School's coming but I'll do my best to update, I promise! This chapter literally gave me chills and I'm proud of it.

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'YEAAAHHH!!'

Present Mic's voice blasted through the arena and left Izuku's ears ringing. The sun glared down on his form as he stepped out of the shade and onto the field. On the other side of the arena, Todoroki did the same.

'Both of these competitors have made an impressive stand in the last events, but only one can come out on top and rise to greatness! It's... Midoriya versus Todoroki!'

Izuku and Todoroki's eyes met, dark green orbs clashing with gray and teal. Izuku's eyes narrowed.

"He'll come after me with his ice," Izuku thought. "It'll be risky if I let him use his quirk freely, so as soon as the match starts—"

'GO!!'

"—attack!"

———

As soon as Present Mic called for them to start, all the noise around Shouto grew silent as he zoned in on Midoriya. He stomped his foot on the ground and a stream of sharp ice flew straight at the shorter boy. Not a moment after, Midoriya was gone from the spot he stood at was running at him. Shouto's dual orbs widened.

"He's fast!"

Midoriya's arm was held out in his direction and he flicked his middle finger, causing a blasting wind to hurtle towards him. It hit Shouto hard in the chest and forced him back. His feet barely touched the ground as he flew towards the edge of the ring. He managed to catch himself with ice from his right hand and looked at Midoriya. The finger he flicked was a disgusting purple.

"He's going all out, huh? To injure himself just to counter me..."

Shouto sent another wave of ice at him and watched as Midoriya destroyed it again with a flick of his finger. His index finger was bleeding badly now but the pain didn't seem to stop him from charging towards Shouto. He moved away from the edge of the marked area and let out more ice to keep his classmate as far away from him as he could. It only went a few meters before it was destroyed again and Shouto was pushed back. He put up a block of ice behind him to stop himself as Midoriya drew closer.

Midoriya was shaking and already sweating heavily, Shouto noticed. His eyes narrowed as a barrage of ice flew from his right side. This time, Midoriya barely dodged.

"Are you trying the stretch out the match?" Shouto asked as ice cracked across the ground. Midoriya was too close now so he couldn't dodge and had to sacrifice his last finger. Shouto watched as he bit his lip in pain. He grunted, "Sorry, but I'm ending this now."

Shouto let out a stream of ice again, this time running along it. Midoriya lifted his other hand and used his good fingers to protect himself. The ice cracked into large chunks and flew off in separate directions. Shouto used a chunk to jump over Midoriya and came down with his right fist. Midoriya jumped back to dodge and Shouto punched the ground, sharp spikes of ice shooting up around his arm. Midoriya was still up in the air as Shouto sent a wave of ice after him. It enclosed around the greenette's foot and Midoriya looked down with wide eyes.

A moment later, a large gust of wind filled the arena and Shouto was forced far back. He barely caught himself with his ice. If he had been a second late, he would've crossed the marked area and would've lost.

"That blast was stronger than the others," Shouto said, coughing as dust swirled in the air. "Are you trying to keep me back?" He looked up and saw Midoriya hunched over, his shoulders shaking and his entire left arm was broken and purple.

"Defending and dodging seems to be taking a toll on you, Midoriya." A sudden chill ran up Shouto's spine and he saw his breath in front of his face. He grit his teeth and his eyes glanced over to the stands, landing on a single figure. "Sorry about all this, but I appreciate it." He flexed his right fingers and curled them into a fist. "Thanks to you, he doesn't look too happy."

He turned his head from the crowd and focused on Midoriya once more. "With both of your hands destroyed, you can't fight anymore." His eyes narrowed as he lifted his foot. "I'll end this now."

He brought his foot down and sent spikes of ice, larger than before, towards Midoriya.

Then, a horse voice reached his ears.

"...Who says I'm done?"

———

Izuku used his already injured finger to make another blast of wind pressure and destroyed the onslaught of ice. He grit his teeth as a wreaking pain shot up his arm, worse than the last. Todoroki was blown back again and stopped himself with his ice once more. He looked up at Izuku with wide eyes.

"What..." Todoroki's eyes narrowed. "Why would you go so far?"

Izuku's arms hung limply and his breathing was heavy. He stared at his classmate through his fringe.

"You're shaking... Todoroki..."

Todoroki stilled.

"Quirks are still just physical abilities.. You must have a limit to how much cold you can handle!" Sweat dropped down his chin as he watched Todoroki stand across the arena. "But... you could always use your left side to thaw yourself out... right?"

Todoroki glared at him, but Izuku continued. "Everyone's.. giving it their all." His broken fingers curled, making cracking noises as they did so. "To win... To reach their goals... To make it to the top! And you want to win with only half your power?" He lifted his head and glared straight into Todoroki's dual colored eyes. His hand clenched into a fist with a resounding pop.

"You haven't put a single scratch on me yet! So come at me with everything you got!"

