The bus hissed to a stop just outside the massive stadium, and Class 1-A filed out, one by one, the early morning sun glinting off armor, gauntlets, and polished emblems. The energy in the air was electric—buzzing with a cocktail of nerves, adrenaline, and anticipation.

Emi stepped down last, adjusting the airflow vents on her gloves with practiced fingers. The spiral wind emblem on her chest shimmered faintly as the light caught it—white with dark pink accents, bold against the matte black of her suit. Her bandages were gone now, and she was ready. The scar that cut down from her temple across her blind left eye was unmistakable. Her left iris, a pale, misted pink, contrasted sharply with the vivid dark pink of her right.

Ashido slid up beside her with a grin. "You look badass, Emi-chan. Like you're about to start a vengeance arc or something."

Emi let out a soft laugh, fingers flexing. "Something like that."

Behind her, Katsuki didn't say a word, but she could feel his eyes on her. It wasn't a protective stare—not exactly. He was watching her with quiet intensity, as though studying her—measuring her strength, maybe even testing it in his head.

Aizawa's voice cut through the buzz of conversation.

"Don't underestimate the competition," he said, eyes scanning them all. "Shiketsu, Ketsubutsu, and the others are watching UA closely. You'll be targeted. Work smart."

The students nodded as one and started toward the building's entrance. Inside the massive lobby, clusters of students from rival schools were already gathered, eyes tracking the UA group as they entered. Some whispered. Some scoffed. Others stared openly at individual members—like prey, or threats.

Emi moved toward the front with Midoriya, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu when a booming voice cut through the tension.

"SO these are the UA students, huh?!"

A tall figure approached with all the energy of a typhoon. Inasa Yoarashi, broad-shouldered and grinning from ear to ear, came to a halt in front of them.

"Whoa, you're all super cool-looking!" he exclaimed. Then his eyes locked on Emi. "Hey! You—wind girl! You're the one they call Twister, right?"

She blinked, surprised. "Uh… yeah, that's me."

He gave an overly dramatic bow. "Yoarashi Inasa! Big fan of your Quirk. Wind manipulation's no joke. Wind against wind—we should totally have a showdown sometime!"

Emi couldn't help a small smile. His enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, but sincere. "Maybe… if we both make it through the first round."

"YES! That's the spirit!"

Just then, another figure sauntered over, her expression dreamy and eyes half-lidded with lazy amusement. Camie Utsushimi tilted her head at Emi, examining her like a painting in a gallery.

"You've got… vibes," Camie said slowly, swaying on her heels. "Real main-character energy, ya feel?"

"Um… thanks?" Emi offered, slightly thrown off.

Midoriya leaned in, whispering behind his hand, "Camie… she's a little… unpredictable."

Camie grinned, circling behind Emi like a curious cat. She reached out and gently tugged at one of the windstreamers flowing from Emi's belt.

"These are cute. Part of your whole wind aesthetic, huh? Totally into it."

A sharp voice interrupted, low and simmering.

"Back off, knockoff."

Bakugo.

He stepped in without hesitation, sliding between them just enough to make his point. Camie raised an amused brow at him, while Inasa frowned.

"Hey now," Inasa said. "No need to get rude, Bakugo. We're all future heroes here."

Bakugo didn't blink. "Future? Speak for yourself."

Before the tension could escalate, the loudspeaker overhead chimed, and the proctors called for all students to begin registration. The crowd began shifting, dispersing into lines and groups.

Yaoyorozu leaned in close to Emi as they moved. "That Camie girl was awfully… forward."

Emi let out a breath and rubbed her temple. "I don't know whether to be flattered or creeped out."

As they reached the registration booths, Bakugo passed by her again, walking just ahead. "Ignore her. Focus on the test."

He didn't wait for her response.

Emi stared after him, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips.

"You focus too, Katsuki…" she whispered under her breath.

The wind tugged at her hair as she stepped forward, ready to fight—scar and all.

The battlefield roared with chaos. Explosions cracked through the air, scattering dust and debris across the artificial terrain. It was an open arena, designed to mimic an urban disaster zone—but now it looked more like a warzone. Projectiles whizzed past crumbled walls, support gear rattled, and voices shouted commands over the din.

