You waited patiently for Midnight to announce what the one-on-one battles would consist of. Last year was foam sword fighting and it was kind of epic for something that you originally assumed would be stupid. One guy coated his sword in earth and basically destroyed everyone else with his painful jabs. 

You were hoping this years competition would be even better, maybe quirkless combat or maybe a competition on who can stand on hot coals the longest while shooting one another with nerf guns. The possibilities were endless and you were super excited.

You patted your pocket where the letter Sachiko gave you was sitting folded neatly. It was from the kids at the hospital, it was poorly written and had stupid drawing of you fighting with them all over it but for some reason it made you feel warm. Akito was cheering for you, all the kids at the hospital were, and you wanted to win for them. They believed in you being a hero even knowing who you were, you were going to win for them, to show them they were heroes in their own right.

"This years final stage will be...A TOURNAMENT OF INDIVIDUAL BATTLES, EACH STUDENT WILL FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE!" Bakugou was almost cackling with excitement, it was finally his time to crush all the competition with his quirk. Izuku paled at the looks both Bakugou and Todoroki sent him. Kirishima pat his back in condolences.

"The match-ups will be decided by drawing lots, after that we can have a bit of a breather and some real fun. You choose if you join in or not, no shame in conserving your energy. You're gonna need it." Kayama never failed to make you shiver when she gave that look. "Now, lets start with the first place team."

"WAIT." Mineta cried out in a panic, his small body visibly trembling and not in lust for once. "I q-quit! I can't fight against everyone here, I have no chance. I quit, let some other crazy person take my place, I don't wanna die!" He was an obnoxious, blubbering mess but Kayama took his weakness as strength and let the grape boy bow out.

You didn't see the supposed strength in backing out like he did, it's not like he'd really die...probably. It was cowardly but that wasn't a new things. You knew lots of people were cowards, Aizawa said fear was a normal driving force not to do something...opposite of how it used to be your force to do something. Kaminari, Iida, Kirishima, and Midoriya all hounded on Mineta but he was unwavering on quitting. To gain control, Midnight cracked her whip a wide smile on her face as silence followed the loud snap.

"To replace Mineta's humble bow-out, the leader of the 5th place team will take his place. I love it! How exciting for this underdog from general studies...Hitoshi Shinsou!" Ahh, he was the purple haired boy with the tired eyes...the one who looked to be more European than Japanese. His eyes were dark with anger, not like Bakugou's haughty kind but more like contempt with the world, but they seemed to lighten slightly, burning with a newfound determination as he was announced to no longer be a 'failure'. It was his chance to show he could be a hero even with a villainous quirk.

Though you didn't know it yet but you and he had more alike than either of you could have imagined.

"Here are the match-ups! This first round is sure to be oh so exciting." Midnight was grinning as the bracket was posted for everyone to see. You took a glance at the board, noting down your name and competition before heading back to the stands for a rest before the real battles began. The crowd had already began to place bets in anticipation.

Izuku Midoriya versus Tenya IidaTodoroki Shouto versus Hanata SeroToru Hagakure versus Mei Hatsume[Name] Tenshi versus Mashirao OjiroHitoshi Shinsou versus Ashido MinaDenki Kaminari versus Ejiro KirishimaBakugou Katsuki versus Ochako UrarakaFumikage Tokoyami versus Momo Yaoyorozu

You were buzzing to see the results, a few you were positive about but there were some battles you were unsure of the winner and that made this all the more exciting...that and you were slightly nervous about your surname finally being posted. For the entire world to see. You knew it wouldn't be long for the puzzle pieces to come together, the surname Tenshi wasn't common and many who carried it changed their name after the incident of your family.

It was finally happening, a few years ago you wouldn't have cared but now...you did and you sort of hated it...that fear of being known only as a Tenshi once more. That gripping fear of losing your self identity that you were finally beginning to gain because you would no longer be anything more than the assassin, the Tenshi girl. You felt that grip around your lungs, squeezing painfully, constricting, you couldn't breathe...until Mei grabbed your arm, smiling that familiar friendly and mischievous smile at you.

"Lets go my amazing Hybrid friend, time for you to kick some ass and for me to show all these deep pocketed businesses just what my babies can do!" She could see that look in your eye, she had seen you freak out when you were younger and now she knew to just distract you. She was your friend, she didn't care who you once were, she cared about who you were becoming. She was your friend and Hatsume wouldn't let you forget it. You felt the coil loosen and you could breathe.

