Between panting breaths, Hitomi winced and whispered a weak "Ow."
Arms heavy and sore, she let the hefty metal rod slip from her hands, clattering on the ground noisily, making Aoyama next to her flinch. Her classmate was in worse shape, cradling his middle with a sickened expression and green palar.
Apparently his Quirk made him sick. Poor thing.
"These were Villains?" Hitomi incredulously asked, wiggling her arms to try to regain some feeling in them. She may be strong, but swinging around a solid pole of iron at extremely hard heads really put a burn in her biceps.
Around them, strewn haphazardly in heaps of twitching limbs, was the group of Villains sent after them. Half burned to some degree, and the other with some serious blunt force trauma. It was hard to say which got off easier.
The pinkette was shocked that they had barely managed to land a hit on either of them, only leaving Aoyama with a bruised and swelling left cheek, and Hitomi with a shallow gash across her right one. It was pretty pathetic all things considered. She knew that if they had been Villains worth their salt, then she and her classmate would have been in monsterous trouble. Vicious wounds would have been the best case scenario, but in all likelihood they probably would have ended up dead.
They hadn't even finished their first week at UA, which really went to show how weak these bad guys were. Quantity over quality at its finest.
"What now mon amie?"
Hitomi blinked at the sudden use of French, but recovered quickly enough. "Uh, well… we should get back to the others." She nodded once, as if to reassure herself that that was the right course of action.
Aoyama nodded along, but then shot her a dubious look. "But, where exactly are they?
"Ah, that…" Hitomi pointed at him with a strained smile, "is an excellent question."
Taking a cursory sniff of the air, the only smells to greet her were that of dust, metal, and the various body odors coming from the unconscious Villains. Any far off scents were masked by the overpowering ones she picked up on in the nearby vicinity.
So, they just had to play it by ear. Literally. Their best bet was picking a direction and walking until she picked up on any telltale sounds of battle. Hopefully Bakugou would go all out when and if he ran into any bad guys. His explosions were the most likely thing for her to catch, no matter the distance.
"Alright," she pumped her fists, spinning on her heel, choosing a random path, and marching onward, "let's go!"
Hitomi made it ten feet before she noticed there were no footsteps following behind her. Looking back, she saw her classmates standing in the same exact spot, still cradling his stomach, now with an even more strained expression.
"Um, Aoyama? Are you coming?"
The blonde did a quick flair with his right hand, before it shot back down to rejoin the left, a sparkle shimmering from his faintly squinted eyes. "I'm afraid I cannot."
Hitomi scratched the spot behind her ears, head cocking. "Uh, why?"
Aoyama's ever present smile twitched. "...If I move, it will not bode well for either of us."
Blinking twice, Hitomi ignored her raging curiosity at whatever that could possibly mean, and accepted it with a shrug. "Alright, I'll come back to get you after I find the others."
With one last glance back to check and make sure he wasn't about to change his mind, Hitomi retrieved the pole, and took off. Thankfully the area they were dropped into was pretty simplistic for what it was, a flat cityscape in varying levels of destruction, so it really didn't take too much energy for her to run through the empty streets. Now if it had been the rockslide zone, or someplace similar, she probably would have had to transform in order to get around in decent time, using the superior height to leap and bound over obstacles. And until she knew if they had backup coming, she needed to reserve as much time spent using her Quirk as possible.
Hopefully, wherever she was, Momo was already figuring out how to save the day. And Hitomi didn't doubt for a second that she could.
The collapse zone was on the opposite side from the entrance, she remembered seeing when they first entered the building. At first she lamented her luck, knowing the longer it took her to get back there, the more likely it was she would run into more Villains. And who's to say they would be as weak as the last ones. But as she was sprinting past a crumbling office building, she heard a miniature explosion coming from within, light flashing from a window on the fourth floor.
A sharp toothed grin split across her face. Easy-peasy, Aunt Rumi had her climbing up to five stories with aid from her Quirk.
Of course, that was almost a half a year ago, before she grew even bigger in popularity and was sought out for more frequent work. She barely had time anymore to even come and see her adorable toddler niece, let alone dedicate hours to show off the dos and don'ts of parkour.
