A Hero's Resolve (Part 5)

Shoto took a deep breath before texting Momo. She was in position. This fire exit would lead all the way up the tower. Once at the top, she wouldn't have much time to try and convince Void to stop what he was doing. If this whole situation could be resolved peacefully, then it would be simple to destroy the rest of the League of Villains. Shoto waited a few moments before Momo messaged back. 'Copy. Good luck, Shoto'. Shoto took another deep breath before opening the door and running up the stairs.

Kirishima peeked around the corner. He spotted the other fire exit that his team would be charging through. The redhead looked back at his team. Denki and Mina were double checking their equipment while Tokoyami checked the other corner. Momo jogged up to the team. "Status report." Kirishima double checked the door before looking back at her. "Still all quiet. Is Shoto inside yet?" Momo nodded. "Chris is in position too. After he-" "Impact." Everyone looked at Mina, so she repeated herself. "We're on the job, Creati. Use hero names." Momo nodded before correcting herself. "Impact is in position. After he sees Void, he will jump onto the tower. That will be our signal to break in. Fatgum and Suneater will charge through the front entrance with the police as a distraction." Kirishima looked up at where Chris should be standing. "...why do I get the feeling that none of this is going to go according to plan?"

Shoto finally made it up to the level where Void had been spotted. She sprinted down the hallway, not taking time to catch her breath. She wished she had taken the elevator, but that would've alerted the League to her presence. Then Shigaraki stepped into her path. Shoto felt a moment of panic before igniting her fire. Shigaraki didn't raise his hands at all. They stared at each other for a long time. Shoto finally broke the silence. "Well?" "Void thought that one of you would sneak in here. He's one level up, waiting in the main office." Shoto slowly turned her flames off. "...why are you helping me?" "Void said you all would be dead by the end of the day regardless." Shoto turned on her heels and ran back to the stairwell.

Fatgum stared at the front entrance. The Police Chief kept his gun raised. "Now?" "Easy, Chief. Impact has a better view than us. He will know when to give us the signal." Tamaki took a deep breath. He still remembered his last battle with Void on the beach. A single man single handedly took out the entire Fatgum Agency. Now Chris was expected to fight him alone? He didn't like this one bit. Tamaki looked up into the sky. "...good luck, Impact… you're going to need it…"

Shoto entered the main office. Void was sitting in the chair and spun around to face Shoto. "I knew one of you would try to sneak in here. What do you want?" Shoto closed the door behind her. "...hey Jason…" Void lost his smile as he stood up. "Stop calling me that. You all decided that the clone should be named Jason. My name is Void, now." Shoto raised her voice. "Your only proof is Shigaraki's word, and we all know that he can't be trusted!" Void looked away, so Shoto continued, her eyes watering. "I don't care what you call yourself! Clone or not, you are still Endgame, one of the greatest heroes to ever live! You're still the brother that Chris grew up with! You're still the one that Kirishima looks up to! Above all of that, you're still the man I fell in love with!" Void stared out the window. He had looked away from her in order to hide his tears. Void wiped them away and smiled. "Despite all of these words, you don't mean a single one of them. At the end of the day, you chose the clone." Shoto just stood there. Then she glared. "Are you really believing your own lies, now?" Void glared at her before smiling again. "This conversation is over." Void walked up to Shoto and wrapped his arms around her. Shoto was stunned. Void whispered. "...I will always remember you, Shoto… thank you for making me happy…" He let go and began heading towards the door. "Alright, Dabi, she's all yours."

As Void slammed the door behind him, Dabi came out of a side room, smiling. Shoto's eyes widened. "...Touya…?" Dabi ignited his blue flames in his hands. "No more clones, no more tricks, and no more interruptions. It's time for us to finally determine which child of Endeavor is the strongest."

Void stood in the elevator, staring at the reflective metal. Shoto's words were getting to him. He tried to remember everything that happened. After he defeated the Spider Nomu, he was knocked unconscious by Spinner. Then he was held captive by the League of Villains until he managed to escape the restraints. He sprinted all the way back to UA, where he found the clone had taken over his life. Void punched the wall. He didn't use his quirk, so it only dented the metal. "...I'm real… I'm real… I'm the real one…" He desperately tried to convince himself of those words. Void could hear his own shaky breath over the sound of the elevator. The elevator dinged, interrupting his thoughts. Void smiled as the door opened. "Showtime."

Void opened the door and stepped onto the roof of the Boardwalk Tower. He looked out at the sprawling city. Before he was born, it was just a small tourist city. However, ever since UA was built, it has become a small metropolis. Void lost his smile as he spotted the pier where he and Shoto had first kissed. That memory triggered others. He remembered the good times he had with his friends. He also remembered every time they had laid their lives on the line for each other. His thoughts were once again interrupted by the sound of an object landing behind him. Void took a deep breath and smiled, turning on his heels. Chris rose up from his superhero landing. Chris glared at Void. "Alright, Void, you got what you wanted." The hero in training narrowed his eyes as he faced his former brother. "I am here."