He was hurting all over by now, and part of him really had to wonder if this was it. If this was how he was going to die, getting kicked and beaten to death by some deranged villain with a weird quirk. He would die young, without accomplishing much of what he wanted in life. He would be leaving the birds behind too, how would the gang react to his death? The saddest part was he wouldn't be there to see them, to say goodbye one last time. ''..Don't like what I'm saying?'' Damn, even hurting talked now. He hadn't been beat up this badly in a while. ''Maybe you should try hitting me harder..''

Someone with less pride than him would have turned and ran already, or given up completely, but that wasn't who Guts was. He was proud to an absolutely stupid degree and he was going to stand defiant against this villain until she either killed him, knocked him out cold or got tired of whaling on him. The fact that she was approaching him slowly still, was somehow more frightening, the pause between every hit he took leaving him anticipating more pain. It was unbearable. ''No way.'' He grinned, ''I'm one of the weakest members.'' He admitted proudly.

''I-I'm doing neither of those things!'' She was finally starting to get to him, insulting his home, his people. She was hella right that he didn't know shit, but Eiji already knew he wasn't the sharpest spoon in the drawer. ''I'm fighting this fight-'' he flinched for a split second as a bout of pain pierced his body. ''-my own way! If you don't like our duel, then I suggest you finish it or admit defeat! If I die fighting, then so be it!''

Jackie Maradona

Eiji got multiple questions thrown his way by his fellow birds. Was this a good idea? Who was this man? Could he be trusted. Eiji handwaved all of it. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he knew how to spot someone with bad intentions when he saw them. If Dante was an ill-intentioned person, then why would he have given up his own element of surprise to shred it like an absolute God in the middle of their home? It was highly likely he wasn't a villain and even if he was, Eiji had front row seats and was ready to throw hands at a moment's notice to protect his people.

Did they have any requests?

The others were still too shy to speak, just like that time Eiji dragged an unconscious Freja through the park and helped nurse her back to health. They warmed up to her, so he had all the confidence they would warm up to someone as eccentric as Dante too. Eiji just grinned. ''Dante, my man I don't know shit about music.'' He proclaimed confidently, not that he was proud of it, but he knew he was an absolute amateur speaking to an expert in their field. ''Got anything that can set our souls aflame and light up the night?'' He punched the air with his prosthetic arm and used his quirk for a second, sending flames flying through it, almost like a little, much less effective flare. ''Like this?'' He smiled, eager to see what the minstrel did next.

Dante

Just as he thought his triumphant attack would work, there it was again, that force stopping him, like he was physically incapable of reaching the villain. ''What is that?!'' He called out, grimacing at the odd creature as he still struggled and failed to control his own arm. ''Some kinda trick? Is this how you fight?!'' He sneered, struggling until he was almost out of breath. What happened next would've had him stumble and lose his foothold, had he not been held hostage by this mysterious power. ''What the hell? The thing talks? Which one is the quirk, you or the villain?!'' He grumbled, he made no effort to hide it and yet he was still angry his quirk and arm's connection was that obvious. ''So what if it does? Wanna have a closer look? Lemme go!'' He struggled again to no avail, all the while doing his best to act tough even though he knew he was in some deep, deep trouble here. ''Reckless is my middle name! Doc fixed me up so I could fight people like you.''

The little creature mocking him was starting to get to him too, that grin... He was definitely going to see it in his nightmares tonight. ''You know, your quirk's a real piece of work too, what's with the ugly grin?'' While he was doing his best to taunt back, he was also scanning his limited surroundings for anything he could grab onto with his free hand. Why a narrow alleyway of all places, the walls weren't going to help him at all. He flinched when he felt her quirk pull on him again, trying to resist for a brief moment, but it was futile as he was slammed into the left wall of the alley, gasping as he was pulled back to his original starting position right after.

He was damn near seeing double when Grinta spoke to him, he could've sworn there was a ringing in his ear too. Was he bleeding? Probably. Shit. He barely registered hitting the ground, but his body certainly didn't as he coughed and gasped, caught like an insect in a spider's web. He took a moment to catch his breath as he listened to the rules to whatever game she was setting up. Don't mess with the little guy, sure, okay. ''R-Run away?'' He grinned, bearing the pain. ''Men don't run from battle, I'll never take the coward's way!!'' He shouted back, angry, determined to show his resolve. ''That's just who Guts is!''

Jackie Maradona

Eiji wasn’t the fiercest fighter around, but to underestimate his flaming fists of justice? You would have to be a fool! He was confident going in, his opponent was barely even moving! Maybe she had realized her mistake? If that was the case he would go easy on her. Imagine his surprise when his momentum was halted completely. She hadn’t even lifted a finger. “What the hell?!” He blurred out, straining, pulling against his arm before looking up to see what was holding it in place…

Nothing?

Some kinda witchcraft power this woman possessed that much was clear. He looked down and was about to spit a retort back at her, but in his current position he had no way to dodge her kick, as it slammed into him and sent him flying back. When he came to a halt he was wheezing and writhing from the pain and the shock. It was one thing to trade blows with an opponent, but she had gotten a clean hit off on him, he hadn’t even had a second to defend himself! Letting out a cough he sat up. “A game? The only game I’m playing…” he pushed himself up and ran at her again, only this time he was punching with the prosthetic arm. “Is kicking your ass!” In an instant before he expected his fist to impact, Eiji turned on his quirk to send a spark of flames flying through the prosthetic arm.

