(Rumi POV – Rumi's House)
"Sure," Kata says after a moment of thought. "But only once a week."
I narrow my eyes at him. 'Once? That's it?'
"Why?" I demand, crossing my arms tightly. "You can come after school, can't you?"
He just rolls his eyes, and for some reason, that ticks me off more than it should.
"I've got other things to do besides kicking your ass," he says, looking completely bored.
My ear twitches in irritation. 'I'd kick him if it could connect!' I think through grit teeth, but I also know he isn't wrong, so I ignore it.
I huff through my nose. "What could possibly be more fun than fighting me?" I press, leaning in slightly. Then I squint suspiciously. "Or are you just chickenin' out?"
"I'm not scared of you," he says flatly, like it's the dumbest thing he's ever heard. "I'd just rather spend that time with my little sister."
I blink. "You have a sister?"
He nods.
"Hmph. If you're so scared to leave her alone," I say while waving a hand dismissively, "just bring her along! I'll even teach her to kick your ass too!"
"No," he says instantly, but he actually seems nervous. "You'd be a bad influence."
I stare and grin slightly. 'Is he actually scared? Is she that scary?'
I barely manage to restrain myself from laughing, but I want to meet this mystery sister much more now.
"Babysitting's more fun than fighting me?" I bark, half-offended, half-curious.
And to my shock, the corner of his mouth tugs into a proper smile, as he seems to remember something. It looks weirdly warm and throws me off.
"Definitely," he says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "It's not even a question."
I blink at him. 'When the hell did he start smiling like that?' I tilt my head, feeling like I'm staring at some weird new species.
I shake it off with a grunt. "...Fine. Then how about twice a week?" I ask, flashing a daring grin.
He just shakes his head, already moving toward his gear, not even bothering to pretend to think about it.
"Tsk." I click my tongue, throwing my hands up. "Whatever."
'I'll find a way to make him spar more later anyway.'
"Alright, put on your damn costume and get ready!" I bark, already getting hyped up again.
'The hero killer would be a good challenge. Hope he doesn't disappoint.' I grin.
Kata just nods coolly and flips open his briefcase. I watch as his costume disintegrates into particles and seamlessly covers him, his uniform appearing in the case at some point.
I snort. "Show-off. Useless party trick in a real fight."
'...But not bad for style points, I guess.'
Without waiting, I leap high into the air and jump to the forest, my blood already pumping.
"Hope you can keep up, kid!" I yell over my shoulder, launching myself forward.
When I glance back, Kata's just floating after me effortlessly, hands behind his back, with a teasing... No, a mocking smile.
'Is this your top speed?' I can almost hear the unspoken question.
I grin, sharp and wild.
'Yeah, this kid's not bad. Not bad at all.' I think as I immediately speed up, and he follows closely.
(Shigaraki POV – Hosu City)
I step through Kurogiri's portal, the warped air behind me twisting shut like a clenched fist. Stain is already there, perched high above the city like he owns it. His disgusting tongue hangs out like a dog's, his eyes glassy with that fake conviction of his.
"So this is Hosu..." I mutter, my gaze sweeping over the rooftops, the bustling streets, the blinking lights. "Livelier than I thought."
"I will reform this town," Stain says, almost like a sermon. "But for that... more sacrifices are needed."
"'Hero' is a title reserved for those who perform great feats!" he goes on, practically vibrating with fanaticism. "Too many are undeserving... just money-worshippers playing hero!"
'This guy's a psycho,' I think, scratching at my neck, fingers twitching. 'I don't get why Master thinks we need him.'
Kurogiri reforms silently at my side, watching as Stain jumps and disappears into the shadows below.
"How long until I can let the Nomu kill him?" I mutter slowly, my tone impatient.
"It depends on how well he performs, Tomura Shigaraki," Kurogiri says with maddening calm.
My hand claws harder at my skin, teeth grinding together. The memory of Stain's blade against my neck resurfaces.
"All that high-and-mighty crap, and he's still playing vigilante in back alleys," I sneer. "It's almost precious how hard he's trying."
