Wings of Awakening

Part 44

"Get out; we're stopping for a restroom break," Mr. Aizawa announced, as the bus came to a sudden halt. The students got off the bus, looking around to see nothing but a deserted road lined with trees in the distance. "I don't see any restrooms here," Kaminari said, glancing around with a confused look.

Then, out of nowhere, four figures leaped in front of the group, striking synchronized poses.

"Rock on with these sparkling gazes! We've come to lend a paw and help!!! Coming out of nowhere... stingingly cute and catlike! Wild, Wild Pussycats!!!" they exclaimed, each hero delivering a part of their signature line with enthusiasm.

Izuku's eyes widened with recognition. It was the Wild, Wild Pussycats, a renowned hero team known for their expertise in rescue missions. The team was here, likely to host their training camp, though no one knew its exact location yet.

The group consisted of Mandalay, the team leader, with her brown eyes and red hair styled into bangs. She wore a red version of the Pussycats' hero costume, complete with whisker-like markings beneath her eyes. Mandalay's Quirk, Mental Transmission, allowed her to send telepathic messages directly into people's minds.

Next was Pixie-Bob, a woman with blue eyes and long blonde hair. Her light blue hero costume and signature blue cheek dots made her look fierce and playful. Pixie-Bob's Quirk allowed her to control the earth, creating massive golem-like creatures from the ground, perfect for any rescue scenario.

Ragdoll, a woman with bright green hair and round yellow eyes, had pink whisker marks on her cheeks. She wore a yellow version of the Pussycats' costume and had a Quirk that allowed her to observe and track up to a hundred people, memorizing their location and weak points.

Finally, there was Tiger, a tall, muscular man with a short beard and intense eyes. His brown costume, combined with his powerful stretching Quirk, allowed him to bend and twist his body in ways that defied human limitations.

"So, Eraserhead, these are the little kitten you've brought us," Pixie-Bob said cheerfully, glancing at the students.

"Where's the camp?" Mina asked, scanning the area with a puzzled expression.

Aizawa pointed down the winding path ahead. "All the way there."

"Then... why are we here?" Kaminari laughed nervously, looking around for Class 1-B, who were nowhere to be seen.

Ragdoll grinned. "Well, kittens, you have until 12:30pm to reach the camp, or no dinner for you!" She winked.

Before anyone could react, Pixie-Bob touched the ground, and the cliff they stood on suddenly crumbled into mud, sending the students tumbling down the side of the mountain. Izuku, already suspicious, had instinctively spread his wings, catching both Uraraka and Jiro mid-fall.

As they landed at the mountain's foot, Kaminari shook his head. "I can't believe they just dropped us like that!"

Izuku landed nearby, setting down Uraraka and Jiro. "Everyone okay?" he asked, glancing around as the rest of the class scrambled to their feet.

Just as they were starting to recover, the ground shifted, and suddenly, mud monsters began emerging from the earth around them, looming menacingly.

Hours had passed since Class 1-A had been battling the unending onslaught of mud golems. With each one they destroyed, another seemed to rise from the earth, relentless in its pursuit. Together, they advanced in the direction Mr. Aizawa had indicated, facing the obstacles as a team.

Izuku had the option to simply fly to the destination, but he refused to leave his classmates behind. He fought alongside them, taking a leading role in directing everyone. Jiro and Shoji were crucial for keeping watch, alerting everyone to incoming golems with their enhanced hearing. Bakugo, Iida, Shoto, Izuku, and Tokoyami formed the attack team, with the others supporting by defending those with non-combat quirks from any golems that slipped past.

After a grueling hike and relentless combat, they finally arrived at their destination at 4:00 PM. Pixie-Bob, awaiting them with the other Pussycats, clapped in delight. "Wow, Class 1-A! I thought you'd take longer to reach the facility," she said, genuinely impressed. "You all figured out my Earth Beasts so quickly!" She nodded at Izuku, Tenya, Shoto, Tokoyami, and Katsuki. "And you five—good work taking action! I'm guessing you've all seen some villain action already."

The group of students looked at each other, each knowing just how much they had gone through since joining U.A.

Izuku noticed a young boy standing beside Pixie-Bob, looking distinctly unenthusiastic about their arrival. Curious, he asked, "Miss Mandalay, who is the boy with you?"

Mandalay gestured to him. "This is my nephew, Kota." She gave him an encouraging look. "Kota, come say hello to everyone!"

Kota reluctantly shuffled over, hands jammed into his pockets, eyes downcast. Izuku took a step forward, extending a friendly hand as he introduced himself, but Kota suddenly swung his fist, landing a punch right in Izuku's stomach. Izuku staggered back, clutching his midsection, while Tenya rushed to his side, a mix of shock and concern on his face.

"Kota!" Tenya exclaimed in shock. "That was uncalled for!"

Kota glared at them all. "I don't want to hang out with people who want to become corny heroes," he said harshly before storming off, leaving everyone in silence.

Mr Aizawa cleared his throat, breaking the awkwardness. "Get your luggage from the bus and put it in your rooms. Dinner's in an hour. After that, take a bath and get some rest. Training starts tomorrow morning."

After fetching their luggage and settling into their rooms, Class 1-A headed to the dining hall, where they were treated to a delicious meal courtesy of the Pussycats. It was a welcome respite, and they enjoyed the food and each other's company, recounting the day's ordeal.

Following dinner, they went to the hot springs, separated by a wooden wall dividing the male and female sections. On the boys' side, Mineta's eyes gleamed with mischief as he realized that the girls were also using the hot springs at the same time.

"This is my chance!" he muttered, eyeing the wall.

Tenya immediately took notice and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Mineta, I will not allow you to disrespect our classmates with this behavior! Control yourself!"

Ignoring him, Mineta shrugged off Tenya's grip and started scaling the wall, his determination unwavering.

Just as he reached the top and began to peek over, Kota appeared from nowhere and shoved Mineta down. "Stop being such a perv!" Kota scolded him, his glare intense.

As Mineta tumbled back to the boys' side, he cursed Kota under his breath, frustrated at being foiled.

On the other side, the girls caught sight of Kota standing at the top of the wall. "Thanks, Kota!" Mina called out, waving to him. Realizing he had been spotted, Kota's face turned beet red. He accidentally looked down and caught a glimpse of the girls before his legs gave out, and he toppled over the edge, falling right into the boys' side.

Without thinking, Izuku instinctively used his telekinesis, catching Kota mid-fall. He held him in the air with an invisible grip, covering himself as best as he could to avoid flying out of modesty. Setting Kota safely back on his feet, Izuku gave a small, sheepish smile. "Careful there," he said, hoping to break the tension.

Kota, his cheeks flushed and unable to make eye contact, mumbled a quick "thanks" before scurrying off.