Because I don't want others to be disappointed?
This simple and incredible reason left Shoto Todoroki speechless for a moment.
This 'he' should refer to All Might, right?
While feeling shocked, he clenched his fists instead. Indeed, maybe Izuku Midoriya had his own persistence, but he also had his! He wants to defeat that man! And this 'Sports Festival' is the first step he takes! What's more, he also agrees that he doesn't want a certain man to be disappointed!
Maybe in most people's eyes, Lancer, this 'teacher,' is a little negligent. He not only handed over most of Shoto Todoroki's education to Jack, but he himself just spoke from the side, and would even pour alcohol for minors. Sometimes he would simply waste his training time and ask him to go out for a late-night snack. Similar things are too numerous to mention.
But it has to be said that for Shoto Todoroki, who had never experienced 'father's love' since childhood, this was a novel experience he had never had before. Even every time he faced Lancer 'request,' he would refuse with words, but in the end, he would subconsciously choose to listen to the other party.
It is obvious that for Shoto Todoroki, who has lacked paternal love and family warmth since childhood, Lancer, this elder-like, yet also a rogue older brother-like existence, made him feel a rare trace of home warmth.
'I can't let him down!'
If before he was just purely hoping to use this 'Sports Festival' as his debut venue, now he has found a new reason for himself!
"Thank you! Izuku Midoriya!"
Shoto Todoroki, who was originally bowing his head, suddenly said this seemingly strange sentence with great seriousness, while Izuku Midoriya, whose lips were bruised due to frostbite, managed to force a slightly ugly smile.
"Although I don't know why you are thanking me, but judging from your tone... I'll take it."
The two people who were just attacking each other desperately, at this time, were communicating like friends, but this was only for a moment, because they both knew that they each had their own persistence, and no one would let go, so they knew that the 'opponent' in front of them was the same as themselves!
'Must not lose!' X 2
After a brief pause, there was an even more exaggerated crashing sound. The scattered ice shards even lowered the temperature of the entire venue a little, but both the audience and the two people in the field were stimulated to get excited.
Shoto Todoroki looked at Izuku Midoriya, whose hands were drooping there, but was still gritting his teeth and looking at him without any intention of giving up. He knew that the next attack would probably be the opponent's last one, so——————
'As long as I take this move, I win!'
But this thought was fleeting.
'No! My teacher once said, how can you be timid before the battle! At this time, I shouldn't be thinking about 'taking this move' but should be thinking about how to defeat him!'
However, Shoto Todoroki also knew his own situation. With the excessive use of freezing air, half of his body had almost lost consciousness. Next, he probably wouldn't be able to dodge the other party's attack at all. The optimal choice now is to use 'fire.'
He yearned for victory! But...
'Using fire at this time is not equivalent to admitting defeat? Lancer-sensei clearly knows my ability but has never advised me to use fire. He must believe in me! So I must not let him down! Even if I only use 'ice,' I am stronger than anyone else!!'
Although Lancer did not teach Shoto Todoroki how to use a 'gun' for combat due to his personal fighting style, he instilled a lot of combat concepts, such as——————
'The strongest time is often the weakest!'
'No one in this world is perfect, and even if you are perfect, you can create a gap!'
'No matter how strong the enemy is, as long as you can hit its vital point, you have hope of winning!'
This combat concept came from Lancer own habits. After all, his initial enemies were all stronger species than himself. To defeat the enemy, he had to find their weaknesses, and later on, in order to kill more efficiently, he did the same. And this combat concept was also passed on to Shoto Todoroki.
After giving up the 'optimal solution,' he still didn't give up! Because he knew he was not without a chance!
On the other side, Izuku Midoriya also considered using his arms again after losing control of them, but he gave up, because he knew that at this time, Shoto Todoroki was no longer an opponent that a half-baked attack could defeat, so...
The right foot that had been deliberately ignored began to flash with light. There is no doubt that 'kicking' was his backup option!
Although All Might had always used his fists to fight, he was not All Might.
This was the sentence that All Might said the most during his special training before. There is no doubt that All Might also became competitive after learning that Lancer was teaching Shoto Todoroki.
He didn't regret deliberately losing to Lancer before to help him, but that didn't mean he didn't want to win it back, but his physical condition made it impossible for him to actually fight, so let his disciple do it!
At this time, looking at Izuku Midoriya's slightly bent body, he also started to get a little nervous, because he knew that Izuku Midoriya was finally beginning to break away from his influence and embark on a new path!!
