Chapter 19: Can't Die Anyway.
Bakugo and Izuku vs All Might: Anyway by Divide Music.
Review Replies
evanonymous: The lack of logic in this dynamic you've set up with Taida is kind of painful my man. His actions have the thought processes of a mentally challenged duck behind them, and it makes the character kinda grating. Also...just a heads up, you often flip between Ochako having been alive and growing up alongside Taida, then with Taida believing she had been dead the whole time just as Izuku did. It makes it very difficult to try keep any coherence to the plot. Good luck to ya mate.
Dragon Emperor0: I'll just chock the latter case up to just misreading the context because we were careful to make that clear. But in the case of the former... Piss off. If Taida's dynamic and thought process was that bad, I'm pretty sure more people would have pointed out that same conclusion to us.
ThermalsniperN7: Right.
Duriel999: So…that L during the festival by Izuku was entirely contrived. It didn't feel natural given the nature of the story and Izuku's character. If he'd been thrown out of the ring by an attack, okay that's believable. But to just suddenly get tired when after all that's been seen of him say, nah. It just smacked of an L for the sake of maintaining the plot beats. Very unsatisfying.
Dragon Emperor0: Uh, this guy does know how Ban's abilities work, right?
ThermalsniperN7: Probably not.
Dragon Emperor0: Then I guess we'll have to explain it to him. Ban's Powers cause his body to become heavy and cause him to become sluggish when they're overused. Especially after using a move like Hunter Fest. That's been stated many times in the Seven Deadly Sins manga. Izuku used Hunter Fest during his fight with Shoto, and since his powers are Ban's he has the exact same weaknesses. Get a clue, dude.
-Battleground Alpha-
Izuku and Bakugo started walking down the main road to training ground Alpha where they currently were posted. The Sin of Greed looked at his friend and decided to speak up.
"Hey Kacchan, about what we should do—." He said before the blonde interrupted him.
"If you're gonna say run, then you might as well save your breath. I'm not running from this." Bakugo stated.
"No, it's not that." The Immortal replied, causing the Pomeranian blonde to pause before glancing at him.
"What are you gonna say, then?" He questioned.
"I may have a plan on how we can take All Might down. But if we're gonna do it, it means you gotta do exactly what I tell you." Izuku replied.
"Forgive me if I'm not keen on following your lead. Still, what do you have in mind?" The bomber asked as he folded his arms… Only for his own gauntlets to make him fail.
The Sin of Greed gestured for him to follow him into an alley where they could talk. "Okay, so you know Mr. Yagi? The guy who trained me during the ten months before the entrance exam?" He asked his friend.
"Yeah?" Bakugo nodded, wondering where this was going.
"Well, I know this is hard to believe, but that's actually All Might." The boy replied, causing the blonde's eyes to widen.
"You can't be serious." Katsuki stated incredulously. Shaking his head, Izuku conveyed that he wasn't joking.
"That's his true form. It happened after an old nemesis of his ripped a hole in his stomach and left him badly injured. Luckily I healed it with my blood but… it's not completely better yet." The boy elaborated. "This means he can only be All Might for two hours at the most." He added.
'Shit, this is actually important.' Bakugo thought, deciding to keep his silence on the matter. "How long does he have right now?" He questioned.
"If I'm calculating the rate of depletion with the weight of those handicaps correctly? Fifteen minutes at the most." Izuku surmised. "Which means if we want to win we have to attack him from all angles one after the other. Making quick, strong and targeted attacks at his weak spot." He continued pointing at his stomach. "I'll be sapping his strength too just in case. And when he's at his weakest, we slap the cuffs on him and win."
"Attack from all angles while you sap his strength?" The explosive teen asked before smirking and popping his neck. "That I can get on board with. Let's do this!" He growled eagerly.
"Alright. Let's go." The Fox Sin nodded as the two started down the main road again. Meanwhile at the other end near the escape gate, All Might stood.
"I am here, to test them." He said as he pulled his fist back. "New Hampshire SMASH!" He yelled as a massively powerful smash tore through the city as if it were paper.
