Chapter 40: Forest Training Camp Pt.2: Training Begins
Training has begun, Class 1-A and –B, are really going to be put through the ringer. Though, I am more worried for some of the latter.
I don't have much to say but, I will say that this was quite the mental work out.
Chapter 40: Forest Training Camp Pt.2: Training Begins
"Good morning," Aizawa's monotone voice cut through the cool morning air as he looked over the students. "Good, you're all here."
"So early…" Kaminari yawned, rubbing his eyes, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Yeah, like, what the actually f—" "Silence, Kamakiri!" Vlad King reprimanded the boy.
The students were on Day 2 of the forest training camp. By 5:45 AM, both Classes 1-A and 1-B had been rousted from their beds in the 'Catnip Inn.' The students of Class 1-A, who had arrived earlier the day before, were already awake, while the members of Class 1-B, who had arrived later, were grumbling under their breath about their lack of sleep. Some were half-heartedly attempting to clear the sleep from their eyes, while others let out loud yawns.
"Now, as I was saying," Aizawa continued, his monotone voice remaining steady, "Today, we'll begin training designed to increase your Quirk strength." His piercing gaze swept over the tired faces. "Our goal is to enhance your abilities exponentially to ensure you're ready to earn your provisional licenses. This will prepare you for the challenges ahead. Remember: proceed carefully."
At the mention of the provisional licenses, the Powerpuff Girls perked up, their minds immediately connecting the dots. Getting those licenses would be the next step in their journey to confront HIM. Aizawa took a brief moment to rustle through his pocket and pulled out a familiar object—a softball-sized device—and looked over at Bakugou.
"Look alive, Bakugou," Aizawa called, tossing the device to the blonde.
Bakugou caught it easily and eyed it, his expression shifting between curiosity and annoyance. "What, you want me to throw this again? Like in the fitness test?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Bubbles, her eyes widening, couldn't help but think to herself, 'Hopefully, he won't attempt to blow anyone else up in the process.'
Aizawa nodded, his voice still as flat as ever. "That's right. When you first entered this school, your record was 705.2 meters. Let's see if you've improved."
"705.2?" Kamakiri scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Manga beat everyone in both Classes by hitting 830 meters. Is that really the best you can do, Class A?" he asked, crossing his arms with an air of superiority.
"No, actually," Nirengeki, a short, round-faced student from Class 1-B, interjected. His ice-blue hair matched his cool demeanor as he spoke up. "I believe the highest launch across both classes was a distance of 900 meters." He glanced at Bakugou with mild interest. "Pretty impressive, don't you think?" That got the raven haired Powerpuff to smirk internally.
Bakugou narrowed his eyes at the sudden remarks from his peers but ignored them. Instead, he focused on his target—ready to show them all how much he'd improved. As he walked over to where Aizawa was pointing, he could already hear his classmates' predictions and excited murmurs.
"Oh! I get it now!" Mina exclaimed, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as her energy returned. "This is to see how far we've come in our training, right? Do you think Bakugou's going to hit two kilometers this time?"
"Wouldn't be surprising after all the drills we've been through," Sero added enthusiastically. "Go for it, Bakugou! You've got this!"
Bakugou took a deep breath, sizing up the distance ahead of him. He glanced at a few classmates who had been particularly vocal, sneering at them in his mind. 'I'll show these extras just how much I've improved.'
Winding up his arm, Bakugou set his focus on the task at hand, his fiery determination burning in his chest. "Tch, I got this," he muttered under his breath, steeling himself. With a swift motion, he unleashed a powerful explosion from his palm, shouting, "GO TO HELL!" as the force of his Quirk propelled the ball forward with incredible speed.
BAM!
The blast of wind from the kickback sent gusts rushing toward the students, causing them to shield their eyes and brace themselves. If anyone had been feeling even the slightest bit sleepy before, they were wide awake now, both from the deafening noise of Bakugou's war cry and the force of the explosion itself.
'Go to hell?' Were the shared thoughts of Izuku and Blossom.
As the dust settled, Bakugou stood tall, a smug grin stretching across his face as he waited for the results. He felt confident, sure he'd broken some record and maybe even surpassed his classmates. However, Aizawa was silent, looking down at the measuring device in his hand with an almost indifferent expression.
After a moment, there was a soft "ding," and Aizawa's gaze flicked to the screen. "709.6 meters," he announced flatly, showing the result to everyone. There was a collective gasp from the students, their eyes widening in disbelief. Even Bakugou, who had expected to have shattered the previous records, felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. His face fell slightly as the weight of the results set in.
"Huh? Only four point four more? Quite disappointing," Sero commented.
"I honestly thought that he would have gotten close to eight hundred," Jirou said with a shrug.
'709.6?' he thought, feeling a sting of disappointment. 'Not even 710 meters…' Despite the blow to his pride, Bakugou quickly hid his frustration. He refused to let anyone see him rattled.
Vlad King then took the opportunity to speak up. "Listen up. You've had a single semester in U.A. and although I don't know much of firsthand experience of Class 1-A, I can say for certainty that due to your various experiences, all of you have definitely improved," he stated, "But, those improvements seem to only be limited to mental prowess and technical skill with added stamina for good measure. That is decent but your quirks is what we want to work on and that is the point of this exercise."
"Are we seriously going to be spending time to develop our quirks?" One of the Class B students said in between yawns.
"Yes," Vlad Kind said, looking back at his students, "Your Quirks haven't been keeping up with your physical development, which forces you to give up on some applications for your Quirks and focus on what you can do right now. If you want to improve as future Heroes, then you have to strengthen your Quirks."
Setsuna spoke up, "Yo teach, I get us having to 'strengthen your Quirks' like it's no big deal, but there's forty of us, each with a different Quirk… How do we each go about doing this?"
"Yeah! We need more details here." Tetsutetsu agreed with Setsuna.
"Simple," Vlad announced, "When we work out our muscles, the fibers breakdown and build up to become stronger, but if we neglect them, they become weaker. So, the best way to train your Quirks is to break past your limits!" he declared, and most of the students gasped at what they heard.
Even with all the murmurs, Blossom finally spoke up, "But with forty of us, can six people effectively help everyone?" questioning more out of curiosity than fear from the implication.
"That's why these guys are here," Aizawa blankly answered.
"That's correct! Four kitties in one litter!" A certain green haired woman popped out of nowhere, her voice full of cheer, wearing a familiar looking outfit, but this one was in yellow.
"Your feline fantasies are here! Say meow!" Mandalay declared.
