the guest: While I do believe I should be a bit clearer with the character's intentions, I have to point a few things out.
Most of the villains that the gang encountered and beat are retired, not dead. Most of the enemy stand users that aren't BBEGs are still alive, and likely could pop up again. Even Alessi of all people, and he was beaten up by the heroes twice.
I'm sure you are likely referring to Izuku's sudden shift in attitude, and I can assure you that I'm not going to drop what Horokoshi wanted him to be. Izuku has become more intense, yes, but he hasn't done anything explicitly lethal yet. Izuku's primary goal will always be saving people.
Kyokaonly has one confirmed kill, and that's Susan. She is willing to kill Nine, but to be fair, she kinda died, and Nine is a serious threat, not to mention the guy is trying to hurt children.
Johnny and Gyro are characters that operate on the grey side of the spectrum, they are more likely to kill than the others, because that's how Araki wrote them. Of course they would try to kill Nine, especially after what he did to Kyoka.
And Momo, Katsuki, and Ochako haven't killed anyone at all. That being said, I will take your criticism into account and try to make the characters seem nicer, but this is a grey world that they are operating in.
Now onto the quirk: HOLY SHIT! THAT IS SOME KARS TIER SHIT! That quirk is really overpowered, but pretty damn creative! I'll try to make it work!
Bearticguy7: As one guest commented, this villain could be the subject of ridicule. I want to make sure you're okay with that.
Kyeo307: It's a recent chapter!
PhantomKnightPercival: The Jonathan Joestar seal of approval is no small feat! Hoo boy this chapter is gonna be explosive!
Literally.
Jpx0999: I wish we got more Jonathan, I miss him.
Euphoria: Izuku hasn't been pushed to kill quite yet, but he isn't pulling his punches anymore. All Might is going to get a spotlight in Momo's arc.
Balanced Goose: That sounds like it could be good for a bizarre adventure! Also yeah, I wanted to make Nine a genuine threat, but...I also kind of wanted Kyoka to learn why Jonathan activated her Hamon breathing, so, boom, near death experience, now she can talk to him.
Guest: Johnny has had reddish brown hair for too long in the story, and since he's already moved past his mother, the change would fell a bit random. Nice idea though! Probably should've used it earlier...
GUEST FOUND THE USER.
Kyoka coughed as they continued through the caverns, and Johnny looked back at her in concern.
"Keep going."
"Kyoka...maybe Gyro should check you out."
"We can do that after."
Gyro shook his head. "Set her down Johnny."
"No."
Johnny, however, didn't listen to her, and set Kyoka down regardless, earning a glare from the wounded heroine. "Don't look at me like that, you're not going into this fight unless we're sure that you can."
"I can."
"This isn't time to be stubborn."
"We need to save them...I can't just sit on the sidelines."
Gyro kneeled down and pointed at Kyoka's tank top. "I'm gonna have to lift that up."
"I-"
"NO. Not until we're sure." Gyro shut her down, and leaned forward. "Do you want to know how Johnny reacted when he found you? Lying there, no pulse? He was a fucking mess...if you really love him, you'll let me treat you."
Kyoka looked at Gyro, and then at Johnny, who had his back turned from her. Kyoka closed her eyes as guilt won over her resolve. "Make it quick..."
Johnny couldn't bring himself to look at her, knowing that she was likely cut up pretty bad. Seeing Kyoka like that...
His two childhood friends, and the girl who stole his heart...all three could've been taken away from him in the past two days. Johnny looked down at his hands, which were covered in Kyoka's blood, when he had shaken her, pleaded with her lifeless body...
What would he have done if she actually died?
Johnny began trying to rub his hands on the wall, trying to get the blood off, and it wasn't working.
A shuffling sound broke Johnny's train of thought, and something crashed into his back. Kyoka was hugging him from behind. No words were spoken, but they weren't necessary, because Johnny understood the message clear as day.
She felt horrible about what had happened, and was seeking forgiveness. She knew that her near death had hurt him, badly. Johnny turned around in the embrace and returned it, letting her know that he didn't blame her.
Gyro stood off to the side, watching his two friends try to mend the damage done to each other. Kyoka was still able to fight, but she needed medical attention as soon as the fight was over.
Kyoka took Johnny's hands, and took note of the blood. She put her head on his chest.
