I own nothing. May contain Out of Character moments.
Mineta immediately whipped out his phone, turned it on, and called Aizawa. If he was lucky, remedial classes haven't started just yet. And maybe, from there, they could muster up a defense with everyone here. Even if both Heroes and Students are a bit scattered, there should be enough to drive them back. It'll just be like USJ.
Except this time, Mineta won't be so useless.
"Mineta, you ignored me–" Aizawa answered, his plain voice coming through.
"Aizawa! There's trouble! A weird fire and haze is close to the Test of Courage site! We think it's a Villain attack!" Mineta shouted, interrupting his former teacher. The shorter boy immediately sensed the change in attitude in Aizawa, his orders coming in loud and clear.
"Get back to the lodge and avoid fighting if you can."
He then hung up, causing Mineta to turn to Midoriya as the two shared the same thought.
"Let's hurry. I have a feeling we're going to fight and we're going to need every hand on deck." Midoriya said, quickly stretching out his body. Mineta simply nodded to that. He quickly hung the E-Tool on his belt before drawing his baton. Even with Aizawa's orders, knowing their luck, a Villain would force them into a struggle. And while the shorter boy was certain they could take them on…
They had a guest to escort.
"Kouta-kun, we need to hurry back to the lodge. So please, let me carry you." Midoriya said, crouching down to the young boy. Kouta looked all sorts of dazed, his mind no doubt racing by the rising chaos. The green haired boy put a hand on his shoulder, bringing Kouta back to him. And with his signature, determined smile, he uttered words with the weight of his emotions.
"Everything will be okay."
Kouta anxiously nodded before sparks danced around Midoriya's body. While Mineta was sure his partner could carry the boy without using One for All, this was the better move. If, God forbid, they were attacked, Midoriya would be already ready for combat. Let's just hope today's training didn't wear him out too much…
"Then I'll do this. Even if it'll draw attention to us, a torch can be useful." Mineta said. He then proceeded to stab one of his hairballs through the longest and thickest of the leftover branches. And after rolling it through the remainder of their kindling, Mineta finally ignited the thing. He had no idea how long this will burn for…
But as long as it lasts the 5 minute rush back, they'll be golden.
"As problematic as that sounds, we need as many cards in our hands as possible. And leave the campfire; we've got bigger things to worry about." Midoriya replied. As dangerous as that sounded, Mineta knew he was right. He'll have to inform whatever rescue team coming here would deal with it. For now, it was time to make their journey back to the lodge.
Mineta and Midoriya walked at a brisk pace, leaving Kouta's secret hideout behind them. But not even a few meters from the mountain did they encounter a problem. Draped in a dark cloak and wearing a mask, a large figure stood ominously before the boys. And the figure's voice threatened to fall head long into ultra violence.
"I traveled all this way for a better view of the carnage, only to run into some kids. But I guess I can't complain too much, since I'll be getting my fight after all." He said, as his hand removed the mask on his face. Mineta felt legs wobble as Kouta let out a panicked whimper. He had blonde hair similar to Bakugou's and a grin equally as manic. But one key difference was the massive scar across the left side of his face. Combined with the rather artistic glass left eye, this Villain's identity was unmistakable.
"Muscular…" Midoriya said through gritted teeth.
"Water Horse's killer…" Mineta added, doing his best to not let the fear consume his voice. The League had high profile members like him!? If so, how many more were running about this forest? The chill that gripped the shorter boy's spine grew colder. He just knew their chances of survival had just dropped significantly.
"Huh… Now that I've got a good look at you, you're both on the list. Perfect, I'll cut the numbers right here!" Muscular said, throwing his cloak aside. Muscle fibers shot out of his arm, wrapping around it before the Villain lunged forward at surprising speed. Midoriya tossed Kouta back as Mineta threw his baton forward, both of them receiving the other's throw.
This allowed Midoriya to block the attack while Mineta safely held Kouta.
Muscular's blow actually pushed Midoriya back a few meters. But because it was the baton that took the attack, the green haired boy suffered little to no damage. The Villain paused and looked at his fist, noticing the bruise forming across his fingers.