"We've come to lend a helping paw!" Ragdoll continued, spinning with the same enthusiasm as earlier.
"We're here, serving up justice, with our tails!" A male member spoke, flexing his muscles as he posed. His outfit was the same as the other girls but was brown in color.
"Stunningly cute and catlike heroes!" Pixie-bob exclaimed.
"Wild, Wild Pussycats! Full version!" The four posed together, now able to complete their well-known Hero Team routine.
"Does anyone else get the weird sense of Déjà vu, here?" Buttercup groaned out, still not in the mood at the moment. At the end, a few members of Class A clapped nonetheless for the Pussycats, though some of the students and majority of Class B were clearly taken aback by the sudden arrival and posing of the four Pro Heroes so early and fresh in the morning.
"Alright, kitties, introduction time! Hi, I'm Ragdoll and my Quirk is called Search!" Ragdoll grinned brightly at the students. "I know almost everything about a person just by looking at them! That includes weaknesses and their location! Up to one-hundred people at a time!" Blossom and her sisters were giving each other glances at the implications of her powers and what it could mean for them.
"I'm Pixie-bob! With myEarth FlowI can make the ideal training ground for each and every one of you!" Pixie-bob demonstrated by making large hills and cliffs form from the dirt dozens of meters away. "I am also looking for any cute strong types!" Shamelessly winked at the male populous of the group, they were expectedly weirded out.
"Mandalay here! And I use myTelepathto give advice to all of you in real time!" Mandalay smiled at the students.
"The names Tiger, and I'm here to beat you guys into a pulp!" Tiger said plainly, a scary aura radiated from his being.
'That's really different from the other three!' The students all thought at the same time.
"All of you power-up types come with me." Tiger beckoned them over with one of the claws on his puffy cat glove. "My boot camp is ready to go." Several students strode over, looking warily at the Pro Hero, already knowing they were in for a rough time. Hearing that, Buttercup was suddenly energized and cracking her knuckles in preparation.
Vlad looked at his students again before they were divided up for training. "Emitter types with maximum output levels need to raise their limits. Mutant Types need to strengthen their bodies and the traits that come along with their Quirks. Transformation Types need to increase the speed of their shifting and make it more fluid and natural on top of further increasing their abilities granted by their transformations."
"This'll be so hard that you'll wish that you were dead, so do your best to stay alive." Aizawa smiled at his students, the look coming off as vaguely sadistic to all of them.
'That's NOT reassuring at all!' Most of the students screamed in their heads simultaneously.
(-)
As the morning sun began to climb higher, it was close to 7 AM now, the brisk air cutting through the camp as Aizawa and Vlad walked side by side, their conversation a dull hum in the midst of all the commotion. Aizawa's voice was as flat as ever, barely expressing any interest in whatever topic they were discussing, while Vlad, ever the enthusiastic one, animatedly responded to his colleague's minimal engagement.
As they neared the area where the Pro Heroes were overseeing the students, Aizawa's gaze shifted to Ragdoll, who was busy guiding some of the students in their exercises. He approached her without breaking his usual, emotionless stride.
"How's it going?" Aizawa asked, his voice devoid of any real concern.
Ragdoll looked up with a bright smile, "Things are going-" about to answer, but she was cut off by a sudden-BOOOM!-deafening explosion from a distance. "Oh! Be right back!" She said quickly, her smile never fading as she cartwheeled away toward the source of the noise.
"Looks like Bakugou's already off to a fiery start," he muttered, clearly used to the chaos Bakugou often caused.
Vlad raised an eyebrow, "That boy seems a bit too volatile?"
Aizawa simply stared ahead, "He'll learn eventually." But Vlad just gave a skeptical look.
"DAMN IT!"
BOOOM!
Bakugou yelled out in pain and frustration as he shoved his hands into a barrel of scolding water, feeling his hands burning as he yanked them out and pointed his palms to the sky and unleashed a massive explosion once again. Gritting his teeth, he shoved them back into the near boiling water as his hands burned. "AAAAHHHHH!"
"Hahaha! You are a really loud one, aren't you?!" Came the incoming voice of Ragdoll.
Bakugou's brow twitched to the high pitched voice behind him, looking back to see a green haired woman. "Shut up, cat girl! Let me do my thing!" he yelled at the third pussycat member.
"Hahaha! I have to check on all you little guys to make sure you follow your training!" The woman named Ragdoll giggled at his frustrated face. "You need to expand the sweat glands in your hands to lower the strain on your arms!"
"I know already! You told me three times. Damn it!" Bakugou growled and ripped his hands out of the water and released another large blast into the sky. "I know what the hell I'm doing!"
Laughing at his frustration, Ragdoll turned around and watched as the other students of class 1A were straining all across the mountain side. Her quirk Search observed every student as they strained with the training they were given specifically made for each of them, focused directly on what was their weaknesses to push past.
Some like Sero and Mina had to continuously release tape and acid to maximize the amount they could produce, to force themselves to keep going even when they felt strain on their bodies. She had Ochako currently inside a orb and bouncing around to strengthen her inner ear canal to help prevent nausea while using her Quirk for long periods of time.
She saw Todoroki sitting chest deep in a barrel of water with a fire lit under it. Steam wafted off the exceedingly hot water and Todoroki was sweating heavily. He slapped the barrel and ice exploded from his body, freezing the water and extinguishing the fire below instantly. His training was focused on rapidly switching between ice and fire, while also boosting his natural resistance to both extreme heat and extreme cold. The end goal was to be able to use both fire and ice simultaneously, but that was proving incredibly hard for Todoroki to do at the moment. She watched as Tenya burst around the mountain, pushing his legs to the utmost limit with no break to build his engine endurance.
All around, the students grunted, yelled and cried as they strained themselves to push their quirks to the limit. And it was only seven in the morning, having only been doing this for a little more than an hour. She grinned to herself as she looked past Momo, the girl stuffing her face with food as she continued to create items nonstop to boost her body's production of lipids to see the class B students straining as well.
In their section, Mandalay walked through the groups as they pushed themselves. The vine girl, Shiozaki, continuously released her vines outward, sweating as she had never done so many at one time while Juzo softened the mountainside in front of him, his hands shaking as he expanded the range of his softening as far as he possibly could before re hardened it.
"All of you can feel the strain in your body. That is your quirks feeling their limits tested." Mandalay's voice rang out to almost all the students in the area, only it was inside their head. Her telepathy quirk allowed her to speak inside of their minds, giving perfect access to them instantly. "Your quirks are like muscles. The more they are strained, the more they will grow. We are here to make sure you are pushed past your limits so you can get stronger."
