𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 074

CHAPTER 74: Losing is Living

The air was heavy with silence, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just moments before. The battlefield, once a furious clash of powers and determination, now lay in ruins, the remnants of the fight scattered around like the broken dreams of those who fought valiantly. You stood there, still heaving from the toll the battle had taken on you, feeling a deep ache in your heart as the reality of the situation sank in.

Izuku knelt beside Mirio, who lay unconscious on the ground, a mixture of relief and despair etched on his face. Eri's small frame trembled in his arms, the weight of what had just transpired pressing down on her tiny shoulders. You could see the tears brimming in her eyes, reflecting the confusion and fear of a child thrust into a world of heroes and villains.

“Togota…” Izuku’s voice broke, the sound of it piercing the stillness. “We have to get him help.” His voice was urgent but tinged with despair, the loss of Mirio’s quirk hanging heavily in the air, a reminder of the sacrifices made.

As you turned your gaze, a sharp pang shot through you. Sir Nighteye lay a short distance away, his body still. The realization struck you like a blow to the gut. Sir Nighteye, the guiding light for so many, had given everything in this battle. You fought back tears, remembering his unwavering belief in the potential of the next generation, in you. He had been a mentor, a strategist, and now he was gone.

“Why…?” Eri’s small voice broke the silence, and you felt a pang of sorrow for her innocence lost. “Why did he have to die?”

Izuku looked down at her, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and grief. “He fought for us, Eri. He wanted to protect you. We won’t let his sacrifice be in vain.” But you could see the cracks in his resolve, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him.

Your thoughts spiraled as you glanced around the battlefield, taking in the other heroes who had fought alongside you. They too were reeling from the aftermath, some tending to their injuries, others simply staring blankly into the distance as they processed their losses. The sight of Fat Gum supporting Eijiro, who struggled to stand, and Ryukyu trying to comfort Nejire and Ochaco, who were both visibly shaken, tore at your heart.

The burden of the day pressed heavily on all of you. You could feel it in the air, a collective grief that seemed to seep into your bones. It was one thing to fight villains and another to lose those you admired in the process.

As you turned your gaze back to Izuku, you noticed his expression change. He stood taller, a flicker of resolve igniting within him. “We have to honor Nighteye’s memory,” he said, his voice steadier now. “We need to keep pushing forward.”

“Right,” you whispered, struggling to find your own strength. You remembered the weight of Mirio’s determination, his unwavering spirit even in the face of loss. It ignited something within you, a flicker of fire amidst the ashes of despair.

“Let’s gather everyone. We need to regroup and make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next,” you said, your voice trembling but resolute.

As you moved among your fellow heroes, you felt the shared pain in their eyes. There was no need for words; the silence spoke volumes. Each of you had lost something precious today, yet there was a thread of unity that bound you together—a determination to fight on, to honor those who could no longer stand beside you.