Stretches and yawns dramatically, nearly knocking over my coffee mug with my Stitch-paw sleeve
"Finally! You guys hit 750 powerstones! I've been waiting FOREVER for this." I spun in my chair, letting my messy bun unravel slightly as I grinned at the screen. "Though I can't really complain - it gave me time to finish Solo Leveling season 2. And oh. My. God."
I clutched my chest, feeling the familiar rush of storyteller excitement bubbling up. "That world is absolutely ripe with potential! The system, the shadows, the politics..." My eyes glazed over slightly as plot bunnies started multiplying. "And don't even get me started on Esil. Precious cinnamon roll demon girl deserves so much better. Like, seriously, I love her so much it hurts."
Catches self going off on a tangent
"But anyway!" I straightened in my chair, adjusting my glasses with a practiced motion. "You're not here for my Solo Leveling feelings - though we might circle back to those later because I have THOUGHTS. You're here because you wonderful readers earned yourselves a bonus chapter!"
The pencils in my messy bun shifted as I leaned toward the screen conspiratorially. "And between you and me? This one's going to be fun. We're diving deeper into some of those moments you've been curious about. You know the ones I mean."
Winks
"But here's the real challenge - think you can hit 1500 powerstones? Because let me tell you, I've got some absolutely delicious scenes planned. The kind that make my boyffiend send me concerned messages about cardiovascular health from too much monster."
Grins mischievously
"So what do you say? Ready to unlock some more bonus content? The power is literally in your hands. Or I guess technically it's in your powerstone clicks. Details, details."
"Anyway! 1500 powerstones, people! Let's make it happen! And now, without further ado, here's that bonus chapter you earned..."
======
The medical room door was partially open when I arrived. I paused outside, hearing voices from within.
"—didn't hold anything back," Camie was saying, her voice slightly strained but still retaining its usual casual tone.
"Neither did you," Momo replied. "Those illusions were... disorienting. I almost lost track of reality several times."
"That was the plan, fam. Nearly worked too."
I knocked gently on the door frame before entering. Both girls were sitting on adjacent beds, Recovery Girl moving between to find the damages. Camie had an ice pack on her right knee, while Momo was holding one against her ribs.
"Hey," I said softly, drawing their attention. "That was one hell of a match."
Camie's face lit up when she saw me. "Izu! Did you see me almost win?"
"I saw both of you give everything you had," I replied, moving further into the room. "It was incredible."
Momo's expression was more reserved, though I could see a quiet pride in her dark eyes. "Thank you, Midoriya-kun. Though I wish the outcome had been cleaner."
"Clean wins are boring," Camie said with a dismissive wave. "Besides, you earned it fair and square."
Recovery Girl finished with Camie and moved to Momo. "Nothing serious for either of you," she reported. "Some bruising, minor sprains. You'll both be sore tomorrow, but nothing rest won't fix."
She turned to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And how are those burns, young man?"
"Healing fine," I assured her, showing my bandaged arms. "I barely feel them now."
She huffed. "Just don't push yourself in the next round. I have enough patients without you adding to my workload."
With that, she moved to her desk to update her records, giving us a moment of privacy.
I approached the beds, looking between the two remarkable women before me. "Seriously, that was one of the best matches I've ever seen."
Momo's cheeks colored slightly at the praise. "Thank you. Though I must admit, Utsushimi-san's illusions were far more advanced than I anticipated."
"Told you I've been practicing," Camie said with a wink. "But your big brain still figured me out."
"So," I said, pulling up a chair between their beds, "what now?"
Camie grinned. "Now Yaomomo here gets to advance and kick more ass, while I get to chill in the stands and be the loudest cheerleader."
Momo looked surprised. "You're... not disappointed?"
"Course I am," Camie shrugged. "Nobody likes losing. But I gave it my all, you gave it your all, and you came out on top. That's how competitions work, right?"
"I suppose so," Momo said, looking thoughtful.
"Besides," Camie continued, her grin turning mischievous, "now I get to see you take on Bakugo. That's gonna be lit."
Momo paled slightly. "Bakugo-san... yes, that will be quite the challenge."
"You'll be fine," I assured her. "Just remember what you showed—your ability to analyze and adapt. That's your greatest strength."
Recovery Girl cleared her throat from her desk. "If you three are done with your little pep talk, these young ladies need rest and you have a match young man."
"Right," I stood up. "I should get ready for that."
Camie's hand shot out, catching my wrist before I could turn away.
"Hold up, Izu. You're not leaving without a proper sendoff."
Recovery Girl sighed audibly from her desk. "Young people these days have no sense of propriety."