Mandalay's telepathic voice faded as the students continued to push themselves, the air still filled with grunts and strained exertion. She was about to check on some of the others when she felt the familiar presence of Aizawa approaching. His footsteps were deliberate and unhurried, and his tired gaze fixed on her with that perpetual, emotionless intensity.
She gave him a small smile and nodded in greeting as he came to stand beside her. "Aizawa," she said, keeping her voice even, though her tone was warm.
He gave a brief nod in return. "Everything going according to plan?" His voice was as flat and unengaged as ever, though there was the barest hint of curiosity lurking in his words.
Mandalay glanced around at the students. "Yeah. They're pushing themselves hard. All of them are really giving it their best today. Even Class B is keeping up with the intensity. We're seeing steady progress." Her eyes tracked the students as they strained and struggled, each trying to break their limits.
Aizawa's gaze followed her focus, and after a moment's pause, he nodded, accepting her answer. The silence stretched on for a beat longer than usual, the sound of Bakugou's explosions still reverberating in the distance.
Then, as if on cue, Ragdoll's voice chimed in from behind them, cheerful and bright as always. "Hey, hey! Aizawa, Mandalay, guess what! The kitties are struggling a little, but they're doing pur-fect! Hehe, just as I thought, those little furballs really know how to push their limits! Meow!"
Aizawa didn't even flinch at her usual, overly-enthusiastic tone. He merely glanced toward her and muttered a quiet, "Mm." His face remained as expressionless as ever.
Mandalay, on the other hand, gave a quiet chuckle, shaking her head as Ragdoll continued to laugh at herself. "Sounds like you're having fun with the new litter," Mandalay remarked, though her focus remained on Aizawa.
"All that's well and good, but…" Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond to Ragdoll's antics. "What would you make of some of the more standout students?" he asked suddenly, his voice filled with precision than usual. It was an odd question that caught Mandalay and Ragdoll off guard.
The two women exchanged a confused look, before Ragdoll tilted her head in genuine curiosity. "What about them? Are you asking about their training?" she asked, trying to make sense of his abrupt change in tone. Aizawa didn't answer right away, instead turning his attention back to the students. He looked toward where the specific students were training. Mandalay and Ragdoll followed his gaze, all three of them momentarily distracted by the sight of their pupils.
Blossom stood at the center of the training area, her focus unwavering as Pony Tsunotori and Reiko Yanagi took their positions. The exercise was simple: test each of their emitter abilities under pressure. For Blossom, it was a challenge of focus and control over her enhanced reflexes and psychokinesis. For Pony and Reiko, it was a test of how well they could manage their quirks while working in tandem.
Pony launched her first horn with a sharp flick of her head, aiming it straight at Blossom's chest. With barely a blink, Blossom sidestepped, her reflexes honed to perfection. She whipped out her hand, telekinetically plucking a large rock from the ground and flinging it at the horn, knocking it off course.
Reiko quickly followed, sending a series of rocks flying at Blossom from all angles. Blossom dodged each one with grace, her body flowing effortlessly between the projectiles. Her psychokinesis kept her grounded as she grabbed a large chunk of stone, tossing it back at Reiko with pinpoint accuracy, forcing the girl to dive out of the way.
Pony, determined not to be outdone, fired another set of horns, one aiming high and the other low, trying to catch Blossom off guard. Blossom's reflexes allowed her to dip low, narrowly avoiding the first while swatting the second out of the air with a flick of her fingers. The rock she threw in retaliation made Pony duck, but not fast enough, and it clipped her side.
The two girls from Class 1-B worked in sync, launching rocks and horns in quick succession, but Blossom's precision and speed outpaced their efforts. She used her telekinesis to grab and redirect their attacks effortlessly, her focus sharp and unyielding.
The exercise was meant to challenge not only Blossom's ability to control her powers under pressure but also to test Pony and Reiko's control over their quirks as they tried to coordinate their attacks. But Blossom's mastery over her reflexes and psychokinesis made her a nearly untouchable target, forcing the Class 1-B students to constantly adjust their strategies.
With a final move, Blossom snapped her fingers, sending a rush of telekinetic energy toward the two girls. The blast forced them both back, leaving them panting in the dirt while Blossom remained steady, her control over her abilities unquestioned. "Focus and control," she muttered to herself, her expression calm, as she waited for the next round.
At the far end of the training field, the other students, including Izuku, lay sprawled out, exhausted from their grueling exercises. Their eyes were now fixed on Tiger and Buttercup, locked in a heated spar. Their movements were a blur of powerful strikes and swift counters.
"Bring it on, little cub! Show me what you've got!" Tiger yelled, a taunting grin stretching across his face. Buttercup, standing confidently across from him in her black sports bra and school track pants, smirked and stepped forward, accepting his challenge. She launched into a relentless series of punches and kicks. Tiger managed to dodge and block each attack, going in to deliver his, but Buttercup's reflexes were too fast for him to land a solid hit.
Tiger, intrigued but determined, charged forward, unleashing a vicious "Cat punch." With all his might, he swung at her, claws extended. But Buttercup stood her ground, meeting his punch with an open palm. The small shockwave from the impact sent a tremor through the air, momentarily staggering Tiger. His grin faltered as he took a step back, shaking off the disorientation.
"Not bad for a big cat," Buttercup taunted, her voice dripping with playful confidence. She wasted no time, dropping to a crouch and delivering a powerful punch directly into his gut. The blow sent him stumbling backward, rolling a few feet away before quickly recovering.
Tiger wiped his mouth, chuckling as he rose to his feet, a spark of admiration in his eyes. He watched as Buttercup stood ready, her confident grin still intact. Without a word, she gestured for him to bring it on, a clear challenge in her stance. Tiger's grin now widened into a full-on catlike smile. He pounced forward with lightning speed, his body stretching and contorting in mid-air to avoid Buttercup's swift jabs. She countered with a spinning kick aimed at his head, but Tiger ducked under it, using his enhanced agility to keep himself in motion. He attempted another "Cat punch" from the side, but Buttercup blocked it with a raised forearm and immediately retaliated with a quick jab to his ribs.
The clash of blows continued, each one more intense than the last. Tiger tried to catch her with a low sweep, but Buttercup leapt over it, landing behind him. Before he could react, she drove a knee into his back, sending him forward. Tiger grinned despite the impact, "This little cub has claws," he muttered to himself, eager to keep going.
