Ch. 26: Out, Out, Brief Candle!
Kai Chisaki and Hari Kurono, both here at the stadium doing only God knows what - it made Giran's mind flare with endless possibilities of why they're here.
He kept to himself in the middle row of the seats, a place where he wouldn't be easily spotted with so many faces alongside his own. He grunted and winced whenever someone elbowed him in the side when they cheered on the announced names of Shinso Hitoshi and Bakugo Katsuki.
People were too easily amped up for a literal bloodbath under the guise of a showcase of abilities. He'd not be surprised if those investors and potential internship recruiters are on sight drooling over the various quirks that have been tossed around.
Though none of that mattered when he spotted Chisaki and Kurono taking turns leaving their seats and going somewhere else. A couple of rows away from him. They weren't here to enjoy the games, that's for damn sure. They were here on Makima's orders then.
She's put her fingers in all the pies it looks like. He rose from his seat, hiking up his collar and following after the closest Shie Hassakai member. He needed to know what they were up to.
He grabbed a hot dog from a young lady hawker who was screaming over the top of her lungs trying to sell the damn things. He took the packets and began smearing the mustard and ketchup over it, hastily squeezing past people while chowing down, keeping sight of Hari Kurono's clock-work hair over the bustling crowd coming in and out of the entryways with plates of food and drinks.
Why are you here? Why help someone like Makima?
He knew very little about the Shie Hassakai's operations after the shitshow the other Yakuza families pulled. They went completely radio silent and refused to speak with him. But it never occurred to him that one would turn coat and join forces with the mother of all psychos.
Jostling past the crowd got difficult and he looked around the open venues, searching for that clockwork hair at a stadium or a–
His nape was snatched by a cold hand and he got ushered to the nearby men's bathroom to the left. He was slammed against the wall with incredible force that made him spew out his hotdog over Hari Kurono's chest.
The man clearly didn't look pleased and let out an irritated sigh through his nostrils. A sharp prick came soon after near his midsection and the whole world seemed to slow….
"Figures that a nosy rat would try to come scuttling along to interfere." Kurono scoffed, his hair retracting back into his scalp. "Never believed you'd have the guts to come here after that stint with the other families, Giran."
"Y-you can't...!" He said slowly, his words uttered in slow motion.
"Can't what? Do something batshit insane like be here? Yeah, I understand the perspective, Giran. I do. But Chisaki says it's a long term investment. One we intend to cash in. So be a good guy and just plop down," Kurono shoved him into the stall, sitting him down onto the wet seat of a toilet. "I've got you set for an hour. Should be enough time for you to leave the place by the time everything goes to shit."
"Kurono…!" Giran's hand slowly tried to reach out for the man that looked like a speedster at the moment and shut the bathroom stall door, trapping him inside. "Come…..Back!"
It didn't make a lick of sense to him, none of it did. He slammed the locker shut, giving himself a once over in the mirror. He made sure to get his costume in tip-top shape for when he wipes the floor with his next opponent.
He'd be up against someone who wasn't even supposed to be in the Sports Festival, let alone the tournament.
Pony-tail lost to that guy…? The guy who ought to be locked up?
Shinso Hitoshi - even the name sounded like a sketchy villain to him. From what he's heard, talking seemed to be about the only way his quirk could work. So, why did Pony-tail give him the opportunity? That dumb Deku even said some warnings to her.
Bakugo scoffed.
The idiot should've kept her distance and wailed on him with range-items. Better yet, she should've just not yapped at all. For all her prim and proper words, it went down the drain with that shitshow. He'd not make the same mistake; he'll show him a hierarchy existed and that he was at the top of it all. Not some extra wannabe.
Bakugo trudged on out of the locker room, fully determined to get past the extra and get to Todoroki. Nothing else mattered. Not some Control Killer, and definitely not some useless background character like Shinso.
Chisaki eyed every single entry point that he could see with his own eyes, taking note that the once empty seats were beginning to fill up with newcomers and returning spectators.
"Remember to enact your part once Shinso's third round begins. All-Might will be away for that time being, as will the rest of the competitors be too busy watching the massacre on stage." He recalled her words over the phone.
