Chapter 41: Forest Training Camp Pt.3: Unforeseen Developments
Suspicion is growing, and many eyes are on certain students. However, we must also remain cautious, as not all eyes are friendly.
And to the fans who have been requesting some familiar characters to make an appearance, well, here's your answer.
Chapter 41: Forest Training Camp Pt.3: Unforeseen Developments
"Alright, that's enough for now. Make your way to the cafeteria and grab yourselves something to eat." Aizawa spoke gruffly to the class, his voice rough from the hours of training. "But make sure to report in a few hours for your day training with the Wild Wild Pussycats, clear?"
"Y-yes sir…!" came the exhausted, almost defeated chorus from the supplementary class.
It was around 5 am, and the students were barely holding it together after another grueling training session with none other than Aizawa himself. Those who had failed their final exams could still go for the training camp but had been assigned to these late-night to early-morning classes, a brutal combination of quirk control and classroom lessons; and still required to attend their morning Quirk training with the other Pro Heroes.
Only three days into this intense regimen, the students were still reeling. Even Blossom, ever composed, couldn't deny that she wasn't a fan of the late hours or the relentless demands, more so due to the sleep it was cutting into.
As Aizawa walked away, his tired gaze swept over the students, lingering just a little too long on a certain student. Said student was not oblivious to the subtle stare but decided to not give the man any acknowledgment. Soon, silence took over, till a certain someone let loose.
"Fuck this!" Bakugou, ever the firecracker, couldn't contain his frustration any longer. "I'm getting the heck out of here!" he yelled, stomping away from his classmates, leaving behind a trail of heated frustration. His angry footsteps echoed in the quiet as most of the others, sore and tired from the brutal session, barely had the energy to keep up.
Blossom, however, remained calm. She simply shook her head with a quiet sigh as she untied her braided ponytail, letting the strands cascade down to her waist. She walked away from the rest, choosing a path that veered off toward the forest, her mind seeking a bit of peace away from the others.
As Blossom floated through the trees, her movements graceful and effortless, she allowed herself to enjoy the quiet stillness of the forest. It was a welcome relief to give herself a break from the hour-long training. The soft rustle of leaves in the wind was a balm for her frazzled mind.
"Honestly, it feels good to feel weightless, once in a while," she muttered to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she continued to float along. "Geez, I can tell Aizawa's getting suspicious of us," she chuckled, shaking her head. "It's almost funny, really. He's just now starting to catch on? Though, if I'm being honest, I'd say we haven't been making waves. But, that'd be a lie."
Her gaze shifted upward, watching the few rays of morning light piercing through the canopy above, and she couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed. It wasn't just about the classes, the late hours, or the exhaustion. It was about the situation she and her sisters were in. She could confidently say that although they have faced crazier situations, being transported to another world, still takes the cake; and they time-traveled for crying out loud.
She also couldn't shake the thoughts about what might happen back in Townsville. The weight of the situation was something she couldn't shake. She knew that HIM was still around, lurking in the shadows, and while it was typical for him to remain out of sight for long stretches, there was something unsettling about the fact that he hadn't made any moves, since the last encounter with him, in Hosu.
Blossom's fingers brushed against a branch as she drifted, her mind racing. 'Why isn't he doing anything?' she thought, glancing up at the canopy above. 'He's always been one for chaos and games—he can't stay quiet for too long.' Yet here she was, far from Townsville, and HIM's silence was the loudest thing in her mind.
She let out a frustrated sigh, her voice barely audible. "Maybe we should just go find him," she muttered to herself. "Break the rules, ditch this whole thing, and go look for HIM. We could end it before it even starts." The thought of finding him and confronting him head-on was tempting. But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. 'What if it's a trap? What if we make it worse?' They hadn't even figured out how to get back home yet, let alone face HIM in this unfamiliar world.
The uncertainty gnawed at her. They had rules, and she knew they had to follow them, but part of her was itching to break free, to put an end to the threat that loomed over her and her sisters. 'This must be how Buttercup, feels…' She shook her head, her hair whipping around in the breeze as her feet lightly touched the forest floor. "Patience, Blossom. We'll have to wait. We can't just act on impulse," she said quietly, even though a small part of her wasn't convinced.
The forest around her seemed to echo her uncertainty, the sounds of distant birds and the rustling leaves offering little comfort. But she had no choice but to wait. Waiting was all they could do for now until the time came when they were strong enough to face HIM again. Until then, she had to trust that when the time came, they'd be ready. She just hoped it wouldn't be too late.
The forest around her seemed to echo her uncertainty, the distant birds and rustling leaves offering little comfort. But right now, she needed a break from it all. A quiet moment to let her thoughts settle before she was pulled back into the grind of whatever was coming next. The forest was calm, and for a fleeting second, so was she. But she knew she had no choice but to wait. Waiting was all they could do for now until the time came when they were strong enough to face Him again. Until then, she had to trust that when the time came, they'd be ready. She just hoped it wouldn't be too late.
"Hmm, I wonder if-" Those were the only words that came out of her mouth before she snapped her head into action. A strange feeling washed over her, something familiar and…dangerous. The rustling of branches broke the stillness, followed by a loud crack of twigs snapping underfoot. Without thinking, she shot forward, her body moving on autopilot as she tackled the figure that had intruded into her space. "Gotcha!"
"Wait—no—oomph!" A startled male voice yelped, the air rushing out of him as Blossom pinned him to the ground.
Blossom froze as her mind caught up to the situation. Blushing furiously, she quickly realized that she had tackled none other than Kirishima. His face was a deep shade of red, matching his fiery hair, and he looked mortified. "H-hey, Blossom…sorry to scare you," chuckling a bit to hide his embarrassment.
"Sorry!" Blossom stammered, her voice coming out in a rush as she quickly scrambled off him. "I didn't mean to— I wasn't—I didn't know what I was doing!" Her hands fumbled as she tried to help him up, but her own embarrassment made her stumble over her words.
Kirishima, still on the ground, chuckled awkwardly and waved it off with a grin. "It's okay! I get it, a hero is always on the alert, so," he said, flashing her a toothy, genuine smile that eased her nerves. "No harm done, Blossom."
Blossom's blush only deepened, and she gave him a sheepish smile as she extended her hand to pull him up. With a bit more effort than she expected, she managed to pull him to his feet, earning a surprised "Whoa" from Kirishima. "Wow, Blossom, I always forget how strong you are," he said, scratching the back of his neck, his face still red. Then, realizing how that might have sounded, he quickly stammered, "Not that I thought you were weak or anything! Just that you never really show it, you know? And, uh... that's not a bad thing! It's just that I usually forget, and—"
Blossom giggled into her hand, finding his rambling endearing. "It's okay, Kirishima," she said with a warm smile. "I get it. You wouldn't forget about Bubbles, with her kind personality, or Buttercup, she's hard to forget, especially with that tough attitude of hers," she added with a slight eye-roll, but there was no annoyance in her tone, just fondness.
Kirishima smiled even wider. "Well, I think you're just as memorable as your sisters. And just as manly," he said sincerely.
Blossom felt a warmth spread through her at his words. She stuttered a brief "Thanks," still feeling a little shy under his gaze.
There was a brief silence before Blossom cleared her throat and regained her composure. "So, what are you doing out here?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as she crossed her arms, waiting for him to explain.
Kirishima hesitated for a moment before asking, "Well, what are you doing out here instead of heading back to the cafeteria?"
Blossom sighed, raising an eyebrow. "I needed some time alone after dealing with Mr. Aizawa for hours on end." She shrugged, adding with a smirk, "And you?"
Kirishima scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit bashful. "Well... I was actually looking for you."
Blossom raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? And why's that?"
He met her gaze, a sheepish grin crossing his face. "I wanted to ask if you'd be up for a sparring match later today," he said, scratching his cheek.
Blossom blinked, surprised. "A sparring match? Well... wouldn't you be better off battling someone more equal to your style, like Tetsutetsu? Or maybe someone who can help strengthen your Quirk, like... Bakugou?" she added, the last part slipping out with a quiet hiss, not exactly a fan of his abrasive attitude.
Kirishima shook his head, dismissing the idea. "Nah, I was hoping to practice my hand-to-hand combat. And I thought you'd be a better fit. I mean, you were amazing yesterday, the way you dodged and took on the two girls from Class 1-B."
