Kenjiro Pov
Nomu's fist came at me like a freight train.
I smirked.
Let it be.
The punch slammed into my face—or rather, through it. My head rippled like liquid mochi, reforming instantly as Nomu's arm passed harmlessly out the back of my skull.
Shigaraki's reaction was priceless.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" he screeched, fingers clawing at his neck in furious spasms. "That's—that's cheating! You can't just—how?!"
Behind me, Aizawa—bloodied, exhausted Aizawa—actually let out a dry chuckle. "Looks like your monster's got a problem."
I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck. "Yeah, me."
Nomu tilted its head, beady eyes blank. It didn't understand. It just knew one thing:
I should be paste on the floor.
But I wasn't.
And that pissed Shigaraki off way more than it pissed Nomu off.
Nomu swung again.
I leaned back, letting its fist phase through my chest before countering with a spinning heel kick reinforced by hardened mochi. The impact cracked against Nomu's ribs—hard enough to send a normal person flying.
Nomu didn't budge.
Shock Absorption. Right.
Fine.
Then we do this the hard way.
I moved.
Muay Thai knees snapped upward, each strike morphing mid-motion to extend my range unpredictably. Nomu blocked some, but others slipped through, hammering into its gut, its arms, its face.
It swung back—a haymaker that would've shattered concrete.
I liquefied my torso, letting it pass through, then reformed instantly to drive a Taekwondo axe kick onto its collarbone.
Boom.
The ground cratered under Nomu's feet.
But it didn't go down.
Of course it didn't.
Sweat dripped down my temple.
This wasn't like fighting normal villains. Nomu wasn't just strong—it was relentless. Every hit I landed, its body knitted back together. Every time it swung, I had to phase, focus, keep my Quirk active.
It was a battle of attrition.
And I was winning.
Not because I was stronger.
But because I was smarter.
Nomu roared, charging again.
This time, I didn't dodge.
I dug in.
My arm swelled, mochi compressing into a massive, spiked club.
"Mochi Hammer."
I swung.
Nomu swung.
Our fists collided.
The shockwave ripped through the USJ, shattering nearby windows. Dust exploded outward in a ring, the sheer force sending Kirishima skidding back.
And when it cleared?
Nomu's fist was embedded in my stomach—or it would've been, if my body wasn't currently a gaping hole.
My own attack, meanwhile, had caved in the side of Nomu's skull.
For a single, beautiful second, it staggered.
Then its brain pulsed, flesh writhing as it regenerated.
Tch.
"Okay," I muttered, rolling my shoulders. "That was cool."
Kirishima's jaw was on the floor. "Dude. DUDE."
Aizawa's eyes were wide—not with fear, but something almost like pride. "You're holding it off."
I shot him a grin. "Told you I would."
Across the plaza, Shigaraki was losing it. "NOMU! KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW!"
Nomu obeyed, lunging again.
But this time—
"SMASH!"
A blur of yellow slammed into Nomu, sending it flying across the plaza.
The dust settled.
And there he was.
All Might.
Ah man All Might? you ruined it.
Shigaraki shrieked in frustration. "NO! NO, NO, NO! This wasn't—he wasn't supposed to—!"
I exhaled, finally letting the tension in my shoulders ease. "Took you long enough," I called to All Might.
He didn't smile. His usual boisterous energy was gone, replaced by something cold. "Young Kenjiro. Step back."
I didn't argue.
Because Nomu was already getting up.
And All Might?
He looked pissed.
******
Flashback: U.A. High – Nurse's Office
All Might's skeletal fingers clenched around his phone, the screen dark. No signal. No response.
Something was wrong.
Thirteen hadn't checked in. Aizawa's comms were silent. The USJ should have been a routine training exercise, but the pit in his gut told him otherwise.
He moved to stand, but a small paw pressed against his wrist.
"And where do you think you're going?" Principal Nezu's voice was light, but his dark eyes were sharp.
"They're not answering," All Might said, his voice strained. "I need to—"
"You need to rest," Nezu interrupted, tail flicking. "You've already pushed yourself past your limit today. Charging into a situation blindly isn't heroism—it's recklessness."
All Might's jaw tightened. "My students could be in danger."
"And if they are, they need you at full strength," Nezu countered. "Not as a man on borrowed time."
The words stung. Because they were true.
All Might exhaled, his breath rattling. He had to be smart about this.
But patience had never been his strong suit.
---
Thirteen's voice was steady despite the pain lacing through it. "Iida, you must go. The communications are jammed—we can't call for help."
Tenya's fists trembled at his sides. "Running away is disgraceful! A true hero stands and fights alongside his comrades!"
Kaminari, still panting from his own skirmish, grinned. "Dude, you are fighting—by getting us backup!"
"Exactly," Tsuyu added, her large eyes unwavering. "This is rescue training, ribbit. And right now, the best way to rescue everyone is to get All Might."
Tenya's teeth gritted. The logic was sound, but the idea of leaving them behind—
A shadow loomed. Kurogiri's golden eyes gleamed from above. "A valiant effort. But I'm afraid I can't allow—"
"BLACK HOLE!"
Thirteen's fingers tore open, her Quirk erupting in a vortex of crushing gravity. Kurogiri's misty form warped, twisting as he was sucked inward.
"GO, IIDA!" Thirteen shouted.
Tenya didn't hesitate this time.
His engines roared to life, and he blurred toward the exit.
Central Plaza
Izuku's breath hitched as he, Tsuyu, and Mineta finally reached the plaza.
The scene before them was chaos.
Aizawa, bloodied but unbowed, stood with Kirishima, his capture weapon lashing out to keep Shigaraki at bay.
And in the center of it all—
"HOLY CRAP," Mineta squeaked.
Kenjiro and Nomu traded blows like forces of nature.
Kenjiro's body flowed, liquefying and reforming mid-strike as he weaved between Nomu's devastating swings. A Muay Thai knee morphed into a whip-like extension, cracking against Nomu's jaw. Nomu retaliated with a punch that cratered the ground—only for Kenjiro to phase through it and counter with a spinning heel kick.
"He's… holding his own against that thing?" Izuku whispered, awe and terror warring in his chest.
Kirishima, spotting them, barked a laugh. "More than holding his own! Dude's been style-ing on it!"
Shigaraki's screech cut through the air. "NOMU! STOP PLAYING AROUND AND KILL HIM!"
Nomu's blank eyes locked onto Kenjiro.
And then—
BOOM.
A yellow streak slammed into Nomu like a meteor.
The shockwave sent dust and debris flying, the sheer force knocking everyone back a step.
When the dust cleared, All Might stood there, his fist buried in Nomu's gut.
"FEAR NOT, STUDENTS…" His voice was a growl, low and dangerous. "FOR I AM HERE."
Shigaraki's fingers twitched violently, his breath coming in ragged bursts. "No. No. This wasn't—he wasn't supposed to be here yet!"
Kurogiri, finally reforming from Thirteen's attack, materialized beside him. "Tomura Shigaraki… we may need to retreat."
"RETREAT?!" Shigaraki's voice cracked. "NOMU WAS MADE TO KILL HIM! HE—" His gaze flicked to Kenjiro, still standing, still smirking. "THAT BRAT WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE A FACTOR!"
Kenjiro wiped sweat from his brow, his grin sharp. "Yeah, well. Life's full of surprises."
All Might didn't take his eyes off Nomu. "Young Kenjiro… step back."