The air was thick with tension, almost as if the weight of the upcoming exam had settled onto the shoulders of Class 1-A like a villain's quirk. Students filed into the classroom, some yawning, some panicking, and a few—the most prepared among them—walking in like it was just another school day.

"Ugh, I barely slept!" Kaminari groaned as he dragged his feet past the doorway, dark circles under his eyes. "I think I forgot everything I studied the second I closed my textbook!"

Jirou rolled her eyes behind him. "That's because you didn't actually study. You just played music and skimmed your notes."

Mina trotted in with her usual bubbly energy, a pencil case shaped like a mochi bun bouncing in her hand. "I made flashcards! Anyone need a last-minute cram session?"

"Too late for that," Kirishima said with a nervous laugh, patting his headband like it might help him think better. "The damage is already done."

"Don't worry, Eijiro," Emi said kindly as she walked in beside Katsuki. "You've been studying. You're going to do better than you think."

"Aw, thanks, Emi!" he beamed, grinning. "Your study charts were awesome, by the way."

Katsuki clicked his tongue beside her. "Tch. Don't rely on Emi to carry your dumbass. If you don't pass, that's on you."

Emi elbowed him lightly. "You weren't complaining when I quizzed you on hero legislation, Katsuki."

He crossed his arms, grumbling something under his breath—but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, betraying a smirk he tried to hide.

"Ooh, look at Emi's teasing Bakugo," Mina whispered, nudging Toru and giggling. "She's got him wrapped around her little finger."

"I heard that!" Katsuki barked.

Across the room, Midoriya was muttering rapidly into his notebook, eyes wild. "Okay, okay, I know chapter five! I definitely remember it. Wait—what about emergency protocol numbers—?"

"Midoriya, chill," Iida said, adjusting his glasses. "You've prepared adequately. We studied extensively. You'll be fine if you stick to logic."

Asui calmly took her seat, her usual expression unreadable. "Ribbit. I don't know what everyone's freaking out about. We had plenty of time to prepare."

Aizawa shuffled in at the front of the class, wrapped in his sleeping bag like a burrito, and stood with a blank expression.

"You're all surprisingly loud for people about to take a test."

That shut most of them up instantly.

"You've had plenty of time. There will be no curve, no re-do, no excuses. Do well, or don't. Let's get started."

As the class began settling into their desks, Emi slid into her seat in the row behind Katsuki, already setting out her pens and organizing her papers with practiced ease. She wasn't nervous—written tests never bothered her. Like Katsuki, she did well in school and usually scored near the top. She stretched her hands lightly, spinning a pencil in-between her fingers.

"Ready?" she murmured to Katsuki.

He didn't look back, just grunted, "Always."

Behind them, Kaminari whimpered. "I am not ready."

And with that, the room fell silent as the exams were passed out, the only sounds being pencils tapping, papers rustling, and the occasional heavy sigh of someone regretting not studying more.

Class 1-A stood in rows outside the facility, the air buzzing with tension and anticipation. After the mental strain of the written exam, it was finally time for the practical portion—and no one knew exactly what to expect.

Aizawa stood before them, his usual tired expression in place. "Now that you've all completed the written test, it's time for the physical portion. The practical exam will be different this year."

Whispers and worried glances bounced between students like pinballs.

"You'll be facing us. Pro Heroes," Aizawa added flatly.

Mina gasped. "Wait, what?!"

"Whoa," Kaminari blinked. "You mean actual battles?!"

Aizawa continued, "You'll be working in pairs against an instructor. The exam will test your ability to function in combat, adapt under pressure, and work with your partner. Winning doesn't just mean beating your opponent—it can also mean escaping or successfully restraining them."

Pairings and matchups were soon listed on the board. Emi scanned it quickly, her name popping up beside:

Emi Moshizuki & Ochaco Uraraka vs. Thirteen.

She blinked once, then turned to see Ochaco standing beside her with a nervous but determined smile.

"Looks like we're together," Ochaco said. "I'm glad—it's nice to have someone calm like you with me."

Emi smiled gently. "We'll do great. Just remember, Thirteen's Quirk is strong, but it takes time to charge and focus. We'll need to keep moving."

