Angel: Will Izuka's personal enemy be Shiggy? Nah, she doesn't have one like Bakugo. I mean, Shigaraki already affects Izuka because of Izuku himself, both indirectly and directly. He's had her DNA, he's affiliated with All for One who wants to ensure that she doesn't become a hero, and now Overhaul knows about her. He's only doing it to further lose people's faith in her, because of his mentor. I feel like that's already enough on his part that he doesn't need to be her personal enemy.
To clarify, I said that whatever role Izuka plays in the Hassaikai raid, it was my choice. And that she wasn't going to specifically sneak out because she wouldn't do that. I never said she wasn't going to be involved directly. I was trying to throw people off.
Will Izuka find out Himiko was Camie during the exam? She does, but not at the same time as Izuku. Mainly because Izuka didn't see Camie naked like he did. It'll be before the School Festival at least.
In the spring of third grade, I transferred to a new school on the first day of class.
Tamaki stood nervously in front of the class right next to the teacher. His name was already on the board, and he felt like he couldn't talk... "I'm Amajiki, and, uh...and I like her—I mean..." He mumbled while the other students stared at him.
I could barely talk when I introduced myself.
Groups of students were gathered around before lunchtime.
It was a new school year, but plenty of students knew each other from the previous term. And they clustered together in groups.
Tamaki was all alone, sitting dejectedly in his seat.
It seemed like nobody wanted to be the first one to talk to the new kid who'd already embarrassed himself, and making friends wasn't exactly my specialty. After all, who would wanna get to know someone boring and awkward like me?
He thought that for the rest of the school year, he was destined to be alone...
"Amajiki!" He looked up in shock to see Mirio himself talking to him with a smile on his face. His two friends were also smiling towards the new boy. "It was kinda hard to hear what you were tryin' to say up there earlier, but I was thinking. Were you trying to tell us that you like heroes, was that it?"
"Well..." Tamaki looked away shyly from them. "I, uh..."
"Cause I like 'em too," Mirio grinned with a thumbs up. "They're so awesome!" He then smiled towards his new classmate. Tamaki looked at him in surprise as up until now, no one had actually come up to...talk to him.
That day...
Mirio kept up his smile. "If you had to pick a favorite, who would it be?"
You talked to me...when no one else would. And I remember thinking...how warm you were. How bright. Mirio talked to his friends, talking enthusiastically to Tamaki. Upon seeing this, he gave a shaky smile himself. You were shining...like the sun.
"Hey...Amajiki-San, right?"
He yelped upon hearing Izuka's voice, whipping around to her.
With Mido...she approached me, wasn't even afraid of me unlike the rest of her class.
All he could see were her sparkling eyes as he felt like he was in a dream looking at the girl. "I'm Izuka Midoriya, but call me Mido. Think you can handle talking to them if I help you out?" She offered while reaching out her hand with a smile.
When I saw her, I remember...how kind she is. How she wanted to help me. She shines just like the moon in the starry sky.
Izuka gave him a bento box, the moonlight outside the window shining on her. Even though she was out of breath.
The SWAT team were pushing past the yakuza members. Mirio, Izuku, and Izuka pushed past them as well. Tamaki kept his eyes primarily on Mirio and Izuka, in the back.
I wonder. Can I do it too?
As he watched the both of them ran off, he felt like he was seeing both of them shine again like he saw them before.
Can I shine...as brightly as you two do?
Ryukyu was still fighting with Katsukame as Nejire flew in from behind. Tsuyu and Ochaco jumped in, looking up at the villain.
"We have a warrant to search your premises on suspicion of manufacture and sale of illegal drugs!" One of the detectives announced while the other teams were still swarming in.
"Get the hell outta here!" One of the Hassaikai members shouted towards them.
"Yeah, what do you want with us anyway?" Another one demanded as a group of them were blocking the doorway.
"You heard him," One of the police officers attempted to push one away. "We have a warrant."
"Everyone please calm down!" One of the heroes was pushing several away.
"Clear a path!" Kesagiri Man warned, him and police getting other members away from them, but it was starting to become chaotic. "Consider the consequences before you resist!"
A masked hero looked up towards the building. "They're going to gut the whole organization just to buy some time?" He wondered what their goal was here.
"Just leave the ones out here to us!" A hero called out while pushing the crowd back. "You go inside!"
"Good luck!" Sir Nighteye shouted, moving one aside.
"Hate to just barge in like this," Fat Gum yelled as he kept running. "But we're kind of in a hurry!" They managed to get through the doors and into the building. "Haven't seen any signs of suspicious activity yet!"
"Same here," Locklock gritted his teeth. "But hey, we're in it now, right? We got no choice but to see it through."
"...Is it possible that somebody leaked our plans for the read?" Tamaki asked after a few seconds. "There must be a reason they all came pouring out like that."
"No, if there had been a leak, I think they would be fighting more cohesively," The head detective answered from up front. "Groups like this are used to working together."
