Blossoms of the Dark

CXV Shouto: Snowdrop

A wall of ice shoots from my boot toward the notorious Hero Killer.

I glance at my phone and sigh in exasperation.

"Midoriya, for something like this, you text me more information. Now I'm late."

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Just two days ago, my classmates and I boarded the metro train to head to our respective internships. Hanada-chan had come to see my off, telling me that her internship was not on the Honshu island, but instead in Okinawa, and that her departure would be by plane. I felt a little miserable hearing that; I had wanted to show her the new hero costume I had requested. But she promised that she would text and call me when she could. When it was time for my departure, I scoured the train for an empty compartment. But Midoriya followed me. He was genuine and wanted to stay true to what he had said, he told me.

And what I thought was going to be a silent train ride alone turned into an amiable discussion on a journey. Turned out that he was talkative, regardless of his stammering or strategizing moments. After exchanging pleasantries, he started talking about what he looked forward to in the coming week. I still had my reservations about the whole thing - I did talk significantly less than he did - but the idea of befriending another classmate did not seem so aversive. He had the potential and will to bring good to our flawed society.

I didn't realize how many hours had passed in conversation until I had to get off at my station. He bid me an energetic goodbye, and I found myself waving back with a small smile in return.

_________________________________________________________

But here we are now: Midoriya on the ground, sweating and panting; me standing on my feet with a visible frown.

"Why are you here?!" he exclaims. "Wait! That's your left side!"

True. Now my flames are billowing from my left palm as ice is crystallizing in my right. But I'm irritated. "'Why?' That's my line." I put my phone away, never breaking eye contact with the Hero Killer. "It took a few secs to think over what that message meant. All you did was mass-send your location pin to all contacts." The Hero Killer crouches in fighting stance. I brace myself, too, and unleash another wave of ice. "You're not the type who'd do something like that with no meaning attached. No, with it you must've meant 'Call for backup! I'm in a pinch!'" The ice traps Midoriya, Iida, and an unconscious Pro-Hero, but the Hero Killer leaps back. "Don't worry! In a minute or two, even the Pros'll hit the scene!" Instantly, I melt the ice with a burst of flames, but the Hero Killer escapes that, too. My next words are addressed to him. "I won't let your ass kill them, Hero Killer."

However, now, Midoriya decides to give some useful information. "Todoroki-kun, don't show that guy any blood! In all likelihood, he can rob his opponent's freedom by ingesting blood orally! That's how we all got taken down!"

"So that's what the blade is about, huh? Well, I can just keep my distance." I'm about to attack again, but a knife comes whizzing at me. It nicks my cheek.

"You've got yourself some nice pals, haven't you Ingenium?" I hear the Hero Killer mock as he comes at me with a saw. I barely dodge his front kick and the katana he threw at the same time as the knife. Suddenly, his face comes so close to mine, about to lick the blood on my cheek. It is by chance that I summon both ice and fire at the last second to push him back. With every move he makes, he draws in closer by two or three strides. This guy's strong as hell!

Now Iida thinks this is the perfect time to be dramatic. This night just keeps getting better. First contending with Endeavor, then Midoriya, then the Hero Killer, and now him. And all I wanted to do was write a letter to my mom. "I inherited my brother's name!" Iida cries. "I'm the one who has to do it!"