Shoto was annoyed, not only by the result of the cavalry duel, but by the way everything had developed. Although his team had passed to the next round, the way they achieved it was very humiliating, only by having a band and being the only ones with at least a score, which wasn't even high. He had lost control of the situation, and that's what bothered him most. He wanted to stand out, make clear what he was capable of, but he had no opportunity. And how was he going to have it, when in front of him he had someone like Himura? Just thinking about that surname generated a discomfort difficult to explain.
He clearly remembered the scene at the U.S.J., that time he saw him in action for the first time, unleashing brutal power, destroying without stopping, facing hordes of villains without a hint of fear, and defeating that biological aberration that not even All Might had managed to defeat successfully. At that moment, Shoto thought he had simply been lucky. That his experience abroad, training in hostile terrains, had given him an advantage. He even justified it as a matter of tactical knowledge: he knew how to weaken the enemy faster, how to analyze weaknesses with surgical precision.
He learned that in a casual conversation with Izumi. She had warned him, told him bluntly not to underestimate her brother. But Shoto didn't listen to her. Arrogance, perhaps. Blind confidence in his own capabilities. He thought his technique and self-control were enough. But he was wrong. And he paid the price.
The only way he managed to stay standing during that impressive event was by using everything he had. His ice wall wasn't enough, and in that moment, when he understood it, when the real danger was in front of him, he had no choice but to resort to his damn left side. That fire he hated so much. That power he rejected because it represented his father. And there he knew it... Izuku had surpassed him. And not just a little. He had crushed him. A complete, clear and humiliating defeat.
He couldn't stay like this. That defeat, however silent it was, weighed like a stone on his shoulders. He had to face him, at some point, and do it right. Izumi remained his personal rival, the reflection against which he wanted to fight, measuring how much he could grow without depending on that fire he hated so much. But Izuku represented something different. He wasn't a symbol of the past like his father, nor a rival in the traditional sense. He was an obstacle. A difficult one. An annoying one. And if he wanted to overcome him, he would have to do it with what he was... not with what his father left him.
He wasn't going to use his left side. Not now, not later. No matter how strong Izuku was, no matter how many advantages he had. No matter if he seemed unreachable. He was going to defeat him with his ice. Only with that. Because only that way would he prove his other side wasn't necessary. Because only that way, someday, could he say he was better than his father without resembling him one bit.
Now he had to find Izuku. He needed to talk to him, challenge him, show him he didn't plan to stay behind. He wanted to make clear he could surpass him with his own effort, without depending on what he hated so much. He walked through the hallways with determined steps, sure he had seen him heading that way. He was convinced he had passed through there, but no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find him. Time kept running, and his frustration gradually increased, until by chance he ran into Professor Midnight, calmly leaning against one of the corridor walls. Her gaze was distant, thoughtful, as if reviewing something in silence. Maybe she would know where he was.
—Professor Midnight —he said, calling her attention.
The heroine looked up with an expression that changed immediately. Her eyes shone with overflowing energy and a smile loaded with mischief appeared on her face.
—Oh... I'm glad a cute boy is calling me, what can I do for you? —she responded, tilting her head flirtatiously.
—Excuse the bother, but I wanted to know if you've seen student Izuku Himura pass by.
—Hmm... yes, actually I saw him a few minutes ago. He went down that hallway, toward the cafeteria. He should be arriving by now —she answered naturally, pointing with her hand and giving Shoto a smile.
The answer disappointed Shoto more than he expected. He had hoped to talk to Izuku privately, to face that pending matter that wouldn't leave him in peace. But if he was already in the cafeteria, most likely the opportunity had escaped him. Maybe he would have to wait after the announcement of the last competition.
—I understand. Thank you very much for the information —he responded with a slight bow, turning around to leave.
However, before taking a single step more, something lit up in his mind. Midnight's presence wasn't a simple coincidence. He had noticed how she treated Izuku during the tests, how she showed certain closeness with him. A type of familiarity that didn't go unnoticed by someone as observant as Shoto. Maybe, if he talked to her... he could obtain more information. A way to understand him better.
—Professor Midnight —he said again, this time with a more serious tone—. Actually, I'd like to ask you another question.
She turned immediately, with a raised eyebrow and a more interested look.
—Hmm? Tell me, Todoroki. What do you want to know?
—Do you... have any romantic relationship with Izuku Himura?
...
