The pool day for Class 1-A had been a rare kind of calm. The girls splashed, laughed, and played while the boys, turned everything into a competition. It was still fun, though.

  By the time Aizawa stopped them at 5 p.m., the air was cooling, the tiles slick with footprints, and everyone looked a mix of content and exhausted. They shuffled toward the locker rooms, water still dripping from their hair, towels slung lazily around their shoulders.

  Sero nudged Kaminari with his elbow as they left the lockers, both already changed into casual clothes.

  "Hey, dude, what are you doing after this?" he asked, leaning toward him.

  Kaminari glanced over with a flat look. "I dunno. The pool was my only plan for the day."

  Sero hummed thoughtfully as they walked down the hallway, the sound of echoing footsteps following them. A few of the other boys trailed behind, chatting quietly, half-dried hair sticking up in uneven tufts. He was about to speak again when a sudden blur of motion cut through their path.

  Iida zoomed past, skidding to a stop in front of the group with his usual enthusiasm.

  "Everyone, listen!"

  Half the boys stumbled to a halt. Iida raised his arm dramatically, finger pointed skyward. After an awkward pause where no one quite reacted, he continued, "I spoke to Yaoyorozu, and we would like to propose an activity for the whole class!"

  A few murmurs rippled through the hallway. Ojiro raised his hand halfway.

  "What kind of activity?"

  "A class bonding activity!" Iida said, adjusting his glasses with a proud gleam. "We will hike to the top of a nearby mountain!"

  The murmuring intensified.

  Tokoyami’s low voice floated from the back. "Do we have to do this?"

  Bakugo grunted, "Yeah! Who’re you to tell me what I have to do, four-eyes?"

  Iida tried to speak over the noise. "I know you may have doubts, but I've heard it's an easy hike, and doing it today will-"

  "Today!?" several voices interrupted in unison.

  "Yes!" Iida said, undeterred. "Yaoyorozu proposed that by the time we reach the summit, it will be dark!"

  Tokoyami’s eyes widened. "Dark?"

  Midoriya finally spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Wait... there are a few festivals happening today, aren’t there? Could it be you want us to watch the fireworks from up there?"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "Exactly!" Iida said, adjusting his glasses again for no reason at all. "Now, who’s in?"

  The boys quickly split into two groups, those ready for adventure and those who weren’t.

  Iida, Midoriya, Ojiro, Tokoyami, Todoroki, Sero, Kirishima, and Kaminari all agreed to go. Bakugo joined only after Kaminari teased him for being scared.

  Mineta, Koda, Aoyama, and Shoji all refused for their own reasons.

  "Okay! Those of you coming, let’s go meet up with the others and discuss plans!" Iida declared, already marching off at full speed.

  The others exchanged tired but amused looks before following. The echoes of their steps faded into the hallway as the sun dipped lower outside.

  The group met up with the girls at the campus gates, who had all apparently agreed to go minus Robinn, of course. She hadn’t even gone to the pool.

  Iida and Momo stood side by side, both looking energetic and smiling. Once everyone gathered at the gates, Iida spoke up. "Alright! Here’s the plan..." He paused, waiting for everyone to quiet down before continuing.

  "We’re going to take a bus to get us closer to the start of the hiking trail, then walk a few minutes to the rest area at the base. We’ll stock up on food and water there, then start our hike! Any objections?"

  No one objected. All he got in response were nods and grins.

  Iida nodded firmly and turned toward the street... only to spot a figure approaching at a rapid pace. Momo turned too, squinting.

  "Is that..."

  A ponytail flipped rapidly in the wind as the figure sprinted toward them.

  Kirishima leaned forward. "Hey, that’s Robinn! I thought she wasn’t coming?"

  "I did message her about it... but she didn’t reply," Momo said faintly.

  There was a short, awkward silence until Robinn reached the group. She didn’t look winded, but she’d clearly run the whole way. Without a word, she stopped next to Momo casually, acting like she’d been there all along.

  The group, mostly used to her odd habits by now, played along. Iida turned and started walking toward the bus stop, everyone else following behind, easing into chatter.

  Kaminari jogged up beside Momo. "Hey, Yaomomo, you came up with this idea, right? The whole fireworks thing?"

  She smiled awkwardly. "Not really... I sort of suggested it, but Iida did all the work." Her gaze fell slightly.

  Kaminari noticed. Momo hadn’t seemed sure of herself since the festival. It honestly hurt to see her like that.

  "Well, it was a great suggestion," he said, trying to lift her mood. "Even though I’m not a big fan of hikes, hanging out with everyone’s always cool."

  It kind of worked. Momo looked up, glancing around at her classmates. A small, wistful smile crept in.

  "Thanks."

  Before long, the group reached the bus station, early, actually. They had to wait a bit for the next one.

  Midoriya stood near the edge of the station, talking with Iida about his brother’s recovery. When they stopped, Iida moved to the front like a self-appointed tour guide, upright and alert.

  Midoriya’s eyes drifted to the other side of the platform where a few others were chatting. He spotted Uraraka laughing... Asui must’ve told her something funny. He started walking toward them...

  "Hey, Robinn, how’s your summer been?" Uraraka said suddenly, turning to the girl hovering at the edge of the group.

  Midoriya stopped dead in his tracks.

  He still didn’t know what to say to her.