'Drip! Drip! Drip!' When me and Manabu exited the school, we were welcomed to the sound of pouring rain. I was instantly soaked from head to toe upon making my way further outside. I was following behind Manabu. He was leading me to an area far away from any people for our showdown. Even though that was the case we could still be seen from where everyone else in the Student Council room was at. But it wasn't just Suzune, Hiyori and all of my friends that could see us. Ryuuen and his allies 'The Boys' or whatever they called themselves could see us from the vantage point that was their throne room.
That's right. I wasn't just picking a fight with Manabu just because I wanted to prove my point. It was also to show everyone that I'm the strongest. That I'm capable of living up to my words and lead them. But I can't do that with Horikita's brother being in charge of his faction. Even if my friends were to abandon him and join me it still wouldn't be enough. I want him on my side. In fact, I know I'll need him in the near future. Because if Kiyotaka Ayanokoji has truly declared his intent to take over the world, which will inevitably start a world war…
… Then I'll just declare war on him too. I won't let him achieve what he desires. He must be stopped! But I can't do that alone. I need the help of everyone. Not just my precious friends but also Ryuuen, his allies, even Kacchan… I need as many people as possible to prepare for the final showdown between me and Ayanokoji…
TWENTY-ONE DAYS REMAIN UNTIL THE FINAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL BEGINS
… The Final Battle Between Good and Evil culminates in everything and perhaps the 'beginning' of something else too.
But that wasn't all, from a distance I could see that there were more spectators too. A few Nomu were watching us with bloodshot eyes and sadistic smiles on their repulsive faces. The only thing that was keeping them at bay was the massive blue flames that encircled the area as far as I could see. The heat of which could be felt even though I was several meters away from them. I knew this Quirk, Blueflame quite well given that it now belongs to Ryuuen. Which means he's been protecting my friends in his own way. He might not have the goal to protect them, but he did so, nonetheless. And for that I also want him on my side even if he wants to kill Karuizawa, I believe that he can be a valuable force for good and be the kind of man that Dabi couldn't.
Needless to say, I knew full well that I was getting ahead of myself. I knew the risks. I knew that there will be consequences once all is said and done. Am I just delaying the inevitable by doing this? An inevitable future where Karuizawa will be put to trial for her crimes with the high chance she will be executed for? There's always a possibility something like that may occur. But even if that painful thought becomes reality, I can't accept things ending like this! I want to save her by showing that she isn't alone anymore! There are people right in front of her that she can relieve the burdens she has even just a little bit! And even if the world doesn't accept her, not Decay, but the REAL Kei Karuizawa then-
… I'll just change the foundations of the entire world with my hands! I'll do everything in my power so that she can finally be happy again! And to do that, I must knock down every obstacle in my path, beginning with you, Manabu Horikita.
"Just so were clear, the loser is the one who's body hits the ground first. And the winner is the one who's still standing after that. Anything goes. We can both use any dirty tactic at our disposal. Not that I will need to do so. But if you want to then I'll allow it. Those were the agreed terms, yes?" Manabu asked while taking off his glasses. I replied with 'That's right. That's exactly what I want.' While taking off my jacket, making sure to wrap sure to carefully fold it so that 'Hero Notebook No. 14 won't get wet due to the excess rain. I then gently put it onto the ground away from where we would be fighting. The location of which was a plain grassy field. A simple but effective area for our battle.
"Then let's begin on the count of three. Three… two… one." I declared while staring down Manabu with the distance between us being ten meters. We would each have to take approximately thirteen steps to close the distance between us. Though I only need one second to do so. Quirkless or not this fight will end right now Mana- But before I could finish my thought Manabu instantly appeared right in front of me much to my sheer surprise. And before I could do anything about it-
"Zero." Manabu declared before unleashing his fist forward at me into my stomach! No! That wasn't it! His fist didn't land squarely on my stomach but my solar plexus! What he said before! About fighting dirty! It was a lie!
'BAM!' His fist sent me flying into the air! At the same time, I spat out some blood while realizing that I would hit the ground in less than a second if I didn't do something about it! Less than an instant later, I slammed my hand onto the ground to propel me back onto my feet! But when I did, he was right there waiting for me!
"It's no use." Manabu declared before landing another hit on my solar plexus! He knew that by hitting me there it would cause me the most internal damage! But he didn't care! He was intending to end things decisively without giving me even the slightest bit of a chance to make a comeback! But this time I managed to have my feet stay on the ground. Though I was pushed several meters back due to the intensity of his strike alone! The pain skyrocketed throughout my body. It hurt. It hurt like hell. But this pain… compared to the pain that Karuizawa must be feeling when trapped in a cage of her own making…
… IS ABSOLUTELY TRIVIAL IN COMPARISON!
"RRRRRAAAAAAAH!" I let out a mighty roar from the depths of my soul as I sped across the ground before closing the distance between us in less than a second! Even Manabu was noticeably surprised by this! There! Right there is my chance to knock him onto the ground and win! All I have to do is push and him he will- But my thought process was completely destroyed by the sudden realization that when I tried to touch Manabu my hand went through him. But this could only be done with Permeation! In the instant I tried to attack him he used Permeation so that my hit wouldn't connect with his body! Upon realizing that truth I tried to gain some cover but before I could-
"Just give up already!" Manabu yelled out before slamming his fist into my solar plexus for a third time! The power behind his attack was somehow even more ferocious than it was before! I was sent several meters back once more! But this time, I couldn't find the strength to stand anymore. My legs then went out as I landed on my knees. It took everything I had just to remain like that. If I were to even move a muscle, I felt like I would collapse like a house of cards. Is this really the extent of my strength?!
