A pressure appeared over her heart.
Bakugo… Tokoyami… Uraraka… Kaminari… Kirishima.
"...explosion, dark shadow, zero gravity…" As their respective bodies entered the class and their names rang one after the other… so did their quirks.
Like a nail being hammered to a wall…
It only took her a minute to avert her gaze.
"Find something else Momo… Something else…"
She tried to not break her stoic face, as her gaze drifted to the outside, through the window, specifically towards the clouds.
It reminded her of what she learned… Life beyond the stars.
It should have been a funny thought. Or… rather she misspoke. It should have been… wondrous.
Worlds, composed of the forms Tennyson has been utilizing. Chromastone, Jetray, Rath, Ball Weevil…
Like, how would their societies work? Rath seems too unruly and NRG…
Did all the people who harbored the planet have specifically designed suits?
Brainstorm too… His ability to use electricity, despite being vulnerable to it… Long term adaptation must've been at work, along with a dense electromagnetic field around the planet… Maybe a constant stormy weather?
All wonderful thoughts that… maybe Midoriya would be open to discussing.
She knew he had a great passion for taking notes of quirks, as he finds them fantastical. Perhaps the discussion of such logistics would be something else he takes interest in alongside her.
However… to be truthful, even that prospect failed to hold any sway—!
Just when she was thinking about them, Midoriya and Tennyson decided to enter, and reflexively she shrunk in her seat.
"Yaoyorozu."
She looked to her side and saw Todoroki's cold glare. His heterochromatic eyes felt like they were staring into her, trying…. No, interrogating her for the thoughts in her mind.
"I am fine." Momo could channel a weak response.
It made his eyes narrow, but he didn't say another word and looked forward.
She looked forward as well, but not towards the board… rather to her hands.
In a pink glow that slowly sparked to life, one of her matryoshka dolls appeared in her hand…
All with her closed eyes, her hero costume…
She took a deep breath. "Perhaps…" She put the doll away. "I could try listening to what Midoriya and Tennyson have in mind."
After all, she was positioned right behind Tennyson.
Midoriya spoke first. "Wait a second Tennyson, how did you say it happened?"
"It's real simple." The two sat at their desks and lowered their voices. "As I was Upgrade, this form you… kind of 'can't' see anymore, I fused with my game console and as some lightning struck, I was suddenly sucked into the video game."
Midoriya shook his head. "How… is that possible with a lightning strike?"
"Oh, well, it was no normal lightning. It was purple…" Tennyson trailed off. "Wait was that Ghostf—"
He shook his head. "Nevermind. But basically, I fought with Ishiyama against Kenko!"
"That's amazing… and bizarre!" Wonder was oozing from Midoriya's tone.
Momo… however, tried to keep a blank expression.
"Oh, speaking of upgrades, yesterday you said your watch had gotten an upgrade…" Midoriya said, and immediately that took her attention.
Yes, Tennyson had explained that his transformation limit was configured to be two hours. That would need to be covered up as well.
"Oh, right." Tennyson responded, changing his gaze to his device. "Must've forgotten."
Then however, a devious smirk ran up his face. "Guess, I'll keep it as a surprise for the masses."
There was no plan to explain it? He was just expecting to reveal it out of the blue and no one would—?!
"Hey guys!" Kaminari and Asui swung by. "What are you guys talking about?"
She saw a jolt run up through the two of them.
"Uhhhhhhhh…"
Both of them buffered.
"A new video game."
She tried talking as calmly as possible as she bluntly joined the conversation from behind them. "I haven't understood much, but I believe it's about Sumo wrestling?"
She sees Midoriya raise her a thumbs up.
"Sumo *slamming*." Ben piped up from his seat. "Why doesn't anyone get that?"
He sees no support coming his way. "I mean come on… How is it that much of an American thing?"
Midoriya raises his hand and lightly pats him on the back.
"You seem a lot more cheerful today." Asui says, with a finger on her chin.
Tennyson raises his he looks at himself. "Guess my mind feels a bit more cleared up."
He gestured to Midoriya and her. "Thanks in part to these two."
She instinctively looks away. That…
She brushes the strand of her hair aside.
"Really?" Kaminari says. "What was—"
He was cut off.
Kirishima spoke. "Something stupid Kaminari, no need to worry about the details."
"Something stupid? Then how come Yaomomo—"
She could hear Kirishima tightening his arm around him.
Asui, in the meantime, was speaking sincerely. "Whatever it is… I like that it's making you feel better."
"I know." Tennyson replied. "Sorry for being such a wet blanket."
"It's okay."
"Nah." Tennyson brushed Asui's humble style aside. "I… To be honest, I was kind of losing it for a second, but… I think I found it."
He was gesturing to his head with that.
Asui didn't seem to find the quip funny, but that… put the slightest bit of emotion to Momo's face.
A glimmer, a smile..
She…
It honestly made her happy that her meddling… could at least lead to this.
Tennyson was happy again. He was cracking jokes, going with the flow of the class, interacting with others. He wasn't closed off and distant.
Seeing him hopeful like this made her feel... at ease.
"Hey."
She lifted her head and saw Jiro.
She was kind of spooked by the sudden company. "Jiro—? Hello, what may I do for you?"
Her friend shrugged, kind of thrown off by. "Nothing. I just wanted to ask something."
She leaned in close as she first threw a glance in front of her, at Tennyson. "Did the Tennyson disease jump ship to you?"
"I…" Momo said. "I'm not sure if I understand?"
"You look tired."
"Oh…" She put a hand under her eyes. "I must admit I haven't had the most pleasant night—"
"But I want you to know- all of you to know that I never came here, wanting to lie—"
Jiro watched as the smile of her friend vanished, and was replaced with… dread.
"Yaomomo?"
"I… I apologize."
"What's wrong?" Jiro asked, and Momo… felt her insides twisting.
The weight bit into her once more. "To be truthful, I… It has been because of our teacher's announcement of the festival."
Jiro raised an eyebrow at her. "Why? What's up?"
"I… I believe I'm anxious about my capabilities." Momo didn't want to think… for a little while at least. "I believe… at least physically… I have evaluated that I can fall behind."
Jiro tilted her head. "Physically? You scored number 2 on the quirk test."
Momo exhaled. She had, hadn't she in the quirk assessment? Right behind Tennyson, but it…
"I am aware, but I still have to admit that… I am concerned."
It didn't feel… meaningful.
He was ahead of her… by so much. There—
The girl with the earphone jacks leaned over. "Wanna talk about it?"
A new type of hesitation stirred up inside her. "I… I'm not sure whether it will be a good—"
Both of them, as well as the whole class, sensed the commotion from their front door.
"Wh-Why the heck are you all here?!" Uraraka yelled as she became the first to come face to face with the crowd of students.
The one and only class prez quickly positioned himself at the door as well, next to Uraraka. "Do you students have some sort of business with our class?"
Yaomomo tried getting to her feet. But Jiro did so in her place.
"They are scouting out the competition, small fry."
Bakugo had answered with his feet on the desk again, insulting the lot of them.
"We're the ones who actually survived a villain attack." He scoffed at the collective group's hesitance. "At least they now know what a future pro looks like."
Jiro remarked. "Weren't you the one left with the dusted elbow after the big fight?"
"Shut it, ears!"
"Okay." Tennyson had also stood up, itching the back of his head, and placed one hand on his shoulder. "That's enough barking for one morning."
The glare of the ash-blonde turned to him. He paused, before shaking him off his shoulder…
"Get that hand off me before I break it, freak show."
Ben lifted his hand, but the contest between them continued.
Jiro put a hand over the bridge of her nose. "Perfect performance of the class everyone."
"So, this is class 1-A…" A new kid from the crowd stepped forward, making her pause. He had purple hair, kind of like hers but darker in color and much more flared up, purple eyes along with bags under them.
"I came to see what the all famous class was about, but you seem like an ass."
"Now, who's this extra…" Bakugo just growled.
The new kid paid no mind. "Is everyone in the hero course this full of it, or just you?"
"You…" Bakugo unraveled his arms.
"Only the ones that can back it up." Tennyson though took the issue into his hands, standing face to face, all confident against him.
The purple haired kid seemed to measure him up. "How sad to come here and find some egomaniacs—"
"Come on Shinso!" Another, higher pitched voice rose from… seemingly thin air? "You're being unfair to them."
Jiro raised an eyebrow. Because either she was missing something, or literally a floating set of the female school uniform just cut through the crowd to come next to him.
"An invisibility quirk?.."
Shinso scoffed. "You know I'm right, Hagakure. Just look at them."
He gestured to the whole crowd of 1-A. "Pampered… for all those fancy quirks they have."
"Pampered?…" Jiro heard Sato murmur.
"I know! They must be strong!" She says, puffs of steam coming out while the shirt sleeves were also raised.. "I can't wait to see what we're up against!"
"Let me just tell you, just a bunch of destructive quirks—" Shinso sighs, crossing his arms.
"Oh, don't worry." Tennyson said. "My catalog has quite the variation."
"It better." Shinso says. "There are quite a few people here as you can see, who all enrolled in general studies or other courses because they couldn't get into the hero course. Did you know that?"
Jiro nodded her head…
Ben did too. "I mean, yeah, no way all the people at the exam passed."
"What you probably don't know…" Shinso continued. "...is that the festival isn't just a place for you to show off who passed. It's also a second testing ground, for all other students like us."
"If we perform well, there can be a transfer from us to the hero course."
"Really?" Tennyson laughed in response.
He put his hands on his hip. "Why didn't you say so?! It'd be good to have more people here."
Jiro knew she should have expected that kind of optimism from Tennyson.
"There has to be a catch." She thought as her eyes narrowed.
