𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 094

CHAPTER 94: Between Duty and Fear

The streets of Otheon were a chaotic mess-plumes of smoke rose from various parts of the city as Humarise's forces wreaked havoc. The once peaceful city now echoed with explosions, sirens, and the desperate cries of civilians trying to escape the advancing threat. Amid the chaos, the heroes of Class 1-A were preparing for their mission. Their task: evacuate the residents of Otheon while facing down a deadly enemy they barely understood.

Burnin's voice echoed in your comms, calm but commanding. "Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki, Mizushima-Humarise operatives are closing in on key areas. Make sure the civilians get to safety, but stay alert. There's a lot more going on than we anticipated."

You adjusted your gear as you listened, a sense of purpose settling in your chest. You were ready. The quiet determination you'd trained so hard to cultivate was solidifying with every passing second. Your eyes glanced at your teammates-Izuku, Katsuki, and Shoto-each of them standing strong, faces set with resolve.

Izuku, always the heart of the team, met your gaze with a smile, though there was no mistaking the edge of concern in his eyes. "Stay sharp, Y/N," he said, his voice low but steady.

"Same to you," you answered, offering him a smile in return, though you couldn't completely silence the worry gnawing at the back of your mind. You knew Izuku, and you knew how far he would push himself in any given situation. Still, there was something about this mission that made your instincts twitch with unease.

"Quit worrying about the damn nerd. He's fine," Katsuki grumbled beside you, offering a rare, almost begrudging reassurance. His usual scowl deepened, but his words, though blunt, were reassuring in their own way. Even if he didn't say it outright, you knew Katsuki had Izuku's back. He just expressed it... differently.

"I'll try," you muttered, forcing yourself to focus on the task at hand.

Shoto was already moving ahead, methodically freezing sections of the road and clearing the path for the civilians. The ice barriers shimmered under the harsh sun, a cool contrast to the devastation surrounding you. You fell into step behind him, the tension in the air palpable as you navigated the streets.

As you made your way toward the residential district, the streets grew eerily quiet, save for the distant sounds of battle. The earlier destruction had cleared most of the civilians, but there were still those trapped behind barricades or lost in the wreckage. Your mission was clear-get them to safety.

That's when you saw him.

A young man, tall and lean with a messy brown mop of hair and a distinct, scruffy appearance, was rushing toward the chaos, his eyes scanning the area. He wasn't a part of the original plan, but as soon as your eyes met, he waved you down.

"Hey, you're heroes, right?" The man called out, his voice full of determination, but also a slight hint of desperation. "I'm Rody. I've been helping people out around here. Anything I can do to help?"

He didn't have the polished look of a trained hero, but there was something about his energy-something raw that resonated with you. His quirk, you quickly realized, was centered around mechanical birds, which he controlled and used to scout and assist in evacuations.

You took a moment to assess him. "We're handling the evac from this side, but we could use your help. There are still civilians further ahead."

Rody nodded without hesitation, moving swiftly to join your group. "Got it. I'll make sure no one gets left behind," he said, determination shining in his eyes.

His unexpected arrival added a bit of unpredictability to the situation, but you couldn't deny that Rody's enthusiasm was a welcome addition. There was no time for questions now; your focus had to remain on the mission.

---

The battle quickly intensified as you approached the residential area. A group of Humarise operatives emerged from the shadows, weapons drawn, and you could feel the air grow thick with tension. Without wasting a second, you summoned water from a nearby hydrant, feeling its cool power surge through your veins. The water shot forward, freezing in mid-air to form ice spikes that you sent flying toward the attackers.

As the operatives scattered, trying to dodge your attacks, you heard Rody's voice behind you. "I'll cover the civilians! You take care of them!" His birds swooped down from the sky, distracting some of the attackers and providing a brief respite for those you were protecting.

The battle was fierce, but your team was well-coordinated. Shoto and Katsuki were on point, freezing the ground and hurling explosive blasts at the remaining operatives. But as you took down the last one in your area, the comms crackled with a new, chilling message from Burnin.

"Midoriya and Rody have been separated from the rest of the group. The situation's more chaotic than we thought. Keep your eyes open and stay in contact. We'll figure out a regroup point soon."

Your heart sank at the news. Izuku... separated? You had hoped that your paths wouldn't split, but now, with the mission escalating, you feared for what that could mean. Izuku was capable, but this mission was unlike any you'd faced before. The thought of him being alone, especially in the heart of danger, sent a shiver down your spine.

Katsuki glanced at you, his eyes narrowing. "Stop looking like that. We'll find him. He's fine."

You nodded, but the worry simmering under your surface only deepened. You couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

Shoto placed a hand on your shoulder, his usual calm demeanor offering some comfort in the face of the rising tension. "We need to stay focused. We can't afford distractions."

You exhaled sharply, trying to steady your racing heart. You were right. Focus on the mission, Y/N. But with every moment that passed, the sense of urgency grew.

"Let's move," you said, your voice steady despite the fear bubbling beneath. You couldn't lose sight of your goal-not while Izuku was out there somewhere, alone.

And yet, as you pushed forward with Shoto and Katsuki, the knot in your chest only grew tighter. With each passing minute, the fear of being too late, of not finding Izuku in time, weighed on your mind.

But you kept moving.

---

The street ahead was filled with the rumble of chaos. Buildings were crumbling, fires raged, and the sound of conflict grew louder as the Humarise operatives made their way toward the heart of the city. The path to regroup with the others seemed to stretch endlessly before you.

"Stay focused," Shoto urged, his voice a calm anchor amidst the storm. "We'll find him."

You nodded again, though your mind wandered to Izuku, alone in the chaos. But there was no time for distractions now. You needed to trust that he could handle himself. After all, Izuku wasn't just a hero. He was a symbol of hope, a fighter, and he would do whatever it took to make it through.

With a determined glance, you set your sights ahead, ready to face whatever came next.

And no matter what, you would find Izuku. You just had to keep moving forward.

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A/N: Word Count: ~1224.

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