Blossom was quick to deflect, her face slightly flushed. "It was nothing. I was just evading and countering."
Kirishima shook his head again, his grin widening. "Nah, Blossom, it was way cooler than that! You were so focused and strategic. That's why I want to learn from you. My mentor always tells me to be less heads-on when I fight, and more strategic. You've definitely got that down."
Blossom couldn't help but chuckle at how much he admired her fighting style. She appreciated the compliment, though she wasn't entirely used to being seen as 'cool.' "Well, I'd be happy to help you out," she said, still a little surprised by how much he'd noticed. "But I won't go easy on you," she added with a sly smile.
Kirishima's eyes lit up. "Alright, I expect nothing less from you!"
Blossom smiled, nodding. "You know, you can just call me 'Bloss' if you want. I don't mind."
Kirishima blinked, surprised, but his smile only grew. "Awesome."
They both turned to head back to the camp, but just as they began to walk, Blossom suddenly stopped, her senses on high alert again. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the trees around them. Something felt off, like they weren't alone.
Kirishima noticed her sudden shift and turned back, worry crossing his face. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked.
Blossom quickly straightened up, flashing him a small smile to ease his concern. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thought I heard something... weird," she said, though her mind was still racing.
Kirishima didn't seem fully convinced but shrugged it off. "Alright, well, don't worry. I doubt there's anyone else out here but us," he said with a grin.
Blossom nodded, still feeling the nagging feeling in the back of her mind, but she didn't say anything more as they continued walking back to the camp, her senses still on alert.
-Camp Area-
It was late morning, and the sun was now high in the sky, casting a harsh light across the training grounds where U.A. students were diligently working through their drills. The atmosphere buzzed with activity, but it was clear that the day's most intense training was about to begin under the supervision of Tiger, who was not going to go easy on the kids.
Izuku Midoriya stood in front of him, bracing himself as the massive figure of Tiger loomed over him. With his brown hair spiked and his intimidating presence, Tiger was every bit the fierce warrior he appeared to be. His massive body rippled with muscle beneath his brown hero costume, his white, unblinking eyes watching Izuku closely. Tiger's tone was stern, and his sharp features gave no indication of leniency.
"Alright, Midoriya, show me what you've got!" Tiger barked, his deep voice cutting through the air like a whip.
Izuku tightened his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been pushing himself to the limit ever since they began their training, trying to master the control of One For All. With a deep breath, he activated the Quirk, channeling "One for all, 10%, attack," of its power into his body. His legs tensed, and he launched himself at Tiger, throwing a flurry of punches at the massive hero.
But Tiger was unfazed. With the fluidity of a seasoned combatant, he twisted and dodged each strike with ease, his body stretching and contorting in ways that seemed almost unnatural. Thanks to his Quirk, it allowed him to twist his limbs and body like rubber, making him nearly impossible to hit. Izuku's attacks whiffed through the air as Tiger danced around him.
In a sudden flash of movement, Tiger retaliated. With a speed that caught Izuku off guard, Tiger swiped at him with an exaggerated, claw-like motion—his fist connecting with Izuku's side with a force that sent him hurtling through the air.
THUD!
Izuku landed with a grunt, "GAHH!" the air leaving his lungs in a rush. He quickly got up but, before he could even register what to do next, Tiger followed up with an uppercut, slamming his fist into Izuku's jaw with a force that left him skidding across the ground.
Izuku groaned, struggling to lift his head as pain shot through his body. The impact had rattled him, but there was no time to stay down. Slowly, he propped himself up, taking a shaky breath as Tiger walked over, his large, muscular frame casting a shadow over him.
Tiger's expression was unreadable, but there was a certain hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Nice try, Midoriya," he said gruffly, his voice low and firm. "But you're still lacking in technique. You can't just rely on raw power. If you want to control and use more of your Quirk, you need to be smarter with your moves!"
Izuku nodded shakily, feeling a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. "Y-yes, sir..." His voice was quiet, his gaze dropping to the ground in shame.
Tiger gave a grunt of approval, but there was still a hard edge to his tone. "Get up. You've still got a long way to go." He turned to the rest of the students who had been watching the sparring match from the sidelines, a mix of awe and caution in their eyes. "Listen up!" Tiger's voice boomed across the camp, the energy palpable as the students straightened up. "If you want to survive out there, you need to be swift and strong like a tiger! Only then will you be ready for what's coming!"
A chorus of weary responses echoed back, "Y-yes, sir…"
Tiger's eyes scanned the group, and then his gaze locked onto one student in particular. "Shishida, you're up next. Give me everything you've got!" he commanded, his voice carrying a menacing undertone.
As Shishida nervously made his way forward, Izuku stood to the side, still feeling the lingering pain from the sparring match. His chest ached, and his limbs felt heavy, he caught his breath, and he suddenly overheard some whispering.
"Hiryu, do you think Tiger's gotten harder?" one voice asked, followed by another.
"Yeah, his sparring matches are way more intense now," another student responded, their tone uneasy.
Izuku furrowed his brows. "What's going on?" he wondered to himself, being a good distance away from them and still able to hear it.
Then, he heard a guy named, Kamakiri's sharp voice cut through the air. "It's all that girl's fault. She showed off and got lucky when she hit him." He sneered, clearly irked. "Now he's got all this talk about having the 'eye of the Tigress,' BS. All because she managed to slap him around a bit…"
Izuku suddenly felt his anger, quickly rising, his fists tightening at his sides. "How dare they talk about her like that," he muttered under his breath. His eyes glowed a fierce, dark green as his energy flared with subtle sparks around, his fists clenching tightly. He wasn't sure if he was angrier about their disrespect toward Buttercup or the fact that they seemed to think she had gotten lucky. 'What the hell do they know? Buttercup's not some lucky girl—she's strong, and they don't get it.'
"Just because some bitch slapped him, now we all have to suffer," Kamakiri grumbled, his voice full of frustration.
Izuku's breathing became shallow, his anger rising. 'Buttercup's not a 'bitch.' She's strong. She handled herself perfectly against Tiger, and she didn't back down. She's... amazing,' he thought to himself, struggling to control the surge of emotions bubbling inside him. Before he could process his feelings further, Tiger's voice rang out across the field.
"Midoriya! Get yourself to the infirmary. Clean yourself off, and then get back here for more training!"
Izuku blinked, still seething. With a final glance at the students of Class 1-B, he turned and began walking away, his head still filled with anger and confusion. His chest ached with every step, but it was the words about Buttercup that lingered in his mind.
(-)
As he walked down the path to the infirmary, he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to defend her. She didn't deserve to be talked about like that. She was strong, and Izuku admired her for it, more than anyone knew. When he reached the infirmary, the sound of raised voices caught his attention.
"Hold still, you big baby! Or I won't be able to understand what bruised more than your fat ego!"
Izuku couldn't help but smile at the sound of the voice. The familiar banter brought some relief to his tense shoulders as he stepped into the room. Buttercup, dressed in light green scrubs, was focused on tending to a student from Class 1-B.
"Tetsutetsu, please, not get difficult!" Pony urged, her words stumbling slightly in her broken Japanese.
Tetsutetsu, seated on a medical table, scowled as he tried to pull away from her. "I don't trust some Class 1-A brat touching me! What do you think you're doing?" he grumbled, his arms crossed stubbornly. Tetsutetsu groaned, clearly not enjoying the situation, but Buttercup rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips. "I'm healing you, metalhead. If you want to stay hurt, go ahead and let it fester, but don't complain when you can't even move tomorrow."
Tetsutetsu huffed. "I don't need you poking around, making it worse! I'll deal with it myself."
"Someone's ego is more bruised than their arm, huh?" she quipped back.
Izuku stood awkwardly off to the side, unsure of what to say or do, until Buttercup's eyes flicked up and she gave him a warm, welcoming smile.
"Ah, look who's here! Are you here to wait your butt while I finish dealing with this baby?" Buttercup teased, clearly in her element.
Izuku chuckled, but the tension in the room quickly shifted as Tetsutetsu spat out a rude comment. Buttercup, not having any of it, stepped forward and physically restrained him. Her eyes glowed with intensity as she warned him, "Sit still and let me focus, or I'll show you what real pain is."
