Chapter 41 – Doing the Right Thing
«Thank you for letting me walk away, sensei.» Izuku stated, again joining Midnight's side.
«No problem.»
Midnight handed Izuku the cloak he had lent her, pointing out to him that, ultimately, it had been of no use, since Shoto had decided not to fight too hard.
Izuku secured the cloak to the armour in a fluid motion, watching the quick fight between Mina and Fumikage unfold. Fumikage used his quirk, Dark Shadow, to push Mina out of the ring. Izuku thought, I don't know why, but this fight is a bit disappointing. Midnight proclaimed Fumikage the winner.
The clash between Katsuki and Eijiro, however, turned out to be a pure battle of determination and strength.
«He's not trying to dodge the blows…» Katsuki snapped his tongue, annoyed «a tough guy for sure.»
«Hey, bombmaker, your techniques don't work against me!» Eijiro said emotionally
The two opponents were a shield and a spear. One had a Quirk that made him almost impenetrable. The other had strong firepower, probably capable of destroying many things.
For several minutes, the two exchanged blows until Katsuki, like Izuku, realised that Eijiro's Hardening weakens if hit in the same spot multiple times. With a fierce smile, Katsuki repeatedly struck his opponent until he was unable to fight.
«DIE!!!» Katsuki roared with the last shot
Katsuki, you really want to sound like a Villain with that scream. Izuku snorted, scratching the back of his neck. Sooner or later, you'll have to solve that bad temper… and not only that.
*****
Melissa entered the ring, marking the beginning of a new challenge. Since the festival began, the spectators' excitement in the stands has not waned for a moment. Now, amid all these looks, Melissa finds it difficult to stay calm.
Shoto stood in front of her, looking serious and ready for anything. Melissa swallowed nervously and clenched the black gloves Momo had made at her request in her fist. Knowing they would be useful for this fight, Melissa had them checked by Cementos, Midnight, and Izuku. Everyone confirmed they were simple gloves, not support tools or gadgets.
«Contenders, are you ready?»
Melissa looked at her first and then at Izuku. The master of the last two weeks was there, firm and confident, with an aura of authority that never left him. He looked Melissa in the eye again. The ancient eyes seemed to scan her soul, searching for what she wanted to say. Izuku nodded his head, and Melissa reciprocated. Melissa put on the gloves; they were big but fit perfectly. She hit her palm with her fist and produced a soft sound, ready to start the fight.
«Yes!» stated with resolve, Like Midoriya-san, I will do what I think is right until the end.
«Then, begin!»
Without waiting long, a wave of ice headed towards Melissa. She exhaled as she saw it approach. Using One for All's energy on her legs, she moved quickly to avoid the ice. When it finally settled, she kicked it, breaking it and sending several splinters flying. Melissa caught them in mid-air; then, focusing One for All's energy on her arm muscles, she threw the shrapnel at Shoto. With this exchange, the fight began.
Shoto moved to successfully dodge the shrapnel, but only later did he realise that Melissa was on his left side with an ice club. Although caught off guard, he somehow managed to parry, but the blow was so powerful that he was thrown a few meters; his left arm and hip showed no damage, such as fractures or haemorrhages, but it still hurt.
Once Shoto landed, he hurled another wave of ice at Melissa. But she had already moved, as if she had foreseen that attack… no, not "as if", but "she had foreseen it". Her head, her brain, wouldn't stop accumulating and processing information and possibilities, based on the little she understood about Shoto. Melissa was exploiting what she knew about the Conservai, processing, using information, and performing actions based on the desired outcome; but, not having the same brainpower as a Custodes, her head was beginning to seriously hurt, especially if she also had to better manage the energy Melissa was directing to her various limbs with the One for All.
Melissa gritted her teeth against the pain and directed more energy to her legs, increasing her speed. She appeared in front of Shoto just seconds after his second wave of ice. Striking behind his left knee forced Shoto to kneel, and before he could react, Melissa hit him on the cheek, sending him toward the ring’s edge.
She didn't hit him hard enough to throw him out, but it wasn't far away.