This guy wouldn't come here boasting like this if there wasn't.
"And, they can transfer some people out, to make room."
The people in the class 1-A straightened up.
Jiro clenched her hand. Getting people… kicked out? From the first couple of weeks?
"Scouting the enemy?" Shinso spoke again, all attention on him. "Some of the crowd here might be, but I'm here to warn you. If you don't bring your best, I will steal your spot."
"Both under the cameras… and in your class."
She could see a purple fire was lit under his disinterested words.
"Consider this, your declaration of war."
He somehow managed to hold such conviction with that dead gaze.
Jiro looked around to her classmates, and saw people unnerved… or in the case of Mineta, completely breaking do—
"Bring it."
But, of all people… Midoriya stepped forward?!
"We all worked hard to get here. I doubt anyone would want to leave their seats, no matter the reason."
"Yeah, we ain't going down without a fight!" Kirishima spoke up.
And from behind her… Jiro heard the breath of someone hitch. The one person she was just talking to—
Tennyson, unfortunately, *didn't* hear it(!)
He crossed his arms with a competitive smirk. "You heard the cl—"
"DEKU!" He heard the ash-blonde growl. "Steal my thunder again and I'll—"
Tennyson rushed back and restrained him before he could do something stupid.
"Point is." he tried looking back at the crowd. "You better bring your A game, because this class will show up and show out!"
Shinso's glare intensified. "You—"
"No, we're gonna stand out more than you!" Hagakure yelled, getting in the middle. "So!.. You better get ready for it!"
And… she sucked all the air out of it.
"I think they got the intention." Shinso said, with his hand on his face and walked off.
Hagakure gleefully followed after him. "See you in three weeks!"
Jiro… felt so confused by what that was.
Hagakure spoke as the two got some distance from the crowd. "They were nice."
"They were competitive and arrogant." Shinso shook his head. "Just like I expected."
Hagakure, however, paused for a second. "I don't know… Isn't that what you're being right now?"
"No, I…" Shinso caught himself off. "I just think they are not taking us seriously, all because we couldn't destroy robots in the exam."
That tone from before… the one that wasn't indifferent to everything, returned. "All because they are in the hero course…"
"I know." Hagakure said, before putting on a cheerful tone. "But look at it this way, if they underestimate you, it will make your dream easier."
Shinso raised his eyebrow.
"And if they don't…" Hagakure seemed puzzled as she spoke. "...well, that's what you wanted, wasn't it?"
"I…" Shinso brushed his hair back. "I guess that's one way of looking at it."
His face couldn't help but reflect a small smile. "But… I remember it as *our* dream, is it not?"
Hagakure was spooked. "Oh, wait, did I say *you*?"
"Well, it's settled then. I'm going to the hero course alone." He said, deadpanning.
"Hey no, no fair! I will go with you too!"
He wanted to play coy for a little, but she *looked* to be pouting.
He let out a slight laugh. "Okay okay, fine. We'll secure our seats… together."
The earphone jack girl shook her head. "Great, now thanks to -of-a-kind here, we have all these targets on our ba—"
"Hey you!"
"Another one?"
"I'm from Class 1-B next door! We heard you fought some villains and I—"
Barely from out the door, Jiro saw the deadly stare of Aizawa.
"We'll talk later!" The messy gray haired kid said, with sharp teeth and… a mask over his face?
Eraser Head then finally appeared at their door. "If you're done intermingling with the other students…"
Yeah, he didn't have to say it. It was time to go back to her seat.
Jiro pulled her chair. "Well, now I'm motivated."
She worked hard to get to the place she is at now. The last thing she had in mind was promptly getting kicked out after a couple weeks.
"Jiro…"
Yaomomo's voice came up from her side. Her hands were clenched together and… eyes were on the floor.
"I… in hindsight… would like that talk… during lunch… if you could."
She seemed anxious and not just that but a bit of pleading as well.
Jiro gave her a sincere answer as she sat down. "Of course."
"Wait, hold up, your classmates hate us… because we got attacked?!"
Lunchtime had come, and Ben, by per pure chance, got to encounter Pony in the food line… only to hear some distressing stuff.
"I mean, not all of them, but for some yes unfortunately…" Pony was rather frantic.
She shook her head. "I guess it's a bit complicated."
"Then start from the top." Ben says as he reached for the mashed potatoes.
Pony shakes her head. "Okay…"
He wanted to hear this. People other than his classmates being affected by the USJ… it hasn't been a thing on his mind.
"So, right now, it's like the class is split into two teams. One wants to get along with you, but the other…"
"... believes that this town's too small for both of us?" Ben quipped.
"No…" Pony says. "Well, Monoma does. He thinks you're unjustly hoarding all the spotlight."
Ben shrugged. "Nothin we could do about that, is there?.."
"I know!" Pony thankfully didn't seem to register that.. "But Tetsutetsu then backs him up. Not in a bad way, but he gaslights the class to make you guys a target rather than friends!"
"I mean… " Ben tilts his head, choosing to keep up a smile. "At least there is a bit of a reason. Plus I don't mind having a few more targets on my back."
"I guess…" She pouts. "But I tell them that you're actually really great and we're better off working together but no one listens!"
"Didn't you say *half* the class or so was by your side?" Ben asks, and Pony crosses her arms.
"You're not helping." She pouts.
"Okay…" Ben says. "Wait, Tetsutetsu was the gray haired one, right? The one who just tried to challenge us."
"That sounds like him." Pony said.
"He's smart." Ben says. "We have some real characters in our class who wouldn't give an inch…"
He sees Pony feeling indifferent.
"...but yes, at the end of the day, friendship is magic." Ben says, joking. "So, we will eventually need to change his mind."
"Exactly." she says, seemingly not taking even the slightest bit of offense.
"What about your side of the class?" Ben asks. "Who do you have on your side?"
"Uh…" She picks up her tray and Ben does too. "Kendo is the class prez and she's like our big sister. So, she's on my side. There is Yanagi, Rin… Oh, also Fukidashi, Shoda, Awase…"
She was counting with her fingers, but then…
"Hey look."
Ben turns his head, and sees Jiro… and Yaomomo at a table.
"They look like they have some empty spots." Pony beamed. "Want to—"
"No." Ben says, quite suddenly…
Pony tilted her head. "Is something's wrong?"
"No no." He said. "I just thought we could sit with your classmates for a change. You know, change their minds?"
Pony… didn't really buy this. Something was up, but… she didn't want to question it. "If you say so…"
The two then changed their direction.
Jiro looked back at Yaomomo. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I…" the rich girl of Class 1-A paused.
"If you want someone to train with…" Jiro sighed. "I don't like saying it, and I know you don't like hearing it too, but Tennyson would be the best person."
She mumbled. "With his transformations—"
"No!" Yamomo blurted out so suddenly and cut her off.
"I would like it to be in secret." She put her hand on her other arm, looking away. "To get stronger, and… hopefully prove myself against him in the challenges of the festival."
The rich girl was shrinking in her seat again, and Jiro was starting to actively hate seeing her like this.
"Well, Yaomomo, I—"
"Oh?" Ashido, alongside Uraraka, had suddenly showed up. "Are my horns picking this up correctly?!"
She was in her usual playful mood. "Is Yaomomo declaring war on Tennyson too?"
And Uraraka clearly had the "What did we barge in on?"face plastered over her.
Jiro took a deep breath and looked over to Yaomomo but she seemed in no condition to speak. Her head was lowered, and her eyes were facing neither of them.
"No, Ashido." She chose to speak up for both of them. "Yaomomo just wanted to improve herself—"
"Uh-huh." Ashido continued to play coy. "I wasn't expecting such competitive fire from you Yaomomo."
The "Yaomomo" in question was shrinking even further.
"Ashido, how about we—"
"Yes." Yaomomo spoke. "I… I do want to challenge him."
Her voice was like the usual… kind of.
Soft-spoken and concise, but… measly.
As Uraraka chose to sit down too, Jiro watched her friend attempt to look others in the eye. "If I may… Could I bring up something from the USJ?"
Ashido, after a momentary pause, crossed her arms behind her head. "Sure."
Uraraka's glance also seemed to shift to Ashido.
Jiro scanned the table and… felt good that they could finally bring that up without bringing down the whole mood.
"I'm looking for the best person to ask for advice, regarding my abilities." Yaomomo said, slowly straightening up. "You said to have been conscious the entire time. Do you perhaps have a suggestion?"
"Uh…" Ashido changed her glance to the ceiling. "Well, if not Tennyson, I would say Bakugo, but—"
"He's terrible." Uraraka said. "Remember how he beat up Deku in the combat trial! Don't go to him Yaomomo!"
Jiro noticed the extreme frustration about that on the brunette, and… chose to shelf it for now.
"Yeah, he's a real jerk…" Ashido nodded her head. "Todoroki's also too much of the silent type… Ummmmmm…"
She looked up, tilting her chair back. "...Ummmmmmmmm…"
She started spinning her head, eyes closed.
Jiro was sure either one of two things was happening. Either Ashido was thinking, or she was testing to see if those horns could connect to the wifi.
Ashido sparked up. "How about Ojiro?"
Jiro tilted her head. "Ojiro?.. Really?"
She had nothing against him, but him out of everyone else–?
"Yeah!" Ashido said, straightening her seat back up again. "He was zooming around in the USJ. He held off *both* Kirishima and Shoji at the same time with good old fashioned Ka-ra-te!"
She did the hand motions with the last part.
"It probably wasn't karate." Jiro said. "With his tail, I think it should be some other form of martial arts…"
"Yeah, but it was still so sick!" Ashido said, still mimicking moves.
