Chapter 50: Relaxed Flame
The forest lodge truly didn't stand a chance.
The moment Class 1-A stepped inside, the quiet wooden building was swallowed by noise.
"I CALL THIS ROOM."
Mina Ashido didn't pause, didn't hesitate, didn't even check if anyone else was thinking the same thing. She kicked the sliding door open with her heel and immediately surged forward, hands snapping out to seize the nearest two people.
"Momo! Hagakure! You're with me!"
"E–Eh!? Ashido-san, wait—!" Momo yelped, nearly losing her balance as she was dragged along, her neatly kept things threatening to spill from her arms.
"Ooooh, prime location!" Hagakure cheered, entirely unbothered as she vanished through the doorway, her invisible footsteps light and quick.
Mina slammed the door shut behind them with a decisive thud and leaned against it, arms crossed, grinning like a conqueror.
"Room claimed."
Down the hall, a different kind of battle had already begun.
"No way, that one's mine," Kaminari insisted, pointing sharply at the lower bunk like it was sacred ground.
Sero raised an eyebrow. "You dropped your bag and wandered off."
"That doesn't mean I gave it up!"
"It kinda does."
"That's not a rule!"
"It is now."
Kaminari lunged for the ladder. Sero grabbed his ankle. There was a startled yelp, a brief struggle, and then both of them crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs and complaints.
Laughter rippled through the hallway.
Kirishima stood nearby, hands on his hips, eyes bright as he took everything in. "Man, this place is awesome already! Training camp's starting off strong!"
Bakugo Katsuki stood a few steps away, arms crossed tightly over his chest, jaw set. He watched his classmates argue over rooms and bunks with visible irritation.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "You idiots are fighting over beds like it matters."
No one paid him any attention.
Harue Dai leaned against one of the support beams, posture relaxed. His arms hung loose at his sides, expression easy as his eyes moved across the scene.
They were laughing. Shouting. Relaxed.
Comfortable.
The forest trial had been rough by normal standards. Pixie-Bob hadn't gone easy on them, and the Earth Beasts had been more than enough to overwhelm an unprepared class. But compared to what Harue remembered in canon, it had been light work.
No endless crawl through the forest. No desperation. No classmates pushed to the edge just to make it out before nightfall.
They had cut through it quickly.
No doubt cuz of my interference.
Thought the orange haired teen with a lazy smirk on his face.
That confidence clung to the air now, thick and warm, settling into everyone's bones.
After settling into their rooms, the students ate the lunch prepared by the Wild, Wild Pussycats—a hearty spread designed to replenish exhausted muscles. Plates cleared and satisfied sighs filled the lodge, and soon enough, the class moved toward the hot springs to relax, letting the warmth of the water melt the fatigue of the day.
Harue followed the others deeper into the lodge, his expression unchanged.
Comfort made people careless.
An hour later, steam drifted lazily upward into the night sky.
The open-air hot springs were quiet in a way that felt earned. Warm water lapped gently against stone, washing away dirt, sweat, and the lingering tension of the day. The forest loomed just beyond the wooden fence, dark and still, its presence constant even here.
Kirishima sank deeper into the water with a satisfied sigh. "Man, today was awesome. Smashing through those things head-on felt amazing."
Midoriya sat nearby, back straight even in the water, arms resting along the stone edge. His eyes moved constantly, flicking from one classmate to another.
"Todoroki's ice control was faster than before," he murmured. "Bakugo's explosions were more focused, less wasted energy. And Kirishima, your hardening didn't crack under repeated impact."
Kirishima blinked, then broke into a wide grin. "You noticed that?"
Midoriya nodded eagerly. "Yeah. Your recovery time was shorter too."
Bakugo scoffed from across the spring, leaning back against the rock wall. "It was boring," he said flatly. "Big targets. No brains."
"You still blew half of them apart," Kirishima laughed.
"Tch."
Harue rested against the stone wall, shoulders submerged, a faint heat rolling off him in a steady haze that warmed the steam around him. He listened without really listening, letting the sounds blend together.
