Chapter 34: (Episode 30: Iida Tenya: Rising)
Settling into their seats, Izuku glanced at Shoto, who was now seated beside him, and was working up the courage to tell the two-toned teen, "Todo-Todoroki-kun, um… I, uh, I am sorry- I'm sorry for… for meddling in your life when it- when it wasn't my place and I-"
"You don't need to apologize. You helped me change." Shoto cut him off, turning his eyes back to the screen when the episode fully loaded, leaving Izuku to think about what he meant by that.
"No matter what you say, you are the criminal who hurt my brother!"
Tenya wished it wouldn't start this way, bowing his head, until his hand was squeezed, glancing to where he could see Ochaco softly smiling up at him.
"It's gonna be okay… You don't have to become the person you see up there anymore." her words were comforting to hear, and Tenya could feel his tears resurfacing, as he intertwined their hands in return.
Stain licked the blood off his sword, causing Iida to panic, as he thought helplessly, 'M-My body won't move…'
"Goodbye. You're an offering to a more just world."
"I won't forgive you…! I'll kill you!"
'SMAAAAAASH!' Midoriya arrived on the scene, punching the villain square in the face, before declaring to his friend and Stain, "I came to save you, Iida-kun!"
"You made me late." Todoroki said, putting away his phone, with his fire burning brightly from his left side.
"Midoriya-kun… Todoroki-kun…"
"The two of us will protect them…!"
Watching his friends fight the battle he started, Iida wondered out loud, "Why are you two… Why… Please, stop…! I've inherited my brother's name. I have to do it… That guy's mine…!"
"Sorry, Todoroki…!" Midoriya slumped against the wall upon becoming paralyzed by Stain's quirk once again.
"Please, stop… I can't…"
"If you want us to stop, then STAND UP!" Todoroki yelled back at Iida, who gasped at his words.
The opening theme commences.
"Can we agree not to skip it this time…?"
"I'm fine with letting it play out, kero. I think we could use a break before getting back into the fight." Tsuyu answered her invisible friend's question, getting a nod by a few others around them.
"Gosh, I don't know if I'm ready to see how this ends yet…! I'm so nervous- and scared! Really scared…!" Ochaco shifted her body to hug Tenya tightly, squeezing the air out of him at her grip, but he didn't voice his complaints, wrapping one arm around her.
Eyeing Izuku and Shoto next to her, he shamelessly looked away when he realized he needed to properly apologize for getting them caught up in this. Sure, he weeped in front of the two, and they gave him a comforting hug in return, but that wasn't enough - it would never be enough for what he was putting them through. Even if they both insisted that this was the unpredictable future, and that it wouldn't happen once they returned home, Tenya knew he could never express his regret enough.
For now, though, Tenya had to make sure that they made it out alive. If his life was lost in the mix, he would be fine with that future. He knew it would hurt everyone, but he believed it was what he deserved.
"We might have said this before, but let me just say it again for good measure-" Mashirao gained the attention of the few students around him, listening to him sigh, "I think we're all relieved to know that Stain isn't here…"
"You. said it."
"I bet Shigaraki would even agree with you on that- Hell, I think that's the one thing all of us can agree on."
"Don't be so sure of yourself, Sato. I bet my pokemon collection that Endeavor would want him here, just so that he can capture him…!" Denki huffed under his breath, once again glaring up at the fiery hero.
"You fucking idiot-" Katsuki grumbled to himself, cutting off Hanta, as he shouted down at the blond charging port, "Endeavor CAN'T do that, dumbass! Did you forget what that shitty AI voice said…?! Only non-heroes and fuckers who haven't killed anyone can cross that stupid invisible creepy boundary…!"
Denki blinked his aggravated expression away, turning to the light-haired teen, as he mumbled, "He'd find a way…"
Unsure if the guy was being serious or trying to be funny, Katsuki scoffed, and decided that he wasn't worth his energy. He was already pissed watching how Izuku fought - especially since he kept getting incapacitated every single time. It was almost like the greenet was saying he wouldn't be able to beat Chizome if he were in his situation. Oh, he would show him.
'I wonder why no one has brought it to everyone's attention that Iida-san was able to move ever so slightly in that final act…?' Momo had figured that her peers would be beyond thrilled to witness that. Even if Shoto had captivated everyone with his speech to Tenya, she assumed that it would be made for a discussion now. Although, shaking her head, the girl sighed, thinning her lip, 'It could have been a figment of my imagination, honestly… In hope that Iida-san would soon rejoin the fight to help out Todoroki-san.'
"Hey Shinso, mind if I sit closer to you?" Mina felt inclined to ask since she was still getting to know him, even though she didn't say anything to Izuku, but she had learned boundaries well because of his panic attack on the first day.
"Uh, no, I-I don't… mind."
As she situated herself next to him, careful to keep her distance, Mina whispered to the lavender-haired teen, "So, uh, weird question to ask for the situation that we're watching, but can I see your cat during our next break?"
"Uh… I guess? I mean, you don't really need to ask…"
"Really…?! OMG- Yeah…! I really love cats, but both of my parents are allergic- Actually, that's false- One is allergic and the other is scared shitless of cats, so…"
"Never had a pet growing up, I assume?"
"Not really… Had a, uh… goldfish once…" Mina didn't know if that counted since her friends said it didn't, but she did get a short, amused grin out of him. So a win is a win.
"Yeah, you can see Yuki, but make sure to be quiet around her. Sudden movement startles her."
Mina guessed that was the reason why she wasn't here now. Or she was sleeping now, which could explain the eyebags under Hitoshi's eyes if the cat kept him up.