Katsuki, standing nearby, glanced over when he heard Emi's name. "You better not get vaporized by a black hole, got it?"

Emi rolled her eyes fondly. "Nice vote of confidence, Katsuki."

He just grunted, folding his arms, waiting to watch their match.

⸻

Battle Commencement – Sector D: Thirteen's Zone

The test began inside a crumbling mock-up of an emergency shelter. Steel beams, simulated debris, and flickering lights created a chaotic scene that looked frighteningly real.

Thirteen stood at the far end, their suit pristine, visor glowing faintly. "Students, please proceed with caution. This is a rescue scenario… but I will not be holding back."

Emi took a stance beside Ochaco as the timer began. "Okay. If we try to attack directly, we're toast. You can make things float—we should use that."

Ochaco nodded, eyes sharp. "Right. You stir up some wind, and I'll handle getting us an escape route."

Thirteen began charging the vortex, space warping and distorting around their glove. Wind whipped toward them.

"Now!" Emi shouted, blasting a concentrated burst of wind from her palms, stirring dust and loose debris into a chaotic cloud. It was disorienting, forcing Thirteen to slow down and recalibrate.

Ochaco ran ahead, touching chunks of fallen rubble to make them weightless. She and Emi leapt behind a wall of floating debris, using it as cover.

"This way!" Ochaco called, floating a large metal door panel to act as a makeshift shield.

Thirteen unleashed the vortex again, but Emi countered with a powerful cross-gust, shifting the suction and throwing the attack off course just enough to let them pass through.

"We can't hold out forever!" Emi shouted over the howling air. "We need to disable the arm!"

Ochaco nodded, timing her move perfectly—she launched forward and tapped Thirteen's wrist with her Quirk, causing their hand to float up just enough for Emi to fire a tight burst of wind into the glove's exhaust. It flared up and sputtered, giving them a narrow window.

"Go! Now!" Emi yelled, pushing Ochaco toward the emergency exit gate they were supposed to reach.

They sprinted, Emi behind Ochaco, her wind redirecting fallen rubble as Thirteen tried one last time to charge the vortex.

Click. The gate opened.

A buzzer rang out across the field.

"Pass. Excellent coordination," Thirteen's mechanical voice echoed behind them.

Breathing hard, Emi gave Ochaco a high-five. "Nice job. That was perfect timing."

"Right back at you!" Ochaco grinned. "You're amazing under pressure."

From the observation deck, the rest of the class had watched with awe.

"Dude, Emi's wind saved their butts like five times," Kirishima said, impressed.

Katsuki didn't say anything—but he crossed his arms and gave a small nod to himself, eyes fixed on the screen.

Observation Room – U.A. Training Facility

Emi stood at the front of the monitor room, still in her exam gear, a bottle of water in one hand and a cooling patch tucked behind her neck. She'd just finished watching Kirishima and Sato get launched through a fake building by Cementoss, and the energy in the room had only grown more tense. The screen flickered, shifting to the next match-up.

Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo vs. All Might.

Gasps filled the room.

"No way," Kaminari blurted. "They're fighting All Might?!"

"That's so unfair!" Mina exclaimed. "Isn't that, like, basically a death sentence?"

Emi's heart skipped. Her eyes snapped to the screen where Katsuki and Midoriya appeared, standing side by side at the entrance of a city block simulation. Neither of them looked happy to be there.

Emi leaned forward, watching closely. "He's gonna hate this."

Kirishima stepped up beside her, arms crossed. "You think they can do it?"

"Katsuki won't back down," she said quietly. "But teamwork… that's gonna be rough."

⸻

Simulation Field – On Screen

"All Might is already here!" Midoriya yelled as the symbol of peace landed before them with a booming laugh.

"Prepare yourselves!" All Might bellowed, charging forward with tremendous speed.

Katsuki lunged to the side, explosions flaring from his palms as he yelled, "DON'T GET IN MY WAY, DEKU!"

"He's already yelling," Emi muttered under her breath.

Midoriya tried to explain a plan—only to be cut off by Katsuki, who ignored it completely and launched a direct assault. All Might swatted him back like a fly, sending him tumbling through a wall.