"What's that? A neat toy? Then you better hope it doesn't break before you do!" Muscular shouted with glee, lunging forward again. Midoriya readied himself, the sparks of One for All brightening to meet this powerful foe.
Mineta on the other hand ran away. Not to get out of dodge, but to put Kouta some distance away from the fight. Once he had done that, he'd head right back into the fire. There was just no way he'd leave his partner with that monster. Mineta stopped and looked back where he came. He could still spot Midoriya and Muscular battling through the trees, but only just barely. Okay, this was far enough…
"Now time to head back…" Mineta thought, setting down the young boy. But stopping him was a small, trembling hand.
"Y-You don't believe you can win do you?" Kouta asked, his voice shaking.
"Not alone we won't... That's why we have each other. Now don't move and stay hidden, we'll be right back." Mineta answered, placing a hand on his shoulder. The odds were horribly against them, but he had Midoriya and Midoriya had him. If anyone could overcome this, it would be them. Mineta then hastily pocketed some rocks before charging back in, torch still in hand.
Back to the battle, Mineta winced at the blood that was on Midoriya's body. It had only been a few short moments, but there were already bruises and scrapes on his partner's body. Though, at the very least, the shorter boy couldn't see any signs of broken bones on Midoriya. However, on the other hand, Muscular was uninjured as he kept up his relentless assault. If this continued, Mineta knew Midoriya's body would give out very soon. Muscular was stronger than he was and just as fast…
But that was only if the situation stayed the same.
He began scanning his surroundings, noting which trees, branches, and parts of the ground were perfect for a hairball. And once he got it, Mineta began silently throwing them into place. Naturally, Muscular didn't make things easy as, in his attempts to hit Midoriya, kept knocking over his surroundings. But he kept diligently throwing, constantly adjusting the balls' placement as the battle raged on.
And soon enough, Mineta eyes went to where Midoriya was. Currently, the green haired boy was leaping away from another one of Muscular's vicious attacks.
The Villain quickly stepped forward, his other fist launching forward to crush Midoriya's side. And if nothing happened, Muscular would hit his mark. Mineta grabbed a ball from his head and focused on Midoriya's feet. Things slowed as the shorter boy's body went through the motions. Even with a torch in the other hand, nothing threw off his clockwork pitch as the hairball left his fingers. It hit the ground just before Midoriya did.
The moment his foot touched it, Midoriya immediately leaned and sprung away from Muscular's attack. The Villain's one eye widened as Midoriya zipped all around him like a green hornet. Mineta kept adding extra jumping points when Muscular wasn't looking, giving his partner more and more options. Muscular's eye darted around, trying to figure the pattern in his opponent's movement.
He charged in and swung. But his face only grew more frustrated upon finding nothing beneath his fist. Using this moment, Mineta threw his E-Tool into the air and it immediately disappeared in a blur of green sparks. Muscular charged after Midoriya, ready to crush him with a wide grab. The green haired boy, with eyes full of grit, dug into a hairball and shot past the Villain.
But not before using the E-Tool to cut deep into Muscular's right flank.
"Yeow! That's not very Heroic of you!" Muscular said, strands of muscles wrapping around his wound.
"That may be! But this isn't a fight I can afford to lose!" Midoriya shouted before flying towards Muscular again. And, as if in synch with his partner, Mineta was ready to pitch a rock, his body already through most of the form. Time slowed as the Villain pulled a fist back to knock Midoriya out of the air. The shorter boy's eyes began focusing on a particular target as his left arm completed the arc. The rock left his fingertips and sailed towards Muscular's face.
The stone hit a mere centimeter away from Muscular's good eye. And it didn't matter how battled hardened you were… Out of nowhere projectiles that close to something so sensitive WILL make you flinch. And that bought Midoriya the time to cut Muscular's underarm. But that wasn't the end of it.
Before Midoriya could land, Mineta threw another hairball beneath his partner's foot. Upon stepping on it, he launched himself towards Muscular's legs. The green haired boy then jammed the E-Tool into the back of the Villain's left knee. And once Midoriya's own feet touched the ground, he spun around and struck the side of the same leg with the baton, forcing Muscular to take a knee.
