The five of them walked in silence for a while, the weight of their packs making each step feel like a small victory. Even though the sun was starting to dip low in the sky, the air still felt thick, like something was just waiting to happen.
Mirko walked ahead, carrying one of the solar panels with Izuku, who looked like he might collapse from the weight.
"Man, if we don't get back soon, we might need a stretcher for this thing," Izuku grunted, his arms shaking from the effort.
Mirko grinned despite himself. "Hey, at least we won't have to worry about the bear coming after us again. If it does, we can just blind it with the solar panel. That'll work, right?"
Aiko snorted, walking behind them. "Yeah, Mirko, that'll totally work. Nothing says 'weapon of mass destruction' like a giant sheet of glass and metal."
Anna, still carrying a mix of food and makeup products, rolled her eyes. "As long as I get to keep the makeup, I'm not complaining."
"Please," Aiko said, shaking her head. "We're surviving off expired cans, and you're obsessed with eyeliner."
"It's a survival skill!" Anna shot back, holding up the makeup as though it were some kind of precious artifact. "Don't knock it until you've tried it."
Mirko and Aiko exchanged a glance, both of them grinning despite the tension.
"Okay, okay, enough with the beauty products," Tenya cut in, his voice sharp but his eyes scanning the woods carefully. "We're not out of the woods yet, literally."
Aiko rolled her eyes, but she didn't argue, her hand on the rifle slung across her back.
They were just approaching the forest's edge when Mirko froze.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
Everyone stopped. Tension gripped the air as they strained to listen, but all they heard was the soft rustling of leaves and distant birds chirping. No growls, no heavy footsteps.
Mirko was the first to break the silence. "False alarm. Just my nerves acting up."
Izuku let out a shaky laugh. "Dude, I thought my heart was about to explode."
"Same," Anna muttered, clutching her bag tighter.
Mirko gave them all a reassuring grin. "Hey, no one's dead yet, right? That's a win in my book."
"Don't jinx it," Aiko warned, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
As they continued, the conversation turned lighter again, but there was a quiet understanding between them that the forest wasn't done with them yet. They all kept their heads on a swivel, watching the trees as though expecting something to leap out at any moment.
By the time they neared the treehouse, the weight of their packs seemed almost unbearable. But there was also a sense of relief. The treehouse had become their safe place, a fragile haven from everything that lurked beyond.
---
Back at the Treehouse
The treehouse came into view as they rounded the corner of the woods. It was their home now—rough-hewn, patched together from whatever materials they could scavenge, but it was theirs.
Aiko let out a relieved sigh. "Home sweet home," she muttered.
Mirko, always the first to break the tension, raised the solar panel like a trophy. "And now we bring the light!"
Tenya, who had been silently observing their surroundings, nodded. "Let's get these panels inside. We don't want to leave them out here."
They all made their way up the ladder, climbing one by one into the wooden sanctuary that had become their shelter.
Once inside, they immediately set the solar panels down in the corner.
Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Mirko. "I'm getting too old for this."
Mirko chuckled as he sat down, exhausted but satisfied. "Don't worry, man, you're not alone. We'll get the solar panels up and running tomorrow."
Aiko plopped down beside him, stretching her legs. "I think we're finally getting somewhere. One more day of work and we'll have proper light, food, and… maybe even a mirror for Anna to check her makeup."
Anna gave her a playful glare, but then shrugged. "What's the point of surviving if you can't look good doing it?"
The group burst into laughter—silly, nervous laughter, the kind that only came when you realized how close you were to giving up, but then decided to fight on.
Mirko leaned back against the wall, eyes half-lidded from exhaustion but his smile wide. "Alright, tomorrow we'll make this place even better. But tonight, we rest."
Tenya moved to the corner, leaning his rifle against the wall and taking a seat on the floor. "Agreed."
As the evening passed, they ate what little they had left, shared stories, and let the weight of the day slide off their shoulders. The treehouse, with its rickety walls and creaky floorboards, had become their sanctuary—just a little more than a glorified shelter, but enough to keep them alive, to keep them safe, and, most importantly, together.
Aiko glanced around at the group. "You know, we're not so bad, right?"
Mirko laughed, shaking his head. "Nope. We're a damn mess. But it's our mess."
And in the quiet that followed, they all knew she was right.
