"When Momo said she was rich, I honestly thought she was exaggerating... perhaps just a little," Toru murmured in profound bewilderment, her invisible form seemingly vibrating with astonishment as she stared, utterly dumbfounded, at the HUGE mansion towering majestically in front of them. It was a sprawling, opulent estate that defied all reasonable expectations of personal property. "When she said her house was 'big,' I envisioned a modest mansion or perhaps a sprawling estate... BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! IT'S LITERALLY THE SIZE OF MY ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD!"
Lena nodded absentmindedly at Toru's dramatic outburst, her own eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief as she looked around the meticulously manicured grounds. There was no doubt that the mansion easily caught the eye with its sheer scale and architectural grandeur, but Lena couldn't help but stare, utterly captivated, at the other two distant, equally imposing structures within the estate, their purpose still a mystery. "And that's not even to mention the gigantic, ornate entrance that looked like a freaking national park gate, complete with intricate landscaping."
"It must be as vast as U.A.'s campus itself," Kyoka commented, her voice hushed with a rare sense of wonder, before she heard some hurried footsteps approaching the mansion's immense gate, drawing their attention. "So, this is what one of the richest families in the world buys for their residence, huh? It's simply staggering."
The enormous gate slowly, silently swung open, revealing an unusually, almost radiatingly, happy Momo Yaoyorozu. She seemed to emit a bright, almost blinding aura that would easily outshine the sun itself, an ethereal glow of pure joy that hit them like a benevolent death ray. Only instead of death, it brought a wave of pure happiness and the metaphorical scent of blooming flowers. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
"Welcome, everyone!" Momo exclaimed with a wide, radiant smile that immediately made them adore her like a trio of loyal puppies, their initial awe melting into affection. The sheer power of her aura, her unadulterated happiness, was truly terrifying in its intensity. "Come in, don't be shy at all! Make yourselves at home!"
'She's far too powerful in her happiness!' I thought, inwardly cringing, as I instinctively covered my eyes with my hands, desperately trying to avoid her contagious, overwhelming aura, but to no avail. Her joy was an irresistible force. 'Sorry, Dad... I've lost this fight against overwhelming cheerfulness...'
We followed Momo through the mansion's giant, opulent corridors, which were exquisitely and meticulously decorated with priceless art and antique furniture. It was a little scary, honestly, to think about how astronomically expensive everything was, and what might happen if we accidentally messed up even a tiny bit, or touched something irreplaceable. But Momo, sensing our apprehension, simply reassured us, saying not to worry about a thing.
As we walked, we talked about various things: what each of us wanted to train for, the specific skills we aimed to improve, and the different ideas we had in mind for the upcoming U.A. Sports Festival. Our conversation mainly revolved around theorizing about what the preliminary trials might be, as it was well known that every year, the trials were chosen randomly, always a surprise.
After walking around for a few minutes, navigating the seemingly endless hallways, we finally arrived at a huge, cavernous training room.
They literally had everything you could possibly imagine and more. There were some advanced machines that I had never even seen in my life, and I was pretty sure they were state-of-the-art, bleeding-edge technology, far beyond anything found in public gyms. The room itself was thoughtfully divided into three distinct parts: there was a space dedicated to energy drinks, as well as protein shakes and healthy food options; a spacious area specifically designed for sparring and combat practice; and another section where all the incredibly advanced training machines were meticulously arranged.
There was also some discreet staff spread around the place, moving silently in the background, possibly to protect Momo from any unforeseen nonsense, or perhaps merely to provide assistance with the equipment.
Since we were already dressed in our comfortable training attire, we decided to start right away, eager to begin our rigorous preparation. But not before meticulously stretching and warming up slightly, ensuring our bodies were adequately prepared for the intense workout, preventing any potential injuries.
While we're on the subject, I have to say that Momo literally possessed the perfect body, a figure straight out of a hentai manga – every curve, every proportion, was impeccably, almost artistically, defined.
