"My turn. My Quirk is... this. 'Dark Shadow.'"
"I'M HERE!"
At his call, a shadow erupted from his cloak. It wasn't a flat silhouette; it was a three-dimensional shadow shaped like a bird. More surprisingly, the shadow didn't look like him at all—and it spoke with its own distinct consciousness.
"Does your Quirk possess its own will?"
"Indeed. My power is the command of Dark Shadow. Offense, defense, reconnaissance—I pride myself on having no blind spots."
"YOU BET!"
Good grief, Quirks really can be anything, I thought for the thousandth time in the last eleven years. I suspected I would be breaking my record for that specific thought today.
Wait—was Tokoyami's bird-head not his Quirk? Then what was his face...? No, it's probably best not to overthink it.
"...Understood. You are both very reliable. In terms of sheer numbers, we actually have the advantage in this exercise."
"Quite. However... Dark Shadow grows weak in the presence of light. Aoyama's laser will likely be a poor match for us."
"I see. Even with a will of its own, a shadow is still a shadow. In that case, I will handle Aoyama. I can deal with his laser."
"...Can you?"
I felt a surge of great surprise from him, but he kept his face stoic—an admirable trait.
"However," I continued, "because he uses light, we should probably maintain some distance while we act. My primary weapon is also luminous."
"Hmm... then it is logical for you to take point?"
"Yes. My abilities are versatile enough to handle whoever comes at us first. The question is how we react once we identify our target."
"If Aoyama appears first, I shall leave him to you. If it is Iida, I shall engage."
"Agreed. That seems best."
"And... should they come as a pair? Or if neither appears?"
"In that case, I will act as the vanguard. I don't know Dark Shadow's range, but I have almost no long-range attack options myself."
"A valid point."
We had a plan. With one minute left on the clock, I spoke up one last time.
"One last thing, Tokoyami. This is a personal request of mine."
"Speak."
"I want to attempt to persuade our opponents to surrender. Preferably before we engage."
"Persuasion...? Is such a thing even possible?"
"I don't know. but I believe it is meaningful. I don't believe all Villains are irredeemable. Some simply had no other choice."
Whether as the daughter of the Gravity Hero, Banco, or as a Jedi, I believed this was the right path. I knew there would be situations where diplomacy wasn't an option, but in a training environment, the attempt itself held value.
"I do not disagree. But not all will listen."
"True. But this exercise has no set 'background' for the Villains. It's up to them to decide their motivation. There is a chance."
"Hmm. I see."
"But the time limit is short. I don't know if we can afford the time for a debate. That is why I ask this as a personal favor. What do you think?"
"..."
Tokoyami placed a hand to his chin and fell into a deep silence. The air between us was still. He finally spoke just before the starting signal.
"...I must decline the 'first' part of your request. I don't deny your logic—in a real-world scenario, it is a vital consideration. Perhaps All Might is even watching to see if we possess such foresight. But the time limit is our greatest enemy."
It was a long speech for the usually taciturn boy.
"However, if we subdue one of them and have time to spare... I have no objection."
"Understood. Thank you."
I thanked him from the bottom of my heart. I hadn't expected such a thoughtful, considered response. I would have been satisfied with a simple 'no.' To have a partner who states his opinion clearly, concedes where he can, and stands firm where he must... it was an ideal exchange of ideas.
"No thanks are necessary."
"Very well. I'll let my results do the talking."
I nodded, satisfied. Tokoyami blinked a few times, looking at me curiously.
"Is something wrong?"
"No... I was starting to doubt that you were actually younger than me... but that gesture was quite age-appropriate."
"...Was it?"
I hadn't realized I was doing anything out of the ordinary.
But the conversation ended there. All Might's voice boomed over the speakers, announcing the start of the exercise.
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