Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

—--------------------

OBC NEWS BREAKING

"Eleven UA High Students Missing — Heroes and Authorities on High Alert"

In a shocking and troubling development, eleven students from U.A. High School — Japan’s most prestigious hero academy — have been reported missing.

The students were last seen within school grounds just hours before their sudden disappearance. According to initial reports, there were no signs of struggle or forced entry, deepening the mystery surrounding the case.

Pro-Heroes, including faculty members, along with the police task force are now fully mobilized in the search. Authorities are urging the public to remain calm while investigations continue.

Among the missing are several top-ranking hero course students, including notable names from Class 1-A. The Hero Public Safety Commission has yet to release a full list of identities for safety reasons.

Principal Nezu released a brief statement this morning:

"We are doing everything in our power to ensure the swift and safe return of our students. We ask for cooperation and sensitivity during this difficult time."

As the search continues, many are asking: Is this the work of villains—or something even more sinister?

Stay tuned to OBC News for further updates.

See comments bellow...

-What’s happening in UA right now? Students kept on being in danger

-LOL I thought the students and teachers there are strong guess not

-You wouldn't survive there if you're there shut your trap

-Oh no my friends studying in UA, I hope she's fine

-Guys don't fight just throw it back AHAHAHA

-Funny

-I heard that Endeavour’s son is included in the missing students 

-What? He seems strong what happened?

-Aww no, he’s my crush

-Girl same [sad]

-Does somebody here know how to claim the Iphone 11 from chrome?

-Tf? that's scam dude

-Guys is it just me or some app suddenly pop out of my phone? I didn't install it and even if I try to uninstall it, it won't.

-Tf girl same, it's so weird

-Same it's so annoying and Creepy, is the app name “Ready or Not”?

-Omg Yes!! Is this some kind of prank?

-Same dude, I can't delete it, it's getting annoying, I messaged my friends abo ut it and the same thing happened to them.

-Creepy 

- Guys I swallowed a seed, do you think it would grow in my stomach?[crying]

Tension hung heavy in the air. Maps, timelines, and faces of the missing students were spread across several screens.

"How the hell do eleven trained students disappear from a top-security campus?!" one officer snapped, slamming a hand on the table.

“Calm down. We’ll find them,” a pro-hero muttered, though even his voice held a tremor of doubt.

Then a junior analyst rushed in. "Sir. There’s something you need to see. We’ve received multiple public reports about a strange app suddenly appearing on their devices."

"What app?"

“It’s called Ready or Not. No download history, no uninstall option. It’s been popping up on phones all over the country.”

“And how is this connected?”

Before anyone could answer, a chilling ding echoed through the command center.

One by one, every phone, monitor, and tablet lit up. At the same time.

A single notification appeared on all of them:

-The game is about to start, Are you ready or not? Watch to know who's the last one standing, who's the real hero among them and the sinner and always been-

Do you want to watch?

Yes   |    No

Oh no...this isn't good...

Chapter Text

“—chan!”

Katsuki’s head was pounding, like some damn villain had slammed him headfirst into a building. His skull felt like it was splitting in half, his body heavy, aching all over.

And to make things worse?

Fucking Deku was shouting right next to him.

“Kacchan! Wake up!”

He groaned, dragging a hand across his face. Everything hurt. And god, Deku’s voice felt like knives to his already-screaming brain.

“The hell are you being so fucking loud for?!” Katsuki snapped, voice gravelly, laced with irritation.

He forced his eyes open—blurry, unfocused—and scowled up at the frantic green-haired idiot hovering over him. The Nerd looks like shit. 

“Kacchan! Good—you’re awake!” Deku’s voice shot out fast, high-pitched with anxiety. “I think—we’re kidnapped, Kacchan! I don’t know where we are, and I can’t remember how we even ended up here, and you’ve been unconscious for over an hour and I kept trying to wake you but you wouldn’t move and I was this close to freaking out and—”

“Fuck, Deku!” Katsuki growled, sitting up with a wince. “Are you trying to make me kill you? Shut the fuck up, you're mumbling again!”

The green eyed boy instantly clammed up, mouth still half-open, eyes wide.

Katsuki groaned, pressing the heel of his hand to his temple. “Loud-ass nerd…”

But even as the words left his mouth, something uneasy twisted in his gut.

Because the nerd wasn’t wrong.

They were definitely somewhere unfamiliar.

All white walls—clean, too clean—with no windows in sight. A few picture frames hung crookedly, but every single one of them was empty. No photos, no drawings—just eerie blank space behind the glass.

The room wasn’t large. It felt more like a weird hospital room than anything else. Sterile. Quiet. Wrong. Katsuki felt like they're being watch.

Katsuki sat up fully, noticing for the first time that he was lying in a bed. Deku's the same, looking at him nervously.

The whole setup sent a chill down Katsuki’s spine.

This place was creepy as hell.

And worst of all—

He had no memory of how they’d ended up here.

Katsuki swung his legs off the bed, scanning the room like a battlefield. “Tch. This is some twisted shit.”

“Do you… remember anything?” Izuku asked quietly, still fidgeting.

Katsuki didn’t answer right away. His brain was still foggy, like someone had scrubbed it clean with acid and left only the headache behind.

“No,” he finally muttered. “Nothing. Just woke up to your screeching.”

“Sorry,” Izuku mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Katsuki didn’t bother responding. He stood up slowly, walking toward the door. It was metal. Smooth. No handle—just a small black panel on the wall beside it, glowing faintly red.

Locked.

Of course it was locked.

“What the hell is this place…?” Katsuki muttered, eyes narrowing at the glowing panel beside the door.

Deku stepped up beside him, still clutching his hands together like he was trying to stop them from shaking. “I don't know either. I… I tried opening that door—several times. I couldn’t.”

Katsuki scowled. “What the fuck do you mean you couldn’t? You’ve got a goddamn quirk, Deku, use it!”

“I don’t have it!” Izuku snapped, voice rising higher than intended. His breathing was shallow, chest rising and falling a little too fast. “I tried the second I woke up, Kacchan! Nothing happened! I—I think it’s gone—!”

Katsuki froze.

His eyes flicked to Izuku’s wrist—metal. A sleek, silver cuff clamped tightly around his forearm, subtle but unmistakable. His fists trembled at his sides, knuckles scraped and raw—bleeding. 

Katsuki looked down at his own arm.

Same thing.

“What the fuck…?”

He instinctively tried to trigger his quirk—tried to summon even the smallest crackle of heat in his palms—but nothing came. No familiar pressure building in his palms. No warmth. Just… silence.

Quirkless.

They were Quirkless.

Katsuki’s blood ran cold.

“No fucking way…” he growled, yanking at the cuff. It didn’t budge. “This is bullshit. This is actual bullshit.”

Deku opened his mouth to say something but was cut off when the door hissed.

