Suiiki had helped people train before, and Ranika wasn't all brawn and no brain. He hoped. Given a few weeks, this would be no problem.

But given two days?

"I don't know if two days is going to be enough. And it's with…her." Daisuke said. Suiiki's longtime friend, he was a cautious person who had a tendency to stress out over the most minute of details, though being a friend of the carefree Suiiki, he tended to be justified in his worries.

Suiiki picked at his food, not feeling especially hungry what with all the recent news he'd been given, not to mention the school's lunch wasn't exactly appetizing to begin with. "She's not so bad. She's just intimidating sometimes."

Daisuke still looked concerned. "Can't you get out of it? I'm sure she has other friends who'd be more willing.

"Mrs. Erina just decided I'd be doing it. I mean, I want Ranika to participate, of course, but I'm still unsure of what her quirk even is, let alone how to develop it. One thing's for sure though, it's pretty strong. Speaking of strong, you're going to do it, right? You are entering, aren't you?"

He stared at Suiiki with dread etched across his face. "And pit myself against these people? No thanks. My quirk is, at best, for defense only. How am I supposed to fight someone like Mako? Or Runoso and his lightning? Ikicho's Wrapping? They're powerhouses!"

"Ah, Ikicho is just your power but with extra steps! Besides, someone else might beat them before they get to you. Just do it! It'll be fun even if you lose, which I severely doubt you will, by the way. You've beat me in sparring matches plenty of times! Just think about it like fighting me again!"

"Yeah, except now he's gonna be taking me on as well!" Ranika sat down next to Suiiki, a spot she'd just declared hers first day of school. "And don't think I'll be going easy on you just because I'm a girl!"

Daisuke gave a deadpan look to Suiiki. "And don't even get me started with you! Ranika here could probably destroy half the school if she wanted to. What chance do I have?"

Ranika spoke, putting it generously, while her mouth was filled with pizza. "NmMmm! Ymmph tmmn mm moasher…"

"Eww…swallow first, speak second." Daisuke said, wiping her spittle of pizza from his shirt.

She finished chewing her food hurriedly, not ladylike in the slightest. "I said Nuh-uh! You can turn into water when I attack you, and it'll go right through. Suiiki was able to do it at the entrance exam for U.A! You're probably one of the only ones who could beat me at full power!"

I don't know about that but…is that Tsubame? She doesn't usually sit with us. What's Genso doing with her?

A girl wearing a black student council jacket led the boy by his hand towards the table. She did not look happy at all.

"Hey, any of you mind if I join you?" She asked in a sweet tone, but the look on her face made it clear this wasn't really a question.

Tsubame sat in the seat directly next to Ranika before anyone had made a response. Genso tentatively looked about before he took a seat as well, opposite the girl in question. "I take it you're talking about the upcoming events as well? My class could hardly stop talking about it. The teacher definitely should've waited till after the lesson to give us the news. Can hardly expect us to just sit in class with that in our minds."

Ranika didn't care for her conversation and cut in before anyone else could reply. "Cut the crap, I know why you're here. I'll just say it really quick. I'm sorry for earlier, I've been kinda pissed lately. But I don't think me and him are gonna get along. He's so boring, the way he talks makes me wanna punch him, and his glasses are stupid."

Tsubame raised an eyebrow at the last comment.

"Okay, they're not stupid. But everything else is true! This morning, he just wouldn't stop. On the way to school, at school, and again on the way to get Suiiki. It's tiring."

"I heard from Genso in class already, and I got on him since it's true, he tends to go on. But maybe you should've just shoved him in front of a car. It would've been easier to handle than what you said to him." Tsubame made a light joke to ease the anger Ranika had pent up about the whole thing. She put a hand on the wound-up girl's thigh and leaned in, a blush forming on the latter's cheeks as she got closer.

"With all seriousness, are you okay?" Tsubame's voice became much softer, more mother-like. "You always seem so agitated. It's like you're constantly stressed out or riled up about something. When I first met you, you seemed really nice and quiet, even shy."

She fumbled for words, the proximity between the two in direct relation to her ability to form sentences. It wasn't until she pulled herself away from her that Ranika could properly speak again.

"Then you don't know me well enough. I was probably in a funk when I first met you."

Tsubame sighed. She knew how difficult it could be trying to talk to her. "In any case, could you at least say clearly what made you so angry?"

"I've already-"

"To Genso?"

Ranika had forgotten Genso was there, and upon mention of him looked towards her unfinished food. She wanted to pretend she didn't hear and make her go away, but Tsubame didn't let up, gripping her hand in hers.

"Please? You'll feel a lot better when you do. Promise."