"I'm so sorry..."
"It's not your fault."
"It may as well be...you know how much I hate it when you cry...and this time it was over me."
"Of course I did...you're important to me."
"I feel so bad..."
"This is that Nine fucker's fault, not yours. He hurt me."
"I want to shove a rock down his throat."
"That imagery is disturbing."
Kyoka finally met Johnny's eyes, which were red and puffy, and sighed. "I'm clear...but...are you comfortable with me still being in the fight?"
"Kyoka...you aren't the type to leave a fight unfinished. Even if you getting hurt is...a horrible thing to think about, let alone see...I know you. You're a hero, and at the end of the day it's one of the things I love most about you."
Kyoka smiled and kissed Johnny on the cheek. "Good...now, I believe we have a bootleg All For One to put in a body cast, so...you mind?"
Johnny leaned over so Kyoka could climb onto his back. "Hop on."
Kyoka did as she was told. "Onward my mighty steed!"
"When did I go from the jockey to the horse?"
"I'm hurt, and smaller than you. There's no way you could ride m-"
Kyoka caught herself, but it was too late, as Gyro was giving her a big shit-eating grin. "I don't know Kyoka, I beg to differ."
"Fuck you."
Izuku slammed into an air shield, angrily attacking Nine with everything he had.
Katsuma, Mahoro, Ochako...images of all three began playing in his head as the fight raged on. His mom, the Necromancer, Johnny...
Katsuki.
Katsuki was fighting by his side, demonstrating teamwork that he never did before. They were legitimately supporting one another, something that Izuku never thought possible.
It felt really nice.
As the current user of One For All, it was his sworn duty to battle against All For One, and Nine had the quirk Izuku had built up his whole hero career to face. Images of the red marks on Mahoro's neck fueled the fire that was Izuku's righteous rage, as he continued to relentlessly attack his enemy.
Score a hit, retreat. Leave an opening for Katsuki, follow up with a strike of his own. Slowly, but surely, they were breaking through this foe's seemingly impenetrable guard.
As Izuku told Johnny in Italy, he was done holding back. He was done trying to be nice to people who didn't deserve it, and some people were just irredeemable.
Would he kill Nine? No, not unless he was pushed into it. Izuku was still terrified of crossing the line, but he now recognized that some things needed to be done. He was no longer the naive little quirk nerd that believed in Light vs Dark, because the conflict between Good and Evil had become far more blurry.
A world of light greys, and dark greys. No one was purely good, and no one was purely evil. Something that Izuku had come to see as truth.
Katsuki felt a similar feeling of comradery, although being as prideful as he was, there was no way he would ever say it out loud.
We can take him Deku, you and me. We'll show this extra who's boss!
Reinvigorated by his renewed friendship with Johnny, and potentially Izuku, Katsuki had found something within himself that he hadn't before.
He felt happy.
Perhaps Katsuki Bakugo had never known true happiness, perhaps his pride had always denied it for him. He compensated for his lack of joy by going deeper into his protective shell, but now that shell was starting to crack, and he was getting a small taste of fresh air.
Of course, his journey had only just begun. He had a long way to go for redemption, but the start had never made him feel more alive.
Nine slammed Izuku back with his Hydra quirk, but Izuku dashed out of it's mouth before the blue jaws could clamp down on him, and went under Nine's legs, punching the villain in the crotch as he slid through.
That's right, Izuku Midoriya is fighting dirty!
"A punch to the scrotum is unforgivable!" Iida's voice rang through Izuku's head for some reason, that was when Kota had punched him in the balls back in training camp.
Good thing I don't need him to forgive me.
Katsuki flipped over Nine's head while he was hunched over, and grabbed Nine's silver hair, ripping some of it out. "Legolas called, he wants his hair back! I think I'll take it for him!"
I didn't know Kacchan likes Lord of the Rings...
Nine blasted Katsuki away with a laser, and Izuku responded with an axe kick to the head, further impairing the villain's ability to fight. A concussed Nine grabbed Izuku leg and hurled him to the ground, only to be blasted by a recovered Katsuki.
Johnny, Gyro, and Kyoka had already significantly damaged the villain, now Nine was weak, and struggling against the two. Not to mention his life support system was destroyed, so his illness was slowing him down even further.
