Upon discovering her partner at their scheduled location, Mina anxiously retreated behind a corner to avoid being discovered prematurely.

The uneasy anticipation Mina was experiencing was akin to how she usually felt when visiting the dentist or principal's office; not the emotions and symptoms she expected to feel when pondering the prospects of her first study session with Fumikage Tokoyami. But following the inquiry earlier that day from him to confirm if she was still available to study with him, the thought of their session with was all she'd been able to think about.

Although she couldn't deny she wasn't entirely prepared for the inevitable, beneath her trepidation and apprehension was eagerness and excitement. Mina concluded that it was important to remind herself that their unlikely partnership was for their education first and foremost, and her input and participation were required. If they were to communication and collaborate effectively, then a good first impression was paramount.

And with this attitude in mind, Mina anxiously patted her thighs to psyche herself up before rounding the corner.

It didn't take long before Tokoyami acknowledged her presence. Mina offered a friendly wave while closing the distance.

"Hey" she announced, hoping very much her fabricated optimism would disguise her very real reluctance.

She was treated to a respectful bow. "Good afternoon."

Impressed with her composure so far, Mina elected to continue the conversation following her poor communication earlier. "So… how's it going?"

"I'm doing very well, thank you. How are you?"

Mina swung her fist triumphantly. "Ready to smash out this assignment."

"I too am very eager to begin."

Although he did not answer with her level of energy, the young man's assertion was enough of a confirmation for Mina as she extended a finger in the direction of their school's entrance. "Well, then let's go. Onwards! Our destination: adventure!"

It was only after a few steps into her overly dramatic march did Mina realise he wasn't accompanying her. Tokoyami studied her with an intense, scrutinising glare, evidently surprised to have witnessed such an theatrical display.

The back of the Mina's neck became enflamed with humiliation and embarrassment. If it'd been one of her friends, she was confident they would've recognised what she'd attempted. Tokoyami wasn't one of her friends, and somebody she intended to impress probably shouldn't have witnessed that side of her. Mina neglected to acknowledge that 'being herself' could very well be misinterpreted.

"Sorry" she laughed nervously. "I got a little carried away there."

After failing to receive a verbal response from him, Mina abandoned the effort to appear enthusiastic and sighed with defeat. "…Sorry, where did you say we were going again?"

"Are you familiar with the Child and Family Relocation Centre?"

"...I think so. Why?"

That particular building hadn't exactly been one of the first places Mina anticipated as a suggestion for a potential workplace; she herself had thought of locations like the library or the park. But as she was quickly coming to realise, Tokoyami was proving more and more what a resourceful and organised student he was.

Tokoyami explained the Relocation Centre had been a suggestion from his mother - a member of staff there. She'd been able to secure them her office in the afternoon following her departure, offering them the private and comfortable environment they desired. Although undeniably an unusual workplace, Mina was still very much impressed with the initiative he demonstrated.

The sight of a young female student accompanying a young male student was not an uncommon sight in their city, acknowledged Mina, but she presumed an unaware onlooker could get the impression Tokoyami was her escort rather than a companion - for she accompanied him from behind rather than beside him. She didn't mind, honestly, so long as she was still able to be heard. However, a good percentage of the time had involved the two of them remaining all but completely silent, save a few blunt and uneventful sentences exchanged. Although she very much disliked going for such extended period without talking, her reluctance to speak allowed Mina to concentrate on Tokoyami's explanations.

"In addition to the records and archives, the men and women employed there may be able offer their services, as well. Should they feel comfortable disclosing information, their personal stories and experiences could be relevant information for us to report in our investigation."

"Investigation? Sounds exciting." She extended her hand. "'Ashido and Tokoyami: Teen Detectives'. How's that sound?"

"Is an identity for our partnership really necessary?"

Mina laughed uncomfortably. Her typical sense of humour was proving to be remarkably ineffective. "Yeah…maybe it was a little childish. I just thought it'd be funny, 'yknow?"

"Hey, don't leave me out! I wanna be a detective, too!"

Mina squealed in response to the unexpected appearance of the young man's shadowy spirit.

"Oh, golly, sorry about that! I didn't mean to frighten you!"

