"UA High has officially completed its first semester, and summer vacation has begun. However... Those of you aspiring to be heroes won't be getting days of rest," Aizawa's voice echoed across the courtyard. "At this summer training camp, we'll push you to reach even greater heights—for Plus Ultra!" "Yes, sir!" the class replied in unison before dispersing and engaging in conversations. Uraraka hurriedly made her way over to Midoriya. "Deku, it's finally time for the training camp in the woods, huh?" "Yeah, that's right, Uraraka!" Midoriya responded with excitement. Kurmara observed the interaction between the two, finding their chemistry adorable. She couldn't help but smile as she watched her friend playfully dodge away from the green-haired boy, suppressing her laughter. Uraraka's excitement was infectious as she hopped around, clapping her hands. Denki and Mina joined in, adding to the cheerful atmosphere, which only made Kurmara laugh. Her laughter faded when she heard an annoyingly familiar voice nearby. "Does that mean there were people who failed the finals? What? Isn't that weird? Isn't that weird? Even though they're supposed to be way better than Class B? How can that be?!"
Kurmara sighed, rolling her eyes in annoyance as the voice continued to rant. Kendo intervened by striking the talkative student, and swiftly moved to apologize to them. "Sorry!" she quickly uttered, dragging the chatterbox away. Midoriya noticed the arrival of Class B nearby, prompting his observation. Kurmara made her way toward Uraraka before stopping by Kirishima, overhearing Mineta's inappropriate comment about the female students from Class B. "That's enough from you," Kirishima retorted sternly, earning Kurmara's agreement. "As always, disgusting," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she headed toward the bus. "Class A's bus is this way! Please line up in order!" Iida called out, directing the class. Kurmara found a seat near the back of the bus and sat down, Uraraka joining her. As everyone settled in and the bus departed for the training camp, conversations filled the air with laughter and excitement. "Let's play some music!" Denki exclaimed from the front. Turning to Kurmara, Uraraka began a conversation. "Hayashi, I have a question for you," she said, turning her attention towards the short-haired teen who looked back at her.
"What's up?" "What do you think about Kirishima?" "Uh, what do you mean?" Kurmara asked, her gaze shifting to her sketchbook. "I mean, what do you think about Kirishima?" Uraraka inquired, curious about her friend's thoughts. "What do I think about him?" She pondered for a moment, a gentle smile forming on her face. "We're close. It's just like how it is with Iida, Midoriya, and you. The four of us are close, aren't we?" "We are," Uraraka agreed, nodding in affirmation. "That's exactly how it is for me and Kiri," Kurmara explained, her gaze drifting towards the front of the bus where Kirishima sat with Kaminari. "Yeah, that's just how it is." After an hour on the bus, they made a pit stop to stretch their legs. Kurmara stepped off the bus, enjoying the chance to stretch her limbs. She looked around, taking in the surroundings. "It feels good to stretch after being on there for an hour," She remarked, joining her classmates outside the bus. "Yeah, definitely," Sero chimed in, playfully resting his arm on Kurmara's head. "Hey, get off," she playfully protested, but Sero only laughed in response. "Wait a minute... What kind of rest stop is this?" one of her classmates questioned, looking around curiously. "Indeed, and where's Class B?" Another student wondered aloud.
"We made this stop for a reason," Aizawa's voice cut through the chatter as he walked past them. "Hm?" The students looked at Aizawa with questioning gazes. "Hey, Eraser. Long time no see," a voice greeted from a car parked nearby. "Rock on with those sparkling gazes!" another voice chimed in. Kurmara turned her attention toward the source of the voices. "Stingingly cute and catlike!" one of the heroes exclaimed. "We're the wild, wild Pussycats!" Oh cool, Kurmara thought to herself, impressed by their presence. "These are the pro heroes who will be working with us during the camp, the Pussycats," Aizawa informed the class. "They're a four-member hero team specializing in mountain rescue operations. They've been in business for twelve years now..." Midoriya interjected, which earned a giggle from Kurmara. "Greet them, everyone," Aizawa instructed the class. "Nice to meet you!" Class A said in unison. "This whole area is our territory. Your lodging is at the foot of the mountain over there," one of the Pussycats explained, pointing in the direction of the trees. "So far!" the class exclaimed. Uraraka questioned, "Huh? Then why did we stop here?" Kurmara had a feeling in her gut, a sense of foreboding. Could this mean...? she pondered.
"No way... let's get back to the bus, huh? Fast," Sero suggested as he started walking toward the bus. "Yeah, let's do that," Denki agreed. The brown-haired hero then confirmed Kurmara's suspicion, saying, "It's nine-thirty right now. If you're fast... maybe around noon?" "No way... guys..." Kurmara voiced her concerns, but it was too late. The entire Class A sprinted back toward the bus, with the pro hero warning them, "Kitties who don't make it by twelve thirty won't get any lunch!" "Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. Training camp... has already begun," Aizawa informed them. In an instant, the blonde hero jumped in front of the class, slamming both hands on the ground. The earth cracked beneath their feet, and before they knew it, all of Class 1A found themselves at the bottom of a cliff. "Hey! This is our private territory, so feel free to use your Quirks as you wish! You've got three hours to reach the facility on foot! Make it through... the Beast's Forest!" Kurmara groaned as she stood up, dusting herself off. "Seriously? It's like a name straight out of Dragon Quest!" Denki commented. Jiro chimed in, "UA does stuff like this way too much." "It's no use complaining. We have to go," Kirishima said, brushing off the dirt from his clothes.