Nine attempted to use Hydra once more, and this time got Katsuki's leg. He hurtled Katsuki towards a wall.
"KACCHAN!" Izuku screamed, shooting after his childhood friend in an attempt to save him. At the speed the Hydra was going, the impact would be fatal...
Except Tusk stopped the Hydra with a single punch, shattering the energy construct instantly. Johnny emerged from the shadows with Kyoka on his back, both looking pissed.
"As if we'd let you do that to someone again."
"Earphone Jack, you're alive!" The kids called down from the safe spot they were taking shelter in, and Kyoka turned around and weakly raised her arm to give them a thumbs up and smile.
Dammit, they caught up with me! Nine thought to himself as he shot lasers in an attempt to kill the couple, but Tusk simply deflected them.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
Nine quickly put up an air shield as a steel ball thudded against it, and was forced to put up another one to stop Izuku from hitting him again. Nine then pushed them both back by sending out two Hydras, and began blindly striking out at everything and everyone.
He was almost at his limit.
Momo tiredly watched the battle, unable to make anything without passing out. Gyro was using his roller blade technique to zip past the villain's rampage, but there was no way anyone could get in close when he was like that.
She wanted to help, she wanted to be down there with them, fighting alongside them, but she couldn't move. There was no food available on a battlefield, no way for her to regain her strength.
All she could do was sit and hope for the best as her friends fought for the island.
That stupid stand...I would've been able to help them more if it hadn't chased me! This is so frustrating!
Momo couldn't help but hate Paradise City for the situation it put her in, all for it's weird obsession with 'Elysium.' Now she couldn't help her friends at all...
She was useless, Paradise City had made her useless.
Momo laid her head on the ground, pressing her lips together in an attempt to hold in her feelings of hopelessness, but she just couldn't. She buried her face in the dirt and just grunted in frustration.
I came to this school as a prodigy...and look at me now, laying in the dirt, because I can't fight remote stands.
Kyoka looked like she was hurt pretty bad...
And then she saw Gyro on the ground, he was moving, but he looked like he was in pain. Smoke was coming from the Italian's lower half. "Oh no...Gyro..."
Nine must have struck him with lightning, A weak one, but it did a number on Gyro regardless.
I could've created a lightning rod to prevent that from happening...Gyro...
She couldn't even save him.
A Speedwagon helicopter chuck full of Joestars hovered over the ocean, followed by several boats filled with military forces and several heroes.
Endeavor and Giorno Giovanna stood together, Giorno was the only one who didn't get on the helicopter...
There wasn't any room.
Endeavor coughed to get Giorno's attention, and Giorno raised an eyebrow in response.
"I would...like to start by apologizing, for trying to arrest you."
"That happened quite a while ago."
"True, but I saw a criminal, and I wanted to arrest them. Now more than ever, I see how important you actually are to our side. You're a good man Giorno Giovanna, and it would've been a mistake of I had pursued you further."
Giorno nodded. "Apology accepted."
Endeavor returned Giorno's gesture, and looked out towards the ocean. "I'm trying to be a better hero, a better man. So...I felt the need."
"That's good."
The two stayed silent, although the air was a bit more comfortable now that Endeavor had gotten his apology over with, then he decided to ask a question.
"Your nephew's mother was abusive, right?"
"It was all over the news."
"I never paid attention unless it was hero related, sorry."
Giorno sighed. "She was, she was probably the most despicable woman I've ever met."
"Do you think...if she had decided to turn over a new leaf, she could've been forgiven?"
Giorno blinked. "Forgiving Susan? Absolutely-"
"If things had turned out differently, if...she didn't double down on her madness, but actively tried to make it up to her family, would she have succeeded?"
"It really depends on this hypothetical Susan's crimes. If she did the same things the real Susan did, hell no. If she didn't...then it's a possibility."
Endeavor nodded, and turned to face the ocean once more. "How long until we reach the island?"
"Should be soon."
"I hope so..."
"Me too."
"GYRO, ARE YOU OKAY?!" Johnny yelled.
"My legs were struck by lightning, what do you think?!"
"MOTHERFUCKER!"
Johnny removed a hand from one of Kyoka's legs and began firing at Nine, and there was a howl of pain as a few of Act 3's wormhole bullets made an impact. He then sent Tusk through them, and Nine was thrown out of his frenzy with a broken jaw.
