Chapter 30 - I'll Be There
"Izuku?" Ryuko muttered, as she tried to get up from the ground. But, as she started to do so, Deku interjected.
"Don't stand." Deku stated emotionlessly, "That wound in your shoulder looks pretty bad."
"Yeah, well, you're not the boss of me, so tough luck." Ryuko replied, causing Deku to let out a light groan.
Slouching over, Deku was a complete mess, but still stood firmly in opposition to Stain, while the Hero Killer himself stood upright, looking on at Deku, as if analyzing every fiber of his being.
Meanwhile, the three heroes who previously stood against Stain's quirk were now out of commission, for the most part. While Ryuko stood up, a blade was lodged in her shoulder, and the other two, Shoto and Tenya, were rendered immobile by Stain's quirk. Even without the influence of Stain's quirk, Tenya had terrible wounds which endangered his very life, an intentional act by the Hero Killer earlier in the battle.
"You're the Hero Killer, who killed over 17 pro heroes and injured more than 20 beyond repair." Deku stated.
"Yes… it appears my reputation precedes me." Stain responded.
Before a single other word could fly out of Stain's mouth, Deku disappeared from his sight. The next moment, Deku was in front of the Hero Killer, with a black substance stretching out of the vigilante's arm being even further back.
"Gum Gum Pistol." Deku thought emotionlessly, as the black tendril which previously came out of his body bounced straight to Stain's chest.
"Iron Body-"
Even despite Stain's attempt to change his durability, he still felt he was hit by a truck when Deku's attack hit him. Coughing up a mixture of blood and spit, the Hero Killer was launched back what seemed like thousands of feet.
"We… we struggled so much against him…" Shoto thought.
As he placed his feet on the ground to regain a stable position, a sinister smile began to enter Stain's face.
"Tempest Kick!" Stain thought, doing a flip in midair and shooting the same blade of wind he had used before straight at Deku.
Looking behind himself, Deku saw that Ryuko was standing, yet clearly too exhausted to move. Kicking against the ground in front of him, Deku launched himself backwards and forced Ryuko to the ground, and by doing so, he guaranteed that Ryuko avoided Stain's attack.
"So how is Midoriya keeping up with him like it's nothing?!" Shoto questioned, "The gap between us... was it always this large?"
"Oh ho. Not a bad move, hero." Stain commented, recognizing Deku as a hero right away, "I didn't notice the first time, but you're using the Navy technique, Shave. Seems you've got a fair few skeletons in your closet."
Utilizing the Shave technique himself, Stain seemingly teleported to Deku, readying an attack with his blade onto the vigilante. Deku reacted emotionlessly and instantly to Stain's approach, as Danger Sense had already alerted him to the action before it happened.
After his attack failed, Stain then flipped backwards, and threw three knives at Deku, who quickly noticed the true target of Stain's assault.
Utilizing Blackwhip on Tenya, Shoto, and Manual, Deku rose all three into the air above him. While Deku was distracted with this, Stain continued his assault, utilizing a Tempest Kick straight to the tendrils of Blackwhip in an attempt to cut them (and throwing something into the air while he did so)… but, when the blade of air reached Deku, the tendrils were unphased.
"I was afraid that'd break from his attack." Deku thought, referring to his Blackwhip, "Seems I've overestimated him."
"Heh… the Color of Observation, and that quirk allows you to use the Color of Armament too." Stain noted, "You're strong-"
Deku then used Shave, approaching Stain with a speed which the villain couldn't believe as he prepared his assault.
"You won't connect." Stain stated, as Deku's Danger Sense quirk went off before he could even wind back his fist.
Deku then had to quickly focus on his tendrils of Blackwhip, stopping right in front of Stain.
When Stain had used his Tempest Kick previously, Stain had also thrown knives above both Tenya and Manual, who Deku was intent on protecting with Blackwhip. Now, Deku had to focus on moving those tendrils of Blackwhip to let them dodge those knives, something which took a lot of focus since he was still inexperienced with Blackwhip. Taking advantage of Deku's predicament, Stain lunged forwards at Deku's uniform, and licked a bit of blood which was on Deku's uniform due to one of his previous fights, causing the vigilante's body to suddenly freeze.
