It's been just over two weeks since the whole… night visit to U.A. Two weeks since I was discarded from the police force and stripped of my detective status.
And subsequently everything that i had been working for all my life.
I was still bitter about the whole thing. But there was very little I could do about it. it was done now so i had to just live with it.
Whether I like it or not.
I was now working for U.A. What that entailed was still pretty vague, of course the main reason was to guard Toru. But I would also help out at the school sometimes. I had learned that Nezu, the principle of U.A. clearly had something planned, what those plans were I had no idea. The only clue is that it involved secret agencies that were happy to hire someone like me.
It was suspicious and left me feeling anxious about my future.
It was morning and I had finished my run much earlier than I had expected. I was sitting at the dining table with my feet up on the table leaning back while i idley munched on some toast for breakfast.
My father was in the living room watching the morning news before his shift started. The reporter was commenting on some anti-hero protests and I wasn't paying much attention. The kitchen was an open plan that led into the living room.
Maybe I should extend the distance of my run again.
I was debating how to better my physical training. I was wearing my normal "uniform". My black trousers and light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow with the addition of a new black waistcoat. It was a birthday present. I was 17 now, only one more year till I was a legal adult. Although it didn't interest me as much as most people my age due to the fact that i had been out of school for nearly a year at that point due to graduating early.
Or should I just start carrying a heavy load to make it harder.
"Hey how long are you going to be on that assignment?" my father interrupted my thoughts.
Walking over he sat at the dining table
"And what the hell have I told you, get your feet off the table we eat off of that" he scolded.
I rolled my eyes. But did as he asked. Putting more effort into eating.
"I don't know until U.A. finds someone else?" I answered him shrugging.
It's not like I can go to the police after.
Thankfully the fact that i had lost my badge and was thrown out of the police was kept secret for now. If my family ever found out….well lets just say it would not go down well.
"But isn't the whole reason that YOU were assigned to it was because you're the only person that can see Toru?"
"Well i guess as well as other reasons"
Like being surprisingly good at infiltration and sneaking around.
But I wasn't going to mention that.
"So until they find a way to see her or someone else to see her you're stuck with the job?"
"Yeah that's about the size of it why?"
"Well doesn't that mean you're going to be stuck with her for at least three years? At least until she finishes her time at U.A?"
I opened my mouth to answer him but stopped.
He has a point that this is not some small job this may take years.
I had never considered it that far in the future, I was going to be stuck babysitting her for nearly three years.
Three years? I would be pushing 20 in three years. Three years? I've already almost killed myself and was thrown out of the police and if not for U.A stepping in I would have been on trial and jailed for a huge string of crimes all to save Toru's surprisingly nice ass….. I mean her ass.
I sighed.
I really need to stop thinking about that. Point is that happend in one week. Would I even survive three years?
"Y-yeah I guess you're right looks like i'll be at this for a while" i said resigned.
"That's hardly fair you have more important things to do like your job as a detective you can't be her nursemaid forever we need to get you off of this assignment"
I can't, the fact i'm not a detective would be revealed if i try to go back.
"I can't Nezu won't let me go, you know how much influence he has with the police" I countered.
"Yeah but surely the chief can help you get out" he was starting to clench his teeth.
"Nope the chief is totally onboard with the whole thing"
Better I be at U.A than cause trouble for him.
"You can't be serious. That spineless git I should talk with him and demand you get taken off of this" he was fuming now.
I can't let him do that.
"Don't bother dad he won't listen you know that"
"Well I will damn well try"
"Dad it's fine it's a pain in the ass sure but i'm in contact with "heroes" all of the time now"
"And why the hell is that a good thing?"
"Because it means that we will be familiar in the future and then I will be their point of contact in the police at which point maybe I can reign them in and push them to get more done. Rather than sitting around until half of the city is collapsing before doing something."
It's a little elaborate but it might work.
My dad pondered for a second calming down.
"Since when did you become such a sneaky sly snake it's quite the plot."
He sighed.
"Well whatever I won't mention it to the chief for now. Anyway you got some free time?"
I relaxed the tension that I hadn't noticed up till then.
"Yeah i've got a bit before I gotta go pick up Toru why?"
"Mind helping with the car? Something is loose in the engine and making a racket can you take a look? It shouldn't take you too long right?"
Due to my quirk "prefect perception" it would be easy enough to figure out the problem.
"Yeah sure" we both got up. I finished my toast on the way out.
