A Natural Counter

Stain moved first. He seemed to vanish into the night.

One second Stain stood in front of Yuto. The next, he was at his side, blade flashing toward his ribs. His speed was not like Bakugo's explosive bursts or Iida's straight-line acceleration.

It was sharper. Quieter. Built for killing at close range.

Yuto blocked with Sandai Kitetsu.

The impact rang through his arm.

Stain twisted away and struck again before the sound faded.

Wado Ichimonji caught the second slash. Shusui turned the third.

The crowd could barely follow the exchange.

"Too fast."

"I can't see them."

"How is Yuto keeping up?"

He was not fully keeping up.

He knew that better than anyone.

Stain's speed and footwork were brutal. Each movement entered from a different angle. Each slash aimed for skin, not victory by force. A nick was enough. One drop of blood would turn the duel.

That was Stain's real terror.

The threat did not come from being killed in one blow.

It came from being touched once. He shifted his breathing.

A purple sheen hardened over his forearms.

Stain's blade slid across his skin.

Clang.

Steel met something harder than flesh. No blood came.

Stain's eyes sharpened. The student answered with a short slash that forced him back.

"I'm a bad matchup for you," Yuto said.

Stain did not reply. He attacked again.

This time, he aimed at rhythm. Not Yuto's body.

His timing. The first strike forced a block. The second was never meant to cut; it made him shift his shoulder. The third came for the gap created by the first two.

Yuto turned it with Shusui at the last possible moment.

Stain's boot struck his knee. Yuto gave ground.

Stain followed. The Hero Killer was not a monster like the Nomu. He did not need overwhelming power. He needed one weakness, one mistake, one line of blood.

His chest tightened. He was tired.

The fight against Endeavor, the Sports Festival final, Tremor Drive, the Nomu, Black Rope Great Dragon Twister, and now Stain.

The cost was catching up to him. Stain saw it.

His attacks grew sharper. Yuto blocked.

Blocked again. Moved half a step too slow.

The blade kissed his cheek.

But even there, the purple sheen flashed. No blood.

Understanding dawned in Stain's eyes.

"You can stop my blade from drawing blood."

"Yes."

"Then my Quirk can't reach you."

"Not unless you cut through my defense first."

Stain laughed quietly. "You hide strange strength."

"You're strong," Yuto said. "Your movement and speed are top-class, and it's hard to keep up with your rhythm."

Purple Armament Haki still coated his forearms.

"But unfortunately for you, I'm a natural counter."

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