A mechanical groan echoed through the room, followed by a sharp click.

The red panel blinked green.

And the door slid open.

Both of them froze.

“What the—?” Katsuki’s voice cut off, replaced by instinctual caution.

“Kacchan, don’t just suddenly step out—it might be a trap,” Deku hissed, grabbing his sleeve.

“Shut it, Deku,” Katsuki snapped, shrugging him off. “We need to get the fuck out of here and rip these damn Quirk suppressors off.”

But he stopped short the moment he stepped past the threshold.

His breath hitched—not from fear, but from how wrong everything felt.

Outside wasn’t a hallway. It wasn’t freedom either.

It was just another room.

Spacious, cold, and sterile—like the last one, only bigger and even more unsettling.

The floor beneath their feet was smooth metal. The ceiling was high, arching above them like the inside of a facility—no windows, no ventilation they could see, just low, flickering lights that buzzed slightly with every pulse.

At the center of the room was a massive screen, black and silent, humming like it was alive. Around it, covering the surrounding walls in an almost ceremonial arc, were photographs—their photographs.

Izuku stepped closer, his breath catching in his throat.

Each photo was of a student from Class 1-A. All of them dressed in their U.A. uniforms, like a photo ID—but colder. The way they were displayed felt clinical, almost like they were being catalogued. Each one had a name written cleanly underneath, glowing faintly in white text.

But not all the faces were there.

Katsuki counted quickly, eyes narrowing as he scanned the wall. Eleven.

Just eleven photos.

And both his and Deku’s were among them.

“…This is fucking messed up,” Katsuki muttered under his breath, arms crossing over his chest tightly. His picture stared back at him from across the room. His own eyes felt unfamiliar—flat and unfeeling in the photo. Labeled beneath in blocky letters:

BAKUGO KATSUKI.

Next to his was:

MIDORIYA IZUKU.

“Kacchan! Midoriya!”

They both turned at the same time.

“Don't call me that Shitty Pikachu”

Denki Kaminari came rushing through, eyes wide and panicked, metal cuff glowing on his wrist. Just behind him, Todoroki Shoto followed, calm as always but tense, his mismatched eyes narrowing the moment he took in the strange display around them.

Half Half bastard’s gaze landed on the photos. Then the screen. Then on the cuffs around Katsuki and Deku’s wrists.

“You two as well,” The dual quirk user said simply.

“Yeah. This place is crazy,” Dunce face muttered, glancing around. “I woke up in that creepy room, Todoroki was in the other bed and we tried to zap the door—nothing. And then I noticed this thing.” He held up his wrist. “Guess I’m just a guy with nice hair now.”

“Quirk suppressors,” Icyhot confirmed.

Katsuki clenched his jaw. “You two count as three and four,” he said darkly. “That’s four of us now.”

The screen suddenly lit up, flooding the room with a cold, sterile glow. All four of them instinctively straightened, their bodies tensing, bracing for whatever twisted announcement was about to come next.

In a bold letter was written.

—--------------------

Good morning, Player 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Welcome to the game.

Other players are still sleeping so wait until then! (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

—--------------------

“What the hell man, who are you? Why are we here? Is this some type of prank?”. Stupid Pikachu asked, he’s laughing nervously. Katsuki rolled his eyes on him.

“Hey, whoever the fuck you are,” he snarled, fists clenched, “you’re dead once I get out of this shithole.” Katsuki said stepping Infront of the screen, ignoring Deku's call. 

Katsuki raised his arm, ready to punch the screen into dust, quirk or not—but before his fist could fly, the message on the screen changed in an instant:

—--------------------

If I were you, Player Number 2, I wouldn’t do that…..

Unless you want to face the consequence~ :⁠-)

Wait for the other players to wake up and we’ll begin!

(⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

—-------

The words made Katsuki pause—just for a second. The fucker called him number 2. Fucking Number 2. If that's not enough to make Katsuki annoyed he realize something the fucker is watching them. Listening. Tracking their every move.

“FUCK YOU, YOU THINK I'M SCARED?! I’LL SMASH YOUR HEAD IN THIS SCREEN ONCE I FOUND YOU!”. Katsuki shouted, he’s so angry. 

“Kacchan, calm down he might do something to you”.

“Fuck him and Fuck you, I don't care!”

Deku stepped closer, his voice quieter now. “But Kacchan they knew what you were about to do,” he said, the usual nervousness in his tone giving way to something more serious. “They’re monitoring us in real time. This… this is serious, who knows what else he can do.”

“Ya think, nerd?” Katsuki snapped without looking at him, his voice sharp but lacking the usual heat.

Because the anger wasn’t for Deku—not this time.

It was for the creeping dread crawling up the back of his neck like ice water.

Half Half bastard’s gaze stayed on the screen, arms folded as if he was analyzing the situation like a battlefield. “That person called us Players,” he murmured.

Stupid Pikachu blinked, scratching the back of his head. “Like… in a game?”

“Exactly.” Half Half bastard’s voice was flat, thoughtful. “Which means someone is running it. And we’re part of it. Whether we want to be or not.”

“Then I say we burn the whole damn thing down and beat the shit out of whoever’s behind this.” Katsuki stepped back and looked toward the others. “Soon as we get these off.” He raised his arm, metal cuff glinting under the harsh light.

“Assuming we can,” Deku muttered, eyes flicking around the room again—taking everything in, calculating.

Their photos were still hanging on the walls like trophies, all eleven of them— Katsuki, Deku, Icyhot, Dunce face… and seven others who hadn’t woken up yet.

Deku’s chest tightened. “Why only us?” he asked quietly.

Dunce face hesitated. “Maybe we’re just the first round…”

“Or maybe…” Half Half bastard’s voice was quiet but steady. “...they chose us on purpose.”

Katsuki’s eyes narrowed.

And before anyone could respond, a mechanical hum echoed through the walls.

And just like that—

Another door clicked open.

Another two has woken up.

From one door, Yaoyorozu Momo stepped out, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked shaken, but composed—her hair slightly disheveled, her expression drawn. The thin metal cuff on her wrist glinted under the overhead lights as she glanced around the room with wide, assessing eyes.

Trailing behind her was Jirou Kyouka. Her jaw was clenched tight, her cuffs glowing faintly as if she’d already tried to shock them off. Her earbuds hung limply, useless without her Quirk.

“Momo! Jirou!” Dunce face rushed forward, nearly tripping over his own feet. “You guys are here too.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, obviously they're here too, their pictures are up there. What an Idiot.

Pony tail didn’t speak right away. Her eyes swept over each of them—the cuffs, the photographs, the massive screen—and her brows furrowed deeply. “What is this place?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.

“We don’t know yet,” Half Half bastard answered. “But we’re not alone. This… isn’t some ordinary kidnapping.”

“Yeah, it’s like—some twisted game or experiment,” Dunce face added, motioning toward the glowing screen.

