This whole stupid trip had been nothing but hell for Minoru Mineta. Initially, when he'd heard about a bunch of foreign chicks coming to study with them, the shortly statured student had been ecstatic. It seemed to get even better when it turned out his assigned buddy was a girl. Not just any girl, either. Kole Weathers was a total babe, with a curvy figure, cute face, and at first she seemed a bit flirtatious too! But then, something went wrong.

Unsure if he'd just come on too strong, or if Kole was just mean, she started saying stuff to him, telling him to stop following her around. He'd persisted nonetheless, but even Mineta had limits. Namely, being threatened with violence from a teacher. So, he'd dialed it back for a while. He hadn't stopped pursuing her, of course. Mineta was no quitter. He'd just been more...secretive about it.

As the time when Kole stayed in Japan was nearing an end, something interesting happened. Knowing that she was going to be stending her last Saturday with friends in the UA dorm, Mineta hid himself inside a cabinet, giving him the perfect angle to eavesdrop and listen in. Soon, he, like Kole, was waiting for the rest of the group to show up.

But the ones who appeared were not who either of them expected. Instead of the UA girls Kole had been spending time with during her trip so far, it was a group of Titans students who showed up. That martian girl, some blond guy with curly hair, a thin looking cutie with long blonde hair, and that one girl whose hero costume kind of looked like Wonder Woman's. "What are you doing here?" Kole asked them, her voice waspish.

Straining his eyes to get a better look, Mineta saw as they were surrounding Kole, who was still sitting on the couch, before they sat down around her, one on each side of the couch, with the martian and the guy sitting in chairs facing her. It was quiet, until one of them finally replied to her question. "Some of your friends from UA came to me, to talk. About you, I mean. They wanted to know what happened with you and the rest of us, and I realized I should have done this a while ago," the green girl said.

The tallest one, Wonder Girl Mineta thought, let out a scoff and added, "Yeah, you should have." Even someone as socially inept as Mineta could feel the tension gather between then, until that same girl added, sounding regretful, "Sorry, that's not helping. What's important is we're doing it now."

"What is it exactly that 'we' are doing?" Kole asked, sounding just as acidic as one of Ashido's slaps when Mineta was too pervy to her. "I don't remember agreeing to anything."

It looked like they were just going to ignore that comment and get right to it. "When the year started, we...were a good team," the martial girl said. "We were friends. But along the way, something fell apart, and I was too timid to do anything about it. It's not too late. Let's go over everyone's grievances, and do our best to make up for them." Then, she looked at the other person sitting in a chair. "Let's start with Joseph."

Naturally, Mineta expected that blond guy to start talking, but he didn't. Instead, the martian girl started looking intently at him, then opened her mouth. But...it wasn't really her voice coming out. "You were all pretty nice to me at first, but I started feeling like a burden. None of you bothered to learn any sign language, and it felt like you were excluding me from everything." That sparked some comments about how that hadn't been intended, and a full discussion came from it, until everyone made it clear to that guy, Joseph apparently, that they'd be willing to try learning sign language, they just didn't realize he'd wanted that. Weirdly enough, it had apparently been one of the girls, Tara, who'd said the wrong thing that made them start drifting away from him.

Next it was Kole's turn. Seeming to be more into the idea now, Kole started with a bomb out of the gates. "It feels like you guys hate me." That got their attention. "Like, I know I shared some stuff that you wished I hadn't, but you never told me those things were confidential! Instead of trying to be more open about yourselves, or talking to me about it, you just cut me out!" The debate afterwards was a bit more heated than before. The exact details of who had said what to who and what exactly sparked everything was difficult to untangle. Geez, Mineta found himself thinking, stupid girls and their dumb drama.

Eventually, it seemed like they'd come to some kind of resolution. They'd try being social with Kole again, with the understanding that unless they specified otherwise, she considered everything she heard as free to share. Once again, it was Tara who'd messed everything up, when she'd told Kole something 'Cassie' had told her in confidence, which soon the whole school knew about. This was news to Cassie, who had heard it was M'gann, the martial girl, who had spilled the beans. Tara said something about it being a mistake on her part, but Mineta wasn't sure.

Apparently Tara had nothing to air out, she wasn't sure why everyone had drifted apart. With Cassie up next, all she had to say was, "My stuff already kind of came up with Kole's. Just...I want to trust you guys. I'll try it again. But I'm also...nevermind. M'gann, you're up."

