? Benevolence ?

I teleport to his side immediately, but we're suddenly swept into Eraserhead's arms. He dashes with us out of the way and the rock comes crashing down.

Looking around the area, I notice-

"They split us up?! Why now...?" Midoryia voices my thoughts aloud.

I faintly hear the others talking through the walls but I can't make it out. A sudden yell rips through the caverns.

"Lock!! What happened?!"

"Eraser! Meraki! Move aside please!"

Midoriya kicks the wall down and we dash into the next room. Lock-Rock is kneeling by... Rock-Lock?

"An impostor appeared out of nowhere and attacked me! Keep your eyes peeled! There are new enemies! They're here somewhere!"

I eye him carefully, not fully trusting he's the real Lock-Rock. All my better judgement says it's not him. He approaches Midoriya with a smile. "Midoriya, you okay over there?"

The concern for my classmate is the final red flag. This man hasn't been nice to any of the interns the whole time...

I appear at Midoriya's side in seconds, popping us back a few feet right as 'Lock' rears back a knife. He turns back to his- her original form and my blood runs cold. The girl with the League...

"Toga Himiko?!" Midoriya seems to recognize her as well.

She grins, raw and feral. "That's me!! Toga!! You remembered?! I'm like so happy we could meet again!! So happy, Deku baby!!!"

Her gaze shifts to me. "Ooh!! You're the little extra we got when we snatched the angry boy!!! I didn't get to kill you... but now I have a second chance!!"

She moves to run at us before she's suddenly yanked back by Eraser's capture weapon. A snarl is fixed on the teacher's face. "This is the end for you, Toga Himiko!"

I gape as she manages to use his scarf to her advantage, flipping over him and stabbing his back.

"Sensei!!"
"Er-Eraser!"

He waves us off. "I'm all right! Don't come any closer!"

Toga vanishes out of nowhere, turning to smoke.

Ignoring all my fear and panic, I immediately rush over to Lock-Rock's prone body. Putting pressure on the wound with one hand, I fumble with my first aid kit with the other.

I vaguely hear Eraser order Midoriya to grab the knife. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the pro holding pressure on his wound. Content to see him doing that much, I turn back to Lock.

Managing to bandage his wound, I get the bleeding mostly under control. "H-his pulse is a little thr-"

I'm cut off as the walls shake dramatically. I hold onto the unconscious hero as a face suddenly appears in the wall. Midoriya leaps into action immediately, landing a powerful kick on it.

In the same moment, Eraser activates his quirk and a man falls from the wall. Midoriya manages to catch him at the last moment.

Appearing next to us, Nighteye speaks. "We've been used. Thanks to that, we're free from the labyrinth."

"It's great that it's over but as it stands, we've got no clue which way is which."

I find myself watching Eraserhead, concerned about his untreated injury. I notice he purposefully avoids my gaze.

We soon figure out that we have to wait until Irinaka recovers slightly to fix the hallways. Eraser voices his thoughts.

"It's probably due to the effects of the drug wearing off... Fatgum's judgement was correct. He can no longer wield that level of power."

Another voice speaks up. "But lest we forget, Toga and Twice... the League of Villains is surely still lurking around somewhere...!"

I fidget nervously, glancing around the room. I almost flinch when the man from the wall snarls. "Toga. Toga... Twice...! I WON'T FORGIVE THOSE BASTARDS! GODDAMN TRAITORS!!"

"Where are the other League members?"

"HELL IF I KNOW!! BUT I'LL FIND 'EM! AND WHEN I DO, I'LL CRACK THEIR SKULLS DAMMIT!"

"In other words... there are only two in vicinity."

The police begin arguing but I tune them out, instead watching over Rock Lock.

When he starts to wake up, I interrupt the conversation. "Er-Eraser..." I frown when he pushes himself up but I hold my tongue.

"What in the hell are you doing standing around and chatting...? Ignore 'em and press on! Just leave the League to the cops...! Have you forgotten our top priority?"

"I suppose that is the best course of action..."

I stand hesitantly, watching Rock Lock.

"Either way, someone has to stay behind and keep Irinaka restrained. Thanks to that little girlie, I won't be able to jump and prance around anytime soon. Catch my drift?! Then get those legs moving already!

We've come this far already, haven't we?! Just one last push! Think of what everyone went through to buy you time... Don't you dare waste it!!"

Taking a quiet breath, I join Eraser, Midoriya, and Nighteye. Before we head off, my classmate turns to Rock Lock.

"I'll save her and make it out of here no matter what!"

"Keh. 'No matter what'?! I'm gonna hold you to that, Deku!"

We race down the hallway and Midoriya leaps at the wall. It crumbles at the impact and reveals a large area. Mirio appears to be fighting Chisaki.

Midoriya and Eraser immediately join the battle. The second I enter the room, I spot Eri a little ways behind Mirio.

Eraser suddenly yells. "Meraki! Secure the girl!"

I pop to her side and tug off my cape. Dropping to my knees, I offer her a soft smile. "...hey there! I'm Meraki- I'm with the heroes. I'm gonna keep you safe, okay? Could I carry you?"

I wrap the cape around her shoulders and open my arms. She looks hesitant before stepping into my embrace and I cradle her to my chest protectively.

Standing, I turn to see Nighteye catching a very worn out Mirio before I address the girl in my arms. "I'm gonna use my quirk, alright? It might feel a little weird... I'm just gonna get us across the room really fast."

Once she nods, I pop us to the edge of the room and turn to watch the fight. They can do this... they have to.

---
I'm posting this extra early because my sleep schedule is wack so better sooner than later.

Thank you for reading!!!