Tetsutetsu stiffened, eyes wide at the seriousness in her voice. "Uh… fine. Just… hurry up," he muttered, reluctantly letting Buttercup work. Tetsutetsu, clearly rattled by the threat, quickly complied, his previous bravado slipping away. As Buttercup finished her healing, she sighed in relief when the glow around her hands faded.
"See? You're good as ne—" before she finished and without wasting much time, Tetsutetsu dashed out of the room in a hurry, cheering as he boasted about being healed and wanting to continue the fight
Buttercup crossed her arms, clearly peeved by the situation. "Seriously, not even a thank you? Who raised that guy? He's lucky I even bothered," she muttered to herself.
At that moment, Pony, who had been standing off to the side, stepped forward. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Thank you for helping him," she said in slightly broken Japanese.
Buttercup's demeanor softened. "No problem," she replied, switching seamlessly to English. "Just make sure that idiot doesn't come back here whining and squirming, or I won't be so nice next time."
Pony looked taken aback at the sudden switch to English but giggled, warmly in response. "I will try. But thank you again," she said in perfect English, giving a respectful bow before turning and hurrying to catch up with Tetsutetsu.
Once they were gone, Buttercup sighed and rolled her shoulders, relaxing a bit. "Man, that was exhausting," she muttered, glancing over at Izuku, who had been standing quietly, watching the scene.
Izuku limped toward her, and Buttercup immediately noticed his movement. "Uh-oh, another patient?"
Izuku smiled, despite the lingering frustration inside. "Guess I'm next, huh?"
Before Buttercup began her healing work, Izuku couldn't help but notice the way she seemed to command the room. "I have to admit, it's kind of impressive that you're the camp nurse," he commented, trying to break the silence with a smile.
Buttercup rolled her eyes, the hint of a grin pulling at her lips. "They wish," she said, her voice flat. "No, since our big-mouth teacher volunteered me, I've had to come at least twice a day to tend to our class and the others. Some of them," she continued with a wry smirk, "are less willing to sit down, but eh, I have to deal with it. Think of it like training, in a sense," she grumbled under her breath, clearly not thrilled by the whole arrangement. "But I'd prefer some action or whatever."
"Yeah, I can see that," Izuku chuckled but winced a bit as his sore muscles protested.
Buttercup gave him a small smile before smirking as she pointed to the medical bed. "You're lucky you put me in a good mood today, Green Bean. Get on the table."
Izuku gingerly climbed onto the medical bed, wincing slightly as his sore muscles protested. Buttercup didn't waste time as she got to work, quickly performing a physical examination. When she was satisfied with what she saw, she raised her hands over the areas—starting with his side—glowing with that familiar, soothing light. She moved swiftly, her focus unwavering, though her lips quirked into a playful smirk as she looked at Izuku.
"So, how bad did the other guy get it?" she asked casually as she healed his bruises.
Izuku bashfully looked down, a flush creeping up his neck. "It was another sparring session with Tiger. He's been doubling down on his workouts, seeing as you gave him a real fight. Unlike us," he mumbled.
Buttercup snorted. "I can see that overgrown cat dad using you guys as a scratching post." She took hold of his face now.
Izuku winced as she continued her examination, and his eyes couldn't help but focus on her face as she examined his bruises. He was acutely aware of her hands gently holding his face, making him even more self-conscious. He could feel his heart rate picking up.
The playfulness in her voice returned as she studied his face. "I have to say; the guy can throw a mean punch. But," she removed her hands from his face, staring straight at him with a raised eyebrow, "so can you. So, tell me, how do you manage to end up with a bruised face and, may I say, a few cracked ribs?"
Izuku's face turned even redder. He stuttered, trying to explain. "Well, I tried to land a few punches on him, but he was so fast and—"
"And you're faster," She cut him off, her voice firm. "or at least your brain is. With all that mumbling and junk, you can think on your feet and dodge that 'cat punch' of his, right?"
Izuku blinked, surprised at how confidently she was speaking. "I was told that my fighting technique isn't all that great."
Buttercup scoffed. "Well, yeah, but I remember giving you some drills and training." Her eyes narrowed playfully. "So, don't go thinking you don't have any skills."
Izuku hesitated for a moment before he replied, "That was like months ago."
"Yeah, and in those months, you've picked up some decent techniques. But then, you still go in swinging with brute force." Buttercup's tone became a little more serious, though there was still a playful undertone.
Izuku wasn't done yet, trying to make his case. "Isn't that what you normally do?"
Buttercup raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but at least I'm fast enough to pull back and deliver a knuckle sandwich to the other guy's punch."
Izuku couldn't argue with that. He stayed silent, glancing down at his hands, knowing he was still a bit too eager to throw a punch without thinking.
As Buttercup went to look for some ointment, Izuku mumbled under his breath, not realizing how loud it was. "And the others thought you were just lucky, so not true—" He quickly slapped his hand over his mouth, silently cursing himself for the slip-up.
Buttercup stopped in her tracks and turned toward him, her eyes narrowing in a way that made Izuku freeze. "Green Bean, what was that?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
Izuku immediately tried to wave it off, but Buttercup crossed her arms and gave him an unmistakable scowl. It was a look that said, Don't try to lie, mister.
Izuku knew there was no point in lying, so he gave in and told her everything that happened earlier that day, though he left out the part about hearing the 1B students talking behind her back. He told her about how Tiger had pushed them harder than usual and how the other students seemed to be a little bit too talkative when she wasn't around.
Buttercup listened in complete silence, her expression unreadable. By the time Izuku finished recounting everything, he was beginning to feel uneasy. Her scowl hadn't faded, and she hadn't said a word.
"B-Buttercup… are you okay?" he stammered, his voice filled with worry. "I mean, yeah, it's wrong what they said and I don't agree with them and I certainly—"
Before he could finish, Buttercup's hand landed firmly over his mouth, cutting him off. Her eyes glowed for a brief moment as she spoke, her tone calm but commanding. "Cool it, Green Bean," she said. She took a deep breath in, then exhaled slowly, her eyes returning to their normal color.
She turned her back to him, walking away to prepare some more ointment. "Honestly, I don't care what those cowards have to say, if they can't say it to my face. It just means I'm too badass for them to grow a spine to come at me. Why should I waste my time on them?" She shrugged, her confidence unwavering. "Besides, we still have time before the camp ends, and now that I know their names..." Her eyes glinted with mischievousness as she cracked her knuckles. "I'll be hoping to get a little sparring session with each and every one of them."
Izuku shivered, half in dread and half in something he couldn't quite place. He realized that, in some strange way, he was looking forward to seeing how this would play out. Buttercup had a way of making everything seem like it was under her control, and even though it was a little intimidating, he couldn't help but admire her for it.
She looked over at him, and for a moment, their eyes met. A slight blush crept onto her face, but she quickly cleared her throat and said, "Yeah, anyway..." She reached out and gently took hold of his face again, this time more carefully. It was an action that was somehow more tender than before. Izuku didn't pull away; in fact, he found himself welcoming it, his heartbeat speeding up for reasons he couldn't fully explain.
She alternated between healing energy and ointment, soothing the injury and working on clearing the bruise. Izuku couldn't help but marvel at her ability. It was always so impressive. He rubbed his face absently, feeling the smoothness where the bruise had once been.
"Buttercup, I'm so impressed by your Quirk," he said without thinking. "No wonder Recovery Girl wanted to mentor you."
Buttercup scoffed, her voice dismissive. "It ain't anything special, Green Bean."
Izuku, still feeling the awe, responded, "It really is. Like, if you weren't around, I think I would have had more injuries to my arm than normal."
Buttercup turned to him after drying her hands, giving him a slightly soft but knowing look. "Well, you'll still have Granny to heal you up, though she's complained about you and your bone-breaking ways," she chuckled. "Seriously, the woman might be a doctor, but even she can't fathom how you manage to break your bones so often."
Izuku scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Well, I'm still getting the hang of my powers, being a late bloomer and all," he lied, though he immediately felt guilty for saying it, especially to Buttercup.
She eyed him skeptically but shrugged it off. "Eh, I understand. My powers were something of their own, but oh well." She paused, her tone suddenly shifting to something more serious. "Anyway..." she hesitated, her cheeks turning a little pink, "I wanted to talk to you about the exam thing... and the aftermath of it."
