The tension in the air was basically visible.
So Mirko cleared his throat.
"Umm… actually… we're out of… umm… food?"
He looked around helplessly.
"Right? I think? So maybe I should… go get more?"
Tenya didn't even blink.
"No. We actually have enough food to last at least a week."
Mirko's soul left his body.
"Oh. Right. Cool."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Then I'm just gonna… take a walk. Yup. A morning walk. Nothing's more relaxing than a walk in the woods."
"Okay, buddy," Izuku said, already smirking.
But Anna raised an eyebrow.
"Ohhh? And Aiko's not gonna walk with you? You know… walk."
She did little air quotes.
"Anna!" Aiko yelped, face turning all shades of red.
She grabbed the nearest blanket and threw it over her head.
Mirko tripped over his own feet trying to escape the room.
"I'm— I'm going now!" he squeaked before practically running down the ladder.
Anna grinned like a demon.
---
Mirko's Morning Walk
Mirko walked through the forest path, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, face still on fire.
"Holy crap…" he whispered to himself.
"I kissed a girl last night. Or… she kissed me. Or… both?"
He kicked a rock so softly it barely moved.
Birds chirped above him. Sunlight broke through the leaves.
But he barely noticed.
His brain replayed last night like a broken projector:
Aiko's face close.
Her shy breath.
Her red cheeks.
That soft peck on his lips.
Mirko grabbed the top of his head and groaned.
"Get it together, man," he muttered.
"You're acting like a total idiot."
But he couldn't stop smiling.
He passed by the pond, the one where they swam yesterday.
He paused, staring at the rippling water.
"This is insane," he said to the trees.
"Three days ago I was dying on the ground bleeding. Now I'm—"
He stopped.
He suddenly noticed how quiet the forest was.
No birds.
No rustling.
Just empty silence.
His smile faded a little.
Something's off.
He slowly turned his head, scanning the trees, listening hard.
A twig snapped far behind him.
Mirko straightened, heart thumping.
"…hello?" he whispered.
Silence.
Then another snap.
He swallowed.
"Not today, bear," he muttered under his breath.
"I swear to god, NOT today."
He picked up the nearest stick—long, heavy—and held it like a bat.
He backed up slowly…
Then turned and jogged back toward the treehouse.
"Nope. Nope. Nope. Morning walk is cancelled...
SOLDIERS' POV
The forest was thick, humid, and painfully quiet as the soldiers moved through it in a tight formation.
Then they saw him.
A small figure in the distance — Mirko — turning his head sharply like he felt their presence.
"That kid just now… he noticed us," one soldier whispered.
"It's like he has Spidey Senses or something," another muttered.
Reeves glared at him. "Quit playing around and follow him. Keep eyes sharp."
Another soldier raised a hand.
"Why don't we just catch him and ask questions before he loses us?"
Reeves nodded slowly.
"…That's actually not a bad idea for once."
The squad moved.
Silent.
Fast.
Controlled.
Mirko picked up speed — they picked up speed.
Mirko started to jog — they started to jog.
He glanced over his shoulder and froze.
"They're following me," Mirko whispered.
Then he ran.
Mirko's heart hammered against his ribs.
Branches slapped his face.
Twigs cracked under his feet.
Why are soldiers here?
Why now?
Did they find Aiko? Izuku? Tenya? Anna?
No no no NO—
He skidded to a stop as a soldier cut him off from the front.
Another one appeared behind him.
Two more from the sides.
He was trapped.
"Hey—hey kid," the soldier in front said, hands up.
"Calm down. We just wanna ask you a couple of questions."
Mirko backed up so fast he almost tripped.
"D-Don't come closer! Let me go!"
One stepped forward carefully.
"Easy. Easy. We're not here to hurt you. We're looking for kids. Our kids. Four of them. Maybe you've seen—"
Mirko's pulse spiked so hard it hurt.
Aiko… Izuku… Anna… Tenya…
No.
He wasn't losing them.
Not after finally having something close to a real family.
"I don't know any kids!" Mirko yelled, voice cracking.
"Just leave me alone!"
He twisted hard, breaking free of the soldier's grip.
"Hey! Stop—!"
Mirko stumbled back, hand diving into his pocket.
He pulled out the gun.
His hands trembled so much the barrel shook.
"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" he shouted.
The soldiers froze instantly.
Reeves put a hand in front of his men.
"Kid, listen to me—"
"Please…" Mirko's voice broke.
"Just go back. Please. Just leave."
"We're not here to hurt you," Reeves said gently.
"You're scared. I get that. But put the gun down. We're only here for—"
"There's NO ONE here!" Mirko snapped.
His eyes darted between the trees, searching for any glimpse of his friends.
Praying they weren't anywhere near this place.
He stepped backward slowly, gun still aimed, breath shaking uncontrollably.
"Just… just go home," he whispered, voice soft and desperate.
"They're not here."
Leaves rustled under his feet as he backed away farther…
And farther…
And farther…
THE FOREST ....MOMENTS AFTER...
"What's going on?"
Aiko pushed through the thick curtain of leaves, breath quick, irritation on her face—
Until she saw it.
Mirko.
Holding a gun.
Pointed at soldiers.
Trembling so hard the barrel jittered.
Her whole world froze.
"Mirko…?"
Her voice cracked.
He turned toward her, eyes glossy with tears, chest rising and falling like he couldn't breathe.
"A-Aiko…
Please… leave."
His voice shook violently.
"They wanna take you back. They wanna take all of you back. Please go—just go!"
Aiko's heart sank.
Fear.
Shock.
Confusion.
All tangled in her throat.
But she forced herself forward carefully.
"Hey… hey it's okay."
She lifted her hands slowly and stepped beside him.
"Put down the gun, Mirko. Please. You're scared, I know. But look—look at them. They outnumber us. We can't win this."
Mirko shook his head violently.
"NO!!!"
His voice cracked into a sob.
"Go back to the others… tell them to run. Please. I-I don't care what happens to me. Just go."
Aiko's heart shattered right there.
"No… I'm not leaving you," she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.
She placed a shaking hand on his arm.
Behind them, Reeves took a careful step forward, hands raised.
"Kid… listen. We're not here to hurt anyone. Nobody's dying today. We just want the kids from our base back safely. That's all."
Mirko's breath hitched.
Aiko squeezed his arm tighter.
"You see?" she whispered softly.
"They're not attacking. They're not even aiming their guns. Just lower the weapon… please…"
Mirko looked at her.
Her eyes were scared but gentle.
Trusting him.
Slowly… painfully… he swallowed.
His hand loosened on the trigger.
His arm began to lower—
BANG!
A sudden, sharp crack shattered the forest.
Mirko jerked violently.
Aiko screamed—
"NO! MIRKO!"
Blood sprayed across the air as a bullet tore into Mirko's shoulder, spinning him half around.
His gun slipped from his grip and fell into the dirt.
"WHO FIRED?!" Reeves roared.
Mirko collapsed forward, hitting the ground hard.
Aiko dropped to her knees, hands shaking uncontrollably as she grabbed him.
"Mirko! Mirko look at me! PLEASE!"
Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto his cheek.
Mirko tried to breathe—
A wet, painful gasp—
Then another—
He reached weakly for her hand.
"A… Aiko…" he whispered.
His vision blurred.
The trees faded.
Her voice became distant.
"Aiko…"
He tried again, but it came out as a breath.
And then...
Everything went black.