Chapter 120: Reinforcements—Shoto Todoroki
Endeavor was in a good mood recently. He couldn't hide the smile on his face as he looked at his son walking beside him, and the ornamental flames on his chest burned even brighter.
"Hey. Can you stop smiling? It's disgusting," Shoto Todoroki said coldly.
Endeavor's expression froze, and the smile vanished. Although my son has begun to accept me, he still needs to be refined...
After the Sports Festival, Shoto had accepted the invitation to Endeavor's agency and had been practicing switching between his Quirks.
Seeing that Shoto no longer rejected his fire, Endeavor was overjoyed. He was more certain than ever that his son's future achievements would be limitless, and that he would one day surpass All Might and become the Number One Pro Hero on his behalf.
However, his use of fire was still too crude. While it was powerful, it lacked finesse, making it easy for others to find openings, just like in his match against Yoshikage Kira.
Kira had not accepted the special invitation he had sent him, instead going to some no-name agency in the crime-free backwater of Tottori. This was a bit of a regret for Endeavor.
His reason for inviting Kira was not complicated; he was simply curious about him. Curious about the pure malice he had sensed behind him, and curious as to why he had happened to appear at that crime scene...
If Kira were here, he could have Shoto fight him to quickly discover his own shortcomings. But since he hadn't accepted, Shoto would just have to get his experience in a real battle. And as it happened, he was currently tracking a criminal.
"Let's go. We're going to Hosu City to find the Hero Killer," Endeavor suddenly said to Shoto, who had been training constantly in the agency's dojo.
"According to his usual M.O., he must still be hiding somewhere in Hosu. I don't know why he's temporarily stopped killing, but... he will definitely commit another crime."
"Why are you so sure?" Shoto asked, confused.
Endeavor turned and walked out the door.
"Because I never misjudge the eyes of an ideologue who uses murder as a means to achieve their ideals."
Arriving in Hosu City, Shoto noticed several other Pro Heroes on patrol. Aside from large gatherings like the Sports Festival, there was only one reason for so many heroes to be in the same place: a major incident had occurred.
Endeavor noticed his son's gaze. "The existence of the Hero Killer has put all Pro Heroes on edge. The public's trust in heroes is constantly eroding. After all... if even heroes can be killed so easily, who can save the people?"
"Then what about you? What do you think?" Shoto asked.
"If the Hero Killer isn't eliminated, this society will eventually be drastically changed because of him alone... So I must stand up before that happens. This is my responsibility as a top Pro Hero."
Shoto looked at Endeavor. At this moment, with his serious expression, he truly did exude the air of a hero. As much as Shoto hated what his father had done to him and his mother, he had to admit that he was a qualified Pro Hero.
Suddenly, the crowd in front of them began to panic, shouting and surging toward them as if a monster had appeared, seeking help.
"There's trouble!" Endeavor strode forward, shouting over his shoulder, "Shoto, stay close! I'll show you what a hero is!"
Shoto followed him for a short distance when suddenly, his phone received a message. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and ran.
"Shoto! Where are you going!?"
Shoto didn't look back. "An alley on Miekawa Street, 4-2-10! My friend might be in danger! If you finish up over there, send some pros for support! With your abilities, you should be able to end this quickly, right?"
The view returns to the alley.
"I refuse," Midoriya said firmly. "I'm not abandoning any of them!"
Iida, his face pressed to the ground, shouted, "Midoriya, be careful! Don't let him cut you! My body can't move!"
So his Quirk is activated by cutting someone... Green electrical energy crackled around Midoriya's body. Like a lightning bolt, he kicked off the ground and charged straight at the Hero Killer. "Then all I have to do is not get cut!"
"...If that is your decision, then I will not hold back."
Stain took a step forward, his long sword instantly flashing out in a diagonal slash aimed at Midoriya's body.
I can do this... I can do this...
Midoriya chanted in his mind, the green light around him glowing even brighter. He accelerated, sliding under the slash and shooting out from under the Hero Killer. He then planted his left hand on the ground, twisted his body in mid-air, and slammed his right fist into Stain's face.
"What!?"
Stain's face was struck, his body bending backward. Midoriya used this opportunity to use Stain's body as a vault, flipping over him and landing back in his original position.
"I did it!" A look of surprise and joy appeared on Midoriya's face. "This way of using my Quirk... it really works!"
"Heh heh..." A smile appeared on Stain's face. He held his sword up to his face and extended his tongue to lick it—Thud. Midoriya's arm gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
Midoriya barely managed to turn his head and saw a tiny scratch on his arm. "Damn it," he said through gritted teeth. "He still managed to cut me!?"
"You are good. But your strength is still lacking. You were only thinking of avoiding my sight and then finishing me in one blow. There are many talkers in this world, but... you are worthy of my sparing."
Stain dragged his sword past Midoriya and came to stand in front of Iida. "Ingenium. You have a good friend. However, this will be the last time you ever see him."
Stain raised his sword, determined to kill this sacrifice this time.
"Stop!" Midoriya clenched his fists, his heart filled with regret. "If only I were a little stronger...!"
In the instant Stain was about to bring his sword down, a roaring flame shot into the alley, rushing straight for his face.
Feeling the wave of heat, Stain grit his teeth but abandoned the opportunity, leaping back several steps to dodge the sudden attack.
Midoriya shouted in surprise, "Todoroki-kun! What are you doing here!?"
"Midoriya, in a situation like this, you should really be more specific with the address," Shoto Todoroki said, standing at the entrance of the alley. His left arm was still wreathed in flames, and in his right hand, he held up his phone, which was displaying the location Midoriya had sent. "This is my first time here. You made me late."
"One meddler after another... this is getting very annoying."
"Don't worry. Pro Heroes will be here soon."
Shoto Todoroki ran forward. A wave of ice that covered the entire alley shot out from under his right foot, instantly reaching the paralyzed heroes on the ground. The ice rose up, forming a ramp that slid all of them back to him.
Todoroki unleashed another blast of fire, forcing Stain back. He stood in front of his friends and made his declaration.
"I will not let you harm them."