『Hakari Kotaro』
I narrowed my eyes and bent my legs, not the first time I was facing someone faster and stronger than me. Fighting outgunned? That was Saturday. Only this Saturday I was running on limited reserves.
My reserves were limited, I have been using Candy Paramecia so far without much thinking, but I can't keep spamming it. Maybe I should switch to something more energy conservative like Spectral Claw?
"No stalling, don't make this boring for me, hero."
Shigaraki had enough waiting for me and bounded forward, his speed and agility was overwhelming, I could barely see him before his hands were in front of my face.
Woosh!
I ducked below his swing and swept with my Bikaku, but he stepped it back and slammed his hand down on my Bikaku. And-
Pain.
"Fuck!"
My tail adjusted course to throw him off, and I quickly drew it back, red fluid was leaking out of my Bikaku like blood, the entire outer layer was peeled off. His decay hurt like a fucking bitch, it was like thousands of pincers pulling your skin apart.
"What's with the frown hero? Didn't you come here to defeat the villain?"
I could see that smug fucking grin behind that disembodied hand, and it pissed me off. So I decided to take a little inspiration from the original Bikaku user and wrapped the tail around my leg.
"Just shut up will you, spouting bullshit like the midboss you are. Just skip the dialogue."
That got on Shigaraki's nerves, but as he went to say something I took the opportunity, kicking off the ground hard enough to shatter it and whipping my leg towards his head. But he ducked it and grabbing my other ankle.
'How the fuck-!?'
I quickly readjusted course, I couldn't unwrap the Bikaku around my leg fast enough, so I made candy cover my back and neck before I was slammed into the ground fast enough to knock the breath out of me.
"Say that again, hero!"
His hand disintegrated the leg of my pants and ate into my ankle, but he was too distracted to notice the Bikaku snake away from my leg and grab onto his before pulling him off me and slamming him into a wall.
Crash!
"Ow! Damn, that hurts. Are you sure you are really a hero? Who goes for attacks like that?"
"Shigaraki-!"
"Don't interfere Kurogiri!"
Shigaraki walked out of the wall I threw him at and cracked his neck, his eyes shone red, I could feel his malice and bloodlust. My ankle was bleeding from where he ate at it. My steps were wobbling slightly, my tendon was damaged.
Fucking bastard, did he not feel that shit? He was standing up like a monster. But considering the levels Mirko was able to train herself to, I shouldn't be too surprised.
"You, you're no hero are you? You certainly feel more villain to me. -right!?"
He said that last part with a lunge, I swept with Bikaku and he ducked under it before getting even closer with a smile on his face.
"Your tail, it's terrible at short range, isn't it? You need a large range of motion to do anything that strangle me with it, but that's bad for you, isn't it? I'll eat through your tail faster than you can squeeze the life out of me. And your candy is slow as hell!"
He threw a palm towards my face and I tilted my head out of the way before lashing out with a fist covered in rock hair candy shaped into spiked knuckles. But the fucker bent his back like a doll and grabbed my wrist with an iron grip that stopped it dead.
Fucking bullshit physicals...!
"You must have overpowered everyone at close range by now. You're no Eraser Head, you are too sloppy!"
My wrist broke, and his decay dug down to the muscle layer, forcing me to grit my teeth.
Candy Manipulation -> Spectral Claws
Bam!
"Grh!"
Shigaraki was suddenly launched back as the wrist he was holding onto exploded with a larger spectral arm manifesting on top of it it. I leapt after him and raised my fist before bringing it down like a hammer. It crushed the ground while my Bikaku tried to spear him, forcing him to dodge frantically.
"What the fuck!? How do you have so many quirks!? Are you a Nomu or something!?"
I coiled Bikaku around my leg again and pushed off the ground, my other hand stretched and grabbed onto Shigaraki's arm with the sudden motion.
"Gotcha!"
"Kurogiri!"
As I went to squeeze him however, a portal appeared below my feet, forcing me to let go of Shigaraki to instead grab the edge of the portal and pull myself out.
"Quick reflexes."