"There's nothing that matters more to these guys than their bond with their boss and their brothers," Mr. Aizawa spoke up, running between the twins. "Being part of the underworld only makes loyalty that much more sacred to them. All those people outside, but we haven't caught sight of the top brass yet. They're probably underground hiding or getting ready to flee."
Eijiro gritted his teeth angrily. "How's that supposed to be loyalty?! Forcing their henchmen to fight for them while they run away isn't manly at all!"
"Think about it from the perspective of Overhaul," Izuka spoke up, her eyes narrowed as she kept her eyes forward. Eijiro, Izuku, Tamaki, and Mr. Aizawa all turned to her curiously. "He thinks of them as pawns, not people loyal to him. Being able to gain their loyalty is beneficial to him, doesn't mean that he cares about them. He just gets what he wants from them, nothing more than that."
Izuku blinked at the girl's assessment, as he felt like there was truth to what she was saying.
Sir Nighteye kept his piercing eyes forward, Centipeder and Bubble Girl leading the way. He used his Foresight to remember where he saw Eri's caretaker go, coming to a stop. There was a panel holding only a flower vase. "This is it. There's a device here that opens a hidden passage," He reported to the rest of the team. He moved away the flower and remembered the code he saw. "You press down the floorboards in a specific order, and then..." The wall moved backwards and then to the side as a secret passageway.
"It's like a ninja hideout!" Bubble Girl gushed a little. "How cool!"
"Thank goodness for your Quirk, Sir," Centipeder commented gratefully as they stepped backwards a little. "Guards up. We don't know what we might be facing down there."
Someone gripped the doorway, Bubble Girl gritting her teeth as immediately, they were ambushed by more yakuza members.
"Let's get the bastards!" One of them declared, and one even had a knife.
"Bubble Girl! You handle the third!" Centipeder called out as he used his arms to take care of the first two. He then captured them, putting them into a hold.
"Damn it!"
Bubble Girl threw some bubbles at the third one, and one popped directly in his face. "Ah, my eyes!" He cried out as she spun his body around.
"Sorry!" She then pinned him to the floor. "We'll make sure these guys don't follow. You go on ahead!" She told the others, looking over her shoulder.
"You heard her!" Sir Nighteye looked towards the others.
"We'll catch up when we can!" Bubble Girl reported as they went down the stairs.
"We're almost there. Hurry!" However, they came across a dead end.
"It looks like a dead end. So, what now?" The head detective asked as Izuka peeked from behind Sir Nighteye, eyeing the pathway closely.
"So much for your Foresight, Nighteye!" Locklock retorted and Izuka didn't know what it was, but she felt like this was a misdirection.
"The construction," She spoke up, confusing the others as she gave a small hum of thought. "It's not made out of the same material as the rest of the building. It's not an actual dead end."
"Hold on," Mirio had the same gut feeling as her. "Let me go take a look," He took off his helmet as he stepped up.
"Lemillion," Eijiro spoke up from behind. "If you go through, you'll be naked!"
"It's okay," Tamaki assured as Mirio ran up to the wall. "Mirio's costume was constructed from a special fiber made of his own hair. It's designed so it becomes permeable when he activates his Quirk."
Mirio went through the wall, revealing that there was more up ahead. I knew it and Mido had the right instinct too! The path continues, just like Nighteye said it would. He moved his head out of the wall, looking back to the others. "The hallway's just been blocked with this wall. Unfortunately, breaking through it's not gonna be easy."
"How did you know?" Tamaki whispered to Izuka, who glanced up at him.
"An artist's eye catches this kind of stuff," She revealed, looking back towards the wall. "Probably made out of something from a different room since he didn't take into account of the color scheme. See how it's in a different shade from the rest of the walls?"
He blinked at her in awe for her deduction.
"I knew this Chisaki guy could tear crap apart and put it back together, but damn," Locklock muttered in disdain, although almost impressed with Izuka's assessment.
"It was just a cheap trick," Fat Gum clenched an angry fist.
"If he did this, it's gotta mean that we're on the right track!" Izuku glared towards the wall.
"Yeah, you're right," Eijiro agreed with the green-haired boy, and then recoiled back his hand, with the skin from it hardened. "But he's an idiot if he thinks a dumb wall will stop us!"
Izuku gritted his teeth as he powered himself up. Izuka moved down her arm just as a flame appeared from it, forming into a comet. One for All, Full Cowling!
Comet... She, Izuku, and Eijiro all jumped towards the wall.
Shoot Style! Izuku swung his leg to kick just as Izuka recoiled back her arm, jumping up.
Burst! She threw her comet towards the wall.
Red Gauntlet! Eijiro punched at it, and they all formed a hole in the wall for them to pass through.
"...Hey, that didn't suck," Locklock commented after seeing this from the three students.
"I'll say! They beat me to the punch. And being able to actually throw a comet? I feel kinda bad Eraser Head considers her a problem student," Fat Gum grinned proudly towards them.
