A/N: My writing pace might slow down quite a bit here. I fell off a seven ft tall rock in a Tibetan hiking trail and had to do a backwards breakfall onto the trail to make sure I didn't die. Unfortunately, the movement to redirect all that energy into the ground still had a hell of a recoil, which left me with a pretty big bruise on my right hand. It hurts whenever I move my fingers too much, so yeah, that's gonna translate directly to a slower writing speed.

Anyway, back to a couple of notes regarding the story. I did rename a considerable chunk of the original cast, while keeping them 'reasonably' true to the original characters in the context of the story. Every name chosen in a rename will be a play on the literal meanings of the characters in the names of the characters, which are mapped to analogous world cultures. This won't be a problem for pure Worm readers, but will definitely be a bit jarring for the MHA fans who have come to love certain characters.

Chapter 7

I had already begun to move even before the wall of fire had hit the building.

What was Endeavor thinking?! I continued to scream internally.

Endeavor was capable of putting out fires as well as he could set them, and while he did put out the surface fires immediately after the building was hit, that there were several rooms inside that had been set ablaze by the wave of fire that had washed over the building. Something was seriously wrong about that skirmish I'd witnessed back there, but I couldn't put my finger on it. In any case, there was a good chance that a number of people had just been trapped in the building and needed to help.

Even with the battle going on nearby that gave me a more-than remote risk of getting caught in a crossfire, I didn't care. I sprinted and jumped, clearing every obstacle in the way without a second of hesitation. If I weren't in such an adrenaline-fueled state, I would have definitely stumbled over a fence or two, but in my state of heightened focus, I'd covered several blocks in well under half a minute without batting an eye.

As I approached the apartment building where the fire was rapidly spreading, I noticed a fire extinguisher inside of a stairwell about four buildings away. The reasonably accessible fire extinguisher was behind the half-open third window on the second floor, over a fusion Thai/Malay fry shop. Half-eaten meals sat strewn across the tables in a fenced, outdoor garden, and the restaurant's managers had temporarily closed up shop with customers taking refuge within the shop. Curious and frightened eyes stared out at me from a slit that had been left open behind the metal grating.

Getting to that window would take a couple of moments, and the fire would continue to spread while I trespassed. However, it had been made clear to me repeatedly by Mrs. Rose that it was better to prepare than charge in recklessly in the best of situations, even moreso when potential lives were at stake.

I jumped on a garden box in the outdoor seating area, and hopped onto the fence, balancing myself carefully as I took one step after another as quickly as I could do so safely. Gauging the distance to the first window, I jumped, grabbing onto the edge and pulling myself up onto the windowsill. Bending my knees, I jumped again, grabbing onto the next windowsill, and then the final one over. With a grunt of effort, I opened up the third window and ran in, unhooking the fire extinguisher from the wall.

Turning around, I dropped down the windowsill with the heavy fire extinguisher under my left arm, and hung off the edge. I gently rolled the extinguisher below, which landed with a light clanging noise. With a swing of my legs I hopped to my side, grabbing onto a sturdy looking decorative light and I slid down enough that I could drop to the ground safely.

In one single movement, I grabbed a pitcher of ice cold water in one hand, dunking half of it over my head. It was really cold, and I shivered from the frigid liquid that covered my body, but it would provide the tiniest bit of protection for what I was about to do. I ran forward, scooping the fire extinguisher under my arms again.

I'd only managed to get a couple of steps away when I heard a thud behind me and immediately felt two taps on my shoulder.

I turned around, only to be greeted by an Asian girl around my age wearing a blue Battletoads t-shirt, green shorts, and matching white gloves and sneakers. The girl had long dark hair, light skin, and a small, amused, knowing smile. Her exceptionally large, round eyes were leveled in a flat, neutral expression, but somehow, the look on her face seemed to convey an equal sense of amusement that her smile did.

"Umn, hi?" I asked uncertainly.

She pointed at the half-filled pitcher I had in my hand then the fire extinguisher under my other arm.

