"No. This one may be similar to the Nomu we saw before, but it's clearly stronger than the one that was captured," Izuku said, clenching his fists as he faced it.
"Kid! Protect the civilians!" Gran Torino shouted. He activated his Quirk, kicking the Nomu away in a single strike before leaping off the train to pursue it.
"Right!"
Izuku steadied himself and turned to the passengers.
"Everyone, please stay calm and exit in an orderly manner. Pro heroes are on their way. I'll make sure you're safe until they arrive."
His voice was young, but steady enough to reassure them. One by one, the passengers began to disembark.
Before long, two pro heroes arrived. They had been on patrol nearby.
"Thanks for handling this," said one of them, wearing a blue helmet.
"If you hadn't stepped in, there could've been more injuries," added the other, a masked hero with a metal bat slung across his back.
"But be careful," the second hero continued. "There have been reports of the Hero Killer in this city."
"…Stain?"
Izuku's eyes widened. Without another word, he turned and sprinted toward the city.
"Hey! Don't run off alone!" the blue-helmeted hero called after him, starting to give chase.
His partner stopped him. "We've got a train full of civilians to manage. We can't leave."
He glanced toward the direction Izuku had gone.
"…Besides, everyone wants to make a name for themselves."
The blue-helmeted hero shot him an annoyed look but said nothing more.
"Come on. Let's get back to work."
"Yeah."
—
Izuku moved quickly through Hosu's narrow alleys, scanning every corner.
According to the reports, Stain targeted isolated places like this.
"Not here either… Damn it. Iida must have gone after him."
He picked up speed.
If Iida runs into Stain alone…
The thought tightened his chest.
"I can't let that happen."
He turned another corner.
"There—!"
A voice echoed through the alley.
"Impostors have no right to live. Your death will be a warning to all false heroes."
Stain stood there, his worn blade raised. On the ground nearby, Iida lay motionless, unable to move.
"Stop!"
The word left Izuku before he could think.
Stain paused, lowering his blade slightly as he turned toward the newcomer.
"…Another one?" he said, eyes sharp. "Then I'll kill you too."
Izuku stepped into the alley, facing him directly.
So this is Stain.
There was a strange steadiness in his chest as he took in the scene.
He shifted into a fighting stance.
"Arrow Volley!"
Drawing back with his left hand and releasing with his right, Izuku fired. A cluster of arrows formed from green electrical energy shot toward Stain.