Gunfire erupted across the battlefield in rapid succession.
Haunted by a sound that evoked memories of a past life, Kirishima released Midoriya and said, "You idiot. What were you thinking, charging out like that? I know the situation is urgent, but that doesn’t give you a free pass to act on impulse. Didn’t I always tell you to plan your defense before launching an offense?"
"Yeah... sorry," Midoriya mumbled.
Kirishima tousled Midoriya’s disheartened hair in a rough, comforting manner.
Even though Midoriya was the protagonist—and a sixteen-year-old with One For All, the most powerful Quirk in history—he was still young. Moreover, this being his first real battle, expecting him to perform flawlessly was, frankly, a bit much.
"No need to apologize. I understand why you did it," Kirishima continued.
"Huh?"
Helping the bewildered Midoriya to his feet, Kirishima leaned in and whispered, "All Might isn’t in great shape, is he? It looks like his active time is getting cut short."
"Hiee! D-did I mess something up?" Midoriya stammered.
Midoriya’s startled reaction was as if he’d been caught off guard by a stray cat leaping into the air. Kirishima chuckled and coughed before continuing.
Seeing blood trickling at the corner of Midoriya’s mouth, his expression turned momentarily grave, but Kirishima pressed on, "Unless your One For All can be divided like some piecemeal power, there’s no way All Might’s condition could be so good right now. I know what his true form looks like, and I understand the nature of his Quirk well enough to deduce that much."
"Oh, really? Um, Kirishima…" Midoriya began hesitantly.
"Yeah?" Kirishima replied.
"Please, don’t mention this to anyone. It’s a serious secret..."
With an air of casual assurance, Kirishima responded, easing Midoriya’s worries—after all, there was no point in further unsettling someone who had just experienced their first battle, and he certainly had no plans to let the secret slip.
"Of course. I may not be as genius as you, but I’ve got some smarts myself. I know exactly how outrageous that power is—and the enormous chaos it would unleash if anyone found out. More than that, I need to lean on you a bit. I pushed myself too hard; I’m almost done in."
"Huh? Y-yeah! Lean on me! Or... should I just carry you?"
"Heh. If you carried me, my legs would be dragging along the ground. Just lend me your shoulder," Kirishima said, settling his weight with a supportive hand on Midoriya’s shoulder.
With that extra support, Midoriya managed a bit better.
As the two talked, the tide of the battle shifted suddenly with the arrival of the teachers. Snipers’ shots cut through the air to support students fighting in distant skirmishes, while perfectly aimed bullets pierced a villain’s shoulder and arm—rescuing Kaminari, who had been held hostage.
Amid the astonished stares of Yaoyorozu and Jiro, a familiar voice rang out over USJ. It was the same reassuring tone they recalled from the acceptance hologram: Principal Nezu.
"I’m sorry, everyone. I’m late—but I’ve gathered all who could move immediately!" he declared.
"Iida!"
At Uraraka’s tearful shout, Iida, arriving with the teachers, responded in a booming voice, "Class 1-A representative, Iida Tenya! I have returned!"
The teachers lined up behind him like an army.
For a moment, Kirishima recalled a scene from an old film—the desperate last stand of marines isolated in a jungle, falling one by one until an attack helicopter’s support fire turned the tide. He could almost grasp the intense emotions those soldiers must have felt.
"Wow. Seeing them in action, our teachers really are something else," he remarked.
"They sure are!" Midoriya agreed, his voice bolstered by Kirishima’s calm demeanor.
In the brief pause between their words, the teachers launched into combat with the villains. As the villains charged wildly, Present Mic advanced and let out a high-pitched scream that cut through the clamor, neutralizing the attackers with its overwhelming force.
Frowning at the spectacle, Kirishima muttered, "Good thing I switched off Demon Form. If it had stayed on, that noise would have been torture."
