Take Me Back

Plan and Attack

   Later that night, the group was, once again, sitting around the fire in silence. The atmosphere was still tense due to the events from earlier in the day.
   Kendo was gripping her arm gently while staring into the fire. Izuku was watching her, desperately wanting to apologize but not being able to find the right words to make the apology worthwhile.
   Awase noticed and put his hand on his shoulder. "You know she's not mad at you right?" He whispered.
   Izuku looked at him and then down at the ground. "I don't know why she's not. I'm the reason she lost her hand. She has every right to be mad."
   "True but, you're the only reason she didn't lose her life. If you weren't with her when that happened, she would've just killed herself. She wouldn't have thought about cutting her hand off. You're quick thinking is the reason she's still here." Awase explained.
   "You know I can hear you two right? Your whispers aren't exactly quiet." Kendo said with a smirk.
   Izuku looked over at her and sighed. "I'm really sorry Kendo. I've been wanting to say that all day I just couldn't find the courage to. I don't think I'm ever gonna be able to truly forgive myself for it. I've only been here for a day and I've already messed something up. I wanna make it up to you, I really do, I just don't know how."
   At this point, Izuku was trying to fight back the tears that had been trying to escape his eyes all day. Kendo sighed and moved closer to him.
   "You don't have to apologize. I'm not mad at you. I never was so please don't blame yourself. If anything, I'm really grateful. After all, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here."
   Kendo put her hand on his shoulder and smiled. Izuku saw that it was a genuine smile and that she wasn't lying; she was serious. This made him start crying as he wasn't able to hold it back any longer. Kendo pulled him into a hug and patted him on the back.
   "You can let it out. You don't have to hold it in."
   Izuku hugged her back and continued crying. He no longer had anything he needed nor wanted to say. 

   You kids shouldn't have to be going through this. You're too young. I'm just glad you're able to be there for one another. Vlad thought to himself as he watched the scene unfold.
   He didn't want to interfere this time because he knew they needed to figure it out together, which they did.
   "Look Midoriya, I'm sorry for breaking your nose earlier. Kendo's right, I shouldn't have blamed you for what happened. What I should've done instead was thank you. If you're mad at me that's totally fine. I would be mad if I were you too. I acted out of emotion which I shouldn't have done. I should've been smarter with how I reacted. I will do my best to try and make it up to you." Tetsutetsu finally said.
   Izuku pulled away from Kendo and looked at Tetsutetsu with a smile. "Don't worry about it. I understand why you reacted that way so it's fine. I'm not mad at you in the slightest."
   Tetsutetsu stood up and walked over to Izuku. He pulled him to his feet and wrapped his arms around him.
   "You just look like you could use a hug, I could see it in your eyes." Tetsutetsu said.
   "I knew you two could work it out." Pony said happily.
   Tetsutetsu gave Izuku a tight squeeze before retreating back to his spot next to Kendo.
   "See, apologies aren't that hard." She teased, giving Tetsutetsu a little nudge with her arm.
   "That reminds me, Kendo I'm sorry for how I talked to you earlier. I want you to know that I wasn't just upset about your arm because your quirk was partially compromised. I'm sorry that's how it ended up coming across. I was just really worried about you and I didn't know how to express that."
   "Ah, don't sweat it. I understand. We've all had a pretty shitty day so we were all frustrated and angry."
   "She's got a point." Awase chimed in.
   Izuku chuckled a bit as it was nice to see everyone getting along again after barely talking to each other.
   A few minutes later Kendo stood up and looked around at everyone. "Alright listen up, we have a mission we have to accomplish."
   "And what would that be?" Tetsutetsu asked.
   "I'm glad you asked. As you all know, Midoriya is trying to find a way to go out and find his friends despite knowing he can't do it alone. Because of this, I think that we should all help him. If we can team up and find his friends we'll be at a higher rate of survival because we'll have more people."
   "You do realize that going out on long missions like that is basically suicide right?" Awase asked.
   "In a world like this, everything is basically suicide. Us just sitting here could get us killed if we were to be snuck up on."
   "What point are you trying to make here exactly?"
   "If you would let me finish Tetsutetsu, you would know." Kendo said sternly.
   "Okay, sorry." Tetsutetsu responded, putting his hand over his mouth so he didn't interrupt again.
   "Anyway, all I'm saying is that we can't stay here forever. We're going to be found out by wanderers sooner or later so it would be smart if we moved our camp somewhere else. It's too dangerous to stay in one place for too long and we've already been here a month. We're lucky to have survived this long. If we want to make this world worth living in, we need to find more people we can trust. People we can build a small society with. Our world as we know it may be gone, but that doesn't mean we can't make the most out of what's left of it. The only way we can do that though is by traveling and recruiting more people and helping those who are unable to help themselves. So, who's with me?" Kendo asked in determination.
