After the satisfying meal, the students gathered around as dusk settled over the forest. The air had a chill to it now, the sky dimming into a blanket of deep blue speckled with stars.

Aizawa stood in front of the now-clean outdoor kitchen, his hands in his pockets and his usual deadpan expression in place.

"Starting tonight, we'll be testing your composure under pressure," he began. "You'll be participating in a test of courage. This is designed to push you beyond your comfort zone, challenge your focus, and—most importantly—have fun."

Groans and cheers erupted in a mix.

"Fun?" Bakugo muttered, crossing his arms. "Waste of time."

"But we're doing it with Class 1-B too," Kaminari grinned. "So if you scream, you scream in front of everyone!"

"That's not motivating," Tokoyami said flatly.

"Now hold on," Aizawa continued. "This is only for those who passed the practical portion of the final exam. If you didn't…" He glanced toward the small group of students at the back—Mina, Sato, Kirishima, Sero, and Kaminari—"You'll be staying behind for extra lessons tonight."

"Aww, seriously?" Mina whined, slumping forward.

"You'll have your chance another time. For now, the rest of you, line up. Pairings will be announced shortly."

A few minutes later, Vlad King walked over with a clipboard, coordinating the mixed Class 1-A and 1-B pairings.

"And next up… Momo Yaoyorozu and Emi Moshizuki."

"Cool," Emi beamed.

Momo smiled. "Let's do our best."

They approached the edge of the dark forest trail, flashlights in hand. Glowing lanterns marked the path, and somewhere deep inside, the class 1B were already lying in wait to scare them.

"Think we'll scream?" Emi asked, nudging Momo playfully.

"I think I'll handle it better than most," Momo replied confidently—then added with a smirk, "But if something jumps out, I might hold onto you."

"Deal."

The two stepped into the forest trail together, light from their flashlights dancing across the dirt path ahead. Crickets chirped, the wind whispered through the trees, and distant rustles hinted that they were not alone.

As they walked, they chatted softly to calm their nerves, ready for whatever challenge—or jumpscare—the test of courage had in store.

Emi walked beside Momo, flashlight beam scanning the shadows, the sound of cicadas buzzing low in the distance. Her breath was steady, but her fingers tingled—she had a bad feeling crawling up her spine.

"This place is creeping me out," Momo muttered, hugging her jacket tighter. "Where's the fun in this test of courage again?"

Emi gave a soft smile. "When we get back, I'm throwing a bucket of ice water on Kaminari's bed."

But just as they reached a bend in the trail, a loud rustle burst from the bushes.

"RAHHH!"

Awase from Class 1-B leapt out, arms flailing.

"Are you serious?!" Emi yelled as a burst of wind flared out from her palms, nearly knocking him back into the bush.

Momo clutched her chest, heart racing. "That wasn't funny!"

But their argument was cut short by a bone-rattling growl—deep, inhuman.

From the shadows behind the trees, something emerged.

A hulking, snarling Nomu.

Its monstrous limbs twitched unnaturally, and yellow eyes glowed like coals. It lunged straight for them without hesitation.

"Run!" Emi shouted, wind flaring as she pushed the Nomu back with a powerful gust.

But it powered through, its brute strength unstoppable.

Momo tried to form a shield, but the Nomu was too fast—it slammed into her with one crushing blow, sending her flying into a nearby tree. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Emi's heart dropped. "MOMO!"

She turned to Awase, voice shaking. "Take her and go—NOW!"

"But—!"

"I said GO! Find the teachers, its the only way!"

Her wind swirled violently around her, a protective storm flaring outward as she faced down the beast. Awase hesitated only a moment longer before lifting Momo in his arms and sprinting into the woods, eyes wide with fear and guilt.

Alone now, Emi inhaled sharply. She was shaking, scared, but she had no choice.

She focused every ounce of energy into her hands, blasting the Nomu with slicing wind pressure. She darted and struck, keeping it at bay—but it was barely fazed.

It roared and barreled toward her.

She dodged one strike—but the second clipped her shoulder, sending her spinning into the dirt.

Blood pooled at the edge of her lips. She grit her teeth and stood again, defiant.

"You're not taking me," she spat.

But the Nomu was relentless.

It grabbed her mid-leap, slammed her into the ground over and over, then hurled her into a tree trunk. She hit hard, the world blurring and going dim.

She didn't get up.

The Nomu grunted, picked up her limp body, and began walking off into the trees.

Awase, hidden behind thick brush, crouched with Momo still unconscious beside him. His jaw clenched as the Nomu passed by. Noticing Emi thrown over its shoulder he let put a sharp gasp.

Momo stirred faintly, groaning. "Emi…"

Seeing the situation she began to create something. A small black device came from Momo and she told Awase, "Here stick this to it"

"Huh?! What is it?"