Camie grinned without breaking eye contact with me. "Gotta make sure my man's ready to dominate out there."
"I appreciate it, but you should rest," I said, though I made no move to pull away from her grip.
"Please," she scoffed, shifting the ice pack on her knee. "As if I'd miss watching you beat the ice princess. You're gonna crush her, and I wanna see every second."
Momo cleared her throat softly from the adjacent bed. She'd been watching our interaction with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"Izuku." She hesitated, then placed her ice pack aside and began to stand.
"Yaoyorozu, you should remain seated," Recovery Girl admonished from across the room. "I haven't used my quirk on you yet."
"It's alright," Momo insisted, though she winced slightly as she rose to her full height. Her uniform was still torn in places from the battle.
She looked up at me, her dark eyes meeting mine with newfound resolve. The same determination I'd seen in the arena still burned there, though tempered now with something softer.
"I wanted to..." she paused, seeming to search for the right words. "That is, I hope you..."
Momo took a deep breath, then in a move that surprised me completely, stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a firm hug.
"Good luck," she said simply as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed pink.
The contact was unexpected—Momo had always maintained a certain professional distance as my vice president. The hug felt like crossing an invisible boundary, a step toward something new.
"Thanks," I coughed. "I'll… do my best."
Camie's grin widened. "See? Even Yaomomo knows you've got this in the bag."
Recovery Girl cleared her throat pointedly.
"I got it old lady," I said. "I'll see you both after."
"Kick her ass, Izu!" Camie called after me as I headed for the door.
I left the medical room, my mind still lingering on Momo's unexpected hug. The warmth of her embrace clung to me as I made my way through UA's labyrinthine corridors toward the preparation area.
But those thoughts would have to wait. Hitomi Todoroki stood between me and the finals, and I needed complete focus.
Our conversation from earlier played through my mind. Her revelation about her father, her quirk, her refusal to use her fire side—it painted a complex picture. Hitomi wasn't just fighting me; she was fighting herself and the shadow of her father.
As I rounded the corner, a massive figure blocked the hallway ahead. Even without the dancing flames that usually adorned his costume, Endeavor's presence filled the space. His turquoise eyes locked onto mine as I approached, his expression unreadable beneath his flaming beard.
"Ah, Izuku Midoriya," he said, his deep voice echoing off the concrete walls. "I was looking for you."
I stopped, keeping a distance between us. We stood nearly eye-to-eye—something that clearly surprised him based on the slight narrowing of his gaze. The number two hero wasn't used to looking directly across at teenagers.
"This floor is for contestants only," I said, feeling my kind demeanor slip away. Something about this man—about what he'd done to his family, to Hitomi—sparked that other side of me. The less polished, more aggressive part I usually kept in check thanks to gramps.
Endeavor's eyes narrowed further. "Rules like that don't apply to someone like me." His massive arms crossed over his chest. "I came to say your power is impressive. That quirk of yours is really something, and the way you talk—it reminds me of that man so much. You seem to have a lot in common with All Might."
I smiled thinly. "Thanks. It's nice to be compared to the number one hero." I emphasized the rank slightly, watching for his reaction. "Now if there's nothing else, I should get going."
I moved to step around him, but his voice stopped me.
"Hitomi has a duty," he said, not turning to follow my movement. "To surpass the Symbol of Peace and become the number one hero. Her match with you will be a good litmus test for how much training she has left." He finally turned, looking at me with cold calculation. "So don't go easy on her."
"Interesting advice," I said, turning back to face him fully. "Coming from a hero who can't even inspire his own kid to use her full power."
The temperature in the hallway spiked instantly. Endeavor's eyes widened, flames roaring higher around his face.
"You know nothing of my family," he growled, taking a step forward.
I didn't budge. "I know enough. I know Hitomi would rather lose than use the fire she inherited from you. That says everything about what kind of man you are."
His massive fist clenched at his side. "Watch yourself, boy. You're speaking to the number two hero."
"Exactly. Number two." I met his glare without flinching. "And that's exactly where you belong."
For a moment, I thought he might actually strike me—and part of me wanted him to try. But before either of us could escalate further, a voice called from the speakers overhead.
"Two minutes until the first match of the semi-finals. Contestants, please proceed to your designated entrances."
Endeavor's jaw tightened beneath his flame beard. "You're either very brave or very stupid, Midoriya."
"Just observant," I replied. "A true hero inspires others. But the only thing you've inspired in your daughter is rejection."
I turned and walked away, feeling his burning gaze on my back but not giving him the satisfaction of looking back. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my stride even and unhurried.