Title screen 'Episode 30. Iida Tenya: Rising'
The students were liking the trio's odds thanks to the name of the episode. However, Tenya wasn't too keen on taking the spotlight so soon. He had only just realized his mistake, afterall.
After Todoroki's words had stirred his heart, Iida gritted his teeth, remembering his joy talking about his brother to his friends.
'Do you know the Turbo Hero: Ingenium?'
'Of course!'
"What a cute baby face…!"
Izuku flushed upon hearing that, while Mina blinked when she realized she said that out loud.
'-working at his Tokyo Agency!'
'He is my elder brother! He is a likable hero who honors the rules and leads people. I set my sights on being a hero because I want to be like my brother.'
Recalling their conversation, Iida could feel his guilt beginning to consume him, as he realized he was further away from that statement then he had ever been before.
'Iida…' Todoroki clenched his teeth in concentration, focusing on keeping the hero killer away, while also concerned for his class rep, as he thought, 'The only words I can say to you are…'
As Stain dodged his ice, and came for his throat, Todoroki brought forth his flames, while shouting back at Iida, "Never forget who you want to BECOME!"
All Iida could do was cry, and remember the reason they were here to begin with.
'Ingenium! It is the name of the hero who will defeat you.'
'What kind of a hero am I?' Iida choked on his tears, watching the ones he was supposed to keep safe fight to save his life from a villain he had instigated, 'Protected by my friends… Having them bleed for me…!'
Through his blurry vision, Iida focused his sights on the hero who Stain had targeted first.
'Save that guy first.'
Todoroki used his fire to make Stain stay back, with the villain having to jump back to not get burned.
'Hero Killer: Stain. In order to teach him a lesson, I used my brother's name. I only saw what was in front of me… I couldn't see anything except myself…!' Iida squeezed his eyes shut, not bearing to watch the fight he caused anymore.
But that only made the memories vivid.
When he was ten years old, Iida had one of his first conversations with his older brother about heroism.
"Tenya, you want to be a hero, too?"
"Yes. You're cool."
"What are you, a robot?"
A few chuckled at Tensei's comment on watching his brother slowly moving his arm up and down. Like a robot. Meanwhile, Tenya wanted to smile at the reminder of this memory, but all that happened were his tears running down his face again at the reminder of letting his brother down.
"Will you tell me something for my future reference?"
"'Reference'…?! What were you doing, looking for a job- At your age…?" Ochaco giggled, and that did get a quick laugh out of Tenya.
"Well, our grandfather and parents were all heroes, so I was expected to be a hero by those around me." Ingenium, out of his armor, was putting his hero costume away piece-by-piece, while answering his younger brother's question. Holding his hand out for the headpiece near Iida, who scrambled to give it to him, continued saying, "Anyway, it's simple, really. If someone sees a lost child, they take the child to the service counter for lost children. I think people like that are the coolest."
Raising his hand at his side, Iida blurted out in question, "Then, why didn't you decide to work at the service counter for lost children?"
"Think about what I'm saying- Are you really a robot?"
"Your brother seems like a great guy…"
"The greatest…" Tenya choked out, wiping at his tears again, while he hoped his friends could meet the man that inspired him all those years ago.
"You're way smarter and more athletic than I was at your age, so…" Ingenium patted his baby brother on the head, messing with his hair, before he thought for a moment, grinning, "Wait a sec- Then that means… If you admire me, Tenya, then I might be an amazing hero."
His brother laughed after saying those words, not realizing the amount of impact they would have on his young sibling.
'Because you're fakes.'
Running his fingers against the formed concrete, Iida hated to admit it to himself, but he knew it was true, 'It's just as you say, Hero Killer.'
"From the right!" Midoriya warned his peer, watching Stain leap in his opponent's blind spot until Todoroki used his flames to block his opening.
'I'm not like them. I'm immature. I can't measure up to their standards.' Iida managed to curl his fingers into a fist, getting feeling back into his hand. Gritting his teeth, knowing what he needed to do - even if he already failed once - he blinked the tears from his eyes, as he thought, 'Be that as it may…'
Dashing through the shards of ice in his path, Stain began to smirk, as he maneuvered out of the way of Todoroki's fire, speaking for the boy to hear, "Ice and flame. No one's ever told you? You're too focused on your quirk. You're being careless…!"
Midoriya's face fell at what Stain was intending to accomplish.
'He's a monster…!' Todoroki gritted his teeth, his eyes on the katana about to slice through his arm.
"TODOROKI-KUN!" Midoriya screamed helplessly against the wall, knowing he could do nothing to stop this from happening.
But someone else could.
Rising up, a drop of blood fell from his shoulder, but Iida ignored the pain, because there was someone he needed to save first, 'If I don't stand right now… I'll never, ever be able… to catch up to them, or Tensei!'
'Damn it. It stopped working, huh?' Stain glared at the boy that was going to stand in his way once more, remembering how fast Iida was previously. This would prove to be a problem.
'Recipro… BURST!' Iida, in the nick of time, managed to kick the katana away from Todoroki, splitting it in two, and in the same movement, flipped around to then send Stain backwards.
The teens exploded into tears and cheers, with Ochaco sobbing in relief into Tenya's arm. Slowly releasing the tight grip on his arm, Shoto shakingly breathed out at the thought of almost losing his limb.
Then he realized what he would have lost, glancing down at his left arm - the side of his quirk he wished he never had. While Shoto wasn't an expert on quirks, he wondered what could have happened to his power if his arm had been cut off. Then again, he didn't need his arm solely for his fire, but it was the best way to use it in battle.