Mineta was definitely curious about what the girl had been about to say, but listened eagerly anyway as M'gann told them, "I'm really glad we could discuss all of that. For me...I just feel like...none of you respect me." Silence followed that, a very uncomfortable one. "I'm your leader. I'm doing my best. But if you don't talk to me, I don't know what I'm messing up, and what I'm doing well. I need you to believe in me, and help me help all of you." From there, they discussed what issues they had with how M'gann had been leading them, and the meeting ended with Mineta actually believing they'd be doing better going forward.

Still, that feeling was short-lived. Kole was leaving the room, heading outside! Ready to continue his secret stalking, he waited for the room to be empty, then he quietly walked out of the cabinet. He was feeling pretty cocky for how that had turned out. "Mineta." The unmistakable voice of Mr. Grayson came from right behind him. When Mineta didn't turn to look at him, as he was frozen in fear, the teacher sighed and walked in front of Mineta. For the first time since the Americans had arrived, the teacher wasn't smiling. "I've heard a lot about you. I know you're smart. Which is why I'm telling you this: I know you've been stalking Kole. You're going to stop. Right now. If I get even a whisper about you bothering her or anyone else at this school, I'll be talking to Principal Nezu about this." The threat hung in the air, and Mineta hung his head. He was screwed. He had no choice but to stop, if someone like that guy was going to be on his heels. He'd have to be on his best behavior, at least until all the Titans staff left for their country. And so Mineta left for his dorm room, having learned nothing.

Despite what some of her classmates thought about the guy, Traci Thurston had no complaints with her assigned partner for the class trip, Yuga Aoyama. From their first trip to a cafe onward, they'd spent quite a bit of time together. He seemed quite interested in her magic, and Traci enjoyed his French background and talent for being extra. They'd gone on a lot of local adventures together, made more exciting thanks to her magic.

For their last Saturday together, they agreed to meet up at the school gates so she could surprise him. It was the middle of the afternoon, with Traci having arrived there well ahead of schedule, when she saw Aoyama walking over, wearing his most stylish casual clothes. She had to admit the guy had an eye for fashion. If he was less, well, ostentatious, she might have been interested in him. Traci had always been more of a fan of the modest, honest type.

"So, where are we going?" he asked, and Traci only smiled as a response. Pulling out some chalk from a pocket, she walked over the the wall separating the campus from the outside world and drew the shape of a door. Then, around the outside, a number of symbols. Their origins varied widely, from the Indian peninsula, to Northern Europe, to characters from the languages of the Far East. But the meaning of the symbols were deeply interrelated, and when the last one was drawn, everything changed. Where there had once been a wall, there was now a door.

She motioned for Aoyama to go on ahead, which he did with some slight trepidation. That was another thing she'd learned about the naval-lazer shooting blondie: he was actually pretty cautious, even if other people were too dazzled by his style to notice most of the time. Still, he trusted her enough to open the door, revealing what looked like an endless void. After taking an audible gulp, he walked into it, and Traci did the same, making sure to leave the door open and put up a note that said, "DO NOT CLOSE DOOR OR ENTER -Traci 13".

They were able to walk while in this other space, despite the seeming lack of floor. Around them, items hovered in every direction. Many were mundane, like keys or socks or remote controls, though sometimes they would catch sight of something more amazing, like a brilliant gemstone or an ancient book. "You were wondering where we were going?" she said, finally answering his question. "I like to call this place 'The Void of Lost Things'. It's a work-in-progress, I'm still workshopping it."

He didn't laugh at the joke, instead walking up to one of the more normal floating items, a pair of pants. "Incroyable! Then, all these things were lost by someone, non?" Traci nodded her head, happy to see he'd quickly gotten the idea. He looked around, the space they were in seemingly without end, the only exit the door that still showed the grounds of UA High on the other side. "Where did you hear of this place?"

She'd been expecting a question like that, and started her answer with a shrug of her shoulders. "I didn't. I'm pretty sure I'm the first person to find it." That got Aoyama's attention, and smiling with well-deserved pride, she told him, "I was studying portal magic, and decided to see if I could combine different magic systems to try and reach some new place. I combined what seem to be the right ingredients, and found this place."

It was cool for her to see that look of genuine awe on Aoyama's face. But then it faded, and he looked almost...sad? "Do you think..." he started to say, not looking at her, "...it is possible for moi to learn magic?" Traci winced. It wasn't the first time she'd heard someone ask her that question, she doubted it would be the last. The average person's understanding of magic was so limited, and often so wrong, that trying to correct it all was a nightmare.

