Once Class B were in the woods and the first team went, it was Kurmara and Bakugou's turn. As they went deeper into the inky blackness of the forest, the sounds of their footsteps echoed eerily through the trees. Every rustle of leaves or distant caw of a crow seemed amplified, heightening the tension between them. Kurmara couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and the oppressive darkness bore down on her. The forest path twisted and turned, leading them further into its heart, where the shadows grew thicker, and the air felt colder. Kurmara's heart pounded in her chest as she ventured into the dense woods, her senses on high alert. "You not scared, are you?" Bakugou's voice, laced with a hint of arrogance, cut through the ominous silence. Kurmara's heart skipped a beat at his sudden question. She couldn't afford to let Bakugou see any sign of fear, not after their previous confrontation. She squared her shoulders, determined not to give him the satisfaction. "N-no," she replied, her voice steady, though her rapid breaths betrayed her unease. "I'm just looking out in case someone shows up." Bakugou snorted dismissively, clearly uninterested in her response. The two continued their cautious journey through the woods.
Kurmara's heart raced with each step, and she couldn't help but glance around nervously. The forest seemed to come alive with strange, unidentifiable noises. Hushed whispers and faint rustlings in the underbrush played tricks on her ears. Kurmara's imagination began to conjure up all sorts of terrifying scenarios, and she clenched her teeth to keep from letting her fear show. Just when she thought her nerves couldn't take anymore, a sudden, spine-chilling growl echoed through the trees, causing both her and Bakugou to jump in alarm. The growl was low and menacing, and it sent shivers down Kurmara's spine. It was a sound unlike anything she'd ever heard before, and it seemed to come from all directions. Bakugou's body tensed, his muscles coiled as he scanned their surroundings. Kurmara's heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help the small, startled squeak that escaped her lips. In that moment of terror, she reached out, clutching Bakugou's arm for support. Her fingers gripped his sleeve tightly, her nails digging into the fabric as if seeking refuge. It was an instinctual reaction, an unspoken plea for protection in the face of the unknown.
Kurmara's wide eyes met Bakugou's, and in that brief, intense moment, there was an unspoken acknowledgment of their shared fear. For a heartbeat, something flickered in Bakugou's crimson eyes, a hint of concern that quickly vanished behind his usual scowl. He muttered, "Cut that out," shaking her hand off his arm before striding forward, his steps determined and resolute. Kurmara quickly released her hold, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She cursed herself for reacting so impulsively, especially in front of Bakugou. The forest seemed to close in around them as they pressed on, their senses alert to the eerie atmosphere, but the unsettling feeling of being watched never left them. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the eerie atmosphere hung heavy around them. Every snap of a twig or distant rustle of leaves sent a shiver down Kurmara's spine. The darkness played tricks on her eyes, making the shadows seem more menacing than they were. It wasn't long before another scare came, this time more abrupt and startling. A figure clad in dark clothing leaped from the bushes, arms outstretched as they let out a spine-tingling howl.
Bakugou tensed, his muscles coiling with an involuntary jolt of surprise, but his face maintained its cold expression. Kurmara, on the other hand, let out a small, startled scream and instinctively reached out, grabbing onto Bakugou's arm for support. The sudden contact caused Bakugou to briefly glance at her, his crimson eyes meeting hers in that heart-pounding moment. It was a reflex, an involuntary response to the unexpected scare. Kurmara's grip was firm, her fingers digging into his arm as she sought reassurance in his presence. The scaring student disappeared just as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Kurmara to release her hold on Bakugou, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "S-sorry," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. Bakugou didn't respond, his focus returning to their path as they pressed forward. The forest seemed to close in around them once more, the tension between them palpable. Kurmara couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and gratitude for Bakugou's silent support. But the next scare was unlike the previous ones. As they walked deeper into the forest, Kurmara's heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Her senses were on high alert, and every rustle in the underbrush made her jump. Without warning, a figure jumped out from behind a gnarled tree, their face obscured by a terrifying mask, and let out a blood-curdling scream. Kurmara stumbled back, her heart racing, and tripped over an uprooted tree branch, losing her balance. In that split second, she felt herself falling backward, but before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. It was Bakugou, his quick reflexes preventing her from falling. For a moment, they stood there, her chest pressed against his, the warmth of his body seeping through her. They faced each other in the dim moonlight, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. The silence between them was charged with an unspoken tension, and Kurmara felt a light fluttering in her chest at the closeness. But then, Bakugou stepped away from her, not as quickly as he normally would have. His voice broke the silence as he muttered, "Watch where you're going, dumbass," before turning away from her. Kurmara mumbled a small agreement, her cheeks still flushed, and a quiet apology as they continued their trek through the forest.