Izuku immediately understood what she meant. Before she could continue, the door to the infirmary swung open, and in came a hyper Ragdoll, followed by a sick-looking Uraraka and an uncomfortable Aoyama, clutching his stomach.
Ragdoll cheered as she stepped in. "I have some new patients awaiting your expert hands, Nurse Kayama!"
Buttercup groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Alright, tell them to come in, geez." The trio walked in, passing by Izuku, and Uraraka tried to say hi to him, but she was immediately interrupted by another round of nausea, rushing to the nearby bathroom to vomit.
Ragdoll couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe having a third serving of breakfast wasn't such a great idea, huh?" she joked, chuckling lightly.
Buttercup shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. Izuku, seeing that he wasn't needed anymore, decided to slip away quietly. "Yeah, well, see you around, Buttercup," he muttered, making his exit.
Ragdoll watched him leave with a chuckle. "Why's the kid always in such a hurry to leave?"
Meanwhile, Buttercup, now left with the new patients, huffed as she blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Seriously, lost my chance to talk with him." It wasn't until she noticed Aoyama staring at her, his signature smirk—though strained by his stomach pain—on his face, that she snapped back to attention. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "What?"
Aoyama simply hummed, his grin widening. "Nothing, mademoiselle. Nothing." He chuckled lightly despite his discomfort. Buttercup rolled her eyes and shook her head, returning to her work. It seemed like today was just another chaotic day in the life of the Class 1A infirmary.
(-)
-At a Small Clearance-
The clearing in the forest was quiet, the sun filtering through the trees and casting dappled shadows across the soft earth. A little area for which, some students could train away from the others. Blossom stood in front of Kirishima, the air thick with the promise of a friendly sparring match. Kirishima was getting serious now, his muscles tensing as he launched a series of punches and kicks toward her. He was quick, aiming to land a clean hit, but Blossom was quicker. With a smooth step to the side, she avoided his strikes with ease, her movements fluid and calculated.
"Come on, Kirishima! You've got to do better than that!" Blossom called out, her voice teasing but with a hint of encouragement.
Kirishima huffed, his brows furrowed in concentration as he squared off again, his fists raised. "I'm trying! You're too fast!"
Blossom couldn't help but smile at his frustration. "It's all about patience. You've got the power, but you need to learn control. Try to think of the strike as a redirection of energy, not just a hit."
With that, she darted in, catching his guard off-guard with a quick jab to his ribs. Kirishima stumbled back, surprised but not deterred. "Alright, alright. I see what you mean," he said, rubbing his side but grinning. "This is harder than I thought."
Blossom's stance remained calm as she analyzed his movements, always watching, always waiting for the right moment. "Don't get frustrated. Every punch you throw should have a purpose. Boxing is great for power, but my style is more about using your opponent's momentum against them." She ducked under another punch, twisting around and landing a solid kick to his side.
Kirishima grunted but nodded, his face breaking into a grin despite the sting. "Alright, I'm learning. Just give me a little more time!" He came at her again, but Blossom danced away, nimbly avoiding his attacks with graceful ease. She wasn't fast for speed's sake, she was fast because she anticipated his moves, redirecting his energy before he could even realize it.
"I'll give you all the time you need, Kirishima," she said, voice light but serious as she continued the back-and-forth. "But remember, fighting is as much about your mind as it is about your body. Stay calm. Think of where I'm going, not just where I am now."
"Yeah, yeah," he said with a small chuckle, his frustration fading. "I get it. I just need to not let you get under my skin."
Blossom's eyes twinkled with amusement as she threw in a few punches of her own, light taps that always seemed to land just enough to keep him on his toes. "You'll get there," she said with a warm smile. "You've got the heart for it. Just need to match it with the brain."
Kirishima's face lit up at her encouragement, and for a moment, he forgot about the frustration that had been building up. He was grateful for the challenge, even more so for the chance to learn. "Thanks, Blossom. This is helping more than I thought."
Meanwhile, not too far from their sparring session, Bubbles and Koda were practicing their own form of training in the forest. Koda was working intently, his eyes focused on a snake that had curled around his arm. The animal's DNA had fused with his own, and he was trying to hold onto the flexibility and fluidity of the snake's movements. He contorted his arm, mimicking the strike of the reptile as it moved effortlessly through the grass.
Bubbles sat nearby, her blue aura swirling gently around her as she meditated, her senses extending out to connect with the world around her. She could hear the faint rustle of leaves, the chirp of distant birds, and even the subtle movements of other students nearby. It was peaceful, the kind of quiet that allowed her mind to wander without distraction. Although she did hear a certain someone's angry emotions and knew it was time to calm down.
Bubbles sighed, opening her eyes and reaching into her backpack for a snack. She pulled out a couple of granola bars and began to eat, chewing slowly. She glanced over at Koda, who was still engrossed in his practice.
"Hey, Koda," she called, "want one?"
Koda paused, his expression softening as he shuffled over to her. "Thank you, Bubbles." He took the granola bar from her, sitting beside her as they both ate in comfortable silence. After a moment, Bubbles broke the quiet.
"I have more if you want another," she said, her voice light. "You've been working hard, and lunch got pushed back."
Koda shook his head, a gentle smile on his face. "Nah, Bubbles. I don't want to finish your snacks. Besides," he added, his voice low and thoughtful, "you've been working hard too. Don't sell yourself short, okay?"
Bubbles smiled at his sweet words, leaning her head against his side as she giggled softly. "Thanks, Koda. But don't worry, I brought a lot." She rustled her bag and sure enough, the sound of more snacks shifting inside made Koda laugh.
"That's good," he said, chewing on his own bar as they continued to snack. But then, sensing that his friend was a bit off, he turned to her with a concerned look. "Bubbles, are you okay? Is this about Kota?"
Bubbles paused, the words hitting her harder than she expected. She swallowed her bite of food before looking up at Koda, giving him a small, soft smile. "You know me too well," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and sadness. "Yeah, it's about Kota."
Koda's face softened, his eyes full of care. He nudged her shoulder gently. "You want to talk about it?"
Bubbles sighed, and told him about the whole situation, though leaving out certain reasons, seeing as it was not her story to tell but still giving Koda, the necessary information. "I don't know what to do… I feel so bad for him. He's angry—so angry." She shudders at the thoughts, "And I can feel the storm in him. But he won't let it go, Koda and I don't want to push him."
Koda was quiet for a moment, then surprised her by pulling her into a big hug. Bubbles froze for a second, but then melted into it, her tears slipping down her face as Koda whispered in a soft, understanding tone, "I know how sensitive you are to others' emotions, Bubbles. I can only imagine how painful it was for you to feel what he's going through."
Bubbles didn't answer, but she nodded against his chest, letting a few tears fall. It was comforting, having Koda's warmth and support. After a moment, she pulled away, quickly wiping her eyes.
"Thanks, Koda," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. She gave him a small, grateful smile. "But... do you think I could help him? I just… I don't like how much pain he's in."
Koda thought for a minute, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think... he believes that heroes let him down. It's going to take more than words. I think action will be the key. I don't know what you're going to do, but I have faith that you can reach his heart, Bubbles."
Bubbles' eyes brightened at his words, a smile spreading across her face. She reached up and gave Koda a quick peck on the cheek, her way of thanking him. Koda's face immediately turned bright red, and he stammered, clearly flustered.
"B-Bubbles!" he squeaked, his usual confidence faltering as he tried to steady himself.
Bubbles giggled, clearly enjoying the moment. "Thanks again, Koda," she said, still smiling as she watched him try to compose himself.
"Anytime, Bubbles," Koda managed to say, his face still flushed. But the way he said it, so earnestly, made her heart swell with warmth.
As they finished their snacks, the forest around them seemed a little quieter, as if it too was giving them the space they needed to process the weight of their thoughts, their emotions, and the bonds that were strengthening between them.
(-)
-Wild, Wild Pussycats' Meeting with Aizawa-
The staff room at the Catnip Inn was quiet, save for the low murmur of conversation and the soft rustling of papers. All of the Wild Wild Pussycats were gathered around a large table, each in their usual seats. The atmosphere was calm, though there was an undercurrent of anticipation for the meeting to begin.
