Momo turned toward Shin just as he looked at her. From his gaze alone, it was clear that he had experienced something similar to what she had. True to that, his voice soon echoed in her mind, using the peerage's telepathy function.
[So, how much did you progress, Momo?] Shin's tone carried clear curiosity, almost demanding an answer. At the same time, he strode toward her rapidly, eager to close the distance.
Momo smirked, having fully expected this question—it was just like him to be this curious.
[I've progressed a lot,] she answered. [Though I don't know if it's a good amount or a bad amount, considering we don't have any previous standards to compare to.]
[True,] Shin agreed. [But we could at least make an assumption by comparing our results.]
By then, he had reached her. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer until their faces were mere inches apart. [And you still haven't answered my question properly.]
Momo chuckled, throwing her arms around his neck as she teased, [I did answer. Just in my own way.] Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she provoked him further. [But if you want a clearer answer, I'd say I'm fairly confident that I progressed more than you.]
Shin scoffed. [You? More than me? What a joke.] He shook his head, matching her provocation with one of his own. [I'm obviously stronger than you.]
[But this isn't about power,] Momo countered. [From what I experienced, it's a cumulative measure of everything we've accumulated here so far.] She smirked, pressing her point further. [And since I've been here for more years than you, I must have had more of that spectral energy than you.]
Shin clicked his tongue but didn't back down. [That's a fair point… but even with fewer years, I'm certain I've accumulated more than you.] He spoke with a proud expression.
Momo's smirk deepened. [If you're that sure, then let's make a bet.] She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming mischievously. [Whoever wins gets to make the other do everything they say for an entire day.]
Shin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a moment to weigh the possible consequences of losing. When he concluded that the risks weren't too bad, he gave a small nod. [Fine, I'm in.]
Both of them instinctively shared their status screens with each other. The results appeared before them at the same time, and immediately, the victor was clear. Shin sighed in defeat. [Really?! I lost by such a small margin?]
Momo, on the other hand, beamed with pride. [That's not a small difference at all, from my perspective. You're at TrueSoul Sensing (Outer), while I've reached TrueSoul Sensing (Inner).]
[The Inner stage comes right after the Outer stage,] Shin retorted, crossing his arms. [And I'm at 99%, just on the brink, while you're only at 2% in the Inner stage. That's barely any difference.]
Momo scoffed. [Oh, please. It's huge.] She grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. [I can now always sense the inner parts of the TrueSoul, while you're still stuck only sensing the outline. That's a big difference.]
Shin opened his mouth to argue but stopped. He sighed. Because she was right. It wasn't just an advantage during cultivation—it was something she could do whenever she wanted, if she concentrated enough. And, of course, she was conveniently leaving out the biggest advantage she had over him—one that would have really stung his pride.
She could upload her chosen skill. The Upload Skill tab existed for both of them, but Shin's wouldn't open yet. He hadn't reached the TrueSoul Sensing (Inner) stage, which meant he would have to wait five more years before he could actually upload his chosen skill.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
Momo would have a permanent copy of her uploaded skill within her TrueSoul, the moment she does upload her chosen skill. Even if she somehow lost that skill, she could always retrieve it.
Shin, on the other hand, had no such safeguard. If he somehow lost the skill he wished to upload, it was gone. Letting out another resigned sigh, Shin shook his head. [Haah… A loss is a loss. Fine. I'll do whatever you say for a day—when you do decide to claim the reward.]
Momo's triumphant smirk widened into something more… ominous.
[Hehe!] She chuckled, the kind of laugh that sent warning signals straight into Shin's survival instincts. [I have so many ideas of what I should make you do. The time though—I will let you know later. And don't worry,] she added, [I think you'll enjoy it. Probably.]
Shin gulped. For the first time since making the bet… he wasn't so sure it had been a good idea.
...
