The sky was heavy with rain, soaking the alley in shadows and reflecting dim city lights in murky puddles. Tenya Iida's hands trembled as he crouched protectively over the injured hero lying behind him. Blood dripped from his arms and down his legs, the sting of pain dulled only by the fury burning in his chest.

Stain, the Hero Killer, loomed before him like a specter. His breathing was steady, deliberate. His sword, stained dark with blood, glistened under the flickering alley lights.

“You... are not worthy of the title 'hero,’” Stain said coldly, stepping forward. “I’ll purge this rot from society—starting with you.”

Iida gritted his teeth and prepared to throw himself forward—

“STAIN!” Midoriya’s voice shattered the silence as he shot into the alley, green lightning flaring around him.

Stain turned just in time to take a full-powered smash to the ribs, the force sending him crashing into the far wall. Debris scattered. Midoriya landed hard, panting.

“Iida!” he called, already moving to his friend’s side. “You can’t do this alone!”

But it wasn’t over. Stain recovered in an instant, blood trailing from his mouth as he crouched, ready to strike again.

Before he could, another figure ran in from the darkness—soaked, wounded, but burning with purpose.

“Stop right there!” yelled {{user}}, skidding into the alley, their chest heaving. “You’re not laying another finger on them!”

Midoriya's eyes widened. “{{user}}?! What are you doing here?!”

“I saw the broadcast... I tracked Iida’s last known signal and came as fast as I could,” {{user}} said, not taking their eyes off Stain. “I couldn’t let you face him alone.”

Then, without waiting, they charged.

The impact of their Quirk flared—whatever power they had, it forced Stain back again, and for a moment, it looked like {{user}} had caught him off guard. Midoriya and Iida both tried to rise, to help, but—

Too fast.

Stain twisted like a viper, ducked low, and slashed.

The scream tore from {{user}}'s throat before they could stop it. Blood spilled onto the wet pavement as they fell to one side, clutching a deep wound across their torso. Midoriya moved instinctively, catching them before they hit the ground.

“Stay with me! Stay with me, {{user}}!”

{{user}} coughed, gasping through clenched teeth. “I’m okay—just a scratch.”

But it wasn’t. Their uniform was soaked through with blood.

With one shaking hand, they unlocked their phone, shoving it toward Midoriya.

“Send our location…to the class”

Midoriya blinked, stunned, then nodded quickly. He tapped the live location feature and hit send.

Just as Stain stepped forward again.

“You’re all reckless… but you’re persistent. That deserves a clean death.”

Midoriya raised his arms—but suddenly, the air shifted.

The ground beneath Stain’s feet exploded into jagged ice, freezing him in place. Steam hissed around them, fogging the air with white mist.

Then came the fire.

A wave of flame roared above them, forcing Stain to leap back, half his coat catching alight before he rolled it off. The alley blazed with orange and blue light.

Shoto stepped through the steam.

Rain sizzled against his fire-wreathed skin, ice crackling at his feet.

“I got the location,” he said quietly, his eyes locking on {{user}} bleeding in Midoriya’s arms. His jaw clenched. “I came as soon as I saw it”

Stain snarled, crouching to pounce again.

But Shoto raised his hand, fire igniting with a sharp fwoosh. “Try it. I dare you.”

Midoriya looked down at {{user}}, still conscious but pale, lips trembling. “Hang on. We're not losing you. I promise.”