"Giran's here." Hari said with disdain.
Chisaki's eyes narrowed - the info broker was a problem. If he was running around mucking up the entire plan, it'd all be for nothing. "Did you handle him?"
Hari nodded and that soothed Chisaki's nerves. Good, he didn't need to worry about some idiot like that. "Where?" Chisaki asked gruffly, his eyes straight ahead.
"In the bathrooms by our entryway. Kept him on an hour's pause."
"Didn't kill him?"
"I doubt Makima would be pleased if her favorite victim would fall painlessly without her knowing." Hari moved the conversation over to the main game plan. "Shall I start heading over to Endeavor's row, boss?" Hari asked, flashing the other ticket he'd been provided.
Chisaki nodded. "Be quick. I highly doubt that this match will be a long one. Seats are filling up too." His eyes roamed over the packed stadium, more full and alive than ever. Some had gone out to get concessions, so the smell of fresh hotdogs and beer wafted through the air.
Popcorn was strewn across the floor beneath them that each step made an annoying crunch. Where were the janitors during this time? Were they too busy watching the rounds to care for now? His hygienic system was being tested here. Hives formed around his ankles and thighs with the sticky feeling of spilt soda clinging to the soles of his shoes.
It all quieted down once the arena had formed again after the latest battle. Chisaki didn't miss how sluggish Cementoss had been acting. Makima had likely done her job and laced the man's food with the erasure drug.
It had a longer activation time, so by then, the hulking cement user would be out of the equation once the chaos began.
The two kids down there didn't so much as shake hands or speak any words. They left to each opposite side, walking up the steps with purpose and a silent determination to finish this.
"Go, I'll meet you outside the stadium once I'm done with my end." Chisaki rose, following after Hari who descended down the stairs. He ran his hand over the cement wall, leading right through the walkway and concourse.
He closed his eyes, picturing the image of remolding the cement to form and create a blockade from the outside. With a crackle and groan, the floor gave way to create a new, restructured wall of cement. Caging this section in so as to avoid any stragglers from leaving. Makima needed all eyes and bodies for this.
He whistled and acted nonchalant, placing his hands into his pockets and making his way to the rest of the entryways to do the exact same thing.
Shinso's heart was beating like a drum while he began ascending up the steps to face his last opponent. This was it - do or die. Everything rode on this moment for him to make it look as authentic as possible. Until he saw three crows in formation fly overhead, he'd play the part.
"Uh-oh. Looks like Young Bakugo isn't here for pleasantries, folks!" Present Mic said with a cackle.
The sight of his opponent glaring his way with a crouched position didn't bode well for Shinso. He lacked any ability to deflect or outrun Bakugo's explosions. It would be a battle of attrition. Which meant he had to be a punching bag. A punching bag for the greater good.
Do it for Ms. Makima. She trusts you. She has a lot of faith in you, Shinso.
"Ha! Bakugo's got the looks of someone who means business, ain't that right, Eraser Head?"
"Ugh… Just do not go overboard, both of you. I know this is the semi-finals, but that doesn't mean you can turn this into a bloodbath like the previous match between Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki. We don't need any of that right now. Midnight and Cementoss will be on standby in case any of you do something stupid."
"You heard him, folks! Let's keep it nice annnnnd clean!"
Shinso's eyes went over to the two aforementioned Pros, Cementoss more relaxed onto his overseer chair, looking a little less energetic than before. Across from the large platform, Midnight herself was palming at her nape and rolling her shoulders, as if she was trying to shake off some fatigue.
Makima's done her part, as did that shooter Chisaki had on hand. Everything had to be just right. Now, he just had to delay the fight for as long as possible. Until Makima gave the signal.
His awakened quirk felt like a constricting tight amount of gel slabbered all over the top of his head. He had too many connections. Way too many. But it was for Ms. Makima's sake.
It felt nauseating though. He could see through almost every spectator's eyes like they were countless lenses in his view. Almost as if he possessed the eyes of a fly. He saw himself and the stadium from thousands of different angles.
He had great trouble reining it in and finding his own eyes, his own body.
