Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch
@Aerandir @TruthHurts22Turning to Yi, Kerianne gave a twitch of a smile. Something about his effortless calm and positivity always lifted her spirits - as long as he wasn't pranking her, anyway.
"Oh, believe me, I wouldn't recommend it," she replied.
"She'd have her ways to get back at anyone who tried that, collar of bells or not. I doubt that'd alert anyone to monkeys about to clamber all over them, or anything of the sor-"She stepped out of the way as someone yelled a warning and careened past her. The blur, one Dakota Roice on roller skates, made a sudden stop only to do a faceplant that rivalled Kerianne's earlier one.
"Are you alright?" Kerianne rushed over, but thankfully Dakota picked herself back up with no sign of pain, acting as if nothing had happened.
The morning was proving eventful already, and the test hadn't even started yet.
Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith
@Tenma Tendo @Metastability @TruthHurts22 @Stern AlgorithmFreya responded to Chi's thumbs-up with a shaky laugh.
"That's one way to think about it." For all her attempts to relax, she tensed at Steven's showy arrival. Not that she knew him well, and that was possibly just it - maybe his difficulty mixing with his classmates caused a vicious circle of showing off and pushing them away. Plus he hadn't made fun of anyone... Yet. It would take Freya a while, though, to fully trust someone who displayed an attitude she'd seen all too often.
"Ehh, it's been as good as early morning can be," she replied, shoulders slouching.
"The day found me sleeping and wouldn't leave me to it. And yeah, got to say, it's good that you're getting into your hero persona, but dialling it down might make working with others easier. Hey, it's a team exercise, we'll all have to share the spotlight."Even though all she wanted was to stay out of the spotlight, after that last disaster of an exam. At least Gabby had cheered up, launching into anime discussion while hugging Momo, who squealed back.
"Yup, this evening would be good, as well as any evening this week! The more practice, the better! Can't wait to see how people react this time!"Freya had no idea what Gabby and Momo meant by 'Jeice's poses', but knowing they had something to keep them in good humour brought a smile. With half-closed eyes, she glanced around the group, her gaze settling on an equally nervous-seeming girl. A girl who also bore animal traits, namely the claws, tail and antennae of a shrimp.
"It's ok, I was kidding about things not boding well for the exam," Freya reassured her.
"Chi here's got the right idea, I-I mean how tough can it be? And at the very least, it should be over quickly."She put her hands behind her back to hide their shaking, resisting the urge to dig her claws into her water bottle. That desire to scratch at things during stressful situations didn't help. Instead, she took deep breaths - only to jump several feet into the air, spilling her water, as Dakota hurtled past. Wincing at the other girl's fall, she headed over as Keri did.
"Nah, you're not late," she told Dakota.
"We've still got... hmm, I'll take a look." She reached for her phone, but before she could check it, the answer became clear.
The school bell rang through the courtyard. Right at that moment, the arena doors burst open, a whirl of energy that eclipsed even Momo and Melissa making her presence known.
"EVERYONE READY???" the teacher squealed, grabbing two of the many, many pom-poms attached to the skirt of her hero costume, a red and black cheerleading outfit. The youngest and newest UJ teacher, Miss Carmine Dunwich had taken to her second job with gusto, radiating exuberance and warmth despite her unsettling stare. Black eyes, sclerae and all, their only colour several thin scarlet rings spreading from the centres, shone with glee. Nobody knew whether such features were contacts or simply bizarre colouration. Thrusting the pom-poms into the air, she grinned at the students.
"Put up a fight! Put on a show! Go, future heroes, go, go, go!" She pumped her arms and leapt up and down, her ponytail of wayward dark curls bouncing as she bubbled with enthusiasm - quite literally. Patches of skin on her limbs shifted like boiling wax. With squelching sounds, many crimson tendrils burst from her arms and legs, grabbing the remaining pom-poms, waving them while writhing and pulsing.
"Ahem." A loud cough over the chanting cut short Cheering Hero Eldritch's display.
"It's all very well treating this like a game, although may I remind you it's anything but!" Martenell strode forward, turning her glare from Eldritch to the students.
"Everyone inside."She led the group into the arena, where several other teachers waited, a simulation area set up behind them. Like last time, a cityscape sprawled, the difference being the many high walls that divided the area into sections.
"As you'll all know, provided you've been paying attention, this will be a three-on-three combat test. Now, it isn't a guarantee that everyone in a team will be from the same class - you'll be grouped according to cooperation potential, not how well you know each other. This is also because pro heroes from different agencies sometimes have to work together when the situation calls for it."She studied the crowd.
"The teams will be as follows. Each of you will move forward when your name is called.
Team 1: Gabriella Gonzales, Erika Sommer, Freya Leander.
Team 2: Breeze Porfirio, Raymond Carter, XiaoPao Xia.
Team 3: Renard Sparks, Kerianne Morley, Chisato Yuuki.
Team 4: Dawn Gibbs, Steven Rein, Thomas Kazinsky.
Team 5: Yi Helme, Simone Moseley, Dakota Roice.
Team 6: Alexis Runa, Melissa Summerfield, Namie Braggs."As Martenell continued announcing teams, students stepped forward one by one.
"Aww..." Momo gave her two best friends an apologetic look.
"Oh well, let's hope we get to work together another time! And best of luck!" She skipped towards Yi and the other Class A student. Disappointing as it was not to work with Erika and Alex, or with Gabby, Yi seemed easy to get along with. As for Dakota, this would be a perfect chance to make a new friend.
"You may take a few minutes to quietly discuss your Quirks and possible strategies among your teammates," Martenell went on once she'd called the last few names.
"But I mean a few minutes. Once it's time, it's time, so no idle chatter!"Dunwich, all too eager to get everyone as hyped up as she was, launched into another wild flurry of tendrils and pom-poms.
"Woooooo! Who's gonna make it to the top? Who's gonna rise up like All Might? Who's gonna show they can't be stopped? Come on UJ, let's see you fight!"Scowling, Martenell folded her arms.
"Or time wasting of ANY kind."