Training Camp - Day 2, Night
"I'm tired, Dabi," Satoru said, scratching his head. "Can't we just get into action now?"
"No, Mato," said Dabi. "It's better if we wait until there are ten of us, at least."
"What a pain in the ass..." Satoru sighed. "Let me count... me, you, Himiko-chan, Spinner, Magne, Moonfish, that guy with the gas mask, and Twice-san..."
"There are eight of us," said Dabi. "Even if Twice counts... twice."
"So there are nine of us?" Satoru tilted his head.
"Eight and a half," Dabi answered.
"Fine, we'll wait until tomorrow night..." Satoru sighed.
"I see you're kind of bored, Mato," Spinner said. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," Satoru clutched his scarf. "Just... don't harm the students of Class B when we enter the action, okay?"
"Oh, so you care about them, huh?" Spinner asked.
"Yeah," Satoru sighed.
"Oh, anyway, take this," Dabi handed Satoru a mic. "I know you can't talk, so I bought a mic that changes your voice so that you can speak."
"Thanks, Dabi," said Satoru. "I don't risk being discovered by my voice this way."
"Just be careful not to drop it, or your voice will return to normal."
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Training Camp - Day 3, Night
Satoru was standing on a cliff, with his rabbit mask in hand.
"You ready to get started?" Dabi approached him.
"I'm born ready," Satoru replied.
"Tomura didn't give us specific orders," Dabi noted. "We can do whatever we want, basically."
"You burn the forest, Twice stays with you and creates clones of me and you. As for me and the others, we'll split and go to different parts of the Training Camp."
"You thought up a good plan, Mato," said Dabi. "Now, let's begin."
Satoru put his rabbit mask on.
(He's very eager to begin...) thought Dabi. (Could it be that he wants to embrace his fake villainous nature seriously? Could it be that he doesn't like his own 'good' side?)
"I'm going," said Satoru. "See ya."
Satoru jumped off the cliff and started to run towards the forest.
"Did you hear Mato?" said Dabi. "The mission has started."
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"Pixie-Bob!" Izuku screamed.
"Stay back!" said Mandaley.
"Sorry for the abrupt entrance," said Spinner. "We are the Vanguard Action Squad of the League of Villains!"
"Should I crush this girl's head?" Magne asked.
"Wait up, Big Sis Mag, don't be hasty," said Spinner. "It all depends on whether having power over life and death follows Stain's tenets or not."
"So you're the one his ideology brought?" Iida asked.
"That's right! I'm Spinner, the one who will spin his dreams into reality!"
"Go, everyone!" Mandalay said. "Do not fight! Class rep, you're in charge!"
"Got it!" said Iida. Izuku didn't move.
"Midoriya!" Iida exclaimed.
"Go on ahead!" said Izuku. "Mandalay, I know where he is!"
__________
Satoru was running towards the forest when suddenly, he heard a voice.
"Kendo!"
Satoru stopped. (Tetsutetsu...?)
He followed the voice. He saw Itsuka and Tetsutetsu. He was holding Shiozaki in his arms.
(This gas... that was the guy with the gas mask... even if I told 'em not to harm Class B!)
"It's dangerous out here. We should retreat," said Itsuka.
"No, I'm going to fight, too," said Tetsutetsu.
(I knew it... he wants to fight...)
"You're always rebunking Monoma, but don't you feel it in your heart somewhere?" Tetsutetsu said. "The difference between us and Class A, I mean. We follow the same course, so where's the difference? It's obvious! They fought villains!"
(Yeah, he's right... honestly, that's just like him.)
"Don't try to stop me, Kendo," said Tetsutetsu. "If only Hideki were here..."
(Stop it, Tets. You're making me feel guilty.)
"I'm going to fight also for him. If we don't stand up now, then when will we?"
(I'm sorry, Tets... I'm sorry, Itsuka... but I can't help you now!)
__________
Kota's Secret Basement
"You've got a very nice hat," said a masked man. "Trade it with my lame mask."
Kota ran away. The man followed him.
"Mama... Papa... Help me!" Kota shouted.
Izuku arrived just in time to push Kota away from the man's punch.
"You were on the list," said the man. "Greetings, my name is Muscular."
(I came here without telling anyone, which means I can't hope for any reinforcements like last time...) thought Izuku.
"It's going to be okay, Kota," said the boy. "I'll definitely save you!"
"That sounds just like what someone who wants to be a hero would say," said Muscular, activating his quirk. "Your kind show up everywhere, talking about justice."
"You're the one called Midoriya, right? This is perfect. We were told to take the initiative and kill you, so show me your blood!"
(He's coming!)
BOOM! Muscular punched Izuku in the face.
"If you know, tell me... where's the kid named Bakugo?"
(They're after Kacchan!)
"I still have to do my job!" Muscular tried to punch Izuku again, but this time, the boy dodged.
"I guess I'll take that as a 'I don't know,'" said Muscular. "No problem, Mato will surely find him on his own, so let's play!"
Muscular kicked Izuku in the guts, smashing him against the wall.
Izuku slowly got up. "Smash...!"
Izuku punched Muscular on the arm, but the villain didn't seem fazed.
"That's your quirk?" he said. "You're pretty fast, but not nearly strong enough!"
Muscular pushed Izuku away. "My Quirk lets my power-up my muscles, that's why my name is Muscular!"
The villain charged forward and attacked Izuku again.
"You're like an inferior version of me, be honest with yourself!"
Suddenly, Kota threw a small tock to Muscular's head.
"Mama... Papa... did you torment them like this before you killed them?"
"Seriously? Your parents were heroes?" Muscular said. "This must be fate!"
Izuku got up and attacked Muscular once again. He inserted his hand through the fibers of Muscular's body. (I got him! Now, no matter how fast he is!)
"So what, are you gonna punch me with that weak arm of yours?"
"It's not a matter of whether or not I can do it! A hero's job... is to risk his life to make the lip service into reality!"
"One For All 100%!"
BOOM!
Izuku punched Muscular with all the strength he had. The impact was so strong that Kota flew away, but Izuku grabbed him with his teeth.
"Sorry for blowing you away, too..."
Izuku placed Kota safely on the floor. "Let's get back to the camp... it's not far from here..."
Suddenly, Muscular appeared again.
(No way... I was at 100% when I hit him...)
"It was the same as All Might's power..." said Muscular. "That punch was too obvious. But that wasn't bad, Midoriya!"
(It's no good! What should I do? Think, I need time to think...)
"What's the League of Villains after?" asked Izuku.
"How should I know? I just want to fight," said Muscular. "Earlier, I said 'let's play,' but now playtime's over..."
Muscular changed his prosthetic eye to another one.
All of a sudden, though, someone grabbed both Izuku and Kota and brought them away.
Izuku was confused. (W-what? No one's supposed to be here...)
"Dammit... I came here to relax, and instead I find myself doing the hero again!"
"Oro!"
"You're Izuku Midoriya, right?" Oro asked. "The one who lives with Shirakawa!"
(Oro? The third National Hero? How's he here?)
"I came here because, during the internship, Shirakawa told me about this Training Camp, so I decided to visit him... but I found out only now he's not here!"
"Oro, I don't know how to thank you..." Izuku whispered.
"Do you still have the shirt I autographed for you?" Oro asked.
"Yes," Izuku replied.
"If I'd known Shirakawa wasn't here, I would have saved myself the trip..." Oro sighed, "But since I'm here now, how about I beat this bad guy for you?"
"Y-yes, please," said Izuku. "With all of these injuries, I can barely move..."
"Fine," Oro smiled. "Then I'll show you how a hero saves people!"
Chapter 28 - End