Deku crossed his arms. “They called us players. Numbered us. Watching everything we do.”

Jirou raised her cuffed wrist. “And our Quirks?”

“Gone,” Deku said grimly. “Quirk-suppression tech. Some kind of limiter built into these.”

Pony tail frowned and touched hers. “I tried creating a key. Nothing came out. Not even a fragment.” She looked visibly disturbed. “They’ve blocked our biological Quirk access completely.”

“Then this is deliberate,” Half half bastard murmured. “Calculated.”

The screen suddenly lit up again.

—-------------------

Welcome Player 4, 5, 9 and 10!

Only 3 more to go! (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

—--------------------

“Huh?” Dunce face squinted at the screen. “Why is it four people? Who’s the other two?”

As if on cue, another door hissed open with a sharp mechanical click.

Two more figures stepped into the room.

Fucking Great another two has woken up.

Mina Ashido was the first out, pink curls frizzy and her eyes darting around nervously. Her mouth hung open as she took in the photos, the screen, and the people already gathered.

Following close behind was Uraraka Ochako, looking dazed but alert, her steps cautious. She blinked rapidly under the bright lights, visibly confused but trying to piece things together.

“Mina! Uraraka!” Deku and Dunce Face called out. 

“Deku!” Round face rushed toward him instinctively, eyes wide. Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Oh thank god, you’re okay—wait—what is this place?!”

Pinky grabbed Dunce face by the shoulders. “Is this some sort of elaborate final exam?! Please tell me this is just a weird Aizawa-sensei simulation or I might cry.”

“It’s not,” Icyhot said flatly, his voice calm but serious.

Round face noticed the cuffs finally. “Wait—these—” she raised her arm. “I tried floating earlier, and nothing happened. Are these what I think they are?”

“Yeah,” Earphones muttered. “Quirk suppressors.”

“We don’t know how or why we’re here yet,” Ponytail added quickly, already stepping in to explain, her voice calm but tight with worry. “But they’ve stripped our Quirks and are monitoring us somehow.”

Katsuki wasn’t listening.

Not really.

His fists were clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms, the metal of the Quirk suppressor cuff digging into his wrist every time he flexed. His jaw was tight, temples throbbing.

This whole thing was making his blood boil.

Someone—some sick bastard—had managed to snatch not just one or two of them, but eleven U.A. students.

Even Katsuki.

Even him.

How the hell did someone go under his nose?

Katsuki Bakugo—the top of the hero course, a walking arsenal, always on edge, always alert—taken like some weak extra in a side mission? No fucking way.

His pride howled inside him, a loud, furious storm of rage and humiliation that he could barely keep from exploding all over the room.

He looked around the wide space again, eyes sharp and scanning everything like he could will a weak spot to appear. Nothing. White walls. Smooth metal. Hidden cameras, probably, tucked behind one of the picture frames. His gaze lingered briefly on the photos—eleven in total. Their names neatly labeled. All in uniform. And every single one of them looking like a goddamn trophy on display.

Like prey.

Like they’d been chosen.

The thought made something feral twist inside him.

“What the hell does this freak even want?” he muttered under his breath.

“Something twisted,” Half Half bastard answered nearby, his voice low. “No one normal goes this far.”

“And they got all of us,” Dunce face added, his voice quieter now, more serious. “Whoever it is… they planned this for a while.”

Katsuki let out a short, humorless laugh.

“Tch. They planned it too fucking well.”

Deku glanced at him, worry in his eyes. “Kacchan…”

But Katsuki didn’t look at him.

Because underneath all the fury, there was a sick twist in his gut he didn’t want to name.

He hadn’t seen this coming.

None of them had.

Then—click.

A sharp mechanical sound echoed through the room, followed by another. Two more doors hissed open almost in sync, releasing the final pieces of this twisted puzzle.

Tokoyami Fumikage stepped out first, his shadowy form tense, eyes sweeping across the room with sharp awareness. His usual calm carried a darker weight now—measured and alert, feathers on edge as if sensing something unnatural in the walls themselves.

Tenya Iida followed immediately after, adjusting his glasses with a trembling hand. The confident, by-the-book class rep looked visibly shaken. His steps were stiff, purposeful—but the slight tremble in his jaw betrayed his unease.

And trailing slowly behind glasses—

A small figure shuffled out, wide-eyed and pale.

Minoru Mineta.

The fear on his face was obvious—eyes darting everywhere, his breath shallow as he clutched his cuffed wrist like it might vanish if he held it tight enough.

“W-What the hell is this?! This has to be illegal! Kidnapping future pro heroes is a federal crime!” the pipsqueak—Mineta—squeaked, his voice bouncing off the sterile white walls with far more volume than anyone needed.

“I’m too young and handsome to die in a horror movie!”

Katsuki didn’t even bother to look at Diapers. He was too damn loud. Too damn annoying.

"Let's all calm down guys, I don't know what's happening but it's better if we stick together". Their class representative says, gesturing his hands.

"I'm not used without dark shadow around but Iida is right". Bird face said.

He just clicked his tongue and muttered, “Great. I’m stuck with a bunch of fucking extras.”

“Hey!” Dunce face huffed, brows furrowing as he crossed his arms. “We’re all literally victims here, man. You think you’re the only one freaked out?”

Katsuki finally turned, glaring. “No, I think I’m the only one who’ll actually do something once I figure out how.”

“Bakubabe, don’t be rude,” Pinky chimed in, stepping between them with her usual sugar-sweet voice that somehow didn’t fit the sterile horror they were trapped in. “Tensions are high, but we need to stick together, right? Don’t worry, we’ll get out of here. Together.”

She gave him her brightest smile.

Katsuki stared at her, unimpressed. “Don’t call me that.”

“Yeah, okay, Bakugorgeous,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He glared at her as a response, if only he has his quirk he exploded everyone already.

Behind them, Half Half bastard was quiet, his gaze still fixed on the massive screen. His voice came out level but edged with suspicion. “This isn’t random.”

Deku looked over at him. “You mean… we were chosen?”

“The cuffs, the screen, the way it addressed us as players. This is organized. Someone planned this.”

“And someone went through a lot of effort to strip us of our Quirks,” Their class representative added, holding up his restrained wrist. “This isn’t just kidnapping… it’s something else.”

“Then what the hell is it?” Pampers muttered, rubbing his temples.

Before anyone can speak again the screen lit up once again.

—----------------------

Welcome to the game players 

—----------------------

The message immediately changed.

—----------------------

Now that you're all complete we want to inform you that starting today..

Is the start of the game.

11 of you were chosen.

Why? You’ll find out soon. :)

For now, you are not heroes.

You are not students.

You are not safe.

You are just…

Players.

—--------------------

“Us? Who are you? Why are we here?”. Their representative ask. Clearly trying to keep calm.

The message in the screen changed again.