As Aizawa, Mandalay, and Ragdoll observed the students pushing themselves, Mandalay spoke up, her admiration clear. "I've trained a lot of students, but some of them are something else. Their skills and Quirk control are impressive."
Ragdoll grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, especially the red kitty. Her control over her telekinesis under pressure? Unbelievable. I've never seen anyone handle their Quirk so smoothly."
"The girl's reflexes are on another level, too. She's so fast and precise—it's like she was born for this." Mandalay nodded in agreement, "And the Buttercup is really giving Tiger a good spar. Quite impressive indeed."
Aizawa didn't respond right away, his gaze fixed on the students, his expression unreadable. Ragdoll continued, unaware of the subtle shift in his mood. "Seriously, they're adapting so quickly to everything we throw at them. It's like they're just... naturally gifted." She chuckled at the implication, not knowing some ideas of others.
Aizawa muttered under his breath, barely audible, "Yeah, gifted... but still students." His tone was skeptical, but there was something else in his voice, something distant, almost suspicious, like he was measuring every word and action.
The two women exchanged a glance. Mandalay raised an eyebrow. "You alright, Aizawa? You seem a bit... off today."
Ragdoll tilted her head. "Yeah, you're usually more, well, Aizawa than this. You don't think there's something more to these kids, do you?" She flashed a quick grin, clearly not expecting an answer.
Aizawa remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on the students, though his mind seemed far away. "They've got a long way to go," he finally muttered, as if unconvinced. Mandalay and Ragdoll looked at each other again, both sensing that something was a little off, but neither one pressed it further. With a sigh, Aizawa turned to leave, his pace unhurried. "I'll leave the rest to you."
Ragdoll chuckled, watching him go. "You know, he'll never admit they're doing well."
Mandalay nodded, her eyes following him thoughtfully. "Yeah, but today feels different. He seemed…I don't know, almost suspicious?"
"Eh, it's Aizawa," Ragdoll waved it off with a grin. "Always the worry wart and suspicious of everyone. I wouldn't read too much in to it."
"Maybe…" Mandalay let it go for now, but her gaze lingered on Aizawa's retreating figure. "But something's off with him today. I guess we'll see."
"Well, no matter what, I'm excited to see where these kids go from here!" Ragdoll didn't seem to mind, already bouncing back to focus on the students. And so they went about their teaching of the other students, or in Ragdoll's case, giving insightful criticism while openly laughing at their pain and tiredness.
In the forest, a short distance away from the training grounds and not too far from the perimeter, Bubbles sat alone in a quiet patch of trees. Her legs were crossed, her eyes closed as she focused on her breathing—slow, deliberate, in and out. She whispered a short mantra to herself, "Feel the feelings, but they are not your own… feel the feelings, but they are not your own," repeating it over and over like a calming chant.
When they were told about the early morning training, Bubbles was happy to partner with Koda, helping him with his Quirk control, offering a bit of guidance with her own talent for communicating with animals. However, later on, Bubbles asked Pixie-Bob if she could work on another aspect of her abilities, her more empathic powers, alone in the woods. The blonde member was a bit skeptical, not having seen any references to this ability in Aizawa's notes, but Bubbles simply explained it was related to a keen sense of sound. So, she was left to train on her own.
Her blue aura began to glow faintly at first, then grew brighter, pulsing with energy as it expanded from her body, filling the air around her. The soft, soothing light ebbed and flowed, almost as if it had a life of its own. As the energy spread, Bubbles let it pour out, fully embracing the moment. The glow faded slightly, but the pulse of power lingered, swirling around her like an unseen force.
Suddenly, the quiet forest seemed to shift as her powers activated. She began to hear the array of emotions and feelings around her, like little voices, whispers coming from all directions—fragments of the deeper psyche of those nearby. Her breath hitched as her chest tightened, and the voices grew louder, more chaotic, signifying the intensity of the emotions they carried.
Bits and pieces of sentences floated through her mind, jumbled and unintelligible.
"…This is pointless! What's the point of even doing this…" Frustration
"…These teachers are going to kill us…" Fear
"…How am I supposed to push my Quirk like this…" Sadness
She felt her aura flare and spark with energy as sweat began to form on her brow. Her breath grew ragged, and she struggled to maintain control. "Focus," she whispered to herself, chanting her new mantra: "Feel the feelings, but they are not your own…" She focused hard, trying to regain her composure. Slowly, her breathing steadied, but the voices still swirled in her mind like echoes she couldn't escape. With a mental force that was becoming more difficult to maintain, she pushed them away, one by one. But then, a particular voice pierced through the noise—clear, sharp, almost painful. It rang out with an intensity that made Bubbles' heart skip a beat.
"Idiots! Why even work so hard to get killed? Heroes are the worst."
Bubbles gasped, her focus shattering from the loud, angry, sorrowful words. Her chest tightened, and for a moment, it felt as though the world itself was closing in on her. She struggled to calm her breathing, but the sadness in that voice—that voice—struck her like a blow. Her head swam with the echo of those words: "Oh my…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
A deep, aching sadness welled up inside her. For a moment, Bubbles couldn't shake the pain that seeped into her heart. She clutched her chest, feeling the weight of the emotions she couldn't escape. The voices faded, but the sorrow lingered, like an unanswered cry for help.
Bubbles sat there, her aura dimming. The peaceful calm she had sought slipped away as she allowed the grief to settle within her. Her mind was awash with questions she didn't have answers to, but one thought stood out clearly in the depths of her troubled heart. 'Who had said that? And why?'
-4pm ~ Dinner Preparation-
By the time dinner arrived, nearly every student at the camp was aching with exhaustion and discomfort. The situation only seemed worse as they were required to prepare their own meals. The tables were covered with familiar ingredients, and brick camp stoves lined one side, ready to be fueled with firewood and lit.
The forty weary students stood in front of the setup, some confused, others already anticipating what was coming.
"If you want to eat, you have to cook for yourselves!" Ragdoll grinned mischievously as she clawed at the air. Her energy seemed endless. "Today, we're making curry!" she added, "You all look like you've been through the wringer! That's why we won't be making any basic meals today, this will be no ordinary kitty chow!" her laughter ringing out as she looked at the students.
"But of course…" Ida perked up and tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "In times of disaster and evacuation, someone has to feed the weary and soothe the souls of fatigued citizens," he said, turning to the other thirty-nine students. His voice grew louder with enthusiasm. "That's all part of rescue operations! And U.A. never misses a teaching moment! Let's make the tastiest curry in the world, everyone!" He chopped his hand through the air to emphasize his determination.
