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Mocking and hurtful comments sometimes just weren’t enough for certain people.
No, some felt the need to go further, to cross that thin line between the verbal and the physical, as if it weren’t enough to humiliate him; and Neito, despite how he felt about it, understood it. But his mother didn’t. So, when he arrived home one afternoon, after the first time his classmates had decided to take their teasing to a new extreme, leaving various bruises of different colors distributed throughout his body, the woman simply burst into tears, repeating over and over again that it was her fault
But Neito, with his eight years of age, understood some things better than his mother. Between physical and verbal abuse, he would always chose with the physical. The bruises would disappear in one or two weeks; but the things he heard from children and adults ... from his own family ... Neito sometimes couldn’t sleep by going over each one of those words.
Probably because part of him, deep down, believed that everything was true.
How could he be a hero if, on his own, he was quirkless?
In retrospect, Neito was pretty sure that the need to prove everyone wrong was what motivated him to become a hero and attend to UA. The need to prove to himself that he was capable of doing it.
However, the downside of having a goal based on resentment and fear of rejection is that it is easy to lose your way, and yourself in the process. If Kendo or Tetsutetsu, or any of their class, had been asked what a hero was for them and why they wanted to become one, they would undoubtedly give an appropriate answer, such as: "A hero is one who can save people and also brighten their souls" "I want to become a heroine because the only thing that makes me happy is to know that I can help others." You know ... corny stuff.
But Neito had trouble answering that simple question, and it was certainly alarming, since, if he didn’t know how to answer them, then why bother being a hero in the first place?
He could lie and say something touching, or tell about that time he saw All Might in action with his own eyes ... but the truth was that that kind of stuff didn’t really inspire him. Maybe it was because he had never needed to by save by anyone. He never found himself on the verge of death because of the evil plans of some villain, nor was he ever found himself in the middle of a robbery that needed the courageous intervention of a hero or heroine. No. Neito's problems were of another kind. Family problems and personal insecurities. Maybe if he had interacted with a hero at an early age he would now have the wall of his bedroom covered by posters of All Might and other celebrities.
But that hadn’t been the life of Neito Monoma, and in part he was grateful not to be like the rest. It gave him a unique perspective.
And then he met Sinshou Hitoshi.
The destruction caused by Midoriya made it difficult for him to run. The smoke clouded his vision and got into his lungs, while the debris made him stumble every two steps.
Everything had gone horribly wrong extremely fast. Had the weeping child of class 1A managed to acquire even more power? Was that even possible? Damn lucky children from class 1A, always having an ace up their sleeve. It was frustrating how unfair life was sometimes ... however, he had to admit that it didn’t look like a new power, more than anything it looked as if his own body had revealed itself against him ... and Shinsou was a side effect , stuck in the middle of chaos.
Honestly, Neito didn’t know why he was still moving forward. This was the kind of situation that teachers had to handle, not him, a student.
But that didn’t stop him. For some bizarre reason he couldn’t help but keep running, while his heart beat with alarming speed on his chest. He had to make sure Shinsou was fine. Make sure that…
The smoke finally dispersed enough so that Neito could appreciate the situation that was developing before his eyes, and although he could finally see clearly, the picture was pretty damn confusing.
Midroyia's arm still issued that dark substance, powerful enough to destroy everything in its path. However, the green-haired boy, although still screaming in pain, was now levitating, moving farther and farther away from the ground. Probably it was because that girl of class A with gravity powers was clinging to him as if her life depended on that. What was your name? "Ura ... Ura ... Uraraka, right?" Neito didn’t bother to think of a second option. He hadn’t cared before, let alone in those critical seconds. But even so, his attention remained on her after the girl spoke in a strong and determined voice.
"Shinsou!"
Only at that moment did Neito realize that Shinsou was in front of the two students of class 1A, standing in the middle of the chaos and observing Midroriya in pure shock.
The wind ruffled his purple hair but beyond that the boy's body was paralyzed. Afraid, maybe? Neito didn’t want to admit it, but he was feeling terrified; so he couldn’t really blame his teammate for not being able to move a muscle. He himself was having a hard time re-activating his legs after seeing what he was facing.
"Use your brainwashing to stop Deku!"
Uraraka had talked again, or rather shouted, and it took Neito only seconds to understand what was happening. So that was the girl's plan, to stop her friend using Shinsou's quirk. Cunning but also potentially dangerous ... for Shinsou in particular. If Neito were in his position, he wouldn’t risk controlling someone so ... unstable.
But seeing Shinsou's face he just knew it. The boy would do it. It would enter in Midoriya's mind and stop him. It was crazy! No. He couldn’t do it. Who knows what could happen to him? Neito tried to move forward but the wind and the persistent attacks from Deku's arm made it difficult to reach Shinsou. When he felt that the desperation was beginning to win the game, the boy shouted, trying to get his teammate´s attention, doing everything possible to stop him. But his efforts were in vain. He was far from them and the rumblings of the ravages that that black substance was causing made Neito's voice inaudible.
