Mineta’s Next Generation Chapter 22: Enter the Fomoire

Nearly all of Class 1-A and Class 1-B had already assembled by the time Makoto arrived. She’d loathed the idea of going to the damn training camp that had tarnished her father’s reputation. She still wanted to hunt down that Yoshi person that had started the worst rumors about him.

She felt awkward coming in with the rest of the students. It was as if they were all looking at her, even though she knew for certain that they probably weren't. She felt like they were. She stayed off to the side and tried to blend in as much as possible, so that she wouldn't end up being the center of attention. She had a gut feeling that it probably wasn't going to work, though.

Both of her class reps were going around checking on everyone while she just tried to disappear. Then the buses came.

She just waited for everyone to get on the bus before getting on herself. She sat down in the very back, wanting some peace and quiet. She wasn't in the mood to deal with everyone; she just wanted this trip to be over with already.

Makoto [thoughts]: Dammit pull yourself together! You need to make it through this training if you want to be a hero and prove them all wrong. For Dad and for my siblings!

She took a few deep breaths and tried to pull herself together. She couldn't afford to break down during this training trip; she had to just deal with it and push forth. "…Everything is going to be fine…" She reassured herself.

As she was lost in thought, someone sat down next to her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She jumped a little as she snapped out of her thoughts, having been interrupted by whoever had just sat down next to her. She glanced up and then blushed as she realized Shoka was the one sitting next to her. "O-Oh, um, hi…" She stuttered out, her heart starting to beat a little faster.

Shoka: You look deep in thought. Planning your training strategy already?

She was kind of surprised Shoka chose to sit next to her given their previous history, but hey, she didn't mind. She still felt embarrassed, even if she was starting to come to terms with the way she felt around him. "Yeah, something like that… I-I guess you could call it that…" She stuttered, fidgeting in her seat.

Shoka: Don’t overthink it. The training might be tough, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. You’re tougher than you look.

She blushed as she heard those words; Shoka thought she looked like a tough person? How on earth did he get that impression? She felt completely confused now, and her heart raced as she stared at him. She poked her belly, she wasn’t fat exactly but she didn’t have a six pack either, even after Quinn’s alterations to her. "You don’t know what you’re talking about." She admitted.
**
An hour later, Class 1-A’s bus stops for a restroom break. However, Class 1-A notes that Class 1-B isn’t at the rest stop. Makoto looks around for the other bus, only to spot a woman in a leather jacket with jeans and a baker boy hat.

Makoto felt her anxiety start to rise as she saw the woman in the jacket. Something about that woman felt off, and she had a feeling it wasn't just her instincts talking. She didn't know why yet, but she had an eerie feeling that this woman was bad news.

Woman: You lost, darling?

She felt her heart start to beat a little faster. Just what was this woman, some kind of villain?! There was no way she could be a civilian, not with those looks. "Why should I tell you that?" She asked hesitantly, giving the woman a suspicious look.

???:Hiiii, glad you kids could make it! Your teacher Eraserhead can be a real drag sometimes so let’s make this fun!

She could feel her anxiety rise as the woman looked at her, giving her a creepy smile. Was this woman a hero or a villain? She was starting to lean towards the latter, and she got even more suspicious. "W-who are you? Why should we listen to you?!" She asked apprehensively.

Woman: Who I am isn’t important right now, darling. What is important is that I have a proposition for you!

She was suspicious of this 'proposition'. What could this woman possibly want with her? "Go on." She said reluctantly, giving the woman her undivided attention.

Aizawa: Everyone this is a fellow pro hero Dreamy. She and several others will be aiding your training.

She was shocked to hear that this woman was actually a hero; she had been worried that she was a villain, or something far worse than that. She wasn't quite sure how she should feel about this, but decided to just go with the flow. "A-All right…" She said, sounding somewhat unsure.

Dreamy: Glad to finally meet the famous Class 1-A. I’ve been hearing quite a lot about you all recently.

She was surprised to find out that she was hearing about her class from the pros, and wondered what exactly they had heard. "Oh, is that so? What all have you heard about us? Is it bad things? Are we being watched?" She asked, sounding a little wary now.

Makoto listened as Dreamy explained that she and several other pro heroes would be supervising her training. This made her feel a little more at ease, realizing that the heroes would be helping her improve. She still felt a little bit uncomfortable, but she hoped that the pros would be able to make this training session worthwhile.