"You piece of trash!" Muscular roared, swinging towards his back. This actually hit Midoriya. But because of Muscular's positioning and posture, the attack was relatively weaker than his other ones. What's more, the green haired boy had two weapons to guard with. As a result, Muscular simply knocked Midoriya away at high speeds. Even though the E-Tool broke apart…
This was not a problem.
Before his partner was struck, Mineta had thrown balls into a rough pile several meters behind him. And when Midoriya was knocked back, he began flying right towards it. He quickly re-positioned his feet and landed in the hairballs. Only for Midoriya to bounce back at the same speed he went in.
"One for All… 100%!" Midoriya growled, raising the baton overhead. His right arm glowed brighter than the rest of his body, the air around him swirling as Midoriya met Muscular's glare. Mineta paled as he dove for cover.
The ground quaked just as a boom ripped through the air. Mineta had to grab an exposed root to stop himself from being blown away. But as quickly as it came, the force had subsided. The shorter boy got up, noting how several trees were knocked down by the force. There was also the dust in the air and the small crater where Muscular once stood. Finally, Mineta turned to the only figure left on the battlefield.
Midoriya, while practically heaving his lungs out, stood strong, clutching his bloody and bruised right arm. It was most likely broken… And yet the green haired boy's right hand still gripped Mineta's baton. Mineta felt tears pooling in his eyes as he raced forward, tackling his partner with a hug. He dropped the torch at some point along the way, the immediate need for it long gone.
"I-I knew you could do it! Thank God!" Mineta cried, tightening his hold on his partner. Screw what this looks like, they made it through this. Midoriya made it through this.
"Not without your help… If I was alone… I don't think I would've made it… So give yourself some thanks…" Midoriya said between breaths, gently patting his friend's back. Mineta nodded before breaking away from the green haired boy, wiping the tears away from his face. That was when he saw the baton in his partner's hand in greater detail.
Surprisingly, it wasn't broken. Instead, the baton was bent about six degrees. Now that severely confused Mineta. It withstood All Might's attacks. It withstood Muscular's attacks. And now, it withstood Midoriya at full power. There was more to this weapon than the shorter boy realized… But that could never dull the immense appreciation he felt towards his Shifu. Whoever made the baton and gave it to Fenghuang, Mineta was ready to sign away his free will and first born to them.
He owes them that much for saving their lives.
"Yeah… I don't know how this took so little damage… But I shouldn't question our blessings… Shame I can't say the same about the E-Tool… I'll buy a new one…" Midoriya replied, eyes darting to the small shovel remnants.
"It's fine, Dad will understand…" Mineta said with a chuckle.
"H-How?"
The duo turned to see Kouta stumbling on seen, his eyes staring at the dusty crater that was Muscular. The young boy finally turned back to Midoriya and Mineta, many questions dancing within his eyes. He slowly wandered over, expecting one of them to say something. And that was when Mineta allowed a smile to spread across his face.
"It's because we're partners. Nothing's impossible for us."
Kouta's eyes shined as his lips warbled, the ghosts of a memory clear on his face. He wiped at his eyes, doing his best to keep it all in. But it ultimately failed as he soon began sobbing. Midoriya crouched down, hugged the young boy with his good arm, and allowing the tears to soak into his shoulders. They stood there for a little while, allowing Kouta to let it all out.
"… You're both so damn cliché." He finally said as he backed away from Midoriya, wiping the away the last of the tears. Mineta could only give a small smirk to that, seeing that he had no argument. He then walked back to the torch still burning on the ground and picked it up. Well, now that was over, they should continue heading back.
"Mineta-kun, take point. Kouta-kun, stay between us. I'll stay at the rear and keep guard. I'll keep using the baton if you don't mind." Midoriya instructed. The shorter boy simply nodded his head and stood at the front. With the way his right arm was, Midoriya was going to need something to compensate. If something else happens, they had to be in the best fighting shape possible. They took a single step back towards the lodge…
Until the dirt in crater shifted behind them.
And that has been Chapter 72!
I'm too tired to come up with something...
Next chapter, we'll see the second part to this fight. So...
Until Next Time. T1.