"Five….!" Present Mic started the countdown and the crowd joined him.
Shinso readied himself, planting his feet and getting prepared for a whole lot of explosions and fire.
"Four…!" Sparks and crackles of mini explosions were already popping from his opponent's hands. He had one foot over the other, his hands stretched out from behind him like thrusters to a jet.
"Three….!" Shinso knew he had no chance in a direct fight with Katsuki Bakugo, but Makima had insisted that the loud blonde's quirk would be pivotal once it started. Shinso had to have it, she said. At any cost. If it meant he had to become a punching bag, then so be it.
"Two…!" The stadium roared, a cacophony of cheers and boos as Katsuki Bakugo and Shinso Hitoshi faced each other on the large platform. The crowd was stomping their feet in unison, some booing Shinso's name and calling him pathetic or worthless.
"One…!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, "Let the battle begiiiiin!"
Bakugo, eyes blazing with intensity, didn't hesitate. Sparks flew from his palms as he launched forward, a blur of motion and pure explosive power. Propelling himself forward, he reached out with both hands, planning for a shotgun blast.
He chose not to not talk to Shinso or even say any remarks. He'd not make the same mistake Pony-Tail did.
In the end, this Shinso was just like Deku, but without the wobbly eyes and stupid face. He'd be blasted off the arena and it'd be a ring out. Simple as that!
Shinso, however, wasn't where Bakugo expected him to be. He'd already moved, darting to the side with a stupid burst of speed. The explosion from his hands rocked the ground where Shinso had been, leaving a small crater, splinters of cement flying overhead.
He narrowed his eyes at that - he figured that this extra was stupidly dexterous. But that's all he had going for him. Bakugo readied himself again, pivoting to face Shinso.
A fist connected to his jaw and Bakugo had to do a double take to his face, did he just…? It felt too weak. Almost Deku-weak, but not enough to knock him out. Was this extra a joke?
The extra saw that his attack did nothing and backstepped, wringing out his wrist. How did he even make it here? Why was he even here?!
The idiot kept his distance, a wrong move as Bakugo aimed up his left arm, unhooking the stored up glycerin in his glove for a direct beam!
Shinso's eyes widened and Bakugo couldn't help but smirk, the blast roaring like a dragon and lighting up the arena in a bright orange light. The stadium cried out in cheers at the display of pure destructive power.
When the smoke cleared, he saw Shinso still standing but his arms raised up, burnt and covered in soot. Though, the idiot was clutching at his head and having a little schizo moment again like he did with Pony-Tail.
"N-no… I-it wasn't me, Mom…. I-I didn't do it. I'd never…" Shinso slapped at his face, the smacks audible even from where Bakugo was standing. "Shut up. Shut up. Those are fake. Ms. Makima said so. She said they weren't real." The weird freakout gave Bakugo a moment to catch a breath and eye the debris surrounding the guy. Dodging would no doubt be hard for this dumbass if he slipped on the small nuggets of cement lying around.
His move, AP shot, took a lot out of him, but it definitely earned him a lot of points from the people watching. No doubt impressing Pro Heroes to take him on, that's for sure. The blast wasn't fully what he wanted, but it was a work in progress. Something he'd have to work on. Still, it did its damage, Shinso's clothes all singed and his hair burnt to a crisp.
He aimed his arms behind him again, propelling himself toward this extra who shouldn't be here.
Endeavor shook his head at this mocking display of a match. Each time he laid eyes on the kid he vouched to have removed from the tournament made his blood boil. But it slightly made him better at how Katsuki was handling him.
The scene of Shinso being dragged across the cement floor and being flung over with an explosion definitely made people cheer. Though… Shinso was tenacious. Getting up and up after each thorough beating. He landed a few hits here and there, but nothing that made Katsuki truly hurt.
It started off quick - the explosion kid charging forth without a word, fully intent on finishing it one go. But this Shinso just ran around in circles. That was not the sight Pro Heroes wanted to see for potential internships.
Nezu said time and time again to give children, no matter their opinions or quirks a proper chance at U.A. High, but that couldn't be applied to this walking monstrosity of bad PR. He could see it now: U.A. houses murderers and psychopaths - Shinso Hitoshi at the head of it all!