—-------------------

You’ll find out soon, but for now it's time for your breakfast.

The players need an energy before a game after all (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

—-------------------

Fuck this hellhole, Katsuki thinks as another door opened, revealing a long table with food on it.

Unbeknownst to them .. they're being watch not just by the one behind it but including countless of people.

Chapter Text

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.3M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

- What is this app?

- Is this some kind of live broadcast? 

- Whoa, who is that people?

- Dude? What the hell, is that the missing UA students?

- They're eleven too, so are they're the missing students?

- Oh my I recognize them!

- Oh yeah I recognize them from the UA sports festival last year

- That's Endeavor's son right there right? So he's kidnapped too?

- So that's why Endeavor looks so mad and restless on one of the interview 

- UA is never safe, this happened before right?

- Uravity and Creaty be safe my pookies 

- Who's filming that omy gosh, it's so freaky

- it's like watching a thriller movie except it's live and real life

- Wat is dis app?

- Police and Heroes should do something, this kids is in danger!

- Heroes do something 

- They look fine to me

- They're kidnapped dude, what do you mean "okay"?

- Is this some kind of prank?

- This is serious 

- Oh look, they all have pictures in the wall

- Does that mean it's planned?

- This is freaky [scared]

- Confirmed! It's planned, it said "Choosen" 

- Why them?

- Is it the League of Villain's doing?

- Lol no, we're innocent

- Huh.....

- Bakubro, Midobro, Mina, Everyone!! Be safe!

- Somebody track them!!

---------------------------------------------------

The live will end in 40 seconds, we will be back shortly :)

---------------------------------------------------

- Omg why is it ending so soon?

- Is it because the spiky haired one tried to smash the screen?

- He's Bakugo Katsuki 

- Lol, he's the winner in sports festival last year right? He's still hot headed 

- Damn right

- Why is the green haired one keep calling him "Kacchan?"

- Dunno

- Nickname obviously 

- They're close? Doesn't seem so

- Agreed 

- I'm their classmate in middle school, they're childhood "friends"

- What's with the quotation mark?

- Lol

- Oh they're about to eat

- Oh yeah it's not like we want to watch them eat

- Lol mukbang

- Just how big is that place? Room just kept appearing 

- Too hightech, that person planned it too well

- Am I the only one who's excited for the game?

- Nope

- Yep

- Be safe kids

- I hope it's not poisoned

- Don't worry, we wouldn't want our players to die that immediately without being able to play :)

- Dude what?

- Omg, are you the one behind this?

- :)

- Set them free [crying]

- :)

- This is so creepyyyyy

- Do something heroes!

- They're doing their best, calm your asses

- I am loving this~~ so exciting!

- Are you some kind of sicko? 

- Be safe my pookie Shotou

- Lol simp 

---------------------------------------------------

Live broadcast ended

---------------------------------------------------

Chapter Text

A mechanical click echoed through the room as another set of doors opened.

A long metal table slid forward from the wall like it had always been there, just hidden behind the sterile paneling. Eleven chairs lined each side. Eleven bowls of steaming noodles sat evenly spaced—each one beside a single glass of water.

The room was silent for a moment.

“…Fuck this hellhole,” Kacchan muttered, his voice flat with contempt. “Is this supposed to be hospitality?”

The blonde stomped forward reluctantly, eyeing the table like it personally offended him. “Great. They’re trying to kill us with fucking unhealthy food.”

“I agree that the sodium content is quite high,” Iida said, adjusting his cracked glasses as he walked beside him. “The sodium content might be extremely high. However… we haven’t eaten since waking up. Nutrients, even minimal, are essential.”

“I’ve never actually tasted instant noodles before,” Yaoyorozu said softly, hesitating as she peered down at her bowl. “Is it… safe?”

Jirou blinked. “Seriously?”

“What? They don’t exactly serve this at our home…it looks plain..” Momo muttered.

“It's good though and affordable”. Uraraka said, eyeing the bowl of noodles, She looks like seconds away to giving up and eating those noodles. Izuku can't blame her, even he is already so hungry but he can't risk it.

“It's fucking affordable because it's basically made out of fucking scarp round face”. Kacchan said earning a nod to both Iida and Yaoyoruzu.

Wait? Why are they even talking about that in this kind of situation? Shouldn't they be worried about some other things?. 

“Wait, wait—are we even sure this isn’t poisoned?” Izuku cut in, stepping forward with a furrowed brow. “Shouldn’t that be our first concern?”

“Ahhh! Poison?!” Mineta yelped, immediately flinging himself at Yaoyorozu. Clearly scared but Izuku can see the guy’s hand traveling to their classmate's chest. “I'm too young and handsome to die!!”.

Izuku blinked. “Mineta—?!” He stepped forward to stop him.

Momo shoved Mineta off her with a grimace of disgust. “Absolutely not.”

“Mineta now is not a time for that”. Uraraka scolded Mineta.

“You can still be a perv in this situation?” Mina asked, unimpressed, glaring as she pulled Mineta away by the back of his collar.

Izuku felt a gnawing ache in his stomach. He was hungry—starving, even—but he couldn’t bring himself to trust anything that came from their captors. His mind whirred through possibilities, outcomes, traps—he needed to come up with a plan. Something.

“Fuck this,” Kacchan snapped, arms crossed. “I’m not eating this shit.”

“I vote no one eats or drinks anything until we know it’s not drugged,” Yaoyorozu said firmly, brushing herself off. “For all we know, this is another trap.”

“Agreed,” Tokoyami added quietly, his arms folded.

They stopped when they suddenly heard a loud slurping sound.

All eyes snapped toward the sound.

Kaminari was already halfway through his bowl, slurping noodles messily like he hadn’t heard a single word they’d just said. Broth dribbled from his chin, his face lit with satisfaction. Next to him, Todoroki ate calmly, silently, as if none of this was out of the ordinary.

Izuku's eyes widened looking at the two unbothered classmates, happily eating.

“…You guys can’t be serious,” Jirou deadpanned, blinking slowly, her voice flat with disbelief.

“Kaminari! Todoroki!” Uraraka yelped, hands flailing toward them like she was trying to physically drag the noodles away from their mouths with sheer willpower. “Are you seriously eating that?! We just talked about this—what if it’s poisoned?!”

Mina groaned loudly, dragging a hand down her face. “Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.”

Kaminari paused mid-slurp, blinking innocently as he looked up. “What? I was hungry.”

“You’re always hungry!” Jirou snapped. “You eat anything! We literally just said not to touch it!”

“I dunno, it tasted pretty normal to me.” He shrugged, grabbing more noodles with his chopsticks. “Honestly, kinda hits the spot.”

Suddenly, Kacchan stormed over and smacked Kaminari’s bowl off the table in one swift motion. Noodles and broth splattered onto the floor.

“Dude!” Kaminari cried, looking at his noodles solemnly. “I was hungry! And it’s not even bad!”