"I believe that belongs to my family" she stated flatly.

I sheepishly opened my mouth to respond, but she held up a hand, looking over my shoulders towards the side at the apartment building, which was now ablaze. She stared at it for a good two or three seconds, before turning back to meet my eyes.

"You're about to run into that, aren't you?"

I nodded nervously.

"I won't be able to dissuade you either, will I."

I shook my head.

"I suppose it's fine, just remember to return it after. In mint condition of course."

She held one finger up to her chin, looking up thoughtfully as her tongue lolled at the edge slightly.

"My name is Tsuranadi Poryprayrana by the way. Does the boy who's about to run into a burning building have a name? Ribbit.""

Wait what? Who the heck reacts like that? Also, did…did she just croak?

I gulped, "I-I'm Izuku Midoriya, but just about everyone calls me Midoriya. It's nice to meet you Tsura-"

"Call me Tsu," she stated in the same deadpan voice. "You'd better come back alive, or we'll bill your family extra. Ribbit."

"T-thanks for the vote of confidence?" I questioned.

"Just run, Izuku" she stated. Her lips turned up into the barest hint of a smile.

I nodded, turning and continuing back towards the building. The apartment was a four story building, and a large number of residents had already filed out. It was only two buildings over where I was standing, and I'd closed the distance in the heartbeat. A couple of the residents were staring back at their burning home in horror.

"Is everyone okay here?" I asked, jogging forward onto the scene.

"I believe so," a fox-morph wearing black jeans and a blue button-down with a tag that said "Superintendent" turned to me and replied. He had a vague, Hong Kong British accent, and he was frowning.

The apartment building was small, one of those old-fashioned refitted tenement types with weekly community building events. Glancing around at the 21 people that had made it out, I took a shot in the dark.

"Do you know everyone who lives in the building?" I asked the fox man sharply.

"Most of them, yeah," he replied, before looking me up and down in scrutiny. "Are you some kind of hero in high school training, boy?"

"You could say that" I answered. I was really glad that I had taken the effort to put on my full red and navy blue exercise clothing for this session. It didn't exactly scream "superhero" but was enough to convey that I was someone serious about training.

The fox-man looked around again, frowning. "I don't see Mak Gai Chan and Megan Cruz, they live in 5C and E respectively and I didn't see them leave today. Wait, where's the woman from 5B? She was here just a minute ago."

A high-pitched shriek ripped through the air, and I whirled around towards the sound to see a young woman around Mrs. Rose's age stumble out of the apartment building. Her hair was in mottled shambles, and soot covered her tear-streaked face. She was wearing a pair of gray yoga pants and a black tank-top, and she screamed again before collapsing in a sobbing heap in front of the door.

I had dashed to her side and knelt down next to her. Her arms were blistered, bubbled and red up to the elbow. She was badly burned, but she just screamed and cried without paying her arms any mind.

"Ma'am you're okay" I put the fire extinguisher down and put an arm on her shoulder to try and get her to stand. "It's not safe here, let's get you out and-"

The woman jerked against my arm, breaking my grip. "No! No! No!"

I held both arms around her elbow, trying to steer her away from the burning entrance to no avail. She sobbed, digging in her heels and struggling back towards the building. Gusts of wind swirled around her, forming a sphere in her distress and I covered my eyes with one of my arms to keep the dust out of my eyes.

"My baby daughter! I visit friend below mine apartment, but I couldn't get back my home 5B. Please! Someone help her! Help my daughter Allison!"

Even though I was close enough to a raging inferno that I was already starting to sweat profusely, my body felt like it was frozen. A baby trapped inside? Two residents unaccounted for? The woman continued to struggle, but I put her in a controlling hold and dragged her away from the building. She was overwhelmed by her grief, and slackened, stopping the gust with her wind quirk. The woman simply continued to sob as I pulled her away.

This woman needed a hero.

Before any of the spectators outside could react, I dumped the rest of the ice-cold water over my body, placed the pitcher neatly outside, and ran inside with the fire extinguisher in hand.