Taking a steadying breath, Hitomi backed up a few paces, and shot toward the nearest wall of the building. The pole was hastily put in her mouth to hold— something she would severely regret later, as chewing with the sore muscles would become an absolute chore— and reached high as she stepped onto one of the first floor window sills, straightened that leg in a snap and launching herself up to the second level. She bit down on the pole, grimacing at the feeling of it against her teeth, and gripped the second sill with both hands, knuckles quickly turning white.
One great thing about her costume, she decided, was the arm warmers. They reached down to her fingers, actively shielding her palms from the rough bite of the concrete.
Grunting lowly, Hitomi began pulling her upper body up by the sill, while she tried using her legs to help boost her, walking up the side. With one last great heave she stood crouching on the sill, panting through her nose, mouth full of the taste of metal. Careful to keep balanced, she peeked out, looking up at the third and fourth ones with a tired sigh.
At least it sounded like Bakugou was finished fighting. Maybe if she was lucky she wouldn't have to fight anyone for a bit, and give her sore arms some much needed rest.
Of course, that was after she got herself up to the fourth floor.
Could she simply drop inside and find a staircase to walk up? Definitely. Was she going to waste the opportunity to make a surprise entrance and admittedly show off? Absolutely not.
"...If we're both still in the USJ, then everyone else probably is, too."
Oh hey, it's Kirishima! Hitomi perked up, recognizing the voice coming from above. A flare of annoyance struck once she remembered about the two throwing themselves at the purple Villain, but it petered out before she even finished situating herself on the third sill.
"And not all of them have the offensive skills we do. We gotta make sure they're safe." Kirishima said determinedly, reminding the pinkette of her classmates like the really quiet one, Koda, who likely wouldn't last long alone. When he spoke again, Kirishima's voice was tight with regret. "Especially since we screwed things up when we got in the way earlier. If Thirteen had been able to suck up that Villain, then we never would've been separated like that! We have to make it up to the others!"
Hitomi could smell the remorse rolling off of him in waves.
The sight that greeted her when she crested over the final sill was rather impressive. Strewn about the floor were clobbered Villains, scorched or bruising, much like the ones she and Aoyama left in their wake. But these ones were decidedly bigger, and with more offensive looking mutations on some.
"You wanna track everyone down, have fun. But I'm gonna go destroy that warpy bastard." Bakugou spat determinedly.
Hitomi dropped the pole into her right hand, casually crouching in the window, looking back and forth between her classmates. Ears flicking, she glanced up and left, barely making out some distorted shape crawling along the ceiling.
She raised a hand, vaguely pointing at it. "Uh—"
Kirishima's brows furrowed in clear disagreement. "Our physical attacks didn't hurt that guy. C'mon, don't be an idiot, man."
Bakugou's jaw clenched harder with every word the redhead spoke. "Shut up! I'm gonna take him down because he's their way in and out!"
Hitomi perked up in surprise. He actually had a very solid reason that didn't hinge on mindless revenge. She decided to remain silent, listening in as neither of them noticed her obvious presence yet.
And they didn't notice the camouflaged Villain either, who was now on the floor and creeping toward Bakugou.
"If I cut off their escape route they'll be stuck here and have to pay for what they've done. We'll just have to figure it out!"
The camouflaged Villain struck, launching himself at the angry blonde.
...Who caught him by the head midair, and soundly ignited the same palm, effectively knocking him out. The camo fell away, revealing a humanoid iguana.
"Anyway," Bakugou carried on, casually giving the Villain a once over. "If all these Villains are small fries like these guys were, then our classmates can handle 'em."
"That reaction time was insane!" Kirishima praised openly. "Also… since when do you act so calm and rational? Usually you're all like—"
"Like an angry Pomeranian!" Hitomi piped up chirpily.
Bakugou rounded on her furiously. "Who're you calling—"
Both he and Kirishima paused, finally taking stock of her appearance.
Yeah, it was so worth scaling the building to see their faces.
"Saito!" Kirishima gawked at his classmate.
Hitomi waved. "Yo."
"How did you get up here?!" Kirishima cautiously approached her.
Bakugou glowered with narrowed eyes, suspiciously watching her.
"I climbed."
"You say that as if it's just something totally normal!"
Hitomi cocked her head. "It is. My Aunt Rumi trained me in parkour. She said my legs are my greatest asset, second only to my Quirk."
