The match was over; despite Uraraka’s best efforts, she had lost.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrGGt52dLn
Izuku: “Uraraka… ”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOMBllBxqP
Kiri: “Good fight though.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJn7Pr5jk3
Denki: “Still brutal.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwehwYCKiV
Jiro: “Is it over?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ1A4ZhjMp
Momo: “Yes, you can uncover your eyes now.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jhZQpmpSl
Izuku: “I-I’ll go check on her. Tell me what happens with the next match if I don’t make it in time.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnVTvZVuTT
Kiri: “… Nh.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVceEk41Ama
Izuku excused himself and made his way to where Uraraka might be. Along the way, he actually ran into Bakugo.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBUynCjn3F
Izuku: “Kacchan.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMoTQKlC7n
Uncharacteristically, Bakugo said nothing and studied the boy before asking his question.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSgktx6AHS
Bakugo: “… Oi, were you the one who put that plan in her head? The plan that had her fling herself so dangerously!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQZLdsoyJJ
Izuku: “… No. The plan, all of it, was what Uraraka herself came up with to beat you. It… was pretty cool, right?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuQQSQf4LH
Bakugo: “… Hmph.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNPXyIy2E7
Bakugo gave Izuku one last glare before storming back to the rest of the class. With that confrontation down, Izuku made his way to Uraraka.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvzvztyynL
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eV3hTns8k
Sero: “Yo, hey, that was nearly as tough as your face is villain-y!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkVe3Dnrhr
Tsuyu: “It was a weird match up, but you played an amazing little heel nonetheless, Bakugou.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwAWPpkYQg
Bakugo: “Shut up, just shut your goddamn mouths!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04k0GuOIPc
Denki: “But damn, man, you’re able to blast a fragile little girl with abandon. Knowing me, I couldn’t go through with it.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPCD3aPcTn
Tsuyu: “But you got beat pretty easily, Kaminari.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcVR3ZEu7q
Denki: “… Hey now, c’mon, Tsuyu…”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsr1yOxNAi
Bakugo sat down with a huff and thought back to the match.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LRSLZxBLo
Bakugo: ‘Where do you see ‘Fragile’?’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEtqamK0mZ
Kiri: “Pay attention.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0Z76aUPS7
Kiri’s words caught everyone’s attention; her face was especially focusedon this match. Makes sense; it involves one of the psychics.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7LmdidhCZ
Present Mic: “And we’re back with three straight rounds of psychic fury! Will they live up to the standards set before!? First up, the girl with a glare that rivals Bakugo’s, Sabrina Kanto from class 1-B!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiowZtJDqjq
Bakugo: “Tch.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlQbor51Ma
The explosion boy narrowed his eyes at the girl. Out of everyone in the tournament, he knows that the quirks similar to Deku’s will be among the most difficult to face. So he needs to use this time to study all he can about his opponent.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRQ5Dh7dHi
Present Mic: “In the other corner, we have another one from class 1-B, Juuzou Honenuki.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER9yvBzj3E
The two classmates stand opposed to one another, ready for action. Well… not really.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8VHAqx7Ec
Sabrina: “I’m sorry, Honenuki. You did well to get this far.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSeWdwrJMv
Honenuki: “Thanks.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5e0brGJnx
Present Mic: “Start!!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rC17OVtAE
Before Honenuki could attempt to soften the ground, he was flung out of the ring. But thanks to Sabrina’s tight control, he didn’t slam into the wall. Instead, she placed him softly on the grass.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj9YyvwXC7
Midnight: “R-Ring out! Sabrina Kanto advances to the next round.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaCg2A5QeQ
Present Mic: “I-It’s over! A new record for this year’s tournament! We haven’t seen a ring out that quick since Tornado!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlamxUgQLUc
Sabrina said nothing as she left the ring. As for class-1…
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24ETmIuD00
Jiro: “That was… too fast.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlJCJPIP1g
Denki: “You know, I’m glad I’m out. I won’t have to face that.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI44pNBGmKU
