CHAPTER 2 - "WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?"
OP - WHISPER WHISPER WHISPER - AZARI
By heartattak
𓇢𓆸
Zara felt it all at once, like the tide rushing in after a storm—an overwhelming, dissonant symphony of emotions that slammed into her and left her breathless. Confusion? It spiraled inside her mind, making every thought fragment and scatter like shards of broken glass. Embarrassment? Oh, that was there too—red-hot and crawling up her neck, fueled by the undeniable absurdity of the situation. Relief? That one hit the hardest, settling deep in her chest like a stone sinking in still water. She had grieved this person, buried them in the quiet, unspoken way people bury the irretrievable, the impossible. And yet, here they were, impossibly real, clinging to her like a lifeline.
Her breath hitched, but instinct finally caught up with her. She shoved the wave of emotions aside, letting practicality and irritation take the reins.
"ZARA-CHAAAAN!" The voice ripped through the silence like a thunderclap, loud enough to rattle the walls and her already frayed nerves. Chuu—of course it was Chuu—scrambled upright with the elegance of a cat that had fallen off a counter but pretended it had planned the whole thing. Except this cat was stark naked and perched in her lap.
"Look at you!" Chuu crowed, grinning like the world hadn't just flipped on its axis. "All grumpy and glowy, like some badass anime heroine who just stormed out of a boss fight. Oh, how I've MISSED that little crease between your eyebrows! You're mad right now, aren't you? I love that for us."
Zara's mind stuttered, unable to string together a coherent response. Should she yell? Kick them off? Demand an explanation? She could barely hear her own thoughts over the chaotic stream of chatter pouring out of Chuu, words tumbling one over the other in an endless cascade of unfiltered energy.
"Oh my GOD, Onee-chan, you wouldn't believe how much I've missed you! Like, missed you-missed you. None of that fake, surface-level stuff. This was soul-deep. Life-altering. Do-you-know-what's-missing-from-this-world? ZARA kind of missed you. Peanut butter without jelly kind of missed you. Sushi without soy sauce missed you. Life without—"
"Chuu," Zara managed, her voice strained and low.
"—the perfect emotional support human! Oh! Wait until I tell you my plans! I'm gonna be your absolute favorite again. We'll train together, and I'll show you this new trick I learned. I can make my hair glow now. Tactical, right? And sleepovers! We need sleepovers! You can't say no; it's basically a legal requirement for bonding—"
"Chuu." Louder this time, her patience unraveling thread by thread.
"—and I'm teaching you to bake! Onee-chan, I know you can't bake. It's okay; it's adorable. But I'm here now, and we're going to—"
"CHUU!" The roar tore out of her before she could stop it, sharp enough to cut through even Chuu's boundless energy. Zara shoved them off her lap, sending them sprawling onto the floor with an unceremonious thud.
Chuu gasped, clutching their chest as though mortally wounded. "Onee-chan!" they cried, eyes wide with exaggerated heartbreak. "How could you? I come all this way, risk life and limb—completely naked, I might add—and you push me away? I thought we had something special! Is this… is this what heartbreak feels like? Am I destined to be unloved? Unwanted? Undressed—"
"That's exactly the problem!" Zara snapped, her face flushed with a mix of mortification and fury. "You're NAKED!"
Chuu blinked, glancing down at themselves as if noticing their lack of clothing for the first time. "Oh! OH! Wait, wait, wait!" They shot up, bouncing on the balls of their feet with a manic energy that Zara simultaneously envied and detested. "Did you forget my Quirk again? Tsk, tsk, Onee-chan! Shame on you! Every time I shapeshift, there's this little… uh… hiccup. Clothes just don't translate well, you know? Something about molecular structure or—whatever, the science is boring. Anyway, ta-da!" They threw their arms out as if presenting themselves as the answer to all the world's problems. "It's not my fault! Blame metaphysics!"
Zara pinched the bridge of her nose, willing herself not to explode a second time. A low chuckle interrupted her spiraling thoughts, and she turned sharply toward its source. Wonder-Worlder. Of course.
The smug bastard stood a few feet away, leaning casually against a shimmering vortex of his own making. His wide-brimmed hat tipped just enough to catch the light, casting a devilish shadow across his face. Everything about him screamed trouble, from the glint in his eyes to the barely-contained grin that tugged at his lips.
"You," Zara growled, her voice dangerous and low. She pointed a trembling finger at him. "This is your doing, isn't it?"
Wonder-Worlder placed a hand over his heart in mock indignation. "Moi? Zara, darling, you wound me. I'm merely a humble observer in this heartwarming reunion. A facilitator of fates, if you will."
"Facilitator?" Zara repeated, her tone dripping with disdain.
"Well," he drawled, that infuriating grin widening, "maybe I knew Chuu was out there. For a while, actually. Omen might've tipped me off. She's such a dear, always two steps ahead."
Zara's fists clenched at her sides. "And you didn't think to tell me?"
"You never asked!" Wonder-Worlder's laugh was a melody, light and airy, as though her fury was nothing more than an amusing anecdote. "Besides, surprises are my specialty. Would you really want to ruin the drama?"
"Drama?" Zara's voice cracked, her composure slipping. "You call dropping this gremlin into my lap—a naked gremlin—a surprise?"
Before she could launch into a full-blown tirade, Chuu's voice piped up again, irrepressible and bright. "Wait, wait, does this mean I get to do the Haunting Gauntlet now?! Please tell me it's still a thing! I've been dreaming about it. Like, literal dreams! It's fate. It's destiny. It's—"
"Chuu," Zara interjected, her tone sharp enough to cut steel. "Not another word."
Wonder-Worlder clapped his hands together, his grin now entirely too gleeful. "Well, this has been delightful, but I really must dash. Omen and I have updates to deliver. Don't worry, Zara. You've got this."
With a dramatic flourish, he stepped through his portal, vanishing with all the flair of a magician mid-performance.
Zara was left standing in the aftermath, her nerves frayed and her sanity hanging by a thread. Chuu, now fully clothed in a hastily provided Meiyo Academy gym uniform, twirled in place like a child at recess.
"I'm back, Onee-chan!" they declared, their voice brimming with uncontainable excitement. "The prodigal gremlin returns! Prepare yourselves, Meiyo kids! The fun is only just beginning!"
Before Zara could stop them, they bolted for the door, their laughter echoing through the halls like a war cry. Zara stood frozen, staring after them as the full weight of what had just happened settled over her.
Moonshadow and Korrupt appeared at her side, their expressions a blend of curiosity and amusement. Moonshadow smirked, her tail flicking lazily behind her. "Well, this should be interesting."
Zara exhaled slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hate them."
"No, you don't," Moonshadow replied smoothly.
Zara closed her eyes, willing herself to find some semblance of peace. "No," she admitted, her voice heavy with resignation. "I really don't."
A flash rippled through her vision, and there was light once again. Thank god.
Hajime blinked hard, her mind struggling to process the scene before her. She was no longer in the luxurious dorm room that screamed Haruboshi Academy. Instead, she stood within the silent corridors of what could only be described as a technological monastery. The air felt charged, humming faintly with energy, and the polished stone walls reflected soft glows of neon embedded into intricate carvings. The combination of age-old solemnity and ultra-modern design left her dizzy.
"What the hell…" she muttered, her voice echoing faintly down the long hallway. Her instincts immediately kicked in, her feet stepping lightly as she surveyed her surroundings. The grandeur of the place was overwhelming, from the towering arches that loomed overhead to the seamless blend of ancient craftsmanship and cutting-edge tech. Monks might've roamed a place like this centuries ago, she thought, if those monks had access to holographic interfaces and floating light orbs that hovered like digital fireflies.
Miko-Chan's voice broke through the reverent silence, chipper as ever. "Welcome to Meiyo Academy's real face, Hajime! Isn't it magnificent?"
Magnificent wasn't the word Hajime would've used. Maybe disorienting. Or suspicious. She pressed her lips together, irritation flaring. "Would've been nice if there was a more optimal way to access this place than… whatever it was you put me through."
"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" Miko-Chan's tone practically skipped. Her voice didn't have a clear direction—it echoed from everywhere and nowhere at once, making Hajime twist around in frustration. "Now, be a good little Hajime and head through the door on your left. You'll love this next part!"
