Chapter 54: Preparations [4]

The white light of the infirmary shone with clinical intensity. Reiji sat on the stretcher, his torso exposed, calmly watching as Recovery Girl reviewed his latest X-rays and blood test reports. Aizawa, arms crossed, stood silently beside Nezu, who flipped through the documents with sharp eyes behind his usual smile.

"Your regeneration... is advanced, yes. But this latest data is anomalous even by your standards," Recovery Girl murmured, without taking his eyes off the graphs.

Reiji tilted his head slightly. "What does that mean?"

"That your cellular tissue is regenerating at a continuous rate, with no apparent damage. As if your body never rests. I'd like to know if you've pushed your Quirk these days. Have you actively used it since the last checkup?"

Reiji stood still. He thought for a moment. He hadn't had any real fights or intense training... but then he remembered the encounters with Himiko. With Mei. The sweat, the racing pulse, the scratches, the bites, and many other things the two of them did to his body in the heat of the moment. The marks disappeared from his skin before they could even settle.

'...Shit.'

"Maybe I used my regeneration... passively," he finally replied, his voice neutral.

Aizawa watched him without blinking, but didn't comment. Recovery Girl pursed her lips as if she didn't want to understand.

Nezu broke the silence with a lively but accurate tone. "Leaving that aside, your tests also showed something curious. Your muscular system has adapted to withstand accelerations and changes of direction equivalent to those of an advanced speed Quirk."

"One like those of speed heroes?" Reiji asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes. But you don't have an active one of that type. Yet. It's likely your body developed it in preparation... perhaps through genetic influence, or a dormant ability. Do you remember that part of your cellular structure had traits similar to those of certain... modified subjects in the past?"

Reiji nodded, aware of what they were referring to without saying it: Nomus. Although that word was never used at U.A.

"Then the same rule still applies," Aizawa added. "Your main Quirk is still prohibited during official events. At least until we know how your physiology reacts under real stress."

"But..." Nezu closed the folder with a light clap, smiling wider than usual. "You'll be able to participate in the sports festival. On equal terms. Under direct supervision, of course."

Reiji raised an eyebrow. "You'll stop me then, Professor Aizawa?"

"Yes. I'll be there. And if you do anything that puts others at risk... I'll get you out of there, no question."

Reiji smiled slightly. "I understand. Thank you," he added honestly; the last thing he wanted was to lose control.

"Good," Recovery Girl concluded, jotting down the latest observations on her digital chart. "For now, you're fine. But if that passive regeneration increases, I want new tests. And more caution. That's not even considering the genetic changes in your body."

"I'll do my best," Reiji replied, though everyone knew that promise was relative.

As he dressed silently, Reiji already felt the world moving toward something inevitable. The festival was approaching. And this time, he wouldn't be able to hide completely.

***

The morning sun fell on the second year's hero training ground. The class had split into pairs for the day's practice: Quirkless close-quarters combat.

In a corner of the field, Himiko Toga tied her hair back in a makeshift ponytail, while Nejire stretched out beside her, rolling her shoulders with her usual energy.

"Ready?" Nejire asked, smiling with her trademark brilliance.

"Always," Himiko replied without hesitation. "Though I reserve the right to complain if you blow me up."

"That would be Quirk only," Nejire replied with a sing-song laugh.

They began practice. Himiko attacked with precision and low movements; Nejire responded with circular maneuvers, avoiding direct contact with natural grace. It was evident they knew each other's rhythms well. Unlike other teams, there was no friction or lack of coordination.

Each collision between them had a rehearsed cadence, like a dance between confidence and defiance. Nejire sometimes grabbed Himiko by the waist to unbalance her; Himiko clung to Nejire's arm with a lopsided smile when she managed to get closer than expected. Between pauses, they leaned on each other to catch their breath, sharing quiet comments, glances that didn't need many words.

From afar, some students commented on how well they worked together. Others just watched, fascinated by the synchronicity they displayed, as if training together was part of a very personal routine. And still others, like Mineta, simply enjoyed the natural beauty they both exuded and dreamed of her becoming his girlfriend.

When the teacher gave the order to change, it took them a few seconds to let go. Nejire brushed a small strand of Himiko's hair that had stuck to her sweaty cheek. Himiko, without reacting with discomfort, gently pushed her shoulder, laughing.

"You're getting mushy, Hado," she joked in a neutral tone, though she didn't move away.

"You're just adorable when you're focused," Nejire replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Himiko said nothing. She only lowered her gaze for a moment… and in the blink of an eye, her body changed. In front of Nejire, Reiji appeared: his firm figure, his relaxed posture, his expression somewhere between indifferent and observant that made him impossible to read. He was identical. But more than a copy, Himiko embodied that aura with a disturbing ease.