"Honestly, I feel bad for Class 1-A, dealing with him there," Setsuna quietly muttered to an equally tired Kodai, who merely nodded in agreement.
In the next few minutes the students were washed up, and while some students begged others to cook for them, a number of them took the initiative and got to work. Blossom was one of them. She stepped forward to an empty station and began preparing.
"Hey, Buttercup," Blossom called. "Can you start the fire, and then help Bubbles with chopping the vegetables? I'll handle the base and get our station set up." The two sisters nodded and went to work without any fuss.
While many of the others were still getting things together, Blossom was already deep into her task, focused on preparing the necessary spices.
"Hey, Blossom." She turned around to see Kirishima standing behind her.
"I'd like to help out, too," he said with a grin.
Blossom blinked in surprise. "O-oh, Kirishima... um, you know you don't have to, right? I understand if you're tired, so..." she trailed off, unsure how to respond.
Kirishima shook his head. "Nah, Blossom. You and your sisters already cooked for us the other night, and even though you went through some brutal training of your own, it wouldn't be right to let you do all the work again." His voice was sincere and serious. "So, I'm here to step up and lend a hand. It's the manly thing to do after all," he declared with a wide, confident smile.
Blossom smiled, touched by his words. "Well, if you insist... I could definitely use an extra pair of hands." Kirishima eagerly got to work, setting up another station nearby.
"Says the girl with telekinesis," Buttercup muttered, taking her place at one of the brick camp stoves. "Anyway, fire in the hole!" Her eyes glowed as she shot laser beams at the firewood, instantly sparking a blaze.
Bakugou, seeing this, gritted his teeth. "What a puny trick. I'll show you flames," he declared, marching over to another stove.
"Bakugou! You can't make fire with explosions!" Sero warned, backing away from the stove Bakugou was approaching.
"Watch me!" Bakugou grinned and placed his palm against the firewood. With a confident smirk, he activated his quirk—and—
BAM!
The resulting explosion blew apart the stove, leaving a smoking wreckage in its wake.
"See? I told you so," Sero remarked dryly, as Bakugou stood frozen, his face twitching in frustration.
"Can we get some fire over here, Todoroki?" Mina called from the stove she and Toru were working on.
"Everyone! If we always rely on others, we'll never learn to make fire ourselves!" Momo interjected, her hand glowing in a spectrum of colors as she conjured a lighter with a long nozzle, casually flicking it on to start her own fire.
"You make it look so easy, Yaomomo," Jiro remarked from beside Momo, rolling her eyes.
With the fires finally crackling to life, the other students found their rhythm. The sound of chopping vegetables, sizzling spices, and lighthearted banter began to fill the air. Though fatigue still lingered, the camp atmosphere had taken on a livelier tone.
Finishing up chopping the last of the vegetables, Bubbles made her way over to the cooking station. However, as she moved, her eyes unexpectedly glowed, and she felt that familiar surge of negative emotions. Her breath caught in her chest, and she paused. She rarely allowed herself to use this ability so openly, fearing it would overwhelm her as it had in the past.
Still holding the vegetables, Bubbles hesitated before deciding to follow the sensation. Her enhanced hearing guided her to a corner where she overheard an argument. She recognized the voices immediately: Mandalay and the young boy who had punched Midoriya yesterday, Kota.
"…you know I couldn't leave you at home alone. I feel much better having you nearby than with a babysitter," Mandalay said, her voice soft but strained.
"Yeah? Well, I'd rather be home alone than be with all these stupid wannabe heroes!" Kota snapped, his tone full of bitterness.
Bubbles froze, the words hitting her like a cold wave. She understood now who those negative emotions had been coming from. The unease she felt grew as she listened, helplessly drawn into the conversation.
She heard Mandalay sigh, a note of defeat in her voice. "Kota, I know this is hard for you, but you can't be angry at them. All they want to do is help others."
Bubbles took the opportunity to stick her head out a bit. Kota didn't respond immediately but looked away, his small frame rigid with anger. "Just so they can end up like them? Why would I want to hang out with idiots who want that?"
Mandalay's voice softened, and Bubbles could almost hear her trying to calm him. "Your parents wouldn't want you to think that way, Kota. If they were still around, they'd want you to—"
"Well, they aren't, okay?!" Kota snapped again, his voice cracking. He shoved Mandalay's hand away when she reached for his shoulder. "They just had to be stupid heroes who went and—"
Bubbles couldn't bear to hear any more, quickly turned and fled back toward the cooking stations, clutching the vegetables tightly in her hands as her mind raced to process everything.
As she was walking towards the cooking station, a number of thoughts were playing in her head. 'What happened to him? Why is he so angry? Did something happen to his parents?' Her breath quickened, the conversation she had just heard reverberating in her mind. She could still feel the raw, aching grief in Kota's words. The pain and confusion in his heart were so palpable, so real.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Koda silently approaching her. "Bubbles..." His voice broke through her thoughts like a soft whisper.
"Oh…" Bubbles blinked, startled by his sudden presence, and she quickly straightened herself. "H-hey Koda. What's up?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite the whirlwind inside her.
Koda's expression was one of quiet concern. His gaze softened as he looked at her, and he took a small step closer. "Are you okay? Where did you go? Blossom's been wondering where the extra vegetables went, and…well, you know how she gets. She's already starting to work herself up." Koda's words came out in a slight shudder, knowing full well the trouble that would come if Blossom got too worked up. He'd witnessed her intensity before and knew better than to mess with it.
Bubbles chuckled nervously, trying to act normal. "I'm fine, Koda, really. I just, uh, went to check on something for a bit." She tried giving him a reassuring smile.
Koda didn't seem to buy it, though. His eyes softened in understanding, but his voice remained steady. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look okay."
Bubbles sighed, her smile slipping just a little. She could never hide her emotions for long around Koda. He was perceptive, especially now that he was a little more confident than he had been before.
She hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. "Not really," she admitted softly. "I just…used my powers, and let's just say, someone isn't doing so well." She didn't elaborate further, but Koda caught on instantly. His expression shifted from concern to understanding, and he nodded at her vigorously.
"Oh, I see," Koda said quietly. "Well, if you want to talk about it later, I'm here. But you don't have to, if you don't want to."
Bubbles gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Koda. I appreciate it. I'll be okay, just…not right now."
Koda's face brightened with a soft, reassuring smile. "Okay. But you know I've got your back if you need anything."