"We need to keep moving," Mirio stood in front of them so that they'd be able to focus. As he continued walking, Mimic injected himself with a Quirk-boosting drug...he grunted as his body twitched around, growing immensely in size. He was now a pink-skinned monster as he floated up to the ceiling. Suddenly, the walls and floor started to move as he roared. Mirio came to a stop, gasping as the hallway started to shake. All of them became unsteady on their feet as everything around them moved like they were in a bouncy house or something.
Bubble Girl looked towards the stairway in disbelief. "The walls..."
"What's going on?!" Eijiro yelped as they tried to keep their balance.
"Everything's twisting!" Izuku shouted as Izuka kneeled, looking up ahead.
"Was this on the list...?" She murmured as the head detective yelped, leaning against the wall.
"This is someone different," He reported to everyone. "Maybe Iranaka. Chisaki's Quirk can't do something like this. Iranaka's Quirk, Mimicry, lets him enter objects and control them as he would his own body." And this was indeed true, as his shadow was operating the walls and floors to how he saw fit. "He must have gone into the concrete in the halls down here...and made this a living maze!"
"It shouldn't be possible on this scale!" Locklock yelled at him. "He's not supposed to be able to control anything larger than a damn refrigerator."
"Remember who we're dealing with here," Fat Gum reminded him as the two were navigating through the maze. "Dollars to doughnuts, he's using a performance-enhancer. I was ready for just about anything, but I didn't expect the whole building to turn against us. Still, controlling something this big's gotta be wearin' the guy out. Eraser Head! Can't you stop him?"
"I can't do anything without seeing his real body," Mr. Aizawa answered as their bodies wouldn't stop swaying.
"With the passageway shifting and changing like this...they can create as many escape routes as they need to," Tamaki guessed correctly as currently, Eri was being carried away by Chrono. Overhaul was leading them away down the hall. "We have to think quickly if we wanna catch them. No, who are we kidding?" His eyes shook as he started to panic a little. "They're gonna escape with the girl, and we're all gonna die down here!"
"Tamaki!" Mirio yelled and he gasped, snapping out of it. The blond placed a hand on his shoulder, gritting his teeth. "No way that's gonna happen. Understand? You can do this, Suneater!" Tamaki gasped at Mirio's faith in him. "Besides, this is just a stopgap! They can warp the path forward if they want, but as long as we know the direction of our goal...I can still reach it!"
"He's right, Amajiki!" Izuka clenched her fists as she stepped up. "We have the shortest route memorized, so all hope isn't lost yet. Just because they're throwing all these roadblocks in our way doesn't mean we're beat! And besides, you're not alone, you have all of us supporting you, so let's do this together!"
Before Tamaki could comment, Mirio raced forward, to the shock of the others. "Lemillion!" Sir Nighteye shouted, Izuku staring after him in worry.
"Come back!"
"Speed is what matters right now," He didn't stop as he kept moving. "Those guys know it too, that's why they're stalling for time. I'm going on ahead!"
Tamaki froze and then squeezed his eyes shut. Why am I just standing here like an idiot? Mirio's doing everything he can. While Mido's supporting me! Mirio then ran through a wall using his Quirk. Come on! Give it your all! You have to! He looked up anxiously as he was still unsure if he could.
"Slipping through the walls, huh?" Mimic questioned as he saw Mirio's power at work. "Oh well. Even if he does reach them, what'll he be able to do by himself?"
The floor opened up beneath the others, causing them all to fall. The floor then closed up and Izuka braced herself, creating a large yellow star platform for them to land on. Once they were a few feet above ground, she released them all to give them a safer landing. She panted heavily as that took much more energy out of her...
"Now where are we?" Izuku frowned as he looked around, gasping as they were in a room that they didn't recognize.
"Somewhere even farther from the target!" Locklock got onto his feet, looking pissed off. "Those guys are really screwin' with us."
"Mido, are you okay?" Tamaki bent down to the girl, helping her onto her feet. She took a deep breath, hands on her knees.
"I'll be fine," She panted out and he could tell that save was taking a toll on her...
"Well, what have we here?" A new voice asked, getting their attention. "Looks like some state-authorized thugs crashed our party! Isn't that strange?" They were met by three members of the Eight Bullets.
"These guys are obviously ready for a fight," Fat Gum pointed out as one of them had a weapon, one had a rag-doll like face, and the last one had a mask. "Let's see how long petty criminals can last against the strength of a pro-"
Someone held out a hand...revealing to be from Tamaki. "The pros should save their strength for when we reach the target."
"Honestly, Tamaki," Mirio from middle school smiled, pointing to himself. "The only reason I'm able to do my best is because I have you here inspiring me. For real."
Izuka looked back up to the sun, a wistful smile on her face. "Not using it like my classmates have ever since they were kids held me back. It wasn't until my brother convinced me that I managed to discover so much about my power and yet that's still just the beginning for me."
"These guys just wanna slow us down..." Tamaki held up a hand. "Go on, I can handle them myself."
"Try to keep your footing, men," One of the police officers warned the team.
"What should we do?"
"There are more people than I expected," Mimic could see them from inside of the walls. "I'll deal with these officers first." One of his eyes turned back to normal. "And leave the heroes I dropped to the Eight Bullets of the Hassai Group."
