Chapter 7

Hero: Deku

Izuku's P.O.V

I stood across from the captain as noises came from the north side of the camp as the captain of the camp looked straight towards me, "Who are you? One of these people's family? No, a part of the rebels? Doesn't matter because you're dead," as he held his broadsword at me.

I need to finish this fast, I don't think Akame can hold them for long before they notice as I activated 20% Full Cowling. I can't hold back either since who knows what this guy is capable of. As I prepared my gloves, it was silent for a short while as he charged at me. 'He's coming!', he dashed towards me with full speed. He raised his broadsword up and did downward slash above my head. I jumped backwards as his sword hit the ground causing the dirt to fly up. He used that opportunity to rush at me through the dirt as he did a sideways slash. I barely managed to tilt my head to the right as his sword grazed my cheek.

Leone wasn't kidding, he's skilled. That's why I'll need every opening I can exploit. "You're pretty good kid, but how long can you dodge before my men come back," he grinned, "You're just a kid wearing a suit, playing hero, let me tell you kid, in this country, only the strong can rule the weak," I widened my eyes, I gritted my teeth, I glared at him as he slightly flinched.

Before he could do anything, I was already upon him. "What th-" I reeled my fist back and slammed a Detroit Smash into his face. He was sent back a few meters, "Graagh, damn you kid," I held my fist, "You're wrong," I muttered, "Huh?!" This world is full of people like him. There is so much darkness in this country. The prime minister, whoever he is. I'll do whatever it takes, "You don't get to decide who rules or not," I lifted my head up as I put my right arm up and held it with my left hand as I positioned my fingers into a flicking position. I flicked a Delaware Smash Air Force into him as he blocked it with his broadsword. "A teigu user?"

"We were all born weak at first," the memories of me being the useless 'Deku' started to replay in my mind, all men were not born equal. That's the harsh truth I learned since I was 4. But just because you were born strong or talented, doesn't mean, "The strong don't decide for the weak, The strong have to protect the weak so they can become strong themselves! To inspire them, that's what it means to be strong!" I exclaimed as he looked at me with disgust, "Hah! Only a weakling decides that, I'll give your head to the emperor himself," he dashed at me.

"I won't let you, I'll save these people, even if it means risking my life," I jumped, making the dirt beneath fly up as he stopped. I flew a few meters in the air, "All your movements are easy to read, speed and power is all you got," Overhaul said that to me and I took those words to heart, so I'll become stronger, to become the hero that'll save everyone! I raised my right leg up and let gravity do its work.

My fall increased as he smiled, he jumped back as I smashed the ground in front of him, Manchester Smash! "Hah! That move was too obvious," he gripped his blade and positioned it over his head, "Time to die," I looked at him. "You should look where you're standing," I stated as he widened his eyes, he looked beneath him as he was standing on a platform that I made as it was in the air. He looked around, the field had changed from the ground to the air and rocks were in the air as well. I changed my position into a jumping position and boosted myself off the ground and bounced off the rocks.

Every time I bounced off the rocks, my speed increased as he was confused where to land his attack, "Damn it quit moving!" As he tried to slash effortlessly in the air, trying to get a lucky hit. I landed on a rock behind him and boosted myself off of it as I punched the back of his head as he tried to turn around, I planted my legs on his shoulders as I jumped off of him.

I landed on a rock above as I continued increasing my momentum, then went under his platform he was standing on. I jumped up and shattered the ground beneath him as I uppercutted his jaw as his head lurched up, "Guurgh!" He grunted as he looked at me with fury. I placed my feet on his stomach and jumped off of him as I landed on another rock.

I launched off towards him as he couldn't move into the air, "This Empire, people are trapped in the darkness of this corrupt society, so I'll...Smash that Darkness!" As I reeled my leg back, "St. Louis…" as I closed the gap between us in the air. "Smash!" My foot collided with his face as I put more force into the kick and kicked him down.

He plummeted to the floor as an explosion of dust was created as soon as he hit the ground. I landed near the cloud of dust. I breathed out. 'I did it, I beat him,' I looked at the cloud of dust, 'please stay down,' as it cleared, I walked towards him. He had a broken nose and a few teeth missing.

I checked his pulse to see if I didn't kill him, I sighed, 'Good he's still alive, now for the captives,' I headed towards the cages but then I felt someone's presence behind me. I turned around quickly and saw a man who had a mask on that looked to be a fox mask, he was wearing a black suit and tie and appeared to be a few inches taller than me.