Lena was a little surprised, though she tried to hide it, to see the unexpectedly generous assets Toru had cleverly hidden beneath her loose-fitting clothes. Sure, they weren't as colossal as Momo's, but they were pretty close to my own, a delightful surprise.
And Kyoka's small, yet perfectly rounded, butt was simply exquisite, a subtle beauty in its proportions.
Then Lena stopped to think, a sudden, almost philosophical, internal query. 'Um... I don't find boys particularly attractive... but girls do... that's definitely one thing to investigate later, a new facet of my own self to explore.'
Leaving aside the burgeoning doubt of Lena's sexuality for a moment, Toru and Kyoka were a bit lost about what precisely to do. They had never been to such a sophisticated gym before, and although they had a vague idea of what typical exercises involved, they didn't know for sure how to utilize this advanced equipment.
Momo, ever the organized leader, proposed that we work out in pairs.
Lena was paired with Kyoka, and Toru was paired with Momo.
We structured our training this way mainly to ensure that each pair was performing the exercises correctly and safely, preventing any injuries in the process. It also allowed us to closely observe their individual limits in the various exercises and take mental notes for our next training session.
Unfortunately, we all knew that in just two short weeks, the results of our training wouldn't be miraculously transformative, but it was undoubtedly better than doing nothing at all. And it would certainly give Kyoka a much clearer idea of what kind of rigorous physical training we would be doing after the Festival, setting expectations for the future.
And so, we all began to exercise with renewed determination.
As Kyoka expressed her desire to strengthen her body in general, Lena recommended a variety of exercises, a comprehensive regimen. Not knowing how long Kyoka could realistically last exercising at such an intense level, Lena didn't demand too much from her initially, but from time to time, she would subtly ask her to do a few more repetitions, gently pushing her limits.
Surprisingly, Kyoka performed quite well. She seemed to possess a naturally athletic body type, even if it was currently a bit out of shape from lack of consistent training.
'This will certainly make things easier for her progress,' Lena thought, a quiet satisfaction settling over her as she diligently performed her own exercises. While she might be supervising and correcting Kyoka to ensure she executed the exercises correctly, that didn't mean Lena herself was standing around idly like a mere spectator.
The real surprise came when Kyoka told Lena about her ingenious idea to train her Quirk, a plan Lena hadn't anticipated.
Lena originally thought it would be something straightforward, perhaps just to amplify her sound power, making it louder or more concussive. But nope.
It turned out that Kyoka wanted to actively train the thin, flexible wires of her earphone Jacks to function as a kind of dynamic whip, a versatile combat tool. Apparently, she could stretch her Jacks up to six meters long at most, providing a surprising reach advantage.
This was primarily because Kyoka didn't know how to fight hand-to-hand combat effectively, and she certainly didn't have the body type or, more critically, the time to learn and master it before the festival. So, she opted for this slightly risky, yet potentially very effective, idea.
'Um... this could actually be incredibly interesting and innovative,' Lena thought with a mischievous smile, recognizing the unique potential. 'I should definitely ask Momo if she has an instructor specializing in close-quarters combat or whip techniques; that would be immensely helpful for Kyoka.'
"Phew..." I slumped down onto my couch at home with a satisfied sigh, the cushions embracing me in their comforting softness. The physical exertion of the day's training, while tiring, had left me feeling invigorated and accomplished.
I had returned home after the intense training session with the girls. I may have lingered a bit longer than I originally intended, enjoying the luxurious massage room at Momo's mansion, but those were merely minor, delightful details in an otherwise productive day.
Staring at the ceiling for a moment, allowing my mind to drift, I took a deep, steady breath before abruptly jumping up from the couch, a renewed sense of purpose filling me, and heading directly to the basement.
Turning on the light with a flick of the switch, I could see a large, sprawling basement, neatly divided into three distinct sections. Well, perhaps it was more accurate to say everything was conveniently separated into three designated corners rather than formal sections, giving it a more organized, yet still lived-in, feel.
