Wow," I said, effortlessly dodging another piece of shattered concrete. "You guys really do fight like a bunch of toddlers with sugar rushes. It's actually painful to watch."

"SHUT UP, DEKU!" Bakugo barked, launching another explosion at the Nomu.

"I would, but you keep proving my point," I called back, hopping onto a slab of rubble to get a better view of the battlefield. "We've been at this for how long now? And what have we accomplished? Oh, right—nothing! Except giving this thing enough time to regenerate and analyze all our moves.*"

"Then stop yapping and DO something!" Overhaul snapped, barely dodging a swipe from the Nomu's claws.

I hummed, watching the way the Nomu moved, analyzing its patterns. "Oh, no, I don't think I will," I said, smirking. "See, I just realized something very, very important."

"And what the hell is that?" Shoto asked, sending another wave of ice toward the Nomu.

I spread my arms wide. "I don't actually have to fight. You guys can handle that part."

Everyone collectively froze.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Bakugo screamed.

"You heard me," I said, grinning. "Think about it. I've been on the front lines this whole time, and where has that gotten us? Nowhere. So, you know what? I'm pulling a manager move. It's time for me to take a step back and—direct."

"You absolute bastard," Overhaul muttered.

"Hey, I could just leave," I pointed out cheerfully. "But nooo, I'm still here, making sure none of you get ripped to shreds. You should be thanking me, really."

"I hate you," Shigaraki groaned.

"You'll live," I said with a wink. "But only if you listen to me, so—chop chop! We don't have all day!"

The Nomu roared, lunging toward Shoto again.

"Todoroki, more ice! But don't block its legs this time, just slow it down!"

Shoto hesitated for a split second, then did as I said, sending a strategic frost over the Nomu's arms, forcing it to stagger back.

"Bakugo, less 'rabid animal energy,' more precision! Hit its joints—stop trying to blow up its entire existence in one go!"

"Tch! Don't tell me what to do, nerd!"

He still did it.

"Overhaul, quit standing there like a disappointed dad and do something useful—set up obstacles with the debris, limit its movement!"

"I don't take orders from a brat," he snapped.

"Then pretend I'm giving you suggestions and shut up!"

He clicked his tongue but did it anyway.

The Nomu, which had been steamrolling through us before, was actually starting to slow down.

I grinned, watching them finally, FINALLY work together.

"See? Teamwork! It's magic!" I called. "Figuratively and literally!"

Shigaraki was just watching me now, his eye twitching. "I don't know what's worse—the fact that this is working or the fact that you somehow bullied us into doing it."

"You'll figure it out later," I said, then turned back to the battlefield. "Now, keep going, kiddies! We've got a monster to take down!"

And just like that, for the first time since this nightmare started, we actually had a chance.

Now let's see if they can keep it up.

The battlefield was finally looking less like a chaotic playground brawl and more like an actual strategy in motion. Sure, it was still messy, but at least we weren't just running around like headless chickens anymore.

The Nomu screeched again, its body twitching as it tried to adapt to our attacks. But every time it did, I adjusted the plan, forcing it into another weak position.

"Todoroki, reinforce Bakugo's blind spots!" I called. "Bakugo, quit trying to blow up everything and just focus on keeping pressure on its left side!"

"YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!" Bakugo yelled back—as he did exactly what I said.

"Overhaul!" I turned to him next, pointing at the rubble. "Block off its retreat! If we can corner it, we can finish this faster!"

He grumbled something about 'damn brats,' but still used his quirk to raise jagged walls of concrete, trapping the Nomu in a shrinking space.

Shigaraki, meanwhile, was watching all of this with an unreadable expression. "Why are you actually good at this?" he muttered.

"Because I'm surrounded by dumbasses, and someone has to keep things running," I said flatly. "You included, by the way."

He scowled. "I will kill you."

"Mmm, yeah, good luck with that," I shot back, turning my attention back to the fight.

The Nomu, realizing it was cornered, let out an ear-splitting roar and suddenly charged straight at me.

Oh. Well.

That was unexpected.

I blinked as the monstrous thing lunged forward, ignoring everyone else and coming right for me with a speed boost that should have been impossible with its injuries.

"Why does this always happen to me?" I muttered before instinct took over, and I leaped back, dodging just in time.

"MIDORIYA!" Shoto yelled, his eyes widening.

"Oh, so NOW you guys care," I said, dodging another swipe. "That's sweet—DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"

Bakugo launched himself forward with an explosion, colliding into the Nomu's side, forcing it off course just before it could grab me.

"Tch—stupid bird-brained idiot!" Bakugo growled as he landed beside me. "You're supposed to be coordinating, not bait!"

"Hey, I didn't ASK to be the special of the day!" I shot back, panting slightly. "Maybe it likes my winning personality."

"Or maybe it's drawn to your damn magic," Overhaul said sharply, stepping closer. "Did you forget? Magic finds magic."

Oh.

Ohhhh.

Well. That was bad.

Shigaraki groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "So you're telling me we've basically been giving it a reason to ignore us and hyperfocus on you this whole time?"

"I mean... yes," I admitted. "But, in my defense, I forgot I was magical bait."

"HOW DO YOU FORGET THAT?!" Bakugo yelled.

"It's been a busy day, okay?!" I retorted.

The Nomu screeched again and moved, faster this time, its claws slashing through the air right where I had been standing a second ago. I barely managed to dodge, feeling the wind from the attack whip past my face.

"ALRIGHT, NEW PLAN!" I shouted. "Maybe someone ELSE wants to be the main character for five minutes?!"

Shoto finally took action, sending a wall of ice to separate me from the Nomu. Overhaul reinforced it immediately, hardening the surface with debris.

"There. That should hold for a bit," Shoto said.

"Great, what now?" Shigaraki asked. "Because I don't think it's gonna stay down for long."

"We do what we do best," I said, straightening. "We improvise."

Everyone groaned.

"That's the worst thing you could have said," Shoto muttered.

"Too late!" I grinned. "Alright, listen up—here's what we're gonna do."

The Nomu roared again, and I cracked my knuckles.

Time to see if they could actually follow directions for once.