"These guys just wanna slow us down. Go on, I can handle them myself," Tamaki informed everyone else.
"Suneater, wait! They're dangerous and you're outnumbered!" Izuka warned in concern, a deep frown on her face.
"She's right, you don't have to, we'll work together!" Eijiro agreed with the girl.
"Please, everyone stay," The one with the sword gave them a crazed look. "I'll kill you all."
"Setsuno!" The head detective recognized the man, gritting his teeth. "We can't use our guns on him. It's up to the pros."
"You've done your homework," Setsuno didn't seem too fazed. "Oh well. That just means I'm free to let loose." He then lunged forward, his sword ready.
"Think again," Mr. Aizawa's eyes flashed red as he held his scarf. "Lay down your sword!"
Setsuno grunted as he felt like his power was completely gone. "My Quirk!"
One of them then pointed a gun right towards Mr. Aizawa. Izuka's eyes shook in fear, but she bit her lip to compose herself. "Power erasure? He's an inferior version of Eri. I've heard that a hero with your abilities existed. But our job's to slow you down. Quirks or no, we still have fists and weapons."
"Fight all ya want, but swords and bullets just sink into my body!" Fat Gum declared as he stood in front of the teacher. "You have no hope of beating us, so why even bother?"
"Big talk," Setsuno mocked the heavyset hero. "But you just sound scared to me, Hero."
The detective and two police officers pointed their own guns forward. "Eraser canceled their Quirks. We can use our firearms! Surrender yourselves at once!"
Tamaki then jumped in, using his tentacles to capture the three. "Toya Setsuno. Quirk, Larceny. Yu Hojo: Crystallize. Soramitsu Tabe: Food. I read all about these guys in the briefing," He revealed as he flung all three of them into a wall. "I can take these three on," He revealed that he had taken away their weapons. "We eat tons of takoyaki at the Fat Agency, so Octopus has become one of my specialties. And you know, I gotta say I'm pretty down on guns since I was shot in the street," He summoned a claw and then broke their weapons down.
Eijiro, Izuka, and Izuku looked at him in shock. "Hold on, Suneater!" Eijiro spoke up in concern.
"Why are you doing this?" Izuka's eyes saddened towards him.
"It's not smart for all of us to fight them," He tossed away what was left of the weapons. "They want as many heroes stalled here as possible. Let's just give them one." Setsuno chuckled as he got onto his feet, amused by the boy figuring it out. "We should save all your Quirks, especially Eraser Head's, for later! You'll need to be operating at 100 percent to get through those moving hallways! Fat Gum!" He then gave a fierce look towards his opponents. "I know this is something I can do on my own!"
"...Let's go!" Fat Gum then turned away to leave.
"Wait a minute!" Eijiro called out after him.
"Through that door!" He ordered, ignoring his student.
"Hey, wait, where are you going?" Setsuno cried out, about to use his Quirk. Mr. Aizawa turned to him, erasing it before he could do anything. "Not again!" The man then pushed away Tabe, knocking him onto the ground.
"Amajiki," Mr. Aizawa walked back up to the boy. "You need to move fast. Beat them before they can fight back." He then left with the others, aside from the twins as they stayed behind. Izuka's lip quivered at leaving behind her friend, looking between them and Tamaki.
"Before you go!" Tamaki shouted, getting their attention. He then used his tentacles to knock the three into the wall one at a time. "You have to take care of Mirio! He's definitely going to try too hard. So please keep him safe. Callista, please don't worry about someone like me. If you stay, you'll reach your limit and I can't have that. So don't waste your energy on me!"
She let out a small gasp, her eyes shaking at him.
The others ran through the doorway, Izuku grabbing her arm gently. "Come on, we gotta go!" He urged and pulled her along.
"Fat Gum!" Eijiro looked a little nervous. "You're gonna leave him alone back there? What are you thinking?!"
"He's from your agency," Locklock looked over his shoulder. "So I left the decision to you. But are you sure he can handle them? Seems kinda risky."
"...I have faith in him," Fat Gum revealed after a few seconds. "He's stronger than anybody here." They all stayed silent at his unwavering trust in Tamaki, despite the fact that the boy wasn't like Mirio or All Might. "His only weakness is self-confidence. The pressure to do things perfectly sometimes leaves him feeling crushed. Breaking his spirit. And yet, he's risen to become one of UA's Big Three under those conditions. So I trust him when he says he can take down those thugs on his own. If he believes in himself, I believe in him!"
Izuka didn't say anything as she still ran from behind.
Tamaki had the three pinned to the wall. These guys are here to keep us from heading to the target. It's strange that Irinaka isn't using his mimicry to help them out, though. Did he prioritize the police officers left up top? He glanced up at the ceiling and then back towards his opponents. Whatever the case, these criminals are mine. It's because of their boss that Mido was crying about Eri. So I swear I'll stop them here if it means she can smile again...
"Not being able to use my Quirk," Setsuno growled as he wiggled his hands. "It felt so weird."
