The night had fallen with an eerie calmness, and the sounds of the forest were muted by the steam rising from the hot springs. Katsuki Bakugo stood just outside the entrance, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed with impatience. The moonlight glinted off his fiery hair, and the night air tugged at his uniform, but he hardly noticed. His gaze was fixed on the door of the hot springs, waiting for the Empress to emerge.

It had been over an hour.

"Tch," he muttered to himself, his temper simmering under the surface. "She's taking forever."

The guards surrounding the springs were in a state of mild panic, whispering to each other as they checked their watches, their eyes flickering nervously between Bakugo and the entrance. The Empress was supposed to only take a few minutes, but the silence had stretched far longer than anyone anticipated.

"Sir, should we send someone inside?" one of the guards asked hesitantly, clearly uncomfortable under Bakugo's intense glare.

"No," Bakugo snapped, his voice low and fierce. "She can handle herself. But if she's not out in five more minutes, I’m going in myself."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, knowing better than to question the explosive warrior’s orders, but their concern for the Empress lingered.

Another five minutes passed, and Bakugo’s patience was wearing thin. His gaze hardened as he turned to face the guards.

"Alright, I’m going in," he growled. He started toward the entrance, his boots making sharp, deliberate noises against the stone path. The guards stepped aside, too fearful of stopping him.