"This is something..." Kurmara remarked as she watched Mineta rush ahead. Suddenly, a monstrous beast stood before the short boy. "It's... a beast!" Denki and Sero exclaimed as everyone assumed defensive positions. "Calm yourself, beast! Please, back down," Koda attempted to communicate with the creature, but it remained unresponsive. Kurmara witnessed Midoriya rush forward and grab Mineta, narrowly saving him from the beast's attack. Some of her classmates rushed toward the creature, launching their own counterattacks, and together they defeated it. "You guys defeated that beast in an instant?" someone marveled. "You guys did it!" Sero congratulated them as he approached Todoroki. "You're amazing, Bakugou!" Kirishima complimented the explosive boy, to which he responded, "Not yet!" Kurmara raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, following Bakugou's gaze to see another monstrous beast leaping above the trees, momentarily out of their view. "Hey, come on. How many of them are there?" Denki questioned as everyone scanned their surroundings. "What should we do? Run away?" Mina suggested. "This is no joke. If we don't make it to the facility by noon, we don't get lunch."
"Then we have no choice but to push through and take the shortest route," Yaoyorozu proposed, and Kurmara nodded in agreement. "She's right. We have to keep going." "Alright. Let's go, Class A!" Kurmara exclaimed. The students rallied, determined to overcome the obstacles ahead. Shoji used his Quirk to listen for any more dirt beasts, informing the group that there were three ahead, two on each side. "Seven in total. They're coming!" he warned. Sero took the lead, maneuvering above them to deal with the flying beast using his Quirk to wrap its wings and bring it down. Sato and Kirishima joined forces to face off against the creatures, successfully knocking them down. Kurmara unleashed her wind Quirk with a strong force, pushing one of the dirt beasts backward before Kirishima finished it off. "Great work!" he complimented her, and she nodded before moving on to the next one. Throughout the Beast's Forest, Kurmara and her classmates fought valiantly, taking down the dirt beasts one by one. They supported and healed each other as they pressed forward, pushing their limits to reach the facility. Despite the challenges, everyone remained determined, knowing that they had to persevere.
* * *
Kurmara and the rest of Class A finally emerged from the Beast's Forest, greeted by their teacher and the Pro Heroes. "What do you mean, three hours?!" one student exclaimed in disbelief. "That's the time it would've taken us. Sorry!" Kurmara could sense the disappointment in their voices. "You were trying to boast about how much better you are? That's mean..." Sato voiced his dissatisfaction. Kirishima chimed in with a groan, "I'm hungry... I'm gonna die..." Pixie-Bob spoke up, offering her perspective. "But honestly, I thought it would take even longer. You guys didn't have as hard a time beating my earth beasts as I thought you would. You guys are great... especially you four!" She pointed at Midoriya, Iida, Todoroki, and Bakugou. "Were you able to act without hesitation because of your experience? I'm looking forward to seeing where you'll be in three years! I call dibs!" With those words, she playfully pounced toward the four students. Kurmara couldn't help but let out a breathy giggle at the sight. Curiosity got the better of Midoriya as he pointed to a young child near Mandalay. "Whose child is that?" he inquired. Mandalay replied, "Oh, not one of ours. He's my cousin's kid." Kurmara observed as Midoriya walked over and greeted the child.
To her surprise, the kid unexpectedly punched Midoriya in a sensitive spot. "Ah, damn, low blow," Kurmara commented, flinching at the unexpected strike. The child then walked away without another word, while Iida rushed to attend to the injured Midoriya. "You brute of a nephew!" Iida called out to the boy. "Why would you do that to Midoriya's scrotum?!" The child responded coldly, "I don't intend to hang out with guys who want to become heroes!" Kurmara sighed inwardly, realizing that the child didn't hold much fondness for them. "Enough with this charade. Get your stuff off the bus," Aizawa instructed the class. "Once you've put your bags in your rooms, we'll have dinner in the cafeteria. After that, you'll bathe and go to sleep. We'll start for real tomorrow. Now, move quickly." Kurmara and her classmates retrieved their bags from the bus and headed into the building, quickly organizing their belongings in their respective rooms. They then gathered in the cafeteria, sitting together as they enjoyed the food that had been prepared for them. Despite her hunger, Kurmara savored each bite, playfully swatting Kaminari's hand whenever he tried to snatch some of her food. "Can't you share a little?!" he whined, shaking his hand in mock pain.
