Chapter 30: Conflict
"Onto the last event, spin the wheel!" The wheel on the screen began to spin after Midnight finished her words, it landed on the event that Izuku has been expecting.
"Battle tournament! The combatants are expected to fight until one side yields! No time limits, standard rules apply." she finished, whipping the floor.
Standard rules, as in don't aim for sensitive areas in the body.
"Now, you have 10 minutes to prepare, starting it off with Mezu Shoji vs Fumikage Tokoyami!"
Standing up, the two looked at each other, nodding with determination.
"Good luck you two," Izuku said with a neutral smile.
He won't take a side. Why would he? They are both his friends.
When confronted with a situation where you have to choose between your friends, choose the neutral route and stay on the sidelines until the issue resolved itself.
And if the issue refused to resolve itself? Play the victim until both sides reconcile.
Shishido who was an army cadet in his past life knew alot about mental tactics.
As a former soldier, his mentality differs from the common people.
If you have an enemy, eliminate it, as simple as that.
He and his friends used to always ask this question.
"If you had to chose between your family or your country, which will it be?"
Personally, Shishido always answered that he would choose the former.
A hero may choose his country and save everyone by sacrificing his family and his happiness. But, Shishido isn't a hero.
He's a selfish man who wants everything to go his way, regardless of how hard it is.
And if the world refused? Then the world can go fuck itself.
If he wasn't sent to heaven after his death then he'll create his own heaven on here!
And while he is doing that, he'll make sure that his enemies experience hell.
While he did want to eliminate Shigaraki Tomura and sleep with ease at night, he knew that All for One will most likely turn Shigaraki's corpse into a Nomu capable of destroying everything.
A mindless Nomu is much worse than Shigaraki who has the capacity to disobey All for One.
So, to resolve Shigaraki one must deal with All for One. Currently, he can't because the man is hiding like a rat somewhere.
He also needed Shigaraki's brutal power to destroy the army of liberation, the same army willing to destroy the world in order to rebuild it to their vision.
A world without conflict is impossible. Those people are delusional.
While he didn't kill people in his past life, he was trained to kill. He has good knowledge on boxing, a bit of guns-training and a bit about knife wielding.
If he wished to, Shishido could directly leave U.A. in order to search for the league of Villains and kill all its members.
But then again, why would he? So far, the league of Villains haven't become an issue he can't solve.
Plus, he has a member in them that he wants to use, Himiko Toga.
Her Quirk is one of the most powerful Quirks in the world after it awakens, he has plans for her.
Let them form, all he needs is to convince Shigaraki Tomura to become his ally.
But how? How will he convince this man-child that he was on his side?
How?
How will he tell him his origin? Of his "Master"? Of his doomed future...
He needed to talk with him but he hid deeply in the middle of nowhere. He needed a simple long conversation with him to fix everything.
He just needed to talk with him.
"Midoriya-san, are you okay? You've been frowning for a while now..." Iida patted his shoulder, frowning in worry.
Just now, Izuku has shown a troubled expression.
"Oh..." Izuku looked around him, the students were looking at him in worry. "It's nothing, I'm just conflicted because I don't know who to cheer, they are both my friends," he said with a fake smile.
"Tell me about it! Last event they made us form teams and now I could be fighting those same teammates, How dirty!" Kirishima shook his head in annoyance.
"Personally, I'd beat the shit out of you," Bakugo taunted with a challenging grin.
"Bring it on! I'll fight you tooth and nail!" Kirishima struck his hands together, sparks forming between his fists.
The two slammed their foreheads together, glaring with excitement at each other.
"Idiots," Tsu shook her head at the muscle brains.
"Haaah?!"
"It's not manly to be stupid, I'm a smart boy!"
"I thought you're manly?" Jiro stared at Kirishima.
"... I'm a smart man!"
"...."
"Yeah, it's troubling," Izuku looked at Iida. "By the way, I thought we agreed that you'd call me Izuku from now on?"
"Uhh... It's a habit, I'll make sure to call you by your first name from now on," Iida said, rubbing his ear with an embarrassed blush.
Why did Izuku Midoriya wish to get so close to everyone else? It's almost like he's trying to be the best friend of everyone.
However, as nice as it sounded, if you become the best friend to everyone, that means you're a friend to none.
In life, one must choose. Well, that's what his older brother taught him.
Speaking of his older brother, Iida wondered if he is watching him right now...
---
"Hero-killer, Stain!" Ingenium, standing in a dark alleyway, behind him an injured hero, barked with righteous spite.
"You..." Stain pointed at him with his blade that was coated with blood.
He frowned, trying to remember his name.
"Ingenium," he smiled wickedly.
