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Shoto Todoroki had no need for friends.
While everyone in the school crowded together for company he only had one goal in mind. To become stronger than his father without using his fire was a simple task he learned. Everyone here had a softer life, they had families that loved and pampered them. Even the worst of the lot at least had a love that lessened their edge allowing Shoto to turn them to ice...
Except for one, a teen who had a hunger that would consume everything and Shoto despised him the most. And that boy is...
"I'm Katsuki Bakugou and I'm going to become the next number one hero," the teen jeered and Shoto felt himself sneer. Recalling his father's own obsession with the number one title and the purpose of his birth. Already tying the two identities together as the male tried to act like he was the top dog. It seemed the blond noticed his disgusted expression as he stared him down.
"Do you got a problem with that?" He questioned clearly trying to intimidate him in some way. Coming over to his desk he was practically oozing at him to fight him, the other must be an idiot.
"You sure talk a lot for someone full of hot air," Shoto should have just ignored him but after that moment is when Bakugou targeted him. To Shoto tho felt like he finally had a chance to tell him what he wanted to say. It was a good thing Aizawa came in as at that moment the classroom nearly became a warzone. And the two from then on had a special kind of hatred for each other.
Every challenge was an excuse, the teachers attempted to make them work together but it always backfired. Shoto was better, stronger, promptly freezing the other or getting into fights. Usually by Shoto makes just the right comment for the other to flip. To the point, Aizawa was about to expel Shoto claiming he was purposely antagonizing Bakugou... Or would have if there wasn't the reminder of who his father was.
"Shoto never starts a fight especially one he can't win," Endeavor said with confidence while Shoto wished he was anywhere but here sinking in his seat. Aizawa looked shocked at the man just ignoring his statement before Endeavor looked at him firmly. Those cruel eyes stared him down as if daring him to try and argue.
"I would get that bias checked. If all it takes is a word from my son to agitate him that is who should be expelled. You try to expel my son then I'll make sure you are dragged into the mud," Endeavor sneers. It took Nedzu popping in to say no one was getting expelled as he was just giving a warning to defuse the situation. But it was clear Aizawa seemed to hate him from then on also as the one he couldn't punish.
It wasn't as if Shoto cared.
He didn't care about how his father kept a closer eye on him or the coldness in Aizawa's gaze. Or the sneer from Bakugou at the knowledge that Shoto was untouchable. Their classmates only saw the coldness of him unable to truly get close only the idiots like Kaminari would attempt. The conflict escalated during the school festival, able to feel the man's gaze on him every step of the way.
He sealed up his fire and Bakugou of course noticed.
"Fucking use it against me!" Bakugou shouted just before it was supposed to be their match. His hand shoving Shoto back against the wall clearly tired of having verbal banter. "No one going to take me seriously if you're holding back. Don't try bullshitting me now."
Shoto held himself fast despite the other's roughness digging his feet in as he looks at the other from under his bangs. Feeling something burning under the surface as he wasn't doing anything yet the other had to start something.
"I don't give a crap if no one take you seriously this is something I chose," he sneers wondering why Bakugou can't ever just leave him alone. Just a single word always sets him off, "I could beat you without it with no issue. Also fire would help you sweat for more fire power anyway, I'm not stupid."
It was a simple fact that the other seemed to think he wouldn't call out. Bakugou likely thinks he's the only one noticing everyone else's power but so was he. Able to see his expression change to shock before turning even more pissed than before.
"Fine then, I'll destroy you again and again. I don't give a crap about the why but if you want to be a crippled little bitch then I'll need to show you that you aren't a match as you are," Bakugou sneered likely realizing that no matter what he said Shoto wouldn't be convinced otherwise. As the other left Shoto released a sigh of relief his hand holding his chest as the other was too close. Fear gripped him as when he looked at Bakugou, he didn't see him... He saw his father.
Standing on the field he watched the blond stand across from him with a scowl clearly still sore and pissed. Likely assuming this will be an easy battle but Shoto refused to lose especially to him. If there is one person he never wishes to lose to it would be Bakugou. The man who reminded him so much of his father he wishes to puke. The world didn't need another Endeavor as a hero.
"I hate that look on your face," Bakugou sneers. Those red eyes pierced into Shoto's own as if frustrated, "Like I'm just some bug in your way and not truly seeing me. I'm going to make you regret looking down on me!"
A bug? Shoto didn't understand but he didn't linger on it as soon as the announcer declared the fight he tried to encase the whole field in ice. Only the sound of a loud explosion made it clear that Bakugou isn't willing to accept such an easy loss. The ice shattering upon impact Shoto was more startled at the male coming directly at him. Nearly stumbling back when the explosions suddenly blasted his way as if to send him flying.
"Tch," Shoto hisses as his ice thankfully caught him so wouldn't be out of bounds but it seems he had underestimated Bakugou a bit. Though his eyes widened when he was suddenly in front and he realized what he was doing. He was trying to overwhelm him with speed.
Shoto slams his hand on the floor underneath to summon a pillar of ice to strike at Bakugou. This was going on a bit longer than he expected but he at least gave himself time to recover-
"To slow!" Bakugou shouted having curved and suddenly Shoto was blasted in the fact the pain sending a shock to his system. Flinging him to the side of the field his ice only barely helped him stop but it wasn't as if Bakugou was going to let him rest barely avoiding another blast as he sent out another ice wall. Already feeling his body slowly becoming iced as the numbness felt like pins and needles.
Another blast, half-expecting the other to try and blast it but this time it was thicker so knew the other couldn't do so easily. His eyes glance at the sides expecting the other to go around only to hear the wind from above. His eyes widened as he turned his head up only to feel the male's feet be brought down on his head to slam him down.
"And stay down!" Bakugou shouts as he slams him down onto his own ice and Shoto felt an overwhelming sense of nausea and vertigo. The other's shoe was on his head as if trying to crush him forcing him down as Shoto tries to comprehend his situation. Was... Was he about to lose? Was he about to inflate Bakugou's egos as actually being number one? Was he so weak and useless while his father watches him being proven right?
"Tch, you rely so much on your defense when they fail you are a open target. You can't catch me," Bakugou mocks as the announcers were likely trying to assess the situation. "And honestly, you're kind of disappointing and pathetic can't believe I ever thought you were a threat."
Something broke in Shoto. The burning feeling in his chest unleashed all at once.
"Fuck off!" Shoto's not caring that everyone was seeing him as fire consumes his form. Bakugou cursed and his pants as well as his shoes got singed clearly in pain from being suddenly burned. He hated this school. He hated this society that allowed a man like his father to walk freely. He hated his father and in this moment he hated Bakugou for representing everything wrong, more than anything.
The sudden temperature change had forced Bakugou back but Shoto allowed his hatred to push him. The fire he tried to temper was all-consuming as the ice began to melt and sear at the same time... Then an explosion occurred stronger than anything Bakugou could have conjured. Creating a disaster and the miracle that the two boys survived as the field was decimated.
Shoto was declared the winner as Bakugou had been flung out of the field from the impact and knocked out. Shoto instinctively used his own ice to keep himself in the ring even if it caused him more pain.
He was basically a mummy at the medal ceremony, and yet he couldn't feel any joy knowing he only won because he used his flame. Able to feel his father's pride at his success and the fact Shoto had broken his own word about only using his mother's Ice.
What even was the point of trying?