Suiiki and Daisuke watched the interaction, smiling amongst themselves while the saw the usually boisterous girl was reduced to stammering and niceties in front of the soft-spoken girl. A silent nod to each other confirmed the other had felt the same change in her.

"Fine." She tore her hand away from Tsubame's, albeit hesitantly, and took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm…sorry for yelling at you. I shouldn't have done that-"

"I don't want you to apologize to him, that gets us nowhere. I want you to explain why you got angry."

"Isn't me saying sorry enough?"

"No. He did something that made you upset. Let him hear what it was so it doesn't happen again. Then we'll decide if an apology is necessary."

Suiiki furrowed his brow, confused as to how she could justify such behavior. Even if it was one of his new friends, she'd said some harsh words. "Wait, if an apology is necessary? Didn't Genso tell you what she said? That was pretty rough, no offense Ranika."

Ranika picked at her food, feeling a bit guilty for how she had been.

"If Genso doesn't like the way she handles things, he shouldn't be around her in the first place. But I won't shame her for being who she is." After curtly dealing with Suiiki, Tsubame pressed on. "Ranika, tell him."

After a couple moments, Ranika finally released a sigh and started. "I don't think you realize it; it might be unconscious or whatever you call it, you know what I mean. You can be a bit…rude? I don't think that's the word, but it's like you change the topic away every time to something you like. Which is fine, you don't have to like the same things I do, but if you don't…why try to hang with me? Find someone that shares your interest in molecules and stuff. Like, what am I supposed to say when I learn the reason Gold is shown as AU on the table is because of its Greek root, Aurum? Okay? Cool, I guess?"

The rest of the table was slightly impressed she even remembered that, but said nothing as she continued.

"But unless I'm in a situation where I need to know how to create a compound of two things, I'm not interested in that. Plus, you are really, really passionate about it. And you dive so deep into it that it feels impossible to change the subject without being mean. And that's annoying to me. I don't know, is this making sense at all, or is it nonsense to you?"

Tsubame paraphrased it all, even though Genso understood the gist of it. "Basically, you're inconsiderate to her. Your input only serves to move the conversation in a way that leads to your interests becoming the main topic. And I agree, you tend to do that a bit. I don't mind as much, I'm amicable to anything we talk about, but try to refrain from doing that. If you always talk about the things you like, you won't be able to establish a connection with others, and at that point you might as well just talk to a brick wall. You'll get the same amount of back and forth, if not better. Walls are really good listeners."

Genso shamefully put his head down. "Yes, I understand. I do have intent whenever I do that because I feel the topic wasn't engaging enough for us. That isn't fair for you, and I didn't realize how coarse it was. You weren't wrong for getting angry as you did, and while I wish the language you used was more forgiving, I won't ask for any apology of the sort. I just ask our relationship remain intact, if you could forgive my insensitivity."

"Well, it's not like I don't listen to what you say. Some of that stuff is cool, even if I have to look for a dictionary sometimes to understand you. Anyway, I'll still say sorry for calling you the most boring person on earth. Maybe you're only top 10."

Genso looked offended, but seeing the smirk on her face, he was happy enough. "I suppose I'll appreciate the movement in rank."

Tsubame rolled her eyes at the exchange and let it go, happy they had resolved the issue.

"And speaking of rank," Genso continued. "Are any of you entering that… barbaric institution that they insist on calling a "tournament" instead of a gladiator's circuit?"

Suiiki's face lit up, excited the topic had finally arrived. "Of course, I am! I'm going for the gold! I already have a bunch of ideas to show off my quirk, and they're all so good, it's hard to choose one!" The thought of the tournament brought his mind back to Ranika. "Hey Ranika, I meant to ask a while ago, but what's your quirk? Can't expect me to be of much help if I don't know."

"Shredding." Both Ranika and Genso answered at the same time.

"Wow, you actually remembered! Maybe he was paying more attention that I thought."

He fixed his glasses, becoming flustered at the praise. "A quirk such as that isn't seen every day. It's normal to want to research it."

Suiiki honed in on the last two words. "Research? You studied it?"

Genso's face became red at the questioning. "I may have, but it's nothing she probably doesn't already know."

Ranika was fully intrigued at his response. "No way, you actually did?!" He nodded sheepishly. "Well, out with it! Even I don't get it all the way, and it's my quirk! Tell me!"

"Okay, for starters, we all know she produces a wave of pure slicing force that shreds across the surface of anything she touches. She can change the size of the force as well making it less powerful."

Most of them having known that already, Genso pulled his notebook from his bag, which he compiled most of his knowledge of different quirks inside of. "In addition to that, other users in history with a similar ability have been able to redirect the wave, but only when it hits a wall. It may be impossible to actually change its direction laterally."

"I can control it up a wall? That's like, awesome! What do you mean laterally?"

