Chapter 52: What a Twist!
Recap of the previous episode.
"Finally, no more repeating recaps…" Jiro sighed.
Same recap from before plays.
"Looks like you jinxed it." Yaoyorozu whispered.
"Damn it…" Jiro frowned.
Opening plays.
"At least the opening makes up for it!" Kaminari bounced.
"Y-You're a little too cheerful for what we're about to watch…" Sero remarked.
"It's pretty if you have a positive mindset for what's about to happen…" Kaminari replied.
The words, 'What a Twist!' appeared while Midoriya narrated, "Going back in time to right after everyone first heard Kacchan was being targeted through Mandalay's Telepath…"
"Sir, you heard Mandalay's Telepath, right? My friend's being targeted. Please, let me go to him!" Kirishima pleaded with Vlad.
"No." Vlad shook his head.
"Why not?" Kirishima exclaimed.
"Stop it, Kirishima." Ashido walked over to him.
"Sir, if we do not know how many villains there are, then wouldn't it be better to have as many people fighting as we can?" Iida suggested to Vlad.
"Especially since there were those unconscious from the gas…" Yaoyorozu sighed.
"-that's right. Even Aizawa Sensei said to fight, didn't he?" Kirishima agreed with Iida.
'I said to defend yourselves, but I understand Kirishima's feelings.' Aizawa glanced at Kirishima and Bakugo watching from the kitchen.
"That is for self-defense. It was so everyone could get back here." Vlad explained to them, Kirishima gritting his teeth while everyone grew quiet.
A door opening made the students look up, Sato asking, "Did someone come in?"
"Do you think Aizawa Sensei came back…?" Ojiro asked Sato.
"Perfect timing. I'll go ask him directly." Kirishima narrowed his eyes, beginning to walk past Vlad before he raised his arm up, stopping Kirishima.
"No, wait." Vlad told Kirishima as a shadow stood at the door, exclaiming, "It's not him!"
Blue fire blew the door down while Vlad pushed Kirishima and Ashido out of the way of the flames.
"Everyone, get back!" Iida shouted while he covered his face from the flames. The students stood together behind Vlad as Dabi walked into the classroom.
"That guy… Is he the villain that was defeated earlier?" Mineta pointed out.
Dabi lit his hand with fire before Vlad slammed him into the wall.
"You're too slow!" Vlad shouted as blood came from him, trapping Dabi onto the wall, crystallizing.
"Blood Control… It's so strong!" Kirishima stared in awe.
"As expected of Vlad Sensei!" Monoma smiled.
"You're pushing hard into a place like this without thinking? You're really underestimating us!" Vlad glared at Dabi.
"And why wouldn't we? You're acting exactly like I thought you would. You all lost the minute you lost the initiative. The pinnacle of hero education, U.A., and the Symbol of Peace, All Might. The two most trusted figures of hero society, gathered together." Dabi explained, making Vlad gasp while Dabi continued, "If multiple incidents keep putting that trust into question, then don't you think that will shake society as a whole? Sloppy management that keeps allowing attacks to get through, and in the end, being so weak as to allow a student to be stolen away by a criminal group."
"Bastard, are you saying Bakugo's…" Kirishima exclaimed, hardening his arms.
"...going to be kidnapped by you?" Iida glared.
"Stop messing around!" Kaminari gritted his teeth, making his hands sizzled with electricity.
'Damn extras…' Bakugo glanced at Kirishima, who had a hand on his shaking arm.
"Look, there are so few of us and we're driving you into a corner." Dabi grinned as his hands lit with blue fire.
"You bastard…!" Vlad yelled, rearing his fist back before Aizawa kicked Dabi in the face.
"It's no use, Vlad!" Aizawa told him.
"Aizawa Sensei!" Ashido and Sato cheered while Mineta bounced up and down.
Aizawa wrapped Dabi up in his scarf, pinning him to the ground with his foot, stomping on him repeatedly while Aizawa said, "This guy's just trying to stir things up. He won't tell us anything."
"Erasure Hero: Aizawa Sensei!" Kaminari questioned.
Aizawa stomped his foot in sludge, adding, "Besides, look- he's a fake. One came earlier, too."
"A fake…" Ashido whispered as she and Iida walked closer to the sludge.
"Is that one of the villains' quirks?" Iida asked.
"Eraser, what were you doing?" Vlad asked.
"Sorry. I was planning to give orders allowing the students to fight, but I ended up taking care of Kota. Take him for me. I'm going to the front lines. Vlad, I'm counting on you to keep defending this place." Aizawa explained.
"Wait, Eraser!" Vlad exclaimed as Aizawa started running for the door. When Aizawa glanced back at him, Vlad explained, "We still don't know how much they'll come at us."
"You'll be fine by yourself. Look at this fake. Both times, it was just one like this. I think they're coming strong at us because they want to keep our attention here since we're pros. It's a strategy to make up for the small number of people they sent." Aizawa reassured him.
"If there are only a few, then there's even more reason for me-" Kirishima exclaimed.
"Yes! Nothing can beat strength in numbers!" Iida agreed.
"Iida, I thought you didn't want us to get involved." Uraraka reminded him.
"It was for the search for Bakugo. The pros had a plan, but here, it was mostly just bumping into villains, and defeating them." Iida explained.
"That was mostly what it was now that we're seeing it again." Shoji agreed.
"-they might be after others, as well." Aizawa explained, saying Bakugo was the only found target.
"Now we know they were also out to kill some of us…" Kaminari shivered.
"Yeah, and it seemed Midoriya and Iida were targets…" Asui nodded.
"-time being, we'll win by having everyone stay safe and sound." Aizawa told them before running off again.
"And now back to the present…" Midoriya narrated, the clearing where Dabi, Twice and Toga met before Mr. Compress came flying down with Shoji, Todoroki, and Midoriya on his back.
"Give Kacchan and Tokoyami back!" Midoriya yelled at Mr. Compress
"I know these kids!" Twice pointed at them before turning to Toga, who was beaming, asking, "Who are they?!"
"Mister, get out of the way." Dabi told Mr. Compress as his hand lit with fire.