Melissa's instinct screamed danger. Seeing Shoto's steely glare, she understood instantly. The glacier was forming, massive and menacing, just as with Hanta. Panic surged, but determination flashed stronger. She focused One for All's energy into her left index finger and snapped, her resolve echoing through her fierce movements.
«SMASH!» she roared
A powerful shock wave was generated, and the glacier broke apart, losing strength and sending icy dust into the air, blocking everyone's view.
The pain hit her hard, causing her teeth to grind further. Despite the headache, her will drove her to ignore it and continue.
Using the cover of icy dust, Melissa pounced on Shoto, who was surprised by her evasion. He managed to dodge her first blow, but not the second, as Melissa’s knee struck Shoto’s stomach. Instead of throwing him out of the ring, Melissa continued her attack.
Melissa grabbed Shoto's left arm and threw him against the glacier he had created. The boy landed on his knees and spat gastric juices.
«Damn!» Shoto cursed and got up
«Are you cold, Todoroki-san?» Melissa asked, her sharp smile unwavering. Shoto snapped his head up. «You're shaking. I felt it, I saw it. By continuing to use only half your Quirk, you're getting weaker. Do you want to beat me, or are you asking me to win?» Melissa's voice cut through the tension, taunting Shoto to find resolve.
*****
Melissa's words echoed in Shoto’s mind. He felt offended, and the blows he'd suffered fueled his fury. Still, Shoto forced himself to remain calm and not use his left side.
«What are you suddenly saying?» he asked with restrained anger «Would I be giving you victory?»
Shoto didn't wait for the answer, throwing himself at Melissa. His intent was to grab her with his right hand and freeze her, but Melissa moved first, counterattacking by landing another left to his stomach. Yet, there was something different about that punch.
«SMASH!» she roared again.
This time, Shoto ended up against the ice wall. The contact generated a deafening explosion.
Coupled with that explosion, Melissa's cry of pain echoed sharply. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gripped her left arm, now mangled and red with blood. Her blue eyes, shining through tears, glared at Shoto, radiating her disgust.
«FACE ME SERIOUSLY!!!» the words of Melissa, usually known for being shy but gentle and kind-hearted, were full of anger and indignation «OR GET OUT OF THIS SCHOOL!!! SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE EVERYTHING HE HAS JUST TO REBEL AGAINST HIS FATHER HAS NO RIGHT TO BE HERE!!! HE'S JUST A COWARD POSING AS A HERO!!!»
He had not yet recovered, since, in addition to gastric juices, small traces of blood were also mixed in. But that statement had hit and wounded Shoto far more than any other blow he had suffered during the fight. His anger boiled over, and he attempted another assault, only to be repelled again by Melissa.
«TOO SLOW!!!»
The more he fought Melissa, the more Shoto suffered the damage and side effects of his Ice Quirk. Meanwhile, more memories of his past appeared in his head. He remembered his mother protecting him from his father's inhuman training. He thought about his desire not to cause suffering to his mother. He was envious of his brothers' and sister's normal childhoods. He remembered the burn on his left eye and the hatred towards his father. Finally, he relived the All-Might’s interview he had seen with his mother. That burning desire to become a Hero.
«THE ICE QUIRK DOESN'T BELONG TO YOUR MOTHER! THE FIRE QUIRK IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S!!» Melissa roared angrily «YOUR QUIRK IS YOURS, AND NO ONE ELSE'S!!! SO USE IT!!!»
Shoto felt a chain break inside, a surge of emotion finally released. His mother's gentle voice echoed, offering clarity amid his confusion.
«You want to be a hero too, right? You can do it: just believe in yourself. Don't let your family limit your future. Whatever you want to do, do it.»
A burst of steam erupted, signalling a sudden change. The cold air from his ice collided with the warm air from the flames on his left side.
«Damn. I thought you wanted to win.» he cursed irritably.«And instead, you made your opponent use his flames. Now tell me, what are you going to do?»
When the steam dissipated, Shotò was surprised. Melissa was smiling. It was neither a formal nor a happy smile. It was a triumphant smile, expressing her certainty that she had won, even if she could have lost the fight.
«What I've done so far: do the right thing.» Melissa replied fiercely, calmly.