Chapter 49: Forrest training camp
The last bits of fire from Harue's phoenix scattered into the wind as the class regrouped at the bottom of the slope. Some were still brushing dirt off their uniforms, others were catching their breath.
"Totally worth it," Mina laughed, tugging Harue's sleeve.
Pixie-Bob crossed her arms, pouting a little. "Hmph. Fine, you survived that. But let's see how you handle this!"
The ground shook.
All around them, the dirt started rising up, forming huge animal-like monsters.
"Seriously!?" Kaminari yelled.
"Lunch is on the line!" Mandalay called out with a smile that was way too cheerful for what was happening.
The students quickly spread out.
"Alright, let's do this!" Kirishima shouted, his arms already hardening into stone.
The first beast lunged forward—only for a wall of ice to erupt in its path. Todoroki slid across the ground, arm extended, freezing the creature mid-leap. Without pausing, fire burst from his other side, blasting it into steaming shards.
Another beast came charging at him from behind, but he pivoted smoothly, sending up a jagged wall of ice that speared through its chest. Todoroki barely even flinched.
"He's gotten stronger." Jirou muttered, ducking under a swinging arm of another beast.
Bakugo answered with an explosion that shook the entire clearing. He blasted himself straight into the middle of the pack, palms sparking violently.
"DIE!" he screamed, his palms exploding point-blank into a beast's head. The shockwave tore the top clean off, sending rubble flying everywhere. He spun midair, blasting himself sideways into another, shattering it in a fiery burst.
"Try and keep up, losers!" he shouted, laughing manically as he tore through them.
Midoriya rushed in next, his legs glowing green with controlled bursts of One For All. He ducked under a swing, leapt up, and slammed his foot into a beast's jaw. The head cracked, then caved in with the force of the blow.
"Shoot Style: Smash!" he yelled, spinning into a second kick that knocked another one down in a heap.
His movements were quicker now, smoother—less self-destructive than before.
And then Harue moved.
He swept his arm, a stream of fire bursting out like a blade, slicing through one beast's torso. The flames didn't stop, twisting up into the shape of fiery wings that carried him forward. He dove down from above, slamming his fist into the ground. Heat exploded outward, disintegrating the nearest beast into ash.
No one acted surprised—this was Harue, after all—but a couple of them couldn't help whistling.
"Damn, leave some for the rest of us!," Sero muttered.
"Don't encourage him," Bakugo snapped, already blasting another beast.
But Kirishima wasn't about to be left behind.
"NOT SO FAST!" he roared, charging a beast head-on. His hardened body collided with its chest, the impact cracking like an explosion. The monster toppled over backward and shattered into chunks.
"YEAH! MANLINESS!!" he screamed, fists in the air.
"Sugoi!" Hagakure shouted, clapping even though no one could see her hands.
"Damn right, Kirishima!" Sero grinned.
Harue smirked when he saw it, satisfied at his classmates.
He then turned, raised his palm, and unleashed a thin beam of white-hot fire that cut straight through the head of the beast next to him. The thing didn't even get a chance to fall as it was disintegrated.
The class pressed forward together, pushing deeper into the forest as more beasts came at them. Some of the weaker students struggled, but with the stronger ones clearing paths left and right, everyone moved faster than expected.
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Up above, Pixie-Bob's jaw had dropped. "They're… they're tearing through my darlings like it's nothing."
Mandalay crossed her arms, still watching. "You weren't kidding, Eraser. These kids are… Monsters!"
Aizawa, scarf loose around his shoulders, was already turning back toward the bus. He didn't bother looking at her.
"This isn't me," he said simply. "This is just their hard work and talent. They've been through more than they should have at this age, and instead of breaking, it lit something inside them."
Mandalay's gaze lingered on his back.
Beside her, Kota leaned against the railing, his cap tilted low. He didn't look impressed, at least, not at first. But his eyes widened a little when he caught sight of the orange-haired boy blazing above the treetops.
Harue's fiery form cut across the forest like a comet. For just a second, his gaze flicked upward, locking onto Kota's.
And he winked.
Kota froze, his heart lurching. He quickly pulled his cap lower, looking away with a scowl. But even as he turned, the image of the burning figure wouldn't leave his head.
———-
( Harue's POV)
From above, the forest hadn't looked nearly as intimidating as the others made it out to be. Sure, there were slopes, twisting roots, and Pixie-Bob's oversized dirt puppies running around. But to me? It was a straight line to the lodge.
In canon, it had taken Class 1-A almost eight miserable hours to stumble out of the trees, covered in scratches and filth, just in time for the sun to set.
Me? I glanced at the clock nailed to the wooden post outside the lodge gates. 12:15 p.m. Lunch o'clock.
That was the difference I made.
Of course it is, I thought, smirking to myself as the others dragged their tired bodies up the slope. While they'd been tripping over rocks and screaming attack names like they were getting paid for it, I'd been flying ahead, scanning, burning out obstacles, and leading the fastest path through.
If I'd really wanted to flex, I could've carried everyone on my back and been here in under ten minutes. But I wasn't about to baby them. Mina included. Especially Mina. She wanted to prove herself, and I respected that. Carrying her the whole way would've made her feel like deadweight.
