"It's been soooo long! Last time we talked was ten years ago, right?! I spotted you and figured I should say hello."

Endeavor looked at the No. 1 hero who wore his signature smile. "Oh yeah? Well if that's all, get out of my sight." He turned around, and began walking down the stairs. "As if I'd have tea with you. Ridiculous... I gotta take a leak, get lost!"

With a laugh, All Might jumped over Endeavor and landed on the stairs in front of him. "Why such a party pooper?!"

"Urgh..."

"Your son, little Shoto... he pulled off an impressive victory without even using his left side. And your daughter, little Nozomi is very capable of fighting and aiding, even without using her quirk. Guess someone's been raising them well."

Endeavor gritted his teeth and scowled. His flames flickered as he asked, "What're you trying to say?"

All Might's cheery attitude and wide smile didn't waver. "Actually I want to ask you... for some tips about training the next generation."

Endeavor's mood became even more sour. First he saw that his master piece wasn't using his flames. Then he saw that Nozomi was in the hero course. And now his rival, All Might was in front of him asking for tips to train kids? "You think I'd tell you anything? Always with that happy-go-lucky attitude. It pisses me off."

All Might's apology went ignored by the No. 2 hero as he passed him to walk further down the stairs.

"Know this much," Endeavor spoke as his pupils contracted. As his rage grew, his flames did too. They flickered as he spoke, "I'll mold him into a hero who'll surpass you. That's the only reason I made that kid."

The intensity in Endeavor's eyes when he turned around made All Might shudder. He was also quite confused at what Endeavor was saying.

"Sure he's a rebellious little brat right now. But he'll outdo you. I'll make him surpass you!" His flames continued to flicker as he turned back around and continued walking. He then stopped in his tracks and spoke up once more, "Also, here's something to keep in mind, that girl won't amount to anything. She's weak and won't continue to embarrass me in this festival. She won't become a hero. I'll make sure of that." And with that, the two went different ways.

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Bakugo wanted to confront Todoroki and Deku. About how he declared war to the wrong person and how their main opponent was him and not each other, dammit! Upon seeing that both of them were walking away from the line of students who were headed to the canteen, he followed behind. He hid behind a corner, listening to them talk. Realising that it was about the Half-and-half's declaration of war and his reasons for fighting, Bakugo grew curious.

Even when the topic of the Todoroki family came up, he continued to listen. He faintly remembered that Cotton candy had told him not to be like Endeavor. He hadn't put much thought into it, but now that it came up again, he wondered what the situation was.

"My dad... he's a powerful bastard who only thinks of being stronger. Yeah he's gone all out to make a name for himself as a hero but..." He heard Todoroki say.

Okay, that did sound somewhat like him. He could definitely see where Nozomi was coming from.

"... He's always seen that living legend, All Might, as a roadblock and an eyesore."

It stopped sounding like him. Sure he wanted to surpass All Might but he still idolised him somewhat.

"My father could never beat All Might on his own. So he came up with another plan."

"What's this about, Todoroki-kun? Why are you telling me this?" Deku asked, shakily. Bakugo, quite frankly, wanted to tell him to shut up so that he could listen to what Todoroki wanted to say.

As he listened more and more to Todoroki explaining his family, he began to understand Nozomi's words.

"When that happened, I was reminded of Endeavor. Don't become like him. Don't be someone who hurts others for their own personal gain."

He left his place against the wall when Todoroki and Deku went further away and he couldn't listen to their conversation anymore.

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Shoto Todoroki had broken his pledge. As much as he tried to not use his flames, when Midoriya attacked, he was forced to use them. Or it was more instinctual. He wasn't quite sure yet but he wouldn't be using his left side from now on. He was lucky that Nozomi wasn't paying attention at the time. 'It'd probably just pain her.'

He needed to confront Midoriya. He needed to explain his declaration of war. He needed to ask him something.

Which brings us to the current situation. He leaned against the wall while coldly glaring at Midoriya in silence. Shoto's cold stare intimidated Midoriya in a different way than what Bakugo did. Midoriya gulped.

"You overwhelmed me. So much so that I broke my own pledge." Shoto took his left hand out of his pocket.

Midoriya looked at the hand as he thought, 'It'd have been in his advantage but he didn't use it... that left side of his...'

"Iida, Kaminari, Yaoyorozu, Uraraka... none of them felt it. I doubt even my sister was focusing enough to notice. In that last instant, I was the only one feeling that pressure." Shoto brought his left hand up in front of him, intently staring at it. "I experienced All Might's true power up close, remember?"

Midoriya could feel his hand beating fast and hard in his chest as he nervously asked, "So... what're you saying...?"

