CHAPTER TWENTY
"We have backup incoming. We just need to weather through this," O'Clock said, eyes narrowing. He'd noticed Tiger Bunny as well. The sight of her seemed to give him the energy to fight the Hood monster with increased vigor.
Rio's chest tightened. Reinforcements were coming—but could they survive until All Might arrived, or would they be crushed before that?
The Hooded man, seemingly sensing the shift in his prey's demeanor, fought back with renewed aggression. A row of spines grew along his back, the same jagged spikes erupting across his arms and settling dangerously on his oversized knuckles.
Good, Rio thought, keep making unnecessary changes. It'll only tire you out faster. From his perspective, this transformation was a failure. The only one who might struggle with that defensive layer was Rapper. Both O'Clock and Rio had enough time and precision to strike the unguarded flesh beneath.
Sure enough, O'Clock didn't disappoint. Rio watched as he dodged another haymaker, then closed in and slashed clean through the muscle tissue of the Hood's arm, tearing through ligaments with brutal ease. That modification the Hood had made earlier had only weakened his already fragile defenses.
Rapper burst forward, diving into a devastating right hook that crashed against the Hood's face. The impact sent the monster rolling. Rapper landed in a crouch, clutching his fist. A deep dent cratered on his knuckle where the Hood's spikes had pierced straight through his metal hand guards and driven into flesh.
Unfazed, Rapper tore off a strip of his white T-shirt and roughly bandaged the bleeding wound. That's metal as fuck
"I need backup, quick!" Mirko shouted as she barreled onto the scene, balancing steadily on her one good leg. "The police and the local heroes are getting run over upstairs—damn mist guy is playing tricks above ground!"
"As you can see here, bub! We're really busy right now. Pick some other time, chick." Rapper was having none of it. From the wild grin on his face, it was clear he was enjoying the fight. Asking him to do anything else would've been torture.
"If we leave this guy alone, we can't be sure what he'd do. Too dangerous. No can do, missy," O'Clock said between deep inhalations and exhalations, doing his best to steady himself after the intense battle.
"DO NOT FEAR, ALL MIGHT IS HERE!"
The choice was taken from them as the Symbol of Peace descended, rocketing toward the villain. The Hood roared and bounded forward, arms outstretched to meet him blow for blow.
A dense purple-black mist suddenly engulfed the Hood. He thrashed inside it, roaring in futility.
"No… I can still fight! I can still fight!"
"Hmm, that was peculiar. Anyway, fine citizens, the threat is over—hohoho! There is much to be done. I will be taking my l—wait, are you a child?" All Might paused mid-sentence, blinking as his gaze landed on Rio.
He'd been about to deliver the usual formalities and leave. There was still much to handle aboveground, but this? This clearly required his attention.
"Wow, you're really All Might! You were so fast—how are you so fast? Wait, that's a useless question, you're All Might, of course you're fast! Can you sign me an autograph?" Rio blurted, practically vibrating with excitement. He was standing before the personification of greatness—there was no way he was leaving empty-handed.
All Might turned to O'Clock, seeming to silently ask for input. O'Clock just shook his head, a silent conversation passed between them.
Then All Might turned back to Rio and knelt so they were eye level.
"I don't know what you're doing here, and I'm sure you know this was a very dangerous situation you should NOT have been involved in. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because O'Clock vouched for you—but promise me you won't put yourself in danger if you can help it."
Rio just nodded his head recklessly like a chicken pecking at rice. This was All Might speaking, the man could tell him to take a dive off a tall building and anyone would leap without hesitation, he was Japan's number one idol and a role model everyone strived towards.
"Farewell, people! I am currently needed elsewhere. MIGHT OUT!" All Might dipped with a mighty leap, barreling through the exit as he made his way upstairs.
"Do y'all think I can take him?" Rapper asked curiously, staring at the human-shaped dent in the door. Everyone just looked at him like he was a fool and began heading upstairs, moving slowly.
Rio, like the rest of the trio, was dead tired. All he wanted now was to go home and sink into a nice, warm bath.
O'Clock approached a crummy-looking old guy in a trench coat, white shirt, and black tie. With the cigarette in his mouth, he looked like he was cosplaying John Constantine.
Rio watched in wonder as the number one hero moved into action. All Might flew from place to place, scooping up the injured and rushing them toward ambulances stationed nearby. For those who needed more urgent care, he took them directly to the hospital.
Reporters emerged from their vans, cameras flashing as they restlessly snapped photos. A female reporter stepped forward and began interviewing people at the scene.