Nine screamed, and began to retreat from the heroes assault, firing lasers at Johnny in particular. Tusk shot back to it's user and Kyoka, and managed to get in front of them, taking the lasers in the back.
Kyoka's eyes widened as she felt a warm substance on her stomach, and Johnny fell to his knees, grimacing. "You idiot..."
"I always said...I'd take a bullet for you...ow..."
The couple both fell to the ground, and Kyoka took Johnny in her arms, taking off her jacket and pressing it into Johnny's back to stop the bleeding. "God dammit JoJo...you're lucky Tusk is a tank..."
"I couldn't let him hurt you again...I just couldn't..."
Nine blocked another strike from both Izuku and Katsuki, who were now the only people capable of fighting him, when be suddenly fell backwards, barely missing a set of wooden spikes.
A PIT?! Is that...the slime guy?!
Without missing a beat, Tombstone emerged from the bushes and tossed a cigarette inside, and the entire pit burst into flame. He had been waiting for the fight to push Nine towards it, and Slime Shinobi's blue shit made the flames burn all the more hotter.
A bloodied Katsuki turned to Tombstone. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Nine could only scream.
"It works."
"That's...a little too brutal for my tastes." Izuku said, cringing at the sound of their opponent burning to death.
And then...it turned to fear when those sounds ceased abruptly.
"HE'S NOT DONE!"
A massive tornado ripped through the flames, blasting the three aside. Nine emerged from the flames, his skin now purple from all the bruises and burns, and the villain was feral. He had injected himself with his final quirk enhancer, and was unleashing every single quirk in his arsenal.
For Tombstone, the trap had backfired. The ancient gunslinger was now on fire, and Tombstone was in too much pain to utter a single word, thus canceling out his stand ability. Drink With the Living Dead emerged, and screamed as it grabbed it's user by the jacket, and hurled him into the ocean.
The Hydra grabbed both Izuku and Katsuki, and lifted them into the air, and the jaws of the energy constructs began to apply pressure on them.
Nine clenched his fist, his eyes trained on Izuku and Katsuki as he began mercilessly crushing them. "I came to this island expecting a challenge, but your group definitely surprised me. I have never been beaten to such an extent, so I'll give you credit. You all are the hardest opponents I will ever have to face.
Nine snapped his jaw back into place. "However, you are far too dangerous to be left alive. I wish to create a world in which the strong will rule over the weak, Darwinism at it's finest, and you stand in the way of that. Goodbye heroes..."
Izuku could already feel the blood dribbling down his chin as he and Katsuki were being slowly crushed, and he couldn't help but look around.
Gyro was screaming, shouting at them, but he couldn't hear what the Italian was saying, only that he was probably scared for them.
Kyoka and Johnny were also shouting, and a bunch of nail bullets slammed into the Hyrda without any effect.
Momo from the ridge above, still suffering from her fight with Paradise City.
Katsuma and Mahoro...
Izuku looked at his desperate and horrified friends, and it hit him that this could be the end, to everything. Nine could seriously win this...
He then turned to Katsuki, who was struggling himself, and freed his arm, holding it out. "Ka...cchan..."
Katsuki looked at Izuku, bloody and tearful, holding out his hand. "Deku..."
"Take...my...hand..."
Katsuki looked at Izuku's hand, and then at Izuku eyes, which had a sense of finality to them, and he realized what Izuku was doing.
Is he...trying to give me One For All?!
He trusts me with it?
Katsuki reached out, and the two desperately tried to join hands.
"What are you doing?" Nine asked. "Sentimental? You want to go out together or something? How touching..."
They clasped hands, and Katsuki felt a burst of energy and power. He then turned to Nine with lightning in his eyes. "You're dead."
"What? WHAT WAS THAT?! WHAT DID YOU DO-"
BOOM!
A rippling OFA powered explosion ripped into Nine, shutting him up and breaking his jaw again. It also destroyed the Hydras, freeing Izuku and himself. Together, the two OFA users stood against Nine, who looked completely baffled by what he was seeing.
Izuku shot forward, punching Nine in the face, while Katsuki moved at speeds previously impossible for him, blowing Nine sky high.
Kyoka could only stare in awe as the entire sky lit up with Katsuki's explosions. "He...has One For All..."