Bringing a hand to her chest, Mina used her other to wave dismissively with a nervous smile. "It's fine. I just got a little surprised."

Mina had almost completely forgotten about the entity inhabiting his body, but how could she when Dark Shadow was the source of Tokoyami's power and strength. There were many aspects about Tokoyami's Quirk that Mina wish she could know more about, like how his shadow was seemingly capable of speech and independent thought.

Mina's migrated beside Tokoyami "I didn't know he could talk."

Dark Shadow manifested in between them. "What? Really? Of course I can talk! Who do you think supplies him with all the answers at school? I'm the brawn and brains of this operation!"

Mina smiled eagerly, curious to know more about her partner and his abilities. "Is that true?"

Tokoyami didn't answer verbally, but his refrain from speaking was evidence enough that he wasn't pleased about Dark Shadow's appearance.

"Well, anyway, I think this calls for a proper introduction." The shadow offered a talon. "My name's Dark Shadow and I enjoy fine dining and long, romantic walks on the beach."

A bewildered smile spread across Mina's face as she tentatively she returned the gesture.

Dark Shadow motioned to its host. "He does, too!"

Mina couldn't quite tell if Dark Shadow was speaking truthfully or intentionally trying to embarrass Tokoyami. She suspected the latter was the most likely.

The spirit's comment was accompanied by an audible exhale of irritation. "Just ignore them."

Dark Shadow pouted, imitating their voice. "Oh, 'just ignore them'. I have a name, remember? We're partners, you and I, and I deserve to be treated with some respect."

Tokoyami didn't answer.

"Sorry about him. He's always struggled speaking with really cute girls."

Mina smiled nervously, unsure of how to interpret such a comment. "…Thank you?"

"That's enough."

The sound of Tokoyami's commanding voice brought her to a complete halt. Mina watched with uncertainty as the tension between young man and his shadowy partner escalated.

"Oh, come on, don't be like that. I'm just trying to introduce myself and get to know her. At least one of us is making the effort. Don't you reckon it's important for us to become a little more familiar with each other if we're all gonna be working together."

"You aren't involved."

"B-but…I thought…"

"Return. Now."

After a moment of inactivity, Dark Shadow relented and dissolved into his body. Mina witnessed the entire display in perpetual shock. With every minute spent in his company, she was discovering all that much more about the young man and his fascinating Quirk. From the tone Tokoyami adopted when speaking to his shadow, Mina wondered if conflict between them was quite common.

Mina hadn't realised she'd been staring until Tokoyami returned his gaze before hastily averting it, visibly embarrassed. Concluding that she might've unintentionally been provoking the young man by actively conversing with the shadow, Mina folded her hands over her waist.

"I'm sorry. I…I shouldn't have said anything."

Tokoyami shook his head. "Don't apologise. This is not your fault." He brought a hand to his chest. "Please, forgive me. Dark Shadow has become quite…restless as of recent following the announcement of this project."

Mina found herself trying to evaluate his unexpected confession. Although it really wasn't any of her business, Mina suspected that perhaps Tokoyami didn't quite possess complete control over his Quirk like she'd initially thought, and this assumption was supported by the fact that Dark Shadow was seemingly capable of operating without the his influence. Her assessment only evoked greater remorse from her for potentially worsening the situation.

"I apologise for their – for my inconsiderate behaviour. How they spoke to you was completely inappropriate and disrespectful, and you did not deserve to be treated like that."

Mina offered a weak smile. "It's OK. I'm…not offended or anything. I really shouldn't have encouraged him."

"They shouldn't have spoken at all."

Tokoyami averted his attention and readopted his commanding tone. "Apologise. Now."

Surprised at first, Mina soon discovered he hadn't been addressing her rather his partner who promptly materialised once more.

"Sorry", mumbled the shadow apologetically, "I shouldn't have said those things."

"It's fine, really" reassured Mina, "I know you were just trying to be friendly."

Dark Shadow smiled weakly before shrugging absentmindedly. "I just… You seem really cool, and I know he thinks the same about you as well 'cause he really wants to leave a good impression. He just doesn't quite know how to. I thought if I'd introduce myself first, he might follow my initiative and starting talking to you, too."

