" Midoriya!"
" Deku!"
They all barged into the temporary nurse's office in a rather disturbing racket. They ran by his bed only for them to notice a blond gaunt man standing there. " Oh, nice to meet you..." Uraraka politely greeted.
" Yeah..."
" You're all so noisy. " Sighed Recovery Girl.
" Everyone..." Midoriya said in a hoarse voice. " ... What about the next match?"
" Since there was a lot of damage to the stage, they're taking a break to repair it." Explained Iida.
" It's because you both went too far! Jeez, you should consider those who will be cleaning after you! Either out on the stage or here in the infirmary!" Rebuked Whisper.
" Hope he had more of you to tell him off." Recovery Girl commented.
" That match earlier was scary, Midoriya..." Mineta said pointing at him with a shaking finger. " What pro's gonna want that?"
Asui poked him with her tongue. " I don't like your style of rubbing salt into his wound."
" And I was wondering why you tagged along." Sora gave the boy a tired sigh.
" But it's true!"
" Be quiet, now!" Recovery Girl ushered them out. " I know you're worried, but I've got to do a surgery now."
That wasn't any help. " Surgery?!" They all freaked out.
" Midoriya-san, I will take care of your soul if something ever happened."
" He isn't going to die Yuu! Don't say something like that!" Sora gave him a chop on the back of his head.
" Go on now, get out of here."
" B-But-"
" Surgery's a big deal, isn't it?"
" Will his injuries be completely healed?"
" Don't worry about that. Just leave it to me!"
Whisper had a tick growing larger and larger on his forehead. " Cut it off all of you!"
Everyone snapped back as the shadow of his enlarging head fell upon them. His eyes sharpened as he shouted his lungs out at them. " What do you think you're doing?! You're interfering with Recovery Girl's work! Just get back already! She'll handle it on herself!"
" Ribbit... Whisper-chan... Is scarier than usual..."
" Get a move soldiers! Form a line and get back to the box!"
" But-"
Whisper pressed his forehead against Mineta's who dared to protest. " What were you about to say, short soldier!"
" N-Nothing..." The boy sweated.
" Well, off you go then! "
" Sir! Yes sir!"
________________
Iida and Shiozaki's much didn't take more than a second. Iida managed to force the girl out of bounds in a moment using his Recipro Burst.
Sora didn't think she will have to enter that soon. She stood on her end of the stage, staring into the eyes of Tokoyami. Dark Shadow has strong offense and defense. I've seen that during the USJ incident. She gulped. Facing him isn't easy. So my only choice.
" Start!"
" Dark Shadow!"
" Got it!" The shadow-like creature emerged from Tokoyami's abdomen and aimed for her. She barely managed to dodge him when twirled around and clawed at her back.
He's fast too!
The girl quickly ducked underneath him and rushed to the middle of the arena while continuing to dodge. If I stay too close to the line it will end in a second. She recalled what Whisper told her about the boy's battle against Yaoyorozu. First I have to get away and-
" Not easily!" He scooted up to her and she had to floor herself to dodge his attack.
" Think Sora, think!"
Dark Shadow was overwhelming her, leaving her no room to fight. Her strength was nothing compared to him and she hardly could keep up with his speed. Even if I use my wings, Dark Shadow can extend.
The shadow cleaved at her with his claws and she guarded against him using her arms. They later could be seen bleeding. Guess I don't have a choice.
She managed to push Dark Shadow off her. " Impossible... Did her strength increase?!"
It's for a moment. I will go beyond my limit! Feathers started to grow out of her arms as she directed a back kick at Dark Shadow, forcing him back for a moment.
Just one second. All Tokoyami did was blink and she was in front of him.
" What's this speed!"
With her open palm, she hit his chest hard. Though he tried to slow down, he was sent out of the line.
" Tokoyami-kun out of bounds! Shirogane-san advances to the third round!"
