Chapter 23 - Izuku Vs. Shinso

Izuku made his way back to the stadium. He estimated that the first round of matches must be halfway done by now, so he would soon have to prepare for his next battle. He had yet to learn who had advanced to the next round, and had spent a lot of time with Uraraka, so he hadn't had the chance to analyze the other opponents' quirks, leaving him at a disadvantage. But if he hurried, he could make it back in time to watch the tail-end of the first round of matches.

He stopped abruptly at the end of the hall connecting to the stadium entrance. Leaning against the wall, as if waiting for him, was the general education student Shinso. His face remained passive as his eyes met Izukus, but his gaze sent an odd chill down Izuku's spine.

"So you're back," he said simply. "I finished my first match as well. Looks like we're going to be paired against each other in the next one. Izuku Midoriya, that's you right?"

Izuku was about to answer when he felt something cover his mouth. Alarmed, he looked back to see Ojiro standing behind him, using the tip of his tail to silence him. "Not so fast," he said, glaring at Shinso, who simply smirked smugly and walked away.

"Midoriya," said Ojiro, releasing him. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Ojiro?" Said Izuku. "What was that about?"

"You didn't watch his match, did you?" Ojiro asked, concerned.

"No, I was with Uraraka," Izuku replied. "What's going on?"

"Come with me," said Ojiro. "We have to talk about that guy's quirk."

"Brainwashing?"

"Yes," said Ojiro. "His first match was against another general studies student, who simply walked out of the ring at the start of the match. This confirmed my suspicions about his quirk I had from the second event."

Izuku clasped his hands together in thought, his stomach churning. Izuku had read reports about villains and criminals with this quirk. It was extremely rare, and extremely dangerous. Izuku was reminded of his time in the Warehouse with Bruce, pouring over casefiles of criminals and supervillains he had faced, some of them with mind-altering abilities of their own. They varied in strength and effectivity, some using pheromones to influence the opposite gender, as was the case with Pamela Isley, the beautiful and deadly Poison Ivy; some used technology to control their victims, like Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter. No matter their methods, Bruce made sure Izuku knew in no uncertain terms never to underestimate them.

"Mind control," the words sounded even more frightening out loud. "Can I even defend against something like that?"

"One can't simply 'control the mind' like a pawn on a chessboard," said Bruce. "But the constitution can be manipulated, given the right circumstances. Just as there are many ways that this can be accomplished, there are ways to beat it."

"How?"

"Don't get brainwashed in the first place," Bruce replied. Izuku knew better than to think he was being facetious. "A preemptive strike usually yields the best results. If they do manage to get a hold of you, you need to be prepared. Though the effects vary in range, they all have one thing in common: attacking the frontal lobe, the center of cognitive thought and choice. In doing so, the mind becomes foggy and unclear, allowing your Lizard Brain, responsible for more primal instincts like "fight or flight", to take over. This part of the brain is much more susceptible to stimulus, positive or negative, allowing for the subject to be dominated.

"The best way to fight against these effects is to focus," Bruce continued. "We have to train your mind to combat these effects long enough for you to find the catalyst."

"What's the catalyst?" Asked Izuku.

"Their source of control," said Bruce. "Every brainwasher has one. Certain environmental conditions have to be met in order to maintain the effects of the brainwashing. Sometimes, extreme external stimuli can jolt the victim from their hold."

"Like what?"

"Like a crack to the head," Said Bruce simply. "Others require more intensive deprogramming. Regardless, even the strongest of people have let their minds be taken because they lacked one thing: focus. It is the key to strengthening your will."

"What do I do?" Asked Izuku.

"Learn to bring your focus away from the cloud, away from stimuli, internal and external, and center it on the one thing that no one can take from you: who you are," said Bruce.

He then threw Izuku into several simulations designed to overwhelm his senses through intense stimuli: light, darkness, sound, heat, cold, even subjecting him to mild shocks and cracking him over the back and arms with a bamboo staff. Izuku was to stay perfectly still during these sessions, repeating to himself over and over again:

I am Izuku Midoriya.

I am Izuku Midoriya.

I am Izuku Midoriya.

"Midoriya?"

Izuku was brought back to reality. "Sorry, Ojiro," said Izuku. "Please continue."

"He didn't get into my head until he asked me a question in the second round," said Ojiro. "I think that's the secret to his power. But even if he gets you, there's still a chance you can beat it. During the second round, I don't remember anything at all except the very end of the battle. I think we were running away after Shiso took Tetsutetsu's headband. I bumped into another person. It was like I woke up, and I was me again."