Shigaraki lunged at me again like a rabid animal, I tried to kick him with my leg, but he sidestepped it and landed a too quick to block punch into my gut, knocking the air out of me.
"But that won't do you any good hero!"
Instead of going for grabs, he started raining blows on me, I tried sweeping with the Bikaku but it was too close just like he said. So I shrunk the Spectral Claws down to the size of gloves and started trying to match his tempo. But he was just too fast for me, his fists felt like hammers hitting my body. I've never fought at this speed before.
I may have stamina to go on for days, but my body was not invulnerable, everything felt like one giant massive bruise. I could feel my broken left rib stabbing into my lung. But I had to hold on and look for an opening. Hold on. Withstand. Grit your teeth. Like you always do. Plant your feet. And look for an opening. Hopefully before you die.
Throwing punches was not something I could do casually, in the time it took me to throw one, he could land 2. Opening myself to weakness couldn't do. But then I saw something in the corner of my vision, something really hard to spot, someone really hard to spot. Someone I knew very well.
"Get off Hakari-kun."
"Grrk! What the fuck!? This bitch!"
Shigaraki was one hell of a sensory monster before he managed to tilt his head away just in time to avoid Toga's knife decapitating him, only landing a gash on the side of his neck not deep enough to be lethal. But Toga herself could not avoid the backhand Shigaraki threw, though she managed to raise her arm to block, only being thrown back as a result.
'Toga...!'
I couldn't say anything due to my fucked up lung, but I did notice the look she gave me, a hopeful look full of trust, and I would use the opportunity she gave me.
I unwrapped the Bikaku around my leg and instead pierced the ground with it and used it as an anchor, I pulled myself back away from him before launching myself forward with a dropkick that was dodged again. I couldn't go fast enough, my body was so worn that it delayed me. I need to get a solid grab on Shigaraki but none of my attacks were fast enough. He was a slippery fucking bastard, no wonder he could fight Gigantomachia for such a long time without dying.
My feet met the ground and I regained my balance as Shigaraki touched his neck with an angered expression. Toga glared daggers at him while bracing her knife. A two on one might be doable, but the problem was... this was not a two on one.
"That bitch... does UA train heroes or murderers? Oi, Kurogiri."
There was still portal fucker on the field. I kept watch out for portals that could appear beneath my feet or behind Toga, but I was taken off guard when Shigaraki moved. Was it because of the concussion? Or did I fall for such a simple misdirection?
I felt it, he went even faster with this dash. But as I went to intercept him, something else did first, a fog appeared in front of him and behind me. The hair on my neck stood up and my mouth went cold. A hand landed on my neck and gripped it. But the deluge pain did not come.
"...You're really cool Eraser Head."
My eyes widened and looked to the side of Aizawa bloodied and held down by the nomu, but still gritting his teeth and keeping his eyes wide staring at Shigaraki even as blood streamed down his forehead.
I did not waste the oppurtunity, I spun on my heel, my eyes wide open, full power in my limbs, my spectral claw grabbed his head, I squeezed and slammed his head into the ground, full force.
Crash!
"Aagh!"
I increased the pressure on Shigaraki's head, but this motherfucker certainly had a thick fucking head.
"Shigaraki Tomura!"
Kurogiri went to do something, but I sensed the spatial disruptions and jumped away, I kept my grip on Shigaraki's head while he gripped my arm, wearing it away with his decay. But what would give away first, his skull or my arm?
Spoiler, it was going to be his skull.
"Fuuuck! Nomu! Crush him!"
And at that moment, when Shigaraki barely managed to utter through my grip, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A chill went down my spine. The Nomu turned its head towards me, tilting it like a curious animal.
I released my grip on Shigaraki and wrapped my Bikaku-
Booooom!
⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀
...Huh? What is... happening?
I can't... breathe?
Oh.
I'm dying.
I tried to open one eye, but my body felt like it was disobeying me. It was like I was trying to get up from a deep sleep. From a darkened blur I could see, the splatters of Bikaku around me, it wrapping around my torso last second having saved my life. I could see Toga attacking Shigaraki as if a demon possessed her while Nomu stood by idly.