Kiri and Bakugo both narrow their eyes after seeing how quick that battle went. Several strategies flew through their head, ways to prevent such a quick defeat.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNXaB6AiSh
But the one panicking the most was Momo.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekvHUPoRDK
Momo: ‘How do I fight against that?! I barely held my own against Midoriya, and that was in an enclosed room. Even if I beat Sannomiya… ’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv606GvHDD
Jiro: “Momo, are you okay?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxdHU87CnO
Momo: “Y-Yes. Just thinking about my upcoming match.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVedTgY3V1
Jiro: “I’m sure you’ll do fine. You’re so smart; I know you’ll come up with a plan to win.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIbDaDMATB
Momo: “T-Thank you, Kyoka.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjmRv15Nfw
Momo: ‘But you think too highly of me.’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8gNGxhMi3
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTngbJl7Rzs
Izuku walks out of the waiting room where he found Uraraka. As he leaves, he can hear faint crying.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHTdEpGIec
Izuku: ‘Of course she’s hurting!! There’s no way she couldn’t be. Even if I told her, ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help’, I know I couldn’t deliver on that claim. I wish I could do more to-”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVpVSvawtc
Just then, Endeavor of all people appeared from the side hallway.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCpjMWpC78
Izuku: “E-Endeavor!?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb2tBYywlS
Endeavor: “Oho, so you are here.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz5xR4lRtH
Izuku: “W-What? Were you looking for me?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfek6r8IZBP
Endeavor: “Yes, not only did you make an impression, but you seem close to that Kiri Tae girl.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfNWRLlwvP
Any nervousness Izuku had went out the door, and in came a much colder glare. One that made Endeavor smile.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOrAMX5RZd
Izuku: “What do you want with her?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX71XlwNdvd
Endeavor: “Her quirk, it’s very much like All Might’s. Such wind pressure and strength. Then your quirk, so much like Tornado’s, if not more impressive.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaGHOenvkh
Izuku: “So what?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9B89ctuBb
Endeavor: “My Shouto has a duty to surpass both Tornado and All Might. His match against you and Kiri Tae will no doubt prove an excellent test. So you two best not give him a disgraceful match.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqZsNNwhlu
Instinctively, Izuku smirked and whispered-
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixGG5HqqkS
Izuku: “We’re not the challengers here.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnANCHyilbj
Endeavor: “What was that?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHUGHRfbco
Catching himself, Izuku covered his mouth.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCtPedH81a
Izuku: ‘What was that?! Why did I say that?!’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1l4GU9jWY
Quickly recovering, Izuku changed his tune and thought back to what Todoroki said to him.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDArV0dfQN
Izuku: “I-I-I said that Kiri is not All Might, and I’m not my sister.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6TTeMvbNv
Endeavor: “Obviously.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uvXFhAvVe
Izuku: “Right? Then Todoroki, is not you either.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUP2yf1uRk
Endeavor narrowed his eyes at Izuku, but it didn’t intimidate him. In fact, Izuku coolly walked past the walking torch stick.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuyVo1oLpE
Recollecting himself, he eventually made it in time to see the end of the next match.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qUtbjMYkr
Present Mic: “Ring out!! And that’s the end of the match!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfwXxNrOfx
Midnight: “Kaoru Akashi makes it to the next round!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8BHESTN3B
Kaoru: “Aw man, I didn’t finish it as fast as Sabrina. You did well, Tokoyami.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqpEBaapD8
Kaoru, glowing like a miniature sun, holds out her hand to the downed Tokoyami.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T7RkHm5lR
Tokoyami: “Turn off the light… ”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pxk9IgPX4
Kaoru: “Oh! Sorry.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO98cdHa9d
The light shrinks, and Dark Shadow regains some of his size. Not wanting to disrespect his opponent, the boy gets up and shakes the girl’s hand.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GJK3lO7Tu
Back with the rest of the class, they were once again in awe. Tokoyami was one of their best 1v1 fighters, and he was taken out with relative ease.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QxrRLd3PD