He remembered him. It's the hero that constantly does interviews, roaming the streets like a celebrity.
Constantly garnering attention for the public eye, instead of doing his duty.
"You're no hero..." he walked to him, eyes turning cold.
"Ingenium, run!" the hero that was crippled on the ground warned with visible fear.
He didn't wish to be the reason of someone's death.
After his own father died trying to save him and his classmates, he vowed to repay the debt by saving everyone he can!
As a hero, like All Might!
However, he never expected that one day he'd face someone like the hero-killer, Stain.
His leg was as good as gone, he can't assist or escape, he's a dead weight.
He Gripped his leg, begging for Ingenium to flee.
"No. As a hero, how can I let my comrades die?!" Ingenium walked forward bravely, fearlessly facing his foe.
"Then come fight me, Mr. Fake-hero..." Stain licked his blood stained sword.
The two walked towards each other, bravely fighting for their own ideals.
In this world and in every world, people are fighting. In one way or another.
Reason? Because people have visions, ideals that they wish to convey. And those visions change from one person to another.
Difference leads to conflict.
Alas, as long as there was life, there will be conflict. It's no one's fault, it's simply how the world works.
---
"As expected..." Izuku murmured to himself, watching as Tokoyami extended his hand to Shoji after he defeated him.
It took no less than seven minutes for Tokoyami to win.
While Shoji was incredibly strong, he wasn't strong or fast enough as dark shadow.
Plus, he had to fight Tokoyami
Plus, after teaching him to fly, Tokoyami became a bit of a problem for most contestants.
Not that Izuku cared, he was here simply to make everyone stronger.
"Amazing performance by Tokoyami Fumikage!" Midnight announced with an approving smile.
She liked the show of sportsmanship between the two.
"Next, Izuku Midoriya vs Mei Hatsume!"
Izuku's eyes dulled with annoyance.
That idiot will try to sell her equipment using him for sure.
... Maybe he can use that to his advantage.
"Well, I'll head out," Izuku stood up, going to take a small sip of water before the shit-show begins.
"Good luck!" X11
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," he waved his hand dismissively, a small smile on his face.
He liked how much his classmates cheered for each other, they're good people.
Most young people are.
It is the old people that are destroying the world.
Students in class 1-A are very supportive of each other, they were raised well.
He walked through the corridor, surprised by a figure heading the opposite direction.
"Endeavor? What are you doing here?" he asked, tilting his head.
What is Endeavor doing near the changing room of his classroom?
"Remember our deal, boy. You bring out his maximum potential and you'll get your money," he reminded, passing by with an irritated face.
"...."
Somehow, Izuku felt like not doing what he wanted, just to fuck with him.
Alas, groceries are expensive and the money is nice, he'll endure it until then.
3 million, that's almost 20 thousand dollars. While it's not that much for someone from the United States, it is extremely helpful for someone from Japan.
That's enough rent for almost 2 years.
He entered the room, surprised to see the figure of Shoto.
'Ah... I see.'
This explained everything. Endeavor was trying to lecture Shoto, who in turn refused him so he stormed out, enraged.
'What an asshole.'
Somehow, Izuku felt that he was lucky that he didn't have a father in his life.
Almost.
"Under the rain, aren't we?" Izuku joked, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.
"What do you want? Came to gloat?" Shoto replied with venom.
".... Easy there, I'm not your enemy," Izuku raised his arms and walked forward with an easygoing attitude.
"Stay back..." Shoto warned, visibly tense.
'Shit. He's scared of yo goofy ass," Banjo face palmed.
'I knew it, intimidating your classmates is stooopid!' Nana poked his forehead, fingers passing through his head.
"...."
Patience is a virtue.
" What? Are you scared of me?" Izuku snickered lightly.
"... No. I'm not."
""Then relax," Izuku sat down with a smile.
"... Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, I'd love to talk with you."
"Are you... All Might's secret love child?"
"...."
'Pffft-hahahahah—'
Izuku cut the connection immediately.
"What makes you think so?" he asked with a smile, a vein popping on his forehead.
"it's obvious. You have the same speed as him, you're almost as strong as him too, plus, he always calls for you specifically."
Great argument, in fact, if Izuku didn't know more then he'd suspect if he was actually his son.
"So...are you his secret love child?"
"... Too soon."
"What?"
"What?"
The two stared at each other for a couple of seconds.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shoto asked, confused. "Are you or are you not?" he asked again, angry.
"I... Kinda am? It's complicated. All you need to know is that I have a Quirk like his."
"... Did he train you?"
"Yeah."
"I see..."
So it was like this... It was a battle between the No. 1 and the No. 2 that got passed on to them.
