Chapter Text
It's nothing.
He is just paranoid, yes, that has to be it.
Everything is fine.
Todoroki stood on the massive stage which, among other things, had been set up just for this event. Beside him were his classmates and teachers, all of whom listened (more or less) attentively to All Might's speech. But Todoroki just couldn't concentrate. He’s had this weird feeling that something was terribly wrong ever since he woke up that day. He felt as though he was awaiting his executioner.
The roaring of voices from the audience, as well as All Might’s booming voice, was almost enough to drown out the boy's thoughts completely. With thousands of people gathered for this event, there was just never a moment of silence. As the people were walking around the school grounds, talking and laughing, and listening to the speeches on stage, their school was buzzing with life.
To be fair, it wasn't actually supposed to be this big of an event, it was simply meant as an open-door kind of thing. It was intended to educate the masses about their school, its broad set of courses, as well as requirements on how to get into said courses. But in classic UA fashion, things just escalated. So now they stood here, in front of thousands of people, with a mission to show the world once again the greatness of their heroics course.
There were stands with food and games stowed around the area, many of which were run by students and teachers. The general education course had already finished their speeches and gone back to the other attractions, except for a select few who were hoping to get into the hero course somehow too. The business course would give their presentations after them.
Most of their teachers stood in the center of the massive platform, at the very back, while the students all stood to the left, neatly arranged in fives. A handful of teachers and a few selected students (including Todoroki) were asked to give a small speech. First the teachers, then the students, and then they would swap backstage with Class 1-B and the process would repeat.
Although this seemed like quite the nice day to some people, for some it was incredibly overwhelming. Todoroki was no exception to that. Already sporting a splitting headache and feeling overwhelmed by the level of noise going around, he really wasn't having a good time.
With a quick glance to the left, he saw that Shoji was having the same problem, and so was Jirou in the line in front of him. But when he looked back to the right where his teachers were gathered, he saw something troublesome, and any hope he had of regaining his focus was smashed to bits.
Now here is where Todoroki's dilemma began. Because he was the first in the back row, standing almost directly next to the Present Mic, he noticed something he probably shouldn't have noticed in the first place. A small, barely perceptible red light shone from the back of his English teacher's collar.
To be quite frank, Todoroki wouldn't normally bother with such trivial things, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
He tried to ignore it at first, but as fear began to gnaw at his stomach, he couldn't help but imagine what terrifying things that light could mean.
Aizawa Sensei had spoken to the class before the start of the event about how important it was. He said that should they misbehave or show off or do anything to possibly hurt their schools' reputation, their sensei would not hesitate to expel them.
But as Todoroki looked at the mass of people around him, families with children and young teens hoping to be the next to fulfill their dream of becoming a hero, he just couldn't bring himself to care. That light could be numerous things: a tracker, a high voltage shocker or even a...... no, it couldn't be.
The heterochromatic teen prayed that he was mistaken, that it wasn't some kind of bomb, aiming to rip his teacher's head off and possibly kill numerous people in the process. But the fear that it might be just that, would not let go of him anymore. And even worse, there just wasn't much he could do if it really was a bomb.
You see, if he just roared about a bomb, he could potentially cause a stampede that could seriously injure countless people or even kill them. Not to mention that he wasn't even sure there was a bomb, and that Present Mic didn't just get a few upgrades for his gear. Before he knew what was going on, it was Present Mic's turn to deliver his speech.
Todoroki’s unease grew with each step his teacher took towards the microphone. But what could he even do? If this hunch of his turned out to be a fluke, he might lose everything he had worked so hard for, all his life. And if he was right and someone really did manage to plant a bomb on Present Mic’s collar, then his teacher and possibly a significant number of bystanders could die.
No, he had to act regardless of the consequences; he refuses to let anyone get hurt or die because of his fear. So, before he could second guess himself, he moved, ignoring the surprised shouts of his classmates, and Iida’s offended rant about rules and respect. He sprinted towards his teacher.
He tackled Present Mic to the ground and made quick work of pulling down the leather jacket to expose the back of his teacher's speaker. He could hear the surprised and shocked voices of his classmates and teachers, as well as gasps from the audience. Cameras were flashing, and he could already imagine the headlines his actions would bring. Something like: ”Treacherous Student Attacks Beloved Pro Hero”
The boy froze at what he saw there, the noise around him fading into the background as dread filled his soul. It was just like he feared: there, attached to his teacher's gear, sat a metallic leach with a countdown running out in bright scarlet numbers, which were the source of the ominous red light the boy had hoped he just imagined. It was blinking lazily up at him, almost mockingly, with a promise of death. Todoroki tugged carefully at the offending metal but found no give whatsoever. All the while, Present Mic was loudly protesting Todoroki’s actions from underneath him.