The night before the provisional hero license exam, the students gathered in their groups, chatting about their training. Aizawa had told them they'd be up against upper-year students since a lot of first-years failed and had to retake the test later. Their class wouldn't be facing 1B or 1C since the testing locations were different to prevent students from the same academy from competing against each other.
The men didn't talk much before heading back to their rooms, leaving the women to continue their conversation.
"Every day is a workout, dammit," Mina groaned, flopping onto the couch.
"They call it intensive training for a reason," Jiro said with a sigh.
"How's everyone's ultimate moves coming along?" Momo asked curiously.
"Pretty good! After Shin gave me a few ideas, I managed to pull off one of them with practice. The others still need work, though," Mina admitted.
"Same here. Shin should honestly be a teacher—he's got a real talent for explaining things," Setsuna added.
"Totally!" Momo agreed. "He loves teaching, but I doubt he'd want to be a full-time teacher. He'd probably get bored."
The women nodded in agreement.
"By the way, how are our new combat suits coming along?" Tsuyu asked.
"They're already finished. I handed them over to the support class teacher, so you'll get them tomorrow," Momo informed them.
"You're already done? I thought we'd only get them after the exam. How do you work so fast?" Jiro asked, clearly impressed.
Momo smiled proudly. "Just practice."
"So, Tsuyu, how's your training going?" Toru asked.
"It's going well. I should be able to master all the techniques Shin suggested by the exam," Tsuyu replied.
"What about you, Ochaco?" Tsuyu asked, nudging the only one among them who seemed lost in thought.
Ochaco jolted in surprise, eyes wide. "Huh? Oh! No, I'm fine! I can't afford to be tired. I still have a long way to go."
Mina raised a brow. "You sure? You look totally out of it."
Ochaco hesitated before mumbling, "Lately… my heart's been all stirred up…" Her face flushed lightly as she trailed off.
Mina gasped dramatically. "Oh my god—you're in love!"
"What?! Glove? Clove? Dove?" Ochaco flailed in embarrassment, her entire face turning red. "No! I don't know anything about that!"
"Is it Midoriya or Tenya? You're always around them," Momo teased.
Ochaco let out a strangled noise, covering her face with both hands as she unconsciously began floating.
"Oh, come on, just tell us!" Jiro grinned.
"Yeah, spill!" Toru added eagerly. She loved a good romance story—especially since she had her own.
"That's not it, really," Ochaco insisted, her blush deepening. "I don't know anything about that stuff."
Momo giggled before saying in a playful tone, "Well, if you ever want help making him your boyfriend, just let me know. I already have one, so no competition here."
A brief pause.
Mina smirked. "So, you're finally saying it out loud, huh?"
Jiro chuckled. "Yeah, we kinda figured, but hearing you confirm it is different."
"Wait, wait—so it's official-official?" Setsuna pressed, leaning in. "You and Shin?"
Momo nodded with a small smile. "Mhm."
The women collectively grinned, some whistling, others nodding knowingly. They had all suspected it for a while, given how close Momo and Shin had become, but none of them had outright asked.
"When did this start?" Mina asked, intrigued.
"For a while now," Momo admitted. "We just didn't feel the need to announce it."
"Hold on," Jiro interrupted, eyes glinting mischievously. "Just how far have you gone?"
Momo smirked, crossing her arms. "Oh, we've gone all the way."
Mina leaned forward, "Okay, but you can't just drop that bomb and not give us details. How was it?"
"Let's just say… Shin is very thorough. He takes his time, makes sure every inch of my body is cared for." Momo's smirked mischievously, "Every touch, every movement, and when he finally decides to give me what I want…" She trailed off, letting the implication settle in.
Jiro covered her face with her hands. "Momo!"
Mina squealed. "Oh my god, that's so hot!"
The room erupted in laughter, teasing, and playful nudges—except for one person. Toru felt like her entire world had just turned upside down. She had tried not to dwell on the possibility, brushing off her suspicions. But now, hearing Momo confirm it so directly, she felt like the floor had been ripped out from under her.
