Bright sunlight filtered through the scattered clouds above the Shizuoka Hero Training Grounds, casting playful shadows across the foam-and-plywood mock city. The simulated disaster zone was a patchwork of obstacles, false hazards, and dramatic touches meant to make the middle school students feel like they were inside a real emergency.
Team 9 had just entered their assigned sector: a cramped alley lined with crumbling cardboard facades and overturned props designed to resemble chunks of concrete. Orange cones marked off "unstable" zones, and somewhere ahead—according to their assignment card—a volunteer was pretending to be a trapped civilian.
Kael moved silently at the front of their group, eyes scanning the scene. His steps were slow but deliberate, each one carefully placed. The other two followed behind him: Midoriya, tightly clutching the strap of his rescue bag, and Bakugo, hands shoved in his pockets with an impatient scowl.
"We're supposed to find a missing person and deliver a medical kit," Midoriya whispered, checking the card Manual had handed them. "There's probably a 'civilian' volunteer hiding somewhere nearby. We just have to locate them and get them to safety."
Bakugo scoffed. "We could just yell and find them faster."
Kael shook his head. "That could spook them. If this were real, they'll most likely be shaken up or scared. Shouting would only make things worse."
Bakugo opened his mouth to argue, but Midoriya cut in before the tension could rise. "L-let's try quiet first? Then we can call out if we don't spot them."
Kael crouched, lifting a foam beam slightly with one hand and peering underneath. Nothing. His eyes then flicked towards a shimmer of light in the next "building."
"There," Kael whispered, pointing to a pile of boxes stacked against the wall inside of a garage. "Something moved."
Midoriya crouched beside him, squinting. "You're right… there's a foot sticking out!"
Bakugo rolled his eyes. "So let's go already."
Kael held out an arm. "Wait."
They all paused.
Kael's hand lifted slowly, and from his palm emerged a dark blue tendril, soft and semi-solid, shimmering faintly with violet. It slithered across the concrete quietly and nudged the boxes. They shifted—then a voice called out.
"Ow! H-Hey! Who's there?"
The three boys stood and moved forward cautiously. Nestled between the boxes was a high school volunteer wearing a yellow vest with "CIVILIAN" in bold letters. She clutched her ankle, acting as though it were injured.
Seeing that she wasn't a 'villain' playing tricks on them and actually a ''real' civilian in real danger, they ran over to her side.
Kael knelt beside her. "Are you hurt?"
She nodded dramatically. "My ankle's twisted. I can't walk. Please, I need help getting to the station!"
Midoriya was already unzipping his rescue pack. "I brought the support brace! And the medical kit!"
Bakugo cracked his knuckles. "I can just carry her."
Midoriya looked nervous. "We're supposed to secure the injury before moving someone."
Kael spoke softly. "We'll do both. Izuku, brace her ankle. Katsuki, be ready to carry her once it's wrapped."
Bakugo didn't love taking orders, but the plan made sense. He crouched beside the girl, letting Midoriya fasten the foam brace around her leg. She nodded in thanks, clearly impressed by how quickly they were working.
Midoriya handed Kael the map of the area. "Station A is three blocks north, past the collapsed store. If we go through the left alley, we might avoid the obstacle zone."
Kael scanned the map and pointed. "That alley's narrow. Could be blocked."
Midoriya adjusted his grip on the kit. "We'll adjust our strategy based on the obstacles we encounter. Let's go."
With Bakugo carrying the volunteer piggyback and Midoriya leading with the map, they exited the alley.
Kael brought up the rear, scanning their surroundings.
The narrow path twisted between more makeshift buildings. A few other teams could be seen in the distance—Team 5 was lifting cardboard rubble, and Team 3 appeared to be arguing. It was noisy, with voices echoing across the set.
Suddenly, a low, garbled "WHOOOOOOSH" sound came from ahead.
A man in an oversized hoodie and a villain mask stepped out from behind a fake wall, arms raised dramatically. "I'm a villain! Hand over the medkit!"
Bakugo stopped, smirking. "Finally."
Midoriya gasped. "Wait—Remember our goal!"
Kael's voice was calm. "We're supposed to respond without fighting."
The "villain" lunged forward with exaggerated slowness, grabbing at Midoriya.
Without hesitation, Kael's tendrils burst out—one looping gently around Midoriya's waist, pulling him back, and another wrapping around the volunteer's shoulder to steady her on Bakugo's back.
Midoriya gasped as he was yanked clear of the staff member's reach.
Kael stepped in front of them, holding up both hands, tendrils ready.
"We're part of a rescue team," Kael said coolly. "We're not carrying anything of value. Just spare us and leave us be."
The villain grumbled. "Fine! Don't have time to deal with chumps anyways!"
He stepped aside with a grin, then gave them a thumbs up and took off his mask. "Good job! You kept calm and protected your team. That's full points."
Kael nodded silently. Bakugo muttered something about how boring that had been.
They continued through the alley, now in the final stretch. The mock "collapsed store" came into view—foam beams, cardboard glass, and yellow warning tape. A wide opening through the side wall was marked as "unstable."
Midoriya squinted at it. "We have to get through that. There's a safe path on the other side that leads straight to Station A."
Kael moved forward and used his tendrils to tap the ground ahead. The foam shifted but didn't collapse. He turned.
"I'll go first. Stay close behind me Izuku."
He stepped onto the marked path, carefully navigating the spongy "wreckage." Midoriya followed, balancing himself with a hand on the wall.
Bakugo grunted and stomped ahead, carrying the volunteer easily.
Kael reached the other side and extended a tendril to Midoriya's hand, steadying him.
When they all made it through, the sound of a buzzer rang out overhead. The drone returned, hovering above them as a robotic voice said, "Team 9 has completed Objective One."
They all looked up, surprised.
"That's it?" Bakugo asked.
Midoriya laughed nervously. "That was the first mission. There's still two more in the full simulation."
Kael took a breath. "Then we keep going."
They walked forward—three boys who were very different, but already beginning to learn what it meant to lean on each other.
…