Changing Horizons [Shouko]

Compared to her fellow students, Iwasaka Shouko didn’t seem much bothered by the lackluster supplies they had been given! Was it faith in her own endurance, that she could make it to the top even with such inadequate preparation? Did she intend to challenge herself by not aiming for more supplies, despite wasting her energy on useless things all trip? Was she expecting her team to gather such things so she wouldn’t have to? Or perhaps, was she just an idiot who had not considered any of the above to begin with? Considering how proudly she bragged about never having caught a cold in her life whenever her clothes were commented on… The last option seems more and more likely.

And there’s a reason for them to be commented on! Sleeveless and revealing bare legs, as much as it was her usual wear, it was definitely not appropriate for the cool mountain air! Yes, it was important to wear clothes that fit over her battle dress- Although some would say that she should have left that behind as well- but others could not be blamed for thinking it looked cold! Perhaps that was why she was so constantly in action, rushing from place to place… And only occasionally attempting to sidetrack the expedition in the name of scouting ahead! Or in the name of hunting for UMA’s… Or in the name of sidetracking the expedition. In short, she was having the time of her life, and the occasional attempt by the teachers to hamper the group’s progress only served to bolster her excitement! After all, the obstacles they set forth… Led to her classmates having to use their quirks! And for a superpower fanatic such as Iwasaka Shouko, nothing was more invigorating!

Case in point: Right now. It wasn’t that she had followed Sho! Okay, so if you said that she hadn’t, there was no other way to describe it. But among all the other students… Sho was the source of her most recent regrets! See, days ago, the two were all set to spar, and yet…! So frustrating, you understand? And seeing her now, Shouko couldn’t help but pop up beside her suddenly! “Yo, Shōjō!” She would alert the other to her presence, nickname suddenly yet firmly established. “They let you on this trip, that means your papers are all in order, right!? Come on, let’s pick up where we- Ah.”

Her interruption was interrupted by a change in the surrounding forest. It was as though a teacher had seen her intention and wanted to provide a reminder- They might not notice, but they were being watched! “Fiiine, I get it! Shōjō, hold that thought until we get back to school, mmkay? Gotta go through the proper procedures!” She threw a thumbs up at the wilderness, probably the exact opposite direction from any teachers that were observing them. That’s right! Iwasaka Shouko was a student who followed the rules! Okay, ignoring that one time… And that one… And some serial tardiness… No, I’m serious about this!

But undeterred by her intentions being foiled, Shouko leaned back into her own arms with an easy grin. Looking into the tunnel of vegetation, she shot a cheeky look at the small girl. “We might need a permit to spar, but no one said anything about racing! Whaddya say?” Anything to see what her new classmate could do! Okay, so she wasn’t in the same class, but, they were in the same year so it counted!

She would give Sho a moment to accept- Or just as likely, to stare in shock as she tried to figure out where this energetic creature had appeared from- before taking off towards the mysterious course!