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bokunoheroanalysisforthefuture · 4 years ago

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Looks like another full chapter with no breaks here. This chapter really does feel like it just breezes past because of all the action that happens in short order, but I mean, that’s what we all read shounen manga for.

Also, I just realized that the title might have two meanings - one being that this is All Might striking back against the villains, and the other that this is the villains’ plans to counter All Might being put into action. Huh.

[No. 18 - Heroes’ Counterattack]

God, so many of the kids are in tears from the relief of All Might being there. This really just hammers in the reminder that these are fifteen year old kids, fresh out of middle school, who have just had a collective near-death experience. Young heroes-to-be or not, this is traumatizing, to say the least. Good thing this is a shounen and mental health isn’t a worry!

[insert one hour of discussion derailment that somehow went from sports festival to nighteye to japanese vs english interpretations of canon. Yeah, we don’t know how we got there either.]

Anyways. All Might explains that he had a bad feeling, so he cut his talk with the principal short and came right away. He ran into Iida on his way there, who told him the gist of what was happening. He’s furious, and also worried about how scared the kids must have been. He then notes that his colleagues did their best - however, that’s exactly why he has to stand tall now and declare ‘Fear Not. I Am Here!’

This Is Fine.

During that explanation, All Might dramatically tears his tie from around his neck, looking seriously pissed off all the while. Also, Izuku notes that All Might’s not smiling, which, again, he’s down the stairs and across the plaza from the guy, how can he even tell? From the tone? Though that’s still the issue of how far All Might’s voice was projecting in order to be heard… or perhaps he’s just used to analyzing distance shots of All Might and so there’s subtle differences from smiling and not-smiling All Might from like a hundred meters away or something?

Oh, right, analysis! Shigaraki’s attention turns to All Might, stating that he’s been waiting, hero, before calling the man ‘worthless trash.’ The other villains are nervous as one of them says they’ve never seen him in person before, and are awe-struck by his presence. Another says no backing down now, you idiot, they’re there to kill him.

All Might tosses aside his suit jacket as he leaps from the top of the stair case. The villains have a moment to panic before All Might has blown past them all, knocking each and every one of them out with a blow a piece as he moves to check in on Aizawa. As the villains all collapse, All Might apologizes to Aizawa, picking him up carefully while noting the man’s poor state - most notably, his arms and face. He puts Aizawa over his shoulder as he turns to look at Shigaraki and the Nomu.

He is Not Happy.

Tsuyu, Mineta, Izuku, and Shigaraki have no time to react as All Might rushes around, grabbing the kids out of danger. In the process, Shigaraki’s face-hand falls off and to the ground. By the time the hand hits the ground (presumably), All Might has already dropped the kids off some distance away, along with Aizawa’s body.

He tells them to get to the entrance, and to bring Aizawa with them. The man’s unconscious, so they have to hurry. Mineta is shocked at how fast everything happened. Izuku, however, is more worried about All Might.

Shigaraki’s wobbling as he stumbles over to the hand on the ground, head hanging so his hair hides his face. His voice is a wobbly mess as well, saying it’s no good, and apologizing to the hand, which he calls Father. Which is Not At All Disconcerting.

Shigaraki sucks in a breath and centers himself as he returns the hand to his face, then gets back to mocking All Might. He comments on throwing punches to save people, then laughs and notes that that’s their state-sponsored violence. All Might’s fast - too fast to keep up with, but not as fast as expected. He wonders if it could really be true - that All Might is getting weaker?

Terrifying! :D

Izuku warns All Might that it’s no use, specifically with ‘that brain villain’. He almost mentions One For All, then corrects himself to just his general attack, then goes on to warn that said attack wasn’t strong enough to break his own arm, but the villain hadn’t even flinched. Up against that, he’s worried All Might will…

All Might interrupts him, turning to give Izuku a winning smile and a cool pose while telling him to fear not. He then turns back to the villains and dashes forward, arms crossed in front of him as he begins to call out a Carolina Smash. Shigaraki calls on the nomu, who immediately moves to take the blow without any apparent effect. The nomu stares All Might down for a moment before it goes it for its own lunging grapple, but All Might manages to drop underneath the attack.

It’s clear All Might’s already pushing his limits here - he’s quivering, and blood’s escaping between his teeth. Despite that, he gripes about his attack having no effect at all as he swings up into another punch to the gut, the nomu having no reaction besides turning its head to stare at him. All Might dodges another swipe and lands a blow to the nomu’s head. Shigaraki explains that there was no effect because it had shock absorption - if All Might really wants to damage it, he’d be better off slowly ripping him apart, piece by piece… not that it’ll give him the chance.