The hallway fell silent for several seconds. Midnight observed him in complete silence, with a neutral and fixed expression. But then, without warning, an intense blush rose across her entire face, turning completely red. You could even see steam coming from her head. She quickly approached him and smacked him on the head, truly angry.
—YOU SHOULDN'T ASK A LADY THAT! AND ESPECIALLY NOT WITH SUCH NATURALNESS!! —she shouted between angry and blushing, covering her mouth with one hand.
—I-I'm sorry... —Shoto replied, rubbing his head uncomfortably—. It's just... noticing the way you treat him, I thought maybe there was a romantic relationship between you.
—Young people today keep making assumptions without knowing the complete story —she grumbled, crossing her arms while rubbing her forehead—. It's true that I'm somewhat daring, that I have a... relaxed style. But although I have a somewhat sadistic attitude, I'm not a savage who dates much younger boys!! Although... —she added, returning to her daring smile while licking her lips— I wouldn't mind waiting a bit, maybe for a cute boy. One is young, attractive... and knows her worth, hehehe.
—I see... —Shoto murmured thoughtfully—. Sometimes marriages are arranged between people with an age difference for convenience. Maybe you really...
—ARE YOU SAYING I'M OLD?!!! —Midnight shouted, leaning toward him with a completely flushed face, inches from his.
—N-No, that wasn't my intention! —Shoto responded, with slight sweat on his forehead—. I just thought that... if Izuku comes from a family with resources, they could arrange a marriage for him like many wealthy families do to ensure descendants with powerful quirks. My parents were also a marriage of convenience. I assumed Izuku's parents would look for something similar... a good wife for him.
—Those bastards... would never do that for Izuku —Midnight whispered.
Her tone no longer had a trace of flirtation. She stopped seeming superficially upset; now she seemed truly tense, as if something deep had been stirred inside her. Her expression turned somber and her gaze sharp. Shoto felt a slight pang in his stomach. This wasn't the usual Midnight.
—Tell me something, young Todoroki —she said in a low but direct tone, almost cutting—. How much do you know about young Himura to say he's privileged?
The question took him completely by surprise. For a moment, Shoto tried to maintain his serene face, but the truth was evident even to him. He didn't know Izuku. Not really. Since the course began, he had barely interacted with him beyond crossed glances during classes or practice battles. He wasn't someone who talked much, and his usual interaction group was limited to his sister, Izumi, plus Uraraka and Momo. He had never had a casual conversation with him. He never took interest in knowing about his life beyond what everyone already knew or assumed, thanks to his relationship and Izumi's story.
—Well... —he began, not finding the usual firmness in his voice—, since he's here with his sister, it's evident they have a blood relationship between them. Besides, the Midoriya surname is quite recognized, with reputation, history... and resources. It was logical to think he was also part of that fortune. It seemed obvious he was a more well-off son than...
—And haven't you wondered why Izuku doesn't have the Midoriya surname?
The words resonated with unexpected weight. Shoto blinked, not fully understanding. That simple question wasn't just disconcerting, but opened a door he had never stopped to observe carefully. Izuku wasn't surnamed Midoriya. But he had to be a Midoriya... It was evident he was Izumi's brother, their faces, the way they treated each other, their characteristic freckles, everything confirmed it—they were blood siblings. However, Izuku carried the surname Himura, the same one that—as he knew—was his mother's maiden name. But now, with that phrase from Midnight piercing his mind like a thorn, he understood there was something more. Something hidden. Something everyone overlooked, perhaps because no one dared to ask. Who is...?
—BOOM!!
He didn't have time to go deeper. A dry blow echoed through the entire hallway, followed by another and then another, as violent as they were alarming. Shoto reacted immediately. That wasn't a simple fall or accident... it was something more serious. And it came from the place where, according to Midnight, Izuku had headed.
They both looked at each other with concern. Midnight frowned gravely and without saying more, they began running toward the origin of the crash. Their steps resonated forcefully on the floor, increasingly fast, more urgent. Upon arriving, the first thing they saw was an enormous crack in one of the walls, with the marked shape of a human head's impact, along with another on the right and another on the floor. Shoto felt a chill run down his spine. It was unmistakable: they had slammed Izuku against the wall with brutality. And worse, there were two open paths on both sides of the corridor. The aggressor had vanished with Izuku in one of those directions.
