All Might froze, his eyes widening as he observed the swirling sandstorm. The whirl of sand was unmistakable—a salon roll, conjured with precision and purpose.
"This... could it be the Kitagawa boy?" All Might muttered in a deep voice, a spark of hope igniting in his weary chest.
**Boom!**
Nomu's colossal fist crashed into the swirling sand with the force of a freight train.
The impact rippled outward, yet the sand held its ground, absorbing much of the attack's destructive power. Nomu's base strength was on par with All Might's, but the salon roll wasn't about overpowering the creature—it was about buying time.
Akira's timing had been perfect. The sandstorm had dampened Nomu's attack just enough for All Might to survive the blow.
Even so, the residual force knocked All Might back. He staggered but didn't fall, a giant hand of sand materializing behind him to stabilize his footing.
Startled, All Might glanced back, his fists raised in reflex. For a moment, he thought Nomu had circled behind him, but instead, he found himself face-to-face with the supportive sand. His mind quickly pieced together the situation.
As the sandstorm dissipated, a figure emerged, leaping with agility toward All Might's side.
"Kitagawa boy... why are you here?" All Might's solemn expression softened into a faint, weary smile.
Akira landed lightly, taking a brief moment to assess the Symbol of Peace. All Might's towering form had diminished, replaced by his true, frail appearance. Despite his withered body, his face still held that unshakable, reassuring grin.
Something inside Akira twisted painfully.
**This is what makes All Might special,** Akira thought. **Even now, battered and vulnerable, he smiles—not for himself, but for everyone else. To say, "It'll be okay."**
"All Might, you've done enough," Akira said quietly, his tone heavy with conviction. "I'm here to help."
All Might's smile faltered. "Why are you here? Where's Aizawa? He was supposed to lead you all to safety. Don't tell me—"
"Exactly what you're thinking," Akira interrupted. "Class 1-A is scattered, and Mr. Aizawa is fighting hard to protect us. The situation's a mess."
All Might's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. His face darkened with helplessness. "Damn it…"
His time had already run out, and forcing himself further would risk everything. He couldn't fall here—not when so much depended on him.
"What do I do? What do I do now?" All Might's mind raced, desperate for a solution.
Tomura Shigaraki's mocking voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, hey, hey! All Might, what's with the new look? You look pathetic!" His laughter echoed, filled with scorn.
All Might's face turned grim.
"Kitagawa boy," he said solemnly, "I have a task for you. Rally Class 1-A. No matter what happens, you must lead them to safety."
Akira didn't respond immediately. He studied All Might, understanding the intent behind his words. This wasn't just an order—it was a plea.
"No," Akira said firmly. "I refuse."
"This isn't the time for stubbornness," All Might pressed. "Nomu was designed to counter me specifically. I need time to defeat him. You must—"
"All Might," Akira interrupted, his voice steady. "There's no escaping this. From the beginning, there was only one path—fight until the end. Running isn't an option."
The words struck a chord with All Might. He knew Akira was right. Even if they fled, Kurogiri's Quirk would ensure no one got far.
"Damn it!" All Might cursed under his breath, his frustration boiling over.
Akira stepped forward. "You've done enough. Rest. This Nomu was made to fight you, not me. My Quirk might give me an advantage against him."
From the distance, Tomura's laughter grew louder. "Kurogiri, did you hear that? This kid thinks he has a chance against Nomu! Isn't that hilarious?"
Kurogiri hesitated, his gaze flicking toward Akira. Memories of their earlier encounter flashed through his mind—the crushing weight of the sand, the suffocating pressure. He swallowed nervously.
"Perhaps," Kurogiri admitted reluctantly, "he might last a few moves."
Tomura's head snapped toward him in surprise. "What?"
Ignoring Kurogiri's unease, Tomura waved his hand dismissively. "Whatever. Nomu, take them both out!"
Nomu didn't hesitate. The hulking beast charged, the ground trembling beneath its weight.
"All Might!" Akira shouted, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back. "Let me handle this!"
All Might's instincts screamed to intervene, but the resolve in Akira's eyes gave him pause.
"Fine," All Might muttered. "But don't overdo it, Kitagawa boy."
Akira nodded and stepped forward, his gaze locked on Nomu.
This wasn't just about saving All Might. It was about testing himself—understanding his limits.
As Nomu barreled toward him, Akira's fist clenched, his sand swirling and coiling around his arm like a living entity. A moment later, his entire arm turned jet-black, coated with a layer of hardened sand.
"Let's see what you've got," Akira muttered, charging to meet Nomu head-on.
The collision was inevitable.