Lancer, who also saw Izuku Midoriya's movements, was also stunned for a moment. After all, the 'timing was not right,' but then he smiled, feeling that he was really bored. After all, the kicking he learned was not some secret technique. It was just a layer of window paper, and it depended on whether the person himself could poke through it. And looking at All Might, who was equally excited, Lancer knew that this was probably another change caused by his arrival, right?
But just as Lancer was sighing, Izuku Midoriya finally made a move.
"Bang!!"
Accompanied by a huge roar, the position he was standing at stirred up a huge venue, and he himself rushed towards Shoto Todoroki with explosive speed, and his other foot kicked straight towards Shoto Todoroki's abdomen!
Before in the first round of the 'obstacle course,' Izuku Midoriya had already seen the 'ice wall' created by Shoto Todoroki, but he believed that he could definitely break through it!
But what was unexpected to him was that Shoto Todoroki still didn't make a move at this time, but instead turned his body slightly. The other party's performance was extremely strange, and it seemed that he didn't plan to use his quirk, which made Izuku Midoriya very strange, but since he had already made a move, he no longer had the right to choose.
Although he lowered his head slightly, his eyes had been staring at Izuku Midoriya, and he was waiting for the moment when the other party was at its strongest and weakest!
There is no doubt that he has found it!
Then he said in a low voice that only he could hear——————
'Jack-sensei personally taught me————Slice!!'
As soon as the words fell, a blue arc intersected with Izuku Midoriya!
He didn't expect that Shoto Todoroki would dodge his attack by a tiny margin and use the ice stick on his finger to attack his abdomen, but he still didn't give up.
"It's not over yet!!"
With his right arm hooked, he undoubtedly planned to drag Shoto Todoroki down with him, but——————
"No! It's already over!"
Shoto Todoroki, who was facing away from Izuku Midoriya, turned around fiercely, and then several ice spears burst upward from below with him as the center!
"Puff~!!" X N
Accompanied by the sound of tearing fabric, Izuku Midoriya was directly controlled in mid-air by the suddenly violent ice spears, and Shoto Todoroki held an ice-made katana to Izuku Midoriya's neck.
Suddenly, the entire arena became quiet, but then there was a wave-like cheer.
There is no doubt that the battle between the two was extremely exciting. Whether it was Shoto Todoroki's freezing or the explosion created by Izuku Midoriya, it can be said that the two have shown strength far beyond their peers. For the outcome of the battle between the two, no matter who won, they were genuinely happy for them.
And Izuku Midoriya, who was still trying to make a last stand, finally lowered his head when he saw the ice blade on his neck...
"Why..."
This sentence seemed to be asking Shoto Todoroki, and also seemed to be asking himself, but Shoto Todoroki, while dispelling the ice blade in his hand, spoke.
"My teacher once told me, 'no matter how powerful an attack is, if it doesn't hit, it has no meaning'."
"If it doesn't hit, it has no meaning..."
After murmuring a few times with his head down, Izuku Midoriya raised his head again, and a flame reignited in his eyes.
"I lost this time! But I won't give up! Next time... I will definitely win it back!!"
Ever since All Might told Izuku Midoriya about the importance of the 'Sports Festival' that day, his impetuous heart had not been at peace for a moment. He was very eager to make a name for himself like All Might, but this cruel failure finally made him sober.
'All Might's power is incredibly strong, but I can't use it properly, but... there will definitely not be a next time!'
And Shoto Todoroki looked at Izuku Midoriya's determined eyes, and he couldn't help but smile.
"I'll be waiting for you!"
As the words fell, he also stretched out his hands and picked up Izuku Midoriya, who had almost lost consciousness.
The broadcasting recording did not record the communication between the two, but when they saw Shoto Todoroki carrying Izuku Midoriya to the medical point, everyone subconsciously applauded. This applause made Shoto Todoroki feel a little caught off guard.
There is no doubt that everyone recognized Shoto Todoroki's achievement, but there was only one exception.
'Why! Why didn't he use it at that time...'
Endeavor, who was standing in the hallway, looked at Shoto Todoroki in the distance with a complicated expression.
The fact that Shoto Todoroki was able to enter the third round with a first-place finish undoubtedly made him proud, but what made him helpless was why his son didn't use the quirk inherited from him?
That boy, who had a quirk somewhat like All Might, he originally thought that he could force out Shoto Todoroki's strength, but now it seems that he still overestimated him.
'It's a complete waste! As long as you use all your quirks! You can become stronger! Why don't you understand!!'
At this time, Endeavor was roaring in his heart...