"Who told you that we're on a first name basis, bot?" Hajime snarked coldly.
"Teehee~! I'll be watching you in your sleep," Miko-Chan cooed. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no better reason to be on a first name basis!"
Totally not fucking creepy at all.
Against her better judgment, Hajime found herself stepping forward. The door in question was massive, with no visible handles or seams. But as she approached, it melted away into a translucent shimmer, revealing the scene beyond.
Her breath hitched.
This… this was not what she expected.
The sprawling grandeur of Meiyo Academy's hidden campus unfolded before her eyes, a stark contrast to the prim, almost sterile elegance of Haruboshi. It was alive. The main hall bustled with energy, a strange combination of order and chaos. Students milled about in their uniforms—sharp, military-inspired designs for some; casual, almost tactical wear for others. Upperclassmen, most likely. Instructors lined the edges, a mix of grizzled veterans and unassuming figures who carried themselves with an unmistakable air of competence. Hajime didn't need to guess—they were underground heroes.
And then there were the attendees like herself, who clearly were out of their depth.
"Holy shit," she muttered, her voice lost in the bustling sounds.
The room was a marvel of contradictions: the domed ceiling, painted with what appeared to be constellations, shifted and pulsed with real-time data projections, mapping the world in intricate detail. The floor, polished to an obsidian gleam, occasionally displayed holographic paths to guide wandering students. The air itself felt different, thicker with purpose.
Her eyes darted to a group of students to her right, clearly first-years like herself, judging by their tentative movements. Some looked dazed, others intrigued, but a few carried the same hardened glint she'd noticed in her own reflection lately.
Before she could dwell on it, a booming voice erupted, reverberating through the entire hall.
"ATTENTION, NEWCOMERS!"
Hajime's head snapped toward the source. Suspended high above them, a massive screen blinked to life, displaying the face of a person who could only be described as calculated chaos personified. Dark, almost black skin contrasted sharply with the glowing white mane of hair framing their angular face. Sharp, glowing eyes scanned the crowd, a Cheshire grin dancing on their lips. They wore a Victorian-inspired suit with a massive blue rose pinned to the chest—completely out of place, yet undeniably commanding.
"I am Omen," the figure announced, their deep voice carrying a mix of authority and eerie calm. "Welcome to the true face of Meiyo Academy. I will be your guide for the next few moments, so do pay attention."
The room quieted, tension simmering in the air.
"For those of you expecting pomp and ceremony, I'm afraid you've stepped into the wrong world. What awaits you here is grit, challenge, and transformation. But first… let us meet your headmaster."
Hajime tensed. Omen's image flickered out, replaced by a map that displayed glowing pathways for each student to follow. Miko-Chan's voice returned, sing-song as ever. "Follow the pretty lights, everyone! Don't dawdle!"
As if on cue, a series of glowing blue arrows materialized on the floor, weaving through the maze-like hallways. Hajime exhaled sharply, shaking off the lingering awe as she fell into step. Her eyes roamed the passing scenery—banners displaying Meiyo's sigil, glowing text in languages she didn't recognize, and students who barely spared her a glance as they hurried along their own routes.
Then she noticed the doors. Each one bore a unique symbol—intricate, foreboding, and nothing like the sleek branding Haruboshi had shoved down their throats. These were not the doors of a school pandering to elites. These were doors that promised danger and demanded respect.
Her steps quickened as she reached her destination. The door ahead was grander than the others, flanked by what looked like… gargoyle statues? Except they weren't statues. Hajime froze as one of them shifted slightly, their glowing eyes following her with unsettling precision.
"Go on!" Miko-Chan chirped. "They don't bite… unless you make them."
"Charming," Hajime muttered. She squared her shoulders, pushing past the unease, and stepped through.
What lay beyond stopped her in her tracks.
The room was vast, circular, and impossibly high. The walls seemed alive, shifting between mirrored surfaces and displays of cascading data. At the center, a raised platform bathed in ethereal light held a single figure: Wonder-Worlder.
So this was the one that the acceptance letter spoke so highly of, as if they were the second-coming of some biblical figure. Hajime didn't know. She was agnostic. If there was a god, they were doing a piss-poor job. Still, he was both larger than life and disarmingly casual, his cape flowing with an almost liquid quality, glimmering like an oil slick.
His presence was magnetic, commanding respect without demanding it. He looked up as the students trickled in, a faint smile playing on his lips. Hajime squinted her eyes, surveying his appearance closely. The cape… it had the same gaudy butterfly motif that so-called 'Headmaster Ayane' had. He looked similar as well. Siblings, perhaps?
Hajime shook her head, sighing as she tried to find the closest seat to rest herself in. Despite all of this feeling like overkill, Hajme would be lying if she said that she wasn't blown away. It was tough to admit it, but she doubted even UA had this level of innovation in terms of architecture and security. It seemed like a majority of the other children in the auditorium agreed with her, as the annoying bouts of 'oohs' and 'awws' confirmed. While it was a sight to see, Hajime refused to give it that kind of attention.
Hajime's fingers curled tightly around the edge of the chair, her knuckles whitening. The air in the auditorium buzzed with an almost electrical charge, the quiet hum of anticipation as new students filed in. A cacophony of nervous whispers, shuffling feet, and the occasional bark of laughter filled the vast room. But none of it drowned out the voice that had dared to break her much-needed solitude.
"Nee, it's really amazing, isn't it?"
Her annoyance sharpened. Hajime turned her head, slowly, to face the source of the question. Beside her, sprawled with an infuriatingly casual air, was a boy with hair that looked like it had been kissed by a dying sunset. It was a mix of burnt orange and copper, streaked with blond highlights that somehow didn't seem fake. His oceanic eyes gleamed with unearned familiarity, and he wore a grin that could've powered the entire campus.
"Excuse me?" she said, her tone cutting enough to flay lesser egos.
But this one? He didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned in as though she'd just invited him to share secrets, his grin widening into full-blown obnoxiousness. "You know, the campus! It's like a mashup of Star Wars and a cathedral. All it's missing is a choir of floating drones chanting 'Ave Maria.' Don't you think?"
Hajime blinked. Once. Twice. And then: Oh god, he's one of those.
"I think," she said icily, "that your commentary wasn't solicited."
The boy, unbothered, shifted in his seat, resting an arm casually along the back of her chair. Her chair. Her sacred space. She glanced pointedly at the invading limb. He either didn't notice or, more likely, didn't care. "Name's Nagachika Rantaro. But you can call me Ran. Or Maggie if you're feeling friendly."
"Maggie?" Hajime's eyebrow arched. "Why?"
"Short for magnets! You'll understand why soon enough!" He chuckled, as though she hadn't delivered the question with enough venom to fell a charging bull.
"Good lord." She turned back to face the stage, willing herself to ignore him. The sooner she let this interaction die, the better.
Except, apparently, Ran hadn't gotten the memo.
"Yours?" he prompted.
She sighed, long and slow, then glared at him out of the corner of her eye. "Sakuraba Hajime. And no, we're not on a first-name basis, Maggie."
"Got it," he chirped. "Sakuraba-chan, then. Though I gotta say, you don't strike me as a cherry blossom type. Too much doom-and-gloom energy."
Her patience snapped like a brittle twig. "Are you always this insufferable, or do you save it for special occasions?"
"Oh, only for special people," he said, winking. "Congratulations."
For the briefest moment, Hajime considered committing a fucking homicide. The crime scene? This obnoxiously sleek auditorium. The weapon? Whatever she could wrench out of the shiny, overly polished floor beneath her boots. The victim? That Ran, sitting beside her, all grins and dimples, exuding charm so artificially sweet it could've put her into diabetic shock.
Hajime swallowed the bile rising in her throat. She wasn't here to be anyone's friend, least of all some pampered, pretty-boy chatterbox who thought proximity meant automatic camaraderie.
But then it happened—the bellowing voice of the man perched on the central platform, who, until now, had been silently basking in his messianic grandeur, brought everything to a screeching halt.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and others~!"