The two teens shielded their faces from the attack when it came at them. When it was over, they looked at their surroundings and were shocked by the destruction he wrought on the training ground.
"Who cares if I really destroy this city?" All Might questioned as he walked towards them.
'What the—why/how is he—so intimidating?' The boys thought as they looked at the man before them.
"If you think of this as an exam and not a real fight you'll be sorry. I'm a villain now, heroes, remember that." The blonde warned.
"Deku, please tell me you have a plan for this…!" Bakugo gulped. He was not ready for this level of intimidation!
"Right! Hit him with a stun grenade!" Izuku told him.
"On it! Stun Grenade!" The blonde yelled as his attack temporarily blinded the symbol of peace, and when his vision cleared, they were gone.
"Now where did they—!" He questioned before Izuku reappeared and backhanded him with a 20% full cowl attack, causing him to stagger to the side, then Bakugo came flying in and unleashed a barrage of mini blasts to All Might's face right as the Number 1 hero caught him by the face. "Facing me regardless of my power. Very brave of you." He told them as he recovered.
However Bakugo wasn't done, as he started firing more explosions in his face as he was being held, causing All Might to yell in pain and then gasp in agony as Izuku delivered an 8% punch to his mentor's weak spot, making him drop Bakugo.
"Don't forget about me!" The Fox Sin yelled as he sapped some of the man's strength, causing his arms and legs to feel slightly heavier.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile in the observation room, all of Class 1-A was watching the match in shock and awe at the boys' almost flawless teamwork.
"Holy crap, look at them go!" Kaminari exclaimed in amazement.
"They're fighting and swapping places faster than All Might can react, giving them a distinct advantage." Momo noted as Izuku took a 100% punch to the stomach that was meant for Bakugo and absorbed the power behind it, puking up blood as it shattered his rib cage and sent him skidding backwards. Though he remained standing.
"While it is impressive, I begrudgingly doubt they have the ability to best All Might." Iida commented as Bakugo struggled to get out from under a fence that All Might pinned him under.
"Come on guys, you can do it!" Taida said, hugging his pillow.
"Come on Deku, I believe in you!" Ochako whispered.
(Elsewhere)
Back with the boys, Izuku was still tanking punch after punch from All Might as he used Physical Hunt to absorb the strength poured into them, and then kept dishing them back out just as hard.
"You certainly aren't going down easy, are you, young Midoriya?" The man asked as he held his bleeding side and Izuku snapped his head back into place after the hero punched it so hard it spun backwards.
"No pain, no gain. Am I right?" The Immortal laughed. "Sorry, not sorry, but I'm not failing here!" He yelled with a grin.
"Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, Hero!" His mentor said as he attempted to punch him, but Izuku jumped over him and landed next to Bakugo who managed to get himself free.
"Kacchan, you know my move Crazy Hunt?" He asked his friend.
"Yeah! Why?" The other teen asked in reply.
"Get your first gauntlet ready." The Fox Sin said as he grabbed Bakugo's wrist and then started using Snatch. This caused the two to be pulled towards All Might at blinding speed and right as they reached close range to the man's chest, Katsuki pulled the pin of his first gauntlet.
"EAT THIS!" The Pomeranian bomber yelled as the blast was unleashed. The high velocity and the impact of the blast hit All Might like a truck and sent him flying backwards as the boys appeared behind him.
"Get your other gauntlet ready, we're going again." The immortal told his teammate.
"Got it!" Bakugo exclaimed. But as they made their move again, All Might stuck his arm out as he sidestepped and clotheslined the two boys and sent them crashing to the ground, stomping on Bakugo's back and hoisting Izuku up by his heels.
"That caught me off guard there boys. Very well done, but I'm afraid that's not enough." The man said as he held Izuku up by his legs. As the boy dangled limply, he then gave Bakugo a five hand sign to tell him how many minutes he had left and twenty for how long they did. Bakugo nodded slightly in affirmative.
