Justus walks out of the hospital.
Justus: (Thanks again for the help.)
Nurse: You’re welcome, Justus. Have a good day!
Justus starts walking down the sidewalk when he looks up to see Colossus standing in front of him.
Colossus: Hello, Justus.
Justus: Hello, Father.
Colossus: Are you alright?
Justus: I’m fine.
Colossus: That’s good to hear. I would have visited, but it’s difficult for me to make public appearances without drawing a crowd. The police told me that they were keeping your hospitalization on the down-low.
Justus: Yeah… it’s okay.
Awkward silence.
Colossus: Well… uh… I… uh…
Justus: Thanks for checking in, but you should go back to doing your job.
Colossus: I- I guess.
Justus walks past Colossus.
Justus: Oh... I guess I should ask.
Colossus: Hm? What about?
Justus: When you were my age… Did your quirk suddenly step forward?
Colossus: Yes, yes, it did. A little later, I was about 2 years older than you. I suddenly was a lot stronger, faster, and able to do things with my quirk I couldn’t before. I assume that you felt that recently?
Justus flashes back to his fight with Ivy.
Justus: Yes… I did.
Colossus: Well, don’t use your newfound strength as a crutch. You still have to work hard. Remember, our quirks are similar, even more so now, but your ability is your own.
Justus: Right.
Colossus: I hope everything goes well for you, Justus. I won’t be at the Showcase, in fact, I’ll be in charge of the city for the day!
Justus: Good luck with that.
Colossus: Oh, I don’t need luck. Enjoy yourself at the Showcase and maybe get a girlfriend. I want grandchildren at some point!
Colossus leaps off.
Justus: (Although that’s annoying, I’ll let it slide because… it feels like something a father would do.)
Ivy wakes up in a bed surrounded by medical equipment. She has a bandage wrapped around her head, and her arm is in a sling. She tries to sit up, but it’s too painful.
Zaire: You’re too hurt.
Ivy: Zaire! Wh- what happened?
Zaire: I see... you don’t remember. That’s not surprising, given your concussion.
Ivy: Concussion?
Zaire: You lost a fight.
Ivy is shocked.
Ivy: You’re lying!
Zaire: Look at yourself, Ivy. Do you really think I’m lying?
Ivy: I- I- I… but I’ve never lost a fight…
Zaire: I know. Master was surprised as well.
Ivy: He… He saw?
Iota: Yes, Ivy, yes I did.
Iota is in the doorway.
Ivy: Master!
Iota steps into the room. Ivy starts to tear up beneath her mask.
Ivy: I’m so sorry… I promised you I wouldn’t fail another mission after what happened in the forest.
Iota: It’s alright, Ivy. Zaire extracted You, Jagger, and Marsh while I retrieved the blood sample. The mission was completed.
Ivy: That’s good, but you shouldn’t have had to do that, Master! It was my responsibility!
Iota holds up his hand, and Ivy stops talking.
Iota: What’s done is done. Nothing bad has come of it; the end result is what matters.
Ivy: Yes, Master.
Iota: Also, before you ask, Jagger and Marsh were knocked out. They didn’t see anything. Nobody outside of this room knows what happened.
Ivy: Okay, that’s good.
Iota: Unfortunately, that means we couldn’t have you be healed via a quirk. You’re going to have to recover the usual way.
Ivy: What! But the attack is in a few days! I can’t fight like this!
Iota: That’s right, you’re not fighting.
Ivy’s eyes widen.
Ivy: What?
Iota: You’re not essential for this mission. You’re going to have to sit this one out.
Ivy: B- b- but-
Iota: That’s an order, Ivy.
Ivy looks disappointed.
Ivy: I’m your most valuable soldier… and this is the most critical battle we’ll fight. How can I just be left behind?
Iota: Ivy, you lost to a 2nd-year U.A. student; we will be fighting pro heroes. I’m afraid you wouldn’t be useful even if you could come.
Ivy: I wouldn’t be… “useful?”
Iota: I’m sorry, but this mission is far too important to take risks.
Iota leaves the room.