The words practically sang through the massive hall, bouncing off the obsidian tiles and swirling up to the domed, constellation-mapped ceiling. Every head turned, the noise dying down faster than an awkward dad joke at a funeral.
"It is with great pleasure that I introduce each and every single one of you to none other than Meiyo Academy! The school where glory is forgotten as we forge the future of underground heroism!"
The man's hands shot into the air like some deranged, cape-wearing maestro, his voice a dramatic cocktail of theatrical flamboyance and wild energy. His glittering, oil-slick cape flared behind him, catching the ambient light in dazzling waves of metallic shimmer.
"I am your Headmaster! Wonder-Worlder!"
Cue another dramatic flourish of his cape.
"Or—" He paused, a Cheshire grin spreading across his angular face. "As you've previously known me during Haruboshi hours, Headmaster Ayane!" He waggled his eyebrows, his grin widening impossibly. "Yep, that was yours truly~! Didn't I just look downright gorgeous~?! I make being a lady quite the bedazzle, don't I?"
The silence was so dense you could practically hear the collective what the fuck ripple through the room. Hajime blinked, her brain sputtering.
The hell was she watching?
Ran, ever the brave little toaster, leaned toward her and whispered, "Iconic."
She shot him a look that could've burned through titanium.
Meanwhile, Wonder-Worlder carried on, apparently impervious to the crowd's stunned expressions.
"Now, now, I know what you're thinking! 'But, Headmaster, why didn't you TELL us you were also our fabulous daytime principal?!' And to that, I say…" He struck a pose, one hand on his hip, the other gesturing grandly toward the heavens. "Surprises are wonderful!"
The grin never left his face as he pranced across the platform, addressing them like an eccentric game-show host hyped on caffeine and glitter.
"Meiyo Academy is not just a school. It's an experience! A journey! A lifestyle! Here, you will shed your preconceived notions of heroism and emerge as something far more formidable: a true agent of justice!"
As his voice echoed across the room, Hajime's fingers curled into fists. She hated to admit it, but the man knew how to command attention.
Wonder-Worlder's demeanor shifted. Subtle, but enough for her to catch it. The brightness dimmed ever so slightly, like a stage light faltering.
"And yet…" His voice softened, the grandiose gestures shrinking into something more contained. His cape settled against his shoulders, the liquid shimmer fading into the fabric's depths. "Before we dive into all the wonders that await you, there's something we need to address. Something I owe you—each of you."
The energy in the room changed. It was palpable, pressing against Hajime's skin. Even Ran, who had been lounging with all the grace of a cat in a sunbeam, straightened in his seat.
"I must be honest with you. Transparent," Wonder-Worlder continued, his tone measured now, almost somber. "You deserve to know what Meiyo Academy used to be. Its history. Its… flaws."
A heavy pause lingered, stretching the tension taut.
"This institution, before my leadership, was not a place of progress or redemption. It was a machine—a cold, relentless factory designed to churn out tools for a government obsessed with control. Students were stripped of individuality, their minds reshaped to serve an agenda that cared nothing for their humanity. It was a school in name only—a place that demanded obedience, submission, and sacrifice, often to the point of ruin."
Hajime's chest tightened. The government?
"We were not teaching heroes back then," Wonder-Worlder said, his gaze sweeping the room. "We were forging weapons. And in doing so, we broke countless lives. I cannot undo that past. But I can refuse to let it define our future."
His voice cracked on the last word, just barely, but enough to send a shiver up Hajime's spine.
"This is why Meiyo exists as it does now—to rebuild, to heal, to offer a second chance. But that mission starts with honesty. It starts with you understanding exactly what you're stepping into."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Hajime's mind churned, a storm of questions, doubts, and, much to her annoyance, a flicker of something she couldn't quite name.
Respect?
Ran broke the tension beside her, his voice low but steady. "Damn," he muttered. "Didn't see that coming."
Hajime let out a slow breath, her jaw tight. "No kidding."
Wonder-Worlder's flamboyant grin dimmed slightly, though the spark of charisma in his eyes never fully vanished. He leaned forward, hands clasped theatrically, as if preparing to deliver a sacred gospel.
"Now that we've addressed the serious bits," he began, his voice lowering into a conspiratorial tone that made everyone in the room lean in, "let's talk about the fun stuff. The entrance exam."
Fun stuff? Hajime thought, already regretting every decision that had led her to this moment.
"This," Wonder-Worlder continued, his voice swelling with grandiosity again, "is no ordinary test. No, no, no. It's a trial! A trial of mind, body, and soul. Ladies, gentlemen, and others, I present to you—"
A puff of smoke erupted on stage, and suddenly, Omen stood beside him, their eerie presence casting an immediate pall over the room. The top hat perched on their head seemed to watch the audience, its grotesque eyes scanning the crowd with unnerving precision.
"The Haunting Gauntlet," Omen finished smoothly, their voice a low, velvety murmur that slithered into every corner of the hall.
The name lingered in the air like a curse, sending a ripple of unease through the crowd.
Hajime's stomach churned. "That sounds like bullshit," she muttered under her breath.
Ran, ever the optimist, leaned closer. "Bet it'll be fun. Like a spooky escape room."
"Are you brain damaged?" she hissed.
Wonder-Worlder clapped his hands, pulling their attention back to the stage. "Now, now! Let's not get too worked up. It's mostly safe!" He grinned, as if that clarification erased the mounting dread in the room. "Omen, care to do the honors?"
Omen inclined their head, the motion unnervingly fluid, almost serpentine. They stepped forward, their ebony cane tapping softly against the stage as they moved.
"The Haunting Gauntlet," Omen began, their voice sharp and deliberate, "is not merely a test of power. It is a crucible, designed to strip away pretense and reveal the core of who you truly are. Strength alone will not suffice. You will need strategy, resilience, and above all—" They paused, their unsettling gaze sweeping the room. "The ability to adapt to fear."
Hajime's fingers dug into her armrests. The way Omen spoke, like they were conjuring the very essence of terror, sent a shiver down her spine.
"You will face three stages," Omen continued, their voice weaving an almost hypnotic rhythm. "The first: the Midnight Maze. A labyrinth of shifting corridors, traps, and illusions that will test your wits and teamwork."
"Teamwork?" Hajime repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. She shot a glare at Ran, who was still smiling like a damn golden retriever. "Great. I'm doomed."
"The maze," Omen went on, unfazed, "is infused with Wonder-Worlder's Quirk, creating pockets of altered reality. Time, space, and logic are fluid. Nothing is as it seems."
"Sounds trippy," Ran murmured, clearly impressed.
"It's dangerous," Hajime snapped.
"Same thing."
Omen raised a hand, silencing the murmurs spreading through the crowd. "Those who emerge from the maze will advance to the second stage: the Silent Battleground. An arena where combat and strategy collide under sensory deprivation. Sight, sound, and touch will be dulled, forcing you to rely on intuition and ingenuity."
"Basically, fight in the dark," Hajime muttered.
Omen's eyes flicked in her direction, and for a horrifying moment, Hajime felt as though the entirety of the Otherside had turned its attention on her.
"Correct," they said, their lips curling into a faint, unsettling smile.
Hajime froze, her heart hammering. She hated being right.
Omen turned back to the audience, their tone sharpening. "The final stage: the Gauntlet of Shadows. A descent into an underground labyrinth where the line between ally and adversary blurs. You will face traps, puzzles, and relentless challenges that demand absolute mastery of your Quirks."
Wonder-Worlder clapped again, breaking the heavy atmosphere with his boundless energy. "And if you make it through all that—"
"If," Omen interjected pointedly.
"Yes, if," Wonder-Worlder conceded with a grin. "Then you'll face a team of our most devious instructors in a final trial. Think of it as a little… game of cat and mouse. Only the cats are seasoned underground heroes, and the mice are, well… you."
Ran let out a low whistle. "Hardcore."
Hajime's nails bit into her palms. Hardcore didn't begin to cover it. This wasn't a school entrance exam—it was a glorified death march.
"Now, don't let the ominous name fool you!" Wonder-Worlder chirped, his voice breaking through her spiraling thoughts. "We assure you that all traps, toxins, and other 'deadly' obstacles are non-lethal. Painful? Sure. Traumatizing? Maybe! But you won't die. Probably."