Todoroki's eyes flashed with anger. "What are you planning?" He growled. "Everything I've got? Did my bastard of a father pay you off or something?" His eyes darkened as he charged at Izuku. "You're pissing me off!"

"He can't deal with me at close range," Izuku thought. As soon as Todoroki lifted his right leg, he flew forward. Todoroki's eyes widened and he tried to jump back, but Izuku readied his fist.

"Imagine it... The microwave... Don't explode... Don't... Explode!"

Power filled his right arm as he drew it back and thrust it into Todoroki's gut. At the same time, Todoroki covered Izuku's whole left arm with ice. The taller boy choked as he was thrown back and hit the ground hard. Izuku spluttered as his arm was enveloped in pain, but it didn't hurt as bad as before.

Todoroki stood, coughing. A hand was held over his stomach as frost crawled up the right side of his body. "So now you're on the offensive, huh?" Ice shot from his foot and aimed at Izuku but he quickly dodged.

"You're slowing down," Izuku shouted over the roar of the stadium. "And your ice is weaker, too."

Once more, Todoroki formed ice that was sent spiraling at him. Izuku stuck his thumb in his mouth and used his cheek to flick it. Todoroki used his arms to shield himself as he skid back. He staggered as he stood.

"Why are you going this far?!"

Izuku grit his teeth as he charged for Todoroki. "I want to live up to people's expectations!"

Memories flashed behind his eyes. Toshinori shadowed by the setting sun, telling him he could become a hero. His idol standing by him as he trained and trained to get stronger. Every encouraging word that was given to him when he felt down.

"A smiling... dependable.. cool hero..."

He'd come so far.

And there was no way he was turning back.

"That's what I want to be!"

Todoroki flinched and Izuku rammed his head into his gut.

"That's why I'm giving it my all!"

Todoroki jumped back, landing on his feet as he watched Izuku try to stand.

"I can't imagine what you've been through. Not at all." Izuku's brows furrowed and he shook. "But stop fucking around!"

Todoroki stared, wide eyed.

"If you want to deny your father everything, fine. But you don't have the right to become number one without using your full power!"

Todoroki shook as his eyes flared. "Shut up..."

Izuku rushed forward, bringing back his powered fist. He met Todoroki's blazing orbs with his own.

"That's why I have to win!"

His fist met clothed flesh and Todoroki flew back.

"I have to surpass you!"

Tears built up in Izuku's eyes as all his frustrations came forth. Todoroki shook as he got up on the other side of the field.

"It's your's!" He shouted. "Your quirk, not his!"

All time around them froze for a moment. Todoroki's eyes were wide as they gained a faraway look. Tears gathered at the corners as he grit his teeth.

And Todoroki burst into flames.

It was so hot that Izuku had to jump back. He stared up at the spiral of orange light in awe.

"I thought you wanted to win," Todoroki said, muffled by the sound of fire crackling and the air churning. "So why're you trying to inspire me? Which one of us isn't taking this seriously now?"

There was this look of euphoria on his face that made Izuku want to sob himself. Todoroki's eyes were already glazed over.

"I... want to be a hero, too!"

He wiped his eyes as Izuku grinned.

Todoroki looked at the greenette.

"What are you smiling about?" He asked. "With those wounds and this situation, you must be crazy." He met Izuku's eyes dead on. "Don't blame me for what happens next."

With only a nod to prepare them, they both powered up. Sparks flew up Izuku's limbs as the air around him shifted and Todoroki's fire flared and his ice sprouted from the ground in deadly spikes.

Ice covered the cement floor and Izuku was airborne. He shot himself toward Todoroki, so much faster— faster than he'd ever been before, and he pulled his arm back. At the same time, Todoroki gathered heat in his left hand and held it towards Izuku.

In the midst of the crowd's roars and air rushing past his ears, Izuku could make out a quiet, sincere whisper.

"Thank you."

He was barely aware of the large cement slabs that burst from the ground in between him and Todoroki. Both of their powers easily ripped through the slabs and met in the middle. There was a bright flash of white light and Izuku could feel himself being thrown back. As he hit the ground hard, face first, there was a dull throbbing over his nose as a blade of ice dug across his skin. He used the last of his strength to keep himself from flying back any farther and forced himself to a stop.

Dust swarmed the arena and Izuku could barely see anything through his blurry eyes. He could faintly hear someone speaking behind the loud ringing of his ears.

Everything was numb. He couldn't move and he could barely keep himself from knocking out.

But when the dust cleared and settled, he found himself still barely inside the ring, his bloodied hands leaving trails of red on the ground. He was flat on his stomach, sprawled out in the cracked floor, and picked his head up just a bit to see Todoroki hanging off his ice, outside the ring and unconscious. Despite his his state, Izuku could see that he looked happy, free.

A feeling swirled in his gut as his vision tunneled. Cementoss rushed to Todoroki while Midnight came to him.

Before he lost himself to the darkness, he heard one thing that broke through the ringing in his ears and his oncoming headache.

'Midoriya... wins!"

He did it.