Worse still was the gut-wrenching realization that Momo had been the one to encourage her to confess to Shin—knowing full well she was dating him. It left her feeling conflicted. Why had Momo pushed her to try? Was she testing her? Or did she really not mind sharing?
Momo, of course, noticed immediately. As the conversation moved on, Momo slightly elbowed Toru's arm. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"
Toru hesitated but nodded. They stepped into the quiet hallway outside the common room. Momo studied Toru's expression for a moment before sighing softly. "You're upset."
Toru scoffed, crossing her arms. "I mean… shouldn't I be? I tried not to believe it, but now that I know for sure… I just don't know how to feel."
Momo's expression was gentle. "I get it."
Toru let out a bitter laugh. "Do you? Because you told me that it was ok to feel that way towards him, Momo, even though you two are…"
Momo remained steady. "I did. And I wasn't trying to make fun of you or anything. I thought it might help you move forward in whichever way you would like to go." She then thought for a moment as an idea popped up in her mind. She leaned in, her voice lowered, "And if you still want it… there is a way."
Toru frowned. "What do you mean?" Momo whispered something into Toru's ear, making her entire body tense, her face exploding into a deep blush. "You—You can't be serious."
Momo smirked with a sly smile. "I am." Toru swallowed. "But… is that really, okay?"
Momo nodded. "Of course. I don't mind. Neither do I think he would at least after the fact. The rest however is up to you."
Toru stared at Momo before, finally, she nodded shyly. "I'll do it."
…
On the day of the Provisional Hero License Exam, the students boarded the bus, eager yet tense, as they were transported to the venue. Upon arrival, they stepped out to find themselves amidst a sea of students—some their age but mostly older—all gathered to take the exam.
As they scanned their surroundings, their eyes fell upon Shiketsu High, U.A.'s western counterpart. At the forefront stood three notable figures, one of whom was Inasa Yoarashi, an energetic individual who had earlier barged in while Kirishima and the guys were hyping themselves up.
When another student pointed out that it was rude to interrupt a group's huddle, Inasa, instead of merely apologizing, slammed his forehead onto the ground in a deep bow, hard enough to draw blood. Despite the injury, he remained unfazed, cheerfully explaining his reasoning before walking away with his classmates.
Shin, who had been observing this, suddenly called out. "Hey, Inasa. Come here for a second."
Inasa turned toward him, beaming. "Oh! You're Shin, right? The High Guardian? I'm so excited to meet you! What can I do for you?"
Before responding, Shin raised his hand, activating Force Manifestation to create a transparent blue dome around a woman in a Shiketsu High uniform—one he had deemed suspicious. The atmosphere instantly tensed as a sense of foreboding settled in. Then, without hesitation, Shin drew one of the Tempest, in the gun form, and aimed it at the woman.
"What's her quirk?" Shin demanded.
The sudden escalation made the Shiketsu teacher tense, his expression turning hostile. "What do you think you're doing?!" he snapped, already preparing to retaliate.
Shin, unfazed, spoke in a domineering tone. "Making sure she doesn't escape. And I asked a question."
The Shiketsu teacher clenched his teeth before turning toward Aizawa, expecting him to intervene. "Is this how your students behave? Acting without respect toward others?"
Aizawa, who could sense Shin's growing irritation—and knowing full well how dangerous things could get if he got truly annoyed—cut in sharply. "Answer the damn question!"
The Shiketsu teacher flinched at the harsh response and unconsciously replied, "Her quirk is Glamour. It allows her to create illusions."
Shin's eyes sharpened. "And does she normally look like this, or is she using her quirk right now?"
Aizawa immediately understood what Shin was implying. The realization also dawned upon the other students and faculty of Shiketsu High. After a moment's hesitation, the teacher responded, "She normally looks like this."