The room fell silent.
"Probably?" Hajime said aloud before she could stop herself.
Omen's eyes found hers again, their gaze piercing. "Only those unfit for the shadows have anything to fear. All of you are welcome to leave at any point, if you feel inclined. Would you like to leave, little lady?"
Hajime bit her tongue, rage bubbling just beneath the surface. But Omen had already moved on, addressing the group as a whole once more.
"The Haunting Gauntlet begins in an hour. You will each receive coordinates and further instructions. Arrive prepared. Bring nothing but your courage—and perhaps, a strong stomach."
With that, Omen stepped back, melding seamlessly into Wonder-Worlder's shadow.
"Well!" Wonder-Worlder exclaimed, his grin returning full force. "That's enough doom and gloom for now. Miko-chan will lead you to the prepping area, my dears. The real fun begins!"
As the students began to disperse, Hajime remained seated, her mind racing. Ran nudged her shoulder, his smile softer now, almost reassuring.
"Hey," he said, his voice lower. "We'll get through this. Together."
Hajime scoffed. "Yeah, right. I'm doing this on my own. Stay out of my way. He never said teamwork was mandatory."
Ran pouted. "Come on! I might be a lot of help, you never know?"
Hajime hummed. "You interested in being a meat-shield?"
He laughed, and for a moment, the tension lifted.
"Point taken. I'll see about getting another partner."
"Good boy."
Wow, this place was fancy as fuck. Miko-Chan and that Wonder-Worlder guy were a real riot. The halls of Meiyo Academy's preparation wing were sleek and futuristic, all polished metal and glowing blue accents, like she had stepped into some hero-themed sci-fi movie. The locker room was no different: rows of spotless, high-tech lockers lined the walls, each one humming faintly as though it had its own personality. The overhead lights cast a soft, white glow that somehow made the stark black-and-white gym clothes folded neatly on the bench in front of her look impossibly crisp.
Miyuki stretched her legs, her tongue stuck out in concentration as she bent forward, trying to touch her toes. She had butterflies. Yes, butterflies. It was funny to think about. She typically never got this nervous about anything. She talked a big game to Untraceable about definitively acing this, about proving she belonged here. Now, after hearing just what she was about to get into for this "Haunting Gauntlet," her confidence was starting to wobble. Just a little! Not that she'd admit it out loud.
She let out a long breath and flopped onto the bench, staring up at the sleek ceiling. "Alright, Miyuki, pull it together," she muttered to herself. "They're just throwing you into a labyrinth of terror, sensory deprivation, and god-knows-what-else to see if you've got the chops to survive. No big deal. Totally normal school entrance exam."
The words tasted bitter, even to her. Still, if her sister had done this, so could she. And if she didn't? Well, not succeeding wasn't an option. Not with the tiny thread of answers dangling just out of reach. If Miyuki had to wrestle monsters with her bare hands to get those answers, then so be it.
She sat up, shaking her head. Dwelling on it wasn't going to help. What would help was making sure she was ready. Glancing at the tracksuit, she tugged off her shirt and started changing, the cool fabric of the gym clothes feeling unnervingly official as she pulled it on. The black-and-white design was simple but sleek, with the Meiyo emblem stitched over the chest in a bold silver thread. A part of her almost hated how good it looked—it was too "put-together" for someone who'd spent most of her life winging it.
Once dressed, she turned her attention to the main event: her hair. Her Quirk was gonna be her greatest weapon, and if this gauntlet was half as intense as it sounded, she needed to be ready to use it at a moment's notice.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she let out a slow breath, feeling the familiar hum of her Quirk flickering to life. Her impossibly long, jet-black hair began to shift, the ends lifting ever so slightly as though caught in a phantom breeze. She ran her fingers through it, focusing on every strand, ensuring it was untangled and perfectly responsive. The fibers shimmered faintly, catching the light in an almost hypnotic way.
"Alright, girls," she murmured to her hair, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Time to make sure you're all ready to dance."
She began stretching again, rolling her shoulders and twisting her torso to loosen up. Her hair followed her movements like a second shadow, the ends flicking and curling as though testing their range. She flicked her wrist, and a tendril of hair snapped forward, coiling neatly around a nearby towel rack before retracting. Perfect.
"Still got it," she muttered, though her voice was tinged with unease. Her hair was strong, versatile, and deadly when she needed it to be, but it wasn't invincible. It couldn't protect her from sensory deprivation or mind-bending illusions. She was going to have to rely on more than her Quirk to make it through this.
Her gaze drifted to the mirror again, catching her own reflection. Her dark eyes stared back, defiant but with a flicker of doubt she couldn't quite shake.
"You're gonna be fine," she told herself firmly. "You've faced worse, right?"
The memory of her sister's name on that damned list resurfaced, unbidden, and her jaw tightened. Right. Worse.
She grabbed the elastic band from the bench and tied her hair into a loose, high ponytail, leaving enough slack to let her Quirk function without hindrance. The weight of her hair, always a comforting presence, felt heavier today. Like it knew what was coming.
Stretching her arms above her head, she started pacing the locker room, her mind spinning in a thousand directions. The butterflies in her stomach weren't settling down, but she knew herself well enough to recognize that nerves weren't always a bad thing. They meant she cared. They meant she was invested.
"Hayakawa Miyuki, underground hero in the making," she muttered to herself, her tone half-mocking. "You've got this. Probably."
Her pacing came to a halt as the sound of footsteps echoed faintly outside the locker room. A few muffled voices drifted in, and she could tell other candidates were beginning to gather in the staging area. Her pulse quickened. It was almost time.
Leaving the locker room, she entered the large staging area where other prospective students milled about, waiting for their names to be called. Some were chatting in small groups, others stretching or practicing with their Quirks. The air was thick with tension, a mix of anticipation and nerves that clung to her skin.
Her gaze swept the room, cataloging faces, body language, and overall vibes. Most were confident, some cocky. A few looked like they were trying to psych themselves up, their nervous energy almost palpable. Then, in the far corner, Miyuki spotted her: a petite girl with dark pastel blue hair tied into a low ponytail, standing awkwardly near the wall. She was fidgeting with her hands, her oversized gym clothes making her seem even smaller. Her wide, downturned eyes darted nervously around the room, avoiding contact with anyone who might look her way.
Miyuki tilted her head, curiosity piqued. The girl was clearly struggling—not with herself, necessarily, but with the idea of reaching out. No one had approached her, and she hadn't made a move either. She just stood there, looking like a lost kid in a crowd of wolves.
"Guess I'm doing this," Miyuki muttered under her breath. Stretching her arms one last time, she sauntered across the room, her ponytail swaying with each step.
"Yo," Miyuki said, stopping a few feet away. The girl flinched slightly, her pale complexion flushing pink as her periwinkle eyes darted up to meet Miyuki's.
"H-hi," the girl stammered, her voice barely audible over the low hum of conversation in the room.
Miyuki smirked, crossing her arms. "You waiting for someone, or just hiding out over here?"
The girl's cheeks reddened further, and she looked down at her hands, which were nervously twisting the hem of her tracksuit top. "I… I'm not hiding. Just… not sure who to talk to."
"Well, you're talking to me now," Miyuki said, her tone light. "Name's Miyuki. Hayakawa Miyuki. You?"
The girl hesitated for a moment before responding. "Airi. Miyake Airi."
"Nice to meet you, Miyake-san." Miyuki leaned against the wall, her posture completely relaxed. "So, what's your deal? You got a Quirk, or are you just here for moral support?"
Airi's lips twitched into the smallest of smiles. "I have a Quirk. It's called Aqua Phantasia. I can manipulate water and… do some other things with it."
"Other things?" Miyuki raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Make people's drinks taste better? Turn boring old water into sparkling water or some shit?"
Airi's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly shook her head. "No! I mean, I can create illusions with it, or… use it for surveillance. Stuff like that."
"Surveillance, huh?" Miyuki's smirk grew. "Sounds useful. You any good with it?"
Airi fidgeted, her gaze dropping again. "I… I think so. I've been practicing a lot."
"Good," Miyuki said, pushing off the wall and gesturing for Airi to follow her. "Because I'm looking for someone to team up with for this Gauntlet, and you seem like you could hold your own. You in?"
