CHAPTER 87: [87] COUSINS WHO SLAY TOGETHER

"Mr. Valentine," Professor Valdez repeated, gesturing to the front of the classroom.

Alright, time to see if all of that planning and research with Calypso actually worked out...

Xavier rose from his seat, tucking his tablet under his arm. As he passed Calypso’s desk, she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Standing before the class, Xavier tapped his tablet to project his design onto the classroom’s main screen. The outfit appeared simple at first glance—a form-fitting black high-neck tactical shirt made from crystal-weave fabric beneath an asymmetrical white robe. The robe featured subtle reinforcements at the shoulders and forearms, with a series of hidden pockets along the interior.

"I wanted something practical that wouldn’t restrict movement," Xavier explained, rotating the 3D model to show the full design. "The base layer is crystal-weave fabric that absorbs and redistributes impact energy, while providing full range of motion."

He highlighted the white robe, which stood out against the black base layer. "The outer layer is adaptive memory fabric infused with Tier-2 crystal fibers. It hardens instantly when enough force is applied, essentially turning the flowing design into armor when needed."

Xavier pointed to subtle pink accents along the seams of the robe. "These conduct my Essentia through specific channels, optimizing my Input Buffer system." That was cap, I did it to add pink to my outfit for Calypso. "The contrasting black and white creates visual distortion during rapid movement, making it harder for opponents to track me."

He paused, then added with a slight grin, "I was going to go with something purely functional, but my wonderful cousin convinced me I could kick ass and still look good doing it. The result is this design—practical protection with just enough style to be recognizable."

Professor Valdez studied the design, her expression neutral. "Clean lines, functional elements, appropriate for your combat style." She nodded once. "No questions. Well done, Mr. Valentine."

Xavier blinked, surprised by the lack of critique. He returned to his seat as Valdez called the next name.

"Ms. Valentine," Professor Valdez called, gesturing Calypso forward.

Calypso practically bounced to the front of the room, her silver hair swinging behind her. She tapped her tablet and her design appeared on the main screen.

Xavier leaned forward in his seat. They’d spent hours arguing over her design, with Calypso initially wanting something so outlandish it would have been impossible to fight in. The final result was a compromise that had taken most of Saturday to perfect.

The design featured a kimono-inspired outfit with a modern twist. The top was a pink garment with wide, flowing sleeves that draped gracefully, while maintaining a practical cut that wouldn’t hinder movement. Black accents created striking visual contrast along the edges and formed a obi-style sash around the waist. The entire ensemble was designed with crystal-thread fibers woven throughout, giving it a subtle shimmer.

"My combat outfit balances tradition and functionality," Calypso explained, her pink eyes bright with enthusiasm. "The fabric contains micro-crystal weaving that absorbs and redistributes kinetic energy from attacks."

She highlighted the metallic gold elements around the collar and wrists. "These serve as Essentia stabilizers for my probability manipulation. When I activate my ability, the crystals help channel and focus the energy."

Calypso rotated the model to show how the outfit moved. "The flowing design isn’t just aesthetic—it creates visual distraction during combat, making my movements harder to predict. Which works perfectly with my card-based abilities."

"The material also features self-repair threading," she added, "so minor tears mend themselves using ambient Essentia. And despite appearances, it provides full range of motion for combat."

Xavier watched the class’s reactions. Most seemed impressed, though Kyrie rolled his eyes. Naomi studied the design with an appraising look that suggested she was mentally pricing each component.

"Very... distinctive," Professor Valdez said, examining the design. "The stabilizers are well-placed for your ability type. However, I question whether those flowing sleeves might become a liability in close combat."

"They’re detachable," Calypso replied promptly. "One quick pull, and they come off if they become a problem. I’ve thought of everything."

Valdez’s lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Apparently so. Well done, Ms. Valentine."

As Calypso returned to her seat, Beppo raised his hand excitedly.

"Yes, Mr. Ryota?" Valdez asked.

"I just noticed—Xavier and Calypso’s outfits totally match! Black and white with the same accent colors. They’re like a coordinated team!"

Looks like that’s strike two for you Beppo.

The class turned to look at them both, comparing the designs that were still displayed side by side on the screen. Now that Beppo pointed it out, the coordination was obvious—Xavier’s white robe with black base layer complemented Calypso’s predominantly pink outfit with black accents. Both featured similar crystal enhancements and flowing elements that would create visual distortion in combat.

"Cousins who dress alike," Naomi said with a smirk. "How adorable."

"We just have similar taste," Xavier shrugged. "And we did bounce ideas off each other while designing."

"They look good together," Margaret offered supportively. "Like they belong to the same hunter family."

"It makes sense," Ashley added, her pink-purple eyes assessing. "I mean they literally are family."

"I think it’s kind of cute," Sayuri muttered.

"Moving on," Professor Valdez said, cutting through the chatter. "Ms. Martin, you’re next."

Ashley rose gracefully from her seat. Her design featured a white and gold combat suit with reinforced panels that glowed golden when her Guardian Covenant ability activated.

After all the designs had been presented, Professor Valdez moved to the front of the class.

"All of your designs are approved," Professor Valdez said, closing her tablet with a crisp snap. "I had planned to spend the morning modifying problematic elements, but surprisingly, there are no glaring issues with the decisions any of you have made."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. That was high praise coming from Valdez, who typically found fault with everything.

"Instead," she continued, "we’ll proceed directly to the Support Department to begin fabrication. Gather your tablets and follow me."