The possibilities of 'what ifs' and 'could have beens' quickly faded from his mind when he remembered it wouldn't happen, as Tenya had stopped it from happening. Looking to the troubled teen beside him, while he comforted Ochaco, Shoto pushed all those thoughts away, before asking for his attention.
"Thank you, Iida."
Tenya blinked when he heard his name, turning to face Shoto - along with Ochaco - as he wondered, "For… what exactly, Todoroki-kun?"
"For stopping the hero killer."
"I… well, you're welcome, but that one simple act does not change anything I had done previously-"
"But it's a start…!" Ochaco jumped in, sniffing, before she went on to state, "A really good start- Iida-kun, heroes make a lot of mistakes. Your first mistake was going after the hero killer by yourself, but you learn from your past mistakes."
"A-And it's, uh, also the whole point of why we're here… too…?" Izuku reminded them with a quivering smile, trying to help by spreading encouragement.
"Deku-kun's right…!"
He truly appreciated everyone around him, and while he understood the mistakes he made, Tenya didn't know how he could ever make up for them.
"-trying to be reformed for appearance's sake. A person's essence does not change so easily. You will never be anything but a fake who prioritizes his own selfish desires. You are a cancer to society that warps the idea of 'heroes'. Someone must set you straight."
"So you're a fundamentalist? Get with the times."
"I don't know what that means, but damn, that delivery…!" Denki suppressed his laughter, placing a hand over his lips, along with Hanta, who was kicking his feet to get out his excitement.
'Does he want to know what that word means, or is he just saying so…?' Eijiro wasn't sure, but he decided to stay quiet so everyone could continue watching without interruptions - himself included.
"No, he's right." Iida wasn't going to disagree with Stain's claims of calling him a fake hero, accepting his faults, as he spoke his truth, "I have no right to call myself a hero… Even so, I cannot give in. If I give in, then Ingenium will die."
"Out of the question." Stain's gaze locked on Iida, rage fueling him, as he jumped toward the two students.
Acting on instinct, Todoroki pushed the other boy back to shield him, before throwing his flames in their opponent's direction, with Stain pivoting out of range.
"I hope I didn't burn you…" Shoto mumbled under his breath, observing how far spread out the fire was.
Listening in, Izuku blinked at his concern, before going to reassure him, "I-I'm probably fine- okay, I mean, it-it's not like… it's not like I can… go anywhere…"
While he hated to admit it, Chizome did have a point about him using his quirk too much, letting it become his disadvantage. Though, it's not like his father taught him anything else.
"-give me an opening to do that. Something clearly changed just now. He's all fired up too." Todoroki yelled back at the pro hero, noting that the hero killer wouldn't let them leave even if they wanted to. Watching Stain leap from the wall toward his sea of ice, he sent more of the glaciers Stain's way, while planning internally, 'There's the uncertain element of blood type, and he needs to get in close for it to work. On top of that, it doesn't last very long… Looking at just his quirk, he's not especially powerful. Taking on multiple opponents alone must be hard for him to deal with.'
"Aizawa Sensei had the same issue when fighting all those villains at USJ, kero." Tsuyu added on to that train of thought, a few listening in, as she continued to state, "It goes to show that a quirk is just an asset for some people. It continues to make me wonder if Midoriya-chan could be a hero without One for All."
"Could we, um… wonder about that… later…?" Izuku hated that he felt vulnerable whenever someone brought up his quirklessness, because he knew they weren't teasing him about it.
At the phrasing of her words, Toshinori felt a bit disheartened to think that he might not want a quirk for himself. It was selfish, he knew that, and if Izuku could become a quirkless hero, he would be proud of the boy.
'It's only a possibility…' Toshinori wondered if he should talk to Izuku about this.
'Did I break the radiator during my kick earlier?' Iida panicked when his quirk began to malfunction, as the engines let out nothing but smoke. Then he gasped, realizing something, before he shouted to ask, "Todoroki-kun, can you regulate temperature?"
"I'm not used to it with my left yet. Why?"
"Freeze my legs. Without plugging up the exhausts." Iida declared in answer, which took Todoroki by surprise.
It gave Stain an opening to attack, jumping above the flames, as he yelled, "You're in the way!"
Throwing a blade in Todoroki's direction, Iida moved without thinking as he stood in front of his friend, before wincing when the knife cut through his armor, embedding into his skin.
"IIDA-KUN-" Midoriya screamed in horror, almost falling on his face when his body shot forward.
"You stay down, too!" Stain threw another blade, with Iida taking the hit once more, as he extended his arm to catch it, landing on the ground, while gritting his teeth in pain.
"IIDA-"
"Just do it- HURRY!"
Getting another glimpse at Izuku, the students grew hopeful at seeing him on his feet, the boy himself silently gaping at this phenomenon.
"Don't get cut again."
Izuku blinked at hearing that from Shoto, before squeezing his fists tightly, as he promised, "I-I won't…!"
After nodding toward the greenet, Shoto turned his eyes to look at Tenya, who was watching in fear instead, with Ochaco clinging onto his arm. He should thank him again, shouldn't he?
Balancing his body against the wall, Midoriya tried to suppress the pain, as he turned his power into resolve, 'Can I do it…? No, right now…'
With Todoroki placing his right hand on his engines, creating ice to cool them down, before focusing on their opponent, Iida used his teeth to pull out the knife, unwavering, as he thought, 'Thanks, Todoroki-kun. I will fight. I'll throw away my arm…! Recipro… EXTEND!'