"...His quirk…" Deku thought, as even in this state of disadvantage, he was unable to express any emotion in regards to his situation; he was too exhausted.
"I've dealt with types like you before." Stain stated, "Types like you who will fight against the very systems that would benefit you the most, all because others will be harmed by it. I'm the same way."
Even despite everything, it seemed a frown grew on Deku's face upon hearing that line.
"But you're going too far in pursuit of your selflessness." Stain continued, bringing out a knife and beginning to approach Tenya, "You need rest if you're intent on becoming a hero."
"We… are nothing alike." Deku muttered.
"We're both criminals who seek to push our own definitions of good onto the world, no matter what anyone else thinks." Stain responded, as he cast his eyes onto Tenya, "And as you follow your creed... I... will follow my own."
Filled with bloodlust, Stain was intent to slam his knife down otno Tenya, but before he could act… Ryuko forced herself in front of Stain.
"Don't… you dare hurt him." Ryuko muttered.
Stain looked down on Ryuko, as he merely sighed due to the girl's persistence.
"You'll die if you keep this up." Stain said.
"I know… I know I'm too weak to stop you." Ryuko stated, "But even so… I can't give up."
Ryuko then locked eyes with Stain, who saw the eyes of a warrior stare back at him, "I can't give up… until I figure out who killed my Dad. Until that day comes… I'll make sure nothing like what happened to me happens to anyone else!"
Stain looked down upon Ryuko, impressed by the girls tenacity... and he let out another sigh yet.
"It seem you're just as impressive as I thought." Stain stated.
The Hero Killer then turned around, prepared to face Deku, who had arrived behind him. The vigilante's body was surrounded by the tendrils of Blackwhip, as while his own will was silenced by Stain's Bloodcurdle, that only meant that the wills of the other wielder of One for All were more clear than ever.
"I'll support your body, so you use your will to tell me what to do, brat." the fifth said, as in the next moment, Izuku's fist launched forwards towards Stain's face.
"Paper Art." Stain thought, as his body seemed to deform like paper, allowing him to dodge Deku's attack. Bending back and kicking his leg into Deku's, Stain was able to easily trip the boy, but the seventh's Float activated, allowing the fifth to easily flip Deku over and get him back to a stable position on the ground.
"Shave." Deku thought, as the fifth tapped Deku's foot on the ground ten times, shooting Deku towards Stain, "USJ… SMASH!"
Before Stain could even activate Iron Body, Deku's foot found a place firmly in the Hero Killer's chest, as the latter's mind went blank due to the sheer intensity of the kick. Shooting back faster than the eye could see, Stain smashed into a wall when he stopped, causing a dust cloud to form from the wreckage. Blood began to pour out of Stain's mouth due to the power of the previous attack that had hit him, as even with a single attack from Deku, the Hero Killer had been overpowered.
"Izuku!" Ryuko shouted.
Before Ryuko could say more, Deku's stomach interrupted her. Confused by this and letting out a small 'huh?', Ryuko didn't have time to say anything more before Deku shot off into the distance.
In that moment, Deku had shot to Stain's position, readying yet another Gum Gum Pistol to hit the villain with.
"Paper Art!" the injured Stain thought, as Deku's Gum Gum Pistol missed due to the sudden action of Stain, instead merely slamming into the wall behind the Hero Killer, creating a massive crater within it.
Taking advantage of the powerful and brutish blow Deku had just unleashed, Stain slipped himself free from his position on the wall and went straight past Deku. Kicking off of the ground a moment later, Stain's eyes were filled with bloodlust and desperation, as he jumped into the air and began to use Moon Walk.
"THIS PURGE…" Stain shouted, quickly approaching Manual, "IS NECESSARY!"