They might be tough, but I just have to make sure they can't get back up for a while. He still looked a little unconfident as he held up his other hand. "I'm gonna have to knock you out. Sorry, this might hurt a bit." He recoiled back his fist, but before he could land the blow, Setsuno jumped up and stopped it, cackling. Tamaki gasped, gritting his teeth as the man then hit his tentacle, causing it to bleed.
"Surprise! Made you flinch, didn't I? I know you're in a bind here, but you can't hesitate when it comes to us," He revealed a hidden knife that had blood dripping from the tip. "When you're fighting people who're basically human garbage, you have no idea what nightmares these masks might be hiding."
Hojo stood up, crystals forming around his body. "Whatever that guy's Quirk was, it's worn off." He then grew the crystals in size so that he could break free from the tentacles.
Tamaki stepped back, summoning a clam shell. However, it was flown away from his hand, and it landed in Setsuno's. "You can't kill us, can you?" He mocked the boy, who was now more nervous than ever. "Bit of a handicap, dontcha think? Stupid hero's code."
Larceny. His power lets him steal anything his opponents have equipped. He backed away a couple of feet as he felt backed into a corner now. I guess my shell counts as something he can take.
"See, we've given up everything, even our lives!" Setsuno started off as Hojo approached. "I was so hopeless once I even tried to jump to my death, cept some righteous hero stopped me! You can't understand people who don't see the point of living! And that's why we'll beat you."
"The boss took us from the trash heap and gave us a new life," Hojo revealed while standing right in front of Tamaki. He narrowed his eyes darkly as he was way taller. "Even trash has its pride. He expected more from us!" He then recoiled back an arm covered by crystals and used it to punch Tamaki in the face. "So we became more!"
Tamaki's eyes shook as crystals flew around his head.
He grunted while trying to use his power in middle school. He then was able to make...only a sprout from his hand.
"What's wrong, Amajiki?" The gym teacher asked him and he flinched, turning to him with a small frown. "With your Quirk, you should be doing more impressive things by now. Are you still feeling nervous? Oh, well. Don't force yourself. Back in line."
Tamaki then dejectedly went back to join his classmates. All sorts of people have Quirks. Not just heroes. He looked towards the ground sadly. In our Quirk training classes, we tried to figure out the different ways we could utilize our powers in the future. As adults.
A thump was heard along with a grunt. He looked up to see that Mirio had not only hit his face against a board, but his hand was stuck in it as well. The other students all started laughing at him for how silly he looked.
"What the heck are you doing, Togata?"
"That faceplant looked ridiculous!"
"I told you guys," He got himself unstuck. "This is really hard work! Why don't you give it a whirl? It's like five times harder than you think it'd be."
"Careful, Togata, you're clearly not very good at controlling your Quirk just yet," The gym teacher warned the boy.
"That may be true now," Mirio smiled, hands on his hips. "But next time, or the time after, I'll get it right!"
The students continued laughing, though Tamaki did not. He only stared at his friend, knowing that he could do better...
"Mirio," Tamaki spoke up as the sun was setting on their way home. "You're amazing."
"Hm?" Mirio turned to him in confusion.
"Even if you can't do something, you're still so positive and cheerful. It makes everyone around you smile. That's just not how I work," Tamaki looked towards the ground, frowning. "If I worry about messing up, I'm done. My mind goes completely blank and I freeze. You'll become an amazing hero. One who shines like the sun."
"What are you saying?" Mirio chuckled in disbelief to hear this and both of them stopped walking. "You're making me sound like some awesome pro hero or something, but it's not like that." Tamaki blinked at him in surprise. "Honestly, Tamaki...the only reason I'm able to do my best is because I have you here inspiring me." He watched as his friend let out a small gasp. "For real! I'm not really all that strong when it comes to most things I try. Then there's you. Even though I know you get crazy nervous, you keep working hard and refuse to run away," He then looked up with a smile. "So I don't wanna lose to you."
"What?" Tamaki asked him breathlessly.
"You think I'm better than I am and think you're not as hype as you are. That's why you call me things like the sun. Like, come on, I'm not that great."
Tamaki watched the crystals fly away from his face while remembering his friend's words. "You have an amazing power, dude. And it's just going to get better, I'm sure of it. And you know what else I think?"
Tamako as a kid made his thumb disappear, to Mirio's amazement. "Deep down, you're a smiley, fun, super-cheerful guy." Tamaki then made his thumb reappear with a smile.
Hojo let out a grunt, looking up in disbelief. "So if I'm the sun, you must be something even more amazing than that. Let's see. Ooh! I know."
Tamaki narrowed his eyes at his opponent. "That's who I am."
Mirio gave him a wink. "Have confidence in yourself, Tamaki. Cuz you're..."
Tamaki gripped the arm hard with his claw-like hand. "Yes," He then crushed the crystals from Hojo's hand. "I've got a light that can swallow even the sun's. That's why I'm Suneater!" Hojo gasped from Tamaki's sudden change in behavior.
