Smoke and embers drifted through the trees, the scent of burning wood mixing with sweat and adrenaline. Class 1-A had split into groups, trying to protect the remedial students, locate the teachers, and hold off the invading villains until reinforcements arrived.

Your group—Bakugo, Todoroki, Midoriya, and you—had just dealt with a wave of attackers near the riverbank. Everyone was bruised, breathing hard, but still on their feet.

Todoroki held the handheld radio, trying for the third time to get through to Aizawa-sensei.

Static.

Then— A crackle, and a new voice. Too calm. Too pleased.

“You’re all trapped out here.”

The laugh that followed was low, mocking, dripping with certainty.

Midoriya stiffened. Todoroki’s gaze hardened as he held the radio close. Bakugo growled, sparks dancing at his palms.

Before anyone else could respond—you stepped forward.

Your expression was sharper than anyone had ever seen it. Calm, until it wasn’t.

You plucked the radio cleanly from Todoroki’s hand.

Bakugo’s eyes narrowed—not in irritation, but due to the prickle he felt in his chest. That tone… you weren’t playing around anymore.

You pressed the talk button, voice steady but edged with fire.

“Well, what we have here is a failure to communicate.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end.

You continued, tone dropping just a notch—dangerous, certain.

“Cause we’re not trapped out here with you…”

Your eyes flicked to your classmates—Todoroki straightened, Midoriya swallowed, Bakugo’s grin twitched at the corner of his mouth.

“…you’re trapped out here with us.”

The radio went dead silent. No snarky reply. No laughter. Just air and static.

Bakugo let out a short, sharp laugh behind you.

“Tch—damn right they are.”

Todoroki glanced your way, surprised—but undeniably impressed.

Midoriya stared like you’d just suplexed All For One with words.

You clipped the radio back to Todoroki’s belt and dusted off your hands like it was nothing.

Somewhere in the trees, villains kept moving—but that cocky assurance they came in with? It fractured.

Because now they understood:

Class 1-A wasn’t prey.

And they weren’t alone.

They had you.

And Bakugo? Bakugo was looking at you like the forest had just gotten a whole lot more dangerous—for the villains.