We got outside and I stepped in front of his car. It was an unmarked police car so on the outside it was rather plain and benign looking but underneath was a well oiled high performance machine, it had regular check ups for maintenance but my dad enjoyed tinkering with it to squeeze more out of it i would sometimes help out.
"Ok, run the engine" I said.
The car started up with a guttural growl finally showing that it really had teeth despite its appearance using my perception. I looked through the engine as it ran picking apart each component and carefully scrutinizing them while in motion.
"Ok you can stop now" I called out over the roar.
"So what's the problem?"
"Pistons 2 and 3 seem loose i'm guessing it's throwing the engine off and making noise"
"Quick fix?"
"Yeah should be it just needs to be tightened up"
The hood of the car popped up.
"Let me get the tools" my dad said, getting out of the car.
After he got back we both got stuck in tightening some loose bolts thankfully we didn't need to crack open the engine much.
"Thanks Kuria you had better run off don't wanna keep the girlfriend waiting do you?" he said with a chuckle.
"Shut up dad" I protested.
I started to make my way to Torus house to walk her to school. Which was also where I worked. Nezu had a job for me today.
Once I got there I knocked on the door. Toru came out her mother not far behind.
"Hey Toru"
Toru was 5'5 with golden blonde hair which she had tied into pigtails oddly enough and starkly blue eyes which was amplified by her very pale complexion. My current theory put it down to her having very little contact with light seeing as how she was invisible. I guessed it worked by bending light around her body. Which is why I was able to see her. My quirk didn't rely on light to see things so long as it had some sort of physical presence I could see it without light.
Her sister Hikari walked out between us in her uniform. She was around two years younger than Toru. She had very dark black hair and was nearly as tall as Toru give or take an inch. She had a disgusted look on her face as she walked past me.
"Hey Hikari"
She ignored me.
Rude much?
She for some reason didn't like me much. I still was unsure why.
There is something off about her though.
Using my perception I noticed that she was hollow, no bones no organs no nothing it was a shell of a person….a clone made of light and nothing else.
Grabbing the back of her uniform I stopped her.
"Wait a minute Hikari nice try but your clone can't get past me"
Hikari turned and tried to speak but couldn't.
This is what happens when you're rude to me.
This was Hikari's quirk; she could make a clone of herself but they were pretty simple and couldn't speak due to having no vocal cords. However all sensory data was transferred to Hikari once the clone disappeared or was destroyed.
The clone disappeared seemingly due to being caught out.
"Mom Hikari is trying to skip school again." Toru said nonchalantly.
"Thank you Kuria, have a safe trip guys. I had better wrangle her out of bed" Hisako rolled her up her sleeves and stormed off back into the house.
"Pfft" Toru giggled.
We started to walk to U.A.
"You know you're not convincing her to like you if you keep catching her out like that" Toru added.
"Like I care if she wasn't so rude maybe I would have some sympathy, plus you're the one that told on her I just stated facts."
She scoffed.
"And I was doing exactly the same."
"Yet i'm the one she will dislike as a result"
"Yeah that may have something to do with me putting all of the blame on you"
"W-what? Really? Why?" I said scandalized.
"Well i have to live with her so if she doesn't like me that's a problem. Not so much for you so be grateful that you're so useful."
"Oh thank you Ninja-sama for this opportunity to take a bullet for you. Would you like some cocktails while I bleed out?" I mocked sarcastically.
"Sarcastic prick"
"Selfish cow"
"So you gonna help me out with my math? I bombed my exam last time so I need a really good score next time" Toru asked.
"So you actually have the cheek to ask that while you throw me under the bus?"
I gave her a 'seriously?' kind of look.
"Hey it's your job remember ' you're to protect and work with Miss Hagakure'" she gave a chuckle that was oddly very close to Nezu.
"Pfft nice one you've been practising?" Toru had an odd talent for impersonations
"I thought you would like it," she smiled.
"Still not gonna help you though" I stuck the knife in.
"Oh come on don't be stubborn you've already graduated so the least you can do is help me out" she pleaded.
"Ummm yeah not my problem sorry" I poked my tongue out to hammer the point home.
"You totally owe me"
I laughed at that.
"I don't owe you Jackshit"
"Pretty please?"
Oh god really? The whole batting eyelashes and pursed lips jeez.
"Hmmm maybe, let me borrow tails of the wolf ninja and i'll think about it"
It was a cappy ninja B movie. It seemed that Toru and I had similar taste when it came to film.