Makoto: Um, Dreamy, when are we actually going to start the training? I am pretty eager to see what exactly we will be doing!

Dreamy smiled back at Makoto, seeming pleased by the girl's enthusiasm. She knew just the right thing to get Makoto motivated. "I'm glad to hear that, darling! You're going to be doing survival training out in the woods." She explained, a grin forming on her face.

She leaned in closer, as if preparing to whisper a secret. Dreamy puts her arm around Makoto’s shoulder._
Dreamy: Your training starts Mmmm right now.
Some of Class 1-A try to leave, but a tremor shakes the cliff side that causes Class 1-A to fall into a forest, muddled by fog. As they’re falling, none of the students notice Dreamy sprinkle golden dust over the forest below them.

She could feel her heart start to race as they plummeted into the forest. She had always been a little scared of heights, and this was enough to make her scream out in panic. "Ahhhh, what the HELL?!" She screamed, hoping to land in an area that wouldn't break her bones.

She saw that the forest was suddenly darker than it had been before. The atmosphere was suddenly a lot more ominous.

She looked around nervously, her anxiety starting to shoot through the roof. They were in the middle of the woods just now…now it was too dark for anyone to see anything. What the hell was going on here?! Something was definitely wrong, and she knew this was only the beginning.

Toshi: Is everyone alright, anyone injured? Hatori could you do a head count?

Hatori did a head count, making sure that everyone was alright. All of Class 1-A was accounted for, but there was a problem that came along with that; they didn't have any idea where the hell they were.

"Okay, what the hell just happened? How the hell did we wind up in here?!" Hahena was the first to talk, her voice sounding incredibly frustrated. She looked around at the rest of the class, looking for any kind of answers.

Makoto looks over towards the forest and immediately notices movement within the darkness. Monstrous distorted figures are lurking in the forest around them.
Makoto nervous: Didn’t that woman say we had to make it to camp by 12:30?

Hahena looked around, a nervous expression on her face. "Ohhh god…this is starting to feel like a horror movie…" She said under her breath. It looked like she had just realized something. "W-wait, didn't the lady say something about dust?!"

Kita clenched his jaw, his eyes darting around the forest, trying to gauge their escape routes.

Kita: And we’re wasting valuable time standing here. We need to get moving.

She nodded in agreement, a worried look on her face. "A-yeah, I agree." She said with a nod. She couldn't quite place it, but something felt…off about this whole area. It almost felt as if the shadows were moving all on their own. "…We need to run. NOW." She said, sounding incredibly worried.

Makoto: Get me out of this forest! Makoto was already running ahead of her group.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared out of nowhere, and it quickly chased after Makoto

Hatori looked at Makoto, a look of fear on her face. "Makoto, wait!!" She shouted after her. She was about to go after her, she was in danger!…But when that monstrous figure appeared, Hatori immediately stopped in her tracks. She stared at it with wide eyes. "O-Oh my god, that's…" She murmured, too afraid to move. Her feet felt like they were almost stuck to the ground, as if they had grown roots that grew into the earth. It was as if something was holding her down and keeping her in place.

Makoto: Wha HOLY-
Before the figure could reach her, Shoka ignited his fist throwing it forward akin to an oversized rocket.

The creature rears back as it's hit by Shoka's fist, causing it to fall to the ground. But as soon as it fell, it sprung up again, rushing towards Shoka to try and land a devastating blow.

Toshi: Everyone form up!

The group started forming up, preparing themselves to fight off the creatures that were rushing towards them. "Just our luck…this trip just had to be hell in disguise…!" Makoto muttered under her breath, getting into a fighting stance.

Hime and Takuma helped Makoto off the ground when they were suddenly surrounded by monsters.
Takuma: Remind me why we’re helping her?

She quickly got up, glancing over at Takuma as he spoke. She narrowed her eyes, feeling a bit annoyed with him. "Because if we don't, we'll probably all die, idiot!" She scolded, sounding rather irritated.

Shoka shot them a harsh glare.
Shoka: Not the time! We can argue about whether or not to help her later. Right now, we need to find a way out of here!

Makoto gave Shoka a bit of a relieved smile, glad that he took her side on this one. She tried to look around, trying to figure out a way to escape the area.