Thanks to Dark Shadow, he was able to prevent an instant ring out by hanging onto the stage. But as soon as Kaoru learned that Dark Shadow was weak to light, it was over.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA4eRs20aK
Denki: “Man, at this rate, the only hope for our class coming in on top is the Midoriyas, Todoroki, and Bakugo.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHXvCCTpOL
For that insensitive comment, he got a slap over the head by Jiro’s ear jacks.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbzdPYUeAH
Jiro: “Oi.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF6L9nXPWi
Denki: “Ah… sorry.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNRxzxV6c
The two look at Momo, who is increasingly worried about her match. The only saving grace? Shiho Sannomiya wasn’t like the others. She couldn’t instantly K.O you. But considering how crazy Nogami’s match was, you can never be certain.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZMXudPsLQ
Momo: “I better get ready.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJGgm8whra
Momo got up and headed towards the waiting room. But before she could exit the stand, she ran into Izuku.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhPz2fjObN
Momo: “Midoriya.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY33UI6DzI
He said nothing, just put his hand on her shoulder and smiled.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0d7LL7LNB
Izuku: “Give it everything you’ve got, Yaoyorozu.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMizxxS5XrZ
She gave him a soft smile and nodded.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UFny0tPKa
Momo: “I will, thank you.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCPBGEeCx5
She moves past him and prepares for her match.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpWbXlDJJO
Five minutes later.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZU1fEQ1iw
Present Mic: “At last, we come to the final match of round 1! On one side, we have the president of Class 1-A, Momo Yaoyorozu!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lKNbva61W
She comes up to the platform with a weapon already in hand, a bo staff.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKMKiw4gkA
Present Mic: “Her opponent, the mysterious psychic girl that managed to talk her way into having a sword. Class 1-B’s Shiho Sannomiya.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3uzHPG2M8
The girl smiles as she brings the sword Momo made for her to bear.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bN98nwAS9
The two girls get into their martial stances. Momo wears a tense grimace, while Shiho is the picture of calm waters. That alone told everyone how this match was going to go.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2naOBDiVp
Present Mic: “Start!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFBqCG5uTN
Shiho blasted off into action with perfect grace and posture. As if she were a master swordsman. Momo hurried into a defensive stance, but it quickly became hopeless.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ7O2l0FpT
Shiho’s attacks were relentless and insane considering her age. Every attack was perfectly done and used at the most optimal time. Momo was an adept staff fighter and had gotten even better over the training period.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUUzIG6MVL
But the person in front of her was a goddess with the blade. There was no contest.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l0hszNh2q
In a panic, she created a flash grenade from her bo staff in an attempt to stun Shiho. But with lightning quick reflexes, she caught the bomb, spin-kicked Momo away, and threw the bomb at her.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyeE9x1KWy
Thanks to Shiho’s quirk, she knew exactly when the bomb would go off as soon as he touched it. So, when Momo opened her eyes, what was in front of her was a great flash of light.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAR7dr4oqi
Shiho dashed forward with her own eyes closed and hit the disoriented Momo with the butt of her sword. The next second, it was over.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YAlG4mhAn
Midnight: “Ring out! Shiho Sannomiya proceeds to the next round!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4uqjkptfP
Present Mic: “You heard it, folks! The first round is over! We’ll get back to it after a short break!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAYNWYwOSW
When the world stopped spinning, Momo realized where she was and what happened.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosYEtAR7NY
She looked up to see her classmates looking down at her with surprise and worry. She quickly turned away.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rJjacXr0w
Shiho: “I’m sorry it had to end that way. But you were better than I thought. It was just a bad match up. One of the abilities of my quirk, Psychometry, allows me to master nearly any weapon or vehicle I touch.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6tK9PICfw
Momo: “So… I never stood a chance.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkFv4xQvkf
Shiho: “Not unless you were a master too or had some trick that could catch a master off-guard.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gAGthTxYg
