? Benevolence ?

I find myself with the rest of the team, outside the location. It's officially time to save Eri. When I start to fidget, Eraserhead gives me a knowing look and I take a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. I brush my nerves aside, focusing on the plan instead.

In no time, we burst inside the base with the warrant. Though we immediately run into trouble with people at the door. I stick close to Eraser's side, feeling slightly nervous.

"I wonder if they got information leaked to them somehow... it feels like they're more coordinated than should be." Amajiki murmurs anxiously.

Someone responds, but I don't recognize them- so I assume they're a police officer. "If that's the case, wouldn't they be trying something a little smarter? They're probably just doing as they've always been told to."

To my left, Eraserhead speaks up. "By joining the family, you pledge loyalty to those at the top. The manner in which they value that solidarity appears to be the same now as it was long ago.

All this fuss... and yet we've yet to see Chisaki or any of the higher ups. I'll bet they're hiding underground and preparing a means of escape."

I flinch as Kirishima snaps angrily out of nowhere. "The hell kind of 'loyalty' is that?! Having your followers take responsibility for you while you try and run away, that ain't manly at all!"

"I d-don't think they care all that much to be manly, Kiri..." I mumble, glancing around at all the people in the room. They just want to follow orders.

We continue through the building and follow Nighteye down a hallway. He pauses in front of an alcove for a moment, tapping a few panels of wood, before opening a secret door.

The second it opens, a small group of men rush out, yelling aggressively.

"You bastards!!"

Nighteye's sidekicks take them out fairly quickly and the rest of us continue down the staircase that was hidden. We stop suddenly as we come upon a dead-end. Of course this won't be easy...

I watch as Mirio announces he's going to go ahead to check it out, phasing through the wall. Kirishima yells something at him but I tune them out for the moment, fidgeting with my recall lenses instead.

When the older blond returns, he gestures behind him. "There's just a wall blocking the way! It's a really thick one though."

"With Chisaki's ability to disintegrate and reassemble things, he could do something like this, huh?"

Midoriya shakes his head. "If anything, that seems like a sign of desperation to me." He shares a look with Kirishima and they both nod determinedly.

"They're naive if they think this is enough to stop us!!"

The two rush at the wall, tearing it down with crushing force. Dust and debris envelope the area and I remember to keep in mind just how strong they really are.

"Let's go!"

As we take off down the hall, it moves suddenly- changing. The walls crumble dangerously under the stress, the floor cracking wildly. I feel a shocked panic thrum in my chest at the sight. It twists and turns unnaturally, almost snake like.

"It's not Chisaki's doing... this is someone else! If I had to guess, it's the general manager, Irinaka! But the scale of this is way too big! The stuff that he can enter and control are at most the size of a refrigerator..."

Another hero, Fatgum, shakes his head. "But if his quirk as been majorly boosted... its not an impossibility. The quirk that allows him to enter something and freely control it as if it's his own body...'mimicry!'

He's entered into the concrete that makes up the passage- turning it into a 'living labyrinth'... to think he turned into 'the underground'... something like this would normally take a huge toll on the body. Eraser, can you erase it?!"

"If I can't see the actual body, then I can't-" He's interrupted by Amajiki's nervous exclamation.

"If he's able to alter the path however he wants, then there's no way we can reach our objectives... and in this time, the rest of them can prepare whatever ways they need to escape. We need to respond swiftly... but there's no way... it's too late... too late to rescue the girl and too late for us!!"

"TAMAKI!" Mirio snatches his friend's attention. "It won't turn out that way! Don't forget! You are Suneater! Also!! This is just a stopgap measure! No matter how he manipulates the path, trying to stop us from reaching our objective...

I can still get there!!

They understand very well that this is a battle of speed. This is another measure to buy time! I'm going to go ahead!!"

We watch as he disappears through the wall. The next moment, the floor opens up beneath us. A surge of panic hits me as I free fall but I shove it away viciously, reining in my emotions. I land in a trained crouch, similar to Eraser and glance over to him as he begins to speak.

"The distance is just about one floor... not far enough to try and make us fall to our deaths..."

A look around the area reveals a door and out come three new villains. I feel myself stand up straighter, trying to appear stronger than I feel. Chest out, shoulders back, chin up.

I take a deep breath.

"What a curious development." One of the figures drone teasingly. I take a small step forward, ready to teleport anyone if need be.

"It looks like they want an all out fight...! It seems like it's about time for us pros to show our true strength!" Fatgum smashes his fists together.

Amajiki throws an arm out abruptly, a determined look adorning his features. "Focus that strength on accomplishing our objective...! As for this attempt for them to buy more time... I can handle it alone."

The usual timid teen now stands courageously, the visual definition of bravery. Taking in the sight of the three villains standing before him, I have no doubts about it. He can do this.

---
Thanks for reading!!!!