Since Demon Form heightened his senses to a maddening degree, such attacks were painfully unbearable. If the Quirk had acted directly on the body, some resistance might have been possible—but it was merely a loud sound that left no alternative but to endure.
Meanwhile, clones produced by Ectoplasm surged forward to engage the villains, and Nezu, surveying the chaos, ordered the teachers, "Split up and protect the students!"
In response, the teachers dispersed and quickly subdued villains from all directions.
Amid a relentless barrage of noise and tremors, Shigaraki staggered backward, muttering, "Ah, they’ve arrived. Game over. Should we retreat and regroup, Kurogiri?"
Within moments, a fresh volley of gunfire erupted, with several bullets piercing Shigaraki’s body. Reacting swiftly, Kurogiri enveloped him in a cloak of mist to block the shots and shouted, "Shigaraki Tomura!"
Taking matters into his own hands, Kurogiri initiated a Warp Gate to extract Shigaraki. But suddenly, a powerful force from nearby yanked at his body.
"What is this? Thirteen?!"
Thirteen had somehow risen to his feet, leaning on Sero’s shoulder as support. With a deliberate motion, Thirteen released a strange cap from his finger and pointed it at Kurogiri.
Though Kurogiri struggled fiercely against the crushing pull of the Black Hole that devoured everything in its path, his body was inexorably dragged away.
Even as Kurogiri expedited the warp, Shigaraki’s face emerged from within, his voice seething with hatred as he spat, "This time I failed, but next time, I’ll kill you. Symbol of Peace—All Might!"
With those final words, he dissolved into the black mist.
Midoriya’s expression darkened as he murmured, "I couldn’t do anything..."
"That’s not true," came All Might’s deep, reassuring baritone.
Looking up in surprise, Midoriya listened as All Might continued calmly, "Had it not been for those few seconds, I would have been finished. Once again, I was saved."
"All… Might," Midoriya whispered.
Observing Midoriya on the verge of tears and All Might grinning with steam billowing from his entire body, Kirishima couldn’t help but make an awkward face. Though the moment was meant to be moving, he wondered aloud, "Really, do we have to make it so emotional when it’s just the two of us? It leaves the person caught in the middle feeling all the more awkward."
Then All Might turned to Kirishima and said, "The same goes for you, Kirishima. If you hadn’t held off the Nomu and bought us time, someone might have been killed. I knew you were strong, but you’ve surpassed even my expectations."
"Ah, yes. I just did what I could," Kirishima replied modestly.
"Most wouldn’t have managed that—but more than that, you fought on despite your injuries and protected the students. That’s what true heroes do," All Might said warmly.
"Hmm. Thank you," the young hero answered.
As Kirishima offered an embarrassed smile, All Might returned it with a gentle grin. When he had first met Kirishima, his curiosity was all he felt. A peer who had guided Midoriya with systematic, rational training seemed, in his own way, like a knight.
But the boy he now knew was stronger, more mature, and unwaveringly certain about the future. In line with his earlier convictions, Kirishima had clearly emerged as a formidable force—even by professional standards.
Yet it wasn’t merely his strength that impressed All Might. It was the sight of someone who, despite possessing power far beyond his peers, risked his body time and again to protect others. Such selfless courage reassured All Might that his successor would not have to walk a lonely road. After all, a journey shared with comrades is far less arduous than one traveled in isolation.
At that moment, Sho—who had withdrawn from the battlefield with Tsuyu—ran over shouting toward Midoriya, "Midoriya! Are you all right?!"
Although All Might was moved by the sight, the timing was less than ideal, and a bead of sweat betrayed his concern as he thought, What an admirable spirit! But this is dangerous—if they find out, everything’s lost! Wait! Damn it!
Before Kirishima could intervene as Sho approached, the ground suddenly surged upward, separating Sho from the two heroes. It was a wall of earth conjured by Cementoss—whose creation had now reached this far.
With an unreadable expression, Cementoss addressed Sho, "I need to verify the students’ safety. Gather near the gate; I’ll handle the injured here."