'Drip! Drip! Drip!' My blood trickled down my mouth and hit the ground. The sound of which was completely masked by that of the intensity of the pouring rain. At the same time, Manabu drew ever closer while staring at me with daggers in his eyes. Even now when it seems like he has practically snatched victory with ease, he still feels so much discontent with me. Why? What have I done to upset him to such an extent?
'It's exactly what you're thinking, Manabu. I want us to fight. Just you and me. Anything goes. With everything we want to achieve on the line. So, let's make a bet. You win and I'll go along with your plan of killing Ayanokoji and everyone else. And if I win… no one dies! Not Karuizawa! Not even Ayanokoji! We fight not to kill but to ensure that no one has to die! How about it?' Was he still pissed off over what I said to him before this? It was obvious that he didn't agree with my plan. He probably thought it was the most absurd thing he's ever heard.
I couldn't exactly blame him for it. Even now my dream where no one has to die is exactly that. A dream. It's just a thought. An idea that has yet to take shape and form and become a reality. And just like any idea, it might not be entirely feasible. I might be faced with the cold hard truth that people die and there's nothing I or anyone else can do to change that from occurring. And even if I do, what then? Say I save Karuizawa only for her to be put on death row for what she did? Would it be better to just take her life sooner? Would that save her from any suffering in the future?
"Whatever your plan was to save Karuizawa… it's useless. Be it me or someone else, no one will allow her to live after what she's done. Some things are just impossible no matter how much you may wish it to be possible. If this were some children's comic book, then maybe you could go back and time and prevent her from doing what she did. But this is reality. The reality where Kei Karuizawa will always be known as the girl who aided a terrorist in his efforts for total world domination. Nothing can change that. So, stop trying to change things and accept them for how they are." Manabu declared while standing above me. His words are harsh but not wrong either. I can't fault him for what he's saying no matter how much I may wish to say he's wrong.
I can see where he's coming from, painfully so. I knew that by trying to save Tomura Shigaraki that there would be people who wouldn't accept him to be a changed man. Those people would hate him for what he did. They would want him to suffer for what he did. They would want to kill him for what he did. And they aren't wrong to think that way. Someone that has massacred as many people as he did might deserve death as a punishment. But even if that's the case what would that achieve?! Where is there 'justice' in taking the life of another person?! There isn't! There never has been! And there never will be! True justice lies in the belief that a person can be punished and see the error of their ways so they may be able to rejoin society and better it for the future! That's the kind of justice I believe in!
'If you're so thankful… then… Why are you crying?' However, Karuizawa wasn't in control of herself when she did what she did! Her crying face was proof of that! Proof of her regrets! That what she did isn't what she would have ever wanted to do! That's what I can't accept about this world or any other possible number of worlds that believe that a crying girl must be sentenced to death for crimes she regrets! I can't accept it! I'll NEVER accept something so tragic and horrible to occur!
"… I can't accept it." I muttered under my breath. But even though the pouring rain should have drowned out my voice, Manabu still heard it causing him to grit his teeth out of immense frustration.
"Why?! Why the hell are you so damn stubborn?! Is Karuizawa that precious to you that you are willing to be beaten to a bloody pulp so that she can live a few extra days?! What has she even done for you to have you so indebted to her?! … I know what she did. I'm the Student Council president after all. She went along with Kikyo Kushida's plan that made everyone believe you sexually assaulted her! She may not have accused you of such a heinous crime, but she did absolutely NOTHING to reveal what really happened! Someone like that doesn't deserve to be saved!" Manabu declared while gripping the collar of my shirt in an effort to prove the point he was trying to make. And once again I couldn't fault him for what he said.
However, what he doesn't know, what he possibly couldn't know is how much Karuizawa suffered in silence because of it! Not just then but so many days, weeks, months that she was harassed by others out of jealousy and resentment! I knew what it was like to be bullied every day just for being myself! But I knew nothing what it was like to be relentlessly tortured over and over and over again! No human being should have to suffer to the extent that she did! But what really grinds my gears even more than that is that she's still suffering, and no one is doing a damn thing about it! And he thinks that I should just accept things for how they are?! No way in hell…
… I'LL EVER CONFORM TO SUCH A CRUEL AND UNFORGIVING WORLD ANY LONGER!
'BAM!' Before Manabu knew it, I slammed my head against his own catching him completely off guard! He did not expect that I would still resist after everything he said! But I can't do anything but resist!
'Sorry kid, it's not going to happen.' I'm sick and tired of being told again and again and again that I should just accept things for how they are! To hell with accepting things for how they are! To hell with accepting that someone must suffer for things out of her control! To hell with just standing aside and doing absolutely nothing to change things for the better! Never again will I be a man who conforms to the beliefs of others! I'll change the world! One step at a time! One punch at a time! Until…
… KEI KARUIZAWA GETS TO SMILE AGAIN!
"IT'S NO USE!" Manabu declared before unleashed an onslaught of attacks against my body in an effort to pin me to the ground! But I didn't let that stop me or anything else for even one goddamn second! So, I dug my feet into the soil of the ground and launched myself forward to get him onto the ground! But before I could touch him, he phased his body so that I wouldn't be able to do so before gaining distance away from me! And it was there while blood trickled down his nose where I headbutted him that the look of utter disgust reformed onto his face. Just like back then in the Student Council room he couldn't accept my dream! And he still hasn't yet!