A New Morning ...and a Loud One
Morning sunlight spilled through the wooden cracks of the treehouse, warming the blankets and painting everything gold.
And then—
"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!"
Mirko's voice boomed like a megaphone with legs.
Anna jerked awake so hard she nearly fell off her bed.
"Oh my god...!NOT YOU AGAIN!"
Izuku sat up with murder in his eyes.
"Fking idiot…" he muttered, rubbing his face.
Tenya was halfway between asleep and alive.
"Are you a human alarm now? Huh? Is that your new job?"
Aiko groaned, throwing her blanket over her head.
"I swear one day I'm gonna tape your mouth shut."
Mirko ignored all the hate with the brightest grin alive.
"Well, GOOD MORNING to y'all too—amazing energy today—"
Izuku whispered without even looking at him,
"It's a beautiful morning every morning to you…"
Mirko pretended not to hear that.
"ANYWAY," he continued, clapping his hands,
"We have work today! Like—real, important work!"
Tenya glared.
"Is this where you tell us something stupid?"
Mirko held up a finger dramatically.
"Actually… no. This time it's smart."
The entire treehouse froze.
Anna blinked. "Oh crap… is he dying?"
Aiko peeked from under her blanket.
"What are you planning, sunshine boy?"
Mirko grinned wide.
"We have to set the solar panels somewhere they can smell the sun!"
Silence.
Then Izuku squinted.
"…You mean face the sun?"
Mirko paused.
"….Yes. That."
Tenya rolled out of bed, already annoyed.
"Great. So we woke up early just for your broken vocabulary."
Aiko rubbed her eyes, smiling despite the chaos.
"Let's just get this over with before he comes up with more weird science."
Anna stood and stretched.
"If these solars don't work, I'm blaming him forever."
Mirko laughed, already heading toward the ladder.
"Oh ye of little faith! Today we bring light into our home!"
Izuku followed behind, muttering,
"Yeah… hopefully not your dramatic death light."
And just like that, the whole group climbed down—still half-asleep, still annoyed—but ready to turn scraps of metal and glass into something that felt like hope.
The morning was bright, the air warm, and everyone actually felt motivated…
For about ten minutes.
They had two solar panels propped against a tree, a bunch of wires, some tools they barely knew how to use, and three broken light bulbs already lying on the ground like casualties.
Tenya was focused—sweating, serious, trying to angle the panels the right way. Izuku was wrangling the wires like they were snakes. Anna was trying not to get shocked. Aiko was reading the little instruction booklet like it was her final exam.
And then there was Mirko.
Standing proudly with a bulb in his hand.
A bulb that slipped.
Bounced.
And shattered.
Tenya slowly turned his head.
"Mirko…"
"…yeah?" Mirko answered, not liking where this was going.
"You—" Tenya inhaled sharply, "—FKING IDIOT! Go. Go to the corner. Go sit somewhere. Do NOTHING. I beg you."
"Hey! Jeez, calm down," Mirko said, backing away.
"It was an accident."
"Fourth accident," Izuku muttered, untangling wires without looking up.
"Don't blame him. This idiot doesn't know anything about electronics… all he knows is 'solar make light.' That's the depth of his brain."
Mirko's jaw dropped.
"Excuse me? I know generators too!"
Anna snorted. "Dude, you called positive and negative wires 'boy and girl wires' ten minutes ago."
"That makes sense!" Mirko argued, pointing at them.
"They literally look like they connect—"
"STOP TALKING," Tenya shouted, nearly ripping out his hair.
"Stop breathing near the equipment!"
Aiko sighed but couldn't help smiling.
"Mirko… steps, okay? Just let us finish this part."
Mirko threw his hands up dramatically.
"Alright, alright. Y'all got this. I'll just—"
He walked off and plopped himself under the nearest tree, crossing his arms like a punished kid.
"Call me when you need a real man's help," he muttered.
"You broke FOUR BULBS," Tenya yelled back.
"AND?" Mirko shouted.
Izuku didn't even look up as he mumbled,
"Please don't let him touch anything again…"
Aiko glanced over at Mirko with a tiny smile.
He pretended not to see it.
And so, under the bright morning sun, the group continued working—
Three tech brains.
One tired leader.
One chaotic forest boy on timeout.
Somehow… the solar panels were going to get installed.
Probably.