"Yeah well… I think it's you who should be on your guard, All Might." The Immortal chuckled as he flexed his arm a bit.
"And why is that?" The man questioned, not seeing him flex his arm. Izuku then grinned as he twisted his body by snapping his ankle in two and nailing his mentor in his weak spot with a 20% punch. That made him drop him as his foot healed and then gave Bakugo the opportunity to charge up his explosive power and then cause a massive explosion like in the Sports Festival while All Might was off his balance, sending him crashing into a building.
"That's two minutes down. He only has three minutes left. So it's now or never." Izuku said as he and Katsuki got ready as All Might walked out of the rubble, coughing blood into his hand.
'I'm getting closer to my limit. Wait… Is that their plan? To wear me down and cuff me?' The man thought in realization.
"Okay, so what now?" Bakugo questioned.
"You know that Howitzer Impact of yours?" Izuku asked.
"How can I not?" The boy scoffed. "Want me to use it?" He asked after a moment.
"We're gonna do it together." The immortal said as he had the blonde give him one of his gauntlets. "Ready?" He asked as the two locked hands.
"Let's end our exam with a bang!" Bakugo replied with a grin.
"That's what I like to hear! Let's go!" Izuku exclaimed before the two boys shot forward at their opponent with a determined gleam in their eyes. The Immortal then launched himself and Bakugo into the air with an 8% jump, then Bakugo started blasting them around in a spiral to gain speed as a funnel of smoke surrounded them.
"Roswell/Howitzer…" the two boys said as they charged up. All Might's eyes widened as he tried to get away, but steam started coming from him as he coughed, he was out of time! "IMPACT/SMASH!" The boys add as they threw attacks at the man with all their might, causing their hero to be blown through the building behind him as a massive explosion occurred.
-Observation Room-
"HOLY SHIT!" Kirishima yelled in surprise when the blast occurred.
"Yes! They actually worked as a team!" Ochako cheered happily.
"It seems like they might stand a chance." Tokoyami noted.
-Battlefield Alpha-
Both Izuku and Katsuki panted as they stood slumped over in fatigue as the smoke cleared, and luckily All Might was still kneeling in the rubble in a coughing fit as steam poured off him. He was on the verge of changing back.
"Deku… Is now… a… good… time…?" Bakugo asked between pants.
"Yeah… looks like…" The green haired teen nodded tiredly. The two then walked up to their idol and slapped the cuffs on him.
"Team Midoriya and Bakugo have passed the final!" The automated voice called.
"Heh… Hear that, Kacchan…? We nailed it." Izuku breathed before collapsing to the ground and falling unconscious.
"I heard… you damn… nerd…" Katsuki breathed before falling unconscious as well.
(Later)
The next day at class everyone was in class waiting for Aizawa, and Sato, Kirishima, Kaminari and Mina all looked devastated because they wouldn't be going to the training camp with everyone else.
"Everyone… I hope… you'll tell us... how fun… camp was." Mina sniffed as she cried in dismay.
"Hey, easy Mina. A last minute decision could happen." Izuku told the distraught pink girl. "Or unless Aizawa-sensei decided to pull another logical deception on us." He added thoughtfully.
"Stop Midoriya, by saying that out loud you're just jinxing them." Sero told him.
"They said that everyone who failed had to stay here in summer school hell. We all failed the practical so there's no way we're gonna pass. Don't you get it Midoriya?" Kaminari growled. "Or did All Might knock all the brains outta you?!" He yelled as he tried to poke the immortal's eyes out, only for Izuku to grab his wrist and twist it, hard.
"Try that again, and I'm removing this hand! Got it?!" He growled as the electric teen yelped in pain.
"Hey knock it off guys, I may not be able to go either." Sero told them. "Our team only passed because of Tokoyami, I got knocked out. And since we don't know how we're being graded I may not have passed after all." He added.
"I send my condolences to you, Sero." The bird headed teen told him.
"Will you at least bring us back some solveniors please?!" Kaminari begged, only to get slapped across the face with a pillow by Taida.