She approached without warning, until she was just inches from her. One hand gently rested on Nejire's waist. The other rose to slowly brush a strand of her blue hair away from her forehead.

Nejire didn't move. She maintained her smile, her carefree attitude… but her cheeks flushed with a light blush. Her shoulders tensed slightly. The stiffness was subtle, but undeniable.

"Who looks adorable now?" 'Reiji' asked with a crooked smile, his husky voice electrifying Nejire's entire body. Her blush instantly intensified, rising to her ears, though her expression didn't lose that joyful glow so typical of her.

"Not so close!" she suddenly exclaimed, pushing him away with both hands, more nervous than she cared to admit.

Himiko returned to her normal form with a short laugh, amused by the reaction. The same Nejire who used to invade other people's spaces without a second thought... was now demanding her own.

"You reacted like you liked my brother."

"Don't be silly!" Nejire replied, still holding onto her cheerful sparkle. Though the blush wasn't faint anymore: this time it reached her ears. "He just has... that mysterious air. You know, like he's always hiding something. But don't worry, I'm not planning on stealing him from you."

Himiko didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then, in a calm, undramatic voice, she blurted out:

"If anyone could be with him, it would be you. He'd have a spectacular and extremely pretty sister-in-law!"

"Don't even mention it!" Nejire said, raising both hands in an exaggerated gesture of denial. "Besides, she's two years younger!" She added, as a logical way of denying everything.

"So what? She doesn't look her age anyway." Nejire just looked at her, agreeing with her but saying nothing.

She turned her head away, as if to end the discussion.

"I'm going to do the next practice with Tamaki," she said as she left with a slight blush on her cheeks, leaving Himiko chuckling.

***

The walls vibrated with occasional sparks, blueprints were dangling, tools were whirring. An atmosphere as chaotic as it was alive.

Mei looked up from her workbench at the sound of footsteps. Her smile immediately widened.

"Reiji! And... oh, wow. You brought your trusty little vampire!" Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Are you all sibling-like, or is this a double date with my lab?"

"I just came to make some adjustments to your equipment," Reiji replied without much interest, though he stayed by Himiko's side longer than necessary. "And I wanted you two to get along."

Mei jumped up from her rolling chair. "Get along? After what you told me? I almost adore her!" She approached Himiko with a sincere smile, casually extending her hand. "Do you mind if I check your suit? I don't bite... well, at least not without consent. I'm sure we can handle it."

Himiko narrowed her eyes, not shaking her hand. "Only if you don't try to take more than I already have."

Mei burst out laughing, turning to a screen where she projected Himiko's suit. "Ugh. That's direct. I like it. I can see why Reiji has been having trouble breathing lately."

"Breathing?" Himiko tilted her head gently. "You mean when you had him test that prototype that almost left him without oxygen? It was weird. He came home so... tense."

Mei raised an eyebrow. "It wasn't that bad. Although he did call my name a couple of times. Right, Reiji?"

He snorted softly. "Not in the context you're implying."

"Sure, sure." Mei winked, purposefully annoying Himiko. "Although it was a lovely shared experience. Very intimate. Technical, but intense." She didn't really mind fighting for Reiji, but if she wanted to make it difficult, then she'd have no problem doing it herself.

Himiko didn't respond immediately. She just moved forward and leaned down to look at the 3D model of her suit, avoiding her direct gaze.

"I've had intense experiences with him too. No explosions or gadgets. Sometimes... all it takes is silence to connect."

The sentence floated through the air like a needle through wires.

Mei crossed her arms, still smiling, but her eyes a little more fixed.

"Yes. But it also takes a spark to ignite it. And that, with all due respect, isn't always achieved with silence."

Reiji stepped forward before the exchange could become more pointed, placing a firm hand on Himiko's shoulder.

"Himi... We came to improve your equipment. Not to make innuendos like this was a jealousy war. Mei, the same..."

She exhaled slowly. She didn't seem upset. Just a little disoriented. "It's fine. Just... make sure you don't put weird things on him. He already has enough scars," Himiko exclaimed, relaxing her body a little; it was all too obvious she'd come to stake her territory more than anything else.

"Promise," Mei replied, turning back to her tools. "And don't worry. I don't want to steal him from you. Just leave him for me when I come into this workshop." She emphasized now with much more sincerity; she really didn't care what Reiji did outside the workshop, as long as he stayed alive.

"Don't even think about it," Himiko murmured with a sly smile.

Reiji sighed. Between one woman who drew blood out of affection and another who made him explode for fun... The balance was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

===

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