Use the related link post to read don't go so soon on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/86801873
by Withstarryeyes
He counts down in his head, waiting out Shigaraki’s movements. Shigaraki inches nearer, two fingers on Asui’s face, then three. Shouta holds his breath, readying his quirk. At the fourth finger he lets it activate, pleading with his body to not blink, to never blink.
But then there’s a blur of green and a splash, and Midoriya is where Asui once was. It throws his timing off. Shouta blinks, opening his eyes just in time to see the fifth finger land around Midoriya’s throat.
Time slows down, as if to mock him. Shouta can’t make out Midoriya’s pained cry, can’t hear Asui’s uncharacteristic curse through the pounding of his blood in his ears. The only thing he can do, with the last beats of his consciousness, is watch in slow motion as the skin and muscle unravel from Midoriya’s throat. Glassiness blooms in Midoriya’s eyes as his body falls into the water, limp. Shouta’s heart leaps and sticks in his throat. Overcome with the knowledge that even in his last moments, his sacrifice wasn’t enough to save Midoriya, Shouta shuts his eyes.
Or...Izuku's feet move on his own at the USJ and he takes Shigaraki's quirk for Tsu. His death is and is not what it seems.
Words: 12190, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Series: Part 6 of In the Ring With a Chair (Fic Fight 2026)
Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: Gen, M/M
Characters: Midoriya Izuku, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Asui Tsuyu, Mineta Minoru, Kayama Nemuri | Midnight, Tsukauchi Naomasa, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Nedzu (My Hero Academia), Inui Ryou | Hound Dog, Bakugou Katsuki, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Class 1-A (My Hero Academia), U.A. Faculty (My Hero Academia), Kirishima Eijirou, Ojiro Mashirao, Midoriya Inko
Relationships: Midoriya Izuku & Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Midoriya Izuku, Kayama Nemuri | Midnight & Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku & Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Asui Tsuyu & Midoriya Izuku, Class 1-A & Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki & Kirishima Eijirou, Tsukauchi Naomasa & Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Kayama Nemuri | Midnight & Tsukauchi Naomasa, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Tsukauchi Naomasa, Tsukauchi Naomasa & Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Nedzu & U.A. Faculty (My Hero Academia), Midoriya Inko & Midoriya Izuku, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic
Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, Midoriya Izuku Has a Quirk, Midoriya Izuku Has a Death Quirk, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, USJ incident, Blood and Injury, Hurt Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Hurt Midoriya Izuku, Hurt Asui Tsuyu, Hurt Ojiro Mashirao, Hospitalization, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Parental Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Parental Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead | Dadzawa, Parental Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Parental Kayama Nemuri | Midnight, Midoriya Izuku Needs Therapy, Midoriya Izuku is a Mess, Midoriya Izuku is Bad at Feelings, Midoriya Izuku Needs A Hug, Married Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead is a Good Teacher, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead is a Good Hero, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic is a Good Hero, Yagi Toshinori | All Might is Bad at Feelings, Soft Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Soft Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Soft Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Soft Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Soft Kayama Nemuri | Midnight, Tsukauchi Naomasa is a Good Friend, Tsukauchi Naomasa Needs a Break, Non-Linear Narrative, POV Multiple, POV Third Person Limited, Reckless Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki is Bad at Feelings, Bakugou Katsuki Swears A Lot, Good Parent Midoriya Inko, Canon-Typical Violence, Discord: No Writing Academia Fic Fight 2026 (My Hero Academia)
Use the related link post to read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/86801873