The scare had passed, but the lingering sensation of their brief closeness remained, leaving Kurmara with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite comprehend. As they pressed on, the night air felt crisper, and the darkness of the forest became less menacing. The two students were alert, their senses heightened by the eerie experience, but the tension between them had eased. They exchanged the occasional glance but kept their conversation to a minimum, as if unsure how to address the strange moment they had shared. The forest seemed to grow quieter as they moved deeper into it, and the moonlight filtered through the trees, casting elongated shadows on the forest floor. It was an ethereal sight, and Kurmara found herself appreciating the beauty of the night despite the initial fright.
* * *
As Kurmara and Bakugou passed the halfway point, a disconcerting pinkish-purple smoke thickened around them. It swirled ominously, leaving them in a state of heightened alertness. "What the hell?" Bakugou exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration and anxiety as he scanned the eerie surroundings, his sharp eyes searching for any signs of danger. Kurmara, too, couldn't help but feel unease creep over her. "What is this?" she pondered aloud, her mind racing to comprehend the mysterious smoke that encircled them. "Whatever it is, don't breathe it in," Bakugou warned, raising a forearm to cover his nose and mouth. Kurmara quickly followed suit, masking her face as they pressed on. "Come on, let's hurry back," she urged, her voice trembling with concern. The duo quickened their pace, their steps echoing in the disorienting haze as they sought a way out. As they navigated the dense fog, they suddenly encountered Todoroki, who was carrying an unconscious student with him. The unexpected reunion added another layer of complexity to their situation, raising questions about what had occurred. "Damn it…!" Bakugou vented his frustration as they continued through the perplexing smoke.
"Is this gas a villain's doing?" Todoroki speculated, his usually composed demeanor tinged with unease. "I'm worried about the others, but we have no choice," Todoroki continued, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "We'll avoid the finish line and get back to camp. Let's leave this to Ragdoll." Bakugou's retort was abruptly halted as he spotted something up ahead. Kurmara's attention shifted, and her heart began to race as she observed a figure kneeling a few feet away, their back turned towards them. "Someone there?" Todoroki queried cautiously, the uncertainty in his voice mirroring Kurmara's growing unease. Kurmara felt a sinking feeling in her gut, a nagging sense of foreboding settling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes were fixed on the figure before them, and as she peered closer, she noticed a hand nearby. A chill ran down her spine as the implications became clear. "Hey, who was in front of us?" Bakugou demanded, his voice filled with a sense of urgency and concern as they stood on the precipice of a troubling discovery. "It was Tokoyami and…" Kurmara began to respond. "Shoji," Todoroki finished her sentence, the grim reality slowly dawning on them.
Kurmara couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene as she saw the hand's lifelessness, and her blood ran cold. The figure began to stand, slowly turning to face them. Instinctively, Kurmara backed up slightly, her heart pounding with trepidation and fear. The surreal situation had taken an eerie and unsettling turn, and as they faced the mysterious figure, the tension in the air was palpable. "Don't fight?" Bakugou echoed Mandalay's earlier message, using her Telepathy Quirk to communicate with their teammates. His words held a sense of caution and uncertainty as they all faced the enigmatic figure before them. The test of courage had taken a sudden and unexpected turn, plunging them into a new and unsettling challenge that left them all on edge. Suddenly, another message from Mandalay resonated in their minds. "Everyone in Class A and Class B! In the name of the pro hero, Eraser Head, you are granted permission to engage in combat! I repeat! Everyone in Class A and Class B! You are granted permission to engage in combat!"
With that announcement, Bakugou stood resolutely in front of Todoroki and Kurmara, a fiery determination in his eyes, evidently ready to unleash his explosive Quirk against the villain who loomed before them.
