"I can't help feeling like advancing was way too easy~"
Ashido Mina walked beside Uraraka Ochaco, stretching lazily as she spoke.
"It's like… nothing really challenged me? All the spotlight ended up on Todoroki instead. Honestly, do I really deserve to make it this far…?"
Hearing that, Ochaco scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I kind of feel the same. I only used my Quirk at the very end… Masata basically handled all the villains by himself."
She suddenly realized something and looked around.
"Speaking of which—where is Masata? I haven't seen him since the match ended."
Yaoyorozu Momo frowned slightly.
"I wanted to have dinner together, but I can't even find him anywhere."
Ochaco sighed.
"Forget it. Let's just eat on our own. No point waiting."
Meanwhile—
"Yo. Icy Prince. Planning to corner me and whisper sweet nothings?"
The moment the match ended, Igarashi Masata had been dragged into a quiet corridor by Shoto Todoroki. Judging by his expression, he had something serious on his mind.
"Or what—got something weighing on your heart?" Masata continued casually.
"Fair warning though, I'm extremely confident in my debate skills."
Todoroki stayed silent for a long time.
"…Igarashi."
At last, he spoke.
"Do you know what a Quirk Marriage is?"
Masata let out a breath.
"Of course. Arranging marriages to deliberately produce stronger Quirks, right? Choosing partners with specific abilities… I've always thought it was outdated and disgusting. But why are you asking?"
"…That's right."
Todoroki's voice lowered.
"My father forced my mother into that kind of marriage. He took her Quirk… and I inherited both perfectly."
Masata blinked.
"Igarashi… you're also a product of a Quirk Marriage."
"…What?"
Masata froze.
My parents are in love. They're probably on vacation right now.
We're not rich. We're not some elite bloodline family.
How the hell did this suddenly turn into that?
"Your magma Quirk," Todoroki pressed on, eyes intense,
"Isn't it the same as mine—deliberately created?"
"No."
Masata replied immediately.
"Absolutely not. My Quirk is a compound mutation. It has nothing to do with Quirk Marriage."
Todoroki stiffened.
"…It's not?"
In his mind, a Quirk like magma—something unheard of—had to be the result of deliberate breeding.
"I was born as a tool."
Todoroki's voice grew quiet.
"A tool meant to surpass All Might."
He took a breath and continued.
"My father is incredibly strong. After becoming famous, he realized something—no matter what he did, he could never surpass the Number One Hero."
"So… I was born."
"In my memories, my mother was always crying."
His fists clenched.
"I will never become that kind of disposable tool."
Looking straight at Masata, Todoroki's eyes burned.
"In the oath, you said you want to be the strongest."
"And I do too."
"I have to prove it—to that scumbag."
"Even if I don't rely on his Quirk… I will become number one."
"Igarashi Masata—I will defeat you in this arena."
Despite having witnessed Masata's overwhelming power at USJ, Todoroki showed not a shred of fear.
That, Masata recognized, was the mark of someone truly aiming to be strong.
Masata's smile faded. He met Todoroki's gaze seriously.
"So… even against me, you still plan on holding back?"
"That's not it! I'm trying to prove—"
"Enough."
Masata cut him off sharply.
"You want to fight me, but you're already talking about limiting yourself?"
"Is that the mindset you brought into this competition?"
"If that's how you think, then let me be clear—you'll never surpass me."
"Who do you think you are? The protagonist?"
"The world doesn't revolve around you. You're not the only one who suffered."
"Strength is strength. What does its origin matter?"
"If you want to play pretend hero games, go do it at home."
"Don't embarrass yourself in this arena."
With that, Masata turned around and walked away, leaving Todoroki standing there in stunned silence.
"…Can I still make it to the cafeteria?" Masata muttered to himself.
"I can't fight on an empty stomach."
As Masata disappeared down the corridor, Todoroki stared at his left hand.
"…My own… strength?"
Words carry different weight depending on who speaks them.
If Mineta had said this, Todoroki would've ignored it entirely.
But coming from Masata—it shook him.
"Yo—aren't those Grape and Kaminari? Why are you two lurking like goblins?"
Lunch secured, Masata entered the rest area and spotted Mineta Minoru and Kaminari Denki whispering in a corner.
"Boss! Over here!"
Mineta waved him over, wearing a suspiciously sly grin.
"What now?"
"Well… I just saw some cheerleaders backstage, and I was thinking—"
Mineta leaned in, grin growing more obscene.
"…maybe we—"
"Nope."
"…Huh?"
Both Mineta and Kaminari froze, eyes wide.
They genuinely hadn't expected such a blunt rejection—especially from a guy who lived with two beautiful girls.
"I've seen everything worth seeing at home," Masata said lazily, picking his ear.
"And I've experienced things way more exciting than that."
He glanced at them with disdain.
"What's so special about cheerleader outfits anyway?"
"Also, if I can watch that stuff at home—why would I let you watch it too?"
Critical hit.
Mineta and Kaminari collapsed on the spot, souls shattered.
They had almost forgotten—
This guy was literally a winner in life.