Chapter 12: Part 1

I crouched low behind a crumbled concrete slab on the outer edge of the windstorm zone, resting with my back against it as if I had all the time in the world.

The wind wasn't just noise; it tore across the landscape in sharp bursts, rattling metal and kicking dust into the air like smokescreens. Loose debris spun in the air. Every few seconds, a fresh burst would send chunks of rubble across the ground or slam a metal sheet against a wall with a clang.

Shoji's Quirk was way more versatile than I had realized. It might not be the most overtly powerful, but it would help me time everything perfectly.

Unlike Shoji, I didn't sprout any extra arms or mutant limbs. But I could generate smaller tentacles from my regular arms, and from the tips of those, I could form whatever sensory organ I needed: eyes, ears, even a nose if it ever came to that.

Though Shoji made it look effortless, with eyes in every direction and hearing for miles. My version worked well enough, but I was still adapting.

One of those tentacles snaked along the rubble ahead, thin and low to the ground. At its tip, an eye opened, giving me a clear view of the shipwreck zone. Can't let Midoriya get out of my sight.

Another eye blinked to life on a tentacle perched against the ruined wall to my right, watching over Uraraka and Hagakure caught in the swirling gusts of the windstorm zone.

Two more extensions twitched, each tipped with a replicated ear. One tuned in to the crashing of waves and villain chatter down by the ships, and the other picked up labored breaths and hurried footsteps from the windstorm zone.

Multitasking never felt so efficient.

I wasn't in a rush, I could move fast when I needed to, but that wasn't right now. It was more beneficial to let this drag on a while longer.

After all, I wanted Midoriya to be exhausted when he reaches the Nomu. 

And when all hope seems lost, I'll step in and save the day.

But first, I had to focus on others.

I shifted my attention toward the windstorm zone. 

Uraraka was struggling. Her cheeks puffed out, face pale as she heaved beside one of the steel pillars. She clearly hit her limit on her quirk usage, lifting way more than she could handle. Nearby, I could hear Hagakure's tiring out. She was completely invisible, sure, but that didn't mean she could hit hard. Her attacks were more like annoyances than actual damage. And if the villains flailed hard enough, they might get lucky and strike her.

Their enemies were four generic, scumbag villains that looked like they'd been scooped off a street corner. Torn-up clothes, cracked goggles, and that same greasy grin you'd see on a creep.

"These bitches put up a fight, but now they're done," one of them sneered, licking his lips.

"Look at the girl, she's still got a little energy left," another said, stepping toward the nauseous Uraraka.

"That's even better. I love it when they struggle."

The last one chuckled darkly. "Think it'll disappear if I put it inside the invisible girl?"

Goddamn, Tomura. You couldn't have found more cliche creeps if you tried. Then again, there's no way that loser bothered to leave his room to recruit his fellow losers himself. He probably sent Kurogiri to do it for him.

Still, it made me wonder... Should I wait until they got just a bit closer? Build the suspense a little?

That thought evaporated the moment my farthest eye caught movement at the shipwreck.

Midoriya had leapt off the ship, fingers glowing with power. He unleashed a flick against the surface of the water, and the wave exploded outward in a perfect ring. The swirling force dragged the villains toward the center, and Mineta's sticky balls did the rest—trapping them in a tangled, drowning mess. Asui stretched her tongue out, grabbing both Midoriya and Mineta before launching the trio toward safety.

Not bad.

But it also meant I had to move.

As I stepped out into the open, I reached down and brushed my fingers along the steel segment on my belt, absorbing a bit more material for my new tentacles.

Wind rushed past me as I sprinted through the scattered rubble. But I powered through, eyes locked on the three creeps circling Uraraka. The fourth one was holding onto something invisible, Hagakure. She was struggling in his arms, a silhouette just barely outlined by dust in the air.

None of them saw me coming.

I didn't shout or anything like that.

My left hand expanded in size mid-swing as I brought it down hard on the first guy's skull. He dropped like the sack of garbage he was.

The others froze.

"What the fuck?!"

Too late. I was already moving.

I twisted low, catching the second one with a sweeping kick that knocked his legs out from under him. As he fell, I barreled forward and slammed my shoulder into his chest before he even hit the ground. A pained wheeze burst from his mouth.

