Ren Matsumoto had a rare quirk—frost fire, an unusual contrast that allowed him to create flames that froze anything they touched and ice that burned like the hottest fire. He had remained an enigma, flitting from group to group, intrigued by the synergy he sensed between Bakugou and Midoriya during their first year in middle school.
"They can be better," Ren thought, watching them from the sidelines. He began mirroring their training, appearing out of the blue to offer tips and tricks. "Focus on teamwork," he proclaimed, and they listened.
Ren became a master manipulator, weaving his way into their camaraderie. His charm was intoxicating, but his obsession was insidious. Even as their powers and prowess bloomed over the course of middle school, it was beneath Ren's shadow they operated. Guilt crept in as he related their efforts back to his own insecurities. He posed questions that rattled them: "What would happen if you let each other down? What if you failed?"
Bakugou's anger shifted towards the others around them, and Izuku began questioning his worth. "What if he's right?" he often thought. "Maybe I shouldn't even try."
YOU ARE READING
The Undercurrents of Frost Fire
Hayran KurguRewrite of he came back but Ai because I'm Bad with words. There will be multiple versions of this plot that can be seen as aus.