Zaire: If you need anything, feel free to call me.
Zaire leaves as well.
Ivy: (What am I supposed to do if I’m not valuable to Master? That’s all my life has been about… and now when he needs me most, he sees me as a liability…)
Ivy starts crying.
Ivy: (I’m worthless!)
Iota and Zaire walk down the halls together.
Zaire: You were rather harsh with her.
Iota: I know, but the truth is that she isn’t as valuable to me as she once was. I can afford to be harsh with her now.
Zaire: Are the clones really going to be that powerful?
Iota: The first batch will be plenty powerful. They won’t be complete, but they’ll be enough for this first mission.
Zaire: So what becomes of these students? You worked so hard to build up this movement, and now you can create followers that are much more powerful than them.
Iota: They still matter as a group, not on an individual scale. I need followers to spread my message, but who each follower is… does not matter. Outside of you and X, all of them are expendable.
Zaire: Still, should you be that cold with Ivy? I understand that she’s no longer as important as she was, but not too long ago, she was questioning you.
Iota laughs.
Iota: Her life revolves around pleasing me. She knows no other way to live. I found her in a gas station trying to steal chips, gave her a roof over her head, trained her, made her into the killing machine she is today and gave her a purpose in life. I’ve kept Ivy close because she was as strong as an A-rank hero. That power was unique in someone so young and susceptible to my whims. But clearly, she’s weakened over time, and I can thank Hayze for that. I thought I had done enough to fix her, but I didn’t. That became clear when she lost to a damn U.A. student! If we’re going to change the world, we need firepower, and Ivy no longer is strong enough to play into that equation. So, like every other follower I’ve acquired, she’s expendable.
Zaire: I see… so Hayze really did more damage than we thought.
Iota: Yes… he did. It’s okay, though. We’ll be paying him back soon enough.
Iota has a sinister smile.
Zaire: That’s good to hear, Master.
Aster is standing in front of Ewing’s desk.
Ewing: I’m glad you could meet with me today, Aster. I hope that your preparations for the Showcase are going well.
Aster: I should be preparing?
Ewing: Aster...
Aster: I’m not saying the second years are pushovers, but I’ve been out in the field. I’ve fought villains on my own and grown a lot in power. You and I both know that the second year at U.A. is the biggest jump you’ll take. I’d be a joke if I couldn’t handle this challenge impromptu, let alone in an organized event.
Ewing: I know, and I agree. But this match is important for U.A. and society itself. I’m sure you’re aware of the school’s “approval rating” after all of the incidents from this year.
Aster: Of course, it sucks.
Ewing: Yes… and that’s why I needed to speak with you.
Aster: Hm?
Ewing: The villain responsible for all of the incidents this last year, Iota, is targeting U.A. for an obvious reason. He wants to hurt this school’s reputation and make the public question whether the heroes of tomorrow are in good hands, thus putting more pressure on the heroes of today to perform. That’s why this Festival was created. We need to show them that U.A. is still the hero education powerhouse it’s always been.
Aster: Right… I mean, calling it “the Showcase” kind of gives that away.
Ewing laughs.
Ewing: Indeed it does.
Aster: So is that all you needed to tell me? Because I feel like you’re beating around the bush here.
Ewing: *sighs* No, and I guess I should cut right to the chase.
Ewing stands up and looks out his office window.
Ewing: I need you to go all out in the match this Sunday.
Aster: Okay… I was kind of already planning on doing that.
Ewing: No, I mean, I want you to use the “experimental” form you’ve newly introduced to your repertoire.
Aster is surprised.
Aster: How do you know about that? I’ve never used it outside of training.
Ewing: You’ve been conducting your work-study with the Number 5 Hero, Exciton. He’s a former student of mine, and he couldn’t help but share his excitement for your development with your teacher, Multi, and me.
Aster: Alright… but why would you want me to use that in an exhibition match? That seems excessive and downright cruel to the second-years.