The door swung open with a loud creak, and Ragdoll walked in, a wide grin on her face as she called out in her usual cheery tone. "I'm here!" She chuckled lightly as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Sorry I'm late, had to help a few students to the infirmary." Her voice was playful, though it seemed like it was an afterthought.
Mandalay, looking a little worried, raised an eyebrow. "Is it serious?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Ragdoll waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, it's nothing major. Just a little Quirk overuse, but the little Siberian Cat—Aizawa's got us covered," she laughed, referring to Buttercup. The others chuckled at the nickname.
Aizawa, who had been sitting silently at the head of the table, nodded slightly in acknowledgment of Ragdoll's words before clearing his throat to bring the meeting to order. His expression remained calm, but his eyes were sharp as always.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered flatly, cutting to the point. He glanced over the group and then turned his focus to the Pussycats. "Progress report on my students?"
The others nodded, ready to report, but before anyone could speak, Pixie-Bob interjected. "Hey, where's Vlad King? Is he joining us for this meeting?"
Aizawa sighs, clearly exasperated. "Vlad will be requesting a separate meeting soon. He's insisted on having a one-on-one with you all to discuss his students' progress."
Pixie-Bob gives an exaggerated huff. "Of course, he wants to be the center of attention again." But she shrugs it off, focusing on the task at hand.
Aizawa doesn't tell them that he asked Vlad to step away from the meeting, to give him room to speak about what is concerning him. He eyes narrow slightly as he addresses the group. "Let's keep this focused. How are my students progressing?"
The first to speak is Mandalay. "Well, Bakugou's still as explosive as ever, but I've seen a noticeable improvement in his control. Momo has been showing great potential, though she sometimes overthinks, which causes some hesitation in her decisions. As for Tsu, she's making remarkable strides, especially in her adaptability. Kaminari has drive, but I feel he needs more consistency with his control. And Mina—she's improving, but she's still a bit too reckless at times. She's got the enthusiasm, but she needs to hone her focus."
Aizawa nods, though that is not the information he wants. The rest of the Pussycats share their thoughts on the students, each giving their own feedback:
Tiger speaks up, his deep voice carrying the weight of experience. "Izuku definitely got that fire. My problem with him is that he needs to work on his fighting style and technique. Kirishima's growth is solid. He's still got a lot of self-doubt, but I see him getting better at trusting his instincts."
Ragdoll adds, "Todoroki is still so edgy and that's saying much when you have Tokoyami, there," she giggles, finding her joke funny, "He's got potential, but it's like he's still trying to figure out what he wants to do with it. And Uraraka…well, I can say that she has doesn't really have the stomach for much training, now," she dissolves to a laughing fit, with others sighing at their friend.
Aizawa listened intently, then asked, "And what about those three girls? What have you noticed about them?" His tone was sharp, though there was a quiet undercurrent of curiosity.
The Pussycats exchanged looks, immediately understanding who he was referring to, but Mandalay seemed confused by his sudden focus on them. She hesitated, then looked at Aizawa with a furrowed brow. "What's your fixation with them, Aizawa? They've only been here for a short time."
Before Aizawa could respond, Tiger jumped in, not bothering to hide his curiosity. "I've been keeping an eye on them, especially that Buttercup girl!" He chuckled, rubbing his jaw where she'd managed to sucker-punch him. "She's a force! Hand-to-hand combat? On point. She's strong, quick, and relentless! A little stubborn, sure, but that stubbornness is something I appreciate when it comes to a fight!"
Aizawa narrowed his eyes at Tiger's words, his voice turning cold. "Isn't she too proficient in it?"
Tiger shrugged, crossing his arms with his usual confident demeanor. "Not unusual for a student, especially one that's been trained in some form of combat. You'd be surprised how many Pro Heroes have specialized skills that make them stand out."
Aizawa fell silent for a moment, processing Tiger's response. "You don't think it's strange, her level of expertise? For a student?"
Tiger simply shrugged again. "She's got it. She's not the only one."
Mandalay, still feeling uncertain about Aizawa's focus on the girls, clears her throat. "Well, for the record, I think all of the students have been putting in a lot of effort. Even in the short time they've been with us during the summer camp—they've made progress. All of them. Not just the girls. Aizawa, you should've seen them during the first day challenge. They gave it their all."
Aizawa cuts her off sharply, not impressed. "I need more than that, Mandalay. I need specifics. Their weaknesses, their tendencies. Their vulnerabilities."
Mandalay bites back a retort but remains composed. Ragdoll piped in, "But we did notice something strange, right Mandalay?"
Mandalay gave Ragdoll a look of realization, her face going a little somber. "Yeah. There's something odd."
Aizawa's eyes narrow, clearly intrigued. "What is it?"
Ragdoll took over. "We tried using our Quirks on them for training purposes. My Search should have been able to pinpoint their location or find weaknesses, but… there was nothing. It's like they don't register on my radar. And Mandalay's telepathy couldn't reach them either."
Mandalay added, "It was like… they blocked me. I couldn't get through. I tried several times, but there was nothing. It felt like they were immune to our Quirks."
Pixie-Bob and Tiger exchanged shocked looks. They knew that Ragdoll's Quirk was practically foolproof when it came to tracking people, and Mandalay's telepathy wasn't something that could be easily blocked. But the idea that three people could escape both Quirks was disturbing.
Tiger's eyes harden slightly as he speaks up. "That's... odd. We've never encountered something like this before. You're saying they can block two of your Quirks, Mandalay?"
Mandalay nods. "Yes. And I didn't think much of it at first, but after Ragdoll mentioned it, it got me thinking."
Aizawa's expression darkens, a rare hint of concern flashing in his eyes. "When did you notice this?"
Mandalay looks down, trying to recall. "The second day of the summer camp."
Aizawa leans forward, eyes hardening. "And you didn't think it was important enough to mention?"
Mandalay flinches but holds his gaze. "I didn't think it was a big deal. There've been cases where my Quirk or Ragdoll's doesn't work on certain people…"
Aizawa cuts her off again. "But you've never seen three individuals—especially not siblings—who can block both of your Quirks at the same time. Not all of them, but just those three. Have you?"
Mandalay stays silent, but her eyes show the weight of the realization. A long silence follows, the tension in the room palpable.
"Is this about the rumors?" Tiger is the one to break it. "That there is a traitor in UA?"
Aizawa stared at him for a long moment before answering, his voice cold and detached. "I'm just trying to make sure I have the facts about my students. Things that seem out of place need to be addressed."
Neither Tiger nor Mandalay seemed entirely convinced by this response, but no one said anything further. Aizawa stood up, his expression unreadable. "This information has been useful. Regarding all my students," he emphasized the word "all," before he turned and walked out of the room. "Keep an eye on them."
The Wild Wild Pussycats exchanged looks as the door clicked shut. They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily in the air.
Finally, Pixie-Bob spoke up. "You think Aizawa's onto something with those girls?" voice uncertain.
Ragdoll shook her head, a small frown on her face. "I don't know. They seem really sweet, almost too good. I don't think they'd be up to anything shady."
Pixie-Bob crossed her arms. "I don't know, Aizawa was pretty persistent. Maybe there's something more we're missing."
Tiger spoke up, shaking his head. "You know how Aizawa is. He's always suspicious. We should take his words with a grain of salt."
"We should still keep an eye on them," Ragdoll added, "Whether Aizawa's right or not, it wouldn't hurt to stay alert."
Mandalay nodded, giving a final sigh of agreement. "Agreed. We'll keep watching all the students, but we shouldn't jump to conclusions." With that, the meeting wound down, leaving the Pussycats with more questions than answers as they each quietly mulled over the implications of Aizawa's words.
-Forest Path-
Apparently after dinner, the pussycats had set up an entire event for the classes to compete in as a fun "Test of Courage" as they put it. Everyone met up just as the sun had fully set, leaving the partial moon to give some light to everyone. Blossom was dressed in a soft, coral-pink hoodie with white lace details along the collar, paired with matching coral jogger pants.
Buttercup, always ready for action, had chosen a simple but practical black tank top with a bold green zip-up hoodie thrown over it, along with green athletic shorts that came just above her knees. Bubbles wore sky-blue tank top adorned with cute yellow stars across the front. She wore loose, matching yellow pajama pants that had playful blue cloud patterns scattered on them.
