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Roppongi was in chaos.
Neon billboards flickered, casting restless light over panicked civilians scrambling for cover. The eerie, mechanical whirr of a film reel echoed through the district—the telltale sign of Dread Recall in action.
The villain Phantom Reel stood atop a toppled traffic light, his long coat billowing as he surveyed his latest masterpiece. Around him, victims collapsed, trapped in their worst memories, their traumas laid bare for all to see.
On the sidewalk, a businessman hugged his knees as a reel above his head replayed his boss's furious shouting. Papers were hurled at him like blows, scattering around him as he flinched. Nearby, a young woman clutched her head, frozen as her lover's betrayal unfolded in brutal clarity.
Their nightmares were his theater, and the city was his audience.
And now, the grand finale was here.
BOOM!
Shockwaves rattled the streets as two figures landed.
Pro Heroes Deku and Dynamight.
Phantom Reel's lips curled into a grin beneath his mask. "Ah, finally! ✧My leading stars~!✩" He spread his arms. "You're late. I was starting to think you'd rather let Roppongi drown in its own misery."
Bakugo scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. You wanna monologue, or are we kicking your ass now?"
Midoriya steadied his stance, eyes sharp as he took in the scene. "Enough of this, Phantom Reel. Let them go."
The villain's grin widened. "Let's see what you heroes are made of."
With a snap of his fingers, the films projecting the civilians' traumas retracted, flowing back to him. They twisted and reshaped into two massive, serpentine ribbons—still flickering with fragments of memories.
They lunged at the heroes, but they dodged with ease.
"Come on, now!" Phantom Reel called mockingly. "Don't be shy! Let's all take a trip down memory lane, shall we? ♡"
Bakugo blasted the films apart, the flames eating through them. Finding an opening, he launched himself straight at Phantom Reel.
"You're DONE, you creep!" he snarled
But Phantom Reel merely chuckled. "I wonder what makes the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight tick⭑.ᐟ"
At the last second, just as Bakugo closed in, Phantom Reel snapped his fingers. A strip of translucent film snaked through the air, flickering like jump-cut frames—
—And struck Bakugo's temple.
The effect was immediate.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya's fists clenched as his eyes went wide with alarm.
From behind cover, civilians sucked in fearful breaths, expecting the worst.
Trauma. Fear. Insecurity. That was what Dread Recall revealed.
A flickering image crackled to life in midair. At first, it was an indecipherable blur; then the static faded, sharpening into clarity.
It was a river.
A beautiful, sunny day.
Everyone, including Phantom Reel, stared at it in confusion.
"…Huh?"
The scene continued. A child with green curls and freckles ran into frame, his expression full of concern.
"Hey, isn't that..." One of the onlookers glanced between the projection and Midoriya.
"Shh," someone hushed, curious to see more.
Midoriya stiffened. He recognized himself, of course. But... when did this happen?
Onscreen, his younger self stepped forward, hand outstretched. "Are you alright?"
The film flickered, colors bleeding red. The static warped into jagged streaks as a small fist slapped the offered hand away.
"Shut up! I don't need your help, Deku!"
The screen faded to black. The film dissolved into nothingness.
With that, Bakugo snapped free from Dread Recall's grip.
Phantom Reel barely had time to process before Bakugo resumed his attack.
"W-wait—!" the villain stammered, hands flying up in a feeble attempt to defend himself.
"DIE!!"
Bakugo unleashed a massive explosion that sent both him and Phantom Reel tumbling to the ground. The impact rippled through the street, leaving scorch marks and fractured concrete.
When the dust settled, Phantom Reel lay unconscious, his mask askew and his body limp. A few feet away, Bakugo sprawled out on his back—whether from impact or sheer mortification, it wasn't clear.
Midoriya approached him slowly, his footsteps soft against the cracked pavement. He stopped beside Bakugo, his expression a mix of amusement and concern.
"Really, Kacchan?" His voice was quiet but teasing. "You died during the war, you know? Maybe that's what would've played if I got hit." He smiled wryly.
Bakugo groaned, draping an arm over his face. "Shut it."
Midoriya chuckled. Then, without a word, he crouched down and held out his hand.
Bakugo stared at it, then up at Midoriya's face.
No words were needed. With a grunt, he reached out and took it.
Midoriya pulled him to his feet, their hands lingering just a moment longer than necessary. The noises of the city felt muffled, distant.
Bakugo said nothing—not immediately. But in the way he exhaled, in the way his shoulders eased, there was something like relief.
With a scoff, he muttered, "Tch. Still so damn persistent."
Midoriya huffed a laugh. "Always."
Bakugo dusted off his costume, his ears reddening as he shook off the dirt and whatever lingering embarrassment remained.
"C'mon, nerd. Let's wrap this up before the reporters show up."