The other two didn't back down.

One snarled, puffing his cheeks like a balloon. "You think you're untouchable? Take this, freak!" he yelled as he spat out a barrage of pebble-size projectiles from his mouth, rapid-fire like he thought he was firing an automatic rifle. 

Yet when they hit me, I couldn't feel a thing. They pelted my armored skin with all the force of crumpled paper.

I glanced down.

Just rocks.

"That's it?" I deadpanned.

The last thug's limbs twisted unnaturally, his arm stretching like rubber as he flung them toward me in wide arcs, and his fingers curled into claws.

I ducked one strike and caught the second, twisted his arms and yanked him in. "You're flexible, huh?" I muttered.

Then I punched him in the gut hard enough to fold him over my fist.

The rock-spitter turned and tried to bolt.

Not happening.

From my forearm, I extended a tentacle that had a metallic spike at the end of it. It slammed into the ground right beside his foot. He tripped, eating dirt as he slammed face-first into the ground.

Behind me, Uraraka pushed herself to her feet, still swaying. "H-Henshin?!"

"In the flesh," I replied, not taking my eyes off the downed villains. "Sorry I'm late."

She let out a breathless, relieved laugh and almost stumbled forward. "I thought we were done for. Seriously, I've never been so happy to see someone's back."

"Y-you got here just in time!" came Hagakure's voice from somewhere to the left.

Then something slammed into my chest.

Arms wrapped around me, tight and desperate.

I immediately felt.. skin.

Bare skin. 

Soft and warm.

And definitely two very distinct mounds pressing into my front.

"Oh my god, thank you!" She cried, clinging to me like her life depended on it. "I thought we were gonna die!"

I blinked once and gently patted her back reassuringly, but didn't say anything. Not that I was in a hurry to push her away.

Shit. 

I shouldn't have deliberately waited. Sure, they didn't get hurt physically, but that's not something they should've had to experience. 

They didn't know I hesitated. But I did. And for what? A single flashy moment and some dramatic timing? I got it. But it wasn't worth letting them feel this powerless.

"Glad to see you're both fine," I said, quieter. "Really, I should've been here sooner."

"Please don't let go just yet," Toru murmured, burying her face against my shoulder. "I know it's weird but—I really, really need this."

"It's fine," I replied, keeping my voice low. "That was a stressful experience."

Uraraka gave a shaky laugh. "We seriously owe you one, Henshin. That was badass."

I took a breath, finally stepping back—or trying to. Hagakure was still latching onto me like the world would fall apart if she let go.

"Come on," I said, gently shifting her. "We've got to move. We're regrouping with the others at the entrance. It's not safe out here alone."

Uraraka nodded. "Right. Let's go."

Hagakure finally loosened her grip. "Okay…"

They followed close as I led the way.

Uraraka's steps were still a bit unsteady, but she was keeping pace, her face slowly returning to color. "I know we're in danger and everything," she said with a sheepish smile, "but I seriously owe you a meal after this. Like... an expensive one."

Isn't she poor?

"I'm honored, I'll make sure to hold you to that."

She laughed, soft and a little sheepish. "Yeah, well... it felt like we weren't making it out of there for a second."

"It got bad," Hagakure said quietly, her voice closer to my side. "Real bad. If you hadn't shown up when you did..."

"You'd have managed," I said. "But I'm glad I was the one who got to."

Uraraka gave a small smile. "Still. I won't forget it."

"Hey," Hagakure spoke up again, this time with more curiosity than tension. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but… how did you even find us?"

"I was at the entrance with a few others when the villains warped in," I explained. "Shoji and Jiro figured out where everyone got sent. After that, we split up to reunite the entire class. Safety in numbers, you know?"

I raised my left arm slightly, and one of the smaller tentacles unfurled. At its tip, a blinking eye opened. 

"And I snagged Shoji's quirk for myself," I added with a small grin. "Not as good with it as he is, but I could keep an eye on everyone."

"No way!" Hagakure leaned in a little. "You mean like, literally had eyes everywhere?"

"Pretty much," I said, letting the tentacle curl back down. "They can see better than normal eyes, so I could track where people were and how bad things were getting."

Uraraka gave a low whistle. "Okay… that's kinda creepy, but also super useful. Maybe not as creepy anymore?"