Momo: “I see… thank you… for informing me.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf8ysIEEfn
The two shake hands, and Momo fails to see Shiho’s eyes flash light blue again.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwpGdKXtHv
Shiho: “Ah… I really am sorry. You deserved to win more than me.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1x17LarMp
But Momo doesn’t hear her; instead she walks back to the waiting room in a daze.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf8szekWXe
As for the rest of class 1-A.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqC5oCRwMP
Jiro: “Poor Momo.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrVD9CO0sR
Tsuyu: “Kero.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcjOrDsCAN
Izuku looked at Momo and saw… a face he used to see in the mirror. The self-doubt, the feeling of powerlessness, the… disappointment. Old parasites he knew all too well.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZNctT4uPI
He balled his fists and made his choice. What kind of friend would he be if he didn’t help? Shinso’s situation is… complex. He couldn’t really comfort Uraraka. But Momo, he won’t fail her.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4ciAfxAeA
He won’t let her suffer what he suffered for so long until he got his quirk. So before Jiro could get up and comfort her friend, Izuku teleported away first.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTQvwasqky
Jiro: “Whoa, what the-”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR98KAhvBn
Kiri: “Onii?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe36EXEOTYy
In a flash of light, Izuku appeared in the waiting room and looked around for her. But she was nowhere in sight. So he ran out of the room and started looking. Eventually, he found her sitting against the wall of a deserted hallway, a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz6U21Um8u
Izuku steeled his heart and approached her. His footsteps caught her attention; seeing who came to see her, she quickly wiped away her tears.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbvf3tHwYn
Momo: “M-Midoriya…”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVscm9JSn3W
Izuku: “M-Mind if I sit down?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRmic64amZ
She shakes her head, and so Izuku sits down next to her. For a solid minute, they said nothing. The silence was peaceful, uncomplicated. But it won’t solve the problem, so Izuku decided to break it.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKUlIHxzY0
Izuku: “I… understand how you’re feeling right now.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj2DtDL7Mn
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Momo shrinks as she tightens her fists.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrcvDE7iBE
Momo: “How would you know? With a quirk like yours? You’re most likely going to win this tournament, and it won’t even be that difficult for you.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhdmHwpvfB
She tried really hard not to scream those words at him. How could he, of all people, understand what it’s like to fail to meet expectations?
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUQJmD1fdH
Izuku: “… I didn’t always have a quirk.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFnJbZyaB4
Momo: “… What?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8IaRT6equ
Her body stills, and her fist loosens.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWoxyDyXNd
Izuku: “That’s right. Brother to Blizzard and Tornado, quirkless. So yes, I know how you feel because I felt that way nearly my whole life.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXaQwW8V93
Momo’s mouth opens as Izuku continues to lay a part of his soul out to her.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpKy468sfk
Izuku: “I never believed in myself. That feeling, it’s suffocating. Like it’s trying to drown the rest of you out to the point where all you feel is just-”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj3b5vMBrQ
Momo: “Disappointment.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hm6epgCJ2
Izuku: “… Exactly. And not just in yourself, but you start to feel others’ disappointment in you. It wears you down and breaks you until you’re a mess of emotions.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Mz9SCtjB
Momo: “How did… you deal with that?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QxyAkjnQx
The boy thinks back to Kiri, how she ate some of the negative emotions he had. If not for her, who knows what may have happened. He may have even…
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzsx0b3EFX
Izuku: “I had help from Kiri. But… I also gained my quirk.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF3ZYk54zK
Momo: “I see… as I thought.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR8GQVZ10B
Once again, Momo shrinks in on herself.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqWRxK3Rv6
Izuku: “B-But my quirk is not perfect! Yes, it’s powerful. Yes, it’s helped me become more confident. But it’s also brought me problems.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D0bVMnByu
Momo: “What… problems?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaonAEPAQID
Should he tell her? What would she think of him? Would she see him as some monster?