Stain's face was more intense than ever. If someone wasn't stained with blood... if someone wasn't stained with blood… his ambition would NEVER be fulfilled!
Deku remained emotionless. He knew what he had to do... save Manual.
"No way it is." Deku stated, preparing to launch towards Stain... but, something got to Stain before he did.
Due to his dulled senses from the prolonged fight, the Hero Killer barely even noticed Shoto's fire approaching him, as he was forced to kick backwards in order to dodge.
"NOW, IDA!" Ryuko shouted, as despite his intense injuries, Tenya's engines flared once more.
"RECIRPO… EXTEND!"
Shooting forwards, Tenya threw Ryuko at Stain when he was within range of the villain. Launching towards him, Ryuko placed her Scissor Blade behind herself.
"SCISSOR BLADE: DECAPITATION MODE!" Ryuko shouted, her Scissor Blade extending. The next moment, before Stain could even begin to move his blade, the blunt edge of Ryuko's scissor was placed right in the side of the Hero Killer's face, "IZUKU, BATTER UP!"
The entire time that Deku and Stain were fighting each other, the other three student heroes were preparing for that attack. Catch Stain off guard and knock him back with Shoto's fire, then get Tenya to throw Ryuko towards Stain, since he wouldn't be able to risk attacking Stain in his 'iron body' state with his injures (the recoil would be too heavy for his body to handle), and then finally, Ryuko would hit Stain with the blunt edge of her scissors, knocking him backwards to Deku.
And the second Stain touched down onto the ground, Deku capitalized on the last attack, leaping above the Hero Killer.
"Supreme Sabaody…" Deku thought, as the Hero Killer looked on into Deku's eyes... and what he saw was someone who didn't take pride in this victory, but decided to be a hero and fight all the same.
"All Might..." Stain thought, "You picked a fine successor."
"SMASH!"
And with a quick blow to the side of Stain's face, the Hero Killer was knocked down to the ground, a crater forming where he was launched.
The battle was over, and Deku wasted no time once that fact was apparent.
"He's completely knocked out." Deku stated, delivering the message to Ryuko, Shoto, and Tenya, "Take him to the pros. Tell them I did this so you all don't get in trouble."
"Hey, Izuku!" Ryuko shouted, but the boy didn't stop to listen.
Deku placed his legs on the ground to attempt to shoot off, but before he could, the fifth wielder of One for All stopped surrounding Deku's limbs with Blackwhip, as the vigilante fell to the ground as penance, still under the affects of Stain's quirk.
"What… what are you doing?" Deku questioned internally.
"Don't just run away again." the fifth wielder responded, "That Hero Killer was a real bad dude, but he wasn't wrong about everything… you've been alone long enough."
"No… I can't… I can't let anyone else be in danger because of me…"
"Yo Izuku... are you alright?" Ryuko asked.
In response, Deku said absolutely nothing, unsure of how to respond... he couldn't... endanger them again.
"He's probably still under the effects of the Hero Killer's quirk." Shoto noted, "It must've been a miracle he could even move before."
"A miracle... hm?" Tenya began, tears beginning to flow from his eyes, "You all… Midoriya, Todoroki, Matoi... you all were injured in this fight because of me… I'm… I'm so sorry. I… was just blind! And lost sight of everything…"
"Hey, don't move around so much! You took quite the beating yourself, y'know?" Ryuko shouted at Tenya, as Deku looked at his friend, "I should apologize too… I'm your friend, but I didn't even notice anything was wrong with you back then. I left Uraraka all by herself…"
Tenya recalled Ochaco's words to him before he left for Hosu… it was out of character for her to do that, and it must've been tough but… but…
"Get it together." Shoto stated, "You're the Class President, right?"
"...Yes." Tenya responded.
"No… I'm not protecting them. I was... being selfish again." Deku thought, as tears began to lightly fall from the boy's face, "I had just been… just been scared of seeing what I left behind. I was scared that if I saw them all again, I'd be reminded of my life back at U.A…"
Cutting off their discussion, Deku's stomach rang out with a fearsome growl. Ryuko and Tenya were both surprised by Deku's sudden interjection, and Shoto was the first one to react.