Before anyone could make a move, Mandalay's voice once again echoed in their heads. "We have discovered one of the villains' targets. It is one of the students – 'Kacchan!'" Kurmara's heart skipped a beat as she immediately turned her attention to Bakugou, her eyes wide with concern. "'Kacchan,' you should try to avoid combat and acting independently. Understand, 'Kacchan?'" "Stop making so much damn noise in my head!" Bakugou snapped angrily as he charged towards the villain. "Wait!" Kurmara called out desperately, but before she could finish, the villain unleashed a barrage of deadly blades toward the ash-blond teen. Bakugou abruptly stopped in his tracks, and before the blades could reach him, a small ice wall materialized in front of him, shielding him from the attack. "Don't go rushing carelessly into anything," Todoroki cautioned him. "Did you hear that earlier? She said you're being targeted!" He added urgently. "Yeah, so don't do anything rash!" Kurmara voiced as she and Todoroki tried to reason with him, but he let out an angry shout. "I don't give a damn what anyone says!" He yelled defiantly.
The relentless barrage of blades kept coming, and Todoroki produced a larger and thicker ice wall to protect his friends from the deadly onslaught. However, the villain displayed impressive agility and dexterity, using his Quirk to navigate through the trees above them. "Damn, he's good at using the terrain with his Quirk," Todoroki commented, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "Even though he just looks like some scrawny small fry! You bastard!" "Looks like he's got a lot of experience," Kurmara noted, quickly moving closer to the boys. Suddenly the villain was above them again and Bakugou was ready to use his Quirk when Todoroki stopped him again. "If you use any large flames around here and the fire spreads, we'll be surrounded by flames and everyone will die. Do you get it?" The boy told him and Bakugou stopped before shouting at him, "Shut up! I know!" Kurmara was unsure of what to do. Uncertain of the next move, Kurmara glanced at the lingering gas behind them and then back at the two boys. "We can't just stay stuck here," she urged, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to remain composed.
The blade-wielding villain relentlessly attacked, but Todoroki fortified the ice barrier, thwarting the assailant's advance. Bakugou vented his frustration, "I can't get near him, dammit! The only option I see is blasting him with everything I've got..." Todoroki once again intervened, "You can't!" "If the trees catch fire, cover them with ice immediately!" Bakugou countered. Kurmara chimed in, supporting Todoroki, "The blast might impair his vision too. We need to think fast without setting the trees ablaze or blinding Todoroki." Bakugou scowled at the constraint. Suddenly, an explosion to their left diverted their attention. Getting closer, a familiar voice called out, "Bakugou, Todoroki!" It was Shoji. "One of you, please make some light!" Shoji's urgent plea echoed, and a shadowy figure collided with Todoroki's ice shield. "Kacchan!" Midoriya's voice resonated, and Kurmara gasped. "Shoji and Midoriya? And... Tokoyami?!" Dark Shadow, Tokoyami's Quirk, lashed out uncontrollably, attacking the ice shield. Shoji urgently repeated, "Hurry up and make light! Tokoyami's out of control!"
Todoroki considered unleashing his flames, but Bakugou, displaying insight, stopped him. "Look," Bakugou said, gesturing towards the chaos. Dark Shadow, seemingly unhinged, tossed the blade villain around. Seizing the distraction, Bakugou and Todoroki rushed towards Tokoyami, using their Quirks to restrain Dark Shadow. Tokoyami, visibly exhausted, crouched in front of them. Kurmara utilized her strength to drag the unconscious student closer before placing him against a tree. Her attention flickered briefly to the seemingly unconscious blade villain before returning to the boys. Midoriya's revelation struck Kurmara like a bolt of lightning. "-confirmed that one of the villains' targets is Kacchan," Midoriya's voice echoed, causing her to freeze. "Bakugou?" she murmured to herself, stealing a glance at him. His bewildered expression mirrored her own questions. "Are they trying to kill him? Why?" "I don't know. Anyway, I think the camp is the safest place, with Vlad King and Mr. Aizawa there," Midoriya suggested. "So, our mission is to escort Bakugou there, huh?" Tokoyami pondered.
