Fire Within -Tododeku

Resilience in the aftermath

"They really did take a long time rescuing us." Todoroki said to break the silence, the pain of being stamped against the floor on his mind still.

"I have heard that it took them five minutes to come after Asui told the heroes about this." Midoriya answered. "I can't believe we survived for that long", he said, still in disbelief. In the fury of battle, every second felt like a minute, while the hopelessness grew and grew as they realized the invulnerability of their enemy.

"It's amazing that you could keep up with Nomu for enough time until I found you, Midoriya" Todoroki expressed, truly impressed.

"I only blinded him and kept running" He replied, feeling himself flush at the compliment. It was strange, but he attributed it to the fact that people never complimented him directly in any kind of way "to avoid feeding his ego", as Bakugo called it many years ago.

They were still in the hospital, but it was their last day, and they were about to leave, when a tall and broad figure stepped into the room, carrying flowers.

It was All Might.

Izuku immediately bowed.

"Salutations, All Might!" He bowed until his head met his knees, feeling how his cheeks reddened. He couldn't believe All Might came to see them, he was so busy!

"Oh, that's unnecessary, son! I came to see if you guys were alright..." All Might observed them in their casual clothes, and realized they were about to leave. " I'm sorry guys, I brought you flowers, since I didn't know you had already recovered!" He smiled, handing them the flowers anyways.

"It is a profound honor to be graced by the presence of your esteemed visit!" Izuku bowed again, until he realized All Might just told him not to. "I'm sorry!" He apologized, covering his mouth.

Todoroki wanted to laugh right there. What was up with acting as if he had killed someone just because he bowed again? He didn't expect him to act like a hardcore fan.

"It's all right!" All Might patted him on the head. "I came here to tell you I am admired by the immense bravery you showed when you faced the enemy on your own. You have displayed the true spirit of heroism. Not every hero can face such threats head-on, especially at your age. Your actions have shown the world what it means to be a true hero—putting others before yourselves, overcoming fears, and standing tall in the face of danger. I'm truly impressed" He moved closer, a hand on each of their shoulders, conveying both gratitude and encouragement.

All Might's words carried a weight of approval, acknowledging their growth and determination. It was a moment of recognition from the Symbol of Peace, a reassurance that their efforts had not gone unnoticed in the realm of heroism.

Todoroki didn't particularly care, but it still felt good to be congratulated, he supposed.
eflecting the mix of emotions swirling within him. Todoroki, ever observant, noted the vulnerability in Midoriya's expression, a testament to the depth of his feelings. The compliment from All Might seemed to have touched a tender chord, unraveling a layer of emotions that Midoriya usually kept tightly guarded.

As the unspoken connection between them lingered in the air, Todoroki could almost sense the overwhelming flood of sentiments Midoriya was experiencing. It was a profound acknowledgment from their idol, and for Midoriya, who held heroism close to his heart, it was more than just praise; it was validation, acceptance, and a reassurance that he was on the right path. Todoroki's own stoic demeanor softened as he observed the scene. There was a silent understanding between them, an acknowledgment that transcended words. In that moment, Todoroki felt a surge of respect for Midoriya, recognizing the strength it took to reveal such raw emotions, even if just for an instant.

"Thank you All Might" he replied for both of them. The speech had rendered Midoriya speechless. "I also wanted to know... how are our classmates? I haven't heard of them"

All Might felt puzzled: had no one visited them before? They had been told they had only been in the hospital for a few hours, though. It must be because of that, he concluded. Hospitals operated at a frenetic pace.

"Uraraka Ochako is still in the hospital. She was diagnosed with head trauma and cranial fractures." All Might observed their worried reaction: Todoroki furrowed his brows deeper than a normal human being could as Midoriya gasped. "She's currently recovering in this same hospital, and fortunately, she's awake. You can visit her if you'd like! She wanted me to express her gratitude for saving her from potential facial injuries." He said, solemnly.

"Of course we will visit!" Midoriya spoke for both of them, eagerly.

Todoroki was taken aback to realize he was also enthusiastic.

*

In the hushed confines of the UA staff room, the air crackled with a subdued tension as teachers and staff members gathered to discuss the recent upheaval. The somber mood enveloped the room, punctuated only by the distant hum of conversations.

"I never thought we'd see the day when our students faced such danger," muttered Aizawa, his usually stoic expression etched with concern.
Present in the room were several other faculty members, each wearing the weight of recent events on their faces. Midnight leaned against a desk, flipping through a stack of reports. "The media is having a field day with this. It's a good thing we contained the situation quickly."

Snippets of news reports echoed in the background, the television screen showing images of UA's damaged training facility and pro heroes in action. A collective sigh filled the room as they watched.

"Uraraka's still in recovery," chimed in Recovery Girl, her gaze fixed on the small television. "Head trauma and fractures, they said. But she's a strong one; she'll pull through."

Hound Dog, UA's vigilant security personnel, grunted in agreement. "We need to tighten security around here. This wasn't just an attack on our facility; it was an attack on our students."

"This shows that our students are capable of facing danger and surviving. They behaved with true bravery, especially these two, young Todoroki and young Midoriya. They managed to beat their leader, Shigaraki Tomura, whose name isn't registered. They must have used fake names. However, thanks to them we can safely say that their organization will never strike again, at least not without their leader."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the responsibility they bore sinking in. It was a testament to the resilience of UA that, even in the face of adversity, they remained steadfast in their commitment to nurture and protect the next generation of heroes.

As the adults grappled with the aftermath, UA's resilience flickered like a flame in the wind, determined to rise from the ashes and ensure the safety of its students.