The bus rumbled gently down the road, the early morning sun filtering through the windows in soft rays. Emi and Katsuki sat side by side near the back, their bags tucked beneath their feet. Most of Class 1-A was either chatting quietly or dozing off, the excitement for the training camp making the air buzz despite the early hour.

Katsuki tore open a bag of spicy chips and held it out wordlessly.

Emi raised a brow, amused. "Sharing snacks now? You feeling okay?"

"Don't push it," he grumbled, though his tone lacked any real bite.

She took a few chips anyway, popping one in her mouth with a grin. They passed the snack bag back and forth for a while in comfortable silence, occasionally throwing in dry remarks or soft chuckles. Katsuki didn't even complain when Emi pulled out her own snack pouch and offered him a piece of sweet bread—though he mumbled something about it being "too damn fluffy."

Eventually, the quiet hum of the engine and the warmth of the sun lulled Emi into a slower rhythm. She pulled her blanket out of her bag and draped it over her lap, yawning softly.

Katsuki side-eyed her. "Tired?"

"Mmm… just cozy," she murmured, curling up slightly. "Wake me if I drool."

"Tch. Gross."

But he didn't move when she slowly leaned her head against his shoulder, the edge of her blanket slipping across both of them. Her breathing evened out quickly, warm and steady.

Katsuki stayed perfectly still for a second, then glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She looked peaceful. Soft.

He rolled his eyes quietly and muttered under his breath, "Dumbass."

Still, he didn't shrug her off. Instead, he adjusted slightly so her head rested more comfortably.

And when Kaminari turned around in his seat to make a joke—he got one look from Katsuki and immediately turned back around.

The ride continued, steady and calm, with Emi sleeping soundly on his shoulder and Katsuki letting her stay.

The bus finally rumbled to a stop in the mountains, and the students slowly began to stir. Emi blinked awake groggily, still leaning slightly on Katsuki's shoulder. Realizing this, she quickly sat up, cheeks flushed.

"Sorry," she mumbled, rubbing one eye.

"Tch. You drooled a little," he teased with a small smirk.

She gasped. "I did not!"

"You'll never know," he replied coolly.

They filed off the bus into the crisp mountain air. The trees stretched high above them, the sky wide and blue overhead. The class gathered near the open area. Emi stood beside Katsuki and Kirishima, glancing around curiously.

"Where's the bathrooms?!" Mineta cried, holding his crotch jumping around.

Aizawa stood near the front of the group, his arms crossed and expression unreadable.

"Everyone. I'd like you to meet the pro heroes who will be overseeing your training here."

From behind a boulder, two figures appeared in matching themed costumes, striking dramatic poses.

"We are the Wild Wild Pussycats!" the two women chorused.

One of them, with red wild hair and a fierce smile, waved energetically. "I'm Mandalay!"

"And I'm Pixie-Bob!" the other one cheered, springing up enthusiastically. "We specialize in mountain rescues and support missions!"

The class buzzed with excitement, but Aizawa raised a hand to silence them.

"I hope you all enjoyed the ride here," he said in his usual deadpan tone, "because from this point on, you'll be training constantly."

Mandalay gestured toward the distant building at the bottom of the mountainside. "Your lodging is down there. You have three hours to make it on foot."

"What?!" Kaminari cried. "That far?!"

"Don't worry!" Pixie-Bob beamed, slamming her hands into the dirt.

The ground rumbled violently beneath them, and suddenly a massive piece of the cliff gave way. Before anyone could react, the students were launched off the edge with a terrifying yell.

Emi's scream mingled with the others as they plummeted down toward the forest below.

"Are you serious?!" Katsuki roared mid-fall.

Trees rushed up to meet them—and then they crashed into the forest below, groaning as they scrambled to their feet in the dense, shadowy woods.

"This is insane," Emi muttered, brushing dirt from her uniform. "They really just threw us off a cliff."

"Yeah," Katsuki growled, cracking his knuckles and scanning the terrain. "Which means it's already started. Training camp starts now."

From the distance, monsters made of earth and stone began to rise from the shadows of the trees, summoned by Pixie-Bob's Quirk.

"Guess we're not walking," Kirishima grinned, fists already hardening. "We're fighting our way down!"

Emi tightened her gloves and smirked, wind already curling around her fingers.

"Let's do this."

And with that, Class 1-A charged into the forest, the real start of their training camp now in full swing.

After what felt like an eternity battling their way through the forest—dodging dirt beasts, navigating tricky terrain, and pushing themselves to the edge—Class 1-A finally emerged into a clearing. The training lodge stood in the distance, a warm glow shining from the windows like a beacon of salvation.