"Roger!" Mr. Compress said before glowing blue. Dabi shot his fire out at Midoriya, Todoroki and Shoji.
"Idiot! That's cold!" Twice shouted as the three jumped out of the way of the flames.
"Midoriya! Shoji!" Todoroki shouted before glancing in front of him, seeing Twice jump at him.
"Faces from Shigaraki's kill list! That little beat-up boy and you!" Twice exclaimed at Todoroki.*
"And Todoroki…!" Yaoyorozu gaped.
Todoroki shot ice at Twice, who jumped back, yelling, "That's hot!"
"It's ice…" Todoroki narrowed his eyes.
A can flew at Midoriya's face, who dodged, but not without some hair getting cut off while Toga ran for him.
"I'm Toga, Izuku!" Toga beamed, pinning Midoriya to the ground, whispering, "I thought so earlier, too…"
Toga pulled a knife out, making Midoriya widen his eyes as Toga grinned, "...but you'd be cooler if you bled more, Izuku!"
Shoji ran over to Midoriya, shoving Toga away, shouting, "Midoriya!"
Toga slid on the ground until she stopped herself with her knife.
"Is that how it is? Are you going to get in the way? You're not my type at all, but I'll cut you anyway." Toga whispered, glaring at Shoji.
"L-Like I said before, all yours…" Mineta and Kaminari patted Midoriya's back.
Todoroki shot more ice at Twice, who continued dodging while shouting, "Good job! This is easy! Give me all you've got!"
Twice pulled out a string from his wrist, cutting some of Todoroki's ice, teasing, "Stop messing around!"
"Tch. What's with this guy?" Todoroki gritted his teeth.
A marble landed in a pit before transforming into Mr. Compress.
"Ow… I can't believe you flew so far to chase after me. Your ideas are far out!" Mr. Compress held his shoulder, walking to Dabi.
"Where's Bakugo?" Dabi asked Mr. Compress.
"Of course…" Mr. Compress reached into his pocket before questioning, "Hm?"
"Midoriya, Todoroki, we're running away!" Shoji announced, adding, "I'm sure now based on what he just did- I don't know what your quirk is, but inside that right pocket of yours that you kept flaunting were these- Tokoyami, and Bakugo, right, entertainer?"
Shoji held up two marbles in one of his hands.
"Good job, Shoji!" Ojiro turned to Shoji.
"No, it wasn't it…" Shoji shook his head.
"-didn't take you very long! As expected of someone with six arms! You're good at feeling around!" Mr. Compress teased while Midoriya and Shoji started running away. Todoroki built up more ice to block Twice before following.
"All right! Good job, Shoji!" Todoroki told him as he caught up.
"Moron-" Dabi raised his hand up.
"No, wait." Mr. Compress stopped Dabi.
They continued running until Midoriya gasped, seeing Nomu emerge from the shadows.
"A Nomu!" Midoriya gaped.
"Over here!" Todoroki yelled, swerving a different direction before a portal appeared before them, Kurogiri standing in front of them.
"Th-This guy…" Shoji choked.
"...was at USJ…" Todoroki stared.
"The warp…" Midoriya gasped.
"It has been five minutes since the signal. Let us go, Dabi." Kurogiri told him, portals appearing where Toga, Twice, Dabi and Mr. Compress stood.
"Sorry, Izuku, I'll see you later." Toga smiled as she walked through the portal.
"Does she call everyone by their first name?" Kaminari asked.
"But, how does she know Midoriya's first name…?" Jiro asked.
"Maybe from that kill list…" Yaoyorozu shivered.
"They seemed so happy that they rushed out here, so I thought I'd give them a present." Mr. Compress told Dabi when he asked about their objective.
The class tensed up; Midoriya, Shoji and Todoroki clenching their fists.
Shoji, Midoriya and Todoroki turned to face Mr. Compress as he continued.
"It's a habit, one of the basics of magic. When I flaunt something, it's because there's something I don't want you to see."
Mr. Compress started removing his mask, sticking his tongue out, revealing two marbles in his mouth, showing Bakugo and Tokoyami inside.
"N-No way…!" Todoroki and Midoriya gaped. Mr. Compress snapped his fingers, the marbles Shoji was holding turning to ice.
"My ice?!" Todoroki glared.
"That's right. During the freezing attack, I prepared dummies and put them in my right pocket." Mr. Compress explained.
"Damn it!" Midoriya yelled, the three of them running back as he thought, 'His quirk lets him compress and confine things?'
Mr. Compress slid his mask back on, saying, "If you discover that what was in my right hand was in my right pocket, then of course you'd rush happily over."
"Wait…!" Midoriya yelled.
Mr. Compress took a slight bow. "And now, that's all from me-"
A laser hit Mr. Compress in the face, making the mask come off. The laser came from the bushes, Aoyama standing there.
"Aoyama!" Midoriya exclaimed.
"Yeah, Aoyama!" the class cheered.
"I am sorry I could not help more…" Aoyama whispered.
"You helped enough…" Shoji rested his hand on his shoulder.
"At least we didn't have two missing students…" Aizawa sighed.
Midoriya squeezed his pant leg. 'If only…!'
Pain shot through Midoriya, making him tumble to the ground while Todoroki and Shoji reached for the two marbles Mr. Compress spat out. Shoji reached and successfully grabbed one marble. Todoroki reached out, about to grab the second one before Dabi closed his hand on it. Dabi held the marble up, grinning.
"That's sad… Shoto… Todoroki…" Dabi whispered as Todoroki passed by him.
Todoroki looked down at his lap, clenching his fists tightly. 'Bakugo…'
"Confirm it now. Release this." Dabi ordered Mr. Compress.
"My show's been ruined!" Mr. Compress complained before snapping his fingers, turning the marble Shoji was holding back into Tokoyami. The marble Dabi held turned into Bakugo, Dabi holding his neck.
"No problem." Dabi smirked, slowly backing into the portal with Bakugo.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya yelled, running for the portal. Bakugo slid further and further into the portal.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya jumped for the portal.
Bakugo was almost through the portal as he choked, "Don't come… Deku…!"