"Keep it together man." The grizzly Sin told him. It was at this point that Aizawa entered the room, causing everyone to sit down.
"Now for the results of your finals. No one bombed the written tests, but five people failed the practical. Badly, two teams, and Sero as well, didn't pass that portion." The man explained. This caused said students to groan in dismay. "So in terms of the camp in the woods… Everyone is going!" He said suddenly, catching them off guard.
'It's a last minute decision!' The ones that failed thought in shock and delight.
"So we really get to go?!" Kirishima asked.
"In the exams we teachers were sure to give you a way to win in the matches, otherwise you wouldn't have stood a chance." Aizawa explained. "The training camp is to increase your strength and those who failed are in need of it most so we were never going to separate you." He added.
"But I thought you said that you weren't going to hold back?" Ojiro asked.
"We just said that to put you on edge. In other words…" The man trailed off as he grinned. "It was a logical deception to give you The push you needed." He finished.
"Called it!" Izuku said with a grin.
"Mr. Aizawa, this is the second time you've lied to us! Aren't you afraid we'll lose faith in you?!" Iida said incredulously.
"Uh, little blunt there Tenya." The Uraraka Twins noted.
"Good point. I'll consider it." The erasure Hero said dismissively. "Though to be clear, failure is failure. Those of you who didn't pass will have extra lessons during camp. Frankly they'll be much tougher than the ones you'd have in summer school."
"Oh man…" Kirishima, Mina, Sato, Kaminari and Sero groaned in unison.
(Later)
"Hey guys, I just had an idea." Hagakure said as everyone started packing up. "Since finals are over and we have a day off tomorrow, why don't we all go shopping for stuff to bring on the trip?" She suggested.
"Hey, yeah! We never actually spent time together as a class!" Kaminari noted, surprised that they hadn't done anything together yet.
"That does sound like fun." Taida nodded.
"Bakugo, we'll see you there, right?" Kirishima asked the blonde.
"Maybe, maybe not. I was never really the type of guy to go to malls." The exploding boy shrugged.
"What about you Todoroki?" Izuku asked his two toned friend.
"Sorry, I visit my mom on days off." Shoto replied.
"Party pooper." Taida huffed as he leered at the lad from his pillow. After deciding on where to go everyone left one by one, which left Izuku and Ochako in the classroom alone together.
"Deku, I should tell you: Aoyama somehow knew we got together." The gravity girl told her boyfriend with a blush. This seemed to confuse the Immortal before he facepalmed.
"Figures, I swear that guy is so extra, I bet he can see through the fourth wall." The boy groaned.
"The what?" Ochako questioned in a confused tone.
"Don't worry about it." He told her. "And as long as he doesn't spill the beans on us I'm fine with him knowing." He added as he wrapped one arm around her waist as she leaned back on an open window seal and he leaned towards her. "As long as it doesn't interfere with us, or our school work, I don't care if he knows or not." He continued as he started leaning in closer.
Likewise, Ochako leaned closer to him until both their lips met. Though when the round faced girl grabbed her boyfriend's face, she accidentally made him start floating.
This did little to dampen their mood as they continued kissing while the boy was upside down until they separated for air, smiling at their current situation… until the door opened and Aizawa walked in. Ochako quickly turned around to look natural and let go of Izuku by mistake.
"Ochako, finish whatever you're doing and leave. It's late." He told her.
"Yes sir!" She said as he left, only to look out the window and see her boyfriend floating higher and higher into the sky while yelling all manner of unholy and blasphemous profanities all the while. "Oh crap…" She groaned.
After getting Mei Hatsume and Sero before they went home, she quickly got the two to help her get the Sin of Greed down.
"He's about to enter the stratosphere. You should probably drop him and chance it." The salmon haired mechanic commented as she used her quirk to keep an eye on him.
"No!" Ochako yelled as she looked through a pair of binoculars.
"What the hell were you two doing in there anyway?" Sero questioned as he tried to shoot tape at Izuku.
"Just focus, you two!" The gravity girl ordered.