Everyone was utterly exhausted. Dirt-covered, sweat-soaked, and barely upright.

"Oh my god," Kaminari breathed, stumbling forward. "I could cry."

"Same," Mina groaned, clutching her sides. "I feel like my organs are melting."

Katsuki said nothing, his arms hanging heavy at his sides. He'd blasted his way through more than half the beasts with little rest, and now a deep ache radiated through his muscles. His palms were raw, the faint smell of smoke still clinging to his skin.

Beside him, Emi's footsteps wavered. Her head spun slightly from overexerting her Quirk—sending burst after burst of wind to support their advance through the forest. She pressed a hand to her temple, blinking hard.

"You good?" Katsuki asked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"Just lightheaded," she admitted, her voice faint. "Too much wind, not enough water."

He grunted and shifted closer, grabbing her upper arm. "You're not passing out. Wait until we eat."

She smiled at him—tired, but warm.

As they reached the lodge, Mandalay greeted them with a clipboard and a proud smile.

"Great work getting here, Class 1-A! You've all earned a break."

Several students collapsed on the ground in relief.

"But don't get too comfortable," Mandalay added. "This was just the beginning. Real training starts tomorrow."

Groans echoed across the group.

"But," she added with a grin, "tonight's a little different. The teachers made dinner for you as a treat. Consider it a reward for surviving the journey."

Eyes widened, and spirits lifted instantly.

"Food made by pros?!" Kaminari gasped.

"I might actually cry now," Uraraka said, clutching her stomach.

Inside, the lodge was warm and filled with the scent of home-cooked food. The teachers had prepared steaming pots of curry, rice, grilled meats, and fresh vegetables. Hot miso soup was already set out on the long wooden tables.

Katsuki sat stiffly, his shoulders tense from overuse, but relaxed slightly as he inhaled the aroma.

Emi slid onto the bench beside him, her face still a little pale, but her eyes brightening. "This smells like heaven."

As the class sat down to eat together, laughter slowly returned. Iida kept reminding people to use proper etiquette, even as Kaminari nearly spilled curry in his lap. Tokoyami and Shoji silently focused on eating. Sero challenged Kirishima to see who could eat the most. Even Todoroki cracked a small smile as he ate in peace.

Katsuki didn't say much—but when Emi nudged him and handed him an extra carton of juice, he muttered a "thanks" without looking at her.

She bumped his arm with hers, grinning. "Of course."

He rolled his eyes but didn't move away.

As everyone finished eating, Pixie-Bob clapped her hands together at the front of the room.

"Alright, little campers! Hope you enjoyed dinner, because starting tomorrow—you're cooking for yourselves!"

A collective groan echoed around the room.

"Noooo, it was too good to be true!" Kaminari cried.

"Iida's totally gonna make us meal prep," Mina whined.

Emi leaned back with a laugh. "Guess we'd better figure out who can cook without blowing up the kitchen."

Katsuki smirked. "I'm not letting any of you idiots near my food."

As the night wound down, the students headed to the showers and slowly settled in to rest. Katsuki's arms ached, and Emi's head still throbbed, but the warm food in their stomachs and the buzz of companionship made it easier to breathe.

Tomorrow would bring the start of intense training.

But for tonight, they were safe, full, and together.

The morning came fast.

Barely after sunrise, the students of Class 1-A were dragged from their beds by Mandalay's booming voice over the intercom system.

"Wake up, U.A. students! Training begins in thirty minutes—outside, in uniform!"

Groans and mumbles echoed through the lodge.

"Are we sure we're not still dreaming?" Kaminari muttered, half-draped over a blanket.

Katsuki sat up instantly, already alert and pulling on his uniform. "Move it or get left behind, dunces," he snapped.

From her bed beside him, Emi rubbed her eyes and yawned, brushing sleep-mussed hair back. "Does she always sound so cheerful this early?"

"Hell if I know. I've only been here one day," he replied, but there was a subtle warmth in his tone.

They dressed quickly, Emi tying her hair up and securing her gloves, while Katsuki checked over his support gear. As they joined the others outside, the early morning sun cast long shadows through the trees. The air was brisk, the forest eerily quiet—until a sudden rumble came from deep underground.

"Good morning!" Pixie-Bob sang, bursting out of the dirt like a missile.

"What the hell?!" Katsuki barked.

"This is your first training exercise of the day!" Pixie-Bob beamed. "You'll be pushed to your physical limit to improve your Quirk stamina! You're not here to have fun, after all!"

She launched another Earth Beast from the soil with a flick of her wrist. It snarled and lunged, and Class 1-A scattered.

"Combat training, now?!" Sero yelped, dodging a swipe.