"Not a chance. Do you have any idea how rare and hard to get that was? No way" she flatly refused.
"Not happening then sorry"
I shrugged
Oh well.
"Ugh fine but it's not leaving the house you can just come over and watch but you gotta get me though math ok? we have a deal?" she stuck out a hand.
"If i must"
I rolled my eyes and hammed up my reluctance while shaking her hand.
Sweet.
We finally got to U.A and rather than separate we walked in together.
"Hey what's the deal don't you have stuff to do at the station?" she snapped.
"Not today Nezu asked me to help out with the seniors as an assistant"
"Doing what?"
"Final exam techniques I only finished them last year and got a nearly perfect score across the board and with an eidetic memory I've memorized hundreds of exams so Nezu asked if I could help."
It's more like Nezu told me to do it to earn my pay at U.A.
"Ugh I hate you sometimes your so smug with that broken quirk"
"Don't be jealous, by the way why the pigtails?"
She started to blush.
"I-i just wanted a change, got a problem?"
"Hey Toru good morn- I-it's him Toru why's your boyfriend here?" Mina had called over.
"Eh? and he is, hey Toru." Koyka was walking with Mina.
They both started to run over.
Toru sighed.
"Oh no" she moaned quietly covering her face with both hands.
"Just keep your mouth shut got it?" Toru hissed while giving me a death stare.
"Hey Toru" Mina said with a teasing smile.
"Hey Mina, hey Koyka" Toru replied.
There was a pause.
I kept my mouth shut.
"Well aren't you going to introduce us?" Mina pouted.
"Hmm? To who?" Toru feigned ignorance.
"Don't play dumb fine i'll do it myself" Mina looked up at me with bad intentions.
"Hi I'm Ashido Mina and this is Jiro Koyka" Mina went to shake my hand.
"Yeah i remember at the fox hunt Masayoshi Kuria-me just Kuria is fine" as i took her hand she yanked me down closer to her and whispered.
"So did you do it already this morning?"
"Eck Mina" Toru shouted.
Do it? Do what?...wait really? THAT?
I could see Toru was uncomfortable. I couldn't help the smile as it sunk in what Mina was suggesting.
"Twice" I whispered loud enough for Toru to hear.
"Twice?" Mina recoiled in shock.
"R-really? So you actually do that" she continued clearly surprised by my "honesty"
I nodded seriously.
"Yeah shame Toru wanted to go again but oh well no time" I put on my best poker face.
I was punched in the back of the head.
"The hell did i tell you about keeping your mouth shut" It was Toru.
"Aww Toru baby why you gotta hurt me like that?" I replied in mock hurt trying to strangle a laugh.
Over the past few weeks since we had met I discovered that very few things pleased me more than really getting at Toru and putting the screws on her. Why? Because it's funny.
"Don't even give me that you lying pig. Just go home back to sleep your cearly dreaming."
"What? But it all felt so real you thought so too right especially when you shouted"
Toru interrupted me and came at me again with more punches and kicks but I dodged, ducked and blocked.
I laughed.
"I'm surprised you have that much energy after this morning" I taunted.
"Will you just hold still so i can kill you honestly I've already got rumors about me without you adding more you ass" she replied.
She was getting agitated and flustered now. I would be happy for a week after bugging her this much.
"Say Kuria, I've been meaning to ask why do you have oil on your face." Koyka asked while watching the show.
"Huh oil?"
Dodging another blow I ran a hand on my face only to find a splotch of oil on it. Even though it was called "perfect perception" it was hardly perfect most of the time my own body was phased out of my perception. It's like how you can always see your own nose but your brain never shows it because it's always been there and so it's not important it's only when you make the effort to see it does it appear.
"Pfft" Toru sniggered.
The bitch she had seen it and never told me.
I went on the attack trying to cover her face in the same oil.
"Here a cow needs black spots right?" I growled.
She grabbed both of my wrists and was holding me back.
"Hey I thought you noticed knowing an idiot like you, you probably thought it looked cool"
She laughed.
"Yeah I think it is don't you wanna be cool?"
The struggle was going in my favour.
"Ha hell no plus Im a girl you can't do that, what will I do when people see me with oil on my face? my girly persona would disappear" she protested.
"I don't care that you're a girl you're messing with me so it's payback, plus you're invisible so no one will know and what girly persona? You're just a selfish cow after your spots i'll get you a bell"
She was shifting her weight and she was most likely going for a throw.
"Whoa they have just completely forgotten we're standing here" Mina commented.