Emi Moshizuki crouched behind a low concrete barrier, wind curling protectively around her like invisible streamers. Her heart was steady. Controlled. Her breath, deep. Her gloved fingers flexed as she surveyed the dust-choked ridge in front of them.

Behind her, Kaminari peeked over the rubble, muttering to himself. "This is insane. We've been here for ten minutes and already half the arena is trying to pick us off…"

Kirishima crouched nearby, keeping his hardened arms up and his posture loose. "We'll be fine. We've got a solid group."

A burst of heat flared above, and Katsuki Bakugo dropped into view like a fireball, his eyes sharp and assessing. He didn't speak at first—just landed in a crouch beside Emi and swept his gaze over the field.

"Tch. Took you long enough to get moving," he muttered.

Emi gave him a sidelong glance. His presence was grounding, even if his words always came laced with arrogance. "We were waiting for the guy with the built-in bombs," she replied.

Kirishima grinned. "And now we've got our heavy hitter."

"There's a group from Ketsubutsu," Emi said, her tone shifting to business. "Three students, north ridge. One of them's got some kind of tracking Quirk—they're locking onto us through the dust cover."

Bakugo cracked his knuckles, a wild light sparking behind his eyes. "Good. Let them come."

"No," Emi said quickly, grabbing his arm. He stilled, surprised—but didn't pull away. "We flank. Kaminari, hit them with a wide-range burst. Blind them. Kirishima, you cover him. Katsuki and I will come in from behind."

He stared at her for a beat, his red eyes unreadable.

Then, "You better keep up."

Emi smirked. "Try to outrun me."

The plan moved into motion instantly. Kaminari ducked out from behind cover, electricity crackling across his fingers before launching a wave of dazzling energy that lit up the dusty air. Kirishima stepped up beside him, arms hardened, deflecting a barrage of thrown discs.

Up above, Emi launched herself into the sky on a current of wind, Bakugo exploding beside her like a missile. The world blurred for a moment in the rush of wind and heat.

"You timing this with me?" Bakugo barked over the roar.

"On your mark," she called back.

He smirked. "NOW!"

Emi let the cyclone loose, spiraling her wind in a violent surge that slammed into the enemy group from the left as Bakugo barreled down from above in a blast of raw force. The two collided with surgical precision. The Ketsubutsu students barely had time to react—two were swept off their feet and slammed against a support wall, their targets lighting up instantly. The third tried to run—only to be snatched midair by a concentrated burst of wind and tagged by Bakugo's explosive follow-up.

Kaminari whooped from below. "YEAHH! Team Boom-and-Breeze, let's GO!"

Kirishima cheered as well, his fist pumping. "That's three down! We're killing it!"

Emi touched down lightly, her boots skimming the ground as she stabilized herself. Bakugo landed beside her with a heavy thud, gauntlet still smoking.

"You okay?" she asked, brushing a strand of wind-tousled hair from her face.

He shrugged, wiping soot from his arm. "Please. That was nothing."

Then Kaminari threw himself between them, grinning like an idiot.

"Aww, look at the power couple!" he teased.

Bakugo didn't hesitate. He smacked Kaminari in the shoulder—light by his standards, but enough to make the electric blonde yelp.

"Shut it, Dunce Face."

Kirishima chuckled as he jogged up beside them. "Let's keep moving before you two start making out mid-battle."

Emi rolled her eyes, though a light flush touched her cheeks. "Please. I'd at least wait until after we win."

Bakugo's grin was sharp. "Then don't fall behind."

And just like that, they were moving again—cutting through the battlefield with wind, fire, electricity, and sheer will. A storm of destruction and coordination, of unrelenting momentum and growing trust.

The signal flashed in the sky—bright, blinking green, followed by an electronic chime echoing through the arena.

"Kirishima Eijiro. Kaminari Denki. Bakugo Katsuki. Moshizuki Emi—pass."

Their targets lit up in green confirmation. Relief came in a heavy exhale from Emi as the announcement rang through the battleground.

"We did it!" Kaminari whooped, pumping his fists into the air, sparks flickering along his gloves.

Kirishima slapped a hand to Kaminari's shoulder, laughing. "Hell yeah, bro!"

Emi allowed herself a rare grin, leaning slightly on her knees as the wind around her calmed. Her hair fluttered, damp with sweat, and her windstreamers trailed behind her like soft banners. "That was intense."