"Mm. Lets do this." You were so much more than just a Tenshi, those around you knew it and believed it was time to show the world that you were more as well. Your 'parents' were ready for you to finally show you could be a hero..well a hero in training at least.

Izuku's battle with Iida was one that caused the biggest upset. Most of your class, the audience as well, had chosen Iida to win. You were unsure of the outcome but you had faith in Izuku, there was something that burned in his emerald eyes that just made you have confidence in him succeeding. Iida not only had the experience and a quirk that didn't hurt himself, he was also faster than Izuku by a long shot but Izuku's mind worked even faster than Iida could move.

The green haired boy had been assessing everyone around him since he was a child, strengths and weaknesses became obvious and the boy was able to figure out a counter for his friend. He wasn't necessarily a genius or prodigy but his ability to analyze and create solutions and counter attacks for those he comes across made him special and dangerously strong in his own right.

With a move he had seen you do in hero training one day, Izuku copied it slightly less graceful and knocked Iida out of the ring with a—strained—grin of pride...only to freak out afterward hoping he didn't hurt his friend too bad. (A/N: I'm so sorry IIDA!)

Todoroki's fight was over in an instant, with half the arena being covered in ice as the normally stoic boy lost his composure when he saw his father. The look in the flame hero's eyes as he watched his son was not missed by you and the entire situation made you uncomfortable once again.

You weren't much into meddling into others lives, you used to ask questions more for understanding why than because you cared but now, you found you were caring...and you wanted to do something, or at least get someone else to do something. You figured killing Endeavor wouldn't be a good solution.

Like Izuku, Todoroki's eyes burned with an unsaid desire-determination to win. Everyone could feel it radiating from the boy, you were finally noticing how some stuck out more than others. Everyone had the want to win, but some just held their desire differently, the need to win, to be a hero was so bright from some people you had to question...was your want to win really as strong as theirs.

You didn't know if you wanted it the same way, all the want you had built up was slowly fading away with insecurity, not of your skill but of your motivation. Who cares who you are when the others were trying so much harder to prove themselves. You believed you didn't deserve it or have as strong of motivations as everyone else, they were fighting to be heroes or to show their father they were strong without him but you were fighting for yourself. Was that really enough?

You walked to the prep room deep in your own spiraling thoughts, interrupted by a slightly bruised Midoriya who gave you a wide smile. Yours was halfheartedly kind at best, you were pretty sure it looked like an aggressive garbage bag but the green haired boy didn't flinch at the harsh look.

"Good luck [Name], Ojiro is tough but I'm sure you'll do great!" If he put his thumbs up you were going to riot. Even though he was distracted by his thoughts about what to do with Todoroki, he still felt a bit of concern creep up at your obvious malcontent, you held a similar look when you were struggling with your recovery after the USJ. He couldn't do much but he could give you a smile and words of confidence once again, the same way you said you believed in him.

"Yeah...thanks Izuku." His face flushed heavily at the way you so casually spoke his first name and he struggled to find any words to say...you were obviously not paying close attention to anything as you leaned your head on his shoulder in the awkward hug he tried to give in comfort. It was a miracle you were even remembering to speak in Japanese at this point...though over the years your brain tended to switch between your native tongue and the one of your new home.

"Well I uh, you probably want to get going so...good luck! Don't... worryaboutanythingyouhave agoodaschanceasanytowinyoudeserveittoo." He rushed out quickly, his face becoming unbearably hot as he made his retreat. Any other time and you'd snicker at his rushed/mumble way of talking since it usually took a second to decipher anything he said. Instead, you just made your way to your waiting room, feeling only slightly better after the positive confrontation with the kind green haired boy.

You watched the next battle from the prep room, your battle was to come right after Hatsume.

The pink haired girl showed off her gadgets well enough, but Hagakure being invisible made it difficult, a fun challenge everyone could tell Hatsume was enjoying. Hagakure's invisibility gave the girl a distinct advantage in almost any battle situation, this one was no different.

She managed to knock Mei out of the arena without your friend being able to get a lockdown on the invisible girls position. Hagakure played to her strengths well, she was a tough opponent because it is much harder to stop someone you can't even see.

"NEXT UP! From class 1-A, the quiet close combat specialist with the tail that is tough as the best of us...MASHIRO OJIRO!" You sucked in a deep breath at the sound of Mic and the applause that shook the stadium. It was time. Your mind was swirling with what was to come, it was now or never and you wanted to pick option C.