If Tokoyami's terrified expression was any indication to go by, it was evident what Dark Shadow had confessed was supposed to have remained confidential.

Dark Shadow anxiously whispered, "I'll be quiet now", before immediately returning to dormancy.

The shadow's confession evoked some unexpected, renewed energy in Mina. It was becoming quite clear to her that Tokoyami and his partner were seemingly capable of communicating telepathically with one another, and if her assumption was accurate, what the spirit had confessed could very well have been true. Mina acknowledged Dark Shadow might've been exaggerating, but she doubted they'd tried to embarrass the young man again. Had Dark Shadow spoken the truth? Did Tokoyami – in spite of the apparent aversion to actively converse - really wish to establish a positive first impression with her?

Enthusiastic over the potential possibility, Mina elected to dispel the uncomfortable silence and tension between them and offer the young man her permission to engage in possible conversation.

"You can talk to me if you want" she announced with a hopeful smile.

Mina held her breath and watched as the young man's familiar gaze of concentration returned. She very much hoped he'd consider her invitation. But instead of accepting, refusing or expressing any sort of conclusive response, Tokoyami resumed walking.

Mina's heart sank, as did her gaze as she found herself concentrating on the footpath yet again.

"This or any other of the unoccupied offices should provide us with a suitable and productive working environment."

After being welcomed inside, Mina studied the interior of the room. It looked just like some of the classrooms at U.A High - complete with a white-board and a computer.

"There's so much room for activities" mused Mina, thoroughly impressed with the workspace they'd been able to secure. Granted, the very building they occupied hadn't been her first choice, but now she couldn't think of a better place to study. She would have to thank them for selecting such an accessible and convenient location.

"And most importantly" he continued, tracing a hand down one of the walls, "these walls are virtually soundproof, allowing us to rehearse our presentation without fear of disturbing others."

A smirk graced Mina's lips. "Or embarrassing ourselves, right?"

Upon witnessing Tokoyami retrieve a chair from the vertical stack, Mina followed his lead, accepting the chair he offered and arranging it behind the table.

"You really have thought of everything, haven't you?"

Tokoyami placed his own chair opposite her across the table. "Forgive me if I appear as if I'm seizing control of this project, so to speak."

Mina waved her hand dismissively. Although it had been quite an accurate assessment of their relationship so far, she wasn't at all bothered by the leadership he was demonstrating. "No, it's not that" she reassured before reflecting on her mother's insight. "Well, actually…"

"Yes?"

Mina smiled nervously, struggling to summon the courage to offer her proposal. "Nah, never mind."

Because their meeting was to be their first, Tokoyami explained it would be ideal to focus their attention how they'd conduct the research and investigation. Mina actively welcomed the opportunity to organise preparations before performing the real work.

"If you could retrieve your copy of the task-sheet, we can commence."

Mina promptly retrieved her bag to recover the task-sheet, only to discover it was absent. The young woman sighed with frustration before smiling apologetically. "I don't have it. I must've left it at home."

"You may borrow my copy for the time being."

Mouthing 'thank you', Mina bashfully accepted it.

As Tokoyami began to arrange his personal items, Mina elected to properly revaluate how she was to proceed further, considering her ambition to communicate with him confidently was proving unsuccessful. Perhaps offering him the opportunity to instruct her on how to work was ultimately the most sensible decision.

"Wait…" she announced. "Before we start…there's something really important I wanna ask you." Mina hesitated before continuing. "Is there anything about this assignment you want me to do, like, specifically?"

Tokoyami studied her, visibly curious.

"...I'll try that again. What part of the work do you want me to write, because I'm down to write pretty much anything. Just, y'know, say the word and I'll start researching this or start writing that…"

After a moment of silence, Tokoyami responded politely. "Are you insinuating you wish for me to instruct you on how to work?"

Mina shrugged bashfully. "I just thought you might feel a little more comfortable working with me if you were allowed to just, y'know, tell me what I'm supposed to do. I mean, you've already done so much for us in just under a day. And what have I done? Nothing - except waste time. I haven't even brought the task sheet. You've taken responsibility, and I just haven't…which is why I think you deserve to be able to call the shots. You deserve to boss me around."