"Have you eaten anything since you left U.A.?" Shoto asked Deku. In response, Deku merely turned his head down.
"W-well… I ate the snacks Ida gave me and Mr. Aizawa before-"
"That's all?!" Ryuko shouted.
"Midoriya… that… that was barely anything!" Tenya noted.
"Well… I-"
"The Hero Killer was wrong about a lot of things, but I guess he hit the nail right on the head when he said that you weren't resting at all." Shoto stated, "It might be noble to you, but if you don't properly rest, you won't be able to accomplish anything."
Deku kept his head down. It was just like what the fifth wielder of One for All had said to him… could he have been right?
"Midoriya..." Tenya began, "Are you certain you don't wish to return to U.A.?"
Ryuko and Shoto turned over to Tenya, surprised by his comment, but agreeing with the sentiment behind it nonetheless. The one who was expected to answer the question turned his head up, his eyes wide with surprise.
"...No, I can't. There's too much you don't-"
"Aizawa's already told us everything, about you, the Grand Line, and why you got a bounty." Ryuko stated, "I can't speak for Ida... but I don't think fair that you have to suffer because of those World Government assholes! It'll be hard but... if you wanna come back, well, why not?"
Deku was shocked, "You all… know about the Grand Line?"
"We know the consequences for telling anyone." Shoto noted, "And we want to avoid punishment as much as you do... so don't worry about us"
Deku was quite frankly surprised that Aizawa would tell his classmates… and he had no idea how to feel. On one hand, he was relieved that his classmates didn't hate him, but on the other… they were in too much danger now! They couldn't-
"Midoriya… I'd… I would like to apologize because of that as well." Tenya said, "This entire time, you've been coping with a tragedy the likes of which I couldn't hope to comprehend. I lost myself when my brother was hurt… but you… you dealt with the pain of an entire other world I never even knew about."
Ryuko and Shoto both looked on at Tenya, the former holding a slight grin, and the latter holding a neutral face, intent to merely analyze the situation.
"I can only imagine how you're feeling but I… no, just know that our entire class only wants to help you!" Tenya explained, "If you wish to return to UA, just say the word. We will do what we can to make it that way!"
Ryuko and Shoto both nodded, as Deku was surprised... and in that moment, he realized something. He wasn't All Might. All this time, he had been trying to save everyone, but now, here his friends were in front of him, extending their hands because he wasn't able to hide his weakness, nor protect them with a smile.
If All Might saw him now... Deku knew that he'd be disappointed in what Izuku had become.
"Sorry… I'm so sorry for making you all worry… for putting you all in danger..." Deku muttered, as his Haki had been returned to him, and he began to get up, "But... I… I can't return to UA. I can't… I won't put you into any more danger."
Deku turned around, putting his back to his classmates, who stared at Izuku with neutral faces. Now attempting to right his previous wrongs, Deku turned his head back at his classmates, and flashed a smile at them.
"I'll be alright!" Deku stated.
As fate would have it though, Deku's stomach growled yet again after he said this. Ryuko scoffed, and broke out into a grin, as Deku looked down emotionlessly at his stomach… well, there goes that.
"Midoriya." Tenya stated, approaching Deku. Turning around to face Tenya, Deku's shoulder became occupied by the knight's hand a moment later, "Take care of yourself, at least."
Deku stared emotionlessly at Tenya, as he merely nodded. A short pain went off in his head, as he clutched his head.
"Izuku?" Ryuko cried.
"Midoriya! Are you alright?!" Tenya asked.
"Just… fine." Deku muttered, as One for All began to course through his legs, "The pros… are here."
Pressing his legs on the ground successfully this time, the vigilante known as Deku disappeared in a mere moment. Tenya, Ryuko, and Shoto all looked on at the boy's afterimage, and shortly after, Endeavor appeared.