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65SUIk8A2j
Izuku: ‘No! If I want to help her, I need to be honest. At least a little. Just enough that she understands.’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Dzhr1ScvA
So that’s what he does. He bares a bit more of his soul to her. About the darker side of his quirk, about what he can actually do. How dangerous it can be and the fear that causes in himself and others.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Q9IM97lW
Pretty much the same thing he told Kiri.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJREhGVpUBK
Izuku: “So you see, I’m still not fully alright.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlbTclmuWY
Momo: “I… had no idea.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXJ6TU0RX6
Izuku: “I-It comes with being a hero, I guess. That’s why I don’t want to see you breakdown or become like how I was. You have so much potential, Yaoyorozu! I already gushed about your quirk and intelligence enough; you know what I think about you.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKfOslYxzv
Momo: “But why? I’ve lost nearly every battle since I came here. I… refused to come here on recommendation because I wanted to prove that I have what it takes to be a hero. And I’m… failing. I’m letting everyone down.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis9sqcxNnr
Izuku: “But you don’t need to win every battle! Do you really not see how amazing you are?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA8Ydn3bZE
Momo looks at Izuku for the first time since this started and sees how much admiration he holds within those emerald orbs.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTfcKhJxL7
Izuku: “During the battle trial, you led the heroes nearly to victory. If not for you, Jiro and Kaminari would have died during the villain attack. You almost beat me. You would have won the race if not for me causing Nogami to teleport. Then, outside of the ten million, you won the cavalry match.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nvZ5IIxne
Izuku: “Sure, you didn’t get first place or win everything. But that’s fine.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqYInLRcjr
The boy’s mind wanders to Endeavor, who hurt his son all because he was obsessed with being the number one hero.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sidfobx7d
Izuku: “Don’t be so obsessed with being number one or winning every fight. You’re perfect the way you are.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡill0cyoJbm
Momo’s mouth fell open once more as she gazed into Izuku’s eyes with wonder. So much so, Izuku was getting self-conscious. A very beautiful girl was staring at him after all.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o70e0elfJ
Izuku: “S-S-So, yeah, Sannomiya is strong, but you shouldn’t let this loss get you down. It was one fight, and we’re only going to get stronger from here. L-Let’s both go beyond and do our best. So that we can make sure we never let these negative emotions drag us down again!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI02r1oO7W3
Momo: “Midoriya… ”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqITdTWUc1r
Izuku: “And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL7qbheHxX
The reassuring smile and words filled with kindness. That combo did it.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbwlOWS0dO
Moving with instinct alone, Momo closed the distance and captured the boy’s lips with her own. Izuku’s eyes flew open as he felt a sensation he never thought he would ever really experience.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4bBxqzcWa
A kiss from a pretty girl.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOSdQ39G6Z
But because of that, he couldn’t kiss back. So, Momo regained her senses and blushed before pulling away.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSrJmHvNQD
Momo: “I-I-I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhdLaOBSRx
Izuku: “N-N-No, it’s fine! I was just… surprised, that’s all.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJCrTKG2pT
The two looked away, trying to hide the obvious blush painting their faces. Unable to speak right now, Momo spoke from the heart instead.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRDxSlwDjr
Momo: “Thank you, I-Izuku. For everything.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeLjsuOwnk
Still stunned by the kiss, he didn’t even register that she used his first name. What he did notice was Momo getting up and speeding away.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHX1y1B05C
He watched her go, still too shocked to get up himself.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mVMKKU7oy
Izuku: “W-Whoa. A-A-A g-g-girl r-r-really k-k-kissed me.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewXGiJP6Ry
Izuku: ‘I want to help her more. I know she can become a great hero. Maybe… could she handle One For All?’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnrQkkRCzb
He would have stayed and thought about it more if not for the announcement of the next match, his.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CFFzR1Dqa
Izuku: “Oh! I better go!”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIym3Hp7Zi
The boy got up and sprinted to the arena, where he will face Todoroki.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR22oBJu0l4
Izuku: ‘I’ll help him too. I can do this!’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYht7zyKh3
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7PHBVZJEs
Unbeknownst to the duo, they had another duo watching nearly the whole ordeal.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKnar62Iuz
Jiro: “Whoa, I never thought Momo could be so bold. What do you think, Tae? Do you think Midoriya likes-”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk60VJ8YCQz
Jiro turns but finds no Kiri.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPF7IQVtov
Jiro: “Huh?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiy9KTL6L4
No, Kiri could not bear to watch it. She left as soon as she saw what was coming. Right now, in another part of the building, she is holding onto a wall. A wall she is slowly cracking.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHRqXMjeeM
Kiri: “Izu… why?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmRnEKWjf6
Kiri: ‘HE’S MINE! WHY IS UDDERS KISSING HIM!? IT SHOULD BE ME! WHY DID I WAIT!?’
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxwwNoh9zn
The girl tried her hardest to keep the raging emotions down, but it was no use. She needed to vent. So, not giving a damn about cameras, she transforms into her Valkyrie persona.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqbB8k3LFT
She quickly moves through hallways, bypassing any who would recognize her and making her way outside.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynj3NDVEIY
Kiri prays there are some quirk beasts out there, because right now, she needs to kill something.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcJ0CEtvhu
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsvco5nwrb
Fanfic Adapted: Thank You by MizuToriFFN [2019 – 2021]
ns18.117.252.232da2
