Gang Orca no longer felt compelled to hold back against me.
I relished the sentiment.
Fluidity and speed doubled in my new suit, dark as night and interlaced with cobalt veins of accessible water, strewn in identical patterns across my body like the original set below my skin. A thin membrane, derived from seaweed and algae, bound the water to the suit but also allowed retraction without damaging the secondary veins. I could rebind the molecules without so much as a flex of energy. The support department had truly outdone themselves.
I did have questions concerning the particular span of exposed skin of my shoulders and pattern cutting around the curve of my thighs, rather than appearing as one continuous span of fabric, and it was almost ungodly tight, but at least my chest was completely covered.
They created me a second skin to better my use of submersion, I optimistically decided. The alternative- especially if high schoolers were involved in my suit's creation- was too much to bear without burning down the school or sentencing them all to five years of detention or both.
With my dark, sleek ponytail and tall black boots, the insinuations hardly took away from my viperous aesthetic.
If Eraser Head was the ninja, I was the spy.
"This time I want you to utilize the water of your arms with shape-shifting,"
Sakamata rose from the pool and offered me a hand. I climbed the liquid like stairs, using his hand for balance. "Perhaps a blade. The key will be hardening the molecules to withhold impact."
By our thirtieth day in the Paradox, using the velocity of my new liquid veins rather than my inner blood was nearly a cakewalk and took about as much energy as one. Our sparring moved to the waters; there was no restraint in movement for Sakamata there.
And because of that, I learned very quickly why orcas were the apex predators of the seas.
I couldn't even resent him for the newly-minted scar revolving around the knob of my right wrist; now I'd be smarter, know not to punch into an enemy's mouth when they could have teeth like knives. Sakamata had seemed far more traumatized than I was, apologizing profusely once Recovery Girl finished patching me up and turned her fiery wrath upon him, the residue of his attack still glittering like a jagged heartbeat on my wrist.
Everything- from the workouts to the breakthroughs- came at a price. The more I seemed to pay, be it in sweat or blood, sacrifices or paltry dietary habits, the more I gained in return.
So when Sakamata suggested a new vision for submersion- transforming water into instruments for both logistical and offensive tactics- I rose to the task with vigor.
Discs of solidified water to run across, foot-long spikes to maneuver from and wield like knives, restraining binds as thick as needles and counting in the dozens- I wanted to master them all.
Everything was proving slightly more difficult though, now that Sakamata only came at me with teeth-gnashing, pummeling ferocity.
I could counter the hyper-sonic blasts with a wall of water, though doing so immediately shattered my hold after. With my newfound strength his blows- while still heavy- proved at least easier to stand against. I'd moved from guppy status to at least something close to my influenced hero name. At the very least I would never flinch over a paper cut again.
A swift kick threw me across the water he quickly dove under. I tucked in and landed on my feet, hardening the water under every footfall.
He's coming.
An orca rose to capture its prey. I dodged easily, solidifying the surface once more so he couldn't escape.
"Good!"
A deft blow to his side. Fling away the attacking fist. I splayed my fingers; upon their clenching, water burst from the pseudo-cephalic and basilic veins, forming a silvery blade the length of my forearm. I rammed it into Sakamata's massive side. He let out a grunt before discombobulating my senses with a hyper-sonic attack, leaping several meters away to the safety of the pool's edge.
"Excellent! Though I believe it lost its shape halfway in,"
I grinned back at his fish teeth, preening with the praise. Red eyes narrowed in playful disdain.
"I think that's enough for now."
It was like I'd been pushing against submersion all this time, only to find the door said pull. I marveled at the easy act of walking across water now as I joined the medic attending to Sakamata's wound. A minute later the tear all but disappeared, displaying his shiny black skin like a new lacquer. He noticed my attention and I molded my face into one of supreme seriousness.
"What do you do if a child asks about your teeth?"
"Orca whales have anywhere between forty to fifty-six teeth; when they fall out they do not grow back, like an average homo sap- an average human's would. An orca's teeth are also interlocking, and average about three inches in length, each."
I raised my eyebrows. Sakamata blinked before startling, recalling the rest.
"Ah. Do not show said teeth unless both prompted and the interested party seems able to handle a potentially-frightening display."
"Yeah! See, the next time you guest speak, you'll be a little kid magnet!" I cheered with a friendly punch to his shoulder. He seemed as pleased as someone with fifty-six teeth could be, a certain bounce in his step as we carried on towards the kitchen.
Gang Orca's conviction to heroism was only matched by his interest in the preservation of the oceans- an understandable platform, considering his mutation. I'd never thought of heroes using their notoriety to bring attention to issues important to them, rather than forcibly sponsoring products and charities by their agencies. My driven mentor, however, seemed keen to visit and give as many guest lectures at aquariums and related sites as his schedule would allow.
