Later That Night

Hiding near the crater of destruction caused by the League, Izuku, Kirishima, Iida, Yaoyorozu, and Todoroki were shaking as they tried to come up with a plan of their own and fast.

"Kacchan are Hitoshi are really close, there's no way he'd let us grab him first so we have to take Hitoshi. I saw them during the obstacle race back at the sports festival; Kacchan blasts were strong enough to support himself and Hitoshi into the air. If we can clue him into what's happening he might be able to get them both enough propulsion for Kirishima and Todoroki to grab hold of them."

"That could work."

"There are so many factors that could go wrong." Momo worried.

"We don't have a choice."


As he'd said, Touya simply walked them out the front door of the bar, the three of them dipping into the shadows as they made their way through the city, making sure to check they weren't being followed.

They walked for about twenty minutes before they heard Touya curse.

"What is it?"

"Tomura and Kurogiri."

Hitoshi peered round the side of the building.

He was right.

"No…"

Looking down at his now fried out enforcement bracelet he nodded.

"Are you sure our friends are over here?"

Touya nodded.

"Okay, then here's what we're gonna' do."


"Hey boss!" Touya shouted as he walked him and Kacchan out into the street, their hands tied behind him back as he paraded them towards the League members. "Look who I found, apparently they thought they could actually run away from us."

Tomura laughed.

"I was wondering where they'd gotten to, Dabi you do need to be more careful, we can't have all of our guests just leaving willy nilly now can we?"

"I promise it won't happen again."

Hitoshi watched Touya smirk maliciously before a white hot flame erupted from his palm, his friend faux taunting him with it. He acted his part, eyes wide as he pretended to panic, trying to struggle away from the quirk.

"What's the matter pet, scared of a little fire?"

Kurogiri's warp gate opened before any of them could respond.

Footsteps approached from behind them.

"Tomura."

And Hitoshi's body began to shake there and then.

No, it couldn't be.

All For One.

"I see you brought along pet and our guest, how delightful." He paused. "It's your turn, Shigaraki, the board is yours."

This was bad, even Touya looked worried.

They couldn't take on All For One, he'd seen first-hand what had become of All Might after their fight years back and he was the number one hero, with his array of quirks they didn't stand a chance. They had to run, but where? Could they even get away? It was like the final exam all over again.

"Ahhh, another guest."

Hitoshi didn't even have time to react to the statement before a gust of wind announced the arrival of All Might.

"I'll have you return my students!" The number one bellowed as he attempted to land a punch on All For One.

"Have you come to kill me a second time?"

The shockwave from the blast sent both him and Kacchan flying backwards, landing awkwardly as their bindings didn't snap. Visibility disappeared seconds later as a dust cloud swept through the crater.

He felt hands tearing the ties on his wrists, the footsteps then running over to where Kacchan had been. As the cloud cleared, Touya had made his way to stand beside the other members of the League who had now arrived, blending back in amongst them.

"I won't repeat the mistake I made five-years-ago, you hear me? I will take young Bakugou and Master Shinsou back, and I will make certain you're locked up for the rest of your sad life, right along with your despicable League of Villains!"

"Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you; this will be hard for us both."

In a flash All For One landed a hit with his quirk which sent All Might crashing through four blocks of the city, smashing through the buildings as he did.

"ALL MIGHT!" Kacchan shouted.

"Don't you worry; it'll take more than that to kill him."

The League seemed to suddenly remember they were there.

Tomura stalked over, grabbing him by the collar and leaning close with a menacing grin.

"Oh what's wrong, pet, is seeing the big flashy hero giving you hope of rescue? You're ours, pet and those pro 'parents' of yours need to learn the rules about taking things that don't belong to them."

Despite his heavy breathing, the violent shakes wracking through his body, and the unadulterated fear he felt, Hitoshi stared Tomura straight in the eye.

"Fuck. You."

Tomura was silent before he began to laugh, his chuckles getting louder and louder.

"Oh pet… that doesn't sound like someone who's scared of me."

"That's because I'm not."

"You should be."

Shigaraki's fingers traced down his chin before they tightly gripped him by the jaw.

"They say kids wanna' be just like their favourite heroes, and you've always fanboyed over Eraserhead, haven't you, pet? Well why don't I just help you along the way a little.

Kacchan had just turned to his cousin in time to see Shigaraki's arm swing.

Hitoshi gasped before he listed to the side, slumping to the ground.

"HITOSHI!" Kacchan fired a blast knocking the villain away before resting his hands against his cousin's back and shaking him gently. "Hitoshi?! Hitoshi?!"

It was then that he noticed.

"No... no, no, no, no, no... Toshi!" His breathing raced in horror. "YOU BASTARD!" He screamed.