The portal disappeared, leaving Midoriya to fall to the ground.
Midoriya felt tears roll down his cheek before falling onto his fist.
Midoriya looked up at where the portal once was, where he last saw Bakugo. His lip quivered until he left out a loud scream of agony.
Montages of the students being rescued, then to Mandalay and Tiger going to where Ragdoll was, only to find her gone.
Asui and Uraraka ran to where Midoriya, Tokoyami, Shoji and Todoroki where as Midoriya narrated, "On that day…"
When they arrived at where the three were, they found Midoriya on the ground with Tokoyami, Todoroki, Shoji and Aoyama surrounding him.
"...we who were aiming to be heroes completely lost to the villains."
Information about Midoriya appears.
Bakugo felt a hand on his arm, glancing over to see Kirishima holding onto him, squeezing tightly.
"Kirishima…" Bakugo whispered.
"Sorry… I just need to know that you're still here…" Kirishima apologized, tears forming in his eyes.
"Fine…" Bakugo spat.
"-Vlad King Sensei called emergency services, and fifteen minutes later after the villains left, ambulances and fire trucks arrived. Of the forty students, fifteen were unconscious and in serious conditions from the villains' gas, and eleven others had major or minor injuries. Thirteen were uninjured. And… one was missing. Of the six pros heroes, one was in serious condition after receiving a hard blow to the head, and one lost a lot of blood and went missing. Meanwhile, on the villain side, three were caught red-handed and arrested… Leaving those three behind, the other villains disappeared without a trace. As I felt my consciousness fading, I remembered the words of that man, Tomura Shigaraki." Midoriya narrated.
'More importantly, you should be careful. The next time we meet will likely be when I have decided to kill you.'
"The summer training camp that we had all been looking forward to ended in the worst way." Midoriya narrated.
Midoriya felt a tap on his shoulder to see Uraraka offering a tissue. He took the tissue and held it in his hand before wiping his eyes. Yaoyorozu had created some tissues, and was passing them around to the others.
'The Next Day (Still Summer Vacation)'
Reporters stood at U.A.'s closed barrier, demanding they open it.
The empty halls and classrooms of the school, then to a meeting happening between Midnight, Present Mic, All Might, Snipe and Principal Nezu.
"To be attacked during a training camp meant to prepare students to fight villains… We should be embarrassed by the irony. We feared the revitalization of villains, but our understanding of it was naive. They had already started their war- Their war to destroy hero society." Nezu sighed.
"Even if we had understood it, would we have been able to defend against it?" Midnight asked, saying, "With all these persistent developments unfolding one after another… Ever since All Might, most organized crime had been weeded out."
"So we got all too complacent during peaceful times without realizing it, thinking we had time to prepare." Present Mic agreed.
"I am angry from the bottom of my heart at my own cowardice. While they were fighting desperately, I… was relaxing in the tub." All Might whispered to himself, disappointed.
"All Might, you don't need to blame yourself." Yaoyorozu told him.
"I do. This is another time I wish I'd been there…" All Might argued.
"Another time we were not prepared…" Aizawa sighed.
"-taking unyielding positions like that, like we had up until now. To have a student kidnapped is U.A.'s greatest failure." Snipe told them.
Bakugo gritted his teeth. 'If only I'd be stronger…'
"They have stolen the trust people had in us heroes, along with Bakugo." Snipe added.
"All the news outlets are filled with criticism of U.A. right now. If they were trying to get Bakugo, then it was probably because his violent side was made common knowledge at the sports festival. If he is won over by the villains, then it's over for U.A. as an educational institution." Nezu explained, holding up a paper and tablet on the news.
"Those bastards choose wrong…" Bakugo uttered, clenching his fist.
"-topic of trust, there's something I'd like to say. We can say conclusively now…" Present Mic told them, dropping his voice as he said, "There's a traitor among us, isn't there?"
"A… traitor…?" Yaoyorozu questioned.
"No way! Who would betray?!" Kirishima exclaimed.
"Midoriya, can you pause?" Kaminari asked him. Once paused, Kaminari explained, "Okay, so, normally when there's an idea of a traitor, he who mentions that there's one is normally it."
"Mic Sensei is not a traitor, Kaminari…" Jiro groaned.
"But that's normally how it goes!" Kaminari argued.
"Young Kaminari, it was just a suggestion made by Mic, it isn't something to think too much about." All Might explained.
"But, if there is, would it be a teacher?" Ashido asked.
"Could it be…" Sero widened his eyes.
"...a student?!" Mineta choked.
"Calm down. There is no traitor, so stop the discussion." Aizawa hushed them.
"-the Pussycats knew where the training camp would be held! That's not all that's suspicious! Using their cellphone location information, even the students-" Present Mic slammed his hands on the table.
"Mic, stop it." Midnight exclaimed.
"How can I? Let's clean this place up thoroughly!" Present Mic argued.
"What about you? Can you prove that you're 100% innocent? Can you assert that everyone here is innocent?" Snipe asked Present Mic, making him quiet as Snipe added, "If we suspect each other, then we'll destroy ourselves from the inside."
"Snipe is correct. Even if there is a traitor, questioning one another will only tear everyone apart from the inside." All Might nodded.
"But, Mic Sensei also said that it could be us students…" Iida whispered.
"But it's not, right…? We can all trust each other… Right…?" Kaminari questioned.
"R-Right!" Midoriya exclaimed.
"Yeah…" the rest joined in.
"-completely innocent either, though. For now, what we must do as a school is guarantee the safety of the students. With the suspected leaked, there's something I've been thinking about doing for a while now. That's-" Nezu explained.
"A phone call is here! A phone call-" All Might's phone rang before he stopped it, saying, "Excuse me, I have to take this."
"Again with the ringtone…" Aizawa sighed.
"-off your phone!" Present Mic scolded All Might as he walked outside.
'His ringtone's so lame…' Midnight thought.
"Jeez, is it that bad…?" All Might muttered.
"I bet Midoriya has the same ringtone." Sero assured him.
"You'd be surprised…" Midoriya whispered.
