Kirishima lay sprawled against the rubble, his limbs feeling like lead. His breaths came in ragged gasps, every inhale burning his lungs. His hardened skin flickered weakly, his body too exhausted to maintain his quirk for much longer.
But his eyes remained open, locked onto the battlefield where All Might stood tall, shoulders rising and falling with each labored breath. Dust and debris swirled around him, the remains of the devastation left by his last attack. The Nomu was gone, launched into the stratosphere, its grotesque body vanishing into the sky.
A heavy silence settled over the wreckage of the USJ. The only sounds were the distant crackling of shattered concrete and the faint whimpers of students who had barely survived the chaos.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The slow, deliberate sound of applause echoed through the ruins.
Kirishima's weary eyes shifted, following the sound until they landed on him.
Shigaraki Tomura.
His unnerving smile stretched wide, hands twitching at his sides, fingers flexing in restless agitation. His red, chapped lips curled into something between amusement and irritation.
"Oh? Not bad, All Might," he drawled, his tone playful but edged with something sharper. "You really are as strong as they say."
All Might's gaze hardened. His fists clenched at his sides, still prepared for battle, despite the strain etched across his face.
Kirishima could feel it—All Might was at his limit.
Shigaraki took a slow step forward, his boots crunching over shattered glass. His eyes flicked towards the remaining students—towards him.
Kirishima's body tensed. A cold dread curled around his stomach.
Shigaraki's fingers twitched erratically. "But… you know…" His voice was quieter now, more uneven. His head tilted slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I really hate heroes."
The air shifted.
Shigaraki lunged.
Kirishima barely had time to react before the villain was inches away, his decayed fingers reaching straight for his face.
A guttural roar of panic and fury tore from Kirishima's throat as he threw his arms up. His quirk activated on instinct, jagged crimson armor reinforcing his forearms as he braced for the attack.
Too slow.
Shigaraki's fingers grazed his skin.
Pain. White-hot, searing pain. Kirishima's hardened flesh cracked like dried earth, flaking away as decay spread in jagged lines along his arm. He clenched his teeth, biting back a scream.
And then—
BOOM!
A golden blur crashed between them.
All Might's fist collided with Shigaraki's midsection, sending the villain hurtling backward with bone-crushing force. He slammed into a broken pillar, coughing violently as he crumpled to the ground.
Kirishima gasped, clutching his arm where decay had already begun peeling away his hardened skin. His vision blurred from the pain, but he forced himself to stay upright.
All Might stood protectively in front of him, his stance unwavering despite the toll on his body. His voice was low, cold.
"You will not lay another hand on my student."
Shigaraki wheezed, pressing a trembling hand against his ribs. He lifted his head, and for the first time, Kirishima saw it—
His composure was cracking.
The cocky amusement was gone. His eyes were wild, darting between Kirishima and All Might, his fingers twitching in erratic spasms. His breathing came in sharp, ragged bursts.
"You… you ruined everything," Shigaraki hissed, his voice shaking with something raw and violent. "That brat—he wasn't supposed to—" He cut himself off, his entire body trembling.
Kirishima's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Shigaraki's gaze locked onto him again, his lips pulling back in a snarl. His fingers curled into claws, his body lunging forward—
A gunshot rang out.
Shigaraki jerked back, a bullet whizzing past his head, barely missing him. His head snapped toward the source.
Standing at the top of the stairwell, gun still smoking—
Snipe.
The pro hero cocked his weapon, leveling the barrel directly at Shigaraki's head. "Game over, punk."
Shigaraki froze.
A new emotion flickered across his face. Not rage. Not amusement.
Doubt.
And then—
A swirling darkness erupted from behind him. Kurogiri.
Shigaraki's form began to sink into the mist, his furious eyes still locked on Kirishima. His fingers twitched one last time.
"This isn't over."
And with that, he was gone.
Kirishima slumped forward, his vision swimming, his body completely spent. The last thing he saw before unconsciousness took him was All Might's tired but reassuring gaze.
And the echo of Shigaraki's words ringing in his ears.
This isn't over.