"Why… why the hell are you so damn stubborn?! Karuizawa is just your classmate! She probably never even saw you as a friend! All this time you were being used by her so that she could further her own goals! And once she was done with you, she discarded you like trash! But even then, she accepted things for how they were! So why the hell can't you?! Why is it that you are so desperate to save her?! Are you like in love with her or something?!" Manabu snapped back while not being able to understand why I was doing this in the slightest. He might be right about everything else he said, but that's the one thing where he's dead wrong about! And that is-
"Karuizawa is my precious friend… whether she thinks so or not, I don't really give a damn. I'm going to save her! And I'm sure as hell not going to let you or anyone else convince of me otherwise!" I snapped back with a shout of my own before dashing forward at him! But once again, just like before, he cheated by phasing his body so that I wouldn't be able to get my hands onto him! With the sole exception of one part of his body-
'WHAM!' His fist that connected with my cheek. But even as he tried with all of his might to make me succumb to what he was trying to make me believe, I stood my ground! This rejection of everything that he was preaching so far made him grit his teeth to the point they could shatter to pieces with just the slightest bit of added pressure! But even still he couldn't accept this! He couldn't accept what I believed in, or who I was!
"JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Manabu shouted at the top of his lungs before driving his other fist into my stomach! But once again I held my ground in spite of everything! Because I knew who the hell I was and who I'm always going to be in the future! And it's about damn time he accepts that for a change!
"This is just who I am… DEAL WITH IT!" I snapped back before slamming my head against his own once more! At the same time his eyes rolled back into his head over the power behind my attack! An attack that had nothing to do with Obliterator, One For All or any other Quirk! This is my power! This is my fighting spirit! This is exactly who I am! Unbeknownst to me, the other man within me took note of this and reflected on what I had thought once before-
'And more importantly I NEED his power if I could even dream of defeating the Doctor and that Nomu who murdered All Might. After all…
… A Quirkless nobody can't do a damn thing against someone with a Quirk.'
'He's changed so much in less than a year. How… magnificent.' Jokata thought internally with a smile on his face. A far cry from the look that Manabu is giving me right now. Unlike Jokata he couldn't accept how much I have changed. But just like Jokata, I'll make him see the real me! The real Izuku Midoriya! After all…
… The man who will become the world's greatest hero must aspire to dream bigger than any other man can possibly fathom! And that's exactly why I'm smiling right now in spite of everything that I'm feeling and have been told! But Manabu Horikita couldn't accept that! So, he used Permeation to gain distance from me once more! Or at least he tried-
"I won't let you!" I declared before grabbing him by the chin as he tried to make his escape! At the same time, he glared daggers at me before kicking me off of him so that I wouldn't be able to pin him to the ground! But just as what I was trying to do to him was about to happen to me, I slammed my fist against the dirt below me! By doing so I gained an advantage by being in the air for a brief moment!
"Ah." It was at that very same moment, that Manabu Horikita looked above to see that I made my way just a couple of meters into the air with the strength of my hands alone! He couldn't help but be taken aback at how ludicrous it must have been for a man of my caliber to pull such a stunt successfully! But that's exactly why I'm going to win this and everything else in the future! So, get ready and grit your teeth, Manabu…
… BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO HIT THE GROUND!
'BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!' Not even an instant later, Manabu Horikita's back hit the ground. At the same time, I stood above him with my body pinning him down completely. The battle was over. Manabu lost…
… AND I WON!
"H-He did it… he actually did it." Sakayanagi commented with a look of utmost surprise on her face. She knew that I was strong. But she knew the same was true about Manabu. And given that his Quirk made it almost certain that it would be impossible for his entire body to hit the ground successfully that the odds of me prevailing were practically zero. It was that logic that was instilled upon her since childhood all the way up to where she is now and reinforced even more with her IQ Quirk that this outcome was a miracle. There just wasn't any other word for it. Though Koenji was right there beside her. Because of that he knew just how surprised she was.
"Of course he did. You see, miss loli, that there was more going on than it might have seemed. A fight isn't determined by whether one combatant is stronger or more agile than the other. No. Not even close. A battle is determined by who is greedier out of whoever's fighting. That's why Midoriya won. Because he's so damn greedy that he makes me blush. Hahaha." Koenji said before letting out a boisterous laugh with his hands held where his hips are. At the same time, Sakayanagi was taken aback by his words before frowning. And then…
"Never call me that again you in foolish oaf." Sakayanagi declared with a pout before smacking Koenji across the head with her cane. Though the latter simply laughed it off with a smile on his face.
"Hell yeah! I knew he would win!" Sudo declared with a grin on his fist while raising it up high to the ceiling above him! Hirata noticed this and thought 'No you didn't.' With a smile over how Sudo was acting before this and yelling out 'Oh my god! Midoriya's a goner!' Though didn't comment on it since he had no intention of hurting his friend's feelings. The both of them were so entranced by the battle that had taken place (And so was Kacchan who had a satisfied look seeing that Deku had won.) That none of them noticed that two of the people who were supposed to be in that room were missing.
"I won… now like I said before… don't you see now? That no one has to di- I spoke only to be cut off right before I could finish by Manabu slamming his fist into my jaw. I was caught completely off guard by this sudden act of defiance that I fell onto the ground. This allowed him the chance to get on top of me and slam his fist into my head again.