"He does..."
"Doesn't that mean...if they win this, Izuku will..."
"He'll find a way to be a hero regardless." Johnny said, watching as his two childhood friends used OFA to completely destroy Nine. "It's Izuku we're talking about..."
He'll find a way...come on you two, FINISH IT!
"PUT THIS GUY IN A BODY CAST!" Gyro screamed.
"COME ON IZUKU!" Kyoka cheered.
"KATSUKI!"
"BEAT HIM!"
"WE'RE ROOTING FOR YOU!"
Izuku and Katsuki punched Nine at the same time in a devastating uppercut, blood flying everywhere as their arms broke under the pressure, but they both had a determined glint in their eye as they gave him one final punch, everything they had.
"100%..."
Nine could feel his skull cracking as they finally extended their arms.
"DOUBLE DETROIT SMASH!"
The fore tornado dissipated, and Nine was hurled into the atmosphere, his teeth shattered from the impact, and dazed. Then the two OFA users appeared above him.
No...this...can't be it. I can't just lose like this...
Even after coming here prepared to fight them...I still lost...
"100% ST. LOUIS SMAAAAAAAAASH!"
"HOWITZER IMPAAAAAAAAAAAAACT!"
Then Nine's vision faded to black as his body was sent hurtling all the way back to the ground. Izuku and Katsuki both began falling as well, and Izuku felt the last embers of One For All leave his body.
Goodbye...One For All...
And thank you...
Just then, they were both caught by a familiar purple hand with a studded glove. The Speedwagon helicopter had arrived, and Jotaro had used Star Platinum to catch them in midair.
Nine was nowhere to be found.
The black goo dropped Nine onto the ground in a field of flowers. He was broken beyond repair, and barely alive. Somehow, he was still concious, and he looked at Tomura Shigaraki, who was standing over him with a neutral expression.
Nine couldn't even speak.
Shigaraki walked over. "Well, you certainly bit off a little more than you can chew, huh? Don't worry about your dream, I'll make it a reality."
Shigaraki kneeled down. "I will rule the world in your place. Here's my final gift to you: putting you out of your misery."
Nine crumbled away, and Shigaraki withdrew his hand. "Like putting down a dog."
"Dogs should be treated with respect."
Shigaraki froze, and turned to find Santana sitting in the tree next to him. "Hello Tomura."
"You here to kill me or something?"
"You seem rather calm."
Shigaraki removed the hand from his face, his expression was still hateful, but it was rational hate. He almost looked sane...
In fact, his voice almost sounded deeper, mature. It was a stark contrast to his normal rasp.
"I've finally found some purpose, Santana. I want to change the world, to create a world without people like you and All Might. I think it's safe to say I've grown up a little bit."
"Yes, now you're an even smarter monster."
Shigaraki smiled, amused. "You're no different."
"Am I? You rule through fear, I rule through respect, I think that's a pretty big difference." Santana closed the book he had been reading, and turned to face Shigaraki. "You started a war, you know. A real one. I won't forgive you and Ujiko for hurting Himiko."
"That traitor? She should've died."
The two enemies stood face to face.
"Beru Morgenstein."
"What?"
"She was an underling of yours, that's who this book belongs to. It's a journal...you killed her, right?"
"She failed me, she let that stupid ear bitch leave."
"I think it's a little different than that. In this journal, she mentions a Tenko Shimura."
Shigaraki's breath caught in his throat. "Don't. Say. That. Name."
"It says here that she fell in love with him, isn't that curious?"
"STOP!"
Santana flipped through the pages. "Do you know of a man called Diavolo? The Speedwagon Foundation had an extensive file on him, apparently he's the one who dug up the stand arrows. Diavolo was actually two people. Two souls in one body..."
"I'M WARNING YOU!"
"You're suppressing Tenko, aren't you Tomura? He's in there, that's who she fell in love with. You didn't kill her because she failed you, you killed her because she was making Tenko stronger."
Shigaraki screamed and attempted to touch Santana, but the Pillar Man simply bitch slapped him, sending him flying back about 50 meters.
"Poor Tenko...trapped inside of a monster." Santana began to read from the book.
"I know Tomura will kill me, but I hope to be reunited with Tenko one day, he deserves so much better." Santana looked up at Shigaraki. "Her final entry."