"I don't mind" she reassured, "I really don't. Honestly, I kind wish you would, 'cause without somebody like you poking me in the back with a stick, I would have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it. How's that sound?"

Mina studied Tokoyami and waited for his response. Such a critical question – one concerning their work relationship, no less – should've been accompanied by his typical gaze of intense concentration and evaluation. But his typical stoicism became noticeably absent.

"I cannot consciously agree to that arrangement."

"Really? 'Cause I don't mind just listening to you."

"Work relationships such as the one you've proposed are unreasonable. This is a paired assignment – meaning that effective communication and cooperation are the components for success. It's unfair for either one of us to take control and dictate the other on how they're expected to work when we're supposed to be cooperating together. Mr. Aizawa explicitly stated that students who don't participate will impact the group's overall mark. I do not mean to suggest you actively intend on abandoning this project, because I can see intimately well that you don't…"

The young man hesitated abruptly before continuing, "…which is why I must ask for your assistance and input, if you would be so kind as to offer it."

"…You actually want my help?" Mina stared in bewilderment. "No, you don't. You really don't."

"I do."

"Are you serious? What can I do? I can barely dress myself in the morning. Trust me, it's better off if I just let you tell me what to do…not unless you actually want us to fail."

"There is a wealth of insight and knowledge you possess that I don't; potential information that could very well be documented in our report. I'm quite confident a combined effort of both our personal experiences and practices will supply us with enough information to answer a good percentage of some of the expected components."

"I really don't think there's anything I could offer. I mean, what do I have that you don't?"

"Genuine passion and charisma."

Mina fell silent.

"You mightn't think yourself capable or resourceful, but if you channel the very same energy you demonstrate during physical exercises, I'm positive you and I can accomplish this task. The way you communicate and interact with other students – no matter their character or constitution – is nothing short of incredible, and I know I am not the only peer who thinks this of you. Genuine sincerity is something that cannot be taught; it's an inherent, natural skill I only wish that I could possess. And it's because of this that I and many other students value your participation. Your enthusiasm and willingness to cooperate with others is the reason I know I can depend on you."

If it wasn't the tangible conviction in his tone that shocked Mina the most, it was definitely the completely unexpected praise he expressed. Mina was completely overwhelmed. Nobody – not even her family or friends – had ever commended her quite like that before. Although she acknowledged he had most definitely spoken without implication, it wasn't enough to prevent a wave of heat to migrate to her cheeks.

Mina released a nervous, breathless laugh. "Wow. I…did not expect that." She winked coyly. "You sure know how to make a girl feel better about herself..."

His stern demeanour did not yield. The gesture had clearly been lost on him.

Still reeling from his comments, Mina bowed her head politely. "W-well, thank you" she whispered, "I really needed that. And thank you for what you said about Toru yesterday. She's been dealing with a lot of stuff lately, and I know it must've meant the world to hear somebody say something so beautiful about her."

"I wasn't exaggerating. I meant every word. She deserves to know that her talents have not gone unrecognised."

"Yeah, she does…"

Mina regained her composure. "So…you actually want me to help?"

Tokoyami confirmed with a nod.

"I can tell you right now we won't be marked very highly. I hope you look forward to receiving a 'C' courteous of yours truly."

"If a 'C' is our final grade then so be it. Our assessment and grade do not concern me so long as we fulfil our teacher's ambition for students to work effectively together in the pursuit of a mutual task. The work we produce mightn't impress, but I'm confident the teamwork and cooperation we both demonstrate with one another will compensate. If we achieve this, I believe we'll still succeed."

"Do you really think…?"

She was treated to a final affirming nod, which almost single-handedly convinced her to accept. If he really did value her input and contributions, she would be doing the both of them a disservice if she didn't at least try.