His gaze drifted.
Mineta sat off to the side, shoulders hunched, knees drawn close, hands planted firmly on the stone. His eyes were locked straight ahead, unblinking.
No glances toward the divider.
No shifting closer.
No muttered scheming.
Just silence.
Harue watched him for a moment longer, then nodded faintly to himself.
Good.
Fear had been an effective teacher.
Conversation continued around the spring. Someone laughed softly. Someone splashed water half-heartedly. Steam thickened as the night grew darker, stars barely visible through the haze.
For now, everything felt calm.
Harue closed his eyes briefly, letting the warmth sink in.
Tomorrow, that would change.
The forest beyond the lodge remained quiet, waiting.
-( Half an hour later)-
Harue stepped out of the changing room, towel draped over his shoulder, and joined Kirishima, Midoriya, and the others walking down the lodge hallway.
"Man, that water was perfect," Kirishima said, stretching his arms above his head. "I could stay there all day."
"I kinda liked it too," Midoriya added quietly, glancing around. "Really helps relax after everything earlier."
Bakugo grunted, hands in his pockets. "Hmph. It's just warm water. Idiots."
Sero and Kaminari were already arguing quietly over who got the better shower stall. Harue listened to them talk, shoulders relaxed, glancing toward the side hallway. The girls still hadn't come out yet.
That's when he saw a small figure tucked near the left corridor. Kota. The boy froze the moment their eyes met, then bolted.
Harue moved calmly, keeping pace, and reached out with faint, glowing tendrils of fire that twisted through the air. They wrapped around Kota lightly, restraining him without hurting him.
"L-let me go!" Kota yelled, struggling.
Harue crouched slightly, eyes calm. "Why did you punch Deku back then? You should apologize."
"Never!" Kota shouted. "Heroes are scum. They abandon their family for glory. Start fights where they don't belong!"
Harue stayed quiet for a moment, letting the words sink in. "It seems you don't hate heroes," he said finally. "You hate the ones who didn't come back."
Kota froze. Harue stepped back, letting him breathe, then started to walk back to the group. Kota hesitated, then ran off down the hall, cap low, shoulders tense.
The others had stopped and stared. Kirishima's jaw dropped slightly. Bakugo narrowed his eyes. Midoriya's fists were clenched, green eyes following Kota as he disappeared.
Harue rejoined the group, shoulders easy, letting the tension dissipate naturally.
"Whoa, did you see Kota just bolt?" Kirishima asked quietly.
"Yeah," Midoriya said, still glancing toward the hallway. "Seems like he has a lot going on… more than I realized."
Bakugo scoffed. "Kid's weird. Forget him."
The group continued walking toward their rooms, talking quietly about random things—who was going to grab snacks later, whose towel kept slipping, and a few jokes about the water temperature.
By the time they were settled back in the main hall, evening was settling over the lodge. Students began to relax again, laughing quietly, some leaning against tables or sitting on window sills. Harue sat back, letting the warmth from earlier still cling faintly, observing without speaking.
Dinner was called shortly after, and the students filed into the mess hall. Conversation was easy—some teasing, some joking about earlier antics—but beneath it, a shared understanding that tomorrow would be harder.
Once they had finished, Aizawa's voice cut through the chatter. Flat and even, it carried the weight of authority. "Tomorrow's training will be brutal. You'll be pushed harder than today. Prepare yourselves."
The class nodded, some looking concerned, some already imagining what was coming. Harue leaned back slightly, half-smiling, letting the warning sink in. They had the rest of the evening to relax, but he knew everyone would feel it in the morning.
Harue's eyes drifted toward the shadows of the hallway again, catching the faint outline of where Kota had disappeared. For now, the boy had retreated, but the moment of confrontation lingered in Harue's mind. Tomorrow, the forest and their training would demand full attention.
The students murmured quietly among themselves, some heading off to their rooms, others lingering in the hall to talk or rest. Harue stayed near the edge, watching, letting the calm of the evening settle around him.
For now, everything was quiet.
Soon it won't be.
End of chapter.