Then

Group two walks single file up the stairs to the training room where group one is waiting anxiously. Keigo holds his smallest feather in his hand, trying to calm his nerves as he brushes through it with his fingertips. "Nervous?" the girl behind him asks, a devious grin on her lips.

"K-kinda," Keigo squeaks. "You?"

"Not really," she says. "I've fought plenty of people before. You plan on fightin', right? I mean, all the novices already wanted to kick your ass before the new trainin' even started, so you've gotta at least put on a show, eh?"

"What? Me? Why?"

"No talking!" the commissioner barks. "Unless you want a trip to the basement!"

Group two is silent for a few moments, all of them paralyzed by the thought of the dungeon. But after her heart beat returns to normal, the girl behind Keigo keeps talking. "It's 'cause someone heard the commissioners talkin' 'bout you. Sayin' you've got potential greater than the rest of us or some stupid shit. You might even graduate early, they said. Personally I don't care all that much, but if I were you, I'd bring your A game."

Keigo nods solemnly as they enter the training room. His eyes immediately fall on Touya, whose face is stone cold. They make quick eye contact, but it's too painful. Keigo stares down at his toes.

"And by the way," the girl continues, playfully punching Keigo's shoulder. "I'm Etsuko. Or, well, I'm Tanzanite. Still getting used to these dumb new names."

"Hawks," Keigo says. "That's mine. And, uh, thanks for the advice."

"Thirty seconds to start!" the commissioner screams. Pretty much everyone has a battle partner, but Keigo drags his feet, stalling. "Twenty eight! Twenty seven!" Keigo looks up, seeing a boy waving him over. Keigo pauses, thinking to himself. He looks like he wants to kill me! What's his quirk? I can't tell just by looking at him. What are my other options? He glances around, not catching any friendly faces. He sighs as he heads over to his opponent. "Three! Two! One! FIGHT!"

The boy, who's hero name is Cascade, grins ear to ear as Keigo steps closer. Cascade is seventeen and has been in the program since he was fourteen; Keigo is fourteen and has been in the program since he was five. In terms of experience, technique, and battle IQ, Keigo definitely has him beat. Cascade dives forward, blade of water shooting out from his hands. Keigo dodges swiftly; his speed was always his greatest strength. He dodges again and again, despite all the ideas of attack running through his mind.

"C'mon, Hawks!" Cascade screams. "Fight me! What, you're scared or something?"

Keigo stays silent, trying to think of a way to win without causing any harm. Pressure points... there's one right below the nose, right? Let's see... Keigo flies one of his thickest feathers out, one with a rough stem, as he flaps his wings to get a height advantage. Cascade grunts, trying to figure out a way to attack. Keigo drops down behind him, ducking out of the way as Cascade goes for a right hook. Keigo, wincing while doing so, whips the stem of the feather at full force right at the nose pressure point, knocking Cascade unconscious.

"I'm so sorry," Keigo says, running over to him. He catches the older boy's limp body with a couple feathers before it can hit the ground. "Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry..." he says.

"One minute, everyone!" the commissioner says. "Nice work, Hawks! First knockout of the session! Keep up the good work!"