The warmth of the hot spring enveloped Uraraka like a blanket, easing the tension from her muscles. She sank deeper into the steaming water, her eyes closing as she let out a contented sigh. "This is amazing," she murmured, letting the heat wash away the weariness of their long journey.

Rosie, who was reclining on a smooth rock at the edge of the spring, chuckled softly. "It's definitely the best way to recover after that mountain trek," she said, leaning her head back and feeling her muscles relax, joints popping with relief. "But we can't stay too long. We still need to pack and get some rest before we head to Crestlake in the morning."

Uraraka nodded, though she made no move to leave the comforting waters just yet. "True, but we've earned this break. I didn't realize how sore I was until now."

Rosie smiled in agreement, the sound of the bubbling spring and the faint rustling of the wind through the nearby trees creating a peaceful atmosphere. The two of them had bonded during the quest, and moments like these reminded them how much they had grown to care for each other.

"Do you think the boys are jealous we're having all the fun?" Uraraka teased, grinning as she imagined how Katsuki and Izuku were likely handling the downtime in their rooms.

Rosie laughed, stretching her arms above her head. "Katsuki? Definitely not. But Izuku… I can imagine him overthinking every step of our next journey while you're here soaking in the springs."

Uraraka laughed as well, knowing how right Rosie was about Izuku. "I'll let him fuss over the plans, as long as he doesn't get too stressed. Speaking of which, what's the next item we need to find?"

Rosie sat up slightly, her fingers tracing circles in the water. "A rare flower called the Pinkliblossom. It's found in the Goshimini forest, southeast of here."

Uraraka's eyes brightened. "Oh! I've read about that! I know exactly where we can find it. There's a hidden grove deep in the forest where the blossoms bloom every spring."

Rosie smiled warmly at her friend. "Great! Make sure you tell Izuku over breakfast tomorrow. He'll love that you know where we're going. It might save him some sleepless nights."

"I will," Uraraka said, grinning. "And who knows? Maybe we'll make this next part of the quest a little easier on ourselves."

With their conversation winding down, the two finally stepped out of the spring, the cool air making them shiver despite their lingering warmth. They dressed in comfortable robes provided by the hot spring spa and made their way back to their rooms.

The next morning came brisk and clear, with the sun just peeking over the horizon as the group set off toward the Goshimini forest. The quiet road led them through rolling hills, with Crestlake on the distant horizon.

As they rode, the group kept an easy pace, chatting quietly as Izuku led the way with Rosie and Uraraka close behind. Katsuki, as usual, brought up the rear, his eyes scanning the landscape for any signs of danger.

They stopped briefly for lunch in a quiet glade, the smell of wildflowers filling the air. As they unpacked their supplies and settled down, Rosie and Uraraka shared some jokes from the previous day, lightening the mood.

But the peace didn't last long.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the rush of movement from the surrounding trees. Bandits. A group of them, ragged and armed, emerged from the brush, weapons drawn and eyes glinting with malice.

"Looks like we're gonna have some fun," Katsuki growled, cracking his knuckles as he readied for the fight.

Before anyone could react, the bandits charged. Rosie quickly drew her bow, her fingers flying as she loosed arrows at the approaching enemies. Izuku moved with lightning speed, engaging two bandits at once, his fists landing with precision as he knocked them to the ground. Katsuki exploded into action, literally, as blasts of energy erupted from his hands, sending several bandits flying backward.

Uraraka, though determined, found herself cornered by one of the attackers. She tried to fight back, but without any proper combat training, she struggled to defend herself. Just as the bandit lunged forward with a blade aimed for her chest, Katsuki came out of nowhere, slamming the bandit to the ground with a blast of energy.

"You okay, ranger?" Katsuki asked, his eyes fierce as he looked down at her.

Uraraka nodded, a bit shaken but grateful. "Y-yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, Katsuki."

"Don't mention it," he grunted, his attention already shifting to the remaining bandits. Within moments, the rest of the attackers had either been incapacitated or fled into the woods, leaving the group victorious but wary.

As they regrouped, Rosie wiped her brow, breathing heavily. "That was close," she said, checking over her bow and arrows. She glanced at Uraraka, who still looked shaken. "Are you alright?"

Uraraka nodded, but the encounter had clearly rattled her. "I'm fine," she said quietly. "I just… I didn't know what to do. I've never really had to fight like that before."

Rosie smiled gently and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "That's understandable, Uraraka. You're not trained for combat like the rest of us. But that's something we can work on."

Katsuki, still annoyed by the encounter, crossed his arms. "You need to learn how to defend yourself, round face. I won't always be there to save your ass."

Rosie shot Katsuki a look but turned back to Uraraka with a more encouraging expression. "Katsuki's right—though he could say it nicer," she said, earning a grunt from him. "Maybe we can start with some basic training. You don't need to be a master swordswoman, but knowing how to use a dagger or small knife could help in situations like this."

Uraraka looked thoughtful, nodding slowly. "That makes sense. I'd hate to be a burden on you guys. I want to be able to protect myself, too."

"We can start with some training after we stop for the night," Rosie said. "I have a spare dagger I can show you how to use."

Katsuki smirked from the side. "Better learn fast, Pink Cheeks. Next time, I might let you handle it yourself."

Uraraka glared at him, but the hint of a smile played at her lips. "Don't count on it, Katsuki. I'm tougher than I look."

"We won't make it to Crestlake if we keep standing around," Izuku stated as he stared at the map.

