When the final bell of the exercise rang, the silence that fell over Ground Epsilon was heavier than the darkness itself. The emergency lights along the corridors lit up with a soft hiss, bathing the underground facility in a dim orange glow. Inside the central laboratory, four figures stood frozen in an awkward tableau: Tatsumi, standing near the objective mannequin, still catching his breath; Mine, staring at him from across the room with an unreadable expression; and Momo and Todoroki, who had just arrived, both processing their sudden and absolute defeat.
Bakugo was the first to break the silence, not with a shout, but with a low growl that was more menacing. "You... you cunning bastard," he said, his red eyes fixed on Tatsumi. It wasn't a typical insult; there was a note of grudging, hateful admiration in it.
As the students began to emerge from their hiding places and regroup at the main exit, the atmosphere was strange. There were no cheers of victory or jeers of defeat. There was only a newfound respect. They had been through three intense days of training, pushing each other to their limits, and in the process, the wall of inter-school hostility had crumbled, replaced by a foundation of healthy rivalry.
When they stepped out of the bunker's artificial coolness and back into the heat of the afternoon sun, Tatsumi felt an immense relief. The hot, humid outside air, which usually felt suffocating, now felt like a refreshing embrace. He had done it. Not only had he won the exercise, but he had gotten through these three days without having to unleash his true power, without compromising his secrets.
In the crowd of students exchanging words, Bakugo deliberately bumped Tatsumi's shoulder as he passed. "This isn't over, Damn Dragon," he growled softly, just loud enough for Tatsumi to hear. "Next time, I won't fall for your cheap tricks."
Tatsumi just smiled faintly. "I'll be looking forward to it."
The Final Debriefing
In the observation room, for the last time, the two classes gathered. Aizawa and Ms. Nagamori stood at the front, their expressions showing satisfaction.
"This Joint Training Exercise is now complete," Aizawa began in his characteristic flat tone. "Over these three days, we have seen incredible power, clever strategies, and most importantly, significant growth from all of you."
He looked at his students. "You learned that raw power alone is not enough. You learned that teamwork is more than just combining Quirks. And you learned that the most effective hero is not the strongest or the smartest, but the most adaptable."
Ms. Nagamori took over. "To the students of U.A., thank you for being excellent hosts and formidable opponents. You have pushed our students to be better. And to my students," she looked pointedly at Mine and Seiji, "I hope you have learned a valuable lesson in humility and the importance of respecting your opponents."
There was no detailed battle analysis this time. The lessons were clear. When the session was dismissed, the students no longer separated. Inasa Yoarashi was laughing loudly with his arms around Kirishima and Tetsutetsu, talking about a burning spirit. Meanwhile, Momo and Todoroki were engaged in a quiet conversation with some of the more analytical Shiketsu students, exchanging ideas on Quirk applications. The ice between them had truly melted.
Farewell at the Gate
In the afternoon, the Shiketsu bus was waiting in front of the U.A. gate to take them back. The farewell felt much warmer than the welcome.
"THE NEXT TIME WE MEET, TODOROKI-DONO, LET US FIGHT WITH AN EVEN HOTTER SPIRIT!" Inasa shouted, shaking Todoroki's hand enthusiastically.
"Of course," Todoroki replied with a rare, small smile.
Nearby, a strange alliance was saying their goodbyes. "Next time I see you," Bakugo said to Mine, "I'll be the one to beat that Dragon."
"In your dreams, Explosion Hedgehog," Mine retorted with a smirk. "Get in line behind me." They didn't shake hands, just exchanged determined grins.
Tatsumi was talking with Momo when Mine approached him, interrupting their conversation. There was a hesitation in her step, something very unusual for the always-confident girl.
"I..." Mine began, not looking directly into Tatsumi's eyes, her face slightly flushed. "I still don't like you. You're annoying and that look in your eyes is arrogant."
Tatsumi just waited patiently.
"But..." she continued, her voice a little quieter. "You're not a bad opponent. And... your plan in the dark... it wasn't too stupid." It was the highest compliment she could give. "And also... thanks... for returning this." She awkwardly touched the hair ribbon that was now neatly tied in one of her pigtails.
Tatsumi smiled, this time a genuine, warm smile. "You're welcome. Take care of yourself, Mine."
The sudden and familiar use of her first name made Mine's face turn even redder. "SHUT UP, IDIOT!" she snapped, her tsundere reflex returning. She turned quickly and hurried onto the bus without looking back, leaving Tatsumi who could only shake his head in amusement.
As the bus began to move, Tatsumi felt a sense of relief. He had made it through the Joint Training. He had strengthened his bonds with his friends, earned the respect of his rivals, and maybe even... started something new and complicated with a certain pink-haired sniper. For now, the world felt at peace.
The Ghost's Return
That night, after all the excitement had died down, the Heights Alliance dorm returned to its usual quiet. The Joint Training was over, and the students were enjoying a well-deserved night of rest. Tatsumi was sitting in his room, reading a book, trying to enjoy the normality he had fought for.
Suddenly, a phone he kept in the bottom drawer of his desk vibrated. It wasn't his U.A. phone. It was the burner phone Hawks had given him.
His heart immediately began to pound. His break was over.
He picked up the phone, making sure his door was locked. "Yes?"
"Enjoying your school vacation, kid?" Hawks' voice came from the other end, his tone was casual but there was an urgency behind it. "Because it's over."
Tatsumi immediately sat up straight, his student persona vanishing, replaced by the cold focus of an operative. "What's wrong?"
"We're done with the initial data analysis," Hawks said. "And we found something big. Something that needs our immediate attention. A name and a location."
There was a brief pause on the line. "Remember the name Akame flagged? Gensei, the high-ranking Yozakura official? We tracked his communications. He's holding a secret meeting with some of the remaining Humarise leadership and an underworld tech supplier. They're meeting at an abandoned warehouse in the Yokohama port district. Three days from now."
Tatsumi could feel the adrenaline start to flow back into his veins.
"This is our chance," Hawks continued, his voice now completely serious. "This is our first chance to cut off one of the hydra's heads. I want you there. Akame and Leone are already on their way to do some initial recon. I'll send you the details."
"I understand," Tatsumi replied, his eyes looking out the window at his peaceful, sleeping campus.
"Welcome back to the game, Tyrant," Hawks said before hanging up.
Tatsumi put down the phone. He looked at his reflection in the dark window. There, he saw a tired U.A. student. But in his eyes, there was a different glint. The cold, determined glint of a soldier about to return to his battlefield.
His break was over. A new hunt was about to begin.