The battle with Gentle Criminal continued as the heroes chased after them.

"They're on our tail, Gentle." La Brava said. "Let's…"

"La Brava, I would prefer if we saved your Quirk for if things become more dire. I'm well aware of the possibility of my plan failing. But this caper has become a race against the clock." Gentle said as they saw them approach from the air. "And they're fast!"

"There!" Mark said, pointing to the two's location. "Double D!"

"Understood!" Double D said as he charged up a Ki Sphere. "(In order for it to hit, it has to bounce from the trees...There!)"

Double D fired the attack, which bounced off Gentle's barrier before landing a hit right in the stomach.

"Gentle, are you okay?" La Brava said before the two were pinned to the ground.

"I got 'em, guys!" Ed called, pressing both to the ground with his hands.

"Attaboy, Ed!" Eddy cheered as the group landed in the clearing. "Alright, ya two, the jig's up!"

"I suggest you don't resist. Ed here's strong enough to knock a tank down." Mark said.

La Brava looked on sadly at Gentle.

"Don't bother trying to get up. We'll hand you over to the police as soon as we can." Miles said.

"Gentle...I...love you." La Brava said.

"And I you, my La Brava." Gentle said as a pink aura began to surround him.

"Huh? Oh, that can't be good…" Eddy gulped.

"What is...wait...is this her Quirk?" Miles said, looking to La Brava.

La Brava

Quirk: Love

By professing her love to the object of her affection, she can temporarily power it up. The deeper her love, the stronger the boost. In times of crisis, she can increase their strength 10 fold.

"Apologies, lads and lass…" Gentle said as he and La Brava quickly escaped the hold. "I appal using brute force so I usually edit out scenes of such violence. So it's best that all of you took a nap." he said striking Ed on the back of his neck and sending him down to the ground.

"Ed!" Double D and Eddy cried out in unison before they turned towards Gentle. "Kaio-ken x5!"

"Don't let him set up any barriers!" Mark called out as the three rushed him from three different sides. However, Gentle manages to block the two Ed's with barriers while hitting Mark in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

"Damn…" Mark groaned as he got up. "We've faced...stronger enemies...we're not letting you go!" he said, entering his Angel Form.

"(This is not possible…)" Gentle thought as he entered aerial combat with Mark. "(La Brava's love as always seen us through these situations before.)"

"Gentle! I'm sorry but I guess my love wasn't strong enough." La Brava said.

"Nonsense. Your love will see us through!" Gentle said as Mark got close. "Now...Gently...Sandwich!" he said pinning Mark under multiple barriers. "The thinner the sandwich, the more elegant it is. I regret piling on so many layers but it can't be helped. Sacrifices must be made. To achieve the dream, to make sure history remembers me. Unless I want my name to fade, I must persevere! My aims are not so trivial that I would abandon them. As a hero, you too must understand what it means to have a goal!"

"Then you know...why I can't let you win!" Mark said, managing to escape from the attack. "Everyone at that festival has goals and dreams too! Are you willing to crush theirs to achieve yours?"

"If that is what it takes to achieve my goal, then so be it!" Gentle said, clashing with Mark.

"Gentle!" La Brava shouted. "(We use Lover Mode to escape in a hurry...but he's really giving it all he has.)"

"You can mock me and say that I'm weak, I care not what you think! We will prevail!" Gentle said, landing a strong hit.

"Does it look...like I'm laughing?!" Mark asked as he delivered a counter-punch to Gentle, sending both men back.

"Tell me...tell me why it is you want to be a hero!" Gentle said as they grappled with one another and created a massive crater in the ground.

"Why? That's a good question, honestly. And the answer...is that I...want to be someone who can help others! I want to help Izuku, Mirio, and Tsumugi make Eri smile. I want to help the team enjoy the festival. And...I want to help you and La Brava as well!" Mark declared.

Gentle simply smiled before tossing Mark into a tree.

"(Don't worry, Gentle. I'll hack into the school.)" La Brava thought as she accessed her computer only to get an access denied message. "(No. I must be too far away. I need to get closer.)" she thought as she ran deeper into the woods.

"(La Brava, no. It's dangerous to go alone.)" Gentle thought before seeing Mark get up.

"La Brava...if the guards see her..!" Mark said as he tried to go after her, only for Gentle to attack him once more.

"Tell me, do you still consider me to be a weak opponent?" Gentle said as he rapidly bounced around the forest.

"I never did." Mark said.

La Brava continued to run deeper into the woods before stopping in her tracks as she saw Hound Dog and Ectoplasm approaching. "(No...they're coming.)" she thought.

"But...this guy. He's…" Miles said.

"I know. But...how am I going to stand with you guys if I can't handle these things on my own?" Mark asked.

"It's over boy!" Gentle said coming in for one last attack.

"Not yet!" Mark said, firing off a barrage of Ki blasts. Gentle dodged all but one of them, the final blast hitting him in the leg, knocking him off balance. Not letting the opportunity go to waste, Mark quickly teleported above Gentle and delivered a final, Ki-infused punch that sent the villain falling to the ground, the aura from La Brava's Quirk slowly disappearing from him.

"Gentle Criminal...I won't lie: you're the toughest opponent I've ever faced." Mark said.

"Gentle! The heroes! They're coming! They're…" La Brava shouted before seeing Gentle down on the ground.

"La Brava...run. Save yourself." Gentle weakly said.

"No. Stop. Take your hands off of him. Let my Gentle go! Get off him! Now!" La Brava said weakly punching Mark. "Gentle poured his heart and soul into this. He even skipped his beloved tea breaks. That's how hard we worked. Can't you see he's my only light? Don't take him from me. Please! He's all I have."

"(La Brava...I hope you know...that I am happy with you.)" Gentle thought. "(If they catch you like this, it'll be obvious you were my accomplice. In which case…)" he thought as he knocked the group into the membranes as they bounced off. "(The least I can do is make it look as though this fight never happened. To make the crime a little less serious.)" he thought as he embraced La Brava. "(Don't come back, Mark Anarchy. For the sake of my darling's future. Such a passionate young boy. You protected your friends' desires...and won.)" he thought as the heroes arrived. "I'm afraid I took a tumble in the park. UA...I'm turning myself in."