I've walked into hell itself.

Smoke billowed across the entire room, and I coughed as the caustic air cut into my nostrils. I noted that all six first floor apartment doors were wide open, and I immediately jumped on the stairs, hopping up three stairs at a time. The second floor was in a similar state, and I heaved as the crackle of the flames and thick smoke around me almost overwhelmed me.

I sprayed the fire extinguisher around, relieving myself from some of the onslaught as I extinguished a storm of small flames that had piled up. I continued to rush up the stairs, and managed to push my way through a small bed of flames on the fourth-floor stairwell without a problem.

When I rounded the final corner to the fifth floor, I saw the problem.

The flames roared at the top of the stairs, cutting off my path. I sprayed at the wall of fire with the fire extinguisher, trying to create a path through, but it was too much. The old apartment building was full of flammable material, and the floor groaned, crumbling and flaking as the flames behind it filled the hall. I cursed the greed and laziness of the landlord. Why the heck weren't there any active sprinklers?

I glanced around the third floor. Out of the three of five floors I'd visited, all of them had the same layout. A desperate plan formed in my mind. If I was right, 5B would be over…I ran down the hall, looking at the apartment doors. If each floor had the same layout, apartment 5B would be right above….over there! Apartment 4B.

Apartment 4B was filled with a thick cloud of smoke, and I walked in, pushing my way through a smoky interior. The living room was furnished with various football paraphernalia, an air mattress, and rows of video games. I ignored the contents of the living room, rushing over to the balcony and tried to open it. It didn't budge.

Crud.

Thinking fast, I made my way into the kitchen. Picking up a steel mallet out of a rack full of cooking tools, I hurried over to the balcony and smashed the glass with the mallet. Then, I strapped the mallet on my 'utility belt', before stepping outside onto the balcony. I was already thinking of a foolhardy way to get to the floor above.

I only have three shots at this, I need the last one for the save.

I dropped the fire extinguisher, palming one of the foam grenades before dropping over the edge of the balcony. This gave me a clean line of sight on the floor above, and I clicked the activation button, counting to half a second. Then, I tossed the grenade up to bounce off the balcony above. The foam was designed to expand, then rapidly close down and spin around anyone caught within. If angled just right…

The grenade popped, spewing yellow foam all over the balcony above. A bit leaked over the edge, but it was a failed throw. Shouts and screaming started below me as the people below me noticed me hanging off the edge, but I didn't pay them any mind. I was completely focused on the limited time I had to get upstairs.

Frantically, I reached down for another grenade, clicking it. I tossed it up, trying the throw again.

This time, the grenade popped off the edge, and a layer of yellow foam came cascading down the edge of the balcony, spinning as it hit the ground.

Down to two. Functionally one.

I breathed, closing my eyes and forcing the stress away. You've got this Izuku, just adjust the aim a little bit. Calm your mind and focus.

A whoosh followed by a thud above me caused me to jump in surprise, nearly letting go of the balcony.

"Wha?"

"Need some help, Izuku? Ribbit."

It was Tsuranadi, the strange girl I'd 'borrowed' the fire extinguisher from. She was somehow standing over me in a crouched position.

How had she even gotten up here?

"Umn, uh, yes? If you can? Help would be nice, but how would you help Tsura-."

"Call me Tsu."

Wearing that same inscrutable expression, her tongue suddenly extended. In the blink of an eye, her tongue had fully wrapped around me, and it firmly grabbed me around the waist as I hung off the edge of the building. With a single jerking motion, she tossed me in an arc up in the air with her tongue.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, surprised by the sudden boost. Luckily, her aim was true and I landed squarely in the foam I had tossed up moments before.

Taking a moment to gather myself, I peeked through the glass in front of me. I couldn't see much because of all the smoke, but I could see some flames licking at the wall next to the door. I moved in with my ears an inch away from the glass, listening where I couldn't see.

I heard crying.

I took a deep breath and focused myself. I probably had a very limited time to get in if it wasn't too late already. What I had to do was incredibly stupid and risky, but it could just pay off.

