My head keeps spinning... maybe it's because I've woken up sooner than Dr. Garaki had predicted... Satoru thought.
Suddenly, he and Shigaraki heard a voice. "Shigaraki!"
Oh, that's Endeavor... Mato thought. I can't even wake up, and the Number Two's already attacking me... I don't have my mask, but at this point, who cares about the identity?
"Hell's Curtain!" Endeavor exclaimed, burning the spot where Shigaraki and Mato were standing. "It's a curtain of incandescent flames! You can't escape it!"
Suddenly, Oro appeared in the sky. "SHIGARAKI! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BROTHER!?"
"Oro, don't be hasty!" Endeavor exclaimed, but Oro was already rushing towards Shigaraki.
I guess it's time to test my new power... Mato thought. "Tomura-nii, I'll handle Oro. You do what you have to."
Satoru jumped high and reached Oro, placing a hand on his face and dragging him away.
"Oro!" Endeavor exclaimed, but Oro and Mato were already gone.
__________
Oro landed on the floor with a thud. Dammit... who did that...
When Oro got up, he saw Satoru standing in front of him. Not knowing the situation, he smiled.
"Ototo! You're alive!" he exclaimed. "I don't know what I would have done if you had died today!"
Satoru's gaze was fixed on the floor.
"Now that you're here, let's go away!" Oro said. "You scared me, Ototo, but I'm glad to know you're ali-"
Satoru punched Oro in the face.
"W... what? Why?" Oro wondered. "What was this for?"
"How could you not notice?" Satoru muttered. "How could you, the Number One Hero, not realize your brother was a villain? You, of all people, should have suspected something, especially since we fought twice! You know, Aniki, I'm Mato, the villain you fought in the USJ and at Kamino."
Oro's blood froze in his veins. He is... a villain?
"They didn't kidnap me. That was just an excuse," Mato continued. "The truth is, for the past four months, I've been undergoing medical treatments and body modifications of my own accord to gain incredible power. You've been trained by All Might; you've surely heard of All For One. So, this is the power I've gained. But it's a shame, you know? The process wasn't completely complete yet, so I might have some trouble using all these Quirks!"
No. He's lying, thought Hikaru. Satoru can't be a villain. I saw it at the internship; he was happy to work with me, even before we discovered we were brothers. If he really is a villain, then why didn't he kill me while I was sleeping or while my guard was down? What does all this mean?
"I don't believe you," said Oro. "You're just kidding."
"I assure you, it's all true, Aniki," said Mato. "I could tell you more, but you know, I don't want you to be paralyzed by shock. I want to get my revenge on you, after all. I don't want an easy victory, so I'll make sure I defeat you while you can still move."
Oro clenched his fists. "If you really are a villain... then why did you enlist at U.A.? Why did you join my internship? Why did you help us to save Eri at the Shie Hassaikai?"
"Too many questions, Aniki," Mato wrapped his fist with darkness. "And the answer to all of them is: I was ordered to. You know, I liked you, Aniki. You are my older brother, after all."
Mato looked at the sky. "When you fought that Nomu in Kyushu, my body was frozen in fear! I really thought you were going to die, and I wouldn't have been happy about that!"
Satoru dashed forward. "Now I've had enough of talking, let's fight!"
Mato punched Oro in the guts. Oro doubled over and spat blood.
No, this can't be...
Oro tried to punch Mato, but he dodged. "I'm stronger now, Aniki!"
Mato delivered a jab to Oro's face.
I can't... I can't fight my own brother... I'm completely impotent in this situation...
"C'mon, try at least, Aniki!" Mato shouted. He tried to punch Oro again, but this time, the hero dodged.
He's been manipulated, I just know that... look at his face, look at his eyes... he's not the Satoru I know. Could it be... All For One's mind control?
"Fight me, Hikaru!" Mato dashed forward. Oro got up and punched him in the face.
"Ah! Finally, you're starting to fight back, huh?" Mato laughed, tanking the hit. "Since I said I want a fair fight, I'll only use my birth Quirk, 'Umbrakinesis.'"
"Ototo, pull yourself together! You're not a villain!" Oro exclaimed, clashing with Mato.
"Sorry, Aniki, but there's no turning back for me at this point!" Mato said. "What's done's done, you know!"
Mato delivered a powerful blow to Oro's stomach. "Maybe, if you had kept me with you when we were kids instead of running away alone, I wouldn't have become a villain."
