Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 77

My classmates and I went straight into training, using the multiple models of Ectoplasm to fight against and gain advice from. It was slightly unsettling knowing that we weren't talking to the real Pro Hero, but his copy was life-like enough for me to believe he was real. Even if he was just a copy, he was just as brutal.

I collapsed to the ground, heaving in deep breaths of air.

"Are you done, already?" Ectoplasm asked, his hidden insinuation irking me.

"No," I said. "Of course I'm not."

"Then get back up and fight me."

Gritting my teeth, I clambered back onto my feet, taking up an offensive stance.

It wasn't that Ectoplasm was fighting particularly hard or anything, I just didn't know what to do. All that talk about making ultimate moves and the Provisional Licensing Exam had gotten me excited, but now the reality of it all was hitting me. I didn't really have a fighting style; I just did whatever I could to make it out of my situation. It was all instinct.

'I can't base it off just instincts anymore, though,' I thought. 'This test will not be easy, so winging it won't be an option. If I wanna be a hero, I better start thinking like one. And soon.'

But... how?

"Well, come on," Ectoplasm called. "Fight me."

I surged forward, reaching and out to blast him. "Mininova!"

However, he was quicker, easily dodging the white beam as if it were nothing. Again. I blasted at him, but he just dodged, and this continued on and on until I'd gotten too close to him. He grabbed me, and threw me to the ground, eliciting a pain-filled groan from me.

"You're not thinking clearly," he said. "Just focus on you, and how you fight."

I bit back a growl, and instead pushed myself back onto my feet to face him head on.

"I'm fine," I said, readying myself to fight. "Let's go again."

"...You're stuck on what your fighting style is, right?" I flinched at that, but nodded all the same. "Why?"

What a good question: why was I stuck? I had moves that I'd been using for a while now, but for some reason... it wasn't enough, anymore.

"... you'll realise just how much a fraud you are wanting to be a hero with a borrowed quirk."

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes, willing his voice out of my head. 'Go away. Go away...'

A dark shadow cast over me as Ectoplasm walked over, stopping a step away from me. He didn't say anything for a moment; he simply just looked down at me, waiting for a reply. However, I never gave it, looking away from him in shame.

He heaved a sigh. "If this is about All for One... I wouldn't waste your time on him. He can't hurt you here, I promise."

At the mention of the villain, I swung my gaze back up at him, wide-eyed and in shock.

"H-How did you know?" I asked. "I thought no one knew-"

"L/N... I'm sorry, but every teacher knows. All Might informed us of All for One and what he's done to you; and Detective Tsugauchi filled us in, too."

'They all know? ' My stomach dropped at the thought, a cold numbness washing over me. 'They all know who I am...'

A gentle hand fell on my shoulder, gloved fingers gripping gently onto my taut and tense muscles. I looked up to find Ectoplasm staring down at me, and although I couldn't see his eyes from behind the mask, I could tell his eyes were boring into my own. He was waiting; waiting for me to tell him what I was feeling, to tell him what was holding me back.