Midnight reacted immediately. She pulled out a small communicator she carried hidden in her suit and extended it firmly to Shoto.
—We split up. You go right, I'll go left. Remember: you're still a student, if you find the aggressor, don't confront them. Call immediately as soon as possible. If someone was capable of catching young Himura, they're potentially very dangerous. —she warned him seriously, before quickly disappearing down her path.
Shoto didn't hesitate anymore. He gripped the communicator in his hand and launched toward his assigned side, with his senses alert. His heart beat strongly. It wasn't just concern; it was contained rage, helplessness, an urgent need to know what was happening. He moved stealthily, avoiding making noise, and advanced cautiously through the hallway shadows. Little by little, he began to hear something... muffled voices. He stopped for an instant, took a deep breath, and approached even more until he peeked around a corner.
The scene he found left him paralyzed.
Izuku was being slammed against the floor. An enormous man, almost six feet three inches tall, held him with one hand, twisting his arm forcefully while keeping him immobilized. In front of them, a slender woman with long, dark green hair observed him with a cold expression, full of contempt and superiority.
—Now will you tell me why you hid from me that you had a quirk? —the woman asked in a dry tone, while digging the heel of her boot into Izuku's head, forcing him to keep his face pressed to the floor.
—I already told you, Mrs. Midoriya —Izuku responded with a calm voice, without a trace of pain or anger in his tone—. It just appeared one day, just like that. It seems I was a late manifestation, a situation not so common but that can happen to someone. It was a miracle, don't you think? hehe.
The woman didn't seem satisfied with his answer. Without even blinking, she made a slight gesture with her hand. The man obeyed immediately, sinking his knee into Izuku's back while twisting his arm with greater brutality. The dry crack of bone dislocating resonated in the distance, a visceral sound that would have made anyone shudder... but not Izuku. He remained immobile, in complete silence. Not a single scream, not a complaint. Barely a slight exhalation escaped his lips, as if the pain wasn't worthy of his attention.
From his hiding place, Shoto felt a knot form in his stomach. He didn't fully understand what he was witnessing, but what he had before his eyes wasn't disciplinary punishment, nor a family fight. It was something deeper, dirtier, more cruel. Something that bordered on the inhuman.
—Miracles, for you, are nothing more than accidents in disguise —the woman said with contempt, her voice loaded with venom—. You're still the same pathetic trash that I myself brought into the world. What a relief you weren't planned... so I'll never have to feel the slightest interest in you.
And without hesitation, she spat forcefully on Izuku's head. Then she stepped back a few paces, preparing her leg to deliver a new kick directly to his face.
But the blow never came.
Out of nowhere, a set of ice spikes emerged violently from the floor, shooting at sharp angles that forced the woman to immediately step back, momentarily losing her balance. The man holding Izuku reacted quickly, interposing himself between his boss and the danger, covering her with his body as a shield. The tension was immediate. Both turned in unison toward the direction of the attack... and saw him.
Shoto Todoroki emerged from among the hallway shadows like a firm and unbreakable presence, his steps resonating on the floor with a calm that hid an internal tempest. His gaze, cold as steel, fixed directly on the two aggressors. It wasn't the distant expression he usually wore in class nor the seriousness of a famous hero's son... it was something else. A silent, icy determination, born from rejection and indignation.
Ice crystals slowly formed on his right arm. The particles sparkled in the air, dancing around him like a silent warning. With a firm voice and without deviating for an instant, he raised his hand toward them.
—I don't know what relationship you have with Himura, but I won't say it twice... get away from him now! —he warned with a tone as serious as it was implacable.
But the reaction he got wasn't what he expected. It wasn't fear or tension, but something completely different. The woman, far from showing nervousness, sketched a sly smile, self-assured, as if everything were under her control. She stood up elegantly, dusting off her dress as if the threat before her were barely an annoying note in her day.
—Well, well... I didn't think I'd meet the son of the great number two hero, Endeavor, so soon —she said in a tone soaked with condescension and venom—. It's a pleasure, Shoto Todoroki.
For a brief instant, she raised her hand in a gesture that imitated a formal, almost theatrical greeting. But seeing how Shoto's arm tensed and the ice began to crackle with greater intensity, the woman stepped back gracefully, as if she had only been testing her opponent's limits.