"Geez," Kaminari winced. "He's so strong."

As the battle went on, the class watched Midoriya and Katsuki struggle against the overwhelming force of All Might. Every attack from the Number One Hero shook the screen, and every disagreement between Katsuki and Midoriya made the onlookers cringe.

"They're gonna lose if they don't start working together," Jirou said.

Emi didn't blink, her hands clenched at her sides. "Come on, Katsuki…"

But something shifted midway. Katsuki began moving with more purpose—not just to win, but to survive. And as Midoriya sacrificed himself to grab All Might's attention, Katsuki took the opening.

He shot forward, propelled by a chain of explosions, and sprinted toward the escape gate with Midoriya's unconscious body slung over his shoulder.

The buzzer rang.

Everyone stared.

"They… passed?" Mina said, stunned.

"That was insane," Kirishima muttered.

"They're both idiots," Tsuyu added with a sigh.

Emi didn't say anything. Her shoulders dropped, the tension draining from her chest. A tiny smirk played on her lips as Katsuki appeared on screen, panting hard but still standing tall.

"You're so damn stubborn," she whispered. "But you did it."

From across the room, Iida noticed her expression and smiled. "He really did earn that first place, didn't he?"

She nodded softly, her eyes still on the screen.

U.A. High – Class 1-A Homeroom

The energy in the classroom was buzzing with leftover nerves and barely-contained exhaustion. Students filtered in, slouching into seats, stretching stiff arms, and chattering about their matches from the day before.

Emi slid into her usual seat beside Katsuki, her eyes tired but a smile on her face—her posture was as confident as ever. Her arms were crossed, calm, as if the practical exam hadn't worn her out in the slightest.

Katsuki sat next to her, arms folded behind his head, legs kicked out. "You look too smug."

"I'm allowed," Emi replied, barely suppressing a smile. "We both passed. And you didn't explode anything too important."

"Hah?"

Before Katsuki could grumble more, Aizawa entered the room, looking mildly more alive than usual.

"Settle down," he said, dragging a large monitor into place. "I've got your final exam results."

That was enough to make everyone freeze.

"You'll be relieved to hear…" Aizawa began, pulling up the scores, "…no one is failing."

"YES!" Kaminari fist-pumped from the back.

Mina dramatically slumped over her desk. "I was so close to death, I swear…"

Sero sighed. "I thought for sure Mineta tanked it."

"Hey!"

Aizawa continued without missing a beat. "Overall, your performances were solid. Most of you improved significantly compared to the midterms. That said, don't let your guards down. We're sending you off on a summer training camp."

"Wait, what?!" half the class shouted at once.

"A training camp?! Even though I failed the practical?" Kirishima grinned, eyes lighting up.

"Yay!! I don't get to miss out on all the fun!" Mina cheered.

Emi leaned toward Katsuki, her voice teasing. "Training camp sounds fun."

He scoffed. "Only if it involves blowing people up."

She gave him a look. "Maybe don't say that too loud in front of Aizawa."

Across the room, Iida stood and adjusted his glasses. "A training camp will help us better prepare for what's to come. Let's take this opportunity seriously!"

Midoriya nodded from beside him. "Yeah, it's another chance to improve."

"Hold up," Jirou said. "If no one failed the written exam… then who barely passed?"

The monitor blinked, displaying the full class rankings.

•1. Katsuki Bakugo

•2. Momo Yaoyorozu

•3. Tenya Iida

•4. Izuku Midoriya

•5. Emi Moshizuki

•…

Emi raised an eyebrow. "Fifth, huh? Slipped a little."

"You mean I'm still ahead of you," Katsuki muttered with a smirk.

"Only because I fought Thirteen and you got Midoriya as backup," she said under her breath, nudging him with her elbow.

Kirishima stared at the screen. "Bro, how did I not come in last?"

"Because we dragged you through the written part," Emi and Katsuki said in unison.

Mineta groaned dramatically. "This school is so intense…"

As the rankings faded from the screen, a few students wore triumphant grins while others looked like they'd narrowly dodged disaster.