Airi blinked, clearly taken aback. "You… want to team up with me?"
"Why not?" Miyuki replied. "You've got skills, and you're not afraid to admit you're nervous. That's more than I can say for half the assholes in this room. Besides, we'll need at least one more person to make a proper team, and two heads are better than one for picking someone decent."
Airi hesitated, her hands clutching her sleeves. "I… I've never been very good at working with others."
"Perfect. Neither have I." Miyuki grinned, clapping a hand on Airi's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. What do you say?"
Airi's lips parted, her hesitation evident. But then, after a moment, she nodded, her expression softening. "Okay. Let's do it."
"That's the spirit," Miyuki said, stepping back and scanning the room as Airi followed behind her. "Alright, let's see if we can rope someone else into this. We're gonna need all the help we can get."
Miyuki glanced over at Airi again, who had her head slightly tilted down, still not entirely comfortable with the bustling environment around them. Miyuki knew she needed to keep working to draw her out of her shell. She grinned and nudged the shy girl lightly on the shoulder.
"You know, Airi," she began, her tone teasing but warm, "you're way too polite for this crowd. If you keep hanging back like this, someone's going to mistake you for a decorative plant."
Airi's eyes widened for a moment before a tiny, almost hesitant giggle escaped her lips. "I'm not that bad," she murmured, fidgeting with the hem of her tracksuit top.
"Oh, you're bad, alright," Miyuki teased, leaning in conspiratorially. "I'll bet you're the type who apologizes to vending machines when you bump into them."
Airi let out a surprised laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. "Okay, maybe I've done that once or twice," she admitted, her cheeks turning a faint pink.
"See? That's what I'm talking about!" Miyuki smirked, satisfied with the progress she was making. "But don't worry—stick with me, and I'll make sure you're a fighter."
Airi's laughter was softer this time, but it was genuine. She glanced at Miyuki, her earlier apprehension beginning to melt away. "You're really good at this," she said quietly.
"At what? Being awesome?" Miyuki winked. "Yeah, I've been working on it for years. Now come on, let's find our third wheel before this turns into some kind of awkward buddy cop duo."
They started weaving through the room together, Miyuki making a point to greet and assess the other candidates as they passed. Airi stuck close to her, her confidence slowly growing with every interaction. Finally, Miyuki spotted a boy sitting on a bench, tying his sneakers with meticulous precision. He had chestnut brown hair that was thick and feathery, and a resting bitch face that could have frozen boiling water. Despite his sharp features, there was something about him that radiated calm, as if he couldn't be bothered to get worked up about much of anything.
"Bingo," Miyuki said, nudging Airi. "That's our guy. Let's go say hi."
Airi hesitated, glancing nervously at the boy. "Are you sure? He looks… um… busy."
"He's tying his shoes," Miyuki said flatly. "If that's busy, we've got bigger problems."
Dragging Airi along, Miyuki sauntered up to the boy and planted herself directly in his line of sight. "Yo. Name's Miyuki. This is Miayke Airi. We're putting together a team for the Gauntlet. You in?"
The boy didn't look up immediately, finishing the knot on his sneaker before finally meeting Miyuki's gaze. His dull burgundy eyes were sharp and unimpressed. "Suehiro Hibiki," he said evenly. "And no offense, but you're coming on a little strong."
Miyuki grinned, unfazed. "That's kind of my thing. You'll get used to it."
Hibiki raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I want to?"
"Because," Miyuki said, folding her arms, "you look like the kind of guy who's tired of dealing with idiots. And guess what? So are we. So why not join forces? We'll stay out of your way, and you'll have a better shot at surviving this thing."
Hibiki's lips twitched slightly, though whether it was amusement or irritation, Miyuki couldn't tell. "Bold assumption. What if I'm the idiot?"
"Then you'll fit right in," Miyuki shot back without missing a beat.
Airi let out a small, nervous laugh, glancing between the two of them. "Hayakawa-san…" she murmured, clearly unsure if this approach was working.
Hibiki's gaze flicked to Airi, and something in his expression softened slightly. "You don't talk much, do you?" he asked.
Airi blinked, startled by the question. "I… I guess not," she admitted.
"That's fine," Hibiki said simply, turning his attention back to Miyuki. "Alright, I'll bite. What's your pitch? Why should I team up with you two?"
"Because we're awesome," Miyuki said with a grin. "And because I'm betting you're not exactly thrilled about the idea of partnering up with some of the clowns in this room. We're not clowns. We're… uh… tightrope walkers. Cool ones."
Hibiki stared at her for a long moment before letting out a short, dry laugh. "Tightrope walkers, huh? That's a new one."
"Glad you appreciate the imagery," Miyuki said. "So, what do you say? You in?"
Hibiki sighed, tying the second sneaker and standing up. He was slightly shorter than Miyuki had expected, but his presence made up for it. Besides, the sassiest of boys were always short. "Fine, I'll team up with you. Why not? Just don't hold me back, yeah?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Miyuki said, smirking. "Welcome to the team, Suehiro."
Airi offered a small smile as well. "Thank you for joining us," she said softly.
"Mhm," Hibiki said casually. "Come on. No point in prolonging everything."
As the three of them walked to the staging area, Miyuki couldn't help the cockiness that welled up within her. Truth be told? She liked these odds. Loved them, in fact.
She only hoped that this wouldn't blow up in her face.
Ebi's eyes darted across the room, taking in her fellow test takers' quick movements as they huddled together. Everything was moving so fast! So many teams were being formed at such a breakneck pace, and it was intimidating. VERY intimidating.
She stood near the edge of the staging area, her fingers lightly brushing the braided spiral bun that crowned the back of her head. The tightly woven strands of coral pink and orange hair gave her some small comfort as she scanned the room, her unusual eyes darting to every corner. She tried not to fidget too much, aware that her shrimp-like carapace and pastel hues already drew enough stares. Her translucent, reddish eyes—with their eerie, sectioned pupils—made it nearly impossible to blend in.
But she couldn't help it. Her antenna-like braids twitched ever so slightly as she watched prospective students gather into clusters, their voices overlapping in a chaotic symphony of introductions, boasts, and nervous laughter. Every few seconds, a new team seemed to form, leaving her more and more isolated.
Okay, Ebi. Deep breaths. You can do this. You just need to talk to someone. Anyone. Right? Right.
Her claws—oh no, hands, hands—tightened into fists at her sides. The voice of her foster mom floated through her thoughts, warm and encouraging: "Take your time, sweetheart. You're brave enough to stand there, and that already means you can take one more step."
Ebi exhaled slowly, forcing herself to unclench her fists. She glanced around again, her wide field of vision taking in every detail. The other candidates looked so confident, their quirks on casual display as if they were flexing for the fun of it. A boy with fiery red hair was summoning tiny bursts of flame from his palms, making a girl with electric blue streaks in her hair laugh. Across the room, a towering figure with crystalline limbs was helping a smaller girl adjust her tracksuit.
Ebi's heart swelled with equal parts excitement and dread.
This is amazing. And terrifying. Mostly terrifying. But also amazing? She couldn't decide.
She spotted a pair of girls walking confidently toward the center of the room. One of them had a high ponytail that swayed like it had a mind of its own, her confident smirk radiating main character energy. The other girl, smaller and shy-looking, stuck close by her side, occasionally glancing nervously at the crowd. Ebi's antenna-braid twitched.
Maybe I could… no, they already seem like a team. Don't interrupt. What if they think I'm weird?
Her thoughts spiraled as she continued to scan the room. She tried to focus on the positive: how amazing it was to see so many unique quirks in one place. Someone with metallic wings swooped overhead, the faint hum of machinery following them. Another person, whose skin seemed to ripple like liquid, casually adjusted their gym clothes while chatting with their teammates.
But with every passing second, her excitement was eclipsed by doubt. Her mind replayed the same old worries, the ones she'd carried with her for years. Would they look at her eyes and skin and think she was a monster? Would they flinch at her touch? Would they laugh behind her back?
Ebi swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry despite the fact she'd been chugging mineral water all morning. She reached for the water bottle strapped to her waist and took a long sip, hoping the cool liquid would settle her nerves.
