Bakugo: Listen up, idiots! We're not losing to that icy bastard!

Iida: Bakugo, we must remain calm and develop a logical strategy.

Right. The whole class is buzzing with tension, and it's obvious that everyone's nervous. But, of course, Bakugo's just turning that into yelling, because that's the only thing he knows how to do. He's pacing back and forth, barking orders, while Iida's trying to keep things "civilized" with hand gestures that are doing absolutely nothing.

Meanwhile, across the room, you've got the quieter students, like Yaoyorozu and Tokoyami, huddling together, whispering about possible counters to my quirk. Sero's rolling his tape between his fingers like he's about to start a mission, and Kaminari's got that half-nervous, half-excited grin on his face that tells me he's not taking this seriously enough.

Me: They should be worried.

It's not arrogance. It's just a fact. They've all fought me before—well, most of them—and they know exactly what they're up against. Half of them don't even know how to handle the sheer combination of ice and fire at my disposal. And yet, here we are, with the entire class coming up with ways to take me down. Alone.

I'm not too fond of the attention. 

Being the center of a target? 

Not exactly my style.

Bakugo: Todoroki's gonna start with the ice. He always does. We have to outpace him before he creates a fortress.

Kaminari: Uh, what if we just... don't go near him? Like, stay out of ice range?

Bakugo's loud voice echoes through the gym, and it's almost impressive how determined he is to crush me. Almost.

Of course, Bakugo's the loudest in the room..

Yaoyorozu: We need to think about counterattacks as well. Todoroki can't use both elements at full power for long. We might be able to wear him down.

Iida: Agreed. Endurance will be key. He can only maintain large-scale ice structures for so long.

They think they know how to handle me. 

They think they can outlast my quirk.

They're wrong.

With Izuku's strategy..... no one can beat me....

I should be focusing.

I'm supposed to be preparing. 

After all, it's not exactly a cakewalk, going up against the entire class by myself. But instead of strategizing, I'm sitting by myself in the corner of the training room, lost in my own head. Not exactly the ideal mental prep.

It's like the weight of being the "villain" in this scenario is sinking deeper. I hate it. The idea that they see me as the antagonist, the one to beat. It reminds me too much of everything I've been trying to leave behind—my father's shadow, the expectations, the idea that I'm only good at destruction.

Deep breath. 

Focus.

~~Cut to: Izuku, sidelined~~

Izuku: cough  Okay, Todoroki should've started focusing by now. Maybe... if I text him a few reminders...

~~

Poor Midoriya. 

Even bedridden, he's trying to keep tabs on me, checking in, making sure I'm prepared. 

And the thing is?

 I probably do need it.

I glance down at my phone. 

Three missed texts from Midoriya. 

Of course.... he is the best.

Text from Izuku:
"Hey, remember to focus on the timing. If you give Bakugo too much time to recover, he'll come back twice as strong! Also, watch out for Yaoyorozu. She'll probably create some gadgets to counter your ice."

 He's not wrong.

I exhale, locking my phone and putting it back in my pocket. Midoriya's always been the type to think about every detail, every possible outcome. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be sitting here with no plan at all.

But as helpful as he is, it doesn't change the fact that I'm alone in this. The burden falls on me.

Flashback: Training with Endeavor brought to you by a feral cat

Endeavor: If you want to surpass me, Shoto, you'll have to do it alone. Strength doesn't come from relying on others. It comes from standing on your own.

End of Flashback: brought to you by a bunny helping out a kitten

His voice still haunts me. Even now, after everything, his words cling to the back of my mind like ice. I spent so many years trying to prove him wrong—trying to show that I don't need to be like him. And yet, here I am, once again shouldering the weight of doing it all by myself.

But... Midoriya doesn't believe that. He's always believed in peolpe. In helping each other. And a small part of me wonders if he's right.

Back in the gym, I can hear the hero teams still bickering. Bakugo's talking like he's already won, Iida's trying to impose order, and the others are split between those two extremes. Everyone's on edge, and it's clear that the tension is high. The air practically crackles with it.

And me? I'm just trying to find my center.

I won't lie. There's a part of me that thrives on this challenge. Facing my entire class, knowing they're coming for me—it's exhilarating in a way. But there's another part of me that's terrified of what happens if I fail. If I prove that I can't stand alone.

This isn't about proving anything. 

It's just a training exercise.

But that's not entirely true. Is it ever?

Izuku (via text):
"You've got this, Todoroki. Just remember, you don't have to do everything yourself. If you need to adapt, do it. Trust yourself. You can also always text me." 

Of course, leave it to Midoriya to say exactly what I needed to hear, even when he's not here.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Maybe he's right. Maybe this isn't about standing alone. Maybe it's about trusting myself to adapt, to use everything I've got—both ice and fire—and do what I need to do.

The stakes are high. My classmates are preparing to come at me with everything they've got. And me? I'm going to make sure they don't stand a chance.

The tension in the air is palpable now. The hero teams are finalizing their strategies, and I can hear Bakugo practically roaring at his group to "stay out of his way." Everyone's tense. Ready. Waiting for the signal to begin.

Time to play the villain.

I stand up, rolling my shoulders. The plan's in place. Midoriya's voice is in my head, reminding me of every little detail, every possible counter. But in the end, it's still me against all of them.

And you know what? 

I wouldn't have it any other way.