“Fucking idiot,” Kacchan snapped. He turned toward Todoroki, ready to do the same.

But Todoroki calmly leaned back, bowl lifted just out of reach, expression unreadable.

“It would be a waste” Todoroki said evenly. Protecting the bowl of noodles.

“You absolute dumbass, Fine!” Kacchan spat. “If you drop dead, I’ll be laughing while burying you.”

All the while, Todoroki didn’t even flinch. He continued eating, smooth and unbothered.

“Todoroki-kun…” Iida’s voice lowered in restrained panic. “Are you really not concerned?”

Todoroki looked up calmly, chewing.

“If they wanted us dead,” he said quietly, “they would’ve done it already.”

“Wow so cool”. Mina and Uraraka both said at the same time, amused.

The room went silent again.

And then—flicker.

The screen lit up once more with that same cheerful, sterile glow.

----------------------

Don’t worry. It’s not poisoned.

I wouldn’t want my players to die…

Not yet. :)

----------------------

Silence fell.

“Not yet?” Kaminari and Mineta repeated at the same time, their faces going pale.

Katsuki scoffed, stepping forward with a scowl dark enough to curdle milk. “And we’re supposed to believe the asshole who kidnapped us? Hell no. Fuck you, whoever the hell you are. I’m not eating this scrap.” His glare burned into the now-blank screen like it could melt through the wall.

Izuku bit his lip, his thoughts racing. Kacchan had a point—but so did Todoroki. If they really wanted them dead, there were easier ways than cheap noodles.

“I’m hungry…” Mina muttered, crossing her arms over her stomach. She threw a wistful glance toward Todoroki, who, completely unfazed, continued calmly eating from his bowl like none of this was his business.

“Me too…” Uraraka added softly. “I haven’t eaten since—” she paused, her brows furrowing. “Since… I don’t even remember. That’s… weird.”

“It’s likely a side effect of whatever chemical or sedative was used on us,” Yaoyorozu offered, voice steady despite the situation. “Memory lapses can occur after prolonged unconsciousness.”

“Are we really not going to eat?” Mina asked, solemn now, looking between her classmates. Her stomach let out a soft growl. “I mean… it’s right there. It smells fine.”

Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, smells fine. That’s how they get you, raccoon eyes.”

“I—” Izuku spoke up hesitantly, fingers twitching at his side. “What if… we wait? Like, an hour or so. Just to make sure there’s no side effects? Kaminari and Todoroki already ate, right? If something’s going to happen, it’ll show up by then…”

He didn’t feel good about using his friends like this, but—

We need to be careful. We need to be alive.

There was a pause.

Then Mina’s face lit up like someone flipped a switch. “Midoriya, you’re a genius!” she said, throwing her arms around him without hesitation.

“Nice one, Deku!” Uraraka grinned, fist-pumping the air. “That’s smart. Really smart.”

“As expected of Midoriya,” Iida added with a nod of approval. “A calculated approach—cautious, yet logical.”

Izuku flushed under the sudden praise, rubbing the back of his neck. “I-I mean… it’s not genius or anything, I just thought it might help us stay safe while we—”

“Shut up, nerd. You’re mumbling again,” Kacchan cut in, arms crossed, expression as unimpressed as ever.

“Sorry, Kacchan”. Izuku said, cheeks slightly red out of embarrassment.

“Right,” Iida said, stepping in quickly to break the moment. “Let’s start the countdown. Sixty minutes. No one eats until we’re certain it’s safe.”

Yaoyorozu nodded firmly. “Agreed. In the meantime, we should search for clues or hidden cameras. There may be more to this room than it seems.”

“I’ll check the walls,” Todoroki said simply, placing his now-empty bowl back on the table with a quiet clink. Izuku’s eyes trailed to the glass beside it—already empty, too. Somehow, the calmness Todoroki carried made it all seem normal, and that was almost more unsettling than if he were panicking.

“And I’ll sit here and not die,” Mineta added dramatically, still hunched in his seat like the noodles were radioactive.

“I’ll check the other room too,” Uraraka offered, gesturing toward the door they’d first come through—the one with their photos on the walls.

“I’ll come with you,” Mina said, straightening with a determined nod. “We’ll scream if we see any serial killer murder vibes.”

“Please do not joke about that,” Iida said stiffly, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“You got it, class rep,” Mina replied with a wink before she and Uraraka slipped out of sight and into the hallway.

Izuku followed them with his eyes until they disappeared, then turned back to glance at Todoroki, who was already silently inspecting the walls, his fingers running lightly along the metal panels as if searching for seams or hidden triggers.

He felt a hand slap the back of his head—lightly but with purpose.

“Focus, nerd,” Katsuki muttered, already crouched beside one of the floor vents. “If we’re gonna get outta here, we gotta actually do something.”

“I am focused,” Izuku said defensively, rubbing his head. “Just… making sure everyone’s okay.”

Kacchan didn’t answer, but Izuku caught the way his hand hovered near his own cuff for just a second before balling into a fist. Even without saying it, the frustration was radiating off him like static.

Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu was checking beneath the table and tapping along its underside, muttering something under her breath about pressure sensors. Kaminari looked like he was already fighting off a food coma, head slowly sinking toward the table, and Jirou had joined Todoroki, inspecting one of the corners with her earphone jacks extended and pressed to the wall.

“This place is too clean,” Tokoyami said quietly. “There are no cracks. No sound of vents running. No hum of power.”

“It’s like it’s sealed off,” Jirou agreed. “But something’s obviously running the lights, the doors, the screen…”

“Maybe it's underground,” Izuku muttered to himself, pacing. “That would explain the lack of windows or signal. But it still doesn’t explain how we were taken without anyone noticing—”

A loud thump echoed from the other room.

Everyone stopped.

“Uraraka?Mina?” Izuku called out immediately.

No response.

Kacchan's was already on his feet before Izuku could finish saying her name again, storming toward the doorway.

But just before he crossed through—

Uraraka and Mina reappeared, slightly breathless but unharmed.

“Sorry!” Mina blurted out between pants. “I tripped. Over nothing, by the way. Like the floor just decided to say ‘screw you’.”

Kacchan clicked his tongue and stomped back to his spot by the table, arms crossed.

Everyone visibly relaxed.

“We found something, though,” Uraraka said, more serious now. “In the other room. Where the photos of us are.”

“The ones on the wall?” Jirou asked.

“Yeah,” Mina nodded quickly. “It was really faint—almost unnoticeable at first—but we saw a little red flickering light coming from one of the pictures.”

“You mean like a hidden camera?” Iida asked, adjusting his glasses, his face tight with concern.

Mina pointed to her eye. “You know how in movies, like, when someone zooms in on a camera hidden behind glass and there's that tiny little red dot? Like that. It's in the eyes.”

“All of them?” Jirou asked, stepping forward now, more alert than before.