"So that bump broke his hold?"

"Maybe," said Ojiro. "It's just a guess." Izuku leaned back in his chair. This could be the catalyst Bruce mentioned. Like slapping a hysterical person, enough external trauma could potentially bring someone back to their senses, but it was still too much of a gamble to rely on. Plus, on a one-on-one battle he couldn't rely on a third party to help him out of it.

"Anyway, man," said Ojiro, standing up. "I hope that helps, because that's all I know."

"It helps immensely," said Izuku. "Thanks Ojiro. You're a good guy."

Ojiro sighed. "To be honest, I really was hoping I would have gotten the chance to face you in the tournament, Midoriya," he said, extending his hand. "Ever since I saw you during the battle training, I've been hoping for a match between us."

Izuku shook his hand. "Don't worry," he said, smiling. "You'll get your chance. I'll be looking forward to it too."

"I know its sounds selfish, but beat this guy for both of us," said Ojiro.

"I'll do my best.

"And now for our second round!" The booming voice of Present Mic was met by a roar of applause. "You all know the rules: immobilize your opponent or force them outta the ring!"

Izuku tightened his utility belt and stood before his opponent. Shison's expressionless face differed only by the intense glare behind his eyes. Izuku felt a chill despite himself upon meeting his gaze. He had to end this match quick. If Shinso's quirk was really as powerful as he feared, he couldn't allow him to use it. Not only that, Izuku hadn't had the chance to see Shinso in action, and had no knowledge about his hand-to-hand combat skills.

"So you can just give up, huh?" Said Shinso.

Izuku said nothing, instead dropping down into a fighting stance. Shinso chuckled. "I thought not," he said. "In a way, this is a test to show how strong your spirit is. If you know what you want your future to hold, you can't worry about what other people think."

"Ready!" Shouted Present Mic.

"That monkey was going on about pride earlier," Shinso continued. "But I just think he's an idiot for throwing away his chance like that." Izuku's felt his blood boil, but said nothing. Shinso was trying to goad him. He wasn't going to let it work. Shinso looked slightly annoyed at Izuku's lack of response.

"Begin!"

"Let's get this over with then," Said Shinso. "Then you can get back to beating up little girls."

Izuku snapped. " You watch your goddamn mouth, you arrogant sonova-" Izuku froze. Everything around him felt fuzzy, and all conscious thoughts seemed to drift away. He could only vaguely see Shinso's smug smirk through the fog surrounding his eyes.

"That's it. I win."

"I told him not to say anything!" Ojiro said, standing exasperatedly.

"What's happening?!" Said Uraraka, alarmed.

"It's his quirk!" Said Iida. "Midoriya's been brainwashed!"

"Uh-oh!" Said Present Mic. "This match should have started off with a bang, but now it looks like Shinso's got a hold of another one! Midoriya is completely frozen! That last fight of Shinso's completely floored the audience, who would have expected such a turn of events! That's the festival for ya!"

"This is a perfect example of why the entrance exam isn't logical," came Aizawa's drawling voice. "I compiled some information about our finalists. Shinso failed the Practical exam to get into the hero course. So he also applied for general studies because he probably figured that would happen. His quirk is incredibly strong, but that entrance test consisted of fighting faux villains. Robots. It gave a huge advantage to those who had above-average physical abilities they could show off. Despite his abilities, Shinso never stood a chance at passing."

"So here we are," said Shinso. "You're lucky you've been so blessed, Izuku Midoriya. Despite not having powers, you still managed to wow the judges enough to make it into the hero course with your little sideshow gimmicks. Now turn around and walk out of the ring, like a good little hero."

Izuku barely felt his limbs move beneath him as they walked towards the edge of the ring. He couldn't think straight, the fog in his mind was too thick. It felt as if there was an instinctual part of his mind that was compelling him to obey Shinso, almost like a survival instinct. The edge of the ring drew closer and closer, and Izuku's concentration grew worse. It was his own fault. He was baited and he fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Now he was about to lose.

"Even with a quirk like this," Shinso's voice was clear as day through the fog. "I have my own dreams for becoming a true hero. So lose for me."

No, not like this. He had to focus. He had to remember what Bruce had taught him. He had to remember who he was. My name.. ..his head was so cloudy. My name is. . . Izuku . . . He was almost near the edge. It was almost over.