"A-alright! Thank you!" Sho replied in a rush.
Only then did All Might sit down with a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Cementoss. You saved me there."
"I’m a fan of yours, too. Now, keep a low profile and head to the infirmary with the students. And by the way, you pull some outrageous stunts every time," Cementoss teased.
All Might dabbed a wound on his cheek and answered in a troubled tone, "Had I not taken such risks, I would’ve been finished. He was that strong."
Even after fighting beyond his limits, the embers of war had stubbornly refused to die down. In many ways, the conclusion was unsatisfying.
**
In a secluded corner of a rundown bar, a space opened, and Shigaraki stumbled out.
Grinding his teeth, he muttered, "It hurts. Both arms, both legs... it’s a total defeat. The Nomu was taken out, my underlings obliterated. The kids—they were strong too. And yet, the Symbol of Peace still stands! That’s not what I was promised, Master!"
"It isn’t wrong," came a deep, measured voice from a monitor mounted on the wall.
The weighty tone soothed Shigaraki as it continued, "I underestimated them. I’m grateful the League of Villains carries such a cheap name. But what about our joint Nomu experiment, the one Master and I created? Wasn’t it recovered?"
In response, Kurogiri answered, "It was blown away."
"What!" Shigaraki exclaimed.
"Without an exact coordinate, even a Warp Gate can’t pinpoint it. There simply wasn’t enough time." The voice mumbled with disappointment, "We painstakingly crafted it to rival All Might’s power... Well, nothing can be done. It’s a shame."
Shigaraki’s expression darkened as he murmured, "Power... right. There were, no—two individuals with power comparable to All Might. One of them truly showcased combat prowess akin to a Nomu or All Might. The other? Not so much."
"Hmm," came the detached response.
Ignoring the faint praise from the monitor, Shigaraki seethed bitterly, "If it weren’t for that interference, I might have killed All Might. That brat... that insolent brat!"
"No amount of rage will change our fate. This incident wasn’t completely for nothing. Gather the elite—take your time. We cannot afford to move freely right now. That’s why we need a symbol like you, Shigaraki Tomura! Next time, let the world tremble at the mere thought of you!"
Through the gap in the hand covering his face, Shigaraki’s eyes shone with murderous intent as his words echoed, the seed of evil sprouting brilliantly beneath the earth.
**
Later, in the infirmary, Kirishima lay beside All Might and Midoriya. All Might, now in his True Form, showed no sign of hiding his condition from Kirishima—even though today he could no longer shift into Muscle Form.
With All Might, who towered over the bed, and Kirishima awkwardly propping their feet on the lower support, Recovery Girl surveyed the scene and remarked, "My, my—these beds are far too small for you two. I’ll have to source a larger one."
"Ah, no, there’s really no need to go that far for us," one of them replied.
Kirishima longed to protest that he did need extra room after All Might’s comments, but he bit his tongue. Now was not the time for petty complaints.
Recovery Girl, clearly understanding his unspoken sentiment, fixed All Might with a firm look and said, "I’m saying this because you seem to be coming here more often. How many times has it been for Midoriya already? I can’t really chastise you given the circumstances—but this goes for both of you. And you!"
"Huh? Me?" Kirishima exclaimed, startled by her unexpected call-out.
Puzzled, he thought, I haven’t really done anything wrong. Am I not taking better care of myself than those two?
But Recovery Girl’s tone made it clear she disagreed. "Yes, Kirishima—you’re injured. You need to step back and rest if you want to keep fighting. Without me here, who knows what might have happened? You could have ended up with permanent damage, or even had part of your lung removed!"
"I’m sorry... but I had to fight," Kirishima admitted.
Scratching his chin at his own embarrassment, he listened as Recovery Girl sighed deeply, "You’re stubborn, aren’t you? All three of you push your limits so hard. Please, take some help—you have to take care of yourselves."
"Yes. I’ll be more careful next time," came the quiet reply.
