The path to the plaza was littered with bodies—some conscious, groaning in pain, others barely able to move. Ren raced past them, drenched head to toe, eyes locked forward like a wolf on the hunt.
Thunder cracked above, illuminating the sight he had dreaded—
Aizawa, beaten and bloodied, his goggles shattered and arms bent at unnatural angles, stood defiantly against a hulking creature covered in black muscle—the Nomu. Shigaraki stood nearby, his fingers twitching with irritation.
"Why won't he die already?" the villain hissed.
Ren didn't waste time.
He leapt from the upper level, water swirling around him in a tight spiral.
With a roar, he slammed down, sending a high-pressure wave of water bursting outward. It wasn't meant to damage—just distract.
"HEY, PATCHWORK!" Ren shouted at Shigaraki. "Looking for a final boss? Try me."
Shigaraki's head jerked up. "You."
Nomu turned slowly, its red eyes locking onto Ren.
Aizawa coughed and staggered backward. "R-Run… he's too—"
"I don't run," Ren said coldly, standing protectively in front of Aizawa. "Not when I have something to protect."
---
Flashback – The Day His Parents Died
Ren was ten.
He had come home from school, rain falling softly, to find the door torn off its hinges. Inside—blood. Cracked walls. Silence.
His mother's body was in the kitchen. His father's… torn in half in the hall.
Villains had raided their building. No heroes came in time.
He remembered sitting in the rain for hours, unmoving, empty.
That day, he swore: "I will never be too late again."
---
(Present time)
Ren's hands trembled, not with fear—but anticipation.
Nomu charged.
The creature's speed was monstrous—but so was Ren's reaction.
He pulled water from the storm, funneling it into a whip in one hand and a shield in the other. With perfect timing, he slid under Nomu's first punch, spun around, and wrapped the whip around its arm.
The water tensed—then froze, locking Nomu's limb mid-swing.
Nomu growled and ripped free, but it gave Ren the opening to grab Aizawa and roll them both behind a shattered column.
"Can you move?"
"Not really," Aizawa muttered.
"Then stay here and look cool while I flirt with death."
Aizawa gave the ghost of a smile. "You're insane."
"Hydro Core, sir," Ren winked. "Hero name pending."
Ren returned to the battlefield, this time armed with purpose. He focused, drawing not just the rain—but moisture from the air, the soil, and even his own sweat.
Water obeyed him now like a second skin.
Nomu attacked again—a rapid series of jabs that shattered the pavement. Ren dodged with liquid grace, using water jets under his feet to slide and pivot.
Then he did something risky.
As Nomu lunged, Ren pressed a hand to its chest—and activated absorption.
The connection lasted just two seconds—but it was enough.
A rush of energy flooded his core.
He staggered back, clutching his head as two new sensations burned through his veins—
Shock Absorption… and Regeneration.
The transfer wasn't perfect. The abilities were diluted, unstable—but they worked.
His body ached less. His muscles felt denser. The bruises from earlier faded faster.
Nomu looked stunned, as if sensing something stolen.
Ren grinned. "Yeah, I bite back."
Shigaraki snarled. "Nomu! Kill him already!"
The beast lunged again, but Ren had changed.
He met its punch head-on—his arm coated in spiraling, hardened water and reinforced muscle.
The clash shook the ground. Ren grunted but didn't fall.
He redirected the momentum and used it to flip over Nomu, slamming it in the back with a pressurized water cannon.
Nomu stumbled forward.
Shigaraki was done watching. He moved to attack—his decay quirk active.
Ren backed off instantly. "Uh-uh. No hand-holding today."
He created a wide mist veil, obscuring Shigaraki's view.
It wasn't much, but it bought him time to retreat again—this time grabbing a chunk of the broken floor and siphoning moisture from it.
He was getting better at this. Stronger.
"Where's All Might when you need him?" he muttered.
But deep down, a voice whispered: Why wait for him? Why not become enough on your own?
---
Back with the Girls
Momo was pacing.
"He's been gone too long," she said.
"I hate this," Jirou growled. "Just sitting and waiting."
Ibara, now fully conscious, whispered softly, "We must have faith."
Mina looked down. "He's always trying to be the hero… flirting, smiling, protecting… like it's a mask."
"It is," Momo said quietly. "He told me once—he flirts to hide the pain."
Ibara blinked. "Is that true?"
Jirou nodded. "And it's why I'm scared. People who hide pain are the ones who suffer the most when alone."
They all looked toward the central plaza.
And prayed.
---
Back at the Battle
Ren stood again, chest heaving. Nomu was still up—barely damaged.
It's like hitting rubber steel with water punches. I need more…
More pressure. More heat. More force.
He gathered his strength. Pulled water from every puddle, drop, and mist particle.
This time, he formed a drill around his arm—tightly rotating jets of compressed water spiraling at high speed.
He whispered, "I won't lose. Not again."
And charged.
Before any of you complain,girls has some kind of sixth sense . They can tell if they are favourite person or love one is in pain . They can tell easily if he is masking his pain. When that is true if the truly love you or like you. So please do not complain