'Extend- Is that a new move…? Am I creating a new move right now…?!' Tenya straightened up, until he felt a pull on his arm, turning his eyes on Ochaco, who was muttering something under her breath.
"Go, Iida-kun… Go- Go, go, go Iida-kun…!"
Her soft encouragement warmed a place in his heart, settling back in his seat, while taking her hand in his once more.
'If I just…' Iida and Midoriya, by the aid of their quirks, skyrocketed up the wall, straight for Stain, who became aware of their presence before him.
"Go." Todoroki sighed with a smile.
Shifting his torso, Iida began to raise his lower limb, while gritting his teeth, '...have my leg…'
Charging One for All into his upper limb, Midoriya drew his arm back, as he prepared his attack, '...have my fist…'
Stain's eyes widened as he focused on the green-haired boy, his image reflecting in his red eyes, as he acknowledged the young hero about to defeat him.
'...that's all I need right now!' the pair of U.A. students, with their combined moves, knocked Hero Killer: Stain unconscious.
"Judging from the still frame, is it safe to say the fight is over…? And they won?" Denki scooted closer to his friend so he could whisper in his ear.
"Good question- watch and find out." Hanta murmured back, but the vibrant blond didn't appreciate his answer.
'There is no way three, untrained, inexperienced students of mine defeated a serial killer…' Shota might as well turn in his resignation right now, and throw his hero license at the Hero Commission President's face.
"SHOTO!" Enji also had strong feelings on the subject.
"Don't go back to the fucking grandpa-" Tomura was enjoying the beatdown that Chizome was receiving - and getting his ass kicked by little brats was the best part.
"Do we have to watch Endeavor…? Can't we go back to the better fight to make sure it actually ended with them winning…?!" Toru whined into her froggy friend's shoulder, getting a pat on her shoulder.
As the Nomu burst into flames, Gran Torino used the momentum in his jets to stop himself from getting burned. Dropping down onto the concrete, he observed the villain's movement, until he heard a voice.
"I do not know who you are, honored elder, but leave the rest to me."
"Please Voice, I'll do anything if you cut off Endeavor and show us if Shoto and Midoriya are okay…!"
"And… Iida…?"
"And Iida!"
"Will you fucking shut up already…?! That Nomu's still alive!" Katsuki, with his voice echoing through the room, yelled at Denki and Hanta, who both froze up in their seats upon learning this information.
"Come on- Fucking kill them all already!" Tomura would have to start telling the Doctor and Sensei to make some Nomus stronger and others more for speed, to balance these sort of attacks out. Along with certain element resistance - that will be important to remember, too.
'From the information we have obtained, it would make sense why these creatures can withstand my flames, however, there was damage to this villain…' Enji listened to what his counterpart said - about how the Nomu could remain conscious with the temperature he used - and understood why it was confusing to him there since he didn't know anything about the monsters. Though, a small part of him wondered if the creature was conscious at all.
"Be careful! This guy's-" Gran Torino's warning was cut short when the Nomu exploded into flames, forcing him to jump away so as not to get burned.
Endeavor, on the other hand, fanned the fire away, observing how the villain accomplished this attack, "Absorption and release, huh? But since the damage from the absorption remains… It's just a small fry quirk."
"That's strange…" Gran Torino mumbled, watching the Nomu's skin bubble, which caused the hero to realize something, as he gasped, before shouting toward Endeavor, "No, Todoroki…! This guy's got multiple quirks!"
Expanding its body, the villain used that strength to leap into the air, soaring toward Endeavor, who hummed, "I see, so that's how it is."
'Those two bystanders ran away, right?' Gran Torino slid across the concrete on his landing, glancing to the side to confirm their departure, before putting his focus back on their opponent, gritting his teeth, "In that case…"
Raising his arm, Endeavor's palm lit with fire. Opening its mouth, the Nomu whined when its lingua separated, and shot out toward the pair of heroes.
"Yuck- Ugh, that's…"
It didn't help with the sound effects when Sorahiko blasted through the deformed tongue, especially for Kyoka, who had her hand covering her mouth to hold in her breakfast.
"Jiro-san, are you all right…?"
"Yeah, yeah, just fine…"
"Should you head to the restroom- I can- I shall accompany you, if you desire."
Though she wanted to say no, and prove that she could hold it in, Kyoka would hate to cause a mess due to her weak stomach.
"Woah, Gran Torino gets a quirk introduction…!" Mina grinned, lightly tapping her feet against the carpet, while Toshinori chuckled at how Hisashi referred to his mentor as old.
"-propulsion ports on the backs of his legs that pump out air! But the air that comes out is the same air he breathes in. Using his quirk too much puts stress on his old body!"
"WHAT?! Nooooo- Are you fucking KIDDING me…?!HOW IS IT ALREADY DEAD?! " Tomura couldn't believe that yet another Nomu was killed by these lousy heroes, digging his fingernails into his skin, while he stammered out, "Fucking- Shit, dammit, I swear to- I hate you- I hate you, I hate you, I hate you- I HATE YOU HEROES!"
While a few of the students still couldn't handle the villain's tantrums, most ignored him pretty well now, and kept their attention on the screen to see if the episode would focus back on their peers.
"One Nomu down, two more to fucking go…"
'All Might was able to defeat a Nomu on his own… While also pushing his limits to defeat him…' Enji's hands dug into his biceps, clenching his teeth at the assistance he required from another hero to beat one of those creature's, not to mention that it wasn't on par with the number one hero's strength, either.
