Where Our Hearts Fall

Chapter 15

Champ:

The sun was beginning to set over the expansive U.A. training camp as the students gathered in a clearing near their dorms. They were exhausted—sore muscles, bruises, and cuts from the rigorous forest training and challenges that had pushed them to their limits. Y/N could still feel the faint sting of her wind powers, her second quirk, as she used it to propel herself across the terrain during the course of the day. She had pushed herself harder than usual, but the last thing she wanted was to show any weakness in front of the others, especially after the events of the forest.

"Alright, listen up!" The familiar voice of Mandalay, one of the Pussycat Heroes, cut through the chatter. The students turned their attention to the pro hero, who was standing at the front of the group, flanked by the other members of the Pussycat team: Ragdoll, Tiger, and Cheetah. "That was just the warm-up for what's coming. We're going to be working hard tomorrow, and you better get some rest tonight because it won't be easy."

Mina's voice came from beside Y/N. "Ugh, I'm already exhausted. I feel like I've been running for hours."

Y/N laughed lightly, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "You and me both," she muttered, trying not to let her exhaustion show too much. She wasn't used to being around so many people, but this camp had forced her to step outside her comfort zone. It was something she was slowly getting used to.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Bakugo, leaning against a nearby tree, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the group, clearly dissatisfied with how things were going. Bakugo always seemed annoyed, but Y/N could tell there was something more behind that frustration.

"We're gonna need to be ready," Ragdoll continued, looking at the group with a serious expression. "The next part of the training will be just as challenging as what you've already faced today. There's no room for weakness if you want to pass."

"Yeah, yeah," Kaminari muttered sarcastically, wiping his face with his sleeve. "We get it. No slackers allowed."

Y/N shot him a glance but said nothing. Despite Kaminari's usual goofball demeanor, she could tell he was a lot more focused today. The challenge in the forest had gotten real for everyone, even him.

As the night started to fall, the group slowly began to disperse, heading toward the tents where they would be staying for the night. Y/N hung back for a moment, her eyes scanning the area as her mind started to wander.

The forest challenge had been hard, but it had also forced them all to come together. Bakugo might not have liked it, but even he had to acknowledge the strength of the group as they fought against the Pussycat Heroes and survived the difficult obstacle course.

"Hey, Y/N."

She looked up to see Todoroki walking toward her, his usual neutral expression on his face.

"Hey, Todoroki," Y/N greeted him, managing a small smile. He'd been quiet all day, but there was something calming about his presence. She felt like she could talk to him about things, even if it was only in passing.

"You did well today," Todoroki said, glancing at her with a faint, appreciative look. "You've got some great control over your quirk."

Y/N flushed slightly. "Thanks," she said, looking down at her shoes. She didn't want to admit it, but her second quirk—her wind manipulation—was something she still struggled to fully control. It was powerful, but volatile, and the more she used it, the more she feared what could happen if she lost control again.

Todoroki seemed to sense the shift in her mood, as he studied her carefully. "Is something wrong?"

Y/N hesitated. She didn't want to burden him with her fears, not when she barely knew him. She didn't even want to burden anyone with her feelings.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, trying to shake it off. "Just... a little tired."

He nodded, though she could tell he didn't entirely believe her. Todoroki wasn't one to press others, though. He seemed content to leave it at that.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Todoroki said before turning to walk off toward the campfire, where the others were gathering.

Y/N watched him go, feeling a strange sense of comfort in his words. But as she turned to head back to her tent, she found her eyes drawn to Bakugo again.

He was standing alone near the campfire, his gaze locked on the horizon. Even from a distance, she could tell he wasn't interested in joining the others. His whole demeanor screamed don't bother me.

"Ugh, that guy," she muttered under her breath.

She'd tried to talk to him earlier, but he'd been less than cooperative, pushing her away with his usual attitude. Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair. Maybe she was overthinking it. Bakugo was just... Bakugo. Always angry, always fighting, always pushing others away.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration when she thought about how distant he was. What was it about him that made her feel this way?

With a shake of her head, she finally made her way to her tent, trying to push the thoughts about Bakugo to the back of her mind. She needed rest. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, and she had to be ready for whatever came next.

Inside her tent, Y/N lay on her sleeping bag, staring up at the canvas roof above her. The camp was quiet, save for the faint sounds of crickets and distant voices. Her mind, however, was anything but peaceful.

The wind outside rustled softly through the trees, and Y/N could hear the others settling down for the night. The warmth of the campfire from earlier still lingered in her thoughts. It was strange how close the students had become in such a short amount of time. She could still feel the adrenaline from the day's events.

But it wasn't just the forest challenge that weighed on her mind. It was... him.

Bakugo. The way he seemed to avoid her, the way he pushed her away when she tried to reach out. He wasn't like the others. He didn't show his emotions, didn't wear his feelings on his sleeve. Maybe that was why it made her feel so... off balance around him. The more he kept his distance, the more she found herself wondering what was going through his head.

And yet, there was something about him that called to her, something that made her want to break through his tough exterior. Was it even worth trying?

The thought lingered as she drifted into a restless sleep, the image of Bakugo's face fading into the dark corners of her mind. Tomorrow would bring more obstacles, but she knew that what was truly testing her wasn't just the physical challenges ahead—it was the emotional battle that still lingered beneath the surface.

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Word count:1140

Will be continued in more than one chapter. Season three!

I hope i can make it as accurate as possible!

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