Red in Different Shades

22. Death Flags

. .

Edited 17.MARCH.2022

Edited 22.OCT.2024

. .

Se-Sensei?

That had to be a joke, right?

There was no way this was real. Who the hell was that creep?!

"You ain't the boss around here, bastard?" Bakugou snapped viciously, though Niwa caught the faint edge of unease in his voice. "That's not even funny."

"Kurogiri, Compress, make them go to sleep," Shigaraki ordered the warp guy and the villain she'd faced back in the forest.

"I can't believe he's such a bad listener," Compress remarked, stepping forward. "I'm almost impressed. He should've been quieter, like the girl here."

Niwa tensed, forcing herself to breathe evenly. Quiet doesn't mean compliant, you mask-wearing freak, she thought bitterly.

"If you want me to listen, then get on your knees and die!" Bakugou lowered his stance, ready to fight.

Niwa's mind raced. The mask guy was advancing, his presence too calm, too calculated. Each step made her pulse quicken. What would Bakugou do?

How could she support him best?

Would he go for the masked villain or the warp guy? The warp guy was probably the bigger threat. If Bakugou handled him, she'd need to take care of the other one, right?

No. The League would act before she could make a move, swarming them with sheer numbers. Splitting off would only weaken their chances. She needed to stick with Bakugou. If she could give him the space he needed, let him do what he did best, then maybe, just maybe, they had a shot.

This'll take a miracle. But Niwa was ready. She'd protect him. She would give him the room to blow them all to hell. In this, she was Resolute.

Then—knock, knock.

"Hello, this is Pizza-La, Camino store!"

Niwa's mind flatlined. No way in hell did these guys order a fucking pizza...

Everyone froze, confusion plastered on every face. Her heart pounded loud in her ears as the surreal moment dragged on, the absurdity so thick she could hardly process it.

And then chaos erupted.

The next few seconds unfolded in a blur that made no sense. Walls shattered, debris flew, and Niwa's body jolted as All Might burst through the wall like a human wrecking ball, wiping out the villain in front of him. Kamui Woods followed, his Quirk wrapping up the villains in one sweeping motion, binding them like prisoners.

Dabi made a move, fire flaring in his hand, but some tiny yellow-themed hero rocketed forward and knocked him out cold before he could even blink.

And then Edgeshot appeared, the ninja hero slipping in with lethal precision.

"You can't run anymore, League of Villains," All Might's booming voice declared. His stance was fierce, his blue eyes ablaze with righteous fury. "Because we are here!"

The sight of him, standing there like an unstoppable force, knocked the breath from Niwa's lungs.

All Might turned, his gaze softening as it landed on them. "I'm sure you were scared... You did good bearing it."

The praise shattered the last of her composure. Niwa's mouth quivered, her vision blurred, and her body trembled. The weight of everything, the fear, the adrenaline, the relief. It crashed into her all at once, leaving her feeling fragile, like a brittle shell.