"Yeah that's kinda rude. I don't blame them though I mean look at them. I should take a photo, Momo would like it. She loves the lovey-dovey stuff" Koyka added.
"Woo yeah this will help if we need some leverage on Toru later"
Koyka sighed.
"I really wonder if your actually her friend or enemy sometimes Mina"
Mina laughed.
Toru suddenly pulled back and I flew forwards grabbing one of my arms. She was trying for a throw over her shoulder but I had anticipated it.
I braced myself and I needed to time this well.
She shifted her weight under mine and using one of her legs as a lever she flipped me over the shoulder. As I was falling to the ground I kicked out my legs landing on my feet I was bent over backwards Toru still holding my arm with both of her hands, standing over me she was the only thing keeping me from falling on my back looking straight up at her I smiled.
Because I still had one hand free and she didn't.
She was only now figuring that out now.
So that's how Toru got a streak of oil on her face that morning. Yeah it cost me a bit of pain but it was fun to mess with her a little.
Today is going rather well.
While Toru was in class I was helping out with the seniors going over recent exam tendencies and patterns to gauge what was most likely on the next exam. As well as teaching memory exercises and what traps to watch out for.
It was nearing the end of the day when I got a phone call I looked at the I.D.
Ugh what now?
I answered the phone.
"Hey Aizawa what do you need?"
"Training ground 2 in 5 minutes" he hung up.
"Is it just me or do our phone conversations get shorter and ruder" I huffed to no one.
So five minutes later I was in training ground two and was bracing for Aizawa next stupid training scheme the whole class was outside waiting all in uniform. In the background was one of the "cities" that was a U.A training ground.
So it's not going to be like that fox hunt thank god I can not be bothered to do that again.
"Hello Kuria, nice of you to volunteer again." Aizawa said as I approached.
"Blow it out your ass you know I didn't volunteer" I scowled.
As I got close he leaned in.
"This is actually partly your training today so take it seriously and remember your not to inform anyone Toru is already aware." Aizawa whispered.
I felt a shiver. I knew this would be starting eventually but I had no idea what kind of training it was. So I was somewhat nervous.
Aizawa started to address the class.
"Ok so this will be the task over the next few days the class will be split into three teams two of them will have six students the other seven students. The teams have already been picked so I want you to gather into your assigned groups and places.
He called out the teams.
Team Alpha:
Shoto, Tenya, Yuga, Momo, Koji and Rikido.
Team Beta:
Mina, Katsuki, Izuku, Minoru, Mezo, Hanta and Mashiro.
Team Charlie:
Koyka, Tsuyu, Eijiro, Denki, Fumikage and Ochaco.
All of the students split off into their groups except for Toru, her name had not been called out.
Aizawa waved over to Toru and beckoned her over.
I already don't like the look of this.
"So the goal of this training is each team will take over that building" he pointed in the distance.
It was a large building; it was the tallest in the area by around 10-11 floors meaning altogether it was pushing 30 floors by my count on the very top seemed to be a penthouse.
"After which you will be defending a high value target on the top floor," Aizawa continued.
"Wait so this is like last time? Each team will face the others?" a student asked.
"Not quite our infiltration team will be these two Toru and Kuria" he gestured to myself and Toru.
"What? That's 6 Vs 2 hell 7 Vs 2 that's way to unreasonable" I protested.
"Yeah we can't fight them all." Toru added.
"The point is not to fight, you're to avoid them using stealth, you don't need to defeat the other team just eliminate the target and get out."
"Wait wait eliminate? You mean we're assassins?" I said.
"Yes is that a problem?" he replied.
"Yes"
"Yes"
Both me and Toru shouted.
"Hmmmm well that's not my problem"
"Wait Aizawa sensei isn't this a little unfair Toru can just walk in and take the target out due to her quirk" it was MIna.
"So I'm doing all the work again," Toru said, looking kinda sick.
"You didn't do all of the work last time" I mentioned.
"I may as well have" she snapped.
"Whatever the point is I'm not doing it we aren't killers" I said.
"yeah me neither" Toru joined in.
"Grr look you two your not being trained as assassins got it? Get the target out,stab the dummy or just poke the damn thing I don't care. The trainer being assigned to you wants this as an assessment. These kinds of people are very picky and don't like their time being wasted. So they asked for this to get to know you before taking on the job. So reach the target and get out." Aizawa said in a harsh hushed whisper.