"How long have you been there?" Bakugou growled.
An admittedly sly grin spread across her face. "Heh, awhile~"
Bakugou scoffed, turning to leave. "Go find the others if you want to, or sit around with your thumbs up your asses, I don't care."
"Wait, hold up!" Kirishima called out to him before Hitomi could. "I think what you're really saying, is that you believe in our classmates. And that's thinking like a man, Bakugou!"
The blonde scowled, spitting out a "tch", but still paused to give either of the other two the chance to follow.
Hitomi smiled at his uncharacteristic show of tolerance. "Well then, I'll come t—"
Her ears went back, eyes widening as her face fell. Far off, carried as it bounced and echoed their way through the collapse zone, she heard it.
"Argh!"
Mr. Aizawa's agonized shout, followed by something snapping.
No.
Kirishima and Bakugou had no time to ask her why she suddenly looked so stricken, as she spun around on the sill, and leapt off. When she touched down, the pavement cracked under the weight of her shifted body, but the drop did nothing to her but cause a faint shock to shoot up through her legs. It had nothing on the fall earlier. The metal pole was carelessly left behind, of no use to her anymore now, not when she was utilizing her Quirk.
"Wha— Saito!" Kirishima called after her, but she was already halfway down the block before he could shout out to her again.
The air whipped against her harshly enough it likely would have stung if she didn't have fur protecting her skin, and she tucked her ears back to avoid hearing it whistle by.
The sound came from the middle of the USJ, close to where the Villains spilled out of that portal in the first place. The closer she got, barreling out of the collapse zone, the stronger the tang of blood hung in the air. Hitomi could only pray it wasn't Mr. Aizawa's.
But, nearing the origin of the cry, Hitomi was greeted by a massive figure, crouching over a crumbled black-clad body.
A certain capture weapon spooled out around him, soaking up crimson red from a still spreading puddle of blood.
The animalistic part of her that took over when transformed howled in rage. Her mind— dulled down to a more emotionally guided consciousness, drove her forward like a cannon, shot right at the dark indigo skinned beast hurting her teacher, with every intent to harm and draw blood in restitution.
She paid no mind to the hand-wearing Villain standing a short distance away, or the misty warp one Bakugou and Kirishima were after, bypassing both of them to launch herself at the large one's back. All four of her clawed paws scrambled to find purchase on its back and left shoulder as she lowered her head and sunk her teeth into its right one. A furious growl rumbling through her chest and throat.
She had taken down several Villains before this with Aoyama, she had been the first one to get to Mr. Aizawa, she had been raised by two of the best Heroes in the world, she was going to take down this Villain and rescue her teacher.
Confidence surged in her chest, a true belief that she could handle this and help brimming. This was what she was meant to do.
I can do this! Her teeth tried sinking deeper, finding rubbery resistance, but she was not deterred. I can save Mr. Aiz—
A massive hand raised up, and fisted the loose skin and fur of her scruff, grip pinching and unrelenting.
Wha—
The shoulder disappeared from her mouth, and Hitomi got a glimpse of the domed ceiling above before her body was whipped down to the ground savagely.
Pain. Horrible, sharp, sudden, agonizing pain erupted from the back of her head. A grunted scream broke through her throat unintentionally, sounding like a wail from an injured and fearful animal as her Akita form fell away, her consciousness flickering along with it.
Hitomi blinked blurrily, thoughts lagging at a snail's pace to figure out what just happened.
Mr. Aizawa attempted to grunt something out, but it was unintelligible with his face pressed into the ground.
She wanted to spring to her feet, and charge again, but her body wouldn't move. If only she could move.
"Perfect," that dry raspy voice belonging to the hand wearing Villain spoke, sounding disconcertingly smug, "I'll just start with this one."
Hitomi tensed, picking up on the way that Mr. Aizawa began struggling harder in the large one's grasp. She could smell thick panic underneath the scent of blood, and to her hazy confusion, she could detect it not only coming from her teacher, but—
Something slimy coiled around Hitomi's bare midriff, wrapping itself tight before she felt herself being yanked away. She shut her eyes as she was made airborne, vertigo threatening to cause her to vomit. Thankfully she was pulled back down quickly, the slimy thing around her waist retreating. Belatedly Hitomi realized she was now being held by someone, chest deep in water.