"He's using octopus arms full of thick muscles to absorb the shock, and protecting himself from any crystal damage using a thick plating of shells. But that won't stop me!" His crystals grew in size, which Tamaki backed away from.
This is it. Over the last two years at UA, I've trained hard to master my Quirk. Now it's time to use it to the fullest! He closed his eyes, looking up as he prepared himself. Expressing several manifestations at once. Increasing their sizes. Picking and choosing characteristics. His eyes widened as he saw the crystals coming his way. Once they came into contact with Tamaki, they actually ended up breaking. Hojo gasped sharply as he saw that Tamaki's face had changed, and it now had thick plating over it. Vast Hybrid. This was an ultimate move of his, as he had expanded the amount of tentacles around his body. Chimera Kraken! He ended up knocking away all three of them, his tentacles moving all over the place.
"Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Setsuno shouted as Hojo got smacked by a tentacle, leaving Setsuno utterly stunned.
I'm enough on my own.
Setsuno then ducked from an incoming tentacle. "This isn't looking good. Tabe, wake up! Time to eat!" He called out to the third team member. Tabe opened up his eyes and Tamaki attacked again. Suddenly, Tabe then bit one completely in half, shocking the third-year boy. It didn't hurt him, but he also wasn't expecting it.
"Yum," Tabe grinned up at all the tentacles. "Seafood." He then jumped up and started chomping down all the tentacles.
Setsuno let out a pleased laugh. "With those teeth and jaws, he can devour anything in an instant! And he digests whatever he eats in seconds! It's ridiculous! Tabe's stomach will never get full. I'd actually say you two are a match made in heaven!"
Of course Tamaki gave a small glare. Eraser must have realized this. That's why he took him out before he left. But it's fine. I've got plenty of space to move. I can dodge his attacks!
Tabe was evading the tentacles as he opened up his mouth. "Yum!"
His shell was then taken away by Setsuno, leaving Tamaki open for a punch to the face by Hojo.
"I thought I had him. His reaction time's good. But that's not enough to stop my crystallization!" He then knocked the boy onto the ground.
Izuka slowly came to a stop as she didn't feel right about something. What am I doing? Am I really just going to leave him behind? That's not who I am, that's not what I want to do as a UA student. He's a third-year from the Big Three...but he's also someone I've been able to rely on. Not like the way I do with Katsuki, but he saved me from that drug. If it wasn't for him, it could've been like that for me. I haven't known him for that long...but I want to be able to talk to him more, help him be more confident! And I can't just sit by and let him face them on his own!
"Thank you so much for saving me," Izuka gave Tamaki a weak smile. "But if you hadn't done that, you wouldn't be having trouble with your Quirk..."
"Ahh, it was nothing," He turned away while blushing deeply. "I just...couldn't let anything happen to my friend."
He said the same thing to me, so I won't let it happen to him!
And then, without a word, the girl turned around and went in the opposite direction. Izuku gasped as he noticed it first. "What are you doing?!" He shouted after her as Aizawa turned around rapidly.
"Mido, you can't!" Her teacher called out after her.
"My friend needs me!" She argued back, to their shock. "He already saved me once, so now I'm returning the favor!"
"What about Eri?! She needs you too! How are you going to find her if you go back or if you use too much power?" Izuku implored and she didn't answer. Instead, a black/purple hole appeared in front of her as she closed her eyes, thinking about Tamaki. Their breath escaped them as they watched her jump inside of the black hole like a portal, and then she completely disappeared into it.
"...Did you know she could do that?" Mr. Aizawa murmured to Izuku as they stood there in silence.
"No...but that's amazing. Now she has a way to find us," Izuku gave a small smile, as it was like with Kurogiri. "You've got this, Izuka. Just be careful."
"You're the one that wanted to fight three on one, right Suneater?" Setsuno mocked as Tamaki looked up. "Did you think that you'd get the best of us by waving around a couple of oversized appetizers?" He laughed as Tabe kept eating the tentacles, and the ones that he did bite off were on the ground, unusable.
I'll manifest the neurotoxin from an octopus' saliva in my arm! If he eats it, he won't be able to move anymore!
Tabe then opened up his mouth...as the tentacles completely disappeared into them. Tamaki gritted his teeth, blood over his face.
"Those tentacles were too big to steal before," Setsuno revealed that he had stolen them. "But small ones are no problem."
Suddenly, before Tabe could do anything, a huge black hole portal appeared right next to Tamaki. He looked towards it in shock, as did the others, as Izuka jumped out of it, outstretching her leg. She then kicked Tabe onto the ground, sliding to a stop in front of Tamaki. Setsuno and Hojo looked at her in disbelief as she glared towards them.
"What are you doing here?!" Tamaki yelled at her in disbelief. "You're supposed to be helping the others."
"I couldn't let you!" She looked over her shoulder and his eyes widened at her. "I trust you, but not them. And obviously, one of them has a big stomach. You think I wasn't going to realize it myself?" She looked up ahead to Tabe.
"Who's this girl?!" Setsuno laughed as he found this display pathetic. "You think you can help him?"
