Chapter 15: When Did This Become a War?
Ida knew he should have stuck with Mina. After hearing Jiro's quirk, he finally realized the secret advantage the heroes had.
A bit late considering he was busy dodging a living shadow.
Tokoyami: "Dark Shadow!"
Tokoyami's dark shadow strikes at the approaching Ida who's forced to dodge again. But this time, he got used to the timing and pattern.
Ida: "I have seen through you! The heroes won't save you now!"
Baiting the shadow to overstretch itself, Ida dodged left and burst forward. Unable to retrieve dark shadow in time, Tokoyami was forced to block the overhead kick.
But the force was too much; the blow sent the dark hero to his knees.
Dark Shadow: "Partner!"
The living shadow attempted to attack Ida from behind, but it was too late. Ida sped behind Tokoyami and captured him with his tape.
Unlike the heroes, the villain's tape was red. This will show that the civilian was lost to the villains and couldn't be saved.
Tokoyami: "How shameful."
Ida: "You fought well, but you were no match for us villains. Hahaha!"
Tokoyami: "You're really committed to your role. I can respect that at least."
Ida: "Thank you. Now, that sound will surely draw heroes. Perfect."
Ida sped away to the next battlefield, leaving Tokoyami and Dark Shadow behind.
Dark Shadow: "So what? We're supposed to just stay here?"
Tokoyami: "It would appear so. But… "
The young hero looked into the distance and the explosions therein.
Tokoyami: "I have a feeling this exercise won't last much longer."
Momo: "Jiro… "
After saving Tsuyu, Momo went right back into the thick of it. Not long after, she heard Jiro's quirk going off. Sure, that means civilians could fight back.
But only until a hero comes. A hero is supposed to protect civilians, not fight with them. So it's an advantage, but not a full one. As soon as she enters the fray, her main goal will be to save Jiro, not fight the villains together.
With that in mind, Momo is racing to where she last heard the loud boom.
Jiro hasn't been that lucky so far, and of course that wouldn't change now.
She has been trying to stay hidden after taking care of Mina, but for whatever reason…
Bakugo: "Get back here, Deku!"
Jiro: "Why me?!"
Bakugo and Izuku's battle was following her around. She's been dodging rubble for a solid minute now as those two maniacs battle it out among the rooftops.
Rubble was ripped up, only for it to be destroyed by large explosions. It's a warzone!
And it's only getting worse.
Izuku: "Careful, Kacchan! We're causing too much damage!"
Bakugo: "Shut up!"
After a particularly large explosion, the ground beneath Jiro's feet was covered by shadow.
She looked up to see a large piece of earth heading straight for her.
She… didn't have time to dodge this. She-
Denki: "Watch out!"
Suddenly, she felt someone kicking her out the way and then a blinding flash of yellow.
When the world regained color and the smoke cleared, she saw the outcome. The large piece of rumble was charred and blown into pieces.
In the center of that rubble was Denki, in his stupid state after releasing enough force to destroy the rumble.
Denki: "Aeheahe."
He put two thumbs up, which caused Jiro to smile. She rushed over to him and helped him to his feet.
Jiro: "Hahah, okay, let's get out of here. Thank you, Denki."
The two, as best as Jiro could manage, quickly got out of the area.
He saw it.
While floating above the battlefield, Izuku saw it and still couldn't believe it. If Denki wasn't there…
Bakugo: "Don't look away, Deku!"
Izuku barely had enough time to block another explosive hit from Bakugo. He was sent crashing into a building. He lays on top of rough rubble. It stabbed into his back, but he didn't care.
This battle has gone on for far too long. The grudge match is starting to drag in people who have nothing to do with it.
This needs to end. Now.
Shadows cover his face as he stands back up, determined to bring this saga of his life to a close.
Bakugo bursts through an opening in the ceiling but doesn't attack yet. He senses it, Deku is different. He lands a few feet away; that's when Izuku begins to speak.
Izuku: "I admire you, you know."
Bakugo: "Huh?"
