Chapter Text
On Halloween night, the grounds of U.A. Academy buzzed with excitement. The campus had transformed into a spooky wonderland, with flickering jack-o'-lanterns and eerie fog curling along the paths. Every year, UA took part in a unique tradition: crafting a haunted house designed as a hero-training simulation, a chance for the students to hone their skills in the dark while playing into the fun of the holiday. This year’s haunted house had an extra twist, one Aizawa had agreed to after hearing how hard his students had worked to make it special.
Standing in the flickering light of a carved pumpkin, Aizawa observed as his students made final preparations. He watched them hang cobwebs, set up fake tombstones, and practice their jump-scares. In a rare moment of softness, he’d decided to allow younger guests, even Eri, who had no prior experience with Halloween – just to give her a chance to experience something new in a safe, protected way.
“All right,” Aizawa addressed the class, his voice as steady as ever but with a faint warmth in his eyes. “You’ve got everything ready here. Remember, these kids look up to you. Make this a night they’ll remember in the right way. No scaring them too much,” he added, giving a pointed look to Bakugo, who just huffed and rolled his eyes. “And if anything goes wrong, you’ll answer to me.”
Midoriya beamed, giving an enthusiastic nod as he looked over at Eri, who clutched her ghost-shaped pumpkin bucket and looked around with wide-eyed wonder. Beside her, Mirio bent down to reassure her with his usual, radiant grin. Seeing Eri’s cautious smile, Aizawa’s gaze softened even further. He remembered how far she’d come from the timid girl he’d first met. Tonight wasn’t just a test of his students' creativity – it was a chance for Eri to see a whole new, fun side of life.
With a small nod of encouragement from Aizawa, Class 1-A knew they had his blessing to make this Halloween a truly memorable night.
"Alright, team!" Midoriya grinned, gathering his group in the gym where they had set up the entrance. "Remember, it’s all about teamwork. We’ve got to rescue as many civilians as possible!"
Eri’s wide eyes sparkled as she looked up at Mirio. "What do I have to do, Lemillion?"
Mirio smiled, kneeling down to her level. "We’ll just explore and have fun! And don’t worry if anything seems spooky – we’re all heroes, and we’re here together!"
With Mirio’s comforting words, Eri held her ghost-shaped pumpkin bucket a bit tighter, eyes filled with excitement as she looked toward the dark, cobweb-covered entrance.
“Let's go!” Uraraka encouraged, motioning everyone forward.
The moment they crossed the threshold into the haunted house, an eerie chill settled over them, the once-familiar hallways now cloaked in shadow. Dim, flickering lights cast ghostly shapes against the walls, giving the air a tense, otherworldly feeling. Strange sounds – creaking floorboards, whispered voices, and occasional ghostly wails – echoed through the narrow corridors, creating an unsettling but thrilling atmosphere.
Midoriya moved forward confidently, leading the group with a mix of focus and excitement. He’d studied each corner and turn, armed with notes from past simulations that allowed him to predict where the next jump-scare or hidden obstacle might be lurking. He pointed out spots to avoid, whispering guidance to the others, and Eri watched him in awe, feeling safer with every step he took.
Trailing behind, Bakugo grumbled, crossing his arms but throwing the occasional glare at shadows that jumped too close. Despite his complaints, a hint of a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth; he was clearly getting a kick out of the thrill – though he’d never admit it.
He glanced down at Eri, who clutched her pumpkin bucket close, eyes wide but alight with curiosity, and he softened just slightly, muttering, “Tch, let’s keep moving. This haunted house isn’t gonna clear itself.”
Their first “rescue” target was a dummy labelled "Mr. Scaredy." Eri giggled as they approached it, watching Midoriya and Todoroki use their quirks to clear an obstacle.
"Heroes save everyone, right?" Eri asked, eyes full of awe.
“That’s right, Eri,” Midoriya nodded, lifting her onto his shoulders so she could reach the dummy and complete the “rescue.”
Suddenly, a figure popped out from behind a curtain – a familiar DJ-shaped staff member dressed as a ghost. Eri gasped but quickly composed herself. She clutched her pumpkin bucket, giving a small bow. “Thank you, Mr. Ghost!”
The “ghost” couldn’t help but laugh softly, letting them pass through to the next part of the house.
As they ventured further into the haunted maze, the atmosphere shifted, growing darker and more thrilling. The hallways narrowed, shadows loomed larger, and the obstacles became more intricate, designed to test their quick thinking and teamwork. Eri’s small hand clung tightly to Mirio’s, her face lit with a mix of awe and pure excitement. Her eyes darted from one eerie corner to the next, taking in every spooky detail, and now and then, a small gasp escaped her lips, only to be replaced by a bright giggle as she saw her heroes handling each obstacle with ease.
“Kaachan, your turn!” Denki called, with a tease in his voice, nodding toward a mass of giant, sticky spider webs blocking the way. Bakugo grinned, his eyes glinting with a touch of mischief as he let off a small, controlled explosion, clearing the webs and sending a crackle of light through the dark.
“Easy,” he muttered, glancing back to see Eri’s eyes wide with wonder at his display.
She clapped her hands, her soft voice cheering, “So cool, Kacchan!” Bakugo, caught off guard by the praise, quickly looked away, a faint blush dusting his cheeks.
Then came a deep pit, and Uraraka took charge. With a reassuring smile, she activated her Quirk, making Eri weightless for a moment. “Alright, ready to float, Eri?” she asked warmly. Eri nodded, her laughter filling the dim room as Uraraka guided her gently across, making her feel like she was flying.
Each challenge seemed more daunting than the last, but Eri’s confidence grew with each hurdle. Her small cheers, gasps, and delighted laughs filled the haunted house, as she looked up at her heroes with sparkling eyes, amazed by the strength and warmth that guided her through the unknown.
As they reached the final room, Midoriya noticed something: a flickering message in ghostly letters saying, “Haunted heroes – prepare for your final test!” He shared a glance with the others, readying himself.
A haunting laugh filled the room, and the lights went out.
“Final test?!” Eri whispered, squeezing Mirio’s hand.
Mirio gave her a reassuring pat. "Don’t worry – it’s all part of the fun."
Just then, a strange figure emerged – wearing a cape, mask, and a bright smile.
"All Might!" Midoriya exclaimed, recognizing the playful expression under the mask. All Might had joined the haunted house to be the “final boss,” dressed as a heroic ghost.
“Fear not, heroes!” All Might’s voice boomed in dramatic fashion. “The final ‘victim’ awaits – but you’ll need to defeat the Great Ghost Hero first!”
Eri’s eyes lit up, now entirely entranced. With a new burst of courage, she led the charge, rallying the heroes with her determined expression.
Bakugo, surprisingly, seemed to enjoy himself the most, creating explosions in time with All Might’s theatrics, turning the battle into a dazzling display. The students fought heroically, combining their quirks to create a dramatic, glittering finale that left Eri cheering.
When they “defeated” All Might, he fell to the ground, giving a thumbs-up as he “surrendered.”
“Great job, heroes!” he declared. “You saved Halloween!”