Later, back in their home, someone punches a punching bag hanging in the main hangout area of the home. Killian swings and strikes over and over, quickly, without stopping as he sweats. Saika crouches close by and watches closely with examining eyes.
"What're you doing?" Saika asks.
"Training." Killian responds, staying focused.
"Why? Aren't you strong enough? You're like one of the strongest people in our group." Saika asks as Killian slams his fist into the bag, stopping. He chuckles a bit before looking at his partner.
"I am just a man after all." He says with a smile before continuing. "Tomorrow we start our training with the Directors. Us specifically with Teach. Beyond that, as a Vanguard, I need to be able to protect innocent lives and you, my Hunter. I'll never be strong enough. I don't have any special powers or tricks. Just my body. And if I can make that just a bit better, then I should."
Killian explains as Saika watches with wide eyes. He then jumps up with a big smile and an encouraging look.
"Okay then! I'll make sure to keep you in your best shape. Come on, Killian! Keep going, harder! Yeah, just like that!" Saika shouts as Killian blushes a bit and stops, noticing the others looking their way.
"Uhhh… maybe choose different wording..?" Killian says awkwardly.
Dante smirks, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at them as he and Alston go back to talking. Yoko sits on a counter, watching them with a soft smile on their face when Tadashi approaches them.
"You seem to be feeling better." He says casually. Yoko is a bit surprised before smiling anxiously.
"You think?.." they ask softly. Tadashi glances up at them from the side before looking ahead.
"No." he says. Yoko looks at him as he keeps his gaze forward. "For someone with no recollection of their past, your lack of concern bothers me." Tadashi says directly as Yoko looks a little upset. Tadashi's gaze and body relax ever so slightly as he exhales a bit.
"All I want is to protect my friends. Your hazy past creates opportunity for danger. I don't want you to think you're not welcome here, everyone seems to like you, so I will too." He says before looking at her softly. "But please. If there's anything in your past I should know about, tell me now." Tadashi says clearly but softly. Yoko looks a bit conflicted before shaking their head.
"I-I'm sorry… I don't know anything.." They almost whisper. Tadashi looks at them for a moment before looking away. Yoko then smiles a bit awkwardly and looks at him. "Well, anyway. I need to talk to Wolf, do you know where she is?" Yoko asks. Tadashi nods and points outside.
"She's training, I think." He says.
"Thanks, bogey!" Yoko says with a sweat and a smile before hopping off the counter and walking towards the door.
"Yoko." Tadashi calls out, stopping them as they turn around. "Everything will be alright. Trust me." He says as Yoko looks a bit surprised before getting an upset look and continuing on their way outside.
Outside, Wolf sweats and pants as she looks frustrated. She presses her hands together tightly before slowly and with great effort, pulling them apart, generating bright purple electricity between them. She holds before shaking a bit then breaking, throwing her arms out as the electricity bursts out. Wolf winces in pain as she shakes her hand out.
"Ow, fuck!"
She shouts before growling and throwing a small rock on the ground at a much larger one that is destroyed by the impact. Wolf looks at it before throwing her head back with a frustrated groan. Yoko watches as Wolf looks down and sighs, her eyes expressing deep frustration. Unsure of how to comfort her, Yoko speaks softly.
"Why try so hard if you're already so strong? Isn't more power a good thing?" Yoko asks. Wolf looks at them surprised before looking away with an angry look.
"No, it's not. And it pisses me off that none of the teachers will help me with my powers. I've asked them over and over, but it's always brushed aside or made not to be a big deal. 'Just practice like your other power, like the others do, you'll get the hang of it.' Yet I'm no closer to controlling my powers than I was yesterday and the day before that and before that."
Wolf says with a huff as she paces around, fuming with anger. Yoko stares for a moment before speaking again.
"I get that. But that isn't why you're trying so hard." Yoko says softly. Wolf looks at them before smirking and lowering her head.
"Yeah, you're right. The truth is, I'm scared." Wolf admits. Yoko's eyes widen a bit as she speaks. "I've always been scared of my power. So scared I'm gonna hurt someone I care about, scared of the fact I already have. I know I'm strong, I always have been, and that scares me. Now I have a whole new power, even more power, and even less control. I've only used it when I just let go without any care, but that's dangerous. What if I go too far? How many people will I hurt if I keep letting go?" Wolf asks as the anxiety weighs down on her mind. Yoko watches and progressively gets more upset looking as Wolf sighs and turns around. "Whatever. It's not your problem, nor do I wanna make it yours. I'll figure it out." Wolf says as Yoko clenches their fist. They stand in silence for a moment before Yoko suddenly relaxes a bit. They open their fists and lower their shoulders as they breathe in subtly.
"Wolf." Yoko says as Wolf turns to face them. "If anyone's stronger than me, it's you. You'll get through this." Yoko says with a soft smile before suddenly lunging forward and wrapping their arms around her neck. Wolf's eyes widen as Yoko presses their lips against hers. They hold for a moment before Phoenix steps outside.
"Wolfy, did you want me to make you somethin-" She says before stopping at the sight before her. Her eyes grow wide as she dashes up to them instantly with a light trail of her flame energy behind her and yanks Yoko back, stepping between them.
"Yoko! What are you doing??" Phoenix asks, shocked and a little aggressive before realizing and softening her stance and tone. "You can't just do that. You gotta be careful who you kiss, cause people might think-"
Before Phoenix could finish speaking, all flustered and emotional, Yoko takes off in the opposite direction in a full sprint with their head hanging low. Phoenix watches for a moment before getting a saddened look. Just then, she turns around and gets an upset look at Wolf.