"Hmm…"
The grunt came from Uraraka. She seemed to be pondering the idea as well. "You think he would train us if we asked?"
Because, to be honest, she was thinking about the Festival too.
Against people like Bakugo, Tennyson, Deku… She was looking to expand her kit at least a little.
Because even Ashido or Tsu could defeat her. They attacked from a range, and her gravity needed to touch them to work.
Ashido shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't really talked with him since then."
"To be fair, he kind of blends into the background." Jiro remarked, taking a sip from her drink.
"Let's not speak of our friend that way." Yaomomo raised her head. "And…"
She stood up. Wait, her food had already finished?
"I, for one, would like to take a chance to ask."
Uraraka piped up from her seat. "Can I come too?"
Maybe asking along with the vice class prez, could give her a shot as well.
Yaomomo replied rather solemnly. "I don't see why not."
"Yeah, that's perfect!" Ashido said. "The ninja girl duo of Class 1-A!"
"You gonna make it a trio?" Jiro asked.
"Not my style." Ashido shook her head and stretched in place. "I'm all about going with the flow and the athletics. The shadows would just block my flare."
Jiro shrugged in response. Guess that did make sense…
Her eyes contacted Yaomomo's. She seemed distressed as she walked away with her tray.
Jiro… felt uneasy.
"Hey Yaomomo, wait up." She stood up and followed.
Her tall and proper friend turned to her.
"Are you 100% sure this is…" Jiro was still putting that sentence together. "This is how you want to train up?"
Momo remained shaky. "I suppose so."
Yeah, there was still a bit of uncertainty there. Didn't need to be a psychic to figure that out.
"If Ojiro's training under this master helped him beat two of our other classmates in combat. Especially Kirishima who is well equipped for one-on-one fights due to his hardening… I'm thinking that in three weeks, it could do some good for me too."
"It's more like two and a half…" Jiro pondered. "Yeah, but… you don't seem so sure, and, I… don't know."
She looked away. "It feels too brute force-ish, and to be honest, I liked how you beat Tennyson in the Combat Trial mo—"
Momo's sigh interrupted her. "I know, but… I'm afraid that tricks like that will not do much here."
Jiro could see the rich girl's body turning away.
"Thank you for hearing out my troubles…"
"Yaomomo, wait…" Jiro said, but 'Yaomomo' didn't stop.
"Jiro?" She then heard another voice from behind her… to which she knew exactly who it belonged to.
"I don't have the time…" The earphone jack girl tried to walk after her friend instead… but Tennyson's pursuing steps were echoing behind her. He finally tapped her on her shoulder.
Jiro exhaled, and turned to her follower.
He, with a much calmer tone unlike the morning, asked: "I just wanted to ask. Can we t—"
"Not a great time." She replied.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked rather obliviously, and looked at the exit. "What happe—"
"I just realized I should be charging you guys for these therapy sessions."
Immediately silence rang between the two… as Jiro realized what she said.
She facepalmed. Wha–?!
Why would she say that?!
"Therapy sessions?" Tennyson looked kinda worried now.
She put the hand back on her eyes.
"Just…" Jiro said sharply. "Tell me what you want to talk about."
"I… Okay." Tennyson's eyes looked away, before going back up to scan the cafeteria. "Not here though… if possible?"
Jiro crossed her arms and put on a stoic face, to try to save face for how she accidentally let her talk with Yaomomo slip.
But a part of her, just couldn't help but be curious.
After being that bombastic in the morning… What could be bothering him now?
Tennyson, for the first time in a good while, didn't know what to say.
When it came down to hero stuff, he had gotten used to just popping by Gwen and grandpa or keeping the stuff in question to himself.
But this… it wasn't about what *he* dealt with, like all those other times.
It was about Yaomomo.
"I was thinking about talking with her." Ben said. "You know, reaching out and hearing her out, but I'm—"
"...not so sure?" Jiro gave a half-hearted sigh, as she completed his sentence, cynically.
Ben's eyebrows raised. "Yeah, how did you—"
"... know that?" Jiro completed it again, and pointed to behind her with her thumb. "Cuz, I just got off the same conversation."
Ben looked in her direction, and… saw a familiar black ponytail. It made her remember Jiro's choice of words: "Therapy sessions…"
He met Jiro's questioning glare. "Jiro… what did Yaomomo tell you?"
"Nothing much." She bluntly said. "So, I guess I could ask you…"
Her purple eyes had a glare of death to them. One that he didn't expect for his classmate to channel.
"Was what happened to Yaomomo… your handiwork?"
"No…" Ben unraveled his arms. "I mean probably… I…"
He…
Back in the day… and still kind of now, talking about his troubles had never felt like a genuine option to him. So, bugging Jiro today about what he had in mind and trying to reach out on his own, it was his first real go-around on the concept.
"It wasn't what I wanted Jiro, trust me…" he tried whispering to her, but his voice was coming out desperate on its own. "I *never* meant to do that."
It had been eating away at him. Between finally getting to come clean with his secret, setting a clear path for the future, recruiting others to his side. That day, despite all the twists and turns it caused him, was probably one of the best days ever for him.
And through everything that happened, Yaomomo had been the one who stuck out to him. She felt like she reached out the most, so not being able to tie up her end…
He must've been making a face right now, because Jiro's expression was also softening…
"Yeah, I… Sorry if I came across a little strong, but you kinda did that." The earphone jack girl backpedaled. The intense glare died down. "I got angry…"
She muttered under her breath. "Still can't believe you managed to mess with the top student of our class though."
"I…" Ben paused on his words.
"I thought I was the top stu—"
And that quip immediately earned him a punch to the arm.
"Ow!.." he rubbed it as Jiro glared back. "Okay, I know… I shouldn't have quipped."
It was kind of involuntary, but his mind then returned to the heart of the matter.
"I was afraid she would be feeling like that."
He crossed his arms.
"She refused to tell me any details…" Jiro said. "Told it was some kind of secret. But… I want to know, what happened between you two?"
"Rightfully so…" Ben sighed and… he might as well face the challenge, like always.
But he would be slow and thread the line.
"Well, you know how, recently I've been…"
"...Off?" She completed his sentence one more time. "Yeah, in other news, the sky is blue."
Ben's eyebrows shot up. "Was I brushing people off that hard?"
"Yes." She bluntly said. "Now, get to the point."
He could feel the frustration behind that. "Right, so yesterday, Yaoyorozu…"
Every word said made him feel like he was hanging over a pool of sharks, because of his alien secret however… he continued and Jiro listened.
Just like Momo's story about not feeling strong enough, Tennyson was coming forward, how he had these frustrations ever since the attack of the villains, about not feeling like he was doing enough, how the vice class prez then confronted him and…
"I took it out on her… because she was willing to hear me out."
He sighed, shaking his head. "I tried apologizing after, but she wouldn't let me. Now, I want to try again, but…"
She spoke up. "You're afraid she won't hear you out today either."
Ben nodded at her, and thought of her again. "I just… don't know how to approach her. I don't even know if I *should* approach her or give her space. Ugh!.."
He brushed his hands across his face. "I had other people to ask but…"
"You wanted to ask an actual girl?" Jiro… tried actually quipping in response, just like he just did.
But Tennyson didn't grin.
He took his hands off. "Plus you know Yaomomo as well."
Tennyson wasn't laughing at her quip, or was bouncing off from it. He had his arms crossed… he wanted to be genuine.
He spoke up, rather stressed. "Do you think I'm overthinking it? Should I just confront her?!"
He took a step forward, but to his help, Jiro immediately put up a hand.
"Wait, I..." She grunted. "I mean, I don't know…"
Jiro thought of her too, and tried to look at things from Tennyson's perspective.
From what she knew, Tennyson was good friends with Midoriya and Kirishima, just like Momo, basically sharing the same friend group. But she could see why he didn't go to them.
No offense to either of them, but the *man of hardening* looked like was a little too busy treating everything like a competition, and the greenette would pass out before he could give any advice about *talking to a girl* nevermind comforting her.
That being said though. She thought to herself. "I don't know if I'll be any help either…"
She started tapping her jacks together. It hadn't been that long since she was acquainted with the vice prez either.
They had met each other during the quirk assessment, and from that point on… it was mostly a matter of *Momo* coming back to her to talk on occasion.
Even though they were brief, they were also delightful and fun. The rich girl, when she was speaking from the heart, felt so lively. It was like staring at the sun after being back from a late night Deep Dope concert, and… the two had become friends that way.
Her hands tensed as her gaze went up again and saw Tennyson's wandering eyes again.
The thing about those talks though… were that they didn't really happen the other way around.
"Look Tennyson, I…". She wanted to pick her words carefully, consider all possibilities like Yaomomo would.
"I… I'd say give her space." Jiro said like ripping off a band-aid.
She steeled herself. "From what I heard, Yaomomo is torn… and if you say the wrong thing… I'm afraid you might only tear her down further."
Tennyson was clearly taking it in.
"I mean, maybe you talking to her would be better, but I don't know—"
"I get it…" Ben said. "Thanks…"
"I'd say let her put some pieces back together." Jiro said, and Tennyson was nodding. He could make sense of it as well, right?
But, it… His face also had the shadow of doubt.
"I…" he spoke up. "When she made me talk about my problems, it made me feel better…"
Ben mulled it over on the inside. Yaomomo approached him so many times and… now the proper thing was to wait?
She didn't wait when he wanted her to and… it worked for him.
"And you saw Midoriya and Kirishima too!" His voice rose several decibels, and immediately she made a shh sign.
"The last thing you need is a live audience dumbass!" She smacked him while whispering. After all, they were still in the hallways.
Tennyson stumbled on his words. "Oh… right…" He got back to whispering too.