"Let's restrain this guy quickly and turn him over to the police so we can get help." Gran Torino faced the number two hero, hoping he had something of use, while Endeavor narrowed his eyes in thought.
Originally, he had come to Hosu City with a few sidekicks and his son, planning to give the boy a lesson or two as he fought, while also hoping to find and defeat the hero killer.
"Shoto, you're joining us on this one. I'll show you a true hero in action!"
"If he-"
Hanta slapped a hand against Denki, and with enough force, also managed to push his friend into the cushion of the couch. He couldn't allow his friend to risk another jab at Enji.
"Shut. Up, Kaminari- Stop it…!"
Denki wouldn't stop it. But for now, he would.
"It's just his location…"
"Put down the damn phone and watch me-"Endeavor choked on his words as he watched his youngest son sprint in the opposite direction, calling out in warning, "Where do you think you're going, Shoto?!"
"An alleyway at 4-2-10 Ekou Street. If you finish what you're doing or find any free pros, send them there. I'm leaving you to take care of the trouble. I'm sure you'll be able to resolve it quickly." Todoroki answered back to his father, who was taken by surprise at his instructions. Meanwhile, the U.A. student didn't wait for Endeavor's reply, muttering under his breath, as he continued to the sent location, "My friend might be in trouble…"
"AH- He said friend- Shoto admitted to having Midoriya as a friend- That's so great…!" Denki clung onto his dark-haired friend's hand, shaking it with joy, as he soaked in this moment.
Meanwhile, Izuku glanced between the TV screen and Shoto, thinning his lip as he thought about the implication, until he forced himself to say, "He-Hey, um, Todoroki… Todoroki-kun- Uh, if you- If you don't… It's okay if you don't, um… want to be friends- I mean, I completely understand if you don't agree with what you said up there, since we don't really know each other well- I, uh, I'm trying to say that I won't be offended if you don't want to be friends with me… that's all I'm saying…!"
"Okay. But I want to be friends with you."
"You…" Izuku's brain shut down as he thought those words over, blinking at what he was processing, until he eventually responded, "You do…?"
"I thought about it earlier this morning after we spoke. Kaminari said you apologize a lot so you wouldn't offend me, though, there weren't any apologies in your words, despite you not trying to offend me as well." Shoto explained to the green-haired teen, along with Ochaco and Tenya listening in, as he continued to state, "You haven't offended me, but I would be offended if you didn't want to be friends. I want to be friends with you… and everyone else here."
"Well, you just got yourself three loyal friends already, Shoto-kun…!" Ochaco giggled, moving closer to pat Shoto on the back, while Tenya gave a silent grin to show his agreement.
When the four of them paid their sights back to the screen, they were all faintly surprised to see the focus back on them. Meanwhile, those that had been paying attention were shocked to see that the fight hadn't been over, along with everyone having a heart attack when Tenya almost got his head cut off. Luckily, Shoto used his flames to finish off the hero killer, with the kids hoping he would be knocked out cold this time.
While Iida's engines produced nothing but smoke, Midoriya, holding his strained arm, gaped in slight panic at the increasing rate they were falling. Thankfully, Todoroki created ice to catch them, sliding across the cool ramp, before they banged their heads against another wall their friend made.
As they shook in pain, Todoroki called out to the two of them to focus on their opponent, who could be preparing his attack, "Get up! He's still…"
However, when an opening came for Stain to attack, the trio were faintly surprised when nothing happened. Collecting themselves, the young heroes slowly noticed how still the villain was as he laid on top of Todoroki's sheet of ice.
"Oh my god- Did we kill him…?!"
"SHOTOOOOO-"
"Iida-kun…?"
Not hearing her worries, Tenya stared up at the TV screen, slowly showing their shocked faces at the turn of events as they each caught their breath. While he felt the same emotion, the blue-haired boy wasn't sure how to feel about this twisted victory, since Chizome didn't appear to be breathing in that last shot. Even though the fight started out with him wishing death upon the villain who ended his hero's career, witnessing this, he couldn't feel any joy in defeating his opponent.
"I… am beyond words…"
"Those kids are getting a serious lecture when the next break comes." Shota could care less if they heard him or not, because he sure would get them to understand his fury when they eventually got around to a talk.
The three boys clamped their jaws tight when they heard that.
"Then, let's restrain him and get out to the street." Todoroki replied to the question about Stain being unconscious, then turned to Midoriya to ask next, "Is there anything to tie him up with?"
"Just in case, let's take all his weapons off him."
"Good idea."
While they discussed what to do with the hero killer, Iida stayed silent, as he stared up at the infamous villain, and thought about the revelation he came to from this fight. And how he would move forward from this moment.
"At least they're being smart and not waiting for a professional hero or cop to arrest the hero killer…" Shota gave them credit there, but this whole situation was still a massive headache for him.
"So, they should wait for a hero to come and fight the hero killer, but they have permission to tie him up?"
"Do you want to be lectured along with them, Ashido?" Shota's question almost sounded like a threat to the pink-skinned girl, but Mina was smart enough to also know when to keep her mouth shut.
"-I can't see!"
"Where is he…?!"
Back at the fight with the other two Nomu, Manual, who turned to the side once the dust cleared from the villain's attack, gaped in horror at the scene before him, before he yelled out in warning, "Run away!"
Behind one of the heroes stood the towering beast, its fist raised to strike her. Before the Nomu could attack, Endeavor arrived, and reacted with enough speed to send the creature backwards, saving the younger hero.
