Back to the time when Todoroki-kun hadn't sent the rescue message.
After a whole day of Quirk hell training, all the first-year students of the Hero Course were gathered on the clearing in front of the forest.
One of the members of the professional hero team [PUSSY CAT], responsible for educating everyone during the forest training camp, the North American Shorthair Cat with the catchphrase "Heart is eighteen," happily said.
"Next—it's time for the courage test!"
"Both classes will participate together!"
Everyone was puzzled. The beginning of this forest training camp was almost hellish, and suddenly hearing this from the North American Shorthair Cat made them feel very uncomfortable.
The North American Shorthair Cat continued to explain with a cute and playful expression.
"After intense training, necessary and appropriate relaxation activities are also needed. After all, it's still a training camp."
Hearing this exciting news, Ashido Mina jumped up happily.
Kaminari Denki, Kirishima Eijiro, and Sato started shouting.
"Oh yeah!"
"Cool! Finally, an activity that fits the camp atmosphere!"
"Let's all try it together!"
But their cheers didn't last long because their homeroom teacher, Aizawa Shouta, who was observing from the side, said indifferently.
"In the meantime, although it may be a bit heartless."
"Those who need supplementary lessons still have to come back with me for extra classes."
Most of the people who thought they could have fun were the ones who needed to attend supplementary lessons. They turned their heads stiffly to look at the devilish teacher and let out heart-wrenching cries of despair.
"No way?!"
"At this time! Aizawa-sensei, you still won't let us go! Waaaah."
The cold and ruthless Aizawa Shouta used the "Binding" move on the supplementary lesson group!
It was super effective!
"Because your performance in today's training was worse than I expected."
"I have to cut down on this time to make up for it."
The supplementary lesson group let out struggling cries of despair, clearly showing their unwillingness and sadness.
"Spare me, Aizawa-sensei!"
"Let me test my courage!"
"Just once! Just once is enough! Are you a devil, teacher?"
The same tragedy occurred in Class B. The unlucky ones who failed this forest training were mercilessly dragged away by their devilish homeroom teachers for extra lessons.
The other students who escaped this fate watched the crying and despairing faces of their classmates, feeling heartbroken and tearful.
After this little episode before the courage test began, the North American Bobcat continued to explain the rules.
"Now, Class A students will draw lots in pairs, while Class B students will have to bear with it a bit."
"That's right, you will be responsible for scaring people first."
"Each group must depart at intervals of at least three minutes without delay."
"There is a sign with your name in the middle of the route, remember to bring it back."
"Scaring parties, be careful not to touch the other party directly. You can use your Quirks to try to scare them."
One of the [PUSSY CAT] members, a muscular man wearing the same battle suit as the other three female members, named Tiger, specifically instructed everyone.
"You need to be creative. The class that makes more people wet themselves will win."
Jiro Kyoka, the class's resident commentator, accurately said.
"Please don't, that's really dirty."
The serious class president Iida sighed.
"I see, using competition between classes to refine creativity?"
"In the end, it helps Quirks grow. As expected of U.A.!"
The students all thought of the phrase Accelerator occasionally said.
[Iida, you're really useful]
The North American Bobcat enthusiastically took out numbered tags from her skirt.
"Come on, it's time to draw lots to decide your partners!"
After hearing the rules, Tokoyami Fumikage said flatly with an expressionless face.
"So it's a feast of darkness."
Noticing this detail, the students showed subtle expressions.
In Class A, excluding Accelerator's absence and the four students dragged away for extra lessons by the homeroom teacher, there were exactly sixteen students.
So no one was left out.
After the third group set off, the waiting students heard panicked screams from the dark forest.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Help! Save me!"
Those were the screams of Jiro Kyoka and Hagakure Toru's group.
The remaining groups outside the forest were also affected. The entrance to the forest seemed like a giant abyssal mouth ready to devour people. What did Class B do to make the previous groups scream in such terror?
In the forest, a Class B student in a bush whispered to a girl in a white dress standing in the middle of the path.
"Yui, you've scared everyone so far."
Kendou Itsuka, who was with her, also praised Yui's performance.
"Yui, you're really going all out."
"Bakugo and Todoroki's reactions were hilarious."
"They looked calm, but their body movements betrayed them."
Todoroki and Bakugo were grouped together. When they reached this point, they seemed unfazed, as if they didn't take the courage test seriously.
Until the head of the one responsible for scaring them, Shoji Mezo, suddenly popped out of the ground.
Both of them shuddered briefly.
"Oh."
If you didn't observe their brief shudder up close, you might have been fooled by their reaction.
In reality, this was done using Juzo Honenuki's ability, "Softening," on the ground.
Kendou Itsuka touched her chin and thought for a moment, then said hesitantly,
"I wonder if Ran-chan can use this opportunity to make up with Bakugo-kun at the next intersection."
This piqued the gossip interest of Shoji Mezo, who was wearing a white dress. She tilted her head curiously and asked,
"Itsuka, are you saying that Ran-chan plans to use the courage test to make up with Bakugo-kun?"
With Juzo Honenuki looking puzzled, Kendou nodded and continued,
"Yes."
"Aren't they childhood friends?"
"I remember it was at the beginning of the school year, right? I think Midoriya-kun was there too?"
"Something happened between the three of them at the Gate of Courage, but Ran-chan didn't explain it clearly to me."
"After that, Ran-chan didn't go to find Bakugo-kun for a long time."
The somewhat naive Shoji Mezo suddenly realized and said,
"Huh? Ran-chan has always been talking about Bakugo-kun."
"I thought they had already made up."
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