"For crying out…" She shook her head, thinking to herself. "What was the plan if Yaomomo was around, genius…"
He recomposed. "The point is that they weren't shaken up, but she is and…"
His gaze turned to his palm. "I guess I want to make up with her, as soon as possible."
Jiro then nudged him. "Okay. Well, if you're that determined, go find her…"
She gestured to him to go forward.
And Ben took the bluff. He stepped forward… only to back down.
"Yep, I knew it." Jiro laughed.
Ben turned to her. "You're not helping…"
"Then take my advice." Jiro said. "Yaomomo didn't want me to tell you this part, but… she's trying to improve herself to be better."
"Maybe you could take after that. Find something else to get your mind off things, at least for now, until *you feel she's ready*."
"Yeah…" Ben said as his gaze locked off her and… actually thought about it. "That could work."
As relief crossed his face, and his expression from the morning returned, Jiro also found herself lightening up.
"That's the spirit." she said, and Tennyson's head suddenly raised. He had an idea.
"Thanks Jiro!" He ran ahead, and waved back at her, before fully sprinting. There was probably some rule against running in the hallway that Iida would probably warn him against…
Too bad he's not here!
Ben rolled back his sleeve and pressed on the rims!
"Jetray!"
From the midst of a green flash, the yellow and red manta ray emerged and soared through the hallways of U.A.
This was probably way overkill, but he just couldn't wait!
In a matter of seconds, he was at the door of the teacher's lounge.
He transformed back—!
"T-Tennyson?!"
Ben… had a very questioning expression as Midoriya… was coming out of the teacher's lounge?
"AHEM…"
Ben's eyes then glanced up. Oh, All Might was also here! Wonder how he didn't notice him…
He also waved his hand as… smoke exited the room?
Ben didn't care though.
"Hey, All Might!"
"HELLO YOUNG TENNYSON." The number 1 hero said with his usual bombastic and jovial tone. "WHAT MAY I DO FOR YOU?"
Well… Ben itched the back of his head. This was the time to ask… if only Midoirya wasn't here!
"Am I really gonna accept being All Might's protege… in front of All Might's biggest fan?" As funny as the thought was, it kind of felt… wrong—
"YOU MAY SPEAK FREELY, YOUNG TENNYSON." All Might then cut in. "I HAVE ALREADY INFORMED YOUNG MIDORIYA OF MY OFFER FOR YOU."
"You did?!" Ben's eyes then immediately stared at his panicking friend.
"He… did ask me for my opinion of you…" Midoriya said, buffering after every word.
"Huh…" Ben thought. This was interesting, to be sure.
"Then… I was actually going to ask about that too." Ben laughed. "Is the offer still on the table?"
And All Might's response… was of one extra beaming smile, and a thumbs up.
And after one eventful lunch time… the students of Class 1-A found themselves at the Battle Center A, taking part in their usual Heroics Class, this time doing Stealth Training.
Currently it was Sero's turn, as he was supposed to move in one of the pitch black buildings and take down robots on the inside one after the other without altering any of them…
All Might was monitoring the tape hero's progress, Midoriya was furiously taking notes, and Bakugo was scoffing at how this is for wimps who are too afraid to fight… the usual.
"Yaomomo?" The rich girl felt a nudge to her side from Uraraka. "What's wrong?"
"Huh…" he shook her head. "Nothing!"
Okay, admittedly she was a bit jumpy.
"I… apologize for getting distracted." She said, calming down.
"It's fine…" She said. "Say…"
She tapped her index fingers together. "I… know we're supposed to be watching the matches and learning from them like you said… but…"
Momo saw Uraraka's eyes wandering to one of their classmates in the distance, and… admittedly she was a bit anxious too.
The rich girl knew exactly what her friend had in mind and...
"Should we…" Uraraka started and Momo's feet… couldn't help but move.
"I don't see any reason why not." She stated. Right now, her focus was barely on the exercise as it is. If she continued to wait, then all this time would be wasted.
"Oh okay." Uraraka followed after her.
The two had walked through the crowd, and… the person they wanted to talk, was right in front of them.
She tapped on his shoulder. "Ojiro."
The tailed warrior turned around. He seemed quite surprised… and nervous by this intervention.
"Hi Yaoyorozu, Uraraka." he said. "What's up?"
"Nothing much." Uraraka immediately replied from her side, but… her thoughts stalled. "You?"
"Same, actually." He replied quite sheepishly.
And silence quickly took hold again.
"Was there really nothing for them to talk about?!" Momo thought to herself.
She believed Uraraka's carefree nature would make for more of a conversation, so that it wouldn't be demanding when she asked about Ojiro's expertise and asked to learn of it.
After all, it would make sense if he wanted to keep it secret because of the upcoming festi—
"Say, there is something we wanted to ask." Uraraka then spoke again, and Momo felt the baton actually pass to her.
"Well…" she sighed mentally, before speaking.
"We have been curious about your martial arts skills. I've heard you're quite skilled and effective—"
"Nah…" he put a hand behind his neck.
"Oh come on. Don't be modest." Uraraka spoke up.
"Really!" Ojiro stood his ground though. "I still have so much to learn."
"On that note of betterment…" Momo decided to cut in back between the two, with her face holding more of an executive look. "We've been wanting to improve our skills for the festival and… thought perhaps you could let us learn with you."
"Yeah!" Uraraka enthusiastically jumped in, lightening the tone immediately. "So that we can all do our best as a class!"
Ojiro seemed… a little nervous.
Yaoyorozu took a deep breath. "At least until the sports festival…"
That's when he snapped out of it.
"No, I mean, of course you can, but I can't guarantee that my master will take you in."
Yaomomo shuffled her feet.
"Why not?" Uraraka stepped forward.
"He likes to choose his students after briefly meeting them. Or at least that's what he told—"
"OJIRO!" All Might called out. "YOU'RE UP NEXT!"
"On my way." Ojiro answered, but he then looked back at them.
"I'll give Master a call and ask if he can have you today," he says. "Is after school okay? Maybe around 5?"
Uraraka nodded. "Yeah, it's okay for me."
Momo paused for a second, but… after sharing a look with Uraraka…
Seeing that fiery spirit coming from her, she steeled her resolve.
"It is."
"Is this… it?" Uraraka deadpanned.
It had become 5. She had gotten out of school around 4 and then headed home to wear something casual before the big lesson, but…
"Did I take the right bus?" She couldn't help but doubt herself!
The address she came to looked down like a run down store. With a nail salon on its left named "Day Spa and Nail" and an old pizzeria on its right named… "Joe's Pizza"?...
Long and short of it was that it didn't feel like the secluded, mind-body and soul kind of dojo at all.
It looked shady!
Her eyes drifted to the alley next to the pizzeria, and saw some guy, bearded, wearing a black beanie, green jacket and brown pants, watching her from the side.
As soon as they made eye contact, he retreated back into the crevice.
Shivers went down through her. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to—
A limo stopped by her.
"And we're here!" a super-enthusiastic driver who looked like a duck with a dominant chin spoke up.
"Thank you, Launchpad." Yaomomo came out of the car and the driver gave her a thumbs up before driving off.
Uraraka, not even willing to lie, wanted to tug at her classmate's sleeve. "Yaomomo, maybe we shouldn't…"
She did a double-take to the fancy, shining limo driving away from behind them.
"That's so unfair."
Yaomomo, in the meantime, wasn't even listening.
"I should be out in an hour or so, remember that Launchpad!" She yelled after him.
However, it was no use. He was long gone.
Yaomomo took a deep breath.
"Some real power…" she muttered under it. She could feel her cheeks puffing up. A smile was on its way as stars appeared over her eyes. She was excited—
"Did you say something?" Uraraka asked her.
"No!" She internally jumped. "I mean, yes. I asked if we should head inside."
The gravity hero had a puzzled expression, but she didn't ponder further. "Yeah, let's go."
Momo took a sigh of relief as the two girls pushed the door open.
"Maybe I should keep my expectations in check." she pondered. It was only one martial arts school. She went to several of them before… all in order to get to where she is today with the staff.
"The outside didn't seem like a credible establishment… maybe Ojiro—"
Ringing from a small bell above the door followed the two of them in… and immediately they were met with a peculiar sight.
It was just one big room, like most dojo's, but instead of one color mats and the modern training equipment hanging from the walls, it was authentic.
The floors were wooden and covered with carpets of various patterns, fashioning many shades of green, red and white, sprinkled in with yellow.
Weapons of all sorts of class; swords, spears, staffs, nunchucks were hanging over the wall like they were museum pieces. Even though most were wooden like the swords; the spears and the chains of the nunchucks were all hard-forged steel.
There were a couple of steps that seemingly led to a higher platform, but behind those were an actual tree growing inside the building! With a small glass overhead acting as a source for sunlight and everything!
It wasn't being obstructive or anything either.
The whole place… kind of reminded her of the Forever Knight base from yesterday, but the air was more… gentle, and peaceful.
It went without saying that this was her first time encountering something like this.
"It's like a temple from the mountains!-" The gravity girl then voiced her amazement with her mouth all the way open.
"I do have to admit, it's quite monumental…"
"Ha!"
From the elevated platform, two figures showed up.
One was Ojiro, now fashioning a white kimono, with all green accessories, like wristbands, belt with a dash and slippers. He was launching all kinds of attacks at his opponent, who seemed to be backstepping and playing on the defensive… all with a smile on his face.
The opponent in question? He had a tall, lean and muscular physique. He seemed to be human with dark brown irises, black hair, and sharp features on his face, especially around the eyes.
He was also seemingly brandishing the same kimono as their friend, but his was dark red with the accessories being completely black. There was also some sort of symbol imprinted on both sides of his chest.
