By the almost scrutinizing posture and expression of the judging hero, Nico felt as if they'd just turned in a test without even realizing it. Would their answers satisfy the teacher's standards? Would there be a failing grade? Could either of them have given the wrong answer? He felt his own given reason had been an excellent one, one that could drive him far and lead him to the top. As such, he was very confident he would pass this surprise test with flying colors. They weren't kept in suspense for long, as with an appraising nod, it was clear the hero was pleased with both of their responses.<span style="font-style: italic">"Let's get to it, shall we?"</span>And with that, they could finally get to the real reason they were here.<br/><br/>A steady and alert gaze fixed on Shadow Angel as she began. Nico was practically on the edge of his seat in anticipation. But, of course, before the hero would really begin, she would once more give the two young sidekicks a word of warning. It was true that in order to be effective work partners, the two would actually have to work<span style="font-style: italic">together</span>. There could be no hate, no resentment, no discord if they ever hoped to truly be successful. What would happen if either of their lives were in danger? There had to be trust; a relationship in which they knew they could rely on one another. For Nico, that would be... difficult. How was he to completely ignore how he felt about Aika when he knew how she was? It would take much self-control, that was for sure--a virtue which, in his case, flew out the window as soon as things got heated.<br/><br/>With a glance, a poisonous gaze would slip to meet the thoughtful eyes of Aika, examining with critique her attentive expression. A quick blink brought his attention back to Shadow Angel, and a soft inhale was followed by a sharp exhale. He truly wanted this first patrol to go well, so, he supposed he would do his best to...<span style="font-style: italic">get along.</span>But, there was no guarantee. If nothing else, he would simply ignore Aika; at least giving the silent treatment would be more acceptable than losing it in front of his new boss. The concept of developing a personal relationship with Aika outside of work, however, was completely out of the question. Why would he want to spend any more time with her than he absolutely had to?<br/><br/>Despite his true thoughts, he made the gesture of accepting the advice with a prompt, affirming nod. "<span style="color: #FF4040">Sure,</span>" came his brief response, as to his pleasure they then moved on to the next subject.<br/><br/>Patrols were one of the more simple tasks in a hero's queue. One would simply walk throughout a given route and make sure life was as it should be. However, there were many ways even such a simple task could turn south. One of those ways was getting lost, which would be fairly easy for first-timers. It made sense for Shadow Angel to accompany them then, both to familiarize the two with the route as well as demonstrate how her agency handled things.<br/><br/>"Sounds good to me," with no objections, he pressed his hands to his knees as he started out of his seat. At the prospect of finally starting their duties, he was once again brimming with entry and excitement, eyes alight and toes bouncing up and down. As if preparing for a long run, he began to do simple stretches, placing one hand on his hip and reaching the other up and overhead before moving to the next side. He wanted to be ready to his fullest, which meant being prepared in case they ran into trouble. "<span style="color: #FF4040">Where are we patrolling?</span>" he inquired innocently, speaking in between stretches.