Forever and Always - SHOTOXOC (Eng Ver.)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"THIS WAY!" I shout from above as Shoto runs toward the location that came to us.
As soon as we get Midoriya's message, we rush to the location.
The two-color turns into the alley in question while I stay in the air to check the situation.

Iida and Midoriya are stuck on the ground as the so-called Stain is about to hit Iida.
Shoto intervenes using flames as he drives the villain away.
Flames.
He is quietly using them.
I have noticed a few small changes in him this week, but this one is striking.
I give a small smile being proud of his deeds.
Of his stance.

"Todoroki! What are you doing here?" Iida asks, looking at the boy.
The two-tone creates an ice barrier between them and Stain as I intervene by taking control of Tenya and Deku's bodies bringing them toward us.
"Takeda! You're here too!" Midoriya says with a confident smile.
"What are you guys up to here?" I ask looking at the two boys on the ground as Shoto launches another fire attack.

Stain approaches us and Deku warns us not to give him our blood.
"We have to keep our distan..." The moment I say this sentence, the villain throws a knife toward Shoto that cuts him on the cheekbone.
Stain lunges toward us ready to lick his cheek when I take control of his body and throw him across the alley.
The villain immediately gets back up and launches himself back into the attack.

"Why are you doing this? Please stop! I inherited my brother's name! I am the only one who has to do this..." Iida begins to say.
Shoto launches another ice attack against Stain but the villain is very fast and in a second he has jumped over our heads.
I prepare to defend ourselves but Midoriya jumps against the wall and then hits the villain.
How is it possible that he has come to his senses?
"It has a time limit." I say as I look at the green back near us.
"I have some theories. I think it depends on the type of blood." Deku affirms.

"Even though we know its ability, it doesn't help us much. It is very fast and strong and almost all our attacks have been useless." I say thinking of a method to stop him.
And indeed there would be a way.
But I don't know if I will be able to.
"I have an idea. But it won't be pleasant at least for me." I affirm looking at the two boys.
"No." Shoto says as he wipes the blood off his face.
"What no?" Deku asks as he passes his gaze from me to the two-color.
"It might work Todoroki."
The boy gasps upon hearing his last name called but seems to quickly pass over it selling the situation.

"It's dangerous for you. Forget about it. Let's think about protecting the wounded until the pros arrive." He affirms not wanting to hear any argument about it.
We all three get into position in front of Iida and the other injured hero.

Shoto POV

These are the consequences of a person being caught up in anger and resentment.
Iida allowed these feelings to get the better of him and now we are in this situation.
If I had continued to feed these feelings, I certainly would never have used my father's uniqueness, and probably, as time went on, I might have found myself seeking revenge in this way as well.

After talking to my mother, I began to understand the things I have to do.
I have to be able to be happy.
And to do that, I have to win back Mei's trust again.
Regain my best friend.
I can finally see things in a simpler way.
They were right.
Midoriya.
Mei.
This is my power and my life.
I just wish I had realized it sooner.

"Please stop, I don't want to..." I hear Iida utter from behind us as we continue to attack Stain to the best of our ability.
Mei takes control of pieces of my ice and continues to throw them at the villain so as to distract him while Midoriya attacks him.
"IF YOU WANT TO STOP US, THEN STAND UP." I shout towards Iida.

Now is his time to face these feelings. To overcome them.

Mei POV

"FOCUS YOUR GAZE ON THE PERSON WHOSE FOOTSTEPS YOU INTEND TO FOLLOW!"
Shoto continues to yell at Iida as Deku and I watch in amazement.
This is one of the first times I've seen Shoto talk to someone like this.
He is finally getting closer to people, friends, who are not me.

I take control of Stain's body and throw him against the wall hoping it will slow him down, but he gets right back up.
Within seconds the villain goes on the attack against Shoto but Iida finally breaks free and with a kick pushes Stain away.
"Forgive me! You should not have been involved in this." Tenya again repeats to us standing in front of us.
The villain does not give up and I know he is about to go on the counterattack again.

There is no other choice.
He is about to move toward us and so I do.
I enter his mind.

Shoto POV

Both Mei and Stain freeze.
She did it at the end.
She is trying to control his mind.
"What happened?" Iida asks, holding his bleeding arm.
"It's inside his mind." Says Deku as he holds himself on his knees.
Why did you do that?
You didn't need to use this part of your quirk.

It will be painful for her.
Extremely.
She has never used her uniqueness on a villain.

Mei POV

Blood. Anger. Death. Screaming. Resentment.
This is all I see.

I see the heroes killed by him.
I hear their screams and his satisfaction in doing so.
How can a person be so cruel?
How can a human being kill another human being in this way?

I can clearly see Iida's brother being shot repeatedly.
I feel his bloodlust and his urge to kill.
I feel like throwing up.
All this is too much.
Too much.
What drives him to do these things?
I don't even have the strength to be able to reach the center of his mind.

All these memories and feelings hurt.
My heart clenches in my chest and begins to beat faster than usual.
Tears begin to stream down my face as all this suffering and nastiness floods my mind as well.

No more.
No more.
STOP.

I come back to reality and immediately feel my strength failing me.
I watch Shoto run toward me as I fall to the ground.

Then darkness.