Bubbles felt her heart flutter slightly, touched by his kindness. She had always appreciated how thoughtful Koda was, and she could see how much he had grown into himself recently. He wasn't just the quiet, reserved boy anymore—well he still was, just not as severe.
He looked at the bucket of vegetables in her hands and then back at her with a slightly mischievous smile. "Let me carry that for you. You've done enough already."
Bubbles blinked in surprise. "Oh, you don't have to, Koda. I can handle it—"
"I've got it," Koda insisted with a small but proud grin, stepping forward to take the bucket from her hands.
His assertiveness took her off guard, and Bubbles couldn't help but feel a little heat rise to her cheeks. She smiled warmly at him. "Okay, okay, you win."
Just then, a loud voice rang out from across the camp. "Bubbles! Koda! Get those vegetables over here, or else we'll be waiting forever!" It was Blossom, and her tone was as sharp as ever.
Koda visibly flinched at the sound of Blossom's voice, and Bubbles sighed, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "We're coming!" she called back, her voice filled with both amusement and a hint of exasperation.
Seeing Koda's startled expression, Bubbles placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and gave him a playful nudge. "Let's get these vegetables to her before Miss Head Chef decides we're on the chopping block," she teased with a grin.
Koda's face paled at the thought, and he visibly shuddered. "Y-yeah, let's not make her wait any longer."
Bubbles chuckled softly as she followed Koda toward the cooking stations, but her mind was still preoccupied with what she had overheard. Kota's words, his anger—everything still lingered in her thoughts, like an unresolved chord that wouldn't let her go. And so, she would need to investigate a little bit later on.
(-)
After all the preparation, hard work, and—unsurprisingly—yelling from Bakugou, dinner was finally done. The groups were presented with their creations: a large pot of curry, compliments of Blossom and sous chef Kirishima, with added help from her sisters. Rice, courtesy of Momo and her group, was neatly set alongside the curry. Everyone grabbed a bowl and took their places around their respective classes. Before long, the room was filled with the sounds of eager chatter and spoons scraping against bowls as the students devoured their meal with enthusiasm, as if it were their last.
"Man, I am so starving right now!" Kaminari exclaimed, practically inhaling his first bowl.
"I have to say, revelry in the dark sure is hungry work," Tokoyami added, his voice dry and serious, though his own bowl was half empty.
Momo, sitting with her classmates, laughed lightly as she took a bite of the curry. "Well, it's not every day we get to cook for ourselves, and after all that training, we deserve it," she said, wiping a small bit of curry from the corner of her mouth.
Toru, beside her, was practically glowing with excitement. "Seriously, I don't think I've ever had anything this good at a camp before!" she exclaimed, her cheerful voice brightening the table as she continued to pile food onto her plate. "Blossom, you really outdid yourself with this one!"
The chatter flowed effortlessly around the room, as both Class A and Class B students ate their fill. Some were discussing the day's events, while others were simply enjoying the break in the action. The camp's atmosphere, once tense and filled with the weight of competition, was now filled with relief and the simple joy of a well-earned meal. Everyone had been working hard, but now they could rest and recover, if only for a moment.
Aizawa, however, had other plans.
As the room gradually quieted and the students settled into a more relaxed mood, Aizawa stood and walked up to the front of the room. His presence was enough to draw everyone's attention immediately. With his usual deadpan expression, he cleared his throat, and the students fell silent.
"I'll keep this brief," Aizawa began, his voice carrying over the stillness. "The work you've done today was acceptable. Though I'll admit, I wasn't sure some of you could get through it." His words had the usual bite of a backhanded compliment, and several students winced, knowing his assessment was far from enthusiastic.
"However," he continued, "this is just the beginning. Don't get too comfortable. There's no time to slack off. Your training is only going to get harder from here." His tone left no room for disagreement.
"Yes, sir!" came the chorus of responses from the students, their voices a mix of exhaustion and determination.
Aizawa gave a curt nod before continuing. "Those of you who have been injured during training should report for healing sessions immediately. Due to Recovery Girl's absence, her assistant, who has been training her own unique healing abilities, will take care of you." He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly as he focused on one particular student. "That would be you, Buttercup Kayama."
A murmur spread through the room as the students looked at one another, surprised by the sudden revelation. Some were confused, others intrigued. Buttercup, who had been quietly eating at the table, froze. She glanced over at Blossom and Bubbles, exchanging a brief, uncertain look. It was clear that they hadn't known this was coming either.
Buttercup's stomach tightened as she tried to keep her composure. Nezu and Recovery Girl had specifically told her to keep her powers under wraps, and now this? Her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
Aizawa continued, unfazed by the ripple of murmurs spreading through the room. "Also, those of you in extra classes with me and Vlad King, follow me after your healing session. That will be all."
Without another word, he turned and left the room, his expression as unreadable as ever.
The students, still processing the surprise announcement, stared at their food in silence for a few moments. Most of them quickly returned to their meals, though a few still cast sidelong glances at Buttercup. Her quiet table was filled with an awkward tension, broken only by the occasional scrape of cutlery on dishes.
Kaminari, Uraraka, Mina, Sero, and Tenya were the first to break the silence. Each of them fired off questions, their curiosity barely contained.
"Wait, what do you mean you have a healing quirk?" Kaminari blurted, his mouth half-full as he looked at Buttercup, unable to contain his surprise.
"Yeah, why didn't we know about it?" Uraraka added, her tone a mix of curiosity and confusion. "You've been hiding this the whole time?"
Mina leaned in eagerly, her wide eyes sparkling. "I mean, this is amazing! Why didn't you tell anyone? You could've helped us all out so many times already!"
Sero nodded along. "Seriously, Buttercup, you've been sitting on this power and you didn't think to mention it?"
Tenya, ever the logical one, frowned. "Indeed. It seems odd to keep such a useful ability under wraps. What's the reason behind this secrecy?"
Izuku, sensing the tension, tried to interject, but before he could say anything, Buttercup slammed her fist down onto the table with a loud thud. The sudden noise shocked everyone into silence.
"Enough." Her voice was low, but filled with authority. "It's none of your business, all of you." She glared at the group, and her tone was firm, the finality of it clear. The table fell into complete silence, and Buttercup stood, not waiting for anyone to respond. She took a deep breath, her jaw clenched. "I'm leaving now." She then announced. "And yes, in case you haven't figured it out, the camp nurse," she added, her tone dripping with sweet sarcasm, "is me."
She walked off briskly, muttering under her breath about how there better not be any ridiculous outfits involved in her new role as a nurse.