"Looks like we don't get a warm-up," Emi muttered, already moving.

Katsuki blasted forward with an explosion from his palms, striking the creature in the chest. "Let's go, windstorm!"

Emi grinned and unleashed a slicing arc of wind from her palms, creating a distraction so Kirishima could harden and land a solid hit.

The team fell into sync, each student using their strengths while sweating through the grueling drills. They were split into rotating groups, training Quirk usage and endurance nonstop. From strength-based obstacles to control-focused tasks, the day tested every limit.

By midday, Katsuki's palms were smoking, and Emi was panting after repeated wind bursts, her hair sticking to her face.

Lunch was quick—homemade bento boxes they'd packed themselves the night before. Emi and Katsuki sat under a tree in the shade, barely speaking as they ate, both trying to regain some energy.

"You need water," Katsuki said, shoving his bottle toward her.

"You do too," she countered, but took a sip with a quiet smile.

Afternoon brought agility drills, more beast fights, and stamina races. The heat didn't let up, and neither did the training.

By the time the sun dipped below the trees, the students stumbled back to the lodge covered in sweat, dirt, and bruises.

"Kill me now," Mina groaned, dragging her feet.

"No way," Kirishima laughed. "That was awesome! Even if I'm dying."

Katsuki rolled his shoulders, his arms sore from overuse again. "Idiots. That was only day one."

"Don't remind me," Emi muttered, leaning on the doorframe before they headed in for dinner.

That night, the students ate together again, all too tired to even complain about having to cook the next day. Emi caught herself yawning mid-bite, and even Bakugo didn't argue when she stole one of his dumplings.

As they settled into the lodge for the night, sore and worn down, Emi sat beside Katsuki on the floor, their legs just barely touching.

"You were good today," she said with a small smile.

He shrugged, staring straight ahead. "So were you."

She nudged him gently. "We've got this."

Katsuki finally looked at her. "Yeah. We do."

After a long, exhausting first day of Quirk training, the students of Class 1-A returned to the lodge, muscles aching and energy low. The sun had just dipped below the treetops, casting golden light over the clearing.

Despite the soreness and sweat, spirits were surprisingly high — especially when they were greeted by the aroma of something delicious wafting from the open-air kitchen area.

"Smells amazing," Kirishima said, sniffing the air and grinning. "Let's get cooking!"

"This time," Aizawa called over from the porch, "you're making your own dinner. We gave you one night off — don't expect it again."

A collective groan rose from the group.

"But I don't know how to cook!" Kaminari whined.

"Then you'll learn," Aizawa replied flatly.

"Okay, okay! We can do this!" Mina said, clapping her hands. "Let's make something epic!"

"Only if we don't burn the whole kitchen down," Kaminari muttered, eyeing the stovetops suspiciously.

While chaos erupted as everyone scrambled for ingredients, Emi and Katsuki calmly walked over to the far table, claiming their own set of vegetables and a cutting board.

Katsuki cracked his neck and grabbed a knife with practiced ease. "Move over, I'm not letting you extras ruin my dinner."

Emi tied her hair up into a quick bun, washed her hands, and rolled up her sleeves. "Hey, if I'm helping, it'll be the best thing you've ever tasted. Scoot over, Blasty."

"Don't call me that," he muttered, but didn't push her away.

The two got to work in sync. Emi sliced bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms with smooth, clean motions while Katsuki expertly diced garlic and carrots. They barely needed to speak—passing ingredients back and forth like they'd done it a hundred times before.

Kirishima blinked from across the kitchen. "Yo… are they… coordinated?"

"Since when can Bakugo cook like a pro?" Sero whispered.

"And Emi too! Look at that knife work!" Uraraka added, wide-eyed.

Even Iida paused from scolding Kaminari about cross-contamination to stare. "Impressive knife technique. Very efficient!"

"They're like… a cooking power couple," Mina whispered with a giggle.

Katsuki glanced up, clearly aware of the attention. "The hell are you all staring at? Get back to your own disasters before you burn the rice."

"Seriously," Emi added with a smirk. "This kitchen's got enough heat from his temper already."

"I'm not gonna say it smells amazing," Kaminari said dramatically, "but it smells amazing."

Soon, a pot of rich, simmering curry was bubbling on the stove, thanks to Katsuki's seasoning skills, while Emi plated perfectly sautéed vegetables on the side. They worked like a seamless unit, ignoring the growing group of impressed classmates watching like an audience.

Once everything was done, they carried their dishes to the main table.

"Made extra," Emi said with a wink, placing the plate down. "But only if you're brave enough to admit it's good."

Katsuki huffed, folding his arms. "You better enjoy it. I'm not doing this every night."