"I don't see shit! All you did was pin me to the ground! What the hell did that change?! Nothing! Nothing at all! Karuizawa's going to die to your arrogance you idiot!" Manabu declared before trying to punch me once more but before he could-
"Nii-san! That's enough!" Suzune yelled out with such force behind it that even the pouring couldn't do a single thing to drown it out in the slightest. Manabu was taken aback by this and couldn't help but look at his little sister. She was crying. Manabu couldn't make out her facial features without his glasses on. And even if he were able to, the rain would have certainly made it look like those were just raindrops. But those were tears. His little sister's tears. He knew she was crying from just the sound of her voice. And it was the sound of her in so much pain that brought his mind back in time to that moment…
… Where she was screaming and crying her eyes out after falling from that tree when they were kids. And just like before-
"S-Suzune." All Manabu Horikita could do was say her name like he had done so before until he was swiftly headbutted again by none other than Izuku Midoriya. Not only was he already angry that Manabu continued the fight when it should have ended, but the fact that he put his sister through more pain because of it made him reach his boiling point.
"Of course you can't see what's right in front of you, you idiot! Your sister's crying! Do you know how many times you made her cry?! How much pain and suffering you caused her by treating her like garbage?! You should have been kind to her! Instead, all you did was make her cry because you can't get your shit together and be an actual decent brother!" Midoriya snapped back while gripping Manabu by his collar, as the latter continued to bleed from his nose due to the headbutt. That caused him pain, and made him angry, but not nearly as much as what the man on top of him is telling right to his face as if he knows everything about him!
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Manabu snapped back at the top of his lungs before latching onto Midoriya and tackling him to the ground! He then began to pummel him deeper into the dirt out of immense rage until he both of his arms were pulled back by something that Manabu could barely see, though he eventually recognized them as white feathers.
"Stop fighting already!" Hiyori commanded while making sure that Manabu wouldn't be able to punch Midoriya again. It would have worked on any other person. Except Manabu since he's able to phase not just his arms but his entire body. And that's exactly what he did as the feathers failed to hold onto the sleeves of his shirt. He then tried punching Midoriya once more but was stopped by the latter holding his fist back with his own.
"What? Did I strike a nerve?! If you really gave a crap about Suzune then you would have done more as her bro- Midoriya spoke but was cut off once more as Manabu used his other fist to punch the former in the face with!
"You keep my sister's name out of your fucking mouth! You say I've caused her pain?! You should take a look at yourself in the mirror! If you hadn't enrolled in this school none of this would have happened! It's because you're here that everything is so screwed up! My sister was in a coma for MONTHS because YOU couldn't protect her! You should have been protecting her instead of being so adamant on saving a girl who doesn't give a shit about you! And yet you're the one picking a fight with me?!" Manabu snapped back even louder before trying to slam his fist into Midoriya's face again. Though before Manabu could, Izuku grabbed him by the wrist and slammed him in the face with his own fist!
"At least I care about her! I'm not the one who was about to punch her just because she wanted to be around her own brother! You know, ever since I saw you, I've had a bone to pick with you! I can't stand you! How everything you do for your sister only makes her life worse! Are you trying to make her hate you… or have you always just hated Suzune's guts?!" Midoriya shouted while Manabu's eyes burned with an intense flame of unadulterated hatred! Not directed just at Izuku but also another person.
"I told you to keep her name out of your fucking mouth damn it!" Manabu snapped back while trying to punch Midoriya, but the latter of which was done getting hit over something that isn't his fault alone. So, he pinned both of Manabu's hands to the ground with ease while the latter could only grit his teeth out of frustration over being completely overpowered by him in an instant!
"You didn't answer my question! Does she matter to you or not?!" Midoriya yelled out while Manabu's eyes twitched with fury.
"Of course she does! She's my sister dumbass!" Manabu snapped back while not hiding his resentment for Midoriya in the slightest. But the latter wasn't done. Not until he gets a crystal-clear explanation over why he's so emotionally distant from her!
"Then tell me! Why the hell have you avoided her like she's nothing but garbage to you?!" Midoriya shouted once more while Manabu clawed his fingers deep into the ground out of hatred. Hatred for the person he believed to be at fault truly for all of this…
… Himself.
"BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT HER BACK THEN!" Manabu snapped back at the top of his lungs. This caught Midoriya completely off guard as he couldn't even begin to realize what was the context behind those words. And before he could ask him about it, Manabu phased his fingers into the soil and flicked some dirt in Izuku's eyes. This caused him to loosen his grip, and Manabu Horikita took this chance by punching him right in the face. He then knocked him onto the ground before getting on top of him once more. Hiyori was doing everything she could to get Manabu off of Izuku, but her feathers couldn't touch him. As for Suzune…
… She was the only one who was frozen akin to a block of ice over her and her brother's shared memory of what happened when they were children. Hearing her brother reference such a traumatic event for her made her recall the events of that summer day-
It was only her and her brother in the backyard of their house. Their father had recently passed away, so her mother was working long hours just to keep food on the table. She placed her trust in her son to protect his sister while she was out of the house. And yet he let her climb that tree he always used to climb thinking that she should be able to do it too. And it was that carelessness that led to her falling. She was rushed to the hospital. If the doctors got to her any later, then they did she would have perished. It was for that reason that Suzune could never forget what happened on that day and what her brother said to her in the aftermath of it-
'This isn't your fault. It's no one's fault but my own. To be honest, I wanted to see if you could do it. But I got too caught up in watching you that I couldn't be there for you when you really needed it. I'm sorry.' His words were kind and gentle. A far cry from how he treats her now. But she didn't realize how full of regret he must have been at that moment. She was just a child. So, she couldn't even begin to decipher his feelings. But now she's not a child anymore. And yet for the longest time, while she has long since made a full recovery, she didn't realize how much pain her brother was in ever since the events of that day. No one could have. Only Manabu Horikita knew what he was feeling…
… Until now.
