AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ
All Might and the woman moved closer to the behemoth centaurs, their eyes scanning every detail – the intricate grain of the Nessus' wooden bodies, the way leaves and vines had woven themselves into armor. The Anomalies' dark blood still seeped from their wounds, pooling across the floor in thick, glossy streams that spread toward the pyramid walls. They tilted their heads back to look at the suspended creatures, but the beasts towered so high their full forms were lost in the shadowy upper reaches of the chamber.
Meanwhile, the crowd pouring in behind them was erupting with shock and excitement:
"Whaaaaaaaat the fuuuuuuuck is this…!"
"Shit – look at those creatures!"
"What in the world happened here?!"
"There's wood everywhere…!"
"Get the camera! This is a major scoop!"
"Faster! Take shots! Record everything!"
"This is gold – I'm going live right now!"
"Me too! Don't hog all the footage!"
"Look at those statues – serpent heads but no eyes…!"
"No way – check out the slice on that Anomaly's neck!"
"Who the hell pulled this off?!"
"Was it All Might?"
"Are you stupid? All Might's a power type – he can't do this!"
"Oh right… my bad…"
"Damn – look at her… those curves… fuck, I'm—"
"Watch your mouth! If she hears you, she'll crush your skull!"
"Someone grab this guy and throw him out – he's ruining this!"
"Yeah! Get rid of this pervert!"
"Hey chat! You won't believe what I'm seeing – a void crack opened up and this whole mess went down!"
"Hey no fair – I'm live too!"
"Back up! This place is dangerous!"
"Acid's all over the ground – watch your step, idiots!"
"Check if anyone's still trapped in here!"
"Spread out and search the area!"
While the crowd bustled about with cameras, shouts, and cleanup efforts, All Might and the woman continued their inspection, their focus never leaving the Anomalies.
Outside the wooden pyramid, Maki walked slowly back toward the condo he shared with Nemuri – he could already see its familiar shape in the distance. Most people were gathered near the pyramid or around the wooden cage where the civilians had been kept, leaving the rest of the street empty and quiet.
He felt a quiet satisfaction at the silence. Earlier, all he'd been able to think was how the people's noise had clashed with the Anomalies' screams – like they were competing in some kind of shouting contest. All Might had said he'd saved lives… but Maki still couldn't quite wrap his head around that. To him, he'd just been clearing away the noise.
As he approached the condo building, his eyes lingered on it. He'd be leaving soon, and he found himself taking in every detail. This place had been where everything started – the day he met Nemuri, the day he'd finally had somewhere to call his own. He'd isolated himself here, and it had felt like his own little boat in the middle of a vast, noisy world – his forest on dry land.
Memories flickered through his mind as he walked. This condo had been his container, his box – and he'd never once complained. But fishermen couldn't stay in the same spot forever. They needed new boats, new waters, new catches…
He sighed quietly to himself. What am I doing with this life again? He'd thought he'd found his purpose, but doubt still crept in at the edges of his mind.
He shrugged it off quickly – he wasn't one to dwell on complicated things. He liked life simple, plain and straightforward. Then a tune popped into his head – a song he couldn't quite remember the words to. It was just like him to get distracted like this; Nemuri always called him a "fish head" for letting his mind wander so easily.
"Hmmm…There....were..hmmm..hmmm....remember... hmmmm… hmmm...cheers...for...hmmm…"
He hummed as he made his way into the basement parking garage, heading for the elevator. He pressed the button for their floor, and the lift rose slowly through the building. When the doors opened, he stepped out and walked down the hall to their door, letting himself inside.
Same place. Same quiet atmosphere. Same familiar feeling.
He removes his dirty shoes and set them on the rack, then padded across the cool floor to the kitchen. He washed his hands carefully, already planning the meal he'd make with the new cooking ability he'd just gained – all the while humming that same half-remembered tune, as if the chaos of the day had never happened at all.
Back on 23rd Street, the damage was clear to see. Cracks spiderwebbed across the asphalt, debris littered every corner, and cars, buildings, and trees lay broken in the aftermath. The wooden pyramid still stood tall, dominating the street like some ancient monument. More Phylax were arriving – the official name for those with Authorities to handle such crises, though people still preferred simpler terms like "hero" or "savior."
Cleanup crews worked to clear away the wood, but it was no easy task – some pieces were so sturdy they wouldn't break even under there powers and even with heavy tools, a testament to the power that had created them. They were truly late to the fight – just like in every story. But the battle was already over, and all that was left was to pick up the pieces, and do some cleaning..
AM N. NOT!!ヽ(ﾟдﾟヽ)(ﾉﾟдﾟ)ﾉ!!