Time moved with a relentless grace, and before I knew it, the end of the academic year was upon us.
My own training continued unabated, but Toga—who had quite accidentally become Force-sensitive—was also progressing at a remarkable pace.
By late September, she had reached a level where she could accurately perceive Anakin's presence, officially marking her debut as a Force user. From that point on, her focus was nothing short of staggering. She mastered the basics with terrifying speed; by mid-February, she had polished her skills to a level that could be sustained in actual combat.
Both Anakin and I were floored by her progress. Anakin's assessment was this:
"Perhaps because her transformation allowed her to attain a genetic echo of your own midi-chlorians, your very essences have become intertwined. However, while your Force presence leans heavily toward the Light, hers gravitates toward the Dark. The Force always seeks equilibrium. I suspect that as your polarities attempted to find balance, Toga's side was pulled upward by the sheer weight of yours."
In short, it seemed highly likely that Toga and I had formed an artificial Force Dyad.
A Dyad is a phenomenon where two individuals remain distinct physical beings but exist as a single entity within the Force. Their powers are of the same essence, creating a bond that transcends the physical realm.
Though spoken of in prophecy, such a connection had not been confirmed for an age, so even I knew little of the specifics. Anakin, however, told me that long after our deaths—after the fall of the Empire—his own grandson and the granddaughter of Palpatine would eventually forge such a bond.
He spoke of wonders: the ability to communicate across light-years, and even the power to physically transport objects through the vacuum of space to one another. In battle, they could amplify each other's strength. They were singular beings, possessing a power that rivaled even Anakin's as the "Chosen One."
If Toga and I shared such a connection, should I, as a Jedi, feel honored?
Perhaps, if this bond had blossomed naturally, I could have felt a simple sense of pride. But this was an artifice—born of blood and mutation. It felt as manufactured as the Force that now hummed within my own veins.
Regardless, swept up in this strange, frantic rhythm, time slipped through my fingers.
At the beginning of March, I received my official acceptance into U.A. High School's Hero Course. I was told I placed first, but from a Jedi's perspective, the difficulty felt underwhelming. I suppose such a result was only natural.
The real question was how I would manage the commute. I was pondering this while preparing for my daily exercises when a voice cut through the air.
"Koto-chaaan!"
Toga had practically teleported into our house. She dropped by unannounced so often that neither I nor my family even blinked anymore.
She skipped into the room, her smile wider and brighter than usual. I was about to ask what had her in such high spirits when she made her move.
"Ta-da!"
With an air of immense triumph, she thrust a small holographic projector toward me. I tilted my head in confusion for a moment before the shape of the device registered.
"Toga… is that a U.A. acceptance letter?"
"Ding-dong! Give the lady a prize!"
Toga practically vibrated with joy, hopping on the balls of her feet. I was still in disbelief until she activated the device. All Might's flickering image appeared, booming his congratulations and confirming Toga's admission into the Hero Course.
But… there was a glaring problem.
"Wait. Toga, weren't you already a high school student?"
"I quit!"
"You what?!"
"I dropped out of that old school! Then I just retook the exams for U.A.!"
"Why on earth would you do that?! You were already a student—you could have just applied for a transfer!"
"If I did that, I wouldn't be in the same grade as you, Koto-chan! And I won't have that!"