Izuku: "Even after getting my quirk, when it comes to battle sense and destructive power, I'm still behind."
Izuku: "But… what does it matter? We almost hurt Jiro; we were so caught up in our own problems that we almost got her killed!"
Izuku: "This isn't right! Aren't we supposed to be heroes, Kacchan?! We shouldn't be allowing our personal feelings endanger others!"
Bakugo grits his teeth before responding.
Bakugo: "Don't give me that."
Izuku: "Kacchan… "
Bakugo: "Battle sense? Destructive power? Still behind me?! With a quirk like yours, you have the NERVE to say that! Stop looking down at me, Deku!"
Bakugo: "How dare a pebble like you… how dare someone like you look down at me! Even when we were kids, you did that! And now that I know you hid your quirk all this time, a quirk like that… "
He glares at the little flares of green fire erasing all the efforts he made in this battle. The sight enrages him to unreasonable levels.
Izuku: "I'm not looking down at you idiot! It's not my fault my quirk came late!"
Bakugo: "Lair!"
Bakugo looked like he was going to continue the fight, but instead, his anger cooled.
No, instead of explosive, it became refined into a cold expression.
Seeing this, Izuku knew this was the end. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Because despite everything, he admired Kacchan's willpower, skill, and intense drive to win. He was his symbol of victory, one that often popped up when he was training, pushing him ever higher.
He was the inspiration for his ultimate move.
Bakugo: "Knock that sad expression off your fucking face, Deku. I want to see the real you."
Izuku understood when Bakugo lifted his arm and placed his finger on the trigger of his gauntlets.
He wiped his tears and placed his fingers together. Between his hands, green psychic energy started to crackle and bubble to life.
Uncharacteristically, Bakugo waited for the attack to charge. When it did, it was like a miniature green sun.
They locked eyes; it was time.
Bakugo pulled the pin.
Izuku pointed the attack at Kacchan and let it go as he whispered its name.
Izuku: "Psi Explosion."
The next moment, the world went white.
Kirishima is in pain and confused.
He should have been knocked out long ago, but for somehow, he's still fighting.
Kiri was too good of a fighter; he learned that the hard way. Every attack was countered and every counter evaded.
Was she playing with him?
He switches it up a bit and goes for the legs. Kiri jumps over the sweep and counters with a kick to the head. More used to the tempo of the battle, Kirishima blocked but was still pushed back.
Kiri: "Better."
Kirishima: "Ha."
No, as crazy as it may seem, Kiri was actually teaching him!
Every time he was close to passing out or giving in, she walked away. But not fast enough to escape him if he had the will to keep going.
And when the battle resumed, her attacks weren't as brutal and speed not as impossible to react to. As proven by the first blow in this fight, she could end it whenever she wanted to.
Kirishima: 'Well, I won't complain.'
Not only does this prevent Kiri from joining any other battle, but it sharpens Kirishima's skills. Like a sword or a polished shield, every bout pushes his harden quirk further and martial ability higher.
She taught him early on that brute force won't always win the day. Skill is required.
So Kirishima smiled and got back into a fighting position. Kiri did the same, arms relaxed and ready for action.
Didn't take long for them to explode back into action. A flurry of blows echoed across the street. A dance of experienced fists was on full display.
Close calls were aplenty in this clash, Kiri's blows grazing Kirishima's skin quite often. But he can take it and used the latest one to attempt a powerful body blow.
Kiri caught it, but her eyes widened a bit; it took both hands to do it. With that momentary lapse, Kirishima headbutted the girl.
Instead of being thrown off guard, she used the force to blackflip. The result was her feet meeting the chin of Kirishima. It was powerful enough to lift him.
Recovering first, Kiri dashed back into his personal space, ready to deliver a crushing blow to his abdomen.
Kirishima, despite the hit, was prepared. It was something he came up with during the battle, a way to harden select areas just when an attack came. It would sacrifice defenses elsewhere, but it would be worth it when he counters.
But the blow never came; instead the two heard an explosion. One far bigger than any other.
