Shota Aizawa was having a very bad day.
Right now, he was feeling the result of his elbow being decayed by the leader of this so-called "League of Villains." He was certain that most of the villains brought to the U.S.J. were just fodder. The man-child in front of him, spouting gamer lingo alongside his warp-gate partner, had been the only real problems so far. Still, with enough perseverance, Aizawa believed he could win.
Unfortunately, things were never that simple.
"But anyways," the man, Shigaraki, said casually, "I never said I was the final boss."
The moment those words left his mouth, Aizawa was suddenly grabbed from behind and slammed into the ground. It was too fast for him to even register. A massive beast pinned him down, crushing him beneath its weight. His arm snapped with a sickening crack.
Pain flared—then darkness crept in.
Aizawa forced himself to stay conscious.
Through blurred vision, he saw Shigaraki whining again. "Kurogiri! If you weren't our ride, I'd disintegrate you. We can't handle too many heroes. Let's go home."
Shigaraki turned to leave, then paused.
"Ah… we might as well leave the Symbol of Peace a gift before we go."
He rushed toward three students—Izuku Midoriya, Tsuyu Asui, and Mineta. His hand clamped onto Tsuyu's face, intent clear.
Before he could finish her, Aizawa erased his quirk.
"You really are cool, Eraserhead," Shigaraki said cheerfully.
Izuku pushed himself up. "Get away from her!"
He prepared a Smash and launched himself forward—but the Nomu intercepted the blow effortlessly.
"Smash?" Shigaraki mused. "You must admire All Might. That was just like him."
Izuku froze.
Bang!
The Nomu screeched as its head snapped back from the impact of a sniper round.
"What the hell?!" Shigaraki shouted.
Bang!
Another shot struck the Nomu's head.
"A sniper?" Shigaraki snarled. "Idiot. Nomu can't be hurt by mere bullets."
Bang!
"It came from over there! Kurogiri!" He pointed where he heard it from.
Kurogiri scanned the area—but the shooter was already gone.
Bang!
"WHO IS SHOOTING MY NOMU?!"
At that moment, the massive doors burst open.
"IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW—BECAUSE I AM HERE!!"
⸻
Before All Might's arrival, Sam had been scrambling for a vantage point.
By the time he found one, he saw Aizawa being obliterated by the monster.
Sam steadied his breathing and raised the rifle.
He needed to hit and run—again and again. Twenty rounds. No misses.
'I need to complete this mission…
What am I saying?'
His head throbbed as memories from Africa clawed at his mind. But then he saw Shigaraki rush Tsuyu, and Sam forced himself back into focus.
He aimed for Shigaraki's head.
'I won't kill. I promise.'
Momo's face flashed through his mind, a face of trust.
He adjusted—aiming for the leg—but stopped when Aizawa erased Shigaraki's quirk. Izuku rushed in, only for Nomu to intercept.
'Now or never.'
He sees Izuku about to have his arm ripped off by that thing.
The gunfire and screams in his head faded as he remembered Izuku's kindness—inviting him to lunch, inviting him to walk home.
'I'm not letting you die.'
Bang!
The round slammed into Nomu's brain. It screeched violently.
Sam reloaded instantly.
'It can regenerate.'
He fired again—then moved.
New vantage point.
An incline not far from his previous spot.
Bang.
Move.
New spot.
Bang.
Then All Might arrived.
Sam exhaled. 'For once, I'm glad he showed up.'
He stayed alert.
The fight was going okay, but after All Might suplexed Nomu, Kurogiri opened a portal beneath them.
'Not good.'
Bang!
Nomu recoiled, receiving another headshot, loosening its grip. All Might escaped just in time.
Out of nowhere, Bakugo incapacitated Kurogiri. Kirishima rushed Shigaraki. Todoroki froze Nomu solid.
Sam cursed under his breath.
'This isn't over.'
He was right.
Nomu destroyed its frozen limbs, regenerated them and lunged for Bakugo.
Bang!
It flinched.
"KUROGIRI—FIND WHO IS DOING THAT!"
"Yes, young master."
Kurogiri rose into the air.
Sam vanished into cover.
"Samuel Suzuki," Kurogiri reported.
"That brat?!" Shigaraki snarled. "We were told he wouldn't be a problem!"
'So someone tipped them off,' Sam realized.
All Might and Nomu clashed evenly—but Sam saw the truth.
'He's running on fumes.'
As the final clash began—
Bang!
Nomu staggered.
All Might seized the opening.
"DETROIT SMASH!!"
Nomu was blasted skyward, out of the U.S.J.
Sam exhaled slowly.
'Now it's just them.'
All Might shrank, smoke pouring off him.
'Shit. He's out of gas.'
Shigaraki lunged. Izuku jumped to save All Might.
Kurogiri warped a hand toward Izuku's face.
Bang! Bang!
Shigaraki screamed, collapsing as his hand and leg were shot through.
"DAMN YOU, SUZUKI!"
He staggered—only to see Snipe with a smoking pistol and the rest of U.A.'s staff surrounding him.
Before he could flee—
Bang!
Another shot tore into his leg.
"Kurogiri!" Shigaraki screams.
They warped away just in time.
Sam lowered the rifle. A few rounds left—but it was over.
He moved toward the center.
All Might finally deflated.
Cementoss quickly blocked Kirishima's view after he tried to find Midoriya.
"You look shitty."
All Might's eyes widened.
Sam stood there, rifle slung over his shoulder.
"Not bad though."
All Might wanted to thank him—but noticed Sam's body trembling despite the danger being gone.
He stayed silent.
'I'm sorry, young Suzuki.'