"Versus...also from class 1-A...The girl that is basically my child and the one I want to win it all, the child assassin saved from her evil family and turned to the heroic side, my little cyborg...[NAME] TENSHI!" The cat was officially out of the bag and anyone with suspicions earlier had their theories confirmed. Anyone watching was in varying degrees of shock, awe, fear, excitement, disbelief, and much more. The whole world now knew who the last Tenshi was...and it being someone who looked like you...and was trying to become a pro-hero nothing but insane...good or bad.

Hitoshi Shinsou was floored as he listened to some of the mutterings about the preposterous idea of letting someone so 'villainous' into a school like UA...especially in the hero course. it wasn't quite the same as what was said about him but it was close enough...he knew how it felt to be vilified and ridiculed and screwed over for something out of his control and he never thought any of the pompous jerks of class 1-A would get that...until now.

That didn't change the fact that he was still in General studies while you were riding high in 1-A but still...you were seen as a villain by circumstance yet you were trying to be a hero...just like him. He wanted, no. He needed to talk to you. To find out more of the girl who could possibly understand him and his suffering. First though, he had to win.

You were oh so tired from using your quirk all day as well as the emotional rollercoaster you were being forced on. The sounds of the audience were muffled, you couldn't distinguish one person from the next, you barely registered that you were supposed to begin battling soon. All you could think of was whether or not you deserved this chance, if your will to win was really that important, if any of this meant anything anymore...the world saw you and now you felt as though you wanted to hide.

That was all until you locked eyes with Akito, even with his mask on you could see the bright gleam in his eyes as she shouted until he choked on coughs for you...for you to win. Your hand curled around the letter in your pocket. Akito and Sachiko gave it to you right before you had to part, it was from the rest of the kids in the hospital.

They wrote various cheers (and some childish taunts) for you, cheering you on to win, that you were their hero and they were cheering for you, cheering that you were showing that even someone hurt can come out on top. They believed in you and wanted you to win for them...and for yourself to show that you were so much more than a broken girl, an assassin...that you were a hero.

"GO [N/N]! WE BELIEVE IN YOU!" Akito's sweet voice was soft and quiet even when yelling but you could hear him, you could hear Mic and Aizawa announcing, you could hear midnight's clack of her heals as she readied to go, you could hear the cheers of your classmates.

When you saw the bright eyes of Akito cheering you on, when you heard your classmates cheer for you, when you remembered what Aizawa had done for you to make it this far you felt a determination like never before. You weren't 100 percent sure, honestly though you weren't too sure of anything that had to do with being a 'fully functioning member of society' but your mind slowed and your hesitation melted away.

Honestly, you kind of felt like an idiot. Who cared about your reasoning, there were going to be people who had better reasons and people who had worse but you were a damn loser if you wimped out and didn't even fucking try. At least everyone else was trying, you would be spitting on their determination if you gave up without giving your best shot as well. You were not raised a quitter...in either household.

The desire to win for more than just not failing was starting to make sense, you felt as though you could understand your classmates a bit more. You could understand everyone who fought for some reason a bit more. Sometimes even with a weak resolve it matters more that someone gets up to fight than why they fight.

"Let's get this party started why don't we. I'm sure the crowd is ecstatic to watch this one." Midnight grinned at you and Ojiro. "BEGIN!" With a crack of her whip, you dropped into a lax defensive stance, Ojiro following suit.

You knew the tail boy was strong in close combat...also his tail hurt like a bitch. In hero training every combat session he was one of the ones on top. His hand-to-hand was unrivaled by almost everyone in your class. Even without the advantage of a quirk that let him fight ranged or have super powerful attacks, he was one of the stronger fighters.

Ahh, this will be fun.

You could have stuck with ranged attacks the entire time but you were about 89 percent sure his tail could smash through whatever non-lethal constructs you sent at him which would be a waste of energy that you were already lacking. That and you knew this was for more than just a festival and to cut the boy before he had a chance to show his stuff to the heroes who might want to train him would be pretty harsh...he was too nice for that...and it would be way less fun.

Sparring with people was fun especially when they were actually really talented in pure combat, not just using their super flashy quirks to cover for their lack of actual fighting skills so...with a shrug and one more glance to a smiling Akito, you charged.

Ojiro was swift, precise, and strong with his attacks while you were fluid, flexible, and deadly. He was good but your experience and stamina won out. On his final attack you wrapped your legs around his tail—the one that had left a nasty bruise on your thigh—and used his momentum to throw him out of bounds, leaving you in the arena panting like the borderline hot mess you were.