"No. Besides, you still have plenty. Leave my food alone," Kurmara asserted, maintaining a playful but firm demeanor. "Don't expect this pampering to continue. It's only for today. So eat your fill now," Pixie-Bob reminded the class. Once they finished their meal, the students headed to the hot springs to cleanse themselves and unwind. Mina grabbed Kurmara's arm, linking it with hers as they walked. "I can't believe how long it took us to get here!" Mina complained, to which Kurmara giggled and replied, "It was quite tedious, but at least we got to eat and bathe." The girls undressed, leaving their dirty uniforms behind, and wrapped themselves in towels before entering the hot springs. The warm water enveloped them, eliciting sighs of relief. "Ahh... I've never felt this good," one of the girls expressed. Another girl added, "Can you believe there are hot springs here? This is the best." Kurmara settled further into the water, her eyes wandering toward the towering wall. "I guess the boys are over there," she noted, prompting the other girls to gaze in that direction. "They have to be unless they're inside," Jiro speculated. "I can hear a few of them," Uraraka informed the group, and Mina looked mischievous as she turned to Kurmara.
"Then Kirishima is with them, right?" she teased, causing a slight blush to color Kurmara's face. Before she could respond, the sound of shouting from the other side of the wall caught their attention, with Mineta's voice unmistakably standing out. "Gross, he's listening in on us," Jiro commented, shaking her head. The girls directed their gazes upward when the shouting continued, indicating that Mineta was attempting to climb the wall. In an unexpected turn of events, Kota appeared and pushed Mineta to the other side, much to the surprise of the girls. "Mineta's really the worst, huh?" Mina praised Kota, giving him a thumbs up. The unexpected gesture caught him off guard, causing him to falter and fall backward into the boys' side, leaving the girls gasping and exchanging glances.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurmara and Mina lay in their beds, pretending to be asleep like the rest of their classmates. However, Kurmara couldn't find sleep just yet, her thoughts swirling with her friend's questions. "Psst, Hayashi. Are you asleep?" Mina's whisper broke the silence, prompting Kurmara to roll over onto her stomach and face her friend. "Not yet, why? Is something wrong?" Kurmara inquired, curious about Mina's sudden inquiry. Mina shook her head. "No, nothing's wrong. I just wanted to ask you something," she explained, a mischievous smile on her lips. Kurmara's curiosity piqued. "Okay, go ahead..." "Well, first question is, do your eyes glow at night?" Mina asked, and Kurmara nodded in response. "In really dark places, they glow. It's been a trait in my family for years. They glow dimly if the room is dark but have some light in it," Kurmara explained, recalling her family's unique characteristics. Mina's eyes widened in fascination. "That's so cool!" Mina continued with her final question for the night, causing Kurmara's face and ears to warm up. "Is there someone you have a crush on?" The question hung in the air, and Kurmara's mind immediately conjured up an image of one person.
"U-uhm... I don't think I do. Well, I mean, uh--" "You do, don't you?" Mina interjected, scooting closer to Kurmara until their arms touched. Kurmara found herself blushing even more, feeling a mix of excitement and vulnerability. "Well, there is one person..." Kurmara admitted, her voice soft and hesitant. She fidgeted with her blanket, her nerves getting the best of her. Mina couldn't contain her excitement, her giggle barely contained. "You like Kirishima?!" she exclaimed, a little too loud for Kurmara's liking. Worried that they might wake up the others, Kurmara quickly covered Mina's mouth, her eyes darting around the room. "Shh! Not so loud, please!" she pleaded, her face flushed with embarrassment. Mina removed Kurmara's hand, her own eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Since when? For how long? I need to know the details!" she whispered eagerly. Kurmara squirmed under Mina's scrutiny, feeling nervous and happy. "Well, uhm... I have for a while now, but... I realized it when we all went to the mall together..." Kurmara confessed, her fingers toying with the hair clip Kirishima had given her. Mina's eyes sparkled with delight.
"That's so adorable!" she gushed, pulling Kurmara into a hug. Kurmara's cheeks flushed deeper at her friend's excitement. "Y... you think so?" "Of course!" Mina affirmed, her voice filled with genuine warmth. "Now, it's just a matter of time before the two of you start dating!" Kurmara shrugged uncertainly. "But what if he doesn't like me? Then what do I do?" she voiced her worries, seeking reassurance from her friend. Mina gave her a gentle squeeze, offering comfort. "Don't worry about that for now. Just leave that to me to find out for you, okay? And besides, even if he doesn't like you, you'll still have friends, and I'll even help you find someone else," Mina reassured, her words soothing Kurmara's anxious thoughts. "Thank you, Mina," Kurmara whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. The two friends settled down, holding hands as they tried to find sleep. "Let's try to go to sleep now, or we'll get in trouble with Mr. Aizawa," Mina suggested, lying down on her side. Kurmara nodded, letting out a small sigh as she closed her eyes, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort in Mina's presence.
Together, they drifted off to sleep, their friendship and shared secrets creating a sense of solace in the quiet night.