"Hey little listener, now really isn't the time to play around. Just get back in line, we would rather you not get expelled.” Todoroki didn't listen to his teacher as he concentrated on unfastening the speaker from around the other's neck. Then it clicked open, and he could drag it away from his English teacher.
The youngest Todoroki just managed to scramble to his feet and take a few steps when he suddenly felt something wrap around his torso, pinning his arms to his side and almost causing him to drop the speaker. Turning around, at least as much as he could with his new restraints, he saw Aizawa standing next to a now-standing and rather stunned Present Mic.
It was Aizawa's capture weapon that was wrapped tightly and securely around him. His class’s teacher had activated his quirk, effectively preventing the fire-and-ice user from breaking free of the weapon's hold.
“Todoroki! I thought I made myself clear when I said I didn't want any of your problem children to cause trouble today.” Aizawa looked furious as he pulled his scarf around his student a little tighter. “Now drop the speaker and go backstage, I'll deal with you later.”
The boy looked at his teachers and then down at the Voice Hero’s support gear. With his arms wrapped the way they were, he couldn't move them far enough to show his teachers what he had found. But he could see for himself that the timer was running out at an alarmingly fast pace. Every second that passed lay heavy on the young boy’s heart. He was running out of time.
Ice cold dread seeped into every fiber of the boy's being. He could already imagine the death and carnage this wretched bomb could bring upon UA, could imagine his teachers being impaled by derbies and his classmates thrown around by the force of the explosion, or the stage caving in from the shockwave.
He looked back at his homeroom teacher, the man who had risked his life for his class more than once, and knew that he had to act, had to do something, to save all the people he loved - his teachers, his class, his family in all but blood. No. He would not let them suffer, not if he could have a say in it.
His teachers were looking at him expectantly, and while they made no move to get closer to him, they were obviously waiting for him to do as he was told. As his eyes met Aizawa’s, he knew what he had to do, and he would only get one shot at this. If he failed, well, he really didn't want to think about that.
So, before his teachers could react, he twisted sideways, lifting his right foot over the extended portion of the capture weapon and bringing his heel down with force. The scarf didn't fall off him or loosen enough that he could just slip out of it, but Todoroki didn't need it to; it wasn't even his goal. What did happen was that Aizawa’s hold faltered for just a second, pulling him forward, just a bit - just enough to make him blink in surprise.
It was all the boy needed to burn his restraints off, freeze everyone's feet to the stage, and start sprinting away from the masses once more. Jumping off the stage, the student decided that the safest course of action would be to run behind the stage, away from the crowd, but he didn't make it very far. When he glanced down at the speaker in his hands once again, he found that the timer only showed about half a minute left. He could now hear a faint beeping from it as well. The half-and-half user’s steps faltered. He had to think of something. If this bomb detonated in his hands he would most definitely die, and take some bystanders with him while he was at it.
Then it hit him: if he could freeze the bomb in enough ice, the explosion would be contained. Then, he could explain everything and nobody had to get hurt. Todoroki placed the speaker down and took a few steps back as he tried to summon his ice, but nothing was happening. His ice wouldn't come. Which could only mean one thing..... turning around, he saw his homeroom teacher standing just a few feet away, his eyes flashing red and his hair floating around his head like a dark halo.
Eraserhead was holding the charred remains of his capture weapon in his hands. How he had freed himself from his student’s ice, Todoroki didn't know. But it didn't matter anyway, so why bother questioning it.
His voice was downright thunderous as he spoke: ”Todoroki, give Mic the speaker back and go backstage right now, or I will come over there and drag you back.” The student swallowed heavily as his teacher continued. “NOW.”
There were only ten seconds remaining. Even if he could tell Aizawa what was going on, it wouldn't make a difference now.
10
He looked into his teacher's furious eyes.
9
He looked up to the stage where his other teachers and classmates were watching, confused.
8
He took a step back, away from his homeroom teacher and closer to the bomb, ignoring the hushed whispers from the audience
7
Another careful step.
6
Once more.
5
He thought of Fuyumi, and his mother.
4
Of Natsuo and his never-quite-a father.
3
He knelt down, caging the bomb with his body.
2
He sent a silent prayer to whoever would listen.
1
Aizawa blinked, and Todoroki haphazardly summoned some ice in hope of at least shielding his body from the worst of it. And to keep the explosion more contained.
0
I'll see you soon, Touya.