"Let's head outside, and I'll see, okay?" They walked out of the void together, and once back on the material plane, Traci shut the door and erased the symbols, turning the portal back into chalk. Once there, she faced her assigned partner, who was still looking down. "Okay, so, let me summarize Magic 101 for you: it has to come from somewhere. It looks easy if you don't know anything, but actual magic is breaking all the rules of reality. For that to work, you've got to have an in."

He seemed to take that information in, but still didn't seem to understand. "Then, what about your classmate, Raven? Where does her magic come from?" It was only with that question that Traci started to hear the desperation in his voice. Was there more to his questions than he realized.

Scratching her head, Traci told him, "Well, she and I don't really talk shop, but as far as I can tell she's using two sources. On the one hand, I'm pretty sure she's a sorceress. That means her body can generate and use magical energy on its own, the same way it produces chemical energy for her cells. It's a bit hard on the metabolism, and it's something you have to be born with." There was way more to it than that, but this wasn't the afternoon for drumming into her friend exactly how magical metaphysics worked. "On the other hand, she's got a sponsor, which is usually called dark magic. That means she has someone who can fuel her magic or even teach her specific kinds of spells. Sponsors don't actually have to be evil, despite the bad reputation the field has. That said, most of the ones offering magic out there aren't exactly the nicest types, and you've got to give up something in return."

Generally speaking, Traci avoided telling people about warlocks, just because she knew they'd be tempted to seek out a sponsor so they, too, could shoot magical energy out of their hands. Aoyama looked like he was starting to understand what she was saying. "So, one can be born with le magic, or make a deal to receive it. What else is there, mon amie?" Still, there was some edge to his voice that Traci wasn't liking.

Holding up two fingers, to represent the two schools she'd already talked about, she raised a third as she told him, "Then there's druidism. Environments generate a magic all their own, and it's possible to draw it out and use it for yourself. Technically, anyone can use it, but the less you feel connected to nature, the more preparation and research you need to pull it off." A fourth finger joined the others. "The most famous by name is wizardry. Anyone can do that, but it takes a ton of book learning. It's all about finding ways to exploit the mechanics between systems to get your effect. Lots of rituals, incantations, reagents, all that junk."

He looked more hopeful at hearing about those, but Traci wasn't sure he should. Aoyama didn't seem like the type who was super in-touch with his surroundings, nor would the prospect of years of study before seeing any results appeal to him. Holding up the last finger, Traci finished, "The last is the rarest. Some people's have so much presence, so much force of personality, they can warp reality with it. The strongest just need their thoughts, but most of them need a medium, usually music." Thinking about it, she had to admit, "If you learned how to be a musician, you might be able to pull that off."

Having laid out to Aoyama all the options, it looked like he was still thinking something over. But rather than voicing that to Traci, he instead asked, "What kind of magic do you use, Traci?"

This was another question Traci had to answer all the time. "I like to call myself an Urban Sorceress," she told him with a confident grin. "In practice, I dabble in all five branches. I was born with a bit of sorcery, I've made a few deals with minor spirits for extra juice, I'm great at pulling energy from cityscapes, I know more than my share of tips and tricks, and I can do wonders with a harmonica." Traci had always wondered why some people specialized, when knowing a bit of everything was so much more versatile. Unable to help herself any longer, she asked, "Aoyama, why all the magic questions? Something's up."

That last part wasn't a question, and she knew Aoyama could see that. Letting out a much heavier sigh than the foppish teen usually gave, he explained, "I've had some, comment dire, issues, with my Quirk. I sometimes fear I will not be able to be a hero with it alone. I thought, perhaps, magic may help." He looked around as he talked, clearly hoping no one overheard what he was telling her.

It wasn't the kind of sentiment Traci had expected from Aoyama. The guy seemed so full of himself, the idea he might feel insecure about the whole belly-button-lazer thing really surprised her. Still, she gave him a smile and lightly punched one shoulder in a friendly way. "Listen, speaking from someone with a lot of experience in the spooky stuff, you can totally dabble in it if you want. It could really give you an edge. But it comes with risks too." Her eyes stopped focusing on any one thing, staring off into the middle distance. "Villains are one thing, y'know? But magic...magic makes you realize there are way more dangerous things out there. Things that will pay attention to you when you know too much." She involuntarily shivered. "Plus, you get wrapped up with the craziest people. Deadman. The Phantom Stranger. Detective Chimp." They shared a laugh at that, and she resolved not to tell him she wasn't joking about the monkey.