"Very impressive, Izuku Midoriya," I widened my eyes as he said my name 'who is this guy?" I thought as I readied myself for anything. "Oh, calm down hero. I'm not here to fight, yet." He looked at the unconscious captain, he grinned. "This man is a hindrance, let me relieve him from this world, plus we can't have him expose your face," he stated, I widened my eyes as I activated 20% Full Cowling and dashed towards him but it was too late, he materialized what looked to be a black dagger and plunged it into the unconscious man's neck, killing him.

I reeled my fist back and launched it forward at his mask, but then he vanished into the shadows, I looked around to see where he might be. "Until we meet again, Izuku Midoriya," I looked up at the voice as he was now above the watchtower, he was holding the unconscious guard that I knocked out first as he dropped him, I dashed forward and caught him before he could hit the ground, he was still unconscious as I looked up again, only to see him gone.

As much as I want to think about what just happened I needed to save the captives and follow through the plan, I put the guard down as I moved and towards the armory trying to find explosives and found a few set of bombs and a oil canister with matches, I grabbed them and spilled the oil canister leading a trail, as I did I quickly went towards the captives breaking the locks.

There were about 22 of them at max "It's okay I'm here to save you," I reassured them but they all looked at me with fear and distrust, these people lost their trust in others. 'This Empire, can't they see what they're doing to their people? Or is it that their greed is blinding them from seeing this despair,' I grimaced as I looked at the people. 'I want to be a hero who can save everyone with a smile on my face, just like All Might,' I gave my best smile that I could to reassure them to trust me,

"It's fine, you're all going to be okay, because I'm going to save you," I reassured as some of them looked at me with a little spark of hope in their eyes, they all stood up, ready to escape. I nodded, I led them towards the breach on the east side of the barricade, "Use this breach to get out but wait for me outside, I'll be back. Don't get caught," I stated as they looked at me before going through the breach, 'Now then time for phase 3 of the plan,' I lighted the match and walked towards the line of oil and lit it as it trailed towards the armory, it lit on fire and exploded as planned now I need to get out of here as I ran towards the gap and found the captives waiting for me. The explosion was also a signal for Akame to retreat. I hear collective shouts,

"The armory has been destroyed,"

"Where's the Captain?!"

"That was a distraction!"

"Look! The Captains dead,"

"The captives are gone too,"

"Damn it we can't chase them without weapons,"

"Most of our troops are dead,"

The shouts started to grow distant as we headed towards the south side of the forest. I moved towards the forest making sure no one was left behind as I rendezvous with people that had a red headband and brown uniforms both were males. "Oh your here," as he looked behind me and spotted the captives. "Good job you did it, I gotta say I'm thankful we have you on our side," as I nodded, "I'm just doing what I want to do,"

I stated as I was about to go back to Akame as I felt a tug on my pants as I looked down it was a boy no older than 7 as he looked very hesitant but resolved himself, "T-Thank y-you M-Mister," I kneeled down and patted him on the head, "You're Welcome," as I heard collective cheering from others as I looked, people were looking at me.

"Thanks kid you saved us,"

"Did you see how he handled the Captain of the camp."

"He was like a superhero,"

"He was like whoosh and them bam,"

"I'd never seen someone with so much power in a kick,"

"Is he here to free us from the corruption?"

There were so many compliments and questions as I became a stuttering mess, 'Is this what All Might deals with all the time?" But one person asked a question that got my attention.

"Who are you?"

As I pondered on that question, that was the same question that Gran Torino asked. I smiled,

"Deku,"

I answered as the people got confused at the name, I didn't let them question any further as I dashed off to the Cliffside on the west side of the camp.

Akame's P.O.V

I stood at the meet up point where we planned, "where is he," he launched the signal but I didn't see him come out. I also noticed that the Captain didn't come out as well as I widened my eyes at the possible outcome, if that's the case I should've got to him, no don't think like that. He seemed capable of handling himself, I was fidgeting as the wait kept adding more weight to my heart.

Then I heard rustling through the trees as I put my hand on Murasame and looked towards the direction of the noise. Then Izuku landed in front of me as he was breathing heavily, "S...sorry...that...I'm...late," he managed to say as he was catching his breath, I looked at him as he had a small graze on the right-side of his cheek. He's injured, he might have other wounds that he's not showing.

