My Hero Academia: Overcoming Fear

The First Round

Hikari

"For this event, we will be drawing pairs. You will not be working together; this is a solo battle. You are paired against another student, and you will fight to get first place. There are multiple ways to win: getting your opponent to step out of bounds, render them immobile, knocking your opponent out, or getting them to surrender. The top 4 teams that won in the cavalry battle will be battling for first place."

Suddenly Ojiro, a kid with a Tail quirk from my class, stepped forwards and raised his hand. "Excuse me, Ms. Midnight, I would like to withdraw from this event."

Midnight looked at him, confused. Ojiro looked down at his hands. "I know this is an amazing opportunity, but I don't even know how I got here. Right as the battle started, my mind kind of went blank, and I didn't have control over myself. Then, when I came to, we were in 3rd place somehow. I feel like it isn't fair if I take part of this event if I don't even remember how I got here. So, I would like to withdraw."

"I would like to withdraw, also," a boy said from class 1-B, raising his hand. "My story is the same as Ojiro's."

Midnight slowly nodded. "If that is what you wish. It is decided. Ojiro and Shoda will not be taking part of this event. Thank you for your participation."

They both nodded. Some people tried to talk them out of withdrawing, but to no use. They wouldn't listen. Soon, two other people were assigned to take their place and the drawings started to pair us up.

"I know they didn't feel like it was fair," Ochaco said. "But they just threw their entire career away."

I nodded. "I feel so bad for them. And no one could talk them out of it, either."

"Your opponents have been decided! If you are not fighting this round, please make your way to the stands."

I glanced at the board. My first battle was with someone named Ibara Shiozaki. From what her hair looked like, I assumed she could control it and do stuff with it. 

Then I saw who Ochaco was fighting, and I looked back down at her. She looked afraid. 

"I hate these already," I said flatly. 

She laughed, and we made our way to the stands. 

"Hey, Hikari, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," she said as we sat down. "Why are you trying to be a hero?"

"Well, I want to take up my father's business when he can't be a hero anymore," I said. 

She frowned. "You want to or you have to?"

I sighed. "I don't know. My father wants me to. I just kind of want to have my own business."

"So that's not why you want to be a hero?"

I shrugged. "I guess it's because of my brother."

She blinked. "You have a brother?"

I nodded. "Have you heard of the hero Dark Cold?"

Her face lit up. "Of course! He was 13's sidekick, and his quirk was amazing! He saved so many lives..."

She stopped, and her face went slack. "Wait, are you saying that's your brother?"

I tilted my head a little. "Maybe."

"Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" she exclaimed, grinning. "Your dad is Whiteout and your brother is Dark Cold! You must be so famous!"

I lifted a shoulder. "Eh, not really. Do you remember what happened to Dark Cold?"

She stopped smiling. "Yes. A villain got him."