Chapter 87

Reiji slid backward across the rooftop, his shadows wrapping tightly around his boots to stop his momentum. Bits of debris cracked beneath his soles as he skidded to a halt. His expression didn't shift, but his eyes narrowed slightly, calculating the next move. The air was crisp and thin up here, the faint sounds of the school festival below muffled by distance and wind.

Gentle landed with a cushioned bounce, the elasticity in his legs absorbing the impact. Arms stretched wide for balance, he gave a short breathless chuckle.

"You fight well," Gentle said between breaths, brushing dust from his coat with a flourish. "You've got sharp instincts. Precise, almost professional."

Reiji didn't answer. He didn't need to. His eyes stayed locked on Gentle's movements—every shift in weight, every subtle breath. He wasn't just reacting anymore. He was reading Gentle like a map, noting his patterns, measuring intent. The system fed him tiny updates—movement speed, muscle tension, heat signature—all confirming what his instincts already told him: Gentle wasn't aiming to win through violence.

Gentle bounced into the air again, his coat fluttering from the sudden movement. Using the natural spring of his quirk, he launched toward Reiji with a wide arc. Reiji moved in tandem, already anticipating it. Two tendrils of shadow whipped forward—one coiling for Gentle's midsection, the other arcing upward.

One snagged the tail of Gentle's coat; the other grazed his elbow, forcing him to twist in midair to avoid being bound completely. The coat tore slightly, fluttering down like a discarded petal.

"You're not making this easy," Gentle muttered, landing in a controlled roll. He stood again quickly, adjusting his stance. His voice had lost its showmanship—it was more grounded now, more real.

Reiji's system blinked in his mind with a soft chime:

[Threat Level: Low - Intent: Avoid Contact With Civilians]

Still, he couldn't let Gentle breach the inner barrier. Without hesitation, Reiji surged forward. His shadows flared behind him, sweeping into a crescent formation that drove him faster like a wave of ink in motion. His feet barely touched the ground.

Gentle saw it coming and rebounded his arm against a nearby vent to launch himself into a dodge, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack. The outer edge of Reiji's shadow caught him across the shoulder, and he winced, stumbling slightly before regaining his footing.

"You're holding back just enough," Gentle said with a quick exhale. "I appreciate that. You don't want to hurt me—but you'll stop me. I can see that."

Inside the gym, lights flickered once, briefly dimming the stage. Momo Yaoyorozu paused with her clipboard, looking up.

"Did anyone else see that?"

"Probably the backup generators kicking in," Jiro said, plugging in her guitar and giving it a quick strum. "Hope it doesn't mess with the audio setup."

"Shouldn't," Momo said, scanning the checklist. Her brow furrowed. Her hand lingered near the emergency override panel by instinct. A faint hum vibrated through the floor—barely noticeable, but enough to make her pause.

Behind the curtain, Iida was mid-step when Aizawa walked in briskly, phone pressed to his ear.

"Yes. He's already there," Aizawa said in a low voice. "No, don't panic the students. Let the performance continue."

He lowered the phone and met Present Mic's questioning look.

"Reiji intercepted them."

"He's going solo?" Present Mic's voice softened.

"He knows what he's doing," Aizawa said. "If he needs us, we'll know."

On the rooftop, Gentle exhaled slowly as a thin cut opened along his arm. His coat, once pristine, was already fraying at the edge. Reiji's attacks had grown faster and more refined. Gentle could tell this wasn't just about duty anymore—Reiji was testing him.

La Brava watched anxiously from behind a rooftop vent, her fingers wrapped tightly around her laptop. She kept glancing between the screen and Gentle.

He looked tired. His movements still had grace, but the rhythm was off. She knew him well enough to see it.

Memories stirred in her mind: Gentle walking alone, filming with a smile no one returned. Picking up trash no one thanked him for. Talking to the camera with passion, even when no one listened. And when he told her that night:

"Even if the world looks away, we can still leave a trace."

Her chest tightened. Her throat felt dry. The image of him walking alone, coat fluttering, trying again and again for a spotlight that never came—it haunted her.

"I'm not letting them forget you. Not now."

Her hand moved.

"Gentle! I'm using it now!"

His eyes snapped toward her. "La Brava, wait—"

[La Brava's Quirk: LOVE – ACTIVATED]

A pinkish pulse shimmered out from her laptop, subtle but powerful. Gentle's body straightened. His frame glowed faintly. The tiredness in his limbs seemed to vanish. His shoulders relaxed. His heartbeat steadied. The support wasn't just physical—it was emotional.

Reiji's system reacted at once, flashing red with a subtle buzz in his mind:

[ALERT: Sudden Power Surge Detected. Threat Level: Increased]

Reiji's feet braced as his shadows curled tighter around him. He didn't blink.

"This isn't about causing trouble," Gentle said, voice now clear and grounded. "It's about standing for something when no one else will."

Reiji's tone remained calm. "Then let's see if your belief is stronger than mine."

In the blink of an eye, Gentle vanished.

Reiji's instincts fired. He turned just in time to see a rooftop panel shatter as Gentle rebounded off it with enhanced strength. Reiji's shadow barrier leapt up like a wall, deflecting part of the charge—but Gentle broke through the edge.

They collided midair. It was silent. The sheer force of movement robbed the rooftop of sound. Reiji twisted with the momentum and kicked off Gentle's chest, landing in a roll while shadows danced wildly around him. Dust spiraled up around their feet.

Far below, U.A.'s internal alert system blinked quietly. Red indicators flared on monitors. Teachers and staff leaned in over control panels.

"Do we send support?" one guard asked.

Aizawa stood with arms folded, eyes fixed on the map.

"Give him time. He's still in control."

"And if he loses control?" the guard asked.

"Then we act. But not a second before."

Back on the rooftop, Reiji crouched, one hand pressed to the cracked tiles. His breath was sharp now, measured.

Gentle floated across from him, posture still composed, but now visibly glowing with La Brava's quirk. His silhouette seemed more solid—every movement charged with purpose.

He glanced briefly toward La Brava, offering her the smallest of smiles. Then he turned back.

"One more move," Gentle said. "I get to the gym, and we share our message. If I can't—then we're done. No drama."

Reiji's shadows began to swell again, forming a dome-like perimeter behind him. The air around him tensed.

His system prompted:

[Final Phase Activated – Defensive Mode Recommended]

He exhaled slowly, gaze steady.

"Alright. Let's finish this."

Gentle smiled—not with arrogance, but with acceptance. Then, with a faint push, he blurred forward—

To be continued.

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