'-Peace can't even save his own students…? What hero…?' All Might thought as he clenched his fist. Looking at his phone, he placed it to his ear, answering, "Sorry, what is it, Tsukauchi?"
"We just got the statements from Aizawa and Vlad King, but there's been an unexpected development! We may be able to determine the whereabouts of the League of Villains." Tsukauchi told All Might.
"Really, Tsukauchi?" All Might asked, shocked.
"Yeah. About two weeks ago, one of my subordinates was gathering information and found out a man with a patchwork face was seen going into a building that was supposed to be vacant. The man was said to be in his twenties, so he checked the records for past criminals but didn't see anything notable. After checking with the owner of the building, he found out that there was a sort of hidden bar there, so he thought it was unrelated to our investigation and ignored it. But one of the villains who kidnapped the student this time had the same markings! With the situation as it is, once we find evidence, we'll be on them at once! This is top secret. I'm only telling you because it's you. We're planning and asking for cooperation from a lot of pro heroes for this rescue and cleanup mission. All Might, please lend us your power, too!" Tsukauchi explained to All Might. When Tsukauchi didn't get an answer, he asked, "All Might?"
Aizawa and Vlad looked at each other behind Tsukauchi.
All Might started transforming into his muscular form, saying into the phone, "I… had a wonderful friend. This is what I'll say when I meet those guys: 'I am here… to counterattack.'
Reports of the incident were everywhere, on every channel, summarizing what happened until someone turned off their TV, Shigaraki's face reflecting on the screen, laughing to himself.
"I'm really grateful for all the publicity we've been getting." Shigaraki sighed, turning to look at Bakugo, who was chained to a chair, asking, "Hey, don't you agree…? Katsuki Bakugo…"
At a hospital, Midoriya narrated, "The day after that… As for me, I had been brought to a hospital near the training camp after the incident, and for two days, I was in and out of consciousness with convulsions, delirious with fever. During that time, apparently Recovery Girl came and healed me, and the police came to visit, but I don't remember a thing."
Midoriya laid in a hospital bed, both his arms wrapped in bandages. He opened his eyes slowly before glancing at the table next to him, at the bowl of fruit.
"You look so dead…" Sero spoke.
"How do you think you'd feel if you just lost your friend!" Jiro fired back.
"R-Right…" Sero rubbed his neck.
'-take this anymore. My heart can't take it…'
Midoriya stared up at the ceiling, muttering, "Kota… I wonder if he's okay…"
A knock on his door came before someone slid the door open, Kaminari smiling, "Oh, Midoriya, you're awake!"
Midoriya glanced at the door as almost everyone from his class came in the room.
"Did you see the news? The media's swarming the school right now." Kaminari told Midoriya.
"It's way worse than in the spring." Sato added as he closed the door
"We've got a melon! We brought it together! A big melon!" Mineta cheered, holding the melon.
"I caused you trouble, Midoriya…" Tokoyami whispered.
"No, I did, too…" Midoriya smiled awkwardly, uttering, "Did everyone from Class A come?"
"No, Jiro and Hagakure are still unconscious from the villains' gas. And Yaoyorozu also got hit hard on the head and is hospitalized here. Apparently she regained consciousness yesterday. So everyone but those three came…" Iida explained.
"Fifteen of us…" Uraraka added softly.
"Because Bakugo's not here." Todoroki said bluntly.
"Hey, Todoroki!" Ashido exclaimed worriedly.
The light that seemed to have left Midoriya's eyes came back.
'Kacchan!'
'Don't come… Deku…!'
"All Might said, 'I can't save the people I can't reach'. That's why he will always save those he can reach. I… was in a place where I could reach… I had to save him… That's what my quirk is for… It's exactly like what Aizawa Sensei said to me." Midoriya choked, tears forming.
'You'll just be decked and turn into a useless doll after saving one person.'
Midoriya clenched his fist tighter, whispering, "If only…!"
Tears streamed down Midoriya's face.
"My body… wouldn't move… It was all I could do to save Kota… I couldn't save someone right in front of me…" Midoriya mustered through the tears.
"Then, let's save him this time." Kirishima told Midoriya, making everyone gasp and look at Kirishima, who explained, "Actually, Todoroki and I were here yesterday, too."
To the events of yesterday, Kirishima gasped as he saw Todoroki in the hospital.
"Todoroki, why are you here?" Kirishima asked him.
"What about you?" Todoroki repeated.
"I… well… I couldn't just sit still at home… and…" Kirishima uttered.
"I see. Me neither." Todoroki understood.
As Kirishima and Todoroki walked down a hallway, Kirishima continued, "On our way to your room, we saw All Might and a police officer talking to Yaoyorozu."
"With the help of Awase from Class B, I attached a tracking device to one of the villains." Yaoyorozu explained to All Might and Tsukauchi. Holding up a device, Yaoyorozu continued, "This device will receive that signal. Please use it for your investigation."
All Might took the device, saying, "Before, Aizawa said you lacked the judgement to make quick decisions. You have grown so much! Thank you, Young Yaoyorozu!"
"With a classmate in danger… it is frustrating to only be able to help this way…" Yaoyorozu admitted.
"That feeling is proof that you are worthy of being a hero." All Might told her.
"Huh?" Yaoyorozu questioned.
"Please leave the rest to us!" All Might reassured.
Back to the present, Iida asked, "Does this mean you're going to have Yaoyorozu make another receiver?"
Kirishima looked down while Todoroki stared at Iida.
"What if it does?" Todoroki asked.
Iida gritted his teeth at the answer.
'Either way, we will need to take responsibility for being negligent in our supervisory duties.'
'I am truly sorry.'
'All right. You'll cause trouble for others! If you understand, then don't do it again!'
Kirishima clenched his fist, tightening his grip on Bakugo.
"Shitty Hair, if you're gonna just suddenly grab me, don't make it hurt." Bakugo told him.
"Sorry…" Kirishima apologized, loosening his grip.
"-leave to the pros! This isn't the place for us to act, you idiots!" Iida yelled at them.
