Lt. Bailey let out a large sigh and began to pace to one side of the room to the other. His eyes showed signs of stress and lack of sleep. Deep purple bags formed under his eyes and red irritation on his eyeballs. Bailey was up for countless hours for the sake of Geus. With the UA Sports Festival soon, this was no coincidence.

"So you want to train, after scheduled hours outside of prison grounds?" Bailey questioned.

"Yes," Geus answered.

"I'm already up for days trying to figure out how to get you through that festival without breaking any rules as it is. Believe it or not, the board is not easy to convince."

"This is what that training is for, bring one of the board members to the training. They can see I'm really trying to improve and make my quirk safe."

"Why can't you use Beka for your training, she's a natural defense against your quirk."

"Which means I can't improve my technique or see any real results."

"I'll see what I can do, for now, practice on school allowed time. I can't promise anything."

Another night has past and the day starts new. The same silent bus ride to the energetic school. With the same redhead outside once again. Geus didn't bother to say anything to his driver and hopped out of the steps of the bus. Her smile was the happiest start of his day, reminded him somebody actually liked him.

"So how pumped are you for the event?" Itsuka asked.

"I'm ready. Just need a little practice." Geus answered.

"If you ever need a sparring partner I'm more than ready to help. Even if I have to see you as a rival in the festival."

"I don't want to hurt you."

Itsuka giggled. "You think you can actually hurt me? That's cute."

"There's a reason why I'm locked up, my quirk isn't human-friendly."

"Geus, there's a difference between the old you and this you."

Geus's mind froze. "What is it?"

Her eyes in Geus's felt softer than they normally were. Before everything she said was just because she was a friend, whatever she had in store was more intense.

"I'm special to you."

Geus laughed to cover his nervous sweats. "I mean, uh, yeah, of course, you are. You're my friend. Haha." Geus tried to partially cover his face and hide the redness. "So that means that I want to hurt you even less."

"You're just afraid I will beat you because you don't know what my quirk is."

"You're really full of yourself lately."

"Come on. Just one match before the games."

They stopped at the front doors. Geus grabbed the back of her head and dragged it to his forehead. "Maybe. If there is still time beforehand." Geus opened the door for her to go through.

"Are we just going to ignore that?"

"It sorta became my thing after the mask. In my eyes, it's a sign of friendship. I do it for those who need me."

"Most people give a handshake or a fist bump. Not that. "

"It's something personal to me. Just means I'm close to everyone I do it too." Geus pulled her by her shirt and pressed his forehead on her's again. "Don't ruin my thing! You're this first person I did it too in this school!"

She tried to hold back her laugh but exploded from it. "I can't believe you." She cried.

Geus twisted away from her and moved a few paces ahead. "I'm going to talk to Fumikage."

Fumikage and Geus scheduled themselves for their spar match at one of the school's practice fields. Large open space with a rectangular perimeter outline. It was early I the day so no classes were taken place. That also meant that many other students prepared for the games as well. Nearly every field around them was filled up with eager first years. That also meant everyone's eyes were on them.

Geus didn't want to give out too much of his quirk but also k e he didn't have much of a choice. If his new style of things needed to be placed in effect, he needed to use all his assets. Fumikage was in a wide stance with Dark Shadow in front.

"I apologize ahead of time Dark Shadow, we're going to be on defense and take some damage," Fumikage warned his partner.

Geus prepared himself and removed his air filters. The gas that usually hid in his mouth flowed right out. He controlled the hardening gas around his hands and created a bit of armor for himself. Two spots turned back into the gas state and surrounded around his gloves. He rushed into Dark Shadow and slashed down. Black Shadow crossed his arms and blocked the attack. Geus grabbed Black Shadow's wrists with a quick follow up. The gas around his arms soften and surrounded Black Shadow's arms. He held Black Shadow still for his gas to completely surround his arms. Geus hardened his gas and jumped far back and created a pair of gas connections.

"So my theory was right." Geus panted. "Dark Shadow is like oil, my gas just sits on top of it."

"Dark Shadow is tough, he won't fall easily to your moves."

Dark Shadow screeched and broke free of the cuffs. Geus in reaction sucked in air heavily and dropped to one knee. As simple as that move was, it took a lot of air out of him. And he also learned he can't switch to the gas form or else it could hit his opponent.

