Colors in the Dark

[19] Buildup

Ayami nervously knocked on the large doors of the TDL (or just Gym Gamma), which immediately were open by a stone-faced Aizawa.

Restraining the urge to jump backwards in fear and scream for whatever the heck was going on, she wordlessly followed her homeroom teacher inside.

"Good, you got the note," he commented before pulling ahead of her. "Shinsou, here's the new training partner I told you about last time!" He called. She curiously followed him onto the entrance platform overlooking the gigantic building, hardly having the time to see the rest of the place.

Training partner? Last time? Shinsou!?

Before the redhead could ask any questions, as she certainly had some, said light-indigo-haired boy appeared in his gym uniform. He didn't seem to be paying much attention before his gaze landed on hers, and his eyes widened. Ayami immediately noticed the scarf around his neck, which closely resembled Aizawa's own.

She was about to ask what in the world was going on, but the Pro Hero's minor glare stopped her. Instead, he explained. "I get it; you're probably confused. While you left for your internships, I began training Shinsou here. I recognized his potential as a hero as well as his dilemma in joining the Hero course. I've been teaching him to master the capture weapon while we came up with equipment to help his quirk, like the Artificial Vocal Chords, which won't change his voice artificially so that the Brainwash effect disappears."

"Aizawa is helping SHINSOU?" Ares' disbelieving red voice was something Ayami resonated with.

"And it seems your little indigo-haired friend took your voice changer idea into consideration," Brizo mused. "I wonder how that's coming along..."

"Well... That's very interesting, but why am I here?" Ayami asked, still shrunken into herself around her teacher.

As always, his charcoal-colored eyes gave nothing away. "You'll see. First, a simple sparring match. Pick from any of your quirks depending on what you think can do the best against the capture weapon."

That moment felt like it slowed down as the spirits hosted a mini-meeting. "Alright everyone, heads together! Let's strategize!" Hecate said.

The spirits came together in a group around Ayami's forehead for added effect as she and Shinsou stepped to face her. "The capture weapon isn't a quirk, and Brainwash vs. Brainwash sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Ares is out!" Ansaluia announced.

The red spirit bristled, but Gaia cut him off quickly. "And my Elements won't have much effect, since having only one at a time is limiting. Too tiresome for a casual fight."

"As usual, my quirk isn't suited for this job," agreed Asclepius, floating a few centimeters away to join the red and orange globs.

"Hurry it up guys," Ayami whispered, about in position to begin.

"I'm no help here either," Ansaluia piped up before pulling Hecate with her.

Prometheus shrugged. "And my senti-creatures won't fare well against brute force."

Brizo and Deimos were the only ones left, but the violet spirit only bowed by ducking down a centimeter before leaving. "And my telekinesis isn't advanced enough to counter a fast-paced weapon in battle. Again, two mind-based quirks against each other is never a good mix. Deimos, this is on you."

Aizawa grunted from the sidelines "In real fights, there is no 'go'!"

Ayami quickly formed the image of her varying amber glow dotted in indigo splashed with Deimos' pink, leaping to the side, away from Shinsou's outstretched capture weapon, as her hair grew pink-tinged, and her body covered in shadows.