He heard of how much bad rep they got once the media heard about Aizawa's student - Tokoyami Fumikage. It wouldn't surprise him if this kid sullied it with his filthy quirk. It had no place here.
People jostled past him, wanting to get to their seats and remained still, arms crossed while continuing to watch. Like an unmoving rock in a river, people excused themselves and bowed, taking their seats.
He winced and felt something prick at his side, but he couldn't tell what it was, too many people around him to see what it could've been. He looked to the spot and saw no blood or visible injury.
The sight of people carrying plastic utensils for their chilidogs and such alleviated his concern. Someone had likely just accidentally jabbed him with their plastic fork.
"Fools." He muttered, standing tall and continuing to keep close monitoring on Shinso Hitoshi.
Shinji Nishiya tapped away at his gacha game, collecting another grey-rarity farmer character with a sigh… He really wanted the muscular dude who had a gold rarity. That guy can dig a real mean plot of land he's heard.
He rested his back against the bean bag he was in, tilting his head up with a quiet sigh. The break room wafted with cigarette smoke, coffee, and pastries from the local bakery. It was spacious and cooled thanks to the constant AC provided by U.A. High School. The sweltering heat wave outside was practically melting him during the last hour's patrol.
Standing up, he made his way to the cheap grey plastic table, propping open the pastry box, pulling free a pink donut. "Hey… These are gluten free, right?" He asked, seeing Death Arms shake his head. "Ugh… Damn it." He dropped the donut as if it were the plague.
"Yikes… Did ya hear, Aizawa's kid is on the loose by the station." Death Arms said, taking a long drag from his cigarette while watching a wrestling match on his phone.
"Which one…?" Shinji asked out of curiosity; he needed some action today.
"Ehh… I knew something was off about that bird guy." Takeyama Yu said with a roll of her eyes. "Those quiet, broody types are always the culprits." She let out a tired sigh, posing with her lanyard and taking a selfie. "Heard All-Might's handling it though. Gives us time to stretch our legs."
"It sounds like he could use someone with constricting–" Shinji made a beeline to the door.
"Don't even bother." Death Arms said aloud, stopping Shinji in his tracks as he had his hand on the doorknob. "All-Might's always got that handled. Probably won't even take him long." Death Arms waved off his concern. "Besides, we're supposed to be here, Shinji."
"Yeah, Shinji. Get it together. Though I'd have liked to be in the stadium… Probably juicy stuff going on in there."
"That's what this television is for, Takeyama." Death Arms scolded, pointing to the plasma screen hoisted up in the corner. "We get some sight of it."
Shinji watched for a little while, the sight of a recap of Katsuki Bakugo raising his arms up in the arm, covering the arena in a cloud of explosions to deliver the final defeating blow to some Shinso Hitoshi. Yikes… Talk about overkill.
"And with that….! We have a winner!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the television with horns blaring that could be heard even from outside their break room.
"Buuut it's not the sameee! This is on the level of an idol concert, y'know?! I mean, we're stuck in here while a whole crowd is cheering on the next generation!"
"We both know you just want them to cheer you on." Shinji retorted with a deadpan look.
"Boo… You guys suck." Takeyama sulked, going back to her phone.
Shinji's attention then went to the door when it opened, revealing the current detective Mashiro Hayakawa, who walked in with an indifferent expression on her face. Her trench coat was all buttoned up and she had black gloves on. She gently brushed past him, the strong scent of a flowery perfume going into his nose, making him feel relaxed.
"Ah, Detective. Huh… What's got you in our humble abode? Thought you were with All-Might?" Death Arms asked, setting down his phone and placing his hands onto his hips. "Let me guess, the big guy had it all sorted like always."
"Something like that." She turned to lock the door. Oh, it had to be serious confidential information. She was doing the serious mode that Detective Tsukauchi does, her expression hardening. "I just thought to take care of loose ends hanging around." Her pale fingers gently took off her glasses, placing them into the tanned trenchcoat's pocket.