Kiri: "Onii… "
Kirishima: "Wha-"
By the time Kirishima's feet were on the ground, Kiri was gone.
Kirishima: "Onii? But wasn't she-"
Before he could come to any conclusion, the adrenaline finally wore off and he collapsed.
All Might: "Seriously…"
This really was a crazy class. He was pleasantly surprised by Kiri's choice to train young Kirishima. Her presence will truly benefit everyone.
But that's not what's on his mind right now. It was the potential lives of young Midoriya and young Bakugo.
All Might: "Time out!"
Everything hurt.
From sore muscles to the bloody torn skin. Even his ears rang like a bomb went off.
Makes sense; it was to be expected after what happened. Bakugo opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.
He was in rubble, again. This time though, he was practically embedded into a wall.
The building in front of him, the one he and Deku were in, was leveled.
He ripped himself from the wall and grabbed his shoulder. It might actually be dislocated. But that won't stop him.
Bakugo: "If he's still kicking, I am too."
He fought against the aches and pains. Nothing will stop him from dragging himself to where Deku may have landed.
Through the charred rubble and green rocks with lightning occasionally shooting out of them, he arrived at his destination.
Deku wasn't in a much better situation. In fact, he looked much worse. His was bleeding, his armor was cracked, and he was still unconscious. Sure, some flames were already repairing the damage, but he was out like a light.
Bakugo: "I… won?"
Bakugo: 'Wait, of course I won! Deku is nothing! He's nothing but my stepping stone!'
Then why didn't this feel satisfying? Seeing him like this, beaten and broken, wasn't too different from when he bullied him.
So why did this feel different?
Before he could think on it, he was knocked unconscious.
It felt good to finally punch the bastard who had tormented her beloved so long. She will never understand why Onii-chan admires him so.
Regardless, he went too far. Izuku may be alive, but he is hurt and unconscious. She will have to explain this to her onee-chans and convince the eldest to let Bakugo live.
But she was tempted to let her do it.
Kiri: 'I could just smash his head in. No, no, no, onii-chan wouldn't like that.'
Kiri: 'But he hurt him!'
The urge to do something rash increases as she goes to stroke her beloved's head.
All Might: "It's alright now, young Tae, we will take care of him."
She looked behind her to see All Might and a few mini conveyor-bots. Two were already taking Bakugo away.
Kiri: "I… stay."
All Might: "Very well, I don't think I can convince you otherwise."
Kiri: "You can't."
So she watches the bots put her onii-chan on the stretcher and leaves the battlefield with them.
All Might connects to the city speakers to explain the situation.
All Might: "Due to the actions of certain students, I had to pause the exercise. But this doesn't mean it's canceled! It wouldn't be fair to the rest of you to do that."
All Might: "You all have a one-minute break before the exercise continues. In the meanwhile, I'll list off the current scoreboard."
Heroes:
Civilians Saved: 1
Villains Defeated: 1
All Might: "Considering young Ahsido was captured by a civilian, the heroes don't get that point."
All Might: "Also, young Tae went with young Midoriya to the nurse's office, so the Heroes won't have to worry about her. But that doesn't change your precious situation."
Villain:
Civilians Captured: 1
Heroes Defeated: 4
When she heard the score, her heart nearly stopped.
Momo: "How?"
Kirishima she expected, and based on the explosion, Izuku was out too. But Sero and Uraraka too?
Momo: "Who… was defending the bomb?"
It was good plan.
Have Izuku bait Bakugo and see where he came from to locate the bomb. Then send two heroes to stealthily get the bomb while everyone was distracted by the titanic clash.
What Momo didn't predict was who was guarding it. She thought it would be Ida or Mina. Even Kiri might have been passable due to Uraraka.
If all else fails, she still has Izuku to rely on when he beats Bakugo.
But that part of the plan fell through. And even if it didn't, it wouldn't matter.
Shouto watched the robots carry out the unconscious and soaking Sero and Uraraka. They fought well, but he was not their opponent. No one here is.
Shouto goes back to the bomb and sits down, waiting patiently for Momo to be defeated or to make it here to him.