Most assumed it was going to be another training exercise seeing how the camp was, only for their thoughts to be completely wrong as Ragdoll spun herself in front of everyone.
"Alright everyone, we got something special for you all! Tonight, you will work with your classmates to try and scare the pants off the other class!" Ragdoll giggled in excitement. "One class will send in students two at a time into the forest, where the other class will be waiting to try and get you in the scariest way possible!"
"A scaring contest?" Jiro raised her eyebrow in surprise. "This is training?"
Pixie Bob giggled and hopped in front of the students. "Indeed. You will have to work with your partner to stay calm, or you will need to work with your classmates to make the ultimate scare prank! Class B will scare first while A will walk."
"The scarers aren't allowed to make direct contact." Mandalay assured the students that no one would be harmed during the test of courage. "They'll just be using their Quirks to startle you as best they can."
"The class that makes the most kids piss their pants, you will win!" Tiger roared out to all of them.
"This sounds really crazy!" Mina laughed in glee. "I can't wait to show I can handle any haunted forest!"
"Yeah, let's get it!" Sero chimed in.
"Hold up, those who failed have in class studying to do instead." Aizawa ordered suddenly, and a pang of silence.
"ARE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME?!" Mina yelled, frustrated at the situation, with Sero and Kaminari, sharing in her outrage. Bakugou was grumbling at the supposed 'injustice' of him having to continue with the classes, while Blossom only sighed but didn't argue.
She walked over to her sisters, "Okay, guys, please stay safe," she went on to address them, individually, "Buttercup, please don't go overboard with the tricks and scares and Bubbles," she gave a sly smile, "Try not to get too scared, yeah?"
Buttercup tried to act indifferent, but failed upon hearing that comment, Bubbles huffed in anger, telling her she wasn't scared. Blossom just gave them a wave as she followed her teacher, who had bound three of the failures, and yanked them towards the buildings in the distance.
They walked back over to their classmates as Pixie Bob bounded over with a handful of tabs for Class A to draw and see their partners for the walk. Everyone reached into the stack and grabbed piece, flipping it over and seeing her number.
"Seven?" Buttercup said out loud before looking up, now looking through everyone as they saw who were randomly paired up with whoever had their matching number.
Shoji and Tokoyami
Izuku and Todoroki.
Yaoyorozu and Jiro
Bubbles and Koda
Uraraka and Asui
Hagakure and Aoyama
Kirishima and Iida
Buttercup
"Seriously?" Buttercup muttered under her breath as she pulled the sole '10' that was in the box.
Izuku, seeing her all alone, wanted to maybe switch with her, so that she could not be alone but, Ragdoll walked up to her and spoke to her about something. 'I wonder what she is saying?' his thought to himself.
"Group 1, head in!" Ragdoll called out a few minutes later before prancing off into the dark woods towards the halfway point, with a less than enthusiastic Buttercup, walking behind. They announced that Ragdoll will make sure that nothing happened to the students and Buttercup would provide aid in case of something unexpected, like a small injury from being startled, happened.
Half an hour later, a short scream came from the forest as Tsuyu and Uraraka approached the start of the path.
"You're up, Team 5!" Pixie-bob smiled brightly at the girls. "Do your best, ribbity and Ms. Floater girl!" Uraraka and Tsuyu entered the forest, just as another loud scream came from the darkness.
"I'm scared, Tsu …" Uraraka admitted as they walked in the darkness. "You hear all of those screams?"
"It's gotta be Kyoka and Toru ahead of us, I think," Tsuyu reasoned, knowing that Jiro didn't like scary stuff and Toru was liable to scream if the scare was good enough. "Here, take my hand and we'll be fine. I'm not scared." Tsuyu took Ochako's hand, more so for her comfort as is for her friend's own.
Further in the forest, the first group of Class B were snickering to themselves for successfully scaring every pair that had passed them so far. The first group was made of Honenuki, Yui, and Itsuka, and their trick was to use Honenuki'sSofteningon one part of the ground to sink Yui below the surface. Itsuka would use her enlarged hands to rustle the trees and bushes in the dark of the forest to distract the pair walking the path. Then Yui would pop her head up from the ground, looking like a severed head as the Class A pair refocused on the path.
"Kodai. That scare tactic of yours is sending them all running!" Honenuki snickered at his classmate.
Itsuka gave her friend a bright smile along with a thumbs up. "You're really putting yourself into the act, Yui!"
"Mm." Yui nodded to both of them, her normal cool gaze not wavering in the slightest.
Honenuki shook his head once and gave a shrug. "I was kind of expecting more than an 'Oh' from Todoroki though." The two-toned boy had barely reacted at all to coming upon what looked to be a severed head when his pair had passed by a little while back. "Hey… Does something smell like it's burning?" Honenuki looked around and noticed what appeared to be smoke spreading through the forest.
"Do you think one of the others freaked out Todoroki so much that he accidentally released his fire?" Itsuka asked, worried that they might have to deal with a forest fire with how much smoke there already was.
"Where's the smoke coming from?" Yui asked as she noticed the direction the purple-tinted smoke was coming from was the opposite direction the path would've led Todoroki.
Honenuki realized what Yui was saying and took a whiff of the 'smoke'. "Hey, you're right, that's…not…smoke…" He hit the ground unconscious.
"Honenuki?" Itsuka blinked at seeing her classmate fall. In just a split-second she realized the danger and reacted. "Yui!" Itsuka's hand expanded to a massive size and quickly wrapped Yui up safely in a gentle hold that would keep her safe from the smoke. "Don't breathe this stuff in! It's poisonous!" She quickly covered her own mouth and nose, using her enlarged pinky on the hand that was holding Yui to scoop up Honenuki and run away from the cloud that was filling the forest.
"Wh-what's happening?! Why are there villains here?!" Toru trembled out as she backed up with her other classmates. Others sat open mouthed in shock behind Mandalay and Tiger as they stared at Pixie Bob on the ground, her head bleeding underneath the blunt weapon pinning her to the ground.
"Pixie Bob!" Iida yelled out in fear as the other two pussycat members stepped forward, facing off with the two villains standing above her. The one pinning her head down was what appeared to be a man with brown shoulder length hair in orange and white, while the other was dressed just like the hero killer Stain but with pink hair standing up and his body covered in green scales like a gecko.
"How dare you lay a hand on her!" Mandalay growled and clenched her fist as she stepped forward.
"Come now, don't be so hasty!" the lizard man grinned and opened his arms. "We are just here to continue the work of the great man Stain!"
"Stain?" Iida felt his heart jump at the memory of the hero killer, others were glancing over at him, at the mention of the guy.
Mandalay took the opportunity to send out a warning call. "Everyone! We're under attack by two Villains at the entrance to the forest! There are definitely more, but the number is unknown!"
(-)
-Catnip Inn: Remedial Lessons-
"Everyone! We're under attack by two Villains at the entrance to the forest! There are definitely more, but the number is unknown!" Mandalay's voice rang out in everyone's heads, all except Blossom.
"The hell?" Bakugou blinked at the sudden loud voice in his head.
"What's happening?" Blossom asked, feeling tension rise in the room.
"Did she say Villains?" Mina questioned.
"How did villain get in to the place?!" Kaminari questioned, shocked.
"Pipe down." Aizawa ordered and listened closely.
"We don't know the number of Villains attacking or where they're coming from! Everyone that can should return to the inn immediately! If you encounter an enemy, don't engage! Just retreat!" Mandalay instructed through her one-way telepathy.
"Villains?!" Vlad's face became a rictus of steely determination. "How did they find out about our location?"
"Oh man, this is bad," Sero nervously stated.
"Vlad, I'm leaving these five to you!" Aizawa was already rushing out the door. "Protect them and any other students that make it here! I'm going out to protect the ones in the forest!"
"You two, stay put!" Vlad's loud voice was heard as Aizawa bolted down the hallway.
"How'd our location get leaked? Isn't this a secret place?" Monoma's voice was the last that Aizawa heard as he dashed straight towards the front door of the inn.