I looked at Toru and our eyes met. I gave her a small almost imperceptible shrug. Still looking a little sick she gave a small nod.
"Ok fine let's get this over with then" I said briskly.
*click*
*click*
"That's why our infiltration team will be handcuffed together Mina" Aizawa said while turning back to the other students.
I looked at the handcuff on my right wrist in shock. It was a very advanced model used for really tough villains. The cable connecting the cuffs together was around 3 meters long on the other end was Toru also cuffed on the left hand.
We don't even have the full three meters to work with not unless we are looking in opposite directions.
"The hell Aizawa. What on earth are you playing at?" I could barely summon any anger just a weary exasperation.
Thankfully Toru had me covered on the anger front.
"This is insane. We are already at a huge disadvantage and now your handicapping us as well? How can we move around like this?" Toru exploded while shaking her fist.
"You two have planning and the initiative" Aizawa plainly stated.
"That only works if they don't know we are coming, any planning we can do they can also do" I put in.
He leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
"Yes but you two have experience in this field that they don't" Aizawa said a smug grin on his face.
I'd give anything to punch that smug look off.
"Maybe so but at least take off the cuffs" Toru pleaded.
"Can't it wasn't my choice my hand are... tied"
Was was that a joke?
"That sucked" I concluded.
Aizawa ignored me and addressed the class again.
"So Team Alpha will be first Team Beta will go tomorrow and Team Charlie the day after so Team Alpha get your costumes on"
"You two had better plan he nodded to both of us"
"Thanks I can't wait this will be so much fun" I said with sarcasm seeping out of my mouth.
"Just shut up dumbass let's at least try" Toru scolded me.
We got to the building after. The first team had an hour to get changed and set up while me and Toru had to come up with something.
So we argued we argued the whole time.
"Look, the only way we can get any advantage is to use the scaffolding to get up a few floors, then we just have to hope we don't run into anyone" I said heatedly.
"The hell kind of plan is that? We should go up through the elevator shaft" she spat back.
"And climb 30 floors? Your mad we would be exhausted by the halfway point"
"Duh we use the scaffolding to get up 8 floors then climb" she looked at me stupid.
"Yeah we are still going to get tired after 10-12 floors and what happens if one of them catches us. We would be fish in a barrel no way" i slashed my hand to end my point.
"Then what else can we do?" she crossed her arms.
"Not much we can do we have no idea what the building is like, what's in there and no equipment so like i said earlier we throw this match and use it to get intel so we are better equipped for the other ones" I stated cooly.
"Hell no there is no way i'm just going to throw the match we go for the win" she balled up her fists throwing them back as shouted.
"We need to be pragmatic about this Toru" I tried to reason.
"No"
So it went on like that going around in circles, neither wanting to budge an inch.
So the hour passed and we were still no closer to a compromise. A bell rang to signal the start of the exercise.
So we started to climb the scaffolding of the building up. It was a thankfully quiet and calm day so the wind wasn't too rough on the way up.
There are even sparrows flying around.
When we got to the eighth floor.
"Wait won't they be expecting us to go this way to the eighth floor?" Toru said tugging on the cuffs.
I stopped thinking for a moment.
"Mmm do we have much of a choice?"
She thought for a moment then shook her head.
The windows on the first 8 floors had no windows as we climbed through and I saw a sparrow perched on the scaffolding flying off further up the building.
We creeped through the hallways trying to find the stairs. Most places like this have two stairways on opposite sides of the building once we had found one we started to climb up keeping ears strained for any sign of the others.
"I hate this, it feels so awkward" Toru commented.
"Yeah it feels too exposed"
But there was very little we could do. We had no plan; we had to just wing it.
"Hey Toru take at a look at that" I pointed at a sparrow that was perched on one of the railings a few floors above us
She froze when she saw it.
"I wonder if it's the same one I saw earlier"
"Run" Toru shouted, pushing me out of the stairway.
"What? Why?"
"Move it they know we are here"
"How?" I said in confusion
"Koji can talk with animals why didn't you mention it sooner dumbass"
"What? How was I meant to know that?"
We started to run through the hallways of the 12th floor. We were just passing through a large room. Which was filled with office cubicles.
"Found you guys Tenya they are on the 12th floor"
It was Rikido he put the radio into his belt.
"Got it on my way" came the reply from the radio.
Rikido in his full bumblebee yellow suit was retrieving some sweets from his belt.
"Fight or evade?" I turned to Toru
"Evade" she replied.