"GRRRRR!" All Might flew back onto the scene; the punch he went to make was once against blocked by All For One.

"Are you holding back against me, trying to keep the boys from being blown away? You've put yourself in quite the predicament, so how will the hero prevail?"

Lying on his back amongst the broken concrete and glass, Hitoshi's breathing was sluggish as he coughed, staring up at the sky.

In the distance he saw something.

Hope.

"Kacchan?" He weakly called out.

"I'm right here." Hands came to rest against him. "I'm right here, Toshi."

His lip wobbled as a tear trickled from his eye.

"Thank you, for everything."

Kacchan's eyes blew wide as he suddenly realised his mistake.

"No!"

He took control just as their friends flew over them.

"Use your quirk to grab onto them. Get out of here."

His cousin fired off his blasts, propelling him into the sky where he was grabbed by Kirishima's waiting hand.

"HITOSHI!" He heard Zuku scream.

His breathing sounded horrible as he wheezed, the pain ever-growing.

Like a shooting star they passed him by.

Hitoshi smiled.

Kacchan was safe and that was all that mattered.

"We must go, Shigaraki!"

He heard the sound of the warp gate transporting away the League members leaving only him, All Might, and All For One on the battlefield.

The ongoing fight was a blur both figuratively and literally as he struggled to stay awake but the eruption beside him was almost deafening.

"First to go will be your self-respect and ridiculous public image. Show the world how pitiful you really are, 'Symbol of Peace'."

Hitoshi groaned as he turned his head to side.

There stood… a frail form drowning in All Might's costume.

'After you took on All For One he mentioned a weakness he could exploit, I always thought he meant it figuratively but it turns out it was actually literal. I saw you coughing after Kacchan's blast, you can't hold out in fights like you used to.'

All Might.

No…

"Hollow cheeks and sunken eyes; to think that you're their greatest hero. Now the adoring public knows your true form. Try not to be ashamed." All For One paused. "Your move."

"Even as my body rots and growls frail. Even as you expose my weakened state. In my heart, I remain the Symbol of Peace. And there's nothing you can do to take that from me."

"Is that so?" All For One chuckled. "Oh and I almost forgot."

A coughing fit overcame Hitoshi as he shook.

The bellowing, agonising cry from All Might that followed terrified him to his core.

All For One used the opportunity to throw the number one across the battlefield once more, the pro coming to land just shy of Hitoshi.

"All… Might…"

He reached a hand out but missed.

The Symbol of Peace pushed himself up from the ground, kneeling beside him and taking the hand in his own. He took in the sight of the teen and gasped.

His eye, it was…

"You need... to keep fighting." Hitoshi forced out. "Giving your own life won't achieve anything, and it won't save us, you need to stay strong. You can do this."

The teen paused; eyes half-closed as he held onto consciousness.

"I was raised around villains so I know what they look like and you're not one of them."

"Master Shinsou..."

"What I said, I was wrong. Zuku and Kacchan look up to you and I should have trusted them. There's a reason you're the number one and the Symbol of Peace." He coughed once again, this time a trail of blood trickling from his lips. "It's because you want to save everyone regardless of their past, including the lab rat of the monster who did this to you all those years ago."

Hitoshi paused.

"Don't lose… Please…"

All Might took a breath, smiling softly at the boy as he gently placed a hand on his non-injured cheek.

"Rest, Master Shinsou."

"I believe in you... All Might..." The teen weakly encouraged before he passed out cold.

Seeing the young teen exhausted and in so much pain gave him the strength to rise to his feet, the power of One For All charging through the veins of his arm.

"Fear not child, I'm not done yet." He walked towards All For One. "You were right; a hero has so much to protect in this world. Which is why I will defeat you!"

The fight went on, his power dwindling to a mere flame within him while All For One seemed to just be getting stronger.

No.

'When you think you can't go on anymore, remember.'

"I'll beat you, not because I'm a symbol, but because I will do as my master did for me. You look at these people with such insignificance that you fail you fail to see their strength. I promised Master Shinsou that I won't lose and so... I refuse to die!"

"Nice trick, still weak though."

"That's because… I didn't put my back into it that time!"

'This power has been passed on from hero to hero. Each praying that it will bring joy and peace to humanity. That One For All will give the world hope. And now it is your turn. Do your best, Toshinori.'

"Goodbye, All For One." His blow landed. "UNITED STATES OF SMASH!"

All For One disappeared into the ground as concrete flew in every direction.

"Goodbye, One For All."

He dragged himself across the ground through the dust cloud to the young hero, gently lifting the teen into his arms; he was finally safe.

Keeping one arm around the boy he willed himself to his feet.

One last time.

He raised his fist into the air.