"Shoto, I came to check on-" Endeavor began, but before he could continue, he saw the sight before him: three students, all with injuries of various intensity, an unconcious, likely dying pro hero, and the likely source of all of this... a knocked out Hero Killer.
After Endeavor arrived at the scene, he quickly made sure the Hero Killer was taken into captivity, while at the same time calling an ambulance for the three who had been seriously injured by the Hero Killer.
Shoto was the only one in the alley without those serious injuries (something which Endeavor had expected from his own flesh and blood), and he was the one who told Endeavor what happened, explaining how Deku had saved them, but leaving out the fact that Tenya attempted to attack the Hero Killer on his own.
Endeavor didn't approve of Deku, and was enraged by the mere mention of his name, but Shoto managed to convince Endeavor that he wasn't someone worth pursuing.
"While he may be a criminal, he also used to be my classmate."
"All the more reason I shouldn't listen to you, your perspective is biased, Shoto." Endeavor responded.
"Even so… the fact that he came here and saved us tonight shows that he's still trying to be a hero." Shoto said, explaining his side of the story, "I'm not saying that you should excuse the fact that he's a criminal, I'm saying that he does more good than bad… he's not worth pursuing."
Endeavor paused.
"Tch, well, my hands are full enough with the influx of crime around Japan." Endeavor noted, "Due to these desperate times… it couldn't hurt to keep Izuku Midoriya around."
The heroes injured from Stain's attack all ended up making a swift recovery at Hosu's general hospital. There, Tenya was scolded by Manual (he told Manual that he tried to fight Stain himself), and the pro afterwards thanked Ryuko for helping him.
"...Just know that you can't go telling anyone about this, 'kay?" Manual stated, "If the fact that you fought the Hero Killer goes public, you could get into some serious trouble with the law... and potentially even face explusion from U.A.-"
"Don't worry, sir." Ryuko replied, "I ain't interested in gettin' fame or anything like that."
Having been looking at Ryuko prior to this, Shoto then cast his eyes down to the floor, reminded of something Ryuko said when they were fighting against Stain.
"And even if I was... I'm quirkless, so the law wouldn't be able to do anything with the fact that I fought against Stain!"
"You're... quirkless?" Manual questioned.
"You got a problem with that?" Ryuko questioned right back in a somewhat threatening, yet somehow playful tone.
"None at all, it's just... interesting. You must be really strong if even U.A. accepted you." Manual said with a smile, causing Ryuko to smile right back, "Anyways, I'll leave you three to talk amongst yourself now... and Tenya, you'll need to go back to UA. I can't exactly take you back in with the state I'm in."
"Yes sir!" Tenya responded.
Manual referred to the broken leg he had, as he was currently using a cane to get around. Moving out of the room with the cane, the rest of the three were left to discuss what they were talking about earlier... the Hero Killer.
"That technique the Hero Killer used to move at rapid speeds…" Tenya noted, "It was akin to Midoriya's, was it not?"
"Now that you mention it… he did tap his feet on the ground a bunch of times." Ryuko responded.
"Aizawa said that technique was one from the Marines on the Grand Line." Shoto noted, "And Stain claimed he had dealt with types like Midoriya before… maybe he was a Marine who stopped pirates?"
"That doesn't really sound like his MO… besides, Izuku got his bounty from just going to the Grand Line once. It doesn't sound right that Stain could defect from the Marines so easily, right?" Ryuko stated.
"Then… how do you suspect he could've learnt those techniques then?" Shoto questioned.
"Whatever the case, I don't believe it's our job to find out." Tenya stated, "We nearly got in deep trouble from fighting against the Hero Killer… so for now, we ought to merely prepare the best we can for the future... it's best not to overzealously rush for it."
When he said that they nearly got into deep trouble, Tenya touched his scar which he received in the middle of his chest. If he had gotten to a hospital any later than he did, it was quite possible he would've died, but with Tenya getting surgery at the time that he did, all turned out... mostly fine. Tenya's only issue was that since Stain's attacks had severely damaged his right lung, his stamina would be compromised until Recovery Girl could heal it, and even then, the process would likely take weeks to complete.