"Please...stop..." Once again, Shigaraki's voice was different, and he turned to find that the villain now had grey eyes. "Please...I already hate myself fo-"
"SHUT UP!" Tomura barked, and suppressed Tenko once more. He then turned to Santana and pointed a finger at the Pillar Man. "I will kill you Santana, I will grind you to dust, one limb at a time. Mark my words..."
"I pity you, Tomura, feeling like you have to leach off of Tenko. You're pathetic, and you will die pathetically." Santana said walking away. "Make peace with your miserable existance, because the next time we meet, I'm laying what's left of you to All For One."
Shigaraki stepped through the black goo, glaring at Santana the whole time.
It was time for war.
"All...Might?"
"Yes Young Midoriya...I'm here." Toshinori said taking his successor's swollen and purple hand. "You did it, the island is saved..." He looked towards the unconscious Katsuki.
Tears went down Izuku's cheeks as he gave Toshinori a weak smile. "Good...and...everyone?"
"Alive. Mr. Higashikata and Mr. Giovanna are healing people as we speak."
"I'm glad...I'm sorry..."
"What for?"
"I...gave...One For All...to Kacchan."
Toshinori's eyes widened. "What?"
"It was the only way we could survive...the only way we could save everyone...I'm...sorry..."
"You...did your best, there's nothing to forgive."
Izuku smiled, and then passed out, and Toshinori lowered his head.
You were a worthy successor, Izuku Midoriya, and you are always going to be the son I never had. I can only hope Young Bakugo can live up to your-
Suddenly, the familiar green sparks of OFA returned to Izuku's body, leaving Toshinori in stunned silence.
It...went back to him? Maybe the transfer wasn't complete, and-
No...One For All chose to return to him, because of his willingness to sacrifice it to protect others. Thank you, One For All...Thank you!
Unbeknownst to the retired number one, Katuski's eyes were open.
One For All wasn't the only one involved with that decision...
Johnny sighed and sat with his legs crossed. Giorno had rushed over to him immediately, and healed his wounds first, and he was waiting for Josuke to be done with Kyoka.
Sure enough, his girlfriend soon entered the room, good as new, and latched onto his arm giving him comfort following such a harrowing experience. The two just sat there, relieved that they still had each other.
"So...that happened."
"Yeah...you didn't die on purpose just to get me back for the times I died on you, right?"
"I know you're joking, but I would never want to hurt you like that. I'm starting to think that you were right about the whole 'bad shit happens to us on islands' thing."
"This was the worst one yet."
"I agree. You know...when I was...y'know...I may have had a talk wi-"
"With Jonathan Joestar, I know. I felt his Hamon on you."
Kyoka nodded. "He...compared us to himself and Erina, he said that was why he activated my Hamon breathing..."
"Kyoka, you are my Erina...and my Koichi, you're some weird combination of both."
Kyoka chuckled. "I see I still have Koichi status."
"You do. I'm...probably going to have nightmares about losing you, more than I already do."
"I'm so sorry..."
"It's not your fault."
"I don't care, I'm going to keep apologizing."
Johnny sighed, and began playing with one of Kyoka's jacks. "Just try to stay alive next time, that's all I ask."
Kyoka nodded, and placed a long kiss on Johnny's cheek.
Then Gyro came in.
In a wheelchair.
Johnny looked at Gyro.
Gyro looked at Johnny.
And Kyoka was looking between the both of them.
The whole room erupted into hysterical laughter.
"I'm just glad we won." Ochako said, rubbing her head. "I'm glad Deku got to keep One For All, otherwise we'd have to come up with some weird excuse as to why he suddenly lost his quirk."
"Or as to why Bakugo is suddenly ten times more powerful." Momo added, biting into the ham sandwich Joseph had given her. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine. It was a bit dumb, trying to take on Nine when Mineta and Sero were already down, but I felt like I had to."
"I really wish I could've been more of a help." Momo lamented.
"You were plenty of help." The two girls turned to see Jotaro walking towards them. The elder Kujo sat down next to them. "Both of you."
"HOW?! I fought one villain, one that wasn't even associated with Nine! I was just useless for the rest of the battle!" Momo protested.
"You created that drone, we wouldn't have gotten so many heroes together without it."
