10 reviews = bonus chapter
200 stones = bonus chapter
3 patreon subscriptions = 10 bonus chapters
Fully support the story at:
patreon.com/FanFictionPremium
***
Shoto...
I met a guy who was just a little further into the aisle leading away from the ring where he was performing.
- Izuku?
The guy was looking at me with a frown.
- You want to tell me what's going on?
I continued to be glared at.
- Not that I'm that interested, but you're my classmate...''
I shake my head.
- ...We'll probably have to work together more than once in the future, which means ignoring your problems would be foolish. Especially...
I look at the guy carefully.
- ...I'm a pretty smart guy, so maybe I can help you with something?
- You...
He takes a couple of steps in my direction, but my instincts are silent, so I don't worry about being attacked. He's not an easy guy, but he's not like Katsuki, who can be expected to fly into anger at nothing.
- ...Aren't you afraid of me at all?
He keeps glaring at me.
- Even after what I showed you?
I feel close attention towards our conversation, but I can't figure out who exactly is watching us. Inhale...
I'm so short-handed, I could write my own AI, though I can't trust it. It's not in my nature. Exhale...
I raise my hand to stop Shoto from saying anything else. And under his surprised gaze, I walk towards one of the corners.
- Katsuki...
- Tz...
- Don't you think eavesdropping isn't the right thing for a hero to do?
- Just so you know! That jerk is the strongest in our class in terms of quirks! And if he has any problems....
Katsuki looked away embarrassed.
- I have to help...
- Hn?
Shoto raised an eyebrow in surprise.
- It's just that later, when I defeat you... if I don't help you now, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror later. I'll know that you weren't at the peak of your powers....
Shoto sighed.
- Huh... what can you do?
You could hear the pain in his voice.
- There's nothing you can do... you know....
He touches his hand to his burn on his face.
- ...Do you know who left me this burn?
Katsuki and I shook our heads.
- Mother. My own mother! All because of my arsehole of a father who is literally obsessed with surpassing the Almighty and becoming Hero Number One!
I frowned slightly....
- For that, he forced my mother's family to marry her off to him.
- Forced?
I frowned.
- Yes. Ice...
He raised his hand and formed a small ice tornado on it.
- ...it's a quirk I inherited from my mother. And this...
He touched his scar on his face.
- ...This is the inheritance of my father, Prospector, and my mother....
Shoto closed his eyes.
- And he thought it was a good combination to push his mother's parents. I can't remember a day when my mother didn't cry... She always hated my father, and it was as if he didn't notice it. Why would he? He never paid attention to the feelings of others. He didn't care about anyone. There is only a goal...
The boy clenched his fists, and anger appeared in his gaze.
- And one day, my mum just couldn't take it. She splashed boiling water in my face with the words that my left side, inherited from my father, was terrible....
He touches the scars from the long-standing burn again.
I sigh and clench my fists. How did a woman have to be driven to do this to her son! What kind of arsehole is the Prospector?!
- My mum has been in a mental institution ever since....
Shoto looked at us with pain.
- How can you help me?!
There was so much pain and rage in his voice.
- Well, for starters, I can remove the burn, if it's bothering you.....
- No!
He shook his head violently.
- It's a... reminder! Without it...
- I see.
I nodded.
- Then...
I closed my eyes.
- You know, I could take your mum out of the hospital. I was planning on relocating my mum soon anyway, so I couldn't be pressured into taking her hostage...''
I'm looking at the guy closely.
- So I could put your mum next to her as well. They'd have new papers, identities, new lives...
I look carefully at the guy, who looks at me confused.
- How's that going to help?
- Well at the very least you won't be eaten up with guilt about your mum being in hospital. And at the most, we'll keep her from your dad.
Shoto jerked as if from a blow.
- It's... he's gonna find out...
- He'll know.
I nodded.
- But what can he do? Would he want to put pressure on us? Can he put pressure on you?
The boy clenched his fists.
- I have an older brother and sister, and Prospector can push through them....
I frowned.
- Then maybe we'll have to spend more time planning.
- Yeah?
Shoto grinned bitterly.