That night, after a hearty dinner by the campfire, Rosie took Uraraka aside to a quiet spot near the edge of their camp. The air was cool but still, with the distant sounds of the forest creating a peaceful ambiance. Katsuki and Izuku sat nearby, talking quietly but keeping a watchful eye on the training session. Though they were both skilled fighters, they seemed content to let Rosie take the lead, curious to see how Uraraka would do under her guidance.

Rosie unsheathed the small dagger she had lent to Uraraka earlier, its blade gleaming in the firelight. She turned it over in her hands before offering it hilt-first to Uraraka. "Alright, the first thing you need to understand about using a dagger is that it's not about brute strength. It's about precision, speed, and knowing when to strike. This isn't like wielding a sword—it's close-range combat, which means you'll need to be quick on your feet and stay focused."

Uraraka took the dagger, her expression serious but determined. She felt the weight of the blade in her hand, lighter than she expected but still substantial enough to give her confidence. "Got it," she said, nodding. "I'm ready."

Rosie smiled, appreciating her friend's determination. She took a step back and assumed a defensive stance, raising her arms slightly as if ready to engage. "Okay, first things first. Hold the dagger like this," she demonstrated, gripping an imaginary weapon in her hand. "You want a firm grip, but not too tight. Keep your wrist loose so you can move it quickly. You'll be slashing, stabbing, and blocking with it."

Uraraka mimicked Rosie's stance, adjusting her grip on the dagger as instructed. Rosie walked over, gently repositioning her hand and showing her how to angle the blade. "Perfect. Now, your other hand will be just as important. You'll use it to block or even push your opponent away, so don't keep it idle."

Once Uraraka had the proper grip, Rosie began walking her through the basics. "When you're in a fight, especially with a dagger, you're going to need to stay mobile. So your stance is everything. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Always be ready to move—don't plant your feet or you'll get knocked over easily."

Rosie demonstrated, moving fluidly from side to side, her feet light on the ground. Uraraka followed her movements, trying to mimic the same agility. She was a bit stiff at first, but after a few repetitions, she started to loosen up, moving more naturally.

"Good," Rosie encouraged. "Now, let's go over some basic strikes. With a dagger, your goal is to make quick, targeted cuts. You're not trying to overpower your opponent, just disable them or create an opening to escape or defend yourself. Try a simple slash."

Rosie demonstrated a quick, precise slash through the air, her movements swift but controlled. Uraraka followed suit, slashing the dagger in front of her. Her first few attempts were cautious, but Rosie coached her to put more confidence behind her movements.

"Don't be afraid of the blade, Uraraka. Trust your instinct and commit to each strike. The more confident you are, the more effective you'll be." Rosie demonstrated again, this time faster, her dagger cutting the air in smooth arcs.

Uraraka took a deep breath and tried again, this time moving with more purpose. Her slash cut through the air cleanly, and she felt a surge of pride as Rosie nodded in approval.

"Good! Now, let's try a stab. The key here is to aim for vulnerable spots—throat, chest, stomach. You're not always aiming to kill, but to incapacitate." Rosie stepped closer, holding her own dagger in a defensive position. "When you stab, use your body to push forward, not just your arm. You want your whole weight behind the strike."

Uraraka followed Rosie's instructions, thrusting the dagger forward as she stepped into the motion. It felt strange at first, but after a few tries, the motion became more fluid. She could feel herself growing more confident, and Rosie's gentle corrections helped her fine-tune her movements.

After a few minutes of practice, Rosie decided it was time to incorporate some hand-to-hand techniques. She sheathed her dagger and stepped forward. "Alright, now let's say you lose your dagger or your opponent gets too close for you to use it. You need to know some basic hand-to-hand combat to defend yourself until you can get the upper hand."

Rosie moved behind Uraraka and gently guided her into a defensive stance. "The key is to stay balanced and always be ready to react. We're going to practice a few basic moves. First, blocking. If someone comes at you with a punch or a grab, you want to use your arms to deflect their attack, not absorb it."

Rosie raised her hands and mimicked a slow punch toward Uraraka, who blocked it with her forearm. "Good, but don't just block—redirect. If you can push their arm away, you create an opening for yourself."

Uraraka practiced blocking a few more punches, growing quicker and more precise with each attempt. Katsuki and Izuku exchanged glances, impressed by her progress.

"Now let's try some counter-attacks," Rosie said, showing her how to follow up a block with a punch or elbow strike. "You don't need to be the strongest person in the fight, but knowing where to hit can make a big difference."

Rosie demonstrated a swift elbow to an imaginary attacker's face, then a knee to the stomach. Uraraka copied her movements, hesitating at first but soon getting the hang of it. She was surprised at how natural it started to feel.

"Great work," Rosie said, smiling. "You're picking this up quickly."

As they continued training, Katsuki and Izuku watched with mild amusement. "You're getting the hang of it, Uraraka," Izuku called encouragingly.

Katsuki crossed his arms, smirking. "She'd better. I'm not saving her every time."

Uraraka shot Katsuki a mock glare but couldn't hide her smile. Rosie laughed, clapping Uraraka on the shoulder. "You're doing great. We'll keep practicing, and soon enough, you'll be able to handle yourself in any situation."

With a final practice round, Uraraka landed a clean strike with the dagger, blocking and countering Rosie's mock attack. She beamed with pride, knowing she had taken a big step toward becoming a more capable adventurer.

"Let's call it a night," Rosie said, pleased with Uraraka's progress. "Tomorrow night, we'll continue with more training, but for now, rest is just as important."