Sora heaved a sigh before looking at the feathers framing her forearm. " You aimed at me on purpose."
Sora looked back at him and rubbed her head with an awkward smile. " Well, I kind of noticed it during USJ. Tokoyami-kun, you don't fight yourself. Dark Shadow always protects you. That's why..."
" That's why you attacked me directly. A good plan." He bowed much to her surprise. " I'm honored to have fought against you."
" Here too." She bowed back.
________________
The boy didn't go back to either waiting room 1 or 2 when his match was nearing. He really didn't want to deal with anyone. So he chose to wait in their class waiting room.
He sat down staring at his left hand, as though it was going to betray him the moment he blinked. Unexpectedly the door clicked open and a purple head walked in. " Ah... Sorry... Didn't know you were here. I will just come back later."
" No, it's fine," Todoroki said without looking up.
Yuu blinked before trudging over to his locker, then rummaged through his thing for his phone. When he found it, his lips quivered in hesitation before he spoke. " Todoroki-san... I have to apologize... I heard it..."
Todoroki's eyes flicked at the boy. The moment of silence made Yuu sweat. " The talk with Midoriya, right? It's fine. You can't help it with your Quirk."
" No... Even before that..." His head dropped down slightly. " When you were talking to him by the exit..."
Todoroki's look sharpened for a moment and Yuu jolted. " I didn't mean to eavesdrop! I really didn't..." His look softened. " It's just... As I heard it... I felt that we were similar in a way..."
Whisper's eyes flicked between them in silence, not wanting to interrupt.
" About the nature of our Quirks?"
" More than that..." Yuu gulped. " I know how it feels to hate your own Quirk, and, to have someone dictating how you should use it..."
Todoroki's opened his mouth, about to say something but the other boy continued on, eyes fixed on the ground. " You know, my Quirk can be a bother. The fact that you see things others don't and act in a way others can't comprehend makes you... Shunned."
He shifted uncomfortably. " That's the kind of Quirk that I grew up with. Even at home, my parents didn't hesitate to always remind me of that. They wanted a normal kid, I couldn't give them that... They tried every which way to fix it, to make me normal. It didn't work." He paused for a moment. " I've grown with their harsh remarks, treated as a mistake that shouldn't have happened. It tends to get worse when you have an older brother who is the center of attention and good at everything. Things grew, a little complicated and, I really came to heat my Quirk for keeping me away from my family. "
Todoroki blinked at him as Yuu met his eyes for the first time. " I know what you want to say. I'm exactly the opposite of you who had been born with a Quirk they longed for. A Quirk so amazing they probably wanted to exploit and use. I can't claim that I understand what you went through... But, as someone who was burdened by his Quirk as well, I know how hard it's when people look past the person you're and just look at what Quirk you have. And just how difficult it's to come to accept that part of yourself..."
...
" You don't want your Quirk?"
" I don't need a Quirk that would make my family hate me."
The man laughed out loud before patting the head of the crying little Yuu. " That may be true but..." He smiled warmly at him. " That's your Quirk, Yuu. That's your own power. Something only you can decide whether it's useless or not. We couldn't choose our Quirks, but we can choose how to use them. Don't let others choose for you. Don't let them shape it for you. Learn to accept it the way it's, for that's a part of the great person who is you. "
...
" Todoroki-san too... I know why you would rather not use your left side. And I know it may take time to accept the small change Midoriya-san caused. But, remember, the one to choose what you do with your power isn't your father, it's you."
Todoroki stared at the baggy purple eyes for a moment, and it was all he needed to see the story behind them. For the one in front of him to reach that far, just how hard he worked so he could ' choose how to use his Quirk'. Just how far he went to come to accept the Quirk he once detested.
They were similar in a way after all.
" I see." The other boy closed his eyes. " I still need to think about it though."
Yuu nodded as he walked over to the door, however, as he was about to close it, he heard a weak ' Thank you ' from behind him.