Shinji squinted at Detective Hayakawa's eyes. Did they always look so creepy? Guess he hasn't really paid much attention to Tsukauchi's partner.
Shinji walked over to be behind Takeyama, tapping her head to pay attention and not look at her phone. The girl swatted at his head and glared, but did as she was asked.
"Ahh, well, I wish we could share any details about your investigation. We've been milked dry by Tsukauchi the other day about everything we know."
"Yep… He treated us to coffee and all that, didn't he?" Takeyama said, tilting her head up to ask Shinji.
He nodded and recalled that fond memory. Detective Tsukauchi was always on the scene helping him and the others out. Shinji had a lot of respect for the guy.
Hayakawa smiled and placed her hands behind her back. "How thoughtful of him. I wish I could do the same. Though, you've all got it under control here, don't you?" She gestured to the table of half-eaten pizza Takeyama had ordered.
"Ha, yeah. Nezu's got us all cooped up here all of a sudden. Said we had to take our mandatory breaks and not cash them in. Whatever that means." Death Arms rolled his eyes.
"I am glad you guys are here protecting the peace." She turned to face Takeyama. "I imagine you're here to catch any neer-do wells who'll come in from the skies while Shinji is here to constrict them? It's the only reason I can think of why my partner had assigned you those roles."
"Yeah, Tsukauchi had fears that someone would try and one-up the Sports Festival. Doubt anyone with half a brain would do something like that though." Shinji had to add.
When Detective Tsukauchi debriefed them last week, he thoroughly wanted to keep Shinji and Takeyama close by for any outside interference thanks to their crowd-control quirks.
The man was thorough and Shinji imagined his partner was no less the same. Her eyes flicked to his and he had to move his gaze over to something else.
"He always did think of all the perspectives of those sorts of things. Hmmm. It makes my job easier finding you together so easily. I suppose I have Tsukauchi to thank for that."
Death Arms raised a hand up, catching everyone's attention. "Hey, by the way, who does Nezu got covering us while we're on break?"
Detective Hayakawa smiled with mirth and turned her head to Death Arms, but kept her posture poignant, her hands behind her back. "Our Police Officers are hard at work covering your patrols, so there's no need to worry." She pointed her finger to Takeyama. "You're not needed here anyways."
"What do you mean by–"
"Bang."
Takeyama's entire head dissipated into a fine red mist - bits of brain matter and blood scattered over the wall behind her and onto Shinji's body. Her curvacious body went slack in the bean bag - her fingers twitching and still in shock at the loss of bodily function.
"T-takeyama…" Shinji whispered, looking up to see Hayakawa have not even an expression of joy or killer intent.
Her finger went to Death Arms and again, "Bang." His entire chest cavity dissipated into a giant gaping hole.
"You–!" Shinji rushed to Hayakawa, trapping her into a wooden cage against the wall with a heavy breath. "How could…Glk!" He looked down to see a chain pushing itself into his stomach from her own waist. He tried to pull back, but Hayakawa yanked it, forcing him to her.
He ripped open his suit and saw the outline of this chain under his skin like a slithering snake, coiling and writhing into his guts. Shinji felt it tighten around his insides, pulling and tearing, ruining him from the inside out.
Shinji's eyes bulged when he felt the chain rising up from his throat, choking him from the inside. He clutched and gagged. Tears pricked at his eyelids and he could only look to see the bodies of his comrades.
He saw Hayakawa toss her bloodied trench coat, revealing a whole coil of those chains at her groin. He caught the last sight of her floating off the floor….
Takeyama…. He reached out on the floor toward his friend's body, praying something would help him. I'm…. Sorry….
She floated over him, her finger aimed at his head. "Bang."
In that instant, Shinji saw just darkness.
Shinso was on the ground, ears ringing and the crowd in an uproar over Bakugo's win. He'd won it through a relentless beat down that felt like it lasted forever. Every part of his body ached and cried out for aid.
Even his bones and legs felt like jelly. Merely standing took a heap of effort. But he had to endure. Endure for Ms. Makima. Shinso spat out some blood pooled in his mouth and rose with his head held high. The three crows signalling Makima's plan flew overhead in a triangular formation.