"You don't understand a goddamn thing about me! If I had only caught her back then… I wouldn't feel so fucking ashamed of myself every time I look at her! So, you're right Izuku Midoriya! I should be her brother! But what kind of brother lets his sister fall from a tree and isn't able to do a damn thing to save her?! She could have died! I was right there! I saw her fall! And yet I couldn't do one single fucking thing for her!" Manabu yelled out while punching Midoriya in the face again and again. Izuku was already beaten black and blue due to Manabu's relentless assault. But it was there in that moment, that he finally began to understand Manabu for who he was and just how similar…
… They once were. Both men failed to save a girl they cared about so much when it mattered most. Both were consumed by this painful memory and pushed the people they cared about away because of it. They were both the same once upon a time. And it's because Izuku Midoriya knew exactly what Manabu Horikita felt, that overwhelming sense of regret, that he couldn't accept it.
"You are… SUCH AN IDIOT!" Midoriya snapped back pushing Manabu off of him causing the latter to be swiftly flung into the air because of the former's overwhelming strength even when Quirkless! It didn't take long for him to hit the ground just like his sister had many years ago. And yet, he couldn't so much as look at her. He only stared at the dark black sky above him as an endless plethora of rain hit him in the face.
"You think that's an excuse?! An excuse for abandoning her?! You really are an idiot if you truly believe that! Abandoning people is NEVER a solution! God knows how many times I've had to learn that lesson! But YOU don't get to decide that! Not while your sister was waiting for you each and every day of your miserable life just to have you look at her once! You should have paid more attention to her! Because if you did… you would have realized that you failing to save her didn't matter to her in the slightest!" Midoriya yelled out with such ferocity that it caused lightning to strike the moment he finished!
'BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!' Manabu was completely taken aback by it all. Not just the sudden strike of thunder from the heavens above. But because just like Suzune couldn't have imagined how he felt when he failed to protect her when they were kids, he too couldn't even begin to realize how she truly felt about the event. Even though Suzune had long since recovered from falling from that tree, it was him, Manabu Horikita, who had never recovered since that day. He believed that his sister would be better off without him. That there should be someone more capable of protecting her than he did.
However, even the man who flung him into the air like a piece of paper couldn't protect his sister when she needed it most. It was that sudden realization that made him see that all this time what had always been in front of him.
"Onee-Chan! No more fighting! Please no more!" Suzune broke down crying her eyes out while holding her brother down on the ground in an effort to make him stop from punching Midoriya more than he already has. It was at that moment, finally being forced to look at her in her eyes, that he realized how selfish he was for distancing himself from her. His efforts to do so almost destroyed the image of him as her kind and gentle brother that she had held dear to her heart in the process. He couldn't help himself but think back to what he told her on that night-
'Suzune. I'm genuinely surprised to see you made a friend. Or perhaps… you've replaced me as your hero with Midoriya-San.' When Manabu said that he hoped that this person would be more capable of protecting her than he was. Except, it was that arrogant way of thinking that crushed that thought completely. Izuku Midoriya wasn't able to save his sister when she needed most just like he failed to save her when they were kids.
And yet, it was that same man who made him realize just how foolish that way of thinking was. He couldn't even see him with his eyes being directed completely at his sister. But even still he heard Shiina cry her eyes out asking if he's okay. In spite of all the pain he caused him he responded with a decisive 'I'm fine.' Even though he certainly wasn't fine. He wouldn't be able to blame Midoriya if he had punched him for how much physical pain, he caused him. And yet not once in their fight did, he ever punch him. It was that stark realization that made him realize just how strong Izuku was.
Izuku Midoriya certainly wasn't invincible. In fact, he was beaten to a pulp because of how ruthless Manabu was toward him. But even in spite of how strong he was, he held back his strength and helped him see the error of his ways in the process. But why? Why go so far? Manabu couldn't figure out an answer to that question. So, he just had to ask.
"Midoriya… why would you- Manabu tried to speak but he was cut off before he could finish by the man he was talking too.
"… Because giving help when you don't need too is the essence of being a true hero." Izuku Midoriya definitely answered much to Manabu's surprise. Suzune was also surprised to hear him say that and recalled that he said the very same thing to her on that night in the process of doing so. It was those words that made the foolish older brother finally realize what his sister had long since known about Midoriya. That even if he isn't an invincible hero capable of saving everyone…
… That Izuku Midoriya is a true hero, nonetheless. All Manabu Horikita could do was accept that fact while staring back at his sister with a gentle look on his face. And as for Midoriya all he could do was look out of utmost surprise over who had just made their entrance onto the metaphorical stage around them. The middle-aged man wearing a nice suit even in the pouring rain. Except in stark contrast to how he had portrayed himself up to this point, he was not smiling. Midoriya found it difficult to smile too, especially since he had a busted lip courtesy of Manabu. But even still he stood in front of Hiyori in an effort to defend her from the man before them.