And where there's aquariums, there's children.
Tiny children. With easily-triggered fight-or-flight responses.
Apparently, not everyone found his oceanic features and towering height quite as delightful as I now did.
And so while he drilled me on villainous scenarios and beat me to a pulp, I explained the simple tactics of putting a child at ease, from what constituted a friendly smile to the correct responses to seemingly-inappropriate questions regarding bowel movements and blubber inquiries.
Sakamata produced two protein packs and a sealed container from the fridge. I took my own servings and eyed his extra food, wary of what today's seafood special would be.
By their audible squirming, it looked like octopi again.
"A villain has taken a civilian hostage. The ETA of fellow assistance is five minutes. You do not believe the villain will wait that long before taking the victim's life. What is the first step of negotiation?"
"Empathy," I tried not to grimace when he offered up the twisting tentacles of a still-writhing octopus. "Listening without judgment. A person- no matter who- will never simply succumb to another's will or way of thinking without warrant. Figure out the villain's motive for the situation. Assimilate a common vocabulary to fit in a realistic influence. If possible, submerse into their bloodstream to slow their circulatory system."
"What did you say adolescents are into these days? Animal Island?"
"Animal Crossing," I tried not to laugh outright at both the abrupt subject change and his old-man vocabulary. No wonder he and Toshinori get along. "It's a video game. Actually, there's a little octopus character, so maybe don't bring your lunch around when there's kids about."
"Mm," Sakamata said noncommittally.
"What do you do if a kid wants to touch your fin?"
"I should not pick them up; instead, lower myself to their level." He gave a particularly grotesque slurp. I held back a wave of nausea. "All Might mentioned you are in a relationship with Eraser Head. Is there truth to that?"
My chest filled with a miserable little ache- and not for Sakamata's poor, squirming snack.
An entire month had passed for me now- a month since I'd seen anything other than Gang Orca's somber face and the nameless medics of Tempus, all novices in manners of socializing. Recovery Girl visited only once every week or so, pleasant enough but disturbingly quiet about the outside world. There wasn't much time for being lonely during the twenty-hour training days, but my voice would surely be scratchy when I left this place and finally spoke to another person again. Sakamata and I got along quite well now, but most of our time was spent in combat, each breath precious as he tried to rip them from my lungs.
Worse of all, an entire month had passed of sleeping on a plain box-spring mattress, alone, unable to so much as text the man who'd fought so hard to retrieve me and then consequently lose me again almost immediately, for what was starting to feel like a fucking eternity.
I was maybe, probably, being a little dramatic.
But were his thoughts wrapped around me, the way mine were around him? I hadn't even had time to thoroughly research those pesky Wild Wild Pussycats before we parted ways. Several of my valuable, limited sleeping hours had been wasted worrying over whether or not one of them was one of the others; one of the femme fatales of his illustrious past.
Luckily, Gang Orca's regime(n) took so much of my attention and energy I really didn't have time to dwell on these potential feline love trysts.
Maybe I should thank Sakamata for his violent distractions.
But Sakamata wasn't exactly the joking type, and the fact that he only seemed to blink once every five hours made even deciphering his expressions as exhausting as the training he put me through.
A little piece of me cried every four-hour-night to see that boyish dimple again, or the way his eyes always crinkled when I did something particularly embarrassing. I felt like I'd barely be able to control myself once I left this place.
"Yes. He and we- Er, me and he- We are, yes. In a relationship." Well, good to see one aspect of me hasn't changed much. "Why?"
Sakamata at last finished his merciless snack, washing it down with a polite sip from his water bottle.
"No reason."
"Sakamata."
He sniffed.
I rose from the table, plastic protein wrap in hand, eyes casually locked on his, and neared the sink.
"Stop that at once." Gang Orca's timbre nearly shook the walls in protest. I lowered the plastic closer to the drain, faucet switched on with a tug of submersion. A bottom row of teeth clenched in a deadly, distressed gleam. "You know very well how plastics resurface in the ocean and the detriment caused to marine life-"
"Why did you ask me about Eraser Head?"
He rewarded me with a rare blink, reluctant to answer. The bottom edge of plastic touched the drain.
At last he relented. "I made the inquiry in hopes you would be free to accompany me to the new Hosu Aquarium in the future, now will you please recycle that-"
"You mean for one of your lectures?" I dropped the plastic into the recycling bin, a harmless item once more. "To assist you?"
His fin nearly broke the chair as he slumped, sighing in relief. "Yes."
I'd never even been to an aquarium before- probably due to Mom's persistent fear of water. To attend one now as an adult may dim the experience, but accompanying a well-known, bona fide pro hero- an aquatic one, at that- would be pretty exciting.
"Okay, I'm in."
"Really?"