Ewing: Because this school’s reputation is riding on this match. The outcome is obvious, but how we reach it is the real story. It will accomplish two things if you defeat the second-years in just a minute or two. First, the public will see that U.A. is still producing talent at a high level. They’ll know that next year’s graduating class is well on their way to becoming excellent heroes. Second, it will show the clear gap between a second year and a third year, giving them evidence that your growth is a product of U.A.’s curriculum. They’ll get to see what you were a year ago and what you are now, which will give them hope for the defeated students and their growth over the next year. It’s a win-win-win.
Aster stares at Ewing.
Aster: No way.
Ewing: Hm? What!
Aster: The public knows that their class has been the target of these attacks. They’re impressed they’ve been able to fight and defeat villains with their experience level. I wasn’t doing that my first year; nobody was. They’re not worried about the students. They can see we all have potential. They’re concerned about whether U.A. is teaching them well and keeping them safe. If I go out there and clobber them, that will raise further questions from the media about whether their class is in good hands, they’re not expected to win, but they have to put up a fight. Your plan only benefits my class and me, but we’re not the ones in trouble. They are. The best thing to come from this match is a drawn-out battle that shows my strength and theirs. Not a one-sided slaughter.
Ewing is silent for a few moments.
Ewing: That’s not the answer I was hoping to hear.
Aster: How could I expect me to think any other way? I’m a hero in the making. I’m not just looking out for myself here. Not to mention that my sister will be one of the fighters I’m up against. I can’t do that to her.
Ewing: *sighs*
Ewing pulls a file out of his desk.
Aster: What’s that?
Ewing: I understand your points, Aster, but you’re just a naive student. My plan is what’s best for this school, and I intend on seeing it through.
Aster: But… I already said no.
Ewing: That’s why I’m willing to make a deal.
Ewing places the file on the desk. It’s Blair’s.
Aster: Huh?
Ewing: Open it.
Aster opens the file and is shocked.
Aster: You’re not serious… are you?
Ewing: That’s the Principal’s Recommendation. Judging by your expression, you know how important it is.
Aster: Each year, you can write a letter of recommendation for any student of the graduating class that you see fit. Since you became principal eight years ago, I’ve only heard of you giving out this letter once.
Ewing: Yes, and that was for Mr. Walker. This letter is like having a golden ticket into the hero world. You’re guaranteed to be offered elite sidekick opportunities and even a chance to become a full-time hero right after graduating. My word carries a lot of weight in the hero job market, and I’m willing to give that letter to your sister on the condition that you follow through with my plan.
Aster’s eyes widen.
Aster: Y- you’re kidding, right? That’s how far you’re willing to go to make this happen?
Ewing: I’m dead serious, Aster. Like you said, you’re a hero in the making. You’re not just looking out for yourself. So, I’ll make you an offer for someone you care about. This letter could set Blair up for a long and prosperous career, Aster. Keep that in mind.
Aster: It’s a tempting offer, Principal Ewing, but I have to decline.
Ewing: Why?
Aster: I believe in Blair… she doesn’t need this to be great.
Ewing: Okay, but what happens if she doesn’t live up to her potential?
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Aster: Huh?
Ewing: There’s another paper in that file written by her teacher, Mr. Walker. Read it.
Aster pulls out the paper from Walker.
Ewing: It’s her end-of-year report.
Walker: *note* Although Blair shows tremendous potential and a staunch work ethic, her flaws are easily identified and taken advantage of. She made progress in this area by the end of the year, so there’s still hope she can progress past these issues. However, I would have expected that process to be done by now. She has hope, but I can’t envision her becoming more than a B-Rank hero unless something significant happens.
Ewing: Obviously, that’s just a prediction, but if it’s true… you might be kicking yourself one day for missing this chance to help your sister.
Aster stares at the file for a few seconds.
Aster: Okay… I’ll do it.
Elsewhere, Hayze and Blair are walking through the woods together.
Blair: So what are you thinking for the rest of the team?
Hayze: I don’t know; my choices are Karma, Alexis, Zach, and Ash.
Blair: Well, I don’t know about Alexis… she’s been acting weird lately. Apparently, she fought Saige.
Hayze: Who told you that?
Blair: Oh… uh… Saige did...