Sato rubbed the back of his neck. "So… even if we failed the practical, we're still going to the camp?"

Aizawa gave a tired nod, stuffing the tablet back into his coat. "Yes. Normally, those who fail would stay behind for extra lessons. However—" he paused, glancing up at them, "—we've arranged for remedial courses to be held at the training camp this year."

"Oh man…" Kaminari groaned, slumping forward on his desk.

"Remedial courses?" Mina repeated, wide-eyed. "They're bringing homework to the woods?"

"You're still going, but while the rest of your classmates enjoy night activities freely, you'll be in extra classes," Aizawa said flatly.

"Wait," Sero leaned back in his seat, "so it's like punishment… at a summer camp?"

"That's cruel," Mineta muttered. "Do they want us to suffer?"

Emi raised a brow, resting her chin in her hand. "You could just… study harder next time."

Katsuki snorted. "Yeah, it's not that hard. You just suck."

"HEY!"

"I-I'll help tutor next time!" Uraraka chimed in quickly, giving Iida a determined nod. "We'll all pass together next time, right?"

"Indeed!" Iida declared. "We'll improve as a class!"

"Except Bakugo and Emi," Kaminari muttered. "They're like… already freakishly good at everything."

Emi shrugged, her tone sweet but teasing. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Katsuki didn't say anything, but his smirk deepened just a bit.

As the class settled down again, Aizawa crossed his arms. "Start preparing now. You leave in a week. And I don't want to hear complaints when you're in the mountains fighting for your lives."

Silence.

"Just kidding," he added flatly, not sounding very convincing. "Pack your bags. You'll get more information about the training camp soon. Class dismissed."

The bright hum of the city mall filled the air with the chatter of students and the rhythmic clatter of footsteps. Class 1-A had been given the afternoon to prepare for the upcoming training camp, and the entire group had enthusiastically scattered among the shops and stalls.

"Alright!" Kirishima grinned, swinging a bag over his shoulder. "I think I'm all set. Got extra towels, protein bars—oh, and bug spray."

"Only you'd get hyped about bug spray," Kaminari teased.

Emi laughed softly, walking beside Katsuki, Kirishima, and Kaminari through the bustling corridors of the mall. She had a few things tucked under her arm—cooling sleeves, a small blanket for the bus ride, and a couple snacks.

As they passed one of the accessory stands, Emi's eyes caught on a small item near the front: a limited-edition All Might keychain. She paused, eyes flicking across the mall—and sure enough, she spotted Midoriya a few stores down, alone and glancing through some notebooks.

Without saying a word, she purchased the keychain quickly.

"I'll be right back," she told her group with a soft smile. "Gonna give something to Midoriya."

"Sure," Kirishima said, waving her off.

"Don't get kidnapped," Katsuki muttered absently, arms crossed as he leaned against a nearby railing.

She chuckled at the irony as she walked off, weaving through the crowd toward Midoriya.

"Hey," she called out gently.

Midoriya turned around, smiling when he saw her. "Oh—hey, Emi."

She held out the keychain. "Saw this and thought you'd like it. You've had a rough few weeks. It's not much, but—"

Before she could finish, a cold, skeletal hand suddenly clamped around her neck.

Her body went rigid with shock, breath hitching. The keychain clattered to the ground.

Midoriya froze as a low, raspy voice murmured beside her ear. "We meet again… Midoriya."

Tomura Shigaraki's gaunt form leaned close to Emi's shoulder, the other four fingers of his hand hovering just off her throat—careful not to make full contact. His red eyes locked onto Midoriya's, burning with something dangerous and unstable.

"Don't move," Shigaraki hissed. "You know what happens if I use my Quirk. I only need one finger to do it."

"E-Emi!" Midoriya stammered, taking an instinctive step forward.

"I said don't move!" Shigaraki snapped, tightening his grip slightly. Emi winced, her fingers twitching, but she remained still, trying not to provoke him. Her left eye, the blind one, was wide with fear; her right eye blazed with restrained defiance.

"No heroes around this time," Shigaraki murmured with a crooked smile. "No fancy backup. Just you, me, and your classmate here."