"You shouldn't underestimate him," Kurogiri warns. "Crime has dropped in every city he's appeared in. Some even credit his presence with increased hero vigilance."
That sets me off. My laugh comes out in a short, cracked bark. "He's making the heroes better?! So much for his stupid revolution. He's doing PR work for them!"
The itch is unbearable now. I force myself to stop scratching and stare out over the city. Slowly, my lips stretch into a grin.
"Good thing Master gave me more toys," I murmur. "If Stain wants to rampage... fine."
Kurogiri nods. He knows what I want before I say it.
He opens a rift beside me, and hulking shadows step through. The first wave of Nomu, lumbering and twitching with uncontained violence.
"But let's make this fun," I say, voice sweet with venom. "Let's see who causes more chaos."
'I suppose Stain and I want the same thing.'
"We both want these heroes gone." I mutter in distaste.
"So... Let's play!"
I spread my arms wide as more portals spiral open across the skyline. Some on rooftops, others alleyways, and even above crowded streets.
Nomu fall from the sky like rain. Others stalk forward, mouths open in silent roars, muscles rippling, claws dragging sparks from the pavement.
"Unleash them all, Kurogiri!" I command, gleeful now. "Let them tear everything apart!"
"Yes, Tomura Shigaraki," Kurogiri answers.
I watch from above, heart pounding as screams start to rise. Flames bloom in the distance. Sirens wail like dying animals, as explosions rock the originally quiet night.
"They'll remember this," I whisper, hands twitching with glee. "They'll remember me."
A laugh claws its way out of my throat, loud and unhinged, echoing across the rooftops.
"After today, they'll speak the League's name with the respect and fear it deserves!"
(Izuku POV – Train, Hosu)
"On your phone again?! I swear, kids these days!" Gran Torino huffs beside me.
But I barely register his words. My eyes are glued to the screen, scrolling back through my chat log.
'Ida still hadn't replied. He read the message 10 minutes ago... But he always replies within 3...' I frown, anxiety starting to twist in my gut, when—
BOOM!
The entire train lurches as a thunderous impact echoes through the cars, followed by the sharp screeching of metal. The lights flicker a few times before an automated voice crackles over the speaker:
"Passengers, please remain seated. We are making an emergency stop due to—"
Another boom cuts it off, and I whip my head toward the window, looking for the source of the noise.
My breath halts.
Portals... Dozens of them all over the city. Wide, dark voids swirling open like gaping mouths.
And spilling out of them—
'Nomu?'
What else could they be? They're all different, but they all have the same exposed brain. Maybe they're somehow related.
They plummet from the sky like monsters born from nightmares, crashing into the streets, rooftops, everywhere. Cars flip as they're thrown. People scream as they run. And fires erupt in tandem with violent explosions.
Before I can even process it, the car shakes again—harder this time. The ceiling caves in with a violent crunch, sending a cascade of metal and dust raining down.
The air goes still as everyone in the train car freezes.
They hold their breaths, not daring to move, while praying that whatever caused this will pass without paying them any mind.
CRASH!
Four long, grotesque arms burst through the windows, glass exploding inward like shrapnel as suppressed screams finally erupt.
One hand reaches for a woman. Another toward a child. A third to an elderly man. And the fourth... straight for me.
I can't move.
I know I should. My mind screams 'MOVE!' But my body won't listen.
"Don't move, kid!!" Gran Torino shouts as he rockets from his seat in a blur of motion.
His foot connects with the arm reaching for me as with a sickening CRACK, it bends backward the bone surely broken.
"Huh?!" I blink, stunned, as he immediately moves and strikes the other three limbs in the same instant, saving them everyone.
Without even pausing, he dives through the shattered window, tackling the Nomu clean off the train as its flailing, broken arms dangle behind them as they vanish from sight.
"Gran Torino!!" I call after him, but he's already gone.
My heart races.
'Why are there so many of them?!'
Before I can recover, another shriek of tearing metal rips through the train as one of the doors is ripped off its hinges.
A second Nomu steps inside.