"JoJo warned you guys through the blood connection."
"True, but your drone notified others. Johnny only notified us." Jotaro said, giving Momo a pointed look. "Not to mention that it was your actions that caused Paradise City to retreat, what if it had gone after people before you?"
"The stand I couldn't fight. I can only take down users, Dr. Kujo."
"You did fight it, and you won. You bought enough time for Johnny and Gyro to get there, and thanks to you the stand didn't stick around. You're looking at this the wrong way...you went up against a stand that was basically your biggest weakness, and you overcame it and prevented it from hurting anyone else."
"I mean...I guess you could see it that way..."
"You're selling yourself short, Yaoyorozu." Jotaro said. "You did well."
"I guess so.."
Jotaro sighed, patted both Momo and Ochako's shoulders, and went off to stop a recovered Gyro from riding the wheelchair over a makeshift ramp set up by Kaminari and Kirishima.
You took a real hit to your confidence, but you don't realize just how valuable of an ally you truly are, Yaoyorozu...
...
...
Yare yare daze...Johnny don't encourage him, you're supposed to be the sensible one.Kyoka stood next to Katsuki, who was leaning on the rail of the boat. "You good Ferret?"
"I heard you died."
"Almost died. Still, everyone else almost died too, so...don't tell me you're actually bothered by that?"
"It's pretty obvious that you're my friend at this point Ears."
"I know, I just like teasing you...so, how does it feel, being friends with Johnny again?"
"I guess it feels okay."
"I'm assuming that's ferret for: 'I'm over the moon Kyoka! I have never been more happy in my life! I could sing!'"
"You're a fucking bitch, you know that?"
"I do." Kyoka smiled. "But...I'm a bitch that looks out for her friends, and I think this whole nightmare might've been good for you."
"Maybe it was."
Kyoka looked at her hands. "For you, anyway. Do you remember the fight? Izuku said you had amnesia, but...between just you and me..."
"Of course I do." Katsuki looked at the giant crater in the slowly retreating island. "One For All made me a fucking beast...but..."
"You gave it back to Izuku."
"Yes and no. It wanted to go back to him...I let it."
"Giving up that kind of power? That doesn't seem like you."
"It's Deku's quirk, I can beat him without it."
"Or you're learning what selflessness is."
"You tell him about this, I'll kill you."
"I've died enough, thank you very much." Kyoka said with a grin.
"I'm glad you didn't."
Katsuki was caught off guard when Kyoka hugged him. It was a legitimate gesture of comraderie and affection, from someone who actually cared about him.
Had he ever hugged someone before?
"Johnny said something, after the fight...something about you. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yes."
"He said: 'He looked so cool.'"
Katsuki couldn't help but smile, and it wasn't his normal creepy smile, but a warm one.
He thinks I'm cool again...
Kyoka released Katsuki, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and passed by Izuku, who ended up joining his rival on the railing. There was a comfortable silence between the two, something new, unfamiliar, but strangely welcome.
"You didn't say goodbye to those kids, what's up with that?" Katsuki asked.
"I had a few things to say." Izuku said, calmly. "But it's fi-"
"MR. DEKUUUUUUUUUUUUU! BAKUGOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The two turned to see Katsuma and Mahoro sprinting after the boat, screaming after them.
Kyoka stuck her head out of the boat upon hearing their voices, a cup of noodles in her hand and in mid-slurp, followed by Johnny, then Gyro, and Momo. They all began waving at the kids, and the rest of the class soon joined them.
"THANK YOU EVERYONE!"
"I'LL GET STRONGER!" Katsuma yelled. "I'LL BE A COOL HERO LIKE YOU AND BAKUGO!"
Katsuki smirked. "Good luck brat, you'll have to work pretty hard."
"KATSUMA!" Izuku called out.
The little boy's eyes widened upon hearing Izuku call out to him.
"YOU CAN BE A HERO!"
Katsuma stopped, and smiled, waving one last time.
"THANK YOU SCARY COWBOY!" Mahoro called out, earning confused looks from the teens on the boat.
From the mast, Tombstone tipped his hat, and went back to drinking, but looked at the bottle, and threw it over the side, deciding that he didn't really need it.
The boat departed back towards the mainland, and Katsuki Bakugo kept his smile the whole way home.