"A Desperate Rescue"
Part 171
The next test began, and with a loud announcement, the rules were clear: we had to either save civilians or fight villains. Without hesitation, I decided to save civilians. I scanned my surroundings, and that's when I saw him - a little boy, no more than ten years old, cowering in the corner. I rushed over to him and said, "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here!" I yelled, trying to reassure him. The boy looked up at me with wide eyes, and I could see the fear in them. I quickly scooped him up and started running towards the infirmary. As we reached the nurses, I told them that the boy had said he was light-headed and to make sure he hadn't sustained any head injuries. The "boy," who was actually a man in disguise, smiled at me and said, "You did good." But just as we were about to breathe a sigh of relief, a villain appeared. He was a tall, muscular man with a menacing grin. "Orca, the Number 9 Hero," Shindo muttered, his eyes fixed on the villain. Orca charged towards us, and Deku, Todoroki, and Inasa jumped into action. I immediately ran towards Shindo, who was struggling to move. He had been paralyzed by Orca's attack, and I knew I had to help him. Todoroki and Inasa were fighting Orca head-on, using their Quirks to their advantage. Todoroki was unleashing powerful flames, while Inasa was using his wind control to knock Orca off balance. But Orca was relentless, and he combined his water-based Quirk with his physical strength to deliver a devastating blow. As Orca charged towards us, Todoroki and Inasa decided to let their flames and wind combine, creating a massive blast that would surely destroy us. I panicked, trying to move out of the way, but it was too late. I shielded Shindo with my body, and the blast hit us. The heat was intense, and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was badly burned, and my vision began to blur. Shindo, however, seemed to gain his strength back, and Deku rushed towards me, concern etched on his face. "Vesper, are you okay?" Deku asked, but I reassured him that I was fine. We couldn't let Orca get away, not now. With newfound determination, we fought back, trying to fend Orca off. Todoroki and Inasa were fighting with all their might, and Shindo was back on his feet. But despite our efforts, Orca was too strong, and we were running out of time. As the test came to a close, my body gave out, and I almost collapsed. But just in time, Kirishima caught me and cradled me in his arms, carrying me bridal-style. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, and my vision began to fade. As I passed out, Shindo slipped a note into my pocket with his phone number. Todoroki and Inasa looked on, feeling horrible for what had happened. Inasa also put his number in my pocket, and I was grateful for their concern. When I woke up, I was in the common room of the dorms, with a small burn on my back. I slowly sat up, trying to process everything that had happened. I looked around, seeing my friends chatting and laughing, and I smiled weakly. I knew I had passed the test, but at what cost? As I tried to stand up, a wave of pain washed over me, and I winced. But I knew I was lucky to be alive, and I was grateful for my friends who had helped me through the test. I smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie and friendship that I had never felt before. We had been through a lot, and I knew that our bond was unbreakable.