It was time.
He clapped his hands together…. His breath shaky and hands glowing with a white light. Through the eyes of all those present, he snatched hold of the thread that blurred the lines of control over human bodily function.
His ears heard a low rumble somewhere, but he ignored it. Knowing that it was normal. That whatever he saw today was supposed to be here. That was what Ms. Makima assured him of.
He keeled over, falling onto his knees and convulsing. He tore open what was left of his burnt clothing to reveal his back, the skin bubbling with slithering outlines underneath.
"Grrahhhhhhaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Like a torrential wave, thousands upon thousands of translucent chains visible only to him shot out in all directions, like a spiderweb. This was it. Full connection.
He felt all of his quirk begin to seep into the spectators, the people, thanks to what Ms. Makima had given him.
His mind acted as the medium, holding over dominion and forced all those noisy spectators to go quiet.
What in the hell is going on…? That ain't part of the show. We still got one more round to go and the awards ceremony…
Hizashi Yamada took off his shades, squinting and rubbing at his eyes to make sure this wasn't all in his head. He whispered over to his co-partner. "Oi… Aizawa, you seein' this?" Hizashi's voice was laced with concern, his eyes wide as he observed the crowd's weirder than hell behavior.
The stadium attendees all rose in unison, their movements eerily mechanical, a complete contrast to the usual lively atmosphere from earlier. His gut was telling him something wasn't right. This wasn't part of the script.
His eyes swooped over the arena, taking in the sight of several Pro Heroes like Endeavor, Midnight, and Cementoss mirroring his alarm down below. Panic gnawed at his instincts as a hero and a teacher. He shoved away from the control console, his chair scraping against the floor with a cringing screech.
With a surge of adrenaline and blood pumping in his ears, he grabbed at the metal chair, hurling it through the glass window. The giant pane shattered into a thousand pieces. Hizashi slammed his hands down the control board's many buttons. His fingers rising the faders upward, desperate to amplify and unleash a deafening scream that would jolt everyone back to reality.
Hizashi drew in a sharp breath, his quirk bubbling into his vocal chords, but before he could release it, a vice-like grip clamped down onto his neck!
What the…?!
Aizawa's hand, awfully forceful, shoved Hizashi's face into the console. Hizashi's eyes widened as he met his friend's own gaze. The man's usual tired eyes were now sculpted with a creepy intensity often reserved for villains. His hair standing on end, and the faint scars that marred his face and hand were gone… Like they never existed there in the first place.
"E-eh…? Aizawa? Buddy…?" Hizashi's voice was barely a whisper, his heart pounding against his ribs. Absolute dread curdled inside his stomach when Aizawa's silence stretched on, his expression devoid of any emotion.
He was yanked away from the console and pushed to the ground. With quiet efficiency, Aizawa bound Hizashi's limbs with his capture scarf, immobilizing him on the ground.
Aizawa's hand delved into his pocket, retrieving a phone. He walked over to the control console, adjusting the faders for something. "Ms. Makima… It is done. The floor is yours," he spoke into the device. His voice cold and robotic. "What should I do with Present Mic?"
A cold silence fell over him and then Aizawa nodded with his eyes on Hizashi, ensuring his quirk would be disabled. "Understood. I'll deal with him."
He hung up and proceeded to Hizashi with a terrifying aura. Why was he doing this?! Who was that?!
"Aizawa…?"
Midoriya shook at Ochaco's shoulders, slapping her cheek, but to no avail. She was acting like everyone else in his row. Asui, Mineta, everybody. Their eyes were rolling behind their heads, their breathing gone quiet. Midoriya took a step back when all the afflicted stood up in perfect sync.
He didn't know how it happened, but his finger activated by itself, knocking him out of the weird trance that he'd been put under. It felt invasive. Almost like that Control Killer situation.
Everyone in the stadium was standing up now. Even Kaachan was doing the same down at the arena!
"Hear me!" Shinso's voice boomed over the speakers, amplifying his words. "You will all help me bring forth something the likes of which this world hasn't ever seen before! Raise your hands in awe and wonder! Cry out with me the words that I shall say!"