I assessed the surprise by his posture, rather than the smooth, immobile features of his face. He continued, "Though your lessons have aided me greatly, I do not believe I'm quite prepared for another round of adol- kids- bursting into tears at the sight of me. Again." A tidal wave of sympathy lapped my chest. "Your presence would be most certainly bring a sense of serenity- to all of us." He hesitated. "But won't Eraser Head mind?"
I scoffed, waved the notion away like a bad smell. "He'll probably just be glad he doesn't have to take me himself. Besides, we- he's not like that. He isn't a controlling maniac; I'm not an object. I'm perfectly free and capable of spending time with people of my own choosing."
Sakamata seemed to consider this, as if he could have never foresaw such a response. I couldn't help but wonder how an aquarium visit seemed more offensive than a month-long training exercise to the stoic, surprisingly-sensitive pro hero, but men in general appeared to hold vast quantities of unfathomableness.
A new child scenario rose in my throat to drill him with before three presences racing towards us interrupted my thoughts. Sakamata's fin knocked over a forgotten water bottle as he turned, following my sudden attention.
The sight of the Gemeni raised no alarms.
It was the third person, donned in a black uniform and wearing a face full of iron, that rose every hair on my body.
"Gang Orca, sir! An emergency call came to the agency- you've been requested for an urgent mission."
We had been foolish.
To think, in the face of this newfound degree of villainy, the students would have been safe anywhere outside of school grounds.
And just as ignorantly I'd locked myself away; to get stronger, to protect them.
A few days in, the hero classes of UA had been attacked in the foothills by the League of Villains.
Twenty-seven students, injured.
One pro hero, missing.
Three villains taken into custody.
And one student, missing.
No, not missing.
Taken.
"Do you- Do they know which student was taken?"
"The Sports Festival winner. Katsuki Bakugo."
For the first times in weeks, I felt truly, utterly terrified.
"The police believe they've pinpointed the League's hideout-"
Why? Why Bakugo? Why now? Was this Tomura's doing, or the "Master's" hand at work?
"Another student attached a tracking device to one of the creatures. They've located a secondary hideout- They're creating a task force to take down this secondary location and taper any means of escape as they retrieve the hostage-"
"And I've been summoned to be on this second-location task force?"
"Yes, sir. Along with several other pro heroes."
I realized, absently, why the man before us chose such a bizarre, spandex suit- it was an imitation of Gang Orca's slick, black skin. An affiliate from his agency, no doubt. I stared at his webbed shoes, unseeing.
Bakugo, taken.
"Tsutomi."
I looked up at my name. Sakamata's red eyes razed across my face.
"Do you believe you should accompany me on this operation?"
Every bone in my body screamed to move, to go; the whole goal of this grueling training had been to protect, and yet one of my very students now rested in the most dangerous hands of villains.
Of course I wanted to go.
But that wasn't the question.
The thought of counting my breaths still jumped into my nerve-addled mind, even after dismissing regulation. Some habits were harder to break. I did so now, in, out.
"You know why I asked for this opportunity, and I have grown strong under your tutelage." I swallowed the angry protest hissing through my veins. "However, this operation will call not just for defending against villains, but attacking and taking them into custody. I don't have a provisional hero license. As much as I want to be part of this, I know I would only be a burden."
"Your student has been taken," Sakamata pointed out, almost skeptically. "You really want to sit by and not offer assistance?"
My teeth ground with enough force to distort steel. "This has nothing to do with what I want. I can't simply break the law because I want to. You of all people should know that."
"Indeed." He chuckled- a sound I'd only heard a handful of times through all these long, long weeks. Fire licked my belly before the curiosity of my mind doused the flames.
Sakamata, though aggressive on the battlefield and harsh in training, was never cruel; he would never laugh at me like this.
And so my surprise was only at half-capacity when he exited the room and returned with a strange, shiny card placed in the palm of one over-sized hand.
I stared.
A familiar face stared right back.
"This is-"
"You didn't really think we were just training for the hell of it, did you?"
A strange version of myself- smile hesitant, eyes wide, every edge of my face soft with youthful chubbiness- looked up from the provisional hero license, my newly-given name Chiyonex written in thick, black lettering beneath a list of related information.
I blinked, dumbstruck beyond coherency. His laughter sounded like air bubbles escaping the sea's underbelly.
"The written exams, the cameras within the main arena- all collected and provided to the Licensing Committee. Typically, one must take the Hero License Exam, but given my recommendation and your academic background, an exception was made."
"I'm-"
Kugo Sakamata nodded, understanding my question.
"You are the Aquatic Hero, Chiyonex. And you will be utilizing your hero status on this operation by my side."
Seven hundred and ninety hours had passed- roughly thirty-two days.
My training with Kugo Sakamata, known professionally as Gang Orca, was being cut short.
The next chapter of my life was about to begin.
