Shota Aizawa was having a very bad day.
Right now, he was feeling the result of his elbow being decayed by the leader of this so-called "League of Villains." He was certain that most of the villains brought to the U.S.J. were just fodder. The man-child in front of him, spouting gamer lingo alongside his warp-gate partner, had been the only real problems so far. Still, with enough perseverance, Aizawa believed he could win.
Unfortunately, things were never that simple.
"But anyways," the man, Shigaraki, said casually, "I never said I was the final boss."
The moment those words left his mouth, Aizawa was suddenly grabbed from behind and slammed into the ground. It was too fast for him to even register. A massive beast pinned him down, crushing him beneath its weight. His arm snapped with a sickening crack.
Pain flared—then darkness crept in.
Aizawa forced himself to stay conscious.
"Tomura Shigaraki…"
"Kurogiri. Did you take care of thirteen?"
"Thirteen is out of commission, however, one of the students managed to escape. The heroes will come at any moment."
Through blurred vision, he saw Shigaraki whining again. "Kurogiri! If you weren't our ride, I'd disintegrate you. We can't handle too many heroes. Let's go home."
Shigaraki turned to leave, then paused.
"Ah… we might as well leave the Symbol of Peace a gift before we go."
He rushed toward three students—Izuku Midoriya, Tsuyu Asui, and Mineta. They had just popped out of the water zone and were witnessing the beatdown of their sensei. His hand clamped onto Tsuyu's face, intent clear.
Before he could finish her, Aizawa erased his quirk.
"You really are cool, Eraserhead," Shigaraki said cheerfully.
Izuku pushed himself up. "Get away from her!"
He prepared a Smash and launched himself forward—but the Nomu intercepted the blow effortlessly.
"Smash?" Shigaraki mused. "You must admire All Might. That was just like him."
Izuku froze.
Bang!
The Nomu screeched as its head snapped back from the impact of a sniper round.
"What the hell?!" Shigaraki shouted.
Bang!
Another shot struck the Nomu's head.
"A sniper?" Shigaraki snarled. "Idiot. Nomu can't be hurt by mere bullets."
Bang!
"It came from over there! Kurogiri!" He pointed where he heard it from.
Kurogiri scanned the area—but the shooter was already gone.
Bang!
"WHO IS SHOOTING MY NOMU?!"
At that moment, the massive doors burst open.
"IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW—BECAUSE I AM HERE!!"
⸻
Before All Might's arrival, Sam had been scrambling for a vantage point.
By the time he found one, he saw Aizawa being obliterated by the monster.
Sam steadied his breathing and raised the rifle.
He needed to hit and run—again and again. Twenty rounds. No misses.
'I need to complete this mission…
What am I saying?'
His head throbbed as memories from Africa clawed at his mind. But then he saw Shigaraki rush Tsuyu, and Sam forced himself back into focus.
He aimed for Shigaraki's head.
'*Promise me you won't kill anyone*'
Momo's face flashed through his mind, a face of trust.
He adjusted—aiming for the leg—but stopped when Aizawa erased Shigaraki's quirk. Izuku rushed in, only for Nomu to intercept.
'Now or never.'
He sees Izuku about to have his arm ripped off by that thing.
The gunfire and screams in his head faded as he remembered Izuku's kindness—inviting him to lunch, inviting him to walk home.
'I'm not letting you die.'
Bang!
The round slammed into Nomu's brain. It screeched violently.
Sam reloaded instantly.
'It can regenerate.'
He fired again—then moved.
New vantage point.
An incline not far from his previous spot.
Bang!
Move.
New spot.
Bang!
Then All Might arrived.
Sam exhaled. 'For once, I'm glad he showed up.'
He stayed alert.
The fight was going okay, but after All Might suplexed Nomu, Kurogiri opened a portal beneath them.
'Not good.'
Bang!
Nomu recoiled, receiving another headshot, loosening its grip. All Might escaped just in time before Kurogiri could chop him in half in his portal.
