Anna heard the cell door unlock again.
She expected another guard. Or maybe her mother returning.
But instead—
"Anna…"
She froze.
Kaito stepped inside, still wearing his patrol uniform.
His face was pale, guilt carved into every line.
Anna's jaw clenched instantly.
"Oh. You."
Her voice was cold enough to frost the walls.
Kaito flinched, closing the cell door behind him.
"Anna… look, I know you're mad—"
"Mad?"
She laughed once, sharp and humorless.
"I'm beyond mad. I'm… done."
He swallowed.
"I tried to stop them," he said quietly. "I really did. When they grabbed your friends, when they shot that boy—"
"Mirko," Anna cut in. "Call him by his name."
Kaito nodded quickly.
"Mirko. When they shot him… I didn't know they left him behind, I swear. I thought the medic team was coming."
Anna looked away, her eyes burning.
"You're a soldier, Kai… you knew what was happening. You were right there."
His shoulders fell.
"I'm not proud of it."
Anna scoffed.
"You're not proud of it? Wow. That totally helps."
He stepped closer to her—slowly, like she might bite him.
"Anna… I was scared," he admitted softly. "Of the general. Of Reeves. Of losing my rank. If I tried anything stupid, they would've court-martialed me. Or thrown me in a cell right next to you."
She stared at him long and hard.
"Good," she said coldly.
"Maybe you should've been in a cell too. At least then you wouldn't have helped drag my friends back here."
Kaito winced like she'd slapped him.
"…I'm still your brother," he whispered.
Anna shook her head, tears forming again.
"You don't get to show up and claim that after everything. You didn't defend us. You didn't even try."
"I did try!" Kaito's voice cracked.
"I kept telling them you weren't threats. I kept telling Reeves you kids were just… living. Every time I spoke up he shut me down. Every. Time."
"Then you should've kept speaking," Anna snapped. "Or yelled. Or stood in the way. Something!"
Kaito's eyes glistened now.
"You think I don't regret it? You think I slept after that? Anna… I'm terrified that boy is dead. And that's on me."
Silence stretched—thick, painful.
Anna hugged her knees to her chest, looking smaller than she ever had.
"…I don't hate you," she whispered.
"But I don't trust you right now."
Kaito nodded slowly, accepting the blow.
"I get that."
He took a step back toward the door.
"But… if you need anything. Anything. You tell the guard. I'll hear about it."
Anna didn't look up.
He waited another moment—hoping for something, anything.
But she stayed silent.
So he whispered, voice breaking:
"I'm sorry, little sis."
And then he left the cell, closing the door softly behind him—
like he was afraid the sound alone might shatter her completely.
Mirko's side..
The sun leaked through the cave entrance in thin golden lines.
Mirko yawned himself awake, blinking at the fuzzy brown giant curled up beside him.
"Morning, Ben," he whispered, patting the bear's enormous shoulder.
Ben grunted—somewhere between a greeting and stop touching me, tiny human—and rolled onto his back, stretching like a dog.
Mirko sat up with a wince, touching his bandaged shoulder.
The pain was nearly gone.
The wound was almost healed—Ben's weird licking magic had done something.
The boy exhaled shakily.
Three days.
Three days alone.
Three days imagining the others locked up, hurt, scared.
Three days planning.
He tied his makeshift sling a bit tighter and stood.
"I'm going to get them back," he said aloud, more to convince himself.
Ben raised his head.
"I know, I know. You don't understand me." Mirko laughed. "But you're like the only thing I've got now, so… deal with it."
The bear blinked slowly.
Then, as if sensing something, Ben stood, padded to the entrance, and nudged Mirko forward with his forehead.
Mirko grinned.
"Alright, alright. Let's go."
---
MIRKO'S NEW LIFE WITH BEN
The woods had changed for him.
Before, it had been scary, unpredictable, full of hidden dangers.
Now?
He walked like he owned it.
Why?
Because he had a damn bear trotting beside him like a bodyguard.
Mirko hopped up onto Ben's back, holding onto thick fur.
"Go, Ben. Take me to the river!"
Ben huffed as if annoyed, then went anyway.
They rode through the forest—fast, smooth, Ben knowing every root, every slope.
Wind slapped Mirko's face, leaves brushing his cheeks.
He felt… free.
He felt powerful.
He felt like a kid in a fantasy movie riding his magical creature companion.
When they reached a clearing, Mirko slipped off and knelt, touching the ground.
"This is all ours now," he whispered dramatically, sweeping his arm across the trees like he was claiming territory.
"No more scary bear. 'Cause scary bear is now Ben."
Ben sneezed.
Mirko laughed.
"You're welcome."
---
PLANNING TO SAVE THE OTHERS
Later, back near the cave, Mirko sat on a log, sharpening a stick, staring into nothing.
He wasn't smiling now.