"Midoryia!" Shinsou shouted, coming back to his senses and with a fearful determination. "Let's fight again!" For the first time the boy took off his mask to show a radiant smile, while his eyes denoted a disturbing emotion. It took a few seconds for Nieto to understand what that stupidly brave attitude was about, especially because Shinsou was the opposite of stupid.
And then he got it.
Shinsou was proving himself that he could do it.
After witnessing the battle between Midoryia and Shinsou at the sports festival, Nieto was sure that that boy with tired eyes and disheveled purple hair would have a rematch at some point. After all, the way in which the class A crybaby had won was simply ridiculous and unfair.
This was Shinsou's moment to prove that he could do it, that he could have beat Midoryia... that he could be a hero.
"Yes!" The green-haired boy exclaimed so loudly that Neito believed that in that cry Deku had expressed all his pain and despair.
And then it happened. Everything calmed down at an alarming and somewhat upsetting speed if someone asked him.
Unable to believe his eyes, Neito watched in amazement as Midoryia's arm slowly returned to normal, and Uraraka descended them back to the ground. The young man had his eyes blank, and although he could stand without the help of the girl, he gave the impression that he was a simple mannequin. Even so, an exhausted Uraraka held him by the arm, ready to intervene again if necessary.
Shinsou.
His eyes flew towards the general studies student.
Neito had seen Shinsou in action before, knew how he reacted while controlling someone's mind, and without a doubt Shinsou's behavior at that moment was not normal. The boy's body trembled from feet to hair. His hands clenched into fists as he tried to maintain control at all costs. Neito had never seen him fight so hard to keep someone under his power. What the hell had happened to Midoryia? Had a demon possessed him or what?
He began to move towards Shinsou while he could hear the rest of the two teams approaching behind him. Soon the teachers would arrive, and although Neito felt a great relief that the adults would finally intervened and brought order to all the chaos, the boy couldn’t help but think that they were taking too long. With every second that passed Shinsou seemed to suffer more and more.
"What's going on? Monoma! Stay away!"
"That was Deku? Damn! What happened to him this time? "
"Why is Shinsou controlling him?"
The voices of the members of both teams mixed and quickly created a commotion in Neito´s head, who had decided to listen to Shoda and not keep moving forward. The perturbing calm that had been generated after Shinsou entered Midoryia's mind was now completely lost.
Neito still couldn’t find the words, nor did Uraraka, who hadn’t stop holding his friend in all that time. Shinsou couldn’t talk; he was too focused to explain anything. A drop of sweat ran down his forehead and Neito saw his fists clench even tighter. It seemed that he could lose control at any moment.
"This is bad, very bad! Where are the teachers ...? "
"Hey!"
Neito got everyone's attention but his eyes always stayed on Shinsou, as if he feared that taking his eyes off him would make the boy lose concentration. In a way, Neito was also being controlled by the mental powers of a boy.
"We need to keep it quiet until the teachers arrive. Shinsou is doing his best not to lose control. Let's keep it that way, okay?"
The silence behind him was instantaneous. Neito allowed himself to sigh and relax just a little bit.
"Thanks." Uraraka whispered and the boy watched as the girl gave him a weak smile.
Neito simply nodded, creating a silent agreement between the two of them. Maybe she didn’t understand it completely, but while the girl was protecting Midoryia, he was doing the same with Shinsou, in his own way. It was likely that Uraraka believed that Neito was trying to help everyone, like any future hero would do, but that only showed how little she knew him. Of course, he was intrigued and somewhat alarmed by what had happened to the green haired boy of class A ... but Neito only cared about his personal interests. And his greatest interest at that time was Shinsou and his well-being. Why? In simple terms, he saw himself reflected in the boy of tired eyes and cynical attitude. In more complex terms ... it was just too complicated to explain and Neito had refused to explore the exact reasons of his particular interest for Shinsou on more than one occasion.
"Move! Out of the way! "
Vlad.
The teachers had finally arrived.
Neito remained static in the place while he saw All Might rushing towards Midoryia. Of course, that kid of class A was the favorite of the Symbol of Peace. That was just how life was. Uraraka released the boy only after making sure the man would take care of him.
On the other hand Vlad King was taking care of the other students, maintaining order and creating a perimeter to keep them away from the possible danger ... in other words from Deku. Midnight had stepped aside to call Recovery Girl; and finally Eraser Head, always showing his irritating common sense and practicality, also approached his student, but unlike the sentimental All Might, he did have a plan.
"Shinsou. When I tell you, you are going to release your hold in Midoryia." Aizawa indicated, turning his head to look at the boy. Neito could appreciate how Shinsou barely moved his head to show that he understood the order.
"Monoma! What are you doing? Come here in this insistent!” Neito turned around at the sound of his teacher's voice. Vlad was with the rest of the students a few meters away, gesturing him to come closer. Neito took a deep breath and nodded, making his way to his classmates.