(The next day)
Class 1-A minus Bakugo and Shoto were all at the shopping mall to get what they needed for camp. Izuku was currently with Ochako looking for what she needed, which was sunscreen and bug spray.
"So what are you looking for?" The girl as she carried her bags.
"Just some heavier ankle and wrist weights, and maybe a new Three section staff to replace my old one until the one I ordered from the support course is finished." He shrugged.
"Is there even a store here that sells weapons?" The girl wondered.
"Beats me." The Immortal shrugged. "But still, do you feel like splitting up so we can speed up our shopping?" He asked.
"I mean I got what I need, but I guess we can split up for now." Ochako nodded as he kissed her on the head.
"See you later then." He told her as he left to go into a couple stores. After about twenty minutes of searching he found what he needed and then started walking towards the waiting area, when someone approached him.
"Hey, fancy meeting you here." The person, a man, said in a friendly tone that caused the hair on Izuku's neck to stand on end.
"... Same to you, Tomura Shigaraki." The Immortal said as the man draped his arm over his shoulders. "Ya know if you're trying to assassinate me all inconspicuous like, you're doing a horrible job at it." He added dryly.
"You've got the wrong idea. I'm just here to talk." The villain replied. "I'd threaten you, but we both know that won't work, given our last meeting." He added, knowing that Izuku wouldn't be phased by a death threat.
"So you can learn." The boy notes as they sat down. "What is it you want, anyway?" He questioned as Shigaraki placed his hands in his lap
"To talk about one thing: convictions." Tomura replied. "Just look at Stain for example. He's the hot subject on everyone's minds, and it pisses me off." He hissed. "Why, though? He told me that I don't have convictions. I'm destroying the things I don't like! Isn't that enough?!" He ranted quietly.
"I thought Stain was with you." Izuku remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not technically, but that's what the media made it look like." Shigaraki sighed. "What makes us so different? Stain's basically doing the same thing I am." He questioned.
"I think it has to do with the fact that people can understand his views and why he was so driven to carry them out. He had a drive that you lack." The immortal stated. "He was inspired by All Might right down to his scare tactics. That's a pretty clear difference." He added.
Shigaraki was silent for a moment before he nodded. "I see. And what about you "Fox Sin" Mr. "Sin of Greed". What makes you so heroic with a moniker like that?" He asked. "Why aren't you seen as a villain?"
"That's the thing about greed itself." Izuku chuckled. "Most think it's something that revolves around money or power, but that's not the case. It can be attached to anything material or abstract. Like a child wanting his parents to live forever, for example." He explained. "That kind of greed shows how much families love each other. And my greed? It's one attached to my heart. The greed I have is one of love." He continued.
"Interesting." The blue haired man said as he slumped forward. "So The Hero Killer and you were inspired by All Might. Explains your crazy convictions, and it explains a whole lot more…" He continued as he looked at the crowd walking around. "Oh yeah, it's all coming together now." He added as his mind began connecting the dots.
'I don't like that crazed look in his eyes…' Izuku thought as the man smiled in the creepiest way possible.
"I can't thank you enough Midoriya. That really takes a weight off my shoulders." Shigaraki smiled. As he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, one finger away from it. "One more thing though, this "Heart's desire" of yours. The source of your greed, What is it?" He asked, looking at the boy intently. "I really wanna know."
"Simply put: It's the one thing I long for the most. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep it safe. If anyone tries to take it from me…" He trailed off as he glared into the villain's eyes. "They'll be on my shit list." He finished with a low growl.
"I see." Shigaraki nodded as he took his hand off, right as Ochako walked up to them.
"Hey Deku are you… O… kay?" She said before she saw Shigaraki and the color drained from her face as a look of pure terror appeared on it.
Izuku was quick to try and calm her. "It's okay Ochako, we were just talking." He said, though perhaps too quickly because Shigaraki quickly picked up on this.
'Heart's desire, located.' The man thought as he looked right at Ochako. Then at Izuku again. "Well, see you around, Midoriya. And good luck with finding what your heart wants." He said as he walked away, slowly disappearing into the crowd.