Okay, focus. Who looks like they'd be nice? Or at least not totally terrifying?
Her gaze landed on a tall, muscular girl with tiger-like stripes and a confident stance. She was laughing loudly, her sharp teeth glistening as she slapped a shorter boy on the back. They were clearly already a part of a group, but Ebi couldn't help but admire the girl's energy. It reminded her of her foster sibling, Torako. Maybe I should go for someone like that… someone who can carry the team's confidence if mine falls…
Her eyes darted to another corner, where a quiet boy with dark hair and a blank expression was lacing up his sneakers. He looked calm, almost detached, like he didn't care if he failed or passed. That could be good too, she thought. Someone steady. Someone who won't panic.
But… she hesitated again. It wasn't just about finding someone strong or steady. It was about finding someone who wouldn't judge her. Someone who wouldn't see her Quirk and recoil. Her stomach churned as she remembered all the times people had whispered behind her back, the cruel names they'd hurled at her. Disgusting. Monster. Livestock.
No. Stop it. You're not there anymore. This is your chance to start over.
And then she saw him.
Tucked away in the corner like a scared kitten, a boy—no, a bundle of nerves wrapped in a tracksuit—was sitting hunched over, fiddling with his shoelaces. His black hair fell over his face like a curtain, and even from this distance, Ebu could see the absolute determination he put into not making eye contact with anyone. His tracksuit sleeves swallowed his hands, and his whole vibe screamed please don't notice me.
Ebi's heart did a little leap. He looks even more lost than I do!
Without thinking, she sprang into action, practically bouncing across the room. Her carapace caught the light as she moved, the soft shimmer of her pastel-colored skin catching a few curious glances. She barely noticed, her excitement at possibly making a friend overriding her usual self-consciousness.
"Hi there!" she said, practically beaming as she stopped a few feet in front of him. She waved a claw-hand enthusiastically, trying to make herself as non-threatening as possible. "I'm Ebi! Ketsueki Ebigawa! But you can just call me Ebi. Are you… are you looking for a team?"
The boy flinched so hard she thought he might spontaneously combust. His vivid blue eyes snapped up to meet hers, wide and startled, before he immediately averted his gaze, staring at the floor as if it had personally offended him.
"I… um…" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn't… I mean, I didn't think anyone would…"
And then he twitched, like he was ready to bolt at any second. Ebi gasped, her antennae dropping. Oh no. He's freaked out by me, isn't he? It's… the way I look. Gah, I'm so stupid. Her excitement deflated like a popped balloon.
Before she could even respond, however, the boy shot to his feet so fast she thought he might actually pass out from the effort.
"W-Wait! No! Sorry, that was…" he trailed off, running a hand through his messy hair and tugging at it nervously. His eyes darted everywhere but at her, and he seemed to fold in on himself even more. "That was an inappropriate reaction, wasn't it? I didn't mean to… um, it's not you. I'm like this with everyone, I swear. I… I just don't really talk to people a lot, so…"
Ebi blinked, tilting her head. "Wait, really? You're not scared of me?"
The boy looked absolutely horrified at the suggestion. "No! No, no, no, not at all! I mean, uh, your… um, your eyes are… very cool? And your skin… um, shiny? In a… good way? Is that okay to say?" He winced, like he wanted to crawl into a hole and die right there.
Ebi stared at him for a moment, her antennae twitching with confusion. And then, much to her own surprise, she giggled cutely.
"Oh my gosh, you're so nervous!" She said, grinning ear to ear. "It's okay, I get it. I'm nervous too. Like, seriously, I've been freaking out this whole time about whether anyone would want to team up with me. I thought you were gonna run away and—" She stopped herself, realizing she was rambling. "Sorry. I'm rambling, aren't I?"
The boy blinked at her, his wide eyes softening just a little. "I mean… kind of? But it's… it's nice? I think?"
Ebi's grin widened. "Thanks! So, what's your name?"
"H-Hibiya," he mumbled. "Kudzuruki Hibiya."
"Well, nice to meet you, Kudzuruki-kun~!" she said brightly. "So, uh… what do you think? Want to team up? I promise I don't bite." She paused, glancing down at her clawed hands. "Or, well, pinch. Not on purpose, anyway."
Hibiya let out a soft, nervous… laugh? It sounded somewhat like a laugh. "I… yeah. Teaming up sounds… good. But, um… are you sure? I mean… I might slow you down, and you seem plenty strong, so. I dunno, maybe think about it a little more—"
Ebi's antennae perked up, and she clapped her hands together. "Thought about it! Mind hasn't changed! We're teaming up!"
Hibiya pursed his lips, suddenly becoming infatuated with his tracksuit's sleeve as he pulled them out of habit. "Right…"
Ebi nodded excitedly. "Yay! Let's go find someone else to join us." She gestured for him to follow her, her excitement bubbling over again as if it had never left. "Come on! Let's go make the best team ever!"
As they walked through the staging area, Hibiya trailed behind her, still looking skittish but somehow a little less tense. Ebi chatted animatedly, her enthusiasm slowly chipping away at his walls, and she noticed it as well. It… warmed her heart. Tremendously, in fact.
"Are you two looking for teams as well~?"
The voice was so sugary sweet and cheerful that it practically sparkled. Ebi turned, blinking in surprise, but before she could even process who was speaking, she felt Hibiya tense beside her. He didn't just tense—he shuffled closer to her, half-hiding behind her in what could only be described as cat-hiding-from-the-vacuum-cleaner energy.
The girl standing before them was almost otherworldly in appearance. She was petite, with curly pink pigtails that faded into a soft blonde near the ends. Her baby-blue eyes shimmered with enthusiasm, and her smile could have lit up an entire stadium. Dressed in her Meiyo tracksuit but managing to make it look effortlessly fashionable with pastel pins adorning her sleeves, she radiated an aura of friendly chaos.
"Hi!" Ebi said, her antennae perking up instinctively. "Uh, yeah! We're looking for a third member. Are you…?" She trailed off, her gaze darting between the girl and Hibiya, who looked like he was actively planning an escape route.
"Oh my gosh, you're SO cute!" the girl squealed, clasping her hands together. She was looking directly at Ebi, her eyes wide with excitement. "I've never seen anyone with a look like yours before. Your hair! Your eyes! And your skin! It's like you're straight out of a fairytale!"
Ebi's cheeks flushed a deep blue-green. "Wha… uh… really? You think so?" she stammered, her clawed hands fluttering awkwardly near her face.
"Think so?" the girl repeated, her tone incredulous. "I know so! You're stunning! If I had skin like yours, I'd spend every day just showing it off. And your antennae!" She pointed, practically bouncing on her toes. "They're the most adorable thing I've ever seen! You're like, the perfect mix of cool and cute. I'm jealous!"
Ebi's antennae twitched uncontrollably, and she swatted at the air as if trying to wave off the compliments. "Stop, stop! You're making me blush!" she said, laughing nervously. But her tone betrayed just how much she was eating up the praise. "I mean, you're really pretty too! Like… super pretty! You're… you're like a doll!"
The girl's smile widened, and she placed a hand on her cheek, tilting her head coyly. "Oh, stop it~! You're going to make me blush next!" she said, though her tone suggested she'd be perfectly happy if that happened.
"My name is Ono Shizuki, but you can just call me Shizu since I've got a feeling we're going to be besties by the end of the day!" she chirped.
Ebi giggled cutely. "In that case, call me Ebi—oh that's right, and this is Hibiya!"
Shizuki's gaze flicked to Hibiya, who was still firmly in hiding mode. "Oh hi! I almost didn't see you back there," she said, leaning around Ebi to get a better look at him. "It's nice to meet you!"
Hibiya flinched at her proximity, retreating further behind Ebi. His shoulders hunched, and his head ducked down like a turtle retreating into its shell. "Uh… hi," he mumbled, his voice barely audible. He avoided her gaze entirely, his hands fiddling with the hem of his tracksuit sleeves.
"Oh gosh!" Shizuki exclaimed, turning her attention right back to Ebigawa. "Am I coming on too strong? I'm sorry if I am. I just love meeting new people, but people have told me that I'm a lot sometimes! But, right now, I'm not, right?" She looked at Ebi with a playful grin, clearly fishing for agreement.