"But at the clearing, the Pussycats are still fighting. Going back on the path would bring us to the attention of the villains, and we'd lose time." While the boys strategized on how to reach the camp, Kurmara's attention oscillated between the other unconscious student and the blade villain. Her gaze lingered on the latter for a moment before refocusing on the conversation. Todoroki returned to the student, carrying him, and rejoined the group. "What's with you guys?!" Bakugou's voice cut through, prompting Kurmara to suppress a giggle. As they started walking, rustling to her right grabbed Kurmara's attention. She turned, but nothing was there. Shoji also noticed, glancing back while pressing forward. Suddenly, a figure jumped out behind Kurmara, and the boys turned in alarm. Too late, she felt two blades pierce through her back, and a sharp gasp of pain escaped her lips. "Kurmara!" one of the boys shouted. The villain withdrew the blades, and just as he prepared to strike again, Todoroki's ice knocked him against a tree, rendering him unconscious. Gritting her teeth, Kurmara placed her hands on the bleeding areas.
"She's bleeding a lot. We have to get her to camp, fast." "We can't move her too much; she'll lose too much blood," Todoroki pointed out. "She's losing so much already, dammit!" Bakugou exclaimed. "If you can.. stop bickering for a second, I have an idea," Kurmara forced through the pain, her voice strained. She used her water Quirk on her wounds, motioning for someone to assist her. "Woah, how are you-" "Part of Quirk training," she explained breathlessly as Tokoyami helped her to her feet. "Let's go..." With determination, the group moved forward, protecting Bakugou as they made their way back to camp, all the while ensuring Kurmara received the care she urgently needed, her labored breaths a poignant reminder of the pain she endured.
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While the group pressed on with their trek, Kurmara found herself struggling to keep pace with the rest of the boys. I can't keep up, dammit... she thought, pushing herself to quicken her steps and suppressing a silent groan. "Hey, Odd-Eyes, speed it up, will ya?" Bakugou's voice cut through the air, prompting her frustrated response, "I-I'm trying, dammit..." Ignoring the sharp pain shooting through her, she decided to jog, determined to catch up. Just behind Bakugou, she managed to position herself next to Tokoyami. "You alright?" Tokoyami asked her quietly, and she mustered a weak smile. "Y-yeah, all good..." Despite her words, the pain weighed heavily on her mind, and she worried about whether the blades had struck anywhere vital. Suddenly, Bakugou slowed down and then abruptly stopped, causing the others to halt and glance back at them. "W-what are you—" Kurmara began, only to cut herself off when Bakugou crouched in front of her. "Come on, it'll be faster this way," he insisted, and confusion etched her features. "What—" Her words halted as he looked back at her, saying nothing more.
Gathering her courage, she positioned herself against his back, hoping he could carry her without issue. His hands firmly gripped her thighs, and she clasped his shoulders as he stood up, concealing the blush that warmed her face at the close contact and the warm feeling of him against her and his hands on her thighs. His grip held her securely in place as they resumed walking. Glancing down, she noticed his shirt getting damp from her Quirk, which still wrapped around her wounds. "Thank you," she murmured to him. "You could've used your other Quirk, y'know," Bakugou remarked, prompting a snort from Kurmara. "Sure, because that is just so easy to do while I'm in pain. Thanks for that, Mr. One Quirk wonder." "I will drop you right now, don't start with me," he warned, earning a light giggle from her. After about three minutes, they made it back onto a path but stopped. "Uraraka?!" Midoriya called out, and the group hurried over to the two girls, taking notice of another girl a few feet away from them. "Who was that just now?" One of the boys asked. "A villain. A crazy one," Tsuyu voiced.
"Hey, set me down," Kurmara tapped Bakugou's shoulder, and for a moment, he resisted until finally, he crouched down so she could stand up, only for her to stagger for a moment. "Watch it, dumbass," he voiced as he steadied her. "I'm fine.." Kurmara told him, holding a hand up before slowly walking over to the girls, noticing Tsuyu look her way. "Hayashi-chan, you're-" "I know, it's okay, though," Kurmara reassured her, looking down at herself. "This isn't the time to stand around and talk." "Let's go, quickly," Shoji spoke up. "I know, come with us! Right now, we're protecting Kacchan as we head back to camp," Midoriya told the girls. "You're protecting Bakugou?" Tsuyu questioned as she tilted her head. "Where is Bakugou?" "What are you saying? Kacchan is right behind..." They looked behind them but didn't see the explosive boy or Tokoyami. "If you're talking about Katsuki Bakugou, I took him with my magic," a villain voiced above them, and they all looked at him in disbelief. "This talent isn't someone who should be on the hero side," he voiced as he held something in his hand. "We'll take him to a stage where he can shine more."