She started to run to her right while I ran back the way we came. The cable between the cuffs snapping straight as we pulled in different directions.
"Damn it" I cursed.
"Ow" Toru said, clutching her wrist while she faced me.
Rikido had started to run towards us aiming for Toru first.
Fast for a big dude.
I grabbed the cable and tugged hard pulling Toru over towards me.
"Watch out" I shouted.
Rikido had missed with his first swing.
"Ow quit it that hurts" Toru whined while she was pulled.
Rikido came again swinging a right and I put myself between him and Toru, me being the better defence.
I raised my left to deflect it.
Only it stopped short
Damn it the cuffs.
There was little time I shifted my body right to dodge; he clipped me on the right shoulder.
Pain exploded from the hit, the shock rattling the bones. A felt a pop and my arm going numb and loose.
I gritted my teeth fighting down the pain.
So I took a page from Torus' book, I charged.
Getting in under Rikido I tackled him shoving him with my left shoulder and trying to take out his legs from under him.
But he was heavy. It was a struggle and I couldn't use my right arm much.
If i can just get him down.
His elbow came down to hit my back and I shifted to avoid. But then a knee came up a flash of pain and light as it connected with my face.
I felt a hand and a weight on my back as I was losing consciousness
Really so soon?
I woke up after some time my back up against the wall I was sitting down
*cough*
I spluttered and coughed spitting blood on the ground next to me.
I was in agony.
"You're finally awake, how are you doing?"
It was Toru she knelt in front of me looking me over.
"Bloodly awful… what happened?"
My head was foggy and I was tired. I shook my head a little to try and clear it.
A wave of nausea pounced on me.
My left hand shot to my mouth to try and keep myself from throwing up.
"Careful dumbass you probably have a concussion and your nose is pretty broken"
She held my cheek in place she was looking worried.
"Keep looking like at me like that and I might get the wrong idea"
I smiled.
She scowled, giving me a playful slap on the cheek.
"If you're cracking jokes you should be fine. Anyway I used you to get some height and took Rikido out with a swift kick to the head then I dragged your ass here to hide until you came to. By the way thanks for taking the hit."
"What am I your human shield?"
"Well it's the only thing you have been good for recently" she smiled cruelly.
I took a quick look at the room. It was a small cleaning closet. There was barely enough room to fit us both in.
"Bitch. Anyway what's the plan?"
Toru looked up and there was a hole in the ceiling.
"We can crawl through there and try to keep undetected as we find the staircase again Tenya is on this floor looking for us"
My arm was numb. I tried moving it but had no luck.
"Not happening" I replied.
"Why not?"
"My arm is screwed I cant move it"
Toru kneeled at my side inspecting my arm grabbing poking and prodding.
"Hey ow be more careful" I grimaced.
"Well its not broken it's just dislocated"
"Oh praise the gods for my luck" i said sarcastically.
"I can fix it but it'll hurt.
"Go ahead then lets get this over with"
Toru grabbed my arm and shoulder lining it up.
"Ready?"
I braced and nodded.
With a sharp push my arm popped back into place taking in a sharp breath with the pain I clenched my teeth.
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmggggggggrrrr" I muffled trying not to be heard.
"How's it feel?"
Letting out a relieved sigh I started to roll my shoulder to see how it felt.
"G-good that actually feels a lot better" I said in amazement.
"Don't act so surprised, I have a lot of talents you don't know" Toru announced smuggly.
"Whoa so even a pain in the ass like you can achieve?" I mocked standing up.
Crocodile tears in my eyes I continued.
"*sniff* I'm so proud *sniff*"
Toru just rolled her eyes at me.
"Come on be useful and help me up" she pointed at the hole in the ceiling.
"It'll be really tight in there with the handcuffs and all" I mused.
Standing under the hole I cupped my hands.
"Well tough"
Standing on my hands I lifted her up to the hole her skirt swinging pleasingly in my face.
"You'd better not look up" Toru scolded.
"Not like anything I haven't seen before" I mumbled.
The cable linking the handcuffs started to go taught.
This isn't gonna work.
As the door to the storage opened.
"Tenya" I shouted.
"Ha I found you. Stop right there and come quietly and you won't be hurt" he announced hautally.
"Fat chance" Toru replied.
Dumbass we could have tricked him.
"Very well"
He bent his knees into a fighting pose.
"Watch the legs" Toru instructed.
Using my perception I quickly took in his legs in detail understanding their function. It was such a strange construction but it followed basic combustion principles. As they charged up for an attack my mind raced his pose suggested a high kick.