Hayze: Huh, are you two friends now? It seems a little weird for Saige to tell you that.
Blair: No, I hope that bitch dies in a fire. I think she was just bragging.
Hayze: (That’s not like Saige… whatever, that’s none of my business.) I could cross her off the list if you think Alexis isn’t in the right headspace.
Blair: Yeah, I think that’s for the best.
Hayze: Then I guess that leaves us with Ash, Zach, and Karma.
Blair: That’s quite the group.
Hayze: I’ve never worked with Karma before, and Zach was only that one time against Colossus. I’m gonna have to get them up to speed before Sunday.
Blair: Yeah…
Awkward silence.
Blair: (It’s moments like these where I realize I don’t know a lot about Hayze...) So…
Hayze: Hm?
Blair: (Come on, Blair! Think of something!) What’s your favorite color? (WHAT ARE WE? FIVE?)
Hayze: Uh… yellow? Why?
Blair: Oh, you know… (THINK OF SOMETHING!) Colors are cool. (GOD, I SUCK!)
Hayze stares at Blair.
Hayze: Are you nervous?
Blair: What? No! I’m… completely calm!
Hayze: It’s okay, just take a deep breath. We’re out here to train. So there’s nothing to worry about.
Blair takes a deep breath.
Hayze: Feel better?
Blair: Yeah…
Hayze: Cool.
They continue walking.
Blair: Hey, Hayze?
Hayze: Yes?
Blair: You’ve been acting differently lately… just… you seem a lot more open and well…
Hayze: Friendly?
Blair: No, no, no! That’s not what I was going to say! I was more referring to the fact that I never could have imagined you saying the things you did on the deck last night before yesterday. You just seem different… that’s all.
Hayze looks down at his chest; tucked underneath his shirt is the pendant.
Hayze: I recently cleared my head and realized I want to… do better with my friendships.
Blair: Right… speaking of which…
Hayze: Huh?
Blair: You and Saige… you’re just friends… right?
Awkward silence.
Hayze: Are you asking if Saige and I are dating?
Blair: I- I- Yes!
Hayze laughs.
Blair: Huh…
Hayze: I’m not even sure Saige likes me as a person, let alone romantically.
Blair looks concerned.
Blair: Why do you do that?
Hayze: Do what?
Blair: Saige loves being around you, and you say something like that. Why? You know it’s not true.
Hayze looks away.
Hayze: I’m not sure if it is or not.
Blair: What? Of course, it is. If that’s…
Hayze: Huh?
Blair: If that’s what you think of her… what do you think of me? What do you think of Aaron? What do you think of all of the people in our class?
Hayze stops walking, and Blair follows suit.
Blair: Is… is something wrong?
Hayze: I’m sorry, it’s just I’ve been alone all of my life. My parents died when I was little, my grandparents went overseas, and I didn’t have any friends because I was weak. So, I’ve never known what it’s like to have people like me, so I always assume people hang around me because of circumstances rather than because they want to. So, I’m sorry, but that’s always how I’ve been.
Blair is taken aback.
Blair: (I was alone when I was growing up too, but at least I had my family to support me. I guess I never thought of that when it comes to Hayze… I’ve admired him all this time because of who he is and what he does, but I’ve never taken the time to wonder why he is the way he is...) Well… I’m here because I want to be here with you, okay?
Hayze: Okay.
Hayze smiles at Blair.
Hayze: Hey, Blair?
Blair: Yeah, Hayze?
Hayze: I like your tits.
Blair’s eyes open WIDE. She then faints.
Hayze: Blair!
Hayze runs over to Blair.
Hayze: Blair? Are you okay? Jesus Christ, Eve! You said that would make her happy!
Walker inspects the construction of the new dorms U.A. is building.
Walker: (I can’t believe next year I have to play den father to my class…)
Fatal comes walking up behind Walker.
Fatal: I didn’t expect you to be here.
Walker: I’m watching my future hell be constructed before my eyes.
Fatal: Our students are 18 now. They’re adults; it’s not like we’re going to be babysitting.
Walker: I know that. I’m more frustrated that it came to this… I’m the reason this is happening.