All Might dashes around behind the nomu and grapples it by the waist, thanking Shigaraki for the info. He says it’s no sweat to handle as he yoinks the nomu up and over himself in a suplex.

We briefly switch over to the flood zone trio, with Izuku carrying Aizawa on his back and Mineta holding up Aizawa’s feet. They’ve all paused briefly to watch the fight. Mineta asks the real questions, wondering how in the world a suplex made an explosion like that, then comments on how All Might’s in a whole different league. Tsuyu then replies that All Might’s still a newbie as a teacher, with those cheat sheets and all.

However, Izuku’s still uncertain. He thinks about how the villains might have a way to kill All Might, while they’re stuck there, helpless. Even worse, any of the students trying to help would only slow All Might down if the villains managed to take any of them hostage. He has no reason to speculate about the villains, he just has to trust in All Might!

(Meanwhile, at the top of the stairs, Sato is cheering over how the villains underestimated what All Might’s capable of. Ochako, on the other hand, has seen Izuku and the others, and more likely is aware of how bad a shape Aizawa seems to be in. She points them out, likely to try and get the others to help the flood zone trio up and out of there.)

...but…

Just, this whole page. I really love how using middle school izuku as a ‘center piece’ for the page both calls back to his memories of his first meeting with All Might and learning the secret of the man’s injury, AND sort of serves as a nod to how helpless and useless Izuku must be feeling in the moment while watching on. How afraid he is, in that moment. A lot of feelings that have to be similar to how he felt during the Sludge Villain incident.

And also, Izuku in general being really smart! He knew All Might had been on the news that morning, and he saw Thirteen’s subtle three fingers raised when she mentioned All Might wasn’t at the USJ yet, which must have meant All Might was already passed his limit for the day. And only Izuku knows about All Might’s injury, his personal fears, his secrets.

(Well, a few of them. As we’ll learn, the man has a LOT more hiding in the rafters.)

But yeah, his worry and growing fear/helplessness is contrasted even more by the rest of his classmates cheering All Might on. And not without reason - we go back to All Might as he see more blood dripping from between his teeth and… onto the head of the nomu? Or no, that’s the blood from the wound on All Might’s side dripping down, ALl Might’s head is still close to where the nomu is being warped through Kurogiri’s portal, with the other half of the nomu emerging from below All Might to latch its claws into his sides.

Shigsaraki notes that All Might had hoped to drive the nomu into the concrete and seal his movements, and then states that it wouldn’t have worked, because the nomu is as powerful as him. He then praises Kurogiri for the perfect timing. We get a glimpse over to Kurogiri, who is mostly shapeless as he maintains the portals. Then we get a closeup of the nomu clenching at All Might’s old injury and opening it up, drawing a pained noise from All Might.

All Might thinks about the unbelievable power of the nomu, having let go of the nomu’s waste in order to try and force the hand off of his weak point. All Might states out loud that it’s impressive for first-time offenders, but that they should prepare themselves.

Kurogiri comments that he doesn’t much like the idea of having blood and guts inside his warp gate, but if they’re All Might’s, he’ll happily oblige. He then clarifies that it was the nomu’s job to get around All Might’s blinding speed and hold him down, while it’s Kurogiri’s job to close the warp gate while he’s halfway through and immobilized - thus cutting him in two. While he explains this, the nomu is starting to right itself, dragging All Might into the warp gate through it. All Might is smiling, but there’s tension around his eyes that suggest he’s in a tight spot.

Izuku starts to say Tsuyu’s last name, then corrects himself to Tsuyu last second. She congratulates him on getting it right, then asks what he wants. He asks her to take Aizawa for him, which she agrees to, though she’s confused what he’s going to do. Before she can finish asking, though, he’s already moving, tears building in his eyes, right towards the fight. All the while, he’s thinking about how there’s still so many things that he needs All Might to teach him - that he can’t lose All Might here.

Kurogiri calls Izuku foolish, while All Might had a moment of panic over Izuku rushing forward, wanting to warn him away even as a portal opens right in front of him-

And Katsuki rolls right in like a hurricane, blasting Kurogiri out of the way with a feral grin. All while telling Izuku to get out of there. I don’t think that’s concern, more like he wants Izuku out of the way so he can claim glory for himself. But yeah, Katsuki’s got his gauntleted hand around Kurogiri’s neck brace as he shoves the villain to the ground, before using his non-gauntleted hand to hold said villain in place by the ‘throat’.