"We know that! But, I couldn't do anything! After I heard my friend was being targeted! I couldn't do anything! I didn't do anything! If I don't do anything now, I won't be a hero or a man anymore!" Kirishima yelled back.
"Kirishima, we're in a hospital. Calm down. It's fine to feel strongly about things, but this time…" Kaminari held his finger up to his mouth.
"Iida is correct." Asui agreed.
"Iida, all of you, you're all correct. I know that." Kirishima shook where he stood before turning to Midoriya, exclaiming, "But! Hey, Midoriya, your hand can still reach! We can go save him!"
Everyone stared at Midoriya, waiting for his reply.
Ending plays.
"It's doing us dirty like that…" Hagakure squeezed her pillow.
"I'd already guess Midoriya wanted to save Bakugo." Jiro said.
"Yeah…" Kirishima nodded.
"But seriously, why is the ending so chill after intense moments like this?" Kaminari asked.
"At least the opening fits…" Sero added.
"I want it as my ringtone…!" Kaminari shook his fist.
Bakugo gritted his teeth. 'If only I'd be stronger, maybe…'
Chapter 53: From Iida to Midoriya
Same recap plays, then the opening.
"Next, is All Might's fight against that boss villain, right…?" Uraraka noted.
"All for One…" Midoriya whispered.
"That or rescuing Bakugo." Asui replied.
"They didn't rescue me! They were my best escape route!" Bakugo yelled at the two.
"Okay…" Jiro sighed.
Recap of the previous episode.
Title screen 'From Iida to Midoriya'
"So, in short, you're planning on getting the receiver from Yao-momo, following it, and going to save Bakugo yourselves?" Ashido summarized, the class still in Midoriya's hospital room.
"Yeah." Kirishima nodded.
"Even though the villains said we were targets to be killed, they took Bakugo without killing him. They probably let him live, but that doesn't mean they won't kill him eventually. Kirishima and I are going." Todoroki explained.
Iida gritted his teeth before exclaiming, "Don't go overboard with your messing around!"
"Wait. Calm down. I understand Kirishima's frustration at not being able to do anything and Todoroki's frustration at having him stolen in front of his very eyes. I'm frustrated, too." Shoji told Iida. Transforming one of his hands into a mouth, adding, "But, this isn't a situation where we should act on our emotions. Right?"
"L-Let's leave this to All Might… Aizawa Sensei's permission to fight at the training camp has been rescinded, too." Aoyama told them nervously.
"Aoyama's right. I can't say much since I was the one who needed saving, though…" Tokoyami agreed.
"But-" Kirishima objected.
"Everyone, we're all shocked from Bakugo's kidnapping. But let's think things through calmly. No matter how just your feelings, if you're saying you'll fight again… that you'll break the rules… Those acts are the same as those of villains." Asui told them.
Asui gasped before lowering her head, tears forming in her eyes. Uraraka stroked her hair to try and comfort her while Iida, Midoriya, Kirishima, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu glanced down.
"You guys didn't understand what we were going to do…" Kirishima muttered.
"It was never our intention to fight the villains." Todoroki continued.
"Our only objective was to save Kacchan." Midoriya added.
"That's why Iida and I went. For if we were to get into a fight, Iida and I would stop them and retreat." Yaoyorozu explained.
"I'm sorry about my words… It's just…" Asui choked out, holding back tears.
"We should not worry about that right now. This is in the past, and we have moved on from it." Shoji reassured them.
"-don't we go? I wanna see how Jiro and Hagakure are doing, too." Sero told everyone as the doctor opened the door to the room.
"Oh yeah." Ojiro agreed.
Uraraka nodded before saying, "Deku, feel better soon."
"Thanks, all of you." Midoriya told them as they left.
Kirishima walked over to Midoriya, whispering, "We talked to Yaoyorozu yesterday. If we go, we go right away. Tonight. Since you were seriously injured, I don't know if you can move, but we still wanted to invite you because you're probably the most frustrated out of everyone. We'll be waiting in front of the hospital tonight."
Iida hung up the door before walking away.
'Orthopedic Surgery'
"While you were out, Recovery Girl performed some pretty strong healing on you, so I think you should be able to move them, but they were pretty messed up." the doctor explained to Midoriya, who glanced at his scarred right arm.
"That's a lot of scars…" Hagakure observed, Midoriya glancing at the black cloth around his arm.
"-lot of pretty bad injuries recently in a relatively short amount of time, but frankly, this time doesn't even come close to those." the doctor finished.
"By 'doesn't come close' you mean…" Midoriya wondered out loud.
"You used 1,000,000%, I'm sure that's what he meant by 'doesn't come close'!" Kaminari told Midoriya.
"Yeah…" Midoriya nodded.
"-your chart up until now, and all the times before this, your bones broke like a firecracker exploding from the inside. But this time was especially bad. Usually, a person's body has limiters to keep it from using more than 80% of its power. But when someone faces a crisis situation, it's possible for those limiters to come off, allowing them to use 100% of their power. It's called 'hysterical strength', like when a mom lifts a car off her child. But we have those limiters because our bodies can't take that strain." the doctor continued.
"Or in Midoriya's case, 1,000,000% of his power." Ashido pointed out.
"Young Midoriya didn't actually use 1,000,000% of his power." All Might corrected.
"Huh?!" the class turned to All Might.
"I'll explain later." All Might promised.
The doctor showed Midoriya an x-ray of his bones.
"It's bad enough for your bones and muscles to get battered, but it's worse for your ligaments. Ligaments protect the joints and they are deteriorating badly. In other words, if you keep getting injured in the same way two or three more times or so, I think you'll have to live without being able to use your arms." the doctor explained.
"Wh-What?! No!" the class exclaimed.
"But, since this moment, Midoriya hasn't broken anymore bones, right?" Sero asked.
"No… I haven't…" Midoriya confirmed, making the class sigh.
"For once, you're encouraging him not to." Jiro observed.
"-lot, even if it hurts. We'll be leaving the rest to U.A., back home so you'll be discharged from here today." the doctor finished.
"Th-Thank you very much. I'm sorry I caused you trouble." Midoriya muttered.