Bakugo stood at her side, arms crossed, breathing steady. "We wasted too much time on the first wave," he muttered, but the edge in his voice was dulled by satisfaction. His red eyes flicked toward her.

Emi gave him a sideways glance, and did a silly wink.

Snapping his head to the side, his ears were red. Giggling at his embarrassment she went and stood closer to him.

A loud hum pulsed from the arena's loudspeakers. Around them, students from every school began to converge—those who had passed moving toward the gathering area marked by glowing arrows and automated drones.

As the four UA students walked toward the center, other teams began to spot them.

"Yo!" Sero waved, jogging up with Mina and Iida at his side. "You guys made it too!"

"Of course we did," Bakugo grumbled.

Mina's pink eyes sparkled as she looked between Bakugo and Emi. "Well, well, look who made it through with flying colors—and possibly matching heartbeats?"

Emi flushed faintly and avoided her gaze. Kaminari snorted.

"You should've seen them back there. Wind and fire, just dominating. It was kinda beautiful, not gonna lie."

"Shut up, Kaminari," Bakugo growled, though he didn't deny it.

More UA students trickled in—Midoriya, Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, Jirou, and even Aoyama, still glittering for no reason.

"Looks like we all made it," Todoroki said, calm and cool as ever, though his gaze briefly lingered on Emi's scar before respectfully shifting away.

A screen high above began to scroll the names of the successful students. As each one flashed across, cheers and groans echoed through the arena.

Midoriya turned to Emi, eyes earnest. "You okay? You looked strong out there. Focused."

"I'm… better than I thought I'd be," she admitted. Her voice was soft, but her posture tall. "Thanks."

Bakugo shifted beside her, not saying a word, but his hand brushed lightly—deliberately—against hers. It was a fleeting contact, barely noticeable. But she felt it. And he knew she did.

They stood with the others, watching the scoreboard, surrounded by noise and movement. But in that moment, Emi felt steady. Scarred but whole. Seen.

Together, they'd made it through the first trial.

"All students who have passed Phase One, please proceed to the designated area for the second portion of the Provisional Hero License Exam. Medical and emergency responders will be en route shortly."

Emi's fingers curled slightly as she looked down at her gloves. Her hands trembled just a little, the muscles fatigued from overuse. Katsuki stepped up beside her, his hand brushing hers for the briefest moment—enough for her to glance up and meet his eyes.

"You good?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

She nodded. "Yeah. Just… need a second wind."

He snorted. "You've got plenty of that."

She rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself.

As they all began to move toward the next arena, Emi whispered, almost to herself, "Round two… let's go."

The disaster zone stretched out before them like a warzone. Collapsed buildings, scattered rubble, and mock fires painted the scene in chaos. The Provisional Hero License Exam's second phase had officially begun.

The voice over the loudspeaker boomed:

"This phase simulates a large-scale disaster rescue operation. Civilian actors from the Help Us Company are scattered throughout the area. Your objective is to locate and provide aid. Time, technique, coordination, and emotional intelligence will be evaluated."

Emi adjusted the fit of her gloves, her dark hero costume flaring slightly as wind curled around her ankles. The scar across her left eye was exposed and proud, the pale pink orb unfocused but alert. Her windstreamers danced gently, reacting to the subtle changes in air pressure.

Beside her, Bakugo cracked his neck with a sharp twist.

"I'm not babysitting a bunch of fakers," he growled.

"They're professional actors," Emi reminded him gently. "They're here to test us, not play pretend."

Bakugo only grunted, already moving ahead.

Across the field, students split off into groups. Kirishima and Kaminari veered left, Emi followed Bakugo to the right, sticking close as the smoke grew thicker.

A child actor—no older than ten—lay partially buried under fake rubble, crying softly.

"Help!" he whimpered.

Bakugo's pace didn't slow. "Get your ass outta there. We don't have time for crying."

The kid flinched at his tone, trembling harder.

"Bakugo," Emi snapped, stepping in front of him. She knelt beside the boy, her voice soft. "Hey, it's okay. You're doing great. We'll get you out fast, alright?"

She tapped her earbud and sent a thread of wind into the rubble. "It's loose," she muttered. "We can lift it."