Adopting a small smirk of feigned over-confidence, Mina brought a finger to her chin. "Well, alright then. Twist my arm. I suppose I could be persuaded into offering my services." Giggling to herself, Mina sighed softly. "I know I'm not the most focused person, but…but I want to change – and I reckon this is a pretty good place to start. I want us to do well. Like, I really want us to come up with something special. So I'm gonna try to help 'cause I seriously don't want to leave you to write the whole thing. I promise I'm gonna try…"

Tokoyami nodded defiantly. "I believe you. I know you will."

Mina was certain she didn't deserve such acclaim and recognition, but Tokoyami's unexpected encouragement was all the motivation she needed.

"So, what is it exactly we're supposed to be doing again?"

Tokoyami resumed his explanation ."We've been instructed to conduct research and assess information from both professional and personal sources to explain what are qualities we believe a potential hero should possess. We've also been instructed to document all our sources and findings in a portfolio. The research we've performed and how well we've answered our respected questions are the criteria for assessment. Our presentations and how well we communicate with one another will also be graded. The method in which we present our research is also an important factor for success, and I would like to propose we display our information via a slideshow presentation, seeing as the program is accessible and easy to use. If you oppose, I'm always welcome to negotiation."

"I was actually gonna suggest we use a slideshow as well. I don't think we have the time or budget to actually film ourselves. Although it would be pretty cool if we could actually make a short movie."

"The most important aspect of our project, I believe, is making sure the investigation and subsequent writing is divided equally between us. It won't be enough to simply explain we each contributed. In our presentations, we must each demonstrate our own individual pieces of work whether it be research or personal information."

"How are we going to do that?"

"The two categories we must explore and answer are physical and psychological hero qualities. To ensure that we both contribute, I propose we each research one of the respected categories individually and exhibit our discoveries and answers during the presentation."

Mina stared with confusion. "Wait… We're not going to be working on these together?"

"We may, if-"

To her surprise, the usually unwavering student fell silent abruptly. "I apologise. I neglected to respect and acknowledge the very real difficulty you may encounter if we were to abide by this work practice. If anything I've proposed is unreasonable or unmanageable, please do not hesitate to object. You're input and feedback is most certainly welcome."

"No, it's fine. You're right; that does sound like the most sensible way for us to share the workload. I'm totally fine with that."

Tokoyami acknowledged with a nod, "very well then", before motioning to the task-sheet, "which category do you wish to research?"

"Sorry?"

"I asked which of the two categories would you like to research?"

"You're letting me choose? Shouldn't you be the one deciding who writes what?"

"Considering the majority of decisions concerning our assignment have been made by me, I believe you're entitled to exercise some of your own. Because you still harbour some doubt about your abilities, you deserve to select the category you'd feel the most comfortable with."

"I can't do that. That's not fair. What about you?"

"I don't have a preference. I'll be content with researching either. I assure you I will not be disappointed with either result. Please, I insist."

Despite her reluctance, Mina decided to comply and examined the two categories available. Although she acknowledged it'd be prudent to research the physical aspects – health, fitness and physical education were her strongest subjects – there was something enticing about the other option.

"What does it mean by 'psychological'?

"Emotional and mental components and characteristics a potential hero must possess; their attitudes, personalities, ideologies and philosophies."

"So is that like… how they think during a situation? Like, if I'm a professional hero fighting a bad guy, what are some of the things I need to take into consideration – y'know, like the location and the people around us? Is that it, or am I completely lost?"

"Well done. You've just offered a perfect example of a potential situation ripe for assessment and evaluation. That quality of work is exactly what the teachers are expecting us to research and investigate."

Although initially torn between the two, Mina was reminded of her promise to herself and others that she would apply herself harder in literary and theory work, and studying the 'psychological' aspects, she believed, was an ideal opportunity to improve her writing abilities.

"Well, if you reckon I'm on the right track, I think I'd like to choose 'psychological', then. Is that all right?"

"Of course."

It may not have been her first choice, but it was, however, the most sensible choice. After all, the right to research and study the 'physical' category belonged to the most physically capable of them. "I mean, if anyone deserves to write about the 'physical' stuff a hero needs, it's you."

"I don't follow…"

"Come on, like you don't know. Out of the both of us, you're obviously the most qualified for the job. What kind of partner would I be if I didn't let 'Mr. Third Place in the Tournament' research it."