As if that weren’t enough, Ice suddenly climbs up the side of the nomu, further surprising All Might. Shouto states that he heard the villains were there to kill All Might. We then see Shigaraki surprised as he last-second dodges Kirishima’s attack. Kirishima is frustrated about his near-miss, Katsuki is mocking Kurogiri over not being all that great (and calling him a misty mook), and Shouto is calm as he states that scum like them could never kill the Symbol of Peace.

Izuku is shook as he realizes who else came to help, and we end with the four UA students facing off against Shigaraki.

The tides really have turned for this match…

Only three chapters left for this arc! And man has there been a few surprises along the way. I mean, we all know how this turns out, but there’s also a strange sense of anticipation when going back through it all in the manga.

Anyways, see y’all next time! Gonna see if I can get this arc done this week...

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iggy-dearest · 5 years ago

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His Mothers Day...

Trigger Warning: toxic thoughts

You got out of bed and stretched, if you were correct it was the tenth of May.

Mothers day.

Vergil had slipped out earlier this morning, probably with Dante. You felt like leaving them be for today. It would most likely pull some strings for them.

You sat in bed for half an hour just staring at the ceiling for no reason, and then decided to get up for the day.

Upon reaching the kitchen you decided on toast with egg whites for yourself, maybe you’ll have some tea as well. You should probably hurry to the office since Dante and Vergil won’t be there and Lady and Trish are elsewhere. You wonder if Nero’s going to call. Maybe you should call Kyrie, would she think that‘d be weird? Would she think it’d be rude if you didn’t call? Maybe you should call...

You check your cell phone, no calls or texts. A frown settles itself on your face.

Quickly shaking it off you lock the door to your shared apartment you quickly made your way to Devil May Cry. You don’t feel like being at home today.

~~~

Opening the heavy door to the building a stench makes its way to assault your nose. How in the name of hell could it stink this much I was just here yesterday, you wonder incredulously. Flipping the light switch on your eyes zero in on the bastard who assaulted your nose. Fucking pizza, you glare the open box with a look of steel.

Sighing deeply after hanging your bag on the rack you got years ago. You turn around and tie your hair with a stature that screams determination.

Time to get to work

~~~

Vergil hears his brother sigh deeply as he lays the roses down gently on the ground. He sympathizes..even though he’ll never say it.

Such a beautiful day, he believes..she would have loved it.

She would have loved you too.

Similar to how he does.

He stepped back therefore giving Dante the space to let his flowers rest.

Standing there in comfortable silence, one not often untense with the twins.

Both taking their time to gather themselves before heading back, having spent half the day with their mother already.

~~~

You smack your hands together to get the dirt off as you open door to the back. Finally getting rid of that awful stench in the trash, pulling out your phone you check your messages and calls.

None missed.

Letting your face droop a little you wonder, what if he forgot?

What if he just thinks I’m a horrible mother?

What if I am a horrible mother?

What if I’m a horrible mother and he thinks so too?

You set yourself down on the couch and let your own toxic thoughts consume you.

I am a horrible mother.

You decide.

After all you couldn’t stop him from growing up alone...

Nor could you stop him from fighting his father...

Or his uncle..

I’m so useless..

A useless mother...

~~~

Nero steps off of the fairy and stretches his limbs, a yawn grabs his attention. “I don’t get why you wanted to come” he tells his partner in crime, “didn’t you say that you had to pick up the cake by 3” she tells him. Wanting to avoid the real reason why she wanted to tag along. “Did you tell her we were comin’” she asks shaking off the lag of being stuck in one place for too long.

Why couldn’t they bring the van again?