It's bigger, taller than any human in the car, with pale sickly green skin. One huge, unblinking eye dominates its face, twitching in different directions. Its limbs are thick with muscle, barely fitting inside the cramped space.
It doesn't hesitate.
Its eye locks onto the closest man, and its arm reaching toward him as he cowers on the floor.
Time slows as my body shakes with fear.
I remember the USJ.
The way the Nomu easily defeated Aizawa.
That memory... that fear... keeps me paralysed.
If I fight... I'll die.
I know that.
Every instinct in my body screams it.
Run.
Run.
Run!
So I run... straight at it.
One For All surges through me, lightning crackling around my limbs as my body moves on it's own.
"I can't just stand by and let you hurt them!" I shout, more to myself than anything, and leap, fist clenched, every ounce of power I can muster focused into my arm.
The Nomu's eye tracks me.
Its arm lashes out, but...
'It's slow.'
Slower than I expected.
I twist midair, ducking past its grab, and drive my fist into its eye with everything I have.
SMASH!
The monster is launched backward out of the train, landing onto the track, with a violent roar.
I land hard, stumbling once, my breath ragged as my heart beats quickly.
'That wasn't like the USJ Nomu…'
I glance out the shattered train door. The creature is already rising.
Its face is a mess of blood and cracked bone. The eye is gone, leaking black-red fluid, which makes my stomach sick, but that doesn't stop it.
It screams, a horrible, guttural noise that rattles my chest.
People behind me scream, too. Some crying, others shouting for someone to save them.
I turn back. My fists trembling, but I don't run.
"Everyone, stay calm! Heroes will arrive soon!" I call out, forcing my voice to stay steady. I want to reassure them. To say that they'll be fine because I am here... But I don't know if that's true.
The Nomu stumbles towards the train, its arms swinging wildly with enough strength to generate wind currents.
'It's blind now.' I quickly assess, boosting what little confidence I have
But I know it's extremely dangerous. I might not even survive a single hit.
I grit my teeth and charge forward anyway.
'Because even if I'm scared...'
The Nomu swings wildly, claws tearing through the air with vicious speed. I duck under one arm, the force of it passing overhead rips at my hair, and I slam a jab into its ribs.
CRACK!
It screams, stumbling back, the impact of my blow driving it several steps toward the edge of the train tracks. My heart pounding like a war drum.
But I don't let up.
Darting in again, I strike its side, dodge a blind swing, step forward, give it another blow, then duck again. My messy footwork barely keeps me alive as its fist grabs the air inches from my head.
'Even if I might die… I'll keep going.'
Blow after blow.
Each one pushing the monster further back. My fists hurt. My lungs burn. But I continue pushing. Step by step. Hit by hit. Until—
Its foot scrapes the edge of the tracks.
It slams it's arms into the ground directly in front of it, causing me to jump back. It then remains crouched, like a beast.
Its massive hands dig into the ground.
Then—
It charges like a mad bull, tearing up the concrete as it barrels toward me with murderous strength.
I don't back down and square my stance even as my legs tremble.
'I'm going to fight!'
As it charges toward me, its fist rears back, and in a blur of motion, launches forward with terrifying speed.
The wind pressure alone howls around me, slamming into my body.
'Now!'
I duck low, the punch missing by a hair's breadth, then drive my full power into a rising uppercut.
"SMASH!!"
My fist connects with its ruined face, its skull cracks and blood flies everywhere as the Nomu is launched into the air.
It sails over the ledge with a guttural, garbled roar, flailing as it disappears from sight.
THUD.
Then silence.
I stagger forward, chest heaving, and peek over the edge.
The Nomu lies crumpled on the street far below, unmoving. Its body twisted, broken.
"It's over." I breathe quietly, my hands still trembling.
I stare at the broken body below, adrenaline refusing to leave just yet.
Then I look around.
'There aren't any more Nomu nearby.'
But I don't have time to rest.
I force myself to move, feet pounding the broken pavement as I leap from the train, racing toward the city's heart.
'I have to find them. Ida. Gran Torino. I'm coming.'