The class dug in—and were immediately hit with wide eyes and amazed groans.

"Okay, what the hell? This is restaurant quality!" Sero cried.

"I'd pay actual yen for this," Mina mumbled through a mouthful.

Emi shared a glance with Katsuki and gave him a small, proud smile. "Told you we make a good team."

He scoffed but didn't deny it.

Training Camp — Day 2

The sun rose on Day 2 of training camp, casting golden light over the thick trees surrounding the lodge. While birds chirped peacefully in the distance, inside the lodge, peace was a foreign concept.

"Alright, students! Up and out—let's go!" Mandalay's voice boomed again through the intercom. "Today we begin focused Quirk training!"

A mix of tired groans and shuffling filled the rooms.

"Ugh… why does she sound even more energetic today?" Kaminari muttered, clutching his pillow.

"I think she gets stronger the more exhausted we get," Emi said as she pulled on her training gear, tying her hair back tightly.

Katsuki was already at the door, arms crossed, fully dressed. "Quit dragging your feet," he snapped. "It's just gonna get harder from here."

Out in the clearing, Class 1-A stood shoulder-to-shoulder, sleepy but alert, as the Wild Wild Pussycats explained the day's schedule.

"This is where the real training begins," Aizawa stated coolly, addressing both Class 1-A and Class 1-B, who had arrived the day before. "Today, we push your Quirks to their breaking points."

"We've got individual training stations set up all around the forest," Mandalay added. "Each of you will work on refining or expanding your Quirk in a unique way. And trust us—it won't be easy."

Pixie-Bob grinned mischievously. "You'll cry! You'll scream! You'll want to quit! But by the end, you'll be stronger than ever!"

The class collectively winced.

Emi blinked. "Why do they sound so excited about this?"

Katsuki cracked his knuckles. "Because they're insane."

The students split up to their assigned stations:

Midoriya worked on controlling One for All more efficiently by focusing the power into specific limbs.

Todoroki practiced rapid-fire use of both fire and ice to minimize hesitation.

Kirishima repeatedly hardened against falling boulders to improve his durability.

Kaminari tested his electricity output and control using tech resistance panels.

Emi, under supervision, was placed in a wind-pressure field, forcing her to push against simulated gales with her Quirk alone to build power and resistance.

With her hands outstretched, wind streaming wildly around her, she gritted her teeth and kept pressing forward. Her whole body ached, but she refused to falter.

Nearby, Katsuki was blasting apart reinforced targets with his explosions. Sweat dripped down his neck, his arms already trembling—but every blast was more precise, more explosive than the last.

After hours of relentless training, the students finally gathered in the clearing, drenched in sweat and breathing hard.

"That… was intense," Uraraka panted, wiping her forehead.

"Like being hit by a truck repeatedly," Emi muttered, her legs barely holding her upright.

"You all did well today," Aizawa said as he stepped forward. "But don't relax yet."

The students collectively groaned.

"Tonight, you'll all be participating in a test of courage."

A mixture of cheers and confused murmurs echoed.

"A test of courage?" Kaminari repeated, perking up.

"It's a tradition," Pixie-Bob chimed in from the side with a grin, striking a pose. "You'll be heading into the forest in pairs while we class 1B the life out of you!"

"Sounds fun!" Mina exclaimed with a mischievous grin, elbowing Kirishima. "We should team up!"

But Aizawa cut through their excitement.

"Not all of you," he said bluntly. "Those of you who failed the practical exam have remedial lessons tonight. You won't be participating in the test."

The excitement instantly drained from several students' faces.

"Wait—what?!" Kaminari cried out, eyes wide. "No fair! That's so lame!"

"Come on, man, we've been working hard all day!" Kirishima protested, throwing a hand up in disbelief.

"You failed the practical exam," Aizawa reminded them. "This is a training camp. Not a vacation."

Mina slumped dramatically against Hanta, groaning. "Ughhh, I wanted to go through the spooky forest with a cute boy!"

"We are the cute boys!" Kaminari said, offended.

Sato let out a small sigh but said nothing, already resigned to the fate.

Meanwhile, Emi stood near Katsuki, sharing a glance with him. "Guess we don't have to worry about that."

"Tch. I wasn't gonna scream anyway," Katsuki muttered, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Sure, sure," Emi teased. "You'll be the first one running if a squirrel jumps at you."

Katsuki growled under his breath, but the corner of his mouth twitched — almost a smile.

As the rest of the class buzzed with excitement or grumbled in disappointment, the group began to split off to prepare for the evening ahead — some to plan for fun, others to brace for boring lessons. Either way, the night was just getting started.