Taking a moment, I stepped into a throwing stance and braced myself. Then, I leaned in with what little body weight I had into a powerful throw. The mallet landed square on the center-right balcony screen, and with a strained groan, the screen cracked and shattered.

I immediately leaned back to the left and threw my arms over my face as a torrent of smoke and fire blasted out of the apartment in a cone like it was bleeding through the glass. I felt a sharp, stinging pain in my right arm as the roaring flames flared out.

As the flames tapered off, I risked a glance at my clothes. My shirt had been singed across the chest, and I had taken a painful burn on my right sleeve which was now on fire. I frantically slapped the flames out against the wall, putting out the embers that I had caught on my sleeve. Then, I inspected the burn - thankfully it didn't look too bad, but I'd definitely feel it a lot more than I already was when the adrenaline wore off.

"Ribbit."

I turned, seeing a pink tongue loop several times around the balcony railing behind me. A moment later, Tsu came soaring up, landing in that same frog-like crouch I had seen her in before. She had her family restaurant's fire extinguisher tucked under her arms.

That. Is a seriously cool quirk.

Tsu turned to look at me before stating in that familiar neutral tone, "I'm assuming we're here for the hysterical woman's baby."

I winced for a second as I clutched my burned arm, before responding. "Yeah, there are also two residents unaccounted for. 5C and 5E."

She nodded, "I just wanted to be on the same page. Ribbit."

I took point, stepping into the apartment. Unloading the room pressure had cleared out most of the smoke, but I could see that the fire had spread across the living room and had started to envelop the kitchen cabinets. I could hear panicked crying within, and I beelined towards the sound, coming to a closed door.

I tapped the door knob with the back of my hand. Thankfully, it was cool to the touch, so the fire hadn't reached the bedroom. Tsu put both her arms on the fire extinguisher, spraying it at the smaller flames around the room. I'd learned the hard way that a fire extinguisher was virtually useless for the big flames, but controlling the smaller fires would give us a bit of time and room to work.

I quickly twisted the knob and dove inside. Unfortunately, there was a pile of toys over the floor and I tripped, and I fell burned-arm first into a pile of Legos.

"YARGH" I shouted as my world exploded in pain. Hissing in pain, I crawled to my knees and looked around the room. Twin sized bed, covers in disarray. Tacky calligraphy art and Disney posters.

My eyes landed on a young girl in a crib, maybe one or two years old with a small tuft of black hair and dressed in a Minnie Mouse onesie. She had stopped crying, and was staring at me silently with a frightened look from the bed. I picked myself up and stared down at her.

"H-hey there! I'm Izuku. Everything's gonna be okay now."

I looked back as Tsu came up behind me with the same calm resting expression I was beginning to associate with her. Even though I was barely holding myself together, Tsu's calmness helped me steel my nerves. Turning back to the baby, I flashed a grin just like my all-time favorite superhero would.

"Why?" I maintained the goofy grin. "Because we're here!"

I walked over, offering a hand, and the baby waddled over, grabbing onto my hand with a giggle. I bent down, picking her up in a hug ignoring the searing pain in my arm, and jogged on out of the room.

The apartment door was engulfed in flames. No way we were going to get out that way. I coughed, wheezing as smoke filled my lungs even further. My vision was starting to get blurry, and I struggled to keep my mind focused.

"Tsu…" I turned to face her, "There are two more apartments on this floor that might have people trapped in them."

She simply glanced at the flaming front door for a second, before giving me the same resting deadpan face.

"It might be too late by the time we get her out and back, but I'd like to try and save everyone" I elaborated.

Tsu's flat expression vanished instantly as it was replaced by the largest smile I'd seen since meeting her maybe twenty minutes ago.

Now that was a weird reaction. What's up with this girl?

"Do you have a plan?" she turned, coughing into her sleeve as the smoke around us began to affect her. "Just so you know, I will probably be grounded for a year after this. Ribbit."

I bit my lip, considering the options for a moment before responding.