Aizawa thought about all the potential ways the information could've been leaked and how many Nezu would've been able to block. He stopped as soon as he was out of the Catnip Inn and stared at the roaring flames burning one part of the forest. "This is bad…" He nearly missed the figure that was suddenly standing barely two meters away from him.
"Always worrying about others, huh, Eraserhead?" The patchwork-faced man mocked, his hand extended towards Aizawa, palm out.
"VLAD!" Aizawa roared out the warning as his eyes glowed red with his Quirk.
BOOM
A large blast of blue flames engulfed Aizawa from the Villain's palm, but a cold front cleared it away.
"You Pro Heroes, stay out of our way." The pyrokinetic Villain said with a sneer. "You're not the ones we're here for." Looking at a particular red head coming in.
"Leave him alone!" a pink glow emanated.
Deep in the forest faraway, the air was thick with tension as Izuku and Todoroki kept their eyes peeled, scanning the darkened tree line. Mandalay's warning echoed in their minds, villains were nearby, and they had to stay alert. "They said villains have attacked here?" Todoroki whispered, his voice tight with concern as he surveyed the dense foliage.
"I never thought they'd find us so quickly," Izuku muttered, his gaze flickering nervously at the surrounding shadows. "Aizawa-sensei assured us the area was hidden well enough."
"But if they're here, we can't ignore it. Let's get back to camp now before anything else happens," Todoroki urged, moving cautiously forward.
"We can't just rush back," Izuku said quietly. "We don't know where they are. If we're not careful, we might run into one."
A sudden snap of a branch caught their attention. Both of them froze, exchanging uneasy glances. The noise had come from the direction of the deeper woods. Their eyes narrowed as they focused on the dark shadows moving just beyond their reach.
Before either could say anything, a voice, sickening and low, broke through the silence.
"Flesh... flesh... give me... this is work. But... flesh!" The voice was erratic, almost like a mumble, full of madness.
Izuku's eyes widened. "Who—who is that?"
Before Todoroki could respond, a series of sharp, jagged blades shot out of the darkness, tearing through the underbrush toward them. Izuku barely had time to react.
"What the—?!" Izuku shouted, his body already springing into action. With a burst of agility, he leapt sideways to narrowly avoid the first wave of blades that scraped the ground where he'd been standing moments before. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through him.
"We need to move, now!" Todoroki shouted, throwing himself to the side, activating his cold side, forming an ice barrier, blocking the blades.
"I know!" Izuku hissed, his eyes darting back to the tree line where the attack had originated. "But we need to figure out where it's coming from!"
Before they could formulate a plan, more blades shot from the shadows, extending and whipping through the air like serpents. The razor-sharp teeth seemed to move on their own, targeting the two heroes with deadly precision.
"Watch out!" Todoroki called, forming another quick wall of ice in front of them. It slowed the blades slightly, but the force behind them still made the ice crack and splinter. The ice barrier held just long enough for Izuku to push Todoroki away, allowing him to dodge, his body twisting and flipping with increased speed.
The shadowy figure of their attacker finally emerged from the trees—Moonfish. His unsettling straitjacket was adorned with sharp red spikes, and his mouth, twisted in an eerie grin, was exposed. His black eyes gleamed with madness as he leapt into view, his teeth gleaming like serrated blades.
"Flesh... flesh..." Moonfish mumbled, his voice growing louder, his erratic movements quickening as his bladed teeth extended further out of his mouth.
Izuku and Todoroki had little time to react. The blades continued to rain down on them from every angle. Izuku barely avoided one set of blades as he leapt over a tree root, the weaponry cutting through the air just inches away from his face.
"He's not stopping!" Izuku grunted as he flipped away, propelling himself higher into the trees. His heart raced as he glanced down at Todoroki, who was already summoning more ice to defend himself, but Moonfish's relentless attack made it hard for him to counter effectively.
"We have to escape," Todoroki said, his breath sharp. "This guy's too unpredictable. We can't fight him head-on."
"Agreed. But we need a plan—there's no way we can avoid his attacks forever!" Izuku said, his mind racing.
From the shadows, Moonfish's voice rang out again, cold and manic. "I... must... complete... mission... flesh..." He hissed, his eyes wild as he lunged forward, sending another barrage of deadly blades toward them.
The two heroes scrambled to dodge, but it was impossible to avoid every strike. One of the blades grazed Todoroki's arm, cutting through his jacket. Izuku gritted his teeth, pushing off from a nearby tree to leap higher into the air, using One For All to narrowly avoid the blades that reached up toward him like a swarm of deadly projectiles.
"We can't outrun him like this!" Todoroki called, his teeth gritted as he formed another barrier of ice.
"We have to!" Izuku shouted, pushing his legs to their limits, bounding across branches, and leading the way. "We just need to keep moving!"
As they pushed deeper into the woods, Moonfish's shadowed figure stalked behind them, his wild, disjointed mumbling continuing.
"Flesh... flesh... this is... work..." He repeated over and over, his voice crackling in the air.
-Cliff Side-
'Kota!' Mandalay's voice filled the young boy's head. 'You hear me, Kota?! Get back to the inn! I'm sorry I don't know where you're always running off too… I'm sorry, Kota! I can't come for you! So, get back here!'
Kota was sweating in fear and panic as the forest below the cliff that was his 'secret base' was ablaze. That was the least of his problems though as a towering figure in a black cloak and a white mask with multiple holes in it slowly approached him.
"I just came up here for the view, and what do I find?" The large cloaked man said as he took another step towards Kota. "A face that wasn't on the list." He took another step towards the clearly terrified boy. "By the way, that hat's pretty slick, kid." He gave Kota a thumbs up for the hat with the two horns on the front. "Why don'tcha trade me for this lame mask? I'm a newbie to this operation, so they made me wear this dumb toy."
"Wah!" Kota turned and ran away.
"Hey!" The Villain pulled off the white mask and his left foot, even from within his black boot, seemed to bulge noticeably. He kicked off the ground, cracking the stone, and then kicked off the rocky wall once more to get ahead of the fleeing Kota. "I'm gonna have fun with you!" The Villain declared, his mouth now visible in a demented smile as he cocked back his left arm.
Kota watched in terror as muscle fibers covered the limb, bulking it up to unnatural proportions. Memories flashed through his mind as he saw the Quirk in action.
"Water Hose…a fantastic pair of Heroes. But their wonderful lives were tragically cut short by one heartless criminal."The news story that had shattered young Kota's world replayed in his head."The suspect is still on the run as police and Heroes attempt to ascertain his whereabouts."
"You…" Kota's eyes widened as tears poured from them.
"His Quirk is a simple power-up type, making him highly dangerous. If you see this man, call the police or contact a Hero immediately. At present his left eye…"
The hood of the black cloak flew off as the Villain came at the boy, revealing a massive scar on the left side of his face and a false eye replacing his missing one.
"Should be scarred from his encounter with Water Hose."
"Mom… Dad…!" Kota's voice cracked with anguish, tears streaming down his face as he came face-to-face with his parents' murderer. His entire body trembled with fear, and his heart sank in his chest as the Villain raised a large fist, ready to strike him down, he closed eyes shut in waiting.
But before the blow could land, a dozen blue spheres shot out of nowhere, colliding with the Villain in a violent explosion.
BOOM!
The impact of the spheres sent Muscular flying back, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. He hit the wall hard, the force of the explosion embedding him deep into it, his body slumped slightly. His limbs shook from the impact, his once formidable posture now crumpled against the damage.
"Step away from him!" a furious voice bellowed.
Kota's eyes widened in shock as he looked up at the voice that had shouted. In an instant, his gaze locked onto Bubbles, who was hovering a few feet in the air, her hands were surrounded by a pulsing blue aura. And her eyes shown a fierce look.
Kota then also noticed two big strong arms hold on to him, he looked up to see one of the other students, Koda, holding Kota protectively in his arms, noticed the shift in the boy's expression. Kota wasn't looking at him—his attention was focused solely on Bubbles. His tear-streaked face slowly softened as he processed the sight of her.
"Y-You… Why…?" Kota stammered, still trembling. His voice barely above a whisper, filled with confusion and fear.
As the dust settled and Bubbles floated down to the ground, her intense presence commanding the space around her, she gently reached out and placed her hands on Kota's trembling shoulders. Her eyes softened, her gaze steady, as she looked him in the eyes.