Speaking on behalf of all three, Kirishima answered, prompting All Might—lying there with a pensive expression—to add, "Perhaps... I think my active limit has dropped again. Ah, Kirishima, you might not know this, but I now have a capped amount of time I can remain active each day."
"I know," Kirishima replied.
"Hm? Did I say that, or was it Midoriya?" All Might teased.
"No. I just deduced it. Looking at the reports and having seen your true form, it’s clear your active time has been reducing for years," Midoriya offered, his tone thoughtful.
All Might’s expression became pensive, filled with complicated emotions. He understood why that brave boy had thrown himself into danger despite his injuries—he was preparing for emergencies, aware that his condition was less than perfect. For someone tasked with inspiring absolute trust as the Symbol of Peace, it was an embarrassing vulnerability.
Yet, after a moment’s pause, All Might nodded. It was better that his friend had grasped the situation; had others learned of it, panic or suspicion might have spread. Most people would either celebrate a hero’s fall or sink into despair over it.
Kirishima, however, was different. He had honed himself and acted only when necessary, never seeking the spotlight while quietly doing what needed to be done. That was the mark of a true hero—both in ability and in spirit.
"Yes. So you knew, Kirishima. Let me tell you something: because I overextended myself today, my active limit has probably dropped noticeably. Still, I hope I can function for at least an hour," All Might admitted lightly.
"All Might..." Midoriya sighed, and for a moment Kirishima fell silent. Then All Might sat up and said as if it were nothing, "Well, it can’t be helped. These things happen."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the infirmary door swung open. A sturdy man in a trench coat stepped inside. Removing his hat and pressing it to his chest, he called out, "All Might."
"Tsukauchi. You’re here too?" All Might inquired calmly.
"All Might! Are you alright? You don’t look so good!" Tsukauchi blurted.
Midoriya leapt to his feet in alarm, but All Might merely replied, "I’m fine. This is Tsukauchi Naomasa—a very close officer."
"Haha. What kind of introduction is that? Sorry to cut in, but about the villains..."
"Wait! Hold on. Are all the students safe? What about Aizawa, Eraser Head, and Thirteen?" All Might demanded urgently.
Tsukauchi smiled reassuringly and responded, "All the students, aside from the two here who sustained minor injuries, are safe. And among the teachers, two are out of immediate danger."
"I see..."
A collective sigh of relief filled the room.
Internally, Kirishima mused bitterly, If our leader were any less careless, we wouldn’t have made it. Even knowing better, I still ended up badly injured…
He was certain there had been no casualties only because Shigaraki had been either foolish or weak. Despite wielding overwhelming force, he had swung it about like a child brandishing a knife. Had Shigaraki been cold and calculated, Aizawa wouldn’t have survived. If Kirishima had been on the villains’ side, he would have eliminated threats like Aizawa without hesitation.
The fact that Aizawa lived despite Kirishima’s delayed arrival was purely due to Shigaraki’s reckless, intoxicated display of power.
Then Tsukauchi lowered his head and added, "If the three heroes hadn’t risked everything, the students wouldn’t have made it either."
All Might turned his gaze toward Tsukauchi and corrected him gently, "That’s not quite it. The students fought hard and threw themselves into danger as well. Has any first-year class ever survived a real battle so quickly without a hint of fear? The villains made a critical error. This class is strong—they will become true heroes. I’m absolutely certain of it."
At those confident words, Midoriya lowered his gaze to his clenched fist. He had been limited in what he could do, needing to rely on others, yet he had fought and survived. Next time, he vowed, he would grow stronger so that he could help even more—saving people with his own power. His fist pulsed with engorged veins as determination surged within him.
Kirishima smiled at the sight. The future he once knew was rapidly slipping away, yet he felt no fear. For he knew that he would continue to grow stronger, and his comrades would evolve alongside him. With the comforting promise of a brighter tomorrow, the long, grueling day finally drew to a close.
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