All around, people raised their arms up to the skies. It made Midoriya worry and he knew it was something to do with the Control Killer. What could he do though!? His classmates and everyone else was under Shinso's quirk!
He had to rush down the stairs and head to the entryway! He hastily shot down the stairs, making a beeline to the entryway, but his nose connected with a solid cement wall…!
"T-that wasn't there before…" He ran his hand over the wall. Someone did this. It was a joint effort. He had to call All-Might! Midoriya dug for his phone, tapping away with shaking fingers.
His ears picked up a low rumble coming from somewhere….
It started small, barely audible at first. Then, it steadily got louder and more noticeable. It morphed into a distinct, metallic whirring, almost like a chainsaw slowly revving to life.
Midoriya's hairs stood up on all ends over his body, giving him the type of goosebumps he's never felt since the USJ attack.
The sound intensified, vibrating through the stadium until it shook the very foundations. The noise drowned out the murmurs of the entranced crowd, who were mumbling weird phrases in some language he's never heard of before.
He rushed to the front of the guardrail, seeing Endeavor jumping over the stands and landing onto the ground, his arm stretched out to fire his quirk. But he looked to his hand in confusion. Was… Was Endeavor's quirk not working?
Not too far off, Cementnoss and Midnight were acting in a similar manner. Looking at their hands and bodies, trying to will their own quirks to life to stop whatever's going on, but just like the fiery number two hero…. Nothing.
Midoriya hastily reached for his own phone.
W-what's going on…? C'mon, All-Might… Pick up! Pick up!
The phone went to voicemail again and Midoriya didn't know what to do in this situation.
"Say it with me all who are here and from afar…." Shinso's body began to float upward, his hands raised above his head. "Save me….." He pulled free a knife and stabbed at his hand. Blood gushed from it in copious amounts.
All around him, the cacophony of voices cried out his words. The wound inflicted by Shinso appeared onto everyone's right hand as blood leaked and pooled onto the floors of the stadium.
"Save me!"
"Save us!"
"Protect us!"
"Save us. Bring onto us salvation and glory." Shinso took a long pause. "Save us, Chainsaw Man."
Midoriya couldn't believe what he was seeing. This was on a gigantic scale. How could Shinso's quirk work like that….?
He had One For All…. He could end this.
Steeling his resolve, he jumped over the railing, landing on his butt with a hiss of pain. He rubbed at his ankles which ached from the shock, but he kept on. He focused all 100% of One For All into a fist.
The stadium thrummed with an awful atmosphere, a tension hanging heavy in the air that felt suffocating. Thousands of people, thousands of voices, once cheering on Kaachan's victory, now merged into a horrifying, unified chant.
"Chainsaw Man!" They roared, their voices echoing throughout the entire stadium itself. Their voices hoarse and raw.
"Chainsaw Man!" They repeated with tears and sobs, the sound building, gaining even more power with each repetition of that name. What did it mean? Why was it important?!
"Chainsaw Man!" The entranced crowd cried out even louder. Their vocal chords being tested to the limits. "Chainsaw Man! Chainsaw Man!"
The chants grew inexplicably louder, faster, more desperate. The crowd swayed in unison, more wounds popping up around their bodies as they wept with blood. Their eyes were glazed, their faces mixed with terror and ecstasy.
"Save us, Chainsaw Man! Save us from this world of cruelty!" Shinso's voice roared. His plea for help was echoed by the crowd.
The chant reached a deafening pitch - its volume shaking the very foundations of the stadium with the force of this quirk. Their voices all acting as one to call out to the darkness of the sky - the clouds forming ominously, ready to weep for the arrival of something.
And then…. It came. A dark, tall figure fell from the sky, bursting into the arena. It moved with insane speeds, a blur of black that left trails of pure, abyssal darkness in its wake.
"A-a Nomu…. Here?" Midoriya took a step back, halting his assault on Shinso, as did Midnight and Endeavor, their eyes wide with surprise. The figure looked… hellish. More twisted and gnarled than the Nomu at the USJ incident. Its arrival washed those still sensible with pure dread.
