By all metrics, Tokoyami should have been the one to stand victorious at the end of their match. He had an incredibly strong quirk, and though Dark Shadow might not have been able to match (L/N) in terms of raw power, Fumikage's control over the beast more than made up for it. Unfortunately, the creature's vulnerability to light meant that (L/N) was the worst possible match up for Tokoyami, and the fight ended with him forfeiting.

The conclusion of their match brought with it the introduction of the four finalists of the competition: Tenya Iida, Shoto Todoroki, (F/N) (L/N), and Katsuki Bakugou. Their images were once again plastered on the large screens hanging throughout the stadium and filled the television screens of those watching at home. Present Mic announced a thirty-minute break which both served as respite for the finalists and to increase the suspense for the final rounds.

The media had immediately chased down members of the final four, eager to steal their time for an interview and quite possibly stir up some drama. (L/N), not in the mood to have cameras shoved in his face and be bombarded by questions, kept backstage where the public wasn't allowed, walking the empty halls with no real destination in mind. He was just about to round a corner at the next fork when a small sniff from the opposite direction caught his attention. Even masked by sweat, he recognized the scent of her shampoo. Normally he would have ignored it, but some unknown force caused him to change direction.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

"(L/N)?" Yaoyorozu asked. "Oh, yes. Everything's fine."

She pushed herself up off the wall, straightening her back as she hastily wiped at her eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure, yes."

He could hear the remnants of tears in her voice, betraying the words she spoke. Even still, he knew what it was like to want an issue dropped, so he decided it would be best to accept her word as truth. Not sure what to do, he began fidgeting with his cane, curling and uncurling his fingers around the neck. Maybe he should try to cheer her up?

"Uh, well," he coughed uncomfortably, "you did really well out there."

"Don't." She said shakily.

"Don't what?" (L/N) asked, taken aback by the sound of tears returning to her voice.

"Don't make fun of me. Please."

"I-I wasn't..."

"I get it, okay?" She said aggressively, "Tokoyami completely overpowered me, and I couldn't do anything about it. I'm a complete failure."

"That's not what I was going to say." (L/N) said quietly.

Yaoyorozu scoffed bitterly at his words. "You don't have to lie to me." She told him. "You can go ahead and say it. I was pathetic out there."

"That's not what I was going to say." He said again.

"Well, it's not like it matters either way." Yaoyorozu said sadly. "It's what everyone is thinking."

The correct thing to do in this situation would have been to comfort the young woman. Tell her she had done well, that one lost fight didn't make her a failure, and that even though she hadn't won, she had nevertheless performed admirably. Alas, (L/N) had limited experience in such matters.

"Kaminari didn't do too well either." He pointed out. "And then Iida beat that girl in a few seconds, too. Even Sero lost faster than you did."

From the terse breath she released, he knew he had said the wrong thing. He hadn't been trying to insult her. All he was trying to do was point out that a lot of their classmates had done just as poorly as she had. Wait, that was still phrased wrong. That she wasn't the only one who didn't... that the others weren't any.... To be honest he didn't know what to say. He still didn't understand everyone's obsession with being the best. But knowing that most of her classmates weren't any better than she was should have been a comforting thought. At least he thought so.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand." She said. "Not when you've been blessed with such an incredible quirk. Just look at how easily you defeated Tokoyami. I couldn't even last ten seconds against him."

Out of all of Class 1A, (L/N) would say Yaoyorozu was the person he liked the most. Well, maybe not 'liked'. That implied he liked any of his classmates. She was the one who bothered him the least at any rate. But the way she was talking now, like he was some prodigy blessed with an amazing quirk. Talk like that angered him.

"It isn't like that." He said. "My quirk has been nothing but a burden."

"How can you say that?" Yaoyorozu asked astonishedly. "You're quirk is incredibly strong, not to mention visually stunning. You'll have no problem making it as a pro hero."

"I told you I have no desire to become a hero."

"That may be true, but the point is you could. With a quirk as strong as yours you could easily be a top hero."

(L/N) inhaled sharply, his brow furrowing and grip tightening around the neck of his cane. He thought she might have been different, but she was just like everyone else. Her head was filled with childish fantasies of becoming a hero, obsessed with powerful quirks while completely ignoring the consequences that came with it. Ever since his first day at UA, it seemed like not a day went by when someone told him they wished they could trade powers with him. It enraged him. At times he wanted to scream.

"Look," he sighed, "I get that you want to be a hero. But a strong quirk isn't an instant guarantee that you'll be successful."

"No," Yaoyorozu agreed, "but I bet it helps."

"Maybe." (L/N) nodded. "But control is what's really important. It doesn't matter how strong someone is if they can't control that strength. And by that measure you're much further ahead than I am."

He wasn't trying to comfort her anymore so much as he was trying to make her see. To make someone, anyone understand that his quirk wasn't the gift they all seemed to think it was. Control was a much more precious gift than power. Why couldn't anyone see that?

"The amount of control a quirk like yours requires is immense, but you've demonstrated a mastery over your abilities that I can only dream of achieving. Your skills and talents are nothing less than extraordinary. So, whenever you're feeling envious of my power, just remember that I am infinitely more envious of your ability to control your quirk."

Yaoyorozu offered him a small smile. It seemed his words had done some amount to lift her spirits.

"Thank you, (L/N)." She said. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome."

She offered him her arm which he accepted, allowing her to act as his guide.

"Still," she said as they walked, "it doesn't change the fact that I would kill to have your quirk."

Even if it had been said in a playful tone, it immediately triggered him. He tugged his arm away from her and took several hurried steps backwards.

"Why would you say that?" He asked darkly. "Why would you...?"

His hands were glowing again. Even more, the light was starting to spread its way up his forearms.

"(L/N)?" Yaoyorozu asked, reaching for his hand as she always did. "Is everything alright?"

"Don't touch me!" He shouted. His raised voice caused her to jump. "Why would you say something like that?!"

"I-It was just a joke."

"It is not! A joke!" He yelled angrily.

Yaoyorozu began chasing after him as he angrily stormed off.

"(L/N), wait!" She called.

"Leave me alone."

"Just tell me what the problem is. Please."

"The problem," he said, rounding on her, "is that none of you get it! You all just stumble through life like it's of no real consequence. Even this goddamn sports festival is just one giant game to all of you. But it's not a game, Yaoyorozu. You don't play with people's lives."

"I know that." She said defensively. "We all know that."

"Then when are you all going to start acting like it?"

"(L/N), I don't understand," she said, "where is this coming from?"

"Just... don't talk to me anymore."

Several things unfolded at once in the next moment. (L/N) resumed his indignant path through the halls while Yaoyorozu once again followed him. He was just about to turn a corner when she placed her hand on his shoulder to get him to stop. At the same time, another voice called out to him from behind.

"(F/N)?"

His head twitched, ears turning in the direction of the voice. It was a voice he recognized. A voice he hadn't heard in over three years. It caused his stomach to flutter and his heart to ache and pushed all other thoughts from his head. Ignoring Yaoyorozu, he slowly turned to around.

"Itsuka?"