Yaomomo squinted.
It didn't feel familiar to her, but if she was going to describe it to her father later to search, she would say it resembled a bell flower with five red circles or… *five people* emerging from one center.
Their classmate went for two quick succession jabs, before going for a back kick.
The figure however, stepped back from both attacks, before blocking the kick with his forearm.
"Control my central line Ojiro." the figure spoke.
"Ha!" Ojiro also jumped down and went for another right palm strike!
The figure parried.
Then Ojiro tried for a chop with his left.
The figure tried moving right, but Ojiro was immediately on him!
Using the tail, he propelled himself, stayed in front of the target, and went for a low kick!
However, the figure jumped in place, and did a split kick to his face. Ojiro tried to raise his arms and block, but he was off balance!
His back, as well as his whole body, found itself… on the ground.
"That was very good Ojiro." A hand was lent down in front of the student. "However, you are still very stilted during your attacks."
"I know Master." Ojiro said, grabbing and getting back to his feet.
"Remember, don't think so much on what your opponent wouldn't expect, rather act to make sure your opponent *can't* expect them. Even a usual pattern then could be a deadly weapon…"
"...as a switch-up could be how I catch them off guard." Ojiro said as the revelation and follow up to the sentence flowed into his head.
The Master nodded in response.
"The rest of it is just practicing and extending the common moves on your list." He put an arm on his shoulder.
"I see much more growth left Ojiro… both for you and your new *Fist of the Tail* techniques."
"Who knows…" He mixed in a competitive spirit. "Maybe you will give me a closer fight next time."
The master laughed, however Ojiro still seriously declared: "Right, Master Hamato!"
No matter the mannerisms, he didn't let up with the respect.
"Now…" Yaomomo then saw the Master's gaze turn to them. "I assume these are your friends?"
Ojiro looked over to them too. A smile brandished his face.
"Yes, they are. Master Hamato, meet Uraraka and Yaoyorozu of Class 1-A."
The master bowed and Yaomomo made sure to follow his lead… before also hearing Uraraka frantically mirror her.
"We're grateful for considering us to be new students, Master Hamato." Momo said.
"Oh, please do away with those pleasantries." he waved his hand. "My father is still alive and well, and I'm not looking to take after him just yet."
He looked at a jade cane in the corner. "After all, I still have much to learn as well."
"I understand…" Momo lifted her head up, Uraraka then followed after her.
The master turned around. "Give me a moment to prepare the stage…"
Momo saw the dark-brown irises turn to her, and stay. "...As I expect quite the show from the both of you."
He walked on up the stairs.
And Ojiro leaned over to them in the meantime. "He likes to be called Master Yoshi instead, by his first name."
"Still a Master?" Momo couldn't help but murmur out loud, getting Ojiro's attention. "I meant no disrespect–! I was just considering his humble nature about his own skills, I thought he would avoid calling himself a mas—"
"I haven't been raised in the mountains for 34 years to not be called a master!" His voice came from above.
Ojiro leaned again. "He's also very intune with his senses… including hearing."
"Especially the hearing!" The master talked back again.
"He grew up in the mountains…" Uraraka murmured, while Momo remained unphased.
"I see…" she said. "I apologize!-"
She realized she was yelling for no real good reason. "I didn't mean anything by it."
"It's fine!" He said, before stepping back into their frame, and gesturing for them to his side.
Ojiro walked towards the platform first. The two girls followed suit.
That had Momo scared for a second.
The way the master… or rather *Master Yoshi* moved. It was very skilled, efficient, fast, confident…
All without quirk usage and a smile. That kind of relaxed attitude in the face of combat.
It inherently… spelt out strong for her...
Momo wanted to be his student.
"Wait." Uraraka interjected with a peculiar look as they walked up the steps. "If he wants to be called Master Yoshi… then why weren't you calling him that?"
Ojiro had a nervous look on his face. "Because I—"
"Because, it took me 10 years to let him grow from just 'Master'." Master Yoshi spoke, as he then gestured to them to sit. "Apparently I need to wait 10 more if I wish for anything else."
"I'm sorry, Master Hamato." Ojiro said.
He looked at the two girls and gestured to his student. "See what I mean?"
Both girls nodded as Ojiro felt a jolt run through him, just realizing it.
The master continued. "In either case, our time is limited."
He walked to the center of the arena. Yaoyorozu immediately made sure to straighten up. Her heart was racing to hear his next words.
"Ojiro has already given me an introduction regarding your capabilities. However, what I'm most interested in is your ambitions. What do you hope to learn by enrolling under my tutelage?"
Ojiro leaned over again. "Master Hamato has expertise on many forms of martial arts and weapons. Don't be afraid to be creative."
"Don't be afraid to be creative…" Yaoyorozu repeated in her head. Well, that was good to know, however she already knew why she came here, to get a better mastery over her staff.
"Maybe my swings could be more refined…" She thought, putting a finger near her mouth. "My previous teacher did claim that I placed too much power over my strikes. Perhaps that habit resurfaced—"
"What a *sad* thought!—"
Momo shook her head. Like an arrow had stabbed, she had felt her heart momentarily sink.
"It… would make sense." She took a deep breath. "The Highbreed from yesterday, and Tennyson's history… It was… Or rather, I can say *it is* affecting my muscle memory…"
Her attempts to rationalize it were working… Thinking of her… fear… as a string and following it to its other edge…
There was nothing to be scared o—
"Well…" Uraraka spoke up, and pulled the rug from under her. "I don't know if it's much, but my quirk requires me to touch someone…"
She twiddled her thumbs. "I was thinking I could learn some moves that would help me get close to my opponent?"
"Ah, mobility training then." Master Yoshi stated.
Uraraka added. "I know, it's not really fighting, but—"
The Master held up his hand. "That's quite alright, Uraraka. Speed and stamina are just as important in a battle as technique. And it is commendable that you can accurately see the weaknesses in your style."
"Not everyone has that skill."
He threw a glance at Ojiro specifically in that last part. And the student sweatdropped.
Master Yoshi gestured Uraraka to rise.
"I will show you several ways of effectively dashing at an opponent from a distance. Judging by your performance, I will determine whether you can be my second student."
"Second?" Yaomomo nudged Ojiro. "Then you were his only—"
"I will tell you about it later." the student replied.
Master Yoshi took the ready position. Uraraka, steeled her stance, outstretched her hands with her palms towards her opponent.
"I just need to show him… just what I'm made of!"
And after 30 minutes or so, she was starting to lose heart.
"Good, focus on keeping your arms to stay back like that. Don't let them wave around. Keep your intentions unclear." Master Yoshi yelled out as the brunette ran circles around him.
The advice, she processed it like a supercomputer, trying to apply it. "Keeping… unclear…"
Her arms were behind her back, and her posture was slightly leaned forward. Was this really making her go faster?
No matter, she *did* have a plan—
"Now, as your enemy, I know you do intend to strike, but do not know when or how. It is your responsibility to not give that way until you choose your moment to—"
"Choose?" Uraraka broke the circle and rushed at the master, from his back left. "How about now?!"
She outstretched her hand. "If I get him—!"
"The back… is a very predictable spot."
Lifting his right feet off the ground and turning on one foot, Master Yoshi now faced her. He riled his hand back for a hit, but—
"Now! To improvise!" She managed to stop herself and tried sliding on the mat. "I can touch his leg and make him float!"
Her first four fingers connected, but then—
All five fingers connected.
He began floating upwards?
Uraraka couldn't believe her eyes. "Yeah!"
She jumped up from where she laid and pointed right at his floating body. "I got you!"
The master scoffed. "Right you did, dead to rights. Well done Uraraka."
She felt her chest puff up, as even the master seemed to have a satisfied look in his eyes.
"Now… if you could?"
"Oh, yes, sorry." She put her fingers together and he touched down gracefully, without even making a sound.
"Of course I could have avoided such a strategy…"
Uraraka gave a knowing look, crossing her arms and tilting her head—
"...with a leap or an attack that would break your hand."
…only for that look to disappear as she flinched.
"But you have shown your drive and initiative." He said. "Admittedly it has gotten me interested to see how that grows."
He walked away.
Uraraka tilted her head. "Does that mean—"
"Yes." he responded. "I will train you."
Uraraka couldn't help but jump in place again. "Yes! Thank you Master Yoshi!"
The pink blushes on her cheeks expanded, her eyes closed as well.
"Congrats Uraraka." Ojiro's voice came through, with… clapping from her classmates.
She realized that she was putting on this parade… in front of them and…
"I mean…" She rushed back over in front of the master and bowed. "Thank you, for all the advice you've given me today and everything else."
She kind of blabbered towards the end there, but the master didn't seem to mind one bit.
"It was my pleasure. I look forward to seeing you here again."
Uraraka then gladly sat back down, and as she did so, Master's sights were set on his potential third student. "And now you, Yaoyorozu."
He assembled his hands behind him. "What do you wish to learn?"
She stood up.
"I have already taken lessons in using a staff." she said, generating a pink glow from her wrist and pulling out her signature metal weapon. "Thus I wish to improve and strengthen my current techniques. I want to be stronger."
"I see." The master looked at her attentively… and curiously.
He took several steps back, and stopped at the other side of the space. "Then we will conduct a one-on-one fight to determine your current skill level. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes, it is." She held it with both hands, determination also covering her glare and face like a mask. Her pupils enlarged and fully scanned her opponent. "May I ask if you are planning to fight me empty handed?"
"It's fine." Master Yoshi stated. "Just feel free to try your best. Come at me in any way you wish."
He darted his eyes around. "Except for explosives however. There are quite a few things here that I hold—"
The student didn't even give him a moment.