"Tch. Fine." Bakugo stomped over, planted his feet, and shoved the chunk of concrete off with a growl of effort. "Go. Now."

The boy stared up at him, wide-eyed. "Th-thank you… mister hero."

Bakugo muttered, "Whatever," and turned away.

Emi helped the kid to his feet. "Go to the triage tent, okay? Straight that way."

"Okay! Thank you, miss hero!"

She smiled faintly, then jogged to catch up with Bakugo. "You could tone it down a little."

"He's not actually hurt," he grunted. "If they want a real test, I'll treat it like a real field op. No time for coddling."

"Still… they're grading emotional response," she reminded him. "Yelling at children isn't exactly comforting."

"Then they can dock my score and shove it."

She snorted despite herself. "You're unbelievable."

More actors called out from the wreckage. A woman clutched her leg, wailing dramatically. Bakugo crouched beside her.

"What's hurt?" he barked.

"My leg, I think it's broken—!"

"Can you feel your toes?" he demanded.

"Uh… yes?"

"Then it ain't broken." He slung her over his shoulder like a sack of rice and stalked toward the evac point. "You'll live."

"Um—th-thank you?" she squeaked.

Emi followed, both mortified and amused. "You're going to terrify all of them."

"They'll remember me. That's the point."

She rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure that's not how hero work is supposed to go."

As they dropped off the latest rescue at the tent, a new sound split the air—an artificial explosion from deeper in the zone.

The loudspeaker crackled again:

"Simulated villain attack in progress. Maintain rescue operations under duress. New threat has entered the field."

Bakugo's grin was immediate.

"Now this is what I came for."

Emi sighed. "Don't forget—we're still rescuing civilians."

"I'll protect 'em," he said, sparks jumping from his palms. "Just might scare the hell outta them while I do it."

She glanced over at him, her smile crooked. "Yeah, I know."

The ground trembled under their feet as another controlled explosion echoed through the faux disaster zone. Plumes of dark smoke billowed in the distance. Screams—real enough to stir instinct—rippled through the air.

"They're pushing it now," Kirishima said, running up with Kaminari just behind him. "Looks like they're simulating villains mid-rescue."

Emi nodded, windstreamers twitching as the breeze carried the layout of the environment back to her.

"We have three heat signatures moving fast from the west," she reported. "Probably the mock villains."

Bakugo's eyes narrowed in that direction. "Good. About time something interesting happened."

"Don't forget," Emi said sharply, stepping into his path, "we still have civilians in the area."

"Then we'll beat the bastards fast."

They didn't have to wait long. A pair of exam proctors—dressed in villain gear—emerged from the smoke, laughing dramatically and moving toward the injured actors. They were fast, precise, and clearly well-trained.

One lunged toward a group of "civilians" trying to limp away.

"I've got them!" Kaminari shouted, sprinting into the fray and unleashing a quick burst of electricity, just enough to stun the attacker.

"Go, go, go!" Kirishima yelled at the civilians, his skin hardening as he moved between them and the second villain. "We've got your backs!"

Emi's eyes flicked toward the buildings. "They're splitting us up."

"Tch." Bakugo bristled. "Let 'em try."

A third villain launched down from the roof, heading straight for another group of injured. Without hesitation, Emi surged forward, wind spiraling at her heels. She raised both hands and snapped them outward—a focused blast of air sent the villain spiraling back mid-air.

The civilians stumbled, shielding their faces. She landed beside them.

"Go! Now!" she shouted, shielding them with a growing wall of compressed wind. The actor playing the lead in the group gave her a surprised thumbs-up before dashing toward safety.

The villain recovered quickly and darted toward her, close-range. Before Emi could react, an explosion roared behind her shoulder.

BOOM!

The villain was thrown off course, landing in a crumpled heap.

Bakugo landed beside her, smoke curling off his palms.

"I said I've got your back, dumbass."

She gave him a quick smile. "And I said not to forget the civilians."

He didn't respond with words—but he turned, stood in front of her, and squared up to the next attacker closing in. Sparks popped and hissed.

"You get them out. I'll deal with this one."

Emi took a steadying breath, nodded, and sprinted back into the smoke to guide the next group to safety. Behind her, the sound of Bakugo's fury echoed across the field—explosions rattling metal, villain-proctors dodging and trying to keep pace.