- 'Yeah... Anyway, a lot will depend on your mother and I'd advise you to visit her in the hospital first.
- No!
Shoto even took a few steps back.
- You don't understand! She hates me!
Step...
Grabbing Shoto by his gym uniform and pulling him to me I punch him in the sun with my fist. Not hard, but pretty sensitive.
- Kha!
- You're the one who doesn't understand. If she hated you, she wouldn't be in the hospital after what she did. Believe me, she'd be sent to prison for treating her own child like that. And your father. As much of an arsehole as he is, he wouldn't have prevented it, more like facilitated it. He'd be happy to get rid of the nuisance, and after all, she was probably preventing him from raising you and your brother and sister...
- Я...
Shoto opened his eyes confusedly and finally straightened up after my blow.
- That's...
- So you, after the Festival, go to your mother's house. Preferably take someone with you who has the best relationship with her... you have someone like that in your family, right?
I'm looking at the boy intently.
- Fuyumi... sister...
- That's the one you go to your mother with....
I grab him by his sports uniform again and shake him.
- Do you understand me?
- Я...
He looked away and I shook him again.
- Do you understand? We can't do this without her consent. Either she agrees to accept our help or she refuses. But either way, you have to talk to her. You have to build a relationship with her.
- I get it.
He looked me in the eye, and I nodded contentedly.
- Okay, and then...
I grinned.
- We'll start training.
- Hmm?
There was a look of interest in the guy's eyes.
- Rivalry is certainly a good thing, and each of us will definitely develop more on our own. But sparring with each other from time to time will be useful.
- Let's nail it...
Katsuki appeared next to Shoto and looked at me mockingly.
- Grow up first...
I grinned.
- I don't disagree, your quirks are pretty strong, but your experience...''
I shook my head.
- You have...
Poked his finger at the sun Katsuki knocked his breath away.
- ...no experience at all. It will only come after the first practice. And you...
I poked my finger into Shoto's sun, who tried to build up ice armour, but I easily pierced it and knocked his breath away.
- ...There was no incentive. Well, let's see what you can achieve.
I grinned.
- And don't forget that Prospector has a very powerful fire quirk. It's a bit simple, though. But how much has he ploughed to achieve that kind of control?
I shake my head.
- Even so, the Number One Hero is considered the Almighty, who has a trivial power quirk.
They blinked dumbfoundedly, apparently they had never looked at the hero ranking in such a light.
- Moreover, if you look at it, the same Miruko has the sixth spot, and she's just a rabbit.
I grin.
- So it'll be up to me... and I'm working like hell.
Wiping even the hint of a smile off my face.
- And if you think I'm just going to give you the first place in the Festival, or in the future in the top of the heroes. You're wrong...
Katsuki grinned.
- You...
- You think we're going to ask you?
Shoto was on the same wavelength as our explosive guy. And while the former was ready to explode, the latter literally sent out waves of coldness.
- Yeah.
I smirk with the corner of my lips.
- Let's see...
Katsuki pulled himself together and walked past me, bumping his shoulder against mine. Except he's an explosionist, and I'm still a physicist, so he caused trouble for himself in the first place. But he'll never admit it.
- You know...
Shoto closed his eyes.
- ...I needed that....
- Hmm?
- To talk.
I nodded understandingly.
- I don't know where it will lead, but I'll take your advice... Maybe it will let me realise what I want in the future.
- You know.
I put my hand on his shoulder and give him a little squeeze.
- ...shit happens in life. That's coming from someone whose own father experimented on him.
Shoto was looking at me intently.
- The important thing is that you don't let that shit stick to you.
Shoto nods dazedly.
- So remember, you have friends... Friends who will help. And I'm not just talking about me and our explosive boyfriend right now....
Shoto chuckles.
- I'm talking about the whole class. Just remember that we're here for you, and no matter how much we try to outdo each other, we'll help....
- I... thank you.
I nodded and turned and walked away.
Did I believe that this conversation - right now - would make a difference?
Definitely not.
But I've laid the first stones in the new foundation, and what will come out of it will depend mostly on Shoto... and I'll make sure that it's a solid building, not a wreck....