Diamonds in the Rough *INDEFINITE HIATUS*

Playoffs

"ALRIGHT EVERYONE!! BEFORE WE GET TO THAT LONG-AWAITED FINAL FIGHT, IT'S TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS!!" Mic announced to the eager crowds "YEAHHHHH!!! THIS TIME WE HAVE OUR HERO COURSE KID, THE ICY TODOROKI SHOTO, AGAINST GENERAL ONCE MORE- THE MYSTERIOUS HITOSHI SHINSOU!!!"

"Hitoshi, are you sure you're okay for this round?" Midnight asked him quietly as the boy made his way into the ring

"Yeah..." he mumbled weakly with a nod "Recovery Girl gave me the all clear, as long as I don't overuse my quirk" Midnight nodded and walked over to Todoroki, no doubt to ask him the same question.

"Both players are eligible for the fight!" Midnight finally announced from her stage

"ITS TIME TO SEE WHO'S GONNA MAKE IT TO THAT FINAL SPOT ON THE PODIUM!! READY?!!" The crowd screamed in anticipation "FIGHT!!!!"

"Hey." Shinsou greeted with a tired smile "So how's your day been-" Shoto immediately shot out a wall of ice, completely encasing Hitoshi save for his face "Th-that's a bit much, d-don't you th-think?!" he shivered out

"Sorry, but I'm not taking any chances with you General students-" he started before going still

"HEY HEY HEY!! WHATS THIS?!! IS THE FIGHT OVER ALREADY?!"

"Y-you guys r-really need to l-learn to sh-shut up" Hitoshi chuckled "Melt me out." He ordered. Shoto shuffled over and paused, as if fighting himself on whether to obey the orders given. "Melt. Me. Out." He lit up his left hand and carefully began thawing Shinsou out of the ice

"TODOROKI IS MELTING HIS OPPONENT OUT??! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!!"

"Thanks dude" he grinned fiendishly, brushing off a few shards of ice as he stepped out of the cocoon "Do me a favor? Walk out of the ring." Todoroki turned and started walking towards the line

"HE'S WALKING OUT!! TODOROKI IS WALKING OUT OF THE RING!!" Shoto stumbled over a chunk of ice on the ground and paused, looking around in confusion

"Shit." Hitoshi cursed, racing over and punching the teen in the face as soon as he turned around. Todoroki's eyes widened in surprise as he shoved Hitoshi away but Shinsou grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground alongside him. "Didn't expect you to wake up that fast-" Shoto narrowed his eyes, getting up quickly and Hitoshi found himself once more iced to the floor. "Aw come on, don't be like that man~" he whined, desperately trying to tug his frozen legs out. Todoroki simply stared at him for a little while longer before shaking his head and completely encasing his opponent again, backing away out of ear shot.

Shinsou, kept trying to pull himself out, yelling insults and taunts at the stubbornly silent Heroics course student. "Come on" he hissed, frustrated tears beginning to well in his eyes "Come on, please. Not like this. Don't let it end like this." Midnight quietly made her way over

"Hitoshi, can you continue?" She asked him softly, looking concerned as the boy's nose began to bleed again

"I can do this Midnight" he promised desperately "I swear! I can still fight!" She looked at him with sympathy

"Can you even still use your quirk?" She gestured to his bloody nose. He shook his head frantically "Hitoshi if you overuse your quirk-"

"That doesn't matter!" he cried "I can still fight! Midnight please!" he begged, tears streaming down his face "I can still fight! Just give me a chance!!"

"Hitoshi..." she paused, glancing over at the quiet Todoroki "I admire you for pushing your limits, but there's only so far you can go without permanently hurting yourself. You need to know when to stop for your own good." The boy dipped his head in shame, shoulders shaking with silent sobs "Can you use your quirk?" he shook his head softly