"Yeah…" Ryuko began, "If we wanna make the futures we wanna see... we need to get stronger."
"The Hero Killer, eh?" a voice growled.
Back in their bar within the Kamino Ward area were none other than Tomura Shigaraki and Kurogiri.
The last time we saw them, they were knocked out of a hospital in Fajesta by All for One. Shigaraki had been shot with an air cannon, and Kurogiri leapt out of the building to save Shigaraki. Unbeknownst to Kizaru, who had sensed the Haki of Shigaraki and Kurogiri disappearing, Kurogiri had used his Warping quirk in order to save both himself and Shigaraki, teleporting both of them to the bar they were currently in.
This isn't to say they got out unscathed however, as Shigaraki had broken his right arm from the fall he took, even though Kurogiri took the brunt of the impact... thanks to his special body though, Kurogiri wasn't really injured.
"He is becoming quite the spectacle, Tomura." Kurogiri noted, "Maybe we ought to have recruited him to the League of Villains."
"Tch, no way." Shigaraki responded, "I already know I would hate this guy…"
Before either could continue, however, the sound of TV static began to play. Turning towards the TV in their bar, a voice could be heard moments later.
"Good evening, Tomura."
Bloodlust appeared in Tomura Shigaraki's eyes.
"You." he growled.
"My my, why the hostility, Tomura?" the voice responded.
"You should know why." Shigaraki growled, "You threw me out of a building, old man."
"And Kurogiri saved you!" the voice responded, "I told you earlier, your possession of the Will of D. will ensure that nothing bad will happen to you until you fulfill your purpose!"
"Your Will of D. is bogus! I broke my arm because of that fall!" Shigaraki shouted.
"Yes… but nonetheless, you are alive."
"Whatever. I don't need you anymore." Shigaraki stated, as a smile appeared on All for One's face.
"Your ambition… Tomura." the voice stated, "Tell me it, even if you do not need me anymore."
Tomura Shigaraki paused for a moment, looking back at the TV that the voice rang from, and growling.
"I will destroy this entire rotten world, straight down to its core." Shigaraki growled, "So that everyone knows only pain and misery."
All for One smiled.
"Then I will continue to aid you, even if you wish for me not to." All for One stated, "Because you are truly a man befitting of the title... Symbol of Fear."
It was the final day of internships, as Ryuko and Shoto had both decided to return to Endeavor's agency for one final day.
"I'm surprised you returned, Matoi." Endeavor noted, "I thought you'd be gone for good after your run in with the Hero Killer."
"No way in hell!" Ryuko shouted, "Don't think I'm showin' up here just for kicks either, cause I can catch up to you now!"
"Is that so?" Endeavor said with a smirk, "Then prove it to me."
Going outside yet again, Endeavor lit his flames ablaze and launched forwards, beginning his patrol for crimes in the area. Looking behind himself, he was shocked by what he saw.
While Shoto was still using his ice, he was also now skating alongside it, adding the speed of his physical body to the speed which his quirk offered him. Plus, he also used his fire as a makeshift engine to speed up a bit.
Meanwhile, Ryuko was beginning to utilize the Binding Scarf around her neck, utilizing it on telephone poles and such in order to quickly launch herself forwards. It also didn't hurt that she possessed strength which could only be described as superhuman in and of itself, which allowed her to run fairly quickly, even when not a single surface she could use her scarf on was in sight.
The pair had evolved.
"What do ya think?!" Ryuko shouted, "We can finally keep up with you now!"
"Not bad!" Endeavor shouted, "Seems I can finally get a little bit more serious!"
The flames on Endeavor's back grew stronger when he said this, as Endeavor rocketed ahead of the pair. A fire lit inside of Ryuko has a result.
"Hey, get back here!" Ryuko shouted, as she was going to speed up, but was stopped.