"What do you want?" I asked while looking at Tsukishiro. He hasn't made any attempt to attack. He even let go of the element of surprise when he could have used that to his advantage. But that didn't stop me from being on guard in the event he does decide to attack. But will he? He's not wearing the costume that once was worn by Mr. Compress. Nor was he using his Quirk. If that's the case, then he must have another goal. But then what could that be? I couldn't even begin to figure out the answer to such a perplexing question, so I merely asked him about it. He understood where I was coming from and tilted his head in the direction of the school. And then…
"I think there's something that you'd like to see." Tsukishiro said before walking off toward the building before them. I made sure to follow after him even though it wasn't easy to move after being battered and bruised. But since Hiyori was right beside me, I leaned on her for support. (Though I made sure to grab my jacket off the ground.) We then made our way back into ANHS while Tsukishiro led us through the dimly lit familiar hallway. And it was because I recalled the path that he was taking us on, after going this way so many times in the past that I realized he was taking us to the cafeteria. But why there? What could be waiting for us the- But before I could finish that thought my question was answered as soon as we entered the cafeteria.
My jaw might as well hit the ground when I saw the people in the cafeteria. There were so many of them. The sheer quantity of them was mind boggling. And yet, they were all students of ANHS ranging from the first, second, and third years, all alive and well. I had almost forgotten them with my rapidly decaying mind. But I could never forget that I was a student at this school, same as them. A school full of people my age, most of which I only glanced at from time to time but had still been around me, learning beside me, and going about their lives just as I had. I might not have known a vast majority of their names, but these were all people I was trying to protect. It warmed my heart to see that they were being protected even when I couldn't be the one to do so. But even still, why did Tsukishiro show me this all of a sudden?
"No way! … Everyone! Look who's over there! Feast your eyes on who's here!" The voice of a girl who sounded strangely familiar could be heard in the distance. I tried pinpointing her but as the people around me began to take notice of me one after another it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Or it would have been if she wasn't pointing directly at me with a look of utter amazement on her face. She had short brown hair. I recognized her from the class photo that Hirata took of all of us back on the first day I was truly a student at this school. She was my classmate. My precious classmate. But what was her name again? Though before I could relearn that important piece of information she sprinted until she was right in front of me!
"Don't tell me you've forgotten me?! Is it none other than I! The great and powerful and cute and magnificent and cute and ultimate and super-duper omega mega ultra over nine thousand times cute KAYANO ONODERA!" Onodera declared with a smile on her face while holding her hands where her hips were. It was almost as if she had read my mind! (Though it was probably just the look on my face that gave her that idea.) Not even a second later, she was flicked across her forehead by a girl with long blue hair much to the former's surprise.
"What a long introduction… oh hey Midoriya. How's it hanging?" The girl with blue hair said with an angry look on her face before turning around to face me with a smile. I was caught off guard by the suddenness of her mood switch. But I learned her name shortly after this.
"Hasebe… stop flicking me in the forehead already!" Onodera yelled out only to be flicked in the forehead again repeatedly until she was sent into the air by the overwhelming number of flicks that could not be calculated in the slightest! The sheer quantity of numbers would be utterly astronomical! I was worried about her safety only to see that the girl by the name of Onodera had a smile on her face even after being finger flicked a near infinite number of times. She then immediately sprung up and wiped the dust off her clothes before appearing right in front of me as if she were teleporting!
"So, you might have forgotten little ol me, for a hot minute but I highly doubt that you forgot about them." Onodera whispered with a smug smile before turning my head in the direction of an incoming group of students. They were all from the class picture. They were all my classmates. No. They were all 'our' classmates. Each and every one of them was… right Hiyori? I couldn't help but think that way even if it pained me to see that there were a few noticeable exceptions like Sakura and Shinohara. But even knowing that's the case there was still someone missing from the picture… someone important. Though before I could find the answer to that question, I was immediately tackled to the ground by a very short girl with indigo hair tied up into twin-tails.
"MIDORIYAAAAAAAAA! THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE ALRIGHT!" The indigo haired girl yelled out at the top of her lungs while crying her eyes out on top of me with tears streaming down her cheeks. I was completely caught off guard by the suddenness of it and couldn't help but wince out in pain due to my injuries when fighting Manabu. She noticed pretty quickly and leaped off of me like a cat only to help pull me back up onto my feet with one hand alone.
"Sorry. I guess I got kinda carried away." She said with a smile while closing her eyes. At the same time, I was surprised over how easily she was able to get me back onto my feet! She didn't look all that strong. In fact, she had the appearance of an almost frail looking girl. But was she actually really strong or something?! Nah, couldn't be. But before I could say anything to her, her name was revealed to me not even a second later.
"You call that alright Mii-Chan?! His face! What happened to his plain looking face?! It's covered in bruises! Who the heck punched ya?! Let me at em!" Onodera shouted while pointing out how black and blue I was for all to see before punching the air with the look of a tiger on her face! Though this was short lived as she was finger flicked across the forehead before she knew what hit her.
"You just noticed? How are you this oblivious to your surroundings?" Hasebe asked while finger flicking Onodera again and again faster than the eye could see! The latter of which managed to survive the onslaught of attacks without so much as a bruise on her!
"Well, excuse me for being so happy that Midoriya got his butt off the bed I made for him!" Onodera snapped back while pointing her thumb at herself with a grin on her face!
