MHA: Guardian of the Golden Throne

It was her turn again. She had to return to the ring; her heart was pounding as she prepared for another fight. Thanks to the kindness of her classmates, she had managed to enter the tournament and now, to pay homage to them, she felt the weight of responsibility and wanted to win this round too. But deep down, she knows she will win, because the Lord is on her side.

The crowd roared anxiously; emotions moved through them as they waited for the second round. The air was tense, and every eye was on the ring.

Ibara was introduced by her teacher, Present Mic. She went out feeling annoyed. He called her an assassin. I'm not that mean! Ibara thought angrily, clenching her shaky fists and glaring at her teacher, her heart racing.

In the ring, Ibara saw two referees waiting for her to start the match. She felt she had to scold Professor Midnight for her outfit, which she found indecent. Many sheep are caught in her web of seduction. Oh, Lord, forgive this lost daughter. Ibara prayed to ease the professor’s sin.

But Izuku Midoriya of 1A… was totally different, almost divine. His posture, words, stern gaze, and equipment represented honour, duty, and fear. His aura… was one of holiness and purity, bathed in golden light. Ibara's faith and soul told her to prostrate herself before him. She felt that if she were singing prayers, God would accept them.

«Oh God in heaven, I thank you for sending an emissary of yours.» she intoned, turning toward Izuku.

*****

Sigh… not again, please. Izuku sighed tiredly at Ibara's prayer. He hates being treated like an idol or an altar, a receptacle of invocations.

Izuku looked at Melissa, Ibara's opponent. She was tense, ready to fight at any moment. Izuku noticed her blue eyes, full of concentration, as she looked for a way to get closer to Ibara. In her head, she was certainly analysing the opponent's quirk and the tactics to adopt. Seeing her so focused made Izuku smile slightly, amused and proud of her dedication.

«Shield-san, Shiozaki-san. Are you ready?» Izuku asked, receiving affirmative answers from both «Then… start!» he declared, starting the round.

Melissa was not long in coming and immediately launched a frontal assault. Hm? She's faster than before…

Noticing that Melissa was rapidly approaching, Ibara clasped her hands. Her hair, made of vines, grew quickly. They separated from Ibara and formed a shield in front of her. Melissa, in full charge, gritted her teeth and punched. The plant shield bent, and Melissa's arm got stuck in the fold. Melissa hissed in pain, as she released her fist and forearm, tearing the suit and scratching her skin.

Other vines tried to catch her from the hips, but Melissa walked away before they could even appear.

As soon as she landed, she ran again. Melissa decided to go over the shield at the flank, but slipped a moment before she passed it. She noticed vines passing over her head. The passage was immediate: Melissa got up, reached the surprised Ibara within a few steps, and struck her in the sternum with a palm.

Ibara retreated a long way, but the damage she suffered did not seem particularly effective.

Hou. She decided to accompany the blow by throwing herself back. Not bad. Izuku observed. It's a shame Melissa realised she can't afford the luxury of giving her opponent a breath.

Ibara again noticed that Melissa was charging. She decided to block her, and Ibara’s vines attacked Melissa incessantly, almost as if trying to stop her. Melissa found herself in an unfavourable situation.

Melissa kept moving, always trying to guess where Ibara would attack next. She knew stopping meant defeat. She dodged, blocked, or pushed away the vines. Izuku noticed Melissa grew better at anticipating attacks with time.

Melissa fully adapted to the attacks and was now back on the charge. Noticing this, Ibara became alarmed and decided to create another shield of vines, this time also covering the flanks that Melissa had previously used to penetrate her guard. But there was no impact like before.

*Thuk*

«Forgive me!»

Ibara turned around, noticing Melissa behind her. How did- she didn't have time to finish the sentence when a right hook hit her in the jaw. It was an instant knockout.

«Melissa Shield wins the round!» exclaimed Midnight

Contrary to Ibara's belief, Melissa had decided to climb over the shield. Her control over the One for All has improved. She probably used a minimal amount, but for better or worse… I think she could easily use 7% of the Quirk… maybe even 8%.

Izuku had noticed that Melissa hadn't used One for All to its full potential. In this fight, she had focused on boosting agility and speed. If she had upgraded everything to her current maximum, Ibara would have been thrown out of the ring immediately, even with the shield of vines.