"There's no time just do it!"

Quickly taking the device, Awase stuck it to the side of the Nomu activating his Quirk, going unnoticed. Running back to Momo he whispered "That thing isn't going anywhere!"

Then he watched it disappear into the forest, taking Emi with it.

"We'll get you back," he whispered. Getting Momo under his arm, he lifted her and they slowly made their way back to camp. They had to find the teachers.

"Hey, Dabi! Did you hear the radio? I'm so pumped up!" he exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "Our boy Compress totally got the job done!"

Dabi leaned against a tree, arms crossed, his stitched mouth twitching into the barest smirk. "The man certainly took his time," he muttered coolly. "I was starting to get bored."

"Don't be a pain," said Dabi, appearing through the gloom.

Dabi sighed. "Yeah, yeah. You got what we came for."

Twice struck a theatrical pose, his body language erratic. "You're the pain! Forgive me! But seriously, this place was supposed to be impossible to find. Y'know, wall of flames, poisonous gas, all that jazz. But the gas is gone now! Things never go according to plan, do they?"

Dabi narrowed his eyes. "No. They don't."

Twice's voice dropped into a singsong, "Hey, Dabi! Speaking of which, totally not important or anything, but shouldn't you be calling that Nomu back? You said it only reacts to your voice, remember? Kinda sounded… vital."

A pause.

Dabi pushed off the tree with a slow nod. "That's right. You reminded me to let him loose on the kids earlier. He's probably got the girl by now."

Before anyone could respond, a distorted yell echoed above them.

"AAAAHHHH—!!"

With a surge of wind and smoke, four bodies dropped from the sky—Midoriya, Todoroki, and Shoji on top of Mr. Compress, landed hard on the dusty ground, coughing and scrambling to their feet. Mr. Compress jumped up dramatically crawling to the League of Villains, "These kid's ruined my exit!"

"Oh, hey. Wait a second," Twice said, head tilting as he recognized the newcomers. "I know these kids!"

"Midoriya…" Dabi growled, his flames licking to life.

Midoriya's green eyes darted through the hideout, desperate. His heart dropped at the sight before him.

Mr. Compress stood tall, next to Dabi, Twice, and Toga But it was the massive shadow behind them that made Midoriya's blood run cold.

The Nomu.

The hulking beast lumbered into view, its grotesque body twitching and drooling as it lumbered from the shadows. Draped across one of its arms like a rag doll—Emi.

"Emi—!" Midoriya choked out, stepping forward.

Her body was limp, blood trailing from a gash along her temple, costume torn and covered in dirt and ash. She wasn't moving.

"No…" Shoji whispered, his fists trembling.

Dabi turned toward the Nomu, voice deep and commanding. "Come."

The creature grunted and obeyed, trudging toward the League.

"We have what we need," Mr. Compress announced. "Let's fall back."

Shoji spoke up, quietly "While we were falling, I managed to get the marbles, nice try" he said with a serious expression on his face.

"Oh no!" Mr. Compress said sarcastically, "it seems you've taken them back. Except I am a master of deception, what you have are fakes" sticking out his tongue, there sat two marbles, holding Tokoyami and Bakugo.

At that moment a laser beam shot out from behind them, Aoyama had been hiding and as a last resort to save his friends, the laser barely skimmed Mr. Compress, making the two marbles fall out of his mouth.

Shoji lunged forward, grabbing one marble before Mr. Compress could.

"No!" Todoroki growled, releasing a burst of flame as he prepared to charge. Jumping forward towards the falling marble, he reached-- but Dabi got it first smirking.

But Kurogiri's dark portal bloomed behind them, shadows twisting like black silk in the air.

Twice waved at the trio mockingly. "Bye-bye now! Thanks for the entertainment!"

"No, wait—!" Midoriya bolted forward.

Dabi stepped into the mist, Nomu following close behind with Emi slung over its shoulder.

Midoriya lunged—

But the mist closed with a quiet whoosh, leaving nothing but silence and smoke.

They were gone.

Shoji fell to his knees, teeth clenched in rage.

Todoroki's fists blazed, but there was no target left to burn.

Midoriya stood frozen, breath ragged.

They'd lost them.

Katsuki. Emi.

Gone.

A sharp, blinding pain yanked Emi out of unconsciousness.

When Emi's vision focused, she saw a girl crouched in front of her—blonde hair in twin buns, crimson eyes shining with manic excitement.

"Oh, good, you're awake!" she giggled, voice sing-song. "I was getting bored, so I helped you wake up!"

Emi glanced down—and choked on a scream. A knife was buried straight through her right hand, pinning it into the floor.

Panic bloomed. Where was I? What happened? The bar, the villains—it started coming back in fragments. The training camp. The Nomu. I'd been… captured.

