A/N: Mikoto is still feeling a little gloomy, but someone in Class 1-C cheers him up.
So much has happened since the Shie Hassakai incident.
Deku and Mikoto were able to rescue Eri and Inari from Overhaul's clutches.
Eri is now under Aizawa's protective custody and Inari is being watched after by Tsuyoi-Senpai and Taka-Sensei.
Deku and Mirio both felt devastated over the loss of Sir Nighteye. Mikoto and the others gave them their
Despite losing his quirk, Mirio still attends U.A.
But so far, things were going back to normal for Class 1-C.
Although...
Sylvia:....
Haru:....
Kenji:....
Souta:....
Mikoto:....
Mikoto was still feeling a little gloom though...
Despite Class 1-C celebrating his and everyone else's return from the Hero Work Studies, Mikoto still wasn't feeling himself for some reason...
Even though the Mikosquad was all out for ice cream.
Today was very surprising...
Mikoto....was not eating his ice cream at all...
Sylvia: Ne, Mikoto...
Mikoto:....Hm?
Sylvia: If you don't your ice cream, it's going to melt...
Mikoto: Oh...? Oh! Dang it!
Half of it was already melted. That made him more gloomy...he let his ice cream melt...He felt so shallow over the past experience from last week that he wasn't feeling himself lately...
Souta: Oi...Are you...okay?
Mikoto looked to see some of his friends giving him concern glances. Even Souta...
Usually Mikoto would respond with "I'm okay" or "So-So..." But now...
Mikoto: I'm...not too sure myself...
Haru: I'll say...you didn't even finish your ice cream...
Kenji: You love ice cream...
Everyone who was close to Mikoto knew he loved ice cream. He could go on for days telling how great it was or tell you ten reasons of why ice cream was the best dessert ever!
So for him not to eat his ice cream and let's it melt...
That's enough to ring alarm bells for the whole class...
Mikoto: Yeah...Sorry guys...Maybe...I'm not in the mood for ice cream...
Sylvia: O_O....
Haru/Kenji: What....?
Souta: Eh?
Mikosquad: EEEEEEEEEEEH??!
Soon enough the four surrounded him which made him jump in surprise.
Haru: Are you okay?!
Kenji: Are you even the real Mikoto?!
Souta: You're not sick are you?!
Sylvia: L-L-Let me ask Lilac-chan to check your temperature! Be right back!
Mikoto: H-Hey! Wait!
They all took off in a flash leaving him near the dorms.
Mikoto:......*Sighs* I guess that's my own fault...I didn't mean to scare him.
Due to the events that occurred over the past week, Mikoto wasn't even sure he was not himself anymore...
After all he been through...
Learning about the League of villain working together with the Shie Hassakai (Only to betrayed them later for their own reasons)
His father losing his quirk (possibly in the worst way possible...)
Almost learning a dark truth about his father...
The pressure the press has for all of them....
His classmates almost dying vehemently.
His life on the line multiple times...(Because a certain Shadow Slasher is obsessed with him to the point where he wants to kill him...)
The voices in his mind turning out to be dead heroes watching over him...(He wonders if he should tell someone about that...but then again would they believe him?)
Children like Inari and Eri being abducted and tortured for experiments.
Mirio Togata losing his quirk...
Aizawa-Sensei being put in the hospital...again...
Witnessing Sir Nighteye's Death....
Even if he didn't like the hero, he surely didn't deserve to die...
So many questions once again fill his mind...
The hero society is filled with so many questions and answers, he don't even know where to start...he's been so focused on them that it's disrupting his normal state of mind...
Making him think rationally and differently...
He don't even know what to do...
He don't know where to start...
He don't...
He don't...
Mikoto:.....
???: Yukimura-kun?
Mikoto jumped out of his thoughts once again and turned his head to meet a familiar boy with light green hair.
Mikoto: Oh Akira-kun.
Akira, his classmate, came to check up on him. He even had a bottle of water in his hand before tossing it over to him.
Mikoto quickly catch it in his hand...
Mikoto: For me?
Akira: L-L-Looks like you'll need it more than I do...
Mikoto: Ah...
Akira then sat down next to him...
....
An awkward silence came over the two...
Mikoto was aware that Akira was one of the shyest of Class 1-C...Sure there was Haru... and sometimes Lilac and Mio...
But Akira was the most shy out of everyone.
Too often, Mikoto was aware that most quiet students either struggle academically because they seem to be an anomaly in a system that equates silence with good behavior and good behavior with academic achievement. They never cause problems.
They are often too shy to ask for help. They struggle in silence, waiting for a teacher to notice.
...Or in another case, the reason why they're like this is because they're being bullied...
The second one was most likely Akira...
Because he was bullied...
Mikoto: So...What did you want to talk about?
Akira:....
Mikoto: ?
He was aware that Akira wouldn't talk much unless he has something he really...really wanted to say...
Akira: Are...you alright, Class Rep...?
Mikoto: Oh me...Well...I...
Akira: You don't have to tell me if you don't want too...
Mikoto: But...you asked...
Akira looked down.
Akira: I know...but...it look like something is on your mind...
Mikoto: Is it really that obvious...
Akira: Everyone knows...and everyone's worried...but the reason why they won't say anything...is because they're waiting for you...too work it all out...
The snow user stayed quiet for a while before nodding...