The first area housed Dad's supercomputer, a gleaming, powerful machine surrounded by various strange, experimental devices and numerous complex machines, all humming softly with dormant power. Then, there was a small, padded sparring space, clearly designed for combat practice. And finally, in the furthest corner, stood the ominous, yet familiar, capsule.
Taking a sharp intake of breath, bracing myself, I turned on the capsule's internal systems before stepping inside and meticulously closing the heavy door behind me, sealing myself within its confines.
The place was noticeably dusty, and some old furniture lay scattered around, forgotten relics of a past life. At least the internal lights were still working, which, considering the age and disuse of the capsule, was nothing short of a small miracle.
'I still don't like this place... not one bit,' I thought, a familiar shiver running down my spine. The air felt heavy, tinged with old memories and lingering anxiety.
The primary reason the capsule hadn't been dismantled and removed was its vital function as a life insurance policy, a critical backup in case the Slipstream device ever completely broke or unexpectedly failed. In such a catastrophic scenario, Dad would simply have to get me inside its protective confines to stabilize my temporal condition and then meticulously fix the Slipstream so I could safely get back out, anchored once more to reality.
Taking another sharp intake of breath to calm my rapidly growing nerves, I walked to the very center of the capsule and sat cross-legged on the cold, metallic floor before meticulously closing my eyes. The place smelled a little damp, a faint mustiness clinging to the air, but it was no big deal, easily ignored.
I began to concentrate intently on my breathing, slowing it down, making it deep and rhythmic, and simultaneously focusing on the steady, reassuring pulse of my own heartbeat.
Gradually, every external sound, every distracting thought, every lingering worry, slowly faded away, disappearing into the vast silence, leaving me alone in the infinite darkness of my inner world.
I could feel the same strange, ethereal sensation that permeated every single cell within my body, a pervasive feeling of being completely submerged in water, yet without actually being physically wet. This peculiar sensation, I now understood, was none other than my raw, unbound energy, the very essence of my Quirk.
The energy swirled gently in my chest, coalescing and forming a small, tranquil whirlpool. This was the precise center of the Slipstream, the ingenious device that kept me anchored to the present moment, my current, indispensable crutch against temporal instability.
I slowly moved my energy outwards, extending it into the infinite darkness of my inner perception until it gently brushed against something solid. Instinctively, I knew it was the inner wall of the capsule, encompassing me entirely.
'Why does it have to be so damn small... it feels so constricting,' I thought, a familiar claustrophobia beginning to creep in.
With another deep breath, I began to send more and more of my energy towards the inner wall of the capsule, gently pushing against it, expanding my consciousness, until...
FUUUUMM!
The capsule had, unexpectedly, ignited with a soft, ethereal glow, its interior bathed in a pulsating light that seemed to emanate directly from my own surging energy.
'Well, that's new...'
The sensation now was far more oppressive, a suffocating pressure. It was as if my entire body was suddenly trapped in an incredibly tight, confined place, a crushing weight settling heavily in my chest, making it difficult to expand my lungs.
My breathing quickened, becoming shallow and frantic, before I forced myself, with sheer willpower, to calm down, to regain some semblance of composure.
'You can't fail now, Lena... you've lived here for years, confined in this very space. You can absolutely do this... you're stronger now.'
Calming my shaky breathing, battling the icy tendrils of fear that began to creep up my back, I made a crucial, terrifying decision: I deliberately severed my immediate energy connection with the Slipstream device.
Leaving me utterly alone, truly untethered, inside the capsule.
I felt a sharp, piercing ringing in my ears for a moment, a disorienting, high-pitched whine, before it slowly faded, leaving behind an eerie silence.
The constricting sensation only intensified, a suffocating embrace that made me incredibly nervous and further quickened my breathing.
'Not now, Lena... just breathe... focus on your breathing...'
