Opposites
Chapter 1
There comes a time everyone must stand up and start making their own decisions. The door opens wide, light beaming through, limitless possibilities at your fingertips. Here it is. The day has come you must choose your place in this world.
What a bother.
The whole monologue had already been served on a silver platter that morning when Enji-san sent you and Shoto off on your first day of high school. Although, the speech was more for Shoto's benefit than yours.
"The sport's festival will be our greatest challenge." The boy at your side stared up at the gleaming blue buildings ahead. His fingers tapped along his thigh, on beat with his steps. "We should start preparing for it early on."
You didn't respond to Shoto's aloud planning strategies. The two of you disappeared below the UA arch, making your way down the brick path.
In truth, you hardly noticed he was speaking. The high-pitched ringing reverberating through your skull took precedence.
"Is your quirk acting up again?" Shoto asked, cocking his head to the side. Your squinting and occasional head taps concerned him.
"Meh," You shrugged your shoulders. "The more I ignore it, the more it begs for attention."
A whore of a superpower. Headphones usually drowned out the mess. Today, however, not unlike Enji-san's blatantly manipulative speech, the ringing won the battle. Made it impossible to focus till you persuaded the quirk to shut up.
"Father's going to be upset when he learns you haven't been using it."
Speaking of things that could do with shutting up, Shoto's father was right up there.
"We got into this school didn't we?" You said, tugging the now useless headset down around your neck. "As long as I train you to the best of my ability, he's got nothing to complain about."
"You mean as long as you dodge my attacks and make sarcastic comments?"
"Isn't that what I just said?"
The smug smirk curving your lips made Shoto roll his eyes. After near a decade of sparring with you for practice, he'd yet to evade your humor.
"Relax," You breathed, nudging his shoulder with your own. "You're strong. So am I, and I've yet to beat you. Who knows? Maybe someday I will. Fact is, heroes like you don't have the luxury of fearing their competition, much less a hero as formidable as you."
Sighing, Shoto wove a hand through his hair, the antsy rhythm of his heart yet to calm.
You'd never shown much interest in becoming a hero yourself. Life was a mere set of repetitive orders, day in, day out. Your servitude lied in attaining Shoto's goal. The boy was left wondering if that left you with any of your own.
"You'll find the means to your end here, Sho," you said, winking at him. "I'm sure of it."
"And you?"
"And me?"
"We got into this school." A reminder his father deftly left out that morning. "So what do you think you'll find here?"
The sun curved over the UA's rooftop, illuminating the scenery of fresh-faced students eager for entry. For a long while, the hum of their many voices and the clacking of shoes against brick was all to be heard. Sadly for you, your quirk was far too enticed by the sight and the ringing returned with Shoto's question.
"With any luck," you muttered, knocking your temple one, two, three times. "Some quiet."
1
"Take your feet off of that desk now!"