She shifted, pain lancing through her chest and arms. Her muscles screamed in protest. Her lungs felt shallow. Weak.

Emi looked to her right.

Katsuki.

He was strapped to a wooden chair, arms restrained, but his wide crimson eyes locked on mine. Shock. Rage. Fear.

"Wakey-wakey~! I'm Toga!" the girl said, her smile a little too wide. "We both have blonde hair! Maybe we can be friends!"

Friends? This psycho?

Behind her, a man in a black skin-tight suit leaned over her shoulder. "Yes, yes! Very cute! Ugly girl!" he added, in a strange, conflicting voice.

Emi's voice came out hoarse. "What do you want from us?"

Another voice answered—low and dry.

"You've caught our attention. That wind Quirk of yours is impressive"

She turned my head toward the speaker. Stitched skin. A blank stare. Dabi.

Emi's stomach twisted, but stayed silent, forcing herself to assess. Katsuki's hands were bound—but he looked ready to rip through steel. If she could free my other hand…

She moved, just slightly.

Toga moved faster.

Another knife flashed, stabbing through her left hand this time. Pain exploded, worse than the first, and she bit down on my scream. Emi's head hit the wall behind her with a thud.

"Aw, silly Emi-chan!" Toga said, almost pouting. "Trying to run already? That's not very friendly."

Emi glared at her, blood dripping around arms. Her hands burned, and she felt dangerously close to passing out—but she wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"Hey, bitch!" Katsuki barked suddenly, voice cutting through the tension. "You think you're tough attacking someone who's already down?"

Emi turned my head slightly, catching his expression. His teeth were bared, fists twitching against his restraints. Furious. Scared. She hated how pathetic she must have looked to him right now. She hated that she couldn't do anything.

Then he stepped forward.

Tomura Shigaraki.

The tension in the room thickened immediately. His hand hovered near his neck—twitching fingers ready to destroy.

"Let's make this simple," he rasped. "Bakugo Katsuki. Moshizuki Emi. We're offering you a place in the League. You can choose to join us… or we'll take what we need from you anyway."

Twice and Dabi stepped forward to untie Katsuki. The second his hands were free, he blew the chair apart with a crackling explosion, sending splinters flying.

"You people are fucking delusional," he growled. "I'm leaving. And I'm taking her with me."

Emi's heart skipped a beat.

Even in this hellhole, even with blood running down her arms… he looked right at her when he said it.

But Shigaraki stepped forward, kneeling in front of Emi.

"She's not going anywhere," he said calmly. "Bakugo won't join without her at his side. So, Moshizuki… do you want to join us?"

She looked him dead in the eye—and spat in his face.

It wasn't smart. But it felt right.

His face twisted into rage. His hand lashed out, fingers spread wide—straight toward her face.

Time slowed.

"Get the fuck away from her!" Katsuki roared, charging forward, explosions crackling at his sides. Twice lunged at him, but Katsuki spun and slammed his fist into his jaw, sending him flying into a wall.

Emi raised her knee, planting her foot against Shigaraki's chest, pushing him back—but it wasn't enough. His fingertips grazed the left side of her face.

Right over her eye.

Then—

BOOM.

The wall exploded behind us.

"Kamino Pizza Delivery!" someone shouted.

And there he was. All Might.

The pro heroes stormed in, light flooding the room.

But it was too late.

Just half a second.

That's all it took.

Shigaraki touched her.

Agony shot through Emi's skull as the left side of her face ignited in pain. She screamed, a raw, broken sound, and jerked her head forward, clutching at it with trembling fingers.

I can't see.

I can't see.

The world spun, blood poured down her cheek, and her vision in that eye was gone—white-hot, then black.

She knew what his Quirk did. And she knew, instantly, something was wrong.

Please, she prayed. Please let it be just the skin. Please don't let it be permanent.

But she already knew.

And Katsuki's voice echoed in the background, louder than the chaos.

"EMI!"

Shigaraki was sent flying, Kamui Woods swiftly restraining the villains with expertly aimed tendrils. The chaos began to dull at the edges of Emi's senses. Everything felt distant and sluggish, as if she were underwater. Whether it was blood loss or pain, she couldn't tell—but her body moved slower than it should have. Every sound was muffled.

Then, Katsuki appeared in front of her.

His voice came through in fragmented murmurs, barely reaching her ears. He gently took hold of her chin, lifting her head so their eyes met. Though she couldn't clearly hear him, she read his lips: "I have to take the knives out."

She gave him a weak nod.

He gripped her hand and, in one swift motion, yanked the knife from her palm. The pain was blinding—silent tears spilled from her eyes as her head dropped forward. Then he moved to the other hand, repeating the process. The agony was unbearable, burning through her like wildfire.

Katsuki slid an arm behind her and pulled her to her feet. She leaned on him, barely able to stand. But just as quickly, everything shifted again.

