"I've tried as hard as I physically can- nothing. I just can't replicate it." Nanami let out, frustrated after hours of trying in vain. "Any progress on your end?"

He didn't meet her gaze, but she could tell by the far-off look in his eyes he wasn't having much luck either. After running some analysis on their fluid samples from the day before, they found the protein-encased mystery particles from before seemed to be reacting in time with their quirk activation. They surmised it had to be connected to overhaul, but to what end they still weren't sure. It also wasn't helpful that whenever they attempted to isolate the particles from the sample fluids, they immediately disintegrated. Nanami felt they were hitting a wall and decided to try something risky. The suggestion had popped into her head an hour or so ago upon reviewing the final footage with Kurono, but hoped they'd figure out an alternative before resorting to testing it out. Sighing, she began, "…I ha—"

"ve an idea." They spoke simultaneously, though what was a look of apprehension in Nanami's eyes was one of mischief in Overhaul's.

Yup, don't like that.

"Don't look so worried, we'll be careful about this, just like last time. I don't want a repeat of that morning as much as you do." He said rubbing the back of his head upon remembering how very unpleasant it was cracking his skull and having to anxiously wait by her bedside for days.

"… Fine. But for the record, I do not endorse this, but desperate times…"

"Your apprehension has been noted." He sighed annoyed, "After you, doctor."

They entered the testing arena followed by Kurono, Rappa and Mimic who were hauling in various plastics from the lab. They placed them neatly against the wall as Nanami took stock of the varying kinds and shapes she had to work with. Overhaul stood nearby taking down the room conditions and making markings on the floor while the last of the plastic was brought in. The pile was large, stretching at least six feet tall. Looking back at him, Nanami confirmed, "You sure about this?"

"Are you questioning him?" Mimic screeched as Nanami's eyes reflexively rolled the second noise came from his mouth.

"Was I talking to yo—"

"Mimic." Overhaul chided; his expression bored. Mimic scoffed, folding his arms, but remained silent nonetheless as Overhaul continued, "Yes, I am sure. I trust you." He replied to her question simply.

If a pin had dropped in that moment, the sound would have been deafening as the three Precepts froze, staring in shock at what they'd heard. Nanami shared in their surprise before promptly looking away, feeling his gaze to be a bit too intense at the declaration. It was common knowledge that the only person he truly trusted was himself, and to state otherwise, in front of an audience no less, was no small matter. There wasn't a hint of the sarcasm in his voice or features at his reply to her, no air of manipulation. It felt sincere and she was confronted with the possibility that the games had ended, and they'd truly stepped into new territory that sent her heart racing. A simple 'yes' would have sufficed. Nanami thought, annoyed at how easily he got a rise out of her, heat rising to her cheeks.

Satisfied with her reaction, he resumed, his gaze still fixed on her, "Now, if you all value your eyes, you'll leave us to our work. Or did any of you have something to say?"

"Nope, I'm good." Rappa replied, turning on his heel and out of the room as the rest of them followed suit, Kurono's face a bit too smug for Nanami's liking.

Now alone in the room, Nanami spoke, still refusing to make eye contact, "L-let's just get started." She knelt down to the pile, examining it for a beat before transforming it into a large span of padding that covered a quarter of the room, the density thickest towards the center. The plastics made great raw materials for make-shift poly-fil, the padding essentially being a giant pillow to soften the impact she anticipated.

He strode over to her, disposing of his gloves, "We've tried a myriad of different ways to recreate the blast from the experiment on our lonesome with… depressing results. By the footage we can confirm that the air is what reacted to our quirk. I say we try again, together this time."

"It's gonna be pretty hard since I know we're supposed to get riled up. It'd be kind of contrived to do it the same way as last time, don't you think?"

"Agreed, but I don't think that will be necessary. I'd like to try it as though we're using overhaul normally, without any significant stressors." He reasoned before motioning to the lines drawn on the floor as guides, "If we adhere to the diagram, we should be able to perform this with minimal risk."

She chewed the inside of her mouth before acquiescing, "Alright, let's line up and on the count of three, we'll give it a shot."

Nodding the went to their designated markers, both focusing intently on the target placed on the other side of the room. Standing side-by-side, each extended an arm outward, aiming towards the marker a few yards away. Taking a centering breath, Overhaul began, "One… two… three…"

"…"

"…"

"… Okay, now we just look constipated." Nanami exasperated, frustrated by their lack of progress.

"Be serious."