No immediate response followed. Instead, Tokoyami averted his gaze. "My involvement in the U.A Sports Festival was an experience I do not particularly enjoy reflecting on."

"...Are you serious?"

His visible disappointment all but confirmed her answer. It was only after witnessing his very real concern did she acknowledge she might've touched upon a sensitive subject. "I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…y'know…"

"Don't apologise. I understood what you meant when you implied I deserved to explore the physical components."

"I wasn't trying to… insult you. I was just trying to say…" Struggling to find the appropriate words to describe her intentions, Mina fell silent. Electing to hopefully recover, she offered a weak smile. "Congrats, by the way, on coming third overall. That was really impressive. I'm…sorry that you lost."

"I did not deserve to be victorious. I was reckless, careless and all but completely consumed by my ambition to succeed. Such overconfidence ultimately resulted in exposure, allowing Bakugo to discover and exploit my weakness."

"Is that why you surrendered?"

Tokoyami nodded solemnly. "I couldn't have hoped to compete against his ruthless tenacity and persistence. My strength does not rival his. Unlike me, he has achieved complete and total control of his abilities, and for that he deserved to be the victor. I did not."

"You can't beat yourself up about that. I don't think anybody could've stopped him. I don't even wanna imagine what would've happened if I'd been the one to fight him."

Tokoyami scowled, closing his eyes. "I am not proud of my performances. My defeat that day only served to highlight that there is still much I have yet to learn about myself and what I'm truly capable of."

If she'd been the one to emerge third overall, Mina knew she would've been ecstatic. But third place still wasn't the same as emerging in first, and she found herself empathising with him. Mina didn't realise how critical the young man was of his performances, and wondered if this may have been one of the reasons for his distant nature.

To hopefully offer some positive insight on the situation, Mina shrugged bashfully. "You kicked my arse, though. That's gotta be worth something, right?"

"Humiliating you was never my intention."

Mina rubbed her arm uncomfortably. "I probably deserved to be humiliated – especially after the way I behaved after the match." As her eyes migrated from him to her lap, Mina sighed remorsefully. "You've probably come to realise by now that I…tend to act without thinking first. I really thought that you'd come to find me just to kick sand in my face, and 'cause of that…"

She hesitated. "I realise now that you were only trying to be a good sport."

"You were right to reject the gesture. Trying to contact you during a very distressing period of time was completely inconsiderate. I apologise for provoking you."

Mina couldn't understand why he insisted on apologising. If anything, she'd deserved to have been taunted and ridiculed for her pathetic display.

"Well, I guess I was pretty upset at the time." She shook her head, dispelling the thought. "No. That's not an excuse for how I behaved. I was a real sore loser that day and probably deserved to have lost."

Tokoyami's final battle had indisputably been one of the most intense, and only served to highlight just how powerful Bakugo really was. It had been honestly quite cathartic for Mina to witness Tokoyami suffer a defeat after effortlessly eliminating her. But after hearing his confession on his very real disappointment and self-hatred, Mina began to resent herself even greater for deriving such pleasure from witnessing his loss. It really was beyond her how somebody as spiteful and envious as her could ever aspire to be a respected and admired hero.

"Please do not interpret our battle as a failure on your part."

Mina returned her gaze, curiously.

"In my life, I've come to realise there is always experience and knowledge to be discovered with every encounter – even when the results are unfavourable." Tokoyami bowed his head. "You're a combatant worthy of praise, and I very much anticipate the next opportunity for us to compete with or against one another."

Such insight had been explained to her repeatedly throughout her adolescence, but hearing it from somebody as talented and proficient as Tokoyami made it sound all that more meaningful. Competing with or against him was always a thrilling experience, and Mina was ever so delighted to hear that he too valued and respected her – for she felt exactly the same about him.

"Same" whispered Mina, bashfully.

Mina didn't know whether to offer the young man a hug as gesture of farewell. She elected not to embrace them lest she potentially embarrass him (or herself) any further than she already had. Instead, she winked playfully before offering a 'peace' sign with her fingers.

As she anticipated, Tokoyami bowed respectfully. "I look forward to reading your draft so that we may compare information."