Mikoto:....Yeah...I'm haven't feeling like myself lately...there are times I'm just wondering what am I even doing in my life...am I really...helping people...even if people say I am...but...why don't I think I'm not...?
Akira:.... You're letting your negative emotions get the better of you...?
Mikoto:...?!
Akira: Class Rep...We all have those type of feelings...Have someone ever told you...you were not good enough?
Mikoto:.....
Mikoto didn't think about it like that...? Maybe...He doesn't remember much of his past besides growing up feeling overshadowed by his mother...
People always did say he was going to be like his mother...
Almost as if...they saying he can never be his own person...
As if...he's not good enough...
Then there was Endeavor...it was still hard to believe that man was his uncle...but he never even saw the boy as family. He only saw him as an obstacle in Shouto's way.
On one story, Tohru's brother was a better uncle than Endeavor ever would be. Mikoto remember the times the elder Ashikaga sneak him some ice cream whenever he got in trouble back then when he was younger ...
But Endeavor was another story that Mikoto wheter not want to tell...
He even told Mikoto had zero chances of becoming a hero...
Endeavor's words really got to him that day...
Mikoto: Yes...
Simple answer...
Akira:....
Akira knew how that feels...
Growing up, once his quirk was established...he soon become a target...
Bullying...It was the worst thing he ever had to go through...
Akira is one of those unlucky people that encounter some others that would make life suck.
Everyone will go through that at some point in their lives.
Maybe that person are good people, maybe they're not. Maybe they're always angry and judgmental, or maybe you caught them on a hard day. Maybe they just suck in that moment and you were an unfortunate bystander, or maybe they just permanently suck...
Akira: So from all your previous encounters, have you also been belittling yourself...?
Mikoto: ?!
Akira: Even if people tell you that you done a good job as a hero. You still feel judgemental about yourself... It's consuming you Class Rep...It almost consumed me once...
Mikoto: Akira....
Akira: For years, I have been told my quirk is nothing but a measly shield...It can never do anything but guard...then it will break...over and over again... What's a point of using a weak shield they say...my quirk is nothing...everyone has flaws but they're not perfect Yukimura-kun...
Mikoto:.....
Akira: I gotta ask you...Is my quirk really nothing but a measly shield...I can never be an actual hero?
Mikoto: No...You're a hero Akira...more than you think and so what?
Akira: Eh?
Mikoto: You're not the first hero who has a Shield. Ever heard of Captain America?
Akira shook his head.
Mikoto: He's the first avenger in America! He fights with a shield! Back in middle school, Izuku once shown me one of his fights on HeroTube! He's amazing! Then there's Naofumi Iwatani, the Shield Hero!
Akira: Really?
Mikoto: Yeah... although he's an anti-hero due to some...complications...
Akira: Complications?
Mikoto: You should watch the anime and you'll understand...
Akira: Okay...?
Mikoto: Also...how does a hero fight with a shield? Think about it...from Naofumi's case, everything is dictated by stats. If your damage stat is 1, no matter what you do your damage will only be at 1. For example if your strength stat is high and you can lift boulders and stuff but if you punch someone in the face the damage from your punch is only equal to 1. As for Captain America, he sought out many clever ways to use a shield...Heck, he didn't even need power, he started out as a nobody until he became a winter soldier. He relied on his fists and his shield to help him get by as a hero. A shield is not useless in a fight...it can protect many people as possible within it's radar...
Akira: ...I see....
Mikoto: So Akira...you're not useless...you're about as strong as the rest of us...if you put your skills to the test, then you will rise as a shield hero!
Akira:....
Akira stayed quiet before smiling...
Akira: So will you...
Mikoto: Eh?
Akira: The others were right, you really are a motivational speaker, Class Rep...
Mikoto:.....
Akira: But maybe you should start following your own advice and put your skills to the test...then...you will rise up as your own hero someday. Everyone here believes in you....Our Class...The Teachers...The Kids...All of us...S-So....How about you try... believing in yourself...
Mikoto couldn't believe this...Has all thoughts that were struggling through his head finally became clear...
An answer...
An answer he's been looking for...?
Mikoto:....Wow...How come I just didn't noticed this by now...Ha...I really am dumb sometimes...I just needed to clear my head for a moment...and for someone to give me advice like that...I feel...great.
Akira: R-Really?
Mikoto: Yeah. Thanks Akira...for now on...No more moping...I will help as much people as I can here at U.A and be the best hero they can ask for in teh next three years...I will...Be My Own Hero....
Akira: *Smiles* Y-Yay~!
The two boys' friendship blossomed that day. So did Mikoto's motativation and Akira's willpower.
-OMAKE-
Haru: Are you sure you're okay?
Mikoto: Guys...I'm fine...
Sylvia: Really?
Mikoto: Yeah. I just needed someone to talk you...that's all...
Deku: M-Miichan!!!
Mikoto: Izuku?! What's wrong?!
Deku: I-I'm scared...
Mikoto: What? Why?
Deku:....I-It's Aoyama! He's acting real creepy lately.
Mikoto: How? I really don't see how Aoyama-kun is creepy...
Deku: He's...stalking me and once put cheese in my mouth....
Mikoto: Eh?
Deku: And....he literally shoot his laser through a boulder while staring at me...
Mikoto: *Disturbed*.....What?