"Now!" Shouted behind his back Aizawa, and before he knew it Neito had turned to watch the exact moment when Midoryia's eyes returned to normal and Ereser Head used his scarf to immobilize him, while putting his quirk in action, making sure the boy didn’t hurt anyone again. However, it wasn’t necessary. As soon as he was free from the brainwashing, the fall unconscious into All Might's arms.
A grunt of pain caused Neito to turn his attention back to who really mattered. Shinsou.
The boy looked paler than usual, and his hands had finally relaxed. It seemed like he was about to...
"Monoma, Haven’t you heard me before? I told you that…"
In another situation, the voice of his teacher would have made him return with the rest of his classmates. Neito would have followed the rules. But at that precise moment, as he watched Shinsou´s legs begin to lose strength, he couldn’t help but to rush to him, and hold the boy before he collapsed.
Being that close to Shinsou made him notice that the boy's condition was worse than he could have imagined. His body was drenched in sweat and he could barely open his eyes, as if the boy's mind was slowly disconnecting because of all the effort he had to put into keeping Midoryia under his control. Neito imagined that at any moment Shinsou would lose consciousness too, finally fainting.
"That was amazing." Neito murmured, as he passed Shinsou's arm around his shoulders, holding him by the waist.
"I feel like shit." It was the boy's only response as he began to take weak and insecure steps, leaning on Neito. "Thank you"
"Don’t mention it."
Vlad and Midnight saw them approaching and didn’t hesitate to help. His homeroom teacher wasted no time and took Shinsou, carrying him in his arms as if he were a weightless dummy, at the precise moment when the general studies boy lost consciousness completely.
"What the hell happened?" Vlad asked himself, watching the teenager in his arms. Even so, Neito decided to respond with the little information he had.
"Midroyia's arm went crazy. The gravity girl elevated him to contain the damage I can only imagine. Then she asked Shinsou to brainwash him... and he did it. "
"A right decision but reckless without doubts."
That's what I said. Neito thought to himself, with a mixture of pride and haughtiness.
"And what were you doing the middle of chaos? You should have run away! And also, since when you don’t you follow a direct order from your teacher? "
"I ... I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what came over me. I just couldn’t stop moving. But it will not happen again. I swear."
"So you didn’t think? That's new for you, Monoma" Commented his teacher clearly surprised by it. Neito remained silent, not sure what to answer to that. "Another reckless but right decision." Vlad muttered and this time Neito wasn’t sure if he was still talking to him, or if the man was thinking out loud.
"Midnight, take care of the students. I'll take Shinsou to the infirmary.” Vlad proclaimed moving away from the scene, while Shinsou's head swayed from side to side each time the huge man took a step.
Neito watched them as the students move out of the way to let them pass. Although everyone was shocked that didn’t stop the murmurs to become louder and louder. Most were about Midoryia but several were about Shinsou, and a few about Uraraka and him.
Meanwhile, there was only one question inside Neito's head.
Why?
Yes, he understood why. But at the same time it was confusing. Shinsou was just a sixteen-year-old trying to prove to everyone that he deserved to be in the hero’s course, and yet he had acted extremely well under pressure and had fought with all his might to save Midoryia, and in doing so he also saved everyone else.
He had saved them. He had saved him.
Maybe it was like when Uraraka believed that Neito was collaborating because he really wanted to help and not because he was simply focused on protecting just one person. Maybe Shinsou simply saw what he had done as a mere rematch against Midoryia. But did it really matter the reasons, right? The results were overwhelming.
"Monoma! You're fine, thank god! That was crazy! "
Neito barely noticed the moment Kendo appeared by his side. The girl was always sure of herself and kept her composure constantly, making sure everyone felt safe. But when she was around certain people, like Tetsutetsu or him, the girl allowed herself to show simple emotions as concern.
And in a different situation Monoma would have paid more attention to her friend, but his eyes were still glued to the back of Vlad, who was almost indivisible at that point.
Shinsou had really saved them all, huh?
Yeah maybe the reasons didn’t matter, but Neito had to admit, that it had been pretty impressive and honorable. Shinsou hadn’t cared about the dangers or the fact that he was an inexperienced teenager. He simply acted. Maybe with a plan or maybe was just instinct. And Neito had seen it all from the front row.
It hadn’t been like All Might or other celebrities’ fights. Shinsou had a hard time maintaining control; he suffered and almost gave up. But if his mere motivation had been a rematch then that was definitely not a strong enough reason to have endured such pain.
Did he also want to be a hero just to prove to everyone else that he could do it, like Neito?
No. There was more. Much more.
And then Neito remembered when he ran to help Shinsou. On more than one occasion his body had acted without thinking. "So you didn’t think? That's new for you, Monoma." It was. It was extremely new and weird.
"Hey, are you listening to me?"
That unknown feeling spread throughout his body focusing on his chest and Neito smiled without really knowing why.
"I want to be like him, Kendo." The boy finally declared, turning to face his friend. "I want to become hero just like him."