She ran forward and went for a poke! The master, however, blocked it.
She spinned it around, gathering the momentum for a down strike!
He sidestepped.
She grabbed the staff by its end and tried to sweep the leg with an area of effect.
He jumped over it.
She countered with an up strike that he once again pushed aside, leaving her side vulnerable!
He landed on the ground and Momo's eyes widened. She had left an opening…
Yaoyorozu clenched her side for an impact, narrowing her eyes… but, it didn't come.
"He… let me go?" She thought and changed her hold over the staff again.
Like she was canoeing, she went for two downward smashes… only for her staff to be grabbed after the first one.
Master Hamato however let it go, and took a leap back.
"He's defensive." She ran after him, spinning the staff in the meantime and immediately taking another swing!
"Wow…" Uraraka said.
"First time seeing a battle?" Ojiro asked.
"First time seeing it this close." Uraraka said. "The moves are so fluid."
"Yeah, watching Master Hamato will do that. He's always so minimalistic, but efficient, even with weapons." Ojiro tilted his head.
"Weapons?" Uraraka asked.
"Yeah." He answered nonchalantly. "He tried passing some of those onto me, but I probably got rusty."
"Rusty?.. Wait Ojiro, you got to use weapons?!" It took a second to click in.
"Just one or two…" He tried brushing it off, but no! She wasn't going to have the humble act. Uraraka was curious.
"What kind were they?" She excitedly asked with an idea already popping in her head. "Wait, was it swords or…"
She snapped her fingers, trying to remember. "The two sticks with the chain…"
"Nunchucks?" Ojiro asked.
"Yeah, those."
He shook his head, and then raised his hands like he was actually grasping two things. "No, but I did get to use sais."
"Sais…" she muttered, and Ojiro nodded.
"It was only for two or three months though." he said. "I just couldn't get used to them and that made me get angry and… Like, I was good, but it messed with my forms when I *wasn't* using them."
"Ah, gotcha." She said, "I'd like nunchucks though."
Ojiro asked: "Why nunchucks?"
"Well…" she sheepishly said. "I saw the gag with them so much in cartoons and stuff…"
"Oh, you mean the spinning and…"
"...hitting their own head thing, yeah." She finished it, mimicking the motion. "I just want to see what it would be like to use them professionally."
"I mean, hey, once you're done with your mobility training, you could ask Master Hamato."
She shrugged in response. "Maybe I could."
All the while Yaomomo was fighting, like her life depended on it!
"Come on Momo!" She tried motivating herself. "He's handing the advantage to you… so utilize it!"
She was throwing out every move that she ever learned, in quick succession in fact but none of them were sticking!
Master Hamato just felt… invincible!
She leaped back and waited.
"I'm getting tired." She looked ahead and saw Master Yoshi completely fine, almost like he was waiting for her. "And I've failed to do much of a headway…"
"Quite impressive." He assembled his hands behind his back. "After our match is done, I may even be inclined to ask for your previous master's name."
Yaomomo didn't say anything.
"May even be…" That specific choice in his words rang in her mind. That teasing tone…
It… It got on her nerves, it—
"...was what I heard about your quirk wrong?"
Momo felt snapped back to reality. "Excuse me?"
He raised an eyebrow, like he realized that she wasn't listening. "I was referring to what Ojiro told me." he repeated. "I heard you had a Creation quirk?"
"Yes." she made sure to nod. "I can turn my lipids into any construct I want if I know their molecular composition and if they are not organic."
"I see. It sounds quite versatile and applicable… However, so far, you have stuck to only using your staff." he stroked his chin.
"I had judged this to be a test of my capabilities with the staff, was it not?"
Master Hamato shook his head. "I said, it's a test of your current skill level, not just the staff. You're free to do whatever you want… except for explosives, like I said."
The prospect ran through her head.
Her muscles tensed again, like they were just allowed to have a break, and it was once again game time.
"I understand." Quickly a shield emerged by her left arm.
She rushed forward again, and as the staff got grabbed again,
"Now, improv—!" the master said, but the response was instant!
She tackled him with the shield!
He took the hit, and let go of the staff, but he didn't seem hurt one bit. "Good!"
Momo gritted her teeth. He still wasn't budging!
She went for another hit with the shield, maybe a bash from the side this time—
"No, just… just do it!" She yelled from the inside.
She went for another bash from the side, but he parried it right away.
"Don't give him an inch!"
Momo spun the staff around with hand and aimed it at his ribs, but he parried yet again.
He couldn't side step much anymore… but that wasn't to say he was trying.
"He's still holding back…" Her onyx eyes glimmered. He's not hitting back…
Her eyebrows crossed and the speed of her attacks increased. "I took this to be a real match!"
Master Yoshi however, didn't break form.
The calmer and static Yaomomo was disappearing from his eyes, and a much more agile, treating the battle not like a game of chess but a fight, came to be.
"As you can see, I have not tried hitting you back." he said as he was blocking. "That is—"
Momo took another leap back, leaving… the staff?
"She's… not listening?" He raised his arms.
Unlike before, this wasn't for a breather… it was for something far reckless.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She riled her left arm back.
"Is she really—"
Yep, she really threw the circular metal shield at him!
"Quite the bold move." His hands moved towards the shield, while his eyes watched the opponent, she was attempting to use the chance to get closer.
Her eyes were burning, her hand was glowing pink and… his eyebrows also crossed at the prospect.
Yoshi put his hands on the shield mid-air, one above and one below, and redirected it towards the empty wall.
"Now—" As he thought, he saw Yaoyorozu five feet away from him. One mismanaged leap could be his end…
He saw where Yaoyorozu was about to step next and Master Hamato… adapted.
He stepped on the edge of the staff she dropped earlier, and sent it rolling, right under the teen's descending foot.
"This is where it ends…"
He held up his hand as a chain emerged from her hand, but she… slipped on the staff, falling to the ground.
"Yame!" he yelled before her spry nature could get Yaoyorozu up to try again.
Continuing to hold the chain with one hand, he helped her up with his other hand… and got a better look at her face.
She had calmed down, but still seemed angry, feeling ashamed… frustrated…
"That last attack was ambitious… but unique." he said.
Yaoyorozu raised her head, as he opened his palm and saw the iron weight at the end of the chain.
All the while, Yaomomo got to have a good look at the master's hands… or rather, what was specifically strapped around his palms.
"Shuko hand claws…" she pondered. "So, he… He wasn't fighting empty handed."
He could have gone in the offensive…if he *needed* to.
Momo feels blood rush to her fists again—
"Let me guess… A kusarigama?"
She looked up and saw the master smiling.
Uraraka turns to Ojiro for an explanation. He replies. "Imagine a sickle, but with a chain at its hilt, connected to an iron weight."
Momo, in the meantime, nodded rather irritatedly. "It was going to be…"
She tried breathing though. Calming her… mind, so she may not come across as impolite. "I… was aiming to restrict your defenses and prevent you from running away."
"And then to have me at checkmate?"
"I… didn't see another way to win." She said in admission.
He stroked his chin, taking in the mannerisms of the creation girl. "It was still creative. A Kusarigama would be a good weapon to hinder my movement…"
Momo… forced her anger to subside. "Thank you.."
"I didn't finish." This time, he cuts her off. "However, it was slow."
He assembled his hands behind his back. "Not as in movement, but I could pinpoint the moment your tell switched from using the staff to win, to just buying time with the staff to come up with the plan. I was given ample time to prepare, as your body was too honest with its intentions."
She couldn't help but let frustration bubble inside her… but she instead lowered her head…
It wasn't good enough, was it?
"I said I had prior experience, so of course he would expect something more!-"
A hand landed on her shoulder.
"But the potential is there."
She raised her head, with oblivious, questioning eyes.
"You have a boundless pool of potential Yaoyorozu. Your initial moves were not bad, the extra utilization of the shield was well done considering I didn't hit back, and the final attack shows creativity with a valiant spirit."
He took off his other hand claw.
"I would also like to train you."
Relief crashed down on her. Her eyes were down, but she could hear Ojiro's applause and Uraraka's cheering in the background and… she could feel her emotions getting to her too.
An ear to ear grin did appear. She looked at him with determination. "I will make sure to not let you down."
"And I'm counting on it." he said, before turning to all of his *now* students. "We will be ending the training here today. You are all free to go."
Uraraka and Ojiro got up and bowed.
Yaomomo made sure to bow too, and moved to follow her friends outside… only to feel a hand on her shoulder again.
"Except for you Yaoyorozu."
"Huh?" That had caught her off-guard. "May I know the reason?"
"You…" The master pointed at the wall. "...are going to help me tidy up."
She looked and saw the shield had dug into the wooden pillar.
"Oh… That's fair."
"We'll wait for you outside." Uraraka said, keeping up her happy mood, as did Ojiro.
She waved after them. Might as well be quick then, it would be impolite to make her classmates wait.
As the little bell above the door rang, she stepped next to the shield.
"Now, what to do with this…" Her eyes scanned the dug in iron shield, and the mark it made on the pillar. Instinctively, she took the first option and tried pulling on it, but even with full force, it didn't budge.
"I… see?" Well, this was a peculiar situation.
A pink glow emerged from her arm. "Maybe a crowbar, but…I don't want to do anymore damage to the wooden pillar if possible—"
With one firm kick, Master Yoshi knocked the shield out of the wall!
"Wh- What?"
He lowered his foot, and Yaomomo's eyes widened. The wood… should have made some snapping sounds, but no.
"I apologize for tricking you." Master Hamato softly spoke. "But my evaluation of you hadn't finished."
