Crunch—
As the bus came to a halt, everyone finally arrived on a hillside.
"Well, the scenery here isn't bad." Yu Takeyama stepped off the bus, gazing into the distance with clear satisfaction.
They were deep in the mountains, surrounded by lush greenery. Rolling hills stretched endlessly, layered with dense forests, while the sound of a nearby stream echoed softly through the air. Nestled within the thick vegetation stood a large villa—clearly U.A.'s training camp.
"It's U.A., all right… they can even find a place like this for training." Gojima Ryōzō looked around in awe, clearly impressed by the luxurious setting.
But that wasn't the most pressing issue.
After hours of travel, the sun had climbed high into the sky—it was already lunchtime. The three students, still growing, could feel their stomachs growling loudly. With nothing but wilderness around them, they all turned to Yu Takeyama with questioning looks.
"Hungry?" Yu Takeyama asked, her lips curling into a playful smile.
"Mm!" Everyone nodded eagerly.
"—No."
The answer came instantly.
"Why?!" Gojima Ryōzō clutched his stomach dramatically, looking like he was about to collapse.
Yu Takeyama chuckled mischievously at his reaction. "Before you eat, you'll need to complete a task—under my pursuit, you must run all the way to the villa."
She casually gestured into the distance.
"Oh, and just so you know—the villa is ten kilometers away. You should be able to make it within an hour, right?"
"Wait a second!!"
Gojima Ryōzō immediately protested. "Running there is one thing, but being chased by you? You're kidding, right?! How are we supposed to deal with a Pro Hero chasing us?!"
According to recent rankings, Mt. Lady was one of the fastest-rising heroes in popularity. Among her graduating class, her strength stood out significantly. In the city, her power was limited—but out here, in the mountains?
Her destructive potential would increase dramatically.
Facing someone like her, how were they supposed to reach the destination safely?
Even Yaoyorozu Momo let out a quiet sigh. Against overwhelming power, most strategies would be meaningless.
"This is exactly the point of today's training." Mt. Lady pulled out a set of specialized restraints. "These are limiters from U.A.'s Support Department. They're designed specifically for my Quirk—they'll expand along with my body."
She tapped them lightly as she continued.
"My Quirk is Gigantification. I can grow up to 20.62 meters tall, and my strength increases proportionally. I haven't tested the exact limits, but… let's just say I can easily demolish buildings."
Her tone was casual, but the implications were anything but.
Her Quirk was highly destructive. Every time she transformed, nearby structures often suffered collateral damage. Back when she hadn't yet earned money from Etsuha's manga, she'd constantly struggled financially because of repair costs. Even her various side jobs barely covered the damage.
That was also why she occasionally relied on flashy finishing moves to secure credit during hero work.
Given all that, there was no way a few first-year-level students could outrun her under normal conditions.
So instead, she limited herself.
"The rules are simple," she continued. "You get a ten-minute head start. After that, I'll begin chasing you."
She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"If I catch you before you reach the villa… hmm… denying you food might affect your growth."
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Ah! I've got it! If I catch you, you'll have to eat the 'nutritional meal' I personally prepared. Yes, perfect!"
"Eh??"
Yaoyorozu Momo and Gojima Ryōzō were both stunned.
That was… the punishment?
A nutritional meal didn't sound that bad. In fact, it barely seemed like a penalty at all. Gojima Ryōzō even felt a little grateful, thinking Mt. Lady was surprisingly kind for a Pro Hero.
But—
Etsuha's face suddenly went pale.
"Listen carefully," he said gravely. "You do not want to eat something that tastes like chocolate… but smells like sewage."
Those words carried weight.
That had been Yu Takeyama's own description in the past—and Etsuha had experienced it firsthand. The memory alone was enough to make his stomach churn. He had spent the entire afternoon vomiting afterward.
"…Is it really that bad?" Gojima Ryōzō asked weakly.
Yaoyorozu Momo's expression stiffened.
Yu Takeyama shot Etsuha an annoyed glance. "That's a very rude way to describe a girl's cooking."
She didn't deny it.
"…I think Etsuha might be telling the truth," Yaoyorozu Momo said quietly.
The two of them immediately realized the gravity of the situation.
Chocolate that smelled like sewage?
There was no way that was normal.
What exactly was she putting in that food?!
Yu Takeyama clapped her hands, cutting off their spiraling thoughts.
"If you don't want to eat it," she said sweetly, "then do your best to escape."
Her smile widened.
"The timer starts now."