Fatal: What? No, you’re not! This was a decision made by everyone that heads U.A.
Walker: It was technically, but you and I both know that this is a requirement at this point. Kevin, Justus, and Silver were attacked just two days ago by Ivan’s henchman. Our students, my students, are the targets of Ivan’s plans far too often. We’re doing this to protect them because I haven’t done a good enough job of that myself.
Fatal: I know you’re still hung up about what happened back in the forest, but-
Walker: Don’t even try to swing that night to be anything but an indictment against me. His blood still hasn’t dried off my hands. I visit his grave every single day.
Fatal looks at Walker with concern.
Fatal: I’ve never seen you beat yourself up over something to this degree. You aren’t letting this go.
Walker: I failed, Rachel. I’ve gotten lucky that none of the students have been kidnapped or killed.
Fatal opens her mouth to speak, but Walker cuts her off.
Walker: I know what you’re going to say: 16 out of 20 of them made the final round of the Sports Festival, they’ve been referred to on multiple occasions as one of the most talented classes this school has ever seen, and not a single one of them failed the Final Exam. I’m aware of their successes, but that doesn’t change that my personal failures as a teacher have shined much brighter. They shouldn’t need the walls of this school to protect them. They should be doing that on their own.
Fatal: You should… you should talk to someone, Damien. You know I did.
Walker turns away from Fatal.
Fatal: That night was anything but forgettable. After the students left for their internships, I took a leave of absence to get my head straight, which took months.
Walker: I’m aware.
Fatal: You have it worse than I did, and I know you’re the type to repress your emotions and feelings and not let them show. If you’re not over what happened that night, you should get some help because you’re doing an excellent job with these students, and I want you to believe that.
Walker starts to leave.
Fatal: Damien, don’t walk away!
Walker: I’m fine.
Fatal: I don’t think you are…
Blair wakes up. She’s on top of the mountain Hayze and Fatal trained on before the Entrance Exam.
Blair: Huh? Hayze?
Blair spots Hayze. His eyes are red, and he’s pointing his arm outward. His palm starts to glow like magma, and a grenade fire pin appears out of his inner forearm. He grabs the pin.
Hayze: Now!
Hayze pulls the pin; instead of an attack firing, an explosion engulfs Hayze in smoke, sending him flying backward.
Blair: Hayze!
Blair comes running to Hayze’s aid. However, he quickly picked himself back up without noticing her.
Hayze: (I’ve worked with concentrated internal power before with my lightning quirk, but this is different. That’s a basic attack. This is like jamming six dynamite sticks in my arm and trying to maintain control of the explosion.)
Blair: Uh… are you alright?
Hayze: Huh? Oh, Blair! I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ve trained harder than this.
Blair: You have? When?
Hayze: During the internship.
Blair: You trained during the internship?
Hayze: Uh… yeah! The hero I was interning with was really strict and wanted me to get stronger every day!
Hayze nervously laughs. Blair looks around.
Blair: Where are we?
Hayze: This is a small mountain not far off from my house. It’s where I trained for the Entrance Exam way back in the day and ever since.
Blair: Wow…
Hayze: I figured I’d just carry you here since you were out cold. Anyway, you wanted to work on shaping, right?
Blair: Hold up! You carried me?
Blair’s eyes light up.
Blair: Princess style?
Hayze: Piggyback.
Blair falls to her knees in defeat.
Blair: *groans* So… what was it you were just working on?
Hayze: Oh, a new ultimate move I was looking to try.
Blair: It looks like it’s far from ready.
Hayze: Yeah… I didn’t expect to have it down before the Showcase. Oh well. But like I was saying, you want to learn fire shaping, right?
Blair gets to her feet.
Blair: Right!
Hayze creates a fire arrow that floats just above his hand.
Hayze: I struggled to shape my flames, so Tara created the fire bow for me to launch these arrows because making a “stick” out of the fire is simple. So we can start here.
Blair: Okay!
Blair holds out her hand and starts secreting lava. She levitates the lava upward but can’t shape it in the slightest. It just continues oozing.