That loud chainsaw noise reached a deafening crescendo as the figure landed heavily in the center of the arena, staring at Shinso's floating form. Its arms sharpened into long, pitch black chained blades. Its head glowing with yellow eyes behind a chained visor.
"Bear witness to that which will bring about wonder and order! Give your lives for this moment! Offer your despair! Offer your fear so that Ms. Makima may be nourished!"
As if on cue, the whole stadium echoed with cries, sobs, and screams for help as though Shinso had given his victims brief control over their emotions, but not their bodies.
Sure enough, Midoriya saw the people crying and begging to be let go. Whatever it was doing, all he could hear was a hellish choir of dread and agony.
"Not on our watch!" Endeavor roared, charging forth with fists raised, as did Cementoss and Midnight. The three heroes and the ones on standby in the stadium rushed onto the ground floor, charging at the newest intruder.
The Nomu looked at them and screeched - halting them with mere guttural cries alone.
He saw Shinso fall back to the ground and sluggishly crawl over to Kaachan's still form, whispering something into his ears and holding onto his back.
"Kaachan!" He ran forward, watching his friend grab Shinso and proceed to fly off into the air out of the stadium.
Makima couldn't believe it… Finally, Finally! A large, rosy blush colored her cheeks as she stood over the stadium's roof with Irinaka.
For once it seemed that Fate itself had left her with the best opportunity on a silver platter. There were no other competing devils to stand in her way this time. It was just her and Chainsaw Man in this world filled with bothersome heroes and villains.
She's finally found him - the cries of humans needing help never occurred to her at the time, but at a much grander scale? The Hero of Hell wouldn't ever miss this chance. All she had to do now was ensure he was hers and hers alone.
If she had to become a necessary evil to have him all to herself today, then so be it.
What was a few thousand lives compared to the beautiful changes she could make to this world with Chainsaw Man finally at her side?
She looked at the shaking form of Irinaka, the man in pure awe and dread at the sight below him. Such was the power of Chainsaw Man. "Close the roof. Seal the exits that Chisaki didn't cover. No one leaves."
"W-what is that…?" He pointed, his body shaking with fear.
"A key to a better, more peaceful world." She replied. "Irinaka. Do as you're told. Or you won't be leaving here alive." Her eyes narrowed, the man shrinking down and melding into the roof, prepping his own part.
People were watching live and as they did, no doubt did they begin to fear the name Control even more. All over Japan and likely places around the world too. Her muscles grew, tendons forming and reworking themselves. She'd need all the power she could get for today. To fully bring him to heel just as she did before.
Her heart surged with energy and love.
Her bones hardening and her limbs becoming more dexterous.
This was the climax of it all.
She leaned over the edge, dropping down into the center of the arena from the retractable roof, the sky being blotted out by Irinaka's quirk. The lights came on soon after, giving the savior of this world and her life a grandiose spotlight.
It covered its face at first, its dark hands shielding its sight from the blinding light before roaring at it with deafening sound and fury. Endeavor and the others were ramrod straight at the sight of him, as they should be. Chainsaw Man was a being of divinity. A being worth living for.
She extended one hand outward with a smile she's only ever reserved for the one and only being that could be her equal in this life and the next.
Chainsaw Man stepped forward with a stomp, letting out a shrill cry that made her entire body shiver with delight.
It roared, the chainsaws on its body all whirring with blazing intensity. Without a moment to spare, Chainsaw Man blurred forward, poised to strike.
"Come, Chainsaw Man. Come and be mine." Makima smiled.
AN:
I wonder if the ole' summary gave it away with the 'outside' perspective of Makima's goals. Or if the many hints leading up to it did. Who knows?
Took a a while to figure out how to make this chapter really... stick, y'know? But I'm glad it's here! :D
Chainsaw Man has arrived and Makima's absolutely thrilled. A second chance. A do-over.
With All-Might and several Pro Heroes disabled, how can such a showdown progress? Only time will tell as Makima is truly no longer 'alone' in this world. No doubt she'll pull out all the stops to ensure that Chainsaw Man is finally hers.
Until we meet again, my fellow Makima connoisseurs!