Uraraka nodded grimly. “All of them. Every single photo had that little flicker in the eye.”

A heavy silence fell across the room.

Izuku felt a chill crawl up his spine, slow and cold, like icewater down the back of his neck. He turned toward the wall of portraits—those too-perfect images that had unsettled him from the moment he saw them.

Now he knew why.

“They weren’t just photos,” he whispered, eyes wide. “I kept feeling like… they were watching us. And I was right.”

“That’s because they are watching us,” Todoroki said bluntly, eyes narrowing toward the wall. “From the very beginning.”

“This is really scary!” Mineta wailed suddenly, his voice cracking. “I don’t want to die yet! I’m too young! Too handsome! I haven’t even kissed a girl—!”

“Oh my god,” Mina muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“You were this close to getting punched again,” Jirou added, pointing a warning finger at Mineta, who immediately backed away.

“So not only are we locked up,” Yaoyoruzu said, her voice low and tense, “but we’re being watched. Constantly.”

“Figures,” Kacchan muttered, kicking the leg of his chair. “Creepy bastards are too chickenshit to face us directly.”

No one argued.

The weight of it hung heavy—cameras in the walls, pictures with eyes that recorded everything, Quirks gone, and a sick game already in motion. They were sitting ducks, waiting in a cage they couldn’t see the edges of.

After that, they sat quietly around the table, the tension between them thick as fog. No one dared to eat, not yet. They simply waited. Watching the clock. Watching each other.

Finally, Iida broke the silence.

“It’s been an hour.”

Everyone turned to look at Todoroki and Kaminari.

Todoroki looked composed, as always—expression blank, hands resting lightly on the table.

Kaminari, on the other hand, was dramatically slumped over his chair, pouting like a toddler denied a snack. “I’m starving,” he whined. “That’s all I feel”

“You don’t feel dizzy? Lightheaded? No numbness?” Izuku asked quickly, brows drawn in concern. “Anything at all?”

“Nope,” Kaminari said, lifting his head. “Just a lot of hunger and regret for not grabbing seconds before Bakugo smacked my bowl.”

“You mean when you were eating recklessly despite everyone telling you not to?” Jirou said dryly.

He grinned. “Still worth it.”

Todoroki gave a simple nod. “I’m fine. Nothing feels off.”

“Okay…” Izuku slowly let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “I guess that’s a good sign.”

“Does this mean it's safe?” Uraraka asked cautiously, her eyes drifting to her bowl of now slightly cold noodles.

Mina leaned forward, hopeful. “I mean, if they’re not passed out or foaming at the mouth by now…”

Iida adjusted his glasses. “We can reasonably assume the food isn’t poisoned or drugged. Given that it's been over an hour with no symptoms, I believe it's safe to eat—at least for now.”

“Thank god,” Mina said, practically diving for her chopsticks. “I’m gonna die from hunger before this game kills me.”

Izuku still didn’t move right away. He stared at the noodles in front of him, brows drawn.

One by one, they began eating.

All except four.

Kaminari and Todoroki had already finished, their bowls empty. That left Tokoyami and Katsuki, both unmoving at the table.

Tokoyami sat quietly beside Izuku, his arms folded in his lap, his food untouched. He stared at the bowl in front of him.

“Tokoyami-kun, are you alright?” Izuku asked gently, leaning toward him.

Tokoyami blinked, slowly turning his head. “Ah... I’m simply not used to being without Dark Shadow. His absence unsettles me more than I’d anticipated.” His voice was calm, but there was a visible tension in his shoulders.

Izuku offered a soft, reassuring smile. “You should eat, Tokoyami-kun. You need your strength. Once we get out of here, I’m sure you’ll see Dark Shadow again”

There was a pause.

Then Tokoyami gave a slow nod. “You're right, Midoriya. Thank you.” He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, silent and steady.

Izuku turned next to the only person still scowling at his untouched bowl like it had personally insulted him.

“Kacchan,” he said carefully, “why aren’t you eating too?”

“Like hell I’m eating that trash,” The blonde snapped, arms crossed tight over his chest. “I’d rather starve than shove that processed shit in my mouth.”

Before Izuku could reply, Kaminari perked up from across the table.

“Kacchan, you don’t want it? Can I have it?” he asked, eyes lighting up like a kid.

Katsuki shot him a glare that could kill. “Don’t fucking call me that, Dunce Face. And yeah, take it. Like hell I care.”

Kaminari fist-pumped. “Score!”

Jirou rolled his eyes looking at Kaminari.

As Kaminari reached for the bowl, Izuku blinked at Kacchan. Something in his expression was… familiar. Not just irritation. Something deeper, knotted behind his usual fire.

Izuku didn’t press.

Instead, he just whispered, “You’ll need your strength too, Kacchan. You know that.”

“I have all the energy I need, nerd,” Kacchan snapped, shooting Izuku a pointed glare. “Fucking mind your own business.”

Izuku flinched slightly but didn’t argue. He just looked down at his half-empty bowl, pressing his lips together.

The silence that followed was brief.

Because just as the last set of chopsticks clinked against ceramic—

A voice echoed through the room. Mechanical. Cold. Almost amused.

“Now that you’ve finished your food… it’s time for the real game.”

The lights above flickered once. Then—

PSSHHHT—

A thick, hissing sound exploded into the air.

Smoke—white and fast-spreading—poured out from hidden vents in the ceiling.

Instinct kicked in.

Izuku jumped from his chair, covering his nose and mouth with the crook of his arm. Around him, chairs scraped against the floor. Coughs erupted from the others, some of them panicking.

“COVER YOUR NOSES AND MOUTHS!” Iida shouted through the haze, but his voice was already distant, muffled.

“Shit—what the hell is this?!” Kaminari gasped, eyes wide as he stumbled backward.

Izuku turned just in time to see Mineta collapse, falling face-first onto the table with a pathetic squeak. Uraraka tried to stand, reaching for the edge of the table—but her knees buckled and she crumpled beside him.

“M-Mina—!” Jirou choked out, coughing hard as her vision blurred.

The room spun violently.

Izuku’s legs began to give out. The last thing he saw was Kacchan rising from his seat, face twisted in fury as he yelled something—but the words didn’t reach him.

His ears were ringing.

His body hit the floor.

Everything went black.

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.4M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

- Oh it's back

- They're done eating

- Is that noodles?

- Huh? Where?

- Right there in the floor, it's spilled 

- Whoa you're right? I'm curious, what happened?

- Who cares? This students needs help

- Is the heroes and authorities actually doing something?

- Ack Shotou looks handsome [giggle]

- That angry one looks handsome too [hands up]

- seriously?

- someone do something!!

- Aww look how proper they are

- Except that one blonde one lol

- You mean Chargebolt?

- Yeah, he looks messy

- Whoaaa what a creepy voice

- Damn right

- Chills, literal chills

- That culprit is using voice changer or something 

- What's that smoke?