Shin smirked. "Then I'm afraid she's an impersonator." With that, he used his Force Pulse, infused with his Eth to temporarily sever her connection to her quirk. A wave of energy rippled through the air, and immediately, the woman's body began to distort and melt away, revealing a completely naked blonde woman underneath. The woman gasped, her panic evident, but even through her fear, she managed a twisted smile. "How did you deactivate my quirk?" she asked in a hushed, breathless voice.
Aizawa, who had been silently observing, widened his eyes slightly in surprise. Shin had just done something eerily similar to his own Erasure quirk. Though the shock remained, Aizawa quickly pushed it aside, turning his focus back to the bigger issue at hand—the villain infiltrator now standing exposed before them.
Shin turned toward the woman who had impersonated Camie from Shiketsu High. She was completely naked, though he had subtly blurred her private areas from being visible through the dome. However, her face remained fully visible, revealing a mix of panic and an oddly playful smile directed at him. Meanwhile, the teachers and students from Shiketsu High were furious, bombarding her with questions about Camie's whereabouts.
Stepping forward, Shin declared, "You have two options. First, you can come under my service as your quirk is quite useful, and I'll bind you with a contract. Second, you can wait for the police to come and arrest you." Then, using his Half-Link, he transmitted a bluff directly into her mind [But before they take you, I'll make sure you never use your quirk again.]
The Shiketsu teacher snapped, his voice laced with anger. "Who are you to decide that? She's a villain—her only option is prison, after she tells us where Camie is!"
Shin glanced at the man, clearly annoyed. "I'm the one who discovered her, so her fate is mine to decide. And since she hasn't actually harmed me, I'm giving her a choice."
"What...? That's not how a hero should behave!" the teacher protested.
Shin shrugged nonchalantly. "So what?"
His blunt response left the teacher and Shiketsu students speechless. Ignoring them, he turned back to the woman. "Hurry up. You have one minute to decide."
The woman, despite her obvious panic, was still smiling—clearly insane. Instead of answering immediately, she asked with a perverted grin, "What kind of service are we talking about?"
At that moment, Shin had the realization that he might be dealing with a potential stalker. Was answering her even a good idea?
Rolling his eyes, he said, "Any and all kinds, even the ones you're imagining—if you do a good job." Not that he had any intention of actually making her do that, but her reaction was immediate.
She bowed deeply, beaming. "My name is Himiko Toga. I'd love to be in your service."
Without further delay, Shin thickened the dome such that it to ensure minimal sound escaped. However, its semi-transparency allowed those outside to still see what was happening. Inside, he used his Karmic Contract, binding her into a one-sided agreement to follow his every order without question. And she accepted the contract instantly.
As his Force Pulse scanned her, he detected not fear or despair but overwhelming excitement—her mind swirling with perverted thoughts. Shin then began his interrogation, extracting information from her. It turned out she had infiltrated the exam to gather intel on potential heroes for recruitment into the League of Villains. It seemed that his own actions in forming the QTF had successfully disrupted their previous methods, forcing them to scout younger generations instead.
Once the interrogation was complete, Himiko grinned mischievously. "So… when do I get to provide 'bed services'?" she asked, her tone dripping with suggestiveness. Shin facepalmed. Sighing, he finally replied, "I'll entertain that idea if you complete the training my maids put you through."
Himiko's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then I'll finish it as fast as I can!"
Of course, Shin didn't expect her to succeed. The training required her to awaken her quirk and reach Rank 2—something that would be incredibly difficult for her based on what he had gleaned using Revelation. Awakening required great control over one's quirk. Right now, however, Himiko wasn't the one using her quirk—it was instead controlling her.
For him and Momo, this wasn't an issue due to their mastery over their skills through the TrueSoul. But for someone like Himiko, this would be an enormous hurdle. He had merely dangled the promise as motivation. Still, if she did manage to pull it off… well, he wouldn't mind entertaining her thoughts.
Having wrapped up the matter, Shin stepped out of the dome and summoned one of his butlers. The man arrived within a second, using his portal quirk. After giving instructions about the new recruit, the butler took Himiko away for training.