Focus, I reminded myself. This isn't about him. It's about Hitomi, and giving her the fight she deserves.
The preparation room was empty when I arrived. I took a deep breath, centering myself as I stretched my muscles.
Hitomi Todoroki. Half-Cold, Half-Hot. A quirk with incredible potential, yet she deliberately handicapped herself by using only half of it. Out of spite. Out of pain.
Our earlier conversation had revealed so much—her father's abuse, her mother's breakdown, the scar that permanently marked her face. She carried those wounds into every battle, fighting not just her opponents but her own heritage.
"The fire isn't his, Hitomi. It's yours."
My own words echoed in my mind. Would she listen? Part of me hoped she would—not because it would make our fight better, but because true freedom meant claiming all parts of yourself, even those you'd rather reject.
The speaker system crackled to life again. "First match of the semi-finals: Izuku Midoriya versus Hitomi Todoroki. Contestants, please proceed to the arena."
I stood, rolling my shoulders and feeling the familiar pull of the weights against my muscles. Win or lose, I would give Hitomi the respect of fighting her at my full capacity. No holding back. No easy path.
As I walked toward the tunnel that would lead me back to the stadium, I felt calm.
The roar of the crowd grew louder as I approached the light at the end of the tunnel. Thousands of spectators. Pro heroes watching. Scouts evaluating. But none of that mattered now.
What mattered was the girl waiting for me on that concrete platform. A girl fighting her own demons while trying to prove herself to the world.
I stepped out into the sunlight, the crowd's cheers washing over me like a wave. Across the arena, Hitomi emerged from the opposite tunnel, her distinctive dual-colored hair shining under the stadium lights.
Present Mic's voice boomed across the stadium, rattling the concrete beneath my feet as I walked toward the center platform.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READY FOR THE MATCH YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR?!"
The crowd roared in response, their combined voices creating a physical wall of sound. I kept my gaze fixed on Hitomi, who approached from the opposite side with measured steps. Her face remained impassive, but her mismatched eyes—one turquoise, one gray—burned with quiet intensity.
"IN THE RED CORNER," Present Mic continued, his voice cranked to maximum volume, "THE ICE PRINCESS HERSELF, DAUGHTER OF THE FLAME HERO ENDEAVOR—HITOMI TODOROKI!"
The stadium erupted in cheers while camera flashes sparkled throughout the stands. Hitomi didn't acknowledge the attention, her eyes never leaving mine.
"AND IN THE BLUE CORNER, THE HEARTTHROB POWERHOUSE WHO'S TAKEN THIS FESTIVAL BY STORM—IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
The cheers for me rivaled those for Hitomi. I caught sight of a section where Camie sat with several of our classmates, all of them on their feet. Even from this distance, I could make out Camie's distinctive hand gestures—both thumbs up followed by a throat-slashing motion. Subtle as always.
"BOTH CONTESTANTS HAVE SHOWN INCREDIBLE SKILL THROUGHOUT THIS TOURNAMENT," Present Mic shouted. "TODOROKI DOMINATED WITH HER ICE POWERS, WHILE MIDORIYA HAS DISPLAYED TECHNIQUE AND PHYSICAL ABILITY THAT'S LEFT PRO HEROES SPEECHLESS!"
We reached the center of the platform where Midnight stood between us, her whip resting casually against her shoulder. Her eyes darted between Hitomi and me, a small smile on her red lips.
"THIS MATCH PITS THE PRE-TOURNAMENT FAVORITE AGAINST THE CURRENT FRONTRUNNER! THE DAUGHTER OF THE NUMBER TWO HERO VERSUS THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT CONTESTANT OF THE ENTIRE SPORTS FESTIVAL!"
"Contestants," Midnight said, her voice carrying only to Hitomi and me. "Are you both ready?"
Hitomi gave a short nod, frost already gathering along her right arm.
I decided to play to the crowd a bit. The world was watching, after all, and perception mattered nearly as much as performance. I raised both arms, and stretched behind my back showing off my physique. The roar intensified, and I caught sight of more than a few pro heroes leaning forward in their seats.
"I'm ready," I said to Midnight, loud enough for the closest microphones to pick up.
She stepped back, raising her whip. "Remember the rules. The match ends when one contestant is immobilized, rendered unconscious, or forced out of bounds." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And I expect a clean fight from both of you."
I met Hitomi's gaze one last time before Midnight stepped fully away. Our earlier conversation had clearly affected her, though whether it had pushed her toward acceptance or deeper rejection remained to be seen.
"BEGIN!" Midnight's whip cracked the air.