My Hero Academia Legacy in the Shadow of a Smile-Chapter 15 Realizations
The sun was low in the sky by the time Class 1‑A drifted back into their homeroom. The room buzzed with tired chatter — the kind that only comes after a day of intense training and adrenaline crashes.
Students slumped into seats, stretched sore limbs, or compared bruises like trophies.
Kirishima reenacted Takeshi smashing through Todoroki's ice for the fifth time.
"And then he just— BAM! Right through the wall! Dude, it was insane!"
Sero nodded vigorously. "Seriously, Takeshi, you looked like a tank."
Takeshi blinked. "I was simply using my quirk."
Jiro smirked. "Get used to it. You're officially the class powerhouse now."
Takeshi wasn't sure how to respond to that.
The classroom door slid open.
Midoriya stepped inside still in his hero outfit, his right arm in a sling, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"S‑Sorry I'm late! Recovery Girl said I'm okay to go home now—"
He didn't even finish before the class swarmed him.
Uraraka rushed over. "Deku! Are you okay?!"
Kirishima grinned. "Dude, that was a manly fight!"
Iida nodded sharply. "Your strategic thinking was commendable!"
Midoriya's face turned bright red. "I‑I wasn't that great, I just— I mean— Kacchan was— and then— the explosion— and—"
He spiraled into frantic muttering.
Then he suddenly froze.
"U‑Uraraka… where's Kacchan?"
Uraraka winced. "We tried to stop him from leaving, but… he wouldn't listen. You just missed him."
Midoriya's eyes widened.
"I‑I have to talk to him!"
He bolted out of the room, sling and all.
Takeshi slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped into the hallway starting on his way home just as Midoriya's footsteps echoed ahead.
He didn't intend to eavesdrop.
But Midoriya and Bakugo weren't being exactly subtle...
Bakugo stood at the far end of the hall, fists clenched, shoulders tense.
"Damn it!" he snapped. "All this time… you were acting weak. Playing helpless. Were you laughing behind my back?"
Midoriya skidded to a stop. "K‑Kacchan! Wait!"
Bakugo whirled on him. "Where's that flashy power now, huh?!"
Midoriya swallowed hard. "I… I need to tell you something. Something I've never told anyone. Not even my mom."
Bakugo's eyes narrowed.
Midoriya took a shaky breath. "I wasn't hiding a quirk from you. I really was quirkless. At least until recently, someone… gave me a quirk."
Bakugo stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
"I can't tell you who," Midoriya rushed on. "But it's real. And I can't control it yet. I haven't made it mine yet. That's why I didn't want to use it against you; I don't even know what would've happened. But… fighting the way I did, it was the only way I felt I had a chance."
He clenched his good fist. "I'm still learning. That's why I'm at UA. And someday… I'll master this power. And when I do… I'll beat you head on!"
Midoriya froze, realizing what he'd just said. "W‑Wait, that's not— I mean— I wasn't trying to —"
Bakugo's voice was low and dangerous. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Midoriya paled.
"You already humiliated me today," Bakugo growled. "And then I watched that ice guy fight that big bastard. I realized… I wouldn't beat them in a straight fight. Not as I am now."
He punched the wall, teeth gritted. "Damn it… damn it!"
He turned away sharply. "Enjoy your lucky win, Deku. You won't get another. I'm just getting started. I'll be the number one hero. And you'll never beat me again."
Midoriya's breath hitched.
Takeshi slowed his approach having been on his way home and unintendedly having heard most of the exchange.
So, this is their rivalry…I wonder what caused this much friction to begin with?
FWOOSH
All Might arrived in his typical fashion with a burst of wind.
"All right, there you are!"
All Might said placing his hands on Bakugo's shoulders. "Bakugo! Listen — pride is important, but you still have a lot to learn if you want to be a pro—"
Bakugo yanked his arm free. "Save it. I don't need your help. I'll surpass you on my own."
All Might blinked slowly a few times. "Ah… right."
Bakugo stormed off, steam nearly coming out of his ears.
All Might sighed. "Being a teacher is hard... And working with teenagers doesn't make it any easier."
He turned to Midoriya. "Young Midoriya! What were you saying to Bakugo before I arrived?"
Midoriya stiffened. "Oh! Uh— nothing special!"
All Might leaned in. "Are you sure? You can tell me."
Midoriya laughed nervously. "I… kinda forgot?"
All Might squinted suspiciously.
Takeshi continued forward then, making his presence more obvious.
Midoriya jumped and his face paled further knowing he had overshared about his quirk with yet another person. "T‑Takeshi! I didn't see you there!"
Takeshi nodded. "That happens when you don't pay attention to your surrounds."
Midoriya looked down but didn't respond.
"I hope you two can work out whatever is going on between you," Takeshi said. "Even if it is just enough to get some closure."
Midoriya smiled weakly.
Takeshi turned to All Might and gave him a long look. All Might straightened slightly under the gaze and matched it in kind. Takeshi broke the look first and glanced back at Midoriya. "We'll talk soon, but not quite yet" he said to All Might as he continued past him and Midoriya continuing his rather eventful walk home, popping in his headphones in and starting a generic playlist as he went. Midoriya just looked at his mentor with a confused expression wondering what Takeshi and All Might would need to talk about.