Chapter 62 : Aftermath, a Speech, and the Heavy Journey Home

Rock-san's cold, official voice over the communicator felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over my smoldering victory. The adrenaline that had been pumping through me instantly receded, replaced by the chilling reality of my situation. I had disobeyed a direct order. In front of pro hero witnesses. I was in deep trouble.

The newly arrived pro heroes quickly took control of the situation. Some began to bind the unconscious Stain with Quirk-suppressing cuffs, while others checked on the condition of us battered students.

"What were you thinking?!" one of the heroes I didn't recognize barked, his face filled with anger. "Engaging in unauthorized combat! Against the Hero Killer! You could have been killed! Do you know how many laws you just broke?"

I remained silent, taking the scolding. I deserved it. But before I could answer, Todoroki stepped forward, though his body was trembling with exhaustion.

"If it weren't for him," Todoroki said coldly, gesturing toward me with his chin, "we would all be dead. Iida would be dead. Midoriya would be dead. I would probably be dead, too. He saved our lives."

Midoriya, who was being helped to a sitting position by another hero, nodded vigorously. "He's right! He came at the most critical moment! He fought like a true hero!"

Then, the most surprising voice came from Iida. He struggled to get up, refusing help from the paramedics, and bowed deeply before me. "I... I am sorry," he said, his voice hoarse with profound shame. "I was blinded by hatred. I dragged everyone into danger because of my selfishness. You... all of you... and especially you, Tatsumi-kun... you saved me from myself. Thank you."

The pro heroes seemed baffled by our unified defense. Rock-san, Ryukyu's sidekick, approached me. His stone-like face showed no emotion. "I've reported the situation," he said in his heavy voice. "Ryukyu-sama will give the order."

A tense silence fell over us as we waited for the verdict from across the city. I braced myself for the worst. An order to incapacitate me and bring me back by force. Finally, Ryukyu's calm, controlled voice came through Rock-san's communicator.

"Secure the Hero Killer. Get all students immediate medical attention. And, Rock-san..." There was a brief pause. "Bring Tatsumi-kun back to the pickup point. I will deal with him personally."

I let out a breath of relief, though only a small one. It wasn't forgiveness, but it wasn't an immediate sentence either. It was a stay of execution. I knew the most difficult conversation of my life awaited me when I returned.

As the heroes began to haul away Stain's unconscious body, a horrifying shriek split the night air. From the dark sky, a monstrous winged creature—a different Nomu, with long claws and a reptilian face—dived down with lightning speed.

"Look out!" someone yelled.

The creature didn't target the pro heroes. Its sharp talons snatched the most unexpected and vulnerable target: Izuku Midoriya. Before anyone could react, the Nomu had grabbed Midoriya and was shooting back into the air.

"Midoriya!" I screamed.

Chaos erupted again. The pro heroes who could fly or had ranged attacks tried to give chase, but the Nomu was too fast. Suddenly, in the midst of it all, something happened that was in none of my memories or predictions.

Stain's body, which was being tied down, jolted. His eyes snapped open, and they were no longer crazed. They burned with a white light so pure and intense it was terrifying. With an impossible movement, he broke his bonds. He saw a drop of blood from the winged Nomu that had fallen to the ground as it grabbed Midoriya. With a speed that surpassed even what he had shown before, he shot forward, licking the droplet of blood.

In the air, the winged Nomu instantly froze, completely paralyzed.

Stain didn't stop. He threw one of his serrated knives with inhuman precision. The knife spun through the air and embedded itself right in the Nomu's exposed brain. The creature didn't even have time to scream as it died instantly, falling from the sky. Midoriya, freed from its grasp, began to fall freely.

"I got him!" Todoroki yelled, quickly creating a giant ice slide to catch Midoriya safely.

Everyone, including me, could only stare in shock. Stain had just saved Midoriya. He had just acted... like a hero.

He landed lightly on the Nomu's corpse, blood pouring from his own wounds. He stood tall, and his overwhelming presence silenced everyone—even Endeavor, who had just arrived on the scene wreathed in flames.

"You are all fakes," Stain hissed, his voice now clear and echoing throughout the area, filled with a fanatical conviction. "This society is filled with phony heroes. Villains playing the part of heroes. People only seeking money and fame."

He raised his blood-stained sword and pointed it at all of us. "The word 'hero'... has lost its meaning. I... I will cleanse this world. I will destroy the false heroes. I will create a more just world!"

His breathing became heavy, and he coughed up blood. One of his broken ribs had clearly punctured a lung.

"The only one allowed to kill me..." he roared, glaring at Endeavor with pure hatred. "...is a true hero! The only one worthy of the name! ALL MIGHT!"

With that final, thunderous declaration, the power in his eyes dimmed. His body swayed, and he fell unconscious on top of the monster he had just slain. The Hero Killer was defeated, but his ideology, like a poison, had just been broadcast to the world.

On a distant rooftop, Akame watched the entire scene with a cold composure. She saw Tatsumi's intervention. She saw his skilled yet controlled fight. She saw him work with his friends. She saw him win. Then, she saw Stain's final speech.

A conflict arose within her. Stain's ideology—cleansing a corrupt society of its false heroes—was very similar to Night Raid's goal. But his methods were sloppy, and he was blinded by his own fanaticism. He was a distorted reflection of what could happen to someone like her if she lost control.

And then there was Tatsumi. He had the power to kill with ease, the power of a dragon. But he chose not to. He fought to protect, to incapacitate, to uphold the naive 'heroic' idealism of this world. She saw Midoriya's sacrifice, Todoroki's teamwork, and Tatsumi's tactical leadership. 'He's different,' Akame thought. 'The Tatsumi I knew was a kind warrior, but he eventually learned to kill for a greater cause. This boy... he fights not to kill, despite having the power to do so. He's trying to forge his own path.' Her truce with Tatsumi had been a test. And tonight, Tatsumi had passed. She decided. She would continue to observe. She would help from the shadows. She wanted to see what kind of world this new Tatsumi would try to create. With that decision made, she melted into the darkness, disappearing without a trace.

After the chaos subsided, the police finally took complete control. Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki were taken to Hosu General Hospital for treatment. I, on the other hand, was ordered to follow Rock-san.

"You're lucky, kid," he said in his heavy voice as we walked to the pickup point. "Very lucky."

The train ride back was an eternity. I was alone with my thoughts, the echo of Stain's words and the images of the fight swirling in my head. I had done the right thing by saving my friends. But I had also broken all the rules and put myself in a very dangerous position.

When I arrived back at the agency, the building was cold and silent. Rock-san escorted me directly to Ryukyu's office without saying another word. He opened the door for me, then closed it behind me, leaving me alone to face the dragon.

Ryukyu wasn't sitting behind her desk. She was standing by the large glass window, her back to me, looking out at the glittering city lights in the distance. The silence in the room was heavy, laden with disappointment and restrained anger. I just stood there, waiting for my sentence.

After a silence that felt like years, she finally spoke, her voice so quiet and cold it made me shiver. She didn't turn to look at me.

"Sit."

The single command hung in the air, a promise of the storm to come.