The doctor smiled softly, saying, "Recovery Sensei was fed with you."
"I'd bet." Aizawa agreed.
"-gotten many scoldings from her in the past." the doctor reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper and handed it to Midoriya, adding, "But there was someone who was saved by you, too. Well, healing begins in the mind, so don't worry too much, and stay positive."
Midoriya went to the rooftop to read the note from Kota.
"Dear Mr. Midoriya, I'm sorry I punched you in the balls. Thank you for saving me even though you barely know me. Please get better soon so I can thank you in person. Kota."
Midoriya looked up at the sky, watching a plane fly by.
'Kota…'
A phone rang, Midoriya answering, "Mom? Yeah, I was discharged. But there's something I have to do, so I won't be home until tomorrow or the day after- Yeah… Yeah… I can move now, at least. My body feels kind of sluggish, but it looks like they performed some strong healing on me."
Midoriya took a bite of one of the apples from the bowl, sitting on his hospital bed.
"I heard that it's because U.A. wants to keep students close, and also to keep the media away." Midoriya continued.
Over the phone, his mother asked, "Izuku… do you have to go to U.A.?"
"Did… Did she not want you to go…?" Uraraka asked.
"She… She was worried about my safety here… Seeing how we were attacked by villains countless times… and…" Midoriya answered, rubbing his neck.
"It is any mothers' instinct to protect their child, like that doctor said." Yaoyorozu explained.
"A Mr. Tsukauchi from the police." a woman told Endeavor about a phone call.
"It's me." Endeavor answered.
"We would like to request your urgent assistance, Endeavor." Tsukauchi explained.
At Best Jeanist's agency, Best Jeanist announced to his sidekicks, "I have received an emergency summons and must leave this place for a while. Even if I am not here, I want you to keep being strong in both mind and body like a pair of tight jeans and continue to keep the streets safe while I'm gone."
"Sure, Best Jeanist!"
"Jeans, jeans, jeans. That's all he talks about…" Bakugo scuffed.
Different heroes began getting introduced and called to help in Tsukauchi's request:
'No. 5 Hero- Edgeshot'
'No. 10 Hero- Gang Orca'
'Gran Torino'
'Wild, Wild Pussycats- Tiger'
'Kamui Woods'
'Mt. Lady'
Todoroki and Kirishima stood outside of the hospital at night.
"You want me to make a receiver?" Yaoyorozu questioned when Kirishima and Todoroki asked her in her hospital room.
"Yeah, please!" Kirishima nodded.
"You already know why we want it, right?" Todoroki questioned.
"Please let me think about it…" Yaoyorozu glanced at her bed sheets.
"I wonder what Yaoyorozu decided." Kirishima finally spoke.
"Well, no matter how restless we are, it's up to her." Todoroki reminded him.
The doors to the hospital opened, Kirishima gaping, "She's here!"
Yaoyorozu walked toward them, looking to her right while Kirishima and Todoroki gasped.
"Midoriya…" Todoroki whispered.
"Knew it…" Jiro whispered.
Yaoyorozu and Midoriya stopped in front of Todoroki and Kirishima, who asked, "Yaoyorozu… What's your answer?"
Yaoyorozu bit her lip before saying, "I-"
"Wait!"
The four of them turned around, Iida the one who called as he stood before them.
"Iida?" Kirishima questioned.
"Iida…" Midoriya uttered.
"Why… Why did it have to be you guys of all people?! The ones who stopped me when I acted recklessly for personal reasons… You two, who received amnesty with me… Why are you trying to make the same mistake I did?! It's too much!" Iida asked.
"What are you talking about?" Kirishima started walking to Iida before Todoroki placed his hand on his shoulder, stopping Kirishima.
Kirishima tightened his grip a little around Bakugo. 'I understand now… Iida…'
'Shitty Hair, you're hand's starting to leave a sweaty imprint.' Bakugo frowned.
"We are still minors. U.A. is in a bad enough position as it is. Who will take responsibility for your actions? Do you understand?!" Iida demanded.
"Iida, it's not like that. We don't think it's okay to break the rules either-" Midoriya explained, walking over to Iida before he raised his fist, punching Midoriya across the face as the others stared in shock.
"What the hell was that?!" Jiro exclaimed to Iida.
"I apologize… Midoriya…" Iida clenched his fist.
"No, Iida… I'm sorry…" Midoriya told him.
"-the class representative! I'm worried about my classmates! Not just Bakugo! When I saw your injuries, I also saw my brother in his sickbed! What if your bodies end up irreparable, like my brother's, because of your recklessness? Are you saying that you don't care about my worries?" Iida shouted at them before grabbing Midoriya by the shoulders, choking out, "Are you saying that you don't care about how I feel…?"
"Iida…" Midoriya whispered.
"Iida." Todoroki said, making Iida look up at Todoroki as he explained, "We don't expect to face them head-on and win either. We'll extricate him without fighting."
"In other words, covert action! That's the way we students can fight while toeing the line of the rules!" Kirishima added.
"I trust Todoroki. But so that I can stop then if anything happens, I plan to accompany them, as well." Yaoyorozu explained.
"Yaoyorozu!" Iida gaped.
"Yaoyorozu!" Kirishima said, relieved.
"I don't know myself, either, but after hearing that I could still reach, I couldn't just sit still… I can't help thinking that I want to save him." Midoriya told Iida.
'Top heroes have stories about them from their school days. Most of their stories have one thing in common: Their bodies moved before they had a chance to think.'
"We can't come to an agreement, huh?" Iida sighed before saying, "Then, take me with you, too!"
The four of them gasped until Midoriya narrated, "Do you remember after the USJ attack, when I said there was a major incident coming later?"
"I thought that was about the hero killer…?" Mineta questioned.
"That wasn't major compared to this…" Shoji told him.
"I remember watching this fight from my computer…" Tokoyami muttered.
"Man, that fight was awesome!" Kirishima let go of Bakugo.
"-us begin our strategy meeting." Tsukauchi told the pro heroes before him (Mt. Lady, Kamui Woods, Gang Orca, Tiger, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, Edgeshot and All Might).