Deku!

The word came to his mind like lightning. He had heard it before, back in the recesses of his mind. A voice called to him, a voice that sounded familiar.

Deku!!

Kacchan...?

Deku...My name is Deku.

His mind began to clear. It was working.

My name is Deku. . . my name is Deku. . .

His pace slowed to a stop.

My name is Deku. . . AND I AM A HERO!!

Izuku roared fiercely as he slammed his gauntleted fist into the ground below, igniting an explosion that left a large crack in the ring. Izuku gasped as he regained his composure. As the smoke and dust from the explosion, Izuku saw he had stopped just inches from the edge of the ring.

"What's this?" Shouted Present Mic in surprise. "Midoriya stopped just in time!"

The crowd erupted in applause. Izuku looked back towards Shinso, shock and disbelief etched on his usually passive face. "No, impossible!" He said angrily. "You're not supposed to be able to fight back! What did you do?!"

Izuku knew better this time. Keeping his mouth shut, he ran towards the shell-shocked Shinso. "Come on, say something!" He said. "I didn't know anyone was strong enough to break my hold. Thanks to my quirk I've always been at a big disadvantage. Of all people, someone who's quirkless like you would know what that's like. But even you were blessed enough to have someone like Batman at your side!"

Izuku said nothing. He was right. Izuku understood what it was like to be disadvantaged. He had lived with it his entire life, always overshadowed by others with even the simplest of quirks. But he was right about something else as well. He had been blessed. Bruce had seen something in him that no one else had, and found a way to bring it to the surface.

"You're lucky enough to have your training, to have a Pro Hero at your side," Shinso continued. "It will be so easy for you to reach your goal! Say something, you lucky brat!" He threw a punch at Izuku, but he deftly dodged it. Using his own momentum against him, Izuku grabbed Shinso by his outstretched arm and threw him in the direction of the ring's edge. The crowd grew hushed as Shinso hit the floor of the ring hard, and his world grew dark.

Whenever anyone asked about Hitoshi Shinso's quirk, they always treated him differently afterwards. Some people were excited or jealous about his power, thinking about all the people they could control or things they could do with a power like his. Others were terrified of him, afraid to be in his presence lest they be controlled by him.

He couldn't blame them. He assumed that if he came across someone with this power he would think they would use it for evil, too. "Sounds criminal" or "perfect power for a villain to have" they would say to him. He was used to people looking at him like the bad guy.

But I'm not.

"Shinso is out of bounds!" Shouted Midnight. "Izuku Midoriya advances to the next round!"

Izuku and Shinso stood across from each other as the crowd roared in applause. Shinso looked sullen and angry. Izuku couldn't blame him. He had so much riding on his performance in the festival. He still had a long road ahead of him.

"Shinso," Izuku said. "Why do you want to be a hero?"

Shinso shrugged, walking away. "You can't help what your heart longs for." Izuku understood. He felt the same way his entire life. Every time someone told him he could never be a hero, or that he was too weak, or that his dreams were unrealistic, they weighed heavily on him. He could see that same weight on Shinso's shoulders. Izuku was just like him.

"Then you better keep trying," said Izuku.

Shinso looked at him, confused. "I almost gave up on my dream once. I'm only here because of the people that have believed in me," Izuku continued, pointing towards the crowd. "And now you have others that believe in you."

Shinso looked towards the crowd where Izuku was pointing. His Class 1-C classmates were all cheering for him. Not only that, but several Pros were talking among themselves about him.

"With a quirk like that, catching criminals would be easy. Wish I had it."

"I can't believe they put him in 1-C, those idiots."

"Well, there are a lot of applicants this year."

"Still, he would have dominated if he had more combat experience."

Shinso could hardly believe his ears. "That's all for you, Shinso," Izuku said. "People who believe in you. And now, I'm one of them, so you better not give up."

Shinso didn't turn to look at Izuku. "Don't worry, Midoriya," said Shinso. "I'm going to get onto the hero track, get certified, and become a better pro than any of you!"

Izuku nodded. "Then you better learn to throw a better punch," he said, chuckling. Izuku felt the flash of Shinso's quirk take hold once more. Prepared, Izuku was able to shake it off this time. "Nice try."

Shinso chuckled, finally looking back. "Better keep your guard up, Midoriya," He said. "You better not lose and make me look bad." Izuku couldn't help but smile as he made his way back to the preparation room. He had a feeling he'd be seeing Shinso again in no time at all.