We gotta carry the burden and keep fighting.
"I'm sorry," said Best Jeanist. "It took longer than expected for me to get here."
"It doesn't matter as long as you're here," said Oro, clutching his right arm.
"You bastard... You should be dead!" Dabi exclaimed.
"Well, I'm not," said Best Jeanist.
"You being alive won't erase the past of our family... is that right, Shoto?"
Shoto had jumped in the air, attacking Dabi.
"I can't believe it. How can he immobilize Machia?" Mr. Compress said.
"He'll crush my bones..." said Spinner. "Wake up, Shigaraki! Machia needs an order!"
Shigaraki and Mato were still unconscious and trapped in Best Jeanist's fibers.
Nejire appeared from behind. "Gring Flo--"
Dabi burned her with his flames.
"Oops, I did it again! I burnt somebody once again!" he exclaimed. "See, Endeavor? Your flames burnt another young life!"
C'mon, get up, Hikaru... Oro thought to himself. My pain is only physical, but the one who's suffering the most is Young Todoroki, and he's fighting! I'm the Number One Hero... if I get defeated here, the society'll crumble... c'mon, get up, Hikaru Akiyama! You still have to save your brother!
__________
Suddenly, though, Shigaraki weakly spoke up. "Destroy... Machia."
Gigantomachia screamed and broke free from Best Jeanist's fibers.
Best Jeanist used even more fibers, but they still struggled to hold Machia in place.
"Yes, like that, Machia!" said Spinner. "That's the order Shigaraki gave you!"
Suddenly, Oro noticed some Nomus arriving from behind Best Jeanist's back. No, that's no good... if Tsunagu loses concentration, it'll be over... I gotta... do... something!
Oro jumped with all the strength he had and reached the Nomus. "I've got your back, Best Jeanist!"
"Thank you, Oro..." Best Jeanist muttered.
In normal conditions, a Nomu wouldn't be a problem to me, Hikaru thought. But right now, I'm wounded, and the Nomus to handle are too many, even for me!
Suddenly, though, Hikaru heard a voice. "POWEEEERRR!"
Mirio came out of the floor and punched the four Nomus. "Once again! Power!"
"Young Togata!" Oro exclaimed. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you!"
"They contacted me by the villa!" said Mirio, slowly descending from the sky. "I came here thanks to my Permeation Quirk!"
"Your Quirk?" Oro repeated, descending beside him. "You mean... you've got your Quirk back?"
"Yeah, and it's all thanks to Eri-chan!" Mirio said. "Now, whaddya say we team up against these Nomus, Oro?"
The boy disappeared into the floor, while Oro landed on it.
We're strong, Young Togata, Oro thought as he jumped in the sky towards a Nomu, and Mirio reappeared. But not strong enough to take a Nomu down with a single punch.
"HEELPPP!" Mirio shouted.
Bakugo reached the two guys in the sky and caused an explosion in one of the Nomu's faces.
"Young Bakugo!" Hikaru exclaimed. "You shouldn't move in those conditions, but... thanks anyway."
"Have you decided your Hero Name, Bakugo?" Best Jeanist asked.
"I did!" Bakugo exclaimed while in mid-air and upside down. "The name is... Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight!"
"What a childish name!" Best Jeanist said.
"Too long!" said Iida.
"It sucks!" Mr. Compress said.
"It's beautiful, Young Bakugo!" Oro said.
"Thanks, Oro-san..." Bakugo said. At least, my idol likes it.
Before Bakugo could smash on the floor, Hikaru grabbed him on the fly. "Your name is funny, but in a good way, Young Bakugo."
Mirio leapt beside. "A society without laughter and humor... will not have a bright future!"
Bakugo got up.
"It seems like Shigaraki can't move..." Oro muttered. "Young Bakugo, Young Togata, distract them. I'm going straight for them and taking my brother with me."
"Why did they kidnap your brother?" Mirio asked.
"It's a long story," said Bakugo. "Also, I don't think Oro-san wants to talk about it."
"Stop wasting time talking," said Oro. "Let's stop them and end this fight."
