Counterattack

The battlefield was a wreck.

A huge crater had opened in the ground, and Class 1-A stared into it with stunned faces.

Mineta sobbed with relief. "Yuu-bro, that was amazing! I thought we were dead!"

Ochaco's cheeks were flushed from the tension. "Yuu-kun defeated Muscular."

Kirishima's fists shook with excitement. "That was a manly fight. Seriously manly!"

Yaoyorozu's eyes were wet. "I'm glad you're safe. That was too close."

Midoriya looked at the crater, still analyzing. "Muscular's muscle fiber armor was broken by Yuto-kun's swordsmanship. The way his Quirk and swordsmanship combine is incredible."

Tsuyu nodded. "Yuto-chan's best attack broke through Muscular's strongest defense."

Then she looked around.

"Where is Muscular?"

Everyone searched the battlefield.

There was only a crater, shattered trees, and rolling smoke. Muscular was nowhere to be seen.

Ochaco blinked. "Yuu-kun, where did he go?"

Yaoyorozu frowned. "Was he... destroyed?"

Tsuyu shook her head. Her eyesight had followed more of the fight than the others.

"Yuto-chan launched him into the sky."

Class 1-A froze.

"Into the sky?"

Yuto nodded calmly.

Muscular had committed too many crimes. Yuto had no intention of letting him walk away.

"The situation was dangerous," he said. "I used a little too much force and sent him farther than I meant to."

No one knew how to answer that.

They all knew what Muscular had done, including the death of Mandalay's family. For that reason, no one pressed the matter.

Mandalay looked at Yuto differently now, her expression softer than before.

"Thank you."

Yuto cleared his throat, suddenly aware of how tightly she was holding him.

"Sensei, careful."

Mandalay's face flushed. She quickly let go and stepped back.

"Yuto, you did well in this fight."

Yuto smiled faintly.

"Everyone did well. But our battle isn't over."

Mineta trembled. "Yuu-bro, didn't we already beat Muscular? Why isn't it over?"

Ochaco nodded. "Yeah. Wasn't Muscular the strongest one?"

To Class 1-A, Muscular had felt like the final boss.

Yuto explained, "I've defeated Muscular, the Nomu, Moonfish, Spinner, and Magne. But Dabi, Himiko Toga, Kurogiri, Shigaraki, and the others are still active in the camp."

He looked toward the dark forest.

"So our fight isn't over."

Mineta swallowed. "Can't we wait for rescue?"

Yuto's eyes sharpened.

"Because this time, we're not only the ones being hunted. The League wanted us cornered. Now we counterattack."

Bakugo grinned. "For once, I agree with you, bastard."

Todoroki's voice was cold. "It's time to teach the League a lesson."

Kirishima's blood was up. "Then let's fight back!"

Under Yuto's lead, Class 1-A's morale rose again.

Mandalay and Ragdoll exchanged a look. They were Pro Heroes, yet throughout this battle, they had found themselves following Yuto's decisions.

Without realizing it, they had started seeing him differently.

Then a frantic voice came from ahead.

Everyone turned.

Kendo Itsuka was running toward them, battered and breathless.

Had something happened to Class 1-B?

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