“Why couldn’t we bring the van again” Nico asked, finally feeling limber. “Cause she would of recognized it and I don't know for sure if she’s at the shop or not. And no I didn’t call her, it’s supposed to be a surprise remember” he reasons with her. Nero you’re a fucking idiot, Nico deadpans inwardly “So you didn’t call your mom on Mother’s Day and you didn’t tell her we were coming. You don’t think she has any other plans” she says striking a pose as if to say ‘are-you-stupid-or-some-shit’. “Don’t gimme that look and Dante said that she didn’t have any plans” that he knew about, Nero also left out the fact that he had talked to Vergil for this. “You got the card right” Nico feels like she has to double check since Nero can be forgetful sometimes, kind of like you. “Got it” he confirms holding up a pretty pastel blue card picked out by him and Kyrie. Well mostly Kyrie. “Let’s get going we’re supposed to meet Dante” he says as he already starts walking ahead of Nico.

~~~

“Why are we at the library” Dante asks his brother. Vergil doesn't answer it was already embarrassing enough having to pick up a gift for you with Dante of all people.

He should’ve picked it up yesterday.

He takes a glance at the clock it’s already 2pm. His eyes narrow, he wants this to go by faster.

Its Mothers Day, the mother of his child should not be alone.

“Thank you for waiting” the overly enthusiastic cashier said to Vergil, who had remained impassive. He silently completed his purchase, usually he would just read it in some corner, not at all interacting with people as he preferred. Doing this was mildly out of his comfort zone, but you were worth it.

~~~

You let out a breath taking a look around, finally starting to look like the way I left it, you believe. After putting the mop and broom back in the small closet you went to check your phone, having little faith.

Nico (1 Message)

Your eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, why would Nico be texting you? Opening your cellphone regardless you checked her message.

Nico: Where r u right now?

Y/n: Dmc

Y/n: ???

You answered her, maybe she’s in town and needed something, you brushed it off and went to grab the book you had in your bag so you could sit your ass down and read. You’re almost done with it and there’s supposed to be a second book, maybe if you’re lucky you could get your hands on it.

~~~

Nico sped ahead of Nero so that she could get the door for him, mostly because she doesn’t want anything to happen to your cake. She stepped to the side when she heard her phone bing. Good you texted her back!

Nero looked at her with an annoyed look plastered on his face. “Nico” his tone of voice sounded so irritated, who can blame him he’s trying to balance a cake in his hands.

Children, he can do.

Swords, no problem.

Cakes, Huston we have a problem.

“Right, sorry. She said she’s at DMC” Nico relayed the message while opening the door for him. “Got it, take the phone out of my pocket and call Dante” call Dante cause it’s still too awkward to talk to Vergil. “Which one, you have like 30” she exaggerates, “Just” he moves his arms to while trying to keep the cake leveled “here take this” he says as Nico takes the cake. Reaching into his pocket for the cheap flip phone he presses numerous buttons to call his uncle “Yeah, she’s at dmc. No we’ll meet you there” Nico hates listening to half conversations, it’s always so confusing. “See you later” she said not wanting to intrude on his family time. “Yeah” Nero said preoccupied with the cake.

~~~

“You guys, got everything” Dante asks, they all met up at the end of the block to make sure you couldn’t see or hear them. “Yeah, s’in there” Nero motioned to the plastic bag in his uncles hand. “Booze, can’t be a party without booze” he explained. “Did you call her at all today” Dante asked while they made their way down the block and towards the office. “Why does everybody keep asking me that” Nero wondered aloud as they approached the steps.

~~~

You hear the door creek open and without looking up from your book you say just loud enough for whoever came in to hear “we’re closed”. “Hey sis”, well that’s not a customer, you look up and are immediately surprised with who entered. “Hi” you drawl out sounding just as confused as you felt “welcome back” you say still confused. “Close your eyes” Dante says,

???

“what” you ask, looking at your lover.

Who has come to stand behind you, “gotta surprise for you” Dante lets on. You’re still confused but you oblige anyway “no peeking” he says as you close your eyes and fee Vergil's hands come to cover them, just to make sure.

You heard the door open you started to open your eyes but then willed them to stay closed.

Nero set the cake down on the pool table and slowly but carefully took the cake out of its boxing. He silently made his way over to where Vergil had his hands over your eyes.

Vergil slowly lifted his hands off of your eyes so that you could see...your son.

First you saw the smiling face of your son and then you saw a cake?

“Happy Mothers day” they all said in unison. Your gaze softened..and your eyes glossed over. You didn’t realize it then but this is your first Mothers Day with all of them together.

“Mom are you crying?!?!”

“No!!!”

~~~

An hour later while Dante and Vergil play pool albeit a bit freakily since apparently Dante can’t count.

You and Nero sat on the couch watching them. You with a calm yet loving gaze to the men in front of you. “Mom” his voice softer than normal, maybe it’s the booze or maybe it’s the fact that this is his first Mothers Day with booth of his parents. “Yeah” you answer to taking your eyes off of Dante and Vergil.

“Happy Mothers Day” he says, voice as light as a feather, right after that you feel a weight on your shoulder.

A happy Mothers Day indeed.

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