The sun dipped below the horizon as Tomura and Kurogiri returned to their shared room, each cradling their newly assigned animals. Tomura's Ferruginous Hawk flapped its small, still-growing wings from its perch on his forearm, while Kurogiri's German Shepherd pup wagged its tail excitedly, nipping at Kurogiri's ankles as they walked.
Setting their pets down gently, Tomura and Kurogiri sat cross-legged on the floor, the hawk settling on a makeshift perch while the puppy curled up in Kurogiri's lap. Silence lingered between the two boys for a moment before Tomura broke it, his tone hesitant.
"There's something I should tell you," he said, his crimson eyes glinting under the room's dim light.
Kurogiri looked up from stroking the dog's fur. "What is it?"
Tomura hesitated, then raised his right hand. He flexed his fingers, leaving his little finger slightly raised. "You've probably noticed I always keep one finger off whatever I touch."
Kurogiri nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah, I thought it was just a habit or something."
Tomura exhaled sharply, his expression darkening. "It's not a habit. It's... necessary. My power—Decay—destroys everything it touches. If all five fingers make contact, whatever I'm touching crumbles to dust."
Kurogiri's eyes widened. "That's... incredible. Terrifying, but incredible."
"It's more of a curse than anything else," Tomura muttered. "I can't control it properly. That's why I'm always so careful. I don't want to hurt anyone—at least, not by accident."
Kurogiri nodded solemnly. "I understand. That's a heavy burden to carry."
Tomura glanced at his Ferruginous Hawk, now preening its feathers. "That's why I'm worried about having this little guy around. What if I—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "Never mind."
"You won't," Kurogiri said firmly. "You're careful, and you're learning. That's what training is for, right?"
Tomura gave a small nod, comforted by his friend's reassurance. "What about you? Do you have a power?"
Kurogiri hesitated, then raised his hands, creating a faint ripple in the air. A swirling black portal began to form between his palms, unstable and flickering.
"I can create portals," he explained. "But I have no control over where they lead. Sometimes they take me a few feet away; other times, they open to places I've never even seen before. It's... unpredictable."
Tomura watched the portal with fascination. "Have you ever... gotten lost in one?"
"Once," Kurogiri admitted, closing the portal with a flick of his wrist. "It was terrifying. I ended up in some forest miles away from where I started. It took hours for someone to find me."
Tomura leaned back, processing this new information. "So, we're both stuck with powers we can't fully control."
Kurogiri smiled faintly. "Looks like it. But hey, maybe we can figure it out together."
A rare smile tugged at Tomura's lips. "Yeah, maybe."
The next morning, the two boys carried their animals to the training grounds. The Ferruginous Hawk perched confidently on Tomura's arm, while the German Shepherd trotted obediently beside Kurogiri. The sun was just rising, casting a golden glow over the facility.
The training grounds were empty, giving them plenty of space to practise. Kurogiri set the puppy down, allowing it to explore, while Tomura's hawk took flight, circling overhead.
"You ready?" Kurogiri asked, dropping into a loose fighting stance.
Tomura nodded, mirroring his friend's posture. "Let's see what you've got."
The sparring began with Kurogiri lunging forward, his movements quick but unpolished. Tomura sidestepped, his reflexes honed by months of training with Old Man Yamamoto. He countered with a low sweep, forcing Kurogiri to jump back.
"You're too slow," Tomura taunted, a smirk on his face.
"And you're too cocky," Kurogiri shot back, opening a portal in front of him. He stepped through and reappeared behind Tomura, aiming a punch at his back.
Tomura barely dodged, spinning around to face his opponent. "Nice trick," he admitted. "But you're still predictable."
The two continued to trade blows, their movements growing sharper with each exchange. Kurogiri experimented with his portals, trying to use them to gain an advantage, while Tomura focused on precision and timing, careful not to let his Decay activate.
After an hour of intense sparring, both boys collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. The hawk swooped down, landing gracefully beside Tomura, while the puppy bounded over to Kurogiri, licking his face.
"We've got a long way to go," Kurogiri said between breaths.
"Yeah," Tomura agreed, stroking his hawk's feathers. "But we'll get there."
The morning sun climbed higher into the sky as the two boys sat in comfortable silence, their bond strengthened by shared struggles and newfound understanding.