"Damn, he's on fire today," Kirishima said as he and Kaminari regrouped beside her. "Literally."

"We've cleared three groups already," Emi panted. "That might've been the last of the civilians in this zone."

"Good," Bakugo growled, walking back toward them with dust and soot smeared across his arms. "Then we're done."

"Not quite." The proctor supervising the zone appeared from behind a tower of rubble. "You've done well. Emotional restraint could use some polishing—" he looked pointedly at Bakugo "—but you passed this section. Time to head to the next checkpoint."

Kaminari let out a breath of relief. "Man… that was intense."

Kirishima clapped a hand on Emi's shoulder. "You killed it out there, Emi."

She smiled, wind gently curling around her shoulders. "Couldn't have done it without you guys."

Bakugo didn't say anything, but as they walked toward the checkpoint, he brushed his shoulder against hers—just a nudge. Just enough for her to feel the heat of him next to her.

And she smiled, softly.

They were getting closer.

The stadium had fallen quiet. The last of the faux explosions had faded, and the smoke had cleared. Class 1-A gathered in the waiting room, still in full hero costume, sweat drying on their brows, adrenaline finally settling into fatigue.

Emi sat on the edge of one of the benches, her windstreamers swaying gently with every breath she took. Her gloves were scuffed, and a faint bruise colored her jaw from where she'd taken a hit earlier, but she was smiling.

"We made it through," Kaminari said, throwing himself dramatically onto the floor. "I seriously thought we were toast when that second wave of villains dropped in."

"I'm just glad we kept everyone safe," Yaoyorozu added. "We worked well together."

Bakugo stood in the back of the group, arms crossed, lips pressed into a hard line. Emi's eyes flicked to him. He hadn't spoken much since the simulation ended.

The proctor stepped in with a tablet in hand.

"The results are in."

Everyone stood a little straighter.

"You'll receive individual feedback later. But for now…" The proctor tapped the tablet. A large screen behind him flickered on, displaying a list of names.

Everyone scanned it.

Iida, Midoriya, Uraraka… Kirishima… Emi Moshizuki.

Emi let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her name was there. She passed.

Excited cheers broke out across the room as most of the class celebrated together. Kaminari high-fived Kirishima. Mina hugged Sero.

"…Wait," Jirou murmured, eyes still on the screen. "Where's Todoroki?"

"And… Bakugo?" Sato added.

The room went quiet again.

Todoroki stared at the screen, unreadable. His shoulders didn't move, didn't flinch—but the silence around him was heavy.

Bakugo didn't say anything. His gaze was locked on the screen, jaw tight, hands clenched at his sides.

Emi stood slowly. "Katsuki…"

He didn't look at her. Not right away.

The proctor cleared his throat awkwardly. "Bakugo Katsuki, Todoroki Shoto—you both displayed exceptional strength, but your scores were impacted by issues of cooperation and civilian communication. You'll have a chance to earn provisional licenses through a remedial course and test later."

Bakugo's face twisted—not in shock, but in fury. He didn't lash out, though. Not here.

Todoroki simply nodded once. "Understood."

The moment the proctor left, the class began to murmur.

"Damn, I didn't think Bakugo would fail…" Kaminari said, glancing over nervously.

"Shoto too…" Ochaco added. "They were both so strong."

"But this wasn't just about strength," Yaoyorozu said gently. "It was about teamwork. Presence. Saving people…"

Emi crossed the room, stepping in front of Bakugo, her expression careful. She reached up and gently touched his forearm.

"I'm sorry."

He finally looked at her. His eyes burned—not with tears, but with pure, simmering rage and frustration.

"I passed," she said softly. "But I didn't do it alone."

He looked away, grinding his teeth.

Emi leaned in closer, voice low. "You're still the strongest person I know. And I'm proud of you."

That made him pause.

"You don't have to be proud of me, Emi. I didn't fucking pass."

"I am anyway."

He met her eyes again. And despite everything—his pride, his temper, the failure—something softened in his gaze for just a moment.

"…Tch."

"Remedial course or not," she said, squeezing his arm gently, "you'll get that license. I know it."

Behind them, Kirishima nodded, walking over. "You'll crush it, bro. We've got your back."

Bakugo didn't answer, but he didn't pull away either. And maybe, for now, that was enough.