TWO POWERS (Todoroki Shoto x Reader)

Chapter 8: Talk

"Young Tsukauchi! Good job out there today."

You are in a lounge room, sitting across from the skeletal version of All Might. The room feels just the right size for two people, but you can feel the sofa cushion you're sitting on start to wear and conform to your body too much.

A cup of tea on your lap, warming your hands and energizing your body, you reply, "Thank you."

"The key takeaway from today is to not only focus on what's in front of you, but also the things that you do not see."

You're still not used to the calmer version of All Might, but it's growing on you. The simpler way he talks is less tiresome. "Yessir!"

"I also reviewed your results from yesterday. A great achievement – you came in first again. What percentage of power did you use?"

"Five percent. I didn't want to risk it. Fifteen percent feels too iffy."

"Well, keep in mind that higher output might feel different, so don't sit around waiting for it to get comfortable. Keep training your body according to the plan and you'll be improving by leaps and bounds in no time."

"Yes, thank you".

The conversation feels so useless. There is no actual substance to it – just All Might praising you and you thanking him. You look at the cup of tea you're holding on your lap. It's brown but where the light touches it's even a bit golden. The strainers used at U.A must be great since there is not a single speck of tea dust in sight.

"What about when Todoroki froze you? You looked as if you passed out but then you activated One For All out of nowhere."

"I think I did pass out," you say as you try to recall what had happened. Unable to do so, you hold onto what you know. "I think that cold environments might actually drain my powers. That's the only explanation that makes sense."

"Has this happened before?"

"Not that I can remember. I always gained energy, I never lost it. Could it be due to One For All amplifying my quirk?"

"Yes, I think that's highly possible. You're smart, Young Tsukauchi. I don't worry about you at all. I'm confident in your abilities. You're the best successor I could have asked for."

For a second you feel happy and appreciated but your thoughts are clouded with concerns about your classmates. You're supposed to be the next symbol of peace but at least half of your class doesn't like you!

You haven't told your parents about your classmates yet. It's not like they can do anything about it so there's no reason for them to worry. Talking about it with All Might seems like the best course of action.

"All Might, as the symbol of peace, how... did you get people to like you?"

All Might inflates and leans closer to you.

"Worrying about PR already, Young Tsukauchi? Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?" his deep voice booms.

"No, that's not it," you assure with a smile that you drop a second later. "Sorry, I guess you were the wrong person to ask about it. Now, if the meeting's over, you'll excuse me."

You place your untouched cup of tea back on the table and leave.

*.☽ .*

You're on a train on your way to Endeavour's agency. He had given you good advice before and you think he might have some experience, considering that he is not the most liked hero out there. His ranking stems from his hard work alone, not from his popularity.