"I felt the same pressure coming from you. So..."

Midoriya felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest.

"Are you All Might's secret love child or something?"

Midoriya was dumbfounded. This was definitely not what he was expecting. 'I-I see... that's what he thinks!'

He began rambling as he tried to deny. "Nah, I well... I mean I'm denying that, but... Obviously if I really were his kid, I'd try to deny it, so I realize I don't sound very convincing here, but... but, no, that's not it..." He finally gained some composure and looked directly at Shoto. "So... let me ask you, then... why would you think that I..."

" 'No that's not it.' Interesting way to phrase it. There's definitely something you're hiding. I'm sure of it." And Shoto was. He just didn't know what Midoriya was hiding. Whatever it was, there was more he needed to tell Midoriya. "You know, my father is Endeavor. The second greatest hero of all time. So if you're somehow connected to the number one guy then, it's all the more reason for me to crush you." Shoto looked to the side as he began explaining his reasonings. "My dad... he's a powerful bastard who only thinks of being stronger. Yeah he's gone all out to make a name for himself as a hero but he's always seen that living legend, All Might, as a roadblock and an eyesore. My father could never beat All Might on his own. So he came up with another plan."

"What's this about, Todoroki-kun? Why are you telling me this?" Midoriya asked in a shaky voice. He was as confused as ever.

"Quirk marriages. You've heard of them, yeah?"

Midoriya was beginning to be alarmed.

"They started becoming a problem during the second or third generation after quirks appeared... Strong individuals would choose a partner and force them into marriage for the sole purpose of passing on a strengthened version of their quirk to their offspring. Those earlier generations were lacking in ethics. With his wealth and fame, my father made my mother's family agree to the marriage. All to get his hands on her quirk. Raising me as a hero who could exceed All Might, just to fulfill his own ambitions. I hate it! Being no more than just a tool for that human garbage."

Midoriya was disturbed by the fact that anyone, a hero nonetheless, could do something so cruel and disgusting. He thought back to training at the beach with Nozomi. She had never said anything. Always putting on a neutral face. He'd definitely ask her about it later.

"In all of my memories, my mom was always crying. I remember her talking on the phone about how she was seeing my father in her children. Talking about how she was planning to take Nozomi and leave. 'I can't stand to see that left side of yours' she said before pouring scalding water on my face." He put a hand over his scar, thinking back to his childhood.

Midoriya shuddered hearing the story. He couldn't imagine living that kind of life. Both his friends have been through so much.

"In short, by not using my left side against you, I'll be taking revenge on my father. By not using his quirk— no. By rising to the top without using it, I'll have denied that bastard everything."

There was still something Midoriya had to ask. Something that didn't make sense from his perspective.

"And Nozomi? You mentioned being born only to fulfill your father's ambitions and being trained to become a hero by him. But I met Nozomi at a beach where she was training. Not to mention, you two don't seem to talk to each other at all."

"I told you, didn't I? My left side would only bring her and my mother pain. It's why I distanced myself. I don't know why she's here or why she wants to be a hero. Those are things you should ask her yourself." Faint memories of playing with Nozomi as a kid surfaced in his mind.

Their worlds were completely different, Midoriya realized that and accepted the fact. They were both aiming for the top and yet, were different in so many ways. Although there were also some things they had in common. Nozomi came to mind once more as he recalled his current companion's answer. It didn't seem like Nozomi hated her brother, or was pained by his left side. At least it didn't to Midoriya. Just as he was going to speak up and give his opinion on the matter, the half-and-half boy began walking away while speaking.

"Anyways, about your connection with All Might... keep it to yourself if you want. Either way, I'll rise above you with just my right side. Sorry for wasting your time."

'With a backstory like that, he'd be a protagonist if this was a comic book. How do I respond to that?'

Gaining confidence, he followed Shoto while pushing away any thoughts about the boy's relationship with his sister. "I've... always had help. No matter the situation, I..." Midoriya looked down as he remembered all those who have helped him and everything he's been through. His mother, his teachers; All Might and Mr. Aizawa, those who helped him during the attack at USJ, those who helped him in the cavalry battle. "I've only come this far because other people helped me. That greatest hero, who smiles as he saves people... All Might... I wanna be like him... For that, I need to become the strongest. Just because it's a lame reason compared to yours..." Midoriya looked up and locked eyes with the other boy. "... doesn't mean I'm gonna lose. All the people who've helped me... That's how I'll repay them!"

Shoto had turned back around to look at Midoriya.

"Let me return your declaration of war with my own. I'm... I'm gonna beat you!!"