So instead, here we were—a class looking like they'd survived the apocalypse, while I didn't even have a speck of dust on my uniform.
A couple of them gave me looks—half envious, half irritated. I only tilted my chin higher. If you've got it, flaunt it.
"Finally…" Mina groaned, doubling over and planting her hands on her knees. Sweat glistened on her forehead, pink curls plastered to her face. "My legs are jelly."
Kirishima flopped down beside her with a grin, his hardened arms cracking faintly as the stone faded. "That was manly! Totally worth it!"
"Speak for yourself," Jirou muttered, brushing leaves off her hair.
I stood there, relaxed, arms crossed, as if I'd just strolled across a park.
That's when Pixie-Bob stormed out of the lodge entrance, her face twisted with shock.
"You—!" She pointed dramatically, bouncing on her heels. "You're already here!?"
She blinked, then looked at the clock, then back at us. "It's only noon! This doesn't make sense. I thought it would take you hours longer!"
Kaminari puffed up his chest and threw finger guns. "Guess we're just that good!" He immediately tripped on a rock.
Pixie-Bob ignored him, her wide eyes landing squarely on me.
"They didn't even look tired fighting my darlings…" she muttered under her breath, then louder: "You tore through my Earth Beasts like seasoned pros. I have to admit, I'm impressed."
Her gaze swept the class. "Izuku, Tenya, Todoroki, Bakugo, Kirishima—and you," her finger lingered on me just a beat too long, "—all took decisive action. Quick, confident, ruthless. That's something you only see in kids who've faced real villains."
Her tone softened into something almost desperate. "You're going to be incredible heroes someday, I can feel it. And just so you know—Pixie-Bob calls dibs on you all!"
Her eyes sparkled as they swept the class… then hovered a little too long on me.
I smirked, half-amused, half-bemused.
And then felt a different heat on my skin.
Mina's glare.
It burned into my side, pink irises practically glowing with irritation. She was smiling—on the surface—but the stiffness in her shoulders and the puff of her cheeks gave her away.
Relax, I thought, chuckling silently. She's just being dramatic. Doesn't mean anything.
Didn't stop Mina's aura from stabbing at me like knives.
Before anyone else could jump in, Midoriya raised a hesitant hand. "Um, excuse me… that boy over there."
Everyone turned to see Kota standing near the lodge steps, cap pulled low over his face, small fists shoved in his pockets.
"Is, um… is one of you his mother?" Midoriya asked carefully.
Mandalay stepped forward with a soft smile. "No, Kota is my nephew. He'll be with us during your training. Kota, why don't you say hello to Class 1-A?"
All eyes shifted.
Kota shifted too, his scowl deepening as the weight of twenty stares pressed on him.
Midoriya crouched down, ever the friendly idiot, and extended a hand. "Hi! I'm Izuku Midoriya. It's nice to meet you!"
Kota stared. Then his little fist lashed out like lightning.
"GYAHHH!" Midoriya squeaked, toppling over as Kota nailed him square in the crotch. He crumpled to the ground, wheezing in agony.
"KOTA!" Mandalay gasped.
Tenya darted forward, chopping the air in furious reprimand. "YOUNG MAN! THAT BEHAVIOR IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! A TRUE GENTLEMAN—"
Kota whipped around and snapped, "Shut up! I don't care about you wannabes or your corny hero dreams!"
And just as he turned to stomp off, his eyes flicked sideways—just for a split second—landing on me.
A sharp glance. Quick. Almost like he couldn't help it.
Then he jerked his head away and marched around the corner of the lodge, cap pulled low.
I blinked, raising an eyebrow. Huh. That was… interesting.
Silence lingered, broken only by Midoriya still whimpering on the ground.
Finally, Aizawa stepped forward, scarf draped loosely around his neck. His voice was as flat as ever. "Enough. Get your luggage from the bus. Find your rooms. Lunch will be ready soon. The rest of the day is free. Training starts tomorrow."
The class immediately shifted, chatter springing up again as they jogged down the slope to the bus. Mina was already shouting something about dibs on the best room, Sero and Kaminari bickered about snacks, and Hagakure was squealing about "hot springs."
I stayed where I was.
My eyes drifted until they landed on Aoyama.
There he was, glittering like a walking disco ball, hands clasped behind his back, his usual dumb smile plastered across his face. Completely ordinary. Completely oblivious.
But my stomach twisted anyway.
I let my gaze sharpen, the brightness draining as my thoughts darkened.
The amount of damage this one idiot almost caused.
I could already see the butterfly effect in my head. The betrayals. The failures. The risks. He'd been a liability in canon, and he was still here, sparkling like a Christmas ornament while acting like nothing was wrong.
Do I call him out now? I wondered. Tear off the mask and see what happens?
But if I did, I'd look paranoid. Or worse—like I was making him a victim to boost myself. Timing mattered. Evidence mattered.
So I let the thought sit, the fire in my chest curling tighter.
Finally, I closed my eyes, exhaled, and let my smile return, bright and calm again.
Not yet, I told myself. I'll wait. And when the time comes… I'll decide.
I turned, catching up with the others, my easy grin back in place.
Tomorrow, things would begin for real.
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End of the chapter.