Gritting my teeth tightly, I forced myself to maintain my mind's focus, to keep it locked onto my singular goal: to understand and control this raw, untamed energy.
Turning my inner vision back to myself, I could now clearly see them.
Where the Slipstream device used to be, a profound, unsettling void now existed, a black hole-like vortex that seemed to constantly glitch and shimmer with erratic energy, a temporal anomaly made manifest.
But unlike a true black hole, it was not actively trying to swallow me whole, to consume my existence. Rather, it was subtly, constantly, drawing my raw energy and then sending powerful, rhythmic waves throughout my entire body, pushing outward. These waves, as they reached the very ends of my physical form, caused small, minute amounts of my energy to be inexplicably lost, dissipating into the infinite blackness of this internal dimension.
'So that's why I used to lose so much energy when I was confined here... the uncontrolled leakage,' I realized, a chilling explanation for my past exhaustion.
'But why can I see it now? Why is it suddenly visible to me?' I wondered, a new surge of scientific curiosity, but I ruthlessly suppressed it as I felt my concentration, already stretched thin, beginning to weaken. I couldn't afford distractions. I began to try and move the energy waves in reverse, attempting to apply counter-pressure directly onto the glitching hole, forcing it to constrict.
The waves collided with the void, sending a sharp, agonizing spasm throughout my entire body, a jolt of pain so intense it almost made me faint, threatening to pull me into unconsciousness.
My breathing cut off for a moment, a terrified gasp, before I quickly, desperately, resumed breathing, forcing air into my lungs.
'The pain is mental, the pain is mental, the pain is mental.' I chanted inwardly, a desperate mantra, trying to convince myself that the physical agony was merely a trick of the mind.
Ignoring the searing pain and the involuntary, erratic movements of my body, I kept my concentration fiercely locked onto suppressing the black hole with sheer force, pushing against it with all my will. I could see it, agonizingly slowly, shrinking in size... perhaps a few precious inches.
"GUAAAHHH!!!" And then, an overwhelming, all-consuming pain, a blinding surge of agony, erupted through my entire being, making me lose all concentration, shattering my focus completely.
"Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa," My body was shaking uncontrollably, wracked with tremors, as little bolts of lightning, blue and chaotic, shot out from me in random directions, sparking against the capsule walls. "Sh...it..."
It felt as if something incredibly cold and sharp was touching my heart, then squeezing it tightly, relentlessly, threatening to crush it entirely.
I gritted my teeth, a desperate, pained grimace, as my vision began to blur, fading at the edges, and my breathing rapidly accelerated, becoming shallow, frantic gasps.
'I can't breathe! I can't get enough air!'
I began to hyperventilate, my hands instinctively flying to my neck, clutching at my throat as if to tear it open, to find air. My heart seemed to want to burst out of my chest, pounding with a terrifying, suffocating fear, as my own body weight, heavy and unresponsive, held me rooted in place, trapping me.
My senses were strangely distorted, unrecognizable yet eerily familiar, as distant voices began to buzz loudly in my ears, an overwhelming cacophony.
"AGH! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat, a desperate plea for silence.
I looked around, my blurry vision scanning the confines of the capsule, but saw only walls.
Walls.
Enclosure.
Prisoner.
Panic began to rise violently up my throat, a suffocating tide, reaching into my mind, threatening to consume every rational thought.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE! GET ME OUT!" I started throwing frantic punches against the inner wall of the capsule, tackling it with raw, desperate force, not realizing that hot, silent tears of sheer terror were streaming uncontrollably down my face, wetting the glass of my visor.
"I don't want to..."
"I don't want to be locked up... not again..."
"Help..."
Slowly, inexorably, my vision began to darken, fading to black.
"Help... please... Dad... someone... anyone..."
And everything went black, leaving my mind drifting into the silent, terrifying void of unconsciousness.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the U.A. Sports Festival! The most anticipated event of the year!"