   Everyone was silent for a moment as they thought about what Kendo had said. Izuku was the first person to raise his hand in agreement which led everyone else to as well. Kendo smiled with glee and surprise as she didn't really expect anyone other than Izuku to go along with her idea.
   "If we're going to do this Kendo, we're going to need a plan." Vlad said.
   Kendo nodded her head and sat back down.
   "I'll do my best to put a plan together. I'll try to have it by morning."
   Vlad nodded his head before standing up and collecting the bowls from dinner.
   "Alright well, I'm gonna check in for the night. If you need anything, just come and wake me up."
   Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and Vlad went on his way.
   "I'm gonna go get the clothes that are hanging up and put them away." Pony said a few minutes later.
   "Alright, just be careful." Kendo said as she grabbed a stick and began drawing a map into the dirt.
   "So, what is the plan Kendo?" Awase asked.
   "The plan, is to try and make it to UA."
   "Why would we need to go there?" Izuku asked curiously.
   "I'm thinking that it's possible the members of class 1A are holed up in UA as it's one of the most secure places in the city. It's just a hunch but it's better than nothing. Now, I'm thinking that the best way to get there would be to weave in and out of alleyways and backroads." Kendo explained as she drew a pathway into the dirt with the stick.
   "Sounds like a solid plan to me so far." Tetsutetsu said happily.
   "There's just one problem." Kendo said with her fingers on her chin.
   "And what's that?" Izuku asked.
   "None of us have been anywhere near UA since the outbreak so we don't know what kind of state it's in. We have no idea how many wanderers are near it or if the barrier is even still standing. That leads to two issues. Let's say that the barrier has fallen, that would mean that there could be a handful of wanderers wandering around the grounds and maybe even inside the building. Now, let's say the barrier is still standing, that would mean that there would only be wanderers on the outside and not inside but we have no way to get inside the barrier without our school passes that none of us have anymore." Kendo explained as she continued drawing in the dirt.
   Everyone went silent as they tried to come up with a plan to get inside the building when they came to it. So far, they were coming up empty.
   That's when Izuku's eyes lit up and he had an idea.
   "I know how we can get inside if the barrier is still standing."
   "You do?" Awase asked.
   Izuku nodded his head and grabbed a stick off the ground.
   "If the barrier is still standing, I can use Black Whip and Float to carry all of us over it. It shouldn't be too difficult as I carried more than the amount we have here when the war with Shigaraki started."
   "You know, sometimes I forget you have more than one quirk." Tetsutetsu said halfheartedly.
   "You know, that could work." Kendo said. "But what are we gonna do if the barrier isn't standing?"
   "I haven't figured that one out yet." Izuku responded glumly.
   Everyone sighed in disappointment as they continued to try and think of a plan.
   "Oh, wait." Tetsutetsu said after a minute of silence.
   "What is it?" Kendo asked as Tetsutetsu took the stick from her.
   "If the barrier has fallen, we can just use our quirks to kill the wanderers."
   "Yea, but how are we gonna do that without attracting the attention of more wanderers?" Awase asked.
   "By going in quietly." Tetsutetsu responded.
   Awase, Kendo, and Izuku looked at each other in confusion before looking back at Tetsutetsu.
   "Look, there's an alleyway a few blocks away from the barrier that's somewhat hidden from view. If we approach UA from that alleyway then we'll be able to enter the barrier without drawing attention to ourselves and kill the wanderers that we come across along the way." Tetsutetsu explained as he drew a sloppy line in the dirt.
   "That plan sounds solid enough." Awase said as he examined the makeshift map.
   "And once we get inside, Awase can use his quirk to weld the doors shut as a precaution and I can use my quirk to lead the group in the front."
   "Wait, why would we trust you to lead the group? I'm not saying you'd be bad at it I'm just curious." Kendo asked smugly.
   Tetsutetsu scoffed and held his arm out where he had activated his quirk. "My quirk basically turns me into a moving piece of metal. If I were to get bit, it wouldn't be fatal because their teeth wouldn't be able to penetrate my skin. So with me leading the group, if we were to be snuck up on by a wanderer, I could distract them long enough for one of you guys to take it out."
   "Yea, I already knew that. I just wanted to see how you would explain it." Kendo said with a chuckle.
   Izuku and Awase snickered in response but fell silent when Tetsutetsu scowled at them.
