Under Pressure

Chapter 13: A hard pill to swallow - Preparing for the Final Exams: Part 1

In the dimly lit hospital room, the faint beeping of heart monitors echoed as the four boys slowly began to stir. Ezra Thomas, Tenya Iida, Shoto Todoroki, and Izuku Midoriya lay on adjacent hospital beds, all bandaged and bruised from their encounter with the Hero Killer, Stain. The fight had taken a toll on each of them, and now, in the sterile stillness of the hospital, they began to awaken.

Ezra was the first to open his eyes, the faint glow of his bioelectricity dimly flickering across his bandaged body. His memories of the fight flooded back—the intensity of Stain's gaze, the near-death experiences, and the moment of triumph when they finally subdued the villain. He winced, sitting up slightly, his muscles sore from the battle.

Iida groaned beside him, his eyes fluttering open. His arm, heavily bandaged, reminded him of the pain he felt, not just physically but emotionally, after the encounter with Stain. He glanced at Ezra, his face showing a mixture of relief and gratitude.

Iida: "We did it," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "We stopped him."

Izuku slowly sat up, his hand clutching his side where Stain's blade had grazed him.

Izuku: "Yeah... but it wasn't easy." His voice was filled with exhaustion but also a sense of accomplishment.

Todoroki, lying silently on the farthest bed, shifted his gaze toward the others. His burns were more severe, a testament to the amount of power he had used during the fight. He simply nodded, acknowledging their success, but his thoughts were already elsewhere.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Gran Torino entered with Manual, followed closely by Kenji Tsuragamae, the Police Chief. Their faces were serious, the weight of the situation evident.

Gran Torino: "You boys are lucky to be alive," he grumbled, though there was an edge of pride in his tone. "Stain wasn't your average villain."

Manual nodded in agreement, his expression concerned.

Manual: "You're all heroes, but this could've ended much worse."

The Police Chief, Kenji Tsuragamae, scanned the room, his sharp gaze landing on each boy, assessing their condition. But when his eyes settled on Ezra, they lingered. His nostrils flared slightly as if he recognized something. He studied Ezra for a moment longer before speaking.

Chief: "Your name is Ezra Thomas, correct?" the Chief asked, his voice calm but with an underlying curiosity.

Ezra looked up, surprised to be addressed directly.

Ezra: "Yeah... that's me."

The Chief crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes as if piecing together a puzzle.

Chief: "Your quirk... it's very similar to someone I know." He paused for a moment, then added, "Surge, America's No. 2 Hero."

Izuku, who had been listening quietly, blinked in surprise.

Izuku: "Surge? The hero from America?" He glanced at Ezra. "I didn't know..."

The Chief nodded, his voice turning serious.

Chief: "Yes. Surge is known for his mastery of bioelectricity, similar to your own quirk." His gaze sharpened on Ezra. "He's also your father."

The room fell silent. Ezra's heart skipped a beat, the words sinking in like stones. He stared at the Chief, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Ezra: "What?" His voice was barely above a whisper. His mind raced, trying to process what he had just heard. "My father...?"

The Chief gave a solemn nod.