"I've got you, ribbit."
Hitomi's eyes fluttered open, and she felt something in her chest loosen at the sight of Asui at her side.
That explained the slimy appendage that grabbed her.
"Great, now he knows we're here!" Mineta shrieked, frantically hiding behind Midoriya.
Sure enough, the move to get Hitomi away from him had revealed the three to the Villains, leaving them all in a vulnerable position, especially with Hitomi's pounding head and uncooperative limbs.
The hand wearing Villain stared at them in eerie silence, the pale severed appendage on his face masking whatever expression lied underneath.
Hitomi had no way to tell if what happened next was thanks to her sure concussion, or if it really played out at the speed she saw it.
Because suddenly, he was in front of them, left hand outstretched, aiming for Asui's face. He was just there, too close for any of them to do or even think of something in defense.
Forcing her body to move, Hitomi managed to turn and shield Asui as best she could, closing her eyes and bracing herself for what was about to happen. Asui saved her, and she was prepared to do the same.
But… Hitomi felt the Villain's hand settle on the back of her head, and the only thing to happen, was a jolt of pain from the tender bump there. She hesitantly cracked an eye open, meeting Asui's wide and terrified gaze.
The Villain huffed, glancing back over his shoulder.
"You really are so cool… Eraser Head."
Hitomi wanted nothing more than to turn and look at her teacher, but with the hand still touching her she was frozen in fear. She didn't know what his Quirk was, but she could guess it was something horrible if Mr. Aizawa forced himself up to prevent it from being used.
Their teacher cried out in pain again, the sound of something slamming into the ground accompanying it.
The scent of fresh blood made Hitomi's stomach drop and roll.
The Villain's Quirk, Mr. Aizawa couldn't detain it anymore, and the Villain was still touching her—
"You, let her go! Now!"
Midoriya disappeared from their side, having launched himself out of the water and at the Villain.
"Smash!" He roared All Might's iconic battle-cry, his right arm seeming to glow for a second, before he shot his fist out ruthlessly at the Villain.
Hitomi remembered the ball test, the speed and distance it soared, and that was just with one finger.
The hit created an aftershock, gusts of harsh wind throwing all their hair around and almost making it feel hard to breathe. Behind them in the water, large waves rolled back, and the sound of shattering glass came from somewhere above. If the Villain survived it, he would surely need immediate medical attention if he wanted to stay that way.
When it finally dissipated, Hitomi noticed the hand was gone from her head, and finally looked back to see if there was anything left of the Villain. What she saw, however, was the Villain perfectly intact, now with the massive one standing between him and Midoriya, acting as a human shield.
Midoriya stared at where his fist connected with the large one's abdomen, with no signs that it did remotely any damage.
"You're pretty powerful," the hand Villain mused, "this smash of yours… are you one of All Might's disciples?" He shrugged, raising his hand again. "Doesn't matter. I'm done with you now."
The hand Villain reached for both Hitomi and Mineta's faces. The huge bug-eyed Villain grabbed Midoriya's right arm and poised its own to slam down on the teen. Asui pulled Hitomi back and shot her tongue out to wrap around Midoriya and snatch him away. And despite no longer being held down, Mr. Aizawa wasn't moving.
Hitomi clenched her eyes shut tight, her chest shaking with withheld sobs of fear and defeat.
Mama, Pa—
The entrance boomed open, a cloud of dust billowing out, visible all the way to the plaza. Heavy steps hit the floor audibly, carrying forward a towering silhouette from within the slowly falling cloak in the air.
The hand Villain stood straight, abandoning his previous goal of touching Hitomi and Mineta, turning to watch the arrival of their guest of honor.
"Have no fear, students."
Hitomi's eyes welled up, thick tears rolling shamelessly down her face in overwhelming relief. They were going to be okay. They were saved.
All Might's ever present smile was gone, replaced by a glare strong enough to make any Villain's blood go cold.
"Because I am here."
Posting this before having my face broken by a bone doctor. (A chiropractor is going to see if they can fix my messed up jaw) And it would be incredible to maybe come home to some reviews? Only if you have the time, no biggie if you can't, it would just mean a lot.