"Down" I shouted to Toru
"UP" she replied.
Instinctually I lifted her higher with her foot leaving my hand. She made a small hop in the air as I ducked down to avoid the kick.
The attack only struck air except for one thing it hit the cable tying our handcuffs together.
The force yanked me forwards grabbing onto the cable. I pulled Tenya off balance he hit the dirt.
" GO" I shouted as both me and Toru ran out into the corridor.
Running towards a staircase.
"He won't be down for long, we can't out run him" Toru said.
"outside I'd agree with you but here we are evenish" I told her.
"What how?"
We got to the stairs.
"Tell me have you ever seen him turn tight corners that fast?"
She thought for a moment.
"N-no I haven't"
"I thought so, from what I could see he can use his quirk in a straight run but he can't corner well so he'll be slower. At least I think I only got a quick look"
She nodded, still running up that stairs.
"I think you're right so we just have to take lots of turns to keep him slow right?"
"That's about right if we fight him close range in a tight space would be best"
"Agreed that's my job then" Toru said.
"You sure?"
"I'm better at that kind of fight"
*Pfft*
I scoffed.
"You are not"
"Am too"
"Hell no I could kick your ass"
"Oh please you were barely holding on last time"
"I found them they are on the 14th floor" Tenya called into the radio from downstairs.
We ran into the 14th floor.
"We need to lose him" I said.
"We can't keep up this pace"
"Hide?" I suggested.
Toru nodded.
We started to weave through corridors. Taking tight turns and making our route to the other staircase as confusing as possible the layout was easy so i had no problem navigating.
"Ok so who else? Momo? How tough is she?" I asked.
"Very she's highly trained and smart she'll be hard to take down" Toru replied.
"hmm ok so what about Yuga?"
"So long as it's not at long range he should be easy enough for us to handle or evade"
"Shoto?" I asked.
Toru stopped her eyes widening a little.
"I forgot about him"
" so? Tough or not?" I was confused at the reaction.
"You could ask me" a cold voice at the end of the hall replied.
It was Shoto. He was about 2 metres outside of my perception.
"RUN" Toru shouted.
Grabbing me she pulled me back and into another hall as ice along the floor flashed past just behind us.
""Ok so ice powers got it, how far away can he do that from?"
"No idea" Toru replied.
"What?"
"I don't know. The whole building? Maybe."
I realized why she stopped with such a look it was fear.
"You're kidding right? That's impossible"
A flash of ice breached my perception running along the floor. Both me and Toru slipped, grabbing her and turning so she landed on me. I took the worst of the fall without thinking.
Looking ahead, Tenya just turned the corner and we were surrounded.
Toru got up quickly and helped me up my body sore and tired. We were both breathing hard trying to catch our breath.
Toru went to face Tenya.
"*pant*Ok i got Tenya you *pant* you got Shoto" Toru said.
"What?" I panted back.
"That was the plan *pant* right? You got this *pant*"
"How am i even *pant* supposed to do that? *pant*" I replied.
"You can't" Shoto replied.
Another wave of ice creeped up both mine and Toru's legs going further up and trapping us.
We lost.
After a trip to the nurse's office again something that was becoming an unfortunate habit. Both of us were still handcuffed for losing, it seemed a little harsh honestly.
Both me and Toru went back to her class to pick up her bag. The classroom was empty the majority of the student body had gone home and well both of us were sulking in silence. Toru moved one of the chairs so it was opposite to hers.
"Sit down, let's see if we can get these off" Toru said.
I sighed and sat down looking out the window. She took out a lockpick from her bag and started to work on the cuff on her left wrist.
"Hey can you give me a hand?" she asked in a small voice.
I turned to her, her face was downcast and sulky. We were both tired and annoyed.
"Sure what do you need me to do?" I asked.
"I can't do this with one hand. I need you to fill in, take this and just hold the tumblers and let me do the delicate work. Can you do that?" she replied softly.
She passed me the other lockpick.
"Sure i know how it works"
Our heads close together and she poked her tongue out a little as she started to work the lock.
"You're not gonna complain about doing all the work again?" I teased.
A smile crept on her face and she laughed a little.
"Shut up…..you are right though I AM doing all the work"
I smiled back looking back out the window admiring the view.
The first tumbler came up and I caught it without looking as she kept working.
"That was total bullshit" I said tursly.
Toru sighed.
"Yeah it was"
"I mean no prep no equipment no nothing versus the best trainee heroes the country has and we were outnumbered."