Out of nowhere, Bakugo incapacitated Kurogiri. Kirishima rushed Shigaraki. Todoroki froze Nomu solid.
Sam cursed under his breath.
'This isn't over.'
He was right.
Nomu destroyed its frozen limbs, regenerated them and lunged for Bakugo.
Bang!
It flinched. All Might got in front of Bakugo in time and was ready to fight back.
"KUROGIRI—FIND WHO IS DOING THAT!"
"Yes, young master."
Kurogiri rose into the air.
Sam vanished into cover.
However, Kurogiri caught a glimpse of him before he retreated to another location. He couldn't catch him before he sneakily disappeared.
"Samuel Suzuki," Kurogiri reported.
"I saw his white hair. However, he quickly vanished. Only somone skilled enough to outdo Endeavor and Hawks could make so many consecutive headshots."
"That brat?!" Shigaraki snarled. "We were told he wouldn't be a problem!"
Sam, who was adjusting his aim at his new position, heard every word of Shigaraki's tantrum.
'So someone tipped them off,' Sam realized.
All Might and Nomu clashed evenly—but Sam saw the truth.
'He's running on fumes.'
As the final clash began—
Bang!
Sam decided to lend a helping hand. Even if it won't do damage, it's more than enough to make openings.
Nomu staggered. It's healing slowing down after being shot in the brain so many times.
All Might seized the opening.
"DETROIT SMASH!!"
Nomu was blasted skyward, out of the U.S.J.
Everyone looked in awe and shock as All Might sends Nomu to the moon.
Sam exhaled slowly.
He kept his aim on Shigaraki and Kurogiri, despite the Nomu being beaten.
'Now it's just them.'
All Might shrank, smoke pouring off him.
Sam saw this, knowing how he is a pufferfish and will deflate soon.
'Shit. He's out of gas.'
Even worse, Sam notices that Shigaraki was being convinced by Kurogiri to finish All Might, citing the damage done in the fight with Nomu.
Shigaraki lunged. Sam was about to fire at his legs, but Izuku jumped to save All Might.
'You idiot!'
Before he could reach All Might, Kurogiri warped a hand toward Izuku's face.
Just as the hand was going to disintegrate Midoriya—
Bang! Bang!
Shigaraki screamed, collapsing as his hand and leg were shot through.
"DAMN YOU, SUZUKI!" He screamed in pure hatred.
He staggered—only to see Snipe with a smoking pistol and the rest of U.A.'s staff surrounding him.
"It's game over now. Kurogiri let's—"
Before he could flee—
Bang!
Another shot tore into his leg.
He fell on his side, two holes in his legs. He screamed in pain again.
"Kurogiri!" Shigaraki screams.
Before the heroes could interfere, Kurogiri successfully warped himself and Shigaraki away from them.
Sam lowered the rifle. A few rounds left—but it was over.
He sighed. Then he got up from his position and returned to the others.
He moved toward the center, specifically towards All Might, who was about to deflate like a balloon.
Just as Sam reached him…
All Might finally deflated.
Midoriya was also there. This made Sam raise a brow. 'So midoriya knows about the pufferfish? Hmm…'
Sam would bottle that thought up for later. Now, he had to worry about the red-head running up to Midoriya, worried about him.
Cementoss quickly blocked Kirishima's view after he tried to find Midoriya.
Sam walked up to All Might.
"You look shitty."
All Might's eyes widened.
Sam stood there, rifle slung over his shoulder.
"S-Sam!" Midoriya says, before passing out from the pain of his broken limbs.
Sam ignores him and focuses on All Might.
"Not bad though."
All Might wanted to thank him—but noticed Sam's body trembling despite the danger being gone.
He stayed silent.
The boy was supposed to be free from conflict, and now he is right back in the middle of it. All Might felt dreadful.
'I'm sorry, young Suzuki.'