—What a disappointment —she added with a light, arrogant laugh—. I thought the heir to Enji Todoroki's pride would be more... selective. Saving that thing? —she pointed at Izuku with disdain, who was still on the floor, partially upright but showing no signs of pain—. He's miserable, barely human. A waste of resources. Although, I suppose that shows you at least inherited a bit of your mother's mercy... or perhaps you're just as weak.
Shoto gritted his teeth, the sound barely perceptible, but loaded with tension that ran through him completely. The air around him became dense, heavier, and dropped in temperature rapidly. The hallway walls began to cover with frost, ice crystals climbing like frozen spider webs. Under his feet, the floor creaked with each step he took forward, groaning from the thermal contrast. Shoto's right arm, charged with power, continued pointing without trembling at the woman before him... but he didn't attack. Not yet.
The woman, far from being scared, observed him with a serene expression that soon turned into another arrogant smile. As if she were enjoying every second of that tense confrontation.
—Well... I have to go now. I already did what I had to do after the humiliation this freak caused my sweet girl —she said in a voice soaked with contempt, adjusting her hair with forced elegance—. I hope in the next test she shines as she should... and that this disgrace doesn't dirty her path again. I wish you luck, young Todoroki. Hopefully we'll see each other again... especially if your father is present next time.
But before she could take another step, an irate voice tore through the atmosphere.
—Stop right there, you damned wretch!! —roared a voice loaded with rage.
Midnight burst into the hallway like a wrathful shadow. She stopped in front of the woman with no intention of holding back. Her whip crackled with static electricity, and her eyes shone with a mixture of fury and barely contained indignation. Her entire body radiated the energy of someone on the verge of exploding.
—You've assaulted a student! You've attacked his physical and emotional integrity! This is a direct violation of regulations and a crime in every sense! You'll be detained immediately! —she spat with a firm voice, but let a twisted smile show through—. Although, honestly... I'd love it if you resisted.
But the woman didn't flinch.
With venomous elegance, she slightly turned her face toward Midnight. Her gaze was serene, almost condescending, as if everything were a bad joke that only she understood. The smile that formed on her lips was as sharp as a blade, loaded with disdain.
—What are you talking about, dear? —she said in a sweet, almost maternal tone—. I only came to see my dear son... and wish him luck in his next test. Isn't that right, Izuku-kun?
Silence fell like a slab.
Midnight blinked, perplexed, while slightly turning her face toward Izuku. Shoto also held his breath. Both expected a denial, a word, a gesture that would disprove that mockery... but what came was much worse.
Izuku slowly raised his head. His expression was serene, covered by an almost inhuman stillness, as if everything that had happened didn't affect him in the slightest. A slight smile appeared on his face, and the worst part was that it didn't seem fake. It was authentic, genuine... and, for that very reason, profoundly terrifying. If anyone had arrived just a minute later, without knowing what had happened, they would think Izuku had simply tripped, maybe with some bruises, but nothing more. Nothing out of the ordinary.
—It's true... —he said in a calm voice, perfectly controlled, without hesitating or doubting for even an instant—. Mrs. Inko only came to wish me luck and see how I was doing. She's an excellent mother who worries about and cares for her daughter. There's no reason to bother her anymore. It was a pleasure to see her again.
The impact was immediate. Shoto took a step back unconsciously, with wide eyes, as if his mind refused to accept what he had just heard. He couldn't understand how Izuku could defend such a despicable being with such naturalness, as if nothing had happened, as if all that were nothing more than a simple cordial visit. That single statement didn't fit in his head.
Midnight didn't move either. She was frozen. Her whip trembled slightly in her hand, not from static electricity, but from the tremor of not understanding what she had just witnessed. Shoto could still feel the fury boiling inside her, pulsing under her skin, a rage she couldn't contain... but there was also fear. Real fear. The kind that only appears when something twists so deeply it stops seeming human. That helplessness of not being able to do anything as a heroine, of not being able to intervene... because Izuku, by denying everything, had closed any possibility of help. What kind of wound could a person carry to accept that treatment with a smile?
The woman, on the other hand, only sketched a triumphant grimace. She passed by them as if nothing, with an elegant step and an aura of arrogance that was impossible to ignore. Her bodyguard followed without saying a word. But before leaving, she stopped in front of Izuku once more. She leaned down slowly, took his face with a delicacy that bordered on mockery, like a mother worried about her son, and whispered something in his ear with a voice that none of those present managed to understand. Then, without warning, she slammed him against the wall again.