Midoriya's hands clenched at his sides. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk." His voice was eerily calm. "Stain… made waves. Big ones. And now the world's looking at us differently. I don't like sharing the spotlight."

Emi's phone buzzed with a text message. It must've been Katsuki, he was the only one who texted her.

"Don't even think about it" Shigaraki warned, having heard the notification too.

"Stay calm, Emi…" she thought. "He just wants to talk. That's all. Midoriya can handle this."

But her mind raced with backup plans. If she could get just one gust out of her palm, maybe enough to—

Midoriya kept Shigaraki engaged, carefully inching toward the crowd without alarming him. "You're wrong about Stain. He wasn't like you."

Shigaraki's smile faltered. "I hate that name."

The air grew tenser.

Then—a sudden flash of movement behind the villain. A security guard.

"Too close," Shigaraki muttered bitterly. He shoved Emi forward and vanished into the crowd, disappearing before anyone else could spot him.

Emi stumbled, nearly falling, but Midoriya caught her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, panting.

She nodded shakily. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine."

Katsuki appeared seconds later, eyes wild, fists clenched. "What the hell happened?!"

"Shigaraki," Midoriya said grimly, helping Emi steady herself.

Katsuki looked Emi over, jaw tight. "You're not hurt?"

"No." She shook her head, her voice quiet. "He just wanted to talk… used me to do it."

Kaminari and Kirishima caught up, confusion on their faces.

The mood shifted from lighthearted to tense in an instant. They shut the mall down for investigation after that. What had been a normal day of training camp prep had turned into a chilling reminder that they were never truly safe.

Not even in a crowded mall.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a purplish hue in the sky, and the crowds around them felt like a distant blur.

Katsuki walked just a step ahead of her, fists stuffed deep into his pockets. His jaw was tight, and every so often he glanced over at her, his eyes scanning her face as if he still didn't quite believe she was okay.

"I told you not to get kidnapped," he muttered finally, voice low.

"I didn't plan on it," Emi said with a half-hearted laugh, trying to ease the mood.

It didn't work.

They walked another few paces in silence until Katsuki came to a sudden stop on the sidewalk, turning to face her fully.

"You're not going back to your apartment."

Emi blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." His voice was firm, unwavering. "After what happened with that bastard—no way in hell I'm letting you stay there alone."

She stared at him, caught off guard. "Katsuki, I'm fine. He didn't even hurt me. It's not like he knows where I live."

"That's not the point," he snapped, pointing at her, his eyes sharp and serious. "You were used as a hostage. You could've been killed if he'd touched you with one more finger."

Emi looked down at the sidewalk. The fear she'd swallowed earlier was still coiled tight in her chest. She hadn't wanted to admit how badly it had shaken her.

Katsuki's voice softened, just barely. "You're staying at my place until this blows over. No arguments."

She glanced back up at him. "Your mom's okay with that?"

"She's the one who told me to call her if anything happened," he said, then rolled his eyes. "She's making up the futon already. Don't get weird about it."

Emi smiled faintly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

They started walking again, a little closer this time, the tension easing just slightly between them.

"Thanks," she said after a moment, her voice quiet.

"Tch. Whatever," Katsuki muttered, but the corners of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile.

As the mall disappeared behind them, so did the lingering echo of Shigaraki's voice. And while the fear still lingered, Emi knew one thing for certain—she wasn't alone.

Not with Katsuki by her side.

When they arrived at the Bakugo household, the scent of dinner still lingered faintly in the air. Mitsuki Bakugo opened the door before Katsuki could even pull his key out, hands on her hips and a towel slung over her shoulder.

"Tch. Took you long enough," she grunted. Her eyes flicked over Emi, softening just slightly. "You okay, kid?"

Emi gave a tired smile. "Yeah. Just a little shaken up, but I'm alright."

Mitsuki gave a short nod, her expression unreadable for a second before she turned on her heel. "Good. Come on in. I've already set up the futon in Katsuki's room."

Emi blinked. "Oh, I can take the living room, really. I don't wanna be in the way—"

Mitsuki waved a hand. "Living room's too cramped for a long stay, and I'm not stepping over a futon every morning. Besides, I know my son. He'll want to keep an eye on you."