The creatures began to close in, their distorted forms moving with unnatural speed. Their eyes glowed with a feral hunger as they focused on the group, circling them like wolves cornering their prey.

Makoto gulped, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm her nerves. That didn't work, though; if anything, all it did was make her even more nervous. "…W-We're surrounded…" She murmured, feeling extremely afraid.

Just then, one of them stepped forward, a four armed eyeless one with a black body, looking to be covered with either armored plates or scales. Welcome to the Forest of the Fomoire!
**
Class 1-A begins traversing the Beast's Forest. However, the journey through the forest to the cabin takes around about eight hours. Class 1-A arrive at the facility, battered and tired. It is now 5:20 pm in the evening. Waiting for them at the camp site were Mr Aizawa, Dreamy and two other pro-heroes.
Dreamy: Well look at that, you kids got here earlier than I expected!

Class 1-A looked exhausted, tired from being on the run all day from those monsters. It was the most physically demanding thing any of them had done in their entire time as an UA student, so it was understandable that they were all so exhausted right now. Once they got to the camp, they immediately collapsed on the ground, their legs unable to carry them anymore. "I…can't…go any further…" Makoto groaned as she fell to her knees.

Aizawa: You made good time.

Class 1-A groaned as they were unable to get up from the ground. They were exhausted and extremely tired; it felt like they had been running for miles and miles. Even if they wanted to get up and keep walking, they felt like they couldn't. The adrenaline rush from the monsters wore off now, and they just felt exhausted, as if they were going to collapse and sleep right there and then.

Dreamy clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Dreamy: Impressive! You all managed to beat the deadline set upon you. I have to say, I'm quite pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah, that's great…" Makoto groaned as she struggled to get up off the ground. She was pretty sure she sprained her ankle during that whole ordeal. It was difficult to stand on it, and it hurt like hell. "…But we're all exhausted, and need a break. "

Dreamy: Oh, of course! You've all earned it, especially after enduring the Forest of the Fomoire. I must say, you handled yourselves quite well in there.

"…Well, I wouldn't call running and being afraid for your life 'handling' it, but sure. Thanks." Makoto responded, sounding rather tired. "…So what now? What do you have planned for us?" She asked as she finally forced herself to her feet.

Dreamy: Now, let's get you all settled in and fed. We have a big day ahead tomorrow, so make sure you get some rest.

Aizawa seemed to agree with Dreamy, giving the students a firm nod. "She's right. Get some rest; you're going to need it. And I'm not going to baby you if you get hurt." He stated. A bit of a harsh statement, but given that this was training, this was expected.

The students retrieved their belongings and headed to their respective cabins. Once settled in, they made their way to the dining hall where a sumptuous dinner was laid out. After enjoying their meal, they followed Aizawa’s instructions and headed to the baths to freshen up.

Makoto's body was sore after this whole ordeal; it felt like her muscles were going to give out. Her ankle was sore, and she felt like she needed a very long, hot bath. "God, I feel disgusting…" She muttered as she entered the bath house, wanting to feel clean again.

Makoto noticeably bathed far away from the rest of the girls. She grimaced knowing her dad’s reputation when it came to hot springs. It was one of the many things the pros brought up when trying to make her hate her dad.

As she scrubbed herself clean, she couldn't help but think about what the pros said about her father, and how his reputation was tarnished. But she didn't care what they thought; they didn't know her father. They didn't know what he was really like. She knew that he was a good man, even if his attitude came off as a bit crude. Deep down, he had a soft side. He was more than that, and no one could tell her otherwise.

Hime: Hey Makoto, you okay over there?

Hime's voice seemed to pull her out of her thoughts as she glanced over at her.

"Hm? Yeah, I'm fine… I'm just thinking about stuff."

She told Hime, giving her a somewhat uneasy glance.

Hana jokingly: Yeah you’re not thinking about climbing up the wall like your dad are you?

Makoto felt a small vein pop in her forehead as she heard that teasing comment. How the hell could they keep poking fun at her father like this?!

"I am NOT thinking about that! Stop saying things like that!"

She complained in an annoyed tone.

Hana sensed that her joke hadn't landed well, and quickly backtracked, trying to ease the tension

Hana: Hey, hey, I'm just kidding! I didn't mean anything by it.