"I am. I just don't know how this is supposed to work. Obviously, air is matter, but it's… different. I can't see it…"

"…But we can feel it." They looked to each other, sharing a eureka moment. Early on in their research, they discovered what seemed to be a heightened sensitivity in their hands which was unsurprising as they were their primary quirk factors ( Nanami also discovered their feet could serve as secondary factors, but the idea of feet in general grossed Overhaul out so the discovery was promptly archived).

Closing her eyes, Nanami focused on her hands, feeling for every whisp of air that caressed her fingertips as she slowly moved them through the air. She was sure it looked like she was having a very boring acid trip, but ultimately the movements worked to help visualize the air particles to the best of her ability. With renewed vigor, she opened her eyes to see her lab partner doing a similar exercise, though his movements were more akin to lazier version of jazz hands. Stifling a giggle at the sight, she cleared her throat to gain his attention, "Ready to try again?"

"On three." He confirmed, with a nod, his eyes focused on the target in the distance once more. "One… two… thre—"

The second the last syllable ended, a chain of explosions cascaded across the room, obliterating the target in an instant. The blast sent them careening backwards towards the padding on the wall and across the room and Nanami found herself eternally grateful they'd taken the time to reinforce it. Dizzied by the recoil, she hazily peered in the direction of the target, brushing a stray hair from her face. Blinking her vision into focus, it was clear that the target was gone… As well as the wall behind it… And the wall behind that one as well. Rebar and blocks of concrete fell pathetically from the rim of the gaping hole left behind, though the sound was muffled by the ringing in her right ear.

It worked. Nanami thought awestruck at her quirk. She could acknowledge its usefulness in a general sense, but for whatever reason, this moment reminded her of the sublime, and she felt Herculean for the first time in her life. It became easier for her to imagine how this feeling would leave others drunk with power, the possibility for creation and destruction growing more vast by the day, but her resolve remained unwavering. In the same moment that she was in awe of the destruction, there was a marked guilt at the thought of someone being in the way of a blast like that. Her quirk felt like a cruel metaphor for her life; constantly building to mitigate the equally constant destruction, both of which she was responsible for. I…have really got to stop depressing myself like this. She thought, shaking herself out of the mini-existential crisis.

Readjusting herself on the padding where she landed, there was a warmth on her back, then small, rhythmic breathes. She looked to either side of her to see familiar slack-clad legs caging her in. Connecting the dots, her eyes shot wide, realizing she was sitting in her partner's lap. Trying to ignore a slew of unprofessional thoughts, she turned carefully, a small part of her hoping he'd been knocked out, simply to avoid any embarrassment. Still a bit sore, she steadied herself, absentmindedly putting a hand on his chest, the other pressing against the padding before looking to his face. Much to her chagrin, he was fully conscious. He gazed down at her with an expression she couldn't read, though it certainly wasn't blank. Hyperaware of their positioning she attempted to steady her breath before speaking, feeling the familiar tension between them growing more potent. Move! Say something, do something! Literally anything! Instead her breath hitched as he unsubtly glanced down at her lips before returning to her eyes, the fact that he'd made no efforts to change their position now weighing heavily on her. It was becoming too much for Nanami as it became clearer by the moment what the tension would amount to if left unchecked. The scariest part of it all being that she wouldn't stop him if he decided to act on whatever ideas were dancing behind those eyes. Panicked by her own willingness, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind, an awestruck look still in her eyes as she appreciated seeing him this close.

"That… was a bigass explosion."

Truly insightful observation, . Just put that as the title of the research paper: The Methodology and Phenomena of Bigass Explosions. She thought, inwardly rolling her eyes at herself.

She could feel his chest jerk at her comment in a stifled chuckle, his face that of disbelief and amusement, "You're not wrong… Would you care to join me in getting up and surveying the results? This position isn't ideal, for labwork that is." He spoke the last part a bit too suggestively and Nanami was convinced her face would be stuck in a permanent state of blush.

"O-oh yeah, of course! Sorry about that," She stammered, hopping to her feet before instinctively extending her hand to help him up. She almost immediately remembered how silly the gesture was, but before she could withdraw the palm, he grasped it firmly, accepted the lift. She pulled him up, struggling for a beat as he was heavier than he looked, trying her best to hide a look of shock as he held her hand longer than necessary.

As they surveyed the damage from a distance, there was a glint in his eye, that left her equally excited and concerned. They hadn't realized it yet, but what appeared to be a breakthrough dragged behind it a deluge of questions they might soon regret asking.