"O-Oh…" She was still flabbergasted from the kick. "I-I didn't realize… If it hasn't finished, then would you like me to recall Uraraka and Ojiro—"
"No." He held up his hand. "What I'm about to speak, struck me as something you would like to keep private."
Yaomomo, couldn't help but feel anxious. What… was he going to say? What did he observe?
He sat down on the ground on his knees.
She did the same upon his gesture to do so, right in front of him.
"In the beginning, when you were stern in using just a staff…" he spoke. "I might have made them seem like love taps to your friends. However…"
He held up his finger. "Those were not attacks that belonged to a training match."
His voice had some kind of gruff to it… Master Hamato didn't seem happy.
"I'm… sorry." She rested her hands on her knees. "I was really adamant to be your student…"
She was going full strength, because it was a test of her capabilities. It was like Aizawa had said, if she didn't do her best then it would be meaningless…
"The force I can deal with, but you were fierce, merciless even." he put emphasis on the end of it. "Your eyes were trailing off, not seeing anything that was happening in the ring."
She… backed down. She wanted to hear the full evaluation.
"I know I commended that shield throw, but it was incredibly reckless… considering a person of your traits."
'Reckless' and… 'person with your traits'
Those words, intentionally by her master or not, came out as stinging…
Momo believed that it wasn't the case, however an inner feeling… couldn't help but compare the situation to being scolded.
Master Yoshi sighed. Momo instinctively lifted her head again, wanting desperately to know just what was going through his mind.
"I could tell that you weren't fighting me." he saw her gaze waver. "Is there perhaps something more that you wanted to attain by being my student?"
Yaomomo… took a deep breath. She…
"Strength…" Her hands clenched her skirt. "I…"
Her teeth grinded as the grip that wrinkled her skirt hardened.
"I feel weak… Master."
"Why so?" he asked.
"Why…" The question tugged at her…
"My classmates." The words spilled from her mouth. "They all have such wonderful quirks."
She made her hand glow pink again. "Super strength, transformation, Fire and Ice, Explosion, Dark Shadow and even…"
She points to the door. "Gravity nullification."
Momo retracted her hand back to her chest. "But…"
Her eyebrows raised. There…
She let go of her skirt, and got up from where she sat…
She went to her backpack.
Master Hamato watched her as she searched around, and then came back to him… with a doll in her hand.
"I can only create these… *these things*."
He inspected the doll. Putting his student, and the item side by side, he could remark on the similarities the two shared.
The face… The expressionless… almost frowning look.
"And I am aware it is a versatile quirk, but…"
"It is lacking in power…" The master said, stroking his chin before putting the doll in the middle of them, letting her student also inspect it with her eyes. "You feel like the Swiss army knife in a weapons shop."
"I…" She nodded her head and got a grip. "I am feeling as though I need to do all these flips and tricks… just to accomplish what my peers do by design."
"That's because you are." The master was blunt in his logic, but… compassionate with his tone. "Is that a bad thing?"
She wanted to tear herself apart…
"Yes!" Desperation freely flowed into her tone. "When I imagine what's being demanded of me…"
Her words weren't calming her down now… not anymore.
"...as a hero and as their teammate…"
It was like meddling with an open wound on her skin.
The Highbreed, an invasion of their world from beyond the stars…
She closed her eyes. Her breath hitched. "...I feel like I was not the correct person to pick… to rely on."
Even when she opened them, Yaomomo couldn't face him.
Nowadays she was feeling like she did that a lot…
Once rising through expectations set by her parents… passing through the limits set by herself…
Only to now… shy away from others.
Silence enveloped the dojo.
It left her with her thoughts, alone…
"I understand what you're going through." The Master's tone broke through that.
Yaomomo looked up to him, and caught his glance briefly on the jade cane, before assembling his hands.
"I'm the next in line to be my clan's Jonin." He said, putting his chin behind the gathered hands. "And equally, people are holding many expectations above my head."
"Jonin… The head of a ninja clan…" Momo muttered. It was supposed to be a great honor to be destined for such a position… but in this day and age…
"I'm not only supposed to be the most powerful fighter…" he said, not frustrated, but sorrowful. "...but also uphold, maintain and grow a practice that's very well on its way to fading."
He assembled his hands in front of him. "In times like these, where the world feels against you… "
A jolt ran up through her.
"How much patience do I need to have, for your minute intelligence to make peace with it? You, your entire race, your planet will all fall before us."
She remembers… being sidelined in that battle. The world, feeling against her cannon… against her creations.
Master Yoshi's words continued. "... these are when the expectations can feel like the most vile poison."
He pointed to her. "Because they are set by the people closest to your heart."
Yaomomo wanted to say something… but she listened instead.
"Ojiro had informed me that you were one of the recommended students in your class, and have become class president."
Momo nodded yes. "Though I must correct him. I have been elected to be the *Vice* class president."
"That doesn't matter." he said. "Point is that people are trusting, towards your judgment and intelligence."
Another thunderstruck.
"But you?! I thought you would be better, Yaomomo!"
Her heart… felt like it shook from its position, but her master's words continued to flow.
"Even Midoriya, who I heard was chosen first, wasn't chosen for his strength, or was he?" Her master asked, and Momo reconsidered.
His quirk… admittedly it was a double edged sword. His planning against Bakugo, and his spirit most likely had a more prominent effect in the election…
He got up from the ground and towered over his student.
After hesitating for a second, Hamato Yoshi picked up the jade cane from the corner. "People have known you for your intelligence Yaoyorozu. What lies in front of your path is more vision, insight and creativity…"
He tapped her on the head with the cane a couple times. "...especially creativity."
"I… I understand that." Momo shook her head. "But I… I have never observed one to hit another with their intelligence—"
"That's because it is not possible." The master, once again very bluntly, stated. "But strength is known to manifest in more than one way."
He raised the cane, no longer letting it touch the ground.
"The quest of improving your physical strength is a fine path." He pointed to the mark made on the pillar. "However…"
He let the cane touch the ground.
"You have already demonstrated today that you're adequate in—"
Hearing that last word… Momo's body bolted to her feet.
"But I don't desire to be adequate!" She raised her tone frustratedly. "That is what I…"
That word rang in her mind like a bell.
*Adequate…*
That… no she couldn't be that.
"I understand where you're coming from, Master." She tried to get a grip again. "However, you have not seen the sheer force they can exert!"
She wanted to be clear… and concise with her points. Just like she was in a debate… just like what was expected of her…
"If Midoriya can get his quirk under control, he is sure to be an impactful hero.,, just as how All Might is now." She made an opening. "And Tennyson… his transformations have such a vast range. The amount of missions, or crisises he would be able to take part in solving…"
Her words stopped short.
"If… there was a villain that had the power to doom this nation." She looked at him dead in the eye. "I can see *them* standing their ground and saving it!"
It started to shake again. "But in that image, I… I'm not…"
She looked him in the eye, clenching her fists, desperate for him to understand!
"I don't have a place next to them!"
Her breathing was shallow, rapid.
"Then why…"
The master lifted out his hand from the cane, and put it on her shoulder again.
She… She didn't know if it was her eyes misinterpreting the sight in front of him… but the master had an advising, and a bit of a pleading look on his face…
He was asking her to stop, and Momo… obliged, just like any other request.
Her tone felt completely shut down. "What good is my mind, my plans, *my creations*… if they don't allow me to be in that picture."
Like she had confessed, her body relaxed… and her words stopped.
It was like pulling out an arrow that had stabbed into her…
Now that she did it, she was letting everything… flow.
Master Yoshi sighed. "I'm not going to deny you access to my knowledge, however I suggest one more time that you heed this advice Yaoyorozu Momo…"
He opened his eyes and turned back at her.
His tone was stern, but not angry or frustrated. It was cautionary, unlike anything that came before.
"This is not your path."
Momo felt her world shake.
He held the cane with both hands. "Subjecting yourself to this, while granting you some new desirable abilities, will only serve to drain you mentally, physically, and spiritually. I suggest you think—"
"Apologies Master…" Yaoyorozu's weakened hands were once again clenched. "But, my mind is made."
She was giving into her frustration.
"I want to fight with my friends on the front lines." she says.
"If all that improving my mind will do is allow me to watch from a safe distance while my friends are risking their lives… then I propose *that* to be the wrong path."
She bowed her head, not faltering. "In these two and a half weeks, I want to follow your teachings and grow stronger… to be someone… in that image."
"This sports festival is going to be really important for us."
She looked at the doll… left at where they once sat.
"I have to…"
"I see..." Master Yoshi gave in, gripping the top of the cane. "You…"
He sighed. "Very well, you may come back here tomorrow, same time. Tell Uraraka and Ojiro as well."
"I will. See you tomorrow… Master Hamato."
The bell rang from the door again, indicating her exit.
And he barely avoided facepalming… just settling for shaking his head slowly. "Teenagers…"
He could barely avoid stomping the cane to get some frustration out… only to realize that he was still holding this thing.
Yoshi set it down and dusted off his hands.
"She's disillusioned." He murmurs, and looked out the window as she met up with her friends.
"She has the potential to make the most unique contraptions for any warrior, yet still only cares about how hard she can punch a board!"
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, calming his nerves. "I have to remember I'm her teacher. I can't give her the answers directly… but damn is this frustrating! How does my father deal with it?!"
He assembled his hands behind him, closing his eyes, trying to not punch something out of anger.
Yoshi tried to talk himself down, taking deep breaths… and letting out the anger.
"This is something she has to pick up for herself…"
Yoshi could feel himself being more mellowed out.
"I just hope experience, will be a kinder teacher…"
Yaoyorozu caught up with her friends.
"That took a bit long." Ojiro said.
She patted her pockets to see if she got everything. "I apologize. That shield was stuck into the pillar. We couldn't get it out."