'Oh… so it was 'her' who put on those uncomfortable desks? And did she really have to call me plain?' I thought internally with an annoyed look on my face while sweat dripped down my forehead profusely. Hiyori then chimed in by saying that she was the one who gave me the blanket which I thanked her for. Even still I was so surprised to see that they were all alive and well even though they've been practically cut off from society for a month. Just how had they been surviving for so long? Though just as I wondered about that question somebody came in through the entrance behind me. She was carrying a fish in her hands. The type of which I'm pretty sure is salmon. And it was-
"I-I-IT'S ALIVE?!" I yelled out at the top of my lungs as I almost fell to the ground only to be saved by one of Hiyori's feathers keeping me on my feet all while I couldn't help but stare at the live giant fish in this girl's hands!
"Of course it is. It's fresh. I just fished it from the sea." The girl responded in a monotone voice while caressing the fish as if it were a cat. She had purple hair that matched the color of her eyes that was tied into side locks accompanied by a hairpin. I didn't recognize her from the class photo so she must be from a different class. I couldn't help but wonder what her name was. Though that was immediately answered for me not a moment later.
"Good going Morishita! Now we've got dinner for a whole week!" Onodera exclaimed with a wide grin while giving a thumbs up to Morishita. The latter of which ever so slightly blushed over the complement while continuing to caress the fish in her hands. Not only did they have food, but they were also obtaining food for themselves! It reminded me of how we were all on that island together surviving for a whole week! Except they've done it for a whole month! All this time while I had been sleeping, they hadn't let how dire the situation is take hold of them. In spite of everything that's happening they've found their own way to survive and live! I couldn't help but be completely taken aback at all of this.
"It's so beautiful." I said with tears in my eyes while noticing just how amazing my classmates and everyone else who was enrolled as students in this school were.
"Yes. I agree. It's a very beautiful salmon." Morishita commented while continuing to hold the fish in her arms as if it were a baby.
"I don't think he's talking about the fish." Hiyori said with a smile on her face while closing her eyes only for her to open them and look at Deku. Even though Midoriya was beaten to a pulp, he still found it in himself to smile despite everything that's happened. It was one of the things she loves about him. But out of the corner of her eye she noticed that Tsukishiro was still standing beside them. She knew that the cafeteria was the place that the majority of the students have taken refuge in ever since she was freed from his crystal orb. She even knew full well that even the Americans had been pitching in to help them. (Namely Kimiko, who made sure that not a single one of the Nomus were able to lay their hands on Morishita while she was fishing.) But even still, she didn't understand why Tsukishiro would go out of his way to show Deku this.
"Hiyori… I want you to help me fly for a moment." I whispered into Hiyori's ear after realizing Tsukishiro's intentions. This surprised her for a moment until she nodded in affirmation. I then felt one of her feathers lift me up from the hood of my jacket until I nearly reached the ceiling. Almost everyone around me was completely taken aback by it as it appeared to all of them, I was flying! (Though it was merely a trick to make me appear that I was by the help of the girl I love with all of my heart.) Even still it worked like flying colors! I could hear more than a few of them exclaim their surprise by saying 'He's flying!' And 'I didn't know he could do that!' My classmates were surprised by this too, but none more than Onodera, who's jaw practically went through the ground and all the way to the other side of the world out of utmost surprise!
"Glad to see I've got all of your attention. To those who are unaware my name is Izuku Midoriya. For the longest time, I've kept my identity a secret from you all. Though that only lasted so long until it was exposed. But I didn't intend for that to happen. I wasn't even planning to tell a single person about it. The truth is… I was scared what you would all think of me after learning who I really was… that I was a superhero. It's that fear that drove a wedge between me and all of the people I care about. The fear of being despised… the fear of not living up to what I always wanted to be since I was four years old." I admitted with a serious look on my face. Though that was far from everything I intended to say. No. That was just the opening act.
"But! I'm not letting that fear EVER be the reason why I choose to be someone who I am not! I'm a superhero! Not just any superhero you could find on the streets or even one that was part of The Seven! Thise heroes might be perceived to be the greatest… but newsflash! I'm greater than them! All of them! Far greater than all of the so called 'supes' in this world put together! And it's because I'm the greatest that I won't let anyone stop me from being that! Not now! Not ever! I'm not going to settle for anything less than number one! And now that Homelander's gone… looks like that title is up for grabs! So, you what I'm going to do…" I continued before my voice trailed off until I regained my smile for what I was about to say next! And that was obvious! This is what this story has always been all about! Ever since the very beginning-
Chapter 75: This is the Story of How I Became the Greatest Hero
"So, I'm going to take it! But quite frankly no one really knows me other than all of you guys! Though I have a way to change that. And it all starts… with me saving all of you and getting you off of this god forsaken place! Though I can't just do it alone! If only I could that would make things easy. But my life has never been easy. And it's only going to get harder from this point on. That's why I need all of you to cooperate with me! And not just all of you! But everyone else too!" I continued until I felt something flung in the direction of me. I grabbed it out of the air just as it was about to hit me with ease. I knew what it was just from touching it. It was a microphone. I then saw out of the corner of my eye that it was Tsukishiro who had given it to me. Against all odds, that made my smile grow even wider. Because now everyone was going to hear what I had to say next!
"I'll repeat myself just this once! I need the help of everyone! Not just my friends, but literally everyone I can get my hands on for what's going to happen in the not-so-distant future! I, Izuku Midoriya! The superhero by the name of Deku! I need everyone to help make my dream a reality! My dream where all of you are saved and get to go back to your families! And where I become the greatest hero by saving you all! Though the only way to do that is to defeat the villain who has trapped all of you here! His name is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji! And you don't have to worry about anything…" I continued until I paused for a moment as my smile shined even brighter than it did before!