"Stop going to Endeavor when cool shit is happening elsewhere! And don't give him cool badass entrances- That should be saved for the coolest characters only…!" Denki cupped his hands to his face, amplifying his voice, while Hanta groaned at his friend's complaining.
"Someone stop him, please…"
"-can regenerate, huh?" Endeavor observed with a grunt, before turning up the heat of his flames, "Then… how about this…?!"
Charging forward, while the Nomu tried to make a grab for the number two hero, Endeavor ducked under its bulky arms, and grabbed for its neck. Lighting its head on fire, he controlled the flames to a certain temperature to where the raging orange changed to a brilliant blue tint, smoking the criminal's head clean off, and releasing his grasp so it fell down.
"Wow- Okay, I still hate him for what he did to Shoto-kun, but man, that was actually kind of cool…!"
"Videos are hardly able to catch these kinds of fights because of how hot the flames he produces are, which can mess up the camera quality, or sometimes even melt them…!" Izuku also enjoyed the quick match, as he reached for his notebook, to jot a few things down for Shoto, who silently read over what he had written down.
Giving the remaining heroes the same message he passed to Gran Torino, and leaving the rest to them, Endeavor made his way to the last Nomu, who was taking a hero away as a hostage. Running after it and using his quirk, he shaped his flames into a blazing arrow, which he then threw in the direction of the flying villain. The creature dodged out of the way as it swooped into another street, while the inferno faded into the night sky.
"He's fast… Then…" Endeavor admitted, but he wasn't going to give up so easily.
Jumping as high as he could, then digging his foot into the building, Endeavor scaled up the wall as he burned the cement to create stepping stones for him to reach its height. Harnessing another flamed arrow, he aimed it perfectly at the Nomu's head, smirking, as he listened to its shriek, until the hero fell from its claws. Catching the downed pro, the flame user scorched the road in order to land safely, while he watched the villain make its escape.
"I won't let you get away…!"
"Well, you did- Boo hoo, so sad, you failed at your one job-"
"Kaminari, I am going to shove Tape down your throat if you make one more jabbing insult at Endeavor- SHUT. UP!"
"At least until he can get better at insulting people…" Tomura cackled under his breath, hearing worse trash talk on the daily, while Denki was only good at grade-school level remarks.
'Of course the only pro hero there is able to move once the hero killer is defeated…' Shota hated how logical the irony was for him to think that, since no one can control what blood type they have.
"Let me do this, at least." the pro hero named Native lifted one of the students, Midoriya, onto his back, supporting his strained arm, while the other two laid out each of Stain's weapons, and tied him up.
"Th-Thank you very much…"
"That's my line…"
Finishing the knot to secure the unconscious villain, Todoroki stood back up, holding the ends of the rope, while he noted out loud, "You can find anything at a trash collection site."
"Todoroki-kun please allow me to drag him…!" Iida offered up his services, showing enthusiasm, with Todoroki hesitating to agree.
"Your arms are all messed up, right?"
"Shoto-kun, you were stabbed in the arm- Twice!"
"I'm using my uninjured arm to hold the ropes. Both of Iida's arms are messed up."
"-I don't think you could've done anything one-on-one with the hero killer's quirk."
"That's how he kills and injures his victims. Because you three had each other, you could defend and fight better than if alone like Iida-chan originally planned, kero kero." Tsuyu's honesty was blunt, however, she also was right in her words, which Tenya had to admit to himself and accept that she was speaking the truth.
But that truth wouldn't happen now.
"-flustered and forgot about Midoriya's recovery time. And he wasn't able to deal with Iida's last Recipro or Midoriya's movements." Todoroki added to the conversation, along with the likely moment to how they defeated Stain in the end.
Stepping out into the open street, the four surveyed the area for anyone, until Native eventually turned back to them, giving instructions, "Now, let's quickly get him to the police-"
"What…? Why are you here?"
Perking up at the familiar voice, Midoriya blinked when he caught his mentor on the other side, gasping out, "Gran Torino!"
"I thought you said this guy was fast, All Might…"
"In his prime, yes, but Gran Torino has aged quite a lot since I last saw him…!"
"I've aged quite a lot just from this single episode…"
"Well that wasn't nice of Gran Torino to hit Deku-kun like that…" Ochaco puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms, while Izuku flinched at the thought of getting a lecture from Sorahiko.
"He disobeyed his order to stay on the train." Shoto pointed out to them, stating the reason for the pro hero's behavior toward his intern, and that was another reason for Izuku to worry for his outcome.
"Gran Torino, I'm sorry…"
Scoffing at his apology for leaving the bullet train, Gran Torino sighed, while he glared at the pain in his ass, 'Jeez, this part of him is also exactly like Toshinori.'
Being compared to his idol was more than a dream come true, and Izuku almost fainted at the sheer joy that washed over him. Even if it was considered a bad thing from Sorahiko, he had something in common with the Symbol of Peace!
"It's around here!"
"Huh?" Midoriya blinked at the herd of footsteps coming toward their direction, the five of them looking to see a small group of heroes heading their way in a hurry.
"Endeavor-san told us there was a request for help here, but…"
"Children?"
"Those injuries look serious. I'll call an ambulance right away…!"
Though the number two hero's message sounded urgent, the extra support wasn't needed anymore, until one of the heroes spotted the villain tied up, recognizing him, "Hey, this is…"
"Don't tell me… It's the hero killer…?!"
"What?"
"Call the police, too!"
"They all… show up… after it's all said and done." Shota needed more than coffee to keep his sanity.