"You'll be a bigger help to the others. Leave me behind, Callista. You're strong, and you shine so brightly that-"
"Suneater," Izuka spoke a bit thinly, getting his attention. "As much as I appreciate it...you can't keep putting me on a pedestal. Not if you won't acknowledge what you can do too," She looked back with a small smile. "I'm not as great as you think I am. I'm reckless, I make dumb decisions, and I didn't use my Quirk when I first acquired it. Do you really think I still shine...when I do things that make me burn out?"
"Even so...you were so nice to me, so positive...without that, you're still amazing to me." She gasped while looking over her shoulder.
"There you go again," Izuka let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "That's not true. But don't worry about me. We can do this as long as we work together. I don't care if I push my limit, helping you is more important than me getting hurt. We'll defeat them right here...and then go back to help rescue Eri. Together!"
Tamaki let out a shaky breath that she was standing her ground for him. Before he could say anything, he looked up and gasped sharply. "Watch out!"
She looked up front and then ducked her head as Hojo swung his arm, knocking Tamaki to the wall. Izuka looked towards him in alarm. "Suneater!" She cried out before Hojo kicked her hard in the face and she landed nearby him, coughing up some blood.
Their teamwork is incredible.
"We may be a bunch of trash...but that doesn't mean we don't have strong bonds," Hojo snarled towards the two. Setsuno and Tabe approached them both. Tabe pinned Izuka's back to the floor with his foot.
"Yeah, but bonds or no, you'll still be arrested soon," Tamaki declared weakly, Hojo holding him to the wall. "Your futures are lost, no matter what."
"Whether you like it or not, we'll see to it that your group will fall today," Izuka shook a little, gritting her teeth. "You think you'll be able to please your boss? Not a chance..."
"Heh heh," Setsuno reached out his hand. "Like that matters," He then stole Tamaki's gear, doing the same with Izuka's bracelets.
"We haven't had a future for some time. One of us didn't fit into society and was tossed aside," Hojo told the two of them. "One was betrayed by his lover and buried beneath a mountain of debt."
"Pouches full of food," Setsuno examined what Tamaki was carrying. "And tungsten bracelets. I guess you can turn the things you eat into power? And that she uses these to control hers?"
Neither of them answered the questions. "One was used as a tool by someone obsessed with money," Hojo spoke bitterly, as it was his story. "But when it was discovered that the gems he produced were worthless fakes, he was beaten within an inch of his life and left for dead. That's why he means so much to us."
"Come," Overhaul reached out his hand, similar to how All for One did for Shigaraki. "Join me. Someone like you shouldn't be left to rot in the gutter."
"Who cares what happens after this? He picked us up and gave us worth again." Overhaul was also the one who gave them their gear. "I'll kill anyone who gets in his way."
Tamaki gritted his teeth. They don't follow him out of fear. It's more like they're brainwashed.
"He thinks of them as pawns, not people loyal to him. Being able to gain their loyalty is beneficial to him, doesn't mean that he cares about them," Izuka spoke, her eyes narrowed as she looked up ahead.
Izuka shook a little, feeling like there was more to it than what she said. It's not even about loyalty. They just want to serve him and his purpose like mindless puppets.
"You really just wanna be used up and thrown away?" Tamaki spoke up bravely to them.
"Even with your back against the wall and your girlfriend trapped, you can't understand, can you, hero?" Hojo mocked him, his other arm being covered in crystals.
Tamaki's eyes shook as he glanced to Izuka's arms being held by Tabe. She shivered as he gave her a crazed look, and she didn't want to know what he was thinking. My tentacles were eaten. My defenses stolen. Not even Mido can break out...
"We may be a bunch of trash...but that doesn't mean we don't have strong bonds."
Tamaki looked towards Izuka, who nodded in silence. "Fine!" His feet grew into a chicken one, flicking a crystal into Setsuno's face. Izuka moved a finger towards one of Hojo's crystals from his left arm. She flicked a shooting star into the crystal, and it ricocheted into Tabe's eyes. He let out a scream of pain as this caused him to stumble back and let go of her.
We'll go after their teamwork together! Both he and Izuka thought in unison and she jumped onto her feet.
Larceny only works on things he can see. That's why the police couldn't brandish their guns.
"DIE!" Hojo screamed as he moved his other arm...only for a crystal shield to appear from Tamaki's stomach. Izuka looked up with a small smirk, several crystals flying away from Hojo. "Hold on. Don't tell me..." Tamaki opened up his mouth to eat a crystal. "Did he...eat my crystals?!"
"When you weren't looking!" Tamaki revealed, using his chicken foot to kick Hojo away. Izuka then jumped up, opening up her hand to fire a huge shooting star to send him flying backwards. Tabe recollected himself, shaking his head to shake off the dizziness. He then ran up towards the duo, his mouth open.
"Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat!" Tamaki grabbed him with his chicken foot to send him and Setsuno into the other wall. Izuka, still in the air, landed on Tamaki's leg in a crouch as she looked up ahead. The girl then held out her left hand to fire.