Makoto sighed to herself once she heard Hana's response. She really wasn't in the mood to deal with this, and she had a feeling this wasn't the only time she was going to hear something like this.

Makoto muttered: I just got him back and people are making jokes about him…

Hime seemed to hear Makoto's comment and glanced over at her.

"You know, I don't think they're trying to be bad. They're just making fun of your dad because they don't know him very well, and it gets a good reaction out of you."

Hana: Yeah, I was just trying to poke a little fun, that's all. No harm intended!

"Oh yeah, sure it is! 'No harm intended', like I'm supposed to believe that crap!" Makoto scowled, feeling more and more irritated as the conversation went on.

Hana: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just a dumb joke.

"Yeah, well it wasn't funny at all! How would you like it if someone said something bad about your dad?! Or your mom?!" Makoto shouted angrily, not wanting to listen to anymore of that banter.

Makoto's sudden outburst was enough for Hana, and she backed off once she saw that she was just irritating her friend more. “S-Sorry Makoto…I didn't mean it.” Hana apologized, feeling a little guilty now.

Makoto decided to just ignore what Hana said, and she stayed quiet after that

As the discussion died down, Makoto continued to bathe herself quietly, still upset but trying to avoid letting it get the better of her.

The girls continued to enjoy the hot springs, their conversations resuming in hushed tones. The steam from the water continued to rise, enveloping the space in a misty atmosphere. The water provided a soothing, relaxing sensation, soothing their tired muscles and weary minds.

This also gave the girls an opportunity to get a better look at the most reserved of the class. Getting a better look at Harumi, she is bulky in her build with a toned body, towering over the other members in the Class. They also got a better look at her fang filled mouth that they got a glimpse of at the Sports festival.

One of the girls, Hatori, couldn't help but notice the sutures at the corners of Harumi's mouth as the girl moved around the sauna. She glanced at them with curiosity, her eyes narrowing as if trying to figure out what they meant.

Hatori couldn't think of many reasons why Harumi would have stitches on her mouth, so she decided to take a guess at what happened. "Hey, Harumi, where'd you get those mouth stitches from? If you don't mind me asking, that is." She asked curiously.

Harumi looked down embarrassed as she covered her mouth. Barely above a whisper, she uttered two words. Harumi: Steak cutlets…

Hatori looked confused, wondering how that would lead to her needing stitches? She was rather clueless about this, so she decided to ask.

"…Uhhh…what? How did you get stitches from that?" She questioned in confusion.

Sophie: What didja’ stuff your face or something? Sophie asked as a joke, until she saw the embarrassment on Harumi’s face as she covered her mouth.

Nazareth’s eyes widened when she saw the sudden shift in expression on Harumi's face.

"Wait, you…really did that?! No way!" She said, a bit surprised at Harumi's embarrassment. "There's no way you were that excited for that food."

Harumi's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the question. She mumbled something behind her hand, her voice barely audible above the steam and chatter.

Harumi: I…I tend to eat…a lot…

"A lot…does that mean you're a human garbage disposal?!" Chihiro teased, trying to get a rise out of Harumi.

"Do you eat with your hands too?" She pressed on, not expecting Harumi to say yes.

To their surprise she shook her head at the second question and gave a demonstration by grabbing one of the floating towel trays with her mouth like a penguin.

All of the other girls were completely shocked by that, their jaws dropping.

"S-Seriously?!" Hana blurted out.

"Do you even have arms?" Hahena asked, sounding completely flabbergasted.

The other girls continued to relax in the hot springs, their conversations now revolving around trivial topics like fashion and gossip. Meanwhile, Makoto retreated to her room, seeking solitude and a moment of peace.

Makoto was feeling exhausted from her ordeal in the forest, so she decided that it would be best for her to just get some rest. She got into some comfortable clothes, which didn't offer that much coverage, before deciding to get some sleep.

Makoto: Damn fools, they just had to remind me of something Dad did.

Now that she was alone, she could finally get all of her frustration out, and she began muttering to herself. "Yeah, they just had to keep poking and prodding with that crap, huh?! And the fact they won't stop with the bullshit about my dad too!" She grumbled, sounding annoyed and frustrated.

Makoto stood in front of the mirror, her gaze scrutinizing every inch of her reflection. She had requested Quinn to help with her appearance, but now she was having doubts about her decision. The doubts weighed heavily on her mind, her reflection staring back at her, silently asking if she had made the right choice.

