Total Command

chapter 68: To Fight the Unbeatable Foe

"Do we have to?"

Mira almost burst out laughing at the soft spark of hope in the voice of her fellow member of the 'Big Three', as they had been labeled. Tamai was never the type to enjoy sparring against actual opponents, after all.

Made her cute in a weird way.

Nozomi made a sound that got even the blonde to shiver at its sheer unnaturalness, something close to a human chuckle, but too high pitched to not unsettle her. "Of course not, but it is part of their exam, and if there is no one to fight, they would get failing grades."

The president's piercing gaze stared right into Tamai's soul. "You wouldn't want to cause your underclassmen to fail now, would you?"

Tamai made a sound that was somewhere between a gasp and a whine, her already drooped shoulders drooping more. "No... that wouldn't be right."

Nejire smiled, patting her friend on the shoulder and pulling her into a hug from behind, giggling at Tamia's usual antics. "C'moooon, don't you wanna show off your quirk? I bet they'll love it."

"It's not as cool as you guys' though- it's gross," Tamai mumbled, eyes drilling a hole in her shoes.

Mira laughed as the two started to pass banter between each other, their personalities forming the most hilarious little ying-yang in her eyes. Then her eyes locked onto the president's and the laughter died in her throat.

The glint in president Nozomi's eyes was the only thing that got her serious. Even with all the training on reading body language she had learned from Nighteye, she could never tell what the miniature president was thinking.

That always put her on edge.

She smiled through the unease, glaring at the mouse-bear-dog thing with no fear evident in her eyes. At least, she hoped none leaked out. "We're more than willing to help with the mid-term examinations. When are we holding the test? And what are the criteria?"

Nozomi did her approximation of a smile, baring her fangs to the three in her office. "They've been... too successful. We all know hero work isn't all butterflies and successful missions- even if we wish they were."

"So..." Nejire muttered, a hyperactive smile beaming through, "we don't need to hold back?"

"All out. Make them feel defeat," Aizawa added, finally talking for the first time since she got to her place on the glass wall next to Nozomi. "Don't worry, that won't affect their scores, how well they fight against unbeatable odds will."

"So no reason to hold back at all?" Nejire whispered, getting even more excited at the prospect.

Oh boy — Mira hummed internally— they really must hate these kids. Or love them too much.

"None," Aizawa assured, a sick smile forming on her face. "It's at eight AM this coming Monday, so be ready."

All three nodded, filing out of the president's office, quickly devolving into banter as they followed the University corridors back to their class.

"But do you really think your quirk is that gross, Amajiki?" Nejire prodded, poking the 22-year-old in the shoulder playfully. "I think it's pretty cool—"

"And didn't he say he thought it was very cool too?"

The shyer, dark-haired woman blushed slightly at the compliment on behalf of the one person that had said it with so much enthusiasm that it had stuck in her head.

"W-why are you talking about hi-him so much recently anyway?" she managed to mumble out under her breath. But that was still enough for both Mira and Nejire to hear.