"But he was nicer than your father," Izuku smiled warmly at the fond memories.
"... Did you talk with him?"
"You mean Endeavor? Yeah."
"So that's the reason you're trying to make me use my fire so much..." he spoke, his tone getting icy.
"Well... Partially? I mainly want you to go all out."
"...What? Explain."
"He paid me a a hefty sum to beat you up~"
"And you took it?"
"Duh. I ain't an idiot. It's free money."
Shoto stared at him for a couple of seconds.
He did not expect him to be so... Shameless.
"And your other reason?"
"I simply want you to get stronger."
"Why? Why do you care? Don't you think that I'd defeat you if I go all out?"
'No. No you can't.'
"You could... But I don't care about that. I don't want to be near someone who doesn't give it his all.."
"I'm strong, I don't need my father's power."
"Like I said, wasn't it your Quirk? Weren't you born with it? You should give it your all."
"You...don't know what I had to go through because of this Quirk... Because of him...!"
"I have a general idea, yeah."
"Yet you still want me to use it? Knowing what I had to go through because of it? Look at my face!" Shoto pointed at his face using his hands. "He did this! He ruined my life! My mother, my... My...—" he stopped himself from mentioning him.
Toya...
"I'm sorry," Izuku stayed silent for a couple of seconds. "However, you must realize this, it is okay for you to be a hero."
"... What?" he asked, his tone breaking.
He... Remembered how his mother told him the same thing before.
"Your mother and father probably shouldn't have married but they did, and now you're here," he pointed at his heart, poking him.
"Remember what you're fighting for, if a villain attacked your siblings, will you hold back?"
"... I-- I... Won't!"
"That's right! Then why should you ever hold back for other people!? Are you not a hero?!" he slapped him, making him fall to the ground from the impact.
Shoto fell to the ground, disbelief coloring his face.
The... Audacity...!
"YOU'RE A FIGHTER , NOT A WHINER!!!"
"...." Shoto touched his face, visibly shocked as he stared at his angry gaze.
He has never seen him this angry before. Even when he was fighting the villains at U.S.J.
Why... Why did he care so much...?
"... Why do you care? It has been less than two months since we have met..."
"Because I see myself in you and it pisses me off. Get a hold of yourself and man the fuck up!"
Izuku extended his hand to him.
Shoto stared at his hand for a while, conflicted.
It seems like... He didn't know much about Izuku Midoriya, he had his hardships as well.
Taking his hand, Shoto stood up slowly.
"I'll make you pay for this," Shoto said with an angry smile.
"Heh. Go all out then," Izuku smiled back, eyeing him with a pleased gaze.
This is how brutes communicated. Fight your words into him.
After all, fists don't lie.
If it worked with the original Deku, why wouldn't it work for him?
When you exchange fists with someone, your true self is revealed to them, slowly.
"I will... You'll regret encouraging me."
"That's more like it..."
Izuku heard a beeper from the monitor, reminding him of his match.
"... I have to go."
"You better not lose..."
"Heh. You wish."
Izuku got out of the room, walking steadily into the stadium.
The cheering intensified upon his arrival, reaching a deafening noise.
Black tendrils coated Izuku's ears, blocking the noise.
He stood before her, the best inventer in this day and age, Mei Hatsume.
She had a worried expression, likely thinking that he'd eliminate her directly when the match starts.
While Izuku wanted to do this, he also wanted to carry favor with this genius.
"Match start!" Midnight slammed her whip.
"WAIT!" Mei directly extended her hands, begging him to not move.
"... What?"
"I'll leave on my own but please let me show off my babies first!"
"...."
Izuku took a deep breath.
The crowd stared in silence, shocked by what they heard.
Babies?!
"... You mean your machines?"
"Huh? Yeah, what else did you think I meant???"
"... Nothing. But why should I help you?"
"I--I- I'll make a baby for you!"
The murmurs increased in valume.
"Izuku and her...?" Uraraka's face showed a complicated expression.
"He has... Kids?" Mirko blinked.
"What?! I have grandchildren???" Inko stared in shock.
"Explain yourself, Midoriya!" Present mic angrily announced.
"Please for the love of god, stop using that word!"
How scandalous!
'My reputation!'
"What's wrong with calling them my babies? They're my beautiful babies!"
"... I give up. I'll let you show your..." babies" if you work with me."
"Hah? For you? But you're a broke student with no funding."
"IN THE FUTURE!"
"Why would I do that?"
"Unlimited funding with a personal lap full of professional assistants."
"Deal!!! I'll make millions of babies together with you!" she said, holding his hand with an excited happy expression.
"STOP!!!"