—See you soon, you piece of trash son —she murmured with contempt, and left. Just like that. As if nothing had happened.
The hallway was left submerged in a frozen silence. Neither Shoto nor Midnight could move. The air was as dense as an invisible wall, until suddenly, a laugh burst out forcefully, completely breaking that suffocating atmosphere.
—hehe...HEHE... HAHAHAHAHA... —Izuku began to laugh as if nothing had happened— I really love fooling that woman. You should have seen her face! That frustrated expression of not being able to do anything... HAHAHA. Seriously, I needed this.
Both looked at him perplexed, gradually coming out of their astonishment, as if only now they were returning to the present. Izuku's warm and carefree smile contrasted so much with what they had just witnessed that they simply lost their balance from pure bewilderment. They collapsed on the floor without knowing how to react.
Izuku, seeing them like that, got up immediately. He approached worriedly, with the same kind expression as always, ready to help.
—Are you okay? You didn't hurt yourselves? —he asked while extending his hand to help them up.
Shoto didn't accept immediately. He only looked at the extended hand with uncertainty, as if he couldn't process that this boy, the same one who had been mistreated and humiliated minutes ago, could remain as calm as if nothing. But before he could say something, a loud shout next to him pulled him from his confusion instantly.
—My boy! My beautiful boy!! —Midnight shouted, crawling toward Izuku. Seeing the state of his arm, completely twisted, her face changed immediately. She knelt before him, trembling with rage and guilt—. What did that... do to you? I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't arrive in time... —she whispered between sobs, clinging tightly to his uniform.
Izuku remained calm. With his healthy arm, he caressed her head gently, as if wanting to calm her.
—The most animated, serious and daring heroine in public... was never in such a serious incident? Seriously, I'm surprised —he commented with a light smile, trying to lighten the tension—. But don't worry, Miss Midnight. I'm fine, look... uh...
He lowered his gaze to his arm, clearly in an unnatural position.
—Ah, right... this. Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
Without hesitating, he gripped it firmly, and with a sharp movement and a direct strike, he set it back in place. The crunch of bones resonated briefly. Izuku rotated his arm a couple of times, making sure it was moving normally again. Satisfied with his result.
—See? Good as new.
But she didn't move. She kept checking his arm, feeling quickly and with concern, even trying to remove his sweatshirt.
—Whoa, hold on! That's not how you check, you should at least ask first, professor, okay?... ah... look, let's better go to the infirmary so they can check me. Alright? They'll tell you I'm in perfect condition. —Midnight wasn't responding, she kept too agitated touching him non-stop—. Well... I'll let you carry me —he added with a resigned smile.
That seemed to wake her. A smile illuminated her face, and without hesitation, she lifted him easily. Izuku barely weighed anything, something that noticeably bothered him a bit, but he said nothing. Before they left, it was noted he remembered something important, then asked to be put down for a moment. He turned toward Shoto, who was still completely bewildered, without moving from the spot, and looked at him seriously, which surprised him.
—To make it brief, I know what you wanted to tell me, so I'll be direct. I already know about your conflict and your internal hatred. Your mother told me. And yes... I know her very well.
Shoto looked at him with more surprise.
—I also know about your declaration of war toward me, as a way to surpass yourself and contradict your father. But I can't accept it. I have more important things to think about as you just saw. I'm not saying you're wrong for confronting him, just that you should think better about your situation with your quirk. You can't keep blocking your true potential, just out of stubbornness or pride. It's your quirk, it belongs to you, just use it. It's that simple... Just think about it and act. And don't worry... she'll support you in whatever decision you make. I just hope it's a wise decision.
Having said that, he turned toward Midnight and nodded, allowing her to carry him again. Without wasting time, she took him toward the infirmary, pressing him tightly against her chest, as if she needed to feel him close to make sure he was still okay.
Shoto remained alone, standing in that hallway where minutes before he had witnessed something he still didn't fully understand. He didn't move, didn't speak, just processed. Izuku's words spun in his head, one after another, repeating like an echo he couldn't ignore. In a matter of minutes, he had discovered more about him than he thought possible in the entire year. He wasn't arrogant, nor distant, nor a boy favored by his surname.
Izuku wasn't privileged. He was someone who had suffered. Someone who hid more than he showed. And, for the first time, Shoto began to reconsider if he really knew enough about those around him.
Maybe... it was time to change the way he thought about himself.