He wasn't pretending.
They have to be in the base by now… all of them… maybe hurt… maybe worse…
He closed his eyes.
Aiko's scream still echoed in his head.
Her hands reaching for him.
Her face twisted with fear.
His hands shook.
"I'm coming," he whispered.
"I swear I'm coming."
He imagined a plan forming—
routes he'd scouted with Ben,
paths soldiers wouldn't expect,
supply points he'd marked,
escape routes that looped around the quarantine walls.
He'd been planning this past three days nonstop.
"If they think I'm dead… good," he muttered. "They won't see it coming."
Ben nudged him again, softly this time—as if sensing his sadness.
Mirko leaned into the bear's fur.
"Thanks, big guy… I'll need you."
Ben sat down beside him, towering protectively.
MIRKO TRAINING WITH BEN
Morning mist still clung to the forest floor when Mirko stepped out of the cave, tying a ragged cloth tighter around his now mostly healed shoulder.
Ben lumbered behind him, stretching and yawning loudly.
"Alright, big guy," Mirko said, clapping his hands once. "Training day. If I'm gonna get everyone back… I need to be ready."
Ben blinked slowly… then sat.
"No. No sitting," Mirko protested. "C'mon, help me out here!"
Ben stared.
Mirko sighed and shoved the bear's fluffy side.
Ben exhaled dramatically like an old man being forced out of bed.
"Thank you," Mirko said proudly. "Now… let's start."
1. ENDURANCE TRAINING — RUNNING WITH A BEAR
Mirko started jogging.
Ben trotted lazily beside him.
"Faster, Ben!"
Ben sped up a little.
Mirko pushed harder—dodging branches, jumping over roots, heart racing.
Ben didn't even look like he was trying.
Mirko, panting: "You're mocking me… I can tell…"
Ben let out a huff—almost a laugh.
Mirko glared at him and sprinted harder.
His legs burned, his shoulder twinged, but every time he slowed, Ben nudged him with his giant head, forcing him forward gently.
"Okay! Okay! I'm running!"
They burst into a clearing, Mirko collapsing onto a rock while Ben casually sat down like nothing happened.
"You," Mirko gasped, pointing, "are a terrible coach."
Ben sneezed in his face.
2. STRENGTH TRAINING — THE LOG CHALLENGE
Mirko grabbed a thick fallen branch.
He tried lifting it.
Failed.
Ben watched.
"Stop judging me."
He tried again—this time lifting it halfway before groaning.
Ben casually picked up a tree trunk with one paw and tossed it aside.
Mirko: "Yeah, alright… show-off."
Still, Mirko kept trying—lifting, dragging, pushing smaller logs.
Sweat dripping.
Arms shaking.
Determination burning.
Ben occasionally nudged heavier logs toward him, as if challenging him on purpose.
"You want me to DIE?"
Ben tilted his head.
"…fine. I'll try it."
And he did—pushing until his arms ached, collapsing backward onto the grass.
Breathing hard.
Proud.
---
3. WEAPON PRACTICE — BEN AS THE SPOTTER
Mirko set up makeshift targets:
rocks stacked, bark pieces tied to branches, a tin can dangling.
He practiced with his small pistol—aiming, steadying, controlling the recoil with his injured arm.
Ben sat behind him like a giant furry shield, eyes half-closed.
"Ben. If I accidentally shoot a tree near you, don't eat me."
Ben blinked.
Mirko steadied his trembling arm… and fired.
The tin can swung wildly.
"YES!" Mirko cheered. "Did you see that!?"
Ben didn't move.
"Ben… Ben… I hit it!"
Ben yawned.
Mirko sighed loudly and kept practicing, sweat dripping, hands shaking—but improving.
---
4. STEALTH PRACTICE..
Mirko crouched low.
"Okay, Ben… pretend you're a soldier. Don't let me sneak past you."
Ben sat still.
Mirko crawled behind a bush… sneaking…
Then stepped on a branch.
CRRRACK.
Ben turned his head.
Mirko: "…that wasn't me."
He kept sneaking—
stepping carefully—
until he tripped over a root and face-planted.
Ben walked over and nudged him repeatedly until he rolled over.
"Stop it—stop—Ben—cut it out—stop—BEN!!"
Ben kept poking him with his nose.
Mirko groaned.
But he laughed too.
5. MENTAL PREP.
By late afternoon, they sat near the pond.
Mirko breathed deeply, staring into the water.
Ben stood beside him like a watchtower.
"I have to save them," Mirko whispered.
"Aiko… Anna… Tenya… Izuku…"
His throat tightened.
"They're my family now."
Ben nudged his head under Mirko's arm, lifting him gently.
Mirko smiled weakly and hugged the giant creature's neck.
"Thanks, buddy."
Ben leaned into him.
Together, they watched the sun sink behind the trees.