In the League's lair, Shigaraki hummed, "I'll ask you one more time, aspiring hero, Katsuki Bakugo… Will you join me?"
"If you're gonna talk in your sleep, you should just go to sleep and die." Bakugo grinned while Shigaraki narrowed his eyes.
"That major incident is about to begin." Midoriya narrated.
Information on Yaoyorozu appears.
"They… They wanted you to join them…?!" Mineta exclaimed.
"Like I would!" Bakugo yelled at Mineta.
"Hey, Kirishima, it's your turn!" Sero shouted, pointing at the TV, showing information on Kirishima.
"That's cool." Kirishima replied.
Todoroki, Kirishima, Yaoyorozu, Iida and Midoriya walked away from the hospital.
"Midoriya." Iida called. Midoriya turned around to face Iida as he said, "I apologize for getting violent with you. I'm sorry."
"Seriously, Iida. Your reason for joining the group is not very persuasive." Yaoyorozu told him.
"It's fine! I'm okay!" Midoriya jumped.
"I am accompanying you because I am not convinced you will behave yourselves. If I get even a whiff of combat, then I will make you return immediately. In other words, you will be under my surveillance." Iida explained. Pointing at Midoriya, Iida exclaimed, "That's right, I will be a 'watchman'!"
"Watchman Iida…" Todoroki whispered.
"'Watchman Iida'! I love it!" Ashido smiled.
"Also Midoriya looks so small!" Sero chuckled along with Kaminari.
"-job for the pros. Looking at it objectively, there is no need for you all to do anything." Yaoyorozu explained to them, about Bakugo being a job for the pros. Pulling out the receiver, Yaoyorozu added, "However, it is a compromise plan because I know very well how you feel. Do not forget that."
"Yeah." Todoroki replied.
"I know." Kirishima nodded.
'A rescue without combat… It is not realistic.' Yaoyorozu thought.
"We did it, though." Todoroki pointed out.
"The villains tried going after us if it wasn't for the pro heroes." Midoriya reminded.
"That is true." Iida nodded.
'-able to think about this objectively. But once they see the situation first-hand and see how hard it'll be, they should realize how unrealistic their idea is…' Yaoyorozu thought as the five of them walked. They went onto a bullet train, following the coordinates.
"The coordinates on the receiver indicate Camino Ward, Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture. Since we're leaving Nagano, it will take about two hours. We should arrive around ten o'clock." Yaoyorozu explained as they sat on the train.
"Um, did you tell everyone that we would leave tonight?" Midoriya asked.
"Yeah. They tried even harder to stop us when we told them, though." Todoroki answered.
"After that, Uraraka said something pretty harsh, too." Kirishima added.
"I think Bakugo will feel humiliated that he had to be saved by everyone…" Uraraka confessed to everyone before they left the hospital.
"...she said." Kirishima told Midoriya.
"I… I didn't think it sounded harsh…" Uraraka clenched her fist.
"No, it's fine Uraraka. You were just saying what you thought." Kirishima reassured her.
"I just want to make sure, you know that what we're doing is selfish and that no one wants us to do it, right? You can still turn back if you want to." Todoroki reminded them.
"If I were hesitating, then I wouldn't've said I'd do it in the first place! He's not someone who'd let the villains do whatever they want with him." Kirishima remarked.
"What about you, Midoriya?" Todoroki asked.
"I…" Midoriya muttered.
'Meddling when you don't need to is the essence of a hero.'
"You really needed to think it through, Deku?" Bakugo questioned.
"Not really, I just needed to let Todoroki's words sink in…" Midoriya told him.
'-All Might chose me…' Midoriya thought before nodding, saying, "...I cannot turn back."
The four of them glanced at Midoriya until Todoroki said, "I see… All right."
Arriving at Camino Ward, the five of them walked around, Midoriya staring in awe.
"So this is Camino Ward?" Midoriya gaped.
"There are a lot of people." Todoroki observed.
"So those guys are hiding somewhere in this city?" Kirishima asked before shouting, "Okay, where are they, Yaoyorozu?!"
"Wait a minute!" Yaoyorozu exclaimed. When she got their attention, Yaoyorozu explained, "From here on out, we must be very, very careful. The villains know what we look like, remember? We must also consider that we may be attacked at any moment."
"Got it!" Midoriya nodded, covering his face with his arms, whispering, "Gotta be convert!"
"That's adorable!" Hagakure gushed, making Midoriya's face red with embarrassment.
"-making you stand out more, Midoriya." Todoroki told him.
"But at this rate, we won't be able to scout very easily." Iida agreed with Yaoyorozu.
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Kirishima asked, rubbing his neck.
"I have a suggestion." Yaoyorozu said, pointing behind her at a store.
"Oh, it's disguises time!" Kirishima bounced.
A curtain slid open, Midoriya wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket with a light purple shirt under it, a gold chain and sunglasses on, with his hair pulled back and a fake goatee.
"Hey, you!" Midoriya went into character.
The class bursted out laughing, Sero exclaiming, "I'm surprised he didn't dress like All Might!"
Todoroki dressed into dress pants, a dark blue vest over a lavender buttoned-up shirt with a gold chain and a black wig over his hair, covering his scar.
"I see. Disguises, huh?" Todoroki commented.
"Todoroki looks nice!" Ashido stared.
Yaoyorozu had on a long pink dress, her hair tied back in a high wavy ponytail with a gold necklace and sunglasses.
"That's right." Yaoyorozu told Todoroki.
"You look so pretty!" Hagakure shook Yaoyorozu.
Iida wore black pants, a white shirt with a bowtie, suspenders over the shirt with his hair smoothed over his head and a fake mustache.
"What are these clothes?" Iida questioned, messing with the bowtie.
"Now that's the stereotype." Asui told Uraraka.
Kirishima wore velvet pants and a velvet jacket over a white shirt, with his hair down and fake horns on his head.
"I'll tell ya later." Kirishima answered Iida's question.
"What the hell?" Bakugo smirked.
The five of them walked out of the store, Midoriya repeatedly yelling, "Hey, you!"