Izuku's P.O.V

As I landed in front of Akame as she looked surprised, "S...sorry...that...I'm...late," I barely got my words out. I had to sprint around the camp so I wouldn't be spotted and get caught. She loosened her grip on her blade as she walked towards me. I straightened myself out as I looked at her as she put her katana on the ground, "Akame?" She was now right in front of me.

She put her hand on my right cheek as I felt my face heat up, 'S-So C-Close!' She traced her fingers on the graze I received from my opponent. "You're wounded," she stated as she had her eyes on me, still having the stoic expression on her face. "Ah, it's just a graze, that's the only wound I have, its fine," I reassured her but she didn't look satisfied, "I'll be the one to decide that," she declared.

Everything happened so fast because I don't know how but she removed my arm braces and my gloves, she proceeded to remove my suit and soles, I realized what just happened as she just stripped my clothes off.

"A-A-Akame what are you doing!?" I lightly shouted as I didn't want to get spotted as she inspected my body as she rotated around me checking everything, I was in my boxers now as she kept inspecting. She then appeared in front of me as I was red as I tomato, I had my eyes shut so I couldn't see her face.

"Thank goodness."

I opened my eyes as I widened them at the gentleness of her voice but most of all she had the most gentle smile as she had a small tinge of blush across her face, I was flabbergasted at how she had the most gentle smile she made. My heart was racing now as we had our eyes on each other,

"It's good that you only got grazed, I was worried that the captain killed you since I didn't see him in my attack," she explained, I shook my head to focus, "U-U-um yeah, but it's fine now, I'm here now so everything's good," I stuttered as she nodded, "Just keep coming back alive and you'll be fine," I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. Her smile was so warm and kind, maybe that's what she wanted to say back when she stopped me early,

'Please be safe,' that's why she was against Tatsumi from going on that mission, because she was worried about us. But everytime I look at her eyes, I realize that she looks so sad. Why? "We should head back to the base," She suggested as I snapped out of my thoughts, I picked up my suit and equipment as I slipped them back on, but while I was putting on my suit I looked at her as she had her usual stoic expression, I focused on her eyes again as the same emotions were there, Sorrow, regret, and most of all pain.

I clenched my fist, what made her this way, why is she so sad, I'll never know if I don't ask...but I shouldn't ask now, instead I'll take the pain away, "Hey Akame," I grabbed her attention as she turned her head towards me. 'I'll take her pain away, no matter what,' I promised myself as I smiled at her, "Thank you, Akame, for worrying about us," she widened her eyes, as the small tinge of blush reappeared. She then gently smiled again. My heart skipped a beat, I felt my face heat up again. That smile, it makes me feel warm inside. Like all my worries are gone.

"I'll always worry about my comrades, because they're the most important people that mean the most to me, especially you two," she stated as I nodded, she may have that stoic expression but on the inside, she's kind and caring, but something in there is dark. Like something is dragging her. "Alright lets head back now, Mission complete," she stated as she jumped on a tree and dashed forward as I nodded and followed right behind her.

Akame's P.O.V

*Ba-bump* *ba-bump* *ba-bump* those sounds kept banging into my ear, why? After seeing Izuku smile at me it felt like my whole world was brightened up. Where was this sound coming from and what is this feeling in my chest?

Izuku's P.O.V

We returned to the base as we entered the conference area where Najenda, Leone and Tatsumi were there. Najenda nodded knowing that we both succeeded in our first mission as Tatsumi was gloating, Akame did the same treatment to Tatsumi as she did to me. But this time Leone and Najenda had to hold him still.

As the night went by Akame, Leone, and Tatsumi went to their rooms but I didn't, I needed to report something to Najenda. I explained what happened at the camp, the fight and the masked person who knew who I was. "I see so that's what happened huh," she looked at me, "Do you believe that they followed you here," I shook my head, "I don't think so, I only came here on a whim, I highly doubt someone was following me when I got here," she kept her gaze at me, "How did you get here,"

I looked at her, "I was teleported here." I explained but then realized what I just said, "Teleported? I didn't know that kind of transportation existed." Crap, make something up quick, "Um you see I was actually kidnapped here but I escaped from captor," I mean it is true that I was dragged into this world. She looked at me. She sighed, "If you say so but about the masked man, I believe you should be cautious Izuku, we don't know his motives so stay sharp," she warned me as I nodded knowing I'll have to meet this person again whoever he is.

After I reported the information she spoke again, "Oh and tell Tatsumi he'll be training with Mein," as I sweatdropped at the pair soon to be, "You'll be training with Leone," as she mentioned that I shivered at the thought. Oh boy this isn't going to be good.

End