"… I'm here to clobber him into next Tuesday for everything's he done! All the pain! All the suffering he's caused all of you! I'm here to take him down a peg for even thinking he can get away with it all! But Ayanokoji has allies of his own, to the point that it would be impossible for one man alone to overcome all of them. That's why I need allies of my own to beat every single piece on the chessboard that he has lined up to fight me! Because to him this has all just been a game! One where the king sits on his throne and throws everything and kitchen sink at me in order to make me give up!" I continued while unbeknownst to me I was being watched from the lair of that same villain who was ever so slowly regaining his true form! Though that only made things even better!
"He's doing this because he's afraid of me! Afraid of what I will do to him once I get my hands on him! But don't worry, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji… even after everything you've done… I'm not going to kill you. The most selfless girl I've ever met reminded me that one man shouldn't use his hands to kill. So, even though you deserve it you'll get to live. But where you'll be living is in a cell for the rest of your life! While knowing that these incredible people that you've deemed worthless completely rejected you! They beat you! All of my friends beat you! I BEAT YOU!" I declared while sending my fist into the heavens above! And at the same time, he was watching me just as he has always done.
"Izuku… Midoriya…" Kiyotaka whispered while his eyes were completely focused on the sight that was the monitors showcasing me in the air proudly proclaiming what I will do in the future! He could hear every word that I said. And that only made things worse… for him. Because he couldn't do a damn thing about it until he's healed. Right now, he can only watch as his eyes burned an intense flame of pure hatred. He didn't even know what he was feeling was hatred. It was a completely new emotion for him. He hadn't felt it even once. Not even when his father admitted that he had killed his mother. And yet…
… For the first time in his life… Kiyotaka Ayanokoji absolutely hated another person. Garaki couldn't do a single thing about it too but sit back and watch. The ultimate final plan to end everything is not ready to commence yet. And it won't be until every single game piece is on the chessboard with the king on his throne. But on the other side of the chessboard representing the opposing faction, Izuku Midoriya has made his own throne while his allies took their places to guard him! It wouldn't be much longer until everything falls into place and the time for the Final Battle Between Good and Evil commences at long last! But before that! There was still a little bit more the heroic king had to say!
"And that's why I need all of you to join me! But I'm not expecting you all to fight! In fact, I know plenty of people who can fight! Some of which are just itching for the opportunity to let loose and give Ayanokoji and his allies a piece of their mind! But even then, it's going to take a lot for you all to overcome the sheer number of pieces that Ayanokoji has! So, I'm going to train all of you! I'm going to show you the most efficient ways to use your Quirks! That way, you can all use them to their full potential! And give Ayanokoji the rude awakening that he's had coming for so long! That the people he gave powers… are going to be the same heroes who beat him senseless!" I declared with the brightest smile possible that completely eradicated the darkness at bay! All while the people I was speaking to heard me through the loudspeakers completely taken aback over what I was saying so passionately! But it wasn't just them…
"… You're impossible." Manabu declared while adjusting his glasses with his index finger and a smile on his face. At the same time Suzune was looking back at the school while she and her brother heard every word on the loudspeakers that pierced through the pouring rain completely! Shortly afterward, the clouds parted, and the bright sun returned with a vengeance along with the crystal blue sky! The same could be said for every other student with a Quirk. The ones in the student council room, the ones in the room that formerly belonged to the Chairman, even the sole student who was locked in a classroom and chained to the desks for what he did to his classmates. Even he, Haruki Yamauchi, couldn't be more surprised over what his classmate was spouting with such determination! No one could ignore him! Not a single person! And they all thought the same thing…
'How? … How is he so… impossibly… cool?' All of the students of ANHS thought the same exact thing. There were only a few exceptions who already saw this aspect of Izuku Midoriya for quite a while, namely Hiyori Shiina who had been staring at him in the air with a smile on her face. This is the 'Izuku Midoriya' that she always saw despite him being awkward at times and his muttering at other times. And now everyone can see what she has known about that same man for so very long. That he is…
… The absolute coolest hero of all time!
"Give him hell." Tsukishiro muttered with a smile on his face. This might have been the first time he had truly smiled in decades. And it was because of Midoriya who exceeded his expectations completely. He knew that Izuku was dead set at stopping Ayanokoji, the same that he was planning to see through until the bitter end. And now he couldn't be more ecstatic that the hero in the air was making damn sure that Kiyotaka would fall from his throne! Everything is falling right into the place! And now there's one more thing that needed to fall before the evil king of demons falls to his doom! And that was-
"So, let's all defeat Ayanokoji together! And show the entire world who the hell we are! Because they will be watching! Everyone will be watching what happens next on the edge of their seats! So, let's give them a grand finale! The greatest finale imaginable where all of you are saved and I'm crowned the greatest hero of all time! And to those who still don't believe… just… watch me." I finished my declaration while maintaining my smile as I let go of the microphone in my hands and let it hit the ground with a decisive 'BAAAAAAAAM!' It only took a few more seconds to return back to the ground. Me and Hiyori then grabbed hold of our hands and stared forward. Past the students before us, far past the school, and even further beyond…
… Until we saw the future awaiting us both. The future that we both deserve more than anything. The future where we are together standing on the top of the world as heroes. And it was that future…
… That would soon become reality. But there was just one thing that had to happen before that-
… The grand finale.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: March 8th
Go Beyond!
Plus Ultra!