Blair: *groans*
Hayze: Well… I did say your quirk might not be able to do this. Although that does give me an idea…
Blair: Wh- like what?
Hayze: Saige told me you figured out your own unique fighting style during the Final Exams. Was she lying? She does that… a lot.
Blair: No! She wasn’t! When I was fighting the bird guy and the scythe girl, I realized that my lava works as a fantastic defense against an impenetrable wall that scorches anything that tries passing through it. That old saying, “The best defense is a good offense,” comes to mind. I figured out that I have a way of protecting myself beyond just my armor and that my lava works too. I’m a defensive fighter.
Hayze thinks for a moment.
Hayze: Okay, I think we should add to your defensive-offense arsenal.
Ewing pours himself a glass of whiskey. He takes the glass and looks out the window of his office. The lights from the upcoming Showcase Festival are flickering below. He looks out at the horizon as the sun begins to set.
Ewing: (Did I make the right choice today? Should I really be encouraging Aster to annihilate the second-years? I don’t know, we both had our reasons for disagreeing, but I have to do what’s best for this school. Ivan… I failed you, you were my student, and I could not see that you were going down this dark path. There are things I wish I could take back.)
A flashback begins. Iota is looking out at a lake; behind him is a cabin in the middle of the wilderness.
Iota: I had an idea of what a hero should be, and I had a hero I looked up to that I wanted to be like.
Ewing: You mean Colossus?
Iota’s eyes narrow.
Iota: Yes, Colossus.
Ewing: It’s not every day that someone who aspires to be like Colossus takes on this job.
Iota clenches his fist.
Iota: Well… my perspective changed.
Ewing stares at Iota for a moment.
Ewing: Alright… Well, I’ll be on my way now. Goodbye, Ivan.
Iota: Thank you, Teacher…, for everything.
Ewing smiles.
Ewing: You’re welcome.
The flashback ends. Ewing clenches the glass so hard it shatters.
Ewing: (All the signs were there, and I ignored them. I may have failed you, but I won’t fail this school and all of the students inside it. Once you see Aster in action, you’ll know that U.A. isn’t a place you can just push around and beat down. You’ll come for the Gamma Ring someday… and when that day comes, I will correct my failure and bring you to justice.)
Saige: You should be more careful with glass, grandfather.
Ewing turns around to see Saige standing in his office doorway.
Ewing: Saige? You- you actually are here to see me?
Saige: It’s been a long time, but I think we should talk.
Ewing: You think so, Saige? You’ve been back in town for 5 months now, and these are the first words you’ve spoken to me since then.
Saige: Excuse me for needing time to forgive someone.
Ewing: Y- you’ve never gotten over it… really?
Saige: Oh, I’ve been over it, and I’ve never been mad at you, but the problem is that the sight of you reminds me of everything I had to go through the last nine years. I didn’t come to U.A. until another person like me emerged. But recently, I realized that I’m holding on to things I shouldn’t be, such as my dismay for you. So, I apologize for not giving you the light of day. It’s unfair to pin my emotional trauma all on you.
Ewing: Saige, I’m the one who should be sorry. I wasn’t angry towards you; I was mad at myself. I always have been.
Saige: You gave me this life. Just because there were some big negatives doesn’t mean I’m not thankful. So, thank you.
Ewing: Y- you’re thanking me?
Saige: Yes, because I’m tired of pretending I’m happy with where I am. I wear a mask to cover up that I’m still in pain over the psychological distress I felt during my adolescence. I’m still me, but I’m not going to pretend anymore. If I want something, I’m not just going to slyly maneuver my way toward it. I’m going to fight for it. I’m doing things for myself now. I want to stop being estranged from you; I want to have family members I can rely on again. I want… to move on.
Ewing smiles.
Ewing: I’m happy to hear that, Saige.
Saige: Me too, me too.
As the sun sets, Hayze and Blair finish their training. Many black circular spots where lava burned against the rock surrounding them.
Blair: Wow, that was a great idea! I’ll be sure to use that during the Showcase!
Hayze: Yeah… it’s good to have you on the team.