- Is that poison? Naur don't kill them

- Nooo not my pookieeeee

- Oh, Deku hits his head

- he's bleeding damn

- the grape one hit his head too

- good

- dude?

- Someone's coming in, oh my god 

- I can't see their faces

- Obviously they're wearing a mask

- I can't use my ex ray vision quirk with them too bad

- why?

- I can only use it if the person or thing is right in front of me

- Shocks

- shame

- What? Guys the angry one is still up!

- He pretended to faint too, what a smart guy

- He's trying to fight them

- Ack he's hit in the head

- He's aggressive but impressive 

- he already put down 2, impressive kid

- if I remember it right he interned in bestjeanist

- nice 1

- 2 down 5 to go

- Go Spiky!

- What is that? Omy gosh they injected something to him

- And he's down

- Damn that's too bad

- Almost buddy

- Where are they taking them?

- Don't ask us

- Rude

Chapter Text

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.3M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

- hey are they alive? it’s been like an hour

- just finished pooping lmao have they woken up yet

- bro i’m so bored wake them up already

ಠ⁠ ⁠೧⁠ ⁠ಠ

- they’re dead lol

- no they're not. look closely, Creaty just moved

- SHHH Creaty is waking up!!!

- oh she blinked!!

- damn i’m lowbat brb

- the other girl too… Jirou’s sitting up

- thank god

- FINALLY it’s happening

- hey I know you just woke up but pls pls pls wake your classmates up(⁠ ⁠；⁠∀⁠；⁠)

- yeah start the game already we waited too long for this

- you guys are SICK. they were KIDNAPPED

- nah they’re fine. 

- oooo Spiky’s waking up too. 

- ugh 

- ??

Katsuki woke up with his head pounding—again.

For the third goddamn time since this bullshit started, he came to with his skull ringing like someone smashed it with a steel pipe. He groaned under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut before opening them to a dim, unfamiliar light.

"The fuck now…" he muttered, voice gravelly as he pushed himself upright.

His joints ached. His uniform was still on—U.A.'s standard issue—but it was rumpled and dirty, stained with dust and dirt. He blinked, forcing himself to sit up straighter as he scanned the room.

He looked to his left and saw the others beginning to stir.

Ears was crouched beside Dunce Face, muttering curses as she tried to shake him awake. His mouth hung open like an idiot’s, a line of drool trailing down his cheek. Typical.

Bird face, Half Half bastard and Ponytail were already sitting upright, quiet but alert. Bird face’s gaze was sharp beneath his feathers, Icyhot’s eyes wondered around and Ponytail looked tense—clutching her arm like she was trying to hold herself together.

Across the room, Pinky was bent over a groaning Pampers, who—Katsuki narrowed his eyes—was very much awake and clearly using the situation as an excuse to grope someone again.

“Fucking rat,” he muttered under his breath.

Not far from them, Round face was gently shaking Glasses, who stirred with a groan and pushed up his glasses. And next to Katsuki, lying way too peacefully for someone in this kind of hell?

“Of course,” Katsuki scowled.

Midoriya Izuku.

He’s lying next to Katsuki, facing the floor. Katsuki clicked his tongue, he looked at his surrounding again, not bothering to wake up the guy beside him.

This room was new, he observed.

Bigger than the cell they first woke up in. Bigger than the dining room too. The walls were clean and clinical, white and sterile. There was a large, horizontal mirror in front of them—the kind you'd see in a dance studio or interrogation room. The moment he looked, he caught his reflection: messy hair, bruised cheek, dirt on his collar. He looked like shit.

His gaze dropped to the boxes.

Eleven.

Each one a different colors, stacked in a row against the mirror. Numbered clearly: 1 to 11. Katsuki narrowed his eyes. The hell were those? Bombs? Weapons? Something shitty?

Wouldn’t be surprised if they blew up.

Katsuki remembered what happened before he passed out. He remembered holding his breath and pretending to pass out after the fucking smoke came out, charging to the pack of mask‑wearing freaks who clearly are their kidnappers, dropping two of them before the needle hit his neck. He’d been proud of that—until he remembered they’d still managed to haul him off. He scowled at that.

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Deku, wake up—come on, please—Deku…”

Katsuki’s head turned sharply.

Round Face—Uraraka—was crouched beside the nerd. Her voice was tight with worry as she tried to shake him awake.

Looks like Round Face had flipped Deku onto his back, because now Katsuki could clearly see the nerd’s face—and it was worse than his.

Deku was pale. Sweat clung to his skin, his freckles stark against the sickly color of his face. But what made Katsuki curse under his breath was the gash on his forehead—small, but bleeding steadily.

He clicked his tongue.

“Fucking idiot…”

Without thinking, he shoved his hand into his pocket. Somehow—miraculously—the bastards who kidnapped them hadn’t taken his damn handkerchief. He pulled it out, rough and slightly wrinkled, and scooted closer. Pressed it firmly against Deku’s forehead.

“Hold still, nerd,” he muttered.

Even unconscious, Deku flinched slightly at the pressure, brows knitting together like he was in a nightmare. Katsuki didn’t move, jaw tight as he kept the cloth in place. His fingers hovered close, just in case—

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.3M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

-Yass shippp

-Oh no his forehead is still bleeding ⊙⁠﹏⁠⊙

-Wow didn't know Spiky’s a bit kind

-What up with the box? ʕ⁠ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ⁠ʔ

-I bet it's bomb 

-Nah I think it's part of the game

-Ayee Deku has it bad, don't die yet boyy

-Oh he’s waking up

-Nice, PLEASE start the game already I'm getting bored

-HEROES WHERE ARE YOU OMG?!

-I heard they're having a hard time to track the location 

- Is it some kind of quirk that's stoping it?

- I guess ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Deku’s eyes opened slowly, squinting against the sterile white lights above them. His face contorted in pain as he flinched, instinctively trying to sit up—only to immediately groan and fall back again.

“Hey—hey, dumbass, stay still.” Katsuki pressed a little harder on the cloth, not gently, but not harshly either. “You’re bleeding like a moron.”

“…Kacchan?” he rasped.

Round face let out a small breath of relief. “Thank god… Deku, are you okay?”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, letting Deku hold the handkerchief on his own.

“I-I think so… just dizzy. My head…”

“You hit it when you collapsed,” Ponytail added, stepping closer, already checking her pocket for anything they could use as a bandage.“We’ve all just started waking up again. It seems we’ve been moved.”

Katsuki didn't even notice her.

Before anyone could say another word, The mirror in front of them began to flicker. Static crackled across its surface—and in the next second, it lit up.

It wasn’t a mirror at all. It was a screen.

A figure appeared.

They were dressed in all white, wearing a smooth, blank mask with nothing but a black slash across the eyes—no face, no voice. Just static behind them and a distorted filter layered over their speech.

