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"Would you look at that, Kamui Woods and Eraserhead are working together to take down this massive monster of a villain! Keep watching folks, and we'll give you all the details as we get them!"
He yawned and nestled deeper into his mother's grip, sighing contentedly as she played with this hair. "They're so cool... I want to be like them when I grow up."
"But you're already like them, Shouto. Only a super strong hero could stand up to your father like you did."
He grinned. "I'm gonna be the best hero because I want to be, not because Daddy said so."
"That's my boy."
An explosion took up most of the screen and he sat up, eyes wide.
"There have been reports of a second villain! I repeat: there is a second villain on the scene! Eraserhead's concentration appears to have been broken and both villains are running amok! Where is All Might in our time of need?!"
There was a familiar laughter in the distance and the camera shakily found the hero on a nearby roof. "Evil shall be apprehended because I am here!"
"All Might's the best," he said in awe. "He's cool and smart and super strong–"
"And you're cool and smart and strong, too," his mother interrupted, poking him in the stomach with every other word until he collapsed into a fit of giggles. "You're going to grow up and be super handsome, and I'm going to have to worry about all the girls who are going to want you."
At that he stopped laughing. "Nobody will want me," he muttered. "I'm cut in half."
"Shouto!" she scolded. "Look at all the people on TV. Are you telling me people don't like them just because they look a little strange?"
"But they look normal when they're not using their hero forms!"
"Normal is boring, Shouto. I'd rather stand out like you. It means more people will notice you and love you when you save them."
"People will... love me?"
She hugged him even tighter. "Of course they'll love you. You're going to be the best, kindest, strongest hero out there. All you have to do is believe in yourself and work hard to make that dream come true."
"All Might has done it again, folks! The villains have been taken into custody and our streets are safe once more! This is another great day for heroes in Tokyo and throughout the world!"
***
He glared at his reflection, the scissors in his hand feeling all too right. He could just cut off the accursed hair and never have to worry about it again. Never deal with the side-eyed looks as people realized who he was and what his family could do to them.
And yet he hesitated.
Took a deep breath and remembered what his mother said. "All you have to do is believe in yourself."
Believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your dreams, she'd told him all those years ago. What would she say if she saw him in such a state? She'd be ashamed and tell him not to let others get to him, as their opinions didn't matter.
He slowly put down the scissors and fixed his bangs. What a few teenagers thought shouldn't affect him so much. He'd become a pro hero and let everyone see what he was really made of, and he wouldn't let his lineage or his looks get in the way.
He made it halfway down the hall before someone called his name. "Ah, Todoroki-kun!"
Midoriya. He stopped and let the other boy catch up.
"Did you do something different with your hair? It looks cool!"
His arm was still in a sling after their fight at the Sports Festival, even after a few days. Were his injuries so severe that not even Recovery Girl could fix them easily?
"I was coming to congratulate you on getting so many pro hero offers. People were really wowed by your quirk! Have you decided where you'll be going?"
"...My father's agency. You were right when you said this fire quirk isn't his. I'm going to prove to him it's mine."
He looked relieved. "I'm glad I could help you in the finals!"
"A shame you put yourself out of commission," he mused. "I would've liked to see you face off against Bakugo again."
Deku was at a loss for words and he kept walking. "Don't think this is over," he called over his shoulder. "I'm expecting a rematch when we're both on top of our quirks."