Chapter 4|

The class began to scatter, breaking off into assigned pairs, laughter and complaints echoing through the uneven terrain. Y/n adjusted the straps on her utility belt, glancing warily at the half-renedered obstacle course ahead-one part shifting sand, one part crumbled cityscape, and a far edge that shimmered like a mirage. "This place looks like it wants to kill us."

"It does," Aizawa called out over the field. "That's the point," Bakugou grunted beside her. "Tch. The only thing trying to kill me is your voice."

"I could say the same," she shot back, starting toward the map kiosk where a holographic projection blinked to life. Aizawa's voice rang out again. "Balugou. Y/n. You two are assigned to Checkpoint CC, located at the south end of the grounds. You'll need to navigate through debris fields and energy-sensitive terrain. If you trip the wrong panel, it will simulate a containment field and delay your team." 

"What's the objective?" Y/n asked. "Retrieve the marker and make it without activating any sensors. Basic coordination test. Think of it as...trust exercise number one." Bakugou scoffed. "We're doomed." Y/n snorted. "For once, we agree." 

They set off toward the south end of the field, tension walking alongside them like a third teammate neither of them invited. The debris path was narrow, flanked by half-crushed walls and broken piping. Dotted across the dusty ground were faintly glowing panels-some pulsing red, others blue. 

"Alright," Y/n said, squinting at the map on her holo-tablet. "We can go around the left wall, avoiding the red zones, and cross on the elevated pipe-" 

"Or." Bakugou interrupted, stepping forward, "We just blast a path through the middle and get it over with

"Oh, right. Because brute-forcing a trap course is so genius." 

"Better than tiptoeing around like a coward." 

"I'm not a coward, I'm strategic." 

"You're slow." 

"You're reckless." 

They stopped, face to face now, inches apart. "Say that again," she dared. Bakugou leaned in. "You're Reckless." She glared. "That's rich coming from a human explosion." 

"Oh my gosh," he groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. "How do you survive in the real world?" 

"By not blowing up everything I touch!" 

Their shouting echoed off the walls, probably alerting every sensor in a five-mile radius. A red panel blinked to life behind them. "Look what you did," Y/n snapped. "I didn't scream first." 

"You were born screaming, Bakugou!" Another panel flared. Suddenly, a shimmering light snapped up around them- an energy field buzzing to life, boxing them in. Y/n's jaw dropped. "You set it off!" 

"You yelled louder!" 

"Oh my gosh-this is your fault!" They stood there, tapping in the humming light, just breathing heavily. Y/n crossed her arms. "This is a nightmare." Bakugou stared at the glowing wa;;s, fists clenched, a vein twitching at his temple. "...You're telling Aizawa it was your fault." 

"Over my dead body." He glared at her. She glared right back. Then-softly, a barlet audible tiny snort escaped her. Bakugou blinked. "The heck was that?" She laughed once-short bitter. "Nothing. Just thinking about how we're gonna be stuck like this for two months." 

"...help us," he muttered.

"They can't save us now." They stood in silence for a beat. Then Bakugou sighed-frusterated, teeth clenched-and muttered, "Next time, we do it my way."

Y/n rolled her eyes but didn't argue. And as the containment field finally powered down and faded, neither of them said it aloud...but they both moved forward in sync. Maybe not a victory. But a start. 

They walked in silence for a solid thirty seconds. Y/n kicked a piece of rubble out of her path, arms still crossed tightly over her chest. 

Bakugou stalked a few steps ahead, heads shoved deep into his pockets, jaw tight. The air between them crackled—not with anger this time, but something heavier. Messier. "…So," she muttered, finally breaking the silence. "You wanna explain to Aizawa how we failed a trust exercise in under five minutes, or should I?"

"Tch," Bakugou clicked his tongue, not looking back. "We didn't fail. The objective was to get the marker." 

"We tripped three sensors." 

"Minor setback." 

"We set off a containment trap." 

"it turned off, didn't it?" 

"We screamed at each other until the wall thought we were hostile." 

"…yeah. That part might've been your fault." She shot him a look. "You're unbelievable." 

"Dang right I am." 

They reached the open edge of the training devils, where Aizawa stood under a shaded overhang, clipboard in hand and Present Mic loudly debating something with All might nearby. Aizawa didn't even glance up as they approached. 

"Well?" He asked, voice low and unimpressed. "We retrieved the marker," Bakugou said, holding up the small orange flag in his hand. "Tripped a sensor field in the process," Y/n add flatly. 

Aizawa scribbled something down. "How many panels?"

"…Three," she muttered. Bakugou didn't deny it. Aizawa finally looked up. "Did either of you communicate a plan before proceeding?" 

Silence.

"I tried," Y/n offered quickly. "He just charged in." 

"I don't do plans." 

"That explains your social life." Aizawa raised a hand sharply. "Enough," he said. "I'm not your babysitter." Y/n and Bakugou both fell quietly, staring ahead like guilty toddlers caught fighting in the sandbox. 

"Neither of you can afford to let your personal issues tank this course. You want to press this class? Learn how to function together. If you don't—" he narrowed his eyes— "you'll both be doing remediation training all summer." 

Y/n blanched. 

Bakugou jaw twitched. "Fine. I'll work with her." She gave him a sidelong look. "You mean over me."

"same thing."

she scoffed, turning away. Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just…go cool down. Both of you. Next pair."

They walked off without another word, tension thick between them again. Bakugou didn't bark at her for trailing a step behind. And Y/n didn't snap when he kicked another rock into her path. 

Their rhythm was still jagged, still mismatched-but somewhere in between the yelling and containment field, something started to sync.

Maybe it was frustration. 

Maybe it was fatigue.

Or maybe—just maybe—they were learning how to fight in the same direction.