Huh... I really achieved nothing huh? No, perhaps I left the world worse than how I came here.
How fitting, a death led by my selfishness, one a selfish asshole, forever a selfish asshole.
I choked out a pained cough, light felt like it was dimming out of my eyes.
A more fitting ending for me I guess. Death by my own hubris. Overconfidence killed me fast and overtly.
This was... a better second life.
No, you don't get to give up like this.
...?
"Hakari-kun!!! Nooooo!!!!"
Having caught wind a dying last gasp, Toga's bloodcurdling scream echoed in my ears. I've never heard a scream more pained in my life. Even a dying man didn't scream like that.
You don't get to leave this life so nonchalantly, you are leaving things behind this time.
What does it matter? I'm simply the rotten apple. Whatever influence I have on anyone, it's never good. Whatever world I leave it's better off without me. All Might will be here soon, and he will fix everything. That is what Heroes do.
Shut up, who cares about what you think? Listen to her.
No matter what you say or believe, she will never forget this, she will die with you, you can be sure of that. Can you bear the thought of her dying with blood and tears shed for you staining her face?
I-
It's not up to you, this is not for you. It's for her, no matter what you think, you are her everything. Are you willing to let her die?
I gritted my teeth.
I may not be a hero but...
You don't have to be a hero. Just be her hero.
Using the last of my strength I pulled on a mental string, and appeared before me, a gift box that looked almost like a Christmas Present.
[Chekhov's Box]
My hand that felt as heavy as lead reached inside and pulled out something.
A glowing golden apple with a purple sheen.
[Enchanted Golden Apple]
|Rare Item|
A magical apple with skin resembling gold that has been enchanted with magic, eating it gives the eater rare level regeneration for one hour and also bolsters their vitality.
Jackpot.
Without hesitation, I brought it to my mouth and took a bite.
The apple lost its luster while my body exploded with energy, my wounds started mending themselves, my bones rejoined back together, my muscles knit themselves back together, my organs repaired themselves. My eyes opened I slotted in Minor Healing Light in place of Bikaku and used that on myself too as I pulled myself out of the wall, my limbs bent themselves back the right way.
Oh yeah, I could get used to this feeling. The feeling of pain was overshadowed by my pure want to beat Shigaraki's ass.
I grabbed the ruined remnants of my shirt and tore it apart, revealing my bare chiseled body as everyone present turned to me. Shigaraki's eyes widened, Kurogiri's eyes narrowed, Nomu stared blankly, and Toga shouted.
"Hakari-kun!"
I looked back at her while combing my hair back and away from my face.
"Toga, fall back. These guys are mine."
She looked like she wanted to say something, but she looked beaten up, she could not stand up to Shigaraki. She trusted my judgment and ran away. She really was too good for me.
"What the fuck is this enemy waves format? How many fuckers do I have to face before the boss shows up!?"
I cracked my knuckles and smiled. But it was not the smile of a hero promising reassurance. It was a smile masking anger that would make me lose my composure.
"You are looking at him."
Crash!
"Don't worry! Why!? Because I am here!!!"
A loud crash silenced the entire area with the arrival of the real hero, but I did not even turn my head as I still glared at Shigaraki. I snapped my fingers to get his attention.
"Don't worry about him, Shigaraki. Because he is there while I'm right here."
"What the fuck-!"
Bam!
I leaped forward towards Shigaraki, my sheer adrenaline pushing my muscles beyond their limit, and I landed a punch in the middle of his stupid face, knocking the hand away from him.
Time to do this properly.
A/N: MHA has bullshit physicalls, the people there keep surviving shit who they have no reason to survive, the biggest showing of this is Shigaraki himself who for no reason moves like a goddamn Baki character. This is the biggest humbling Hakari has ever gotten in his life.
If there is a gun on the wall, it must fire. Chekov's Box certainly came in useful, didn't it? Hakari is seriously pissed, and unfortunately for Shgaraki, without Nomu around, Hakari is effectively immortal for the next hour. And what's that I hear? Character development? Seems like Hakari can't just keep pretending and have to actually move forward in life. What did you guys think about the chapter? I'd love to know.
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