Makoto couldn't help but feel a bit insecure about her appearance, even if Quinn's alterations and enhancements had made her look like a completely different person. The fact that she looked so different just made her self-conscious, and she began to worry about how other people might react to seeing her like this. She took a step backwards, her eyes still fixed on her reflection.

"God…what the hell did I ask Quinn to do to…?" She mumbled under her breath.

The room was enveloped in darkness as Makoto turned off the lamps and closed her eyes. The exhaustion of the day's journey and the events of the evening weighed heavily on her, and she silently hoped for a peaceful slumber. The quiet of the room was interrupted only by the soft rustling of sheets and the steady sound of her breathing as she slowly drift off to sleep.

As soon as her head hit the pillow, she found herself dozing off rather quickly. She was just so utterly and completely exhausted that she couldn't stay awake for another minute, her body too tired to do anything else. In no time at all, she found herself fast asleep.

She dreamt about her time in middle school, where rumors about her real father were circulating about. Almost every day she was approached by boys and girls that wanted to cop a feel. They all thought “Oh her Dad was a pervert so she must be too”, so she’d have to hide between every class period.

One day she’d tried to hide in the teacher’s lounge after one of them found out about the bullying. Though for some people that only cemented the rumor that she had a scandalous side. Girls who weren’t trying to feel her up threw garbage at her, warning her not to seduce their boyfriends.

Those kind of things were always happening to her, and even the teachers weren't really helping much. They didn't outright say anything, but they would always be watching her out of the corner of their eyes whenever they had the chance. They were basically treating her like she was some sort of deviant in the making, thanks to rumors of her being a so-called 'perv magnet'. She hated it, and she hated how everyone around her treated her because of that.

When the Pros would visit their school, she had to endure being the center of attention for a brief time. It was always the same bullshit, they would look over at her and then start whispering to one another. She would always get that weird side glance, and the kind of looks that made it seem as if they were wondering how she even had a father. The Pros were basically questioning her mere existence, all because of rumors that some assholes at school started spreading.

But in her nightmare, it was worse. She was standing on stage, being grilled a ton of questions by reporters and cameras going off all around her. One of the reporters decided to speak up, addressing her directly. "So, is it true that you're the daughter of Grape Juice?" They asked, causing her to freeze up. Just one look at the reporters and the cameras was enough to make her body freeze up on the spot.
I-

"If so, what's it like being the child of a pervert?" The reporter blurted out without a moment of hesitation. That single question was enough to make her stomach turn and send chills down her back. She felt the room around her start to spin, and the lights from the cameras blinding her to where she couldn't see.
He, he’s –

"Don't be shy; go on and answer the question, Miss." The reporter pressed on, completely oblivious to her discomfort. However, the camera crew and all the other reporters seemed extremely interested in what she had to say. They leaned forward in anticipation, waiting to hear what her answer was.

She wanted to yell to the crowd “He’s dead, you all killed him!” But her throat closed up and she was on the verge of collapse as the media closed in on her.

The reporters were clearly not satisfied with her lack of response; some of them started pressing onwards with even more insensitive questions just to get some kind of reaction out of her.

"Are you as much of a pervert as your so called 'father'?" They asked, their tone clearly mocking.

That’s not-

"Don't even think about getting out of this one; just answer the damn question! Or are you too scared to admit it?" Another one of the reporters cut in, completely ignoring what she was trying to say. All of the reporters around her began to grow restless and agitated as the silence continued.

The reporters were relentless, and they were clearly showing no signs of stopping. Makoto felt as if she were caught in a trap, with these vicious reporters hounding her for an answer that she knew they wouldn't like. "Well, go on and give us an answer already! What are you, afraid to speak up and say you're like him? Is that how it is?! Speak up already, you damn brat!" The one closest to her demanded.

She woke up with a start, the other girls had come back from the sauna and were sound asleep. Her throat felt sore and her legs felt like lead.

Her nightmare was finally over for the night, but the real ordeal was yet to begin. As soon as she awoke and opened her eyes, Makoto was greeted with an absolute pounding in her head and a pounding in her chest that made her feel like she had already run a marathon.

"Ngh, god what the hell was that about-?" She thought to herself as she sat up, groaning in discomfort.