Chapter 39: Awakening
"Stop talking nonsense. I'll blast you away!"
Bakugo Katsuki's temper flared instantly as he prepared to attack Tomura Shigaraki.
"Don't!" Aizawa Shouta immediately stopped him.
Akio Tatsuma was still unconscious, and Aizawa himself was already badly injured. If Bakugo rushed in recklessly and got captured too, the situation would become completely hopeless.
Izuku Midoriya still couldn't control his Quirk properly. Every time he used it, he destroyed his own body. That kind of power might help in a desperate moment, but this was not the right time.
Bakugo stopped moving.
He knew the villains in front of him were strong.
He also knew he probably couldn't win.
But if he didn't even try, then he would truly lose.
His gaze shifted toward Akio, who was lying unconscious on Midoriya's back.
A complicated expression appeared in his eyes.
Bakugo knew better than anyone how strong Akio was.
If even Akio had fallen like this… then rushing forward alone would only mean death.
Still, a strange feeling of pride remained inside him.
Akio, aren't you supposed to be the strongest?
And now you're the one lying there unconscious.
But I'm still standing.
Across from them, Shigaraki Tomura observed quietly.
"You seem to have a bad temper."
His voice carried obvious contempt.
Bakugo tilted his head slightly.
"Got a problem with that?"
Shigaraki suddenly smiled.
"By the way… weren't you involved in the Sludge Villain incident?"
"Oh right, now I remember."
Aizawa's expression immediately changed.
This is bad.
Shigaraki was deliberately provoking Bakugo.
And Bakugo was exactly the kind of person who would fall for it.
Bakugo lowered his head.
His face couldn't be seen clearly, but anger filled his voice.
"I hate it when people bring that up."
"Oh?" Shigaraki spread his hands casually.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll blow you to hell!"
Bakugo exploded forward.
Both palms ignited with detonations as he lunged toward Shigaraki.
But Shigaraki moved faster.
He stepped aside effortlessly, dodging the attack, and grabbed Bakugo from behind in a single motion.
His hand locked around Bakugo's neck.
"Don't move," Shigaraki said calmly.
"Or he dies."
Bakugo clenched his teeth.
"Damn it!"
His plan had been to land a powerful opening attack, but Shigaraki had completely seen through it.
Now he had become a hostage.
"I figured out your trick a long time ago," Shigaraki said lazily.
"Students are still just students. Too inexperienced."
"Let him go!" Aizawa stepped forward.
The situation had turned completely against them.
"Midoriya…" Aizawa said quietly.
Midoriya's heart tightened.
"Protect Akio."
"I'll handle this."
Despite his injuries, Aizawa forced himself to stand straight to reassure the students.
But Shigaraki noticed everything.
"You're still pretending to be strong?" he said mockingly.
"You think you can't die?"
Aizawa stepped forward again and removed his goggles.
The meaning was clear.
He was surrendering.
"If you want someone," Aizawa said calmly,
"take me."
Shigaraki's eyes lit up.
"How touching."
"A teacher protecting his students."
He laughed quietly.
"But have you ever thought about this?"
"I was once someone who needed protection too."
"But the person who protected me… is gone."
"All of this is the result of your society."
"The League of Villains isn't wrong."
"The world is wrong."
He raised a hand slowly.
"My teacher once told me…"
"When the light becomes too bright, darkness will inevitably appear."
"That darkness… is created by people like you."
Then his finger pointed toward Midoriya.
"Give me the kid on your back."
"I'll release this one."
Midoriya froze.
Two steps backward.
Their real target was Akio Tatsuma.
Aizawa immediately stepped in front of him.
"I already told you," he said firmly.
"My students aren't yours to take."
"Not one of them."
Shigaraki sighed impatiently.
"Then die first."
He glanced toward Nomu.
The massive creature began walking toward Aizawa.
Each step felt like a hammer striking everyone's heart.
Was this the end of Class 1-A?
Was Aizawa going to die here?
Then—
A quiet voice spoke.
"Midoriya… put me down."
Midoriya froze.
Akio was still lying on his back with his eyes closed.
But he was talking.
"You've been carrying me for a while," Akio said lazily.
"You must be tired."
"When we get back… I'll treat you to curry rice."
Midoriya's eyes filled with tears instantly.
All the fear and frustration he had been holding back burst out.
Then—
Akio's eyes snapped open.
Two bolts of electricity shot forward and struck Shigaraki's hand.
Bakugo reacted instantly.
"Explosion!"
A blast detonated and he broke free from Shigaraki's grip.
Shigaraki stepped back in surprise.
How had Akio woken up?
How could he still use his Quirk after being so exhausted?
The answer lay in the system space.
Akio had spent 300 Rescue Points to obtain an Extended Quirk Supplement.
This upgraded version could be used five times instead of three.
The moment he consumed it, his injuries disappeared and his Quirk returned to peak condition.
Midoriya lowered him to the ground.
Akio patted Midoriya's shoulder.
"Step back."
"The real fight is about to start."
Then he walked forward and handed the bottle to Aizawa.
"Teacher."
"Take a sip."
Aizawa frowned slightly but accepted it.
Akio remembered Aizawa's earlier words clearly.
"If you want someone," Aizawa had said,
"take me."
"But my students…"
"…are not yours to take."
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