"A lot? Nah," Ebi said, grinning back. "You're just enthusiastic! That's a good thing."
Shizuki's smile grew, and she leaned in closer to Ebi, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're too sweet. If we team up, you'll have to teach me how to be half as charming as you are."
Ebi's cheeks darkened again, and she waved her claws in protest. "Oh, stop! You're gonna make my antennae fall off!" she said, laughing. But inside, she was glowing. It wasn't often that someone was so openly complimentary about her appearance, and it felt… nice. Really nice.
"So, Shizu," Ebi said hopefully. "What do you think? Want to team up with us? I promise we're cool. Well, I'm cool. Hibiya's… quiet. But that's his charm! Isn't it?"
Ebi started to turn to look at the boy she could still feel hiding behind her, but she stopped when Shizuki grabbed her claws in excitement, not wanting to accidentally cut the other girl. "Really?! Can I?!" Her eyes were shining so brightly it was as if she'd just won the lottery. "That would be so amazing—I think we would make such a perfect team, don't you think?!"
"Great! Welcome to the team, Shizu!" Ebi said, beaming.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Shizuki said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as she cut him off. "I know it might be weird to say this since we've just met, but I'm so excited to be on a team with you! We're going to be the BEST team mates you've ever seen!"
Ebi nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Let's show everyone what the three of us are made of!" she said, her antennae twitching excitedly.
"Woo!" Shizuki hooted out, as they started to move towards the exam's starting location. "From today on, we're going to be the best of friends! Okay?!"
Ebi felt her heart skip a beat at Shizuki's confident declaration. Friends… "Yeah. That—that sounds good."
Was this… her first friend?
Welp, asking Hajime to join him was a complete bust.
Not that Rantaro was shocked. He'd known her for all of five minutes and already understood she had the interpersonal warmth of a snowstorm. She wanted to do the Haunting Gauntlet solo, which was… bold. Bold and absolutely bonkers, but who was he to judge? Well, maybe he did judge—just a little. Regardless, he had bigger fish to fry. Or, in this case, better teammates to meet.
Luckily, he'd met Kaino Chuu. And Chuu was awesome.
Ran glanced over at his new partner, who was currently balancing on one foot, arms spread out, while explaining the intricacies of their Quirk between bouts of dramatic "oohs" and "aahs." "So, yeah, I can manipulate my atoms," Chuu said, switching feet mid-balance. "That means I can reshape my body however I want—extend my limbs, enhance my strength, even regenerate! Though, if I do that too much, I end up looking like a deflated balloon, and, well, that's not sexy."
Ran snorted, tying his shoelaces with the precision of someone avoiding a physics pop quiz. "Wow, looks like I got lucky with you as a partner, Kaino-san! You're like a cheat code. Do you come with DLC?"
Chuu grinned, puffing out their chest. "Of course I do. Comes with a free trial of unsolicited commentary. If you play your cards right, you might unlock my cooking DLC. But I warn you, my dishes are either Michelin-star-level or absolute poison. No in-between."
"Good to know," Ran said, laughing. "Remind me to wear body armor to dinner if we survive this Gauntlet."
Chuu flipped their ponytail dramatically and struck a pose. "Oh, don't worry, Nagachika-san. I promise you'll live… mostly because it'd be inconvenient if you died. Teamwork and all that."
Ran's grin widened. It had only been a few minutes, but he already felt at ease around Chuu. They were silly in a way that didn't feel forced, as if the whole world was one giant stage for their antics. It was refreshing, really, compared to the high-pressure, glitzy bubble of his celebrity family.
Speaking of pressure… Ran's mind wandered back to Hajime. He'd been pouty about her rejection earlier, sure, but something about her doing the Gauntlet solo stuck with him. "By the way, Kaino-san, I've got a question for you," he started.
"Shoot!" Chuu chirped, now balancing on both hands, their feet dangling in the air.
"You've seen this Gauntlet thing, right? What's the deal?"
Chuu immediately dropped back onto their feet and whistled low, their playful demeanor shifting slightly. "Oh, it's… let's just say it's no joke. If your Sakuraba friend is going in solo, she's either brave, stupid, or a mix of both."
"Mostly the second one," Ran muttered, crossing his arms. "What makes it so bad?"
Chuu hesitated, scratching the back of their head. "Well…" Their tone softened. "The Gauntlet's not just about your Quirk or your strength. It's about testing every single part of you. Your endurance, your wits, your mental state. I've seen people freeze up because the illusions get too real or the pressure…" They trailed off, their gaze briefly flickering to the floor before they plastered on a grin. "But hey! You've got me, so you're already ahead of the curve!"
Ran tilted his head, noticing the subtle shift in Chuu's energy. "Wait… how do you know so much about it?"
"Oh, look!" Chuu interrupted, pointing dramatically. "A potential third teammate!"
Ran blinked, his gaze following Chuu's finger to where a petite girl stood near the edge of the room, clutching the hem of her tracksuit jacket like it was a lifeline. Her wide eyes darted nervously around the staging area, and she seemed to shrink every time someone glanced her way.
"She looks like she's about to bolt," Ran murmured, tugging at Chuu's sleeve. "Think we should ask her?"
Chuu's face lit up. "Absolutely. Let's go be her knight and jester in shining armor!" They marched forward, Ran following with a bemused shake of his head.
"By the way," Chuu murmured, her voice kept conspicuously low as she turned an eye over to Ran while they walked. "The girl you were talking about… you did say that her surname was Sakuraba, correct?"
"Mm? Oh yeah," he chirped. "I think she's related to the Sakuraba family. You know, they're a pretty big deal in hero society and in general. Kinda weird, though. Not sure why she's going here when she could easily get into UA, but hey, who am I to judge? I definitely understand."
Chuu pursed their lips, nodding softly. A look of contemplation etched upon their face, causing Ran to tilt his own head in confusion. "I hope I get to run into her eventually."
Before Ran could ask why, they made it to the stranger. The girl didn't notice them approaching until Ran cleared his throat dramatically, prompting her to flinch so hard she nearly dropped the notebook she'd been clutching like it contained the secrets of the universe.
"Oh! Uh, hi!" she squeaked, her light green eyes darting nervously between Ran and Chuu. Her voice was soft and melodic, though her words tumbled out in a jumble of panicked syllables. "I-I wasn't doing anything suspicious, just… standing here! Very normal. Very inconspicuous."
Ran raised an eyebrow, exchanging a bemused glance with Chuu, who grinned like a cat about to pounce. "Right," Ran said slowly, folding his arms. "Totally inconspicuous. Except for the whole 'standing in the corner looking like you just saw a ghost' vibe you've got going on."
The girl—Aina, the name on her notebook helpfully informed him—hugged the notebook tighter to her chest, her knuckles turning white. "I-I wasn't scared!" she protested, though her shaky tone betrayed her. "I was just… mentally preparing! For the thing! You know… the Gauntlet."
Chuu tilted their head, their wolfish hair bouncing slightly as they leaned closer, all sparkling curiosity. "Mentally preparing by hiding in a corner? Bold strategy, Aina-san. But hey, you've got some guts. Most people would be crying by now!"
"I'm not crying," Aina mumbled, her voice barely audible.
Ran stepped forward, his grin disarming. "Exactly. We were just thinking…" He glanced at Chuu for dramatic effect. "You look like you could use a team. And lucky for you, we're experts at turning panic into productivity!"
Aina's eyes widened, the color draining from her face. "Oh, no, no, no," she stammered, shaking her head so vigorously her myoga-colored hair nearly whacked Ran in the face. "That's really sweet, but I'd just slow you down. My Quirk isn't… it's not exactly combat-ready. It's very situational!"
"Situational how?" Chuu asked, eyes narrowing playfully. "Does it make people burst into song? That'd be hilarious."
Aina hesitated, visibly torn between running for the hills and explaining herself. Finally, she sighed in defeat, mumbling, "I… can enter and manipulate dreams."
Ran blinked. "Dreams? Like, nap dreams?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice tight. "It's useful in certain situations, but not for something like this! I mean, what am I supposed to do? Politely ask whatever's in the Gauntlet to take a nap so I can do my thing?"