"The best way to do this would be for us to swing us over to 5C so that we can check on the people in there because it's close. If there aren't any complications, you can swing me over to 5E and make your way down with the kid. Those foam grenades you saw me use were customized to let people shield themselves from large kinetic impacts such as falls, so if it looks like it's a lost cause, I'll just use one to drop down and dissolve it with a solvent.

She stroked her chin with her finger.

"Ok. Lead the way Izuku."

We rushed outside, and following the plan, Tsu wrapped her tongue around the railing swinging over. Then, she shot her tongue over, grabbing onto me as I held onto the baby tightly. The baby giggled, giving off a small "wheee" as we swung around to the building over.

Peering into the balcony door, I saw that that the front door was completely ablaze. However, due to the large amount of renovations the owner had made involving insulation and metal reinforcement, the fire was only beginning to spread inside. Gripping the mallet with two hands, I quickly swung from my hips, shattering the glass. I stepped inside, noting that the living room was empty, and ran into the building checking door after door.

Empty. All empty.

I coughed, trying to force the fumes out of my lungs to no avail. There was simply too much smoke and I was starting to have trouble breathing.

"Looks….looks like the apartment is clear," I wheezed.

"So it seems. Ribbit."

We looked at each other, and rushed back outside wordlessly, repeating what we did with the first balcony. It was a little tedious for Tsu to aim her swings, but we'd leap-frogged two more balconies over to 5E in a very short period of time. Thankfully for this home, the balcony door for 5E was open, so without stopping for a second, we ran inside.

Unlike in the case of the first two apartments, we were greeted with a completely different scene entirely.

A small, petite woman was passed out on the floor of the living room, and two boys hugged her, crying and shaking in fear even as smoke filled the room from beneath the front door. Hearing us rush in, the two boys looked up and stared at us in surprise. Neither of them could've been older than seven or eight years old.

"Hello!" I said, putting on my best All Might smile again. "We're here to help. Everything's gonna be alright. Why? Because we're here!"

If anything cemented my aspirations to become a hero for good, it was that moment. The knowledge that we were responsible for that look of hope and joy that immediately filled their hearts was indescribable. It was simply a wonder. I walked over to check on the mother, and was relieved to find a weak pulse.

"Izuku," Tsu started, "How exactly will we do this."

I grit my teeth, before sighing in resignation. "I'd figured we would only have to get one person out of this apartment, but now we have an adult and three kids for a total of four.

Tsu nodded in agreement, "Neither of us is really that big, although it's clear to my we're both strong for our age bracket. I'm not sure if we have the time ferrying everyone down with my quirk would take. Ribbit."

A 'whoosh' sound filled the room like a draft on the windy day, and I saw flames begin to lick under the door.

I gulped, but the reflexive motion caused me to take in another lungful of smoke, and I coughed hard trying to get the ashy taste out of my mouth. Grabbing both remaining grenades at once, I sighed and responded to Tsu. "I think I can get Cruz down directly, and you can probably get the baby down on the first run. I'll go first and pop the first grenade, which will probably be enough to get me and the mother here into safety. Once the foam consolidates, do your best to slow our foam blob's descent down a little and settle us down."

"You know" Tsu stated flatly, "We've barely met, but I must say you are absolutely insane and unbelievable. Ribbit"

I didn't know whether that was a compliment or an insult, but we both had something more important to worry about.

"Anyway, judging by the ridiculous mobility I've seen you put out so far, you should probably be able to make enough roundtrips before this room fills with fire."

"Got it" she stated with what I was now mentally calling the Resting Tsu Face.

"It's ride or die now, Tsu. Boys? Go with the big sis here, she'll take care of you guys. Your mother's also in safe hands with me."

The two boys nodded in slow affirmation, still scared out of their minds and too shocked to really say anything.

I picked Cruz up with a grunt of effort, and threw her over my back. Then, I walked over to the balcony and reached down, clicking the three second timer on a foam grenade.

With another raspy breath to steel myself, I stepped on to the railing, and jumped off the building.