While Enji had similar feelings, they mostly revolved around him wishing he had followed his son instead of leaving him on his own. In order to defeat and arrest the hero killer himself, like he originally hoped to achieve, Shoto should have helped him to accomplish his goal.
'Incompetent…'
"I only received minor injuries." Todoroki informed the other heroes when asked, adding with worry for his friend, "But Iida is…"
"He's bleeding badly…"
"The ambulance will be here soon…! Until then…" a hero attempted to stop Iida in his tracks, however, he had things he needed to say first to the people who saved his life.
"You two…" Iida called out, catching his classmates' attention. Once they turned to face him, their class rep bowed, clenching his fists, as he spoke through tears, "You were injured because of me. I am truly sorry. I couldn't… see anything… through my anger…"
Furrowing his brow at the tremble in his voice, Midoriya apologized in return, "I'm sorry, too. Even though you were feeling so cornered, I didn't notice it at all. Even though we're friends…"
Izuku wished he had been more like Ochaco - assertive, yet supportive toward their friend. When he needed them most, all he did was hesitate, and let her do most of the talking when they eventually got the chance. He had been a bad friend to Tenya.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more to help…"
"You shouldn't apologize for my negligence… Midoriya–kun…" Tenya sniffed, with his tears resurfacing, while Ochaco reached out to hold his hand, squeezing it tightly to show her support.
Wiping his eyes after Todoroki told him to stand up and take charge, Iida hiccuped, then replied to his words, "Yeah."
Despite not sounding confident, his actions spoke for him when his words failed. Iida was beginning his path of self-atonement, going to prove for both himself and his peers how he would become a better hero. Even though Stain had been right about him not being a hero then, that wasn't going to stop him from continuing to pursue his dream, and make his family proud.
"The fight against the hero killer wasn't a long drawn-out battle like in the comics… But to us, the experience felt a whole lot longer…"
"What do you mean-"
"What the hell is that…?" Eijiro, interrupting the question that Hanta was asking, sat up at the shadowy figure that appeared around the corner, until the scene changed to show Sorahiko, who also noticed what he saw.
The last living Nomu soared down toward the group of heroes, with one of them calling out in surprise, "A villain…! How could Endeavor let it…?"
Her question was drowned out when its talons hooked into Midoriya's back, taking the boy with him.
"Dek-"
"DEKU-KUN!"
"Shit…!" Shoto cursed under his breath, as he clenched his fists at his poor reaction time, while Izuku sunk into the cushions, afraid of what might happen to him.
"Shigaraki couldn't have ordered that Nomu to capture me… He… He wouldn't know I was there, and the Nomu haven't been in contact with Shigaraki since they got here…"
"Unless they have, and it wasn't shown." Shoto countered his points, and the frightened greenet had to admit it was a good one.
"HaHA- Oh, that's amazing…! This Nomu has to have a mind reader quirk- This one is the best one so far!" Tomura rubbed his hands in glee, awaiting the moment Izuku was dropped at his feet so he could kill him by his own hand.
At least that was what he hoped, until he paid his sights back to the TV.
As the Nomu started falling back down, helplessly, Midoriya couldn't do anything but gap, not only at what was going on, but what he could see happening down below.
"This society overgrown with fake heroes… and the criminals who wave their power around idly…" Stain undid the rope tied around his torso, as he ran forward, before leaping to the height to which the Nomu was falling. Plunging his dagger into the creature's bleeding eye, while holding onto Midoriya, they crash back down, and slide across the sidewalk, as the hero killer drooled out his statement, "...should all be purged."
With dust covering their landing, the heroes stood frozen with horror, unsure on what they should do. Then, Native recalled what the criminal had muttered at the start of the attacks.
'So noisy… The idiots have come out, huh? I'll dispose of them later.'
Native was beginning to understand those words properly now.
"This is all…" Stain gasped for air, twisting the knife out of the Nomu's brain, killing it, as he declared, "...to create a more just society."
None of the heroes understood what the hero killer meant by those words, but they knew it could be nothing good for anyone.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey- What the hell…?!"
"Oh come on- I liked that Nomu…! Fucking- I was going to kill that fucking brat, too- I hate… EVERYTHING- Shit, dammit- Why did this have to happen…?!" Tomura's good mood was gone in the blink of an eye, as he itched at his neck once more, faster and faster and faster as his anger grew.
Though his words were threatening, the familiar ramble was slowly easing a few of the students' nerves, with Kyoka working up the courage to ask, "Why… Wh-Why did Stain… Why did he do that…? I mean… It kind of makes sense, but…"
"Did he do it for Midoriya-san, or for himself…?" Momo understood the question she wanted to ask, yet it was hard to answer.
"Why would they think the hero killer saved Midoriya-kun…?!"
"Stain said that Midoriya-chan was a true hero in his eyes, kero. He also let him live when he had the chance to kill him." Tsuyu answered her friend's rhetorical question and provided Toru with some comfort when she clung onto her.
Izuku was terrified at the turn of events, along with hoping this never happened so he wouldn't have to be anywhere near the hero killer. Then again, he also didn't want to be carried off by the Nomu to wherever it was going to take him.
"-way."
"How are things on your end?"
"Things got a little rough." Endeavor, who came around the corner when the heroes were about to face Stain, answered their question, before his eyes turned to the villain still standing, wondering out loud, "But don't tell me that man is…?"
"Let… go…" Midoriya choked out, while lightly hitting the villain's arm that was holding him down, struggling to get out from his intense grip.
Ignoring the child and turning his sights to the number two hero, Stain narrowed his eyes at the fiery man, while spitting out with disgust, "Endeavor."