The group at the table exchanged uncertain glances. The mood had shifted dramatically, leaving everyone feeling a little awkward, unsure of what to say next. Izuku, Blossom, Bubbles, and even Kirishima scowled in disapproval, though none of them said anything. They could sense Buttercup's frustration, and while they didn't agree with how she handled the situation, they understood why she was upset.
The rest of dinner resumed in a more subdued manner, conversations picking up again in quiet murmurs. It wasn't as carefree as before, but after the bombshell revelation, it seemed that curiosity was replaced with an undercurrent of tension.
Later in the evening, the Forest was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Kota Izumi stood at the edge of a cliff, looking out over the vast expanse of trees below. His body was stiff, his face set in a grim expression. The weight of his anger and grief hung heavily in the air around him.
He'd sought out this place for peace, for silence, away from the constant reminders of the camp and the teachers. He didn't want to be around the camp, didn't want to be near the so-called heroes who never understood, who never cared. They were just like everyone else—self-absorbed, pretending to be something they weren't. Just like they were, taken by the very thing they had chosen to be—heroes.
The rustle of a branch snapping behind him broke his concentration. He spun around, heart racing. "Who's there?" he called, voice sharp, immediately on guard. "Is that you, Aunt? Just leave me alone! I—"
Before he could finish, a soft voice interrupted him. "No, it's me."
Kota froze, his gaze narrowing as he saw the familiar figure of one of the hero students, Bubbles, walking out from the path; she remembered her name due to Mandalay gushing about her and her sisters' potential. 'What a load of crap it is.'
She was carrying a covered plate, the smell of food wafting gently toward him. Her cheerful demeanor and bright blue eyes stood in stark contrast to the tension in the air.
Bubbles smiled, trying to appear casual. "I brought you some food."
For a moment, Kota stared at her, a brief flicker of surprise passing over his face before he quickly masked it with irritation.
"What do you want, huh?" Kota snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Shouldn't you be off with the rest of your lame friends, eating and playing at being a hero?"
Bubbles didn't falter. She simply tilted her head slightly, her eyes softening as she held the plate out to him. "I noticed you weren't around for dinner," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I thought you might be hungry."
Kota scoffed and turned away, his back to her. "Oh, wow. So you guys weren't too busy with your stupid 'important' conversations to notice I wasn't there, huh? Incredible."
His voice was thick with resentment as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Thanks or what junk, but I'm not hungry. So you can just buzz off," he added, his tone harsh. He waved dismissively, though his stomach betrayed him with an unmistakable growl.
Kota froze, his face flushing a deep shade of red, his embarrassment evident even though he was turned away from her. He stood there for a second, hoping she hadn't noticed, but Bubbles could already feel the shift in the air.
She couldn't help but giggle softly. "I guess you are hungry then, huh?" she teased lightly, stepping forward with a soft smile.
Kota didn't reply. He was still trying to cover his embarrassment, his hands clenched into fists as he stared at the ground, refusing to meet her eyes.
Bubbles's smile faltered slightly when he didn't respond. Her eyes softened as she took another step closer. "I also wanted to talk to you, Kota," she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of genuine concern. "See how you're feeling…"
Before she could finish, Kota whipped around, his face contorted with anger. "I told you already! I don't want to hang out with you, or your sisters, or any of you lame hero wannabes!" His words were laced with venom, the resentment in his voice almost tangible.
He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with each exhale. "You're all just trying to improve your Quirks so you can get famous and make money. It's all so... pathetic." He paused, his voice cracking slightly as he muttered under his breath, "If Quirks never existed... they wouldn't have…"
His words trailed off, and he stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing just what he was about to say. The weight of it hit him like a ton of bricks.
Bubbles's heart sank as she recognized the shift in his emotions. She could see the pain flicker in his eyes, and the vulnerability behind the anger.
Her voice was gentle as she spoke, careful not to push him too hard. "Kota... is this... is this hatred for heroes because of your parents?"
Kota's eyes shot up at her, his pupils dilated with rage. "What do you know?!" he screamed, his voice raw with fury. "What do you know about it?!"
Bubbles flinched at his outburst, but she quickly tried to calm him. "I... I don't know what you've been through," she said softly, her voice steady despite the anger directed at her. "I just... I heard what you said to Mandalay before. About how your parents..."
Kota's eyes widened, the realization hitting him like a slap. His fists clenched as his face turned red with fury. "You overheard me?!" he shouted, his voice full of betrayal. "Typical! People like you, always sticking your noses into things that don't concern you!" He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with anger. "What, Mandalay asked you to talk to me? To try and convince me that heroes are the best thing in the world? Is that it?"
"No!" Bubbles stepped back, her heart aching at the raw emotion he was displaying. "No... it's not like that," she said, her voice quiet but insistent. "I didn't come here to talk about Mandalay or convince you about heroes. I just... I wanted to talk, to help. I wanted to help you understand your anger, Kota. I... I saw you on the first day, so quiet, so withdrawn. And then when you hurt my friend... I felt all that pain, that anger inside you. My po-Quirk—it lets me sense emotions, and you…you're hurting, Kota."
"I don't want your help!" he screamed. "You don't know what it's like, dealing with heroes and villains, and losing everything! It's all a waste of time!" He stopped, his voice growing quieter, filled with a kind of sadness. "Losing people…like my parents..."
The words hung in the air, heavy and filled with grief.
Bubbles' heart twisted at the pain in his voice. She took a step forward, her eyes filled with empathy. "Kota... I may not understand what you're going through," she said softly. "But I do know that there are heroes who are fake, sure. But there are good ones out there too. And... and please... don't be so hard on your parents. They didn't deserve to go like that."
"Shut up!" he yelled, voice rough. "Just…shut up…" Kota stood there, frozen, his fists shaking. The pain in his chest was overwhelming, his emotions at war with each other.
Bubbles sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation settle between them. She didn't push him any further. "Okay," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I understand. But…I just wanted you to know that you're not alone. And there are people who care about you."
She placed the plate on the ground with a soft thud and turned to leave. "Take care of yourself, Kota," she said softly over her shoulder, her voice filled with gentle concern.
Kota stood there, still seething, but his heart ached with confusion. He watched as she walked away, her figure fading into the distance. Without thinking, he kicked the plate, sending it flying across the ground. The curry and food spilled out, mixing with the dirt and rocks. The little chaos did nothing to qualm his grief.
"Heroes suck…" he muttered softly to himself "…why did you guys have to leave…?" As he walked back to the Inn, he paid no attention to the tears that dampened his cheeks, allowing himself this moment of vulnerability.