"It's going to be okay, Kota," she said, her voice steady and calm, yet filled with an unwavering promise. "We're going to save you."
(-)
-Earlier moments ago-
Less than half an hour ago, Bubbles and Koda had been walking through the woods, their breath visible in the cool night air. Both were focused on the challenge they had been given. They had been walking in relative silence, trying not to let the creeping anxiety of the eerie night set in. Bubbles could honestly say, aside from the creepy scene, she was not so scared, and Koda, though a little bit shaking, was feeling awfully brave, waiting for the scares to come.
"Stay calm, stay focused," Bubbles whispered to herself, her usual cheery tone subdued as she tried to stay composed.
"Yeah, not exactly the most comforting challenge, huh?" Koda muttered, glancing at the looming trees around them, his animalistic senses heightened. The sounds of the night seemed muted, almost as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
But just as they were about to continue forward, a sudden stillness fell over Bubbles. She stopped dead in her tracks, her body rigid as if frozen in place. Koda blinked, confused by the abrupt change in her demeanor.
"Bubbles?" Koda called, stepping forward. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, her gaze darted around the forest, her eyes glowed wide with tension. Finally, she turned toward him, and saw her usual bright blue eyes glowing.
"This... this is bad," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Koda frowned, stepping closer. "Bad? What do you mean?"
Before she could answer, her entire body seemed to seize with energy, her aura flaring to life.
Koda's eyes widened. "Bubbles?"
She clenched her fists, her body vibrating with a hum of power. "The... the voices," she muttered, barely coherent. "They're close. I can hear them..."
Koda tried to process what she meant, but the air around them seemed to shift suddenly. It was faint at first, the acrid scent of smoke drifting through the air. Koda's heart skipped a beat. He looked up, his pulse quickening as he saw the first signs of trouble. Smoke billowed from the distance, rising like a dark omen against the night sky. A flash of blue flickered—though odd for a color—but he could see the telltale signs of flames licking the forest.
His heart raced. "This isn't good," he muttered. Then Mandalay's voice echoed urgently in his head: "Everyone! We're under attack by two Villains at the entrance to the forest! There are definitely more, but the number is unknown!"
And even Bubbles didn't receive the message, she knew what was up, "They are people here," she said, her voice strained. "They're all around us."
Koda turned to face her, his worry mounting. "We need to go. Mandalay said to retreat. We need to get back to the others."
But Bubbles didn't move. Instead, her powers flared up again, this time with a terrifying intensity. Her entire body shimmered with blue energy, and her eyes burned with fury. The air around her seemed to vibrate with power. Koda took a step forward, trying to calm her down, but before he could reach out to her, she suddenly froze. A flash of recognition passed over her face, her eyes widening in horror.
"Kota!" she suddenly yelled, the fear radiating from her voice.
The cry was enough to startle him, and he stepped back, bewildered. "What? What's going on? What about him—?"
But before Koda could react, Bubbles shot her hands out and grabbed him by the waist, lifting them both off the ground with an explosive burst of energy. The air shimmered with blue light as she shot upward, her powers crackling with raw intensity.
"He's in trouble!" she yelled again, her voice desperate, her grip unyielding as they flew through the air, a trail of blue energy following their rapid ascent.
Koda, still in shock, could only yell in panic as the ground below them disappeared. "Bubbles! What are you doing?!" She didn't answer, her focus entirely on the direction she was heading.
(-)
Kota blinked, still in disbelief, his heart hammering in his chest. The world seemed to slow, the fear still weighing heavily on him—but then, her words seeped through the panic and fear, offering him a glimmer of hope. Despite the chaos around them, he believed her.
At that moment, Koda yells, "His still standing!" pointing to the scene behind them, and they all turned around. Muscular slowly pushed himself up from the debris, his laugh echoing through the forest like a maniacal cackle. He shook off the dust and cracked his neck, glaring at the trio before him.
"Hmm, I see you got some help, kid," he taunted Kota with a sneer. His eyes then flicked over to Bubbles, and a wicked grin spread across his face as recognition hit him. "Ah, finally. I've found one of the targets."
Koda froze, his heart dropping at the word "target." He looked at Bubbles, and she instantly knew what he was thinking. Her face darkened, her stance sharpening. Muscular's eyes gleamed with twisted excitement as he continued, "The League gave me and some of my temp buddies a simple task: capture certain number of you brats. And at least you or one of your other sisters. One of you three, in particular, are top priority."
Bubbles flinched at the mention of her sisters. The mention of "top priority" rattled her for a moment, but she quickly scowled, pushing the fear aside. There was no time for hesitation.
Koda's blood ran cold as Muscular's words sank in, and he instinctively stepped in front of Kota, protective.
Bubbles, in a low whisper, turned to Koda. "Get Kota out of here. Now."
Kota's eyes widened, the shock evident on his face. "Wait… No! Y-you can't…h-he killed…!" he choked up, the situation washing over him again.
Koda's expression also hesitated at that. "Are you sure you can fight him?" he asked, voice full of concern.
"Yes," Bubbles didn't hesitate. "If they're hunting for some people in the camp, or me or my sisters, then he's dangerous. I can't risk both of you being caught in the middle. Or even captured" She glanced at Muscular, still grinning from ear to ear. "Go. I'll handle him."
Koda opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything else, Muscular surged forward with frightening speed, laughing maniacally. "You shouldn't whisper, kid! It's rude!"
Without skipping a beat, Bubbles raised her hands, summoning a powerful force-field just as Muscular's fist came crashing toward them. The impact shook the air around them, but the shield held firm, stopping his punch cold.
Muscular took a step back, eyes wide with mock surprise. "Oh, this little girl's tough." His grin only grew wider. "How tough are you?"
Bubbles scowled, glaring straight into his eyes. "Very." With a snarl, she slammed her hands forward, pushing the force-field with all her might. Muscular was sent flying back, his body slamming into the ground with another grunt.
Bubbles deactivated the force-field with a snap, turning to Koda. "Take Kota and go. Now!"
Koda hesitated, his eyes flickering between Bubbles and the growing threat that Muscular posed. But seeing her firm resolve, he quickly nodded, taking Kota by the waist. "We have to go," Koda said, pulling out his DNA bracelet and tapping it, activating the rabbit's ability. The rabbit's agility was incredible, and with one powerful leap, Koda was airborne, darting above the battlefield and heading toward the safety of the inn.
Kota tried to protest, his voice rising. "No! I'm not leaving you!" His arms reached out of Koda, but he was swiftly whisked away, too fast for Muscular to catch. "AHHH!" he screamed upon seeing Muscular incoming.
"Not so fast, kid!" In a last-ditch effort, Muscular lunged toward Koda's foot, a wicked grin on his face. "I ain't letting you cowards leave!" he bellowed, his hand reaching for Koda's foot.
Before Muscular could grab hold of him, Bubbles shot forward and grabbed Muscular's ankle. She pulled, using her strength to toss him into the ground with a resounding crash.
"You won't touch them," she snarled, landing down and stepping into a fighting stance, her glowed fiercely.
"I guess I could have my fun with you, kid," Muscular slowly stood up, wiping the dirt from his body. His eyes gleamed a devilish green as he turned to face Bubbles, his grin widening. Better not disappoint me, I want to hear you scream!"" Bubbles just narrowed her eyes at that.
From the darkness above the rocks, an individual watched the scene unfold below, his eyes glinting with amusement. He shook his head, muttering to himself, "No fun. The more the merrier."
He casually popped something into his mouth, chewing slowly before blowing a bubble that popped with a soft pop. A malicious giggle escaped his lips, a mix of childishness and cruelty.
"I'll just see how best to make things more," he murmured, glancing in the direction Koda and Kota were running toward, "fun." With a final chuckle, he vanished into the shadows, silently moving to intercept them.
Author's Notes:
Well... that was a challenge, haha! Just wanted to give you all a heads-up that there are some key clues hidden throughout the story, and you might start to piece things together soon. As for who I've brought in—stay tuned for the big reveal! I hope Part 4 will leave you with chills, so make sure you're ready for it! Also, just a little FYI, I've already written all the chapters, so I'll be posting them every Saturday. Enjoy the read, and feel free to leave a review! Happy reading!