"No wonder, it was an amazing throw!" Uraraka said.
"Yes, I agree as well…" Ojiro nodded. "I must have underestimated your prior experience, especially with the staff."
"No, I don't think you have Ojiro…" Yaoyorozu tried waving it off, but her shoulder hurt a little.
However she was adamant to not show it, and instead looked back at the school with a steeled resolve. "I have a teacher now…"
"With this power and expertise… I will be able to make my place on the team." She clenches her hand. "Everything… is up to me now."
"Work hard, Momo. All I have to do now is work hard… and prove it in the Sports Festival—"
"Oh, wait!" Uraraka cut in. "This school is going to be paid, isn't it?"
Ojiro shakes his head. "No, Master Hamato is intent on teaching anyone who wants to learn. It's his moral code."
Uraraka sighed with relief, but…
"Wait, h-how does he keep the lights on then?"
Ojiro, in response, leaned really close to her ear, put his hands on his mouth and whispered. "His wife lends him money—"
"I heard that!" They heard Master Yoshi back from the school!
Uraraka and Yaomomo had almost jumped but… the brunette laughed it off as the sun set with them, and the rich girl of class 1-A… had a smile as well.
As the setting sun started to shine through every window in Japan, there was one familiar name, at a garage around quarter of a mile to Team Idaten hero agency.
Kevin, rolling out from under his car, reached for his red toolbox.
Shuffling of the metal tools echoed in the empty space.
The doors were closed, and as far as accommodations went, there were some… boxes, lockers… one green couch, a bathroom behind the wall… and a small TV on the other side of the room, running wherever the hell was on.
He couldn't really bother watching it, but the place itself?
It was… cozy, for the lack of a better word.
"Ugh…" He frustratedly grunted. "Where's that 12 mm…"
His glance searched the new place, only to be stuck on the light of the bathroom. He had left it open, didn't he—?
There it was, shining next to the sink.
"There it is…" He got up and fastwalked, swiping the wrench off the counter. "Ready for another round."
He tapped the tool to his left hand, as the shine coming from the tool met his eyes… and then reflected off from his car.
But…
"Still some mud stains around the tires…"
All he could see were the damages from last night. The extra work that it sprung up for him.
"Hope the paint is the only coating I'm gonna have to check." He sighed internally, as he walked over to check the mudguard. "Pyronite wax's enough of a hassle to get…"
Wait… No, his usual pipeline wouldn't cut it anymore…
Kevin took a deep breath, and… looked down for a second.
First the tires and then his hands…
Things were different now, weren't they?
Kevin then got up, and as his right hand slid across the side of the car… he made his way to the trunk.
His hands lifted up… a laser lance left over from the knights.
A souvenir he decided to keep from the deal. Kevin smirked, guess it's time for it to come in han—!
"Something I can help with?"
His eyes snapped towards the door. The "parole officer" that was assigned to him had just arrived.
He looked at him. "Well?" Ingenium, with his helmet under his arm, his shining armor still over him, and a bright-eyed smile plastered onto his face, spoke up from the door.
"Yeah, sure." Kevin rolled his eyes, as he grabbed the weapon's hilt and started twisting the end of it.
Ingenium walked over, with his arms assembled at his back and his happy expression fading into curiosity. He put a hand on his chin, as his eyes narrowed on the tools coming in and out of the red toolbox.
"Gotta warn ya." Kevin continued to work on the gun. "This tech here might be a little beyond your time."
Ingenium raised an eyebrow. "Is that so..?"
Kevin, got through. The end of the gun was completely out, and there stood a small glowing red marble.
He surgically laid the marble down… before noticing the said marble starting to move on its own.
"Shit!" He threw the rest of the gun away. "Gotta to grab a casin—"
"Here!"
Right into his hands, Ingenium threw a yellow sphere.
"Ether-point energy cells have to be contained, right?"
Just for a second, Kevin's eyes widened. Yeah, that's what he had forgotten. He put the red glowing marble in the yellow orb, but… how did—?
He must have not recovered, because Ingenium clearly looked like he caught something. Crossing his arms, Ingenium put on a teasing smile. "Guess, I'm not as out of my depth as you think."
Kevin scoffed, and opened his mouth to answer… only to close it back down.
"What brought you here?" he asked instead, and rather demandingly at that.
Ingenium, curiously, adapted. "Just got back from another mission." he said.
"Thought I would come by and check in, see how you're settling in."
Kevin didn't really care to respond. "Well…"
He gestured to the garage. "I'm settled."
"Leave."
Well, Ingenium knew that his prisoner didn't exactly say that last part, but… he clearly implied it. He kept his eyes on Kevin's hands as he worked, and shifted them up to his face, but Kevin just… had his eyes on his work.
The golden orb, with a black glass on its middle section started to light up. Kevin then grabbed some wires on one hand and pliers on the other—
"I also see here that you're running a V8 Turbo with Planchaküle tech from the 70s."
His head immediately bolted up like there was a DNAlien ambush. Ingenium was inspecting the engine. HIS car's engine.
"A bit retro, don't you think?"
He quickly rushed over and closed the hood!
"Yeah!.." The criminal opened his mouth, like he wanted to talk about it more… but closed it again.
He crossed his arms. "It's… a little."
Ingenium looked back at the hood. "Can't get that sweet sound otherwise."
Kevin was still looking away, mouth shut.
"You know…" He looked back at him. "The mission I was just at… it was a high-speed chase. Your car would have been pretty handy."
"Of course." Kevin instinctively remarked as he walked back to the table. "This planet and it's level 2 tech…"
He started grumbling after that, but Ingenium was happy with what he got.
He had the criminal talking.
"Really now?.." The pro hero teasingly asked. "How *did* you fashion this old girl of yours?"
Kevin continued talking as he attached two cables before pulling on them, making sure they were fixed in place. "Installed a Kineceleran drive unit just last week."
Ingenium whistled. "That's good…"
Okay, now they were really getting somewhere. "How much power does it have now?"
"Fifty percent." Kevin attached another wire.
"Getting more mileage out of that gas… and more speed." Ingenium put on a satisfied smirk as he nodded. "What's on the list now?"
"Durability, probably." Kevin attached one more. "Can never be too upgraded for that."
"Huh, well… " Ingenium scratches the back of his neck. "I guess I have some Orishan glass."
Kevin looked up. "Really now?"
Ingenium nodded. "Yeah, it's a long story—"
"Tonight, I was going to work on Amperi electrical insulation." Kevin… had a smile?
Ingenium made sure to not make a big deal of it. He put a hand on his chin. "I know a bit of stuff about that— Oh, I do have some Pyronite wax as well."
He itched the back of his neck. "I got it as a gift yesterday and I've been using it on my own…"
Ingenium looked Kevin in the eye again and… his smile was gone with the wind.
"I'm good." the criminal bluntly replied, and just grabbed the orb, walking over to the car.
What he was working on the table seemed done but… Ingenium was still curious about that look.
His glare, it was hardened, but not angry. Like… he…
He didn't want to talk.
Kevin got inside his car, and Ingenium came over to watch him plug in the wires. He then tapped on the buttons near the screen.
A sonar-like display came up, and the system seemed to start calibrating on its own, as Kevin leaned back on his seat, eyes on the roof of his car, all with an empty expression.
"What is…" Ingenium tried speaking up again. "So, what's this device that you worked on?"
Kevin still wasn't forthcoming though, and…
In the back of his mind, Ingenium knew he could just be "the parole officer" and demand that he would answer him, but…
It felt too desperate—
"You already knew the power cell."
Kevin's remark cut through his thoughts. He paused for a bit, but then nodded slowly in understanding.
The criminal then tapped at the side of the screen. "Searching for ether-point energy signatures."
He crossed his arms. "Knights were selling this thing, and those DNAliens were eating it up."
"If we track them, then that's two birds with one stone."
Ingenium… decided to give the kid credit. That was a good point… and a good plan.
"There has to be more outposts." Kevin sighed. "Places that can take the place of what we wrecked."
Ingenium saw him cross his arms, but also get restless, impatient.
The radar returned no signals. He pressed on more buttons on the side, calibrating it. "And I'd like to cut down some before sundown."
The machine started adjusting once more. The circular, covered area seemed to widen.
Ingenium was impressed. He couldn't help but remark: "You're really putting in an effort, huh?"
Kevin's eyes briefly widened. His hands stopped with the calibration, before restarting slowly. He stopped talking again.
Ingenium wanted to facepalm. He shouldn't have said that…
He saw Kevin's steeled expression.
… but this couldn't continue on like this.
Ingenium couldn't just watch his mouth, to not trigger what Kevin has.
He can't dodge the issue. He must face it head on… like a hero.
"Look…" Ingenium sighed. "I've been thinking about what you told me last night."
Kevin refused to look, he even seemed to grit his teeth.
"Ugh… Magister…" Ingenium thought to himself. This really wasn't something he enjoyed, but he continued regardless.
"In my field, I've come across many people." he said. "I don't know about… Labrid or about the kind of history that had you ending up in the Null Void in the first place… but I—."
A beeping rose from the panel on the car.
Kevin didn't skip a beat. "We got a hit. Shizuoka Prefecture."
He moved over the clutch and got to his driver seat—
Ingenium then quickly sat on the passenger seat.
The two made eye contact…
"We're going to be handling this together." Ingenium stated.
Kevin turned his glance straight, and started the car. As they then got onto the streets, Ingenium kept his eyes on the road and despite the criminal not seemingly listening, opened his mouth.
"I'm just saying, if you're adamant about this chance… then you can trust me, a stranger to who you are and what you did, more than this."
Kevin took a deep breath and… actually looked back.