The Hope Barely Found

Gone With The Wind... Not

Izuku had been back at the beach, just heading back inside when he heard it.

"IZUKU!"

Instantly he winced and turned to leave before realizing it was Todoroki. He turned to find him fuming behind the doorway as he calmly stormed into the room. Izuku was confused. How did he know he'd snuck out again?

"Why didn't you tell me?" Todoroki's calm demeanor actually scared Izuku at the moment. He definitely wasn't talking about sneaking out.

And then it hit him. That day. Izuku froze.

"Why?" Todoroki's voice made Izuku's heart break. It made all the pain when they'd gotten home worth it. It made him glad he had done it.

*I don't want to talk about it,* he numbly signed, turning away.

Todoroki opened his mouth to protest, but one look at Izuku's heartbroken face shut him up quickly. "Very well," he sighed dejectedly, but still he approached Izuku and wrapped his arms around him tightly. "I can wait," he whispered.

***

At school, Aizawa announced the upcoming school police training festival, where they'd show off their skill and compete against other students. Shinso found himself actually looking forward to it. It sounded fun. Not like a normal beating he was used to, he'd get to fight back. The day before it came, Izuku was going to leave only to open the door to a large crowd. He glared at them wordlessly and class 1-A froze to stare.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the screw ups," Monomo spat.

"What the fuck do you want?" Katsuki snarled, protectively sliding in front of Izuku.

"We want to make a proposition."

"And why would we do that?" Todoroki questioned, raising an eyebrow. He stayed tense and ready to fight should Monomo try anything.

The teachers had gone ahead of them and it seemed class 1-B had taken advantage of that.

"Because if you win, we leave you physically alone. No more jumping." Monomo smiled at them innocently, conflicting with his words.

"And verbally," Shinso broke in. "Both, or no deal."

"Wrong," Monomo corrected. "Physically only or no deal."

"And what do you get if you win?" Izuku hissed so only Monomo and Katsuki could hear. He paled at his voice before shaking it off with a forced laugh.

"If we win, then you become our personal slaves. We can do whatever we want to you without consequences. But it's easy to win, all you have to do is win the sports festival!" Monomo started to cackle, pausing only for a second to say, "Unless you're too chicken?"

Instantly Katsuki went nose to nose with Monomo. "You have a deal." Behind him Kirishima groaned and Izuku tried to resist smacking Katsuki. He failed.

***

The day of the sports festival, everyone was nervous. They were gathered in a clearing with all of the classes, every single person determined to win, if not for themselves then for each other. Their was too much on the line to not win.

Then Katsuki was called to give a speech. Kirishima groaned from the side and Izuku got the distinct feeling everything was about to go horribly wrong.

Katsuki grinned as he stepped up to the stage. "Notice, class 1-B, that it was me, from class 1-A, who had been asked up to stage and not you. Consider this an omen. It'll be the same in the results, class 1-A on the stands as winners. All you extras have no fucking chance. But, ya know, good luck anyways or whatever." He sent Kirishima a thumbs up as he walked off and Kirishima facepalmed.