Under the vast blue of the afternoon sky, the U.A. Sports Festival shimmered with energy. The stadium pulsed with the roar of the crowd, thousands of spectators packed into the stands-parents, pro heroes, reporters, and fans, all eager to witness the next generation of heroes display their strength. Vibrant banners fluttered in the wind, each bearing the U.A. emblem, and sunlight danced across the polished arena floor. It was a festival, but also a battlefield, where young heroes laid bare their progress, their pride, and their will to surpass all limits.
Class 1-A stood at the center of the field, lined up before the watching masses. They were sharper, stronger, and more composed than ever before. The weeks of Izuku's brutal training had reshaped them in every sense-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Gone was the nervous uncertainty of the early days; what stood there now was a team of determined young warriors, each hardened through effort, sweat, and shared pain.
Even the way they carried themselves told the story. Mina, though still her energetic self, moved with confidence born from endurance. Momo's posture was straighter, her expression calm but unreadable, every bit the strategist. Tsuyu's quiet composure seemed steadier, her eyes sharp. Ochaco, while still nervous, carried a certain strength in her steps, her gaze flicking toward Izuku every now and then as if grounding herself.
At the far end stood Izuku Midoriya-calm, composed, and radiating quiet authority. His emerald eyes were steady beneath the sunlight, his presence effortlessly commanding. Though dressed like the rest in the U.A. training uniform, something about him seemed heavier, deeper-his aura distinct. Power hummed faintly beneath his skin, restrained but undeniable. He stood slightly apart, hands in his pockets, as if the world around him had slowed. The cheers, the banners, the excitement-it all felt distant to him.
From the stands, Hisashi Midoriya watched silently beside his wife. His once-dark hair bore streaks of silver now, his eyes hidden behind tinted glasses. Beside him, Inko sat forward, clutching her bag tightly against her lap. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, were fixed on the figure of her son.
Inko: He looks... so different.
She whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Hisashi's gaze remained steady, though his expression carried something complex-pride, regret, and quiet awe.
Hisashi: He's at peace.
He murmured.
Hisashi: Happier than I expected.
Inko's lips quivered.
Inko: He saw us, Hisashi. He looked up for a moment... and he just-
Hisashi: -ignored it.
He finished for her softly.
Inko: Yes. I noticed.
Her breath hitched, and she turned her face away, blinking back tears.
Inko: I just... I just wanted to hug him. Tell him I'm sorry for everything.
Hisashi reached over, resting a firm, reassuring hand over hers.
Hisashi: He's not ready yet, Inko. You know what he went through. It'll take time.
Below, Izuku stood still, his gaze briefly sweeping over the audience. He had seen them the moment they arrived-his mother's trembling smile, his father's unreadable calm. For a fleeting instant, emotion had surged in his chest, raw and sharp. But he'd swallowed it down, burying it beneath the surface. He couldn't afford to break composure now. Not here. Not in front of everyone.
The microphone crackled as Present Mic's voice thundered across the arena, loud enough to rattle the air.
Present Mic: WELCOME, EVERYONE! TO THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL!
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Shattered Light: A Neglected Izuku Story
FanfictionIzuku Midoriya, neglected and bullied due to his lack of a quirk, endured abuse from his family and friends, especially his twin sister Izumi and Katsuki Bakugo. One fateful day, when locked outside his home, Izuku was kidnapped and taken to a secre...