Chuu giggled. "Honestly? It wouldn't hurt to try, but that's just me!"
Aina flushed, her cracked lips pressing into a tight line. "I'm serious! I'm not cut out for this kind of test. You'd be better off without me."
Ran's grin didn't falter. If anything, it widened. "See, that's where you're wrong. Sure, maybe your Quirk isn't flashy, but these things aren't just about power. They're about strategy. And from the sound of it, your Quirk could be exactly what we need later on. Right, Chuu?"
"Absolutely," Chuu agreed, their tone uncharacteristically serious. "Think about it: if we get to the later stages and need to outsmart something or someone? Boom. Dream magic. You'd be the ace in the hole!"
Aina opened her mouth to argue, but Ran cut her off, his voice gentle but firm. "Look, we're not saying this'll be easy. But we're not exactly pushovers, y'know? Chuu-san's got the whole atomic shapeshifter thing going on, and I've got magnets for days. We can handle the muscle. You just worry about the brains."
"And morale since you're a cutie-patootie," Chuu added with a wink.
That put an explosion of red on Aina's face. She hesitated, her gaze darting between the two of them. "I… I don't know," she said quietly. "I'm just not sure I can keep up."
Ran crouched slightly, leveling his gaze with hers. "You'll never know unless you try. And besides, do you really wanna go through this alone?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Aina bit her lip, her resolve visibly crumbling. "I still think this is a bad idea," she muttered.
"Noted," Ran said cheerfully. Then, before she could protest further, he grabbed one of her arms while Chuu grabbed the other.
"Wait! What are you—!"
"Nope!" Chuu chirped, cutting her off as they hoisted her up. "You're coming with us, Aina-chan! It's teamwork time!"
Ran started humming a jaunty tune, and Chuu joined in with exaggerated enthusiasm as they carried a flailing Aina toward the staging area.
"We're all in this together!" Chuu sang loudly, their voice cracking.
"And it shows when we stand hand in hand, make our dreams come true! " Ran added, grinning from ear to ear.
"Put me down!" Aina wailed, her voice muffled as she tried to bury her face in her hands.
"Not a chance," Chuu replied, cackling.
"Consider this your first lesson in teamwork!" Ran said, laughing as they continued their absurd parade toward the Gauntlet.
Was kidnapping someone into being a part of your team an unorthodox strategy? Absolutely, but Ran didn't have time to think about the intricacies right now! Not if he wanted to ace this Gauntlet!
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hajime step up to the staging area, her eyes gazing forward with laser focus. She was still alone, which was to be expected. She must've felt his eyes on her since she momentarily looked in his direction. He took the opportunity to give her a wink. She returned the gesture with a look of disgust and a middle finger. Again, to be completely expected.
He thought about kidnapping her, but something told him that wouldn't work out
Suddenly, the room dimmed slightly as an animated burst of confetti filled the screens scattered across the staging area. A cheerful jingle, reminiscent of a game show theme, blared through the speakers. Then, with a flash of light, Miko-Chan appeared in her holographic glory, perched on what looked like a tiny floating podium. She was glowing—literally—with pastel pink and blue lights accentuating her chibi features. Her oversized twinkling eyes scanned the room as her floppy ears flapped enthusiastically.
"Okay, ladies, gentlemen, and others~!" she chimed, her sweet, melodic voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Omen did their best to explain the stitch of the Haunting Gauntlet—dramatic entrances and all—but let's be honest." She leaned forward conspiratorially, her tiny paw gesturing for everyone to come closer. "Did you actually understand all of it? No? It's okay, me neither. That's why I'm here!"
Ran elbowed Chuu, whispering, "I like her energy."
Aina, who had all but accepted her fate on their team, nodded softly in agreement. "She's so interactive…"
Chuu whispered back, "She is, but she's two seconds away from turning this into a karaoke session. Funny, we didn't have anything like this when I was last here!"
Ran blinked. "Huh—"
Miko-Chan clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "So, before we get on our marks, I'll be explaining the points system for you guys! And oh boy, is it a doozy. But don't worry—I'll break it down so even the most scatterbrained among you—" her twinkling eyes darted meaningfully toward a particularly spaced-out student, "—can keep up. Let's do this, gamified style!"
The screen behind her lit up with colorful charts and animated icons, each representing a stage of the Gauntlet.
- Stage 1: The Midnight Maze (100 Points)
Miko-Chan spun dramatically, pointing at the glowing image of a labyrinth. "This is your first big challenge, darlings! The Midnight Maze! Spooky, right? You'll be running around in an ever-shifting maze filled with traps, puzzles, and illusions. Basically, it's like a haunted house but way worse."
She summoned a tiny animated ghost on the screen, which floated around cutely before being devoured by a shadowy trap.
"Points breakdown!"
- Navigation and Problem Solving (30 Points):
"Speed matters—if you're faster, you score higher! But don't go zooming around blindly, or you'll miss puzzles. And trust me, you need those puzzle points."
- Stealth and Discretion (30 Points):
"No stomping around like elephants, okay? Silent movement and trap-dodging will earn you big bucks—well, points. But bucks would be cool too, huh?"
- Fear and Stress Management (20 Points):
"The maze will mess with your head, but keep your cool! Points for resilience and not, y'know, screaming like a banshee every five seconds."
- Teamwork (20 Points):
"If you're in a group, collaboration is key. No lone wolfing—unless you're really good at it, but still, don't. Be nice to your teammates!"
- Stage 2: The Silent Battleground (100 Points)
Miko-Chan switched to the image of an arena bathed in eerie silence. "Here's where it gets intense: one-on-one duels in sensory deprivation mode. It's like fighting underwater while blindfolded. Fun, right?"
"Points breakdown!"
- Combat Proficiency (40 Points):
"Show us your moves! Bonus points for creative counters and not flailing like a fish out of water."
- Strategic Thinking (30 Points):
"Think outside the box! Or inside the box. Or whatever—it's a metaphor, okay? Be smart!"
- Endurance and Stamina (20 Points):
"Don't keel over halfway through. Keep those energy levels high, or at least fake it till you make it."
- Sportsmanship and Ethics (10 Points):
"No dirty tricks, no cheap shots. Play fair or get docked points. And don't make me come down there!"
- Stage 3: The Gauntlet of Shadows (100 Points)
Miko-Chan conjured the image of dark, twisting catacombs. The shadows seemed to reach out from the screen, giving the students goosebumps.
"This is the final stage—the big leagues! Traps, terrain, and terror galore. It's like the maze but… worse-er? Yeah, worse-er."
"Points breakdown!"
- Survival Skills (30 Points):
"Traps everywhere. Dodge, disarm, survive. Simple, right? Wrong! Good luck!"
- Quirk Mastery (30 Points):
"Precision and creativity with your Quirk will score you big. Think 'hero,' not 'wrecking ball.' Unless wrecking balls are your thing."
- Team Dynamics (20 Points):
"Work together or crash and burn. Literally. Some sections are designed to force teamwork, so play nice!"
- Final Confrontation (20 Points):
"Elite instructors will come at you like bosses in a video game. React, adapt, and don't get obliterated. Show 'em what you've got!"
Miko-Chan struck a pose, wagging her finger. "Remember, you need at least 60 points in each stage to advance. No exceptions! Bonus points are up for grabs if you impress the evaluators with heroic flair, ingenuity, or leadership."
She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "And if you're thinking, 'Wow, this seems impossible!' Well, that's the spirit! Welcome to Meiyo Academy!"
The students groaned, and Miko-Chan giggled. "Now, get to your marks! Your terrifying future awaits!"
With that, the hologram winked out, leaving the students to stew in equal parts dread and determination. Ran nudged Chuu. "Well, she's adorable and terrifying. Perfect mascot for this place."
Chuu snickered. "Yeah. We're so doomed."
Next to them, Aina closed her eyes and clasped her hands together tightly in prayer
ED - KIMIGAITE MIZUNINARU BY ZUTOMAYO
And there we have it! I hope you guys are having a great New Years so far! PLEASE, REVIEWS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED! AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT!
MMMMMMBYYYYE~!