Hikaru stumbled feet away. "I... I didn't abandon you... All For One stole you from my hands..."
"You and I are polar opposites..." Satoru walked towards Hikaru. "We both lost our parents, but while you were raised by All Might, I was raised by All For One and lived a shitty life! Sometimes, the destiny just makes choices in place of you, y'know?"
He's right, I can't blame him... Oro thought. "Ototo... I'm sorry, really."
"Oh, don't worry, Aniki..." Satoru laughed. "I want to make up for all the time we've lost, so let's play!"
Mato smashed Oro's face into the ground and then kicked his back, almost breaking it. Oro spat blood.
"C'mon, get up, Aniki!" Mato said. Oro got up and blocked Mato's kick miraculously.
"Satoru... please, stop that... I don't want to fight with you..."
"I want to fight with you, though," said Mato.
Oro jolted forward and got up.
"Oh, you finally decided to fight me seriously?" Mato asked.
"Yes," said Oro. "You're not my brother: he's been controlled by All For One. I'll beat you up for the third time, and then I'll save you, Aniki."
"Oh, what a kind thought..." Mato smiled. "So... WHADDYA SAY WE PLAY TOGETHER AS TWO BROTHERS SHOULD?"
"Yeah, I agree," Oro clenched his fists. "Let's play a bit, Ototo."
__________
Oro and Mato clashed forcefully. Oro was wounded from the fight against the Nomus, but Mato, on the other hand, didn't have the full control of his new powers yet.
"Light Smash: Detroit Model!" Oro punched Mato in the face.
"Nice one!" Mato laughed. "Now it's my turn! Dark Smash: Detroit Model!"
SBAM!
Mato punched Oro in the face.
I have... to save my brother... thought Oro, while clashing with Mato. I know he's not a villain... he can still be saved!
"What's on your mind, Aniki?" Mato asked while clashing.
"Nothing," said Oro. "I was just thinking about some ways to beat Shigaraki up for what he did to you."
"Oh, is that so?" Mato said. "For your information, it was All For One, the one who raised me and made me become what I am today!"
So... the story he told me was false... Hikaru thought. He didn't run away from All For One... he was raised by him and became his successor. While I was having a happy life with Toshinori-sensei, you were living the worst life a kid could desire... what a shitty brother I am for not noticing your pain...
"Light Smash: Texas Model!" Oro punched Mato again. The villain was sent flying a few feet away, but he stopped in mid-air.
"Oh, that's right..." he muttered. "In addition to All For One, I have the Quirks AFO gave me at Kamino... this means I still have Air Walk..."
Mato descended to the floor. "Let's keep going, Aniki."
The clash went on for another while. At this point, both Oro and Mato were damaged and bleeding.
I won't give up! thought Oro. I'll save you, Satoru... I swear I will!
"Dark Spreading, Full Body: 100%!"
"Light Spreading, Full Body: 100%!"
"Oh, we're both going all out, huh?" Mato said. "Well, just know that, unlike you, I can now regenerate, though I can't control my new power yet!"
"You won't need regeneration," said Oro, delivering a blow to Mato's face. "You'll need to pull yourself together."
Mato smiled. "Thanks for trying to bring me back, Aniki, but as I said, this is not possible anymore!"
Mato kicked Oro in the face. "I can't go back now!"
Oro flew away. I don't care... I'll save you anyway...
Mato appeared in front of Oro. "And now, witness my new technique!"
"Dark Continent: Evolved version!"
SBAM!
A lot of dust rose. When it settled, Mato was standing on his feet, and Oro was slumped on the floor, defeated.
"You could be a problem to Tomura-nii and the others, Hikaru," said Mato. Then, he clenched his fist and pierced through Oro's torso, breaking his ribs.
Oro's head lolled to the side, his eyes blank. Blood was descending from his forehead and the corner of his mouth.
Mato sighed. Then a thought went through his mind. What have I done?
Mato punched himself. "Shut up, my past self... you're just a memory now. I'm a new Mato, a new Satoru."
Mato turned, leaving Oro's body there. "I hope nobody finds you, so you can die alone like the dog you are."
Mato used his Search Quirk. Tomura-nii.... where is he? Found him.
Mato dashed forward and started to reach Shigaraki.
Now that I've gotten rid of the Number One once and for all, it'll be easier for Tomura-nii and me to win.
Suddenly, though, another thought invaded Satoru's mind. I killed my brother.
Chapter 63 - End