"Mercury Blast!" She created fire and ice restraints for all three as they headed towards them. Once she got a hold of the three, she held them up above her head, jumping and landing next to Tamaki.
"You trust each other. You watch each other's backs. I can't understand your circumstances or anger...or sadness for that matter. But...I do understand your strong bonds. Because that's what Izuka and I are starting to have..." He started off as she stood up straight, clenching a fist.
"Teamwork can go both ways. You may be strong together, but it still makes you Overhaul's zombies with the way you're willing to die for him," She glared towards the three, who had stopped moving. "Which I'll never sympathize with. My friendship with Tamaki, however...that's how people become stronger."
"Like us, you're more than teammates. I get that..." Izuka slowly put the three down as they were unconscious now. She secured them in her restraints and then used the ice to get back their belongings. "And friends don't eat friends, do they?" He asked while the crystals fell around them. They didn't respond and then he fell to the ground. Izuka turned to him in alarm, bending down to the boy.
"Suneater! Are you okay?" She asked him in concern, some blood from the corner of her mouth.
"I'm not gonna lie, I'm not great," He confessed as she put her bracelets back on.
"Hold still, I can ice off your wounds, that'll help a little."
"...Why?" He asked softly before she could do anything and she blinked at him in shock. "Why did you come back? You should've left this to me..."
"Because you saved me. Friends help friends, don't they?" Izuka gave him a weak smile. "At least we're even now though, right?"
"Right," He gave a small chuckle, coughing up some blood.
"That's enough talking," She said gently as she held out her hand to put ice over one of his bloody injuries. He hissed in pain from the feeling and she moved her hand away. "I'm sorry, did that hurt?"
"I can handle it. You should go find the others, though. I won't be much use to you after that fight..." Tamaki muttered as she continued to treat him. Her eyes softened as she stayed silent, knowing that with him injured like this, he'd only get worse. And the ice could only do so much, she didn't have a first aid kit on her or anything.
"You were amazing. No wonder why they call you Suneater," She hummed and he looked up to see a gentle look on her face. "You fought just like a hero, one that's even better than the shining sun or the moon. I wish I could've seen the whole thing."
He blinked slowly and then smiled up at her. "All I did was hold them back so you can get to Eri...I wouldn't call it amazing."
"One of these days, you really gotta stop that. But I was just like that, so I can't really stop it..." She sighed a little, adjusting her hair as she finished, moving her hands away. "There. That's all I can manage to do. I wish we didn't get separated from the police," She frowned as she looked up. "I could find one to take you out of here, but that's too much time. And with my new power, I could end up in the middle of a big fight." She had a feeling she had to be specific when it came to the target of where she wanted to go, like she did with Tamaki. If she thought of just any police officer, she'd end up either outside or in the entryway, which was too far away from her. Izuka didn't have time to test out her theory.
"You...learned that today?" He asked while leaning against the wall. "Wow...you really are getting stronger, huh? And you were great on the team-up too..."
She pressed her lips together while looking at him. The way he praises me...it's not too different from how I do so with Katsuki sometimes. Izuka slowly turned to the boy, sitting on her knees as it was another silence between the two. The girl took a deep breath as she stared Tamaki in the eye.
"...Amajiki. Be honest...do you...like me?" She asked slowly and his eyes widened a little from her direct question. The look on her face was dead serious too. He didn't say anything at first and then he clamped his mouth shut, shaking a little.
"I-I kinda do...you're adorable, sweet, and strong...everything I'm not. I know that we're in different years...so I didn't know how to tell you. I honestly sometimes wish I didn't feel that way...but I don't regret it either...even though I know deep down, you wouldn't want to be with someone awkward and plain like me," He murmured, closing his eyes.
Izuka opened her mouth a bit and then closed it. She then got onto her feet, turning her back towards him. This is hardly the time or place. I shouldn't even be doing this right now. But I felt like I had to know...otherwise it would've been hurting him if I didn't address it. However...looking back, with everything she had been through, she just...didn't feel the same way. He was adorable, kind, shy, but brave deep down since he saved her without a second thought.
She took a deep breath and turned around to face him. "That's not true. I honestly wish...that we had met in different circumstances...because then I would've felt the same way," She confessed with a tearful smile. "But...I'm sorry. I don't return your feelings...you're a great friend, Amajiki. I won't pretend you're not. I just...don't wanna hurt you by dragging this out. I understand if you don't wanna be my friend after today..."
Tamaki could tell by the way she was telling him that her heart was geared towards someone else. He didn't want to take that away from her at all. All he wanted...was for her to be happy and safe. "...No. I understand why, Izuka. All I wanted was for you to be honest with me...so whoever he is, I wish you the best. Can you do one thing for me, though?"
She looked up and gave him a small silent nod.
"Make sure... that they don't escape today. That they face justice for what they've done to hurt people. I'll be fine, those guys aren't going anywhere. But focus on rescuing Eri. Will you do that?"
Izuka shed a small tear as she gave him a tearful grin. "I promise."