Kuri headed out to the arena and flew up, not knowing how well she could fight against Deku, not wanting to hurt him.
Deku entered the arena. He didn't really want to fight either, but if Kacchan was able to face the girl he liked, Reiko, in combat, then so could he! He swung his fists. Ready for action.
Kuri maintained her position in the air, wary of his jump attacks.
Just then, she was thrown by jump punch. "Detroit SMASH!"
Kuri skidded across the arena floor. She winced. Her left wing was shattered. No more playing nice.
Kuri was all of a sudden fully aware of her watching Grams.
Softly she whispered. "I'm sorry Deku. But your journey ends here."
She raised her left hand. "Heavenly BARRAGE!"
Her feathers rained down on Deku like arrows.
"Seeking Feathers!" She held up two fingers. "Hit. The. Mark."
The feathers chased Deku around the arena, finally pinning him down as he struggled.
Kuri advanced on him, holding her wing. "I'm so sorry." She placed her hands on his head. "This is the end." She looked in his eyes. "Shini. Despair!"
Deku screamed in agony, but managed to get his fists up, slamming her out of the ring, as he panted and fought to stay conscious and upright.
Kuri lay there, stunned, staring in his tormented eyes, and ran from the arena.
Deku collapsed in pain.
Kuri hugged herself and collapsed in the hallway.
Grams approached. "Oh good. It seems you understand the pain of your loss. I don't even have to show you… Grams pressed her finger into the despair rune. "Feel the pain. Feel it. This is what happens when you lose. You had sympathy for the enemy again? You can't do that. It's his pain. Not yours. Can't you use your quirk without hurting yourself yet? Your soft. What if he was a villain?" Grams pressed the rune harder.
Deku stumbled into the hallway and saw them. "Stop it! Get away from her!"
He moved to attack, forcing his ruined body to be a hero and protect her, even if it cost him his life.
Grams lunged forward—
In that moment Kuri blinked and suddenly she was between them. She couldn't remember moving, it was like her body moved on its own!
Grams pressed her finger into Kuri's chest instead of Deku, and jumped back in surprise. "Are you a fool? Taking the death rune?!"
Kuri glared up at her. "So you were gonna treat him like a villain?"
Deku was shocked and quickly pulled her behind him.
"How are you still alive?" Grams. gasped.
"What?!" Deku gasped. This woman had been about to kill him?! And Kuri had taken a shot like that for him?!
"She used the death rune. I should be dead. But I'm not. Cuz of this." Kuri touched her shoulder. "My new rune. Manou. The only one you don't have."
"Love is weakness!" Grams spat. "And if you love this weak fool. He will die."
Kuri stopped Deku before he could say anything in his own defense. "That's not a threat, is it."
"No." Grams sighed sadly. "It's simply the truth." Grams left, but not before gazing at All Might in the stands for a long moment.
Deku opened his mouth to speak, but stopped.
Kuri stands up, wincing. "It's alright Deku. She's just a sad bitter old woman deep down."
"But you're hurt!" Deku protested. "She tried to kill me, and almost killed you! We have to do some—"
Kuri put her finger on his lips. "You already saved me from her, remember? That's why I'm living with Aizawa-sensei."
"Yeah. I know. But that doesn't make it ok. And it doesn't make you safe." Deku sucked it a breath. "That's why I'm gonna protect you."
Kuri looked away. "I don't deserve that after what I made you feel. You screamed. I made you scream."
Deku touched her shoulder. "You didn't hold back. I'm glad."
"I HATED it!" Kuri touched his face. "Dammit I don't want to make you suffer any more than you already do! Look at you!"
Deku grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "That's why I'm gonna get stronger. So you don't cry when I fight. My quirk isn't supposed to make people cry. So smile, ok?"
He pinched her cheeks into a smile until she started giggling. "S-Stop it Zu!"
Deku laughed. "We're both a mess. Let's go get fixed up!"