“Hello, players,” the voice crooned. It didn’t sound human. “Welcome to the first game.”

Katsuki’s jaw clenched.

“Fuck you!” he barked, stepping forward without hesitation. “We’re not playing your shitty games!”

The masked figure let out a low, amused laugh. The kind that crawled under your skin.

Katsuki’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Yeah? Laugh all you want, freak. But once I get my hands on you, I’ll blast that creepy mask right off your skull.”

“Bakugo, stop!” Ponytail said sharply, eyes wide. “We don’t know what he’s capable of—don’t provoke him.”

“She’s right,” Class rep added, his voice firm. “This could be part of a larger manipulation. Don’t give them what they want.”

“SHUT UP—!”

“Yes, Player Number 2,” the voice interrupted smoothly, the mask tilting ever so slightly. “Listen to your friends. Because even if you don’t want to play…”

The screen glitched.

“I have ways to make you.”

Katsuki's blood boiled. His entire body tensed as rage flooded his veins. Without thinking, he turned to the glowing boxes. He grabbed one ready to hurled it toward the screen.

He can hear his classmates trying to stop and call him but he didn't care, he’s fucking pissed. Just before he could smash the box into the screen—

A blinding surge of electricity exploded from the cuff on his wrist.

“GHHH—!!” Katsuki’s entire body jolted violently, the force of it sending him crashing to his knees. His fingers spasmed, dropping the box with a loud thud that echoed through the silent room.

“Kacchan!!” Deku was the first to move, scrambling toward him.

“Bakugo!” Icyhot followed fast, already kneeling beside him as the acrid scent of singed fabric and scorched skin filled the air.

Katsuki was shaking—not from fear, but from sheer fury. His jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap. Smoke curled from the cuff around his wrist, the skin beneath it red and raw.

The screen flickered again.

“I warned you, Player Two,” the voice said, now laced with mockery. “Every game has rules. Break them—face the consequences.”

“Tch…!” Katsuki growled through gritted teeth, slamming a fist to the floor, but his body still trembled from the aftershock.

Deku knelt beside him, heart pounding in his ears. “Kacchan—are you okay? Say something—”

“Shut up,” Katsuki hissed, barely above a whisper. “I’m fine.”

“You’re clearly not,” Ponytail said, stepping forward, already pulling off her jacket to use as padding for his arm. “That cuff—it shocked you hard. We need to—”

“No one touches it,” Katsuki snapped. He jerked back slightly, face twisted in a scowl, but didn’t shake her off when she draped the jacket over his arm anyway.

Half Half bastard glanced at the screen. His eyes were like ice.

“We need to be more careful,” he said, voice low. “They’ll hurt us if we don’t play along.”

“More like toy with us,” Ears muttered under her breath.

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.5M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

-Damn the cuff didn't just erase their quirk, it can even electrucate them

- poor spiky

- that serves him right, he’s too reckless and hot headed

- poor guy 

-aww Deku's so sweet for that

- Shotou my pookieee

- Creaty and the glasses one’s smart

- stop being annoying Dynamight!

- damn must have hurt a lot

- I accidentally touch a wire with electricity before and it hurts A LOT, hope the blond boy’s okay

- HEROES DO SOMETHING 

- Start the game already 

- chill dude

- brb, gotta pee

- lmao

All of them stood frozen, tension thick in the air.

Katsuki’s shoulders were still trembling with leftover rage from the shock, his glare never leaving the flickering screen. Deku hovered near him, biting his lip, fingers twitching uselessly at his sides.

Ponytail and Glasses exchanged worried glances, their eyes already darting toward the boxes. Dunce face and Pampers finally looked fully awake.

The distorted voice returned.

Smooth. Mocking. Detached.

“Now, now… let’s not waste time. Shall we get to the main point?”

The screen glitched again, distorting the masked figure’s face just enough to make it more unsettling.

“See those boxes in front of you? Each one has a number—your number. You’ll find the same number engraved into the cuffs on your wrists. Cute , don’t you think?”

Katsuki’s hand twitched near his cuff like he was resisting the urge to rip it off. His classmates glanced down at their wrists instinctively. A soft glow pulsed from each metal band, a number illuminated just beneath the surface.

“Inside your box,” the voice continued, “you’ll find puzzle pieces. Your task is simple: solve the puzzle within ten minutes. That’s it. Easy, right?”

The smile was almost audible in its voice, and it made their skin crawl.

Ponytail stepped forward slightly. “What happens if we don’t finish?”

“Yeah,” Ears added, frowning. “What’s the consequence?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that now. Let’s just say… it’s in your best interest to finish.”

Before anyone could respond, a sudden, mocking laugh erupted from the speaker. It was mechanical, warped—inhuman.

“Now, Players. Are you ready or not?”

A beat of silence passed. Some of them opened their mouths to protest, to question—but then—

A distorted, bone-chilling laugh cut through the air like a knife.

“Nah… don’t answer that.”

The lights above flickered violently as the masked figure tilted its head.

“Because ready or not…”

The image glitched—then vanished into static.

“…the game starts… now.”

[ 00:09:59 ]

The timer blinked into existence, blood-red against the black screen.

Katsuki let out a cuss.

Eleven pairs of eyes darted to the boxes.

The countdown had begun.

And whatever this game was—it was already too late to back out.

The game starts now.

— Live Chat Feed —

viewer count: 2.5M

replay not available. comments auto-scroll.

-didn’t expect it to be too easy damn

-Go guys!!You can do it!(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)

-Why is the box a bit big though?

- big puzzle obviously 

- I wonder what's the consequence is

- ask the villain

-im rooting for Shotou! Go shotoooouuu

-That was creepy 

- calm down guys, they can do it, it's just puzzle 

- are the authorities and Heroes doing something? 

- they're doing something, it's just hard to locate. This villains are too smart 

- hope this Heroes in training is smart too in able for to finish the puzzle 

- look at them panicking AHAHAHAH

- not our queen Creaty and Earphonejacks

- the short one with Pampers is already crying damn

- tokoyami is so calm wtf I love him

- is Deku doing a ritual?

- he’s muttering, how scary

- spiky’s fast wow

- why is the nerd talking to himself?:⁠-⁠)

- again it's muttering 

- Uravity looks stressed, you can do it girl

- Dude wearing pampers stop staring at someone’s ass and start your puzzle 

- he’s a pervert yuck!

- jirou’s

fast tho, go queen

- THE CLOCK IS GOING TOO FAST WTF

- WHERE IS ALL MIGHT WHEN YOU NEED HIM

- I'm back, what did I miss?

- your ex

- ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠•̥⁠`⁠ʔ

- Denki’s just turning it upside down over and over LMAO

- Dynamight’s already in half!

- what's that in his puzzle?

- It's boy diving in a pond?

- with swans

- ?? Is that relevant 

- ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