary, Ninth. For a second I thought you were an actual villain," En muttered.
Izuku's shoulders trembled.
"Hey, hey, don't be like that," Nana soothed, placing a hand over his.
Yoichi stepped forward. "Izuku-kun… whatever that power was, it wasn't a quirk. You were quirkless before One For All. But it helped you use almost half of OFA's power without breaking yourself."
Izuku's head jerked up. "Half…? I didn't even realize…"
"It was like a trance," Yoichi finished.
"I'll… figure it out. I promise. I'll learn what that power is."
"Good. Now go. Someone's waiting for you," Yoichi said.
---
Hospital Room
Izuku awoke to Recovery Girl—and Shoto—standing nearby. All Might in his skinny form was there too.
"Al—sensei—" Izuku stopped himself.
"Are you alright, young Midoriya?" All Might asked.
"I'm okay… sensei."
"Are you alright, Izuku?" Shoto asked next.
"Yeah. I pushed myself too much trying to beat you," Izuku said sheepishly.
"Young Midoriya, Recovery Girl told me you used your qu—your power quite excessively. Is that true?"
"…Yeah."
"That's good! You didn't break anything! You're progressing fast!" All Might grinned.
Shoto looked between them. "Um… Izuku. Who is this guy?"
"Oh—he's—"
"I AM HERE!" All Might instantly buffed up.
Shoto stared. "You're… All Might…?"
"Indeed! This is my true form! The muscle one is my battle mode."
He deflated again.
"Now, Midoriya. I must go. Teacher duties." All Might walked out—
—straight into Bakugo.
"Watch it, old man!" Bakugo barked before sprinting off.
"No problem, young man," All Might chuckled. Youth... so energetic.
Bakugo stormed in.
"OI, IZUKU! YOU ALIVE!?"
"Oh, Kacchan. I'm fine."
He noticed Shoto nearby.
"And who's this extra?"
"…Shoto Todoroki," Shoto said calmly.
"Don't care, extra."
"What's with him?" Shoto asked.
"Don't mind him. Kacchan's just a tsundere. he's nice on inside cold on outside."
"I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!" Bakugo exploded but not doing any actual damage..
"See? He's nice on the inside," Izuku whispered.
"Okay…" Shoto nodded.
"DON'T AGREE WITH HIM, YOU HALF-AND-HALF BASTARD!" Bakugo yelled before storming out.
Shoto blinked. "Is that… normal?"
"Totally. He's my childhood friend. I'll talk to him."
"It's late. Want to head out?" Shoto asked.
They walked outside.
Whoa… he's so quiet. Just like in the anime, Izuku thought.
"So what's your quirk?" Shoto prompted.
"Physical strengthening. Enhances my body to superhuman levels."
"Sounds cool," Shoto said honestly.
"Not as cool as yours. Half-cold, half-hot… Compared to that, mine is kinda normal."
Shoto looked down. "…Is that so."
Shit. Forgot the trauma. Izuku winced internally.
"This is my house," Shoto said, stopping. "See you tom—"
Izuku's stomach growled loudly.
"You hungry?" Shoto asked.
I didn't eat… ugh, embarrassing. Izuku thought.
"A bit…"
"Come in."
"P-Pardon the intrusion," Izuku said stiffly.
The house was huge.
Endeavor's home… of course.
"Welcome home, Shoto," Fuyumi greeted—then blinked.
"You're—"
"You're—" Izuku echoed.