   "Haha Kendo, very funny."
   "Guys!"
   The group turned their heads and saw Pony running towards them in a panic.
   "What's wrong Pony?" Awase asked when she got to them.
   "The camp is surrounded by wanderers. We need to leave." She said in a panic.
   She then winced and clutched onto her shoulder.
   "Did you get hurt?" Kendo asked.
   Pony looked Kendo in the eyes with a terrified look on her face and that's when it clicked.
   "You were bit." She said in shock.
   Pony hung her head and began crying. "I-it snuck up on me. I tried to run but it was too fast."
   Kendo grabbed her arm and pulled it away from her shoulder to reveal a huge bite mark.
   "Can't we just amputate her arm?" Awase asked frantically.
   "No, the bite's too close to her neck. There's nothing we can do." Kendo said as she backed up and grabbed her gun.
   "Wait, Kendo!" Pony shouted as Kendo picked up her gun and cocked it.
   "Hold on Kendo. There's gotta be something we can do right?" Izuku asked as he stood in between Pony and Kendo.
   "There isn't Midoriya now move!" Kendo shouted as her arms began to shake.
   Awase walked over to Izuku and gently pulled him to the side. Pony was crying uncontrollably and she was shaking like a leaf. She dropped down on her knees and looked up at Kendo. "Just do it."
   Tears began rolling down Kendo's face as she looked down at her classmate.
   I don't think I can do it. I wasn't able to kill Monoma so how am I gonna be able to kill Pony?  She thought to herself.
   Right then, Tetsutetsu gently placed his hand on the gun and pulled it from Kendo's grip.
   "Tetsutetsu." She whispered as he gave her a reassuring smile and pointed the gun at Pony.
   Kendo looked at her as well and then closed her eyes. Tetsutetsu took a deep breath before finally mustering up the courage to pull the trigger.
   Kendo fell to her knees and put her hand over her mouth in an attempt to suppress her sobs. Izuku and Awase just watched in stunned silence. It all had happened so fast; but that wasn't the end of it.
   The group turned their heads and saw a hoard of wanderers approaching their camp and they were doing it fast.
   "We need to go." Tetsutetsu said as he swung the gun over his shoulder.
   Izuku and Awase rushed over and grabbed their bags.
   "Kendo, we need to go come on." Tetsutetsu said as he grabbed Kendo and pulled her to her feet.
   "Vlad." She said.
   "What?"
   "We can't leave Vlad." She said again, but louder.
   Tetsutetsu looked at Vlad's tent and groaned angrily.
   "There's too many of them and they're too close to him. We won't be able to help him."
   "No, we can't leave him!" Kendo said as Tetsutetsu began pulling her away. "Stop please!"
   Tetsutetsu didn't listen to her. With tears in his eyes, he picked Kendo up and began running; Izuku and Awase followed not far behind.
   Awase pulled out his hand gun and began shooting at the wanderers that were getting too close. Izuku looked back at Vlad's tent that had been completely ripped open by the wanderers. He saw Vlad trying to fight them off but they overpowered him quickly.
   Kendo was shouting and kicking at Tetsutetsu in an attempt for him to put her down so she could go over and help Vlad even though she knew it was already too late for him.
   Izuku was using his quirk to kill off the wanderers since he didn't have a gun and he figured his quirk was more useful than one anyway.
   As the group kept on running, Awase tripped while looking behind him to shoot his gun. Izuku saw this and stopped.
   "Midoriya, just leave him! There's too many of them!" Tetsutetsu shouted but he didn't listen.
   One of the wanderers had managed to catch up to Awase and had pinned him to the ground in an attempt to eat him.
   "Keep going without me. We'll catch up!" Izuku shouted towards Tetsutetsu.
   As much as he didn't want to, Tetsutetsu had no choice but to listen. He knew he needed to at least get Kendo to safety. He gritted his teeth angrily before continuing on while Izuku ran back to get Awase who was just barely stopping the wanderer from sinking its teeth into him.
   Izuku shot Black Whip out and pulled the wanderer off before using One For All to blow its head off. Awase scrambled to his feet before buckling back down in pain.
   "I think I sprained my ankle." He said when Izuku reached him.
   Izuku looked around and saw that there were at least ten more wanderers approaching. He groaned angrily before aiming his arm up like a gun and blowing the heads off of every single one.
   When he finished, he dropped to his knees in exhaustion.
   "You did good." Awase said as he gave him a pat on the back.
   "Thanks. I'm glad you're okay." Izuku responded as he tried to catch his breath.