"Terror spread in Osaka's super Minami district today. The incident—a mass outbreak of villains taking to the streets—was resolved by Japan's very own number one hero, All Might, who dashed to the scene and personally subdued a hundred villains in one fell swoop. This now stands as a personal record for the hero and another world record in his name."
"He did it all—including rescuing the injured, reinforcing damaged buildings, and clearing away rubble. The number one hero clearly never slacks on the job."
"Farewell, citizens!" All Might exclaimed as he took off, heading straight for Tokyo and his tower.
"Seems like the action's all over. I'd better move along," Tiger Bunny said as she watched the police setting up a quadrant.
"Aren't you going to get that checked?" Rio asked, pointing at her left leg. Her white sock was stained with blood.
"Nah. My school's got better facilities than whatever's available here. I'll put some ice on it and get it checked tomorrow."
Rio blinked. Did the girl have zero pain receptors? She brushed off a wound that would have most people bawling like it was nothing more than a scraped knee.
"Good work today. You know, the cops might just toss some compensation your way if I mention you in the official report," O'Clock said, addressing Tiger Bunny.
"They can keep it. I'll be raking it in on my own before long. Next time we bump into each other, I'll probably be a full-blown hero. How 'bout you, punch man?"
"I dunno… me being me's the only way I know," Rapper replied, shifting nervously.
"A villain, huh? Welp, I'll be sure to save my less deadly kicks for guys like you."
She pulled off her mask, and Rio was greeted by the sight of a beautiful girl with delicate rabbit ears and flowing white hair that gave her an almost ethereal quality. Too bad she was a battle-lusting psycho.
"Hey, kid!"
Rio turned just in time to catch her mask as she tossed it to him.
"Keep that as a souvenir. When I go pro, you can brag to your classmates that you knew me."
With that final statement, Tiger Bunny leapt to the nearest building—and in another bound, she was out of sight.
Rio stared at the mask in his hands. He never did get her name, but he'd be sure to look out for her on the news. Someone that loud wouldn't stay obscure for long.
"I'd best get a move on too," Rapper said, picking up a sack from God knows where and slinging it over his shoulder. "We smashed up my playground real good, but there are plenty of other clubs out there."
"Keep in mind you're playing with fire. The Underground Masquerade was just a front. I've got no doubt they'll change the name and get it running somewhere else. And if we see a repeat of what happened today… well, you might not make it out alive next time," O'Clock said solemnly.
"Yeah? I can't wait."
Rapper took off his mask and turned to O'Clock. "Here's what you oughta know if we cross paths again… next time I'm playing for keeps."
With that, Rapper walked into the distance, the setting sun casting its brilliance over him as he disappeared down a lonely road.
"Everyone's so gorgeous with their masks off. How come you look so plain, old man?" Rio muttered, turning to his mentor—still slightly miffed that Rapper hadn't bothered to say goodbye. You'd think fighting on the brink of life and death would foster some camaraderie.
"We need to talk. Now!"
That was never, ever a good sign. O'Clock regarded Rio calmly, his eyes fixed on the boy with steady intensity.
"I know I'm partially at fault here. I involved you in this whole mess, so I can't, in good conscience, blame you—even though I very much want to—"
Rio quickly cut him off. He already knew where this was going, and he needed to defend himself before his mentor arrived at some unfair decision.
"If you were worried about me getting hurt, see… I'm fine. Not even a scratch." Said as he turned around.
"And I did what you asked, too! I didn't even get involved until the very end. I don't think I did anything wrong."
"THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM! You still don't understand that what you've been up to is not only dangerous—it's illegal. I've been hammering these concepts into your head, but you never listen. You have no regard for the law. If you keep this up, one day you'll run into a villain and there'll be no one to help you. You will get hurt—or worse—and that's not right."
What could Rio even say to that? That the concerns were baseless? That he was too smart to get caught in a situation he couldn't run from?
"There it is—that look on your face. The one where you think you're not wrong. You think you can just run away all the time? Trust me, kid… there will come a time where you can't run."
Rio stood in silence, accepting the criticism and wondering when it would all end. He just wanted to go home, take a bath, and crash.
"So I've decided. I'm going to tell your mum what happened today. I'll also get you sorted into quirk counseling. I'm no psychologist, but you clearly need more professional help."
"How are you even in touch with my mum? And—what the heck, man?! That's where they put all the crazy people who can't fit into society! You seriously think that little of me?"
O'Clock said nothing. The silence was answer enough.
"I thought you were cool. I thought we were cool. But I guess I was wrong."
Rio popped a pill and immediately sped toward home.
Fuck this shit.
He could only blame himself for caring too much.