"Lateral means side to side, more or less. Basically, unless you reangle it to travel along the surfaces of corners and walls, whatever way you sent it out is its final trajectory."

"So, it's mostly a one and done deal. Anything else?"

Genso flipped through a couple pages before landing on one with note. "Let's see. Here's something only you might be able to do. If your force has an impact on the surrounding air vectors of your environment, your body should be able to any handle any stressors brought from the use of the quirk on the self, considering each laceration seems to be of naught importance to the body as her regenerative properties-"

Shaking his head at the word soup being thrown at them, Suiiki interjected before Genso could go any further. "English, please! Not all of us are fluent in "nerd-speak". Can't you use words smaller than twenty syllables?"

Tsubame once again helped translate his ramblings. "What he means is, since Ranika can, for some reason or another, heal any cut on her body, she could shoot off a large blast of air if she shot it off from her arm, and it would likely be harmless. Well, harmless compared to her actual quirk."

"THAT'S IT!" Suiiki exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the lunch room. "You just need to learn how to do that, and no one will be in danger! It's perfect!"

"I'm 33 and a half steps ahead of you." Ranika said, having already put her right hand on her left arm and angling it towards Daisuke's plate.

"Wha- Hold on! You can't-…we need to-"

"Don't care!" She shot off her quirk, a rush of wind blowing across the table and pushing everyone's trays to the floor. The table itself even slid across the floor a little. An uproar started in the lunchroom as disgruntled students turned towards their table, angry that their own lunches had been blown away at the mercy of her power. None of them dared actually voice their grievances at her, probably too intimidated by her personality and quirk.

"Damn, that's awesome! Oh…shit. That hurts!" Her arm was ripped across from elbow to fingers, but as Genso predicted, they had already begun to seal themselves back up.

"Suiiki, I think our prayers have been answered!" Ranika, though still visibly in pain after that move, was overcome with joy at this development. She might actually have a chance to be included.

"Do you have to cause a scene wherever you go?" A voice from behind Suiiki called out, though he didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Kisho, can't you mind your own business?"

The newcomer gestured to his rear, to the many students whose lunches had been sent flying. "I can't just let reckless quirk use go unnoticed, though rare as it is to say this Suiiki, this isn't your fault so you don't need to get involved anyway. But try to keep the neanderthal under control. It's already tedious enough dealing with you. I'd hate to see the others become problem children as well." He stuck a finger in his cup and the liquid was sucked right inside, before he tossed it into a trash can.

Ranika walked up to him calmly, a storm definitely brewing underneath. "Cocky bastard, why don't you say it to my face."

"Doesn't matter, you still wouldn't know what it meant anyway."

Daisuke brought her away from him. "He's just trying to get you in trouble, don't feed him anything." He turned his attention to the boy. "We're sorry for causing you and anyone else trouble. It won't happen again." Daisuke nudged Ranika to try and garner agreement from her.

Kisho graciously nodded to Daisuke, turning his hand in his direction. "See, how hard is that? If you would simply set aside your pride like he has and properly prostrate yourselves, I'd have no issue with any of you. I might even go a little easier on you in the arena, if you even get to me."

"Shut up, you piece of shit. You've given us enough lip. Anyone sitting in here could beat you with one arm tied behind their back. Scratch that, BOTH arms."

At that, laughter came from the table beside them. Kisho ignored them, although he didn't refute Ranika's claim directly.

"Tsk, I expect nothing less from this school's lowest achieving student. Threatening violence against the student council President, I've got half a mind to put you in suspension and make sure you never get a chance to participate entirely."

"If you even think aboumphfff!" Tsubame cupped her hand around her mouth, stopping her from saying anything she'd regret.

"But where's the fun in that? I'd like to see you get that smug face wiped by someone in the arena, so I'll let you off the hook this time. Ever considered keeping better company, Tsubame? It looks bad when my VP hangs with these types.

"Kisho, are we done here, or do we need a teacher?" Tsubame herself getting tired of this conversation.

"Ever the teacher's pet. Whatever, just don't do that again, or I'll have to write you up." With that, he walked away, signaling all was well to a teacher who'd started to approach.

Suiiki took his seat once more as Ranika was finally let go from Tsubame's grasp. "Ugh! What an insufferable little bitch! I'd love to get my hands on him and pull his ass inside out."

"Attacking the student president in such a way would likely result in expulsion." Genso reasoned, ever the rational voice.

"How is he the president, he's in the lower hero class! God, I hope he enters the tournament. Anyone know what his quirk is?"

Suiiki shrugged his shoulders. "He told us in middle school that it's something to do with water, but it's not at all as strong as mine."

"Why can't I remember?" Ranika asked.

"Did you go to the same school as us?"