   After a few minutes, Izuku stood up and grabbed Awase's hand. He pulled him up and hooked his arm around his shoulder. Awase groaned in pain as he and Izuku began to limp towards the city where Tetsutetsu was headed with Kendo.
   They both stopped when they reached an alleyway and Izuku let go of Awase's arm so he could sit down and rest. "So what's our plan?" He asked after taking a few minutes to catch his breath.
   "The plan is to make our way over to UA as originally planned as that's where Kendo and Tetsutetsu are most likely going. We should meet up with them once we get there." Izuku said as he peeked his head around the corner of the building to try and scope out any good vantage points.
   "Sounds good." Awase said as he pulled himself up onto his feet.
   "You need to be careful on that ankle though. I don't have anything to use as a splint right now." Izuku said, walking back over to Awase and helping him to keep his balance.
   "Roger." Awase said sarcastically as he and Izuku began heading towards UA.
   I don't know what I should really be expecting when we get there. All I know is that I should prepare for the worst. Last time I didn't, it almost got someone killed. I need to prepare for the fact that Kacchan and all of my friends might be dead.
   After a few minutes of walking, Izuku and Awase came upon the alleyway that Tetsutetsu was talking about at the fire earlier. Awase sat down to rest his ankle again while Izuku peeked his head around the corner to check for any signs of wanderers.
   He then heard a noise from behind him and he spun around instinctively.
   "Hey, calm down it's just me." Kendo said, making Izuku relax.
   "You scared me."
   "Sorry. We didn't wanna draw any attention to ourselves." Kendo said as Izuku peeked his head around the corner again.
   "Is the barrier standing?" Tetsutetsu asked.
   "Yea, it is. That means we go with plan A which is for me to float us all over it."
   "Sounds like a plan. How are you doing Awase?"
   Awase smiled up at Kendo and replied, "I hurt my ankle pretty bad but other than that I'm fine."
   "That's good."
   "Alright, I don't see anything so we should be good." Izuku said after a moment.
   Tetsutetsu nodded and pulled Awase to his feet. They all slowly and quietly made their way to the street across from the barrier. Izuku peeked his head out at the street where he saw only a few stray wanderers about a block from where they were.
   "Alright, there's only a few out there. We shouldn't have any problems with them as long as we move fast." Izuku said, turning towards the group.
   Everyone nodded their heads and Izuku pulled all of them into the air using Black Whip and Float.
   "If any of them see you, don't fire your guns. We don't want to attract anymore here. That would cause too many issues."
   "Understood." Kendo said as she swung her gun over her shoulder.
   The group slowly floated over the barrier to the school. Only a few of the wanderers in the street saw them but they tried to just ignore them.
   "It doesn't look like there's any wandering the grounds so it should be safe." Izuku said as he began floating them towards the ground.
   That's when a hoard of them came out from the behind the building and began rushing towards them.
   "Not good, not good." Awase said as Izuku pulled them back into the air.
   The hoard was right under them and there were a lot more than they originally thought.
   "Now what?" Tetsutetsu asked in a panic.
   "I don't know." Come on Izuku, think. How can we land back on the ground safely? I could use One For All to kill them but there's too many. I would end up overexerting myself and putting everyone, including myself, in danger. I already used up so much of my stamina fighting off the hoards from earlier and helping Awase. I don't know how much more I have left.
   "Guys, look!" Izuku looked at Tetsutetsu and saw him pointing up at the building. He followed his finger and saw a broken window not too far from them.
   "That'll work." Kendo said as Izuku pulled the group in that direction.
   When they were all safely inside, Izuku was breathing heavily from how much strength and energy he had to use to get all of them there. 

   I used up a lot more energy doing that than I thought I would. I'm completely exhausted now.
   "How you holding up Midoriya?" Kendo asked, gesturing her hand towards him.
   "Just exhausted." He said as he took her hand and stood up.
   "Well, we made it."
   "Yea, we did." Izuku said with a smile.
   "You there, stop where you are."
   The group turned their heads and saw a small group of about four people wearing masks and holding guns.
   "Wait, don't shoot. We don't mean any harm, we just came here to try and find some friends." Izuku said as he stepped in front of Kendo, Tetsutetsu, and Awase.
   The person at the head of the other group lowered his gun a bit before letting it drop down at his side. Izuku looked on in confusion.
   "Midoriya?" The stranger asked.
   "Um, should I know you?" Izuku asked cautiously.
   The stranger reached up and pulled down his mask, finally revealing his face.
   Izuku's eyes widened in shock and relief; he felt like crying.
   "T-Todoroki?"
   Todoroki let out a shuddered breath and replied shakily, "you're alive. You're actually alive."