The Promise of an Agency

Class 1-A was being forced back.

Yaoyorozu blocked Toga's knife with a black shield and nearly lost her balance. Midoriya broke through another wave of Twice clones, only to find the line filling again. Todoroki's ice kept Kurogiri's mist from spreading freely, but it could not stop every warp gate.

Yuto watched the fight with clear eyes.

His body was exhausted.

His swords felt heavy.

If he forced himself into the center now, he might fall before reaching anyone.

So he chose a different weapon.

"Class 1-A."

His voice cut through the clearing.

Everyone heard him. "The whole country is watching."

Bakugo destroyed a clone with an explosion.

"So what?"

"So if you lose here, I will remember it."

Several students froze for half a beat.

Yuto continued. "I said I would build my own hero agency someday."

Mina's eyes widened. "Your agency?"

"Yes."

Yuto looked at the battlefield in front of him.

"But my agency will not need cowards. It will not need people who break the moment the enemy pushes back."

Kirishima's fists tightened. "Who are you calling a coward?"

"Anyone who gives up here."

Yuto's voice was calm, not loud.

That made it hit harder.

"If you want a place beside me in the future, prove you can stand now. Win this fight, and you earn the right to ask."

For a second, the battlefield went still.

Then Midoriya's eyes burned brighter.

"Yuto-kun..."

Mina grinned. "A future agency with Yuto? That sounds unfairly exciting."

Kirishima slammed his fists together.

"Then I'm not losing!"

Bakugo's explosions roared. "Don't act like you get to reject me, Quake!"

Todoroki exhaled slowly, then sent a sharper wall of ice through Kurogiri's mist.

"Win first. Talk later."

The change was immediate.

Class 1-A stopped retreating. They moved forward.

Momo's creations became cleaner and faster. Ochaco lifted debris into the path of Twice's clones. Tsuyu pulled wounded students and captives out of danger. Mina and Kirishima broke the pressure on the right side. Bakugo, Todoroki, and Midoriya attacked Kurogiri's position together.

The League's rhythm broke.

Toga stared at Yuto with shining eyes.

"You make everyone move."

Kurogiri's tone darkened. "Yuto Kanzaki..."

Above the battlefield, the reporter could barely keep up.

"Class 1-A is counterattacking! Kanzaki's words have changed the entire flow of the battle!"

Yuto leaned on one sword and watched his classmates advance.

He had no strength left to lead from the front.

So he led from where he stood.

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