__________
Gigantomachia suddenly screamed again and broke free.
"Oh no, not again..." said Oro. I gotta do something, or I won't be able to save Satoru...
Suddenly, though, Endeavor flew in the sky and hit Gigantomachia in the face and then fell on the floor.
"Endeavor!" Oro grabbed him on the fly, cushioning his fall.
"I... ran out of... strength..." Gigantomachia fell on the ground once again.
I don't know who deserves the credit, thought Oro. But whoever it was... thank you. The fact that the anesthetics took effect just now is certainly not just a coincidence.
A lot of people, little by little, drained him at this point. Now it's my turn to end this. I'll take my brother with me, and I'll save him!
Oro jumped high in Mr. Compress' direction. "Give me back my brother!"
Dammit, I'm in this situation, and everything I can do is to scratch my ass... thought Mr. Compress. I have to ensure he doesn't take Mato... I must protect him!
Without considering the consequences, Mr. Compress used his Quirk on himself and gained enough space to break free from Best Jeanist's fiber. Then he used his Quirk again and compressed both Shigaraki and Mato. "You're not the only ones who're risking their lives!"
Mr. Compress ran away and leapt on Machia. Oro followed him.
"Best Jeanist, help me out!" said Oro.
"Gotcha!" Best Jeanist said as he used his Quirk to trap Mr. Compress into his own clothes. Once again, though, Mr. Compress compressed his clothes and broke free.
Dammit, I won't reach him at this rate... Oro thought, still in pursuit of the villain. In a normal condition, I would reach him in a nanosecond, but right now, my legs hurt, and I'm barely standing...
Mirio and Nejire arrived too. "We'll help you, Oro!"
Thank God, reinforcements are here... Oro thought.
Mr. Compress stopped on top of Machia and took off his mask. "Witness this, ladies and gentlemen!"
"I won't let you do anything more!" Mirio said. Mr. Compress threw two small balls on the floor, and Spinner, Satoru, and Shigaraki appeared.
"The final act of my show has begun," said Mr. Compress. "And it's called 'Mr. Compress' Escape.'"
Oro reached him with his eyes full of rage. "GIVE ME BACK... MY BROTHER!"
The Hero punched Mr. Compress right in the face. He then got past him and was about to grab Satoru. But suddenly, something happened.
Spinner put one of Shigaraki's hands on his face, and Shigaraki's eyes snapped open. Though there was still no way to wake Mato up. A huge shockwave forced Hikaru to step back right before he could grab his brother.
My head's... spinning... the Number One Hero thought. I can't... see... anything...
__________
"Hikaru... don't give up! Satoru's still in the villain's hands!"
Oro's eyes snapped open. He immediately sat up.
Oh no, I lost consciousness... he thought, placing a hand on his mouth. Then, he saw Shigaraki leaving with Mato on his back. Oh no, they're running away!
"SHIGARAKIIII!" Oro, with the last energy remaining in his body, sprinted forward in a desperate attempt to take his brother with him.
"Oh, you're still attacking me?" Shigaraki said.
Wait, that's not Shigaraki's voice... that's All For One...
"Your brother is coming with me, Akiyama Hikaru," All For One in Shigaraki's body said. "And you can't do anything to avoid this."
All For One threw red spikes at Oro, but the Hero dodged and reached him.
"We'll meet again soon when this body will be ultimate," said All For One. "For now, just watch your brother becoming the monster he doesn't want to be at my hands."
I... knew it... Oro thought. All For One has been manipulating his mind since he got outside that incubator capsule... I knew Satoru would never do such a thing...
Still, I fear he really was a villain and was just becoming softer with the others. Damn you, All For One... you made my brother become a monster.
"See ya around, Akiyama Hikaru."
With one last shockwave, Oro got sent back and slumped on the ground.
N-no, Ototo... I wasn't able to save him... I saw it clearly; when we fought, Satoru wasn't himself. He was a completely different person, but for a moment, just a moment, his face cried out for help. His expression screamed for help. He wanted—no, he wants—me to save him. His former self doesn't want to be what his future self is...
I will save you, Ototo.
Chapter 67 - End