"That's all wrong! You've gotta push your jaw out more!" Kirishima instructed.
"Hey!" Midoriya shouted.
"That's it!" Kirishima approved.
The class bursted into more laughter while Midoriya covered his already red face.
"There's a lady with a huge rack over there!" Iida announced.
"Okay!" Kirishima gave Iida a thumbs up.
"Kids would stand out in the shopping district at night, right?" Yaoyorozu questioned.
"Yaoyorozu, wouldn't it have been free if you used Creation to make all this?" Todoroki asked.
"Th-Th-That's against the rules! If I make anything I want with my quirk, then circulation of money and… That's right, as a citizen of this nation, I must increase the flow of money in the economy!" Yaoyorozu protested.
"I see." Todoroki replied.
'This innocent girl just wanted to go inside Donki, huh?' Kirishima thought.
"Was it that obvious…?" Yaoyorozu muttered, embarrassed.
"Sorry, I didn't know my thoughts would show up on screen." Kirishima apologized.
"-watch a clip from U.A. High School's apology press conference that just occurred." a reporter spoke from a TV as it showed Nezu, Aizawa and Vlad on screen.
"That was exhausting…" Aizawa sighed.
"At least it made a good cover for what we were planning to do." All Might elbowed Aizawa.
"-apologize for the incident that allowed harm to come to 27 first years of the hero course because of our unpreparedness. We apologize for causing unease in society due to our negligence in properly defending ourselves as a place of learning. We are truly sorry." Aizawa apologized as he, Nezu and Vlad bowed on screen.
"Aizawa Sensei, who hates being on TV, is…" Kirishima uttered as they watched while the clip continued.
"I'm from Yomiuri TV. Since the beginning of the year, U.A. High School students have had four encounters with villains. This time, there were even students injured. How did you explain to their families, and what are some specific countermeasures you are taking?" a reporter asked the three.
'From the sports festival, they should know what U.A.'s basic position is. Is he still going to make them say it?' Midoriya thought as he watched. He clenched his fist, whispering, "Treating them like the bad guys…?"
"We will increase policing in the surrounding area and review the security within the school, ensuring the students' safety with a strong position. That is what we told them." Nezu answered.
"Huh? What are these guys saying?" someone from the crowd watching asked.
"They're not being protected at all." the person next to them remarked.
People started whispering among themselves about U.A.'s current stage, making Yaoyorozu, Todoroki, Kirishima, Midoriya and Iida uncomfortable.
'That's disappointing, U.A. Results are everything. The atmosphere was stagnating, being pulled in a bad direction.' Midoriya thought.
The TV in the League's lair shut off.
"That's so strange… What are heroes being criticized? The way they were dealing with things was just a little off the mark. Is it because it's their job to protect? Everyone makes a mistake or two. Are they supposed to be perfect? Modern-day heroes are so uptight. Don't you think, Bakugo?" Shigaraki hummed.
"Once heroes receive compensation to protect people, they aren't heroes anymore. That is Stain's teaching." Spinner added.
"The strange system of transforming people's lives into money or glory… The society that sticks tight to those rules… The citizens who blame the losers rather than encourage them… Our fight is to question: What is a hero? What is justice? Is that society truly just? We'll have everyone thinking about it. We're planning on winning. You like winning, too, right?" Shigaraki asked Bakugo.
"Not with a bunch of shitty losers like you…" Bakugo gritted his teeth.
"-his restraints." Shigaraki ordered Dabi to release Bakugo.
"Huh? This guy's gonna fight, you know." Dabi questioned.
"It's fine. We need to treat him like an equal, since we're scouting him." Shigaraki told him, adding, "Besides, you can tell if you'll win or not if you fight in this situation, right, U.A. student?"
Dabi looked at Bakugo before glancing at Twice, saying, "Twice, you do it."
"Smart choice." Bakugo grinned.
"No way." Twice shook his head.
"Do it." Dabi narrowed his eyes.
"Man…" Twice groaned, walking over to Bakugo.
"I do apologize for using such forceful methods. But please understand that we are not just a mob trying to commit crimes. We didn't kidnap you by accident." Mr. Compress explained while Twice started loosening Bakugo's restraints.
Shigaraki got up from his seat, adding, "Even though our situations differ, everyone here has been restricted and suffered…"
Dabi, Shigaraki hummed, "...because of people…
Toga. "...rules…"
Spinner. "...and heroes…"
"I'm sure you also-" Shigaraki continued while Bakugo rubbed his wrist before punching Twice in the face, then blasting Shigaraki.
"Yeah, Bakugo!" the class cheered, Kirishima resting his elbow on Bakugo's shoulder.
"Shove off, Shitty Hair…" Bakugo shook off Kirishima's arm.
"Shigaraki!" Twice exclaimed as the hand on Shigaraki's face fell off.
"I listened quietly to your endless talking… Idiots can't get to the point, so they're always talking for a long time. Basically, you mean 'We wanna harass people, so please join us', right? Don't bother." Bakugo spat.
'Look! Did you see that just now? All Might really is cool, isn't he? No matter how much trouble he's in, he always wins in the end!'
"I want to win like All Might. No matter what anyone says, that will never change!" Bakugo grinned, making the other villains go on their guard while Shigaraki stared at the hand.
"Father…" Shigaraki whispered.
Ending plays.
"Tell them, Kacchan!" Kaminari cheered.
"But, what did Shigaraki just call that hand…?" Ashido cringed.
"What the hell does 'Father' mean…?" Jiro asked.
"Can we talk about those disguises again, though? I loved Yao-momo's!" Hagakure gushed.
"Todoroki's wig though!" Ashido agreed.
"It was to cover my scar." Todoroki told her.
"But Midoriya going into character! I can't stop laughing!" Sero exclaimed.
"Do you guys still have the outfits?" Asui asked them.
"No…" Midoriya, Todoroki, Kirishima, Yaoyorozu and Iida answered.
"Ah! I wanted to see you wear it again!" Kaminari whined.
"No way!" Iida and Midoriya shook their heads.
'I still kept the dress at least…' Yaoyorozu scratched her cheek.