Geus recovered and got back up to his feet. He surrounded his arms with large open tubes instead of arm-shaped guards. Geus charged in again and jumped in the air. He made it obvious he was ready for a large punch. Dark Shadow took the bait and opened up his arms. The punch Geus threw went straight forward into Dark Shadow's open chest. Only, he switched up his attack last minute. The punch curved to Dark Shadow's claws and connected with them. The tubes around his arms were pushed off from his gas and over Dark Shadow's claws.

Geus grinned and jumped over Dark Shadow, he dragged Dark Shadow's arm with him. He sucked in his breath and pulled the tubes back with him. He blew out and slammed his gauntlets forward. The solid gas drove past his hands and up to his shoulders. Geus quickly compensated his gas form and turned it solid around his arms. The tubes around Dark Shadow extended poles out of the tunnel tubes and smacked Dark Shadow's face. Instead of pointed ends, it had rounded ends to keep it safe.

Geus broke off his connections with the gas and jumped off of Dark Shadow. Dark Shadow got up right after and gave a thumbs up. He showed no signs that he was actually hurt from any of the attacks. Geus let out a small series of laughs. He kept on a large grin and squatted down to the ground.

"This one might hurt, I've been working on it for weeks. I can only form one wall but, it's something at least." Geus exhaled his gas from the ground and slowly moved up.

A large wall of gas formed and gracefully moved forward to Fumikage and Dark Shadow. The wall itself wasn't strong or perfect, many holes and inconsistencies appeared. Some spots were heavy with gas while others were thin enough to see through.

Geus dropped to his butt and crossed his legs. He kept a steady stream of gas into the wall while he deeply focused. Randomized hard spots formed all around one side of the wall. He closed his eyes and sent more fas into the wall. Spiked poles launched out of the spots and at Dark Shadow. None of the poles were constant either, the thickness of each pole was different along with the length. The speed of the poles was slow enough for Dark Shadow to dodge away. Dark Shadow flew around the wall and right after Geus. And Geus was completely unaware. Dark Shadow grabbed Geus by the neck and hung him in the air.

The gas connection separated and faded away. He tapped on Dark Shadow's arm to signal he forfeited. Dark Shadow released Geus and went back into Fumikage. Fumikage walked to Geus and pulled him back up to his feet.

"That was some strong moves. Only your last move was all looks with no punch. Every weak spot was exposed and too slow to be effective." Fumikage explained. "It's a good start with your adaptability."

"Thanks. I got a little work to go."

"It's a nice start you got there, Dark Shadow isn't very much affected by the gas, the thinner stage helped but it's easy to see how it would hurt flesh. If I were you, I'd keep your moves tipped instead of dull. Your goal is to not use the gas state of your quirk on others. I've seen the damage it caused on your left hand. We need to practice more before your quirk can have strong enough hardenability."

"Thanks for the obvious. That's kind've why I came to you."

"Listen. I know you're scared to use your quirk's main ability. If you want to win to the festival then use your quirk to the fullest. Your moves are weak and useless in the current state. Cause damage, as far as I can tell the solid state of your quirk doesn't cause burns and only in damage. I know I shouldn't be giving out advice like this so close to the games, that means you're a better friend than you think."

"Thank you. I'll have cures for the gas's effects hopefully before the games. So I can use my quirk to the fullest. Until then I got to form my defensive side even more."

"We got a couple weeks." Fumikage grabbed Geus's arm. "I'll be on your side the entire time you need me."

Geus grabbed Fumikage's arm. "Don't worry about that. I know I'll need you, only I won't go one hundred Percent on you. I like Dark Shadow too much."

Geus let out a small huff. "If you really see yourself that strong. But I doubt it."

"It's a good start for now. Let's continue on your strength building, then we can get to action fighting."

Geus and Fumikage continued their training for the next twenty minutes. Geus created different shapes with his harden gas and had Dark Shadow attack it. The thicker he made the move, the longer it lasted to onslaughts. The thinner the set was, the easier it was to be broken into pieces. It was a start to his new moveset but nothing that was set in stone. He still hid his special moves that Fumikage advised. Now Geus knew what he had to work on to get ready for the festival. His defensive skills needed too much improvement before he could do anything. And if this moveset wouldn't be ready by then, then he'd have to use his deadly side of his quirk. Something he'd want to avoid at all cost.