Total Command

Chapter 71: There is so much beyond our scope

"Well, we are fucked."

Saiko groaned, making Momo huff as both women looked at the gigantic metal doors of the test area. Saiko's usually valiant and proud posture slumped, even the capture weapon around her neck seeming to lose its volume.

The Creation Hero slumped too, taking in the sheer impossibility of the task at hand. "Have you already given up?"

"Just about," Saiko mumbled back, before puffing her chest out and starting to stretch.

Momo slowly noticed that she had never truly taken in Saiko's hero costume.

A modified white trench coat hugged her body tightly, showing off her womanly curves and muscles at the same time, but the fabric stretched with her every move unlike any Momo had seen used in such a garment before. Tight black pants with tall white combat boots that ended just under her knees, a monocle that glinted unnaturally even in the shade, and a white beret completed the look.

And then Momo noticed the slight glint of a thermos, tucked in a harness in the small of her back, hidden by her long slate-blue hair.

She winced slightly, noticing how the taller woman's hair and scarf seemed to go around each other, almost like the slightest tug would yank her hair more than anything else. "Doesn't your hair get in the way of the capture weapon?"

"It certainly looks like that, true. But it actually doesn't particularly get in the way," she replied, smiling cryptically. "If anything, it tends to confuse my opponents."

For a moment Momo was reminded of Aizawa, looking at that smile."Huh. Good to know."

"Aren't you cold in your suit?"

Momo blinked, remembering she was wearing what amounted to a swimsuit with massive holes cut into it, then blushed slightly. "Not particularly, which might be due to my quirk. My fat stores are altered compared to other people, making them more insulated. At least, that's my current hypothesis."

"Interesting..."

Momo shook off what little anxiety and shyness had built up in her, looking back at the tall doors in front of them. "Also..."

Saiko looked at her from the corner of her eye, thinking something similar. "You have a plan?"

"Oh, most definitely."

"So, you fight her and I sneak by?"

Izuku chuckled heartily at the simple plan, barely taking in the exaggerated pouting pose Tooru gave in return. Her fists were balled tightly, arms seemingly crossed over her chest as she made just the quietest little whine, the kind people only ever make while their lips are forced into a pout.

"D̖id ̫y̦o-͇"

Hush, you had your line. He felt Nana grumble in the back of his head as he cut her off, his smile not yet leaving his lips.

With a sigh, he ruffled Tooru's hair, the woman cooing at the affectionate gesture before she could help herself.

"As confidence-boosting as your belief that I could take the number five pro hero is, I doubt I could pull that off yet ."

"I find that hard to believe," Tooru hummed, leaning into the contact some more. "But then... how do we do this? You said you had a plan..."

"It's more of a... gamble, than anything else." Izuku admitted, making the invisible girl gulp audibly. "We can't sneak by, Miruko's ears aren't just for show, after all."

"And I doubt I could help you out in a head-on battle..."

Tooru shivered as the look in Izuku's eyes shifted, cold and calculating for a moment. The next, that look had slipped away, warmth and determination replacing it and filling those green eyes she'd grown to be attached to. "You're selling yourself too short, little Specter."