"Wolf! Why'd you let that happen? You know they're not smart enough to realize what they're doing! Were you just trying to take advantage of them?" Phoenix asks accusingly. Wolf looks shocked and upset by her words.
"What? Why would you ask that? I don't know what they were doing! We were just talking and then…" Wolf argues back as her words trail off as Yoko runs away.
As they run with their head low, tears start rolling down Yoko's face, so they bring their hands up over their eyes, but that doesn't stop the tears. They cry more and begin to sob openly as their running slows and gets sloppy, struggling to stay in a straight line as they sob uncontrollably by themself.
The next day, Wolf and Phoenix walk down the hall with Moshiro and Yoko behind them. Phoenix looks upset with Wolf as Yoko looks tired. Moshiro looks at them from the corner of her eye and looks unsure.
Subtly, Moshiro moves her hand over to grab Yoko's but, surprised and in instant response, Yoko pulls their hand away, looking away. Moshiro is surprised for a moment before her look hardens and she looks forward, obviously a little upset by the act.
"…but monsters, magic, aliens, cryptids. That stuff doesn't actually exist, right?" Saika asks as the others leave the class led by Floppy.
"Magic exists." Alston says as Saika looks at her with a squint.
"Yeah, but that's Base Reception." Saika says.
"How far off would ghosts be from cryptids? We just learned ghosts were real, remember Crystal?" Killian brings up with a smile.
"The only things on this planet are Torn, villains, and people with Type powers. Ghosts are closer to a lingering human soul, I wouldn't classify them as anything more." Tadashi says clearly.
"Yeah. Still, some Myth Types could be seen as monsters." Dante says as he waves to the other group before walking away with Tadashi and Floppy. Cole stops as Alston smiles an excited smile at Wolf.
"Isn't this so exciting? Training with the Directors! I'm so hyped." Alston says happily as Wolf smiles back.
"Yeah, I guess so." She says as Alston smiles and walks off with Cole, following the others.
"Hey, try not to do anything dramatic out there, yeah?" Killian says to Wolf, who smirks in response.
"Hey, you're the one who always causes problems with your sense of duty." Wolf says back, offering her hand to Killian. He smirks back before slamming their hands together tightly.
"Be safe, you guys. This might seem like all fun, but it's a real mission." Killian says to them with a serious look but a smile on his face.
"Hey, we'll be fine. These missions will be over before we know it. It's not like the Directors are gonna take us on some huge, world ending trip." Wolf says as Killian chuckles a bit at her words, letting go of her hand.
"Yeah! And when we all get back, we should throw a big party to celebrate our growth!" Saika says happily as the others smile and nod at the idea.
Then out comes Angie and Ivailia from the class with Teach behind them. Ivailia looks at them and smiles before putting her hand to her chin and extending it forward then making an L shape with her fingers before pressing her thumb between her index and middle fingers extended out, saying 'Good luck!' Angie gives a smile and a nod too as them along with Killian and Saika walk off. Teach looks at Wolf and wags his finger at her.
"Now be on your best behavior. I don't want you making it harder for them than it needs to be. Show them how much you've grown here." He pokes her chest a couple times as Wolf smiles and nods, suddenly filled with determination. Teach then shifts his attention to Phoenix and Moshiro.
"You two, I don't need to worry about. But keep an eye on this one." Teach says while lifting Yoko's chin a bit. "They seem a little anxious, so give them encouragement. And you'll do just fine." He says while patting Yoko on the head before walking off with a slight wave.
"Alright, last group, come on." Nobody says as they enter the classroom. There they see Axe and Komori standing across from Nobody and Nazuna. "I hope you came prepared. You have a long trip ahead of you, and it's gonna be cold out there." Nobody says as the group nods.
"I'm looking forward to teaching you kids! Trust me, this will be quite the exciting mission." Komori says to them with a big smile.
"Yeah, something along the lines of reconnaissance and retrieval." Axe says as Wolf's eyes go dull.
"Huh?" Wolf voices. She then looks upset. "What?? Not a villain mission or like a Torn attack or something?" She asks.
"Wolf, there's more to being a hero than beating up bad guys and Torn." Nazuna says as Wolf pouts.
"I know… but still…" Wolf mumbles. Nazuna then smiles and claps her hands together.
"Okay! Let's give you guys a quick rundown of the mission you'll be joining Axe and Komori on!" Nazuna says happily as she explains. As she does, Nobody stares at Axe. After a moment, Nobody speaks up, interrupting Nazuna.
"The Academy stands for protecting the innocent people of this world. Whether that be wandering around helping citizens or stopping Torn and villains and arresting them. In District Courts or bringing them back here. Now, were the villains put in the cells before or after the monsters and cryptids in there?" Nobody asks as Nazuna elbows him with a scowl. The kids look surprised by his question as Axe looks at him before answering with a blank stare.
"We don't arrest people without reason. Let alone things that aren't there." Axe says plainly.
"Right, right. But as a Director, I imagine you embody that sentiment more than anyone. Surely your focus is on protecting people above all else, right?" Nobody asks again as they stare at each other intensely. Komori looks over and answers instead.
"Yes. Protecting lives is the number one priority. Now we should get going. Don't want the others to show us up." Komori says with a smile as she leads the students out of the classroom. Wolf watches as she looks back at the two staring at each other before Axe eventually follows, closing the door behind them.