"D-Deku, w-w-was that…?!" She stuttered fearfully.
"Yeah it was, sadly." He sighed tiredly. It had actually taken a lot of willpower to not attack him with so many people around, lest he risk their harm.
The gravity girl slowly walked towards him before she fell into his arms, absolutely terrified of what had just occurred. Izuku quickly held her tight, trying to calm her as she shook madly as he stroked her hair.
(Later)
After what happened, the students notified the police but Shigaraki was nowhere to be found. After that, Tsukiochi did a brief interview with Izuku about what he and Tomura talked about, which the man was now going over.
"From the sound of this, it sounds like he's a child trying to build his life." The man mused. "Though his interest in your convictions and desires in particular is rather troubling." He noted.
"You're telling me. I did not like the look he was giving Ochako before he left." The Sin of Greed nodded.
"In any case, this will be helpful. Thank you." Tsukiochi said in a grateful tone. After that the two went outside where Izuku saw All Might running up to them.
"Young Midoriya!" The man said as he ran up to him. "Thank goodness you're safe." He sighed happily as he hugged the boy softly.
"Yeah, I'm good All Might." The boy nodded before he reached into his pocket. "Here, these are healing pills made from my blood by Recovery Girl. They should help you continue to heal." He told his mentor.
All Might looked at the pills, he actually was starting to look like a normal person in his true form now, so this would definitely help him finish.
"Thank you, Young Midoriya." He smiled, right as a police car door opened and Inko Midoriya came running out of it.
"Izuku!" She exclaimed in worry as she ran to him. "Izuku, baby!" The woman cried as she hugged him.
"Easy, mom. Easy." The Immortal said softly.
"I can't do this anymore, sweetie! I can't handle another scare!" She cried as she continued hugging him.
The immortal smiled as he rested his chin on top of her head and continued to hug her tightly. "Mom?" The boy asked after a moment of silence passed.
"Yes, sweetie?" The woman responded.
"My chin is on top of your head." He said cheekily. Inko responded to this with a giggle as she started tickling Izuku, and the two men watching them smiled as the tension left them.
It would seem that everything would be just fine.
(Elsewhere)
As Ochako got into her pajamas, King floated towards her as he laid upside down on his floating pillow in his own green triangle covered pajamas.
"So, how's it feel dating your kindergarten crush?" The Grizzly Sin asked, a sly grin on his face.
"W-what are y-you talking about?!" The girl yelped with a blush.
"Oh, you know, just the fact that I caught you kissing Izuku before he left for his exam." The lazy boy replied as he continued to grin.
"I—that doesn't mean anything!" She snapped.
"The hell it doesn't! But don't worry I won't tell anyone. I'm just glad I finally don't have to worry about your romance problems." King said with a yawn as he floated away. "Just be careful." He added before falling asleep.
Ochako then climbed into bed and turned over… as images of her and the immortal powerhouse getting frisky and steamy in the woods plagued her mind due to King's words.
"Oh no!" She whispered in dismay as she fell asleep.
Dragon Emperor0: For those of you worried about if Ochako's feelings and relationship will obstruct her and Izuku's goals. They won't, they know there's a time and place and they can control themselves. Besides in Izuku's case his feelings give him more drive anyway so…
ThermalsniperN7: Yeah. On top of that, Shigaraki stumbled across Izuku at the mall by chance, and the old but true saying "know your enemy" comes into effect. He just learned quite a bit about Izuku.
Dragon Emperor0: And Izuku had to humor him or else those people would be dead. Also just a heads up the next two chapters will be a Bonus chapter where the students practice painting the human form. Starring the cast in the nude or in provocative outfits. And then the tie in chapter before we adapt the Movie into Fox Sin.
ThermalsniperN7: We're gonna be real busy. Also, I confess that Izuku putting his chin on Inko's head and getting tickled for it is a true interaction I have with my mom. I think that's the sign of a healthy relationship.
Dragon Emperor0: Plus it was cute. Anyway guys, see you next time.