Izuku met Melissa's gaze. Melissa looked at him, wanting approval, but there was also doubt in her eyes, as if something was bothering her. Izuku nodded, but his sigh showed he was worried.

«Midnight-sensei, I'd like to ask to be away for a few minutes if possible.»

«Hm? Yes, no problem.» Midnight said «I can follow the next round without any problems.»

«Thank you, sensei.»

Izuku touched the white strips on his chest and unhooked the purple cape. He took it and placed it on Midnight's shoulders, who looked at him questioningly for the gesture.

«In case Todoroki-san attempts another attack like the one from the previous round.»

Midnight's expression was a mixture of feelings, almost as if she were saying both "you're exaggerating" and "I can't deny it," while her face was blushing slightly.

«Thank you for your thoughtfulness...»

Izuku nodded his head, an amused smile appearing imperceptibly on his lips. Midnight-sensei's expression says it all. The cloak is a little too heavy for her.

*****

After leaving the Infirmary, Melissa walked down the hall and entered the waiting room. Although she had shown calm during the fight, inside, she was seething. Shoto's words pounded at her. Prompted by his statement, she now didn't know whether she could keep it. She felt worried and scared; after all, she had seen with her own eyes how easily Shoto had defeated Hanta.

Melissa knew that Shoto was very strong, but seeing that attack, she now begins to doubt her own abilities if, as will most likely happen, she has to face Shoto in the next round.

«I've never seen you so worried, Shield-san.»

«Kyaa!!!!» Melissa exclaimed in fear

Startled, Melissa fell from her chair, then looked toward the voice.

«M-Midoriya-san! You scared me!! How can you be so quiet despite that armour?!!!»

«Professional secret.» he said with a chuckle.

Izuku held out his armoured hand to help her get up. With a sullen expression, Melissa accepted his hand and got up.

«How come you're here, Midoriya-san? Don't you have the match between Todoroki-san and Ida-san to referee?»

«True. But I asked to be able to go away for a few minutes.»

«And you came here?»

«Your eyes told me many things after your fight with Shiozaki-san.» Izuku said seriously «Something is troubling you, isn't it?»

Melissa wanted to say no, immediately. But the lump in her throat prevented her from speaking. She couldn't deny it.

When Shoto took her aside to speak privately, Melissa was surprised and confused. She was even more surprised when he asked her about her relationship with All-Might, or rather, if she was his daughter. Of course, Melissa denied it, claiming he was her uncle. Acquired, but still her uncle.

She doesn't know why, but when Melissa named her connection to her uncle Toshinori, Shoto… declared war on her. She doesn't know how best to describe it.

Shoto told her that her father wanted to climb the rankings and surpass All Might. Knowing he would not succeed, he entered into a Quirk marriage. If Endeavour couldn't have reached the top spot, a descendant of his would have.

Shoto refused to be an instrument of his father. According to him, it is solely his father's fault that his mother despises his left side, which led her to throw boiling water on him. For this reason, he had imposed limitations on himself: using only his mother's ice.

Shoto wants to beat Melissa at the sports festival to achieve a personal triumph over his father, saying he will become the number one Hero without using his fire and thus disown him permanently.

It was a selfish and childish gesture, born of a traumatic experience. But Melissa accepted the challenge, ready to fight with everything she had. Not for herself, but for those who supported her: friends, people who helped her be what she is today.

Melissa wanted to tell Izuku about that episode. Ask him for advice on whether to really give it her all. But did she really have the right to do so? What Shoto told her is personal. However, thought and fear weighed on her heart.

«If you don't feel like talking to me about it, I'll refrain from asking you further.» Izuku said, bringing Melissa back to reality «But the only advice I can give you right now is not to let fear block you. Don't fear failure, accept it to improve yourself.» he then went towards the door.

«Midoriya-san.» Melissa called, stopping him «Have you ever regretted your statements or promises?»

«Hmmm…» Izuku thoughtfully reflected «No. Never.»

«Why? How do you do it?»

«Why?» he asked amusedly «I am a Custodian, a Guardian of the Golden Throne, and a member of the ten-thousand. Every statement we make is law, and every promise we make is a debt. So it is my duty to respect what I say.»

«Even when you can't?»

«Especially in that case.» Izuku said smilingly «Because if I did it, I did it because I think it's the right thing to do. And doing the right thing has never been something I've been exempt from doing.»