"Give him back!" Midoriya shouted. "'Give him back'? That's a strange thing to say. Bakugou doesn't belong to anyone. He's his own person, you egoist," the villain voiced. "Give him back!" The green-haired boy shouted once more. "Move!" Todoroki voiced as he used his Ice to get to the villain, but he jumped out of the way just before the ice could make it to the tree. "Kids these days are made to choose their paths based on their values." "It's not just Bakugou! Tokoyami's not here either!" Shoji exclaimed. "To go out of your way to talk to us... you're underestimating us." Todoroki voiced to the villain. "I was originally an entertainer, you know. It's a bad habit of mine," he told the teens, turning the small blue ball in his fingers. "Taking Tokoyami was an improvisation on my part. Moonfish... the man with "Blade-Tooth"... he may not look it, but he's a cutthroat on death row whose appeal was dismissed. With a violent nature that trampled that cutthroat down one-sidedly, I decided that he was good too." He finished. "You bastard! Don't take them!" Midoriya shouted.
Todoroki handed the unconscious student he was carrying to Uraraka before using his Ice to try and get to the masked villain. "Sorry, tricks and running away are my only redeeming features!" The villain called out above them and the ice. "There's no way I'd fight students who are hero candidates." Everyone then began to chase after him, refusing to let him get away. "Dammit, the mask guy's fast!" Todoroki exclaimed. "We can't… give up.." Midoriya responded. "We have to catch up… and get them back!" Kurmara struggled to keep the same pace with her injuries, but she just gritted her teeth and continued running. The group eventually stopped, and Tsuyu used her tongue to wrap around Todoroki and Shoji to launch them, carefully to not injure Midoriya more than he already was. "Make sure you save those two," she told the boys before swinging them into the air. "Come on, we have to get you help," Uraraka voiced as she tried to help Kurmara, but the teen stepped forward. "N.. no. We have to go help them!" She voiced as she staggered, her vision blurring slightly and the edges darkening.
The two girls gently steadied her trembling form. "I don't know if there's anything more we can do," Tsuyu voiced, her concern evident, but Kurmara's stubborn spirit persisted. "Please… there's only so much they can do…" The severely injured teen pleaded, her voice strained, eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and determination. The two girls exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the weight of the situation, before resolutely moving forward. "You're right, there is only so much they can do. For now, let's focus on getting there first," Uraraka voiced, her words carrying a comforting resolve. Kurmara managed a half-smile, a fragile expression amidst the agony she was enduring. "Help me speed up; otherwise, I might fall over," she requested, her voice a whispered plea. In response, her friends quickened their pace, transforming a determined walk into a desperate run, their collective goal fixed on reaching the group of boys. The three girls traversed the woods, each step echoing the urgency pulsating through their veins.
Kurmara's wounds oozed more with every stride, the makeshift wrap around them resembling a blood-soaked bandage rather than one infused with healing water. Despite the physical torment, they pressed on, fueled by a relentless determination to aid the boys in retrieving Tokoyami and Bakugou from the clutches of the villains. As they finally caught up to the boys, an unsettling realization unfolded before them—the villains had vanished, leaving behind an unsettling void. Bakugou was nowhere in sight. Kurmara, summoning the last reserves of her strength, took a tentative step forward, only to succumb to the merciless grasp of pain, collapsing onto the unforgiving ground. Exhaustion and anguish finally claimed her consciousness. The forest seemed to hold its breath, a silence that echoed the gravity of their failure. Kurmara's half-conscious mind grasped the absence of Bakugou with a sinking feeling, a profound loss seeping through her battered body.
The air thickened with a palpable sense of despair, and just before the darkness consumed her, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air, echoing the shared anguish of the group.