"Heck yeah! Did you see that listeners!" Mic screamed excitedly, the sound echoing throughout the arena and TV's all across the world. You could envision the deadpan Aizawa was giving him right now for his completely unbiased announcing. Your guardian was doing exactly that, but his eyes were twinkling like a proud papa. "With an epic final move [Name] threw Ojiro out of bounds! What a fight, not as flashy as some of the others but these two definitely showed there is more to being a hero than a flashy quirk!"

Anytime Aizawa would spar with you and knock you down, as a sign of good faith he would hold his hand out and pull you back to your feet. It was something so minor to anyone else but when he did it for you the first time, you realized how different your life would be. Instead of punishing your failure, he lifted you back up. You walked over to where the tailed boy was getting up and held your hand out. His sweaty, calloused from use hand gripped yours and you helped yank him to his feet, only stumbling slightly at his weight. The crowd didn't miss the interaction, something that was a pivoting point some peoples opinions.

"Ah, thanks for that." He mumbled tiredly, giving you a smile of accepted defeat. "You're really good, someday I'd like to face you again and see where I stand." He said good naturedly as you both walked to the exit.

"I'd like that." You paused to think for a second before talking again. "Just so you know, out of everyone in the class if we were all to fought without our quirks I'm pretty sure you'd kick everyone else's asses." He ducked his head in embarrassment at the praise, a pleased yet bashful smile on his face. You could have sworn his tail wagged happily like a dog for a second.

"Thank you." You parted ways when you saw Kaminari waiting with a goofy grin on his face and the (literally sparking) Aoyoma came to drag the other boy away. You thought he muttered something in french about using his 'sparkle' to console the boy for his loss...but you weren't too sure if your translation was spot on or not. If it was...you had questions.

"Ahh angel face you killed it, I kinda thought you were done for when you left looking so...think-y?" It wasn't a word but he had no idea the proper word to describe your previous mood, you laughed at the idiocy you came to love. "Now you can watch me kick some serious ass too! How about a kiss for good luck?" He grinned flirtatiously, his golden eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Eh?" You didn't know what a kiss would do for good luck. Instead of explaining...Kaminari slumped his shoulders in exaggerated defeat.

"Damn, it was worth a shot." He muttered. "You know both gear head and Jiro said I should be scared of fighting Kiri and that if I'm not it's because I'm too stupid...but I'm feeling confident! Right?" You totally didn't snicker...not at all. Kaminari's body sparked with electricity before it dwindled out as his brief doubt showed its head.

"You should be scared." You wanted to laugh at the betrayed look he plastered on.

"I'm excusing that because you are cute."

"Kirishima is strong, he was able to withstand a ton of your voltage during the Battle Trials and he's only gotten better. That and he's solid even without his quirk. You'll have to find some way to take him out fast or you'll probably lose." You honestly didn't know who would win between the two, Kaminari was limber and his quirk was not one to mess with but he maxes out quickly and doesn't strategies well—even if he has lasted longer than when you first met it was still a liability. Kirishima was definitely an endurance type but he could only handle so much of Kaminari's quirk especially if he doesn't harden fast enough.

"Dang it, why couldn't I have gotten someone easy, or a cute girl to woo into not fighting." He shrugged though, his golden hair flopping messily. "Oh well, guys gotta do what a guys gotta do. Make sure you cheer my name extra loud!"

"Of course." The electric boy wrapped you in a hug before you went on your way to watch the next matches from above.

A/N: I didn't write out any of the fight scenes, [Names] in particular, in detail because it is a bitch to do...and I'm saving you guys from reading through them until they really matter...AKA the battles [Name] does in the later rounds. So yeah, I'm saving all my battle juju for when I really need name's battles to kick ass and have some good character development in them

Also, I wanted to put out there for any of you struggling deeply with depression and suicide and stuff like that, or even if you just feel like crap, talk to somebody please. I know it seems scary but talking to a therapist can be really helpful and it's something in my 18 years of life I actually did more than once because life sucks sometimes. If you can't talk to a professional or you are afraid to talk to your parents or whatever, you can message me and I will respond no matter what.

You can rant or cry or whatever and I will help because I know the feeling of wanting to die or not having the will to do anything. I struggled with it, 98 percent of the time I still feel like shit and stuff but if you feel that way talk to me or someone else because its so much harder alone. Don't minimize your feelings because you don't want to be 'that depressed kid/adult' or whatever, I'm here to listen and please. I hope none of you have to feel the way I do but I know some of you do so yeah. This book isn't as active comments wise as my other ones but I'm still here to talk and since I don't know you personally it might be easier if you have nobody else.