"I know you don't have to remind me"
Silence settled in again as I pondered the problems ahead of us.
"Long range" I mentioned absently.
"What?"
"Long range, that's our weakness, both of us rely on getting in close."
"Yeah I guess" she mumbled, still not taking her eyes off of her work.
"Speaking of that really? 'Fat chance?' we could have tricked him into letting us close or at least buy some time" I said softly grinning a little.
"Y-yeah that was dumb but I thought you might give up you were hurting." her voice grew weak, a hint of guilt at the end.
"Idiot" I lightly knocked her on the head.
"Still, nice call. I never would have thought of getting him caught up in the cable." I continued.
She smiled again.
"It was pretty good right?" she chuckled.
"Yeah really good"
She kept working.
"Smoke bombs" I said.
"Hmm?"
"We need some smoke bombs, it'll help dealing with the long range hero's" I said.
"Well we'll just go down to the convenience store on the way home and pick some up" she replied sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes.
"Oh come on Ninja-sama surely you know how to make some"
She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah sure i'll just pull them outta my butt then" she replied.
"Ok so what kind of long range weapons can we use? You can use knives, right?" I said.
"Well yeah, throwing knives their different but I can use them" Toru replied.
"Ok well I have some training with guns"
"We aren't trying to kill them Kuria" Toru snapped.
" I know i know we can use the tranquilizer ones right?"
"Well yeah. Look it's all good talking about this but where are we even gonna get this?"
"Well most of this is hero equipment right?" I said suggestively.
"Yes what's your point?" she huffed looking up at me.
I started looking around the room pointedly and she stared for a minute. Our eyes met her deep ocean blue stared into mine. She began to squint her eyes slowly in suspicion.
She started to work on her handcuff again.
"Say did you ever get a good look at the restricted areas in the school when we broke in?" Toru asked.
"Yeah I got a good look" I said smiling.
"Hmmm so hypothetically how do you think someone could get into those areas?" Toru asked coly.
"Hmm well i think that the only way in without letting anyone know would be though the front door we just need a keycard." I said.
"Well surely the guards have them so I'm guessing there should be one in the lockers but don't they have combination locks? Those are really hard to break" Toru replied.
"Yep very hard. Imagine if there was someone that could see the tumblers in the lock though, man it would be so easy for them to crack it right?"
Toru paused working on the lock for a second before continuing.
"Hmm yeah thank goodness such a person doesn't exist" Toru was finding it hard not to grin.
"Well let's say hypothetically someone got the keycard. What about the cameras?" Toru asked.
I stroked my chin.
"Well it would be a two person job of course one to take out the guard watching the cameras and wipe any crimes that were commited, then the other to get in and steal whatever it is they are getting. The only problem would be how to knock out the guard hitting them would make them suspicious when they woke up. Hmmm if only these hypothetical criminals had a way to put them to sleep." I replied.
"Huh would something like this work?" Toru said, pulling out the forth and final tranquilizer dart I gave her from when we broke out of the office building where Toru was being held.
"Oh would you look at that" I said in feigned surprise.
"Yeah this would do well just drug them and they will doze off for a while" I continued.
Toru was now grinning from ear to ear clearly trying not to giggle and I most likely had the same expression.
"Hmm well it's certainly a good thing that anyone planning to do something like that has it then right?" Toru tried to put on a serious face while saying this.
"Still Hypothetically there is one more problem: how would these people get the stuff out without being caught?" she continued.
"Ahh well they don't have to they could hide the equipment on site saaay I don't know one of the training sites like one of those city blocks they have here. They can come back another time right?" I also tried to be very serious but was having difficulty. \
"Ok hmm well it's a good thing no one is planning such a thing right?"
"Right" I replied.
The thoughts raced through my head the heat in my body was heating up in anticipation of tonight's activity.
"Say Toru wanna go on a date to that restaurant you wanted to eat at?" I asked.
A beautiful heavy click rang as I finished my sentence and with a loud satisfied sigh Toru rubbed her now free wrist. Tilting her head index finger on her chin she put on a sham act of thinking about it.
"Hmmmmm sure why not. But you keep your handcuff" she replied.
With that statement a spiteful and evil grin she got up and started to walk away.
I scrambled to follow.
"What? Oh come on that's totally not fair" I whined.
She laughed.
"It's a pain to unlock, just deal with it."
She poke her tongue out at me.
We never did eat at that restaurant that night.