"Hero Killer…!"
Enji grinned at watching himself prepare for battle with the criminal he had been tracking for months. Maybe the way things turned out wasn't so bad after all, however, the hero killer was going to be easier to defeat now after all those hits the kids got in him. While he would rather fight the hero killer at his best, in the end, Chizome would still be out there once they returned home, and only then will he be the hero to bring him to Tartarus for good.
"Wait, Todoroki!" Gran Torino threw out his hand to stop him, while Endeavor was puzzled by his words.
Standing up now, Midoriya whipped his body around so he could glare at the hero killer, enraged and determined to help stop him again. It wasn't until the villain's mask fell, revealing his expression, that his face turned to horror at what he saw.
Saliva running down his chin, Stain glowered at the heroes before him, "You fake…"
It wasn't his words that caused them to stay grounded. The raging fury behind those flickering red eyes made each one of them too frightened to move a muscle, as fear took hold of them, forcing them to listen to each word he spoke.
"I must make things right… Someone must be dyedin blood… I must take back what it means to be a hero."
Planting his foot down firmly, Stain's intimidating presence caused the clouds to appear to be dyed in a blood red color and the moon to go dark.
"Come! Try and get me, you fakes…!"
His challenge was met only with fear.
"The only one I'll let kill me… is the true hero…! ALL MIGHT!"
His statement shook their very core, the air becoming suffocating by his very spirit. Under the eye of the Hero Killer: Stain, they hadn't the nerve to turn their gaze away from the man. Simply by his words alone, he had every hero present in a firm chokehold.
Then a dagger dropped, and like the ring of a bell, the sound broke them all out of a trance, blinking or rubbing their eyes to come back to reality. Looking back at the villain, the heroes gaped at how still and silent he was, his jaw hanging open, with his eyes glazed over - unconscious while standing.
"He's… He's unconscious…"
Some fell to their knees in quiet relief, while others tried to breathe normally again after what they witnessed.
"We learned later… that a broken rib had pierced the hero killer's lung at that moment. He hadn't licked anyone's blood, but at that place, for that one moment, the hero killer was the only one who stood up to fight against his opponent."
The ending song commences.
The cheerful music that played was ironic to hear after what they had been forced to watch. Even so, it didn't help them to breathe any easier, whether they were choking on their tears or struggling to keep their bodies still.
"I need to go to my room…!" Minoru squeaked out, before making a speedy run for his door. Despite moving fast, he worried for someone who might have noticed the wet area around his groin.
However, the slam of his door helped others slowly come back to their senses.
"Holy… What… was that…?"
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight…"
"I need… a fucking minute…"
"That music is not appropriate…! In the slightest!"
"Damn…" Tomura breathed out, while he ran his fingers down the goosebumps along his arms. He wasn't scared, and he wasn't going to say that Chizome had a frightening way of expressing himself.
"Shinso… I would honestly love to hug your cat right about now…"
"I don't think she would survive in your arms…"
*I want Yuwai right now* Koji shakingly signed, even though he knew no one could read it, but his anxiety was easier to manage at the thought of his rabbit.
'What did he sign…? Something about himself?' Rikido hoped he recognized that first motion right, as he had been practicing with the alphabet for the past two days before going to bed. Seeing his friend sign for the first time, he was going to study and practice a bit more than right before bed.
"Is everyone feeling okay? Does anyone need a breather first before we move onto the next episode?" Shota knew the answer to his questions, but it was still something he needed to ask.
"Hell fucking yes we need a break…! And how can we be okay after seeing that?!"
"Wuss… Tomura teased as if he wasn't trembling himself.
"Wait a moment, this will mean that the hero killer is now arrested, correct? Since he is unconscious with a punctured lung?"
"I believe you are correct indeed, Young Yaoyorozu."
"But who will take the credit?" Momo inquired, with the focus landing on her, as she continued to question, "Even if Midoriya-san, Iida-san, and Todoroki-san defeated the hero killer, it would not be right for them to be acknowledged for their achievement due to only being hero students, correct?"
"'U.A. Students' in that one title had a double meaning…"
"What you're saying isn't wrong, Yaoyorozu. It's a good observation. But, I don't have the answers right now, so we can only hope it's explained soon." Shota had a feeling she was right, but due to this being his first experience in this sort of situation, he couldn't confirm anything. After getting a nod from her, the pro hero then turned to the three children responsible for this whole mess, as he sternly glared in their direction, while stating, "And you three are receiving a serious talking to."
Izuku gulped as his eyes went wide, with Tenya hanging his head until Ochaco began to gently run her hand up and down his back, while Shoto only blinked in response.
The music came to an end, with the silence bringing their attention back to the front. But instead of the usual question and loading screen, an image slowly began to fade in, making everyone confused, until it was fully present.
A black and white image of a plump boy with wings was shown, with the kid smiling, despite the ominous message under him: 'Rest in Peace Tsubasa'
"Tsubasa…? Who's that?"
"That's so sad…"
"Yeah, but who is he? I don't think we've heard that name before."
"Those wings look like the Nomu's-" Shoto was interrupted when he leaned away from Izuku after he vomited before them, widening his eyes at the choked sob that came from his mouth.
"Deku-kun, what-"
Opening his door and making sure his zipper was locked, Minoru sighed in relief at wearing fresh pants, as he walked back out into the theater. However, he almost scrambled back inside when he caught wind of the scream ringing through the room, wide-eyed, as he looked for its source. Then he read the words on screen.
"Would you like to continue to the next episode?"