"Don't know, I was never in school usually."

Genso's face lit up. "Oh, I think she was! Remember the girl who left out first day of class? I believe that might have been her!"

"What are you trying to say. I'm a trouble maker or something?" Ranika glared at him, until she burst out into a giggle. "Actually, sounds like me, it probably was!"

Daisuke gave Kisho the benefit of a doubt. "Uh, Suiiki? Weren't you two pretty close when we first started middle school?"

"I used to be cool with him, then he started avoiding me. Pretty sure he's just jealous or something."

Tsubame laughed to herself at the thought. "Maybe jealous of the mirror for being able to replicate his own body.

"No, he'd probably fall in love!" Suiiki hugged himself in a mockery of the other boy. "For too long I've looked for love among these disgusting creatures, when I've finally realized what I've been looking for! Me! And now I've come and swept myself off my feet!"

As the table broke out in a fit of giggles, Kisho sat at a table alone across the room, still listening to the conversation. "Damn it all. Blessed with such a powerful ability while I, clearly more suited, am left with a power befitting a slug. Though if given a chance, I bet I could erase him completely. That tournament could give me an excuse to get rid of him permanently. Making it look like an accident would be easy."

"Mind if I take a seat here?" Another boy, who he recognized was a classmate from the higher class, Mako, had walked to his isolated table. Kisho had little interest in talking to him. Sure, he talked to him here and there, but he much preferred those who could keep up with his thought process. "I've just been sifting through the tables. Have a feeling those guys don't like me, so I thought I'd join you."

Kisho didn't say anything to him, which Mako incorrectly assumed meant he was welcome to do so. He was somewhat annoyed at his tone-deafness but chose to not say anything, hoping he'd get the message in the end.

"You really like messing with them. Not saying to stop, I think it's hilarious…but couldn't Ranika destroy you in a second? Kinda seems like you're playing with fire."

After a moment of silence passed without so much as a glance in his direction, Mako continued on.

"To be fair, I don't think anyone would stand a chance, not even me. If she uses her real power, even I'd be up a creek. But that blast of air? My Ricochet would make quick work of her. Now if only I could guarantee myself a match-up somehow with her. It'd be a shame to not have this school's two strongest go against each other, though honestly…"

As Mako went on and on, Kisho suddenly found himself with the answer to his problems right in front of him.

"…so when she walked up to me, all you heard was a bunch of nickels in her pocket jingling-"

"Shut up. Ricochet, right? You sure it could stop that gust of wind?"

Slightly hurt by the rude interruption, he still answered in a cocky manner. "Well, obviously. It's in the name. No amount of wind is going to hurt me. Nothing is going to hurt me! I'm invincible! I've even stopped bowling balls-"

"What if I said I could guarantee a match between you and her?"

"Uh, how?"

"I am the student council president, after all. Erina trusts me with a lot, so I hardly think it would be difficult to convince her to let me handle any scheduling for the event."

"Don't they draw lots for that sort of thing? I know that's how U.A does it."

"Won't be a problem. I'll just tell Erina I want to make as many exciting fights as possible happen. I could even use you as an example. If we put you against a brawler, there's not much going to happen besides you deflecting everything. Therefore, it would make sense to have the matches planned out around how well each student can fight each other."

"I see! But…what about you? You said something about fighting in the tournament with us. I barely even know what your quirk can do besides drinking through your fingers. Absorbing water? How would you fight?."

"Worry about yourself. I've got that all covered. Do you know Tamura, in the upper class? Suction, I think his quirk was? He announced yesterday that he was dropping out in a week, and I bet no one would bat an eye if he stopped showing up to school tomorrow."

Mako felt a shiver run up his spine when he said that. "…what are you going to do?"

"As I said, worry about yourself." Kisho repeated. He didn't divulge any more information than that. "So, you want to win? I can give you an easy way through the tournament, make sure no one who has a chance goes against you."

"I don't even want to win really. I know how strong I am. All I want is that battle with Ranika. She's probably restricted from using her true power here because of what happened at the exam. Once I prove I'm stronger than her, I'll be sure to be on U.A's list next year. I'll come in top 3 and let you take the honor of number one if you'd like. After I fight Ranika, I'll let you win. Promise."

Kisho considered who he was talking to and grimaced. He never liked putting up with people like Mako who were below his own intellectual level. However, he admitted that he had one of the strongest quirks in school, and his plan would fail if he didn't take care of Ranika. He went in just wanting to fight Suiiki, but now the prospect of being grand champion was beginning to look tantalizing to him.

"…not a word of this to anyone, or you'll find out what I'm going to do to Tamura firsthand." Kisho threw his tray away and left, leaving Mako alone, scared of what the threat entailed.

"Not a word, got it."