Blair sits down, exhausted.
Blair: Thanks for your help today, Hayze…
Hayze: Any time, we’ve got a whole summer to improve before the start of our second year.
Hayze sits down next to Blair.
Hayze: Wanna you wanna hear something crazy?
Blair: Huh?
Hayze: I’m going into the match on Sunday believing we’ll win.
Blair: That is… pretty crazy. My Brother is the strongest person I know. He’s not going to go down easy, that’s for sure.
Hayze: I know… but I could have said the same thing about Silver before taking him down at the Sports Festival.
Blair smiles.
Blair: I guess you’re right about that.
Hayze and Blair continue watching the sunset.
Hayze: Well, we should head back before it gets dark.
Blair: Oh… alright.
Hayze and Blair start walking back towards Hayze’s house.
Blair: So when will you tell the others they’re on the team?
Hayze: I told Ash I’d hang out with her for a while on the Festival’s first day. She wanted to talk to me about something.
Blair: L- like what?
Hayze: I don’t know, she seemed really… weird? Nervous? I’m not sure.
Blair: Oh… okay… and what time were you planning on getting to the Festival?
Hayze: Uh… like 10:30?
Blair: Okay, okay… I’ll keep that in mind.
Hayze: What?
Blair: Nothing!
Hayze and Blair continue walking.
Blair: By the way… you haven’t asked what my Brother’s quirk is… why?
Hayze: I don’t need to know. When you’re a hero, you don’t always get to see what you’re going against; I’ll make a plan that will prepare us for many different outcomes… and brush up on my improvisation skills. I like the added challenge.
Blair: (Whatever you say…)
Blair looks up at the setting sun.
Blair: (Today was a good day.)
Later that night, Hayze is lying on his couch.
Hayze: (I’ve got Kevin and Blair… that’s for sure. Kevin’s adrenaline abilities make him the ultimate human battering ram. He’s the sword. Blair’s lava and magma armor control allows her to stop nearly any projectile and burn it to ash; she’s the shield. My quirk’s versatility and range of abilities make me able to adapt to many different situations. I’m our jack of all trades. That leaves three spots left; Ash is an obvious choice. Her quirk’s capability to shut down an opponent from the inside makes them have to be hyper-aware of where she is at all times. She’s the ace in the hole. But that still leaves me with two spots. Karma’s quirk is interesting, but I don’t have a strong enough working relationship with her that I’d feel comfortable taking her into a high-stakes match like this… Zach is powerful, but he overlaps heavily with what Kevin brings to the team. If I want to beat Aster, I need a team that covers as many bases as possible, and if I’m going to lack communication with them, it has to be worth my while in what they bring to the table. Unfortunately, Zach and Karma are my only options, whether I like it.)
Hayze’s doorbell rings.
Hayze: (What? Who could that be at this hour?)
Hayze walks over and opens the door.
Aster: Hello, Hayze.
Hayze: Uh… hey Aster… What brings you here this time of night?
Aster: I’m here to request something of you man-to-man, and I hope you’ll make this easy and just listen to me.
Hayze: That’s an interesting tone to take.
Aster: Don’t let my sister on your team.
Hayze: That ship kind of already sailed…
Aster: Well, then take her off the team.
Hayze: Why?
Aster: I just need you to.
Hayze: I need an explanation first.
Aster: She’s my sister, man. I know what’s best for her.
Hayze: That’s great, but she made it very clear she knows what’s best for her. So unless you have some other reason to give me, I’m sticking by her and-
Aster puts his hand on the doorframe.
Aster: I will beat you into the dirt within two minutes of the match starting. You’ll be defeated so fast it’ll be embarrassing, humiliating on such a level that you’ll be ridiculed by your classmates, your peers, and the whole public. It will be brutal on a level you probably don’t think is possible, but it is. If I were you, I’d go into that arena alone and spare your teammates that devastation. I don’t want my sister to be a part of the massacre, that’s what’s best for her, and you and I know that.
Hayze stares at Aster.
Hayze: Cool.
Hayze slams the door on Aster.