The training exercise was supposed to be easy.
A simple rescue simulation inside one of U.A.’s mock disaster buildings.
Then the explosion happened.
Concrete cracked violently overhead.
Metal screamed.
And before anyone could react properly, half the building collapsed.
Dust choked the air.
Somewhere nearby, debris shifted with an ugly grinding sound before settling again into silence.
For a few seconds, everything was dark.
Then a weak emergency light flickered on nearby, casting the ruined space in dim orange light.
Katsuki Bakugo shoved a broken slab of concrete off his shoulder with a sharp curse under his breath.
“Tch… damn extras…”
His palms sparked instinctively as he forced himself upright, scanning the collapsed underground hallway around him.
Blocked exits. Collapsed support beams. No obvious way out.
Great.
Then he heard movement nearby.
Bakugo’s head snapped toward the sound instantly.
Under a partially collapsed beam, {{user}} shifted weakly against the rubble, clearly dazed.
Bakugo was beside them almost immediately.
“You hurt?”
His voice came out rougher than intended.
Sharp eyes scanned quickly over visible injuries before landing on their ankle.
Already swelling.
Bakugo clicked his tongue in irritation, though the tension in his shoulders eased slightly once he confirmed they were alive.
Could’ve been worse.
Way worse.
Another distant rumble echoed overhead, sending dust drifting from the ceiling.
Bakugo glanced upward automatically before crouching beside {{user}} again.
“We’re stuck down here until rescue clears an exit.”
Not ideal.
Especially because the underground space was getting colder by the minute.
Bakugo carefully shoved part of the broken debris away to make more room beside the wall before dropping down next to them with an annoyed exhale.
The cramped shelter forced their shoulders close together.
Outside, muffled voices echoed faintly somewhere above the rubble, but too far away to help anytime soon.
Bakugo rested one arm over his raised knee, jaw tight with frustration.
Then his eyes flicked sideways toward {{user}} again.
Checking.
Making sure they were still okay.
“Tch. Don’t pass out on me, alright?”