"Ryuko." Shoto said, as Ryuko paused.
Deciding to run alongside Shoto, Ryuko responded.
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to talk earlier, but I never got the chance." a panting Shoto said. He was a bit tired due to skating so much, but it was nothing he wasn't used to from his past physical conditioning, so he could still talk, "Earlier, against the Hero Killer, you said that you wouldn't give up until you found out who killed your Dad. Is… is that why you're a hero?"
Ryuko's mouth parted for a minute, as she considered what to say. A moment later, her mouth formed into a somber smile.
"Yeah… pretty much." Ryuko said, "All Might saved me once from a villain when I was little, and by that point, my Dad had already died. I wasn't sure what to do, but something about All Might's smile… it made me feel that was the way to go, y'know?"
Shoto paused for a moment.
"Well, say something, will ya?!" Ryuko shouted at Shoto, impatient due to his lack of response.
"No, I-" Shoto began, before changing his tone, "Why do you want to find out who killed him?"
"...My Scissor Blade." Ryuko began, "My Scissor was the last thing my father gave me before he died. He told me that whoever had the other half of my Scissor Blade was the one who killed him."
"Did he want you to find out who killed him?"
"My Mom died when I was little, and my Dad… well, he sent me off to a boarding school when that happened." Ryuko explained, "We never knew each other that well, so when he died... I don't think he knew what I would want. He told me that if I wanted to live a life of peace, I could, but if I wanted to avenge him… this Scissor was the key."
Ryuko turned to face Shoto, "It's not the most heroic motivation, but anyone who doesn't accept it can buzz off."
Shoto turned his head down and contemplated for a moment.
"I'll tell Endeavor, and see if he knows anything." Shoto said, "And… heroes can be motivated by anything. What matters most is saving people."
Ryuko was a little bit surprised by Shoto's response, but she smirked, "Thanks… but, this is my responsibility-"
"What was it you said earlier?" Shoto interjected, "We're friends… any crazy shit you get pulled into, I'll be there to pull you out."
"Woah… hearing you swear really doesn't sound right." Ryuko joked, "You're too prim and proper."
"Huh? Well… the point still stands." Shoto stated, "If you feel you need to find out who killed your Dad… I'll help you."
Ryuko flashed a smile, "Thanks a bunch, Todoroki."
Shooting through the air, Deku thought about the previous conversation he had with Tenya, Ryuko, and Shoto. He didn't want to admit it, but they were right… he needed a place to stay and rest; he was out of food, and hadn't eaten in two days.
"...Yamanashi Prefecture isn't that far from here." Deku whispered to himself, "I'll… need someplace to eat, I guess."
AUTHORS NOTE
I bet some of you thought I was gonna go back on the Vigilante Deku stuff when Tenya said that Deku could come back to U.A. XD
But anyways, that's all for the Hero Killer arc of the story! Deku's heading of for Yamanashi Prefecture (you can look it up to see why that's significant), Ryuko, Shoto, and Tenya are all stronger, and All for One has decided to help Shigaraki even despite the World Government telling him that he can't.
There's a lot of stuff to look forward to in the future, but unfortunately, the pace of Kill One Hero's release will be slowing down, if not already obvious by the distance between this chapter and Chapter 29. I'll release new stuff whenever I can, but I've basically caught up with the story I have prewritten, so weekly chapters are now merely a dream.
Anyways, feel free to theorize about anything you want... now onto the Sneak Peek.
NEXT ARC SYNOPSIS / SNEAK PEEK
After a conversation with Student Council President of Honnoji Academy, Satsuki Kiryuin, Aizawa and her collaborate to test the students of U.A. Academy in ways that they've never experienced before.
Meanwhile, Izuku Midoriya decides to visit the Yamanashi Prefecture, where an ally awaits him, and unknown bits of history regarding the Grand Line, Seven Continents, and One for All will be revealed to him.
All this and more will be present next time on Kill One Hero, where we'll be entering into the Exam Review Arc.