-Edge of the Wild, Wild Pussycats' private land-
The stars were beginning to show themselves as the last rays of sunlight slowly sank behind the horizon. A group of people stood on a cliff overlooking the large forest spanning below.
One of them was completely covered in a large black cloak, his face hidden behind a white mask with a few holes in it, completely obscuring his appearance. Another was wearing a male Junior High School Uniform and an old school helmet and gas mask, with a backpack on his back as well.A large, rather muscular man with semi-long red hair, sunglasses over his eyes, and thick lips. He was dressed in what appeared to be regular, everyday casual wear, but held a large wrapped object in his left hand.
A person who looked like an anthropomorphic gecko, with green, scaly skin, purple hair, and red eyes. He wore an outfit very reminiscent of Hero Killer: Stain's before the serial killer had been captured. He even had a 'sword' made from various knives, sickles, hatchets and other such common blades, all held together by belts and chains.
"Job… A job…" A man straight out of some people's nightmares spoke oddly. He was dressed in what appeared to be a rather extreme BDSM gimp suit, with metal spikes coming from leather straps all over his leather-clad body. His head, barring his mouth, was completely covered, even his eyes, and his arms even seemed pinned to his body beneath the leather bodysuit. The freakiest thing, however, was the fact that his lips were pulled back by an odd device around his head, revealing all of his teeth and making the man slobber on himself.
"See the freak understands my language. When are we going to run loose?! I'm itching… Itching to go… Let's hurry up and move!" The large cloaked man said impatiently, as a summer breeze lightly rustled the leaves in the forest.
Dabi, part of the group, turned to the cloaked man. "Shut your mouth, you crazy bastard. We're waiting for the rest of our team, especially the other boys…" he said, putting an emphasis on the last part.
"I was really hoping I wouldn't have to work with those three," the Junior High boy in the gas mask groaned, clearly irritated by some members of the group.
The redheaded man spoke up, "Hmm, I have to agree with the shrimp over there." He didn't notice the glares being sent his way from behind the gas mask. "I'm fine with the girl, but the extra kids? Nah, not for me."
"Who the hell cares?" the large cloaked man demanded, his left hand emerging from beneath his cloak and clenching into a fist. His knuckles cracked loudly with the force. "Let's get down there. My blood's pumping over here."
"I said, shut up, you wackjobs!" Dabi snapped, looking over his shoulder at the others. "Not yet… We wait…" He then glanced around, spotting one of his teammates unusually quiet. "Yo, Toga," he called, gaining her attention. "You're being suspiciously quiet, and that's never a good sign when it comes to you. What the hell's going on in that sick head of yours?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
Himiko Toga, dressed in her usual outfit but now wearing black-market-made support gear—black mask with vertical cords, a large black scarf with a toothy design, and six syringe-like devices attached to her sides in black boxes, each connected to a small pump on her back by a clear plastic tube—looked up, realizing all eyes were on her. She'd been lost in thought, thinking back to a certain event from a few weeks ago.
*Flashback*
In the secret location of the villains' hideout, a bar filled with new faces, Toga among them.
"It's almost time, people..." Tomura hissed, placing one of his severed hands onto his face. "Soon, our plan will finally unfold."
"Ooh, I can't wait for this!" the blonde girl in the school outfit giggled, her pointed teeth exposed as she clasped her face. "I'm so ready to do this!"
"You better keep it together, blood psycho. You're just as crazy as that musclehead outside," Mustard hissed.
"Now now, let's all play nice," Tomura said, standing up. "You'll all get your chance to let loose. The time is almost here. Once we make this work, not only will we shatter the faith in that stupid UA school, but in heroes in general. That is exactly what we will do when we strike."
Dabi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you've said that already. What you didn't mention were the students we'd be targeting, you walking handjob," he spat out.
Tomura, trying his best not to disintegrate the new member of his team, simmered his temper. "Of course… pardon my forgetfulness…" He then motioned for Kurogiri to distribute the photos and the details of their targets.
They were given the plan—where it was set and what it entailed. Apparently, anyone who stood in their way was considered an obstacle, one that could be killed without hesitation. The villains had no qualms about that. What piqued their curiosity, however, were the faces on the photos they received.
Toga eyed the first two pictures, both marked for capture… alive. One was the primary target of the attack, but the other was a personal request from that strange voice that spoke through the TV—the one seemingly pulling the strings of Shigaraki and the "bad red guy." The picture seemed oddly familiar to her.
A photo of a green-haired teen, Toga mused that he might look more appealing covered in red. Then to a picture of a blonde, angry-looking boy. Toga quickly lost interest. As she turned the page, three more pictures caught her attention—three girls, obviously sisters. What made her pause, however, was one of the faces—a certain blonde girl she'd met months ago.
"Bubbles…?"
*End Flashback*
Toga snapped back to the present, her mind still lingering on that memory. She looked up at Dabi, who was still glaring at her, waiting for an answer. With a sly grin, Toga gave a playful shrug. "Oh, me? I was just thinking about meeting an old and the new friends there!" She squealed with excitement, licking her lips. "I wondered if I'll taste them."
Author's Notes:
Oh my stars! Writing this chapter was a real challenge, but I finally got it down! Honestly, I was stuck for a bit, but reading A Waterbending Quirk and Collector Hero: Synthesis really helped spark some AU-themed ideas. First things first, this chapter was already pre-written; I just had a creative itch that needed scratching. Second, the next chapter will introduce some long-awaited guests, so to those who've been pestering me in the comments about the 'boys,' I hope this chapter helps ease that a bit. Lol.
I decided to make Bubbles the nosy hero who won't give up on Kota, even though I originally planned for Buttercup to take that role. But, now she'll be following a different member in the next chapter. Speaking of Buttercup, sorry about that little reveal of her impressive gift! It'll be relevant for the upcoming attack in the next chapter. As for powers and gifts, yes—Bubbles is an empath. I probably should have clarified that better in the last chapter during the Sports Festival. Oh well! The important thing to know is that she can read emotions and a couple of other things, but it does come with some drawbacks, as you saw.
Aizawa outing Buttercup was necessary for the plot. He's trying to gather clues about these super-skilled girls, and when he finally gets his information, will he be satisfied or just more paranoid?
Toga remembering her old friend—what could that lead to?
Stay tuned for what's coming in the next chapter, where we'll finally dive into some fights, frights, and unexpected twists that will really test the girls and shake up the MHA universe. I hope you enjoy it! Please don't forget to read, review, and favorite! Bye for now!