torn, his body bruised and bloodied, and his eyes were bloodshot from the strain. He was seen clapping his arm in pain it seemed to have popped out yet he was still standing.

Kanzaki, trapped under piles of rubble, struggled to free himself. His face, once confident and smug, was now filled with shock and fear. "W-What...?" His voice faltered.

Shousuke's breathing was labored, his legs barely able to hold him up, but he didn't stop. He stood tall, unwavering, facing Kanzaki with a cold, determined stare. Blood dripped down his face, but his Byakugan still glowed faintly. He wasn't finished.

Kanzaki's fear grew. "No... no, this can't—"

Before he could finish, Shoto appeared from behind, flames flickering in his hands. "It's over," Shoto said, his voice steady and cold. With a swift motion, he encased Kanzaki in a massive pillar of ice, leaving only his hands free.

Kanzaki struggled, trying to use his quirk to pull the ice away, but it was too late. The ice was too thick, too strong. His hands trembled as panic set in. "You think this will stop me?!" he yelled, though his voice wavered.

But Shousuke wasn't done yet. Summoning the last of his strength, he lifted into the air, psychokinesis flaring one final time. His vision blurred, his head screaming in pain, but he pushed through. He raised the remaining rubble—entire buildings, shattered glass, and broken concrete—and sent it flying toward Kanzaki, encasing him in a tomb of destruction, leaving only his hands exposed.

Kanzaki's eyes widened in terror. He was trapped, bound by ice and debris. His hands were still free, but he had no strength left to fight.

Shousuke, barely conscious now, floated toward Shoto, lifting him into the air with the last remnants of his power. His vision darkened as he set Shoto beside Kanzaki.

Shoto didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he snapped the handcuffs onto Kanzaki's wrists. "You're finished."

Kanzaki slumped in defeat, his body trapped, his hands bound. The battle was over.

AS THE SUN DIPPED BELOW THE HERIZON casting long shadows across the city. The day had been grueling, and the evening air carried a chill that seemed to seep into Shoto and Shousuke's bones.

Shousuke, despite his broken bones and concussion, managed to support Shoto, who limped along with a broken leg. They hobbled down the street, their movements slow and labored.

As they walked, they occasionally had to dodge enthusiastic fan girls who spotted Shoto. They swarmed them with questions and requests for autographs, causing both boys to groan in frustration. Shousuke, despite his condition, remained vigilant, pulling Shoto away from the crowd whenever they got too close.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Shoto grunted, his face flushed with both pain and embarrassment.

Shousuke nodded, helping Shoto navigate through the throng of adoring fans. His own discomfort was secondary to the mission of getting them both home. They continued their journey, weaving through the bustling streets.

━━━━━━━━━━

As they rounded a corner, Shousuke suddenly stopped. His eyes widened at the sight of a familiar face—an old classmate who had a reputation for being overly flattering. The girl, with her hair neatly styled and a hopeful expression, approached Shousuke with a bright, insistent smile.

"Shousuke! Fancy meeting you here!" she said, her tone sugary sweet. "I've been thinking about you. Maybe we could—"

Shousuke didn't even look at her. He simply turned away, ignoring her attempts to engage him. He was still focused on helping Shoto, but her presence clearly bothered him.

Shoto, standing beside Shousuke, noticed the interaction. A pang of jealousy twisted in his chest, though he couldn't quite place why. It was an uncomfortable feeling he wasn't used to, and it gnawed at him as he watched the girl's disappointed expression. Shousuke's indifferent stance only fueled the jealousy that bubbled within him.

Before he could process his emotions, Shousuke grabbed Shoto's arm and tugged him away. "Come on," he signaled, his face showing an urgency that Shoto recognized immediately.

━━━━━━━━━━

When they finally reached Komi East, the familiar surroundings of their neighborhood offered no comfort. A disturbing, acrid smell filled the air, and Shousuke's eyes were drawn to the plume of smoke rising in the distance. Without a word, he started limping toward the source of the smoke, pulling Shoto along.

As they approached, the sight that greeted them was one of devastation. Shousuke's house was engulfed in flames.

Neighbors were gathered around, desperately trying to douse the flames with buckets of water, but their efforts were futile. The flames roared defiantly, consuming the structure with an almost malicious hunger.

"...Mum...?"

chapters word count: 3529