“Sparking Fist!!!” He yelled out triumphantly, prematurely. By all accounts, Eiji was not the type of guy to strategize.

Jackie Maradona

Damn, his intimidation wasn’t working at all. Whoever blue here was, he was a tough little guy. “What do you think you’re doing with that thing?” He scowled, balling his prosthetic right arm fingers into a fist. Eiji didn’t know the first thing about how this gang of evil doers had gathered at their doorstep. Could be that a former member had betrayed them, not like it mattered now. All that mattered was beating back these invaders and minimizing the damages to their home.

Eiji’s eyes widened as they followed the arc of the thrown Molotov, he was helpless to stop it as it cracked on the top of the booth and it immediately caught fire. They had a fire manipulator too? Shit, shit, things were going south fast! “Jet! Get those flames under control!” A taller individual behind Eiji aimed his open palm at the approaching flames and shot a torrent of water at them. While he started combating the fire along with a few others, Eiji did what any reckless leader would do and charged in first, running straight towards the blue guy who had thrown the first Molotov.

“Do you know who you’re messing with?” He raised his non-prosthetic fist and took a swing at Taro’s head, trying to knock some sense into this ruffian! “You’re facing Guts, The Heart of the Hummingbirds! If you think your little fires are enough to put us out, think again! My soul burns with the energy of a thousand suns, by comparison your room temperature fires are nothing!!”

Taro Yamada

This day amongst other things was Eiji's worst nightmare. Why had Tokyo suddenly erupted and changed into an active war zone? Was it a conspiracy by a rival gang, or something much, much bigger? Eiji and the Hummingbirds were by no means keeping tabs on the villains in general, but they heard the occasional rumors and whatever else rose up from the criminal underworld. There was nothing to suggest that an attack of this scale was coming. Heck, they didn't even know if there was a leader behind it or who it was. Only one thing was certain, their little sanctuary was definitely not safe.

''Jet, tell everyone to evacuate back at the orphanage!'' Of course there were already bad dudes advancing on their position. Climbing up a nearby ladder, Eiji poked up over the crowd and raised his voice. ''Everyone! If you're healthy enough to fight pick up a weapon and meet up by the Ferris wheel in two minutes! We're gonna fight them at the main entrance!'' Why was this happening now of all times. The Brain was still out on their mission, leaving Eiji, The Heart, to be the stand-in leader for the Hummingbirds. On a day to day basis that wasn't too bad, but when war came knocking on their door? Yeah, he had NOT signed up for this.

As he and the rest of the gang started mobilizing towards the entrance to the park, Eiji couldn't help but take note of the festival decorations that had still been left up because they breathed life into their home. Flower wreaths, colorful banners, trails of white lily leaves covering the ground like a soft, natural carpet. The flowers and leaves were meant to help guide and show lost spirits the way home. It was bitter sweet to think that intruders were about to enter their premises so soon after they had finished celebrating one of the happiest weeks of the year.

Stepping forward, Eiji put on his best delinquent tough act as he pointed to the nearest goon in the enemy crowd. Some goofy-looking guy with blue hair. That hella didn't sit right with Eiji considering his own was red!!

''You there! You their leader or something? You've got no business here so unless you wanna get kicked around I suggest you get out of here!''

Words of encouragement and approval chimed up behind Eiji as his gang supported him. ''Yeah, tell 'em boss!''

Taro Yamada

Eiji was used to being the tall one in the room, or rather in this case, in the conversation. Rarely did he have to look up at someone, but he had to this time when Mori stepped forward. What she was saying was something Eiji had been dreading to hear, especially when their boss was out of town. He crossed his arms with a sigh. ''Is that so?'' He said as if he was already accepting defeat, but he definitely wasn't handing over the park without a fight.

Or so he thought. They wanted to have a meeting? Maybe Mori wasn't just some heartless capitalist from a big company after all.

''We've got just the place, isn't that right?'' He grinned over at Bean, before putting a thumb up to his own chest. ''I'm Eiji, Heart of the Hummingbirds and the current acting leader, as our actual leader is out of town.'' He paused to give Bean time to introduce herself. Once introductions were out of the way he gestured for Mori to follow them. ''I'm thinking the main square, wanna lead the way, Bean?''

The main square in question was further inside the theme park. All along their short walk to the square, colorful flowers adorned the buildings and signs, almost as if a festival had taken place the night before. A lot of the old buildings had also clearly been repaired and fixed up. Most notably, the orphanage off in the distance was a repurposed rollercoaster ride, but everything was in great shape aside from the rollercoaster itself which had clearly been abandoned.

The place they were talking was rather informal, but they didn't really have anything in the way of a meeting room and Eiji's apartment was definitely not clean enough for something this official. While they walked, kids would run around playing, but occasionally stop and stare, marveling at Mikoto Mori and her height. ''No staring at our guest.'' Eiji said firmly, causing the kids to giggle and run off to continue playing. ''So,'' there were some benches set up that could sit on, but it was the best they could do. ''Let's talk.'' He smiled, having a seat himself.

Mikoto Mori
bean