Mina absolutely felt a little more confident in herself and comfortable with him than she'd ever before, and after such a surprisingly productive and insightful discussion with him about their respected work methods and attitudes, the last thing Mina could've wanted was to suggest she wasn't capable of accepting responsibility. Six days to write a five hundred word draft? That was reasonable. Even she could manage a simple task like that.

Folding her hands over her waist, Mina smiled warmly. "I'll try not to let you down."

"I reckon that went pretty well, don't you think?"

Fumikage concentrated on the entity intensely, prompting it to recoil with visible apprehension. Without an audience present, he was finally able to reprimand his partner for their disobedience.

"You shouldn't have intervened. You gave me your word that you would remain dormant."

"Alright, so I got a little carried away…"

"That is no excuse for how you spoke to her. It was totally disrespectful."

"Oh, come on. I said I was 'sorry'. And excuse me for trying to talk to her. Shame on me for trying to strike up a conversation, right? At least one of us was attempting to introduce ourselves. You sure as hell weren't."

"You're impossible. You could have potentially jeopardised everything."

"Jeopardise what?" Dark Shadow's expression of disbelief evolved into one of impishness. "Were you scared I was gonna cramp your style or something? Were you afraid that she might prefer me over you? Somebody's been bitten by the jealousy bug…"

Fumikage was disappointed in Dark Shadow for their unwillingness to understand their inappropriate comments could've potentially offended Ashido - the very person he'd been trying to instil some trust and confidence in. Conversing casually with somebody as energetic as her had already been difficult, so Dark Shadow's involvement hadn't been welcome at all.

"Honestly, I don't know why you're so distressed about this" mused Dark Shadow, folding its arms. "It's not like the two of you are destined to be together forever or anything."

"I am not 'distressed'."

"Oh, I believe you. Are you gonna try to convince me the sky isn't blue either? Just admit it – you were overreacting again."

"You're mistaken."

"Am I?"

Convincing Dark Shadow was a fruitless endeavour. "This conversation is over" he declared defiantly.

"Yeah, and it's the closest thing to a conversation you've had all day."

Although Fumikage objected otherwise, deep beneath his exterior there had been a moderate level of anxiety about the method in which he presented himself to her. Perhaps his insistence on appearing refined and controlled was the source of her discomfort? Why had he rejected her offer of conversation? Had it been reluctance, or fear that he couldn't support a verbal exchange with her?

"Enough of this doom and gloom already." Dark Shadow lightly bumped him on the shoulder. "The two of you hit it off, alright? It went so much better than you expected, you can't deny that, and I know you feel a whole lot better now than earlier this afternoon. I mean, you heard how eager she was to work with you? Isn't that a good sign for things to come? You wanna work with her, and she wants to work with you. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Fumikage found himself reflecting on their session. It hadn't been unpleasant or stressful at all – and if there had been any issues, it was only due to their lack of prior interaction. Ultimately, their time together had proven very productive.

"There 'ya go. Lighten up, buttercup. You're practically best friends already."

"We aren't friends, and certainly not after such a short verbal exchange."

"You aren't friends yet. Just give it some time. By the end of this whole thing, the two of are gonna be inseparable." A smirk graced the shadow's face. "Of course, there's always the possibility of becoming more than just good friends. Something tells me you wouldn't be opposed to that."

Fumikage stared accusingly.

Dark Shadow raised its hands defensively. "All I'm saying is that you didn't exactly hesitate to share everything you admired about her. It certainly wasn't the same apprehension you demonstrated before." Dark Shadow extended a finger. "Admit it – you got pretty excited, didn't you?"

"I was not excited. I simply wished to emphasise how important her participation and cooperation is to me."

"I believe you…"

"We're done talking."

"I'm just teasing. God, it's no wonder you make her uncomfortable", before returning to dormancy.

With a roll of his eyes, Fumikage placed his hands in his pockets and resumed walking, solemnly acknowledging Dark Shadow's final accusation hadn't been entirely inaccurate. Despite his best efforts, he could tell intimately well Mina Ashido didn't completely accept him yet - and that knowledge disappointed him verily.