Katsuki grunted but didn't argue, instead kicking off his shoes and heading straight for his room. Emi followed after, heart thudding a little louder than usual.

His room had been cleaned up since their geoup study session sleepover. Neat, structured, and full of sharp reds and blacks. The futon was laid out next to his bed, with extra blankets folded at the foot. It was simple, but somehow… comforting.

Katsuki pulled his desk chair out and dropped his bag on it, then glanced over at her. "You good with that spot?"

Emi nodded. "Yeah. It's perfect. Thanks, Katsuki."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a sharp nod.

She sat down on the edge of the futon, kicking her feet out and stretching. "Can't believe your mom just… let me stay here."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "She likes you. Don't ask me why."

Emi grinned. "Because I'm charming."

"Sure," he muttered, though there was the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "Just keep the snoring to a minimum."

"No promises." She smiled

He shot her a look, but it was more amused than annoyed. For a moment, the quiet settled between them in a peaceful way.

Outside, thunder rumbled low in the sky, rain tapping lightly against the window.

Inside, Katsuki flopped onto his bed, one arm slung behind his head.

"You're safe here," he said, almost like an afterthought.

Emi looked over at him, her expression soft.

"I know."

Emi stirred first, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the morning light. She was still tucked into the futon on the floor, the faint ache in her shoulder reminding her that yesterday had not been a dream. Her fingers brushed the edge of the blanket as she sat up slowly.

Across the room, Katsuki lay sprawled on his bed, one arm thrown over his face, his hair even messier than usual.

Emi stretched with a quiet groan. "Time to pack up and become camping pros," she murmured.

Katsuki grunted. "Already awake?"

"I'm efficient," she teased.

He rolled to the side, muttering something under his breath before finally swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Tch. Let's get this over with."

They both moved with a quiet ease, Emi folding up the futon while Katsuki changed and started tossing things into his duffel bag. Emi's own bag was packed and ready from the night before—she had gone over it three times already.

She brushed her hair into her low pigtails as Mitsuki's voice called from downstairs, "You better not miss your train! Then you'll miss the bus at the school!"

"We won't!" Katsuki shouted back.

They headed downstairs together, their bags slung over their shoulders. Masaru was already waiting in the entryway, holding out two bento boxes wrapped in cloth.

"I figured you'd want something for the ride," he said with a kind smile, handing them over. "They're still warm."

"Thanks," Emi said brightly, accepting hers with a grateful bow. "You're the best, Mr. Bakugo."

Masaru chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mitsuki was at the door, arms crossed, looking at them both with narrowed eyes. "Don't get yourselves killed," she said gruffly. "And don't be idiots. I don't want to see either of you on the news unless you're saving a damn city."

Katsuki scowled. "We've got it handled."

Emi nodded. "We'll be careful."

Mitsuki eyed them for another beat before sighing and grabbing them both in a swift, fierce hug. Katsuki let out a disgruntled noise but didn't resist. Emi smiled into it.

They stepped out into the morning sun, the train station only a few blocks away. The air smelled fresh, like clean earth and the hint of something new.

As they walked side by side down the quiet street, Katsuki glanced at Emi—only to catch a single tear trailing down her cheek.

His brow furrowed immediately. "Oi—what the hell's with you?" he asked, a mix of concern and confusion lacing his voice.

Startled, Emi quickly wiped the tear away with the heel of her palm, offering him a soft, sheepish smile. "Sorry. I just… I don't remember the last time someone hugged me. Or made me a bento," she said quietly. "It's… nice."

For a moment, Katsuki didn't say anything. His expression shifted, the sharp edges of his usual scowl softening just enough to be noticeable. Then, in true Katsuki fashion, he bumped his shoulder into hers—more affection than force.

"Tch. Well, get used to it," he muttered, eyes fixed ahead. "It won't be the last time."

Emi's heart skipped. Smiling gently, she took a risk.

She reached out and slipped her hand around his arm, holding onto him as they continued walking toward the bus stop.

Katsuki stiffened, just slightly, faltering in his step—but he didn't pull away.

And he didn't make her let go.