Black, viscous goo suddenly rose up, wrapping around her. She saw the same happen to Katsuki and several others. They were being teleported.

The next thing Emi knew, she slammed into the ground in a demolished building. She coughed violently, dazed and disoriented. Her limbs refused to cooperate, and her hands felt numb and useless.

Katsuki landed nearby, and relief swept through her—until she sensed someone behind her.

She turned and froze.

A tall man stood there, radiating pressure so intense it nearly suffocated her. Calm and composed, he said, "Well, hello everyone. I apologize for the rough ride, but it had to be done."

This… this was the true leader.

Katsuki stepped forward, sneering. "Hah! So you're not even the boss. Just a lame sidekick."

Everyone slowly got to their feet—everyone except Emi. Still on the ground, trembling, she looked at Katsuki and mouthed, "I can't."

The man smiled. "Ah, you were quicker than expected."

Then a rumble shook the earth.

All Might landed like a thunderclap.

"All for One," he growled.

"So we meet again," the man replied with eerie calmness.

Tension thickened like a storm cloud.

"I thought I finished you before. I won't make that mistake again," All Might said, muscles tense.

"But I wonder…" All for One mused, "if you'll protect your precious student first."

Without warning, he reached for Emi and lifted her off the ground by the back of her shirt. Her stomach lurched.

"Let her go!" All Might bellowed.

"This has everything to do with her now," All for One said as his other hand reached toward her.

"I'm not your pawn!" Emi shouted, using what strength she had left. She swung her leg behind his knee and yanked, throwing herself backward—still in his grip. Bloodied palms glowing faintly, she thrust them into his face and unleashed a desperate burst of wind.

It wasn't clean or powerful—but it hit.

All for One was blasted back, and Emi hit the ground hard, rolling until she lay facedown. Her body trembled. Blood poured from her palms.

Nearby, All Might and All for One collided like giants.

Katsuki had already stepped between her and the rest of the villains, shielding her from harm. She couldn't use her Quirk anymore without tearing herself apart. She was nothing but a burden now.

And then—salvation exploded from the wall.

"Iida! Midoriya! Kirishima!" Emi gasped, stunned.

"Come on!!" Kirishima shouted, reaching for Katsuki.

Katsuki didn't hesitate. He turned to Emi and offered his hand. "Let's go."

Emi lunged forward, and he caught her, pulling her close. He blasted off toward the others, grabbing Kirishima's hand midair.

"You idiots!" Katsuki barked, though his grin gave him away.

Emi held onto him tightly, burying her face against his neck as the weight of everything crashed down. He stiffened, then relaxed, letting her hold on.

They landed rough—but Emi didn't let go until her legs gave out beneath her.

"You dumbass," Katsuki muttered, catching her. "You can't even walk."

"Emi-chan! Bakugo! You're okay!" Kirishima exclaimed.

"Shitty Hair, don't act like I needed your help," Katsuki snapped. "It was just the fastest way out!"

"Stop it, Katsuki…" Emi whispered, swaying. "Any longer and I wouldn't have made it."

"Emi-chan?" Midoriya asked, voice filled with worry.

Her hands were mangled—flesh torn and bleeding. Her stomach turned. She stumbled away and dropped to her knees, vomiting.

Kirishima held her steady. "We've got to get her to a hospital!"

Emi couldn't respond. Her ribs screamed with pain. Her fingers rose shakily to touch the left side of her face. It was wrong. Dry. Cracked. Dead. She still couldn't see from her left eye.

"Come on," Katsuki said. He crouched and offered his back. "Get on."

With no strength to argue, she wrapped her arms around him and he lifted her up.

No one teased them.

"We need to keep moving," Iida said. "Todoroki and Yaoyorozu should be nearby."

"That half-and-half bastard's here too?" Katsuki grunted.

"Momo came?" Emi asked faintly. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Iida said. "But you are not."

"You really don't look good…" Kirishima added.

They walked, Katsuki carrying Emi on his back. He glanced at her often, checking that she was still conscious.

Her eyelids drooped heavily.

"Stay awake just a little longer, okay?" Midoriya begged.

"Trying, Deku," she murmured.

Then the crowd's energy shifted. They looked up.

All Might was on the screen, fighting. He looked… smaller. Frailer. The crowd murmured with fear.

"IS HE GOING TO LOSE?!"

"COME ON, ALL MIGHT, YOU CAN DO IT!"

"DON'T LOSE, ALL MIGHT!"

"All Might, please…" Emi whispered.

The final blow came. Then silence.

And at last… a single raised finger.

"You're next."

The crowd erupted.

Midoriya cried. Katsuki said nothing. Neither did Emi.

Her head rested on his shoulder.

And finally… she closed her eyes.